Red Sox In Command

There was a time about a month ago that many Red Sox fans were ready to call it quits and give up on the 2005 season. Admit it -- it was only natural. The Sox were running up hill in the AL East and the Baltimore Orioles were sprinting down hill. Even the New York Yankees -- off to a terrible start -- were creeping up in the standings. The Orioles were hitting, they were pitching and of course they were winning. For the first time since 1997, Baltimore was cruising through the AL East. At the same time the Red Sox were sort of hitting, kind of pitching and as a result they were playing .500 baseball. It looked like Boston would finish out of first place once again. That's the life of a Boston Red Sox fan. No matter what positives occur, there are 100 more negatives around the corner. Win the World Series in 2004? Win it again in 2005! And we want the AL East crown to boot. If we had looked a little closer at the time, all of those worries would have been for not. Yes, the O's were hot but they had holes big enough to fit George Steinbrenner's wallet through. The bullpen was suspect other than B.J. Ryan, the starting pitching was not as good (Bruce Chen) as it was performing and not including Miguel Tejada, Melvin Mora and Brian Roberts, the lineup was suspect as well. And Baltimore has suffered through injuries as well. Roberts, catcher Javy Lopez, outfielder Sammy Sosa, pitcher Erik Bedard and a slew of other Orioles have been banged up. As for the Red Sox, their early season problems -- Curt Schilling's injury, Manny Ramirez' early slump, the struggles of the bullpen -- have been solved. Schilling is healthy and should be back in a week. Manny is hitting like Manny. And the 'pen has been much better as of late. The results have been outstanding. A few weeks ago they were 33-29 and playing with no spark. Today they stand at 43-30 and hold a 1.5-game lead over the Orioles in the East. Now it is the Red Sox that look like they will run away with the division while the Orioles fight with everything they have to remain in the playoff chase. Expect the Red Sox to have an easier time staying on top than the Orioles did.

Spurs Carried By Ginobili

On the night that Tim Duncan cemented his place as one of basketball's true greats by winning both his third NBA Championship and third NBA Finals MVP he wasn't even the best player on his own team. That distinction belongs to Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. Without Duncan, San Antonio would not have been in the Finals but without Ginobili they would have lost to the Detroit Pistons last night in Game 7. Ginobili is known as an offensive genius -- able to create plays out of seemingly nothing. He can shoot the outside shot, slash to the hoop, finish with both hands near the rim and dish to open teammates for open looks. He did all of those things last night. One thing we did not know he was capable of was playing hard nosed, in-your-face defense. He also did that last night. And because of his defense on Pistons sharp shooter Richard Hamilton in the 4th Quarter the Spurs won the NBA Title. His effort on Hamilton -- which allowed the best defender on the Spurs, Bruce Bowen, to shut down Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups -- was the difference between winning and losing last night. Years from now people will remember the greatness of Duncan as the reason why San Antonio won the 2005 NBA Title. They will be partially right in doing so. Just don't forget that without Manu Ginobili, the Spurs would have been on the losing end of the stick versus Detroit.

Jeff Kent?

Replacing Mark Bellhorn is a subject I broached today on TheBostonInsider. One of the replacements I mentioned for marK was L.A. Dodger second baseman Jeff Kent. Kent is a player that Theo Epstein and the Red Sox have expressed interest in during the past; they explored acquiring him after the 2002 season but he instead signed with the Houston Astros. Getting Kent now makes sense. Sure, he has many miles on his 37-year-old legs but he is still a dangerous force at the plate. His 2005 numbers to date include a .291 batting average, 14 home runs and 53 RBI. Normally an offensively challenged team like the Dodgers would hold on to such a run producer but Los Angeles is quickly slipping out of contention in the National League (5.5-games in the NL West, 4.5-games in the Wild Card). By trading a veteran like Kent now, they can begin to build their foundation for 2006 and beyond. Kent will not come cheap. The Dodgers could ask for at least three above average prospects in return for their second baseman. He also has a sizeable salary -- a price tag of $7.35 million for '05. But adding a player such as Kent can put the Red Sox over the top in the AL. He would fit perfectly into the No. 2 hole in the lineup, behind Johnny Damon and in front of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. He also plays a quality second base and in a pinch he can move over to either third or first. This is a move that Epstein must give consideration to if the Sox are serious about contending for a second consecutive World Series.

