hahah thats what I meant Ramon.....I'm just busting aggits....but I will say yeah forget the media....however it is about the fans, and all of my buddies could care less about that day, much like they could care less about Sweet Caroline......it is just a money grab, something the Sox do often...hence the sell out role...
Well that I won't/can't argue with. Still it's nice to see him have a good night for once. Lowell is playing for Kazmir.
Eh in this case I don't think the team is being a sell out. To my best knowledge I don't think they were selling any special t-shirts or anything like that for the game. It really was just a quick 5 minute thing before the game. It's not like they did this because they wanted to get people to come to the baseball park, since the game was sold out well before they made it 'Nomar Night'. If you want to accuse the Red Sox as being sell outs, that's fine and I agree. The owners and team does do a lot of things that annoy me as a fan. I do give the Yankees a TON of credit for being the only team in baseball that has 1 game hat, 1 home uniform and 1 away uniform. I can't stand seeing the hat with the Sox logo on it or the Friday night red/blue uniform top. At the end of the day though this is all a business for them and if they can squeeze extra money out of the fans, more power to them.
Don't get me wrong tho I wanna see Ortiz do well and I hope nothing but the best for him. Tonight I am much more worried about Dice K than who ever our DH is
It's too bad we can't play the Angels all the time, then maybe we could get back in the race. It's official I hate Matsuzaka and he has to be the worst pitcher in the universe to watch. It's honestly painful watching him pitch. But on the plus side, he only has 1 more year after this one until he can leave town (I don't think we'll ever see a Dice-K Day at Fenway, just a hunch). This is obviously an important weekend for us as they need to take 2 out of 3 here. This team can't afford to drop any futher back than they are already.
I don't have the the exact date but Buchholz didn't have his first start until like April 15th or so and the Sox had so many off days in the beginning of the year, that's just how he fell into the rotation so the other starters days off wouldn't be thrown off too much by the addition of the 5th starter. Not like it makes any difference during the season who pitches when and where in terms of #1-5.
Looking for some positive Red Sox news? Guess you have to look at the minors where Mike Cameron is playing in Triple A tonight and should be back with the team soon. Also Anthony Rizzo has been promoted to Double A. Looks like Wakefield will start on Wednesday with Beckett being pushed back 1 day to Friday vs. the Tigers.
Seriously, why can't he do that in every start? Why can't he just attack hitters instead of nibbling on the corners. Matsuzaka does have good stuff, he's just afraid to attack hitters for whatever reason. Hopefully this game is his turn around.
Holy Smokes that ump sucked last night, if it even approached the strike zone on either side it was a strike, and checking your swing meant nothing. Tough loss.
I honestly can't remember the last time the Red Sox and Yankees played and I didn't care at all. This season has bummed and burnt me out already. The next 10 days are very important for this team.
Don't throw the towel, the Red Sox have a very good pitching staff and good hitters, I have a feeling that they will be back into the race. It's a long season...
I have officially given up on this team. If they end up turning it on and making the playoffs good for them but I just can't see how this team is good enough for that. Tonight would have been a huge win but this team for whatever reason just can't shut the door. It's too bad Papelbon blew the save since tomorrow everyone will want him traded and shipped out for Bard but he's been very good this year. 2-9 against the Yankees and Tampa Bay this year not good. 1 game under .500 a quarter of the way through the year, this team just isn't good, everyone is just having down years for whatever reason. I freakin' hate Matsuzaka though, I really hope they just get him off the team.
Papelbon has been complete dog**** for the last year and a half now (and last night was potentially the worst outing of his career). He clearly hasn't learned anything from his struggles, either, because he continues to throw an obscene number of fastballs. How many splitters did he throw last night, one? I thought he fixed this problem. I can't wait until the FO ships him out of town. And I'm surprised it took you this long to give up on this team. I saw all I needed to see during the beatdown the Rays put on them over Patriots Day weekend. They're just not good enough to compete in the AL East this year.
Guys as a Yanks fan I think you are getting carried away, bring back Cameron, and Elisbury, and I think it will be fine, Elsbury, makes that ball Gardener hit last night routine, in the 9th.....the bats are an upgrade with those guys.... Papelbon has been "ify" last year, and this year, but he is still IMO the best reliever in baseball beside Mariano....he for some reason isnt good against the Yankees...Beckett is the only guy I would be worried about as a Sox fan....Dice-K whatever, the guy wasnt that good to begin with, dont expect much....just give it some time, the Yanks like 3 years ago were .500 until the middle of June, and then played 750 ball the rest of the way and made the playoffs...it can happen...I hope it does...I love my Sox/Yanks playoff series..
