On the Yankees beat

I would start Warren Spahn.

QUOTE from Idiot Redsox Fan name (Rod Becks Mullet)

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?showtopic=18066&pid=720863&st=20&#entry720863

According to espn.com the game has been postponed. Which is funny, because in lower Manhattan its not raining all that hard. SiaS wanting the boys to get a day of rest with an eye towards the weekend????

Quote From Rough "Im So hot " Carrigan"

It's typical Bronx evapotranspiration of piss. Just like lake effect snow only more localized and with human waste.[QUOTE]

"Who would you guys start on Saturday?"

Guidry.

i guess torre doesn't want to make the red sox go through batting practice twice a day, so he's opting not to pitch igawa...

i think torre knows igawa can't be a major leaguer. the problem is he will never show up cashman due to their very unhealthy symbiotic relationship. cashman made a terrible move with igawa and knows it but has to protect his move, so torre is hinting that he'd appreciate a real pitcher instead.
torre can be very savvy in the way he sends his messages upstairs. i don't remember the names, but a few years ago he needed an OF so he sent out there a guy who can't field who promptly committed a costly error. cashman panicked and traded for mondesi - another perfect move...
oh and by the way, lilly pitched 7 innings today, 1 ER, got the W. his ERA is in the low 2.
cashman must be held accountable for the pathetic rotation he'd built. he kept saying that the yanks will do everything not to rush hughes, but due to this assembly they now have to - becasue of the ridicolous choices he had made (don't forget pavano...)

even when mussina returns the yanks will have to trade for a starter. igawa is useless. pavano is probably done for his contract. you cannot win with 3 pitchers + karstens and that kind of pitchers. you need at least 4 solid pitchers and 1 who can a question mark. that's where you'd fit in hughes and treat him vert gently.
still a pitcher missing.
let's get one!!

Remember last year when they parachuted in a pitcher that had not even been on the radar days before?

That's who I'll go for -- parachute guy [whoever he turns out to be this time].

Just my fantasy...

Start Myers. Then Vizcaino in the 2nd.
Then they won't fail us when the game is on the line.

I would go with Karstens. Igawa was not my choice since the Hot Stove League. And I only saw him on a thirty second video.

Igawa needs some work in Scranton.

Gil L,
I have a sense Igawa isn't dealing with the pressure that comes w/ playing in NY.Add to the fact he's been erratic ,Torre will start Karstens and use Igawa for long relief if need be.
I'm not ready to throw the towel in on Igawa until he's got 10 or so starts under his belt.
And like Larry just said if he needs work send him to Scranton when Mussina comes back.
I'm actually more concerned about what Mussina has left in his tank.
I just don't see any available starting pitchers that could make a difference.Perhaps Billingsley on the Dodgers .I dunno .

larry m.

regarding igawa. let's look at two similar pitchers, igawa and chase wright. both soft throwing lefties that need to rely on deception and location. both suffering from location problems and falling back in counts.
1 huge difference.
wright has some very nice breaking stuff to compliment his fastball-cahnge up combo. his slider is quite sharp and he can mix up the occasional curve. triple AAA will do him a lot of good (or double AA) because he can work on location and keeping batters guessing by using better combinations.
igawa is plain sad. he's got a fastball (if you can call 88MPH fast) and a change that's supposed to be his best pitch. against tampa that's pretty much all he threw. we know he has some breaking stuff but obviously he doesn't trust it and can't locate it. for him to go down means he needs to learn a new pitch in order to be effective.
maybe it can happen, maybe billy connors can work some magic on him, but honestly i think he's a bust - a result of terrible scouting and dice-k panic.

ruse

did you see him go against tampa? forget the score, everything about his body language said he doesn't want to be out there. it wasn't the face of someone who doesn't have his usual stuff and thus getting knocked, it was the face of a guy in total disbelief throwing what would get japanese leaguers and in the MLB becomes souvenirs for spectators.
i really think he's having a confidence crisis, questioning his own ability, and rightfully so. remember ruse that all non-yankees scouts were shocked about this signing and said no way this guy can survive in the AL east. i'm not sure they had tampa in mind when they said that.
for torre not to commit to using him in his turn is huge. torre is usually very careful with the ego and confidence of his players and this declaration is a vote of non-confidence. however, i think torre knows what the sox most likely will do to him so better bruise his ego than shatter his psyche when they tee off him.

