forkit

Roman... This post reeks of someone that hasn't been in this world long enough to understand the limits that life puts on people. This guy exploded past his career bests in every category and he led the team in innings pitched...he simply ran out of gas! That makes him tired, not a bad guy. Tell someone he's tired? What would they do? Let Frank pitch in his spot? We don't have any other starters to give him a rest! If he said he was tired [he did, by the way, say he was tired, before he hit this wall] and didn't want to make a start, then people would fire on him heavily for missing a start down the stretch... He's the one guy that I'll allow may be tired... Forkit!

Yes. Carlos makes one... Forkit!

IF they choose to go for it again with most of this group, they better re-sign Colon and add another quality starter. I'd only let Jose bat lefty...and I'd give split time to Graffy. I'd still try to trade Paulie and then give more playing time at first to Frank [if he's back as well]. I'd have Reed at spring training, hoping we got lucky with a young guy ready for the majors in center...I personally do not think Aaron Rowand is enough in center. Robbie has to be re-signed, as does Sully. Forkit!

Well, you have two topics going here. I don't think reactions to this past series should be lumped in with people's long-term feelings for Sox ownership. And ownership did make some quality moves during the season, adding when many thought they would turn sellers... As for Jerry the owner...I am a business owner myself. I know ALL fans think owners should spend whatever the fans think is needed, every year. But there are many examples of owners that spent a TON [For example, see Texas...] and got nothing for their spending. To be successful, a business owner has to have a plan and the ability to carry it out. And in the long run, expenses cannot exceed revenues. It's easy to point to the Yankees and say they can do it, why don't we? Oakland? We'll see if they win it all soon. I know they will again be playing the "We can't keep this player next year" game, because their owner is also fiscally responsible. Their success must have something to do with their plan and their team management. Let's see how Boston does now that they have "deep pockets." I know their owner...let's see how he does in developing a long-term plan and executing it. Forkit!

I don't think Hawk mentioned which players would have been involved in the "mind blowing trade." Maybe he meant an Arod trade with a restructured contract? Perhaps we'll never know. Forkit!

Good point about the nature of the manager. I like JM. Seems like a very nice guy. But there are quite a few times when I'd like a team that was just plain nasty--just plain get in there and get nasty and get it done. If you're gonna lose a three game series in Minnesota in the last 12 games of the yea want my players to come out of the Twinkine dome with black eyes and raw knuckles...and even if the Twinks won, I'd want to get some comfort knowing they were in worse shape. I'd like to see some guys limping off the field. Me? I liked Fencik and Planck in the Bears secondary. At least the other team knew they were in for a fight. I'd like some of that attitude in my current Sox players. Forkit!

It's probably about $10 mill too much per year? Forkit!

This wasn't a bad year for Crede--in reality, it's his first full year in the bigs. Garland is 23...most guys are being drafted at 23. At 28, he'll be a stud [if he continues to learn how to use his stuff...]. Th future? We drafted some real studs for the outfield this past year. Whether that means Maggs is going to be traded for a starting pitcher or that they will be used to fill left and center, these guys, plus Reed, should give you hope. They aren't slow... The infield...I think Robbie would be good for the next two years at second. At SS, I do not see an answer within the organization, unless the youngster we just drafted pans out down the road. I hope they go out and get a solid SS. First base? I'd prefer Paulie get traded. He's a nice guy, but we need one less slow first base or DH types. Frank can get the majority of the playing time or we can move Carlos or we can acquire one with a tad more speed and perhaps a left-handed bat. Catcher: Olivo is the real deal. He's young, so be patient. He'll learn to stay away from the off speed and junk pitches. His plate blocking will improve. He's the answer there for the next 6 or 7 years. DH: Frank or Carlos or whatever...It usually takes care of itself. Pitching: We'll need more. More, more, more. We have a good start but it's doubtful they'll re-sign Colon. Even if they do, we'll need one more starter. Danny Wright ain't gonna be a starter; perhaps his role will be as a long reliever or as trade bait. I like Sullivan. I like Marte. I'd rest Koch all off-season and see if his speed returns. If not, he's toast, unless he has a knuckle ball in his future [he once boasted he can throw a 90 mile an hour knuckle curve...where is it?]. Re-sign Flash. Shoeny? I dunnno his contract status and I didn't see enough of him to have a strong feeling. Mark...offer him a decent four year deal and sign him. Loaiza...take him up on the option and see how he does in the first half next year. But we have to go out and either re-sign Colon and then sign another quality starting pitcher OR sign TWO quality pitchers. Manager: I don't like the way this team played in big series. Is that JM's fault? Or is it the big boys swinging for the fences and making three outs with only five pitches? Or a combo of these two? I'd like more speed and aggressiveness on the basepaths and more bunting--all in all, a better mix of playing styles. Replace JM? Depends on the replacement I guess... GM: I like the GM of the second half, whether that was KW or Hahn or Eddie Einhorn or Minnihaha. I liked the aggressiveness and I hope they aggressively go out and make some major changes in this team for the 2004 season, because they can make four or five changes and have a much better team, in my opinion. They'll have to spend more money to do it, so maybe they cannot make those changes. That's my two cents. I enjoyed this season until the past five games against the Twinks...the team was in it and kept me riveted and that's what sports entertainment is all about. I don't even mind losing, as long as it comes after a good, hard fight. I felt we all got a let down the past five games against the Twins, but that's how it played out. Forkit!

