Apparently some players view it a privilege to play for organizations other than the Yankees:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3086804
I still say - if he only wants one year, the Sox should give it to him. I just don’t see the downside for the Red Sox of a one-year deal for Curt Schilling.
Mike Lowell had a great regular season - and capped off a nice postseason run with the WS MVP. If anything, that only added dollars to the FA contract he’ll sign this winter (in Boston or elsewhere). Think Lowe, Derek - 2004/05 offseason.
Curt Schilling showed his age at times during the regular season, and then had three terrific outings out of four in the postseason - only adding to his legacy as a great postseason pitcher.
So if you’re the Red Sox, what d’ya do?
The four Sox starters each got a WS win. Schilling (age 40) may not be back - but Beckett (27), Dice-K (27), and Lester (23) are tied up for the next few years at least. Buchholz (22) appears primed to join the rotation next season - and Wakefield (40) is a question mark.
Papelbon (26) is the closer for a while - while Delcarmen (25) and Okajima (31) are around for at least next year. I don’t know if Timlin (41) has another year in him or not.
No guarantees… a lot can happen - but if pitching wins championships, gotta like the Sox going into 2008 in that department. And if somebody out of Masterson, Bowden, or Hansen shows they’re ready in ST… or the Sox find another Okajima somewhere (as unlikely as that seems)… or Donnelly (36) returns to form in the bullpen - well… even better.
Ya know… the way some people around here talk, you’d think that Terry Francona was baseball’s answer to Barry Switzer. Remember when Jimmy Johnson did all the leg work to return the Cowboys to glory, winning a couple Lombardis along the way, before telling Jerry Jones that Texas wasn’t big enough for the both of ‘em? So Switzer comes in, and the Cowboys indeed win a(nother) Super Bowl in spite of him? Some people around here continue to think the Red Sox win the WS in spite of Francona.
It mystifies me.
(more…)
Earlier today, I thought I was reading excerpts from the transcript of ESPN’s “The Bronx is Burning” - the story of 1977 in New York, focused around the Yankees and the drama headed by George Steinbrenner. But, no - the following comments were from George’s son, Hank - and are indeed quite current.
It seems like The (Big) Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, eh? Hank’s apparently going to be the voice of the franchise now. And if these arrogant rantings are any indication, he’s going to offer a lot of entertainment value (just like his dad):
The Yankees folded like a bunch of little girls in the playoffs… again. The Vikings suck. The Red Sox won the pennant in dramatic fashion and the Patriots administer sound thrashings to all comers. Oh, and while Al Qaeda operative Jeff Gordon leads the Chase for the Nextel Cup, Tony Stewart languishes more than 200 points behind him with just four races left. It seems like every time I turn on ESPN, I am left to quote either Dean Wormer, the Bishop from Caddyshack, or Vinny the Vooch. Maybe I’ll start watching rugby and see how that turns out.
The Yankees have started the process of replacing Joe Torre, whose 12-year run as manager was the equivalent of a lifetime as manager under George’s stewardship - and understandably so, as it was also the most successful twelve years of George’s stewardship. For anyone who forget, “all” Torre did was lead them to the postseason *every* year, to the World Series half the time (6 of 12), and to a WS title four times. It’s fair to say he’s going to Cooperstown now as a manager - and perhaps should be considered a legend.
You’ve all heard the saying, “You don’t want to be the guy who replaced the legend. You want to be the guy who replaced the guy, who replaced the legend.” Sure, pro sports are littered with examples of these - but so too are American game shows, with varying degrees of success, to wit:
I’ve seen a few mediots question whether the Patriots “ran up the score” yesterday in Miami, and whether or not they were being unsportsmanlike in the process. Puh-leeze.
Yes, I realize there was actually three Parts in the “Major League” catalog. But I’m talking about a little deja vu I experienced regarding the original, as I watched the end of game 7 of the ALCS last night. Maybe it was just me, but…