3 No Hitters

Time for Wakefield & Varitek to Retire As Red Sox's

2012-02-11T11:26:00.000-05:00

A few years ago Curt Warner, quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, had led his team to a Super Bowl appearance. Warner was in the twilight of his career in Arizona & he already had one Super Bowl ring with the St. Louis Rams - the greatest team on turf.

The following year was injury-plagued for the 40-ish year old. Warner was not able to put up numbers like in his past years. He still had one more year remaining on his contract worth $12 million.

Unlike any other pro athlete I remember in recent times, Warner walked away from another $12 million payday & retired. He said he did not feel he could play up to his standards any longer & he did not feel right about saddling the team with his contract or taking up a roster spot.

I think there is a lesson to be learned here for both Tek & Wake. Retire with dignity. Retire as a Red Sox.

Xander Bogaerts Versus Jose Iglesius

2012-02-10T11:13:00.000-05:00

A prospect I hadn't heard of caught my attention - Xander Bogaerts. He is listed as one of the Sox top 20 prospects. And while it has taken Jose Iglesius longer than expected to get his offense together, watch for top prospect Xander Bogaerts to push Jose for the future job at shortstop for the Sox.

Unlike Iglesius who is 5'9" at best, Bogaerts is 6'3".

Iglesius is from Cuba. Bogaerts is from Aruba.

Unlike Iglesius who struggles on offense, Bogaerts has "an advanced bat & raw power" per the Sox website.

Unlike Iglesius who is a defensive specialist, Bogaerts is working to improve his defense.

Too bad we can't clone the 2 of them & come up with a Nomar in his hayday. But I'm glad to see that the Sox have an option to Iglesius in the system.

Where's the Truck?

2012-02-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

My brothers get excited, like a lot of Red Sox fans, when the big truck leaves Fenway Park for Fort Myers. I understand that the truck may be leaving tomorrow.

The start of Spring Training signals the end of winter. This year, though, it's been mild & no snow. But New Englander know better to count out 1 or 2 big storms yet.

Let's move that truck!

Ortiz Wants to Settle & Avoid Arbitration

2012-02-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

I thought that this was a nice title to an article on the website of the Red Sox. I'm thinking - great - Big Papi will sign for a year where he makes between $12 - $16 million.

But no. This is like watching a TV commercial where they offer you something "free." Have you seen Free Credit Report? It's free alright - after you sign up for 2 years of some service. If you here the word free in any ad, run the other way as fast as you can.

And the same is true here. Papi wants to avoid arbitration alright. But he wants to do so only if he gets a multi-year deal. There's the kicker.

Don't do it, Ben. Ortiz is benefiting enough from the arbitration offer - which you didn't need to do. Let him make more than a fair salary this year, then cut him loose. It's time to move on.

Gisele Rant Media Fodder

2012-02-07T09:29:00.001-05:00

Emotions run high after any big game, especially by the losing team. The Super Bowl qualifies as a big game.

I can remember watching a high school playoff game that my daughter's soccer team lost on a penalty kick. I thought the call by the ref for a penalty kick was bogus & I let the ref know about it after the game. Things happen in the heat of the moment. I'm sure you can recall your parents or friends sticking up for you after a tough game.

But the media will run wild with Gisele's comments, even though it has already been said that she was baited by a Giants fan. One of the problems is that she is right - receivers let Brady & the team down. Welker, Branch & Hernandez would be the first to say that they could have performed better.

So let the press have their fun. It's what they do.

Giants Are Super Again

2012-02-06T06:45:00.000-05:00

It's like deja vu. The New York Football Giants beat the New England Patriots for a 2nd time in the Super Bowl 21-17. This was a great game with momentum shifts by each team. But, in the end, the Giants outperformed & outplayed the Pats down the stretch. They were the better team & they deserve the Super Bowl ring. Gosh, that's hard to say...

When the first offensive play from scrimmage for Tom Brady results in a safety, you know it is going to be a long day. Brady came back to engineer a beautiful 96 yard drive with a TD toss to Danny Woodhead before halftime to give the Pats a 10-9 lead. Another TD pass to Aaron Hernandez would build the lead to 17-9 before the Giants would kick 2 field goals & cut the lead to 17-15.

The Pats offense would sputter on their final 2 possessions. Brady delivered catchable balls to Welker, Hernandez & Branch that were all dropped. Manning & the Giants, however, made good their final drive which was highlighted by a picture perfect throw & catch from Manning to Hicks for 50 yards. An inadvertant score by Bradshaw, making it 21-17 Giants, gave the Patriots another chance to win the game. But the final play was a Hail Mary in the end zone that was tipped away. Game over.

Say what you want, but Eli Manning delivered & can now show big brother Peyton 2 rings to his one. Who's the better QB in the family now?

And a season that no one thought would see the Patriots return to the Super Bowl ended one win short for the memory of Myra Kraft. The Patriots gave it all they had.

Football is over for another year. It's onto baseball now.

Super Sunday Almost Here

2012-02-03T10:24:00.000-05:00

Are you tired of the hype yet? I've never seen so many reporters come out of the woodwork. I saw Jim Rome on a set with 3 other guys yesterday.

If you can put aside the hype, a re-match of the Patriots & Giants, Boston vs. New York, is a great Super Bowl XLVI. If the Patriots defense could have gotten off the field, if the catch by Plaxico doesn't get made, if Eli gets sacked before throwing up his hail mary, we would have won the previous meeting. A lot of coulda, woulda, shoulda's. But the Giants did win.

I would expect another tight game that comes down to each team's last possession in the 4th quarter. I look for veteran guys like Brady, Welker, Branch, Wilford & Faulk to make a difference. My prediction is 20-17 Patriots. We even it up this time.

Ortiz Arbitration Ends Free Agent Signings

2012-02-03T10:16:00.000-05:00

No more Cody Ross signings. Forget about Oswalt & Jackson.

The Red Sox must consider the possibility of losing arbitration with David Ortiz & the need to "pony up" more money for the coming year. The Red Sox offered $12.5 million. Big Papi wants $16.5 million. That $4 million spread cleans out the barrel of money left for additional player signings.

I never understood why the Sox offered Ortiz arbitration in the first place. There was no real market for him outside of Boston. They could have offered #34 one more year at his current salary of $12 - $13 million. I don't think another team would have offered him that much.

Maybe arbitration is payback for services previously rendered & a way to finish up the team's duty to an aging slugger in a respectful way. Regardless, Ortiz will empty the pot of money set aside for further signings this year. Other than a late trade, & we don't really have trading pieces left, the roster now is the roster for spring training.

Super Bowl Hype Continues

2012-02-01T11:03:00.000-05:00

If you are already sick of the analysis, get ready for 4 more days of non-stop blah, blah, blah. Then you get another 6 hours of pre-game blah, blah, blah on Sunday. It is the Super Bowl way.

What shouldn't get overlooked is the game itself. Like the 2 earlier championship games between the Giants & 49ers & the Patriots & Ravens, it should be one helluva game. First half feeling each other out. Second half opening it up. 4th quarter coming down to the last possession.

Brady & little Manning. Belichick & Coughlin. Cruz & Welker. Jacobs & Green-Ellis. It has all the makings of a novel. The NFL couldn't have asked for a better finale to a year that started with a lockout.

Pitchers on the Cheap

2012-01-31T13:26:00.000-05:00

The scrap pile of used & coming-back-from-injury pitchers continues to mount. Yesterday one commentor to the blog said he wasn't impressed by any of the pitchers that Ben has invited to compete for a spot in spring training.

I get that point of view. And I appreciate the comment.

My thought, however, is that you have a group of 6 or 7 pitchers in camp with something to prove. Last year guys like Aceves, Colon & Garcia were never thought of as being contributing pitchers in the AL East when spring training started. And look what happened. With money so big for any pitcher who has a half-decent year there is a lot of incentive for guys like Cook, Padilla, Maine, et al to get back on the gravy train of an MLB roster.

Money is a great motivator in pro sports. It may spur one or two of these guys to mnake the team. Never say never.

Sox Sign Another Arm

2012-01-29T11:00:00.000-05:00

The latest addition to the Red Sox arms race is John Maine, former pitcher for the NY Mets. Maine signed a minor league deal & will compete for a spot out of the bullpen.

Like several other rehab hurlers in camp, Maine is coming off shoulder surgery. He has playoff experience, in fact he won 2 playoff games as a starter, & could fill a void in the pen for multiple innings now that Dan Wheeler signed with another team.

Keep stockpiling arms, Ben. One or two might become the Alfredo Aceves of 2012.

Oswalt, Jackson Not Interested in AL East?

2012-01-28T10:57:00.000-05:00

I caught a quick video on-line from Buster Olney on ESPN Boston. He had a good thought on the Red Sox chances of landing a short-term deal with either Roy Oswalt or Edwin Jackson. Buster thinks that both pitchers may not want to face the AL East where 3 of the top 6 teams in run production reside.

If so & Olney is right, what a bunch of weenies! As a professional, don't you want to test yourself against the best to see how your skills match up? No, instead & as usual, it's all about money. Pitching in an easier division to inflate your stats will bring a bigger contract next year.

Let's see if Oswalt or Jackson have any you-know-what to sign on in the American League East.

Ross In, Oswalt Maybe

2012-01-27T10:58:00.000-05:00

Nice move, Ben.

As previously reported, the Sox made an offer to Cody Ross & their offer was accepted this week. Ross brings a much-needed right handed bat to the outfield. Boston fans should like Ross' gritty style of play. He should be a nice fit. His contract is a 1-year deal worth $3 million plus incentives.

The Sox made an offer to Roy Oswalt this week. Oswalt would bring an experience arm to the starting rotation & give the Sox more leeway with Daniel Bard. It was odd to me that Oswalt said he preferred to pitch for Texas or St. Louis, the 2 World Series teams from last year. Really? How about pitching for a contender like Boston who is actually offering you a contract? I don't like how this is starting out.

