Kudos To Theo

A baseball career is not made in a few appearances. But the sparkling pitching debuts of Manny DelCarmen and Jon Papelbon in the past week have shown Red Sox Nation that all of the chatter about the farm system may be for real. In addition to DelCarmen and Papelbon, the Sox are extremly high on shortstop Hanley Ramirez, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, pitchers Jon Lester, Anibal Sanchez and Abe Alvarez, catcher Kelly Shoppach and outfielders Mickey Hall and David Murphy among others. Some of those "others" include 2005 draft picks Jacoby Ellsbury, Craig Hansen and Jed Lowrie. The future of the Red Sox is definitley promising. And we have general manager Theo Epstein to thank for that. Epstein is not alone in building the farm system -- he has a great staff of scouts and personnel men to assist him -- but his job is not just to bring in the right players. He also is responsible for keeping the right players in the Boston system. Teams look to trade veterans to contenders in exchange for their valued prospects. Teams like the Red Sox are usually so concerned with the here-and-now that they do not mind parting with promise of tomorrow for the results of today. The trouble in that is that today isn't always what tomorrow could be. For example, the Red Sox could have traded prospects for Tampa Bay's Aubrey Huff. Huff is a good hitter with some pop that very well likely would have given the Sox a boost at the plate. But in no way is he an impact player -- one who would vault the Red Sox past their fellow contenders (at least not on paper). And in return Theo would have been sending away talent that could very well be the Hall-of-Famers of the future. But Theo didn't pull the trigger on a deal that could have strengthened the major league club in the short term while at the same time crippling the Red Sox of the future. He likes his team as is --they are in first place in the A.L. East -- and didn't want to risk his talented minor leaguers for the likes of Huff. That is what separates him from many of his fellow GM's.

State Of The Red Sox

The trading deadline came and then it passed with the Red Sox making no move of significance. (Of course if Jose Cruz Jr., traded to Boston from Arizona for minor league prospects Kenny Perez and Kyle Bono, scores the winning run in Game 7 of the World Series then we will have to reevaluate the meaning of significance.) The Red Sox didn't deal Manny Ramirez to the Mets. They didn't trade for A.J. Burnett or Billy Wagner. And they didn't swap Bill Mueller for J.C. Romero. What the Sox did was add some under-the-radar pieces before the deadline. Names like Chad Bradford, Gabe Kapler, Cruz Jr., Tony Graffanino and Alex Cora may not make you start ordering playoff tickets but they are important moves that give Terry Francona better options off the bench. The Sox have also called up Manny DelCarmen and Jon Papelbon (terrific in his major league debut today) to bolster their pitching staff. An offense built around the likes of David Ortiz, Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek, Edgar Renteria, Mueller and Trot Nixon will score a ton of runs. That we know. The pitching staff has some holes to fill but Matt Clement, David Wells and Bronson Arroyo have all been solid, Wade Miller has had his shining moments and Curt Schilling should eventually return to the rotation. That is, of course, when Keith Foulke regains his closer job in the bullpen. Foulke will join should-have-been All-Star Mike Timlin, Mike Myers, Bradford, DelCarmen and possibly Papelbon to form a good relief crew. There are questions about whether or not the BoSox can repeat as World Champions. When you boil it down, the season rests on the combined health and effectiveness of Schilling and Foulke. If they are on their game than the Sox will be in a position to once again make a run at the World Series. (Just promise me that if they do it again this year that the World Series trophy won't be passed around more times than a joint at a college frat party.)

Red Sox-Twins (July 31, 2005)

Tick, tock. The non-waiver trade deadline is hours away and still no major deals as of right now. Manny to the Mets? Fahgeddaboutit. Burnett to the White Sox? Highly unlikely. Soriano to the Twins? Not yet. As the minutes drift away there is still baseball to be played. The Sox beat the Twins for the second straight night with David Wells pitching another great game. Howard Bryant was on the mark in the Boston Herald -- he is the staff ace right now. The series finale on Sunday will pit Jon Papelbon for Boston in his major league debut against Minnesota's Brad Radke (6-10, 3.88). NESN and WEEI have the game, starting at 2:05 p.m.

