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I am tired of seeing crappy shortstops. Lugo has been his usual non-clutch self but with some bright spots. Nick Green is returning to his usual level of suck-itude, although ahead of Lugo. The sad part is, both have exceeded expectations. Both have played horrendous defense. I know I should give Jed Lowrie a chance, but... any idea what's coming? If not, here's a hint.

Yup. Time to give the Marlins some bullpen relief. The Sox bullpen this year has been nothing short of magnificent (Ironic moment: within the last hour, Papelbon just gave away the game against the Mets, but that's beside the point. To be fair, Florida's bullpen is letting Tampa Bay increase its lead in the ninth) and we seem to have an excess of relievers. In the off-season, we tried the "Throw them against the wall to see who sticks" and it seems like everyone is trying they're best ready-pasta impersonation (Zing!.)

There is quite a few options for the Fish. Bard, MDC, Masterson, RamRam, Okajima, Paps.... Anyways, question: Any combination of relievers for Hanley? Or am I crazy? Think about it. Paps has been the least reliable out of the pen, I'd say, and he still is one of the better closers in baseball.

Maybe some of you have heard of Gator Ball. It is basically soccer, but if you can kick the ball in the air, then someone may touch it with their hands. I have Googled it up and it is played around the nation, mostly at high schools. But if you have heard of it, I have a question.

See, the Gator Ball championship was recently played at my school, and the score was tied 2-2 going into the fourth sudden death overtime. The ball was run downfield, and the player jumped and bounced the ball into the goal, which I thought was legal. Not so fast. Apparently, if you jump, it is an automatic turnover. The opposing team promptly scored to end the game. If it matters, we were using flags.

I may be completely dumb to post this, as the game may not be played nation-wide as I thought, but does anyone know the official ruling? Or as official as it can get? Thanks.

Second thread of the year. Hope that it turns out similar to the first. The line-ups:

Youk given the day off, so Bailey takes over at first. JD replaced with JvE, and (drumroll, please...) Green is our starting shortstop today.

And the pitching match-ups:

BOSTON		CLEVELAND
	Jon Lester 1-2, 4.88 Last appearance: 4/24 vs NYY 6.0 IP, 2 ER Dec = ND		Fausto Carmona 1-3, 7.36 Last appearance: 4/24 vs MIN 6.0 IP, 4 ER Dec = Loss

If both of these guys keep pitching like they have, we'll win the slugfest.

Okay, I know, game just started, but in case Randy forgets the gamethread.

Pitching Matchup
NEW YORK		BOSTON
	Andy Pettitte 2-0, 2.53 Last appearance: 4/21 vs OAK 7.0 IP, 2 ER Dec = Win		Justin Masterson 1-0, 3.18 Last appearance: 4/20 vs BAL 5.1 IP, 1 ER Dec = Win

Comment away. Go Sox.

MFY. A phrase it seems we've used more than usual, thanks to the Yankees seemingly endless spending on Tex, CC, and Burnett. We made much smaller signings, while spending a fraction of the amount the Yanks spent.

Aww, screw it. I can't write.

To the point: Assuming the Red Sox don't sign any more major leaguers this offseason, do you think that we will be better than the 2008 Red Sox were?

I think we are. All the Manny drama is over. We have basically the same line-up, but Jed-I and Papi will have healthy wrists (hopefully) and we have Kotsay to cover first if Youk has to slide over to third if Lowell gets hurt. We signed quite a few relievers, along with Smoltz and Penny as back-up starters. Outlook good?

OK, OTM has seemed dead lately, save maybe the discussions about who has the best rotation in the majors. I thought I'd write something that we could all comment on, agree and disagree. So I decided to compare the line-ups and rotations of the reborn Yankees and the Sox. I stole this idea from over here, when Dewey Finn wrote about the Rangers and Athletics prospects, except this will be about the Major-league roster.

