After finishing off the game strong against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, Celtics captain Paul Pierce went down with a knee infection. He had his knee drained on Wednesday and is scheduled to miss at least two weeks, including an important game against the Orlando Magic on Christmas day.

“Paul felt fine after the game,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told the NESN.com. “He felt great. A few hours later there was swelling and pain, and so they put him through some tests this morning. Then, they went in and they felt like they needed to clean out the infection. It’s nothing structural, and it’s a guess, but they are saying two weeks.”

Although Kevin Garnett missed Tuesday’s game with a bruised thigh he should be ready to go on Friday in Orlando. Ainge also said that Garnett will be a game-time decision but it’s more than likely that he’ll play. Reports said that it was hard for Garnett to miss Tuesday’s game because of how much he wanted to play.

With Pierce sidelined for the next couple of games the Celtics have called up Bill Walker from the Maine Red Claws. Walker was averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30.4 minutes. Hopefully both Walker and Tony Allen can fill in the huge void left by Pierce and with Marquis Daniels out as well it will be especially tough.

By Greg Petersen

WEEI.com – According to a team source, the Red Sox have had internal discussions about extending their organizational budget to potentially allow for another offer for free agent outfielder Jason Bay. The discussed proposal to Bay would be in the vicinity four-year, $60 million originally offered the outfielder by the Red Sox. It was thought that the signing of pitcher John Lackey to a five-year, $82.5 million deal, along with the acquisition of outfielder Mike Cameron, would make make such a strategy by the Sox unlikely, with the Sox too close to the $170 million luxury tax threshold to make a run at free agent the likes of Bay. The New York Mets are thought to be the team currently most interested in the services of Bay, who is seeking a five-year deal.

Now we are talking. Why settle for just one big free agent when you can have two! Even with the addition of Lackey and Cameron there is still a big hole in our lineup as the Sox would lack a true power threat. If Bay were willing to accept the original offer of four years/$60 million then I would be first in line to welcome him back to town. No one was questioning whether or not the guy can hit. Any doubts about re-signing him were because of that fifth year and whether or not he would still be able to play in the field or if injuries would deteriorate all of his skills.

The report mentions two reason why such a deal is unlikely, one, because the Sox just spent $85 million on John Lackey, two, they would now have a surplus of starting out fielders after the signing of Mike Cameron. I don’t buy the Red Sox not having money, they have more cash then they know what to do with, it’s just a question of whether or not they want to spend it. What makes more sense is that by bringing Bay back, we would have an $8 million dollar fourth outfielder on our hands. The likely scenario in this case would be a trade sending Ellsbury out of town for a big bat, say Adrian Gonzalez or Miggy Cabrera.

While highly unlikely, if the Red Sox were to re-sign Bay and then bring in Gonzalez, they would be right there with the Yankees as World Series favorites.

- Chris

BOSTON - DECEMBER 22: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics goes up for a shot during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 22, 2009 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Going into halftime the Celtics saw themselves in a 15-point deficit to the Indiana Pacers at home Tuesday night. Surprised? I know I was. The Celtics just lost a home game to the Philadelphia 76ers last Friday but came out big on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

Tuesday night saw a different perspective, being down by a lot to a team that has already beaten them earlier in the year. It was a true test for the Celtics and Donny Marshall even said during the game that “This will be a good test for the Celtics. To be down by a lot early and to come back and win will really show their maturity.” Of course he was predicting a Celtics win and he’s lucky that they did come back and win.

The Celtics ended up winning the game 103-94 by outscoring the Pacers 61-37 in the second half. The win improved the Celtics to 22-5 on the year while Indiana fell to 9-18.

