OK, so after 20 years of service, 12 with MaineToday.com, I am leaving Blethen Maine Newspapers.

As a result, I will also be terminating my blog as well.

I'm a little hesitant for fear that the Sox will not know how to adjust without me.
It's not that they are not able-bodied, nor in a bad position for such change, but without their biggest fan, it will be a most difficult transition.

With that said, the Sox are going to need to do something in order to reach the goal. They will need to find some new blood both in the lineup and in the rotation.

First the rotation.
I don't trust Curt Schilling's health. He's over 40 and is showing signs of fatigue and injuries. As both a long-term and short-term solution, Roy Oswalt would be a fine addition.

Oswalt is still in the prime of his career and though his numbers this year have been a little off, he still has plenty in the tank.

The Sox may also want to explore acquiring Marlin pitcher Dontrelle Willis should he become available.

Brad Lidge and Eric Gagne have been talked about quite frequently, but Papelbon is the closer and should remain so. What role they play would be questioned, I'm sure. Though come playoffs, it would be a benefit to secure the bullpen.

I love Mark Teixeira. He's still young a power-hitting machine with an obvious track record. Though a move before the trading deadline doesn't seem likely. Mike Lowell would need to be traded and that may prove difficult, considering the size of his contract.

I also like Torii Hunter, but the chances of Minnesota, still in a penant race, moving him this year is slim. Perhaps in the offseason.

I do not want to see the Red Sox pay A-Rod next year. He's talented to be sure, but I'd like to see the team spend what could be $30 million in other ways, especially when, in all likelihood, Schilling will be departing. Paying $30 million for one position seems outrageous. Let him go to Los Angeles.

So in order to accomplish some of these feats, who is available to trade?
Well Wily Mo would be a fine power solution for a club like Houston.
And in a deal for a Willis I would trade Jon Lester or a Kason Gabbard (though I love 'em).

Coco could be made available also. He's got an attractive contract and Ellsbury has proved ready for the big league. Ellsbury is not for sale, neither is Buchholz, though teams will be doing their best to pry them from the Sox hands.

These three players may not be enough to get deals done, but they are expendable. It's the only way the Sox will win in 2007 and beyond.

The deadline is only 13 days away. Whether they be ripples or tidal, the Sox will be making waves.

As for me, I'll be watching closely.

Go Sox!

Not that I was prepared to watch the All Star game. I saw the introductions. I witnessed the Willie Mays dedication. I saw Haren, Peavy and Beckett. But some where after the fourth inning, I fell asleep only to wake, disoriented on the couch at 2:30 a.m.
So, I did what any red-blooded American would do, check out ESPNNews and then go back to sleep.
So the A.L. won, yet again. The home-field advantage is theirs, yet again.
It has happened so often now, I wonder why all the hoopla.
What really stinks is the fact that I have to wait a whole day before being able to witness another pitch.
This is the worst day on the sports calendar. No baseball, football, basketball. No college, no high schools, nothing.
How in the world will I survive?
My wife, however, is quite happy. She has nothing competing with her birthday wishes.
Perhaps this day is a good day afterall.

OK so I took my birthday a bit too far and added a little holiday hiatus. But I'm now back.

Last night was of course the annual Home Run Derby.

Though, it was past her bedtime, my three-year old daughter asked, "Can I watch it with you, Daddy?"

How could I resist her plea? With a nod and a glimpse of future pleas she joined me on the couch.

As we cuddled and watched the larger than life players smash tatters out of the yard, she noticed some familiar faces.

"I don't like Big Papi anymore," she stated.

I was, for a moment, in shock. "What? But he's one of Daddy's favorites."

My wife chimed in "Big Papi's a good man. You don't really mean you "don't like him."

In my home, we LIKE everyone, except perhaps guys in pinstripes.

I was beginning to worry, I half-expected her to tell me she liked that Jeter fellow. Her next statement put me at ease.

"I like Manny, now."

Phew, crisis avoided.

My daughter has taken a special interest in baseball of late.

She has been asking me to look at my baseball card collection; she watches the games and now wanted to see longballs leave the yard.

Proud? Just a little.

Her questions are still that of a three-year-old but she beginning to understand.
She cheers the right people at the right time. What more can I ask?

She expresses disappointment at a strikeout, but not as a fan; she feels for the players.

When Justin Morneau was struggling, she simply stated "He's not doing very well, is he?"

"Well, no, dear, but it is difficult to hit a home run."

"Oh."

When Morneau walked away, she asked if he was going to be all right?

"I think he'll be just fine."

I, of course, was thinking of the multi-million dollar contract, the fact that this was all in fun. She on the other hand, was worried about his self-esteem and his feelings.

Oh, she still has a lot to learn but her perspective was welcomed.

Baseball can still have a positive impact on youngsters, especially during the All-Star break. For it is just a game, these guys were having fun - laughing, joking, carrying on. Their families were on the field having a good time.

She took it all in.

Then she started asking tougher questions.

"Why did the guy say there was traffic on the water?"

It's one thing to try an explain a home run let alone why a few dozen people stationed themselves in McCovey's Cove for a chance at retrieving a ball. I don't really know the fasination, though I'm part of the problem.

"Why is that man giving away his bats?"

"That man is one of the greatest players of all time. His name is Willie McCovey. He is handing them to the guys that are going to be hitting home runs as a thank you for coming to his park."

"Why does he have sticks?"

"Well, he is a lot older now and needs them to walk."

"Why is he brown?"

Uh-oh.
Now my daughter has been exposed to people of different ethnicities before. Her favorite player was Ortiz, now Manny, but she had never asked the question of race. I wanted to tell her it was past her bedtime. Instead, I tried to answer the best I could in a manner a three-year-old might understand.

"God created many different types of people in the world with many different colors. And He loves them all. Like your doll Jasmine."

"Where is Jasmine?" "Mommy, can you get me Jasmine? She's in the toyroom."

Like a faithfull servant, my wife came in with Jasmine in hand.

"Jasmine is brown. I'm white. My feet are white, too."

"Yes, that's right. Everybody is different."

"I love Jasmine."

"I do too."

Tonight it's the All Star game. It's going to be fun watching the many Sox players take the feild. Beckett, Ortiz, Manny, Okajima, Lowell, Papelbon. We'll sit together and hope that Big Papi hits a home run for real this time.

Oh and of course Manny, too.