Romo and a movie

Not only can Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo change tires, but he can also afford extra movie tickets for the homeless

Count me as one of those who scratched their head when first hearing the news that Tony Romo not only paid for a homeless man's ticket to a movie, but also had the same homeless man sit next to him during that movie.

The movie was Role Models, starring Seann William Scott (Stifler) and Paul Rudd (Brian Fantana). I had to Google the name of the movie to get this information and to remember what this movie was actually about. I'm not accusing anyone in the movie business of a publicity stunt or promotional tool, but I would like to know how a story like this actually leaks out to the Dallas Morning News.

We all know that Romo has been involved in helping others in need - he changed a couple's tires on the way home from a game one night - but if you help out a homeless man by paying for his movie ticket, and then invite him to sit next to you during the movie, it can't be the homeless guy who leaks the story, can it?

I mean, "Doc" who's quoted in the initial report, didn't have a sawbuck to get into the theater, nevermind pay for a cell phone bill. He's homeless. Who is he going to contact? I'm sure that if he had the luxury to contact someone on a regular basis, then he probably could find a little help along the way.

Could it have been the movie theater workers? Maybe, because it seems as if Romo himself didn't really want to go into detail about the situation. So if someone at the theater contacted a reporter, then I can accept that. But we can only hope that it wasn't Romo himself, or the actual movie company, because that would be just sad.

It's a great story, no doubt about it. But hopefully it really was an act of compassion, and nothing more.

So the New England Patriots won their seventh game already, and they did it on the arm of Matt Cassel. The minute Tom Brady went down, I didn't just push the panic button, I smashed it until it stopped working. I had predicted the season to be lost for New England, saying that they would only have seven wins this season, maybe eight. But it seems as if they'll end this season with at least nine, and Cassel has proven a lot of people wrong in the process.

But to be fair, much of my panic stemmed from my utmost respect for Brady. If I, and many others, had felt good about life without the golden boy, then what would we be saying about what he meant to the Patriots? Since 2001, we the media have pretty much crowned him as one of the best, if not the best, quarterbacks to ever play the game. If he meant that much to a franchise, how could you feel good about losing him?

It was tough to accept Cassel because he hadn't started a game since high school. He was a lifetime backup. But there were some with the glass half-full that believed in Bill Belichick's system, more than they did the athlete. So at the end of the day, and after consecutive 400-plus yard games for Cassel, was Brady's success just a mere product of the system? Was he as good as we thought?

Brady is still the best. This isn't a Drew Bledsoe situation. When Brady's healthy, he'll be the starting quarterback, no matter what Cassel does the rest of the way. But the system goes hand-in-hand with the quarterback. That's why the Patriots aren't afraid to cut anyone at anytime. They will only use players who work within their system, something which you don't see too often in professional sports.

So to say that Belichick's system is just another playbook in the league would be a crime. It is the best in the NFL, arguably the best system in NFL history, and Belichick is just showing his genius once again. This time, with Cassel.

Is anyone else sick of Donovan McNabb? I know I am. But at the same time, I kind of feel bad for him. Sure, he should have just kept his mouth shut about his little-to-no knowledge of the NFL rules with regards to ties after one overtime, but did his comment really deserve that much media attention? Seriously, the media usually takes things overboard, but this coverage of his "tiebreaker" comment was ridiculous and stupid.

And now, McNabb has to see every NFL analyst in the world talk about the significance of him being benched in Sunday's 36-7 loss to Baltimore. Again, the media going overboard on a story that truly doesn't mean much. I mean, these people have covered sports before, right? When a guy doesn't show up, he gets pulled. It's a message sender that's been used many times over the years. McNabb will be starting next week, and he will be rejuvenated. Get over it.

And how 'bout them Jets? Knocking off the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans on Sunday with a 34-13 romping. That's about right. As crazy as it sounds, I never bought into the Titans, even at 10-0. I just didn't see what they had to offer, other than a few lucky bounces, that made them the only undefeated team in the league. Sure, they're a very good football team, but nobody in the NFL should be scared of them.

Kerry Collins has surprised many, but again, I don't think defensive coordinators around the league go into a game against the Titans, and curl up into a ball in fear. It's Kerry Collins for crying out loud. What happens to the Titans from here on out remains to be seen. They'll still win their division, but I'll take the money line on the first team they face in the playoffs.

