hu8ghh

Hank’s strategy is to change his mind so many times that no one will ever be sure what he’s really thinking, or whether he’s even sane.

I don’t see how the Yankees can top Hughes.

They aren’t trading Joba or any of their high class really paid players. They may trade Matsui but is there really any incentive for the Twins to take it?

Lester, Lowrie, Crisp & Masterson

Vs.

Gomez, Guerra, Mulvey & Humber.

Close one.

10 things that could happen to the Yanks in 2008

http://riveraveblues.com/

Over at his blog today, Steve recalls a Ken Rosenthal radio interview from this morning where he says that the Blue Jays could to finish above the Yankees in 2008. This, before even pitchers and catchers have reported. So Ben and I got to thinking: There are tons of things that could happen to the Yanks in 2008. Here’s our list of 10 things that could happen to the Yanks in ‘08.

1. Brian Cashman develops the ability to foretell the future. The Yankees never lose again.
2. Oil is discovered under new Yankee Stadium. Hal and Hank pack up their trucks and move to Beverly Hills.
3. Derek Jeter volunteers to move to first base, “for the good of the team.”
4. The truth of why the Yankees never bean David Ortiz is revealed. After Joba Chamberlain beans him in the seventh inning of a tie game, Ortiz reveals his true form, Godzilla, and devours the City of New York.
5. In a change of heart, George says, “Ah, screw this,” and orders new Yankee Stadium to be torn down, mid-construction.
6. Hank Steinbrenner contracts laryngitis, causing Kat O’Brien to lose her job.
7. Josh Beckett’s arm falls off on April 1st. Marc Melancon, joining the Yankees in May, infects the entire clubhouse with a Staph infection. Devil Rays win the AL East.
8. Johan Santana goes 34-0 with a 1.09 ERA.
9. Melky hits .280/.354/.406, the exact same line put up by Bernie Williams in his age 23 season.
10. George Mitchell uncovers evidence of rampant steroid abuse in clubhouses around the league. “I thought this incident was limited to New York,” he says. “We’ll need another $4 million for a thorough investigation. Except for Boston. I can vouch for them

1.
steve (different one) says:
January 14th, 2008 at 2:36 pm (Reply)

Chicken Little is getting a lot of press today: guest blogger on LoHud, linked here and at Primer.

i’m sure his next entry will argue that Cashman should be fired preemptively just for allowing the possibility of the Blue Jays finishing ahead of the Yankees.
2.
Count Zero says:
January 14th, 2008 at 4:00 pm (Reply)

If you ask me, I think there is a pretty good chance the D-Rays finish ahead of the B-Jays. :-)
3.
RZG says:
January 14th, 2008 at 4:53 pm (Reply)

At Waswatching part of his reply was:

“Me? I guess I would have to say, now, that I would not be shocked if the Yankees finished third this year”

Now, when there’s a 4 game losing streak he can go back and write “Back on January 14th I wrote I wouldn’t be shocked” etc., etc.
4.
Mike A. says:
January 14th, 2008 at 5:45 pm (Reply)

It’s pretty funny that everyone considers the Red Sox run away favorites in the AL East. The Yanks would have finished in first if it wasn’t for their terrible April, plus the Sawx have done nothing to improve.

The Sox have a good team, but they’re not invincible.
5.
Travis G. says:
January 14th, 2008 at 6:14 pm (Reply)

people always talk about Arod, Posada regressing, DJ, Damon, Abreu, Matsui, Giambi getting older, but you never hear anything like that about the Sawx.

I expect the offense to fare about the same. the aging of the older guys should be offset by the improvement of Cano and Melky.

for years, the Yanks have been criticized for having an ‘ancient’ pitching staff. now that 3 rookies will be in the rotation, it’s ‘a bunch of question marks.’ just cant win with some.

Really Mike, the Yanks were the best team in baseball after May.

DeMarlo Hale

Full Name: DeMarlo Hale
Title: Third Base Coach

Bio:
Enters his 2nd season as Boston's third base coach after spending the previous 4 seasons as the Rangers' first base and outfield coach...returns to the organization with which he began both his professional playing and coaching careers...after spending 4 years as an instructor at the Bucky Dent Baseball School in Boca Raton, FL from 1989-92, made his coaching debut at Double-A New Britain in 1992, the start of an 8-year run in the Red Sox organization...went 491-471 in 7 seasons as a minor league manager for the Red Sox from 1993-99...managed at Single-A Ft. Lauderdale (1993), Single-A Sarasota (1994 and 1996), Single-A Michigan (1995), and Double-A Trenton (1997-99)...was the Midwest League's Manager of the Year at Michigan in '95...guided 3 clubs into the postseason (Sarasota in 1994, Michigan in 1995, and Trenton in 1999)...the '99 Thunder club, which included David Eckstein, Adam Everett, Shea Hillenbrand, Sun-Woo Kim and Tomo Ohka, finished 92-50 and was named Minor League Team of the Year by Baseball America...Hale was selected Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America, The Sporting News and USA Today Baseball Weekly...was also recognized as the Eastern League's Manager of the Year...managed Texas Triple-A Oklahoma club to 2nd-place finishes in the Pacific Coast League's East Division in both 2000 and 2001 before being promoted to the Rangers big league staff in 2002...Was chosen to manage the A.L. team at the 1997 Double-A All-Star Game, and was a coach for the U.S. team at the 1999 All-Star Futures Game at Fenway Park...was a coach for Peoria of the Arizona Fall League in 2001...the Red Sox honored Hale with the inaugural Edward F. Kenney Player Development Award in 1994.

Playing Career: Selected by the Red Sox in the 17th round of the 1983 June draft, Hale played 5 minor league seasons as a first baseman-outfielder in the Red Sox (1983-86) and Athletics (1988) organizations...batted .267 with 26 homers, 206 RBI and 67 steals in 87 tries in 482 minor league games...after breaking in with Elmira in 1983, enjoyed his finest season in 1984, when he batted .290 with 20 doubles, 9 homers, 53 RBI, 90 runs scored and 24 steals for Winston-Salem, earning Carolina League All-Star honors...set career highs in virtually every offensive category, appearing in 134 games...peaked at Double-A New Britain with the Red Sox in 1985 and 1986 and at Double-A Huntsville with the A's in 1988.

Personal: DeMarlo and his wife Carol make their home in Orlando, FL...a 1979 graduate of Chicago Vocational High School, where he played baseball and basketball, DeMarlo played 4 seasons of baseball at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. In 2006, DeMarlo participated in the Babe Ruth Coaches Clinic and in the Boston Parks and Recreation Department's summer program Sox Talk.

