a700hitter

I could never look at Wade Boggs the same way after I found out that he used to do Suzyn Waldman.

Torre got very rich sitting on the Yankee bench and managing by formula where his teams only had to play 7 inning games. I guess that was not enough for him. He had to whore himself out for a few extra bucks by writing a tell all book. So much for the myth of classiness that had been perpetuated by the NY Press about Torre.

The Sox have made Varitek an offer: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

The mets are taking a pass on Manny. I don't understand that. They have a ton of money and they need a RH bat in their OF. Manny is running out of options. Wouldn't it be ironic if the Yankees are able to scoop him up for a bargain of 3yrs/$45 million. Manny acted like a petulant child at the thought of the Sox exercising two $20 million options. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/thebuzz/

He blows away other second baseman in HRs, RBI and SLG %. There's no evidence that he ever did roids. His career followed a normal path. As he got older, he productivity declined, unlike Bar-roid who started hitting 70+ homers in his late 30's. Was he a dick. He played hard and took no prisoners. The fact that he wasn't friendly is irrelevant.

He should get whatever the market is for the best closer in baseball, because that is what he is.

Letting the best closer that the team has had in 40 years and arguably the best closer in the game is not a good philosophy. There are plenty of other overpaid knuckleheads that are not the best players in the game. Those are the guys you let walk.

His .230 average and high K's would drive us nuts.

Losing Papelbon to the Yankees would be like a bad re-run to me. I remember the trade of Sparky Lyle. In 40 years, Papelbon is the best closer that I have seen in a Red Sox uniform. The theory that closers are overrated applies to your average closer, e.g Brandon Lyon, etc. not guys like Papelbon or Mo Rivera. They change a game. They make your season. When Mo is done so will be the consistency of the Yankees. The Red Sox don't have another pitcher in the organization to fill his shoes. There is probably not another closer in the game to fill his shoes. The FO should make him a keeper if they are convinced that his health is not an issue.

With regard to Avery, the FO instructed Jimy to sit Avery, but Jimy gave him the start anyway to get the incentive payment.

Don't they still have Johjima and Clement? Where would Varitek fit in that mix, especially after they declared Clement as their starter last year.

I was a huge Doubting Thomas when it came to Pedroia. I watched him for a week in ST in 2007 and I was convinced that he'd never be much more than an average second baseman. After watching him day in and day out for two years, I acknowledge that I was completely wrong. This guy will find ways to adapt and perform at a vey high level no matter what adjustments the opposition makes. Maybe he doesn't hit 20 HRs or even 15 HRs in 2009, but I wouldn't doubt that he could hit .360 for the season with 50+ Doubles. The only thing that could keep that kid down would be an injury. I'm knocking on wood. As for Youkilis, if he continued the offseason training that he started in 2008, I see no reason why he can't produce at the same levels as 2008. It's far from freakish that a player comes into his own at age 28-29. Yaz was a 15 HR 80 RBI guy until he was 28. He started an off season strength and conditioning program, and won the Triple Crown at age 28. He also hit 40 HRs and drove in more than 100 runs for 3 of the next 4 years. Barring injury, (knocking on wood), there is no reason Youk cannot maintain his 2008 performance level.

okay, I'll go with team wins. If the team wins less than 10 combined games in which Penny and Smoltz have a QS, the signings will be a poor value.

No, I didn't just pull the numbers out of the air. I should have taken the time to explain. It seems to me after this off season's FA pitching signings of CC, Burnett and DL that the cost of a good pitchers is about $1 million for each win. The Red Sox will be paying Smoltz and Penny a combined $10.5 million. If they don't combine for 10-11 wins, the Red Sox overpaid. If they get 11-15 wins, the Sox will have gotten what they paid for. If they do better than that, incentive clauses will kick in ratcheting up the cost. I don't see much possibility for the Sox to get good value from these signings. BTW: If Penny and Smoltz were to combine for 5 wins by the end of the regular season, I doubt they would be getting post season starts.

I realize that Saito will not be expected to get wins. Penny and Smoltz are paid to put up W's. I stand by my prior statement. Any wins Saito gets will be a bonus.

If the three pitchers total less than 10 wins, these acquisitions will be a resounding failure, If they win more than 10 but less than 15 games, they'll have gotten equal value in return for the cheap signing price. These are the most like scenarios, so I am not excited.

Except for Longoria, the elite pitchers will dominate these guys. They'll hit their homers against the mediocre to bad pitchers.

Chris De La Rosa is suspended for Roids. http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/9090396/Mets,-Red-Sox-minor-leaguers-suspended

I still think it will be Tek.

I hate the WBC. As a US Baseball fan, it is meaningless to me. For fans from other countries, they get to see the great players for MLB. Players from other countries that are not already playing for MLB who are worth watching will eventually end up in the MLB anyway, so I don't need to see them playing some stupid exhibition. Plus, it ruins Spring Training!

I don't get excited when I buy a lottery ticket, no matter how large the jackpot, and I certainly don't get more excited if I buy 4 tickets. IMO the lottery is a suckers game.