As the Red Sox embark on the tag team GM era of Hoyer and Cherington (who had the advantage of having a COMBINED age less than most of their competition) with Theo Epstein somewhere behind the curtain either officially or unofficially pulling the strings, much works still needs to be done before the moving trucks head south in February.  The Red Sox offseason moves so far look like a coloring job by my four year-old: uneven and out of order, but, thankfully, no one has #### outside the lines… YET!

The biggest issue still remains two of the Red Sox top three offensive players, Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon.  Ramirez’s soap opera is going on 25 months now (if it hasn’t since the day they signed him) and, frankly,  is getting old.  The basic problem to do any deal is that the Red Sox want a trading parent to give the Red Sox more than they themselves think he is worth (Remember two years ago, anyone could have had Manny for zero compensation).  On any objective measure, his contract is 2005 is above market value and, yet, the Red Sox want equal trade value in return.  The Red Sox clearly would be more enamored with Vladimir Guerrero than Manny and Guerrero is making approximately $5 million less a season.  In order to move Manny, the Red Sox will have to eat some money (like the $11 million in the Rent-A-Wreck deal) or lower their trade demands.  The one thing that will continue to give this life is the dwindling years left on the contract and the attractiveness that may give a team that is going for it all in any given year (i.e. 2006 Mets).  And, hey, if the Phillies can move Jim Thome, anything is possible.  For everyone touting the Javier Vazquez acquisition as the cornerstone of a repeat let me suggest that trading Aaron Rowand for Thome to fill Frank Thomas’ spot as chronically disabled first baseman, will hurt the White Sox defense dramatically.  The guy is Jim Edmonds without the mustard.

Speaking of centerfielders with mustard, as far as Damon goes, replacing him in centerfield with a player such as Seattle’s Jeremy Reed would be a step down defensively and leave a gaping hole in the top of the batting order as newly acquired 2B Mark Loretta will slot in the first or second slots in the order, but the Red Sox will struggle to find another top of the order type hitter.  Reed’s .322 OBP won’t cut it for the OBP obsessed Sox and Trot Nixon has historically struggled from the top of the order and the demands of being in the two hole would further compromise his fragility.  Kevin Youkilis?  Please, he really hasn’t proven he can have competitive at bats at the major league level despite Stephen King and Stewart O’Nan’s obsession over him in Faithful, officially the worst book ever written (if I read one more story about a 40 something year-old “man” driving a broken down car from Hartford to Boston every night just to push kids out of the way for foul balls, I swore I would have killed somebody… probably myself).

Assuming a re-signing of Damon, the Red Sox line-up and needs like this:

	Line-up (9):		Bats	The Skinny
1	Johnny Damon	CF	L	Without him or a comparable top-of-the-line-up hitter (any available?), an impressive line-up drops down quite a few notches.
2	Mark Loretta	2B	R	His on base percentage since being traded from Milwaukee in 2002: .379 in 1,845 plate appearances.
3	David Ortiz	DH	L	Most important player in Red Sox history.
4	Manny Ramirez	LF	R	Something tells me I’d like Miggy being Miggy (or Manny being Miggy for that matter) better than Manny being Manny; however, even with the Orioles being the Orioles, they will, too.
5	Trot Nixon	RF	L	Health is a huge issue, 5-6-7 holes are questionable either way, but if he’s injured, there maybe a lot of three and outs before the top of the order.
6	Mike Lowell	3B	R	Hoping for a big bounce back, will draw the ire of fans if he struggles to start versus the consistency of Bill Mueller.
7	Jason Varitek	C	B	Need to rest him more during the season or another September/October fall off is likely.
8	Kevin Youkilis	1B	R	The “Greek God of Walks” needs to show he can swing the bat consistently – also need a left handed platoon hitter.
9	Alex Gonzalez	SS	R	Even Alex Cora would be an improvement over Rent-A-Wrek.

The most important line-up holes to fill for the Red Sox line-up are a starting shortstop and a lefty platoon first baseman.  After exhausting the Tejada option (aka – the 2006 World Series Championship option), the Red Sox likely will sign ex-Marlin Alex Gonzalez. At 1B, journeyman Roberto Petagine has the type of bat the Red Sox would want, but not the defense.  Ultimately, the Red Sox should be to use their excess mediocore starting pitching (i.e. Matt Clement) to pry Adrian Gonzalez loose from Texas.  In fact, if the Red Sox do lose out on Damon, the centerfielder on a layover in Arlington, Brad Wilkerson, could probably be acquired for a package including SP Bronson Arroyo. 

Bench  (4):			Bats	The Skinny
Adrian Gonzalez		1B	L	Very well could be the starting 1B if acquired.
Alex Cora		INF	L	Did a nice job in Boston last year… Does Uribe’s grounder make it through his legs?
Juan Encarnarcion		CF	R	If Enacrnarcion doesn’t land a starting job elsewhere, he’d be a nice fit – plus the Sox need a reliable RH bat off the bench.
Eddie Perez		C	R	If acquired, knows how to be a one pitcher specialist.