The Door's Over There Jay

Jay Payton is unhappy in Boston. And he wants you to know it. The reserve outfielder, in his first season with the Red Sox, is complaining about a lack of playing time and he wishes to be traded to a team that will allow him to start. My advice for Theo Epstein is to dump him as soon as possible. The Red Sox -- the 2004 text-book example of team chemistry -- do not need a malcontent who is moaning about playing more. Especially when the three outfielders in front of him on the depth chart are Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon and Trot Nixon. Especially when he is hitting just .252 with 4 home runs and 18 RBI (in 103 at-bats). I was excited when the Red Sox traded playoff hero Dave Roberts to the San Diego Padres for Payton, Ramon Vazquez and Blaine Neal. I was sad to see Roberts go but the thought of having a talent like Payton to back-up the Ramirez/Damon/Nixon trio was intriguing. He has a good bat, above average speed and a solid glove. I also believed that he would accept his role as a fourth outfielder for one year because it would give him a chance to win the World Series for the first time (he was a member of the 2000 New York Mets that lost to the Yankees in the Series). It turns out I was wrong. In today's Boston Herald, Payton told Michael Silverman that, "...bottom line is, I like to play baseball. I don't like to watch baseball." While Payton did express admiration for the three players in front of him, he made it clear that making more money as a free agent (he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season ends) is more important that being on a winning team. "It's a double-edged sword," Payton quipped. "You want to win, but you also need to take care of your own personal being, so to speak." I guess the $3.5 million that the Red Sox are paying Payton to be a reserve player just isn't enough. The Red Sox need to find a new home for Payton in the immediate future. It's a shame that things did not work out between him and the Red Sox but that is what happens sometimes in the world of professional sports.

Energy Level In Fenway Is Embarrassing

As much as I hate to write this, Dan Shaughnessy was right on the mark with his column today. The atmosphere in Fenway Park -- once charged with optimistic energy and guarded enthusiasm -- is about as exciting as listening to the Curly Haired Boyfriend talk about his fitness routine when he is on the road. Shaughnessy reasons that the park is so lifeless because after waiting 86-years for the Sox to finally win the World Series, the fans of Red Sox Nation lack that "This is the year!/How will they break my heart?" emotion that used to charge "America's Most Beloved Ballpark." I partially agree with that sentiment but in all fairness to the (ahem!) esteemed columnist from the Boston Globe, that theory is more than a month past due. (It would be nice if Shaughnessy came to Fenway more than once a homestand to see what goes on day-to-day at the Park.) In my opinion -- and I am there for almost every single game -- the majority of the Nation that trek to the Fens to fork over a small fortune to see the Sox got past that nostalgia as soon as Jason Giambi hit that long home run off of Schilling in No. 38's first start against the Yankees. The real fans enjoy the countless DVD's and books (Leigh Montville's Why Not Us? is a must read, especially Chapter 7) but when the games count for real, last season became last season. My some what educated guess is that the World Series phenomenon was so powerful -- in and out of New England -- that the Sox have attracted a whole new group of fans. Fans that thought Manny and David were teddy bears, itching to be hugged. Fans that thought Schilling should run for president. Fans that thought Orlando Cabrera, Kevin Millar and Pokey Reese should go on the winter vaudeville circuit because their antics were just so humorous. Fans that buy DVD's, books, shirts, hats and posters (all helping out the bottom line for the franchise) but fans that have no clue at all about how to behave at a Red Sox game. Never in my life have I seen Fenway so dead. These new fans who are "making the pilgrammage" (yeah, I've heard that more than once) are killing the old intensity that the stands used to have. Case in point. My brother Ben took me to Tuesday's game against the Reds as an early birthday present. Instead of going up on the Green Monster as we usually do, we decided to sit in our assigned seats, Section 29 in the grandstands. It was a nice view of a master piece that David Wells was putting on display -- a no-hitter through five innings. We were glued to our seats, no one in the section was moving. Then, in the top of the sixth inning, seven guys in suits came in to sit in their seats, disrupted all of us who had taken advantage of the extra seats to get comfortable and then took their sweet ass time to get seated. Wouldn't you know it, Wells let up his hit that inning. My brother and I stormed out as the suits were still fumbling around in their row. The whole section gave them hell for breaking up the no-hitter (which, of course, was their fault) as we stalked out of there. These are the new fans of Fenway Park. Arrogant businessmen who write off the pricey tickets on expense reports for three innings of baseball and the annoying, new-to-baseball, what's-the-score Fenway rookies who just love the Fenway Frankfurters. But it's not there fault. The tickets are available to them and they are eating them up faster than Dr. Charles Steinberg wipes out a buffet table. The solution to all of this is for the real fans of Fenway to stop selling their seats and come back to the Park. Edgar Renteria needs to hear a standing ovation from 35,000 people who know that although he grounded out to second base in his last at-bat, the out did score Johnny Damon from third after fouling off eleven pitches. Matt Clement needs to get a similar ovation after getting out of a bases loaded, one out jam against the Yankees. Yes, these are fictional scenarios but it is necessary that the Red Sox need the true, die-hard fans to get back to Fenway as soon as possible.

