And if all goes down as it appears it might as I sit here now, that is a huge, badass lion with nasty incisors and a hefty appetite.
There's nothing like a solid metaphor, and this case I am clearly referring to the Boston sports scene, here and now. We're looking at potentially bringing in two big time pieces to fill in one puzzle that is damn near complete and a second that is taking shape and looking like it could be a quickly assembled, well constructed masterpiece.
Let's begin with KG entering the scene as soon as today, joining PP and Ray Allen to form a starting lineup that will stand up to any in the NBA and vault the C's from a solid 4 or 5 seed in the East to an odds on favorite to reach the NBA Finals. The fear is that we're dumping our entire bench, with the exceptions of Tony Allen, Big Baby and Leon Powe with a handful of below-average role players like Scal and the Candyman. I'm okay with that, save maybe letting go of Gerald and Gomes. Gerald's departure was imminent; Gomes was one that I hoped wouldn't find a way into this equation. However, you have to be willing to let go of a lot in order to land a superstar like the Big Ticket. (speaking of big ticket, big shout out to my boys Richie and Carl for getting the deal done for season tickets today...excellent work there, chums)
If the C's can manage to pick up a battle-tested veteran over the course of the next several months and perhaps one other piece, the NBA Finals look that much more like a certainty. For the Boston Celtics' fans that have patiently awaited something good to happen over the last 15 or so years, this is a nice payoff. Bad coaching, bad front office work, etc...all that considered, we wouldn't be in the position to pick up a Kevin Garnett without the foundations of several potential All-Stars like Big Al and Gerald Green. There's something to be said about their development here in Boston under the tutelage of Doc and Danny. Regardless of the outcome of the impending 2007-08 season, it promises to be one of great excitement here in the Hub.
Piece #2: Eric Gagne. The big righty is supposedly all but in a Sox uniform as it stands now, depending on whether or not he approves a move to Boston. Consider a bullpen that is made up of Mannny Delcarmen, Eric Gagne, Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon. Unstoppable. You will be hard pressed to find a hole in there and with the solidarity of our rotation that just continues to turn out quality start after quality start, October looks mighty fine. The beauty of this is, it's not necessarily about Money when it comes to Gagne. It's more about the superb job our scouts and front office have done to give the Sox a top notch farm system to offer so much value when trying to acquire guys like Gagne and perhaps even Jermaine Dye. They've drafted well and fostered the upbringing of quality guys like Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury and a slew of others and it shows.
KG is now officially a Celtic. I'm giddy. Eric Gagne is looking like he will be in a Sox uniform by 4 pm. I'm more giddy. July 31, 2007 won't soon be forgotten by Boston fans...not for a long, long time.
6 comments:
Good luck to the all stars east, oh I mean the celtics. Hopefully the "even doc rivers could coach this team" joke won't come back to bite you guys. I was going to neg your "odds on finals team" comment, but i guess you are right. its really just detroit and you guys i guess. if i ever come back from cali on a break, i better get a ticket to a game so i can witness some nba greatness in person. watch out for the knicks though. yea almost.
Much the same as you are a KU supporter, I am now a Celtic supporter. Two of my top 6 favorite players with PP and Jesus, and now they add KG, a dude I have always respected (which is saying something considering my feelings on the Minnesota sports scene.)
Seeing you list the bullpen like that is kind of a good feeling, but did we have to give up Gabbard AND Murphy? My jaw hit the floor when I read the ESPN bottom line, and not in a good way.
Congrats...I guess keeping McHale on the payroll has finally paid off...Thanks for the role players I hope you enjoy your super-star. The tide is turning its getting harder and harder for me to cheer for anything related to Minnesota. I am taking a year off from NBA, (per bandwagon rule, one year away from the sport before you can change teams) I will more than likly come back an Celtics fan, I figure if its good enough for the GM of my team its good enough for me.
As for the Sox's the rich get richer congrats...Wait until the end of the season because Minnesota is going to be having a fire sale...You can get a gold glove and Cy young REAL CHEAP! Damnit is it College basketball season yet.
As much bad pub as Ainge receives he deserves major accolades for keeping after this deal. He could have easily given up after the first deal fell through and stayed with the current roster. Notice they stuck Telfair in the deal? Wonder if Minnesota even realized it.
As for the Sox, I just don't get this trade. They give up solid starting pitcher and a top notch prospect in Murphy for a one inning reliever (with a lengthy injury history) to add to a bullpen that ALREADY leads the majors in ERA and fewest blown saves. What's the point?
The only thing I can figure is they got him for two reasons:
1: Insurance
2: To keep him away from the Yankees
Both good reasons, but why give up a guy who's going to give you 6-7 innings most starts for one that gives you 1, maybe 2 innings every other day?
i only hope that this doesn't turn into the same situation as houston with hakeem, clyde, and sir charles. i think that allen, KG, and PP will mesh well...it's just a matter of whether rajon rondo is better than matt freakin maloney. how bad was that guy?
Big 3 game series starting tonight! Okay, I'll admit, probably a little bit bigger for Ms fans like me than Sox fans like you.
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