Princess Dye

Years later I have a different perspective on the matter than I used to: 1) he had an interview during the 2005 Wolrd Series indicating how he was jealous to be sitting at home watching his former teammates, and felt like he should've been there. That's like finding out She had a crush on you after all, except now you're off at separate colleges. So in that respect, I'm good 2) for all the things we have hated over the years about our organization, we cant turn around and blame him when...after years...he got sick of the same sort of stuff. We around here have lifelong contracts with the name on the uniform. Players are not nearly so unlucky. If they want out, then it's best for them and the team/fans that a parting occur. To bind the fan favorites to the team in a rigid way is something the Cubs Corp would do years on end with Grace/Dunston. Have to be more creative to win. Which leads me to #3... 3) the money savings led to some great '05 FA pickups 4) he's one of the (near)great players in Sox history. years down the line we'll remember those real solid years he had here, before the bad stuff. Maybe not yet but later on down the line.

I'm always amazed when people argue for the right to know less as opposed to more.

Aint nothin compared to my incipient Ricky The Dragon Steamboat thread.

You can lose a 20K game but cant lose a perfect game

Who's the person with that sig of Sawyer and the checklist? Wanted to send that to someone

above-average pinch runner needed. we can tell ourselves it doesnt matter that much but it comes in handy at the moment where Ws can become Ls

People are really nitpicking with Chris here. All he's indicating that Kotsay is not that farfetched a notion for hitting higher in the lineup. When you look at all the OBPs up and down this lineup, it's hard to argue too stridently for anyone, be it Kotsay or anyone else. Do we call Beckham and CQ sure things to produce? No. They're high up in the lineup because it's the most sensible leap of faith to make. Everyone else is right behind em in being x-factors of varying shapes n' sizes. This is the kind of lineup where you could see tons of shuffling if things arent starting out great.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Mar 28, 2010 -> 05:12 PM) Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Retherford's ever actually caught before, at least not in the minors or college. Turned this up in a search: Retherford's roles help ASU By Mark Armijo The Arizona Republic May. 31, 2006 12:00 AM Is there a position on the diamond that Arizona State University junior C.J. Retherford can't play? Retherford has played third base, second base, catcher and pitcher this season. He played some outfield at South Mountain Community College and was shortstop for one season at Hamilton High. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/t...html?&wired

670 score says we signed Scott Elarton

Can we compile two lists? 1) The reasons to hate Scott Podsednik 2) The reasons to like Scott Podsednik Then we can compare the lists.I am basically a doctor

Seems like no one ever wants to come right out and say the PK contract was a mistake. There are so many ways to spend $ at that position. If it was a less popular player, many would here be saying that deal cost us a second championship.

