By Phil Shore, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

Throughout the New England Patriots’ dynasty that encompassed the first ten years of the new millennium, one thing that was never stable was the running back situation.

The team got production from the position, whether it be Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon, or Kevin Faulk. However it was also the most inconsistent position. There was a rotating door of running backs due to spotty performances and an unbelievable amount of injuries.

Between the uneven play of the running backs and the star-studded quarterback the team has, the Patriots have evolved into a very pass-happy team, but the fans and coaches would like to add a little more balance to the attack.

Coming into the new decade, the team has found no complete answer. Players have shown flashes of brilliance, but then wound up benched because of turnovers or injuries. Who will the Patriots be able to depend on in 2010, an extremely pivotal season for the franchise?

Here is a look at the running backs on the roster.

Laurence Maroney: Maroney is arguably the most perplexing player on the Patriots roster. Drafted number 21 overall in 2006, he was the first running back New England selected in the first round since Robert Edwards was taken number 18 out of Georgia in 1998.

He has not lived up to expectations.

He has yet to reach 1,000 yards in a season or play all 16 games in a season. He turns the ball over at critical moments in the game and at critical spots on the field. Not to mention three Pro Bowl running backs—DeAngelo Williams, Joseph Addai, and Maurice Jones-Drew—were selected after him (four if you count Leon Washington who made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner).

Still, he flashes moments of brilliance that makes Pats fans think he may be able to turn this thing around yet. Just last year there were the two touchdown games against the Jets and the Saints, the 123-yard and one touchdown performance against Tennessee, and the 94-yards he put up against Carolina (three of those games were Patriot wins).

In the last year of his original rookie contract Maroney will be looking to play for a new contract as well.

At 25, Maroney is still young. The Patriots keep giving him chances, and he will likely start the season as the starting back. Can he overcome injuries and terribly inconsistent play? One has to wonder how much more patient the Pats and the team’s fans will be with him.

Fred Taylor: Taylor has had a long, successful career. The Pro Bowler was productive in his first year with the Patriots.

In six games he played in Taylor scored four rushing touchdowns and lead the team in rushing three times.

The problem is that he played in only six games. Taylor has a history of injury issues, especially lately, and the 34-year-old is in the twilight of his career.

He still has talent and can contribute on the field as well as being a good player to have in the locker room, but the Patriots cannot rely on him to be the number one featured back. One has to wonder how much Taylor has left in the tank.

Kevin Faulk: Faulk is New England’s do-it-all running back. He rushes the ball, catches passes out of the backfield, and occasionally returns kicks and punts. He’s never rushed for more than 640 yards in a season throughout his entire 11-year career with the New England Patriots, however he is the epitome of a team player and is vital to the franchise’s success.

Faulk is also surprisingly durable. Although he is 34-years-old, he has played in at least 15 games in each of the past four years and eight out of his 11 seasons overall.

Faulk resigned with the Pats this offseason and while he won’t be the featured back he is someone the team, especially Tom Brady, depends on.

Sammy Morris: Morris lead the Patriots in rushing yards (727) and rushing touchdowns (7) in 2008, and he spearheaded the most potent Patriots rushing attack in 20 years.

When he first came to the Patriots as a free agent in 2007, a cast-off of divisional rivals Buffalo and Miami, Morris was a solid backup running back that made a good contribution on special teams. However when those ahead of him fell due to injury Morris capitalized on the opportunities. He is in good favor with Patriot coaches and front office members.

Morris’ downfall is his inability to stay healthy. He hasn’t played all 16-regular season games since 2005 and has only done so three times in his ten year career.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis: An undrafted free agent signing the “Law Firm” has been an impressive signing for New England. He’s low on the totem pole, but because of constant injuries at the position Green-Ellis gets opportunities and he makes the most of them.

In 2008 when Maroney went on injured reserve, Green-Ellis was named the starter and really took over. He rushed for a total of 275 yards, compiled 3.7 yards per rush, and scored five touchdowns.

He won’t move in front of a healthy Maroney, Taylor, Faulk, and Morris but he has showed he has value and depth at this position on this team has proved absolutely necessary.

Chris Taylor: Green-Ellis’ running mate while at Indiana, Taylor hasn’t made much of a dent in the NFL.  He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2006 by Houston but has played a grand total of seven games and missed two entire seasons, including 2009—his first with New England.

