A surprise out of Boston

I call it a surprise 'cause quite frankly, I thought Curt Schilling would not pitch his final season in Boston. Of course I'm not the only one and even he had been sending his goodbye letters. Granted, Schilling had previously requested one year for $13 million, which was a pipe dream - not only coming from the Red Sox, but perhaps anyone given his age and lack of once powerful fastball, but I think the Red Sox decided that regardless of his regular season mediocrity the past couple of years, Schilling is still a big game pitcher that can rise to the occasion. With a 6 & 2 post-season record, the Sox might want him for that reason alone. They figure that come next October, they'll again be in the playoffs. Now comes the odd part of the deal: The Red Sox are signing Schilling for $8 million in base pay for a possible $2 million if he meets a series of weigh-ins. So if he meets his incentives, it's $3 million less than he asked for before the season, but probably that much more than anyone else would have given him, except perhaps the Yankees and he already made it clear he wouldn't pitch in New York. So it sounds like they want him around for October and hell, if they make it to the playoffs again, he should be nice and trim!
Looking a little further into this deal, it has far less to do with what happens on the mound with him than it does with his knowledge and ability to teach Boston's young prospects. I'm glad Curt will retire a Red Sox; he is one of the big reasons we no longer have a curse!

Fans have spoken: Keep Lowell!

World Series MVP Mike Lowell is going to get a sizable contract from one lucky major league team. Lowell, a unrestricted free agent, came to Boston is a trade to acquire Josh Beckett from the Florida Marlins. Beckett, the 2003 World Series MVP was the hard-throwing right hander Boston was seeking, while Lowell considered himself a "throw-in."
A former Gold Glove winner, Lowell had a good 2006 season and a record setting 2007 season when he set a record for RBIs by a Red Sox 3rd baseman with 120, which was also the team high.
While almost flying under the radar for most of the post-season, Lowell was quietly contributing, batting .333. The after his decisive home run in game four, Lowell was the writers' choice for series MVP.
As Boston fans made their way to the lower levels of Coors Field, they chanted, "re-sign Lowell" and "Don't sign A-Rod." The chants were continued on Tuesday as the Red Sox took to the streets of Boston. And while Curt Schilling has made the most noise about free agency thus far from a Red Sox player's perspective, it is Lowell who the fans want to hear about.
Fans know that baseball is business, but sometime the right guy is better than the right statistics. Boston fans would probably be less welcoming to A-Rod than they were to J.D. Drew and Drew never tried to swap at one of the Red Sox pitchers.
While the Red Sox brass is very reluctant to sign a soon to be 34-year-old to more than two or three year deal, the Red Sox would do well to make a damned good offer to this man.
For this fan, the choice is clear - resign Lowell and keep a throwback hard-working player. Then again, if it was up to me, they'd re-sign him and he join Jason Varitek as co-captain of the Red Sox. Wishful thinking. I know!

Red Sox hope to keep momentum going into game two

Red Sox players probably learned a lesson or two from the seven game series with the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. First, they learned that the Indians have one tough team that will be a thorn in the collective American League's side for years to come. More importantly, they learned that a switch in momentum can happen with one play or one inning. You let up a second against a team like the Indians or yes, The Colorado Rockies, and you'll pay. Granted, the Sox looked very strong in their 13-1 victory Wednesday night, but the Sox looked very strong in game one of the ALCS. As Clevelnad bounced back to trounce the Sox in extra innings in game two and go on to win three in a row, the Sox may have overcome a some adversity that makes them a better team in this World Series. While the arm of Curt Schilling will be tested tonight, it will be the bats of the Sox lineup that will be under the microscope. The bats stay hot, the Sox win. The bats go cold, well, let's just say that coming back from a 3-1 series deficit made for exciting baseball.

Sox sweep Angels and await winner of Yanks/Indians!

It was a close game... until the 8th. Curt Schilling pitched a decent 7 innings with a very good variety of pitches. I was impressed at how he has reinvented himself to keep his pitch count low. The back-to-back jack by Manny and Big Papi were all teh Sox needed, but it was nice to see the run production in the late innings. Little Dusty and Lugo were smart on the bases and Coco almost made the catch of the game. I can't wait till Friday!

Go Sox!!!!!

Schilling solid after 9 days rest

After 9 days of rest, Curt Schilling again came to the mound to square off against the ailing Oakland Athletics in a crucial game for the Sox. As a longtime fan and someone who hasn’t been all that impressed with some of the off-field banter from the former staff ace, I admit that I was skeptical, but then I realized something I had forgotten. For Schilling, this isn’t merely the end of the regular season – no, there was actual pressure for him to get a win with the division so close and few games remaining.

Visions of 2004 popped into my head and I knew that regardless of age and regardless of the regular season as a whole, this start would be different for Schilling. After 6 fairly strong innings, Schilling left with a 3-run lead, having only given up only 1 earned run.

Say what you will about Curt Schilling, but last night he proved that even while he might not being blowing batters away with his fastball anymore, he knows how to get guys out. More importantly, he knows how to get them out when it counts and should be ready for the #2 spot in the postseason rotation.

…and the Evil Empire lost on a walk-off home run to Tampa Bay in the bottom of the 10th. Magic number for the Sox is 3.