Here yall go, as they would never say in Boston.

Some completely amateur analysis here, from a guy who rarely posts on sports threads for fear of saying something completely stupid (which never happens in P&R, etc.) but rather just reads what other people have to say...

I think the hoopla over the A-Rod dealings, undealings and redealings have overshadowed the fact that the Sox have a really strong team this year. Schilling, Martinez, Lowe pitching. Good closer in Foulke, the bullpen probably won't cause quite so much heartburn this season. Good hitting lineup - Ramirez, Varitek, Nomah, etc.

Looks good on paper, but of course it all depends on guys actually performing, not being injured, not nursing hurt feelings over the off-season stuff (Nomar was most affected, and he's way to much of a pro to be a tool about it, I think). But that's the case for every team. The Sox have the added distraction of having four guys - Nomah, Varitek, Lowe and somebody else, forget who - up for free agency after this season.

Should be a fun season, my predictions are the Sox top the Yanks and take the AL and (hey, what the f$*#) the World Series. And they re-sign Nomah.

Who will be this year's Kevin Jordan?

An explanation:

Back when both were with the Phillies, Kevin Jordan was Terry Francona's favorite. He was constantly given a lot of playing time under the excuse of "we need to keep our bench players ready" despite the fact that he was an extremely mediocre player. Imagine not playing Scott Rolen in front of a then-rare large crowd -- on Scott Rolen T-shirt day -- in order to keep Kevin Jordan sharp.

To me, Kevin Jordan became the symbol of everything that was wrong with the team during those days. So now that Francona is in Boston, who's going to end up on the bench too much because a second-stringer needs to stay sharp? Nomar? Ramirez?

Beware the Curse of Frankotite! wink

Yikes, interesting. Thanks.

"from a guy who rarely posts on sports threads for fear of saying something completely stupid but rather just reads what other people have to say..."

I'm totally with you there, William. Here's one, not really about baseball per se, but I just caught Curt Schilling in a new Dunkin' Donuts ad, eating a breakfast sandwich and practicing the proper pronunciation of "throw wicked hahd" in "Fenway Pahk". Quite funny.

First Yankees-Red Sox regular season match up to be nationally televised on Fox, April 16.

Just jumping on the A-Rod hype, aren't they? By the time the game rolls around people will be so sick of hearing about him that everyone will either not watch, or tune in and root for Boston. wink

Schilling's finally found what he's looking for...

Sharing a page: Curt Schilling had many reasons to be thrilled with his first Grapefruit League outing, a 3 2/3-inning turn Tuesday night against the Reds that featured five strikeouts.

But one of the biggest was Jason Varitek. Schilling feels he has found a sole-mate.

"A couple of things tonight bode well for the season, and that's one of them," Schilling said. "I have a guy who is in command back there, in total control. I haven't had that the last five, seven years. A catcher back there who is into it as much as I am ... that's someone I always wanted, and now I have him."

My computers doing weird stuff, trying to fix the s-mate thing.

[ March 10, 2004, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: William1865 ]

WOW! I've got the theme from Love Story running through my head now..... eek!

Ya beat me to it - BPT!

Was that last quote was homoerotic - or - what?

It's even nicer knowing Varitek was the subject matter! (gotto go now - be back in 15 minutes! wink )


.

Hope Lieby isn't jealous!

Eff the Yankees and their two pages of posts. Just an observation.

What's the Red Sox batting order going to be? I looked on the offical site and couldn't find anything.

Jim, according to the Sporting News 2004 Baseball preview, the batting order for the Red Sox will be (subject to change, of course):

1. Johnny Damon, CF
2. Bill Mueller, 3B
3. Nomar Garciaparra, SS
4. Manny Ramirez (boo!), LF
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Kevin Millar, 1B
7. Trot Nixon, RF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Pokey Reese, 2B

[ March 16, 2004, 09:35 AM: Message edited by: Marc ]

Marc, thanks. They should score a lot of runs this year again, depending on health (Nixon, Nomah) and attitude (Manny and Nomah).