It’s a mystery what he could provide and how he could climb the depth chart. Yet they re-signed him and kept him around after last season so there’s got to be something the organization sees in him.

Thomas Clayton: A burly running back at 5’11”, Clayton spent all of 2007 and all but two weeks in 2008 on San Francisco’s practice squad, then spent 2009 on injured reserve. He will battle Taylor for a spot on the team, but his outlook isn’t so rosy as of now.

Eric Kettani: The Navy graduate was placed on military reserve last season and will most likely not be a contributor in the upcoming season either.

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By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

I pulled off the impossible Friday night.

My girlfriend is the biggest Red Sox fan I’ve ever met. She worships Bill Mueller, owns about 37 different Sox “player T’s” and even has a Dice-K poster that reads “The Gun from the Rising Sun.” She’s dedicated.

But like anyone who has followed the Red Sox this year, she has absolutely no confidence in their bullpen.

And on Friday night, with Boston leading 2-1 heading into the ninth inning and Jonathan Papelbon on his way into the game, something very weird happened.

Her: “I bet you [Papelbon] blows it.”

Me: “OK, you’re on. Loser buys a six-pack.”

Her: “Deal. Get ready to pay up.”

I actually got my girlfriend to root against the Red Sox — with beer on the line.

But can you really blame her? After all, once you get past Daniel Bard — who has 21 holds and a 1.71 ERA — in the Sox bullpen, the game essentially becomes a free-for-all.

Thursday night was the perfect example.

John Lackey was pitching his best game of the season, and one of the best of his career. He had a no-hitter through seven and two-thirds, and left the game after eight innings with a 6-1 lead. Against a team like the Seattle Mariners — who have scored an MLB-low 321 runs entering play Saturday — the win was as much of a lock as possible.

Enter Manny Delcarmen.

From 2007 to 2008, Delcarmen was one of the most reliable arms in the Boston bullpen, posting a 3.07 ERA in 117 appearances during that stretch.

Since then, he’s been miserable. In 2009, Delcarmen’s ERA skyrocketed to 4.53. This year, it’s an unforgivable 5.05 in 36 games.

His outing on Thursday did not help.

Entering the game with a 6-1 lead, Delcarmen gave up a single to Mariners second baseman Chone Figgins. Then, Franklin Gutierrez blasted one 381 feet into the left field stands. A five-run lead was cut to three. No big deal, right?

Delcarmen then walked Jose Lopez. After an error by Marco Scutaro — which, to Delcarmen’s credit, should have been a double play — the M’s had the tying run at the plate with nobody out in the ninth.

OK, no worries. Terry Francona came to the mound and brought in Papelbon. Game over, right?

But 2010’s version of Jonathan Papelbon is not the same as the 2006 to 2009 version, when the Sox closer made four straight All-Star teams. This year, Pap’s ERA is 3.07 — 108 points higher than his career 1.99 mark. He has four blown saves, which has a lot to do with his strikeout-to-walk ratio, which is down to an unimpressive 2.40 (it was 9.63 in 2008).

And on Saturday, Papelbon’s disappointments continued. After striking out Justin Smoak, Papelbon gave up a double to Casey Kotchman. It was now a two-run game, with Bradley on third and the tying run on second.

Josh Bard walked, putting the winning run on base but also setting up a double play scenario with Jack Wilson coming to the plate.

Wilson hit a slow grounder to short, and what should have been a fielder’s choice turned into a tie game, as Red Sox second baseman Bill Hall threw the ball past Kevin Youkilis at first, allowing pinch-runner Ryan Langerhans (who was on second in place of Kotchman) to score.

It was yet another blown save for Papelbon.

The Red Sox did end up winning the game in 13 innings. Nevertheless, the elephant in the room is still the poor overall performance by the Red Sox bullpen, minus Daniel Bard.

Boston has a 4.38 bullpen ERA, which ranks 10th in the American League. Last time I checked, that kind of ‘pen does not carry a team into October.

Papelbon could figure it out. So could Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez (4.73 ERA) and even Hideki Okajima (5.34).

But what the Sox really need is another arm, or maybe even two.

There are plenty of guys out there, and Theo Epstein has the prospects to move to make it happen.

Whether it’s Blue Jays pitchers Scott Downs, Jason Frasor or Kevin Gregg, A’s relievers Michael Wuertz or Craig Breslow, or a flashier name like Royals closer Joakim Soria, the Red Sox need to get a quality arm for the back of the bullpen.

