SB Nation User Blog: revigik

David Ortiz, 300th career home run

revigik — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:23:18 -0000

With the Home Run tonight, David Ortiz has hit his 298th career home run. This makes it very likely that he'll hit the home run at Camden Yards (Fenway 2) next week, or maybe if he gets caught up in it during the Mariners series next weekend. Do the Red Sox plan to do anything special to celebrate this? I have not heard a whisper about this milestone that I have observed coming up. Over his career, David Ortiz has hit the pitchers: Jamie Moyer, Jamie Walker, Jon Garland, Paul Byrd, Mark Buehrle, Esteban Loaiza, Jon Lieber, Gary Glover, Gil Meche, Sidney Ponson (Roids!), Jeff and Jered Weaver, John Lackey, Seth McClung, Andy Pettitte, Mo, CC, Chien-MIng Wang, Miguel Batista, Kevin Millwood, and Doc Halladay particulary well. Coming up soon are Gil Meche and Miguel Batista, so look out for those names. I'm sure wherever he hits it he'll get a nice ovation.

On a side not, it's almost unreal that in 2 weeks, Nomar will be making his first trip home after 5 years. That should be an emotional series.

All Star Game!

revigik — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:38:14 -0000

Come on Red Sox Nation-vote early and often to send Youkilis and Pedroia to St. Louis next month. After all, who wants to see Teixeira there.

Attempts to fill the word count:

Also, Mark Wagner seems to be red hot. If there is a bidding war over Joe Mauer in a couple of years, he could be an important bargaining chip for the Red Sox.

David Ortiz might make a comeback after all with the way he's swinging. He'd be key in an ALCS vs NYY. I watched him take BP in Philly (I live near there) and he was crushing them upstairs into the upper deck-what the Philly fans call Ryan Howard territory. Dice-K also had some homers in BP as did Jed-I.

Finally, if we don't sweep the nats......!

So vote Youkilis and Pedroia.

Manny Ramirez

revigik — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:32:14 -0000

As I wear my old number 24 shirt, I report that Manny "Greedy" Boras has finally signed with the Dodgers. The original 2 years $45 million offered in the fall, to which Boras said "We will start fielding real offers..." apparently did it. Obviously Frank McCourt's "start from scratch" ploy scarred the crap out of Boras. I've got to say, I think Scott Boras really dropped the ball on this one. This entire dance that he had Manny orchestrate to get out of Boston, to the "promised land" in LA and onward to his mega deal got Manny $5 million more than he would have in Boston. In baseball money, that's pretty pathetic. And it's so funny how Manny still keeps up the act, with the "This isn't Boston" comments. Theo Epstein must be sitting real pretty right now. Obviously he made out in the long run. Because while many, myself included, LOVED Manny Ramirez in a Boston uniform, Epstein, Henry, and Co. were the more mature of the two parties in this situation. And while Manny tries to paint the problem on the Red Sox, it's pretty clear that Manny had some clubhouse issues (Youk fight, Jack McAllister, Schilling, and players like Pedroia even denouncing him). And as a long time Manny fan, this is hard to say. But I give credit to Theo for getting out a clubhouse problem and he got Jason Bay for 1.5 years for a lot less money, while only giving up a bit of Manny's last year. So finally this saga comes to an end....

Sean Casey hangs it up

revigik — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:34:49 -0000

According to WEEI.com,

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com has reported that Sean Casey has signed on with the MLB Network, making his retirement official.

Casey, 34, hit .322/.381/.392 in 218 plate appearances for the Red Sox in 2008.

Well, I enjoyed watching the Mayor hit, he was the ultimate "Professional Hitter", just single after double though no homers this year...But overall a successful idea of having him sub for Youk/Lowell in that type of situation, great in the clubhouse. Kind of encourages the idea of leaving Kotsay in the outfield and bring on Kevin Millar for a similar role. Man, he can hit with the Green Monster...

Interesting, but one of the Cinci media said today when asked about Casey's potential return, "Nah, he's retiring". Seemed like just a guess, but now it's official.

