Two of hist starts were also in Chicago, so AL teams with no DH doesn't really illustrate pitching in the AL. I get that he's limited trying to get a point across on twitter, but using that small of a sample size to back up his conclusion is embarrassing for a baseball reporter. Even the most casual baseball fan understands thats not enough proof Dempster can pitch well in the AL.For context, Dempster beat Minny, arguably the worst team in baseball, and lost to the White Sox, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.
Of course, the other win was a 3-0 win over the Red Sox, where Dempster threw 7 innings, giving up five hits and two walks and striking out three in Chicago.
Nick finally gets a story, and he buries it at the bottom of today's notebook (also in the coaches thread):
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2012/07/17/david_ortiz_injures_achilles_tendon/?page=2
The whispers regarding possible tension between Valentine and McClure have circulated for much of the season, especially during a stretch in which it appeared as though the manager was leaning more on his longtime friend -- assistant pitching coach Randy Niemann -- instead of McClure.
But now, thanks to a mandate from Major League Baseball, Niemann is forced to watch games from the clubhouse due to regulations dictating how many in-game coaches a team can have. That has left Valentine with McClure in the dugout, with Gary Tuck (who began the season in the dugout while Niemann worked in the bullpen) in the 'pen.
That's some quality reporting.Random Ross note: Braves second baseman Dan Uggla is his best friend.
Which makes Nick's original "source" wrong. "The decision to not keep him on the bench was made at the executive level, according to a team source."McClure on WEEI.com:
MLB offices aren't the "executive level"Which makes Nick's original "source" wrong. "The decision to not keep him on the bench was made at the executive level, according to a team source."
Which makes Nick's original "source" wrong. "The decision to not keep him on the bench was made at the executive level, according to a team source."
Of course they are.MLB offices aren't the "executive level"
Then why on Earth print the letter, Nick?Is it possible that Lester's cancer is back and he isn't saying anything? This would be one issue that may be wrong with Lester.
Bob, Keene, NH
Oh God, wouldn’t touch that one. I sure hope not.
So that Nick can show that he won't even dignify it with a real response.Then why on Earth print the letter, Nick?
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2012/07/ask_nick_9.html
You mean we don't have to throw in Matt Barnes?Nick probably thinks Seattle is showcasing King Felix for the Sox because he drilled Slappy, Jetes, and the traitorous Itchyroo last night.
Xander, Ells, and Lester should get it done.
Bullshit. Mazz said it would only take Lester and Alex Wilson.Nick probably thinks Seattle is showcasing King Felix for the Sox because he drilled Slappy, Jetes, and the traitorous Itchyroo last night.
Xander, Ells, and Lester should get it done.
It's really amazing.Jacoby Ellsbury is an excellent player when he's on the field, but one who will likely not re-sign here when his free agency comes along after next season. Too much time being injured and rehabbing don't exactly make him a candidate for a huge deal.
You could reasonably argue that letting Jason Bay walk was one of Theo's greatest decisions.How in the world is not signing Jason Bay a bad thing? Seriously. I want that explained to me right now. In the last three years, Jason Bay has played in 95, 123 and 30 games. He has had a grand total of 23 home runs and 217 hits in those three years and a slash of .244/.328/.383.
How is having the foresight for letting this guy go, bad?
https://twitter.com/nickcafardo/statuses/225287759236046848
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2012/01/08/good_starting_point_for_red_sox_is_200_innings/?page=full8. Players I expect to come back big in 2012: Crawford, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, Ichiro Suzuki, Buster Posey, and Alex Rodriguez.
These are easy to answer, actually.I'm just as guilty as this as anyone but, damn, a man of such little intelligence and insight really doesn't deserve to have his words parsed and analyzed as much as we do.
How he managed to get the gig that he has is astonishing. I mean, really, utterly and truly astonishing.
I have similar thoughts about Peter King but at least he spent years developing a wide network of sources. Like him or not, he really does have the ear and attention of a huge chunk of the NFL world. And he's unique. Insufferable, but plugged in and unique.
Cafardo talks to a few cronies and friends, and otherwise just spits out repetitive, senseless drivel. And he does it in a featured role in the the Boston Globe sports section, the part of the media that informed many of my childhood views about sports and essentially tought me to read and write (along with Sports Illustrated).
How did this happen?
Um . . . One of these things is not like the others.What is the common denominator over the last three seasons?
. . .
The only constants among the regulars have been David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez.
Has he been saying the poor decision was on Bay's decision to leave Fenway for Citifield, or it was a bad idea for the Red Sox to not match the Mets' offer? I'd imagine it's the former.You could reasonably argue that letting Jason Bay walk was one of Theo's greatest decisions.
He's harped on this Jason Bay thing before, too.
https://twitter.com/nickcafardo/statuses/225287759236046848
What an insightful piece of analysis he just provided for us!
Beckett doesn’t have to go anywhere. While his favorability ratings aren’t high, he did himself a world of good when he got tossed out of Sunday night’s game — he finally showed that he cared when he went after the umps for calling a foul ball on Will Middlebrooks’s bunt attempt when Middlebrooks clearly was hit in the hand
I missed that the first time around. Normal rules of construction would suggest that where the "jerk" graf follows the Shoppach discussion and is followed by a complete change of direction, that the jerk is indeed Shoppach. But this is Cafardo-land, where "normal rules" don't always apply. He might have just had another column inch or two to fill and just hit his "toughness/jerk" macro to fill the space with an inscrutable random musing.I just read today's column and I would like to know if anyone else took it as a major slam on Shoppach, that teams are avoiding him because he's a jerk.
https://twitter.com/nickcafardo/status/230297503529066496There's always the possibility the red sox do nothing today.
Nick tweets his own epitaph.There's always the possibility the red sox do nothing today.
By "old," does he mean 1 WC only? If he does, then he's an idiot, since the difference is 1 game.There’s no question that if the old playoff format still existed, there wouldn’t be much in the way of optimism, and perhaps then the Sox would have been more intense sellers than quasi-buyers.
That's his particular geniusI can't tell if Nick is being sarcastic.
I'm not the type to defend Cafardo, but I see it saying he wouldn't get claimed, and could be traded if he gets through waivers. In that case, the Cubs may be willing to eat some contract.If a team claims Soriano, Theo isn't going to subsidize the contract or ask for anything in return. He'd let the claiming team have the guy. Same with these other guys.
Upon closer inspection, I am mentally incompetent and misunderstood some of the finer points of the waiver process.I'm not the type to defend Cafardo, but I see it saying he wouldn't get claimed, and could be traded if he gets through waivers. In that case, the Cubs may be willing to eat some contract.
So Cafardo is watching Damon's kids tubing on a lake? :buddy: I knew he was in love with Damon, but now it's downright creepy.Cafardo tweet:
Johnny Damon hasn't heard if there's any interest in him by a contender, but wants to play. Watching his kids tubing on a lake right now.
http://twitter.com/nickcafardo/status/233642324561891329