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***Red Sox Nation 2008 Thread***

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Phinperor, Mar 22, 2008.

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  1. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    This season does have a little 2006 feel to it, not as bad injury wise though. It's very strange because I personally don't think the Twins or White Sox are anything special and the Rays just never seem to lose, I feel like they're always losing but by the 8th inning they manage to score enough runs to win. I am also surprised the Yankees are as bad as they are, even with their bad starting pitching their line up should be able to score more runs.
     
  2. FiN.in.RI

    FiN.in.RI Paul pierced through..

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    this hasn't been a fun season at all

    edit: but it could be worse
     
  3. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Yup overall it's been a very up and down year. It's had its moments though, specifically watching Lester turn into a stud (his no hitter was the best game of the year), watching Pedroia and Youkilis take the next step, seeing the young guys like Masterson and Lowrie step it up, watching J.D. Drew go nuts in June and seeing flashes of what Ellsbury can do.

    Of course I could have done without seeing the whole Manny thing go down, Schilling not throwing a single pitch this year, Buchholz pitching like crap and Ortiz getting hurt.
     
  4. Roman529

    Roman529 Senior Member

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    As long as the New York Yankmees don't make the posseason I a happy. :lol:
     
  5. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    HUGE win tonight. The Sox needed to win at least 1 game at Yankee Stadium and now it takes off all of the pressure and puts it right on the Yankees with Ponson going tomorrow. I really have no idea how the Red Sox won with that line up they put out tonight but everyone hit the ball wel, and ran the bases. Got to give credit to Okajima, Lopez, Masterson and Papelbon for shutting the door (Delcarmen is basically a younger verison of Farnsworth, you can't trust him).

    Nice to see the Rays lose too. Hopefully the Sox can steal one tomorrow which is very possible facing Big Fat Sydney Ponson and then we got Lester going on Thursday. Like I said winning 1 was all the Sox needed but if they can win just 1 more in NY it will be sweet.
     
  6. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Reports are saying the Red Sox traded for Mark Kotsay to help out in the OF with Drew out. Nice move I guess, I'm sure the Sox didn't trade anyone good in the farm (maybe a David Pauley/Devern Hansack type). He's a FA after the year but won't net the Sox a draft pick.
     
  7. FaninPatsyLand

    FaninPatsyLand The Truth

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    Delcarmen sucks.

    Overall, big time win last night and I like our pitching matchups for the next 2.
     
  8. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    Good win tonight. Byrd pitched well again, and Jason Bay continues to hit. Any Yankee fan that thought these games could turn into a final push for the wildcard have to be hating life.
     
  9. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Another day another nice win. I'm hoping Lester throws a gem tomorrow to complete this sweep, it would be a sweet way of closing YS.

    Funny you don't hear anyone yelling about the Sox trading Manny and giving up Moss and Hansen (who was sent down yesterday after having a 8.00 ERA in Pitts). You also don't hear about how Jason Bay might not be able to handle the pressure of a big city.
     
  10. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    We got Luis Sumoza. Looks like a damn solid prospect and only 20 years old. A big Right handed OF bat. We'll take it.
     
  11. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Bad day for the Sox. Beckett is headed to see James Andrews. I said it before I had a bad feeling about his injury.
     
  12. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    Yikes, I hadn't read that yet. This is the bad news that I didn't want to hear. This changes everything really.
     
  13. Skeet84

    Skeet84 New Member

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    Hopefully Beckett is fine and this is just a percaution.
     
  14. Brown42000

    Brown42000 Chillin

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    Beckett just going to see Dr. Andrews is horrible news.
     
  15. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Well one of the signs of needed TJ surgery is decreased velocity which Beckett hasn't had at all this year. Another sign is no control/command and Beckett hasn't been right with that all year. Really Beckett hasn't pitched well this year, he's been pitching like a #3 starter. We're in trouble if Beckett is down for any amount of time. I think Lester would be fine in the playoffs but Matsuzaka worries me and if we have to count on Wakefield and Byrd in a big spot it's all over. Hopefully this is just a check up and Andrews can tell Beckett that nothing is wrong and to go out there and pitch, but I doubt it.
     
