To like the Boston Red Sox. Folks, this team is sad. I know most people here like the Astros, but I've been following the Sox since '85 and I've been through some crushers most notably the '86 World Series. However, I can never remember a season like this one. Consider this: the Sox have not played a game this year where Garciaparra, Ramirez, and Martinez were all active. For a while they hung in there pretty good without Nomar. However, the manager change (even though I was in favor of it), the constant shuffle in the line-up and rotation because of the injuries, and Nomar going back on the DL has taken its toll. To tell you how sad things are: the Red Sox just last weekend around Saturday were 1 game back of Oakland in the wild card. Now, after 6 (make that 7) losses in a row and 6 Oakland wins in a row, they are a sorry 7 games back. It's pretty obvious that they are not going to make it to the postseason. The good teams figure ways out to win. They don't lose 4 games in a row by scores of 2-1, 3-1, 3-1, and 2-1. If I was Casey Fossum, Hideo Nomo, Frank Castillo, and Pedro, I think I would have a serious talk with the Red Sox hitters or get a witch doctor or something because this is f***ing ridiculous!! They pitch their a**es off and the team still loses. I can go on and on, but I won't. It serves no purpose. Maybe the new ownership will get rid of Duquette; however, I think that Kerrigan needs to be given a fair chance. He hasn't had that this year with all the injuries. Personally, I don't care who wins the World Series as long as it isn't those damn Yankees!! I would love to see Seattle or Cleveland win because I'm an American League guy but it would be cool to see the Astros or Cubs win it as well. As long as it isn't the Yankees or Mets.
Manny, the 86 Series may have been a crusher for you, but what about us Astro Fans in 86? I sat thru ALL 16 INNINGS of game 6 of the NLCS, on a roller coaster ride of emotions that drained the life out of me. Just knowing we had Mike Scott ready for game 7. Having a 3-0 lead in the ninth. Billy Hatcher's mammoth home run in the 14th. A two out, two run rally in the 16th, only to fall one run short. To this day, I still run a gaunlet of emotions just thinking about that game. Sigh......
I don't think he is. He overpays for mediocre players and the Red Sox haven't developed a young pitcher in his tenure there. Had the BoSox not overpaid for these players, you would've been able to stomach those injurie easier, after all when you have a $100 million dollar payroll, you should be able to build a team that can win despite injuries.
Tolpatsch: I agree with you, partially. Duquette made good moves in getting Pedro and Manny and made a huge mistake by not keeping Roger Clemens. However, you are dead on about the Red Sox not developing any young pitchers. This fact has killed them because these old, injury-prone guys like Castillo, Saberhagen, and Cone can't pitch more than 7 innings a game and it causes the bullpen to be overworked.
Scott pitch 5 more years after that (although his last, 1991, he only pitched in 2 games). He won 20 games in 1989. He had a 13 year career. I don't remember what happened in 91 to end his career, but I'm still looking. He's one of five players to have his number retired by the team.
Well, the Little Team that Couldn't did it again to me tonight. They lost to those damn Yankees 1-0. Mussina nearly threw a freaking perfect games against these inept clowns. I would really like to know if any other team has ever lost so many games in a row by heart-wrenching scores of 2-1, 3-1, 3-1, 2-1, and 1-0. Don't forget that in this 8 game losing streak was an 18 inning loss to the Strangers. Somewhere Jimy Williams is laughing. Dan Duquette is probably gone after this season with the new ownership. I can only hope so. **SIGH!!!** NFL and NBA cannot get here fast enough for me. At least the Miami Hurricanes look to be strong in College Football. Hopefully, the Rockets and Broncos will have good years as well.
