Defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns Rob Ryan!  BUDDY'S SON!? THAT'S BLASPHEMY!!!!!! I know, but he's perfect. He has a presence along with an unspoken toughness. Tough but not in an a-hole type way. He's a guy the players can rally around. A defensive guru. Ton of personality and he'll bring attention to the team, which Jerry loves. He's up and coming, he can handle the circus, and will click with Jerry

They are complete idiots if during the off season they try to correct the problem at the New Yankee Stadium. THERE IS NO PROBLEM!  They Yankees have been blessed,.......again.  Some people believe that if God has a favorite team it's the New York Yankees. Some believe there was a curse of the great Bambino. Some believe there were ghosts at the old Yankee stadium. I believe the right field jet stream at the new stadium is meant to be. A jet stream that seems to blow harder when the Yankees are batting.

Since 2004 there are only two teams in the AL that have had winning records on the road each and every season. The Yankees and the Angels. Winning on the road is the sign of a great team. The Yankees do that better than anyone. However the Yankees have NEVER had the pleasure of a distinct home field advantage. I say distinct because every team should have the slight  home field advantage. Home cooking and comfortable surroundings alone would give the slight advantage.

When evaluating a clear home field advantage in the AL  one team truly stands out. The Boston Red Sox have been mediocre on the road since 2004 with two losing seasons. Yet they are at the top of the standings every year. Last year  the Yankees had the 2nd best record on the road in the AL  behind the Angels and  they missed the playoffs. Yet the Red Sox had a losing record on the road and made the playoffs. How?? The Red Sox have the biggest homefield advantage in baseball. There team as a whole bats 30 points higher at home and there are two guys in particular,  Pedroia and Ortiz  who are PEDESTRIAN on the road and have lifetime averages of 50 points higher at Fenway. The Red Sox have had the luxury of inflated numbers for 100 years and Fenway has TRANSFORMED good players in to great players time after time. For the first time ever the Yankees are starting to enjoy some of these advantages

Could you imagine what it would be like if you took the best road team in the league this past decade and suddenly gave them a home field advantage as good as any one. If you suddenly gave them the same advantage as a team who's biggest reason for success is just that, their home field advantage. WELL IMAGINE NO MORE!!!!!

Shortly after I posted this thread. Paplebon starts calling himself Cinco Ocho. How original

Stealing Nick Names

by LouieTheLip on Sep 22, 2008 1:09 AM PDT 40 comments

Everyone knows there is only one nation, ...Raider nation. The nerve of you people. What's next. Are you going to start calling Beckett the Big Unit.

Let me ask you this, if  it really is Red Sox nation then why is it that in Boston you can listen to the Yankees on the radio every night, but in New York you are not able to get a Red Sox game????

You're just Red Sox fans, that is all. It's Raider nation, it's Yankee Universe, and The Cowboys are America's team.

Go get your own Nick Name

As you can see I posted the thread below at the end of 08. I posted it on Over The Monster. The Red Sox version of Pinstripe Alley, which you all probably know.

At the time of this thread Beckett had 3 seasons with the Sox under his belt and 2 of them were sub par. Beckett is pitching lights out right now and I wasn't really expecting another 2007 type performance from him but that is what we're getting ferom him.  Burnett hasn't pitched as well as Beckett has this year. I do realize that. HOWEVER!

The point of this thread was to make the case that our number 3 was nearly as good as their number one. Again, at the time Wang was still in the mix an A.J. was projected as the number 3.  My point was simple. I'll take our chances with a Burnett and Beckett showdown ANYDAY!!! Well last night it happened. I thought we could touch up Beckett a little . We have had some success against him in the past. However he's pitching as good as he ever has,......and Burnett hung like a champ. A few walks away from a masterpiece was Burnett. Hell of a game.

We Have Our Beckett, His Name Is A.J.

by LouieTheLip on Dec 13, 2008 12:27 AM PST 45 comments

I like to compare A.J. to Beckett more than I like to compare Sabathia to Beckett. Beckett has been a post season MONSTER and there is no denying that. So we can have that debate again come playoff time. However during the regular season over the last 7 years C.C. has been the better pitcher. He did win a cy young people. He is a throw back with innings pitched and complete games. Beckett doesn't hold a candle in those  two areas. C.C. has a lifetime 3.66 ERA spending all his time in the AL.  I can't wait to see him go into the post season with 195 innings instead of 250. I can't wait to see how successful he will be in the post season with a fresh arm instead of killing himself just to get there like he has in the past. 

