Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

A's serious about signing Manny

Assuming it happens, this is going to be fun. 

Oakland A's assistant GM, David Forst, during a Q-and-A session with fans, admitted that his team is interested in possibly signing Manny Ramirez.

Via the Herald:

"We’re open to it," Forst told an announced crowd of more than 7,000 inside Oracle Arena. "We do have other things going on, and we expect other additions between now and opening day. We have never been in a situation where we had too many good players."

And bringing Manny aboard is a surefire way to ensure that streak continues.

Lest we forget, Manny still has that pesky 50-game suspension to ride out before he can suit up.  If he comes to Oakland, he would be eligible to play on May 30th.  His 40th birthday.  There's no way this ends well. 

Your Morning Dump...where no news is not necessarily good news.

Every morning we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump...

If you're looking for any news on Roy Oswalt, Edwin Jackson, or any of the key issues that plague the Red Sox right now, then sorry to disappoint you. No news to report on any outlets sadly. Everyone must be getting psyched for some football game on Sunday.

But to make up for the lack of news, I give you a highlight video of our scrappy MVP, Dustin Pedroia.

 

Wakefield is thinking about retirement

Grandpa Tim has muttered a word I did not think he was capable of saying. Retirement. It is not a definite route for Wake, who will turn 46 during the 2012 season, yet he has taken it into consideration.

"I just saw that [Jorge] Posada retired, you know, it's something that my wife and I need to talk about," said the 45-year-old knuckleballer, according to FloridaToday.com. "I'd probably need to talk about it with my kids, too. Ultimately, I would like to obviously play for the Boston Red Sox for one more year and see where it goes."

He hasn't completely ruled out playing somewhere else, although it is undesirable to him. He also said he doesn't want anything to come down to the last minute.

I am one of the biggest Wakefield fans and I would love to see him comeback, but only if he can be a benefit. I don't think he has what it takes. I'm sure he is thinking "If Jaime Moyer can get at least a minor-league deal at 49, why can't I get something". Of course he thinks he can contribute and he wants to make a run at the Red Sox wins record, but there is very little left in the tank. He can probably give the Sox some spot starts, and will probably be slightly more valuable in the pen for long-relief. The Sox have very little interest and I will be surprised if they do make him an offer, and if they do, anything other than last minute will also be surprising.

Your Morning Dump...Where Tim Bogar is embracing the change

Every morning we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump...

“A little bit of an adjustment, just from the fact that it’s new role,” Bogar said. “And obviously we have all these different variables that we have to add in with the new complex, and new staff, and now we’re adding a couple new players, a couple of guys have left, [Jonathan Papelbon] and those guys. So it’s been a little bit of an adjustment. But it’s baseball. I’ve been doing it my whole life, and luckily Bobby’s been making it pretty easy. So it’s a good thing.”

[...]

Bogar will be responsible for the logistics of spring training. But with a new complex, much of that remains to be worked out.
 
“Yeah, that’s one of the more difficult things because you don’t know how far it is from field to field, where the batting cages are, where the stuff is,“ he said. “So to organize it all  is a little bit of a challenge. But everybody would like to go into a new complex. Obviously, after a day or two, we’ll get all the kinds worked out.”

CSNNE: Bogar looks forward to new role, new manager

This story didn't get much pub on Friday and with the usual slow end-of-January off-season Sunday, this is a good off-day read. Tim Bogar was one of the few that made it through the usual firings as a team transitions to a new manager. As you know, Bogar was promoted to bench coach from third base and has to deal with a lot more responsibility along with adapting to change. I'm sure he is thrilled he no longer has to decide whether to hold up the stop sign or waive players like Gonzo and Ortiz home.

Bogar also commented on how the two still don't know each other well andValentine's work ethic.

“I don’t think I got the true flavor of Bobby Valentine as a manger in those two months,” Bogar said. “And then in spring training is when I left. So I don’t know if I really, truly got to know Bobby as a manager.

[...]

“Bobby’s always trying to take care of business,” Bogar said. “It’s 24/7, and he wants everybody to know he’s all in. I think he wants the players to know that. He wants the coaches to know it. He wants [the media] to know it. He wants the public to know it. So he’s going to do whatever it takes for people to understand that this is a big deal and we’re going to do this right.”...

I don't think it is a secret that Bobby V wants everyone to know his deal and what he is up to. We all hope Bobby can control his need and desire to be front and center and just get the Sox to the playoffs. Give this article a shot if you have a few minutes to spare on this lazy Sunday. What else are you going to do? Watch the Pro Bowl? Give a break.

Oh, and Bogar picked the Pats in the Super Bowl, he kinda had to.

The rest of the links:

Herald: Fausto Carmona's absence may not be so bad for Indians | A new Dodgers owner? Be careful what you wish for

Oswalt is going to St. Louis, or is he?

