Running Up The Score

The topic of discussion amongst many sports writers and tv commentators over the past couple weeks has been about the New England Patriots running up the score. In back to back weeks, Tom Brady has led passing attacks late in games with the Patriots up by atleast 21 points. Many are calling it classless and some are even suggesting players on other teams should purposely take out Tom Brady. The argument has come up many times in college football but it's not one we hear much in professional sports. Where was the outcry when the Rangers beat the Orioles this past August 30-3? You might remember this game, the Rangers scored a combined 16 runs in the fibal two innings. How about the Yankees 22-0 loss to Cleveland in 2004 when the Indians scored two three-run homers in the 9th? How about when the Yankees beat Tampa 17-5 and 21-4 on back to back days? Professional athletes are paid to perform. In the NFL the offense is paid to score points, and if they go onto the field without the intent to score then they are commiting fraud against the fans who are paying to attend the game. If teams are sick of geeting blown out and embarassed by the Patriots then they need to construct a defensive plan that will slow down the Patriots offense. But to attack the Patriots for doing their job is just plain ridiculous.

Position Breakdown: Catcher

Over the next two weeks I will be breaking down each position of the Boston Red Sox and making suggestions of what the Red Sox should do for the 2008 season. We start today behind the plate. Recap Jason Varitek bounced back a little bit from his poor 2006 season, but his average was still low, however his OBP was the third highest of his career. The Captain continues to age and his numbers may not rebound to what we once saw. Varitek will enter 2008 in the final season of his contract. Doug Mirabelli had his lowest home run total since 1999 and while his defense catching the knuckler has been a value for the Sox, the emergence of Kevin Cash could doom Mirabelli's future in Boston. Looking Ahead Whether Tim Wakefield returns or not, Doug Mirabelli is likely done in Boston. Kevin Cash will be the backup in Boston next season. Cash handeled Wakefield very well and he is much younger then Mirabelli. There's nothing really out there in the free agent market so Cash would seem like the most likely choice. If the Sox could find another catcher in a trade who could also handle first base and who has a decent bat, the Sox could go with three catchers and give Varitek more days off. Beyond 2008 George Kottaras and Mark Wagner are both within range of being ready for the majors. Would either be ready for opening day 2009? Probably not, but at some point in 2009 they could begin a phase in. Varitek likely gets a 2 year extension after 2008 and remains on the job through 2010, atleast on a reduced work load. Should Wagner be ready mid 2009 he could split time behind the plate with Varitek.

The Return To Relevance

On Friday evening, the Boston Celtics, the most storied franchise in basketball history will open the season in a position we haven't seen since the days of Larry Bird, as the front runner in the Eastern Conference. The road to get to this point was painful, and while I look forward to the potential success the season could give, I still disagree 100% with the trade it took to get us here today. The Celtics certainly gave up to much to acquire Kevin Garnett, it will be painful watching Al Jefferson turn into a superstar in Minnesota. Nevertheless, we have a new season upon us and an exciting one at that. Many experts are predicting a fierce battle in the east with Boston and Detroit and more then a few expect the Celtics to come out on top. With that in mind, I am going to make my playoff predictions for the NBA and hope I hit the finals head on like I did last April with my World Series prediction. Eastern Conference Finals: In a tough battle, the big three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce will lead the Celtics to a 4-3 series win over the Detroit Pistons. Western Conference Finals: The San Antonio Spurs are my second favorite NBA team, and while I did hate them for stealing Tim Duncan from us I still root for them, that's why this prediction is tough for me to write. Suns 4 Spurs 2 NBA Finals: The Boston Celtics will nail down the trifecta for New England Sports joining the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots as World Champions. Of course the New England Revolution could also join the party and Boston College may make some noise too. Celtics 4 Suns 3

New Topics Coming

Beginning later this week I will be posting about other teams such as the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, New England Revolution and New Hampshire Wildcats. This blog will still however be mostly about the Boston Red Sox.

