There is a strange phenomena in minor league baseball.  I will call it the “Second Year Syndrome.”  This is how it works.  When a player, coach or manager returns for a second season to a team, for example, the PawSox, there is an automatic rise in the friendliness level towards the radio broadcaster.  Even if you weren’t especially close with the guy the previous season, it happens most of the time.  This unfolded on Friday night at McCoy Stadium during the annual Hot Stove event.  Hundreds of PawSox fans braved the cold to meet manager Arnie Beyeler and players Luis Exposito, Alex Wilson, Brandon Duckworth and Alex Hassan.  Expo and I got along well in 2011, but I was surprised when “Dapped me down” when we first saw each other.  A “Dap” is when you shake hands and put the other hand on the other persons back, pull them in closer to you and pat them on the back.  I was taught that term by former broadcast partner Raymont Harris, a running back from Ohio State who went onto a fine career with the Chicago Bears.

     It was great to see Arnie Beyeler again.  The skipper did a really good job in 2011, leading the PawSox to the I.L. North Crown.  He feels he has a decided advantage heading into this season. “Familiarity.  It’s been a lot more comfortable coming in here, knowing the people, knowing you, knowing the setup and just knowing what you are getting into.  Last year was new and all the challenges of everybody telling me how difficult it was going to be, Triple A with the older players.  I just hope we can duplicate the type of season we had last year.  It was a lot of fun.”

     Arnie hasn’t had much time to relax this offseason.  He managed in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, but he’s not complaining.  “I had a good time out at the Fall League.  That goes through the end of November.  Usually I get a little more “down time”.  Get into shape,  That hasn’t happened, but I had a great time out there, developing relationships with players and other people was great.  We had some good players out there. Top prospects from other organizations.  We had a good team.  We didn’t play too well, but it was a lot of fun” 

     As the Triple A manager for the Boston Red Sox, Beyeler worked closely with Terry Francona.  He hasn’t really had the opportunity to work yet with Bobby Valentine, but looks forward to the chance.  “Haven’t spoken with him yet.  I don’t even really know him.  I met him briefly last year while he was working an ESPN game, but that was it.  I’m really looking forward to developing a relationship with him and his new staff, working with those guys and learning from them, just like we did with Tito the last few years.  I’m going to miss Francona, because of the familiarity I had, but it’s going to be great picking a new guys brain and hopefully, broadening my horizons.”

     Beyeler is looking forward to Spring Training and the team he will bring up north for the season opener.  “I think we’ll be pretty much the same team we ended up with last year.  There’ll be new guys in town, free agents and guys like that.  These guys will get the chance to make a new first impression with the new staff in Boston.  Hopefully, these guys can repeat what we did last year and they can be successful, get the opportunity to go to the Big Leagues.  That’s what it’s all about.”  

     I have been happily reunited with my laptop computer, rescued and brought back from near-death by the good folks at NetCenergy.  How did our ancestors survive without laptops?

     First, let me thank the great people affiliated with the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in Saulsbury, North Carolina.  Executive Director Dave Goren, who incidentally used to cover the PawSox telephoned the other night to tell me that I had been named the Rhode Island Sportscaster of the year for  2011.  It is the third year in a row and the fifth time in the last 6 years I have won.  Very humbling, especially when you gather with the other winners at the annual convention in the Spring.  I want to congratulate my friend and colleague, Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times. “B-Mac” won his second consecutive Sportswriter of the year honor.  Thanks also to my I.L. broadcasting brethren who have called and sent notes.  Appreciate it.

     Was thrilled to see the Sox bring  catcher Kelly Shoppach back to the organization.  “Shop” was an I.L. All Star with the PawSox in 2004 and 2005.  He’s been in the Big Leagues since then.  Kelly is a talented hitter and very good defensive catcher.  He’s tough and has a nasty streak in him that should serve the Red Sox well.  

