Normally I would have written something on Monday talking about news from over the weekend but I just couldn't formulate the ideas yesterday. A little Monday blues after the events of this weekend. Considering what has been seen from the Boston teams of late I think we can definitively say that the honeymoon is over and the "City of Champions" tag can be mothballed for the time being. The way our teams are playing right now there is probably no titles in the foreseeable future (I have the right to change my mind come September). I find myself out of sorts at times, when I was growing up Boston was always the town of "almost". Buckner, Glen Wesley hits the crossbar, Parcells' Pats, Jamie O'Leary hits the crossbar. Since 2001 its been a parade of titles of varying degrees across all sports (yes, even the Revolution). I think that the ownership of many of the teams have learned how to win so I don't think it will be quite as long a drought between the next titles (1986 to 2001 was a looooong time - yes I am intentionally neglecting BU's hockey national title in 1995) but Bostonians may be waiting a few years.
On to my weekend observations:
- Frozen Fenway was a great way to start the weekend. It was cold, it was snowing. there was an ice rink at Fenway Park (by the way, how cool is that?? Ice rink at Fenway? does it get any better?). Unfortunately for us Eagle fans the product on the ice was not as good as the surroundings. Because of the snow, BC was unable to get their speed game going and looked downright lost on the ice for a period and three quarters. By the time they actually figured out how to play on that ice they were down 3-0 and just couldn't get that final shot off. Was this a great experience? Absolutely (though my toes would argue against that statement as they ceased to exist by the third period). The game itself was not one to write home about. It was sloppy, the snow slowed it down to limit quality scoring opportunities, 4 of the 5 goals we sloppy bouncers, and neither team looked good. It will be very interesting to see what BC has for BU a week from Friday when they meet at Conte for the final Hockey East tilt between the two teams this season (there is always Beanpot and tournament game possibilities). Boston College is the better team at this point in the season. Though BU has won two key Hockey East games one was against a scuffling UMass team and the other was a game that if played indoors may have gone drastically different. The Terriers are far from the championship form of last year and BC has proven over the last three games that they are still a young team looking to find a solid direction this season. It has cost them Pairwise positioning (currently out of the tournament - from #2 to out of the tourney in 2 weeks) and it could be a struggle to get back to form.
- Speaking of the Pairwise, currently the highest ranked Hockey East team is Vermont at #10. However, Vermont is only 6th in the conference standings. When was the last time that a Hockey East team was in the projected tourney field simply because they lead the conference and not because they were in the top 16 teams in the nation (New Hampshire). Some of the teams at the top of Hockey East are going to need to a hurting on the lower teams consistently in order to improve the RPI & strength of schedule for the conference in general so they can get more teams in the tourney.
- My comment on the Pats is only this - Brady tried to do too much and I think the injuries bothered him more than he would admit. And Wes Welker would not have made a difference in that game. Run defense would have.
- Good to see that Mark McGwire was finally able to admit he used steroids. It only took the rest of the league to get caught and for him to realize that it was not going to make his Hall of Fame chances any worse. What do we think went into his decision to come out? The fact that more and more writers and commentators (including the Rant) have said that steroids don't matter anymore. That we're all sick of hearing about it and just want it to go away. That many are even lobbying to allow the steroid users into Cooperstown in a special "steroid era" section. As I mentioned before in this space when news of Ortiz' use came out, if everyone was doing it, Big Mac was still doing it better than most and maybe that should be acknowledged. I don't give him absolution because he is still a coward for his "I'm not here to talk about the past" in front of Congress (at least he didn't lie - yes, I'm talking to you Mr. Palmeiro). He came out now because it was safe and he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his new Cardinals job without addressing it and putting it to bed before the season started. Not matter what he may be, he's still better than Bonds & Clemens. Time to own up gentlemen.
