$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 11, 2008 19:10:24 GMT -5
I hate this son of a bitch Charlie Zink. Hey, Balls, you retard - with all your public splooging over how good Kennedy has been doing in AAA, have you ever even heard of this guy Zink? Look at HIS stats, in a lot more starts / innings than Kennedy! CHICAGO -- Tim Wakefield is on the DL, but the Red Sox will still have a knuckleballer pitching on Tuesday.
Right-hander Charlie Zink is being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Wakefield, who has been shut down for the next couple of weeks with shoulder pain.
In 25 starts for the PawSox this season, Zink has gone 13-4 with a 2.89 ERA.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 12, 2008 17:58:00 GMT -5
Um....alrighty then. So the Red Sox nab Paul Byrd for what looks like it could be a bag of balls. Um, why did the Yankees not get in on this action. In fact, Byrd is a name we bandied about on here months ago as a cheap option!!!!!!!!
And, lucky for us and the Yankees, Byrd has been hot as Hell recently.
Sox add an arm, obtain Byrd from Tribe Veteran right-hander has been sterling since the All-Star break
BOSTON -- The Red Sox helped bolster their ailing starting rotation on Tuesday by dealing for Indians right-hander Paul Byrd.
Byrd, a 13-year veteran who spent the last three seasons in Cleveland, comes to Boston for a player to be named later or cash.
It's coming at a time where Byrd is performing the best he has all season. He's 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break.
The Red Sox won't have to wait long for Byrd to contribute. He will start Friday in place of Clay Buchholz.
At this stage of the campaign for the Sox, if there is an area of the roster that is in need of help due to injury, it's the starting rotation. Curt Schilling didn't throw a pitch in 2008 before season-ending shoulder surgery in June, Bartolo Colon has been on the disabled list since mid-June and, most recently, Tim Wakefield was sent to the 15-day DL over the weekend with tightness in his throwing shoulder.
Couple that with stints on the DL by both Daisuke Matsuzaka and Buchholz -- 0-5 since his return in mid-July -- a little insurance in Boston's rotation might be more than helpful down the stretch.
Byrd's arrival should aid that trend by lending veteran leadership along with versatility. He's 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA for the Indians, who are last place in the AL Central. But more importantly, he hasn't started less than 31 games in a season since 2004 with Atlanta.
And for Byrd, this might be the opportunity he's been waiting for to make another push toward a title.
"There's a couple years where you're just happy to be here," Byrd said on Saturday. "Then all of a sudden, you realize you play this game because you want to win and want to win a World Series. I'd love an opportunity to do that."
Byrd was consistently effective in 2007 for the Tribe, owning a 15-8 record while helping Cleveland to the American League Championship Series, losing the seven-game series to the eventual champion Red Sox.
Given that the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline is passed, Byrd must be passed through waivers before being traded. Every other team has the option of claiming a waived player, in reverse order of the standings. The team putting the player through waivers can either let the player go, pull him back or try to work out a deal with the team that claimed the player.
Byrd, who made his Major League debut in 1995, spent time with the Mets, Braves, Phillies, Royals, Angels before his time with the Indians. He's 104-91 lifetime with a 4.37 ERA.
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Post by Chris on Aug 12, 2008 21:00:00 GMT -5
They could use him, considering that their new knuckleballer phenom stunk the mound up to holy hell tonight. Zincks's start at Fenway was a "reward" for a solid minor league season. He blew against the Rangers. Tim Wakefield has a knuckler, requisite fastball, and a decent curve as his "out" pitch. This clown has a knuckler, requisite fastball, and a CHANGE UP as his "out" pitch?!?! !?!?! Uhhh, who is the genius in the Sox organization who thought this was ok. So you have an offspeed knuckler as your specialty and your "out" pitch is another offspeed pitch that DOESN'T knuckle? BRILLIANT.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 12, 2008 21:34:33 GMT -5
Well, again, goes back to my point that AAA stats are decieving. Balls lives and dies with them, as he continually cites Ian Kennedy's as proof that he is a "AAAA pitcher." Well, Zink has outpitched him in a ton more starts in AAA, with shitty stuff. So again, AAA stats mean nothing.
