Hardball Heaven

*Barrygate is not going away, nor should it. Bud Selig could win some fans by actually doing something about this mess. Fay Vincent suggested that MLB take the Pete Rose route, and hire a private investigator to delve into the details. Something needs to be done. With seven homers, Bonds will pass Babe Ruth on the HR list this year, and some are speculating that he'll call it quits before he passes Hank Aaron (755). If enough pressure is exerted on him, maybe that will happen. I still say we need to put out an APB for Tonya Harding, and if we can't get her I guess Congressional action is okay. One last thing on Bonds: it's amazing to read the San Francisco papers and hear some of the comments from the Bonds apologists. They're in complete denial. Wonder how it would feel if it was one of our own.

* This past week showed why the NFL is head and shoulders above the other pro leagues.

* Q: What do Grateful Dead keyboardists have in common with Tim Wakefield's catchers?

A: They're dropping like flies. First, Mirabelli is shipped out to San Diego. Kelly Shoppach is sent to Cleveland in the Coco Crisp deal. John Flaherty retires. And now it's up to Josh Bard to chase the butterflies around. Come to think of it, Bard might be the only catcher in camp with the captain currently playing for Team USA.

* I still say the Sox are a solid No. 5 hitter away from being a special team. Love Crisp, Loretta, Ortiz, Manny at 1 through 4, but not sold on Lowell, Varitek, or Trot hitting fifth. This is where Aubrey Huff would have been a sweet fit. Maybe one of the three emerges - Lowell has plenty of incentive to prove last year wasn't a fluke and Trot's in a contract year and looks slimmed down.

* Also will be interesting to see how the drastically improved defensive infield translates to W's. Late in games, you're going to see Snow at 1B, with Loretta, Gonzalez and Lowell. Not too shabby.

* This year's Fenway Park concert is going to feature the Dave Matthews Band with Sheryl Crow. I'd still rather see Pearl Jam, with Theo playing rhythm guitar.

* When the Sox let Damon go, I was pissed. Say what you want about his arm, his IQ, his looks, whatever, he was and is a solid, solid player. I actually e-mailed the team to express my angst - at that time, we had no SS and no CF -- and they e-mailed back saying that management was working on some things, and that we'd all be pleasantly surprised with the team that takes the field in April. A month later, the Crisp deal was finalized. They must have been working on that one for quite a while.

* Don Orsillo keeps winning announcer of the year awards, but I can't figure out why. He's got the pipes and all, but listen closely when he does a game. He tells you absolutely nothing you don't already know, and his blandness is offset by Remy's constantly good insights. Orsillo's all show; Remy's all substance.

* David Wells is a jerk, but his staying could be the difference in the AL East this year. Schilling, Beckett, Wakefield, Wells, Papelbon, Clement, Arroyo vs. Randy, Mussina, Pavano, Chacon, Wright, Small, and Wang. Just wanted to put 'small' and 'wang' next to each other. Edge: Sox.

* There's actually a movie out based on Game 6 in 1986? Ouch. Wondering if it's playing in theaters in Idaho?

* Why can't it be 30 degrees and raining today? Too much good college hoops action going on...

*We're all about diversification and inclusion, so why not a basketball note? Every time I start to get a little bit interested in the Celtics, they go on a losing streak. I haven't been following them that closely, but it seems like they've had a nice run over the past few weeks, and then I look in the paper and see that they're still 10 games below .500. So they really, really sucked early on. Still, maybe Danny Ainge finally has the right mix of superstars, serviceable veterans, and young talent. Paul Pierce needs to be signed to a long-term deal immediately and Ryan Gomes looks like the real deal. This team could be something in two years, but it seems like we've been saying that for a long time.

* 23 days till opening day... not that we're counting or anything.