Josh Hamilton Relapse

I can't get excited about David Ortiz going all crazy about keeping one foot in the batter's box when you hear a real life story like Josh Hamilton's decent into the use of drugs & alcohol again. It's a different world when you're an addict & Hamilton has proven that addiction never goes away. He voluntarily met with the commissioner's office & some penalty/suspension will be issued, along with another mandatory stay in rehab. It's sad for Josh, it's very sad for his wife & kids & it's sad that the Angels never got the player they paid $125 million for. We can only hope that he gets better. If not for baseball, Josh, then get clean once & for all for your family. They love & need you. Good luck!

International Bias

I'm in agreement with Drew Smyly on his recent comment about international signings. Why should prospects from Japan, Cuba & other countries get tons more money in signing bonuses than kids born in the US? Answer - because there is no international draft system in place, so players go to the highest bidding team. Example - Yoan Moncada going to the Red Sox for $31.5 million signing bonus. If Moncada were a US prospect, he would max out at $5 million to $6 million. There is an inequality. An all-encompassing draft for players all around the world seems to make sense. Why penalize or reward a player based upon the geography of where he is born? And Smyly was quick to say that he does not blame Moncada, rather he blames a flawed system used by MLB teams. I believe that he has a valid point.

A-Rod Back in Pinstripes

Alex Rodriguez reported to spring training 2 days early. He needs to prove to his team that he is healthy enough to win a spot on the 25-man roster. The over/under on whether A-Rod is a Yankee by the end of spring training is about 50/50. Chase Headley was signed to a multi-year deal to be their everyday 3B. If anything, A-Rod has to prove he can still hit major league pitching to become the Yankees everyday DH. His banged up, PED riddled body has not played a game in over a year & a half. The Yankees organization doesn't want him there. The players may say all the right things, but they don't want him there. And the fans don't want him there. You can bet that all eyes will be on every move, especially if he pulls up lame running out a hit or, more importantly, if he cannot make contact. The Yankees will look for any loophole to sideline him. How do you come back from being a habitual liar? How do you try & play for a team & with players that you sued? A-Rod needs to hang it up. It's not going to be a pretty ending to a once promising career.

Lefty Bats

Other than Ortiz & Sandoval (switch), the Red Sox are very right-handed in the lineup. I thought it would be interesting to see who else is available in the Red Sox system from the left side. Here's who I found. Daniel Nava. Brock Holt. Jackie Bradley, Jr. Blake Swihart (switch). Garin Cecchini. Travis Shaw. Bryan LaHair. Quintin Berry. Yoan Moncada (switch). There are a few other lesser knowns in the system as well. You would have to think that left-handed bats won't be easily moved by Ben in any upcoming trade, particularly the bat of Swihart. That makes guys like Betts, Craig, Brentz, Marrero & other right-handers very available should the Sox want to send position players with pitching prospects to another team for a #1 starter. It's good to be able to hit left-handed if you are on the Sox roster. A little job security, if there is such a thing.

Yankees Lose Out on Moncada by $4 Million

A report has surfaced on MLB Network & on WEEI that the Yankees lost out on signing Yoan Moncada by not upping the first offer - which was in the $25 to $27 million range. Besides the Red Sox, the Yankees, Padres & Dodgers were all around the same $25 million bonus money range on their first offers. When Moncada's agent went back to see if teams would make a second offer, the Yankees said no. How is that going to play in Gotham? Losing out on a young stud for $4 million or so? Michael Kay from YES tried to soft-peddle the loss of Moncada by saying who knows what any 19 year old will turn into. Nice try, Mr. See Ya. (I can't stand that "see ya" phrase on every Yankee home run!) If the Yankees were in for $25 mil, they certainly could have ponied up more to get a kid who could start bringing youth to an aging team. Injuries to Tanaka & Sabathia. Old age with A-Rod & Beltran. No Jeter, Rivera or Robertson. Teixeira & McCann coming off down years. The Yankees starting lineup is all mid-30 somethings & getting older. Brian Cashman let this Cuban kid get away for small money. Bad move when you need to get your team younger.

Mookie Betts - Keep or Trade?

