In what was the first real big day for the Red Sox in the off season, they dealt Coco Crisp to the Royals for right handed reliever Ramon Ramirez. The deal is a win/win for both sides. The Royals gain a top of the order bat who provides speed and defense and it sets them up for some more moves.

There is rumor that the Cubs are interested in either Mark Tehan or David Dejesus. Or perhaps, they can flip Crisp to the Cubs and keep they're players while they are still pre-arbitration or arbitration eligible.

But here's what I care about. The Red Sox get a player who most of the world has never heard about. A solid right handed reliever. In two and a half seasons Ramirez has posted a 3.62 ERA and has averaged almost a strike out per inning. Keep in mind his first season and a half was at hitter friendly/ pitcher unfriendly Coors Field as a member of the Colorado Rockies.

More importantly, he is the kind of young player the Red Sox covet. A live arm with plus stuff and still controllable as he is 2 seasons away from being arbitration eligible. He offers flexibility in late inning situations as he features a plus change up which gives him the ability to get lefty's out.

He won't necessarily come into camp as the 8th inning set up man to Papelbon as the Sox still have options in Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and Justin Masterson.

And now we're back to that word again, flexibility. With this addition, it will be very interesting to see where Masterson ends up. If  Boston fails to sign a big name free agent such as A.J Burnett, or Derek Lowe (forget CC Sabathia o.k. Let the Yankees take those soon to be damaged goods) Masterson could easily find a spot as a fifth starter if Clay Buchholz doesn't straighten himself out. Or he stays put in the aforementioned group of relief corps where he hopefully continues to dominate, especially against right handed hitting.

The move also gives Boston financial flexibility. Crisp was due to make $5.5 million this season with an option in 2010 for $8 million. Combine this with the $20 million they won't be paying Manny Ramirez this year,$8 million for zero appearances by Schilling, $4 million for what most of us wish was zero appearances by Timlin, and say hello to Mark Teixeira, the best fee agent on the market.

Teixeira is exactly the kind of player the Red Sox need. A selective hitter who is hitting his prime and has 5 seasons in a row of batting over .300, hitting 30 or more home runs, and driving in over 100 runs. He, not Jason Bay, is the bat needed to replace Manny Ramirez. And unlike Manny he'll always remember to bring his glove with him while playing the field.

That's it. Two moves and you have to not only consider the Red Sox postseason bound, but World Series favorites.
A rotation that boasts a healthy Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Free Agent Aquisition/Buchhholz/Masterson.

A solid bullpen.

And this projected lineup. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia (ROY/MVP), David Ortiz (hopefully healthy although very likely in decline), Mark  Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew, Jason Bay, Jed Lowrie (as I refuse to take Julio Lugo seriously as a major league player) and hopefully Jason Varitek. If that's not a solid team, I don't know what is.

                 Maybe it's because I lack an extensive vocabulary, but it seems impossible to put into words what I've just seen. This is going to be a long one, but after a game like this, how could it not be.

                In a first inning that featured a  1-2-3 top half by rookie pitcher Charlie Zinc, and a ten run offensive bottom half capped by David Ortiz's second 3 run homer of the INNING, it appeared that the route was on and not even Chuck Norris him self would be able to save the Texas Rangers.

                But then it happened. For anyone who hasn't heard Texas can hit. Trouble began in the top of the fifth when things were still looking good for Zinc to pick up his first win. Then the Rangers were able to string together some singles and doubles. Throw in some controversy on a fly ball that center fielder Coco Crisp catches and drops on the transfer (ruled a no catch and scored as a double somehow). Mix it in with some  Terry Francona making the mistake of sticking with Charlie in hopes to help him pick up his first ever victory.  Add a pinch of David AArdsma giving up the big fly to Ian Kinsler, and oh boy, we've got a brand new ball game.

                Well sort of. Boston would escape from the inning holding a two run lead and go on to put up two more in the bottom half after a disputed double call after David Ortiz appeared to put one out to deep center, but was called fan interference by the officiating crew, ruining his chance to become Mr. August. No worries, Kevin Youkilis would make it a moot point by homering, a no doubter, to center field.

                But hang on, here comes Texas. Putting up a five spot in the sixth to take a one run lead. In the inning Youkilis found himself right in the mix of it (as he would all night), by committing a rare error at first diving for a ball to his right, which then ricocheted  to Dustin Pedroia who threw high to home, only to have Frank Catalonnato  slide across safely for the tying run.  Kinsler would later hit a sac fly to give the Rangers their first lead of the game.

