LeBron's "Apology"

Well, LeBron came forward with a statement on his failure to congratulate Orlando after they defeated the Cavaliers 4-2 in the conference finals. But it wasn’t the apology you usually hear after an athlete’s misconduct; he basically justified his actions. He compared it to a fight: if you're a competitor, and you lose a fight, you don’t congratulate the person who just beat you up. So what is LeBron saying about Carmello Anthony, Ray Allen, or Dwayne Wade? Since they shook hands with their opponents when they lost in the playoffs, they're not competitors? Also, the playoffs aren't really the same thing as a fight. It’s a game. It’s entertainment for all of America, and superstars like LeBron need to set a better example. Kids see LeBron walk off the court and think that that’s okay to do, when it’s not. In hockey, from Mites to the NHL level, teams line up at center ice, and shake each other’s hands, one by one. This should be the case in all professional sports, as it sets an example for Americans, and shows them proper way to behave, not just in sports, but in all realms of life: “You got into a better school than I did, good for you.” “Your apple pie won first prize, I’ll look forward to beating you next year, but nice job today.” That sounds a whole lot better to me than bitterly walking away after a disappointing loss.

Herzlich: A Promising Story Gone Bad

A great player, a great kid: these are only a few characteristics of Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich. A potential first-round pick for the NFL's 2010 draft, Mark had been focusing all of his energy on his last and final year of BC football, a year he thought would be his best. Tragically, however, early this month, Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare type of cancer in the bones. The diagnosis was made public on May 14, and when asked about his initial reaction to his diagnosis, Herzlich said,"Obviously, I was shocked. I had been extremely focused on preparing for my senior season at Boston College and for life beyond that. Now, I must channel all that energy into facing my toughest opponent yet, and that is exactly what I will do." He has since moved to Pennsylvania to be with his family, where he can live every day with a new devotion. On NESN's Sportsdesk, Jayme Parker interviewed Herzlich. He stated, “From what the doctors have been saying, they don’t think it’s too promising that I’m coming back. I’m going to do everything in my power, everything I can, to come back out on the field. It’s something that I love. It’s my dream.” As a final thought, Herzlich said, "Every day I wake up and can be with my parents; that is a great day in my book now." It was a very promising story, one that has surely found a way into many's hearts. Mark's mother stated that they have been getiing letters from all over the country, ranging from little kids wanting to score for Mark, to NFL GM's. On the BC website, you can leave your name, and offer words of encouragement for Herzlich. There are hundereds of posts currently up, but I don't doubt that Herzlich and his family cherish each and every message.

Mark played in all of BC's 13 games as a true freshmen, all the while totalling 42 tackles and 5.0 tackles-for-loss. As a sophomore, he started all 14 games and finished with 97 total tackles, and a team-leading 12 tackles-for-loss. A junior last year, he was named ACC defensive player of the year and led his team in tackles, interceptions, pass break-ups, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries. Herzlich even manages to double major in finance in marketing. In school, he uses his first name, Sandon, to separate football from academics. Truly a sad story, I must say that all my heart goes out to him and his family.

To leave Mark a message, click
http://bceagles.cstv.com/chat/051409aaa.html

Too Much Depth

Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-3, 8.82 ERA)—we know he has good stuff, his command is great, and his fastball gets up around 95. What gets him in trouble is nibbling too much at the strikezone, afraid to go at hitters. This means he throws too many pitches per at-bat, forcing him to leave games rather early. Around the 5th or 6th inning, he’s up around 105-110 pitches. He did go 18-3 last year, with a petite 2.90 ERA. So he can pitch well. An early shoulder injury kept Matsuzaka on the DL early this year, and so far he’s managed to surrender 16 runs in just over 16 innings, with a record of 0-3.

Josh Beckett (5-2, 4.60 ERA)—Beckett’s been with the Sox since 2006, and he’s compiled a record of 48-28, not to mention consistent lights-out performances in the postseason. He struggled a bit early in the season, but he has too much talent to throw much worse than his career ERA of 3.82. His playoff pitching alone is enough for me to keep Beckett in the rotation.

