ADN

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein confirmed Sunday that Jonathan Papelbon would enter spring training as a starting pitcher

Epstein said that it's the opinion of the medical staff that the switch would be the best thing for Papelbon's long-term health. A rotation including Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Papelbon and Tim Wakefield looks good on paper, but the Red Sox will have to add quality relievers and there are few out there in free agency. The club could look to take a chance on Eric Gagne or Kerry Wood, but it could use a couple of sure things, too.

Source: ESPN

Baker won't be back with the Cubs... is that supposed to be a bad thing?

Baker is a decent manager, but he needed to move on, and Chitown wants someone different. Maybe someone who knows how to use a bullpen....

What are the chances the Cubs go get Joe Girardi?? I would LOVE that!! You know he's got a great "baseball mind" - all catchers do, and seemingly all former catchers make good managers. Plus, Girardi won 20+ more games with the Marlins and their $15,000,000 payroll than the Cubs and their $100,000,000 payroll.... hmmmm.....

Does anyone else read Bill Simmons on ESPN.com? Here's a great quote from his playoff diary yesterday:

"Cheap double by Marcus Thames to start the third. Is there a more secretly confusing at-bat than Thames (pronounced "Tims") battling Wang (pronounced "Wong"). Too bad Dick Enberg couldn't announce this game."

"6:32 -- Wait a second, that's Pudge Rodriguez? I didn't even recognize him! He looks skinnier than J-Lo's husband. Somebody needs to tell Pudge that it's not a good idea to randomly lose 25 pounds after a season in which you were swamped by steroid rumors. Get this guy some ice cream and fried dough."

"6:46 -- And the Tigers are on the board! Monroe just homered to dead center; 5-1, Yanks. Since Leyland can't smoke in the dugout, he's eating cigarettes three at a time right now. "

"6:59 -- All right, I'll ask: Is there a reason why the Giambino always looks like he just finished having raucous sex with a stripper in a 110-degree room at the Motel 6 in Vegas at 4:30 in the morning? I mean, he is COVERED in sweat. It's unbelievable. He looks like Ray Liotta in the last 30 minutes of "Goodfellas." He just got hit by another pitch. "

QUOTE(jacquejonessucks @ Oct 4 2006, 08:58 AM) What are the chances the Cubs go get Joe Girardi?? I would LOVE that!! You know he's got a great "baseball mind" - all catchers do, and seemingly all former catchers make good managers. Plus, Girardi won 20+ more games with the Marlins and their $15,000,000 payroll than the Cubs and their $100,000,000 payroll.... hmmmm.....

I think Girardi would fit in well with the Cubs. Who knows who they will actually grab though

I'd be surprised if Girardi ends up with the Cubs. They have bigger problems this offseason and their woes this year were not due to Baker. My opinion is he goes to the Rangers. I think he's a much better fit there than in Chicago.

Joe Torre isn't a great manager. All he has to do is fill out his lineup card with whatever all-star combination he chooses, and go get his pitcher when he starts to give up gopher balls. Not real complicated when you have a $200M payroll.

The Yankees need to take a page from the Twins and A's and put together a TEAM of complimentary parts, not just go get the biggest name on the market each off-season.

No, Torre is a great manager. See what he did in the late 90's with the Yanks. He is one of the best managers in the Majors. The problem with the Yanks is Steinbrenner. He won't let Cashman and Torre run the team. They are around the players and know what they need

I agree with jacquejonessucks about Torre. If I were the owner of the Yankees Torre and Cashman would have been gone after the Red Sox came back and beat them a couple of years ago. Series like that don't happen to great managers. Steinbrenner may not be the greatest owner but if the GM and the manager can't get a $200 million dollar team past the first round, then somebody has to get the boot.

RIP Cory Lidle.