Good news about the rainout and having Pettite and Wang pitching two of the games against Boston.

Send Igawa to the bullpen please.

ruse,
that anon. was me...

Gil L,
When you mentioned "Dice-k panic" above ,a light bulb went off .You may be right about that.I figured Igawa for 12-14 wins.That may never happen.

I'd throw Karstens, what the heck, they have nothing to lose. However, the bullpen better not spit up like they've been doing.

I'm glad it's raining. The guys probably could use a mental health day off at least.

i would start proctor. why not! at least it gives us a chance to win and maybe he could pitch 5-6 innings

igawa vs. meche

to further elaborate my point. i don't think meche is a great pitcher (despite posting a very impressive 2.55 ERA), and he will put up more than his share of stinkers - but one huge difference.
against detroit meche had a terrible game - 6 ER, 8 hits, 2 BB, all around stinker - and yet he went 7 innings. the guy's is a work horse. he is averaging more than 7 innings per start. if his got his stuff, great - but even when he doesn't he eats up innings.
that's a huge difference. you stipulate that your no. 4 + 5 pitchers are going to get rocked once in a while, that's ok, but at the very least they need to give the pen a break.
igawa, at his best, is a 5 innings 100 pitches guy. and that's another reason he isn't going to cut it.

Well, at least they wont lose today!

I am getting used to having A-Rod replace me as all time Home Run Champ....it will happen. Too bad, the better he does the worst the team does....is it jealousy?

Is Bernie getting his arm loosened up....bet there are a few phone calls to Connecticut to get him ready to replace Menky or Phillips on the bench.

The Babe

(*(&^^&&%$%^^&**$#$%#^^^#^^^&.......(*(&%&%$#$%^^*(((*^$##$$

and...

))(&**^$%^^&&$#@#$%$%%

also:

*((&%&&%$$^>>?>>^%^&&

Finally,

)((**&&**(()%$$$%^^^>><>?>><

Love you fans,

George

Funny George....a little temper tantrum ?

Babe....put me in coach...I may be dead, but I can still throw a mean heater!

who can pitch for us?

i'd go hard for sabathia. i understand that the indians are willing to listen, and he'll probably cost at least 2 pitching prospects (the last they need over there is more offense...), but he's worth it - young lefty that's AL proven. career ERA 3.91, 26 years old. i'd easily give olendorf and clippard for him.
(remember we have a very promising crop coming up - betances, chamberlain, kennedy)

Funny George....a little temper tantrum ?

Babe....put me in coach...I may be dead, but I can still throw a mean heater!

If Proctor were rested i actually think i'd go with him over either. Problem is he's already severly over worked. Between Karstens and Igawa, i like Karstens he's got some more movement on his pitches and better control. He just needs to show it, don't forget that start where he got shelled was his first off the DL. Igawa needs some time in AAA to learn some control or at the very least to keep his pitches down. If he can do that he can win 12-14 games.

Most people seem to forget here... the Pen ISNT the problem here. They've been exposed as a weakness because they cant handle this load. I bet in 2 weeks this will all be a distant memory. Wang was decent in his first start back, and he will get stronger. Petite has been great. Moose will be back in a week. Karsten's and Hughes at the back end won't be bad. Especially since i wouldnt be surprised to see Clemens soon. Side note....i'm seriously disapointed in Pavano... he actually looked good pitching and now he's back on the DL with a mystery problem. He's destroying his own career, i really thought he would prove everyone wrong this year. Sad that i tried to defend him earlier and was glad they didn't just eat his contract and ship him off somewhere.

