NBC Sports – Alex Rodriguez has fired uber agent Scott Boras and is now being represented full time by Pittsburgh attorney Jay Reisinger.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today was the first one to run with this this morning, but for reasons that are unclear, the link disappeared as soon as it showed up.  Not sure why USA Today would pull his story, because it was essentially accurate. Nightengale’s report went that A-Rod is “using” Reisinger and has “abandoned” Boras, though Nightengale says that if he ever needed more contract work, “Boras is only a phone call a way.”

Nightengale’s report inspired me to make a couple of phone calls and I’ve learned that all of what he wrote is technically true, but it’s a bit more stark. I’m hearing from reliable sources that A-Rod has definitely fired Scott Boras. Did so about a month ago.  It wasn’t really ugly or anything, which is why we didn’t hear about it at the time, but it happened and the relationship is over. Enter Reisinger.

When I first read this story I laughed my ass off, who wouldn’t? The biggest agent in the world had just lost his biggest client. It’s great. Anyone who despises Scott Boras (which should be everyone) should love seeing him lose business, whether it is someone huge like A-Rod, or a stiff like Alex Cora.

But my joy took a quick 180 as a remembered a very important detail. A-Rod is currently signed through 2017. Thats seven more seasons for those counting at home. Why does this matter you ask? Because Boras is going to collect his cut of that contract until it expires as he was the one who wrote it when it was signed in 2008. For those of you who are curious there is approximately $174 million to be earned over those years. Once he plays out those years, A-Rod will be 42 years old, and any money he makes at that point will be chump change compared to what Boras has taken from him to this point.

In the end, it really works out great for Boras. He no longer has to deal with the public shit storm that A-Rod brings. And he gets to quietly collect enormous checks for the next seven years while doing no work. Not to bad of a gig, huh?

White Sox to claim Manny Ramirez – Manny is expected to hit the waiver wire any time now. The Dodgers, like the Red Sox two years ago, are simply fed up with him and want him gone. According to FoxSports, the Chicago White Sox are prepared to claim him and try and work a deal. This was probably the best news that I have heard in a while because you know the Devil Rays would kill to add him to their lineup. And say what you want about Manny, when he is on the field, the dude can hit. If you put him in that Rays lineup they become that much better and you can bet your ass teams will fear him.

I love how Rajon Rondo quit on Team USA – According to WEEI.com, Rondo claimed there were family matters and other things he needed to attend to before the NBA season started. Call me insensitive, but I’m calling bullshit. Rondo was pissed that he wasn’t getting the love that he deserved so he walked out, and I am perfectly OK with that. The kid thinks he is kind of a big deal and demands the respect of a top player in the league. Nothing wrong with that. I guarantee you if he was the starter and not Derrick Rose he would not have quit the team, and you can take that to the bank.

Belichick on Maroney: “I think he’s ready” – Coach Bill talked earlier today about Laurence Maroney and whether or not he was over the case of fumblitis that he contracted last season, and it sounds like he is in pretty good shape. I have been waiting a long time for Maroney to put up an all pro year. In fact, I think I have predicted it for at least the last two, if not three seasons. He is like Alex Gordon (Roayls 3B). Every year I claim he will live up to his lofty potential, and every year he ends up on my fantasy team, and every year he ends up disappointing. Please don’t do me wrong again Laurence. I beg you.

Can we have Lackey pitch every game against the Mariners? Is there a way this can happen? Because he sucks against every other team, even the shitty ones, but for whatever reason dominates the Mariners. Yea, I get that they suck and all, but it’s not just that. The stuff he had in both his starts this year against them has been disgusting. First, he took a no no into the eighth inning out on the left coast earlier this year, and just last night he showed us a fastball that Boston fans haven’t seen since he mowed us down last fall in the playoffs en route to striking out ten over eight innings. Someone needs to play these two tapes on repeat until the guy can figure out his act and pitch like that every game. Please.

Mike Reiss took a look at the Patriots 2008 draft earlier today and the results were not pretty. Two third round picks are no longer with the team (Shawn Crable and Kevin O’Connell) and their second round pick is struggling to make the team (Terrence Wheatley). Good thing they cleaned up in 2009 and 2010 to make up for it.

