Top 10 Boston Sports Moments in 2013

Earlier today ESPN shared their top ten plays of the year on Sportscenter because apparently the year now ends on December 26th not December 31st, but hey who's keeping track.

ESPN, do better because your list sucks. I'm sorry but DeAndre Jordan's alley-oop is nice but it is not one of the top ten plays of the year.

Three if by Strike will be bringing you a conclusive top 10 plays of the year on December 31st (when the year actually ends) but to tide you over until then we'll present the top 10 Boston sports moments of the year.

These plays and events embody what was a truly amazing year for what remains the greatest sports city in the world. Check them out and let us know what you think.

Honorable Mention- Jose Iglesias' play for the Tigers- I couldn't rightly put this on the list because Iglesias played for the Tigers at the time, but this is arguably the greatest defensive play I've ever seen an infielder make. He's no Jim Edmonds but still.



10. Shane Vereen's AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Texans- Vereen's breakout performance could not have come at a better time for the Patriots. His three touchdowns helped carry the Patriots to a convincing win over the Texans and made Vereen a staple of the organizations offense.

9. Brad Stevens comes to Boston- It's no secret that I'm not a fan of NBA basketball. I can only watch isolation plays, travels and terrible reffing for so long before I lose interest. That's why I'm excited for Stevens to come to Boston. The Butler coach plays an up tempo, team-oriented, collegiate style game which may be able to win me over and help resurrect the franchise.

8. Bruin's Visit Newtown- This could easily be number one on this list, but because it's not so much a moment as a day it will hold down the number eight spot. More evidence that hockey players are the classiest athletes in sports.



7. Tuukka Rask's 2013 playoffs- Rask's 2013 playoff's were unreal. He had a save percentage of almost .950 and a goals allowed average of under 2. Rask brought the Bruins within two games of Lord Stanley's cup and while the B's couldn't seal the deal that was no fault of Rask's. What's more remarkable is that the saves below are from a single series against the Maple Leafs. Rask's performance against the Penguins was even more dominant and worthy of praise.



6. Zdeno Chara's spin move against the Panthers- That is an agile 6'9 man. Not only does Chara make Panther's rookie Jonathan Huberdeau look like a 14 year old girl at her first high school dance, he pots of a nasty backhand afterwards. Also Jack Edwards loses his mind which is always worth watching.



5. Johnny Gomes and Jarrod Saltalamacchia putting the World Series trophy on the Boston Marathon finish line- This was one of the most powerful moments of 2013. The Sox became the team that helped Boston recover after the tragedy of Marathon Monday. There was no more fitting tribute to the victims of that day than Gomes and Saltalamacchia placing the world series trophy at the finish line during the team's victory parade. I was about 5 rows back from the finish line and I still get chills when I listen to the crowd sing "God Bless America".



4. Patriot's last second win against the Saint's- The Patriot's have had several come from behind victories this year, to the extent that it almost seems scripted at this point. Few carried the significance of the win against the Saint's though. This victory took a team who's season could have went in two different directions and helped spring them into the playoffs. Tom Brady's strike to Kenbrell Thompkins was a thing of beauty any way you look at it.



3. Daniel Nava's go ahead homer after the Boston Marathon Bombings- Nava's home run in the bottom of the 8th against the Royals was a defining moment in one of the most improbable Sox seasons ever. To get a win, and in such remarkable fashion, during the first game after the marathon was the first step in helping the city heal and come back even stronger. Also "Danny Baseball" is my favorite player, nuff said.



2. Bruin's comeback against the Maple Leafs- This game was unreal. I remember watching it with my dad and being disgusted to the point of almost turning it off... almost. Then Nathan Horton scored and the rest... well just watch the video. Words can't describe this game, this is Boston sports at their finest.



1. David Ortiz's Grand Slam Against the Tigers- David Ortiz is a future hall of famer if for no other reason than being arguably the greatest post-season hitter of all time. Ortiz added to that legacy during game two of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers. Joaquin Benoit came in to close the game out for the Tigers who would have went back to Detroit with a 2-0 series lead and likely would have cruised on to a World Series birth against the St. Louis Cardinals. With one swing of the bat David Ortiz tied the game and sparked the Red Sox eventual World Series victory.