TheBostonInsider Home Page

My frustrations with Yahoo! Geocities continues. I spent the better part of my day writing two columns. One was about Pedro Martinez' start with the Mets and the other was an "NBA 6-Pack" (my e-mail correspondence with Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen). The Pedro column came first. It took me close to two hours to complete. After proofreading it I clicked the save button. Little did I know that Alan Embree is more reliable in save situations than Geocities -- I lost the entire thing. After allowing the anger over this to go away, I checked my e-mail and saw that Ian had responded to my latest batch of questions. I typed the responses into a column, proofread my work and then clicked the save button. And just like Embree, Geocities blew another save. So if you are wondering why there hasn't been a new column in over a week, blame Yahoo! and Geocities. And if you are a fan of TheBostonInsider Daily, today is your lucky day because from now on I will be doing more blogging and fewer columns.

Botox For The BoSox?

After 62-games, the Red Sox are 33-29, 3-games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East division. They also trail the Minnesota Twins by 3.5-games for the AL Wild Card. Not exactly what you expected, right? Well, it's not time to panic. Not yet anyways. With 100-games left on the schedule the Red Sox are still in very good position to win either the AL East or the Wild Card which would provide them with an opportunity to defend their 2004 World Series Title. As mediocre as the Sox have been, it is very possible for them to make the playoffs. For one thing, there is too much talent on the Boston roster for them not to at least compete for a playoff spot. A team that is composed with the likes of David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon, Edgar Renteria, Curt Schilling, Keith Foulke, David Wells, Matt Clement, Wade Miller and Tim Wakefield is bound to be successful. There should be enough there to win the World Series. Injuries and some disappointing starts by a few of the stars is what has led to this mediocre beginning. Staff ace Curt Schilling began the season on the disabled list after offseason ankle surgery and only made two starts before going back on the D.L. with more ankle troubles; he isn't expected back until the end of June at the earliest. Closer Keith Foulke and set-up man Alan Embree have also struggled and the bullpen has been stretched thin already because of their inability to pitch successfully in the late innings. Left fielder Manny Ramirez is off to a very slow start at the plate and the career .313 hitter is batting a paltry .251 (although he does have 12 HR and 46 RBI). The beauty of winning the 2004 World Series is that the Red Sox can afford to wait for their players to return to health and return to form. The 86-year-old pressure to win is finally gone. There is no immediate rush to go out and overpay for a starting pitcher or a dominant late inning pitcher or a power hitting outfielder. Not to say the Red Sox should roll over and play dead. It is hard to forget that this team has a payroll of more than $130 million. They certainly need help in the bullpen (even though Foulke seems to be coming on as of late) and another bat off the bench would definitely be a good idea. But it still should not force Theo Epstein's hand into giving up the farm system to make an attempt at winning the world championship. That is what happened to the Yankees of 1999 and 2000. Yes, they won the World Series in both years but now they are an aging team with few prospects in the minor leagues to help them. They are a $200 million embarrassment and I would much rather see the Sox develop a dynasty from within than gamble on the trade market. There is no guarantee of a championship just because a trade is made. With some minor adjustments, a healthy return by Schilling and a monster second half of the season by both Ramirez and Foulke, the BoSox should have enough to win. If the Sox play 10-games over .500 the rest of the way and go 60-40 over these 100-games, the postseason will be a realistic goal at 93-69. And once you get there, as Red Sox Nation learned in 2004, you never know what can happen.

