After the drama that led to his trade at the deadline in 2008, Manny Ramirez continued his career in the National League by re-signing win the Dodgers on a two-year $45-million deal. This was a far cry from the four-year $100-million deal Manny and super-agent Scott Boras imagined when Manny’s remaining options were voided as part of his trade to the Dodgers.

After a 2009 season marred by a 50-game suspension related to his positive test for female fertility drugs, Manny is boldly announcing that 2010 will be his last season with the Dodgers. If Manny intends to continue his playing career, who will be interested in the slugger and what effect will this season have on his earning potential? Scott Boras pulled a rabbit out of his hat after the 2008 season for that Dodgers contract and only time will tell if he has another up his sleeve.

Return to Red Sox

Nope. I’ll confess to being a Manny fan, but it just won’t happen. Manny has been here, done that, can’t field, has stared down the front office and is represented by Scott Boras. A reunion with Boston is as likely as the Kansas City Royals trading for Albert Pujols.

Land of Uno

How about the Chicago White Sox as a landing spot for Manny? Ozzie Guillen is already quite a character, minimizing any disruption Manny would bring to the clubhouse. The White Sox could put together the money it would take to sign Manny and he could slide right into their lineup as designated hitter in the proud tradition of Frank Thomas and Jim Thome.

As for the Cubs, with Soriano in the fold there just isn’t room for another expensive left fielder. Maybe the new owners want to make a splash and bring in Manny to try and end their World Series drought, but there are better ways to fix the team.

Manny Meeting the Mets

While the Mets have been linked to Manny in the past, with Jason Bay as their left fielder either Bay or Manny would have to shift to first base or another outfield position. Given the question marks hanging over the defensive abilities of both outfielders, this is unlikely.

Evil Empire

The New York Yankees are the one team where you can argue Manny almost doesn’t fit on the roster. With Posada and Jeter both in contract years and both espressing desires to stay with the Yankees (while likely needing more rest as they age, not to mention A-Rod and his balky hip) the DH spot will be crowded in the Bronx. But, this is the Yankees we’re talking about, they would find a way to fit his bat into their lineup.

Baby New York

The Philabelphia Phillies are running out the statute of Raul Ibanez as a left fielder so why not Manny? The Phils are the closest thing to an American League lineup the NL has to offer with power up and down the batting order and Manny would be another step in that direction. However, with Ibanez signed through 2011, the Phillies would need to make a trade to open left field for Manny.

Ranger Roving

Manny would be a good fit for the Texas Rangers, should they decide to pay for the luxury. Still a young, up-and-coming team, Texas could use Manny as the DH and take advantage of his remaining hitting skill to boost their lineup.

The Problem

After demanding a four-year, $100 million dollar deal following the 2008 season and walking away with “just” $45 million, with a portion of that subtracted due to his 50-game suspension, Manny may simply be looking for too much money to sign with any of these teams. In the last two offseasons, the salary for a poor defensive outfielder or DH with a strong bat has plummeted. Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu don’t have the Hall of Fame resume that Manny has, but they didn’t come close to the $20 or $25 million per year Manny is likely seeking.

Maybe during his trip to Taiwan some foreign scouts will be intrigued enough to bring Manny to Asia and shake up baseball on the other side of the Pacific. After all, Boras has done everything else, why not start sending his clients overseas if North American teams won’t meet his demands?

© Mike Carlucci for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Red Sox.

Manny Ramirez, of the Los Angeles Dodgers and formerly of the Boston Red Sox, has said that he would like to play 3-4 more years in the major leagues. This would put him around 40 years old by the time he ends his career, which would total about 20 years in Major League Baseball.

Unfortunately for Manny, the signs are beginning to point towards him being unable to pull this off. During the 2009 season, he batted .290, which was actually his worst batting average since 1994, his second year in the league. Additionally, his slugging and OPS were down from 2008. Manny is starting to show signs of aging, and if he has some sense of pride, he may want to consider getting out before his performance drops too egregiously.

The Argument for Staying

Now to be fair, there ARE some compelling reasons for Manny to stay in the league. The biggest is to try and break 600 home runs. He currently sits and 546, 54 off the mark. Looking at his last two seasons (OK, season and a half) with L.A., it looks like it will take about 3-4 years to hit 600 home runs. So, it would seem that is his primary motivation.

It shouldn’t be his salary, as he is currently making over $23 million per year, and any new contract will be diminished in the face of his age, not to mention his on-field issues and history of steroid use. And it can’t be for more accolades, as he’s already won a World Series MVP, three silver slugger awards, and two Hank Aaron awards, not to mention 8 All-Star appearances. He’s done just about everything you can do in the Major Leagues, and he’s more or less a lock for the Hall of Fame, so he must be staying in the league primarily to build up his stats.

Are Stats Good Enough?

While Manny Ramirez is getting older, I don’t believe he has so little left in the tank that he can’t reach his goal of hitting 600 home runs. While his home run production went down some this year, he also played fewer games due to a steroid suspension. In two seasons, he has proven he can hit home runs in L.A. While his performance may dip some in the next few years, we’re talking about a player who in his prime could belt out more than 40 home runs in a season. Now all we’re talking about is 14 per year for the next four years, which is fewer than he’s hit in either season he’s played for the Dodgers. Hitting 14 home runs in a season is definitely within his abilities. And if he can do it, why not stick around and go for the next big milestone in a hitter’s career?

