Red Sox World Series Film Is A True Keepsake

The Official 2013 World Series Film (Lionsgate and A&E Entertainment) is now out on DVD. FenwayNation was fortunate enough to get an early copy of the DVD and—trust us—this is one you are going to want to get. Somehow, the 2013 World Series Championship had an extra compelling aspect to it—simply because it was so totally unexpected. That element jumps out in this film in little post-season turning points—like Mike Napoli (previously 0-6 with 6 Ks in the ALCS) taking Justin Verlander deep in a scoreless Game 3. How about John Lackey's head-to-head battle with Verlander in the same game? Or, Shane Victorino's 0-2 salami in ALCS clinching Game 6?  In World Series Game One, Jon Lester had a bases-loaded one out jam and gets a come-backer to start a 1-2-3 double play. A 21-year old Xander Bogaerts getting two huge hits in "ObstructionGate" Game Three of the World Series. Jonny Gomes' three-run jack (subbing for Victorino) in World Series Game Four. Felix Doubront and Lackey tossing zeroes in relief —also in Game Four. Unexpected—but they all happened. Just like the championship itself. About the only unexpected aspect of the post-season was the performance of David Ortiz. Most importantly, this film is brimming with the emotional commitment of each and every team member to a city that was scarred so badly on Marathon Monday. Looking back, it couldn't have turned out any other way. Boston—and Red Sox—Strong. You gotta get this DVD. Get it HERE.

Michael Young Has Reached Out To Red Sox

Coming To Fenway?

Hall Of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons has Tweeted that Michael Young has reached out to the Red Sox this off season. According to Gammons, the 37-year old free agent has also put out feelers to the Baltimore Orioles. Young would actually be an interesting fit for both teams in 2014. He could serve as a back-up third baseman to Will Middlebrooks and also fill-in at first and DH from time to time. Last year, Young hit a combined .279 between Philadelphia and the Dodgers—with a .335 OBP. The seven-time All-Star would also fit the "character" brand the Red Sox are trying to maintain.

Our Choices If We Had A Hall Of Fame Vote

The announcement of the 2014 Hall of Fame ballot revealed a bevy of worthy candidates. The great Braves tandem of Maddux and Glavine are clearly going to sail in, but many others—in our view—also deserve induction. Without getting into the tedious arguments for and against, here are our choices for the Hall (if we actually had a vote): 1.) Greg Maddux, 2.) (Billerica's) Tom Glavine, 3.) Frank Thomas, 4.) Curt Schilling, 5.) Lee Smith, 6.) Edgar Martinez, 7.) Tim Raines, 8.) Alan Trammel. While we can also see strong cases for Mike Piazza and Jack Morris, we're keeping our choices down to these elite eight.

A-Rod Ramps Up Preposterous MLB Lawsuit

Way To Go, Bud!

The Fraudulent One has hit a new low. Alex Rodriguez and his legal team have "amended" their lawsuit against Major League Baseball—now claiming that Commissioner Bud Selig decided to "hide" in Milwaukee (not hard to do, by the way) to avoid testifying at The Centaur's doping hearings. Team A-Fraud claims in the new documents that Selig "lacked the courage" to come to New York for the proceedings and was taking a "cowardly stance" toward the matter. And then, they dragged out the most ridiculous claim of all—that Selig deliberately posed with a fan wearing an "A-Roid" t-shirt. Have they no shame?

Cubbies Rip-Off Yawkey Way 'Fan Mall' Concept

Apparently, Theo Epstein is suffering from Pedestrian Mall Envy. The City of Chicago—in an apparent effort to increase the already high level of violence—is allowing the Cubs to sell beer and wine in 'kiosks' outside 99-year old Wrigley Field. Fans would be allowed to "bring drinks in plastic cups to the plaza" on Clark Street outside the stadium. But the Cubbies got a deal even sweeter than the Red Sox could extract from their good buddy Mumbles. Mayor Rahm Emanuel (formerly of the Obama 'brain trust') is also allowing the plaza to operate year-round, even when the Cubs are on the road. No wonder the residents of Wrigleyville have cynically named the mayor Cubs 2013 MVP. And you think politics is corrupt in Boston!