Red Sox-Twins (July 30, 2005)

The Red Sox won in a wierd fasion -- Damon's "3-run home run" -- but the bottom line is that they won. The Sox now hold a 2.5-game lead over the Yankees in the A.L. East with the Blue Jays (5-games back) and Orioles (6-games) also in the rear view mirror. Tonight the Sox have David Wells (8-5, 4.57) throwing against Minnesota's Kyle Lohse (7-9, 4.45). NESN and WEEI have the game at 7:05 p.m. For those of you lucky enough to have WGN out of Chicago, tune in this afternoon at 4:05 p.m. to see the Cubs play the Diamondbacks with Milton's Rich Hill pitching for the Cubs. Instead of thought's on Friday's game (Arroyo was great in a pinch for the sore Wade Miller -- does Papelbon start Sunday?), I would like to discuss some trade rumors. First off, the three-way deal that would send Manny to the Mets for Mike Cameron and bring Aubrey Huff to Fenway from Tampa Bay is ridiculous. I understand Manny's contract is an albatross and that his attitude is a detriment more often than it should be but bringing back Cameron and Huff is not enough. Cameron is a great defensive outfielder but he's a hack at the plate and Huff is an ogre in the field and has shown signs in '05 of a slow bat. If you must trade him than do so, just bring back something in return that is of some value. The Manny trade may just be a smoke screen anyways. The Providence Journal is reporting that the Sox are on the cusp of acquiring Larry Bigbie from Colorado for Kelly Shoppach and Adam Stern. Bigbie was dealt by Baltimore to the Rockies for Eric Byrnes last night and it is expected the Rockies will flip him to Boston for Shoppach and Stern.

Fenway Awards

As July turns to August and August into September, the baseball playoff drive heats up faster than my Ford F-150. It is also the same time of year that the Baseball Writers of America start to ponder the individual awards. In the spirit of the award season, TheBostonInsider is introducing the First Annual "Fenway Awards for Excellence" (that name is open to change). These are not awards for Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek and Curt Schilling, this ceremony is dedicated to the people who call Fenway home -- neighbors, bar patrons and Park employees. A committee is currently being formed to decide categories in which "Fenway's" will be awarded and if you or any of your friends are interested, please e-mail TheBostonInsider at herrenfan24@yahoo.com. I'll keep you posted.

Red Sox-Twins (July 29, 2005)

The Red Sox open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins tonight at Fenway Park at 7:05 p.m. on WSBK/NESN and WEEI. Wade Miller (3-4, 4.57), coming off an outstanding start in his last appearance against the White Sox, matches up with Minnesota's Carlos Silva (7-4, 3.37). Like last year, the Red Sox enter the weekend of the non-waiver trading deadline playing the Twins. Also like last year, the Sox and Twins are rumored to be in trade negotiations. Will we see J.C. Romero out of the bullpen for Boston this weekend? And is it possible that Bill Mueller will be spraying line drives off of the Green Monster for the Twins?

