Tek Takes Final Bow

Varitek wore the 'C' on his chest with
pride and dignity, just how like he
played the game.

Nearly two weeks after watching an emotional Tim Wakefield say goodbye, the Boston Red Sox bid another franchise legend farewell.

Longtime Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement Thursday in front of a abundance of former teammates, coaches and media members at a press conference held at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

Varitek was emotional to say the least, but who wouldn't be after a fantastic 14-year playing career.

The 39-year-old played his college ball at Georgia Tech, where he set numerous team records that still stand today, including games played (253), runs (261), hits (351) and doubles (82). Following his colligate career, Varitek was drafted in the first-round by the Seattle Mariners in 1994.

But his time in the Emerald City was short lived.

On July 31, 1997, Varitek, along with right-hander Derek Lowe, was shipped to Boston at the non-waiver Trade Deadline in exchange for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb in one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history.

This time it was the Red Sox giving away a a veteran reliever for a rising prospect, or in this case prospects, that became one of the franchise's all-time greats.

It was just seven years earlier Boston made the mistake of trading a young Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen. Bagwell went on to hit 449 career homes runs and become the franchise's foundation for a decade and a half.

Throughout his career, Varitek played in 1,546 games for the Red Sox -- 1,488 came as a catcher, setting the team record for the most games caught, shattering Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk's record of 990.

Varitek threw out 301 would-be base-stealers in his career, ranking him fourth on the active list. Ivan Rodriguez, who is an owner of 13 Gold Gloves, is the active leader with an astonishing 661. However, before his retirement, Varitek was the active leader in stolen bases allowed, surrendering 992. In 2009, Varitek gave up 108 stolen bases, allowing 100 for only third time in his career and led the American League, including a game in which he saw his future teammate, Carl Crawford, tie a Major League record, swiping six bags in a game.

As for his bat, Varitek help transcend his position as a switch-hitting catcher, hitting .256 with 193 HRs and driving in 757 runs.

The three-time All-Star's best all around season came in 2005 when he hit .281, adding 22 HRs, 70 RBIs and winning his only Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

But Varitek's career was more than just about his numbers as he was the epitome of a gamer, leader and captain.

'Tek', as his teammates call him, is one of the greatest game callers in baseball history. He called a Major League record four no-hitters, catching Hideo Nomo (April 4, 2001), Lowe (April 27, 2002), Clay Buchholz (Sept. 1, 2007) and Jon Lester (May 19, 2008).

He stood put to New York Yankees and third baseman Alex Rodriguez, famously shoving his glove into Rodriguez's face that escalated into a bench clearing brawl and paved the way for Boston's improbable 2004 postseason run, exercising their playoff demons and ending an 86-year curse.

Varitek was on the field for both of Boston's most recent World Series championships ('04 and 2007) despite owning a .237 career postseason average. However, all three of the ALCS' Varitek played in against the Yankees, he delivered.

In the playoffs, he hit .279 against New York and five of his 11 postseason HRs came at their expense. Those 11 HRs are a playoff record for a catcher and his 63 career games in October are a franchise record. Varitek never hit a World Series home run, but won all eight Fall Classic games he played in.

When he came to the plate in the first inning of the series-clinching Game 4 of the '04 World Series against St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jason Marquis, it was the first time in baseball history that two Little League World Series participants faced off against one another on baseball's biggest stage.

It could have been Varitek's shove to the
face of Rodriguez that turned the Red
Sox fortune around.

In December 2006, Varitek was named only the third captain in team history, joining Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice. Over the years, he proved he was worthy of that honor, playing with grit, through injuries that only the training staff knew of and being the ultimate team player.

He showed his already irreplaceable value to the pitching staff this season, especially for Josh Beckett. A year after Beckett went 6-6 and posted a career-worst 5.78 earned run average with Varitek only catching six of 21 starts, 2011 was far different.

Varitek caught 29 of Beckett's 30 starts this past season and watched the right-hander flourish. The former Florida Marlin went 13-7 and with a minimum of 20 starts, set career-lows in ERA (2.89) and WHIP (1.03).

Just like Wakefield, his presence will be missed on and off the field.

He was also a member of the 2006 United States World Baseball Classic team, hitting a grand slam against Team Canada.

Varitek and New York's also recently retired, Jorge Posada, were the Fisk and Thurman Munson of this generation and now leave the game and the only franchise's they've ever known and love behind, but legacies that will last far beyond our lifetime.

Waking Goodbye

Over 19 years, Wakefield was the epitome of
a team player.

Tim Wakefield's knuckleball has fluttered passed it's final big league bat.

The 45-year-old veteran called it a career Friday after playing 19 seasons in Major League Baseball -- 17 in which came with his wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform.

Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988 as a first baseman, Wakefield made his Major League debut in 1992 as a pitcher. He finished the season with an 8-1 record and a 2.15 earned run average in 13 starts. However, he lost 11 games in 1993 and spent most of the 1994 season pitching for Triple-A Buffalo.

Wakefield was called up in September, but never appeared in a big league due to the strike-shortened season. The Pirates released Wakefield prior to the start of the 1995 season.

The Red Sox saw his potential and decided to take a chance on the then-28-year-old right hander.

Wakfield started the year at Triple-A Pawtucket, but injuries paved his fast track back to the majors. In his first 17 games with the Red Sox, Wakfield emerged as the team's most reliable starter, throwing six complete games, accumulating to a 14-1 record with a 1.65 ERA.

Using his knuckleball more then he ever had, Wakefield finished the year 16-8, narrowly missing his first 200 inning season, throwing 195 1/3 innings and posting a 2.95 ERA. It would be the only season Wakefield would see his name finish on the American League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player ballot, finishing third and 13th, respectively.

Over the years, Wakefield became one of the most versatile pitchers the game has ever seen. He appeared in 627 games over his career, 463 of those coming as a starter and the other 164 out of the bullpen.

After throwing three consecutive seasons of 200-plus innings (1996-98), Wakefield started to mainly work out of the Boston bullpen. From 1999 to 2002, Wakefield appeared in a total of 190 games for the Red Sox, but only 66 came as a starter. During that span Wakefield appeared in 45 game or more each season, including saving a career-high 15 games in '99, but never starting more than 17 games in a year.

But it's one of his relief outings in the postseason that will forever live in infamy.

After being responsible for two of the three Red Sox wins as a starter in the 2003 ALCS, Wakefield entered the decisive seventh game in Yankee Stadium as a reliever with the score knotted at five, in the 11th inning and Aaron Boone coming to the plate.

On his first pitch of the game, Wakefield surrendered one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history as Boone launched it deep into the October night, sending New York fans home dancing -- something his knuckleball didn't quite do.

Wakefield went from being potentially the series' MVP and hero to the instant choker and goat.

However, just a year later on the same stage, Wakefield and Co. would have their revenge.

Facing a 3-1 series deficit, and at one point 3-0, Wakefield won Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS, the second of Boston's eight straight postseason wins, capping the most improbable comeback in postseason history en route to their first World Series title in 86 years.

