You all know I enjoy hate mail. It keeps me going when times get rough, and it’s the lifeblood of the d-bag mailbag.
But I’ve got to be honest. As much I enjoy getting abused, I take nearly as much pleasure in you folks abusing the people I work with. Namely, Tanguay and Dickerson. Any mention of Bradford and his Mangina works for me, too, as does any attack on the BBWAA. It’s at moments like those that I feel it’s all worthwhile.
And so with that as a backdrop, I bring you another edition of the bag, where we happily spread the hate.
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Felger,
I know you love to make fun of the ``green teamers’’ about their irrational homerism when it comes to the Celtics. (Felger: Moi?) And when it comes to the Rondo trade rumors, I have to agree with you.
Less then two months ago Rondo was the second best point guard in Celtic franchise history. Now a lot of people seem okay dangling him in trade rumors. The biggest reason I seem to hear is because it will clear out some cap space for the Celtics to go after LeBron.
This makes no sense. For anyone to think that LeBron is going to come to Boston is either in their own little Celtic bubble or just plain dumb. The only reason why he would leave his hometown Cavs is to go to New York/New Jersey to play in the biggest market in the country. It’s not going to afford him any additional marketing opportunities, but it will allow him to be closer to the action -- hip-hop moguls, movie stars, business movers and shakers, etc. He loves that stuff; the building of the LeBron Brand.
He's not going to go the C's because he has a better chance of winning. He really can almost do that by himself. Please don't forget that he won 67 games when his third-best player was an integral part of the Celtics putrid 24-win season two years ago. He's going to win championships (plural) no matter where he goes. It just won't be here.
One question for you: If there was no salary cap in the NBA, what do you think LeBron would command on the open market?
Mo
Watertown
A: Agreed on your main point. I don’t care how much green angel dust they try and get me to sniff around here. I can’t take LeBron-to-Boston seriously. This town just isn’t big enough for him. If he wants to remain in a fishbowl, he’ll stay in Cleveland.
As for a salary on a non-salary cap open market: I think a jumping off point would be the biggest contracts in baseball, the only sport without a cap. If Alex Rodriquez gets $25 million a season, then I’d say LeBron would be worth at least $30 million per since one player can impact a team substantially more in basketball than baseball.
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Mike,
Apparently Tanguay, Holley, Glen and the rest of the Green Teamers went to the Phish concert a few weeks ago, got some bad red rope licorice and began to visualize LeBron's number 23 in a Celtic uniform. These guys are on a magical mystery tour if they believe LeBron-to-Boston is a likelihood. I like to imagine it too, but it feels as realistic a possibility as the Shaq-to-Boston rumors from a half-dozen years ago.
Garnett said he never wanted to play for Boston, and then changed his tune. I guess it happens, but he was 10+ years into his career, obviously not going to win in Minnesota and desperate for a championship. He got sold by Danny, Doc and Russell that winning championships was THE most important thing here. That angle only applies to guys where winning championships are THE most important thing. There's a difference between wanting to win and being desperate to win, and I don't think LeBron has lost enough to be Malone/Barkley/Garnett desperate yet. I think the C's are still in a position to land a premier free agent when Jesus Shuttlesworth comes off the books. Boch, Wade, Stoudemire and Dirk are all free agents and every one of those guys is more likely to end up a Celtic than LeBron. If he doesn't stay in Cleveland, tell me who is more Hollywood?
If you believe he's coming to Boston to win then you learned nothing from A-Rod and Texiera. Remember A-Rod touring Boston with the Sox organization and fans throwing rose petals at his feet only to have him fulfill his lifelong dream of playing in pinstripes? This will be worse. Skip the tongue bath of LeBron, the blame-storming of Ainge and move immediately to the part where we despise LeBron for becoming a Laker and pretend we never wanted him in the first place. It is em-freaking-barassing when we play the sour grapes game after a superstar we ``knew’’ was coming goes to a rival.
So let's just start now. LeBron is selfish, a worse actor than Ben Affleck, and what has he ever won? I heard he has off-court issues. And the ever popular, ``I am glad we didn't sign him because he's not a Celtic.’’