The Red Sox have plenty of questions and depth in their starting rotation.  It says here that the Red Sox head to Fort Meyers with David Wells as their #3 in a rotation that unfolds like this:

Starting Pitchers  (5):		Throws	The Skinny
Curt Schilling		R	The entire season is contingent on his recovery… no pressure though.
Josh Beckett		R	MRI results seem to have been cause for concern… first big start in Yankee Stadium will be quite interesting
David Wells		L	Resident malcontent and big mouth ogre for one more year; it’s a wonder no one else wants him.
Jonathan Papelbon		R	Huge upside, will be missed in the bullpen.
Tim Wakefield		R	How will he react without Mirabelli?

The Red Sox continue to look for bullpen depth (if you didn’t have enough of Rudy Seanez the first time, he maybe coming back), but we are going to assume the Red Sox final offseason move will be to use Bronson Arroyo out there this year in a middle relief:

Bullpen  (7):			Throws	The Skinny
Keith Foulke		CL	R	First shot to return to 2004 postseason form, will not have a lot of rope.
Mike Timlin		SU	R	Pro’s pro, 1st in line if Foulke doesn’t return to 2004 form.
Lenny DiNardo		LS	L	Quietly had a nice 2005, will get a chance to take over Mike Meyers lefty specialist role.  Status as only lefty will change during the season.
Bronson Arroyo		MR	R	Red Sox like his rubber arm out of the pen but was shaky in that role in 2004 postseason (helped immensely by A-Rod’s slap).
Guillermo Mota		MR	R	Very disappointing for a little over a season in Florida, a question mark just like the rest of the Marlins trade.
Chad Bradford		RS	R	More and more of a righthanded specialist, his job security would have to be considered highly questionable after an inconsistent 2005 (pitched half season after surgery).
Jamie Vermilyea		LR	R	2006 Rule V draftee from the Blue Jays; Red Sox like to keep their Rule V guys and with the need to develop bullpen depth, they will be tempted to.

Prospects and others not on the 25 man roster:

Manny Declarman (RHRP): Boston kid, will have an impact on 2006 season, although Red Sox desire to accumulate as many arms in the bullpen as possible will motivate the Red Sox to utilize his ooptions.  IF Arroyo is traded or moves to the rotation, it will significantly effect Declarman.

Craig Hansen (RHRP):  Closer of the future, still raw, like Declarman Sox will use his option status to build depth.

Jon Lester (LHSP):  Best lefthanded arm in the organization, could if accelerated to Boston if the need is there.

Dustin Pedora (2B/SS?): The Red Sox 2B or maybe SS of the future will be in Fenway this summer.

Wade Miller (RHSP): Surgery will likely cost him much of 2006.

Jermaine Van Buren (RHRP):  had a great year at Iowa (AAA) for the Cubs, ditto Declarman and Hansen.

Ken Huckaby (C): Non-roster invitee expected to be Wakefield’s personal catcher, but a Perez or Flaheryy type may afford Varitek more rest.

Andy Marte:  You mean we got a player for Rent-A-Wreck, too?!?  New can’t miss prospect, will get more AAA seasoning as the 3B/1B situation works itself out.

Adam Stern (OF): 2005 Rule V draftee, will probably start in 2006 for seasoning and because too many lefty bats on the bench already.

Kelly Shoppach (C): With Varitek in place for three years, likely to be used as trade bait… for hopefully more than Larry Bigbie.

Edgar Martinez (RHRP): Righthanded power arm could be accelerated if Bullpen Plan A does not work out.

 Greg

Despite having about as hectic a week as humanly possible, I couldn't resist the temptation to start my own Blog.  This weeks highlights of my life include changing companies, Christmas shopping and decorating, cleaning the basement and garage, tax planning for 2005 and 2006 and debating whether or not to get our four year-old, Jake, kitten Santa promised LAST Christmas (It was delayed due to the kitchen remodeling which ended nine months ago) among many other things.  But, as usual, my mind is still wandering constantly to sports.  The top five sports topics on my mind at the moment:

1. The Patriots – is it possible?  They played great in Buffalo on Sunday and look better last Sunday when I went up to see them smack the Jets around, but, let’s not kid ourselves.  This Saturday’s contest with Tampa Bay will be a real test as to whether or not they are going to be able to make more than a token appearance in the playoffs.  Also, I have this lingering nightmare that Miami wins their next two and the Pats lay an egg this week and have to win in the Meadowlands the day after Christmas to avoid a winner-take-all game with the resurgent Dolphins in Week 17.

My gut feeling at this point is that the Pats will be a tough out in the playoffs, but I just don’t think they have enough DB depth to defeat the Colts in Indy.  I know we felt that way last year too, but that game was in Foxboro and Rodney Harrison was back there.  It’s amazing how much his loss has hurt.  I went up to the Monday Night game the Pats played against the Colts and I think that game was closer than the route it became, if Corey Dillon doesn’t fumble that ball at the end of the first half and the Pats tie it up, it could have been a real game.  The Pats also play very well in Indy, always have, but it would be an upset that would put Super Bowl XXXVI to shame.  I know the non-Patriot fans are not feeling any sympathy for me or my fellow Pats fans, but the chance to win three Super Bowls in a row isn’t coming around again; in some ways I want this one more than last year.

