Wednesday’s Links – Fire & Water

But if there's fire on the water, then we have a problem.

Lingering Thoughts From a Lingering Red Sox Spring Training

How can there still be a week and a half left before real games?

Wednesday’s Links – Smells Like Team Spirit

And boy, is it a refreshing scent!

Bold Predictions for 2013, Part 2 — The Batters

With less than 2 weeks to go before Pitchers and Catchers officially report, we are continuing to pass some of the cold long winter by making some bold (and a few not so bold) predictions for the upcoming season.

Coast to Coast Tickets 9/9: Not gaining ground

Boston Red Sox (85-58) @ Tampa Bay Rays (78-64) John Lackey (12-11, 6.11) @ Wade Davis (9-8, 4.50) 7:10 PM…

6/7: The ancient rivals take the field once more

Boston Red Sox (33-26) @ New York Yankees (33-24) Jon Lester (7-2, 3.94) @ Freddy Garcia (4-4, 3.34) 7:05 PM…

Left, Since Manny Left

The buzz in Chicago is all about a dread-locked slugger who wears the number 99. No, Ricky Vaughn didn’t grow…

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I've had the privilege of attending three major homecomings at Fenway Park. The first was Pedro Martinez's, in 2006 as a member of the Mets; he was enthusiastically welcomed, but his start that game foreshadowed the injury woes that have plagued him through the latter part of his career. The second was Nomar Garciaparra, just last season as a member of the A's; that appearance was a harbinger of the reconciliation that was to come during the 2009-2010 offseason. Then, Friday, I was in attendance at Manny Ramirez's return, his first since the 2008 trade that finally ended the ongoing soap opera that was his Boston career. The reception he received at Fenway was mixed, and a perfect metaphor for his Boston career, which featured tremendous highs alongside controversy, character assassination, and the bitterest of Boston goodbyes.

This will be my third 'numbers' article, focusing on long-time former Sox players - from Pedro to Nomar and now to Manny. This, in many ways, is the hardest to write, as Manny is the hardest of those players to encapsulate. I would argue that alongside Pedro and Nomar, no single player is more responsible for the current popularity and success of the Red Sox as Manny Ramirez, and yet very few former players are as reviled and hated. A stunning talent, Manny was just as often a frustrating presence, never quite allowing the kind of iconic treatment other Sox players have received. His relationship with his teammates, the media, and the town itself was often contentious, and his dedication and loyalty were often questionable, but his production was always astounding. His career in Boston highlights a division among fans - would we rather see a successful but unlikeable player, or a mediocre but loyal one? How much do things like morality, kindness, and selflessness matter in modern sports, and to what degree are we viewing Manny's career through those lenses?

6/18 Online Seats Game Thread: LA Again?

Just when you couldn't get enough LA in your life, the Dodgers come into town bringing gifts of Manny Ramirez. Have no fear, though, as the Boston Red Sox will turn to trusty ole Felix Doubront... wait a second....

A Fix for Interleague Play

We are in the middle of inter-league play. Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers are coming to Boston. It is going to be an exciting weekend, but the last series with the Diamondbacks does not get circled on any fan's schedule in January nor does the All-Star Game unless it is in your home city. A few slight schedule changes could assist in making inter-league play tolerable for even the purists. As my colleague mentioned a few days ago, inter-league play generates too much revenue to be eliminated in the near future. But below is a plan to alleviate the two major negatives to those contests: too many games and the unbalanced schedule.