Here's an avalanche of an update, with all the latest random news bits together in one big post.
The Red Sox Rookie Clinicis in full swing. Twelve of the Sox best and brightest future stars reported for duty on the 6th, and will be in Boston for the clinic through this Friday the 18th. Roll call of the Rooks: Aaron Bates, Bubba Bell, Michael Bowden, Dusty Brown, Clay Buchholz, Chris Carter, Devern Hansack, Hunter Jones, Jed Lowrie, Justin Masterson, Dustin Richardson and Jonathan Van Every. The rookies will participate in twice-daily workouts (conditioning, strength and fundamentals), as well as seminars educating them on "assimilating into Major League life off the field, particularly in a market like Boston"- including: Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino, general manager Theo Epstein, vice president of international scouting Craig Shipley, manager Terry Francona, pitching coach John Farrell, hitting coach Dave Magadan, second baseman Pedroia -- a former member of the program -- former Sox lefty Bruce Hurst, UConn men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun and ESPN reporter Peter Gammons.
Clay Buchholz, and the same eleven other Red Sox prospects, will be on Yawkey Way today (Monday) at the Official Red Sox Team Store for a Red Sox Foundation fundraiser from 4:30 until 5:45 p.m. For the price of a $20 donation, you can get Clay's John Hancock-- as well as signatures from the other eleven guys.
Even though there's no Beckett Boot Camp down in South Texas, that apparently didn't stop Jon Lester from heading over to Beckett's Herradura Ranch for some huntin'.
That deer looks like he's trying to lick Jon's face. Except for the whole, you know, "being dead" thing
And speaking of boys who like to hunt Bambi-like animals, Braves pitcher Blaine Boyer was interviewed for ChopTalk magazine, and he has a total man-crush on Josh Beckett. From the article:
In pitching, the power comes from your legs. You watch certain guys pitch, like Josh Beckett and you see that he "falls" into his legs so well. He's got big, strong legs, and he uses the power from his legs and backside to his advantage.
Josh's backside is POWERFUL, y'all.
Terry Francona and Mike Lowell will be the special guests of President Bush at a dinner at the White House on January 22nd. Francona was also the guest of honor at a banquet in his hometown of Brighton, PA, outside Pittsburgh. As part of the program that evening, former classmates and teammates spoke about Francona, including telling some stories about the rabble-rousing he got into as a teen:
They talked about the small amounts of mischief in their teenage years, such as trying to walk out of the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe without paying the bill or how Francona liked to see if he could get his green Mustang coupe to exceed 75 mph.
However, all the speeches ended the same with talk of Francona remaining the same likeable person he was while growing up in Daugherty Township and how he has stayed humble and true to his both his family and hometown roots.
"He's never changed and he is never going to change," [one teammate] said.
Francona got a kick out of the tales of his youth, though he seemed just a touch embarrassed at times, cracking, "I'm going to be the first 47-year-old man ever to be grounded."
And while the rookies are participating in their rookie camp, Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia will be handing out advice of his own at the Arizona State Hitting Clinic, on January 19th and 20th.
And let's close this out with a random video of Jacoby Ellsbury doing some offseason workout exercises - including running with a parachute tied to his back and balancing on a board (while another athlete falls off next to him).
NESN's Red Sox [team stats] go-to gal Tina Cervasio was spotted in the Fox 5 newsroom down in NYC recently.
That would be the same Fox 5 that currently has an opening for a weekend sports anchor!
Word is, Tina's contract with the Sox-owned NESN is up and they haven't exactly shown our girl the love that she deserves. Pity...
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Fox 5 GM Lew Leone hired Tina to work for him when he ran CBS2 in the Big Apple. So he is a fan.
thanks to Surviving Grady for capturing this genius moment with a screencap
Does this mean we're going to be seeing Tina interviewing the Pinstripe gang and the 'Ropolitans? Are we going to need to start up some sort of letter-writing campaign to keep her around - because who else is Papelbon going to have to ogle from behind?
Knights Sox of the Roundtable
Baseball Digest Daily contacted me (and Randy Booth from Over The Monster) to participate in a roundtable discussion about the future of the Red Sox- including thoughts on the Santana trade, longterm contracts for Youkilis and Francona, exercising Manny's contract option, Varitek's role, and Julio Lugo's future at shortstop.
You can read the full discussion here - but I've also included my answers below.
