Here is a picture that was sent to me by a friend that catches Tommy Lasorda taking a catnap during a Dodgers spring training game last week against the Nationals. See it does prove that spring training games are in fact boring.

In a follow up to a post made earlier this morning, my wildest dream for the Red Sox has come true. According to a report from the babealicious Erin Andrews at ESPN and Red Sox resident blogger Curt Schilling, the Red Sox will be announcing that Jonathan Papelbon will be the closer for the 2007 season for the Red Sox.

I truly respect what Schilling is doing by writing his blog. But I have a problem with him announcing this when in fact, it’s not officially been announced by the Red Sox. It’s one thing when the media is trying to track down a story and reports that it might happen but there hasn’t been an official announcement. It’s another thing when you have the inside information and you decide to publish it in your blog. Couldn’t Schilling have eluded to the fact that he would have liked to see Papelbon as the closer this season. I have to wonder if the Red Sox will address this with Schilling.

As for me, I will have more on this once an official announcement has been made. I know I have always said I wanted Papelbon to be the closer for the Red Sox this season but that was me just expressing my feelings as a fan. I do not consider myself a baseball talent evaluator by no means. If I was, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here blogging about this to you, the reader.

Much to the surprise of Terry Francona on Wednesday, there was a face that decided he was going to make the trip up to Bradenton to face the Pirates. The face, well the title gave it away already, was Manny Ramirez.

“He said he was bored, and he wanted to play,” manager Terry Francona said with a laugh.

First, he talks to the media after how many years. Second, he is asking on spring road trips which he rarely ever goes on. My guess is he was bored because his friend’s grill ad on Ebay got pulled. Actually, I think it is great. He obviously isn’t feeling comfortable enough or where he wants to be at the plate right now and felt that getting to face pitching in a game situation was better than easy workout back at the Fort.

Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for Manny with his attitude. He has probably one of the greatest work routines when it comes to preparing his swing. I truly hope that all this dedication and hard work that Manny has put in pays off with big numbers for him and a win in the World Series for the Red Sox.

By the way, it wasn’t a full moon when Manny decided to speak to the media.

Interesting stories coming out of Red Sox camp right now. The Sox are going to name their closer next week and its down to the following people, Joel Piñero, Brendan Donnelly and Julian Tavarez. Did I mention Jonathan Papelbon? Probably not but since I always thrown him when we talk about the closer’s situation, I had to include him.

In all seriousness, I came across two distinctively different articles. One discussing the that the closer is going to be one of three minus Papelbon and I came across another that said don’t count out Papelbon just yet. It was interesting to listen to Steve Phillips, Orel Hershiser, Dickie V and Dan Shulman talk about Papelbon being the closer. Amazingly they were all in agreement that Paps should be the closer. Phillips even suggested that they could protect him but not using him as much. Now if Dickie V says he should be the closer, I might not listen, but he is actually very knowledgeable about the game. But he’s a Yankees fan so his opinion to me doesn’t count.

As we had heard during the beginning of spring training, the main reasons for Papelbon not closing was that the doctors said it would be best for him to throw with a regular routine. Well now that might not be the case anymore due to the strengthening program that Paps does.

“I’ve talked to a million doctors. For me, it wouldn’t matter what I do, start or close,” he said. “My shoulder is still going to stay healthy because I’m going to stay on my program and do what it takes, no matter what kind of pitching I do. I’m going to keep my arm healthy. So, (my role) is kind of irrelevant.”

Well, your role isn’t irrelevant. Because no matter where you are pitching this season, Mr. Papelbon, you are an important piece to the puzzle. So if the doctors are saying that he can pitch as the closer, what’s the holdup? He’s obviously the best closer candidate available. Unless they got a front line closer in a trade, there’s no one out there that can get the job done. Papelbon is even receptive to going back into the bullpen.

“My door is always open to better a ballclub. That’s what it boils down to. If it betters a ballclub, my door is open, let’s talk about it, figure it out,” Papelbon said when asked if he would listen to a plea to return to the role in which he dominated last season. “For me, I’m going to do what’s best for the team. If they go out and get somebody, or somebody finally steps up, and says, ‘Hey, I want this role’ . . . then we go about our business, and everyone’s happy.

So let’s see here. He wouldn’t mind closing if it was going to help the ballclub. So what the f*&* is Theo and company waiting for? His spot in the rotation is easily replaceable with the likes of one Jon Lester or even Kasan Gabbard. It would not at all surprise me that when the Red Sox announce who the closer is that you hear Papelbon’s name get called.

Bad news for former UCONN Huskies star, Charlie Villanueva. The Milwaukee Bucks announced on Wednesday that Charlie will miss the rest of the season due to a recurring shoulder injury. He is schedule to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome shoulder to determine what is causing the pain.

Villanueva has been bothered by different injuries throughout the season and really hasn’t had the impact that he had hoped to have in his first season with the Bucks. Hopefully the injury isn’t serious and Villanueva will be ready for the start of the 2007-2008 season.

Coach Jim Calhoun announced that another player from his roster will be transferring. This time it is sophomore guard Rob Garrison. Garrison had been brought in at the last moment his freshman season when AJ Price and Marcus Williams got arrested during “laptop gate.” Garrison played a limited role in the 2005-2006 season and had his ass permanently implanted in the bench this season.

“He has indicated to me, and I have indicated to him, about transferring,” Calhoun said. “My assumption, based upon our conversation, is that he is going to transfer. He just hasn’t made his mind up on what schools he wants.”

Garrison hasn’t decided as to where he will transfer yet but I am sure he will be glad to get out of dodge.

“I have decided to explore my options and look into the possibility of transferring to another school,” Garrison said. “I have enjoyed my time here at Connecticut on and off the court, but I think I owe it to myself to make sure I am getting the most out of my college experience.”

This now gives the Huskies two scholarships for next season. Calhoun also said that a third player is on the fence right now as to whether or not he will transfer. I am not going to speculate here on this at all but my guess is Doug Wiggins.