BRAVO SOX!

[CWSOX45]

Am I the only one that is pumped about the 3-3 road trip? I'm extremely pleased with splitting with New York. Now we come home for three and hopefully we can take 2 of 3, if not all 3.

 

I'll be there opening day because I got tickets for an Easter present!! YESSS!!

 

CWSOX45

[WHarris1]

I think this week has been pretty damn good. After Opening Day they really bounced back. Thumping the Yanks twice, and playing them tough in the other 2, IN YANKEE STADIUM! I will take that any time.

[WSoxShuf]

totally agree, i though this week would be a nightmare.

[witesoxfan]

While we could and quite possibly should be 5-1, I'll take 3-3 to open the season, so long as they realize that .500 will not win the division.

[Guest JimH]

While we could and quite possibly should be 5-1, I'll take 3-3 to open the season, so long as they realize that .500 will not win the division.

My feelings exactly.

 

They could easily be 5-1, and probably should. Game One was pissed away, and they wasted lots of opportunities today.

 

Still, a split in Yankee Stadium is nothing to scoff at. Now, we need to make some hay at home.

[Gene Honda Civic]

Pythagorean W-L would have the sox going about 4-2 .... I'm a little dissapointed that we weren't able to find a way to win one of those games we lost... But I'll take a 3-3 record... It's alot better than it could have been.

 

Pythagorean W-L%

(runs Scored)^1.83/((runs scored)^1.83 + (runs allowed)^1.83)

[BrandoFan]

Pythagorean W-L would have the sox going about 4-2

 

If only it was as simple as that, there wouldn't be the need to play the games.

 

While we could and quite possibly should be 5-1, I'll take 3-3 to open the season, so long as they realize that .500 will not win the division.

 

On one hand, yes 5-1 was within reach. In fact, if Aaron Rowand liner in the 2nd against Vasquez goes a few feet further, Sox could have won that game as well.

 

But given how little luck Sox usually have....and the level of competition faced......I'll take 3-3 and hope we get on a serious f***ing roll in the home stand.

 

I know that aftrer going up against Vasquez, Mussina, Contreras, Gordon, Rivera, Jeter, A-Rod, Sheffield, Giambi, Posada, Bernie, Matsui in THEIR house.....it could only get easier from now.

[soxman352000]

You split a series in New York at Yankee stadium. I will take that any time. Now hopefully the Sox take 2-3 against the Royals and we will be in business

[soxman352000]

If only it was as simple as that, there wouldn't be a need to play the games.

 

 

 

On one hand, yes 5-1 was within reach.    In fact, if Aaron Rowand liner in the 2nd against Vasquez, Sox could have won that game as well.

 

But given how little luck Sox usually have....and the level of competition faced......I'll take 3-3 and hope we get on a serious f***ing roll in the home stand.

 

I know that aftrer going up against Vasquez, Mussina, Contreras, Gordon, Rivera, Jeter,  A-Rod, Sheffield, Giambi, Posada, Bernie, Matsui in THEIR house.....it could only get easier from now. 

I wouldn't say it get easier. I hope you are right though

[SnB]

I'm extremely happy with our record right now, taking a split in yankee stadium is damn good.

[greasywheels121]

I'm really pleased with where we are. Not many would of us would have been upset w/ a 3-3 record a few months ago when we saw who we played this first week; and we should still feel that way. Ozzie's style of ball is really going to be fun and a competitive game to watch, and we're going to have a real successful season.

[Texsox]

I would have taken 3-3 before we played em. I'm happy.

[greg775]

I'm also happy with 3-3.

But I won't be happy if the Royals sweep us in the Cell.

A .500 record on the road is great, as long as you win

most of the series at home.

That would be good enough to win the division.

But as we are all aware, some years we suck at home.

GO SOX!

[witesoxfan]

If only it was as simple as that, there wouldn't be the need to play the games.

 

 

 

On one hand, yes 5-1 was within reach.    In fact, if Aaron Rowand liner in the 2nd against Vasquez goes a few feet further, Sox could have won that game as well.