You ever meet a girl who is clearly a 7, but for some reason beyond comprehension thinks she's a 10? Or a guy fishing way out of his league who gets shot down and assumes, ``must be a lesbian?’’ That’s what it sounds like when Holley says things like, ``why wouldn't he want to come here?’’ It's human nature. Guaranteed, Tara Reid and Bridgette still look at Tom Brady and can't figure out what went wrong. It doesn't mean most guys wouldn't go a round with either Bridgette or Tara, the latter most likely followed by a round of penicillin. It just means that given the choice, Giselle is the first pick in the draft. Why is that so hard to handle? When the hell will we grow up and realize Boston is not the first choice for every player no matter how much of a ``destination’’ we think it is. Stop blaming the player when he's just not that into you.
Mahalo,
Jake Scott
Boston
A: A fun e-mail as usual, Jake, but I don’t really hear the destination thing from the Green Teamers as the main reason why LeBron would come here. They mostly point to the “giving LeBron the best chance to win” argument. But even that’s a bit self-centered, isn’t it? I hear it from Patriots fans all the time. To them, whenever a player chooses to go elsewhere it’s because winning isn’t the most important thing to them. What garbage. New England is the only place to go and win in the NFL? Tell Adam Vinatieri that. Pats fans told me Asante Samuel gave up winning for the money -- and he ended up in the NFC title game while the Pats were home for the playoffs. So much for that.
Anyway, is Boston really the only place where LeBron can win a championship? Of course not. You don’t need to build a team around him. You don’t need a big three. You just need a couple of pieces that won’t barf on their shoes in the playoffs, which, apparently, the Cavs are unable to acquire. He can go any number of places and win.
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Felger,
This is a letter to Danny Ainge:
Danny,
You don't need to make trade offers involving Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. As you know, it only offends the players involved and creates tenuous chemistry strains. Besides, it's not like you can offer up an excuse, such as, ``we don't want to trade you, it's just that other teams want you." No. In the Pistons rumor, it was clearly you going out and shopping them around.
The Celtics don't need the hassle of keeping the guys in the trade rumors happy and on task. The Green doesn't need a major makeover. You essentially drafted Rondo and acquired Ray (and KG) through your great work. I urge you to use very careful judgment. Please don't ruin it all.
As you know, in this day in age, all possible information will escape from what you and other general managers like to think of as confidential phone calls. Unfortunately, the ESPNs of the world have ruined all possible private conversations involving trade possibilities. More bad than good can happen from these conversations.
If you sign a few free agents (Joe Smith or Antonio McDyesss), solid, veteran bench players, the team will have a great chance at winning the title again.
So Danny, please. Do NOT look any further into the possible trading of two of the team's star players. It is simply unnecessary, and any conversation will do much more bad than good. You talk about winning a championship this year, and I agree. The team should make a serious run this year. I challenge you to find five better and more cohesive players on one NBA team than Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. Danny, if it ain't broke (and it most certainly isn't), don't fix it.
Thank you, and good luck in your drive for Banner 18!
Sincerely,
George
Cambridge
A: I’ll give this to Dickerson to print out and give to Danny with his dry cleaning. One point: I wouldn’t worry about upsetting these players, George. This is the life they’ve chosen. They’ll get over it. I loved how Danny scolded the media over this on Tuesday, talking about how baseless rumors impact player’s families. Like we were the ones who called Detroit.
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Felger,
Just when I thought Tanguay could not get any more of a homer, it happened. Rasheed Wallace would make fans forget James Posey? I thought I was crazy to hear that on the last minute of the Comcast show, but I rewinded it. This might be the most idiotic statement since he said that the reason that the C’s lost the second regular season game vs. the Lakers was because we did not have Scal.
Rasheed Wallace is the Carl Everett of basketball. He is a friend of KG?! Who cares? He is still a DB who only shoots 3s! Don't pass this on to Tanguay because he will only make a stupid argument that I can't respond to quickly.
``Without KG in the lineup, Posey would not have been the difference in beating Cleveland. How did Posey do with New Orleans? Did he help them get to the finals? No.’’ -- GT 6/11/09
I did not say they would have got past Cleveland. I said they would have got past Orlando, which they should have even without Posey. Now GT wants to trade Rondo/Allen for Stuckey, Hamilton, and Prince. He did not want to pay Posey $4 million per year, but Prince at $11 million is a good deal?
Please give me YOUR opinion on James Posey because even if you disagree with me, at least I respect your opinion.
