The Boston Red Sox

[rydwhite]

:Werd

[I H8 UR DSM]

Posada- probably the best catcher in the AL now that Pudge is goneGiambi- former MVP, one of best players in leagueSoriano- goes nearly 40/40 every yearJeter- one of the best SS in leagueBoone- was an All-Star this year in NLBernie- slumped this year, usually goodMatsui- possible rookie of the year

then there's the pitchers:Clemens- most dominant pitcher of last 2 decadesPettite- always goodMussina- stolen #1 pitcher from Orioles, always near top of leagueWells-grabbed him again, possible 20 game winner every yearWeaver-stolen #1 pitcher from Detroit (though sucks with yanks)Rivera- one of the best closers in the game

The yankee's do not have the Best RF, LF, CF, 3B, SS, 1B, or Pitcher in either of the leagues....you could make an arguement for Posada and Soriano to be starters on the all star team..and 'maybe' Giambi....anyone else would just make it out of popularity. The fact is , its not 1996 anymore, and they dont have the best players at each position anymore.

[maxI30t]

i agree. this is not the same yankee's team from the mid 90's. but you do have to admit they have way to money to throw around. it would seem they try to buy a championship every year. the payroll is like double the 2nd hightest paid team. i think its the texas ranger (92 million?).

[rydwhite]

I don't really think that Giambi is that great of a first baseman. He is a hitter, but he has really struggled this year.

Posada is arguably the best catcher in the AL, but Pudge is the best catcher in baseball now and one of the 5 best of all time. Soriano may be the best second baseman in baseball. Both have gone throught the yankees farm system.

The difference betweent the Yanks and the rest are that the Yanks are able to retain their players by offering lucrative contracts whereas the rest of the league isn't able to offer their players money to stay. This has already been stated several times.

I partially blame the players for all of this. They get offered soo much money to go elsewhere and accept. There just isn't much loyalty in sports anymore. However, I suppose if I was offered a big raise to go elsewhere and do the same job I would take it. But, it would be nice to live in a society where loyalty meant more than money. But, we obviously do not live in such a utopian sports society. Oh well.

[Bubba1]

There's nothing better than a Yankee-Red Sox series, and there's nothing like waching a ballgame at Fenway. If you want to annoy a real Boston fan, ask 'em what Bucky Dent's middle name is. But the Babe's curse will rear it's ugly head once again. It's inevitable. I'd personally love to see a Yankees-Red Sox ALCS followed by a Cubbie-Red Sox series. Anyway, I'm not sure what Red Sox fans would do if they actually won a series....

As far as who is to blame for the mess MLB is in, It's a combination of selfish, arrogant players players/agents AND arrogant foolish owners who can't help themselves. Add ina commisioner that's suuposed to protect the game but happens to be an owner and you have a self destructive industry. I love baseball but will not pay to attend an MLB game. Not worth it. Minor league is a much better deal. Same product without the arrogance and price gouging.I'll take my son to a Trenton Thunder game for less than it would cost to just PARK at a Phillies game.

[Rockenreno]

The yankee's do not have the Best RF, LF, CF, 3B, SS, 1B, or Pitcher in either of the leagues

I never said they did, but they have top-5 players at nearly every position. Most teams can afford one or two (if they're lucky). The Yankees tend to have about a half dozen of them.

I agree with the rest of you, its sad this is a business, I would love to see yanks-sox and sox-cubs, but I am an A's fan all the way so I gotta root for my team down the stretch.

As for payrolls, I think Boston is at #2 with just over 100 million, the yanks still blow everyone out of the water though. Oh, and I blame the Players' Assosciation and greedy bastards wanting only money for this problem. It's not all the players, but some of them and their union that make it a business over a sport. It's a shame, but in America people will profit off others no matter what the cost.

[Aztek72]

For one..MLB has revenue sharing..so dont use that old 'payroll' arguement because its not a 'fair' comparison statistic...besides the point you have to realize what goes into that payroll, ie. guys that are in the minors (drew hensens contract) traded/released players etc...