Go get Burnett

The Red Sox have reportedly expressed interest in free agent pitchers Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett, but only one of the two makes sense

And it's not Derek Lowe.

Seriously, can anyone give me a good reason as to why the Red Sox would be remotely interested in bringing back a guy who got himself run out of town in the first place?

I'm not going to sit here and speculate as to what exactly happened off the field with Lowe during his later years in Boston, but I can tell you that it absolutely played a factor as to why the Red Sox didn't bring him back after establishing himself as a pretty damn clutch pitcher in the 2003 and 2004 playoffs.

And now we're hearing that his agent, Scott Boras, is asking for "Barry Zito" money for the 35-year old sinker-baller (turns 36 in June). Let me remind you what the San Francisco Giants paid for Zito a few years back: seven years, $126 million.

Sounds good.

So in the interest of everything that is sane in today's society, let's turn to a more realistic offer, for a much better pitcher. Let's talk about A.J. Burnett, and a potential four-year, $80 million deal.

Burnett will turn 32 in January, and is coming off a career year (18-10, 4.07 ERA). He opted out of his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, in which he would have been owed $24 million over the next two seasons at $12 million per season. The Blue Jays and Yankees are reportedly also interested, but you can bet the Blue Jays' wallet can't match the Red Sox or Yankees, and the Yankees' main focus right now has to be on CC Sabathia and either Manny Ramirez and/or Mark Teixeira.

I've said all along that I think the Red Sox should go after Burnett. He's known to have "sick" stuff, and has proven himself in the AL East. But forget about all of that. And think of what the Red Sox will have to do if they don't get a starting pitcher via free agency. They'd have to move Justin Masterson back to the rotation, and if you've seen the kid come out of the bullpen, you don't want anyone to mess with his mindset. Leave him in the bullpen. Sign a starter.

Burnett is 6-3 lifetime in 11 starts against the New York Yankees with a 2.43 ERA. Last season with Toronto, he was 3-1 in five starts with a 1.64 ERA against the Yankees. Burnett even killed the Red Sox last season, going 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA in four starts against Boston. So why not add a guy that pitches extremely well in the toughest division in baseball?

Trust me, $20 million isn't too much for Burnett. Sure, it's a lot, but that's just the way the market is. And unless you've got another option that's not D-Lowe, then you can't blame the Red Sox if they sign the check.

Pedroia wins AL MVP

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia beat out the rest of the American League to earn the 2008 MVP award

For a look at the AL MVP vote count, click here.

Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau finished second in voting, and Boston's Kevin Youkilis finished third.

If you ask me, Youkilis is your MVP. But fans and writers all over fell in love with Pedroia this season. Youkilis had a career year, and has established himself as one of the best players in the game. So has Pedroia, but judging by the NL MVP selection of Albert Pujols, it seems that numbers do play a factor in the voting. So here's a look at Youkilis vs. Pedroia (regular season):

Youkilis - .312 AVG/29 HR/115 RBI/.390 OBP
Pedroia - .326 AVG/17 HR/83 RBI/.376 OBP

Pedroia only edges Youkilis in batting average. Here are each player's numbers with runners in scoring position:

Youkilis - .374 AVG/8 HR/78 RBI/.445 OBP
Pedroia - .307 AVG/5 HR/68 RBI/.365 OBP

Many people will point to that stretch where Pedroia was hitting over .400 and looked unstoppable. They'll also point to the fact that he hit .667 in the cleanup spot with two home runs and seven RBI.

But they don't see that Pedroia only hit in the cleanup spot in five games, while Youkilis protected David Ortiz in 48 games, in the absence of one Manny Ramirez. Youkilis hit .299 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI and a .399 on-base percentage in those 48 games. He clearly filled a role that many people thought would never be filled.

You can't blame Ortiz' down year on Youkilis, either, because Ortiz' numbers didn't drop dramatically when Ramirez left, contrary to what people thought would happen when Ramirez was traded.

But Pedroia won the hearts of those who saw a smaller guy smash the ball on a regular basis. I don't have much of a beef with Pedroia winning the award, but I do think that Youkilis' contributions, especially after the Manny trade, went overlooked. People expect consistency from Youkilis. I'm not sure people bought into Pedroia until this season, which is why he is the MVP.

It's a popularity contest every year, and Pedroia by far, became the most popular baseball player in the American League by the end of the summer.