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Post by 9 on Aug 12, 2008 23:27:51 GMT -5
Texas should have gone for two after their last TD tonight.
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Post by Chris on Aug 12, 2008 23:43:25 GMT -5
Oh I agree Tom, I just think that whoever approved this guy's repertoire and allowed him to hone these pitches, was an idiot.
That would be like a pitcher who features a two-seam fast (movement) had a four-seam fastball (no movement) as his "out" pitch.
If your "out" pitch is a worse, marginalized version of your feature pitch, what's the point?
Zinck won't last unless he develops something better than an 83 mph fastball (which he showed tonight) or decent breaking pitch.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 19, 2008 17:32:51 GMT -5
Hopefully this doesnt give them something to "rally around"
Yaz hospitalized with chest pains Hall of Famer undergoing tests at Mass General
BOSTON -- Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, the last player to hit for the Triple Crown, was hospitalized for tests Tuesday after experiencing chest pains.
The Boston Red Sox confirmed the 68-year-old Yastrzemski was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital and was undergoing evaluation and testing. The team said no further information was immediately available on its longtime great.
Asked whether it was serious, Yastrzemski spokesman Dick Gordon said: "Any time you are in the hospital, it's got to be pretty serious."
The popular Yaz was an 18-time All-Star and spent his entire career in Boston, taking over left field for Ted Williams in 1961 and playing through 1983.
In 1967, Yastrzemski helped revitalize the flagging franchise during the "Impossible Dream" season. And all over New England that summer, kids tried to imitate his unique lefty batting stance, with the bat held high over his head.
With calls of "Yaz" echoing around Fenway Park, he won the Triple Crown that year, hitting .326 with 44 home runs and 121 RBIs. Behind the AL MVP, the Red Sox won their first pennant since 1946, but lost the World Series in Game 7 to St. Louis.
Yastrzemski was elected to the Hall on the first ballot in 1989. He has often shied away from celebrity and rarely made public appearances, but drew a big ovation when he threw out the first ball before Game 1 of last year's World Series.
Yaz finished with 452 career home runs and 1,844 RBIs. He had 3,419 lifetime hits and batted .285. He also won seven Gold Gloves, expertly playing the caroms off the Green Monster.
Yastrzemski is one of five former Red Sox players to have his number retired by the team. His No. 8 is painted at Fenway, along with those of Williams, Carlton Fisk, Bobby Doerr and Joe Cronin.
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Post by Jason Giambi on Aug 19, 2008 18:00:49 GMT -5
I didn't realize he played until 83
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Post by Chris on Aug 19, 2008 18:41:57 GMT -5
I realized he played until he LOOKED 83.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 27, 2008 17:07:39 GMT -5
The Sox bring in Mark Kotsay for this final push. He'll help assuage their pain of no JD Drew. Oh, and one more grim reminder - Sox have 20 of their final 29 games at home.
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Post by Chris on Aug 27, 2008 17:08:18 GMT -5
Yaz is out of the hospital...all is well.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 27, 2008 17:22:19 GMT -5
Its the fucking Frank Torre thing all over again.
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Post by Chris on Aug 28, 2008 12:53:33 GMT -5
Could Jason Varitek, the captain of the Red Sox, with the uber-gay "C" on his jersey, possibly NOT be brought back.
I don't care if he's 225 hitter, he's the captain.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 28, 2008 13:41:34 GMT -5
So?
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Post by Chris on Aug 28, 2008 16:07:38 GMT -5
Intangibles.
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Post by Chris on Sept 25, 2008 0:56:18 GMT -5
Another MSBNYY GIMMICK INFRINGEMENT ALERT!!!
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Sept 25, 2008 10:21:37 GMT -5
Good work, though I would have also found a manager, and complained that the statue was inaccurate because it had the head attached.
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Post by 9 on Sept 25, 2008 11:30:57 GMT -5
I wish I was good enough at PhotoShop to add a block of ice around his head.
