Sox and Pinstripes | Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees – The Greatest Rivalry in Baseball

Matsui to Boston not likely

The report made little sense when it was first released on multiple web sites, and based on what Theo Epstein said at the GM meetings, it is not going to happen. Hideki Matsui will not become a member of the Boston Red Sox.

Matsui has undoubtedly had a successful major league career. Add the fact that his bat guided the Yankees to a World Series title, and that he has long been a Red Sox killer, and it might seem that he would be a good fit in Beantown. The problem is that Matsui is 35, has severe knee problems and can no longer adequately play the outfield. The Sox already have a guy who is past his prime, is injury prone and can only DH, and they are trying to trade him.

Here are some other Hot Stove League tidbits as the GM meetings are over and the winter meetings are set for early December:

• Contrary to what was originally reported, the Twins have not started contract extension talks with catcher Joe Mauer, according to Mauer via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Here's hoping that Mauer remains with the Twins. It would be bad for baseball if he signed with the Yankees or even the Red Sox. Every team needs a franchise player or two. In Minnesota, Mauer and Justin Morneau are those guys.
• The Cubs and Rays are reportedly discussing a Milton Bradley for Pat Burrell trade. The Rays must desperately want to rid themselves of Burrell if they are open to bringing in the malcontent Bradley. Why is it that there is always a team that thinks a headcase will somehow shape up when he has a change of scenery?
• I would much rather see the Red Sox deal a package of players for Adrian Gonzalez than Roy Halladay. The Sox starting rotation looks strong heading into 2010, yet they need another big bat, even if Jason Bay returns or Matt Holliday is signed.
• I believe that Jason Varitek should be Josh Beckett's personal catcher based on Beckett's 6.19 ERA in three regular season starts with Victor Martinez. Anything beyond one start every five games is not ideal for the Red Sox offense or for controlling the opposing team's baserunning.

The Hot Stove is already burnin' in Boston

I heard there are signs the economy is recovering in New York City, especially after New Yorkers bought an election and a World Series title (this is courtesy of the David Letterman Show).

Did you read where Hideki Matsui's bat was sent for display at the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with George Steinbrenner's wallet?

I'll be here all week, folks. Two shows nightly, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

All joking aside, as Sox and Pinstripes regulars know, I have strong opinions and I am not hesitant to share them. Sometimes I'm right and other times I'm wrong. Evidently, I was incorrect with my assessment of the 2009 New York Yankees. Alright, I was completely off base. At the beginning of the season, I wrote that the Red Sox would win the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays would secure the wild card berth and the Yankees would miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Oops! Congratulations to the Yankees. They were better than the Red Sox - at least for this year.

My concession paragraph written, it is time to turn our attention on Sox and Pinstripes to the already active Hot Stove League. Here are some thoughts and observations of the off-season thus far:

• I like Boston's acquisition of outfielder Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins. They sent two mid-range prospects (pitchers Jose Alvarez and Hunter Jones) and received a 25-year-old corner outfielder who can hit for power but has yet to fully realize his potential. Since the Red Sox will probably bring back Jason Bay or sign Matt Holliday, Hermida's immediate future in Boston is as a fourth outfielder. This will make the Sox roster left-handed heavy since Hermida, J.D. Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury all hit from the left side. Since Hermida primarily plays the corner outfield spots, it appears that Drew will serve as the backup center fielder, unless Theo Epstein makes another acquisition.
• Boston declined the 2010 $6 million option on shortstop Alex Gonzalez, but there is a strong chance he will return on a more cost-effective deal. Marco Scutaro's name has been mentioned, but Scutaro will probably want a two or three-year deal, which makes little sense for Boston since Cuban phenom Jose Iglesias could be major league ready as early as 2011. My belief is that Gonzalez will serve as the starting shortstop in 2010 and a healthy Jed Lowrie will be the super utility infielder.
• It was no surprise that the Red Sox picked up Victor Martinez's option for 2010. Multiple media outlets are reporting that Jason Varitek will pick up his player option. The Red Sox declined their team option on the captain earlier this week. Varitek is an ideal option as a backup catcher, as long as Martinez gets a majority of the starts behind the plate.
• As expected, there is significant speculation that the Red Sox will trade for Adrian Gonzalez - especially now that former assistant general manager Jed Hoyer is the new GM of the Padres. Do the Sox have enough talent to give San Diego in return. As I recently wrote, I believe so. Now it's just a matter of a deal getting done. I think it will happen before spring training, and I believe that Mike Lowell or David Ortiz will be shopped. No stretch there, huh?
• Tim Wakefield's back surgery was successful and he no longer has a limp. The 43-year-old knuckleballer also has a two-year deal worth at least $5 million. The number could reach $10 million if Wakefield meets incentives based on starts and innings pitched. Are you interested in two more years of Wakefield? I have mixed feelings. Ir ecognize Wakefield's value as a reliable back of the rotation starter, but I am still hoping that Epstein will find a more dominant No. 5 arm to accompany Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz.
• Remember, the Red Sox will get two draft picks if they offer Billy Wagner arbitration (which they likely will) and he signs elsewhere (which he likely will). Wagner's agent is Bean Stringfellow. If you have seen a more comical name for a sports agent, please do share.

The prodigal Red Sox columnist returns

To answer the question of a longtime Sox and Pinstripes reader who sent me an e-mail a couple days ago, "No, I have not died." As many of you know, I write for a living. I write press releases and marketing materials for companies; travel, lifestyle, sports and human interest features for magazines; and columns about the Red Sox and the Red Sox minor league system for Sox and Pinstripes and other outlets. After Boston's abrupt exit from the post-season, I needed to take a breather to decompress. I knew the site was in good hands with Vince's entertaining yet highly biased and jaded perspective on the Yankees, and the Yankees deserve their time in the Sox and Pinstripes spotlight since this is their first trip to the World Series since 2003. That said, I am revitalized, and I am back to post daily about the Red Sox and baseball as the Hot Stove League is underway for every ballclub except for the Yankees and Phillies.

