SoxFan562004

QUOTE (RME JICO @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:43 PM) Well he is no longer the King in Miami. Maybe the Queen or the Court Jester? I just don't see how they can fill out the roster with 3 max deals. Their bench is going to be a joke, and if one of these guys gets hurt, they will suck. forget one of them getting hurt, as Simmons pointed out, with a fill in roster those guys are going to have to play crazy minutes.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:34 PM) I don't see us matching up with Seattle. Let's get a bat. Hudson will be fine. exactly, they'll have enough teams in it to get a king's ransom for him and looks like they're going to wait a little so every 5 days his overall actual value drops slightly.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:39 PM) Tru, There is nothing wrong iwth it. I understand Lebron wanting to win, and figuring that if he teams up with great players he has a good shot. But anyone who has ever considered themselves the best at a profession, sport, etc, will tell you it isnt the same as just going out there, dominating and not going out of your way to play with some one who already is a proven winner. Its just a mindset, Lebron took the easy way out. That's not what the greatest does in my opinion. The greatest would have gone on the air, said screw Chicago, screw Miami, Cleveland was the best team last year, they will be the best team this year, and Im going to win a championship if I single handedly have to drag my team there. Bernstein said it well today, not knowing 100% it was the Heat, but he said if he went to the heat he takes himself out of the debate for all-time greats with MJ, Magic, etc...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:36 PM) It's going to be really hard for them to keep the sales pitch up after this, because people aren't going to want to hear it any more. and they're not going to be a juggernaut IMO like many people think. I'm not the biggest fan of Simmons humor, but he is an excellent NBA observer, and someone posted pieces of it earlier, but he lays out many of my feelings of why just handing the East to the Heat doesn't make a ton of sense.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:32 PM) Meh, I don't see how LeBron is piggy backing.. Hes still the best player on the Heat, whats wrong with a guy wanting to win championships and signing with the team that has the looks of the best shot at that? Dude just wants to win some rings, I can respect that without having any clue what the other 9 members of that roster is going to look like a very good argument could be made that the Bulls and even the Nets were a better fit. They have to meld, none of them could get hurt for an extended period of time, if Wade doesn't change his style he doesn't have years and years left.... look, are they a very good team with those three? Obviously they are, but in no way are they some freight train that is going to run the east much less the West IMO, That Thunder team has a chance to be some bad ass mo-fos really soon

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:30 PM) Funny thing is Lebron could win the next 10 rings but only like 5 finals MVPs. As there will be countless games/series in which he's not even the best player on his team. They won't anywhere near that much.

QUOTE (scenario @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:02 PM) Not for a rental and if they get 4-5 teams bidding they'll get more than that.

I think the funniest part was when Wilbon laid out how good of a fit the Bulls were and basically asked them how they are not a better fit to win now and in the future and Lebron flat out avoided directly answering it.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 06:12 PM) I think that is the mistake that you guys are making....thinking that LeBron is as sophisticated in making this decision as he is. There have been reports that some of the requests and questions he and his team of decision-makers have asked were ridiculous. I just think their egos are so big that they think no matter what they do, it will be the right decision. good point Bernstein brought up the scuttle from the teams that went to the meetings and basically they said how surprised they were how unprofessional it was.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 06:07 PM) What he was saying today was exactly what I had been thinking the past few days. I will never understand it if he goes to Miami. I still think he's going to Mia, although NYK or Cle wouldn't shock me, but I agree, it makes little sense to me, he automatically took himself out of the running to be a legend like MJ, Magic, etc. by going to Miami

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 05:02 PM) the thing is, if ESPN really wants to boost their rating, why do they kill all the mystery by letting the world know where he stands now? it really kills a lot of interest right? especially in Chicago and new york. Though, if like 2 hours before the show starts, they report that Lebron had a change of heart and is leaning towards Chicago or new york, it would get really interesting and boost their ratings dramatically. which is kind of what this may be starting, about 3 1/2 hours before the show

yeah, was expecting news to leak out about this, don't think the Sox realistically have enough pieces considering a lot of teams will be involved, but good to get it out there to drive up the price for Minny