  16. FaninPatsyLand

    FaninPatsyLand The Truth

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    I'm not going to beat a dead horse, as its already been covered, but if Beckett is shut down for the rest of the year, we're screwed.

    Onto another topic, Okajima continues to scare the s*it out of me everytime he comes out of the pen. I know he's pitched better recently (yesterday notwithstanding) but I still just don't trust him.
     
  17. Brown42000

    Brown42000 Chillin

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    Beckett was placed on the 15 day DL today and is expected to start September 5th but I'm not holding my breathe.
     
  18. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Tests came back very good but again you have to wait and see. At least the news is better than what was expected.
     
  19. FiN.in.RI

    FiN.in.RI Paul pierced through..

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    Sounds like nerve damage or a pinched nerve. Judging by your post, it won't be TJ which is good. We'll find out either way.
     
  20. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Michael Bowden is getting called up to start tomorrow which is surprising because last I heard about a week ago the Sox were on the fence on whether they should call him up or not and if they did whether he'd be in the pen. Should be exciting. If he does well he could possibly remain in the rotation until Beckett comes back, then he could be moved to the pen for the playoffs (assuming the Sox make it). Hopefully he pitches well.

    I'm glad the Sox are giving him a shot, I'd rather throw him out there and see if you can catch lightning in a bottle then throw Pauley out there. Hopefully the kid has a good game.

    Also I think the Sox will call up Hunter Jones tomorrow or possibly Sunday (definitely when the rosters expand in the very least). He's a lefty reliever that's pitching well in Triple A. His splits are weird as he's better against righties than lefties but again throw him out there and let's see what he can do.

    Other call ups, I'm guessing Dusty Brown or George Kottaras as a 4th catcher. Chris Carter and Jonathan Van Every for OF help. I'm sure Charlie Zink, Devern Hansack, Buchholz, Chris Smith and Pauley will get called up. I'm not sure they will call up anyone else top prospect wise.
     
  21. FiN.in.RI

    FiN.in.RI Paul pierced through..

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    Bowden looked good. Definitely was fun watching him pitch the other night. Buchholz shined in his AA start giving up just two hits in 8 innnings of work, that should notch his confidence up a level. Still don't understand why they messed with his armslot AFTER he throws a no-hitter in his MLB debut.

    Time for the stetch run boys, we may have home field advantage for the month of September but it's gonna be a dogfight!
     
  22. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Well no-hitters are pretty meaningless in terms of how good a pitcher is. My understanding is that the Sox wanted to move his arm a few inches away from his body to give him a better release point to try and help avoid risk of shoulder/arm problems in the future. So who knows. The thing is Buchholz has the talent and the pitches to be a good MLB pitcher, I just think right now it's mental. He needs confidence. Once he gets that watch out.
     
  23. FiN.in.RI

    FiN.in.RI Paul pierced through..

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    His one no-hitter didn't annoint him into the hall of fame and I'm not siuggesting it, so lets not go overboard. All I'm saying is that after he throw's probably the best game of his career, the coach says, "your arm slot isn't where it should be, let's tweak it a bit" The irnoy is pretty blatant.
     
  24. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Oh I know you weren't suggesting he's a HOFer or anything. And yes I agree it's funny that he pitched pretty well last year and the team was trying to change his delivery. I'm no pitching expert so I have no idea whether what the team is/was trying to do with him is right or wrong. I just hope 2009 is his break out year ala Lester this year. Too bad he didn't figure things out this year because it would have helped lessen the blow with Beckett being out.
     
  25. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    Dustin Pedroia is quickly turning into my favorite player. Guy is 5'7 and is totally fearless, just goes up and takes huge cuts, slapping balls all over the field. Tonight he bats cleanup with our makeshift lineup protecting Papi and comes out with 5 Rbi's. Big Papi had 4 and Lester looked good after 2 shaky starts in a row. Got to like all these Home games down the strectch run.
     
  26. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Between Pedroia, Lester, Lowrie, Ellsbury, Papelbon, Beckett, Ortiz, etc etc etc I'm having a hard time finding a player on the team I dislike.

    Anyway good night for the Sox. Rays, Twins and ChiSox all lose.
     
