the Red Sox Christmas list

seems like the Sox should be just about finished with their holiday shopping at this point...

Acquisition #1
JD Drew (though why he calls himself JD when his name is David Jonathan is being well-debated)

and here's a take on ol' JD that has me back in the camp of nervous about all this money the Sox are dropping in pinstripe-esque fashion on players that aren't really making anyone quiver in their cleats:
"With J.D. Drew, the Red Sox brass are citing all kinds of statistics, including his great on-base percentage and spinning the deal for their fans. But look at all the stats you want, I still think it's more important to look closely at the man. J.D. Drew is a nice player, but he's also a guy who has averaged just 118 games a year. Unless you're David Ortiz, it's also not easy being a left-handed power hitter at Fenway Park. And Drew is not the kind of southpaw swinger who is going to be peppering shots off the left-field wall... "I'll say one thing. Scott Boras is a terrific agent who sells his players well and apparently Boston bought into it. To be honest about it, I think they should have simply re-signed Trot Nixon. I'm not saying that Drew is a bad sign, I'm simply saying I wouldn't have given him all that money. He's also a very selective hitter who will have to expand the zone in run-producing situations. In other words, he can't always take ball four on a pitch that's maybe an inch or two off the plate... "
(Kevin Kennedy, FoxSports.com)

Acqusition #2
Julio Lugo

listen, i didn't like seeing him when he played for the Rays. i was actually kind of happy when they traded him away so i wouldn't have to see him on my local station anymore. now if they would drop Jorge Cantu and Carl Crawford, it would make those of us displaced members of RSN banished to central Florida a little less nauseated when forced to watch "the local team." i digress. my point is that the Boston organization seems to have a fascination (obsession?) with one Julio Lugo, scumbag extraordinaire, who really doesn't do much to impress out on the field. a cardboard cutout of Alex Gonzalez would have fewer errors than Lugo. (A-Gon played in 111 games in 2006, committing only 7 errors, to Lugo's 16 errors in 81 games played.) so. that's that. can't you feel my thrill at having him as the Boston short stop? ::eye roll::

Acquisition #3
Daisuke Matsuzaka

(photo borrowed from Boston Dirt Dogs)
there are so many claims that this much sought after contract is a great deal (pending the results of his physical) in the long run. i am still little more than cautiously optimistic until we can see this guy in action. and lest we forget, the actual cost to pick this guy up is double the contract amount when you factor in the fee the Sox will now have to cough up just for the fun they've had dealing with Scott Boras.

Acquisition #4
and this one makes me the happiest of all, though it was the least hyped, and probably is the least popular of the four among many Red Sox fans -- but not *this* fan!

another season of The Wakabelli Show! i know that he isn't hitting the ball onto Lansdowne Street on a regular basis, but maybe these words from Basegirl will help to ease the minds of you skeptics: "I figure it's a case of the evil you know vs. the evil you don't know. Or do we all want to re-live the Josh Bard Experiment?"

now all we want for Christmas is a lights-out closer... i never thought i would say this, but this little starting rotation "speculation" from Surviving Grady actually makes me feel... dare i say... confident.
Schilling
Matsuzaka
Beckett
Wakefield
Tavarez
...leaving Papelbon to return to shuttin' 'em down.

pick your jaws up off the floor. yes, i said, Tavarez. as in, Julian. but after this performance late last season, i would take him as a #5 starter, if nothing else until Jon Lester is back up to par:
BOS 7 TOR 1
WP: Tavarez (4-4)
LP: Lilly (14-13)
BOS Tavarez: CG, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K