Dan Gould

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Very sorry to hear this, Jim.

If you also hate the Yanks, then by all means we do hope that Bernie comes back.

If the White Sox have signed Konerko, the Sox really have no choice but to keep Manny. Konerko was the only other player I could see giving at least some protection to Big Papi, especially at Fenway. As far as Jeter to centerfield, the Times had a much better suggestion of what to do for third base: Sign Billy Mueller. Excellent defense, won a batting title, and a guy who plays the game right. Without the histrionics, he'd bring some professionalism they've lacked since Cry Baby O'Neil retired. At the same time, I am not at all convinced that Jeter has the better arm over Crosby. Few converted infielders turn into Dwight Evens (although its true that Sheffield started out an infielder), and Crosby has always been an outfielder. But certainly Jeter would handle the position as well as or better, and you wouldn't have the blackhole otherwise known as Bubba's Bat in the lineup. The Yanks will deny, deny, deny ... but I think this story has legs at least until they find an acceptable alternative to starting the season with Bubba Crosby in the lineup every day.

nof didn't take "swipes" at other "styles". He even calls it "good music". All he said was that the style epitomized by Sweets is the kind of music he likes best.

No, no, its "no gun, no jail!"

and to think I'd skipped this thread after the first dozen posts, I came back wondering how it got to two pages.

Kinda neat, but its really silly to show the Palm Beach Post but not the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel. The latter is surely a better paper with better journalism and a larger circulation. If not all three papers, it should show the Herald and the Sentinel and not the Post.

I'm with you. I LOVE it.

Seems like I'm talking to myself lately, but I gotta say I am pleased with how the Josh Beckett trade worked itself out. Not clear yet if the Sox played hardball or if they were legitimately concerned about Beckett's medical records, but getting the Marlins to throw in Guillermo Mota for a Single A prospect is a pretty good add-on: 1. Before he was traded to the Marlins, Mota was one of the best set-up men in the NL, posting an ERA under 2 in one season, and just over 2 in the next for the Dodgers. 2. The Yanks were targetting Mota for a trade, but we got him instead. So, the Sox have added Beckett, Mota and Lowell. The Yanks have held on to Sturtze and Matsui. It may be early, but I like how the off-season has shaped up so far, even with Theo's unceremonial departure.

The only shopping I'll do will be online. But even when I was a kid, my mom had the good sense not to even consider venturing out today, and its only gotten worse since then. I mean, stores opening at 5 a.m.?

Blue did bring out the blue in the Bird LP used as an avatar, but I gotta say I much prefer the peach. As far as the chat room goes, we would have really helped a couple of years ago when I tried to organize the first birthday party Organissimo.

Man, I wish the guys in the White Sox front office would quit sitting on their wallets and at least make an offer. I mean hell, to see Manny in a pair of clean sox would just be heaven. This idea of speed, defense and hot pitching is great until a pitcher gets hurt. And then what? We go to Marte or some other guy who sits on the bench most of the time for a reason? Sheesh. This Juan Pierre guy looks interesting though. Hits for average and runs like Pods? Too bad the Marlins want Rowand in return. Who said you can't get a big bopper for your lineup? Looks like Jurassic Carl is history: Thome dealt to White Sox for Rowand http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2234843 Guess you're in the market for a centerfielder now. I'm assuming that Thome becomes DH, not first baseman. Maybe they traded for him as insurance against Konerko flying the coop. And I think its clear Manny ain't going to New York now, with Delgado on his way, unless that is Minaya is truly willing to break the bank.

No PMs coming my way, so how can I tell?

Let me ask you this, Dave: Will you be happy going into next year with Bubba Crosby as the starting centerfielder? And in the wake of the Marlins trade, there are indications that Cano could go to Florida for Delgado. Does that gibe with the supposed "new approach"?

Well here's a damper for Red Sox Nation: And here I was figuring that if the Mets trade for Delgado, there's no place for Manny to go.

D'OH

none intended. The paper ubu posted is from 1877 as is indicated in the upper right hand corner. The paper published the famous anti-Dühring essay (or rather book) by Friedrich Engels. The title of the paper "Vorwärts" translates to "Forward", a little poke at Dan's insistent misspelling. I have an insistent misspelling??? Bertrand, I was just shocked that anyone would even comment on who writes the forward or expect anything of any consequence whatsoever from the forward. I'll bet dollars to donuts that Zawinul says something about how Horace's playing and compositions inspired him, blah blah blah, he's a jazz legend, blah blah blah. Blah blah.

I didn't mention that the rumor included the Sox picking up some of Lowell's contract. At the same time, I've also heard that Minnesota was interested in Lowell, with or without Burnett, when the Marlins were shopping those two at the trade deadline. But it does look like Lowell is expected to stay and take over third base. I expect Renteria to return to his normal defensive level and that means we'll have two Gold Gloves on the left side of the infield. Of course, so do the Yanks, but still ...

Youklis, Dave, the man's name is Youklis. Considering that Lowell won a gold glove last year and was a very solid defender for many years before finally winning one, he should definitely play third. Youklis has been working out at first base since the beginning of last year, and I'd have no problem with Lowell at third and Youk at first. However, there are rumors and innuendos that Lowell will be flipped, possibly to Minnesota, as a way of getting some bullpen help. Personally, at 31, I think there's no reason why Lowell doesn't hit quite well at Fenway. He'll be overpaid anyway, but I have no problem with him sticking. Beckett ... well, its real simple: Barring a completely wild and crazy trade, the Sox are getting the best pitcher who will change teams this year. Period. Now, if the Mets can land Delgado, everything will be peachy, because at that point, Manny doesn't have any suitors and he'll have to stay. (Plus, the Sox fan forums are rife with speculation that Beckett will make Manny want to stay anyway, as he'll see that the team is going to continue to be very competitive.)

Well, Lowe had blister problems too and they had some special goop they used. Seemed to work, most of the time. The thing is, barring some shocking trade, Beckett is much, much better than any free agent pitcher, especially his ex-teammate who's about to cash in big time, and the Sox didn't give up their best pitching prospect to get him.

I had to remind myself that its Hanley Ramirez, not Manny. But it wouldn't make sense otherwise. The Marlins are dumping salary by trading for Manny? God I hope this goes through ... Beckett is an ace pitcher and an acquisition like this would give Steinbrenner conniptions.

Are you serious? Yippee, giving up Sanchez instead of Lester ...

← Have you looked at Mike Lowell? He doesn't exactly look like Juan Gone.

Now it looks like the Red Sox have moved ahead of the Rangers in the Josh Beckett sweepstakes, at least according to Jayson Stark of ESPN. I think it makes sense to give up what they want for Beckett, even if it includes super prospect Jon Lester, because he's a better pitcher than Burnett and will cost much less, at least for two more years, than Burnett is demanding. And he is an established major leaguer. There are no ironclad guarantees that anyone makes the jump from the minors to the majors, even as good as Lester has shown. And as bad as Mike Lowell was last year, I think his stroke is tailor-made for Fenway, and at 31, its hard not to believe that the previous five years (averaging 25 homers and 95 RBI) are a better predictor than last season's anemic performance. If Lowell were 35, I'd say stay away from him, but I've got no problem with Lowell/Youklis handling third and first.