The Red Sox season and fortunes are rapidly going south precisely at a most interesting time (the trade deadline). Many star players aren’t performing up to snuf, and now the awful news about Ramirez & Ortiz. On the chessboard that contains only the Sox & Yankees, Boston still stands outmaneuvered by the offseason Teixeira negotiations, and hence are down one star player to the first place Bombers. Even though they don’t need another pitcher, they do need another great player, and there is only one out there. RHP Roy Halladay. But a tectonic player trade with Toronto-involving much of the Red Sox future-might signal desperation by the GM, or worse, a short term interest in winning & ownership, by ownership.
Theo Epstein and the Red Sox ownership tried desperately to sign Mark Teixeira in the offseason. Now we know why. JD Drew, Mike Lowell, David Ortiz, Jason Varitek and sacrificial lamb Julio Lugo are all on the downside career path (five starters). Sure, the Red Sox have pitching-so they lose with dignity instead of being pounded-but Boston has reverted to predicted preseason form and are now clearly the team that can pitch but cannot hit. Quick, losing games in a down economy also have to be a worry. Hopefully, the Sox can trade Bucholtz for Saltalamacchia, put Varitek on the bench with Lowell and Ortiz, play LaRoche, and spell Drew more frequently with Rocco Baldelli.
Halladay rumors are probably just defensive moves by the GM. Acquiring the best player available-but not necessary-would amount to a desperate tantrum.
Baseball players need a rest at the All-Star break, but fans need to give it a rest after almost ninety games of non-stop scrutiny. Where is Howard Beale when you need him for the computer age? Instead of the god-awful power of the tube, we have the devilish power of on-line instantainment. If our brains went soft in the boob tube era, our heads just may explode in the jittery, twittery age of instant OMG. We’re all “Mad as Hell”, but about what? A second lefty coming out of the bullpen?
In the words of George Costanza, “Why must there always be problems!” And in the words of this Red Sox fan, “Why must the Yankees always be breathing down our necks!” Jeez, this season was set-up great a week ago; but then the Yankees decided never to lose another baseball game, and the Red Sox have been losing to losing teams, and at home! So much for the Cream-puff portion of their schedule…
Super Bowl Preview In 2007, after an 18-0 season, the Patriots deserved to win the Super Bowl against the Giants, but didn’t. In 2012, they are lucky to be in the Super Bowl, after an almost undeserving win against the Ravens. This time it’s the Giants who look to be the deserving team, after beating the Packers and 49′ers at home. Yet the Patriots are favored by three. Maybe the oddsmakers feel Tom Brady got his bad game out of the way, and the artificial turf and domed stadium will be perfect for what the Pats do best, stretch the field and pass, pass, pass. Indy is the scene of Belichick’s most criticised call, fourth and four, but also the site of a great goal line defensive stand & subsequent sprint by Willie McGinest. Perhaps the best thing going for the Pats is the two-week Super Bowl break that could disrupt the rhythm of Eli Manning. But if Eli continues his excellent play, NY will prevail 30-24. (0)
Listen to the Ghost of Johnny Most discuss the Celt's 2008 Season
