cp176

offense?

With this team it could go either way - an unquestionably stupid gaff could cause us big time or the very same move could turn to gold big time. They are fairly unpridictable that way. Interesting team!

We have a pretty good variety of potential utility players to choose from going forward. Lin, Hernandez etc. I appreciate everything that Holt has done for us too but I do think that it might be time to walk away from that one one way or another. One of the issues I guess is how many different positions do you want your utility guys able to play? One of Holt's claims to fame has been that he can play them all but the question is really how well has he played them? I don't think that it has to be written somewhere that your utility guys have to be able to play both in the infield and the outfield. Lin and Hernandez are infielders. We also have some possible utility outfielders in our system right now who might be able to hit the ball over the left field wall. If they are going to be used in utility roles, I guess I would like to give them a chance before to much of a look outside is given.

i knew that I would get a response from you on this one. Good for you! I've had my share of guys that I have supported over the years who really had not been given much of a chance. Some worked out and some didn't. I am one of the few who liked the Pomeranz trade when it happened and like it more today. Hernandez is also a guy who i really think just needs to stay healthy and get a chance. I also am not as sure as some that Swihart is just done. Too much talent there. I also really thought that marrero when he was signed was going to be our next very good shortstop. As for Lin, I agree that his glove is big league. I actually don't disagree with anything that you said, i have been following his progress for a couple of years now and I just don't see the bat developing like you do. i think that he might be just a slight upgrade over marrero. I wouldn't mind being wrong about him though.

I still love the fact that we have two very capable catchers but there is not much question in my mind that Vazquez is the better of the two. There is nothing that I don't like about him.

If it was a choice between Nunez and the rest of the guys mentioned, it really wouldn't be much of choice for me. nunez all the way - deficiencies and all no question. he can hit, he can run, and he is tough. Hernandez still gets a like for me but still just not sure. Lin - good glove 0 bat. Travis - maybe but need some power. Holt - thank you for what you have done for us. Swihart ?- perhaps - we just don't know.

I'm giving Valentin a pass because i liked him as a player.

seconded ! does that make me insensitive?

your day doesn't start until you get home.

wasn't that what the offer to Betts was?

lack of aggressiveness on beni's part - could have been a triple - just kidding -

be nice to my boy pom pom -

a true statement - makes sense now. just like the rest of us numbnuts

vazquez is so far above his career norms that I am happy he hasn't played long enough to know what a career is.

s*** - i missed that - i just thought he was a bright guy

What you said earlier. Do you really agree with me here Slasher or are you just trying to make me feel good about myself ? lol

and also - thanks for trading what's his name for Pomeranz! (that was just for you slasher -lol)

son of a b - you actually read the book! lol

This is why your opinions have grown on me. This is a very good and worthwhile statement. Thanks for saying something that most of us probably think about saying from time to time.

I've actually come to like this team quite a bit. Price might be the exception i guess. With him though, I am much more concerned with how he performs on the field. We have dealt with other talented *******s before and done just fine. I am very much aware of all of the statistics that say that almost all of these guys are underperforming at the plate. What I have a problem with is that most of them have not played long enough to establish a pattern that would lead people to think that they are performing below their career norms. What are their career norms? how many years do you have to play before you even have career norms? I hope that they can pick up the pace as we go along, I just think that some here expected them to put up numbers similar to last years. They might have been over rated to begin with. I still think that they are young enough to surprise us all though!

One of the best decisions that I think they have ever made is the one they just announced. David Ortiz is a lifetime representative for the organization. A great ambassador for our team. Good job John henry and company!

Love him or hate him, he sure aa hell could still help us. You never can have too much.

I really don't think that this team in general lacks a desire to win. They aren't what I see as a traditional fired up bunch so to speak but it looks to be the nature of the beast. There is more than one way to skin a cat (just an expression - no offense to you cat lovers). What I see as boneheaded blunders, i don't think is caused from a lack of caring. It might be just who they are. I would like to think that some of it is correctable and that is probably where coaching has to come in to be a factor. That being said, with respect to being more aggressive on the base paths, i think some it (not much but some) can be attributed to a dramatic change in approach to something that we have never seen in Boston. A bluechip, fired up, adrenaline filled approach to running the bases. i like it but the tough part is understanding when and when not to be aggressive and making sure that every player understands what they can and cannot do. That job falls on the coaching staff. For instance, if someone was to say that they understand and that it is ok if Hanley Ramirez tries to stretch singles into doubles when he shouldn't or when someone runs through a stop sign (which is rarely given) that it is ok because we are trying to be more aggressive, I have a hard time. I think that players need to know what is expected of them and that includes having them understand what their capabilities including their limitations are.

whoops - should have added that my opinion won't be affected by facts or stats and that all opinions count.

Imagine what the debate is going to be like with this one. what gets the A for aggressive and what gets the b for bonehead? Quite a wide variety of opinions here I think.