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Post by Chris on Sept 25, 2008 11:54:41 GMT -5
I also had this gem:
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Nov 25, 2008 19:20:28 GMT -5
And the Jap invasion continues, over in Boston. This guy comes with high regard from the Baseball America crowd, and the price does not seem to be substantial.
BOSTON -- The Red Sox appear poised to add to their recent track record of landing Japanese pitchers, as right-hander Junichi Tazawa has reportedly decided to join the franchise that already has Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima.
According to two Japanese news organizations -- Mainichi Daily News and Nikkan Sports -- Tazawa will reveal by the beginning of next week that he has chosen the Red Sox over the other Major League teams that were interested in his services.
The list also included the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and perhaps a few others.
Just as in their pursuit of Matsuzaka and Okajima, the Red Sox were stealth all the way in their scouting and courting of Tazawa.
The club has yet to say anything publicly with regard to the right-hander, acknowledging only that it made him a contract offer.
Nikkan Sports reported that Tazawa ended negotiations with all other teams and that the official announcement of his deal with the Red Sox will occur on Dec. 1.
Unlike Matsuzaka and Okajima, who had both put together impressive and sustained careers in Japan, the 22-year-old Tazawa is a much more untapped commodity.
Tazawa asked Japanese pro teams not to draft him so that he could go straight to the Major Leagues.
He spent 2008 pitching for the Nippon Oil of the Japan Industrial League, which is for amateur players only.
Tazawa dominated for Nippon, pitching a complete-game shutout in his final start, which was on Nov. 21.
His fastball, according to a Major League source, is generally in the low 90s. Some reports suggested that Tazawa threw 97 mph. If so, it appears that was a rarity.
Because of Tazawa's lack of professional experience, there's a chance he will pitch in the Minor Leagues in 2009.
It isn't known if the offer from the Red Sox -- reportedly worth as much $6 million over three seasons -- was a Major League contract.
The Red Sox already have a quality starting rotation, including Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield. Talented young pitchers Justin Masterson and Clay Buchholz could also be in the mix for a rotation spot. That could allow Tazawa time to get more seasoning.
The Rangers, according to reports, were believed to have offered Tazawa slightly more money than the Red Sox.
However, the presence of Matsuzaka might have paid big dividends for the Red Sox. Tazawa went to a different high school than Matsuzaka, but in the same city (Yokohama) where Dice-K built his legend.
Like many young pitchers in Japan, Tazawa is said to view Matsuzaka in high esteem.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 18, 2008 21:33:16 GMT -5
MLB.COM is saying the Sox and Scott Boras are "holed up in a secret location" hammering out FINAL DETAILS that will make Texeira a Boston product.
Texeira, Sox said to be in final talks Boras negotiating with Boston hierarchy on eight-year deal
Agent Scott Boras and the Boston hierarchy are holed up in a secret location, hammering out the final details of the contract that will swear in Mark Texeira as a citizen of Red Sox Nation, according to ESPN.com and a Boston television report. Channel 5's Mike Lynch is reporting that Boras was in Texas Thursday evening for face-to-face meetings with Red Sox owner John Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino and general manager Theo Epstein.
Lending credence to the report was the fact Boras was known to have spent part of the day on the road, travelling to an unknown destination.
The Red Sox have not commented on the report as yet or confirmed that such a meeting took place.
Also according to Lynch, the Red Sox have made an improved offer of an eight-year contract averaging $23 million a season. Such a $184 million package would be an improvement over the eight-year deals tendered by the Angels and the Nationals, both in the $160 million range.
The TV reporter, who does not cite any sources, not even anonymous ones, also speculated that the transaction could be announced either late Thursday evening or on Friday.
Texeira, the 28-year-old switch-hitting, smooth-fielding first baseman who is the plum among position players on the free-agent market, indicated a month ago that he wanted his future settled by next week.
"I want to know where I'll be by Christmas," he told ESPN on Nov. 19 while patrolling the sidelines during a football game at Georgia Tech -- his alma mater.
Boras initially indicated he was seeking a 10-year, $200 million contract for the slugger who began his career with the Rangers in 2003 and has 203 homers and 676 RBIs in six seasons with a .290 career average.