Thanks to Baseball Digest Daily for inviting me to be a part of a roundtable discussion with such interesting questions- and thanks also for not including a lame, completely recycled question, like asking us to compare Clay Buchholz with Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy.
What are your thoughts on these same questions?
Question 1: Are you prepared to give either or both Jacoby Ellsbury or Jon Lester in addition to other prospects in order to obtain Johan Santana?
I'm greedy - I want them all. Is that so much to ask?
My thoughts on the Santana SituationTM have run the gamut this offseason. In the afterglow of the World Series victory, I couldn't bear the thought of parting ways with Lester or Ellsbury. But I came to my senses when I realized I was entirely too emotionally attached to contemplate losing anyone on that team (except Gagne - I would have personally paid someone to take him off our hands... thanks Brewers!) It was that blinding glare off the shiny, shiny World Series trophy! It was clouding my rational judgment!
Afterglow aside, I am now prepared to give up Lester. I admire and respect him and appreciate what he has done for the Sox, but of course I'm prepared to deal him for an ace. I have even managed to prepare myself to give up Ellsbury, although I don't prefer to. But I am not yet prepared to give up both Ellsbury and Lester in the same package to obtain Santana. If Theo can nab Santana for a Lester, Lowrie, Masterson and Crisp package- I will be thrilled. But not both prospects. Not unless there's some kind of creative 5-2 swap.
Ultimately, I want Santana in Boston home whites - but if not, I want to minimize the collateral damage. Ideally, that means he ends up on a crappy non-contender (a crappy non-contender in the NL would be perfect), or stays with the Twins in '08 and goes to FA at the end of the year. But if he ends up on a contender like the Mets, I would be satisfied. Or maybe "relieved" is a better word.
Today is the deadline for eligible players to file for salary arbitration. There are three arbitration-eligible players on the Red Sox this year, each of whom has completed three or more years of major league service: Javier Lopez (3.065), Kyle Snyder (4.026) and Kevin Youkilis (3.093). Brendan Donnelly would also have been eligible, had he remained on the Sox roster. I have not seen official confirmation yet whether all of these guys have filed for arbitration, but I would expect that each of them will.
Under the current CBA, the team can continue to negotiate with players who have filed for arbitration -- and the Red Sox have always tended to finalize contracts and get their arbitration-eligibles signed up without having to actually go through the entire arbitration process. In fact, no Sox player has ever gone to arbitration during Theo Epstein's tenure as general manager. Players and clubs exchange figures on January 18th, and then arbitration hearings are conducted (if need be) in the month of February, from the 1st through the 21st.
For everything you wanted to know about arbitration, but were afraid to ask, here's the Arbitration Primer I put together back in November.
Play Ball
I have been on the hunt for awhile now for that "Play Ball" song that is used both at Fenway Park (played over the PA after the kid-of-the-day hollers "PLAY BALL" really loudly into the mic) and also on the Red Sox Report (as the opening and closing theme song). I have yet to figure out who the artist is- no one seems to know- or to find a full-length version of the song.
However, in the meantime, I do have this short version. You can listen or download it below.
click play above to listen you can also go here to download it in .mp3 format
Bulldoggin' It
This offseason, Dustin Pedroia has made sure to give props to Arizona State, Kevin Youkilis has shown love to the U. of Cincinnati, and Josh Beckett has unfortunately thrown his support behind Texas A&M (retch). And now it's time for Mississippi State to get some Red Sox love.
Jonathan Papelbon was back on the Mississippi State campus last night to watch his alma mater take on the Kentucky Wildcats in basketball. During the first break in play in the first half, Papelbon was introduced to the crowd (and got a standing ovation, of course)- although ESPN in its not-so-infinite wisdom declined to show him at any point in their broadcast of the game. (boo!)
Jonathan also then spoke to a whole mess of reporters during halftime- giving the required props to the Bulldogs.
"A lot has changed, that's for sure. It's always good to see that the school that you went to is going in a good direction, and I definitely feel that. Everywhere you go, you're known as a kid that came out of Mississippi State. So I always try to stay true to my roots, obviously."
He also said that it was a good moment when he played back in the south, against the Atlanta Braves, to look out and see people wearing Mississippi State hats and jerseys in support of him.
The reporters also got his thoughts on the current topic du jour in baseball- steroids:
[Papelbon] said, firstly that he never did steroids, and that he doesn't quite understand the reason behind going back and digging up dirt on past players instead of focusing on treating the problem now.