Twinkies, Rockies, And Jays On Salty Watch

Previously, we reported on Minnesota's interest in free-agent Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Prior to the signing of Brian McCann, there had also been rumblings that The Evil Ones were keen on Salty. Now—according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman—Colorado and Toronto are in the mix as well. With the pool of available backstops dwindling (Boston had designs on both McCann and Carlos Ruiz) the Red Sox might have to revisit a deal with Salty. The problem is he's looking for a three-year pact, and Boston is still risk-aversive enough to shy away from anything beyond two years. If that's the case, there may be a Dioner Navarro or an A.J. Pierzynski in your Christmas stocking this year.

Desperate Mariners Target Napoli And Ellsbury

Headed Together To The Great Northwest?

The Seattle Mariners are desperate. They need to establish a winning atmosphere that will attract attention and talent to the Pacific Northwest. GM Jack Zduriencik is on thin ice—not that any ice actually ever forms in Puget Sound. Still, he needs to create a buzz and—according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal—he's doing that by going after (among others) Mike Napoli and Jacoby Ellsbury. There is cash to spare in StarbucksLand, and Jack is ready to spend it. If he did land Boston's two top free-agents, it would significantly bolster an offense that has about as much sock as a sock-eyed salmon. Ellsbury might just take the 'bait'—being from neighboring Oregon. But 'hooking' Napoli would be a little more difficult. Maybe they can recruit him with a band of bearded lumberjacks. Sorry for all the lame Seattle references, but it's raining like heck here in Boston today.

Nine Former Red Sox On Hall Of Fame Ballot

A total of nine players who played for the Boston Red Sox appear on the 2014 Hall of Fame ballot. The nine are: Hideo Nomo, Mike Timlin, Todd Jones, Eric Gagne, Sean Casey, J.T. Snow, Lee Smith, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. Former Sox top prospect Jeff Bagwell—who was traded for Larry Andersen before he ever played a game for Boston—also appears on the ballot. In our view, the only Red Sox players on this list that deserve enshrinement are Schilling and Smith.

Lucchino: Expect Some Change To Sox Roster

(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino—appearing at the premiere of the World Series film—made it clear that the team will not "fall in love" with veterans on the roster. Clearly, this is a signal to The Nation that there will be significant roster changes from the team that won the 2013 World Championship. Using his ever colorful prose, Lucchino made a curious transportation reference, "I learned a long time ago you can’t fall in love with your veterans. That’s not the way to run a railroad. We’re not going to be a stand-pat team. That’s not the way we’re going to run the railroad here. I think that’s a losing proposition. Every year [a team] has got to have its own personality. Every year will have a different personality, and by personality, I mean composition, not just personality." And in case you think Boston will sacrifice some future prospects in a big free-agent signing, take this to the bank, "We still value draft picks enormously."

A Look Back At Top Catchers In Red Sox History

by Larry Shiman, FN Board Member

With the hot stove league yet to get warm, and no games to agonize over, it’s a good time to look back. Bob Ryan wrote a column a few days ago listing his top 25 Red Sox of all time. It’s a fun list, although I’ll certainly take issue with a few selections.

A Case For Putting Shoeless Joe In The Hall

by Mark Lawrence, Down Under Editor

Sydney, Australia. Recently, I and other members of the Internet Baseball Writers’ Association of America were asked to nominate candidates for Hall of Fame consideration under a Veterans-style system – acknowledging those players whose stats might not have propelled them to the forefront of baseball history, but whose actions have had some significant impact on the game’s history itself.

Top 10 Reasons To Be Thankful For The '13 Sox

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it's only fitting that we pause and revel in our good fortune as Red Sox fans. The 2013 World Series Championship was the very definition of the "pleasant surprise" in sports. Herewith, the Top 10 Reasons To Be Thankful For The 2013 Red Sox:

10. The opportunity to mock wise-guy bloggers like the editors of FenwayNation for picking Boston to finish fourth in the AL East.

9.  The ability to show up at work on Mondays with a scraggly three-day growth and get away with it by telling your boss you're bonding with Mike Napoli.

8.  The chance to use Dustin Pedroia as a role model for your kids—since, despite severely injuring his thumb on Opening Day, he played through the World Series without a peep.