So those are the top ten moments in Boston sports for 2013. Comment and let us know what you think. Were we right? Were we wrong? What are your top ten Boston sports moments of 2013?

Red Sox World Series Ride Through the Eyes of Shane Victorino

I had to take off my shoes and use my toes to count the number of times I got chills just watching this video. Hard to believe that was nearly two months ago and there are about 50 days til pitchers and catchers report for the title defense.

The video shows the Red Sox World Series victory on the field, post-game celebration in the clubhouse, and Rolling Rally parade through the streets of Boston, all through the GoPro camera used by outfielder Shane Victorino.

Who has more fun than the Red Sox?

Why You Should be Thanking Jacoby Ellsbury

I'm grateful to Jacoby Ellsbury. I remember going to a Portland Sea Dogs game with my Grampy when Ellsbury was still in the minors. My Grampy looked at me and said, "Jordan watch him play, because trust me, he won't be here for long."

To say my Grampy was right would be an understatement and Ellsbury's career is a testament to that fact. He was a crucial part of two World Series runs. Defensively, he's played with reckless abandon, throwing his body around Fenway Park's outfield to make fantastic catches. He's been a terror on the base paths stealing 70 bases in 2009 and 241 over the course of his career. Finally, Ellsbury is one of only 34 players in MLB history to make it into the 30/30 (30 steals and 30 home runs in a season) club.

Yesterday, Ellsbury once again came through for me by deciding to leave the Sox. Yes, he went to the Yankees and people feel betrayed, but for Ellsbury, it makes sense. Yankee Stadium has a small outfield, meaning Ellsbury has less ground to cover defensively. The short porch in right could help boost his power numbers allowing him to remain and elite player as his speed dwindles. At 29, he becomes the youngest projected Yankee starter...

Let's take a second for that one to sink in.

And finally I'm sure it's hard to walk away from $153 million especially when Scott Boras is your agent.

That being said, Ellsbury is one of the most overvalued players in the league. He's a tremendous player, to be sure, but statistically with the exception of his speed, there is little to command the contract he got. To prove this point lets look at how Ellsbury compares to other free agent outfielders.

Ellsbury lacks power. His one 30 home run season must be considered an apparition at this point as he's never hit more than 10 dingers in any of his other six major league seasons. Over the past two seasons Ellsbury hit a total of 13 home runs. Shin-Soo Choo (37), Curtis Granderson (50), Carlon Beltran (56), Nelson Cruz (51), Raul Ibanez (48), Nate McLouth (19) AND EVEN RAJAI DAVIS (14) have all shown more power than Ellsbury during that span.

Yes this Rajai Davis. That's the smile of a man who has more homers than Ellsbury.

That being said, as a lead-off man, Ellbury's job is to get on base. His career .297 batting average (BA) and .350 on-base percentage (OBP) are nothing to scoff at, but are also quite unremarkable. Granderson's batting average is only .261 but his OBP of .340 is comparable. Choo's career .289 average is impressive and his .389 OBP far surpasses Ellsbury's mark.

Beltran has a career .283 average and .359 OBP. McClouth is only a .250 hitter but has a career OBP of .334. Even Chris Coghlan (.337) and Juan Pierre (.343) have comparable career OBPs. Once again, Ellsbury's ability to get on base, while impressive, is by no means exceptional.

Defensively, Ellsbury deserves some credit. He's won the Gold Glove award and boasts a career .995 fielding percentage. But once again, this really doesn't make him special. McLouth also owns a Gold Glove and a career .991 fielding percentage. Beltran, although his centerfielding days are behind him, won three Gold Gloves at the position and has a career .986 fielding percentage. Even Granderson, who has never won a Gold Glove is a career .994 fielder.

Ellsbury is a solid centerfielder, but utilizes his speed to make up for average reads to track down balls that would otherwise fall. As he gets older and his speed declines, more of these balls will fall and its likely Ellsbury will need to move to right or left - as most centerfielders eventually do

The injuries speak for themselves. Jacoby has only played over 150 games twice in his full six years in the league. People have made the case that he played through injuries this past year, however he still missed 30 games and I don't buy it. It was a contract year, I don't know if this type of grit and determination will be there going forward. Ellsbury is also 29 years old and stands to lose his durability over time. It's sad for a player of such potential to have his production hindered by injury, but the fact is that there are some players who play 150+ games a season and those who don't, and Ellsbury doesn't look to be dethroning Cal Ripken Jr. anytime soon.

The one thing you can't take away from the man is speed. His 52 stolen bases topped the majors this year and every season he's been healthy Ellsbury has swiped at least 39 bases. But is speed worth $153 million? Davis has stole at least 29 bases for each of the last six seasons. In fact, during four of the last five seasons Davis has swiped at least 40 bags.

The other issue is that Ellsbury's speed is going to decline with age. Lets look at the all-time leader in stolen bases, Rickey Henderson. Between the ages of 20 and 30 Henderson stole at least 60 bases in each of eight full seasons he played. From the ages of 31 to 44 Henderson stole at least 60 bases only twice! If the greatest of all-time couldn't keep up his production, I'm sorry to say Ellsbury can't either.

I'm sad to see Ellsbury go, but the fact of the matter is that general manager Ben Cherington was right to let him walk (which ironically he didn't do enough of in Boston). You can't spend $153 million nor invest seven years in stolen bases alone. With this type of money it's conceivable that the Sox could go after another another outfielder. There is talk of the Sox pursuing a trade with the Dodgers for either Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier. More interestingly Choo's name has also come up over the past twenty hours. I'm hopping on the Choo-Choo train here. If the Sox sign Choo I will be the first one in line to purchase his jersey.

If this happens I will be the happiest Sox fan ever.

All I can say is thank you, Jacoby. It's been a great six years, you've given us the prime of your career and done so much for the organization and I wish you all the best with the Yankees. But now it's time for us to part ways and I think that it's for the best.

Red Sox Sign 'The Most Hated Man in Baseball'

The Red Sox have finalized a one-year deal with former bleach blonde, frosted tips catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

Pierzynski, who has played for the Twins, Giants, White Sox and Rangers since 1998, is probably most known for either being the most hated man in baseball or for getting punched in the face by former Cubs catcher Michael Barrett (and subsequently getting saved by former Red Sox great Scott Podsednik.)

This deal crushes any hopes of Boston re-signing one of last year's world champions in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is seeking a longer term deal than the previously offered two years.  With a couple of prospects in the minors for Boston, they wanted to stay away from anything long term as much as possible, and Saltalamacchia had previously said he was going to go with the deal that offered him the most security.

Pierzynski has always been able to hit right-handed pitching, and next season will just be two years removed from his last Silver Slugger award.  He has caught Mark Buehrle's no-hitter as well as Philip Humber's perfect game.  He holds the American League record for consecutive errorless chances at 962.

Spring Training is a long way off, which will give Red Sox Nation plenty of time to come around to the signing.  There is no denying the 36-year-old career .283 hitter will be a valuable asset to the Sox, but a month removed from the Red Sox World Series parade, its just hard to warm up to the idea of the different looking team so soon.

Called It

As you might be aware, the Boston Red Sox are your 2013 World Series Champions, thanks in no small part to the pitching performances of one John Lackey.

Since Mr. Skinny Britches himself showed up to Spring Training way back in late February, I was in full support, knowing that a new-look Lack could find the success everyone thought a 5-year, $60 deal would bring just a little sooner.

But all that time lost was nothing a little patience and facial hair couldn't fix.  Lackey went 3-1 in the postseason with a 2.77 ERA.  He has 25 strikeouts in 26 innings and posted a 1.19 WHIP.  He even pulled a classic Lackey when manager John Farrell came out to pull him in Game 6, and told him to shove off.  But in his win, he became the 10th pitcher (sixth starter) to clinch multiple World Series winners, his first coming 11 years ago in a Game 7 win for the Angels over the Giants.

So congrats to Lack and the Red Sox on bringing home their third trophy in 10 years, and a little pat on the back to me for being a believer.

Back to the Show

Sorry for the delay, everyone.

A lot has happened since my last post.  Three if by Strike has added a new writer, Jordan "Doc" Coulombe, who I've known for five years now but who's name I still have a tremendous amount of trouble spelling.  The Bruins made a storybook Stanley Cup Playoff run only to fall two games shy in the Finals, leaving me in a tailspin for the better part of two weeks.

Aaron Hernandez killed a guy!