I will say, however, that I admire Oswalt for pitching on the USA team that competed in the World Baseball Classic. No one was interested in playing on that team & he stepped up. I like his competitiveness.

We'll see if the Sox get to ring in Oswalt.

Jorge Posada Retires

2012-01-26T09:16:00.000-05:00

In my mind there are only 3 real Yankees left on that pinstriped team -- Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera & Jorge Posada. Everyone else is a hired gun. Now there are only 2 left.

Jorge Posada, like Jason Varitek, caught thousands of games in the same uniform for many, many years. Some of those years resulted in World Series rings, the most recent being in 2009. Posada was a switch hitter & he had the knack of coming up with a big hit, usually a long ball, at a crucial time in the game. It happened in games against the Red Sox more than we would like to remember.

Last year was perhaps his toughest as a Yankee. Posada was relegated to a part-time DH since his throwing arm was no longer adequate & his batting average plummeted. He & Girardi had a very public blow-up over his lack of playing time & position in the batting order. But all got resolved as Jorge started hitting better over the second half of the season.

Jorge Posada retired a Yankee for life. Time marches on.

Prince No Longer A Pauper

2012-01-25T09:35:00.001-05:00

Out of the blue the Detroit Tigers sign Prince Fielder to a 9 year, $200+ million contract yesterday. The Tigers were not even whispered to be in the running for Prince with the likes of Miami, Anaheim, Seattle & Washington.

The signing of Fielder immediately elevates the Tigers to favorite status to win the AL Central. At the very least the Tigers become another threat for the AL Wild Card with Anaheim & Tampa Bay. Watch out Red Sox & Yankees.

Pujols & Fielder become this year's version of the $200 million players club. It took a little longer to get there for Fielder, but Boras got his client the contract that he promised.

It's good to be Prince today.

Cody Ross Coming to Town

2012-01-24T09:48:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox website reports that the Sox are close to finalizing a deal to bring outfielder Cody Ross to Boston. The deal is said to be worth $3 million plus incentives.

Yes, they finally listened to me. Look back at blog a few articles ago. I mentioned Ross as the best free agent outfielder still available on the market. And I guess Ben agreed.

Ross will give the Sox a proven guy on defense & someone with post-season experience. A right-handed bat, he may also surprise with his offense like Scutaro did last year. Good addition.

Joe Pa Dead At 85

2012-01-23T11:20:00.000-05:00

As a graduate of Brown University, I feel a distant connection to Joe Paterno to know that he also attended the same college in Providence, RI. His passing ends a turbulent few months that rocked his legacy at Penn State.

Joe Pa instilled the concept of team in his players. No individual names on the back of uniforms. He actually took an interest in seeing his players graduate. Paterno's graduation rate for players was over 90%, a rate unheard of by other major football powers.

However, a living person that has his statue in front of the football stadium can be elevated too high. He was not God. He was just a man with failings like all of us. Did he continue coaching too long? Maybe. Did he overlook player behaviors in his later years that would have effected his team? Probably. Did his program become isolated & insulated from pressures from the administration? Yes. A football program than brings in revenue of over $10 million a year develops its own set of problems to deal with. Money remains the root of all evil. Just look at politics.

Joe Pa was human & perhaps he read his own press clippings for too long. But let's remember the good that he did over his tenure at Penn State, not just his takedown by Jerry Sandusky over past few months.

It's Boston Versus New York Again

2012-01-23T11:03:00.000-05:00

Red Sox - Yankees. Patriots - Jets. Now Patriots - Giants in the Super Bowl again. No love lost in sports between Boston & New York.

Even though both Harbaugh teams went down in tough defeats, one on a missed field goal & one on a fumble, these were 2 excellent championship games that kept fans on the edge of their seats right up until the last play. The NFL ratings should be way up & the TV gurus at NBC are dancing over 2 big market teams meeting once again in the Super Bowl. At least we won't have to listen to Joe Buck or Michael Strahan anymore.

The Giants beat the Patriots in the regular season. The Giants beat the Patriots in their prior Super Bowl meeting. It will be interesting to see the line from Vegas on this game. I'd be surprised if it was more than 3 points either way. The Patriots will be motivated to even up their record against the G-men with a win.

Let the hype begin.

Patriots Are Super Bowl Bound

2012-01-22T20:28:00.001-05:00

It was no work of art, but I believe that the Patriots were the tougher team mentally at the end which led them to a thrilling, fingernail-biting 23-20 win in Foxborough over the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens lost their opportunity to win the game in the final minute. A dropped ball in the end zone for a sure TD was followed by a very rushed try for a game-tying field goal which was pushed too far left. It was a great football game by both teams, but I feel that Ravens' coach John Harbaugh should have used his last timeout as the play clock was running out before the field goal try. Instead, a rushed field goal attempt ends up sailing wide. Game over. Baltimore goes home & the Patriots move on.

Tom Brady was very critical of his less than usual high level of performance. 2 picks including a bonehead call by the offensive coordinator to go for broke on the first play after a defensive pick of Flacco. That was just a dumb play call. Don't expect Brady to have a 2nd down game in a row during the Super Bowl in 2 weeks.

Star of the day honors easily go to Vince Wilfork. He was immense in the interior line, taking down QB's & running backs with one arm. The Law Firm also had a great day running the ball.

It's onto Indie in 2 weeks. Who would have thunk it?

Scutaro Traded to Rockies

2012-01-22T12:25:00.000-05:00

WOW! I didn't see that one coming. I don't think anyone did, particularly after the Sox parted company with Jed Lowrie.

In a move that can only be seen as a cash dump, Marco Scutaro - & his $6 million salary - was traded to the Colorado Rockies for a minor league pitcher. Scutaro was penciled in as the Sox starting shortstop this year. Instead, he will be the everyday second-basemen for Colorado. This leaves the Sox will Mike Aviles, Nick Punto & Jose Iglesius to man that position throughout the season. I guess the thinking is that an average shortstop can fill the bill until Iglesius matures enough to be the everyday guy.

I have to think that Ben & Co. already have an Edwin Jackson or Roy Oswalt ready to sign for the $6 million that they just freed up. It just shows you what a scarce commodity good, or even OK, starting pitching is at the big league level. Look at Jamie Moyer who at 49 years young got invited to another MLB training camp. Even the Yankees traded their best prospect in Jesus Montero for an unproven hard thrower in Pineda.

I wouldn't think it will be too long before you hear about a new signing from Ben for a starting pitcher.

As for Marco, I think he gave the Red Sox fans everything he had & he played as well as he could have in his time in Boston. Thanks, Marco, for the memories & good luck in the NL.

A's Interested in Manny

2012-01-21T11:18:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it? What is Billy Beane thinking?

Manny-land may be coming to the Bay area. MLB reports that the A's have interest in signing Manny Ramirez. The Lindsay Lohan of baseball quit on the Tampa Bay Rays last year after testing positive for steroids - again. His attitude is poor, no T-E-A-M in M-A-N-N-Y. And he will need to serve a suspension of at least 50 games, if not 100.

Does baseball really need Manny's act again? C'mon, Billy. You are smarter than that. But maybe it's about filling seats in that football stadium of a field. Craziness sells.

Carlos Pena Back

2012-01-21T11:12:00.000-05:00

Old friend, former Red Sox & Boston native Carlos Pena is back in the AL East with his old team, the Tampa Bay Rays. Pena will be clubbing homers again in St. Pete as he signed a 1-year deal with the Rays for $8.5 million.

His pop for the long ball will add some much needed offense to the Rays who depend mightily on their starting rotation for wins. Over the last few years Pena's average has suffered in the low .220 - .230 range, but his HR production has been steady at 25-30 homers per year. Along with Evan Longoria & BJ Upton, he makes the Rays a better middle-of-the-order team.

Note to Red Sox pitchers - Pena has a knack of killing us at crucial times late in games. Let's pitch around him whenever you can.

Lavarnway & Middlebrooks in Waiting

2012-01-20T11:16:00.000-05:00

Theo use to say that his goal was to introduce one minor leaguer into the starting lineup every year to keep the team fresh. And we saw that happen over the years with Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Papelbon, Daniel Bard, Jon Lester & Jacoby Ellsbury.

This year's editions to the big club may include top prospects Ryan Lavarnway & Will Middlebrooks. Lavarnway made his mark briefly last year with 2 homers in game 161 against the Orioles. Middlebrooks had his best offensive season in the minors & moved along to triple A. Both played winter ball - Lavarnway in Venezuela until he got a virus infection & Middlebrooks in Arizona until he got a minor hand injury. Both will be ready for Spring Training.

Not much talk these days about Jose Iglesius. He still needs to mature as a player, stay healthy & find out how to use his bat.

Don't be surprised to see Lavarnway & Middlebrooks as first call-ups should Salty, Youk or Adrian sustain an injury.

Yu Darvisk, Japanese Millionaire

2012-01-20T11:03:00.000-05:00

It's deja vu all over again.

5 years ago it was a record offer for Dice-K made by the Boston Red Sox. $50 million posting fee plus 5 years at $8+ million a year.

The Texas Rangers took the plunge yesterday. $51 million posting fee plus 6 years at $10 million per year for Yu Darvish.

The Red Sox got about 1 1/2 years of decent pitching from Dice-K over his first 4 years. He was part of the World Series team in 2007, but those days are long gone. Dice may get another 1/2 season in this year after recovering from Tommy John surgery & then he is back on the free market. You give the Sox credit for trying this move, but they certainly saw the difference from Japan in culture, practice routines & the inability for Dice-K to consistently take the ball every 5th day.

