greg775

Garland sure made KW look bad today; we'll see if our guy can prove his worth as well. I know ... one game doesn't mean squat, but ...

It made no sense to trade an inning eater and stud like Garland. I know ... one game does not make a season, but I've always loved Garland. I hope Danks and Floyd prove me wrong as well as Jose. Big time question marks.

I'll stay positive as well. Great game. But it is frustrating to hit like that and lose. Oh well. Hope the boys keep fighting every day.

I'll say seven fewer wins than the Sox had last year, whatever that total is.

Based on last year's performances who on this team do you "trust" at the plate?? Dye? Paulie? Uribe? I don't mind criticism of Crede and others, but when you say you don't trust him, who do you trust? Maggs and hit .350 batting average isn't on our team anymore. Our guys were all untrustworthy last year I'd say, after being very trustworthy the year the Sox won it all.

He does? I disagree.

I thought the initial post to open this thread was good. Well thought out. Good stuff. However ... what if Uribe gets his head out of his ass finally? I'd rather him start right now than anybody else til Richar comes back. It is a disgrace there's no spot for Fields. My preference was to not make the Swish deal and let him play left and keep Crede at third. You make a lot of good points, but hey ... this team still has some veteran presence. If these vets are not over the hill and IF the bullpen can do something, we may be a .500 team or better. If the bullpen sucks and Thome, Paulie, Dye, AJP and Crede hit .250, yes we will have one of the worst seasons in Sox history. We shall see. Good post, but on paper we still have a CHANCE. If I had to bet, I'd say we'll finish closer to .400 than .600 but I'm hopeful.

Exactly. Fields should be on the team. I love Crede and love his defense, but like Fathom said, if KW and Oz were leaning toward going toward Crede, Josh should have stayed in the outfield. Josh should demand a trade like somebody said, or at least really let the Sox have it in the press. We should have never made the Swisher trade if Crede was to be the third baseman.

He's 6-foot-6? That screams lotta walks to me.

Great post! I have a feeling the internet community is harder on Crede than Sox fans who will be in the stands on Opening Day. They will cheer wildly for Joe. The guy is a defensive whiz. Internet fans tend to hate on their own WAY too much. Like Jon. We're gonna miss him, folks. Jon ate up innings and was a helluva pitcher. I wish Danks and Floyd and Jose well ... but they ain't no Garland!

I'd rather Uribe start at second than Pablo.

Why would it be a distraction to have a World Series winning third baseman continue to be on the team? I do agree Fields being in the minors is a bad idea. We probably should have kept Fields in the outfield and never acquired Swish.

The key is to win games against teams in our division obviously. If we go .500 against them we probably still have shot at wild card. If we go .400 we're doomed. If we go .600 we're in the money.

Where are they going to go? It's very unusual to make a trade at this time of the year.

Olivo shoulda been a career backup catcher with the Sox. The Sox backup catching slot has been and is a disaster.

The question is ... what's our middle relief looking like? With this lousy 3-4-5, our only hope is going to be reliable, durable middle relief to go with much improved hitting. If we hit like last year and have lousy relief, we might have one of the worst teams in Sox history. If we get great (not good) middle relief and hit, we'll be a contender for wild card.

How do we know he's not good? He might actually have improved with hard work. If he wins the job he wins the job. I despised him before when he was an automatic out. If he has learned how to hit, play him.

I voted for Dye. The quiet professional. Second is Thornton. I don't want to think about him, much less talk about him.

Does Couch really do that? I don't check the site every day but it seems bad business to have 2 guys writing the same columns. Not saying you are wrong, just wondered if you had any examples to give me on Couch doing this. I really have enjoyed some of Greg's takes on the Bulls and Hawks.

Poor Haeger. He officially must not be any good.

Is Jon Garland's absence starting to scare any of you? Vazquez the No. 1 starter? Danks and Floyd being trotted out there time and again? Yikes. I'm not predicting doom, just hoping for the best wondering why Garland isn't still around.

I'm all for him winning a starting spot if he earns it. I hope fans don't boo him and jump all over KW if he earns the job and has a tough first road trip. I have a feeling a lot of our guys are gonna be slumping with our early schedule. Go BA!

This has nothing to do with AJP perhaps getting mad at Steve Stone this season. But I was wondering ... if the Sox do stink again, do you think this is the year AJP acts up or will he continue to be a model player with the Sox? Remember how in the past he supposedly had trouble with his Giants teammates, etc? I like AJP but I wonder if we suck he'll be wanting to get out of town and act up so KW trades him.

Somebody let me know, pls, when we get our league info, etc. I'm at greg775@yahoo.com Go Sox!!

What are the papers and talk show hosts sayin' about BA's torrid spring? I think it'd be a great story if he won the job. Of course, if he hits .400 with power in spring training, what are the odds he hits the ball right at people the first two weeks of the regular season, hits about .200 and everybody is on his butt? I'm intrigued by BA's progress? That would be an amazing story if he becomes a star.