mstar1

good for Micah- I had my moment yesterday. i was rushing around doing things, busy, distracted at about 5:30, when a thought ( Who's pitchin tonight?) entered my head I realized immediately how far off base i was....and tried to stuff the thought back in--but it made me laugh.... oops..... has that happened to anyone else yet?

I dont know Theo is pretty sharp. I dont know much about Padilla, but even Im seeing giant redlights, caution flags, bridge out signs and hearing screaming warning sirens and yous guys are way over in Texas. Good Luck unloading him.... ...or... to be nice I 'spose I could say-- good luck to him, maybe you can find a place that he fits, some guys just dont seem to fit in certain places and he can work out somewhere else.... speaking of which...I wonder whats up with Edgar Renteria, I know he didnt work well here, but he is starting to develop the Kenny Lofton style career path... he'll be on his 4th team in 5 years. I wonder whats going on there.

Holy dysfunction- I know Ive seen and heard things like that its just been a few years since Ive heard a manager say something like that, or a pitcher do something like that. Thats all catastrophically unprofessional all the way around. I dont see how a team can function with that type of crap going on(.....well it doesnt function vert well does it?) Id dump him, dfa him or eat the contract and send him to A before Id subject the rest of the team to that. Washington souds like he needs a primer on keeping things in house, or at least trying to put some positive spin on it, He still is going to be the guy who has to somehow motivate him... The last time I heard a hint of anything like that was Jay Payton vocally complaining(tirading really) that he wasn't getting his deserved playing time in 2005...Theo traded him that very day. As far as JD goes, Im not as close to his history as you two seem to be, I have only seen him for a year. It was less than I expected at the plate but one thing in his favor is that right now he is at the very least an adequate starter on a World Champion. No other RF can say that right now for his perceived faults that counts for something. (and to the organization about an extra 45-50m). There were no stretches of injuries alluded to by Hiway and none of the overt weirdness that is happening with Padilla. He did fill alot of holes in the lineup from leadoff to 8 as necessary over the year and was adequate and steady in the field Would the Red Sox have won with Trot Nixon or someone else cheaper? maybe, maybe not could they have gotten Drew cheaper? maybe. It wasnt (obviously) solely Drew that brough the Championship to Boston BUT he was a part of it, what part I cant calculate Im not privy to the complex mathematical formulas they use to figure all this and amillion other things out. I wish I was! but now, although it sounds like a lot of money, they calculated the gamble and bottom line--it paid off.

His September wasnt really that bad either. He did warm up just at the right time FWIW. If any slack is being given, I think its also because, unbeknownst to almost all of us, his young son was on deaths door for a good part of the year, something which he kept quiet about, never mind the new league, new town etc that I said earlier... He does lack the outward enthusiasm of a lot of players, he is never gonna be a fist pumping rah rah guy--- but something like that had to be weighing heavily on him....I know it would me, I can give him a lot of leeway for something like that, however it doesnt hurt that things turned out like they did either

Strange Post T 'Cheers" to you too I dont think about, I dont worry about it, when its my time, its my time. If something goes off, if Im not maimed or dead, i suppose I'd do what I could for the survivors until the pro's arrived and shooed me away. Something will happen someday, but I dont see the advantage of consciously carrying it around with me all the time. I would be very surprised if anything happened near me so its not a concern on a daily level --ever. If I am in some run down inner city, or some spot that is more likely ( like a tunnel or a powerplant or a national monument or something) my natural defenses raise a little higher, but I cant function when fear and paranoia run wild. maybe it is vacation time...

I dont know--(what do I know???), people were riding Drew for a good portion of the season but the end of his year wasnt all that bad. The FO may see more than I do, and be content for that to be an 'adjustment year' for him. (new league, New city, etc blah blah blah, he also had a deathly ill child much of the year that isnt well known, which Im sure to some extent adversely affected his play. . Personally although he had an overall downyear I think he is safe for another year here. One thing is though there are OFers here no one really is equipped to play right other than Drew If an OF is going I am guessing it may be Crisp ( who had a phenomenal fielding year, ran well, but underperformed as a hitter) providing he can bring the right thing in return. Just a guess. there are alot of young pitchers here, but I have already grown too attached ( too many years of seeing no one coming up!) for me to even contemplate letting any of them go. The one luxury I do have that I never in my life had before is that I now trust the FO almost all the time after hating/fearing/despising, wanted to burn them at the stake or pluck their eyes out for decades. Even when huge prospects like Hanley Ramirez get traded, that you wait a few years to see, it seems to turn out well (...well yea Beckett and Lowell were worth that...)