Solid Player, Great Teammate

When you think about the New England Patriots and their budding NFL dynasty your mind tends to envision the stars behind the winners of three of the last four Super Bowls. Names like Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Troy Brown, Ty Law, Corey Dillon, Willie McGinest, Deion Branch and Lawyer Milloy are just a handful of the prime time players that have been responsible for bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Foxboro. But in all of that hoopla, some names seem to be forgotten. Even on a team as prominent as the Patriots, some players contributions often get over looked. Ted Johnson, a Patriot since 1995 when he was drafted out of Colorado, is one of those players who is forgotten from time to time. Today, on the day he retired from the Patriots after ten years and three Super Bowls, is a day to remember him. For those of you who have become Pats fans since the magical ride to Super Bowl XXXVI, let me fill you in on big No. 52. Ted Johnson was one of three landmarks on the young Patriot defense of the mid-'90s. A powerful run stopper, Johnson -- along with Milloy and Law -- formed the foundation of a unit that reached Super Bowl XXXI. He was a monster on the field who dominated in a quiet but forceful manner. Long before Tedy Bruschi was the man in the middle on Sundays for New England, Ted Johnson stuffed on coming running backs. Injuries, especially multiple tears to his large bicep muscles, kept Johnson off the field towars the end of the '90s. Unlike some of the pretenders in the NFL who enjoy avoiding the battles on the field, Johnson was a victim of cruel irony -- it was his great work ethic in the weight room that caused his injuries. Injuries would plague Johnson for most of his career. In his place, Bruschi blossomed into a Pro Bowl linebacker. However, you never heard Johnson complain. Yes, he threatened to quit right before the 2002 season opener, but that was more about feeling lost on the team rather than a squabble over losing his job to Bruschi. Johnson returned to the team, was a successful contributor and was even voted in as a defensive captain before the 2003 season. Over this great Patriots run, Ted Johnson the role player has been as valuable as Ted Johnson the rising star. In winning the AFC Championship Games in both 2002 and 2005 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson's role in shutting down Jerome Bettis was priceless. Without him, The Bus could have run wild and history would be written rather differently today. Replacing Ted Johnson will be no easy feat for Belichick, Scott Pioli and the Patriots. His role on the field may not be what we once thought it could be but he was still an integral part of the defense. And his position as one of the veteran leaders can not be made up for. The Patriots lost a solid player today. They also lost one of their greatest team players. Another challenge to overcome for the World Champions.

Manny's Actions

Let's get one thing straight -- the message that Manny Ramirez sent to his teammates by not playing in Wednesday's game when his team needed him to be on the field is just the latest example of "Manny being Manny." And as for the business of "Manny being Manny," it is nothing more than a cop-out for a player who obviously only cares about himself. This is not even close to the first time that Manny has put Manny before the rest of the team. There was the incident in 2002 when he failed to run out a ground ball in Tampa Bay. In 2003 there was the lost weekend versus the Yankees and the refusal to pinch hit on Labor Day in Philadelphia. Don't gotget 2004 when Manny said his hamstrings were to sore to play on in Anaheim, only hours after playing in the All-Star Game. The problem is the Red Sox management have their hands tied by Manny. The mercurial slugger is a Hall-of-Fame talent with the maturity of Michael Jackson. Place the blame on Terry Francona all you want, if the Sox skipper came down on No. 24 then the inhabitant of the Green Monster urinal would most likely go into a funk costing the team any chance it has at repeating as World Series champions. As for trading Ramirez, see what the market is for an aging outfielder who needs constant babying. Oh, I also forgot the $57-million that Manny is owed until 2008. So all the chatter about trading or benching Manny right now is ridiculous. It just won't happen. It can't happen. What the Red Sox need to do right now is what they always do with Manny -- nothing. Continue to rely on Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek, David Ortiz and the other guys who show up on a daily basis and give their all for the Boston Red Sox. If the professionals on the roster keep on producing then the practice of coddling Manny just might produce another World Series. But the thing is, this offseason, be ready to bid farewell to Manny Ramirez. Don't bet on Theo Epstein and the ownership putting up with the "Manny being Manny" mantra anymore.

Five Thoughts For Wednesday

1. The children of Fenway Park continue to miss Rob "Nuts" Barry and his airborne peanut tosses. (But not as much as the loyal Coors Light fans -- and her husband and nephews -- miss his beautiful sister Betsy.) Maybe some more info on "Nuts" will surface in the next few days. 2. Johnny Damon continues to make a case for American League MVP. As much as it will help out the evil Scott Boras in negotiations, the truth is Damon is invaluable to this team. Hopefully 4-years/$44-million will do the trick. 3. Tim Wakefield always comes through when the team needs him most. A tired Sox bullpen = Wake goes 7 1/3 against Tampa Bay. 4. The Sox need to make a fast evaluation on the immediate future of Trot Nixon's back. If it will only be a three week injury then Boston can get by with Gabe Kapler but anything more than that is cause for concern and motivation for a trade. Could a possible A.J. Burnett deal include Juan Encarnacion? 5. If Manny DelCarmen is as good as he was on Tuesday, can we be planning on seeing Jon Papelbon at Fenway before this upcoming 6-game home stand is over?