If the Astros make it to the World Series, I would like to see them win it. I like to see any team win the World Series that has never won it or ones that haven't won it in a long time. I'm going to go ahead and make some fearless predictions: AL Playoff Teams-Yankees, Indians, Mariners, Athletics ALCS - Mariners over Yankees NL Playoff Teams-Braves, Astros, Cubs, Diamondbacks NLCS - Astros over Diamondbacks World Series - in a classic, the Mariners beat the Astros in 7 games as every game is close. Remember these are my predictions. They probably won't be anywhere close to what really happens which will be the damn Yankees winning like their millionth WS title .
My prediction: The Yankees win the WS as the curse of the Bambino continues. I don't understand how people can hate the Yankees. This is a team with zero offensive superstars, the closest being Bernie Williams. Solid position players and great pitching are how every team should be built. Just look at the new Mariners. For the folly of building around a superstar, just look at the Rangers, Reds, Cardinals, Red Sox, etc.
When your star ss, #1 pitcher, cf, c, #3 pitcher, are out for considerable time there is not a team in the league that could win. Not to mention the other on/off injuries throughout the season.
Probably because they're 1st or 2nd in payroll just about every year. Brian Cashman has been an good GM, don't get me wrong. The Yankees haven't busted in his tenure like LA, Baltimore, Boston, or even the NYM... but I think other GM's have done better, like Billy Beane of Oakland, Kevin Towers of San Diego and Gerry Hunsicker of Houston. Limit the Yankees to Oakland's 33 million (although that may rise to near 50m) and they'd be lucky to break even. Teams win because of good hitting and good pitching in equal amounts. People who think pitching can win championships alone need to take a good look at the Braves of the 90s. Historically speaking, teams that had great offenses but decent pitching have done as well as teams with great pitching and decent offense. The Yankees have been configured for defense and are the most recent dynasty-team, so their style is in vogue now.
haven, The Yankees are actually a very good offensive team. They just do not have the superstars on offense like an A-Rod, Griffey, Bonds, or Sosa. They are a smart offensive team with several guys that have a good on base percentage and many with the ability to go yard. The team speed is the killer on offense, most stolen bases in MLB. But, having a high payroll is in large part due to their pitching staff. It is not like other teams are forbidden to outspend the Yankees. The Mets, Dodgers, Cubs, Rangers, and White Sox are all big market teams that should be able to recoup whatever they pay out. That is really not a good reason to hate them. Instead people should look at their professionalism, where they do not showboat and mostly just go out and do their jobs. As for the Braves, didn't they win it all in the 90's. I am pretty sure it was in the one year in the first half of the decade.
Perhaps they could outspend them... but they don't, with the exception of the Dodgers. Also, I don't believe the Rangers, Cubs, or the White Sox bring in nearly as much money, although I could be wrong. The Mets and Dodgers come close. The Yankees have a good team. Yes, they're proffessional. But I don't route for any large market teams. I'd rather see the Oaklands of the worlds win. I dislike the Yankees because they've been one of the top 2 (I believe) in payroll for all of their championships. Sorry, but that's not a level playing-field. How good would the Astros be if they could have kept Kile, Hamton, and Johnson? Probably at win 100 or so right now.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2001/0904/1247926.html http://espn.go.com/mlb/columns/ravech_karl/index.html Like if things aren't bad enough, now you got this crap about Pedro being upset that Duquette wants him to keep pitching despite the fact he has a tear in his rotator cuff and the Red Sox have no chance of making the playoffs. Also, Manny wants out of Boston. It must suck for him to see the Indians make the playoffs while he goes through this soap opera. I've liked the Red Sox for 15 years, but if they keep Duquette and he drives players away like Manny, Pedro, and Nomar, then I can't be a Red Sox fan any more. When are they going to get rid of this loser, Duquette??
Well, things are way out of control in Boston. Just read this following article: http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2001/0908/1249564.html What is accomplished by having Pedro pitch when the Red Sox have no chance of making the playoffs?? The guy has got a tear in his freakin' rotator cuff!! He was only able to go 3 innings!! God, if Duquette is not gone when the new ownership takes over, I don't know what I'll do!! Way to ruin one of the greatest pitchers of all-time's career, Duquette!!