And even though Papelbon closed the game on Friday — netting me some frosty beer and giving my girlfriend a bittersweet feeling (she hates losing) – it’s never a good sign when a team’s biggest fan bets against them for a seven dollar pack of Michelob Ultra.

Boston fans are all over the world. Sarah Lee Marks, former Bostonian and current Vegasian (I have NO IDEA what Las Vegas dwellers call themselves, but that just sounds weird), is excited to announce that Rondo is coming to town. As someone who lives in a sports city that’s known to be pretty lacking in sports culture, the USA Basketball Team’s arrival is a pretty big deal. However, not as big of a deal as Rondo, fighting for a spot. We all know he deserves it, just as much as he deserved that MVP this year, had those damn Lakers not won. (Yep, still not over it. Are you?)

Read her post here, (http://www.mycarlady.com/2010/07/18/celtics-rondo-to-las-vegas-for-team-usa/) and stay tuned for more coverage of training camp and possible photos.

By: Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor

At Thursday nights Red Sox game, I was reminded why I love this city and its fans.

The Sox were down 6-0 by the end of the first, 7-0 by the end of the second. Man, when Wakefield’s off, he might as well just start throwing underhand.

It seemed like it was going to be a long night. But then, enter wasted, stereotypical Red Sox fan. I love it.

This guy made it his sole mission of the night to start the wave. Now, from left field, this is a difficult task, because you somehow have to get the people on the Monster to participate. (see picture. he’s not happy with them). I don’t know why they think they’re too good for the wave, but it seems to be the case.

There is no possible way he had a voice the next day because he didn’t give up. “1, 2, 3, WOOOO! AGAIN. 1, 2, 3 WOOOO! THE WAVE GUYS! 1…” He even tried the reverse wave, which I don’t think has ever been done before, and was even less successful. Now, the eighty year old lady behind me plugging her ears did not enjoy this, but I think she was the only spoiler of the group. He was definitely more entertaining than the Sox at that point.

On one of his attempts, Youk hit a homer, and it seemed like this guy was a good luck charm. An inning later, he actually caught a fly ball. I couldn’t believe it. He was seriously having the best night of his life.

And then it happened. The crowd caught on, and the wave went around a whole four times. Our section gave him a standing ovation. If he had cried tears of joy, I wouldn’t have been surprised.

It was hands down the most fun I’ve had at a Sox game. This is what Red Sox fans are all about. Sometimes our teams let us down, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have a good time, right?

Congratulations to Big Papi for killing it at the Home Run Derby, hitting 32 homers. I think the big guy needed it. I also think it’s finally safe to say, that he’s got his swing back. No, not just because he hit all those BP balls out of the park, but because he really has come back from the dark months of April and May when he found himself even getting benched. He kept telling us he’d figure it out and now he’s up to .263 and has hit 18 homers, tied for eighth in the AL, tied for first with YOUKK (who once again got screwed on the All-Star cut) on the Sox. Well done.

BUT, if his decision to participate in the derby screws up his swing and he slumps again, this congratulations might be withdrawn.

Also, Papi needs to chill. Now he wants an extension? Does he realize that he’s about to be 35? Does he realize that the last time he hit over 50 homers was in 2006? That the last time he hit over 30 was in 2007? Boston loves their Teddy Bear, but there’s still half a season left, and he needs to prove he’s worth the option, let alone an extension.

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]]> http://www.yawkeytalkies.com/2010/07/papis-got-his-swing-back-but-needs-to-slow-down-on-the-extension-talk/feed/ 1 http://www.yawkeytalkies.com/2010/07/papis-got-his-swing-back-but-needs-to-slow-down-on-the-extension-talk/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/yawkeytalkies/~3/X9t4ImO0hrQ/ http://www.yawkeytalkies.com/2010/07/youk-swisher/#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:59:39 +0000 admin http://www.yawkeytalkies.com/?p=2034 Okay, so I'm still pissed that Youk got beat out by freaking Nick Swisher for the All-Star team. I mean, nothings worse than getting beat out by a Yankee, but this is just wrong. Youk is the most consistent player the Sox have this season. And stats don't lie. Let's recap:]]>