It is my opinion that Mookie Betts is lost within the Red Sox system & the Sox should use him to bring back a proven big league arm. Here's why. First, Betts' natural position is 2B where Dustin Pedroia is expected to play for the next several years. Add the fact that the Sox just signed Yoan Moncada who can play 2B as well. Second, Betts made an excellent change of positions to the outfield last year, but here again you have too many bodies to climb over. Ramirez & Castillo will be in LF & CF for the next several years. This year RF will go to Victorino, if healthy, or to a platoon system with Nava & Craig. And there is JBJ & Brock Holt who can also play outfield. Third, given the short sample size of productive offense by Betts last year, he is a top trade name right now. Don't overexpose him & get negative results like those of Middlebrooks, Bogaerts & JBJ in their sophomore years. If Mookie can get you Steven Strasburg, I'd do it since Strasburg is under control for 2 more years. That gives the Sox top prospects like Henry Owens & others another 2 years to develop into big league starters. Despite his high scores on neurological testing Mookie is just lost in a numbers game with the Red Sox. Get something for him now instead of waiting for his value to decline. That's my opinion.

Red Sox Get Moncada

19-year old Yoan Moncada is now a Red Sox. The Sox outbid the Yankees to obtain the 6'2" 205 pound infielder considered to be the best position player to come from Cuba. It took $30 million to sign Moncada & the Sox will owe another $30 million to MLB for exceeding their international signing limit. Who cares? It's just money. Perhaps the best thing about signing Moncada is that the Yankees don't. I like the Sox acquiring young talent, although unproven, versus shelling out $200 million to one player, a la Max Scherzer, who may give you 1 or 2 good years before becoming mediocre for the next 4 or 5. Moncada can play 2B or 3B, but it remains to be seen where he will play in the Sox minor league system where he is expected to be placed for some period of time. I'm surprised that the Sox when all in on Moncada since they have a plethora of position players now. But the saying is you can never have too many good players. And, again, we are staying young while the Yankees are old.

Pace Of Play Changes

Most everyone agrees that the pace of play changes announced yesterday are an OK first step to keeping more action on the field & less down time. My favorite is the batter keeping one foot in the box. That alone should speed up the game by 15 minutes per 9 innings. Get your sign & get back in the box. The rest of the changes regarding replay, down time between innings, etc. is all OK. The big stuff with come later about reducing the strike zone, no shifts & a pitch clock. You can expect push back from the players association on any of those changes. But these measures are a first step to speeding up the game.

Sox Extend Farrell Through 2017

John Farrell got an extension to manage the Red Sox through 2017 with an option for 2018. Why not? Farrell's teams either finish 1st or last, so we cut out the in-between, almost-ran scenarios. There are no other managers out there than knock your socks off & Farrell can handle the Boston media. He can also be a 2nd set of eyes on his pitching staff to keep them in balance. I'm OK with this extension.

Cliff Lee - Phillies Can't Contend

A day after Cole Hamels says he wants to be traded to a contending team, stupid Cliff Lee answers reporters questions with a Magic 8 Ball in his hands. He too reiterated Hamels' position that the Phillies were an embarassing team to play for for the past 2 years. OK, Cliff, maybe they wouldn't be so bad if you could stay healthy. Are you still cashing you checks while on disability? So the same advice applies to Lee - shut up! You signed a contract & you are being paid very handsomely to sit by the fire & rehab your body. No brotherly love in Philly these days. No team loyalty by pitchers being paid very well. "It's all about me" for the umteenth time with professional athletes. I'm tired of it.

Cole Hamels: Trade Me to Contender

Just when you thought that the Yankees would be the main focus of spring training with the return of A-Rod, here goes Cole Hamels mouthing off that he wants to be traded to a contender. As Mad Dog Russo said yesterday on High Heat, no one put a gun to Hamels' head in 2012 when he signed a 6-year, $144 million contract when the Phillies were starting to trend downward. As much as I would like to see Hamels in a Red Sox uniform, he needs to shut it. If he really needed to say something, Hamels could have worded his thoughts in a more positive way, a la Jake Peavy's exit from the Red Sox. Now Ruben Amaro Jr. has less bargaining position in potential trade deals for Hamels since suitors know that he wants to leave. You waited too long, Ruben. Now things are going to blow up in your face.

Prospects Versus Proven Talent

I had lunch with my brother today & he mentioned that Tony Mazz is not sold on the Red Sox keeping more of their prized prospects versus trading them for proven big league talent. Example - Blake Swihart or Mookie Betts or Henry Owens for Cole Hamels. This is an argument that you can't win until you see how both the prospects & the proven talent mature over time. Prospects keep your team young & enthusiastic, have the potential to be impact players at a young age while under club control for several years & let's not forget that these prospects play at bargain prices. Proven talent usually comes with high costs & deals of multiple years attached, so you run the risk of paying for past performance. I guess Mazz indicated that he had had enough of the prospect experience last year with Middlebrooks, JBJ & Bogaerts contributing to a last place finish by the Sox. It doesn't mean, however, that you abandon ship & trade the future for the here & now. The Sox management is counting on a revamped offense to offset the lack of a #1 starter in the rotation. Only time will tell if the Sox management or Mazz is right.

