Yankees GM Brian Cashman was asked if the Red Sox are better on paper today than the Yankees.

“I would agree because they have a deeper starting rotation. I’m not saying they’re going to beat us. We’re not conceding anything. But if somebody asked me right now, they might be a finished product. We’re an unfinished product,” he said last night at a charity event. “But you don’t win championships in the winter, you win them in the summer. We’re looking forward to going head-to-head with everybody and anybody.”-Full Story

It is simple math folks!

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The Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 thanks in large part to the contributions of both Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon.  Now, the two players that are past their prime and clinging on to one-year contracts at a time, are joining forces (thanks to Scott Boras) in Tampa Bay.

Reuniting with another American League East team, free agent Johnny Damon agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.25 million and free agent Manny Ramirez agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal.  

Damon will play left field and Ramirez will be designated hitter.

The Rays, spurned by the free agent departures of Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Rafael Soriano, Joaquin Benoit, Dan Wheeler, and Chad Qualls, as well as the trading departures of Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett, finally made their move this off-season by signing the two-former Red Sox.

Although the two players are in the twilights of their careers, they will serve as stop-gaps for the Rays who have a boatload of talent in their minor league system who are a year or two away from contributing, marking the signings of Damon and Ramirez as a way for the Rays to keep up with the Red Sox and Yankees in 2011.

If the Boston Red Sox had not won World Series Championships in 2004 and 2007, then this day may have never come.  But with the recent success of the Red Sox in the past decade, the man who “cost” the Red Sox a World Series in 1986 can now finally return to Boston.

And rightfully so.

Bill Buckner, at the age of 61, is back with the Red Sox as the new manager of the Brockton Rox, a franchise in the independent Can-Am league, on a two-year contract.  It will be Buckner’s first time returning to any form of Major League baseball since 1997 when we served as Chicago White Sox hitting coach for two seasons.

Buckner is most remembered for his crucial error in the ’86 World Series against the New York Mets.  The error came in the bottom of the tenth inning in Game Six as a slow-roller from Mookie Wilson rolled under his glove and through his legs into right field, allowing Ray Knight of the Mets to score the winning run as the Mets eventually went on to win Game 7 and the “Curse of the Bambino” lived on for Red Sox fans.

But that’s all in the past for Sox fans and Buckner, as the former left-hitting first basemen is now back in Boston, helping the Red Sox develop talent along the pipe-stream. 

Welcome back Bill Buckner.

The Boston Celtics didn’t lead at all in the second half until Ray Allen hit a jumper with 25 seconds left to give the Celtics the lead for good.  

Although Allen finished with a season-low seven points, he couldn’t have timed his clutch jumper any better as the C’s outlasted the Pistons on Wednesday night at the Garden with a 86-82 victory.

Paul Pierce led the way for Boston with 22 points and Shaquille O’Neal stepped up big without the presence of Jermaine O’Neal, adding 12 points and 12 rebounds as the C’s won their fourth straight.

The only bad news on the night was when Marquis Daniels rolled his ankle in the second quarter and did not return to action.  However, there were some encouraging signs of improvement this week with the Celtics with the return of Kevin Garnett as well as the resumed practice activities of both Kendrick Perkins (knee) and Delonte West (wrist).

The Celtics (32-9) host the Utah Jazz (27-15) and old friend Al Jefferson on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Instead of a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers next up on Tom Brady’s schedule, the New England Patriots quarterback has scheduled surgery after playing much of the season with a stress fracture in his foot.

It appears as if Brady injured his foot in a 34-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 7 as the Pro Bowl quarterback missed his first practice of the season on Nov. 10.  He was listed that day with a foot injury on the team’s injury report.

Surgery isn’t unprecedented for the 33-year-old whose had four surgeries in eight years. When he talked to WEEI on Monday, Brady said that he’s had surgery on his shoulder, knee, groin and one other undisclosed area.  

His foot surgery will be his fifth. 

Although all reports say that Brady will be ready for the start of training camp, Patriots fans should keep their eyes peeled for news on how his surgery and recovery goes.

Hey fellow Chowdaheadz.  We got our Red Socks back in all sizes  Time to rock out with your socks out!

Check out Charlie Chowdahead cooking up a storm.  He would def. Rather Be At Fenway !

This ice stuff is heading our way here in Boston. Be careful fellow Chowdaheadz. 

Crazy video in Pittsburgh of an icy hill:

Left with the bitter taste of defeat at the hands of the New York Jets, the New England Patriots head into the offseason beleaguered and weary after their uninspired performance against the Jets on Sunday.

Having said all that, the Patriots surprised many in 2010 with their 14-2 regular season record, growth on defense, and relatively explosive offense (even without Randy Moss). Nonetheless, if the Patriots want to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender again and want to break away from their losing ways in the playoffs (0-3 in their past three games), there are some issues Bill Belichick and Co. must address this offseason to make sure that this new decade is like the last.

Here at chowdaheadz, we want to know what YOU think New England’s top-3 biggest concerns are with this offseason.  To get the debate going, we will list you a few things to get the discussion going…

1. Finding a top-tier pass rusher/defensive lineman

2. Wide Reciever future, in particular Wes Welker

3. Logan Mankins future with the team

4. Addressing the assistant coaches and their ‘actual’ positions

5. Re-signing restricted free agents (Matt Light, Kevin Faulk, Gerard Warren…)

6. Deciding the future of the backfield (i.e. drafting one, or sticking with BJE & Woodhead)

7. Acquire top-tier talent instead of draft it (i.e. trade for a Larry Fitzgerald or a  Jared Allen)

8. Hire Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator (joking?)

9. Contract extensions for Welker, Vollmer, and Mayo

10. Trade up in the draft and get quality instead of quantity 

Let us know what you think.