Random Thoughts (July 16, 2007)

Today is the deadline for Asante Samuel and the Patriots to sign a long-term deal or the cornerback will only be able to don his No. 22 jersey under the one-year franchise player tender of $7.79 million. The Boston Herald reports today that Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, thinks the two parties can come together and strike a deal. With Samuel at corner, the Pats will have the most complete team -- on paper -- in the NFL. Samuel is coming off a season in which he had 10 interceptions (tying him for the league lead with Champ Bailey) and played the best football of his young career... The Red Sox officially need a bat. With the team losing too many close games in which they accumulate more hits but less runs than the opposition, the time has come for Theo Epstein to make a move to get a run producing bat in the middle of the lineup. I think that bat resides in Texas. The Sox could send Jon Lester, Coco Crisp and Brandon Moss to the Rangers for Mark Teixeira and Kenny Lofton. Teixeira would provide the Sox with a power hitting, run producer behind David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez (something I think J.D. Drew was supposed to bring to Boston for that $70 million price tag) and Lofton would be a veteran presence behind Jacoby Ellsbury, who would be called back to Boston. With Teixeira at first base, Kevin Youkilis could be moved to third, freeing the Sox to trade free agent to-be Mike Lowell to a team in search of a bat (see: San Diego Padres) for relief help (hello Scott Linebrink). If those trades went down, here would be the team the Red Sox would send out there every day: 1. J.D. Drew, RF 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 3. David Ortiz, DH 4. Manny Ramirez, LF 5. Mark Teixeira, 1B 6. Kevin Youkilis, 3B 7. Jason Varitek, C 8. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF 9. Julio Lugo, SS Bench: Alex Cora, SS/2B; Kenny Lofton, CF; Wily Mo Pena, RF/LF, Eric Hinske, 1B/3B/RF/LF Starters: Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz (call-up) Bullpen: Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Scott Linebrink, Manny Delcarmen, Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez, Javier Lopez (say goodbye to Kyle Snyder and Brandon Donnelly) A move of Wily Mo Pena for a veteran utility man would help too. Doubtful but you never know... Juilo Lugo is batting .526 (10-for-19) in his last five games and has raised his season average over the Mendoza Line to a robust .210. If Lugo can consistently get on-base and steal bases (24 in 26 attempts on the year) from the bottom of the lineup, the Sox will be in very good shape... Celtics fans, don't be shocked to see Jarrett Jack in green this winter... Enjoy the Pawtucket/Ottawa game...