Juiced

So now it has finally come to taint someone closer to home. Up until now every name that has surfaced in the steroid allegations has either been someone that you have not been surprised about (Bonds & Sosa), someone no one cares about (Jason Grimsley), or someone it was easy to vilify (A-Rod, Clemens). Now its David Ortiz. The lovable slugger that is have been the face of the Red Sox since 2003 with his big hits, big smile, and big presence he has been a major factor in the Red Sox phenomenon these past 7 years. Now that's tainted.

Or is it? The longer this drags on the longer it seems as though Canseco was right and that 80 percent or more of the league was using performance enhancers. Does that means its OK? Of course not, but I think to some degree many of us who have followed this story over the years since Canseco's book came out have come to accept that maybe - in actuality - "everybody" was using. And if the entire league was doing it (or the vast majority) can you really fault the individuals who have been the unlucky ones to have their actual names outed?

I hate to admit that I agree with Jose Canseco, but he's right that this is more MLB's fault than the individual players. As long as MLB promoted home runs and 14-10 box scores, guys were going to do whatever it took to make sure they were a part of that and to get paid like all their contemporaries were.

Not only that, but if everyone is using does that mean that you can't penalize McGuire, Bonds, Clemens, A-Rod, and Manny by preventing them from entering the Hall of Fame. They no longer look like the guys that cheated just the guys that cheated with better results than they other guys that cheated. If PEDs do leave the game, we may not see too much change in the way of statistics (beyond the fewer home runs) as the level of players on both sides of the ball will decrease without the PED's. Pitchers, batters, and fielders will all see a decline which in the long run could mean an actual break even in many categories. No one knows.

This is not an endorsement of the steroid use, it's simply a change in perspective. Maybe it's because I do love Big Papi and all he has done for the Red Sox, maybe not. All I know is that I don't look at this as tainting anything. These men accomplished what they did against others that were on a level playing field with them. I'm going to keep my happy memories of 2004 intact whether it was juiced or not.

Let's bring in the Doc

The Red Sox are making a major play for Roy Halladay. This is not just a sniff test to gauge Toronto's price, this is a real push. Reports are out that getting Halladay will cost them Bucholtz, Bowden, and Ryan Westmoreland and they would need to get a third team involved to get the Jays the shortstop they want (Pirates and Jack Wilson perhaps?).

I love this proposed trade. Yes, Bowden did well in his limited time last year and Bucholtz looked good in his first start this year but no so much in his last one (he pitches again tonight with possible his career on the line) but Halladay is a proven winner. He gets innings and outs in bunches and is a perennial Cy Young contender. If the Sox can keep Beckett in the fold they would have Halladay, Beckett, and Lester as the center of their rotation for several years to come. It wouldn't even matter who the other two starters are this is an ace 1-2-3 right there.

Those who argue the cost is too steep need only remember what it took to get Beckett & Pedro Martinez an how it was worth was they gave up. Bowden is now projecting as a quality reliever and not a started and Bucholtz seems more and more likely to be unable to live up to the hype that followed his no-hitter two seasons ago. Westmoreland looks to be the "thrown-in" in this deal.

Here's one vote for this trade going through.

Farewell to a true Bruin

P.J. Axelsson ended is Bruins career by signing with his old Swedish elite squad yesterday. Since he signed a 4-year deal it more than likely marks the end of his NHL career as well.

For those of us who watched the majority of Bruins games for the past 11 years, Axelsson has always been at the center of the teams defensive game. He was not a point producer (his career best 17 goals and 36 points in 2002-03 being the high water mark for him) but he had the attitude and the grit that marked a true Bruins player.

Good luck back home, PJ, you will be missed.

Panic button

The Red Sox have lost 5 games in a row including a dreadful sweep in Texas. They have not been able to hit much of anything since the All-Star break and while the pitching has not been great it should have been enough to win a game or two. The Yankees have rattled off 7 in a row and they have overtaken first place in the division. Time to panic, right? Wrong.

Five games do not a season make. During those five games, we had a good performance by Lester but he was outdueled Roy Halladay, who was spectacular. Smoltz had one bad inning. And while Buckholtz wasn't great, I'm not sure it was the disaster some have made it out to be. Let's remember that Wakefield is coming back and don't be surprised if Roy Halladay isn't in a Red Sox uniform by this time next week (I don't think it WILL happen but wouldn't surprised if it did).

That brings me to the hitting. This lineup is too good to be kept down for long. It just so happens that the majority is cold all at the same time. One would hope this means that they will all get hot at the same time. The struggles of Jason Bay have really dragged down the middle of the order and allowed pitchers to be more aggressive with Youkilis and others. Bay is certainly not helping his bargaining positioning for that new contract with this latest drought. I think the pressure of playing for that new contract may be getting to him a little bit and he is certainly pressing at the plate and he continually swings at bad pitches which is making him a very easy out at the moment.

Let's remember this team is not that much different from last year's team that was one win away from back-to-back World Series appearances. Adding Laroche should help with the depth down the stretch and allow Lowell more rest time which will hopefully make his playing time more productive. If Lowrie can step up and the Red Sox can make one more deal to shore up the starting rotation, this is a team that is as good as any of the other contenders when it comes to a 7-game series. If they stumble a little now and then and end up with the Wild Card, that's fine. Let the Yanks have the division. I'll take the post season success of the past few years of divisional success any day.

Why...

...did Brian Gionta have to sign with the Canadiens????