Red Sox-Devil Rays (July 27, 2005)

A dramatic -- and much needed -- victory for the Red Sox last night. Today they absolutely need Tim Wakefield ( 8-9, 4.42) to take the pressure off an exhausted Sox bullpen by going at least 7-innings. Wake faces off with Tampa's Seth McClung (1-5, 7.07) at 4:15 p.m. on NESN and WEEI. (Thoughts from Tuesday's game ... above all else, let's all thank what ever God we pray to that Matt Clement is healthy this morning ... a great job by the entire team to pick themselves up after Clement got hit on the head to come back and win a wild game ... Johnny Damon's price tag keeps rising -- I think the Sox need to offer him Varitek money ... Manny DelCarmen was very, very impressive in his major league debut ...I actually agree with Dale Sveum for waving in Olerud at that point of the game ... Nixon's on the way to the DL -- welcome back Kapler?)

Red Sox-Devil Rays (July 26, 2005)

Yesterday was a vacation day for TheBostonInsider and it turned out that many of the Red Sox took the day off as well. Bad base running and leaving runners in scoring position were the cause for the Sox loss last night -- wasting a solid effort by David Wells. Matt Clement (10-3, 4.30) goes tonight against Mark Hendrickson (4-7, 6.82) on NESN and WEEI starting at 7:15 p.m. The Red Sox will have a new option out of the bullpen tonight as Manny DelCarmen of Hyde Park and West Roxbury High School will be placed on the roster. Hopefully he can help sort out the problems in the 'pen. (Thoughts from Monday's game ... did not really watch the Red Sox game ... instead, I was at the Playwright in South Boston watching Milton, Mass. native Rich Hill make his first major league start versus the San Francisco Giants ... Rico pitched very well and got a no-decision in a 3-2 Cubs win ... his curveball was nasty -- as was his base running ... Rich's next start is Saturday at Wrigley)

Red Sox-White Sox (July 24, 2005)

The Red Sox have a great chance to take 3-of-4 from the Chicago White Sox today as Bronson Arroyo (8-5, 4.05) takes on Jose "Thank The F'n Lord Theo Couldn't Afford Him" Contreras (5-6, 4.34). NESN and WEEI have the game, which starts at 3:05 p.m. (Thoughts From Saturday's Game ... Definitely the best start of '05 for Wade Miller who now has only allowed three earned runs in his two starts of the second half ... Manny goes deep again ... as does 'Tek ... speaking of the Captain, he deserves serious MVP consideration ... would you give Johnny a four-year deal this winter? E-Mail me at herrenfan24@yahoo.com with your thoughts)

Trade Winds

According to Peter Gammons, the Baltimore Orioles have dealt pitcher Sidney Ponson to the San Diego Padres for first baseman Phil Nevin. According to the report on ESPN.com, this move puts the rumored trade of A.J. Burnett to the Orioles on hold. This may put the Red Sox back into the Burnett sweepstakes. While yesterday I wrote that the Chicago White Sox were the front runners for the Marlins right hander, today things look a lot different. First off, my opinion that the ChiSox were the leaders for Burnett focused on their starters being hit by the Red Sox -- so far that has not happened. In the first two games of the series, starters Mark Buerhle and Jon Garland have pitched effectively. If you are White Sox GM Kenny Williams, why trade for a position of strength (unless, of course, to keep him away from a fellow contender)? Another reason why I believe the Red Sox will get in on Burnett is that they desperately need a swing-and-miss starter in their rotation. Currently, their only true swing-and-miss guy is Curt Schilling and he is closing games right now, not starting. Among the other starters -- Bronson Arroyo, Wade Miller, David Wells and Tim Wakefield -- there is not one man who over powers hitters. Burnett is that kind of pitcher. The knock on Burnett is that he is too inconsistent. That inconsistency is the type of thing that usually goes away when a pitcher is paired with Jason Varitek. Especially when the pitcher in question has the ability of Burnett. Just ask Matt Clement if you doubt that opinion. With just over a week until the non-waiver trade deadline, look for the Red Sox to be an important player.