Will Anyone Take Him?

While Manny may find his popularity among contending teams diminishing due to his age, there are any number of teams out there who would kill to have a player as popular as Manny Ramirez on their roster, shooting for 600 home runs. Teams like the Royals and Orioles would be able to put more fans in the stands with a star like that on their team. And many AL players would still want Manny to DH. While he would need to get over his prima donna attitude, I bet more teams would be willing to put up with him than you’d think. He can still hit and in a DH or bench capacity, he would be an excellent addition to a poor team looking to jump levels or a good team looking to contend for the playoffs. Look at what he did for the Dodgers.

All in all, I think Manny Ramirez is talented enough to be able to last through his 30s as long as he keeps his expectations in check and is willing to play through an inevitable drop in performance. I don’t believe that drop will be so bad that he won’t be able to hit 600 home runs, but it just won’t be the Manny Ramirez of the late 90s who could bat .300 and hit 40+ home runs. Good luck to him.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Red Sox.

A lot of what we do at Sports of Boston relies on big stories during the year. We create the articles so that major topics can be scrutinized, debated, and/or praised. 2009 was no different as there were many major sports stories that garnered tons of local attention, and national attention as well. Last year’s winner was a heartbreaking event that took place September 7, 2008: Tom Brady’s torn ACL injury.

Moving on to 2009, and a very different story — in a different sport — was splattered over newspapers, on TV screens, and even on this very blog on multiple occasions: Major League Baseball’s steroids scandal, specifically involving New York’s Alex Rodriguez, L.A.’s Manny Ramirez, and (gulp) Boston’s David Ortiz.

Alex Rodriguez

After denying steroid use for years, Alex Rodriguez later admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs (an “energy-booster“) during a three-year period with the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003. He was forced to come forward with this information after a report cited that A-Rod anonymously tested positive for PEDs in 2003.

To this day, besides Jose Canseco, A-Rod stands as the most popular athlete to ever admit to any sort of steroid use. Many believe A-Rod may not be telling the whole story, and at this point, are we supposed to believe him or any other professional athletes?

Manny Ramirez

It was a rough year for Manny Ramirez. First, he tested positive in early April for performance-enhancing drugs and was suspended for 50 games. Scott Boras initially said Manny had a prescription that triggered the test, but that later proved to be total B.S. Manny was taking a female fertility drug that’s commonly used to mask steroid use. Then, in late July, it was revealed that Manny Ramirez tested positive for steroids in that now-infamous 2003 steroids report. Strangely, nearly a month before Manny’s suspension, Jose Canseco predicted that Manny had been a steroid user in the past. He was absolutely correct.

David Ortiz

Ortiz had definitely the most tumultuous season of his career. He started the season in an awful slump, and by early June, Ortiz was hitting .187 with one HR and 20 RBIs for the season. Many, including some of us here at SoB, speculated that Ortiz may have been off steroids and as a result, he fell off the cliff. Then, others felt he was maybe older than he said he was. Also, Ortiz maybe felt the slump was attributed to his dry eyes.

Then, the biggest news story of the year happened. The same day Manny Ramirez was revealed to be apart of the infamous 2003 steroids list, David Ortiz was also named in the report. Ortiz eventually emerged with a MLBPA representative at his side, and told reporters he has never purchased steroids. Again, it’s just hard to believe, but at least one SoB writer feels Ortiz owes no apology.

Those Who Voted  for the Steroids Scandal

“It’s the story that just won’t go away.  And it may never go away.  Baseball’s “Steriods Era” keeps on keepin’ on, as more and more of the league’s superstars are exposed as cheaters, liars, and overall scumbags.  In years prior, the scandal seemed to be hitting home in every ballpark but Fenway, but in 2009, the steroids mess finally found its way to Yawkey Way, as the easily loveable David Ortiz was linked to performance enhancing drugs, along with former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, who served a 50-game suspension this year.  Whether Boston’s two World Series titles are tainted with this news is a topic surely up for debate, but in the bigger picture, Major League Baseball will never separate itself from this story, forever acting as a black eye on the game that we all grew up on and came to love.” – SoB’s Brian

“Manny had aleady been suspended 50 games for using a banned substance, so hearing his name was no shock. Speculation about Ortiz and steroid use had been going on for years, but we still didn’t want to beleive that our clutch-hitting hero was cheating.

