WBC Weirdness, Part II

So I always thought it was weird (and typical) that A-Rod wanted to play for the Dominican in the World Baseball Classic, given he was born in New York City. But then I looked at the other players' eligibilities. Right now, fourteen current or recent MLB players are eligible to play for Italy: Frank Catalanotto, David Delucci, Mark DeRosa, Mike DiFelice, Tony Fiore, Mike Gallo, Jason Grilli, Matt Mantei, Frank Menechino, Doug Mirabelli, Val Pascucci, Mike Piazza, Joe Vitiello, and Pete Zoccolillo. None were born in Italy. Instead, each is eligible because he has a parent who was born in or is (or was, if deceased) a citizen of the country. (Click here for a FAQ with the elgibility rules.)

So maybe everyone else knew this rule but me, but I find it interesting for a couple reasons. (1) I have to say, I'm surprised that so many MLB players of Italian descent are (on one side of the family at least) first-generation. In fact, I'm hard-pressed to come up with many MLBers with obviously Italian surnames who aren't on the list - only Giambi, Fasano, and Graffanino come to mind. (2) I wonder how many of these 14 guys speak Italian (I imagine some, but not all); I also wonder how many of the other 46 players on the team speak English. Again, probably many but not all of them - so it could be an interesting team dynamic. (3) I just thought of another guy not on the list - Jason Simontacchi. But he played for Italy in the Olympics. So...huh? (4) Valentino Pascucci is an awesome name, and if he ever returns to the majors deserves consideration for the Arquimedez Pozo Award.

Update: Okay, so I'm stupid. Thanks to X (in the comments), other non-elgible players with obviously Italian last names include: Rocco Baldelli, John Franco, Barry Zito, Jeff Fassero, Ricky Bottalico, Craig Biggio, Lenny DiNardo, Lou Merloni, Carl Pavano (?), Mike Mussina, Rich Aurilia (?), Ron Villone...

Curse of CHB

Just finished the morning Globe as a prep heading into the Pats game. And CHB is at it again. Basically predicting a Pats victory - not as blatant as the Secretariat and his prediction the Pats would roll over Indy earlier this year, but things are not looking good for the Pats now.

Snow Patrol

Snow Falls in Boston - Calgary Sun, 1/7/6
It's Snowing in Boston - SportsNewtwork, 1/7/6
Snow is in Sox' Forecast - Providence Journal, 1/7/6
Snow is in the Fenway Forecast - Brattleboro Reformer, 1/7/6
Sox have Snow Day - Boston Herald, 1/7/6
Snow Ball!!! - SawxBlog, 1/6/6
Snow in the Forecast - Sox1Fan, 1/6/6
Expect Snow this Summer - Over the Monster, 1/6/6
Snow Blankets Hub - Fenway Nation, 1/6/6
Let it Snow - 12eight, 1/6/6
There Will Be Snow in Boston - Boston Blood Sox, 1/6/6
Snow in Boston - Firebrand of the AL, 1/6/6
Could there be Snow in Boston? - Fresno Bee, 1/3/6
Snow in Forecast for Sox? - Boston Globe, 1/1/6
A forecast of Snow for Sox, Fenway - Boston Herald, 12/31/5
Holiday Snow wanted - Boston Herald, 12/29/5

More on the way...

Woo-hoo!...?

"There will be no trade, I'm staying in Boston, where I'm familiar with the system and where I have a lot of friends, especially David Ortiz."

Manny Ramirez, January 5

(...good thing he's not some sort of flake, so we know there's no chance he'll change his mind, huh?)

Update: Manny's agent is denying he ever said that. That didn't take long. Once again, we at GYS nail another incredibly easy prediction!

Call me a traitor....

But I don't think I will be able to cheer for the US team in the WBC. Seriously. Especially now that A-Rod says he now will play for the US (after I'm sure, Team Boras calculating that this is the best possible situation for his image.) For starters, even if the team had like a zillion players (all of whom I like) and the game was on the line, I could not root for A-Rod to come through with the winning hit. I really do not want to listen to him and his canned perfect quotes about how its an honor to play for the US and he's just trying to help his team blah, blah, blah.

But seriously - the US team is going to likely have Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jeter, A-rod, new enemy Johnny Damon, and possibly Gary Sheffield and old enemy Andy Pettite. Can you seriouly root for this team? Especially since the first 6 guys in that list will likely be front an center when it comes to the spotlight. Sure there will be feel good stories of "kids" - Texeria, D-Train, Huston Street, Jake Peavy to name a few. And Varitek should see the bulk of the meaningful playing time (hey A-Rod and Tek will be teammates - very cool). I'm sorry, but its just not a likeable bunch.

