Gators ready to chomp

By Trevor Hass

(AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Last season the Florida Gators finished with the best record in the SEC at 29-8, including a 13-3 mark in-conference. PF Chandler Parsons, PF Alex Tyus, PF/C Vernon Macklin, G Erving Walker, and G Kenny Boynton fueled the well-balanced Gators, all averaging over 10 points per game.
     Though Parsons, Macklin, and Tyus graduated, Walker and Boynton are back to fill the void and carry the Gators this season.
      Florida won back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2006 and 2007. Despite failing to qualify in 2008 and 2009, head coach Billy Donovan led the Gators to the Elite Eight this past season.
      While most programs would be satisfied with two titles in the past six years, the University of Florida has high expectations. The Gators are eager to chomp away at SEC foes and devour opponents en route to another championship.
      The Gators have a menacing out-of-conference schedule this upcoming season, filled with the likes of Ohio State, Syracuse, Texas A&M, and Florida State.
      Last year, SEC rival Kentucky got the best of the Gators in two out of three meetings, but this year Florida will look to regain dominance. Kentucky and Florida are the favorites in the SEC and will square off in February, as well as on March 4th, the final day of the regular season.
      To defeat Kentucky and make a strong push in the NCAA tourney, the Gators will rely heavily on Kenny Boynton. Boynton averaged 14 points per game in each of his first two seasons, yet his shooting percentage was a lowly .381. Shooting a higher percentage will open up other facets of Boynton’s game. Once defenders respect his three point shot, he can utilize his quick first step to slash toward the basket and convert on easy layups.
      Jackson State travels to Gainesville to kick off Florida’s season on November 11th and the Gators commence their quest for a third national championship in seven years.

Ortiz powers Sox - By Trevor Hass

            David Ortiz is a lifetime .327 hitter with 11 home runs and 31 RBI against the Minnesota Twins.  Tonight he carried the Red Sox’ offense with four hits, including a mammoth blast to the upper deck in right field and a go-ahead RBI single in the 9^th inning.

            Down 5-1 in the sixth, the Sox were in need of some offense.  Carl Crawford started the inning off with a triple to center, getting his 8^th hit in 12 at bats.  After Adrian Gonzalez drove Crawford in with a sacrifice fly, Dustin Pedroia singled to center.  With the hit, Pedroia has now hit safely in 45 of 48 games, including four in a row.

            Then came Papi; his roaring two run shot cut the deficit to 5-4.  It was Ortiz’ team-leading 22^nd homer of the year.  After that home run, Jarrod Saltalamacchia followed suite by homering to right, knotting the contest up at five apiece.

“That’s David,” said Saltalamacchia.  “He picked us up tonight.  We just go out there and play the game.”

            With the score tied at 6-6 in the top of the ninth, Ortiz delivered yet again.  The slugger showed some finesse and patience, hitting a flair to left center field, driving in pinch runner Darnell McDonald. 

“I just tried to calm down and get that pitch,” said Ortiz.

Similar to what transpired in the 6^th, Saltalamacchia produced after Ortiz, providing an insurance run.

            “David wants to see everyone do well,” added Saltalamacchia.  “For him to go out and pick the team up was great.”

            Jonathan Papelbon closed the game out in fashion, striking out Danny Valencia and Delmon Young, and inducing a ground out to second by pinch hitter Ben Revere.  The closer two-stepped his way to his 25^th save of the season.

            With the win, the Red Sox improved to 34-21 away from Fenway Park.  They also extended their winning streak to three games, fresh off a thrilling 3-2 walk-off win over the Yankees the night before. 

            Tim Wakefield had a chance to pick up his 200^th career win.  The knuckleballer was on his game for the most part, with the exception of a tumultuous third inning where he gave up three runs.  Wakefield struck out four in seven innings and had a chance to pick up number 200.  The 45-year old threw first pitch strikes to 21 out of 28 batters.

