FredLynn

Is that really true? I am not sure why the sarcasm on his part. No one is predicting 0-162 as far as I know, not even Muggah. In fact, there is a lot of sarcasm being utilized in response to some very cogent posts here..and I think they detract from the discussion. Just my opinion.

Thats a reasonable assessment SCM. I agree with all of it except that we need to do something after five games. Another reasonable option is to admit that this is not going to be our year, cut our losses, and go with who we have on the roster right now with low expectations for the year. Yes, thats hard to swallow. However if the FO plays its cards right we could have a very very good team NEXT year.

Calm down Forsythe. Get a grip. You offer absurd predictions in the face of logic backed up with facts. 0-162? Really? How about 88-74? And yes, they ARE rebuilding. High payroll franchises rebuild differently than, say, the A's or the Royals. We will still have a decent team, even in a rebuilding year such as this one. This is a year that we failed to address our blatant pitching needs because to do so would have been over the top financially while the clubhouse was still in so much of a mess that even with more pitching we likely would still have failed to win a ring. Go ahead and be optimistic if you like. No one is denying you that privilege. Have at it. Accept however that there are those who do not agree with you.

Of course he isn't going to pitch THIS bad all season. Also, I do not expect him to have a good year. His history is that every other year he is good. This is that "other year". I am expecting an ERA for him around 4.20, slightly worse than his average since he joined the team. I think its about 4.03, though I don't have stats to look at right now. He has been quite inconsistent, I think you will agree if you review his history with the Red Sox (and if you keep an open mind when you look at those stats). As long as your expectations for this season are not too high you will not be disappointed. Right now about 88 wins seems realistic to me. Its next year that I have much higher hopes for this team.

i agree. Tomorrow the Tigers will complete the sweep. We could win a game in Toronto, but just one most likely. This is just about what I expected of Beckett. Honestly, I thought we might score more runs this year. Oh well....such is life during a rebuilding year. Enjoy the ride, right?

Have you any proof that he even dislikes that role? As I said, his likes and dislikes don't matter much to me. I think that players need to do what they are told to do, like any other employee. But I don't remember him stating that he would not want the closer role at all. Did he say that?

Ever been asked at work by your boss to do a job you don't particularly like? I know I have. My boss named me to be the team leader in implementing the electronic medical record system at Kaiser in Northern California not only for my service area but to participate in teaching this all over Northern California. I had lots of travel time and stays in hotel rooms for two years while this system was being implemented. I did not like this assignment at all. I am not particularly adept with computers, and that is, in part, why I was chosen. My boss thought that if I could learn it, anyone could, I guess. Despite my dislike for this assignment, I did it because I was told to do it. I grew into it, gradually, and it made me more competent with Health Connect, the medical record system, and with computers in general. If Daniel Bard is told that the team needs him to close games, I EXPECT him to accept this over whatever personal preferences he has. Although I don't recall ever hearing him quoted as stating that he would not like to close games (I do remember him saying that he prefers to be a SP), in the end, his desires have to take a back seat to team needs. Whether this is the best solution to the current problem is another issue. The bottom line is that every single player needs to put his wants and needs on the back burner so that the TEAM can succeed.

Do you really think Bard's going to pitch well in a role he doesn't want to be in? Yes I do. I expect him to put the team first and be a PROFESSIONAL. Last I checked Daniel Bard did not own the franchise. Like every other employee I expect him to do his job, and that is to pitch for the Boston Red Sox, wherever they tell him to pitch.

ORS has made a decent argument for Bard in the rotation. I am not sure I agree with it,but at least it makes some sense in the long term. I still favor returning him to the pen as closer because he has great potential there as long as he is not overused. Also, I take issue with the "Bard wants to start" posts. Bard has the right to say what he likes, but one of the major problems with this team is that too many players are dictating how the team is run...like Beckett last year demanding a caddy catcher and Ortiz demanding to be in the lineup to pad his stats or Wakefield remaining in there to go for his 200th win to the detriment of the team last year. That stuff has to stop. If its better for Bard to be in the bullpen FOR THE TEAM, then thats where he belongs, no matter what HE wants.