                It was looking pretty grim for the Red Sox. Like they were going to blow a ten run, first inning lead, and suffer a very deflating loss. But the eighth inning was by far the most defining inning for the new-look Sox.

                Coco crisp popped out to center to begin with off of reliever Frank Francisco. Jacoby Ellsbury pinch hit for Kevin Cash, the only member of the Sox starting nine without a hit, and walked on four straight pitches. After J.D. Drew was unable to advance Jacoby up stepped MVP candidate (at least I'm campaigning for him) Dustin Pedroia, who already had four hits and had been on base five times.

He ripped a two strike curveball off the wall in right for a double and Ellsbury turned the jets and scored all the way from first. And then came the biggest challenge since the trade of Manny Ramirez.

Something we all knew was bound to happen; Papi was intentionally walked with the absence of Manny hitting behind him.

Well, let this be a lesson to the rest of the American League, Kevin Youkilis is up for the challenge. The Youker got ahead in the count 2-0 and sat on a 96 mph Francisco fast ball. Into the monster seats it went, and Youk, all kinds of excited, almost lapped Papi running around the bases.

Papelbon would eventually shut the door for his 32 save on what was one of the craziest nights at the ball park any of us will ever see.

Game notes-

Now, I'm not friends with anyone at The Elias Sports Bureau, but I'd like to know the last time, if ever, a player has struck out twice in one inning as Kevin Youkilis did, only to come back and have two home runs, one of which was the go ahead game winner in the eighth inning.

But I do know this thanks to various media outlets available to me. There was no pitching in this game, my eyes actually showed me that, yet 400 pitches were thrown total.

                 The 36 runs combined by both teams were an American League record, one would have to assume Texas was involved in one that was close to it, as they put up 30 runs on there own last year in a game against Baltimore.

It was the most runs the Rangers had ever scored and lost. Coincidently it was the most runs the Red Sox had ever given up and still won.

With every at bat Jed Lowrie takes, it makes me say Julio who?

Mike Lowell had to leave the game with what is being called a right oblique strain. It is unknown at this point what will become of this, but the Sox do have some options.  They can split time at third between Youkilis and Lowrie. This will in turn result in more playing time for both Alex Cora and Sean Casey.

The Red Sox do have Minor league options with first basemen Jeff Bailey and third baseman Keith Ginter. But if Lowell were to go on the DL I would imagine the Sox would take the opportunity to put another arm in the bullpen, especially given the fact they Mike Timlin and Justin Masterson were the only ones not used tonight. Masterson threw 3 innings two day's ago in Chicago.

Charlie Zinc got the no decision in this contest but will never forget this night. He will be optioned to Triple A Pawtucket tomorrow to make room for Paul Byrd.

               
  

    Sure I miss his presence in the lineup, but all in all, I'm happy he's gone. Take tonight for example. A 1-1 ball game late, with runners on 1st and 3rd. Jason Bay is at the plate. He hits a ground ball to third. Inning over right? It would be if it was Manny walking briskly down to first. But instead it's Jason Bay, doing what you're supposed to, and runs out the ground ball. Sox take a 1 run lead, and would eventually go onto win 6-2.
    This article is about two things. The unsurprising statement from Manny Ramirez that he would like to sign with the Yankees (all of what 5 days after stating he wants to finish his career in LA as a Dodger), and what this means to the "investigation" launched by the commissioner's office.
First we'll start with the statement, of Manny saying he wants to sing with the Yankees in the off season. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed baseball over the past 15 years. Manny was born in the Dominican Republic but grew up in Washington Heights, overlooking Yankee Stadium. And it is well documented what kind of production he can provide, playing on a field with those dimensions.
    Also, I think we all know, the Yankees have a reputation for paying top dollar for premium free agents.
    So when you consider that Jason Giambi, Andy Pettite, Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina, and Carl Pavano are free agents at the end of the year. And Johnny Damon will be in the last year of his ludicrous deal, newly acquired Xavier Nady has one more year, as well as the uncertainty of Hideki Matsui's health, the Yankees are all but an obvious fit to pay Manny at least the $40 million he is seeking over two years, plus more.
    Let's face it, with the list of above players, the Yankees are a team that can afford to spend big time money, even if it doesn't always pay off. In fact, I will not be the least bit surprised when New York goes out this off season and signs not only Ramirez to a 4 year deal for around $80 million, but also signs other high profile free agents such as Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets. With all that money coming off the books and the opening of a new stadium,(perhaps missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 years) they have even more reason then normal to spend.
    But that's a different story all together, and I'll write about that when the time comes under the title "Told You So"
    The underlying issue here is the fact that Bud Selig has launched an investigation into the departure of Ramirez. Wondering if indeed Manny was purposely (which we all know is the case) under performing in order for the Red Sox to be forced to move him. Keep in mind that Ramirez was "happy in Boston and wanted to finish his career there" that is until he changed agents. An agent named Scott Boras who is by no means an idiot, who would not make a cent off of Manny if his two options were picked up, and a man who knows how to manipulate his clients into testing the free agent market.
    Boras supposedly called the Red Sox around 5 p.m. on July 31 saying that if Boston agreed to drop the 2 option years on Manny's contract he would no longer be a distraction for the remainder of the '08 season. Sox management reportedly said that "this only confirms the notion that you were behind this the whole time. Tell him to pack lots of sun block."
    When the news was broke two day's ago about the investigation , Boras stated that Ramirez only wanted out of Boston because he wanted the same sort of living environment that he had in Cleveland.
    Well then, please Scott explain to me. If the pressure of Boston who, hadn't won a world series in 82 years when he signed, was too much on his personal and professional life, how are the "bright lights of New York" going to be any more accommodating to him? How are the New York tabloids, who follow your former client in Canada, going to be any less of a problem for Manny? Don't tell me the avid fans in New York aren't going to stop him on the streets and ask him for a picture, an autograph, or to go clubbing with them.
    I don't know what the ramifications of the commissioners office can be in this situation, but it is obvious that they have reasons to investigate. Maybe Scott Boras should consider the client he is representing before he speaks for him, especially when it comes to Manny Ramirez. Who knows, tomorrow he might want to be a Cub because he likes the Polka song he heard on his ipod. Or he might decide he wants to play for the Milwaukee Brewers because the sausage race was hilarious.
    But who knows really? Maybe this is just uber agent Scott Boras's plan all along. After all he missed out on A-rod's new deal, but if you get the Yankees in on the bidding price, you drive up the price on the rest of the league.
    After all, Scott Boras is no idiot, he just happens to represent one.