Go ahead, say "give billy bean XX amount" and make a promise...thats just speculation, and isnt based on any sort of psychic ability you have. Fact is If $ was the same, players are still going to prefer to go play for the most historical franchinse, the NY Yankees.

Yes, the Yankees have the most storied history in baseball. Yes the Yankees have been the most successful franchise of the past decade and the most succesful history of any sports team. No doubt about that. That Yankees mystique has played a big hand in luring talent from other teams. But c'mon, with huge contracts dangled in front of them, these guys are putty in Steinbrenner's hands. A lot of these guys put on the pinstripes because they feel it's the easiest way to a championship and there's no arguing the Yanks have the best chances of taking the series year in, year out.

The yankee's payroll is not double the second payroll in baseball..

Of course it's not but if you paid attention the keyword was "nearly" and according to the Boston Globe, the Yanks have a $180 million payroll as opposed to the Sox' $105. Now I'm no math major but that's pretty close to double, wouldn't you say?

I'm not a 'fan' of one specific team..but i do work in the front offices for one of the professional sports teams, so i have a pretty fair understanding on how payrolls are comprised and the fact they dont 'really' have a say in how a team is going to perform...sure that will always be the arguement against the yankee's, but look at the other high payroll teams, and their records...

You sure? I think I can see your pinstripes from here.

Dont forget the amount of money the yanks give to the other small market franchise's through the collective barganing agreement, and how those teams select to USE that money in their organization.

See, here you failed to mention that a HUGE chunk of Steinbrenner's paycheck comes from his stranglehold of the television market.

We cant 'give boone 190 million', there is no cap, so he has access to the money, his management though chooses not to invest that amount into the team, and that is their choice...no one forces them to have a low payroll.

Riiiigghht. That's like saying my mom can slap on some boxing gloves and go toe-to-toe with Mike Tyson. NOBODY in the league can play the big money game with the Yankees. It's absurd for small market teams like the A's, Kansas City and Montreal to shell out the kind of money the Yanks do. Just not economically feasible for teams that have a hard time selling 10,000 seats per game. Also, it's "Beane," not "Boone." Ask Steinbrenner which GM he'd rather have at the helm right now and we'll see...

Go ahead, talk about 'farm systems'...you do know that the yankee's CORE of stars is all developed from within, Bernie Williams, Posada, Jeter, Petite......its not like these guys came from somewhere else...they were developed into yankee's an the yankee tradition...they pick up surrounding players from other teams over the years to fill spots they have empty....like a good organization would.

I never said the Yanks had a bad farm system I just stated the fact that the A's had a terrific one that's produced some great talent over the year's (McGwire, Ecks, Chavez, Giambi, Zito, Hudson, Mulder) and are much more dependant on said system as opposed of throwing money at players and reeling them in. In fact, I'd say the A's have had the best farming system of the past ten years. Most of the starters on this year's A's roster came up from their farming system.

Alright, I've had a year's worth of head butting these past few weeks. Gotta go watch the game now! Go SOX!!!

[fiznat]

all arguing aside, whos watching right now? I'm seein 1-0 Oakland in the bottom of the 5th... NOT WORRIED.

[fiznat]

*cough* update... bottom of the 6th, 4-1 SOX. HELL YES thanks to Manny for a 3 run homer!

[Mr1der]

it's getting close, sox are in a good position right now though

[Mr1der]

here it is, moment of truth!

[Mr1der]

celebrate now!

[fiznat]

I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS IT THAT YOU HATERS WERE SAYING!?!?!? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYAH!!!!!!

[BuudWeizErr]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

The Yankees have nothing on a team with that much drive. Cubs and Red Sox, 1918 Part 2.

Oh yeah, fiznat is at Jillians right now because of me Have fun bro!

[90Q45blue]

So what did I say was gonna happen? Zito fizzled in the sixth and that's why the Sox got the win.

Nick

[BuudWeizErr]

So what did I say was gonna happen? Zito fizzled in the sixth and that's why the Sox got the win.

