The State of Sports Jan 18th

-Baseball

-Clubhouse matters, and Arbitration hearings
I try to never worry about the Red Sox clubhouse. In fact, I know for a fact that David Wells really liked the clubhouse. Two days after Game 3 of the ALDS, comes this comment from "Boomer:"
-"Its probably one of the greatest clubhouses ive ever been in"..."Its stupid how much fun it is"

Once again, I think the Sox management really knows what they are doing. Departing is the hardest working player on the team (Mueller), club house joker (Millar), and rockstar (Damon). Coming into the season are Mike Lowell and Lorretta, (two people with really hard work ethic), clubhouse joker Huckaby. And who needs Damon, when you have Ortiz, Ramirez, and Arroyo?

No I never take a second look at the the clubhouse and worry about a problem. When you have a front office that does there job and looks for players with ingredients for a good clubhouse chemistry, on and off the field, I think its something you cant find anywhere else. This is one of the ingredients that helps build team character and helps win championships. Bradford's article about Ken Huckaby is pretty good today, and helps establish my point.

As for the arbitration hearings, the Sox now have two eligible people. They had Mota and Graffanino, but both signed a one year 3 million dollar contract, and 2 million, respectively. Snow said in the Globe today that they were looking to go long-term with Arroyo, to buy out his arbitration eligible years. Fact of the matter is, Arroyo is "a pitcher likely to make 30 starts, win 10-15 games, and post an ERA in the mid-to-low 4s." I think Arroyo is one of those guys you can stick at the back end of a rotation, or at long relief, and get innings out of him. A young pitcher, who posted career highs in wins (14) and innings (205.1) looks like he is one of the more reliable starters in the American League.

His junkball kind of pitching is more of what this rotation needs. You dont want to have a four game homestand and have guys throwing the same kind of heat that Pedro had a few years ago. I honestly would rather have a power pitching player (Beckett), control pitcher (Schilling/Wells), sinkerball/fastball pitcher (Clement), knuckleball pitcher (Wakefield), and junkball pitcher (Arroyo) in one rotation, rather than one or two of one combination. It shakes things up for the other team. It throws them off. This rotation has veterans and looks to help out the young guys that will be the future of the starting 5. While the Sox look like they are rebuilding, thier starting rotation doesnt have me worried either.

Beckett also is arbitration elgible. The interresting comment that Snow made, was that the Sox look for a one-year deal, instead of going long term. The reason for this is because Beckett " is new to the team, new to the American League, and comes with some injury concerns (finger blisters and right shoulder tendinitis)." So this means that if Beckett has a season, look for him to command a high contract. I dont think there will be much adjustment to this League for a power pitcher like Beckett.

As for the blister problem, Gordon Edes has pointed out in two seperate interviews with Beckett, it was more of a humidity problem, more than anything else. Beckett is quoted on saying "The training staff here has some ideas of some stuff I've been doing and some stuff I haven't been doing. We're going to give them all a shot and see if we can shake this thing." And the problem came up "it seemed like I either had a shutout or had given up less than two runs."

For both arbitration eligible pitchers, I think the Sox will do their best to not make the cases go to an arbiter, if it really comes down to that.

-Random Notes:
-Insider reports that "The Boston Herald also reports the Minnesota and Memphis deals would most likely be straight up for Michael Olowokandi or Lorenzen Wright, and Earl Watson would be the target if something gets worked out with Denver." If Cleveland got involved, Marcus Banks would be in the deal. Celtics need to get rid of the 6-year, 40 Million dollar hit, that he is taking. The Celtics need more leg room to work with, that way, they can put some money else where. Blount averages 13.1 points per game and 4.4 rebounds. Last season, Blount averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. I think any move to get rid of Blount is a step in the right direction.

-Im glad BC won last night. Holy Cross was on BC's tail the entire night, and BC just let them stick around, because they didnt guard the perimeter well. But, BC got really lucky because Holy Cross had players in foul trouble, so they played off BC a little bit, and BC drove the basket/shot some threes, and built a solid 7-9 point lead to work with. Holy Cross is a 9-9 team that they struggled with. If BC really wants to win ball games, they have to play better defense, and try something else that works. Eagle sites those among some of the problems that BC has, after the loss to NC State. I dont watch many BC games, because of work, but this one looks sloppy and if BC really wants to play well on a tough ACC schedule ahead, they need to play up to the competition. They face Miami and NC on the road, and then Georgia Tech and Duke at home for their next four games.

-I saw bits and peices of the Illinois-Indiana game, and I was blown away at the first half defense of Illinois. Then I was surprised when Indiana just went nuts with the threes, to put the score at 24-28 at halftime. When I flipped back to the game, after the BC game was over, and Killingsworth had 19 points in the second half, I was amazed. He is the definition of a big man, that more basketball teams need. I think both teams played really good defense, even though they let each teams back into the game, it just shows the amazing depth that the Big 10 has this year.