Boston Red Sox

Major League Baseball is concerned with the time it takes to play games, believing that the sport is suffering because games take nearly three hours (on average) to play. For the last four or five years, the league has attempted to address the issue, going so far as to implement measures designed to pick up the pace of the game, including reducing time between pitches and the hitter’s ability to step out of the batter’s box.

But apparently, umpire Joe West doesn’t think the Red Sox or Yankees care to cooperate.

I never imagined in my wildest dreams that the temperature for an early season Red Sox game would break 50 degrees.

But 92 degrees with no humidity on April 7?

Can you say GLO-BAL WARM-ING?

Damn did I luck out or what? Not only did I get Red Sox-Yankees tickets, but the weather was more like August than April!

It took only two games into season for Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz to blow a gasket at the media. Here is what Ortiz had to say after his 0-for-7 start.

“Good,” he said, turning to face the reporters encircling him. “You guys wait ’til [expletive] happens, then you can talk [expletive]. Two [expletive] games, and already you [expletives] are going crazy."

Red Sox Nation has a voracious appetite for all things Red Sox, and the Boston media does everything it can to ensure The Nation will have plenty to read about.

The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The Providence Journal, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, The Lawrence Eagle-Tribune, numerous other newspapers, NESN, NECN , the sports departments of at least five television stations, ad infinitum—all of these media outlets battle one another for readership/viewership.

Curtis Granderson’s leadoff home run in the top of the tenth inning off of Jonathan Papelbon broke a 1-1 tie, as New York won their second straight with a 3-1 victory over Boston Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

What I’m Reading

• Pedro Martinez is still out there. He’s available. He even threw a side session at Fenway on Opening Day. What’s in store for his future , though?

David Ortiz went on a profanity-laced tirade against reporters who questioned his 0-for-7 start this season. Ortiz is the only Red Sox regular without a hit after two games. 

But that's just it; only two games have been played and perhaps it's premature to question Ortiz after just seven at-bats.

Red Sox “Ace” Josh Beckett signed a four-year, $68-million contract extension early this week to remain with Boston through the 2014 season. The signing effectively locked in the bulk of the Red Sox’ rotation for years to come and calmed the nerves of many the Fenway Faithful.

Fantasy owners—and Red Sox fans for that matter—beware.

The Red Sox pulled quite a rabbit out of their financial hat on Monday, locking up pitcher Josh Beckett with a four-year, $68 million deal.

I must admit, I was very surprised to hear they worked out such an economical deal. When Boston inked former Angel John Lackey to a much more luxurious five-year, $82.5 million deal, it was easy to assume Beckett would be gone.

Your first round drafts are Albert Pujols (Stl), Hanley Ramirez (Fl), Alex Rodriguez (NYY), Ryan Braun (Mil), Chase Utley (Phil), and Mark Teixeira (NYY). Any fantasy team owner would be happy ending up with one of those guys as their first pick on a snake draft.