Red Sox, As of Today.

[gassy]

So they're only up 1.5 over the Yanks. They're in the playoffs either way. Manny, out for 21 games, will be back just in time. No worries here.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

What a f*cking choke. They were up, what? 17 games at one point? Ridiculous.

They pull this EVERY year - start off sprinting out of the gate and way out in front of the pack, only to fall to schit after the All-Star break and have the Yankees beat them for the division. . . year after year after year. Just for once, I'd like to see them get in front and STAY there and actually get to October as a Division winner not a "lucky" wildcard/skin-of-your-teeth entrant. It's maddening and yet predictable at the same time.

And they CONSTANTLY seem to have trouble with the Blue Jays in the late season - EVERY YEAR. Don't know why, they just do. It's a pattern I've identified.

I'm still rooting for 'em though.

[pwd72s]

Hey, Jacoby Ellsbury is doing great in his rookie showing. So, does this mean the Red Sox will trade him next year?

[Z-man]

As of this morning -- Bosox are only ahead by 1 game.

There are two things that are very predictable about the Yankees:
1. They get into a massive slump in the middle of summer.
2. Their bats get really, really hot in September.

I've been following them since the 70's, and you can almost set your watch to their game. So many times people would write off the Yanks in August, but as Yogi Berra says, "It ain't over till it's over."

Go Yanks!
-Z-man.

[Overpaid Slacker]

The Red Sox are falling faster than the housing market.

JP

[JCF]

How can anyone root for that bunch of LOSERS.
I tried, but they disgust me.
I used to be a Yankee fan. Big Yankee fan.
Then they became a team of all the players I hated most from the teams I loved to watch them beat.
Justice. Boggs. Clemens. A Rod.

Started to warm up to the Red Sox since moving to New England.
Thought they might be OK after they won the Series (yes after, was in no hurry to jump on the bandwagon)
This year started to feel like I was starting to become a fan.

But then the meltdown !
Why I never liked them - they do this regularly. Every year it seems .
They start out great. The NE media and fans start to become more and more obnoxious (one guy laughed when they swept the Yankees early this year - "Yankees don't have a prayer" - I laughed also, but inside)

Now they are all saying that it doesn't matter they choked so bad. They are in the playoffs.
Everyone is now excited because they are going to be a Wlid Card.

HAVE THEY NO PRIDE FOR GODS SAKE !!!!
LOSERS !!!

Even if they end up winning the Series they S++K.

Sorry CJ Fusco , I really tried to like them.
And no, I won't go back to the Yankees ( even if they are WINNERS !)....
Bums ! Both of them.

Thank God for the Pats - YEAH go ahead - cheaters - still lke 'em.

Unless it turns out they really did unforgivable things and the team knew what was going on.

: (

Cycling ?

F 1 ?

Hey Paul - any hope for something positive over on the pool circuit.

[Dan in Pasadena]

What the hell are you Red Sox fans complaining about? My Dodgers looked pretty good all season even with little to no power, injuries all over the place in the pitching staff and a raft of kids playing. Then? The second half of August rolls around and they fall apart going something like 3-13. They can't figure out which end of the bat to use. And finally their season derails in the last week. I'd be thrilled to death if they were squeeking into the playoffs no matter how.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by JCF

How can anyone root for that bunch of LOSERS.
I tried, but they disgust me.


Hey Paul - any hope for something positive over on the pool circuit.

Oh yeah, always something exciting going on in pool halls. And they don't shut down when it snows, like oudoor pool halls, aka golf courses.

Want me to help you pick out a nice cue & case?

[JCF]

I might do a lot better at pool if I could use my putter.

[hytem]

Lousy manager. Overuses the bullpen every year. Team not peaking in September for playoffs.
Overprotective of starting pitching--especially rookies. Great lineup. Outlook for playoffs. Bleak. Disastrous trade for Gagne. Pitching in disarray. Stays with veterans who aren't producing.

[CJFusco]

The manager isn't the problem, and it isn't a big choke job.

Everybody relax; the Red Sox are still in 1st place, still holding the best record in the AL. Yes, they have been terrible over the past week or so, but I actually think that it is a result of the team conciously resting certain players (Manny, Youk, Dice-K, Okajima) so that they will be healthy for the post-season. After all, what really matters - who has the best record in the season, or who wins the pennant?

The Red Sox will make the playoffs. If they don't, then everyone can start *****ing. But they will, and they will most likely win their division. In any case, even if they "only" get the wild card slot, everything is set back to zero once the playoffs begin.