Victorino, Napoli Motivated By Next Contract

Shane Victorino & Mike Napoli are coming off of poor health years in 2014. Victorino had back surgery & Napoli had an operation to cure sleep apnea. Leg & hand injuries also plagued their performances in 2014. Both are ready to prove that they are healthy & productive once again at the plate & in the field. We have seen Victorino play a mean RF - a la Dwight Evans - & contribute big hits & speed at the plate. We have seen clutch hitting by Napoli when it counts most & he is a better-than-average 1B. Both are in their mid-30's now & for the Red Sox or any other team to offer contracts to them into 2016 they have to produce & stay healthy in 2015. Nothing like motivation! The Flyin' Hawaiian will have to fend off his RF position from the likes of Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo, Allen Craig, Brock Holt, Daniel Nava & JBJ. Nap will have backup help from Nava & Craig at 1B should he falter. I say look for both guys to have better-than-average years. Remember - money is a great motivator. Win-win for Vic, Nap & Sox.

Kobe - Shut Up!

On the day of A-Rod's very insincere apology, I see a byline scrolling at the bottom of a sports channel saying that Kobe Bryant, in his own words, sacrificed achieving personal goals for the sake of winning championships. Really Kobe? Is that how you feel? Poor baby! You should have been locked up in a Colorado jail for raping a girl years ago. Instead, you paid her off to avoid charges. You had to buy your wife a multi-million dollar diamond ring to keep her from leaving you. And now you want to whin about records? Shut up! No one has been a bigger ball hog, well maybe Carmelo, to make sure that you get your points every night. So much for team play. Kobe would never make it on a real team like the Spurs. Maybe it's time for Kobe to go away for good with his fellow whiners A-Rod & Lance Armstrong. I'm tiring of the me-me-me attitude from these overpaid, egocentric athletes. You guys are great role models for our kids. NOT!

The Apology

We've all seen the handwritten letter & we have all heard the contents read out loud at least several times by now. A-Rod apologizes. If I am interpreting his letter, with cynicism like most thinking humans on this planet, to me it says: I'm only sorry for getting caught using PED's & I want my $61 million from the Yankees. Period. Some things you can't come back from. Mitt Romney can't come back from his comments about people receiving government assistance being deadbeats. Ray Rice can't come back from the video of beating his girl friend, now wife. And A-Rod can't come back from repeated denials of PED use, a la Lance Armstrong, he can't come back from a suit against MLB, he can't come back from a suit against his own Players Association & he can't come back from a suit against the Yankees. A-Rod needs to go away from baseball for good. Maybe spring training will prove to be too much for his drug-riddled body & he won't be able to physically perform. Like most fans, let me say again that I am skeptical of his apology. A long time ago my boss always told me to follow the money. Apply my boss's thought to this apology - it's about $61 million. Nothing else.

Farrell: Kelly's Success Drives the Rotation

I thought this headline put a lot of pressure on Kelly. There's an article on the Red Sox website that says Farrell lists Joe Kelly's success as one that will make the entire Sox rotation have success or not. If you listen to the interview, that's not what Farrell said. Kelly did make a prediction early this year that he will win the Cy Young Award. OK, self-confidence is good. Me - I'm a little more humble. Even if that was my personal goal, I would keep it personal. But it's a selfie-crazed, open society these days, so bragging is accepted as the norm. In the interview Farrell actually said that Kelly needs to continue to improve & throw as many innings as possible. More innings will equate to more success. He did not say that Kelly's performance will make or break the rest of the rotation. In fact, if any one of the 5 starters gets injured or they are ineffective, the Sox have several aspiring arms from Pawtucket that can fill-in nicely. I like Joe Kelly & I hope he has a breakout year. As my friend once said, it ain't bragging if you do it. So go get that Cy Young, Joe!

Cole Hamels - Red Sox Front or Back Burner?