The Rangers must think they have learned from the mistakes of the Red Sox with Dice-K. Darvish will need to go from 6 days to 4, pitch every 5th day not every 7th, deal with language & cultural differences, etc. It's another bold move - but one that now takes Texas out of the running for Prince Fielder. You hope Nolan Ryan & his crew get more than 2 good years out of this contract.

Third & Short

2012-01-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

ESPN Boston posted a good comment from Steve Young which made sense to me.

Young thinks that Tom Brady needs about a 70% completion rate for the Pats to win this game. His thought is that 70% means Brady is completing a lot of short passes & keeping the team in 3rd & short situations. 3rd & 10 situations or longer favor the Ravens defense.

I like that analysis.

Ells Gets Big Payday

2012-01-19T10:47:00.000-05:00

Not many guys can go home after work & tell their wife that they got an 800% raise at work. Jacoby Ellsbury could - if he was married.

Ells avoided arbitration this week with a pay increase from $1 million to $8 million. Not bad for a guy who was injured most of 2010 & then came back to be the MVP runner-up in 2011.

2011 was a special year for Jacoby. He may never duplicate those numbers again, but we'll take something close to it for 2012. Look for Ells to continue to shine as he heads towards free agency in 2013.

Franklin Morales Signs & Avoids Arbitration

2012-01-18T13:06:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting guy. You just wonder if he can put it together & be a back-end of the bullpen pitcher.

Franklin Morales, 25, signed a 1-year contract with the Sox per the team website. He throws a plus fastball, 94-96 range & has a good breaking ball to get lefties out. His problem has been control - too many walks. Relievers, especially back-end guys, can't be giving up free bases.

According to reports, Morales has been lights out in the winter league & he has shown much better control. Maybe he will be the find of the year like Aceves was last year.

Crawford Has Left Wrist Surgery

2012-01-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

No one saw this coming. Carl Crawford underwent left wrist surgery yesterday & will miss the start of the regular season.

According to MLB, Crawford started ramping up his off-season workouts when he noticed the problem - pain in his left wrist. In consultation with Cherington, Valentine & the medical staff all decided it would be best for Crawford & the Sox to have corrective surgery now & get his wrist healthy.

After a poor year in 2011 Crawford was looking to bounce back in 2012. He still may, but both he & we will need to wait a bit. Perhaps Crawford's injury will make Ben more interested in finding another outfielder from outside the organization.

Sox Sign Another Arm

2012-01-17T10:29:00.001-05:00

Vincente Padilla is the newest Red Sox to have a chance at the 5th rotation spot. Sox signed Padilla to a $1.5 million contract. The 34-year old veteran was severely limited last year due to a neck injury.

The Red Sox website says Padilla has been pitching in winter ball to let scouts know that he has recovered from his injury. If healthy, Padilla is a veteran of 4 different teams that can bring his experience of over 200 starts to the mound. He will compete against the likes of Silva, Cook, Aceves & others for the final rotation job.

Keep stockpiling the arms, Ben.

Sox Avoid Arbitration With Salty

2012-01-16T13:06:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox website announced that the Sox & catcher Jarrod Saltalamachia agreed to a 1-year contract, thus avoiding salary arbitration. Salty made $750,000 last year. You would think that he got a raise, but no terms were disclosed. A 1-year deal may mean that Ryan Lavarnway is not too far away from being the everyday catcher.

Other notables still eligible for arbitration are David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury & Daniel Bard. Again, you would think that all three will get a raise. The question is whether or not the Sox find an agreeable number with each player before they reach arbitration.

The Sox have never went arbitration with a player while Theo was GM. Their streak may end this time around.

It's Pats & Raven, 49ers & Giants

2012-01-16T12:44:00.000-05:00

Then there were just 4.

Both Drew Brees & the Saints & Aaron Rogers & the Packers will be fans like us next weekend. Poor ball control led to miscues & turnovers that neither team was able to overcome. It just shows that anything can happen in the playoffs. I know from experience that the hard part of losing in the playoffs is living with the stigma that you did not play your best when it counted the most.

As you look at the 4 survivers this weekend, perhaps the Giants have the most balanced team on offense & defense. The Patriots have improved on the D side of the ball with the return of players like Patrick Cheung & Brandon Spikes. Both the 49ers & Ravens sport talented defenses, although the 49ers were able to score 30+ points over the Saints. Any of these 4 teams can win the Super Bowl. It just comes down to turnovers. Whoever plays a clean game & protects the ball usually comes out on top.

I'll take the Patriots over the Ravens & the 49ers over the Giants.

Pats Kick Broncos, 49ers Shock Saints

2012-01-15T10:59:00.001-05:00

Tom Brady & the New England Patriots put up 28 first half points to punch their ticket to the AFC Championship Game with a 45-10 win at home over the Denver Broncos. The Broncos never got into a rhythm on offense. This game was all but over at halftime. Gronk had a monster game, as did Aaron Hernandez. And the defense looked very good in containing Tim Tebow. Having Cheung & Spikes back certainly makes a difference.

The San Francisco 49ers shock Drew Brees & the Saints 36-32 with a winning TD drive with 9 seconds left in regulation. From the 49ers standpoint they could not have played a better game. 5 turnovers by the Saints led to their downfall.

More fun today with 2 more playoff games. Not seeing a Manning any further in the playoffs would be great. No Mannings. No Ryans.

Yankees Get Pitching Help

2012-01-14T11:16:00.000-05:00

MLB reports that the New York Yankees get some much needed pitching help via a trade with Seattle & a free agent acquisition.

The Yankees trade away their prize catching prospect in Jesus Montero in order to get 6'7" Michael Pineda for the Mariners. Pineda had a good first half, but struggled in the second half of 2010. Montero was thought to be untouchable & the heir to catcher Jorge Posada who retired earlier this year.

The Yankees also come to terms with the Dodgers Hiroki Kuroda for the price of $10 - $11 million for one year. Just when you thought that the New York checkbook could be opened the Yankees take a chance on a NL pitcher who eats innings. The AL East will be different than the NL West, so Kuroda becomes a big gamble in pinstripes.

This just shows you how strapped the Yankees are for pitching to trade away their version of Jose Iglesius or Ryan Lavarnway to get a young arn. It doesn't speak well for their minor league system. And there goes another $10 million over the luxury tax.

Like all moves, time will tell if they work out.

How About Cody Ross??

2012-01-13T19:09:00.000-05:00

Of all the free agent outfielders still available I like Cody Ross as a possible fit in RF at Fenway. He had a great offensive playoff run when the Giants won the World Series. And he is a good fielder with a good arm. Most of all, he is a steady right-handed bat to balance the lineup.

Darnell McDonald is shaky at the plate & in the field. His offensive numbers really came tumbling back to earth last year.

Mike Aviles is a career infield utility guy trying to learn to play the outfield. I know the Sox like his bat (personally, I'm not that impressed with his offense), but Fenway is a tough right field even for a seasoned outfielder. He would be scary out there.

Ryan Sweeney is the best option right now, but he brings another left-handed bat to the lineup. I guess we lived with J.D. Drew last year, so maybe Sweeney gets the nod at this point.

Same deal with Ryan Kalish. Once he gets back from his injuries he is another Ryan Sweeney.

Ross may be out of Cherington's price range, but maybe they can work out an incentivized contract to make it worth his while.

Other than Ross, I would take my chances with Sweeney, McDonald, Aviles & Kalish.

Round 2 of Pats Versus Broncos

2012-01-13T10:47:00.000-05:00

Can the Pats break a 2-year drought & win a playoff game? Can the Pats D stop Tim Tebow & force turnovers?

We'll have the answer late Saturday night as Gillette will be rocking. Pat fans will be hoping for 2 playoff home wins to propel New England into another Super Bowl.

My predictions are pretty conservative. I'm taking the favorites.

Patriots over Broncos

Ravens over Texans

Packers over Giants

Saints over 49ers

If the sun, moon & stars align, I see the Pats beat the Ravens, then the Pats beat the Saints in the Super Bowl.

Go Patriots!!

Madsen to Reds for 1 Year

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

My, my, my... How the mighty have fallen...

Superagent Scot Boras made a super mistake. He convinced Ryan Madsen that big deals were out there, but his mouth couldn't back it up. In the end Madsen signs a 1-year deal for $8.5 million with the Cincinnati Reds.

Madsen doesn't get the 4-year, $12.5 million per year deal that Jon Papelbon got from his old team, the Phillies. He doesn't get multiple years which leaves him vulnerable should injury occur. And he doesn't get the asking price of $10 million or more per year that Boras said was out there.

Message to Ryan Madsen - get a new agent when you're looking for a new contract in 2013.

Top Pitchers Still Available

2012-01-10T18:22:00.001-05:00

According to Sports Illustrated, here's the top pitchers who remain available as free agents & my thoughts on each one.

Hiroki Kuroda - Good innings eater, but probably too expensive for Cherington.

Edwin Jackson - 5 different teams in 3 years says that maybe he's not a good clubhouse guy.

Roy Oswalt - Too expensive & possibly still injured, even for a 1-year deal.

Javier Vazquez - I agree with SI that he needs to stay in the National League.

Joe Saunders - A lefty to compliment Lester would be nice, but he has not been very effective - even in the NL.

Ryan Madsen - Boras may have left him out to dry by asking too much money & too many years. Even for less money & years, I don't see the Sox as a fit for Madsen with Bailey & Melancon signed.

Dan Wheeler - Sox did not offer arbitration, but Wheeler came on strong in the 2nd half. The Sox may still negotiate a lesser salary & try to bring him back. I think Wheeler still has a lot to offer.

Darren Oliver - He may be as old as Wakefield. I'd rather see a younger Doubront or Miller take a spot in the pen.

I'm sure Cherington will still be working trades in addition to free agent acquisitions. You can bet that there will be more additional arms on the roster before Spring Training starts.

