Comments on: Everybody said they’d stand behind me when the game got rough

By: Sully

Sully — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:12:32 +0000

Would it make you feel better if I told you I was half-Masshole on my father’s side? FWIW, I’m not a fan of the MFY’s…

By: soxfannyc

soxfannyc — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 15:08:44 +0000

Seth, I live in NYC. I am as familiar with the NYT writers as anyone, and I agree with you wholeheartedly that Murray Chass is awful, perhaps one of the worst sportswriters in the country, if not the worst. That being said, I think Dan S is just as bad and think the Globe should can him too, but thats another topic.

The point of my post is that Im really questioning Theo’s judgement and ability to evaluate players. Hopefully the “Process” isnt broken and his moves in 2004 are more emblematic of whats to come, not the moves from the last two offseasons. All of the big free agents or trades he has made over the last two offseasons have been a disaster. Edgar, Clement, Rudy S, Julian Tavarez, Coco to name a few. Not resigning Lowe and Cabrera were mistakes. I will give him a pass on Beckett because he wasnt around when they made that trade but he did give him the big extension. I hope I am wrong, dead wrong, and that they make some great moves in the offseason and give Francona something to work with next year.

By: Sully

Sully — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:27:54 +0000

you would think $120 million would buy a better bench…

We get it. I know you’re from Long Island. Trolling won’t be allowed; comments that add to the discussion will be.

– Seth

By: soxfannyc

soxfannyc — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:20:07 +0000

At what point does Red Sox Nation really hold Theo accountable for this season? He wanted to be The Man, he wanted full authority over baseball decisions and was willing to engage in a power struggle with Larry to get it, to the point where he was willing to walk away from the GM job completely. Well, he got his wish. Terry Francona shouldn’t have to sit in front of the reporters and say its my fault for Kevin Youklis dropping a ball in leftfield. Terry is playing the hand he has been dealt, and obviosuly its a pretty bad hand. I know injuries have been a killer this year, especially over the last month, but good teams should be able to overcome some injuries. At what point does Theo take responsibility and say its my fault? He built this team, and quite frankly it isnt pretty. Theo has said repeatedly its about process, and sometimes good decision making leads to bad outcomes. I understand that. But at what point do we start to question the process itself. The choices made over the last two offseasons have been nothing short of a disaster. Theo didnt sign Orlando Cabrera, convinved Rent-a-Wreck was better. Oops, and the Sox are still paying Edgar. I understand not signing Pedro for four years, but letting Lowe go in favor of Clement was crazy. Lowe loved pitching in Boston, was an innings eater and has been solid for the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Clement failed miserably in a low pressure environment in San Diego and was benched by Dusty Baker in September 2004 because his head was so messed up. This is the guy Theo gave a three year deal to. The jury is still out on Coco, but it doesnt look good. He is a horrible CF and his arm is worse than Damon’s. And Damon will be a better hitter in four years than Coco, no doubt. But Theo decided this guy was so good he needed to give him a three year extension?? Same with Beckett. Why did we need to give him a big extension so quickly? Theo locked up two players for big money who so far have proven they cant play in Boston. STUPID!!

If we really look hard at the 2004 WS team, the core of that team were players that were either signed or acquired by Dan Duquette. Granted, Theo showed alot of guts when he traded Nomar. But he got lucky with Ortiz and he wanted Javier Vazquez, not Schilling who fell into his lap when the Yanks got Javier. Fast forward two years later. The shine is off and so far Theo hasnt proven he knows how to evaluate players. You have to wonder how much Theo misses some of the front office people who are now in Arizona and elsewhere. Maybe its not such a bad thing that Theo hasnt signed his contract yet…….

I guess this does count as “some injuries.” And I guess Schilling, Foulke, Arroyo, Millar, Bellhorn, Cabrera, Mueller, Embree, Dave Roberts, etc., weren’t part of the core of the 2004 team. Come on, man.

This is it for this kind of post. Make an argument if you have an argument. If you want to channel Murray Chass, do it somewhere else.

– Seth

By: Ogie Oglethorpe

Ogie Oglethorpe — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:13:58 +0000

Times like these will make it that much sweeter when we are back on top.

By: sonnysiebert

sonnysiebert — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 08:42:13 +0000

There is no bottom to this abyss.

Went to bed, woke up, checked the final score, 9-0 with Keith Foulke giving up 4 runs in relief (which clearly didn’t matter except to show that he’s no answer). Then I read that David Ortiz had another episode of irregular heartbeat and has left the team to return to Boston for tests.

Supposedly this is no major concern (according to the team), the Red Sox just want to make sure he’s okay. For the sake of David and his family, I hope he’s all better soon.

By: mkp

mkp — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:41:26 +0000

NESN just announced that Ortiz is headed back to Boston to have a possible heart condition checked out…..

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH