Sox: Time to Re-Invest?

I'm one of the biggest believers that anything can happen in the month of October. That's even more so now that the wild card is now extended with yet another team joining with a one game playoff. But it's pretty hard to ignore the energy of the Red Sox and how much they are buying into Bobby Valentine in their first year with the Italian Stallion. It's also a question with how much confidence they actually have with the absense of starters throughout the year. It's difficult to establish a good chemistry and confidence in who you are when players are in and out the lineup.

The main question a Red Sox fan has to ask themselves is "Do you see Boston winning a ring this year?". I understand we're used to living in the city of champions, the best of the best, the creme of the crop, the home of Tom Brady's flowing hair in the warm Superbowl February winds. But I cannot honestly say that the Red Sox have the pieces of the puzzle to get the job done this year. Our biggest hole is no doubt our pitching, that goes for the starters as well as the bullpen. I know I'm stating the obvious but this staff doesn't have what it takes to make a run in the playoffs. And with a thick playoff field, it is extremely possible for the boys in the bean to miss the playoffs entirely.

So why not start making deals to make us REAL contenders in the future? I understand that it's tough for Red Sox fans to grasp this concept, and it's even tougher for Cherrington to make moves like that in a city like Boston. But there are so many reasons why we can turn into sellers before the deadline.

As my new roommate and fresh southern boy Jeff Miller pointed out yesterday, Jacoby Ellsbury is nearing the end of his contract. Looking at his near MVP season last year, as well as Scott Boras as his agent, what kind of money is he going to be looking for? Are we willing to pay him that cash? And is it actually that good for the money? My answer to that situation is to deal him immediately. There are plenty of teams that are in the market for a good leadoff hitter that can steal bases with a decent bat. How bout some longterm bullpen help and a prospect in return, instead of letting him walk at the end of the season?

Another point I can bring out is Lars Anderson playing down in the minors still. Its easy to say his value isn't tip top shape, but he's known around the league to be one of the best farm system players in the bigs. With Adrian Gonzalez here long term, there is nowhere else we can put him (unless they're waiting on Papi to retire). But the kid is too talented to be DH-ing. He holds a great amount of value, and I could see us making a move for prospect pitching that will round the boys out much better.

Its a bitter pill to swallow, but it's safe to say this ain't the year. Who know's, maybe Jacoby will be holding up the big trophy at the end of the year, but it won't be in a Red Sox uniform.

PSU Penalties: Exactly what the Doctor Ordered

I've been wanting to touch down on this Penn State issue for a long long time now. I think since the first story about Sandusky broke out months back I listened to at least thirty hours of radio and hundreds of opinions on the matter and I really think I could write a book on what I think should have been done/who was responsible. First off, its agreed that Sanduskys a monster and the people who covered up for him deserve punishment. I did not know enough information for the longest time, but it is now confirmed that Joe Pa did enough covering up that he would as well face criminal prosecution if he were still alive. The statue had to be removed, and I will stand by that, but thats another issue that I could touch on for hours. I know the Penn Staters who are so engaged in the school and believe the good that Joe Pa did outweighed this situation but thats a dead wrong statement. He was one of the smartest men to ever coach football and you can believe he knew the wrong in it and that he didn't do nearly enough. He was a man of integrity and doing the right thing, and its safe to say that he knew he didn't do enough.
The main point I wanted to touch on was the penalties and how they touched hundreds of thousands of innocent people. As I feel for them and what the punishment really meant to them, I wholeheartedly agree with the penalties given. This is a situation that is speaking as a precedent directly to the perception that the power of football is bigger than criminal acts. The internal operations of college football are very far from ethically clean as they have been more exposed in the recent past. What has happened on the Penn State Campus has to be one of the most traumatic, inhumane, irresponsible crimes that can occur. And it was covered up. What people need to ask themselves is why exactly was this covered up? It ties directly to the game that was played between the lines. The damage reporting Sandusky to officials would have challenged the public perception, integrity, and just the intelligence at Penn State. Even the act of doing the right thing and confessing that there was a criminal on the grounds would have caused a media uproar. Instead, the mass of power holders in the front offices, including Joe Paterno, decided to cover up the awful actions of Sandusky to ensure some of the best recruits in the country for continued success in the football program, ensure their legacy, maximize profits, and have the centerpiece that pulls in students as well.
So what did the NCAA do by fining, taking away wins, and removing the ability to compete in Bowl Games? The easiest way to answer this question is temporarily take the side of Penn Staters who believe that football should continue. We'll give them all their wins back and allow them to compete in bowl games because the criminals that were involved are being handled by the Federal Government and that is all that will be needed. Now look down the road and think internally at schools that are in similiar situations. Allowing the wins to stand as well and keeping the Lions bowl eligible sends a hard message to those other big schools in the future. I can just hear the board meeting of the head honchos at a powerhouse school discussing a negative situation: "Look, I understand were trying to do the right thing here but the public image of this university is what drives us, and makes us who we are. If were going to march towards a National Championship and continue to maximize our revenue we need to keep up that image. Coming forward with a small crime like this that happens on a daily basis in the United States really isn't going to help us as a whole. I mean look at Penn State, worst case scenario is we get caught and the place gets a slap on the wrist, we'll never lose any wins and well continue to roll on just as we would if we came forward in the first place. I think its worth the small chance of not letting this out to keep on rolling as a University."
There needed to be certain amount of fear put into people who control football programs. If you don't have a punishment that fit one of the worst crimes that ever happened in sports, what's the point of even pretending you have integrity?