Of all the guys named above, Wheeler is the only one that interests me - if they can bring him back at a reasonable price.

Has Tebow Done Enough This Year?

2012-01-10T18:01:00.000-05:00

Let's suppose Tim Tebow & the Broncos get destroyed by the Patriots 45-0 on Saturday night. Has Tim done enough with 1 playoff win to return as Denver's starting quarterback next year?

I would say there is no doubt that he returns if the Broncos pull another upset, beat the Pats & reach the AFC Championship game. I also think that he may have already shown enough to his coaches to return as their starter in the event of a loss.

It's not pretty at times. He can be controversial with the exuberance of his religious beliefs. But in pro sports it's all about wins. And Tebow has won enough games to get his team into the playoffs. Further, he beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in a playoff game with better-than-average passing skills resulting in several long plays. And he performs best when it counts the most.

Win or lose on Saturday, I think Tebow is Denver's QB next year.

Anthony Rizzo Back With Theo

2012-01-09T18:56:00.001-05:00

What a nice swing this kid has! That's the 1st thing that comes to my mind when I think about Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo was part of the 3 prospect deal with the Padres that netted the Sox Adrian Gonzalez last year.

Rizzo got rushed to the bigs by the Padres in 2011 & he didn't perform well. Theo is a believer in Rizzo, as is Jed Hoyer who was with the Padres, & they are glad to have him back in Cubbie-land. Carlos Pena will not be re-signed & 1B is a position you could see Rizzo in later in 2012.

I'm no scout, but I think this kid will be around for awhile.

Sox Continue to Stockpile Arms

2012-01-09T10:49:00.000-05:00

There are guys that just hang around the big leagues for years because they had success at some point & a team is willing to see if the player can find that magic again.

Good example - Alfredo Aceves. Put on the scrap heep by the Yankees because of multiple injuries he re-surfaces with the Sox last year at low cost & plays a significant role in the bullpen. Aceves is now in line to be a starter or back-end bullpen guy in 2012.

The Sox hope to find a similar storyline with Carlos Silva &/or Aaron Cook. The former Cubs & Rockies starters are coming off injuries that limited their success over the past few years. Maybe one or both will play a role in the Sox success this year. Maybe neither will work out. But Cherington is stockpiling arms to give the organization a chance to find another Aceves.

As we have seen with the Lackey & Crawford signings to date, the size of the contract does not equate to future success. There is safety in numbers & I expect the Sox to look for more reclamation projects like Cook & Silva.

Tebow Time Once Again

2012-01-09T10:35:00.000-05:00

Tim Tebow & the Denver Broncos pulled off the upset of Wild Card Weekend by beating the Steel Curtain in OT 29-23. Denver utilized multiple long pass plays to bring down the season on ailing Big Ben & Co.

Now the Broncos take the momentum of their playoff win into Foxborough to play the Pats who beat the Broncos soundly in Denver a few weeks ago. The Patriots used several miscues by Tebow & Co. to win in comeback fashion at Mile High. However, like the Steelers game, if the Broncos do not turn the ball over, it will be a much closer game than analysts are predicting.

From the Patriots standpoint you have to like their matchup with Denver better than playing against Pittsburgh. But Bill better have his players ready to play an errorless game as well.

Should be a fun week of Tebow talk again.

Jenks Has 2nd Procedure

2012-01-06T10:05:00.000-05:00

Bobby Jenks will be delayed this year. He had a 2nd procedure on his back which requires about 8 weeks of recovery, pushing him past the start of Spring Training.

Jenks was a no-show in 2011 & starts 2012 behind the 8-ball. For $20 million the Sox have not gotten much return thus far. We can only hope Jenks is available in May or June & can be effective once healthy.

Zambrano to Marlins

2012-01-06T09:58:00.000-05:00

Theo didn't wait too long to get rid of Cubs bad boy Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano goes to the Marlins for Volstad & the Cubs eat a ton of money in the process. I guess Theo had enough practice in Boston with Manny & didn't want a cancer like Zambrano to return to the Cubs dugout.

Sometimes you get what you ask for. Zambrano requested a trade last year & now gets to interact with Ozzie Guillen on a daily basis. We may seem some sparks from the Miami dugout with those two personalities.

The Marlins will certainly be a different team this year. I'm sure Cub fans are relieved also.

A Healthy Youk & Buck This Year

2012-01-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Kevin Youkilis & Clay Buchholz are hoping for better health as their New Years resolution for 2012. Both guys can contribute mightily to the Sox success this year by staying on the field.

Youk is injury-free & working hard in California to get ready for the grind of the upcoming season. He has missed valuable time in each of the last 2 seasons. His name came up in trade talks with Oakland over Gio Gonzalez. However, the Sox never parted with the MVP candidate & I think it's a good thing that they didn't. I look for Youk to have a comeback year like Ells did in 2011.

Clay Buchholz is also throwing freely & pain-free in his back. Last year Buck was shutdown shortly after the all-star break & never made it back to the hill. He was arguably the #1 pitcher in 2010 & he is hoping for a return to throwing every 5 days to make his 30+ starts in 2012. Like Youk, I think Buck is headed towards a great comeback year with 15 or more wins.

Having both of these guys back is huge.

No More Ryans

2012-01-02T09:45:00.000-05:00

It was great last year when the Heat lost in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks. We didn't have to see or hear LeBron James anymore.

Now that the J-E-T-S & the Cowboys are both out of the playoffs we don't have to see or hear the Ryan boys anymore. Rex's prediction about his team winning the Super Bowl never materialized. And Jerry Jones' Cowboys threw away too many games in the 4th quarter to make the playoffs. Both teams finish 8-8. Both teams have quarterback issues in Sanchez & Romo. Both teams have Ryan boys not playing in January.

Life is good.

Pats Overcome Deficit, Then Destroy Bills

2012-01-02T09:39:00.000-05:00

21-0 after 15 minutes. No problem.

The slow-starting Pats did it again on Sunday, falling behind to the Buffalo Bills 21-0 in the 1st quarter. The Bills ran & passed up & down the field at will.

Over the next 3 quarters the Pats scored 49 unanswered points in an offensive explosion that saw Tom Brady surpass 5,000 passing yards for the 1st time in his career. The contributors on offense were many, but it tight end combo of Gronk & Hernandez did most of the damage. Welker, Green-Ellis & Ridley had good games. Even Ocho threw a block at one point to help the offense waltz into the playoffs as the #1 seed.

The Pats get a week off before playing in Gillette a week from Saturday. The opponent could be Pittsburgh, Denver or Cincinnati. The Pats need to shake off 2 playoff losses in a row during the past 2 years.

Regardless of whether you think Belichick & Co. drafted poorly to be stuck with a subpar secondary, having this team at 13-3 & the #1 seed is quite a fete. Congrats to the Pats on a regular season that no one could have anticipated with all the questions on defense.

X + Y = NFL Playoffs

2012-01-01T09:49:00.000-05:00

You need a math degree to figure out some of the happenings that need to occur for certain teams to make the NFL playoffs. By the end of the day, however, we will know which potential team the Patriots will play in 2 weeks.

The Pats are gunning for the #1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Bills at Gillette today. If the Pats can jump out to a comfortable lead, look for Belichick to pull his starters nursing injuries like tom Brady.

Like every week, however, we never know which defense will turn up. The Bills are coming off a big win against Denver & they would like nothing more than a 2nd win this season over the Pats.

Enjoy a fun afternoon of football on day 1 of 2012. Happy New Years!

A-Rod Gets Surgery in Germany

2011-12-30T09:28:00.001-05:00

What does that tell you about A-Rod & steroids that he has to go to Germany to get his knee operated on? Remember his "come clean" interview in Spring Training a few years ago? I think it was more than a youthful indiscretion & I think it was more use than once or twice. Ask his crumbling body. Hip. knee, back - all going south.

A-Rod wasn't worth $25 million last year & he won't be worth $25 million a year for the remaining 6 or 7 years on his renegotiated contract. With a 50% A-Rod, an aging Jeter, an aging Mo Rivera & no Jorge Posada the Yankees better hope that CC doesn't catch old age disease anytime soon. With no acquisitions in the off-season to date the Yanks of 2012 will just keep getting older & hope to keep winning with smoke & mirrors.

Bailey - A Late Christmas Present

2011-12-29T08:42:00.000-05:00

Yesss... The Sox may have been the bridesmaid on the Gio Gonzalez deal, but they put together the right compliment of players to acquire closer Andrew Bailey from the Oakland A's, as well as Ryan Sweeney. The Sox give up Josh Reddick & 2 minor leaguers in the 3 for 2 deal.

Getting Bailey is a huge feather in Cherington's cap & has to be viewed as his best signing to date. The 27 year old closer is under control for several more years & gives the Sox much needed flexibility with Aceves & Bard.

With Melancon & Bailey at the back-end of the bullpen now the Sox could try both Bard & Aceves in the #4 & #5 spots in the starting rotation, leaving Bobby Jenks & Frank Morales to compete for the 7th inning job.

As Peter Gammons says, the Rays success has been predicated upon the number of innings pitched by their starters. More innings by starters equates to less innings by the bullpen. Less bullpen innings means you don't need to have the best guys out there since you can switch them up every batter or two as necessary to get a favorable matchup. The Sox bullpen pitched way too many innings last year.

This trade for Andrew Bailey is huge for the 2012 Red Sox. I'm getting ready for Spring Training now.

Brees Breaks Marino's Mark

2011-12-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

A few years ago Drew Brees & the Saints brought a Super Bowl title to a state that had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. It was a great moment for the folks in Louisiana. It gave them hope & something to cheer for.

On Monday night Brees surpassed the most passing yards in a season by Dan Marino. He again is playing at a very high level & his Saints look to compete again for the Super Bowl title in 2012.

