RENTERIA, TO MARTE, TO CRISP: OK IT IS NOT TINKERS TO EVERS TO CHANCE BUT
THIS ONE YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK.


The Red Sox recent moves are not reminiscent of the hey days of of Yankees overspending.
What is fascinating though, the new math available to deep pocket clubs.

This math work in favor of teams drafting draft pick with difficult agents[hello Scott Boras]-ala Craig HANSON. THE WEALTHY TEAMS CAN TAKE A SHOT.

THE SOX BOUGHT A PROSPECT. THE GAVE UP A PICK FOR SIGNING RENTERIA. THEN DECIDED WRONGLY OR RIGHTLY[A BASEBALL AND A PROGNOSTICATION UNCERTAINTY] THAT HE WAS DONE.
HE WAS TRADED FOR MARTE. BUT THE BRAVES WRANGLED OR CONSIDERED HIM DONE OR TOO, EXPENSE. SO THE SOX ASK UNCLE TOM HENRY FOR 11 MILLION DOLLARS

MARTE=11M. ESSENTIALLY, YOU BOUGHT YOURSELF ONE OF THE TOP PROSPECTS IN BASEBALL FOR 11M. RENTERIA LIKE AN OVERPRICED STOCK OR A BOND WITH A YIELD LOWER THAN THE PRIME, WAS UNCEREMONIOUSLY DUMPED.

AH, BUT THAT IS NOT THE END OF OUR LITTLE TALE. DAMON SIGNED WITH THE YANKEES FOR 52M[WHICH BY MOST BASEBALL STANDARDS WAS TOO MUCH FOR A PLAYER HIS AGE]. THE SOX
NOW TURNED AROUND AND FLIPPED MARTE[FROM THE BRAVES=11M], KELLY SCHOPPACH[WAS GOING TO BE TRADED FOR LARRY BIGBIE[AND LOGG JAMMED BEHIND VARITEK], MOTA[WHO IS A FREE AGENT NEXT YEAR] 1MILLION DOLLAR[AUSTIN POWERS DID YOU HEAR THAT] AND A PLAYER TO BE NAME LATER[PTBNL] FOR COCO CRISP, RISKE, AND AN UNDERWHELMING BACKUP CATCHER.

TO SUM UP. 11M WAS SENT TO ATL. RENTERIA ESSENTIAL CUT. PROCEEDS OF ATL WERE PACKAGE WITH A LEGITIMATE PROSPECT[SCHOPPACH] AND A PRETTY GOOD RELIEVER[WHO WAS PART OF TH E PACKAGE FROM BECKETT[SANCHEZ, ALVAREZ, AND HANLEY RAMIREZ[OVERHYPED WERE SENT FOR BECKETT. LET YOU NOT FORGET, MOTA WAS EXTORTED BECAUSE WE WERE UNSURE OF BECKETTS SHOULDER] I DIGRESS.

CRISP IS ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE AT MOST HE WILL GET 3 MILL THIS YEAR. AND LETS SAY AN AVERAGE OF 5M OVER THE NEXT 3-4 FOR DAMON LIKE NUMBERS.

DAMONS 13-CRISPS 3 MILL=1O MILLION SURPLUS A YEAR.
BOTTOM LINE

THAT SURPLUS CAN BE USED IN ANY FASHION. WITHOUT LONGTERM COMMITMENT.

IF OF THAT SURPLUS 5 IS SPEND OF ALEX GONZALEZ[HIS HITTING GIVES ME THE CREEPS]
10M-5M=5M OVER KEEPING RENTERIA AND CRIP AND YOU GOT YOUNGER. IT CAN BE ALLOCATED TO ROYCE CLAYTON, YET CHEAPER, IT CAN BE ALLOCATED TO A LONG TERM DEAL WITH LUGO SHOULD THE SOX TRADE FOR HIM.

ANYWAY YOU TURN IT THE SOX SAVE MONEY ON THIS TRANSACTION.


