COVERITLIVE.COM

11:59

Boston.com - Hi chatters -- Chad will be here at 12:10 to take your questions. In the meantime, feel free to start submitting them now.

12:12

Chad Finn - Hey guys -- Thanks for your patience. They moved the Boston.com sports departments desks yesterday while I was working from home, so I'm still adjusting to the new environment. They did let me keep my red Swingline, though, so I'm glad for that. Let's get to the questions, and as always, I'll try to stick around beyond the recommended hour . . .

12:13

[Comment From Mark]
At one time in the recent past, Jon Lester was projected to be another Andy Pettite. Now, you have some people (including Wagner I think?) voicing the opinion that he’s the best lefthander in the league. No disrespect to Pettite, but this is no small upgrade. Where exactly has Lester improved? What makes him markedly better that Pettite in his prime?

12:15

Chad Finn - First of all, don't undersell Pettitte. He's won at least 12 games in every season of his career with the exception on 2004, when he made just 15 starts. He's one of the best postseason pitchers of all time, and with 229 career wins, he has a shot at the Hall of Fame if he can put up a couple more seasons like this one.

12:18

Chad Finn - That said, Lester very could be better already. He has a deeper repertoire. He'll throw any pitch to both sides of the plate. And Francona has talked about this a little bit, but since his recovery from cancer, he added a couple MPH to his fastball. He was successful when he threw 93. He's elite at 96-97. And his K-rate this season is something a prime-of-career Pettitte could only dream about -- he has 225 strikeouts in 203 innings. He's like Pettitte in that he's huge, durable, and poised. But I'm pretty convinced that if he stays healthy, his prime will be superior. And that a compliment to him rather than a shot at Pettitte.

12:18

[Comment From Guest]
With all of Theo's unrequested, adamant defense of J.D. Drew's stats the other day, WHY is it never mentioned that: a. He was hired to be their #5 hitter, by their OWN public comments, and unable to fulfill that role, he's been shifted to the only place in the line-up where HE feels comfortable - the bottom of the order. His walks enabling Varitek and Gonzalez to come to the plate in key situations is surely worth being the highest paid player on the team! Not. b. WHY is it never pointed out that ANYONE'S stats would look impressive if they were held out of games - all season! - where they weren't as likely to be successful? Cripes, he has his own BACK-UP player (Baldelli) to make sure his stats look good at the end of this year! With all the catering done so this guy can continue to pad his resume - ANYBODY could look good on paper. Methinks Theo doth protest too much!

12:22

Chad Finn - He doesn't just look good on paper, Trot Fan. He's a terrific (if somewhat bland) player, one you need to see on a regular basis to truly appreciate. He runs the bases well, he's a good, dependable rightfielder, and -- there really is no argument given that he's leading AL outfielders in OPS since the break -- he is a highly productive offensive player. Sure, he takes called strikes a lot. But he's also walked 92 times, and I don't care whose hitting behind him, if you're getting on base, you're doing your job. I'm not going to hit you over the head with Fangraphs stuff, because I suspect you don't care. But by their measures, his production is worth more than the $14 million he is being paid this season. Theo clearly doesn't regret the move. Neither should you.

12:22

[Comment From Bob]
What is worse - Tanguay's "sky is falling" or Felger/Mazz's "Boston teams suck" cries?

12:25

Chad Finn - Tanguay's "sky-is-falling" routine annoys me more than anything else I hear on sports radio, save for some of the Big Show guffawing. I don't know if he's capable of doing an intro without it sounding like this: "[Team/player XXX] is [hurt/dead/been run over by a Vespa]. Does this end the [Red Sox/Celtics/Patriots/Bruins] season before it's even began? Should you quit following sports immediately? We'll tell you next!" Gimme a break. I do like Zolak, though, even though he sounds like a fratboy trying to liven up a lame kegger.

12:26

[Comment From Mark]
Don't the Sox need to change the criteria for having a number retired, to reflect the free agent era? If 45 isn't hanging from the rafters some day, there's something wrong.

12:28

Chad Finn - I'm sure there will be some exceptions. Pedro absolutely belongs up there, though he falls short of the current policy, which I believe is Hall of Fame induction and 10 years with the club. I'd like to see No. 24 up there as well. You can say it's for Dewey if you want.

12:28

[Comment From Bill from CT]
Chad, how much credence do you give to the argument that the Sox, given their recent losing streak, have no momentum going into the playoffs? I personally think these last few games mean little, everybody starts at 0-0 next week.

12:31

Chad Finn - Agreed, Bill. My answer might be different had Jon Lester not looked so good last night (phew, bullet dodged) and the Sox not snapped their losing streak. But in the big picture, I have faith that Francona and the key players on this team will be ready to go in the postseason no matter how feeble they looked over the last 10 games or so. Hey, it's a long season, the wild-card spot has been a foregone conclusion for a while now . . . I can't really fault them for unintentionally letting up, if that's what happened. Ultimately, I like this team a lot, and I like their chances in the playoffs.

12:31

[Comment From steve]
chad, ihave a question i'm not sure if you can answer. Ted Williams hit a homer that landed on the red seat in right field at fenway... but even through the steroid era, i have seen no one come within 40 ft. of that red seat. players are bigger, stronger, bats are better constructed, ball is said to be livlier, yet no one has come close. why? any theories?

12:33

Chad Finn - That's a great question, and I wish I had an answer. Williams's homer was measured at 502 feet. That's obviously a BOMB, but you'd think someone like Mo or Papi (Big, not Stan) might have come close at one time or another. Maybe it's more myth than reality.

12:33

[Comment From Alex from London]
Other than the rotation, who do you see earning minutes for the Celtics as the season winds on? We've seen almost nothing of J.R. Giddens since he's been drafted, and it know looks like it will be a while until Billy Walker is back. Does Lester Hudson stand a chance to earn some minutes this year?

12:37

Chad Finn - I don't think so, London -- it sounds like he has significant promise as an offensive player, but for now he'll be an upgraded version of Gabe Pruitt, if anything. I can't imagine Giddens will see much time, either -- there were reports late last season that Ainge was shopping him, though Walker's injury might buy him a little more time. I love Daniels's versatility -- he's what Tony Allen was supposed to be. But in terms of how it bodes in the long run, if Ainge thinks they need a legit backup for Rondo, they'll probably find a way to bring in a veteran late in the season again, just as they have done with Cassell and Marbury.

12:37

[Comment From Guest]
Does Manny Delcarmen make the post season roster?

12:38

Chad Finn - I sure as [bleep] hope not.

12:38

[Comment From Hoss]
ready for a brain buster? I listened in to the interview Mazz and Felger did with Theo and he was praising JD Drew up and down, going over OBP, OPS, etc etc etc...he also stated that Drew is doing exactly what a ballplayer is paid to do....get on base. My question is, what's more important to you....drive the runner in from second and third, or for you to get on base, whether there's no one one or with runners on?

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