Our Opinions Matter

My Turn

1. Mookie Betts - arguably the 2nd best position player in all of Major League Baseball was shipped out of Boston late last night as the Red Sox embark on the pursuit of lowering their current payroll under the luxury tax threshold. Betts is off to LaLa Land and those free wheeling spending Dodgers. This maneuver could make for a rating bonanza for Fox Sports with a Yankee / Dodger World Series come October. Where it leaves the Red Sox will probably years away. Payroll flexibility will allow them to reconstruct their rooster, rebuild their farm system and pursue free agents that fit their new norms. What id doesn't do is put them in the business of winning championships the next few years. The Yankees and Rays and to some extent, the Blue Jays are positioned to rule the AL East.
   Bottom Line - How will the Boston fans who already are paying the highest tickets prices in all of baseball going to react to losing the best position player to come through their system since the likes of Fred Lynn or Jim Rice? I would suspect there will be tickets available.
   
2. Pete Rose - Now here's a guy either full of persistence or just plain old ignorance . Given the sign stealing scandal of the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox, "Charlie Hustle" is taking the opportunity to ask for reinstatement from MLB. He has to be kidding, right! Even though no players in the recent scandal have been suspended or fined, Pete is seizing on the opportunity that two wrongs will somehow make his betting on baseball right. 
   Bottom Line - Pete has always been the truest definition of a huckster, peddling his innocence with every paid autograph or ball he signs. Pete should be always remain on the outskirts of Cooperstown.