            Alfredo Aceves gave up an RBI single to Jason Kubel in the 8^th, making the score 6-6, and thus depriving Wakefield of the milestone.  Aceves then settled down and ultimately picked up the win, improving to 8-1 on the season.

            Scott Baker was steady for the Twins through five innings, merely allowing an RBI single to the fuming hot Marco Scutaro in the second.  Scutaro connected on a whopping seventh hit in a row, driving in Ortiz.   With the exception of that lone blemish, Baker was efficient through five, striking out five Red Sox hitters and inducing many ground balls.  Then in the 6^th everything fell apart for the right-hander, as he surrendered four runs.

            Baker came into the contest with a tremendous 5-0 record and 0.26 ERA at newly constructed Target Field.  8-6 with a 3.01 ERA on the season, Baker has been a bright spot for the injury-riddled Twins.

The Twins’ offense was paced by right fielder Jason Kubel, who went three for four with a home run to right field off Wakefield.  Trevor Plouffe chipped in with two hits and also scored two runs, while veteran slugger Jim Thome added an RBI double and scored a run.

Jed Lowrie returned for the Red Sox, after being placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury on June 15^th.   He went one for four in his return, playing third base.  Jacoby Ellsbury, Pedroia, and Gonzalez all ignited the offensive attack with two hits apiece. 

Reliever Glen Perkins (3-2) gave up a single to Gonzalez before being replaced by closer Joe Nathan.  Nathan allowed an infield single to Pedroia as well as the decisive hit to Ortiz and the slicer to left by Saltalamacchia.  Pedroia is batting .331 in the seventh inning or later, including a menacing .388 since May 7^th.  

       

A great year for sports

       It's really a shame that the NFL and NBA are both in a lockout.  I cry every night before I go to sleep, knowing that, in all likelihood, the NBA will miss its entire season.  Obviously a situation like this would devastate sports fans across the world at any point in time, however I think it's especially inopportune considering the magnificent state of professional sports after a truly splendid calendar year. 

     Taking a look back at the past four champions, none of the teams were the favorite heading into the playoffs.  None of championship squads boasted ludicrous payrolls, had pompous superstars with overblown egos, or were expected to make any sort of run.  That's what makes sports so special.  Fans should always expect the unexpected, but the unexpected always comes from an unexpected place, thus it can't be expected. 
     "Not one, not two not three, not four..."  You're right LeBron, not one, not two, not three, not four...zero.  Zip.  Zilch.  Nada.  LeBron James, the heir to the throne, the chosen one, the next Michael Jordan, has yet to win a championship.  You've gotta love it.  The Miami Heat became arguably the most highly-scrutinized team in the history of sports.  Their journey started all the way back in June when LeBron's self-centered "Decision" shook up the entire complexion of the NBA.  The journey ended in June, when Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks defied all odds and stunned the Heat in six games.  It was a woeful ending to a roller coaster year for the Heat, but a perfect ending to a season of consistency and team-first basketball for the Mavs.  

     Dirk had been after a ring (or some other anomalous form of Mark Cuban-inspired jewelry) ever since he entered the league back in 1998.  Though he averaged 23 points per game and developed a plethora of lethal fadeaway moves, critics continued to question his toughness and ability to reach the next level.  This year Dirk silenced those critics, with the help of a strong supporting cast, including the best bench in the league.  Jose Juan Barea, Jason Kidd, DeShawn Stevenson, and Tyson Chandler rounded out the starting five for an experienced Mavs team.  The luxury of having Jason Terry and Shawn Marion coming off the bench proved to be extremely beneficial in crunch time.  Yeah, I’d take Terry and Marion over Mike Bibby and Juwan Howard too.  The newly-adopted terrifying trifecta of the Miami Heat was not enough to overcome the deeper and more poised Dallas Mavericks.  The season ended with a well-deserving champion.

