The Worst Second Basemen in Red Sox History

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Moving ahead to the keystone position, these guys are a far cry from Bobby Doerr and Dustin Pedroia. Here are the worst Red Sox second basemen of all-time.

Damian Jackson

Jackson spent one season in Boston, playing all over the field as a utility and replacement player. He batted .261 for the season, not too bad, but his OPS was a measly .617. Admittedly, my distaste for Damian Jackson was just as much Grady Little’s fault as it was Damian Jackson’s. Little used to bring Jackson into games late, despite the fact Jackson often screwed up. Little would pinch-run Jackson, and he would get picked off or caught stealing. He would bring Jackson in for defense, only to have him commit errors. The man did not learn.

Jackson was caught stealing eight times in his one season with the Red Sox, a number that placed him in the worst ten for the league. Little again used Jackson as a pinch-runner in the playoffs. In game one of the ALCS against the Yankees, Jackson pinch ran for Todd Walker in the eighth inning and subsequently got picked off first base.

As for the fielding, Jackson had a mediocre .960 fielding percentage at second base for the Red Sox. He made nine errors amongst all the positions he played that season, making five of them at shortstop with an .881 fielding percentage. He was not a good fielder, yet Little liked to bring him in for defense. In fact, Jackson twice finished in the top five in the National League for errors made before he ever played in Boston. In the 2003 ALDS, Jackson crashed into Johnny Damon going after a pop-up, giving Damon a concussion and causing him to be carted off the field. This play happened two plays after Jackson entered the game as a defensive replacement.

Johnny Damon & Damian Jackson (AP photo)

Ski Melillo

Melillo played for the Red Sox during the 1930’s. Traded for during the 1935 season, Melillo spent the next two seasons as the Red Sox main second baseman. He wasn’t dreadful that first season, batting .260. However, Melillo had nearly no power, posting a .310 slugging percentage. The following season, with his average dropping off to .226, Melillo posted a lousy .287/.287/.575 triple slash line.

In parts of three seasons with Boston, Melillo posted a sub .300 slugging percentage. He batted .245 with a single homer, posting a .608 OPS. If one thinks you can apply a number value to anyone, let alone someone from 80 years ago, Melillo posted a -2.3 WAR. This number was a dreadful -1.9 in 1936. He was definitely not worthy of a starting job.

Moose Solters (left) was traded by the Red Sox to the Browns for Ski Melillo (right) in 1935

Jose Offerman

Offerman was given a four-year 26 million dollar contract by the Boston Red Sox before the 1999 season. His on-base skills were supposed to help replace Mo Vaughn. Offerman had batted .315 with a .403 on-base percentage the previous season. Offerman also led the league in triples with 13 while stealing 45 bases.

Offerman’s good play continued into his first season with the Red Sox. In 1999 he batted .294 and led the league with 11 triples. He had a .391 on-base percentage while making the All-Star Game. If there was a disappointment to his season it was getting caught stealing 12 times in 30 tries. Unfortunately, that was the best season he had stealing bases for the Red Sox.

The next season Offerman’s play fell off. Jose would bat .255 in his second season with the Sox, getting on base at a .354 clip. However, even with the walks boosting his on-base percentage, Offerman didn’t put it to much use. He attempted eight steals that season and was caught all eight times. In 2001 his average rebounded a bit to .267, but he actually got on base less. He also tripled just three times and stole just five bases. Finally, in 2002 he was sent to Seattle after batting just .232 with a .650 OPS.

Offerman was not a horrible player, but he failed to live up to his contract and expectations in having only one good season. He would bat .268 with a .743 OPS during his four seasons. As for his stealing ability, it disappeared in Boston. Despite stealing 45 bases in 1998, Offerman only stole 31 bags over four years with the Red Sox and was caught 27 times.

Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch applied a phantom tag on Jose Offerman, who was called out.
(Boston Globe/ ELISE AMENDOLA/AP)

Dishonorable Mentions:

Dalton Jones, Mark Lemke, Doug Griffin, Chuck Schilling

What Should the Boston Bruins Do with Adam McQuaid?

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A mere six games into the season Adam McQuaid blocked a shot that ended up breaking his leg. The timeline for his return was 6-8 weeks, and sure enough here we sit with McQuaid just about ready to get back on the ice. But even though McQuaid is ready to return to the lineup Cassidy has chosen to leave him out of the lineup. So with the decision coming to a head what should the Bruins do with Adam McQuaid?

