en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/4324468 Comments by topherdd http://firebrandal.com/2012/06/25/saying-goodbye-to-kevin-youkilis/#IDComment389308374 Youk was a heck of a player,hard-nosed,emotional,gritty.His style will be missed,but itd Middlebrooks time. Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:55:02 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/06/25/saying-goodbye-to-kevin-youkilis/#IDComment389308374 http://firebrandal.com/2012/06/23/minor-league-roundup-623/#IDComment388494975 Jackie Bradley Jr.,certainly has climbed the Sox-prospect ladder quickly,with his 5 tool production.I would have to consider parting with a package of high level prospects for pending free agent lefty ACE, Cole Hamels.As long as there was a pre- trade contract in place. Sun, 24 Jun 2012 13:41:19 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/06/23/minor-league-roundup-623/#IDComment388494975 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/30/know-thy-enemy-new-york-yankees/#IDComment327838011 Wow, I miss one day of Firebrand,and I don't recognize the site. It looks great and I am sure the content will remain informative as well as interesting .Nice job,well done. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:59:34 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/30/know-thy-enemy-new-york-yankees/#IDComment327838011 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/25/projecting-felix-doubront/#IDComment324368935 I did not want to see Bard in the starting rotation as I think a strong pen is a key to sustained success.Removing him now I think would be a major mistake.Let's see if he can do it. Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:52:10 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/25/projecting-felix-doubront/#IDComment324368935 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/23/the-left-handed-heavy-lineup-dilemma/#IDComment323392110 ' severity of his suckiness ' may I borrow that ? Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:45:26 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/23/the-left-handed-heavy-lineup-dilemma/#IDComment323392110 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/21/is-buchholz-the-key/#IDComment321874063 I do not expect much from Dice K when he returns to the Sox. Pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery generally take a full year to get back to where they were.I am hopeful that Bobby V.can somehow bring the "sevant" out of Dice K. I recall Bobby V. referring to Dice K. as a pitching "sevant",I believe on Baseball Tonight.I hope they retain Dice K. after this season ,so we can see what Bobby V. can do with him a full season removed from surgery . Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:16:00 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/21/is-buchholz-the-key/#IDComment321874063 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/12/analyzing-the-red-sox-bullpen-situation/#IDComment314323863 Michael Bowden has put up excellent numbers in his minor league career,as both a starter and now as a relief pitcher. I have always been impressed with him.If he can sharpen his secondary pitches I can see him playing a nice role for the Sox this season. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:44:23 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/12/analyzing-the-red-sox-bullpen-situation/#IDComment314323863 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/05/where-should-ellsbury-hit-in-the-lineup/#IDComment308676255 Ellsbury's 2011 season was what I expected,hoped that Crawford was going to have. If Ellsbury continues with his power stroke,then you put him in the 3rd slot and Pedroia leading off. Either way scoring runs should not be an issue. Mon, 5 Mar 2012 15:49:26 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/05/where-should-ellsbury-hit-in-the-lineup/#IDComment308676255 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/05/where-should-ellsbury-hit-in-the-lineup/#IDComment308668602 Unless Bobby V.can get Crawford to be a productive leadoff hitter ,(previously has voiced reluctance ) the line-up may be Ellsbury Crawford Pedroia Agon Youk Papi Salty RF Ss Mon, 5 Mar 2012 15:36:05 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/03/05/where-should-ellsbury-hit-in-the-lineup/#IDComment308668602 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/29/saying-good-bye-to-tek/#IDComment304570094 Jason Varitek is a class act and was a fine ballplayer. His place in Red Sox lore is secure and time will surely enhance it. 'Tek' is a close 2nd to Carlton Fisk (the original Pudge) as far as all-time Sox catchers are concerned. Someday in the not to distant future he will be ushered into the Red Sox team Hall of Fame and his # 33 may even have a prominent place high above rightfield. Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:52:25 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/29/saying-good-bye-to-tek/#IDComment304570094 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/28/josh-beckett-snitches-and-what-the-red-sox-need-the-most/#IDComment303715884 With such strong personalities and wills ,a clash between Josh Beckett and Bobby V.almost seems inevitable.I don't view this as necessaraly a bad thing. I can envision a slow paced Beckett trying to pitch out of a jam,a frustrated Bobby V. trudging towards the mound.....ESPN showing the read his lips highlights.... I believe this could motivate Beckett above what should already be a high level of motivation,after last September. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:11:33 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/28/josh-beckett-snitches-and-what-the-red-sox-need-the-most/#IDComment303715884 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/20/three-up-three-down-from-don-orsillos-decapitated-bobblehead/#IDComment298055386 DODB,not exactly what I anticipated when I punched up this site,but I liked "Decap" and was somewhat humorous. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:08:45 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/20/three-up-three-down-from-don-orsillos-decapitated-bobblehead/#IDComment298055386 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/17/tim-wakefield-to-retire/#IDComment295693241 He represented the Sox and the city of Boston with class and dignity.Always seem to have a stretch of 4,5 ,6 ,or 7 games a season were he was just about unhittable . He always had his spikes on. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:58:31 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/17/tim-wakefield-to-retire/#IDComment295693241 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/09/sabermetric-spring-training-fip/#IDComment287934215 As a long time baseball fan who has recently tried to understand the sabremetrics of the game ,these articles are a welcome read.Would like to see a page on this site to reference these stats.League leaders,what is average,good bad, Sox leaders. Not allowing the batter to make solid contact,broken bats ,dribblers,weak pop ups(Mariano Riviera) ,are those included in xFIP.? or is that just to difficult to quantify? Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:17:53 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/09/sabermetric-spring-training-fip/#IDComment287934215 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/08/comparing-the-al-east-starting-rotations/#IDComment287083272 The Rays rotation could be scary good.How they reconstructed there bullpen last year was amazing.Can they expect that same kind of success again?Longoria needs some more help in the line up.Joe Maddon maybe the best manager in the game.The front office has done a spectacular job scouting and drafting talent. Wed, 8 Feb 2012 14:10:05 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/2012/02/08/comparing-the-al-east-starting-rotations/#IDComment287083272