     The Boston Bruins are Stanley Cup Champs!  Like the Mavs, the Bruins entered the playoffs as a three-seed.  They also faced a team in the finals with a few stars, but, like the Heat, the Canucks’ supporting cast melted away like the Tampa Bay ice.  Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Roberto Luongo were deemed to be too much for the Bruins to handle.  Experts came to a consensus that the Heat would win in 5 of 6 and the Canucks would do the same.   The experts were not so expertly, as the balance of Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand (and his rather large nose), Dennis Seidenberg, and, of course, the best goalie in hockey Tim Thomas, sparked the B’s to the Cup.  Sports is most exciting when the favorite is knocked out, and the Stanley Cup playoffs were no exception.  It was quite a riot to see Canucks fans in such disarray…literally.

     Pack, Pack, Pack.  Filling the void left by Brett Favre and his frayed jeans and Mississippi swagger is no easy task.  Favre, with his Ripken-esque mentality and copious amount of interceptions, was the face of the Packers since the 1920s.  The retiring schtick got a little old after a while, but Favre himself seemed to never get old, as he became the quintessential iron man in professional sports and the face of the NFL (despite the fact that he really did throw a lot of interceptions).  Then came Aaron Rodgers…

     Rodgers was the complete opposite of Favre in that he kept to himself, went about his business, and didn’t throw nearly as many interceptions.  You could argue that the negative portrayal of Favre is solely a result of the media’s desire to construct convoluted images of potentially intriguing athletes, yet in actuality, Favre had a flair for the dramatics.  When Rodgers replaced Favre, people questioned whether he had what it took and whether he could fill that elusive void.  What the media didn’t focus on was the somehow unimportant fact that Aaron Rodgers is a really, really good quarterback.  His consistency and talent quickly fused into championship-caliber offense, as he fed Greg Jennings and Donald Driver endlessly for repeated touchdowns.  Charles Woodson anchored an aggressive and intelligent defense.  Again, we see the theme of the underdog winning it all, as the Pack entered the playoffs as the six-seed.  You could argue that the underdog always winning provides no consistency to sports, but in my opinion, that’s exactly what makes it such a beautiful thing.

     After the steroids controversy corrupted baseball in the 90s and 00s, baseball is back to being a pitcher-dominated game.  Thus, the San Francisco Giants had exactly what it takes to win the World Series nowadays: pitching.  With Tim Lincecum as the ace and Brian Wilson as the closer, the Giants’ semi-futile offense was enough.  The Beard was most certainly feared.  The Giants’ pitching was stellar and they knocked off the Rangers en route to their first title since 1954 .  San Fran barely even made the playoffs.  They beat out the Padres by a mere two games, but caught fire once October came around.  Like with the Packers, there is a direct parallel between superstars leaving and winning a ring a few years down the road.  Both Favre and Barry Bonds had highly-scrutinized careers.  Bonds finished his steroid-infused run with 762 home runs, 14 all-star game appearances, and 12 silver slugger awards, but never quite got that all-important ring.  The hardware has avoided tremendous athletes like Bonds, James, and Luongo, athletes with controversies and overblown egos. 

     All four winning teams this year fully deserved to win the championship.  The Mavericks, Bruins, Packers, and Giants all have hardworking players and had a team-first mentality.  Very few scandals surrounded these teams.  I think it’s safe to say Deshawn Stevenson driving drunk the day after the Mavs won isn’t as big of a deal as LeBron’s “Decision.”  (I feel the need to put “Decision” in quotes every time because it’s just so important that it deserves quotes---kind of like the asterisk next to Bonds’ name…the quotations give off an ominous “I can’t win a ring” vibe). 

     Professional sports is in a phenomenal place right now, with deserving winners and underdogs shocking the world season after season.  It’s disappointing that the NFL and NBA are locked out following two truly memorable postseason runs.     

