poppysox

I'm not talking at all about journey man type players. I'm talking about stars who have been embraced by a fan base and have been treated fairly in negotiation with ownership. Be loyal to the fan base who has cheered you instead of chasing the almighty dollar.

Loyalty and respect is involved in both types of work. As a die hard Sox fan...if I was a player making 20 million I certainly wouldn't leave my club because someone would pay me 22 million. Loyalty is not what it once was in baseball and the sport is not better for it.

It's odd how multi millionaires with fan adoration leave their position with a club to get a few more million with another. Yet, a guy with a good middle class living stays with his employer because he feels well paid and respectfully treated.

We gave up the least valuable of the 3 assets to get 2 members and maybe 3 of our rotation. Actually, the returns on all three deals are pretty darn good. Hahn does very well in these type of negotiations.

It won't be long before the Sox look like what Houston does now. Win 2 out of 3 games and be near impossible to beat at home. Wish we would get Robert, Collins, Madrigal and Cease up to big club asap. In the long run players will develop better and faster by playing against better players IMO.

The bullpen did a very nice job tonight. Three one run innings with nothing disgusting happening. With Houston's club no one can expect to hold them to under 3 runs. Needed to find a way to score 4 runs. Maybe juggling the lineup would pump some life into things. Leo Durocher pulled the lineup out of a hat to wake up a sleeping offense. Durocher was the manager who said " nice guys finish last." Maybe we suffer from a little of that.

Would take this pitching performance from a bullpen game every time. Very good job IMO.

Where has Osich been keeping this stuff. He looks really good tonight. By the way...bullpen had a collective quality start.

Be still my heart...an Alonso hit.

Can't win if you don't score any runs. The pitchers have done a serviceable job so far. The hitters...not so much.

Osich with a 6 pitch inning. Very impressive!

Tilson and Sanchez both worked the count enough to probably get Peacock out after 6. Getting a run or two would make me feel very back in it.

Tilson really got down there and also did a nice job of working the count.

Not to be Pollyanna but this game is only 3-0. It ain't over yet.

It would be cool to put his ass on the bench for 3 or 4 days and see if he can clear his head. What is it with these DH/1B guys we keep finding? So maddening.

Alonso Is pressing on my last nerve. Bat him 7th or 8th or not at all.

Peacock is going to go beyond 6 innings if we don't get a few hits especially with this umpires zone.

Ricky was on top of the situation to get Fry out of there quick. Borderline calls are really going Astros way.

Fry is aggravating after Burr did such a nice job.

Fry is quickly becoming a pain to watch.

I agree. Just don't let him leave by getting shelled after doing a nice job.

Houston has gotten 3 questionable strikes while Burr has been squeezed on three apparent strikes. This game is tough enough without that.

Earl Weaver managed for 17 seasons with a win/loss % of .583 (1480-1060). His widely publicized managerial philosophy was pitching, defense and 3 run home runs win games. Repeatedly said "you only get 27 outs...don't waste them." I agree.

Most of us thought Dunn's signing was an unfixable disaster. He actually became somewhat tolerable with time. I don't think Alonso's situation is quite that dire. I would bat him lower in the order and release him if things don't get better by ASB. Taking up space from the young guys getting AB's and having Jimenez in outfield is more troubling than his dismal performance.

If I was putting money on it probably 2. I could put a positive spin on 3 and be really pleased with 4+.