MOSS IS STAYING

The Patriots and Randy Moss announced today that they agreed to a deal worth $27M over 3 years. This keeps Randy in a New England uniform for 2008, and keeps a key piece of last year's offensive juggernaut.

The past few days have been difficult for Pats fans. Guys like Rosevelt Colvin, Asante Samuel, Donte Stallworth and Randall Gay all leaving. Only special teamers like Lonie Paxton and Kelley Washington were free agents who were retained.

And then came the rumors. Hopeful media personalities from all over the country concocted stories of Randy Moss being interested in going anywhere and everywhere out of New England. One rumor had him going to Green Bay. Another had him going to Philly. Another had him reuniting with Daunte Culpeper.

Someone left a comment on my article about Gay leaving and observed that I wasn't at all upset by any of the losses the Patriots have endured this off-season. And days like today are why. By "losing" Rosevelt Colvin, Donte Stallworth, and Asante Samuel, the Pats actually gain something. Had these guys been retained and overpaid for, the Pats would have less cap room. Which means other positions would suffer. In effect, hanging onto guys like Samuel and Gay for an inflated price would be the true loss.

The $9M per season Moss will receive is somewhat of a bargain. It isn't nearly as cheap as he got in 2007. Nor is it lower than he would have gotten if the Patriots had placed the franchise tag on him. However, wrapping him up for 3 years is extremely good news.

In fact, some sources speculate that the Eagles offered Moss more money. Not surprisingly, Randy decided to take less money to play on a better team, with a better quarterback, for a better coach, and in a nicer city.

Sources:
Boston.com
Philadelphia Daily News

SAINTS GET GAY

LSU alum and Baton Rouge native Randall Gay is going home to Louisiana. Although, he didn't give the Saints much of a hometown discount. Depending on playing time, Gay will get upwards of $17M over the next four years, a tidy sum for a player who is essentially a nickel CB.

Once again, another team has driven up the price on a Patriot player. Once again the Patriots were not willing to overpay for such a player. Once again, the Patriots will have to find a replacement.

Source:
Boston.com

RED SOX FALL 8-2 TO TWINS

With a win, the Red Sox would have clinched their 6th Mayor's Cup, but the Twins had other plans. Tim Wakefield got the start for the Sox and looked pretty good. He allowed just one hit in his two innings of work.

Mike Lowell gave the Sox a 1-0 lead with a solo homerun to leadoff the 2nd. But then Clay Bucholz came in. Bucholz allowed 4 runs in the 3rd off 5 hits and a walk. But he didn't look as bad as his line suggests. There were several hits that blooped into gaps, and a few that could've been caught by Red Sox fielders (Manny).



Bucholz's second inning of work was a quick 1-2-3. Hideki Okajima worked into and out of a jam in his inning. Javier Lopez, and Manny Delcarmen had scoreless innings. Then Craig Hansen came in and looked awful. He gave up 4 off 2 hits and 3 walks.

The Red Sox offense didn't look that good. Lowell's homer, and an RBI single by Pedroia produced the only 2 runs of the day. Crisp, Manny, Drew, and Youkilis were all held hitless. Although Drew did have a nice outfield assist at home plate.



The next televised Red Sox spring training game will be Thursday afternoon on ESPN. The Red Sox will host the Dodgers.

Source:
BostonRedSox.com

Photo Credits:
Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images
AP Photo/Brita Meng Outzen

LESTER TOUCHED UP IN SPRING DEBUT

The Red Sox beat the twins 7-6 yesterday, but the news out of Fort Myers wasn't all that good. Here was Jon Lester's pitching line:

1.0 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 0 HR

He also had a Wild Pitch. It is Spring Training, and it was his first appearance, but that's just not good. If he has another outing like this in March, there will be problems.

Papelbon also pitched an inning, allowing a hit, no runs, and striking out one. Brandon Moss continued to excel, going 2 for 2 with a stolen base, and a 2 out RBI single which turned out to be the winning run. Young catcher Dan Brown had tied it up with a solo homerun. Brown was 2 for 2. The backup catchers have been the most impressive on offense so far.

The Sox take on the Twins...again, this afternoon on NESN.

Source:
BostonRedSox.com

STALLWORTH TO CLEVELAND

The Browns and Stallworth have agreed to a 7 year deal. No word yet on how much the deal is worth, but I'm assuming it's worth more than it should be worth, and is also loaded with incentives.

This isn't a major loss. Stallworth was solid for the Pats in '07, but was essentially tied with Jabar Gaffney for the 3rd spot on WR depth chart.

For any Patriots fan out there panicking, and any hater out there relaxing, this is what the Pats' WR depth chart might still look like next year:

1: Randy Moss
2: Wes Welker
3: Jabar Gaffney
4: Chad Jackson
5: Kelley Washington

That's still phenomenal.

In other Patriot news, Kelley Washington, who led the club in special team tackles, was re-signed. Long-snapper Lonie Paxton will also stay with the Patriots

Kyle Brady was surprisingly cut, then again, he is 36 years old.

Randall Gay is reportedly talking with the New Orleans Saints. The team and Gay will exchange contract offers tonight. In other words, they're very close to a deal.

Sources:
Associated Press
Reiss's Pieces
Scout.com

SOX TAKE OPENING ROUND OF MAYOR'S CUP

Every year, the Red Sox and Twins play each other five or six times in Spring Training. They're both stationed in Fort Myers, so scheduling each other so often is very convenient.

But the two teams also play for hardware. The Lee County Mayor's Cup is rewarded to the team with the best record in the spring series.

This trophy is so prestigious, that it is kept secret from most. Sean Casey didn't even know it existed until asked about it the other day. Most Sox fans don't know what it is. And only 0.01% of people knows what it looks like (basically a $10 trophy that a junior high would customize for the top scorer in intramural floor hockey).

The Red Sox won it in 2007, and took a major step to holding onto it by beating Minnesota 8-3.

Daisuke Matsuzaka took the mound for the Sox, going 2 scoreless innings. He allowed 2 hits, but a pair of double play balls kept him out of trouble.

Hideki Okajima and Mike Timlin each pitched hitless innings. Julian Tavarez allowed a solo homerun in 2 innings of work.

Julio Lugo went 0 for 3. Coco Crisp went 2 for 2 and stole 2 bases. Youkilis and Varitek hit back-to-back homers in the 4th. Backup backup catcher George Kotteras had the most explosive night going 2 for 2 with a double and a 3 run homer. He's 4 for 5 in two games, with 3 doubles and a homer.

Source:
BostonRedSox.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Steven Senne

CASHANTE SIGNS WITH THE EAGLES

You know, nobody ever talks about how stupidity amongst NFL teams serves to prevent the construction of dynasties and keeps a level playing field.

A good player like Asante Samuel puts together a few good seasons, which is amplified by the fact that he's on one of the best teams in the League. Then he hits free agency, and someone is bound to overpay for him.

It's the Az Zahir Hakim phenomenon. You might remember Az from the Rams' Greatest Show on Turf. Some team parked a dump truck full of money in front of his house, he left St. Louis, and entered obscurity.

But this keeps teams from getting too good. If there were no salary cap, the Patriots would have matched the $60 million, 6 year deal the Eagles gave Samuel. But there is a cap, and that figure is simply way too high for a cornerback, even one as good as Samuel.

And if this news saddens you, and you really need a laugh, here's Asante's explanation for his decision:

"I just want a chance to be able to win and get back to the Super Bowl. That's why I picked the Philadelphia Eagles."

I guess he feels like he is more likely to win in Philly than in Foxborough. Good luck.

Source:
Boston.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Matt Rourke

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