Anyway I want to compare our number 3 starter against your number one.  A.J. to Beckett. Both injury prone. Although Beckett has not missed entire seasons with major injuries like Burnett so I'll say Burnett is more fragile and there is no doubt about that. What I want to do is use a 4 season window. Why 4 seasons? Well I keep hearing how good the Red Sox have been over the last 4 years. Apparently that's how we judge everything now in 4 year encrements. So says the Red Sox fan. So be it. In the last 4 years Burnett has averaged 182 innings pitched and Beckett 189. Burnett strikes out a few more, but also walks a few more. The ERA is comparable as well. Burnett has dominated the AL East but has no post season history.  If there was a game tonight and it was Beckett vs Burnett how are you feeling. Like you better watch the game. That's how you're feeling. Burnett is a health risk I agree, but he's electric.

If he has not  done it already Brian Cashman should be on the phone every single day with Mike Mussina.  I know the Moose marches to his own drum, but he has to be tempted with this line up. He has to be tempted with this potent line up and with the chance to get that elusive ring.  A chance to EARN the ring, because we can surely use him. Let the uprise begin.

"Call Up The Moose. Call Up The Moooooooose!"

Last night I heard that there were two Red Sox employees fired. I'm not exactlyOne of which had possession of steroids. One of the guys was Jerry Remy's son. Baseball had an investigation that was kept private.  PRIVATE??? A Red Sox employee is caught in the club house with steroids and subsequently terminated,....and this is private.  How the hell is this private? Here is the link to the story.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/08/02/sox_fired_two_in_steroids_case/?page=full

So nobody here thinks this is a joke. Cleveland gives away one of the 2 best offensive catchers in the AL for Masterson and that doesn't bother anyone?? You don't think the loud voice of Red Sox nation has a direct influence on baseball then you have your head up your booty.

Tell me how a guy who has 83 RBI and 17 HR wins an MVP. I understand If you are a lead off guy and you bat  .340 and steal 60 bases.

Tell me how a pitcher with a 4.5 ERA and 6 runs plus per game run support gets to be an allstar. A guy gets 6 runs a game and HE BETTER win some games

Tell me how you get Victor Martinez for a guy with a 4.5 ERA and a 1.34 whip.

Tell me how every prospect the Red Sox have is a can't miss, yet they can't resolve their issuesfrom within.

Justin Masterson gets traded and the Red Sox bull pen ERA goes down,......for Victor Martinez!!!!!

You people need to wake up and realize it has a direct affect on the NYY. Keep looking the other way and calling me a cry baby if you want. I see the big picture.

Justin Masterson value has been dramatically altered by the loud voice of Red Sox Nation,........PERIOD!!!!!!!

The month of April called and said that she'll be taking over where she left off. The back end of the rotation disfunctional, and most of the guys in the bull pen you would rather not see. To put it nicely.

How do you spend the money that was spent in the off season to build a contender, but not address the issues at hand mid season. I am perplexed and not feeling so optimistic.

I'm pretty sure this guy was one of the biggest reasons our bull pen was a disgrace early on?  And I'm pretty sure that the bull pen earlier on was the biggest reason why we stunk . Watching him last night I got that HERE WE GO AGAIN FEELING!! I don't want that feeling. If I see this guy again I may actually puke!!!!!!!

Is it Just me or did you get that feeling too??

The New Yankee Stadium averaged 1.9 HR's per game during this past home stand. I just thought I would mention it since nobody else seems to be.

During the first game of the road trip, the Yankees hit more home runs then they did in any game during the home stand,.......and the two teams combined tonight for more HR's than any total during the home stand.

Johnny Damon hit a HR to RF at Tropicana tonight that would have been ridiculed at Yankee Stadium.

I have never been a guy that put much stock in determining the success of a baseball team by looking at the schedule. In football the schedule can tell you something.  In baseball it's a non issue. There are too many games played. Having said that I have noticed a trend. The Red Sox have missed the better pitchers in the league, the aces if you will.

I don't think I'm reaching here. Playing the Mets with Santana on the mound is playing a completely different game then if you face Redding.  I am not making excuses either. I am just making an observation. An observation that suggests the Sox aren't as good as their record would indicate. I trend that I hope won't comntinue and if the start of the second half is an indicator, it won't.

Did you know that yesterday was the first time the Red Sox saw Halladay this season. It was the final game of the third series when they finally got to see the ace.

Played Detroit didn't see Verlander or Jackson

Played Kansas City didn't see Greinke (Yanks missed him too)

Played the Phillies without seeing Hamels or Myers

Played Mets but didn't face Santana

Played Anaheim with no Lackey

Kazmir and lost

Millwood and lost

King Felix and lost

Cliff Lee and lost

Halladay and lost 

If you add that up. You are talking9 different series the Red Sox played without seeing that particulars team best guy. It's like beating the Colts without Manning, The Pats without Brady

I will say one thing. The Red Sox are winning the games they are supposed to win. The Red Sox are obviously a contender and one of the better teams in the league.  However I won't be surprised ifthe next time the Yankees take over first it's no looking back. I can see the Yankees winning in a walk before I see the Sox distance themselves. The Yankees are better than they were last year, and the red Sox aren't. No Manny and Bay coming back down to earth. Take Bay out of their line up the first two months of the season like the Yanks with no ARod and the Sox are battling the birds right now.