Tim Wakefield (6-3, 4.55 ERA)—A pitcher with the Sox since 1995, we know what we’re going to get out of Wakefield. He’ll go a few games over .500, with an ERA over 4.00. Rarely does Wake veer off from this paradigm of work. Every blue moon he’ll throw in a 17-game season, but then again a season 5 games under .500 season would not be a shocker either. Is that good enough to keep him in the rotation? Maybe not, but you have to have some loyalty to the guy, after all that he’s done for the franchise. Plus, seeing A-Rod whiff by 2 feet on a knuckler is probably my favorite thing in sports.

Brad Penny (5-1, 5.63 ERA)—The Sox signed Penny for a one-year deal worth $5 million this offseason. That’s a bargain, considering just two years ago he finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting, with 3.03 ERA and 16-4 record. It’s tough to cut this veteran from the rotation. He’s amassed over 1000 strikeouts over his 10-year career, and is one game shy of the 100 win mark. Hopefully, like Mike Lowell (with whom he won the 2003 World Series with the Marlins), he’ll jumpstart his career with the Sox. But should we give him that chance, with an ERA way above 5.00?

Jon Lester (4-5, 4.09 ERA)—Up until today, the 2006-2008 Jon Lester hasn’t shown himself. In those three seasons, Lester went 31-8. This season, batters have just been able to put the bat on the ball. His velocity has been good, up around 95, but batters have liked what they’ve seen from Lester, batting .295 against him. Today, however, he pitched 6 innings, giving up only 3 infield hits and one run. Will this be the Lester we see for the remainder of the year? Let’s hope so, and I think he’s worthy of that chance; he’s only one year removed from becoming the 3rd Red Sox leftie ever to finish a season with 15 wins, 200 innings, 150 strikeouts, and a sub-3.50 ERA. He’s the only lefty in our rotation, and don’t forget about the no-no he threw last July!

Clay Buchholz (3-0, 1.47 ERA in Pawtucket)—he’s also got a no-hitter in his repertoire. He did that in his second Major League start in 2007. So we know he has potential. His curve is deadly, and his velocity is in the low to mid-90s. If he can develop his other off-speed pitches, Buchholz will be unstoppable. Tito ought to ask Schilling if he could teach him his signature splitter that Curt helped Papelbon develop when he was a rookie. With time, I’m confident Buchholz will be one of the premier starters in the AL. I say we bring him up from triple-A and get him some more Big League experience and so pitching coach John Farell can work with him on his tertiary pitches.

John Smoltz (injured)—Smoltz has been with the Atlanta braves since 1988, twenty-one years, where he pitched as both a starter (210-147 record) and closer (154 saves). He won the Cy Young in 1996, he’s a 7-time All-Star, the only pitcher to have 200 wins and 150 saves, and a future Hall of Famer for sure. Obviously, this 41-year old is on the back end of his career. But after shoulder surgery in the offseason, Smoltz hopes to come back to Boston as strong as ever. The Sox signed this free agent for a one-year, $5.5 million contract this off-season, knowing he wouldn’t be ready at the start of the season. Last week, Smoltz pitched three shutout innings in a Class A rehab start, hitting 92 on the radar gun with his usual pinpoint control. It’s only a matter of time before we see Smoltz in a Sox uniform.

Okay, so that’s 7 starters, all good ones. That kind of depth is unprecedented in the MLB. It’s great we have all this pitching, but what should we do with it? Here are some options:
1.Trade some pitching for a much-needed shortstop
2.Put Buchholz and Smoltz in the bullpen, keep the rotation the way it is
3.Move to a 6-man, or even 7-man rotation
4.Bring all the veterans into the rotation, and put Buchholz and Lester in the bullpen/minors

Could the Patriots Be Vick's Next Vick-tim?