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Grzelyck

The foundation of the Bruins this season is the promise of the young prospects up and down the roster. This season has been a huge step forward towards the future so far. However bringing Adam McQuaid back and playing him over a younger, more mistake prone, but also more talented defenseman, contradicts the entire theme of the season. Especially considering McQuaid would either take the place of Brandon Carlo or Matt Grzelyck, both of whom look like they are the future. Grzelyck has been a genuine difference maker on this team during his time with the big club. Since Cassidy inserted Grzelyck into the lineup the Bruins have been otherworldly, going 13-3-2.

While Cassidy has made the transition into the NHL easier for Grzelyck by not playing him in high pressure minutes. He has still shown exceptional skill and awareness in the minutes he has gotten. Grzelyck’s performance alone should be enough to keep McQuaid on the shelf for the rest of the season. Mainly because the next time the Bruins win a Stanley Cup Adam McQuaid will not be a factor in it.

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Kevin Miller

The biggest asset of McQuaid’s game is his toughness and grit. But even that has lost its value to the Bruins with Kevin Miller on the roster. Miller has been playing exceptional hockey since be moved to the right side paired with Matt Grzelyck. Being his natural side, Miller is able to do much more offensively from the right side of the ice. Miller is able to use his pure strength to fight defenders off the puck and barrel through the neutral zone to add another element to the Bruins’ offense. On top of that Miller has shown time and time again he can drop the gloves with anyone in hockey.

At this point Miller is practically a more offensive and reliable Adam McQuaid. That leaves the veteran enforcer on the outside looking in for a top six defenseman spot on this team. The move is to obviously send Paul Postma to the AHL and keep McQuaid as a solid seventh defenseman heading into the new year. The only question is if McQuaid will be willing to sit on the bench in a backup role.

NFL Wild Card Round Preview and Predictions

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The 2017 NFL Postseason is finally upon us. This weekend teams will take their first crucial step on their journey to Super Bowl LII. These past seventeen weeks have earned these teams the right to play in January, while the rest clean out their lockers early. In this year’s playoffs there are a few familiar faces but mostly new contenders. The Patriots, Steelers, Falcons, and Chiefs are the only four teams making it back to the postseason after appearing last year. On the flip-side, the Rams, Bills, Jaguars, and Saints are all teams that had losing records last season and are now in the playoffs. This will surely be a dramatic postseason this year, starting with these eight teams that will face off in the Wild Card round this weekend:

Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs

The Titans had a quiet season but clinched the fifth seed in the waning moments of Week 17. At 9-7, they snuck into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Their path to the postseason was almost squashed towards the end of the season as they dropped three of their last four games. However, a Week 17 win against their division rival Jaguars was all they needed to secure a spot to play in January.

The Titans are one of the few teams in the league that base their offensive solely on running the ball. Their running back committee of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry carried the offense throughout the season as Marcus Mariota had a rather mundane year. With DeMarco Murray suffering a Grade 3 MCL tear in Week 16, Henry became a workhorse for the Titans against the Jaguars yesterday. Murray’s status seems bleak to make a return for the Wild Card, so coach Mike Mularkey will need to reconfigure his offensive scheme.

At the beginning of the season the Chiefs seemed to be the most dominant team in the league. They trounced the Patriots in Foxborough on opening night in September and went on to have a blaring 5-0 start. However they learned quickly that a NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. From Weeks 6 to 13 the Chiefs only won a single game. They were able to hold on afterwards by winning out their final four games to secure a 10-6 record and a AFC West title. Their only trouble in the division came from the Chargers, who finished the season looming one game behind.

The Chiefs are without a doubt the fastest team in the league. Their offense consists of the speedy Tyreek Hill, rookie sensation Kareem Hunt, and widely overlooked quarterback Alex Smith. On the opposite end of the field they have talent with Marcus Peters, Reggie Ragland, Justin Houston, and the list goes on and on.

In the playoffs which Chiefs team will we see? The team that stomped New England or the one that had a meltdown in the fourth quarter to set up an ugly loss against the Jets? Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ coaching staff control their team’s future in January. The Titans might be the underdog in this game coming into Arrowhead, but if they can silence the crowd early they have a chance to pull an upset. Their run defense can stop Kareem Hunt at the line of scrimmage, but they do not have an answer for Kansas City’s air attack.

Prediction: 24-16 Chiefs

Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams

The Falcons secured the sixth seed in the NFC through their win-and-in scenario in Week 17. They had an inconsistent season to say the least. The highlight of their season came in Week 2 when they were able to stomp the Packers in the Georgia Dome’s inaugural game. However two weeks later they began to slide, losing three consecutive games in their trip through the AFC East. The Falcons were lost in their prime-time Super Bowl rematch against the Patriots.