In 2007, Wakefield would win a career-high 17 games and win his second World Series championship with the Red Sox despite only appearing two games that postseason.

Two years later, Wakefield was his selected to his first and only All-Star team, becoming the second oldest player in history to be named his to first career All-Star Game at age 42. Hall of Famer Satchel Paige was the oldest, making his first All-Star appearance in 1952 at 45.

At the break, Wakefield was 11-3, but was hampered by lower back and calf injuries the second half, allowing him only to pitch in four games the rest of the season.

This past season, Wakefield recorded his 200th win and by no means was it easy. He started the year in the bullpen, but by May he was back in the rotation.

Wakefield recorded his 199th career win on July 24, but waited nearly two months before his historic milestone. With the bullpen blowing numerous leads, the knuckleballer made eight appearances before recording his final Major League win on his ninth attempt.

On Sept. 13, he allowed five runs on five hits over six innings in Boston's 18-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Speaking of September, Wakefield was one of the many Red Sox pitchers that struggled in the season's final month. In the greatest collapse in baseball history, that saw Boston finish the season 7-20 in their final 27 games and squandering a nine-game wild card lead, Wakefield went 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA.

He relinquished five runs in all five of his September appearances, including what would be his final career start, coming in a 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees.

Wakefield finishes his career with a 200-180 record and a 4.41 ERA. 186 of his 200 wins came as a Red Sox, good enough for second on the franchise's all-time list behind Roger Clemens and Cy Young's 192.

He is only the second pitcher in Red Sox to tally more than 2,000 strike outs with 2,046. Clemens is the all-time leader with 2,590. However, Wakefield is first in starts (430), appearances (590) and innings pitched (3,006).

Only Carl Yastrzemski's 23 and Ted Williams and Dwight Evans' 19-year services to the organization preponderate Wakefield's 17.

As for his place with the greatest knuckleballers in history, Wakefield is surpassed by Joe Nierko, Eddie Cicotte and Hall of Famers, Hoyt Wilhelm, Ted Lyons and Phil Nierko. But if Nierko was the godfather of the knuckleball in the 60s, 70s and 80s, then Wakefield was the heir to the throne in the 90s and the turn of the century.

Wakefield may not be a Hall of Famer, but his place in Red Sox history is assured.

Nothing Maddon-ing About This

Maddon has made the Rays contenders
 and turned the franchise's fate in 2008.

Joe Maddon isn't going anywhere. And the Tampa Bay Rays made sure of that Tuesday.

The 58-year-old manager was given a three-year extension by his current employer, insuring his place on the Tampa Bay bench through the 2015 season. Maddon was entering the final year of his current contract after previously signing his first three-year extension with the organization in May 2009.

Since being hired as the Rays manager in November 2005, Maddon has rapidly become one of the game's best managers. Under his watch, the Rays have made three appearances, won two American League East Division titles and an AL Pennant.

In a year of firsts for the organization and only his third season as manager, Maddon lead the budget-conscious Rays to a franchise record 97 regular season wins and their first postseason appearance in franchise history, outplaying the high-paying New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox for the division crown. Tampa Bay defeated the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS to clinch their first playoff series victory, advancing to the ALCS to take on the Red Sox.

The series would come down to an epic seventh game -- a game Tampa Bay eventually won, 3-1. However, they were defeated in their first ever World Series appearance, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.

The following year, Maddon and his troops would take a step back, finishing the year 84-78 -- third in the division, causing many to wonder if their success was just an anomaly.

That wasn't the case.

In 2010, Maddon and the Rays went back to work, clinching their division for the second time in three years. This past season, Tampa Bay would make the most historic September comeback in baseball history, over coming a 9-game wild card deficit only to first their first ever AL Wild Card berth the final day of the regular season.

Although, back-to-back years they have been ousted from the postseason in the ALDS by the Texas Rangers.

Maddon has built a foundation for success down South, but it hasn't been easy.

He spent his first two years in Tampa Bay as a Devil Ray, watching his team finish in the cellar of the AL East, combining for 127-197 record and drafting young players that would define the team's recent success.

In the first round of the 2006 amateur draft, Maddon and Co. selected shortstop Evan Longoria out of Cal State Long Beach with the No. 3 overall pick. Then, eight rounds later, the Rays selected Desmond Jennings, who played in 63 games this past season as a rookie.

In 2007, with the No. 1 overall pick, Maddon took left-handed phenom David Price out of Vanderbilt and played a major role in the team signing free agent first baseman Carlos Pena.

Longoria won the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year. Price has become one of the game's most premier pitchers, winning a career-high 19 games in 2010. Pena set career-highs home runs (46) and runs batted in (121) in his first year with the Rays and hit a combined 144 HRs in his four years with the team before leaving as a free agent prior to the start of last season.

But after a year away from the organization, Pena signed a one-year deal this offseason to return. As for Jennings, he batted .259 with 10 HRs and 25 RBIs, playing a major role in the Rays' magical September run.

And despite being drafted by the Rays just month before Maddon was hired, Jeremy Hellickson is his second rookie to earn the AL Rookie of the Year of the honor, going 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA in 2011.

Maddon is not only the fourth manager in franchise history, but the longest tenured as well.

The franchise's first manager and current Yankee pitching coach, Larry Rothschild, held the mark prior to Maddon's arrival, managing the club from 1998 to 2001.

Maddon is one of three successful managers in baseball that studied under Mike Scioscia, who is a two-time AL Manager of the Year.

The former Angels bench coach established early and often he would do things his own way. With his thick-rimmed-rose-color glasses, Maddon is known for his unorthodox managerial style and preaching the fundamentals of the game he loves so dear.

On Aug. 17, 2008, with a four-run lead, Maddon elected to intentional walk Texas' Josh Hamilton with the bases loaded rather than pitching to him as the potential tying run. It was only the sixth intentional walk handed out with the bases loaded in baseball history.

The move prevailed as the Dan Wheeler struck out Marlon Byrd to end the game, preserving the lead in a 7-4 win.

Maddon was won the AL Manager of the Year twice ('08, '10), has accumulated a 495-477 record in his 972 games and is now greatest manager in franchise history with at least four more years to add to his legacy.

Bailing 'Em Out

Happy Valentine's Day

Papelbon Headed To Philadelphia

Papelbon has been one of the game's best
relievers since making that transition.

In the first big splash of the Major League Baseball offseason, free agent reliever Jonathan Papelbon has decided to leave the only organization he has ever know and head to the National League, agreeing to a four-year $50 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

It's a deal similar to that of the one Francisco Cordero, who is also a free agent this winter, signed with Cincinnati Reds prior to the start of the 2008 season. Cordero's deal was worth $46 million over four years.

The report comes just days after it looked as if Philadelphia was close to retaining the services of Ryan Madson, who saved 32 game for the Phillies in 2011. Apparently those talks broke down with Papelbon reportedly on board.