Annon that sounds like a solid deal, although it would only work if we could lock him up. Renting a pitcher for 4 months is such a waste. Although, i doubt those two would be good enough to get Sabathia from the indians. Both of em are back of the rotation starters at best.

With all these prospects at AAA i think its a good idea to trade em before they get too old to be prospects anymore. Either getting A,AA guys with higher ceilings or some major league tallent. Hughes of course being the exception.

Random question. Anyone know anything about Shelly Duncan? He's put up some damned good numbers in AAA last couple of years... hits for decent average and plus power, why is it no one's ever put him on a prospect list?

Shelly Duncan is 28 ,he's beyond prospect status.He might make a good 1st base coach 1 day.I believe his father is the venerable pitching coach of St Louis ,Dave Duncan.

Jon Lieber started tonight for the Phillies ,pitched well ,granted it was against the Nationals .Could the Phillies be auditioning him ? They also have Bret Myers in the bullpen.Freddie Garcia just came back from the DL.Maybe one of them will be moved.Phillies need relief pitching to contend?Maybe the Phils would be willing to part w/ Barajas and a starter for some relief?

Are you kidding? What in the world makes you think anyone would trade C.C. Sabathia for Ohlendorf and Clippard? A young ace with nasty stuff for two guys who are completely unproven and at most will be 4th starters? Hell, why don't we throw in Steven Jackson and maybe we could get Johann Santana instead. LOL

Igawa is horrible a complete bust- I would start Rasner instead of him

From Pettitte:
"I feel great, so I don't know," he said. "I would have loved to have pitched [on Wednesday] and I'd have loved to have pitched [on Thursday], because I feel good. You want to stay in that good rhythm. I expect to feel real good, hopefully, at the end of the season, too."

I like what Pettitte has been saying since he got hear. I think the Yanks should try and stop the bleeding today, not tomorrow. What are the odds of the Yanks winning tonight with Hughes on the mound? Then, what are the odds of Boston doing better against Pettitte for seeing him the second time so quickly?

Another Torre panic button. Sacrifiace a win tonight and HOPE Pettitte can pitch 9 vs. the Sox.

Torre should play the hand he's dealt instead of shuffle the hand around. Don't throw Hughes tonight under such pressure.

Gil L: I had a beautiful seat to observe Igawa on Monday against Tampa Bay. Make no mistake about AL East and Tampa Bay. They are a solid hitting club. I would have no problem taking Crawford and using him in place of Abreu and Melky for sure. His size and speed are a lethal combination but this won't happen , so back to Igawa. I was behind home plate elevated slightly about 10 rows up. He through 1 pitch out of 100 over 90 mph. Every pitch is up whether in the strike zone or not. Tampa has some hitters, Crawford, Badelli, Winnington, Young, etc. They missed pitches because Igawa is so hittable just pure excitement no patience. Igawa can throw many pitches this is evident. I believe its his motion at the top where he throws more with his arm and shoulder and does not have enough leg support to throw harder but he needs work. It could be a quick fix of about a month or he'll never get it but as I said before who scouted this guy. Even a panic mode would not lead you to 46 million dollar investment. He can win 12 or so but will loss 18 or more in the process. This is saying a mouth full with our offense. He has composure on the mound, does not appear to get rattled but should after his first couple of starts.

The elite Japanese pitchers have feastd on weaker batting lineups. This situation should be taken into account when we raid their league. DiceK looks good but second time around should be a real learning experience for him. I'll give the Red Sox scouting dept. a much higher grade in scouting over our scouts. How does a local product out of St.john's get overlooked on a team which went to the college WS.

tonyt - don't you think Hughes would be under just as much (probably more) pressure on Friday against the Sox?

thank you very nice topic thankks. :)

Comments From Redsox Fans - MFY's getting pathetic begging for Roger

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?showtopic=18104

"Quote From SpartanSox"

"Now Giambi is text messaging Clemens and begging him to come be their savior. What a joke. If I'm Clemens, their situation would make LESS likely to go there. I still think he doesn't come back at all."

