The only other guys besides Schilling that have ever backed up a guarantee have been Joe Natham, Mark Messier, and Vince McMahon. I think Schilling will get into the HOF, I'm not sure he belongs there (I'm old school thinking only the greatest players deserve to go in) but as a Sox fan I'd love to see him. The 216 win thing isn't a big deal, because people are starting to realize that wins are overrated in terms of judging how good a pitcher really is (and why people think because Mussina will have close to 300 wins deserves to get in because he does and shouldn't get in). The writers will remember the bloody sock and how he got 2 titles for the Sox and he was one of the guys that beat the Yankee dynasty in 2001. It'll be close, he's not a 1st ballot HOFer but I can see him getting in on the 6 or 7th try as his legend will keep growing each time.
I kind of wish we had faced Dice-K....he got slapped around by the Cardinals today and looks rusty. Well the Yankees also got spanked so they seem to be cooling off.
I was at the game today, had great seats and all I got for it was a sun burn. Matsuzaka was awful today, I wasn't sure if it was rust, a real injury or he just sucked but he was brutual. Was great to see J.D. Drew continue his hot hitting. The last 2 games have been bad, there's no way the Sox should have let Kyle Lohse or Mitchell Boggs beat them, especially at home. They better win tomorrow and take at least 2 from the DBacks.
Truly pathetic game by the Sox offense tonight, especially in the 9th with Lowell, Moss and Varitek, way to work the count guys. The Sox need to win the next 2 games, no debate. Beckett pitched well just had no run support.
Missed the game today fell asleep but sounds like I didn't miss much an inept offense is one of the more frustrating things for me to watch.
Nothing bothers me more when the Sox are in games and could win them but just don't come through, especially against lesser teams like St. Louis this weekend. I tip my hat to Haren but the Sox had a lot of missed opportunities and could have won, especially if Manny's ball is 2 inches to the left or right.
BIG win tonight, maybe the biggest of the season so far. The bats were absolutely dead and to come back and score 4 in the 8th was great. It all started with Pedroia's outstanding at bat in the 8th fouling off pitch after pitch until finally getting the base hit, followed by Lowell and Vtek. Now this win means nothing if they lose tomorrow, the team needs to end the home stand on a positive note because the next road trip (Houston, TB and NYY) is going to be tough. The Sox have not done a good job putting some distance in the East and they need to start doing it now.
Hello again everyone. I had no idea this site even existed until Ray pointed it out to me.. all I knew was that the old place got lame very quickly and everyone disappeared. Good to have everyone back..
About freakin' time. Your return is like Schilling taking the mound for Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. Great to have you back.
Glad to have you back man. Talking Sox with that Uga234 or something guy on FH would make my head explode.
Haha, no doubt about it. I know this isn't the place for it, but Richard Jefferson eh? I gotta admit, it's nice to see the Celts out of the Lottery.
Unfortunately the bullpen has been awful in the past 2 days as Okajima has continued his bad season. The Sox might need to start thinking about moving either Masterson or Buchholz into the pen (maybe both) or calling up someone else because right now a lot of the guys either don't get the job done or are shakey in doing so. In a perfect world the Sox would make a trade for an arm but after the Gagne disaster and the names being thrown out as who's available it might be better sticking to what they have now, as bad as that may be.
Beckett pitched another great game too I wonder how he feels pitching two gems back to back and not get a win out of either because lack of run support. I think we will see Masterson in the bullpen before the season ends maybe in the postseason if he performs well. No trades either, no need to give up young talent for average relief pitchers. Boston is now a .5 game back of Tampa Bay, who would've thought any of us would be saying that this season.
I'm sure Beckett isn't too happy but what can he do? There are times that he pitched like crap and the team got him a W so it all evens out. Yeah I think Masterson ultimately will end up in the pen like some scouts seem to think he'd be best at. And I agree no trades unless they can get a sure thing (if there is such a thing as a sure thing in the pen). Tampa Bay is surprising but I'm still not convinced that they are a better team than the Sox or even the Yankees for that matter. A lot of their players have been playing over their heads a bit (hello Eric Hinske and every member of their bullpen). We'll see how they do when it gets to August and September and the pressure is on them having to scoreboard watch with both the Yankees and Sox. Also it should be noted that although Kazmir is a very very good pitcher, he's only thrown over 200 innings once in his career (so it is possible he could turn into Sabathia 2k8) and isn't exactly Mr. Healthy. Just saying. Anyway should be fun seeing The Metal Boob aka Tropicana Field full of Rays' fans this week, although I won't be shocked if there are more Sox fans there. People want to talk about Sox fans being bandwagoners (which I agree with) but should be funny seeing these 'life long' Rays fans coming out of the wood work.
Speaking of Tropicana Field, im going to the game Wednesday Night vs the Rays. I went to 2 games last year at the trop and it was amazing how many sox fans there where. Although now that the Rays are good im expecting a little more rays fans this time
Tough loss tonight, it would have been interesting to see if Percival stayed in the game if he would have gotten Casey out. But hey the Sox put themselves in this position you can't let Gabe Gross hit a 2 run homer off of you. I mean seriously Gabe Gross? Sox need to win the next two games in the Boob.