Papelbon, 30, leaves Fenway Park after six magical season with the Boston Red Sox.

Since making his Major League debut in July of 2005, Papelbon rapidly became one of the games best closers. The Baton Rogue native was a four-time All-Star for the Red Sox and becoming the fastest closer in history to record 200 saves since it was made an official stat in 1969, recording 219 saves since becoming the team's full-time closer in 2006.

His 219 saves are a club record, making his arguably the greatest closer in franchise history. Papelbon also totaled a 23-19 record during his Boston tenure with a 2.33 earned run average and rebounded after a terrible 2010 campaign.

Papelbon posted career-worsts in losses (7), ERA (3.90), blown saves (8), walks (28), WHIP (1.27) and home runs allowed (7) in '10 as his team also missed the postseason. But Papelbon dedicated himself to get better this offseason and was back to his dominant form.

Despite his ERA still being a little high at 2.94, Papelbon was 4-1 and 31-for-34 in save opportunities in for the Sox in '11. Although, two of his three blown saves came in the season's final month, a month Red Sox Nation won't soon forget. Both came at the hands of the never say die Baltimore Orioles, including blowing a one-run lead in the final game of the regular season and surrendering a walk-off base hit to Robert Andino, shattering Boston's playoff hopes.

That loss looks to be the last memory for Red Sox fans of Papelbon in a Boston uniform, not giving him an opportunity to pitch in the postseason, a place he has shined. In his 27 postseason innings, the hard-throwing right-hander has only allowed three earned runs, accumulating to a 1.00 ERA.

Papelbon was on the mound for the final out of the 2007 World Series , bringing home Boston's second World Series title in a four-year span after the club had experienced a 86-year drought prior to their improbable championship run in 2004.

Originally drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2003 draft, Papelbon is a Type A free agent which means newly anointed general manager Ben Cherington and Co. will receive Philadelphia's first round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft and another supplemental first round selection for compensation if the rules stay the same in baseball's new collective bargaining agreement.

Papelbon celebrating the final out of the 2007
World Series, his first championship of his
career.

While Papelbon adds to Philadelphia's plethora of quality pitching, Boston is left with a daunting task, filling a void they did not figure to have.

Set-up man Daniel Bard is only 26 and looked to be the heir apparent in Boston, but a rough September has put that move into question. Bard blew all three of his save opportunities in the season's final month, while going 0-4 with a 10.64 ERA.

Slugger and the face of the franchise for almost a decade, David Ortiz shopping his services in free agencey and with the already sudden departures of manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein, Boston has seen a third key figure walk away from what looks to be a now troublesome organization.

Truly ending an era in Red Sox lore.

Lack Of Pitching

Lackey's often expression of frustration
on the mound sometimes were thought to
have shown up his teammates.

The downward spiral of the Boston Red Sox organization continued Tuesday with a major injury to their already thin pitching staff. Right-hander John Lackey will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss his 2012 season before it even got started.

Newly appointed general manager Ben Cherington broke the news in his promotion press conference just hours after his predecessor Theo Epstein was formally introduced as the new president of baseball operations of the Chicago Cubs.

Lackey is coming off the worse season of 10-year career, where he was 12-12 and posted a career-worst 6.41 ERA in 160 innings. He led the majors in earned runs surrendered with 114 and hit batsman, 19.

In his first two years in Boston, Lackey's record is barely above .500 at 26-23 and has a 5.26 in his 61 starts. Prior to the 2010 season, the Texan signed a similar five-year $82.5 contract that New York gave A.J. Burnett just an offseason before.

Next season will be the third year of that contract and with this recent news, it has been three years of disappointment.

Lackey is the third pitcher in the Red Sox organization to undergo reconstructive elbow surgery, joining Japanese import Daisuke Matsuzaka and left-hander Rich Hill to suffer the same fate. Fortunately for Cherington and the Red Sox, Matsuzaka, who will be in the final year of his current contract, should be pitching for the club midseason.

In the team's historic September collapse, where Boston went 7-20 in the season's final month to miss the postseason for the second straight, Lackey, along with fellow teammates Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, was accused of drinking beer and eating fried chicken in the clubhouse on days they were not pitching.

And when he was on the mound he didn't provide much help either. In his five September starts, opponents hit .353 against Lackey, going 0-2 and 9.13 ERA.

There had been speculation the San Diego Padres would be interested in acquiring the 33-year-old right-hander from Boston this offseason, but this injury has quieted any talk of that now. San Diego and Boston have a well working relationship thanks in large part to their now former GM Jed Hoyer.

Hoyer had been the assistant GM to Epstein in Boston until he took the GM job with the Padres in October of 2009. He will now join Epstein in Chicago as the GM of the Cubs.

A move back to the West Coast would have ensured Lackey a reunion with his former pitching coach in Anaheim, Bud Black. Those were the best years of Lackey's career, including winning Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as a rookie, winning a career-high 19 games in 2007 and leading the American League in ERA at 3.01 that same season.

The Red Sox are in the midst of some major personnel changes with the change at GM and the uncertainty who their next manager will be after Terry Francona decided it was time for a new voice at the helm after the season, but that won't stop owner John Henry and CEO Larry Lucchino from putting a contender on the field for the Fenway Faithful in 2012.

With their lack of pitching, Boston will be in the market for starting pitching this offseason with the availability of left-hander C.J. Wilson and possible open bidding for another Japanese import phenom, 25-year-old Yu Darvish.

As for Lackey, it has been a long two years for the 6-foot-6 righty in Beantown and it will be an even longer road back to a big league mound and his once All-Star form.

On Their Way Back

Epstein Headed To The Windy City

Was it time for Theo to go in Boston?

After being an instrumental part of breaking the Curse of the Bambino in 2004, Boston Red Sox executive vice-president and general manager Theo Epstein has decided to take on another hex, this time on the North Side of Chicago.

It has been reported by multiple sources, Epstein has agreed to a five-year $15 million contract to become the new GM of the Chicago Cubs, a position vacated by Jim Hendry, who was fired back on Aug. 19 and hired by the Cubs in 2002, the same year Epstein was hired in Boston.

The decision comes nearly three weeks after Boston finished their epic September collapse and "mutual" parting with manager Terry Francona.

It's not the first time he decided to resign from his post. In October of 2005, Epstein left his position as GM after a contract dispute with team CEO Larry Lucchino. San Diego Padres GM Jed Hoyer and Epstein's current assistant GM Ben Cherington shared the duties until he returned two months later.

The deal has not been announced officially with some minor details needing to be hammered out, including what the Red Sox will receive in compensation for this GM's services.

Boston brass is also insisting Chicago pick up Epstein's $3.5 million bonus he is due, bringing his contract total to nearly $20 million. The deal would already have him the highest-paid GM in baseball history.

If this is in fact the end of Epstein's nine year run as Red Sox GM, what a marathon it was.