Rocco Baldelli to sign with Red Sox

revigik — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:54:28 -0000

"Peter Gammons is reporting that the Red Sox are close to signing outfielder Rocco Baldelli to be the team's fourth outfielder. Baldelli will be a guest at tomorrow night's Boston Baseball Writers Dinner, where he will receive the 2008 Tony Conigliaro Award. The deal is expected to be announced then. We're working on confirming this, and we'll let you know when it is confirmed." -Source: Boston Globe's Extra Bases

Very predictable move. As long as there is not any problem with him not playing every day, I like him off the bench. Though I still think the team needs some hitting depth better than last year's. Hopefully Theo figures out a way to address this issue.

Jason Johnson

revigik — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:25:16 -0000

Wow, the Yankees are really starting to get on my nerves. First it was Kevin Cash, and then according to MLBTR, they signed Jason Johnson. I know he sucked, but he was a Sox. At least we got Nick Green. Also, maybe Tex is not the right player to have: he seems like A-rod from the press conference today-totally obsessed with his huge paycheck and being a legend and what not.... Long live the Curse of the A-Rod (and Tex)!!!

Pedro Martinez

revigik — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:10:53 -0000

Now with the addition of Brad Penny, I know that we have our complete starting 5. However, as we saw last year, that can easily change *cough* *cough* Schilling. So, Pedro is available and you can bet he won't be expensive. As he said during the ALCS in 2004, "My heart and soul is in Boston and with the fans". Why not give him a Bartolo Colon type deal (maybe a little bit nicer, he is Pedro after all), and bring him to Spring Training with the big league club and see what happens. Pedro does pitch at Fenway better than anywhere else, and it would be a perfect Theo Epstein, *little risk, big reward* deal. And who wouldn't kill to see Pedro pitch for us again...

Just a thought...

revigik — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 01:34:34 -0000

With the Yankees signing Mark Teixeira, there comes into large question the future of Manny Ramirez. It seemed like he would sadly go over to the rival for a lot of money, but after signing Tex, it may be safe to guess that the Yankees maybe (Finally!) running out of capital. Also, Tex was probably the bat they locked up so they wouldn't have to deal with Manny; after all, they know as well as anyone that he is a problem on and off the field. So, if it comes down to that the Yankees have no interest in Ramirez, then who does? Of the Big Market Teams-The Angels have declared themselves no part of the sweepstakes, and the Red Sox are pretty much not an option either. The Phillies hired Raul Ibanez to fill their LF void, so the question comes to where he goes. The Dodgers are the only interested suitors (though the money the Nats would have spent on Tex could go toward Manny). Though even still with the miniscule market for his services, the price will probably not be pretty on Manny's standards. Then comes into question whether he actually gets equal or greater than the $20 million that the Red Sox option would have guaranteed him. If not, then the question becomes how much he actually gets, and how much longer Ramirez still employs Scott Boras; after all, the agent would lose him guaranteed money from the Sox with his orchestrated exit from Boston. If Ramirez does fire Boras, would Manny go even as far as to attempt to conciliate with the Red Sox as they were the ones offering him the $20 million after all. This could prove a very interesting saga for the future Hall of Famer...

Decision Nearing?

revigik — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:33:15 -0000

The latest report, as per mlbtraderumors.com and boston.com via Channel 5 radio is that John Henry and Theo Epstein are meeting in Texas with Scott Boras. The aim is to sign Mark Teixeira tonight or tomorrow morning. The offer-8 years, $184 million.

I hope they get this done. Just like Tex's Christmas wish, I would like this before the holiday. End all the agonizing waiting...And who knows, maybe if they sign them they can still keep Mike Lowell.

Yankees sign A.J. Burnett

revigik — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:13:04 -0000

According to ESPN. Yankees sign AJ Burnett for 5 years, $80 mil approximately. Deal pending. Jeez, Yankees keep throwing away money on pitching that will not value in the end. *cough, cough* Kevin Brown, Kei Igawa

MLBTRADERUMORS:

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Yankees reached a preliminary agreement with A.J. Burnett on a five-year, $82.5MM deal ($16.5MM per year on average). The deal is pending a physical, and some final terms must be hammered out.

That's $243.5MM spent by the Yankees on starting pitching, unless C.C. Sabathia opts out. The Braves will have to figure out a Plan B.