Here’s a list of 10 observations from a busy and important weekend of sports in New England:
1. The first Red Sox-Yankees series should not be played before the middle of May, at the earliest. It really is a waste of three potentially exciting games and overall atmosphere. It was like a Royals game on Sunday night. I can’t remember the last time a Sox-Yanks tilt felt so unimportant. Frankly, there is too much going on around here. Baseball should save that series for a key time, maybe around Memorial Day. The fact that they play two games and then don’t meet again until late July is perplexing.
2. Manny Ramirez is going to win the MVP. He has continued where he left off last October. He is clutch. He is powerful. He is their lead RBI guy. And he’s still talking, at least a little bit. I believed this the case (him winning MVP) in March. It has been reaffirmed, barring injury. If you ask me, I might take him up on that two-year extension.
3. Josh Beckett needs another start. Really, he is almost there. He has been unhittable for most of his last two performances, tiring in both. He should be near ready to go 7 innings when the Sox meet the Yankees this week (he pitches on Thursday). If he is back to his old self, and things stay on course, the Red Sox will remain the favorites.
4. Frustrating Dice-K rears his ugly ahead again. After looking so good against the Tigers, Daisuke Matsuzaka was as bad against the Yankees. He had no command, which means he couldn’t hit Varitek’s glove if it had been beach ball. Once every six or seven starts is acceptable. Not the two good, one bad, two good, two bad routine he was on later in the season. He had a chance to send a message on Sunday night, but he didn’t follow through.
5. The New England Patriots might indeed be interested in Darren McFadden. As crazy as that sounds, the Patriots were apparently impressed with what they saw in person and especially in the classroom. I doubt he would be around at No. 7, but crazier players have slipped beyond belief. If McFadden is there I say the Patriots go off the board and draft him. Why? Because I believe they believe he is going to be great. Could be interesting.
6. Boston Bruins deserve your attention. I apologize, after the fact. I wish I had gone to the Game 3 playoff game between the Bruins and Canadiens at the Garden. I sensed it would be special day and my senses were indeed on. As bad as the Sox-Yanks game was on Sunday, the Bruins-Habs game was fabulous. It was the first time in a long time, at least a few years, that the Garden rocked for a B’s game. They really need to beat the Canadiens if they want to make a dent now and in the immediate future of the Boston sports scene. Here’s hoping they do.
7. Amazingly, Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, at 33 years old and in only his second season as a No. 1 goalie, is playing in his first playoff games. He has held up marvelously, allowing only seven goals, four in the first game. He literally stole Game 3 last night on his own. He has had a long career, most of which was in the minor leagues. It’s nice to him get his due. The problem is he needs some help on the other end. The Bruins have scored only four goals in three games. Whatever the case, Thomas is earning his stripes.
8. The Celtics are in perfect postion, rested and ready, for next weekend’s playoff opener against the Hawks. It’s nice to rest your best and let the underlings get some work. Because the Eastern Conference is much weaker, top to bottom, the Celtics basically have a week off. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will be the biggest beneficiaries of this boomingly successful season.
9. Boston College hockey deserves big-time kudos. Coach Jerry York is not only one of the classiest people in sports (sorry, if I seem to harp on these nice guys lately, but I can’t help it), but his teams play their best when more is at stake. Among the teams that made it to championship game the last three years, this one might be rated third. But they dominated the Frozen Four, much to the chagrin of college hockey fans west of the northeast. BC, and basically, most schools around here are not well-liked.
10. Staying on BC hockey, junior Nathan Gerbe didn’t get the accolades that fellow 5-foot-5 BC alum Bryan Gionta got at The Heights, but his performance in the Frozen Four, five goals, including his having a hand in all four goals in the championship game, was the stuff of legends. He apparently is prepared to announce that he will forego his senior season and try to make the jump to the NHL. If Gionta, who is one of the most exciting college players I’ve ever seen, can do it than why not Gerbe.