Today's Red Sox Lineup

Red Sox vs. Cubs today on ESPN at 2:20 p.m. Bronson Arroyo against Greg Maddux. Here is the lineup for Boston. 1.) Johnny Damon, CF (.339) 2.) Edgar Renteria, SS (.270) 3.) David Ortiz, 1B (.301) 4.) Manny Ramirez, LF (.254) 5.) Trot Nixon, RF (.293) 6.) Jason Varitek, C (.322) 7.) Bill Mueller, 3B (.271) 8.) Mark Bellhorn, 2B (.247) 9.) Bronson Arroyo, P (.000)

Sox-Cubs Without The Tragedy This Weekend

For years, Red Sox fans and Cubs fans were linked by the futility of their teams. The Red Sox hadn't won a World Series since 1918. Along the way they had some memorable chances at a championship but they could never close the deal. Damn that Curse of the Bambino! The Cubs hadn't won a World Series since 1908 -- and they were the team that lost to the Sox in 1918. Along the way they had some memorable chances at a championship but they could never close the deal. Damn that Billy Goat. As the championship drought hit the 21st Century, the media started to portray Sox fans and Cubs fans as brothers in a quest for the impossible. They paid no attention to the fact that the majority of Red Son Nation was overly obsessed with the World Series and that most Cubs fans were just able to enjoy a beautiful afternoon at Wrigley Field. It was Red Sox-Cubs, Cubs-Red Sox. This phenomenon got worse when both teams made it to their respective League Championship Series in the 2003 Playoffs. And wouldn't you know it, both lost in Game 7. Curses live on. Boston and Chicago continue to be linked as the "Suffering Siblings." In 2004, both teams were expected to make the World Series in an apocolyptic moment for the sports world. They were even involved in a four team trade at the July 31 deadline that sent Sox star Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs and brought back Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz to the Sox. But all the World Series talk was overblown. For the Cubs that is. The Red Sox went on to have one of the most historic playoff runs in baseball history. They swept the Angels, came back from an 0-3 deficit to beat the Yankees in Game 7 (in New York) and then swept away the Cardinals to win the Series. As for the Cubs? They fell apart down the stretch and failed to qualify for the postseason. So much for being in this together. This weekend the Red Sox travel to Chicago to play the Cubs at Wrigley for the first time since the 1918 World Series. It will be a fun match-up of two of baseball's most storied franchises at one of the game's great stadiums. But it will not have the added attraction of two long suffering teams meeting as they twist in the wind for the World Series. That story is out (although I'm sure both ESPN and FOX will remind us more than once of the history of both franchises). And I could not be happier that it is. Good luck in your quest, Cubs fans. You'll need it but I assure you that the celebration will be worth the wait. Just stop leaning on our shoulder to cry -- we've (finally) moved on to a better place.

