cp176

It is clearly generational and if you never saw these guys really play, you have no idea what they could or could not do. For starters, anyone who thinks that Russell could not play on the offensive end, really could not have seen him play. Russell scored when he needed to which really wasn't that often. As much as it pains me to say, Chamberlain certainly has to be included in the conversation. From a simply athletic standpoint, I really have to say that I haven't seen a player yet comparable to him in any generation even though I did not like him.

I agree - it really is about who can stay healthy.

A nice name although i like Hugo as well. Good luck to you!

If he doesn't prove over the rest of the season to be just a little more consistent, I think that he very likely may be the guy traded this winter. I won't like seeing it but it is real possibility this time around. The biggest question I have today is - Is this his scheduled rest day? Will he be in the lineup like he should be? Keep that streak alive.

and that is the truth - i don't give a s*** how hard he hits it - just hit it where no one is

what I really like is that neither of JBJ's two hits tonight could actually be called bombs. He finally hit a couple where they actually weren't - yes even the one over the left field wall. Hitting it hard sure is nice but only when it amounts to something. Keep it going JBJ.

I've consistently said that I believe that there is a lot more to the story of Hanley's release than his facing an option year. That statement alone in some minds makes me someone who has tried and conviicted him of potential charges even before they have been made. Isn't that the way the world works today? Twisting people's words seems to be the way to go. For the record, I don't care at all about Hanley Ramirez and his everlasting legacy. I appreciated him as a ballplayer and that is it. I'm not overly impressed with entertainers though in general. Some here in some ways with their support of him I think are trying to make him something that he might not be. I will always believe that people are going to judge us by the company we keep. who happen to be our friends. It doesn't make it right but it does happen. I don't know Hanley and subsequently I don't know his friends. I'm happy that I don't.

The "I love Hanley sticker" never hit me in the head I guess. From a promising beginning career that saw him traded in spite of the enormous talent , and he did have talent, to today. I never heard anything really confirmed but I think that we all are aware of the rumors as to why the Sox traded him in the first place. As the years have gone by, crap about his attitude has followed him everywhere he has gone. When he could hit, he was tolerable - now not so much. In this particular instance, in today's world maybe people don't want to judged by the company they keep. That is just the way it goes I guess. I have no feeling for Ramirez at all. He is gone. I will always believe that there was more to the story of his release than fear of him getting to that option.

The implications from this will remain with him forever. Not that I care but the question might be - How good a "friend" was this guy? I'm still going with the idea that there was more to the red sox releasing him than we hopefully will ever know. He is gone, good luck to him.

lol

Agree!

What assessment are you talking about? It was clearly an observation based on a personal opinion. It would not surprise me at all if DD adds to our current roster. That won't change how I feel about our chances if we don't make any changes at all.

I got to say here that yes it would be nice to try to upgrade where upgrades seem necessary but I'm really not sure that we couldn't be quite successful with what we have. When Cora puts the best lineup that we currently have on the field, I'm thinking that a case could be made for it being the best in the game. Of Course it would help to have a healthy Pedroia out there, but overall I think that with the right guys on the field we are fine. Whoever assembled this team and it was not one person, has done an incredible job. A better job than most have done or could do. With people like this leading the way, we should be just fine now and going forward as well. These people are competent. They are far better at dong their jobs than we are at suggesting what they should do.

For the last two games his fastball has reached 100 mph. His pitches overall tend to be anywhere from 80 to 100. Throws his slider at the speed he wants. I'm not sure I understand the part about ramping up slowly though. He is certainly throwing the ball harder than we have seen him throw that is for sure. Someone suggested a few days ago on a thread here that if the playoffs started today that they might start E-Rod over Chris Sale. Anyone remember that? I'm fairly sure that it was a statistically based assumption due to the fact that in games started E-Rod has a better record and that the team tends to support him with more runs. Personally, I consider that a ridiculous assumption. Chris Sale is an ace, a true gamer. Your ace gets the ball as often and when he wants it as long as he stays healthy. I realize that some here think that his body is not built for the long haul. My retort to that is that we are all built differently and when was the last time Chris Sale was injured. Talk to him yes of course so that you know when and if he needs breaks. He is a professional and I think he knows what he can and cannot do. Red Sox fans I think just need to sit back and enjoy what we have in one of the best pitchers in the game today. Now since I am being realistic, we also have 2 of the very best hitters in the game playing for us in JD and Mookie. Enjoy them while we have them.

Hope you are kidding. You can always find trades that don't work regardless of the team you choose to discuss for sure. Sale for Kopeck and Moncada - I would never have done that one. lol I also have a hunch that DD has a clue or two about the importance of the farm. I think that I am correct in saying that the Red Sox ownership was willing to sacrifice trade trips to build a team in addition to our own home growners as opposed to suffering multiple seasons with 0 hope of winning titles. It's a tired topic and certainly depends on your personal preference with respect to team building. I also like the fact that when it comes to signing free agents our current GM seems to have some clue as to what he is doing.

I feel pretty much the same way you do. There have been some lineups put on the field that truly do not look particularly strong. Rest of course is necessary but how much, how often , and scheduled days off are things that are ok to question. I think that Cora is a good young manager but that doesn't mean that he his exempt from questioning whether in his first year or not.

It is a very strange situation indeed. I have said all along that I thought that there was more to the story about Hanley being released then the option regardless of its value. I would never have guessed that a story like this would surface though. True or not, rumors or not, it is a strange one for sure.

I'm guessing that you are saying this tongue in cheek. That metrics I'm pretty sure might lead to a few saber metric purists to believe this I guess. As for me, think I might go (as in all the time) with one of the best pitchers in the game every time. It is a non-thought. Whether the team tends to hit for him or not, I would be entirely ok with that.

Good and the truth.

This is a post that I think is very sensible and has feeling behind it. I respect that. I truly hope that they find that Hanley is innocent of anything except stupidity. All that being said, I really am happy that he is gone.

You can bet your bottom dollar though Max, that there are some here who would see the Moncada, Kopeck trade for Sale in hindsight and would likley criticize DD for pushing that button. In their minds, it would be an easy fix if Pedroia does not make it back to simply slide Moncada right into second base. Just another opportunity for some to rip into the way DD does his job. Not me!

I've actually learned to tolerate him. I actually find him more tolerable some who post here.LOL

I agree with you with respect to not jumping to conclusions about Hanley Ramirez's guilt or innocence. I hope that he is not guilty but whatever it won't bother my world one way or another. But I don't give a s*** what anybody thinks of him from a personal character or looks perspective or whatever, it is pretty obvious that the Red Sox have been trying to move away from players like Hanley. In my opinion, his approach, his goofiness, and whatever else, although kind of funny just isn't the look this team is going for. Please note that it is also obvious that it has nothing to do with what race he is. He is a free spirit, maybe I guess just a little to free. If they really wanted Hanley's act around, they would still be dancing in the outfield. I suppose that it is even possible that someone suggested to Benintendi that he cut his hair. If you are the owner of a business of this magnitude maybe the appearance and behavoir of your employees matters. What I also think though is that if Hanley was really hitting, he likely would still be with us. He wasn't and he is gone.

Could a been a contender

In addition his act was old - good job DD and Alex of course.