7.  Two words: No Valentine.

6.  Four Words: No Chicken And Beer.

5.  The chance to get really good at spelling: Saltalamacchia.

4.  The opportunity to replace smelly 2004 and 2007 commemorative hats with fresh 2013 hats.

3.  Having a clinching radio call by Dave O'Brien and not another 'can you believe it?' from Joe Castiglione.

2. One Word: KojiMania.

And the number one reason to be thankful for the 2013 Red Sox:

1. A full year of displaying "you-know-what-eating" grins to your Yankee fan friends.

Evil Empire To Cano: "Take It Or Leave It, Pal"

(AP Photo)

In what amounts to an ultimatum, the New York Yankees are telling Robinson Cano that their 7-year, $160+ million offer has a limited shelf-life. Concerned that free agents are flying off the board while Jay Z dithers, The Bronx Embalmers want to add others—besides Brian McCann—to their free agent pile. Of course, Jay Z and Cano are still of the opinion that the second baseman will get a 10-year, $310 million deal. Unfortunately for them, that will not happen on this particular planet. All the talk that things will 'work out' between Cano and The Pinstriped Posers seems to be a bit premature. No matter how many free agents The Evil Ones add (they're likely to ink Carlos Beltran soon), losing Cano would be a real body blow to their image and their chances of becoming relevant again.

Mike Napoli On Boston: 'I Do Want To Play Here'

(Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

In an interview with WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, Mike Napoli once again made clear his desire to stay in Boston. Said Napoli: "I’m just being patient, seeing my options. I do want to play here. You just have to go through that whole process and see what’s going to go on." What are the chances of him playing first base again for The Carmine Hose?: "I’ve got a great relationship with Ben [Cherington] and this whole organization. Hopefully it will come down to something where I come back here. But it’s part of the process. Some teams have needs. Of course I’m going to have my ears open. That’s part of free agency." After the World Series, Napoli had additional MRIs done on his troublesome hips, but results showed no changes—and perhaps some improvement.

REPORT: Carlos Beltran Next Evil Empire Target

After signing Brian McCann to a five-year, $85 million contract, reports suggest that Carlos Beltran is the new priority of The Pinstriped Posers. Moreover, Beltran has sent back the love to The Bronx Embalmers—letting it be known that he wants to perform at The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street. So, the only stumbling block appears to be the difference between a two- and three-year deal. Let the Love-In continue! Get a room!

Sox Equipment Truck Will Roll In Just 74 Days!

(Boston Herald Photo by Angela Rowlings)

In a little more than 74 days, the Red Sox equipment truck will slowly roll down Yawkey Way and head to jetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida. The February 8th journey will be a lot different from years' past—as the glow from World Series Championship Number Eight will still be fresh in our minds. You can follow the progress toward this glorious date on the main homepage of FenwayNation.com. Just look on the right-side navigation bar every morning for our "Truck Day Countdown" clock and let the anticipation grow!

Sox And Halos Could Hook Up In Trumbo Deal

Mark Trumbo

According to multiple sources—including the Globe's Nick Cafardo—the Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Orange County; California; United States of America; Earth; Milky Way Galaxy may be in line to make a trade. If Mike Napoli moves on, Boston might go after first-baseman (and future DH) Mark Trumbo. Now, Cafardo also throws out the name of "power reliever" Kevin Jepsen as a possible Red Sox target. The Angels—who have made horrible off-season moves so far—are still looking for starting pitching (of which Boston has a surplus). The 29-year old Jepsen was 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 2013. Trumbo—who will turn 28 in two months—hit just .234 last year, but clouted 34 HRs and knocked in 100 runs.

A-Rod Greeted As Hero On Streets Of New York

(AP Photo/David Karp, File)

Perhaps the most disgusting aspect of the slimy Alex Rodriguez arbitration hearings is the acclaim he's getting on the streets of New York City. According to The Fraudulent One, his time in Manhattan attending the hearings has be one big Centaur Love-Fest: "Today was nuts. The support has been overwhelming in the streets today. People were jumping out of their f---ing cars. I been coming to N.Y. for 20 years and, including 2009, I have never had a more positive reaction in the streets. I couldn't believe this s---." Neither can we. By the way, the delusional A-Fraud still thinks he'll skate on the 211-game suspension. Here's how he summed up the case made by his bevy of ambulance-chasers: "We crushed it. They [MLB] had nothing.'' Whatever. His flunky flaks are already talking about an injunction to stop any suspension that comes down from arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. What a great group of role models! Or, at least the citizens of New York think so.