Among the thoughts and observations upon my return from the brief hiatus:

• I vehemently disagree with Tony Massarotti's recent column on Boston.com when he wrote that it would be best for Red Sox Nation if the Yankees won the World Series because it would create a sense of urgency again. He believes that Red Sox fans have become complacent after seeing their team win the World Series in 2004 and 2007. For most longtime Red Sox fans, this is not the case. Sure, we no longer have to deal with the heartbreak of no World Series titles in 86 years, but it still hurts to lose. I felt a pit in my stomach for a week after the Angels rallied to win Game Three and take the ALDS. Yet I am confident that this team will be a strong World Series contender in 2010 because the core players return and Theo Epstein has earned our trust for fielding a winner and doing what is necessary in the off-season. He will be creatively active. Massarotti thinks we should panic. I say there is no reason for concern. Yes, the Yankees were better than the Red Sox this season. Are they significantly better for the long term? Not at all. of course, Massarotti makes a living from trying to incite panic in the Boston sports community, so his drivel is not a surprise.
• Congratulations to Brad Mills for getting the Houston managerial job. It will be interesting to see who is promoted to bench coach. Will it be John Farrell? How about third base coach DeMarlo Hale or first base coach Tim Bogar. All three are frequently mentioned as managerial candidates every time a vacancy opens elsewhere. I would like to see Farrell promoted to bench coach and perhaps Jason Varitek named pitching coach. Dare to dream, which is what just about every baseball writer does during Hot Stove League talk.
• Is there anyone in the United States rooting for the Yankees aside from their own fans? Likely very few. Why should anyone root for a team that has so many financial advantages and has such a significantly higher payroll than every other ballclub? The Yankees are in an interesting situation. If they win the World Series, it's a ho-hum attitude about them outside of Yankeeeland because they are supposed to win it all when they buy a rotation and the 1-2 punch of Teixeira and A-Rod. If they lose, most of America celebrates because it is always amusing when the Yankees fall on their faces in the post-season, as they have since 2001.
• Jon Heyman of SI.com reported that the Red Sox are willing to offer Jason Bay four years and $60 million. Sounds fair to me. Hopefully this is true and Bay signs on the dotted line.
• Cuban free agent phenom Aroldis Chapman worked out for the Sox last week. He is, of course, being heavily courted by several teams, including the Yankees. If Boston could sign the 21-year-old left-hander, they might be more apt to include Casey Kelly in a trade package for San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Chapman is friends with Jose Iglesias, the 19-year-old defensive whiz at shortstop who could be on the fast track to the majors when he begins his Red Sox minor league career next season. No, Jose is not the son of musician Julio Iglesias, as far as I know.
• Speaking of the Padres, by now you know that Boston assistant general manager Jed Hoyer was named GM of San Diego. This is favorable news for future deals between the Sox and Padres because Hoyer knows the talent and depth of the Red Sox farm system. I think it's an advantage for Boston that Hoyer is with the Padres because the Pads are a team that needs to rebuild their farm system and Boston has the prospects to help accomplish that objective via a deal for Gonzalez.
• Hot Stove League prediction - the Red Sox will sign Rich Harden. He would fit nicely at the back of the rotation because the Sox would not need him to throw 180 innings. Harden is dominant when healthy but has trouble staying off the disabled list.
• As I have mentioned before, my approach with Sox and Pinstripes is to write from the perspective of a journalist and a fan, so sometimes my columns are analytical and serious and other times they are amusing. I love talking smack with friends about sports. Speaking of smack, how about this? The Celtics appear poised to win another championship, and they will as long as Kevin Garnett stays healthy. Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace on the same team? Life is not fair for the rest of the NBA. As for the NFL, many of you know I am a lifelong Steelers fan, much to the chagrin of my Boston sports fan friends. Being from southwest Ohio, my Ohio sports fan friends chastise me about not rooting for the Bengals. To those Bengals fans I say, "Enjoy the bye week tomorrow and the potential victory next week at home against the Ravens because in two weeks, your team is in for a severe beatdown by the Steelers at Heniz Field."

Red Sox have the goods to land Adrian Gonzalez even without dealing Buchholz, Bard or Kelly

Even if the Red Sox bring back Jason Bay - which I think they will - the lineup would benefit from another big bat in the lineup. San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is a perfect fit - because he produces runs and hits from the left side. As an added bonus, he is an exceptional defensive first baseman, and Theo Epstein places an emphasis on run prevention.

About every baseball analyst believes that Boston will aggressively pursue Gonzalez this off-season. Some of these pundits, though, wonder if the Red Sox have enough major league ready prospects to entice the Padres. Their question is valid. After all, though Boston's farm system is still deep and talented, most of the top prospects are at Single-A. In the last three years, the Sox' minor league system has produced Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, Justin Masterson, Daniel Bard and Clay Buchholz. Don't forget that David Murphy and Brandon Moss were used in trades (as was, of course, Masterson), and Jon Lester spent time at Pawtucket while returning from cancer. In the last three seasons, few farm systems have generated as many players who have contributed at the major league level, so it is understandable why the upper levels of the minors in the Boston organization would no longer be stocked.

Though Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket are not as loaded with top prospects as they were two years ago, I believe that Boston has enough talent to bring Gonzalez, who is signed to a reasonable $4.75 million in 2010 with a $5.6 million team option in 2011.

Why, do you ask, would the Padres want to deal Gonzalez, who is only 27, had 40 home runs and 99 RBI with a .277 average this year and hails from San Diego? The reason is that trading him would help the franchise build a winner much faster because of the players they would get in return. Also, Gonzalez will cash in on a premium payday in 2012, and the Padres are not known for widely opening their wallets for free agents.

Likely, the Sox could acquire Gonzalez without hesitation if they included Buchholz and/or Bard, or one of the two plus top pitching prospect Casey Kelly, but it is doubtful Epstein will part with any of the three aforementioned players. Buchholz is, at worst, a No. 3 starter. Bard will probably serve as the Red Sox closer as early as 2011. Some scouts have compared Kelly to Zack Greinke. Like Buchholz, the right-handed Kelly has top of the rotation potential.