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(AP Photo/ David Duprey)

After another sloppy win this team is beginning to look more and more like the team that won the Super Bowl in 2001. They didn’t have the best players or the best team on the field, but they had the best coaches and the will too and got it done in the end. In each of the last two weeks the Patriots did plenty of things wrong, but they made enough plays to win, and when the clock struck double zero, they had more points than their opponents. Lets start things off this week with the positive:

The pass rush was spectacular – No really, it was. The Patriots put up six sacks against the Bills this past week, a team high on the season. The Bills offensive line certainly isn’t the greatest, but any time you put up six sacks in an NFL game it is impressive no matter who the opponent. Tully Banta-Cain led the way recording three sacks of his own coming off the edge while also recording three tackles of his own. The pass rush has been under scrutiny throughout the season, especially here at BSP but this is certainly a step in the right direction and something they will need to keep up in order to go anywhere in the playoffs.

Wright makes all the right moves – I know, we here at BSP are supposed to be better than that but I couldn’t help it. With Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork inactive due to injuries, Mike Wright really stepped up and was a force playing left defensive end and nose tackle. According to the coaches tape he racked up 10 tackles, 1 sack, and two tackles for a loss. He was flying around the field as shown when he chased down Marshawn Lynch for a three yard loss on the near sideline.

“I was at nose, they gave me a gap, I hit it, and ran him down,” he said. “It got the team going, kind of got me going, and I think from then on I was enjoying myself. It was fun.”

Here are the coaches thoughts on Wrights play:

“He had a tremendous game, about as good as a defensive lineman can play really,” Belichick said Monday morning. “All the things he did in the running game, passing game, pursuit. He played a couple different positions — left end, nose, actually had some snaps in sub.”

Wilhite made a play – Jonathan Wilhite really is an enigma. The kid has all the talent in the world, but for whatever reason, he lacks the ability to make a play on the ball. Even when he gets burned for a big play he is usually in great position but never makes a move. This weekend he once again found himself in the proper position, but this time he turned his head around and had the awareness to make a key interception late in the game. I’m not ready to send the kid to the pro bowl, but I have been saying all along that the talent is there, he just needs to learn to make a read on the ball.

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It sounds like a silly question, but when you break it down, I truly believe that Theo Epstein, for whatever reason, does not like Mike Lowell. Before calling me crazy and ignoring everything I am about to say, read this with an open mind and think about the way Theo runs business. I am about to present to you four major events over the last five season that make it hard to argue otherwise.

November, 2005 – After a quick exit from the playoffs at the hands of the Chicago White Sox, the Red Sox entered the off season filled with turmoil and controversy. This was the winter where Theo Epstein unexpectedly left the organization and all front office activities were assumed by Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington. During his absence they executed the famous Josh Beckett/Hanley Ramirez trade. In order to get the deal done, the Red Sox were forced to take on Mike Lowell and his $30 million contract. Lowell had come off a terrible stretch and many thought he was cooked. The Sox got lucky and Lowell proved to be valuable, but nevertheless, there are multiple credible sources that insist that Theo Epstein never makes that trade. Had he been in charge the Sox would have kept Hanley and Lowell never would have made his way to Boston. This was certainly more Theo loving Ramirez than him not being interested in Lowell, but regardless, Theo was not interested.

December, 2007 – Despite coming off of arguably the most productive season in his career, the Red Sox were in no rush to resign Lowell who had just played out the final year of his contract. Epstein was holding strong on a two year offer to Lowell worried about his long term health, a concern that Lowell is now proving to be legitimate. When it got to the point that the two sides were so far apart on a deal that it looked like Lowell was ready to go no elsewhere, the Red Sox ownership stepped in and upped the offer despite Epstein’s best advice. John Henry and Larry Lucchino recognized the public outcry and decided to appease their fans instead of their GM. Lowell ultimately signed a three year $37.5 million deal and spent much of 2008 hurt and has to have another surgery this winter, looks like Theo knew what he was talking about.

December, 2008 – After having surgery on his right hip following the 2008 season it was unknown whether or not Mike Lowell would be able to make a healthy return to baseball. With prized first basemen Mark Teixeira on the free agent market, the Red Sox were thought to be his top landing spot before the Yankees swooped in at the last minute. Had Teixeira signed, Youklis would have moved over to third base to make room for Teixeira thus making Lowell the odd man out.