There have been reports that Cardinals were favored by Roy Oswalt and they are the front-runners in the race. The Cardinals were also reported to have made an identical $5 million offer to Oswalt as the Red Sox did earlier in the week.

WEEI:

According to Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio, the Cardinals appear to have the inside edge on signing free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt, although the Red Sox, Rangers, and Astros are still in the mix.

It was reported by ESPN.com’s Buster Olney earlier this week that the Red Sox had offered Oswalt a one-year deal worth approximately $5 million. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that the Cardinals’ offer approached $5 million.

It looks like the Sox will have to move on and work on Floyd, or does it. In recent devlopments, MLB.com reports that the Cardinals denied a deal with Oswalt.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak denied on Saturday that a deal is in the works with Roy Oswalt, as reports swirled that the club is close to a contract with the veteran free-agent right-hander.

Multiple reports have suggested that the club is at least seriously in the running for a pitcher who has been a longtime rival. MLB Network Radio reported Friday night that a deal was very close, and ESPNBoston.com reported that night that Oswalt has "elected to stay in the National League" and that he is "likely" to sign with the Cardinals "soon." Still, as of midday Saturday, no deal was completed.

So the Red Sox still have some hope to steal Oswalt from St. Louis, but the odds of him pitching in Boston next season do not look good. Actually, count him out, he wants to stay in the national league and it will take a lot of cash to change his mind. Could be a good strategy.

Your Morning Dump... Where the Epstein drama is nearing its end

Every morning we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump...

The Cubs and Red Sox have submitted written proposals – thought to include names of players – to commissioner Bid Selif in hopes of settling their dispute over compensation for Theo Epstein switching allegiance.

“I’d like to get it done as expeditiously as possible,” commissioner Bud Selig said Friday evening at SoxFest.

“The clubs tried to settle it themselves. I have a lot of patience because everything controversial generally winds up on my desk,” he said. “In this case, I did give the clubs more latitude and hoped they could come to some conclusion. But they didn’t and now it’s my case.”

The Red Sox reportedly originally asked for starter Matt Garza as compensation for the Cubs hiring Epstein as their president. Names have gone back and forth, including former Cubs’ first-round pick Josh Vitters.

Chicago Tribune - Selig: No timeframe for solving Cubs-Red Sox compensation

I'm happy that Selig is going to get this resolved as "expeditiously as possible", but can he really not give himself a deadline?  Both the Sox and Cubs have provided their proposals for what they think is fair. How long should it honestly take for Selig to sit down and determine who the Sox should receive?  Two hours?  Three?  15 minutes? 

I understand there isn't a precendence for this, but that should almost make this process easier.  This decision is Selig's, and Selig's alone.  He's not bound by anything. 

And maybe once Selig does resolve this matter once and for all, we can stop trying to digest stories like this:

The Sox have signed right-hander John Maine to a minor league contract that does not include an invitation to spring training, according to a major league source.

Maine has not pitched since 2010 thanks to shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old is 41-36 lifetime with a 4.35 ERA over seven seasons with the Orioles and Mets.

Maine signed with the Rockies last season but never made it out of Triple A, going 1-3 with a 7.43 ERA in 11 starts for Colorado Springs.

Herald - Source: Sox sign RHP Maine

OK, maybe I'm being a little harsh here.  The Sox have absolutely nothing invested in John Maine.  It would be neat if he suddenly became a quality pitcher, but highly unlikely after getting lit up in AAA last year.  But the man doesn't even have an invite to Spring Training built into his contract, so you can probably expect this to be the last time you hear about Maine.

Unless he shocks the world.

Rest of the links:

Globe - Red Sox tickets go digital to foil scalping | Selig expects expanded playoffs to start this year | WEEI - It's official: Selig to decide Theo comp | CSNNE - Valentine positive about progress in clubhouse

Henry and Werner get duped by England's John Lackey

       

Ok, so this guy isn't exactly the John Lackey equivalent in their soccer, sorry, football world. What makes Steward Downing Lackey-like, is the fact that Fenway Sports Group spent an obscene amount of money for a talent-less joke. So, why did they spend so much money on nothing? They were duped by a doctored youtube video (shown above) showing Downing kicking soccer balls into trash bins from 30 yards out. Much like those old Powerade commercials showing Lebron hitting jumpers from 93 feet away. It's all clear to me now. That commercial sealed the deal to make James the face of Liverpool.

Five months in, Liverpool’s $31 million signing of Stewart Downing has been an epic fail. The man hired to pump balls into the box for Andy Carroll has more arrests, one, than assists since joining the club.

It is hard not to call Henry and Werner idiots. They saw this video and heart shape cut-outs were coming out of their computer screen. Instead of bringing this guy in and, maybe, have him workout and test out his skills, they decide to throw a bag of cash at him. Here are some actual quotes from the mouths of these brilliant soccer owners.

“There was some footage of Stewart where he was, from 30 yards away, kicking a football into five different trash cans and it was brilliant,” said chairman Werner.