Being a transplant from NY to the greater Boston area I have good reason to watch a ton of Red Sox baseball. I watch the games, listen to the radio, read the paper and I have my finger on the pulse of the nation. It's unbelievable the spin you get. If you listen to the fans and the media the Red Sox are the best thing since sliced bread. They are the best organization in baseball with the best manager and a homegrown nucleus that expect to win championships for years to come. Jacoby Elssbury is a game changer, Beckett and Lester are the best 1-2 punch in baseball, Youkilis is a perennial MVP candidate,  Varitek calls the best game in the history of baseball,. The Red Sox have the best young prospects and they are all CAN'T MISS! They have the best bull pen in the league and the best starting pitching, they play great defense and this is a team that doesn't really need to do anything,....near flawless. it's not just locally,....ESPN isn't any better. I need John Kruk's baseball opinion like I need crabs.

When you listen to NY fans and media you would think the sky is falling. The fans and media in NY are HYPER CRITICAL  Between the two you come up with a PERCEPTION that their is this huge gap between the Sox and Yankees.

Here is the reality. THERE IS NO GAP!!

The Yankees STUNK last year and were still one of the better teams in the league. They had their worst season in 13 years and yet they still went 11-7 against the AL champion Rays and split with the almighty  Red Sox. They had the best overall record head to head with the big 3 in the AL East. However it is no coincidence the Yankees finished in 3rd last year. They were waiting specifically for this past off season and looking forward to all their expiring contracts . The Yankees would have won the Central division with the record they had last year and finishing 3rd in the AL East last year meant you were the third best team in the league. Now they have CC, Burnett, and Tex instead of Giambi, Rasner and Ponson for pete's sake.  If I only had ears I would think the Yankees finished in the basement last year, and I would think they were 10 games back right now.

Weaver was livid when he recently heard the reason Joe Maddon gave for choosing Wakefield as an all star. Maddon said it was a lifetime acheivement award of sorts.

You see Weaver has an incentive that pays him 1 million dollars if he makes the all star team and here is Maddon handing out awards to his buddy.

It isn't true but it sounds like something plausible.. Players do have these kinds of incentives and players use all star appearances on their resume'  when settling a contract. The hall of fame voters will use all star selections as one of many criteria. All I am saying is that it isn't just a sentimental pick that hurts no one. Baseball is a buisness and I'm sure Weaver could turn some all star appearances into extra cash come time.

Add Ryen Russilo to the list.

The Scott Van Pelt show which is new to ESPN has Ryen Russilo co hosting. I am very familiar with this guy considering he's a Boston fan who works in the local media here in Mass. He isn't the worst of the bunch but I was watching the show for the first time today and it took all of five minutes before he was taking cheap shots at the Yankees players. Scott was talking about why pitchers expect batters to be humble but then you have certain pitchers, who he wouldn't name, who get excited. Before he could finish his sentence Ryen Russilo screams out Joba Chamberlains name. It isn' that he called out Joba. It's the fact that he is exactly what is wrong with the Boston sports fan. He is a hypocrite. I'm glad that Scott soon after mentioned Paplebon. If he had any sports IQ as a Boston fan who has Paplebon as their guy the better choice might have been calling out Zambrano. To shout out Joba's name before the guy could finish a sentence clesrly makes you a hypocritical unobjective homer and hater. This was a perfect example of how you can't listen to a Boston fan talk sports at any length before they are taking cheap shots at NY. Hypocritical cheap shots at that.

The difference between the NY and Boston media, and their fans is clear.

Guys like Mike Lupica and Francesca are CONSTANTLY being quoted here in Boston to support their irrational arguements. I hate that these guys are giving ammuntion to the fans in Boston, but I'm glad that as fans they try to be objective when doing their jobs. I miss that!!  What Boston doesn't understand is that Lupica and Francesca work in a culture that doesn't want a yes man. New Yorkers want you to tell it like it is. If anything they are TOO CRITICAL most of the time. New York is diverse and there are as many Yankee haters as lovers. When you present a baseball arguement in the NY / tri state area you better have some facts and stats to back it up or you will get hammered. However in Boston when you present a sports opinion you better have your Pom Poms out or YOU WILL GET HAMMERED!

In New England 98% of the fans are fans of the same 4 teams. There is no debate, they are all on the same page as to who the best teams, players, and coaches are,.......theirs. NO DEBATE.

And yes I am obsessed. I am obsessed with their obsession over us.

