Burt Talks Sports » Blog Archive » Questions and comments ... bring them on

Questions and comments … bring them on

Mar 13th, 2008 by Bill Burt

I’ll be around for at least an hour, until 2 p.m.
If you have any questions, comments or strong opinions about the Red Sox chances, Patriots draft, Celtics championship bid or even the Bruins playoff hopes, I would be glad to answer them live.
If you are here after the live portion ends, leave a question and I will respond later today or tonight.
From people whining about the Red Sox trip to Japan to the Patriots potentially looking at acquiring Pacman Jones, I am game.

18 reader comments to “Questions and comments … bring them on”

1
Joseph said:
Hi Bill
I have one comment. I saw where you said in today’s newspaper that you might take a chance on Pacman Jones. I am surprised. He is 10 times worse than Randy Moss in terms of off the field problems. The Patriots don’t need this guy and his potential problems. Why mess with him or even talk about it?
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
2
Dave said:
I think the Red Sox trip to Japan is going to hurt alot when they come back. I traveled over to China in January (and found the Pats playoff game against Jacksonville in a restaurant at 8am!) and the jet lag isn’t too bad on the way over. However, once you get back it takes a while to get back in sleep patterns and other things. I am 22 years old and in pretty good physical condition but it was very difficult. Hearing Lou Merloni talk about it yesterday and with the tough schedule the opening month, the Sox are probably going to be playing catch up after the first month of the season.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
3
Bill Burt said:
Joe
I’m not condoning going after Pacman just yet, but it might be something to consider if the Patriots deem him as someone who is ready for a ephiphany. The Patriots don’t stand for problems and distractions. Jones would either get along or be cut. If the price was right, meaning a low draft pick and one-year cheap deal, it might be worth it. I agree, there is lot of mending Pacman has to do. I just wouldn’t rule it out.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
4
Bill Burt said:
Dave
I understand. I hate traveling across the country. Returning from the Super Bowl, which was only in Phoenix, took about two days to get over. But the Japan trip has been on the docket for months. The team will get nearly a week off from official games after the last game in Japan.
Why is everyone so concerned? They will have some adjustment issues. But why not turn into a positive and the chance to be part of a special experience? If they lose both games in Japan, big deal. My guess is the A’s, who are human beings, too, will have some issues as well.
Suck it up. That’s all. I can’t stand whining, not that the players have done it yet, but I can see many people already laying the groundwork for some serious complaining when they return home.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
5
Joseph said:
What is going on Troy Brown? I heard that the Patriots have said they won’t be offering him a contract.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
6
Marsh said:
Hey Bill
I just read that the Sox released Maribelli, how do you feel about Cash being Wake’s personal catcher? I think its a good move, cheaper, and has more pop in his bat and if I remember correctly could catch the Knuckler. Do you think Wake will have problems adjusting to him?
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
7
Bill Burt said:
Just got word that the Herald is reporting the Doug Mirabelli has been released. That is interesting. I will say his bat had become a major liability, not hitting his weight (230 pounds) over the last two seasons.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
8
Bill Burt said:
Marci
The key to becoming Wakefield’s personal catcher is experience and patience. If it is indeed Kevin Cash, and I’m not so sure they won’t try to get another catcher, he will have a few weeks to become “average” at catching the knuckleball. As for Wakefield, I don’t think so over the long-term. Short term? Probably. But he will be a No. 4 or No. 5 guy when rotation is officially set.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
9
Bill Burt said:
Joseph
As for Troy Brown it’s time for him to retire. The Patriots will hold a big news conference when he offiically does call it quits. Here’s hoping he hangs them up. He deserves a huge sendoff, probably a day during the regular season in 2008.
He has always been one of my favorite players, on and off the field.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
10
Marsh said:
Marci? hahaha Thank God you never called me Marci when you wrote about me Thanx for commenting !!
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
11
Max said:
Bill
What about the Celtics? I can’t believe people aren’t more excited about these guys. I think they are going to win the championship. I really do. What has to happen, in your opinion, for that to happen?
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
12
Bill Burt said:
Marsh
You got me. It’s time the Red Sox found a legit backup catcher anyway rather than strictly a knuckleball catcher. If Mirabelli could hit as well as you could, he would still be here.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
13
Bill Burt said:
Max
I am with you. I believe everything is in place. But I will say we will know a little more on this Texas swing, which will be followed by a game in Utah. They play the Mavs, Spurs and Rockets, three of the best teams in the league in consecutive games, followed by New Orleans, one of the best teams before a recent skid. If they can go 2-2 or 3-1 over those four games, I believe they are the team to beat, officially.
The Big Three look like they’ve been together for a few years now. And the addition of Sam Cassell gives them stability for the 12 minutes that Rondo takes off. I really don’t see a team as good as they are. The Spurs, more due to the their experience, are the closest.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
14
Bill Burt said:
To all:
It was nice to see a few new names. I will be checking in later tonight. Please join in and I’ll respond as soon as I can. We will do this again next week.
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
15
Marsh said:
Well thanks for the compliment but it should say as good as I USE to be able to, however, I may still be able to out hit Maribelli haha Not against giving Cash a chance that is for sure!! We should of kept Bard though, never understood that trade!!
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
16
Tim Burt said:
Is that the Marsh guy from Extra Innings? Wow, small world. hey Max….What happened to the C’s last night? YIKES!!!
Posted: Mar 15th, 2008 at 11:21 am
17
Marsh said:
No Im not a man haha, so the world isn’t that small C’s bounced back, no worries, all teams, even the great ones, have a night like that, get it out of their system now, we don’t want them waiting until the last game of the season for it to happen like some other team we all know!
Posted: Mar 17th, 2008 at 7:04 am
18
Marci said:
Marsh,
It’s perfectly understandable. I think I’m a known Mirabelli honk and a more than irregular poster here. (although I was a little taken aback myself. I didn’t ask that!)

But on that subject, I understand them reclaiming the roster spot. I’m just not personally happy with it. I thought they’d reconciled themselves to having Doug as a strictly backup catcher and as a batting liability, although he did much worse in spring training than I was expecting. As has oft been said, If you can’t hit against pitchers competing for a roster spot in spring training, when can you hit?

Certainly the light-weight (no more Mirabelli size jokes, please) and incentive laden contract said they knew what they were getting into. Still, I’d have expected more prep-work on Mirabelli’s part to try to reclaim a hitting groove. I’m not claiming to know his prep-work even slightly, but whatever he did made no noticable impression. Perhaps he thought, given the contract, he could coast into the season and any offense he brought to the table was a bonus. As a fan of Mirabelli, it’s disappointing, but I do understand it. (which is why, unlike Marsh, I didn’t question it.)
Posted: Mar 17th, 2008 at 2:56 pm