Prior to the 2003 Major League Baseball season, Red Sox owner John Henry offered Oakland Athletics' GM Billy Beane a job, as it has been portrayed in the recently released feature film "Moneyball". Beane initially accepted the offer, but later decided to finish what he started in Oakland, where he still resides today.

Beane's change of heart opened the door for a 28-year-old Yale graduate to accept his dream job.

Epstein had previously worked for the San Diego Padres and was an intern for the Baltimore Orioles, but his first job with Boston made him the youngest GM in baseball history.

In his first year as Red Sox GM, Epstein put together a team that went all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS before the ghosts of Yankee Stadium were awoken in the eight inning and their arch rivals, the New York Yankees, were able to erase a three-run deficit and force extra innings, where knuckleballer Tim Wakefield surrendered the infamous Aaron Boone walk-off home run in the 11th inning.

Epstein would have his revenge the following season.

Sparked by a midseason walk-off home run by Bill Mueller off Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, the '04 Red Sox rolled into the postseason with abundance of confidence, setting up a highly anticipated ALCS rematch with New York.

But the Yankees got out of the gate quickly and put a stranglehold on the series, wining the first three games convincingly. It looked like New York would get Epstein and Co. once again after '03's dramatic Game 7 loss and missing out on trading for superstar slugger Alex Rodriguez in the offseason, who would eventually be dealt to their hated rivals.

Instead for the first time since 1918, the Red Sox got the last laugh.

Epstein's club became the first team in baseball history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series and went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, sending liberation throughout New England and exercising an 86-year curse.

In only his second year as GM, Epstein enjoyed
his first World Series title.

The Red Sox would add another World Series title in 2007 and come within one game of winning the 2008 AL Pennant before losing to the division rival Tampa Bay Rays in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Along with being the architect of two World Series teams, Epstein accumulated 839 wins during his tenure in Boston, second only to who else, the Yankees.

The soon to be 38-year-old GM's goal was to come to Boston with the focus of strengthening the scouting and player-development in the organization and did he ever. In the past decade the Red Sox farm system has produced players like Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz.

That's exactly what Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and team president Crane Kenney were looking for and now apparently have.

Epstein also made key acquisitions that were a pivotal part of both the Red Sox World Series teams, including the signings of David Ortiz, Mike Timlin, Bill Mueller, and trading for All-Stars Curt Schilling.

He also traded for Jason Bay and most recently Adrian Gonzalez, both whom worked out great.

But along with striking gold there came a batch of fool's good. This included a three-ring circus and revolving door at shortstop. Since trading Nomar Garciaparra in '04, Epstein has seen names like Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez, who played for the Sox in two different stints, Alex Cora, Julio Lugo, Jed Lowrie, Marco Scutaro, and highly touted prospect Jose Iglesias command one of, if not the most crucial position on the diamond.

The Sox believe Iglesias is the shortstop of the future, but they may have had that covered years ago if it wasn't for a certain trade.

In November of 2005, the Red Sox made a deal that sent Hanley

The trade went on to benefit both teams as Beckett and Lowell, who would be named the '07 World Series MVP, were key contributors in getting Boston back to the Fall Classic, while Ramirez has developed into one of the games brightest young stars, winning the National League batting title in 2009. Sanchez has seen become a quality major league pitcher and threw a no-hitter in only his 14th big-league start.

Moves that didn't quite work out in Epstein's tenure consist of signing Lugo, J.D. Drew, John Lackey, Carl Crawford, and trading for Eric Gagne.

Although the signing of Crawford could prove to be a good one with six years still remaining on the seven-year $142 million contract he signed this past winter, maybe needing a season to get acclimated to the pressure cooker that Boston is after playing all those years in Tampa Bay.

Epstein leaves behind an almost unfillable legacy with a daunting task in front of him.

The Curse of the Billy Goat has haunted
the Cubs for 103 years and counting.

The Cubs continue to be haunted by the Curse of the Billy Goat and have yet to win a World Series since 1908. That is 103 years, by far the longest drought in professional sports. Their last World Series appearance came in 1945 when Chicago lost to the Detroit Tigers in seven games.

Chicago made the playoffs three times in the last decade, '03, '07, and '08, all coming under the watch of Hendry.

If Epstein can bring a World Series title to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, it would not be inappropriate to call him the greatest GM in the history of baseball, breaking two of the most terrorizing spells in professional sports.

Cherington looks to be the heir apparent in Boston, but it's not strange to hear the name of Yankee GM Brian Cashman, whose current contract expires at the end of the month, surface.

Coincidence or not, it's interesting to think both teams Epstein has agreed to GM for have suffered from two of the longest championship droughts in history while their arch rivals, the Cardinals and Yankees, have won double-digit World Series during that time.

He must be a man looking for a challenge.

Yo Adrian!

Beltre joined elite company Tuesday with
3 solo home runs at the Trop.

With the Texas Rangers one win away from their second straight trip to the American League Championship Series, offseason acquisition Adrian Beltre carried the load with a Reggie-esk performance Tuesday afternoon in Tampa Bay.

Beltre homered on his first three trips to the plate against two Rays' rookie hurlers, almost single-handedly punching Texas' ticket to the next round.

The 32-year-old native of Santo Domingo came into the game 1-11 in the series and a .214 lifetime hitter in the postseason, never recording an extra-base hit. That all changed in St. Pete after accumulating 12 total bases in the team's 4-3 victory. Beltre is the sixth player in postseason history to hit three home runs in a single game and it's only the seventh it has been done. The mystical Babe Ruth is the only player to accomplish that feat twice, both coming in World Series games.

Prior to signing a six-year $96 million contract with the Rangers this winter, Beltre had been coming off one of his best seasons of his career after four sub par seasons in Seattle. Despite batting .321 with 28 home runs, 102 RBIs and a career-high 49 doubles with the Red Sox in 2010, he was pushed out.

After Boston acquired All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego and home-grown Kevin Youkilis set to return to his original position at the hot corner, Beltre was the odd man out.

Looks like their loss.

With the Red Sox sitting home after an epic September collapse, Beltre, who has historical has only played well during contract years, has enjoyed a fantastic first season in Arlington. He hit 32 home runs and drove in 105 RBI for Ron Washington's Rangers, making his straight All-Star appearance while playing a Gold Glove third base.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler got the scoring started with a leadoff home run in the first inning, hitting one of the four solo shots by the Rangers in their series-clinching Game 4 victory.

Left-hander Matt Harrison. who was left off the postseason roster a year ago, was sharp earning his first postseason victory with five quality innings and matching his career high in strike outs with nine.

As for the Tampa Bay Rays, the clock finally struck midnight on their Cinderella run.

It is the second straight season the Rangers have ousted Tampa Bay from the postseason in the ALDS. It was the Rays inability to win postseason home games that eventually did them in. With their loss Tuesday, that ultimately ended their fairy tale season, they have now lost five straight home playoff games to Texas dating back to last season.

Beltre and Co. look to continue to ride the postseason wave and await their opponent for the ALCS.

Tito's Tenure Over In Boston

Francona leaves Boston as the greatest manager
in their history.