Okay, so I’m still pissed that Youk got beat out by freaking Nick Swisher for the All-Star team. I mean, nothings worse than getting beat out by a Yankee, but this is just wrong. Youk is the most consistent player the Sox have this season. And stats don’t lie. Let’s recap:

STATS         Swisher                    Youk

BA                .298                            .293

HR               15                                 18

RBI              49                                 57

OBP             .377                             .407

SLG             .524                             .575

The only thing Swisher has on Youk is .05 more of a batting average. Youk is also top 10 in the league in three of those categories (top 5 for two) and Swisher doesn’t even break the ten in any. UGH what were people thinking? Just look at this picture and it’s obvious who even just looks more like an All-Star. Swisher’s asking for something other than an All-Star vote. (I won’t say it, but just use your imagination.)

Ok, rant over. At least this way Youk won’t end up the 25th hurt player on the Sox roster. Our team will get a break and recover, while the Yankees will all pull muscles and start sucking (more).

By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

Theo Epstein became the general manager of the Red Sox in November 2002. Since then, he’s orchestrated two World Series champions, four other playoff teams and developed a plethora of unknown players into All-Stars.

Epstein’s track record has been pretty incredible for a guy who was hired as a 28 year-old, the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball.

His tenure as Red Sox GM has arguably been the best run in team history.

So, in lieu of the 2010 MLB All-Star Game, we here at Yawkey Talkies have decided to put our own spin on the midsummer classic.

It’s the “Theo All-Stars,” featuring the best players ever to put on a Red Sox uniform during Epstein’s career in Boston.

This is not just the best Red Sox players during that time. The players on this team are judged by their career stats, whether they played 20 years or 20 games with the Sox.

And I might as well say it now: Possible steroid use is not a factor.

Let the snub-talk begin!

Catcher – Victor Martinez

Martinez has been spectacular for the Red Sox since coming over in a trade last July, but he made his bones playing for Cleveland for about seven years. The four-time All-Star has a .298 career batting average, .836 OPS and even won an AL Silver Slugger award in 2004. In 2007 – the year that the Sox came back to beat the Indians in Game 7 of the ALCS – Martinez finished seventh in AL MVP voting, when he hit .301 with 25 homers and 114 RBIs.
Backup: Jason Varitek

First Base – John Olerud

In 2005, John Olerud decided to cap off his phenomenal career by playing 87 games for the defending World Series champion Red Sox. The two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner had a .295 career batting average, .863 OPS and 2,239 hits. Olerud won the AL batting title in 1993 when he hit .363 for the Blue Jays, leading the Jays to their second consecutive World Series win. In 1998, as a helmet-wearing first baseman for the New York Mets, Olerud hit .354. He was also the first baseman on the 116-win Seattle Mariners team in 2001.
Backup: Kevin Youkilis

Second Base – Dustin Pedroia

The only member of this starting roster to be drafted by Theo Epstein (2004), Pedroia has been a solid rock up the middle and in the top of the order for the Red Sox since he made his debut in August 2006. After winning the World Series and AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2007, Pedroia followed that up by winning his first AL MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger Award in 2008. The three-time All-Star has a .305 career batting average, and led the AL in runs in both 2008 and 2009.
Backup: Mark Loretta

Shortstop – Hanley Ramirez

Two at-bats, two strikeouts… Ramirez’s career numbers with the Red Sox. Epstein traded the highly-touted shortstop prospect, along with pitcher Anibal Sanchez to the Marlins before the 2006 season for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. Since arriving in South Florida, Ramirez has been nothing short of All-World for the Fish. The 2006 NL Rookie of the Year was named to his third consecutive All-Star team in 2010. The two-time (soon to be three-time) Silver Slugger winner led the NL in batting in 2009 by hitting at a .342 clip. Ramirez has 867 career hits in only 703 games, and his OPS is a staggering .911. He could go down as the best shortstop of all-time, when it’s all said and done.
Backup: Nomar Garciaparra

Third Base – Mike Lowell

Lowell quickly became a Fenway favorite after coming over to the Sox in 2006. The four-time All-Star (he made three NL teams for Florida) has 1584 career hits and 220 home runs. In 2007, Lowell led a stacked Red Sox team with 120 RBIs, and won World Series MVP honors. Lowell was also a key piece to the Marlins 2003 World Series puzzle.
Backup: Adrian Beltre