- The Bruins will make the playoffs. There I said it. They can't score and they are having trouble winning but they are still competing on a nightly basis and Stuart, Ference, Savard, and Bergeron will not be out forever. They will be a better team when they have all their players back in the line-up. Provided they can get 100% healthy (I would settle for 90% at this point - I think they made a pact that anyone with freshly minted contract extensions (Savard & Lucic) were not allowed to stay on the active roster at the same time this year), this team can make a run. It won't be easy as they have a 7 game road trip in early March but it can be done. Of course, landing Ilya Kovalchuk wouldn't hurt either (a man can dream, can't he? yes, I know, Atlanta is going to want way more than Chiarelli is willing to let go).
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A whole new team?
February approaches and with it three of the most anticipated words in the sports world to start the new year - "pitchers and catchers". For baseball fans everywhere those three words mark the beginning of a new season and the beginning of the hopes and dreams of 30 MLB teams vying to be the last man standing (and perhaps having to play the Japanese champion as talks surface about a possible true World Series).
But we are still several weeks away from pitchers and catchers so the Rant's eye turns to the continuing off-season which has been an eventful one for Red Sox Nation. We have seen many new signings (Mike Cameron, John Lackey, Marco Scutero, and soon Adrian Beltre to name a few), sad goodbyes (Jason Bay), goodbyes to failed experiments (Rocco Baldelli, Casey Kotchman), almost goodbyes (Mike Lowell), and general moving parts (to left with you Jacoby). One thing is for sure, this will be a very different Boston Red Sox team than the one that took the field in 2009. But the changes are not over Red Sox Nation. The term "bridge team" has been thrown about and the 2011 Red Sox will certainly be much different than even the 2010 version.
This year is all about putting a competitive team on the field to keep fan interest and keep the merchandise selling while also looking to the future and the mass changes that could be on the horizon. Mike Lowell will certainly be gone before the 2010 season is finished and whatever salary the Red Sox absorb to make the trade happen will be off the books in November as well. Also coming off the books are David Ortiz, Jason Varitek, Victor Martinez, and Josh Beckett. Adrian Beltre is on a one year deal with a player option at almost a 50% rate for 2011. All this means one thing - the Sox are looking to be major players in the 2010-2011 offseason free agent market (Joe Mauer anyone?).
Granted, the Sox will always have the option to extend Martinez, Beckett & Beltre but Varitek and Ortiz are almost certainly departing at the end of the year unless Ortiz has a rejuvenated season after his down year of 2009. Martinez is likely to hit the free agent market as the Sox will make the push for Mauer but will face heavy competition from the Yankees who are in need of an everyday catcher as well. Should Minnesota pull money out of a magic hat and somehow lock up Mauer during the season or do a sign and trade at the deadline with another club, the likelihood of a Martinez return certainly increases.
Beckett is a different issue. He has been dominating at times over the past two seasons but not like he was in 2007. That Beckett may be gone for good, we'll see. Should Dice-K and Clay Bucholtz have solid seasons, Beckett becomes expendable since the Sox have a top two of Lester and Lackey sewn up beyond 2010. The Sox could dip into free agency for a cheaper #2 or #3 starter or make a trade and still have a solid rotation at a cheaper value than their current starting five.
Adrian Beltre is essentially on a try-out contract. If he comes to Fenway and has a monster year and flashes that Gold Glove quality at third while staying healthy, the Sox may be inclined to offer an extension and keep him around for a few years to offer some middle order thump from the hot corner position. As much as I hate to see Mike Lowell go from a sentimental stand-point, it was just painful to watch him attempt to play his position last year and the Sox need to get younger and faster if they want to stay in the hunt long term.
The other question mark is Jonathan Papelbon. The boy can't keep his mouth shut. His arrogance is approaching the "just get him out of here" point. We all know you're good, kid, you don't have to keep reminding us. Personally, I would like to see Daniel Bard progress to the point where Papelbon becomes tradeable and maybe he can be a piece that can land them Adrian Gonzalez. Should Ortiz be dismissed at the end of the season, plugging Gonzalez or someone of his caliber in as the DH would go a long way to ease the pain of the end of the Big Papi era.