DeMarlo Hale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeMarlo_Hale



DeMarlo Hale (born July 16, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Major League Baseball coach for the Boston Red Sox.

Hale is a former first baseman and outfielder in minor league baseball who played in part of four seasons for the Boston and Oakland organizations between 1984 and 1988.

Following his playing career, Hale worked at the Bucky Dent baseball school in Boca Raton, Florida from 1989 through 1992, when he became a coach for Double-A New Britain in the Eastern League.

Hale started his managerial career in 1993 in the Boston farm system with High-A Ft. Lauderdale team in the Florida State League. A year later, he guided Sarasota to the FLS playoffs, and in 1995 he also was a playoff qualifier with Michigan in the Midwest League, being rewarded as Manager of the Year. He spent 1996 with Sarasota and was promoted to Double-A Trenton in 1997, managing the American League team in the Double-A All-Star game.

Hale guided Trenton to a best-league 92-50 record in 1999. That season, he also coached United States team in the All-Star Futures Game at Fenway Park, and was honored as Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America, The Sporting News and Usa Today Baseball Weekly, as well as winning Eastern League honor.

From 2000 to 2001, Hale managed for the Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma RedHawks, as he guided his team to a pair of second place finishes in the Pacific Coast League East Division, and worked with major league club at spring training. He was promoted as Rangers first base coach and outfield instructor, and continued in his duties until 2004.

In a nine-season managerial career, Hale has posted a 634-614 record for a .508 winning percentage.

Before the 2006 season, Hale was named by the Boston Red Sox as their third base coach in replacement of Dale Sveum. Hale had worked with Red Sox Manager Terry Francona before, when Francona was the Rangers bench coach in 2002.

Demarlo is a graduate of Chicago Vocational High School, where he played baseball and point guard on the basketball team.

Luis Alicea 16





Full Name: Luis Alicea
Title: First Base Coach

Bio:
Alicea joins the major league coaching staff after 3 seasons as a manager in Boston's minor league system...guided Single-A Greenville of the South Atlantic League to a 67-70 overall record in 2006...was integral in the development of pitcher Clay Buchholz, Red Sox 2006 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and infielder Jeff Natale, Red Sox 2006 Minor League Offensive Player of the Year...earned his 100th career minor league managerial victory with a 7-2 win over Kannapolis on June 1...spent the previous 2 years at Short-Season Single-A Lowell in the New York-Penn League with the Spinners posting a 74-77 overall record in that span...in 2005 led Lowell to a 42-33 record and 2nd-place finish in the Stedler Division...in the fall after the 2006 minor league season, managed the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League...7 players from the Red Sox organization, pitchers Lenny DiNardo, Barry Hertzler, Kyle Jackson and David Pauley; catcher Dusty Brown; infielder Chad Spann; and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, were members of that AFL team.

Playing Career:
Played 13 seasons in the major leagues with St. Louis (1988; 91-94; 96), Boston (1995), Anaheim (1997), Texas (1998-2000), and Kansas City (2001-02), compiling a .260 batting average with 47 homers and 422 RBI in 1341 games...primarily a second baseman, he also saw action at the other 3 infield positions and in the outfield in his big-league career...The switch-hitter enjoyed his best season with the Rangers in 2000, establishing career highs with a .294 average, 139 games, 85 runs, 159 hits, and 63 RBI...was Boston's regular second baseman in his lone season with the A.L. East champion Red Sox in 1995 with a .270 batting average in 132 games...went 6-for-10 (.600) with a home run in Boston's 1995 Division Series loss (0-3) to the Cleveland Indians...his 43 triples from 1992-2000 tied for 15th in the majors in that span...ranked 4th in the National League with 11 triples in 1992...tied for 13th in the American League with 22 stolen bases for the Angels in 1997...Luis was the Cardinals' first-round pick in the 1986 First-Year Player Draft after an outstanding career at Florida State University, where he earned First-Team All-America honors in 1986.

Personal:
Luis has 2 children, son Ryan Luis (12/8/92) and daughter Alana Nicole (8/19/94)...graduated from Liceo International Castro High School in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico in 1983...lettered in baseball and track...his brother Edwin also played second base at Florida State and was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 9th round of the 1988 First-Year Player Draft.

Rookie of the Year

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d805f8635&template=with-video&confirm=true&campaign=ec0005


Posted: 6 hours 53 minutes ago
Giants exhibit toughness while dispatching Cowboys
Vic Carucci By Vic Carucci | NFL.com

IRVING, Texas -- All week long, a sign hung in the players' meeting room at the New York Giants' headquarters in East Rutherford, N.J.

It said: "Warriors 9-1."
Giants' Toomer on a roll

With Plaxico Burress hobbled by a sprained ankle, Giants veteran wide receiver Amani Toomer has picked up the slack with a strong playoff showing so far:

Stepping up his game
Opponent Catches Yards TDs
Cowboys

4

80

2
Buccaneers

7

74

1
VIDEO:
» Toomer's post-game interview
» Toomer's highlights
» Can't-Miss Play: Toomer's TD

That's "Warriors" as in "Road Warriors," as in a team that has won every road game since the first it played -- and lost -- this season right here.

Road victory No. 9, 21-17 over the Dallas Cowboys, was the biggest of them all because it came in Sunday's divisional-round playoff game. And it came in a game that few pundits believed the Giants could win.

"They said it couldn't be done!" Michael Strahan yelled while running up the visitor's tunnel at Texas Stadium. "They said it couldn't be done!"

But it was done. It was done when R.W. McQuarters intercepted a Tony Romo pass, on fourth-and-11 from the Giants 23, in the end zone with nine seconds left.

Now the Giants have another week to prepare for another road game, this one for the NFC championship, against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

"Warriors 10-1?"

That could be a stretch, given how impressive the Packers looked in their 42-20 divisional-round triumph over Seattle. Still, stranger things have happened.


NFL Replay will re-air the Giants' 21-17 win over the Cowboys on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. ET.

» Video clips from NFL Replay

Fans, want to get NFL Network? Cable operators, want to carry NFL Network? Click here for more information.

Take the Giants' win over the Cowboys for instance. Dallas was a team that swept New York during the regular season, a team that was supposed to have too much offense for the Giants' defense and too much of a pass rush to allow Eli Manning to throw as comfortably as he did in last week's wild-card win at Tampa.

None of that panned out because the Cowboys ran into a Giants team that showed incredible heart and determination, especially on defense.