At 10-6, they are certainly not the team that went for its first Super Bowl trophy almost a year ago. That doesn’t mean that they can’t play like the team that they were. Matt Ryan will have some slack to pick up with his offense to get things done. Their defense, ranked 23rd in the regular season, will be the focal point in order to succeed in the playoffs.

The Rams have had the one of the most dramatic transitions from last season to today. Their metamorphosis from a 4-12 joke last season to 11-5 NFC West champion now can be accredited to their new coach Sean McVay. The team’s identity lies within their striking offense that consists of MVP candidate Todd Gurley and legitimate franchise quarterback Jared Goff. Wade Phillips has also helped the team’s defense become top five in the league. The team aims to get their first playoff win since 2004.

This match-up will in no way be a blowout on either end. The Falcons might be held to harsh comparisons with their Super Bowl-aspiring selves from last year, but they still know how to get a win. Their offense might not be as electrifying as it was with Kyle Shanahan as their coordinator, but they still have the three-headed dragon of Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman, and Julio Jones. This game will come down to which defense will let up first, and ranking-wise all signs point to Atlanta’s. Expect this game to be a shootout.

Prediction: 31-21 Rams

Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars

The New Year’s celebration started earlier than most for the Bills. A late touchdown from Andy Dalton and the Bengals was enough to knock the Ravens out of the playoffs. The Bills  ended the longest playoff drought in American sports, not making the playoffs since 1999. They will also aim to win a playoff game for the first time since 1995.

After a 9-7 season, the Bills deserved a playoff spot. Coach Sean McDermott reshaped the team into playoff contenders after his failed experiment with starting Nathan Peterman. The team’s success comes from LeSean McCoy, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 17. Being without him will hurt, but the Bills’ synergy can hold the team together.

The Jaguars are another team that have had a mammoth reshaping to make them a playoff squad. On a side note, not to brag or anything but I called it back in August that they’d clinch. Without Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, the offense was able to run on the shoulders of rookie Leonard Fournette. The Jaguars’ defense has been the staple of the team, dubbing their city as Sacksonville. They are one of the most dangerous defenses to face this season. Blake Bortles, though inconsistent, was able to put together an admirable finishing push to the season to achieve the AFC South title and the third seed. The last time the team finished with a 10 win season was in 2007, coincidentally the last time they appeared in the playoffs.

Though the Bills slipped into the playoffs this game certainly won’t be easy for the Jags. Both teams have strong defenses and rather weak offenses. The key to this game is how Leonard Fournette performs for the Jaguars. The Bills’ rushing defense had a nightmare game against the Saints, but since then has improved. If Blake Bortles is forced to go to the air then the Jaguars’ chances to win almost deplete. If there is going to be an upset in the Wild Card round, it’d be here.

Prediction: 17-15 Bills

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

The Panthers had a solid bounce-back season from last year’s nightmare. Finishing 11-5, they very well have the power to make a run. This is another case of a two-faced team, however. The Panthers came up big when they needed to, and a prime example of this is bullying the Packers at home. However, there were games this season where they looked lost. If Cam Newton is rolling, then the defense follows in suit. Christian McCaffrey has helped Cam’s game open up this season, whereas compared to last season he had no chance to be mobile. A good mobile quarterback must be accompanied by a viable running back to keep the defense guessing. That’s something that the Panthers lacked last season.

The Saints’ season started out ugly early on. Their offense was erratic and while having the parts to succeed simply couldn’t. Moving Adrian Peterson was the Saints’ defining move this season. Quickly afterwards the running back committee shortened to focus on Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara. From there the duo hasn’t stopped shining, and in turn opened up Drew Brees’s passing game. The Saints have one of the best offenses in the league, and were able to build a solid defense after trading Brandin Cooks for assets to do so. The Saints also finished 11-5, but clinched the division after the Panthers fell to the Falcons in Week 17.

This game will be perfect to watch for anyone who loves offense. The defining factor is that the Panthers lost to the Saints twice already this season. In both of those games the Saints scored more than thirty points. The Panthers need to stay at that scoring pace or their defense will have to play like they did against Aaron Rodgers a few weeks ago.

Prediction: 41-28 Saints

 

Media Credit

www.panthers.com

Getty Images

www.nfl.com

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

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51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XVIII

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The Super Bowl is just 34 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 34 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Tampa Bay hosted Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984. The game pitted the defending World Champion Washington Redskins against the Los Angeles Raiders of the AFC. There was little doubt throughout the season that these were the two best teams in football. For during the regular season, they staged a classic confrontation. The Skins won at home 37-35 thanks to a fantastic comeback.

