So.. I simply must chime in on the Red Sox, since I feel at odds with most of the nation and the media, except of course Peter Gammons.
1) Dice-K. Great move by the Sox. Had hoped they would do so since the WBC. Yes I am calling him Dike-K cause that is what they call him in Japan and I feel no need to create some new name for him. And thats pretty much what his first name sounds like anyway. Regardless, the $51 million bid made perfect sense to me, in that they had to make a high enough bid that they knew for certain they would win. Even over the Yankees. They knew what they had to do and they did it. Everyone went all nuts about it and not a week later the contracts for this years free agents get start to sort out, and teams are going crazy with stupid money this offseason. The fact of the matter, if you assume his talent translates, he was the best “free agent” on the market this offseason. One who’s exclusive rights you could purchase outright without any luxury tax implications and one that would not cost you a draft pick. They guy is the best pitcher in the world not playing in the Majors, and he has been playing in the most competitive place outside of the US. In Japan he is the number one player in the country. Now the Sox have a marketing and development foothold there, and may just have one of the better pitchers in the world when all is said and done. (provided they sign him which I’m sure they will) They found the value again where other people had not thought to look. Now it just needs to pay off in an Ortiz sort of way.
2) JD Drew. I’m going to stand in the wilderness and say I think we can roll the dice on this guy. His numbers are incredible, and while the character thing keeps coming up, I think Theo has learned his lesson on that subject and knows something we don’t this time around. And Peter and Schilling like the guy, so I’m content. Sox fans will probably run him out of town before he even gets a hit tho, since they are recently retarded with expectation. About everything. Oh and I bet he voided his contract specifically to play for the Red Sox. And frankly I bet he is a dirt dog and people just don’t know it yet.
3) Manny. I don’t want Manny to go. But if he did really mail it in this season, and we can get the right package, then I’m finally reserved to see him go. We’ll see if that happens tho. Regardless, I love Manny, despite all his flaws.
4) Hideki the LHP. Great signing. This guy is apparently an elite pressure tested reliever in Japan, and Dice-K needs a buddy. Very smart, and very cheap as well.
5) Lugo. Perfect fit. Leadoff. Great clubhouse guy. Power from shortstop. AL East tested. Wants to play here apparently. Not brilliant, but solid defense. Get it done.
6) Boston Media. The great hamster wheel. Say so little while writing so much. Too many egos. It will get worse before it gets better. I even disagree with Bill Simmons more than I don’t now. T-Maz has been a dick a lot of the last year after being pretty reasonable for several years. Even Edes and McAdam are getting all feisty. Maybe we need less media in Boston. CHB is still the biggest “Tool of the Keyboard” around. (Rob Bradford and Seth Mnookin are my two favorites right now)
7) Theo. A masterful offseason. They are playing very smart. I still trust them blindly. Especially after the mistakes this past season, because they were so whole heartedly and articulately acknowledged. People need to chill.