Love of Sox

Burnt to a Crisp: Did Theo get Jobbed by Mark Shapiro?

Theo plugs in a hole in centerfield.

The trade finally happened with the Red Sox sending Guillermo Mota, Kelly Shoppach and Andy Marte to Cleveland for Coco Crisp, Dave Riske, Josh Bard and a player to be named later.  Coco Crisp will now be patrolling centerfield at Fenway Park.  Did the Red Sox give up a top prospect in Andy Marte too easily to fill a hole that might have been able to be filled by a free agent pickup like Dustan Mohr?  Were the Red Sox too quick to pull the trigger on this move?  Coco Crisp's potential is compelling since his numbers mirror those of Johnny Judas at the same age.  Time of course will tell and Sox fans may, unless the Red Sox the World Series in 2006, debate this trade for years to come.  I for one like the move, it being a bold one.  Now let's get ourselves a shortstop, Theo.    

Theo's Back, Cuba's In, Bronson's Signed

Looks like Theo Epstein is back in some capacity with the Red Sox, details will follow next week.  Hand it to John Henry and Larry Lucchino to generate buzz by releasing news on a Thursday night and promising more details next week.   This is great news for the Red Sox! 

In other news, the US Treasury Department seems to have carved out a deal to allow Cuba to play in the World Baseball Classic.  This eliminates a serious embarassment the Bush Administration would have faced on the international level by not allowing Cuba to participate in the tournament.  The revised agreement will insure that no money goes back to the government of Fidel Castro.

Finally, a tidbit I missed from yesterday was that Bronson Arroyo signed for a significant "hometown discount" yesterday, signing for $11.25 million over three years.  I'm glad to have Bronson, who obviously loves playing in Boston, back and hope he has continued success.

Will Bronson Come Alive in 2006?

Jason Varitek Signs ....With TD BankNorth

T(ek)D BankNorth?Jason Varitek will be yelling for TD BankNorth

File this one as having flown under the radar by this San Diego Red Sox fan.  Jason Varitek has been signed to a sponsorship agreement by TD BankNorth, the majority owned division of TD Bank Financial Group.

Jason Varitek Signs With TD Banknorth as Company Spokesman

PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 13, 2006--TD Banknorth Inc. has announced the signing of a four-year agreement with Boston Red Sox Catcher Jason Varitek to serve as a TD Banknorth spokesman for advertising and promotional initiatives. The agreement brings the star power of the Red Sox #33 to TD Banknorth, the largest financial services company headquartered in New England.

"Jason's leadership skills and commitment to excellence make him a great choice to join TD Banknorth as a spokesman," said TD Banknorth President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William J. Ryan. "As a world-class professional, Jason represents the very best of New England baseball, and we're happy to have him on our team."

"TD Banknorth has an outstanding reputation as a community-minded organization, and I couldn't be prouder to be part of the team," Varitek said. "I'm also pleased to join the ranks of phenomenally talented athletes like Ray Bourque and Troy Brown as spokesmen for the bank. I'm glad TD Banknorth feels I am a positive addition to the lineup."

Varitek joined the Boston Red Sox in 1997 as a catcher following his 1994 major league debut with the Seattle Mariners and successful collegiate baseball career at Georgia Tech. In his nine seasons with the Red Sox, Varitek has accumulated a stellar list of career highlights, including leading the team to victory in the 2004 World Series and being only the third player since 1923 to receive the honor of being named captain of the Red Sox.

"We are excited that Jason will be representing TD Banknorth as a spokesperson," said Cleon Daskalakis, president of Celebrity Marketing, Inc., the sports marketing agency for TD Banknorth. "Much like TD Banknorth, Jason has a strong commitment to his community, so he is a welcome addition to the team."

About TD Banknorth Inc.

TD Banknorth Inc. is a leading banking and financial services company headquartered in Portland, Maine and a majority-owned subsidiary of TD Bank Financial Group. At September 30, 2005, TD Banknorth had $31.8 billion of total consolidated assets and provided financial services to over 1.3 million households in the Northeast. TD Banknorth's banking subsidiary, TD Banknorth, N.A., operates banking divisions in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and upstate New York. TD Banknorth and TD Banknorth, N.A. also operate subsidiaries and divisions in insurance, wealth management, merchant services, mortgage banking, government banking and other financial services and offer investment products in association with PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc. The TD Banknorth common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "BNK". For more information, visit http://www.tdbanknorth.com.

As noted in the release, Tek is joining Ray Bourque and Troy Brown as spokesmen for the bank.  TD BankNorth is the name sponsor for the TD BankNorth Garden as well as other prominent sponsorships.   

Graffanino Inked

Tony Graffanino's been signed to a one year contract by the Red Sox.

With Mark Loretta to play 2B, Tony Graffanino will likely
end up sitting down more than standing this season

Winning Ugly

The Red Sox signed not so pretty boy Julian Tavarez, he of the fiery temperament for their bullpen. The Red Sox appear now to be stockpiling bullpen arms. As noted, not a bad activity to undertake.