Smarts is the name of the game by Mike Ghika
Common sense still says Sox are the favorites for Teixeira


Did Theo and company travel to Arizona on Thanksgiving 2003 only to fail to convince Curt Schilling to come to town? Did they panic while ‘Red Sox Nation’ shivered and shook when Scott Boras held out until the final hour with the Daisuke Matzuaka deal back in December 2006? Note: The Sox won titles in each of the following seasons.

There is really only one way to describe the management of the Sox front office: Smarts. Ever since they closed Larry Lucchino’s mouth (seriously, when has he gotten in the news since Gorillagate?), Theo refuses to comment on any free agent discussions at any point of the winter until a deal is done. Why? No, it’s not to upset reporters; it is because it’s the smart thing to do. It utters a personal defiance of Epstein’s character – something that the Steinbrenner family should maybe take a look at.

And so you have it. The Red Sox announced that they were out of the bidding and would not be a factor in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. Nonetheless, th...READ MORE!

Published on December 19, 2008 1 Comment(s)

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Randomocity meets curiosity by Mike Ghika
Pedroia decorates shelf as Hot Stove begins to take shape


•Since the creation of the Silver Slugger Award in 1980, a player has now taken home the Hardware Triple Crown (MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger) in the same season 23 times. Barry Bonds (1990, 1992, 1993) and Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986) are the only players in history to do it three times, while Dale Murphy is the only other to accomplish the feat multiple times (1982, 1983). The rest of the list includes: Jimmy Rollins (2007), A-Rod (2003), Ichiro (2001), Ivan Rodriguez (1999), Ken Griffey Jr. and Larry Walker (1997), Ken Caminiti (1996), Barry Larkin (1995), Jeff Bagwell (1994), Cal Ripken (1991), Andre Dawson (1987), Willie McGee and Don Mattingly (1985), and Ryne Sandberg (1984). Clearly, Dustin Pedroia’s clean sweep of all three awards in 2008 puts him on a pretty impressive list.

•Furthermore, Pedroia is just the third player in major league history to capture an MVP the year after winning Rookie of the Year. Ripken followed up his rookie year with an MVP in 1983, an...READ MORE!

Published on November 20, 2008 0 Comment(s)

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Sox, Epstein agree on multiyear extension by Mike Ghika
Meanwhile, GM touches the bases on numerous off-season topics

Theo Epstein, currently stationed in Dana Point, California for baseball's general managers' mettings, confirmed on Monday, November 3 that he and the club have already agreed upon a multiyear extension.

"That's done," Epstein said. "It was taken care of a while back."

Regardless, this extension was clearly far less painful than what transpired in the fall of 2005, when Epstein snuck out of Fenway in a gorilla suit to avoid a media frenzy on Halloween, and eventually resigned from his position only to return three months later.

But while this recent announcement came as no surprise, it was very Patriot-like of the organization to remain so quiet on the negotiations that took place (a trait the Sox have acquired since the aforementioned fiasco in 2005). It was said that the terms had been in place for months, but the agreement simply had not been signed in ink until recently by the 34-year-old Epstein.

"When you sit back and think about being a general manager, this is exact...READ MORE!

Published on November 04, 2008 0 Comment(s)

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Randomocity meets curiosity by Mike Ghika
Phillies prevail in disorderly fashion while hot stove heat is ready to burn

Jonathan Papelbon is clearly on his way to becoming the next Mariano Rivera, who has been the ultimate closer of our generation. Papelbon has thrown the most postseason innings (25) without allowing an earned run in the history of baseball. Rivera, meanwhile, has a 0.77 ERA in 117.1 postseason innings pitched. Furthermore, Rivera posted 124 saves in his first three seasons as the Yankees’ closer (1997-99), while Papelbon has saved 113 games in his first three seasons at the back end of the Sox bullpen. Over those three years, Rivera’s ERA was 1.87, while Papelbon’s is 1.69. Papelbon has also 80 more strikeouts in six less innings pitched at this point in the two’s career comparison.

I can’t possibly imagine how difficult the rain delayed Game 5 was on both the Rays and Phillies. For the Rays, they were forced to wait nearly 48 hours to resume a tie game that if they lose, their magical ride is over. For the Phillies, they were forced to wait nearly 48 hours to resume a tie game th...READ MORE!

Published on October 31, 2008 2 Comment(s)

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Youkilis named recipient of Hank Aaron Award by Mike Ghika
Hardware given annually to most outstanding offensive performer

What a trail Kevin Youkilis has left behind.

Coming off the bench for Terry Francona's 2004 championship squad, did Sox fans really think the All-Star and one-time Gold Glove winner would become this vital to the team's success?

Now, along with his Gold Glove, his 2008 All-Star selection, and two world championship rings, Youkilis can say he has received a Hank Aaron award as well. The award, given to the Cubs' Aramis Ramirez in the National League, signifies each league's most outstanding offensive performer each season. Fans have the ability to vote for their choice online, and more than 230,000 casted ballots this year.

For the 29-year-old Youkilis, the experience was surreal.

"I don't think I could ever compare myself to Hank Aaron in any way," he said. "I'll never see myself at that level. So to win this award, I'm a little humbled by it."

In addition to Youkilis's offensive production, his Gold Glove caliber defense at both first and third base will also play into...READ MORE!

