Sports Redux: Papi Power

Both the Celtics and the Bruins took the day off Monday, which allowed Boston sports fans to focus their attention on the palm trees and pitchers assembled roughly 1,472 miles from home. While it might still be chilly in New England, Red Sox Spring Training helps to remind us that baseball really will be returning to Boston in a matter of weeks.

There were multiple question marks on the Sox roster during the offseason, the most obvious dealing with health issues. Mike Lowell? Josh Beckett? JD Drew? Big Papi Ortiz?

We're starting to get some answers: Lowell continues to rehab and hopes to be ready for Opening Day, Beckett's looking good, Drew's back is - surprise, surprise - bugging him. On Monday, the Large Father met with the media to address his particular approach to the coming season, and his approach is clear: show that he's still got it and prove the cynics wrong.

Lest one think that he's in denial, note the observation made by the Globe's Bob Ryan: "So I am here to report that David Ortiz is a lean, mean, batting machine. Really. He looks mah-ve-lous."

Ortiz also spoke out Monday about steroids in baseball, suggesting that players who test positive during the regular season get kicked out of the sport for the rest of that season. For those who grumble that Papi's large frame suggests juicing, he has a clear message, as quoted by the Herald's Steve Buckley:

"I know that if I test positive, using any kind of substance, I know that I’m going to disrespect my family, the game, the fans, and everybody. And I don’t want to be facing that situation. So what I will do is, I won’t use it. And I’m pretty sure that everybody is on the same page."

We want to hug this man.

In steroids-related news, expect the headlines to start popping up on sports sites everywhere this afternoon. A-Rod will be holding a press conference at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Additionally, Patriot Larry Izzo is going to cross into baseball scandal when he testifies during Barry Bonds' criminal trial next month. As it turns out, Izzo is expected to say that Bonds' personal trainer gave him performance enhancing drugs back in 2003. Which is interesting, as Izzo told all of us back in 2004 that he testified before a grand jury about his "legitimate relationship with a supplement company."

Is that what they're calling it these days, Larry? Because we call that lying.

Finally on the baseball front - and we're still scratching our heads over this one - Oil Can Boyd is trying to stage a comeback. We imagine that Tim Wakefield cheered upon hearing the news, giddy at the prospect of being able to deflect "you're too old" remarks someone else's way.

In basketball news, Sam Cassell, the man who managed to get himself thrown out of a game in which he wasn't even playing this season, is reportedly heading Sacramento's way. Rumblings suggest a trade might be on the way before Thursday's deadline, now that the C's have a roster spot open.

Photo by flickr user Waldo Jaquith.