FLORIDA REDSOX FAN

Friday, December 15

Red Sox signed LHP J.C. Romero, who had been with the Angels, to a one-year contract.
The Boston bullpen is certainly getting more crowded. Whether it's really any better is still to be determined. Romero joins Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez, Hideki Okajima and Brendan Donnelly as apparent locks to make the team. Manny Delcarmen should have a big edge for one of the remaining two openings, leaving Kyle Snyder, Craig Hansen, Craig Breslow, Javier Lopez, Devern Hansack, Lenny DiNardo, Kason Gabbard and Rule 5 pick Nick DeBarr fighting for what would seem to be one job. And since the Red Sox are still hunting for a closer, there might not be room for any of those guys. Frankly, we're not sure Romero is a better bet than Breslow in a specialist role. He held left-handers to a .202 average for the Angels last season, but he still finished with a 6.71 ERA and a 31/28 K/BB ratio in 48 1/3 innings. Even when he's effective, he's a terribly frustrating pitcher.

RedSox Acquire Donnelly

This is a 2006 file photo of Brendan Donnelly of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. The Boston Red Sox acquired former All-Star reliever Donnelly from the Angels on Friday, Dec. 15,2006.

Thursday, December 14

Sox unveil Matsuzaka

BOSTON -- The month-long odyssey of wooing Daisuke Matsuzaka finally complete, the Red Sox proudly unveiled the Japanese right-hander late Thursday afternoon at a packed Fenway Park press conference like no other in the history of the fabled franchise.
With roughly 300 members of the media gathered in a glassed-in function room behind home plate, and enough camera flashes to blur the eyes of those on the podium, Matsuzaka formally addressed Red Sox Nation for the first time.
"You don't know what's going to happen, so I'm just going trying to do as well as possible," said Matsuzaka through an interpreter. "I'm very happy and excited to be a member of the Boston Red Sox."
It was a joyous event for the Red Sox, announcing the signing of the Most Valuable Player of last March's World Baseball Classic to a six-year contract worth $52 million with escalator clauses that could bring it to $60 million.
"Today, what we're really doing is announcing the signing of a national treasure," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "We've followed Daisuke since Koshien in 1998, throughout his entire professional career and all his accomplishments. We understand his importance in Japan. We know what he represents."
The Red Sox hope he will represent steady greatness on the mound. Matsuzaka, who posed with his new No. 18 Red Sox jersey, didn't try to hide the excitement of his new opportunity.
"Very many interesting things have happened in my life," Matsuzaka said. "Besides getting married and having a baby, this is the most exciting thing."

Saturday, November 25

Big Papi finishes third in AL MVP voting

Red Sox slugger places behind Twins' Morneau, Yankees' Jeter.

And again for the third time David Ortiz was given the boot because of his status as a DH and not an everyday, A-Typical player. I was hoping that the voters would set the precedent this year and vote for Ortiz as this years MVP. Ortiz has been a late inning comeback human hi-lite reel for the past 3 years and should have finished first in voting for the MVP.

Compare Ryan Howard's numbers: 182 Hits, , 58 HR's, .313 Avg. 149 RBI's, 25 Doubles, .425 OBP, .659 SLG. and 181 Strike-Outs in 159 games.

David Ortiz: 160 Hits, 54 Hr's, .287 Avg. 137 RBI's,

29 Doubles, .413OBP, .636 SLG. and 117 Strike-outs

in 151 Games.

So you do the math, My vote,if I had one, goes to David Ortiz who has worked extremely hard to eliminate the holes in his swing and has been the MVP on the RedSox for the past 2 seasons and in the AL in my opinion.

Thursday, September 21

Ortiz Breaks Sox Record With HRs 51, 52

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:41:15 -0400 (EDT)

David Ortiz hit his 51st and 52nd homers Thursday night, breaking the Red Sox record for most homers in a season of 50 set in 1938 by Jimmie Foxx.
Ortiz connected on the first pitch he saw in the first inning from Johan Santana, sending it over the Boston bullpen in right-center field. The lefty designated hitter hit the ball even further in the seventh, belting it over the center-field wall on a full count against Matt Guerrier.
The 52 homers ties Ortiz for 12th most in AL history.
On the record-breaking shot, Ortiz hit the ball with two outs and the bases empty. He circled the bases to a standing ovation. The only other player to hit his 51st homer at Fenway Park was Mickey Mantle, who did it exactly 50 years before Ortiz.
The homers also set the major league record by a designated hitter. He has 45, two more than he hit when he set the record last season.
Ortiz had tied the records on Wednesday night with another solo shot, off Boof Bonser.Thursday, he hit his 51st off the left-handed Santana, the AL leader in wins and ERA.

When he reached home plate, Ortiz raised both hands to the sky, his usual post-home run gesture, then went to on-deck hitter Mike Lowell, who congratulated him. Ortiz's teammates were on the top step of the dugout or inside it and applauded as he approached.
Manager Terry Francona was one of the first to hug him and others followed. Ortiz then left the dugout and tipped his cap.
His teammates gave him the silent treatment after his second homer, allowing him to go in the dugout and put his helmet away. A few seconds later they surrounded him with hugs and smiles.
The homers increased his AL leading totals in homers and RBIs with 132. Philadelphia's Ryan Howard leads the majors in both categories.

Tuesday, September 5