2 reports yesterday, one from MLB Network & one from the Boston Globe, said that the Red Sox were one of 4 teams in the Cole Hamels sweepstakes. According to MLB, the deal offered by the Red Sox would be top-heavy with major league talent, not prospects & probably would not include the coveted Blake Swihart nor Mookie Betts. We have outfielders to give. We have pitching prospects to give, plus we could add in one from the starting 5 if we get Hamels. We have Marrero & Cecchini. A nice package of 4 or 5 talented players from within the Sox organization could be packaged for Hamels. Ruben Amaro is playing a dangerous game. What if Hamels gets injured? Will teams wait until the end of July when the asking price will be less? Amaro's best shot to get all he can for Hamels ends this week when pitchers report to camp. After this week Amaro's bargaining position lessens & all teams know that. Tough to be Cole Hamels right now.

Changes to Game

Pitch clock. Batters not stepping out between pitches. Smaller strike zone. No infield shifts. Extended replay. New commissioner Rob Manfred is evaluation all aspects of the game of baseball to keep it relevent to the young kids who need action now to keep them interested. Pace of play items, such as a pitch clock, make a lot of sense. Arguments pro & con can be made about not allowing shifts - like why don't hitters take what is given to them. Pulling up the strike zone from the bottom of the knee to the top of the knee would certainly put more balls in play. MLB Network was just saying that singles & walks - as an aggregate - are at an all-time low. Everyone is swinging for the fences. Strikeouts are way up, again because of too many hitters looking to overpower a ball with 2 strikes. I'm good with any pace of play changes. No reason why a game should last longer than 3 hours for 9 innings. It will be interesting to see what MLB can get through the players association. Revenues are up all over baseball, so pace of play may annoy the occasion fan, but not the real fans. Some tinkering is fine with me. How about you?

HE'S BACKKK!

Let the circus begin. Alex Rodriguez will be in Florida soon to start his comeback with the New York Yankees. The Yankees don't want him. MLB doesn't want him. Girardi is between a rock & hard place as to how to use him. Past steroid use. A one-year suspension. Suits against the Yankees, MLB Players Association & MLB. Lawyers unpaid. The New York press counldn't ask for better fodder this spring training. Forget about the fact that Brian Cashman is rebuilding in 2015, a word no Yankee fan with high priced season tickets wants to hear. The Yankees are old. They need to transition the team to be younger. Long-term contracts to Sabathia, Rodriguez, Teixiera, Beltran & others are keeping players well past their prime in the pinstripe uniforms. Tanaka could need Tommy John surgery. Jeter is gone. Mo Rivera is gone. And A-Rod, the poster child who reminds everyone what is wrong with baseball's past, is back. It ought to be a very interesting camp in Yankeeville.

Sox Are In On Moncada

Yankees versus Red Sox. Alex Rodriguez. Mark Teixiera. WEEI says it may come down to another good old fashion bidding war between the Red Sox & Yankees for the next Cuban phenom Yoan Moncada. The Yankees definitely have the greater need, both to get their roster younger & to get a suitable replacement for Derek Jeter. The Red Sox could give Moncada time to grow into US baseball by starting him in the minors, a la Rusney Castillo. The Sox have stockpiled impressive talent all over the field & Moncada would be another good player to add depth for any potential performance issues from Xander Bogaerts. (I don't think Deven Marrero will be happy with this signing, just like Garin Cecchini with the Panda!) The saying is that you can't have enough good players. And more good players can be used in trade to bring a quality starter or two to Boston. As WEEI says, it's just money. No prospects. Moncada is suppose to make his decision by next week.

Spring Training Starts This Week

Even as another nor'easter takes aim on New England, this is the week that begins the official start of the 2015 baseball season. Pitchers & catchers report this week as ballparks in Florida & Arizona get underway with baseball. Lots of activity in the off-season led to many players changing teams. In Arizona I will get to see ex-Red Sox's like Will Middlebrooks, Rubby de la Rosa & Allen Webster. No doubt as training moves forward there will be many stories about the young & talented core of upcoming Sox pitchers -- Owens, Johnson, Barnes, Rodriguez & others. If the Phillies would ever accept a package of young pitchers & some extra outfielders for Cole Hamels, Ben would have struck a great deal. But take heart, New Englanders, spring training means that spring itself is around the corner. It has to stop snowing sometime. And this week is a reminder that spring will appear soon.

