Minnesota 8 Boston 4... Duke, Rest In Peace

My lead story today is this. The baseball world lost one of its true greats. His name was Duke Snider, the Duke of Flatbush. Snider hit .295 with 407 home runs. He also played in six World Series, winning two of them. Here's one of his friends, the Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays...

"Duke was a fine man, a terrific hitter and a great friend, even though he was a Dodger."

Duke, you will be missed by so very many of us.

In game two of the spring training season, Minnesota defeated the Sox by a score of 8-4. Beckett gave up two runs on two hits but the pitcher the Twinkies massacred was Hideki Okajima. He surrendered 4 runs on 5 hits in only one inning. C'mon, Darkman, get it together. Here's the Boston's pitching summary...

IP H R ER BB SO HR
BOSTON
J Beckett (L,0-1) 2 2 1 1 0 0 0
C Buchholz 2 0 0 0 0 1 0
H Okajima 1 5 4 4 0 2 0
D Wheeler 1 2 1 1 0 0 1
S Atchison 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
B Duckworth 1 3 2 2 0 0 0

I have an 8am doctor's physical which includes fasting. My stomach is telling me all about it at great length. Have a great Monday and as always, be well. Click on this post's title for more on Duke Snider. As always, BE WELL.

First Boston Red Sox 2011 Sweep-Against College Teams. Real Deal Starts Today

The Boston Red Sox started their spring campaign against Boston College in game one of a long day. They emerged victorious by a score of 6-0. In the nightcap, the Red Sox prevailed over Northeastern 13-2. NO ONE WAS HURT. The real MLB teams come into play today and here's the way the next three days will go...

Sunday at Minnesota..
Red Sox: Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Brandon Duckworth, Hideki Okajima, Scott Atchison, Dan Wheeler.
Twins: Carl Pavano, Pat Neshek, Dusty Hughes, Alex Burnett, Jeff Manship, Scott Diamond, Kyle Waldrop, Anthony Swarzak.

Monday vs. Minnesota..
Twins: Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins, Anthony Slama, Jim Hoey, Chuck James, Deolis Guerra.
Red Sox: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Andrew Miller, Daniel Bard.

Tuesday at Minnesota..
Sox: Jon Lester, Alfredo Aceves
Twins: Scott Baker, Joe Nathan, Jose Mijares, Kyle Gibson, Carlos Gutierrez, Yorman Bazardo

I can't wait to see an MLB game, even if it is a spring training game. Check your local listings to see if any of them are carried anywhere. NESN will pick up a few of the pre-season games but not all. Have a great Sunday, enjoy the last hours of this weekend and as always, BE WELL. GO SOX.

Spring Training's First Red Sox Starters...And More

The Boston Red Sox, so far the team to beat in the AL East, have announced their initial starting pitchers for the games in Florida. Here they are. Of course, these guys will only pitch a couple innings to start with so we'll see many more each game...

Saturday vs. Boston College (1:05 p.m.): RHP Stolmy Pimentel, RHP Michael Bowden, RHP Jason Rice.
Saturday vs. Northeastern (6 p.m.): RHP Kyle Weiland, RHP Alex Wilson, LHP Rich Hill
Sunday at Twins (7:05 p.m.): RHP Josh Beckett, RHP Clay Buchholz, RHP Brandon Duckworth.
Monday vs. Twins (1:05 p.m.): RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka

OK, some familiar names, some not. But the thing I like to stress EVERY spring, before the season starts, is that everyone take it slow. Starting and relief pitching will be the reason the Boston Red Sox go far, far into October. Amen. I'm not finished yet on this warmish (26.2 F) Saturday morning.

Here's a feeling-good Dustin Pedroia...

“My biggest thing is to get out there, get in the flow of the game, make sure I’m healthy and feel good, and just see pitches. Just like any normal game. See pitches, get used to everything, and that’s it. It’s going to be fun . . . It has been a long time.’’

And Kevin Youkilis? He's also feeling great and can't wait to get on that baseball diamond. Here he is..

“I’m just ready to get back to playing baseball. I take it like I never got hurt, so I just go out there and play. There are no restrictions and no setbacks, so for me, it’s just about going out there and having fun and playing baseball. I think it’s a cool thing just to be able to go back on the field again. The only thing about being out is that when you don’t get to play baseball for a while you really realize how much you enjoy the game, and to get back on the field will be fun.’’

