Yeah! It's Official! Iron Mike is BACK

FINALLY!

Red Sox Nation can finally

breathe a sigh of relief...

Our Man, Iron Mike, MVP

has all but signed a deal with a little

blue pen.

Looks to be 3 years, $37.5 million. Sounds like once A-Rod went fishing back to the Yankees

and a deal between them became imminent, talks with the Yankees disappeared, and Theo's offer became the best one out there for Lowell.

The Sox gave Mikey a Monday deadline for this offer, and he took it.

I am really, really psyched.

Thou Shalt not Lie... or ye Shall be Indicted

So at the end of the day, it isn't the Steroids themselves that

will destroy Barry Bonds... its a fundamental thing that we

all are taught as young children... don't lie.

Don't lie to the Government... that is a biggie. Because eventually,

someday, someway, Big brother will figure it all out and you

will be indicted.

For Barry, it's 5 counts of perjury and obstruction of justice. So

maybe, just maybe, there is enough out on the table against him,

that Bonds will finally just go away from the game of

baseball, and just leave us all alone? Please?

The other big news... A-Rod will be going back to the Yankees.

10 years, $275 million.

2 weeks ago, Yankee fans everywhere hated him (again.) Today, at least for now, he once again their hero. Ugh. I know his bat in the regular season is what makes this guy among the best players of my lifetime. But I must admit, I am thrilled we can't pursue him any longer. I didn't want him in a Red Sox uniform in '08, or for the next 10 years for that matter. Now I have one less thing to worry about. A lot can happen in 10 years. 10 years is obscene. They better hope this guy is never plagued with injuries, because this is a long time to pay a lot of money.

More later...

Kevin Youk recent Fundraiser at Mohegan Sun

I didn't have the $500 necessary for a sole ticket to this benefit dinner, "Crackin' It Up", unfortunately. But just knowing my guys were right in my neighborhood, almost within touching reach... Aarrgh! so close, yet so, so far.

Here is an article, regarding the comedy and angst during the fundraiser dinner, held Saturday night as a kickoff for Kevin Youkilis' charity, "Hits for Kids", held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/11/12/sox_spouses_take_a_hit_for_charity/

wow, from what I can tell by this dialogue, even our favority baseball players live on Venus, while we ladies are on Mars, eh?

You can learn more about Kevin's newest fundraiser, by going to:

http://www.youkskids.org/

now what is going on with Mikey Lowell?

I don't like how this looks...

(taken from NYDailyNews.com)

The rumors out there are KILLIN' me, I am not afraid to tell you. But if Theo and the Gang think that Lowell is too old for a deal greater than 3 years, why on EARTH would you even consider this guy for 10? Remember, he is only 1 year younger than Iron Mikey.

If we aren't going to get it done to keep Lowell, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can we stay away from this cancer?

It will make me physically ill, to see this guy in a Red Sox uniform. He is a tremendous individual ballplayer who, from my corner of Red Sox Nation, shows no appearance that he gives a crap about anyone else around him. I don't want a player like this. We've got enough dramas with all the Manny bein' Manny stuff, the last we need is a self-centered, egomaniac who will bring ZERO TEAM CHEMISTRY to the table. FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO BOOT!

Hello! Name ONE YANKEE PLAYER that has publically come out in A-Rod's defense, since Boras' leak during Game 4 of the WS. I can name at least 5 Sox players, who have publically stated they want Lowell to come back. But Not one Yankee. Zilch. Zero. Nada.

I don't care if A-Rod will someday surpass all the hitting records. Me smells a rat, I tell ya.

PEDROIA the DESTROIA... Rookie of the Year

Congrats to Dustin Pedroia, 2007 AL Rookie of the Year

And, of course... while we celebrate our favorite Rookie...

Today is a day
to remember our Veterans, as well.

Fun irony, isn't it???

Happy Veterans Day!!

Are We Being Spin-Doctor-ed?

Reports are coming from the Sox camp that Theo has made a "strong" offer to our MVP, Iron Mike Lowell. Sounds like 3 years, in the neighborhood of $12-15 million/yr.

While I admit, that seems like a pretty good offer, and I LOVE MIKE AND WANT HIM BACK, I have a feeling that this may not be strong enough. Mike is a smart guy, and I am sure he believes he can get a 4th guaranteed year, or even a 5th, from someone else. Maybe even from those DA*M Yankees. This is likely the last long term contract that Lowell will be negotiating, and from a business standpoint, he'd be silly not to at least entertain other options.

I just get the feeling that the Red Sox are using buzz words in their press statements, like "strong", to give us all the impression that Theo and the Gang are doing their best. And then, if Mikey walks for a better contract, they can say they tried their hardest, in hopes of avoiding an inevitable mutiny. C'mon! In their hearts, the front office HAS to know that there are teams out there already that will be willing to give this guy 4 or 5 years. I'm no GM, but I can see this pretty clearly, can't you?

It's common knowledge that most ALL OF RED SOX NATION wants this guy back. His own teammates have publicly come out in support of resigning Lowell. I can only imagine the reactions from fans, should Lowell walk away. It will be like village men, chasing Shrek and Fiona with their pitchforks and torches, only instead of Shrek and Fiona, it will be Tito and John Henry.

I'm a die-hard Red Sox fan; as as such, like many of you, I get wwaaaaayyy too emotional about these guys. My heart screams out, "MIKE!! TAKE THE HOMETOWN DISCOUNT! YOU SAID YOU LOVE IT HERE... WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?"

