MIchael "Air" Jordan Versus Tom "Terrific" Brady

Pretty Cool.

Christian Vazquez Out Blake Swihart In

   

                                     

                                    Red Sox top catching prospect Blake Swihart




Today it has been announced that Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez will miss time due to Fridays MRI results. To what extent Vazquez is injured or how long he will be on the shelf is still unclear. Red Sox Manager John Farrell did speak today and said this:


“There’s some findings in the MRI,” “To what extent, that’s not being determined right now. There’s likely going to be a second opinion. So, we’re still in a little bit of a fact-finding mode right now. What that means going forward is … there’s no clear-cut plan going forward yet. Hopefully, through the coming days, we would have some more definitive information and then a follow-up plan after that.”


Career Back up catcher and Massachusetts native Ryan Hanigan will in all likelihood be named the starting catcher for opening day and get the majority of starts while Vazquez is on the DL, but the back up catcher position is now up for grabs.


In my humble opinion the decision on who will be the Sox back up catcher should be an easy one. I give you Blake Swihart. The 22 year old switch hitting back-stop is the number one prospect in the Red Sox system and the 17th ranked in all of baseball.


Swihart is a switch hitter, has plus power, and many say his defense is much better than he is given credit for. The young Red Sox catcher has already been impressing many scouts drawing some early comparisons to Joe Mauer and Buster Posey.


Swihart has been a success at every level at the Red Sox minor league level and this spring he has not disappointed. To date Swihart's spring training stats in 11 games played: .333 AVG/ .385 OBP/ 8 hits/ 1 double/ 1 home run/ 5 runs/ 1 BB/ 5 RBI. During this 2015 Red Sox spring training Swihart has shown he is a more than capable big league catcher right now at this point in his young career.


Bringing Swihart up now to back up Hanigan will be the perfect chance to introduce the young catcher to the big leagues in a relatively low pressure situation as a back up. In my eyes Blake Swihart will be the Red Sox Catcher of the future so while he looks like he's ready and there is a clear need of his services he should be on the 2015 opening day roster.

Ortiz Talks Steroids and Hall of Fame

Red Sox DH David Ortiz

David Ortiz has taken to The Players' Tribune, website of former New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. Ortiz sounds off about a variety of topics and as usual he is never boring.

In 2009 it came out that Ortiz tested positive in the 2003 allegedly anonymous PED test, It did not list what Oritz tested positive for. Since 2009 Ortiz has vehemently denied that he has knowingly taken any PEDs.

Quotes from Ortiz in The Players Tribune:




“Let me tell you something, the only thing you’re going to find in my blood is rice and beans.”


“In some people’s minds, I will always be considered a cheater. And that’s bullshit. Mark my words: Nobody in MLB history has been tested for PEDs more than me. You know how many times I’ve been tested since 2004? More than 80. They say these tests are random. If it’s really random, I should start playing the damn lottery. Some people still think the testing is a joke. It’s no joke. Ten times a season these guys come into the clubhouse or my home with their briefcases. I have never failed a single one of those tests and I never will.”


“But that doesn’t matter to some people. Some people still look at me like I’m a cheater because my name was on a list of players who got flagged for PEDs in 2003. Let me tell you something about that test. Most guys were taking over-the-counter supplements then. Most guys are still taking over-the-counter supplements. If it’s legal, ballplayers take it. Why? Because if you make it to the World Series, you play 180 games. Really think about that for a second. 180 games. Your kids could be sick, your wife could be yelling at you, your dad could be dying — nobody cares. Nobody cares if you have a bone bruise in your wrist or if you have a pulled groin. You’re an entertainer. The people want to see you hit a 95-mile-an-hour fastball over a damn 37-foot wall.”


“Okay, sure, I’ll take that. I’m buying an over-the-f***ing-counter supplement in the United States of America. I’m buying this stuff in line next to doctors and lawyers. Now all of a sudden MLB comes out and says there’s some ingredient in GNC pills that have a form of steroid in them. I don’t know anything about it.”


“If you think I’m full of it, go to your kitchen cabinet right now and read the back of a supplement bottle and honestly tell me you know what all of that stuff is. I’m not driving across the border to Mexico buying some shady pills from a drug dealer. I’m in a strip mall across from the Dunkin’ Donuts, bro.”







Ortiz would appear to be campaigning for a possible future Baseball Hall of Fame induction. To be be clear, I am a huge Ortiz fan and It sucks that he has this cloud of doubt hanging over him. As Red sox fans we can only hope that more information comes out proving Ortiz was not on the list for any anabolic steroids or any of the other "serious" PEDs.

If I am being honest with myself, I don't think that I believe him.

