FredLynn

Conjecture. The real fact is that he will be given a CHANCE to be the #4 starter.

Ummm...to state the obvious, Bard has never started a ML game. It is not clear that he will be able to make that transformation. As I recall, the Yankees tried it with a very good (at the time) reliever named Joba Chamberlain. How did that work out?

Thats not the way it was worded. If thats not what he meant (muggah) or what you mean, then choose your words better. When I call someone an idiot, its deserved.....the original post was deserving. You may rest assured that I mean PERFORMANCE ON THE FIELD when we use colorful terms to describe the players. Since I do not know them personally I cannot judge what kind of ethics or intelligence they possess off the field. Likewise, YOU cannot judge whether or not Muggah or me are idiots because you do not know us personally. Therefore, your use of that term is inappropriate. Shall I just call you a sap? Yeah, well I hate to break it to you, but I piss people off over here at times too because I am also critical of the Redsox......do you know why I do not post about it 50 times a day? Because nobody wants to hear it. Everyone around here knows what I think, there is no reason the say the same negative s*** over and over every single day.....and again, its not personal.....its the internet. You want to talk about thin skinned? You take the internet personal, thats thin skinned my friend. Well, lah-de-dah. You can be critical too! Wonderful news! Look, you post what you like about the Sox or other teams here. There is a reason, however, that its common knowledge that posts that call other posters "idiots" are considered to be in bad form. You should know better. It has nothing to do with being "thin skinned"-if you attack me in that manner I can dish it out better than you can give it, if I choose to lower myself to your level. Every time you or anyone else is calling another poster an idiot or some other derogatory term in my mind that insult indicates that it is really YOU who is the idiot. As I said to Emmz, I am not the father of anyone here (that I know of); I post my opinion about what constitutes decency and we all behave in the manner in which we see fit. Thats the way it will continue, and I will post just as often as I like. Got it? On the actual topic, I hope to hell that Oswalt is coming to Boston......otherwise, they have some questions to answer about why their starting SS was traded. They said he was traded to make room for a pitcher.......so I hope that happens. On the actual topic, if we are over the cap already, then, assuming there is a reasonable offer that could bring Oswalt here, it should be made. I don't remember anyone from the FO saying specifically that Scutaro was traded to make room for a pitcher however.

You are certainly free to be a Lakers fan-as long as you act like a Celtics fan in public.

I see. You like to do the accusing, but when it comes to backing up your worthless claims, you claim that you "don't feel like it". That puts your statements in the category of unsubstantiated jibberish. Oh-and I could not care less if someone of your stature respects me here or not. Life for me will somehow go on without it.

He's not here.

Bob, this is your opinion. I respect it, but I don't agree with it. When you look at the public figures that are in the eye of our own country (not sure if you are following it from Nova Scotia), you see Newt Gingrich calling Mitt Romney a liar in the news. Its tradition to call underperforming players bums. All of that refers to their performance on the field ONLY. If you don't think calling players names here is appropriate, I think you should continue to refrain from doing it. But you do not have the right to impose that opinion on others here.

Are you discussing the MLB.COM product? I get nearly all the games on my computer, not on TV. Is MLB TV a television based product?

That will be nothing compared to the screaming and pouting Ortiz will do if he loses.

So you also think he is "disgusting", a "piece of s***" and an "*******" as well? You are blaming Wakefield for Tito sending him out there? You are blaming Wakefield for the RedSox incompetence and not putting a better product on the field? Since when was that Wakefield's problem? If Wakefield wants to pitch, and the Redsox are stupid enough to offer a contract, thats on the Redsox, not Wakefield. I think his PERFORMANCE is a piece of s***, disgusting, selfish...and whatever other colorful names you want to ascribe to it. I don't know Tim Wakefield, so I assume that off the field he is a fine gentleman. He COULD have told Francona not to march his sorry ass out to the mound to start a game after failing to win #200 after five or six tries. That selfish quest contributed significantly to the Red Sox failing to make the playoffs last year. There was justification. I am critical of the team as well, but you sawxhead guys are friggin brutal, no wonder those guys over there hate you guys and drove you out. First of all, no one drove us out. ALL OF US are still posting over there, and we all get along just fine, as a general rule, "over there". Yes, some of us are brutal in our criticism at times here. But we do not call other posters here idiots without first being attacked PERSONALLY- yes, it is personal, and thats why its considered bad behavior in an internet forum. I was a moderator over there for a time, and I know that I had to ban people because of just this sort of thing. Call out the team however you like, within the boundaries of decency, but you do not have the right to attack other posters. Allowing that nonsense would turn this board into something very unpleasant, a "free for all", as 700 mentioned. Calling another poster an idiot is simply inappropriate.

Players are public figures, like politicians. It comes with the territory that they get called names. Public figures understand that. Calling other posters names is in a totally different category. Thats personal, and its behavior that doesn't belong here. So "wipe the sand from YOUR &^&%^ (I won't repeat the sexist comment you made)" and wake the f up.

Good post that totally misses the point. All of the names we are giving Wakefield relate EXCLUSIVELY to his performance on the field. He IS selfish. He once said that the fans here "deserve" to see him go for the record number of wins by a Sox pitcher. Screw the team, if necessary, but he is going for that personal mark, come hell or high water. And how many times did he trot out there trying to win #200 instead of telling the manager that enough is enough for the benefit of THE TEAM? Was it 10 times? Wakefield could be Jesus Christ himself when he is in street clothes, but his selfish incompetent performance on the field dictates that his time is long long past.

I agree that winning is the only thing that is important. I also believe that Beckett's attitude negatively impacts our ability to win games. Thats why he should be traded-if he cannot change.

This is the year to correct the problems in the clubhouse, and Beckett IS a problem in the clubhouse. Did you listen to the interview he did with Mazz and Fegler on the radio? He rationalized the crap that went on during games as "stuff that happens in the clubhouse should stay in the clubhouse". Way to take responsibility for mistakes there, big guy. I don't think we can get equal value for him, but we should be able to come close. His ERA is over 4 in Boston, and his attitude sucks. Maybe we could trade him for someone with a better attitude whose ERA is similar. But for now, I would give him a little more time with Bobby V, who might be able to fix the problem.

I could see giving him a little time to think about his crappy attitude. But if he hasn't changed by midseason, if we are not in the running for a playoff spot, I would certainly try to get rid of him. Clubhouse cameraderie is not to be underestimated, and if Beckett still thinks that no apologies are due for the BS that went on there, he should take his talents elsewhere.

Agreed. He and Beckett are cancers on the team and it would be best if neither put on the Sox uniform again. We are going to be stuck with Ortiz but we could trade Beckett and hi$ contract for someone who could fill his shoes. His career ERA with the Red Sox is over 4 and right now his value is as high as its going to be for a while. If this is the year we spend fixing the team, we jettison Josh Beckett and his spoiled recalcitrant unapologetic BS attitude. Make an example of him and others on the team will realize that the FO means business.

What? Give up Lars? One of our top prospects? :thumbdown