Attitude & Effort

We are in-between holidays. All the TV shows are re-runs. There's no news going on with the Red Sox. The Patriots have a meaningless game on Sunday. It's just a slow week.

I was reading the paper & just happen to run across the name of "Hickman." Hickman's happened to be the sponsor on my Little League team many, many years ago. It reminded me of a lot of basics that I learned - teamwork, proper technique, practice & the value of hard work. We played hard to win each game, but if we didn't my coach was OK - as long as we had a positive attitude & put out our best effort.

To all the coaches in Little League, Pony League, Babe Ruth League & youth leagues of all sports who instill in players that it's your attitude & effort that counts - I thank you. You are teaching lessons that will help kids throughout their life. It sure helped me.

Happy New Years! All the best for 2011!

Podcast Being Worked On

The recent podcast of December 23rd is on the blog, but the software is not allowing our readers to listen to it.

It is being worked on & hopefully corrected in the next day or two.

Thanks for your patience.

Super Bowl Goes Through Foxborough

The Patriots took advantage of many miscues by the Buffalo Bills on their way to wrapping up the AFC East Championship. Their win insures a first round bye & home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Most impressive was the Patriots running game & turnovers forced by the Pats "D." As a few friends have mentioned, you just hope that the Patriots have not peaked too soon. Baltimore is coming on hard over the past few weeks. Then you have the usual suspects in the Steelers, Jets & Colts.

I thought Brady got up pretty slow after a few runs in yesterday's game. Hope his health is not an issue, especially since most sportscasters feel that the Patriots will go as deep in the playoffs as Brady & the offense will take them.

It should be an interesting playoff season.

Johnny Damon Back to NY?

So much for the Detroit Tigers love me & how he wanted to stay there. After 1 season in Motown Johnny Damon is looking for work.

A free agent, Damon is fielding offers from the Angels, Rays & Yankees. He would only be a part-time player in New York, but Johnny has a tendancy to go for the biggest paycheck. His former employer may have a biggest checkbook, given their lack of signings. Damon would fit in as another 30-something on an aging roster.

You may remember that the Red Sox put in a waiver bid on Damon last year. He declined to come back to Boston after playing for the Yankees & being treated as a traitor in Fenway Park for 4 years. Some fans don't forgive.

Say what you want about his signing with the Yankees, but Johnny Damon always played hard, played hurt & was an excellent teammate in Boston for his 4 years. He was also the leader of the 2004 "idiots" who brought Boston the first World Series Championship in 86 years. Maybe that's how Red Sox fans will remember him once his playing days are over.

Pap Still the Closer

Bobby Jenks was officially introduced yesterday as the newest member of the Sox bullpen. During the press conference Theo went out of his way to clarify that Jonathan Papelbon is still the team's closer. Gentlemen, start your engines on the Pap watch!

With Jenks, Wheeler & Bard in the fold one school of thought is that the Sox will trade Papelbon & let one of these 3 guys emerge as the closer. A trade may be tough to do as Pap will probably earn $10-$12 million via arbitration. Hard to move that big a salary.

The more likely route is that Pap returns & is motivated to put the 2010 season behind him. Last year's ERA & blown saves were Cinco Ocho's all-time worst. Time to use all 3 pitches again with good location.

Come the trade deadline in July, however, the Sox might try to move Pap if he is not performing - just to get something in return. With free agency looming in 2012 it's very probable that this is Pap's last year in a Red Sox uniform.

A Christmas Story - Of Sorts

It was the night before Spring Training. Not a creature was sturring, not even an annoying pick-up with an "NY" sticker plastered on its back.

Visions of 2004 & 2007 danced in my head. On Youk, on Pedroia & Big Papi rang a Christmas bell. On Gonzo, on Crawford & Saltie as well.

As I watched Theo, Tito & players move out of sight to Fort Myers, I heard George Steinbrenner's voice say "Merry Christmas to all" & "my boys are getting coal this year."

Happy holidays! 2 months to Spring Training...

Green Bay Gives Pats A Fight

Trap game. Pushover game. A rookie QB. The New England Patriots made a defensive stand at the end of last night's game to take home a hard-fought win 31-27 over the Green Bay Packers at Foxborough. It wasn't pretty at times, but a win is a win.

Give both teams credit. The Pack started the game by recovering a surprise on-side kick. That sent a strong message to the Patriots that the cheeseheads from Wisconsin meant business & were not going to lay down & play dead. The Patriots offense came alive in the 4th quarter & the Pats "D" made one last stand with a big sack as time ran out.

Green Bay did lose, but they can build on a game where they were just one play or two away from a huge upset win.

And the Patriots know that, despite several miscues, they got the necessary win. Sloppy play & multiple penalties, however, will not get them far into the playoffs.

Sox Get Dan Wheeler

Nice going, Theo.

Dan Wheeler is another great arm for the rebuilding of the Boston bullpen. He had 3 great years in Tampa Bay pitching the 7th & 8th innings of games. He signs a 1-year deal with a club option for 2012.

The bullpen now features Atchison, Albers, Dubront, Jenks, Wheeler, Bard & Papelbon. Not bad, hah! There are several more arms in the minors - including Andrew Miller & Lenny Dinardo - as lefties. I think you always need 2 lefties in the pen against the Yankees.

The news keeps getting better for 2011.

Where's Manny?

One of the names missing for the free agent conversation is Manny Ramirez.

Manny flamed out in LA after his female steroid problem. Then he went to the White Sox as the player who was going to get them into the playoffs. That never happened. He ended up a part-time player.

Has Manny's $20 million a year finally come to an end? Oh, yes.

Have his antics to create animosity among players & coaches in Boston & LA finally caught up to him? Maybe. There still may be a team or two out there willing to take a chance that his talent to hit may be worth sacrificing team unity. But it won't be at $20 million a year. Perhaps Manny's ego can't take that.

Don't look back, Manny. Theo's not calling.

Albers In, Jenks Almost In

The Red Sox officially added Matt Albers to the bullpen by signing him to a 1-year deal. Former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks is close to signing a 2-year, $12 million deal with the Sox pending a physical.

Albers & Jenks add new arms to a depleted bullpen with the departures of Delcarmen, Ramirez & Okajima. Andrew Miller, a lefty from the Marlins, is another arm who came to the Sox in exchange for Dustin Richardson. Like Jerry Remy says, get 5 or 6 out there & see who sticks.

The addition of Jenks gives Boston more options with Jonathan Papelbon who will be arbitration eligible to make $10-$11 million this coming year. Pap's time in a Boston uniform is coming to an end, but I'd like him to stay since it's a contract year & he will be highly motivated to perform. Same can be said for motivation in a contract year with J.D. Drew & Big Papi.

I don't think anyone can argue that Theo has done a great job this off-season.

I Like Ryan Lavarnway

Ok, he's an Ivy League catcher from Yale. But he did have the best HR's per AB ratio in the college ranks. He's a big guy at 6'5" & he throws well. I'm sure the Sox would like to see him mature a little more at Double-A or Triple-A.

Ryan Lavarnway is a kid to remember as a future big leaguer. He's a power-hitting catcher that I saw play in the Arizona Fall League this year. (He happen to hit a home run that game.) I really liked what I saw, both offensively & defensively. Unlike the Dusty Brown's, he can hit & hit for power.

If the Sox thought a beat-up Russell Martin was the answer to keeping a 3rd catcher around, I'd put a vote in for Lavarnway if the need arises. He might just surprise everyone.

Overbay to Pirates, Rivera Back in Pinstripes

Lyle Overbay played the last 5 years for the Toronto Blue Jays. He signed a 1-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates & will return to the NL in 2011. Good for Red Sox fans. Overbay could be a little like Carlos Pena when it came to beating the Red Sox.

The Yankees re-signed closer Mariano Rivera for 2-years at $30 million. Rivera, who performed like a machine for many years, looked more human last year as he blew several save opportunities. Rivera is still a very good closer, but age is catching up to him like several of his Yankee teammates. The Yankees keep getting older.

The AL East is shaping up to be a Red Sox - Yankees race again. However, in this race for 2011, the Sox have the younger legs.

Steinbreener Boys Get Coal In Their Stockings

George would not be happy with his offspring.

His boys let Carl Crawford slip away to a secret Red Sox offer for the speedy, free agent outfielder.

New reports indicate that prize free agent pitcher Cliff Lee, the #1 guy on the Yankees Christmas shopping list, is going to a well-kept secret bid offered by the Philadelphia Phillies for his services.

That move of Lee to the Phillies is fine with Red Sox Nation. It would give the Phillies the best rotation, hands down, in the NL. We can worry about the Phillies in the World Series.

Poor Steinbrenner boys! Your first chance to run the show & you can't deliver for your fans. There may be a lot of empty, over-priced seats in Yankee Stadium this year.

Cliff Lee - Where Are You?

Cliff Lee is still unsigned.

The latest version of why Lee may stay in Texas has to do with NY State & NY City taxes. Lee could make a lower base salary in Texas & still net more dollars because the tax rate in Texas is less.

Does it really matter? The dollars are so huge it's hard for the average person to imagine. Will coming to New York get him 5 cars instead of 4 or 3 houses instead of 2? Does it really make a difference?

C'mon, Cliff. Just stay in Texas where you will go to the playoffs every year since the Angels are so depleted now. Why hassle your wife & kids into the Bronx atmosphere.

Patriots Win, Jets Lose Again

The New England Patriots demolished a highly-ranked Chicago Bears team in Chicago 36-7. Offense & defense carried the day. Special teams not so much. The win guarantees the Patriots a playoff berth. Nice win in tough conditions.

On the flip side, it looks like Rex Ryan buried his offense along with the game ball from the Patriots game last week. His offense, which could muster only 3 points last week, doubled their output to 6 points in a losing effort at home against the Miami Dolphins 10-6. Sanchez & Co. are in a big scoring drought. How is Rex going to talk his way out of his 2nd straight loss to a division opponent?

Things are rosy in New England. Not so rosy in New York. Life is good.

Line-Up Fun

Since the additions of Adrian Gonzalez & Carl Crawford I've seen about 20 different line-ups from sportswriters. I'm going against the conventional wisdom of the left-right theory that most are following.

Here's my line-up card:

1 - Jacoby Ellsbury, CF (L)

2 - Carl Crawford, LF (L)

3 - Kevin Youkilis, 3B (R)

4 - Adrian Gonzalez, 1B (L)

5 - Dustin Pedroia, 2B (R)

6 - David Ortiz, DH (L)

7 - Jarrod Saltalamachhia, C (S)

8 - J.D. Drew, RF (L)

9 - Marco Scutaro, SS (R)

Why not give Ellsbury & Crawford more at-bats? They are your table setters & it's like having 2 chanches to get a baserunner on that can steal. If you have your own version of the 2011 Red Sox line-up, let me know by double-clicking on the Comment section below.

Quite A Week in Boston Sports

It's been quite a week...

The Red Sox pull off a blockbuster trade to land Adrian Gonzalez & then acquire free-agent Carl Crawford. Instant excitement for 2011.