It's official. After almost two days of speculation manager Terry Francona will not be returning for his ninth season at the helm of Red Sox Nation. The announcement comes fresh off Francona's club completed the greatest September collapse in baseball history.

The collapse consisted of the Boston Red Sox blowing a 9-game wild card lead that they held as late as Sept. 3, but finished the month 7-20 including losing the final game of the season after having a one-run lead heading into the ninth. As for Francona, he met with a group of Red Sox brass that included general manager Theo Epstein early Friday morning at Fenway Park to discuss the future of the club and himself. It would be later determined that he would not be returning to the Boston dugout with all signs pointing to it as a mutual decision.

In a press conference Friday afternoon Francona used the words "time for a new voice" when describing why he was stepping down as skipper.

It didn't help that the organization never offered to exercise his 2012 and 2013 options.

There have been reports that Francona possibly lost the clubhouse mid-season due to a lack of team chemistry. Multiple sources said that there was a lot of unprofessionalism going on with the pitching staff during their off days, including the consumption of alcohol in the clubhouse.

Francona throughout his career has been known as a players' manager, something that usual doesn't call for much discipline, now finding himself possessed a problem he didn't know how to approach.

Despite missing the postseason for the second straight season and the third time in his tenure, it's not far fetched to call Francona the greatest manager in Red Sox history as his resume speaks for itself. Following their Game 7 loss to their arch rival New York Yankees in the 2003 ALCS then-manager Grady Little's contract was not renewed, opening the door for a moderate individual from South Dakota to take the reigns.

Francona was hired prior to the start of the 2004 season in an effort to turn around the fortunate of one of the league's most underachieving franchises. That's exactly what he did.

After an unbelievable second half run, the Red Sox captured the 2004 AL wild card and would advance to the ALCS for the second straight year, setting up the heavily anticipated rematch with New York. Boston dropped the first two games of the series and were headed home.

Just when the Fenway Faithful thought it couldn't get an worse, it did. The Sox found themselves facing an 0-3 series deficit after getting stomped in their home building 19-8.

Francona did the impossible, engineering the greatest postseason comeback in baseball history, winning the next four games of the series and capturing the club's first American League Pennant since 1986. Francona has said numerous times publicly, "If Dave Roberts doesn't steal that bag, we're going home and I'm out of a job".

The '04 Red Sox will always be Francona's
greatest accomplishment. 

He is responsible for ending an 86-year curse in the most dramatic fashion and bringing home the franchise's first World Series title since 1918 that same season. After an early first-round exit in '05 and missing the postseason completely in '06, Francona returned the Sox to the Fall Classic in '07.

There he would become only the second manager in the franchise's history to win multiple World Series titles, joining Bill Carrigan as the only other to do so. During Carrigan's first stint with the team he won back-to-back World Series championships in 1915 and 1916 and posted a 8-2 record combined in both World Series he managed. If you think that's impressive look at Francona.

Francona was a perfect 8-0 in his two World Series appearances, sweeping both the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies in '04 and '07 respectively.

His 28 postseason wins are by far the most in franchise history and finishes with a 744-552 regular season record. That's good enough for a .574 winning percentage, second only to Don Zimmer's .575 with a minimum of five years on the job.

Francona will be sure to land on his feet and take his Harry Potter glasses, chewing tobacco wrapped in an amorously large wad of bubble gum and calm demeanor to another playoff dugout.

Boston faces a lot of questions this offseason with two key contributors free-agents-to-be, slugger David Ortiz and  closer Jonathan Papelbon. With Francona out, one big question still lingers until it is answered.

Francona once said, "Boston is a trying place to manage even when your at your best". He might want to pass that long to the next Red Sox manager, whomever he may be.

What A Way To Finish

Papelbon walks off hanging his head
and in disbelief like most Boston players.

Prior to the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season many had already crowned the once-cursed Boston Red Sox AL East division champions, they would represent the American League in the Fall Classic, and ultimately win their third World Series title in eight years. That's why they play the game.

The Red Sox completed the greatest September collapse Wednesday night losing to the never say die Baltimore Orioles 4-3. While the Tampa Bay Rays continued their improbable run at history, playing the role of Cinderella.

Red Sox fans found themselves in unfamiliar territory, rooting for the hated New York Yankees with their Lets Go Yanks signs scattered throughout Camden Yards.

Both teams sent their ace left-handers to the hill hoping if nothing else to live to play another day. Boston's Jon Lester, who was starting on three days rest for only the second time in his career, had a 14-0 record in 17 career starts against Baltimore, giving the Sox the slight advantage. Down South David Price, like Lester, had pitched in a World Series as rookie knowing exactly what pressure is.

With New York grabbing an unearned run in the first at Tampa Bay, former AL MVP and the heart and soul of this Red Sox team, Dustin Pedroia got the scoring started with an RBI single in the third.

Baltimore quickly answered in the home half of the inning with two of their own after J.J. Hardy's 30th home run of the season, tying him for the major league lead among shortstops.

After a two-out grand slam by Mark Teixeira in the second inning their arch rival, with nothing to play for, held a 5-0 lead after only an inning and a half. Up in Maryland, Boston had knotted the score at two after an Alfred Simon balk.

Then almost simultaneously Teixeira hit his second home run in consecutive at-bats against Price while Pedroia was giving the Sox a 3-2 edge with a solo shot of his own, willing his way to the postseason. Price would not return for the fifth at Tropicana Field after a disappointing 97-pitch effort. His replacement would not fair much better as reliever Juan Cruz surrendered a home run to only the second batter he faced, Yankee left fielder Andruw Jones.

Tampa Bay found themselves facing 7-0 deficit with only one hit through six innings, there season in doubt and an uphill climb upon them. During Boston's seventh inning rain delay NESN welcomed in long-time Boston Globe sports writer Dan Shaughnessy to the booth, where he pronounced the Rays dead in the water and was ready to crown the Red Sox wild card champions.

I guess the Rays didn't get the memo.

Joe Maddon's squad rallied with a four-hit, six-run eighth inning capped off by a three-run home run by the new face of their franchise, Evan Longoria, cutting the New York lead to one.

While the Sox resumed play against the Orioles, the Rays were down to their final strike. Pinch-hitter and Red Sox killer Dan Johnson launched a 2-2 changeup into the right field stands for a two-out game-tying home run.

Johnson watches the flight of his game-tying
ninth inning home run Wednesday.

Pandemonium at the Trop.

It was the second time Johnson, who hadn't recorded a hit since April 27th and had accumulated a .108 average, played ninth inning hero for the Rays.

In 2008, the left-handed slugger smacked a game-tying home run against Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, helping propel Tampa to their first division title and postseason berth in franchise history.

Meanwhile after squandering numerous scoring opportunities Papelbon was brought in to preserve a one-run lead and ensure the Sox at least one more game. After deposing the first two hitters on strikes, Chris Davis promptly lined the first pitch he saw from the hard-throwing right-hander into the right field corner, sliding into second with a double.