Left Field – Manny Ramirez

As good as Jason Bay was for Boston when he relieved Manny’s duties in left field, Ramirez is the easy choice for this one. The future Hall of Famer led the Sox to two World Series titles, absolutely dominating the American League throughout his entire career in Boston, and Cleveland before that. The 12-time All-Star led the AL with 43 homers and a .613 slugging percentage in 2004. Ramirez has finished top-10 in the MVP voting nine times, winning nine Silver Slugger Awards along the way. He has a career average of .313, and an OPS of 1.000. Manny is not only one of the greatest Red Sox players of all-time; he may be the greatest right-handed hitter in baseball history.
Backup: Jason Bay

Center Field – Johnny Damon

Are Red Sox fans ever going to be ready to wave the white flag at this guy? Yeah, he followed the money all the way to the Bronx, but it’s tough to forget what Damon did in a Sox uniform. He made two All-Star teams, led the AL in triples in 2002, and hit .304 with 20 homers and 94 RBIs out of the leadoff spot in 2004. Damon, with 2,503 career hits, is well on his way to 3,000. He was also a key piece in the Yankees championship team in 2009.
Backup: Jacoby Ellsbury

Right Field – J.D. Drew

Hey may not be the flashiest player, but Drew has quietly put up insane numbers in his 13-year big league career. The 2008 All-Star has a .893 career OPS, with 1,332 hits and 226 home runs. Drew has seven career home runs in the postseason, including a grand slam off Fausto Carmona in the first inning of Game 6 of the 2007 ALCS. In 2004 with the Atlanta Braves, Drew finished sixth in NL MVP voting when he hit .305 with 31 homers and 93 RBIs. Drew comes to work every day, does his job and leaves satisfied, because he knows he fills out the stat sheet. Not too many other players over the last 13 years can say the same.
Backup: Trot Nixon

Designated Hitter – David Ortiz

The only player on this team to be on the Red Sox during Epstein’s entire tenure, acquiring Ortiz was one of Theo’s first moves as GM. It’s paid off big time. The six-time All-Star led the AL in RBIs in 2005 and 2006, winning Silver Slugger Awards every year from 2004-’07. Ortiz combined with Manny Ramirez to be the most fearsome lineup combo in baseball, comparable maybe only to Babe Ruth and Lou Gherig. Ortiz has a .922 career OPS and 334 home runs.
Backup: Ellis Burks

Right-handed Staring Pitcher – Pedro Martinez

The Red Sox have many names to choose from in this category – Curt Schilling, John Smoltz and Josh Beckett, to name a few – but Pedro stands above them all. The greatest pitcher in Red Sox history, Martinez won two Cy Young Awards for the Sox in 1999 and 2000, and one for the Expos in 1997. The eight-time All-Star had such an amazing season in 1999, when he went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA that he finished second in AL MVP voting. The next year, Martinez was perhaps even more dominant, going 18-6 with a 1.74 ERA.
Backup: John Smoltz

Left-handed Starting Pitcher – David Wells

That’s right; Boomer is on the team. Wells pitched for the Red Sox in 2005, going 15-7 with a 4.45 ERA. The three-time All-Star has a career record of 239-157 with 2,201 strikeouts in 21 big league seasons. Wells led the AL with 20 wins in 2000 for the Blue Jays, and went 18-4 with a league leading 1.05 WHIP for the Yankees in 1998. That same year, Wells threw a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins.
Backup: Jon Lester

Relief Pitcher – Billy Wagner

Another member of the team to have a short stint in Boston, Wagner earned himself a closer’s role with the Braves this year by posting a 1.98 ERA in 15 games for the Red Sox in 2009. Wagner is fifth all-time with 405 saves, and third amongst active pitchers. He’s also made the All-Star team six times, and has finished top-10 in Cy Young voting twice (fourth in 1999 for Houston and sixth in 2006 for the Mets).
Backup: Eric Gagne

As YawkeyTalkies Editor, I would like to endorse  the NETHERLANDS to win today’s world cup.

Also, did everyone hear about the porn stars promising free BJ’s to every one who follows them on twitter if Holland wins? Look her up, Bobbi Eden, and make sure you’re on the list…with about 110,000 other people. Now that’s a true supporter.

By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

What’s up Doc?