And yes I have an Agenda. To expose fraudulent homers. To destroy their stronghold and superior influence in the world of sports talk and politics.

His own organization doesn't trust him enough to start a post season game, but they scream and hollar he should be an all star. Maybe it's because Wakefield has given up 5 runs or more in 5 starts, or 1/3 of his starts. Meanwhile Kevin Millwood has given up 5 runs ONCE. He has a lower ERA, Lower WHIP more K's more innings pitched, and Kevin Millwood lost 4 games giving up 2 runs or fewer!!!. Than there is Jared Weaver who also has better numbers across the board and has CARRIED the team as a NUMBER ONE while Lackey, Santana, and Escobar were out. I don't think Burnett or Sabathia have pitched particularly well but they still pitched better than Wakefield.

Show me another all star starter who has given up 5 runs ore more in 1/3 of their starts and I'll blow you!!!

And it's spiraling out of control. As I discussed on an earlier thread this Tim Wakefield all star lobbying is REDONKULOUS!!  Well it's worse than I thought. I'm watching ESPN last night and they throw out 4 names while discussing who should start the ALL Star game for the AL.  Tim Wakefield was one of the 4 guys they put up for discussion. Meanwhile he was just out pitched by Felix Hernandez. Felix Hernandez has been out pitching Wakefield ALL YEAR and has half his ERA and no luxury of 6 runs per game run support. Felix Hernandez is just one of about 10 guys who have out pitched Wakefield all year in the AL. How does Tim Wakefields name get brought up for discussion. I'll tell you how. The local media in Boston has infiltrated the national stage. You have Boston HOMERS with a ton of influence across the board. Little whispers in a PODUNK  little city turn into national discussion. I think it's pathetic that the squeeky wheel gets the most oil but that's what happens. Don't be fooled by what is going on in Boston. They understand the influence they have and use it. Over hyping their players to get more value is going on CONSTANTLY through local media which the national guys who were once Boston guys now get wind of and then all of the sudden you hear something enough and it becomes real. I will not lay down without a fight. So here I am.

You know what else is pathetic. For the last week leading up to the end of all star voting, every time you watched a Red Sox game you would learn of the website you can go to to vote for your "favorite" Red Sox to send to ST. Louis.  I. Even the way they phrased it was sketchy.  "Vote for your favorite Red Sox".  It is sad that fans who claim to be so sophisticated and knowledgeable are simple minded unobjective homers. I'm sorry. Ian Kinsler was GOING TO BE THE MVP LAST YEAR before he got hurt. It would be a shame to see the MVP by default start at first base when clearly Kinsler is the better player having the better season.

Yankee Universe needs to wake up because the nation and it's voice are getting louder and louder!

I'm sorry I have to be the guy who comes to the Yankee forum to hate on the Red Sox. It's not the only topic I'll be speaking on, but as a former Jersey Boy living outside of Boston I NEED AN OUTLET. I didn't know how real the hatred is for Yankee fans but it goes beyond baseball. Make no mistake when I give my sports opinion people change towards me. I will be reporting here and venting on what I'm hearing locally.

So what I'm hearing now is a whole region of the country (New England) lobbying to get Tim Wakefield a spot on the all star team.  Their arguements are WEAK and here are a few.

"There should be a spot for a sentimental pick"   I ask sentimental to who??? How would the rest of the country feel sentiment to a number 5 pitcher who doesn't even have good enough stuff to start a post season game for his team.  I mean Wakefield is a class act but a sentimental favorite,....COME ON. Even if he was a sentimental favorite so what.

"He's never been an all star before". The best thing about the pitchers going to the game is that they are usually the most deserving bunch because they are picked by baseball people. not the fans. We complain about the fans picking their favorites instead of the most deserving and now these same people are asking for just that.

"He wants to be an all star! This is actually something I've heard more than once. "It would be refreshing to see a guy who actually wants it to go". I'm not making this stuff up people

Of course the 10 wins is what they all point to in the stats area.  Of all the numbers we all know wins is at the bottom of the list as as far as performance goes. We all know Wakefield would be 7-6 with the same numbers in San Fran. If he was lucky 7-6

In my opinion Pettite has been every bit as good and has numbers just as good but I would never beg to have him be an an all star when there is obviously many more pitchers more deserving.

Since I have no objectivity in my life since I moved to Mass. please tell me If I'm wrong. Tell me if lobbying to have Wakefield be an all star is no big deal. Tell me it shouldn't bother me at all. Is it not pathetic to beg for awards and accolades? Is it not pathetic to scream and yell until you get your way??

I was thinking about how awful the Red Sox look on the road this year. It left me wondering if there was a direct link. The Red Sox have one of the biggest home field advantages in baseball and have intelligently built their team around it. What I discovered may worry some.

