Dan Gould

Well the bats did come alive but since Beckett was so atrocious at the start, its a bullpen game, 6-4 with a runner on in the sixth. The bats better stay alive because I don't know that the bullpen can get that many outs, plus Papelbon is off after three days in a row.

It's the "three or four runs per game" part that seems to be a recurring problem. I guess Pettitte pitched a good game last night, but it seemed like the Rays went fishing for a lot of stuff off the plate ... swinging at ball four, etc. ... frustrating. That's Pettitte's game though. Anyway, Ponson should be the cure for what ails you.

I was all ready to post another obnoxious complaint about the incompetent offense when they came alive for a very satisfying come back win last night. With Pettitte regaining his form, the deficit is down to 3. I'm actually cautiously optimistic that we can get the sweep - if Beckett pitches well, I think there's a good chance the bats come alive against the "how the hell does he get people out?" Livan Hernandez. Livan's junk got us in Minnesota but I think at Fenway we'll do better, and obviously the bats are still overdue. Then it won't matter what happens in the Bronx - either we'd be two back and on the prowl or still three back but the Yanks back where they were. Actually, I'd really rather prefer to pick up a game tonight because the Rays go play the pathetic Indians before the break, and as long as their offense manages three or four runs per game, they'll probably sweep.

Good point. The other is Teix costs $9 million this year and will want more. Youk doesn't even cost half a mill - he's one of the best bargains in baseball. (Even wealthy teams have to save money somewhere.) It's also a nice option to be able to have him play 3rd or the OF corners, especially in double switch situations in October. Not to jinx you or anything. Y'all probably need middle relief more than anything (since you're employing Timlin, says the Mariner fan). Though last year's pickup was probably more excitement than you bargained for. Actually, after four years service time, Youk is now at 3 million and sure to rise even further going forward. Tex will still cost more but the difference won't be as glaring. But its a good point that Youk has extra value providing a nearly as strong glove at third base and OF corner help in a pinch. If I recall, Teix throws lefty so he's only a 1B, essentially. Youk is a year older, and Tex is the better masher with essentially the same OBP. He'd be the better player but maybe not the better "piece of the puzzle". And anyway, as far as salary goes, they've let payroll decline the last year and have Schill coming off. They can compete for Teixeira if they choose to - but if I remember correctly, doesn't he have Baltimore connections? With Baltimore doing better to date than anyone expected, I'd say there's a chance they go hard for him to give the fans reason to hope. As for middle relief, I think they are committed to sticking with Masterson as the internal solution unless something falls in their lap that makes sense or prices go down significantly. I saw that Fuentes guy throw and seriously doubt he is an option - too soft a tosser, and not exactly blow away stuff. But I thought that Gammons report last night that Masterson would throw multiple innings two or three times a week to be frankly strange. I'd rather have him join the bullpen as a regular reliever, in the mix to throw important innings or get critical outs. What use is he if you use him one day for three innings against the Yankees and then can't use him to get a groundball from Jeter or A-Rod when it counts?

Update: Well, life again got in the way of my PO plans last night, but tonight will definitely be the night that I will have and send final prices to everyone. In the meantime, won't someone step forward and provide a good home to two mainstays of Blue Note's golden years, Ike Quebec and Lee Morgan? Still only $50 and $100 respectively.

Another thing to consider is that you may not be blocking the Yankees because they may not go for Tex. With Posada having three more years on his deal, it is quite possible that they do not want to block his path to first base.

What are Teixeira's OBP and OPS numbers? I know his defense is as good as Youk's but he'll never hit for as high an average. Then again, Youk is as old or a year older because he didn't rocket through the system then he was stuck behind Billy Mueller initially, spent a year riding the Pawtucket shuttle, and didn't get started for real til 2006. He also shows a marked tendency to decline in second halves. So - I don't know, Tex has bigger upside offensively as a big power bat, and he's more established in that role. Keeping him from the Yankees is a nice bonus, but that assumes he would sign a long-term deal. He's a Boras client and they always go to free agency. I say pass.

If Harden is healthy and stays that way, the Cubs have to be considered favorites to go to the Series. And while Murton makes a nice fourth outfielder and Gallagher isn't bad, they didn't really give up unbelievable talent for one of the very best (when healthy) AL starters. This is huge.

Everything I own has been offered. You're the second, after Hans, to inquire about non-existent sets. I understand if my desperation appeals to your sense of a buying opportunity but ... That's not at all what I was thinking. I know how it is to be in a desperate situation and I would not have taken advantage of that, I would have offered you a good price for the set I asked you about. I'm sorry Hans, I shouldn't have put it in those terms. I just presumed that it was clear from my thread title that this was it - everything is available. If I had these rarities, they'd have been offered, or I would have gone for the max and put them on ebay.