December, 2009 – No longer able to play the field effectively and with the Red Sox making an effort to improve their pitching and defense, Mike Lowell became too much of a liability than his bat was able to make up for. With the winter meetings wrapping up news broke that the Red Sox and Rangers had a tentative deal in place to send Lowell to Texas, along with $9 million in exchange for 25 year old catcher, Max Ramirez. The deal was pending as both teams reviewed medical records. This past weekend the Rangers determined that Lowell needed surgery on his right thumb and decided to pull out of the deal, leaving Mike Lowell, once again, a member of the Boston Red Sox.

I still do not think that Lowell will start the season with the Red Sox, but it is looking like he will be around at least until spring training. Maybe it is simply a coincidence, but it sure does look like Theo Epstein just does not value Lowell as much as most people in the business and you can bet he is working feverishly to move him as we speak.

- Chris

It didn’t take the Yankees long to get back in the headlines after the Sox tried to steal some of the lime light with the signing of John Lackey. Just a couple of weeks after trading for all star center fielder Curtis Granderson, the Yankees strengthened their starting rotation today by adding Javier Vazquez from the Braves in exchange for Melky Cabrera and minor league pitcher Arodys Vizciano. The general consensus around the internet today is that the Yankees took the Braves out behind the swing set and stole their lunch money. But after looking at the deal, I don’t think it is nearly as bad as people are making it out to be.

What the Yankees are getting:

Javy Vazquez was one of the top ten pitchers in baseball for the Braves last season. He posted 15 wins, a 2.87 era, and 200 strikeouts in 208 innings pitched. 2009 was by far his best season after being in the league for 12 seasons, yet there was still a limited trade market for him. Vazquez has always been a high strikeout pitcher, but he usually has trouble keeping the ball in the park. He was no doubt a huge benefactor of weaker National League lineups and having a pitcher in the nine spot as he only gave up 20 home runs in 2009 after averaging 29 a year over the past five years with the White Sox, Diamondbacks, and Yankees. This is his second stint with the Yankees, his first being 2004 where he posted 14 wins and a 4.91 era. Although extremely talented, Vazquez has never been able to put it together in the American League.

What the Yankees are giving up:

Melky Cabrera – While no superstar by any means, Cabrera is a nice little player with some upside as he is only a few months removed from his 25th birthday. Last season he posted a league average .336 on base percentage while playing average defense in center field and also both corners. He also provides a real spark of energy to an otherwise boring team. Best of all he is very cost friendly, the main reason the Braves were looking to make this trade.

Arodys Vizciano – If the name is not Hughes or Joba then most people don’t really care about a pitching prospect from New York. But this may be a name you are hearing a couple years down the road. Vizciano struck out 52 batters in 42 innings in single A as an 18 year old. Yes, he was born in 1990 and just turned 19 in November. Obviously it is hard to project so far down the road but this kid is no throw in by any means.

Analysis:

Do the Yankees get the better end of this deal initially? Sure, but it is really not as lopsided as people are making it out to believe. I would bet heavily that Vazquez doesn’t post an era under four in 2010 and will be nothing more than average. While it is never a bad thing to have too much depth, the Yankees will now have to leave either Phil Hughes or Joba out of the rotation initially.

This also opens up a hole in the Yankee outfield, specifically left field. The Yankees insist that they are not going to sign Holliday, Bay, or even Johnny Damon as their payroll is now just south of $200 million, but do you really believe a word they say? I don’t, and I would be legitimately shocked if one of the three are not starting in left field for the Yanks.

- Chris

That flying man you see is George Wilson, strong safety out of Arkansas currently in his fourth year. He just got crushed by 7th round pick Julian Edelman, a former quarter back turned wide receiver. I am still trying to decide my favorite part of this video. I have narrowed it down to the following:

- the 12 second mark where Wilson is completely horizontal to the ground

- or the ensuing seconds as Edelman slowly walks over him staring right into his soul

Regardless, you got to love 7th round picks. They may not be the best players on the team but you know they are going to work their ass off as shown by this text book open field block as Randy Moss scampers down field.

