Wednesday, July 26, 2006
A-Rod this season has had 55 at-bats in close and late situations. He is hitting .182 with 16 strikeouts. With less than two outs and a runner on third, he’s hitting .250 with eight Ks...
The Nation Speaks:
A-Rod single handedly has made Bill James rethink the concept of "clutch." The only cure for this choking appears to be what we will call the "A-Rod Maneuver": Get him out of town, and your team will get better.
-RED SOX NATION
Monday, July 24, 2006
FENWAY FRANK
Vacation to Camden Yards doesn't cost much more than Fenway foray
According to the 2006 fan cost index by Chicago-based Team Marketing Report, the full Fenway Monty costs about $288 for a family of four, including tickets, beer, sodas, hot dogs, parking, a program and a team cap. It would cost a family of four Red Sox fans only $200 more to see their team play at Camden Yards in Baltimore than it does to catch them at Fenway Park.
But for that price - about $500 - you get face-value tickets, a warm bed, a complimentary beverage and bag of peanuts on the plane, along with hot dogs, beers, sodas, a program and a souvenir at the ballpark.
Such are the stratospheric heights a day, or night, at Fenway has reached - the most expensive in the major leagues.
THE NATION SPEAKS:
On the bright side, you get more leg room on a Delta flight to Baltimore than you get in the Grandstand at Fenway Park, and once you actually get there, the seats are spacious, the sitelines fantastic, and beer, beer, beer...oh yeah, and food, is delivered directly to your spacious seat. Did I mention that they bring the beer right to your seat?
Vacation to Camden Yards doesn't cost much more than Fenway foray
According to the 2006 fan cost index by Chicago-based Team Marketing Report, the full Fenway Monty costs about $288 for a family of four, including tickets, beer, sodas, hot dogs, parking, a program and a team cap. It would cost a family of four Red Sox fans only $200 more to see their team play at Camden Yards in Baltimore than it does to catch them at Fenway Park.
But for that price - about $500 - you get face-value tickets, a warm bed, a complimentary beverage and bag of peanuts on the plane, along with hot dogs, beers, sodas, a program and a souvenir at the ballpark.
Such are the stratospheric heights a day, or night, at Fenway has reached - the most expensive in the major leagues.
THE NATION SPEAKS:
On the bright side, you get more leg room on a Delta flight to Baltimore than you get in the Grandstand at Fenway Park, and once you actually get there, the seats are spacious, the sitelines fantastic, and beer, beer, beer...oh yeah, and food, is delivered directly to your spacious seat. Did I mention that they bring the beer right to your seat?
Camden Even Has Kevin
If you have the means, Cameron, I highly recommend Camden.
-Ferris Fenway
Friday, July 21, 2006
BLUE BALLS
For Better or Worse:
Old Friend Shea speaks his mind, gets himself thrown out of Toronto.
"You've Got Some Big Ones, My Friend."
JUST WALK AWAY SHEA
JAYS MANAGER GIBBONS CHALLENGED HILLENBRAND TO A FIGHT; SHEA REFUSES TO SIT IN THE DUGOUT IF HE ISN'T IN THE LINEUP
Hillenbrand had been upset because he felt the Blue Jays were not sensitive that he needed several days to complete the adoption of a baby girl on the West Coast over the weekend. The designated hitter and corner infielder was not in the starting lineup when he returned.
Earlier Wednesday, Hillenbrand wrote 'play for yourself' on a board the Blue Jays use to post batting practice times. He later wrote the 'ship was sinking' and Gibbons confronted him.
JAYS MANAGER GIBBONS CHALLENGED HILLENBRAND TO A FIGHT; SHEA REFUSES TO SIT IN THE DUGOUT IF HE ISN'T IN THE LINEUP
Hillenbrand had been upset because he felt the Blue Jays were not sensitive that he needed several days to complete the adoption of a baby girl on the West Coast over the weekend. The designated hitter and corner infielder was not in the starting lineup when he returned.
Earlier Wednesday, Hillenbrand wrote 'play for yourself' on a board the Blue Jays use to post batting practice times. He later wrote the 'ship was sinking' and Gibbons confronted him.
Shea wouldn't just sit around for the Blue Jays...
So now he can kick back and relax for the next 10 days,
as he is designated for assignment.
"Gibby called a team meeting and then he stood up and reamed me out in front of my teammates. "He challenged me to a fight, and wanted me to get up and punch him in the face...I'm very disappointed about what he did and I find it very unprofessional."-DFA JAY SHEA
"He had a chance yesterday to defend himself in front of his coaches and his teammates. He chose not to." -Jays Skipper John Gibbons
Ricciardi said he wasn't surprised by Hillenbrand's behavior: Hillenbrand once called Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein a (Quote/Slur) "Fag."
"He made some pretty disparaging remarks when he left Boston. I don't think people forgot that."-Blue Jays G.M. J.P. Ricciardi
"Gibby called a team meeting and then he stood up and reamed me out in front of my teammates. "He challenged me to a fight, and wanted me to get up and punch him in the face...I'm very disappointed about what he did and I find it very unprofessional."-DFA JAY SHEA
"He had a chance yesterday to defend himself in front of his coaches and his teammates. He chose not to." -Jays Skipper John Gibbons
Ricciardi said he wasn't surprised by Hillenbrand's behavior: Hillenbrand once called Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein a (Quote/Slur) "Fag."
