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It's just a number. I've heard that a bit over the past couple of days. And those severely misguided individuals have a point: other than being a "nice round number", what does 500 mean that 499 didn't? That 501 didn't? That 237 didn't? And it's true.

The HR itself was semi-notable, if not historically notable. Chad Bradford is not an easy pitcher to hit a HR off of, in fact, a RH submariner should've been one of the toughest for Manny to hit one against. 

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But what is 500? It's a reason. It's a reason to celebrate all things Manny. Since he's come to Boston, he's done nothing but hit. There are many large FA contracts handed out in the modern era of baseball, and you'd have to say that of those players, Manny is one of few who has really met expectations. 

Did I say he's done nothing but hit? He's also been at the center of a number of amusing situations, at least when one looks at them with the proper perspective. He's demanded and rescinded demands for trades. He's put property on sale on ebay. He's been late to spring training for...interesting reasons more than once. He's cutoff throws in which he was certainly not the relay man. He's robbed MFY utility IFs of HRs. He's high-fived fans in the middle of amazing plays. He's disappeared into the Monster during play.

Through it all, he's continued to hit. And moreso, he's been an absolute delight for those able to let the aforementioned incidents (and others) be seen for their entertainment value. 

And, of course, Manny has had the right perspective of the milestone. He wants 600, heck, he specifically mentioned hitting 501 in the midst of questions about the 500 mark. Manny loves to hit, and loves to see himself being successful at doing so, maybe moreso than any of his fans.

What else is 500? It's a reminder that when he's done, we're going to miss him. ...a lot.

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According to the Herald Tribune, people in Sarasota, Fla. are planning to build a $70 million spring training park to lure the Red Sox to move in:

SARASOTA — A $70 million stadium with 12,000 seats is being dangled in front of the Boston Red Sox to lure them here for spring training.

Industry watchers say it would be the most expensive spring training facility ever built in Florida, one on par with the bigger stadiums being used to woo teams to Arizona.

[...]

The plan has early support from both the city and the county, as well as Sarasota's lead tourism booster.

"The initial response is that the Red Sox would bring more of an impact," said Virginia Haley, president of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau. "So it seems like there would be more consideration for the Red Sox than other baseball teams or a different entertainment venue."

The stadium would have 10,000 stadium seats, party decks along both the first base and third base lines, and berm seating. The cost estimate includes furniture and equipment for the Red Sox clubhouse and locker rooms.

It's quite a strong proposal if Sarasota decides to go through with it. The Sox already sell out in spring training, add a beautiful, brand new park to the discussion with more seats and the Sox will be rolling in the dough. We know the Sox like their moolah, so I wouldn't see much holding them back to stay in Ft. Myers.

Thoughts from Red Sox Nation?

Do you have a question you'd like the new Over The Monster Writer and the new Red Sox Beat Writer to answer? Confused about something dealing with the Red Sox or Baseball in general? Then ask him here in this post. You may ask as many questions as you'd like, whether they be personal or baseball related, and I will answer. I will give you 24 hours to ask your questions, and then I will answer them. That means you have until tomorrow at 4:00 PM to post your questions.

Post away!

Believe it or not, there are FAs who were apparently less desirable than Joel Pineiro.  Some of whom are still on the market.  Some of them might be a longshot, but I thought, hmm, Joel Pineiro is probably a longshot, at least earlier in the week I did.

So what's left?  Who's left?  And can any of them help the Sox, hopefully on mL-NRI contracts, unlike say this contract, for example.

"Pitchers", so to speak.

Dustin Hermanson

Am I the first person in the offseason, blogging, non-blogging, or otherwise to think of him?  We're running an open contest to be the closer(all entries must be received by the second week of February), why not someone who has actually been a full-time closer before?  I initially was concerned about the fact that Hermanson is considered a type A FA, but the White Sox didn't offer him arbitration anyway.

Chances he signs with us: 65%

Dan Kolb

Just re-read everything I said about Hermanson.  Kolb has closing experience, and should come pretty cheaply.  I think Hermanson is a surer bet to be a decent arm out of the bullpen either way.

Chances he signs with us: 40%

Kent Mercker

I honestly think that if Okajima had not been signed, Mercker might have been signed by the Sox already.  He's type B, so we wouldn't be giving the Reds the delicious hero sandwich pick with mustard they would receive.  However, Romero's signing might fill our LHRP reclamation project quota.  Mercker's been a pretty successful reliever the last few seasons, though he did have elbow reconstructive surgery towards the end of last season.

Chances he signs with us: 25%

Willie Eyre

I'm not serious about this one, trust me.  I do think it's important to check his stats last season, and realize that even in Minnesota's excellent bullpen last year, this absolute scrub finished 20 games.  ...automatically vesting options...yikes.  If Pineiro stinks, I'm sure that they'll watch his GF totals closely, but still.

Chances he signs with us: -12,000%

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Happy New Year, OTM readers/commenters/lurkers.  Hope everyone was safe for the holiday.

Someone that hasn't been mentioned yet(possibly because our best hope for him is that he turns into a semi-reliable 6th inning reliever or long man) is Runelvys Hernandez.  It's a depth signing, something to neither congratulate nor berate Theo about.  Low-risk/high-reward and all that.  He hasn't had any consistent success since AA.  A 95 MPH fastball and what was at least once upon a time a good curve.  Hoping he'll be Delcarmen-lite?

Anyway, after that exciting bit of "news" let me re-iterate the Happy New Year message, and let's all hope 2007 can make us forget some of the low points of 2006.

Happy New Year to all of our readers.  Hope you all are safe and having a happy (and surely sober) holiday.  

Hopefully this will signal a new year of success for our Sox.

Clicky.

For the record, most of us probably already knew about Alberto Castillo and maybe Joe "Not Joltin Crap" McEwing.

Travis Hughes may have a shot at a bullpen slot.  The aforementioned Castillo could wrest the backup catcher job from Mirabelli.  McEwing = Organizational depth and scrappylicious.  

Jeff Bailey and Luis Jimenez are re-signings, so to speak.  Ed Rogers is a prolific hitter (.207 lifetime BA folks!).  Kerry Robinson has been given his walking papers by such organizations as the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Aside from position, I'm not sure the differences between he and Scales are worth noting.

All with NRIs.  Like I said, Hughes and Castillo are the only ones not absolutely ticketed for Pawtucket.

Clicky.

For the record, most of us probably already knew about Alberto Castillo and maybe Joe "Not Joltin Crap" McEwing.

Travis Hughes may have a shot at a bullpen slot.  The aforementioned Castillo could wrest the backup catcher job from Mirabelli.  McEwing = Organizational depth and scrappylicious.  

Jeff Bailey and Luis Jimenez are re-signings, so to speak.  Ed Rogers is a prolific hitter (.207 lifetime BA folks!).  Kerry Robinson has been given his walking papers by such organizations as the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Aside from position, I'm not sure the differences between he and Scales are worth noting.

All with NRIs.  Like I said, Hughes and Castillo are the only ones not absolutely ticketed for Pawtucket.