John Henry Set To Dump Worcester Newspaper

According to several reports, Red Sox principal owner John Henry is about to lower the boom on the largest newspaper in Central Massachusetts. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette was sort of the Nick Punto of Henry's $70 million deal to buy The Boston Globe.  Now, reportedly, Henry wants to sell the paper to a New York-based company that owns multiple second-rate regional newspapers. Of course, one could argue that the Globe is fast becoming a second-rate rag—or might actually already be there. Henry isn't exactly William Randolph Hearst yet—or even the fictitious Charles Foster Kane—but he sure looks like he's enjoying playing with his toy box full of moribund newspapers.

Red Sox Not Budging From Two-Year Salty Offer

(AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

According to multiple reports, the Red Sox are not moving off their standing offer of a two-year deal to free-agent catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. With The Evil Ones signing Brian McCann to a five-year deal, Salty's value has risen sharply. Some reports have him signing a three-year pact with the Twinkies. However, Boston seems intent on using 2014 as a stop-gap season with David Ross and another backstop like A.J. Pierzynski or Dioner Navarro. With several talented young catchers in the minors—all not far from Fenway—the Red Sox can afford to be a bit cavalier with Salty.

Sox Hero Bill Mueller Is New Cubs Hitting Coach

(Exclusive FenwayNation Photo)

If you can line a shot into centerfield against Mariano Rivera to score the biggest run in Red Sox history, you can probably handle coaching Cubbie hitters. Bill Mueller, who plated Dave Roberts in 2004's ALCS Game Four, will—according to USAToday's Bob Nightengale—become the new hitting coach for Theo Epstien's Cubs. In awarding Mueller our inaugural 'First Citizen' Award in 2005, we said the following: "Since becoming a Red Sox Player in 2003, Bill Mueller has demonstrated the 'Quiet Class' that all of us in the Nation instinctively want in players who wear Red Sox 'laundry'. He does his job day in and day out without fanfare. In the process, he has become one of the most reliable players in recent Sox history—and a clutch performer with few peers. The game-tying hit in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, the season-turning home run off Mariano Rivera in the 'Brawl Game' of 2004, and an amazing batting average with the bases loaded in 2005 (.526)." Congratulations, Bill!

Sox Obtain RHP Burke Badenhop From Brewers

The Red Sox have made a trade! Hold your horses, it's not Matt Kemp coming to town yet. However, one Burke Badenhop (not to be confused with Boris Badenof) will be on the way to Fenway from the Brewers. Boston sent 20-year old LHP Luis Ortega to Milwaukee for the right-handed reliever. Historically, Badenhop has had great success against righties—holding them to a .229 average last year. It remains to be seen where or whether Badenhop fits into Boston's bullpen plans.

Red Sox Have Inquired About Dodger Matt Kemp

According to the Globe's Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox have made trade inquires with the Los Angeles Dodgers about Matt Kemp. The centerfielder is coming off two sub-par, injury-plagued years, but has been a powerhouse offensive force in the past. Obviously, Boston may need to replace Jacoby Ellsbury in the outfield and Kemp would certainly be an intriguing—if unexpected—option. Kemp has six years and $130 million left on his contract—but presumably, Magic Johnson would eat a big portion of that tab in any deal.

Big Papi Beard Bid On eBay Nearing $5,000

When the Gillette company announced they would be auctioning off Red Sox beard clippings for charity, we all knew it would be a success. As of this afternoon, a clipping of World Series MVP David Ortiz's beard is fetching nearly $5,000 on eBay. Being sold as "2013 Championship Beard Balls", the items will surely help out the targeted charity—Movember. It's a global charity that "gets men to grow, and women to support, the moustache for the 30 days of November while raising funds and awareness for men's health to combat prostate and testicular cancer." When you shell out your five grand for a Big Papi hairball, you also receive "the actual Fusion ProGlide Styler used in the shave and a card of authenticity signed by Big Papi himself." What more could you ask for under the Christmas Tree?

