The Boston Red Sox

[fiznat]

I just wanted to make sure that everyone knew, so that they didnt feel left out, but THIS IS THE YEAR!!!

The Sox just won game 4 against Oakland-- now it's down to game 5, and we're movin on up!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lets hear it from the Boston fans: THIS IS OUR TIME!!

[NY94J30]

Doesn't it suck to be a Boston fan - just when you get that glimmer of hope every year, this is the year, not gonna happen this year, and then.....1918

[BuudWeizErr]

Jesus man, those guys are going to give me a freaking stroke. Finally Ortiz came through with a hit, he was only 0-17 or something like that. Looks like Manny is finally waking up too.

Seems like without Walker and Damon, they wouldn't have gone anywhere.

I think if they can keep Tejada and Chevez hitless through game 5 they will take it. But they need to keep Dorazo from repeating what he did in game 1 and 2.

Now I just hope the Twins beat the Yankees tonight.

[fiznat]

helll yeah man!! I was outside of Fenway last night to hear the roar from Nixon's homer (damn I wish I had tickets), and man that was one of the best nights I've had all year, drinking out on Lansdowne street with thousands of fans screaming "THIS IS THE YEAR! THIS IS THE YEAR!" Ahhhhh yes. This isnt a glimmer of hope, this is destined from above!!

[NY94J30]

We'll soon know, huh?

To be continued...

[BuudWeizErr]

I was in Mass last summer and my Uncle got me and my dad tickets to go see them play the IIRC Rockies and damn... like a dream come true, finally seeing them play in Fenway IRL. First time seeing them win IRL too. Seems like I was always at the game they lost when I saw them play in Anaheim.

Bleh, if they don't win, as long as someone whoops up on the Yankees, I'll be happy. I'd be happier if the A's lost too though.

[MaineExport]

Well... I won't get my hopes too high... but damn it would be nice to see them win in Oakland tomorrow!

I would LOVE to think that this year is the year... but that would mean hell froze over... and we can't have that.

On a side note... the Pats also took a nice win today!!!

[Nathan]

Go Yankees!!! I love supporting the team everyone hates

[NY94J30]

They hate us b/c they want to be us - just like all the players that want to play in the Bronx. This is why the Yanks get so many good free agents - as would any other perennial winner. Sucess begets success. Its all upper management. The argument that the Yankee's have the largest payroll just doesn't ring true. It's how you spend the money. The Red Sox payroll wasnt that much smaller last year or the year before.

[fiznat]

maybe, NY, but the Sox have heart. You gotta love a team that hasn't won it big in so long, and yet it's fans never seem to get discouraged. You can be assured that NOBODY is a bandwagon fan in Boston. I'm not so sure you could say the same thing for the *shudder* yankees.

(lol thanks for the move, mysterymod.. haha I thought I got deleted for some reason at first.)

[Aztek72]

They hate us b/c they want to be us - just like all the players that want to play in the Bronx. This is why the Yanks get so many good free agents - as would any other perennial winner. Sucess begets success. Its all upper management. The argument that the Yankee's have the largest payroll just doesn't ring true. It's how you spend the money. The Red Sox payroll wasnt that much smaller last year or the year before.

:oface

The Yankees payroll is nearly double the second highest payroll in baseball.

Good free agents? Hmm..Boone's been a huge BUST for the team and hasn't made the impact the Yanks were expecting. It'll be a least a season before he picks up AL pitching and starts contributing. Let's not forget the Raul Mondesi and Benitez fiasco's this year.

On the other side of the fence, you have teams like the A's. Despite being a small market and having one of the smallest payrolls in the league, they've been perennial contenders. Why? Because they have a great farming system that produces good talent and tremendous management. Give Billy Beane $190 million to work with and you'd have a dynasty.

This has been a special ride for the Sox and I'm sure none of the guys on the squad (maybe with the exception of Kim and Manny) would rather play anywhere else.

Now I'm thinking the Sox are gonna take game five for no other reason than Pedro Martinez pitching. For the last couple of years, the A's can't seem to get past a game five and with Pedro pitching with a chip on his shoulder, the Sox bats waking up, it doesn't bode well for the A's.

Still holding out hope for a rematch of the 1918 World Series- Cubs vs. Sox baby!!!

[Mr1der]

Yankees can eat my ***, stupid Steinberg's all like "I will make the best team ever! Then Satan shall truly see who the best son is!"

I wanna see the series be the Cubbies and the Red Sox, how cool would that be?

[Aztek72]

I wanna see the series be the Cubbies and the Red Sox, how cool would that be?

Fu/ckin A!! I'd soil my drawers in joy!

[fiznat]

I'd climb the fences at Fenway. I dont care what they'd do to me, it'd be worth it to see that.

[Rockenreno]

sorry to disappoint you all, but the A's will break their streak of 8 straight losses in chances to win a first round playoff series while the reigning Cy-Young shuts down the Red Stockings in his home town. The only reason Boston won the last 2 was home field advantage and poor umpire calls (interference dammit!), along with a series of errors that was just bad luck. The A's will win with pitching and defense, Pedro or not.

