SoxSport

ARod may still play next year if he appeals to the courts. Selig has taken a chance giving ARod a bigger penalty than some who have tested positive. Why the bigger penalty? That's why ARod is going to court. This could be unpleasant for MLB.

Who says Tanaka is in the bag for the Yankees? Not with the big cable TV money shift to Texas and the West Coast. It's a different ballgame.

Tanaka is a big questionmark for any team that gets him. A big risk. He wouldn't help the Yankees much, but they are pretty desperate these days--Sabathia looks like he's going downhill. They really need a left hander like Price. Plus another infield. LOL.

Brentz could be the sleeper here, though his OBP needs some improvement. He has the power. Don't know about his defense. They seem to be taking their time on another outfielder. Probably waiting for ST.

You gotta be stupid to turn down $14 million for a years' work in anything. Unless you have a shark like Boras representing you. Still, it could blow up in Drew's face. The Drews have always been strictly show me the money, but it could burn them this time.

You guys remember that media jerkoff who said on the air during a game Schilling faked his bloody sock? That SOB still has his job broadcasting games. Schilling's eligibility for the HOF is now being discussed on the tweets, and would you believe the fake bloody sock fantasy is alive and kicking? Unbelievable. Concocted by the Yankee lovers at CBS and assorted Red Sox haters.

Yup. It's never one player--win or lose. It's a lot of players--and things--coming together. Plus, to win it all, you got to be lucky. That's why it doesn't make a damn bit of difference whether they "gamble" with X at SS, Mbrooks at 3B or JBJ in CF. It will probably be other factors undefined as yet which will determine where they finish next year. Think pitching. Think also how the other teams in the division do. Will one have a "lucky" season where everything breaks their way? Will another have a season in which nothing goes right?

Afraid Pap is past his prime and Phils are stuck with his contract. Another example of how Red Sox prudence in not overpaying FAs has saved them a lot of money. At least in the post Crawford era. The Red Sox and the Cardinals are the marquee teams right now--with their strong farm systems and depth in young players. Look at those young Cardinal starters: Miller, Lynn and Wacha. Closer Rosenthal. Interesting the Cardinals preferred Peralta over Drew at SS. As a sidenote, I watch MLB TV channel all the time--along with the NBA and NFL channels. Don't watch ESPN, though I pay 5 bucks a month for it along with everybody else that subscribes to cable. The most expensive cable channel. Anyways, I decided to find out who owns the league networks. Turns out they are owned by the leagues themselves, except for NBA which sold its channel to Turner sports (based in Atlanta) a few years ago. The MLB channel is owned by MLB, is based in Secaucus, NJ and is run by Tony Pettiti, former head of CBS sports. They do have a NY flavor, with a heavy dose of NY announcers and sportswriters --aside from the ex-players who do a good job. Yankees are often a prominent topic, especially at FA time. The NFL channel has the best hotties --by far. Short, clingy designer dresses. Hot bodies. The ex-players on there must go nuts looking at them. Can you blame Middlebrooks? LOL. Great coverage, except they seem obsessed with the MF Jets--one of the worst organizations in sports. Ever wonder how even average players in these sports can make millions? It's because you and I are paying for it in our cable bills-whether we watch or not. It's buried in our packages. For example, NBA TV has 59 million subscribers! That's TV households. How many actually watch NBA TV? Probably less than 50%. The numbers are probably similar for the NFL and MLB channels--as they usually all come together in packages. That was a long sidenote. Sorry about that.

I suspect Farrell is the only voice for Drew in the organization. The FO went out and got Herrera, which tells you something about their priorities--a guy who can play multi positions and is not an embarrassment with the bat. I doubt there's a roster spot for both. Drew had his place last year, but the Red Sox have outgrown their need for him. He has 'average' at best written all over him. In his contract year last year, it figured he'd put out more down the stretch. Fortunately for the Sox. I have never liked either Drew. JD screwed the Phillies, and is forever hated there. He was paid $14 million a year in Boston for playing 2/3 of every season. Had some good moments, but they were few and far between. Both Drews have talent, but they are underachievers. JD was the better hitter--when he was healthy.

Screw Drew. That's exactly the reason why they should avoid him. Drew is another overrated Boras client. Even the Yankees don't want him. Drew isn't falling back on their lap. He's a free agent. Just say no and wait for the draft choice.

Another stupid thread that doesn't belong here. Those sidelines girls are gold diggers. Pussy galore for those sports millionaires.

The problem with Drew is , you know he is going to start at SS. That means X and MBrooks have to fight it out at 3B. And that just sucks. Both these guys deserve an opportunity to realize their potential. Drew is a Boras client who expects to be paid Boras dollars. That means he has to start. If he doesn't, he is overpaid.

The Globe this morning is on the tweets trying to make a case to sign Drew, "to add depth." I don't see that. Drew is a one position guy who wants to start. He isn't a role player. He blocks X or Middlebrooks, both of whom need a chance to break out. X, in particular, needs to play his native position, SS, at this point in his young career. Needs a chance. Foolish to move him around to different positions. They got burned once by that, moving Ells to LF. They traded for this kid, Herrera, who hits some and can play 3 positions. That sounds like a role player to me. I wonder if there is any tension between the FO and Farrell on Drew. Farrell did a nice job last year moving 3 or 4 guys between SS and 3B, but this is a year later and the younger guys are a year older. Hate to see Iggy the all-star SS with X sitting on the bench.