With the release of Michael Vick from prison, questions have arisen about his NFL future. These topics are simply too pressing not to consider, and one Patriots fan can not help but to speculate how well Vick may or may not fit in with Patriots. Personally I think he would not completely ruin the dynasty. Belichick has done this before, drafting a player with off-the-field issues, or signing a disgruntled free agent. Just look at one example: Randy Moss. Moss has found himself in trouble with both the NFL--by pretending to moon Green Bay fans during a touchdown celebration in 2005, which cost him $10,000--,and in the court of law--in 2002 he was arrested for violating traffic laws and for possession of marajuana, which cost him $1,200 and 40 hours of community service. Then, with the Raiders, Moss showed reluctance to even suit up for games, dreading playing on a losing team in Oakland. And as you can see, he brought the franchise down with him. The Raiders went 6-28 over two seasons with Moss. But this was not a big deal for Bill Belichick. He could see the talent beyond the personality issues, something not many in the league could do. And it sure paid off; just look at the results: Moss set the single-season TD receptions record his first year with the Pats, helping them go undefeated in the regular season. While I'm not saying Vick will produce those types of numbers, I am saying that if Bill sees something in Vick he likes, we will sign him. Just picture it now: Vick in the shotgun with Julian Edelman to his side, running the Wildcat. That would almost be unstoppable. Take Brady out of the game every once in a while, make sure he stays fresh and healthy. And if for some reason Brady's knee is still bothering him, or he suffers another freak injury, or just underperforms (ya, right), the Pats need a good backup, now that Matt Cassel has been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. Vick, in all likelihood, is desperate for a job in the NFL, and Rob Kraft is a master of signing for cheap money. Although some Pats fans may hate it, don't count anything it out. I still see it is an oh-so-slight possibility.

LeBron: A Little Too Cavalier

Last night, the Cavs dropped Game 6 to the Orlando Magic, losing the conference finals. It’s customary for the leaders of each team to congratulate each other on a great series, say something. But LeBron didn’t. He didn’t say anything to Dwight Howard, or anyone on the Magic. As the game ended, he stomped off the court, seemingly disgusted with the way he and his teammates played. ESPN’s Rachel Nichols asked Howard about it, and Howard said he was surprised, but “he was probably upset, probably hurt, and I understand that, respect it.” But come on, LeBron. You’re not just LeBron James out there, you represent the city of Cleveland; you are the Cavs. You have to set a good example. Basically the spokesperson for the entire NBA, he should know by now that all his actions are going to show up sometime on ESPN; I’m sure James will at least apologize for his misconduct; but next year, LeBron better show some better sportsmanship. Remember, LeBron, we are all witnesses.

The Wizard of Oz

The Red Wings owe their Game 1 victory in the Stanley Cup finals to their 37-year-old goalie, Chris Osgood. He made 31 saves, while surrendering but one goal. His is a story of an athlete sticking with his team through all the troubles he has had personally, and that the NHL has had. He played his rookie season with Detroit in 1993, and became the regular starter from 1995 to 2001. Here, he earned his nicknames “Ozzie” and “The Wizard of Oz”, compiled 27 shutouts, averaged a 2.36 GAA, and led his team to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998. (In the 1995-96 season, he also became the second goalie in NHL history to score a goal). Then, in 2001 the Red Wings acquired 6-time Vezina trophy winner, Dominik Hašek “The Dominator”, and were forced to release Osgood, where he was picked up by the NY Islanders. From 2001 to 2004, Osgood played for the Islanders and the Blues, unable to duplicate the success he had in Detroit. After the unfortunate lockout of 2004, he once again landed in Detroit, where he faced hardships that included multiple groin injuries, a broken hand, and playing backup to Hašek. Ozzie never quit, determined to once again return as a dominant goaltender in the NHL. At the start of the 2007-08 season, Hašek underperformed, then suffered an injury, giving Osgood the starting job. He took advantage of this opportunity: Ozzie led the NHL with a 2.09 GAA, and was voted to the 2008 All-Star game. The 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs was another triumph for Osgood. Hašek started the series, but lost back-to-back games in the opening round, and Osgood was sent in to stop the bleeding. The Red Wings won their next nine games in a row, on their way to a Stanley Cup victory. And here we are again, with Osgood showing the city of Detroit how much of an asset he is to the team, as they battle Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in the 2009 Stanley Cup finals.