Even without including Buchholz, Bard or Kelly in a package for Gonzalez, a credible argument can be made that the Sox have enough to interest the Padres. Here is a potential package that can get the deal done:

• Josh Reddick and/or Ryan Kalish - Boston's farm system is loaded with promising outfield prospects (especially Ryan Westmoreland and Reymond Fuentes at the lower levels), and Reddick and Kalish are near major league ready. Reddick saw his first taste of big league action with the Sox this season while Kalish hit .271 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI in his Double-A debut (after opening the year at advanced Single-A Salem. Reddick and Kalish are both defensively proficient, which is important for an outfielder patroling San Diego's spacious Petco Park. Reddick and Kalish are both productive at the plate, too.
• Lars Anderson - True, the 22-year-old first baseman struggled in his first full season at Double-A (.233, 9 home runs, 51 RBI, 447 at-bats), but he was Boston's 2008 Minor League Player of the Year for a reason. The guy can hit, and he also has a nifty glove. Anderson is still a premium prospect, and he would be an obvious fit in a package for Gonzalez.
• Michael Bowden - With Buchholz poised to take a rotation spot for the long term, Lester entrenched and Kelly on the fast track, there is little room for Bowden, who will likely be moved to the bullpen if he remains with the Red Sox. Though he posted a 9.56 ERA in 16 innings with the Sox this season, Bowden is still just 23 and he logged impressive numbers in his first full season at Triple-A (24 starts, 3.13 ERA, 126.1 innings, 106 hits allowed). Since the Padres could deal Chris Young, and they traded Jake Peavy late this season, they are looking for young starting pitchers. San Diego would likely be interested in Bowden.
• Stolmy Pimentel or Felix Doubront - The 19-year-old Dominican right-hander is one of the organization's top Latin pitching prospects and is slated to open the 2010 season at Salem. San Diego might be intrigued with him, or 21-year-old left-hander Doubront, who fared well in his first season at Double-A and is projected to open 2010 at Triple-A Pawtucket.
• Yamaico Navarro - Now that 19-year-old Cuban phenom Jose Iglesias appears to be Boston's shortstop of the future, and Jed Lowrie is expected to have a healthy wrist when spring training opens, Navarro is expendable. Even if they are satisfied with Everth Cabrera at shortstop, the Padres could use a second baseman, and the 21-year-old Navarro can proficiently play second, shortstop and third. Navarro raked at every level of the minors but struggled adjusting to Double-A pitching this season, batting .185 in 135 at-bats at Portland. Still, Navarro has a bright future ahead, and the Sox could use him in a trade package.

Keep in mind that Boston has two major leaguers who are under team control that could be used in a package for Gonzalez or another impact player. They are Manny Delcarmen and Casey Kotchman. In addition, since Iglesias could be Boston's starting shortstop by 2012 - if he proves he can hit enough - the Sox could always include Lowrie in a trade package. Boston could bring back Alex Gonzalez as the starting shortstop and Nick Green as the utility infielder.

Also, how about this idea. The Padres cannot afford Jonathan Papelbon, but what if Epstein worked out a three-team deal that included Papelbon going to a third team, that third team sending top prospects to the Padres and San Diego shipping Gonzalez to Boston? In this scenario, the Sox would likely have to throw in a prospect or two, but it would preserve some of the aforementioned prospects. Boston could bring back Billy Wagner to close in 2010 and prepare Bard for the role in 2011.

There is no doubt in my mind that Epstein will get creative and bring in someone like Gonzalez or Prince Fielder, though Gonzalez makes more sense because of his defensive abilities. Since the Red Sox farm system is well stocked at the lower levels, and the organization can quickly replenish the minor leagues via the draft and international free agent signings, it makes sense to deal several top prospects to get a difference-making young veteran like Gonzalez.

I agree with Epstein if he refuses to part with Buchholz, Bard and Kelly. He doesn't need to deal them, or Westmoreland - the five-tool outfielder from Rhode Island who will rapidly ascend the Boston farm system. There are enough promising players other than those four to bring Gonzalez to the Sox for 2010, or Epstein can use Papelbon if he can find a third team with enough prospects to entice the Padres.

Angels will spoil potential Yankees-Dodgers World Series

Those pesky Los Angeles Angels spoiled an ALCS rematch between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees - a rematch that Fox TV executives and Sox and Pinstripes readers coveted. When the ALCS is completed, the Angels will have ruined another desired matchup pitting the Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Just as the Angels were too athletic for the Red Sox, their athleticism and deeper pitching staff will be too much for the Yankees to handle.

I know what you're thinking. These are the words of a bitter old man who is still disheartened over Boston's three-game ALDS sweep at the hands of the Angels. Maybe so, though at 41 I question the "old" attack. What is your point? Though I am still stinging from last Sunday's Game Three loss at Fenway Park, I believe the Angels will win the ALCS is six games because, well, they are a more athletic team.

Let's start with starting pitching. The Yankees have C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte. The Angels counter with John Lackey, Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver and Scott Kazmir.

Sabathia and Burnett had no trouble with a Minnesota Twins Light lineup without Justin Morneau and with "sluggers" like Matt Tolbert, Brendan Harris and Nick Punto composing the final three spots. Obviously, the Angels pose a more formidable threat. As for the Angels, Lackey pitched like an ace in Game One against the Red Sox, and his fast ball has looked spectacular late in the season. Saunders, who was 16-7 with a 4.60 ERA, is getting the ball in Game Two so Jered Weaver, who posted a 9-3 record with a 2.90 ERA at home, can pitch in Game Three in Anaheim. The Yankees lack confidence in Joba Chamberlain, and understandably so. Chamberlain, who is best suited for a relief role, has a much more imposing fast ball as a reliever than he does as a starter. New York is so desperate for a Game Four starter that it will either hand the ball to Sabathia on three days rest or, gasp, Chad Gaudin.

SImply put, the Angels don't have a true ace, but they have four reliable starters who can log innings, which is critical since Mike Scioscia's bullpen is not a strength. This is where the Yankees have an advantage. If the Angels have to heavily rely upon the set-up men and closer Brian Fuentes to win this series, the only LA representative in the World Series will be the Dodgers, if they can defeat the Phillies.

