Random Thoughts (August 16, 2007)

There will be some serious buzz at Fenway Park tomorrow afternoon as Clay Buchholz will be called up from Pawtucket to start the first game of the double header with the Angels. After the game, Buchholz will return to the PawSox and be replaced on the roster by Jacoby Ellsbury. To make room for Buchholz, the Sox are expected to designate Wily Mo Pena for assignment. Wily Mo never got the opportunity to showcase his awesome power potential in Boston but this writer will be pulling for him wherever he lands (unless it is an AL East location)... Time for some revisionist thinking from the trading deadline. I'm still curious as to what Theo Epstein was thinking on July 31. I completely agree with the move to acquire Eric Gagne but I still don't understand why he failed to trade for White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye. Epstein reportedly balked at Chicago's asking price of Wily Mo Pena and two pitchers from a group of Justin Masterson, Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen. Epstein wanted to trade Pena and Hansen and would not include either Masterson or Delcarmen. However, with the addition of Gagne, wasn't Delcarmen kind of expendable? The Red Sox want to keep their young arms -- which is a wise move -- but with a real chance to win the World Series this year, I think Delcarmen could have been traded. Both Gagne and Dye are free agents at season's end and neither is likely to stay in Boston but even for a three month rental, Epstein should have made the deal. The Red Sox would still have a lights out bullpen with Papelbon, Okajima and Gagne and the lineup would also have a much needed righthanded slugger capable of driving in runs. Hope it doesn't cost the Sox a championship... He may be 42-years-old but I am excited as all hell for Reggie Miller to come to the Celtics... Ian Thomsen submitted his "Dream Team" selections on SI.com today. Good stuff from the NBA's most underrated writer. Here are mine from a few weeks ago if you wish to compare... Madden '08 is finally out and TheBostonInsider has his copy. The game is great -- as usual -- and it plays fairly similar to the recent editions with some improved features, such as the actual flow of play on screen. I started my "Franchise" with the Patriots this afternoon and have decided to do posts on my progress through at least year one. The first one will be posted later today... Enjoy Mad Men tonight...