A trip to New York . . . and other thoughts

Making my first trip to Madison Square Garden this past weekend, I came across a few topics that should be discussed

One of them is the pay-by-debit system in the back of every taxi. Boston needs to implement that system into its cab services as soon as possible, seriously.

But as for the sports side to all this, yes, I am being serious when I tell you I had never stepped foot inside Madison Square Garden before Saturday night's Boston Bruins/New York Rangers game. And may I say, I never expected the place to be like that.

Like what? Like that.

You know, deceivingly small, not very bright. To those from New York, what exactly is up with the lighting in the Garden? Sitting next to Boston Globe, and hall-of-fame writer, Kevin Paul Dupont, I asked him during the pregame warm-up skate if the lighting was always that dull and yellow. It was something he hadn't really noticed, but probably because he had been there many times before and was used to it.

That yellow-ish tint in the lighting never got brighter during the game, and when watching the replays on the nice little HD television on my table (special thanks to the MSG staff on this one for putting me in a pretty sick seat just several rows from the ice in the corner), the Garden's lighting on TV looked bright and white.

Either way, it turned out to actually be a pretty cool look. But the way it looks on TV, I was expecting much brighter lighting on the ice surface, and less lighting in the crowd. Overall, I give the building a B+.

And not to keep attacking the Rangers organization, but looking through the official game program, the late Alexei Cherepanov is profiled in the "Future Blue" section, along with 11 other New York Rangers prospects. In the not-so-updated profile, it lists Cherepanov's 2007-08 notes, a scouting report, and career transactions.

Now I'm not saying they shouldn't list Cherepanov in this section, because they absolutely should. But would it take too much time out of someone's day to maybe update his profile with another page that consists of a special tribute to the kid?

I mean, we know the Rangers haven't completely forgotten about him, as they are already looking for a compensatory draft pick after Cherepanov's unexpected and tragic death. But clearly they don't have any time on their hands to update the game program. They have a big draft in 2009. Please.

If you bet the Steelers
You got screwed. Simple as that. I mean, I don't want to sit here and accuse the NFL, whether it be officials or front office staff, of running a gambling ring, but what exactly happened in the final seconds of Sunday's Chargers/Steelers game:



I usually keep my language clean on this site, but I can't help to think that if you had money on Pittsburgh, which was a 4-to-5 point favorite (depending on when you put the bet in), then the same phrase muttered around the country was, "What the f*ck!"

The bottom line here is, why does anybody officiating that game even care if Troy Polamalu's touchdown with no time remaining in the game even counts? The Steelers led 11-10, and as you can see in the final seconds, the Chargers tried everything in their power to perform a miracle score via never-ending lateral. The Chargers fumbled on one of those laterals, and Polamalu picked it up and ran into the end zone.

All of this happened with no time left on the clock, so regardless of what the final decision was, the Steelers had won the game. The officials' decision only decided by how much. Turns out, the final ruling was that the touchdown wouldn't count, and Pittsburgh went on to win 11-10.

Confused? You should be. This was just bizarre and stupid. The first ruling was that it was a touchdown. After reviewing the play in the booth, they upheld the decision that it was a touchdown, but just before they made Pittsburgh kick the highly unnecessary extra point with no time left in the game and the Steelers already with a win, the officials got together one last time and changed the ruling to no touchdown, and that LaDainian Tomlinson's initial lateral was an "illegal forward pass."

Now watch the video again. Clearly, Tomlinson dumps the ball off behind him, so it should be a touchdown. But let's say he didn't, and that it was in fact a forward lateral. Why didn't they catch that after the initial review? The official watched the play in the booth. He obviously saw no forward pass because he called both teams back to the sidelines for the extra point attempt, saying that is was a touchdown.

But just before the kick, the officials called the game over, essentially, wiping out the touchdown ruling that they made, reviewed, and made again. Here's what the NFL had to say in a statement released on Monday, in which they declared the officiating crew made a mistake not counting the touchdown:

"On the final play of Sunday’s game between the Chargers and Steelers, Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu returned a loose ball 12 yards for a defensive touchdown. After an instant replay review and crew conference, the on-field ruling of touchdown was incorrectly reversed to no touchdown due to an illegal forward pass by San Diego. The incorrect reversal of the on-field ruling of touchdown was acknowledged immediately following the game by referee Scott Green in the pool report interview with a representative of the media."