Erik
Ottawa, IL (via Methuen)
A: The Celts were worried about Posey’s salary in Year 4 of the deal ($6.9 million for New Orleans in 2011-12). To me, I’d risk a little dead money on the books four years into the future in exchange for a legitimate title-contending piece in Years 1-3. For all we know, the world could explode in four years. That’s a long ways away and not all that much money.
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Felgy,
All the discussion of Rondo being traded actually surprised me at first, because I had been convinced by others that he was All Star caliber. But then it really sunk in as I started to think about it. Rondo is a good player, but it’s the second coming of the Big Three that has elevated his stature. After watching him play in the Orlando series, I didn’t know which Rondo was going to show up, the All-Star, or the out-of-control, deer-in-the-headlights, body-flopping speedster that didn’t know where he was shooting or to whom he was passing. We kept hearing that he was tired. I hate that line; everyone else on the court was in the same boat. Why not try and go after someone like Rafer Alston? That’s a playground legend that can take it, and the Magic can’t have both him and Nelson. He’s not better than Rondo yet, but I think he likely will be. Thoughts?
On a separate note, Will Bradford (and you now) please get off the ``five things learned’’ bit? It’s totally irritating at the very least, and I am a pretty easy guy to please (no Felgy, not that way).
John
NH
A: Good clarification on that last point, John.
As for Alston, I disagree. He’s been in the league nine years now. If he was going to be better than Rondo, wouldn’t that have happened by now?
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Felgy,
I still have to laugh at anyone calling Garnett a warrior. Nick Lidstrom got speared in the balls so badly in the Chicago series that he needed surgery -- and he returned to finish the playoffs. I am with you on the KG fraud band wagon.
Paul
Whitman
A: Did I ever say he was a fraud? Don’t think so. But I also wouldn’t make the leap and say he’s a warrior, either. I don’t know what he is; and I don’t know how anyone else could. Overall, comparing NBA and NHL players is apples and oranges, Paul. I just prefer oranges.
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Subject: Yes Felger, you are stupid.
Felger,
Yes, you are stupid for not wanting to trade Perk to Memphis for the number two pick. Perk might be the most over-rated big in the league, probably due to the Big 3 playing around him. Perk has shown little promise of improvement and will likely never be any more than a big body down low. Not a proven scorer, consistently in foul trouble, and definitely not a player that can't be replaced by a more versatile Leon Powe (assuming his knee recovers).
Trade Perk to Memphis if the Griz are dumb enough to agree with that!
Thanks,
Fred
Lexington
A: I really like Perk. He never takes a bad shot. Always does just what’s asked of him. Has no delusions of grandeur. Plays hurt (ahem) and plays hard. And then there’s the whole matter of what he does to Dwight Howard. Powe would get crushed by Howard. My opinion stands. I don’t trade Perk.
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Felgster,
It’s very interesting to me that both of the local winter sports franchises are shopping young talented players in Phil Kessel and Rajon Rondo. It was only weeks ago that your colleagues at CSN were anointing Rondo as the next coming of Isaiah Thomas. Now, with the Celtics propaganda machine twisting minds, many Green Teamers have turned on him and support the idea of moving him. What gives? What’s changed in the last three weeks? Did anyone care that he was bitching and showing up late when he was dominating the Bulls? Of course not. The Celts won a championship with this kid running the point. Are we now supposed to believe that he’s holding them back from winning another? Please. This is a classic case of the Celtics press corps sucking back the management Kool Aid.
The Kessel situation is less convoluted but still interesting. He’s got the pedigree, the skills and the quick release to be a perennial 40-goal man. Yet there are whispers about his work ethic and there is an obvious lack of on-ice toughness and grit (credited for one check in 11 playoff games…staggering). Although he is a super talent, the Bruins can make an argument that trading Kessel, based on their current roster and cap situation, could actually IMPROVE their chances of winning a championship. The Celts, in my opinion, cannot make that same argument when it comes to dealing Rondo. They just won’t get enough in return.
So Felgy, answer me this. When the smoke clears will the spineless Tanguay and Dickerson call Rondo a top 5 point guard or a cancerous diva?
