Boston Red Sox - 2006

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

The media in Boston is infested with bitter, spiteful little men who can't stand when a player won't talk to them, which Manny has refused to do during his tenure in Boston.

This is unequivocally true, yet, pathetically there is more to it. Even if a player does speak to the media, if he doesn't say what they expect him to say, they will also disparage the player and try to turn fans against him. Example - Keith Foulke.

In my pitiful struggle against boredom a few days ago, I stumbled across something called the 'Boston Sports Blog'. On the front page there, some a$$munch had an entry criticizing Keith Foulke for saying he thinks watching baseball is boring. Somehow, this was twisted and turned into Foulke hating his teammates, being a horrible human being, a terrorist, and a pedophile. It was just ludicrous, and made me want to take a shower after being subjected to such bottom-feeding, scum-sucking "journalism".

The sad thing is, this happens daily, from the moment the players show up in Spring Training. This stuff has already started happening in the first week of camp! As a result of this, I avoid articles by serial-hackjob offenders (enemy #1: Dan Shaughnessy, in all likelihood, the biggest douchwazzle "writer" to ever disgrace the region).

I just shake my head at what some of these low-lifes will come up with this year. Let's see:
They'll get on Beckett when he's going to get a blister. They'll chuckle and chortle at what pansies baseball players are. They haven't been able to use this one since Lowe left, so they'll be delighted to dust off the barbs once again.
They'll accuse Lowell of being a steroid mongrel when he starts to suck (I sure hope not)
They'll chew up Tavarez after his first or second meltdown.
You will undoubtedly see some terribly corny, hackneyed headlines whenever David Riske does anything of note.

Probably some more, I've spent too long on this post anyways..

[Misfit]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Manny has brought more negative attention on himself than any athlete not named TO? Its not like he threw a sex party on an off-shore boat full of prostitutes...

The media has always tried to make him look like a terrible guy. Truth is, when he speaks he never says the wrong thing, he's almost always smiling, he jokes around with his teammates. The things he does and gets away with are nothing in the grand scheme of things, which is why the fans never buy into the media crap. The media in Boston will keep trying to paint a bad picture of Manny Ramirez but it seems like no matter what they do the majority of fans don't care. Unless Manny begins to start fights in the clubhouse or says negative things about the team to the media the fans will likely stay on his side.

[Stu]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Also, regarding him asking for a trade. He has never said he wants out of Boston because of his teammates, manager or the organization. His teammates understand the difficulty of playing under a microscope in Boston so it's not like him asking for a trade is an insult to them.

[Stu]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Looks like Manny is pulling out of the WBC:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

[rsox]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Looks like Manny is pulling out of the WBC:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...s/extra_bases/

Manny's pulling out, Pedro's out of at least the first round and Roberto Kelly quit as team Panama's Manager, man, is anyone left in this thing?.

[Beantown]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Well..at least that gives the US a slightly better chance.

[Beantown]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Manny reported to camp today with two-toned dreads that look pretty sweet.

He also wouldn't respond to questions about trades...but did say "I'm here, I'm here...people wanted me here, I wanted to be here and I'm here"

[Stu]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Manny reported to camp today with two-toned dreads that look pretty sweet.

He also wouldn't respond to questions about trades...but did say "I'm here, I'm here...people wanted me here, I wanted to be here and I'm here"

I'm still wondering why the media was making such a big deal about his arrival. He's here and he isn't playing in the WBC. What more do we want from the guy?

[Beantown]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

I'm still wondering why the media was making such a big deal about his arrival. He's here and he isn't playing in the WBC. What more do we want from the guy?

I think it's because he was so dead-set on saying "I wont be a RS come ST, or I wont go to ST" that they just love playing up the "manny being Manny" story.

Plus, I think they have an enfatuation with showing clips of Manny walking into the GM last year and such.

[Beantown]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Looks like Wells will be a Red Sox this season...

ESPNNews is saying he rescinded his trade request, saying hes going to retire at the end of this season

[Stu]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Looks like Wells will be a Red Sox this season...

ESPNNews is saying he rescinded his trade request, saying hes going to retire at the end of this season

Fine with me. I still think we need to move a starter before the end of spring training though. It's looking more and more like Papelbon will start in AAA. I think the only way he doesn't is if Foulke goes on the DL.

[Beantown]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Just for support:

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060305&content_id=1335617&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

[Misfit]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

The only negative about Wells not wanting a trade is that it forces Papelbon to the bullpen. I'd love to see Papelbon in the rotation but would he be as good as Wells will be this year? I don't know. Wells is still a good pitcher, and just because he has rescinded his trade request doesn't mean he'll remain in Boston. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what the rotation looks like come opening day. Right now it is:

Curt Schilling
Josh Beckett
David Wells
Tim Wakefield
Matt Clement

Bullpen:
Bronson Arroyo
Jonathon Papelbon

Trading one starter would be ideal, even though both Papelbon and Arroyo belong in the rotation. And if they do move Wells or Clement I would not be surprised if it's Papelbon who remains in the bullpen. I don't think they would trade two starters right now as they want a 6th man (though come July, Lester could possibly fill that spot) who can start if someone goes down with an injury or in the event of a doubleheader. In a perfect scenario, the Red Sox would trade one starter during Spring Training to add some depth to either the bullpen or bench (either a proven, left-handed reliver or 4th outfielder) and then trade another at the trading deadline to aquire a position of need. Right now their team looks good and I'd take that one into the regular season and then address needs as they arise as some guys are bound to be failures this season (there are just too many fringe guys like Lowell and Gonzalez for them all to work out).

[rsox]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Remember, Matt Clement has been traded twice at the end of march. So there is still a chance for Paplebon to start the year in Boston.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

I think some of you are failing to realize that there's a high probability that Keith Foulke ****s the bed. He could be cooked as a Red Sox as far as I'm concerned. I don't know about you guys, but I wouldn't rely on a guy to be a lights out closer when every day you read about him receiving weird injections in his knees.
I can definitely see Foulke being DL'ed for a long time and Papelbon being thrown in as the closer. As of today, I have 0 confidence in Foulke to be a) healthy and b) a lights out closer. Papelbon can be the guy to step in and fill the role, without causing any blip in the starting pitching situation.
Arroyo is on record saying that he's fine with being thrown to the bullpen. I like him as a ROOGY type of pitcher to come in to the middle of a jam.

Bottom line: This bullpen still inspires no faith in me, and the thought of having Arroyo and Papelbon anchoring the bullpen along with Timlin sounds good to me. Count me unconvinced with Rudy friekin Seanez being relied upon along with Timlin, Foulke, and Riske.