FredLynn

We are not going to be in a position to choke this October. The word for the year is MEDIOCRITY

Game over folks. Ellsbury blows the game for the Sox today. Too bad. Not really worth watching this game anymore.

More runs are on the way. Bucky up to 27 pitches. We will get to see the pen very soon. Wonderful

Bucky cannot allow any more runs here

Then I was right. Eventually his ineffectiveness will force his hand (so to speak). I applaud him for wanting to try to play hurt; I'll I've him that much. Other guys refuse to do that.

I believe what Papelbon said is that he thinks the Philllies fans are more knowledgeable than the Red Sox fans, that they are a more intelligent group. On what basis do you think that is true? Do you have a data base for each group of fans? I doubt Papelbon does either. I would say that the Red Sox fans are the most vociferous and ardent fans around. Papelbon was blowing more hot air.

Ross, Youkilis, and Salty given the day off? Guess the season is already wearing on them. Go Sox, right? Not really expecting a win but I would certainly love to steal one in Detroit before heading off to Canada.

I agree that he should be traded if at all possible, but I realize that there are good arguments against that position too. We are unlikely to get equal value (as a baseball player) in return, and in the short term losing a decent though inconsistent #3 SP will hurt. But in the long term making sure that ALL the players are on the same page is more than good payback for getting rid of him...IMO, of course.

Thats wonderful VA! Aceves is our closer. I know I can sleep more soundly tonite knowing that fact.

And I was trying to calm him down.

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.