The Patriots totally demolish Rex Ryan's mouth 45-3 to move past the Jets for the division lead. Huge win.

The Celtics keep winning, even getting a basket at the buzzer to beat the hapless 76's.

The Bruins are getting great goaltending & win their games this week.

All 4 teams look playoff bound. What other city can say that? Certainly not New York with the lowly Rangers & Knicks. Not LA either.

It's nice to be a Bostonian - this week especially.

Who's Next?

With the signing of Carl Crawford the Red Sox have pulled off their best winter since 2003 when they signed Curt Schilling & Keith Faulk. Adrian Gonzalez & Crawford give the Sox instant credibility to return to the playoffs.

The Crawford signing definitely stunned a few other teams as well. The Rays knew Crawford was going somewhere else, but they did not want him to stay in the AL East. The Yankees had Crawford as their Plan B in case they don't sign Cliff Lee. And the Angels were the front-runners in the Crawford sweepstakes so he could join their running offense. Sorry, guys, you lose out.

Theo's Christmas shopping is almost done. A right-handed bat off the bench would be nice & a couple of relievers to replenish the bullpen would be good. You might say we're down to filling the Christmas stocking as the big presents are all wrapped up.

It's only 2 months to the start of Spring Training. Can't wait!

Welcome Carl Crawford!

Join the party, Carl! The Red Sox picked up a 2nd impact player in Carl Crawford with a 7-year, $142 million deal. Crawford was expected to sign with either the Yankees or Angels, but the Sox beat both of them to the speedy outfielder.

The loss of Crawford to the Sox leaves the Yankees betting all their chips on Cliff Lee. The fact that Lee has not accepted a Yankees offer yet leads one to believe that he wants to stay in Texas. But time & money will tell.

With the addition of crawford you wonder if Jacoby Ellsbury becomes expendable or if there is a possible move of J.D. Drew in the works. The Sox are definitely heavy from the left side & could use a right-handed bat. Maybe there's another trade coming.

Kudos, Theo, way to go! Red Sox Nation is ready for 2011.

Carlos Pena Exits Tampa Bay

No more late-inning home runs from Carlos Pena against the Red Sox. Pena signed a 1-year, $10 million deal with the Chicago Cubs yesterday. He is the latest player to exit the Rays organization with more to come.

Pena may have only hit .195 last year, but he is a long ball threat every time he steps up to the plate. More time than we would like to remember, Pena always seemed to get a big hit to sink the Red Sox. At least we won't have to worry about him anymore.

Overall, Tampa looks to be taking a step backwards. Their relief corps is gone. Pena will soon be followed out the door by Carl Crawford. Joe Maddon & Co. will have to build around Evan Longoria & their starting pitchers in 2011.

Looks like the AL East will be Boston & New York once again.

Jeter Re-Signs With Yankees

Derek Jeter will retire a Yankee. The much publicized re-negotiation of his contract with Yankee management ended with a 3-year, $51 million deal & an option for a 4th year. Jeter will be 40 when his last contract year expires.

Leave it to the Rem Dawg to give the best comment on the Jeter situation. Jerry said that it was an embarassment to Jeter, who played 15 years with the Yankes, to be treated this way by Yankee management. He went onto say that Brian Cashman wasn't the culprit. It was the other 2 "idiots," meaning the 2 Steinbrenner boys.

With multi-year contracts in place for Posada, Rivera & Jeter - their equivalents of Big Papi to the Sox - the Bronx Bombers continue to get older while the Red Sox get younger.

Wait until Girardi has to move Jeter out of the top of the order & then move him out of shortstop. Never a dull moment in Yankee-town.

Patriots, Red Sox Have A Great Day

It's great to be a fan of New England sports. It was especially great yesterday.

The Patriots demolished Rex Ryan's mouth & team 45-3 at Foxborough last night. As impressive as Brady & the defense played, I was more impressed with the post-game comments of the coach & players. Not a one said anything like "take that, Rex, & shove it down your big mouth." Instead, they all were gracious in victory & started to focus on the Chicago Bears.

Earlier in the day, the Sox introduced Adrian Gonzalez as their newest member of the 2011 roster. In his interviews with NESN & other media outlets it was obvious that Gonzo is more than a good hitter. He mentioned preparation, video, & executing a plan to attack a certain section of the strike zone. His comments reminded me of a Ted Williams approach to hitting. His demeanor is unassuming, but he has an inner confidence that will serve him well in this market. No question that he will be a fan favorite in no time.

In this day of pampered pro atletes & it's an all-about-me attitude, a la T.O. & Manny, it's no wonder why Boston fans love the old school T-E-A-M approach that is the philosophy of the New England Patriots & the Boston Red Sox. It's a throw-back philosophy that serves both teams & their fan bases well. It's refreshing to me.

Werth Gone, Bullpen Next

The GM meetings in Orlando will take a different turn for the Red Sox. Instead of considering new signings to solidify their infield, the Sox got their man yesterday in Adrian Gonzalez. Put a check mark next to that "to do" item.

With Jayson Werth signing a big deal with the Nationals, the asking price for Carl Crawford may be too high now. Werth got $18 million a year for 7 years. Crawford is sure to go for more than that. That may be too rich for the Red Sox who still have Cameron, Ellsbury, Drew & others available.

It looks like Theo will turn his attention to the bullpen this week. Gone are Okajima, Delcarmen & Ramirez. The Sox need to re-stock at least 2 more dependable arms, preferrably one lefty, to give relief to Daniel Bard & Jon Papelbon. Felix Dubront showed promise last year as both a starter & reliever. He may play a bigger role in 2011 out of the bullpen as the Sox currently have 6 starters.

It would be nice to keep the momentum going this week & put the final pieces to the puzzle together for 2011.

An Early Christmas Present

Theo & Co. put an early Christmas present with a big red & blue bow under the tree of Red Sox Nation. News broke yesterday of the trade with San Diego to put Adrian Gonzalez in the Red Sox lineup for the next several years. Alleluia!

Gonzalez is the left-handed equivalent of Kevin Youkilis with a little more power. He is a Gold Glover at first base. In 5 years with the Padres in a huge park he averaged 30 HR & 100 RBI. The Nation is a buzz once again thinking about the 2011 season.

The Sox did give up 3 first-rate prospects, particularly Kelly & Rizzo, along with a player to be named later. The Padres get an injection of new young talent that they can control at manageable money for several years. Even though the Padres gave up a key player which they would not be able to re-sign, they maximized his trade value by pulling off the deal now.

With the infield solidified the Sox can now turn to the outfield free agents of Crawford & Werth.

Nice goin', Theo! Merry Christmas!

Sox Talking to Gonzo

OK, now I'm getting excited. Pull off the deal, Theo! Give the Padres whatever they want.

The Sox & Padres are talking once again about a trade for Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a key piece to the future of the Red Sox. It's like Teixeira all over again. If they get Gonzo at 28 years old, he can be a fixture at 1B for years.

As Yoda said, there is no try - only do or don't do. Let's do it!

Varitek Coming Back

According to the AP, the Red Sox have signed a 1-year deal with Jason Varitek to bring him back to the team for the 2011 season as a back-up catcher. The deal is worth $2,000,000.

I say good. Varitek can certainly mentor Saltie. In a back-up role last year #33 was very productive offensively until he sustained a broken bone in his foot. His signing gives the Sox & their pitching staff a known quantity at the position.

It would have been hard to see Varitek in a different uniform this year. After all those years of service with the Red Sox this last contract may give him a way to retire as a Red Sox. I like that ending.

Crawford & Theo Talk

The Red Sox have begun discussions with Carl Crawford in Houston. Theo & his team met with Crawford & his reps. Everything seems to have gone well. The Sox will have competition to sign Crawford from the Yankees & the Angels.

Crawford would have a middle-of-the-order spot in the lineup where he could do more hitting & less stealing, a good fit as he gets older. Fenway Park also plays to his strength as a hitter to left-center with plenty of doubles. We can use his speed in the outfield as well.

I still hope that the Sox sign a corner infielder first. Paul Konerko & Adrian Beltre are out there.

Bottleneck Is Cliff Lee

It appears that the hot stove won't get hotter until Cliff Lee decides to become a Yankee or stay a Texas Ranger. That's the buzz from all the sports shows last night. The theory is that, once the Lee situation is settled, Carl Crawford & others will start finding homes.

Reports are that Lee initially rejected a multi-year deal from the Yankees. Two possibilities... Either Lee wants more money from the Yankees or he is giving the Rangers more time to come up with a similar offer. All of Red Sox Nation would like to see the Rangers keep Cliff Lee.

With the winter meetings starting next week it's possible that you see the dominos start to fall. More probably, however, there will be talk between clubs that will lay the ground work for future trades. The Sox will no doubt be talking to the Padres about how much they want for Adrian Gonzalez.

Overall, the hot stove has been anything but so far.

Talent Wins Out

I received an interesting comment from a relative today about whether or not the Sox management has the gusto to spend $15 mil - $17 mil for one front-line, impact player versus spending $8 mil each for 2 mid-level players to come in 2nd or 3rd. His conclusion is the best talent usually wins. Interesting thought...

Since the deal for Mark Teixeira fell through in 2008 the Sox have added guys like Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro & Mike Cameron. Although Beltre had a career year in 2010, none of these 3 players would be considered front-line. Can they add a Carl Crawford or Adrian Gonzalez? Time will tell.

If you are going to have the 2nd largest payroll in baseball, you might as well get a couple of first-rate studs & get your money's worth. That may entail money &/or prospects. I'd do it.

Rex Ryan Running His Mouth Again

Since there is no movement on the hot stove with the Red Sox I thought it appropriate to comment on the 12 days of Rex Ryan.

A good friend of mine said once that it's not bragging if you deliver what you spout off about. So far the Jets have escaped 3 near losses with last minute wins. They could easily be 6-5 in the middle of the pack. But they are 9-2 like the Pats & Falcons. Ryan has delivered - so far.

However, like playing cards in Vegas, you may win for awhile but the longer you play, the odds are against you. And Ryan's mouth with catch up with him at some point in the season. We all hope it's next Monday night.

Jeter & Yankees Feuding

Derek Jeter is Mr. Yankee. At 36 years old he would like to finish his career as a Yankee.

Hank Steinbrenner & Brian Cashman have decided to save their public face. Instead of continuing their contract discussions with Jeter in private, they went public to let everyone know about the 3 year, $45 million deal that was offered & rejected. The New York Post had a picture of Jeter in a Red Sox uniform with Hank's quote of let him look elsewhere.

I know it's the Yankees & we all enjoy turmoil in the Yankee camp. But guys like Jeter, Posada & Rivera are the last of the original Yankees who we hated all through the 90's. To go public on a re-signing of your captain is pure positioning for the media. I think Jeter deserves better from his employer.

Give Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving & we all have many different things to be thankful for -- family, friends, good health, football & turkey among them.

From the Red Sox perspective I am thankful that:

1) We beat the Yankees during the last weekend in September, making them the AL Wild Card & not the AL East champs. I'd like to think that, in some way, our wins contributed to their demise in the ALDS to the Rangers.

