Soxbadger

Shorey is a good player and was going to say that I doubt he stays at Reading long, and could be a name to watch for being transferred to a top tier EPL club. Not only did he play good defense, but I can recall him being responsible for some of the better played balls on the offensive side. The FSC recap just said the same thing about the transfer to West Ham, because he wont resign with Reading, btu I have to wonder if a bigger club might just snatch him.

Well over the weekend I was able to catch 3 out of the top 4 (only Chelsea did not appear on US television) and this year should be really interesting. Man U dominated the entire match but just could not find the back of the net, Reading just played a defensive shell while Man U just took opportunity after opportunity. Reading had a few opportunities, Shorey looks good (they said some crazy stat like he was the first English national player for Reading in 100 years), but most times when you play that way you are not going to pull off a draw. Tevez sat, and Nani did not play until replacing Rooney, so it should be interesting how those to mesh with Ronaldo. Man U will suffer with Rooney gone (who is like a grinder but extremely talented as well) but Nani and Tevez will make them stay strong. Arsenal looked good, outside of a terrible play by their goalie. It was within the first 2 minutes and just a bad touch gave the other side an easy goal. Arsenal played like Man U for most of the match, clearly having control, but unable to find the back of the net. They scored 2 goals in the final 8 minutes of regulation ( I think like the 83rd and 91st) minute to take the victory, which was important because they were playing one of the lower tiered EPL teams. Cesc Fabregas is awesome, my favorite Arsenal player, and he clearly seems to be clicking with Van Persie who looked to be in good form after his injury last year. Liverpool I believe will finish in the top 3 this year, maybe even taking the EPL cup. They have one of the top defensive teams (if not the best) and have added some impact scorers. Torres looks good, he was involved in a lot of the action and should provide an interesting striking force. Its really hard to talk about the match without mentioning the shot by Gerrard. It was an impeccable set piece in which he went over the wall and the ball broke back into the upper right corner (looked like a slider whiping over the heads of the defenders and then catching the top part of the goal). Gerrard is like the vice captain of the English National team and he looked really good, could take the scoring title. Anyways thats my recap, I guess when I talk about soccer I start writing like the English announcers talk.

Liverpool looked good outside the hand ball on Carragher. Gerrard's set piece was amazing, especially since it came in like the 83rd minute.

If the Sox want to hold onto any dream of some how making the playoffs, tonight is a must win.

If I would have caught the ball, I would have given it to Barry for free on the condition that I get to meet him and maybe have dinner. Just being able to say that I caught the ball would be enough for me, and I would never even consider giving the ball to anyone but Barry, so i wouldnt rake him over the coals. Some things in life are priceless, and to Barry that ball is priceless. He earned it, he deserves it, so if I had been lucky enough, I would have just told them to escort me to the dugout so I can hand him the ball. I dont care if he cheated, I dont care about any of it, I dont know 1 person who hasnt cheated in some way shape or form. In the end, if you arent cheating you arent trying hard enough to win.

Russ ortiz back in the good ole days

I would keep him out there, but no matter what happens let him start again. 5 shut out innings is huge and if the Sox had any sort of reliability in the pen they could let him walk away with a lot of confidence. As it is Id hope he can get through 2 more, but thats a lot to ask.

Uribe with a grand slam.

On Wisconsin To bad all of that depends on actually beating Michigan, which never happens for Wisconsin.

Floyd has much better control than Haeger: Floyd has 106 ip in AAA with 35 bbs Haeger has 101 ip in AAA 57 bbs Thats a pretty big difference.

BUt you are arguing that Floyd not haeger should be in the rotation? Or are you saying haeger should be a rp instead of Macdougal? Whichi argument are you making

Macdougal is a rp. Haeger is a sp. Im sorry but a SP who gives up 19 bb's in 28 ip, who does not get a lot of K's, is a recipe for disaster. Id rather have a guy who's getting hit hard as hell, then aguy who is giving free passes.

Because Haeger has terrible control problems. Atleast Floyd doesnt walk AAA batters. Its pretty simple, if haeger wants to pitch at the MLB level he cant be walking so many batters.

But haeger this year has a 4.81 era at AAA has a whip of 1.55 Last year even with a era of 3.07 he had a whip of 1.30 Floyd had a whip of 1.35 last year and a whip of 1.20 this year. The fact that Haeger has a control problem is why he needs work at AAA. Floyd has proven everything he can, at this point its either he can pitch in MLB or he is a AAAA player. hence why he needs to be playing at MLB, where as Haeger can play at AAA and learn something. Namely throwing strikes with his knuckle.

In Floyds last 2 seasons at AAA he posted a 4.23 and a 3.12. Seems that he has been improving, not exactly sure why 1 AAA season 3 years ago means more than the last 2?

How is 6.46 for Garland uncomparable? You also fail to mention in Gavin's first stint in the big leagues he posted a 3.5 era in 30 ip. And how is Halladay not comparable? So he pitched good his first season and then tanked. That seems exactly like what is happening with Gavin, except for he was not given 150 ip in his first season because he was called up later in the year. So if Gavin had pitched 3.5 era for 100 ip in his first season, then tanked the next 2, you would be saying hes fixable? But because he only pitched 30, and then has been tooled around, he is unfixable? Not to mention Gavin has not finished the season, if he puts up a few good outings his era will be around 5-6, exactly like the players I posted. But thanks for creating a 100 ip rule, that seems to have no rhyme or reason.

Im sure I could find some one to dispell the 100 ip thing, but right now Sergio Mitre who had eras of 6.6, 5.3, and 5.7 is off the top of my head. Carmona had a 5.4 era last year, Jeff Francis had a 5.8 era in his first season. Kazmir had a 5.67 in his first 30 ip. Not that any of these guys will be All-Star Aces, but at the same time I think that it shows many pitchers take time to develop at the MLB level. Garland had an era of 6.46 in his first 70 ip. Unprecedented is the hyperbole of the week. (Edit) In 2000 Roy halladay had an era of 10+

Every day Ive gone to court for the last 3 years ive basically seen this guy. He has a lot of dedication to his cause, although outside of me I really dont think anyone even reads his sign. Ive never seen anyone actually talk to him.

Rickie Weeks sent to AAA

Okay I can understand that in retrospect dumping Count when we could have would have been nice, but at that time the Sox felt that they were going to be contenders for the AL Central, and that Count was going to be a big part of that equation. If Count would have been on the market, they could ahve gotten a much better package than what they got for Garcia. This was just a bad year all around, perhaps penance for 2005.

To the poster who said that the Sox should have traded Count for the same package... What the hell? Freddy was clearly in decline, maybe injured, and on his walk year. Count was one of the Sox best starters and most would have said that at worst count was going go tbe an above average pitcher this year. The deal for Garcia will always be a good one because of the fact we didnt have to pay his salary and it atleast gave us 2 pitchers, and if 1 of them becomes even decent its a fleecing.

No they were all paid huge and then sucked afterwards. Some one was acting like Count was the first 10mil player to ever be bad.

Dreifort off the top of my head. Hampton maybe, what about Denny Neagle? All those guys got huge paydays and then sucked, Contreras wasnt the first and wont be the last. (To answer who has been paid 10mil and sucked, and I only answered pitchers.)

Im watching to see Richar, Fields, I guess Owens. I dont know cause im a fan and like the Sox. And the trade deadline could have been way worse, people should be happy we didnt trade Garland or Vaz for dirt.

Jose is such a dick, I heard that he was going to elt everyone hit a HR except A-Rod but I thought he was just joking. Damn the Sox know how to have a good time and paly practical jokes.