     In 2004, we were playing the Norfolk Tides and Scott Erickson was pitching for the visitors.  I mentioned on the air that he was in a relationship with former New England Patriots cheerleader and ex-Monday Night Football sideline reporter, Lisa Guerrero.  I also noted that she was once involved with former Pats quarterback, Hugh Millen.  No big deal, and common knowledge to any local sports fan.  I thought nothing of it until batting practice the next day.  I was sitting in the home dugout at McCoy when Shoppach and fellow catcher, Andy Dominique started harrassing me.  “Man, Hyder, that was some messed up stuff you were talkinjg about last night on the radio.” Shoppach confronted me.  I had no idea what he was talking about.  Dominique chimed in  “I better never hear you talking about any of our wives that way.”  I figured that one of them must have been in the clubhouse while I was talking about Erickson and Guerrero.  “You guys are nuts.” I defended myself.  “I didn’t say anything negative and it was all things that have been in the public.”  By now, a crowd of PawSox players began to gather around our argument and I knew I had better be able to defend myself, and win the argument or it could be a long season.  With baseball players, there’s a “pack” mentality involved, and a guy who wouldn’t say “boo” ordinarily, finds strength in numbers, so slowly the noise level began to escalate.

     Shoppach continued.  “Seriously, Hyder, you better never even mention my girls’ name on the air.”  I had a quick retort.  “You mean after last week when you had me say ‘hi’ to her during a game?”  That started the others laughing and teasing the burly catcher.  Shoppach replied.  “Y’all can laugh all ya want” he said as he dug in his heels.  “But I guarantee if I hear it, no way you’ll be able to broadcast the next night.”  The absurdity of his threat made me want to laugh.  No time to back down, now.  I had to win his respect and the respect of his teammates.  Every now and then you come up with the right answer at just the right time.  “Shopp- that may be so, but I guarantee you something, as well.  Ain’t no way you’ll be able to catch that night, either.”

     Everyone, including Kelly, broke into laughter, diffusing the situation.  Our relationship was solid from there on out.  As I said before, I am glad he’s back.

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     RIP Rick Hole.  The former head baseball coach and Athletic Director at my alma mater, Rogers High School in Newport RI passed away on Sunday after a long and courageous battle against illness.  Rick was my gym teacher who turned into a lifelong friend and mentor.  Every year the highlight of my trip to Spring Training in Fort Myers, was the time I’d spend with him and his wife Jackie.  I am really going to miss him.

     As badly as the 2011 season ended in Boston, in my mind it hardly compares to the anguish the fans of the Milwaukee Brewers are facing right now.  The MVP of the National League, Ryan Braun has allegedly tested positive for performance enhanching drugs and faces a possible 50 game suwpension.  Braun, the first Milwaukee MVP since Robin Yount in 1989 is appealing the findings.  There has never been a successful appeal in Major League Baseball.

     Imagine the face of the Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia.  How devastated would you be if he were the one?  Both are former Rookies of the Year and of course Pedey was the 2008 American League MVP.  Thank goodness it isn’t someone in a Boston  uniform.  We should know by now that you can’t tell what’s in a mans’ heart.  You can know someone and still have no idea what they are up to.  

     Bud Selig made a remark a couple of years back saying that drug testing in baseball was better than in any other sport.  He added that everyone from Ryan Howard to Ryan Braun was “clean”.  Rather ironic.  A friend asked me the other day if I would take the PED’s if I knew it would get me to the Major Leagues and bring me the millions of dollars that are part of the package.  It’s easy for me to say “no”, knowing that I will never be faced with that conundrum.  If I sit and think about it, though, I wonder.  Could I resist the temptation?  Toiling in the anonymity of the minor leagues is not easy.  I know.  I’ve been there for 11 years.  I’ve seen guys come and go with varying degrees of success.  I may be naive, but I like to think that they have all worked honestly and diligently, without the help of PEDs.  Tbat is not realistic.  Some guys have gotten the push they need from steroids or human growth hormones.  Some have been caught and others have gotten away with it.  Braun had never been implicated before.  Now he will forever have that cloud hanging over his head.  It is a bell that can’t be “unrung.”

     Baseball can’t afford to have one of its’ young stars involved in this.  We all hoped that the era was over with the likes of Clemens, Palmeiro, Bonds and McGwire.  I guess it isn’t.  Either lift the ban and let these guys take whatever they want and face the health consequences, or make it so painful and costly if they’re caught, that they feel it for years to come.  That may be the only way to clean up the game.

     The Veterans Commitee has seen fit to open the doors of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown to Ron Santo.  The late Cubs third baseman was voted in on December 5, 2011, almost exactly a year to the day that he died.  Santo has some good credentials.  He was a nine time All Star and a five time Gold Glove winner.  He managed just a .277 career batting average and his 342 career home runs are certainly impressive, but Hall worthy??  In my mind, Santo was given a push by former teammate Billy Williams, who no doubt influenced the other voters on the commitee.  I am not here to denigrate Santo, though.  I am just stunned by the lack of respect shown to Luis Tiant.