The Celtics ousted Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and head coach Doc Rivers, but signed 36-year-old Brad Stevens to head up a new-look Boston team and drafted seven-footer out of Gonzaga Kelly Olynyk.  And all the while, the Sox have been the hottest team in the American League, creeping up to 20 games over .500 in early July.

But back to the Bruins.  It took seven games to beat the Maple Leafs, but then nine to beat the Rangers and Penguins combined.  Then the Cup... You know what, let's just stop there.  Andrew Ference, Nathan Horton, Jaromir Jagr, Rich Peverley, Anton Khudobin and Tyler Seguin are gone.  I'm going to blame my long absence from blogging for not being able to come up with an appropriate wording for how I feel about that.

And speaking of feelings, getting a pretty good one about the Sox this season.  It's tough to not like this team, and hey - don't think I've forgotten what this blog says just below the blog name at the top, there. John Lackey has gone from complete lackey back to John Lackey this season, and it seems like everyone, from Jose Iglesias to Shane Victorino to Koji Uehara has stepped up when this team has needed them to.

Bills looks okay, but we'll talk about that later.

Does this mean the blog is back in full force?  That's up to you guys.  Your support for this blog has been tremendous thus far, and even just writing this rambly recap piece, I remember how fun it is to have a blog.  So if Three if by Strike puts up some numbers, then your summer just got a little bit hotter.

Red Sox Go 1-2 Against Royals, But Bring Much Needed Normalcy Back to Boston

On Friday night, the Red Sox were set to return home to Fenway Park for the first time since the Boston Marathon bombings. A tribute to the victims and first responders was set for the pre-game ceremonies, but a suspect on the loose and almost all of the Boston-area's law enforcement in Watertown for the manhunt to bring him to justice, the game had to be postponed.

The 19-year-old suspect was captured alive that night, bringing a sense of joy to Boston that had been stolen from the city on Monday.  The Red Sox held their first home game on Saturday afternoon, and with it came the emotional pre-game ceremony.  There were images on the scoreboard showing the marathon when it was like any other Marathon Monday that slowly transitioned to chaos and sadness.  There were images of the first responders and police officers, as well as the victims of this senseless attack.

But what changed between Friday's tribute to Saturday's were the images of the manhunt in Watertown, which brought loud cheers and a sense of pride, knowing that our men and women in uniform had once again, made us safe.  What changed was David Ortiz's return to the lineup, bringing with him a speech to not only the crowd but all of Boston, that got the city back on its feet.

In Saturday's game, Clay Buchholz dazzled again, going eight innings and giving up two runs, finishing with an ERA of 0.90 on the season.  It was a Daniel Nava three-run blast into the Sox bullpen (caught by Koji Uehara) that lifted the Sox to victory over the Kansas City Royals, setting up the perfect ending to an amazing and emotional day at the ballpark.

Sunday was a day-night doubleheader, but did not go the way the hometown crowd wanted.  There was still that different feeling in the air, a sense that this crowd was coming together not only for their team, but for themselves and their city.  Game one ended 4-2 in favor of the Royals, while bonus baseball was played in game two only to see Andrew Miller walk in the game-winning run in the 10th inning.

The highlight of game two was Allen Webster's first start of his major league career.  He gave up three runs, two of them earned, off five hits with five strikeouts in six innings.  Two of those hits were home runs, but he showed, at age 23, he's ready for The Show.  He was not afraid of hitters, as just a couple innings into his night, he was getting hitters down 0-2 with ease.

With the return of baseball, Boston has been restored.  Next, Fenway Park will welcome the Oakland A's, who have lost three in a row to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Boston Strong

 

 

 

Jackie Bradley Jr. Takes Family to Applebee's to Celebrate Opening Day

As if I wasn't looking forward to Jackie Bradley Jr. becoming my favorite player enough, the man draws a key walk to start a Red Sox rally on the team's way to a 8-2 win over the Yankees, then takes his family out to dinner in Times Square to celebrate.  What restaurant do they choose?

The Bee's.

“We all went out to Times Square and just hung out,” Bradley said. “My family’s never been to Times Square, so I wanted to show them what the big city, bright lights has to offer. We all went out to Applebee’s and just enjoyed ourselves, and came back and hung out.”