Jimmer Rat

     While players like Kyle Singler, Jared Sullinger, and Kemba Walker are the best players on their respective teams and are having terrific seasons, there is one superstar who is going above and beyond.  This senior is running away with the title of best player in the country by a long shot...kind of like he runs the fast break and then spots up for a lethal jumper that flows off of his finger tips with the utmost ease and glides through the basket.  His name: Jimmer Fredette.
     I've been pondering some potential nicknames for Jimmer.  Here's what I've come up with.  "Nothin' but net Fredette," "Jiminy Cricket," "Slim Jim," "Jimmer the Jammer."  Pretty decent I think...but I'll let you be the judge. Whatever you want to call "Jimbolaya," it's a fact that he's spicing up college basketball with his ability to score 40+ points on any given night.
     Fredette's BYU Cougars currently sit at 20-1, coming off of an impressive victory over (then #4 in the country) MWC rival San Diego State.  It was just another day at the office for Jimmer, as he dropped 43 points in the win.  No big deal, really.  That scoring output led to his third 40+ point game in the last four, a simply staggering number.  It's not like he's hogging the ball in the process either.
     He averages over four assists per game.  His efficiency is off the charts, as he's shooting over 48% from the field and a whopping 90% from the free throw line.  John Hollinger would like that.
     After listening to Fredette speak twice on ESPN, I have developed the utmost respect for him.  Not only is he a spectacular scorer, but he's an extremely nice kid...polite, well-mannered, and humble.
     One instance where he exemplified his humility was in an interview with John Buccigross on SportsCenter. After Fredette's outburst against San Diego State, Kevin Durant tweeted that Fredette is the best scorer in the world.  Rather than agreeing and saying, "Yeah, I'm the best," Fredette returned the favor, deeming Durant the world's best scorer.  I guarantee you that if Kobe was presented with that same situation during his senior year of high school at Lower Marion he would have praised himself up the wazoo.
     From his Mormon upbringing, to his lethal trademark double crossover, to his Deron Williams-like mid-range jumper, Fredette is certainly an intriguing player and amazingly fun to watch.
     Fredette compares his game to that of D Will.  Though they are both somewhat undersized (Fredette is 6'2 and a tad under 200) they compensate for this trivial deficiency with exceptional ball handling skills and an absolutely dirty stroke.
     You can talk all you want about Fredette's NBA career when he's actually in the league.  Maybe he'll be a massive bust, or maybe he'll be the greatest player to ever play the game.  But for now, rather than analyzing his potential to be an NBA star, focus on the the way he is electrifying college basketball.
     Jimmer Fredette has already accomplished milestones galore in his 3+ years at BYU.  This winter and early spring, however, he has a chance to become one of the greatest college basketball players of all time, by leading his team to a National Championship.
    

College Basketball

     From the World Series to the College Football Bowl games, the world of sports never ceases to amaze.  While every sporting event has its perks, the best playoff system in the country is March Madness, hands-down. When a team like St. Mary's stuns a team like Villanova in the second round, it's unbelievably exciting to watch.  Last year, Cinderella Butler shocked Syracuse, Kansas State, and Michigan State, before falling to heavily-favored Duke in one of the best finales the sport has ever witnessed.
     You never know which team will make an incredible run down the stretch.  It's virtually impossible to predict a perfect bracket, which is exactly what makes March Madness so exceptional.  Picking a perfect bracket is about as improbable as the Apocalypse.
     Midway through the season, here are my top 12 teams that are most likely to cut down the nets when it's all said and done.

12) Missouri- The Tigers are always in contention in the Big 12, but I feel that this is the year they will finally get over the hump and make a run in March.  Marcus Denmon is a stellar scorer for Missouri, averaging around 18 points per game.  Missouri has defeated Vanderbilt, Oregon, and Illinois so far this season and the club has a lot of young talent.

11) UConn- Kemba Walker is a sensational player, but UConn simply doesn't have enough depth to contend with powerhouses such as Duke and Kansas.  I expect them to make it to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8, but not any further.

10) Michigan State- Tom Izzo's club always makes a run come tourney time.  Despite their recent struggles, I expect the leadership of Kalin Lucas to be instrumental down the stretch in another infamous Izzo run.

9) Kansas State- Jacob Pullen is averaging 18 ppg this season.  I question whether K State has enough depth to make a run in the tourney, but Frank Martin's toughness will lead to another successful season in Wildcat basketball.