Gammons' A-Rod Apology For Bomber Remark

(FenwayNation Photo)

Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons has apologized (via TWITTER) to Never-Get-In-The Hall-Of Famer Alex Rodriguez for comparing the actions of the Yankee third baseman to the "marathon bombers". The exact quote on Mike Lupica's radio show was, "...[A-Rod] wants to blow up the world. You know, he's like the marathon bombers. It's just, he's going to get them." On TWITTER, Gammons stated, "Stupidly worded comp of blowing up a process. He is owed, and gets my apology for mispeaking [SIC]...Alex would never hurt a human. I hope I haven't hurt him."

Manny Ramirez (Jr.) At Univ. Of San Francisco

(USF Dons On TWITTER)

There will be at least one Manny Ramirez playing baseball in North America next year. Manny Ramirez, Jr. yesterday signed to play first base for the University of San Francisco. The 18-year old transferred from Central Arizona College. He is 6'4" and 215 pounds and looks remarkably like his Dad—who played part of last year in Taiwan. At IMG Academy, Ramirez, Jr. hit .331, with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HRs and 36 RBIs. As a high school senior, he hit .361. Just another Manny being Manny.

John Henry Named In Class-Action Lawsuit

(Getty Images)

Red Sox principal owner John Henry has been named (along with many others) in a "consumer" class-action lawsuit that claims MLB and TV providers (like Henry's NESN) violated the federal Sherman Anti-Trust Act by entering into anti-competitive deals that restrict the viewing of "home team" live games over the Internet and TV. The suit alleges that so-called "co-conspirators" (MLB and owners like Henry) agreed to "divide the live-game video presentation market into exclusive territories, which are protected by anticompetitive blackouts." Henry's legal response has been to call the suit a "fishing expedition" and has filed motions to block his testimony and the turning over of years worth of financial records for the Red Sox and NESN. Some believe that the suit is—in fact—a 'Trojan Horse' to force a grander discussion of why baseball is the only sport with an anti-trust exemption. In any event, Henry is right at the center of the action. This should start to get interesting in December—when court proceedings resume.

Union Chief Michael Weiner Passes Away At 51

Michael Weiner, who took over the reins of the Major League Baseball Players Association just four years ago, died yesterday of complications associated with an inoperable brain tumor. He was 51 years of age. Weiner's laid-back style was a stark contrast to the more formal demeanor of his predecessor Donald Fehr. Weiner had many connections to New England—including attendance at both Williams College and Harvard Law School. He was on the union's legal staff during the 1994-5 strike and was instrumental in the 'Grand Bargain' settlement that created labor peace in 1997. His courage during his 15-month illness was typified by the following quote: "I don't take any day for granted. I don't take the next morning for granted. What I look for each day is beauty, meaning and joy, and if I can find beauty, meaning and joy, that's a good day." He will be missed by everyone in baseball.

Sox Net $307,322.68 Postseason Winner's Share

Postseason winner's shares for 2103 were announced on Thursday by Major League Baseball. The World Series Champion Boston Red Sox were awarded 58 full shares—each worth $307,322.68. The National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals were awarded 56 full shares—each worth $228,300.17. The full pool of $62,683,966.80 was split among the 10 postseason teams. For comparative purposes, the New York Yankees were awarded 0 shares—each worth $000,000.00. Just sayin'.

Trailer For Official 2013 World Series Film

Official World Series DVD Released November 26

Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release the Official 2013 World Series Film on DVD and Blu-ray on November 26th. The film provides comprehensive highlights, exclusive access and interviews, and breathtaking footage capturing the thrilling story of the Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series championship! The film is loaded with bonus material that includes clinching celebrations, the ‘This Beard Came Here to Party’ Music Video and much more! FenwayNation will be reviewing the film soon. We will also be holding special FN Trivia Contests over the next few weeks with the DVDs given away to readers as a special memento of the great 2013 season. Log on often to get your chance to win! You can get more information on the film HERE.