High Life Mike
A: I’m rooting for a trade, of course. If for no other reason than the commentary that will follow. The cancerous diva thing you’re talking about. It will be very easy for me to go back and roll the tape, show all the times where these guys were comparing him to Cousy. I mean, really -- how many times did you hear from these folks that Rondo would eventually get Ray Allen’s money? He was that good. Now, all of a sudden, he’s not a max contract guy. Whatever Danny says, right?
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Mike,
Nice article on Chiarelli two weeks ago. Good to see you writing about hockey. I think Chiarelli is doing a very good job, with one of his best attributes being that he hasn't necessarily wanted to deconstruct what O'Connell did just because he was the previous GM. In his last year or two, O'Connell actually did a good job, and while he did not get enough for Thornton, history has shown conclusively that he was right in trading the A-Rod of Hockey. If you believe what you read, the Sharks wouldn't be too upset to dump him either. I agree with you about Kessel, that he's gone, and I think we'll find out soon enough with the draft on Friday.
JT
A: It’s a really good point, JT. Chiarelli didn’t just clean house and wipe out all the personnel he inherited, as so many GMs would do. He dealt some pieces and kept the ones he felt would be valuable in the future. He made some mistakes (see Versteeg and Boyes), but I think his heart has been in the right place. It doesn't look like he was territorial or egotistical in building the roster.
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Felgy,
I think Chiarelli’s stint with Bruins has been mediocre at best. I think anyone would have looked good compared with the Sinden/O’Connell circus that we had to endure. I think the turnaround with the Bruins happened before he got here. It happened with scouts that could actually scout players. Case in point: the 2004 draft when the Bruins drafted Krechi, Versteeg and Matt Hunwick. Since then Chiarelli traded Versteeg, one of the league's up and coming stars for Brandon Bochenski???? While Paul Mara and Brad Boyes for Ward and Wideman were good trades, most of his dealings have been negative or a non factor. As far as salary cap management, I feel again a negative grade is in order. $7.5 Million a year for Chara is not a good value. Another stupid move is tying up $8.2 million in goaltending, $3.2 million of it to rookie Rask. If Rask emerges I think they will have to trade Thomas.
Kurt
A: Disagree on Chara. He brought you max contract value last season, although his deficiencies were certainly exposed in the playoffs. Beyond that, when the B’s signed him 2006, they had hit rock bottom. Thornton had been traded, the team was in last place and fan interested was at a decades-long low. They had to do something to put itself back in the conversation, and the Chara deal started their long climb back. Jerry finally reached into his wallet, and it worked out. I'd never criticize that deal.
Otherwise, you're preaching to the choir on the goaltending thing. That Thomas deal is going to look awful in 1-2 years.
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Felger,
A few points:
1. With a healthy Ference, this is a different team. I'm not a Hunwick fan, never was. Hnidy is a better option than him at D. The issue with the Bruins losing to the Hurricanes was primarily coaching, and over-confidence. Winning six-straight with ease would do that to any team, I suppose. The Bruins are/were clearly the better team and they definitely had enough, this year, to win it.
2. There is no chance the Bruins can afford Jay Bouwmeester. It would take a King's Ransom; along with trading the likes of Savard and/or Bergeron, plus20a Lucic in order for that to happen. Wishful thinking to get a top-10 defenseman right now. Chara, Wideman, Ward, Ference, and Stuart are good enough. And they are certainly good enough for the B's not to sell the farm for Jay.
3. I agree with you on the Kessel thing. I also think he's playing at his peak-potential right now. 40 goals? Perhaps. But if this kid wants to remain a Bruin, he needs to learn how to hit. However, with his injury/surgery, plus free-agency right around the corner, I think his trade value has plummeted.
4. Tuukka Rask is not better than Tim Thomas. Thomas was a rock between the pipes for the last two seasons, including both playoffs. Rask has tremendous upside, but to say an unproven guy like that is, or may be, better than Timmy, is absurd. Besides, who knows how Rask will pan-out? Another Raycroft? Maybe, maybe not.
5. Of course, like all new GM's, Chiarelli inherited a number of players. But whether he drafted or traded for Rask, he was responsible for signing him for three-years. Thornton and Ryder (to name a few) weren't too shabby now, where they?
I'm jealous that you get to write about this stuff. I look forward to more of your stuff, whether I agree with you or not.