Change is a-coming for the Boston Red Sox. I would predict as many as 5 players from the opening day starting roster may not be with the team come opening day 2010. Nevermind the changes in the 40-man. The other consideration is that some of these guys may just be let go and the likes of Ryan Westmoreland, Josh Reddick, and Casey Kelly could be manning the field at Fenway in 2011.
But we are still several weeks away from pitchers and catchers so the Rant's eye turns to the continuing off-season which has been an eventful one for Red Sox Nation. We have seen many new signings (Mike Cameron, John Lackey, Marco Scutero, and soon Adrian Beltre to name a few), sad goodbyes (Jason Bay), goodbyes to failed experiments (Rocco Baldelli, Casey Kotchman), almost goodbyes (Mike Lowell), and general moving parts (to left with you Jacoby). One thing is for sure, this will be a very different Boston Red Sox team than the one that took the field in 2009. But the changes are not over Red Sox Nation. The term "bridge team" has been thrown about and the 2011 Red Sox will certainly be much different than even the 2010 version.
This year is all about putting a competitive team on the field to keep fan interest and keep the merchandise selling while also looking to the future and the mass changes that could be on the horizon. Mike Lowell will certainly be gone before the 2010 season is finished and whatever salary the Red Sox absorb to make the trade happen will be off the books in November as well. Also coming off the books are David Ortiz, Jason Varitek, Victor Martinez, and Josh Beckett. Adrian Beltre is on a one year deal with a player option at almost a 50% rate for 2011. All this means one thing - the Sox are looking to be major players in the 2010-2011 offseason free agent market (Joe Mauer anyone?).
Granted, the Sox will always have the option to extend Martinez, Beckett & Beltre but Varitek and Ortiz are almost certainly departing at the end of the year unless Ortiz has a rejuvenated season after his down year of 2009. Martinez is likely to hit the free agent market as the Sox will make the push for Mauer but will face heavy competition from the Yankees who are in need of an everyday catcher as well. Should Minnesota pull money out of a magic hat and somehow lock up Mauer during the season or do a sign and trade at the deadline with another club, the likelihood of a Martinez return certainly increases.
Beckett is a different issue. He has been dominating at times over the past two seasons but not like he was in 2007. That Beckett may be gone for good, we'll see. Should Dice-K and Clay Bucholtz have solid seasons, Beckett becomes expendable since the Sox have a top two of Lester and Lackey sewn up beyond 2010. The Sox could dip into free agency for a cheaper #2 or #3 starter or make a trade and still have a solid rotation at a cheaper value than their current starting five.
Adrian Beltre is essentially on a try-out contract. If he comes to Fenway and has a monster year and flashes that Gold Glove quality at third while staying healthy, the Sox may be inclined to offer an extension and keep him around for a few years to offer some middle order thump from the hot corner position. As much as I hate to see Mike Lowell go from a sentimental stand-point, it was just painful to watch him attempt to play his position last year and the Sox need to get younger and faster if they want to stay in the hunt long term.
The other question mark is Jonathan Papelbon. The boy can't keep his mouth shut. His arrogance is approaching the "just get him out of here" point. We all know you're good, kid, you don't have to keep reminding us. Personally, I would like to see Daniel Bard progress to the point where Papelbon becomes tradeable and maybe he can be a piece that can land them Adrian Gonzalez. Should Ortiz be dismissed at the end of the season, plugging Gonzalez or someone of his caliber in as the DH would go a long way to ease the pain of the end of the Big Papi era.
Change is a-coming for the Boston Red Sox. I would predict as many as 5 players from the opening day starting roster may not be with the team come opening day 2010. Nevermind the changes in the 40-man. The other consideration is that some of these guys may just be let go and the likes of Ryan Westmoreland, Josh Reddick, and Casey Kelly could be manning the field at Fenway in 2011.
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