There is no doubt that the Yankees lineup is daunting. The Angels lineup is impressive itself. I think the athleticism of the Angels from top to bottom (not including Vladimir Guerrero, who is still a potent hitter but lacks foot speed) will wreak havoc on the Yankees pitchers and catchers. That athleticism is what will propel the Angels to their first World Series since 2002. That said, this will definitely be a more entertaining and competitive series than the two ALDS yawners.

When Game Six concludes and the Angels are celebrating on the Yankee Stadium field, I will extend a generous welcome to Yankees fans. "Happy to see you," I'll say. "Welcome to the Hot Stove League, 2009-2010 style. Glad you could join us."

Notes and observations

• In my recent post about "Ten Questions the Red Sox Must Answer for 2010," I predicted the obvious. Likely, Mike Lowell or David Ortiz will not be with the team next season. There is a chance that John Henry will refuse to eat even a portion of one contract or the other, but if he doesn't, and Theo Epstein cannot find a taker for Lowell (who has more trade value than Ortiz), Boston will have to upgrade their offense at another spot, or keep Lowell as a highly paid part-time player (I'm sure Lowell can learn to play first base on occasion).
• Theo Epstein told the media that he would be open to signing another "buy low, high upside" starter. Since the rotation is mostly set with Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka and Buchholz, and likely Tim Wakefield will return, the Sox will need another starter as insurance. After all, Wakefield is 43, and he has broken down in each of the last three seasons. Also, there is a chance Michael Bowden will be traded in the off-season as part of a package for an impact bat. Ben Sheets, Mark Mulder, Rich Harden and Erik Bedard are among the possibilities that have been mentioned. Of this group, I prefer Harden, since he is dominant when healthy and would not have to pitch 180 innings for the Sox. Bedard is intriguing, too. Remember, all the Sox need is a No. 5 starter who can share duties with Wakefield.
• Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said he is not interested in interviewing for the Indians managerial job. It is apparent that Farrell is happy in Boston. He is probably the heir apparent to Terry Francona, who has experienced some health problems in recent years. Ideally, Farrell would take over when Francona steps down, and Jason Varitek would replace Farrell as the pitching coach.
• A Boston Globe report today that Takashi Saito has been outrighted off the 40-man roster has not been substantiated. Yet, as Alex Speier of WEEI.com wrote, it will not be a surprise if this happens. The Red Sox have a $6 million team option for 2010 on Saito, who will be 40 next year. Chances are, the Sox will decline that option and try to negotiate a more reasonable deal. Boston will probably do the same with shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who also has a $6 million team option for next season.
• Wouldn't it be nice if Tampa Bay declined Carl Crawford's $10 million option and the Red Sox signed him to play left field, and brought back Jason Bay to serve as the DH. Wishful thinking. The Rays will likely pick up Crawford's option. They might deal B.J. Upton this off-season, but if they do that it will be to a team outside of the American League East.
• Expect the Red Sox to seriously pursue 18-year-old Japanese power lefty Yusei Kikuchi and 21-year-old Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman. Of course, Boston will have significant competition. Several other teams, including the Yankees, are intrigued with both pitchers.
• Remember when I said I didn't have the heart to watch the ALCS and NLCS after Boston's demise last weekend? Well, that's not quite the case. As I write this, I am simultaneously watching the Dodgers and Phillies, and I imagine that I will tune in when the Angels and Yankees open their series on Friday. I can't seem to stay away from baseball.

Confessions of a Red Sox-aholic

The evening started beautifully. Dinner at a nice steakhouse. Pleasant ambience. Good conversation. This was about two years ago, and I was dating a woman who did not understand, but nonetheless tolerated, my addiction to Red Sox baseball.

The steakhouse was divided into two sections - a dining room and a bar area. I selected a table in the bar area, where a television screen was conveniently located over the side of the table where my date was sitting. I didn't tell her that the Red Sox and Yankees were playing. In fact, I think I deserve credit for taking her out for a classy dinner when "the rivalry" game was on TV.

The arrangement was ideal. I could have a conversation with my date, and at the same time monitor the TV screen. Perhaps my plan would have worked better if the Red Sox had been playing someone else - like the Orioles or Royals - but this was the Red Sox and Yankees. How could I devote my full attention to my girlfriend across the table when a crucial mid-season game was broadcast on the TV above her left shoulder?

I must say that I admirably attempted to focus on the topic of conversation, which probably had something to do with some issue at her office or some disagreement with a girlfriend. It was two years ago, so I can't remember. I do recall that the Red Sox won that game, though. It was in the late innings, and Kevin Youkilis delivered a base hit to lift the Sox ahead. "Yes!" I exclaimed. "I know!" she responded, apparently thinking I was addressing her latest story. Soon, though, she caught my eyes staring at the TV screen and knew that my response was related to the game.

"Have you listened to a word I have said," she asked. "And why didn't you tell me that the Red Sox and Yankees were playing?"

So goes a day in my life. Hi! I'm Jeff Louderback, and I'm a Red Sox-aholic. I'm not unlike many men and women who compose the most fervent and loyal fan base of any team in any professional sport. Red Sox Nation is vast, and it is passionate, even moreso than fan bases of the Yankees, Steelers (the football team which I have followed my whole life), Celtics (my lifelong NBA favorite) and the Lakers. The story of how I became a Red Sox fan - which led to my current addiction, the creation of Sox and Pinstripes and the Red Sox Minor League Guidebook and a baseball-themed travel web site that will debut early next year - is unique.

I was born and raised in Xenia, Ohio - a small town located near Dayton and Cincinnati in southwest Ohio. I am 41, so when I started following baseball in 1975, the Big Red Machine was a powerhouse. In the summer of 1975, my parents took me to my first ballgame - the Reds versus the Padres at Riverfront Stadium on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Even at a young age - I was 7 - I loved the underdog. Everyone was rooting for the Reds. I liked to be different, so I embraced the Padres, a team that had no winning tradition and had just entered the league as an expansion team six years earlier. I'm an only child, and like so many only children, I had a creative imagination. The next morning, I awakened early and reenacted the previous night's game with a wiffle ball and bat in my backyard - by myself. My love for baseball was born.