Just before the clock struck midnight Eastern Time, Cinderella got her wish.

Baltimore's Nolan Reimold, a name that now will forever live in Red Sox lore, lined a game-tying ground-rule double, crushing Red Sox Nation. It was Papelbon's third blown save of the season and the second in the month of September against the Orioles. The other coming back on the Sept. 20 at Fenway Park with the man striding to the plate responsible for it.

Robert Andino spoiled the Red Sox evening with a three-run double once already this season, could he do it again?

Andino drilled a bullet to left field as Carl Crawford would not make a play he would usually make in his sleep, scoring the game-winning run and sending shock waves through New England.

With the score being posted in Tampa and the Rays' fans erupting in excitement, minutes later Longoria would hit a walk-off home run down the left field line, tallying his second jack of the game and sending Tampa Bay to the 2011 postseason. It was the first time a team faced a 7-0 deficit in their final regular season game only to come back and win to make the playoffs.

Longoria's walk-off blast also put himself in some pretty elite company joining baseball legend Bobby Thomson as the only other player to hit a walk-off home run on the final day of the season to put their team in the postseason.

As for the Red Sox, they did not win consecutive games once during the month of September. You have to go as far back as Aug. 27 when the Sox swept a double-header from the Oakland Athletics to find back-to-back wins for this club.

They finish the month with a 7-20 record, a .259 winning percentage, their worst since 1952. It was the first time since 1993 Boston would lose 16 or more games in September and first time since the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons they would not make the postseason in consecutive seasons.

The last time we saw the Red Sox in the playoffs it was a familiar sight as Papelbon was blowing a two-run lead, allowing the Angels to exercise their postseason demons, advancing to the ALCS.

Boston finishes 3-9 in their last 12 games and 2-5 in their last seven meetings with the Orioles.

Longoria celebrates after launching his
Rays into the postseason.

Many are calling for manager Terry Francona's head, but my how we forget so quickly. Francona replaced Grady Little as manager following the 2003 season. He is responsible for orchestrating a 0-3 ALCS comeback against the Yankees and ending an 86-year curse. In Tito's tenure at the helm the Sox have posted a .574 winning percentage, good enough for second in franchise history and the majors since '04.

His 28 postseason wins and 2 World Series titles are by far the most during his eight seasons in Beantown.

It all starts with pitching and that's something that was dismal for Boston the final month of the regular season. As a whole the staff posted a 5.84 ERA with six blown saves while the starters saw their ERA balloon to 7.08.

After blowing the largest lead (9 games) in September history, 1978 is in the rearview mirror with 2004 and 2007 feeling like a very long time ago.

Credit goes to Maddon as he never let his guys quit. In an offseason that say Tampa lose their top 6 highest paid players including players like the reigning AL saves leader Rafael Soriano, their home run leader Carlos Pena and the face of their franchise with Crawford departing to Boston, they were a team without an identity.

For two teams that both started the season 0-6, it will be a tale of two very different seasons.

For the Red Sox Sept. 28, 2011 will be a day that will forever live in infamy as it was the Rays date with destiny. Even Hollywood couldn't have written this script.

The San Francisco Giants got into the postseason on the final day of the season a year ago with the same type of formula for success, pitching. We all know how that fairy tale ended. How will this one?

A Sting Ray

So Long El Grand Orange

Williams finished his managerial career with
1571 victories.

The baseball world lost one of it's true generals Thursday with the passing of Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams. Williams died in a local hospital close to his home in Henderson, Nevada after suffering a ruptured aortic aneurysm, he was eighty-two. With his passing, Williams leaves behind quite a legacy as one of the many baseball lifers and legends.

During his twenty-one year managerial career, Williams became quite a colorful character, but more known for his hard-nosed attitude and fiery personality. He was a favorite of many with his ability to motive his teams to win and win they did.

In his first season as a big league manager, Williams led the then-still cursed Boston Red Sox to the "Impossible Dream" in 1967 with their first World Series appearance since 1946. There they would surprise many by forcing the series to seven games against the St. Louis Cardinals, but lose to the eventual World Series MVP Bob Gibson for the third time on baseball's biggest stage.

After spending only two more seasons in Fenway Park, Williams decided to head across the border and become the third base coach for the Montreal Expos, a team who would eventually manage. He did that for a season before heading back to the American League after being hired by then-Oakland Athletics' owner Charlie Finley.

There would be the place that cemented his place in baseball history.

In his first his season at the helm in Oakland, he led the A's to 101 wins and a berth to the American League Championship Series. Williams and Co. were promptly swept by the defending World Series champion Baltimore Orioles putting his job once again in doubt.

With Finley already changing managers ten times during his tenure with the club many believed Williams would suffer the same fate, but was eventually brought back for the '72 season.

He would reward Finley for his faith in him, starting a baseball dynasty. Williams led the A's to back-to-back World Series titles, becoming the first major league manager to accomplish that feat since Ralph Houk led the New York Yankees to back-to-back titles in '61 and '62.

It would be a while until Williams once again got a taste of the World Series. After the '73 season he headed south and managed the California Angels for three seasons before heading back to Montreal. He managed the Expos for five seasons, the longest tenure of his career with any one club.

In September of the 1981 season, Williams was relieved of his managerial duties, but is credited as the only manager to lead the franchise to a playoff appearance.

Then in 1982 he was hired to manage the San Diego Padres and in only his third year on the bench, Williams led a misfit group of San Diegoens to their first World Series appearance in franchise history. In one of the most entertaining World Series', Williams might be remembered for a move he decided not to make.

With the Detroit Tigers leading by a run in the bottom of the eighth inning of the eventual series-clinching Game 5, they had runners at second and third and one out, Kirk Gibson coming to the plate and Goose Gossage on the mound. Gibson, who had already homered in the game, had been dominated by Gossage throughout his career and everybody in the ballpark knew it.

Williams looked like he was going to intentionally walk Gibson to load the bases with first base open, instead his hard-throwing right-hander convinced him he could retire the power-hitting outfielder one more time.

Gibson launched a three-run home run deep into the October night, extending the Tigers lead to 8-4, putting the series on ice and giving them their first World Series title since 1968.

Gibson, left celebrates his second home run
in Game 5 of the 1984 World Series as first
basemen Steve Garvey, right shows his
obvious disappointment.

Williams spent only one more season in beautiful Southern California before landing his final managing gig. He managed the Seattle Mariners from 1986-88 before his fire finally burnt out and he retired from the game he loved.

Upon retiring, the St. Louis native had accomplished things few dare to dream. He is one of only two managers to lead three different franchises to a World Series appearance joining fellow Hall of Famer Billie McKechnie. Accomplishing that allowed Williams to join a club of only six other managers to have won a pennant in both the American and National League.

He also joins recently retired Lou Pinella as the only managers to have four different franchises win 90 or more games in a season.

For these achievements, Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee back in 2008.