Congratulations to Drew Brees. Of the 2 accomplishments, I'm sure he would say that the pride of a Super Bowl win for the city of New Orleans was the more important. Like all true players, a team goal trumps an individual goal.

Jets Lose to Giants, Rex Almost Out

2011-12-27T11:54:00.000-05:00

Rex Ryan is almost speechless. His J-E-T-S team has one foot in the playoff grave after a loss on Saturday, dropping their record to 8-7, & losing the battle for hearts & minds in the Big Apple. As the Big Tuna use to say, you are what your record says you are. Therefore, the Jets are a .500 team - no better, no worse.

It's one thing to back up your mouthiness on the field. It's another thing not too. Rex started the year announcing his Jets as the Super Bowl winner. Then it went to I'd like one more chance against the Patriots. Then it was we are the big brother of the Giants in the battle for New York.

I'd say Rex is 0-3 with his verbal predictions & his team is regressing badly this year. Rex may keep talking, but no one listens when you're a loser.

Sox Coaching Staff Finalized for 2012

2011-12-26T08:51:00.000-05:00

Ben Cherington & Bobby Valentine have their coaches in place for 2012.

Tim Bogar, Bench Coach

Bob McClure, Pitching Coach

Dave Magadan, Hitting Coach

Alex Ochoa, 1B Coach

Jerry Royster, 3B Coach

Gary Tuck, Bullpen Coach

Of all these guys, the focus is on Bob McClure & how he will handle a pitching staff that underperformed at the end of the 2011 season. I wish him well.

Other than more pitching & a right-hand hitting outfielder, the Sox are ready to go into the New Year & Spring Training - about 7 weeks away if you're counting.

Tale of Two Halves in 27-24 Win

2011-12-25T07:42:00.000-05:00

It was almost coal in the stockings of the 68,000+ that showed up at Gillette Sunday. But the Patriots bounced back after being down 17 at the half to beat the fish & give their fans a first round bye.

We saw a first half with bad Tom Brady who bounced balls in the ground to his receivers. Maybe that shoulder injury was acting up or maybe it was worse than anyone let on.

Then there was the good Tom Brady in the 2nd half who led his offense to 27 points & a win over the Miami Dolphins. Abandoning the run for much of the half & using a no-huddle to wear down the defense, the Patriots looked like a completely different team. The D did get 2 huge turnovers as well - a fumble recovery by big Vince & an INT by Devon McCourty.

Much of the 1st half problems had to do with an injury-plagued O line that was without the services of Matt Light & Logan Mankins. Brady had little time to let his receivers run their routes & he was rushed & inaccurate as a result. However, as good teams do, the Pats coaches & players figured it out at halftime to overcome a 17-0 deficit.

The win assures the Patriots of a bye in the playoffs. Another win next Sunday assures the Pats of a #1 seed & playing at home the entire playoffs.

Gio Gone, Bailey Still Available

2011-12-23T16:37:00.000-05:00

Billy Beane pulled off one of his signature moves by getting a 4 for 1 trade accomplished with the Washington Nationals. Gone are Washington's top 4 minor league prospects. In return, the Nationals get a young, dependable arm in Gio Gonzalez.

I'm not sure that the Sox had the same quality & number of prospects to give Oakland in return for Gonzalez. You can bet that Ben was talking with Billy. But in the end it looks like Oakland made the best deal out there.

A's closer Andrew Bailey is still being shopped by Beane. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Sox make an offer for Bailey to add to the back end of the bullpen. Just who? I'm not sure.

The only other closer of note is Ryan Madsen whose price & years must be coming down every day he doesn't get signed. Maybe the Sox will wait out Boras for a 1-year deal with Madsen.

Bob McClure New Pitching Coach

2011-12-23T09:35:00.000-05:00

Good luck, Bob! You really can't do any worse than Curt Young.

McClure was the pitching coach in Kansas city for several years. He inherits a staff that under-performed, to say the least, down the stretch last season. I'm sure the discussion has already taken place about how to keep Beckett, Lester & Buchholz in line & focused on reaching the playoffs.

Maybe he can use some of his rah-rah experience with young pitchers in Kansas City to get our vets to enjoy the game again & play up to their potential. As we use to tell our kids, when you don't give your best, you hurt your fellow teammates, but most of all you cheat yourself.

This pitching staff may be sick of hearing all the off-season criticism. Maybe they will all come back with a chip on their shoulder & with something to prove. The fans deserve their absolute best after last year.

What's With Carl Crawford?

2011-12-22T17:25:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's something. Maybe it's nothing.

Bobby Valentine has not been able to reach Carl Crawford yet. Bobby V. said the two are scheduled to talk after the New Year.

You could interpret this as Crawford not happy about Valentine's comments on ESPN about his pretzel-looking stance at the plate. Or Crawford could be legitimately busy & working out.

Either way, I'm thinking after the ugly, ugly year Crawford had at the plate & in the field that Carl would want to get on the same page as the new manager sooner than later. It's one thing if you had an Ellsbury or Gonzalez kind of year to keep a new skipper waiting. But not when you posted your poorest numbers in the last 7 years.

Even chicken & beer Josh Beckett gave Valentine an earful on their first phone call about the long pauses he takes in-between pitches. Now they can move forward.

This situation with Valentine & Crawford bears watching.

New Podcast

2011-12-22T17:15:00.000-05:00

Gaff, Steve & I finished up a new podcast today. As soon as my tech specialist Dave can upload to the blog, please take a listen. It's entitled "Hot Stove 2011."
If you have any thoughts about the subjects in the podcast, feel free to hit the comment button below & give us your feedback.

Thanks & happy holidays!

Sox Show Interest in Cordero and Oswalt

2011-12-21T09:28:00.000-05:00

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly in talks with the agents for Cincinnati closer Francisco Cordero & Phillies starting pitcher Roy Oswalt. Both could be additional pieces to the roster for Ben Cherington in 2012.

Cordero is 36 & has spent 5 years as the closer in Cincinnati. He could provide another option for the Sox, along with Bard, Aceves, Jenks & Melancon at the closer's spot. The Reds would like him back & the number of years in any potential deal could be too much for the Sox to handle. However, it never hurts to kick the tires.

Oswalt has had a nagging back injury. He recently dropped his request for a multi-year deal & now will accept a 1-year deal to prove he is healthy again. This sounds like a deal right up the Red Sox alley with no long-term commitment. When right Oswalt is one of the best pitchers in baseball. I hope the Sox make an offer if they feel Oswalt is healthy.

Not much talk recently about Gio Gonzalez from the A's. He's another guy that would be salary friendly, but the Sox would have to unload several players & key prospects to Billy Beane in a trade. It's not likely that the Sox have the manpower to give, but you never know.

Texas Posts $51.7 Million for Japanese Pitcher

2011-12-21T09:18:00.000-05:00

C.J. Wilson out. Yu Darvish in?

The Texas Rangers posted a $51.7 million posting fee for 25 year old pitcher Yu Darvich & now have 30 days to sign him to a big league contract. The Darvich posting fee is even larger than the one the Sox paid to sign Dice-K in 2006.

Japanese pitchers are iffy business in the U.S. bigs. But Nolan Ryan continues to build the Rangers organization in the area where they were the weakest - pitching. If nothing else, it shows the Rangers are not going to relinquish their AL crown in 2012 to New York, Boston, Detroit or Anaheim without a fight.

We'll see very quickly if the the risk is worth the reward.

Holiday Cheers

2011-12-20T09:15:00.000-05:00

I heard a caller on a radio show say it's Christmas, so how about acting like your happy. I can do that...

Here's a few things that I'm happy about this Christmas.

- I'm happy that I have this blog which helps me to stay in touch with family & friends. In addition, I need to give a big thank you to my most loyal blog follower in Mountain View, CA. Thanks for your great support over the past several years.

- I'm happy for all the service men & women returning home from Iraq. I'm happy for their family & friends. 4,000+ of our brave troops paid the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq. 30,000+ returned home with injuries from this war. Many others have returned home with the effects of PTSD. Let's not forget the huge sacrifice made by these American heroes.

- I'm happy to be alive and to be an American. Do we have problems in this country? Yes. Look at healthcare. Look at the political gridlock in Washington. Yet with all these problems there is no other country I would rather live in.

- I'm happy to have witnessed a decade of Boston sports excellence from 2000 to 2010. We had wins in Super Bowls, World Series, NBA finals & the Stanley Cup. No other city in the country can say that.

There is a lot to be happy about this Christmas. As the radio caller said, find something you can be happy about & enjoy this time of year.

Merry Christmas!

Broncos Choke, Pats Win 41-23

2011-12-19T08:18:00.001-05:00

It started off as a shootout. Then,

- missed PAT on bad snap

- fumble by running back

- fumble by quarterback

- fumble by punt returner

The Denver Broncos committed multiple turnovers that led to an 18 point victory by the New England Patriots in Sports Authority Stadium in Denver.

Scott Zolak had it right in his pre-game comments. He predicted it was all about Brady & that Aaron Hernandez would have a big day. Both came true.

The Pats porous defense came up with huge turnovers that the offense converted into twenty-something unanswered points. Other than the first quarter where Denver scored 16 of its 23 points the Pats defense held their ground after an adjustment from a 4-3 to a 3-4 which contained Tebow well for the rest of the game.

Andre Carter will be a big loss on D if his leg injury requires surgery & he is out for the remaining 2 games & playoffs. Mark Cunningham turned in a great performance in place of Carter.

The Pats win the AFC East with their road win yesterday. For good measure the Jets lost & now need to be concerned about securing a wild card spot.

It's never dull with the Patriots. But we can look forward to playoff football in January.

