It's Papelbon

For those lost souls who may stumble upon this trite looking for actual news, the Boston Red Son announced this afternoon that John Papelbon will "remain" the teams closer for the upcoming 2007 season.

How can anyone be unhappy about this news, other then the fact that it does leave a hole in the rotation and the docters said Papelbon would be better suited with a move to the rotation I cannot think of a way this move can backfire.

The 2007 Boston Red Sox

Somehow a number of you were pissed the Prez decided to mark the Anniversary of the start of the War in Iraq. Hey, shit happens, deal with it. Here is the Prez's official preview of the 2007 Boston Red Sox. After reading this, check out Around the Blog,where they are writing nifty previews of each team.

As you read this, remember Manny Ramirez is making 20 Million Bucks this season.

I love this country. This is Ourrrrrr Counnntrrryyyyyyy.....

Two Weeks Away Kids…..

Owning a professional baseball franchise takes brass balls. You have to be shrewd, but not overtly evil and bombastic….unless your Steinbrenner. The owner of the Boston Red Sox John Henry is the anti-Steinbrenner. Instead of ruling over the team like Napoleon in drag, Henry entrusts the front office headed by Theo Epstein to do what it can to create a championship worthy team. Henry provides the cash, and Epstein tinkers. It is a combination that won a Worlds Series in 2004. Two and a half tumultuous years later, the Boston Red sox are a 130 million dollar quagmire. See for yourself.

A number of moves this past off-season , and the cash doled out, seemed to signal the death-nell of any possible “Moneyball” connections to the club. Many will see the clubs decision to promote Dustin Pedroia to a starting spot at 2b as a continuation of their “grand plan”. However, the signing of Daisuke Matzusaka, Julio Lugo, and J.D. Drew catapulted the Sox into a position of “most active off season team”. The Patriots are currently continuing this strategy to New Englanders great appreciation.

However, unlike the P-men, the signings by the Red Sox each can be seen as risk.

The acquisition of Drew blew peoples minds. People seem more interested in seeing him act as the prima-donna malcontent everyone outside of Epstein perceives him to be. There is a greater point to the signing of Drew. The fact that he is taking over for Trot Nixon, the ultimate dirt dog, places pressure on him that he has never…ever had to play with. This could be an A-Rod situation minus the position move. The best case scenario is that Drew stays healthy and performs in the spotlight. He could be another Cory Dillion-esque New England sports legend. It’s March, so I’ll stay optimistic on the J.D. Drew front…for now

At the time of publishing, the biggest concern for the 2007 Red Sox is the bullpen. The fragility of the bullpen without Papelbon as its anchor is almost as freighting as Waterbury’s CAPT test scores. With Papelbon sent to the rotation because of a shoulder scare at the end of ’06, the club signed veteran reliever Brandon Donnelly, starter turned reliever Joel Pinero, and former Minnesota Twin JC Romero. These signings were meant to go along with the ancient one, Mike Timlin, and the up can coming Craig Hanson, Manny Delcarmen, Julian Tavarez connection Add in Javier Lopez, Hideki, Okajima, Davern Hansack, and either Kason Gabbard or Kyle Snyder, there are plenty of arms to go around. The Question remains, who closes? We are fast approaching opening day in KC and nobody knows. I think Tavarez gets the call early. (Yes, I picked a Spazz to be the Closer.)

This means that we need Houston to tank. Brad Lidge may have had an ERA over 5 last year…in the NL. However, something drastic may need to happen to acquire a closer. Otherwise, this could be 2003 all over again.

The Offense should be pretty damn good. Assuming Drew is what Epstein feels he can be, “The Dew” provides an interesting link in the line up. Lugo can spray the ball all over the field, and has hit well at Fenway. Staying healthy will be essential. Drew, Lugo, and Varitek have missed extended time in recent seasons. Coco Crisp was god awful at times. Hopefully he starts to live up to expectations, or he could be shipped out for a closer. Hopefully, Manny can be Manny, and Ortiz can challenge for the MVP again. As long as the team stays healthy, Manny won’t have a reason to go AWOL.

I think this team stays competitive all season. Every Matsuzaka start is going to be huge, and may actually help take heat off of the rising ERA of Beckett and Schilling. With Jon Lester making a great comeback, there could be some solid wins we cannot fathom right now.

I love Papelbon. Again, he is an x-factor that could make the starting five the best in the world. If we stay healthy, this can be a club that dominates weaker teams.