NBA Finals

The 2005 NBA Finals get started tonight as the champions of the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, visit the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs. This will be a match-up of two fairly even teams. Both have deep front lines, both have talented back courts and both are have great coaches. This series is also the first time since 1987 (Lakers-Celtics) that the last two NBA Champions will meet in the Finals. Unfortunately, not many casual observers believe that Pistons-Spurs is worth watching. To try and stir up some interest in what should be a fantastic series, here are five good reasons to watch the NBA Finals. 1.) Tim Duncan may be the greatest power forward who ever lived. Duncan is so quiet and unassuming that few people actually appreciate his greatness on the court. Duncan is the most complete player in the league and he is so skilled with the ball that he is nearly impossible to defend. Watching him go up against The Wallaces (Ben and Rasheed) will be entertaining basketball. 2.) The Larry Brown saga. Brown, one of the truly great coaches in basketball history, is on the verge of winning back-to-back championships with the Pistons. Yet that hasn't stopped him from flirting with the Cleveland Cavaliers in an attempt to become their team president. I doubt the rumors will adversely affect Brown's coaching but it will be interesting to see how his players respond to the nagging questions about their coach's future. 3.) The emergence of Manu Ginobili as a true superstar. This has been an on-going story throughout the season. The multi-talented Argentinian swingman has the flair for the dramatic and the fans are starting to catch on to his brilliance with and without the ball. This could finally be the series when America realizes what kind of a star they are watching in Ginobili. 4.) How tough are the Pistons? We all know that the defending champs are a mentally tough group who come through when the chips seem to be down. But how deep are they willing to dig to defend their title will truly define the greatness of these Pistons. 5.) Can Tony Parker defend Chauncey Billups? Parker is the lightning fast Frenchman who runs the Spurs offense with precision but he has problems covering physical guards, such as Billups. Billups, last years's Finals MVP, is likely to try an exploit Parker in the low post -- as he did to Damon Jones of Miami in the Easterm Conference Finals. If Billups can hammer away at Parker in the post, the Spurs will be at a large disadvantge. As for my prediction as to who will walk away as champions, I must lean towards the Spurs. In such an evenly matched series, I will go with the team that has the best overall player (Duncan). San Antonio in 7. However, I think the Pistons can steal Game One tonight. They have momentum from coming back from a 3-2 deficit to beat the Heat and the Spurs have been off for over a week after taking care of business with the Suns. But the Spurs will rebound to win the series.

More Whispers About A Pierce Trade

Maybe there is more to that rumored Paul Pierce deal that I mentioned a few days ago. Chad Ford, ESPN.com's NBA Insider, is reporting that the hottest rumor circulating around the NBA Pre-Draft camp in Chicago is that the Celtics would deal Pierce to the Portland for the No. 3 pick and Nick Van Exel. Because Van Exel has a team option for his contract in 2005-'06, the Celtics could waive him without owing him a cent of his $12.7 million. Danny Ainge, Boston's vice-president of basketball operations, shot down the rumor, calling it "ludicrous." He says he has no intention of trading Pierce. Of course he said the same thing about Antoine Walker before the 2003-'04 season started. And when I got my season ticket package folder for '05-'06, the featured players were Al Jefferson, Delonte West and Tony Allen. Usually a team fetaures its captain, a returning All-Star, in such a promotion. That is, if they think he will be with the team for the season that they are trying to sell. This is not concrete proof that the Truth will be a Trail Blazer next season. This does not mean Pierce will be traded anywhere else. The chances are still that No. 34 will continue to be a Celtic. But it is very, very interesting.

MLB Draft Note

The chances of C.J. Henry, Jacoby Ellsbury and Craig Hansen all turning into All-Stars are very slim. Just because each of them was a first round pick in yesterday's MLB Draft does not guarantee success on the big league level. But that doesn't mean that I can't take a shot at the Yankees right now for drafting Henry instead of either Ellsbury or Hansen (both drafted by the Red Sox). Entering the draft, the biggest needs for the Yankees were a center fielder and pitching. While one can't expect a draft pick to step right in and play for the major league club, a team with needs usually drafts to fill those holes. One thing was for certain, the Yankees did in no way need a shortstop. So of course they drafted Putnam City H.S. (OK) shortstop C.J. Henry with the 17th pick. Henry is considered a five tool prospect who has a scholarship to the University of Kansas to play basketball if things don't work out with New York. But with Derek Jeter (and Alex Rodriguez as insurance), the Yanks seem to be set at the position. Six picks later, the Red Sox -- who are considered by some to be a rival of the Yankees -- drafted speedy Oregon State center fielder Ellsbury. Three picks later, the Sox took St. John's closer -- and Long Island native -- Hansen. Ellsbury has been compared to a young Johnny Damon and Hansen is projected as being the player closest to reaching the big leagues. Passing over Ellsbury for Henry is reasonable. The Yankees scouting department considered Henry to be the better prospect. It's as simple as that. But Henry over Hansen? Hansen could help the Yankees now. Today's New York Post reported that the Yankees were scared away from Hansen because his agent is Scott Boras and Boras is known for demanding large signing bonuses for his clients. The rumor is that he will ask for between $2 and $2.5 million for Hansen. Are the Yankees all of a sudden afraid to throw some money at a highly rated prospect? I don't buy it. Especially when you consider that Henry will be able to use his Kansas scholarship to drive up his asking price. And if they truly wanted a shortstop, highly rated Cuban defector Yuriel Escobar would have been available to them in the second round. It seems like the Yankees swung and missed on Hansen (and maybe Ellsbury too). Maybe I'm wrong and C.J. Henry will one day be enshrined in Memorial Park and both Hansen and Ellsbury will be pumping gas and coaching Legion ball. But as of now, the Red Sox have once again gotten the better of the Yankees. (I could get used to this.)