8) Brigham Young- Jimmer Fredette is the best scorer in the country.  Period.  Scoring 32 in the first half en route to 47 overall in a romping over in-state rival Utah, Fredette is exceptional from beyond the arc and has a plethora of moves.  BYU makes the tourney every year.  This year will be no different, and I expect them to make the Elite 8, led by Fredette.

7) Villanova- Seniors Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher make up arguably the best backcourt tandem in the country. Stokes is shooting a whopping 94% from the charity stripe and 47% from three-point range.  Fisher's ability to draw double-teams off the dribble often leaves Stokes wide open from downtown, where he's money.  Coach Wright should be "Stoked" that he has the Coreys on his squad.  (That's "Wright," I went there).

6) San Diego State- This team is for real.  They may be the Butler of 2011.  I expect Kawhi Leonard to lead the Aztecs to at least the Sweet 16.  Despite their poise and shooting ability, this team may lack size against physical teams such as Ohio State and Syracuse.

5) Pittsburgh- The Panthers are a top-notch program.  They recently beat down on Georgetown 72-57 in a game that wasn't even that close.  Ashton Gibbs is a terrific three-point shooter and will most likely lead this team to an appearance in the Elite Eight, and possibly even the Final Four.

4) Ohio State- There's no denying that Jared Sullinger is a monster in the paint.  However, he has a tendency to get into foul trouble, which may prove detrimental in the long run.  David Lighty and William Buford are very skillful players, each averaging around 14 per game for the Buckeyes.  Getting to the Sweet 16 is a disappointment for this team.

3) Syracuse- The Orange are led by Rick Jackson, Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph, and Brandon Triche.  Jim Boeheim implements the 2-3 zone to perfection and utilizes his team's size against weaker opponents.  Syracuse often gets out of the gate slowly, yet their tenacious defense keeps them in games.  Foul shooting is a serious liability, as the Orange are shooting 64% as a team from the line.  Despite this obvious weakness, the determination and talent of Jackson and Joseph will lead this team to at least the Elite Eight and possibly to a National Championship.

2) Duke- After exploding to a 15-0 start, the Dukies lost to a fired up Florida State team, 66-61.  Coach K attributed the loss to the strong play of the Seminoles, rather than to a lack of execution from his squad. This loss shows some vulnerability for the Blue Devils.  Though they will likely run the table in the ACC, I expect a slip-up against a team like Florida State that will out hustle you and close out games effectively.

1) Kansas- The Jayhawks have the best team in the country.  You could make a case for Duke, 'Cuse, or Ohio State, but I feel that Kansas is hands-down the best team in college basketball right now.  The dynamic duo of brothers Marcus and Markeef Morris is unguardable.  Cumulatively averaging over 30 points and 15 rebounds per game, the "Morris Monsters" (you heard it here first) make any team quiver in fear.  Explosive Freshman Josh Selby and Junior Tyshawn Taylor give the Jayhawks a formidable backcourt.  Kansas has the highest field goal percentage in the country, currently shooting at over 52% per game.

     March Madness never disappoints.  One or two of these Top 12 teams will undoubtedly lose in the first round.  That's what's so great about it.  It's extremely difficult to pinpoint an early upset.  Maybe all of these 12 teams will make the Sweet 16 and I'll look like a genius.  Maybe only three of them will and I'll resemble a doofus.  These are my Top 12 teams as of now, but you never know which teams will shock the country.  That's the beauty of March Madness.

NBA on Christmas Day

     The line-up of NBA games today is simply unbelievable.  Superstars galore are in action, looking to get their team a W in front of millions of viewers.  Let me break down each match-up for you and give an unbiased prediction for each game.

     Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks 12 P.M.
     This game has a lot of appeal.  The Knicks are averaging 108 points per game, which leads the NBA.  Amar'e is dominating this year, putting up 26 and 9 per game.  Key players such as Landry Fields, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, and Wilson Chandler make these here Knickerbockers an extremely fun team to watch.  Toney Douglas also provides a lot of spark off the bench.  Meanwhile, the Bulls are 3rd in the NBA in rebounding.  However, Joakim Noah, who averages nearly 12 per game, is out for at least two months with a torn ligament in his thumb.  Not having to deal with Noah will enable the Knicks to attack the paint and outscore the Bulls.  While I expect Derrick Rose to score over 30, I feel the Knicks' interior presence and ability to drain threes will be too much for Chicago to handle.

Prediction: Knicks 109, Bulls 98

     Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic 2:30 P.M.
     The Magic completely revamped their roster, hauling Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, and Rashard Lewis away.  While the acquisitions of Jason Richardson and fan-favorite Hedo Turkoglu are pretty good ones, the Magic seriously lack size.  Stan Van usually prides his team on the defensive team, yet this team appears to be more offensive-minded.  Dwight Howard has averaged over 24 points and 18 rebounds in his last five games.  However, if Dwight gets in early foul trouble, the only formidable big man the Magic have is Brandon Bass, and he's quite undersized.  The C's need to attack Howard early and often.  The depth of the Celtics will be instrumental in this game.  From The Big Shamroq (fresh off of conducting the Boston Pops) to Big Baby, the Celtics are clearly the deeper team.  Expect Baby to score at least 16 off the bench.  KG will exploit Bass inside and stretch the defense with his lethal mid-range jumper.  The Celts get win number 15 in a row this afternoon.

Prediction: Celtics 97, Magic 88

     Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat 5 P.M.
     This game is so incredibly intriguing.  Kobe, Gasol, and Odom to LeBron, D Wade, and Bosh.  Wow!  What a gift on Christmas Day.  What a plethora of superstars.  Odom says that this will be "a great game to watch."  I believe him.  I honestly expect that this game will go into overtime.  These teams are so evenly-matched it's crazy.  I think the ultimate factor will be the Gasol vs. Bosh match-up.  You know what you're going to get out of Kobe, LeBron, and D Wade.  Yet, the winner of the power forward match-up will ultimately prevail.  I expect Bosh to go off.  He's averaging 21 ppg and 8 rpg in his last five games.  The Heat have won 13/14, their only loss coming to Dallas by a mere two points this past Monday.  The Lakers, meanwhile, lost 98-79 to the Bucks on Tuesday and Kobe says they "have a lot to work on."  I expect this one to be tight throughout, but I feel that LeBron and Bosh will score over 25 each, leading the Heat to victory.

Prediction: Heat 108, Lakers 106 OT

     Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 8 P.M.
     Kevin Durant will score over 35 points tonight.  That's a guarantee.  Carmelo Anthony is missing the game due to a family matter, which will enable Durant to exert less energy on the defensive end and focus on attacking the hoop.  Gary Forbes is a liability for Denver, and i expect Durant to explode.  Russell Westbrook is putting up monster numbers this year.  He's finally coming into his own and is truly an elite scoring point guard in the league.  He's averaging 22 ppg and 8 apg.  Expect the Thunder to beat the Nuggets in a shootout.  J.R. Smith will score big for Denver, but it won't be enough.

Prediction: Thunder 114, Nuggets 101

     Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trailblazers 10:30 P.M.
     Commissioner David Stern certainly picked some exciting games.  This one is going under the radar, yet it will undoubtedly be another high-scoring, down-to-the-wire, exciting affair.  Steph Curry is healthy and ready to roll for the Warriors.  Dorell Wright is a threat from beyond the arc for Golden State.  Though Andre Miller and LaMarcus Aldridge are consistent players, their play won't be enough.  Brandon Roy is having his worst season in quite some time, still nursing an injured knee.  I expect Golden State's youth to be a key factor here.  David Lee, Andris Biedrins, and and Monta Ellis will lead the Warriors past Portland. Expect Ellis to score over 25.

