MVN: Most Valuable Network

#1

Posted by JRod, September 2, 2008 11:03 PM

These sox are on fire. I couldnt agree with you with the Manny and Pedroia comparison. I know he doesn't like batting their but he seems to have success with it. Its obvioulsy not the ideal situation but he is making it work for them.

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#2

Posted by Gerry, September 2, 2008 11:56 PM

"Who needs Manny when Pedroia is doing these kinds of things."

IMO, we have completely moved away from the Papi/Manny way of winning. Nor is it now Papi/Pedroia. It is now the entire lineup which is dangerous, hitting for average and power, with 7 simultaneous hot streaks going, plus stealing bases, making great plays, loose and laughing.

Youk & Dustin are Co-MVP's.

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#3

Posted by Gerry, September 3, 2008 12:06 AM

How about someone doing an analysis of the NEW Red Sox who have recently contributed so much to this great Aug./Sept run, while 6 All-Stars (Mike. JD, Youk, the Mayor, Beckett, Colon), and Aardsma continue their health struggles. As Jerry Remy suggested, the lineup tonight looked like a Spring Training game:

1. Bay

2. Kotsay

3. Lowrie*

4. Bailey*

5. Van Every*

6. Byrd

7. Bowden*

8. Smith*

9. Pauley* (finally)

10.Did I miss anyone?

* = from Pawtucket.

And we have already won 4 or 5 series in a row? Amazing.

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#4

Posted by Gerry, September 3, 2008 12:10 AM

Manny who? Manny, who cost us $7M and Brandon Moss who, tonite, had another multiple hit game, with his 6th HR as a Pirate. Still, Bay rules.

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#5

Posted by jvwalt, September 3, 2008 6:58 AM

The Sox are certainly entertaining, and it's great that they're on such a run with so many injured... but let's be fair. Pedroia is no Manny at the plate.

Trading Manny was the right thing to do, if only because he's on the downside of his career. But this new Sox team has a smaller margin of error. There isn't a good power center. Sooner or later, they're going to need a big bat in the middle of the lineup. And as wonderful as this current streak has been, they're going to need a serious outbreak of good health if they want to go deep into the postseason.

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#6

Posted by Bob, September 3, 2008 9:02 AM

I agree with jvwalt, Manny needed to go, but while Pedroia continues to impress me he'll never be the hitter that Manny was (50 HR power) I agree that Manny needed to go, but the team really only has one guy who can be considered a legitimate power hitter (Ortiz) and a lot of other guys who are great hitters, but not 40 hr guys (Bay, Drew, Dustin, Youk, Lowell, Lowrie). Hopefully the development of Lars and Josh Reddizk will continue and assuage the power drought in the future because aside from Tex there aren't man true power hitters available this offseason.

This has been a great streak and it couldn't have come at a better time as its helped conceal some real injuries. A lot of this streak has been based on bench players playing at or near their ceilings and it's realistic to expect them to cool off a little. It's a good thing Lowell and Beckett could be back for the weekend series because Cora was the most likely candidate to regress first and the rotation has been leaning a little bit too much on Paul Bird who is a below-average starter. The Drew injury is slightly less pressing because of the Kotsay acquisition (Excellent move which Theo should be applauded for), but the healtheir he is when he gets back the better, hopefully not before too long os he can knock off some of the rust.

We owe a lot to the front office and bench for putting together a great run when it would have been easy to fold under the injuries. I've been critical at times, but this team has guts.

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