Red Sox Draft

The MLB entry draft began about an hour ago and the first round was just completed a few minutes ago. High school short stop Justin Upton -- younger brother of Devil Rays prospect and the No. 2 pick in the 2002 draft B.J. Upton -- was selected first overall by the Diamondbacks and Georgia Tech short stop James Greene was the last pick of the round by the Cardinals. In between picks No. 1 and No. 30, the Boston Red Sox made two selections. At No. 23 they took left handed hitting/throwing Oregon State center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The Beavers lead-off man has been compared to Johnny Damon with a little less power. At pick No. 26 the Sox drafted 6-6 St. John's closer Craig Hansen (rated as Baseball America's No. 8 prospect in the draft). Hansen is expected to rise to the major league's sooner rather than later, similar to former University of Texas closer Huston Street who was drafted by the A's in 2004 and is now closing in Oakland. The only issue with Hansen is that his agent is Scott Boras who traditionally holds his players out until teams meet his salary demands. However, I don't see the Sox drafting Hansen unless they had a good idea that they could sign him. The Red Sox have four more picks in the Top-60. They will make selections at 42, 45, 47 and 57. The Sox had hoped to get a shot at UMass-Amherst right handed starter Matt Torra who fell out of the first round but the Diamondbacks scooped him up at No. 31.

Never Forget

I hope that every American citizen stops their busy lives for just a few moments today to remember the great sacrifice that thousands of young men committed 61-years ago today. That's right. June 6, 1944. D-Day. The greatest invasion of all time -- American troops (with assistance from the British) storming the Nazi controlled beaches of Normandy, France. It was an invasion to liberate Europe from the oppression of Hitler and it was a success. Less than a year later the Nazi's were defeated and by August of 1945 the Japanese were finished as well. World War II was officially over. So take some time out today to pay your respects to those who gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy. And don't forget the countless others who have defended this great nation, in both times of peace and in times of war.

What Will Be Happening With TheBostonInsider

Although the new blog is not yet even a week old, I have to admit that I am already growing attached to it. It gives me a lot more freedom to write what I want when I feel like writing it. That was always my biggest complaint with the original website. Because I went through Yahoo! Geocities to create TheBostonInsider, I was constricted to what Geocities allowed users to do in forming their webpages. As you know from reading TheBostonInsider, it was very rigid -- there was not very much room on the page and I was forced to cramp many thoughts into a small space. The beauty of the TheBostonInsider Daily is that I have as much space as I need to pass along my ideas that are not worthy of a full column. That is why I have gotten rid of "I May Not Know Much ... But I Do Know This" on the original site. The blog assumes the function of being a space for my shorter commentaries and with the added bonus that they are all saved and I can post as many as I want to. The original Insider will not disappear. I will still use that to post columns, maintain links to other websites that I frequent and to provide some random thoughts on who the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics (and maybe the Bruins if they ever return) are playing. TheBostonInsider Minor League Baseball Player of the Week will remain a fixture as well. So, for the time being, that is the plan for TheBostonInsider. Thank you for reading my take on the sports world and I hope that you continue to visit both TheBostonInsider and TheBostonInsider Daily.

Paul Pierce On The Move?

