I am not suprised at all by this decision... http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylc=X3oDMTAydTlsbWkzBAMx?slug=ap-redsox-little&prov=ap&type=lgns
Today is the first business day after the World Series. Teams were instructed not to make any headlines until the WS was over.
Heh, I bet the Red Sox were hoping for a Series sweep so they could get it over and done with ASAP. The obvious decision. Sad, but it had to be done.
And yet the Reds decided to announce the hiring of O'Brien on the day before game six of the World Series. I still can't believe they couldn't wait till today's press conference to tell the press about it.
Hm, what was I saying a couple weeks ago about how the Sox "only" have to go for one top tier Starting Pitcher to be very dangerous next year? I'm not liking the sound of this, if Gammons knows what he's talking about: "If New England fans think that a new manager will be accompanied by a couple of big-name free agents, they will be disappointed. The Red Sox are committed to nearly $110 million in '04, so unless they can move salary or end up trading Nomar Garciaparra -- unlikely since the Padres have backed off -- they'll have to settle for a Tier II starting pitcher and subtle additions. There is no way they can take a plunge on Bartolo Colon (who reporterdly turned down a three-year, $35 million deal from the White Sox) or Andy Pettitte, so the best hope of improving their starting pitching may be signing Kelvim Escobar and moving Byung-Hyun Kim into the rotation."
If you ask me, that's the only way Kim can ever remain in Boston, as a starter. He has the arm to do it, but does he have the psyche to pitch in Boston? Should this become the official off-season thread? Lots of people already filed for free agency: Javy Lopez, Benito Santiago, and I thought I heard Andy Pettite this morning too.
Now they place Manny on waivers! Well, until the weekend passes he is yours for just over 100 million dollars for the next five years.
At least Manny will get it through his thick skull that he's overpaid and nobody wants him at this price.
We can only hope. Rob Neyer's take: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=1650072 I'd think the Mets would be nuts enough to pick that contract up.
Grady Little is being looked at by the Baltimore Orioles.... perfect replacement for the departed Hargroves. Both were "nearly there" but couldn't finish it out...