The Royal Rooters

(and I miss the rating of posts and the reputation tag - what about you guys?)

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There is no system right now for reputation status, but posts can still be rated.  It helps you because..

1) You can see what you've read
2) There will be a new system for seeing good posters and content, so get in front and mark the good ones.
3) It tells others what you liked.
4) It tells you what others liked.

No starting score for a post, but a list you can view via your profile.  Still handy and perhaps a basis for the next iteration (as admins say).

lucky for you guys the BP sucked? rsf: it's your pen. wait and see.

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I gather you didn't see the whole conversation betweem me and the troll on there..

 

rsf: sorry, did I miss the rest?   I was in and out, hockey, etc.

I figured that.. that troll is an a-hole sorry. guy comes on there just to give grief.. I know you know what I mean ha ha 

ya, trolls make that place a mess.  Then, when I refresh that window, the old comments are lost.

Sorry if I misread.

It's all good ..NP  we got another just popped in ..ha ha  what don't these kids have a bed time?

Big win for the Sox, get a little confidence going although they may be as unsure of what Bard is now as any of us are.

Nice to see the Yanks beat the tough Rangers down in Arlington. Now to see which Kuroda shows up tomorrow.


Hub: Good luck to the B's on Wednesday. I'm surprised to see that series go all seven. Didn't think the Caps could keep playing the way they have been. Damn Hawks couldn't solve Smith when all was said and done. Some good effort from them but the guy was a wall.     

Yeah it was a "big" win for the Red Sox last night but another gigantic step BACK for Jon Lester.  I mean he was doing decently well then fell apart.  the Sox really don't have an ace on this staff this year.

True the start for Lester wasn't anything special, but I think the Sox would take any win after their last few games. Yanks starters haven't been any better really with the exception of one Kuroda and a couple of Nova's starts. Lots of questions for both teams still going forward.

True the start for Lester wasn't anything special, but I think the Sox would take any win after their last few games. Yanks starters haven't been any better really with the exception of one Kuroda and a couple of Nova's starts. Lots of questions for both teams still going forward. 

Yes the Red Sox will certainly take a win anyway they can get it right now..  Just can't feel too confident that they can win games once they face really quality sp

Anger management benefit for Beckett

MINNEAPOLIS — Josh Beckett nearly let his emotions get the best of him last night.  Instead, he calmed down and got the best out of his talent as the Red Sox gave him his second victory of the season with an 11-2 laugher over the Twins.

But there was nothing humorous about the way it started.

The Sox jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but Beckett wasn’t sharp when he came out in the bottom half. As he worked deeper into the inning, home plate umpire Adrian Johnson’s strike zone narrowed and close pitches became balls. After Beckett loaded the bases, he became mad at one low missed pitch, gesturing to his own knee that the ball was a strike. He walked three batters in the inning, the last one with the bases loaded to give the Twins a run.

After he got the final out he stormed off the field, yelling at Johnson with one pressbox lip-reader “hearing’’ that Beckett wanted to let Johnson know he needed to get five outs that inning.  He turned away before he said anything truly regrettable.

“Well, I was on the top step and I was kind of garbling, I was trying to add to the noise so, just in case any magic words came out, it wouldn’t sound, it wouldn’t necessarily be attributed to Josh,” said Valentine. “He was into it. I haven’t seen Josh like that. It really seemed like this was a game he really wanted.”

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2 points:
- Josh's headcase is never far away
- Nice to know Bobby V recognizes one of his roles is white noise

After he got the final out he stormed off the field, yelling at Johnson with one pressbox lip-reader “hearing’’ that Beckett wanted to let Johnson know he needed to get five outs that inning.  He turned away before he said anything truly regrettable.

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I believe what he said was


" I already got 5$%$ e%f#@ing!! outs that inning" 

thanks hs - B's got caught in a line change and Zanon was flat-footed on D - Ward jumped on the rebound loose puck and poked it in.  It's over.... and in OT - what a surprise.  All in all a very exciting series - but the B's did not take advantage of rebounds and lose pucks.  And now I see another Red Sox pitching debacle ..... wow is this team lacking in pitching and middle relief or what??  I fear this season will simply get uglier and uglier as it progresses.

Go Sox

I feel your pain Hubna. Reminded me of watching the Hawks choke in game 7 OT last season against the Canucks. I watched the Bruins game tonight, nice chance for Bergeron at the start of OT and then they just look so unorganized. Caps are playing a boring style of hockey which clogs up the neutral zone and slot and doesn't make for many quality opportunities. Good for them, they figured out a way to win without relying totally on Ovechkin. The B's had a year in the sunshine, hope you enjoyed it while it lasted, at least you got a taste of it unlike a lot of other team's fans (IE: Vancouver). Now they have something to work towards next season. They played a lot of hockey in a short time period, they're worn out.


