REDSOX

True that. How is it that I just agreed with everything you just said except for the go Rays part. Quick without thinking about it name your favorite dinosaur. Did we just become best friends? Scene from Stepbrothers! Gotta go see it. It is a little vulgar but very funny. Anyway enough humor. I will miss Manny's bat come playoff time but I cant say I will miss a guy that fakes injury and dogs it in the field of play to protest the Redsox not giving him an extension but hey it was a good run and he helped deliver two championships. Alas the time has come to part ways and as manny fans wanted him to stay just as manny wanted him to go. (no pun intended) O.k. I realize I said enough humor but I could not resist. /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

I have a good friend that lives in Tampa and he reminded me the other day that I said the Rays would fall as the season wore on. My baseball sense keeps telling me this will happen but every time I watch the Rays play or catch a score they have come from behind or won another close one. That is what championship teams do. I just do not wanna believe these guys are that good but then I remember how they swept us earlier in the year at Tampa. If they win the division then I will tip my hat but until it happens I am going to believe that the Redsox are a better team. Like you said their progress will be measured when they face the Redsox next time in the heat of a pennet race and if they beat us straight up then my hat comes off. Regardless of the outcome this is good for the Sox because now they can remain hungry. The Rays are pushing them and I feel that is a good thing and by the way I say good for the Rays. They have taken their lumps over the years and if the Redsox are to win the division then I want them to earn it and not because the Yankees are having a down year. It is a straight fight and may the best club win. Dont you just love pennet races? /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Headlines of the N.Y. post says R.I.P. 2008 N.Y. Yankees and I just got off the phone with my buddy from New York who agrees with the headline and from every comment you get from the Yankee organization you tend to think that after this bad week they are ready to mail it in for the rest of the season. So now the question is if this is true do the Red Sox have enough to catch the Rays and is this really a two team race? Yankees are 9 1/2 back with a banged up rotation. They are gonna have to make a run now if they are gonna have a chance. The Redsox have looked good this week but anytime you get Ranger pitching you look good so who knows. Interested in what some of you think?

Hey Yankees 8589, nice to meet a passionate pinstripes fan that seems to have alot of baseball sense. I have experienced some Yankees fans that are strong willed and passionate but not very smart. Anyway have you ever heard of Matt Clement. He was signed the same year that Pavano was in 2005 after having one good year with the Cubs collected 9 mil a year for either 3 or 4 of the next seasons and he was below average. Certainly not worth 9 mil. So we have had our Pavano too. Beckett was traded for the following year but we gave up Hanley Rameriz. The next Puljos if you will, except he plays shortstop and steals 50 bases. In the end we won a World Series and it washes out as good trade but years down the road will tell the whole story. We may even get him back via free agency because the Marlins will not be able to pay him 200 mil and believe me he will get it. As for the Redsox catching the Rays they dropped their first game the Whitesox last night on the road with this years ace Jon Lester on the mound while the Rays won in Seattle with their new ace James Shields on the mound. We just have not put together a good run this year because we are terrible on the road. It is not an attribute that a championship team can have but if they play to their potential and peak at the right time they could challenge for another ring. I tend to agree with Sol that if they draw the Angels first round then they are in trouble. As for your beloved Yankees I think you are right. Going to have a great future with your young pitching but probly not this year. Joba is on the DL and the other guys Hughes and Kennedy are just not there yet but remember they are still the Yankees and as much as I hate them I respect them. Jeter, Damon, Arod, Abreu,Cano, and Giambi are going to score runs and if the pitching gets better then you have a chance. So you think Puljos is best we have seen. Maybe. He is in rare company. As far as right handed hitters go he and ----- Rameriz and Arod are probly the best I have ever seen. Never seen Joe Dimaggio but nobody exemplifys being a champion like that guy did in the short time he played. Left handed hitters are usually the greatest hitters i.e. (Ruth, Williams, Musial, Yaz, Gehrig, Mccovey, Cobb, and yes even Bonds) and in todays game you have Big Papi, Prince, Hamilton, Sizemore, Howard, Utley, Morneau, Mauer, Gonzalez, and even Adam Dunn. ( dont laugh he is going to hit 40 homers plus for the 5th year in a row). Yes it is debatable but that is why we watch is it not. Hate to say it but at the end of the day Alex Rodriguez is the best and he is right handed. Puljos is close second to him but I argue overall that traditionally the best are left handed and I submit that when you throw the names of Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, and of course Ted Williams then I believe the argument ends with the three most influential players in the history of the game whether you like them or hate them. Those guys will always be mentioned as the greatest hitters to ever have stepped into a batters box. I know I have not mentioned Aaron or Mays but have ever seen old clips of their swing. Not pretty is it. By the way I am right handed but I know there is not a more pure swing in baseball than the left handed swing. (Will Clark and Junior come immediately to mind) Texiera looks better from the left side and so does Chipper. Just watch and tell me I am wrong. Anyway it has been fun to sound off. I would wish you good luck Yankees8589 the rest of the season but I would not mean it. /laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />

Probly why they are going to blow it up. Lot of history for that stadium but not a very eye appealing place. Caught the Sox in Cincinatti this year and in Atlanta and Tampa last year. Still need to get to Fenway park. Me and the wife plan on that next year for our anniversary. As for the Rays I think you are right. They absolutely have no idea they are supposed to lose and when they realize in September that they are right in the middle of the fire we might just see a chink in the armour. Sox got to get it together though so they can make a playoff run because right now I do not think the Sox can take the Angels. As a matter of fact they have kicked our butt this year. All Year!

Been awhile since I have been in this forum but I could not believe the lack of interest in the greatest game of all. Where are all the posts? Well lets get the party started! Sol, how the heck have you been? See you still live in the greatest city in America and still passionate about those Redbirds. Can somebody tell me how the Rays have come so far so fast. I know they have young talent but be honest did any of you guys forecast this? I know baseball pretty well and I have to say I never thought that in August the Rays would be ahead of my Sox. Just did not see this one coming so quick. I thought they still needed a little seasoning but I tip my hat. They are for real but let me add that the Sox are not done and still may win the division even with all that has happened with you know who. Sorry can't say his name. I still think Papi is affected by this trade and seems to be worried about protection behind him. (It is true he is not seeing good pitches since ----- left) The sox in my opinion know how to handle adversity and they are gonna have to make adjustments quick. Big 4 game series this weekend with the Whitesox in Chicago and we all know the the BoSox have had the road blues this year. This is not the whole seaon but shapes up to be pretty important. We tank this weekend and the Rays do well then the Division gets further out of reach. Anyway good to be back. Now we need to start talking baseball again. C'mon guys its pennant race time. Be happy /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

Hate that I could not have been there but I listened to the game on the internet in Nashville and about had a heart attack 2 or 3 times. Just as you thought momentum started to shift to one team the other would answer with some big play. I am a Maryville graduate but I hate to see a game for the ages to be decided by some contreversy instead of on the field. I hope nobody gives that kicker a hard time. Maryville keeps the streak alive but they may have been exposed a little bit. Can not seem to get the ground game going and seems to give up the big play occasionally as they did earlier this year to Alcoa. Regardless it is a big win and something the kids can talk about the rest of their lives.

I do not know if this thread is still about the game but if it is then I think it is safe to say this is a Maryville win over a much improved Powell team. Powell probly is still not back to what they used to be but this will be good game for them to see how far they have come. Powell might end up like Nebraska though. I mean Maryville is the USC of Tennessee high school football.

I think it was meant to be over the top. He was making the point that GQ does not get caught up in looking ahead and if he was asked that question then he would answer back in cliches. At least I think that was his intention but one never knows till you walk a mile in a man's shoes.

I have a question. Is Heritage and William Blount in the same region? I know they are both 5A schools but I for some reason thought they were in differant regions. I could be wrong. I do not live in Maryville anymore and have fallen out of touch with the details of Blount County football.

If anybody is still interested in the AL East then you need to pay attention to next 3 days because we could have the answer to the question in this forum. Redsox and Yankees start a 3 game series tonight at Yankee Stadium and by my math I think the Yankees have to sweep the Redsox. Right now if the Redsox go 16-14 the rest of the way the Yankees have to reel off a 24-6 record and I do not think they would have a chance to do that unless they sweep and then it would still be very tough. I am a Redsox fan and I know to not count my chickens before they hatch but I feel pretty good about our chances to win the division. It should be fun tonight regardless and tomorrow Beckett goes up against the Rocket on National T.V. (ESPN)

Just think if Maryville did well under this National format maybe they could get a shot at USC. Hopefully then they could play in the very prestigous 5A classification. But alas it is just dreams but one can always hope.

Amen Brother!

Well it is a great honor to be recognized but I think this is something the people of Maryville knew for a while now. Nobody needed USA Today to believe this and I am sure this will not go to their heads. It is good to be recognized but pre-season rankings is only hype. It still has to be earned on the field.