Washington Redskins 34 Years Ago

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Washington had one of the best regular seasons in league history. On offense, they broke the single-season points record. They finished 14-2. Incredibly, their only losses on the season came on Monday Night Football to Dallas (31-30) and to Green Bay (48-47). They got into the Super Bowl by destroying the Rams, 51-7 and edging the 49ers.

The NFC championship game between Washington and San Francisco is sometimes referred to as “The Forgotten Classic.” The Skins got off to a 21-0 lead. But, Joe Montana and Mike Wilson led the Niners to a comeback. Redskins’ kicker Mark Mosely had a terrible day. However, with the game on the line, he converted a 25-yarder to clinch the victory. The Redskins were back in the Super Bowl, ready to defend their title.

Los Angeles Raiders 34 Years Ago

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The Raiders were playing in their second season in Los Angeles. When they were in Oakland, they won two Super Bowls including one in 1980. In 1981, Al Davis drafted Howie Long out of Villanova. In 1982, he selected Marcus Allen from USC. Could he have drafted any better? Long and Allen were huge contributors on the 1983 team. Additionally, veteran tight end Todd Christiansen led the NFL in receptions. The Raiders had veteran-talent all over the field. Lyle Alzado, Rod Martin, Bill Pickel, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Mike Davis, Lester Hayes, Matt Millen, Cliff Branch, Jim Plunkett, Kenny King, Greg Pruitt, Ray Guy, Chris Bahr etc. There is little wonder how Tom Flores’ team won 23 of their first 29 games in Los Angeles with that group.

They had one Achilles heel in 1983. They struggled against Curt Warner and the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle swept the series, scoring 72 points in the process. After crushing the Steelers in the divisional round, LA would have their opportunity to beat Seattle in the AFC championship game. And, they did just that. Marcus had over 200 yards from scrimmage including an excellent TD reception to put the game away. On defense, the Raiders recorded 5 interceptions. They were dominant. Hence, LA was back in the big dance.

Super Raiders

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The high expectations set forth for this contest never materialized. The Raiders were overwhelmingly better…at everything. In the first half, the Raiders scored touchdowns on special teams, offense and defense. Perhaps the pivotal play of the game occurred with seconds to go in the second quarter. The Skins went back to a play that worked in the teams’ first meeting; a screen pass to little Joe Washington. LA knew it was coming. Linebacker Jack Squirek stole the pass and waltzed in from the five for a 21-3 halftime lead.

With the score 28-9 late in the third, Allen scored a 74-yard TD. It was this game’s signature play. In fact, the NFL Network considered it the greatest run in NFL history! Surely, it was spectacular in that Allen started one way, reversed field, and dashed into the darkness. As Riggins’ run was in Super Bowl XVII, this was an iconic play from Super Bowls past.

The Raiders won the ball game, 38-9. They would not represent Los Angeles in the Super Bowl ever again. The Redskins would be back in four short years. 1987 was another strike-shortened season that ended in another World Championship for the Redskins.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the great offense of the 1984 Dolphins and the great 18-1 team from San Francisco.

 

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

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51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XVII

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The Super Bowl is just 35 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 35 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl XVII on January 30, 1983. The game pitted the NFC champion Washington Redskins against the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference. This was a rematch of Super Bowl VII; the only other time the Skins had been to the big game up till that point and when Miami completed their undefeated season. A strike had marred the 1982 season. The NFL cancelled seven games in all. Also, this Super Bowl was the first to be played one week after the championship games.

Washington Redskins 35 Years Ago

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Joe Gibbs’ Redskins showed vast improvement from the 1981 season. They were one of the most fun teams in NFL history. They had the “Diesel, ” Johns Riggins. Their offensive line was nicknamed “the hogs” and their small-ish wide receivers were dubbed “the smurfs.” Their defense was solid as well. They ran a bend but don’t break scheme focused on punishing pass catchers and rushing the passer.

In 1982, Washington finished a league-best 8-1 record. Their only loss was at home to the hated Cowboys. In 1982, the NFL decided to have a 16-team playoff tournament. Washington was the top seed in the NFC and faced off against Detroit. They pummeled the Lions causing 8 turnovers. Alvin Garrett scored three times on receptions from Joe Theismann.

One week later, they had a much more difficult game against the Vikings. But, once they led 21-7, they just handed the ball to Riggins. Riggins carried the ball 37 times for 185 yards. Neither team scored in the second half, but Washington’s “hogs” were the MVP of this game.