Wildcat: A Possibility For the Patriots Offense?

Well, the draft of 2009 has come and gone, rolling through Radio City Music like a hurricane. And, in typical fashion, the Patriots dominated the draft. However, the Pats' most intriguing draft day move was not trading away several of their their early-round picks, or the 3rd round pick of North Carolina WR Brandon Tate, who will be out for 2009 with both a torn ACl and MCL. No, it was the pick of Kent State WR/QB Julian Edelman in the 7th round. His well-roundedness makes him a great candidate for the wildcat offense. The Dolphins wreaked havoc with their introduction of the wildcat offense last year; and since then, teams are starting looking for QB's with more than just QB skills. Pat White out of West Virginia perhaps is the best example of this, who was drafted in the 2nd round by none other than the Miami Dolphins. He can run (he set the record for most yards run by an NCAA quarterback), he can throw (second all-time in WVU total completions), and although he only worked out as a QB at the Combine in February, he can catch, too. Although he was a late-round pick, Edelman can bring variety and explosiveness to the Pats offense. And when asked about him, Belichick stated, "Edelman is a very good runner and we see him as a player who has some versatility, probably as a receiver, maybe a running back." The draft of Edelman foreshadows an onset of some sort of new style of offense (wildcat?) for the Patriots in 2010.

AL East update

Things just got a whole lot more interesting in the A.L. East. While Toronto dives even deeper into a tailspin that includes losses in nine of their last eleven, the Sox can’t seem to shake the road blues that have plagued them all season. Away form the friendly confines of Fenway Park the boys of summer have dropped four of their last six, colliding with a hot Minnesota team earlier this week, and now losing the first two of a three game series against the Roy Halladay-led Jays. Much to the Red Sox’ dismay, things are looking up for the other two-thirds of the three-headed monster that makes up the toughest division in baseball. While Alex Rodriguez recovered from hip surgery, the Yankeess were languishing near the bottom of the AL East at an embarrassing 13-15. But since the return of their embattled third baseman, the Bronx Bombers are thriving. Don’t look now, but the pinstripes have won 14 of their last 9 and now sit atop the division. "His impact on the game was clear right away," says new acquisition CC Sabathia. "First pitch he sees, he hits a huge home run. It's been a lot of fun ever since. He's added a swagger to our team and our lineup." It appears that a little swagger is just what the doctor ordered. Mark Teixeira has become the happiest number three hitter in all of baseball now that A-Rod’s behind him; the duo brings back the bittersweet memories of the dynamic Ramirez-Ortiz tandem that delivered two championships to the Hub in ’04 and ’07. The Yank’s pitching has stepped up as well, Sabathia is 3-0 with an ERA hovering around 1.6 in his last three starts, and AJ Burnett is continuing his consistent dealing that made Hank Steinbrenner shell out almost 85 million for the pitcher’s services. And as if things couldn’t get any worse for the Sox, highly touted prospect David Price made his first start for the Tampa Bay Rays and went 5 2/3 strong, giving up one run, two walks while scattering five hits. But more impressively, he struck out eleven, often baffling hitters a few of the hottest hitters in baseball, Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel. The first overall pick in the 2007 draft is here, and most likely, here to stay. Evan Longoria also drove in his league-leading 55th RBI. The Sox have their work cut out for them for the rest of the year, but I like their chances. Four out of five of their pitchers are underperforming, and even if they don’t turn it around, (I am fairly confident that they will) they have Clay Buccholz waiting in the wings and future Hall of Famer John Smoltz returning June 17th. The Sox have a rarity in the MLB: pitching to spare, and possibly the most depth in all of baseball. Although the baseball gods aren’t smiling down upon us now, all the stars are aligned for the Sox to make another deep postseason run.