My interest in the game escalated as I attended more Reds games - rooting for the opposing team each time - and accompanying my dad to his softball games. That fall, the Reds reached the World Series. Their opponent? The Boston Red Sox.

The first World Series game I remember watching is arguably the best Fall Classic game ever played. It was Game Six at Fenway Park. The game continued into extra innings, and though it was past midnight and I had to be in school the next morning, my dad let me stay up to watch with him. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Reds reliever Pat Darcy threw a meaty pitch to Carlton Fisk, who launched a drive deep into the New England night. Fisk waved the ball fair and leapt up and down as it caromed off the foul pole that now bears his name. The Red Sox won, sending the World Series to a Game Seven.

Even though the Sox lost that Game Seven - in heartbreaking fashion, 4-3 - I was hooked. The aura of the Green Monster. Scrappy players like Fisk, Dwight Evans, Luis Tiant, Bernie Carbo and Rico Petrocelli. The next afternoon, I was in my backyard - again by myself - pretending to be Carlton Fisk hitting the dramatic home run.

At the time, it was difficult to follow a team so far away and in another league. There was no Internet in the 70s. No ESPN or MLB.com. No Boston Globe and Boston Herald at my fingertips. I was forced to get my Red Sox information from box scores in the morning newspaper, the Game of the Week on Saturday, and highlights from This Week in Baseball, which was a must-see show on Saturday afternoons for every baseball fan. It was easier to follow the Padres, which I did for much of my childhood, even though they were usually awful.

My interest in the Red Sox continued from my elementary school years through high school, but it ascended to a new level in 1986, when I graduated from high school. That, of course, was the year the Sox were one strike away from winning their first World Series championship since 1918, but lost Game Six thanks to a myriad of blunders (that extend beyond Bill Buckner's error) and then Game Seven to the New York Mets. It was my third bout with heartbreak as a Red Sox fan. The first being their loss in Game Seven of the 1975 World Series and the second afflicted when Bucky Dent hit the home run in the one-game playoff between the Sox and Yankees in 1978, yet my passion for the team grew.

In college, I frequently attended Red Sox games in Cleveland and Detroit. I made my first pilgrimage to Fenway Park in 1988, and felt much like that scene from "Rudy" when Ned Beatty's character says of Notre Dame Stadium, "This is the most beautiful place these eyes have seen."

I was a communication major in college at Wright State University in Dayton. I served as the sports editor of the school newspaper, worked as a freelancer for area newspapers and completed public relations internships. After college, I worked as a sports writer for the Xenia Daily Gazette, covering high school and college sports, and periodically writing about the Reds and Bengals. I covered many Reds games the year they won the World Series in 1990. Eventually, I moved onto other positions in the journalism field before entering public relations and freelancing on the side. I have written and continue to author many baseball features (and travel and lifestyle features, human interest feature and personality profiles) for regional and national publications.

In February 2007, I had an idea for a site devoted to the Red Sox and Yankees. I had corresponded with Vince through other baseball blogs, and asked him if he wanted to serve as the Yankees writer and moderator. He agreed, and Sox and Pinstripes was born. My work as editor and Red Sox writer and moderator of Sox and Pinstripes has evolved into columns about the Red Sox minor league system for sites like Comcast SportsNet New England, and now I am writing a Red Sox Minor League Guidebook for 2010 and coordinating the launch of a baseball-themed travel web site which will debut in February.

Yes, I am addicted to Red Sox baseball. It is not just a game to me, but a lifestyle. I have other interests such as travel and history. I love visiting quirky roadside attractions, visiting museums, watching documentaries, attending concerts and embarking on adventures. And for the past five years I have worked for myself as an independent writer and publicist for companies nationwide, and a freelance writer for publications. Yet my passion is Red Sox baseball. I'm much like Jimmy Fallon's character in the movie "Fever Pitch," with the exception that I do not have Red Sox bedsheets and my wardrobe is more extensive than Red Sox apparel alone. All four walls of my home office are adorned in Red Sox memoraibilia, photos, signs and banners, and I have a six-foot long Red Sox banner on order that I will hang in my living room amid all of my lighthouse photos and memorabilia.

Red Sox baseball is a year-round sport for me, so it is natural that I delved into a site like Sox and Pinstripes and ventures like the Red Sox Minor League Guidebook and the baseball-themed travel web site. Though I do not let how the Red Sox are playing impact my relationships and my work, I do admit that the first thing I think about when I awaken is how the team played the night before, and what they need to do to win later that day.

When the Red Sox lose, it literally hurts - like a punch in the stomach. As a longtime baseball fan, I recognize that even in a season when your team is very good, it will lose at least 58-62 times. This season, for example, the Sox were streaky, but they were still one of the better teams in baseball. They finished with a wild card berth and a 95-67 record. That means there were 67 mornings that I awakened aggravated about what happened in the previous game and hopeful that the current day's result would bring a better feeling.

As a creative professional with ADD, my mind is affixed on multiple subjects when I go to bed and when I wake up in the morning. What are the day's priorities for my myriad of writing and PR projects? The refrigerator is barren. When will I head to the grocery store and stock up? Will it be a morning or evening workout at the Y? I missed Desperate Housewives last night. What happened in the latest episode? (I'm kidding on that one. Alright, maybe I'm not).

Inevitably, though, my mind drifts to the Red Sox. How can Theo Epstein find a way to unload David Ortiz or Mike Lowell to make room for a big bat? Will the Sox bring back Jason Bay or sign Matt Holliday? What can the Sox do to convince Jason Varitek to retire so they can acquire a backup catcher who can get a hit and throw out a baserunner? Why won't Theo Epstein return my calls? I've left 20 voice mail messages chock full of trade suggestions and recommendations for free agent signings. I'm beginning to think he is avoiding me!

