Renee Unplugged On The Sox

WARNING! THIS POST HAS NICE LANGUAGE HEARD ONLY FROM THE MOUTHS OF SAILORS,PORN STARS AND YOUR KIDS AT SCHOOL...

RED SOX AT THE WINTER MEETINGS...

MATSUZAKA COMING TO BOSTON NEXT WEEK
I've got an inside scoop for you guys.

Daisuke Matsuzaka is returning to the US this weekend to visit his agent Scott Boras in California. Boras and the Dice Man will then travel to Boston early in the week. Sox brass will give Dice Man and his wife the VIP tour of Boston and Fenway Park while Boras -John Henry and Theo negotiate up until the Dec. 14th deadline.

Its expected the deal will get done on Dec. 14th and Matsuzaka will already be in Boston that day for the big press conference.


OFFICIAL: JD DREW 5 YRS at $70 MILLION
This deal absolutely blows my fucking mind! My guess is that Drew has to go through spring training in a protective plastic bubble or something.

According to Sports Illustrateds website JD Drew has agreed to a 5 year $70 Million deal to become official pending a physical likely to go like this:

DR: So JD any lingering problems?

DREW:Yeah my damn knee's fucked up still, my back feels like its 90 years old, I'm scared
shitless to play under a microscope in Boston but I really need the money and...

DR: Ah your fine. A perfect physical specimen. You pass.

BOTTOM LINE:
If Manny stays-Drew bats 5th and that'd be ideal. In no frigging way is JD Drew a cleanup hitter. I HATE the signing of JD boo hoo Drew. I think Eric Hinske already under contract for less money can do what JD Drew.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER:
By signing Scott Boras client JD Drew for way more than he's worth-does this mean he'll give the red Sox a discount on one or two of his other veteran clients? hmmmmmm


ERIC GAGNE TO BOSTON
Ths signing looks like it will happen by this weekend. I have sports writer friends in Fla. who have emailed me saying that the Red Sox will sign Eric Gagne to a 1 year deal with a club option for a 2nd.

Boston is offering Gagne a David Wells deal $2 million plus reachable incentives. (The damaged goods discount)

BOTTOM LINE:
Can't the Red Sox get one fucking athlete that's healthy? My guess here is this: The Sox sign Gagne as their closer BUT will sign a healthy mid-lower level closer just in case. I doubt they'll bring back Keith Foulke.


MANNY STAYING?
Reports are now circulating that Boston is not happy with what teams are offering in return
for Manny Ramirez. The consensus is that Manny and Boston are stuck with each other til
the '07 mid season trade deadline.

BOTTOM LINE:
I still think Manny gets dealt before spring training. I thnk Boston and their potential trading partners go home-cool off then rekindle trade talks with new trade propsals. Someone will cave in and make the Manny deal happen.

Mark my words. Do you really think Ramirez will feel excited having JD Drew hitting behind him and not want to be traded? FUCK NO!

JON LESTER BEATING CANCER
The best news of the off season by far. If the Red Sox got Pujols-Clemens-Howard- Torre- Miguel Tejada today - Jon Lester beating cancer would still be the better news.
Jon Lester-You Rock!

MARK LORETTA WANTS TO STAY A RED SOX
According to Nick Cafardo Mark Loretta is holding off on signing with Cincinnati Reds
because he thinks there may be a chance to return to the Red Sox which he prefers.

BOTTOM LINE:
Loretta loves Boston and played/hit well here. Loretta would give the BoSox an I Love Boston
Discount. Sign Loretta Theo. With Julio Lugo and his shitty Nomar Garciaparra like defense at least the right side of the infield will be solid.


ANDY PETTITE TO THE YANKEES
Andy Pettite will return to the Yankees this weekend. This means the Bombers will have 3 lefties in their rotation: Johnson-Igawa and Pettite along with Mussina and Wang.

NOTE:
When Pettite became a free agent he told the media that the Red Sox offered him more money than Houston to sign with Boston. BUT Pettite said he couldn't handle the pressure of pitching against the Yankees in a Red Sox uniform. Thus he went home to Houston for a lot less cash.

BOTTOM LINE:
With Pettite in pinstripes again does this mean good buddy and former Astro teammate Roger Clemens returns to the AL East with Boston? Stay tuned folks.

DAVID WELLS
Its a quiet off season when you don't hear from FA David Wells.


If the season opened today...The Red Sox line-up as of Dec. 5th.

1-Crisp CF
2-Youkilis 1b
3-Ortiz DH
4-Ramirez LF
5-Drew RF
6-Lowell 3B
7-Varitek C
8-Cora SS
9-Pedroia 2B

ROTATION:
1-Schilllng 2-Beckett 3-Wakefield 4-Papelbon 5-Tavarez

Closer: Timlin

See Ya

Renee

P.S. Prez and I have discussed adding a new twist to Thoughts of Hazel Mae. Since Hazel isn't here to answer her mailbag - we are inviting you to email me with your burning questions (have you seen a doctor about that burning sensation?). That's right, Thoughts of Hazel Mae is going to feature "Dear Renee" - send me your questions and I'll pick a few of the better emails and answer those questions in one of my blog entries. Come on ladies and gents - nothing is taboo. Email me at "renee_unplugged@yahoo.com". Check back often to see if your question has been answered.