The Giants sent a clear message on an opening drive that ended with Manning hitting Amani Toomer for a 52-yard touchdown. Toomer caught a curl route at the Dallas 39, spun away from two defenders and ran down the sideline untouched.

"When we got off to that good start, it kind of let everybody know that we came to play," Toomer said. "We were not here to lay down and roll over for anybody. That's kind of the M.O. of our team."

The Cowboys did their best to wear the Giants down, pounding powerful Marion Barber to the tune of 129 yards on 27 carries. They finished a 20-play, 90-yard drive that took 10:28 off the clock with a 1-yard Barber touchdown plunge that gave them a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter. But the Giants came right back with a 71-yard scoring drive of their own, capped by Manning's 4-yard touchdown throw to Toomer, to make it 14-14 at halftime.


Wild-card round

Saturday, Jan. 5
» Seattle 35, Washington 14
» Jacksonville 31, Pittsburgh 29
Sunday, Jan. 6
» N.Y. Giants 24, Tampa Bay 14
» San Diego 17, Tennessee 6

Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 12
» Green Bay 42, Seattle 20
» New England 31, Jacksonville 20
Sunday, Jan. 13
» San Diego 28, Indianapolis 24
» N.Y. Giants 21, Dallas 17

Conference Championship Games

Sunday, Jan. 20
» AFC: San Diego at New England, 3 p.m. ET
» NFC: N.Y. Giants at Green Bay, 6:30 p.m. ET

That was the turning point. That was the moment when the Giants realized they could take the Cowboys' best punch and stay on their cleats.

"We were tired as hell," linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "That was rough. The scores that they had took a lot of plays and lot of minutes off the clock. But I think you see the conditioning of this team, you see the mentality of this team, something that we've been talking about the last couple of weeks and throughout the season.

"It's a bunch of guys who wanted it and who weren't going to take no for an answer today."

As the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, the Cowboys figured to have the inside track on reaching Super Bowl XLII. And they had ample opportunities to be the team hosting the conference title game.

However, they continually hurt themselves with mistakes. They were penalized 11 times for 84 yards, eight more times than the Giants. They dropped passes. They blew assignments. In short, they looked like the same team that played some of its worst football through the final three games of the season.

On the other hand, the Packers are at the very top of their game, just as they were when they beat the Giants 35-13 in the second week of the season at Giants Stadium.

"They're not going to face the same team they faced in Week 2," Toomer promised. "We've got a lot of momentum. And let's take it all the way to Green Bay."

Have a question for Vic on anything NFL related? Don't just sit there -- send it to AskVic@nfl.com, and the best questions will be answered throughout the season right here on NFL.com!

January 14, 2008
Eli 'leads' Giants to victory

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2008/01/eli-leads-giants-to-victory.html



I’ve seen every pass Eli Manning has thrown since he first put on a Giants uniform, and every drive he’s led. I’ve seen him drive for touchdowns in hostile environments, in bad weather, and more than a few times in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.

But I don’t know that I’ve ever been more impressed by him than I was at the end of the first half in Dallas yesterday. Given the circumstances and the stakes, I think it was the finest moment of his career.

Even Antonio Pierce admitted the Giants’ heads were hanging after the Cowboys mounted their monster, 20-play, 10 ½-minute touchdown drive in the second quarter. Amani Toomer conceded that if the Giants hadn’t hit a quick big play, they were going to take a knee and let Dallas go into halftime with a 14-7 lead.

And it sure looked like that’s what they were going to do when they got the ball back at their own 29 with 47 seconds remaining and Manning’s first pass to Toomer was low. But then Manning hit the big play – a 22-yarder to rookie Steve Smith. Then he hit another 11-yarder to push them to midfield.

Sure, he caught a break when Cowboys corner Jacques Reeves grabbed Smith’s facemask and moved the Giants 15 yards closer. But it was Manning who took advantage, with a 19-yard pass to another rookie, tight end Kevin Boss. That set up his final bullet touchdown pass to Toomer with seven seconds left on the clock.

If the Giants don’t score there, I don’t think they win. And I could tell after that first 22-yarder to Smith that they were going to score. The usually placid Manning looked confident and fired up. He looked like he was willing them down the field. He looked like a leader, which isn’t something that’s said often about him.

The defense may be the stars of yesterday’s game, but don’t sell Manning’s performance short. He didn’t carry the Giants on his back the entire game, but for one very crucial minute, he absolutely did.

A few more thoughts while I search for my ear muffs and longjohns for my trip to frigid Green Bay …

• How about the postseason Toomer is having, by the way. He has more than picked up the slack for the absence of Jeremy Shockey. And yesterday, in a game where TE Kevin Boss (1-19) and WR Plaxico Burress (1-5) were oddly non-factors, he was huge with four catches for 80 yards, including two impressive TDs. The first, when he shook off two tackles to turn a 10-yard pass into a 52-yard score, was impressive. I mean, he said he made his move based on the fact that he saw a “9” on the defenders jersey, meaning he knew it was a lineman or linebacker. Talk about field awareness! Still, the second TD, when he caught a Manning bullet and lunged into the end zone, was sheer determination. He’s always in the right spot and he’s been that way all season. But right now he’s playing like a man possessed.

• Great job adjusting by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Giants hit Tony Romo on each of his first two passes, but then it seemed like they didn’t touch him again for the entire first half. In the second half, once he lost Aaron Ross – meaning three of his top four corners were missing – he could’ve tried to protect his secondary with nickels, dimes and zones. Instead, he decided that the best way to protect them was to blitz, blitz, and blitz some more. He sent everyone, from everywhere and it totally knocked Romo off his game.

• Strange game called by Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. I don’t know why he didn’t test the Giants’ secondary early, especially when Romo had so much time. Instead he chose to run an effective running game (Marion Barber had 101 first-half yards), but the result was a slow pace that didn’t suit the Cowboys and kept the Giants in the game. Then, in the second half when Romo was under pressure, he went away from the run early. Odd.

• In the last few weeks, R.W. McQuarters has had two game-ending interceptions, but his biggest contribution was that 25-yard punt return that set up the Giants’ game-winning TD. Where has that been all year?

• Worried about how Eli Manning will fare in single-digit temperatures on Sunday night? Don’t be. A few weeks ago I had the Elias Sports Bureau break down Manning’s career starts by temperature at kickoff. They charted his starts by 50-degrees and above, 40-49, 30-39 and 29 and below. Believe it or not, he was statistically at his best when the temps were 29 and below (91 of 145, 62.8%, 967 yards, five TDs, five INTs, a 79.3 passer rating.