The team needs to gel. I think a publicity angle for this team should include the United Nations in some way. Without the comedy styling’s of Gabe Kapler, the 2007 Red Sox could turn into the 2006 New York Yankees….a bunch of steroid using Scientologists. ohhhh snap......

I think we win 91 games and make the playoffs.

(Addendum: The Red Sox radio network made a huge mistake in not bringing back Jerry Trupiano. The fact they brought in Dave O'Brian adds salt to the wound, as O'Brian's effort to single handedly destroy last years World Cup won't soon be forgotten. And don't give me Glenn Geffner as the 3rd guy. That guy was probably John Henry's Pool Boy. You gotta kick it MNF style and bring in Sports Writer. I feel it is now a second rate broadcast overall, but still better then the Yankees, who bring in a broad to make John Sterling sound manly.)

THIS JUST IN….PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS USE STERIODS……


-I’m Out Like George Washington…..To Pump Iron........Without Drugs....or .....Any Energy Whatsoever.....Strength and Honor

Super Nintendo..Sega Genesis

The Prez is tired about talking about Politics. Even with a scandal over conditions at Walter Reed Hospital reeking havoc and the fact that “Scooter” Libby was found guilty(Get the Pardon ready Boy Prince!). Some Sports issues have taken precedent to kicking the Bush Administration while it takes us into the 5th circle of hell.

With the Celtics heading for five in row tomorrow night, my choice to follow Bill Simmons into the realm of Fantanking has me feeling anxious. We still hold the second worse record in the NBA, but the Bucks are playing awful. A friend of mine from ‘Sconsin envisions a frontcourt of Villanueva, Bogut, and Oden. I think I am going to vomit now….

The Patriots signed Adalius Thomas: Great pick...(But where was that money for Branch?)
The Patriots trade for Wes Welker: Ok...he must be better then Tim Dwight...right?
The Patriots trade away a second and a seventh round pick for Welker: Are you freaking kidding me? A second rounder? Does Welker also play DB?

Anyone have $200,000?, I want Payton Manning to wash my dishes and sweep my floor.

Manchester United’s Victory against Liverpool was outstanding. The clash versus Lille tomorrow should be epic considering the bitterness between the clubs. Being shorthanded without Saha and Solsjaer will be problematic for the next couple of weeks. Losing Larsson sucks. With both the UEFA and EPL titles in the balance, even more pressure will be on Sir Alex, Rooney, Ronaldo, and the rest of the lads….don't cock it up...

After reading a few Baseball publications the past few days I have begun to reconsider my approval of the Closer/Bullpen situation. As one publication put it, “It could be one ugly committee”.

The yearly Boston Bruins winning streak that teases fans in caring is in full swing. They are currently 4 points out of the 8th and final playoff spot. One more win, and I am in. With the UConn men not going to the tournament, I may need the B’s to tie me over this month.

The Ron Borges situation is a strange one. Not that he plagiarized, I think it happens more then we think, but I am talking about the unique way others in the media have reacted. The facts remains that as much as Borges was respected for going out on a limb as a writer, he was absolutely despised for his “pettiness” with regard to “The Kaiser” Bill Belichick. The guys on Weei’s “The Big Show” were practically giddy. As the Queens of the Kaiser’s Fan Club, Weei as a station has never hesitated to point out the Patriots success in relation to Borges’s continued obsession with trying to knock Belichick or his decisions as a virtuoso of the complex NFL system. As demonstrated in the article above, since Borges writes for the Globe, not doubt the Herald is pumped about the negative press the Globe will undoubtedly receive. It gives them a chance to bring up Mike Barnacle, which is always fun. Thus, while Borges is the focus, it provides the perfect background for all the major New England media outlets to go after the Globe. If I am Mike Felger, John Tomase, or Steve Buckley, I am not even trying to use a blog as a source.

The fall out from my analysis on Performance Enhancement has been clever, if not shock and awe.

The best line from reader “The Moose” in Rhode Island,

“The Prez writing about Performances Enhancement is akin to Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter having a sleep over the night before opening day.”

Ouch….

Good Luck to the fellas at Around the Blog, who are attempting to do a Peter Gammons-esque breakdown of all the teams in MLB throughout this month.

Ron Artest proves the old adage, “People who go into the stands to beat up drunk basketball fans, probably end up beating up women”

Scottie Pippen will never be Michael Jordan. Somebody please let him know this…

A belated congratulations to the American guy who won the 2006 World's Strongest Man competition. Watching that at 2:30 in the morning was inspiring.

And if you don’t know…now you know……