Lammycat

The Yankees have made similar moves and I didn't cry. Bitched a bit, but so what? That's the nature of the beast. You'd probably understand better if your team had a similar rival. Congrats to Girardi, nonetheless.

Not to beat a dead horse here, but he's the best pitcher on the market this off-season. The Red Sox have the funds to pursue him. And as I've mentioned (and as Gammons did on PTI tonight) it would open the floodgates for the Asian market for the Sox (which is pegged to be the next hot spot for foreign players the next 20 years) and the Sox could certainly recover their enormous investment with the addition of a high profile Asian player. Yeah, it's certainly not a sure thing. But no investment is.

The $50/51 million posting fee does not go into salary costs nor against the team payroll nor toward any possible luxury taxes, it's simply for the exclusive right to negotiate with him. It also does not figure into salary money for years down the road. Schilling has said he will play only one more year. There's money freed up there. The Sox would probably need to get rid of a few key (high-salary) players, too. In comparison to the Yankees who often make very high-cost signings year after year, the Sox have been fiscally conservative the last several years and are, apparently, willing to inve

The Sox obviously want an opportunity to sign him and are apparently prepared to pay high for his services. If negotiations fall through and it prevents him from going to the Yankees, than that's the next best thing. I believe the FO is intent on signing him for reasons listed earlier, and that some people are missing the point of it being a potentially high pay-off of an investment, even with consideration to the $figures$ being tossed around.

Now wait just a minute here. "If" he did it? If?! He's maintained his innoncence all these years....I feel so used. This'll be sweet to watch though. He's an excellent actor.

I'll address this post in more detail when I have more time, but the Sox have been very conservative the last several years for reasons such as this (Matsazaka) and will still be pretty far below the Yankees payroll when this contract irons out. No doubt they have money to spend, though. And I couldn't be more pleased that they do.

Tonight's the nigh-hi-ight....for celebration (or was it last night?!). Happy birthday....

Bonds will be 43 this upcoming season. He had an injury-plaqued season in 2005. Nagging elbow problems and knee problems up through last season. Doesn't want to DH, yet has regularly griped about playing LF in the past. Wants a lot moremoney than he's worth. Tends to be a slight distraction with all the controversy surrounding his legitmacy at breaking the record with 22 or so more HRs, and is widely suspected as a man who is cheating/cheated his way through a major part of his career. What club wouldn't welcome Bonds?

Considering some of the bat shit crazy things HST reportedly had done, I was kind of thinking I'd have been somewhat okay with him shaving my head when watching the show Sunday night. Which recalls the story of when HST was running for sherriff in Aspen in the early 70s and shaved his head completely bald so he could, in part, refer to his conservative and crew-cutted opponent as a long-haired freak.

Not sure where the $98 million figure comes from as The Sox have yet to reveal any financial plans for the potential deal. It's speculation, at this point, but let's assume the deal heads upward of this figure: the Sox would still (I'm pretty sure) be under the luxury tax. They've been relatively conservative the last few years and are obviously in a position to jump on a potential young arm (26 yrs. old- Papelbon and Beckett ages) that's the hottest commodity available. Again, of course it's a gamble. But so is chasing down a veteran pitcher in the off-season and signing him for big bucks.

I'm curious about the source where this person is getting his/her info. I've been following this thing pretty closely and have not caught wind of the Sox doing this solely to prevent him from being wooed by the Yankees. On the other hand (same hand?) I think it's a potentially fantastic move by the Red Sox front office. As a fan of the team, I want them to win. This could help them win. The projections on the Japanese phenom are outstanding. Of course, they're only projections. But so are what we are to expect from any other pitcher this upcoming season: projections. And yes, it potential

Yeah, that and the fact that he had a very impressive rookie season.

Wow. Excellent piece on Ed tonight. What a neat man.

You are a god among squirrels. Seriously.

Roanoke. Awesome. Lived there for 8 years. Where'd you catch 'em? Ever been to my buddy's bookstore, Cantos?

I think it's appropriate this converseation via interweb starts out with some recognition for young J. Pappelbon: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ne...sp&c_id=bos

I certainly understand the point that it diminishes quality overall. I just can't seem to wrap my brain around the torrents thing. And I've sincerely tried. I guess I'll keep trying.....

Right up your alley, Scott. A varied version of Minglewood on the new one (along with The Cocaine Song), and a nice cover of C.C. Rider on their last one. Also, I stand corrcted, they have more than 2 albums out.

Yeaaaah...

I actually picked up their most recent (2nd one) today. A lot like the first one, which suits me fine.

Looks like the Red Sox are close to landing the Matsuzaka top bid for negotiations.... Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2656687

Nice looking set, indeed. I'm always a big fan of their Silver Train cover. Is there a place to get the show(s) for the bit-torrent blinded, say Mp3 sources?

...where the sun don't shine.

I think people are just a bit testy in anticipation of National Workplace Eye, Health and Safety Month rapidly approaching this March.

Any guy who was a huge influence on Dylan is alright by me. I've been listening to him for awhile now and agree with many that he's a ntional treasure in the sense that evryone seems to be able to relate to his songs (my kids really dig his stuff, too). If you haven't listened to his latest, I Stand Alone, do yourself a favor and pick it up. His best album in years (actually, I think it's been since the late 90s that he's put out a solo album).