I'm all for swapping Teixerira at 20 million for Giambi at same price. As long as we don't expect Teix to be MVP good, which you used to be able to expect for that money. He DOES bring excellent D, which is an asset.

On the mound ... CC and only CC, though I admit to watching Sveum try to destroy him down the stretch and worrying. (If we can't have him, the Brewers decided, NO ONE will!) Was it SIX starts in a row on 3 days rest for a rent-a pitcher? I can imagine the conversations between CC's agents and the Brewer manager.

Sabathia, Wang, Joba ... that'll do me for the top of the rotation just fine. I'd take Mussina back for sure, and let the team braintrust evaluate the truth of Pettitte's explanation for wearing down late (he didn't work out as much as usual) to make that call. I think he's okay at the back end as a 2nd lefty. Hughes? Cross fingers, remember how passionate so many people were about him 12 months ago? A year is a long time. Is IPK even on the radar?

In short, I just want the two premium free agent blends there. And I'd be looking hard for a CF in a trade - though the pickings are slim and I don't call Sarge Jr pickings. I don't much want Pudge, but we may need to do it, if Jorge's about to be a weird DH/1stbase/maybe catcher dude.

1 it looks like Pudge somehow slipped into Type A status. there's no reason to bring him back. he 'earned' $13 mil this year, so he'd be real pricey if he accepted arb. plus, he's gonna wanna start and we're already on the books for $2 mil next year w/ "name that Molina". cashman said no side deals have been discussed - thus far? - but it would be cool to offer I-Rod arb, have him decline, and us get yet 2 more draft picks. cashman needs to be super smart this offseason. if he plays his cards right, we can get some real good draft picks...

i hope moose comes back, i really do! pettitte seems to be a lock for a year. i hope he takes a paycut. he should do. i'm down with CC and Tex, as well...

i don't see how in the hell Tampa can win tonight, but... GO RAYS!!!

spun Andrew Hill Judgement! today. holy shit, what a great record!!!

Then I added that if it goes to game #7, I would bet the house on the Sox. Well, I'm not for being homeless, especially with winter coming (even though it'll be a crappy Christmas), but since it's before the first pitch, I'm changing my bet to the Rays.

Lester was "so-so" in game #3. And these are STILL the young, resilient, speedy, go-go Rays of 2008. I see the Rays taking an early 2-0 lead and holding on, eventually winning 5-4.

You read it here first ...

And how about them G-men. Sucks not being able to watch the game, but anytime Dallas loses it's a good day.

3 Joe Maddon got cute after Game 4 and tried to protect against the loss instead of going for the kill. The stats supported his move, but in subsequent moves Maddon panicked and overmananged. I still have faith the Rays will win despite Maddon and the rejuved Dud Sox. Go Garza!

5 Homelessness is not fun. Nevertheless, if you were a betting man I would recommend some safe motels to camp out in should this game go the way we otherwise hope. That would make Christmas a little better >;)

We think it's bad that Gammons extols the RS model of team-building on a regular basis, but we're going to be seeing even more of this from writers everywhere as they keep finding ways to win. They're the model franchise and it's not going to change anytime soon.

We may not catch up until 2011, if that.

The current red Sox "dynasty" is not even a dynasty. When they win three in a row and four out of five, then we can talk.

Until then, I am not worried about a consistent second place team as the model franchise.

The 1996-2001 Yankees were one of the four or five greatest dynasties in the history of the game. The 2004 and 2007 Red Sox are about as historic as, say, the 1964/1967 Cardinals.

If they win this year AND next year, they might be as impressive as the mid-60s Dodgers or, better, the 70s A's. Their repeated wild card march to the series has a few years to go before it can match the real dynasties in the game's long history.

Let's talk baseball.

as to baseball, what do the Rays have to do to get to Lester?

Ahhh...a nice lead-off hit. That's a start.

Anyway, sorry--I probably overreacted.

Really, the Red Sox were not that good this year, at least when you look at the numbers. Very good, yes, but not some sort of juggernaut.

The Phils match up with them in terms of run differential (only about 20 or 30 run difference). But still, my gut...

I have no faith that they can hold 2-1 lead. But I do think that if they can keep Gritty and Papi from doing damage in this inning, they have a crack at some more runs in the bottom of the 6th. Gotta get to Lester in the 6th, because the Sox BP is stacked tonight.

just gettin' in from work. eating dinner. i'll catch up on the comments and the game soon...

GO RAYS!!!

go-go-garza!!!

That said, I can't say that I am unhappy with the result.

score more runs now. thank you, please!

but, no, i'm not your typical professional musician or drummer or anything like that. i'm just a boring baseball geek... : )

GO RAYS!!!

And right on cue...

i guess it might not be so bad with the extra run and the bottom of the order up. not sure i want him to face dusty again though. even with 2 outs.

oh no. the sure-handed bartlett. that sucks. what happened there? boo!!!

Go for the gusto here...bring in the closer. Actually, is the Rays closer any good? I don't even know who it is.

74 i hope you're not prescient!

Bad play by Crisp.