The Boston Red Sox are armed, deadly and ready to go. Are you? Have a great weekend and as always, BE WELL.

Boston's 7-8-9 Hitters...

It's a frigid (yes, still) Thursday morning. Would you believe it's 31 degrees below zero? Would you believe it's 11 above? Well, you'd be right with number two. Thank you Mel Brooks who wrote those classic GET SMART lines for Don Adams, the best Smart of all. OK, the number seven Boston Red Sox batter, as you probably know, will be JD Drew. As usual (that's not a diss on JD, it's a diss on the club), Drew has arrived with an injured hamstring. WHAT THE **** IS THE OFF SEASON FOR?? But the Sox are deep in the outfield so Mike Cameron (who supposedly has been working his heart out and is in tremendous shape) or Darnell McDonald, who excelled last year, the year of the epidemic circa 2010, will fill in perfectly. I'm excited to see the Cam Man. So we're all set. Just ONCE I wish JD would have a full check up a few months before spring training begins. It's happened before, I hope it won't happen again.

The eighth batters will either be our starting catcher, who I'll call Salty or his now mentor, the captain, Jason Varitek. 4 games for Salty and two for 'Tek. That's close to the Sox' plans. Batting ninth, our shortstop, Marco Scutaro. Why ninth? He's batted leadoff before and ninth might be where he will thrive. I like this batting order. I love this team. Always have.

I thank you for stopping in once again as every day makes us one day closer to major league baseball. And I love it. I'll see you tomorrow if not earlier and as always, BE WELL.

Tito & Theo..8 Years Together

Those years were eight wildly successful years, at least most of 'em. 2004 and 2007 are the highlights. Hey, Tito and Theo averaged 93.4 wins during those eight years. For some people, those years have been the highlight of their Red Sox Nation love affair. I go back a little farther than that magic time but so what. Here's Tito Francona, the skipper...

“The best way you can judge it is we’re (Theo & Tito) going on our eighth year now in a really crazy place. If you didn’t have an extremely strong relationship, you’d have no chance in this market. There’s a lot of trust. We have our moments, which I think you’re supposed to. I don’t think he would want somebody to be the manager of his team and not have a strong opinion. And I value his opinion a lot; he knows that. It’s good. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned that being a manager, you’re worried about today. Being the general manager, you need to be a little bit more of a caretaker of the organization. I’ve learned to respect that a little bit more.'

In my mind, there is no better combination in all of major league baseball that can match Tito and Theo. You know what? We Red Sox Nation members are a lucky bunch and the love will flow throughout the 2011 season. I guarantee it and I can't wait. Have a wonderful Wednesday and I'll see you tomorrow if not sooner. Thanks.

With 4 US Warships Right Behind, DEATH ON THE HIGH SEAS

This was just released...

NAIROBI, Kenya – "Four Americans taken hostage by Somali pirates off East Africa were shot and killed by their captors Monday, the U.S. military said, marking the first time U.S. citizens have been killed in a wave of pirate attacks plaguing the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean for years. U.S. naval forces, who were trailing the Americans' captured yacht with four warships, quickly boarded the vessel after hearing the gunfire and tried to provide lifesaving care to the Americans, but they died of their wounds, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement. Two pirates died during the confrontation and 13 were captured and detained."

My God. Stay away from the Indian Ocean. Unless you're flying over it. This will be a lesson, I hate to say. God bless the four fallen. Click on this post's title for more. My heart is broken because they were good people.

A League Of Their Own? WHY NOT!

Yes, yes, you've all seen the movie and probably every one of you knows that there was a women's baseball league. Read this excerpt from major league baseball dot com and I'll be back with a comment. This is the story about one of Justine Siegal's dreams...

