Desperate HotStoves

Not to be critical, but the Hot Stove League has largely cooled to the Ice Box League. Fortunately.

Sometimes you are better off if your baseball team, like your health becomes the paragon of boredom. Lately the Front Office, (read Larry Lucchino), hasn't done anything ridiculous (literally to be ridiculed), although the centerfield market has gotten pretty slim. The Boston Globe mentioned a scenario where Gary Payton (the cancer) returns via a Wells trade. Heck, I bet Justin Sherrod could play good defense, hit .250 with 10 homers, and not be a total embarrassment. Yes, and he'll come cheap.

The big discussion (if you define big as backup first basemen) is the relative merit of Doug Mientkiewicz versus J.T. Snow). Yawn.

About all we can hope for at this point, is Larry not feeling so despondent that he trades more young pitching for mediocre talent in the need to 'do something.' Larry, just remember, you felt it necessary to hold Master Theo's feet to the fire for his every action. You're responsible. You're accountable. Defend your actions or inactions, just in the manner you were in Epstein's face. The NATION IS IN YOUR FACE. If you trade either of the young studs (Papelbon or Lester), then you've betrayed every Red Sox fan born and unborn, and you will likely be remembered even below Harry Frazee.

We can live with Alex Cora at shortstop, maybe even in some kind of platoon with Pedroia. Chances are that some of the geezers you've brought in will find the DL anyway.

Oh yes, we've read Gammons' column how you've agonized over how you've been portrayed. We are sorry that you've suffered and hope that you don't do anything rash, because although most of MLB thinks you are not a decent human being, Peter obviously believes that you are. Perhaps our problem lies in your betrayal of Theo Epstein, whom we consider one of us. So, in effect, you've slighted us. A bitter pill to swallow. SO DON'T DO IT AGAIN.