• Corey Webster did a pretty good job again yesterday, especially in the second half. But ugh, that interception he dropped on the Cowboys’ monster TD drive in the first half. When Patrick Crayton fell, Romo put that right on Webster’s numbers. When he was drafted, word was he had the hands of a receiver. You’ve got to come up with that catch.

• Speaking of Crayton … slipping on that route, a key drop late in the game, a muffed punt in the fourth quarter. Seriously, if you’re going to talk that much you’ve got to play better than that. You have now lost your trash-talking priviledges at least through the end of 2008.

• One quick peek ahead: Since early in the season, I’ve thought the Packers were the best team in the NFC. They’ve got an outstanding defense, one of the best offensive lines in football, a deep and speedy receiving corps, a powerful Ryan Grant-led running game, and some guy named Favre. They’re also not as undisciplined as the Cowboys (11 penalties for 84 yards? Yuck). And I don’t care that some people think the Lambeau mystique is gone. That’s still one of the toughest places to win. It’ll be even more difficult in the bone-chilling cold and possible snow.

• Oh, almost forgot. Injuries. Coughlin gave out very little information. CB Aaron Ross had a dislocated shoulder, which apparently is the same injury TE Michael Matthews has been playing through (much to everyone’s surprise), but we won’t know until Wednesday how he’s doing. … RT Kareem McKenzie tweaked his ankle. … No new updates on CB Sam Madison (stomach) or CB Kevin Dockery (hip), though considering Dockery was on crutches late in the week, don’t count on him. Madison? Maybe. He did warm up before the game. … Both DE Justin Tuck and DE Michael Strahan (groin) said they were fine after the game.

As a Packer fan living in WI, I first want to wish the Giant Nation a heart-felt congratulations for a job well-done this season! I have always liked the Giants organization as it is the class of the NFC East, and has a tradition nearly as rich as ours in Green Bay. Moreover, I have always thought that Eli Manning has been unfairly villified by your local and national media.

Also, let me say that I had hoped that the Cowboys would take care of business as between the two teams, I think that the 'boys would have been the easier draw...even on the road. Your guys are playing well...iy cannot be denied. However, after really thinking about it...I think that you will give us some trouble to start, but in the end, #4 will impose his will on you, and that will be all. Why?

1) Your secondary is in tatters. We have Jennings, Driver, Robinson, Jones, Lee, Franks all ready to spread you out and torch you.

2) Our Offensive line is in good shape, having gelled nicely. We have given up nothing in the way of sacks and pressure Since early Dec. The only reason we lost on the road in Chicago was the hurricane strength wind, and nothing was on the line. We relaxed and beat ourselves. Won't happen at home, in what might be Brett's last game there. Also the forecast calls for relatively calm winds. If it WERE windy...I'd bet on Brett's arm strength over Eli's/...wouldn't you?!

3) Coughlin will find a way to f*ck it up for your guys. You all know this in your heart of hearts.

4) Our Defense & Special teams will put Brett in great postion all day long. We are better rested, deeper talent-wise, and healthier. Your stable of backs is a bit imposing, but we will be fresh ALL day. Once we put up 10 points more than you have, Coughlin will abandon the running game, and it'll be over.

Hey fans...I mean no disprespect by any of this. I have nothing but admiration for your season, and you are looking up for the future. Get rid of Shockey, draft another good WR, and land some good O-linemen in the offseason (and find yourself a better backup QB.), and you'll beat Dallas outright next year for the divison. But this year is beyond your reach now, unless WE hand it you... all things equal...you just don't have the horses.

18 Comments

Nice write up Ralph. I thought it was Glenn that slipped on that route, but I only saw the play the one time. If they want even a chance against GB, they'll need either Madison or Dockery to come back. They played their hearts out, but I don't know how much the defense has left in the tank. Webster should have plenty considering he was even activated for parts of the season...
Posted by MK1 on January 14, 2008 3:56 PM

Great post Ralph. Ross should be OK. I've had the injury many times and it heals quickly ,especially when your young. Not so fast on the Packers being the best team in the NFC. I saw both games that a mediocre Bear team beat the pack twice this year by shutting down the run and pressuring Favre. Ryan Grant is no Marion Barber & Favre has very little mobility. We can win this game.
Posted by mikecNewYork on January 14, 2008 4:04 PM

Thanks for the nice update Ralph. I was worried about Tuck, it seemed like he seriously injured himself at the end of the game.

Your Packers looked tough on Saturday. As I have said before, I am happy with this season regardless of the result against the Packers. That being said, I like our chances against the Pack and you've got to love that two storied francises are going to collide in the house that Lombardi built and the prize is going to be a trip to the SB.

In my opinion, this game is going to be all about who wants it more.......who is willing to endure the elements, the hits (which become even more painful in the extreme cold) and the frozen tundra (which feels like concrete). With the heart our team has shown in the last three weeks, my money is on the Giants.

Posted by Jersey Joe 1 on January 14, 2008 4:21 PM

Sorry if this sounds sarcastic Ralph but you wrote the Cowboys would win by airing it out. You have also been picking against our team since the playoffs started.

Do us all a favor and pick Green Bay too okay? That way a Giants/Patriots rematch is in the bag.
Posted by angeltattoo on January 14, 2008 4:21 PM

Earmuffs? Are they still around?
Posted by Big Blue 86 on January 14, 2008 4:35 PM

As I said on the other thread, we're playing with a fat stack of house money at this point. Life is good. Let's get healthy and get ready to go have fun. The Pack has to play in the same snow we do.
In the NFC Championship.
The NFC Championship that the New York Football Giants are playing in.
Holy freaking crap.
Posted by HughG16 on January 14, 2008 4:37 PM

Mike C - I read somewhere that Favre said that the wind was the cause of his problems in one of those games. Saturday in Green Bay is supposed to have high winds but nothing about Sunday having it so who knows. Beauty of Favre is that if you pressure him he'll start gunslinging and offering it up.
Posted by DatMel on January 14, 2008 4:38 PM

As Fierce Pierce said "if you ain't a believer now, please don't become one".
Posted by anti-carbo on January 14, 2008 4:40 PM

The NFC Championship that the New York Football Giants are playing after they made TO cry.
Posted by DatMel on January 14, 2008 4:42 PM

How about a Rivers vs. Manning Super Bowl? I don't think its happening, but it would be interesting. I didn't think the Giants would beat the Cowboys and they did, so I'm going to continue with that thinking and let the Giants hopefully prove me wrong. And I'll be happy if the GMEN prove me wrong and beat GB.
Posted by ed drossman on January 14, 2008 4:49 PM