Just like ESPN ignored Papelbon during the broadcast -- apprently the photographers ignored him as well, because I couldn't find a single picture of him at the game. So how about I just post a picture of him back in his college days instead?
Evolution of a Stickbug
The Rookie Clinic is winding down- the guys were at the Celtics game tonight against the Trailblazers, will be attending the Boston Baseball Writers' Association dinner tomorrow night, and then wrapping up the clinic on Friday. They were also out at the official Red Sox team store on Yawkey Way for an autograph session (postponed from Monday)- and raised about $8,000 for the Red Sox Foundation.
The Globe and Herald also have a whole bunch of photos of the guys working out from this week's sessions- including photos of Stickbug Clay Buchholz, who has used the offseason to add about 10-15 pounds on his lanky frame. Witness:
to
What a difference three years and twenty pounds makes, huh? He's all growned up!
There was also a great article in the ProJo about the host families that house the prospects while they're in Boston for the Rookie Clinic:
There are temptations around every corner and any player in their early 20s could fall victim to outside distractions that could end a promising career. So, along with this workout program the Red Sox have implemented, the organization has also asked local families to host these players and become their surrogate parents for two weeks.
The Red Sox have certain requirements for host families, including spacious living quarters so each player can have his own room and bathroom. The house must be located close to Fenway Park and the host families are also responsible for getting their "sons" to the workouts every morning and then picking them up at night, sometime just after 5 o'clock.
In the past the families would feed the players breakfast and then dinner later in the night, but now the players eat twice a day at the workout before heading to dinner with their host families. Each night the players will discuss their day with their hosts, like sitting down with a parent. Aldrich admits sometimes he's had the daunting task of getting some players out of bed in the morning.
Having a bunch of 20-year-old pro athletes in a big city with thousands upon thousands of college females around could create problems for pro organizations and host families, but that's not the case according to Aldrich. In his experience there has never been a problem, especially since the players have weekends off.
"I have to say I'm so impressed with the quality of the individuals," he said. "It's very truthful that this player-development organization has made it a very high priority to get men of character. There's no one here that you wouldn't want to have in your home. They've all been on good behavior. I haven't seen any rowdiness or drunkenness, and I don't think it's because they are in Boston and need to be on their best behavior; they are genuinely disciplined guys and incredibly focused on their training and diets.
"I think the players and the organization can get a lot out of this," added Aldrich. "I think everyone wins. . . It builds camaraderie amongst the players and it builds a set of expectations in them as to how the organization expects them to behave. It's a great way for the organization to implant the culture in a very emphatic way."
Currently, Buchholz and Lowrie are staying with the Aldrich family, but their roster of residents is an impressive one. Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Phil Seibel, Ken Perez, Mark Malaska and Adam Stern have all stayed with Aldrich's.
"We've been lucky," said Aldrich, who said he remains in contact with the players, even the ones who are no longer in the Red Sox organization or in baseball.
Thanks to reader Margaret for the Angelina JC photo!
Set Your Alarm Clocks
The Sox released the official announcement on the Japan trip they'll make to open the season - and you're going to need to plan to stay up late and get up early to catch the action.
Red Sox vs. Hanshin Tigers (exhibition) - March 21st, 11:07 pm ET
Red Sox vs. Yomiuri Giants (exhibition) - March 23rd, 6:07 am ET
Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics (in Tokyo) - March 25th, 6:07 am ET
Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics (in Tokyo) - March 26th, 6:07 am ET
Per the official release:
The general public will have the ability to buy tickets for all four games in Tokyo on Feb. 9. Information is available by calling 011-81-3-5777-8600 between 6 p.m.-10 a.m. ET. More specific ticket information is expected to be available through Major League Baseball in the near future.
The Fenway Sports Group, through its Red Sox Destinations program, has also put together a unique travel package for fans who want to attend the series. It includes seats for three games, including the two against Oakland, as well as round-trip private charter airfare from Boston to Tokyo and four nights hotel accommodations.Standard Red Sox Destination packages to Japan start at $4,999 and are available now.
Lowell Wants Nothing Less Than 100%
Even before the Boston Baseball Writers' Association Dinner began tonight, Mike Lowell had already made the news. Mike was asked about whether he would submit to blood testing for HGH - and he said yes... if the test was proven to be 100% accurate.
If it's 99 percent accurate, that's going to be seven false positives. Ninety-three percent is 70 guys. That's almost three whole rosters. You're destroying someone's reputation. What if one of the false positives is Cal Ripken? Doesn't it put a black mark on his career?
