Welcome Back 2007 World Series MVP!!!

The Red Sox did not get their prize, the Yankees spend money like they're afraid of it.  From the standpoint of a Bostonian, multiple stages of emotion probably went through your head when you first heard New York stole Teixiera right under your Christmas tree.  First and foremost you were probably filled with rekindled rage.  For the first time in my life, the Yankees were an afterthought last season.  They didn't make the post-season, didn't notch a blip on Red Sox nation's radar.  Now they've decided to throw boat loads of money at the top three free agents in the 2009 offseason, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixiera.  For Teixiera and his low life dirt bag agent to dangle the Red Sox for the past month and then skip like a fairy to New York is blood boiling.  

The next likely emotion is frustration.  The Red Sox were a pinch away from having their boy.  They had their ridiculous amount of money on the table and Teixiera turned it down.  Many people don't understand what's another 1.5 million dollars a year to match what the Yankees offered.  Let me answer that one, 12 million dollars.  Sorry that's not chump change.  The Yanks have a ton of money coming off their payroll and a bidding war with them is insurmountable.  

So now the question needs to be asked, are the Yankees the best team in baseball? Not even close.  Are they the best team in their division? Nope.  Lets take a look at what they've lost heading into the upcoming season.  Their starting right fielder Bobby Abreu, statistically speaking their two best pitchers Mike Mussina and Andy Pettite (34 combined win), and the indefatigable  Jason Giambi.  Teixiera is an obvious upgrade over Giambi, but we'll see about Sabathia and Burnett.  The former being the highest paid pitcher of all-time and a notorious post-season choke artist and the latter being a guy who has only won more than 12 games once in his ten year career.  

I say let the Yankees spend absurd amounts of money on baseball players while our country is in a recession.  It's laughable, hilarious and doesn't make their team the best in their own division.  Is CC Sabathia a better left-handed pitcher than Jon Lester? You can call this a biased answer but one of them has a no-hitter/World Series ring. The other, like a fat fish, needed an extra 20 million dollars hooked on a line to lure him to New York.  This puts a smile on my face.  As last season's ALCS proved, money isn't the only factor in major league baseball. Good, smart decisions combined with health and a small amount of luck go a long way.  Don't get me wrong though, money can be nice.  

Forget the Yankees for a second.  Where can the Red Sox put their Teixiera money? We certainly need a fourth outfielder and another starting pitcher couldn't hurt.  Ben Sheets, who started the all-star game last year for the National League would be a great addition if he could stay healthy.  Starting pitching wins championships and the Red Sox would have hands down the best rotation in baseball.  Sheets is flat out better than A.J. Burnett and would be worth the money he's paid. 

Looking down the line all signs point to Joe Mauer being a big signing for the Sox. He's the best catcher in baseball, and a perennial batting champ.  The way he works the count would be a perfect match for Boston's philosophy.  

So here's to a healthy Mike Lowell, a healthy David Ortiz and a very good 2009 Red Sox baseball team.