2) A-Rod struck out for the final out in the ALDS that landed the Rangers in the World Series. There's poetic justice for you.

3) Mike Lowell hit a home run in his first at-bat off the DL coming back to Fenway. It was quite a memorable moment.

4) Daniel Nava hitting a grand slam in his first Major League at-bat.

5) Jason Varitek getting a standing ovation in his last game as a Red Sox. He caught 3 no-hitters & was an instrumental part of the 2004 & 2007 World Series championships.

Moving away from the Red Sox, I always think of our service men & women who will not be home for Thanksgiving. We owe them much for their sacrifices for our country. Be safe. Come home soon.

Enjoy your turkey & the Patriots today!

Victor Martinez Signs With Detroit

The 2nd piece has fallen into or out of place for the Red Sox plan of 2011.

Victor Martinez returns to the AL Central as he accepts a 4-year, $50 million deal to be the Tigers everyday catcher. That leaves a big offensive hole in the middle of the Sox lineup.

With the departure of Martinez, does that mean Adrian Beltre has more hope of re-signing with the Sox? Who knows!

Theo & Co. obviously have a strategy in place. Defensively, the loss of Victor Martinez does not pose a problem. Saltie & a back-up can perform as adequately there. Maybe Victor's departure means thatJason Varitek gets re-signed & stays another year to mentor Saltie.

But Victor's move to the Motor City does heighten the need for a middle-of-the-order bat. Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth & Ryan Braun are possible newcomers. If the Sox sign an outfielder, it may mean the end of Jacoby Ellsbury in a Red Sox uniform.

Personally, I'd rather see the Sox sign a corner infielder versus another outfielder. Beltre or Gonzalez are the 2 most talked-about choices. I still like Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, of the Nationals.

Report Card for John Lackey

Since a lot of kids are coming home with report cards this time of year I thought it would be fun to grade some of the Red Sox players. First up is John Lackey.

Attitude: A
John is very competitive. He has a bulldog mentality on the mound & never wants to be taken out.

Workmanship: A
John is a 200+ innings guy. He will carry his share of the load throughout the season.

Effectiveness: C
John's competitive attitude worked against him by going one too many innings. He often returned to the mound in the 7th or 8th innings only to blow leads. He needs to shut down the opponent when he has the lead. That's what good pitchers do.

John also put too many runners on base via hits & walks. His WHIP was way too high for a pitcher with his ability.

Accepts Responsibility: D
John whines too much. Many a post-game interview was littered with his comments about cheap hits & how he didn't really pitch that badly. John needs to own up to both his good & bad performances. Stop making excuses. Stop blaming others.

Overall: C-
John needs to mature into an AL East pitcher in 2011. He has the stuff. He can do it.

We are all counting on Lackey to act like a #2 starter in 2011, not a #4 or #5.

Cy Young Honorable Mentions

Two Red Sox pitchers will get several votes from sportswriters for the Cy Young Award which will end up going to Felix Hernandez of Seattle or David Price of Tampa Bay.

Clay Buchholz emerged as an elite pitcher in 2010. He finished #2 in ERA at 2.33 & amassed an overall record of 17-7. Not bad for a guy who was trade bait each of the last 2 years. Each of his 4 or 5 pitches can induce an out, most notably his change-up. Because he pitched to contact Clay's strikeout numbers are down.

Jon Lester turned in a stellar year after a very slow start in April. He finished #9 in ERA at 3.25, had a 19-9 record, completed over 200 innings & struckout over 200. A real power pitcher in the mold of the 2007 Josh Beckett, his cutter is devastating to hitters from either side of the plate. He reminds me of a young Andy Pettitte.

Both Buchholz & Lester deserve a lot of credit for coming through in a year where they, in reality, became the #1 & #2 starters. We can expect both to continue to shine in 2011.

Ellsbury's Big Comeback in 2011

That could be a big headline when the 2011 season is over. Jacoby Ellsbury is a big part of the Sox offensive engine & that engine never got going in 2010.

Especially against the better pitchers in the league, the ability to manufacture a run is critical in tight games. Look at what the Texas Rangers did to their opponents in 2010 by playing small ball. The Sox never had that ability last year & it cost them.

50+ steals. 100+ runs scored. Several infield hits. OBP of .350 or higher. Plus covering a lot of ground in the outfield. That the Jacoby Ellsbury that we need in 2011.

Forget all the other drama about his injuries. If Ells is healthy & in the starting lineup, he will produce.

Thanksgiving, 2003

One of the best Thanksgiving's in Red Sox history had to be the 2003 signing of Curt Schilling. Theo & owners went to Schilling's home in Arizona & signed him. Schilling would go onto win 2 World Series during his tenure - including the curse breaker in 2004 with the famous bloody sock.

I wonder if there are anymore fireworks scheduled for this Thanksgiving? I'm not so concerned about adding a Jayson Werth or Carl Crawford to a crowded outfield. I am interested in an Adrian Gonzalez or Adrian Beltre to solidify the infield. I would also trade our best prospects to get Ryan Zimmerman from the Nationals as well.

To me the infield has priority over the outfield. I include Victor Martinez as part of the infield.

Andrew Miller for Dustin Richardson

The Sox & the Marlins made an exchange of left-handed pitchers. Andrew Miller comes to Boston. Dustin Richardson goes to Florida. On paper it's a bit of a wash with neither player having made an impact at the Major League level yet.

Miller was a very high draft pick in 2006. His career has been plagued with wildness & injuries. Maybe a Red Sox scout saw something that makes the team think that Miller would be an asset to the Sox. We do need left-handed pitching to beat the Yankees.

Other than the signing of Ortiz, the Sox still have to address majors needs via the futures of Victor Martinez & Adrian Beltre.

Big Patriots Win in Pittsburgh

The New England Patriots beat their AFC rivals Pittsburgh Steelers in the Steel Town last night. This win comes on the heel of a terrible loss by the Pats the previous week in Cleveland.

Brady & the offense scored enough points to win. Wilfork & the defense disrupted Big Ben throughout the game. It was a great road victory which keeps the Pats tied with the Jets at 7-2.

Every game of their last 7 is a big one now.

Veterans Day & Ted Williams

With the current conflicts in the mid-east this Veterans Day reminded us of the sacrifices made in the past, in the present &, unfortunately, in the future by our men & women in uniform. We owe a lot to those who serve & protect the freedoms we all enjoy in our country.

I thought back to Ted Williams who gave up prime years of his baseball career to become a Marine pilot. He served his country proudly, as did many athletes of his era, & always spoke about his time in the Marines as a highlight of his life.

Finally, I also think about his cruel ending & the family that put his body into cryogenics for the future. It's just not a fitting end to a hero & a Hall of Fame athlete.

Sox Talking to Jayson Werth

According to the Red Sox website, the Sox have contacted Scott Boras about Jayson Werth. Werth has a power bat, hits for average & is a 20/80 HR/RBI kind of player. He can play a corner outfield position & has playoff experience with the Phillies.

Werth & Carl Crawford are the 2 premiere free agent outfielders on the market this year. Last year it was Matt Holliday & Jason Bay. Both Holliday & Bay signed big contracts for big money in the $16 million to $17 million per year range.

Personally, I don't see the Sox shelling out that kind of money. The interest in Werth may just be a show to drive his price up & keep him away from the Yankees.

Iglesius, Lavarnway Look Good in AFL

Jose Iglesius had 2 hits & a sac fly. Ryan Lavarnway had 3 hits including a solo HR. Both players had a nice afternoon for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.

On defense Iglesius is fast, covers a lot of ground & has a quick, accurate release at shortstop. He reminded me of Omar Vizquel. Lavarnway makes for a big target at catcher at 6'5" & he blocked several balls in the dirt.

As an added bonus, 2 pitchers from the Yankees farm system, playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs, gave up a combined 9 runs in the 6th. As I told one fan, we enjoy beating up on the Yankees at any time of year.

Baseball in November is a tease for Spring Training to start. But it's a great way to spend an afternoon.

Atchison Back, Hall & Lopez Out

The Red Sox picked up the option on Scott Atchison to return him to the bullpen with Daniel Bard. Atchison was one of the better, more reliable members of the pen last year which saw Manny Delcarmen & Ramon Ramirez get traded to NL clubs late last year. Bullpen help is a major issue for Theo to address in 2011.

The Sox declined options on Bill Hall & Felipe Lopez. Hall had a great year offensively, but was a liability in the field. Lopez doesn't really fit in the infield with Pedroia coming back & Jed Lowrie playing the utility role.

Slowly, the Sox are putting together their 2011 roster. Free agents Victor Martinez & Adrian Beltre are the next major pieces to the puzzle.

Ortiz Back in 2011

One question answered - David Ortiz is back.

The Red Sox exercised their 1-year option to bring DH David Ortiz back for the 2011 season at an annual salary of $12.5 million. Ortiz could have gotten a multi-year deal somewhere else on the free agent market, but not at his current salary level.

I think this is a good signing for a couple of reasons:

- It's only 1-year which means Big Papi will be out to prove his worth to everyone. He is incentivized to have a big year.

- It keeps him away from the Yankees.

- It gives the Sox more time to plan around him should they decide not to bring Ortiz back in 2012. Conversely, it gives the Sox management more time to discuss a future deal with Ortiz at less money.

Even though Big Papi's salary is above average, I like the fact that it's just 1-year.

Yankees Want Cliff Lee

The big New York pinstripe pocketbook is ready to open wide for Cliff Lee. The Yankees website says management will put a hard charge on for Lee as the latest free agent addition to their up & down pitching staff.

I've said for the last 2 years that if CC Sabathia goes down to injury, the Yankees are just a middle-of-the-pack AL East team. Even with CC as their stopper, the Yankees couldn't get the job done in 2010 & were eliminated from the playoffs.

The Red Sox won't be part of the Cliff Lee bidding war. We spent our dollars on Beckett & Lackey who need to have big comeback years in 2011 to validate their pay. Let's hope they do return to their past winning ways. Beckett was a force in 2007. Lackey had a big year in 2009. They can be dominate.

The Texas Rangers & Nolan Ryan are the only hope of keeping Lee out of New York. They are open about wanting Lee to return to the Rangers ballclub in 2011. If the dollars are close, Lee may feel he is a better fit in Texas versus the big city lights of New York. But money always talks.

We may not have to wait long to get an answer as to which uniform Lee will be wearing next year.

Curt Young New Pitching Coach

John Farrell has gone to Toronto. Curt Young now replaces Farrell as the Sox new pitching coach in 2011.

Young should be a very good fit. He is use to working with a "young" staff in Oakland for the past several years. (No pun intended.) He will bring a different philosophy & different points of emphasis to each pitcher. Young mentioned that he wants to review the work regime of each pitcher in-between starts & after use in the bullpen.

I like the pick of Curt Young.

2010 Season Is Over

Congrats to the San Fran Giants! Anyone who placed a bet in Vegas on you to win the World Series won a lot of money.

Congrats to the Texas Rangers as well. You beat the Tampa Bay Rays & New York Yankees. All of Red Sox Nation was pulling for you.