As for the Sox, nail biter for them tonight but they held on so at least Boston fans have that to be happy for. Yanks couldn't beat the best team in the AL again, looks like they're stuck with Hughes and Garcia for now anyway which sucks. My grades for the Yanks starting staff thus far, CC gets a C+, he's nowhere near what he should be, Kuroda gets a C- for now even though he pitched well in two of his four starts, he needs to be consistent, Hughes gets a D, he is a mess, Nova a B+ as he continues on the same path he left off on last season, and Garcia an F, he is just a total nightmare. Not sure what they'll get out of Pettitte if and when he returns to the bigs. At this point I'd be happy with a C.

Though you all would enjoy this post by RedSoxGalaxy on the daily thread...

It was interesting to see literally the entire team watching some funny clips on MLB Network before batting practice on Thursday. Meanwhile Josh Beckett has taken to playing cards with teammates before games and Dustin Pedroia has swapped cribbage with Terry Francona for "Words With Friends" against Adrian Gonzalez.

I'm not here to tell you that the clubhouse is a model of togetherness. But this group does seem to be coming together a lot better in the last two weeks

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kumbayah my lord

kumbayah

oh lord......kumbayah

and...

There was little reaction to the Carl Crawford news by the players. And, really, why should there be? The Red Sox had the best offense in the game last season with Crawford contributing little. The same is true this year. There is empathy for his issues, but certainly no feeling of there being something to replace

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this should be comforting for carl 

I was wondering if Josh was actually playing 3 card monte?

April 30th

End of April, and the O's and Jay's aren't fading.  The O's are living on starters and a pen, but need some hitting.  The Jay's look weaker all around.

The 3 initial favorites struggle in different ways:  the Rays have won 7 of 8 on their starters - no pen - and hitting 31 points lower with runners in scoring position than overall BA. Once this improves, watch out.

The Yanks have the pen, but must keep slugging to try and outrun no starters. The Red Sox starters are better but suspect along with a pen out of ink, so slugging away has saved them for now.  Dice-K is due back... is that a good thing?  If the O's and Jay's hang in, a tough division limits any one of these five teams total wins.

AL East:      Era Starter-Pen,  OPS

Baltimore  (14-8)  3.71 - 1.88,  742
Tampa Bay  (14-8)  3.44 - 6.17,  775
NY Yankees (12-9)  6.37 - 2.06,  833
Toronto        (12-10)  3.51 - 4.52,  718
Boston         (10-11)  5.19 - 6.34,  797

Back trouble?

Kevin Youkilis won't be in the lineup for the third straight game as the Red Sox and A's will try to battle the elements and play some baseball on Tuesday night.

 Mike Aviles, SS
 Ryan Sweeney, RF
 Dustin Pedroia, 2B
 Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
 David Ortiz, DH
 Cody Ross, LF
 Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
 Marlon Byrd, CF
 Nick Punto, 3B

 Felix Doubront, P

Tell you what Stats, my back would hurt too if I had to carry that chin around. Sox tried to make it interesting the past couple games, first making it look like they might blow an eleven one lead then last night making it look like they might come back and win in the ninth. Buddy of mine was at the game Monday and said the fans around him were crying for Valentine's head.

Hughes still not the pitcher the Yanks need him to be. Pettitte on his way soon? Can't do any worse than Phil has his first few starts. Looks like Phelps may get his shot soon here too. Here's hoping!

Will Middlebrooks - 3B - Red Sox

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe confirms that the Red Sox are recalling prospect third baseman Will Middlebrooks from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe confirms that the Red Sox are calling up right-hander Aaron Cook from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Youk to the DL

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Hughes needs to find his velocity, movement and his balls.  But in AAA, not here.  Phelps I like, Andy sure backtracked on Roger so I'm disappointed, hope the Yanks call up a strong prospect - rather see young and eager over lost and limp.

Red Sox recalled RHP Clayton Mortensen from Triple-A Pawtucket.<br />Mortensen, who was acquired from the Rockies in January for Marco Scutaro, has an 0.90 ERA and 10/4 K/BB ratio over 10 innings this season with the PawSox. Aaron Cook is expected to be added to the active roster soon, so Mortensen will serve as an extra arm in the bullpen for now

another clay.    Starts  soft,  turns into a stiff if left out too long.