THAT LAST 5M CAN BE ALLOCATED A VARIETY OF WAYS. BENGIE MOLINA GOOD HITTER[SPELL VARITEK, DH HIM, PLAY HIM AT FIRST OCCASSIONALLY], OR PIAZZA[THE SAME RATIONALE] OR EVEN FOR A FREE BEER NIGHT WHEN THE YANKS ARE NEXT IN TOWN. PERSONALLY, I WOULD GO WITH BRINGING IN MOLINA, THERE WILL BE A CLUB WITH A CATCHER DOWN WHO WILL TRADE PROSPECTS BY TRADING DEADLINE IN JULY/AUGUST.

10 MILLION UP, A LOTSA WAYS TO SPEND IT. RUN THEO RUN.

YOUR FELLOW BHS ALUMNUS

Back up or starting QB suggestions:

a] go for Culpepper his stock is down
b] though costly, angle for Philliph Rivers
c] There is a great project QB strong armed and very good runner projected mid-first round[akron i think]
d] another wild throw away-Matt Cassel of the Patriots-7nd rounder-has looked terrific and very bright.

My fear is that Palmer is done. Two knee braces is reminiscent of Joe Namath. If he is going to play, make sure that you sign the best available free agent O-lineman or he will be a sitting duck.

Got any suggestions for the injury prone Bengals, draft picks, trades? They have about 30 Million in cap space before resigning there own free agents. Any suggestions of how to structure the deals to maximize cap space? any capologists out there?


P.S> If someone can recommend where I could get an NFL cap book or download Please SHARE

Cincy has just suffered a devastating loss to the QB who has suffered potentially career ending consequences.
With a high octane offense, the only true way to recover is to unearth another Franchise QB. My only suggestions would be a] trade multipe draft picks for Phil Rivers b] use your cap space instead to fill your defensive liabilities.

Alternatively, try to pry Favre from the Packers. This would be quite unlikely. Perhaps, a 1st, and 2d, or a 1st and 2nd and a 3rd the following year would do the trick. Any opinions?

By the by, the PAT win!!!!! It is a lock. It is worth a try that Pitt covers the spread

The Bengals will need someone to spell Palmer until he recovers.  Favre can still mentor Palmer and understudy when the come back. In fact, because of the rampant rumors that Chuck Besnahan is leaving, Favre can become a de facto QB coach.

 

Your thinking that Favre should be a Packer for life.  I am thinking how sad it would be to see Favre running for his life behind a porous O-Line without an offense. I say lets give Favre a chance to leave with some dignity and an up note.  Your thoughts please.

A response to Red Sox, Snow reach preliminary deal:

 

Slowly but surely the Sox cobble a team together less expensive than the Yankees. Snow will make a fine defensive replacement, pinch hitter, and alternate with Youkillis.

Many may underestimate what Kevin can do.  He does not even have to hit for such a high average to achieve a good OBP.  Johnny Damon he is not.  But perhaps, with time, a Wade Boggs type or lite.  As for the Sox being misdirected and directionless, bah hambug.  Holding on to Lester, Palpebon, Hansen, Marte for dear life is exactly how to build an organization from bottom up.  Bring in some youth, bring down the payroll[or at least increase its flexibility], and build the team around pitching.  It is the very fact that the Red Sox had a paucity of pitching, matched by lead footed defender who were tailored to the cozy confines of Fenway which interfered with winning a World Series.  The Sox could not adjust on the road and the Sox could not rely on good pitching when it is most important.

KEEP THE FAITH AND BE PATIENT. PERHAPS, THIS NOT WHAT JESUS[ALOU]  WOULD HAVE DONE. IT MAY NOT BE THAT FAR OFF FROM WHAT THEO WOULD HAVE DONE.

WITH THAT SAID, ALL US BROOKLINE HIGH ALUMNI ARE PROUD OF YOU :)

 

p.s. THIS IS A SHOUT OUT TO ALL PATS FANS IN NYC DESCEND ON WILDLIFE BAR ON AMSTERDAM OR BLONDIES ON W.79TH ST[GOOD SCREENS] AND AM TIRED OF HEARING FROM NYC FANS AND STEELER FANS BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

A response to Mets could get Manny in four-way blockbuster:

Jae Seo and Aaron Heilman from the Mets. this is insufficient on the part of the Mets who get 2 top shelf players.  The deal won't be done with out Lasting Milledge.  Kaz Matsui has little value[how about the Red Sox extra second baseman].   Alternatives: a] remove Gaithright from the equation[did anybody bother to look at his obp, slugging percentage or ba[not to mention rbis]  b] flip Danny  Baez directly to Red Sox if Marte is given up.  c] ask the Red Sox for someone other than Marte, and the troika of pitchers: Hansen, Papelbon, and Lester.  This deal probably won't get done but if it does it won't be done with Marte.  This removes Clement from the equation who has good stuff and probably would thrive in a more pitcher friendly environment.  All of a sudden they would still have a left field stop open and be a pitcher shot.[Wells is leaving]

A response to Mets could get Manny in four-way blockbuster:

 

Ridiculous rumor. SOmeone is sniffin glue again in New York. Soe and Heilman is insufficient.  Let the mets throw in Milledge.  They are getting a premier slugger and set up man for nothing.  Gaithright is a so so MLB prospect. Tejada-Ramirez a wash for the Sox.

For the BOSOX to throw in a hot prospect like Marte is silly. The just traded Renteria[and 11M] to get Marte. Renteria would only have goten better.  The Sox normally don't eat cash.

If the Mets flip Baez to the Sox  and Milledge to Tampa then you have a deal.

DEAR MR. DUNGY:

AS YOU ARE A RELIGIOUS MAN, AND AN IMPORTANT MAN, YOURS WOULD NOT BE THE LONE VOICE CRYING IN THE DESSERT.............................

YEARS AGO, A RABBI KUSHNER HAD HIS SON TAKEN FROM HIM BY PROGIRA. HIS SON'S DEBILITATING DISEASE AGED HIM EXPONENTIALLY EDDY DIED VERY EARLY VERY AGONINZINGLY, YOUNG AND LONELY IN THAT NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD HAD WHAT HE HAD TO DO.

BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE. BAD THINGS HAPPENED TO JOB IN THE BIBLE.  NOTHING I CAN SAY WILL ALLIEVE YOUR GRIEF AND PAIN. Y NOR SHOULD IT. OUR SON WAS PROBABLY MUCH LIKE YOU A SUPERIOR PERSON. THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW. NO ROOM TO QUESTION YOURSELF BECAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS IN UNEXPECTED, UNSEEN, AND NOT STATIC. FOR MANY MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT A VALUE AND STIGMATIZED.

PERHAPS, HIS DEATH CAN SERVE A HIGHER PURPOSE AS HAVE THE DEATHS OF OTHERS DURING THIS SEASON.[ I AM NOT CHRISTIAN]

MAYBE A MAN OF G-D LIKE YOURSELF CAN  PREVAIL ALL BY HIMSELF, DURING THIS XMASS, CHANUKAH, KWANZA, AND HOLIDAYS, TO TAKE ACTION AND TALK TO THE U.S. PEOPLE, THE CONGRESS, THE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT.

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH PARITY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR THE POOR, MINORITIES AND DISENFRANCHISED BOTH THOSE WORKING POOR AND THOSE ON GOVERNMENT CARE.

ON A MORE DETAILED LEVEL. THIS  HAPPENS AT A LOT OF SCHOOLS AND SOME OF THE BEST SCHOOLS,      NYU, UCHICAGO..MIT........BOTH AT ELITE SCHOOLS.  AND AT ALLS SCHOOL ESP. FOR THOSE BEGGINING COLLEGE-- A STRESSFUL TRANSIONAL PERIOD.   OBVIOUSLY, THE MEDICAL THERAPY COMMUNITIES, HAVE YET TO PERFECT DIAGNOSTIC, TRACKING, COMMUNICATION AND INTERDICTION TECHNIQUES.[NOTE THE MIT SUICIDE LAW SUIT] OF THIS I KNOW PERSONALLY.

THIS TRAGEDY HAPPENED TO A SON WHO HAD FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO HELP.IMAGINE THE CHALLENGES FACING THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE.

DEPRESSION, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND BI-POLAR TAKE LIVES THROUGH DEATH, AND SAP LIFE THROUGH MISERY, SUFFERING  BY THOSE LIVING AND UNTREATED, AND THOSE LIVING WITH ILLNESS THAT IS INTRACTABLE BECAUSE OF LACK OF MEDICAL RESEARCH, AND GOOD TECHNIQUES. BUT BY INCREASING. IT IS RAMPANT AND THE RATE OF INCIDENCE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE STATISTICS SHOW.

IMPROVEMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS[FINANCIAL], FUNDING FOR TRAINING AND RESEARCH,  SYSTEM NETWORKS, INTERDICTION, PARITY OF TREATMENT,  REGULATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT RESEARCH ON MEDICATION AND IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL INTERDICTION AND SUICIDE POLICY. THIS IS AN AREA OF HEALTH CARE WOEFULLY UNDER FUNDED AND IGNORED.

 DE-STIGMATIZATION FOR WHAT IS IN FACT A BIOCHEMICAL IMBALANCE AND IS PHYSICALLY AS WELL.  THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALL CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN.

 

MAY G-D CONSOLE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WITHIN IN  THE GATES OF THOSE WHO MOURN ZION AND JERUSALEM.  DURING THIS PLAYOFFS, DURING THIS SUPERBOWL, YOU HAVE THE STAGE, SPEAK OUT AND MAKE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR SON'S DEATH ONE OF MEANING BY MOTIVATING CHANGE FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM . LIVES CAN BE SAVED AND SUFFERING ALLEVIATED.

FOR THOSE OF YOU SUFFERING IN SILENCE LOOK UP RESOURCES AT NAMI.ORG, GOOGLE DBSA[DEPRESSION] AND IF YOU ARE BLUE THIS SEASON CALL A HOTLINE.

CALL YOUR CONGRESSMEN, CALL SEN. MCCAIN, FORMER SEN. GORE......... [MEMBERS OF SEN.  WELLSTONE FAMILY ALL FAMOUS  ADVOCATES OF MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS AND P ARITY.

While Damon was an outstanding offensive player, and fabuluous club house personalty, along with the offense comes the defense.  His numbers will diminish out side the friendly confines of Fenway.

Are the Red Sox, dollar conscious. Good.  Money should be well allocated be it for Millwood this year, a defensive short stop, buying prospects, and trading for young pitching.  There is still Hunter out there both this year and certainly next.  Building great team requires long term planning.  Building dynasties means building in good systems.  This requires and a cost/benefit analysis, a form of portfolio deversification of players, diversification of young old player mix, and allocation of money both towards young and old players.

So comment:

CAN THIS BENEFIT THE RED SOX LONG TERM?

HOW CAN THEY RECOVER SHORT TERM?

IS MILLWOOD OR GLAUS THE BEST RECOVERY?

KEEPING YOUKILIS AT FIRST BASE, AND LET HIM, KING OF THE WALKS BAT LEAD OFF?

KEEP MARTE? KEEP ALL THE Y OUNG PITCHERS? KEEP ARROYO OR CLEMENT?

IS THEO COMING BACK? IS HE BEHIND THESE MOVES? IS LUCCHINO OUT THERE ON PURPOSE TO TAKE THE HEAT THEO WOULD NOT WANT TO TAKE?

REMEMBER GREAT TEAMS ARE PLANNED FOR OVER A LONG TIME HORIZON. SOMETIMES UNPOPULAR DECISION HAVE TO BE MADE. THE RED SOX WERE PREPARED TO TAKE THAT RISK.

Migge is not the hitter Ramirez is, and the Orioles are apparently asking for too too much

a] salary #### b] Ramirez[who straight up would be all right c] Clement[almost went for Overbay or Casey and d] a Young arm or a prospect. 

Tejada will not make you forget O.C. nor even Pokey. Get the F.A. short stop from the Marlins.

 

Traditionally, the Red Sox have been a slow footed, base to base team with little spead and always not enough pitching.  The Sox need to be able to win away from Fenway and this requires speed, defense, and PITCHING.  For the RIGHT PRICE, even Willis could be pried away.  Essentially, the Sox bought Marte for 11 Million.  Look the paid a steep price for Hansen.  In many ways, if an athlete, is bound by years of service, to a lower salary buying prospects is not a bad way to go.

Go for Dontrelle. 

