Finally, some inspiration...

Many of you have asked me what happened to the final "Red Sox Ramblings" at the end of the Sox season. Well, I was going to write it the day after the last Sox game. Then I was going to write it the day after the World Series.  It's not that I was "afraid to face the music" after my optimistic
predictions didn't pan out. Nor was it that I didn't want to re-awaken the pompous yet victorious Yankee fans. It's just that I had a good old case or writer's block.

Let me start by admitting that baseball is really not my first love. It's really football. Any level of F'BALL- from Pop Warner to the NFL- makes my heart pump faster. I said heart. One specific thing I like about the NFL is the salary cap. Why ??? Because it's simple, it makes sense, and mostly because IT WORKS. All 31 teams are on an equal playing field-literally and figuratively. They all have the same limit on how much they can spend on player salaries. The team that can get the best bang for its buck has a better chance of winning.

Baseball, on the other hand, could be compared to an unfair game of marbles.  Georgie Porgie gets 150 marbles, Myra the Met gets 125, Johnny Hotrod gets 100, while Penny the Pirate gets 20, Monty the Expo gets 10. Which marble players have the best chance of winning ??? Hmmmm...

Well, you know what, it's not my money. If the large-market owners have the money, or think they can get the money from increased ticket prices or TV/cable deals, then more power to the players. Pay pretty boy A-Rod all you want. Give him part ownership of Texas- the state that is... Let Moose
Mussina go hunting in Westchester County. Allow Mike Hampton to breathe in his new found millions in the thin Colorado air because...

WE GOT MANNY, WE GOT MANNY, WE GOT MANNY... nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah...

Who cares how much they paid ??? Dan Duquette stalked him more than Margo chased Boggsie. John Harrington figured he'd be off the hook for the money anyway in about a year or so when the team gets sold. Heck, it's not his money anyway. It belongs to the Yawkey Trust. Why hadn't he thought of this a while ago: spend someone else's money. Only if someone can trick
Jeremy Jacobs into thinking that way with the Bruins. Paul Gaston does it with his Dad's money. He donates it to Rick Pitino so The Con Man II can ruin the franchise.

Where was I ??? Oh yeah, Manny-Manny-Manny. Right now, who cares if he plays right, left, first, or DH ??? I don't want to see Trot Nixon traded but if you can get some decent pitching in return, maybe you pull the trigger. Enough of this Hot Stove Talk, let's just enjoy the moment. The Sox overpaid for a stud, but at least they had the courage to take a risk for the only reward that justifies such a move- reversing The Bambino Curse!!!

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Happy Holidays !!!

You can email Jack at jacksox@walpole.org