Rob Bradford: Cup Half-Full Year

I liked an article by Rob Bradford on the WEEI blog yesterday. His opinion is that the Red Sox need to have bounce-back years from several players in order for the Sox to reach the playoffs. Pedroia, Napoli & Victorino have to be healthy once again & perform to their capabilities. The fact that Napoli & Victorino are on their last year of contracts doesn't hurt. Ortiz is staring down father time & he may crash & burn like other old warriors, but we hope not this year. Xander Bogaerts knows the rigors of a full major league season & we hope he is a better version of himself in 2015, both offensively & defensively. We hope Hanley & Pablo are the good Hanley & Pablo of old who hit the ball with power & stay on the field. We hope that Rusney Castillo performs like his other countrymen from Cuba. We hope the pitching staff of young guns Porcello, Miley & Kelly continue an upward progression. We hope Justin Masterson is healthy & back to his old form when he was a Cleveland Indian. Most of all, we hope the often-injured Clay Buchholz is back to his better self from 2010. We hope Cristian Vazquez improves at the plate & that Ryan Hanigan can hold the backup spot until Blake Swihart is ready. We hope Koji Uehara is not overused & is fresh for another playoff run. We hope younger pitchers like Owens, Barnes, Johnson & Rodriguez can make the next jump to help the big club during the year. That's a lot of "if's." But we know those "if's" came through in 2013 when the sum was better than the the team's individual parts. Good article, Rob! I am a glass half-full fan. Are you?

Comparing Betts to Other Rookies

Let's compare Mookie Betts to some recent Red Sox rookies. In 213 plate appearances last year Betts compiled a .291 batting average. Very nice to go along with good defense in CF & 2B. In Will Middlebrooks' rookie year he hit .288 with 15 homers in 286 plate appearances. Xander Bogaerts only got 50 plate appearances in 2013 & he hit .250. JBJ got 107 plate appearances in 2013 & hit only .189. So Betts compares well to Middlebrooks & Bogaerts in their rookie seasons. But all 3 - Middlebrooks, Bogaerts & JBJ - all slipped in their sophomore year with under-performing seasons at the plate in 2014. Will the same happen to Betts? That's why I say move him for a Strasburg or Hamels, a pitcher you will have under control for more than 1 year. For Zimmermann or Fister - no. Unfortunately, the Sox have no place for Mookie to play with Pedroia a fixture at 2B, Mookie's natural position. In the outfield Betts will have to contend with Castillo, Victorino, Craig, Nava, JBJ & Holt for the other 2 outfield spots in CF & RF. A possibility is to start Betts at AAA & bring him up when an injury occurs. He did learn a new position of CF on the fly last year which he did an admirable job of. More time in the minors couldn't hurt, but the Sox seem to have bigger plans for Mookie who some reporters think will be the everyday CF this year with Castillo & Victorino sharing time in RF. For the right deal - & the right deal for me is a pitcher with 2+ years left on his contract - I would move Betts. My opinion is that Ben will hold off on any moves now until he gets a look at all players in spring training. Mookie is an interesting piece though.

Buck the Difference Maker

No ace. 5 number 3 starters. That's the knock on the Red Sox pitching staff. If, & this is a very very big if, Clay Buchholz can pitch 150 to 175 quality innings, Buck will emerge as the missing Red Sox ace. For a period of time over his 8 year career Buck was dominant. Continual injuries have left him less than dependable & less than durable over the rigors of a full season. He has pitched less than 1,000 innings, so there are a lot of bullets left in his right arm. In 2010, for instance, Buchholz was 17-7 in 173 innings with a 2.33 ERA. We know he has the raw stuff, raw talent. Whether he has the mental makeup or the physical makeup to be an ace is another thing. The Sox could use him to step up & lead this younger staff in 2015. Buck is age 30 & he is signed to 2 more club friendly options in 2016 & 2017. But you can't be part of the solution unless you take your turn every 5th day, something that has eluded the lanky righty the last 3 seasons. He may be pitching for his future in Boston. No doubt that Buck can be a difference maker. Question is will he be?

Next Cuban Up - Yoan Moncada

19 year old middle infielder, middle-of-the-order bat. Sound familiar Red Sox fan? Moncada sounds a lot like Xander Bogaerts to me. I would be surprised if the Red Sox win the bidding war for Yoan Moncada, simply because the Sox are loaded with position players in the infield & outfield. Where would he play? And isn't Bogaerts at 22 a much less expensive option? No doubt Moncada would need to spend time in the minors. Most scouts rate him a top 10 or a top 20 prospect. But he is just a prospect. Keep your money on this one, John Henry. Let another team pay the big salary & the equivalent in tax. One of these Cuban players is going to be a bust. I hope it's not Rusney! But the bust from Cuba could be this very young kid who has limited international play. Potential is a funny thing. Sometimes it is realized & sometimes not. I take a pass on Moncada.