In the NFC championship game, the Redskins knocked Dallas QB Danny White out of the game. Then, they knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs. The key play of this game occurred late in the fourth quarter. With the Skins leading 24-17, Dallas had their opportunity. But, back up QB Gary Hogeboom attempted to set up a screen. Dexter Manley ran at him like a bull and deflected the pass into the air for Darryl Grant to pick off and rumble home. RFK Stadium literally shook. Washington was off to the Super Bowl.

Miami Dolphins 35 Years Ago

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The Dolphins were not as consistent as the Skins during the regular season, but played three solid playoff games. 35 years go, Coach Shula’s Dolphins were the #1 defense in the NFL. And they were thankful for that because they had the 19th-ranked offense, one of the worst offenses to ever participate in a Super Bowl. Their quarterbacking situation revolved around two guys, the late David Woodley and Don Strock. They were sometimes referred to as “Woodstrock” due to Strock finishing so many games that Woodley started. Their defense, though, was awesome.

There were so many players on Miami’s defense with last names starting with the letter “B,” they were referred to as the “Killer Bees.” Add to all that talent #77 stud linebacker A.J. Duhe and longtime defensive mastermind, Bill Arnsparger, and Miami was a formidable foe. In the first round, Miami outclassed New England, 28-13. The Dolphins got revenge on San Diego by dominating them 34-13 in the second round.

In the AFC Championship game, the Dolphins and Jets played in the mud of the Orange Bowl. Duhe intercepted Richard Todd including a pick sick to put the game on ice. Miami won 14-0.

Big Play Dolphins

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The Dolphins did not wait long to score in the Super Bowl. In a game where they totaled 176 yards, they got 76 of those on their 5th play from scrimmage. Woodley found Jimmy Cefalo for their lone big offensive play of the game and a 7-0 lead. The teams exchanged time-consuming field goals drives. Therefore, Miami led 10-3 when the game got very interesting just before the half.

First, Theismann threw a fade to tiny Alvin Garrett to tie the score. Next, Fulton Walker returned the ensuing kickoff. It was first KO return in Super Bowl history as the late-great Walker needed one block and was free. Finally, the Skins drove down the botched an attempt to get a field goal off before the end of the half as they failed to get out-of-bounds with the clock running.

Diesel Dash

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In the second half, Washington got that kick to make the score, 17-13. By now, Miami’s offense was putrid. They went 4 for 17 in their passing game ON THE DAY! Their defense battled to stay ahead and very nearly, pick sixed their way to victory. A diving Theismann saved the day on a batted ball.

In the fourth quarter, one of the iconic Super Bowl moments occurred. On a fourth and one from the 43, Riggins to his left, plowed over DB Don McNeal, and raced down the far sidelines for a go-ahead TD. Washington added one more score late by Charlie Brown and the Redskins had their first World Championship!

Washington got back to the Super Bowl three more times, winning two of those under Coach Gibbs. Miami got back two years later. They no longer had a good defense. But, they had a terrific young quarterback out of Pitt named Dan Marino. They lost Super Bowl XIX to the Niners. Unfortunately, they have yet to return.

 

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

The Worst First Basemen in Red Sox History

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When you think of Red Sox at certain positions, who comes to mind? Do you think of the greatest there, or the worst? Maybe they both come to mind for you. The worst of the worst leave a bad taste in the mouths of fans and often get remembered for years to come. A couple of guys on this list of the worst first basemen in team history have gotten a lot of publicity for the wrong reasons.

Allen Craig

Allen Craig was a good hitter once upon a time. Between 2011 and 2013 Craig batted .312 for the St. Louis Cardinals. There was slight reason for concern; Craig’s power had dipped in 2013, falling off from 22 home runs to 13. His slugging percentage, which had been over .500 for consecutive seasons, fell to .457. He also was dealing with foot problems and was heading for offseason surgery.

After Craig’s foot surgery he was not the same. In 2014 he batted .237 for the Cardinals and was struggling to drive the ball. He was still hobbled by his surgery, anyone who watched him could see he didn’t run well or move well in the field. The Red Sox must have failed to scout him. At the trade deadline the Red Sox traded one of their best pitchers, John Lackey, for Craig and Joe Kelly. As I said at the time in arguments with my brothers, Allen Craig was a subtraction from the deal, he made it worse rather than add anything positive. He had a big contract and could barely run.

In addition to the rest of the 2014 season, the Red Sox have paid Allen Craig 25.5 million dollars over the past three seasons. In that time he has driven in exactly five runs for the Red Sox. Over 173 at-bats, Craig has hit .139 with two home runs, five runs batted in and a .432 OPS! It’s almost impressive just how bad he has been. He was sent to the minors and hasn’t even been on the 40 man roster the past two seasons. In 2016 Craig batted .173 with a homer over 75 at-bats in Pawtucket. Last season he managed to bat .253 with a single homer over 158 at-bats in AAA. Craig is the worst of the worst.

