'Greed is Good'

That's the Message Dice-K Is Sending to Japan

"Let this be a lesson in the real American Dream for all Japanese ballplayers, courtesy of Gordon Gekko: Greed is good." -- 12.12.06, Eric Wilbur, Boston.com

"The point is, ladies and gentlemen of Japan, that: Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right; greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms, greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed, you mark my words — will save not only the Red Sox but that other malfunctioning corporation called Major League Baseball."

Kap Retires: Gabe to Be Named Manager of Single-A Greenville
No Drew, Lugo News; Mirabelli Still in the Backup Catcher Mix
Henry's Happy That Manny's Still Here; Sox Interested Masumi Kuwata
Gammons: Show Matsuzaka the Money | Sox Have Issues
Mnookin: Fatal Collision Course | Boras Pulling a Fonzie?
Olney: Boras' Way Good for Matsuzaka?

"And you'd have to wonder: For Scott Boras, when does this stop becoming a chase of dollars and start being about his clients' doing what they love in their work and playing baseball?...

"Boras is extraordinary at what he does, at extracting a volume of dollars from places that you never would've imagined. He is like a chess master, and every negotiation is a match to be won. But in this era, when players are now making more money than they can ever spend in their lifetimes, it's debatable whether the extra cash actually improves the quality of life of his players, and whether all this angst pays off, in the big picture." -- 12.12.06, Buster Olney, ESPN

The Latest: 'No Progress' on Dice-K Talks Tonight
Eric Wilbur: Last Pitch Effort

The Next Sox Skipper?

Kapler Retires, Named Single-A Greenville Manager

Will Boston Welcome Back Gabe as Manager Someday?
No Reason Kapler Can't Be Hired When Tito Retires

"I have managerial aspirations. I'd like to win the World Series as a manager someday." -- 12.12.06, Gabe Kapler

Boras Is Playing
With Loaded Dice

Sox Should Just Walk Away from Dice-K

Cafardo: Boras Demands Way Out of Line

"Doesn't he [Matsuzaka] want to be a big league ballplayer first and PROVE he's worth $100 million? Or does he just want a team to hand him the money before he proves anything?

"I'm not sure the latter is honorable in any country.

"If Larry Lucchino, Theo Epstein, and/or John Henry come close to that number (I'm talking about a six-year, $100 million contract, not counting the $51.1 million posting fee) they should have their franchise revoked." -- 12.12.06, Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo Web Exclusive

Edes: John Henry Makes a Pitch...
And the Sox Embarrassingly Bid Against Themselves

" 'It's highly unusual,' Epstein said of submitting a second offer without receiving a response to the first, 'but it's showing that Matsuzaka is extremely important to the Boston Red Sox. It's normally not a good ploy, but we want to demonstrate to Matsuzaka, and the fans of Japanese baseball, just how important he is to us.' " -- 12.11.06, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

The Sox' Very Own 'Fort Knox?'

"In Japan, he's known as the national treasure. Here, he will be known as Fort Knox."
-- 12.11.06, Scott Boras, agent for Daisuke Matsuzaka

Boras Makes a Dishonorable Mention
And Fails in the School of Hard 'Knox'

And Now Thanks to His Agent,
The Shamed Pitcher Will Be Known as GreeD-Mat in Japan

Roger That! Rocket Seen as Sox Fallback