Prediction: Warriors 112, Blazers 97

     I hope you enjoy watching a terrific day of basketball.  After you open your Christmas gifts, plop down in front of the TV, eat some popcorn, drink some hot chocolate, and watch some amazing basketball.

     Happy Holidays everyone.

I know it's only December

     I know it's only December.  The NFL, NBA, and College Football are in full swing and baseball isn't for months.  However, with the Red Sox' recent acquisitions, I deem it imperative to discuss the immense amount of potential we have as an organization.
    
     Let me lay out the probable starting lineup for you:

1) Jacoby Ellsbury-One of the fastest, most entertaining players in Red Sox history.  If he can stay healthy and put the ball in play, he'll be a great asset at the top of the order.  He is also one of the most flashy and consistent outfielders in all of baseball.

2) Dustin Pedroia-Every year people keep doubting the little guy, yet every year he puts up monster numbers.  Maybe it's time critics start believing in Dustin.  Pedroia has a .309 lifetime average against right-handed pitching.  Rather impressive.

3) Carl Crawford-When the Sox acquired Adrian Gonzalez I was content, but once we bolstered our roster even more with the addition of Carl Crawford, I was convinced; this is the year.  Crawford is one of the few legitimate five-tool players in the league and he has an arsenal of talents.

4) Adrian Gonzalez-Sure, Mark Teixeira is good, but so is Adrian Gonzalez.  When you compare their numbers over the past three years, the two stupendous sluggers have virtually identical numbers.  Gonzalez quietly had a near .300, 30 homer, and 100 RBI season last year.  Hopefully he can replicate those numbers under the scrutiny of Red Sox Nation.

5) Kevin Youkilis-YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUK. (All I have to say.  Everyone knows what a multi-dimensional, tenacious, Jewish, consistent player Youk is).  Gotta love him.

6) David Ortiz-"Wait...back up a second.  Is David Ortiz really batting sixth!?! He's the man!"  Why yes, he is.  The fact that Big Papi is batting sixth is a testament to exactly how deep this team is.  Last year Papi had over 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in, much like Gonzalez.  As a non-biased fan of the game of baseball, I can truly say that our 4-5-6 combo is the best in the game.

7) J.D. Drew-I've always said that Drew is the most average player in Major League history.  Though this is somewhat factual, it's also somewhat erroneous.  Yes, Drew is average at everything, however he's not bad at anything, which makes him a reliable right fielder on a team full of outstanding young lads (you follow? good.)

8) Marco Scutaro- "Scut. Hey, can we ask you to 'scut' down to the number eight spot?"  Again, a testament to how stacked this team is.  Scutaro had 38 doubles last year.  That's more than anyone else in this starting nine.  Interesting, huh?

9) Jarrod Saltalamacchia-Let me spell that again, just in case you missed it. S-a-l-t-a-l-a-m-a-c-c-h-i-a.  (If you were wondering, yes it is the longest name in MLB history (except for Juan Pablo Martin Sanchez Coralamimadandatimafalainez of the Brooklyn Dodgers-I'm fully aware that was absolutely ridiculous.  Excuse my obnoxiousness).  The Sox recently signed Jason Varitek to a 1-year/2 mill contract, so it's presumable that he and Saltalamacchia (yes, spelled it right again without looking!) will split playing time.  JS will get the majority of games behind the plate, but don't be surprised to see JV in there multiple times a week.

     THIS LINEUP IS INCREDIBLE.  If Beckett and Lackey improve, and Lester and Buchholz remain as dominant as they were last year, the Sox will be superb.  Yes, I know it's only December, but Spring Training is less than four months away...  There's a lot to be excited about in Beantown.  The Celts are on fire, the Pats are unbeatable, and the Bruins are unflappable.  But the Sox...well the Sox are unbelievable...and that's an understatement.  (Like how I incorporated the un, un, un, un, un there?  I was personally pretty proud of it).

     Right now I'm invested in the C's and Pats, but when baseball season rolls around, I'll be excited.  Theo Epstein and the rest of the ownership has compiled one hell of a lineup.  This will be good.