Red Sox-White Sox (July 23, 2005)

A Saturday night game in Chicago (7:05, NESN/WEEI) has Wade Miller (2-4, 5.01) facing off against Orlando Hernandez (7-2, 4.98). Hernandez is not the pitcher he once was with the Yankees but he is still good enough to shut down any opponent he faces. The Red Sox will have to get to him early. Miller pitched well his last time out (a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay) and he needs build on that outing to get his first win since May. (Thoughts on Friday's game ... The Sox had their chances against Garland, they just could not capitalize ... I noted that Wakefield needed to avoid giving up the home run ball -- well, he gave up three and it cost the Boston the game ... congratulations to Adam Stern who hit his first major league home run in the ninth inning ... one of the new rumors on the trade front has the Red Sox sending Wade Miller and prospects (Shoppach?, Youkilis?, Abe Alvarez?) to Florida for A.J. Burnett ... yesterday on WEEI's "Big Show," Peter Gammons tossed out the notion that if the Sox do get Burnett, they may turn around and deal him to the Phillies for Billy Wagner)

Red Sox-White Sox (July 22, 2005)

Great win last night. Joe Crede learned first hand lesson No. 1 when dealing with Manny Ramirez -- you can't give him second chances. The Sox have a tough game tonight (8:05 p.m., NESN/WSBK/WEEI) as Tim Wakefield (8-8, 4.12) squares off against Cy Young candidate Jon Garland (14-4, 3.21). I think the Sox can get to Garland, who does not over power hitters (58 strikeouts in 126 innings). He does throw strikes (only 23 walks) so the Boston batters can't sit there with the bat on their shoulders but if they take what he offers, they should be able to score on him. Wake just needs to keep the ball in the park. (Thoughts from Thursday's game ... Clement looked better than he will get credit for today ... a good sign to see Schilling not only pitch two innings but to also bounce back from the blown save ... I would rate the White Sox as the leaders in the Burnett sweepstakes -- GM Kenny Williams will see the need for a power starter after the Sox beat up on his soft-tossing rotation this weekend and they may be willing to take on Mike Lowell due to the struggles of Crede ... I really like the addition of Tony Graffanino, he's a gamer)

A Note On Tedy Bruschi And A Red Sox Trade Rumor

The weather here in Boston is so oppressive that I'm starting to think Theo's biggest deal at the 2004 trading deadline had nothing to do with Nomar -- I think Theo really did make a deal with the Devil for the World Series. The big news in Boston is that Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi will sit out the 2005 NFL season. Bruschi, the emotional soul of the two-time defending Super Bowl Champions, suffered a stroke 10-days after Super Bowl XXXIX and also has surgery to repair a hole in his heart. There has been much speculation on Bruschi's future but a Patriots press release yesterday confirmed he will miss at least the '05 season. In today's Boston Herald, Michael Felger (often confused with his cousin, Herbie the Dentist from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer fame) reports that there is an outside chance Bruschi could play towards the end of the season if all goes well in his recovery and if the Pats have a need at linebacker. Let's all pray for Tedy's healthy recovery ... so he can live a normal life with his family. We all love No. 54 on Sunday's but even the most over-the-top Boston sports nut would tell you that he wants to see Bruschi live a long and healthy life. Now on to the latest Red Sox trade rumor. The reports today have the Sox sending third baseman Bill Mueller and first baseman Kevin Millar to the Minnesota Twins for lefty reliever J.C. Romero and starter Joe Mays. The Sox would then send Mays and Bronson Arroyo to the Florida Marlins for A.J. Burnett and Mike Lowell. For starters, I am against trading Bill Mueller. On a team full of self-proclaimed Idiots, Mueller is one of the few quiet professionals who does his job without much fan fare, a very underrated aspect in Boston. However, to get a lefty set-up man like Romero -- a hard thrower to replace Alan Embree -- tough decisions have to be made. Dumping our four home run first baseman is an added bonus in this trade. The additional move of Arroyo/Mays for Burnett/Lowell is also confusing. Arroyo has proven that he can pitch effectively in the Boston pressure cooker, no easy task for a young hurler. And Burnett, the "gem" of the 2005 trading class, is no proven commodity. He does have exceptional stuff (the best in the big leagues according to none other than Shonda Schilling's husband) but he has yet to harness his ability, is inconsistent at best and is often injured. Burnett is also a free agent at year's end and will be expensive to keep while Arroyo is not eligible for free agency until after 2008. Bringing on Mike Lowell also raises some serious questions. Lowell is no longer the power hitter he once was and the slip at the plate is a cause for concern. However, he is a terrific defender and he can play both third and first base (possibly in a platoon with Kevin Youkilis at third and John Olerud at first). The big problem with Lowell is his contract -- he is owed $18-million between now and the end of 2007. With the looming free agency of Johnny Damon money will be a little tight on Yawkey Way. Does the front office really want to invest in a player like Lowell who is on the down side of his career? We'll see over the course of the next nine days.

