RED SOX BEAT UP COLLEGE KIDS

39-0. That was the combined score of yesterday's games against Boston College and Northeastern. 39-0. I know it's the World Series Champions against two mediocre college teams, but 39-0 in two games is still something to talk about, at least for a little bit.

Let's start with the 24-0 pounding BC took. This was one of the most dominating wins over BC that I can remember. The Eagles had 1 hit, and 0 walks. That hit was a single. They were also erased by strikeout 10 times.

Josh Beckett got the start against BC. He had 2 perfect innings of work, striking out 4. Kyle Snyder took over and pitched 2 more no-hit innings. Not surprisingly, Javier Lopez was the one who blew the no-hitter, allowing a single to Eric Campbell.



Jacoby Ellsbury went 0 for 2 with a walk, and a run. Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 2 with a two run double. David Ortiz was also 1 for 2 with an RBI double. Mike Lowell went 0 for 1 with a walk. Bobby Kielty went 1 for 2 with a walk and an RBI. Brandon Moss went 3 for 3 with 3 RBI.

The most impressive performance may have been by BC starting pitcher Ted Ratliff. He retired Ellsbury, Pedroia, and Ortiz in a row in his sole inning of work. But apart from that, there really wasn't much magic from the Boston College side.

Although Northeastern fared slightly better than BC, only losing 15-0, they did allow a run in every single inning.



Up and coming prospect Justin Masterson started for the Sox, going 2 shutout innings, allowing 1 hit, and striking 1 man out. Of the 17 pitches he threw, 12 were strikes. Craig Hansen took over in the 3rd, also allowing a hit, but striking out a pair in his inning of work.



Coco Crisp went 1 for 1 with a double and a walk at the leadoff spot. Alex Cora had a 2 run double. JD Drew went 1 for 2 with a double. Manny walked in both of his plate appearances. Jed Lowrie went 1 for 2 with a walk and a pair of runs scored.

Doug Mirabelli was 0 for 2 with a strikeout. How can a Major Leaguer strikeout against a kid from Northeastern?

The Sox go across town to face the Twins to open Grapefruit League play, as well as the first round of the Fort Myers' Mayors' Cup. The game will be on NESN tonight.

Sources:
BostonRedSox.com
Boston College Athletic Department Site

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Steven Senne

BRUINS DESTROY PITTSBURGH

The Penguins came into Boston last night riding a hot streak, and sporting newly acquired talent like Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis. But the Bruins, who made no deadline moves, are also on a hot streak.

Marco Sturm opened the game up with a pair of first period goals. Chara scored early in the 2nd to make it 3-0. Ty Conklin was pulled out of net and the game was all but over only half-way through. Axelsson scored with about 4:00 left in the 2nd to make it 4-0.

The Penguins slipped one past Thomas, but it was far too little, far too late. David Krejci tipped in a late goal for his 2nd career score, and to make it a 5-1 game.

The Bruins are tearing through teams. They've won 5 in a row. They pummeled two of the best teams in the Conference (Pittsburgh and Ottawa) by a combined score of 9-1. Despite the hot streak, the B's are still in the middle of a log jam in the standings. They're only 6 points behind New Jersey for the top playoff seed, but there are 5 teams ahead of them. Ottawa is only up 4 points on the Bruins, but they still find themselves in 3rd place in the division. The 9th place Sabres are only 3 points behind the Bruins.

The Thrashers come to town on Saturday. If the Bruins get a win, they will match their point total from last season (76) in 18 fewer games.

Sources:
BostonBruins.com
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

ONE MORE YEAR FOR BRUSCHI

Tedy Bruschi will be back for his 13th season. He and the Patriots agreed to terms on a multi-year contract that will keep #54 in Foxborough and the NFL for another season.

This is good news, but not great news. Bruschi turns 35 in June, and although he led the team in tackles with 99 last year, he is no longer the playmaker he used to be. Back in the day (4 or 5 years ago), he was the guy who'd come out of nowhere to make the big interception, or the game changing sack, or the 4th and 1 stop. He's still a steady and solid linebacker, but in a 3-4, the linebackers are the ones who have to make the big plays.

