Yes, It's Arbitration Time...

Kevin Youkilis, who I think is due for a long-term contract instead of another one year deal, Javier Lopez and Kyle Snyder have filed for salary arbitration, it was reported in the Boston Globe. Here are a few details...

"Youkilis and Lopez are arbitration-eligible for the first time. Snyder signed last January for $535,000 and avoided arbitration in 2007. Youkilis was paid $424,500 last season after he and the Sox could not come to contract terms and he was renewed at that figure by the club; he figures to get a substantial bump."

Peter here, and my goodness! $424,500 for the best fielding first baseman in the game today? And he's no slouch at the plate, either, with a keen eye when it comes to the strike zone and the ability to hit to ALL fields, with power. And in a pinch, he'll move across the diamond to third base. What a bargain for the Boston Red Sox! I don't know about you, but I think it's time that the club inks him to a multi-year deal, commensurate with his overall value to the club. He is the anchor at first, with nary an error all season long. And that's remarkable for a first baseman, because that fielder has his glove on the ball so many times each and every game. Without fail. So c'mon, Sox front office, show Kevin some respect. Snyder and Lopez will also prove to be valuable additions to a bullpen that still needs a new arm or two. The club cannot have too many set-up candidates, for when it comes to the ninth inning, with the Sox holding a slim lead, it's Paps' time, and nine times out of ten, he will slam the door, nail it shut, and then, just to make sure, Super Glue those nails permanently into the wood. It's called a one-two-three ninth inning, with three strikeouts. As the advertisement goes, "Oh what a relief it is." We have Paps, no one else does!

Here are the starting times for the two exhibition and two regular season opening games in Tokyo, the center of Red Sox International, borrowed from the Boston Herald...

"The Sox will play two exhibition games at the Tokyo Dome. On March 22 (11:07 p.m. EDT on March 21) they will face the Hanshin Tigers and on March 23 (6:07 a.m. EDT March 22) the Yomiuri Giants.
The major league season opener against the Oakland Athletics will start at 6:07 a.m. EDT on March 25 at the Tokyo Dome. The teams will play again the next day at the same time."

I'll be watching, and I'm sure you will, too. You can bet that Josh "Baseball" Beckett will start game number one on March 25th, and, most likely, Schilling in the second game, unless, of course, there is a certain somebody named Santana on the team roster. Oh, please click on this post's title for the entire Herald Red Sox wrap-up, with all the Youk details included. Have a great Thursday, and BE WELL.