Not Just Slowpitch

Ted Williams often said that hitting a baseball is “the hardest thing to do in sports”. He might be right. A baseball traveling at 95 mph takes .43 seconds to reach home plate. In that time the batter must decide where the ball is going, if it will move, if he wants to swing, then swing a bat that weighs over 2 pounds, and make contact with a ball 3 in. in diameter. But watching the NCAA softball World Series made me wonder if these girls have it harder than MLB players.

In softball, the pitcher’s mound is 40-43 feet away from home plate, a much shorter distance than the 60’6” used in pro baseball. At the same time, though, softball pitchers don’t throw as fast as most MLB pitchers. Good softball pitchers throw up to 70 mph. This means that the ball reaches home plate in .39 seconds, even faster than a 95 mph fastball does in the MLB. Granted, a softball is almost an inch wider than a baseball, making it easier to hit. But in softball, batters have a harder time than baseball players do reading what pitch is coming. And a softball pitcher’s repertoire is surprisingly full: fastball, changeup, riser, sinker, curveball, and screwball can be thrown, and some are even mixed together (rise screw, drop curve). You know how there’s always that one kid who can throw any pitch with a wiffleball and no one can hit him? It’s basically like that. Also, the low release point of a softball pitcher makes it hard to gauge where the ball is going. This is especially troublesome because in softball, the ball comes from low to high: an adjustment by the batter means fighting gravity to bring the bat higher. In baseball, an adjustment simply means dropping your hands an inch or two.

So maybe Ted was half-right in saying the hardest thing to do in sports is getting the bat on the ball. It’s just a question of which bat, and which ball he’s talking about. While you’re flipping through the channels this week, don’t just skip over women’s softball. Give it a try.

Manny's Roid Rage

Remember last year when Manny shoved the Red Sox traveling secretary, Jack McCormick to the ground? Apparently it was because McCormick said he might not be able to get Manny the 16 tickets he wanted for an upcoming game against the Astros. McCormick was over 60 years old, and Ramirez physically assaulted him.

Less than a month earlier, Ramirez appeared to have instigated a clubhouse argument with teammate Kevin Youkilis. Reportedly, Manny was upset that Youk gets too angry when he didn’t get on base, always throwing his equipment around, drawing attention to himself. Manny had had enough of Youk’s intensity, intensity which some might appreciate in the clubhouse.

In game 3 of the NLCS last year, Manny had to be restrained by teammates when he went after Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies. In a bench-clearing altercation (no punches were thrown), Manny appeared to have the most to say to Victorino. Some switch appeared to have gone off in Ramirez’s characteristically happy-go-lucky self.

At the time, Red Sox nation was appalled at Manny’s uncharacteristic aggressiveness. We were willing to pass it off as another case of “Manny being Manny”, when really it was Manny being something totally different from the carefree, fun-loving Ramirez we have come to love. But, with Manny’s recent failure of a drug test, it makes sense. The drug test revealed that Manny had been taking a women’s fertility drug, something which athletes take to replenish their levels of testosterone, depleted after a steroid cycle. Who knows when Manny first starting using steroids? It was probably right around June last year. This would explain Manny not being Manny about a year ago. He was starting to experiment with steroids, and was exhibiting signs of ‘roid rage.

In the Wake of Wakefield

Since 1995, Tim Wakefield has been the most consistent, and one of the overall best pitchers in the MLB: he has the second-most wins of any pitcher, and has thrown more innings than anyone else. Yet, he has never made an All-Star game, and receives little attention. We’ll see what we can do to change that.

The knuckleball is probably the most misunderstood pitch in baseball. To an unfamiliar eye, one might wonder why in the world batters don’t park every single one of Wake’s floaters. But the knuckleball is perhaps the most effective pitch in baseball. Phil Niekro won 318 games with the pitch, and is now in the Hall of Fame. What nettles batters most about the knuckleball is that they pretty much know when it’s coming, but still can’t put the bat on the ball. It comes in going no more than 65 mph, looks like a juicy home-run ball, then either plummets, rises, or shifts to either side before the batter can swing. Like a magic trick, it’s there, and then it’s not.

