Return of the Captain

So after turning down the $10 million dollar offer the Red Sox made at the beginning of the free agent period, Jason Varitek has signed with the Sox for $5 million this year and perhaps $3 million in 2010.  Do you think Varitek is thanking Scott Boras for having his best interests here?  Despite the money he was able to get for Texeira and others, Boras has failed Varitek and Ramirez in this post-season.  He had legitimate offers for both players in the range that they wanted to be and now both will have to settle for lower salaries.  I'm not complaining that the players are getting paid less, in this economy they should be, but that Boras the Uberagent has tried so hard to drive up the price on his clients that it has actually cost them money.

One of the worst things that may have happened this off-season is that the greed of the Yankees and their free agents (among others, it's not restricted to the Yankees by any means) has left a definitive bad taste in the mouth of not just the fans but other owners.  If lower gate revenues (almost guaranteed this year as evidenced by reduced ticket requests for even the Red Sox) weren't enough, this feeling is going to see many of next year's free agents not looking at the pay days that their colleagues received this year.

Any other season would have people beating down the door for people like Ben Sheets, Manny Ramirez, and Bobby Abreu.  Yet here we are, 12 days from pitchers and catchers and none of them has a job yet.

Tagged

OK...so this is a little off my normal topic but I was "tagged" so here it is... (technically I am supposed to tag 8 other people...but since I just did something like this on another site I'm just provided answers to the tag).

1. What are your nicknames?

The Rant or The Fan.  And some others...but that would be telling... : )

2. How do you style your hair?

There's supposed to be style?

3. What's new in your life right now?

The Bruins are actually in first place!!

4. How many colours are you wearing right now?

I am a rainbow (with some BC maroon and gold thrown in)

5. Are you and introvert or extrovert?

Introvert - why do you think I use the name Cam Pike

6. What was the last book you read?

Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz

7. Do you nap a lot?

No.  Except on Saturday afternoons in the fall during boring afternoon football games.

8. If the person you secretly like is already taken, what would you do?

Try to convince them I was the better choice.

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

BC hockey's inconsistency and BU's ascendancy this season.

10. What's your favorite dessert?

A good strawberry milk shake.

11. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

30 minutes from out of bed to out of the house.

12. What websites do you visit daily?

CNN, ESPN, USCHO, InsideCollegeHockey.com, Boston.com, lordsofpain.net (wrestling news site)

13. What classes are you taking right now? And if you're not in school anymore, what's your job?

Bringing sports entertainment to the masses.

14. Do you like to clean?

No. But I do it anyway.

15. What's the last song that got stuck in your head?

Couldn't have been stuck very long because I can't remember.

16. What's the last movie you saw?

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans"

17. What's better: eternal love or memorable?

Memorable

18. What colour do you look bet in?

Blue

19. Best time of your life?

2001 - Albany, 2008 - Denver...Both BC national titles and I was there.  Nothing like it.

20. What are you most looking forward to in the coming month?

Beanpot!

Back on the Right Track?

The Boston College hockey team got back on the winning track this weekend with two hard fought and exciting games over the University of Maine. While Maine is still a team on the rebuild this year they did eke out a 2-1 victory over the Eagles at Alfond back on November 9th so it was not a team to be taken lightly.

What I liked about the last two nights was that the team finally had some of its spark back. due to the plethora of away games the past two weeks I have only been able to watch the games on TV and the team clearly was lacking energy and that ability to close out games (evidenced by the two games they allowed to be tied up in the final minute of regulation). But this weekend the energy was back. They were hitting, skating hard, and making things happen. I would still like to see some more shots on net but those will hopefully come with the increased energy.

Two players that really seemed to elevate their play were Benn Ferriero and Brian Gibbons. Gibbons did not get a lot of points on the weekend but we was working hard every shift, hitting people (just ask Gustav Nyquist who nearly lost his head late in the third period last night when Gibbons came blasting off the bench and cleanly levelled him at center ice), and providing energy. Ferriero seems to have better games when he gets physical which he was this weekend. He's a strong skater with a solid frame and while he is also gifted offensively, much like Milan Lucic, when he brings that physical element to his game he gets more into the flow and becomes the complete player he can be which usually translates into points for him.

Sometimes the emotion can get a little too high as Petrecki will now sit for the game next weekend for his undisciplined (a word often linked to Nick Petrecki unfortunately) head-butting in the final minutes of the game. It will be interesting to see who will take Petrecki's place and make up for his physical presence in a game. The stretch between now and the 20th of February may make or break the Eagles season. They have several games against teams they must beat (Providence, Amherst, Lowell) and the Beanpot, where victories over Northeastern and BU would certainly solidify their hold on an NCAA berth and a chance to defend their national crown.

Looking for work

21 days until pitchers and catchers report...

...and Manny Ramirez still does not have a job.

I would be lying if I said that didn't make me happy.

Just desserts

It's good to see a school reward loyalty and excellence. Today Boston College promoted Frank Spaziani to head coach. This is a great decision. Spaziani has spent 12 years on the Heights and developed the Boston College defense into one of the best in the nation year in and year out. They may not have the superstars that many other schools have but Coach Spaziani seems to always get the best out of what he has to work with.

Congrats, Coach. I'm looking forward to next year!