Gee, 3 in the pipeline, and Saltalamacchia can 'fill in'until then? heckuva 'fill in',-- these kids must be good I'll pass the cornucopia , I think you should share of your abundance...... Seriously--That should give the Rangers some leverage to pick up some quality pitching that they always seem to be looking for...

I dont think its all that weird-he works hard, is a team player, goes about his business Who could not like IRod? Ive never seen anything not to like about him--ever ...except that friggin cannon arm at the wrong time--which still inspires awe and respect from me. .............. I just heard Laird rumors over this way, (what I hear had Coco involved), but Im a little in the dark about him. I do know the Sox need a good backup catcher who isnt a blackhole in the batters box as well as someone who can grow to be THE catcher in a few years as Varitek declines. That will be some tough shoes to fill, but good young catchers seem to be at a premium, and that is one position where there isnt anyone particularly noteworthy thats homegrown coming up anytime soon Fill me in a litttle on Laird.. (so's I can let Theo know what to offer )

Sure , Ill negotiate it for you, you have had one of the most prolific posting years ever at GSC. How could Cuban not notice that? Near Ruthian, nearly in league with...excathedra...the greatest poster of her generation.... Im not trying to take it away from him. It was one of the best years by anyone ever, I just thought that the comparison was interesting and that there are others "in his league', although you would hardly know it these days. As far as the Drew money--I honestly dont know, other than the RedSox saw something that they wanted and Drew is another Boras client which I am sure jacked up his price. I have yet to hear anything about Ortiz being discontent, or wanting to opt out of anything. He seems to really like it here! Honestly if you are making 13 -14-15-17 million does a million either way mean all that much and is it worth complaining about, if you are being treated well and respected? I suspect that the Red Sox will continue to treat Ortiz well and adjust things as necessary. I dont know but I doubt that there is much if any animosity from Ortiz toward Drew. They are both in the same boat as teammates and in the same framework of payscale. Should anyone ever complain if they make 13-14 million dollars a year playing a game? The thing that would really frighten me as a general manager signing Arod at his prices and perk demands (last I read he wanted his own souvenir section, a business office, some private flights and a bunch of other stuff as well..) is that no matter where he lands-it setups a 24 plus 1 situation on any 'team'. where one is inordiantely treated differently than all of his teammates. Maybe Im stupid but I dont see how that could practically work over a long season without causing all sorts of negative backlash. Most teams have a variety of salaries but they are at least in the same ballpark depending on experience and skills. someone that far ahead would throw a whole team out of wack. but Im starting to think the whole $350m is a bluff by Boras so when someone signs him for $200-300 they will think they are actually getting a deal and the perception will be that he left some money on the table and isnt so needy/greedy afterall but really wants to play for team xxx. Who knows?

in one sense I could care less. I got dragged into it because it is all over the news and wires mostly---and here--so I think alittle about it. The only reason I care anything at all about it, is because a team has to build the business aspect wisely to put a good team on the field. I also pay a little attention because I am a one man business and by nature I am horrible at business, but I have learned alot about being at least partially effective in my business from watching the Red Sox and how they operate. Ultimately to me its really of little concern, I just want to do my work, and watch baseball---but there has to be some sound and sensical financial underpinning to do either of those well. As Im toying with baseballs numbers, in my mind I am also toying (on a much lower level0 with my own numbers and how to make them work better for me. there is a correlation and sometimes it works...

