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  Sox knuckleballer and perhaps the best stopgap solution to a pitching staff with injuries had surgery for an injury he suffered himself. Boston.com is reporting that Tim Wakefield's surgery for a fragmented disk went ok and he has begun rehabbing immediately. He made his first All-Star game this season and according to Theo Epstein he is in the plans for next season. Wakefield deserves it. When you need him he is there.

Red Sox guru Peter Gammons has reported that  Boston has signed  Reynaldo Rodriguez who is the #1 independent league prospect . Rodriguez a first baseman played for Yuma in the Golden League. Theo Epstein has his much needed youth movement underway. The Boston bats let down the pitching staff against the Angels in a playoff series that was certainly winnable with some decent pitching performances wasted by having no run support.

The starting rotation seems to be 80% set... Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Dice-K for sure... 5th spot remains a question, but word is that Wake will be bringing his bad back and beer-belly back to Boston. YOU GO BOY !!!!!!!! (uh, I resemble that remark !!!)... Junichi Tazawa showed some promise as a possible spot-starter... plus, Theo's attention is back on Japan, looking at an 18 year old lefty... and do NOT forget Paul Byrd... The 'pen is also over-loaded.. but, as I said mid-season, loading up on pitching last winter gave the Sox some "options" this year....

Once you have tasted victory and brought home the ultimate prize, a world series title twice in four years how can you blame the boy wonder. He even had the stones to trade Nomar Garciaparra and everyone thought he was nuts. The end result of that trade was a championship. The problem is that he knows what he's up against. George Steinbrenner's son "Stank" Steinbrenner whose tailor makes his suits a couple of sizes too small. He looks as if he is gonna pop any minute. The Yankees may have bought themselves a championship this year and that is not sitting too well with Theo. The reason it took so long for Boston to win a world series is because former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey did not care about his fan base, all he cared about is the mighty dollar. These new owners do care and that's why the Sox payroll is on par with New York's.