I went back as far as 2004 when they started this run.

In 2007 the Red Sox clearly the best team in the league. There is no debate about it. They won the toughest division in baseball and rolled through the post season en route to a championship. The Red Sox road record was the best it's been during the magical run. They went 45-36.

In 2004 they won the wildcard and the championship. That year they had their second best road record over the run. They went 43-38. Almost as good as 2007, but not quite. Like the team itself.

In 2006 the red Sox finished in third and missed the playoffs. That year they had their worst road record over the past 5 years. they went 38-43

In 2005 they didn't win the division but had an identical record to the division winner and won the wildcard but lost in the playoffs. That year they had their 3rd best home record at 41-40

And finally last year 2nd place and their road record not quite as bad as in 2006 when they finished in 3rd. Last year their record was 39-42

It's uncanny. The link matches perfectly. Their best year 2007 they had the best road record. the second best year in 2004 led to the second best road record. Third best year in 2005 when they finished tied with the Yankees they had their 3rd best  road record. The year they finished in 3rd and missed the playoffs they had their worst road record.

It's no surprise the Red Sox look great at home, but the last 5 years suggests the road record is a better barometer.

I live outside of Boston and I'm taking a beaten over the jet stream at Yankee stadium. Which is why I LOVE THE NEW STADIUM AND THE JET STREAM. Red Sox fans have enjoyed the luxury of inflated numbers for a century now.  When Peter Gammons (President of red Sox nation) calls the stadium the "Biggest Joke In Baseball" It infuriates me. All of Red Sox nation is hating it because they are hypocrited through and through. Here are some splits that support my argument.

Player         Fenway         Away
Pedroia        342                290
Ortiz              313                264      scrub and Minnesota knew it
Lugo             300               264       scrub
Ellsbury        313               276       eeeeh
Youkilis        303               285
Lowell          306               273        remember he was a contract dump for Florida

Drew is about the same and Bay doesn't have enough at bats to judge.
Everyone of these guys is a tremendous hitter at Fenway and some of them are Scrubs elsewhere. NOT ONE 300 hitter outside of the shoe box they call Fenway.  Fenway makes Lugo look like a great hitter.

Let's look at some present and former Yankees


Jeter             322                    309
ARod             310                    300
Bernie          295                     299
Great hitter regardless.


A few more to chew on

Varitek          278                      247    basically a scrub
Rice               320                     277    HOF????
Boggs           369                     302
Ted Williams  355                   320

It seems to me that  Fenway can turn scrubs in to great players and great players in to legends and Hall of Famers. There is nothoing to fix at Yankee Stadium and if they do they are playing right in to the Red Sox hands. Leave it alone

There was only one move the Sox made that made me a little jealous. That was John Smoltz. I thought you stole this guy.  Coming off major surgery, but not injury prone. Smoltz could end up being the ACE when it's all said and done. When he's right he's dominant consistently. Unlike Beckett who dominates from time to time. Smoltz worries me.

As far as Beckett goes I don't know what you expect. There is only one problem with Becett. He is way to over rated in this town and the expectations are that this guy will dominate all season. The facts are he's always been inconsistent and he's had only one good season with the Sox.  It was a super human performance in 2007 and I became a believer.  I drafted him on my fantasy team in 2008 and he was inconsistent all year long. It was the same old Beckett. It was flashes of dominance and then back to five runs a game.  Sure you remember he was hurt towards the end of the last season and tend to think that was the story all season. It wasn't. The fact is the entire season was,.......ehhhhh. The 2007 season was phenomnal. It's funny what a great defense and a ton of run support can do when it coincides with a career year. Josh Beckett has always been inconsistent and has always been a guy who doesn't pitch so well unless everything is right for him. You see this tough guy persona which makes it hard for you to see how fragile he really is. He has had nagging injuries throughout his career and has proved he doesn't pitch so well through them. He throws the fast ball too much at times and is rarely on the same page with Varitek. You tell me that Varitek knows the batters better than anyone, but don't knock Josh for not trusting him.

John Lester is young. Big league batters adjust. He'll adjust

Anyone who thinks that the Red Sox and Rays are the Class of the AL East. Think about this and then think again.

The Yankees had their worst season in 12 years, and the Rays had their best season ever, yet we went 11-7 against them during the regular season.  As far as the Red Sox go. People need to stop acting as if the Red Sox have been beating up on the Yankees on their way to championships. They beat us ONCE when it counted. Once in 90 years that is all. That was in 2004 and it was a good thing they did. If they wouldn't have beat us in 2004 the rivalry may have died. After all the other team has to win sometimes for it to be a rivalry.

JOSH BECKETT DOES NOT SCARY ANYONE!!!! Sorry Boston. he had a storybook season in 07, but that's not what he does year in and year out. His 4 plus ERA in the AL over the last 3 years is more like it.

