mstar1

...another day, another game, another RBI from Manny...and its only the first inning....

Well yea of course thats true --- Im not in LA Hiway could speak better than I on this, but aside from the hits and HR's--look what he has done for a city of millions of people---whether it really amounts to anything in the big picture is difficult to guage---but if there is enthusiasm, adrenaline and a 'feel good' attitude about the Dodgers it spills over into other parts of the life of a city as well....at least I think so...... I loves in the article i posted the bit about Manny leaving uncashed paychecks for $900,000+ in his locker. There were plenty of stories when he was here---ie --after the clubhouse boy washed his car, Manny telling him there was some money in the glove compartment for him, and the kid finding $75,000 in cash stuffed in there... I dont think $$ is the huge issue to Manny so much as it is to Boras to drive the overall market.. Im guessing that Boras will want him around 25mil/4yrs...Its expensive but what he could do for a team and a city would be well worth looking at.... This isnt ARod chasing records ---- Manny is a totally different thing..I know what he did in Cleveland, I know what he did here, and i see what he is doing in LA--He has rejuvenated three franchises...Whats that worth? hard to tell

exactly why I dont want him on the Yankees! Manny seems to like it in LA--and they like him--hopefully the owners over their will see what he does for the franchise and realize that he is worth the money

...maybe your just a Manny fan.....I'd really rather see good, exciting baseball right in front of me in the present everyday if it were possible than, no matter how wonderful they were, live off the memories of the past. I'll keep all those great memories --but maybe your turning into a Dodger Fan :) Winning and winning in exciting ways is just ..... fun Ive said it a billion times to the point Im sure its old with you guys but Manny injects *Something* into a game that makes it incredibly fun to watch..Ive never seen anyone like him nor expect to again. Im sure Hiway knows at least alittle what Im talkin about after a few months of experiencing it. If he can captivate your baseball heart and soul away from the 10 year old and transplant him into the present (which he is thoroughly capable of doing) its very liberating-and exciting -at least it was to me... It looks like LA is getting a taste (Now please no SI cover jinx--I want to see him in a few weeks!

It should give everyone time enough to get their ducks in a row, hopefully nobody gets stale-- personally I think there are too many days off.. Im filling it with reading -- Heres a pretty good article by Bill Simmons at ESPN on Manny-- Manny Being Manipulated

EW excie! HERES a good blonde joke

I had to---

Damn that was a great game-After the two out walks in the 8th and wild pitch then tied up by Hunter i was sure that the game was over, , that Francona was channeling Grady Little, that the sox were going back to anaheim, losing and it would be a long winter. The top of the ninth SUICIDE Squeeze lived up to its name --how fast that adrenaline rush kicked in--- What a ninth!!! The adrenaline is certainly pumping now!! If I was on the outside Id be with you Rock, the Rays are a very very good team strong on every single point, and the Red Sox not only finished second to them but are banged up as well-- but Im not on the outside of this one --Im gonna take it a game and a pitch at a time... These are two good teams and it promises to be one very good series. WELCOME Dont Worry Be Happy!! I agree!! Go Sox!!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn that was tense-- This game is why I love baseball. That game had it all. Highs and lows and a death defying ninth.

Lester 8 pitch first and has hit 98---Thats about as good as it gets

A wave of Nostalgia just crept over me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7M1Se-p7uk...feature=related

I knew they were good--better than people thought but I think it was probably about May 15 I figured they'd start to fade. Then I moved it up to June, then the All Star Break Then surely by the dog days of August , then no way they'd make it through September. No more predictions from me, although I hope they fade sometime next week! Whoever they get next should be a very good and hard fought series Congratulations to Joe Madden

I dont know what that was all about with Torii--if the ball gets down in that corner its 99% --double bad knees or not, but Bay hustled, cut it off and threw well---maybe he thought Manny was still out there talking on his cell phone! A game full of oddities --i went through the roof when Ellsbury over slid second as i did during the squander when they had the bases loaded against Rodriguez--To be fair the Angels had their fill of anxious moments and runners left on base as well.--It all amkes for a good game Tonight doesnt start until 8:37 so they could be playing until 2AM Time to end this now so I and the rest of New England can get some sleep

It WAS like a chess game between Francona and Sciosia last night.. Its interesting how managers come to the fore in the post season. Speaking of which--its time for some lineup changes Tito--Drew back in right, Youkilis to 3rd and Casey at first tonight please. Mike Lowell who can barely walk right now was just plain painful to watch Its rainy and cold as hell right now--we'll see if we can get this game in tonight--If they play it will be less than ideal conditions

They can--no one is underestimating the Angels on this end i assure you- -That was a real game last night ---inning after inning--but once the Sox brought in Javy Lopez in the 12th, I pretty much knew that I was riding on hope alone,..Javy is just not the guy you want to see at that point...... We'll see what kind of magic Francona and Sciosia pull out of their bag of tricks today during the Lester/Lackey rematch--both bullpens got pretty much used up last night---this should be interesting..... When Ellsbury k'd in the late innings I had a conversation with a friend l about balls and strikes and the strikezone, I later found this article which is very good from Hardball Times... Strike Zone: Fact vs Fiction