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- "Justine Siegal reached into the green basket to her left, placed three baseballs in her left hand and one in her right, and then tried to keep her emotions in check as she prepared to throw to a professional hitter.
Siegal then fired off four-seam fastballs, doing her best to give a group of Indians prospects some nice targets for this historic round of batting practice on Monday. It was a moment Siegal had been dreaming about for years -- becoming the first woman to throw to a Major League ballclub.
"I've been thinking about this almost every hour for the past month," Siegal said. It was about a month ago that Siegal got the call from the Indians. They were going giving her permission to throw batting practice to a few of their hitters this spring. Siegal was overwhelmed by the news. The first thing she did was scream for her daughter, Jasmine, to come in the room.
Siegal's 13-year-old daughter was on hand at the Indians' player development complex to watch her mom throw for the Tribe, too. With her mom on the mound, wearing her own Indians jersey with No. 15 -- honoring Jasmine's February birthday -- on the back, Jasmine was proud. But impressed?
"I can wake up any morning and see her throw," Jasmine Siegal said with a smile. Justine Siegal's journey to the mound on Field 2 has done well in making Jasmine a firm believer that anything is possible. So the idea of her mom throwing to a group of professional hitters was just another item added to the list of reachable goals. "All I'm trying to do is show that we should do and be whoever we want to be."
Siegal, 36, began her morning by throwing to a group of five Cleveland Minor Leaguers. After the club came away impressed, she was given permission to throw to a group of three big league catchers: Lou Marson, Paul Phillips and Juan Apodaca. Prior to that session, Siegal warmed up with a round of catch with Indians manager Manny Acta. She made me look bad," Acta joked.
"It's been a very difficult journey," Siegal said. "I had a lot of people say no."

Justine, you received a BIG YES from me, that's for sure. The chances of a women's baseball league is remote, I know that. But one can dream, can't they? Justine sure did. And look what happened.

Click on this post's title for the entire article with video. As always, BE WELL.

4-5-6 Boston Red Sox Hitters

OK, we go into the heart of the Boston Red Sox batting order. The Boston pitchers are sitting in the dugout. The new number four "cleanup" hitter is striding to the plate. His name is Adrian Gonzalez, a well-paid and well worth it player who will experience his first year at Friendly Fenway. Yay for Red Sox fans. From 2004 to 2010, he had a .284 batting average with 168 taters and 520 RBIs. Watch those numbers soar. Why? Adrian is a lefty who loves the opposite field. What's in the opposite field as a lefty in Fenway Park? Seven letters (plus). MONSTER. GREEN WALL. Expect highlight films this coming spring. After AG, Kevin Youkilis. A healthy Kevin. He's the best contact hitter in all of baseball.There are no more words to say. He'll be playing at the hot corner, his favorite place on the diamond. GO YOUK! And number six of a killer trio. THE BIG PAPI, David Ortiz. Need I say more? Gee, I don't think so.

I will be back tomorrow with the bottom (it's nothing like a bottom of ANY team) of the order. Next up, the pitchers, starters and relievers, one by one. Thanks for popping in and have a great Monday.

How Fast Is Fast? Opposing Pitchers, That One's For You...

*FOR BFW*

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the game. The first hitter for the Boston Red Sox is JACOBY ELLSBURY. He slaps an opposite field single. After Pedroia, batting second behind Ells, singles with Jacoby easily coasting to third (man, is he fast!), Carl Crawford slowly strides to the Fenway plate for his first ever Fenway appearance, the heart of the matter. The crowd rises as one to welcome one of their newest players, a speedster who can slap the ball around the Park and run like the Dickens. HE BUNTS. The pitcher grabs the ball and looks at second to try to start a double play. No way. No play. So he throws to first, positive he'd nail Crawford. Unfortunately, he should have looked at first first. Carl was five feet past the bag, steam coming from his cleats and ears. Such are the first three Red Sox batters. And then the power enters the picture. Tomorrow, right here, the Boston Red Sox fourth to sixth power guys. See you then. Have a great Sunday.

This post was dedicated to one of my Constant Readers and my friend, BFW. Thank you for you unending support.

My Opening Farewell? Or Not. You Tell Me...

Hello and good morning on this TGI Friday. Until spring training gets going and the news is more vital, I have nothing so far for you. That hurts me. I don't want to put this blog on hiatus until spring training. I really don't. So I probably won't.

Thanks for everything and when real news starts popping, I'm sure I'll be back as Peter, same as the old Peter. The fire isn't there right now but it will be back. I can only hope. If it doesn't, I'll be sad. Type to you soon. Thanks for everything. I hope I did it right.

I KNOW I did it right. And I couldn't have done it without you. Your comments are welcome and, for me, necessary.

This Is An Unscheduled Day Off For Peter

Hi everyone on this Thursday morning. I'll be back bright and early Friday with an all new post unless there is breaking news anywhere from Red Sox Nation.

Jimmy Fund Co-Captains & The Jimmy Fund Rally Against Cancer...All Dear To My Heart.

I just received my annual email from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute from Boston. They've announced that Boston Red Sox pickers Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz will continue as Jimmy Fund Co-Captains. Here is the entire press release for a good cause. Ever since my sister passed away from leukemia, I knew I had to give the Jimmy Fund all the support that I could. Here you go...