But this does answer one of the many questions facing the Patriots this off-season. And if Bruschi is paired with a young inside linebacker, he can set a great example and help mold young talent into a true Patriot.

Source:
Boston.com

CHIEFS RELEASE TY LAW

Former Patriot Pro-Bowler and Hall of Fame candidate Ty Law has reportedly been released by the Kansas City Chiefs. Law is 34, and the Chiefs are trying to get younger.

Now this isn't the same Ty Law that left New England after Super Bowl XXXIX. He only had two picks last year with the Chiefs. But he's a smart player, and he knows the system here in New England.

If the cap number is right, I think he'd be a great acquisition. Asante Samuel is leaving, Randall Gay is a free agent. The remaining DBs are young (Brandon Meriweather) or could use a veteran to help iron out a few rough edges (Ellis Hobbs).

What makes Ty Law one of my favorite players is that he owns Peyton Manning. He had 5 post-season interceptions off Manning, an NFL record for the most picks by one player of another. He anticipates exactly what Manning is going to do, and runs the route better than the receiver.

But in order to come here, Ty would have to swallow some pride. The Patriots cut him in 2005, albeit for salary cap reasons. And he'd have to take a serious pay cut, because I can't see Belichick breaking the bank for a 34 year old cornerback.

And I have heard unsubstantiated speculation and 3rd person rumors that Ty Law was spotted at a Boston area restaurant recently. But he didn't "officially" get released until yesterday, so who knows why he was in Massachusetts.

Sources:
Kansas City Star
ESPN.com
Some Guy

RED SOX 2008 PREVIEW: LEFT FIELD

Throughout Red Sox history, left field has been the most prestigious position on the team. It's just coincidence, but a list of the best Red Sox of all-time is littered with left-fielders. Duffy Lewis from 1910 to 1917. Ted Williams from 1939 to 1960 (with a few years missed due to war). Carl Yastrzemski from 1961 to the 1970s. Jim Rice from 1975 to 1987. Mike Greenwell from 1988 to 1995. Then Manny Ramirez from 2001 to 2008.

This may be Manny's last year with the Red Sox. He's turning 36 in May (unbelievable, right?), he's in the last year of his $160M contract, and quite frankly his production dipped in 2007.

Manny's average (.296) and OBP (.388) were fine last year, but his slugging was down. Way down. His .493 slugging percentage was by far his lowest since becoming a full-time player. That .493 is exactly .100 lower than his career slugging percentage of .593.

What caused this fall in slugging? A lack of homeruns. Manny only hit 20. He hit 17 his rookie season (in 193 fewer ABs). Since then, he hadn't hit fewer than 26. And since 1998, he hadn't hit fewer than 33.

Manny didn't win a Silver Slugger for outfielder in 2007. The last time he didn't win one was 1998. He also wasn't in the top 20 of MVP voting for the first time since 1997.

But then all of a sudden, he got his stroke back in the playoffs. He had 4 homeruns, 16 RBI, a .348 average (including .409 in the ALCS), a .516 OBP, and slugged .739.

What should we expect from Manny this year? He'll miss some time due to injury, real or exaggerated. But not much time. And I don't think his homerun hitting will return to him. But he can still be an extremely productive player. With Youkilis and Ortiz in front of him, he'll have plenty of RBI opportunities. And if JD drew turns a corner, and Mike Lowell stays solid, they'll be people behind Manny to knock HIM in.

Manny should pass a few milestones in 2008. He's 10 homers shy of 500, which doesn't hold the same cache as it once had, but is still a milestone. He's 29 doubles shy of 500 for his career. With 31 or more HRs, he'll be in the top 15 all-time. 100 more RBI will get him into the top 20 of that category. And he's just 22 away from 1,000 career extra base hits.

Who will play when Manny sits or disapears to Florida for two weeks? Bobby Kielty looks like the backup outfielder for the year. If the Sox can't deal Coco, expect to see either him or Ellsbury patrolling left-field.

Brandon Moss had a nice little stint with the Sox last year and will be in AAA Pawtucket. If Manny hits the DL, look for Moss to be the call-up. For all the hype surrounding Ellsbury last year, people may not have noticed Moss's 7 hits in 25 at-bats. Or his .282 average in Pawtucket. These aren't earth shattering numbers, but at least Moss can be a fill-in for Manny just in case.