[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. Pedro is pitching on full rest and he's Pedro f'in Martinez. The guy's a badass.

Also, intereference call or not this would all be over if your boy Eric Byrnes would have touched the damn plate instead of limped around, shoving Veritek. I think the Red Sox will win tomorrow because the A's bullpen isn't good and is tired, Zito will be tired and the A's aren't producing offense. Pretty sad that I can tell you that if Zito holds the Sox to 1 run that may be all they need.

By the way, the Yankees (I hate em) have a payroll of 167 million this year...the Twins? 58 million. Almost three times as much. The A's have the 25th lowest payroll in baseball. What they are able to do with their money is amazing. It's not how Steinbrenner spends his money...it's that he spends so much of it. It's like this: you buy the whole stock market and something's gonna succeed for you.

Nick

[NY94J30]

That was an unresearched statement:

By the way, the Yankees (I hate em) have a payroll of 167 million this year...the Twins? 58 million. Almost three times as much. The A's have the 25th lowest payroll in baseball. What they are able to do with their money is amazing. It's not how Steinbrenner spends his money...it's that he spends so much of it. It's like this: you buy the whole stock market and something's gonna succeed for you.

Nick

BTW MN's payroll $65M, Yanks S180M - 3 times as much, Yanks 3 - 1 in the series, three times as many wins. Yanks in season series 8-0, last 3 seasons 27-1 (ouch)

And as for the BoSox this year 104 to the Yanks' 180, last year 108 to the Yanks' 125

The payroll argument is the standard argument for the losers and Boston fans who have to watch the Yankees win the disvsions year after year - look at the Mets, Rangers, Dodgers (exception of this year), large payrolls, small winning percentages

[fiznat]

The Yanks are still evil, I dont care how many games they win.

[Mr1der]

yeah, I can only picture them smoking big cigars and pushing small children.

[rydwhite]

A Cubs - Red Sox series would be the best moment in baseball history.

The two teams with the worst luck in baseball, playing in the series. The funny thing is that the Yankees would still probably win. HA ha

[I H8 UR DSM]

:oface

The Yankees payroll is nearly double the second highest payroll in baseball.

Good free agents? Hmm..Boone's been a huge BUST for the team and hasn't made the impact the Yanks were expecting. It'll be a least a season before he picks up AL pitching and starts contributing. Let's not forget the Raul Mondesi and Benitez fiasco's this year.

On the other side of the fence, you have teams like the A's. Despite being a small market and having one of the smallest payrolls in the league, they've been perennial contenders. Why? Because they have a great farming system that produces good talent and tremendous management. Give Billy Beane $190 million to work with and you'd have a dynasty.

This has been a special ride for the Sox and I'm sure none of the guys on the squad (maybe with the exception of Kim and Manny) would rather play anywhere else.

Now I'm thinking the Sox are gonna take game five for no other reason than Pedro Martinez pitching. For the last couple of years, the A's can't seem to get past a game five and with Pedro pitching with a chip on his shoulder, the Sox bats waking up, it doesn't bode well for the A's.

Still holding out hope for a rematch of the 1918 World Series- Cubs vs. Sox baby!!!

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.

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

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...

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.

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.

The yankee's management is just 'better' than the rest, and you cant really argue with that...the A's were there at one point, but couldnt maintain their success...which has to do with management decisions, not player results.

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.

The Redsox are finally a team that tried to copy their success...and even outbid them for certain players....didnt happen...and i wouldnt expect them to have the same long term results as the yankee's...their ownership just doesnt have the same frame of mind as Yanks ownership.

If you break down every game, every team, every series, you would have to step outside the box, and admit, the Yankee's really do have the best team this year. Only team that would worry me would be the Cubs because of their fantastic pitching

[Rockenreno]

1)That was an unresearched statement:

2)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. Pedro is pitching on full rest and he's Pedro f'in Martinez. The guy's a badass.

3)Also, intereference call or not this would all be over if your boy Eric Byrnes would have touched the damn plate instead of limped around, shoving Veritek. I think the Red Sox will win tomorrow because the A's bullpen isn't good and is tired, Zito will be tired and the A's aren't producing offense. Pretty sad that I can tell you that if Zito holds the Sox to 1 run that may be all they need.

4)By the way, the Yankees (I hate em) have a payroll of 167 million this year...the Twins? 58 million. Almost three times as much. The A's have the 25th lowest payroll in baseball. What they are able to do with their money is amazing. It's not how Steinbrenner spends his money...it's that he spends so much of it. It's like this: you buy the whole stock market and something's gonna succeed for you.

Nick

1) You are wrong

2) Pedro is not the greatest player to ever play like you make him out to be. A great pitcher, yes, but I will argue that Zito can be just as good on any given day. Just because he's never pitched on 3 days rest in the major leagues before doesn't mean he'll wear out quick. Zito is a strong pitcher and he'll do just fine if his curveball is working. Plus the Sox have had no offense this series either, so don't argue that the A's don't have an offense.