There is no way the NFL can explain this one without looking foolish. And they only look foolish because of the point spread. This game was over. Pittsburgh won, forward lateral or not. The only thing that could change would be the outcome of a bet. If you put money on the Steelers, then you got screwed because the touchdown should have counted. If you bet the Chargers, you made out because the one-point loss still gives you the win by the spread.

Again, I'm not trying to assume that there was any gambling involved within the league and/or its officials. But all signs point to something strange, and it must be investigated.

Department of useless information
Somebody has to tell ESPN's Pedro Gomez that Manny Ramirez was traded months ago, and that anything between him and the Boston Red Sox is old news.

Seriously, how is this story timely? Don't get me wrong, I love ESPN and its website. It is the greatest thing that's ever happened to sports. But one of the first rules of journalism is timeliness. A story on the Red Sox having been prepared to suspend Ramirez over the summer when he was still in Boston just doesn't fit the bill.

And who cares anyways?

So the Red Sox brass had drafted an official letter to let Manny know he'd be suspended. Like we're supposed to care about this? As if those here in Boston want to read another story about a guy who is manipulated by money and his agent's teleprompter. As a journalist, I'm sad to see that this was, at one point over the weekend, the top story on ESPN.com.

Enough about Manny. When he signs with the Yankees, let me know. Other than that, I could care less.

When will the NHL learn?
While I didn't travel to Toronto Monday, I did happen to find the Versus network on my Direct TV package. But as I watch the Bruins/Maple Leafs game, I couldn't help but notice a commercial with Chicago Blackhawks 20-year-old captain Jonathan Toews. The kid had 24 goals and 30 assists in his rookie season last year, and is one of the up-and-coming stars of the game, so it's bad enough that nobody even knows how to pronounce his name (pronounced T-a-v-e-s), nevermind put him on a commercial saying, "I play for the name on the front of my jersey, not the one on the back."

Yet, another example that the NHL, and everyone involved in the sport, just doesn't get it. Do you think you'll ever see Kobe Bryant on an ESPN commercial telling the national audience that he doesn't play for Kobe, he plays for the Lakers?

Stop it.

The NBA wants their guys to promote themselves. They don't want kids walking into the mall looking for Los Angeles Lakers jerseys because they like the color patterns. They want kids to buy the jersey so that they can wear what Kobe wears; name, number, and all.

I wrote a piece on the NHL a while back, on how they can make the game more popular, and promotion was a big part of it. But clearly, they haven't taken my advice.

Minutemen travel to Memphis
You may not even care about this, but I have to let it be known that UMass will be playing at No. 12 Memphis tonight (Monday) at midnight (11:59 p.m.) on ESPN. Haven't paid attention to the Minutemen yet this year? Catch up by reading Andy Katz' feature on new coach Derek Kellogg.

Two years removed from the Rashaun Freeman and Stephane Lasme era, and with no more Gary Forbes or Travis Ford this season, I'm not sure what to expect from UMass basketball in 2008-09. But as a UMass graduate, you can't argue with an early-season trip to national powerhouse Memphis. A game like this is what Ford worked hard to accomplish in Amherst. He's gone now, so we'll have to wait and see just how much coach Kellogg learned under John Calipari.

That's all for now. Until next time, you stay classy San Diego. At least you covered the spread.

Got some catching up to do

Ty Law signed with the New York Jets this week, and will play against his former team on Thursday night

Look at what Roger Clemens started.

No, not going from Boston to New York, but waiting until mid-season to jump back into the game. I'm not going to overlook Law's impact at all, because it's safe to say that the guy's been working out the last 10 weeks, and not just playing video games with his friends.

I don't care what they say, the Patriots certainly would have welcomed Law back with open arms, but at the end of the day, it was Law's decision, and he chose New York.

Why? Well, for one, Law obviously feels comfortable with the Jets (this is his second campaign with the team). But also, because he feels the Jets have a better chance of winning. And would he feel that way if Tom Brady were still healthy? No chance.

If Brady were playing, Law would have been in New England weeks ago. That's not to take anything away from Matt Cassel, because he has been a lot better than I had originally imagined. But let's face it, he's no Brady. He's no Brett Favre either. So Law chose to go with the more experienced quarterback. He should be in good shape, and if he has anything left, the Jets should be too.

How about those Tennessee Titans? Kerry Collins, yes, Kerry Collins has led his team to a 9-0 start, heading into Week 11. The Titans are four games better than the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South. While it's absolutely foolish to sleep on Peyton Manning and the Colts at 5-4, it is safe to say that the Titans have the division locked up.

