flavum

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 02:31 PM) Why can't we just give those two a chance? Danks is a bulldog, he showed me a lot last year. He doesn't hang his head, he just goes back out there and pitches. Now he has a year under his belt and one of the better lefties to learn from in Buerhle. Floyd is definitely more of a question mark, but he has the stuff, and he's the 5th starter and someone that can be replaced or skipped easily, especially at the beginning of the year. If all SPs can pitch to their potential, you have a very good rotation. I agree with you, and I don't agree with you. I agree with you about giving thes guys a chance, but I think Danks is more of a question mark. He had a really BAD second half last year. He had 8 quality starts out of 26. Floyd had 6 out of 10 quality starts, and I really liked his mound presence late in the year. I hope I see that in spring training, and for about 32 starts this season. As for the overall team, they have a lot of question marks, but they have a lot of talent on this. A lot of things have to come together, but I think they can contend. I'm looking forward to seeing Richar, Quentin, and Fields play a full season with the Sox. Those three may play a huge role in whether the Sox are poised for a championship in the next few years.

QUOTE(buckweaver @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 01:40 PM) I agree. And even though Congress screws a lot of things up, I say let them have at it. To those who say they don't care...I really do. If the number is 85% or so, it shows that to make it to the majors, you must be willing to do drugs that harm your body and are against the rules of the game. It's really the microcosmic equivalent of societal anarchy--to succeed, you are forced to break the rules. And this is our National Pastime? What are we teaching the next generation? Why is it good or honorable to win the World Series if the only way to do so is to pay mulitmillions of dollars to the biggest cheaters? Yes, it's baseball...but more importantly, it is telltale about the fabric of our society. Sanity needs to win out. And if the MLBPA is the group holding out on some sane resolution, it's time to break up this farce of a union which has helped (along with management) to create this mess. I'd like to see MLB acknowledge the past, and how they were just as guilty as the players taking the drugs, and move on. The way they can move on with integrity is to have a ZERO tolerance policy. If you're caught with HGH or steroids in your system, or purchasing them, you're gone--forever. I want to see this rule be equal to gambling on the game. You think we'd see a huge dropoff in use? You're damn right. I know the player's association would never go for this, but I don't care if the government makes the decision for them. Hold the antitrust exemption over the heads, for all I care. Time to clean up the game for good.

He had his Hall of Fame press conference today (mlb.com), and he was really a class guy. I'm sure during his his induction speech, Chuck Tanner and Dick Allen will get major mentions. I didn't see him pitch for the Sox, but it's cool he's been vocal about his time with the Sox, and not just focusing on the Yankees years.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 9, 2008 -> 11:46 AM) Ramirez was supposed to have a physical shortly after New Year's, before the deal was finalized. Anyone heard if that went through OK? I've heard he's having trouble getting out of the Dominican, with Visa issues or whatever. I would assume it'll be finalized in the next two weeks.