On Saturday teams can start signing free agents. This should be a very active off-season for several teams, including the Red Sox. Will Cliff Lee be in pinstripes next year? What about Victor, Beltre & Ortiz? Lots of questions that should get answered soon.

Patriots Keep Winning

It's like watching a magic show with smoke & mirrors.

The Patriots beat the Vikings, knock out Brett Favre & end up in first place due to a Jets loss at home to the Packers. Quite a day's work.

The Pats' defense is porous. Their offense is struggling to score points. But they just keep winning.

The next 2 opponents - Pittsburgh & Indianapolis - will be a good test of exactly where the Patriots are as a team. For now we can enjoy being #1.

Where's the Power Hitters?

Here's a follow-up to the last post on Adrian Beltre. If the Sox don't re-sign Beltre, do they have anyone in the farm system, a power hitter, that they can bring up to the big club?

I found only two possibilities. Both players were with the Portland Sea Dogs last year. Nate Spears had 20 homers & 82 RBI in 136 games. Anthony Rizzo had 20 homers & 80 RBI in 107 games. Neither player has been mentioned by the Sox as ready to make the jump to the big club.

Unless the Sox have money left after re-signing Victor Martinez, we may see Youk back at 3B & a Victor / Saltie combo at 1B. Or you could see Jed Lowrie at 3B.

3B is just one of the many interesting positions for the Red Sox this off-season.

Does Adrian Beltre Fit in 2011?

There is no question that Adrian Beltre was "the" guy on offense in 2010. He's the guy you wanted to see up there with 2 outs & runners in scoring position. Beltre had a career year after 4 mediocre, subpar years in Seattle. Maybe playing in Seattle can do that to a player when the Mariners are constantly losing. Or can we expect Adrian to be less productive in the future?

If you're Theo, how do you go about making an offer to Beltre? With Boras as his agent Beltre will be looking for $12 million to $15 million a year for 4 to 5 years. I think it's the number of years that will be the sticking point for Theo. He doesn't want another JD Drew contract.

And what about re-signing Victor Martinez first? How much money will be left in the pot after a new deal for Victor?

And what about Ortiz? Do the Sox renegotiate an extension & at what price?

And how about locking up Buchholz & Bard like they did Lester?

Lots of decisions coming up after the World Series. We start getting answers soon. I would think by Thanksgiving we will know about Beltre.

Sox Players in Arizona Fall League

The Red Sox have some of their best prospects playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League. The Javelinas are made up of players from 6 different MLB teams.

Players include:

Seth Garrison, 25, Pitcher

Casey Kelly, 21, Pitcher

Eammon Portis, 25, Pitcher

Jason Rice, 24, Pitcher

Daniel Turpen, 24, Pitcher

Ryan Lavarnway, 23, Catcher

Jose Iglesius, 20, Shortstop

Juan Carlos Linares, 26, Outfielder

Watch for these names in the coming years. Ryan Kalesh played in the AFL last season as did Steven Strasburg from the Nationals.

John Farrell to Toronto

John Farrell moves from Boston's pitching coach to become the new manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. I don't think that this move is a bad one for Farrell or for the Red Sox.

Farrell inherits a team that played over .500 all year & had one of the most explosive offenses in the AL. The Red Sox get to bring in someone with a new set of eyes & new ideas to work with the pitching staff.

In baseball you see hitting coaches & pitching coaches change teams every 3 to 5 years. You can only tell players the same things so many times before the law of diminishing returns comes into play. It's good to get new ideas from new staff.

Good luck to Farrell. We'll see him 18 times a year.

Patriots Win Ugly

The San Diego Chargers were horrible yesterday as their offense coughed up the ball time & time again. It was only fitting that a final 5-yard penalty contributed to a missed field goal that hit the crossbar & would've tied the game. Pats win 23-20, but more correctly the Chargers lost 23-20.

The Pats have had 2 shaky wins in a row, but as Parcells used to say, your record is your record. Ugly wins are better than pretty losses. 4-1 keeps the Pats tied win the Jets at the top of the division.

Brett Favre & Randy Moss return to Gillette next week. Talk about a media frenzy!

It's Giants Versus Rangers

The mighty have fallen. Both the New York Yankees & the Philadelphia Phillies could not deliver a World Series of favorites to boost ratings for Fox Sports TV.

Congrats to the SF Giants & Texas Rangers for knocking out the favorites. It should be a fun World Series of 2 newcomers to the fall classic.

Having 2 teams from western divisions is the last thing that Fox wanted. Ratings will be down due to limited east coast viewers. Most Red Sox fans still can't get over Fox using Bret Boone as an announcer in 2003 when brother Aaron was playing for the Yankees. Joe Buck won't be able to slight the Red Sox this year. Good luck with those ratings, Joe.

A few more weeks & we will be into the hot stove. Until then, I guess I would root for the Rangers since they have never won a World Series. Plus they beat the Yankees for us. Go Rangers!

Evil Empire Gone

As Yoda said, you do or don't do. There is no try.

The Evil Empire got their butts whipped by a hot Texas Rangers team. Darth Vader resided at 3B in the person of A-Rod who was cold the whole series & seemed not to care about taking strike 3 for the last out in Game 6. I'd say that the previous at-bat by Robinson Cano showed someone not hustling down the line for out #2. The Yankees knew it was over.

There's plenty of blame to go around. Underperforming, high paid athletes that can't get it done in the post-season when it counts. Burnett, Teixeira, & A-Rod lead the list. Girardi made questionable player moves. The Yankees are old & they played like old guys.

Jeter, Rivera, Pettitte & others are up for free agency next year. The Yankees have no choice but to bring them back because they have no one ready to step in.

Cliff Lee is rumored to be heading to New York, but don't think that Nolan Ryan & his ownership group are going to let Lee walk out of Texas without putting up a fight.

If the Yanks don't get Lee, they remain stuck with poorly performing investments - like Wall St.

There's A New Sheriff in the AL

The Texas Rangers came to the east & boy did they clean house. The Rangers defeated the AL East champs Tampa Bay Rays in 7 games & last night they sent the Bronx boys packing in 6. And, almost poetically, the last out was A-Rod looking at a called strike 3.

So, over the 1st 10 years of the 21st century, I believe that the scorecard for World Series wins is:

Boston - 2

New York - 1

Red Sox Nation can rest easy now. The Yankees are eliminated. All is right with the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you Texas Rangers!

Where 2010 Went Wrong

We heard about all the injuries to the starters -- Ellsbury, Cameron, Martinez, Varitek, Pedroia & Youkilis. No doubt that injuries played a big role in the Sox not making the playoffs.

But I look at the San Francisco Giants lineup with a 23-year old kid hitting clean-up & think why are they in the playoffs. The answer is pitching. And while we say injuries kept the Sox out of the playoffs, it was really the poor pitching of John Lackey & Josh Beckett.

Maybe it was the big contract signings that got them off their game. Beckett was out with a mysterious back injury most of the season & ineffective when he was on the mound. Lackey made excuses about cheap hits, but he never mentioned how runners got on base before those cheap hits happened. Too many poor performances & lost leads in late innings, especially in important games.

We can only hope that Beckett & Lackey get it figured out for 2011. The Sox have bet the farm that these two will be better-than-average for the next 4 years. I hope they don't turn into J.D. Drew's -- a/k/a big money for mediocrity.

Going, Going, Almost Gone

The New York Yankees are almost gone from the playoffs. If they get eliminated by the Texas Rangers, it would mark the 9th time in 10 years during the 21st century that the boys in pinstripes fail to win it all with the largest payroll in baseball.

The Yankees are being outpitched & outhit by a younger Rangers club. CC Sabathia, who got rocked in Game 1, goes tonight. Even if the Yankees pull out a victory, they know that Cliff Lee is waiting for them in Texas.

A loss in front of the home crowd tonight would be devastating for Yankees fans to see a 3rd home playoff loss in a row. And after elimination the NY media would be after Burnett & others who are underperforming.

Life is good for Red Sox Nation!

How About Cliff Lee?

Cliff Lee would look very nice in a Red Sox uniform. He beats the Yankees. He wins post-season games. Wouldn't that be worth spendind a few dollars to Theo & Red Sox management? Throw out Dice-K & Wake. Give Lee a spot in the starting rotation.

Yes, unfortunately the above paragraph is nothing more than a dream. The Red Sox had bigger holes to fill at catcher, third base & the bullpen. We spent our pitching pot of gold on Beckett & Lackey. Instead of watching Lee beat the Yankees next year, he will probably be a Yankee beating up on the Red Sox with Sabathia instead.

Too bad. Cliff Lee in a Red Sox uniform is a nice dream.

Patriots Win in OT

OK, I'm going off script again. But if it's a choice of writing about the Patriots or Yankees, I'm taking the Patriots.

Huge win by the Pats in OT yesterday. They keep pace with Miami & the Jets who also won close games.

Welcome back, Deion Branch. Brady to Branch sounds like the good old days. And a tying & winning field goal brings back memories of the Vinaterri days.

Nice win. Everyone goes to work on Monday with a smile on their face.

Now if Texas would just eliminate the Yankees...

Victor Key to Catching Corps

With the aging of Jason Varitek the Red Sox most vulnerable position has been at catcher. (Now we can throw the bullpen in there too.)

The 2011 roster at catcher will be defined by whether or not Victor Martinez stays or goes in his free agency year. If Victor stays, the addition of Jarrod Saltalamacchia as back-up catcher seems to work. Both are switch hitters. Both can play first as a secondary position. Both could DH or pinch hit. Lots of versatility in that duo.

If Victor signs somewhere else, the Sox could add a veteran catcher like John Buck or keep Varitek for another year if Saltie is not the everyday guy. Kevin Cash is a great receiver, but no bat. Dusty Brown was unimpressive. And the younger catchers still need more time in the minors.

I think the Red Sox will use their pot of money to sign Victor first, then see if anything is left in the pot for Beltre & other free agents.

5 Days After the World Series

No free agent signing can happen before the allotted 5 days after the end of the World Series. A few more weeks & we'll be there.

Is Andre Ethier coming to Beantown?

Is Victor Martinez staying?

Does David Ortiz get re-signed?

Is Andrian Beltre gone?

All of these questions & more will get traction in November. The waiting is almost over.

Go Texas Rangers!

It's the Texas Rangers versus the New York Yankees in the ALCS for 2010.

The Texas Rangers have inherited millions of new fans from around New England & the country. No one wants to see the Yankees in the World Series again. All of Red Sox Nation is pulling for you, Texas.

Go Cliff Lee, CJ Wilson, Vladie & Kinsler!

Four Days In October

I hear that the ESPN special called "Four Days in October" is quite a good watch. We get to relive the magic of 2004 once again. My niece taped it & will let me borrow it next week.

We can all use some good cheering up, now that the Yankees are in the ALCS. It seems like all signs point to the Yankees & Phillies in the World Series. Maybe the Rays can pull off a win at home to compete against New York. I think the Rays pitching will match up better than the Rangers. But the Rangers do hit the ball.

It really doesn't matter. Let any team other than the Yankees win. Anyone...

Yankees & 2004

The New York Yankees sweep the Minnesota Twins - again. The Twins just can't beat the Yankees in the playoffs.

