Controversy Comes First

So I Just Wanted To Get My Ideas On This In Print.

With the way the Red Sox hot stove has gone this offseason I would just like to get my opinions on the Red Sox first base controversy this offseason.

At a holiday event held the past week the Red Sox players were asked several questions on how they feel about the offseason moves thus far. Among the Pedro Martinez controversy was the situation at first base. Doug Meintkiewicz commented in a short interview that he does not feel comfortable limited to the capacity of a defensive replacement, and also stated that, "he knows he can still hit," and he would like to be a starter, if not for the Red Sox, than somewhere else.

Cowboy Kevin Millar has provided comic relief and a good change of pace toward the media over the last two seasons in Boston but it may still be in the realm of possibility that first basemen Carlos Delgado comes to Boston. This of course likely meaning that Doug Meintkiewicz would be shipped out of Boston, and Kevin Millar would likely follow. This unless he agrees to a position in the outfield backing up Christopher Trot Nixon.

Now this is the sort of deal that you would likely see in response to the Carlos Beltran deal to New York. It is an age old truth that whenever the Yankees make a mega-deal, the Red Sox counter with a slightly less mega-deal. Although, thus far this has shown to be an offseason where Theo has looked resiliant toward being pushed around.

Still, This sounds so appealing to a Red Sox Fan. Manny, Papi, Delgado... Quite possibly the greatest power punch in baseball history. Throw Damon & Renteria in front of those guys.... Varitek, Nixon/Millar, Bellhorn & Mueller in the rear and you've got yourself a baseball team worth bragging about. But what would the Red Sox be without Millar if he did in fact get shipped out.

The Red Sox feared losing identity after the Nomar deal but it was Kevin Millar who helped the team gel together, and who coined the term "cowboy up" during the 2003 season. This offseason has already seen Pedro Martinez walk away, but his bashing of the clubhouse and insulting of the fans helped the team ease any pain. The Boston Red Sox are not just another Yankees team that goes out and refaces each offseason, but because of the work the boss does it seems like that is the way the Red Sox will have to react in order to be competitive in the American League East. It's hard being on top.




Paolo DeVito
Back In Beantown