...strained oblique Not his A stuff tonight.. going into the 10th.... this is why baseball was invented

Ive always said that about Manny--he did it in Cleveland andhe did it here and now he is enlivening the whole fan base and team in LA--Now after hitting his 500th earlier this year he is much more on the radar but he has since the day of his arrival in Boston 8 years ago my favorite guy to watch..and when he is in the zone--like he has been in LA--there is nothing like it. Its one of my favorte things on earth to do is to watch him step into the batters box..enjoy it while you can--I'd like to see him stay over there--but I have a suspicion that he'll be signin' with the Yankees... As much as I was seriously bummin when he left --Jason Bay is doing just fine in left

The best part of the deal for the Dodgers? the Red Sox are paying his salary.. thats a sweetheart deal! Id want Hiways perspective on how he changed the team--TBS gave the stats of those hitting around him and it has jumped dramatically--but almost as important it looks to me like they are enjoying playing on the field... Its the Phils as I type.. ..these gamedays take forever..I still have 3 hours until game time....

Aside from the Angels just winning the WS in 2002, (aslight difference in waiting since 1908) from an email: No I have no such feelings for Angels fans. They can pack up their thundersticks, rally monkey, and spitcups for the winter (hopefully today) and it wouldnt faze me in the least. I'd never give a second thought to it.

I suppose I should be excited going into game three against the Angels today, but Im actually feeling more for Simon and the Cubs fans right now...Baseball can be a cruel game... What else is there to say? The Cubs had the best record in the National League, the NL's best offense, the NL's 3rd best team ERA, the best run differential in all of baseball...and they were unceremoniously swept out of the first round for the second year in a row. An amazing season, a season in which the Cubs actually looked poised to go all the way and end a century of frustration, comes to a depressingly bitter end, as the team looked DOA against the Dodgers. There's plenty of blame to go around for it, but for now...all that matters is that it's over. Once again, the Cubs and their fans do what they do which is...wait until next year. Better luck next year Simon

Hi ex ! Thats great! stay awhile and let us know whats up.... Is he in a tournament or something? What position is he playing? Dont take any grief from those Toms Riverians :)

Im not counting anything Tom--I know better than that-or at least I hope that I do---I did say I liked our position--thats all--up 2-0 with Beckett and Lester coming up is a good position... and thats as far as Im going to go...the playoffs are like some zen process to stay right in the moment--it always seems the second that you get one step ahead of yourself is the moment that things fall apart...We're in a good position--we'll see what happens tomorrow when tommorrow comes.. :) I dont know about Texiera--. I think the Angels should let KRod go and use the money to sign Tex longterm... I like him but really wouldnt want to lose the draft picks. Lowell has two more years (injured most of this year but still played well) and there is a highly touted firstbaseman, Lars Anderson, coming up through the system who will probably step in in a year or two at first. Id love Tex's production and glove, but the way the draft and player development has been working lately with youngsters coming up through the system ( Papelbon, Lester, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lowrie, Masterson etc...) thats just as exciting to watch if not more so than a big free agent....not to mention less expensive... just my opinion Thats leaves KRod free to go to the stRangers, grab yourselves another frontline starter, develop those young arms, stay in games and we could see you next October!

Well yea--Im sure the Angels fans are as frustrated as I was for several years....I would guess they pretty much hate the Red Sox after losing 11 playoff games in a row to them, thats only natural.. For the people that only tune in during October or who dont hold an emotional stake in the results I still think that it can be enjoyable to watch a team click on all cylinders.... i would have liked those Yankee teams alot more if i hadnt been on the losing end so many times, but in a way that was the Genesis of the Red Sox teams now-who learned what they had to do through that process-so I cant complain, although i did at the time. ..... and for Simon---I just checked the Cub results for the year---they have won at least 3 games in a row--16 times this year already.....

Well yea I am Happy--The Red Sox went into this series being 1-8 against the Angels this year. So although I didnt have my pre2004 worries all over me, I didnt have my hopes real high either Playoff baseball is a breed apart --the intensity level is higher--almost a different game than the regular season and to have a comeback against Mr 62 Million saves Rodriguez shows yet something else about this team. Ive been complaining about them all year, that they havent had the intensity or cohesiveness that I know that they could play with, that they were too inconsistant, that they lacked the fire, that they hadnt had that stretch where you really fell in love with them....that's all changing now...I love it when teams put their best game on the table and are mentally indestructible---and when they turn the level of play up a notch... Even if they do turn out to be 3 or 4 game series the level of play itself is exciting to watch---of course being on the winning side certainly helps :) It shows you what can be done, when it needs to be done... .................. Hey Josh----you want the ball tomorrow?

I dont know what to say---other than it will be good to be back home again--so I dont fall asleep in the 7th anymore from these West Coast games..and can see a whole game....Angel fans if they were wringing their hands the other night must be extremely nervous now after watching Frankie shutemdown Rodriguez cough it up in the 9th. With Beckett and Lester coming up, Im liking our chances