With the Yankees waiting for the ALCS to start against Texas or Tampa Bay the boys in pinstripes look like the odds on favorite to repeat in the World Series. I'm sure Fox is glad to have the Yankees continue & keep their TV ratings up.

Wasn't this the same scenario in 2004? Just when you least expected it the Boston Red Sox pulled off the most improbable & biggest comeback in sports history. And the Yankees were crowned with the biggest collapse, a/k/a choke, by any team in sports history. I may watch the Red Sox DVD today where Denis Leary rants on about the Yankees " moumento collapso."

I just had to pull out this memory. Don't count Texas or Tampa Bay out against the Yankees.

Randy Moss and David Ortiz

The New England Patriots parted company with Randy Moss, an aging veteran who is looking for another big dollar contract at the end of the season. Will the Boston Red Sox part company with their aging slugger, David Ortiz?

Probably not is my guess. Ortiz' name means too much to this franchise. Saying that, however, I dont see the Red Sox overpaying to keep him. The Sox can pick-up the option on Big Papi & pay him his $12 million for 1 more year. Or they can re-negotiate a multi-year deal & look to average out $6, $7 or $8 million a year.

Look for Big Papi to be in a Red Sox uniform for 2 or 3 more seasons at lower dollars.

Patriots 41, Miami 14

OK, I'm going off script here. But the New England Patriots absolutely destroyed the Miami Dolphins in Miami with a huge 35 point second half. It was a big win, a statement win as they say, to keep the Pats in contention within their division.

Miami shot themselves in the foot time after time in the 3rd & 4th periods. Special teams gave up a touchdown, a blocked punt & a blocked field goal. It seemed like QB Henne completed more passes to the Pats secondary than to his own receivers. And all this came after a 1st half where you thought Miami could have 21 points on the board if not for 2 pass interceptions.

Nice to see the Patriots get a rare win on the road in a historically tough place to play. Reminded me of the Red Sox playing at the Trop in Tampa Bay.

Great effort & nice win, Pats!

The Case for Jason Varitek

Is Jason Varitek's time in a Red Sox uniform as captain over? Probably. The curtain call for him on Sunday was a nice touch. Varitek is a free agent at the end of this season.

The Captain could be back as a back-up catcher, like this year, in the event that Jarrod Saltalamacchia is not healthy. He could also be back if the Sox do not sign Victor Martinez. Dusty Baker & other catchers in the Sox system just don't seem to be ready yet.

Prior to his injury, Vartikek was catching a game or two a week & hitting the ball pretty well. His throwing arm remains a problem. Josh Beckett still likes having Varitek as his catcher. Jason also speaks a little Japanese which helps with Dice-K.

One comment on the Sox website mentioned Varitek coming back as a catching coach. That could be an interesting option as the Sox could activate him as a player should the injury bug happen again.

Any team with a young pitching staff could benefit from having Varitek as their catcher. The real question is -- does Varitek want to go anywhere else, or should he retire like Mike Lowell?

Jason Varitek is one of many Red Sox stories this off-season. Will the Red Sox offer this aging star - a guy who helped the Sox win 2 World Series & has caught 3 no-hitters - a role with the 2011 version of the club?

My thought, as of today, is no. Time to move on.

We Win!

A Red Sox victory in game #162 on Sunday spells the end of the Yankees run for AL East crown. The Yankees lose 2 out of 3 at Fenway & find themselves the Wild Card team that starts the playoffs on the road in Minnesota. Tampa Bay wins the division & plays Texas at home.

Neither New York nor Tampa Bay has played particularly well down the stretch. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Twins & the Rangers in the ALCS. For me, like you, as long as anyone but the Yankees wins the World Series I'm OK with it.

So 2010 ends on a positive note. Beating the Yankees is fun any time of year. Too bad it didn't mean anything to the Sox, other than being spoilers. We'll take it.

The Red Sox got to showcase much of their young talent, particularly during the last month. Several youngsters could be packaged in deals to bring new players to the Sox 2011 roster. Relief pitching, a corner outfielder, another big bat are just some of the conversations waiting to happen over the next several weeks.

The fun part of the next year starts on Monday.

Mike Lowell Day

Aside from being spoilers, one of the few things left to the 2010 season is Mike Lowell Day.

Lowell is the oldest looking 36 year old you might ever see. His beard is scruffy & gray. He can't run very well anymore. And he is retiring in a Red Sox uniform.

Mike has achieved a lot. 2 World series rings - one with the Florida Marlins in 2003 & one with the Red Sox in 2007. One World Series MVP in 2007. A win over cancer in his personal life. And he leaves with the respect of the Boston fans & his teammates. He is a classy guy who will be missed.

And Lowell becomes the first change to the Sox roster from 2010 to 2011. Many more to come.

Lester Misses # 20

Jon Lester missed his chance to be a 20-game winner. It kind of goes with the year the Red Sox have had - close at times, but no cigar.

Lester & Buchholz have become the #1 & #2 pitchers on this staff. Lackey, Beckett & Dice-K have all dropped back. I hope Eck is right when he said that he expects Lackey & Beckett to bounce back next year.

Let's be spoilers this weekend for the Yankees run at another AL East flag. 2010 is almost over.

AL East Up For Grabs

It will be a fun weekend to watch. The Yankees & Rays are within 1/2 game of each other. The Sox can play spoilers & keep NY from winning the AL East title. After finishing up in Chicago today the Sox return to Fenway to play their last home series of the year.

Speaking of Chicago, Manny hasn't created the buzz or hype for the White Sox that he hoped for. No playoffs in sight for Chicago. Was it enough to get another contract next year? Who knows? Boston - LA - Chicago. The Manny train is running out of places to stop. I assume that he'll play somewhere next year, but it won't be for $20 million.

Bye to Manny after today's game. Hello Yankees for the weekend.

2010 Officially Over

Red Sox lose. Yankees & Rays win. Playoffs are not for the Boston 9 this year.

What's left in the last 5 games of the year?

- Jon Lester gets a chance to become a 20-game winner.

- Victor Martinez & Bill Hall can join Big Papi, Adrian Beltre & J.D. Drew in the 20+ home run club.

- We can beat the Yankees 3 more times & keep them from winning the AL East.

- Mike Lowell gets his retirement day in front of the Fenway crowd.

There are a few more things to look forward to before what should be a wild, wild off-season.

Buchholz, Beltre Lead 6-1 Win

Clay Buchholz won his 17th game.

Adrian Beltre added 4 more hits & 2 RBI to his great offensive year.

And the Boston Red Sox are not yet eliminated with 6 games left in the season.

And the New York Yankees & Tampa Bay Rays have not yet clinched a playoff spot.

You just can't kill this Red Sox team. "A+" for effort.

Bad Pap

A chance to sweep the Yankees faded away in the 9th & 10th innings last night. Sox lose 4-3 as Hideki Okajima walks in the winning run in the 10th. (Where was Bard?)

In the 9th the Sox score 2 big runs off Mariano Rivera to take a lead 3-2. But, in the bottom of the 9th, Pap gives us 3 hits & a walk to tie the game 3-3. Another blown save opportunity.

Dice-K pitched his best game of the year over the first 8 innings. A-Rod's bloop HR to right field, a Yankee Stadium special, was the only damage the Yankees could muster off the Dice-man.

This weekend is like the story of 2010. Close, but no cigar.

Red Sox Beat Yankees Again

Ha-ha-ha! We beat the Yankees again, this time 7-3 thanks to some great pitching by Jon Lester & HR's by Drew & Victor. A win by Tampa Bay gives the Rays a 1 1/2 game lead over NY with 7 to go.

Jon Lester wins his 19th game of the season. He gets a chance for 20 in his last start against the White Sox next Wednesday.

It was nice to see Joba get roughed up in the 8th with back-to-back doubles by Lowrie & Kalish. Joba then squibbed the ball to first, trying to pickoff a runner (Kalish) who was already at second. Way to stay alert, Joba!

It's always a great day when the Red Sox beat the Yankees.

Lowrie Or Scutaro in 2011?

Red Sox beat the Yankees 10-8. It always fun to beat the Yankees. It doesn't matter that we are out of it.

Jed Lowrie went 4-4 with a home run & 3 RBI. Thinking towards 2011 - is Jed Lowrie the starting shortstop or is it Marco Scutaro? Lowrie is a switch-hitter & adds more offense with steady defense. Scutaro plays hard everyday & has been a serviceable leadoff man for the Sox in the absence of Ellsbury.

How about we keep them both at short? Lowrie has a history of injuries, but he helps win games when he is in the lineup. Scutaro has shoulder & neck injuries, but keeps giving his best every night. Between both we should be all set at short without spending an arm & leg for someone else. Both can also fill-in at other infield spots to give Youk, Pedroia & whoever is at third a break.

It's interesting to talk about 2011 already & all the moves that need to be made.

Ortiz Hits #31

A 6-1 win against the new Orioles last night avoids a sweep at home. David Ortiz contributes a 3-run line-drive homer & 4 RBI to close in on another 100+ RBI season.

It's a strange case with David Ortiz when you look at his horrible start in April - for the 2nd year in a row. But he's not alone. Look how slow other guys like Lester, Beckett & Victor all started. April is the "what if" month of the 2010 season. What if the Sox started hot - like they usually do - in April? What if Beltre doesn't collide with Jacoby? Lots of what if's.

But here we are in late September with 10 games left & no playoffs in the picture. This season shows me how the sun, moon & stars have to align to win a World Series. 2004 & 2007 remain very special years.

Bring On New York

The Sox have run out of gas. The offense has scored only 3 runs in the last 2 nights in 2 losses at home against the Orioles.

11 games left. 9 games out. Doesn't look like the math will work out this year. As one commentor said, maybe the Sox started playing their prospects too soon & gave up on the season after Youk when down. Personally, I still think the season turned on Lackey & Beckett being ineffective, not position players. But 2010 will be over soon.

We have some fun left as the Sox can play spoilers to the Yankees hopes for another AL East crown. This weekend & next feature 6 games with the pinstripes. Anything we can do to knock the Yankees out of first is a plus in my mind.

Lester Wins #18

We'll take a bright spot where we can.

Jon Lester shutout the potent Jays offense for 7 innings yesterday to lead the Sox to a 6-0 win. The win was the 18th for Lester who has an outside chance for 20.

Victor Martinez kept his home run swing going, adding his 15th of the season yesterday. Either Victor is now healthy or he is playing for a big contract offer in 2011. His offensive display the last 6 to 7 weeks put him at a 30+ HR, 100+ RBI clip for the season. Too bad we didn't see that kind of offense from Victor all year.

The Yankees & Rays open a big series in New York this week. Unless one team loses all 4 games, preferrably the Yankees, the Red Sox role over the final 2 weeks is that of spoiler with their 6-games remaining against the Yankees.

14 Left, 8 Behind

The math is catching up. Another loss to the Jays brings the Sox closer to being mathematically eliminated in 2010. In reality, they are eliminated.

I hate to throw-in the towel, but I think Steve Buckley is right when he says the Red Sox problem is a shortage of manpower. The subs & fill-ins have just run out of gas.