The Nationals and Orioles have made no secret of their desire to land the Maryland native, and the Yankees also expressed interest in Texeira on top of signing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the two top pitchers on the market.
There has been widespread speculation that Texeira, whose wife is from Atlanta, prefers to sign with an East Coast team. But the player has never confirmed that, and he left Angels management with the perception that he thoroughly enjoyed his three months with the club after arriving on July 29 from the Braves in exchange for Casey Kotchman and Minor League pitcher Steve Marek.
Texeira, who turns 29 on April 11, flourished with the Angels, offensively and defensively.
Batting third in front of Vladimir Guerrero, he elevated the entire offense, hitting .358 with a .449 on-base percentage and a .632 slugging percentage.
Texeira delivered 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 54 games for the Angels, reaching 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBIs for the fifth consecutive season with a combined 33 homers and 121 RBIs and batting .308.
He continued to swing a hot bat in the American League Division Series, hitting .467 with seven hits and four walks, but the Angels fell to the Red Sox in four games. It was Texeira's first exposure to postseason play.
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Post by Jason Giambi on Dec 18, 2008 21:51:24 GMT -5
its ok, we got Nick Wiffer.
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Post by ajfreakz on Dec 18, 2008 23:25:33 GMT -5
..and boston doesn't seem like tex's destination after all
9:58pm: Red Sox owner John Henry said:
"We met with Mr. Texeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor."
Wow. From favorites to out of the bidding.
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Post by Chris on Dec 19, 2008 0:03:41 GMT -5
Sounds like sand-bagging to me....maybe in hopes that the Yanks will think that the don't need to make token offers to drive up the price.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 19, 2008 11:42:46 GMT -5
Whoever said Boston was the favorite, outside of a couple of hours last night? The favorites, I understood, were the Angels - who already have him, and the Nationals and Orioles, who are simply offering the most money and years.
Yankees have not even made him an offer, so I dont know why you guys keep acting like its a given he is coming here.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 30, 2008 10:21:57 GMT -5
Boston, apparently chagrined at losing out on Tex, are trying "creative ways" according to SI.COM to make up for it, including a major play to bring back Hanley Ramirez. While the Marlins are not all too keen on moving him, an offer that would include Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Bucholz and others might sway them.
One thing Boston would consider is moving Ramirez to CF, as they are enamored with Jed Lowrie at short. Even if this does not go down, Boston is hunting to make a splash.
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Post by Chris on Dec 30, 2008 12:16:41 GMT -5
Bucholz and Ellsbury for a problem child?
I do that deal in a second, if I'm Florida.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Dec 30, 2008 13:47:48 GMT -5
Why is Jason Varitek a Type A free agent?
He calls a good game and is a leader, but those things are intangibles.
As much as I loathe Giambi, you really can't argue that he didn't have a better year than Varitek with the bat.
Yet he's unclassified.
If position matters, Pudge hit 50 points higher than Varitek. More hits, higher OBP, fewer Ks, and even stole 10 bases.
And Pudge is also unclassified.
How can anyone who hits .220 be considered worthy of two draft picks.
If I were the Red Sox, I would just blow him off, take the 2 picks, and be thankful the guy didn't take arbitration.
And if I'm any other team, I would steer clear because even at league minimum, the guy isn't worth 2 draft picks at this stage.
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Post by 9 on Dec 30, 2008 15:16:03 GMT -5
Wow, I didn't realize that. That's really going to make Varitek difficult to sign.
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Post by pags03 on Dec 30, 2008 23:19:23 GMT -5
Varitek gets a lot of credit, but he's had some good pitchers on the mound. Schilling was an established vet before he came to Boston, Beckett was a proven big game pitcher before the sux and Dice K has been throwing 150 pitches per game before Hiroshima. What young talent arms has he groomed through the years. Buchholz hasn't lived up to expectations, the only Sux young gun to come out is Lester & Papelbon, both very good pitchers. Tek is a solid clubhouse guy and leader, but enough with these adulations and praises, for a medicore catcher at best.
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