We have had all winter to digest the debacle at Fenway.  Terry Francona and Bobby Valentine have essentially switched jobs.  Tito will work on ESPN, while Bobby V manages the Red Sox.  In the meantime, we’ve been further emotionally crippled by the Pats’ inability to beat the Giants.  We’ve seen the Celtics age before our very eyes, and we’ve been bludgeoned to death by Tebow mania and now Lin-sanity.  My question is- “Are you ready to love again/”

     It’s not quite Spring yet, but it is the time of year when ANYTHING is possible.  Anything.  Every man, woman and child has the chance to be happy.  You’ve been beaten up in the past.  We all have.  You can say “screw it!” or you can get back up on the horse.  I think I’ll choose to embrace the Sox again.  Give it another try.  My friend, “The Colonel”, was a Sox fan his entire life.  The Aaron Boone home run in 2003 was the last straw.  He announced a change of allegiance, to, of all teams, the Yankees.  He remained steadfast until the Sox ended their 86 year drought.  He wanted back in.  Too late.

     When you love something or someone, you want to be loved back.  Last season, the Boston Red Sox didn’t love us back. They cut us off at the knees.  They pulled the rug out from under us.  They “bonked” us over the head with a giant hammer.  You may not yet be ready to profess your love. I can’t blame you.  Proceed with caution. You don’t want to get clobbered again.  If you do love the Sox, don’t be afraid to stand on the rooftop and yell it out.  Certainly, there’s a risk.  But, how about the reward?  Sometimes in life, you have to play a hunch.  Go with your gut. The payoff could be the sweetest reward of all.  Getting loved back.  

     His book, “They Call Me Oil Can” is scheduled to come out this Summer.  Give Boyd credit.  He knew exactly how to whet the appetites of Red Sox fans.  Boyd admitted to cocaine use, down in Fort Myers, as fans, hungry for the latest about the Sox, were getting ready for the loaded equipment truck to go south.  Boyd was an average Major Leaguer in his 10 years in the “Show”.  He was 78-77 with an ERA around 4.00 through his career.  He claims a lot of things.  That he could have won 150 games if he was clean.  That “everyone” was doing it back in the ’80s.  That he did it in every city and every ballpark.  Says he was never tested.  Oddly, the lanky right hander claims that he has no regrets.  I tend to think that he’s lying.  If he had been clean and had won 150 games, it’s less likely that he’d be airing his own dirty laundry at this stage of his life.  Why else “come clean” for other than financial reward?

     Boyd played parts of four seasons in Pawtucket.  He notched 129 strikeouts to lead the club in 1983.  He twice struck out 15 players in a game while a member of the PawSox, a team record he shares with Jin Ho Cho.  One has to wonder if his bad habits began in the Big Leagues, or if he began cultivating them while he was on the road to the Majors.

     We knew about guys like Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden and Steve Howe.  I sat back and smiled smugly, content that none of “my” guys were ever incriminated.  What a joke.  First Roger Clemens and his steroid mess and now Oil Can and his admission.  What a 1-2 punch to the gut!  The Rocket is scheduled for trial next month and Boyd’s book hits the shelves this summer.  Hope they both get what they deserve.  

     I go back to when Dick Williams was managing at Fenway.  I vaguely remember Phil Bengston in Foxboro, but certainly remember the Chuck Fairbanks era.  Tom Heinsohn ruled at the Garden, after a Hall of Fame career and before he started his thirty plus year run with Mike Gorman.  While I was rooting for the likes of Yastrzemski and Plunkett, only Havlicek and, Cowens delivered.

     The first decade of the twenty first century will forever be known as the Glory Days.  We went from perennial losers to Title Town, USA.  I dare say we began to take it for granted.  My kids thought that this was the greatest place in the world to be a sports fan.  They love teams that I love.  Recently, they’ve gotten the cold reality that we endured for decades.  This year has been hard.  The September Swoon at Fenway. Titos’ dismissal.  The 21-17 loss to the Giants on Sunday and the realization that Coach Bill is not a genius.  Learning that Doc Rivers is only as good as his players.  There’s a very brief, fleeting window for success.  You only get so many chances.  Very quickly you go from hero, to someone whose supermodel wife has to defend you from her luxury suite.

     It doesn’t take long to get from the top of the heap to has-been.  From the NFL’s leading pass catcher to Super Bowl goat.  It’s frustrating, but it’s a part of life.  Can the Sox rebound after their epic collapse of 2011?  Will the Pats be able to re-tool, because as soon as Brady hangs up his cleats, let’s face it, all bets are off.  Will Danny Ainge start selling off pieces to contenders?  He was there the first time when Auerbach didn’t pull the trigger.