Well it was true. The mystery list of 103 names has been slowly leaked to the public over the past few months, but in Boston, no name was bigger than David Ortiz.” – SoB’s Pete

Runners-Up

Tiger Woods Infidelity

You know if it’s a national story and makes the Sports of Boston list of the year’s top stories, then it was a big deal…

“Never before have we seen such a radical fall from grace, especially when the guy A) didn’t commit some horrific crime or B) cheat at his sport. The problem is, Woods has set up this image and we all felt he would always live up to that on his way to becoming the greatest athlete of our generation. We’ll forgive him, but never forget.” – SoB’s Jeff

“The magic marketing man that was Tiger Woods had his picture perfect image shattered exists after 14 different women have claimed to have had affairs with the married father of two. Not only has the public’s perception of the world’s most popular golfer suffered, but now the sport will face a challenge in coping with Woods’s planned indefinite leave of absence. Never has sex done as much damage to a sport as it has to golf, which is ironic considering the (false, but widely believed) origin of its name (“Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden).” – SoB’s Erikk

Tom Brady’s Return

“He had the world watching him and he lived up to expectations, bringing the Patriots to the AFC title. He’s brought two receivers over 1000 yards and had many flashes of greatness. Of course, his season hasn’t been perfect, but it’s relieving to know now that Brady has almost fully recovered and can lead the Patriots through the playoffs once again.” – SoB’s Chris

“It should be Manny and Ortiz steroid scandal, but nothing captivated the Boston sports scene like Tom Brady’s return.  Would he be the same? Will they make the playoffs? When will he name his son? All the talk was Brady.  Then after a lackluster start, he got going and now New England is looking towards the playoffs, after missing out last season.  Brady is back and looks as good as new, which should mean big things down the road.” – SoB’s Teddy

Other Nominees: Kevin Garnett’s injury and return, Bill Belichick’s 4th and 2 decision

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Now!.

This past decade has been good to us Red Sox fans, as weird as that is to say. Up until Game 4 of the ALCS, it looked like it was going to be another 10 years of let downs. It turns out, we were wrong. With two World Championships, the Red Sox have truly been one of the best franchises in all of sports this past decade, and the only way to honor those players is to name the 2000-2009 Boston Red Sox All-Decade Team.

Catcher – Jason Varitek

There is little competition for Jason Varitek in this category. Varitek has been the starting catcher for the Red Sox for almost the entire decade. Varitek put up strong numbers for the Red Sox over the last ten seasons, especially for a catcher, hitting .257, belting 148 home runs, and driving in 596 runs. His best seasons were 2003 through 2005, where he hit a total of 65 home runs and had 228 RBI with a .283 batting average.

Varitek’s greatest strength, however, came from behind the plate. He is well known for his ability to control the game from the catcher’s position. Vartiek has caught four no-hitters in his career, all coming this decade. The first was Hideo Nomo in 2001, then Derek Lowe in 2002, followed by Clay Buchholz in 2007, and finally Jon Lester in 2008. Even with his career coming to an end, and his numbers dropping off, Jason Varitek has been an outstanding player for this organization this past decade.

Honorable Mention: Doug Mirabelli

First Base – Kevin Youkilis

This spot on the All-Decade team was a two horse race between Youkilis and Kevin Millar. Youkilis burst on the scene as a third baseman for the Red Sox in 2004, but switched positions after the Red Sox acquired Mike Lowell in the Josh Beckett deal. Since being called up, Youkilis has hit .292 with 93 home runs and 408 RBI.  He is a two time All-Star, the 2008 AL Hank Aaron Award winner, a Gold Glove winner in 2007, and has finished in the top 6 for MVP voting twice.  He has solidified himself as one of the faces of the franchise, and should be in a Red Sox uniform for a long time.

Honorable Mention: Kevin Millar

Second Base – Dustin Pedroia

Aside from Mark Bellhorn and Jose Offerman, Pedroia is the only player to play more than a season’s worth of games at second base for the Red Sox. Pedroia started his career playing only 31 games with the big club in 2006. The following season, his official rookie season, Pedroia became an instant star. After struggling early, Pedroia stormed back from criticism and won the Rookie of the Year award in 2007. Pedroia followed his rookie season with an incredible second season. In 2008, Pedroia hit .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI on his way to becoming an All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner. Oh, he also took home the 2008 MVP award. In his short career, Pedroia has hit .307 with 42 home runs and 212 RBI, making him an easy choice for the All-Decade team.

Honorable Mention: Todd Walker

Shortstop – Nomar Garciaparra

It has been a while since the Red Sox had a good shortstop. Since the departure of Nomar, we have seen the likes of Pokey Reese, Nick Green, Edgar Renteria, and Julio Lugo come in to be the next starting shortstop of the Red Sox. To put it simply: we have yet to find the next Nomar for this organization. Garciaparra was the face of the franchise for many years. He was a star the instant he was called up, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1997.

In his three-and-a-half years as a Red Sox player this decade, Nomar hit .323 with 82 home runs and 350 RBI, while being plagued by injuries. In 2001, Nomar only played 21 games, and then only played 81 total in 2004 (38 with Boston, 43 with Chicago). This decade, Nomar made three All-Star teams with the Sox and led the league in batting in 2000, while playing exciting, but not great defense.

Honorable Mention: Alex Cora

Third Base – TIE: Bill Mueller/Mike Lowell

This position was the toughest one for me to pick, so I decided to choose both top contenders. Bill Mueller was the starting third baseman for the Sox from 2003-2005. Mueller had a fantastic season in 2003, starting 146 games, hitting .326 with 19 home runs and 85 RBI. That year he won the batting title, the Silver Slugger award, and finished 12^th in MVP voting. He never matched those numbers again, but his numbers in three seasons on the team were impressive: .303 AVG, 41 home runs, and 204 RBI. The one thing keeping Mueller from being an honorable mention were two events. The first was July 29, 2003 when Mueller became the only player ever to hit a grand slam from both sides of the plate. The second was in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, when Mueller hit a single off Mariano Rivera to score Dave Roberts and keep the Red Sox’ season alive.