2. The Red Sox – Buy, don’t Rent! I can’t believe they found a taker for Rent-A-Wreck.  I second guessed that signing from the 2003 season when the Sox tried to acquire him midseason.  An unmitigated disaster.  I have been saying since 1991, that, just because of the rules, American League teams have to be superior.  If Renteria goes to Atlanta and is anything but a bust (does anyone really believe he is anywhere close to 30 years-old?), it will be the final proof of the inferiority of the National League.  The best was his complaining that the Fenway infield was the reason when 14 of his major league-high 30 errors occurred away from friendly Fenway.  It must be Colombian math.  As for the GM brothers, Hoyer and Cherington, I think they are having a great offseason and would love to see then land Tejada for Manny.  I have been thinking /saying that a three way with the Mets getting Manny would be a win/win/win and, finally, the Daily News reported it this morning.

Miggy is all I want for Christmas.

3. BC Basketball – Up in Smoke.   Sean Williams' suspension for marijuana possession last spring is wreaking havoc on the Eagles hoopsters, losing to Michigan St. and Maryland this week.  I went to see the Michigan St. game as part of the Jimmy V. Classic at MSG.  The game was sloppy, but the steak beforehand at Frankie & Johnny’s was first rate.  BC was ranked sixth (now 13^th), but won’t be that good until they get Williams’ back, which may not be until February, as apparently the Boston DA had a say in when he can return to campus as part of his plea bargain.  Up the road at UNLV-Conn, you could be the founder of the Crips and not get suspended for 20 games.  Like a friend of mine said recently, “UConn would let my cat in if he could shoot a three.”

BC sports, in general, have shown a tendency to take us right up until the final minute, game, play before letting their alumni down in earth shattering ways.  Part of me believes that Tom O’Brien and Al Skinner have deals with the opposing coach to let them win as long as they make BC look as good as they can as long as they can.

4. Youth Basketball – Fully Loaded.  I coach fourth and fifth graders coach in a youth basketball league called the Greenwich Basketball Association (GBA).  I should say this year I assistant coach as I have been reprimanded for one season for excess enthusiasm last year (that season, however, did result in a final four appearance for a team that had a regular record of 1-8 in a 15-team league).  The 4^th/5^th  grade league of the GBA is made up of Big East teams and we are Miami (don’t ask me why they are still in the Big East) and have a monster team, almost silly strong.  The teams are supposed to created equal but the evaluators missed how physical our team is (eight of ten of the players are football players) and we are 3-0 on our way to a huge season.  My 10 year-old step son Evan is the key point guard and my nine year-old step son Ryan (all 60 pounds of him) is a nice off guard.  This week: vs. Providence, key games upcoming January 15^th versus Boston College and January 22^nd vs. Maryland (Not exactly up on conference realignment or original alignment), both undefeated .

5. BCS – Best Case Scenario.  I think the solution to the BCS is staring everyone in the face, we are just too blind to see it.  The problem is that what we have now tears apart the format I grew up with – when it was unheard of to have anything but the Cotton, Sugar, Rose and Orange Bowls, in that order, on New Year's Day - and loved as a kid, but isn’t enough of a playoff system. By adding two more games to next year proposed championship game, we can have both.  Go back to the Rose Bowl matching up the Pac-10 and Big 10 champions, the Fiesta Bowl the Big 12 winner vs. a wildcard, in the Orange Bowl, the ACC champ vs. a wildcard and the Sugar Bowl, the SEC vs. a wildcard.  The wildcards are the three best teams in the country under the current ranking system, no matter if you are from South Bend or South Dakota, with the best of the ACC/Big 12/SEC champs playing the weakest wildcard and so on. 

I’d love to see all four on New Year’s Day, but that’s really not important to my scheme.  The four winners move on to the National Semi-Finals based on either geography vs. the best rated vs. the 4^th best and so on the NFL’s wildcard weekend (Sunday and Monday Nights) and the Championship game the weekend of the NFL off week before the Super Bowl.  If anyone talks about these “scholars” missing class, I’ll smack you.  The cities for the semi-finals and finals are irrelevant to me, but could help to fill some of these billion dollar elephants we are building for 10 to15 games a year.

Under this scenario, the BCS match-ups would be as follows:

                Rose Bowl – Penn St. vs. USC

                Fiesta Bowl – Notre Dame vs. Texas (is Earl Campbell available?)

                Orange Bowl – Ohio St. vs. Florida St.

                Sugar Bowl – Oregon vs. Georgia

Potential semi-final match-ups include Oregon-USC and Ohio St.-Texas rematches.

Just some warm thoughts on a very cold New England day.  Not like BC football, going to Boise to play on Blue turf!

Greg