"Quote from RoosterCrow"

I agree with you on the likelihood of his coming to NY. The prevailing wisdom (at least in the media) at the start of the season seemed to be that if he does not return to Houston he will more likely come to NY than Boston, although they were close. With each injury or failure of a MFY pitcher, both media and fans in NY seem convinced it increases the likelihood of catching him, because he is so needed (sorry, no time for quoting specific articles, but this has also shown up on Sports on One and Mike & Mad Dog). In listening carefully to Rocket's words of last year and this, however, as attractive as this line-up behind him might be, I think it is clear he does not want to be the workhorse that carries the team, or even one of two in a harness with his buddy. I think he'd prefer to be one of 5 of a strong rotation, with a closer who won't blow his work and enough hitting to overcome a few mistakes.

"Quote from Badger

"yeah - I am a Sox fan and I find it impossible to understand how you can characterize Giambi's text messaging and other entreaties as "pathetic" when everyone in Boston were lauding the efforts of the front office last year to woo Roger by sending him a Tom Werner-produced begging videotape listing the reasons why he should come back to Boston and everyone was wishing and hoping that Nipper would kipnap his old buddy to come back and pitch for the Olde Town Team. If HGH is being pathetic, then the Sox must have been downright lapdogs last year"

"Quote from Redsox04

"I don't think the Yankees will need 3 starters by time Roger makes himself available. Pettite is still an effective starter (as long as Torre does not keep throwing him in relief between starts) Mussina will be back soon and he's always been a front-line starter. Wang is back, and coming off a good season. By my count, that's 3 decent to good starters. I think Phillip Hughes is being rushed, but it's definitely wouldn't shock me if he found success pretty quickly. If that happens and Clemens goes to NY, then the Yankees rotation could be as good as ours, if not better. If that happens, the Yankees bullpen will improve. I don't buy Mariano's decline - every time he gets written off, he goes out and saves a bunch of games.

I think Proctor, Henn (he's been really impressive, the way Okajima as been), Myers (although he stunk last night), and Bruney could be effective in relief, as long as they are not abused. Thus far, they have been abused. Farnsworth is an adventure, regardless of whether he's abused or not.

My point is in this scenario Clemens would not have to be a "savior" and given his close ties with the Yankees, I would think the Yankees would be the favorites to land him. I remember hearing that a source of Ken Rosenthal told Ken (which Tony Mazz repeated on Fox Sports Net one evening) that Roger is leaning toward the Sox - I've heard nothing else since then, so who knows for sure? If I'm a betting man, I think Clemens goes to the Yankees.

I hope nobody on this board is foolish enough to write off the Yankees. They've got problems, but they do have help on the way. I still hope we get Clemens; that would mean more time for Lester to conquer his control problems at AAA, and be on-call for the 1st rotation injury we have, and it means more Kei Igawa and Carl Pavano (if he ever pitches) starts for the Yankees"

The thing that scares me about Igawa is the look on his face. He always looks bewildered and afraid. I've see looks of concern on pitchers when they're doing a terrible job, but he has that frightened, mommy-I-want-to-go-home look even before the game begins. I don't have a good feeling about him at all. He may never adjust to our culture.

The Quote from Redsox04 is an excellent one.

It also shows that there are at least a few Sox fans with the ability to be thoughtful and objective.

I couldnt have said it better myself.

Redsox04 made a very factual, objective, intelligent statement.

http://www.townienews.com/

Home of Paul "Fitzy" Fitzgerald. A Redsox Fan

LOL....very funny site

Wait a minute . uhhh uhh uhh no
Now we try to avoid trolls and create a fair debate board on here and when trolls come on here we present Logic.

Redsox 04 comment is factual and blah blah blah, why is that? because he support the yankees in his comment? So had he said something against the Yankees that was true would he been given the same compliments.