  27. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    Friday should be interesting with Beckett coming back. Tito said he may only get 70+ pitches in. I would just let him sit out another start and throw a side session.
     
  28. FaninPatsyLand

    FaninPatsyLand The Truth

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    Pedroia with another home run today... he's 3 for 4 thus far. He has to be a serious contender for MVP at this point.
     
  29. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Very big win today. It will be nice to flip on the Yankee/Ray game and watch these guys play and no matter what it's a win/win for the Sox. I must say this is a must win for both the Yanks and Rays tonight, if the Yankees lose they go 8 games out of the WC and are pretty much done and if the Rays lose the Sox are only 3 games back.

    And yes Pedroia has been unreal.
     
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  30. FiN.in.RI

    FiN.in.RI Paul pierced through..

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    Gearing up for the championship run! This has been exciting to watch, just hope to see it continue..

    We could take anyone in a 7 game series with this energy.
     
  31. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    And this is all with Lowell, Casey, Drew and Youkilis being in and out of the line up too. This team has a lot of depth which will be a strength come October.
     
  32. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    3 games back from the Rays. Could the Sox win the East? I'm still not sure but with the Twins losing, there's more wiggle room in the wild card standings.
     
  33. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Beckett is back baby! He threw the ball very well.

    Lowell is back baby! He hit the ball very well.

    This team is peaking at the right time, 2.5 games out of first, putting pressure on those Rays.
     
  34. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    Was totally happy to hear Beckett looked good. Not only are we 2.5 back from the Rays and the division but with the Angels playing like crap, we are only 2.5 games from the 1 seed. Not so sure that would be a good thing, I think I would rather play the Angels in round 1 than the Rays. Interesting thing we be if we could win the division but have the Angels have a better record and we could get the WhiteSox/Twins winner.
     
  35. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Well we wouldn't play the Rays in the 1st round anyway due to the rules. I don't want to jinx the team or anything but I'd rather play the White Sox over the Twins because I would absolutely hate having the Sox playing in that crappy dome. Plus I think that White Sox line up although better than the Twins would be better to face in the playoffs because they just have the big hitters instead of the little scrappy guys. The White Sox hit home runs, when they don't they don't win, I think Beckett, Lester and Matsuzaka could shut them down.

    I still think the Sox could beat the Angels in the playoffs but having home field would help a lot, so I'm pushing hard for the Sox to take the divison.
     
  36. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Just a brutual loss for the Rays today after coming back down 3 in the 9th to lose in the 13th after going up by a run and Percival giving up a walk off grandslam. If the Sox win tonight they'll be 1.5 games back from first. Also the Sox aren't that far off from the best record in the AL too.

    P.S. Also just saw Manny hit a 3 run bomb off of Webb and the LA fans giving him a curtain call. Imagine if it was a Sox/Dodger WS with Torre, Lowe, Manny and Nomar returning to Fenway. That would be an unreal site, the only thing that would be better is if Grady Little was still managing the Dodgers.
     
  37. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    1.5 games back.

    Sox win while the Rays, Yankees, Twins and ChiSox all lose. This pretty much guarantees the Sox are making the playoffs, jsut don't know if it will be 1st place or WC.

    Big series coming up Lester, Matsuzaka and Beckett going up against Jackson, Kazmir and Sonnanstine. Sox need to take 2 out of 3. A sweep might kill the Rays confidence while I'm guessing isn't too high right now.

    (Also if you look at the standings the Yankees are now in 4th place..... does this count as 2nd city mentality?)
     
  38. GreenMonster

    GreenMonster New Member

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    Huge series this first one is. 2 out 3 is a must a home with our big guns pitching. I will be watching every Beckett start closely, he is the key to a Sox big playoff run.

    (Yankee fan is hating life at the moment.)
     
  39. FaninPatsyLand

    FaninPatsyLand The Truth

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    HAHA, zing!

    Should be a good series. I fully expect tempers to flair at some point during this series, especially with the bad blood between these two teams. Its a shame we don't have Brian Daubach on the roster anymore, he was like target practice for the Rays' pitching staff.
     
  40. Phinperor

    Phinperor formerly In_Flames Luxury Box

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    hey guys, made this a few days ago, feel free to add to your sigs if wanted.

    [​IMG]
     
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