Photos: Heat Feel the Heat, Dice-K in the Bronx, Rangers in Danger [J. Mark English]

Dice-K and the Gyro [J. Mark English]

I'm watching the Yankees / Red Sox game right now. Maybe its just me, and keep in mind I am biased, but I don't buy into all of the hype about how great this rivalry is, especially when its this early in the season. I feel like since the early 2000's I've overdosed on this match-up. Its a bit mind numbing to have to hear just how great it is that these two teams meet up. Yes, I am a bitter, disgruntled, Mets fan, but still this is my subject opinion.

Seriously though, watching this match-up in April and getting really psyched up for it is like getting pumped up for the presidential primaries a full year before one can actually vote. Its a bit overrated to the person who does not have a vested interest in the match-up. I'll take my Mets / Braves rivalry any day over the Yanks / Red Sox.

I'm just full of "what grinds my gears" comments tonight aren't I?

Anyway, the reason why I am even watching this game is to see Dice-K and his Gyro pitch. Here is a great clip from ESPN about what exactly the Gyro does:

Daisuke - The New Hope of Bosox Fans [Addison Quale]

As a die-hard Red Sox fan since the late 1980's, it seems that over the past few years each season that passes manages to pack into it more and more drama. You'd think that after finally winning it all in 2004 Red Sox fans would finally settle down and take a bit less interest in baseball. Think twice. Amazingly enough, somehow John Henry, Theo & Co. have kept New England absolutely abuzz about the Red Sox for nearly 5 years now, ever since they took the team over after the '02 season. First, there was the powerhouse 2003 team which just missed getting to the Series by losing to the Evil Empire in the most hyped Game 7 playoff in perhaps baseball history. Then of course they won it all in unforgettable '04. '05 was no slouch of a year as the Sox got off to a booming start, getting their rings in front of the Yankees and then making the playoffs again thanks to monster years from Manny and Ortiz. In 2006, while the team certainly sputtered down the stretch and endured the second Boston Massacre, New England was captivated once again--by the loss of Johnny Damon and the arrival of Josh Beckett...probably the high point of the season being a 12 game winning streak in June featuring Big Papi walk-off mania. So while the Pats had a pretty awesome 2006 football season. It didn't really matter. New England was still drunk with Sox love and baseball dominated the sports headlines here all fall. And this time around it was all about the newest arrival Daisuke Matsuzaka. Well, the Monster from Japan has finally landed in Major League baseball making a big splash to the tune of 7 innings and 10 K's against the Royals Thursday. (I drove out to my favorite North Shore roast beef joint to catch the beginning of the game on NESN.) You know, it's April and the World Series is too far off to even give it a thought. Also, given Sox tendencies to start strong and fade and the length of the baseball season, we all understand that April really doesn’t matter. And yet, here we all are in New England. At the edge of our seats. Excited as ever. Checking the news. Waiting impatiently for the arrival of our next star and new hope, Daisuke. And in all this you realize, it’s not about winning anymore. It’s not about another Championship. It’s just about the glory of baseball--- a beautiful game that simply gives us joy in such a fallen world.

Dice-K Looks Outstanding in MLB Debut [David Stefanini]

Wow. That is the only word I can think of when thinking about the performance of Matsuzaka in his MLB debut.

Dice-K pitched seven innings, giving up only 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk and striking out 10 in the process. I know it's to early to tell but this is something we need to look at from the very beginning of the season. The question about Boston coming into this year was how good was Dice-K going to be. Many people felt if he was as good as the hype surrounding him was the Red Soxs are the team to beat in the AL East. After tonight's performance I would say he is definitely a pitcher of great potential.

He is not a rookie that is going to have an up and down season, he is a rookie that is seasoned and experienced. His fastball was up in the 95 MPH range, and he has so many different change-ups and breaking balls, that hitters looked flat out confused facing him.

I would not want to be a hitter in the AL East this season.... unless I was playing the Yankees.

Not to get off topic, but thought the Yankees pitching staff isn't great, they will win the division. They are the Yanks, what would baseball be without them winning at least a division?

Your Late Night Fix 2.27.07 [J. Mark English]

• Judy Battista ponders whether the death of a dog is the latest stain for the NFL.

• New York Islanders complete a trade before the deadline: The Edmonton Oilers couldn't reach a new deal with Ryan Smyth so they dealt the star forward to the New York Islanders just before Tuesday's NHL trade deadline....The Oilers received prospects Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marra -- both first-round draft picks -- and a first-round selection in this year's draft for Smyth.

• Newsdays blog, On the Islanders Beat has more on the trade.

• As the deadline expires, the New York Rangers actually win a home game...with a 4-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

• Ben Shpigel chronicles the journey of Mets pitcher Jorge Sosa who's been an infielder, then an outfielder, and now a pitcher.

• Boston Red Sox roll out the red carpet for Daisuke Matsuzaka.

• Kevin Kernan talks about the new and approved Lastings Milledge.

• Pitcher Kei Igawa looks impressive in first sighting for the Yankees.

• Despite losing Crawford, the New York Knicks sizzled last night against the Heat.
  

Your Daily Fix 2.24.07 [J. Mark English]

• Sad news for LaDainian Tomlinson. His father died in a car crash last evening.

• In happier news, the Buffalo Bills put Willis McGahee on the trading block, and the New York Giants show interest.