     I have written about the great El Tiante in this space before.  None other than Peter Gammons has said that Tiant is the best player not enshrined in the Hall.  As I said, Santo will be inducted, posthumously, this July.  I spoke to Tiant a couple of seasons ago about this very subject, and it isn’t something he’d be OK with.  “If those ****** vote me in after I’m dead, I swear I’ll come back and haunt them.”  I’m pretty sure he wasn’t kidding.  While Santo was the only one to receive the necessary 75% of the vote, Tiant was listed last with  Buzzie Bavasi, Ken Boyer, Allie Reynolds and Charlie Finley for receiving less than three votes.  The Veterans Commitee won’t vote again on Tiant for another three years.

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     Remember the movie starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, “Trading Places”?  There’s a new version starring Bobby Valentine and Terry Francona.  Essentially, the pair has flip-flopped jobs.  While Valentine has taken over as manager of the Red Sox, Tito has been hired by ESPN as a Sunday Night Baseball analyst and a member of the Baseball Tonight panel. 

     First caution flag of the Valentine era.  How poor is his judgement, assuming it’s true, wanting to add Bill Buckner to his staff?  The goat of the 1986 World Series, back in a Sox uniform???  No way.  While most politically correct people claim to have forgiven him, I don’t think there’s a Sox fan out there that would really want to see him back in town.  There are just too many good baseball guys out there to make Buckner a Sox coach.  It’s like Valentine is going to test the water and see just how far he can push.  Not a great idea and I think the Boston Brass has the good sense to realize it.  If this is he Valentine mindset, I worry.  I did say I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.  Since his hiring, all we’ve heard is how great he is.  As I tweeted the other night, if he is so great, why has he been out of the Major Leagues for so long?  We shall see.   And for the record, I still don’t forgive Buckner.

     OK, I admit it.  Bobby Valentine was not my first choice as manager of the Red Sox.  In fact, I wouldn’t have even interviewed the guy.  I looked at him as a re-tread, who’s been out of the Major Leagues for a decade.  To steal a line from Hall of Fame broadcaster, Dick Vitale,  this could be “The greatest comeback since Lazarus.”  Now, Valentine is my guy.  Because I am a Red Sox fan, and the Sox have chosen Valentine, he is my guy. 

     Jimmy Fallon said it best in the movie “Fever Pitch”. “Is there anything else you still care about that you cared about years ago?”  I’ve thought that one over many times and the answer is “no”.  A resounding “no”.  So when my team makes a decision, I will stick by them.  Since Valentine was named, pundits have come out of the woodwork, extolling the decision and his virtues.  I hope they are right.  Most of the opinions are no more important than mine, but one that I respect immensely, is that of Hall of Famer Peter Gammons.  Gammons makes a compelling argument that Valentine/Cherington can be a very successful relationship if both parties are going to make winning top priority.  Remember that Bobby V isn’t exactly inheriting a “bare cupboard”.  From May 1 to August 31, the Red Sox were the best team in baseball.

     I liken the hiring of Bobby Valentine to the election of President Obama.  He wasn’t my choice, but once elected, he became my President.  I want the best for him and the country.  I root for him.  After all, it helps all of us if he is successful.  So Bobby Valentine has my full support (not that it’s going to matter to him).

     Valentine being hired, meant that Torey Lovullo wasn’t.  I’m confident that at some point, the former PawSox skipper will manage in the Big Leagues.  He will be good.

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     One morsel of good news surfaced earlier this week.  Former Pawtucket manager and Boston first base coach, Ron Johnson has been hired as manager of the Orioles Triple A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides.  Dan Duquette, the new GM of the O’s also hired RJ to work for the Sox.  RJ replaces former IL MVP and Pawtucket/Boston catcher, Gary Allenson in Norfolk.  It will be great to see Johnson back in the IL.  Norfolk suddenly moves to the top of places I look forward to visiting as I go into my ninth season with the PawSox and twelfth season overall in the League.

