Ortiz, Ramirez Tested Positive for PEDs

David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, the two sluggers who led the Boston Red Sox to two world championships in 2004 and 2007, were among the 100 or so names on the list of Major League players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to the New York Times.

So, does this mean the Red Sox championships are tainted? Should these guys turn in their championship rings?

I can’t say I’m surprised. Ramirez has already served a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy earlier this season. Ortiz could not have been far behind. Before 2003, Ortiz was not well-known. In 2002, the Minnesota Twins cut him after failing to trade him, but he later signed with the Red Sox, where his career and batting numbers took off. See Fox Sports’ nifty chart summarizing Ortiz’s career numbers.

I do wish these names wouldn’t be slowly and gradually leaked out to the public. With each name, I get less surprised by the results. I do think it’s time for the entire list of names to be published, so we can all put this matter behind us.

White Sox Trade Anderson to Boston

Brian Anderson got his wish Tuesday. The White Sox traded the underachieving outfielder to the Boston Red Sox for veteran OF Mark Kotsay. After being sent down to Triple-A Charlotte last week, Anderson asked Kenny Williams to trade him so he could have a fresh start somewhere and get more everyday playing time.

This deal was long overdue. Anderson is a solid defensive player and has a great arm, but never quite lived up to his highly touted abilities.

In the meantime, I think Kotsay is a great pickup for the Chisox that could pay dividends right away. He gives the Sox another left-handed bat in the lineup and can be used as a late-inning replacement in the outfield. Since 1998, he ranks third among outfielders with 113 assists behind Bobby Abreu and Vladimir Guerrero. He also plays first base so he can back up Paul Konerko. Most important, his lifetime batting average as a pinch-hitter is .373, an area that is sadly lacking this year for the Sox.

The Red Sox designated Kotsay for assignment last week. He started the season on the DL after back surgery, and has played in only 27 games this season. Despite the lack of playing time, I think he will fit in well on the South Side.

World Champion Red Sox Set the Standard

Folks may still be celebrating in Boston after the Red Sox clinched their second World Series title in four years, but the rest of the baseball world has already started to look ahead to 2008. Many of them will look to the Red Sox as a model of what their team should look like -- one built on a balance of offensive power, strong defense and gutsy pitching. They also combined the experience of players like Mike Lowell, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek with young players from their farm system such as Jonathan Palpebon, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury. With this balance of talent, the Sox appear to be set to compete for several years. One wonders if they have become the new "evil empire" especially as the Yankees appear to be rebuilding under new manager Joe Girardi.

But the difference between the Red Sox "empire" and the Yankees version is how the mega bucks the Red Sox spent were allocated. The Yankees threw money to whoever was available on the market, regardless if they really needed the player or whether they fit in with the team. Some speculated that they recruited players just to prevent the rival Red Sox from taking them. I don't know if that's true or not, but let's just say, the Yankees did not always invest wisely in their personnel. The Red Sox, on the other hand, spent money where they needed to. They filled the holes that needed to be filled and recruited quality players who understand how the game is meant to be played and know how to be a team player. How the Sox put their title team together was an example of smart planning. Yes, they spent money on quality free agents, but if Palpebon, Pedroia and Ellsbury are any indication, then their farm system must be pretty good too.

Championship teams are not built overnight (take note Chicago Cubs). But you can bet other MLB teams are watching the Red Sox' success as a model to follow as they plan for 2008. The Sox have set the bar high, but can any team come close to matching their success?

Is Schilling’s Apology Necessary?

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling got himself into hot water Tuesday when he criticized Barry Bonds during his weekly spot on WEEI-850 AM in Boston. During the interview, Schilling said that Bonds “didn’t deserve to break Hank Aaron’s home run record,” among other things. In fact, it makes you wonder how many other MLB players and coaches share Schilling’s feelings.
Certainly his comments made a lot of people uncomfortable, including Red Sox manager Terry Francona who discussed the matter privately with his ace before Tuesday’s game.

Schilling apologized to Bonds through his blog, 38pitches.com, saying “The question I was asked and the answer I gave yesterday affected a lot more people than he [Bonds] and I.” He also indicated that he would not apologize to the Giants’ slugger directly.

It seems a shame that Schilling has to apologize at all. The opinions he expressed during the radio show are probably no worse than what fans have been thinking all along: that Bonds is a cheat. And Bonds isn’t exactly the type of guy who gets hung up on what anyone else thinks of him. People are entitled to their opinions, just as Schilling has a right to his. Since when do people have to apologize for being honest?