cp176

One magical season. Don't get me going. I will never forget it and to this day I have not really seen anyone do what he did for a complete season. Not casting all votes for him that season could be likened to casting 1 vote against Washington for President.

I am very pleased for all 4 of the inductees. I would like to think that the 3 pitchers were no brainers but who can tell by the way the voting goes on occasion.

Very true. That being the case, looks like the Sox still have some trade chips there.

He is young and looks like he is on the way up. I know that free agency is in both their futures. It is probably me but I just think I would not give up a quality arm for Cespedes unless I had a pretty good stable of young arms on the way. The old adage that you never can have too much pitching is a truism deluxe. I am happy we got him. Maybe Ben C. is the real deal. If he is, he will make 1 more big move I think. (I hope)

I'm still stuck on the Cespedes for Porcello trade. I realize every team can use a bat, but why would the Tigers give up an "up and coming" young arm for him knowing that they could also lose Scherzer. I don't think that Alex wilson is a difference maker in that trade. Detroit has been a pretty well run organization over the years. They had to have felt that Porcello was expendable. I'm thinking that Scherzer winds up back in Detroit but still that is an interesting trade from their perspective. Porcello pitched well last year. I hope he does the same for us. If he has top of the rotation potential or even your number 2, they must have some great arms ready to go. If he is anywhere near as good as we tend to think that he will be, I don't think that I would have made that deal.

I really would love to see him in a Red Sox uniform. With him and Porcello leading off (a little Detroit east), we would have a potentially very powerful team for a long while.

Very , very helpful post for me. I felt exactly as you did. since I had my little spat, I have realized that there are some really nice people on this board. I have always believed that if everybody agreed with me all the time, I would never learn anything. Your last paragraph. is a beauty. Probably just like you, I wasn't raised to quit when things got tough or even nasty. Just time to keep grinding. Thank you - this is going to be fun!

Tommy Layne's story is kind of neat. His wife was and maybe still is a practicing dentist who gave up work to follow Tommy and his dream. She took some baby sitting jobs this past summer for something to do. One of them was for my daughter. When he got the call up to the big club, the excitement was incredible. What a jump for them. Good people. I don't know if he will make it up there or not but a very nica story.

You couldn't ask for more than what Koji has given us for sure but I too worry a little about him coming into the season. He is not a young man by any means but I like a closer who throws strikes.

Kind of like a mad dash or even a muddle F_ _ _. Kerensky, Trotsky, or the after thought Stalin.

I am going to stay on this board. You do what we did one thing that you realize is that there are many ways to get a job done and if you take the time to listen you never know what you might learn or from whom you might learn it. When I first started posting, I just wanted to be a part of a group that shared a common interest and a love of mine. Never meant to make any personal attacks against anyone. But I, just like you, have a tendency to react when I sense nastiness. I don't care if someone disagrees with me. Normally that is how I learn. I did take your friend's advice by the way and it is good to be here. Always look forward to your posts.

Times certainly have changed with technological advancements. Face to face discussions about our baseball passions were always fun and usually ended in a friendly way. There certainly are plusses and minuses to the use of the internet. Being nonjudgmental, listening, learning and formulating your own opinions seems like a pretty good way to go. Back to the game - I have a little personal interest in Tommy Layne and hope that he hangs on to one of those 40 man roster spots. He is good man - good family man and a decent lefty to have in the pen.

Good to know. I agree with you about Fred. He is a baseball man. A Red Sox guy all the way.

700 and Fred - I am going to have fun with this. I know that there are some fine people and great fans who post here. I do need this outlet right now. Like I said - coached for a long long time. This is the first time I have felt retired and I truly miss everything about the game. Baseball, football, golf, track and of course basketball over the years. I am a baseball/basketball guy though. I miss the practices, the strategy, the games, and mostly the kids. It is amazing how young working with talented athletes can make you feel. I think that I will miss their foolish humor more than anything. Oh well- Spring training starts, I am quite close to Lakeland. I will hop up to see the Tigers for something to do. Fort Myers is quite a ways away. I wish they had stayed in Winter Haven. 15 minutes from where I am. A lot more $ on the coasts though. Happy New Year boys. ,,

A sensible woman there mvp. Happy New Year to all!

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.