Does that mean it hasn't been a successful season? Depends on your measuring stick. If the standard is making the playoffs, then yes it has not been a successful season. If the standard is achieving 90 wins with 4 1/2 months of fill-in players, then it has been a successful season.

As the Sox look forward to 2011, they have showcased many, many players to other teams that will help them put together - via trades - a competitive team for 2011. The baseball show yesterday talked about getting Andre Ethier from the Dodgers for Dice-K & Ryan Kalish. This is just one of many scenarios that will be talked about during the hot stove.

Management, players & fans don't like losing in Boston. You can expect the Red Sox to be very active this off-season.

Another Poor Start for Lackey

Usually a big time pitcher steps up & delivers in a pressure situation. We have not seen that from John Lackey this entire year. 7 runs in 4+ innings last night lead to a home loss 11-9 against the Jays.

What miniscule hopes of making the playoffs the Red Sox have (had) are even smaller today. Lackey killed a 4-game win streak that had fans, like me, still thinking the impossible was possible.

Lackey is turning into J.D. Drew - lots of money for an average player.

Mike Lowell to Retire

What comes to mind when you hear the name Mike Lowell? I think of class & professionalism.

Instead of hanging around the big leagues as a DH for second tier team for a few more years, Mike Lowell is retiring as a Red Sox at the end of the 2010 season. As he said, his baseball career is more smiles than any downside to retiring now.

Lowell has 2 World Series rings - one with the Marlins in 2003 & one with the Sox in 2007. He was also the MVP of the 2007 World Series. Many players never reach those heights. Lowell also overcame a bout with cancer early in his career.

Lowell's retirement reminds me of Curt Warner, quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, walking away from his last year & $11 million because he would be unable to perform at a high level.

Some athletes know when to retire. Lowell made the right decision. But I wouldn't expect anything less from him.

Sox Sweep Seattle

Another Red Sox win, this time 5-1 behind Clay Buchholz, to sweep the series. And 2 Yankees losses to Tampa Bay puts the Sox 6 behind the Bronx Bombers. Are the Sox still alive in the Wild Card? Barely, but the answer is yes mathematically. As Jerry Remy said, they live for another week.

The Sox do have 6 games remaining against the Yankees. And the Yankees still have 4 more with the Rays. Who knows? Baseball is a funny game. The Yankees are a lowly 2-8 in their last 10.

The Sox have a day off today, then host Toronto & Baltimore for 6 at the Fens. Both AL East foes have played well of late.

Let's see what this week brings.

Big Papi Hits #30 in Win

David Ortiz had a big 3-run homer to help the Sox to a 9-5 win at Safeco Field. It marks the 6th season that Ortiz had reached the 30 homer mark.

Not a bad fete for a guy who started off so poorly. You have to wonder what the future holds for Big Papi. It's hard for any team to deal with an aging veteran, let alone someone like Ortiz who is such a big part of Red Sox history in 2004 & 2007.

Should be a very interesting off season.

Red Sox Win, Yankees Lose

Jon Lester picked up his 17th win last night. Ryan Kalish added a big 2-run homer as the Sox beat Seattle 5-1.

In the meantime, Tampa Bay beat the Yankees 1-0 in extras & the Yanks lose for the 4th consecutive time. Tampa Bay is now in first.

The Yankees have several games left with Tampa Bay & Boston. Wouldn't it be sweet if New York lost the division to the Rays & then got bumped out of the Wild Card by Boston or Chicago?

It could happen, but I believe in a lot of strange things.

Sox Avoid Sweep in Oakland

Josh Beckett got a win. Think of how few times we have said that this year. After issuing 4 walks in a row, Beckett settled down to win his 5th game of the season. A big pinch hit single by Ryan Kalish that scored 2 gave the Sox the lead in the 6th for good in a 5-3 victory.

The best part remaining to the 2010 season are the 6 games against the Yankees on the last 2 weekends in September. The Sox can help Tampa Bay take the division & have the Yankees start the playoffs on the road.

For now the Sox move up the coast to Seattle for 3. The Mariners started out the season as favorites in the AL West & that quickly fizzled. Most fans will catch a few innings of this meaningless series before bed every night. I know I will.

Sox Lose 2 On Left Coast

Clay Buchholz had a very short outing in game 1's 5-0 loss on Friday.

John Lackey had his usual late-inning meltdown in game 2's 4-3 loss on Saturday.

The Oakland A's have taken any remaining life out of the Red Sox this weekend. The remaining 4 games with the A's & Seattle are meaningless, as are the remaining 20 games of the 2010 season.

Most sports fans in New England will be turning on the Patriots today.

Our next hope for Red Sox excitement will be the off-season to see who stays & who goes. We've gotten spoiled with the Sox going to the playoffs every year, not to mention 2 World Series wins. Not this year...

Sox Offer Victor Contract

Theo & Co. are turning the wheels of progress towards the 2011 team. A 2-year contract extension was offered to Victor Martinez this week. It was turned down by Martinez & his agent, but looked at as a positive sign that the Sox want Victor back. At 31 Victor is looking for more years, probably a minimum of 4.

My question: where does Victor fit on this team? Catcher? 1B? DH? Maybe all the above. His bat has come alive over the last 6 weeks with many key hits & long balls. Too bad we disdn't see that kind of offense all year. Was he hurt? We know about his finger & toe problems. Don't you expect a catcher to be dinged up all the time?

Victor is but one interesting piece to the many pieces that Theo has to deal with this off-season. Beltre & Ortiz are 2 more major contracts to deal with. Dice-K & Drew have 1-year deals left & could be moved. Lowell is definitely gone.

I hope they re-sign Victor. He is a middle-of-the-order switch hitter &, to me, that is his real value. He is also a tough guy that plays hurt. And he is versatile. Catching may not be his primary position going forward & that may be the sticking point, along with length of contract & money. At least there was an offer to start discussions going.

"A+" For Effort

Give the Sox players credit. They get an "A+" for effort in this series where they take 2 out of 3 from Tampa Bay. Had it not been for a stinko performance by Dice-K in the middle game, maybe they take all 3.

5 homers from the Sox offense paced the 11-5 win. Scutaro (2), Beltre, Ortiz & Martinez all hit bombs & chased Red Sox killer Matt Garza early. It's always fun to get back at a pitcher who usually has your number.

Tim Wakefield, in a spot start, gets a win & becomes the oldest Red Sox pitcher in history to win a game. I think he needs to lose the beard, though. At 44 it's not a good look as it makes him look as old as Abe Lincoln.

Youngsters Reddick, Kalish & Anderson all contributed in the field & at the plate. As Tito mentioned after the game, they do bring an enthusiasm & freshness to the lineup. Nice to see.

It's off to the west coast for 6 with Oakland & Seattle. Get a nap in, fans, to stay up for these games.

Rays Beat Up On Dice-K

8 runs, 8 hits, 4 walks in 4+ innings. That was the pitching line for Dice-K last night. The loss brings Red Sox Nation closer to the reality of no playoff berth in 2010.

A win in game 2 of this series would have left a faint glimmer of hope that a sweep of the Rays keeps the Sox playoffs chances alive. But a 14-5 pounding leaves no doubt that it's time to start thinking about 2011.

Next year is now.

Kids Win 12-5

Only 4 starters were on the field - Victor, Lester, Beltre & Drew. The rest were kids. Homers by Big Papi & Beltre gave the Sox a lead they would never lose. And Kalish added his 2nd grand slam to put the game out of reach.

It was nice to beat the Tampa Bay Rays badly in the opener of a 3-game series. Maybe a little payback by the Sox for the last series in Tampa. Price & Garza go in games 2 & 3, so we'll see how the rest of the series goes. The effort is still there, even if the firepower is lacking at times.

Last night Lars Anderson made his Major League debut. It seems like we have been talking about him for years, but Anderson is only turning 23. Just another young face in a long line of 20-somethings that have made their way to the big club in 2010 because of injuries.

It would be great to see the Sox out-hustle the Rays & take this series.

Over & Out

Losing 3 to the Chicago White Sox at home was the knockout punch.

I feel like an emergency room doctor who comes out & says despite our best efforts, we were unable to save the team known as the 2010 Red Sox. The team was too far gone with fatal baseball injuries to Ellsbury, Cameron, Pedroia & Youkilis.

With 3 games tonight against the Rays & 6 more against the Yankees the Sox get to play a spoiler's role for 9 of their last 25. This team has just run out of gas, going 3-7 in their last 10 games. You can't make up ground that way.

I have a couple of suggestions for Tito with regards to Spring Training next year. One - give Beckett & Lester more innings so they are ready to pitch in April, not 6 weeks later. Two - work on pitchers fielding their positions more. How many balls have been thrown away by pitchers on pickoffs or throws to first base this year?

It's hard to rag on a team that fields a lineup of 5 out of 9 starters everyday & does their best to compete. Let's just enjoy the last 25 with no pressure & get ready for the fireworks to start in the off-season.

6 1/2 Behind Tampa Bay

We'll take a little positive news, even if it's a baby step.

The Sox win 6-4 in Baltimore, thanks to a good bullpen last night, & gain 1/2 game on idle Tampa Bay. The Yankees won to stay 8 games up on the Sox.

Yes, we do need a meltdown by one of leaders. But, as an example, I heard that the NL West leaders, the San Diego Padres, just lost 7 in a row. It can happen.

How about the year that Adrian Beltre is having? 25 HR's & 90+ RBI so far. Maybe all the owners should get together & offer only 1-year contracts so every year is a contract year. He has taken over for Youk, who we hardly mention anymore, as the most consistent offensive player on the team.

Dustin Pedroia may have season ending surgery today to repair his broken foot. It may be the best option to be sure he is ready for Spring Training next year. Still, it's bummer for all of Red Sox Nation.

The Manny show comes to town for the weekend. If the Sox can win the weekend series, it will make the 3-game set against Tampa next week a little more exciting. We can still make things interesting in the pennant race - at least for another week.

Hope everyone has a good holiday weekend.

Sox Win 9-6, But Gain No Ground

It's time to scoreboard watch. Every time the Sox win in September we have to see what the Yankees & Rays have done. All 3 won last night, so the Sox gain no ground & another game is crossed off the season.

With only 29 games left it will take a bad week by one of the front-runners & a good week by the Sox to get back in the race. There are 3 games at home versus Tampa coming up next week. To say each game, including the finale in Baltimore tonight, is a "must" win is an understatement. By any measurement the Sox need about 22 wins out of these last 29 games to have any chance at a playoff birth.

Last night's comeback win was very entertaining. Jon Lester got roughed up early, then settled down to get the win. Marco Scutaro & Adrian Beltre had big home runs in the 6th. And even J.D. Drew hustled from first to home in the heat to give the Sox a lead. It's nice to see that the players still have enough pride to be giving a full effort. Well done!

Now let's get that effort & result about 22 more times in September...

Manny Delcarmen Traded to Colorado

It was time for the Red Sox to cut bait with Manny Delcarmen. His 6 years of up & down performances finally ended yesterday as the Sox dealt Delcarmen to the Colorado Rockies for a minor league pitcher & cash.