JBJ & Marshawn

Did you find it odd that Jackie Bradley, Jr. is talking about not talking to the press? I did. He advised the press last week that he will be doing no interviews this year a la Marshawn Lynch. First, JBJ was not on anyone's radar to hold daily press conferences during spring training. Second, he is probably considered the 5th or 6th outfielder in the organization going to Fort Myers. Would reporters be flocking to him in March? Doubtful. But, whatever, thanks Jackie for the warning. I don't think we will miss anything of importance by your silence.

Shields Finally Signs

James Shields was without a home going into February. He was "adopted" yesterday by the San Diego Padres who purchased his services for 4 years at $75 million. To me Shields was not a fit for the Red Sox who have a bumper crop of young & talented pitchers ready to break into the big leagues. I like the fact that the Red Sox are staying young with Porcello, Miley & Kelly. Masterson is a 1 year fix to allow the younger pitcher another year to mature. Buchholz may be on his way out after this season unless he turns things around. There are also many many free agent pitchers hitting the market in 2016. I don't think Shields was ever in the plans. Good for the Padres & their new ownership for shaking things up in the NL West. This team was a good landing spot for Shields.

Spring Training - Don't Believe Results

Here we go again. Another spring training camp is almost upon us. Sports writers weary for sun & warmth will be writing stories about well known & lesser known players who do well throughout February & March. Years ago we had JD Drew knocking the cover off the ball. There was JBJ just 2 years ago. There were columns about Grady Sizemore. How about when Big Papi wasn't hitting in March? On & on. And, as each year unfolded in the regular season in April, we were surprised when performances from spring training didn't translate into similar performances then. Don't be fooled again this year. Spring training is there to be enjoyed for what it is -- training; exhibition; not real games. We love it because it is a sign that spring is coming, better weather is on the way & the real season is not too far away. The Sox have very few positions up in the air, so February & March is about getting into game shape for the long 6 month marathon of 162. One goal is always to leave Florida healthy. If the Sox accomplish that, I'm OK with anything else that the reporters write about. Remember - just don't believe the results until it counts.

Ben Ready for Spring Training

Ben Cherington says he is satisfied with his pitching staff & he is ready to take the team as currently constituted to Fort Myers. No Cole Hamels. No Jordan Zimmermann. No Stephen Strasburg. Now that may be Ben posturing to make a deal where he doesn't give up too many good prospects. Or he could be telling the truth. Given the crazy money out there being paid to free agents, why not be greedy & keep all of your homegrown prospects - Blake Swihart, Mookie Betts, Henry Owens, et al. Ortiz, Pedroia, Panda, Hanley & Koji can provide the veteran leadership for this team. (OK, maybe not Hanley.) It's a young man's game & the Sox have drafted well over the last several years. They addressed their lack of power hitters by signing Ramirez & Sandoval. And noe they have strength in numbers to believe that some of their top 20 prospects will make it to the big club, maybe 1 a year like in the past. It was Mookie making his splash last year. Maybe it's Henry Owens or Rusney Castillo or Blake Swihart this year. If, & it's a big if, the rotation is adequate over the first 3 months & the Sox score more runs on offense, we could still be in the playoff race by the all-star break. Then Ben may pull the trigger on a big name pitching rental for the 2nd half of the season at a much lower cost of trade. I can't wait for spring training!

Sox Sign Miley to 3-Year Deal

Wade Miley, entering his age 28 season, is now a Boston Red Sox for the next 3 years with an option for 2018. The deal is a reasonable $19.25 million, or about $6.5 mil per year. Not bad for a guy who threw 597 innings over the past 3 years & who had a mid-3.00 ERA for 2 of his 3 big league seasons. Miley is an innings-eater. Plug him in for 200 per year & look for a win-loss around or above .500. He did have a 16-win season in 2012. I like the fact that Ben locked Miley up over what should be his best years as a pitcher. Other than Buchholz & Masterson, the Sox rotation with Porcello, Miley & Kelly are all 20-somethings. If we can get 2 more of the younger pitching prospects in the minors to join this staff in the near future, we will be set for several years & avoid signing a $30 million a year pitcher. Good signing, Ben!