While I was reading through Bruce Allen's "Boston Sports Media Watch" this morning, I stumbled across an interesting note on the Celtics. According to Jeff on CelticsBlog.com, the Celtics are supposedly in negotiations with the Portland Trail Blazers regarding Paul Pierce. According to Jeff, the Celtics would trade Pierce and the No. 18 pick in the upcoming draft for Nick Van Exel and the No. 3 pick (Van Exel would then be waived for salary cap purposes). Although there is probably a better chance of Bill Belichick releasing a rap album than there is of this particular trade happening, it is intriguing to speculate on it. I have said it before, trading Pierce is an avenue that I believe the Celtics should explore. At least in this proposed deal the Celtics would be getting something of value in return for their top scorer. With the No. 3 pick, the Celtics would most likely be able to select one of the two top pure point guards in this draft, Wake Forest's Chris Paul or Deron Williams of Illinois. And with the savings from waiving Van Exel, the Celtics would be able to sign a shooter -- Jeff shoots for the moon by mentioning Ray Allen or Michael Redd as possible Pierce replacements on the wing for the C's, I would be happy with getting Kyle Korver away from the 76ers. Whatever happens, count on this being the first of many NBA trade rumors you will hear from now until the day of the draft on June 28.

Future Celtics?

The annual NBA Draft is only a few weeks away (June 28). The Boston Celtics, picking at No. 18, will have many options to choose from. They can trade the pick to move higher in the draft, they can also trade down or they can stand pat and make a selection. I believe they will make a pick at No. 18. And of the players that may be available to them, I would be a happy C's fan if either of these three names were called by Commissioner Stern. 1.) Hakim Warrick, F, Syracuse. Warrick is an athletic finisher who lacks the outside shooting and ball handling to be a dominant small forward or the weight to be a effective starting power forward. However, the 6-8, 215 pound Warrick would be an ideal forward off the bench for Boston. He can score in the paint, finish on the break and he is a terrific shot blocker. 2.) Jarrett Jack, PG, Georgia Tech. With the departure of Gary Payton a foregone conclusion, Jack would be a nice fit in the young Celtic backcourt, joining Marcus Banks, Delonte West and Tony Allen. Jack is the true point that neither Banks or West is and the C's would greatly benefit from his addition. 3.) Rashad McCants, SG, North Carolina. The Celtics are in need of shooters and McCants is one of the premiere shooters in this draft. Imagine Al Jefferson kicking the ball out of a double team to a waiting McCants for an open jump shot and I'm sure you will agree with this pick. Warrick, Jack and McCants are just three possibilities for Celtic bosses Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers. All three would be solid additions to the developing Celtic roster. When June 28 rolls around, the selection of either of these three players would be welcome news to Celtic fans.

Give Graves A Shot

For the first two months of the 2005 baseball season, the Red Sox bullpen has been a problem. Closer Keith Foulke (3-3, 11 saves, 2 blown saves, 6.48 ERA) and set-up man Alan Embree (1-2, 1 blown saves, 5.32 ERA) have not played up to expectations and it has cost the Sox in late innings. The 'pen has been held together through the collective efforts of Mike Timlin, Mike Myers and Matt Mantei but those three need help. As the Sox wait for relief for their relief -- either a return to form for Foulke and/or Embree or a trade -- there is an option on the free agent market that the Boston front office should look closely into. Danny Graves, recently released by the Cincinnati Reds, could be the answer to many of the problems facing the Red Sox bullpen. Graves was released partly because of a horrible start to '05 (1-1, 10 saves, 2 blown saves, 7.36 ERA) and also because he made an obscene hand gesture to a Red s fan after the fan reportedly told him to "go back to Vietnam." The Reds, off to a 21-32 start, attempted to trade Graves but his contract, which calls for a $6.25 million salary this season, was too much for any team to take. Subsequently, the Reds released Graves, their all-time leader in saves. It is expected that Graves will sign with the Marlins (he played his college baseball at the University of Miami) for the minimum of $215,000 (the Reds are responsible for the $6.25 million). But if the Sox flex their financial muscle, a definite advantage they hold over the Marlins, Graves could be had. Would it kill the Sox to spend $600,000 on a pitcher with considerable talent who probably just needed a change of scenery to get back on track. This could possibly save the Red Sox from having to trade a prospect or two for a relief pitcher in the upcoming weeks. And if Graves does fail in Boston, a team in need of a reliever would certainly take Graves near the July 31 trading deadline for next to nothing. In that worst case scenario, the Sox would pay cheap money for two months of Graves' services -- no worse than what they are getting from Embree and Foulke right now. It is definitely worth a shot.