Best,
Mark Marino
A: That's the spirit. Hnidy is better than Hunwick? God, I hope that's not true. The B’s need Hunwick to be decent. On Thomas, you think that rebound he gave up to Scott Walker was “rock-like?” Yikes. There’s no doubt Rask is unproven and could flame out. But at least there’s a chance he could be the guy. I already know that Thomas can't be.
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Subj: Flyers on New Year's Day
But shouldn’t the Bruins be playing Montreal? That should be a no-brainer. Love the Flyers and there used to be a rivalry. But not really today. Rather see the Canadiens or Rangers, but I guess I'll take the Flyers. Now if the B's could get out of the second round....
Marc
Upton
A: The Habs would be a natural, of course, but they aren’t in a U.S. television market. That’s a must for NBC, because they don’t broadcast into Canada for hockey. For them, anytime there’s a Canadian team on their air it’s a waste. Pittsburgh-Buffalo. Chicago-Detroit. Boston-Philadelphia. That’s the deal.
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Felgy,
With the success of the outdoor hockey games and the next one being held here, it got me thinking about other uses for the Fenway:
How about setting up Bowling Lanes along the first- and third-base lines. You could have Earl Anthony vs. Marshall Holman hosted by Bob Gamere….uh scratch that last thought.
Flood Fenway like they did in the Roman Coliseum for the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Hold The Whiney Awards down on the field and then flood Fenway again.
Greg
East Providence
A: Or at least disinfect it.
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Mike,
On the subject of Patriots pass rush, this is a simple equation. Like the Asante situation and WR situation, the answer will be apparent by week 4. They feel Redd/Woods/Banta-Cain will have more pressures than Vrabel. But the NFL has changed so much that pass rush is not as important as a high-powered offense. The Cardinals almost won the Super Bowl with a pathetic defense, and they put up almost 500 yards against the Steelers vaunted defense. I think the 2007 Super Bowl was an aberration, and for the Patriots an unfortunate one.
George
A: So defense no longer wins championships, George? Good luck with that philosophy.
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Felger,
Pats give away Cassel
``Where. Was. The. Fire? Before free agency was even a day old, the Patriots were in the midst of cutting a deal that sent Matt Cassel to Kansas City for a second-round pick.
With outside linebacker Mike Vrabel tossed in as a bonus.
Cassel, who the Patriots franchised in February, was the best available quarterback this offseason. With four seasons under his belt, the final one leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record, speculation flew that the Pats could get at least a first and a third-rounder for him. But the Patriots didn’t want to wait. Confident Tom Brady’s knee was going to be OK, afraid of having to pay Cassel his $14.65 million tender and anxious to get into the free agent fray themselves, New England sent Cassel and their smartest defender, Vrabel, out of town for a song.'' -- Tom E. Curran
Mike, I know you take a lot of heat for questioning the Vrabel trade, but you are right on the money. Trading Vrabel created an unnecessary hole at OLB.
Dave
A: I always knew Tommy could write. I’m saving that, thanks. I’ll bring it back out when we finally find out what the hell happened between Vrabel and the Pats. There has to be an untold story there, because the rest of it makes no sense.
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Felgy,
I don't mean to come across as a blind homer, but I think the move the Sox made with Dice-K is a pretty savvy one. First off, they get him time off to get well physically or mentally, or both. Secondly, they aren't forced to trade Penny -- although they still can trade him if the right offer comes along. Also, they don't irritate the other pitchers by moving to a six-man rotation. And lastly, should another pitcher get injured they can still call up Buchholz or Bowden. Whatever happens, by optimizing his optionality and flexibility, Theo again demonstrated that he is at or near the top of his profession.
Aaron
A: I don’t know, Aaron. This doesn’t feel like a master plan to me. It feels like Matsuzaka was sucking so bad that he had to go bye-bye. If Matsuzaka had gone out in that last outing and threw eight complete, then what would the Sox have done? It probably would have been some form of a six-man rotation. Matsuzaka’s implosion was just well-timed.
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Felger,
I wrote you a couple weeks ago about Papelbon, and how he hasn't been dominant this season, and you dismissed it as ``pacing'' himself or some other garbage. All I'm saying is that he isn't what he used to be.
