Idiots Reunited

Even though New England is being decimated by snow, sleet, and gross freezing rain this afternoon, the groundhog didn't see his shadow. You know what they say, right? Spring's around the corner. And spring means baseball. Without getting ahead of ourselves, it's time to think just a bit about the Tampa Bay Rays' latest move and its impact on the AL East division.

For Sox fans, seeing Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez together on the same squad brings back memories. Two key members of the "Idiots" back in 2004, both players are good bets for the hall of fame some day. They both have their undeniable place in Red Sox history, as well. Ramirez earned World Series MVP honors the year that Boston reversed the curse. Damon blasted two homers, including a grand slam, in game 7 against New York that season. Without these two guys -- hell, we might still believe in a curse 93 years old and counting. Damon doesn't wear the pinstripes anymore, and Ramirez has been removed for a few years. I don't hold any more grudges. I love these guys for what they've done.

But it doesn't mean I'm back to rooting for them. You can't just forget about the Tampa Bay Rays, who are quietly making their case in the East. Everyone all but wrote off the Rays after losing impact players Carl Crawford and Carlos Peña, and rightfully so. They dealt Matt Garza and several key components of their bullpen. There is still plenty of work to be done, but they have begun to patch up the holes by acquiring a left-fielder and a clean-up hitter. Damon, 37, signed a one-year deal for a little over $5 million, saying he would love to play 162 games and feels that he is still fully capable of being a major contributor. Ramirez, on the other hand, will be paid just $2 million from the Rays this season -- a stark contrast to his $20 million earnings last year with the Dodgers and the White Sox. Manny was adamant about the clear fact that it's not about the money here; it's about coming into Tampa and proving he can still be the hitter he once was on a championship-caliber team.

I won't go as far as to say the Rays should be considered a championship contender just yet -- they really aren't even in the discussion for the division as of today. But for a team that has prided itself on pitching, youthful energy, and strong defense over the past few seasons, a little splash of veteran experience might help the cause. With the Yankees relaxing throughout a relatively uneventful offseason the Rays are holding out hope that they can jump back into the picture with the two cities Ultimate has branches of.

I don't know if spring is just around the corner here in New England, but Spring Training most certainly is.