BOSTON--"Today, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund announce that Boston Red Sox pitchers Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz will continue as Jimmy Fund Co-Captains for the 2011 season. Their first assignment is to be this year's Spokesplayers for the Jimmy Fund's Rally Against Cancer.
Buchholz was the 2010 Rally Against Cancer spokesplayer in addition to being Jimmy Fund Co-Captain last year. Wakefield, a strong supporter of the Jimmy Fund for many years, was also a Co-Captain last year, and will be a Spokesplayer for the Rally Against Cancer for the first time this year. Wakefield and Buchholz join the ranks of past Rally Against Cancer Spokesplayers, including Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Trot Nixon.
As Jimmy Fund Co-Captains, the two pitchers will be ambassadors for the Jimmy Fund to raise awareness and build support for cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. They will also lend their support to Jimmy Fund events, visit adult and pediatric clinics, thank donors, and more.
Now in its sixth year, Rally Against Cancer encourages Red Sox fans to partner with their companies and schools, and encourage co-workers, classmates, and friends, to each contribute $5 or more to the Jimmy Fund. In exchange, they "Dress for Sox-cess" by wearing Boston Red Sox gear to work or school on Friday, April 8, when the Sox take on the New York Yankees at Fenway Park for their home opener. The top fundraising company and school (K-12, college or university) are each eligible for a visit from Wakefield or Buchholz, if located within two-hour travel distance from Boston.
This year's event adds a new twist: up for grabs are two Wild Card visits. Each team that raises $5,000 or more is eligible to win one of two visits from Wakefield or Buchholz (see full contest rules at RallyAgainstCancer.org).
In five years, Rally Against Cancer has raised $1.9 million to support the fight against cancer at Dana-Farber. This year, the program hopes to raise $500,000. For more information about Rally, please visit www.RallyAgainstCancer.org.
The Jimmy Fund supports Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research and improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. It is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, as well as the official charity of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund (www.jimmyfund.org) save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer."

They've done such a great job saving lives. Is there anything more important? Give the Jimmy Fund your support. Do it for those of us who are here and those who are not. Thanks. BE WELL.

JABA Has To EARN His Spot In Yankee Rotation...Lackey Lost His Lumps

NY Yankee GM Brian Cashman recently said that Jaba Chamberlain is NOT a lock to make the pinstriped bullpen. Here's Cashman...

“Anybody who has minor league options is not a lock for anything. Any player with options has to re-earn everything. You earn more or you earn less — New York or Scranton Triple-A. I fully expect Joba to be in our bullpen. If not, he would have worked his way out of it.”

We'll see. In Boston Red Sox comings and goings, John Lackey, who had a minimally OK year last season, worked hard this past off season and it shows. He's toned and about 15 pounds lighter. Lacks will be our number four guy in the rotation and that's just about where he should be. The Red Sox season depends on comeback years from both Lackey AND Josh Beckett and for the injury epidemic to stay the hell away. High hopes, I've got high hopes for 2011. Here's Red Sox manager Tito Francona...

“Boy, he looks good. Any time somebody steps into camp, whether they’re 22 or 32, and they look like they worked really hard, we’re thrilled. It’s not an easy thing to do. When you become a veteran guy, it’s not easy to change your body. He’s obviously spent a lot of time and hard work doing that. We hope that translates to the field. I can’t see how it’s going to hurt him. I feel good about this year and I’m kind of moving forward.”

Move forward John, move on up just like the Jeffersons. A great year from Lackey with his fellow rotation mates excelling right along with him will help the Boston Red Sox outdistance their AL East competitors. October baseball will follow. With the Yankees only having three starters (for now), I'd pick the talent-laden Tampa Bay Rays for second place and the wild card. Why not? They have power, they have starting pitching and they have a bullpen. Their defense is nothing to sneeze at, as is their coach, John Maddon, a guy I like and respect. Sure, they'll have to do it without Carl Crawford but Crawford saw the light and will play 81 plus games at Friendly Fenway. The Boston outfield defense should be great. Their pitchers are very happy about that.

Have a great Tuesday, click on this post's title for more on those Red Sox and as always and forever, BE WELL. I thank you for reading my daily ramble. As Led Zeppelin sang, RAMBLE ON. I'll see you soon.

Who's The Red Sox Leadoff Hitter?