Tebow Time Is Here

2011-12-18T07:28:00.000-05:00

Finally, everything that can possibly be said by the sports papparazzi is coming to an end at 4:15 today. The Patriots & the Broncos kick it off later this afternoon & we will find out if the legend of Tebow lives or dies by 7:15.

Every Sunday is a crap shoot with the Patriots porous defense. And, like every other Sunday this season, it's up to Tom Brady & the offense to score more points than the other team. If the Dencer D can hold the Pats scoring down & it's close going into the 4th quarter, watch out for Tebow magic.

Hunker down with your favorite beverage & snack & enjoy the game.

Cuddyear Off to Colorado

2011-12-17T09:51:00.000-05:00

The Sox missed out on Michael Cuddyear who accepts a 3-year, $31.5 million offer from the Rockies. Cuddyear turned down a $25 million deal to stay with his current team, the Twins.

Seems like everyone is signing for big money. I guess Cuddyear was just too rich for the Red Sox. Too bad.

Bonds Gets 2 Years Probation

2011-12-17T09:49:00.000-05:00

Probation, house monitoring & community service. After all the hoopla surrounding Barry Bonds he gets a slap on the wrist for lying to the feds about taking steroids. And he's appealing.

Don't we have a better way to spend taxpayer money. Either put some teeth into your punishment, feds, or just don't bother going after high-profile athletes.

Sox Versus Boras on Madsen

2011-12-16T09:15:00.000-05:00

Finally, I heard an interesting comment by Lou Merloni last night on the acquisition of potential closer Mark Melancon. His comment was backed up by a phone interview with Ben Cherington.

Is Mark Melancon the Sox closer for 2012? According to Ben, he has the makeup to close in the AL East after doing a better-than-average job for the Astros last year. But it will be up to Bobby Valentine as to how he uses his roster, including the proper role for Melancon.

Lou thinks that the acquisition of Melancon is a direct, in-your-face move thrown at Scott Boras, super agent for Ryan Madsen. Lou thinks the Sox are showing no signs that they need anyone else in the closer sweepstakes with both Melancon now on board & internal fix Daniel Bard available. Boras sees another major market go away for his client & maybe his contract demands for Madsen - both in money & in number of years - goes down as well.

The Sox have never gotten over the A-Rod deal with Boras, even though they deal with him as well as any other team. It would be nice to stick one to him. Maybe Madsen needs to find a new agent.

Nick Punto Added to Roster

2011-12-15T08:46:00.000-05:00

The same day Jed Lowrie is traded to Houston the Sox acquire veteran utility infielder Nick Punto. Punto signs a 2-year, $3 million deal to backup guys like Pedroia, Scutaro & Youk. He may also backup highly touted Jose Iglesias next year if Iglesias can improve his hitting skills at triple A Pawtucket in 2012.

Shoppach, Melancon & Punto are all nice parts to fill-in various needs on this year's roster. Now Ben needs to concentrate on stockpiling more pitchers to complete for jobs this spring. A right-handed hitting outfielder would be nice too.

Mark Melancon Acquired From Astros

2011-12-14T16:37:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox pulled the trigger on a deal that brings a potential closer to town. Mark Melancon, the Astros closer for most of last season, is traded to the Red Sox in exchange for Jed Lowrie & Kyle Weiland.

Melancon was 20 of 25 in saves for Houston last year. He fits the bill for a reasonably priced closer that the Sox needed to find. At worst he can be a 7th or 8th inning guy if Bard moves into the closer role. Melancon was previously with the Yankees & has a little experience against the AL East.

Lowrie has always had the tools, but consistent injuries have kept him off the field more than on. Weiland has good stuff, but he seemed rushed to the big leagues last year & out of his comfort zone at this point in his career.

Along with Shoppach, I think Melancon is another good signing by Ben.

Shoppach In, Varitek Out

2011-12-14T09:09:00.001-05:00

Kelly Shoppach is back where he started. Shoppach returns to Boston in a backup catching role, similar to his position in Tampa Bay last year. The Sox sign Shoppach to a 1-year, $1.35 million deal.

Saltie's new backup signals the end of Jason Varitek's 15-year stint in a Red Sox uniform. Varitek has set every record imaginable for a Red Sox catcher - from most games caught, 4 no-hitters caught, most HR's to 2 World Series rings. The captain has done it all.

Shoppach also gives up & comer Ryan Lavarnway more time to mature in triple A, although Lavarnway's progress may spill over into starting time after the All-Star break or if there is an injury. He could see time at DH as well should Big Papi falter.

The Sox finally have a trio of catchers that can adequately handle a position that has been a sore spot in prior years due to Varitek's decline in hitting & throwing out runners. This was a small signing, but an important one.

10-Year Contracts?

2011-12-13T14:32:00.001-05:00

I apologize to my nephew for stealing his thought, but I've been thinking about these contracts since he brought it up.

Will A-Rod & Albert Pujols be worth $20 million plus in year 10 of their contracts? It seems ridiculous to sign any player in his 30's to that kind of deal.

In A-Rod's case it was Goldman Sachs that stepped up & told the Yankees management that they needed to re-sign A-Rod to protect their investment in the New Yankee Stadium, their equivalent of Jerry Jones' temple to football in Dallas. Goldman would not have underwritten the new stadium without A-Rod locked up for the long term. So good timing on A-Rod's part, except his skills are waining now & he stills has 6 or 7 years to go. With his body parts a mess from steroids A-Rod may be collecting his future paychecks from a wheelchair.

Pujols is already 32. Both he & CJ Wilson are coming from the calm of the mid-west to La-La-Land & all the craziness that brings. It might take awhile for both to become comfortable with their surroundings. And in Pujols' case the contract term is just too long for someone who could have retired as a legend in St. Louis. The most the Angels can hope to get from Albert is a good 5 years. So the pressure will be on the team with the longest name in baseball to win now.

A reporter said it only takes one crazy owner to set the bar too high. In these cases there were two crazy owners.

The Silence Is Deafening

2011-12-13T07:36:00.000-05:00

The Sox have a small window of opportunity to put together a package of players in a deal with the Oakland A's to obtain Andrew Bailey & Gio Gonzalez. They are not the only team interested in these guys which is why I say the window is small.

Not that the Sox would have outbid the Miami Marlins or the LA Angels of Anaheim for any of their free agent signings, but the managerial search for Bobby Valentine did put other things on hold - like filling roster holes. Like many teams, the Sox are in need of pitching & the better ones for sale or trade will not being around after Christmas. The White Sox, for example, are dangling Gavin Floyd & John Dankes out there to see what they can get in return.

C'mon, Ben. Let's pull the trigger soon before the only deal left is to re-sign Tim Wakefield.

Welcome to Tebow Mania Week

2011-12-12T08:36:00.000-05:00

Tim Tebow keeps winning. And the Patriots are the next team to try & stop the Broncos win streak in Denver next Sunday.

The Denver victory over Chicago on Sunday was most improbable & aided by an out-of-bounce play that stopped the clock by Bears running back Marion Barber. The Broncos got the ball back one last time & tied the game on a 50-something plus field goal.

In overtime, Denver again looked like they would score first until Marion Barber fumbled the ball. The Broncos again moved the ball down the field & ended the game with another 50-plus field goal. Bad day to be Marion Barber.

Say what you will, but the Broncos keep winning. Isn't that the only stat that counts? The Patriots will have their hands full in Denver on Sunday.

Entertaining or Ugly?

2011-12-11T17:20:00.000-05:00

Depending upon your point of view, you could say that the Patriots win over the Redskins was entertaining or just plain ugly. A costly turnover by the Redskins in the red zone with just seconds left in the game led to the Pats 34-27 win.

Gronk set the new record for TD catches in a single season by a tight end, adding 2 more to his total of 15 thus far with 3 games left. Unfortunately, there was no running game to speak of. Woodhead got more carries than Green-Ellis which was odd. We even saw Kevin Faulk for a few plays. Welker & Hernandez had good games as well, although both missed a TD pass during the contest.

Jerrod Mayo caught a deflected ball for an INT to ice the game. Wilfork & Carter had nice games as well. But that secondary, oh that secondary, is butt ugly to watch. The Pats are going nowhere in the playoffs with such a makeshift crew of DB's & safeties. As Steve DeOssie said, everything rests on Tom Brady & his play will decide how far this team goes into January.

We should feel thankful to be 10-3.

AAU Chief Bobby Dodd Latest Pedophyle Outed

2011-12-11T10:31:00.000-05:00

AAU President & CEO Bobby Dodd is the latest coaching figure to be accused of molesting young boys. One accuser, who spoke on the ESPN program "Outside The Lines," experienced a panic attack while speaking to his interviewer about the abuse. Another victim obscured his identity & talked about being drugged, then abused, by Dodd. He was also propositioned by Dodd to perform oral sex for $1,000.

Even though there will be a small number of people who come forward for an easy payday, I applaud the real victims who are coming forward with horrific stories that they would rather forget. Let's pull back the curtain on all these authoritarian figures & expose them for the child abusers that they are. Let these men walk around with the burden that their victims have born for all these year.

Talks Heating Up With A's & Andrew Bailey

2011-12-11T09:21:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox are still in hot pursuit of Andrew Bailey & perhaps Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland A's. The Sox have enough spare parts from the current roster, as well as prospects, to fit Billy Beane's mold of low cost, overlooked talent for his 2012 team.

The one big name still out there in trade talks is Kevin Youkilis. Beane was one of the first guys to appreciate Youk's OBP before it was a sexy stat. Perhaps he still feels that way.

Bailey would give the Sox the option of trying Daniel Bard as a starter. Bard could be Plan B as a closer if Bailey withers under the stress of a competitive AL East. Gonzalez would give the Sox the luxury of keeping Aceves or Bard out of the starting rotation & at the back end of the bullpen. Both Bailey & Gonzalez are affordable in the Sox budget for 2012.