"He made some pretty disparaging remarks when he left Boston. I don't think people forgot that."-Blue Jays G.M. J.P. Ricciardi
THE NATION SPEAKS:
While it is doubtful that Ricciardi would trade Shea to a contender within the division, acquiring the versatile Hillenbrand could allow the Sox to make a move for pitching with a Kevin Youkilis, Wily Mo Pena, or the suddenly trade valued Mike Lowell. The rumored deal of Youkilis and prospects to the A's for free agent to be Barry Zito would make a lot of sense for the Sox, especially if they had Shea to play everyday at first base. Ideally, a deal involving Mike Lowell for pitching makes the most sense; A deal of Lowell, cash, and likely a prospect for Padres starter Jason Peavy, who is being well paid and has been a mild disappointment for the San Diego, is also a decent national rumor. Youkilis at 3b, Shea at 1b, and Peavy in the rotation makes the Red Sox a much improved team. More likely, the Sox would be getting Peavy and Ryan Klesko in the deal, as the Padres want to dump Klesko's salary.
-RED SOX NATION
Saturday, July 15, 2006
"This time, I only used 'this much' spin..."
Monday, July 10, 2006
RED SOX HUB
Trade Rumor Central
Trade Winds Abreu-Ing
On Sunday, reports surfaced that Boston is very interested in the services of Bobby Abreu who has a no-trade clause and is set to make $15 million from the Phillies next season.
'You'd have to ask him (if it's upsetting),' Manuel said. 'I know sometimes when you talk about trading guys some guys handle it different from others. I don't notice. He plays about the same every day.
'I can't answer for Bobby Abreu but for myself I think that's good. With the kind of caliber teams the Yankees and Red Sox are. That means somebody must think I'm a good player.
THE NATION SPEAKS:
This is an interesting development, because it could mean the end of the Boston career for either free agent-to-be Trot Nixon or Manny "White Devil Hater" Ramirez. Like Manny, Abreu can be a enigmatic personality that poses problems for management, so unless Ramirez has finally put Devils Theo, Larry, Werner, and Henry over the edge, a Manny for Abreu deal simply doesn't make much sense from a production standpoint. A three way deal, sending Trot to a contender, Abreu to Boston, and the bounty of prospects to Philly would seem to make much more sense. This rumor may be an indication that the Sox are not willing to pay Nixon $8-9 million a year for 3 years, which will likely be his market value. If Philly is willing to pay $3-4 million of Fun Bobby's $15 million salary for 2007, then this deal could make a lot of sense for the Red Sox.
-RED SOX NATION
Trade Rumor Central
Trade Winds Abreu-Ing
On Sunday, reports surfaced that Boston is very interested in the services of Bobby Abreu who has a no-trade clause and is set to make $15 million from the Phillies next season.
'You'd have to ask him (if it's upsetting),' Manuel said. 'I know sometimes when you talk about trading guys some guys handle it different from others. I don't notice. He plays about the same every day.
'I can't answer for Bobby Abreu but for myself I think that's good. With the kind of caliber teams the Yankees and Red Sox are. That means somebody must think I'm a good player.
THE NATION SPEAKS:
This is an interesting development, because it could mean the end of the Boston career for either free agent-to-be Trot Nixon or Manny "White Devil Hater" Ramirez. Like Manny, Abreu can be a enigmatic personality that poses problems for management, so unless Ramirez has finally put Devils Theo, Larry, Werner, and Henry over the edge, a Manny for Abreu deal simply doesn't make much sense from a production standpoint. A three way deal, sending Trot to a contender, Abreu to Boston, and the bounty of prospects to Philly would seem to make much more sense. This rumor may be an indication that the Sox are not willing to pay Nixon $8-9 million a year for 3 years, which will likely be his market value. If Philly is willing to pay $3-4 million of Fun Bobby's $15 million salary for 2007, then this deal could make a lot of sense for the Red Sox.
-RED SOX NATION
Saturday, July 01, 2006
WHY ISN'T RUDY GAY A CELTIC?? BLAME THIS ONE ON ANTOINE WALKER TOO, DANNY BOY
This trade was done primarily to rid the C's of that 3rd year on Raef LaFrentz's deal vs. 2 years left on the contract of Theo Ratliff, and greatly improves the interior defense-if Theo can stay healthy enough to give them 20 minutes a game as the PF/C off the bench. Raef has been playing on 1 knee since before he was acquired in the Antoine Walker disaster deal, and it will only be getting worse. Delonte West stated on WEEI that he has had to prod him to get him motivated at times. Personally, I lean toward the the opinions of GM legend Jerry West, who stated that Rudy Gay was the #1 or #2 player in the entire draft. He should have been a Celtic at #7. Grant Hill type upside. Ainge has been pretty good with mid to late draft picks, but really has no tract record with single digit picks. Telfair might turn out to be the type of player who would have been a decent pick in the mid to late first round, but is a reach in the top 10 (Portland drafted him out of high school 2 years ago at #13). Rudy Gay has superstar potential at 20 years of age; Telfair has nice player potential at 21. Bad, and possibly a disasterous move, Danny, to simply shave 1 year off of a bad contract.As for Portland, their motives in any deal are clearly financial over winning. They have cut their payroll from $100 a few years back to $57 million last season. Their stadium is under bankruptcy control, and owner Paul Allen is trying to sell the team, and may declare team bankruptcy to get out of a projected $100 million in losses the next few seasons.
-Celtic Nation
