http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml Bluenose BoSox Brotherhood: Blog Sun, 10 May 2009 07:21:39 -0500 http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/931a35da3458841ecc40d585912c027f_4a06c6ce.writeback Sun, 10 May 2009 07:21:34 -0500 Baseball lost a great man this week. Dom DiMaggio passed away at the age of 92 leaving a great legacy behind him. The Little Professor played his entire career with the Sox and according to many was one of the best defensive centerfielders in baseball history. He was a seven time all star and finished with a career batting average of .298. He like many of his era missed several years in the middle of his career to service in the military during World War II. I never had the chance to watch him play but after reading the book "Teammates" I certainly had a great appreciation of what this man meant to the Red Sox and to his great friends Williams, Doerr and Pesky. It is easy to see that Ted Williams thought greatly of him as a ballplayer from the letter he sent to those responsible for electing players to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ted's letter went; "I am hopeful that you might find my enclosed endorsement of Dom DiMaggio for Hall of Fame consideration worthy of your support. I have addressed my support of Dom to each member of the Baseball Hall of Fame Committee on Baseball Veterans. I would be most grateful for any assistance you might be inclined to foster Dom's nomination. "Thanks for your help." It's signed, "Best regards, Ted Williams." I have posted a link on the Links page to the video tribute they had to Dominic prior to Friday's Rays game. Heaven is a better place today!! God bless you Dominic DiMaggio and our prayers go out to your family. http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/ea65449b23724e950f03b39b1046d2a3_49cfdeda.writeback Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:49:30 -0500 Yes, once again my boys in Red And Black come through!!! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/67e1ce343d52a2a5b68d23003748bb60_49ccff33.writeback Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:30:43 -0500 Here is our Question of the Month which is a new feature for the BBB this season. This first one is something that should stir up the blood. As you all know Jonathan Papelbon will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2010 season. Here is the Question: Should Papelbon be traded at the end of the 2009 season?*** I am going to argue in the affirmative for the following reasons: 1. He has a history of shoulder trouble. 2. He has expressed a desire to test the free market and set a new record for salary for a closer. You could see him as a Yankee as Rivera's contract expires at the same time. 3. Daniel Bard is almost ready to replace him at a much cheaper salary and will be under the Sox control for 6 more years. 4. Money saved could be used to fill needs and other positions. 5. His record this spring has not inspired great confidence. His ERA is 4.50 and he has given up 4 runs and 9 hits in 8 innings of work. His ERA in Sept and Oct of last season was 5.56. He gave up 7 runs, 17 hits in 11 1/3 innings. All the best, Don Hyslop Responses: ****Thanks for the updates guys (Don and Jody) I agree with you Don, good points. Papalbon will be a 40 ish save guy for a long time but your right the shoulder could be worrysome and also perhaps attitude could be a problem?? Trade him and if Bard is not quite ready Hideki Okajima could fill the gap nicely. Andrew**** Sounds like the Red Sox mentality of old. Trade them or let them go and they go on to be superstars for another team. I am sure that the Yankees would not let a star like Papelbon slip through their fingers for whatever amount of money. I have been a Sox fan for over 50 years and once again I have that strange feeling that they have again been outdone by the Yankees seemingly endless source of greenbacks to grab on the big names while the Red Sox set idly by. A Papelbon would be a fitting replacement for an aging Rivera. Is Jason Bay the next big name on the Steinbrenner list? Wally**** With all due respect, let's not hit the panic button just yet on this one. Let's give this Red Sox front office a little bit of credit and leeway based on what they have accomplished in the past few years. They are not of the same ilk that traded away Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson or Curt Schilling and Brady Anderson for an aged Mike Boddicker. These are the guys that do the unpopular at first but end up looking like geniuses - Nomar for Orlando Cabrera and let Pedro and Damon go to the highest bidder. How have those worked out? So to sum up, I love Paps but the Patriots have proven that everyone can be replaced (except Brady, of course) and the Sox seem to be on the