Mike Lowell was quite the nice surprise for the Red Sox organization. In order to land Josh Beckett from the Marlins, the Red Sox had to take on Mike Lowell as well. Since joining the team in 2006, Lowell has hit .295 with 75 home runs and 348 RBI. In 2007, Lowell was an All-Star and finished 5^th in the MVP voting after hitting .324 with 21 home runs and 120 RBIs, numbers which he has not come close to since. Lowell was also an important part in the Red Sox 2007 World Series Championship Team, and received the 2007 World Series MVP Award. Lowell has been plagued by injuries as of late, which kept him from being the lone Third Baseman of the All-Decade team.

Honorable Mention: Shea Hillenbrand

Left Field – Manny Ramirez

This was also a no-brainer. Despite his trade requests, “Manny Being Manny” moments, and spells where he does not try, Manny Ramirez is one of the best hitters of all-time. After signing with the Red Sox following the 2000 season, Ramirez made an instant splash with the organization. In his first season in Boston, Ramirez hit .306 with 41 home runs and 125 RBI. The numbers continued to rise after that season. In eight years in Boston, Ramirez hit .312 with 274 home runs and 868 RBI, helping Boston win two World Series titles.

As a Red Sox, Manny was an All-Star eight times, won the 2004 AL Hank Aaron Award, the 2004 World Series MVP award, six Silver Slugger awards, and one batting title. If you looked at the league leaders, you would almost always find Manny’s name somewhere atop the RBI or home run lists.

Honorable Mention: Jason Bay

Center Field – Johnny Damon

The Red Sox signed Johnny Damon following the 2001 season and they had finally found their new starting center fielder. In four years with the Red Sox, Damon hit .295 with 56 home runs, 299 RBI, and 98 stolen bases. He was well-known for his long hair, beard, and “idiots” faze with Kevin Millar during the 2004 playoffs. He was a two-time All-Star in Boston, and led the AL in triples in 2002. Damon was typically mocked for having a weak arm, but his hitting more than made up for that shortcoming. After his four-year deal with Boston ended, Damon signed with the New York Yankees and forever became known as a traitor to Red Sox fans. However, as much as it hurt to see a Red Sox sign with the Yankees, Damon played outstanding baseball in Boston for four seasons and deserves a spot on the All-Decade team.

Honorable Mentions: Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp

Right Field – Trot Nixon

Right Field was patrolled by Trot Nixon for many, many years. During this decade, the Trot hit .278 with 118 home runs and 471 RBI. Many Red Sox fans have the same image of Trot coming to the plate with a filthy helmet a wad of dip in his mouth. He was the true definition of a Boston Dirt Dog. Trot never won any awards, never was an All-Star, and will not make it to the Hall of Fame. The one thing that Trot did best, however, was play his heart out each and every game.

Honorable Mention: J.D. Drew

Designated Hitter – David Ortiz

Like Varitek, there is no debate on who this spot would go to. Ortiz has been one of the most dominant designated hitters of all time as a member of the Red Sox. Ortiz joined the team as a free agent in 2003. In seven seasons with the Sox, he has hit .288 with 259 home runs and 830 RBI. When paired with Manny Ramirez, the two made one of the most feared 3-4 duos in baseball history.

This decade, Ortiz has made 5 All-Star teams, won the 2004 ALCS MVP, the 2005 Hank Aaron Award, and won 4 Silver Sluggers. He finished in the top 5 voting for MVP each year from 2003-2007, led the league in RBI in 2005 and 2006, walks in 2006 and 2007, home runs in 2006, and the list could go on and on. Despite steroid allegations, Ortiz remains one of the best players this decade, and in franchise history.

Honorable Mention: Manny Ramirez

Starting Pitchers: Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield

Pedro Martinez was simply the most dominant pitcher to play for the Red Sox in this decade. While he is no longer the pitcher he was at the start of the decade, and really has not been since the Red Sox let him walk, Martinez was one of the most important parts of the 2004 World Series Champions. During his tenure with the Red Sox this decade (2000-2004), Pedro was 75-26 with a 2.53 ERA. In 2000, he was an All-Star and won the AL Cy Young Award. He led the AL in ERA in 2000, 2002, and 2003, and led the league in strikeouts in 2000 and 2002.

As for Tim Wakefield, it’s hard not to put him on the All-Decade team. Wakefield’s numbers are not that impressive, as he was 110-95 with a 4.33 ERA, but that is not where his importance lies. Wakefield has been a consistent performer in the Red Sox starting rotation for many years. He eats innings when the bullpen is tired, and can even pitch the occasional gem. His two biggest individual accomplishments were when he finished 4th in the AL in ERA in 2002 with a 2.81 ERA and made the 2009 All-Star team. While those numbers would normally keep him off many All-Decade teams, his unselfishness and incredible work ethic over the last 10 years made him a lock to make my team.