I am not at home in Maryville anymore but this is really a classic rivalry. I believe it is the longest running rivalry in the state and of course I will go with my alma mater Maryville but look for Alcoa to make things interesting for a while. Just remember Maryvlle fans all streaks come to an end. One year ( I believe 1985) we went around with shirts and signs that said "sweet sixteen" on them to celebrate the 16th year in a row we would have beaten Alcoa if we would have won the game that year. Maryville then preceded to lose the game for the first time in sixteen years. No, I do not think this will be the year Maryville loses but Alcoa is getting better and with all good things it will eventually end but for now Go Rebels!

Well congrats Sol you got yourself a pennant race. The pitching has held up suprisingly well and the Cards bats are starting to explode. I did not believe that Piniero could find himself but once again the pitching coach of the Cardinals has found a way to squeeze blood out of the turnip. (Weaver last year) As the season winds down it will come down to the best pitching. It is hard to bash your way to a Pennet but in that crazy division anything can happen. Sol how does the schedule look for the Cardinals the rest of the year? I know that I have looked ahead at the Redsox and Yankees schedule to try and gage how things might shape up. Do you not find it interesting that there is not a dominant team in Baseball this year? By the way you were right about J.D. Drew he does not live up to his billing or his contract. I think Theo has made a mistake here. C'mon $15 million a year. How about these stats .265avg 6hr and 46 r.b.i.'s and he does not even play everyday.

What about The Longest Yard? Burt Reynolds edition. But if I am not in a mood to laugh then I will go with Rudy.

The reason I asked that question I was in the 5th or 6th grade my elementary school let some kids out of school early that were going to the game and I could swear every one was calling the school Mountain City but you know how people are. They just were probly using the common name. In my mind we played and beat Mountain City. We also had football schedules printed that said Mountain City for the regular season game. At least that is how I remember it.

That is exactly what I thought. The person starting this thread knew exactly what they were doing. Just trying to stir it up and get a reaction. From outside the thread I thought it might be someone trying to gage South Doyles team or some attempt at an intelligent conversation but I can see there was not any intelligence at all behind starting this so I will move on.

When was that Rebelron 1983? In those days I believe, the school was called Mountain City High and not Johnson County. Am I right?

Look Footballfan15, please do not get everybody started on this kind of stuff. It never ceases to amaze me the stuff I here about GQ. No I have not heard that rumor but believe me as long as Maryville keeps winning this kind of stuff will crop up every year and I guess I will just have to live with that. It is the nature of the beast. Did you here the one about coach Q going to the CFL to coach the Toronto Arganauts.

What a great story! I love those kind of triumphs. When the odds are against you and people have lost faith in you and have gotten off your bandwagon and then you prove them wrong. Rick Ankiel was the voice of all the underdogs of the world even if it was for just one night. Tip of the cap to the Cardinal organization for not getting rid of the guy. Here is wishing him continued success.

Yea I was a big Murph fan growing up. I hung on every radio and tv broadcast on many losing braves games hoping that big Dale would go yard. He found a way to be in the majors. Mainly with his bat but won five gold gloves and was a seven time all-star. Murph like many players of the eighties will be penalized for not having the big enormous home run numbers like todays players. He lead the league in home runs one year with 37. Bonds had 38 at the break in 2001. So now the 80's players like Dale, Andre Dawson, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Gary Gaetti, Will Clark, Matt Williams and others will not be considered for the HOF. Maybe they do not deserve to go but it seemed like the game was more fun to watch and the Home Run was not as watered down as it is now. So maybe rick Ankiel can find some kind of place in "the Show". Dale Murphy did after he blew it as catcher.

Sounds like you live here in Nashville and are really tuned in to Hillsboro. I am a Maryville graduate. Class of 19__. Anyway I live here in Nashville and I believe if it were not for my Rebels, Hillsboro would have won about two or three championships by now. So until they beat Maryville on the field Maryville is still #1. End of story but I think that new coach Hillsboro has is doin an outstanding job. I seen him interviewed a few times and he is very intense kind of like a Bill Cowher. He has risen there game to a new level. Look I know that someday Maryville will lose but I do not believe it will be this year. Some of you can not wait for that to happen and it will but I think you are gonna have to wait a little longer. These things are cyclical. The differance for Maryville they will recover more quickly when it does happen. (as long as GQ is there) Glad to see you are passionate about the Burros!

Poor guy. I really rooted for him to make it as a pitcher. Nice guy just lost the strike zone. Kind of like Macky Sasser and Dale Murphy as catchers. Dale could not throw to second base and Macky could not throw back to the pitcher. Steve Sax could not throw to first base from second base. Amazing how the human brain can function. I'm not 100% sure about Sasser but it was a blond headed cather for the Mets who could not throw to the pitcher. Maybe somebody can help me with that one. Anyway good luck to Rick. A good guy who I hope makes it. I will be waiting to see what happens. This could turn into a good story.