Tony Clark

There was plenty of reason for optimism when the Red Sox signed Tony Clark for the 2002 season. The Red Sox needed a slugger at first base and Clark appeared to be just that. Since his rookie season of 1996 Clark had hit 153 home runs for the Tigers. This averaged out to 26 home runs per season or 34 home runs per 162 games played. This came with a .278 batting average and .357/.506/.863 triple slash. Those are some pretty impressive numbers. On top of that, Tony Clark had hit the ball very well at Fenway Park. For his career at Fenway Tony Clark had batted .382 with 6 home runs over 110 at-bats. The pairing seemed to be a good one.

Clark’s Red Sox campaign started off as expected. On opening day against the Blue Jays Clark had three hits and a home run, drawing a walk and driving in three. That was pretty much the extent of Clark’s success with the Red Sox. For the season, Clark batted just .207 with three home runs. His OPS was by far a career low, including the rest of his career, at a measly .556. Anyway you measure it, his season in Boston was the worst of his career and an unmitigated disaster.

First baseman Tony Clark of the Boston Red Sox swings at the pitch during the game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on April 13, 2002. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 7-6. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Danny Cater

Cater is on here more for what was given up to acquire him than he is for his performance. His performance wasn’t good, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the two above him on the list. Cater had bounced around the field, playing both corners of the infield as well as some outfield. He was a solid hitter, but nothing special. Before the Red Sox traded for him he was a .279 career hitter with an OPS of just .695. Who knows what possessed Richard O’Connell to trade Sparky Lyle for him. Lyle was a 27 year old reliever with a 2.85 career ERA and 69 saves. Cater was a 32 year old mediocre hitter.

Lyle pitched the next seven seasons for the Yankees, saving 141 games and winning a Cy Young Award. Cater spent three mediocre seasons with the Red Sox. His first season was by far his most playing time with the Red Sox, accumulating 317 at-bats. He only batted .237 and hit 8 home runs. The following season he actually hit a career high .313, although he only homered once. In his final season he managed to hit five homers in 126 at-bats while batting .246. In three season’s total, Cater batted .262 with 14 home runs and a .685 OPS.

Manny Machado Rumors Heating Up

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Are the Red Sox Going to Do Something?

The quiet Red Sox offseason so far might be heating up soon. According to reports, the Red Sox are interested in Orioles power hitter Manny Machado. Machado hit 33 home runs last season and had a batting average of .259. If the Red Sox do get Machado they would only have him for one season. Now they can do one of two things. One, the Sox get the power hitter they need and trade Xander Bogaerts to at least be competitive with the Yankees. Or they keep the team they have and just watch the Yankees walk away with the division.

Manny Machado Rumors

If the Red Sox land Machado and he works out this year, they could offer an extension to him. But if he doesn’t work out they’re back to where they started this season. The Red Sox really don’t have a farm system. Dave Dombrowski has traded away some good young talent for mediocre talent. Machado and the little leader Dustin Pedroia had some drama last season but seem to have made up since then. According to Rob Bradford of WEEI, sources say that it would be misrepresenting to suggest that the Red Sox are on the doorstep or pounding at the door.

Who Will The Red Sox Trade Away?

Jon Morosi from reported on MLB Network “Sources: showing continued trade interest in Manny Machado, as I reported this hour on in our segment with “. Will Dan Duquette do business with Dave Dombrowski and make this trade happen? That remains to be seen but the two did work together with the Montreal Expos. The Orioles put Machado on the trading block. But took him off December 20th because they weren’t happy with the offers they were getting. Andrew Benintendi isn’t going anywhere but I would trade Jackie Bradley or Bogaerts.

Frozen Thoughts: the State of the NHL and the Bruins

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Frozen Thoughts…

Greetings from Northern Alberta.  As I write this the temperature outside is -36°C.  Brrr.

I read one of Don Cherry’s books a few years ago and I remember him saying this book has no order. It is written like his thoughts and that is probably how this article will be. I, like Don, am not very politically correct but I will try to contain myself.

These are my thoughts on the current state of the NHL and the Boston Bruins in particular:

Protection

Number one thing on my mind is how the injuries keep piling up. My solution is bring back the enforcer role or get rid of the instigator rule. I believe the on ice presence of a guy like Shawn Thornton will deter guys from taking cheap shots or liberties with stars or even any top line guy. I am not a big fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins, but I applaud them for signing Ryan Reaves. That guy is a tank and he would and should put the fear of God into opposing players! I have been saying for a while now that the Bruins need someone like that. Look at the injuries we are having. Not saying that some policing would have prevented them all, but it would not hurt. One of my previous articles talks about how we can use McQuaid back in the line-up for this purpose.

