Not Buying What Theo is Selling

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Heading into the season opener against the New York Yankees, the Red Sox newly discovered philosophy of "run prevention" will be put to an early season test.

The John Lackey signing was great, and Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron will certainly bring better defense to the Red Sox lineup, but something just doesn't seem right with the Red Sox new focus on pitching and defense.

For years, Theo Epstien has preached high on base percentage, and loved players who were tough outs at the plate. Theo had players who could work the count up and down the lineup. Now we are supposed to believe that run prevention is the way to go? What happened to getting guys who were great at getting on base? What ever happened to building up the opposing teams pitch count? This worked great in the past, and brought a pair of World Series Championships to Boston. If it is not broke, why fix it?

I like Mike Cameron, but really, he is a rally killer. Red Sox Nation will not be happy the first time he kills a rally by striking out on 3 pitches, and bails the other team out of a jam. The whole run prevention mantra reeks of Theo trying to cover up for bad off seasons the last few years.

It all started with the failed Mark Texiera signing after the 2008 season. The Red Sox dropped the ball with Tex. The Sox could have matched the New York offer. What was the difference between the Red Sox and the Yankees offer? Maybe 10 or 12 million? Over the course of an 8 year contract the Red Sox would have only had to pay another 1 or 2 million a season. That is long reliever money, and something the Red Sox could have easily done.

Same goes with Jason Bay. The deal that he got from the Mets was something that Theo and company could have beaten. Guys like Bay, who are good for 30 HR and 100 RBI every year, are not easy to find.

The killer is the both Texeria and Bay should be productive throughout their contracts, and have little risk, with big upside.

Even if Beltre has a huge year, he could be one and done in Boston because he only under contract for one year. Cameron is clearly nearing the end.

I know the Sox have a bunch of talent in the minors, but will Red Sox Nation really put up with a bridge year to 2011 or 2012. The Red Sox should be able to put a winner on the field every year with the fiances they have. They are the only team that can really compete with the Yankees in that regard.

Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego is name that keeps getting brought up to add some punch to the Sox lineup, but he will cost the Red Sox some of their prized prospects. Tex and Bay could have been here without having to give up any players.

The failed signing of Tex and Bay will come back to haunt the Red Sox. If not for John Lackey, it really could have been a lost off season for the Red Sox.

As it looks now, the Red Sox seemed to be destined to lose a lot of 2-1 or 3-2 games. At the end of last season, the Red Sox needed to add offense and failed. Theo tried to sell the Nation on run prevention, but in the end it could add up to an 88 win season and no playoffs. Will the Nation find this acceptable? I hope Theo is right about the new found faith in pitching and defense.

Maybe it is the way to go, and the Red Sox will continue to win 95 games and play deep into October. For some reason, I just don't see this happening, and the Sox will be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

McNabb to the Raiders? Not good for the Patriots

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Personally, I find the Donovan McNabb soap opera fascinating. The latest McNabb trade rumors has the Eagles sending their embattled QB to the wasteland properly known as the Oakland Raiders. There have been reports that McNabb will not report if that is the case, but what really can he do. At this point, you might be asking who cares about this, and what does this have to do with the New England Patriots? Well, if you recall, the Patriots received the Oakland Raiders 2011 1st round draft pick in return for Richard Seymour just prior to the start of the 2009 season.

Most people, like myself, still thought this was a pretty good deal because there was no way the Raiders could improve that much for this pick not to be a top 10 pick, right? Well, we just may be wrong. If McNabb does get sent to the Raiders, then they are a much better team than most people realize. They managed to win 5 games last year, and should easily be a .500 team with the addition of Donovan McNabb. The Raiders will still lack any decent receivers, but have a solid stock of running backs that line up behind a decent offensive line. My guess is Zach Miller turns into an All Pro Tight End thanks in part to having a quarterback who can actually throw the rock. It also helps they have a pretty decent defense. While they struggled against the run, the Raiders defense was 7th in the NFL in pass defense.

What will the Patriots do about this? Well, the Patriots will most likely not move this pick prior to, or during, the 2010 draft. Why? I don't see a new CBA being agreed to by either the owners or players without a slotted salary for rookies. The Patriots know this and will have two first round picks with a locked in salary. What do I think they should do? To heck with the slotted draft system, I want to win. The 2010 draft is being referred to the deepest draft in who knows how long. Use the 2011 first rounder to move up and get an impact player at a position of need like an edge pass rusher or offensive lineman.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to the new draft style?