Sources:
Baseball-Reference.com
ESPN.com
The Baseball Cube

PATS RELEASE ROSEVELT COLVIN

Colvin signed with the Patriots in 2003, and great things were expected of him. He was even the highest paid player on the team in terms of his cap number. It took him some time, but eventually he emerged as the player we expected him to be.

In 2006, he led the team in sacks with 8.5. And last year, he became a real playmaker. He only had 4 sacks, but he intercepted a ball, and forced three fumbles. Combined with fellow OLBs Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas, he was part of a solid trio.

Injury cut his season short, and it hurt the Pats. With him in the Super Bowl, the game may have been different. Had it been Rosevelt instead of Pierre Woods, who fell on that fumbled hand-off, perhaps he would have been able to hold onto the ball.

For the record, I'm not coming up with an excuse, I'm just trying to point out how valuable Colvin is.

But his cap number was way too high. Colvin would have counted for about $7.6 million in 2008, which is about 6.6% of the total cap (estimated to be at $116M for 2008). Considering the Patriots already have Vrabel and Adalius, Colvin was sacrificed in order to appease the salary cap gods.

This isn't good news for the Patriots, but it does have a silver lining. The Pats have more room to acquire new talent, and/or retain guys like Moss.

Also on the linebacker front, the Cowboys signed Zach Thomas to a $3M incentive laden deal.

The Pats also released Oscar Lua, who was drafted in the 7th round last year, then placed on injured reserve, and now he's gone.

Sources:
Pro-Football-Reference.com
The Boston Channel (WCVB)
ESPN.com
AskTheCommish.com
USA Today

FAULK BUSTED FOR WEED

Somebody call Greg Easterbrook. Wake up the three employees of the Anderson Herald-Bulletin in Indiana. Get a hold of Arlen Specter. Send out e-mails to all the Patriot Haters out there. New England Patriot runningback Kevin Faulk got caught breaking a law!

Faulk was cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession in Louisiana last Friday. He was at a Lil Wayne show, and was routinely searched by a sheriff's deputy on his way to a luxury box. The deputy discovered four blunts on his person. He was not arrested or detained, as the amount was deemed to be for "personal use"

This is the second time since the Super Bowl that a Patriot has been accused of possession. Defensive back Willie Andrews just plead not-guilty to possession in Lawrence a few days ago. I can just hear the Congressional accusations and investigations of a drug ring centered in Foxborough.

I'm not gonna criticize Faulk for smoking weed. I don't smoke weed, but I don't care who does or doesn't. It's not chemically addictive, nor is it dangerous. Drinking (which I do) and smoking cigarettes (which I also do) are much more harmful, in my opinion. And pot sure as hell doesn't give an athlete a competitive advantage.

But I am gonna criticize Faulk for getting caught. That's just stupid. Couldn't you give the blunts to one of your friends to hold? Or maybe split them up, instead of holding all four? Then once you see the deputies doing pat downs, don't you know to give up? When was the last time a cop in Louisiana didn't do an aggressively thorough pat down of a black man?

Chalk this one up to stupidity, which marijuana is known to contribute to. The NFL will probably come up with some sort of punishment or warning once this case rattles through the justice system.

Source:
Associated Press

PATRIOTS OFF-SEASON THOUGHTS: WIDE RECEIVER

This is the most interesting position to watch this off-season. Randy Moss is an unrestricted free agent. The Patriots passed on the Stallworth option, making him a free agent. Jabar Gaffney is also an unrestricted free agent.

The Patriots did not franchise Moss. Many speculated that this non-action would lead to a long-term deal with the receiver. It has not, at least not yet.

There is an unsubstantiated and flimsy rumor that the Cowboys are interested in Moss. To me that is like saying "Men are interested in breasts." Of course they're interested!

The rumor has Moss and the Cowboys talking about a possible deal. There's also another rumor that Moss agreed to let the Patriots match any offer he received from another team.