But they better lose soon.

Because if I have to see Mercury Morris on ESPN every five minutes for a second straight season, I may have to get a new television, after smashing the one that continued to show Morris running his mouth. The guy is a complete idiot. Nobody can deny that. And for the sake of sanity in my household, I hope to God that Jacksonville can find a way to expose Jeff Fisher's defense on Sunday.

And back to the Colts for a moment. Sure they're only 5-4, but I'm pretty sure they're coming off back-to-back wins over New England and Pittsburgh. How can anyone possibly write them off after that?

The rest of Indy's schedule: Houston, at San Diego, at Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, at Jacksonville, and Tennessee. The Chargers shouldn't scare anyone these days. Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit combine for only four wins. Houston and Jacksonville are both under .500. And unless the Titans have a collapse for the ages, they'll have a first-round bye locked up by Week 17, meaning the Colts won't have to see much of their starters in the last game of the season.

So fear not, Colts fans. Your team will be just fine, and by the time the playoffs start, they may even be the team to beat in the AFC.

Holliday shopping
I usually wait until the last minute to do mine, but the Colorado Rockies had no reason to stall, and dealt outfielder Matt Holliday to the Oakland Athletics earlier in the week. The Rockies will receive reliever Huston Street, lefty starter Greg Smith, and outfield prospect Carlos Gonzalez.

Don't expect Holliday to be in Oakland long, however. Holliday makes $13.5 million this season, and will be a free agent thereafter. So when the Athletics are out of the playoff race, expect them to send Holliday somewhere else by July 31st of next season. For me to speculate where Holliday could end up would be a mere guess. If the Red Sox face an injury or two during the season, you could see them being major players for the soon-to-be 29-year-old. You could also see the Mets as a possibility.

So is this a stupid deal? Simply, no, it's not. The A's can see the future, and can see many teams coveting Holliday at next year's trade deadline. The Rockies, on the other hand, could have easily held onto him and his contract until the deadline, but they got three pretty good players in return, and saved themselves a lot of money in the process. So it makes sense for both sides.

As for the current pool of free agents, everyone and their mother seems to have the Dodgers offering Manny Ramirez a different deal. So guys, is it two years with an option on the third? Is it worth $45 or $60 million? Somebody either get this story right, or don't give me anything at all. Because at the end of the day, Ramirez isn't going back to the Dodgers. Not for a two, or three-year deal.

Ramirez will be 37 in May. This is his last chance to grab a big deal. And even his agent Scott Boras is laughing at what LA is offering. He said that "serious" offers will begin Friday. So count the Dodgers out of the equation.

If he doesn't end up with the Yankees, then I'll be shocked. I think the Los Angeles Angels are an interesting team to watch in all this, because you have Mark Teixeira and Ramirez out there for the taking. If the Yankees go hard after one, watch the Angels to go hard after the other. That still doesn't rule out the possibility of New York signing both, as they certainly have the money to.

I do believe that the Yankees will sign both Ramirez and Teixeira, so for pure humor, let's take a look at New York's 2009 lineup if they did in fact sign both players:

Johnny Damon - LF
Derek Jeter - SS
Alex Rodriguez - 3B
Manny Ramirez - DH
Mark Teixeira - 1B
Jorge Posada - C
Robinson Cano - 2B
Xavier Nady - RF
Brett Gardner/Melky Cabrera - CF

Just sit back and laugh.

In full gear
The NHL and NBA are finally off and running for their respective 2008-09 seasons. Is it too early for a reaction to only a few weeks worth of games? Well, for the NHL, the season started about a month ago, a little earlier than the NBA began its regular season.

In the NBA, a few things are obvious. The Celtics will dominate the East, and the Lakers will dominate the West. But what's surprising is the New York Knicks positive 5-3 start, and the San Antonio Spurs terrible 2-5 start.

There's already been a blockbuster trade (Allen Iverson to Detroit for Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess), Greg Oden's already missed games due to injury, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are brutal.

The powerhouses in the West will be powerhouses in the West, and add the Atlanta Hawks to your list of Eastern Conference teams to watch. Other than that, I have no other take on what's transpired in the NBA so far.

Lebron James is going to have to win a title to keep me interested in watching Cleveland, and Detroit is going to be completely screwed in 2009-10. But for good reason. The Pistons will be major players for guys like James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade, when they become free agents after next season.

