cp176

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.

I would have to go back and check but I am close. Never paid too much attention before. Grandstand season's tickets under the roof. Approximate cost per game - last year $55 - this year $78.

Regardless of what the Sox do, looks to me like they are passing along the expenses to their fans. Our nice little grandstand season's tickets went up in price by just about 50%. Seats aren't that comfortable, passing them up. Going to spend my time in front of the tv. One day at Fenway - grandstand - parking - 4 seats - a few tasty treats - somewhere between $500 and $1000. Maybe it does mean a more significant free agent signing.

Ooh - I have been scolded. Like reading your posts buddy, just don't agree with everything you say.

Maddon will have his fun with the Cubs for sure. I agree with respect to your comments about the shift. I watched Ted ignore them. A lot of people bitched about his approach and felt that he should hit away from them. I think that he did alright doing what he did. Let's see how Madden's shifts work out in the National League.

Truly anyone who thinks that you can mask a player's inabilities in the field via any shift is probably someone whose opinion I don't value. Good luck to you and all your special thoughts. I am not an XB hater. I want him to make it but I would be pleasantly surprised with respect to his abilities in the field. I do think that he will hit. Let it go or whatever.

Betts and Swihart would be off the table for me I am just not sure that Hamels is the guy.

Merry XMAS - Santa is on his way!

Merry Christmas to all - Have to go watch that stock market rise. It better rise based on what I spent for the Holiday!

Well that's nice - thanks

Hopefully no one questions the need to be strong up the middle defensively. If you think our third baseman is going to help Bogaerts out with that ball in the hole, I want some of what you are drinking. A good catcher's strength is closely followed by a solid shortstop. Once again, I find it quite ironic that some don't recognize that fact. I can't say that that is my opinion because it is simply a fact.

Sorry - I meant to say - It not it's. I sense semantics are important to you. I also sense just a bit of condescension in your tone. You see I am proud but actually quite humble. I hope that you might be as right as you think you are with respect to my opinion.

It is my opinion. It is not wrong. It's just differs from yours. That being said, I'm sure that I don't have to tell you what opinions are like.

My take on this thread is that many of the current posters are somewhat satisfied with the current pitching staff composition. The discussion did drift a bit as to what type of lineup it would take to support their potential staff . That lineup does not exist at this time. With respect to Joe Kelly, I am fine with his potential but projecting him to be more than a solid 3 much like the rest of this staff isn't being fair to him.

I agree with you! We aren't talking yaz, Evans, Fisk, lynn, rice and the rest of the boys here. I would pleasantly be surprised if this team becomes a bludgeoner. I realize I am on a bit of a rant tonight but I really feel like we are all expected to think that we are just loaded up and ready to go. Average, average, average! Give them all coaches awards and call it good. They participated - they get an award!