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World Series Journal: Day 1
A first-hand account of the World Series from Arlington, Texas


Currently, as I write this to you, I’m sitting in the apartment of Red Sox Nation Governor of Texas, Johnny Matthews. I was here in August for the Red Sox’ three-game series against the Rangers, and to be honest, it feels like I never left.

When I came down to Arlington over the summer, I traveled with a friend of mine from back home in Saugus. His name’s Mike. To give you a little background on Mike, we played high school baseball together. He is far more superior of a pitcher than I am, but before the summer, I gave him a hard time because I had thrown a no-hitter (thirteen strikeouts) and he had never accomplished the feat. He responded by throwing two over the summer, and hitting a walk-off home run en route to Saugus' Senior Babe Ruth Championship.

Anyhow, when Mike and I were in Texas this past summer, the both of us had prophesies. With the Red Sox’ season seemingly lost after a crushing walk-off home run by Nelson Cruz, I...

Long overdue
Tim Wakefield wins the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award


(Boston.com) -- Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield has been named the recipient of the 2010 Roberto Clemente award, an award given annually to the player who "combines a dedication to giving back to the community with outstanding skills on the baseball field."

In a game that had become notorious for outrageous amounts of money, controversial players and liars, Tim Wakefield reminds us all that there are far more "good guys" in our beloved sport than – well, I’ll just come out and say it – guys like Alex Rodriguez.

In its now 40-year history, Wakefield has been nominated eight times, finally taking home his first Roberto Clemente Award for all of the generous work that he and his wife Stacy have done within the Boston community.

"Every one of those definitions [he fits]," said Jimmy Fund chairman, Mike Andrews. "I would say this is long overdue. He should have gotten ...

Ortiz: I'll be back [with the Red Sox in 2011]
David Ortiz vows a return to Boston next season, and perhaps beyond


(Boston.com) -- Big Papi said the Red Sox have yet to tell him whether they will pick up his $12.5 million contract option for next season. That deadline comes three days after the World Series. Ortiz said he was confident he would remain with the team next season.

General manager Theo Epstein will have his hands full with marquee names such as Victor Martinez, Adrian Beltre and Jason Varitek set to hit free agency this offseason, but David Ortiz is confident that he will not don a new jersey for the first time since 2002.

"We're going to talk next week," said Ortiz on Tuesday night at the TD Garden.

As mentioned above, Ortiz has a $12.5 million club option remaining on the four-year, $52 million contract that the slugger signed with Boston back in 2006, the last year of the three-year deal he had previously signed with the Red Sox.

Since the ink dried on Orti...

Championships cannot be bought
Texas Rangers advance to first World Series in franchise history over Yankees


On July 9, The New York Post reported that Yankees were on the "brink of trading a top prospect for Cliff Lee." Baseball fans far and wide were crashing their foreheads to the keyboard in front of them, as it had appeared that the Yankees were on their way to purchasing another World Series title.

Even with the Rangers' ownership situation still uncertain, Texas general manager Jon Daniels was able to swing a deal with the Seattle Mariners with Justin Smoak as the centerpiece, stunning the baseball world. It was reported by multiple sources that Lee to the Yankees was "imminent," but the Mariners said if Smoak is included in a deal, Lee is a Ranger.

When news broke that Cliff Lee was headed to Arlington, and not the Bronx, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the Yankees were "livid with the Mariners." However, their kicking and screaming didn’t deliver their sought-after left-handed ace. From July 10 forward, coincidentally, the Rangers and Yankees went on to finis...

Spit Gate: Yankee Stadium
Shocker: Cliff Lee's wife spit on by fans at Yankee Stadium


(USA Today) -- Perhaps the Rangers' greatest sales pitch simply was having Kristen sit in the visiting family section at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs. She says there were ugly taunts. Obscenities. Cups of beer thrown. Even fans spitting from the section above.

"The fans did not do good things in my heart," Kristen says. "When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it's hard not to take it personal."

I feel bad for poor Kristen here, but when I read this story, the first thing I felt was not disgust, but joy.

Why joy? Because if there is anything that Mark Teixeira has proven to me over the course of his life, other than the fact that he is the biggest dork in baseball, it's that what the Mrs. says, goes.

Had Mumbles Menino made part of his platform to institute more shopping locations in Boston, maybe Teixeira would be the Red Sox' first basema...

Francona: 'They just got better'
Blue Jays name former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell as new manager


(BlueJays.com) -- Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos likes to say that he tries to leave no stone unturned when it comes to organizational decisions. That certainly can be said for his exhaustive search to find the next manager of his ballclub.

Anthopoulos' hunt came to an end on Monday with the hiring of John Farrell to be the 12th full-time manager in Blue Jays franchise history, a hiring made in hopes that the Red Sox pitching coach for the past four seasons will help the team gain more ground in the American League East after this year's 85-77 record and fourth-place finish.

With my finger constantly always on the pulse of Boston baseball, I have heard more than once that John Farrell would make an excellent manager in the major leagues.

In 2011, we will see what Farrell is capable of doing at the helm for the first time for an up-and-comi...

One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk Now On Sale!
Jared Carrabis' debut book hits the online store today!


Here it is folks, the long awaited, 352 page book by Red Sox Massachusetts Governor Jared Carrabis. 2 years in the making, we're proud to finally offer it for sale to the fans of Red Sox Nation. Foreword by Jerry Remy! Pick one up and support Jared's efforts today!

Each ordered book will ALSO receive a FREE 12"x18" full color poster of the book's cover!

Want Jared to sign your book? Want a short inscription written to someone by the author himself? Write your one sentence or less inscription copy in the comments at checkout, and Jared will personally inscribe and sign your book!

Teaser:

One Fan’s Story is just that – the story of one Boston Red Sox fan, Jared Carrabis – but it’s everybody’s story, really. Through Carrabis’ experiences we get to live out our fantasies as a fan of the Sox, the game of baseball, and even the game of life. From the first time the author walks up that ramp as an eight year old boy and gets his first view of the green grass and th...