Roger Goodell at the Owners Meetings

The newest Larry Johnson sports cartoon via WEEI.

Jets File Tampering Charges against the Patriots.

According to a report from profootballtalk.com The New York Jets have filed tampering charges against The Patriots for comments made by Patriots owner Robert Kraft about former Patriot now Jet Darrelle Revis.  

Jets File Tampering Charges Against The Patriots 

Latest Cartoon by WEEI.com's Larry Johnson

Being a huge fan of Larry Johnson's Boston sports artwork, I have posted his latest cartoon and will continue to post new ones as he does.

My Top 5 Hated Yankee List

5. JORGE POSADA- Being only 29 years old, Posada was part of the core group of Yankees that regularly F'd up my Red Sox world as a child. According the greatest pitcher of all time (Pedro Martinez) during the 2003 Pedro/Zimmer confrontation Posada allegedly had some not so nice comments directed toward Pedro's mother. If Pedro doesn't like your big eared goofy looking face, I don't either.

4. PAUL O'NEILL- If you ask the New York media or the Yankee fan base most would tell you former Yankee Paul O'Neill was a fierce competitor that played with a passion rivaled by few. If you asked me (or many others outside New York) about Paul O'Neill I would tell you he came off like a whiney little bitch who I couldn't stand watching. I say screw Paul O'Neill.

3. WADE BOGGS- I was pretty pissed when former third baseman Wade Boggs first put on the Yankee pinstripes but the moment I watched Wade Boggs celebrate the 1996 Yankees Championship by riding around on that friggin horse I felt I was being mocked as a Red Sox fan. 2098 hits with .338 batting average with Boggs in a Red Sox uniform went right out the window and now mean absolutely nothing to me.

2. ALEX RODRIGUEZ- For the longest time Rodriguez was the New York Yankee that I found most hate worthy. There was the almost-trade that would have sent the Rangers short stop Alex Rodriguez to Boston for Manny Ramirez. This deal not only fell through because of the Baseball Players Union stepping in, Rodriguez then of course ends up with the frigging Yankees ( hindsight being what it is, we should all thank God A-Frod never found his way into a Red Sox uniform) . Then there was the infamous Bronson Arroyo glove slap in game 6 of the 2004 ALCS (that video is posted above for your viewing pleasure). It feels like year after year Rodriguez looks worse and worse in the eye of public opinion. A-Rod recently getting busted for PEDs again (after vehemently denying the allegations to anyone who would listen) coupled with how pathetic he looks makes me almost feel a tiny bit sorry former the former League MVP. So he got bumped to 2.

• 1. THE ROCKET ROGER CLEMENS- Even though Clemens didn't leave Boston to go to the Yankees directly, The Rocket still ended up in The Bronx helping the Yankees win 2 World Series Championships. Then in 2007 The Sox were actually trying to re-aquire the Rocket but he ultimately decided on going back to the Yankees. Later that same year in December of 2007 Clemens' legacy was about take a hit it would never recover from. Clemens was listed in the Mitchell Report with the report alleging he had used banned substances in 1998, 2000, and 2001. The Mitchell Report opened the pandoras box of the Roger Clemens steroid scandal which still affects the Rocket to this day. I enjoy every second of it.

10 Question For Red Sox 2015 Season

10. STARTING OUTFIELD-  With Hanley Ramirez holding down left field the other two spots in the outfield should be an interesting storyline all season long. Shane Victorino, Mookie Betts, Allen Craig, and Rusney Castillo are all competing for the two available spots.

9. HANLEY RAMIREZ-  Screw Lebron James and Darrelle Revis.  The real homecoming story worth celebrating is the triumphant return of former top Sox prospect Hanley Ramirez.  Previously Ramirez has been a shortstop and third baseman but this year he will be patrolling left field.  With Ramirez having the athleticism to play shortstop I can't imagine that he will have much trouble (especially at Fenway Park).  Still, with Hanley's lack of experience at the position its worth keeping an eye on it.

8. PABLO SANDOVAL-  Sandoval will be entering his first season with Red Sox and while he has always had tremendous success in high pressure situations, it remains an unknown how Sandoval will handle the scrutiny of the Boston market.  The former San Francisco Giant was just given a 95 million dollar contract to play for the Red Sox.  Will a fat baseball player without the motivation of a new contract perform the way we expect him to.

7. DUSTIN PEDROIA-   Although the second baseman has not missed any serious time he has been riddled with injuries.  Pedroia has still been bringing gold glove caliber defense to the ballpark everyday  but nagging injuries have seen his home run and slugging percentage decline over the past four seasons.  This offseason Pedroia recovered from wrist surgery and by all accounts he has showed this spring feeling physically strong and confident.  Since showing up for spring training Pedroia has been telling anybody who will listen that he is back to former self and to expect a big time year. I am one of the biggest Dustin Pedroia fans you will ever find but due to the recent track record of a noticeable four season offensive decline I am skeptical we will ever see anything resembling the MVP Dustin Pedroia again.