Red Sox                            Yankees                            Advantage

SP Josh Beckett              CC Sabathia                      Yankees. Rematch of the 2007 AL Cy Young. I'm feeling CC will be able to adjust to the AL again in time to have at least a 15-18 win season.

SP Jon Lester                  Chien-Ming Wang             Red Sox. I have a feeling Lester will have a breakout year, finishing in the top three in Cy Young voting.

SP Daisuke Matsuzaka   AJ Burnett                          Red Sox. AJ is a major injury risk, as we all know, and Daisuke has been improving every year. If he lowers his walks, then he will also finish high in Cy Young voting.

SP Tim Wakefield             Joba Chamberlain         Yankees. NG: Tim Wakefield is washed up, IMO!

SP Brad Penny                   Phil Hughes                     Red Sox. Penny is only 30, remember. And he is two years removed from a 16-4 season.

And now the line-ups....

C George Kottaras            Jorge Posada                 Yankees. As of now.

1B Kevin Youkilis              Mark Teixeira                    Yankees. Barely.

2B Dustin Pedroia            Robinson Cano               Red Sox. Is this one even close? Didn't think so.

3B Mike Lowell                  Alex Rodriguez                 Yankees. A-Rod resides over the injured vet.

SS Jed Lowrie                   Derek Jeter                       Yankees. Jed-I is not ready to dethrone Jeter.

OF Jason Bay                    Johnny Damon                 Red Sox. New guy wins over traitor. Non-biased.

OF Jacoby Ellsbury           Melky Cabrera                  Red Sox. Jacoby will bounce back.

OF JD Drew                        Xavier Nady                      Red Sox. Ehh. Close one here. If JD stays healthy, then he'll get it.

DH David Ortiz                    Hideki Matsui                   Red Sox. Ortiz stays healthy, no signs of that wrist injury... it's all good.

So, final score:

Red Sox 8

Yankees 6

Call me biased, that is my opinion. Feel free to agree (or disagree, that is more fun) and give examples of what you would change.

Merry Christmas all! Or happy holidays, to some of you, but anyway, I thought that everyone could make a list of their Red Sox wished for the offseason. I wouldn't recommend putting "Tex giving a big "hell no" to the Yankees and then coming to us for 10 mil a year", but, hey, it's your wish list.

1. Sign Derek Lowe
2. Trade for Teagarden
3. Sign Tek
4. Sign... Rocco!

And if you want, put some of the things you received for Christmas. I got a Wii!

I think I speak for everyone when I say, I am in shock. The MFY have spent over $400,000,000 this offseason (look at all those zeros!) and have stolen Tex from under our noses. They look like serious contenders this year. Well, at least the AL East this year can really be the best division in all of sports, if we weren't already. Us, the MFY, and the Rays. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel closer to the Rays? I know we spend a lot, but 400 million in a SINGLE OFFSEASON is mind-bending.

Well, what I am going to ask is how that changes our priorities this offseason. Tex was our number one, and now he is out of the picture. AJ was also lured by the MFY. So, catcher, starter, 4th OF. Now, at least, we have a bit more to spend on those three positions. Who should we sign for where?

Yes, a much-dicussed topic, but we haven't had one for what seems like a week, an all-time high. As we voted on in Britsoxfans thread made seemingly immediately after the season ended, Mark Teixeira is our number one free agent to go after. We need to make a move, for multiple reasons:

1. We can strengthen our line-up.
2. Our corner defense will improve even more.
3. The MFY and LAAA don't get him, even though they need him more than us.

He is younger than Youk, and a slightly better defender (yes, THAT good) and has a nice switch-hitting bat. Why not sign him? Lowell has been injured often, and we need to let the other guys learn to take the lead. Win-win situation; we sign him, great. He runs off to the MFY or LAAA, but the price is boosted.

Our line-up with Tex:

1.  Ellsbury
2. Pedroia
3. Papi
4. Tex
5. Youk
6. Bay
7. Drew
8. Lowrie
9. Mystery Catcher

And also... whatever happened to Burnett and Lowe? Any ideas on signing either of them?

