The following questions and comments were good enough to make it out of the Spam folder and onto the Mailing List;

Mike asks; “Ted, where do you predict the Sox will end up in the AL East this year?�

As it stands right now Mike, the Red Sox look like a 2nd place team in the East. I believe the Yankees have too much lumber and just enough pitching to survive the long haul of 162-games and beat out Boston’s Boys of Summer again. I’m also a bit worried about Toronto stepping it up a level and giving Boston a run for its money. However, I do believe the Sox have enough firepower to win about 95-games and prevail in the Wild Card race over the Blue Jays, Angels, and Twins. (I figure the Indians and A’s to win their respective divisions) Now, if you want to know what I think about the playoffs, I believe the Red Sox, with the combo of a healthy Schilling and Beckett, are better positioned to win a best of seven series than the Evil Empire. But it’s a long way till then, and getting there might be a scary proposition.

The Red Sox-Yankees debate will no doubt heat up with spring training right around the corner. It’s already been a constant cause for debate on this blog as Louis Cypher chimed in with these thoughts on the Roger Clemens rumors;

Rocket called me today and we spoke about the offer. He just wants to know if the Sox and the press have any memory whatsoever about what happened when he left. He also told me that it would be a different situation if the Yanks had put up the offer. "Now that's a class organization and I'd really have to put some thought in it" said Roger. He also went on to say that "Manny being Manny thing shouldn't be taken so harshly. Heck, how come they haven't come out with a Theo being Theo shirt yet? Group of idiots"

Yankees fans are now having imaginary conversations with the Rocket Man. Nice! Let me know when you hear from The Babe and Joltin Joe!

Legend Killer responded with a list of “classy� Yankees including Steve Howe, Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden, then quoted President Bush in saying of New England born Yankees fans; “You’re either with us, or against us!�

Only a true Red Sox fan could equate the Evil Empire with the war on terror!

Of course, the loudest statement in the Sox-Yanks rivalry was delivered by our own Lowell Spinners who offered to pay for the uniforms of any Little League team that changed its name from Yankees to Spinners. That promotion drew plenty of response on Sports Talk;

KarenV; “The Spinners franchise is wonderful to all the youth organizations. When I changed the name of my softball team last year from the Yankees to the Spinners, it was in part to pay respect to the great things they do. I'm glad that they took this idea and ran with it.�

JesusSavesThorntonScores: “This has got to go down in history as the greatest sports team promotion ever! Its owners/management teams like this that deserves the success and the support from the fans that they receive. They have accomplished an amazing feat: They managed to get tons of free promotion, put smiles on faces of Red Sox fans everywhere AND give back to the community. I'll take 4 season tickets please!�

T2; “That's great! I mean, how often do you get a chance to dump on the Yankees and support your local team at the same time. Pretty ingenious. Lowell's citizens are proud to have one of the elite minor league organizations in the nation.�

Finally, JesusSavesThorntonScores checked back in with some thoughts on the Flying Tomato; “Not only is the nickname funny....Did anyone watch his interview after the qualifying round....Any Olympic Gold medal winner that uses "tripping about it" and "stoked" in a worldwide broadcast is ok by me. He is Jeff Spiccoli! How did he get by the drug tests?�

Which is something I wonder about some of my readers…..especially the Yankees fans!

Keep the comments coming!!!