Outfielders Galore in Fort Myers

Hanley Ramirez. Mookie Betts. Rusney Castillo. Shane Victorino. Allen Craig. Daniel Nava. Jackie Bradley, Jr. Brock Holt. 8 guys for 3 starting spots. Betts, Holt, Nava & Craig can play infield spots as well, but how often can you spell, or do you want to spell, Pablo, X-man, Pedey & Nap? It's going to be tough to find playing time for all of these guys. Of these 8, Nava & Bradley, Jr. are the only left-handed hitters now that Victorino is strictly from the right. Betts & Castillo possess the same skill set as Victorino, but they are younger & cheaper options. And Allen Craig could still be a middle of the order bat if he returns to form. Let's not forget JBJ's stellar outfield play as well. Lots of decisions. Obviously, several of these guys will have to be traded. Betts performed well in a short sample size in 2014 & that was after learning a new position in CF on the fly. But we have seen the sophomore jinx set in on other rookies - like Middlebrooks & Bradley. Betts' trade value is as high as it will ever be before he gets more exposure. And since the Betts for Strasburg trade was mentioned a few weeks ago all has been quiet since - which means maybe the talks are continuing. Ben Cherington says he likes to have more options than less. The Sox can deal from a position of strength. Look for some of these outfielders to be moved during spring training.

JBJ Looking for Bounce Back Year

2 years ago Jackie Bradley was the rising star out of spring training, starting game 1 in Yankee Stadium. Last year he was the heir apparent to CF after Jacoby Ellsbury moved to the Bronx. It didn't work out well. Now JBJ is at Jet Blue Park getting ready for another spring training. WEEI reports that Bradley added 8 pounds of muscle & weighs in at 200 pounds now. He is a Gold Glove outfielder on defense. His offense let him down big time last year & he is ready to solve his offensive woes from 2014 this year. The Red Sox need left-handed bats & Bradley is still young enough to figure it out. With Hanley Ramirez in LF & Rusney Castillo ready to play CF or RF JBJ enters a crowd of players for the last OF spot. Victorino, Craig, Nava, Betts to name a few. If Jackie shows he can handle the bat, even a .250 BA would do it, he can help the Red Sox or another team. JBJ has had success at ever level of play. No reason to think that he will not be successful in the bigs. Just a question of when & if the Red Sox can wait.

Napoli Gives It Back To Sherman

You have to go to the WEEI website & see the satire that Mike Napoli did to Richard Sherman with his gesture of 2 then 4 fingers. Napoli has Sherman with his 4 fingers up saying "yes, we lost by 4 points." Then, with the same 4 fingers up, he has Sherman saying "yes, 4th Super Bowl ring for Tom Brady." Nice going, Nap! If you're going to give it out, Sherman, you better be able to take it.

Where is James Shields Going?

No team yet for free agent James Shield & it's February 3rd, 2 weeks away from pitchers & catchers reporting to spring training. His model of consistency over the past 8 seasons is working against him, sabermetrically, because the pencil pushers say that his arm has thrown too many pitches. And his very poor, lackluster performance in the playoffs didn't help his cause. Shields was the exact opposite of Baumgartner. And what ever happen to that mysterious 5 years, $110 million deal? I guess it never materialized because it was a fictional offer put out there by his agent. So now Shields & his agent have to take less - both in dollars & years. They should have never let the cat out of the bag with the untrue offer of 5 at $110M. Every team backed off after hearing that. Dumb move, Mr. Agent! Now you have a dissatified client who will play for a team that he feels undervalues him. Don't look for many smiles from James Shields this year - wherever he lands.

Pete Carroll & Grady Little

In 2003 Grady Little left Pedro in instead of taking him out. We all know how that decision turned out. In 2015 Pete Carroll calls a pass play instead of a running play on the 1 yard line. There wasn't even a play fake to Lynch. We now know how that decision turned out too. Grady was never able to come back as an MLB manager after his fatal decision & he was fired. It remains to be seen what happens to Pete Carroll. Reaction a day later had not calmed down over the stupidity of that particular play selection & his explanation to "waste" a play made no sense. Kind of like Grady saying I'd make the same decision to leave Pedro in again. Dissention among Seattle players was rampant. Not one football analyst could defend the play call. Professional coaches need to stand the heat for every decision they make. That's why Belichick is so good - he makes critical changes on the fly, in-game, & his changes typically work. Good luck, Pete, living this one down. You will have this monkey on your back the rest of your coaching career - which may be shortened now.

