Random Thoughts (December 19, 2010)

The Red Sox made two major moves in trading for Adrian Gonzalez and signing free agent Carl Crawford. They instantly made the Red Sox a better team on paper going into 2011 but there were still some significant holes in the Boston bullpen that were on every fans Christmas list. Well, Santa has come early for Red Sox Nation after the teams signed relievers Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler. Jenks was the closer for the 2005 White Sox team that won the World Series and adds another power arm for the late innings. Wheeler comes from Tampa Bay and he will provide a solid option for Terry Francona in middle relief. While there is a possibility that the Red Sox could trade their current closer Jonathan Papelbon before the season, it looks like they will enter 2011 with Daniel Bard and Jenks setting up Papelbon. Wheeler will probably join lefties Felix Doubront and Rich Hill in middle relief. Michael Bowden could also find a home in the Boston bullpen. Spring Training does not start for two more months but it can't get here fast enough for the Red Sox, who are loaded up for a run at the World Series... It will be interesting to see what kind of odds Las Vegas puts out for the 2011 National League Cy Young award. The Phillies foursome of Roy Halladay (the 2010 winner), Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt are all expected to be in the mix, along with San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (the 2008 and 2009 winner), St. Louis' Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez, and Milwaukee's Zack Greinke (the 2009 A.L. winner). It should be an amazing and historic year of pitching in the Senior Circuit... I am not a fan of the two trades made by the Orlando Magic this weekend that brought Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Earl Clark. Arenas, Richardson, and Turkoglu will provide the Magic with perimeter scoring to complement Dwight Howard. However, the loss of Marcin Gortat takes away their only reliable backup for Howard and leaves them weaker in the middle. Their perimeter attack will help them in the short term but as the Lakers proved in the Finals, championships are won in the paint. I bet that Kevin Garnett and the Celtics big men are anticipating attacking the Magic in the middle... Enjoy Tom Brady in the 4th Quarter tonight...