Honorable Mentions: Derek Lowe, Curt Schilling, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett

Relief Pitchers: Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Timlin, Hideki Okajima

Papelbon was an obvious choice here. Since being called up in 2005, Papelbon has been one of the top closers in the league. He was originally brought up as a starting pitcher, but was moved to the bullpen due to the team’s severe need for help. Papelbon did not start closing until the 2006 season, and since then he has recorded 151 games with an ERA of 1.84, and has played in four All-Star games.

Mike Timlin was a solid, effective pitcher in Red Sox bullpen. In six seasons with the Red Sox, he had an ERA of 3.76 with 27 saves and a record of 30-22. His best year was in 2005, when he had a 2.24 ERA while appearing in 81 games, leading the league in appearances. He was also a member of both of Boston’s World Series teams. In 2007, Timlin was awarded the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for his work toward finding a cure for ALS.

Hideki Okajima was a surprise star when he came to over to Boston from Japan in 2007. Okajima had a fantastic first season in the bullpen, finishing with a 2.22 ERA in 69.0 innings, making the All-Star team, and finishing sixth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. His numbers have dropped since his successful first season, but he is still a formidable member in the back of the bullpen. In his three seasons with the Red Sox, Okajima has a 2.72 ERA, six saves, and a record of 12-4 in 192.0 innings.

Honorable Mentions: Derek Lowe, Manny Delcarmen

Manager of the Decade: Terry Francona

As if this any shock. Francona took over the team in 2004 after Grady Little kept Pedro in a little too long in the 2003 ALCS. In his first season as manager, Francona led the Red Sox to a World Series title, and later won another in 2007. Francona has yet to lose a World Series game after sweeping both St. Louis and Colorado. As the Red Sox manager, Francona has a record of 565-407 with one division title and five playoff appearances in six seasons.

Shotgun over at the Blue Workhorse put together his own version of the Red Sox All-Decade team. Disagree with either of us? Let us know by commenting below.

© A.J. Szczerbinski for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Red Sox, Top Story.

In the midst of 2009’s heated playoff race, Major League Baseball released its 2010 schedule on Tuesday, and Red Sox fans are already salivating, as are baseball fans in general. The Twins will be playing home games in an outdoor stadium for the first time since 1981, and several key figures will become free agents for 2010, including Hideki Matsui, Andy Pettitte, Vladamir Guerrero, and our very own Jason Bay. With all this in mind, what can we expect from the Red Sox next year?

Red Sox vs. New York Yankees:

For the first time since 1950, the Yanks and Sox start and end a season at Fenway Park. They play April 5th through 8th (with an off day on the 6th) in Boston, May 7th through 9th in Boston, May 17th through 18th in New York, August 6th through 9th in New York, September 24th through 26th in New York, and October 1st through 3rd in Boston. This is an interesting move for a few reasons.

All nine games in New York come in a row, so that will prove to be an appealing dynamic. Sandwiched in between Boston games, this will give the season series a World Series like feel to it (due to how the series distributes home games between teams) and will give both teams some basic practice for the postseason.

Starting off the season against each other will give the heated rivals the chance to seize the opening momentum at the beginning of the season which could be pivotal in the following weeks. The end of the season could easily have playoff implications. So much was on the line at the end of the NBA’s 2008 season and the NFL has flexible scheduling in place to ensure games with playoff implications will end its season, so it is only natural that the Red Sox and Yankees face off in such a way next year.

Also of note is the distribution by time of Sox/Yanks series. Two time intervals place series about a week apart, giving both teams a chance to duel in rapid succession. There is also a point where they don’t face each other for nearly three months. This will be a good test to see if both teams remember how to deal with each other, and whether or not they can concentrate adequately enough on opponents in between (which shouldn’t be much of a problem with three months to spare).

Timing of the Schedule Release:

Already, controversy has been mulled over, regarding whether or not the schedule should have been released now. After all, the 2009 season has not yet been finished. Many people have been saying that teams should be allowed to concentrate on one cookie before starting to eat the next one, though it could be quite helpful as long as teams think about the situation correctly.

Taking the season one game at a time is a strategy used in every competition, and allows teams to avoid being distracted by multiple thoughts, opponents, and styles at once. For teams that like to do this, it will give them a competitive edge over teams that don’t. It works for Bill Belichick, and it can work for Terry Francona.

Free Agents:

Sure, the Red Sox could lose Jason Bay to free agency. But they could also pick up some good talent as well. Could you imagine Andy Pettitte coming in and shoring up a Red Sox pitching staff that has been shaky at times? Or John Lackey, who had a thrilling pitchers’ duel with Dice-K Tuesday? What about Hideki Matsui or Matt Holiday providing oomph for a Sox offense that has also sporadically struggled throughout the season? We definitely have the pocketbook to make some offers.

Interleague Play:

Interleague play starts for the Red Sox on May 21-23 in Philadelphia, and resumes on June 11 in Boston against the Phillies. No problem; we’re used to them from this season. This second three game set is immediately followed by three-game home stints against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers and three-game road stints against the Rockies and Giants. The Diamondbacks will likely be easy, we know how to deal with Colorado from the 2007 World Series, and the Giants haven’t been much of a player lately, and have even been fading in the NL Wild Card race in the last month or so (though Tim Lincecum would be fun to face).