Not looking to make a huge deal of this - yet, what was he thinking?? http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/projo_20080629_red_sox_ramirez_altercation.950544e.html "Manny Ramirez shoved the Red Sox's traveling secretary. This is slightly different than the Shawn Chacon situation, in that Chacon had his hands around Ed Wade's neck. But is Manny getting off easy because he's Manny? "
Yeah honestly I don't care. I mean it was a dumb thing to do and obviously I wasn't there so I can't defend him on it (nor would I try too). And yes Manny is getting off easy because it's Manny. If it was Brandan Moss or Coco Crisp I find it hard to believe all they would do is slap them on the wrist.
I don't like our chances to avoid the sweep tonight. Kazmir and Daisuke -- yikes. On another note, our offense really looks to be laboring without Ortiz in the middle. I know this was to be expected, but we really haven't felt the full effects of a Papi-less lineup. I think that could be changing now... Although, all is well if we find a way to steal one tonight.
Both games have been so tight, and low scoring...Sox could have taken both so tonight should be no different and DiceK is capable of going pitch for pitch with Kazmir. Its been a 50/50 toss up series so far.
No arguement there. However, he's been an absolute pleasure to watch at the plate for the better part of the past decade. OT: Great job with the new site. I've been thrilled to reconnect with all the great posters from the old FH days.
Actually Manny is considered great guy (minus this). I know from clubhouse accounts that the guy is friendly with everyone and really does help keep the team loose etc. That's why what he did was so surprising. The media unfortunately painted him as a bad guy because he wouldn't talk to them and yes he's had his problems in the past of immature acts.
This has been an interesting series so far. I've been having mixed opinions on both teams, I need to see how tonight plays out but although the Rays are playing great baseball and it looks like today they might win the division I'm still not sure they're the best team in the East. I will say the Rays are better than I thought though.
Rays are playing well right now. They are getting good pitching all around and some timely hitting. On the other hand we are not hitting at all, and our bullpen has been beat up lately. Kazmir always eats us up, but we usually hit pretty good with Dice on the mound. If Dice-K walks a few tonight we are in trouble because they will just trot around the bases with there speed.
Lugo is an idiot...... He is a tool, slide within reach of 2b, heck you are not doubling up Ellsbury anway...cost DiceK another run.
I don't care what happens between now and forever I have ZERO faith in either Delcarmen and Hansen. I think it's time to send Hansen back to Triple A and call up Timlin because even though he's 42 years old he at least throws strikes (even though the balls get hit very hard).
Terrible move by Francona there with the hit and run with Tek up at the plate and Lowell running. I don't understand that one as Varitek has been a K machine lately. And I think it's time to find some bullpen help, whether it's a trade or two or putting Masterson there because other than Papelbon, I have no faith what so ever in the pen. I'm also starting to get annoyed with Mastuzaka, would it kill the guy to just throw strikes for 7 innings? I mean he's always at a 3-2 or 2-2 count on every batter. it's frustrating and annoying to watch. Well on to NY for 4 games while the Rays get to play KC for 4. I'm guessing the Sox will probably be 5 games out by Monday. They have no one to blame but themselves I can count on at least 5 games this year where they gave the game away.
If they were in any other division and Joe Madden or Jonny Gomes weren't on the team, and also if they didn't like in the Trop, I would be rooting for them to win for sure.
We are not playing good baseball right now. We are leaving to many men on base and our bullpen is pitching like bullcrap! Now we have to go into NY playing like crap. Funny thing is neither of us are in first! LOL!
We're in the midst of another patented month+ long slump from our "captain". When he's stuck in one of these (which occur every year), he's potentially the worst hitter in baseball. Also, Hansen sucks. So much for the guy being the second coming out of St. Johns. The dude is a bum. And I agree -- Johnny Gomes is such a douche. He shouldn't be on a Major League roster because he doesn't do anything particularly well on a baseball field, outside of taking a few cheap shots.
Sadly Varitek isn't even the worst hitter on the team Kevin Cash is but the catching position has to be a major concern for the F.O. moving forward. Texas has 3 catching prospects in their system maybe the Sox can try and find a match (although I heard only 1 of them is likely to stay behind the plate). I guess the only good thing about Vtek sucking is that when the Sox resign (because you know they will) it won't cost as much. Yeah Hansen does suck, I got excited when he first came up because he was throwing strikes and his slider had a lot of bite to it but the guy is a bust. I personally think he should be sent down instead of Chris Smith. I have no faith in him (and Delcarmen too). Also Keith Law (ESPN scout) who I think does a great job saw Michael Bowden and Daniel Bard pitch and was very disappointed in them, he thinks Bard is at least 2 years away and Bowden wasn't hitting 94 mph like it was being reported and didn't throw his change up at all. Basically he's down on both.
Lester pitches another gem he is quickly becoming the pitcher many thought he would be. Now if the rest of the starters can pitch CG we wouldn't have to worry about our crap bullpen coming in and screwing up the game. Daiskue should start paying closer attention to how Lester pitches and who knows maybe he will be able to pitch more then 5 innings a game.