 

But given how little luck Sox usually have....and the level of competition faced......I'll take 3-3 and hope we get on a serious f***ing roll in the home stand.

 

I know that aftrer going up against Vasquez, Mussina, Contreras, Gordon, Rivera, Jeter,  A-Rod, Sheffield, Giambi, Posada, Bernie, Matsui in THEIR house.....it could only get easier from now. 

The law of averages and other neat s*** like that says that the Twins and Royals will not continue to rally late in the game and win games, while the Sox will not. "Luck" balances out in the end. Some teams are hot, some teams are not...that's just the way s*** plays out sometimes.

 

If we play to the level we can, the 2003 Twins would have no shot against us. Consider that we're in 2004, and that this year's Twins have a s*** bullpen, a rookie(or s***ty, depending on when Mauer gets back and how much longer Blanco is the starter) catcher behind the plate, a 1-2-3 that rivals the Devil Rays when comparing how good it is(and the Royals is worse than that, believe it or not), you have Carlos Silva as a full-time starter for the first time in his career, Rick Helling as the #5, Hunter out for atleast another week, LeCroy out for atleast another week...something tells me that once they start playing Oakland, Anaheim, New York, Boston, etc, they are toast. Meanwhile, the Royals have s*** for starting pitching, and really, with that patchwork rotation they have, should not even be considered a potential division winner, but to top it off, their bullpen is about as good as the Twins. I think that's all I need to say. When you have s*** for pitching, usually you don't fare too well. Cleveland can't close out a game to save it's life, and Detroit is playing way over it's head and hasn't played a real good team yet.

 

I just don't see how we aren't in it at the deadline, and that's really the goal. If we are in it at the deadline, we'll acquire another starter(hopefully a good one, like, for example, Joel Piniero or Kip Wells), and we'll have 3-4 good pitchers in the rotation. We have that, and you can start cooling the champagne and get ready for the playoffs. Of course, we'd have to add a position player or two to help get us over the hump and into a perenial World Series team, but that would be done afterwards.

 

I'll try not to get ahead of myself any further. It is only April, and there is still a lot of baseball yet to be played. But I love our chances at a division winner, moreso then I did last year.

[DonkeyKongerko]

BTW word is that Freddy Garcia has shown signs of the 2001 Freddy Garcia we all remember. Still wish we could have seen that Jose for Freddy deal go down but alas, it could not be. Freddy had some damaged eardrums that many say contributed to his awful start last year.

[BrandoFan]

The law of averages and other neat s*** like that says that the Twins and Royals will not continue to rally late in the game and win games, while the Sox will not.  "Luck" balances out in the end.  Some teams are hot, some teams are not...that's just the way s*** plays out sometimes.

 

If we play to the level we can, the 2003 Twins would have no shot against us.  Consider that we're in 2004, and that this year's Twins have a s*** bullpen, a rookie(or s***ty, depending on when Mauer gets back and how much longer Blanco is the starter) catcher behind the plate, a 1-2-3 that rivals the Devil Rays when comparing how good it is(and the Royals is worse than that, believe it or not), you have Carlos Silva as a full-time starter for the first time in his career, Rick Helling as the #5, Hunter out for atleast another week, LeCroy out for atleast another week...something tells me that once they start playing Oakland, Anaheim, New York, Boston, etc, they are toast.  Meanwhile, the Royals have s*** for starting pitching, and really, with that patchwork rotation they have, should not even be considered a potential division winner, but to top it off, their bullpen is about as good as the Twins.  I think that's all I need to say.  When you have s*** for pitching, usually you don't fare too well.  Cleveland can't close out a game to save it's life, and Detroit is playing way over it's head and hasn't played a real good team yet.

 

I just don't see how we aren't in it at the deadline, and that's really the goal.  If we are in it at the deadline, we'll acquire another starter(hopefully a good one, like, for example, Joel Piniero or Kip Wells), and we'll have 3-4 good pitchers in the rotation.  We have that, and you can start cooling the champagne and get ready for the playoffs.  Of course, we'd have to add a position player or two to help get us over the hump and into a perenial World Series team, but that would be done afterwards.