The fate of Randy Moss will be the most dramatic saga in Patriots history since Bob Kraft threatened a move to Hartford. There will be reports, rumors, speculations, stipulations, heresay, conjecture, and people making things up.

But I feel as though Moss likes it here, but can't resist snooping around to see what else is out there. It's got to be a contending team, with a good QB (this eliminates Dallas), and enough cap room for Moss to get a big deal.



The Patriots did not exercise their option on Stallworth. But that doesn't mean he won't be back. The team will try to work out a new deal with Donte. But Donte may want to test the waters of free agency. He won't get a big contract, but he may want to be a team's #1 or #2 receiver. In New England, he has become #3 behind Moss and Welker.

Wes Welker is thankfully here to stay. His 112 receptions, and 1,175 yards were a huge part of the Patriots going 16-0 in the regular season. Had the Giants not won the Super Bowl, Welker would have been my first choice for MVP of the game.

Jabar Gafney emerged in the 2006 post-season, and endured a year behind Moss, Stallworth, and Welker. He still contributed when called upon, catching 36 passes for 449 yards. He might want to go to a team that will have him higher on their depth charts. And you just know that some team will offer him a bloated contract thinking if he's paired with a mediocre QB he'll have the same kind of performance.

If Stallworth goes, I think Gafney's return is a sure bet. If Stallworth stays, Gafney might allowed to leave. But as far as #4 WRs go, Gaffney's probably the best in the NFL.

The Patriots recently passed on an option to keep Kelley Washington. His situation is similar to Stallworth's. A pickup would result in big bonus money and a big cap hit. The Pats have expressed an interest in reworking Washington's deal.

Washington didn't catch a pass, or have any offensive touches whatsoever. But he did contribute on special teams. He had 16 total tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt. He was a big reason why Patriot opponents rarely had good field position after kickoffs.

Kelley may want to find a team that allows him to play more on offense. Then again, he seemed to relish his role on special teams. If certain players ahead of him leave (Moss, Stallworth, Gaffney), he becomes a much more integral part of the offense.

Former 2nd round pick Chad Jackson also didn't see an offensive snap in 2007. His injury woes kept him sidelined completely until November 8th. He still only saw limited time as the 6th receiver on the depth chart. He returned a few kicks, as well as a few punts.

We've yet to truly see what Jackson can do. When the Pats drafted him, he was an exciting prospect. The Pats traded up to draft him 36th overall in 2006. But a hamstring injury, followed by an ACL tear kept us from seeing as much as we wanted to see. Like Washington, Jackson moves up and fills in if other WRs leave.



Troy Brown has seen his last days in red, white, and blue. He's an unrestricted free agent, and will be 37 years old when the season starts. But he gave the Patriots 14 years of service. He's one of the few players to play in Super Bowls XXXI, XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX.

One possibility that might strike some as bizarre is Chad Johnson. Yes, Ocho Cinco himself. He's not happy in Cincinnati (who would be?). Belichick always talks about Johnson with as much of a smile as the Coach can muster. And we've seen "characters" come to New England and all of a sudden become monotoned, polished, and professional (See: Rodney Harisson, Corey Dillon, Randy Moss).

If I were a betting man, I'd set the odds of Johnson becoming a Patriot at 100 to 1. With the depth the team already has at the position, adding CJ would be slightly gratuitous. Plus the team would lose cap room to rebuild the defense. Plus he would be costly to trade for. Plus you'd have three different guys who are all used to being #1 receivers on the field at once.

But you never know what's going to happen. If Moss and Stallworth leave, the odds will change.

Here's what I think the Patriots depth chart at WR will look like for the 2008 season:

WR1: Randy Moss
WR2: Wes Welker
WR3: Jabar Gafney - re-signed
WR4: Kelley Washington - re-signed
WR5: Chad Jackson

After that, who knows.

Now here's the "If there were no salary cap and the Pats could afford to load up at one position" dream depth chart:

WR1: Randy Moss
WR2: Chad Johnson
WR3: Wes Welker
WR4: Donte Stallworth
WR5: Jabar Gaffney

Impossible, but it's fun to dream.

Sources:
Pro-Football-Reference.com
ESPN.com
The Dallas Morning News