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QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Mar 28, 2008 -> 07:38 AM) It won't have any affect on the roster I think the gods of fate are trying to help the Sox with their decisions. It took Frowens getting hurt 3 different times before the Sox finally DL'ed him leading to both BA and Quentin on the team. Richar had visa , back and now rib problems which opened the door for Ramirez to make the team. Massett gets raked yesterday against the D'backs possibly handing Wasserman the last bullpen spot. Now a rusty Crede fouls a ball off his foot. Though probably nothing serious maybe fate was just feeling sorry for Joe figuring he'd been through enough lately while gently nudging the Sox towards Fields. Haven't seen it mentioned much at all in every thread I've read but it isn't unheard of for an established pro to be sent down on a rehab assignment due to rustiness coming back from an injury. Crede hasnt exactly hit or fielded well this spring. If the situation is win now like William's keep stating how do you keep a hurting ineffective Crede on the roster over Fields ? Seems to me like Kenny is preferring to get Joe's value up, which is an iffy proposition at best , more than winning.

I was just watching Sportrise on Comcast and Cooper expressed he would prefer the results guy which means Wasserman . I voted Wasserman.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Mar 27, 2008 -> 05:48 PM) I might be the only one else on this board that agrees with you. Though I don't minimize Crede, there's next to zero chance he will be with the Sox for the full year. Even if we are contending and he's having a decent year there's no reason to keep him when he's going to be a free agent with Fields waiting in the wings. I often wonder weather Fields will ever be better than average at 3rd base and have also speculated that 1b may be in his future. But for probably half of this season if not more Fields will be the 3rd baseman and Crede will be gone.

Though I often look at individual players through rose colored glasses I cannot do the same for the team as a whole. 81 wins seems just about right for a team with our rotation. If young players like Danks , Floyd, Ramirez, Quentin ,Richar, Fields, Owens and Anderson all prove they can play I see the potential for a much better season. Even better if Uribe, Contreras and Crede come through. Thats 11 players I just named who are total question marks. Then add most of the bullpen since bullpens are always unknowns and we have 60% of the 25 man roster that can possibly implode or explode. More than likely when it comes to young players all we can hope for is roughly a third of them becoming solid Major leaguers this year. In order to win the division I'd say the most important factors are Contreras, Danks and Floyd. If those 3 come through thing change quickly. When you have roughly 14 or 15 players on the roster who can possibly suck its hard to be optimistic. Add in the slowness ,aging and injury factors to players we can actually count on for solid seasons like Thome, Dye and Konerko and I'm actually convincing myself that 81 wins is optimistic.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 06:33 PM) I mean I worry as well, what if Uribe puts up .270 with 30HR's this season? Do the Sox re-sign him to a big contract? Because I think he would pack it in ALA Beltre, because he hasn't performed any other season when his contract hasn't been on the line. I will take those kind of worries any day of the week.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 04:05 PM) i actually let out a cheer when i read this... is that bad? i hope to god this gives BA a chance. I've always supported Owens and thought he's capable of hitting .300 with 10-15 triples and 30+ doubles. I will say that it's been a bit frustrating hearing Ozzie say he'd even be in the lineup against lefties especially when his D is mediocre and arm is pitiful. Who would've thought BA would produce such a monster spring ? If BA can hit the way he has this spring along with his D that's an all-star caliber presence. Also Quentin seems likely to stay now and lately he's been getting in a groove batting which would be perfect for resting Thome.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 07:53 PM) The correct way to do exactly that, and to rest both Dye and Thome...is to DH Dye for a few days and put Quentin in RF for those days. That makes the most sense if Quentin's shoulder were completely healthy. Maybe we'll see in the last week of ST weather he can cut it loose on his throws. I'd love to see Quentin (DH) out there on opening day along with Ramirez (2B) and Anderson (CF) against Sabathia.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 06:25 PM) I think Uribe's probably gone on one of his "streaks" early. He's just never been able to put up good offensive numbers over a sustained amount of time over a season (the 1st half of 2004 being the exception since he's been with us). You're most likely correct but I like to dream BIG which in Uribe's case is apropos.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 06:15 PM) Black Prancer That's along the lines of what I was thinking though I do like Frowens even if it doesn't have anything to do with Pods.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 05:27 PM) Uribe has hit his ceiling and is older and overpaid, yet should play, but an improving month by month rookie with alot of upside for league minimum is bad. Logic is fun. Wouldn't agree that Uribe has hit his ceiling. Outside of Anderson he's had the best ST of any Sox player. I know he's had good springs before then sucked but it wouldn't be unheard of for a player like him to have a breakout season.

Lineup I'd love to see opening day since Fields is gone. Swisher LF Cabrera SS Quentin DH Konerko 1b Dye RF Anderson CF Ramirez 2B Pierzynski C (actually considered Hall for an all righty lineup but just couldn't do it. Crede 3B

QUOTE(Princess Dye @ Mar 24, 2008 -> 04:18 PM) any other long relief candidates? I'd be fine with seeing MacDougal in that role til he proves he's a setup guy again. Carrasco ?

It's official almost 81 % of Soxtalk ,as represented by a whole 26 voters, would rather see "other" as our backup catcher.

As long as it's not The Flash in the pan I like it.

Things have cleared up in the last few days. Uribe is still a Sox. Richar is on the DL and Ramirez will be on the 25 man roster getting AB's in whatever capacity the club sees fit.

Every time this spring I've seen Uribe get a hit it seems to be to the right side. Is it possible that someone told him to forget about power and just do what you do well ? He seems to be pretty good at going the opposite way.

I remember an exercise my high school baseball coach made us do for wrists and forearms. He had a weight (less than a lb.) tied on about a 2ft. string attached to what basically was a shortened broom handle. With the weight hanging down and our hands palm down we would have to roll it up then roll it back down.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 12, 2008 -> 03:54 PM) Glad to see my thread starting abilities are getting warmed up too. Lucky I was off today or this thread might have been dead.

Final : Sox 4 Rockies 1. Egbert gives up a run in the 9th.

Sox/Cubs on WGN saturday

QUOTE(elrockinMT @ Mar 12, 2008 -> 03:16 PM) If memory serves me right this is the third runner BA has thrown out this spring. 3rd HR and 3rd assist.

Josh 3 hits today.

scoreless innings from Linebrink, Dotel, Jenks in 6th, 7th and 8th.

BA just nailed a guy at home trying to score frome 3rd on a fly ball.

Linebrink 1 scoreless inning. Dotel pitching the 7th.