same wave length. I personally like the wave we are on. Troy Blades**** If everything works out according to "plan", trading Paps makes sense for all of the reasons Don mentions, however, many seemed to think that Craig Hansen was the next closer in waiting a few years back, albeit with numbers inferior to those Bard has put up recently so his accession to the closer's throne is anything but a given. Keep in mind also the toll that throwing a slider and a 100 mph fastball could take on Bard's arm over the next year or so. I am hopeful that he is the exception, but a quick scan of names of pitchers who throw 100 mph shows that it contains few names who remained healthy for any length of time. Jody G. Nelson**** Some random thoughts: Guys like Papelbon don't come along every day. Pitchers of his caliber aren't just replaceable cogs. And even a 100 + mph fastball is by no means a guarantee of success in the Majors. Papelbon is a proven winner at the Major League level. As a fan who would has seen countless "can't miss" minor leaguers fizzle under the pressure of Fenway park or Yankee Stadium, I think the Red Sox brain trust should think long and hard before they cut Mr. Papelbon adrift. We hopefully have learned some lessons from past fiascos such as trading Sparky Lyle to the Yankees for Danny (Who?) Cater. Jim**** I agree with Jim completely. We should be discussing the merits of signing him to a deal as we have with Youk and Dustin. I don't blame Papelbon for trying to get every last dime he can in a career which is as high-risk as his. But regardless of his flakiness, he is one of the top relievers in the game and deserves to be compensated as such. That is why he talks of wanting to reach free agency...so he...like the rest of em...can get PAID!! Cecil**** Here, Here!, Jim! I agree. Adrian**** Pabelbon should be extended this year, as for shoulder problems that has only happened once in 06 at the end of his first full season. also look at paps numbers in the postseason they are incredible. lets not be so quick to let the best closer in redsox history go!! John**** Well said!! Let's see how the season goes. Robbie**** These are the responses that we have received so far. Although most people do not want to see Jonathan part ways with the Sox( I don't either) don't forget, that it appears that Papelbon is not interested in signing a contract extension so if he became a free agent and signed with someone else, the Sox would receive a draft choice. That being said my choice for All Time Sox closer is still the Monster: Dick Radatz! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/0ca5275fdcc3e558f4f164cf72af4363_497f4f86.writeback Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:16:38 -0600 Thank goodness, the Varitek saga will come to an end one way or the other by this Saturday. The Red Sox offer is more than fair at this point and if Varitek does not want to take it, c'est la vie and we can all move on. The world will not come to an end, Fenway will still be standing, the Red Sox will still play 162 games and perhaps one of the youngsters like Kottaras or Brown will rise to the occasion. Kottaras by the way hit over .300 in the Dominican Winter League with a .419 OBP. It was a small sample size but encouraging none the less. He also has considerable experience handling knuckleball pitchers. His 22 home runs while splitting action with Brown at Pawtucket aren't exactly shabby either. Also, if Theo doesn't think the Sox youngsters can handle the job, make the deal with Texas or Arizona. The Sox have for years now training their catchers in the minors to be true students of the hitters their pitchers will face so I don't think the work effort needed to match what Varitek gave will be foreign to any of them. Whether Varitek understands it or not the Sox have done him a big favor with this offer. If he thinks he will successfully go back and ask for a 1 yr offer at anything close to what he would have gotten through arbitration he is dreaming. This is one soap opera I will be glad to see reach a conclusion. If Varitek is willing to swallow some pride and realize he had some rotten advice we will see him back if not I will look forward to seeing a youngster take over. Thank God the bus to Ft. Myers leaves next Wednesday! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/cb235112b8a1bd8101a44a668656b299_496f95c3.writeback Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:00:04 -0600 Dear Mr. Werner, As a Red Sox fan of fifty years, I would like to thank you and the present ownership group for two World Series wins and the very competitive team you have put on the field all the years your group has been involved. I would also like to express my great appreciation for the improvements that have been made to Fenway Park. Since your group has assumed ownership of the Red Sox, I have had to opportunity to visit Fenway approximately 20 times from my perch up here in Nova Scotia. I have been impressed with the improvements that have been made to Fenway Park in each of those years. Now there is another thing that I would like to see done to make the experience of visiting Fenway even more spectacular. That thing is the construction of a Red Sox Hall of Fame and Museum to highlight the glorious history of the olde town team. A Museum to display to great moments of Sox history along with memorabilia, video highlights , computer interactive displays, a Red Sox Hall of Fame, etc is begging to be built. I have written the team over the past few years asking about this and have been told that the team wants to make it happen and is looking for a suitable site. I hope this can be resolved soon and have the Museum open to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Fenway in 2012. I know that under the previous ownerships plans for a new Fenway, a Museum was included as well. It is time! Just doing a little bit looking, I have found that the Cincinnati ball club has a Museum devoted to the Reds, as do the St. Louis Cardinals, the Baltimore Orioles, the LA Dodgers and even the Texas Rangers for their teams. The New York Yankees plan to have one in their new Yankee Stadium and Tampa Bay although not having one for their team has the Ted Williams Museum and Hitter's Hall of Fame. It is my humble opinion that such a Museum would be an instant hit for fans and tourists alike. I hope that the team will make this a priority and will acquire a suitable property adjacent to the ballpark to make this happen. If you build it they will come, by the millions!! Respectfully yours, Don Hyslop Bluenose BoSox Brotherhood http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/d17b215a0171a16883b986f5bab9303a_496d0458.writeback Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:15:04 -0600 Just like I will never forget many moments in my life, the date of Jan. 12, 2009 will be added to that total memory. For the past several January's I have waited for the day the HOF announcement would be made hoping that I would hear the name of Jim Ed Rice to be one of those. About four years ago it even got personal as I sent letters and e-mails advocating his canadacy. I began to wonder if it would ever happen. Even knowing that no player had ever not made it after gaining over 70% of the vote in a previous ballot, I began to question wether or not it would happen when I heard that a couple of the people who had voted for him in the past has died during the past year. I was lucky to be kept busy this past Monday teaching physical education to middle school students and did not have time to worry too much about the vote but eagerly looking forward to the end of the school day which came quicly enough at 3:10 pm whereupon I quickly went on one of the school's computers and went to the Boston Globe web site. I felt superstitious and did not want to check out the HOF or MLB site. And there it was, the good news I had been hoping for for quite a time now. Reflecting back it has been great being a Sox follower for close to 50 years. It was great to see Williams inducted, then the great season of the comeback kids of 1967, followed by the heroics of 1975 and the arrival on the scene of the Gold Dust Twins. If only Rice had not have been injured that year the first World Series since 1918 might have happened then. And then the oh so close, heartbreak and pain of 1986, Yaz's induction in 1989, our two World Series wins of which can the emotions of 04 ever be matched? And now another historic moment in the history of this wonderful team, As in 04 and 07, I poured myself a large scotch and lit up a cheap Cuban cigar which my wife made me smoke outside in our snowy backyard and once again thought about how great it is to be a Red Sox fan. Looking forward to the July ceremony and then the retirement of his number in Fenway. I plan to visit Cooperstown this summer. Check out the Red Sox or NESN web sites for videos on reations including Rice's to the honour. http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/175bf598b504aec2472f9d9490958159_49524eeb.writeback Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:02:03 -0600 Well here it is Christmas Eve and the anger that I had over the Yankees signing of you know who has subsided. Do I feel envy that the dreaded team from the Bronx have added Sabathia, Burnett and Tex while the Sox have added Ramon Ramirez at the expense of Coco Crisp, a minor leaguer from Japan and another no-namer that will not be on the 25 man roster, Of Course!! Theo must now address the serious needs this team has which are condiderable including a catcher, a fourth outfielder, another starter and more bench strength. Hope after the holiday break he can get on these needs ASAP. In the meantime, Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays to all of you out there in the Bluenose BoSox Brotherhood!! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/2440887887c04c31ad58fa44de2710b0_49516b70.writeback Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:51:28 -0600 Well Brian Cashman appears to be the Grinch that stole Christmas from Red Sox fans. What are the Sox going to do with the $100 plus million they have cut from last year's payroll? Are they content to let the Yankees just roll over them without any reaction? Right now our favourite team has no catcher and question marks in multiple starters including Lowell, Ortiz, Beckett, Lowrie and Ellsbury. Hopefully Theo can get something done to add a bat, another pitcher and a catcher before too long. As of now, third place looks like a reasonable prediction. Perhaps, the team just wants to pocket some major profits this year to make sure they don't suffer too much from the economic downturn. But today was the worst possible outcome of the Teixeira saga. If the season started today the top six in the order might look like this: Yankees; Damon Jeter ARod Teixeira Matsui Posada Red Sox: Ellsbury Pedroia Ortiz Youkilis Drew Bay I think Theo had better get to work in the next few weeks!! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/9a5610b5c26f8d97a49ff85b423443ca_494d0b08.writeback Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:11:04 -0600 Will Father Christmas Be Kind to the Red Sox There are only a few days left before Christmas, I hope it is not too late to put my wish list in for the Sox this Christmas. 1. Will Santa please bring the Sox a starting catcher, I am not greedy Santa either through a trade or Varitek for a short contract will do 2. Please bring both Mike Lowell and David Ortiz healing that brings them the type of health they both deserve and the season that will result from that better health 3. Bring back the Ellsbury of 2007 rather than the one we saw down the stretch in 08 4. I would like a completely healed shoulder for Josh Beckett 5. A fast track for future Gold Glover Argenis Diaz so fans in Fenway will see what fans in the minor league parks have seen over the past couple of years 6. A Hall of Fame induction for Jim Rice, in his last year of eligibility, which will be well deserved There are several other gifts I would like to see Santa deliver as well to others involved in baseball: 1. A lump of coal for Scott Boras who continues to play on the greed of owners in MLB 2. Some more intestinal fortitude for politicians in New York so they can stand up to the Yankees demands for more public funds for their new stadium while they spend money on player salaries like there is no tomorrow 3. And as much as I enjoy the Red Sox success of recent years. Please bring some common sense to MLB owners so they can put a system in operation that allows for more competition I know this is a lot to ask for Santa but Sox fans have been good this year!! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/bc5b518e95c450fe9100c4ce33352204_49450077.writeback Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:47:51 -0600 Well, yesterday was that day that all Sox fans look forward to each year. It was the day that tickets went on sale for the 2009 season. It is the day that you open as many browser windows as possible without your computer crashing and hope that when the VWR counts down from 30 to 0, you will be allowed into the system and have the opportunity to buy tickets for games in April and May. In the past I have sat in front of my computer for the entire day without any luck. Most of the times however after opening 40 or more windows I have after several hours made it past the first hurdle. So yesterday, I started to prepare about an hour or so before the 11 am ( Atlantic time) scheduled start. I had my PC and my laptop set up and while listening to WEEI proceeded to have 45 or so windows open for the 11 am start. Schockingly after just 5 minutes, this person was able to crack the VWR wall and was able to purchase box seats for Oriole games. Wow! I actually had a chance to enjoy the rest of the day here in Nova Scotia. Whether the power outages caused by the ice storms in New England helped my cause or not I don't know but it was the quickest I have ever gotten through the dreaded VWR. On other things, with the Winter Meetings over and the Yankees having added two top teir pitchers where do the Sox stand? If the Sox fail to sign Mark Teixeira will they be hard pressed to challenge for a playoff berth this season. In my mind both Lowell and Ortiz have questions surrounding them as they enter the new year so if I had Theo's money to spend I would make sure Teixeira is signed whatever it takes.