Let's Give Me Somethin' To Talk About...

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?
First, big props to ESPN for bringing back the old theme song for Monday night football. I haven’t watched MNF in a season or so, not since the Patriots played, and I don’t remember if I saw the beginning, but the last time I did see the MNF opening, I believe ESPN had opted for a computer generated street theme in which the street transformed into a football field and game. It was a breath of fresh air to see Hank Williams Jr. back in action.

"There's Hank Jr...Lookin' A Lot Like My Dad?"

So, Matt Cassel proved me wrong for one week. After his poor performance in the previous weeks, he’s still got some ‘splainin’ to do. I’ve seen this kid throw far too many passes into the dirt to completely believe he’s matured to the next level of NFL quarterbacks. I’m as big a Pats fan as the next guy- but come on, are we really going to let him do well in just one game before we hail him as the next King? I’m sticking to my guns on this one. Show me three straight good performances and talk to me then.

Saint Louis doesn’t exactly represent the crème de la crème of great defenses, or great teams for that matter, so I’m going to reassess my feelings of Cassel after the Indianapolis Colts game in two weeks. Regardless of how well or how poor the Colts are doing year in and year out, they match up well against the Patriots and the two teams go at it like old sparring partners

"Football Players Just Don't Look Good When They Smile."

I heard that Michael Vick is going to give a guilty plea for running an illegal dog fighting ring and possibly reduce his sentence. The Patriots have a real knack for bringing troubled players back down to earth (see: Corey Dillon and current team captain Randy Moss). So perhaps if he gets his sentence substantially reduced he can come in to help out the New England team by season’s end. I’m kidding of course. I would rather have a drunken, coked-up Daunte Culpepper. The only people who have been to prison that I ever liked or respected were Sean Connery from The Rock and Tim Robbins from The Shawshank Redemption.

I think Michael Vick would fit in best in Cleveland, playing for the Browns where they wear those dog masks. A nice ironic team would be a good fit for the troubled veteran quarterback.

"Comet from Full House Stands Up For Dogs Everywhere!"

As of today, it’s being reported that Tom Brady may be out for two full seasons and at least a few weeks into a third. Listening to radio station WEEI this morning and the Dennis and Callahan morning show, the talk show hosts cited an outside source that Brady’s injury mirrors that of lacrosse star’s elbow injury not too long ago. Apparently said lacrosse star had surgery to repair his elbow, the repairs became infected and another surgery was required.

That being said, if the injury is similar to Brady’s ACL then doctors will not operate on Brady until the infection subsides, which could take up to 12 months. After that year, the doctors would then operate to replace the ACL entirely and that would require more time for recovery. Tom Brady has acknowledged that he’s had more than one surgery on his knee. The source close, familiar with the injury says that it’s because of infection that Brady has had surgery on the ACL multiple times. If it is indeed the case and doctors cannot stop the infection, Brady could be sidelined from 2008 all the way through to 2010. It’s going to be tough to come back after being away from the game for two straight seasons.

Was I really kidding about Michael Vick?

He might be out of prison well before that!!

MLB: HOT STOVE REPORT

There are still rumors swirling that the Boston Red Sox are interested in Mark Teixeira. The journeyman third basemen is a superstar caliber player who’s wound up on three teams since the 2007 season. If this guy’s numbers are so good, and so many teams supposedly want him, than why do teams keep on trading him away? Texas would’ve been better with him this season. Just imagine their lineup with Michael Young, Milton Bradley, Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton and Teixeira. Beyond those five names, David Murphy batted like .400 when he wasn’t hurt and that’s the majority of your line up right there. Keeping those guys and going after some pitching, Texas would be a force to be reckoned with. Although, the pitchers need to be top notch because we saw what happened to the New York Yankees with a great line up and no pitching.

"Look Ma! I Got Me a Mickey Mantle Rookie Card! Tee Hee!!"

Anaheim is the best place for Teixeira. They can’t sign both him and K-Rod though so it’ll be interesting to see what they do in the coming weeks and months. Most outlets I’ve seen call for them to resign their record-breaking closer. I say if it’s going to be tons of cash to buy him back, why not let him go and get another guy that can gun people down in the late innings? Is it really that difficult to get a great closer? Sure the Red Sox proved that teams in the AL couldn’t have a closer-by-committee not so long ago, but Anaheim certainly has some young guns that might be able to handle the job. See: Jose Arredondo.

If Anaheim lets Teixeira fall through the cracks than of course all eyes will turn to the New York Yankees. The Yankees will certainly not pick up Jason Giambi’s option, which is $22 million. For those counting, that’s two million over the price on slugger Manny Ramirez’s head. Ramirez, as shotty as he was toward the Boston Red Sox is still a much better hitter than Giambi ever was or ever will be at this point in his career. The Yankees are known for making big splashes in the offseason i/e Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Jose Contreras, Roger Clemens and etc. So making a bid for a gold glove first baseman wouldn’t be a big surprise. They do need pitching, though they will get Chien-Ming Wang back at full health and perhaps their young guns will be another year older and wiser.

Beyond all of that, the Red Sox seem like the only team that doesn’t fit. They’ll have 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell returning at (hopefully) full health. Kevin Youkilis mans the bag at first base and David Ortiz is their power-hitting DH. There are talks the Red Sox might eat some of Lowell’s contract and include him in a trade but at his age and with his injury this season, is there a team that can use him? Atlanta comes to mind as one destination for Lowell. They’re most likely losing “Mr. Glass” Chipper Jones to the free agent market. Maybe we can cross our fingers and the Red Sox will get some sort of dream deal done that sends Lowell and a prospect to Atlanta for their young hitting catcher Brian McCann. Talk about a guy that can someday replace Captain ‘Tek!! McCann is second in the major leagues only Joe Mauer in the last two seasons in terms of catchers that provide a heavy dose of offense.

"The Future of The Red Sox? Not McCann! That's Crazy Talk- The Umpire Behind Him."

If and only if the Sox trade Lowell do I see this deal going down. The Red Sox could move Youk to the outfield, but whom do they lose? Drew’s not going anyplace with his $14 million a year contract. I think Bay is a bargain at the price he’s making and we’ve got centerfield locked away with Jacoby Ellsbury, assuming he’s not going to be traded. Plus, if you’re going to have a centerfielder it’s got to be a guy with speed. I don’t see Youkilis shagging fly balls in center at the Fens.

"Mike Lowell Always Makes Sure to Give Giant Baby Head-Man Madd Daps On His Way To The Dugout."

I mention Ellsbury being traded above, because I think the Sox might go after pitcher Jake Peavy. When all is said and done this may turn into either a pipe dream or perhaps a repeat of the Johan Santana saga, but we all saw how that turned out for the Sox as Jon Lester has possibly matured into one of the best, if not the best, left handed pitchers in the game. He was at least as good as Santana this season. San Diego has been a team that’s had some dealings with the Sox in the past and the general manager there is close with Theo Epstein. So out of any team in baseball right now, I think any possible deal with San Diego is an exciting one. The Padres want three players for Peavy: two prospects and a major league ready centerfielder. It’s almost like the Red Sox are having a wonderful dream and we all get to be a part of it! If the Sox have an abundance of anything right now it’s minor league talent, and of course Coco Crisp!!! Here’s my deal:

Sox Trade: Coco Crisp, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden (Joe Thurston/Chris Carter)Padres Deal: Jake Peavy

"Maybe Soon Jake Peavy Can Hold the Balls of Boston Fans Everywhere."

Do we give up a lot? Sure- but think of it like this: Buchholz has had one good game with the Sox so far, his no-hitter. Michael Bowden we still have yet to see his full potential. If we can get away with keeping Bowden and trading either Thurston or Carter, what does it matter to us? Neither of those two will ever play for the Red Sox and we keep the guys we know are good: Lester and Masterson and we get rid of Coco Crisp! This would be a win, win, win situation because let’s face it, it was nice to have Coco off the bench this year but the guy can be silent for only so long. Sooner or later he’s going to start complaining that he’s not starting everyday, especially if it’s a contract year which would be this season if I’m not mistaken. I give him all my respect for not mouthing off this season as he rode the bench. Hey, without him we wouldn’t have made it to game seven against Tampa!!

The Boston Herald reported that the Sox would almost certainly pick up Wakefield’s $4 million dollar option for 2009. Wake ain’t done yet- and he’s an inning eating machine. So picture if you will, even for a moment, this pitching staff for 2009:

Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
Jake Peavy
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Tim Wakefield

Um…yikes!

And if the Red Sox can’t get Peavy, than an old friend is a free-agent this year, and apparently as reported by the Newark Star Ledger, Derek Lowe has the Boston Red Sox on the top of his list as teams he would play for in 2009.

That's all my ranting and raving for today! The above picture speaks for itself, which is why I don't really need to leave a caption making fun of it! A good movie hasn't come out in over a month so I have nothing to report new on that front. As always fans: stay tuned for more to come!