I may cheer for the DR or just all around good baseball. Heck the DR team will have Manny, Papi, a still likeable Pedro, Vladi and Pujols. At least they will be serious about playing for their country.

Judgement in the Off-Season

This front office has taken a ton of heat. I am starting to think it is mostly because Damon went to the YANKEES and for really no other reason, yet...They will get a CF and a SS (if you don't like Graf and Cora there)...To support my argument here is the list of arrivals and departures.

Arrivals: RHP Beckett (trade), 3B Lowell (trade), 2B Loretta (trade), 3B Marte (trade), RHP Guillermo Mota (trade) and RHP Jamie Vermilyea (trade).

Departures: CF Damon, 3B Bill Mueller, SS Renteria, 1B Millar, 1B John Olerud, LHP Mike Myers, C Doug Mirabelli.

Call me crazy, but I like the "arrivals" list overall more than the "departures". Figure that Youk and JT Snow take over for Millar and Olerud and I am feeling pretty good about things.

The Rumor

Anyone else hearing anything on this about Manny's wife being the real reason for the trade request? And supposedly b/c Manny cheated on her.

Hall of Fame to be announced in one week

My ballot:

Goose Gossage, Jim Rice, Andre Dawson and Albert Belle.

See comments for debate:

Manny being Manny

Well, as I had predicted before it was made public, the speculation of Manny wanting more money has now been made public. This is, in my opinion, actually a good thing.

I had this sneaking suspicion all along - and I'm glad I finally put it down in black and white. Not that any of us should be surprised, but Manny is full of crap and agents are (generally) money grubbing slime.

I have said a number of times that the Sox should keep Manny. Period. They are a better team with him and even getting Tejada (while filling holes) is NOT equal value. Now, I say they can call his bluff in one of two ways.

1. Make a deal with Baltimore. Hell make it a sweetheart deal for the O's - Manny, Clement and Lester or Marte (don't have a hear attack, let me finish). Even agree to pay some of the $57 MM. The O's get their 72 hours to "negotiate" with Manny, who will ultimately say he won't wave his no trade unless they give him $40 MM more (i.e., more than 33% more than market value. Baltimore will/may ask the Sox for even more $$. And then the Sox say NO. Baltimore certainly won't exercise the options. Trade off. And Manny can't whine. The tried to trade him. They did trade him. But then Manny will turn it down not because he wants to play for a winner. Not because he won't get privacy in Balt. Not because of location. But because of money. And this from the guy who said he would retire after 2008. And whose agents said he would not report to camp (and leave $20MM on the table). Yeah right. The same guy who five years ago went to the highest bidder.

2. The other option. Straight up call his bluff. No trade. They tried. Tell him tough. Let him threaten to sit out. He'll go to camp for the Dominican in the WBC. He'll get his ABs and his work in. Come April 1 he will come to his senses (and cents). And come back to Boston.

Either way - call his bluff. They are a better team with him. And frankly, even if he is gone the Boston Red Sox will always be a soap opera. We all thought it might be different after winning it all, but if anything it has gotten worse.

What Do the Sox Really Need?

Ok...let's not think about "other teams" and how they got better or whatever...What do the Sox really need?

If healthy, their starting rotation looks good. Currently, they even have guys they can trade (Wells, Clement, Arroyo (after his comments about Johnny leaving, I would guess he is gone))...

Their bullpen, again, if healthy, looks good.

Catcher? Good

Ok, so let's look at the infield.
Youk at first (also looks like JT Snow will be added to the mix for platooning)...
Loretta at second
Lowell at third.
Shortstop? I think, honestly they can get away with Cora there. He's a very good fielder but not a great hitter. He does hit, though, and at the very least he can work the count. Stick him in the nine hole and he'd be fine...
Also, we have Graffanino...he can play 2b, ss, or 3b...
So do we have to trade for Tejada?

Well, that brings us to the outfield...
RF Trot Nixon...He's the only definite. But, he gets hurt way too much.
CF We do not have a CF...
LF Currently Manny, but HE WANTS TO LEAVE...Therefore, Tejada...Which leaves the Sox with a good-when-healthy RF in Nixon, and nothing else.

Of course the O's would give us an outfielder in the trade, either (my guess from a previous post) Matos or Gibbons.

Then Wells for Roberts?

Our outfield would then be
RF Nixon
CF Matos or Roberts
LF Gibbons or Matos or Roberts

In Roberts, you get a leadoff guy...So in typical Grieve fashion I conclude this post with the new Red Sox lineup.

CF Dave Roberts
2B Mark Loretta/Graffanino
DH David Ortiz
SS Miguel Tejada
LF Jay Gibbons
3B Mike Lowell
C Jason Varitek
RF Trot Nixon
1B Kevin Youkilis/Snow

Bench
Stern
Flaherty
Cora