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I like it. I agree that it kind of tempers expectations, especially when compared to the dreadful "All In" campaign. Any baseball fan knows that there are ups and downs for every franchise but, no matter how awful a team is, we can all still appreciate the game. Be it an evening spent in the stands taking in the atmosphere, sitting on your porch at home listening to Ed and DJ, or a lazy Sunday afternoon lounging on the couch watching the action on TV, it's a game that we all love whether the team wins or loses. The Sox have always been a part of our lives and perhaps it's seasons like 2012, where you don't throw s*** at the tv because your expectations are set high, that we really get to appreciate the game of baseball for what it is.

DeAza Bacon Kong Dunn Rios Alexei Viciedo AJ Morel Danks Peavy Gavin Humber Sale I know I'm in the minority, but I expect very nice rebound seasons from both Dunn and Gordon. I think Ozzie's attitude didn't mix with these guys and they will both work very well under Robin.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 05:05 PM) I am truly afraid of these as throwbacks: http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4234826 Seriously?!? Man, I love those.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 13, 2012 -> 06:10 PM) Silverio, Martinez and Marinez don't belong in the top 10. That's just laziness. I don't know about that....my sources in Lawrence, Kansas, agree with Phil.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Dec 14, 2011 -> 07:50 PM) Ha, I just remembered that Vinny Del Negro coaches the Clippers. Good luck with that.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 13, 2011 -> 06:44 PM) Does Rip need screens to get open? Yes. He doesn't when his man leaves him to double up Rose.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 13, 2011 -> 04:48 PM) I expect at least semi-regression from the Bulls. Everybody knows they overachieved last year. They did in the sense that they finished with the league's best record with their front-court decimated by injuries throughout the season, Bogans starting at SG, and a brand new coach. This year, if they finish with the league's best record, they'll meet expectations. Replacing Keith Bogans with Rip is an upgrade no matter which way you try to twist it...going from 6ppg to 17 with comparable defense is a massive upgrade. Can he create off the dribble? Of course not...but he will score and will relieve some of the pressure from Rose. Omer will be huge this year after some invaluable experience last year. Same with Taj. The Bench Mob will be insane on the defensive end of the court which, of course, makes it less important that they can't score consistently. The Bulls depth is wholly unmatched in either conference...this should play well given the condensed schedule. A team that was already tops on D under a first year head coach will truly be smothering this year after a full year in the system. I really can only see Miami hanging with the Bulls out of the East...and no other team is even close. NYK may have some star-power, but their backcourt is a joke and their depth miserable. Boston is on their way down. ORL, even if Dwight stays, has really done nothing to improve from a mediocre team. Atlanta is weaker. Indy is better but still not "good".

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 8, 2011 -> 11:34 PM) The fair trade DID happen. He vetoed it, which really was beyond his power. The NBA is f***ed after this. I didn't think any trades could be officially completed until the owners ratified the new CBA which, as far as I know, won't happen until tomorrow. How is the NBA f***ed? Because fans in LA will be pissed? ETA: I see now the owners have ratified. Still, we have no idea how "official" this trade was. Did the teams make official announcements?

The only way to combat this is for the GMs to collude a bit. The bottom-line is that Orlando, if this Howard deal is done for Bynum, are the real idiots. I'd just as soon let Howard walk for nothing at the end of the year than serve as a farm system for LAL. Smith, in this case, would catch hell from the media for not budging but someone from small-mid market management needs to step up and start the trend.

So that pretty much kills Miami's FA money, right? Only other ways they can improve now is via trade?

What an awful contract.....$25-26M/yr for 10 years? To a 32 yr old? Madness. I read where STL offered him 9 years, anyone know the dollars? That's kind of shady for him to leave STL if it was only over 1 yr on his deal.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:57 PM) I am amazed (but not really) at the stupidity of this fan base. We have an inability to think logically about something. Instead, we overreact with the first thought that comes to our head. What's the LAST thing a rebuilding team needs? A closer. What's the first thing a rebuilding team needs? Pitching prospects. Don't misconstrue someone complaining about the returns from trading a particular player vice complaining about simply trading a particular player. I don't think I've read anyone b****ing about Santos being dealt.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:45 PM) I wouldn't say Santos is a proven closer yet. He had one of the highest ERAs for a closer in the majors. Middle of the road in conversion% ....2nd in MLB in K/9 and BAA for closers....a solid 1.11 WHIP. I'm not a saber guy so not sure about advanced stats, but his overall numbers certainly put him in the middle or upper-middle tier of closers, imo.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:27 PM) Wow, that is an awful return. Amen. A proven closer at, what, $2.5M/yr over the next 3, plus team options for the following 3? And we get a single prospect back? Nestor's numbers look great but he hasn't thrown but a few innings in AA, albeit quality innings.