A Boston native, Delcarmen was a 50/50 proposition any time he entered a game. He was good with electric stuff one day & walking batters around the park & giving up HR's the next. One never knew which Delcarmen would show up. Too many times it was Manny "Del-meatball" this year.

A change of scenery may do him well.

Sox Lose Again, 5-2

The Red Sox have lost 3 in a row. Last night it was the Baltimore Orioles doing the honors 5-2, even though Josh Beckett pitched well enough to win. A big 2-run error by Marco Scutaro did in the Sox who could only muster a 2-run homer by Jed Lowrie.

As Mike Lowell said after the game, it's frustrating to lose on a night where one of the teams you are chasing - Tampa - also loses. Barring a turnaround that would border on the miraculous, September will see the Sox run out of time to qualify for a playoff spot.

Umpire Ed Rapuano had a big strike zone all night & made an especially generous called strike three on pinch-hitter Daniel Nava with 2 runners on base. But players need to adjust to an umpire's strike zone during the game. No excuses.

It's hard to rag on a team that has 4 starters out of the lineup on a regular basis. It does appear, though, that time is just going to run out on this team in September.

Manny & Roger In The News

Manny Ramirez leaves LA like he did Boston - classless. Manny's last act as a Dodger is getting ejected. This after a year of injury & a 2009 suspension of 50 games for taking a female hormone. The White Sox are the latest team to be next guinea pig for Manny. Let's see how Ozzie puts up with the Manny act. Could be a case of reality being stranger than fiction.

And yesterday the Rocket man started his federal court case with a 'not guilty" plea. Clemens trial starts in April which will coincide with the start of the 2011 baseball season. Barry Bonds will be going to court as well next year. Just two more highly talented players who will bring back to the forefront the steroid era in baseball. I bet Bud Selig will be happy about that.

Who's the bigger head case -- Manny or Clemens? That could be a great poll question.

What a Weekend for Victor

Maybe his thumb is finally feeling better. Maybe he likes playing at the Trop. Victor Martinez almost single-handedly willed the Red Sox to 3 wins this weekend.

Victor had 2 home runs in a game 1 3-1 win. He put the Red Sox ahead in game 2 with an 8th inning shot. He had 2 putouts at the plate. He threw out a few base-stealers. He hit over .500 for the series. Not a bad weekend.

Where has this performance been all year? From Victor's side of things, a good finish to the season can only make a decision on his free agency contract for 2011 more complicated for the Red Sox brass. Should he stay or should he go? Should he catch or should he be a 1B/DH?

Victor will be one of several interesting player decisions facing Theo & Co. after the season is over. There will be no shortage of hot stove stories this winter.

Rays Win Again 5-3

It started off as a promising weekend with a 3-1 win behind Jon Lester. It went downhill on Saturday with an extra-innings 3-2 loss. And it turned ugly when the Sox pitching couldn't hold a 3-1 lead last night & end up losing 5-3. The Sox had leads on both Saturday & Sunday, but Buchholz & Lackey gave up HR's late in each game & the pen couldn't hold the Rays in check.

At 6 1/2 games out with 31 left it will take an incredible September of 22 to 23 wins in order for the Sox to dethrone either the Rays or Yankees from the playoffs. Possible? Yes, anything is possible. Probable? No, since this team has put together only 1 win streak of 6 games in a row all year.

Let's let the math play out. Either the Yankees or Rays, both tops in the majors with 80 wins, need to have a bad week for the Sox to get back into it. We need some help now.

A Very Big Loss 3-2

Victor Martinez should have been the offensive hero again last night with an 8th inning home run to give the Sox a 2-1 lead. If he could have a "do over" moment, Terry Francona would have used Daniel Bard at the start of the 8th inning. Instead, Clay Buchholz returned to the mound & gave up the tying homer to B.J. Upton. The Rays end up winning 3-2 in 10 innings on a walk-off homer by Dan Johnson off Scott Atchison.

The split of the first 2 games leaves the Sox with no gain in the standings. They will leave Tampa 4 1/2 back or 6 1/2 back. The Yankees also won last night to keep even with the Rays for first place. John Lackey goes against James Shields tonight on ESPN.

It was a pretty odd set of events for the Rays to score their first run last night. An errant pick-off throw by Buchholz moved Carlos Pena from first to third. Then J.D. Drew made a nice catch on a foul ball that ended up scoring Pena. Should Drew have let the ball drop knowing the run would score? That's a tough one. I think he did the right thing by taking a sure out.

A win today will make the 4th series in a row that the Sox win 2 out of 3. The problem is 2 out of 3 doesn't let you gain ground fast enough on the Yankees or Rays.

Pedroia May Need Surgery

Who's the medical team reviewing Ellsbury & Pedroia? Must be Johnny Carson's old doctor - Dr. Vinnie Boom-ba. In a year with all these injuries it is amazing how key players can be cleared to play & reinjure themselves.

Dustin Pedroia was not healed enough when he returned to play & may now need a screw to fix a broken bone in his ankle. He re-injured it when he played 2 games before going back on the DL. Some medical person obviously missed something. And that something may cause an operation & end of season for Pedroia.

If I was a Red Sox player, I'd get a 2nd opinion on my injury. Makes you wonder if Ellsbury was right & misdiagnosed all along.

HUGE WIN!

Jon Lester stood & delivered to outpitch David Price over the first 7 innings.

Victor Martinez stood & deliver 2 home runs to pace the offense.

And Jed Lowrie had a huge 0-2 single to plate the 2nd Red Sox run.

We win 3-1.

Say what you want about the slim chances of Boston making the playoffs, but tonight this team of half replacement players got the job done.

The Rays & Yankees are looking a little closer over their shoulder now.

What a start to the weekend! Let me say it again - WE WIN!

Here We Go!

OK, Red Sox fans. We are entering the last chapter of a mystery novel. The last 34-game push of the 2010 season starts tonight in Tampa Bay as the Sox visit the Rays for 3 important, change that to hugely important, games at the Trop.

Good pitching matchups are featured all weekend long. Our best 3 starters versus their best 3. It should be very entertaining baseball.

The Sox will need offensive production from anywhere they can get it -- from veterans like Ortiz, Drew, Beltre, Martinez, Lowell or from new guys like Hall, McDonald, Nava or Kalish. One or two in the lineup will need to get hot & come through with timely hits, like Scutaro did earlier this week. You wouldn't expect many scoring opportunities from these 6 pitchers.

At the same time that the Red Sox & Rays are waging war, the Yankees visit the White Sox for a tough weekend series of their own. A bad weekend by New York & Tampa can put the Sox right back in the middle of the race. It can happen.

For once I think the sports reporters got it right. It's all about who turns in the best starts from their pitchers. A game 1 win tonight will set a great tone for the series. Jon Lester is the best guy for the Sox to start it off.

Enjoy!

Another 2 Out of 3

The Red Sox took 2 out of 3 in each home series, going 6-3 to pick up a half-game on both the Rays & Yankees who lost yesterday. The Boston nine now sit 5 1/2 games back of the co-leaders in the East.

During the split with Seattle yesterday I had these thoughts:

- Bard & Pap are pretty tough lately. If the Sox pitchers can make it through the first 7 with a lead, we have a better-than-average chance to win.

- Why is Josh Beckett slamming stuff on the way out of the dugout? You won, dude. Yes, you gave up a couple of homers in the 7th after a long wait. So what? Bard saved your butt & you helped the team get a win. Chill out. It's all about winning now. And you haven't had a win for awhile.

- Many season ticketholders gave up their seats to veterans yesterday. Too bad it was such a crappy day to see a game. At least these service men & women got to see an afternoon win.

- Felix Hernandez is too cocky on the mound for me. His body language is way over the top. I'm glad J.D. Drew took him deep. We were one hit away from giving him a no-decision. Grow up, King Felix.

- I blame Dice-K for the loss last night. Tim Wakefield did a commendable job as a replacement starter. Dice-K just can't stay healthy & on the field this year, even when he's pitching well. Unreliable.

To say the series in Tampa starting tomorrow is a big one is a gross understatement. By Sunday night the Sox could be 2 1/2 back, 8 1/2 back or somewhere in-between. Let's hope it's the former & not the latter. Strap in, fans, for a huge 3-game set.



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No Johnny Damon in Boston

There's just too much water under the bridge. Johnny Damon decides to stay in Detroit with a team that put him on waivers. That's how much Damon dislikes the way his career ended in Boston.

I guess the knife cuts both ways. After 4 excellent seasons with the Red Sox the undisputed leader of the idiots in 2004 still can't get over the 4-years, $40 million offer by the Red Sox to stay. He went to New York for much more money &, in the process, missed out on another World Series win in 2007.

Claiming Damon off waivers was an interesting move by the Sox. It shows that Theo & Co. are still looking for help down the stretch. And it shows that they haven't thrown the towel in just yet.

Who's next? Manny?

Johnny Damon Back?

What an intriguing thought? Johnny Damon in a Red Sox uniform one more time.

I'm for it. Instead of a rookie in left field, you have a veteran of many playoffs at the twilight of his career. One more chance for a run to the World series has to be enticing since the Tigers are going nowhere.

There is the whole booing & cat calls by Red Sox fans from his 4-year stint in New York to contend with. One reporter mentioned a sign from the past that said "looks like Jesus, betrayed us like Judas & throws like Mary." OK, so fans let Johnny know how they really felt about him being a Yankee.

Regardless, Damon is a tough guy who played through a lot of injuries with the Sox. He is a good presence in the clubhouse & a good teammate. Fans will forget the past if he comes to Boston & helps the Sox reach the playoffs.

Scutaro, Lackey Deliver 6-3 Win

Marco Scutaro drove in 4 clutch RBI with 2 singles last night. And John Lackey pitched 8 strong innings, giving up just 2 earned runs, as the Boston Red Sox win 6-3 & stay alive for another day.

If you think about an iron man this year, Scutaro has been an anchor on the left side of the infield. He is playing through shoulder problems & gives the Sox a serviceable bat at leadoff.

Yes, it was the lowly Seattle Mariners, but John Lackey showed excellent control last night in the lower part of the strike zone as evidence by his 10 K's. We'll take it. His next start in Tampa Bay will tell us if he has turned the corner.

Let's see if Josh Beckett is also ready to turn a corner tonight.

Sox Pitchers Shutout Jays 5-0

After a 16-2 opening game loss Buchholz, Bard & Dubront shut the door on the Blue Jays offense today. Sox win 5-0 & take 2 out of 3.

It looked like rain would be the winner today with almost 3 hours of delays -- about 2 hours in a delayed start & another hour during the game. There were many hearty Red Sox fans that braved a 1:35 original start time & endured until the last out at 7:00 PM. Way to go fans!

Even with the in-game rain delay, Clay Buchholz was able to return to the mound & pitch 6 solid innings. Bill Hall added his 17th homer of the year & Big Papi chugged the bases for his first triple of the year. The Sox offense added 2 big runs in the bottom of the 8th to ice the game & save Pap from making an appearance in the 9th.