I was forced to think about the off-season after the Red Sox lost Game Three last Sunday in shocking fashion, allowing the Angels to complete a three-game sweep and abruptly ending Red Sox baseball in 2009. I feel like I have lost my best friend - for the next five months, at least. To make matters worse, the Yankees advanced to the ALCS. If they reach the World Series and win, you might as well walk through my door and stab me in the heart.

Ask people who know me well and I think they will tell you that I'm a nice guy, an intent listener (yes, even with my ADD, as long as you are saying something interesting) and a good conversationalist. Yet several of my friends are convinced that I need a woman who is equally passionate about the Red Sox. To that I say, "Nah, I have many other interests. She doesn't have to be a Red Sox fan, or even like baseball, as long as she does not like the Yankees and can tolerate my Red Sox addiction."

Part of this tolerance is related to understanding my mindset from April to October. I find it difficult to pull my attention away from the Red Sox. I have media credentials to some games, and watch others via my MLB Extra Innings package at home, or with friends at a sports bar or in person at Fenway Park, Tropicana Field or another ballpark.

Last month, I met a group of friends at a wine bar in Orlando. During the evening, I struck up a conversation with a beautiful and friendly woman who was not aware that my cell phone was showing the Red Sox-Orioles game. I found it challenging to simultaneously focus on the conversation and the cell phone screen that would flash every time the screen would refresh on 30-second intervals. I had to know, will Clay Buchholz continue shutting down the Orioles? Will the Red Sox offense score enough runs? Are the Yankees losing?  

As evidenced by the personal essays I write about my life on Facebook and on Sox and Pinstripes, I am an open book who has no problem laughing at himself. Yes, I am a Red Sox-aholic, and I will not soon recover from my addiction. As Jack Nicholson said in "As Good As It Gets," go sell crazy somewhere else; we're all stocked up here!  

Ten questions the Red Sox must answer for 2010

Since Theo Epstein was hired as general manager after the 2002 season, the Boston Red Sox have won two World Series titles, lost in Game Seven of the ALCS twice and reached the ALDS two times. Not a bad track record for a seven-year tenure, six of those with manager Terry Francona.

I bring up Epstein's resume as GM of the Red Sox for one reason. With help from an ownership group led by John Henry, who is willing to spend money; and guidance from an on-field staff headed by Francona, Brad Mills and John Farrell; Epstein has earned the trust of Red Sox Nation. The Sox are a perennial World Series contender, they have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball and they are one of the best franchises in the game. This is why it is unwise for reporters, bloggers and fans to think that Boston's surprising ALDS exit is a sign of impending decline.

While it is true that the Red Sox are saddled with some bad contracts for 2010 - David Ortiz and Mike Lowell are signed through next season, and Jason Varitek can pick up his $3 million player option - the team's core players are entering their prime or still in it. Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Victor Martinez, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jonathan Papelbon are examples.

Of course, the Red Sox are a team with holes to fill and questions to answer. This will be one of Epstein's most important off-seasons. In 2009, Boston was streaky. The offense was productive, but sometimes it would disappear for multiple games. The bats also struggled to consistently generate runs away from Fenway Park. The defense was less effective than expected, at least until Alex Gonzalez was acquired. It is no wonder that Epstein told the media that he wants to improve the team defense and upgrade the offense so it will be more productive on the road.

With this in mind, here are some questions facing Epstein, and speculation about what his answers will be:

1. Who will play left field for the Red Sox in 2010? It appears that the Sox want to bring back Jason Bay, and Bay wants to return to Boston, but a deal has not been reached and Bay will likely test the free agent market. Since the Sox need to enhance their offense in the off-season, it must sign either Bay or Matt Holliday. Holliday is represented by Scott Boras, so his price tag may be too exorbitant for the Sox. Bay's price tag will be high, too, but more reasonable than Holliday. Holliday is a little more than a year younger than Bay, is regarded as a better defensive left fielder (though Bay is better in left field than he is given credit for) and hits for a higher average, but Bay is a proven power hitter and fits well in the Red Sox lineup and clubhouse. I prefer Bay, and in the end I think he will return to Boston.
2. Will Jason Varitek return? The Red Sox will decline Varitek's $5 million team option for 2010, but the captain could pick up his $3 million player option. If the latter happens, the Sox must decide whether to eat the $3 million or bring back Varitek in a backup role, knowing that his bat is no longer a threat and opposing baserunners steal with ease. I would like to see Boston sign someone like Rod Barajas or Yorvit Torrealba as the backup catcher, but I have a feeling that Varitek will pick up his player option and the Sox will bring him back in 2010.
3. What will the Red Sox do with Mike Lowell and David Ortiz? If Epstein was making decisions based on Monopoly money, the Sox would probably eat the $12.5 million for Ortiz and the $12 million for Lowell in 2010. But John Henry's money is real, and though he loves to win, he is first and foremost a businessman. I would like to see the Sox cut ties with Ortiz, move Lowell to the DH spot and bring in a power-hitting first baseman who can play defense (like Adrian Gonzalez). Though Lowell's mobility has diminished because of his hip problems, he is still a respectable defensive third baseman, and he delivers clutch hits. He has more trade value than Ortiz, thus the reason I believe that Ortiz will likely be back in 2010, and Lowell will be dealt, with Boston picking up some of his contract.
4. Who will the new big bat be? It is clear that Epstein will make a trade to bring in another big bat. That move could lead to the departure of Ortiz or Lowell. Gonzalez is a player the Sox covet. Since Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard are off limits, the Sox would likely have to give San Diego a package that included Lars Anderson, Michael Bowden, Manny Delcarmen, Josh Reddick or Ryan Kalish and a prized pitcher like Casey Kelly, who has emerged as Boston's top prospect. Pitching prospects like Stolmy Pimentel and Felix Doubront could also be in the mix. It would be costly in terms of prospects, but Gonzalez is a better fit for Epstein's approach (which includes run prevention, and Gonzalez is a solid defensive first baseman) than Prince Fielder, another player Boston is rumored to be interested in acquiring. Of course, Fielder could serve as the DH if Ortiz is traded or released.
5. Who will play shortstop for the Red Sox in 2010? Alex Gonzalez stabilized the shortstop position and the infield defense when he returned to the Sox in August. He has a $6 million team option for 2010 that will likely be declined, but Boston could negotiate a new one-year deal. Epstein is still high on Jed Lowrie, who is a proficient defensive infielder and a productive hitter when healthy. Of course, he has not been healthy the last two seasons while battling a wrist injury. The Sox have been linked to Milwaukee's J.J. Hardy, who had a bad year in 2009 but still has tremendous upside. There is also a chance that the Sox make a prominent trade for someone like Atlanta's Yunel Escobar. My initial guess is that Gonzalez will start at shortstop for the Sox in 2010, and Lowrie will serve as the super utility man who can play all four infield spots.
6. Will the Red Sox trade Jonathan Papelbon? Though the team's all-time saves leader had another strong season (aside from the blown save in Game Three of the ALDS), he will be a free agent after the 2011 season, and he is due a big jump in salary with arbitration. The Sox could use him a trade bait to acquire a big bat (Philadelphia could use a closer). Trading Papelbon would definitely generate Hot Stove League drama, but now that Billy Wagner is considering retirement, chances are the Sox will keep Papelbon. Daniel Bard appears to be the closer of the future, but he could use a full year at the major league level as a set-up man. I think that Papelbon will be in a Red Sox uniform in 2010.
7. Will the Sox sign Josh Beckett and Victor Martinez to extensions? It is a no-brainer that Boston will pick up V-Mart's $7 million team option for 2010. Josh Beckett's $12 million team option for 2010 vested. The Sox might be more likely to sign Martinez to an extension this off-season than Beckett. Martinez is 31, and he will catch in 2010, but he can move to first base or DH down the line. Beckett will be 30 next May - still in his prime - but he has experienced back spasms this year and last year. The Sox could wait until next season to determine whether to sign him to another contract.
8. Will the Sox pick up Tim Wakefield's $4 million option? According to media reports, Wakefield's back issue will be resolved with surgery, and the recovery time will be minimal. In Epstein's press conference on Monday, he seemed to express that Wakefield will be in the team's 2010 plans. Boston's rotation looks solid for next season with Beckett, Jon Lester, a healthy Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz. If the Sox bring back Wakefield, then likely they will sign veteran starter for back of the rotation depth. I like the idea of taking a chance on Rich Harden, but he won't be cheap. Erik Bedard is another possibility. The Sox are also said to be interested in 22-year-old Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman. Of course, several other teams are also intrigued. The Sox will also be linked to potential trades for Felix Hernandez and Roy Halladay. Epstein seems more intrigued with King Felix, but he would cost more in terms of prospects than Gonzalez. Another trade possibility is Florida's Josh Johnson. It would not surprise me to see the Sox pursue him.
9. What about Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito? Okajima is a free agent, and the Sox have $6 million option on Saito. Okajima will probably return. The Sox could decline Saito's option and work out a more reasonable one-year deal.
10. Who will be the team's fourth outfielder in 2010? It could be Rocco Baldelli, who is a free agent, but the Sox might prefer a more durable alternative. Josh Reddick is promising, but he could use a full season at Pawtucket, and he is a left-handed hitter. The Sox need a right-handed hitting fourth outfielder who can start in place of J.D. Drew against tough lefties. Brian Anderson is a possibility, but he seems best suited as insurance at the Triple-A level. Jermaine Dye is an option, though his defense has regressed. This might be an area that the Sox address via trade.

There is no doubt that the Hot Stove League after the 2010 season will be easier for Epstein since the contracts of Lowell, Ortiz, Varitek and Julio Lugo (to whom the Sox owe $9 million in 2010) will be off the books. The Sox could trade or release Lowell or Ortiz this off-season, but that will cost Henry more money, and he is already paying Lugo to play for St. Louis.

This off-season will test Epstein's ability to make creative deals and land the right free agents to fit Boston's needs. The Sox will have a different look in 2010, and Epstein has an abundance of work awaiting him during the Hot Stove League, but Red Sox Nation can rest assured that he will field another strong World Series contender next season.

Sunday's loss to the Angels was heartbreaking, but not remotely comparable to 1978, 1986 and 2003

Next year for the Boston Red Sox abruptly arrived yesterday, and in unexpected fashion. One of the most reliable closers in baseball allowed two runs that were charged to Billy Wagner in the eighth, and then coughed up three runs in the ninth after being one strike away from forcing a Game Four. The result was a 7-6 Angels victory at Fenway Park, sending LA to the American League Championship Series.

Let's be clear. Though Jonathan Papelbon allowed that two-run single to Juan Rivera with two outs in the eighth and then allowed a two-out single on an 0-2 count in the ninth to Erick Aybar before imploding, it is not solely his fault that the Red Sox were swept. After yesterday's heartbreaking loss, Theo Epstein said it best when he told the media that the Sox were simply outplayed in this series and that the Angels deserved to advance. Ain't that the truth.

Simply put, the Sox did not deliver when it mattered. The defense was awful, the starting pitching was not sharp enough, the bats were mostly silent and the bullpen collapsed. On paper, the Red Sox are a better team than the Angels, but as I have written many times on this site, championships are not won on paper.

As usual, I disagree with Dan Shaughnessy's take. In today's Boston Globe, he wrote that the old-time doom had returned to the city. Yet yesterday's loss was not remotely comparable to Bucky Dent's home run in 1978, the heartbreaking losses of Game Six and Game Seven in the 1986 World Series and Aaron Boone's home run in 2003. Dent's dinger was hit in a winner take all game before the wild card existed. Boone's homer was struck in an ALCS Game Seven situation and a trip to the World Series on the line. The Sox were one strike away from winning the World Series in Game Six of the 1986 World Series and then had a chance to win Game Seven, but didn't. Yesterday, if the Sox had won, they would have forced a Game Four in the American League Division Series. Ho-hum.