Not only does this pitch baffle batters, but it puts the pitcher at such a small risk of injury. Niekro was able to pitch until he was 48, and Wake doesn’t plan on retiring anytime soon, either. Using the knuckleball, since Wakefield’s first full season all the way back in 1993, he’s started the second-most games of any pitcher, thrown the most innings, and been placed on the DL a mere three times. The simple fact is that the knuckleball puts so little stress on a pitcher’s arm that he can throw forever. Wilbur Wood, a knuckleballer for the White Sox, in 1973 pitched both ends of a double-header. He is the last pitcher to accomplish this feat of resilience.

But with Wakefield’s amazing career statistics, why does he receive so little attention? Wake owes most of his success to his incredible durability, rather than to a few all-star-worthy seasons. He’s never won more than 17 games in a single season, but has also had 7 seasons where he started at least 30 games. In the 1999 season, Wakefield made a transition that few pitchers could make. After a 17-win season in 1998, Wake was moved to the bullpen after Sox closer Tom Gordon injured his arm. He started 17 games before the switch; he went on to convert on 15 of 18 save opportunities. Wakefield is a trooper. He’s been with the Red Sox for 15 seasons, and has pitched 2,645 innings. (That’s equivalent to 293 complete games in 15 seasons, or 20 complete games per year.) Tim Wakefield is a long-distance runner, able to pitch consistently B/B+ seasons for his entire 16 season career. I would rather have a pitcher like Wake, who will be able to pitch well for long periods of time than a pitcher like Carl Pavano, who had two amazing seasons with the Marlins in 2003 and 2004, was voted to All-star Game in 2004, then was signed by the Yanks for $39 million dollars, only to win 9 games over 3 seasons, plagued with injuries. Red Sox Nation has been able to count of Wake for his 15 years in Boston.

When Wakefield’s contract expired in 2005, after winning 10 games in each of the last three seasons, fansgraphs.com calculated he would have been worth at least $6 million per year if he registered for free agency, probably more. However, Wake showed his dedication to Red Sox Nation, signing a $4 million per year “rolling” contract. This contract gives the Red Sox the option of resigning Wakefield every off-season for $4 million per year, for the rest of his career. Wake loves the Boston, and wants to retire with the Sox, whenever that may be.

From Russia With Love: Maria Sharapova

Model/Athletes like Natalie Gulbis and Anna Kournikova are easy to come by: yeah, they’re hot, but their talent in their respective sports is a little sketchy. Gulbis has only won one LPGA tour and Kournikova was in the top 20 WTA players for only two years. But Maria Sharapova is something else. One of the few athletes to appear in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, she can strut her stuff both on and off the court.

Tennis is an individual sport, and the player can choose from their own wardrobe (except for things like all-white restrictions at Wimbledon). This means players with bodies like Sharapova can wear low-cut tops and short skirts…and she does, which is why she’s my favorite player to watch in women’s tennis. Her fit body is highlighted by her one-piece classy dresses that are both elegant and revealing. Her breath as she hits the ball is far different from the deep grunt of Serena Williams; it’s a kind of high-pitch scream that sounds more like she’s doing a strenuous activity—that is not tennis. Not only does she look good in-between points, but she plays like a champion. She’s won three Grand Slams: Wimbledon in 2004, The US Open in 2006, and The Australian in 2008 (without dropping a set). She’s been ranked No. 1 in the world three times: in 2005, 2007, and 2008. Her 2007 ESPY Awards demonstrate Sharapova’s all-around greatness. She won Best Female Tennis Player, Best International Female Athlete, and, of course, Hottest Female Athlete.