Ralph,
Obviously you were wrong about the matchup of the vaunted cowboy receivers (even with a healthy TO) and our overmatched secondary. You forgot to factor in the "heart" that the Giants have and the Cowboys do not. The massive cowboy offensive line came up small when the game was on the line and the Giants D line came up big. I am not worried about our defense against the Packer's offense. Their offensive line is good but not great. If we pressure Favre he will throw the ball up for grabs a couple of times each game. My concern is the GB secondary. Very physical man to man defense, where they maul (hold) you all over the field. It will be a different kind of challenge for the receivers this week. They will have to beat the corners on bump and run to get open. I don't know if one on one matchups (with the exception of Plaxico when healthy) is the Giant's receivers strong suit. I hope I am wrong. We should be able to run the ball effectively with Jacobs and Bradshaw. Which brings up a question from the Dallas game, why not run Bradshaw on the sweep on third and 2 instead of Jacobs? He is much quicker at getting the edge. If we make that first down (which we would have) we take another couple minutes off the clock and give Dallas even less time to drive the field. I would have also liked to see a bootleg in either of the final series and let Eli just run for a first down. On the other hand I can't argue with success either.
Posted by jintsman on January 14, 2008 5:04 PM

I'm wondering what all those Cowboy fans in NY and around the country are saying now? How about them Cowboys? They suck!
Posted by ed drossman on January 14, 2008 5:12 PM

From the Dallas Morning News site:

"After looking at the tape, I certainly feel like the best team lost the game," Phillips said, a statement sure to make Big Blue bulletin boards next season. "I feel like we outplayed them, but we lost."

Phillips said he'd accept the blame. But he made sure to mention that the Cowboys exceeded expectations and advanced into the divisional round for the first time since 1996. He thought the Cowboys would still be playing, but the Giants made the plays that mattered Sunday.

"I just thought that we had a better team than they had," Phillips said. "We'd proven it twice, and I thought we proved it again."
Posted by DatMel on January 14, 2008 5:12 PM

This game is not going to be about Manning vs Favre, it is going to be about who establishes the running game. The Packers are a very good football team, but Chicago took them out twice this year, so they can definitely be had - especially their special teams and run defense. That is were we are going to win this game.
Posted by Paul R. on January 14, 2008 5:19 PM

Bradshaw's run to the one yard line just before the Jacobs' touchdown hasn't gotten much comment. He ran incredibly hard on that play and I thought that it was huge.
Posted by nooger on January 14, 2008 5:36 PM

I'd say the one thing you missed (or maybe I'm wrong), is a compliment for Tom Coughlin. It seems to me that a team plays like a team, a real team, that has to start at the top. It has seemed to me that the press has been pretty quick to jump all over Coughlin who admittedly can be prickly, but let's recognize he has done a pretty fine job coaching this season.
Posted by jeffismee on January 14, 2008 5:39 PM


WRONG HEADLINE: GIANTS + HC TOM COUGHLIN KICK SAND IN FILIP BONDY'S FACE. CREEPY NY DAILY NEWS FUTBOL COLUMNIST .. GO BACK TO COVERING GHETTO HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS YOU CREEP !
Posted by crosswave on January 14, 2008 5:43 PM

From the Dallas Morning News site:

"After looking at the tape, I certainly feel like the best team lost the game," Phillips said, a statement sure to make Big Blue bulletin boards next season. "I feel like we outplayed them, but we lost."

Phillips said he'd accept the blame. But he made sure to mention that the Cowboys exceeded expectations and advanced into the divisional round for the first time since 1996. He thought the Cowboys would still be playing, but the Giants made the plays that mattered Sunday.

"I just thought that we had a better team than they had," Phillips said. "We'd proven it twice, and I thought we proved it again."

so you disagree that we're basically just bidding against ourselves here? cuz that's the point of what delcos is saying here. there's no reason to bid that high as long as the yankees and red sox are really just posturing for each other...

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
danman wrote:
You want to win now, you want to pay someone an unlimited amount of money over a ridiculous amount of years. You want to sacrifice the future, you want to give away pretty much the whole farm system. You want to win now.

And you hate the Yankees and their fans.


yeah, THAT'S why i hate yankee fans...

and you're totally right, if we trade for santana, we're the yankees and our fans will all be smug assholes and our team will have no future. why didn't i realize this earlier?!?

if you're so afraid of "winning now" then you should trade pedro and wagner and alou and delgado and castillo and schneider and castro and stock the farm some more. and then in a few years, trade wright and reyes and maine for some more prospects.

Except no one really wants those players for prospects.. Besides the last few mentioned. It's not about trading guys for future players, we have a pretty solid team, we want to improve it with still having some players who can fill the holes that will be left by the older guys. Not just trade the farm away, then have the older players leave and we are stuck with 2 or 3 SP, Hole in LF, 1B and 2 SP holes.

With keeping some of the young pitchers of OF you have a chance to fill those holes and get 1 or 2 guys to fill other. Without them you're relying on getting lots of FA's.

Is it me or does the idea of "trading the farm" seem a little too near-sighted? Are we really that concerned about where BA is going to rank our farm in '08 if we made this deal? I for one do not want to see Fernando in ANY deal. I'd much rather trade Guerra if that's an option.

But I think we have a lot of young talent, especially pitching talent, in our lower levels. Sure, most of that will never see the light of day but there's usually strength in numbers. One or two blue chippers coming out of that isn't the unlikeliest thing to bank on.

We KNOW that Gomez or Fernando and likely 2-3 of Pelfrey, Humber, Mulvey, Guerra and Heilman are gone in a trade for just about ANY frontline pitcher. At least that's what is mentioned for the Santana's, Haren's and Bedard's of the world. So it's not about how much we're giving up if you ask me. It's about whether or not some people want to give up ANY of them.

This is more of an issue of Santana vs letting our homegrown prospects grow. As long as Hughes isn't on the table, it could very easily be argued that our potential package of Gomez, Guerra, Mulvey and Humber is the best one the Twins will ever see. The Yankees can't make that deal without Hughes/Joba. The Red Sox haven't decided to throw in more than one legit pitching prospect. We're giving them 4 guys with better than average chances of being good major leaguers in that deal. Compare that to previous deals for big-time pitchers. What does the return usually look like

I don't think we should trade the farm. But if we do, what if injury happens ? We have no depth then. We're fucked.

Fernando,Gomez,Humber,Mulvey,Guerra for Santana ? Absolutely ridiculous. No way in hell do you do it. You shouldn't even consider it.