I don't get the Bonds rumor - Theo was quoted shooting it down in one of the papers this morning. And what can you expect at his age, this late into the season? And Tex doesn't make sense with Ortiz taking regular BP and feeling and looking pretty good. They are saying that he'll have a timetable for his return before the break. There's no need to make a move if he is coming back, and that looks increasingly likely. As for Masterson - apparently he did have a lot of success as a closer the last time he was asked to relieve, and he apparently has the kind of arm that doesn't require a lot of time to get loose. Those are big advantages to this transition. I do prefer the idea of solving the problem internally instead of overpaying for that short-arming, 90 mph Fuentes dude - or anyone else who is available. I am wondering how quickly they plan to bring Masterson back - I read three appearances this week, then a re-evaluation. Could they actually ask him to return for the west coast trip after the break? While his numbers against lefties worry me, I'd still rather see a new arm in the pen sooner than later.

Everything I own has been offered. You're the second, after Hans, to inquire about non-existent sets. I understand if my desperation appeals to your sense of a buying opportunity but ...

A big win indeed though its staggering to think that they come back to Fenway and score even fewer runs than they have been lately. I really had my doubts when he turned to Okajima in the eighth with runners on, has Tito learned nothing recently? But he got out of it, and Manny didn't miss a mistake and didn't try to do too much either. Dice-K having one of his best starts was probably the best thing about the game. If he can go 7+ with three walks consistently, things might settle into place. I don't know where we stand in starting rotation ERA, but its impressive to think that right now, everyone is below 4, with Lester just above 3 and Dice-K just below it, and Wakefield and Beckett both rank in the top 20. If the bats were alive and the bullpen functioned, we'd be right there with the Rays or ahead of them. Really, everything has gone right for them, and many things have gone wrong for us. We're 4 back which might not be too bad all things considered. Now, with A-Rod in the news for his impending divorce and supposed "relationship" with Madonna - can you picture this: A-Rod comes to Fenway at the end of the month - and as he comes to the plate, there are no jeers, no boos. The entire crowd, 38000+, stands and serenades him with "Like a Virgin". This has to happen. If 38000 can chant DA-RRYL, 38000 can sing "Like a virgin ... touched for the very first time... like a viiiirrrggin ..." Heck, according to the Daily News, a group of fans in New York serenaded him that very way when he was getting ready to bat against the Sox. Too bad the Yanks are in the Bronx practically the entire month of July, but this weekend, Toronto gets its first chance - I'll be laughing my ass off if this takes off and fans in every park the Yankees visit do the same thing.

We're down to three folks.

Thanks to you both and hopefully a few stragglers will help me run the table today. C'mon people! Mogie, J.J., Max and Ike and no one wants them?

One can be a POS without being the biggest POS. And Papelbon has had many, many times this season he has been a POS. Thanks for acknowledging the high level of achievement in the Cleveland bullpen. You misunderstood - partially because I did not complete my thought. Okajima, Timlin, Delcarmen and Hansen have been among the biggest POSes. I wasn't referring to anyone else - but the thought of adding JoBo did make me smile, so thanks for the laugh!

One can be a POS without being the biggest POS. And Papelbon has had many, many times this season he has been a POS.

Well, there's big news from Fenway tonight: Ortiz did take BP, hitting a homer to right on his first swing. He took part in all five rounds but it sounds like he took fewer swings per round as it wore on. Still a good day. I have no idea how much BP he'll require before going out on a rehab assignment, but at least he's taken the next step and had no setbacks. And yes, Masterson is being sent to Pawtucket to work on becoming a reliever, and Buchholz takes his spot in the rotation Friday against Baltimore. Maybe he'll throw another no-hitter. I'm really of two minds on Masterson - his groundball tendencies give him the chance to be a highly effective reliever, particularly with runners on base. But like I've been saying, he has a big difference between facing righties and lefties, as in a .516 OPS against righties (OPS+ of 50!) but an OPS of 832 against lefties (OPS+ of 140). Add in the walk rate of about 4.5 per nine innings and the action he sometimes gets on his pitches, and I can see a guy who can only be used against righties, and may still have problems then, because of walks and/or wild pitches. Its almost like adding Chad Bradford, a guy who can only face righties. That doesn't solve the problem with Okajima, unless he figures out how to get lefties out consistently.

Seriously...wow. I guess I'm just old school, then; I thought all pitchers iced up after a game. Dice-K doesn't ice, and he used to throw 250 pitch bullpen sessions. And according to SI, when the Red Sox signed him, his elbow and shoulder looked "pristine".

We're down to five 4, so I'd like to make the following announcement to all who have been the first to make a promise to purchase: I am going to hold off on getting shipping quotes so that I can hopefully make a single trip to get boxes and go to the self-serve kiosk at the PO. Please bear with me and I'll have final prices to everyone shortly.

OK, Conrad, I'm with you - shit-for-brains is the only theory that fits the available facts.

Didn't I see at the same time that like three Braves went on the DL? I'm sure that it was a need for bodies, not how much he had improved, that led to the call up. So - stupid, but if you've got such a problem with healthy bodies, it sort of excuses it.

Everything is updated now, we're down to just six sets left. It would be great if I can make a single trip to get boxes and get prices at the PO, so come on folks!

Important update is now added to the top, and Ike Quebec is back in play!

Listings are now current for all hold requests.