The Yankees #1 pitcher last year, who they didn't have for most of the year, is now their number 3. The Yankees best starting pitcher is their #5. THAT'S RIGHT. I said it!! Everyone keeps talking about the big 3, but statistically speaking JOBA is hands down the most dominant. I wish they would just take the gloves off this guy already. If he was the #4,.....IT'S GAME OVER!!!!!!

The Yankees, Rays and Sox were neck and neck last year, and the Yankees are the most improved from a season ago. Do the math!

I have a trivia question for you. There are only 2 teams that have won the world series with a payroll over 100 million. Can you name them? Answer: The 2004 and 2007 Boston red Sox. The Yankees last won a world series in 2000, the Yankees payroll was 93 million. Sounds like Boston decided to start spending some money shortly there after. That's why the Red Sox have been successful lately. They opened up their wallets finally. It only took 26 rings and 90 years to understand you better play like the Yankees to compete with the Yankees. The NEW OWNERSHIP OF THE RED SOX GOT IT! The Yankees aren't doing anything new. THE RED SOX ARE! The Red Sox  are keeping up but they tend to be a little smarter with their money because they have to be. A smaller empire, but an empire none the less. The Yankees over pay because they can. The talent is equal, but Theo pays less. PERIOD!! They have won 2 championships over the last four years and outspend 95% percent of the other teams, yet the fans complain about the system they have benn very successful in with the new ownership group. It doesn't matter how much a player makes. Julio Lugo gets 9 million per season and Pedroia 8. As a matter of fact in 2009 Pedroia's salary will be 1.5 million. What does that mean?? Lugo is HORRIBLE and Pedroia the MVP. Look at Drew who is currently the highest paid player on the Sox yet I'd rather have Bay in a heartbeat. The salary doesn't always reflect the talent. The Red Sox are one of the big boys now.

Continue reading this post »

Don’t forget about Joba and his 2.18 ERA. Don’t forget the 152 k’s in 124 innings. And the 1.16 WHIP. This guy is on the verge of domination and  please don’t forget that.  He is not a reliever turned starter. He is a starter who will have the entire spring to get settled in to his role. He is poised to go 180 innings this year while matching up with the other #4's of the league like Wakefield. I don't want to hear any trash about this KID. His numbers after first 124 innings in the majors DWARF Lester's and Buchholz and Masterson after their first 100 innings.  Joba seems to be flying under the radar right now because of  the money Yankees spent on pitching. The fact is that of all the pitchers between the Yankees and Red Sox, Joba has the most upside.

I like to compare A.J. to Beckett more than I like to compare Sabathia to Beckett. Beckett has been a post season MONSTER and there is no denying that. So we can debate about it come playoff time. However during the regular season over the last 7 years C.C. has been the better pitcher. He did win a cy young people. He is a throw back with inning pitched and complete games and Beckett doesn't hold a candle in those  two areas. C.C. has a lifetime 3.66 ERA spending all his time in the AL.  I can't wait to see him go into the post season with 195 innings instead of 250. I can't wait to see how successful he will be in the post season with a fresh arm instead of killing himself just to get there like he has. 

Anyway I want to compare our number 3 starter against your number one.  A.J. to Beckett. Both injury prone. Although Beckett has not missed entire seasons with major injuries like Burnett so I'll say Burnett is more fragile and there is no doubt but what I want to do is use a 4 season window. Why 4 seasons. Well I keep hearing how good the Red Sox have been over the last 4 years. Apparently that's how we judge everything now in 4 year encriments. So says the Red Sox fan. So be it. In the last 4 years Burnett has averaged 182 innings pitched and Beckett 189. Burnett strikes out a few more, but also walks a few more. The ERA is comparable as well. Burnett has dominated the AL East but has no post season history.  If there was a game tonight and it was Beckett vs Burnett how are you feeling. Like I better watch this game is how you're feeling. He is a health risk I agree, but he's electric.

Is that New England didn't play well. That they handed the Steelers the game. They keep talking about the dropped passes from Gaffney and especially Moss. They keep talking about the weather. They think the first half went fine for them. What game did they watch?

The first half was fine for the Patriots because the Steelers couldn't get out of their own way. Clark, Palo, and Taylor all dropped interceptions, and receivers Holmes and Miller both dropped key passes. They had the games first turnover and handed the Pats their only TD. The Patriots were only in this game at the half because the Steelers shot themselves in the foot.

The dropped ball by Randy Moss in the back of the end zone was clearly going to be an incompletion because the defender pushed him out of bounds thinking he made the catch. Since there is no such rule as the force out anymore that wasn't going to be a TD. Unlike Nate Washington who dropped a unquestionable TD pass in the fourth quarter.