     Why is it that the Red Sox are still the only team without a manager?  Should they have pulled the trigger on Dale Sveum, or was Sveum just the favorite of Theo Epstein, who eventually brought him to the Cubs.  Sveum, Pete Mackinin, Sandy Alomar Jr. and the rest of the candidates all seem like guys who could and would blend into the woodwork. Gene Lamont is another perfect example.  The 64 year old Lamont has managed in the Bigs before, without distinction.  Heck, I’d rather see the Sox skippered by Lamont from “Sanford and Son”.  He could put Grady and Bubba  on his coaching staff.  That would be fun.  Aunt Esther could sit right behind the plate, next to Jeremy Kapstein.

     It looks like Bobby Valentine is the leading candidate at the moment.  I don’t get that choice and honestly, unless someone has a compelling argument in favor of Bobby V, I don’t like it.  Ever since he came out of the clubhouse after an ejection, wearing a false mustache, I’v regarded him as a clown.  That’s not what the Red Sox need.  Players who’ve played for him have told me that it’s “always about Bobby”, meaning he craves the spotlight and will try to get his share.  I wouldn’t exactly call him a winner, either.  In 15 Major league seasons, he is just 45 games over the .500 plateau  (1117-1072) although he did win a Japanese World Series in 2005.

     Let this be a lesson to all you holiday shoppers.  If you wait too long, you only get the picked-over stuff.  In this case, I think the Sox were shopping at Wal-Mart, rather than Nordstrom.

     I’m thankful that Jacoby Ellsbury finished second in the A.L. MVP voting.  Well deserved.  Nobody’s yapping anymore about him and where he rehabs.  He shut everyone up.  I’ve always liked him and now he takes his rightful place among the elite players in baseball.  If you are to believe the balloting and in this case I do, Ells was the best position player in the American League in 2011.  I’m thankful he finished second, but I would’ve much preferred a first place finish.  I am not among those who believe that pitchers should be eligible for the award.

     I’m thankful that it is still 3 months before pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers for Spring Training.  Not ready.  Not yet.

     I’m thankful that the fiasco that was the September of 2011 is fading into the sunset.  Sure the guys will have to answer questions throughout the Spring and into the season.  Serves them right.  Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.  When you look at what’s going on at places like Penn State, a little chicken and beer doesn’t seem so bad.

     I am thankful for the Theo Epstein/Terry Francona years.  Yeah, it’s been 4 years since the Sox won the World Series, but it beats the heck out of 86 years.  Both guys left town on down notes, but they could go down as the best GM/Manager combo in Boston history.

     I’m thankful for the Jonathan Papelbon era in Boston.  It wasn’t always a sure thing, but it usually was.  It also was pretty exciting.  I will miss Pap staring down a batter and watching him blow it by him.  I will also miss the fist pump that invariably follows.  I hope all the people who said “let him go” are prepared for life after him.  Other than Mariano Rivera (gulp), Pap was the closest thing to a sure thing there is.

     I am thankful for the New England Patriots.  They make the winter much more tolerable.  They ease the sting of the Celtics not being around.  The NBA is making the mistake of a lifetime.  Fans are going to realize they can get along quite nicely without the millionaires in the baggy shorts.  Throw in the Bruins and College Basketball and you’re all set.

     I am thankful that there are three NFL games on Turkey Day.  Three is better than two.  It’s three more hours you don’t have to make idle chatter with relatives.

     I am thankful for the 2011 season we enjoyed with the PawSox.  20 games over .500 is pretty good.  I’ll take that every time.  Woulda been a little more thankful if the big boys hadn’t raided the cupboard as the postseason began.  I’m also grateful to the PawSox fans who come out to McCoy every night, or listen on the radio and internet.  I’m thankful for the relationships I have with our players, staff and their families.  The feedback via e-mail or snail mail is always appreciated.

     Last but not least, I am thankful for my family and friends.  They may be a crazy bunch, but you couldn’t ask for a more supportive group.  I am thankful that my mother thinks that I am better than Bob Costas.  (She’s been saying it for so many years, I think she really believes it)  I bow to the great Costas, one of my broadcasting heroes, by the way.  I’ll be really thankful if she decides not to make carrots and turnips on Thursday.

     Happy Thanksgiving, and save me a leg!

