So, we're less than 4 days away from the first set of pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training....truly the sun has returned!
Obviously, this hot stove season has seen spending on free agents look like money was going out of fashion. $55m for a lifetime 4.65 ERA pitcher? Or, if you want to count absolutes, $1m per career win so far...did every agent become Scott Boras this winter?
BoSox have finally stopped pretending they are the poor little step child to the mighty Yankees in financial terms and blew everyone out of the water for the new boy wonder Dice-K by paying $50m+ just to TALK to him!
On paper, the Red Sox look improved in almost every aspect of the lineup, with the glaring exception being the crucial closer position. Then again, I remember last years spring training, when everyone was mulling over the possible return to form of World Series hero Keith Foulke, and yet Super-Jon stepped up from out of nowhere. Now Papelbon is in the rotation, as the doctors say he cannot pitch every day, so Fort Myers will be the spot for closer auditions from the illustrious group of Joel Pineiro, Brendan Donnelly, Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez, Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen.
Tavarez stepped up as a spot starter last year, but Hansen came out of college as the "closer of the future" - a burden you wouldn't want your worst enemy to be stuck with.
All I know is that it soon time to get that MLB.com subscription up and running again.
Welcome back baseball - rarely have I needed you as much as now.
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