Richard Sherman - Low Class Again

The Seahawks went up by 10 points. Richard Sherman goes out of his way to find a sideline camera & he uses his fingers to show the number "24." This was his way of embarassing Derrell Revis who had just been picked by an official & led to a Seahawks TD by his receiver. Sherman was nowhere to be found, though, after the interception that sealed a win for the Pats. Sherman was nowhere to be found when his teammates started a fight at game's end. Why wasn't he defending his legion of boom? Where was he after the game? A big deal is made out of Sherman graduating from Stanford. That doesn't give you class. And Sherman is sorely, sorely lacking in that category. We saw it last year in the post-game interview with Erin Andrews after a Super Bowl win. I wish Brady would have found him after the game & said "you happy, bro" like Sherman did to Brady in the past. There will be no Campbell soup commercials for Sherman & his mother next year. He & his teammates will live with the stupid hat for a full year until the 2016 Super Bowl. His act is growing old. Shout out, Richard! Are you happy today bro?

Pete Carroll - Dunce Hat

One play. One call by his offensive coordinator. One audible perhaps by his young QB. Whoever called the play, Pete Carroll took responsibility. He gets to wear the dunce hat for allowing a Super Bowl win to escape on one dumb play. A team built on power running by "Mr. Shout Out" Marshawn Lynch decides to throw a 1-yard pass instead of pound the ball into the end zone. Even if it wasn't his call, Carroll still had the option to overrule his coordinator. So now the head coach has to live with it. Chances of Seattle getting another Super Bowl title - 1 in 30. No team stays at the top very long. Ask the Patriots, a perennial playoff team, & it took them 10 years between rings to win another. Lynch may be gone next year. The Legion of Boom is getting older. The Seattle persona of tough guys is getting old. And now that they are not winning Super Bowls look for fans, their vaunted 12th man, to demand changes.

Malcolm Butler - Icon Now

You are a rookie. You get to make the biggest play of your lifetime. What to do now? Rookie Malcolm Butler will go down in Patriot history & NFL history as the guy who made "the play" by intercepting Russell Wilson & saving a Super Bowl win for his teammates. This comes off of the previous pass play where the Seattle receiver made a circus catch that Butler thought he had broken up. The rookie will now face unwanted & unexpected attention until this Super Bowl win dies down. Unfortunately, nothing else that he accomplishes throughout his NFL career will ever rise to the level of this one interception. Right guy, right place, right time. Malcolm Butler - all of New England thanks you. No matter what else you do, you are a legend forever.

Seahawks Unravel At Finishing Time

An unvelievable catch by Kearse. A very good run by Lynch. Then the play of infamy. A 1-yard pass instead of a simple 1-yard run. An interception. Then a huge off-sides. Then a brawl on a kneel down by Brady. Then another kneel down & it was over. In 20 seconds the Seattle Seahawks were losers instead of winners. Afterwards, finger pointing & descention. Players questions each other's efforts. Players questioning coaches. It was a reversal of fortune by Seattle who ended up on the winning side of a meltdown by the Green Bay Packers in the final minutes of the NFC Ccampionship game 2 weeks earlier. Now it was their turn to experience what it feels like to have a big game slip away. Some would say that the Seahawks were lucky to get by the Packers. Maybe so. But luck changed sides at the end of this Super Bowl. Seattle players, coaches & fans will 2nd guess that 1 play for a long, long time.

What A Game!

Patriots are super again! Just when you thought all was lost with a 10-point deficit in the 4th quarter the Pats fight back with 2 scores of their own to take a 28-24 lead with 2 minutes left in the game. Once again another "immaculate reception" by Kearse seemed to seal another Seahawks Super Bowl win & another Pats loss. But rookie Malcolm Butler dashed the Seahawks hopes of a 2nd consecutive Super Bowl ring by intercepting an in-cut pass by Russell Wilson. After a huge off-sides penalty by Seattle on the next play & a little fisticuffs on the first kneeldown it was over. The Patriots had prevailed to win SB XLIX. This game had everything - thrills, chills, helmets flying off, hard hitting that landed several Seahawks onto the sidelines, an ejection for fighting - and several lead changes in a game that was punch, counterpunch your opponent. You couldn't ask for a better, more intense game from start to finish. Tom Brady wins the MVP which I thought could have been given to Edelman or Vereen. The Pats were so one-dimensional with the pass, though, that I now think Brady deserved it, even with his 2 picks. He threw 4 TD's to 4 different receivers - LaFell, Gronk, Amendola & finally Edelman for the clincher. So hats off to the Pats. Boston is becoming "Titletown" again with the World Series champs Red Sox in 2013 & now the Super Bowl champs Pats in 2014-2015. Fans in New England are living through the best sports era ever.