The Red Sox' knockout punch?

The Boston Herald is speculating that fans might quickly get over their hatred of Alex Rodriguez if Boston were to pursue the most aggressive strategy possible this offseason and move to re-sign World Series MVP third baseman Mike Lowell AND sign A-Rod.

Rodriguez has made it known that he's willing to switch back to his natural position of shortstop.
Julio Lugo, acquired last offseason by the Red Sox to bolster their offense from that position, has been a disappointment at the plate.

Boston would shop Lugo around in a heartbeat, perhaps to further bolster its pitching staff or pick up a catcher to eventually succeed the aging Jason Varitek.

Imagine, Yankees fans and Yankee haters, Josh Beckett on the mound and a Red Sox lineup of Ellsbury, Pedroia, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, A-Rod and Mike Lowell. And it wouldn't be too shabby to have Kevin Youkilis and Varitek as your #8 and #9 hitters.

With Ellsbury's emergence as an offensive power who has unbelievable speed in center field and on the base paths, the Sox also have the luxury of trading Coco Crisp this offseason for further pitching help or prospects.

The balance of power may have shifted for a long, long time in the AL East.

Mr. 0 for October

Have you heard all the talk on ESPN, sports radio and the newspapers about how Alex Rodriguez, after the year he's had, was bound to redeem himself in this year's playoffs?

No longer would he be known for choking in October?

He'd be clutch, like he's been for the first time consistently in the regular season this year, except he'd be clutch when it really mattered?

Well, A-Rod choked again last night, and now the Yankees are 0-2 against Cleveland, one loss away from going home for a long, team-dismantling winter.

So far, A-Rod is 0-6 in the playoffs, with three strikeouts and four men left on base.

Meanwhile, in Boston, the enemy continues to get clutch performances out of its stars in the playoffs.

Roger out, Manny in as playoffs upon us

On a national sports talk radio program yesterday, former Twins and Mets ace Frank Viola predicted that Roger Clemens will not only be out for the rest of the regular season, as has been announced, and for the first round of the playoffs, as has been conjectured in the New York tabloids, but for all of the playoffs and the rest of the year.

Can you imagine the Yankees sending Kei Igawa to the mound in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox?

Meanwhile, Manny Ramirez is back in the Red Sox lineup, just in time to see them clinch the division and get warmed up for the playoffs.