3) I wasn't referring to that play. That play was Byrnes' fault, he should have payed attention. I was referring to when Bill Mueller stepped back into Miguel Tejada (he could have stopped in front of the base) and there was a collision, causing Tejada to nearly fall down, then being thrown out at home plate. The third base ump even signalled intereference during the play, they just decided he wouldn't have scored (which he would have... he probably would have scored if he had kept running too, that lazy arse!). I was watching the game, and the head umpire guy that was there seemed to think it should have been called intereference (though he would never contradict his umpires). He compared it the the play with the Giants last year.

4) The Yankees have way too much money to throw around. I don't care what DSM says, if you can buy all-stars at mid season you have a significant advantage. The A's can't even afford to keep their talent (Giambi, Damon, Isringhausen, now maybe Tejada). I just hope we can keep our pitchers...

[maxI30t]

man...yesterday was a good day to be a new england sports fan. Pats beat the titans 38-30, sox took game four of the series. i swear i was gonna have a heart attack yesterday.

man if the sox and the cubs go to the world series that would be a dream come true. Curse of the babe vs. Curse of the Billy goat. one of them is gonna break this season.

[I H8 UR DSM]

1) You are wrong

2) Pedro is not the greatest player to ever play like you make him out to be.

Nope, Bonds is

[quote=" Rockenreno I don't care what DSM says, if you can buy all-stars at mid season you have a significant advantage. The A's can't even afford to keep their talent (Giambi, Damon, Isringhausen, now maybe Tejada). I just hope we can keep our pitchers... [/quote]

Ok, whats "cant afford"?? You mean "choose not to spend that money"..... The Yankee's create a profit with their business practices. The "sport" of baseball is a business. If there was a rule against that, ie. salary cap, then you might have an arguement.

It might not be cost efficient for some teams to sign certain players, and thats their choice. Its obvious that having more money into your franchise will produce results...but the yankee's have the highest payroll every year? Yes. Do they win every year? no. YET whenever a team loses to them its 'because they have the highest payroll'....its nice for a fan to have an excuse to fall back on again...and the yankee's are in a cant win situation since, no matter when or who they will lose to, will try to rub it in a yankee fans face. So they have to win....so they get the best players....then they get hated on for winning...very amusing.

Also, One would argue the yankee's dont have the best Position player or pitcher in the AL, or the NL. They just have a quality group of core players. Think of how many position players in the league are actually better overall than a yankee at the same position. You could probrobly argue the yankee's only have 1 or 2 starters on the all star team.....

Hey, on paper, i'd look at the A's, or Redsox and say they have a great chance of beating the yankee's this year ("old yankee 40 year old pitchers!" lol)...but for some reason, i dont think they are going to.

[I H8 UR DSM]

oh..and its all about the Cubs pitching this year

[Mr1der]

indeed, Wood and Prior pwn all!

Prior throughs a gorgeous breaking ball and killer curve

Wood is just bad ***

[rydwhite]

DSM laying the smack down on ya'll. I agree 100%.

Grew up a Yanks fan and I still am. I lived through the horrific 80's when the only good player on the team was Mattingly. However, with that said, I do like to see the wealth spread around every once in a while. It is nice to have another team win. Look at the Angels last year. Look at the Marlins a few years ago. It gives baseball that glorified story of david versus goliath. The low budget Angels and Marlins battled all odds and took down the Goliaths of baseball. Now that is a compelling story. Even though I am a Yankee fan, I would prefer to see the Cubs or Sox win it this year just because it will probably be another 60 or 70 years before they get back to the series. The Yanks will be back each and every year for awhile.

[NY94J30]

BTW the '97 Marlins were not on a budget ($89M) - many say the Wayne Huizenga bought the championship that year, and dumped the team the next. I agree, but only to the extent that you can buy a WS title, its all in the management.

[Rockenreno]

Nope, Bonds is

Ok, whats "cant afford"?? You mean "choose not to spend that money"..... The Yankee's create a profit with their business practices. The "sport" of baseball is a business. If there was a rule against that, ie. salary cap, then you might have an arguement.

It might not be cost efficient for some teams to sign certain players, and thats their choice. Its obvious that having more money into your franchise will produce results

I'm not a big Bonds fan... though he is becoming one of the greatest players.

As for not being able to afford to keep their talent... they simply do not have the money or income to do it. The Yankees turn a huge profit from the team as well as YES's other ventures, allowing them to fork over more than 3 times as much money as other teams. I never said it was bad business for them, but I am saying they have a significant advantage because of it. You make it seem like it makes no difference at all. And they have tried to implement a salary cap for years to no avail. Why would players want to give up the opportunity to become overpayed in NY (or anywhere else that tries to compete with their offer).

As for the All-Stars, almost every player in the Yankee lineup could be an All-Star.

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

there is just so much talent on the yankees and no need to worry about cost. In a small market you have to think about payroll, the Yankees don't. I never said this was bad business practice, as they clearly field a perennial contender, but it is a huge advantage over the rest of the league.

PS, yes, I hate the Yankees. I've been an A's fan since I was 6 and the bash brothers helped them win the 89 bay bridge series.

[Mr1der]

It really cheapens the feeling to look at america's favorite past time and realize it's business, I think I'm gonna continue to look at it like the strike never happened and try to hold onto the innocence I saw in it when I was a kid.