Yes Indy'd

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo)

It's Media Day at the Super Bowl

Chad Finn Fills You In
And What Is Maria Menounos Wearing?
And Dice-K Throws To Boot

"The spotlight found just about everyone. One moment Aaron Lavarius, No. 60 in your program and probably a who's-he? even to the most diehard Patriots fans, stood alone watching Bill Belichick answer questions from his podium. The next, the practice squad defensive end was being interviewed by Marisol Gonzalez, a Mexican television reporter wearing a red dress that may well have been illegal in Indiana." -- Chad Finn on the Media Day scene in Indy

Everybody's All-American

Whiny Tim: 'I'm American to the Bone'

Just In: Obama Won't Pump Thomas's Tires in State of the Union
New Florida Poll Numbers Are In: Thomas 52%, Romney 21%, Gingrich 9%
There's No "I" in Team But There Sure Is in Tim

"This will go down as one of the most memorable days of my life and career. Between winning [the Winter Classic] and the way that we won, and being named to the US Olympic team ... I've been waiting 30 years for this. I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for this opportunity... It's definitely the oldest dream that I can remember, much older than playing in the NHL, and certainly much older than winning the Vezina Trophy - that was never really a dream until maybe three-quarters of the way through last season, when I realized, 'Oh, I might be pretty close.' So, yeah, it would be unique... It's the Olympics and all I want is for the USA to win." -- Tim Thomas, Team USA goaltender, to The Boston Globe in 2010

Have We Ben Had?

(AP)

McDonald in Left, Sweeney in Right,
Aviles/Punto at Short on Opening Day?
For Reals?

Cherington Trades the Starting Shortstop to the Rockies for Another Potential Pitcher
So This Surely Must Mean Hanley Ramirez Is Coming to Boston, Right?
Is This Really About Saving Pennies for the Shell of Roy Oswalt?
At Least Iglesias Will Be Ready to Hit in 2016

"Marco, last year, played very well, especially the last couple of months of the season, and I know Ben felt the same way. We can take the money and improve our team in other ways... We feel like we have enough coverage at shortstop. Mike Aviles is an interesting player, and the young man is going to get his chance. Obviously, Iglesias can really play defense and I'm looking forward to seeing him. We think we're going to be OK at that position." -- Bobby V towing the company line at the Baseball Writer's Dinner in NYC

The Scutaro Era is Ova

(AP)

Another One Bites the Dust at Shortstop

One Win from Indy

(BDD / A. Bergeron)

Adding Injury to Insult

(Stan Grossfeld / Globe Staff)

Crawford's Wrist Surgery Gets 2012 Off On the Wrong Foot

Carl Crawford Has Surgery on Wrist
Theo's Most Expensive Mistake Goes from Bad to Worse
Now We Know Bobby V Is Just Going to Tell Us What We Want to Hear
He Who Cannot Be Signed Long-Term Thanks to Crawford Gets $8.05 Million
So What Did the Red Sox Docs Know and When Did They Know It?
Wrist Injuries Are No Big Deal. Sincerely, Nomar Garciaparra
How Could This Happen You Ask? Go Ask the Captain
If He Thought John Henry Hated Him Before ...
File Under: Lighting $142 Million on Fire

"I knew he had some problems with his wrist during the season. But I didn't realize until talking to some people close to him this afternoon is that he had several injections during the season. That left wrist was bothering him during the year. He was fine with his bottom hand, had a lot of trouble following through. It bothered him. They figured, well, a couple months off at the end of the season it would be alright. He started hitting right after Christmas, it started bothering him again so he went to doctor Sheridan." -- Peter Gammons on NESN's Hot Stove Live

(BDD / James MacLeod Cartoons)

We Got This!

(BDD Photo Illustration / Mr. Punchy)

Saturday Night's Alright for Winning

Boston.com Has All the Updates from Gillette

(BDD / Mike Briggs Illustration)

Model Citizen?

(ESPN screen image)

Manny Happy Returns... to Boston?

ESPN.com: Right Handed Rock and Role Model Is a Changed Manny
Crawford to Right, Manny Back in Left... Just Thinkin' Out Loud...

"I want to show people that Manny can change, that he can do the right thing. And to show people that I still can play. I don't want to leave the game like I did. I also want to show my kids that if you make a mistake, don't quit. Just go back and fix it. And if you're going to leave, leave the right way." -- Manny Ramirez to ESPN's Pedro Gomez

Sox Take a Look
at Aaron Cook

(Barry Chin / Globe File)

Another Stitched-Up Starter Gets a Shot at the Rotation

Rosenthal: Sox Agree to Deal with Aaron Cook
Shoulder, Finger, Toe, Broken Leg... He'll Fit Right In
Speier: What the Red Sox Got in Aaron Cook

"Since an All-Star 2008 in which he went 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 211 innings, Cook saw his ERA grow every year (from 3.96 to 4.16 to 5.08 to 6.03). His walks and WHIP also got worse on an annual basis, with his ERA+ and innings totals declining every year. Durability has also been an ongoing issue, as he has just two career seasons of 200+ innings, and three seasons of 160 or more innings. Some of that involved freak health issues � for instance, nearly fatal blood clots in his lungs in 2004 � but whatever the reason, he has not been a perennial innings eater." -- Alex Speier, WEEI.com

Frugal Fannies

(AP File)

Silva Lining Is Sox Are Going On 12 Cheap Dates

Let the Tryouts Begin! Carlos Silva, 11 Others Get a Shot to Make the Roster
Sox Expected to Hold More Open Tryouts on Boston Common Next Week
Will The Sox Have Dirt Dogs with True Grit in 2012?

Bailey Fever Spreads Across State

(BDD Photo)

(BDD Photo Illustration / D. Guzman)

Speaking of Big Closers, Is It Lee Smith's Time for a Hall Call?

(BDD / James MacLeod Cartoons)