It gives me something to place my thoughts on other than working my own fingers to the bone I suppose. I'd hate to think of a world without baseball. ugg (/shivers..)...or talking about it and thinking about it. baseball certainly makes me forget about my own bony fingered challenges It still carries enough mystery, intrigue and questions even in the winter to keep me interested... there is alot of other news out there besides ARod and his $$-which is getting old already for me.. The gold gloves--no surprises for me--except i would have gone for Crisp or Granderson instead of Grady Sizemore in center.. Johann Santana, Scott Kazmir , AJ Burnett...lots of players are being talked about and conjectures being made.. How teams will shape up next year... The Red Sox are already hinting at a possible 6 man rotation next year-that would be innovative-- with the staff they have that could work out well...

I have nothing against Toledo, Rock THEY HAVE made him an offer, I do think it would be poetic and just if it is the best one that he receives. They even have his new uniform ready

Take another 20% cut for interfering with the World Series while your at it.... You know what is interesting that someone pointed out to me in late September? Yea yea ARod is a shoe in for the MVP and was ever since his 'incredibly clutch' spree in April, but his numbers really werent that different than David Ortiz, who by most peoples standards was appearing to have an off year. A stat geek pointed out that in OPS (On Base plus Slugging), which is used in stathead circles to measure a hitters overall effectiveness, Ortiz actually was ahead by.005. Ortiz, BOS .446/.623/1.069 Rodriguez, NYY .420/.644/1.064 I think a lot of people would be surprised to discover that the consensus "best player in baseball," having completed an off-the-charts career year, had a lower OPS than our creaky-kneed and much injured DH, who up till September was assumed to be having an off-year. Yes ARod is good, but why there is all this hoopla about him , sort of baffles me. maybe its those Jedi mindtricks of Boras that you were talking about and the excessive gushing over him in the media that drives the perception of him up.. Ortiz wont even be the MVP of the Red Sox, (thats probably going to Lowell), never mind the league, nor is there talk of it, but he is every bit the hitter ARod is...plus Hes great in the clubhouse...He makes around 13.5/year

I just read the particulars That looks like a fair and reasonable free agent contract to me. 8 mill for someone of Schillings stature, with possibilities up to 14 if he performs x/y/z. Id like to see more contracts structured similarly to this. It is alot of money but It makes a helluva lot of sense to me in a lot of ways

It all is sort of odd, teams should increase their revenue streams, but the owners, being businessmen, ought to be able to do that just by the fact that they are businessmen and have a good "product" on the market ( scuse me --I hate to say that word in regards to baseball-but it is true). Winning baseball always advances revenue, understanding and treating your fans well certainly doesnt hurt either. Its not exactly brain surgery. Blackmailing your fans to show up first -then maybe we will get around to winning seems like an incredibly assbackwards way of doing things. Its a shame the good people of Texas have to put up with that. Ive extolled the virtues of the RS owners here many times, and taken some heat for it a few times. They are very good businessmen and do know how to increase revenues (they have moved the team from middle market to large market in 5 years), John Henry is an investor by trade-he is not stupid when it comes to guaging risk and return but also keeping it within the context of treating the fans well ( winning--as well as innumerable other things ) The only thing that I have read from the RedSox so far front office is that if a deal is made "it will be on our terms..." I think that goes alot further than just the money issue,which I have to imagine would be less, but also goes to his whole approach to the game, which I said earlier on this thread would 'have to change' ie less Arod, more concern for the entire team. personally-----let him play for the Mudhens....

Good call Odd you should mention that Cd. I bought it this morning and have been listening to them most of this afternoon. I love it already They'll certainly get you pumped and primed for a good time. Drunken Lullabies

Its almost Veterans Day- This is for all who served and never made it home: The Green Fields of France Dropkick Murphys

Ive always thought that something like that would be a good idea, How you could successfully implement it, on a wide level would be a tough hurdle to get over though. Then of course when people like Boras are involved he brings other weird crap to the table to prove his point. I almost choked last week reading a USAToday that had him quoted as saying he was marketing ARod to teams who: "wanted to win the World Series, wanted to win more games, no wait I got I got it- -wanted to increase their revenue streams.. ......Yup, when i watch baseball thats what I watch for---there is nothing quite as exciting as watching a teams revenue stream rise <_< I suppose that he has a point to some extent, and I am sure that somehwere there are mathematical nerds and stat geeks who can quantify the value of a lot of the inner factors of the game but to me performance based pay with incentives and bonuses seems much more appropriate to providing good play on the field. I for one would like to see it. Maybe its just me... but I cant comprehend anyone, in any field of life, anywhere, turning down 91million for 3 years because it is not enough. Its not like he is on the verge of a cure for AIDS/ is ending wars or has solved the worlds energy problems. He's....Mr. April.... I would love it if no one gave him a deal

