BrandoFan

But isn't it what young players learn to do over time -- how to mantain intensity over 6 months, not just a few weeks? Lee has had plenty of chances. He just hasn't developed an eye like he should've. At 27, after 5 years in the majors, he's no longer a kid. Dunn can be a LH Ritchie Sexton with more speed.

After getting hammered by KC....having a game against NY All-Stars IS "stepping up".

It seems I am the only one who remembers the infamous Boner Comment as I've yet to see it mentioned anywhere. Oh well, it's been two years and I am still LMAO when I remember it. I don't remember which game it was and whatnot, but Hawk was going off on one of his solemn Mr. Baseball tangents, about dis and dat and de oder teeng....and at some point he throws in the word 'boner' -- which I guess in his old-timer vocabulary must still carry the archaic, harmless connotation (see: gay, f*g, etc) In any case, DJ gleefully interupts him in the middle of a sentence like only Feisty can and goes all Beavis like, "Hawk, you said 'boner'" You had to hear it right there and then, the inflecton, the context, the sudden'ness of it all.....Right after DJ said it, there was this deadly PAUSE that had to last at least few munutes, during which I thought Hawk would strangle DJ and then hang his carcass on the overhead beam right there and then...... Man, what a classic. Brought the whole new literal meaning to ROFTLMAO.

Great post, Cheat. It's really hard to change old habits, but Sox are improving by the day. Against KC, they had 3 runners (Lee, Maggs, Manos) get thrown at 2nd because of non-hustle. In TB, Thomas was the only one and even he had a hamstring excuse. Things are definately looking up. **knock-knock on wood** I also agree that taking HR hacks is not only an ok thing, it's a necessary thing. But thre is always the right count, the right pitch type and the right location to do it on. Jose, Crede and Caballo were taking monsterous swings on tough pitcher's pitches with 2 strikes on them. That's just not smart, and I've seen it enough of it in recent years. That can't be changed overnight as Ozzie can't just say "stop swingining so hard all the time" because players would laugh at him behind his back. Players have to figure it out for themselves, with a hitting coach; it's a matter of wanting to do it and then internalizing it through practice. In short, Sox are a work in progress.

Sammy will be 36 this year. Right now, I'd probably give a small edge to Maggs. The last couple of years, they've been about equal. Maggs had better line-up protection and stayed healthier and played better defense, while Sammy's offense was a tick better. But in 1998-2001, Sammy blew Maggs away badly. Both in on- and off- the field value. As for whether you or anyone else believes I am a Sox fan....I really couldn't give a flying f*** even if I tried real hard. Ya dig?

Seriously...Mark Mulder tops out at 93 but with his arsenal and his delivery, I've seen him blow a heater by Soriano right down the middle of the plate twice in one game. Shingo Takatsu make somebody look very stupid with a 85mph fastball just the other day.

Tuesday is a must-win game. Either Buehle or Garland have to step up and Sox must pound the lefty rookie. Then, there will be a greater fan interest/media momentum going into games 2 and 3 -- all Sox have to do then is to split them. Must win for sure.

Violence never solves anything. That impotent, bilous toad has been getting his comuppance for 4 decades now. Let him publish his third-rate sensationalistic scribblings all his wants. *Snore*

The good news is that it's day to day. Phew. People who think this team is going places without Frank are kiddin' themselves. With Gload in the line-up, Maggs won't see anything to hit either.

If you can't throw 94-95 anymore, at least disguise the ball out of your palm. My God, when Koch and Wright are throwing fastballs, the hitters' eyes light up almost as soon as it's released.

To the tune of .130 BA and 450 OPS? Come on now.

Carlos + Pacheco + Wing for Dunn Yes? No? Maybe?

How do you know what Ozzie will or will not do? Players pay attention and then they don't, so you have to adjust, find new ways to inspire and new game strategy. He certainly has his work cut out for him. So far it has looked good, but we've head Corpseball fom mid-2000 to 2004. That's 3.5 years. Versus 10 days. A season is a marathon. Like I said, it's a day-to-day thing. Last 2 days, the weeds were cut. Great pitching. Good baserunning. Konerko, Olivo, Uribe and Harris all hitting to opposite field and Frank is talking walks. Now Carlos and Magglio and Crede have to join the party.

