First, my apology to non-sports fans but Staff says there will be no Sports board. The talk belongs on the regional boards. Cheer up...it will all be over in a couple of days, until the Pats begin their push to the Super Bowl!

The first thing I thought about after last night's game...

1975 - The lament was "Why did [Johnson] take out Willoughby?"

1986 - "Why did [McNamara] take out Clemens?"

2003 - "Why DIDN'T Little take out Martinez?"

Little said he didn't believe in The Curse. You have to acknowledge the irony here.

The sad part...what can the Sox do to improve themselves? It would be great to get a young #1 starter to replace Pedro but, if one were available, every team in baseball would be after him. Nomar embarrassed himself in the playoffs. I think of the fact that the A's have been in the playoffs 4 years in a row and Chavez an Tehada have yet to hit! Even if the Sox get back in next year, there's no guarantee that the bats won't be shut down again. Remember, the one factor that all team sports have in common...DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS! In the case of baseball, it all comes down to pitching and defense up the middle. With the exception of Walker, the Sox defense up the middle is pretty good. I'd love to see a second baseman come to town with great range who was also a table setter who could run.

As for Grady, Don Zimmer won a lot of games here too but we all acknowledge that he was a terrible manager. I don't feel confident that Little has the managerial skills to steal a close game. Little won't be fired just because of the Pedro thing. I just hope that Epstein will be open to other possibilities. (Why did the Sox do nothing when Dusty Baker become available last year?)

This isn't a Curse related thought...then again, maybe it is. I believe that if you plan that something will happen (take it for granted) it often doesn't. For instance, I have a good feeling about the Pats this weekend but I know if I bet on them, they will lose. Using this logic/superstition, why did the Sox paint "World Series" behind home plate at Fenway yesterday. COULDN'T THEY HAVE WAITED UNTIL TODAY!

thirsty

I'm noticing many new posters here in Boston. When I tried (unsuccessfully) to talk Staff into creating a sports discussion board on TER, I pointed out that the sports talk brought many first time or infrequent posters back to the board everyday. Hey, danfrommass even posted on the Newbie board today. I hope that those who joined us for the Sox talk won't leave the party just yet...    

Keep posting and have fun!

thirsty

Thirsty I agree with you on most all things except for Grady (I  know so) Little. They should defenetly FIRE HIS ASS . Martinez was finished after the 7th.For the past 3 weeks we had Timlin and Williamson working to perfection..why change?
Its aggrevating just thinking about Little.
By the way Dusty Baker is not that great he lost last year with the Giants and this year didn't he leave Wood on for 7 runs before he took him out?
Personally I hope the team stays the same.their chemistry is GREAT..We do however need another pitcher.But lets keep Walker he was the brightest star during the playoffs.

but I hope I'm wrong.

I agree that Walker was the playoff offensive MVP for the Sox. I would just like a table setter with some speed. The weakest defensive position on the Sox is second base so...

thirsty

-- Modified on 10/17/2003 7:41:16 PM

This Sox team is basically constructed for one more year.  After the 2004 season, Pedro, Nomar, Lowe, and Varitek are free agents, so hard decisions will have to be made.  As for Walker, he's probably gone.  The rumors are that Luis Castillo, who's a better hitter for average, better base runner, and better defender will be in a Sox uniform next year (he has an excellent relationship with John Henry from when he owned the Marlins).  However, now that the Marlins have a chance to win it all (after their long 6 year wait), who knows what Castillo may do.  

As for pitching, the best arms on the free agent market after the season are Kevin Millwood, Javier Vazquez, and Bartolo Fatty Colon.  Thirsty's dead on about the need for starting pitching.  Pedro is still an amazing pitcher, but not the Pantheon pitcher from '98-'01.  As we all saw this season, Lowe is probably better off as a 3 starter, with Wakefield holding down the fort at 4.  Byung Hyun Kim will probably fill out the rotation as your number 5 guy.  That is, if we can get a Millwood or Vazquez.  

Now that I've had a day to digest the terrible happenings of last night, I'm slowly shedding the numbing, depressing shock.  I don't know if Grady should be fired, if only for the possible mutiny that might happen in the clubhouse.  BTW, Dusty Baker isn't much of an upgrade over Grady.  He's a media whore, can't seem to leave his kids at home, and is Grady's NL counterpart in the brain dead department when it comes to in-game strategy.  The Cubs didn't lose because of some stupid goat curse -- they lost because Dusty, like Grady, doesn't know how to manage his pitchers.

-el_duro45

Boston fans.....let me try to offer some commiseration and encouragement.

I grew up in Maryland...been a die-hard Maryland Terrapin hoops fan for 30plus years. This team had broken my heart so many times over the years I can't even count. From David Thompson tipping in a shot at the buzzer to beat us after we had a 15 point lead...from having the number 4 ranked team in the country in 1974 AND NOT EVEN MAKING THE NCAA TOURNAMENT (those were the days where only the conference tourney winner got in)...from the numerous gut-wrenching losses to Dean Smith and North Carolina....to the agonizing death of Lenny Bias...man..I know how you feel!!

Thw worst was 2001...I was at the game against Duke (who, in the eyes of Terp fans...are every bit the equivalent of the evil-empire!!) where we had a 10 point lead with 58 seconds to go and BLEW-IT!! I was so sickened by this I literally couldn't eat for 24 hours!! Then we make the final-4..have a 22 point lead against Duke...and BLOW-IT...God..where does it end!!

But finally...FINALLY...in 2002...they won it all!! I never-ever lost hope..and I never ever stopped being a die-hard..and that beautiful day in the sun came!!

And it will for you too, Sox fans...take heart, your day will come!!