THANK GOD!!! The SOX are in

[BassDawg]

Ft Myers and the first game is only a couple of weeks away.

1) Tito is so coy with his Coco talk? I mean we doan wanna demean his trade value and i do like him as our fourth, but he (Coco) doesn't sound too keen on the idea of not starting. Can't say that i blame him, but would i leave this roster to go sign a journeyman's contract somewhere for 3-4yrs? NO WAY! Plus, the team's that would take him prolly won't even contend for the length of his deal..................

2) IMHO, Schill is getting the Royal shaft by Theo and the Trio! WTF!!! Do ya mean to say, Theo, that you question Curt's work ethic and his desire to contribute to the best of his ability. Don't tell me that you think it was just red paint in '04, now?? But, hey it IS your 8 million. Still i'd go with the doctor's opinion that knows THAT shoulder and bicep better than anyone else, even if it was against my own doctor's view.

3) Did i hear that Buchholz has been given the #3 spot? i know that nothing's official, yet, but that sounds promising. Just hope that we dump Wake and Mirabelli before it's too late.

The novelty of the knuckleballer has been long gone for me, and i would be more in his camp were it not for the amazing numbers that ALL of the AL East and the contenders from the other two AL divisions have put up against him. And if i hear, "He's an innings eatah!!" ever again, it will be too soon.

Last year was an abberation (17 W's), and i expect more of the norm this year; below .500 winning%, a drop third strike = a RUN (SB, SB, PB, PB), the risk far outweighs the reward. When it's on, he's unhittable. When he's off, it's HR Derby for the other guys and Tito's always good for leaving Wake in there for at least a 6 to 8 Run disadvantage.

Besides his spot in the rotation means we have no room for developing the likes of Hansack, Snyder, Tavares, Masterson, or signing a proven #5 from any other team. Thanks Timmy for yer meritorious service, 10+ years, but it's time to say buh-bye, now!
Also with Tim gone, that means we can ship Dougie out too. It's WAY, WAAAAY, past the time to rid our roster of his dead weight. And if we get Tech's replacement now, then the Captain can begin grooming him while taking more days off. Something like let the new kid catch #'s 4 AND 5. Jason gets two days in a row off, three on travel days sometimes four, etc.............In my view Mirabelli is a wasted catcher's spot. Soooooo keeping Wake hurts BOTH positions/depth charts/developmental areas/dead monies being spent.

Check out today's Boston Dirt Dogs, boyz

[Raider Ronnie]

This has got to be the most optimistic spring training in Red Sox history!
Great vets and so many up and coming young players!
I'll bet Manny has a monster year being that he's playing for his next contract.

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

This has got to be the most optimistic spring training in Red Sox history!
Great vets and so many up and coming young players!
I'll bet Manny has a monster year being that he's playing for his next contract.

That would be SWEEEET! Didjya read the article by the Globe last week, i think, it was about his regimine in AZ with Youk and others? He is looking to go off the charts...............Just once i'd like to see someone bury gAyRod!

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by BassDawg

That would be SWEEEET! Didjya read the article by the Globe last week, i think, it was about his regimine in AZ with Youk and others? He is looking to go off the charts...............Just once i'd like to see someone bury gAyRod!

This is so friging strange, me being in agreement with the majority here !

[BassDawg]

We ALLL started with SOXNation!

Once there, RRonnie..........................it's only a small
Leap of Fandom to reach PATRIOTNation !!!
You can do it.....................breathe in (Al Davis, SUX!!!), breathe out (3 Lombardi's in 7yrs, and plenty of controversy ~for the Raider in you)

You already claim the Bruins, right?
How hard can it be to dump the Chumps
and choose the CHAMPS ?

[PaulS]

The age old question, is it better for Manny to arrive on time or late

[ProfessorM]

I am expecting big things from JD and Dice K this year. Contract extension year for M. He will produce

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by PaulS

The age old question, is it better for Manny to arrive on time or late

That's a rhetorical ???, right ~Paul ?
He should be on fire this year, but don't forget about
his Sept Tank Month, every year since the Indians.
Will this year be different? Only Manny, being Manny, knows.........

Is this a good sign?

My Dominican family neighbors across the hall just brought me over
a fresh bowl of frijoles colorados, con soffritto rojas y platanos.

Translation = Heavenly!!! And what perfect timing.........

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

I am expecting big things from JD and Dice K this year. Contract extension year for M. He will produce

All signs point to YES!!!

I think that both those guys are poised for some career highs, along with the fact that JD still owes us about 9.5 M from last season's abomination !!!

This should be a more typical year for him, his son is recovering nicely, he's seen all the pitchers for a year now, he knows Fenway better, plus he's gonna have The Kid out there ~hopefully pushing him to a much better season than last year .

Just hope we've Americanized some of Dice-K's preparations and off-day throwing sessions. He pitched waaaaaay more than he had too last year, and i thought i saw the potential for a WALL last year around Aug/Sept...................He should be Fine though and he exceeded the number of Wins for the regular season that i had him down for, and his post season was more than adequate for his first year. Will be a blast to watch, escpecially since this will be Varitek's and Farrell's second year with #18 .

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by BassDawg

We ALLL started with SOXNation!

Once there, RRonnie..........................it's only a small
Leap of Fandom to reach PATRIOTNation !!!
You can do it.....................breathe in (Al Davis, SUX!!!), breathe out (3 Lombardi's in 7yrs, and plenty of controversy ~for the Raider in you)

You already claim the Bruins, right?
How hard can it be to dump the Chumps
and choose the CHAMPS ?

I don't jump on or off bandwagens!

[BassDawg]

It's never toooo late, Ronnie !

If this is where you live, it's not a bandwagon
The PATS are your hometeam!! Nothing wrong
with rooting for the Local 11. You do make the NFL
season more fun, with those sporadic Raider rants!

The Invitation is always open, plenty of room for more
on the GOAT Express...............destination; Canton !