A veteran move by the 22-year-old who had just made his Major League debut a few hours prior.

Bradley brings an easy-going philosophy to the ballpark every day that could sound lackadaisical at first, but given his performances this spring and on Opening Day, he's just the type of player this year's team needs.

"I'm a pretty relaxed guy," he said.  "I like to chill, take it on.  If I get down 0-2, what's the worst that can happen?"

And when Bradley went down 0-2 in his first at-bat, he was as cool as the other side of the pillow, drawing a walk against Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia which helped ignite a four-run rally.  Along with the praise from Red Sox Nation, "JBJ" has received numerous texts and calls of congratulations from players like J.D. Drew and David Price, and even country singer Darius Rucker.

Red Sox Prove 2013 is a 'Whole New Ballgame,' Beat Yankees 8-2 in Season Opener

The Red Sox are 1-0 on the 2013 season, beating the New York Yankees 8-2 in Yankee Stadium on Opening Day.

The Red Sox drew eight walks and smacked 13 hits, while Jon Lester and the Sox bullpen held the ailing Yankees to two runs on six hits. Lester went five innings, striking out seven while giving up both runs along with five hits. 

The relief corps combined for four innings of one-hit baseball, with Koji Uehara, Andrew Miller, Andrew Bailey, Junichi Tazawa and Joel Hanrahan taking the hill.  Uehara needed just five pitches to get three outs in the sixth, and Bailey, Tazawa, Miller and Hanrahan hit 95, 96, 97 and 98 miles per hour on the radar gun respectively to shut down the Bronx Bombers.

The Sox hit .333 with runners in scoring position on the day, with stellar performances by Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Jose Iglesias.  Ellsbury went 3-for-6 with a triple and two RBI and Victorino added a couple knocks with three of his ribbies coming while there were two outs in the inning.  All three of Iglesias' hits stayed in the infield, but they'll look like line drives in the box score.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia managed to work three walks against Yankees' pitching, and crossed the plate twice as a result.  The much anticipated debut of Jackie Bradley Jr. saw the 22-year-old follow Saltalamacchia's lead, drawing three walks and knocking home a run as he grounded out to Robinson Cano.  Bradley made his first Major League start in left field Monday, a position he has never played until roughly a week ago in Spring Training, and made a circus grab tracking down a Cano blast just shy of the left field wall.

The Yankees didn't have too many bright spots in their first game of the new campaign, with one of the few coming when Francisco Cervelli slapped a two-run single off Lester in the fourth inning.  C.C. Sabathia gave up four runs on eight hits, but managed to strike out five.

The two teams will play again Wednesday night, and my confidence in this club is growing every day.  The offense looks like they're having fun and the pitching staff has taken on a whole new mentality.  Despite Monday's Yankees not being the team they will be at midseason due to injuries, it always feels good to beat them.  The Red Sox lost their final eight games of 2012, and are off to what looks like a hot start in 2013, crushing a Yankees pitching staff and excelling in all areas of the game.

Go Sox.

So Who is Jackie Bradley Jr.?

Fort Myers has been buzzing this spring, and for the first time in a calendar year, most of the news is positive.

The Boston Red Sox have a new manager and a lot of new faces around the clubhouse.  As with any Boston sports season, there are going to be pessimists -- 'why are we keeping David Ortiz around,' and 'well, we won't be able to beat the Blue Jays anyway!' -- who keep reliving the same 69-93 season of yesteryear.  But what about the optimists, what are they focusing on?  Is it the sub-2.50 ERA the starting rotation has combined for this season?  Is it that the team has a strong leader like John Farrell to get Boston back in the playoffs?

Or is it "uber-prospect" Jackie Bradley, Jr.?

In 19 games this spring, Bradley has posted a .439 average with a 1.110 OPS.  He is a versatile 22-year-old outfielder who was drafted 40th overall by the Sox in 2011 out of the University of South Carolina.  In 2010, he was named the College Baseball World Series Most Outstanding Player while averaging nearly an RBI per game during the regular season and going 10-for-29 in the postseason.

Last season, while splitting time between Single-A Salem and Triple-A Pawtucket, Bradley hit .315 with 55 extra-base hits, 87 walks, and 63 RBIs in 128 games.  He was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Red Sox organization, and currently ranked number 32 of MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects.

