Red Sox

By winning the posting of Japanese pitching sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox have once again taken control of the sports scene in Boston. And to think, they haven't even signed him yet. Coinciding with the Matsuzaka news is the on-going General Manager's meetings in Naples, Florida. The GM Summit is oft the cause of many hot stove rumors and there are many coming out with interest to Sox fans. The highly talented and injury prone J.D. Drew is supposedly drawing serious interest from the Sox. As is Julio Lugo, a player the Red Sox almost traded for in July. More Manny Ramirez trade rumors. Yawn. Roger Clemens back to Boston? I think I've heard that one before. But as the closer? Now that's a good one. Names of relief pitchers are bouncing around all over the place. Justin Speier and Danys Baez are popular ones being thrown around. Let's just say these rumors become facts. Imagine Drew, Lugo, Clemens and one of the relievers come to the Sox while Manny stays. Add in a few more free agents and this could be the 2007 Red Sox: CF - Coco Crisp SS - Julio Lugo (current FA) DH - David Ortiz LF - Manny Ramirez RF - J.D. Drew (current FA) 1B - Kevin Youkilis C - Jason Varitek 3B - Mike Lowell 2B - Dustin Pedroia Bench - Alex Cora (INF), Wily Mo Pena (OF), David Murphy (OF), Craig Wilson (1B/OF - current FA), Doug Mirabelli (C - current FA) Starting Rotation - Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, Tim Wakefield (wih Jon Lester hopefully returning) Bullpen - Julian Tavarez, Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen, Mike Timlin, Justin Speier (current FA), Steve Kline (current FA), Roger Clemens (current FA) It's far fetched but that is the beauty of projecting baseball lineups in November -- reality has yet to set in so this is the time to be creative.

Red Sox Go Big For Japanese Pitcher

The worst kept secret in MLB is finally official. Major League Baseball has informed the masses that the Red Sox are indeed the team who posted the top bid for the right to negotiate a contract for the services of Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, MVP of the initial World Baseball Classic this past March. The bid, reported over the weekend to be in the $38-45-million range, is for $51.1-million. For the amount of money it would have cost the Sox to sign Johnny Damon to a 4-year contract last winter, the Sox get a 30-day period to come to terms on a deal with the 26-year-old ace of the Seibu Lions. If they come to an agreement (no lock with Scott Boras representing Matsuzaka; expect talks to center around a 3-or-4-year deal worth upwards of $10-to-14-million) then the folks in Seibu will be getting a large sum of American dollars; if not, the Sox pay nothing other than the long-distance telephone bill. If the Sox do sign the hard throwing righty than he will join a rotation of Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, and Tim Wakefield. And don't forget lefty Jon Lester, who is currently fighting cancer. Other Sox coming out of Naples, Florida, site of the General Manager's meetings, is that Theo Epstein and his crew are very interested in free agent outfielder J.D. Drew and they have offered contracts to two unnamed pitchers. The pitchers are most likely relievers and their interest in Justin Speier is no secret. Bullpen help will be very important as Papelbon shifts to the starting rotation from closer and the set-up crew of Manny Delcarmen, Mike Timlin, and Craig Hansen needs bolstering.

Belichick's Genius?

I was as mad as anyone after the Patriots lost to the Colts on Sunday night. I haven't been able to get that 27-20 score out of my mind. The thing that killed me was that the Pats stopped running the football on offense, instead relying on Tom Brady to pass them to a win -- a decision that backfired as Brady wasn't his usual great self. Mr. Super Bowl in the 21st Century was off target all night and tossed four interceptions (three of which were tipped before landing in the hands of the gracious Colt defender) against zero TD's. Just imagine David Ortiz bunting with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Red Sox trailing 3-0. When the Pats put the ball in the hands of Corey Dillon (13 carries/48 yards/2 TD's), Laurence Maroney (13/63), and Kevin Faulk (4/24) they had success. When they put the ball in Brady's hands (20-for-35, 201 yards, 4 INT) they failed. Ultimately, this is why the Patriots lost to the Colts. And this is why, if (when) these two teams meet in the playoffs, the game will be played indoors on the fast carpet of Indianapolis' RCA Dome instead of on the frozen dirt of Gillette Stadium. And what will the Pats offense turn to when (if) that game is played in January? The running game. That will be Belichick's answer to the Colts and their high powered offense. And that is why I think Belichick decided to throw the ball around on Sunday. His line of thinking was to pass, pass, pass in November and damn the consequences so he could run, run, run in January and defeat the Colts for the third time in four years in the postseason. Why give the Colts their gameplan? Why show off their path to success in November when it can be unleashed when the games matter most. Hey, give Manning, Dungy, and all of Indianapolis a false sense of hope now -- all the better to crush their spirits two months from now. Belichick hasn't won three Super Bowls through luck. He didn't earn the respect of the NFL and all of its' followers because he's a dumby. He knows how to win games but he also knows that wins in November mean little if the wins stop coming after New Years Day. Wait until January. Wait until Maroney carries 24 times for 117 yards and a TD. Wait for Dillon to pound away 19 times for 84 yards and 2 TD's. Wait for Brady and Belichick to again crush the Colts in the playoffs, hopefully on their way to a fourth Super Bowl in six years.

Celtics

First things first, goodbye Red. You built the greatest basketball franchise and in the process, made the NBA into the NBA. Thanks for everything. Now, on to the 2006-07 Celtics... Get rid of Doc. He seems like a nice guy. He is a terrible coach. It's time for Danny Ainge to assume control of a ship that he put together and that is sailing the wrong way. Next, make a major move. This one works: Celts send Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, and Wally Szczerbiak to the Sonics and Al Jefferson to the Timberwolves, the Sonics send Ray Allen to the T-Wolves and Earl Watson to the C's and the C's also get KG from Minnesota. Draft picks switch as well. Far fetched? Certainly. You want more far fetched? Sign FA shooting guard Latrell Sprewell. Spree may be a psycho but he can getto the basket -- a very important skill in the NBA these days. This is what the C's would look like: PG - Rondo/Watson/West SG - Sprewell/West/Allen SF - Pierce/Sprewell/Allen PF - Garnett/Gomes/Powe/Scalabrine C - Perkins/Garnett/Olowakandi Finally, start winning some F'n games. The Pats only can win once a week and the B's suck. The winter cannot go on like this.