FredLynn

Why do you think that the management of the Red Sox is going to tell us the truth about the injury? They do not have to do that if that is their choice. They do not owe us the truth. Its possible that in this case the truth is too embarassing; its also possible that Pedroia suffered two separate injuries to the same thumb in the same season and they are unrelated. Which option sounds more believable to you?

Here is what Mazz said about using injuries as an excuse for the failure of this team: "Injuries haven't been the problem; execution has" I believe that is true. However the Sox have scored their runs, the fact remains that they are second in the league in runs scored. Offensively they have been adequate, at the very least. The disappearance of Gonzales and Pedroia have hurt the team, as has the absence of other position players-and no doubt if everyone were clicking on all cylinders we would have even more runs and we would have won more games. So yes, the injuries are a factor, just as injuries are a factor for every other ML team in baseball. To use them as an excuse is a copout, and I am not buying it, FWIW. The pitching, while better, is still below average. We do not have any ace at all; we have a bunch of #3 SP. IMO that is a huge problem, and its one our FO has been aware of for years and done nothing to fix. The final issue is the attitude and professionalism of this team. Every single game thread has made mention (by me) of the sloppy brand of baseball that is being played. Its really worthy of a last place team, and I don't see any discipline being meted out as a result of it. Its simply tolerated, it seems. Its possible that with a better team attitude we would still be in the hunt for first place. Attitude issues like the ones Ortiz and Pedroia have exhibited this season have a negative effect IMO on the play on the field. Until that is corrected once and for all, THIS is the kind of product Henry is going to foist on the fans.

Not yet. If the fans become apathetic and don't show up at the games Lucchino is history. Can't happen soon enough.

No, he isn't worth a great deal, is he. He is, however, a legend in his own mind, and has no trouble telling the media that story. I say we get rid of him for whatever we can get in return because his toxic attitude could spread to our younger players like Middlebrooks and Kalish. He is a cancer on this team right now despite his performance. He can retire a Red Sox in the same way Pudge retired a Ranger-he can get a one day contract to return here to retire. I agree with you and SCM that Iglesias is not ready now and very well could NEVER be ML ready if he cannot learn to hit the baseball. I have written that several times. Still, Valentine did want him up here for whatever reason, and I used Iggy as an example of Valentine not being allowed full control of the team the way he should. And regarding Bard, it IS 100% on the FO. Bard expressed what he wanted to do-start. Thats fine. He can say whatever he likes as long as he does what he is told. And who tells him what to do? The FO. They gave him so much time as a SP that it ruined him. Thats on them, not Bard. To the end Bard considered himself a starter. Blaming Bard for this is like blaming a pawn for being captured by your opponent's queen: its the guys in charge of the game that are at fault, not the chess pieces themselves.

Its at least half Lucchino's fault. Both LL and Cherington need to be fired for this franchise to move forward. Left to their own devices more promising players will be screwed up. In Bard's situation, the following rule pertains: "If it ain't broken, don't fix it".

It is entirely conceivable that this injury is related to the previous injury and that we are not being given the full story about it. It would not surprise me one bit if Pedroia is out for an extended period of time or if he eventually required surgery that might have been avoided if he had been put on the DL when it first happened instead of being allowed to call the shots at that time when he declared "No one tells me when I am going to play".

He might make it back next year in some capacity. I don't believe that he will be the "lights out" 8th inning guy ever again. Our FO saw to that.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp193/JIMMYLIMO1/a-bombgif1-new.gif

I voted "sell" (big surprise, eh?) because I think thats the best strategy going forward. What they WILL do is anyone's guess.

Its actually pretty simple: if you still hold out hope for this year's run at a ring, it would be foolish to trade away your best offensive player. If you think that this year is a lost cause already, your best offensive player is a great chip with which to plan for the future, given his age and attitude problems.

Because Cherington is still running the show. Valentine is not being given full reign here. He didn't want Bard to start, but Bard was converted anyway. He wanted Iglesias up; Iglesias is still a minor leaguer, for better or worse. Valentine has been a breath of fresh air to this team, but he is not a miracle worker. As for jettisoning Ortiz, if you believe we have no real chance for a ring this year, he is a valuable piece to trade. Its a winning strategy, just not for this year. Its important to keep things in perspective and formulate a sound plan for the future, and that future should not include a nearly 40 YO fossil.

Papi got what he deserved at his age. His rant is revolting. What does he mean when he said "guys like me don't deserve to be treated that way"? Does he mean that its OK to treat others that way, just not prima donna MEFIRSTS like Ortiz? Does he have any idea how selfish his rant sounds to the fans or how divisive it is right now? Even if thats what he thinks, he really ought to know when to keep his mouth shut. This will (or should) be his last year here anyway; lets make is a memorable one instead of an embarassment.

Maybe a good Josh Beckett fried chicken recipe. And good home brewed beer.

Do exactly the opposite of whatever Jacko says to do. He is a Yankees fan.

You know what? I really don't much care how this weekend series turns out. In the grand scheme of things it might even be better for the Sox to lose this series. Winning it could create false hope that this franchise has some chance to make good when those chances are very very slim. Sometimes it takes a major event to effect change. That is true in life, and its true in business too. If the Sox keep stumbling along at close to .500 all year and somehow either back into the playoffs or narrowly miss them then the excuses and rationalizations will follow. Thats not what we need. We need wholesale changes in our FO and probably in the ownership group as well. Here is further evidence that a complete housecleaning is needed. Its Ortiz, commenting on his offseason negotiations and how "a guy like me" got his ego bruised. Guess he meant that such negotiations should only be perpetrated on someone else. Its an example of the MEFIRST attitude that still infests this organization. Until its eradicated we aren't winning anything. Here's his comment: "It was humiliating," Ortiz said. "There's no reason a guy like me should go through that. ...