So why has his name come up so much recently?  Well, aside from him tearing up the Grapefruit League, Bradley's call-up situation is tricky.  As it stands, he is not on the 40-man roster for Boston, and if he were to play this season in Boston, it would affect his arbitration eligibility and free agency status down the road.  I don't want to just invite myself to the pessimist party, but I feel like people are counting this chicken before it hatches.

The idea has been kicked around that with Ortiz on the disabled list, the team could move Jonny Gomes to the DH position and call up Bradley to play left field in Boston.  Bradley is a young player who has shown a streak of brilliance, so why not ride the wave now and see if he can add a bang to this team and the fan base to start the season?

There is no doubt that Bradley is a great player, and seems to have a great attitude, so the safest bet would be to call him up now, let him learn from guys like Ellsbury, Gomes and Shane Victorino (not to mention Farrell), and if he plays too well to afford to send him down, well, that's a problem the Red Sox would love to have.

Red Sox Considering Brennan Boesch?

The Red Sox have signed some interesting names this offseason, but have not found that left-handed outfielder they have been searching for.

Less than three weeks away from Opening Day, the Detroit Tigers have released under-performing left-hander Brennan Boesch, and the Red Sox are among the teams with their eye on him.  The Mets and Yankees have also reportedly shown interest in the 27-year-old.

Boesch would bulk up the outfielding corps with his glove and playoff experience, but his offensive stats from 2012 are lacking: a .240 average with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 132 games.

Boesch was on the books for one year at $2.3 million after he avoided arbitration, and the Tigers will only be paying around $390,000 of that whether he signs elsewhere or not.

The Red Sox have signed some other under-performers this offseason like Mike Carp or Jonny Gomes, but maybe they're building up a monster intangibles list?  Its tough to say how this season is going to look whether Boesch signs or not, but if he does, it will be interesting to see where all the players fit in their first years in Boston.

Deja Drew All Over Again

Boston Red Sox and free agent catcher Mike Napoli agreed to a three year, $39 million deal on Dec. 3 of last year.  However, with pitchers and catchers reporting in less than a month, we still don't know if Napoli will be joining the team.

There have been several snags in negotiations with the former Texas slugger.  There are rumors surfacing of issues with Napoli's hip found during his physical which has sent up red flags for the organization, and consequently there are rumors that the deal will now be for just one guaranteed year.  Hmm, a player with an injury problem that the Sox are spending too much money on?

General manager Ben Cherington has seen this before, although he was not at the helm when this deal was being made.  Current Cubs GM Theo Epstein was the mastermind behind signing outfielder JD Drew in Boston, a contract worth $70 million that took 52 days to complete after the two sides agreed.  As talks dragged on, Epstein reportedly sent flowers to Drew's family.

"In the situation we had with Drew, you talk it through, try to use a lot of empathy, make sure he knows you realize it's an awkward situation and it's as awkward for them as it is for you," Epstein said.

"Just keep talking and try to find a mutually agreeable solution and remember that fairness is important.  Leverage can go back and forth at different times during the negotiations, but it's always important to remember that fairness matters in the end."

Epstein expressed his confidence in Cherington during his Hot Stove/Cool Music event last Friday, but as for now, the Napoli situation remains a mystery.  Also baffling is the Red Sox courtship of players like Adam LaRoche and more recently Michael Morse.  Its tough to see where their priorities are, and working on "back-up plans" seems suspect, leading to the belief that these talks may not be going the way the Boston front office had hoped for.

Hanrahan Named Closer Just Days After Signing

The Red Sox didn't waste any time naming new trade acquisition Joel Hanrahan the primary closer for the 2013 season.

Manager John Farrell had a conversation with presumed closer -- before the trade --  Andrew Bailey, in which he outlined the Sox plan for him and Hanrahan.  Bailey will be the primary set-up man for the former Pirates all-star.

So the back end of the bullpen is already set before going into spring training.  There's none of this, 'well, let's wait and see' attitude which plagued the team in plenty more areas than just the bullpen in 2012.  Right off the bat, Farrell is doing exactly what he said he would.  He's leading by example, drawing a line in the sand and making the tough decisions.