Final thoughts?

You guys deserved it. You guys played hard, and did something the MFY of 2004 couldn't: stop a Red Sox rally. It is very hard, and you guys did it. Congratulations.

The ALCS is what everybody wanted. 7 games, an almost completed comeback. A Rays-Philly series. I'd go for the Rays here, as I would for all World Series, I go for the American League team, except for the MFY.

We feel for you guys. Sure, Matt Garza beat us, and we are still wondering how, but i have to admit that all-around, the Rays starting rotation is better than ours. I mean, maybe Lester or Beckett when he is on is better, but you guys seem to have a pretty consistent four in Kazmir, Shields, Garza, and Sonny.

Your line-up... BJ really showed up for the playoffs. Evan was doing well, despite being a bit ahead of himself. You guys just out-hit us, out-pitched us (for the most part) and out-played us. Congratulations.

Helluva season.

First of all... Hat tip to the Rays. They played their hearts out. They deserved to win. Beat the crap outta Philly in the World Series.

And now... what? Our season has ended prematurely (no, not like that) and we should start to plan ahead for next year. I see britsoxfan has already written a blog about trading, free agents, ect.

Random thoughts:

• Will Josh Beckett need off-season surgery?
• Who will be the starting shortstop next year?
• What free agents should we sign- wait, already ongoing discussion.
• Will Lowell skip out on next year, either because Lars the Impaler will be called up, or will he have surgery? If he skips at all?
• If Lars is called up, will Youk move to third, or will Anderson be molded into a third baseman?
• Who will be the starting center fielder? Probably Jacoby, but Crisp really showed up during the playoffs.

And now team superlatives:

MVP: Dustin Pedroia, or Kevin Youkilis?

Cy Young: Jon Lester, I think we can pretty much agree. Playoffs don't matter.

Gold Glover: Youks. Maybe D-Ped.

Savior: JD Drew, in June.

Manny gets nothing.

 My to-do list:

1. Dump Varitek.
2. Dump Wake.
3. Fill in that spot in the rotation.
4. Trade Cora and Casey for a catcher.
5. If Lowell is not playing next year, dump him and call up Lars/ train Kotsay at third. Youk is too valuable at first. If Cora is the everyday third basemen I will shoot myself.
6. RE-SIGN PEDROIA!! And the possible MVP is only making $480,000.

Discussing on britsoxfans blog about Ryan Doumit. The more I look, the more I like. Lowell and Tek for him.

No, this is not trying to provoke trolls. So go away now if you were looking for a fight.

The question I am asking...

Does anyone feel less secure now that the Series is even? For some strange reason, I feel a little more vulnerable. Anyone else feeling this way?

Some possible reasons:

1. Garza seemed to have our number.
2. I have stopped my superstitions, and was on the brink of feeling like an idiot.
3. Lester may collapse under pressure because he is so young, and the bullpen will lose the ability to throw strikes.
4. The Rays youth may make them oblivious to being in such pressure.
5. I'M SO NERVOUS!!

I have literally no idea why. Probably just nerves....

And now we play: The Waiting Game!

Feel free to comment about how you feel, up until gametime.

Still in shock from the Sox comeback.

'Nuff said.

Actually, no. I have some more things to say.

JD Drew. Francona has GOT to keep him in the rest of the playoffs, he is on a hot streak. JD Drew on a hot streak = best hitter in majors at the time, hands down.

Start Lester. Play every game like its your last. Beckett needs more rest, and then after game 6 (and trust me, there will be an after game 6) make the decision to start either Beckett, depending on how he looks, or * gulp * Wakefield or Byrd. Maybe even Masterson.

I watched the first couple innings, saw Dice-k wasn't on his game, and eventually gave up. Beginning the seventh, though, I decided, oh well, might as well be a good fan.