ESPN is reporting that Schilling is re signing with the Sox for 8-10m base with bonuses up to 13m.. Although his win totals have gone down he is still invaluable to the team. They brought him here specifically to win a World Series, and he has been part of two, sacrificing his body to do it. What is that worth? Its a tough business call but I am glad that after all that he has brought here, that he will be ending his career here Thats about all Ive heard so far on FA's, although of course there is alot of talk about Lowell and that other guy HERE is a 10,000 word article in the NewYorker on your favorite human , Scott Boras that I found yesterday. It's entitled "The Extortionist"

Its a good year to be a New England sports fan! While we are at it-- Go Celtics!

From Hope on the last page: Ive never listened to much punk stuff, but in the last month or so Ive discovered and have been overwhelmed by the Dropkick Murphys. Its a whole new way for me to listen I love em, sort of a blend of old celtic/irish tunesand instruments with straight forward kickass rock and roll Their Warriors Code CD is first on my rotation lately

scuse my absence at such a crucial time.....damn, I cant believe that after watching nearly every pitch during the whole season, that a church burns down in the middle of nowhere in Michigan, and I have to be there, witha truckload of equipment in two days,....pffft... I ended up watching the last game of the World Series in ahotel outside Toledo, and missed a week of celebrations around here, I dont know if people in thius little town in Michigan had ever heard of baseball, never mind the Red Sox---It was very strange for me, being in a near media blackout area..but at least the clients were ecstatic that I showed and did a good job for them.... .Fenway is like that--you are very very close to the game., and the fans are into it. Some places are beautiful and you can go in the pool, or to the playground, or look at the beautiful scenery--or whatever else ..and it seems like you are miles away--- which is all fine but at places like Fenway there is not much to do other than stay focussed on the game, combined with the fanaticism it makes the place loud. Some players are built for it, some arent. Edgar Renteria could not play well in Boston, some(most) feed off the energy. I think that there is a real phenomena to "the tenth man", at least the Red Sox players give it alot of credit, and even though they are 'professionals' some opposing players do at times seem visually rattled. More than one has lost his composure and gone off on Boston Fans---and..if they are thinking about the fans, then they arent thinking about the game... In the 1903 World Series, the Boston Royal Rooters (the 100 year ago version of Red Sox Nation) traveled with the team, had a band , organized cheers, and sang a broadway song "Tessie" over and over and over, changing the lyrics to chide the opposing players. These things were unheard of at the time. Twenty years after that first series ended Honus Wagner was asked for his recollections of the series and his only words were "God I hated that song". I dont know why I went down that avenue,other than I love the history and the song was revived a few years ago, but I do think that fans can make a difference. As far as Mr Torre goes..good luck in LA It could be a good fit--at least way better than Grady Little, He is good with the players and the press, and agood strategic field manager, the only thing that I see as something that I saw as a tendency that I didnt like was that he burns through his bullpens. His middle relievers usually have about 80 appearances each and are on fumes for agood portion of the year---he hasnt had all that much luck with the stability of his starters over the last few years come to think of it either, whether it is them or his handling of them I dont know..but there has been an inordinate number of injuries to his pitching staffs the past few years Maybe that will end, maybe its all coincidence--or hope that the Dodgers are deep in ML ready pitchers in AA and AAA as they may be going there in key situations. Also thought that THIS ARTICLE on Arods new suitor was pretty good. In response to Hank Steinbrenner's question "Does A-Rod want to be a New York Yankee or a Toledo Mud Hen" the Toledo Mud Hens made him an offer, with an incentive bonus for if he hits 75 homers or leads them to multiple international league titles

