Johnny & Rocco

The Red Sox have signed both John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli to free agent contracts. Not the glitzy signings you would expect from say the Yanks, but the Sox have done this year after year. They pick-up veteran guys on incentive laden deals and get the most out of them with the least amount of fiscal risk. These signings get me excited to see what's left in the tank for Smoltzy and if Rocco can be the guy they were comparing to Joe D.

There also is the possibility Theo is stockpiling talent to make a trade with the young guys (i.e. Bucholz, Bowden, etc.). You also have to wonder what the rotation will look like on the back end. There are the givens of Beckett, Lester, and Dice K of course. But, you now have flexibility with your 4th/5th starters any combo of Wake, Bucholz, Smoltz, Penny, or even Bowden. It is even possible Smoltz goes to a set-up roll I'd imagine if he's open to it. The bullpen would be looking solid with Smoltz, DelCarmen, Okajima, Ramon Ramirez, and Paps closing the door. Either way John Smoltz is better than any other 5th starter on just about every MLB roster.

As far as Baldelli coming home (Rhode Island native) I see good things he can give the Sox some speed off the bench and doesn't give up any cheap hits in the outfield. His bat can be stellar at times and having another Right-handed bat to spell J.D. will obviously be necessary. I just wonder by the end of the year who gets more AB's out of the two often injured wonder-kids. Hopefully Baldelli's disorder is in check and he can make it through the year. I guess it will be a last man standing type of job.

The Sox haven't made a big splash in free agency yet. With these two moves they have addressed depth and most teams would kill to have Baldelli and Smoltz as "depth". Hopefully the Sox can get these guys some rings.

You Sir are a Gentleman and a Scholar

"I didn’t think he would win, but I thought he deserved a nod for what might have been the best, or certainly one of the best coaching jobs of his career," Costas said. "He loses [Tom] Brady, and it’s not just losing Brady, but also that [Matt] Cassel basically never played. It’s not the same thing as losing Johnny Unitas and you have Earl Morrall. He brought the kid along.

-Barstool Sports

Question who is the only media member that voted for Bill Beclichick for Coach of the Year?...

Answer...
Wait for it......Wait for it..................................BOB COSTAS!

Well I pray he raves about Belichick the way he waxes ecstatic about Mickey Mantel. If anyone could use a "Homer" or "John the Baptist" type it is Bill, that's for god damn sure. The real question is: Do you think Costas will carry around an autographed Belichick card in his wallet?

On a side note why is the media not all over the beloved Colt Marvin Harrison? And Spygate was the story of the Century Pshhhhh! It real is always the quiet ones.

New Year New Business

My how things have changes over the past year. The Celtics and Bruins are atop their respective leagues. The Sox almost made it to consecutive World Series appearances and the Pats go 11-5 (with out Tom Brady and don't even sniff the wild-card spot. What a time to be a fan. There isn't much to complain about, but I'll try.

The most recent Boston hating came in the C's game against the Trailblazers. Apparently you can beat the Celtics you just need 6 men on the floor.

The Pats got screwed by the Jets, Mangina, and Bret Favre again. This one didn't hurt quite as much as the 97 Super Bowl loss to Favre. In the end the Pats become the second team to finish 11-5 and not make the playoffs. This season will be highlighted by Matt Cassel's emergence. Still, tyring to forget losing the '08 Super Bowl will not be easy. Rumors are that the Pats will franchise Cassel and get at least a 1st and 2nd round pick for him. Not bad for a guy who wasn't supposed to make the team out of camp. Now all we can hope is Tom's knee isn't re-injured during
"The Honeymoon".

The Sox missed out on overpaying for Mark Texiera. The Yanks threw money at anything that had a pulse this off season including Sox back-up catcher Kevin Cash (Money). The Sox settle with Brad Penny, Josh Bard, and a rumored Hanely Ramirez trade. The good news is the Sox are young and will continue to contend with their current core. The great news with they Penny signing Alyssa Milano and Elisha Dushku sightings will be plentiful at Fenway this year.

Who would have thought the Bruins would be this good. I may have to start following these guys and forget the team traded Joe Thronton in his prime. Anyway Happy Fricken New Year!

