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JIM DONALDSON: Sign Schilling?

Here's hoping Big Schill enjoys playing for either the Indians, Angels, Phillies, D'backs, Cubs, Cards, Tigers, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, Brewers, or Padres -- the teams he says he'd consider, now that he's a free agent.

Good for him for not including the Yankees on that list.

The Red Sox are, of course, on the list, too -- perhaps even at the top. But, if it's going to cost them another $13 million for his services in 2008, as it did this season, then they should take a pass.

Schilling was only 9-8 overall during the regular season, and was just 3-6 after June 7th. He pitched well in the playoffs, relying on guts and guile. But he'll be 41 on Nov. 16, and those two attributes, admirable as they are, won't get him through all of the 2008 season.

Speaking of ''guts,'' Schilling wasn't in the best of shape when he showed up in the spring, and never did slim down the way the Sox had hoped.

The fact is that Boston doesn't really need him next year, with Clay Buchholz ready to step into his spot in a rotation headed by the sensational Josh Beckett, and including Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester and either Tim Wakefield or Julian Tavarez.

Sox GM Theo Epstein has a history of overpaying for players -- $70 million over five years for J.D. Drew; $36 million over four years for Julio Lugo; $51 million for the negotiating rights to Matsuzaka -- and he's going to have to overpay now if he intends to re-sign team RBI leader and World Series MVP Mike Lowell, who's sure to draw a big bucks offer from the Yankees.

But Theo shouldn't shell out for Schill.

Schilling will forever be a part of Red Sox history. They never would have won the World Series without him in '04, and his ``Bloody Sock" win in Game Six of the ALCS against the Yankees that year was unforgettable.

Now, unless he wants to take a pay cut (fat chance), Schilling should be history in Boston.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments 4

JIM DONALDSON: Can you believe it?

Driving around the other day, listening to sports radio, I heard a promo featuring Joe Castiglione's call of the Red Sox completing their sweep of the Rockies in the World Series.

''Can you believe it?'' he shouted.

It was the first time I'd heard the broadcast, because I was in Denver, covering the Series for the Journal.

And my answer to that question is, well: ''Yeah. Sure. Absolutely.''

What's so unbelievable about the Red Sox winning the World Series?

They won 96 games, tying the Indians for the best record in the majors. They had the second-highest payroll in baseball. They were favored to win in each of their three, postseason series -- against the Angels, Indians, and Rockies.

What I can't believe is that anyone, much less someone who'd seen the Sox play all season, would ask ''Can you believe it?'' after watching them dispose of the overmatched Rockies in four straight games.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments 2

Sox to bring back Wakefield, Tavarez; acquire minor-league outfielder from St. Louis; lose Kevin Cash to free agency

The Red Sox today exercised the 2008 contract options on righthanded pitchers Julian Tavarez and Tim Wakefield.

In addition, Boston has acquired outfielder Sean Danielson from St. Louis to complete the trade that sent righthanded pitcher Joel Pineiro from the Red Sox to the Cardinals on July 31.

Tavarez was 7-11 with a 5.15 earned run average in 34 games/23 starts for the Red Sox in 2007, his second season with the club. The righthander was 6-11, 5.22 in 23 starts and 1-0, 4.50 in 11 relief appearances. His 77 strikeouts were the second most of his career. Tavarez is 84-70, 4.42 in 734 career major league appearances.

Wakefield posted a 17-12 record and a 4.76 earned run average in 31 starts this season. He ranked second on the staff and eighth in the American League in victories, matching his career best, and was third on the club with 189.0 innings and 110 strikeouts. The righthander earned a decision in each of his first 26 starts, the longest such streak by a Red Sox pitcher since 1929 and was 4-1, 2.45 in August to earn team player of the month honors.

Wakefield is 168-146 in 511 career major league games and ranks second on Boston’s all-time list with 474 appearances and 337 starts. He was limited to one post-season start due to inflammation behind his right shoulder.

Danielson combined to hit .296 with four homers, 36 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 103 games with Single-A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield in the Cardinals organization. After beginning the year with a .355 average in 12 games at Palm Beach, the switch-hitter spent the rest of the season in the Texas League, batting .291 in 91 games. Danielson has a career .283 batting average with 61 stolen bases in 263 games in his three seasons in the St. Louis system. He led all Cardinal minor leaguers with a .407 on-base percentage and ranked second with a .342 batting average in his pro debut in 2005.

Danielson has been assigned to the Double-A Portland roster.

The Red Sox also announced that catcher Kevin Cash has elected free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket. Cash batted .111 with four RBI in 12 games with the Red Sox in 2007.

NOTES: Manny Ramirez will be one of Jay Leno’s guests on The Tonight Show this evening…David Ortiz will be appearing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien on Friday…Several members of the Red Sox organization are playing for Mesa in the Arizona Fall League…Catcher Dusty Brown has a .303 average in 10 games…INF Jed Lowrie is hitting .190 with one homer and 12 RBI in 15 games…RHP Jose Vaquedano has posted a 3.12 ERA in 7 appearances…In the Hawaiian Winter League, RHP Daniel Bard has a 0.75 ERA in 11 outings for Honolulu and RHP Jimmy James is 1-2, 3.68 in 5 starts…OF Jason Place has a .229 average with 3 homers in 17 games.

-- BOSTON RED SOX PRESS RELEASE

Posted by Art Martone  at 4:36 PM | Permalink

Farrell to return

John Farrell ended speculation about his leaving the Red Sox to accept a managing job by announcing today he will return as Boston's pitching coach in 2008.

''While I do have aspirations to manage in the Major Leagues in the future,'' Farrell said in a statement released by the team, ''my commitment to [owner] John [Henry], [chairman] Tom [Werner], [president/CEO] Larry [Lucchino], [general manager] Theo [Epstein], Tito [Francona] and the Red Sox needs to be greater than one year for their faith in hiring me as their pitching coach. Therefore, I have declined the opportunity to interview for the position of Pittsburgh Pirates manager. I look forward to contributing to and competing for another World Series title here in Boston.''

Posted by Art Martone  at 2:27 PM | Permalink

Video link: Papelbon on Letterman

In case you haven't seen it, here's a site that posts Jonathan Papelbon's interview on the David Letterman show earlier this week. The dancing closer made CBS glad that it uses a tape delay.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:29 PM | Permalink