Big Papi Does It Again

B.J. Ryan, the hard throwing lefty closer of the Baltimore Orioles was introduced to the awesome strength of David Ortiz yesterday. Trying to hold a 4-3 lead in the 9th inning at Fenway Park, Ryan faced Ortiz with two men on (thanks to a gutsy bunt by Edgar Renteria) and two outs. Facing a count of three balls and two strikes, Ortiz launched the final offering from Ryan into the center field bleachers for a 6-4 Red Sox victory. What do the folks in Minnesota feel like every time David Ortiz comes through in the clutch and delivers it with a smile on his face? What about Yankee fans, knowing that their rivals are paying him 1/3 of what Jason Giambi makes per season? What about Jarrod Washburn -- who gave up the series clinching, 10th inning homerun to Ortiz in last year's A.L.D.S. -- who will face Ortiz this weekend as the Angels come to Fenway? My guess is that Minnesota fans feel cheated that Ortiz never got his shot in a Twins uniform, Yankee fans want to vomit every time Ortiz comes to New York with the Red Sox and that Washburn hopes No. 34 gets a day off on Sunday. Only two months into his third season with the Red Sox, David "Big Papi" Ortiz is entering a stratosphere that few Boston athletes have ever experienced. He is still a few years away from entering the "Ted Williams/Bobby Orr/Bill Russell/Larry Bird" level and he's not quite yet at Tom Brady's level but Ortiz is climbing ... fast. Where would you place him if the Red Sox win the 2005 World Series? Or if he wins the American League MVP? What if the Sox win the AL East for the next five straight years? This is a special time to be a Red Sox fan. The anxiety associated with waiting for a World Series has finally been driven from New England. When you turn on NESN or WEEI (or if you are lucky enough to be at Fenway) for the game, the guys representing Red Sox Nation are the likes of Schilling, Ramirez, Damon, Varitek and Renteria. But the fact that we get to watch the "Smiling Assassin" Ortiz on a daily basis almost seems unfair.

Sox/Orioles

Today's Lineup: 1. Kevin Youkilis, 3B (.316) 2. Edgar Renteria, SS (.286) 3. David Ortiz, DH (.302) 4. Manny Ramirez, LF (.257) 5. Trot Nixon, RF (.310) 6. Jason Varitek, C (.311) 7. John Olerud, 1B (.429) 8. Jay Payton, CF (.224) 9. Mark Bellhorn, 2B (.244) P - Matt Clement (6-0, 3.06 ERA)

Red Sox Need To Salvage Series Split

Don't tell me that is only June 2. Don't tell me that today's game means any less than one on October 2. The Red Sox need a win this afternoon against the Baltimore Orioles (1:05 p.m. on NESN and WEEI -- Matt Clement vs. Hayden Penn) to stay within 3 games of the AL East leading O's. Imagine that, the Sox finally knock off the Yankees in the 2004 A.L.C.S and now they are chasing the Orioles for their first AL East crown since 1995. Baltimore is no push over, their pitching may be suspect but they can hit. Miguel Tejada is the MVP after two months (.329/14/46) and Brian Roberts (.368/11/33) isn't too far behind. The Sox need to start taking care of business versus the Birds. They can't allow the O's to build up any more confidence. If they don't -- and a win today would give the Orioles a season edge of 5-3 over the BoSox (including 3-of-4 in this series) -- the Orioles could make this a very, very long summer for those of us here in Red Sox Nation.

Welcome

Blogging is the trend in on-line sports writing and TheBostonInsider is jumping on the bandwagon. This is something that I am exploring. Will it be permanent? I don't know. If I get comfortable in this format then maybe this will be the new format for TheBostonInsider.