You make good points, not sure I agree with all of them, but they make sense, especially the PR part. Remember, the market no longer pays the likes of Jeter 20 Mill, so coming up with what Maggs is "worth" is tricky to say the least, even before delving into the the very ugly issue of what Sox can actually afford.... And Lee is definately overrated -- 830 OPS hitters with average speed and defense in LF aren't nearly as valuable as, say, 870 OPS Gold Glove catchers. 9 Mill is a lot of money, and I am sure Jeremy Reed can give you 800 OPS with his eyes closed at much cheaper, with better speed and defense in LF. The reason why Carlos was signed to the 2/15 contract was because Sox hoped at 27, he would finally put it all together, would improve his pitch recognition/selection and thus becomes a monster slugger. That hasn't happened yet, to say the least. He still jams himself way too much and his RF-RCF-hitting skills are non-existent.

Corpseball is never dead; it's like weeds that need to be cut regularly or it comes back with a VENGEANCE. It's also like a virus. Many hitters have selfish/lazy tendencies when left to their own devices. Ozzie will have to do a huge amount of physical and psychological work in the next 5 months to make sure Manuel Era remains history. It's a day to day type a thing, and the last 2 days, things have looked good.

I don't know, but it's probably gonna be something breaking and on the outer part of the plate.

Don't get me wrong, I am not expecting miracles from Neal right now. But at least he has a bulldog mentality, and I'd rather Sox go down swinging than forfeit every time Wrong takes the mound. I'd rather have Danny at 3.00 ERA in long relief than at 6.00 ERA as starter. But that's just me.

I realize it's hopeless. I have covered every conceivable scenario, made a ton of comparisons to Magglio's peers, explained just WHY it would be a bad signing for the Sox in no less than 20 posts in various threads just in the last week. And yet what I get back is the 370 OBP bulls***. Wait until the year is out. Then it will be clear if Magglio is "worth" more than 10 Million to the Sox or not. If not, let him get the 14-15 Mill he wants from the Dodgers or the Mets for all I care. Bring on Reed!

No, what he needs is better pitch selection and a more realistic evaluation of his own strenghts and weaknesses. Right now he swings like a HOF'er talent -- and he is simply not and has never been outside of 2002. He simply lacks Sosa's vicious power, so the toweing drives Sammy was mis-hitting to RF/RCF/CF back when he busted out in 1998, are merely fly-outs when Maggs hits them. Outs...get it? Like I said....If Magglio has a 1050 OPS season in 2004, leads this team deep into playoffs and Sox get a tremendeous attendance boost in the meantime.......THEN in December Kenny can sit Maggs down and give him 5/70 contract he wants. Right now we should be more worried about a lead-off hitter and a 5th starter.

with: --Mora's defense. 7 or 8 errors already and weak range. --Delgado's bat. --Giles's bat --Greg Maddux --A-Rod

Magglio is not a huge casual fan draw. Very few players are. I am not saying trade him now. Wait until the season is over and if he has a monterous season and if he leads Sox to ALCS and if fans come out.....THEN you can sign him to big money. He has nothing to b**** about. He is making 14 Mill, and it's been almost two years since he has performed anywhere close to that value. I just don't understant how fans can applaud when a team signs an overrated, over-30 player for 14-15 Mill when the payroll is barely 60 Mill. It cannot be done in clean conscience. I would never say that Valentin is worth 5 Mill. I would never say that Thomas is worth 10. I would never say Loaiza is worth 10......Why in all that's Holy would I say Magglio is worth 15 over many years? We are already over-paying Koch, Konerko, Valentin and Lee....let's not get carried away here.

Sunday's G.o.G: Willie Harris.

I am sorry, but the way he's been swinging so far, I don't want him back. 900 OPS hitters are tough to come by, but when we're talking exorbitant 5/70-75 sums, thre is no way that's worth it anymore. Juan Gonzalez might give that to you at 4. If this team wants to go to the series, there are 4-5 holes that have to be filled in. Please don't re-sign Magglio, it would cripple this team.

She is a bosomous maiden of SoxTalk.

Guys....some players are NOT meant to play small-ball. Konerko, Thomas, Edgar....They were born to hit, not run. No base is worth that, let alone a 2nd base in a blow-out. What a downer.