gdp's Comments

Fire Brand of the American League : In Search of a Cure for My Raging Case of Lackey Optimism

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:25:16 +0000

Jack -- if you listen to the first half of the last nights Fireside Chat podcast, you'll hear three other Lackey Optimism infected Fire Branders in Hunter, Paul and myself. I think we convinced ourselves that he was responsible for the capture of Christopher Dorner and the development of Apple's impending iWatch design. Total renaissance man and burgeoning hipster that Lackey is.

Fire Brand of the American League : Why isn't Adrian Gonzalez hitting?

Thu, 7 Jun 2012 12:27:03 +0000

For what it's worth, Bobby V on WEEI yesterday when asked the same question said it was primarily pitch selection that was hurting A-Gon right now. When the walks start to come around, so will his power, etc was his opinion.

Fire Brand of the American League : Who Makes Your All-Fenway Team?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:18:21 +0000

Lefty Grove, Pedro Martinez, Carlton Fisk, Jimmie Foxx, Bobby Doerr, Wade Boggs, Nomar Garciaparra, Ted Williams, Dwight Evans, Fred Lynn, David Ortiz, Dave Roberts, Dick Radatz/Jonathan Papelbon, Bobby Valentine. ok -- I jest, Terry Francona

Fire Brand of the American League : Episode #116: Where we leave you all hanging out to dry...

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:46:33 +0000

Marcos -- That Paul Testa is one charming fella isn't he...hard to avoid the charisma!

Fire Brand of the American League : I've Seen the Future

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:54:03 +0000

I do agree 100% on Aviles not being an everyday option at 3B. They can get away with something less than Youk. But has to be a defensive + and a consistent presence. I don't think Aviles or Lowrie are either.

Fire Brand of the American League : I've Seen the Future

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:48:27 +0000

I have to agree with many commenters here thus far that Youk's trade value isn't a major league ready, high ceiling player. Not that Youk isn't worth alot, but you don't give up young controlled high end talent for aging, injury riddled guys no matter how good they are. I also don't see Pujols as a fit here -- too many long term high dollar contracts rids the roster of any long term flexibility. Too highly leveraged. That said, I think the most enlightening thing in this piece -- and it is well thought out -- is a path to freeing up the type of money to allocate to any player (or a few players) that could make a difference immediately at Fenway Park. Well done.

Fire Brand of the American League : 2011 Player Review: Kevin Youkilis

Tue, 4 Oct 2011 17:09:58 +0000

It's really hard to give Youk a grade this year as injuries so depleted his ability. That said, injuries are a part of overall performance and vs. what we all expected out of Youk this was a disappointment that, luckily, the offense was able to overcome. I'll weight my grade more heavily to his healthy start and give him a C+ for the season.

Fire Brand of the American League : Don’t Kill the Red Sox, Count on Them

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 11:04:47 +0000

I think this has to the be overall approach this offseason. The only things I'll add are (1) It may be necessary to consider moving Josh Beckett if he was truly one of the causes of the culture issues and they don't think they can swing him around and (2) I just don't see Ellsbury signing here. If that's the reality, do you consider dealing him with his value at an all time high -- especially considering it may be the only way to part with Lackey by linking them together in a deal.

Fire Brand of the American League : Episode #109: Where we're angry and we're not gonna take it anymore...

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 11:50:10 +0000

Thanks Maxwell -- let me know what you would like to see more over next season from us (besides more episodes/consistency -- I hear that loud and clear already).

Fire Brand of the American League : Episode #109: Where we're angry and we're not gonna take it anymore...

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 11:49:25 +0000

Fair point Frank -- I take responsibility. I moved back to MA from out of state over the summer and getting the family settled was priority #1. Glad to hear people missed us.