But until then, my interest in the NBA is at an all-time low. And God bless all fans of the Thunder, for it is absolutely impossible to have a logo related to the team's name. If you've ever seen thunder, please send an email to ijsaying@gmail.com.

(As I write this, Skip to My Lou is pulling on Steve Nash's arm, trying to fight him in what looks to be a near brawl at mid-court. Leave it to NBA players to push each other over from behind instead of squaring off and throwing a clean punch. God knows what Tracy McGrady would have done if Luis Scola wasn't holding him back so much . . . )

On a more serious note, the New York Rangers are seeking a second round compensatory pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after the unexpected death of top prospect Alexei Cherepanov. The Rangers released a statement that read, "with all due respect to Alexei's family and his memory, he is technically eligible to be drafted again next year."

Are you kidding me?

Yea, I'm sure Cherepanov's family is reading that statement and saying, "You know what, the Rangers are right on. They have a duty to keep their organization on the right path to success, and they should go out and get something in return before it's too late."

Give me a break.

If the New York Rangers are seriously trying to get a compensatory draft pick, just three weeks after the 19-year-old collapsed during a game in Russia, then they clearly have no soul or respect. Cherepanov was the Rangers first-round pick in the 2007 draft (17th overall) and was playing for Omsk club Avangard in the Continental Hockey League when the tragedy occurred.

And all the Rangers can think about is how they can replace a dead player? The NHL has yet to take a position on the Rangers' request, but even if the organization has the right to another pick in next year's draft, that pick isn't going anywhere between now and then, so it's an absolute disgrace that this request is being made just three weeks after Cherepanov's death.

The more I even think about this, the more I cringe, knowing that there was some sort of meeting between a few weasels in an office, debating, and obviously panicking on what to do next about their upcoming draft, when Cherepanov's family is huddled in a funeral home, wondering what went wrong, and trying to cope with the fact that they'll never see their 19-year-old relative ever again.

The New York Rangers need to look themselves in the mirror, and take it easy on the draft pick. Someone's life ended tragically and unexpectedly. Take a moment to be thankful for everything you have. Grab your children and hug them. Dedicate the season to the young kid.

Don't be in such a rush to replace him. For your organization will survive, something the young Alexei Cherepanov was sadly not able to do.

Back up the talk

In an offseason where plenty of money will be spent on big-name free agents, David Ortiz has to realize that Manny Ramirez is not walking through that door

And if he is, he's going to be old and grey.

Sorry, I got caught up with Rick Pitino there for a moment. But back to reality. Manny Ramirez will be 37 in May, but he certainly isn't grey, whatever that means. After he breaks the bank on a new contract, "green" may be the color you want to compare him to.

But it won't be grey. And it won't be red (sox). So David Ortiz may want to stop talking, and stop talking now. Because while anyone who watched the Red Sox this postseason realized that they do need to add a spark to their offense, nobody can deny that it was Ortiz' horrendous playoff production that factored into a non-championship season in 2008.

Ortiz recently stated that the Red Sox could use "another 30-home run guy." This is just weeks after Ortiz hit .154 and struck out nine times to the Tampa Bay Rays in seven games of the ALCS. And just a month after he hit .235 with only one RBI in the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels. And now, it's that very same Ortiz that's speaking out about wanting "another 30-home run guy."

Something is clearly wrong with this picture.

Since the July 31 trade deadline, all the talk was about whether or not Ortiz' numbers would drop without Ramirez protecting him in the cleanup spot. And in fact, that wasn't the case. Ortiz didn't get much better without Manny, but his numbers certainly didn't get worse.

As for Ramirez' replacement, Kevin Youkilis was the cleanup hitter for a majority of the time, and Dustin Pedroia filled the role when Youkilis was out of the lineup. Both Youkilis and Pedroia should finish first and second in AL MVP voting.

So here we have Big Papi trying to convince Red Sox management - or at least throwing it out there - that the team would be well suited to add another big bat. I can't help but think that maybe Ortiz hasn't done his research with regards to the rest of his team's numbers.

Jason Bay, who went to Boston from Pittsburgh in the Manny trade, played 49 regular season games with the Red Sox, hitting .293 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, and a .370 on-base percentage. Add that to his .282 batting average, 22 home runs, 64 RBI, and a .375 on-base percentage in 106 previous games with the Pirates, and you have a guy who hit .286 with 31 home runs, 101 RBI, and a .373 on-base percentage in 155 regular season games in 2008. And in his first postseason, Bay finished batting .341 with three home runs, nine RBI, and a .471 on-base percentage in 11 playoff games.