My deal is Gomez,Humber,Mulvey, then 2 B prospects. Guerra and Fernando stay. If they don't like it, too bad. We keep our farm. Twins are the one's losing it because they are being greedy. Gonna suck for them when all they get it draft picks for Santana because they're too greedy.
_________________

No, that would be dumb, and an exaggeration of a valid point to prove your short sighted bullshit. By doing this, it makes your point seem like it has some merit, while it in fact doesn't. Just looking at all the players the Mets are including in this deal...it's too much, even for Johan Santana. Particularly, when the Mets are bidding against no one but themselves right now. Red Sox and Yankees are in it mainly to prevent the other from getting Johan and being a head above the other team in the AL East. Why should the Mets yield what the Yankees and Red Sox have not been asked to yield? Because you need to have Johan Santana right now in January? That's laughable; I didn't know they played games in January. Wait until the price goes down. Winning now is fine, obviously. But, in all cases of trades, free agent signings, etc...you need to judge if the opportunity cost is simply too great to make the trade, even if the player you're getting is extremely good. If this trade is made, it will hinder the Mets in the future. Sure, Johan is great, but it will severly limit the Mets in other areas of the ballclub down the road. So if he doesn't get that title, you screwed yourself...especially by giving up too much when you didn't have to.

Oh yeah and to clarify. You are a smug asshole, I still remember on the old board when you claimed to be 100 times smarter than everyone else.

See, you're assuming that 2B and C won't be holes when 2009 and 2010 roll around. Schneider sucks offensively. Just plain sucks. I still view catcher as a hole on this team. Who knows how much longer Castillo will hold up for?

To say that we have all this money coming off the books is great. Who are you going to spend it on? Is giving Tex a 7 year, crazyfuckingamountofmoney deal really a wise move? What if he doesn't even reach free agency? Then what? We'd have zero trade chips left(Hey! Kind've like what everyone was bitching about earlier in the offseason!). Except this time, we'd really actually have no one.

The Mets have a great core right now with Beltran, Reyes, and Wright. It doesn't mean you should take that for granted and not try to put the best possible players around them. Getting Santana would be great, but not if you have to give up Fernando, Gomez, and Guerra. Just no way.



So then we should be content with a second or third place finish in 08?


I didn't know that was set in stone.


So then we should be content with a second or third place finish in 08?


Ah, I forgot, the Phillies and Braves are clearly much better than the Mets.

Sorry, you're right. FARM FOR SANTAAN! GITRDONE OMAR!!!

Duqette said that Omar knows he has the best deal on the table and that Bill Smith will be the one to cave in and take the Mets' deal even if it w/o Martinez....

also Rosenthal said that the Mets will probably get Santana because of their desperation...



Ken Rosenthal and Jim Duqette both said they wouldn't trade five prospects for Santana..

Rosenthal predicts Lohse to Mets if they don't get Santana....


He said they want the prospects of NYY and Bos but might settle for those of the Mets centered around Fernando Martinez and probally by Spring Training


That's an encouraging report, but consider the source


Yankees don't want to give up Hughes anymore.

Red Sox don't want to pay him, the only reason they'd trade for him is to block the Yankees.

Unless the Twins are going to sit around and hope the Yankees put Hughes back on the table, he's either coming here or staying home.

He said they want the prospects of NYY and Bos but might settle for those of the Mets centered around Fernando Martinez and probally by Spring Training

Sportscenter is talking about Santana and the Yanks dropping out in a few and rumors have Olney saying Mets have a good chance

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004122432_mail13.html

Sunday, January 13, 2008 - Page updated at 12:00 AM

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2008 predictions

Bulking up for a big year

Now that my personal trainer has injected me with lidocaine and vitamin B-12, I feel like I can continue to throw high heat into my mid 40s. Since that sounds so unbelievable, here are some more plausible predictions for the months and years ahead in the Seattle sports scene:

1. The Mariners trade Felix Hernandez and Jeff Clement to the Boston Red Sox for an aging, over-the-hill reliever (who reminds some observers of Heathcliff Slocum). It is later revealed that Bill Bavasi, like his predecessor, Woody Woodward, holds Red Sox season tickets.

2. Five years from now, as the Sonics play in a half-empty arena, owner Clay Bennett demands that Oklahoma City build the team a better arena. Otherwise, he threatens to sell the team to an out-of-town buyer who would move the team to the thriving sports metropolis of Bismark, S.D.

3. In an unrelated story, it is revealed that NBA commissioner David Stern owns a moving-van company that has sole rights to moving the league's franchises.

4. In a daring move, UW president Mark Emmert attempts to trade the entire Huskies football team for the entire LSU team. The deal falls through when competing Pac-10 coach Rick Neuheisel reveals in a tear-filled news conference that he once participated in a water-polo betting pool with the LSU coaching staff.

— Raymond S. Wilson, Bellevue
High-school sports

Coach should have taken responsibility

Just once, when a high-school coach is asked to be accountable for clearly unacceptable behavior, I would love to hear a response of "it shouldn't have happened and won't happen again." Period. I guess that's too much to ask of Kennedy High School coach Tom Mummert, who instead offered excuse after excuse for the latest girls basketball blowout (112-16 over Evergreen.)

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His lamest among many lame comments? He kept his starters and key substitutes in longer than usual (and presumably pressed for at least half the game) because he wanted to "sharpen them for a big game tonight against Mount Rainier."

Since when does this kind of blowout "sharpen" a team? Why stop at this? Maybe he could really sharpen them for the district and state tournaments by finding an eighth-grade team they could play and beat by 150!

— Carole Antoncich, Seattle
Hope Solo

A necessary voice of dissent

I would like to respond to the letter last Sunday about Hope Solo, where the writer said: "... and the truth was that Solo was one of the worst examples of sportsmanship in the past year."

Hope Solo represents the voice of dissent, missing in our society's collective trance in accepting everything, even if it is wrong. The truth of the matter is, the decision by the U.S. soccer coach — to change the momentum of the team by changing up the personnel at the last minute in its most important game — was idiotic. This will go down as the worst coaching decision in the history of any high-level competition.

She spoke the truth. And this is a crime and she should be vilified forever?

Hope Solo symbolizes the "hope" for returning America back to its true form of truth and disclosure, not lies, concealment and corruption. She's one of my heroes.

— David Martin, Lynnwood
Roger Clemens

The lesson: Always tell the truth

Steve Kelley had a good column ("Clemens' denials don't get to the truth we are seeking," Seattle Times, Jan. 7) on the "60 Minutes" interview with Roger Clemens.

