COVERITLIVE.COM

11:55

Boston.com - Hi guys -- Chad will be here in a few moments. He's currently adjusting his fantasy football draft ratings so he can get Julian Edelman in the first round. In the meantime, feel free to get in your questions now.

12:05

Chad Finn - Hey everyone. Thanks for stopping by. Brady looked like the old Brady for the most part, didn't he? Really, really excited about this team. Anyway, let's go to the questions, and I'll try to hang around a little past 1 if the questions are still coming in . . .

12:06

[Comment From Jon]
Hi Chad, What are the chances Ortiz rides the pine this week-end in Texas?

12:08

Chad Finn - Starting to look like he should be the odd man out -- there have been too many April flashbacks lately, though I don't fault him for getting blown away by Verlander yesterday. With Lowell hitting so well and the pitchers having an affinity for throwing to Varitek, Papi, who is useless if he isn't hitting, probably ought to see a reduction in time, as sad as that is to say. It'll be interesting to see how Francona handles it.

12:08

[Comment From Guest]
3rd starter in the playoffs, (if we make it there)?

12:11

Chad Finn - Sorry, computer keeps freezing up . . .

12:13

Chad Finn - The best bet, I think, is probably Buchholz, given how he has thrown lately. Obviously, there is a long way to go before he proves he can handle the responsibility, but the recent signs have been encouraging. And his potential is much greater than the other options. Don't trust Wake in the playoffs, same goes for Penny, and while the Sox are enamored with Tazawa -- and why shouldn't they be? -- the lack of experience has to be some what of a concern. Hopefully, Buchholz has turned a corner here in his last couple of outings, and he'll prove why the Sox preferred to keep him over Masterson/Hagadone.

12:14

[Comment From Guest]
Will Felger and Mazz's strengths, football and baseball respectively, be enough to carry a show, or will their lack of knowledge in other areas be a detriment?

12:16

Chad Finn - I think so, and I'd add that Felger is as knowledgeable as anyone about the Bruins, who will certainly get more pub on 98.5 than they do on WEEI. It will be interesting to see who 98.5 brings in as a Celtics go-to guy. Tanguay is obviously plugged in with his CSN connection, but I'd like to hear someone like Marc Spears on a regular basis.

12:16

[Comment From Guest]
Odds of Beckett winning the Cy Young?

12:18

Chad Finn - Pretty good, I'd say, though he's going to have some competition from the guy who mowed down the Sox yesterday. What's his ERA in his last 18 starts, something like 2.12? He's been has good as any pitcher in the game since the beginning of May, and there are no indications that his dominance will end any time soon. He's been an ace in the truest sense this season. It's like watching a repeat of the '07 postseason every time he takes the mound.

12:18

[Comment From Guest]
Chad, do you think it's a good baseball decision for the Sox to re-sign Bay? He's going to be 31 next year and will probably ask for $16-18m, per. Do the Sox really want to add another 30+ outfielder to their lineup when they are already the oldest team in the majors? I do think the Sox will try to re-sign him but only because no one better is available and the team needs some kind of power from left field. And that is a bad place to be for the Sox. Do you think something better could be had through trade? Adrian Gonzalez?

12:21

Chad Finn - I actually don't -- I like Bay a lot, and he did his part to salvage their season last year after the Manny drama. But this slump has reminded us that he's not an elite hitter, but a very good one who is probably streakier than most. And let's admit it -- he is not a good defensive outfielder. A three-year, $36 mil deal would be reasonable, but I get the sense he's going to want (and get) more than that. On the other side of it, I don't know how they'd replace him, at least until Reddick is ready. I mentioned the name Johnny Damon on Twitter the other day and I'd say 95 percent of people said they'd never want him back.

12:21

[Comment From Bob]
What do you think of moth breathers thinking Vick would have been a good fit for NE?

12:24

Chad Finn - Moth breathers. I like it. People who wanted Vick on the Pats strike me as the same people who stack their Madden Rosters so that they have Brady, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, and every other star they can dupe the computer into letting them acquire. Beyond that, Vick was not a good fit here -- he's been erratic his entire career, he wasn't particularly dedicated to learning the playbook in Atlanta, and his presence in a Wildcat role would take Brady off the field, which is probably not the best thing for the offense. It never made sense.

12:24

Chad Finn - Plus, he's no Julian Edelman. (I'm on Reiss's side of the street now.)

12:25

[Comment From Bob Griese]
Ortiz still batting 5th?!! Are you kidding me TITO???? He should be batting 7-8th. Giving Drew and Pedroia the same day off is a losers mentality. No excuse for that. What has gotten into this team lately??

12:26

Chad Finn - I believe the number you are looking for is 617-779-0850. There's nothing wrong with giving Pedroia the day off against a tough righty like Verlander. And are we really griping about Drew getting a day off? C'mon now.

12:27

[Comment From LSCII]
Whatever happened with regards to the reports that the Sox had put a claim in on Guzman?

12:28

Chad Finn - They never put in the claim. Considered it, decided not to do it. From what I heard, they thought Tampa, who has been claiming a ton of young players, might block him from getting to them anyway. I liked the idea, but he's on the book for $8 mil next year, which meant they'd have been paying $17 mil for Cristian Guzman and Julio Lugo.

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