Known for his unmistakable mustache, red hair, and desire to win, the legacy of Williams will forever live in baseball lore and remind many how the game should be played.

Reyes On The First Subway Out Of Queens?

Reyes' speed adds a different dynamic to his
game.

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is one of baseball's most exciting and dynamic infielders, and could be well on the verge of becoming one of the wealthiest.

Reyes is set to become a free agent at seasons end and will be one of the hottest commodities this winter.

Despite already having eight major league seasons under his belt, Reyes is still only twenty-eight and enjoying a career year. The Mets shortstop is currently leading the National League with .341 batting average and a share of the lead in runs scored with 54. He only trails Boston's Adrian Gonzalez for the major league lead in hits with 103 compared to the first basemen's 104.

However, Reyes is known for his speed and athleticism with the 2011 season being showcase for that thus far. He is leads the majors in the most exciting play in baseball with 12 triples and is second only to Houston's Michael Bourn with 26 stolen bases.

It looks to be paid day for Reyes, but are the Mets willing to pay him the money he is looking for?

It has been reported that Reyes is seeking a contract similar to that of Carl Crawford, who signed a seven-year $142 million deal this past offseason to man left field in Fenway Park for the Red Sox. That is an average of $20 million per season compared to the $11 million Reyes is making this season.

Crawford's '11 salary is approximately $14.8 million, but increases greatly throughout the contract. He is set make $19.5 million next season with the final five years of the contract paying the speedy outfielder $20 million or more per year.

Longtime Mets owner and investor Fred Wilpon doesn't see Reyes receiving that type of contract from him or anybody else for that matter, especially with his injury history. "He's a racehorse. He thinks he's going to get Carl Crawford money. He's had everything wrong with him. He won't get it," Wilpon stated.

Reyes' injury history is the only reason that statement could hold true. Now in his ninth season, the three-time All-Star has only played in 150 games four times in his career, averaging 115 games per season. He missed 29 games last season after starting the year on the disabled list with a thyroid problem.

With similar career numbers, Reyes will
be seeking Carl Crawford type money
this offseason.

If Reyes can stay healthy there is no question he is one of the best shortstops and players in the game today.

He is currently the fifth highest paid player on New York with left-handed ace Johan Santana, who is out until mid-season recovering from surgery, is the highest at $22.5 million. He and Florida Marlins' shortstop Hanley Ramirez are tied for the third highest paid at their position, trailing only the Dodgers' Rafael Furcal ($13 million) and the Yankees' Derek Jeter ($14 million) for the top spot.

The Mets have the seventh largest payroll in baseball this season at $118.8 million, but might not have the money to resign Reyes at that price given the current financial situation of the organization and commitment that have made to other players.

New York in recent years have overpaid for players like Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran, and Francisco Rodriguez with the type of production they have received from each during their time with the club. This has handcuffed ownership and the organization putting them on the verge of bankruptcy.

It was reported in Febraury that Wilpon and the Mets were loaned $25 million from Major League Baseball last November to cover the day-to-day expenses of the team after facing a liquidity crisis.

The Mets would become the second team in last year to declare bankruptcy if they choose that route. The Texas Rangers were delcared bankrupt last May with the Los Angeles Dodgers and embattled owner Frank McCourt on the verge of following suit.

All that being said, Reyes, when healthy, is the most important piece to this franchise moving forward and need to find a way to keep him in Queens for the long haul.  With New York having other major contracts expiring at seasons end, this leaves the possibility they could do just that.

Beltran's seven-year $119 million contract he signed prior to the 2005 season expires at the close of '11. Rodriguez also finds himself in the final-year of the three-year $37 million deal he signed in December of 2008, giving the Mets some financial flexibility this offseason

All-Star third basemen David Wright is not a free agent until after next season, but his future with the team could directly linked to Reyes.

The Mets could lose Wright, left and Reyes,
right in consecutive years if they are not
careful.

Along with Reyes, Wright has been the face of the franchise since 2004. While together they have yet to appear in a World Series, they have drawn comparions to another great left side of the infield just a subway ride away. Reyes and Wright have been said to be the younger verision of Yankees' third basemen Alex Rodriguez and Jeter, who have also played along side one another since '04.

That is high praise for two players that have had their share of health issues.

However, like Reyes, Wright is only twenty-eight and if the Mets can find someway to keep these two together and healthy those comparions could be validated soon.

A lot depends on the way this team plays the rest of the season. The Mets, who are currently 35-38 and in fourth place in the NL East, could be prone to trade Reyes at the July 31st trading deadline if that doesn't improve. Cinninatti and San Franciso are looking too upgrade at shortstop and increase their chances of getting back to the postseason with Reyes looking to be the logical fit for both.

Whatever the future holds for Reyes, it's sure to be a bright one with the sun right above the horizon.

Beckett Returning to Form

Beckett's competitive fire is what has made
him an ace over his career.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett is starting to look like his old self, coming off the worst year of his 11-year career in 2010.

The hard-throwing right-hander was one of many Red Sox hampered by injuries a year ago and only made 21 starts, compiling 127.1 innings during that time. To go along with those numbers, Beckett was 6-6 with a 5.78 earned run average and a horrific 1.54 WHIP.

Beckett has been one of the more consist parts of the 2011 Red Sox team after they have gotten out of gate rather slow, starting the year 12-15, last in the American League East.

Beckett started the season with a rocky start in Cleveland only going five innings, allowing four earned runs, while striking out and walking four a piece and was saddled with the loss.

Since that time, Beckett has started four other games, going 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA. He has held opponents to a .169 average and struck out 32 batters compared to just nine walks. The turn around came in his second start of the year on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball against the hated rival New York Yankees. Beckett's career numbers against New York were anything, but good heading into the start. He was 10-7 with a 6.26 ERA in 22 career starts.

The fact that the Red Sox have averaged 6.0 runs per game in those starts has help translate to a winning record.

Last season, Beckett was even worse against the Yankees, posting a 1-2 record with a 10.04 ERA. He also allowed nine of the 20 home runs he gave up in '10 to the Bronx Bombers and surrendered a .339 average.

His first start against them this season was much different.

Beckett tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, while striking out 10 New York hitters. In his next two starts since then, Beckett went at least seven-plus innings and allowed two or fewer runs in both, striking out 14. In his most recent outing against the division rival Baltimore Orioles, he went six strong innings, but gave up four runs.

Only one conclusion can be drawn to Beckett's turn around and it belongs to team captain and longtime catcher Jason Varitek. Varitek is no longer the starting catcher in Boston and hasn't been the last two seasons, but is still one of the best game callers in Major League Baseball.

He might be the main reason why the Red Sox have seen this turn around with Beckett.

Varitek has caught Beckett four of his first five starts this season, posting a 2.17 ERA in those starts. The only start Varitek did not catch just so happens to be his only loss and worst start of the year against the Indians.

The veteran backstop is only batting .111 on the year, but his value to the Sox is so much more than offensive numbers and that is apparent with those statistics. Varitek is also the only catcher in Major League Baseball history to be behind the plate for four no-hitters and for that is highly regarded by his piers.