Of course, the Dodgers series is the highlight of 2010 Interleague Play. Manny Ramirez will return to Fenway for the first time since his unceremonious departure in 2008. He’ll look to leave a mark against his former team, while Red Sox Nation will look for revenge for the more malevolent “Manny being Manny” attitude prior to leaving. Big Papi and Ramirez in a mini home run derby should provide much entertainment.

Other Things to Watch for the Rest of 2009:

The Red Sox have had little to cheer about this year when facing the AL West, including being swept in Texas. With the Red Sox leading the Rangers in the Wild Card comfortably anyway, this trend may not change as much as we would like. Being more aggressive against the West, especially against the weaker teams, would be a nice, easy way to improve performance. Getting Ortiz to elevate his swing and stop swinging under too many pitches would make great strides.

The Rays have been a thorn in our side for years, going back to their Devil Ray days. Dice-K especially has had major issues against them, just as the Red Sox have had major issues at Tropicana Field. After winning two games there in the past two seasons, Boston’s most recent series there resulted in two Sox victories, so we’ll have to see if this means the Sox are ending their losing woes in Tampa that has held back their record.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments
Filed under: Featured, Red Sox.

The infamous list that has haunted baseball, and grouped together some of the game’s best players as cheaters, has been determined to be taken illegally.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared that federal agents were wrong in seizing 104 names from two companies holding the results of a 2003 league-wide drug survey. The agents originally had a warrant to only search for ten names, but collected the others when it was determined that the rest of the names were left in the open.

The Appeals Court made its judgment saying that the seizure of the list was in violation of the fourth amendment of the Constitution. Chief Judge Alex Kozinski said, “This was an obvious case of deliberate overreaching by the government in an effort to seize data as to which it lacked probable cause.”

BALCO, the laboratory infamous for its work with Barry Bonds, has been critical of the government’s handling of the situation. Founder Victor Conte said,”I have said that (lead investigator Jeff) Novitzky has been using illegal tactics and not following the law since the day of the BALCO raid… He seems to just make up his own rules as he goes along.”

It is likely that the government will now bring the case to the Supreme Court for a final ruling. However, it is unlikely that the court will rule in favor of the government. This is an obvious illegal seizure, but already, damage has been done.

Baseball VS. The U.S. Government

Ever Since Barry Bonds was being suspected of steroid use, the government has been conducting a Salem Witch Trial on Major League Baseball. There was obviously an issue at hand, but was it right for Congress to step in? They called Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmiero, Curt Shilling, and Commissioner Bud Selig in front of a panel that included current Vice-President Joe Biden, who went on a rant about cheating.

What came from the hearings was nothing new: baseball has a drug problem. A blemish was brought upon America’s pastime. This was one year after the results were taken, but years before any names were leaked. Since that time, Major League Baseball has changed its stance on violators of the rules and top names have been suspended. Just when it seemed to be making a full recovery, with the Red Sox and White Sox ended World Series droughts, the 104 names on the list began popping up.

David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, and Sammy Sosa were some of the names that have been leaked to journalists. The original tests were to be voluntary, anonymous, and were to be used to see if more then five percent of players were using banned performance enhancing drugs.

According to ESPN, MLBPA lawyer Elliot Peters said it was criminal that the names were leaked and that those who leaked the names should be punished. “If the government hadn’t unconstitutionally seized this in the first place, there wouldn’t have been any leaks,” Peters said.

Where does it go from here?

In the end, it is most likely that Major League Baseball will obtain the list again. Should the case be brought to the Supreme Court, the Government will have a hard time arguing that they had the right to take an extra 94 names, when they only had warrants for ten. It will then be up the MLB to decide what to do.

Many, such as White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, have publicly stated to release the whole list and get it out there. It is hard to think MLB will do that, considering the original test was to be anonymous. Should it be released in its entirety, it could put a strain on the league and players in complying to further tests.

The list could always be destroyed and MLB can take the heat and hope to recover in the future. However, the names Rodriguez, Ortiz, Ramirez and others, have been damaged. For the rest of their careers, those players will have to bear the weight of their appearance on this list.

It is no longer a secret that there were/are drugs in baseball. Players have been violating the rules and integrity of the game for some time. Although the list was taken illegally, it was in public perception that there were problems much earlier. Baseball can recover, and obtaining this list is just the beginning.

© Teddy for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, News, Red Sox.

Since when do athletes having dreadlocks cause a negative influence on children? Does an athlete’s hairstyle have that much power? Children did not run to grocery stores to buy green and pink hair dye when they saw Dennis Rodman playing for the Bulls. There are plenty of other current professional athletes who sport dreadlocks or long hair, such as Pittsburgh Steelers safety, Troy Polamalu. Is he also a bad influence on children? No. A child is not going to join a gang or meddle in drugs just because he sees an athlete with dreadlocks and baggy pants at a baseball game.

If Rice’s problems with today’s players are the issues of steroids and selfishness, than he should have addressed that and left out the attacks on personal appearance. It is important for professional athletes to be good role models for children because many boys and girls alike grow up idolizing athletes. If they see that their favorite baseball player is charged with using steroids or other drugs, that may negatively impact them. In accepting an offer from a team, professional athletes know that they are taking on an additional job as role model. Just as they looked up to pro athletes before them, children will begin collecting their playing cards as well.