I want to believe Clemens, but I can't get the images of Rafael Palmero defiantly pointing his finger at Congress denying steroid use, and Marion Jones' denials, and then admissions three years later, out of my mind. These were two good role models for kids who are now nothing more than tragic sports figures.

There is an easy lesson to kids and all people in this: Do the right thing and tell the truth from the start. Don't wait until the truth, or a lie, finds you.

— Jeff Steele, Seattle
Storm

New owners are a major force

We applaud and thank the group of four successful women who have secured an exclusive option to purchase our Seattle Storm. This is a moment of celebration for our city, Storm fans and our youth as we witness this selfless gift to our community.

Our heroes — Anne Levinson, Ginny Gilder, Lisa Brummel and Dawn Trudeau — picked an appropriate name for their group: Force 10 Hoops. The nautical term "Force 10" describes a wind velocity equivalent to a gale or storm; it is a force that has the direction and magnitude to blow the Storm away from Oklahoma.

We look forward to seeing children, girls and boys, wearing the jerseys of Lauren Jackson, Betty Lennox, Sue Bird and other outstanding Storm athletes. We watch in amazement as youngsters emulate their basketball heroes. As female fans who grew up before the passage of Title IX, watching girls stand with a basketball in the Lauren Jackson pose is revolutionary, because most of us didn't have women athletes to emulate as children.

Because a Force 10 has arrived, we live in a wonderful time in the ascension of women's professional sports. We look forward to the day a "6th Woman" flag is raised over the Space Needle heralding a new day in Seattle's team spirit. Force 10 Hoops, LLC has made this vision possible.

Anne, Ginny, Lisa and Dawn, you are the MVOs (Most Valuable Owners) in the WNBA. We hope the same girls emulating Jackson and Lennox choose to emulate these successful community-minded women as well.

— Ann Carey & Linda Lillevik, Seattle
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Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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SENT 1/14/08

ONE DAY PRIOR TO MITCHELL GOING TO OVERSIGHT ON 1/15/08





Chairman Waxman,
Some very big Quetions for George Mitchell.


1.) Why did George Mitchell ask Hallinan NOT to inestigate the Marlins? http://www.miamiherald.com/591/story/344322.html

2.) Same for Paxton Crawford? wow
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/06/crawford_comes_1.html


3.) Why did he accept McNamme as credible, when he made 2 offical statements contradicting one another??
si.com/heyman - 2006 McNamee said Feds were out to "get" Clemens and Pettitte.

4.) Why the deal for a trafficker of drugs? He has a propensity to lie to the Auhorities...a la St. Petersberg R8pe Case. AND pg 340 Mitchell Report says ....to prosecute distributors, not the players.

5.) Why didn't he simply have McNamee prosecuted? Is it because it would have been McNamee's word against Radomski's?

6.) What did the IRS have on McNamee to force a change in his official statements? Mac says he didn't launder or make money referncing his "dealing: of steroids. http://www.si.com/heyman

7) How is McNamee a creduble witness at all?

8.) Is this over Roger Clemens being a Hall inductee as a Yankee and not as a Red Sock?

9.) Did he intentionally NOT investigate Crawford and Perez to save HIS CLIENTS (red socks org) embarassment??

Thank You,


Patrick SJ R.
Veteran of USAF
Journalist
Consultant

PS a copy of this is posted on the yesnetwork.com

Dave Anderson on XM with Charley Steiner



http://xmmlbchat.blogspot.com/

"The problem for me was the Mitchell Report was very limited. It basically relied on only 2 sources. Most of the players were connected to either McNamee or Radomski."

* There was very little evidence in that report on players from many other teams.The Mitchell people didn't have to connect to (include) the San Francisco Balco cases as they'd already been reported long ago and were involved in a federal investigation.

"If I'd wanted to cover Congressional hearings, I'd have been a political reporter or a police reporter."

* "Many players will still take (drugs), there's no test for HGH."

(Mr. Anderson, having already attained his career goals, is free to speak what he thinks). sm

Where do you get the idea that Posada tried to push the Yanks to deal Hughes for Santana ? Please supply your inside information , since you think you have inside information. Shame On You

Get your facts straight. Both Rivera and Posada said that they would love to have Santana on the team. But, there never was any campaigning on either parts to trade Hughes for Santana . Posada does not wheel that kind of authority or power.

Twins want more
Experts agree Sox’ talent better, split on two offers

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1066594&srvc=rss

Jim Callis, executive editor of Baseball America, said that even if the Yankees were to include left-hander Ian Kennedy in their offer or the Mets were to include hitting phenom Fernando Martinez, neither team’s package would be better than the Lester-Crisp package (Callis’ first choice) or the Ellsbury (No. 2 for Callis) offer.

“The Red Sox are in the best position to offer blue-chip players as well as depth,” Callis said. “And, the Red Sox are under less pressure to make something happen because they need Santana less because they have fewer holes.”

The Yankees shouldn’t be dismissed because their offer is led by Hughes, a pitcher who Callis and Manuel agree is the single-best talent being discussed. Melky Cabrera is no better than an average major-league outfielder, according to Callis and Manuel, and right-handed sinkerballer Jeff Marquez projects no higher than a No. 3-4 starter. Callis said Kennedy has “fringy” stuff; Manuel said he and scouts question if the lefty has one above-average major league pitch. The two do not believe that Kennedy’s inclusion in a Yankees deal should be a difference-maker for the Twins


IPK's a lefty? hahaha.. Crisp's a blue-chip talent? Hughes> Ellsbury.. Marquez = Masterson. Masterson projected to be in bullpen in majors ,had 4.00 era both pitching in Lancaster and Portland

Comments from Redsox Fan on Hank-

Masssports

http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb?sport=mlb&id=bos&tid=2214786&lid=3

Please, I can't take another quote from George's half-brained kid about Johan.

LOL

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-yankees-santana&prov=ap&type=lgns

Btw, does he sleep at Legends field? He is always quoted outside the park at night.

Here's the deal:

Hank doesn't like that it has come out in the media that he can get overruled by his brother Hal. So he keeps saying that "I haven't decided yet" a lot.

anyway...

Just Trade Johan somewhere, Bill Smith..........

#



LOL

Your team's official mouthpiece is a total clown.

