Sox On The Town

First up, there has been a report that there will be a very cool bobblehead on sale at Modell’s — Jonathan Papelbon, in a kilt, doing his now-famous Irish jig. There’s no announcement of this item over at Modells.com yet, but I can guarantee you they’d sell a ton of those.

Daisuke Matsuzaka arrived back in Japan before Thanksgiving, and was – of course- immediately accosted by a horde of reporters and photographers. He held a quick little Q&A session, during which he disclosed that he was disappointed in his personal performance during the playoffs, and needed to improve on his command for next season. He also indicated he wanted to be with his wife for the birth of his second child- but hoped things worked out so that he could play with the Sox in Japan for next season’s opener.

Back home in Georgia, Jason Varitek (along with local Braves boys Andruw Jones and John Smoltz) participated in a charity golf tournament in Atlanta to help raise money for survivors of domestic violence. The Fairway Affair Gala and Golf Tournament raised over $280,000.

Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Curt Schilling, Manny Delcarmen and Tim Wakefield, as well as prospects Justin Masterson, Caleb Clay and Michael Bowden, all were at Fenway Park at the end of November for workouts and visits with pitching coach John Farrell and other members of the Red Sox staff. Per Curt:

We got together this morning to go over where we are, and where we need to go as pitchers and a staff for the upcoming season. I think that the average age, were it not for my presence, was about 11…

Buchholz has also been hard at work on his offseason strength and conditioning program – and has been working out at a facility down in Pensacola, Florida. Coach Farrell indicated Clay is “making great gains”, and that he is targeted for 180-185 innings for the 2008 season. Clay and the rest of the Sox rookies will all return to Fenway in January for the Sox rookie development program.

While waiting to see if he stays in Boston, or needs to look for a house in Minnesota, Jon Lester was in Brighton on Tuesday the 27th, autographing copies of the brand spankin’ new World Series Film on DVD, and posing for pictures with little kids.

I particularly enjoy this photo- “Here, Jon- I’m going to set my baby on the table next to you, and then you have to smile for a picture while my baby ignores you.”

Manny Delcarmen and the 2007 World Series trophy were in Manchester, NH on Saturday for the Manchester Monarchs-Rockford Icehogs hockey game. Manny and the trophy were part of a pre-game rally on the plaza of the Verizon Wireless Arena and a pre-game on-ice ceremony and puck drop. There was also a charity auction of special Monarchs game-worn jerseys with a specialty Red Sox 2007 World Series Championship commemorative patch, benefiting both the Monarchs Care Foundation and the Red Sox Foundation, that raised $10,000 for the Webster House.

David Ortiz took part in a food drive in Plainville, Mass. — on his 32nd birthday, no less — to benefit victims of Hurrican Noel back in his native Dominican Republic. Reportedly over 1,000 folks showed up to the Plainville Stop & Shop Supermarket and donated food and money, and got to listen to Big Papi make a touching speech- which was followed up by a serenade of “Happy Birthday” from the crowd.

“One thing in my hometown, the Red Sox are the No. 1 team over there,” Ortiz added. “From the bottom of my heart, this is huge. This is a wonderful thing and it’s going to help a lot of people. You cannot imagine. You have no clue about the people that are going to be helped.”

“You guys are going to make me cry, I better stop,” Big Papi said, drawing sympathetic sighs from the crowd.

Jonathan Papelbon was also out in Mansfield, Mass. yesterday at the Shaw’s Supermarket, helping to collect food and money as part of a food drive for the hungry throughout the region. Shoppers can continue to support the food drive through December 16th at all area Shaw’s and Star Market stores. Apparently, some folks were a little disappointed- because Jonathan didn’t stick around to greet fans or sign autographs. “I’ve got to go feed the hungry,” Papelbon said, offering reporters a two-minute chance to ask about baseball before he left the crowd of nearly 100.

During Saturday night’s Arizona State-Arizona football game, Dustin Pedroia was honored by his alma mater ASU- and was announced at the stadium as “the greatest baseball player in Arizona State history.” Which is both awesome and hilarious- because Barry Bonds is an ASU grad as well. Dustin received a maroon football jersey with his name and No. 15 on the back- and I really wish I had a picture of this to share, but sadly, I do not.

I do, however, have a different college football picture. Reader Shannen tipped me off to this picture of Josh Beckett from last week’s disastrous Texas-Texas A&M game. I am happy to report, however, that Josh’s girlfriend went to Texas- so even if he walks around in A&M gear, we all know that he really prefers Longhorns. As he should. So, Josh- I guess I’m not mad at you anymore.

Curt Schilling has been all over the place — he and his family were at Gillette last weekend to watch the Patriots take on the Eagles, then he headed to California to speak at the Consumer Technology Innovations conference, and then was back in Mass. to give a pep talk to the Medfield High varsity football team in their gymnasium on the eve of the high school Super Bowl.

Mike Lowell may have done it first, but Doug Mirabelli was honored on November 23rd by Walt Disney World when he served as the grand marshal for the Magic Kingdom parade. His wife and daughter also rode in the parade with him.

The Lowell Spinners annual Alumni Dinner went off without a hitch over the weekend- and Jonathan Papelbon was on-hand at the DoubleTree in Lowell to receive the Dick Berardino Distinguished Alumni Award. Jonathan’s twin brothers Joshua and Jeremy (both pitchers in the minor leagues)- as well as Gabe Kapler and the ‘07 World Series trophy- were also all in Lowell for the event.

“Josh (his brother) likes to kid me that he had a better ERA in Lowell than I did,” the Red Sox closer told a sold-out audience of 375. “But I like to tell him I got to pitch in the World Series.”

Love this picture- he TOWERS over that little old lady.

The dinner raised $28,500 for the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, the disease that killed Spinners co-owner Joann Weber a year ago. Here’s some video of Jonathan speaking to the NESN team from Lowell- and I’ll be good goddamned if they didn’t ask him about the ball. Again. And again he provides them with another sarcastic, silly response- all told with a (fairly) straight face.

I did have it. And then I left it on the table one day– and my dog plays with baseball as toys– my dog chewed it up, and I had to throw it away. It’s gone. It’s in the garbage somewhere in Florida somewhere.

They also ask him about Santana- and the possibility of obtaining him, and what it would cost the Sox to make that happen. It’s a pretty interesting little interview- minus the stupid ball question, of course.

Upcoming Events:
Dec 07: Jacoby Ellsbury – DVD signing
Dec 08: Clay Buchholz – autograph signing
Dec 08: Jacoby Ellsbury – autograph signing
Dec 12: Curt Schilling – SHADE fundraiser
Jan 17: Boston Baseball Writers’ Association Dinner

Jacoby Ellsbury will be at the FYE in Boston (411 Washington Street) on Friday, December 7th to sign copies of the World Series DVD– but you’ll need to call the store and reserve a space. Jacoby will then be at Emerald Square Mall in North Attleboro, Mass. on Saturday, December 8th from 1-3 pm to sign autographs, contact the Mall for details.

Clay Buchholz will be signing autographs in Portsmouth, RI on December 8th at the Your Sports Memorabilia Store. Prices and more details here.