Scott Cordischi On Sports: Red Sox In It To Win It!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
They’re in it to win it!
That’s the message Ben Cherington and the Boston Red Sox sent to their fans late Tuesday night when they acquired RHP Jake Peavy from the Chicago White Sox as part of a 3-team trade which also sent defensive standout shortstop Jose Iglesias to the Detroit Tigers.
Peavy is under contract through 2014 when he will be paid $14.5 million in the final year of his contract. There is also a $15 million club option on Peavy meaning he is under the club’s control for 2 ½ seasons.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe 12-year veteran won the 2007 National League Cy Young Award as a member of the San Diego Padres. This season he went (8-4) with a 4.28 ERA for Chicago with an impressive 4.47 strikeout to walk ratio.
In Iglesias, the Sox give up a stellar defensive shortstop who was also surprisingly solid at the plate this season. Whether or not he can continue to be a productive Major League hitter remains to be seen. However, the Tigers needed a shortstop in the event that All-Star shortstop Jhonny Peralta is suspended by the league for his involvement with the Biogenesis Clinic in Miami.
Losing Iglesias may not be the worst thing for Boston who is talent-rich on the farm on the left side of the infield.
One of the team’s top overall prospects is Xander Bogearts who plays shortstop for the Pawsox. Another is 3B Garin Cecchini who is with double-A Portland.
Peavy’s addition adds tremendous strength to the Red Sox’ starting rotation and, if Clay Buchholz returns, it will give the club flexibility to move an arm to the bullpen where depth is also needed.
-In an effort to make the NFL’s Pro Bowl slightly interesting, the league is doing away with the traditional AFC vs. NFC format in favor of something new. Fans will still get to vote for players with the top two vote-getters gaining captains honors. Those two players will then draft 43 players per team. Kickoffs will also be eliminated from the game for safety reasons meaning the team that wins the opening coin toss gets the ball on offense starting at their own 25-yard line. After each score, the ball will be placed at the 25. Here are some of the other changes that have been approved for the game:
• A two-minute warning will be added to the first and third quarters in addition to the traditional rule in the second and fourth quarters. Possession also will change hands after each quarter.
• Defenses will be allowed to play Cover 2 and press coverage. In the past, only man coverage had been allowed, except for goal-line situations.
• Changes will be made to the game clock during the two-minute warning, with the clock stopping if the offense doesn't gain at least 1 yard, in order to encourage offenses to try to gain yardage at the end of each quarter.
• In addition, the clock will start after an incomplete pass on the signal of the game referee except during the two-minute warnings and the final five minutes of the game.
• The game will use a 35-second/25-second play clock instead of the traditional 40-second/25-second clock.
• Also, the game clock will not stop on sacks of the quarterback, outside of the game's final two minutes.
What’s the old saying? You can perfume on a pig but it’s still a pig!
-Rookie pitcher Brandon Workman has looked pretty good in the limited time he has spent in Boston this season. With the acquisition of Peavy, he will now be heading to the bullpen.
-In addition to talent at the WR position, the New England Patriots are also missing on-the-field and locker room leaders like Tedy Bruschi who was inducted into the Hall at Patriot Place Monday.
-Is there anyone in all of pro sports more toxic that the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez? Sure to be suspended soon for the Biogenesis mess, A-Roid and his people claim that they will fight any suspension. Everyone, including his bosses for the Yankees, would love nothing more than to just see him go away……..forever!
-Chandler Jones and Danny Amendola are my two picks for Patriot players that I believe will have big seasons in 2013.
-For a young man who seemed to be on top of the world after beating Alabama last year and winning the Heisman Trophy as freshman, Texas A & M QB Johnny Manziel seems to be heading down a path toward destruction. ESPN The Magazine’s College Football Preview has an article on Manziel where his own father expresses serious doubt about the young man and his character which you can read here. Strange stuff!
-Congratulations to former Friar Ryan Gomes who signed a 1-year contract with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Having not played for the best teams during his NBA career (Boston, Minnesota, LA Clippers), Gomes now joins a team with a legitimate chance at winning an NBA title. Here’s hoping that happens for Ryan who was always a true gentleman in his days at PC.
-Also congrats to former Friar (sort of) Ricky Ledo who signed a multi-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks. While Ledo did not look outstanding in the Mavs summer league games a couple of weeks ago, he will be given plenty of time to develop his skills with the hopes of someday being an impact player in the league.
-And, while we’re at it, congratulations to Brown men’s basketball coach Mike Martin for making GoLocalProv’s list of Top 25 Coolest People in Providence the other day. Martin, himself, is a class individual who was a gritty, gutty player and a winner at Brown. He has brought that same mentality back to College Hill with him as we saw with last year’s team.
-This writer wishes he could make some Top 25 Coolest or Hottest list, but knows that will never happen. Maybe if we have a lukewarm list, I’ll have a chance at that one.