Did you forget that this was the same player who had the best ERA in baseball HISTORY thru 50, then 100, then 150 innings? That means, through his first 150 innings, he was the BEST PITCHER EVER?!? Sick. Flat-out nasty. Filthy. Vicious. Ridiculous. All words that could describe Paps from '06-'08. (Copied from the Vitamin water ad comparing Kobe and LeBron.)
To see his ERA ``balloon'' (to a very relative degree) to 2.57, as it was last month, is disappointing. Last year, he was starting to slip into what he is now. (Again, he is not bad, or merely average, but just not what he once was). He had a higher ERA in '08 than in the previous two years.
One telling stat is his batting average against. He suffered a 77-point jump in that category from 2007-2008. Also, opponents are reaching base 78 points higher this year as compared to last. Clean innings have few and far between.
Was he also ``pacing'' himself in the 2008 regular season, when he was far less dominant than in years previous? How do you explain that? Now do I want to dump him off? Far be it. Send him on a bus to Pawtucket? Couldn't be farther from the truth. But I hope that you can look past your Comcast lenses and not be afraid to say something critical about the station's top interview, like you would about any other athlete in town. I hope you realize, through both statistics and the ``eye test,'' that he has not been quite what he once was.
Josh
Sharon
A: Okay, fine. PAPELBON ISN’T AS GOOD AS HE USED TO BE. You expected him to be? How ridiculous. I don’t get you people. So you want him to be the same 0.92 ERA, 0.776 WHIP, 75-strikeout, 13-walk guy he was as a 25-year old kid in 2006? Absurd. He’s not a robot. He’s 28 and still one of the top three closers in the game. When he starts losing you games, I’ll get on your side of the fence. Until then, I think you’re being unrealistic. And I still think he's pacing himself to a degree, as well as working on using more of his secondary pitches (slider, splitter).
That said, I’ll give you a few more numbers to help your argument. Heading into Wednesday’s game, Papelbon had walked 16 batters, one behind his career high of 17, set as a rookie in 2005. And we’re not even into July yet. His walk-per-9 inning mark of 4.8 is the worst of his career. His strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2008 was 9.63. This year it’s 2.00. Happy now?
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Mike,
I can’t stand to hear it. I wish Papelbon would just shut up about his contract, free agency, and making ga-zillions. And I especially don’t want to hear about him signing with the Yankees. A message to Papelbon: ``Shut up and pitch, man.''
Respectfully,
Ed Koziol
Agawam
A: I’m with Sean McAdam on this one (seriously). The fact that Sox fans get upset when players won’t rule out the Yankees for future employment is pathetic. Maybe Papelbon should simply refuse to answer the questions; I won’t dispute that. But to expect him to rule out the one team in free agency that can outspend the rest of the league just because the fans around here still have a thing for the Yankees is ridiculous. And childish.
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Mike,
The Red Sox seemingly have opportunities to improve their roster for the second half stretch run, and Theo and company should not hesitate to act now before the window closes. From all accounts, they could trade Manny Delcarmen for Nick Johnson now (the Nationals were willing to pull the trigger a couple of weeks ago anyway). This trade would make sense for a few different reasons.
First of all, any keen Red Sox observer knows that Delcarmen cannot be trusted in a big spot or against a top team, and that his performance is bound to decline as the season moves along. The time to trade him is no while his value is still relatively high. The reason he's performing better this year is that he's coming into games in the sixth or seventh inning under little pressure. The BBWAA will tell you that his statistics are great (and that he's also a local guy), so why would you even think of trading him? The eye test will tell you that no Red Sox fan wants to see Delcarmen come into a big game against the Yankees or any close playoff game.
Secondly, Delcarmen's departure opens the door for Smoltz or Buchholz to be added to the major league roster. The current roster is loaded with hard-throwing right-handers, so the Red Sox can afford to part with the ``worst'' of the lot. This move is a lot easier to make than DL-ing Dice K or trading Penny (who's pitching very well).
Also, Nick Johnson gives you the type of hitter that fits perfectly into the Red Sox philosophy of taking pitches, making the opposing pitcher work and the all-important strong OBP. Johnson is also an above average defensive first baseman and a left-handed hitter that can help break up the lineup chock full of righties like Pedroia, Youk, Bay, Lowell, etc. Again, the eye test and recent history tells us that Mike Lowell tends to fall off in the second half of the season and is literally slowing down from a combination of age and the hip injury. With Johnson in the mix, Lowell can be rested more frequently and preserved for the pennant chase, while also providing more options for Tito against right-handed pitching and late game situations.
