MattyG's Blog

In the past decade, Boston has turned into, arguably, the center of the sports universe. The Sox,and Pats and, in 2008, the Celtics have evolved into the top franchises in their respective leagues.
 
College sports is usually an afterthought. How can that change? Easy.
 
The Army-Navy game, according to Internet reports, is looking for a new home after traditionally being played in Philadelphia. That would be a great event to add to the Boston sports scene in Foxboro.
 
We know about the history of Boston, symbolized by the USS Constitution. There's a local connection to Navy's athletics with Bill Belichick's late father and Joe Bellino and prominent local veterans and current servicemen like JFK, John Kerry and Gen. George Casey.
 
Navy's A.D. is Chet Gladchuk who used to run BC.'s athletic program.
 
Bob Kraft can work his magic.

Paul Pierce had a huge game tonight and has had a great series. But, he made at least three stupid plays in the 4th Q tonight...A rushed shot, a bad pass and a turnover. I just don't get him at times.
Oh, an aside to Danny Ainge...If Doc doesn't start Posey in game six if Perkins is out, please fire him.

Boston and Tampa Bay together, now you know you in trouble...

The Rays, as they roll now, never cease to provide value for your entertainment dollar. The Sox beat them and fought them when they stunk and still beat them and fight them now that they have a good squad.

TB simply switched whipping boys from Brian Daubach to Coco Crisp. The difference is they actually hit Coco.

The rematch is slated for June 30-July 2 in FLA.

We don't know if David Ortiz will be back in 2008 or not. Assuming he's done for the season, Boston needs another bat to protect Manny. Jeff Bailey won't cut it. 
 
Look at it this way, as a hitter, Barry Bonds is a perfect fit. He'd replace the bat and presence of Ortiz like no other hitter. He'd also come cheap as nobody wants him. If the Sox traded for another bat (Griffey?) then they'd lose a top prospect because everyone knows they need to do something.
 
He'd fit in, too. Think of Randy Moss and the Patriots. They lost, I know, but the potential off-field issues never happened.
 
Bonds would leap at good PR from a possible World Series run.
 

Brian Kilmeade of FNC's Fox and Friends show is supposed to be their resident comic relief and sports guy. I got some comic relief from his attempt at a sports segment on Monday morning.
 
He had the top three qualifiers, Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Ryan Briscoe, for Sunday's 92nd Indianapolis 500 outside the Fox New York studio alongside one of the Target cars that placed first and second in the starting grid. That's when Kilmeade ruined the fun.
 
Kilmeade asked an otherwise innocuous question by saying something like "There are seven Brazilians in the field, does it bother you that so many foreign drivers are in the race?"
 
The problem?
 
Dixon is from New Zealand, Wheldon is British and Briscoe is from Australia. Oops!

Sometimes Manny is beyond description. He can climb inside the scoreboard in left, get released and not be picked up, and he can even snub the president and he is still just being Manny.   I'm not sure how to describe his newest antics.   He reads. I know. Who knew? And not comic books or tabloid gossip. He's reading actual books...by himself. He is even meditating. All to improve on a sub par season.   According to an AP story on the Internets, Manny is reading and highlighting ''The Secret,'' and it appears he is becoming philosophical. He reportedly said: "You've got to be a boat knowing where you're going. We've got money. We're famous. But you've got to know what you want."

The S.S. Manny has set sail with a purpose. It looks the purpose is to destroy MLB pitching because he's hitting well so far in Florida. He also wants to stay in Boston for the rest of his career and thinks he'll show it with a stellar season.

I've seen it all now with Manny being Zen.

Manny being Manny. Here we go again? Maybe not.
 
Manny was talking about leaving, being a free agent and moving on, well, soon. Ryan Asselta is upset.
 
This isn't a big deal. In fact, it's good. Theo wants to see Manny play 2008 before worrying about the options. If Manny plays like he did in 2007 (.296, 20, 88), then he's gone after 2008. If he's back to being the Manny of 2004-05 when he averaged 44 and 137, he's going nowhere.
 
Manny's working hard this season and thinking about another free agent payday. A big FA payday requires a big season in a contract year.
 
Maybe he has a plan or maybe he's talking gibberish and is oblivious to his words. Maybe he wants an extension with Boston. If he has an MVP-type season I don't think it matters. If he does want out and it turns out he's a hired gun like everyone else, we still have two titles to show for it.

Does anyone know why there was no Super Bowl this year? Hey, it's how I'm coping, okay?
 
Anyway, the trucks roll to FLA Saturday, which means baseball is on.
 
I'm pretty optimistic about the Sox this year. It starts with pitching. Beckett has got to be focused on getting the Cy Young he didn't get in 2007 and Matsuzaka should add to his rookie win total of 15, which should have been higher, in his second season. Wakefield's health is a question but he will be there for us. Schilling's value is in October so losing him until July shouldn't be a huge setback.
 
I'm thinking Lester has a good year. He was great in the playoffs and has strong MLB #'s to date. He knows now he won't be dealt and is basically guaranteed a spot in the rotation, which has got to be a confidence builder. Buchholz should contribute, too, especially with Schill down.
 
The 'pen has that Okajima dude, and some guy named Paplebon.
 
The offense is back, and intact. Manny is supposedly working hard this winter after an average season for Manny. He is joined by Papi in rebounding from a down year - compare 2007 to 2005-06. Drew looked better in the playoffs and we hope year two of Drew is better much like happened with Beckett. And Ellsbury, well, we all saw him in October. Coco is still around, too, and has value as insurance or a trade chip.