This was an easy one for me because I agree with Boston Red Sox manager Terry "Tito" Francona's opinion. Who to bat first in the Red Sox star-studded lineup? That would be a now healthy (I HOPE so!) Jacoby Ellsbury. We've all seen what he can do in the field and at the plate when he's completely healthy. He only played eighteen games for Boston last season because his ribs just would not stop hurting. He's had a long time to heal and with Ells batting leadoff, Pedey would bat second and, most likely, Crawford will be slotted in the three slot. Then the power guys enter the picture. Here's Tito on our 2011 center fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury...

“He’s healthy now. He says he’s doing everything without being limited. It’ll be fun to watch Ells. A year ago this time we’re talking about him playing left field, being our leadoff hitter and being a game-changer. Now we have the game-changer in left field in Carl Crawford and can move Ells back over to center and hopefully allow him to continue his development. If he’s feeling good, we’d love him to lead off."

The "power guys" in my last sentence are Adrian Gonzalez, who will most likely bat fourth and Kevin Youkilis, who I think will be the number five guy. After that, Big Papi, who should bat sixth, JD Drew, if he's healthy (see below) hitting seventh followed by Scutaro hitting eighth and Salty/Varitek ninth. The last two batters in the lineup might be in either order, Scutaro and then the catcher or just the opposite. Oh, here's what I just found out about JD Drew and it seems this EXACT same thing happens just about very spring with him.

There is lingering soreness in his upper left hamstring, a problem that dogged Drew for much of last season. Although the injury is not considered serious, Drew has been examined by Dr. James Andrews and members of the Red Sox medical staff. This seems like deja vu all over again but the Sox are blessed with outfield depth with Cameron and MacDonald. Boston is deep everywhere. That's why the 2011 season should be so great. Here's Francona on his right fielder, JD Drew...

“It’s something that he has voiced some concern about. I don’t think he’s real concerned about it. But it has been there. We’ll certainly monitor it.’’

I JUST DON'T GET why the Red Sox let something like this go until there are only a few short weeks until spring training begins. Players should be monitored year-round. They sure are being paid enough. My goodness! How much money has been shelled out? Believe me, it's a mind boggling number, as well it should be.

OK, my mini-rant is over. I've mellowed out since the "I hate Manny because he quit on his team" days. But that's enough about the Rays' Manny Ramirez. We'll see him and Damon soon enough. I hope your Monday will be a great one. Click on this post's title for more on the Red Sox and as always, BE WELL. Thanks for stopping in.

Sunday Sunday..Valentines Day Eve

Ah yes, it's Sunday morning, February 13, 2011. Tomorrow is Valentines Day. I hope I get a card from a certain "you know who." Our relationship is now just as friends, which hurts, but I'll survive.

The month is almost halfway over already. But that means we're only a week and a month away from the calendar start of spring and baseball. I can't wait. I'm taking Sundays off here until the pre-season baseball begins. That's just one day per week and, of course, I'll be back if the news warrants. So have yourself a very merry Sunday and as always, BE WELL.

"The Other" Three Red Sox Pitchers

Here's the Jeopardy answer. What's the question?? You tell me. OK, here you go. Answer...Josh Beckett, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Question...Who are the three Boston starting pitchers who underperformed in 2010? Theo Epstein noticed yesterday in Florida that the three went off and had a catch together. After watching them for a while, here's what he said. He started off by saying they all look good, and then...

“I think it indicates they’re highly motivated and feel good about the winters that they just had. Usually the guys are 15-20 overweight and didn’t pick up a ball yet. The guys who had really good winters and want to show off the shape that they’re in and the progress that they’ve made, they show up early. It’s nice to see these guys out here. Every single one of them looks to be in improved condition. Josh certainly can do better this year than he did last year and he knows that. Looks like he went out and had a really strong winter, getting in great shape. The biggest thing is at the end of last year, he didn’t hide from the year that he had. He took accountability for it."

Lackey and Matsuzaka also looked to be in great shape. We should expect SO very much from this 2011 Red Sox team. I hope they give it to us.

RAY ALLEN SETS NBA 3 POINT MARK

Walter Ray Allen did it! Although his Boston Celtics hosted and lost to the visiting LA Lakers, last night in Boston was a very special night. Fans of the Boston Celtics and Ray Allen must have been happy (I was) when Walter Ray hit the tie breaking three that put him one past Reggie Miller's previous three point record and propelled him into history. Here he is, Ray of Hartford, Connecticut...

