The Bruins made a pair of minor trades yesterday, getting old friend Brian Rolston from the Islanders along with former Boston College star Mike Mottau, and also getting defenseman Greg Zanon from Minnesota.
The moves add depth and experience to specific roles, and we about the best that could be done without sacrificing top prospect Dougie Hamilton. Kevin Paul Dupont says that the Bruins are a better team this morning.
In going over the moves yesterday, Michael Felger asked Joe Haggerty what there was to bash the Bruins about. (Maybe he said “bitch about” – I can’t remember exactly.) After needed to think a few seconds about it, Haggerty replied that if anything, it could be that GM Peter Chiarelli didn’t have the chips to make a really major move, but that would be stretching things.
A caller later asked why Felger was looking for things to bash the Bruins about, and suddenly everyone got really sensitive about the topic. Felger insisted he wasn’t looking to bash the Bruins, but he was just asking what the Bruins could be bashed about.
OK.
Then Massarotti piped in “These things always get TWISTED, Mike.”
Yeah, twisted. How so, exactly?
Then again this morning the episode was raised, and for some reason Fred Toucher felt the need to clarify Felger was being tongue-in-cheek about it. Why so sensitive? It’s OK if Felger is looking for things to bash a team about. It’s his M.O.
Felger and Mazz then spent the rest of the show bashing Josh Beckett, another favorite topic of Felger’s. Like most hosts, Felger has a number of “fallback topics.” Beckett is one. The Patriots drafting is another. The NBA/Celtics suck is one, and the Cap is Crap is a tried and true topic as well.
Meanwhile, Felger’s favorite model of NFL team building, the New York Jets continue to be in cap hell, as now Bart Scott, who is supposed to be the Rex Ryan mouthpiece and advocate, is seeking a trade, but the Jets likely can’t get one, since his $4.2 million dollar salary is guaranteed – a move done last offseason when the Jets were frantically trying to move cap space around to make a failed run at Nnamdi Asomugha. And oh yeah, the Pittsburgh Steelers could likely lose Mike Wallace described by Bill Barnwell as possibly the next Jerry Rice or Randy Moss, because of their own cap hell.
But remember – The Cap is Crap.
An aside – Tom E Curran seems to view things the same way:
I don’t get this about Felger. He’s smart, he can discuss topics intelligently, but too often falls back into whatever is going to stir people up, even it if makes him look dumb.
********
Meanwhile, the Celtics are set to begin the post-All Star Break portion of their schedule, and hope to welcome back Brandon Bass and Chris Wilcox tonight in Cleveland. Kevin Garnett apparently had some strong words for his teammates before the break, we’ll see if the response is here.
The Celtics will be a very interesting team to follow here over the next couple of weeks, as we watch whether they make any moves, and what the moves will be. Does Danny Ainge hold a firesale, hoping to piling up some picks, and take on more expiring contracts, or does he make a bold move in an effort to try and salvage a final run here?
There have been rumors about Rajon Rondo again, (one involves Pau Gasol) and this morning there is word that the Celtics are interested in Michael Beasley. (Jon Wallach on 98.5 this morning said how Beasley has been with 4 or 5 different teams already in his career. He’s played for two.)
Any Rondo deal would be made with the idea of making a run this season, I find the Gasol idea far-fetched, but intriguing. Would they go with Avery Bradley as the point guard? He’s had his moments this season, turning into a dynamic, on-the-ball defender, and making enough jump shots to keep defenses honest.It would be a lot to ask of him, however, and you would expect a veteran PG to be brought in. I still find it tough to believe that Rondo would be dealt, unless Ainge and Rivers feel they need to cut ties, and perhaps make a run at Deron Williams in the offseason. That also seems a longshot.
The Celtics biggest problem this season has been injuries. If they think they can work to get healthy and sneak into the playoffs with the current roster and perhaps a tweak or two, that might be the best option. They’ve shown flashes, but really need a completely healthy roster and a lot of luck in order to have a chance to do anything.
********
Word came out late yesterday afternoon that Jason Varitek is expected to retire on Thursday. We can expect plenty of retrospectives and platitudes about the catcher in the days to come, and a couple are out already:
Jason Varitek and the trade that changed a franchise – Alex Speier.
An example of why Varitek was a man of respect – Danny Picard.
What Varitek has meant to Red Sox – Gordon Edes (video)
2011 still lingers, and isn’t going away anytime soon. Michael Silverman says that it isn’t the fans or media that won’t let go, it is the players. Steve Buckley says that this team needs to play game, quickly.
Nick Punto looks ahead, behind – Gordon Edes has the backup infielder in familiar surroundings and hoping to play his way into a bigger role.
There’s a catch with Welker, Patriots – Greg A Bedard looks at where things stand on the Patriots roster.
