cp176

Thanks again It takes me a little time to figure things out occasionally but I think I got it. there are posters here that I really think have some common interests. Has nothing to do with agreeing or disagreeing with each other. Either is ok. That is how we learn. It has everything to do with common values that many of us grew up with.

fred is from a different generation. a good one by the way. People might not like what he says always but he will explain himself clearly. I am guessing that he would look me or you anyone right in the mug and tell them how he feels. I could have played for him. I played for people like him. They taught me a great deal.

You are helping me. I really appreciate that. A person like him, really does bring out the worst in me. For the time being 700 I won't ignore him because i have dealt with many fools in my years of teaching. I can deal with him. I just want to talk about the Sox. People always agree and disagree but times have changed. Technology provides an element of protection that we have never seen. Years ago many of these voices would have never been heard. thanks again.

Fred - i agree with you . I have stated my opinion without criticism or malice toward anyone - simply my opinion. We need a number 1 and it ain't Porcello although he helps -- the other two perhaps perhaps not. i do not have a high opinion of Hanley Ramirez. He was shipped out of town for a reason. Looks good though on paper considering what we got in return. B Castillo? Who is he? Does anyone know? XB - I think that he will hit and I hope that he fields. That comment has elicited much criticism from the techno geeks on the boards. I don't think that it was negative at all. I want him to succeed but I'm not quite ready to hit him with the Hall of Fame Stick like Luser does just yet. I am quite guilty of doing that with Jackie Bradley. Won't happen again. I was going to bow out - not going to happen. Just got to thinking what I have done since I was 22. I have asked on numerous occasions of the most antagonistic posters that I can see on this board, what they have actually done with respect anything athletic. Got nothing so far. I know what your history is - theirs' not so much. Oh by the way- I also refute their comments about me negative with respect to their posts. I have not been. Only to the snide little remarks. I am guessing that the big S stays in Motor City and unless we make one more sign we aren't going anywhere. As you have so adroitly stated - I ain't drinking that cool-aide.

A direct attack wouldn't you say. Help me with this if I am wrong. Very unfriendly! Did Fred disagree with you?

You need a little help with that luser? Happy New Year! I am passing up some good bonding time wasting it with you and I know that you literally camp out on this forum. I like to talk Red Sox, I just don't always agree with you! That's the rub right. Trust me - I will be gone soon. I will never waste my time to the tune of 11,000 plus posts. Nice life! Either ignore or talk Sox with me without your crafty little ways.

No Luser sorry. You are not the Captain. Now - I have a lot of nastier things that I could say but I am as shrewd for sure but not nearly as crude as you and your buds. You put me on ignore! come on - figure this one out - KMATTKOG!

Luser - I am not an antogonist. I simply respond negatively to idiocy. Are you the "Captain" of the board or were you? Oh by the way just a guess but I think I might rival your self created and indulged jn intellect. Give me some more techno stats. I just love your posts.

Meant to say do not do the third party thing. Hey , come on ,I will only post for a short while then I will be gone. Even in retirement, I am pretty busy.

Fred - Who is Ted?

I am really not. If you think that I am, that is ok too. It looks to me like if you have a little different opinion, you pay a price here from some. The innuendo that comes from some of these posts does not sneak by me. Who are you? How old are you? What constitutes "old school" to you? Are you or were you an athlete? I am a passionate guy. I called you a meatball which I consider to be a somewhat friendly term. You called me an *******. What do you think? You want to communicate great. You do seem to be a bit of a rebutter to me as opposed to a creator but what the hey right. I am a Red Sox fan. I do not and would not criticize your opinions. Check your posts out - there always seems to be a little bit extra added. We can communicate or not. Please don't do the third party thing with me. talk to me MVP 78! What does that mean anyway- Come on.

Liking your style. I just needed to settle in. Initially I thought that maybe some of your posts were a bit too cryptic - not anymore. I am afraid the stat geeks don't get it. Could it be Fred that they never played nor coached the game. It is a lot like any game . You can't measure the "feel" factor. Stats and technological theory all help but they sure as hell don't tell the whole story. You sound like a good man. I will give you 2 shots a side. Come East and we will play.

I think that he will hit but he must be able to hit in tough situations to allow him to reach his potential. At 22, he may get better at fielding the routine ones but unless he is more motivated than most he will not increase his quickness, speed, and range. Is there a stat 700, you suppose that would tell us how many more times this kid can throw it into the first base field box seats? 700 - you and I both have been told that the intellectuals of the game hovering behind their computers say that he is going to be a great one. Hope he will be but they truly had me convinced that Jackie Bradley along with many others were can't miss prospects. I need to see it on the field.