I'd like to see them pull off this deal for one or both.

Braun's Star Not As Bright

2011-12-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers, the NL MVP for 2011, has his star tainted over his recent positive test for performance enhancing drugs (PED's). The left-field slugger says that he will challenge the test results.

If the test is accurate, Braun will miss 50 games next season. That would be a huge blow to Milwaukee as their team's other slugger, Prince Fielder, is expected to sign somewhere else this off-season.

Oddly enough, this news about Braun comes on the heels of a report that Manny Ramirez has been reinstated for active duty. Ramirez would also need to serve a 50-game suspension - if he plays again - for violations of the same PED policy.

Manny's rep has been tarnished for awhile now. It's too bad to see a young star like Braun also dim.

Pats Versus Redskins

2011-12-10T09:51:00.000-05:00

It's off to the nation's capitol for the Patriots as they take on a bad Redskins team. Not that every game isn't a struggle, but you would think that this one would be a fairly easy road game.

Will Bill continue to experiment with offensive guys on the defensive side of the ball? Will Brady get lifted in the 4th quarter? Will Gronk break the record this weekend? All to be seen.

Will Rex Ryan ever shutup about wanting to play the Patriots again this year in the playoffs? There's a good chance the Jets are watching TV in January given their uphill battle to even make the playoffs.

Another 1 PM start is great. Let's enjoy it.

Angels Sign Pujols & Wilson

2011-12-08T19:09:00.001-05:00

It's a great year to be a sought after free agent. Money is flying out of Miami, but it is also flying out of Anaheim now.

The LA Angels of Anaheim filled their Christmas list with the major signings of Albert Pujols - 10 years, $254 million - & starting pitcher C.J. Wilson - 5 years, $77.5 million. The St. Louis Cardinals lose the face of their franchise after Pujols rejected 9 years, $220 million. The Rangers will definitely miss their top starter in C.J. Wilson, but they hope to have Neptali Feliz step into his shoes. Obviously, the Cards are the team hurting the most.

The money is just ridiculous out there.

Is Doubront a Key This Year?

2011-12-08T08:02:00.000-05:00

Felix Doubront had a forgetful 2011 like other members of the Sox. He got injured in Spring Training (some say because of coming in out of shape) & he was injured again during the season. He, like Ryan Kalish, never got to make the improvement everyone was hoping for.

In 2012 I see a healthy Doubront making a case to become one of 5 starters. I like his stuff a lot. And talk about a low-cost solution for one of the starting roles. If, & it's a big if, Felix can make the jump this year, it would allow Valentine to leave Aceves or Bard in the pen. Right now, both Bard & Aceves are gearing up for spots in the starting rotation.

Unlike Kyle Weiland who still needs a year or two of seasoning in the minors, I see Doubront as an important piece on the Sox chessboard this year.

Trade Youk?

2011-12-07T16:33:00.000-05:00

Say it ain't so. Some reporters are speculating that a Sox trade with the Oakland A's may include Kevin Youkilis.

I say to these reporters "cut back on the medication." The Sox are in need of right-handed hitters to balance out the Crawford-Ortiz-Gonzalez effect. Youk is still an MVP candidate when he is healthy. No doubt that the issue of health has eluded him the past 2 years. But by all accounts he should be ready to go for Spring Training.

Like Pedroia, I would think of Youk as untouchable right now.

Ortiz to Accept Arbitration

2011-12-07T09:07:00.000-05:00

36-year old David Ortiz will formally accept salary arbitration today & remain a member of the Boston Red Sox for 2012. He is expected to make $13-$14 million for one year.

Even though the market may have priced out Big Papi's services as a DH closer to $9-$10 million, this is a good deal for both sides. The Sox get a 29/99 guy back in the middle of the order & Ortiz is motivated to produce for his next contract in 2013.

The re-signing of Ortiz now allows Cherington to focus his remaining budget allowance on piecing together pitching for the bullpen & perhaps adding a starter. No major moves are expected via free agency, but the Sox are talking trade with the Oakland A's who have both starting pitchers & a closer available for the right players in return.

Reyes to Marlins for $106 Million

2011-12-06T09:04:00.000-05:00

Jose Reyes got his big payday worth over $100 million. He moves from the Mets to become the everyday shortstop for the Marlins for the next 6 years. That makes long-time Marlin Hanley Ramirez expendable or a candidate for a new position at 3B. Reyes joins new closer Health Bell as the Marlins spend away to fill their new stadium next year.

I got sour on Reyes when he bunted for a hit on the last day of the season & then promptly took himself out of the game so he could win the NL batting title over Ryan Braun. That didn't scream of team play to me, but obviously it didn't bother the Marlins.

Albert Pujols & Prince Fielder are still awaiting their big paydays.

Child Abuse At Penn State & Syracuse

2011-12-05T09:11:00.000-05:00

Jerry Sandusky at Penn State.

Bernie Fine at Syracuse.

Head coaches who claim no knowledge or limited kinowledge.

Major universities that either covered up or mishandled their responsibilities.

I don't understand the premise of adult men & their attraction to young male children.

What I do understand is that it's always about money. Universities take-in millions through their major sports program & they are not about to sacrifice their cash cow when improprieties arise. They will look the other way.

Fortunately for the victims in these cases, their voices are finally being heard - even if it is years later.

Patriots Hold On 31-24 Over Colts

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

My oh my! The Patriots 4th quarter yesterday gave me flashbacks to the month of September for the Red Sox. 21 unanswered points by the Colts brought the game down to one on-side kick. Thank goodness for Deion Branch.

While Belichick was trying new personnel on the defensive side of the ball this game was marked by another slow start in the 1st quarter by the Pats offense & an inability to score at all in the 4th. You would think that 31 points sounds good, but it was only 30 minutes worth of work.

Still the Pats had enough against a Peyton Manning-less Colts team. Gronk & Welker had excellent days in the receiving game. So did big Vince Wilford & Jerrod Mayo on the defensive side.

A win is a win & that's the main thing. At 9-3 the Pats are looking at a playoff spot as they travel to DC to take on the Redskins next Sunday. The Jets remain 2 behind at 7-5 with 4 games to go.

I hope Belichick saw what he needed to yesterday in the porous secondary to bolster that back line of defensive backs & safeties for the last 4 games.

Valentine Visits Big Papi

2011-12-04T09:17:00.000-05:00

Bobby Valentine wasted no time on his first full day in office by jumping on a plane for the Dominican to meet with David Ortiz. If nothing else, Big Papi should feel the love from the new skipper by getting his immediate attention.

Ortiz can accept arbitration this week & be assured of one more year at $14 million with the Sox. However, reports indicate that Big Papi is looking for a 2 or 3 year deal. Ortiz will fly back to New York today & meet with his agent on Monday to review his options. $14 million for one-year has to be attractive, though.

For Bobby V. it's off to the winter meetings with Ben Cherington to find some players. The Sox are interested in meeting with the agents for Ryan Madsen, one of the few remaining closers, & C.J. Wilson who will probably be too high priced for them. Let's not forget Michael Cuddyear & Mark Buehrle as other possible additions. There are also a few young pitchers from the A's that the Sox may be able to trade for. Should be an interesting 3 days. We may be able to catch up with other active teams with a few good deals this week.

Ben & Bobby Take Over For Theo & Tito

2011-12-02T08:27:00.000-05:00

I've decided that I'll watch live press conferences like the Sox had yesterday & then make up my own mind instead of listening to non-stop reporters tear every word apart. It reminded me of a Presidential address that the Republicans counter with their own response.

My thoughts are that I liked what I heard. Ben Cherington gave an excellent, off-the-cuff summary of the managerial search. Bobby Valentine gave excellent remarks about his feelings on becoming the new Sox manager. Both answered tough questions about the process & perceived shortcomings. In the end I was impressed with a line that Bobby V. gave to Dan Roach when he said we wants to build a team of excellence, not excellent players. I like the whole T-E-A-M theme.

As things move along, there will be plenty of time for Valentine to get to know his players before Spring Training begins. He & Cherington need to turn their attention to the upcoming managers meeting next week.

Valentine Official, Players Not Happy

2011-12-01T08:17:00.000-05:00

OK, now it's official that Bobby Valentine will become the 45th manager of the Boston Red Sox today. A press conference is scheduled for 5:30 EST. Good luck, Bobby! I hope you keep the clubhouse together & move these prima dona athletes in the same direction with the common goal of striving to win.

And speaking about players, a few of them have been texting each other that they are not thrilled about having a new task master like Bobby V. Probably the beer, chicken & biscuits crowd. My response & all of Red Sox Nation say to you "tough s---." Sometimes you get what you deserve. Don't expect anyone to feel sorry for you as the country club atmosphere goes away. Come back down to earth, suck it up & work hard for a living like everyone else.

Bobby V. Looks Like the Next Sox Manager

2011-11-30T08:33:00.001-05:00

Nothing is finalized since Bobby Valentine was flying back to the U.S. from Japan. But reports were flying around last night that Valentine was the chosen one to become the Sox next manager. Remember - until he signs a contract nothing is final. There are always last minute items that can creep up & derail the final approval.

What I would call the Boston sports papparrazzi went into high gear last night on news of the possible signing of Valentine. The Enquirer-type reporters of sports talk started with the usual fabrications of their "make something out of nothing" routine. Let's get friction going, right?

1) How can the Sox treat Gene Lamont so unfairly?
Well, how about the media treating Gene Lamont unfairly by barraging him with calls to see if the Sox management had called him yet. Until the deal with Valentine is signed, sealed & delivered I wouldn't call anyone to tell him he is out of the manager's race until it's official.

