As a Cincinnati Reds fan living in the Boston area, I have a bad feeling about this trade. Yeah, the Reds are desperate for pitching. But Bronson Arroyo as the mound savior?

And I'm going to have to sit here in Massachusetts and be reminded, on a daily basis, of what we gave up.

He's only going to play against lefties, which is as it should be. IIRC his splits are terrible. Not much of an eye at the plate either. The platoon with Trot tho is certainly better than either one of them getting all the at-bats.

(Pena is after all a former Yankee, so he must have more talent than the Wrong Sawx can muster from their own farm system.)

And the Sawx managed to actually get something for Arroyo.

Now if they can just manage to get some talent in exchange for their other 5 starting pitchers. Tony Womack for Bloody Sock? an American Legion 3rd baseman for Tubby Wells (anyone's an upgrade on Lowell), a six pack and a bag of chips for Clement?

If they go with Wakefield and the kids they might have a shot at thrid place.

Go Blue Jays!

The outfield on days when Pena and Ramirez are patroling the edges will be interesting, to say the least. Factor in their hitting, and the scorboard operators should be paid time-and-a-half for all the work they're going to be putting in.

Watched the game tonight. Pamplemousse looked ok, pitched out of a jam or two.

I watched it on YES rather than NESN and Jim Kaat had talked to Francona about the Sawx pitching.

Kaat seemed to think that the Sawx were planning on using Pamplemousse out of the bullpen, perhaps as a closer if Foulke doesn't get his act together.

And Kaat said Francona told him that they're not even thinking about using Hansen this season.

Can this be true? Are they crazy? Seems to me a no-brainer that Pamplemousse is in the starting rotation, high in the rotation, and Hansen is the closer? No?

In place of whom?

Clement and/or Wells.

If I were the Sawx these would be my starters -- Bloody Sock, Beckett, Wakefield, Pamplemousse, Lester.

Clement was an absolute disaster after the all-star break last year and almost cost the Sawx a playoff spot. Well is fat, old, and a clubhouse pest.

Clement had a patch of bad luck--his expceted ERA remained under 4.00 in the second half. Wells will be dealt.

Wouldn't you be more comfortable with my rotation and the kid from St. John's coming out of the pen instead of getting seasoning in Pawtucket that he doesn't need?

As a Yankee fan, I hope they keep the kids out, but if I were the Sawx I'd trust those arms.

No, I like using rookies for a year or two in middle relief--it saves their arms and gets them acclimated.

Pamplemousse in particular got acclimated at the end of last season. It's not like he's 19. He's not getting any younger.

The closer went to college and has all the makings of another Street. Just like the A's gave the job to Street last year, the Sawx have to trust the kid. Street's replacement at Texas, Cox, will be setting up Rivera in the Bronx before this season's over, and the Yankees pen is much more settled in the late innings then the Saux's.

Lester maybe could use some more time in long relief, but I'd rather start him and keep him on a strict pitch count. He was up last season too wasn't he?

You talk as if the Sawx have a settled staff compared to the Yankees. Beckett has yet to approach 200 innings in any one season, and could very well be Jaret Wright. Bloody Sock is even more questionable then RJ, and then what have you got . . . Clement? Wells?

The one advantage the Sawx have over the Yankees given that both have dodgy starting staffs, is their two young arms.

Jim:

Yes, 190 innings of Beckett and Schilling given all the depth the Sox have is more than enough to get over 90 wins.

190 innings will be 11 more than Beckett's accomplished in his best year.

90 wins will get them a seat in front of the telly in October watching the Yanks, Inidans, Real Sox, and and and Angels or A's battle it out.

Jim:

Yes, but that's what you'd expect and hope for in a 25 year. Higher numbers generally indicate abuse and are a danger sign.