I would agree some players have the ability to rise to the occasion--to raise their game when it's important. I don't know if Drew is one of those players--if that's the gist of the conversation here. The Yankees used to have a few players like this. Hank Bauer comes to mind. .240 hitter who would kill you when the game was on the line. A hero of the Battle of the Bulge. Billy Martin was tough in World series. Berra, of course. For the Red Sox, Yaz comes to mind. Ortiz, of course. Manny. Pedro. Damon. Nixon. Even Millar, the great TV star. LOL.

The chances of a team repeating a Championship the next year are very slim--no matter what it does. Who winds up playing SS or CF is probably irrelevant from that standpoint. Other factors will likely be more determining. For example, pitching and injuries. Plus other teams which have magical seasons, putting it all together, like the Red Sox did down the stretch last year. Speier is just splitting hairs with overanalysis. He has to do this stuff for a living.

The Red Sox strength last year was their depth in the field, and their pitching. Farrell used his depth very effectively, and he and Nieves were excellent with the pitching. Expect the same platooning approach this year. They will be stronger at catcher with Ross back the whole season, and another veteran in JP. And stronger at closer, I might add. Uehara wasn't discovered until the 2nd half last year. Plus they have Mujica. I don't expect they are interested in Cruz. Not strong enough defensively in RF, and too expensive. Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox are serious about holding the surtax line. Mariners look like a good bet for him. But watch out for Starbrenner the vacuum cleaner. He's out to get everybody. The Sox major question is what to do in CF and SS. I suspect the FO wants to go with the kids, JBJ and X. Products of their drafts. Farrell has the hots for Drew. We'll see what happens. They still will probably add an outfielder with speed and defense. Berry might be the guy. He did well down the stretch.

$15-17 million. 5 years?

I think JBJ has the potential to be a better all around player than Ellsbury. Ells got 50SBs last year because Boras told him to, and he got the opportunity leading off with a manager who likes speed. If he had gotten 20SBs, he wouldn't have gotten $20 million. Bradley doesn't have to steal 50 bases--he has some pop. 20/20 would be nice in a year or two. He can also play defense. Glad to hear Ben likes JBJ. I do, too. I also like X at SS. On Nava, I think he's a very good natural hitter. It showed in the minors. It's showing now in the majors. He has a great swing batted LHd, and he knows the strike zone. You don't teach that. In the field, he is average at best. A key depth piece in the lineup.

Any player who signs up with Boras is a "show me the money" type of player. The Red Sox have replacement kids, JBJ and X, at CF and SS, protected for 7 years. After that, Boras will get them big contracts elsewhere, and the Sox will have more kids to replace them. That's how you survive in baseball. Draft well.

On Tanaka, the Red Sox should just sit on the sidelines with a smile and watch the nouveau riche west coast take on the Yankees.

In 2004 OCab hit .294 in 58g for the Red Sox , OPS .785, sparking them down the stretch and in the playoffs. He hit .379 against the Yankees in the playoffs--OPS .873. The guy was an obvious key in the stretch, and should have been re-signed. Epstein at that point was so full of hubris from winning a championship that he ignored what got them there and set out to dump a lot of salary on a NL SS. It burned the Red Sox. Nobody expected Renteria to underachieve, but he looked out of shape at times in Boston and was a huge disappointment. OCab was an example of a GM getting away from the chemistry that won a championship. It is critical for the current Red Sox FO to understand who their core Championship players are, and keep them. Funny I never thought Ellsbury was one of those players (he was going to the highest bidder, anyways, with Boras). He spent enough time on the DL hurt, so they knew pretty much how to replace him. Plus they have Bradley. Neither is Drew, who has block Bogaerts/Middlebrooks written all over him. Napoli was the one indispensable FA guy, and they re-signed him. They have nobody to replace him at 1B. And then they made a very savvy sign at catcher with AJP, ditching Salty in a nice way when his defense got exposed in the playoffs. This could be a repeat team in 2014 if those kids work out at CF and SS, and the SP stays healthy. Workman could well be the #5 starter. They have the luxury of giving the kids a chance. The Yankees must be envious.

Yeah, that's a good point about trading Nomar. But he got a good replacement SS (forget his name) who sparked them in the playoffs--then let him go to free agency the next year-- which I view as a mistake. That's when they got Renteria. An example of a GM finding the right chemistry, winning a WS, and then moving away from that chemistry the next year. Nomar had some heavy hitting years in Boston, then went into a decline with leg ailments. That was a common symptom of steroid use, though nobody recognized how widespread steroid use was in those days. Canseco's accusations were laughed at, but turned out to be largely true--if you read the Mitchell report--going far beyond what the media has been willing to do on the subject.

I saw an article this morning that made reference to Ellsbury as a "mercenary." Not a guy who has any team loyalty. I think that's an accurate description for any Boras client. When you go with Boras, that's a tip-off you want top dollar, and will sign with any team willing to give it. You can assume that was the case with Choo, and also Drew. The Drew bros. have always been after top dollar. Sometimes, however, as in Varitek's case, there are no takers, and you wind up back with your old team for a lesser contract. Boras wound up taking a discount last year on Bourne, who looks like a bargain now that Ells has signed for Yankee money. Similar players, though Ells has the Yankee stadium advantage. What will happen to Drew? Boras is still out there trying to get the max dollar for him. Hopefully he will succeed.

If Bradley works out, I suspect he will eventually bat leadoff before the season is out.

Theo has yet to sign a FA in Chicago. Looks like he's being kept on a short leash.