Your pretty delusional yourself if you think that wasnt a well played series. I dont know what you consider good baseball as you hardly ever talk about actual baseball. Its mostly about parking troubles , or the color of the seats, other fans of teams who arent as enlightened as yourself, or how money wins baseball games. Its hard to know if you have ever seen any good plays, players , strategic moves, on any level becaus eyou never talk about anything except...the Red Sox are the New Yankees --like a damn broken record thats skipping with nothing to back your assertions, or how fans arent real fans unless they meet your criteria Frankly Im tired of it, some people have the courage to stick with ateam through thick and thin and carry an allegiance and devotion with them, Whether you think so or not, they are real baseball fans, Baseball does not some how get better, nor you are not a 'better fan' because you find some reason to bail on your team, nor is it any better or different when you stay emotional safe and detached... get used to it... As far as the Arod thing--yea he will have to change a lot--are you serious thinking that he wont? Look at Arods record, what exactly has he won in his career? Name me something wothwhile ---Anything anywhere? I'll wait while you think on that.... .... .... What good is he if all he can do is amass records to himself? He is a bit player... Yea he hits alot --woop de frikkin doo Does he know how to win??? does he know how to play on a team?? His record speaks for itself. Right now, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, have done something that Arod has never done and may never do And something he is clueless about.... do I want him-- im ambivalent about it, I could really care less at this point. Mike Lowell is twice the team player than he is...and you can see the results if you cant see that -then you're blind

Not for me it wasn't. It was a thing of beauty Beautiful execution, from everyone in the lineup. Ive said often here that it takes 25 players, and that was well played by all hands. I didnt see any weak links Quality, quality quality, all the way through, pitch by pitch, play by play, the way baseball should be played and why the Red Sox are the best team in baseball. There is alot I could talk about but I think that there is something wonderful to be said about John Lester who last year at this time was fighting cancer, didnt know if he would ever pitch again winning the final game, and Mike Lowell, who also fought off having Testicular Cancer winning the series MVP. Good for them The Sox were considered a cancer not that long ago too... all things can change--who wouldve thunk that this would happen 5 years ago? 2 in 4 years? certainly not me - I am only very thankful to be able to live through it, and be apart of the good that it does for the families , communities and friends that are scattered all around RedSox nation... Hats off to the Rockies, although they didnt show it, they play a different brand of baseball that I like, I hope I have the honor of seeing them more in the future Thats a question for another day, I was angry and perturbed that the attention whore had to choose the last game of the World Series to make sure his name got plastered around, Trying to outshadow people like Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester who in my eyes far outshine him as players and as people, and were actually playing baseball, like champions, making plays yesterday, and not out golfing and conniving how to make more money than God It was bush league and disrespectful to the game to announce that then....in the middle of an inning no less--Guess what ARod? no one cares-you are not that important.... as far as if he plays here, I am sort of doubtful, but if he does there will be alot of things that he will need to change before Boston even thinks of signing him..they play as a team over here--not as a bunch of individuals- -If Theo and Tito can drum that into him -then maybe they will take a chance on him....but I doubt that they will ---let him go someplace else ---- personally I am hoping that they keep Mike Lowell....with Jed Lowrie waiting in the wings (yet another up and comer)..... Maybe Francona will now get some of the respect that he deserves-- that was an incredibly well managed series. Tito is now 8-0 in WS play Nothing like having your longest winning streak of the year, just when you need it. I'll be around when I can, as i said Im on the road typing on hotel lobby computers.... Thank You Thank You Red Sox

I hate to be premature, but like i said a few posts ago i have to leave so I wont be around I know its not over yet-I saw the Sox come back from 0-3 BUT Im not seeing that happening in this series (I could be wrong-I hope not though..) I hope you enjoyed yourself HAP --There is nothing for me quite like being swept up in the euphoria of a magical team. The Rockies proved they are that That was helluva run, 21-22 just to get to the series is record book stuff. The Rocks will be around for a long long time. Support em- enjoy em they have certainly given you and their fans something thrilling to remember come around this thread more often--- its been good having you here Its a great great game.... .....