1) In the words of Josh Beckett: "He beat cancer, this should be easy". That's basically my assessment. He has been frustrating with his nibbling and all, but perhaps this season we'll see some breakthrough and see him build off his World Series clincher game. And I must commend you for not saying anything about his battle with cancer because honestly, as great of a story as that is, he only wants to be known as a pitcher and looking at him with a pitching standpoint. I agree on that. Though I did like that quote from Beckett.
2) I think that may be the only logical explanation. I mean I don't know when I first read it, I was thinking what exactly has Jorge been smoking upon saying that. I also wonder how this is going to fly in the Yankee clubhouse. Sounds like rifting material.
4) I agree on Buchholz. I doubt they'll put him in Pawtucket However, to to start the year(aka the Japan games and then the first two series in Oakland and Toronto), I wouldn't be entirely objected to in order to stretch him out a little better and not have him battle with the whole jetlag issue that everybody else will be. It's a nice little thing. I'd even suggest for Lester to do that too. So you got two fresh pitchers for the homestand. I mean this may end up with a few games started by Snyder and/or Tavarez, but that's a risk I'd take early in the season.
6) Unfortunately, that is the truth. I don't know why but the Red Sox usually have trouble with catching prospects. However I am intrigued by Taylor Teagarden, whose in the Rangers system. He's 23 years old and is a fairly good prospect, but right now he is blocked by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Tough they could be trying to convert Salty(I don't feel like writing out his full name) as a first baseman. I'm not entirely sure but I'd think it'd be worth taking a flier for. Though I think the price may be a little hefty. Also on the other edge of the sword, he has battled elbow troubles and even got Tommy John surgery once. But still, a flier wouldn't hurt.
On 6), I gotta say it'd be great to see Tek behind the plate for the next 3 years, with an option for a fourth. 4 of his top 5 BP comparables caught until they were 39, with no. 2 being Fisk. Also, he hasn't been in the majors as long as other catchers his age, because of the holdouts with the Twins and Mariners. That's one thing you can be happy that Boras did.
The Belichick taping controversy still bothers me. His defense w/regard to the Jets game was that he wasn't going to look at them until the game was over, and that his interpretation of the rule was that this was okay. If that were the case, why hide the camera? It doesn't pass the straight face test. Yes, I realize everyone else does it, but being a middle school teacher, that defense doesn't hold a lot of water with me.
The Josh Booty reminiscence had me thinking about a time I took off right after work during the last week of the Sea Dogs season (first week of school) to see Ryan Minor and the Bowie Baysox at Hadlock. I was convinced he was the second coming of Cal Ripken. Ah, this fleeting prospecthood...
Ryan Minor. Another guy who couldn't quite hack it as a pro in two sports. Drafted by the Sixers, I think, though I don't think he ever played for them.
Chad,
Right on about Buch and his potential, but if he begins the year as a full-time starter in the Sox rotation, he's probably once again sitting at home for the playoffs, whether the rest of the Sox roster is either in the same spot or in the playoffs without him.
Long story short: If having him start on a strict innings/pitch count in Pawtucket at the beginning of the season = a playoff-bound Buchholz, consider me on-board.
Roy, Roy, Derek. Has Bill James started working on the correlation between pitching success and Southern naming conventions?
Undoubtedly the Sox are planning to have Buchholz in the rotation, probably sooner rather than later, but just handing him the spot? A little competition is a good thing, for everyone involved.
Would you rather have him pitch in May or October? 
If it's a choice, I'd love to slot him to start game 3 of the ALDS.
As to the Jeter article, I love the refutations by NY fans. "It's ridiculous. Jeter is all-around awesome." I had to read it a second time to convince myself it wasn't a parody.
Put me on the Lester bandwagon, too. 25 pounds over what he played at last year, ten pounds over what he was when he was such a great prospect, and all of it muscle. If he is throwing the fastball at 94-95 consistently, or able to elevate it at will from 90-91, I think the Andy Pettitte comparisons will finally come true.
As for Clay, I think he needs to make the decision an easy one by winning the job in March. My bet though is that you'll see the number six guy - Snyder or Tavarez - taking a semi-regular turn to keep those who need it sufficiently rested.
so, a team possibly cheating its way to three titles is "ridiculously overblown," but the steroid habits of Roger Clemens and his wife merits a congressional panel and endless blog posts? Methinks someone's mustering a bit too much false outrage on both fronts. Kudos to you for the random and completely unfounded steroid allegations against Posada, though; that's what we need more of!
Donovan, I'm considering telling all my readers who want to kill you where they can find you.
I doubt YOU know where to find me.
Also, is that Clemente column online, or did you type that out of the book? If it came from the internets, I think we'd all love a link.
Me and the posse will search every basement in Maryland if we have to.
Typed it in from the book. Tried to find some decent Murray stuff to link to online, but didn't have much luck. Even his Wikipedia page is bare.
Murray's the one who who came up with the famous Indy 500 lede back when a driver would turn into a fireball in every race: "Gentlemen, start your coffins."
a rotation of beckett, dice-k, lester, and buchholz has the talent and is young enough hopefully to someday be compared to some of the great rotations in baseball=the orioles of the 70's, the braves,or the koufax led dodgers
I've got to say I'm disappointed in your Posada remarks. I'd expect that from EEI, not you.
Just made me wonder, 'tis all. There's no logical explanation for him defending an obviously lying ex-teammate who is contradicting an attempt at honesty by a current one. I probably shouldn't speculate like that . . . but I did, and so it goes.
DBurba, you're absolutely right. Chad hasn't devoted near enough time to focusing on a team that had to cheat to win 3 championships: the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.
I am glad I am not the only only rooting to keep Lester during the Santana talks. I think he'sin for a great year too.
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