I'm not saying that the Sox will win the WS, but as long as they make the playoffs, they are no worse off than they were when they were 8 games ahead of the Yankees. Yes, I am disappointed in how bad they've been lately, but look at the Big Picture.

[CJFusco]

Originally Posted by hytem

Lousy manager. Overuses the bullpen every year. Team not peaking in September for playoffs.
Overprotective of starting pitching--especially rookies. Great lineup. Outlook for playoffs. Bleak. Disastrous trade for Gagne. Pitching in disarray. Stays with veterans who aren't producing.

I think you're half-right. I think Francona is sticking with Drew because of his contract, but once the playoffs begin, you will see Ellsbury coming into games in mid-late innings in key roles.

I agree, Francona does stick with his "tried and true" veterans to a fault, but who is he gonna go with instead? Delcarmen instead of Timlin? Hansen instead of Gagne? Please.

Yes, Francona does frustrate me sometimes. But he has a Big Picture to work with, a plan set out by Theo and the Powers-that-Be. In 3 years you won't even remember why you doubted Theo and Francona, et al.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I hope you're right. But it would be nice if that multi-million dollar franchise could actually win a few games - someone has to.

[JCF]

You're right.
Not the manager, Not a choke - Just a typical Red Sox Season.

Resting players since the All Star break ?
Seems they have all been playing except Manny hurt (?) maybe just resting- maybe just being Manny. Youk (wrist) . Crisp - being outplayed by one of the best young players to come along in quite a while (It looks like Coco's getting the message).
Pap sure picked a good time to nap on the mound against the Yankees.

A lot of the players do act like they are resting and sound like they don't give a damn that they are losing half their games . That it is OK they will be a Wild Card.

THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM !

LOSERS, LOSERS, LOSERS

[Big Ed]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

What the hell are you Red Sox fans complaining about? My Dodgers looked pretty good all season even with little to no power, injuries all over the place in the pitching staff and a raft of kids playing. Then? The second half of August rolls around and they fall apart going something like 3-13. They can't figure out which end of the bat to use. And finally their season derails in the last week. I'd be thrilled to death if they were squeeking into the playoffs no matter how.

Dodgers coulda been contenders if they had retained J.D. Drew. Man, does that guy suck.

[Big Ed]

Originally Posted by CJFusco

Everybody relax; the Red Sox are still in 1st place, still holding the best record in the AL.

Re-check the standings CJ. Angels have the best record in the AL, and Cleveland is second.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Big Ed

Dodgers coulda been contenders if they had retained J.D. Drew. Man, does that guy suck.

I assume that comment is with tongue firmly in cheek?
Glad to hear you guys know about that guy. I was glad to hear he opted out here and I thought by mid season he'll be curled up into a fetal position inthe hotbox that Boston is for baseball. Drew IS physically talented (though less so as the years pass him by) but there is something wrong in his head. He's going to be a problem and on the DL for a hangnail wherever he goes.

As for the earlier comment about the "disastrous trade for Gagne". I hate to have to agree, but you're right. He is a shadow of what he was. There is no way to communicate how dominating Gagne was during his couple of years at the top. There was an electricity in the stadium as he game in and his song was played on the loudspeakers. I hear East coast guys don't see many West coast team games. Too bad, because Gagne was as automatic as I have EVER seen anyone be. NOTHING like hearing the first notes of Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." right after Gagne struck out the third batter. I've still got my "GameOver" T shirt with his likeness and goatee/glasses on it. I treasure it.

Too bad and I hope I'm wrong, but I think he's done.

[Big Ed]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I assume that comment is with tongue firmly in cheek?

Yup, it sure was.

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

As for the earlier comment about the "disastrous trade for Gagne". I hate to have to agree, but you're right. He is a shadow of what he was. There is no way to communicate how dominating Gagne was during his couple of years at the top. There was an electricity in the stadium as he game in and his song was played on the loudspeakers. I hear East coast guys don't see many West coast team games. Too bad, because Gagne was as automatic as I have EVER seen anyone be. NOTHING like hearing the first notes of Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." right after Gagne struck out the third batter. I've still got my "GameOver" T shirt with his likeness and goatee/glasses on it. I treasure it.

Too bad and I hope I'm wrong, but I think he's done.

I agree, he looks gassed every time he's out there. He was something else in his salad days. Now?

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by Big Ed

Re-check the standings CJ. Angels have the best record in the AL, and Cleveland is second.

Shhhh... we find it's best if you don't wake the Sox fans, they still think they've got a home grown roster and a frugal budget. It's kinda cute really

[Overpaid Slacker]

Hey, yesterday was a great day for the Sox! They managed not to fall any further.

Neither they nor the Yanks played, of course.

JP