Bailey is not the type of guy who is going to sit there and cry about the hand he was dealt.  Instead, I'm sure he's glad to know his position so he can get to work mentally and physically preparing for the role he was held out of last season due to a nagging thumb injury.

So as Boston fills in the cracks in their roster, the team is starting to take shape.  In the pitching department, it appears they're working backwards, starting with the eighth and ninth inning guys and still trying to shore up their rotation.  Either way, as a Sox fan, I feel a little bit better knowing where at least one are of the team stands.

Cody Ross Heading for the Desert

Well, boys and girls, it appears Cody Ross is heading west.  He'll join the Arizona Diamondbacks next season through 2015, a deal worth $26 million dollars.

Ross joins a crowded outfield with Justin Upton, Jason Kubel and Gerrardo Parra already established, but with a 22 home run season last year, the D-backs have to hope his power can replace Chris Young, who was traded to the Athletics in October.

A .267 average, those 22 home runs and 81 RBI is hardly a down year for Ross, with the latter two stats being close to career-highs.  The Red Sox were reportedly interesting in re-signing him, but when they signed Shane Victorino after already acquiring Jonny Gomes, hopes were dashed.  Three years may have been a little steep for Ross to be asking for, but hey, he still has great value, he's a great clubhouse guy and he still does the bat flip.  Those kinds of guys just don't grow on trees, you know?

Is Stephen Drew Worth 9.5 Million Dollars?

No.

Four years ago, maybe.

The Red Sox, currently busy swooping up every over-priced free agent, have stayed true to their proven system of having solid veteran players while bringing up homegrown talent.  The shortstop position has been one held by an immeasurable number of players over the past decade and even know, despite the loss of Mike Aviles to the Blue Jays -- part of manager John Farell's compensation -- the Red Sox still have plenty of options.

Stephen Drew, younger brother to former Red Sox (and "greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history" if you ask my two roommates) JD, has signed a one year, $9.5 million contract in Boston, and could possibly be the frontrunner for starter on Opening Day.  But he doesn't earn the position on merit alone.

Drew only played in 79 games last season between Arizona and Oakland, hitting just .223 with seven home runs.  His career year was in 2008, when he hit .291 with 21 homers and 67 RBI.  But we're looking ahead to 2013, and his opportunity comes as the Nation waits to see the progress of prospects Jose Iglesias and Xander Bogaerts, who factor to be lacing up their cleats for the big league club sometime this year.

Bogaerts, just 20 years old, is progressing quickly in the minors, while Iglesias as well as Pedro Ciriaco have already made an impact in Boston.  Many are claiming that Ciriaco's stock will be dropping this season now that pitchers have had time to adjust to his game, but for my money, between Will Middlebrooks and Dustin Pedroia, Ciriaco provides exactly what you're looking for in the field and out of the eight of nine spot in the lineup.

Drew's signing doesn't really do a lot for Boston.  He doesn't provide anything the Red Sox don't already have, but the one thing the signing does is add to the sentiment that the 2013 Boston Red Sox are not messing around.

Can You Name Eight Players to Play for the 2004 Red Sox That Went on to Play for the Yankees?

Kevin Youkilis became the latest in a surprisingly long list of former Red Sox players to also lace 'em up for the New York Yankees.  A list that includes players like Wade Boggs, Luis Tiant and the immortal Eric Hinske from the 2007 World Series team.

But I came across an interesting fact on Wednesday: eight players from the 2004 Red Sox World Championship team have since gone on to play for the Bronx Bombers.  Can you name them all?

Kevin Youkilis - Youkilis signed a one year, $12 million deal with the Yankees on Tuesday, becoming the eighth former Red Sox champion to join the Evil Empire.

Derek Lowe - Lowe was an absolutely dominant pitcher for the Sox in the 2004 postseason.  For the Yankees in this past postseason?  A 13.50 ERA with just two innings pitched.

Johnny Damon - After having the game of his life in Game 7 of the ALCS in 2004 against the Yankees, ensuring the Sox trip to the World Series for the first time since 1986, Damon waited just a year until he fell to the dark side in 2006.  His stint lasted until 2009 as he averaged a .285 batting average with 19 homers a year.

Alan Embree - Embree was one of three relief pitchers to appear in the four games of the 2004 World Series, proving once again the dominance of the pitching performances that year.  In 2005, he played just 24 games with a 7.53 ERA in New York.  Should've stayed in Beantown...