[ March 16, 2004, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

So much for that lineup above on opening day: Nixon out, maybe Nomah too:

[ March 19, 2004, 07:29 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

I wonder why the Red Sox don't call up Ben Affleck to sub for Trot Nixon? I heard he's not too busy lately, with Jennifer out of his life and his buddy Matt making a movie in India. After all, Ben is the self-appointed #1 fan (and critic) of the team, isn't he? I recall he really P.O.'d Trot Nixon and a few other Sox players a couple years ago when he made some disparaging comments.

From IMDb:

Red Sox Movie To Debut in Boston on May 7th

I guess Aaron F*ckin' Boone would be an inappropriate title...

Why the "boo" behind Manny Ramirez's name? I say if Boston fans refuse to appreciate this sexy man's talents, send him where he belongs: the Yankees! wink

Uh, no thanks. Ramirez is widely considered one of the most selfish players in the game; he is lackadaisacal and displays disinterest in anything other than himself. It's clear the Red Sox would love to unload him; they placed him on waivers during the off-season and not another team had any interest.

While there is little doubt that the Red Sox tried to unload him during this past offseason in fairness to Manny the reason for the lack of interest on the part of other teams was almost exclusively due to his exorbitant salary (still 2nd highest in all of baseball to #13 in the Bronx) moreso than his lack of production in recent years....I can't believe I'm defending this selfish jerk (no one was more angry than me when Grady Little didn't bench him IMMEDIATELY after Manny failed to run out that ground ball in Tampa -- which Grady later said he regrets not doing, btw) BUT his three year numbers in Boston of .325/37 HR/112 RBI while averaging only 139 games played clearly indicate he is still a productive player when healthy (and when his head is "on straight", of course).

Besides, when Manny was still available in the THIRD round of the Outsports Fantasy Baseball League draft last week I was "forced" to take him so now I actually have to hope he DOES have a decent season.

[ March 28, 2004, 09:53 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]

Hi, Gamecock - There's no question his numbers are superb; I don't think anyone would contradict that. My sole point is that he appears to be lacking as both a teammate and a person.

all that stuff is overrated. if he continues to produce on the field, he's a huge asset. all the other stuff is bullsh*t.

Going to the Red Sox/Os game Thursday night. Alas, No-mah won't be playing. Should be fun, though. At first had two tickets, gave those to a friend so she could take her intern from work, who's a big Sox fan. Then out of nowhere I got four more tickets from another work contact. Like a karma thing. The first two tix were awesome seats, the four are in the outfield somewhere, but should be fun. And I don't have to work Friday so I can get hammered and go out Thursday PM after the game. I'll give an update, if I remember anything.

Not an auspicious start last night...and I read that Pedro left the game, showered and dressed, and left the ballpark before the game ended. First crisis for Frankotite? wink

Francona IS in a bit of a jam. Pedro walked out because he hates to talk with the media when he had a good game. No question, that's a lame excuse and Francona will have to have a talk with him about appearances (which is what we're talking about - do you think David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez cares whether Pedro hangs out and waits for the game to end?)

The problem is that because the media are the objects of Pedro's scorn, they are doing everything possible to keep him from doing this in the future - this means pressuring the manager into telling THE MEDIA what he's gonna do about it. A great trap that I'll bet Franconia can't handle.

All that said, these petulant ball players for Boston are still the best staff in the league - I'll take Pedro and Manny over Kevin Brown and Sheffield any day, both for talent and for attitude. And we know that public relations problems don't really effect their play. The only question is can you root for a team with players you don't like? I say search for the positive - look at Millar, Nixon, Damon, Wakefield, Arroyo, Ortiz and all the other guys having a good time playing for a great team, and it brings your faith back.

GO SOX!

As a baseball fan with no real rooting interest in either team, I'd have to call this one a draw, at least in the attitude category. The BozoSox probably have a slight (and getting slighter) edge in the talent competition. We may have to wait until the swimsuit competition to decide this one!