Remember the rules:

• No cursing, except for "damn". MerryGoByeBye, you are exempt. It's the thought that counts.
• You may only use the bathroom in the bottom of every inning.
• Keep your Sox hat on your head the whole time, and do not adjust it until the game is over or we need to rally in the ninth.
• Do not itch any scratches.
• I know, I'm superstitious. I will not be joining you guys for the game tomorrow, or for game 7.

Papi is back. Drew is back.

The Red Sox are back.

Bring it on, Tampa.

Please, somebody make a sig along the lines of "12:16 AM, 10-17-03, Aaron Boone hits a walk-off home run to end the Red Sox season. 12:16 AM, 10-17-08, JD Drew hits the walk-off double to force a Game 6."

The ALCS of the future: Red Sox vs. Rays. This will be like the Yankees Red Sox ALCS rivalry, but the Rays will take over the Yankees spot. This will almost certainly reoccur for a while, as both teams also have very good farm systems. There could not be a better series. The two best teams in the AL (probably in all of the MLB) going at it. Anyway, I just wanted to say, this will be a great series. I have never disliked the Rays, but I am not a fan. It is how I would feel, I don't know, for the Diamondbacks. I have nothing for them, and nothing against them.

IMO, that is how most Rays fans should feel about the Red Sox. Actually, feel free to dislike them a little more than that, as I would if I were a Rays fan rooting against the Red Sox. We are the next Yankees, except with a good farm system. Everyone loves to hate on that monster fast-food chain, McDonalds, or that even bigger super-store, Wal-Mart. So naturally, everyone hates on the team that wins title after title. I know, 2 titles in 4 years is nothing to go crazy about, but it's a good start.

So here's to a good, clean, long ALCS. I would rather see the series go 7 games, and of course, I would prefer if the Red Sox would win, but if they don't I would root for the Rays against whoever in the World Series. I hope you would do the same for us.

Schilling out with a shoulder. Papi out with the wrist. The bad news kept coming and coming.

Name one team that would have withstood these injuries, and still make the playoffs. The 2006 Red Sox? Nah.

It all started with Schilling. Out for the year. Already, before the season even starts, a big gash is put in the balloon of the hope of returning to the playoffs. Schilling may have thrown his last pitch in the Major Leagues.

Next came Ortiz. Wrist problems on a power hitter, that's like a soccer player having his leg amputated. So who stepped in? J.D. Drew. Great month of July, keeping the Sox in contention.

Lugo, perhaps the best injury because it let Lowrie get some playing time. <Insert negative NG comment about Lugo here>.

Colon, a on/off starter who never seems to be on the roster, is gone to the 60-day DL.

That is a small fraction of the number of injuries. A fifth, actually, not including day-to-day injuries.

The Manny annual trade talk finally paid off, I guess you could say, getting his wish and being traded to LA, whcih brought hard-working Jason Bay to Boston.

These guys never give up. They go down with a number of injuries. They are reduced to putting the 5'7 Pedroia at clean-up (not saying thats a bad thing, it actually worked out quite well.) They perservered, and deserve to win the World Series.

Terry Francona: Manager of the year. He finds ways to make a powerful lineup. You put Mike Scioscia in Terry's cleats, he would run the team into the ground (pun intended.)

The Red Sox: relentless, perservering, World Series-worthy.

Have any other players you think are worthy? Comment below and I'll add them.

Well, as of 9-18-08, the Red Sox are 2 games back of the Rays. With the Rays, unless they have an extreme skid, gaining 2 games is as likely as Sean Casey hitting an inside-the-park home run.

The Red Sox have two options:

Bring out all the big guns (meaning, no resting for the playoffs.)

OR

Rest, conserve and take the Wild Card.

The two advantages of winning the division:

The momentum (this team seems to be all about momentum)

Not playing the Angels

This means probably playing Chicago, and their only ability seems to be htting home runs. As opposed to, the Angels, who have an excellent running game, as well as timely hitting and good pitching.