I am very much a fan and hate the trolls but I am a Fair person and do not want to give amo to a troll who say Yankee fans are blind to the truth.

Bronx Bomber Quote:

The redsox scare me , their one two punch of Ortiz and Manny is a potent force . their CLOSER is scary if he feels the same MEntal invisible way for majority of the season that would be tough , why ?? Mental edge . boston holds a mental edge over the yankees face it 04 messed up the yankees Boston players feel that even if they are down 10 runs they can still win. the Yankees lack the HUSTLE in them the fight the spirit, jeter is not playing with spirit this year and he is the captain. Think i'm reaching? look at varitek during the yankee series, that is a captain.

BB,

To start with, Redsox 04 didnt make his comments on this site...he/she made them on a Sox blog, and then they were copy and pasted over here by someone else...along with a couple of other quotes from the same site.

What is your defination of a troll?...someone who disagrees with you...or happenes to be something other than a Yank fan?

Debate and exchange of opinions, ideas, and theories is what is appealing about blogs such as this, and the site those quotes were taken from.

Fortifying yourself with a circle of bloggers who do nothing but chant "26 rings" is a little ridiculous dont you think? Not one of those vaunted rings of the past will have any effect whatsoever on the outcome of this season.

No one is more passionate regarding baseball and the team I am a fan of...but I'm not ready to sacrifice my sense of humor, my objectivity, my desire to have discussions and exchanges with other articulate and intelligent folks over a game. With everything we all have to deal with in todays world...baseball is a game and a great deversion, it is not a civil war.

Of course everyone on this Yankees blog thinks Redsox04 made a wise statement, is it coincidental that it was very pro-Yankees?

I've said this since last December: The Yankee rotation is full of "if's" and we've already witnessed some of those if's coming about:

Here's what I said:
Wang: Can he repeat last season's success after dramatically increasing his innings pitched. Is he a true number 1 starter?

Pettitte: Is he healthy enough to be effective the entire season? Is his post surgery "stuff" still good enough to compete in the tough AL East?

Moose: Injuries 3 years in a row, can he make it through the season?

Pavano: Puh-leeze! Will he stay healthy?

Karstens/Rasner/tbd: Will they take the next step?

As you can see the only bright spot is Pettitte. However I did say earlier this season that the injury to Wang may actually work in the Yankees favor as he was able to cut down his innings pitched already.

Let's not get too low about the losing streak, but we can't get too high about the future. Someday when Hughes is a stud number 1 pitcher, which the Yankees haven't had in many years, things will fall into place as Wang can be a very good number 2, where he belongs.

What we as Yankee fans need to think about is besides Hughes, who is next from the farm? Clippard? Ohlendorf? Sanchez (in '09)?
Maybe the '09 rotation could look like this:
Hughes
Wang
Clippard
Ohlendorf
Kennedy/Karstens

It will be interesting to see if the Yankees stick with the current plan or if they panic and reverse direction. I, as a lifelong fan, am willing to reduce expectations for a year or two in order to get younger and try to build another dynasty like the late 90's team.

Sox player admits the Schilling "bloody sock" wasn't blood?

[quote]
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/04/26/bloody_mess/

"The great story we were talking about the other night was that famous red stocking that he wore when they finally won, the blood on his stocking," Thorne said to broadcast partner Jim Palmer, the Hall of Fame pitcher, in a conversation that had begun with a discussion of Schilling's blog.

"Nah," Thorne said. "It was painted. Doug Mirabelli confessed up to it after. It was all for PR. Two-ball, two-strike count."
Message Board DISCUSS: Who do you believe?

Palmer: "Yeah, that was the 2004 World Series [sic]." Thorne: "Yeah."

During a break two innings later, Thorne confirmed that's what he said, and that Mirabelli had told him so in a conversation "a couple of years ago."

"Go ask him [Mirabelli]," Thorne said.