“John and I said: ‘Oh my God, this player is brilliant, we’ve got to figure out a way to make a deal with him’.”

I'm glad Tom Werner is proper and calling it a "football". I'm glad these guys are willing to spend the money to try to make their teams better, but DO SOME SCOUTING! Do they not pay a scout or someone who knows anything about the game? Did no one know this guy? All it took was John Henry to say "Oh my God, this player is brilliant..." to throw $31 million in the shredder. Seems like Liverpool FC is a well-oiled machine.

For those of you trying to make it big, use your $50 Adobe software, edit your baseball or soccer video, and send it to Fenway Sports Group. Just make sure it is brilliant.

This actually helps Lackey's case, I mean, at least he has won a few games.  

Ron Johnson goes back to AAA

Former Red Sox 1B coach, Ron Johnson, has landed a managerial spot back in AAA. Johnson will be managing the Norfolk Tides, AAA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. RJ is going back to a spot that he is very familiar with and has had plenty of experience in. For those of you unfamiliar with Ron Johnson, before his promotion to 1B coach in Boston, he was the Pawtucket Red Sox skipper for 5 seasons ('05-'09).

Johnson spent the last 2 seasons in the first-base coaching box, but was one of the first of Francona's staff to get a pink slip in the offseason. RJ will be back at McCoy for one series in 2012 for a 4-game set against the Pawsox.

Johnson is a pleasure to be around and is an excellent coach in the clubhouse. I have mentioned this many times before, but I had an opportunity to meet Johnson in Pawtucket a couple of years ago and he is a class-act with vast knowledge of the game. Hopefully this will help him land a job back in the majors.

Good luck, Ron!

Your Morning Dump... Where it's time to talk ourselves into Gavin Floyd

Every morning we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump...

If they do not succeed in signing Roy Oswalt, to whom they have made an offer, a team source said Wednesday night, they most likely will shift their focus to trying to swing a deal with the Chicago White Sox for right-hander Gavin Floyd, with free agent pitcher Edwin Jackson a long-shot option at this stage.

Oswalt remains their No. 1 target, though a team source acknowledged fears that Oswalt would prefer to pitch for either the Rangers or Cardinals.

They have kept channels open with the White Sox regarding Floyd, a former No. 1 draft choice who offers fewer health risks than Oswalt. One league source said Wednesday the White Sox are looking for prospects in return, not necessarily Boston's top prospects, but two or three players with at least one having a high ceiling. Obviously, however, the sides have not come to any agreement on who those prospects should be.

ESPN - Pitching dominoes poised to fall?

There hasn't been a shortage of Roy Oswalt speculation over the past couple days.  But if any of it is to be believed, you can probably cross Roy off of your Sox 2012 projected rotation.  As Edes mentions in the above article (and was reported by Fox Sport's Ken Rosenthal), Oswalt would like to join either the Rangers or Cardinals, with the Rangers being his top choice. 

To back this up, Buster Olney is reporting that the Sox aren't being very aggressive in their pursuit of Oswalt (or Edwin Jackson), offering each "about $5 million" on a one year deal.  According to Olney, the Sox approach is essentially, "If you want to accept our offer, great!  If not, eh, we'll live."  Not really the cut-throat mentality you need to thrive in a constantly-improving AL East.

Which brings us back to Gavin Floyd who, right now, appears to be the Sox best chance at adding another pitcher.  The White Sox asking price for Floyd doesn't seem to be too prohibitive: Two or three prospects, one of which projected to have a bright future.  It's silly to speculate until we hear some of the names being discussed, but we at least know that despite the depleted cupboard, the Sox can afford to lose one solid prospect, and a couple maybes. 

This isn't exactly how we expected the dominos to fall after the Scutaro trade, but if the Sox can come out of this with Gavin Floyd, it won't be a complete disaster.

On Page 2, Kevin Youkilis said that the Sox clubhouse was a mess last season.

Red Sox won't be the only red Sox in 2012

The Chicago White Sox haven't always been black and white.  In fact, they've tried a few different uniform and color combinations throughout their history (some far more successful than others).

In the early seventies, the White Sox donned red pin stripes, cap and logo (and apparently smoked in the dugout).  It's not a bad look.  In fact, it's a good luck.  So good that they're dusting it off and rolling it out again in 2012.  During Sunday home games, the White Sox will sport a red "Sox" logo and wear red pinstriped uniforms again.

I'm all for alternate uniforms, but I like them to stand out.  Give us something different and exciting.  I understand that they're historic to the White Sox, but it's virtually the same uniform and cap the Phillies and Reds have worn recently, just with a different logo.  And, sleeves, where the Reds are concerned. If I were a White Sox fan, I may get excited over this.  But probably not.  This is clearly nothing more than a cash grab for jersey sales.  

Photo and news via Yahoo! Sports