"What I thought about is: 'Is it really going to happen? I know I only needed two 3s, and on any other day, any other game, it seems like it would happen just like that. I wouldn't have to think about it. But that second three, it seemed like it was slow motion for me, because I saw the whole thing develop. As I've gotten older, I play the game and I can see it, somewhat in a second motion so to speak. Where the ball kind of comes slow, like somebody is slow-motioning on TV. That's exactly how it felt, because the minute we got the stop and Rajon Rondo got the ball, in my mind it just started, and I just said to myself, 'This is it.'

You did it and we're happy, Ray. Thanks for everything...the UCONN years and your NBA years, including those with my favorite hoop team, THE GREEN. We love you. Keep it going. Click on this post's title for more on last night's basketball game in Boston, stay warm and as always, BE WELL. I'm here for you.

Boston's Adrian Gonzalez Recovering & Getting Ready For 2011

Adrian Gonzalez, one of the two HUGE Theo Epstein pick ups for the 2011 team, is working on his recovery. After having surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder after last season, he's able to throw, catch and field grounders at first base right now. But hitting is still a few weeks away. Will he be ready for Opening Day?

“I can’t give you a day. All I know is I’ll be ready for Opening Day. I would assume I’m ahead of schedule. I just didn’t know if it’s a couple of days or a week. Workouts are normal now, not limited. I’m getting full range of motion back. I’m not holding anything back. I’m getting my work in. I’m getting ready for the season. I’m doing what I have to do to be 100 percent when the season starts. The main thing is for me to get healthy.’’

AMEN, Adrian. The Boston Red Sox need you this upcoming season. Youkilis has moved over to the "hot corner." Pedey will be at second and Scutaro or Lowrie will be manning the shortstop position. I, for one, cannot wait to see you stride to the plate with two runners on base. Wall ball? More? Over everything? We'll see starting in a little less than two months.

Have a terrific Thursday and as always, BE WELL.

Power here. Power Gone. Oh, It's Back...

Hello on Hump Day Wednesday. It's been a night and morning of power on, power off, so I'd like to leave my Apple off until things calm down. I'll have a post a little later. Hey, when there's no electricity, it gets cold quickly. I have a fireplace fire ready to go, if needed. I'll type to you later. Thanks.

Trucks Rolls At Noon... Jonathon Papelbon Speaks From His Heart With No Thinking Involved!

Yes, we've finally arrived at Truck Day, a day (and night) where everything Boston Red Sox heads to Florida. The Super Bowl is over and now it's time to turn our Red Sox Nation minds to BASEBALL. I couldn't be any happier. And now, let's speak about our closer supreme, Jonathon Papelbon.

He'll make twelve million dollars this year, a year that might be his last in a Boston Red Sox uniform. I hope not but the chances are he will test his value in the free agent market. Count on it, in fact. But he lets others (his agent, Theo) do all the thinking while he concentrates on striking out each and every batter. But you'll see a Paps with more finesse this year, mixing his pitches as he has never done before. Here is some of what he had to say....

"They don't pay me to think. If I'm a thinker, then I'm not a closer. That's the way I look at it, man. I don't think, man, I just do. Sometimes that gets me into trouble. I realize my situation. I realize the possibilities that could and could not happen, and I accept them and I move on. I'll go out and try and win a championship. When that's all said and done, whatever happens, happens. I realize my situation. I realize the possibilities that could and could not happen, and I accept them and I move on. I'll go out and try and win a championship. When that's all said and done, whatever happens, happens."

Hey Paps, will there be a noticeable difference in your pitch selection in 2011??

"You'll see a difference right off the bat. I will be throwing a lot more off-speed. I'll be throwing my split a lot more, my slider, I'll be throwing a heck of a lot more. The last couple of years, I've been able to develop those pitches, and the biggest thing I've gained from game experience is to learn what not to do with them. There will be a lot of situations where, instead of pitching off my fastball, I'll be pitching off my split, pitching off my slider, earlier in the count."

I like that. The more variety in his pitch selection will give the batter more to think about. The more the opposing batter has to think about, the more he is apt to make a mistake. Batter's mistakes are what a pitcher thrives on. If Paps can bring that blown save total of eight down to a normal level (3 or 4), he will become a force once again in the American League and command more riches than ever. Sure, we'll all miss him in 2012 and if he DOES have a spectacular 2011, Boston might even bid on his services. But that's then, this is now. Blow 'em away, Jonathon. We love you.

