sleepyhollow

Brennan, you have mail

I listened to Cherington on D&C, and I'm ready to puke. He never really replies directly to any questions just avoids it. Hmmm and Hmmmms and oh hmmmmm. He's staying pat....no suprise there. Cherries still thinks we can make the playoffs, he's delusional as all he ll.

It's time to either blow up the team, or the FO decides to sell. This is the most unlikeable team ever. We need to clean out the stench; including Valentine, Cherington, LL.

Our FO is embarrassing to say the least. Too cheap to get professional players as we play minor leaguers who aren't ready for the major. Buckett gave up 5 ER in the 1 inning. We get better results from our BP than from our "aces" as they call themselves.

Our current CF is Ross, BA .182,....how difficult could it be to beat that?

Shall we say, Two Thumbs Down?

VASoxFan, is there another way to spell embarrassing?

NO, we don't need a captain.

The hot rumor circulating and repeated on D&C, Scutaro was the snitch, hence the fast departure.

NESN is reporting that Tek is leaning towards retirement.

Tim Wakefield decides to retire FORT MYERS — Tim Wakefield [stats] has decided to retire. After 19 seasons, including the past 17 with the Red Sox [team stats], the veteran knuckleballer will call it quits in a 5 p.m. press conference tonight at JetBlue [JBLU] Park. As recently as December, he had expressed a desire to play one more season, preferably with the Red Sox. But the team didn’t reciprocate with a major-league offer, and last week, agent Barry Meister told the Herald that Wakefield was mulling his options, including retirement. Wakefield — at 45, the oldest player in the majors last season — finishes with a 200-180 record and 4.41 ERA in 627 appearances (463 starts) for the Pirates and Red Sox. With the Sox, he notched 186 wins, six shy of matching Roger Clemens and Cy Young for the all-time club record, a mark he admitted would have had great significance to him. But over the past two seasons, he lost his grip on a permanent spot in the Red Sox’ rotation, serving mostly as a swingman and a spot starter when Daisuke Matsuzaka [stats] and Clay Buchholz were injured. His final victory, Sept. 13 against the Blue Jays, was the 200th of his career. Jason Varitek, facing a similar predicament as Wakefield, is expected to make a decision within a few days about whether to accept a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training from the Red Sox. If Varitek elects to retire, a job within the organization would be a “definite” if he wants to accept it, a major league source said last month. http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1404331&utm_source=Enews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ARTICLE_Tim Wakefield decides to retire_DATE_02-17-2012--12.07

IMHO, Valentine has the right idea. Sox failed in 2011, September to be exact, b/c they weren't prepared for 162 games. Baseball is a long season and you need to be physically and mentally fit. Pedroia and Youks go to a Gym for a few months b/f ST to be prepared. If Beckett is the complainer, So Sad, too bad. The players are going to in much better shape and may even enjoy the season in 2012.