6.  XANDER BOGAERTS- The Red Sox starting shortstop's rookie campaign was certainly one filled with ups and downs.  Bogaerts did finish his rookie season with a strong month of play but there are still questions looming about his sophomore season.  Offensively I believe Xander has made the adjustments needed to consistently  perform at an elite caliber level but watching how he adjusts to the inevitable opposing pitchers adjustments will be  something to keep an eye on.  The real question mark for Bogaerts lies with his defensive game.  In 144 games Bogaerts had a handful of costly errors with 20 in total.  Xander played 99 games at shortstop and 44 games at third base.  After many struggles at shortstop the then Redsox rookie was moved to third base last May with the re-acquisition of Steven Drew.  After Steven Drew put together about 2 months worth of pathetic at-bats he was shipped to the New York Yankees last July.  Many thought the struggles of Bogaerts could have been attributed to the Drew acquisition and being moved to third base. It would appear those thoughts may have some merit seeing Bogaerts did turn his season around both offensively and defensively after Drew departure.  This spring many are saying the shortstop is noticeably better with his footwork defensively.  Seeing how all of this translates over the 2015 season could be a storyline all season long.

5.  MIKE NAPOLI- The Sox bearded first baseman saw his 2014 season negatively effected by a case of sleep apnea so severe he needed facial surgery to address the issue.  Napoli claims his sleeping situation has drastically improved after his surgery which should translate into a more productive output in 2015.  In 2014 Napoli's home run production was lower than 20 (17) for the first time since the 2007 season.  Lets hope the Sox first baseman sleeps well this season.

4.  THE BULLBEN-  I really don't know what to expect from the Red Sox 2015 bullpen.  I am going to get to Koji Uehara later but as for the rest of the bunch the only pitchers that can I confidently count on would be Junichi Tazawa and hesitantly Edward Mujica.  I am definitely intrigued by the talent of Alexi Ogando but due to his recent injury history I am not about to count on him for late inning production.  Matt Barnes is a pitcher that I predict to have a breakout season.  He has the stuff of a closer with a dominant fast (hitting the upper 90s), but Barnes is just a rookie so no one knows for sure whether he will be ready this season.  Needless to say there are many question about the 2015 incarnation of the Boston Red Sox bullpen.

3. DAVID ORTIZ-  Over last few seasons many media members routinely offer their yearly preseason prediction that this will be the year that father time catches up with David Ortiz.  Judging by Ortiz's 2014 season (35 homeruns/104 RBIs/.873 OPS) the Red Sox still have one of the best 3 whole hitters in the game.  Ortiz is now 39 years old and the season soon will come when father time does finally catch up with Big Papi.  As a Sox fan, I hope all the yearly Ortiz doubters will be proven wrong for at least one more year.

2.  KOJI UEHARA-  The Red Sox closer started out the 2014 season picking up right where he left off from his incredibly dominant 2013 season.  In months March-July Uehara post an ERA under 2.  Then came August.  In the month of August in 12 games Uehara posted a 5.56 ERA allowing opposing batters to hit a dreadful .327.  In the months of September/October the Sox closer wrapped up his season with a 6.23 ERA with batters hitting .278 in only 5 games.  Uehara (now 39 years old) showed up this spring claiming that last season he was dealing with some type of injury but would not specify on what exactly.  Koji also says he feels great and is ready for a strong season.   Uehara is almost 40 years old coming off an off season and he has looked like crap this spring, this should be a concern for all of Red Sox Nation.

1.  THE STARTING ROTATION-  With John Lester signing with Theo Epstein's Chicago Cubs the Boston Red Sox starting rotation looks like this: Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Wade Miley, Joe Kelly, and Justin Masterson.  Im not seeing anything looking like a clear cut number one Ace on this pitching staff.  In fact i'll go as far to say as every starting pitcher Boston has are 3 or 4 quality starters.  Porcello has the best chance to become something close to resembling an ace having his break out season in 2014. In 2014 Porcello went 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA in 204.2 innings pitched. Buchholz and Masterson both had off-years in 2014 and Miley is making the ominous jump from National League to AL East.  With so many question marks in the Red Sox starting rotation look for the Sox to allow their offense (which appears to be stacked 1-9) to carry the pitching staff to the July 31st trading deadline where they will re-access the pitching staff and look for available options via trade (i.e. Cole Hamels).