The big news of the day yesterday was the announcement of Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia being named American League MVP. I gathered up some reaction from the announcement last night and you can see it by clicking here.
The other news of the day involving Pedroia and the MVP vote was the fact that Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News kept Pedroia entirely off his ballot. It was the only ballot that Pedroia was left off. For the record, he did vote Kevin Youkilis as his MVP.
When will Pedroia turn these awards into a new long-term contract?
The boys over at the Big Show on WEEI had some fun with Grant yesterday afternoon. Here’s a quick sample:
(There is no way somebody who watches the game of baseball and say Dustin Pedroia is not in the Top 10 candidates) Grant: I can only tell you as the month of September takes place I constantly put together an MVP ballot. I look at the entire season. After many conversations with players in the past I kind of changed my tune a bit. Most players have told me you shouldn’t value September over everything else because it is a 162-game season and you can’t because Carlos Quentin was hurt in September he can’t be considered …
(Yes you can) Grant: Well, that’s your opinion. I will be happy to tell your listening audience and all of New England that if they feel I was wrong in leaving Dustin off the ballot that opinion is entirely acceptable to me. But to suggest I don’t watch the game or to suggest I don’t know what is going on is a little bit unfair.
Here is the full transcript and a link to the clip from Grant’s appearance on the Big Show.
By the way, Rob Neyer of ESPN.com thought the MVP should have been Joe Mauer.
You can now count the Red Sox as one of the teams interested in the services of free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett. Courtesy of Kat O’Brien of Newsday:
A source close to Burnett said that a half-dozen teams are in contention for his services: the Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Braves, Phillies and Orioles. The Red Sox, the source said, have significantly increased their involvement in the pitcher in the past 36 hours and are now “fully engaged.”
I guess the big question is whether or not the Red Sox are serious in their intentions or are they just trying to drive the price up on the Yankees and their open checkbook this offseason. One thing’s for sure, if you asked any member of the Red Sox whether they would want him or not, I don’t think you’d find anyone that would say no since they can’t beat Burnett. If you can’t beat them, join ’em. In this case, it would be the Red Sox trying to join forces with Burnett.
The Red Sox will not be making an offer to C.C. Sabathia.
Dan over at Red Sox Monster found some pictures of Big Papi’s birthday party in the Dominican Republic. By the way, it was Big Papi’s birthday yesterday.
The biggest fan of the Red Sox in Lee County, FL may be Ray Judah.
Tim Wakefield is proud to be an inspiration to the Japanese girl who was drafted last week.
The Red Sox signed Paul McAnulty to a minor league contract.