    Wade Boggs stood at the hot corner during pregame introductions, tipping his hat to the adoring crowd at Yankee stadium. Thanks to the folks at medical hair restoration, his newfound luscious locks waving in the New York City wind.
    Call me the bitter Red Sox fan, still scarred by the site of that man riding a horse through Yankee Stadium after the clinching game of the 1996 world series. But what I saw tonight was a coward, afraid of getting booed.
    Boggs was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a member of the Boston Red Sox. That is the hat he wears on his Cooperstown plaque. He could have done as Gary Carter did. Gary wore his Expos hat and waved his Mets hat to the crowd. Or better yet. Dave Winfield wore his San Diego Padres hat and waved his Yankees hat to the fans.
    Hell, Boggs could've done something great for the game of baseball and waved his now outdated Tampa Bay Devil Rays hat to the crowd, seeing how he is the only member of the Hall of Fame to have played there.
    Does anyone remember that? Boggs was a pioneer member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in1998 and 1999. In fact, he hit the first home run in the franchises history. He batted second in one of the most historic lineups in baseball history.
    You might say murderer's row of the 1927 Yankees or maybe the 1997 Cleveland Indians were the best lineups ever. And you would be correct.
    But Boggs combined with players such as Jose Canseco, Greg Vaughn, Fred McGriff and Vinnie Castillo, in a line up dubbed "the hit parade", that featured more career home runs then any other line up ever assembled.
    Were they as productive that late in their career's? No. But history is what it is.
    Wade was put in a unique position tonight. Promote the upstart Rays or pour some gasoline on the fire that is the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry.
    Instead he took the cowards way out and chose simply to appease the hometown crowd. What else would you expect from a man who's afraid to be bald.

Cool Fact- Since the 1940's there have been 3 players to record at least 5 straight 200 hit seasons. All 3 were on the field tonight. The 2 playing were Ichiro Suzuki and Michael Young. The other? The aforementioned coward Wade Boggs.