Torre, Mattingly Heading To Dodgers

Joe Torre is expected to be introduced as early as Tuesday as the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Don Mattingly will join Torre as his bench coach. The move comes about 10 days after turning down a 1 year offer to remain with the Yankees, the offer included a option and included incetives based on playoff performance. Torre rejected that offer feeling he had earned the security of a multi year guaranteed deal. The Yankees on Monday formally offered the job to Joe Girardi bypassing Mattingly who many felt was the heir apparent to Torre. Girardi got a multi year guaranteed deal which seems to back up many peoples feelings that the Yankees purposely lowballed Torre knowing he wouldn't accept thus trying to look good in the fans eyes.

Donate Your Taco!

Just saw this over on Red Sox Chick and though I would pass it along. There is a website that has been setup with a petition to have people sign to donate the taco they are entitled to because of Jacoby Ellsbury's stolen base in the World Series. The idea is that enough people donate the taco they are entitled to and in turn Taco Bell could make a donation to the victims of the California wildfires. The deadline to sign is tomorrow at 5:00PM Donate Your Taco Red Sox Chick

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

For the second time in four years, the Boston Red Sox have claimed a four game sweep of the World Series. The latest victory came at the expense of the Colorado Rockies when Boston dominated every aspect of the game from the first pitch of game one, to the final out of game four. Jacoby Ellsbury, who all series has been a spark the Sox were missing in the early games of the American League Championship Series led off with a double and came around to score on a David Ortiz single. Mike Lowell and Bobby Kielty added solo home runs in the later innings and Jon Lester pitched solidly for 5 2/3 innings to take the win. The series MVP went to Mike Lowell.

Alex Rodriguez Exits Stage Left

While the Boston Red Sox were batting in the top of the 8th inning of game 4 of the World Series did Mike Lowell's career in Boston come to a close? It very well may have. During the inning, Ken Rosenthal announced that he had just spoken with Scott Boras and that Alex Rodriguez would be opting out of his contract with the New York Yankees. Boston will be one of the few teams who will be making a run at Rodriguez in the coming weeks and the love affair probably wont be onesided. In the winter of 2003, Boston had a dead done with Texas to aquire Rodriguez, and he himself had agreed to lower the value of his contract. He was willing to give up money to come to Boston and now he has a chance to make the move while making even more money.

Toasting The Champions? World Series Game 4

All across New England, bosses are setting the contigency plans for when a nation of fans either stroll into work late or not at all Monday morning. Red Sox fans from Saint David, Maine to San Diego, California are quietly laying out their plans for celebration tonight when Boston could wrap up its second World Series sweep in four years. The situation the Sox are in, is one a Sox fan could have ever imagined even five years ago. One would ever think the Red Sox could race to a three games to none lead, nevermind actually thinking it could finish in a sweep. Then came 2004 and those idiots. The common sentiment in the Nation is that 2007 just doesn't feel like 2004. Of course it doesn't, in 2004 fans suffered through each game knowing any minute a collosal collapse could happen. Admit it, even the most confident fan had atleast a sinking feeling deep inside that being the first team to come back from a three-to-none deficit in a seven game series and win, would just lead to being the first team to lose that kind of advantage in a World Series. 2004 changed everything. Sox fans can atleast enjoy the game with a guarded sense of confidence in the Red Sox. MVP WATCH With another strong performance tonight, Jacoby Ellsbury could find himself playing a rookie season in Boston next year as the reigning World Series MVP. He already has to be considered the favorite to be the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year. If Ellsbury slips tonight others who could emerge as favorites for the World Series MVP? Dustin Pedroia and kevin Youkilis would seem to be the likely candidates. Right now it's for Pedroia and Ellsbury to lose, simply because Youkilis the only other serious contendor for it may not start tonight after only playing the last couple innings last night. Who's Going? Jacoby Ellsbury's performance last night sealed Coco Crisp's departure from Boston. Mike Lowell's future could rest on wether Boston makes a run at Alex Rodriguez or not and Curt Schilling likely has seen his last onfield action as a member of the Sox.

World Series Game 3

Red Sox 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 3. David Ortiz, DH 4. Manny Ramirez, LF 5. Mike Lowell, 3B 6. J.D. Drew, RF 7. Jason Varitek, C 8. Julio Lugo, SS 9. Daisuke Matsuzaka, P