     I guess the hard times just make you appreciate the good times more.  I hope I’m wrong, but I get the sense that the hard times are just around the corner.

     Same holds true in baseball.  “Baseball America” puts out an annual list of the top prospects in all the organizations.  It is uncanny how quickly those prospects are jumbled.  The 2012 list has third baseman WIll Middlebrooks listed as #1.  Will is followed by shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Catcher, Blake Swihart, righty Anthony Ranaudo, and outfielder Bryce Brentz at #5.  Rounding out the top 10- outfierlder Brandon Jacobs, 3b Garin Cecchini, righthander Matt Barnes, Catcher Ryan Lavarnway and of Jackie Bradley.  A quick look back just one season shows an amazing amount of change in the top 10.

1.  Casey Kelly (rhp)  currently #3 San Diego prospect Adrian Gonzalez deal)

2. Jose Iglesias (ss)  hit .235 for PawSox in 2011.  31 rbi, 12 errors, turned 22 on 1/5/12

3.  Anthony Rizzo  (1b) currently #1 San Diego prospect (Gonzalez deal)

4.  Anthony Ranaudo (rhp) currently #4 Red Sox prospect (9-6, 3.97 at Salem/Greenville in 2011)

5.  Drake Britton (lhp) after 4 years in organization 4-18, 4.82 ERA,  in 2011 1-13, 6.91 

6.  Reymond Fuentes (of)  traded to Padres (Gonzalez deal) .275, 5, 45rbi, 41 sb (A ball)

7.  Josh Reddick (of) traded to Oakland for Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney.  In 184 games over parts of 3 seasons, Reddick had 32 home runs and 107 rbi for Pawtucket.  He will be 25 on Opening Day

8.  Felix Doubront (lhp) Doubront suffered through an injury plagued 2011 season, he was 2-5, with a 4.22 ERA for the PawSox.

9.  Stolmy Pimentel (rhp) went a combined 6-13, 6.79 (A/AA) 

10.  Garin Cecchini (3b) in 32 games at Lowell, the 20 year old hit .298, 3, 23 with 12 SB 

     Just a thumbnail sketch of how quickly things can change.  It is a lot of opinion and conjecture.  You can form your own opinions by coming out to the park and watching the PawSox.

     I’ll start with Steven Tyler.  The Aerosmith front man and American Idol judge sang the national anthem at Gillette Stadium on Sunday before the Patriots’ 23-20 win over Baltimore.  It wasn’t perfect, but because it was Steven, I loved it. I didn’t think much more about it until Monday when I started reading the reviews.  I found the criticism to be a little harsh.  Tyler, decked out in a very shiny Patriots scarf, is our guy.  The only “real” rock star from New England (with all due respect to Tom Brady).  Maybe the voice isn’t as powerful as it once was, but it is unmistakable.

     It reminded of one the best days I ever had. My brother Luke and I were able to secure tickets to Game 1 of the 2004 World Series.  We were like a couple of little kids as we made our way to Fenway.  There to throw out the first pitch was one of our childhood heroes, Carl Yastrzemski.  Yaz was right on target.  Tyler, who lives in Marshfield Mass., belted out the anthem and later that evening, American Idol, season 1 champion, Kelly Clarkson sang “God Bless America.”  I guarantee you, Kate Smith never looked so good, even on her best day.  Yaz, Steven and Kelly made it a special night.  Oh yeah, the 11-9 win over St. Louis was pretty special, too.  I don’t care if they have to wheel Tyler out there on a stretcher, the guy is a star.   By the way, where can I get one of those scarves?  I’d definitely wear it.

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     Boston Bruins goalie, Tim Thomas was not with the team as they visited President Obama to celebrate last seasons’ Stanley Cup championship over Vancouver.  The Bruins trekked to the nations’ capitol to visit with the President.  Thomas and defenseman Steven Kampfer were the only Americans on the squad.  On one hand, I find it to be disrespectful  As the sayng goes, “you don’t have to respect the man, but you must respect the office.”  Looking at the flip side, that is what’s great about being an American.  Freedom of Choice.  Bruins President, Cam Neely defended his star goalkeeper.  “Everyone has their own opinions and political beliefs and he chose not to join us.”  Such an occurence is not without precedence.  When the Red Sox travelled to Washington after the 2007 win over Colorado,  Manny Ramirez was a “no show.”  George W. Bush acknowledged his absence, quipping “I guess his grandmother died again.” 

     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.”  

     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.

     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.

     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.

     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.