Cheech Tremendous

Wouldn't "as a Red Sock" be more gramatically correct? For example, you're a person, not a people. You are part of a group known as people. Gramatically, you are correct. However, "Red Sox" seems to be the preferred way of expressing a member singularly, at least among fans and writers.

Ortiz isn't that bad defensively. Certainly not to the point that I'd expect him to pull a Buckner. His lack of time in the field is totally related to his knees and injury proneness and little to do with the actual quality. I really think this story is getting a tad too much coverage. The difference between Youkilis and Ortiz isn't that large that it's going to make a big difference in the course of one or two games. You know what was probably the best option? Crazy as it may sound on paper, an infield of Lowell, Pedroia, Youkilis, Ortiz from left to right would probably work out okay. Pedroia was a SS in the minors and Youks has played a handful of games at second with okayish results. It wouldn't be pretty defensively, but probably a wash overall once you get Lugo's bat out of the lineup. It's not worth trying because of the uproar it might cause, but something interesting to think about nonetheless.

As an observer of the relationship between the front office and Curt over the course of the year, I haven't been convinced of that. Maybe I'm reading too much into his comments, but it seemed like he'd take a multi-year deal from another team if it was offered. Now he appears resigned to the fact that 2008 will be it. I expect the Sox to offer him a 1 year deal in the $14-$15 million range. Wakefield is uncertain to return next year, and there are going to be major growing pains next year with Buchholz and Lester in the rotation. Schilling's a perfect stopgap solution.

Francona said today that it will be Ortiz starting at 1B in game 3 with Youkilis sitting. Ellsbury will lead off with Pedroia moving down one spot and the rest of the order staying the same.

Curt Schilling posted on Sons of Sam Horn this afternoon that he only wants a one-year contract. Whereas a day ago I would have said that he'd live for Philly or another suitor during the offseason, this indicates he's probably going to finish his career as a Red Sox.

Night Train might be the worst drink known to man. It'll get you drunker than shit too.

I honestly wouldn't stay up past 12 to watch a game in any circumstance other than a Red Sox playoff game and I don't have to be to work until 8. I feel bad for the east coast guys, I really do. I was just pointing out that there are problems with starting the game earlier. You've hit the nail on the head regarding the speed of the game. I DVR'd last nights game because I was held up at work and was able to get through the whole thing in about 2.5 hours. I watched every single ptich. I just fast forwarded through all the extraneous shit. A baseball game shouldn't last more than 3 hours.

For those that are constantly complaining about start times (and I really don't blame you), what would be a better atlernative? Is there a solution out there that would be fair to everyone? I am an 8-5 working man on the west coast and with traffic and all, I usually get home from work around six (9 ET). I really don't want to miss 2/3 of the game because of a 7ET start time.

It's an extremely loose definition of city, for sure, but the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants and Sacramento Kings all dominated their respective sports in 2002. All of them ended up a bit short, but that's a damn good run for the northern California contingent.

On the motherFUCKING bullseye I will never understand why anyone here would ever want him gone. I've never known anyone that does. Manny's the one that keeps asking for trades. The front office just tries to make him happy.

That makes more sense to me than a Kobe to Chicago trade. Billups/Kobe/McDyess/Wallace is a great core and they have the bench to make it work. That would be a good move for an aging team that doesn't have many opportunities left to go for a title.

The Red Sox had the best defense in baseball this year. Despite their history as a powerful offensive force, this year's team was all pitching and defense. They scored a lot of runs, but part of that was park effects (Fenway favored hitters more than any other park this year) and the fact they usually ran up the score on bad pitching because of their incredible OBP.

The girly's got the laptop and won't be home for an hour. I'll be in later.

If you're going to bold the word and use huge font, at least spell it right.

I've never seen all of the match in question, but wasn't HBK's selling considered to be laughably bad and totally business exposing? I've seen parts and he makes Hogan look like an idiot with his cartoonish oversells.

I'd argue that Boston is just as tough, if not tougher, to play defense in than Coors Field. Joe Sheehan basically confirmed this statement on the ESPN Hot List today when saying that despite the good fielding percentage from Colorado this year, Boston had the better park adjusted defensive efficiency this season.

Curious as to what you are basing these statements on. Hitting: Boston has a team OPS+ of 107 compared to Colorado's 103. Pitching: Boston wins again with a team ERA+ of 123 to Colorado's 111. Relief Pitching: Boston second in WXRL (win expect. from relief pitching). Colorado was 23rd. Defense: Boston ranked second in all of baseball in Defensive Effeciency (turning batted balls into outs). Colorado was eighth. The Postseason Odds from BP have Boston with a 59% chance of winning. Secret Sauce (a mix of stats that correlate with postseason success) also show Boston to have a distinct advantage. There is no statistical category that I could find that the Rockies had an advantage in. However, the margins are close enough that Colorado could easily win with the right breaks.

I don't want to go as far as to make a prediction for the Series because there is far too much randomness in the baseball playoffs. However, after reviewing the two teams, I am confident in saying that Red Sox have the superior hitting, starting and relief pitching, defense and manager. The talent gap between the two should be enough for Boston to prevail, although there advantages in the aforementioned categories are smaller than you might expect. I do think for the first time in quite a few years we are getting the best team in the AL and the best team in the NL in the World Series. I expect some very good, close games. Both teams are great on the pitching and defense side, which should create some exciting, well-played baseball. No station to station, three-run jacks dominating this matchup.

I completely cut Top 40 radio out of my life. I went to Sirius Satellite and never looked back.

I so thought about making that joke while I was at lunch today.

Where are the ten facts about the Boston Red Sox? They deserve equal time in this thread, dammit.

Roger Goodell posts at TSM?

You know how the past couple of seasons people started to say that Jeter had improved his defense? That he was no longer among the worst, but had brought his game up to decidedly average? Well, that's completely false. Among qualified SS, he was the second worst at getting to balls hit in his zone and worst to ones outside of it. He is beyond terrible. John Dewan, the man behind Fielding Bible, says he was without a doubt the worst in all of MLB this year, even behind Hanley Ramirez. I don't want to take anything away from Jeter the player, because he's still quite amazing as a hitter and as a leader for that team. But the managers need to separate themselves from Jeter the hitter and give the award to someone who deserves it.

What a fucking blowhard.

Flair also looked fantastic for a man approaching his 60th birthday. It's nearly impossible to look that good at his age.