I dont know if I'm on board with all the "it's good for baseball" talk. The Twins arent Pittsburgh. They lose a big name and then use a variety of means to field a good team despite that loss. As far as him being a hometown guy, I dont know if it's great for baseball that hometown guys play 15 yrs with their childhood team. It's nice to hear about but not necessarily some important, great thing. You could argue the Yankees getting better is good for baseball. I am not prepared to create that argument at this time, nor do I know I want to. but it can be done.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 21, 2010 -> 03:54 PM) Because...even if his issue the last couple years was not being 100% healthy...he hasn't put up an .800 OPS since 2004, and has only done so 3 times in 13 career seasons. For a DH, that's just ugh. Now, you might fire back "But he's useful as a rolling DH as well and can play the OF, and an .800 OPS for a CF isn't that bad". Except, he's also been bad in CF since 2004 also. He might or might not be an average RF (he hasn't spent enough time there to judge), but his numbers argue he's basically a backup and should be treated as such. If he's getting only garbage time innings or playing every 3rd day to give someone a day off, ok, no one should have any reason to complain. Those are quality numbers for a backup 1b and backup corner OF. If he's getting 400-500 PA's, seeing time at DH, seeing time in the OF, like we keep being told he will, he never was a good enough player to justify that unless he was playing good defense, and he hasn't done that in 6+ years either. If he has a full year like the time he had with us last year, will he be an 'ugh-level' DH? For certain it wouldnt be that impressive, but I dont know about 'ugh.' These are great points about how he'd be decent production for a CF, etc...bad production for a DH... But I think of those as being valuable in constructing a team. Now that the team's constructed, I think we have to take a .350 OBP anywhere we can get it. Yeah he's be a light-hitting DH. But we've added power in the IF (and hopefully with CQ) to possibly offset that lack. If he gives us a year full of quality at-bats from the left hand side, he's giving us something we need every bit as badly as SLG, if not more. No he's not an outstanding player, obviously. But he fits a need. He can do something with the bat besides 'all-or-nothing.' I have long wanted more of that, be it at DH or elsewhere.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Mar 21, 2010 -> 03:26 PM) Kotsay is having one of the best Springs of any Sox player that will be on the 25. Doesn't mean anything but better than the opposite i guess Everyone seems to have this view of Kotsay. What I dont get is the following: Why cant this be a case of an oft-injured player(with Boston) that has finally gotten right again. If I'm not mistaken, it was a specific, reoccurring injury that troubled him over the last few years. And starting with his time in Chicago last year...he has turned his career back around. Isnt that at least possible? Everyone acts as if it's not.

Reviled thread lasted longer than anyone's biggest expectations. small victory for me

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Mar 20, 2010 -> 05:53 PM) I kind of wish the Sox didn't give Teahen that contract extension, I think they overpaid. :-/ Has already been known as pretty much one of the stupider decisions

Buster Olney should name his kid Oney

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 01:49 PM) well counsell is kind of a bad example. how about mauer over jeter ? But if that example is thought to be more suitable to you, yr still believing that there's a thing called clutchness. It can be any example of a proven Game 7 clutch guy versus a guy who is better but has not been there.

It comes down to the debate about 'clutchness'... is it a real thing? 670 the Score, despite their shortcomings, do a good job of challenging people with this. i.e. their scenario from a few weeks ago: "Would you want Joe Mauer, who has never been to a World Series, with the last at-bat in a WS Game 7? Or Craig Counsell, who has done it?" Mauer, obviously. Because if there is such a thing as a 'clutch guy'-- it doesnt even matter. Because in the clutch, every team should want its best hitter, ideally, to be at the plate. And of course many people will disagree with this. But is clutchness a thing proven to actually exist? I dont believe it has been. There have been guys who are surprisingly good in clutch situations, but there's a difference between that and saying that 'clutchness' is a trait that really exists and repeats over and over.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 12:39 PM) He hit like .300 last year and only knocked in 49 in 504 ABs. That's what I think of it. How do you get an RBI when no one's on base? I dont know that your overall thinking is wrong, but citing solely a total # of RBIs doesnt prove much of anything. That #'s contingent on what people in front of you are doing.

Sounds like Ozzie's going to try this. From what I've picked up from quotes the last debate left is the 5th spot. At least versus righties. AJ or Kotsay.

He's basically at the age where you wonder if it's a MUST that he play every day. Granted he hasn't had a full year at AAA... but then if you give him that, he's going to (possibly) be a rookie here next year catching a veteran staff every day. I know we have Castro, but I'm wondering which of these two choices people prioritize right now. If you view him solely as a trading chip, then I guess it's pretty easy to choose from these two.

I would guess Kotsay. Knowing that, he'll probably put up a .380 OBP this year.

Teahan could make these boards quite the hate fest this year.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 13, 2010 -> 04:04 PM) 1st and 3rd with no outs = 0 runs scored after Cox sends Jones on a flyout to shallow LF. Midseason form. It wasnt super shallow. Great throw and it still wasnt there way in advance. In Cox's defense, sometimes you have a mgr saying 'send Jones in those situations we want to see what we have with him' It isnt always about the W in Spring Training