Tuesday, January 27, 2009

SILLY SEASON - 1/27 ...AND SOME FOOTBALL

***SEAN CASEY RETIRES***
This can't help the Red Sox. A 12-year veteran with a career .302 batting average, he was the main back-up at 1st. People are already wondering about the Hall Of Fame chances for him. Picasner doesn't think so, but he was a very valuable guy to have around.

***VARITEK HAS UNTIL SATURDAY***
The Red Sox offer ($5 million with options) expires on Saturday. Take it, Jason, it's a gift.

***WHERE IS SCOTT BORAS WHEN YOU NEED HIM***
Andy Pettitte has steadfastly refused the Yanks offer of $10 million for one year. Now, in a negotiating coup, he has accepted $5.5 million for one year. I don't think he understands the process.

***KENNY ROGERS CONSIDERS RETIREMENT***
He has won 219 games and has 5 Gold Gloves to this credit. I will always remember him as one of the most frustrating pitchers to watch. Nibble, nibble, nibble. I think some hitters made outs just to get away from the batters box. The last guy who pitched that way was Tommy John, who was known to go 3 or 4 innings without throwing a strike.

***JOBA TO THE 'PEN***
With Pettitte on board, Joba should be assigned to the bullpen as the 8th inning guy. With Mariano's shoulder a question mark, Joba could fill in as the closer until Rivera was ready. If you watch Joba pitch carefully, you will notice something very telling. When he was a starter, rarely did his fastball reach 96 MPH, and his curve was not very effective. When he relieved, that fastball would be 97 & 98 MPH and that slider was devastating. There are plenty of candidates for that 5th spot in the rotation.

I'll save the football story for later today.

***17 DAYS TIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS***

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