Act now, Theo -- sell high and improve the team.
Vegas Jim
Boston
A: I agree with you. If there’s a piece to be moved, Delcarmen is the guy. I just don't think you can trust him to throw strikes. Tuesday night in Washington was just the latest example. The Sox went up, 4-3 in the top of the seventh when Delcarmen came back out to pitch the bottom of the inning. With the pitcher’s spot up to lead off the inning the National sent up pinch-hitter Alberto Gonzalez. Delcarmen gets him to 1-2 and then throws three straight balls for a walk. Enter Okajima. That happens too often.
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Mike,
When I hear Mazeroski (from the Globe) talk about letting guys into the Hall based on how good they were when they didn't cheat, it makes me sick. This is like playing poker all night and on the last hand you catch the guy with all the money cheating and tell him he can keep the rest of the money except for the last hand. Anyone stupid enough to be on the list of 104 should be banned anyway because they were so pathetic they couldn't stop cheating even for a month, even though they would never be tested again if they could have stayed under the 5% limit. These guys playing now will keep cheating if you guys ever vote any one of these losers into the Hall of Fame.
Ken Veno
Nottingham N.H.
A: Mazeroski?
Anyway, my feelings on this are well-established. I think “these guys playing now” SHOULD be voted in, even if they’re dirty. McGwire. Bonds. A-Rod. You name it. Why? Because the BBWAA has already voted in cheaters. We may not know who they are yet, but the day is coming when someone who is already in the Hall is going to be linked to steroids. Mark it down. And when, for an hypothetical example, Ricky Henderson’s name shows up on some list, what are they going to do about McGwire? Let in one cheater but not another? The BBWAA either has to take people out (can they even do that?) or put them all in. That’s why I say forget about trying to figure out who was clean and who was dirty. The BBWAA has been guessing wrong the entire time on that question anyway. Just hold your nose and vote in the best players.
By the way, how do these writers explain away Gaylord Perry? He built a Hall of Fame resume on throwing an illegal pitch. He doesn’t get anywhere near 300 wins without the spitter, yet he’s in Cooperstown. How does that make sense?
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Michael,
I miss the ``up the dial’’ days, but I'll take what I can get. Here's one for the baseball guys you slum with on the weekends:
The issue about voting for a ``steroid guy’’ can be tabled for some time. Enough players come up to avoid a zero inductee year, which means Clemens, McGwire, Sosa, Bonds can sweat it out for a bit.
The following players are all hall-worthy and likely up for voting in the next ten years: Mike Piazza, Frank Thomas, Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, Derek Jeter (He could break Seaver's mark for highest percentage), Chipper Jones, Ichiro, Griffey, Vlad Guererro (though he's getting old fast), Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, probably John Smoltz and Schilling.
So, why not skip the steroid guys for ten years and use hindsight to induct the whole lot in the perfect year, 2020.
Keep up the good work,
Jon
A: The writers would love to do just that. But like I said, I think a day of reckoning will come sooner and they’ll be forced to make these calls in the next couple of years.
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Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 1:53 PM
To: Dale and Holley
Subject: Felger is a joke
Please do everyone that listens to this show on a daily basis a favor and never have Felger on again. The guy is an absolute moron. I mean, all I can hear coming through my radio is Felger yelling over Holley like he is 4-year-old girl. Shut the F up, this isn’t your show. You’re a fill-in at best. And what’s the deal with Felger trying to claim he was the first one to start to question steroid use in baseball? Like he knows anything about steroids, or baseball for that matter. It’s borderline unlistenable when Felger is on the radio. Dude, get a soap box and put it on a street corner if you want everyone to hear what you have to say. I bet we could get more useful information on sports/life if we walked into an 8th grade classroom. You bring absolutely nothing to the table.
Derek
A: Dale, is that you?
Seriously: “borderline” unlistenable? I guess I’m improving.
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Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
To: Dale and Holley
Michael Holley,
Please shut up and let Felger make his point. Stop trying to be Bob Neumeier.
Dennis P. Flynn
A: Best. E-mail. Ever. You know I said the same thing during the break, Dennis? Shut the F up, Mike. Stop trying to Neumy.