Nick

It's funny you mention that because me and fiznat WERE talking about that on AIM.

"Didn't someone on NICO say that Zito would get a beatdown after the first half of the game?"

"yea"

[BuudWeizErr]

I need this shirt.

[90Q45blue]

That was an unresearched statement:

First of all, Barry Zito will be pitching on 3 days rest for the FIRST time in his career...meaning nobody has any idea how he'll hold up. Sure he'll pitch well in inning 1-4 but the 5th and the 6th is where he's gonna tire out.

Yeah...that was me. Go Bo'sox!

Nick

[Rockenreno]

dagnabit... I need to find a new team to root for. These A's have let me down 4 years in a row. So until next year, go Sox!

PS we WILL go all the way next year with 4 healthy starting pitchers (Zito, Mulder, Hudson, and a more developed Harden) instead of 1.

dammit, I really thought this was our year

[90Q45blue]

I need this shirt.

When you find one...let me know cuz I really need one of those; especially with one of my roommates being a Yankee fan.

Nick

[90Q45blue]

PS we WILL go all the way next year with 4 healthy starting pitchers (Zito, Mulder, Hudson, and a more developed Harden) instead of 1.

But...without Tejada. Mark my words, Tejada will most likely be a Los Angeles Dodger next year.

Nick

[Rockenreno]

we have Crosby if Tejada goes... but he REALLY wants to stay. I think we really need to keep Guillen too.

[MaineExport]

Yeeeeeeee freakin' haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Oh man... I feel the curse lifting...... slooooooowly

[90Q45blue]

we have Crosby if Tejada goes... but he REALLY wants to stay.

Just like Jason Giambi did? I'm sorry, I really am giving you too much crap. It's just my best friend is a die hard A's fan so I'm used to going back and forth with him.

But honestly, the A's can't give Tejada enough to make him stay. The Dodgers will offer him an insane deal. Plus, it's hard to want to stay with a team that goes to the playoffs four years in a row and has lost now 9 straight games when in a position to clinch the series.

Nick

P.S. No hard feelings bro. I like the A's too, just not that much.

[Rockenreno]

P.S. No hard feelings bro. I like the A's too, just not that much.

It's cool, I love debating this crap. I know the A's can't offer Tejada the money, they even announced it, but with Billy Beane you never know what's going to happen until after it does. Can I vote for him in the recall election? He makes the A's a perennial contended on a budget of beans, think of what he could do for our economy

Seriously though, I have faith in our management because of Beane (truly a rarity in sports)... we'll be alright.

[maxI30t]

Lowe is the man!!!!!! JC these guys love making their games close. i swear i was on the verge of have a heart attack....lol

[fiznat]

oh my god

I just got back from the "riots" outside of fenway, and all I can say is WOW. There were people flipping cars, climbing onto buildings (and jumping off!), girls flashing, crowd surfing.... wow.... I was REALLY suprised, the cops didnt even come till like 45 minutes into it- I thought they'd be there already. By then the whole area was in chaos.. the flipped car was leaking gas all over the place and there was a flaming t-shirt not too far away. Scary.

Anyways the cops came with their riot gear and nightsticks and after another hour or so managed to clean everyone out. It was a crazy night though - I got a whole disposable camera's worth of pictures to show you guys when they get developed.

Those Yankees Suck shirts are ALL OVER the place on game days... if you guys want me to pick them up or something and send em out I'd be happy to.

Man I hope everyone had a good night - I certanly did. Stand by for pics!!

[maxI30t]

dude...did you get any pictures of the girl flashin'...*wink*wink*

[rydwhite]

That curse has tried to be lifeted several times, but to no avail. I really don't see it happening this year. It would be nice, but not likely.

[fiznat]

dude...did you get any pictures of the girl flashin'...*wink*wink*

sigh, NO! goddammit I wanted to so bad, but I foolishly took too many pictures before that happened and ran outta film!! I kept seeing things that I wish I had shots left for but nooo. I have a bunch of car flipping and random crazyness though.