Pumpsie Green is a vital piece of this Board.l ...................JK

MLB Power Rankings: Angels rise to the top Spending roughly $330 million on two players doesn’t guarantee the Angels will win the World Series, reach the playoffs or even have a winning season. But Arte Moreno's surprising spending spree does make the Angels No. 1 in the new year's first Power Rankings—the first time in recent memory the top two spots belong to a division that isn’t the AL East. 1. Los Angeles Angels. The mega-bucks and the buzz are going to Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, but don't forget super prospect Mike Trout is ready and Kendrys Morales could be back. 2. Texas Rangers. The two-time defending AL champs have everything but a dominant No. 1 starter, and they hope Yu Darvish can fill that role. But he needs time. 3. Detroit Tigers. One more starter would be nice, but any team led by Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera cannot complain. 4. New York Yankees. The AL's winningest team in 2011 has added only one player to its major league roster, a Rule 5 pick. But the Yankees haven't lost anyone, either. 5. St. Louis Cardinals. The return of Adam Wainwright and the addition of Carlos Beltran could make them even better than the team that won the World Series. Yes, we know Pujols is gone. 6. Philadelphia Phillies. Their NLDS loss to the Cardinals exposed a lineup that isn’t what it used to be. But they haven't lost that much. They led the majors with 102 wins, and their trio of aces remains in its prime. 7. Boston Red Sox. The September collapse will serve as a wake-up call. They were the best team in the majors for most of last season, and they had more than their share of injuries 8. Atlanta Braves. Yes, they collapsed at season's end. Still, no team has more young talent on its roster. 9. Tampa Bay Rays. Fantastic finish aside, you don't really think they're better than the Red Sox, do you? Especially not at the moment, when they don't have a first baseman or DH. 10. Arizona Diamondbacks. Trading for Trevor Cahill upgrades a solid rotation, and their lineup, the division's best last year, will be even stronger with Stephen Drew's return. 11. Miami Marlins. Give the new-look Fish credit for spending big—and wisely—on Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell. But watch out. Having Ozzie Guillen direct a show that includes Hanley Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano is a guarantee for fireworks, not all of them fun. 12. San Francisco Giants. They should have done more for the offense than trade for Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan, but their pitching staff remains as strong as any. Getting Buster Posey back will help more than a little. 13. Cincinnati Reds. Admire their aggressiveness in dealing for Mat Latos and give them their due for having the best hitter (Joey Voto) in the NL Central. But even after they find a closer, questions will remain at shortstop, third base and left field. 14. Washington Nationals. They will be a force soon enough. In the meantime, a healthy Stephen Strasburg and the arrival of Gio Gonzalez will make them a fun team to watch grow. 15. Los Angeles Dodgers. To finish with a winning season despite their off-the-field distractions was impressive. Not being able to pay a newcomer more than $3 million in 2012 wasn’t. 16. Toronto Blue Jays. Trading for closer Sergio Santos was a typically strong Alex Anthopoulos move, but the Blue Jays remain a blockbuster away from pulling close to the big boys. 17. Cleveland Guardians. If Ubaldo Jimenez regains his dominance, Derek Lowe commands his sinker and Grady Sizemore gets healthy, the Tribe should take another step forward. Heck, they'd take their chances if you could assure them two of the three. 18. Milwaukee Brewers. Losing Prince Fielder is a huge blow, but they knew that was coming. Ryan Braun's surprising suspension could bury them by Memorial Day. 19. Kansas City Royals. Their top position prospects have shown they belong. Now comes the tough part: Building a rotation that can help them compete with the Tigers. 20. Colorado Rockies. Signing Michael Cuddyer was a nice move, but their lineup wasn't the issue. Their rotation was, and still is. 21. Pittsburgh Pirates. Making Erik Bedard, Casey McGehee and Nate McLouth your key acquisitions doesn't seem like the best way to build on last year's success, as limited as that success was. 22. Chicago Cubs. As thrilled as Cubs fans are to be done with Big Z, signing Fielder would make a far greater impact. For now and later. 23. Minnesota Twins. A sure bet: Joe Mauer will return to being Joe Mauer. Not so sure: Justin Morneau ever being completely clear of concussion symptoms. 24. Chicago White Sox. Rebuilding is just another way of saying, "Man, I wish I hadn't throw away more than $100 million on Alex Rios and Jake Peavy." 25. Seattle Mariners. Trading for John Jaso isn’t likely to turn around the majors' lowest-scoring offense for the past two seasons .26. Baltimore Orioles. All new GM Dan Duquette has done to improve the majors' worst pitching has been to sign Japanese lefthander Tsuyoshi Wada. That probably isn’t enough. 27. New York Mets. Any chance of a winning season rests on the left shoulder of Johan Santana. Good luck. 28. San Diego Padres. What they gained in offense by acquiring Carlos Quentin and Yonder Alonso, they lost more in pitching with the departures of Latos, Bell and even Aaron Harang. 29. Houston Astros. It doesn't take a director of decision sciences to figure out why the Astros were the worst team in the land. One reason: Astros hitters walked the fewest times in the majors, while Astros pitchers had the second-highest walk total. Another: They traded their two best players. 30. Oakland A's. At least the Astros haven't given up on 2012 already. http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2012-01-05/mlb-power-rankings-angels-rise-to-the-top

First Putrid Tek and then, Putrid Wakefield........it's coming down the pike.

As long as the hen keeps laying golden eggs, JH will hold onto the Sox.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Nation, Not a rumor was stirring, still a state of trepidation; Red Stockings were hung out to dry another year, The hope is Bobby V eradicates ‘chicken and beer’ Theo Epstein was nestled all smug in his bed, His Craw-Lackey deals nearly left us for dead; And Werner in his ascot, and John thinking cap, Stealing rights to Rudolph, after not paying Pap When out on the web there arose such a clatter, Did Ben get a closer? Is there a tweet on the matter? Away to Fenway we flew in a dash, Tore open the laptop, camera ready to flash Who’s breaking the story? Is the source in the know? Is it Madson’s big payday? Did the Sox spend some dough? When, what to our wondering eyes should appear, But our old friend Manny, with a smile ear-to-ear For just $1 million, and no more of his schtick We knew in a moment, it was Lucchino’s latest trick More rapid than building the park called JetBlue, Bobby whistled, and shouted, knowing clearly who’s who "Now Dauber! now, D-Lowe! now, Nomar and Nixon! On, Pedro! El Guapo! on, Sanchez and Damon!" Bobby knows his Red Sox through and through But he hasn’t been in Baseball since 2002 ‘Greatest Team Ever,’ Herald headlines won’t say They're just hoping not to repeat Team Disarray fade away But maybe God has different plans, A-Gon will tell all Carl may learn how to hit, or at least return Bobby’s call And then, in a twinkling, he strolled to the mound, The prancing and pawing of this tough talking hound, He turned into his windup, beer belly twisting around, Down toward home plate, the ball took off with a bound; He spoke only to Bobby, then just put in his work, Sure he dropped a few pounds, but still acts like a jerk, His eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! After a few beers in the dugout—his nose like a cherry! He threw like the old Beckett, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment, Lone Star had the old kick; His heater’s mid-nineties, the curve ball has bite, Mark him down for a win every fifth night! And Lester and Buchholz look fit, trim, and healthy Lackey’s chillin’ at home, but he’s so freakin’ wealthy Dustin showed up real early, Youk looks ready to play But ‘Tek and Tim Wakefield have long since gone away Ells keeps getting better, before he says his goodbye Gonzo feels more at home, but he’s still pretty shy Papi had the old stroke back, when he hit ‘em they flew, They all batted around, the unnamed rightfielder, too! The crowd sprang to their feet, to the team gave a whistle, Salty circled the bases, Bard threw another missile; A new year is upon us and the Olde Towne ballclub, "No more fat, drunk, and lazy! PENNANT FEVER GRIPS HUB!" ...with apologies as always to Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston, Jr. Merry Christmas, Boston Dirt Dogs http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/2011/12/twas_the_night_before_christma_6.html

