cp176

If you truly believe that they operate this way, then I am happy for you. After seeing what they have spent and for who they spent it on, I'm afraid I think that if they had wanted him badly enough he would be here. I also do not consider it a big time blow to the franchise either. I think they are ok with what they have.

It is selfish I guess but if you have to travel any distance to get to the park, an easier in and out with an updated stadium would be nice. It would be very sad to see old Fenway go, but it seems to make sense. Probably no chance that it could happen anyway.

It is early but it is starting to look like Mookie is the real deal. A very tough out. Also becoming an excellent fielder. If this is who he is, and I think it is, he won't be going anywhere. He will be in centerfield for Boston for a long time. Creates all kinds of issues. Good ones I guess.

Come on Yankees - Can't believe you left Richardson, Kubek, Maris, Mantle, Tresh, Howard, Boyer, and whoever played first in 63 or 64 at home.

He has been a source of entertainment for me all winter. And, it has been a long winter. I've been back home here in northern New England now just long enough to know that it isn't where I want to be at this time of year.

Come on - I do miss him. The sand I've accumulated over the years ain't comin out with no shovel either. Didn't take much to get you back on here. You do a pullup yet?

I'm at peace. I was just curious. Not a lot of sarcasm there either. Just a touch.

If Cechinni hits, Shaw hits, Bradley hits, Brentz hits, Merraro hits - what do you do? No room at the inn. You can't keep them on the farm forever. They are developing good players. Not great, but possible major league contributors.

Obviously a manager's moves in certain situations can lead to either a win or a loss. Whether their decisions are good or bad, all depends on your personal perspective. I will say that there are and have been some managers I would feel more confident with in game winning or game losing situations.

What has happened to Juggernuts?

I wouldn't be surprised if Maddon had them all wearing boy scout uniforms.

I think that his fielding will be fine. When he figures out all of the connections between his lower and upper body, he will be fine. Maybe even better than fine. He is getting to balls that he couldn't get to last year. Once he gets his legs set the way they should be, he will get it done. His throws will be ok. He has done the work!

whoops on that one - I don't think that he wore a facemask either. I do like Tommy though.

Does that mean he did something good?

Cheering hard for Bobby Layne here. He keeps getting it done.

If Victorino can't go and Craig hits like he has in the past, that is a classic no brainer. We know 0 about Castillo. He very well might be a very good player for us someday. Craig, Betts, Ramirez. Key = Victorino is hurt ( again) and Craig has returned to form of old. I feel bad for JBJ - great glove but he ain't fitting in here.

First of all, I would like to say that it is nice to have a debate or arguement, call it what you like, without having it turn nasty or without some hurtful unnecessary comment added at the end of the post. Once again, I enjoy your posts and this back and forth is great. I am learning some things that I did not know which is always good. All that being said, I am not even sure I know what clutch means. Believe it or not, I am the type of person who really needs evidence, solid proof of something before I tend to believe it. In my life though I have to say there have been so many things that have happened for no apparent reason that it makes understanding what is real and what is not sometimes tough to deal with. In the realm of athletics, I have seen many players that just seem to have the ability to perform better than others in high pressure situations. I'm not sure that they outperform what the stats say they should be doing or not, they just seem to be able to get it done. If I did not believe that this happens, I would not love the games. About the lazy part - this should tell you something about me - It still drives me crazy when I watch a player hit what appears to be a routine groundball and then fail to work hard going down that first base line. You see this in every game. I do expect 100% on every play. It is these little things that I think make the big things even possible. Big fan of players like Pedroia here.

Every year the spring has great meaning for some players. There are many unsettled issues for the Sox this time around. Wins and losses of course aren't particularly important but overall play of course is. The theory of just getting the work in is good for some but not good enough for others if they have any chance of playing in Boston this year. I wasn't there to see it but it is kind of tough for me to believe that Victorino came into camp in excellent shape if he hurt himself going from first to third on a base hit. I don't see this as an over the top effort by him. Coming into camp I think that is something he should have been able to do. You don't get a gold star for makng that effort. You have to be able to do that if you are him. I like him and hope that it all works out but I am glad that they have other and maybe better options to fall back on. Also I mentioned Rodriguez about 6 weeks ago saying that scouts thought his upside was higher than Owens. Once again, it is only spring training and I like Owens but I was very happy to see Rodriguez come out of the shoot the way he did.

It is much more accessible for people coming from all directions to get to.

I will stand by what I said and know that it is true. Never at all did I even imply that anyone wasn't trying or that they were lazy. A lot of wordsmithing and twisting of what has been said I am afraid. The great players have something special about them that allows them to do things in pressure filled situations that others cannot do. Once again I know this is true. Provable - probably not. Give my some math now to show how ridiculous my statement is. I won't be arguing with you. the point I am making is not one that you will give credibility to. That is ok. I wouldn't express mine if i hadn't seen it and lived it.

These are interesting observations to me. I believe that the truly great athletes ratchet things about a bit when the game is on the line. The bigger the stage, the bigger the performance. Whether it is done subconsciously or not, who knows.

People tend to focus in on all of the good shots people hit in golf. It is really a game of how bad are your bad shots. Keep it in play!

Not to worry - I didn't take it personally. In all honesty, I see the two sides to almost everything. There is no black or white as far as I am concerned. Normally I do need to see some sort of proof to believe in something but sometimes it just isn't there. I very much believe that your study of sabermetrics is good for you and the game. I definitely see its value. It just doesn't trump everything else in my mind.

Maybe in your world faith isn't quite as important. It is just too bad that you don't have just a little bit of niceness to you. You would almost come off as sounding somewhat credible. But you are not nice. Before the cheese slides off your cracker once again, just forget about it. You clearly need this forum to vent and express your very interesting views so have a good time.

Interesting - Kind of like when someone says they have faith don't you think? To believe in something other than yourself. Something you might not be able to prove, see, or touch I think is not a bad thing. What do you think the big guy points to when he crosses home plate? Not everything can be proven or disproven. Sometimes things just seem to happen.