Cashman must hate this nitwit, lmao...



ya know what is really, really funny..........this


Fan pulse: Good riddance, Roger
By David Lefort, Boston.com Staff

He wasn?t speaking for Red Sox Nation, but Curt Schilling pretty accurately summarized the mood of a scorned Sox fan base with this four-word take on Roger Clemens signing with the Yankees: ?We don?t need him.? ~

We took a sampling of Red Sox fan blogs and message boards this morning, and almost universally they depict Clemens as a money-grubbing mercenary whom the Sox are better off without.

Here are the highlights:

# Chad Finn?s Touching All the Bases blog provided the most scathing commentary of the bunch in a post appropriately titled ?Yanking the chain?:

Contrary to what he or his agents might say when trying to pit one team against the other in negotiations, we now know with 100 percent certainty that he has absolutely no sentiment for his days for the Red Sox. None. The premise that he might return to pitch for Boston out of some melancholy desire to mend those Green Monster-sized fences and win back the approval of the fans who cheered his first big-league victories has long been based in fantasy.

Today, that fantasy was punctured by a reality X that we should have grasped long ago. Clemens's allegiance has never tilted toward a particular city or fan base, be it Boston, New York, Houston or Albuquerque. The Rocket's is not about a team, but to a person: himself. He's a Yankee - again - because New York, it all of its DeSalvo/Pavano/Igawa-fueled desperation, gave him roughly $18 million bucks and the cushy come-and-go-as-you-wish-your-highness schedule for four months of work. Had the Red Sox offered him, say, $33 million, the use of John Henry's jet, and all the free ballpark wieners the "K' kids can eat, let's just say there's a pretty good chance he'd have shown up at Fenway this week to patronize us with some non-sequitur-loaded speech about how it's good to be home in Boston again, duh-huh.

# Boston Dirt Dogs put it most succinctly in a post titled, ?Rogerk?. We found this ?Twilight zone? graphic that depicts Clemens as Darth Vader particularly entertaining.

# From the Yanksfan vs. Soxfan blog:

Today's dramatic announcement that Roger Clemens was returning to the Yankees surprised many, disappointed, and delighted, across two legions of rooters. For this Red Sox fan, it finally gives closure, and lamentably so.

The blog entry ends with this:

There's no anger, though, just the sadness that we won't get that fantastical closure for ourselves, cheering Roger as he strides off the mound and into that first base dugout, lookinoking to right field while envisioning a "21" up there with 1, 4, 8, 9, 27, and 42. This is a sad day for at least one Red Sox fan.

# From Kennedy's commentary:

Clemens, the greatest pitcher of his generation -- some would argue the greatest ever -- has revealed himself to be a mercenary, a man who will grant his services to the highest bidder.

How else can Clemens? decision to sign with the Bronx Bombers be explained? !

# From the Fire Brand of the American League blog:

Instead of completing his career with the Red Sox and taking that challenge, Clemens went to the Yankees and pist off the entire Sox fan base in the process. Those ovations we gave him at Fenway late (80s?) in his career were regrettable. He never felt any love with the fans, it was all staged and cold-hearted. All along, it?s about Roger and only Roger. He took a prorated 28 million from the Yankees, sprinting towards the cash. He?s not worried about his legacy at all.

The Yankees can?t offer him any more than cash. He has a Cy Young and two championship rings with the Yankees and, at this point in his life, has more money than you can possibly imagine. In typical Clemens fashion, he signs with the Yankees for the most money.

It was too predictable, I feel really stupid even considering he would choose a different route!!!

# Boston.com?s Red Sox message board has been buzzing with commentary ever since Roger?s announcement. Here?s a sampling:

?I'd have liked Clemens to have come to Boston and have cheered him. As a Yankee I will boo him more then ever though. If he did come here I'd have expected him to be a 6 inning 3 run pitcher. Simply for the happy ending, entering the HOF with a sox hat and the postseason experience was I rooting for him to land here. I knew every start of his would finish somewhere in inning 6 with a Kyle Snyder or Julian Tavarez appearance. Lester can do that for us now. So bring on the Jon Lester era!? -- Message board user Rameaka

?For the 1st time since becoming a Red Sox fan.... I DO NOT want Roger Clemens going into the Hall of Fame wearing a Red Sox hat. He showed today that he is no longer part of Sox Nation... and frankly, he can burn in h*ll like the rest of the Yankees.? -- Message board user soxcrazy2005 swifyread says HELLO...theyve hated him a very long time raaaaahhh -jaaaah

?I'm not happy that Clemens is going to NY but I'm not surprised either. I don't think it was an issue of money. The Sox would have paid the same. It?s an issue of ego. Roger has always been about Roger and this way he gets to be the hero. (EVEN WHEN HE CARRIED YOUR LAZY AXX TEAM FOR THAT LONG???) If he came to Boston he would have been one piece of the puzzle not THE piece of the puzzle. The smart move was to come here. The bullpen is better, and for a guy who going to go 6 to 7 innings, he would have been better off in Boston, but Roger was never that bright.? -- Message board user Gov36

# Should the Sox have been more aggressive in their pursuit of Clemens? Fans don?t think so. Nearly 90 percent of respondents to a Boston.com survey don?t think the Red Sox should have gone over the top to land Roger. TRUE BOSTON COLORS.....

According to another Boston.com survey, the Yankees? acquisition of the Rocket strikes fear in the hearts of only 11 percent of respondents. Thirty-six percent of those polled can?t wait to boo Clemens when he comes to Fenway Park (mark June 1-3 on your calendars).

# Looking for more fan commentary? Check out our Red Sox fan blog aggregator.

i actually like the way hank is playing the twins. He is making them go nuts which could either lead to them just keeping santana or lowering the price for him even more. If we could give him a package that is hughes and melky that would be very considerable and if its hughes melky and some guy nobody ever heard of then its still a pretty good thing to do. I honestly would rather not trade 4 players for Santana but i mean u cant really complain if the yankees do get him.(Unless he pulls a Pavano, which i dont think he will)

From a Mets Fan

This is what I don't understand...

If you read articles from different cities, you'd see that they usually back up the team. They're the one that hype the prospects and raise their value. Yet in this town, because people are so pro-Yankee, they slam our prospects. They're a big reason why they are looked at the way they are.

If Fernando were a Red Sock, they'd praise him and actually take the time out to point out the fact that he is 19 and his stats were skewed by the fact that he played a few weeks with that hand injury. And even after he had that horrible few weeks because of the injury, he still managed to pull out a .275 average with 4 hr's, in a league where guys that are 4 years older than him are considered "on track."

Sorry, had to vent a little bit. The frustration is building with this whole Santana situation

Lol, What an a idiot? Did He forget about Mike Lupica, Wallace Matthews?