As far as the weather goes New England claims to be a bad weather team. They're from New England and were playing at home in their element. Not only that but Pittsburgh left alot of points on the board and still ended up scoring over 30 points, Steelers were inept on offense in the first half and still they put up big points. Guess what SAME WEATHER for both teams!Jay Cutler threw for 350 yards in the same weather.

As far as Gaffney's dropped pass. What Steelere fans may not know is that Gaffney drops big passes every game and they cry every week. What they don't understand is that every team has dropped balls every week,....let me repeat,.....every team deals with dropped passes. The good teams manage to over come a few drops and score some points regardless. The Titans, Cowboys and Eagles all dropped some passes this week but still managed a few offensive touchdowns.

The Patriots only offensive TD was given to them early in the first quarter and if not for that the Patriots were never in the game and they are lucky the score wasn't 50-3

We need to put an end to the over paying of players. I don't care who they are or what they have done. Players should want to play with the Yankees and be willing to take a cut in pay to have a shot at a ring every year. Especially if their numbers have declined and have been taken care of in the past. Loyalty is not part of the game anymore, and loyalty doesn't win championships.That's how we need to run this operation. Stop milking us and go play in Anaheim for all I care.  Whatever a guy is worth on the market,.....THAT IS ALL HE GETS!!!! I'm tired of hearing about our payroll for no other reason than OVER SPENDING. You want to spend, by all means spend your ass off. Let's not over spend. It's bad buisness, it makes management look desperate and soft, and it sends a message to agents that we can be taken advantage of. If a player wants more than he's worth then goodbye.

How dare you have your opinion. You're stupid, you don't make any sense. This is the greatest team in the history of football, with the greatest coach to ever breathe. In any sport ever. Along with the greatest owner , and the most knowledgeable fans in the world of sports. Every call goes against us. The whole world is involved in a conspiracy to keep us down. Nobody ever gives us credit or respect. We're better than you and that's why you hate us. You're just jealous.

The fact is that you can say nine good things about the Patriots and ONE bad thing and the fans of New England will beat you into a bloody pulp for that one bad thing you mention. To the point where you don't ever want to give the fans of New England your opinion again because it always leads to name calling and insults and the like. They  live in their own little bubble and outsiders are not welcome. There is no Ying and Yang in Boston. It's just Ying calling the shots. There is no balance with Patriot coverage, because you would get crucified! They believe their own bullcrap. I know I live here.

Just more examples of the local radio station spoon feeding the great fans of New England what they think the Red Sox and Patriots organizations want you to hear.  Ass kissers is what they are. All of the sudden weei is on board with exploring other options at catcher. Why are they suddenly on board when for months they scoffed at the idea. They flipped because they're a patsy for the local teams and I'll tell you why.  A few weeks ago all you heard was you would be crazy not to sign him for the three years that's our Captain and he handles the staff so well. He means so much to the team  they said and there is nobody out there to get. That was the talk on the radio. Now that the Red Sox have made it clear that they're ready to move on and certainly aren't going to sign him for more than a year or two, and certainly not at 12 million per year.  All of the sudden all the weei guys are on board. The local media give the fans of this town a bad name. How do I know. When I  first moved to New England I turned on weei and every single guy on the radio wanted NOTHING to do with the Garnett trade. This was my first exposure to the sports scene in New England. I crapped my pants and couldn't believe what fools they were. They said he was too old, has never won anything and to give up the future for him was crazy. Of course they'll never admit it now, but I'll never forget it because it was the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Now they talk about how he's the best player in the league. All you had to do was watch basketball to know what a MONSTER Garnett always was. I listened to them and their callers and believed the fans of New England were just as stupid. It has taken me a while to see that this radio station is poison for the reputation of the New England sports fan. They will turn a potential fan into a hater in minutes and do not represent the sophisticated fans of New England like they should be represented.

The same thing with Tex. For weeks they shot down the notion to get Tex because what are you going to do with Youk?, move him to third we said. Well  why would you move a gold glove first baseman to third base, and besides what do we do with Lowell would be the answer they gave. Get rid of him we said. Why? because he's an injury risk and is getting old. You're crazy they said. Now that it's clear the Sox are interested Tex and ALL OF THE SUDDEN the retoric on weei has changed dramatically. Now you hear how this hip injury is very worrysome and we should  move him, go get Tex and slide Youk to third. What a shock, flippity flop.

Here is a quote from Dale Arnold,.......of the Dale and Holly show. Micheal being Micheal Holly. The show runs from 10am -2pm in the greater New England area. They were talking about the Patriot loss to the Jets on Thursday. Dale was trying to make the point that the loss didn't make much difference.