I agree that Kuroda will go to the yankees. I'd take Oswalt if he can stay healthy. BTW, we have a mutiny in LF as CC is not returning any of Bobby V's messages. Too bad we can't trade him and replace him with a couple of SP and/or a LFer.

Source: Sox eye McClure as pitching coach According to a major league source, the Red Sox are moving toward hiring Bob McClure as their next pitching coach. As of Wednesday night, no deal had been finalized for the 59-year-old, who had most recently been the pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals from 2006-11. Two other candidates interviewing for the position, besides McClure, were former Astros pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, and Neil Allen, the Rays' Triple-A pitching coach. The Red Sox allowed their pitching coach for '11, Curt Young, to return to the Athletics to serve in the same position. McClure had originally been hired by the Red Sox as a roving minor league pitching instructor in November. The veteran of 19 major league seasons also served as the pitching coach in the Colorado Rockies minor league system from 1999-05 prior to being hired by then-KC general manager Allard Baird, who now serves as the Red Sox' vice president of player personnel. Despite being fired at the end of the '11 season, McClure had many supporters in the Kansas City organization, having had a big role in the development of such young Royals pitchers as Greg Holland and Felipe Paulino. The former starter, who finished his career in 1993 after being released from the Florida Marlins, was also very close with former KC ace Zack Greinke, who figures to be one of the most highly sought after free agent pitchers following the '12 season. In an interview with FanGraphs, McClure explained his priorities when working with pitchers (or the interview, click here): When they’re young, I’m more or less focusing on getting them to repeat their delivery and letting them go. Very seldom, with young guys with good arms, do I get too in depth with, “This hitter is this type of hitter.” I’m more “pitch to your strengths” than “pitch to their weaknesses.” Stay in the lane, throw strikes, and go from there. Trust your stuff, because you’re better than they are. With young kids, what you’re hoping for is that they repeat their delivery so their command gets better. The more they can repeat their delivery, the better their command is going to get. I never understood it when I was told to me by my pitching coach, Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish, but he always used to tell me “Mac, strikes are in your delivery.” I had a pretty wild kind of delivery, a max-effort type of delivery. He would tell me, “:Strikes are in your delivery, strikes are in your delivery.” I couldn’t put two and two together, because I was 23, 24 years old. I really didn’t understand what he was saying, because the game was going so fast for me at that time. Now, as a pitching coach, and even when I was an older pitcher, I understand the importance of repeating your delivery.

WEEI At 12:57 pm, Valentine claims that we have a new Pitching Coach. He neglected to name him.

Manny reinstated by MLB

Maybe they'll Miller in a trade????

9:26 pm 12/5/11 Ortiz has accepted arbitration

LAS -- According to a source close to the situation, as of Tuesday evening David Ortiz hadn't yet determined whether or not he would accept arbitration. The free agent designated hitter has until midnight Wednesday to make a decision. The plan was for Ortiz' agent, Fern Cuza, to talk again with the Red Sox before any determination can be made. ESPN Deportes had reported Tuesday night that Ortiz would be accepting the Red Sox offer of arbitration. The source confirms a report made earlier Tuesday by ESPNBoston.com that Ortiz is seeking a two-year contract worth $25 million, while the Red Sox had been offering two years at $9 million per season.

When Valentine was questioned about Buckner, he merely replied that they were great friends but that doesn't mean that I'm going to fill positions with friends. I'm going to look for people who can work together as coaches and with me and help bring a winning team to Boston.