You just got Rondo'd

Is there any doubt now that Rondo isn't a top five, if not two or three, point guard in the league today? The guy is leading the Celtics to hopefully a record-breaking season. Maybe he isn't a deep threat, but there isn't a better drive 'n' dish guy in the league. He distributes the ball so well that every time you double him in the paint he's alleyooping to K.G. for a posterized slam. His numbers don't really jump out at you like a Chris Paul but 10.9 PPG, 5 boards, and 7.4 assists are more than enough to keep the Celtics monster rolling. The guy is a triple double waiting to happen almost every night. When he has down games he still holds onto the ball better than any other point guard in the game. He also has the most defined shoulder muscles I've ever seen on a human being. Guy looks like a transformer with wings. I'm a little concerned about the win streak taking a hit if Pierce is out after Mehmet Okur "Bernard Pollard'd" his ass, but I'm sure Rondo will step it up if need be with his scoring. Bottom line Celtics are on pace to break the '95 Bulls 72 win season and haven't played their best ball in Doc's eyes.

Burn Ett Burn It All!

The Yanks are making waves again this week with a proposed 5 year 85 mil offer to often injured seldom on the mound A.J. Burnett. While the Braves are said to be in the hunt for A.J. as well I'm glad the Sox are going to sit out on this one. The guys only started more than 30 games twice in his career and his elbow has been banged up more over his career than Jenna Jameson. Last year was the first time he had won more than 12 games in a season. Not that money is the issue here, but what kind of investment is this guy. To me it seems like he pitches out of his mind in contract years and is dinged up the rest of the time while he's collecting checks and having his wife take limos from Baltimore to Toronto. Now adding Burnett make the Yankees a force to be reckoned with, don't get me wrong, but how does this help them get over their playoff hump. Neither guy really scares me in a 7 game series. I'll take Beckett and Lester or Dice K over these pretenders any day.

While the Yanks clean up the underachieving, tommy john surgery having, pre-madonna pitchers the Sox will have to settle for a stud first baseman with Triple Crown potential and a gold glove. Ho Hum! My only wonder now is if Pedro will come back where he belongs.

Get this guy a Cheese Burger

Well the Yanks set their line in the sand and vastly overpaid for C.C. Sabathia. Now I know this strikes mass panic in the hearts of Red Sox nation because Sabathia has owned the Sox over his career especially in the playoffs. I mean everyone knows C.C. dominated the National league over the second half of the season last year and carried the Brewers to the playoffs. He's a Cy Young Winner and three time All-Star how can you go wrong signing this guy. He'll instantly give you the poised postseason horse your franchise desperately needs right?

Wait. What's that you say? He actually has only one win in five career postseason starts and a whopping 7.92 ERA. Ohh and his numbers in two games started in the 2007 ALCS against the Sox are horrific (2 starts 2 loses, 10.45 ERA 10 innings pitched, 17 hits, and 12 earned runs with 7 walks and 9 K's). Well maybe they did over pay a little $160 million or give him too many years 7...SEVEN years! I'm sure it will all work out in the end, Ehhhm Carl Pavano. Good luck NY way to spend in a down market.

Pats and Present

Now I don't know about the rest of you Pats fans out there, but this season has been a fun ride. Sunday's late comeback win over the lowly Seahawks lead by (Gulp!) Seneca Wallace is case-in-point. Typical of this Pats season the perceived strength with the lose of Brady the "Bend and then Break" Pats D looked lost at times and couldn't stop the pass. Now I know this is the NFL and every team has talent, but Deion "F'n" Branch shouldn't be torching your secondary; unless this is 2003 and Tom Brady is sporting a playoff beard. The lose of Bruschi will hurt the Pats run D immensely, but honestly he wasn't much of a factor this year in the pass game. Not that Junior or Rosie are washed up, but I don't see them contributing much to the pass D either. Although it was good to have them once Teddy went down with what looked like a nasty knee injury. Another huge hit was the shoulder injury to Vinny Wilfork. This one could be devastating. I consider Vinny the catalyst of this D, because when he's stopping the run and eating up double and triple teams the Pats D rolls. Ty Warren missed his third game as well; LeKevan Smith is only going to take you so far. Ohh, James Sanders went down too, so we got that going for us.