Little Papi

David Ortiz set the Red Sox single-season home run record three years ago. You’d never know it, looking at him now:

· Lowest batting average of any starter on the Red Sox (3rd worst in the AL East)
· Only regular DH with 1 HR
· 7 pitchers have hit as many HRs as Papi
· On pace to strike-out 169 times, which only 4 players did last year
· Slugging percentage half of his previous six-year average

Through all these troubles, Terry Francona kept him in the three-slot in the batting order until yesterday. Fangraphs Baseball’s stat RAR (runs above replacement) indicates that, without Ortiz, the Red Sox would have scored an additional 9.4 runs this season, and won one additional game. Manager Terry Francona is often criticized for the excessive loyalty he has to his players, faith that they’ll reach their potential. Sometimes, this pays off: in 2007, Dustin Pedroia was batting .182 through March, but went on to win Rookie of the Year. I hope Francona isn’t waiting for that kind of turnaround with Papi, because it won’t happen. Pedroia was just a rookie in 2007; the first couple months of his big-league career are obviously going to be a little bit shaky. But Ortiz is a 13-year veteran. Whatever’s plaguing him this year is more than first-year jitters. So why is he still in the lineup day-in and day-out? I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt, after winning the Solver Slugger Award four of the past five years and helping the Sox win two World Series in four years. But a three-month long slump? Come on, Papi.

It can’t be a mechanical issue. If it was, he would have fixed it by now. Major League teams hire droves of coaches that watch the players’ every at-bat, every pitch, ready to help them sort out any problems they might be having. But even in batting practice, Papi hasn’t shown the pop he’s had the past several years.

What few people are considering is Ortiz’s torn tendon sheath in his wrist. He suffered the injury last June, and it looked like it was going to need surgery. However, he passed up the surgery, saying at the end of the 2008 season “I’m just going to try to get my hand stronger, chill out for a minute, and come back ready to go like I know how next year.” He seemed sure of his decision then, but he might be regretting it now. Ortiz isn’t the type to excuse his performance by blaming an injury, so there’s no way to tell if it’s still bothering him.

Another explanation would be the departure of Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Without protection like Ramirez, Papi won’t be seeing as many pitches to hit. With Manny in the clean-up spot, pitchers had to go after Ortiz and try to get him out, afraid to face Ramirez with runners on base. That might have been true at first, when Manny first left the Sox. Pitchers could pitch around Ortiz, willing to walk him, while trying to make him swing at a bad pitch. But now, Papi is the one seeing good pitches. They’re not afraid to give Ortiz a pitch to hit, because he’s not much of a risk anymore. Now, even when Papi is seeing great pitches to hit, he still can’t find his swing.

Finally, one rumor that has been floating around is that Ortiz has stopped taking steroids. Remember that list of 104 players who had tested positive for steroids in 2003? A-Rod is the only name that has leaked out from that list. Some think Papi was on that same list, and quit juicing, when A-Rod’s name came out. One thing analysts have noticed about his swing is that it is missing the bat speed he had last year. Loss of muscle could explain why he’s only hit 1 HR and struggles to pull the ball, settling for opposite-field bloopers.

What sucks now is that his slump has gone on long enough that the Red Sox would be hard-pressed to find a team who would trade for the struggling DH—whose position was pretty much created for sluggers. Ortiz is under contract for this year and next year. Hopefully he’ll pick up his performance and the Sox will re-sign him in 2010

Can Thayer Recover from its Loss of Tom Darling?

Tomas Darling, the most celebrated tennis star in Thayer Academy history, will be leaving to play for Elon University in North Carolina, and probably move on to reach the top 10 in the pro circuit. Darling has been on the Varsity team since 7th grade, and after fearlessly leading his team to the New England Class B championship in 2007, Darling went undefeated in ISL play in both his junior and senior years. Last season, the Thayer boys’ team went 8-9, buoyed exclusively by its star captain. The 2010 season will sure be a shaky one for TA Tennis. While they only lost two seniors, the loss of Darling is without a doubt as devastating a loss as we have ever seen in the ISL. Thayer Tennis will try to remain hopeful of ever recapturing their former glory under Tom Darling’s reign as No. 1. It remains to be seen how Thayer’s group of rising sophomores will compete next season without their guiding light.