Ball???? What ball???? OH THAT BALL!!!!!

See that guy in the picture above, to the left??

The one jumping up and down???
( Not Rent-a-wreck )

Thats Doug Mientkiewicz.

He is the guy that Red Sox pitcher Keith Foulke tossed the ball to make the final out of the 2004 World Series.

Well he was a ...cough cough...a Yankee ..cough..cough.... last year..

Yesterday he signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates so he is no longer a member of the EE~~~ and that is a good thing.

He will be fighting for a position in the Majors with Pittsburgh. If he does not strut his stuff in Spring Training he will be shipped off to the Minors.

He was out for half of the 2007 season with the Yankees due to a minor collision with Mike Lowell at 1st base on the June 2nd game.... oh well ...thats what happens when you go play for the Yankees!!!!
( Heaven be praise that Mikey was un-harmed during the mishap)
And I might add that the accident happened because of a lousy throw to first from Jeter!!!
The wild throw caused Doug to enter the field of play on Lowell and Lowell had no time to alter course thus smacking his pal in the head with his thigh!!!
Dougies head snapped and a few other things snapped and he was driven off the field in the crash cart!!

So Dougie...hope thing pan out for you and you make a lot of PIRATE BOOTY!!!

IF you remember that Doug kind of kept that final out ball and would like to read a funny article about it well click HERE!!!

What is this man thinking?

Photo borrowed from Amalie Benjamin Globe Staff


Perhaps he's thinkin' ' Man....3 MILLION bucks ..for one year!!! And next year....even BIGGER bucks...like.. 6-8 MILLION!!!!!!!!! ..Yea..thats the ticket !!!!!! '

And he's thinkin' .. ' I'm in the money...I'm in the money!!!! '


And good for him.

He has earned it.

After bustin' his butt last year at first and winning a Golden Glove for a mere $424,500.00.

I am glad to see him back.

Just think how boring it would be with out him......

1) The spectacular plays at first where he gets the out even on balls thrown to him which were way of course.... I remember a few space balls thrown by Lugo which Youk stopped from flying into the stands and ...God forbid I say this..a couple from Lowell!!! ( Yes, I love Mikey, but he is human after all!!)

2) Watching all that sweat pouring from his helmet..even when it 60 degrees out.

3) Watching him shoot dirty looks to the Ump on questionable balls....

4) Watching him slam his helmet down when called out by said umpire on a questionable strike...

5) Seeing him cuss up a storm when he is ticked.

6) Watching him go after a pitcher crazy enough to throw a ball inside a bit too much........like flying over his hunched up back too much!!!!!

Youk and the Sox finally signed the contract on the 10th of Feb. Geesh it took a while.

I was surprised to see only a 1 year deal but thinking about it he has the chance this way to earn a ton of coin down the road..... heck even Lugo made 8.25 Million last year.......can you believe that??? Playing like he did (Lugo) and making that much money???? Cripes!!! There is only about 3 and a half years difference between them.... Maybe Lugo should give Youk 50 Grand for every bad throw he heaves at 1st and Youk saves from hitting some poor fan behind first.... It could be called....a Performance Penalty ( and for Youk..a Performance Bonus).

Well any way...CHEERS and HATS OFF to you, Youk!!!! You started out as a 3 baseman and have found Heaven and Earth in the RSN as a First baseman!

May this contract be just the first of many with the Red Sox!!!!

YYYYOOOOOOUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deal is Sealed: Our Boys are Safe!!

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the RSN tonight when it was announced that the deal between Johan Santana and the Mets has become official.

Johan only has to pass a physical on Saturday.

His deal has given him a six year extension to his existing contract which will be $137.5 Million plus a $7 Million signing bonus on his 2008 salary. So he gets a tad over $150.7 over seven years which is about $22Million per year.......

The Mets fans must be in 7th heaven this evening with a team that is a sure WS contender.

We in the RSN can sleep well tonight knowing our boys (Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Jacoby Ellsbury, Justin Maserson , Jed Lowrie and possibly Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo) are safe and sound in the RED SOX Crib!!!