Beckett has put together a quite an impressive resume over his career and his ability to bounce back does not come as a surprise. The 6-foot-5 Texan was drafted first-round of the 1999 amateur draft by the Florida Marlins. Moving quickly through the system, Beckett was named America's Minor League Player of the Year back in 2001.

Shortly there after, he would go on and help the Marlins win their second World Series title in franchise history and would named the Most Valuable Player of the series, tossing a complete game shutout in the series-clinching Game 6 at Yankee Stadium back in 2003.

2007 was Beckett's best season statistically, winning a Major League-best 20 games and posting a 3.27 ERA. He would finish second in the AL Cy Young voting, losing out to Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia.

Although, Beckett would get the best of Sabathia that year in the postseason. With the Indians leading three games to one in the ALCS, the Sox would rally to win three straight to win the series, shocking Sabathia and Co.. It was that much sweeter for Beckett as the Red Sox beat Sabathia in the series' decisive seventh game.

Beckett would go on to help Boston sweep the Colorado Rockies in the World Series for their second championship in four years.

'Tek' as his teammates call him,
may be the secret behind
Beckett's resurgence.

The two-time All-Star would have a string of two consecutive Opening Day starts snapped earlier this season after manager Terry Francona decided to give left-hander Jon Lester the nod in Arlington to start the year.

Beckett has responded to the criticism with results and vengeance.

Since 2009, Beckett has struggled in the month of April, accumulating a 7.22 ERA. It was important for the Red Sox to see him to get off to a fast start and if he hadn't nobody knows where this team would be. Still only 30, Beckett is signed through the 2014 season after signing a contract extension prior to the of last season.

The Red Sox will need Beckett along with veteran John Lackey if they want to reach expectations they have set for themselves.

Once known as just a thrower, the Red Sox right-hander looks to have developed into a complete pitcher.

Beckett's next start is scheduled for Tuesday in Fenway Park against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a team he dominated April 21.

Watch out baseball, the hard throwing Texan looks to have returned, if he was ever gone.

The Legend of Sam Fuld

Fuld's unbelievable diving play on April
9th in Chicago.

When All-Star left fielder Carl Crawford signed a seven-year $142 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays knew they needed to find a replacement.

They signed veteran Johnny Damon to fill that void, but since has become the team's full-time designated hitter with the sudden retirement of Manny Ramirez. This opened the door for longtime journeyman Sam Fuld.

Fuld was acquired in the offseason from the Chicago Cubs in an eight-player deal centered around Rays' right-hander Matt Garza.

Surprisley, Fuld made the Rays' 2011 Opening Day roster out of spring training after batting .277 in Port Charlotte.

Major League Baseball got there first taste of Fuld on April 9 in a game against the Chicago White Sox. With the bases loaded, White Sox leadoff hitter Juan Pierre hit a ball down the right field line, Fuld sprinted from right-center all the way to the line to make a diving Superman, citrus catch and rob Pierre of an extra-base hit.

The legend of Sam Fuld was born.

Just two days later, Fuld would play his first career game at Fenway Park and it would be a memorable one.

With both teams off to slow starts the Rays pounded out 19 hits in a 16-5 victory against the rival Red Sox.

Lead by Fuld's four hits and first home run of the season, he came a single away from the cycle. In one of his final at-bats of the game, Fuld hit a ball towards the Green Monster and chose to cruise into second with his second double of the night rather than stopping at first to complete the cycle. Not to mention the two terrific plays Fuld made out in left field to rob multiple Red Sox of base hits.

Fuld's spectacular defensive plays have been a recurring theme on ESPN's Baseball Tonight Web Gems and Sportscenter's Top 10 Plays, with him becoming the recent human highlight reel. Rays' manger Joe Maddon has called Fuld's play in the outfield "fearless" while other suggest it as daredevil like play.

With a 4-1 victory over the White Sox Wednesday, the Rays run their record to 9-9, reaching the 500 mark for the first time after a 1-8 start. The Rays currently sit in second-place in the American League East, behind the 10-6 New York Yankees.

Despite Fuld being hitless in his last eight at-bats, he is still batting .344 on the young season with five runs batted in. That is more than we can say about the guy he placed at Tropicana Field as Crawford is batting only .149 in Boston's first 17 games.

It has been a struggle for Fuld to get here, but it looks as if he may have found himself a home.

After attending Philips Exeter Academy, Fuld decided to play college baseball at Stanford University. There he would break the College World Series record for hits with 24, a record set by Keith Moreland in 1975-76 with 23 hits on his own. Fuld was then drafted by the Cubs in the 24th round of 2003 amateur player draft, but chose not to sign.

A year later, Fuld was drafted yet again by Chicago, this time in the 10th round, and signed in July of 2004.

Fuld would make his Major League debut as a September call-up in 2007, but was never given the opportunity to be any everyday player in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. The 5-foot-10 outfielder is still only 29 and might have just caught a break while entering the prime of his career after a long and hard earned journey through the Minor Leagues.

The Rays will need the spark of a legend to continue if they want to repeat as AL East champions for the first time in franchise history.

Manny Being Manny

Ramirez had one hit in 17 at-bats
with the Rays in '11.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Manny Ramirez is calling it a career. Ramirez, who signed a one-year deal with the Rays this offseason, was batting .059 in five games with the team in 2011.

This does not come as a surprise with his recent struggles at the plate, but what does come as a shock is the reason why Ramirez is retiring.

According to Major League Baseball, there is a problem with Ramirez and the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Ramirez has chosen rather than completing and continuing the process under the Program to retire from baseball.

Ramirez, then with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was suspended 50 games by baseball in 2009 after testing positive for a female fertility drug. Even though the drug was not considered a steroid, it was commonly used by steroids users to restore their testosterone levels back to normal.

It is unclear what Ramirez has done to violate the Major League Drug Policy, but in any event Ramirez has opted for retirement.

A former first-round pick of the Cleveland Indians back in 1991, Ramirez quickly gained the reputation of one of the game's most feared hitters. In 19 seasons, Ramirez was a 12-time All-Star with a career batting average of .312. Prior to the start of the 2001 season, Ramirez left Cleveland, signing a eight-year $160 million deal to join the Boston Red Sox.

In 2002, Ramirez won the American League batting title with an average at .349. In 2004, Ramirez led the Red Sox to first World Series title in 86 years, being named the series' Most Valuable Player. His 555 career home runs ranks him 14th on the all-time list and finishes with 1831 career runs batted in.

Ramirez will always be remembered for his playful, yet sometimes idiotic antics. Which have commonly been know as 'Manny being Manny'. With Ramirez calling it a career we can finally look back on a wonderful, yet controversial career.

The 38-year-old outfielder is forever linked to performance-enhancing drugs, his numbers always tainted and now will begin the debate, will Manny ever be inducted in Cooperstown? We'll let you decide.