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 04:45 PM) Bucher - disparate opinions among gms, agents, league HQ officials today about where LeBron is going, but consensus on 1 thing: it's not Mia. sounds like ESPN is fearing their ratings weren't going to be crazy tonight and sent one of their lap dogs to stir some interest

at least 2.5m of the ad revenue from tonight is going to charity, but the more I hear about this idea the more I hate it, there's no need to have reps from every team there when it's pretty clear he's going to Miami. The fact that he's going to further clown Cleveland fans by having a rep there is just a joke to me.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:07 PM) There are so many teams in the Lee sweepstakes...now the Rangers are one of the frontrunners...that I think that drama gets drawn out until close to the end of the month. So there are at least 6 teams involved and 4-6 more "kicking the tires" on Lee. Latest I heard, the M's were asking for Ramos, Hicks and MORE from the Twins. The Twins have offered Ramos and Slowey. the best thing that could happen to the Sox is Seattle holds on to him until July 31st, even if he goes to Minny then his starts are reduced

Tony Pena should be used for a spot start if need be with no hesitation, he seems to let his stuff work for him more when he knows he's in there for a multiple innings

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:27 PM) Guerrier has blown about 3 games in the past week or so. Crain has always been fairly shaky, despite the great stuff. Duensing has been the key to that pen so far, he's been amazing, and Mijares (before that, D. Reyes/Rincon/JC Romero) has been tough as well. But Rauch is shaky against top competition (just like Foulke) and Slama and Delaney are waiting in the wings in Rochester. The obvious move is bringing up Slama, but Gardenhire has refused to move up Delmon Young in the line-up for Cuddyer/Mauer all season, and he's also refused to take Guerrier out of primary RH set-up. But the biggest problem right now is their defense, 3B, Hardy just came back, Mauer's power disappearance and the fact that Slowey/Blackburn/Baker are all pitching like 4th/5th starters, and not 2-3 type pitchers. Liriano finally getting it back together has really saved this team, and Delmon Young finally figuring out he's a major league hitter, but his defense along with Cuddyer's is atrocious. thanks for the info, yeah they're a good team, but again, neither them or Detroit is a juggernaut and I see a good 3 team race all year

the thing that intrigues me going forward is, and let me make this abundantly clear, I am NOT degrading Freddy here he has been a surprise, but Freddy's not pitching insanely good. His WHIP is slightly higher and ERA+ (101) slightly lower than 08 and 09 so he has been a huge piece but it's not like he's putting up crazy numbers, it is extremely realistic to think he can stay steady the rest of the year

I wouldn't be surprised if Minny goes hard after a top reliever, even though they are 2nd overall in MLB with pen ERA for the year they were 17th in June with a 4.22 and 22nd so far in July with a 4.83 to go along with a June WHIP of 1.24 and a 1.37 WHIP in July, all trending down.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:15 PM) I guess I forgot the Mark Klutchsay game. I've just been very off in this thread. yeah, it was so amazing I almost blocked it out myself!

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:13 PM) It's a shame we didn't take those 2 games away from KC last week where they were begging us to win. We'd be in 1st. yeah, but it's baseball and over a long stretch, say 10 games, goofy stuff happens, they're 7-3 over their last 10 since inter-league ceased, could have won one of those KC games but lost today on a bloop hit or something fluky

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:13 PM) Yep, that's why I'm not going to make any "for real" declarations. But I'm not making the mistake of burying this team either at any point again because they are capable of running off a streak at any time with this pitching, even with the sketchy offense and Peavy out. It'd still be nice to acquire a bat though. well Minnesota and Tigers have flaws too.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:11 PM) The pitching staff is in 2005 mode which will continue to give us a chance to win every single night. Another bat would be HUGE. Defense, last nights game obviously a blip, has been huge. Rios and Pierre are tracking everything down, Alexei is making both good and routine plays, 2nd has been solid, PK has been picking everything and Castro and AJ are calling phenomenal games. Also little things like Rios and PK coming through with getting runners in from 3rd even without a hit.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:09 PM) We're 5-1 against real AL teams since the streak. This is more than for real. 6-1, 2-1 against Tex and 4-0 against Angels

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 03:07 PM) Sox starters over last 5 games..... 30 2/3 IP, 18 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 19 K, 0.91 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 3.80 K/BB Sox are 5-0 over that stretch. not to mention Pena coming in for an emergency "start" and only allowing one run... I really think Pena might be a starter for the long term, he seems to let his stuff work more when he knows he's out there for awhile instead of trying to ace every pitch in relief