 

I'll try not to get ahead of myself any further.  It is only April, and there is still a lot of baseball yet to be played.  But I love our chances at a division winner, moreso then I did last year.

On one hand, Sox have clearly looked sharper than either rival; you just know that in 2003, we could have easily started the season 1-5 if were had to play Yanks (without Sheffield, Vasquez, Gordon, A-Rod!) in April. So that's a good sign. And Harris, Valentin, Thomas, Crede, Rowand, Marte haven't even gotten goiing yet.

 

But then....well, we sort of DID get beat by the Twins for 3 straight years now, ya know? Until I see Sox go on a 2000-esque 10-1 run and things clicking on all cylinders.....I'll be keeping an eye out on the scoreboard.

 

Twins nor Royals must not be allowed to come anywhere near 1st place at the ASB because then they might start dumping Beltran, Stewart, etc....

 

As far as which starter to get at the deadline.....Why not Randy Johnson? Is he washed-up yet? He'll cost more than Keep Wells, but come on who would rather start Game 1 of ALDS against the Red Sox?

 

[witesoxfan]

And Harris, Valentin, Thomas, Crede, Rowand, Marte haven't even gotten goiing yet.

It looks like Harris sort of has a clue to what he's doing up there. Jose looked very s***ty early on, but he too is starting to hit a little better as of late. Thomas's timing is off as he has had two balls that he has hit that normally would be gone if he had his timing down correctly but were about 10-20 feet foul just due to him being a tenth of a second too early. Crede seems to always look like s***(I swear I don't think I've seen swings as s***ty as the ones he's put on the ball in the past couple days, yet he somehow managed to get a homer out of the whole deal). Rowand has always started out slow(remember him hitting .125 in April last year? Man was that bad!). And Marte pitched a scoreless inning today, and it's always good to see a struggling pitcher getting back on track.

 

But then....well, we sort of DID get beat by the Twins for 3 straight years now, ya know?    Until I see Sox go on a 2000-esque 10-1 run and things clicking on all cylinders.....I'll be keeping an eye out on the scoreboard.

 

That Twins team also had a much deeper starting rotation and bullpen, and AJ Pierzynski(and he only killed the Sox every time they played). But Pierzynski's part of the head to head, and we haven't seen that yet. That lack of depth in the rotation and bullpen will hurt them, and, unless they get another starter quickly, is what will cost them the division if they do lose.

 

Anyways, I really don't think we should be doing any scoreboard watching until May or June. Both the Indians and Royals have gotten off to fast starts in the past two years respectively, and have both ended up in 3rd place. Just goes to show you that getting off to a fast start is not necessarily the thing needed to be done to win.

 

Twins nor Royals must not be allowed to come anywhere near 1st place at the ASB because then they might start dumping Beltran, Stewart, etc....

 

That's the key. If they start dumping players for prospects, we win. A 10-12 game lead come the All-Star break would do it nicely. If we can find a way to be at around 55-35 at the break, or at the very least, 50-40, I like our chances a hell of a lot. They've have to be atlesat 10 games under to be 10 games back of us, but I'd also take a 5 game lead at the break as well. But like I said, if we can get to 55-35, our goal is accomlished. If Minnesota and/or KC is at 50-40 or 55-35, then there is nothing we can do about it(unless we've lost most of our games to them when we've played).

 

As far as whiuch starter to get at the deadline.....Why not Randy Johnson? Is he washed-up yet?  He'll cost more than Keep Wells, but come on who would rather start Game 1 of ALDS against the Red Sox?

 

RJ would be a stellar choice. This all depends on if Arizona is in or out at the deadline. The NL West could be a 5-team race this year, but at the very least, I expect San Fran and San Diego to be in it, and I could even see LA, Arizona, or Colorado sneaking in...or I could see all 5 getting in there, or I could see one of San Fran and San Diego fall out. The NL West is as hard as an old man on Viagra watching women's mudwrestling to figure out right now. It could be a 5-team race, it could be a 1-team race.

 

If Colorado is out, and they'd be willing to take on some of his contract, I'd be interested in Todd Helton if they are interested in giving him up.