Anthony Rizzo now has 23 home runs while playing most of the year at AA Portland. For those who don’t know, Rizzo is only 21 years old, and missed a season battling Hodkins Lymphoma. People need to keep an eye on this kid, because he is on the fast track to major league stardom. The Sox are due to produce a home run hitter from their farm system one of these years, maybe he can be the first.

Earlier this week some numb nuts Jets fan stumbled across a post written back in January about the Jets and their playoff run. Needless to say he was a little defensive and found it necessary to comment on said post.

First of all Rex Ryan didnt say anything that wasn’t true. Second, you have guys like T. Owens and Chad Ocho-no-show talking crap and not coming close to doing anything they spout off about. Chad said he would change his name back to Johnson if Revis shut him down. Revis did just that, not just once but two games in a row and Chad’s jersey still says Ochocinco. If you want to complain about people running their mouth you need to look in the right direction. I think you are seeing that the Patriot dynasty is over and now the Jets are going to take over the division. Dry your eyes, climb on a different band wagon, and enjoy the Jets bending your beloved Tom Brady over and filling him full of Jet fuel.

One more thing, you can keep the name Boston Sports but I think its time to remove the Pulse.

While I appreciate all commenters as dumb as many of them may be, it’s hard not to make fun of this guy. Not because what he wrote wasn’t good, but just the pure fact he felt it necessary to chime in on something that happened eight months ago. Sure, he probably found his way to the post via google and didn’t even realize the date but whatever, it was amusing none the less. That being said, this guy sounds exactly like the straight shooter I need to take over the New York State of Mind section. Maybe I should give him a ring.

I’m on vacation…the kids are in charge…I’ll be back Tuesday unless the Red Sox lose three or more games this weekend, in which case, give me an extra week to recover.

Ryan Kalish can play for me any day – It’s only been four games, but how can you not love the way Ryan Kalish plays the game? The guy is a reincarnation of Trot Nixon (although Trot certainly isn’t dead). He plays the game hard and is above average in every aspect. I’m pretty sure no one in the park realized what was going on after he threw out Shelly Duncan at the plate on Monday night. I mean, a left fielder who can throw? Who’d have thunk. Obviously he isn’t going to hit .500 for the rest of the season, but he really impressed me in his short stint thus far, and I was already pretty high on him to begin with.

The Jeremy Hermida era was short lived – I mentioned last week that Hermida’s days may be limited. I said I would rather have Hermida than Eric Patterson, but unfortunately, Hermida got the axe Saturday. I’m still kind of puzzled by the move. Patterson adds no value to the club. As long as Lowrie is healthy, he will never see the infield, and once Ellsbury comes back, he should never see the outfield again. Long term, I still think Hermida is going to be a decent hitter. It would have been nice to find a way to keep him around for next year.

Grant Balfour hit the DL this week when he strained his oblique wrestling with his pitching coach. You know how I know he’s gay?

Kevin Youklis tore a muscle in his hand swing a bat. Could this injury have happened to anyone other than the Red Sox? I don’t know who sold their soul to who but this team is cursed. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the amount of injuries this team has overcome is unfathomable. If they do any damage in the post season it has to go down as one of the best seasons ever, right?

On that note, looks like I need to start being nicer to Mikey Lowell – With Youk down, Lowell is going to see some significant playing time. Either that, or Kevin “I couldn’t drive in a run with the bases loaded in slow pitch softball” Cash will catch and V Mart will play first. Hopefully, it is the former. He started off right Tuesday hitting a two run homer and playing good D at the one bagger, keep it up and maybe I can go a few weeks without ripping.

Where was Jacoby Monday night? – I’m not blaming this on Jacoby as it seems like it was the teams decision, but why would they not activate Ellsbury on a night when Mike Cameron goes on the DL and your team is desperate for help in center field, even if it means doing nothing more than making the routine plays? He had already played five rehab games and showed no ill effects other than a little soreness. At a time where every game is magnified and every loss kills, you have to think, does Jacoby turn a 6-5 loss into a 6-5 win?