2) Lucchino & Valentine will be fighting each other within 2 years. Really? You really have a crystal ball that can see 2 years into the future. Can we hold you to those totally unsubstantiated opinions in 2014?

3) Cherington got run over by Lucchino in the manager selection process.
Maybe the guys that write the checks were not impressed by the group of 5. Maybe Cherington offered to bring in Valentine for an interview after other candidates fell by the wayside. If I'm Ben Cherington, I do my job by vetting candidates & continue working to find the best man for the job, even if that means my group of 5 moves to 6. Isn't it about what's best for the club & not the individual?

4) Cherington & Valentine will never get along.
Great statement with no facts. Again, don't you think both men want to put a winning team on the field? You don't have to go to dinner with someone every night to get along & work effectively for the greater good.

All of these points were brought up on Comcast Sports Net. Shame on you guys - Lou, Bob & Sean - for starting off a new era in Sox baseball with your baseless opinions to rile up an already angry Sox fan base from 2011. If you leave Boston, there's always a job for you in Hollywood following Lindsay Lohan.

Are The Pats Good Or Bad?

2011-11-29T08:14:00.000-05:00

As I was exercising yesterday, I listened to some talk shows on TV about the Patriots. Here's what I heard.

The Patriots are OK, but won't go far in the playoffs.

The Patriots are bad. They are going nowhere with their defense.

Maybe it's living in New England & we are use to seeing championship sports around here. Like the 2008 Red Sox team that had no business making the playoffs & came within one game of going to the World Series, I think this Patriots team has over-performed this year.

Like 2004 & 2007 with the Red Sox a lot of things have to aline in order to win a championship. Given the Pats personnel, especially the young & unknown on defense, I think this is a year where Belichick is coaching well & the players are performing above their abilities. Can't we take pride in that?

Let the chips fall where they may in January. Unlike the 2011 version of the Red Sox, the New England Patriots players are giving fans all they have. We should appreciate their effort.

Pats Crush Eagles 38-20

2011-11-28T09:17:00.000-05:00

It wasn't as close as the score might indicate. The New England Patriots put a big hurt on the low-flying Eagles in the City of Brotherly Love, perhaps knocking the Eagles out of any playoff hopes.

Green-Ellis ran for tough yards all night which was rewarded by 2 short TD scores. Welker grabs 2 TD throws & had another 100+ yard game. Branch had 100+ yards in catches as well. The game was iced when Gronk caught the last TD pass from Brady & dragged a defender into the end zone with him.

Bill Belichick must have heard me screaming take Brady out, the game is over. Bill finally lifted Brady with about 6 minutes left in the game. Brady got banged around enough in the first half to warrant some time off.

The Pats were the team that executed better. That's why they won. Andy Reid & his players have a lot to answer for today before getting ready for a Thursday night game.

Tough Game for Pats Today in Philly

2011-11-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

The Philadelphia Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives with every game as they stand at 4-6. Perhaps Andy Reid is fighting to keep his job.

As the Patriots invade Philly this afternoon with a 7-3 record, they must contain McCoy & the Eagles running game to put pressure on Vince Young. On the other side, the Pats O line needs to give Brady time to find receivers. I expect the Pats to try & run more this game - just to keep the Eagles defense back & avoid the blitz.

It should be a good game. The Eagles, by far, are the more desperate team. I wouldn't count them out.

Valentine or Lamont?

2011-11-27T09:51:00.000-05:00

It's down to Bobby Valentine or Gene Lamont. Both guys have lots of experience.

Either one is OK with me. Let's just pick one, stop the drama & move on with putting a team together for 2012.

What's the Hold-Up?

2011-11-25T09:09:00.000-05:00

It's time for the Sox brass to make a choice about their new manager for next year. Whether it's Valentine, Lamont or Lovullo just make a pick & go with him.

The manager's situation is impeding progress in signing free agents or trading for new talent. Both Michael Cuddyear & Mark Buehrle would look good in a Red Sox uniform. Several young A's pitchers may be available via trade as well. But they won't be out there & available forever.

We lost out on Joe Nathan. And the Cards & Cubs have already signed their managers. We still haven't gotten out of the on-deck circle as yet.

Let's go, men. Make a decision & move on.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T09:36:00.000-05:00

Beside a trio of football games to watch today we have a lot to give thanks for - namely family, friends, food & health. All of us who gather with family, enjoy friends who travel home, eat too much good food & are in good health are certainly the lucky ones. Many people I talk to think Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year. I can't argue their point.

As we enjoy all the above while watching the Macy's parade & football games today, please remember others who will not have the same day. On-duty military, the homeless & ill people in hospitals or nursing homes are just some of the folks who will experience a different kind of Thanksgiving. Let's take one minute today to say a prayer for those people & remember how lucky we are. And thanks to all the volunteers who take time out of their Thanksgiving to make a better day for others.

Sox Offer Arbitration to Ortiz & Wheeler

2011-11-24T09:22:00.000-05:00

David Ortiz & Dan Wheeler were offered arbitration yesterday by the Boston Red Sox. Each players has until December 7th to accept or reject the Sox offer. The Sox also get compensation picks, 2 for Ortiz & 1 for Wheeler, should either player sign with another team.

Players not offered arbitration include Jason Varitek & Tim Wakefield. Both may have played their last games in a Sox uniform, but the Red Sox website says they are still free to negotiate with them.

I liked the 2nd half of Dan Wheeler last year. He could be a 7th or 8th inning guy if he regains his form from Tampa Bay. I like bringing Ortiz back on a short contract for smaller dollars.

I also think Varitek & Wake should hang it up & call it a career. Neither has anything left to prove, although Wake wants to go for the all-time Sox wins record - but at what cost to the team over a personal goal.

Nathan Signs With Texas

2011-11-22T08:34:00.000-05:00

Looking to make it back to a 3rd consecutive World Series the Texas Rangers wasted no time in re-assembling their roster for 2012. Texas signed free agent closer Joe Nathan to a 2-year deal worth about $15 million.

Current closer Neptali Feliz has made overtures that he wanted to become a starter. He will get his wish in 2012. The Rangers assume that a bidding war will ensue for CJ Wilson & he will not re-sign with the team. Feliz gets Wilson's spot in the rotation & Nathan takes over Feliz' spot as closer. Nicely done, Texas.

With Nathan off the market that leaves the Red Sox with the possibility of moving Daniel Bard into the closer role or bringing in a Heath Bell type. It seems like the Sox are slow out of the gate this off season, probably due to their on-going managerial search.

Pats 34, Chiefs 3

2011-11-22T08:26:00.000-05:00

After another sluggish first half the Patriots put up 24 unanswered points in the 2nd half to route the KC Chiefs 34-3. The Pats were added by several KC miscues -- untimely penalties, 3 INT's & a punt return for a touchdown by Julian Edelman.

Total yards by each team were somewhat close. The difference was the effectiveness by the Pats in closing drives with points versus the Chiefs who squandered their scoring opportunities.

Another big game by Rob Gronkowski. He added 2 more TD's, the second one which looked scary as he flew his big body through the air to score & landed on his head & neck. Gronk was a little woozie getting up, but he quickly regained his faculties & spiked the ball.

A 7-3 record by the Pats ties them with 2 other teams for the best record in the AFC. They travel to Philly on Sunday to take on the Eagles.

Ells Comes In Second to Verlander in MVP Vote

2011-11-21T15:58:00.000-05:00

What a year for both Justin Verlander & Jacoby Ellsbury in 2011. Only one could be the AL MVP & Verlander garnered 40 more points than Jacoby to become the first pitcher in a long time to win the MVP award.

It's not often that a pitcher is chosen for an MVP award over an everyday player. Certainly, however, Verlander's no-hitter & no-hit stuff every time he took the mound put him over the top.

That's not to say that Ells wasn't electric at the plate & in the field. He overcame serious injuries in 2010 to put together a solid start to finish season which included a power swing that was Johhny Damon-like. Jacoby was a very deserving candidate for MVP as well.

Maybe 2012 will be Ells' year.

Bills, Jets Both Fall to 5-5

2011-11-21T08:59:00.000-05:00

With a loss by the Jets on Thursday & yesterday's embarassment in Miami by the Bills the New England Patriots are poised to open up a 2-game lead in the division with a win at home against the Kansas City Chiefs tonight on national TV. The Pats also control the tie-breaker against the Jets with only 6 games remaining after tonight.

The NFL is an anything-can-happen league. A back-up left-handed quarterback by the Chiefs may give the Pats defense another dimension to worry about, along with a solid KC running attack. Just look at what Tim Tebow did to the Jets on Thursday. Nothing is a sure thing.

Best thing the Pats can do is get off to a better first-half start, score points early & make the Chiefs play from behind. This could lead to mistakes by the Chiefs QB.

This game is a big stepping stone towards the Pats locking up their division & a playoff berth.

Bobby V. Gets Interviewed Today

2011-11-21T08:51:00.000-05:00

The unique Bobby Valentine gets interviewed by the Sox management today. The lamboyant, ego-centrist coach may end up with the manager's position due to a small field of other unimpressive candidates. Why else would the Sox bring him in for a talk?

The Boston media would love a guy like Bobby V. It would be like Ozzie in Chicago. As Michael Felger said last night, a media event would turn away from questions about players & be about Bobby & his ego. He might be entertaining.

No matter who the Sox bring in as manager, the 2012 team has enough returning talent to make the playoffs. They just need to hire someone to keep all 25 guys headed in the right direction.

Cherington Kicking the Tires on Wilson & Oswalt

2011-11-20T09:41:00.000-05:00

At the managers meeting this week Ben Cherington started conversations with C.J. Wilson's agent & Roy Oswalt. Pitching, both starting & relief, need a makeover for the 2012 season.

Good for Cherington for kicking the tires on every possibility out there. I still like Mark Buehrle, but maybe he will cost too much.