 

Can I be greedy and ask for both Helton and RJ?

[BrandoFan]

If Colorado is out, and they'd be willing to take on some of his contract, I'd be interested in Todd Helton if they are interested in giving him up

 

Todd Helton for Konerko? I think Helton is signed long-term, though. The problem with him and Delgado is that they both are making 18 Mill a year.

 

Unit is cheaper and is a horse. He would start twice in ALDS and 3 times in ALCS.

 

Arizona is a 500 team. Throw them 2-3 prospects in July, pay 40% of his salary and I think it's doable....Which is not to say JR will pay, but at least it makes sense.

[CWSGuy406]

Todd Helton for Konerko? I think Helton is signed long-term, though. The problem with him and Delgado is that they both are making 18 Mill a year.

 

Unit is cheaper and is a horse. He would start twice in ALDS and 3 times in ALCS. 

 

Arizona is a 500 team. Throw them 2-3 prospects in July,  pay 40% of his salary and I think it's doable....Which is not to say JR will pay, but at least it makes sense.

Randy hasn't looked too good thus far.....

[southsider2k5]

I know it sounds bad, but to open on the road and go 3-3 against KC and the Yankees is absolutely fine by me. I am thrilled that we didn't come home 1-5 or something like that. This team seems like it wants to compete.

[Al Lopez Ghost (old)]

This team seems like it wants to compete.

That's the whole key right there. They are playing hard, bearing down, whatever you like to call it. One guy gets credit for that.

Viva Ozzie!

[BrandoFan]

Randy hasn't looked too good thus far.....

Then screw him. I just realized he makes so much money that even 40% is close to 7 Mill. In JR's world that's too much even if it guaranteed the Title.....and given Unit is 40 going on 41, coming off cartilage removal......foget it.

[BrandoFan]

This team seems like it wants to compete.

 

I liked how Carlos hit that Mussina curve into the RCF for a big double.

 

2 years ago, he would have tried to pull it and produced a pop up.

[CWSGuy406]

Then screw him.    I just realized he makes so much money that even 40% is close to 7 Mill.    In JR's world that's too much even if it guaranteed the Title.....and given Unit is 40 going on 41, coming off cartilage removal......foget it.

Brando, do you have a list anywhere of free agents to-be this upcoming offseason? Because you know JR won't take on a contract that is going to last him more than a couple of months...

[CWSGuy406]

Here's a list of the free agents to be.

 

2005 Free Agents Class

(Contract as of 12/09/03):

 

SP Kevin Appier

OF Garret Anderson

SP Tony Armas

SP Kris Benson

OF Lance Berkman

OF Carlos Beltran

3B Eric Chavez

SS Orlando Cabrera

1B Carlos Delgago

RP Octavio Dotel

OF Steve Finley

SS Nomar Garciaparra

3B Troy Glaus

SS Alex S. Gonzalez

SS Christian Guzman

RP Trevor Hoffman

SP Orlando Hernandez

OF Geoff Jenkins

OF Jacque Jones

OF Brian Jordan

RP Billy Koch

3B Corey Koskie

RP BH. Kim

OF Carlos Lee

SP Esteban Loaiza

C Paul LoDuca

RP Braden Looper

SP Derek Lowe

SP Pedro Martinez

C Mike Matheny

SP Eric Milton

SP Matt Morris

1B Kevin Millar

RP Rob Nenn

SP Hideo Nomo

OF Xavier Nady

OF Trot Nixon

1B John Olerud

OF Magglio Ordonez

SP Russ Ortiz

SP Ramon Ortiz

DH David Ortiz

RP Troy Percival

SP Brad Penny

SP Brad Radke

3B Aramis Ramirez

SP Mark Redmond

SP Aaron Sele

UT Richie Sexson

SP Steve Sparks

OF Ichiro Suzuki

UT Mark Teixeira

C Jason Varitek

2B Jose Vidro

SS Jose Valentin

SS Omar Vizquel

SP Javier Vazquez

SP Jarrod Washburn

2B Eric Young

 

 

Some of these guys have already signed extensions, like Eric Chavez and Ichiro - but that's the jist of it.