Sox Open Against Northeastern On Feb. 27th

Talk about your short off-season! The Red Sox announced today that Spring Training tickets for home games at jetBlue Park in Fort Myers will go sale on December 7th—just 16 days from now. Moreover, pitchers and catchers report on February 15th—a mere 86 days from today! The first actual live baseball action will take place on Thursday, February 27th against the Northeastern University Huskies at 1:05 PM. Shockingly, the first two games with MLB opponents will come against the Minnesota Twins. Go figure.

Impact Of Fielder Trade On Napoli And Ellsbury

(Getty Images)

The blockbuster trade that sent Prince Fielder to Texas and Ian Kinsler to Detroit is not just an isolated swap between extra-divisional rivals. The transaction is likely to have an impact on the Red Sox in many different ways. First, the market for first baseman Mike Napoli has now shrunk—as Texas no longer needs to fill that spot. Since Detroit will likely move Miguel Cabrera from third to first, Motown—on the surface at least—is also an unlikely landing spot for Napoli. But, the Tigers still need to add a bat to compensate for the loss of The Big Veggie, so keeping Carbrea and third and getting Napoli to play first might be an option. Despite eating a lot Fielder's remaining salary, Texas is still looking for more—and the addition of Jacoby Ellsbury could dramatically transform the top of their lineup. Another Red Sox target—Brian McCann—is seen by most to be a perfect fit in Arlington as well. So, all in all, one big trade might have lots of ramifications for The Carmine Hose.

RareInk Adds Another Sox World Series Print

Recently, we told you about two great Red Sox-related art prints by RareInk. Now, that company is offering another great World Series print (see pic)—authorized by Major League Baseball. Famed rock poster artist Srojo has created a commemorative piece capturing each of the "Band Of Bearded Brothers" who brought home the franchise's 8th world championship. This classic art piece is available in limited edition fine art prints, stretched canvases and on metal.  Scrojo is an artist, illustrator and graphic designer from San Diego. With over 1,500 unique concert posters under his belt, Scrojo's name has become synonymous with San Diego's live music scene. His major corporate clients include Nike, Walt Disney and MTV. You can order it HERE.

Get The All-New 2014 FenwayNation Calendar!

It's just out and just in time for Holiday giving! The new 2014 FenwayNation Calendar. It's chock-full of brand new, exclusive photos (one each month) from the 2013 Championship Season. You cannot get these photos anywhere else! You'll get photos of the DuckBoat Rally, game action, hidden spots at Fenway Park, and even an up close and personal view of The Laser Show! Relive all the glory of Ring # 8 during every month of 2014. Order your copy today HERE.

Red Sox Finalize 2014 Forty-Man Roster Today

As expected, the Red Sox added Bryce Brentz, Anthony Ranaudo and Garin Cecchini to the 40-man roster today—purchasing their contracts. Today was the MLB-mandated deadline to finalize rosters for 2014. Players left off the roster—and who are eligible—can be subject to December's Rule 5 Draft and can be snatched by other teams.

Sox Take World Series Trophy To Little Rhody

The Red Sox are bringing the new World Series trophy to Rhode Island today. The City of Providence will host a Red Sox Rally at 3:30 PM and the trophy will be on display for fans from 4PM to 7PM at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The event is free and open to the public. Reportedly, Wally The Green Monster will be there to greet kids—although it's not clear if any players will be present. Ogle away, fans!

A-Rod Storms From Hearing With Fake Outrage

(Photo: Umar Abbasi)

This guy really takes the cake. Alex Rodriguez "stormed" out of his juicer grievance hearing in New York today, full of phony outrage in what is—in our humble opinion—a planned stunt by his handlers. After the arbitrator refused to force Bud Selig to directly appear at the hearing, A-Fraud slammed his hand on the table, pointed at MLB COO Rob Manfred and said, "This is f------ bull----!" and stormed out of the room. "This is ridiculous", cried The Fraudulent One in a more tempered, G-rated tirade. Conveniently, a written statement was available immediately after The Centaur left the building. Here's the text: "I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails. I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process. This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the players' association refused to order Selig to come in and face me. The absurdity and injustice just became too much. I walked out and will not participate any further in this farce." Oh, the humanity!