Red Sox-White Sox (July 21, 2005)

Ten days before the trading deadline and the Sox are heading to Chicago to face MLB's best team, the White Sox, in a very important series. Matt Clement (10-3, 4.21), coming off a horrible start on Saturday versus the Yankees, goes up against A.L. All-Star starter Mark Buehrle (11-3, 2.58). This is a pivotal series for the Red Sox. Winning 3-of-4 or even splitting with the White Sox would send a message to the rest of the A.L. that the Red Sox are still the elite team until someone steps up and proves otherwise. Clement should be up to the challenge -- he has bounced back every time this year after being roughed up in his previous start. (Thoughts from Wednesday's game ... Wells has made some of you doubters into believers ... Olerud needs to play more ... great play by Renteria in the first, setting the tone for the day that the D-Rays were not going to get anything easy ... or anything at all for that matter ... nice blast by Damon, the Sox are going to need him to hit a few more home runs ... Chad Bradford was a solid addition ... could you imagine Manny Ramirez playing for Lou Piniella?)

Red Sox-Devil Rays (July 20, 2005)

Wednesday's pitchers are David Wells (7-5, 4.73) for Boston against 6-10 Mark Hendrickson (4-6, 6.35) of Tampa Bay. The Sox are back in first place in the A.L. East (print the shirts) but a win today would be a nice boost heading toward Chicago and the White Sox this weekend. (Thoughts from Tuesday's game ... Arroyo should not be included in any deal that doesn't involve an impact player -- he's too valuable to this team right now ... though his singing does need work ... Dan Shaughnessy happened to mention a rumored Arroyo/Millar for Billy Wagner and Jim Thome ... no thanks on Thome's back and contract ... I told you Schill would be fine in the 'pen -- other than the Sheffield/A-Rod at-bats on Thursday he's been great in relief ... we'll miss you Alan Embree and Boston will never forget you hugging 'Tek after slaying the Yanks last October)

Red Sox-Devil Rays (July 19, 2005)

More troubles with Yahoo! Geocities so here is tonight's pitching match-up for the Red Sox vs. Devil Rays at 7:05 on NESN and WEEI. Bronso Arroyo (7-5, 4.14 ERA) squares off against former Sox prospect Casey Fossum (4-7, 4.02 ERA) in what amounts to a "must win" for the second place BoSox. (Looking back on last night ... Wade Miller was good at times, especially the curve ball ... the Sox could have blown the game open early but Manny grounded into a double play with no outs and the bases loaded in the first ... that was good for an RBI though ... Scott Kazmir is damn good, I can't believe the Mets traded him for Victor Zambrano ... Dom DiMaggio rests easy today as Johnny Damon's hit streak ends at 29)

That's Nuts!!!

For those of you who follow the Red Sox just a liiiitle too close,you may have noticed that a familiar voice of Fenway Park has been missing lately. That's right. Rob "Nuts" Barry -- the famous peanut vendor at Fenway Park -- is currently out of action with a shoulder injury. Who knows how long Barry, who is known for tossing the bags at expecting customers, will be out? Just don't expect to hear his call of Peeeeeeee-nuts any time soon. (There is no truth to the rumor that current New York Mets first baseman Brain Daubach will be filling in for his old friend while he's on the shelf.)