Mirabelli was shocked, then angry, when relayed Thorne's comments.

"What? Are you kidding me? He's [expletive] lying. A straight lie," Mirabelli said. "I never said that. I know it was blood. Everybody knows it was blood."

Sox manager Terry Francona, when first told of Thorne's remarks, thought that perhaps Mirabelli had been having some fun with Thorne, that it was all a joke. But after Mirabelli angrily denied ever discussing the subject with Thorne -- "I honestly don't know who Gary Thorne is, that's a straight lie" -- Francona became agitated.

"What we're going through today as a nation, you hate to use a word like heroic on the field, but what Schill did that night on the sports field was one of the most incredible feats I ever witnessed," Francona said. "[Thorne's remarks] go so far past disappointing. Disrespectful to Schill, to his vocation. I'm stunned.

"I am just floored. Schill takes his share of shots, and this one is so far below the belt that I'm embarrassed and I wish somebody would have had the good conscience to ask me. I saw the leg. If that had been painted, I wouldn't have had my knuckles so white, and having so much anxiety."[/quote]

I hate Schilling, I think He use that fake bloody sock to use it to his advantage against the Yankees.

Jim A.

I'm not sure Sox04 was being particularly "pro Yankees", but rather stating the obvious with some objectivity.

Point is...nice to see people can show a little respect for "the hated rival".

Oh for crying out loud....Schilling faked it all??...please.

Thorne is an idiot to make such statements.

Yanks are doing everything they said they wouldn't do back when ST started-Rivera for 2 innings/Rushing Hughes, which I think is a huge mistake. A team with a 200 million dollar payroll is going to a 20 year old kid? I dont know about most of you, but when I was 20 I dont hink I could handle the spotlight of NY-Then I read today that Cashman says even if Hughes has a good start tonight he would still like to see him go back to Scranton to continue his development? What? They get a rainout yesterday so they had the option of keeping him in Scranton-Cashman and Torre have both lost it

Everyone talks about Schilling's "bloody" sock during that series like it was terribly significant (like no one has ever pitched with injuries before), but no mention is made about how we kicked his butt with 22 runs earlier in that same series. The Red Sox turned the momentum around and I firmly believe any Red Sox pitcher would have beaten the Yankees in those four games, but Schilling fell into that spot. I believe the sock was a Schilling tactic for purposes of getting the attention which he so loves. He could have been bitten by a mosquito, for all we know.

Lucy,

I'm not sure which column you stated your comments in...but I'll respond to them in here.

First, let me say...I'm a Sox fan...no one has felt the pain of bitter defeat as much as I have. The Sox invented the term "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory". So dont paint me as some sort of elitist. Just aint true.

Second, I dont "side" with Nudge...I do find him very sharp and utterly humorous. I agree with alot of his insights, because I happen to think they are true...it really has nothing to do with the fact that I am not a Yanks fan.

Thirdly, it appears to me, at least,..that Nudge loves to point out the mundane, the idiotic, and the silliness of some posters....he is certainly acerbic...but "kicking when their down" and "rubbing salt in the wounds" is a little strong in my opinion....Nudge is witty and clever and will take all comers on..and usually come out on top.

You may discover that if you engage Nudge, like I have, he is quite intelligent, articulate, and highly knowledgable. Doesnt mean he is always right...or any sort of savant or total authority....but at least he has thought provoking dialogue.

Once again Lucy...we are talking about a game here....not a civil war.

Yes,

I'm sure the "painted" sock was sent to Cooperstown with paint instead of blood.

The guy had a bunch of stiches put in his ankle and leg to hold that tendon in place so he could pitch. I dont think ther is any question it was blood. Not alot of blood...and it wasnt Schilling who made any issue of it...it was the media. Good heavens people.

No one, other than the media, is suggesting that Schilling was out there pitching in spite of potentially ruining his career....he had stiches to hold the tendon in place...those stiches pulled in the course of his pitching causing a small amount of blood on a white sock. It really is a non factor...was then...still is.

