clujer420

Like someone mentioned, I'm quite certain that until that Texas game (5 IP, 7 ER), Loaiza had the #1 ERA in the AL (he was #2 in MLB behind Brown for a few starts). So for April, May, June, and July, Loaiza was the cream of the crop in the AL. And despite getting poor run support for much of the year, he's still #1 (tied with Halladay, who by the way has an ERA a full run HIGHER than Loaiza) in the AL in wins with 17. And on a side-note when it comes to Sox players and potential awards, many people are starting to mention the words "Frank Thomas" and "most valuable player" in the same sentence. We all know that Frank has 3 MVP's (1993, 1994, and 2000 - the one that Giambi stole), and this year started out kinda slow for him. He's really mashing now, though, when it matters most, and if you look at the teams that are vying for playoff spots, there really isn't a standout guy that you can say "he should win MVP hands-down" about. Look at the teams still in the playoff picture and who their potential MVP candidates are... NYY -- Giambi I guess (.260, 35, 94), but those are on par with Frank, and the Yankees have been in 1st all year Boston -- Probably Manny (.317, 31, 90), Pedro's having a good year, but he won't win it Seattle -- Bret Boone's having a good year (.295, 31, 100), but MVP? Oakland -- Hudson's been their best player, and he ain't winnin' it. Tejada's been hot lately (.273, 23, 88) I suppose Sox -- Thomas (.268, 36, 84) and Magglio (.321, 25, 80) appear to be our candidates. So like I said, no one player is going to win the award hands down. If Frank continues on his tear (he's now on pace for 44 HR, which would be a new career high), and if the Sox can win the Central, I think he's got a more than legitimate chance of MVP #4 (3rd recognized).

Unprovoked attack.

To win MVP, a pitcher has to have a year like Pedro had in 1999 -- nearly 25 wins, and an ERA in the 1.00's. Loaiza's had a great year. Cy Young, yes. MVP, nah.

Thanks. I can only say 09/11/01 was one of the worst days of my life. Speaking of the Sox and 9/11, though, I remember hearing something later on that a Sox player (I think it was Aaron Rowand) called someone else on the team and wanted to know when they were leaving for the Stadium. Whoever he called said something to the effect of "Are you kidding? Turn your TV on". Rowand obviously was oblivious to what was going on. Hard to believe that was nearly 2 years ago.

We had 5 guys with 20+ HR in 2002... Ordonez (38), Thomas (28), Konerko (27), Lee (26), Valentin (25). In 2003, we've got a real chance at 6. Here are their totals as of now... Thomas (36), Lee (26), Ordonez (25), Valentin (22), Crede (16), Konerko (15). So we could very easily have 1 guy with 40+, 2 guys with 30+, and 2 or 3 with 25+. That would be amazing. If you want to include Everett, which you really can't do, he's got 24, 6 of which have come with the Sox. Either way, though, we've got some real power in our lineup, and we're showing everybody.

Everett's HR production hasn't been there with the Sox, but his batting average has gone up, so that's a good thing. We don't really need Everett to hit HR anyway -- getting on base and being aggressive is what we need from Carl. Let Lee, Thomas, Magglio, and Konerko take care of the mashing.

Sorry about your son. That morning, I didn't know what to think. It was definitely the worst day of my life, and I don't think sports entered my mind once.

You actually thought about the Sox? Professional sports was the FARTHEST thing from my mind that awful day.

Not quite 14 or 15. He's got 11, which is his career high for August, and he's still got 4 more games in the month.

Absolutely and this is the very reason i was mildly upset with JM allowing Colon to throw 130 plus pitches in a blowout. Not 130. Only 123.

Hmmmm...his only good start so far was one in which he walked 5 in 5 IP I think it was. You do that in Yankee Stadium, you're going to be hitting the showers very quickly. All I'm saying is IMO our odds of winning @ NYY are 3 or 4 times greater with MB on the hill than Neal Cotts.

Were you?

*Counting down the days until she does Playboy* Don't :begood Anna!

Um...no athlete is my hero. Maybe when I was 11, but not now. And when did I say he's worth $12M? You seem to like putting words in other people's mouths to try and prove some kind of point. Why that is, I don't know, but your tactics are sickening. You clearly have some kind of agenda here, so your words mean nothing to me nor most others here I would wager.

Granted it's only 3 starts so far for Cotts, but his ERA is nearly 5. If you give up 5 runs against Mussina, you're probably not going to win. Whereas if you allow 5 to the Tigers, with their pitchers, a win is still very possible. I guess it doesn't matter who starts when as long as our bats continue mashing.

Don't you think MB gives us a better chance of winning than Cotts against NYY?

I'd rather have the Sox win in NY than in Det, simply because in the playoffs, we ain't gonna have to win a game in Comerica Park. Yankee Stadium, on the other hand, could be where we play in the 1st round if we make it.

Both Cotts and Buehrle are lefties who don't throw very differently in terms of speed (Cotts is slightly faster, but it's not like it's Sabathia and Jamie Moyer), so I doubt they're f***ing with the Yankees.

If Gagne was pitching for a playoff team, I wouldn't have a problem with him being thought of for the Cy Young. But, IMO, just like the MVP winner normally does, the Cy Young winner should come from a playoff team. This year, the Dodgers aren't going to make the playoffs, nor will the Blue Jays. IMO, if the Sox win the Central, Loaiza is the Cy Young winner (unless he implodes), and if Frank continues his tear, he's got a real good chance at MVP.

I know you were asking Spiff and not me, but I actually really enjoyed it. I watched it the first time, and I watched the replay too.

No "Black Album" by Metallica?

I hope the guy he beat up presses criminal charges. If I was calling the shots in Oakland, Romanowski would be instantly gone. I wouldn't tollerate that type of behavior from ANYBODY.

That sounds eerily similar to a prediction to me.