On the bright side Brandon Merriweather, who was the draft pick that came to the Pats in return for Deion Branch, showed some clutch. I really think this guy is going to be a big play maker. I just wish he had picked-off Eli back in February so we could have started the Hall-O-Fame talk. The offense lead by Cassel and Wes Welker continued to make big plays and keep the Pats in this game. Anyone else think Welker deserves some MVP mention?

For now the Pats destiny lies in others hands. The Jets or Dolphins win their next three and they're in. The Pats have to win and take care of business in the next three at Oakland, home vs. Arizona, and at the Bills. All three of these are games the Pats should win, but do they have enough bullets left in the chamber?

MOnster (Jim) EDitions

Hall of Fame balloting for the Class of 2009 includes first timer Mo "Hit Dawg" Vaughn and once again the one the only Jim Rice. Honestly I don't see why both don't get the nod this year. Maybe I'm a little biased being a Sox fan, but you have two MVP caliber hitters (Rice '78 & Vaughn '95) who undoubtedly were top 5 players of their generations.

The 8x All-Star Rice has been held out of the Hall, some say, due to his rocky relations with reporters during his playing days. He has never apologized for his actions and certainly won't make any excuses for being a cocky S.O.B., that's what makes Jim Ed Jim Ed. You have to wonder if Vaughn's steroid use late in his career is going to hurt him when it comes time to vote. There is however no evidence that Vaughn was juicing during his prime years with the Sox and that may benefit him unlike Jose Canseco or Mark McGwire.

Both men are the prototypical power hitters. The guys who are there to clean up the base paths with just one swing. If you look at their numbers it is hard to deny their contributions to the Red Sox and Major League Baseball.

Rice's Career Numbers: .298 BA, 382 HR's, 1,451 RBI's, 1978 MVP, 8x All-Star

Interesting Stat: Rice remains the only player ever to lead his league, and Major League Baseball in triples, home runs, and RBIs in the same season 1978.

Hall O' Fame Worthy Stat: Only nine other retired ballplayers rank ahead of him in both career home runs and batting average. They are: Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Mel Ott, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams.

Vaughn's Career Numbers: .293 BA, 328 HR's, 1,064 RBI's 1995 MVP, 3x All-Star

Interesting Stat: Hit one of the most prodigious home runs in Shea Stadium history (in the middle of the "Bud" Sign on the monstrous Shea scoreboard)

Hall O' Fame Worth Stat: One of less than 260 Major Leaguers to have over 1000 career rbi's. Ranks 91st on All-Time HR list.

It looks like Jim Ed might finally get in for his contributions in 2009 with over 70% of the vote in the 2008 balloting. If someone like Don Mattingly gets in over Rice this year it will prove that the voters are being subjective and holding a mans personal short comings in higher esteem then his on-field achievements, which is wrong on so many levels. I don't see how a bunch of writers get the say on it anyhow when most have never tried to hit a 90 mph fastball. I probably can see Mo getting passed over due to the stigma of the steroid era and his penchant for late night strip club runs. The Hit Dawg has been very charitable in his time away from the game (not just to single mommas trying to earn a buck) and owns a number of inner city buildings in New York and that should reflect well on his chances down the road. Hopefully for both these feared sluggers the Hall is only a call away. I know I'll always remember the Mo Vaughn era it was the begining of the prime of my Red Sox fanhood.

London is Calling

After a horrible lose to the Steelers the Pats playoff hopes are in limbo. Some say the need to win out the rest of their schedule to make it to the dance. 4-0 with this team is hard to imagine, but it certainly has been a strange season. Now in the wake of this huge lose the team learns Old Uncle Roger and the NFL have chosen the Pats to play in London next year. Mr. Kraft isn't too pleased, but hey it beats China. I hope Tommy's prepping the knee because Cassel is sure as hell going to get a hefty paycheck from some bottom feeder this off-season. With a West-Coast swing in the next two weeks we'll see who the Pats are playoff contenders or overachievers. Either way it has been a fun ride reminiscent of the old days where the Pats were not the hated powerhouse.