Gary thorne is a moron for making this into another stupid and pointless contraversy

With comments like these....you wonder why Nudge takes potshots?

I have to agree here about the sock. Its kind of silly to think it was fake. I think that Schilling's actions in the postseason definitely hurt him in '05 though, he started out pretty poorly.

Pete,

The tendon itself may of effected his pitching in 05...but I dont think his sutures in the ALCS or WS had any effect whatsoever.....

It's all just media hype and purely bs.

Sure it was the tendon that affected him. But don't you think that his pushing it like that made it worse? I'm not talking about the sutures, just pushing an injury like that. Not saying he should have shut it down, b/c it obviously worked out for you guys, but I'm just pointing out that he may have paid the price the next spring.

Clearly Schilling was not himself for 05. Maybe it did...but if it did, it only adds to the legend that damnned sock has created.

Well, Casual, what gives nudge the right to point out, as you say, the "idiotic...of some posters"? Who is he to determine that a Yankees fan who supports the Yankees in a Yankees forum is being "mundane"? I have not seen one Yankees fan post a comment that I would deem "silly." Yankees fans are here to support each other and our team. We don't need an outsider trying to berate us for this, trying to convince us our team is hopeless, suggesting we are "silly, idiotic and mundane" for being fans and expressing our opinions in support of our team.

I honestly think it's hard for you to be objective here, but I am certain you'd see what I'm saying if nudge were to participate in a Red Sox forum as a naysayer. Why don't you give us the link to a popular Red Sox forum so that we can try the nudge technique, especially when the Red Sox are in the midst of a losing streak (inevitably that WILL happen.) I feel confident you'd look at things quite differently.

You're right, it's not a civil war, so why would any non-Yankees fan come here and try to start one? Makes no sense.

Lucy,

What gives yu or me the "right"...it's a public blog. We all have the right to make comments.

As I mentioned, if you engage Nudge he is not offensive at all. He just toys with anyone who makes such stupid statements. He is not, imo, a Yankee hater...but he seems to have disdain for chest-thumping, knuckle-dragging, thoughtless folks who do nothing but provoke his responses by the tired and old stereo-typical rants or chants.

Trust me Lucy....there are as many like idiots in Sox blogs too...and I'm guessing in other teams blogs...

As far as my objectivity...my posts speak for themselves. You're entitled to your opinion. I will say that there are more posts from so called Yanks fans that are defensive and often classless than the Nudges of this blog. It's not "your" blog Lucy. It's a public opinion blog. I have enjoyed some exchanges with you, as I find yoiu articulate and intelligetn...when we discuss baseball...but you tend to be a bit overly defensive yourself. I also think that some in here nedd to keep humor in perspective.....alot of Nudge's and my posts are meant to be humorous, not an attack.

Casual and Nudge are both bright and observant and when at their best they add interest to the blog, IMO. Are they always at their best? Well, I'm not always at mine, and I don't always add interest -- same is sometimes true of them, and I suspect of you as well. That doesn't mean I think they should go away. Or you, dear reader.

The other thing is that not everything signed with their tag is their work. The trolls with which we are afflicted throw in a lot of stupid stuff. They have used many of our monikers in vain when doing so, mine included. I do my best to recognize their work and NOT RESPOND, whether it involves me or not, because I consider every response to a troll is a reward and keeps them coming back for more of the same. I think that regular visitors to this list are capable of 'recognizing' each other and discounting fakes like the troll who was recently trying [without much success] to mimic ruse ca.

If you can distinguish and ignore the fakes posted by troublemakers, you'll probably find much less to offend in Nudge or Casual.

Nothing in the above is meant to endorse any viewpoints other than my own! But life is more interesting when we're not all repeating each other, IMO.