- Chris

Last Wednesday I wrote a post commenting on the Mike Lowell trade citing that it was “Essentially Done.” Granted, it was not me or my sources who confirmed this, it was that of one of the many blood sucking media members who would give their left nut for a scoop. Unfortunately, we are left with a lot of nut less reporters and no Mike Lowell trade. It was discovered over the weekend that Lowell has torn ligaments in his right thumb causing the Rangers to back out of the deal. This injury was originally thought to be no more than a jam suffered during batting practice. This raises two questions, one, did the Red Sox, and more importantly, Mike Lowell know about this injury all along? And two, what happens now?

I really hope that this injury isn’t something that Lowell was keeping from the Red Sox because I really do like the guy. But if this is the case, then man, what a douche. Though in all likelihood, the Red Sox knew all about it and just added it to the list of reasons why they wanted to ship him out of town.

So now we are left with a $12 million DH coming off the bench. Don’t think that because this trade fell through that Lowell automatically gets his job back, he doesn’t. The Red Sox have no interest in seeing Lowell play the field, and for good reason. Because of his hip surgery, Lowell ranked among the worst defensive third basemen in the league last season among various defensive metrics. With David Ortiz firmly grasping the DH spot in the lineup, it would be wasteful to occupy a bench spot with someone who cannot effectively play the field. Ideally, you have guys like Jed Lowrie who can play multiple positions and switch hit.

Lowell will be getting surgery shortly after Christmas and expects to be healthy in two months at the latest. I assume he will arrive on time to spring training, but there is no way he starts the season with the Red Sox. If it comes down to it, the Red Sox will ultimately be forced to enter Julio Lugo territory and pay someone to take him in exchange for a bag of baseballs. As much as we love Mike Lowell, we can’t have him clogging up the bench when there are better options out there.

This blog wasn’t around when they signed him to this deal, but if it was, I would have proof that I never agreed with the signing and I once again would be right.

- Chris

Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert (1), guard Allen Iverson and guard Jrue Holiday, right, laugh from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 117-101. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

On the eve of hosting the Philadelphia 76ers, the buzz of having Allen Iverson back in the Garden playing for his former team is no longer there. That is because he won’t be playing tomorrow night. Tragic, simply tragic. “The Answer” apparently doesn’t have the answer for his knee arthritis and a left shoulder contusion. So that means that the struggling 76ers will be without any experienced point guard with both Iverson and Lou Williams out for the game. It will give the Celtics a good look at rookie Jrue Holiday and I am sure Rondo will expose him early and often. Holiday is a quick guard out of UCLA, but he has seen limited minutes thus far this season and will likely struggle against Rondo and his quickness. It’s too bad that Iverson isn’t playing though. It would have been nice to hear the crowd give him an ovation when he was introduced, maybe not standing ovation but probably a lot of cheers. I guess I’ll just have to wait for next time, but for tomorrow’s game I look for an absolute blowout for the Celtics. The 76ers have lost 13 of their past 14 and have no experience controlling the ball. Should be fun to watch. Go C’s!

By Greg Petersen

Newly-acquired Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey(notes), right, shakes hands with manager Terry Francona during a baseball news conference at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 200, Lackey finalized a five-year contract with the Red Sox, a deal worth $80 million to $87.5 million .

OK, I know that I haven’t posted in a little while so I figured I would make it up today with my opinion on what’s going on in the Boston sports world recently. Well a couple of days ago I picked up a couple tickets for a couple games for the Red Sox upcoming season, and I knew that it was a good investment. Buy them before they start spending tons of money and maybe they’d be cheaper, or maybe they’ll still be expensive. To answer your question as to whether I bought the tickets because I want to see Marco Scutaro, the answer is “no, not even close.” It’s because I knew that it wouldn’t be long before Theo Epstein actually made a significant move, like he did yesterday, and he did it twice.

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