Sox 5, Yanks 4 in 11 innings

Wow. That game was just – wow. Jason Bay comes up with two outs in the bottom of the ninth against Mariano Rivera, against whom he was 0-4 lifetime with 2 strikeouts. The score? Yankees 4, Red Sox 3. But then he drives a cutter high and deep, but towards the deepest part of Fenway – oh no, it’s going to be caught. It sails back, back, and, somehow, clears the fence by a matter of inches. Everyday Jason Bay sends it to extra innings, and in the 11th, Kevin Youkilis hits a walk-off homer. If there was ever a symbol (since *ahem* 2004) for the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, this game was it. The Yankees came into town with all their shiny new free agent acquisitions and self-confidence, and, somehow, some way, Boston wins it against the Sandman. I know it’s early, but that kind of game is why I watch baseball.

Sox round into form quickly, sweep Orioles and Twins

What a difference a week makes. After a disappointing 2-6 start, the Red Sox have become the hottest team in baseball, winning seven straight games. During this stretch, the offense has really exploded, and Sox have outscored their opponents by a whopping margin of 55-20. They’ve summarily dominated their competition.

2009 Offseason: Sox settle arbitration cases, trade Aardsma

Two names were left on the salary arbitration docket, and Theo Epstein settled both of them today. Jonathan Papelbon signed a one-year, $6.25M deal, while Javier Lopez will get $1.35M for 2009. It was really just a matter of time, as the Red Sox have yet to go to arbitration with a player under Epstein’s tenure as GM.

Sox finish contracts, Papelbon signs for $755k

The Red Sox finalized the contracts of 18 players today, including that of their closer. Things seemed to go smoothly, as the Sox didn’t have to renew anyone outright, which can be a bad sign of player/club relations.

Well, Jonathan Papelbon got what he wanted. By signing a one-year deal for $755,000 today, he became the highest paid pre-arbitration closer in Major League history. From the Sox’ point of view, I think it demonstrates how much they value Papelbon, and they did the right thing by not letting this become an unnecessary issue, especially over a few hundred thousand.

Why that number? Well, Mariano Rivera made $750,000 his third full year as a Yankee. It seems Papelbon’s got a stubborn insistence on comparing himself to the future Hall of Famer; that’s fine, as he’s been able to back it up thus far, but I think Paps needs to have a little more respect for those who have gone ahead of him. If you want to get technical, Mo’s contract was from 1998, so in inflation-adjusted dollars, Rivera made a bit more. But whatever. It’s symbolic.

He’ll be earning quite a bit more than his peers, but it’s kind of silly to turn this into a respect thing so early, before players have any say in their salaries, really. Here’s what Joe Nathan had to say about Papelbon’s earlier comments about “setting the standard” for closers his age. Bobby Jenks is perhaps his closest comparable right now, and he’ll be earning $550k in 2008. Whatever floats your boat, Paps.