If Peter Abraham Told You To Jump Off A Bridge, Would You?; Random Thoughts (July 30, 2010)

Let me start this rant by saying that when Johnny Damon made his first appearance in Fenway Park as a member of the Yankees in 2006, I did not make any negative comments about the former Red Sox centerfielder. I respected Damon for all of the great things he did with the Sox and for his part in delivering Boston their first World Series title since 1918, when it has been said that the Sox had a fairly promising slugger who was also their best pitcher. In my opinion, there was no reason to hold a grudge against Damon, who went to the Yankees because they offered him more money, not because he had a lasting vendetta against Boston. Damon will make his first appearance of the 2010 season at Fenway tonight, this time as a member of the Detroit Tigers. The occassion has given the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham the inspiration to implore Red Sox fans that tonight should be the night that the Fenway Faithful rise to their feet and applaud Damon for services rendered from 2002 - 2005. While I actually agree with Abraham's sentiments on this "issue," I do not think that any ticket holder tonight who knows the difference between Oil Can Boyd and the BP Oil Spill should understand that anytime a former member of the 2004 (and 2007) Red Sox comes to Boston in a visitor's uniform that they should stand up and applaud for at least as long as it takes Rick Pitino to commit a double dribble in an Italian restaurant. Is there not enough storylines surrounding the 2010 Red Sox that Abraham feels the need to pass in a Dan Shaughnessy-esque piece explaining the reasons why Red Sox fans should like Johnny Damon? That kind of work should be left to untalented hacks like myself who write their blogs because we care about sports. The professionals should be looking into actual stories. The sports editor at the Boston Globe, Joe Sullivan, should be asking Abraham why he wrote a puff piece directed at the Pink Hats when he should have been looking into why Matt Capps, an All-Star relief pitcher this season, was acquired by the Twins when the Red Sox desperately need bullpen help. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed Abraham's contributions to Red Sox coverage this year but I count on the Globe's baseball staff to keep me informed on how the team is going to make it into the playoffs (or explain why they will finish third behind the Yankees and Rays). I don't need to be told why I should stand and clap... Over the last three years the Rays have emerged as a serious contender in the American League East, making life more difficult for the Red Sox and Yankees who had not been used to actual competition from within the division since the last hours of the Clinton Administration. Other than drafting and developing a roster full of young stars, a major reason for Tampa's rise was the hiring of one of the best managers in the game, Joe Maddon. Maddon molded the raw talents of the Rays and built a powerhouse. I mention this because the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays all need to start paying attention to the Orioles as a future contender, following their hire of Buck Showalter as their manager on Thursday. Showalter is the right man to turn around the Orioles, who have not been a contender since the late '90s. In his other three stops as a manager, Showalter turned around the Yankees ( 1992 - 1995), built the Arizona Diamondbacks (1998 - 2000), and made the Texas Rangers competitive (2003 - 2006). He was named A.L. Manager of the Year in 1994 and 2004 and although he does not have a World Series championship on his resume, both the Yankees and Diamondbacks won the World Series the year after Showalter left the team. The Orioles have been in need of a leader who can organize their young talent and teach them how to be winners. Peter Angelos, the owner of the O's, needs to invest wisely to add proven veterans around some of their developing stars to give Showalter the ability to compete with the hierarchy of the A.L. East but this is a positive step for Baltimore. If anything, the hiring of Showalter should give the long suffering Orioles fans a reason to enjoy their next cold beer at Magerk's... The news that the Celtics have signed guard Von Wafer to a one-year deal will not turn many heads but it is the type of savvy acquisition by Danny Ainge that could help the team repeat as Eastern Conference champions and win the franchise's 18th NBA championship. The above hyperbole aside, the 25-year-old Wafer is an excellent shooter who averaged 9.7 points-per-game and shot 39% from 3-point land in his one full season (63 games) in the NBA with the 2008-09 Houston Rockets. Wafer figures to settle into a reserve role behind Ray Allen and Paul Pierce on the wing and compete with Marquis Daniels for minutes. His minutes will rely on his ability to knock down open jumpers and fit into the Celtics defensive schemes. This signing leaves Ainge with the important task of finding another big man. There have been millions of words typed this summer about the possibility of Ainge using Rasheed Wallace's contract to find a team willing to trade a serviceable post player. With Wafer now in the mix, I would not be shocked if Ainge packaged Wallace along with first round pick Avery Bradley to deliver the big man the team needs to rise above the Lakers, Magic, and Heat. I love Bradley's potential but the Celtics are built to win now and the luxury of having a developing point guard is a waste of resources considering the team's needs in the front court and their depth of guards - Nate Robinson, Daniels, Wafer - off the bench. My (current) dream scenario would be to send Wallace and Bradley to Cleveland in a sign-and-trade scenario that would land Shaquille O'Neal on the Celtics. An aging front court of Kevin Garnett, Shaq, and Jermaine O'Neal is not going to sell season tickets in 2013 but combined with Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics will have enough depth up front to control the paint and make life easier for Rajon Rondo, Pierce, and Allen on the perimeter. That trade would give the C's a beefed up look for 2010-11: 5: Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, Kendrick Perkins (injured), Semih Erden 4: Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis, Luke Harangody 3: Paul Pierce, Marquis Daniels 2: Ray Allen, Von Wafer 1: Rajon Rondo, Nate Robinson I am not sold on the story that Perkins will be fully healthy this year after reconstructive knee surgery so adding the O'Neals provides both needed talent and insurance to the front court. With the memories of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom abusing the Celtics inside the paint in Game 7, I want Doc Rivers to have as many options as possible. An aging but deep front line will combine with the best perimeter trio north of South Beach to lead the Celtics to the top of the NBA... Enjoy Jon Lester tonight...