Hahaha! What kind of cocktail dress are they going to wear when they tell us about the good charity work they've done?

Much to Joe's chagrin, the Sox won't go 0-162 after Schilling won today.

RED SOX IN FIRST PLACE!

Thanks to the efforts of my boyfriend (despite his mountain man appearance) Johnny Damon. Did you all see that catch? Whew, he's good. And went 5 for 5 - he must have known I was at the game last night.

Damon's 5 for 5 performance last night was impressive (albeit still not quite as strong as Piazza's monstrous game in HotLanta) but someone needs to get him to a barber SOON!....since Johnny has been in Boston for a couple years I would have thought that he would have found someplace to get a decent haircut by now but perhaps cute Beantown native Theo Epstein can give him a recommendation or two....geez, I've seen homeless people on the streets of DC who look more well groomed than the "mountain man" in centerfield for the BoSox.

I know this isn't Hot Jock Talk, but I've been in lust with Johnny Damon since I first laid eyes on him in 1996 or 97, and wish he could have stayed in KC. I thought (hoped, really) that he might get a shave and a haircut at the end of Spring Training. He's covering up that cute face and smile! And the guy has a great body -- muscular arms, and a hairy chest which I saw during locker room interviews when he was in KC. I'm rooting for the Sox this year, except when they play my boys in blue!

Damon made a great play this evening, caught a Javy Lopez fly to center with Mora at third, then threw Mora out at home plate to end the tenth. At the plate he's 1 for 6.

Meanwhile, who's this Ceasar Crespo bum? 0 for 3, with two K's, one of them a foul bunt? We are not impressed.

[ April 08, 2004, 08:00 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

OK, I watched part of the Red Sox game on TV tonight and saw Johnny Damon for the first time this season. He looks absurd; just totally ridiculous. I actually burst out laughing.

I agree with the rest of you. That scruffy look Johnny has been sporting since joining the Red Sox doesn't suit him at all. He was so much cuter when he played for the Oakland A's.

Went to the game last night (4/8). Awesome, awesome time. We left during the 12th inning, we were all so beat. And because of running a bit late and having to wait in line for 30 minutes for food (and we were all starving, so eff it wasn't an option) we missed like the first three innings. But good times all the way around, though the Sox ended up losing. They've lost both games I've ever seen them play.

Great game, some great plays on both sides. I swear there were more Red Sox fans that O's backers. Too bad No-mah and Trot are out of the lineup, they're my two faves, but good game still.

I'm torn on the Damon issue. Yes, he looks like the Unibomber. But in person, and admittedly at a bit of a distance, it's a somewhat charming look. It seems he, unlike most peoeple, has some weird ability to pull it off. The look, I mean.

The Sox are my favorite team because I really like watching them play, not because I think any of them are particularly hot. In fact I find most of them a bit repulsive, looks-wise. Having said that...

I was closer to Gabe Kapler last night than I ever thought I would be in my entire life. I'm awful with distance, but thinking in terms of a football field, maybe 25 yards away? We had outfield seats, normally the tickets I get through work are better but these were out there, but right on the field, and oh my stars Kapler is just pretty much perfect. He is absolutely stunning. This chick friend of mine and I were totally gaga, and even one of my straight friends had to admit that the Kapman is pretty righteous. Now I know how all those screaming girls at the Beatles concerts felt.

My two chick friends think Varitek is a total hottie.

I've been in lust with the Tek forever now. He's second behind Tino in my book. Please to see he got the Hot Sok honor in the Baseball Preview here.

And I think Damon looks good with the beard, but he could wear his hair a bit shorter.

And don't feel bad about never being there when your team wins. I'm like 2 for 6 the past two years at Yankee Stadium. I went last year on my birthday with the Rocket vs. the Mariners, and we were shut out 6-0. frown

In their home opener vs. the Blue Jays, and down only 3 runs in the top of the 9th, the Red Sox bring in outfielder David McCarty to pitch. :confused:

They had a lot of pitchers used last night in their extra-inning loss. And McCarty, according to the AP writeup of the game, pitched in spring training. So I guess if a non-pitcher is going to be put in the game, it would be him. But only being down 3 at the time, it's surprising.