Published on October 28, 2008 2 Comment(s)

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Rays even things up as series shifts to Philly by Mike Ghika
Phils' offense sputters again; Price brought on for 2.1 innings of relief

For Tampa Bay's Rays, getting out to a 4-0 lead in Game 2 of the World Series was everything Joe Maddon could have hoped for in trying to even the battle. His offense scored two in the first, another in the second, and one more in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Meanwhile, the Phils' offense disappointed again, leaving 11 runners on base for the second consecutive night while going just 1-for-15 with men in scoring position.

In the first, Tampa's Akinori Iwamura got things started with a walk. Centerfielder BJ Upton followed with a base-hit single to right that Jayson Werth played into an error, allowing Iwamura to move up to third and the speedy Upton to second. Sluggers Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria each followed with RBI groundouts to score both runners, and quickly James Shields was staked to an early lead.

With two outs in the second, the Rays would tack on another when another Upton base-hit to right scored Dioneer Navarro, who had singled to center. Rocco Baldelli...READ MORE!

Published on October 23, 2008 0 Comment(s)

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Utley, Hamels power Phils to Game 1 victory by Mike Ghika
Rays look to bounce back tonight in Game 2

A two-run first inning homer by second baseman Chase Utley and another spectacular postseason start from ace Cole Hamels were the keys to a 3-2 victory for Philadelphia over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the 2008 World Series last night at the Trop.

Utley followed up a Jason Werth walk in the first with a blast off Rays starter Scott Kazmir into the right-field seats to put the Phils on top early. Back-to-back singles from Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz to start off the fourth put the Phils in position to expand their lead, and after a Chris Coste grounder advanced both runners up a base, a Carlos Ruiz RBI ground-out scored Victorino to make it a 3-0 game.

However, a Carl Crawford solo shot with 2 outs in the bottom half of the fourth cut into the Phils' lead, and the Rays would quickly make it a 3-2 game in the fifth when Akinori Iwamura doubled home Jason Bartlett after Bartlett walked and stole second.

Nonetheless, Hamels was once again the story for Philadelphia. His li...READ MORE!

Published on October 23, 2008 4 Comment(s)

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Randomocity meets curiosity by Mike Ghika
A collection of thoughts from the week that was

•Red Sox GM Theo Epstein on drafting Dustin Pedroia in 2005: “We got him in the second round. We were afraid he wouldn’t fall to us. To this day, he goes around saying that we cheated him out of money by not taking him in the first round. But I think he’ll be making up for that – very soon.” Although Pedroia is not eligible for arbitration until after the 2009 season, Epstein is clearly hinting the front office is strongly considering signing him up for the long-term. Interestingly, the team refused to give contracts to both Jonathan Papelbon and Kevin Youkilis last off-season, which shows just how much they do indeed value their pint-sized second baseman.

•The Sox unquestionably salvaged their season with their legendary Game 5 comeback classic. And of course, we all expected a Game 7 victory after they overtook the Rays at the Trop in Game 6. But winning is not something that is inevitable, and we are merely fans, and the Red Sox are merely a baseball team. Take happiness in winni...READ MORE!

Published on October 21, 2008 2 Comment(s)

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Improbable comeback sends series to Tampa by Mike Ghika
Finally, the Sox are the ones who come out on top

It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

Sure, the Sox have made a name for themselves as the best comeback team in sports thus far in this century. But in this instance, last night’s Game 5 was not supposed to turn out the way it did. By nature, the Tampa Bay Rays were supposed to get out to a 5-0 lead for a third straight game at Fenway, continue to make fools of Red Sox pitchers, while the Sox offense persisted in looking lost and confused at the plate.

Instead, down 7-0 in the seventh with just seven outs left in their season, that same Sox offense began to chip away en route to the second largest comeback in playoff history. On a 3 and 2 count, Dustin Pedroia was the man to get it started with a sharp single to right in front of Gabe Gross that produced Jed Lowrie. David Ortiz followed up (and woke up) with a 3-run blast off of an inside Grant Balfour fastball, as Sox fans wondered if he would finally get the perfect pitch down and in.

Dan Wheeler relieved Balfour and got...READ MORE!

Published on October 16, 2008 1 Comment(s)

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Backs to the wall, Sox look to rebound in pivotal Game 5 by Mike Ghika
Meanwhile, Rays look like the hungrier and more composed team

In times like these, although many may find it difficult, we’ve still got to find room for optimism.

While manager Terry Francona has said "We need to find a way to get a win" in Game 5, it is starting to circulate that this season may not be as ‘special’ as 2004 and 2007. They say this postseason doesn’t quite have that same feel. The team is too beat up. The opponent is more superior. It was clear the Rays had different looks on their faces in Game 1 (David Ortiz foolishly was even nice enough to point it out for them in the papers). Since then, soon-to-be Manager of the Year Joe Maddon has transformed his club back into the dominant force it has been all season.

Not only did they tally more wins in baseball history (97) following a last-place finish the previous year, but these Rays are also the first team to score 9+ runs in three consecutive postseason games. Unfortunately, it was at the expense of our beloved Red Sox, who have evidently fallen off the map in the blink of a...READ MORE!

Published on October 15, 2008 4 Comment(s)

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