• Duke lacrosse wins its first game since the rape allegations.

• In a battle of Big East heavyweights, Georgetown knocks off Pittsburgh, to win eleventh straight.

• Matt Schlabach writes on how the Hoyas have gone back to the future.

• Boston Red Sox blue chip, Daisuke Matsuzaka, looks good in first BP.

• The Miami Heat begin the difficult road without Dwyane Wade.

• Buffalo Sabres head coach, Lindy Ruff, fined $10,000 by the NHL for role in brawl between the Sabes and the Ottawa Senators.

Matsuzaka Completes Deal to Red Sox [David Stefanini]

Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Soxs have agreed in part to a 6 year, $52 million dollar contract. If the hype is right about this guy, the Red Soxs may have the finest starting line-up in the AL.

Today, the Red Soxs gave Matsuzaka jersey number 18 in his first public appearance since finalizing the deal. The jersey number is the one which Johnny Damon used, coincidence? I think not.

Matsuzaka would be the ace followed by Curt "Big Game" Schilling, Josh Beckett, and untouchable closer turned start, Jonathan Papelbon.

I feel it is important now more than ever for the Red Soxs to keep Manny. They have the pitching that World Champions are built of and if they can keep Manny and Ortiz hitting back-to-back in the middle of the line-up, they will also have the hitting that championship teams have.

If they keep Manny, the Red Soxs will be my choice to win the World Series in the upcoming season.

The Rebels Are Now the Dark Empire [J. Mark English]

"The Evil Empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America to grab Jose Contreras..." - Larry Lucchino (President, Boston Red Sox)

"We also have to work, though, sort of the dark side, if you will. We've got to spend time in the shadows...if we're going to be successful. That's the world these folks operate in, and so its going to be vital for us to use any means at our disposal, basically, to achieve our objective." - Vice President Cheney

"You are beaten. It is useless to resist...you have only begun to discover your power...The Emperor will show you the true nature of the force. He is your master now." - Darth Vader

I wish to send out a Happy Holidays to the city of Boston, and to the loyal fans of the Boston Red Sox. For nearly a full century the only thing fans of the team from Fenway knew was misery. While the team from the Big Apple won 26 World Series, your team suffered like no other.

But now, the ultimate gift has arrived.

After years of trying to take down the Empire, your team has realized that an Empire such as the Yankees can not be crushed. So now, you have joined, and maybe even out-eviled (if that can even be considered a word) the mighty New York Yankees.

It is official, Daisuke Matsuzaka, will be hurling pitches in Bean-town over the next six years, for perhaps up to $60 million a year. With this deal the Red Sox only can win, because the team will invade the Japanese market. Matsuzaka is a national hero in his home country, and the millions of his followers in Japan will flock to any television to watch him pitch, and buy every jersey, cap, and glove that will have his name on it...which will also just happen to have a Red Sox logo.

The Sox have invested heavily into Matsuzaka. Do not forget that not only will they be paying him up to $60 million, but add to that figure the $51.1 million the spent just for the rights to negotiate with the soon to be 26 year old rookie. According to Jack Curry of the New York Times, "the most the Red Sox could end up spending on Matsuzaka is $111.1 million, a yearly average of $18.5 million."

On top of this the Red Sox have agreed to pay J.D. Drew up to $70 million for five years. They are also more then likely to be holding on to Manny Ramirez for yet another year (and his $18 million a year). Last year their payroll was second only to the Yankees. The Yankees payroll was roughly $199 million, whereas the Sox were at $120 million.

So far this off season, its the Yankees who have been cutting the trim, and the Sox have broke open the piggy bank (they even tried to add Eric Gagne to the bullpen). It would appear that the Red Sox are set to be baseball's new evil empire. They are looking to dominate a world market, and surpass the Yankees as the highest grossing team if not just in baseball, but all of sports.

The deal with 'D-Mat' could end up being a bargain, when you consider the revenue they will make from their exposure in Asia. And if the team they have assembled can win, and continue to win for the years to come, there is no reason to believe that they cannot start building on what could be the essence of a financially guaranteed dynasty.

Christopher Bettinger from MIT writes:

"I think it’s safe to say that there is a disturbance in the force around Yawkee Way. Perhaps Lucchino is the embedded Sith Lord who is slowly but surely turning our beloved Galactic Senate into the dreaded “Evil Empire”."

And over at Fannation.com, Jason Carulli drives the Evil Empire theme further:

"The Boston Red Sox have finally managed to turn the tables on New York's so-called Evil Empire... The move obviously is the foundation for the construction of Boston's own Death Star as finishing in 3rd place with the second highest payrool in the Majors has left a bad taste in the mouths of New Englanders everywhere... Let them think what they want, Theo Epstein knows this movie is not pent up angst for all those years of the Yankees controlling their offseason with the almighty dollar...it is a move that, when all is said and done, will only cost the Sox roughly $100 million for a future ace that will jam his "gyroball" down the throats of the New York lineup...

"...Whatever their motives, it is a gamble, you don't know if you are getting the next Hideo Nomo or Hideki Irabu. But one thing is for sure, it is a baseball business at its best, so welcome to the lonely club Boston, and enjoy the hate beacuse there is no turning back now."

And the point is, if it is all about business, then bravo Red Sox...and bravo capitalism! Now lets see if it produces a dynasty for the new empire. It sure has produced plenty for the old one.