            With spring training underway it is now time to officially declare it baseball season. And with the start of every new year, comes the grading of the off-season. So without further ado here are my picks for losers , with winners to follow tomorrow.
            5. New York Yankees- First of all, whose in charge here? This is a classic case of to many chiefs and not enough Indians. Before the playoffs last year, how many people even knew what Hank Steinbrenner looked like?
            I say the Yankees are losers of the off season, but not for your standard reasons. All of their free agents from last year are back, but at head scratching prices. The grand total of Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Alex Rodriguez's contracts? A potential $413 million. That's a lot of scratch to be handing out to players who "failed" their organization last year. And although they all return there are still no upgrades to the pitching staff that struggled all year long.
            The Yankees will be counting on the young arms of Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain this year after deciding to pull the plug on the Johan Santana deal.
            Still, the reason I have labeled them as losers for the off season is by no fault of their own. It's because of everything that has happened since the Mitchell Report was released.
            Lets not blind ourselves and think it was only the Yankees players using steroids and HGH from the mid ninety's to 2005, but they were certainly the most successful team during that time. Now there is a lot of talk about the "tainted" (which is bologna) championships numbered 23-26, a hard thing for the most storied franchise in Major League history to deal with.
            Few may remember the changing of the Joes this year, but all of us will remember (or misremember) Roger Clemens on capital hill, and Andy Pettitte's apology speech.
            4. Houston Astros- Does anyone over there know how to run an organization? Since the trading deadline of 2007 the Astros have traded away their back end of the bullpen. Gone are Brad Lidge, Chad Qualls, and Dan Wheeler. The good news is that Jose Valverde and his league leading 47 saves are now in the back of the pen. The bad news is there's no one to make sure he gets the ball.
            Houston does have some power bats in Lance Berkman, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee, and Hunter Pence. The rest of the lineup will be filled out by the likes of Mark Loretta, Kaz Matsui, and Michael Bourne, so putting up some runs shouldn't be a problem. Preventing them will be.
            Yes, they have Roy Oswalt as the ace, but they don't have a legitimate three or four starter let alone a number two man. If you think Woody Williamsor Shawn Chacon can get the job done do me a favor and put down that pipe for a minute. Good news Pirates fans, there's an open competition for last place in the NL Central this year.
            3. San Francisco Giants- After successfully cutting ties to the all time home run leader, they replaced his bat with Aaron Rowand. Rowand has the ability to make the highlight grab but is far overrated as a top flight center fielder. Don't believe me? He ranked dead last in expanded zone rating last season while playing at hitter friendly Citizen's Bank Park . Just wait and see how he does covering the spacious center field at AT&T Park this year.
            Although there is some hope in the starting rotation with Barry Zito, Matt Cain,  Tim Lincecum , and Noah Lowry, the bullpen and defense are sure to be historically  awful. No one loves Omar Vizquel more then I do (first ballot hall of famer if I could vote) but the man is well past his prime. It doesn't get any better to his left or right with Ray Durham at second and Rich Aurilia at third.
            As for the bullpen? Quick, I challenge you to name one arm, left or right, ready to come in and throw an inning. That's what I thought.
            2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim- There was a time early on where I thought the Angels were about to have the biggest off season of any one. It started with the trading of Orlando Cabrera for Jon Garland. I assumed this would be the sign of something big to come. At the time Alex Rodriguez was a free agent as was Mike Lowell. When those options were no more they went out and signed Torii Hunter. "O.K." I said, "now they must have something in the works. Perhaps they will make an aggressive play for Miguel Cabrera."
            Then out of nowhere the Detroit Tigers come in and grab both Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis all because the Angels front office was afraid to part with some prospects, mainly Nick Adenhardt, Howie Kendrick, and Reggie Willits.
            Now the Angels are stuck without a solid third baseman, a veteran short stop and have 6, count 'em, 6 outfielders. The aforementioned Willits and Hunter, Gary Mathews Jr., Vladimir Guerrero, Juan Rivera and Garret Anderson. Adenhardt may well be ready for the majors this year, but will have a hard time finding a spot in the rotation that includes John Lackey, Jon Garland, Kelvim Escobar, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver. Should one of them go down at some point during the season the Angels will probably insert Ervin Santana into the rotation, sorry Nick. Maybe next year.
            1. Scott Boras- I don't know about you, but this one brings me some pleasure. He tried to make his player bigger then the game when he announced A-rod would be opting out of his contract during game 4 of the World Series in Colorado.  A-rod had to crawl on his hands and knees to the Yankees front office to get his money.
            Then  Kenny Rogers decided it was time to play it safe. Boras tried to shop Rogers when his only wish was to remain a Tiger. The gambler knew when to fold 'em and promptly fired Boras.
            Oh, and now, although it's nothing new, Gary Sheffield is running his mouth, saying quote " Scott Boras is a bad man." Apparently Sheff is waiting to dish out some more information as soon as the situation is settled. Gary also thinks by the time he's done talking (annoyed grunt, hopefully soon) no one will want to sign with Boras anymore.
            Maybe Kyle Loshe should look at the situation. Remember him? Scotty boy was going to get him a 4 year deal between $50-$60 million. Well, now that spring training has begun, how about just a 1 year deal? You at least owe it to Kyle to get him a non-roster invite to spring training don't you?