I am saying that I disagree with that plan. I think it is misguided. And as you say, if Bard is in the rotation, then he has to be replaced with a reliable arm in the bullpen, and that wasn't done. I am not convinced that Melancon is a failure yet; he could still perform well. But adding him does not cover for the loss of both Bard and Papelbon. Those losses leave us with a weak bullpen, a conclusion that is logical by looking at the parts out there, independent of today's debacle.

88 wins. Before Bailey went down, I thought 90 was reachable. Its fine. This is what happens in a rebuilding year.

Source: Bailey bothered by thumb injury FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In revealing the Red Sox starting rotation plans for the beginning of the regular season, manager Bobby Valentine Sunday morning hinted that an undisclosed injury in the bullpen affected his decision-making. Though Valentine didn't say so, the issue involves a right thumb injury that has been bothering closer Andrew Bailey, according to a baseball source. Bailey has pitched in a big league game just once in the last 10 days. The last time Bailey pitched, it was in a minor league game, which would seem to indicate that the Sox are contemplating placing him the disabled list to start the season. It's much easier to backdate a player -- placing him on the DL retroactively -- when he hasn't pitched in a major league spring training game in a while. Valentine chose Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard as his fourth and fifth starters respectively, with Alfredo Aceves ticketed for the bullpen, in part because of his versatility and value there. But Valentine said part of the motivation was that he wasn't sure about his back-end relievers. "A little,'' said Valentine. "If I answer that the way I should answer it, you'll be confused because you don't have all the information. But the answer is yes. I think there might be a health situation -- there might be.'' Additionally, because of that instability in the back of the bullpen, the 25th spot on the roster -- which Valentine said Saturday would likely go to a position player, may now instead go to a 13th pitcher. Previously, it was believed that Pedro Ciriaco, Nate Spears and Jason Repko were battling for the utility spot. http://www.csnne.com/baseball-boston-redsox/redsox-talk/Source-Bailey-bothered-by-thumb-injury?blockID=680882&feedID=3352

Don't you think that its Schilling's job to bring up items of a controversial nature regardless of how it affects the team? He works for ESPN, not the Boston Red Sox. When Valentine worked for ESPN he also was critical of some of our players. For what the Blowhard did for this team I will always have a soft spot for him. But even if he never played for us, he is doing what he is supposed to be doing for his employer. As to the content of what he is saying, I hope he is right. I want some discomfort amongst the players. That way I know that meaningful change is probably taking place. Had the Fenway Country Club continued there would be no rumblings of discontent because the players did whatever they wanted to do, including walking all over their manager. This is all good folks. Its a positive development. Progress is being made. Win or lose this year we should be well positioned to make a run at a ring next year or the year after that.

My guess is that its Beckett who is feeding Schilling his material. The hard workers on the club (guys like Pedroia, Crawford, and Ellsbury) are no doubt enjoying the new workouts, but folks in Beckett's camp are most likely pretty unhappy right now that the Fenway Country Club has disappeared. Schilling is supposed to be controversial; thats his job. It was Valentine's job to be controversial when HE worked for ESPN. Vanilla doesn't work in the media-just look at the nightly news for proof. Finally, its not a bad thing that some players are irritated as change takes place, its a good thing. Change is difficult, always. After the irritation will follow acceptance (or departure for those who cannot make the transition). And this team will be much better for the impending transition.

Does this mean that I can post pictures too? Mod?

I think we are very close to the same in terms of talent level as at the end of the year. Look who our SP were at the end of the year: Wakefield, Weiland, Miller etc. This year at least CB is back, and Bard could work out. The rest of the SP besides Lester and Beckett suck, but are they really much worse than last year? Lackey being gone is a (+). And replacing Francona with Valentine is also a (+). I guess thats the crux of it; you think we are worse than last year, I think we are just no better.