Hanley To Make Boston Debut?

There is obviously a hole (offensively, at least) at second base for the Boston Red Sox. 2004 playoff hero Mark Bellhorn (never forget those clutch home runs) has not produced at the plate for the Sox and it's getting a little late in the season to be waiting for him to "bust out." On top of that, Bellhorn hurt his finger against the Yankees on Sunday night and he may be out of action for a while. He may even have to go on the disabled list. The list of immediate replacements for Bellhorn is short. His current back-up, Alex Cora, isn't capable of handling the full time gig at second. And the option of playing Kevin Youkilis at third and moving Bill Mueller to second is moot for two reasons. One, Youk is in Pawtucket and he can't be recalled for another few days and two, Mueller won't play second because of his balky knees. A trade is a possibility but do you really want Tony Graffanino? And Alfonso Soriano's price tag would be too high. That leaves us with a promotion of a top prospect. Dustin Pedroia, currently at Pawtucket, would be the obvious choice except that he isn't on the 40-man roster and he is playing through a wrist injury. But have no fear. The top prospect in the organization, Portland short stop Hanley Ramirez, has been playing some second base recently. Ramirez could be the guy the Sox will promote to replace Bellhorn for the next few weeks if that need be the case. Maybe those Tampa Bay tickets will carry a little more meaning now, you could be witnessing the debut of the "next big thing" for the Red Sox.

Two Red Sox Notes

Two quick thoughts before the Red Sox take the next three versus the Empire... 1. Schilling will be fine in the bullpen. When he came out to start the ninth inning last night, Schill was obviously way too pumped up. The emotion of the crowd, the importance of the moment and his first appearance since April 23 all combined to make Schilling too excited. When he faced Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez to start the inning he was obviously over throwing. After A-Rod's bomb he settled down to end the inning. He should look more like the Schilling of old now that he has the first outing behind him. 2. Mark Bellhorn Should Be On Life Support. Enough already. Bellhorn either needs to start hitting or start looking for work. Other than finding some more pitching depth, Theo Epstein's priority should be finding a new second baseman. Bellhorn is just not doing the job. He strikes out more than an acne laiden sophomore does at the school dance. Two options that may be worth exploring are Alfonso Soriano of the Rangers and Sox prospect Dustin Pedroia (currently at Pawtucket). Soriano will be more expensive in terms of salary and prospects but he is an experienced performer. Pedroia, the second baseman of the future in Boston, doesn't have Soriano's experience but he wouldn't cost the team anything to promote him.

Larry Brown Is Out In Detroit

TheBostonInsider Daily has learned that the Detroit Pistons will not be bringing back coach Larry Brown. Brown is now free to pursue other coaching vacancies (New York Knicks) while the Pistons can move on from the distraction that Brown has become in the past few weeks. Do not be surprised if Flip Saunders is waiting in the wings to replace Brown in MoTown.

Ainge Should Pull Trigger If Deal Is Right

The hot rumor concerning the Celtics right now is Antoine Walker (in a sign & trade) being shipped to the Sacramento Kings, possibly along with either Mark Blount or Raef LaFrentz, for a package of players (choose three) including Corliss Williamson, Greg Ostertag, Bobby Jackson or Brian Skinner. Please, join me in hoping that this trade is consumated. Imagine, Walker and LaFrentz for Bobby Jackson (a veteran guard), Corliss Williamson (a tough forward who can score) and Ostertag (who the Celtics could release or trade). By doing this deal the Celtics can get back some value on Walker. There is the added bonus of clearing LaFrentz' contract off the books. Also, by adding Jackson the Celtics gain some experience in their young backcourt and by adding Williamson they get veteran insurance at small forward allowing Danny Ainge to move Paul Pierce. Pierce could be dealt to the Mavericks for Michael Finley (who the Celtics could waive via the "Amnesty Clause" in the new collective bargaining agreement). This is far fetched and really is not even remotely possible. But for one second imagine it comes to be. The Celtics roster would look like this (starters in bold): G - Delonte West, Bobby Jackson, Marcus Banks, Tony Allen, Gerald Green, Orien Greene SF - Ricky Davis, Corliss Williamson, Justin Reed PF- Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes C - Kendrick Perkins, Mark Blount, Greg Ostertag That would be the youngest (nine players with three or less years of experience) team in the league. It is not a lineup that will be a playoff contender. A high lottery pick would most likely be the result of such a squad. But it would give the youngsters a chance to develop. And with so much promise and the reality of a high draft pick, Ainge would be in position to make a trade for a veteran by midseason. Would a package of Ricky Davis (affordable contract), Marcus Banks or Delonte West, Ostertag's expiring contract and that promising No. 1 pick be enough to pry away Peja Stojakovic from the Kings? It's something to think about.

