Random Thoughts (July 18, 2007)

I love Tim Wakefield as much as the next guy but the time is coming when the Red Sox are going to have to cut ties with the aging, inconsistent knuckleballer. After getting shelled by the lowly Kansas City Royals last night (6.1 IP, 9 hits, 6 runs), Wake is now 10-9 on the year with a 4.69 ERA. Those stats aren't too bad but you have to also take into account that because Wakefield's knuckleball causes problems for most catchers, the Red Sox are basically required to keep his personal catcher Doug Mirabelli on the roster. Mirabelli is batting just .188 with 3 HR, 10 RBI and a whopping 31 strikeouts in 85 at-bats. There are many positives about Wakefield -- he eats innings, he is the calming veteran presence on the pitching staff -- but he is getting more and more inconsistent as he gets up there in age (he will turn 41 on August 2). Wake's troubles are a major reason why the Red Sox need a healthy Curt Schilling to return. After Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka (who is still learning), the Sox need another reliable arm for a playoff run... One of the high school kids I coach actually thought this was his real voice. Not a compliment Rich... Mike Vick, the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, was indicted in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia on counts of conspiracy to commit interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal-fighting venture. Vick, along with three other men charged, reportedly used an estate in Virginia that he owned to train dogs to fight and also held fights on the property. The Travel Act charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The dogfighting charge carries a sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Vick will also be held responsible for his actions by the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell has already suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for the entire 2007 season for off-field behavior. Without getting too much deeper into this disgusting story, if Vick and his associates did commit the crimes they are now accused of they should be punished to the full extent of the law. It is barbaric to train animals to fight and kill. The four accused also are charged with brutally killing dogs that did not meet their fighting standards. Vick and the other three accused do deserve their day in court but if the charges stick, then the NFL and the Falcons need to terminate his career... Yi Jianlian, the No. 6 overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks and a rumored interest of Danny Ainge and the Celtics, and the Chinese Basketball Association have stated they will not allow the 6-11 forward to play for the Bucks. The reasoning behind this move according to Chen Haitao of the Guangdong Tigers, Yi's team in the CBA, is that they want to find a team where the 19-year-old (or is it 22?) can develop. Chen said it had nothing to do with marketing opportunities or the lack of a Chinese population in Milwaukee. Basically, the CBA and Yi want to force the Bucks to trade him. This is not a sinister act by Communist China, this is just a situation in which a player wants to play elsewhere. Kind of like Steve Francis in 1999 and Danny Ferry in 1989. The Bucks will have some very good options if they decide to trade Yi. Golden State would love to add him and they could send the No. 8 overall pick Brandon Wright to the Bucks. The Bulls could be interested as well and could move the No. 9 pick Joakim Noah to Milwaukee in exchange for Yi. Maybe Danny Ainge will get the C's involved. Gerald Green and a protected first round pick might entice the Bucks to act... Jerry Yang won the 2007 World Series of Poker last night in Las Vegas. His prize is a WSOP bracelet and $8.25 million. Not a bad haul for getting lucky with some cards... The Asante Samuel talk has dominated Patriot Nation lately but can someone please tell me who is going to run the ball consistently other than Laurence Maroney? Sammy Morris? Kevin Faulk? I'm getting a little bit worried that Brady's arm will fall off by Thanksgiving... Enjoy Lil' Bush tonight...