The risk of going for the division title is that a star player might get hurt (Pedroia breaking a finger on a headfirst slide, Ortiz re-injuring his wrist.)

Is it worth the risk?

Yes, there has been many blogs on this. Yes, you are probably getting tired of hearing about it. And we still have a month to go!

MVP? Who will it be?

Dustin Pedroia has been destroyin', hitting when it matters and carrying the team on his tiny 5'7 body since, well, half the team went on the DL.

Carlos Quentin, with tons of power, helps propel the White Sox, but has injured his wirst.

Ian Kinsler isn't looking good either, with a season ending injury, but had been Dustin Pedroia's rival.

Josh Hamilton? Whatever happened to him? He supports Texas's motto: Good hit, no field.

Milton Bradley: I have the strange feeling he will win it. Good average, power, OBP, and he's a switch-hitter.

Grady Sizemore started out early leading the AL in home runs. He has since cooled down, but still has a good bat and great glove.

Pick a player, any player.

Personally, I think it's either Pedroia or Bradley. Destroyah has been hitting nearly .400 since June 14, and seems to just keep getting better.

Texas has had an MVP baton passed around, from Hamilton to Kinsler to Bradley, but they can't seem to hold on to it long enough.

Know a player who deserves it more than any of these guys? Comment below.

I'm not finding a thread....

Orioles Lineup

Roberts 2B

Jones CF

Markakis RF

Huff 3B

Hernandez C

Scott DH

Millar 1B

Payton LF

Castro SS

SP: Olson

Red Sox Lineup

Ellsbury RF

Pedroia 2B

Ortiz DH

Youk 3B

Bay LF

Lowrie SS

Varitek C

Bailey 1B

Crisp CF

SP: Byrd

No Kotsay today. Anyone have any info? I'm just going by the ESPN Boxscore.

Bottom of the First, 1-0 Oh No's.

Jason Bay.

Man, what a sentence. What a guy. What a PLAYER.

What a RED SOX.

Jason Bay has done a great job replacing Manny. Manny was a slugger, causing problems such as not hustling, throwing tantrums, even taking a pee in the Monster. Jason has hustled, been a team player, is slugging even better than Manny, and has been a great trade. This is a win-win trade. Manny loves being in L.A., and Jason loves finally having the oppurtunity of playing in a playoff atmosphere.

.343, 17 ribbies, 18 runs scored... pretty good for a Red Sox left fielder. Taking the crown from Yaz, Jim Rice, and Manny, he has filled the void well.

The question is...

Now that we have had a fair sample of games from Bay, what do you think of the trade now?

I was reading over on D-Rays Bay a blog called "Red Sux fans are insane..." and I found that further down in the comments section someone had countered that a Rays fan had said that another Rays fan had gotten into the face of an elderly Sox fan, who was easily 70.

Fanatics, I think, just love to get attention. Fans, the good guys like us, are people who can know a whole ton about a team, or just go to the games for the love of baseball. That doesn't mean that people who start the "Lets go, Red Sox" cheer are fanatics, they are just usually big fans.

Some fanatics include Morganna, the kissing bandit, or Ruth Ann Steinhagen, the deranged teen who shot Eddie Waitkus (or Roy Hobbs). that doesn't mean that all fanatics have to shoot or kiss players. Some just provoke players or constantly start cheers.

    The Sox losing streak came to an end yesterday, with a 1-hitter by Jon Lester through 8 innings. Papelbon, however, "stole the win" from Lester, but the important thing is that the Sox finally won.

    But now, what we thought would never come has come: J.D. Drew is injured. Everyone knew it was going to happen, and now it finally has. According to ESPN, it is labeld as undisclosed as of 6 o'clock, but this could be bad. I know I may sound like a pessimist, but when you have been following JD you have to be. When he was a dodger, he seemed to get injured by getting off the bench.

    Anyone worried about JD's injury?