Kimmi

IMO, there was no reason for that post other than to demean my opinion or creditibility. It adds nothing to the baseball conversation. Sure, I have a very strong point of view. So do you. So does most every other poster on this site.

Sorry, but your statements sound hypocritical to me when you come up with all sorts of reasons why Dombrowski was fired, other than he did a poor job or that he was incompetent, but the only possible reason that Ben could have been fired was because he did a poor job or that he was incompetent. As a700 stated in his signature, Dombrowski was not fired because he was doing a good job. It doesn't work that way. As I said before, you can't have it both ways. FTR, I think that Dombrowski was fired because Detroit was just ready to go in another direction, not because of incompetence. I believe the same to be true for Ben, the Sox were just ready to try a different direction. Dombrowski got another job right away because he wanted it. Ben might have had another job, and yes a #1 job, but he was not interested at the time.

IMO, Larry sticking his nose where it didn't belong was the problem. I was really hopeful that once Larry was gone, Ben would be given the autonomy that he needed. I know I've mentioned this several times, but I don't think it's an insignificant opinion that several baseball executives agree that most of the mistakes that Ben made came from higher up in the organization. Ben can only do his job as well as others allow him to. Theo went through the same thing when he was here. People often criticized Theo for his free agent signings. Look at what he has been able to do with the Cubs when he was given the power. I bet Ben could do the same.

There is a premium on defense right now, especially up the middle. I personally love the idea of having one of the best defensive outfields in baseball. I think that he will hit enough to warrant him being a starting center fielder (or right fielder).

I'm not sure what kind of contracts Encarnacion and Bautista will command, but I hope that the Sox don't sign either of them to a huge contract. Encarnacion will be 34 at the beginning of next season and Bautista will be 36. I realize that they are both very good hitters right now, but chances are that age will catch up to them within the next couple of years.

The team really has no choice but to speak the company line. What else can they say? I still think Hanley gets a bum rap on the whole attitude/lazy thing. I seriously think with him, he is just a big flake, for lack of a better word. Hanley was first of all willing to learn a new position to come to this team. By all accounts he worked very hard prior to the season preparing for that new position. He hit very well until he hurt his shoulder running into a wall. Then, when the team at first said that they were committed to keeping Hanley in LF, Hanley said that that is where he wanted to play. When the team then said that they were going to move him to 1B, he was very willing to move to yet another new position. In other words, I have not read anything that makes me believe that he has been a problem with regard to any of this. Also, Hanley wanted to play winter ball to better prepare himself for the coming season. It was the team who nixed that idea, and Hanley accepted their decision with no problem.

Hanley at first base scares the heck out of me too. I don't think it's a matter of physical ability, but the ability to stay focused and not make mental errors. The good thing is that we have Travis Shaw who can play a decent first base if needed. I have a feeling that Hanley will get a fair share of bats as DH, giving both him and Ortiz a breather. If Hanley is as bad at first base as some of us fear, I think Dombrowski is the type who won't hesitate to bench him, regardless of his price tag. All that said, until he shows me otherwise, I am going to hope that Hanley can at least play at a level where he won't be a liability.

I have no gripes with Henry. I don't like that Ben was fired, but I can understand the move.

If I were Ben, I would have left too.

What are you talking about with Ben being knocked so far down the totem pole? He would have retained his GM title had he stayed and would be right below Dombrowski. Yes, he was demoted, but not so far down the totem pole as to be invisible.

If I did not find posting here enjoyable, I would not be here. As far as the 4200 posts, that just goes to show that I have no life. Or that I need to correct other posters a lot.

I have no problem with people disagreeing with me. I enjoy a good debate/discussion. That's why I come here.

Thank you MVP. I like when people disagree with my opinion. If we all agreed on everything, what fun would that be?

As I've said before, I have to take the cheap shots as a compliment. It's their last resort.

I agree with this. Henry made statements just a couple of weeks earlier that Ben was their long term GM. I don't think Ben would have been replaced if Dombrowski hadn't been let go.

Once again, I agree that Cherington was "fired", though not technically so. Or more accurately, he was demoted. My statement that Cherington was less fired than Dombrowski is for those who think that Cherington must be incompetent because he was fired, and Henry's opinon is the bottom line, yet turn right around and think Dombrowski is competent and what this team needs when he was fired as well. You can't have it both ways.

I don't know why you insist on making comments like this.

Technically, he didn't. He was less fired than Dombrowski was.

Not sure. I still haven't received the naked photos, and that somehow seems like an abuse of power.

Thanks. No specifics, other than what I've already noted. Oddly enough, I have not received that message since I since I made that post.

I do believe that Henry was too impatient and premature in firing Ben.

So, if I said that many FOs offered Ben the position of President of Baseball Operations but he declined to interview for them, you would accept that as true, even though you had not heard it and you could not find any evidence of it anywhere? I highly doubt that. As I said, I'm sure you probably heard someone talk about it on the radio at some point. Your statement was still misleading.

Blame it on Lucchino!

My feelings about someone being old school or new school is not an insult. My father is very much old school, and I respect and admire him more than any other man. I also realize it's not an either or thing. Old school people do use stats, though I don't think they utilize the saber stats enough. New school people still use the eye test and the traditional stats, though their preference is sabermetrics. The thing about watching a player play to know how good he is only works to a certain extent, as do the traditional stats. My opinion is that the voters for HOF and most other baseball awards are too old school. That's all it is, my opinion.

I have no problem with Pesky's number being retired.