But, I am also a realist. 4 or 5 years, as much as I love this guy, isn't a smart business decision for the Red Sox. It's only smart for Mike Lowell. Today, I feel the emotion of another World Series ring in hand, which causes me to wonder why you'd want to mess up the current mix of players. That's today. In 3 years, when Mikey is a little older, and his swing is a little slower, and his back and knees are a little more tender, having the extra 15-16 million for less production for an additional 1-2 years won't be so smart. No matter how good looking and nice I think he is over there at third base!

Hey, I could be wrong; maybe Mike will bite at the 3 year offer, and come back to Fenway. I've misjudged many things that have happened so far in this short off-season:

• I cried like a baby when Schill left the mound in Game 2 of the WS. I was SURE it was his last time in Boston in a Red Sox uniform... I was Wrong.
• I expected Torre back, and Cashman fired. I expected Mattingly in, and Joe Girardi a longshot... I was wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong on all 4 counts.

So hey, I could certainly be wrong again. Maybe. Let's hope I'm wrong, anyway!

Pix to Pass time, while we Wait for the Mikes to Sign

I have been looking at lots of people's blogs over the last 2 weeks, and of all the pictures I have seen, this one, from Dirty Watah, is my favorite. Talk about calling the kettle black. I mean, it takes one to know one, eh? On the Dirty Watah blog, the caption simply read, "And so do you, Sir."

The rest of the pictures below are from my friend Amanda, whose son Morgan got interviewed by Hazel Mae. Thanks for giving these to me, Amanda. I hope your and Morgan's hands aren't too tired from signing all those autographs!

The crowd at City Hall was HUGE!

Here's Morgan, hammin' it up with Hazel

Dude, you have NO idea how many guys

out there would KILL to be in your spot

at that moment...

Tito, our wonderful leader

Wake, now signed, sealed and delivered.

I admit, I am getting a bit sick of the Dropkick

Murphys, and I DON'T think they

should get World Series Rings, but I still can't

help but smile when

Papelbon is in ANY photo.

Captain Jason, my hero.

Sorry it's not a better shot of our MVP

but give Morgan a break, he's only

12 years old, and besides, he just got

touched by Hazel Mae... wouldn't that

make your hands a bit shaky????

I can't get enough of the World Series

Champion signs.

Oh yeah, the newly posted 2007

Champion sign... looks SO GOOD!

Rumor Has Truth to it... Curt is back

8 million base salary

another 2 million, weigh in incentives (to keep him honest with his weight)

3 million in innings pitched incentives

and... (yeah right) a 1 million bonus if he gets at least 1 Cy Young vote in 2008.

So at the worst, we will get a #4 or #5 starter for $8 million, or he will keep himself together, kick some butt and we will get the same Schill that we had in 2007.

Not too shabby! Glad to have you back again, Curt. Its all in your corner now! Take a look at this contract, in his own words, from the 38pitches blog, click the link below:

http://38pitches.com/2007/11/06/done/

The best part is the last sentence of his blog entry. It's what's REALLY on all of our minds...

Rumor Has it....

(picture courtesy of Boston Herald)

That Curt Schilling will likely be back next season.

Things are still in the works, but according to

Curt, barring some crazy, unforeseen situation,

he and the Sox will come to agreement on a

1-year deal, allowing him to finish his career

with the Boston Red Sox.

Sounds like the terms will be an incentive

based program, though no details are

confirmed or available yet.

I think this is a good thing. There will be alot of youth

on this pitching staff, and a veteran like Schill

will be a good role model. And it's only a 1 year

deal anyway.

Hopefully, we will get some good information

regarding Mike Lowell today. It's been pretty

quiet regarding Lowell, which always makes me

nervous. The good news is that he

hasn't filed for free agency yet, so it can't

all be that bad, behind closed doors...

More later, as things develop...

Hot Stove News - John Farrell to return

Great, great news in Red Sox Nation today... it has been announced that John Farrell will be returning as Red Sox pitching coach next year.

Earlier this week, rumor had it that the Pittsburgh Pirates wanted him as their new manager. But he has since turned down their offer to interview, to stay here in Red Sox Nation.

YES! He isn't a good guy, he is a GREAT one. A bit overqualified, if you ask me. Afterall, he went from Director of Player Development in Cleveland, to Pitching Coach with us. I wonder what the string is, that is keeping him here. It has to be more than just Tito being a great guy and good friend to work with... Maybe the front office has bigger plans for him down the road?!?

So great to hear. Glad to keep you here, John.

The Talk Show Tour Begins

Now that our Guys are celebrities, the Late Night Talk Show Tour begins...

Papelbon was on "The Late Show, With David Letterman" yesterday. It was a pretty funny interview. For those who couldn't manage to keep their eyes open last night, to watch it for yourself in real time, click on the link below, taken from Boston.com:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2007/10/papelbon_on_let.html?p1=MEWell_Pos4

Yes, he did say he wouldn't mind if A-Rod played on the Red Sox, but the press has totally taken it out of context. He said it because then that way he wouldn't have to pitch to A-Rod anymore.

Nothing more should be made of that statement. Please.

Friday, Manny will be on "The Tonight Show, with Jay Leno". That ought to be pretty good. I have to say, other than the few Tina Cervasio post game interviews, I have never seen Manny have a sit down. I plan to watch it, as this is such a rare occurance.

Also on Friday after the Tonight Show, Big Papi will be a guest on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". Conan is hysterical. It should make for a funny interview as well.

Man, and I thought the reason they held the Rally so soon, was so the guys could go HOME. Hmmm...

I hope to post my friend Amanda's Rally photos tomorrow. Sorry for the delay, but with Halloween happening, I had duties to attend to, and candy to collect.
You should see them tomorrow night. Thanks.