     I am certain I have spoken out before about my feelings about the knuckleball in general and Tim Wakefield, in particular.  I hate the knuckleball.  I don’t hate Wakefield, but it’s time to call it quits.  Wakefield is 45 and well beyond his best days.  In 2011, he went 7-8 with an ERA of 5.12.  I guess it didn’t look that bad in comparison to Jon Lackey.  Anyway,  we all kept vigil as he arduously stumbled and bumbled to his 200th win.  He finally got it and I figured maybe he’d ride off into the sunset.  No chance.  His agent says he wants to return to Boston for 2012.

     Barry Meister is his agent and he is lobbying for Wakefields’ return.  “It would be a shame if he didn’t pitch for Boston.”  I, and thousands, maybe millions of Sox fans disagree.  Maybe he wasn’t chugging beer and chowing down on fried chicken, but he wan’t much help either.  We’ve seen what he can do.  Been there, done that.  As it turns out, it would have been better to watch Kyle Weiland, Alex Wilson or Felix Doubront cut their Major League teeth.  Gracefully bow out.  Meister claims, he can find a home in the National League and win “15 games.”  Highly unlikely, considering he has won that many games only 4 times in 19 years.

     Although his 2 million dollar salary may seem paltry by todays’ standards, where else will he make that kind of dough?  Everything about his desire to stay is selfish.  He is 6 wins short of tying Cy Young and Roger Clemens all time Red Sox record for victories.  Really, does he belong on the same line as Young and the now-disgraced Clemens?  Not even close.  Yeah, 200 wins is special.  How about the 180 losses.  Play golf, go fishing.  Just go.  His agent says “He wants to win.”  Wow, really?  And how does that set him apart from anyone else?  I love to win, but the Sox aren’t going to let me go out there and pitch.  I could have lost nearly 200 games for them over the last couple of decades if they let me.    

     The Sox let Papelbon go.  Why not cut ties with Tim Wakefield.  Does he have pictures?  I respect the tradition of the Red Sox.  Hey,  it would be fun to have Carl Yastrzemski back.  A 72 year old leftfielder would be perfect with the ancient knuckler.  Nonetheless, it is up to management.  Do the right thing.  A gold watch, a car, whatever it takes to make Wake go away.  A baseball funeral for Wake.   If Ben Cherington  re-signs him, he may deserve a rap on the knuckles.

     I mentioned in my last post that Torey Lovullo was pleased to at least be mentioned as a managerial candidate for the Red Sox.  Well, it’s gone a couple of steps further.  Lovullo, who managed the PawSox in 2010 is supposed to be in Boston on Friday to interview for the spot vacated by Terry Francona.

     I am a little biased.  I spent an entire season with the man and I honestly respect and like him very much.  I have admitted to being nervous when he replaced Ron Johnson as the manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox.  RJ had been there for 5 years and it was comfortable.  We had a system, a routine and there was  no way Torey could fill his shoes.  I was dead wrong.  Torey Lovullo not only had my respect, but you could tell that every man in that clubhouse respected him, as well.  Torey has a no-nonsense approach.  He completely understands the game and more importantly, the players.  I believe he distinguishes himself in that regard.

     Lovullo might be the perfect man for the job.  A former player, still young and in touch at age 46, yet brought up in an Italian household, where his father Sam, the legendary executive producer of “HeeHaw” reigned with the right measure of discipline and compassion.

     A couple of “nuggets” that long-time readers and listeners may remember that I’m certain my colleagues will start writing about after they read this.  

1.  Torey once played basketball with Elvis Presley in the “Kings” driveway.  The Lovullo family stopped at Presleys’ Palm Springs home, and the bored young Torey went outside to shoot hoops.  Presley joined him.

2.  Lovullo graduated from Montclair College Prep High School, in Van Nuys California.  Other notables from MCP include Michael Jackson, Cher, Frank Sinatra, Jr. and Eve Plumb (Jan from the “Brady Bunch”) 

3.  In high school, Lovullo dated the daughter of legendary singer Barry White.

4.  Torey is enshrined in the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

5.  When on the field, he ties his shoe laces in a double knot, an homage to the late John Wooden, who coached basketball at UCLA while he was a student on campus.

     None of those things will help him get the job, but  his other attributes should.  Lovullo goes way back with Ben Cherington and Mike Hazen.  He has an in depth knowledge of the system and the respect of the players.  He will be a Major League Manager some day.  It’s a big decision for the Sox, one that will define Cheringtons’ tenure.  I think it’s a good calculated gamble.  Even if Torey is a Los Angeles Lakers’ fan.