I also agree with you about Grady and Pedro. I wrapped up my 40th year of coaching this year (only 15 though in baseball). He would have come out of the game and Manny would not have liked me much either. In this forum, we are inundated with technical statistics which I am sure help scouts determine who will succeed and who will not. I am quite curious about what their projections for Jackie Bradley might have been. Is it possible that the stats tell the story that they want to hear. As for XB- I hope he makes it - I really do but in the game of basketball we have a saying "The ball don't lie". I don't care what all of the technical gurus say, I want to see it on the field. I do not see him as our shortstop of the future. I was a teacher and a coach 700 - I actually am fairly thick skinned - I am making a comeback and it is nice to have someone sensible to communicate with. If you are a golfer, you come down here, we'll play and the price will be right.

Mike Nagy looked like he was going to be a very good one for us. I go with Ted even though the Babe is on the list. Second for = Yaz.(1967) Never hv seen anything close to this.

Actually we live right in the center of the state. South of Orlando. It is much quieter here and a nice golf course that just beat me up in good shape. Close to Winter Haven. I am really a Mainer all the way but I do like this climate. It is a nice place to get away to.

Have a home in Florida but I live in Maine. I enjoy reading your posts. Keep them coming - I am retired now so it gives me something else to read. Thanks for the encouragement as well. I know myself well enough to know that I should never had started posting. Thankfully I do have other things to keep me going. Have a good one.

I am actually not an *******. I'm really a pretty nice guy. And Spudboy - not lumping you with this guy. And I am too sensitive to be involved in a forum like this. I really didn't know what I was getting into. This is new to me. You know old school guy right. It does look like an awful lot of cheap shots from behind the keyboard. Sorry - just can't get used to it. I am a face to face kind of guy. Have fun!

You two meatballs just keep sticking together. You are right and everybody else is wrong. I realize when I am up against it. Your superior intellect is driving me right off the board. Hide behind your collected data, I have some golf to play. Oh - also - being the numbskull that I am, I have to go check the stock market. Looks like another good day for me. Are you really Red Sox fans? Come on - you aren't right.

I am also not sure I want to play poker with you!

Hey Dojji - That is a post I like. I am not sure I buy into what you are saying, but I do like the post. With all the pointing skyward in the game today, who knew - not me. I certainly agree with you that he shouldn't have left the dugout to start the next inning. I remember Pedro pointing upward many times. I miss that truly powerful arm on the mound.

I can't see that anyone is supporting or defending Grady Little here. I thought he was done after 7. He came back out. The rest I am sure everyone can remember. If Pedro Martinez was asked in that dugout if he had anything left, what do you suppose his response was. Could we agree that before he got fat he was the most dominant pitcher in the game? Mega millionaire with an ego the size of the city. A first ballot hall of famerI hope. I wonder if you have or are a coach. If you are or have been I don't have to tell you what it's like to work with someone who thinks they are and may in fact be a star. How do think Francona did with Manny? You think he was able to get through to him. What I am saying is that unless you have been in a similar situation, you have no idea of the amount of nuts it takes to get what you want from a player of that status. Talk is cheap. I don't feel bad for Grady Little - he made a mistake. My guess, the majority of the coaches in the game - Pedro wants in- he stays in. Sad but true.

This is a solid post. I think that most people have realized that no know team wins big without a solid bullpen. When do the "old days" start? I don't know when the expressions closer and setup came into vogue but those roles have been filled for the last 50 plus years. I don't think that it is a trend. It has been the winner's way for a long time now. The game is tough to play but does not require great brilliance. The KISS principle still applies and many in all realms of athletics are subject to paralysis by analysis. To be even vaguely competitive you have and have had to for decades have a solid bullpen with a competent strike throwing closer. The but is that every game does not have to be scripted. The Grady Little story is obviously a classic. I wonder how many of the people following this thread would have been able to look Pedro in the eye and tell him he was coming out of that game regardless of who was in the bullpen behind him. Wait - I take that back - if he knew he had an Eck, a Mariano, or even a "Monster" ( Radatz ) backing him up, he might have gladly handed that ball to Little. I try not to judge Grady Little - I was never in that position on that stage. Not happy at the time but did not judge.

If it was George, Fred, I would say absolutely. With this version of Steinbrenner- I just don't know. In a way, I hope the Yankees pull the trigger. It might motivate our boys to go get a difference maker. I still think that he winds up back in the motor city.