A 4-2 homestand thus far is helping the Sox keep pace with the Rays. With Seattle coming to town for 3 games I expect Lackey & Beckett to step it up. The Mariners are the team we need to sweep.

Big Walk-Off HR by Lowrie

Jed Lowrie has been injured for the better part of his career with the Red Sox. Just when you think he gets into a groove, an injury or illness pops up. This year it was mono. More recently, it was dehydration in the Texas heat.

Lowrie was inserted at 1B for Mike Lowell last night, playing only his 3rd game at that position. With 2 down in the 11th he dropped an easy pop foul ball for the 3rd out. Pap went onto get the 3rd out.

Jed made up for his error in the bottom of the 11th with a solo shot into the Sox bullpen in right-center. Game over. Sox win 5-4 & gain a full game on Tampa who lost out west to the A's by the same score.

The Sox have 4 games left on this homestand, an off-day on Thursday & then a huge 3-game series in Tampa next weekend. These next 7 games will tell a lot about the outcome of the pennant race going into September.

Toronto Bats the Sox 16-2

Not what anyone was expecting when Jon Lester takes the hill. The Red Sox got the crap beat out of them 16-2 in the opener of a 3-game home series with the Jays.

And Dustin Pedroia returned to the DL. He has too much soreness in his foot to play. Like Ellsbury, he may be done for the season.

Just a bad night overall.

Roger Clemens Indicted

I just want to make a quick comment on the Roger Clemens conviction by a grand jury for lying under oath to Congress.

Lou Merloni was asked for his comments last night about the Clemens conviction. I thought he was brief & to the point. Lou said:

1) What took Congress so long?

2) Clemens is so dilusional that he probably believes his own story that he never took PED's.

Forget that Brian MacNamee, his trainer, testified that he injected Clemens on 16 different occasions. Forget that teammate Andy Pettitte must have "misremembered" seeing him get a shot in the butt. Roger is living in Rogerland. (Sounds familiar like Mannyland.)

Even now, his attorney maintains his innocence. Unless Roger can pull an Ollie North, there is a good chance he will do time behind bars. That might bring him back to reality.

Sox Can't Sweep

In any other circumstance a team that wins 2 out 3 in a series feels good about themselves. However, during a pennant race in the AL East, 2 out of 3 is just not good enough. Red Sox take the season series with the Angels 9-1, but that 1 loss last night comes at the wrong time of year.

Josh Beckett did pitch well. Murphy's law applies as he makes 1 bad pitch on the night & it gets hit for a 3-run homer by Matsui.

Manny Delcarmen continues down the path of Okajima will no control. He put the game out of reach by giving up 3 runs in the 7th via walks & hits. Can't we find another mysterious illness to put him back on the DL?

And then, adding insult to injury, here comes Fernando Rodney with his crooked cap to finish the game. This is not an episode of gangland & boys in the hood. How about respecting the game that pays your salary & wear your uniform, including hat, correctly. I can't stand that junk. It's an "all about me" world & I blame management for letting him do it.

Given the sub-par performances of Lackey & Beckett all year to date, I guess winning 2 out of 3 in a series where they both pitch is about all we can expect. Lester, Dice-K & Buchholz give us a better chance to sweep Toronto this weekend.

Angels Pitching Terrible in 7-5 Loss

It looked like a night when John Lackey would give up his usual 5 runs & the Red Sox would lose. Not so fast! Angels' pitchers to the rescue. A wild pitch ties the game & a hit batter put the Sox ahead to stay.

Jon Papelbon closes the game for his 30th save, his 5th straight year with 30 or more saves. For all the hype about blown saves Pap continues to be one of the more consistent & more durable closers in the game. As Jerry Remy said, Pap used all 3 pitches & was as sharp as he has been all season.

Ortiz & Beltre continue to hit the ball all over the park. Whatever they are drinking, just keep it up boys. We need you to carry the offense.

Daniel Nava, recalled from Pawtucket to take Ellsbury's spot on the roster, contributed with a huge diving catch in left with 2 runners on in the 8th. He was also the hit batter with the bases loaded to give the Sox the lead in the 7th.

Dustin Pedroia had a hit, but his biggest offensive help came with a sacrifice bunt in the 8th to move Scutaro to 3rd with 1 out. Victor then hit a hard ground ball past Napoli at 1B to score a big insurance run.

Let's see if Beckett can fare better tonight than Lackey did yesterday. We need the sweep. 2 out of 3 isn't good enough anymore.

Buchholz, McDonald, Kalish Shine in 6-0 Win

Clay Buchholz pitched 7 scoreless innings, including an escape from a bases-loaded situation in the 6th, to earn his 14th victory.

Darnell McDonald, hitting out of the #9 spot, shocked Jered Weaver who had set down the first 8 by hitting a Monster shot over everything that broke a back window in a parked vehicle.

Ryan Kalish delivered a knock out blow by hitting a Weaver change-up into the Sox bullpen for his 1st grand slam. It was quite a picture to see Kalish & Daniel Nava sitting on the bench together - 2 rookies with grand slams to their resumes this season.

And Dustin Pedroia returned to action. No signs of any lingering effects from his broken foot. At least nothing serious enough to keep him out of the lineup. Pedroia is happy to be playing, even if it is at less than 100%.

The Sox win is the 8th in a row against the Angels who look nothing like their teams of the past. Last night's win keeps pace with the Yankees & Rays who also won.

Let's see if Lackey can keep the streak alive against his former teammates tonight.

Buchholz Goes for Win # 14

Coming out of Spring Training Clay Buchholz was fighting for the #5 starting job in the rotation with Tim Wakefield. Fast forward 5 months & Buchholz goes for a team high 14th victory tonight.

Right now you would be correct in saying that Buchholz & Lester are the 1st 2 starters in any playoff scenario should the Sox be able to unseat either the Rays or Yankees. Beckett & Lackey have unperformed. Dice-K is getting more consistent. But you can point to Buchholz as a steady performer every time he takes the hill.

As the Sox start their 9-game homestand against the Angels, Buchholz will be opposed by Jered Weaver. The Angels appear out of the running in the West, but can be a spoiler with their games remaining against the AL East.

I'm betting on Buchholz & Petey's return to get us a win tonight.

Off Day Thoughts

As we sit here on the August 16th off day, the BoSox find themselves 5 games behind the Rays & 6 behind the Yankees with 43 games remaining. If you do the math, the Sox need to gain about a game per week to catch either one for a playoff spot.

This week features the start of a 9-game homestand & the return of Dustin Pedroia. The Sox always play better ball at home & Petey's return should give the team a much-needed lift. Mike Cameron should begin a rehab stint later in the week in Pawtucket & his return before the end of the homestand can only help the depleted outfield.

That leaves Varitek, Ellsbury, Cash, Okajima & Youk on the DL. Varitek is still a couple of weeks away from returning. Ellsbury will get his injury fully evaluated in LA this week. Cash & Okajima will return from the DL as the need arises. Youk is out for the year which is too bad as we could really use him down the stretch.

The only way I see the Sox making a move is to have every starting pitcher get hot for 2 turns in a row, about 10 games, & have the team go on an 8-2 or 9-1 run. Pedroia will strech out the batting order which will help produce more consistent offense. It can be done, but the time to do so is now, starting with the LA series tomorrow night.

Faith is needed...

Sox Fall 7-3, Road Trip Ends 5-5

Could've. Would've. Should've. I think that sums up the 10 game road trip which saw the Sox go 2-2 in New York, 2-1 in Toronto & 1-2 in Texas. If they had not blown back-to-back leads on Thursday & Friday, we would be 3 games out in the Wild Card instead of 5. Delcarmen gets the choke today by giving up a 1st pitch 3-run homer in the 8th. Game over.

Tick. Tick. Tick. The clock is now ticking with 45 or less games left to the season. The Sox now need to make-up a game per week on the Rays as time is starting to become a factor.

Good news. Dustin Pedroia may provide the spark they need offensively & defensively to make a run. With LA, Toronto & Seattle coming to town for a 9-game homestand they need to win every series & go 6-3, if not better. The Sox can no longer tread water. They need to gain ground.

It's getting to crunch time now.

Ellsbury Out, Petey Ready to Return

It's another week of more comings & goings for the Red Sox roster.

Jacoby Ellsbury re-injured his ribs on Saturday night & is placed on the DL for the 3rd time this year. It would be a long shot to think he will play again this year, but his physician in LA will see him on Monday. What a wasted season for such a promising talent!

Taking Ellsbury's roster spot last night was Michael Bowden, a fresh arm for a worn out bullpen. Luckily, they did not need to use him in a pitcher's duel on Saturday night. Tito may need him today if Dice-K falters in the afternoon Texas heat today.

Mike Cameron said rest has done his ailing sports hernia a lot of good. He will make a rehab start or two in Pawtucket later this week. There's a guy that just won't quit.

And Dustin Pedroia made a successful start with the PawSox last night, going 1-3 & playing 2B. Barring any setbacks when he DH's in his 2nd rehab start today, Petey is ready to return to the Sox lineup on Tuesday when they start a home series versus the Angels. What a morale boost his presence in the lineup will be!

Regardless of their record, you have to take your hats off to every player that has worn the Red Sox uniform this year. We are watching a team that that has overcome & overachieved to this point of the 2010 season. A playoff spot would be icing on the cake.

Lester Huge in 3-1 Win

Last night Jon Lester started his game in the 100+ degree heat of Arlington, Texas knowing 2 things:

- His team badly needed a win after a poor start the night before by Josh Beckett that depleted the bullpen.

- He needed to go deep into the game since Daniel Bard & Jon Papelbon were not available.

Lester stood & delivered 8 innings of shutout ball to lead the Red Sox to a 3-1 win. That's what a #1 guy in the rotation does when the pressure is on.

Besides Lester, the Sox scored 2 very big runs in the top of the 9th to take a 3-0 lead. The Rangers homered off Scott Atchison in the bottom of the 9th, but a running miscue by Vlad Guerrero helped seal the win as Felix Dubront got the last out on a beautiful called 3rd strike.

The win leave the Sox 4 games behing the Rays in the Wild Card race with less than 50 games left. And with Dustin Pedroia ready to return on Tuesday he might be the added push they need to challenge the Rays down the stretch. It's going to be a fun 6 weeks!

Deja Vu All Over Again

Round 2 of "what happened?" occurred in Texas last night. A Sox lead of 8-2 turns into a 10-9 extra-innings loss. This is the 2nd night in a row that poor pitching results in blown leads & 2 very tough losses during a stretch run to the playoffs.

In Toronto it was a blown save opportunity by Papelbon. Last night it was 10 hits & 6 runs by Josh Beckett at the halfway point of the game. Beckett has been a non-factor throughout this whole season which is very disappointing. He also made Francona used several arms out of the pen which may have no Bard & no Papelbon today because of overuse. It was more of a Dice-K performance than a Beckett-like performance. His stuff seemed fine, just no location.

These losses just keep the clock ticking until the Sox are mathematically eliminated. This road trip can't end soon enough. Pedroia might be the spark that can get the team back on a positive roll when they get back to Fenway. He better be!