While I understand his point, I think it's going to be difficult to ever find ANY testing method that is absolutely, positively, without a doubt 100% correct with zero margin of error. Are any medical testing methods 100% foolproof? Testing for steroids is far from being 100%, and yet MLB (and the Players Union) has deemed the problem serious enough, and the test reliable enough, to institute testing anyway. So if we're waiting for an HGH test that has a zero margin of error, we're going to be waiting a loooooooong time.
On a completely unrelated note, Mike totally has a crush on Rene Russo. Per the Associated Press report, he "gushed" about getting to do a photoshoot with her... and was more excited about that than his upcoming White House dinner with the President. BURN.
"I'm pretty sure most people are going to say, 'Who's that guy with Rene Russo?' " Lowell said. "It was awesome. I had to do nothing. I just kept looking straight."
Thanks A Lot, Rivera
I really hate it when a member of the New York Yankees does something that makes me like him, even just a teeny-tiny little bit. For example, when the hated Joba Chamberlain writes adorable little text messages to Clay Buchholz. Fortunately, the very fact that they make me (temporarily) like them is reason enough to turn back around and hate them again. It's a very convenient vicious circle.
So I'm safe to disclose that this article from the Commercial Dispatch made me heart Mariano Rivera just a tad:
The Boston Red Sox can thank a member of the New York Yankees for one thing.
If it wasn't for a little encouragement from Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon may not have developed into the type of pitcher capable of finishing a World Series game with a save for the Red Sox.
Already a pretty good closer himself, Papelbon felt the need of getting a little advice from Rivera during the 2006 All-Star Game.
"Even though he plays for the Yankees, I sat down and talked with him for about an hour after the All-Star Game was over and just tried to pick his brain," Papelbon said. "At the end of our conversation, he said, 'Pap look, you're going to follow me, but you are going to do it for a different team and just always remember that closers have to have a short term memory. You have to walk into the office the next day (after you blow a save) and act like nothing happened.' I've kind of taken that approach."
Mariano Rivera: I don't completely hate you. Are you happy now?
Dining With The Sox
Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, Jon Lester, Terry Francona, John Farrell, Dave Magadan and Indians GM Mark Shapiro were all on-hand for last night's Boston Baseball Writers' Association Awards dinner- to answer some questions, take some pictures, pick up an award or two and eat some dinner. Yay- an excuse to post pictures!
No shows?
Kevin Youkilis (presumably: trying to invent a better name for his sports energy drink)
Josh Beckett (presumably: killing deer and/or other random small animals)
Jonathan Papelbon (presumably: ??? who the hell could guess).
After the fun everyone had with last week's Soundtrack to a Championship post, I thought I'd continue the tradition and do another music post this Friday as well, to give everyone something fun to listen to at the end of the week.
This week's theme comes after getting several questions, comments and requests for more information about Kevin Fowler and Pat Green, two Texas Country music artists that Josh Beckett has endorsed by wearing around their gear (and Kevin and Josh are also good buddies and hunting partners). Texas Country is a distant cousin of that pop (crap) Nashville puts out -- it's got more rock, more roots, more blues, and just about every single Texas Country artist writes and plays their own music. Wearing a tshirt for your favorite Texas Country singer is definitely the thing to do back home- so it's no surprise at all that those are a regular staple of Josh's wardrobe.
I've put together a playlist of 30 different Texas Country songs from my iPod that I think will give you a good taste-- Kevin Fowler and Pat Green are both on there. As always, if you like what you hear and are interested in buying any of these guys' music (please do!), I'd recommend buying from Lone Star Music -- support the little guy, not the big chain stores and all that.
My favorites?
"Walk Out Now" and "She Sang The Red River Valley" by Reckless Kelly
"(Love Me) Like You Used To Do" by Cory Morrow
"I Don't Feel That Way" by Charlie Robison
"Carry On" by Pat Green
"Anywhere But Here" by Cross Canadian Ragweed
"$50 & A Flask of Crown" by Bleu Edmondson
Beckett: Doing His Thing
It's always the throwaway comments at the end of articles that seem to contain the best hidden gems. Case in point (from Gordon Edes in today's Globe):
Lowell said he spoke with Beckett a couple of days ago by phone.
"He's great," Lowell said. "He's doing his thing in Texas, whatever it is he does. Whatever he did last offseason, I hope he does it this season."
