I have to admit, before the Red Sox began their romp over the Cincinnati Reds in Grapefruit League action tonight (it’s 12-1 in the top of the fourth at the time of this writing), I was feeling a bit depressed. The Red Sox, yes, were 2-0 when playing NCAA teams, but a lousy 0-3 when playing teams in the major leagues. Until the completion of this game, they will be the only GFL team without a win, at the very bottom of the 16-team spring league. Even though I proclaimed Spring Training standings nothing to worry about (last year’s Phillies were a miserable 12-18), I expected a better showing than that. But tonight, the bats have come alive, and even Julio Lugo has gone 2-3. (Update: It’s now 13-1 Sox. Even the 1975 Sox couldn’t blow this one.)
A few updates and links:
CBS Sports columnist Ray Rotto theorizes that while Manny Ramirez is still unsigned, Scott Boras may still have a trick or two up his sleeve and isn’t the moron 99.5% of the world thought he was. Specifically, Rotto suggests Boras is usi
ng the Dodgers to get the Yankees to make an offer. Lord have mercy.
WEEI’s Alex Speier wrote an article about Sox prospect Anthony Rizzo. (Thanks to Sox and Pinstripes for the link.) Great story, and Rizzo’s the type of kid we need to keep in the organization. It’s these stories that make me drool over the idea of having the 2012 Red Sox be entirely home-grown. Think about it. Lars Anderson comes up at first, Youkilis moves to third, and we keep Pedroia at second and Lowrie at shortstop. Rizzo can DH, Jacoby Ellsbury stays in center field, and maybe by that time we’ll have acquired some other decent outfield prospects (Chris Carter, anyone?) We’ll have Masterson, Lester, Michael Bowden, Daniel Bard, and possibly Charlie Zink (dance, knuckleball, dance!) in the rotation. OK, perhaps that’s a hair idealistic, but at worst we can trade some of these kids for some serious talent. And the Red Sox farm system is only ranked seventh? Please.
And now, the reason I’m going to bed and pulling the covers up over my head until morning: The Patriots traded quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City for.. drumroll please.. a second-round draft pick. That’s one - count ‘em, one - draft pick. This is as stupid as it would be if the Red Sox traded a young, promising pitcher for a proven (to stink) hitter like Wily M.. Oh wait.
Maybe I’ll keep those covers up a little longer.
