Red Sox

just had a 7-run 3rd inning against Anaheim,making it 7-5....wonder how long before they mess it up

to depend on the major screw up in the fall. Along the way its just minor screw ups


(Why I am still a fan I don't know. Habit and inheritance I guess)

the Sox managed to lose their lead as the Halos tied it 7-7,but Nomie(who is HOT tonight)just stole a base and scored.This game is looking like it's going to keep me up past my bedtime.

a white sox fan.......

Oh,, yeah, that bullpen's cookin now...
(Seriously, they're going to do just fine)

All ya gotta do is have heart :-)

Besides, it could be worse. My favorite two teams are the Mutts and the Tiggers. The three highlights of my year so far are that (1) my best friend "Guido" came to Vegas and pretty much forced me to go out every night - in fact, I went out more in the past 2 weeks than I have in the past 2 years; (2) I got to see the Grand Canyon for the first time in my life; and (3) the Mets traded Benitez to the Yankees. In his 2nd game with the Yankees, he promptly gets a loss.

But they'll be duking it out w/ Oakland, whose pitching staff is vastly superior. Boston's starters' ERA is around 4, which is almost a full run over their last year's ERA.
Oakland has better pitching, Boston better offense. In the end, pitching always dominates offense.

:)

Where did the Braves' pitching go?
Smoltz is the best closer in baseball right now though, but they have some shaky starting pitching.
But good god, that offense...

Been so since 1991 I know it sounds like I'm a bandwagon jumper, since '91 was the year the Braves went from worst to first. Actually, I was about 7 years old and it was the only team I could watch on a regular basis. The Marlins and Devil Rays weren't in existence, and I didn't get WGN which covers the Cubs and White Sox. The Braves trained where I live, in West Palm Beach.

But about the pitching this year. It's still a decent staff. Russ Ortiz is having a good year. An all-star in fact. Although he was chosen by his former manager with the Giants, Dusty Baker. He's got 15 wins and an ERA around 3.50. Pretty good stuff.

Greg Maddux, along with Glavine in NY, has definitely struggled. He's still got a winning record, but the ERA is much higher than normal.

Mike Hampton and Shane Reynolds have been decent. Nothing spectacular though. Hampton is way overpaid IMO.

The hitting has really carried Atlanta. They talked about how great the Braves pitching was in the '90's. And it was. But it only got them 1 World Series victory. This year, they have lots of bats and will assuredly clinch the NL East early. In the playoffs, all you need is 3 solid starting pitchers. I still like Maddux and Ortiz in the playoffs. All have good experience. I could see that kid Ramirez being like Steve Avery was in the early 90's for Atlanta.

I've been saying "this is the year" every year since the mid 60s. I have no idea why I do this but I do. Even when they blow leads I get the feeling they'll come back. Like Tuesday.

I think the acquisitions this year have been great. I really feel "this is the year". But then again... :-)

Go Sox!!!