Please click on the title of this post for more on Paps and enjoy your Tuesday. I'll see you soon and as always, BE WELL.

Green Bay Super...What Beckett Must Do

The Green Bay Packers never trailed in their game with my team, the Pittsburgh Steelers and they held on and won by a score of 31-25. My congratulations go out to the Packer team and all of its fans. Great job.

A little earlier this Monday morning (if it were any earlier, it would be yesterday!), I came across an article in the Boston Globe detailing which players in MLB need to step up big time. Josh Beckett was on that list, as he should have been. Here's his blurb...

Josh Beckett, RHP, Red Sox — "Nobody understands his importance to the Sox rotation more than Beckett himself. He battled back issues and arm fatigue last season, but now he begins the first season of a four-year, $68 million extension, and the expectation is that Beckett wants to perform to the level of the contract. As Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz emerge as the young aces of the staff, Beckett needs to be the captain, the leader of the rotation, and he appears to be taking that role seriously."

With Beckett healthy and hale and hearty, he would cement the rotation into a five-pronged weapon of impending death to all the other teams. We have the bullpen and with Josh, we have it all.

For a full Super Bowl recap, simply click on this post's title. Thanks for stopping in and as always, BE WELL.

SUPER SUNDAY...YOU Pick Sox Line-Up

Yes, it's Super Bowl Sunday morning. Am I excited about the upcoming game? No. Enthused and curious? Yes. What can I do? Football is my number three sport. But I promised you a prediction and lo and behold! Here it is...

Pittsburgh 24-17

Enjoy the game, everybody. I have a little treat for you, too. It sure was fun for me. Click on this post's title and you'll be transported to the Boston Globe's "Pick your 2011 Red Sox batting order." Follow the prompts and with a little dragging, it's fun! I picked the exact lineup that most readers picked. Try it. You'll like it. Click the title. Thanks for stopping in, enjoy the football and as always and forever, BE WELL.

Red Sox 'Pen Gets Lefty Better

Good morning on this frigid (what else?) Saturday morning. It seems the Boston Red Sox have deepened their already deep bullpen with the addition of a fine lefty. This is from SI dot com from late last night...

"According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Red Sox are nearing an agreement with left-handed reliever Dennys Reyes on a minor league deal. Reyes reportedly had agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Phillies earlier in the offseason, but that deal did not get finalized.
Reyes, who turns 34 in April, has recorded 50 or more appearances in each of the last five years, amassing a 2.63 ERA in stops with the Twins and Cardinals. In 2010, he made 59 appearances for St. Louis with a 3.55 ERA. In his career, Reyes has held lefties to a .238 average and .669 OPS. In 2010, however, he suffered an odd reversal of his splits, holding righties to a .177 mark with a .481 OPS, while lefties hit .307/.862 against him."

What the Red Sox are trying to do, and they're darn close, is build a championship club in every respect...pitching, relief pitching, offense and defense. Don't look now but they're SO close if not already there. But don't forget about Texas and Philadelphia. I won't.

The "Big Game" comes up in two days. After that, it's RED SOX BASEBALL all the time. Have a great weekend and as always, BE WELL. Oh, I'll have my Super Bowl prediction tomorrow, for what its worth (not much). Click on this post's title for more baseball news. See ya.

Andy Pettitte Decides To Retire...Oficially

Andy Pettitte will announce his retirement from baseball today at a 10:30 a.m. press conference at Yankee Stadium. Said his former teammate, Johnny Damon...

“He is one of the best pitchers of all time. He is a big reason I was able to get my second ring. He knew how to pitch.”

Pettitte ends his 16 year career with a record of 240-138 and he holds the major-league record for postseason wins with a 19-10 record. Pettitte was tough, not a guy you'd like to face in any kind of situation. The Yankees will sorely miss him. You don't just replace an Andy Pettitte.

SI dot com's Tom Verducci wrote an effective and heartfelt piece to accompany this story. I implore you to read it. All you have to do is click on this post's title. Enjoy, I know you will. Have a great Friday and I'll be back first thing in the morning, if not sooner. As always, BE WELL.