Between Bay's regular season numbers, and Youkilis' career year (.312 average, 29 home runs, 115 RBI), you have two pretty big post-steroid era bats protecting Ortiz. But Big Papi would like to see another big bat.

And by looking at the free agent market, it seems that other 30-home run guy Ortiz may be talking about, would be Mark Teixeira, who finished last season with a .308 average, 33 home runs, 121 RBI, and a .410 on-base percentage.

Teixeira played 103 games with Atlanta and 54 games with Los Angeles. He plays first base. The Red Sox have Kevin Youkilis at first, and Mike Lowell at third. Lowell had successful surgery on his right hip this offseason, and is slated to be ready for the opening of spring training. But turning 35 in February, and making $12 million a year for the next two years, trading Lowell may not be the easiest of tasks for Theo Epstein.

Expect the Yankees to throw the world at Teixeira, Ramirez, and CC Sabathia. They can afford all three of them if they really wanted. If Ortiz wants the Red Sox to get another 30-home run guy, he must be talking about Teixeira. And if he wants Teixeira, he'll need to have someone moved.

But maybe Ortiz should be worried about himself; his wrist and his own production. And if he could get back to original form, and Bay and Youkilis played the way they're capable of, then the Red Sox would have three 30-home run guys, without adding Teixeira.

So, Papi, should the Red Sox really go out and get another big bat? Or is it time you look around and see that maybe you're the only one that needs to move on from the loss of Manny?

After all, you only had 23 home runs last season. That's about seven less than you're ever-so-coveted "30-homer" man.

But hey, I'm just saying.

In my absence . . .

My blogging has been non-existent as of late, but for good reason, which you'll find out about soon enough

But for those wondering, I'm still alive, and I haven't forgot about your emails (yes, I actually do get both love and hate mail, but mostly hate). There will be a new mailbag next week, so keep sending them in, and I'll have to choose the best ones.

Surprisingly, there are a lot of emails on my Jose Reyes trade proposal between the Mets and Red Sox, and not many about the fact that Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel continues to keep his team in the playoff race, something I truly believed would not be the case.

The Pats have a few big division games ahead of them, and this is where Cassel will be tested the most, in must-win situations. Honestly, when's the last time the Patriots were actually in a must-win divisional game this deep into the regular season? We'd probably have to go back to my boy Drew Bledsoe's days in New England. But those are days many of you would rather not go back to, so I won't either.

There's no crying in basketball

Then again, maybe not. But before you go and beat up on Paul Pierce for shedding a tear or two during the Celtics' ring ceremony a week ago, remember that this guy didn't just show up like Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen did. Pierce suffered in Boston for his first nine seasons, making only one legitimate playoff run before 2007-08. There were complaints, and none louder than his interview with Jackie MacMullan in March of 2007.

But other than that, Pierce remained a Celtic. He kept his mouth shut, and tried to lead a different group of misfits year in and year out. He had nothing. He had nobody. And when he got help, he flourished, and became the NBA Finals MVP. Let the man cry all he wants. It was an emotional ceremony, but Pierce's long, hard fought tenure in Boston made it that much more sentimental for the captain.

Don't touch that stove

It's hot. Just ask the Milwaukee Brewers, who have as much a chance of signing CC Sabathia, as Brandon Marshall has of surviving if he ever runs into Joey Porter in a dark alley.

Sabathia is going to the New York Yankees. That's not official, or breaking news, but it might as well be. The Yankees have made it well known that they are going to spend this offseason, and why not, if you have the money, why not use it?

Hank Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman aren't going to rest their 2009 MLB season on the arms of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, so you can be sure to see Sabathia in pinstripes soon enough.

And the spending spree won't stop there.

If Manny Ramirez was serious about his "gas is up, and so am I" quote a few weeks back, then he could also be in the Bronx in 2009 and beyond. It would be much easier for an American League team to offer Ramirez his coveted five-to-six-year deal, as he could be assigned to the DH role once he becomes a liability in the field. Sure, Los Angeles would be a better fit for a guy who seemed constantly irritated in a big East-Coast city, but the Dodgers would be crazy to have to play him in left field for the next six years. So if LA is his destination, look for it to be with the Angels, not the Dodgers.