"But when Michael and I got together early this morning on the phone and -- our little conference call we both had the exact same thought at the exact same time. Which is that ten days from now you'll(Patriots) be back tied for first place in the AFC east. That the Jets will in all likelihood lose to Tennessee and the Patriots in all likelihood would beat the Miami Dolphins and you're right back where you were last night before the game."

I have to deal with the arrogance every day of my life.

Go Doplhins!!!!!!!!

Way to much optimism from the fans of New England. Is it optimism, or denial?

During the first quarter of the first game of the season their hopes and dreams of the season were gone,….and make no mistake,….. they are gone!

They say Cassel played a great game on Sunday night and he is much improved. I say that the Patriots played right into the Colts hands. The Colts,….the ACTUAL winners of the game. The Colts, who had a game plan of their own. I keep hearing about Bill Belichicks great game plan, but Bill and the Patriots lost. They executed their masterful game plan and still they lost. Like I said. The Colts had a plan too. Let’s not forget that. Their plan was to keep everything in front of them. Give New England field goals but keep them out of the end zone. The old bend but don’t break approach. Just like the Patriots have been doing for years. Everything Cassel got was given to him by the Colts. Dink and dunk all you want is what they said,….HOW ABOUT THROW A TOUCHDOWN IF YOU CAN.

The Colts were playing with a walk on, no name corner back. With Moss and Welker, two of the best in the game, the Patriots can’t throw one single TD pass. Cassel has 4 Td’s and 4 interceptions over the last 4 games and he had 3 TD’s and 3 interceptions over his first 4 games. IS HE much improved? He threw 3 Td’s against Denver and 4 TD’s in the other 7 games. Against Denver he looked great?? Need I remind you that so did  Kansas City who looked like 80's Forty Niners against Denver and their awful defense. When the Pats lit it up against Denver you would think Christ had risen again.

On Saturday I played football with my 11 year old nephew and his friends. I was designated QB for both teams and I threw 12 TD’s. Then on Sunday I went to play football again. This time with my buddies. I  threw one TD and three interceptions. MY POINT! I could care less if Cassel throws for 200 yards and a touchdown vs. 2-6 San Francisco. The fact that Cassel looks O.K. against teams like San Fran and St Louis means jack squat. Let’s see how he does against Pittsburgh, or Baltimore or Tennessee, or god help them,….the Giants. You think he’ll do what Brady himself couldn‘t do?

Most of the Patriots wins were against the chumps of the league. San Fran at 2-6. St Louis at 2-6. Kansas City at 1-7. Denver who is 4-4 and would be 3-5 if not for the blown call by Ed Hochuli. The Denver win,….that's the win they rally around as fans!!

Not only have the Patriots not beaten any good teams, but they have lost to mediocre teams. Teams like Miami 4-4 and  the Chargers 3-5 and the Colts 4-4. The Colts and Chargers aren’t the teams to beat this year in the AFC, but they lost anyway. Miami is improved but still mediocre. After eight games played by the Patriots, the winning percentage of their opponents is .390.

 The Jets at 5-3 have the best record of all the teams they played.

You see Patriot fans. I remember last year, and I remember you had Brady, and I remember you played San Diego with out two of their best players and they still should have beat you. Well now you’re the team missing your best player I remember how lucky you were to get to the Super Bowl, and I remember how lucky you were to go undefeated during the regular season. I remember the easy schedule you had last year. The easiest schedule in the league over the last two years HANDS DOWN!!!! I remember any good team you played last year played you well. The Colts, The Chargers, The Ravens should have beat you, the Giants could have beat you, the Cowboys beat themselves.  You rolled over easy teams and played plenty of them. The Patriots weren’t as good as their record last year and on Super Bowl Sunday that was proven.

Last year  they looked at the record and thought,….Hmmm we could be the best team ever. Not even close to the reality. The truth is the Patriots beat up on bad teams all year long in 07, or they were lucky by getting teams like the Chargers and Colts when they were injury riddled. The fans thought they were unstoppable while I thought it was only a matter of time before their luck and easy schedule wore out. Well it did against the Giants,……and if the Chargers were healthy during the playoffs it would have been a the Chargers who beat them. It should have been a Charger/Giant Super Bowl. That’s what I remember.

This year fans look at the Patriots record and think 5-3. They say to themselves we could do this. Do what??? Make the playoffs. The Patriots would be 2-6 in the NFC East and Kevin O’Connell would be the QB because Cassel would be to banged up to play. 


Last year, with a healthy Tom Brady they didn’t get the job done. The Patriot fans may have forgotten the look in Tom Brady’s eyes during key moments of last years Super Bowl, but I certainly haven’t. The look of confusion. How do you think Cassel would have performed against that relentless pass rush of the Giants or the like. How do you think Cassel will do in a playoff atmosphere, with a playoff pass rush?