Funny...I didn't hear that conversation, nor did I hear Farmer's calls at Minnie. But my wife to me last night that she thought Garland was continuing to improve, but that she hoped he learned from this last outing...she thought he threw good stuff, but the wrong pitches at the wrong time. Forkit!

Let's hope for the baseball version of basketball's "sign and trade" deal, if that is indeed true... Forkit!

Cubkilla: Why would you say "Thanks for nothing?" Going into a key series with their division rivals, the Sox were in the race, 1/2 game back of the Twins...with 12 games to go on the year. Isn't that a VAST improvement over last year? Would you rather see the Sox just beaten to a pulp by the All-Star break? Didn't the Sox ADD players mid-season and at the deadline? Would you rather they had simply given up in mid-July and sold off players? I understand it hurts to lose, especially when the last five games against the twins were brutal to watch. But why damn the entire organization? They put the players in the place they needed to be--they really controlled their own destiny. And even if you just meant: "Damn the Sox players!", again I'd ask wasn't this better than being out of the race in mid-July? Sure, losing when we were so close hurts, perhaps worse than when a team loses in mid-July. But that's a part of being a team contending. Not all contenders end up winning the World Series. Me? I hated the way the boys played these past ten games, no doubt. But at least they were playing for something for a change. Forkit!

Again, even if it ends with the Twinks on top...we were in it to the end! How can that be more disappointing than a year like last year? Forkit!

I hate to be totally 180 degrees from most of you... I've been a Sox fan for 40+ years. YES, I want the team to make the playoffs. They may not. We'll see... YES, I was disappointed last night. But I'll take a season where we are in it with two weeks to go anytime to a season where we are watching everyone else fight it out in July and August. If we don't make it, it hurts. But we were in it, and that's a great improvement. I haven't thrown in the towel on the season and I hope the players get their dander up tonight and have at the Twinkies. Spit in their eye, guys! I love the team being in the race, even if it eventually fails. Those that are afraid of failure, are never in the hunt. If we fall short, this will be a memorable year and I'll be grateful to the Sox for some great entertainment. Forkit!

Jordan4Life... Blanket statements are just not a great thing to keep throwing out there. Players are individuals and Borchard has had a very different route to the minors than 99 percent of the guys that get drafted. Sometimes it pays to watch and wait for special players to develop. Could he fall short? Yes. Could he be an switch hitter with incredible power? Yes. He is big and fast and has near unbeatable power in his bat from both sides. Why are so many of you always after instant gratification from young players? And I reiterate, this is his high school and college baseball he is playing right now. So take your "26 or he's a bust" slogan and hang it on "normal" minor league players that have made it to the minors after playing full time organized ball year after year before being drafted. Hopefully the Sox organization continue to have some long-term thinkers and planners running the minor leagues. Giving up on Borchard now is just plain dumb. Forkit!

The rumor is he's suspended for this road trip...anyone hear anything one way or another that's sourced? Forkit!