First Half Awards

The All-Star break is upon us and the first half of the baseball season is behind us. It has been an interesting year. The Yankees are not in first place in their division but the MontrealSanJuanWashington Nationals are. Derrek Lee is seriously challenging for the Triple Crown in the N.L. while Barry Bonds has yet to play a game. Brian Roberts of the Orioles has turned into Roberto Alomar at the plate. It has truly been an amazing season to date. As just about every other baseball writer or fan does at this time of the year, I am presenting you with my award ballot for the first half of the year. I will also provide you with the player that I predicted to win this award in the preseason from my column on TheBostonInsider home page next to my choice for first half winner. AL MVP: David Ortiz, Red Sox (David Ortiz, Red Sox) NL MVP: Derrek Lee, Cubs (Albert Pujols, Cardinals) AL CY YOUNG: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays (Barry Zito, A's) NL CY YOUNG: Roger Clemens, Astros (Andy Pettitte, Astros) AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jeremy Reed, Mariners (Joe Blanton, A's) NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: David Wright, Mets (David Wright, Mets) AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Ozzie Guillen, White Sox (Eric Wedge, Indians) NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Frank Robinson, Nationals (Willie Randolph, Mets) I did correctly pick the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals as playoff teams but I missed on the Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. But, of course, there are still games on the schedule. There is a lot of baseball to be played and many questions need answering. Can the Red Sox hold off the Yankees and Orioles? (Yes.) Can Jon Garland continue to pitch like Bob Welch? (No.) Will Pedro lead the Mets in the direction of first place in the N.L. East? (Yes.) Will the N.L. West win a playoff game? (No.) Before I go, here's one last prediction. David Ortiz will win tonight's Home Run Derby and then he will win the Ted Williams Award as the MVP of the All-Star Game.

Damon's Comments Out Of Line

When a borderline Hall-of-Fame starting pitcher needing roughly 15-20 more wins to ensure enshrinement in Cooperstown offers to return from injury as a relief pitcher to help his team's struggling bullpen in a pennant race it should be applauded by the masses who have been overexposed to selfish, me-first ball players for the last two generations. The announcement that Curt Schilling will return to the Red Sox after the All-Star Game in a relief role has generated a lot of positive reviews in Boston in the last 24-hours. Some believe it will save the season, others think they need him to start but most all are in agreement that Schilling has only winning in mind in making the move. Most all. Just not his teammate Johnny Damon. In today's Boston Globe, Damon said that, "You've got a lot of upset people in here," in reference to Schilling getting the closer's job. ''I think Bronson [Arroyo] or Timlin are the choice as the closer. Mike Timlin deserves to be it." I understand Damon supporting Timlin. He is a great set-up man and the natural procession is from set-up to starter. But Timlin is 39-years-old and being a top notch set-up man is his role on the team. Why take him out of a role that he excels at when the team needs him most? Keeping Timlin as the bridge to the closer keeps things in place for when Keith Foulke (or an alternative closer) returns to the lineup and Schilling returns to the rotation. Damon is way off track on this one. If Schilling were as selfish as Damon is being in this situation than he would return to the rotation at (at best) 80% of his ability and let the bullpen blow up the 2005 season. Hopefully Johnny will change his tune and support a teammate who is making a decision based on an organization and not himself.