Expansion

My next beef with the NHL is their decision to put the next possible expansion team in Seattle. I am not against that decision completely, but Quebec has been ready and waiting for a while now. They built a first-rate arena which some would say is better than some of the current league arenas. Now I know what you’re thinking: they already had a team and they couldn’t support it. But look at Winnipeg, they are doing better than ever! In fact, they are doing better than the Panthers, Coyotes and the Hurricanes. I believe that Quebec can do the same.  

Bettman is definitely not a fan favorite but he has done good things for the league. However, I think he leans more towards the US market than he does Canada. Just my opinion. I am sure Seattle can support a team, but maybe the league should think about relocating one of the aforementioned teams to Seattle instead of expansion. That being said, LET’S GET QUEBEC A TEAM! I miss that Quebec rivalry.

I want the teams to go back to wearing white at home. Dark on the road. That’s it. Next…

Collision

This is a touchy subject, but I am going to open this can of worms. I was taught from age 4 to keep your head up! In fact, when my dad sends me a card or a note his closing remarks to this day are “Keep Your Head Up Kid”. If a player is skating up the ice with his head down, then he should be fair game. Now I’m not saying get him with a cheap shot, but a player should be to step up and lay the body. If you can picture a guy skating up the ice his head is further out than the rest of his body. So now it would stand to reason that his head would get hit first. That’s a penalty in the new NHL. I completely disagree.

It’s the same if Chara steps up on a guy elbows down. The receiving player will get hit in the head just because of the sheer size difference. Now is this the fault of Chara? No. Look, it is a very fast and physical game. Guys will get hurt no matter how hard the league tries to stop the injuries.

These players are paid a ton of money to play a game where every game could be their last. They know the risks and they make the decision to lace up their skates and get out there and do it! Now I do not want to see anyone get hurt, but it happens. It will always happen. Concussions will happen. Some players are more prone to concussion than others. It’s just how our bodies are different. I still watch hockey every chance I get, but the way the league is changing bugs me. You can see players going in for the big hit and then backing off for fear of getting a penalty. ‘Nuff said on that.

Confusion

What to do with Krug. Personally I like the guy. He is a fast, puck moving defenseman with a dandy shot from the point. His defensive game has been lacking a bit though. He is in the 2nd year of a two year contract worth 5.25 mil/season. That is a boat load of money for someone you can not trust to put on the ice during a 3 on 3 OT. He never set foot on the ice in OT, which leads me to think, have the coaching staff lost faith in him? For example, his ice-time during that game was 18:14. Rookie sensation Charlie McAvoy had 20:48. Even league wide unknown d-man, Matt Grzelcyk had 17:22 TOI. Grzelcyk is quickly becoming a staple on the point for the Bruins.

Was the benching of Krug in OT a message to him and the rest of the defensive corp? Time will tell. I think Krug is just in slump and needs a push to get back to where he was.

Conclusion

Hopefully the next time we meet it will be a bit warmer. Hopefully the Bruins can keep their winning ways and stay injury free. It’s gonna be fun seeing what this young, fearless team can do in the post season!

 

Keep Your Head Up

Don’t Go Away Mad IT, Just Go Away.

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Enough already. Every time someone puts a keyboard or microphone near Isaiah Thomas’ face he reminds us more and more of his namesake. We hated that IT.

Our IT was great last year. Huge in the playoffs. We were sad when he left. No more. Kyrie Irving is a better player than Thomas. It’s not even debatable.

He’s also, apparently, a lot more grown up.

Le Divorce

Fandom, especially in Boston, is like a marriage. We love our teams and players until we don’t. And then, like a divorce, we tend to hate their very existence. Sure, there have been some amicable splits. We love Ray Bourque, despite leaving to lift Lord Stanley in Colorado. And, other than that bastard Johnny Damon who went to New York, we don’t hate anyone of the 2004 Red Sox players who went elsewhere. They drink for free forevah!

Thomas came to Boston a pretty average NBA player. He spent three seasons in Sacramento (2011-2014) and had a cup of coffee in Phoenix in (2014-2015). In those three and a half years he averaged just over 15 points, 4.5 assistants, and less than a steal per game. He was 37% from the 3-point line and 44% from the field. He was a nice player.

