Boston Red Sox

hat tip Walkoff Walk

BostonHerald.com Meeting of the GM minds

The club’s free agents - The chief priority will be to talk with agent Scott Boras about catcher Jason Varitek [stats]. Before Epstein leaves Thursday morning, he should have a pretty good idea about Varitek’s contractual demands. If Boras indicates that Varitek is looking for something longer than a two-year deal, the Sox will begin looking at other options.

The Sox won’t pursue many of their own free agents, including veteran pitchers Mike Timlin [stats] and Bartolo Colon, and first baseman Sean Casey. Outfielder/first baseman Mark Kotsay, a late-season acquisition, would be welcomed back but will probably go elsewhere for a chance to play more.

a poll i hoped i would never see.

after much deliberation,[none] I'll predict that the MVP will be Fransisco Rodriguez.

Dustin Pedroia's name will get the most play by the world wide leader of course, and they will host an hour long special on why he didn't win, but Fransisco has earned this hardware.

MVP for Fransisco, and then give the CY young to Cliff Lee, just to toss everybody for a loop.

If you had that on your scorecard in April, you are a liar.

Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach is 28 years old already. I find that some what shocking. I guess he has always had his career path blocked by two of the best in the game, Victor Martinez, and Jason Varitek, so I don't know if it is fair to say that Kelly Shoppach is a late bloomer or not, but it is sure a beautiful flower isn't it.

I snagged Shoppach up in two leagues when Victor Martinez went down. I'd even say that Shppoach is the reason for my rebound in the H2HWS. On that same Inglewood team, I also own Victor Martinez, who is currently residing on the DL with zero homeruns on the year. Martinez is going to have to show me a little something, once healthy, just to get a ride at utility. No way I am moving Shoppach. Eric Wedge could bench Kelly Shoppach, and I am not moving him.

I own Chris Young on a couple of fantasy leagues, so I am of course happy to have him back.

On the other hand, I do not understand why the Padres themselves are rushing him back. They should give him at least one rehab game, maybe even let him sit another week. Heck just shut him down for the year. What do the friars benefit from bringing Chris Young back for 4 or 5 meaningless starts. Are those 30 innings from Young really that important? is it a bonus thing?

Physically, The guy has had a brutal year. Let him heal.

I wonder if they miss Manny yet.

I didn't kick out a chatter yesterday. It was all drawn up, and I have a number of solid pieces in there, but it is all old news by now. Not only that, there is no chatter. No opinion, nothing. Just a bunch of links to day old news. So I didn't publish it.

So when I sat down this evening to pen out Wednesday's chatter, I figured why write two pieces, when I can just write one. Tomorrows.

I can just use yesterdays links out as a fake chatter. Just links mostly. Besides. I seriously doubt any of the guys i am linking to would be upset about being linked to. Know what I mean.