Red Sox Fine Art Prints Now Available To Fans

FenwayNation was privileged to preview two fantastic fine art prints that celebrate the 2013 World Champion Boston Red Sox. Provided to us by RareInk, the first print (pictured) is by renowned artist AJ Dimarucot. It captures the Boston Red Sox World Series title with a vibrantly-styled collage, featuring images of Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Mike Napoli, Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino, David Ross, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Johnny Gomes, and Koji Uehara. The second print is a stylized depiction of The Laser Show in mid-swing (by artist Denis Gonchar)—with all the panache of The Muddy Chicken. We can personally attest to the quality and desirability of these limited edition prints. You can purchase both of these pieces of hardball fine art (as well as several other Red Sox-related prints) HERE.

McCann To Visit With Sox In Next Two Weeks

(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, Brian McCann will soon visit and speak with teams that have expressed an interest in the free agent backstop—including the Red Sox. Boston, Texas and The Evil Ones are on McCann's itinerary. The Red Sox are exploring a number of catcher options—but McCann would be the most significant (and costly) of all the alternatives. Reportedly, at least three other unidentified teams have shown interest in the Atlanta catcher.

Sox Have 'Checked In' With Corey Hart For 1B

(Mark Hoffman)

Corey Hart stated on MLB Network Radio that the Red Sox are among the teams who have "checked in" with his agent. The other teams mentioned by Hart were the Colorado Rockies, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers. Hart would be an interesting choice for Boston—and likely considerably cheaper than signing Mike Napoli to a multi-year pact. The 31-year old Hart clouted 30 HRs for the Brew Crew in 2012 while hitting .270 in 149 games. He's a lifetime .276 hitter with a career OPS of .824. He had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last January.

REPORT: Red Sox Still In Carlos Beltran Hunt

(USATSI)

According to the Globe's Nick Cafardo the Red Sox are still pursuing 36-year old Carlos Beltran—and are going toe-to-toe with The Evil Ones and the Orioles. According to Cafardo, the first team to offer Beltran a 3-year deal will likely land the right-fielder (who would likely play left field for the Red Sox). I don't know about you, but I don't want an almost 40-year old Beltran limping around Fenway in 2016.

Empire Prez To Cano And Jay Z: "Get Real!"

This is going to be so much fun. The Bronx Zoo is back—in full-fledged lunacy! Yankee President Randy Levine called out his free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano (and by extension his buffoon "agent" Jay Z) with the following: "We want Robbie back; we think Robbie is terrific. But we have no interest in doing any 10-year deals and no interest in paying $300 million to any player. Until he gets a little more realistic, we have nothing to talk about.'' Wow! Tell us what you really think, Randy baby! Cano and his 'joke agent' recently had "dinner" with Mets honchos—but apparently it didn't have too much of an impact on Levine. Cano plans to carry out his little charade through January if necessary. Ah, the schadenfreude!

Red Sox Will Play Cardinals Again Next August

With all the frenzy surrounding the Red Sox run to World Championship # 8 (which should be World Championship # 9—see HERE), it's easy to forget that the 2014 schedule was finalized way back on September 10th. Interestingly, next August, there will be a re-match of the 109th World Series—at least the part that took place in St. Louis. Boston will play the Cards on August 5th, 6th and 7th at Busch Stadium. Other Interleague foes will include the Pirates (September 16, 17 and 18 at PNC), the Reds (August 12 and 13 in The Queen City), the Cubbies at Fenway (June 30, July 1 and 2), a weird "home and home" against the Braves in May (26 and 27 at the decrepit Turner Field; 28 and 29 at the decrepit Fenway Park), Cincinnati again at Fenway (May 6 and 7), and the Brew Crew at Fenway in April (4,5,6). You can see the full 2014 Red Sox schedule HERE.

What's The Sox Fascination With Chris Young?

(Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP)

Prior to the $70 million acquisition of Stephen Drew's big bother, the great Bob Ryan famously asked then-GM Theo Epstein: "What's the fascination, if it is true, with J.D. Drew?" We have to paraphrase the great Ryan and ask, "What's the fascination, if it is true, with Chris Young?" According to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, the Red Sox are looking at the former Oakland A's outfielder as a possible replacement should Jacoby Ellsbury leave. Chris Young? This is a guy who has never really sustained his vaunted "upside" (he finished fourth in Rookie of The Year voting in 2008). For example, last year he hit an abysmal .200 in 107 games. While it's true that Young used to have tremendous extra-base power (71 in 2008—including 32 HRs), he has a grand total of 26 HRs over the last two years. His career batting average is .235 with a measly .315 OBP. And he strikes out a lot. Defensively, Young has good speed and can go get the ball with the best of them—but his arm is just 'OK'.  Since his full range of offensive and defensive liabilities are likely to worsen in his 30s, we say, all in all, "No".

Sox Looking At Catchers Navarro And Hanigan

(AP Photo)

Multiple sources are suggesting that—in the wake of the Carlos Ruiz re-signing by the Phillies—the Red Sox have turned their interest to Dioner Navarro as a possible replacement for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Navarro—who will turn 30 next February 9th—had a very good year with the Cubbbies in 2013. Although he played in just 89 games, he did hit .300 with 13 HRs and a .365 OBP. Navarro caught 26% of runners trying to steal—a tad below the league average of 28%. Reportedly, the Red Sox are also interested in trading for Andover High School grad and current Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan. These might be good stop-gap moves—considering that Boston has a bevy of backstops in the prospect pipeline (Dan Butler, Christian Vasquez, Blake Swihart).

'Met-U-Cini Alfredo' Off To Flushing Meadows?

Alfredo & The Editor-In-Chief (FenwayNation Photo)

A tweet that might have gone under the radar over the last few days was Nick Cafardo's news that Alfredo Aceves may be headed to the New York Metropolitans. How fitting would it be for the soon-to-be 31-year old to begin and end his career in Gotham City? For all the drama he brought to Boston, Aceves was a more than respectable 16-13 in his three seasons wearing Carmine Hose—with a 3.94 ERA. He gave up just 206 hits in 235 innings pitched for the Red Sox. You gotta hope he blossoms again in a Mets uniform.

Cherington: We Will Keep Door Open On Jacoby

(Getty Images)

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington appeared on MLB Network Radio's Power Alley show (on SiriusXM) and made clear that the team would "love" to have Jacoby Ellsbury back in 2014. Cherington said Boston will "keep the door open" on negotiations with the free-agent centerfielder—although he also said the teams needs to "look at alternatives". BenCher went on, "He has a skill set that is not easy to replicate—with both speed and power." He went on to say that Ellsbury has "earned the right to free agency". Stay tuned, sports fans. You can hear the interview HERE.

Phillies Re-Sign One-Time Red Sox Target Ruiz

Presumably, Carlos Ruiz (he of the 25-game PED suspension) was a catching target of the Red Sox in case Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked out that free agency door. Well, you can scratch Ruiz off your list, as the Phillies have re-signed him to a three-year, $26 million contract. This has got to be great news for Salty, who will likely fetch more years and more cash than the 34-year old Ruiz.

Daniel Bard's Woes Continue In Puerto Rico

It's hard to believe that just three seasons ago, Daniel Bard posted a 1.93 ERA setting up out of the Red Sox bullpen. The now 28-year old righty was converted to a starter and thus began the long, slow descent into hardball hell. When Boston finally released him, he was picked up by Theo Epstein and the Cubbies. Now, word is that Bard is still struggling in his comeback attempt in the Puerto Rican Winter League. On Saturday, Bard gave up three earned runs and walked five in one inning—and threw multiple wild pitches. So far, he has retired a grand total of one of the thirteen batters he's faced for his new team, Criollos de Caguas. How sad.

A-Rod Missed Hearing With Flu-Like Symptoms

(Splash News Photo)

UPDATE: A-Flu back at hearings
Apparently, PEDs don't work on flu-like symptoms. Alex Rodriguez (AKA: A-Flu) did not appear at his investigatory hearing on Friday due to 'flu-like symptoms' and may not testify at all before arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. And yet, one of his flunkies was quoted thusly, "The guy really wants to testify. He's dying to tell his side of the story. But his head is all clogged up right now." Frankly, we think he's been "all clogged up" since he left Seattle. If The Fraudulent One's 211-game suspension is upheld, it will allow The Evil Ones to go after free agents with what would have been his salary. It's tough to know who to root for on this one.