mmmmmbeeer

I like the idea....sort of sets the tone for the season.

Does anyone remember if the last games of the spring played in MLB parks are usually played by starters? I'm really wanting to take the kids to Turner Field next weekend but don't want to pay ML prices for ml baseball.

I'll go with 93. I think the pitching props up the record in the first half and KW grabs a big bat for the 2nd half.

I found it interesting/odd that Jacob couldn't bring Ricardo's wife back, couldn't forgive Ricardo's sins, but WAS able to grant him eternal life. If he was, in fact, the devil then this would make sense assuming his wife went to heaven when she died (she was christian and wore the cross, died with a bible on her lap).

The black jerseys are the best of the bunch, imo.

QUOTE (Cali @ Feb 23, 2010 -> 08:32 PM) Yeah I thought he quit drinking years ago? This division is turning into AA-L Central That's what I thought too. I thought many of his problems in the Angels organization were attributed to alcohol and that upon coming to the Sox organization he turned over a new leaf. Oh well, either way it's good to hear he's quit again.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 11:30 PM) When you have a lurching to the far left (by American standards), and the population is center right, this is what you get. Seriously? What are these "far left" bills that are being filibustered? Health care, I suppose, would fall into that weak label. Maybe some of the smackdowns on banks, but those are supported by the public. So what is it exactly that you're referring to that is sooo far left? Again, 20 years worth of filibusters in 1 year....and you're cool with that? So when the republicans got absolutely TROUNCED in the 2008 elections because, ya know, that "center right" population voted those evil "far left" congressmen into power, what the people were really saying was that they wanted the government to come to a standstill by the hand of the minority? Your argument is inconsistent.

Heard an interesting stat last night......in 2009 the filibuster was used more often than it was used in the 1950's and 1960's....combined. To quote the anchor, the republicans fit 20 years of obstructionism into 1. Pretty impressive.

I respect what he says but someone needs to talk some sense into him. Granted he's already made a boatload of money but just another 3 years could net him an additional $27M dollars or more....that's just ludicrous and an opportunity that not many people on this earth get. When you have a chance to build generational wealth so quickly, for playing a game, you'd be a fool to walk away when you've still got a good 7-10 years of pitching left in your arm. It's not like he's a lineman on a football team who will face years of pain and suffering for extending his career, he's a baseball player. My wife would kick my ass if I were him and retired.

Putz reminds me of Ricky from Trailer Park Boys in this interview.

I hope Gavin Floyd is Jake Peavy's shadow this season. If you take Gavin's stuff and mix it with Peavy's mental approach, man, we'll have arguably the best 1-2 punch in baseball. Coop got in Gavin's head and we've seen the results but Coop can't get out on the mound and demonstrate that demeanor like Jake can. I really think the atmosphere will be different in the clubhouse this season. Whether that leads to wins, who knows, but we've finally got a couple of guys who seem like they will be vocal leaders...namely Jake and Gordon.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 1, 2010 -> 09:47 AM) That little league field is so much nicer than pretty much every field I have ever played on. Buckhead is a rather "ritzy" part of ATL....thus the nice fields.

Am I hearing this right, there are people on this board that would be happy if tomorrow KW traded TCQ to Oakland straight up for Chris Carter?

QUOTE (IamPabloOzuna @ Dec 27, 2009 -> 12:09 PM) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-2...,2912624.column Phil Rogers ranks the top 13 rotations in baseball...and lets just say he's not on the same page as TSN. But to be fair he used his very own, super-duper, extra special, top secret formula. While I obviously strongly disagree with where he placed the Sox, this whole list is jacked up. Considering his "formula", I'm not surprised his list was pretty well dominated by NL teams. When you use: "Halladay should dominate in the NL. There's depth but no clear-cut No. 2 among Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton." To justify the third "best" rotation in baseball, yeah, your formula obviously sucks.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Dec 22, 2009 -> 11:23 PM) Pretty much sums it up. In fact... at times I think he is UNDERrated as a pitcher. Lots of common fans still don't really know how good he is, even as a Red Sox with all that media coverage. Other than his fight with cancer, I never hear his name being brought up as much as "Big game" Beckett, "Mr. Crafty" Wakefield, Dice-K (even the struggles) now Lackey, etc.. and he is probably their best pitcher. If it wasn't an emotional attachment, the fan base, money issues, etc. I would trade him straight up for Buehrle (Boston wouldn't go for it, I know) and not think twice. I was one of those "common fans". I'd heard the dude was a pretty good pitcher but never really paid much attention. I don't watch much baseball tonight or what have you, just read and watch Sox games. So last season when I watched Lester pitch against the Sox, man, I was pretty impressed. The dude has incredible stuff.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 18, 2009 -> 05:02 PM) Ben Sheets would be a nice 5th starter. Where's the little drooling emoticon when you need it? It'd be overkill, especially if he cost more than a 3 or 4 million, but man that would be madness if he was actually healthy for the season. That's a 5 man rotation full of 1's and 2's.