In two and a half years in Boston he became a star – averaging over 24 points, 6 assists, and 1 steal a game. He was a giant in the playoffs. Boston loved IT. Many of us still do, despite how difficult he is making it.

The Trade

Source: NBC Sports

Channeling his inner Hoodie, Danny Ainge capitalized on Thomas’s breakout year and post season and packaged him in a deal for Kyrie Irving in August. Beyond the machinations of compensatory picks due to Thomas’s health and the emotional outcry by Boston fans who loved IT’s play and heart, the initial reaction was that maybe the Celtics were giving up too much for Irving. Kyrie certainly didn’t take long to dispel those fears.

As much as we loved Thomas, Boston fans, more than most others, understand that even star players come and go. At some point everyone leaves – they are traded, released, or retire. We don’t like it when it happens to a popular player and important piece to our success.

The key for fans, lest we lose faith in the organization, is that these moves need to improve the team. And, over the course of the last two decades, we’ve come to understand that, just maybe, the coach and GM know a little more about the game and the organization than we do.

Theo dumped Nomar – who was the franchise’s most popular player for a decade. We don’t win the 2004 World Series without that deal.

Belichick dumps everyone at some point. There is no Patriots Dynasty without his cold calculus.

Ainge traded Paul Pierce, an all-time Celtic great, and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn in 2013 over the outrage of all of New England. That deal, in hindsight, continues to be regarded as one of the greatest in history. Theo, Bill, and Danny know how to build winning franchises.

The Tantrum

The problem with the IT-Irving trade is simply this: Thomas can’t move on. Rather than thank Ainge and the Celtics organization for the opportunity they gave him – and he capitalized on – to become a star, he’s pouted and cried about how he was treated.

Source: Twitter

Thomas is not a child, despite how he’s behaved since the trade. From snide tweets responding to Boston’s growing appreciation for Irving to criticizing Ainge and the Celtics’ medical staff, it’s been a four-month sulk that would shame even the most melodramatic teenage girl upset over being dumped for the prettier cheerleader.

Thomas contents that he’s moved on. He claims that the drama of the trade is only being kept alive by media. But his actions betray his words.

The week before Christmas, IT dropped the ultimate self-pity party. He posted a fourteen-minute video on The Players Tribune detailing the day he learned of the trade and his FaceTime exchange with his kids about having to move to Cleveland. It is a touching video. It is clear how disappointed IT is about leaving the Celtics and uprooting his family to move to Cleveland.

Time to Move On

That is totally understandable. Anyone who’s ever been to Cleveland would be devastated about moving there. But this, IT, is the life you chose. You are not a rookie. You’ve been through this before.

Thomas needs to stop acting like the original Isiah Thomas – one of history’s greatest and most unlikable whiners – and act like the guy who capitalized on his trade to Boston. Ainge and the Celtics gave you an opportunity to be a star and you took it. They traded you for a better player because that’s what organizations are supposed to do to improve their teams. You have a new opportunity in Cleveland with perhaps the greatest player in league history – grow up and take it.

Marcus Smart’s Value Won’t Stare You in the Face

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The 4th Quarter Hero

Anyone who watches the Boston Celtics has some sort of opinion on Marcus Smart. Mostly you’ll see negative views. “He can’t shoot, why is he playing instead of Rozier?”. The list goes on.

However, his value is there. It just won’t always be on the stat sheet. Take the end of the Houston game as an example:

Why He’s Here When Celtics Win Banner 18

Marcus Smart makes plays in the 4th quarter that win games. If it wasn’t for Smart drawing the first offensive foul, there was a good chance Houston would have won. Al Horford would never have had the chance to score that winning basket.

So, that begs the question: why do so many people want him traded? Simply because he can’t shoot? I agree that he isn’t a good shooter. Currently, he’s shooting 33.8% from the floor and 30.7% from behind the arc. He is a 72% free throw shooter. Not someone you’d want taking a shot late in the 4th quarter, or at all.

That’s why Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jason Tatum and a ton of other guys are here. The biggest thing is to let Smart play in the late minutes to do what he did against Houston.

Now, if you told me Smart had to be involved in a trade for someone like Anthony Davis, then okay. I’d be the first person to say “smell you later” and drive him to Logan. However, that deal probably isn’t coming.

This group of guys, along with Gordon Hayward, will win multiple titles while in Celtic Green. Anything else would be a disappointment. Marcus Smart will be on that roster. I agree I’d like to see Terry Rozier get more minutes for how he plays. That being said, Marcus Smart is a key cog to what makes this Celtics team run. A defense-first attitude and doesn’t care who he has to guard.

 

Marcus Smart NBA Champion with the 2018-19 Boston Celtics.