Blog Watch

I've been MIA for a few days. Here's what's shaking around the Sox Blogosphere:

Gordon Edes answers your questions with Springing Ahead. Here's two:

Q: Who do you think will have a bigger bounce-back season in 2008, J.D. Drew, or Manny Ramirez? Also, what are your projections for both of them? - Mike Anderson, Bristol, R.I.

A: Mike, that's a great question. I haven't laid eyes on either guy yet, though J.D. stopped by the complex Monday to drop off his stuff. J.D. hit .393 the last three weeks of the season, then .314 in the postseason. Granted, a small sample size, but he looked much more like the player the Sox thought they were getting when they signed him to a five-year, $70 million deal. He obviously had a tough adjustment period last season, and had the health issues of his son to worry about as well, so I think on many levels this will be a much more comfortable environment for him. I think he'll be settled in more, and I don't think people will set the bar as high for him as they did last season. The lack of power was a puzzle-just 11 home runs-but I see him easily returning to a 15-20 HR range. He's just 32, so yes, I predict a good bounce-back season for him. Manny? He'll be 36 on May 30, and the injuries are starting to catch up-patellar tendinitis in '06, oblique muscle in '07. But his future employment is at stake here-will the Sox pick up the $20 million options they hold on '09 and '10-so we might see what Manny looks like in a salary drive year. He clearly was still one of the game's most dangerous hitters last October, and I expect he'll play at a high level again this season.

Q: The Indians cut Trot Nixon so what is he doing is he getting back in the game and has anyone picked him up. - Joe Mariano, Hubbard, Ohio

A: Joe, Trot recently went to audition for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who also invited some other clubs to check him out. I just checked this morning, and he hasn't signed with anyone yet. His back problems and declining numbers have scared off a lot of clubs. He'll always be respected in this town, though.

ESPN has this on Trot: Arizona's starting outfield is set for 2008 with Eric Byrnes in left field, Chris Young in center and Justin Upton in right, but the Diamondbacks might be in the market for a left-handed bat off the bench as corner man Chad Tracy rehabilitates from offseason knee surgery. Tracy recently suffered a blot clot in the knee and isn't scheduled to begin running until Feb. 24. It's questionable whether he'll be ready Opening Day.

Extra Bases is reporting that the Sox made an offer to lefty starter Odalis Perez, but it looks like he's leaning towards Washington.

If you're still not convinced that Manny is primed for a huge year, here's what D-Rays centerfielder Carl Crawford had to say about seeing manny in Arizona:

"Who did I see?" Crawford said. "Oh man, guess what? Manny was there. He was working hard too. Manny might have a big year this year, watch out for that. He’s working hard, it surprised me. Something must be going on."

Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew and David Ortiz have arrived in Fort Myers. Out in Centerfield has a cool post on Ellsbury and his new modeling career.

Speaking of Mullets... Yahoo! Sports plugged The Bottomline's post about Daisuke new hair style. Here's what Tito thinks:

"I'm probably not the right person to comment on hair. I'm at a little bit a of disadvantage there."

Red from Surviving Grady is not ashamed of his Tim Wakefield man-crush... and niether am I. Check out a list of players who have come and gone since Wake's arrival in Boston... and then tell me you don't love Tim Wakefield and his 12-15 wins.

And Yanks vs. Sox has some fun tid bits, including one on why the Kason Gabbard for Eric Gagne trade might be the worst trade since we let Ruth go...