And lest anyone think Mike Lowell is going to end up down in Cotulla with a rifle in his hand:
Beckett does a good deal of deer hunting in the offseason. Lowell said the pitcher has invited him to join him, but he's always declined.
"If I go hunting with him, I think my wife [Bertica] will have a gun ready for me when I get home," he said. "She thinks we're killing Bambi every time. I don't think hunting is in my future. But she eats steak. She's not a vegan."
Super-Manny Dat
"Crank That" by Soulja Boy? Hip-hop phenomenon.
Remix of "Crank That" for the 2007 Red Sox? Frightening.
Don't say I didn't warn you...
Rehashing Buchholz vs. Chamberlain
ESPN got Jerry Crasnick to dig up that old chestnut, the question that approximately 1,000 people have already hashed and re-hashed before: would you rather have Clay Buchholz or Joba Chamberlain? Crasnick's choice?
We talked to nine non-Red Sox or Yankees personnel people, and the verdict was decidedly pro-Joba. While most baseball talent evaluators predict stardom for both pitchers, seven of the nine preferred Chamberlain. So we'll go with the Yankees guy as well. Let the debate (and the angry e-mails from Red Sox fans) commence.
So if we're going to rehash, we might as well go all the way. Letting go of everyone's obvious bias in favor of Clay, take a read through that article and let me know what you think. Honestly- sentiment and emotion aside- who would you rather have THIS YEAR in your starting rotation? Would your answer change if I the question was who would you rather have pitching out of the bullpen?
Now if this was a question of who could stuff more marshmallows into their gaping maw, I think we know who would win that contest... hands down.
One other interesting bit from the article:
Buchholz is a fantastic athlete. He's quick off the mound, he' has a good move to first base and he can field his position. And as the story goes, he ran the fastest 60-yard dash on the Lowell Spinners roster in 2005. Apparently his teammate Jacoby Ellsbury didn't run that day because of a balky hamstring. But some Red Sox people think it would be a heck of a race.
I think the powers that be need to make sure a footrace between Buchholz and Ellsbury happens - Spring Training would be a perfect opportunity.
What's 1.2 Million Between Friends?
The Sox were able to come to terms with Javier Lopez on his contract for 2008 ($840,000 - nice payday), but failed to hammer out terms with Kevin Youkilis and Kyle Snyder in time to avoid exchanging arbitration figures yesterday.
So what's it gonna cost to bring Youk back in '08? According to Youk and his team, $3.7 million - almost nine times what his salary was in 2007 ($424,500). The Sox offered $2.525 million, which would be almost six times what he made last year. No small potatoes, either way-- but that's a difference of about $1.2 million between the two offers.
I know Youk is saving the big weapon in his arsenal for the arbitration panel:
How can they deny that sweet lil' face?
Kyle Snyder has requested $1.025 million; the Sox offered $725,000. As always, everything you wanted to know about arbitration but were afraid to ask: Arbitration Primer.
A Love Letter to NESN
NESN- I have a very serious thing to discuss with you.
We've known each other for awhile now- but that wasn't always so. As a kid growing up in Texas, I wasn't blessed with the awesomeness of your existence. All we got was WGN- which as we both know, is totally not the same thing at all, even with the brilliance of Harry Caray- and so I lived in a state of sad and miserable ignorance of the wonder of a network that would bring me Red Sox joy every day of the week for practically the whole year. Then our mutual friend, DirecTV, introduced us- and that was all she wrote. We were inseparable- and even when we were going to be apart, you were always thoughtful enough to leave me hours of your awesomeness for me on the TiVo. After all the time we spent together this year, after all the magic, I thought it couldn't get any better.
But I was wrong, NESN. So very wrong.
250% more Red Sox programming during Spring Training this year? Including a TWO HOUR SHOW, on six different days? I don't even care that we're only getting 7 games this year instead of 9, NESN. (besides, I know our pal MLB.TV will help us out for the rest) You're going to be giving me my Sox back on February 13th, NESN. And then there will be hours upon hours of random NESN goodness, with silly featurettes on the guys asking all the important questions- like how long did it take Youk to grow his chinstrap beard back? Or how many moose did Papelbon kill this offseason? Or where the hell was Tavarez all that time anyway?
NESN - 250% more programming means I love you 250% more.
Now quit with the Sox Appeal nonsense, and give me access to those classic game rebroadcasts (instead of a blackout), and I'd run away with you.
Here are the details on NESN's 2008 Spring Training broadcast schedule...