When you are as immersed in Red Sox baseball as I am, it always hurts when the season ends without a World Series title. Baseball is not just a game to me. It's a passion. It's a lifestyle. Thus the reason I created Sox and Pinstripes, cover the Red Sox minor league system for publications and will debut a baseball-themed travel web site in February.

That said, I am not distraught over last night's loss like I was in 1986 and 2003 (I was too young to be disheartened in 1978, though I do remember crying). I have confidence in Epstein. The Sox have holes to fill and questions to answer, and I have no doubt that when the Red Sox open the 2010 season on April 5 against the Yankees, Epstein's ballclub will again be a serious World Series contender.

For those of you who read this site and are Red Sox fans, I invite you to continue visiting Sox and Pinstripes through the off-season for regular Hot Stove League posts. This week, I will start addressing the decisions that Epstein is confronted with, and speculate about what moves he might make.

I am never prepared for the end of the season, even when it concludes with the Red Sox celebrating a World Series championship. Yet this is a great era to be a feverish Red Sox fan because I know that, when next year does arrive, Boston will be in position to win the division, the pennant and the World Series. You can't ask for anything more than that.

Angels continue to reverse their post-season trends against Boston, lead ALDS 2-0

Just like that, the Boston Red Sox are fighting for the October lives. They find themselves in a predicament because, essentially, the Los Angeles Angels have morphed into the Red Sox, and the Red Sox have transformed into the Angels. John Lackey and Jered Weaver are Josh Beckett and Jon Lester while Beckett and Lester are Lackey and Weaver. The Angels have delivered with timely hitting while the Red Sox offense has produced a total of one run in two games. Thus the reason the Angels own a 2-0 ALDS lead in a best-of-five series that heads to Fenway Park for Game Three and a potential Game Four.

In Game One, Lester pitched well, limiting the Angels to three runs and four hits over six innings, but a costly mistake allowed Torii Hunter to belt a three-run home run to break a scoreless tie. Last night, in a 1-1 game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Maicer Izturis provided an RBI single and later in the frame Erick Aybar ripped a two-run triple, giving his team all the offensive support it would need. Boston did not score and managed just four hits in Game One. It posted one run and four hits in last night's defeat.

Beckett surrendered four runs and five hits in 6.2 innings and was cruising until the three-run third when the Angels rallied with two outs. However, just as Lester did not shut down the Angels when it mattered in Game One, Beckett's letdown in the seventh inning was detrimental, especially from a pitcher who has a track record as one of the best post-season arms in major league history.

Weaver was masterful, limiting Boston to one run and two hits over 7.1 innings. The Red Sox had no answer for him just as they were helpless against Lackey in Game One.

The Red Sox are in a deep hole as the series shifts to Fenway Park. Will the Angels struggle there as they have in previous Octobers, or will they continue to reverse their post-season trends against the Sox? Scott Kazmir, who dominated Boston in several starts with Tampa Bay, gets the call in Game Three for the Angels while Clay Buchholz will try to do what Beckett couldn't and give his team a win.

The downside, obviously, is that Boston is facing elimination. The positive thought is that the Red Sox are a veteran team that will not panic. Many of these same players were part of the 2007 team that trailed Cleveland, 3-1, in the ALCS and rebounded to win the series and then the World Series. The Angels are on a high, and the Red Sox are struggling, but wins in Game Three and Game Four by Boston will change the momentum if the series reaches a Game Five back in Anaheim.

Angels clearly look like the better team in easy Game One victory over Red Sox

It is only one game. That is the only positive thought to take out of ALDS Game One for the Boston Red Sox. John Lackey outpitched Jon Lester, and the Los Angeles Angels looked like the superior team in an easy 5-0 victory.

While the Red Sox rarely threatened to score, they butchered the ball in the field with three errors, and Lester served up a three-run bomb to Torii Hunter in the fifth inning that transformed a scoreless tie into a 3-0 Angels lead.

The fifth inning shaped the outlook of this game. While the Red Sox were helpless against Lackey, the Angels had no trouble getting on base against Lester, who walked three batters and allowed a hit but no runs through the first four frames. Erick Aybar ripped a double to open the eighth and advanced to third on Chone Figgins' sacrifice bunt. Lester walked Bobby Abreu for the third time and then served up a meaty fast ball to Hunter, who crushed it over the center field fence for a three-run home run.

Boston's best chance to reach Lackey arrived in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Dustin Pedroia singled and Victor Martinez walked, but Kevin Youkilis hit a routine force out grounder to third to end the threat. Lackey was masterful, limiting the Red Sox to no runs and four hits over 7.1 innings. Lester logged six innings, allowing three runs and four hits but walking four.

The possibility of a Boston comeback was dashed in the bottom of the seventh when Ramon Ramirez relieved Lester. Ramirez had a deer in the headlights look, walking Abreu, hitting Hunter and bobbling a routine grounder back to the mound off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero. Takashi Saito entered and induced a strange 5-2-5 double play. Juan Rivera hit a grounder to Mike Lowell, who fired the ball home for the force out. Instead of throwing the ball to first for the more common double play, Martinez delivered it back to Lowell, who tagged out Hunter. Or did he? The replay showed that Hunter was safe. Of course, first base umpire C.B. Bucknor erroneously called two Angels players safe at first base. Saito had a chance to escape the inning with no runs, but he surrendered a soft line drive single to Kendry Morales, plating Guerrero. Rivera scored when Jason Bay uncorked an errant throw to third.

This was a disappointing effort for the Red Sox, and undoubtedly a source of motivation for the Angels, which will try to take a 2-0 series lead when Jered Weaver faces Josh Beckett on Friday night. If Boston plays like it did tonight, the Angels will sweep this series. It seemed like the Angels were in firm control, even when the lead was just 3-0. The Red Sox desperately need a dominant start from Beckett in Game Two, and it would help if the bats showed some form of life, unlike in Game One. When David Ortiz struck out to end the game, it marked the first time since 1995 against Orel Hershiser and the Cleveland Indians that the Red Sox were blanked in a post-season game. Will this be the first time that the Angels defeat the Red Sox in a post-season series. Probably so, if Boston cannot make the right pitches, field the ball cleanly and get key hits.