mickeef2

I understand the sentimental angle, Lorf, because Manny's probably my all-time favorite, and he brought us two championships. The numbers are clearly declining, though, no matter how you slice them. He goes through too many dry spells now, whereas he used to be very consistent throughout the season. He also had an amazing start and has really tapered off since the first month of the season. Regardless, it's about more than the numbers now. Fighting with teammates (never got the full story there, and maybe Youk was at fault, too), pushing down an old man (absolutely no excuse for that one), and taking days off (he may really be hurt, but the MRI was clean, he had been playing every day up to that point, and this was the Yankees coming into town- you gotta play hurt). I really believe what happened is that he got off to a torrid start, had his agent approach the team about picking up next year's option, got rebuffed, and became sour. Either way you slice it, there's gotta be life after Manny, and we need to start planning for it now. It probably won't happen during this season, but he's clearly not gonna be here next year. The team has had it, and I can't say I blame them anymore.

3-5, 2 2B, 2R, 2 RBI. Nevermind. It was just Manny being Manny.

Yeah, I was trying to think of deals with the Mets, but truthfully, I can't think of anybody I'd want that the Mets would be willing to part with. No thanks on Heilman. We have enough schizophrenic arms in the pen already, and we'd have no interest in turning him into a starter.

ESPN is now reporting that Manny says he wouldn't block a trade to another team. However, his statement is a little vague (this is Manny we're talking about), and he could really mean that he wouldn't block a trade if the new team had a new contract worked out. Stay tuned.

Well, the problem is they can't ask for too much because they're not in a great situation. While they do own his rights for the next two years if they wish, it's at 20 mil per year, which is very high for a guy with his declining numbers. Also, teams know they're desperate to get rid of him at this point. I hear the Phils and Mets could be interested, but I don't know what either of them would be willing to give up. If you could get them working against each other, that would help. However, he'd have to approve the deal, which would mean the new team ponying up a new contract. I'd bet he'd be looking for something in the range of 3-4 years at 12-15 million per. I don't think too many teams would be willing to do that.

Manny will always be one of the all-time great Sox, and I've been a huge fan since day one despite all of the drama and goofiness. But this story sadly needs to end, and the sooner the better. If they could get something decent for him right now I'd pull the trigger, although it sounds very unlikely that anything is going to happen. If that's the case, the season is in peril. This has become too big a distraction, and it's come to the point where his production is not worth it anymore. Nice job by the Yanks pulling it together. Still a long way to go, but these two teams sure look like they're headed in opposite directions.

I'm not talking about the kids being affected by what he said. It's just the wrong forum for it, and if the guy had half a brain he would have realized that.

My first reaction was right in line with TBC's- This is the freaking kiddie section of the newspaper. And you're talking about revenge to a bunch of eight-year-olds why...? So long, loser.

Sorry, but I was down in South Carolina (Isle of Palms- great place ) for the week with no computer, and just got back. I did follow this whole situation on ESPN during the week. First off, let me say that this is not the first time Papelbon has mentioned himself in the same breath as Mo, and I do think he's way off base. Yes, he's won a WS without allowing a run in the post-season, and yes, he is one of the dominant closers in the game. But his comments come off as very self-serving and NYC is not exactly the place where you want to be spouting something like this, especially with the way Mo has pitched this year. I mean, not only is he an All-Star yet again, and not only is the game being played in Yankee Stadium, but Mo has been the best closer in the game this year, period, and deserved to close. Also, the way Papelbon has pitched lately, he should just keep his mouth shut and work on developing something other than a fastball. Having said that, there's another side to this coin, as well. I was all for Yankee fans booing Francona and the Sox, even though they were on the same team for the night. I thought that was pretty funny, and appropriate considering the rivalry. However, they're clearly bitter over the way things have gone lately and were obviously looking for someone to vent their rage at. Yankee fans love to dish it out when things are going well, but they have a hard time controllling their frustration when it's not. Anybody who has rooted for another team in Yankee Stadium over the last few years can tell you that. Obviously, the blown save wasn't Papelbon's fault, but they treated it like he came in, walked two guys, then gave up a three run bomb. Like somehow they were justified in threatening him and his pregnant wife during the parade because he blew a save. I mean, it is still just baseball, folks. The guy didn't assault your mom or anything like that. Regardless, I know there are knuckleheads running around Fenway, too. But this really seemed to be a mass demonstration of ignorance on the part of Yankee fans.

Every pitch they showed was a strike. "Borderline outside the strike zone" is like saying "borderline not across the goal line". If it's on the border, it's a strike, and all of those pitches they showed were. By the way, could Joba have a little balls already and hit Youkilis, if that's what he really wants to do? I mean, three attempts now, and he's failed miserably each time.

Just to follow up- nobody "cared" or "wondered why". P.S.- Why would they even wonder why? You just told them why you were running away, numnut.

Not according to the K-Zone, which they showed on replay after every Yankee argument (and there were plenty of them), and which every time showed the pitch to be a strike.

It's no use. He knows what a Mary you are, too. You're "The Guy Who Cried and Ran Away Like a Bitch When People Made Fun of His Youtube Videos". It's pretty much impossible to see you in any other light.

You should make a youtube video about it, homo. Then you should have a full-blown hissy fit when everybody makes fun of it. Then you should leave in a girlish huff.

He was right because the calls were bad, or he was right because his team needed a wake-up call?

Wow, that's so not true, dude. Lester is a young guy who had his share of struggles earlier this year, and many credit Varitek with keeping him straight. Matsuzaka has struggled throughout his tenure in the Majors, no matter what his numbers say this year. He also had Masterson for half of this season and the kid pitched great. Don't even get me started on the bullpen. Does he deserve to be an All-Star? I would say no. But it's not as far fetched as it might seem if you only look at the offensive numbers.

Could be true, or they could just realize that there's a lot more to being a catcher than just offense.

Yeah, how would players know which other guys they play against are good?

So here we are, two months later, and nothing has changed with these two (Hansen and Delcarmen). Fucking losers. Our bullpen is in shambles, Lorf. There ain't a guy out there I trust with any kind of lead. If we don't get this fixed, and quick, it's gonna be all over. Sometimes all it takes is one acquisition to change the whole face of the bullpen. Theo'd better get creative fast.

I hear you, Lorf. It's just frustrating because of the way he's been blowing them. Like I said: 0-2, the guy just chased two fastballs way up out of the zone, how about spinning something into the dirt and see if he chases. Too reliant on the fastball.

Well, the bloom is clearly off the rose. Another blown save today. Would it be too much to ask to throw a breaking ball in the dirt on 0-2, instead of trying to blow a fastball by the guy right down the middle? How many times has he gotten burned doing this this year? I guess 'Tek has to share the blame, too.

Thanks for showing us how to be champions, big guy. And for getting under the skin of Yankee fans as much as one human being possibly could. :worshippy:

Absolutely. Driving me freaking nuts watching this. Let's just say he looks bigger than he's looked in the recent past, and he's got good reason to do it. Oh yeah- he's a Yankee, too.

Well lookey who got his courage back up. Is your tail still firmly planted between your legs, ya whiny pussy? "Mickeef and others are making mean comments about my YouTube videos. I'm leaving." Freaking homo. Just make sure your feelings don't get hurt again when you get in over your head, nancy boy.

What's Giambi putting in his body these days? Whatever it is, I guess he figures it's worth the risk rather than going out like a chump.