Red Sox nation had always played as a team. If it was one-man show than maybe the Rangers in recent years (because of A-ROD) or Giants (bonds) would have been wiing the World Series in bunches. MR. AX.. I really appreciate your responses. It's better this time because we can feel the change in your postings. You sound better when you write like a NEutral BASEBALL FAN than just an Yankee fan. As OF D. ORtiz and not playing 1st base:: Please be aware that none ever said he is a great 1st baseman. However, he is not a suckerrrr at that position either. He did a good job with his opporunities during the WS in Busch stadium. And.. bro.... why would we play him at first base when we already have a GOLDEN GLOVER in the form of Meinkeweitz (spelling) waiting to play at 1st base?? ORTiz had his career numbers this year and the post-season as well. But please go back and check his STATS. from last season. It isn't that bad. It's an upsloping curve. IF ORTIZ is to be released by the BOSOX now or say if he were a FRee Agent..... which player do you think would be the #1 in the free-- agent market. I Do like Beltran, Beltre... and bunch of other guys. However, ORtiz is special as well. I do BELIEVE that ORtiz will have almost the same FIGUREs in @005 season if not better than this year. So you are right AX bro... one season doesn't tell a lot about a player. Two seasons from ORtiz with the RED SOX can say a lot about his baseball abilities.Don't it?? As of AROD and RED SOX. Seems like you had been appreciative of the fact that A-RODs not joining the BRONX was not because of RED SOX's poor offers or mis-management but becuse of the Player's uNION. I never said that Manny is a better Baseball player when comparing the career figures. FOr the baseball 2004, you gotta believe that Manny owned A-ROD. I have no objection as to why A-ROD is amongst the best ever to play baseball. But I have questions about him being the best in the year 2004 or say after joining the yankees. I still did not get the answers for why A-ROD is less expensive than A-ROD. ARE the Rnagers and Mariners involved in this business?? And oh yeah.... why did you think your fella rivals from MeadowLands (METS) are already jumping ahead to make a bid for MANNY?? who you know is not a free agent?? As of Manny and the REd SOX. I guess I already made it clear why teams couldn't afford him. Talk about Pedro now. As great a player he is. how many teams do you think will bid for him. Maybe the Yankees. And the MEts. Unitl now none had shown any response. I believe Manny will stay with the SOX and prolly retire as a REDSOX (This is an optimistic expectation). We love PEdro and want him to be a RED SOX for life. If it's not possible, we still will love and remember for his contributions to this organization. Maybe, we can go out and get PAvANO (oh... PEdro for Pavano..... remember). As of MR.John Henry ... HE called Yankees the EVIL UMPIRe because they get all the better players available in the market. THe otherside of being Evil.. is that they do not bring in new players and make them stars (at least in recent years) or just say do not PRODUCE stars. Whoever comes there are already established somewhere else. Well.. there are countable exceptions. As of THEO EPSTEIN and the Management.... Sir, we do not have to question his abilities as a Manager. He surely is young but not DUMB. I cannot compare him with the manager of the DBACKS, ANGELS OR MARLINGS. WHy?? because none of those teams went to back to back ALCS ?? At his first try we came as close as 3 outs, and in the next try he went throught it and won the WS as well. SO THEO IS the Boss. I BELIEVE he is going to make better AdjUSTMENTS in the coming days. GO SOX GO Jai nEpal