I think much like '05, Freddy will feed upon the quality of this staff and excel. I'm not sure he has the health or durability these days to pitch 150-175 innings out of the 5th spot but you've got to let him start the year in that role. Hudson looks like he's going to stick in the big leagues but he's still going to have his struggles as the league scouts him and he is introduced to the wear and tear of a full ML season. I'd prefer he take his lumps out of the pen and gain experience in low leverage situations. I suppose you could take that to mean that not only do I not want him in the 5th rotation spot, but I also don't want to see him start the year in the minors. I'm no pro-athlete but I've got to imagine that, if Freddy were to go down, it's pretty nerve-wracking to fly in from Charlotte a few hours before a game and start in a pinch. I'd rather have him get accustomed to the big league atmosphere, get used to his teammates, and come out of the pen to start if necessary.

QUOTE (BoKnows @ Dec 17, 2009 -> 12:09 AM) 10. Royce Clayton 9. Antonio Osuna 8. Rocky Biddle 7. David Riske 6. Dewon Day 5. Boone Logan 4.Mike Jackson 3. Jose Paniagua 2. Billy Koch 1. Joe Borchard I wanted to put Tony Pena's batting practice on here, but thought I would give him another year. he may be on the 2010-2019 list though. best name in the past 10 years: Jeff Bajenaru I always liked Osuna. I remember him getting Sosa swinging in a critical situation in a crosstown game.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 08:58 PM) i always felt sick to my stomache when he came into a game lol...didnt jose paniagua only play one game with the sox..facing the twins and he stuck his middle finger at the ump, or am i wrong? cant remember I remember watching that game. I already despised Jerry Manuel by this point and to watch Paniagua go out there and give up hit and walks with a big lead, I don't know, rarely do you literally see the momentum shift like I did that night. Man I was pissed. Here's the game log: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CH...200309090.shtml 1/3 IP 3 H 1 BB 4 ER

QUOTE (beckham15 @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 04:33 PM) im really surprised dwise isn't being hung out to dry here in this thread...... I think that even having one moment of greatness, like "the catch", is enough to save you from a an easy list of 10 who never even sniffed mediocre.

In no particular order...trying to go with guys that had atleast a partial full-time role at some point: Willie Harris Billy Koch Royce Clayton Roberto Alomar Joe Borchard Josh Fields Jerry Owens Danny Wright Andy Gonzalez Darin Erstad honorable mentions Damaso Marte Scott Linebrink

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 11, 2009 -> 01:47 PM) This really shouldn't be the precursor to any other move, he can't be counted on to give you anything in 2010. Yeah, I'm less than excited about this move as I don't see anything that will solidify the pen until Putz is able to take the mound and get hitters out.

If I'm trading Hudson or Flowers it's for someone who doesn't come with question marks. While Upton is immensely talented, he comes with a whole lot of question marks. If you send Hudson and Flowers to TB, you paid more for potential than you did for a proven stud like Jake Peavy....granted money plays into that comparison, but I'm sure you get my point.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 5, 2009 -> 11:08 AM) He's a nice change in attitude. I'd love to see him and danks go back to back in the rotation. They both have that look that "I want to dominate you". Buerhle is more of a "haha, I'm smarter than you" while Floyd is like "Check out my pitcher face, do you believe it?" These are pure aesthetic observations in how I watch the game, have little to do with performance. More of a cinematic approach to pitching. Ha! I think you're about dead-on with all of those. I really think that Peavy is going to have the biggest influence on Gavin. Even when he's rolling, Gavin looks scared sh**less out on the mound, imo. I think Peavy is going to teach him that it's okay to get out there, have absolute faith in your stuff, and to let the hitter know, simply using body language, that he's going to beat you.

QUOTE (striker62704 @ Oct 5, 2009 -> 04:40 PM) KW stated (I don't remember the source) that he wants a DH that can also play the field. JD is alright out there but I'm sure Dye is not what he has in mind. This is the key, imo. I think we're seeing a trend that he's wearing down as seasons wear on and his age catches up to him. If KW believes that those lapses in endurance can be attributed to playing RF everyday, well, he may still have the energy to hit well through an entire season just being the DH. If KW believes that it isn't playing RF that wears him down then he's got to go. Additionally, as SS2K mentioned, if KW thinks it's all mental I think that means again that he needs to let him walk.