Red Sox Versus Yankees For Mike Lowell

Here we go again on this Friday November morning. The winds have turned around to blow from the northwest, chilling everybody in the Northeast. And the winds of change on the baseball front have turned more sinister, too. This is from the Hartford Courant....

"The Cardinals, Braves, Angels and Phillies, four of seven teams identified in the past 48 hours as prime suitors, have backed off. Only the Dodgers have not publicly taken themselves out of the race.
The Yankees might be the one team that trumps the Red Sox's reported three-year offer in the $40 million range. Thursday night, Boston's WBZ-TV reported the Yankees have offered Lowell a four-year deal between $56 million and $60 million, but with the caveat that the Gold Glove winner switch to first base. Lowell turns 34 in February."

Peter here, and yes, shades of Johnny Damon again. The Boston Red Sox, again acting stubbornly, will have to up their modest three year offer to a four year deal worth close to the amount of money the Yankees have agreed to shell out. If it's close and the years are the same, we all know that Mike will be back, and back playing third base, his first love, not first base. Even if the Sox sign him for four, they can always switch Youk and Lowell from first to third for the last two years of the contract, if necessary. So I say the world champions should go for it, and not only to keep Mikey away from their hated rivals. We need Mike Lowell's bat, his defense and his clubhouse presence. So many of the current Soxers have lauded Mikey for his helpful and encouraging words and deeds during the never forgettable 2007 season. So we have to hope, and wait. I'm getting used to this. And I do not like it one bit!

In the leading sports story, Barry Bonds has hit his final home run. Prosecuters have served Bonds with a 5 count indictment, charging him with lieing to a grand jury and obstructing justice. He might not be able to wiggle out of this one by claiming he never knowingly ingested any body-altering substances. I have no sympathy for the man. He's always been an a**hole to the media representatives in and around the clubhouse, and his body shape has morphed into something entirely different than it was. We'll see how this one plays out, but don't expect to see Barry Bonds on a baseball field in 2008. Or ever.

Hey, enjoy your Friday and the upcoming weekend, and click on the title of this post for more on the Mike Lowell developing fisticuffs between New York and Boston. It's an article by the Herald's Rob Bradford, entitled "LOWELL AND BEHOLD, DECISION LOOMS." My Constant Readers, be safe and be well. Turkey day is coming up at light speed, stuffing and all! Love ya!!