Wednesday’s Links – Accolades

Photo by Kelly O’Connor of sittingstill.smugmug.com

It’s MLB’s award season. Great time for debates, quarrels and confrontations about what guy should win and what stats Brian Kenny says we should use. Have fun!

• In the end, a skipper that came from Boston won. Terry Francona was voted in as the AL Manager of the Year, over John Farrell and rest of the field. (Managers of the Year: Terry Francona, Clint Hurdle)

• Lest we forget the great decision maker of the Red Sox, let it be known that Ben Cherington won Sporting News’ Executive of the Year award. (Red Sox GM Ben Cherington voted Sporting News Executive of the Year)

• After a five-year roller coaster, the Red Sox gained some valuable insight on the offseason: don’t spend it all – both money and prospects – in one place. (The Red Sox, free agency, and lessons from the collapse)

• Boston is looking to fill in a gap at the backstop this offseason, and Carlos Ruiz would be a solid addition while still staying relatively cheap. (Red Sox out to catch Carlos Ruiz)

• You know who’s a blast to watch? Xander Bogaerts. And from what we’ve seen so far, the Xander Zone is just going to get even better. (Bogaerts’ future is nothing but bright)

• With all these qualifying offers handed out, the Red Sox were assured of either retaining a player or a draft pick. They just got three potential draft picks. (Why $14 Million Wasn’t Enough)

• To be fair, that just made the ballpark itself much better and much more functional. (Pizza Poorly Photoshopped onto Tropicana Field Roof)

Pretty much.