Angels fans may want Mark Teixiera back, I understand. But if it means protecting Vladimir Guerrero with either Ramirez or Teixeira, you should be shipped out to the funny farm if you won't give Manny the world to come hit cleanup. If I'm the Angels GM, and I'm losing K-Rod, not only am I signing Ramirez, but I'm also trading for Matt Holliday, and trying to convince Gary Matthews Jr. to accept a trade elsewhere in return for some bullpen help. Maybe even sign Brian Fuentes as K-Rod's replacement. Or who knows, if you bring in a guy like either Ramirez or Holliday, maybe you can convince K-Rod to stay for the hometown discount.

As for other big-name free agents out there, anyone who throws up the big bucks for Ben Sheets is a sucker. Not only is this guy a legitimate band-aid, but can you find me another pitcher in Major League Baseball who's been held on such a high pedestal, but has never had more than 13 wins (13-9 in 2008), and has only had an above-.500 record four times in his eight-year career?

I understand that wins and losses can be deceiving for starting pitchers, but there comes a point where in eight seasons, you actually have to have at least one that you look back on and say, "Wow, that guy was screwed." Anyone who gives Sheets big money will be regretting it five years from now, when they passed on A.J. Burnett.

Speaking of Burnett, he's a proven winner in the toughest division in baseball, the AL East, so expect him to land in either Boston or New York. The guy opted out of a contract in which he could have made $24 million in Toronto over the next two seasons, but decided he could go out and make even more on the market. If Sabathia goes to the Yankees, which I fully expect to happen in the next few weeks, then the Red Sox will counter with Burnett, and ask the 18-game winner in 2008 to be their No. 4 starter. Not a bad gig for a pressure-filled city like Boston.

And then there are the New York Mets, who all eyes will be on this winter after their second-straight September collapse. It's clear that Omar Minaya must go out and get someone to be Johan Santana's Robin. Who that is, remains to be seen. Maybe they overpay Sheets. Or maybe they make a trade for young arms. They could very well sign K-Rod to replace an injured Billy Wagner (elbow surgery will force him to miss entire 2009 season), but no doubt, the Mets need another starter.

The San Diego Padres are reportedly looking to deal Jake Peavy, but will certainly be asking for a lot in return. And if the Mets are going to give up a lot, they might as well get some younger arms. And again, I go back to my Jose Reyes-to-Boston trade offer. Why someone would refuse to ask the Red Sox about Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden's availability this winter would be beyond me, and if the Red Sox go out and sign a guy like Burnett, that would make those two young arms even more tradeable.

The Red Sox have to take care of their Jason Varitek situation before they do anything, however. But I think Varitek will be back, in a deal that extends into an off-the-field coaching role. There have been rumors that Theo Epstein is interested in trying to sign Teixeira, which would force Kevin Youkilis to move to third, and Mike Lowell to be traded. I'm not sure who's going to take Mike Lowell at this stage of his career, so I'd say Teixeira will probably be signing back in LA. But we've seen crazier things happen. After all, the Yankees are spending this offseason. Maybe they sign Sabathia, Ramirez, and Teixeira.

Why do you care? It's not your money.

All good things must come to an end

As of Monday, Nov. 3, "The Pic and Howe Show" will no longer be broadcast on 1510 The Zone

Whether or not it concerns your listening pleasure every Monday, our show's existence on 1510 AM in Boston is no longer. While I won't be going into detail as to why we are no longer on the local radio station, I can assure you that it has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the show, or any sort of dispute between us and 1510.

I would like to take this time to thank everyone at 1510, top to bottom, for their support and their willingness to give us an opportunity to compete with the rest of Boston radio during the Noon - 2 p.m. time slot.

For a show that started back in March of 2007 from scratch, using a laptop, mixer, headphone amp, two headsets and an internet connection, I have come a long way in trying to establish my name in the sports media business. 1510 the Zone gave me a great opportunity to expand my product, and for that, I will always be thankful.

But I should also tell you that this does not mark the end of my sports broadcasting career. In fact, at this very moment, I can assure you that you will be hearing from me very soon, but from a completely different source. That is all that I can give away at this point, but if everything works out as planned, I am taking my show to a new level. But again, that is all I can tell you at this point and time.

Until then, be sure to keep tabs on my Boston Bruins beat notes, and as more information becomes available, I will be sure to keep you informed.

Thanks,

Danny Picard