QUOTE BY CASUAL: "With comments like these....you wonder why Nudge takes potshots?" If Yankees fans state a negative opinion about the Red Sox, it's okay to take potshots at us? We can't hypothesize and opine in a negative fashion concerning the Red Sox? If Red Sox fans can't take the heat in the Yankees proverbial "kitchen," they can get out, plain and simple.

Please excuse my hideous attempt at typing.

As usual, Diane is eloquent, and very articulate in her posts.

Well said Diane.

As far as I'm concerned Anonymous, you are welcome to post anything you would like, including derogatory comments regardingg the Red Sox....you might even find that I will agree with one here or there.

I don't Care about Schulling. He cheated, Can He swear to God and promised that Sox wasn't painted Red instead of Blood?

Fred - who cares? I can't stand Schilling as much as the next guy, but what is done is done (and was 2 1/2 yrs ago). So lets move on, if you want to stay with Schilling we can talk about how the Yanks had him beat last weekend.

Cheated?

Goodness, where is Nudge when you need him?

Start Guidry on Saturday. I'm serious, he's better right now than anything else we've got. Kat - can we get an update on Pavano?

I also think most of you on this blog have way too high expectations about Hughes. This is based on ST results and what we've seen so far at AAA. I really don't see him giving us much more than Chase Wright did at this point in his career.

While I'm on here, just wanted to give my best and say hello to Lilly and Bernie also. Hope you guys are doing well.

I am determined to hope for the best both from and for Hughes.

I can't help having misgivings, though, and they are not lessened by reports like one in [can't remember which of the City tabloids] about Pelfrey's year. He's the Mets' version of Hughes -- fantastic prospect, promoted ahead of time to fill a significant hole this year -- and has gotten worse with every start.

The best outcome for him might be that he does about like Chase Wright did -- well enough to keep everybody interested, not well enough to get them overinvested in what he can give instantly.

Or not. Maybe I'm too cautious and he really is, at 20, the horse that the team needs ...

Goooood Afternoon everybody, how are you todayyyyyy!

I see Blood Red Sox are the topic of deceit today!

Whether it was blood or not, WHO CARES????? He pitched with an injury. BIG DEAL!!! Evidently the purpose of making a big deal of this was to suggest that Schilling was a magnificent hero because he beat the Yankees while pitching with an injury, as though the blood made the injury more debilitating and the win more profound. I'm convinced any pitcher would have beat the Yankees that day since the Sox were on a roll and the Yankees fell asleep. Schilling just capitalized on the whole situation.

If only that sox were white then the game would have turned out differently.

Lucy,

You guys are just trying to throw a blanket on Boston Glory. It would be like for years after having that kid who interfered with that HR that helped the Yanks win stating that he was paid buy George to do it. So that victory should be tainted.

Diane,

I hope you will indulge me on this curiosity.

Are you an author...or a writer by chance?

I hate it when too much hype surrounds any player. This type of attention might be too overwhelming for someone like Hughes, but I hope that's not the case. Maybe he'll thrive because of it instead. I hope that's his personality, like Papelbon (who Hughes reminds me of a little for some reason).

Who knows after tonight he may remind more of Papillion!

Hughes seems to be extremely level headed. I'm not too worried about his psyche getting messed up. Now, is he ready for this? That's anyone's guess, but the minor league player development people think he's the most ready, so you go with it.

One-time indulgence on personal info:

I do some writing, it was never my day job, have been published respectably once [on a topic that no-one here would find even slightly interesting], continue to work on that part of my off-screen life.

sorry that should have said "is he ready for this physically?"

I feel the need to explain my comments since as a few others have noted the subtlety is often misread.

Papillion is a Steve McQueen movie and also means butterfly!

So now you all know what Papillion is the reat I'll leave to your interpretation.

By all accounts Lucy, young Mr. Hughes is the real deal...mid 90's with late explosion....and precise and very sharp hook...decent off-speed/chang-up. From what I've read and heard his mental make-up is perfect for the Yanks.....I think the only question is: Is he ready?

The Sox went thru the same thing with Jon Lester last season.

Nudge,