The Borchard haters need to do some homework...this guy never played a full season of organized baseball until he signed with the Sox. He's gonna be a late bloomer. If he had played baseball as his first sport during high school and college, he'd be a monster right now. But instead, he focused all his work and practice on football. I'm telling you...he will be a power hitting star, once he gets his at-bats in the minors and his tendonitis goes away. Not every player is instant gratification. Yes, he's 25...but he's a babe when it comes to at-bats against quality pitching. Try to take the long view. If the Sox give up on him, you'll be watching him win power awards for years to come somewhere else. Right now, they are smart to let him get his work in in the minors--he's basically playing his college ball in our minors. Let him come of age...You'll like him. Forkit!

My understanding of the playoff roster procedure is as follows--and this is a different procedure than most fans think, unless Basball Prospectus was incorrect: Because of the way the Angels exploited the DL wording last year, it's come to light that the rules that most fans think apply to the 25 man playoff roster are not actually correct. On September 1 [september 2 this year because of the US holiday], all teams must submit a 25 man playoff roster to MLB. This roster does not have to match their current 25 man roster--which was always assumed to be the case--but must be in by the deadline. The list CAN include players on the DL. As the Angels did last year, a team can then "change out" a player from their organiztion for the player on the DL once the playoffs start. This player does not have to be on the 25 or even 40 man roster. If a team has a man on the 25 man playoff roster that is on the DL, they can name any player within their organization to fill the spot. The only question is this: Does the player have to be the property of the team on or before September 1 [sep 2 in this case]? Generally, playoff rosters were set on September 1 because teams wanted their best players on the stretch drive. But as the Angels showed last year there is more flexibility available if the GM is creative... Forkit!

You can replace a player that is on the DL with another player. I would bet you'd have to have that player within your organization before September 2 [normally Sep 1, but this is an odd year]. The player doesn't have to even be on the 40 man...so, yes, they can name Koch, for example, to the 25 man playoff list they hand in to MLB, even though he isn't with the big club right now [he doesn't have to be on or by the 2nd, either]. Then they can replace him. The only question would be...does the player have to be a part of the Sox organization [not 25 man or 40 man, etc] by Sep 2... Forkit!

Call me tongue tied??? Forkit!

Kinda off topic...but it's hard for me to concentrate when replying...looking at her. Errrr...Doable! Forkit!

This is just a thought based on figures I saw thrown about here and a few other sites...Obviously, I don't know what the market will command for Bartolo next year and/or what he might be willing to sign for before free agency begins. But here goes: If Colon would sign for $8-9 mill per for three years...I'd make the deal tomorrow if I thought he was healthy at the end of the season. He eats innings and you gotta think JR and Eddie are likely to make a run for next season, not just stop with a run at the post season this year... I can't make a case for him at $12 mill or more per...but $8-9? I wouldn't blink. We're in it to win it! Forkit!

Paniagua signed and sent to AAA... Forkit!

I totally disagree. Sign him unless the money is unreasonable. I cannot remember actual defense being played at second base for many, many years. This guy stepped in and our entire defense stepped it up another notch or two. There are very few players that lift the play of others around him and we all witnessed Robbie literally lift the defensive play of the infield. Add to that his solid lead off presence and his savvy base running, as well as balls to the wall first base slide.... Just sign him, please. How about a nice two year contract with an option at the end? Forkit!

I wanted to post this before today's game started but I didn't get back from errands in time. We're on a six game winning streak going into today's game and everyone is riding high... Remember this is a long race. Don't let your emotions come crashing to earth with the ebb and flow of the race. Hopefully, the Sox will finish this stand with a seventh win and go into New York on fire. The important thing here is for the Sox to take care of business each series and for fans to stay on and enjoy the ride. A week ago, we were coming off of a dismal away series and many folks were jumping off the ship because we were two out and looked "dead." Obviously, this has been a great week for Sox baseball... Remember, neither too high or too low. Enjoy the ride! We're in it to win it! Forkit!

That's my problem with Jose...he's so hot yesterday, swinging for the fences and today, he's absolutely useless and unable to even put on a little situational hitting 101. Any hit or any deep fly ball... For every productive offensive game he has it feels like he has 10 *bleah* games. And don't start me on his defense... Forkit!