Major league players have a duty to be mindful of their actions on and off the field. However, they should not have to worry about the effects of having long or short hair. An athlete’s choice of clothes or hairstyle is a personal reflection and will not corrupt the youth of America. If Rice wants to examine athletes and baggy clothes, perhaps he should look at the NBA as well. Calling only Manny out for that reason is simply childish.

Yesterday, Rice dug a deeper hole for himself by retracting his statement and saying that he was “misquoted”. He was not referring to A-Rod and Jeter, only a fair-weathered Manny who plays when he likes, but both Yankees players do not buy his story. He clearly threw them under the bus with Manny. Those are not names that someone easily confuses with other players in the MLB. There is only one A-Rod.

Aside from Rice’s attempt at a motivational speech to the Little League players, the main message he seemed to send was that of the name calling game, defaming some kid’s role models.

© krazzouk for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments
Filed under: Opinion, Red Sox.

According to a Boston Globe report, MLB opened an investigation into performance-enhancing drug use during the 2008 season after two security employees were fired for steroid use. Despite investigating a possible scandal, MLB apparently didn’t investigate enough. What did they miss?

Well, apparently one of the two laid off employees claimed to have exchanged steroids advice with David Ortiz’s friend and personal assistant. It doesn’t necessarily implicate Ortiz, but something fishy was definitely going on.

“I’m sure they were hoping I didn’t know anything,’’ said Jared Remy, one of the security staffers who lost his job. “It’s like they didn’t want to know. It’s like: Do we really want to know or do we just want it to go away?’’

Both former employees told investigators they knew nothing of steroid use by Red Sox players including Manny Ramirez and Ortiz, even though both tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.

MLB started its investigation after the other security guard, Nicholas Alex Cyr, fell asleep at the wheel after driving home from the Beckett Bowl last July. State police found a quarter-full brown bottle of Anadrol, a powerful steroid. Once officials discovered he worked for the Red Sox, the investigation began. The main question (Where did these steroids come from?) was never asked, and never answered.

Instead of policing the problem, though, MLB cared more about its image. The Globe article explains it best:

But it also can be read – as it is by some specialists who study steroid abuse and the men who lost their jobs – as an indication that big-league baseball is focused more on its public image than on aggressively policing its players.

Major League Baseball defended its investigation as “thorough and detailed’’ and said that it led to further “investigative activities’’ that it would not disclose. The league would not say whether Ortiz or Ramírez were interviewed in the case.

“The contents of these interviews and the results of the investigation, like all department of investigations activities, are confidential,’’ MLB said in a statement.

Remy, the other employee, was interviewed in connection with the investigation. He claimed that major league officials didn’t ask much about his association with Ortiz’s trainer.

“They didn’t ask much at all; they wanted to make it disappear,’’ he said.

Remy claimed that he used to discuss steroid use with Ortiz’s salaried personal assistant, Felix Leopoldo Marquez Galice (known affectionately as Monga).

“He admitted taking steroids. We had conversations about steroids,’’ said Remy.

“We’d talk, ‘This one works for that. This one makes you bulky. This one makes you harder,’ ’’ Remy recalled.

Marquez’s lawyer, Thomas Kerner, disputed that account. “I have no idea on the credibility of Jared Remy, but my client has told me that he has no involvement in steroids.’’

So, what connection, if any, did these staffers have with David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and other players? Was David Ortiz’s friend and confidant a steroid user, despite claims he was not? So many questions, not many answers…

Reaction: What can we all learn from this? Major League Baseball is horribly embarrassed by the steroids scandal that currently grips the sport. They send out people to do a half-assed investigation just to see if there’s something wrong. Despite knowing little or nothing about the case, the Red Sox fired the employees for connection to steroids. Instead of investigating the problem further, the team and league just tried to make it go away.

In the sports world especially, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. In this case, we could have a raging inferno. We may never know…

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | 6 comments
Filed under: Featured, Red Sox, Top Story.

According to a Boston Globe report, David Ortiz and more than 100 other major league players that tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003 were told years ago that they were on the list. Despite telling reporters July 30 that the news “blindsided” him (which may be true since the report came at such a random time), Ortiz was notified in September 2004, right in the thick of a World Series Championship season, that he was on a list seized by the federal authorities along with the test results.

On Thursday, Ortiz realeased a statement about the news, and despite knowledge of his appearance on “the list,” he maintained he was still surprised: “Based on the way I have lived my life, I am surprised to learn I tested positive.”

After the government raid, the commissioner’s office and the MLB Player’s Association agreed to notify each of the players that the government believed they had tested positive. So that means Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez, and yes, David Ortiz were made aware of their presence on “the list” in 2004. That also means that Bronson Arroyo (if he’s on the list) knows too.

But, the players and MLBPA never knew (at the time) if the list contained suspected cheaters. So players were just told they were on a list of players as part of an investigation of an illegal steroids ring,  and nothing more…not even that they failed the drug test.