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Felger,
I've had many ice cream headaches in my life. You've given me the worst one ever.
Please go home and let Holley finish the show.
Steve
Plymouth
A: Is that you, Buck? Sean?
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To: WEEI
How is Felger not anchoring his own program on WEEI? He is the best personality (hands down) on the station. Sign him up! He is going to be Big Time and you guys are missing the boat. That is my LOCK OF THE DAY.
KM
A: I’d love to do a show for you KM, but Steve in Plymouth sent me home.
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Felger,
Only moi is allowed to use the word moi, unless of course the user is of French or French Canadian descent, as moi is. PS, what’s up with the short DB MB?
Thank you,
Michael Doss
A: I give you a 12,000-word extravaganza a couple of weeks ago thanks to the pit bull nuts, and the next week we’re back to normal size and you folks bitch. Now I know how Papelbon feels.
--
Felger,
I thought you hated women's sports. Thought it was worthless. Ha! It was funny to see you having to endorse the women's soccer game Thursday night on CSN. Anything for a buck, eh?
Jim
Boston
A: Breakers fever, catch it exclusively on Comcast Sportsnet! Meter on play-by-play with Dickerson on the sidelines? If that doesn’t do it for you, I don’t know what will. Does that make Greg Meter’s bitch?
--
Felger You DB!
So Bradford still thinks that you don't have a handle on the ``internet thing?’’ You might want to point out to Rob that he has been running a banner ad for the premier of ``The Hangover’’ this past week. The fact that the movie premiered over two weeks ago would have been a problem normally. However, since ad copy was entirely Norwegian, I'd say the premier's date is the lesser of the two F-ups. So as Rob and the rest of the e-staff confiscate EEI ad guru Matt Hockman's belt and shoelaces, I'd like to extend a hearty hello to all our fans from Norway:
Få Hilsninger til alle WEEI 's fans i Norge og nyte Heather Mitts intervju. Kan du sende mer røkt laks?
(Mikey, I'll save you the legwork, here is the translation and it's probably a grammatical disaster: ``Greetings to all WEEI's fans in Norway and enjoy the Heather Mitts interview. Please send more smoked salmon.’’)
(Felger: You think I was going looking that up? You saved me no time whatsoever.)
And on the subject of smoke, you know that old saying, ``Where there's smoke there's fire?’’ How long before Tanguay and the rest of the Green Teamers need to don respirators? Is Rondo to Memphis the third rumor in the last week? You mix in Ainge's interview with D&C Wednesday morning and even Josh McDaniel has to be shaking his head. Let's face it, Rondo is gone and for the life of me I hope he is going to Memphis. Why? Because Chris Wallace is the closest thing the NBA has to that sucker owner in your Fantasy league. Between his moves as Celtics GM and the Gasol deal it's obvious that every other GM's dream is to get a call from Chris about a possible deal. And if Danny was willing to throw dirt on his good buddy Kevin McHale's career with the Garnet heist, this deal will be like taking Chris mattress shopping. ``Leave Scal, and take the Cannoli."
PS, If you had any concerns that Rodney Harrison was going to struggle transitioning to life as a NFL analyst, his verbal castration of Brett Favre has buried them now.
As if I wasn't pumped for football already! Brett would have had to crash Jerome Bettis' car, stolen a weeks worth of his lunches and naired his eyebrows before the Bus even thought about criticizing Favre. And even then Jerome would have probably just rented a car, ordered Chinese, grabbed some mascara and smiled as he said ``Brett's a play-maker, this is a good move for the Vikings.’’ Brett's an over-the-hill media whore and will gladly turn Minnesota mini camp into a Bravo reality series in exchange for the spotlight. Unlike the rest of the mainstream media, Harrison doesn't bite on the Favre play-action and isn't afraid to take a shot at a ``legend.’’
PPS, Mikey, you think your old 890 show ever beat EEI's Oslo affiliate in the ratings books?
Mike
Attleboro
A: Like in Boston, we didn’t have a nighttime signal in Oslo. Which, as you might imagine, became a bit of a problem in the winter. We still blamed Kevin Winter.
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Felger can be seen on Sports Sunday on Comcast Sportsnet, Sundays at 10 p.m. Reach him at mfelger@weei.com.
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