Fire Brand of the American League : Don’t Kill the Red Sox, Count on Them

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 11:34:09 +0000

Darryl -- I am with you most of the way here. This is a smart ownership group and as long as Theo is around a very smart baseball operations department. Theo won't be content to let this fix itself. He has shown himself to be proactive in addressing issues that he considers that "fatal flaw". Evan and I were discussing this on twitter -- and we both fear what could happen however if Theo weren't 100% on this ship. The Cubs rumors not withstanding, there is enough smoke to the fire of discord between Theo and management dating back to the gorilla suit exit. The issue was always autonomy around baseball operations and you can't tell me that ownership wasn't steering the ship a little this past offseason. How much Theo agreed with that course is a real question. Maybe Crawford always was his guy? We know Gonzo was. But to think Theo didn't have strong input that he felt compelled to consider from Henry and Lucchino would be naive. I get the feeling that the Lucchino/Theo issues haven't fully worked themselves out over the years and that for the culture change that needs to happen around the club to take root, one of them needs to go. And for all the positives Larry has bought to Boston, I think his time with this team has run it's course. I would take Theo's side and the importance of the product on the field over Larry's and the overall Red Sox brand and biz ops every time as the more important cog in the overall machine. (This is mentioned in detail in the latest Fireside Chats podcast - http://firebrandal.com/2011/10/01/episode-109-whe.... It's time for ownership to double down on Theo as a part of this club's future. He is either in for the long haul or not. But lets not leave any cause for doubt. To make the hard decisions needed this offseason the Red Sox will need a unified GM/Manager combo that is ready to see this thing through for the next five years.

Fire Brand of the American League : Anything but a Luxury

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:15:47 +0000

We'll be switching servers over the next few days to take care of this issue....thanks for the heads up!

Fire Brand of the American League : Game Calling, Pitch Sequencing, and Reading Hitter's Timing

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:07:49 +0000

Mike....one of my favorite pieces on Fire Brand this year! Would love to see some of the Pitch F/X guru's visualize some of these cases with game data.

Fire Brand of the American League : Fireside Chats #81: Where this would have been a perfect podcast if it weren't for Jim Joyce

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 16:58:06 +0000

We've touched on Bogar a few times this year....it's gotten beyond bad as he is seemingly unable to make the right decision and it has cost this team games. I know this topic gets Paul's blood boiling....

Fire Brand of the American League : Poll: Keys to May Success

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 18:43:48 +0000

I considered including Buchholz, the two-headed "Bard/Delcarmen" unit in the pen, and Youk as options here as well....but that was prior to the player of the month announcements. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the performances of those players as major contributors to May's success as well. My vote still goes to Lester however.

Fire Brand of the American League : Fireside Chats #80: Where we are back in the high life again

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 19:02:23 +0000

Peter...I replied on the Facebook page...but here it is for posterity purposes as well: It's Jonathan Papelbon talking about Gary Tanguay and Mike Felger on Comcast SportsNet in 2009. Thought it was fun to slip our names in there ;)

Fire Brand of the American League : Daisuke Rolling, Ellsbury Back, Colorado Catchers

Mon, 24 May 2010 14:15:20 +0000

So...does that mean that Colorado catchers are in fact coming soon to the Red Sox? or that you've got content that hasn't yet posted ;)

Fire Brand of the American League : John Lackey's new approach

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 14:24:27 +0000

I love me some good pitch f/x talk in the morning...will be interesting to see how these single game analyses change over the course of the year. I am also really interested in situational pitch selection and result if that is something you can key in on.

Fire Brand of the American League : David Ortiz: To Pinch Hit or Not To Pinch Hit?

Wed, 7 Apr 2010 16:17:57 +0000

Francona on this very topic on WEEI just now mentioned that he left Ortiz in because with a man on 2nd and 0 outs, Papi's propensity to pull the ball when he makes an out would have moved the runner along. He just didn't count on Papi popping out to Center....

Fire Brand of the American League : David Ortiz: To Pinch Hit or Not To Pinch Hit?

Wed, 7 Apr 2010 16:09:56 +0000

Love...love...love the blind A/B comps. Always a fun game.