Cuckoo for Coco, Payday for Papi!
The Red Sox showed some contractual aggressiveness this past week, offering contract extensions to both David Ortiz and Coco Crisp, deals that will see the players wearing Sox laundry into the next decade. While financial details have been kept under wraps, Ortiz’s specifics may have been leaked a week earlier by ESPN Desportes, the Spanish language branch of the network, which hinted that Papi could be looking at just north of $50 million dollars over the next four years, with a club option for 2011. Crisp, who is currently nursing a fractured finger on his glove hand, has signed a three year extension (with a club option for 2010), a move that will help the Red Sox avoid complicated arbitration hearings, and, potentially, save them from two free agent seasons.
Hot to Trot…
The injury bug rears its ugly head yet again for Trot Nixon, who was sidelined after suffering a minor groin strain during the team’s Fenway home-opener. The prognosis is positive, however, as Nixon doesn’t expect to miss more than 5 to 7 days. Meanwhile, Dustin Mohr, who was called up after Crisp went down with his fracture, and Willy Mo Pena look set to share time in right.
Wo is Moe…
Speaking of Willy Mo Pena, the beefy Dominican had a less-than-spectacular Fenway debut, striking out twice (once on three pitches), and helping a Frank Catalanotto home run (off of the most expensive set-up man in baseball, Keith Foulke) over the bullpen wall in right after letting it bounce off of his glove. Meanwhile, Bronson Arroyo (the player who was traded for Pena) has not only been lights out on the mound for his new team, but also has two mammoth home runs to his credit. Bronson? Babe? Hey, they both start with B!
Best…Start…Ever…
Well, not yet, but, at 6-1, the Sox have tied their own record for best season start. On the flip side, the Yankees had a rough 2-4 run against Los Angeles and Oakland, and almost blew their season opener against the woeful Kansas City Royals. Last year’s dark horses (Chacon, Wang, Small) look to have lost a bit of the mystery, so “the best offense in history” (not my quote!) has been keeping them afloat. Meanwhile, Judas Damon has now dubbed Yankee fans “the greatest fans in baseball”, Yankee Stadium “the greatest stadium in baseball”, and Derek Jeter “the best player in history”. Here’s to a very loud standing ovation for Johnny on his return to Fenway (as long as everyone’s facing the other way with their pants around their ankles).
The Red Sox showed some contractual aggressiveness this past week, offering contract extensions to both David Ortiz and Coco Crisp, deals that will see the players wearing Sox laundry into the next decade. While financial details have been kept under wraps, Ortiz’s specifics may have been leaked a week earlier by ESPN Desportes, the Spanish language branch of the network, which hinted that Papi could be looking at just north of $50 million dollars over the next four years, with a club option for 2011. Crisp, who is currently nursing a fractured finger on his glove hand, has signed a three year extension (with a club option for 2010), a move that will help the Red Sox avoid complicated arbitration hearings, and, potentially, save them from two free agent seasons.