Wait, what? The Globe sorts it out:

MLBPA executive director Donald Fehr told House committee chairman Henry Waxman in a letter last summer that the players were not explicitly informed that they had tested positive, but only that they were on a list of players the government had seized, as part of an investigation into an illegal steroids operation. Though Major League Baseball and the union worked together on the testing program, which was meant to be a survey gauging the extent of the doping problem that was damaging both the sport’s image and the integrity of the game, the commissioner’s office said it still is unaware of which players tested positive. “Our office never knew who was on the list,’’ spokesman Rich Levin said yesterday. “We haven’t seen it.’’

Reaction: So, who do we believe? It sounds like most players knew they were on a list, but were never really made aware of a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs. Obviously, the whole 2003 list was botched from the beginning. No evidence from the list was destroyed, inexplicably, and the supposedly anonymous list was never supposed to be leaked to the public.

Now…they might as well release all the names at once, or at least wait until after the season.

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Red Sox, Top Story.

I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to think about it. I am hoping that the news is untrue. However, it’s hard to ignore the news that David Ortiz is the newest player to have failed a drug test for performance enhancing drugs (albeit in 2003).

The New York Times is reporting that Ortiz, along with former teammate Manny Ramirez, is one of the 103 Major Leaguers who failed drug tests during the 2003 season. The drugs they tested positive for were not released, but they are just the newest members of an already growing black list.

Well reported was the Manny suspension for using female fertility drug earlier this season, but now, one wonders where will Ortiz end up? He has previously stated that anyone who is found to be using PED’s should be suspended for an entire year. Did Big Papi shoot himself in the foot?

In 2004, everything seemed to be going right for the Sox. Ortiz compiled numerous late inning hits for the Boston, leading them to the comeback over the Yankees in the ALCS. Ortiz was even named MVP of that series for his work. Ramirez was named MVP for the World Series in the same year. It was a season many Red Sox fan dreamed would never come true. However, has the fairy tale finally ended?

Ortiz also holds the record for the most home runs in a single season for the Red Sox with 54 during the 2006 season. That was the same season he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. This season he has not been the same player Boston fans have come to enjoy. His lack of power and declining skills are supporting arguments for those who say he is on some stuff.

Are the World Series Titles Tainted?

It will become hard for Boston fans to argue that the 2004 World Series wasn’t tainted. The two superstars, who led with their raw power, now fall into the same category with Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire and Jose Canseco. They will be dubbed cheaters and players who soured the game. For Boston, the only positive for 2004 comes from the “Idiots”. Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar, and who can forget Pedro, will suffice as the players who “Cowboy‘d Up” during the World Series run. However, should more names come from this list, the 2004 Series might be listed along side the Black Sox scandal of 1919.

When Did Ortiz Stop Using Steroids?

For Ortiz, if he did in fact use, he probably stopped around 2006. He was suffering from an irregular heartbeat that caused him to miss several games. Since then, he has not been quite the same, and this season has been no different. Hits for power have been few and far between. He has had several injuries since and has taken a backseat to players such as Pedroia and Youkilis in the past seasons.

Did the Sox Organization Know about Papi’s Steroids Use?

There are people out there who will ponder the Sox organization’s knowledge of the use. I don’t think people like Theo Epstein or John Henry were aware of players’ use. It was probably more of an ignorance of facts than an omission. As long as their players were performing and playing good baseball, it was more of a don’t ask, don’t tell situation.

At the time, Red Sox fans weren’t thinking the Sox were winning because of drugs. It was all about playing as a team and having great clubhouse chemistry. The players were close as brothers and all of a sudden, comradery was the new outline for Major League teams.

But now those memories are gone. In its place, discussions of cheating and disgracing the game are coming into fruition. The top players in the game seem to be dropping one by one. Earlier in the year, Sammy Sosa was said to be on the list, as was Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez even admitted and later apologized for his use, which he says was only during his time with the Rangers.

Ortiz may say he doesn’t know how the results are real, but the damage is already done. Anytime baseball seems to recover from one story, another comes out. I, for one, would like the list released in its entirety, instead of one name every so often. Should more Red Sox from the 2004 Series appear, it will only further scar the championship and give evidence to those who say there should be an asterisk on 2004.

Reaction to the Ortiz Steroids News

I feel confused, betrayed, angry, but I do not feel surprised. With top stars being named all the time, it just seems a matter of time before your favorite player gets dragged into it. I still have the memories in 2004 of Dave Roberts, Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling. Although, always in the background will be Big Papi swinging and Manny smiling.

Ortiz’s contract will soon be expiring. He is not producing like he used to and may be past his prime. The Red Sox have not had issues in letting players go. He could be packaged in a deal, or just have his contract expire. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ortiz in a different uniform in the next few years.

Or, in two weeks it could be forgotten. He could turn it around and start hitting home runs again. In baseball, it’s not what have you done in your career, it’s more what have you done lately. He could join the Manny’s and A-Rod’s as players who were welcomed back with open arms. I’m sure if he starts driving in runs, Boston fans will rejoice instead of wondering about his past.

I would love the reports to be false…a story made up by the New York media? I am confident that it is true. Another players gets busted and more than likely will have no repercussions. Why punish a player for something that happened when rules were not in place?

Then again, if he starts producing for Boston, I will probably put my Ortiz jersey on and cheer.

© Teddy for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Red Sox.