WTF?!?!

I think he's going to have a helluva year. I think he had issues with Ozzie from day 1....OG didn't like some rookie coming in and stealing attention from the "face of the franchise". Walker obviously was unable to coach Gordon. I think having a different hitting coach and an intelligent and level-headed manager will do wonders for Gordon's confidence. What we saw in '09 wasn't a mirage...he looked like a very impressive hitter...that didn't just disappear.

Preferably just move on but, if Reinsdorf gets involved, I hope they go no higher than 3/$30 I think the innings are catching up to MB. I think much of his success last season can be attributed to the 6 man rotation we had for a while. Granted he still finished with 31 GS, but he really tailed off toward the end of the season. Both his 2010 and 2011 Septembers he finished with ERAs over 6. I don't feel that bodes well for a 3 or 4 year deal.

It's so refreshing to read this board. I live in GA in the 19th most conservative county in the US (according to Daily Caller). I'm pretty much a centrist but to these people I'm a commie bastard. You would not believe how much Cain is loved and adored here...it's ridiculous. No matter what the idiot says or does, someone is there to defend him. These folks are going to be devastated when Romney takes the nomination.

Weren't there a couple of opposing pitchers that came out this year and said that the Sox are overly aggressive? I can appreciate what Manto is saying, and he's right, but I hope that he hasn't identified passivity at the plate as a major issue with Sox hitters...I think that's a minor concern.

It makes me sick to see a team with Nick freaking Punto in its starting lineup one game away from a WS win.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 22, 2011 -> 10:48 AM) Who replaces Peavy? If Peavy pitches reasonably well this season and manages to stay reasonably healthy, I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back on a ridiculously cheap 1 or 2 yr deal. He's a competitor and seems to be a pretty stand-up guy. My guess is that he feels as embarrassed about getting paid what he's been paid by the Sox as we are angry. Kind of like folks think Dunn would retire if he can't earn his keep, I think Jake will try to make his lack of performance up to the Sox.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 12, 2011 -> 06:42 PM) Not that it really matters, but he's actually a good interview and very funny. The only bland thing about him is his delivery. If you listen to what he says, he's wise and funny. With Ozzie, he was all about the delivery. I was shocked and happy when they announced this move. I'm even happier about it after hearing Robin speak about the job. He'll make mistakes, every manager does, but I really think the players are going to love him and will play hard and be accountable. Once he gets a hang on using his bullpen, he may turn out to be one of the better managers in baseball. Well said. I remember when this was announced I was in a bad mood the rest of the evening....couldn't believe the Sox went cheap and this inexperienced. After letting this whole deal simmer in my mind a bit, listening to KW's reasoning, listening to Robin's approach and recognizing that he's a very, very sharp guy with a ton of experience as a player, I actually have begun to like this hire. I think the clubhouse was ready for a change...I think there was a whole lot of respect lost for the folks in charge of running the show last season. To have a guy like Ventura come in, a guy who's fought the battles on the field and had a solid career, a guy who was known by teammates for being steady yet extremely competitive, a guy who basically walked away from baseball to see to the priorities of his family (isn't that what every player wants to do?), I don't see how the Sox don't improve next season. If you can't respect Robin Ventura, well, you don't respect the game of baseball. He's the epitome of what I think of when I think of a baseball player....smart, driven, competitive, classy, and thoughtful.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Oct 7, 2011 -> 01:59 PM) I agree with you, he didn't really deny that he was going to KW with stuff, but as a company man watching the team/season go down the toilet, I don't blame him if he did. Absolutely. It was extremely tough as a fan to watch the games this year and know, without a doubt, that OG was essentially throwing games. I cannot imagine sitting on the bench beside OG and watching it happen...watching him essentially destroy what Coop takes so much pride in, what he teaches his pitchers to work so hard to accomplish, winning baseball games. And he's not supposed to say a word? He owes loyalty to Ozzie? C'mon.

Checked out Homeland after reading about it here.....I'll definitely be watching the next episode. Impressive.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 4, 2011 -> 08:44 AM) Yeah, but that was after he stopped. Why did he stop in the first place? I have no idea. Hopefully they explain it all better in next week's conclusion