Boston Hope Springs Anew

It is almost here...waiting to pounce...like spring itself.

The Red Sox season. Approaching to a TV set near you.

Sure, you have heard the hype. The Red Sox can't capture that spirit again. How can they emulate last year's miraculous performance? Lightning can never be caught in a bottle twice.

Well, I am here to tell you that it can. And probably will.

Now, I don't think they will be a 100 win team. However, like Steve Buckley, Lou Merloni, and Mike Felger, I do believe they will be a 92+ win team.  

Here's three reasons why.

STARTING PITCHING: The Sox have a lot of it. They are solid, proven, and performed well last year. They are all veterans - as of now - and even their depth in the minors has experience. This should be a solid strength.

DEPTH: The bench and the bullpen are again first rate. The fact that Jackie Bradley was one of several solid hitters to return to Pawtucket lets you know just how deep this team is. Sure, they may have lost Ellsbury....but he is definitely replaceable. The depth they have around will help replace his production - and others' - and also provide for a smooth year. Incidentally, the PawSox should be pretty darn good, too.

NO PRESSURE: A lot of people think the Sox have pressure to repeat. Sure, last year caught us by surprise, but fans know this team is still in the evolution process. There was a degree of happenchance last year - though everyone knew the misery of the previous year was an aberration. Still, this team was good last year and will be this year. However, fans know that this year is still a step on the journey.

As you can see, there is no doubt that this year, the Sox should be a first place team once again.

Stop Criticizing Celtics Fans

The other day, I heard a ridiculous conversation on WEEI

Minihane and Dennis were actually criticizing the fans who cheered at the Celtics-Heat game for the raucous approval of the Celtics march toward a win.

"Huh?"

I nearly did a triple take in my car, driving to work.

Look, I know Minihane is the Mini-Felger of WEEI. I appreciate his ability - and the need - for him to be positively contrarian.  That works for me...as long as he realizes how annoying he can be.

But to take contrarian to a positively ludicrous step is simply appalling. There is no need to criticize those fans, make fun of their green face pain, or call them "green hats (a true ugly Felgerism if there is one.").

Bottom line - those Celtics tickets cost bucks even if the Celtics stink and are trying to get the best possible pick (I'm on board for that). However, that is not a Celtics fan's problem if they are at the game. Indeed, the emotion of a game with Miami, which has had "mortal enemy" status for a couple of years, is understandable. Paying money for those tickets, which were routinely advertised on the HUB as the cheapest in years for a Miami-Celtics game - allows fans to do that. And sure, if you get swept in that moment, it is perfectly fine to cheer. For 48 minutes, it is fine for a fan to forget about "tanking," to ignore the idea of loosing but developing talent, and for thinking about next year.

It is perfectly fine to cheer on the win.

No Celtics fan - or Green Hat - should apologize.

Minihane knows that. But again, he is stirring the pot.

A pot that clearly says "The Celtics are going to lose a lot more than they will win....but for one moment it is okay to be number one again."