I wouldn't ship Papelbon out of town just yet, unless the offer is just too good to pass up (which I doubt will happen since he does make a lot of money this year and next and the trade market for closers isn't what it used to be) but he has pitched pretty well this year not including last night of course. Besides Rivera (and maybe Joe Nathan in the regular season) what other closer would you rather have? I mean for all of Papelbon's struggles the past year and a half would you rather have Brad Lidge, Matt Capps or Brian Fuentes? How about Daniel Bard? I mean it's not like he's lights out all the time either and Papelbon has pitched better than Bard has this year. It took me awhile because I figured the team would go on a run because their starting pitching (besides Matsuzaka) isn't as bad as they have pitched all year. The team just can't get on that run and I feel like they're already too far behind with both Tampa and the Yankees playing good ball since day 1. If one of those teams weren't playing as well I'd have faith but both are off to great starts. The Sox will need a miracle to get back in the race which I can't see them getting one. I'm actually fine with it, the franchise has been very successful the past 8 years, if they have a bad one here and there it's ok. It makes you appreciate the good years even more.
Papelbon is going to want huge money (Rivera money) when he becomes a FA and considering his past success and reputation, he'd probably bring back a nice haul of prospects in a potential deal. The overall health of his arm is questionable, at best, and he's a guy who admittedly messed with his mechanics as a way of ensuring his shoulder holds up prior to his big payday in FA. The Red Sox are not going to pay him $15 million a year. Yes, his departure would open up a hole in the bullpen and it might cost them a few games down the stretch this year. That said, what's the difference between 90 wins and 85 wins in this division? The roster is going to be purged at the end of the season anyway.
I agree with everything you said except he bringing back a nice haul of prospects. I just don't see them being able to land good prospects for him because of the amount of money he's going to cost that team next year. Plus the past few years the return on RPs hasn't been as high as in the past. The type of return I'd say the Sox would get for Papelbon would be a Josh Reddick & Michael Bowden type package of players, meaning they could be useful but no stars. Of course I hope I'm wrong and I'm sure Theo will get the best package he can get.
Caught the tail end of a Gammons interview with WFAN radio in NY. Sounds like both Lowell and Wakefield are really unhappy in their roles and Gammons speculated that once the Sox return home from their road trip after Philly and Tampa Bay the Sox might release him if they can't find a trading partner.
Nice win last night, it was a big win especially after the night before's disaster. Good to see us beat up on Joba and good to see fight in this team. That 9th inning was scary as hell, Scutaro is killing me on defense though. I thought Beckett pitched well, obviously if Scutaro turns that double play the game might have been much different. My favorite moment of the season so far has to be Marcus Thames pulling a Manny in the 2003 ALCS thinking Papelbon threw at him. Good stuff.
Set back.....this explains the bad starts.... GreshandZo Beckett going to the DL my buddy called it, said there is no way he wasn't injured...
Like finyank said: Beckett on the DL, Joe Nelson called up. Tim Wakefield is happy again for at least the next 15 days.
Great game by Clay Buchholz tonight, the kid was outstanding against a pretty good line up. It's nice to see both him and Lester step it up. Sox DFA'ed Scott Schoeneweis and called up Angel Sanchez to play SS for a few games while Marco Scutaro sits out with a sore non throwing elbow.
dude is Theo really going to this extreme?? http://985thesportshub.cbslocal.com/2010/05/20/theo-in-disguise-at-pearl-jam/
We get 6 games against the best team in the NL, while the Yankees play 6 against one of the worst. I'm confident they're a better team and all this year, but the unbalanced schedule is still a disgrace.
Look the Rays and Yankees are both better than the Red Sox but I need to rant on this whole interleague thing because it's pure crap between the unbalanced schedule and the whole natural rival thing. Since when is Philly our rival? When interleague started in the mid 90's the Braves were our rivals, because it made some sense since they came from Boston and all. But how are the Braves all of the sudden rivals with the Blue Jays and we're with the Phils now? I realize that the Phils/O's used to be rivals since they were so close and the Expos/Jays because of Canada so when the Nationals moved from Washington it left the Blue Jays without a rival, since the Nats/O's were even closer but it just doesn't make any sense. On top of that the Sox play the Phillies 6 times this year but only play the Twins, an AL team, 5 times, does that make any sense? I also don't like how teams don't play even play the same teams in interleague each year, that's not fair either, to any team. I mean I think the Cubs have played in Fenway Park 1 time in 15 years, how is that even possible? I really wish the MLB would just kill the whole interleague thing for good. Besides from the NY, Chicago and maybe LA match up I doubt fans really care about it. I mean I doubt Marlin and Ray fans really get up for these games, ditto for the Rangers/Astros, Cards/Royals or A's/Giants. Just end it and gave us fair and balanced schedules.
