COVERITLIVE.COM

11:44

Boston.com - Hi chatters -- Chad will be here in a few minutes. In the meantime, feel free to start submitting questions . . .

12:02

Chad Finn - Hey guys, thanks for stopping by. Just one quick programming note before we get going -- looks like we'll be doing a live chat during the Pats-Jets game Sunday. I'll be involved, as well as some of the Globe crew at Gillette Stadium, hopefully. So be sure to check it out. I promise to stay until the end. On to the questions . . .

12:02

[Comment From Sully]
Hey Chad...I thought it was very classy the way the Pat's were able to give Bruschi a great send-off. It helped us to focus on what he once was and forget he played a season or 2 to long. What are the chances of the Sox and Veritec doing something similar this winter or is it to late. As a one time big fan of his...the last 2 nights were very painful to watch.

12:05

Chad Finn - I think it depends on what the player wants, Sully. We don't know all of what went on behind the scenes with Belichick and Bruschi, but do know that they had some candid conversations, and in the end, Bruschi chose to take the graceful exit. Will Varitek do the same when it's his turn? Hard to say. He has a $3 million player option to return next year, so if he wants to be with the Red Sox, he will be. But right now, he looks like a guy on the verge of staying too long.

12:05

[Comment From mo]
Chad, do you think Rivera had money on the Sox the other night? How does he not dive for that ball???

12:06

Chad Finn - Even Manny wondered where the effort was on that one. I suspect Scioscia chewed him out (after he got done with the umpires, that is). I know Rivera had a broken leg and isn't exactly the most mobile outfielder, but his reaction to that ball was the equivalent of saying, "Ah, forget it. I've got dinner reservations."

12:07

[Comment From Guest]
Feeling better or worse about our series with the Angels in a few weeks?

12:08

Chad Finn - I tend to think the implication that the Angels are always going to be hopeless and hapless against the Sox in the postseason is an easy angle and nothing more. Yeah, the Sox have had their number this season, and they've whupped them a couple of times in the playoffs. It has no impact at all on this year, save for maybe a small psychological advantage. The Angels are a very good team. If they don't run (and squeeze) themselves into outs again this year, they're capable of beating the Sox.

12:09

[Comment From mo]
Vegas line on the Sox at Baltimore is -145 right now. That means you only have to risk 145 to win 100. Buccholz been hot lately, Baltimore has nothing to play for, and their SP has an ERA north of 5. All signs point to an easy Sox win tonight. You probably can't post a gambling comment, but you'd be doing a service to your readers and making them some easy money if you did...

12:10

Chad Finn - Buchholz has had the Orioles' number for the most part. But anyone who gambles on baseball is a fool. I hear Pete Rose likes the Orioles, by the way.

12:10

[Comment From Guest]
Will Belichick make Mark Sanchez look like a rookie on Sunday?

12:12

Chad Finn - Tough call on that one. Sanchez was pretty damn impressive against the Texans, and the Pats might not have the linebackers to implement a scheme that will truly confuse him. I imagine the Jets will keep it simple and we'll see a lot of dumpoffs to Leon Washington, at least in the early going. Should be a really entertaining game.

12:13

Chad Finn - And let's not start comparing Kerry Rhodes to Anthony Smith, either. One of them can play. The other is Anthony Smith. I don't think the Pats are going to embarrass Rhodes, who has always seemed to play well against them.

12:13

[Comment From Ganbare]
Chad -- We were all obviously happy and relieved to see a new Dice-K on the mound this week. Two questions: 1) is he the third or fourth starter in a postseason rotation? 2) have you heard anything about whether Dice-K has bought fully into the type of training regimen the Sox have wanted him to do, and do you think that there is buy-in for him to stay in the U.S. during the offseason to go to a place like API?

12:16

Chad Finn - Seems to me they've found a happy medium. Daisuke's improved conditioning was noticeable, and the fact that he's built up his shoulder strength suggests he's doing what they asked all along. I think he was sincerely contrite after those comments came out in the Japanese paper, and maybe that little controversy was the turning point for him here. The Sox also deserve some credit for continuing to give him a little leeway with his throwing program and some of his other training preferences. As for what to expect from him . . . ask me after Sunday's game. If he pitches nearly as well as he did the other night, then he's the fourth starter at the very least.

12:16

[Comment From Jeff]
Chad, what did you think of The Office last night? I loved how Jim & Pam bailed Michael out of the corner he (as always) painted himself in. Also, earlier in the episode, I pegged that intern for looking like a young Matt Damon. I was excited when it came about the interns were all going to say who 'Office' members thought they looked like. I suppose Alan Thicke works though.

12:18

Chad Finn - Thought it was pretty good -- it's always amusing when Pam and Jim end up as Michael's parents. Thought Stanley spilling the truth to Michael was out of character. He knows better. And the Alan Thicke kid is also on "Desperate Housewives." How do I know that? Um, my wife told me. But yeah, thought it was pretty solid, particularly at the end. No "Cafe Disco" though.

12:18

Chad Finn - Oh, and loved the Andy storyline. More Ed Helms is always a good thing.

12:18

[Comment From Guest]
Did the Jets punishment for not properly reporting Favre's injury last season fit the crime?

12:19

Chad Finn - Nope. They should have been stripped of their third-place finish in the AFC East. Also, Mangini should have to come back and coach them again this year, with Favre at quarterback.

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