Sup everyonen new to the board and outsports. Huge red sox fan and i've always had a huge thing for Gabe Kapler, thought i was by my self and now come to find out he has a huge gay following, its kinda crazy. Anyway i'm goin to friday's game and can't wait

Yankees-Red Sox game on Fox tonight. Scheduled starters: Vazquez at Wakefield.

-----------

Sounded like Red Sox fans were chanting "Ster-oids" when Giambi was at bat, although Joe Buck said they were yelling "Balco."

[ April 16, 2004, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Went to the game today, fans were chanting "You use steroids!" when Giambi came to the plate. LOL!

There were a number of GAY-ROD t-shirts being worn. Pissed me off. :mad: I commented to one of them, but I don't think he got my point. Oh well.

Schilling did a great job, didn't want to come out when Francona pulled him after 6-1/3 innings with 121 pitches, 1 run, 8 K's -- dominant. What a great addition to this team. Mussina, on the other hand, pretty much sucked.

That's standard Schilling procedure. I'm a little surprised Francona didn't give in.

RED SOX WIN ON PATRIOTS DAY!

And it was a come from behind win with a weak line-up (McCarty, Kapler, Crespo, Reese). Arroyo looked pretty good after the bad 3rd inning, and once again our bull pen pulls through. Yankees look weak. They can't hit, their pitching seems pretty mediocre and they certainly don't look like they've got any heart. If this continues, look for Baltimore to beat them in the division. HA!

And He Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken drove in the winning run! Can life get any better for the muscle-hunk-obssessed Red Sox fan?? (Actually I suppose it could, if our star SS weren't on the DL!)

Earlier in the game, Kapler was the goat when he forgot that there were two outs while baserunning in the second inning. It appears he's quick to blame himself for such mistakes. "He tries so hard to do the right thing all the time and when he doesn't he is so hard on himself," Francona said. "Harder than we ever could be."

Anyway, the Sox took 3 for 4 from the Yankees this weekend -- and this is only the beginning... Next weekend we'll meet again in the Bronx.

[ April 20, 2004, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

Friday night was a pretty awesome game. Did anyone see Manny Ramirez drop the fly ball with two out? Quite disturbing, the Yanks then loaded up the bases with two out and tying run @ the plate but fortunately (for Manny as much as anybody) the Sox got out of it. I was at the DC ESPN Zone for a friend's birthday, watching the game, at one point thought a fight was going to break out in the bar between Sox and Yanks fans. Quite thrilling.

I've been waiting for a chance to resurrect this topic, and it's been provided by (gasp) Dan Shaughnessy, whose one annual non-d!ckhead column appears in today's Boston Globe, on the topic of Manny Ramirez:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds...ys_friendliest/

Here's a point that's not often made: "His off-critiqued attitude is another blessing at home plate. Manny is always relaxed. The laid-back approach that sometimes drives us crazy is one of his great assets when he's in the batter's box. You don't see him smash helmets or water coolers when he makes an out (neither did Joe DiMaggio). This helps when he's working on an 0-for-4. You know that Manny is not at the plate pressing because he's hitless. Every at-bat is a clean slate. It would be good if every hitter could walk to the plate with Manny's attitude."

Read those last three sentences again, and think about the Yankees.

Manny is batting .392.

Yeah, until a Yankee pitcher throws a ball anywhere up and in that ain't even close to his head...

Pedro and BoSox have broken off negotiations.

eek!

Yeah, like the Yankees would want anything to do with him...

You're not implying the Yankees have some sort of standards when it comes to signing ballplayers, are you? They signed Clemens and he's every bit the immature jerk that Pedro is. Sounds like a good fit to me.

No, I'm saying that he would receive the worst welcome in New York. I think we'd sooner see John Rocker in pinstripes.