Why A-Rod won't land in Boston

Alex Rodriguez' announcement yesterday was a big slap in the face to the Yankees, but that by no stretch of the imagination means, as some in the media have portrayed, that he will be running into the waiting arms of Theo Epstein.
The timing of A-Rod's public announcement that he won't be rejoining the Yankees was as big a slap at the Red Sox as it was the Yankees.
How dare the most selfish player in Major League Baseball try to steal headlines from the Red Sox as they were only 10 outs away from winning the 2007 World Series?
Even Peter Gammons, about as courteous and conservative of a broadcaster you can get, and an elder statesman of baseball knowledge, took time out of his reporting on the field in Colorado last night to blast Rodriguez, paint him as selfish and suggest, in exactly these words, that "maybe that's why he's never won a World Series."
That, combined with the incredible stats and World Series MVP trophy 3rd baseman free agent Mike Lowell pulled down this year, mean there's slim to no chance that A-Rod will become a member of the Red Sox.
The Nation don't want him.

It's over

Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, left, general manager Theo Epstein, center, and manager Terry Francona hold the World Series trophy after Boston beat the Colorado Rockies, 4-3, in Game 4 Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007, at Coors Field in Denver, to sweep the series 4-0. (AP photo)

Red Sox rooting for the Yankees

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - The Red Sox are rooting for the Yankees, if only for one game.
Boston has four days off before the start of the AL championship series, having swept the Angels in the first round of the playoffs. Though none of the Red Sox would express a preference in the lone remaining division matchup, they wouldn't mind if New York and Cleveland wear each other out before it's over.
"I guess my preference would be that they play for about another eight days and go 20 innings every game," Boston manager Terry Francona said after beating the Angels 9-1 on Sunday to earn the extra time off. "We'll get guys throwing. We'll get guys hitting, and we'll stay ready."
The Yankees and Indians were scheduled to play Game 4 on Monday night, with Cleveland holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. If New York wins they will play a deciding fifth game on Wednesday.
"My preference is they play five games, try to use their guys up, so we can be more rested than them," third baseman Mike Lowell said. "But either team is going to be a challenge for us and it's going to be a tough series, and hopefully we can be ready for it."
Josh Beckett, who pitched a four-hit shutout over the Angels in Game 1, his second consecutive playoff shutout, will have eight days of rest before the opener of the AL championship series. Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched the second game in the first round, but Curt Schilling could get the Game 2 start in Round 2 and he would have five days of rest.
"It's certainly better than playing a 17-inning Game 5 and heading straight to Cleveland," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said.

Not the Roger Boston used to know

A far fatter, weaker, cockier Roger Clemens faces the team he started his Major League career with tonight as stock in the Red Sox goes in the opposite direction of the team to which the Rocket has hitched his wide wagon this year in what quickly shaped up to be a failed attempt to win another World Series ring.

Like their decisions to jettison Johnny Damon and Pedro Martinez, who absolutely fell apart physically after leaving the Sox for greener greenbacks with the Mets and Yankees, Theo Epstein and Co. have got to be thrilled at their decision not to outbid the Yankees for Roger's services this year.

So tonight the Sox will be sending Cy Young candidate Josh Beckett to the mound to face a future Hall of Famer whose $28 million salary this year has produced a 5-5 record, 4.34 ERA and 6 runs given up in five innings in his last start.