I love the Shaq to Boston news – Sure, he only averaged 20 minutes, 12 points, and 6.7 boards per game, but that’s right in line with what Perk would give you. The C’s needed a big man, and if Shaq was willing to come here for the veterans minimum, you’d have to think he is motivated to win a championship. If nothing else he will give you big man minutes that otherwise would have been for some stiff like Scalabrine. Best case scenario he gives you a down low presence on offense and grabs you some boards on D, something they couldn’t do against the Lakers.

Remember when the Rangers wanted Clay Buchholz for Salty? – Ha, those were the days. Instead we get him for a couple of prospects who will never become anything more than fringe major league players at best and a couple hundred thousand dollars (that was strange to say). Salty has been plagued by injuries and a case of the yips throwing the ball back to the pitcher but Red Sox scouts are confident that it is all behind him. He is still only 25 and at a position that usually develops late. After only a couple of games with Pawtucket they are already raving about his play behind the plate. If he can figure it out a little bit with the stick that this could become the deal of the decade for the Sox. And the best part is, we got to keep Clay.

I love the Patriots young defense – Obviously it’s impossible to judge players based on written reports of training camp practices, but the young players on this Patriots team really give you a reason to be optimistic about the future. Just from the past week I have read good things about TE Aaron Hernandez, CB Darius Butler, ILB Brandon Spikes, OLB Jermaine Cunningham, WR’s Brandon Tate and Taylor Price. The first pre-season game is a week from Thursday and it should be even more fun than normally with all the interesting young players on the squad.

I am not worried in the least about Tom Brady not being under contract – Would it be nice if he was locked up for the rest of his life? Sure, but I don’t think Robert Kraft is willing to risk the PR disaster that would be Tom Brady leaving the Patriots organization. Once it is all settled, Kraft is going to have to spend far more than he ever would have wanted to in order to sign Brady, but everyone knows it is for the best. I would advise Kraft to get a deal done sooner rather than later though as it would be advantageous for him to sign Brady before Peyton Manning and the Colts set the new ceiling for quarter back salaries. If this drags into the season I would be surprised. If I had to guess I would say a deal gets done a couple weeks for opening day.

There is a zero percent chance Brett Favre retired – This is nothing more than Favre being a media whore. He has tried to retired elevnty billion times to this point and has never stayed that way. Plus, as Jeff pointed out already, it wouldn’t be right if Favre didn’t come back to somehow screw the Pats. I do think he will miss some time in the regular season as he seems to come back later and later each year, but the dude is set to make $13 million this year. If he doesn’t play 75% of the games, I may be forced to quit this whole blogging thing.

I love that the Celtics open the NBA season against the Heat – Good work with the scheduling NBA. Lebron has opened the season against Boston two years in a row, so why not keep the tradition going? All everyone wants to see is a Heat/Celtics finals next year, so giving the people a sneak peak to open the year is brilliant. And at least now we can safely say, one of these teams won’t go undefeated.

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Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com was on WEEI yesterday and had some interesting things to say regarding the New York Jets

“They’re going to have a very difficult season,” Florio said of the Jets. “I just don’t know that they planned how this all was going to play out. … I just think it’s going to be a very tall order for the New York Jets to be competitive this year. They welcome the bull’s-eye that on their backs, and I don’t know that that’s all going to play very well. They were a mediocre team in November last year, and really into December. I think there’s a good chance they don’t even make the playoffs.”

I haven’t spent too much time reading up on football yet as the Red Sox are my bread and butter, but this is really the first time I have heard someone question the Jets. As far as I’m concerned there have been two stances people have taken with them at this point:

1 – All over their nuts. It’s Super Bowl or bust for Rex and his group of clowns. No one can stop their almighty defense.

2 – All over only one nut – They may take some time to get used to playing together, but when the stretch run comes, no one will be able to score on them let alone beat them!

Not being an idiot I obviously never bought into the hype. Sure, they were improved, but by how much? Remember, this team wouldn’t even have made the playoffs last year if it weren’t for the Bengals and the Colts both playing their starters for only half the game in week 16 and 17. Sure, they got on a hot streak in the playoffs, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they shouldn’t even have been there to begin with!

I will concede that their defense is great. But the team in general has problems.

- Darelle Revis, the most important player on that team is holding out with no end in sight.

