Our Second Baseman Supreme...And A Mike Lowell Downer

He finished tenth in the American League with a .317 batting average, the highest EVER for a rookie second baseman. He led all the rookies in doubles with 39. He was second with a .380 on base average and third in runs with 86. His name is Dustin Pedroia, and he ran away with the American League Rookie of the Year balloting, finishing with 24 of the 28 first place votes. And he's a team player. He said this after the Red Sox conquered the baseball world yet again.....

"The only thing I cared about was trying to help the team win," Pedroia said. "That was our ultimate goal. We set out to try to win the American League East and try to win the World Series. We accomplished both of those things. I think that if you're dedicated into team goals, individual goals will come later."

Peter here, and that's quite a mature and smart way to look at things. And speaking of looking, we'll be watching Dustin Pedroia man Fenway Park's second base for many, many years to come. And what could be better than that? Another World Series Championship? All in good time, all in good time.

Not all the news was good on Monday, however, as talks between the Red Sox and Mike Lowell's Levinson brothers agents broke down. As of this morning (Tuesday), any and all interested teams can "talk turkey" with them. And you can bet your bottom dollar that they will. Mike Lowell is not only wanted (and needed) in the Bronx, but in many other baseball cities as well. Remember, he batted .324, played a tremendous hot corner, and was an all-around great teammate. He would be missed. But the $36 million offer the Red Sox submitted was more of a joke than a sincere attempt to sign one of our heros. They might have other things and other players in mind (think AROD, I hate to say), but we'll never know until something happens. Lowell's side wants four years, and they know they can get it from one team or another (or another, or another). An older Jorge Posada, who had a fantastic 2007, just inked a four year deal with that pinstriped team, so why, in Mike's case, won't the Sox offer a reasonable four year pact? I KNOW he's 34 and will be 38 at the end of the contract, but he has no blossoming physical problems like Johnny Damon or Petey Martinez did. We'll have to wait, I guess, and hope.

Click on the title of this post for the Boston Herald's Michael Silverman's article all about the American League's runaway Rookie of the Year, and enjoy your Tuesday. From now in mid November right through the all important winter meetings in December, and beyond, things will be hoppingly happening. You'll read about it all right here, and I'm so lucky you keep coming back. Be well, and be safe. Always!