Ray Finkle
☠️ Banned ☠️
With February 18th (Pitchers & Catchers report) exactly 27 days away I think it's about time we start up the annual and official 2006 Boston Red Sox thread. So from now on all Red Sox news/rumors/game discussions will be here for everyone and anyone wanting to chat.
(Cue Harry Doyle from the Major League movies)
Welcome back Red Sox Nation, the team has tons of new faces since we last saw them in October. No more Cowboy Uping, Kevin Millar or endless nights of seeing Edgar Renteria boot balls. Yes Manny Ramirez is still on the team (surprise surprise).....for now. MVP-Runner up David Ortiz aka Big Papi, not to be confused with the Poppy Seed Bagel at your local Dunkin' Donuts shop, is looking to put up another MVP season. Curt Schilling's ankle pain as well as his beer gut are also gone and he's looking to rebound. Speaking of rebounding, Keith Foulke hopefully has his knees and personal life back in shape. Theo is back, but he never left so we'll just move on.
Some of the new faces on this years team: 25 year old stud pitcher and former 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett is here in Boston and hopefully left his blisters behind in Miami. Mike Lowell will be your 2006 Comeback Player of the Year, you heard it hear first and he'll be the first player since 2004 to win the award in the AL who wasn't found taking steriods. Mark Loretta is another new addition and your starting 2nd basemen. Another new addition to the team and Boston Anger Management meetings, Juilian Tarveras who's making his first trip back to Boston since he gave up the game winning home run to Mark Bellhorn (remember him Sox fans?) in the 2004 World Series. But give Tarveras credit at least he didn't punch anything or anyone after that pitch.
Of course any day now the Red Sox could have a new CFer: Covelli Loyce Crisp, nickname Coco. Coco replaces popular Johnny Damon in CF. Coco is not only younger and cheaper than Damon but the new ownership is happy because since Crisp is bald he won't cost Henry and company extra money on electricity for using a hair dryer. Alex Gonzalez, SS, could also be on the team. The most common answer from Sox fans after hearing that is: hey at least he's not Edgar Renteria.
Important dates to remember:
February 23rd- First Full-squad workout
April 3rd- Season opener at Texas
April 11th- Home opener vs. Toronto
Projected Line Up:
CF- Crisp
2B- Loretta
DH- Ortiz
LF- Manny
3B-Lowell
C- Varitek
RF- Nixon
1B- J.T. Snow/Kevin Youkilis
SS- Cora/Gonzalez/Tony Graffinano
Projected Rotation and Pen:
SP:
Schilling
Wakefield
Beckett
Wells
Clement
Arroyo (Pen likely)
Papelbon (Pen likely)
RP:
Tarveras
Timlin
Mota (or Riske depending on what happens)
Saenez
Foulke
Personally I think this team is pretty good up and down, especially if the Crisp deal goes through. Their rotation and pen (if healthy) is very good and deep. If Schilling and Beckett can make 30 starts each and Foulke is back to 2004 form I don't see any reason why the team won't make the playoffs or even win the AL East.
27 days.... 27 days.... thank god it's almost here.
(Cue Harry Doyle from the Major League movies)
Welcome back Red Sox Nation, the team has tons of new faces since we last saw them in October. No more Cowboy Uping, Kevin Millar or endless nights of seeing Edgar Renteria boot balls. Yes Manny Ramirez is still on the team (surprise surprise).....for now. MVP-Runner up David Ortiz aka Big Papi, not to be confused with the Poppy Seed Bagel at your local Dunkin' Donuts shop, is looking to put up another MVP season. Curt Schilling's ankle pain as well as his beer gut are also gone and he's looking to rebound. Speaking of rebounding, Keith Foulke hopefully has his knees and personal life back in shape. Theo is back, but he never left so we'll just move on.
Some of the new faces on this years team: 25 year old stud pitcher and former 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett is here in Boston and hopefully left his blisters behind in Miami. Mike Lowell will be your 2006 Comeback Player of the Year, you heard it hear first and he'll be the first player since 2004 to win the award in the AL who wasn't found taking steriods. Mark Loretta is another new addition and your starting 2nd basemen. Another new addition to the team and Boston Anger Management meetings, Juilian Tarveras who's making his first trip back to Boston since he gave up the game winning home run to Mark Bellhorn (remember him Sox fans?) in the 2004 World Series. But give Tarveras credit at least he didn't punch anything or anyone after that pitch.
Of course any day now the Red Sox could have a new CFer: Covelli Loyce Crisp, nickname Coco. Coco replaces popular Johnny Damon in CF. Coco is not only younger and cheaper than Damon but the new ownership is happy because since Crisp is bald he won't cost Henry and company extra money on electricity for using a hair dryer. Alex Gonzalez, SS, could also be on the team. The most common answer from Sox fans after hearing that is: hey at least he's not Edgar Renteria.
Important dates to remember:
February 23rd- First Full-squad workout
April 3rd- Season opener at Texas
April 11th- Home opener vs. Toronto
Projected Line Up:
CF- Crisp
2B- Loretta
DH- Ortiz
LF- Manny
3B-Lowell
C- Varitek
RF- Nixon
1B- J.T. Snow/Kevin Youkilis
SS- Cora/Gonzalez/Tony Graffinano
Projected Rotation and Pen:
SP:
Schilling
Wakefield
Beckett
Wells
Clement
Arroyo (Pen likely)
Papelbon (Pen likely)
RP:
Tarveras
Timlin
Mota (or Riske depending on what happens)
Saenez
Foulke
Personally I think this team is pretty good up and down, especially if the Crisp deal goes through. Their rotation and pen (if healthy) is very good and deep. If Schilling and Beckett can make 30 starts each and Foulke is back to 2004 form I don't see any reason why the team won't make the playoffs or even win the AL East.
27 days.... 27 days.... thank god it's almost here.
No worries..
