YASNY

A little fall out from this past weekend:

We were all shocked by the sudden release after he accepted the option to Charlotte. Well, apparently, Shingo had second thoughts.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 09:45 PM) I'll tell you, everything has died down on who gets what - because no one knows how the playing field is going to shape up yet. Someone needs to get some balls and make a big breakthrough signing so the pieces can start coming together. Kind of sounds like the recently passed trade deadline in MLB.

LCR ... That, sir, is a great column. I agree with your reasoning 100%. A tip of the Sox cap to you and

It's there so I'm taking it .... This thread is full of s***.

QUOTE(WSFAN35 @ Aug 2, 2005 -> 01:57 AM) Who's likely to get called up for September? I believe you can add Borchard to the list, as well.

QUOTE(Middle Buffalo @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 09:43 PM) The numbers in baseball are sacred. It was always a tool used to measure players against each other, regardless of era. Steroids have messed that up beyond repair. I grew up knowing: 1. Aaron 755 2. Ruth 714 3. Mays 660 4. FRobinson 586 I never saw any of them play, but when guys like Schmidt were making their push for 500 at the end of their careers, it made 755 seem incredible to me. Almost the equivalent of Cy Young winning 511 games or Ryan having 5700 Ks. Now, Bonds, Sammy, Mac, Raffy, etc. have messed with this. I think that sucks. That said, nothing is worse than gambling because it turns the sport into professional wrestling. Is this real? Fake? Is he trying? Baseball really blew it with the lack of drug testing, though. That is one awesome post. It puts the whole thing into the proper perspective.

QUOTE(Benchwarmerjim @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 09:55 PM) this sucks hardcore We know the feeling. Deal with it. We did.

QUOTE(knightni @ Aug 2, 2005 -> 03:42 AM) Maybe Gerut got traded because he realized that as a Sox fan he could never really play for the Cubs. The poor guy probably couldn't sleep at night. It had to just eat away at him.

Bonds. Canseco. Palmeiro. Sosa. McGwire. B Boone. I Rodriguez. Giambi. Who else? These are the players that are generally believed to have used steroids. Giambi and Canseco are admitted steroid users. Neither will make the HOF, though at one point in each of their careers they seemed to be well on their way. Boone is not going to the HOF, regardless. Each of the other 5 have legitimate shots to make it. Based on HR numbers alone, all but IRod are considered locks. I believe Barry Bonds would have made it on his own, but that wasn't enough for him. His goal was to be the greatest ever. I spelled out Palmeiro in previous post. Nuff said. Sosa is intriguing. I believe Sosa had the physical tools and talent to put together a HOF career. He chose to take the easy way out and become a slugger. Would he have had the intelligence and the dedication to utilize his talents? I highly doubt it. In my opinion, there is no way McGwire comes close without roids. IRod was a great young catcher, but the wear and tear of being catcher could have broken him down before he could have put together a HOF career. Could he have done it without roids? We'll never know. Simply put, I don't think any of these guys should get in.

Fact: We are talking about a player who was once traded by the Cubs because they felt he'd never develop into a power hitter. They kept Grace instead. Fact: He went on to hit nearly 600 HR. Fact: He was accused by a former teammate of juicing up early in his career. Fact: Near the end of his career, a new testing procedure is implemented and he tests positive. Fact: While steroids does not 'help you hit a 95 mph fastball' it does help you recuprate from the daily aches and pains that come from being a pro athelete. Now let's look at this and whether steroids plays a role in his career. A ML organization decided 'no power' and the guy hits almost 600 HR. Without his power numbers, would he have stayed around long enough to come close to 3000 hits? Without the recuperative effects of roids, would he have lasted long enough to hold onto a ML job more 7 or 8 years? Could he hit that 95 mph heater with sore achy muscles, or would they slow his bat down. Would his bat have slowed down at a younger age? Can steroids add increased performance over and extended period of time? Damn right they can. HOF? An emphatic no.

I always believed that was a cleverly designed logo. I think the original Brewers' logo will be around for many years to come.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 07:33 PM) If you say at the end of your post that you "obviously can't compare AAA to the major leagues" then why did you? Comparing McCathy's K/BB, K/9 and his WHIP to the likes of Jake Peavy, Pedro Matinez, Roy Halladay and Johan Santana is just stupid. If you want to make a comparison compare his AAA numbers to other pitchers AAA numbers, don't go comparing minor league stats to the majors. Oh, I think he made a pretty good point.

QUOTE(ChWRoCk2 @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 11:11 PM) the way i look at is that the twins have to win almost 22 games and we have to lose 22 for the number to be even, thats a lot of games to make up, plus twins have so many injuries, i think cleveland has best chance of taking us down, but they are too young of a team to catch us That number would be 15, not 22. Look at the standings. A 15 game losing streak by the Sox corresponding with a 15 game winning streak by the Twins makes us "even".

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Aug 2, 2005 -> 01:32 AM) Exactly, now look at their pitching.... I'm not saying that was the best decision. But they made that decision for a reason, and his leadership skills were a very big part of it.

I heard it on the Score just before midnight.

If Veritek is not a leader in the Red Sox clubhouse, then the Pope is not catholic. Veritek was THE prime free agent the Red Sox retained after last season, over Lowe, Pedro and others.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 2, 2005 -> 12:19 AM) Personally, I'm happy to see Buehrle's streak end. Honestly, who ever cared about a streak like this? I think it's a good thing the streak is over, as it might save Buehrle some unnecessary pitches the rest of the season in order to keep the streak going. There was no reason to keep Buehrle in for 6 full innings in his last start by KC where they put up a big crooked number in the 6th inning. Buehrle throws a ton of innings, and I don't think it would be a bad thing if Ozzie plays it safe with him down the stretch (assuming we still have a solid lead). That is one benefit to all this. Ozzie no longer has to even take the streak into consideration. He may have left Mark in there longer in KC because of it, and now that's not an issue. But that was a really stupid call by that umpire. It's like some of these umps do not know how the game is played and/or they are not getting enough camera time.

QUOTE(Li'l_Soxette @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 11:16 PM) I've seen these guys play before...Sox will kick their butts right back to their hometown! Welcome to Soxtalk.

I love seeing that big 15 game lead.

Good stuff, there.

Of course, the Sox will get zero credit because --- now --- the O's are an under .500 team. Off topic side note: Zack Duke of the Pirates is an impressive young pitcher.

QUOTE(lopo89 @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 02:15 PM) 4. game. sweep. f***ing orioles :finger Welcome to Soxtalk.

How the steroid thing affects the HOF has yet to be determined, but I believe there will some accountability.

QUOTE(Steff @ Aug 1, 2005 -> 01:58 PM) They don't work together or against eachother. One works on blood vessels the other on muscles. I think that was a joke, Steff.