Miscellaneous Thoughts

Some observations while I have my morning java...

OK - I know I'm not the only one who will make this observation but when Pedro Martinez talks about the Red Sox not negotiating with him in good faith and then goes out and stinks up the joint (like he did last night) - all he is doing is proving the Red Sox right in waiting to give him a big offer. Pedro's ERA for the season jumped over a run from 3.03 to 4.17 after last night's awful showing (4 innings, 6 earned runs)... Even with the shelling he got last night - Pedro's 4.17 ERA is still in the top 20 (19th) in the AL... So AJ Pierzynski's an asshole? The story has the ring of truth about it and it makes me think of a question that has been bothering me for quite some time. According to the story - Pierzyyski is more interested in playing cards than studying batter tendencies with the pitchers. This sounds just the opposite of everything that is said and written about Jason Varitek with the Red Sox. Now I think Bill James' "Win Shares" are a great tool but I think that they do not accurately measure the defensive contributions of catchers. Exhibit A is the fact that last year Pierzynski was rated 6th among AL catchers according to defensive Win Shares while team MVP Varitek was rated 13th among AL catchers. There has to be something wrong with the meterics of this.... OK - since everyone is talking about Red Sox free agent scenarios - let me throw out this fantasy. Varitek, Nomar, Lowe and Pedro all walk - that's equal to about $40.1 million from this year's payroll. The Red Sox trade Johnny Damon and the final year of his contract ($8.5 million) to the Pirates for Jason Kendall and Freddie Sanchez. When you factor in the savings on Damon - Kendall's contract only costs the Red Sox about $8 million per year and the Red Sox would still have $36 million per year to spend ($40 million if you add in Ramiro Mendoza's contract) to equal this year's payroll. Carlos Beltran is signed for $13 million per year to play centerfield (replacing the traded Damon) and either Jose Vidro or Edgar Renteria is signed to replace Nomar (either player should be had for less than $12 million per year). That still leaves $15 million to sign two front-line pitchers... Classy guy Joe Juneau has decided to retire from the NHL. He was one of my favorite players when he was with the Bruins and he is also one of the smartest guys in sports (RPI grad if my memory serves me). Good luck Joe - thanks for the memories... One wrinkle in my free agent fantasy is the fact that Scott Boras is the agent for Beltran, Lowe and Varitek - I'm sure that would effect the dynamics... MacGyver has nothing on Joey the intern. Check out the link - it shows how to turn an ordinary disposable camera into a 600 volt tazer. Cool. Please do not try this at home (as if)... Speaking of Scott Boras - here's a very interesting article on Boras from US News & World Report. Two little tidbits I took away from the article: 1) It never occurred to me that agents would have their own scouting departments and 2) Tom Schieffer the former president of the Texas Rangers is now the US Ambassador to Australia (more proof that it's not what you know but who you know)...