Mark Bellhorn - Bellhorn got the 2004 Series off to a bang when he rattled a home run off of Pesky's Pole in right field, but his career quickly plummeted afterwards.  He played in just nine games for the Yankees in 2005, collecting a home run and a single as his only hits.

Ramiro Mendoza - Mendoza played for seven seasons in New York before coming to Boston to get his World Series ring in 2004.  So to show his thanks, he went right back to New York in 2005 to kick around in the minor leagues before his retirement in 2006.

Mike Myers - Myers managed to stay around for another go in 2005 in Boston, but packed his bags in 2006 for the Bronx.  He pitched just 30 innings that season, with another 40 more in 2007 -- the same season the Sox won another title.

Doug Mientkiewicz - It seemed like Mienkiewicz was just picking teams out of a hat after his defense helped the Sox secure their 2004 championship, and drew the Yankees in 2007 after two years with the Mets then Royals respectively.

So with the addition of Hinske, nine former Red Sox World Champions have gone on to play for the Yankees.  Scary thought, but with the exception of Damon, none of those players have come back to haunt the Red Sox, and I think Youkilis will fit right in with that trend.

Kevin Youkilis Falls to the Dark Side

Former Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis has given into temptation, abandoned his teachings and joined the dark side.  Fear of losing his starting job to Will Middlebrooks made him angry.  Anger caused him to question his role on the team and hate 2012 manager Bobby Valentine.  His hate led him to sign with the New York Yankees for $12 million next season on Tuesday.

"Hate, leads to suffering." -Yoda, 32 BBY

The deal in New York is awaiting a physical from Youkilis before it is official, but the plan right now is to bring Youkilis is for a year to fill in for Alex Rodriguez while he recovers from an ailing steroid-ridden body.  Youkilis hit a combined .235 last season with 19 home runs and 61 RBI for Boston and Chicago, and should be a solid replacement for the Yankees.

As far as consistency going, he's probably a better option than A-Rod at this stage in the game.  The Yankees lucked out signed Youkilis as the free agent pool of third basemen was drying up quickly with names like Jeff Keppinger and now ex-Yankee Eric Chavez getting signed a week ago.

The Red Sox will be in New York on Opening Day, April 1, for another installment of the greatest rivalry in sports.

Uehara Signs a One-Year Deal in Boston

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that left-handed reliever Koji Uehara will sign with the Boston Red Sox for the 2013 season.

No details on the contract have come about just yet, but the word is that the deal is for just one year.  His signing in Boston is dependent on passing a physical.

Uehara adds to the pretty serious list of names that the Red Sox have picked up during the Winter Meetings in Nashville.  Jonny Gomes, Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino have already shipped up to Boston, which is not exactly a "serious list," but it is when you consider that the Sox, after going 69-93, have been the biggest and most aggressive players at these meetings, overshadowing just about every other team.

In 36 innings last season, Uehara posted a 1.75 ERA before missing time with a strained lat muscle.  We'll see if he can do any damage at the back of the bullpen.

Red Sox Add the Flyin' Hawaiian Shane Victorino

The Red Sox made another move to bolster their 2013 roster during the Winter Meetings on Tuesday.  Free agent Shane Victorino was signed to a three year, $37.5 million contract, just a day after catcher Mike Napoli received a free agent deal for the same number of years, but at $39 million total.

The signing of the Flyin' Hawaiian should seal the door shut for the Sox to sign anymore outfielders this offseason.  They have had their eyes set on talent such as Josh Hamilton, Nick Swisher and Cody Ross, who became a free agent after his one year contract in Boston expired.

With Ryan Sweeney on his way back after a hand injury and Daniel Nava making waves as a mid-season call-up last year, why the Sox were so eager to sign outfielders is a mystery.  The club signed Jonny Gomes for a couple years at a total of $10 million, adding to a deep, veteran outfield that collectively could provide a pretty good spark for the offense.  But finding the right balance, and playing guys when they're hot, or as "hot" as they can be at this stage in their career, will prove difficult for Sox manager John Farrell.

The Sox next target is a top shelf starting pitcher, and reports indicate they're looking for a short term, big money deal with someone in the very near future.