Boston Red Sox Have Four Picks In Top 40 Of 2011 Draft

The Boston Red Sox, already set for the 2011 season with a balance of offense, defense and darn good starting and relieving pitching, will only get better and they'll get better soon. For the first time since 1982, the Boston Red Sox will have four of the top 40 picks in the 2011 draft, a draft said to be rich with possibilities and talent. Now maybe the Sox can recover some of the organizational depth they had to trade to land Adrian Gonzalez. They will have round one picks numbers 19 and 26 as well as numbers 36 and 40 in the sandwich round (I don't know what that is). Four players with youth and ability far beyond those of mortal men. Able to leap Fenway Park in a single bound. Wait, I went a little overboard there but Theo knows what he's doing and he'll bring the four guys who will be the best fit. Our biggest enemy for the 2011 season is the injury epidemic. Let's all hope that stays away, far away to our south (the Bronx?).

I linked an article from this morning published by the Boston Herald and written by Steve Buckley. I enjoyed it and you can too just by clicking on this post's title. Have a great Thursday and as always, BE WELL. Baseball coming soon!

Idiots Savant

"We're back."

And with those words, Manny Ramirez stepped into the stage lights of the Tampa Bay area, home of the Rays, who signed Manny and Johnny Damon for the 2011 season and maybe beyond. Damon signed for $5.25 million with a chance to earn $750,000 more in bonus money. Not bad. Surprisingly, Sir Manny is only going to fetch $2 million. I thought he'd be playing for more, at least five million per year. But TB is being careful. Here's Johnny on HIS team, the Tampa Bay Rays...

"Absolutely, this team can win the American League East. What I really like about this team is you have two guys that you'd really like to build any franchise around in David Price and Evan Longoria. I think those two guys are the best players out there."

Ya know, he's right. The AL East is rife with competition. Boston, I would say right now, is the favorite but the Rays and the Yankees are not far behind. Toronto is an improved club, too. It should be an exciting Major League baseball season.

We received six inches of snow (that's all) in part one of the winter storm yesterday. All snow. Today, however, is a different story. It is freezing drizzle out there right now because the upper atmosphere has warmed up enough to support rain. It falls to the ground, where the temperature right now in my back yard is 19.4 degrees. Boom, glaze ice. We're lucky that the precipitation is light or chaos would ensue.

That's a wrap for now, my Constant Readers. If you'd like, click on this post's title for more on the Sox and as always, BE CAREFUL and BE WELL. I'm stuck in the house but I have things to watch of all kinds on my DVR as we slowly merge into television's February sweeps, which used to be more of a big deal. Oh, there's plenty of food here, too. Now if only the electricity stays put. To the drip-drip-drip of my kitchen leak, see you later.

Yankees Add Another Piece...Sox Mum

Hello. I'm ba-ack. I hope everyone is doing well out there in internet land. I'll let you know what kind of weather (white) we're expecting here in north central Connecticut after this interesting news concerning the Boston Red Sox hated rivals, the New York Yankees. Remember, they only have three bonafide starters lined up and ready to go. Rightfully so, Andy Pettitte is not included in that tally. Yesterday, they signed pitcher Freddy Garcia. He will compete for one of those two remaining rotation slots. If Freddy is in good shape, NY might have landed a great piece of their puzzle. This is from ESPN dot com...

"Garcia will receive a $1.5 million base salary if he makes the big league club. He can earn $3.6 million in possible incentives, topping out at 30 starts, according to a source. It also lets Garcia opt out by March 29. Garcia, 35, has a career 133-87 record with a 4.13 ERA in 12 big league seasons. He went 12-6 in 28 starts with the Chicago White Sox last season."

Now about that weather. In the next two days (Tuesday/Wednesday), north central Connecticut and much of the nation are going to be annihilated by a huge two-part storm. Part one has just started here early this morning. Today's action will dump 8 or 9 inches on roofs that are already shouldering 40 inches of the heavy white stuff. That's too much. I've had an on-again-off again leak in my kitchen right over the microwave and stove. But I'm OK in that regard compared to others whose roofs have crashed and crumpled. Tomorrow's part two of the storm, right on number one's heels, will eventually affect 33 out of the 48 connected states. THAT IS AMAZING. We will get more heavy snow maybe changing to that dreaded ice. I hope it stays all snow. That's easier to get rid of, on the driveways and the roads and the roofs, some already locked and loaded for disaster.

It's nice to be back and I'll return with a weather update in a few hours. You can click on this post's title for the live in-motion digital radar of the lower 48. Just use the bars at the bottom and right sides of your screen to see these storms. Be careful out there and as always, BE WELL.