I never ever watch this show. Not because I dont like it for any reason. I just never seem to be around a TV whenever its on. Today I was happy I came upon it because Ozzie just happened be on. He says the line up is set and even commented on Thome really not fitting into the plans unless he played once a week. He says the defense will be better and made a point that 2B will be better. He also said the only definite in he line up is Pierre leading off. He said he's gonna move the line up around.

In short- My opinion is Ozzie has never been this pumped this early for a season. If there is such a thing as OzzieBall, this is the closest thing to that. A little less power, better defense, speed on the bases and a solid (on paper) rotation and pen.

I agree. Hopefully the days of losing 3-2 on two hits (HRs) are over. He'd rather have more 4 to 5 run games with 10 - 12 hits and improved situational hitting rather than two dingers, stranded runners in scoring pos and station to station baserunning. We're not in 2005 anymore Toto.

I'm undecided on the strategy, but I do sense more excitement about the upcoming season than there's been since 2006.

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Please point to the positions that have been upgraded defensively.

Please tell me how losing a 25 base stealer (in his first year) and a 30 base stealer with a 50 base stealer and a 0 base stealer results in a faster team.

Please tell me how it is anything but an absolute prayer that they catch lightning in a bottle to begin the season with Jones and Kotsay as the DH.

There will still be many 3-2 games. It won't be as frustrating because you will not feel the offense has the ability to get much more than that. This is half a team. It may be good enough to get it done in the ALC. It is not championship caliber.

Right now I have the following teams as better than the Sox:

New York
Boston
Tampa
Seattle

I have the Sox on par with the following teams:

Baltimore
Angels
Twins
Rangers

So the Sox are only clearly better than the A's, Blue Jays, Royals, Tigers and Indians.

It's a shame to have this good of a rotation and such an average lineup.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

removing dye and thome has to make your team faster no matter who replaces them.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Oh Oh.....you are starting to sound like me.

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There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

They could add Ron Santo and it would be a faster lineup.

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NY & Tampa I'll agree with you on. I might even put the Angels in there as well. The Twins are well, the Twins so... But for a variety of reasons I don't trust either Boston or Seattle this year. They seem like teams tailor made to disappoint.

Baltimore and the Rangers though, I really don't see the cause for any optimism there. The Orioles have the kid catcher, Roberts( )a few other pieces, but they don't impress me. Texas, on the other hand, I will never believe in the Rangers, probably still won't even believe in them after they actually(ever) win something. Nolan Ryan has to wake up and realize that the 1970's are over, or his cobbled together staff will let down the 2-3 actual players he has.

Now to take off the rose colored glasses for the Sox

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

RR I think you are missing on Texas this year. They have a ton of young talent and actually have some good young pitching. I think they could win that division.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Left field, center field and right field.

it was a good interview.

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@audioidkid

3rd base.


And maybe even 2nd base.

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The OF positions are maybe, but there is no way 3B and 2B are better off defensively. You guys will be sick of Teahen before too long.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Teahen > Josh Fields

And Bacon did get a lot better at 3rd, but he his best suited at a SS or 2B.

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Teahen is about equal with Fields. He really isnt that good. I dont know why people think he is.

Beckham will be fine at 2B, Getz was fine there last year. They are no better or worse there.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Last year Fields UZR was -27.2. Teahen was -10.9. Fields was bad. Bad bad. Real bad. Teahen is below average which is an upgrade from bad bad.

How many games did Teahen play at 3B tho compared to Fields?

I have watched a TON of Royal games over the last few years and I am telling you this guy is not a good defensive glove at 3B.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Fields played 49 games. Teahen 107. The reason Fields only played 49 games was because he was so bad he was replaced by a rookie who never played the position before. He was REALLY bad.

The Rangers may have a lot of young talent and good young pitching, but they always seem to fade like an old pair of jeans down the stretch...

1- CF RF SS 2B are all better this year defensively. 3B is no worse. Ramirez started like shit and improved.

2- Faster top to bottom. Less strike outs. More runners on the move. Stolen bases is overated. 1st to 3rd and 2nd to home and sac flies are underated. They've obviously improved. Pods ran the bases like shit and Getz will rot with the Royals and teams like them.

3. Your DH arguement is rediculous. Kotsay and Jones will not be the DH. sure they'll play there but Kotsay is can play 1B and OF. He'll play alot. konerko, Carlos Q, Teahen , Jones will all play DH a lot in order to save them for the year. Thome was a base plugger. I love Dye but his 2nd half to me was a sign of things to come. Kosay is a "grinder".

4- Maybe Tampa but Seattle? Havnt they been in the cellar the last few years? Balt and Minn the same as the Sox? You talkin lineup? or team? wow. I disagree strongly with both.


I have the Sox as the 3rd best team in the AL. Especially if Quentin plays like he did two tears ago and the staff and pen does what they are suppose to do. This team will win 93 games.

Dye's season ended the last two Julys.

_________________
There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

Fields was a fire hydrant at third base...could not go to his right or left and balls hit to him tended to bounce off his chest.

I have no illusions about Teahen whatsoever....at bat he is a strikeout-DP machine...I am sure they are hoping he hits fly balls up into the wind current gusting out.

It is difficult to imagine Teahen being worse than Fields at 3B, though.

_________________
There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

No, no, no, no and no.

The difference between Quentin and Dye is insignificant
Rios is still Rios
The difference between Pierre and Pods is insignificant
Teahan and Beckham are about the same at third
Beckham will be playing the position for the first time in his life. He himself said it would take him until June.

Guys, let's lay off the stuff. Even if there is a marginal improvement in the overall defense, it will not be sufficient to be a strength.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Seattle had a nice year last year. They picked up a Cy Young winner to go along with Felix. They will feature a 1-2 of Figgins and Ichiro and really lost very little from the lineup. Since the Cubs gave up Bradley, you know he'll bounce back strong.

The Baltimore outfield is excellent. You won't be able to tell because they are in the East, but they will be much improved.

We've all watched Minnesota long enough to know better than to every dismiss them. It's not like they have a popgun offense anymore considering they feature two MVP and another two 30 HR hitters.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Anyone know anything about their new park in Minn? Could be a factor. The dome was a huge advantage.

How long til Mauer is a BoSox or Yankee?

Dimensions:

Left Field - 339 feet
Left-Center - 377 feet
Center Field - 404 feet
Right-Center - 367 feet
Right Field - 328 feet (23 ft fence)

Most important: Grass. Outdoors. Roadtrip worthy.

That is a really sharp looking park, cannot wait to watch some games there.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."