 Offer Nixon[we will #### half his salary], Clement[we could #### part of his salary] [not Lester, Papelbon, Marte]  BUT Cla Meredith, Ellsworthy, ARROYO, YOUKILIS or that new pitcher that Lucchino is all of a sudden touting.  Hey if you are going to #### salary, you might as well #### it for  SOMETHING WORTHWHILE.  AT THAT POINT IT BECOMES A PURCHASE NOT A SALARY DUMP. TO ACQUIRE A PITCHER OF DONTRELLE CALIBER AND AGE, WOULD MERIT EATING A LARGE PART OFRAMIREZ'S SALARY[1/2, 3/4]. AND, EVEN WITH ARBITRATION, HE IS BOUND AT SUB-MARKET PRICES. AND THAT IS WORTH SOMETHING TOO.

 MAYBE DAVID WELLS WOULD LIKE TO JOIN RAMIREZ[WILL CAN EAT HIS SALARY TOO]ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MARLINS HAVE A STAR[NOT SO SO EXPENSIVE] BUT SOMETHING TO HANG THEIR HATS ON AND MARKET THEIR TEAM WITH. DONTRELLE CANNOT MAN ALL THE POSITIONS. HE IS MUCH ZITOS SUPERIOR. HE WOULD WARRANT A 'WHOLE SALARY EATING' FEST. REMEMBER IT IS FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US.

 

P.S. IF A.J. BURNETT CROSSES JOHN HENRY'S MIND AT 55$, WITH A BAD UNINSURABLE SHOULDER, WHY NOT TAKE A SWING AT A YOUNG PITCHER, WITH FEW HEALTH PROBLEMS.  IT IS NEVER SELLING YOUR FARM SYSTEM FOR A PREMIER PITCHER.

Both want out.  The Sox lose out on some rbis, hrs, obp, and clutch hitting.  What they did with Marte[was a combination salary dump and a very expensive purchase of talent].  Perhaps, the O's can send along a couple of prospects, the Sox send some cash, and Nixon?  And yes, sign Garciappara for left field!!!!

Sure-Nomar was dark, surly, refused to play.  Does that remind you of anybody in left field.

Nomar has never failed to run out a ball, always played his hardest, and is a beloved native

Boston son.  so Maybe both you and Henry should reconsider.  Perhaps, this would alleviate some of the bad feelings the fans feel because of the Eptsein debacle.

Also, I fail to see why the sox kicked in so much money for get Marte.  $11m is alot of dough.  At least get a pitching prospect or a position player that you need.  Renteria had stats superior to Furcal, and was available much cheaper.  The Sox should have stood their ground!!!!!

 

Call me crazy. And yes, I am a homer.  But there are only two teams that can play Indy.

a] the Cincinnati Bengals: The team most likely to win a track meet.  And also, the team with the most and least impressive defensive.  A fantastic take-away team.   This is the team most likely to Make the SuperBowl and lose it.  The Bengals simply do not have the experience to win it all.  But the can play ball control and wear down the Colts with Johnson or let Palmer 'air it out' and play 'no huddle'.

 

b] The Patriots still can get into the heads of Indy.  A healthy running game and a more experienced left side of the O-line woudl allow ball control and Corey Dillon can still run the clock down.  Hobbs is getting experience as is Sanders.  More of the walking wounded are healing up.  This would be quite the miracle but this team still has the grizzly veterans and determination to get this done.  Despite the sieve like secondary, Never underestimate Bill B.

As I asserted before, with my conspiracy theory, supposedly Nomar's agent contacted every body but hte Red Sox.  This man is so beloved by the Red Sox Nation that even Ben Affleck professes his love on Saturday NIght Live.

Nomar does everything but nock in runs during Octoberfest.  Saves lives in Boston Harbor, plays decent D and probably has some decent baseball left in him if he stays away from soccer playing and engages in an off-season flexibility program.

Boston loves Nomar, and hopefully Nomar can forgive Boston.  The ship has sailed on the $40 M contract both for Nomar and for Renteria[neither of whom are Tejada].  Regardless,

the sox have an SS opening, a 1b opening and possibly a centerfield opening.  So Nomar please reconsider!!!!!

Seems to me that adding Nomar to the Red Sox at de minimis contract, as long as you subtract Manny, would be adding a potent 'Fenway' bat, and decrease general misery.

He could play second, try him in center, or right field[Nixon, Clement for Abreu] or left.