The recent activities in Florida have kept the baseball in the bag. The
winds and rain are great for the grass.
Let me try to take apart your thoughtful message.
 RJ> IF Mo Vaughn stays, he is the only Red Sox player that is a
 RJ> true power threat. He wants 50k over 5 years. The Sox aren't willing
 RJ> to talk more than 3 years. If they don't come to an agreement before
 RJ> the middle of Spring Training, your dumb GM, who will not negotiate
 RJ> during the season, may try and trade him. Can't happen? I'd bet you
 RJ> would not have thought that he would have let Clemens go, either.
First of all, Clemens wasn't pitching well and had a bad attitude
during his last 4 years here in Boston. His $ thing was out of the
question at that time. He had to work himself into shape and try to
prove he still had it. I give him credit. He has lost a lot of weight
and got his act back together. Repeating, just look at his record
for his last 4 Years in Boston.
Ellis Burks was no loss to the Boston Red Sox after he left. Where is
he now?
Former Right fielder Lee Thomas has returned to the Red Sox and we
will see what he produces. Naturally not as a player.
 RJ> So, his being the only legitimate power, with an outfield
 RJ> of Troy O'leary, Darren Bragg, and either Damon Buford or
 RJ> Darren  Lewis (probably not an outfield which you will remember
 RJ> with fondess such as some of the great outfields that the BOSOX
 RJ> have had).
I think it was 194O when Ted Williams came up. He played left field
until 196O. Naturally he was out for the two wars but was still the
considered Left fielder. In 1961 Carl Yaztremski came up and played
Left field for many years. When he retired the moved Jim Rice over to
Left Field and he played there for many years. Mike Greenwell was the
last full time Left Fielder we have had. So we haven't had too many
people playing there since Ted came along.
 RJ> Nahering is still hurt, Frye is no power guy, etc, etc.
Nahering I think is all finished. Valentin has just signed a big
deal and he will play 3d base. Nomar (Rookie of the year) will
come through. O:K there are two heavy hitters and Vaughn, naturally
 RJ> Who is gonna give this club the run support it will need
 RJ> for Martinez to have sucess? And who is behind Martinez? Wakefield?
 RJ> Iffy. Butch  Henry? Please. Robinson Checo? I think you see where
 RJ> I'm  going.
I think I have answered much of this. Don't forget we have Dennis
Eckersley, a shot with the other former Cy Young pitcher who should
give us a good year.
I am aware that Baltimore and New York on paper are a bit stronger
but who believed in 1954 that the Yankees would not be in the world
series and again the 1959 White Sox had no power. The Yankees had a
better team in 1959 and didn't make it.
Thank you for your message. I am impressed, you know more about
the Red Sox than I do.
I think the 1O million for 3 Yrs for Moe is off of the table for
now. IN fact there was a trade rumor going around w/N.Y. which
would have been a better deal for the Sox in a Vaughn trade. Moe
right now is over weight, has a D.W.I. case in court. I give him
credit. He is already working out in Fla.
 RJ> You better hope they keep Mo. Even with him, it looks like
 RJ> a pretty dim year for your guys.
             Bill
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