- It has been reported that Cromartie has already impregnated half of the city of New York.

- The combination of LT/Green can’t hold the jock strap of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.

- Braylan Edwards still can’t catch.

- Santonio Holmes is still a scumbag.

- Mark Sanchez is still nothing more than an average NFL QB on his best day.

Asked about Jets coach Rex Ryan, Florio said: ”We’ll see what happens when they hit hard times. He declared them out of the playoffs after they lost at home to the Falcons in December, even though they weren’t out. So, he’s going to be high when they’re doing well, and he’s going to be lower than low when things are going poorly.”

Everyone loved Rex last year, and I can see why. But that type of act gets real old real fast, especially if you aren’t winning. Just wait and see how quickly the town turns on him if they lose back to back games. The over under for the amount of times he cries during a press conference before their week seven bye is 3.5. I’m taking the over.

I cannot wait for football season to begin. I have kind of been keeping it on the back burner blog wise because Jeff is kicking ass but September 12 can’t come soon enough. T.O. and the Bengals to start the year at home and then a week two battle in the Meadowlands the following week. Should be two incredibly entertaining games.

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LF – Bill Hall

CF – Darnell McDonal

RF – Ryan Kalish

Meanwhile, Jacoby still “feels something” as he goes 3-5 for Pawtucket today. Thanks dude.

I think it is safe to say that Jacoby Ellsbury has now become public enemy #1 in the Red Sox clubhouse.

This dude has played NINE games this season for the big club and is currently on a rehab assignment that has been five games long up to this point. He is hitting .533 in those five games and somehow he is not ready? Give me a break.

Mike Cameron has been playing all year long with a tear in his abdomen. Victor Martinez came back from a broken finger on his glove hand and didn’t even need a single rehab start, yet Jacoby needs five and is still not back.

With the crap he is pulling this year he has officially passed JD Drew as the biggest pansy on the Red Sox roster.

At this point I wouldn’t even be mad if Youkilis had to go on the DL because he broke his hand on Jacoby’s face.

In my mind  there is really no question that the Sox have to do everything in  their power to trade this dude in the off-season and sign Carl Crawford. Beltre is gone so trade Ellsbury for a power hitting 1B or 3B.

Hell, even package Papelbon with Ellsbury if that’s what it will take to get someone like Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder because we all know he is useless too.

The only motivation Jacoby should need to get on the field and play ASAP is seeing Eric Patterson playing CF. End of story!

One more thing, the PawSox manager was quoted saying the Jacoby is ready in reference to a play he made in CF…

“It looked like it was 10 feet over his head,’’ gushed Pawtucket manager Torey Lovullo. “When you make moves like that, and you’re talking about agility and strength, and reading the ball — and you see plays like that — it’s very satisfying. He’s ready.’’

…The quote was taken from a nicely written piece by Dan Shaugnessy on the whole situation which can be found in the Globe. (http://tinyurl.com/28xoymh)

(Fast forward to the 1:45 mark…)

What on earth was the manager doing here? After watching the first at bat there is a zero percent chance I let this clown try to intentionally walk another guy. The odds of him successfully walking the first batter was slim to none let alone two in a row. Some people just can’t handle the pressure of throwing four consecutive balls at the speed of a little league pitch, and it’s up to the manager to realize it and take the poor bastard out before he becomes a viral hit on You Tube.

Photo via Yahoo Sports

On Sunday, the Florida Marlins won their fourth game of the week in the last at bat. This time around it was Wes Helms doing the honors driving in the winning run with a single against the Braves. As is common practice around major league baseball, Helms received a shaving cream pie to the face during a TV interview. However, Chris Coghlan, the man delivering the pie, ended up tearing his meniscus in the process and will now have surgery and miss 6-8 weeks.

His reaction via twitter:

Yes it is true! I hurt my knee and unfortunately am on DL. I know the Lord has a plan for me and is better than any plan I have for myself!!

If I was a Marlins fan I would be furious about this. You could at least show a little remorse, no?  If you didn’t cream them, you wouldn’t have hurt yourself. Simple as that.

Maybe I’m just bitter because he is killing my fantasy teams. Still, at least pretend to be upset about missing most of the remainder of the season.