That’s what Celtics fans wanted to know soon after the NBA Finals ended and attention turned to whether Doc Rivers would be on the bench in Boston next season.  That question was answered last week as Rivers announced he would be back coaching the Celtics next season.  All of Boston felt relief.

Then Paul Pierce opted out of the final year of his contract.  This wasn’t a huge surprise and there wasn’t much reason to be concerned that Pierce would leave Boston, but it was great news for Celtics fans when reports surfaced in the last few days that Pierce and the Celts had agreed on a 4 year deal in the $60 million range.

Two of the biggest questions regarding the Celtics offseason had been answered; Doc and Pierce are going to be at The Garden in 2010-2011.  Now two big questions remain for the Celtics.  The first is will Ray Allen be wearing green next season?  The chances seem good especially with both Doc and Pierce coming back.  Both men must think that there’s a good chance Allen is also coming back otherwise it may have been a more difficult decision for them to return to Boston.  The safe money says Allen will return for a hometown discount.  Stay tuned though.

The other big question for Boston is what else will they do in free agency.  With Kendrick Perkins likely out for most of the first half of the season, there’s a need to bring in another big man.  Add in that Rasheed Wallace is probably going to retire and you can see the Celtics need to add more size.  Shaq in beantown anyone?  Don’t be shocked if it happens.  He can still play, of course not at an All Star level, but he still takes up space and in a league with very few quality centers he can still be a factor.  Stay tuned on the free agency front as the first day players can sign is July 8^th.

Wow an entire NBA story without any mention of LeBron James.  Woops, almost.

By Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor

David Warsofsky was watching the World Cup dreams of the US National Soccer Team slip away against Ghana on Saturday afternoon when his phone rang. Little did he know that his own dream was waiting on the other end of the line.

It was his advisor, with news that he had been traded to the team he grew up not only watching, but also dreaming of one day sporting the black and gold jersey for himself: the Boston Bruins.

“Just growing up and watching all the Bruins that came through the system over the years, it’s an honor to put on the same sweater as them and be part of the same organization as them,” said Warsofsky.

The Marshfield native has had a phenomenal year and a half. He won the 2009 NCAA Championship with his fellow Boston University Terriers his freshman year, before going on to win a gold medal with the U20 US team at the Junior National Championships. Just weeks later, he had the honor of skating at Fenway Park (50 seconds in, Warsofsky’s great goal celebration), home of his favorite baseball team, as part of the Winter Classic game between BU and the BC Eagles. In his sophomore season, he scored a career high of 12 goals, to total 15 goals and 31 assists for 46 points over his college career thus far.

“It was icing on the cake to win [the NCAA Championships] the way we did; it was an awesome way to start my college career. Then the National Championships were another thing,” said Warsofsky. “It’s been a hell of a year for me. I know it’s there but it’s still kind of surreal.”

Now, with the Bruins in his future, Warsofsky, at just twenty years old, can top that icing off with some sprinkles.

The youngest of four boys, he followed in his brothers footsteps and started skating at the age of three, and hockey by six of seven. He played for the U20 team before he was even out of high school. Then, as if getting a spot on a Division 1 college squad wasn’t enough to be proud of, the defenseman closed out his freshman year being drafted to the NHL by the Saint Louis Blue Jays in the fourth round as the 95^th pick overall.

Warsofsky worked very hard on and off the ice but says that a lot of his success is the product of a higher power.

“A lot of it is about giving yourself the opportunity to get noticed by teams. It’s also a lot of luck, to get noticed by the right person at the right time. All it takes is one person to like you. I believe that everything happens for a reason,” he said.

If his destiny was to leave home for Saint Louis than so be it, but that’s not quite what turned out to be in the cards for him as the Bruins traded frontman Vladimir Sobotka to the Jays to acquire his rights.

“When you get drafted by a team you grow a passion for them. I like Saint Louis, they’re a great team, but being traded to Boston gives me an unbelievable opportunity,” said Warsofsky.

Moreover, staying local has the added advantage of remaining close to family and friends.

“It’s unbelievable playing in Boston [for BU] now. My family can come to every game. Hopefully I’ll be able to play at the Garden and they can come then too,” he said. “It’s nice to know I have family that will always support me.”

His current plan is to stay at BU for at least another year, possibly two, before joining the NHL and seeing what happens from there. While he’ll be training hard to get into professional shape, he’ll also be focusing on his junior Terrier season.

“Last year at BU, we struggled. Hopefully this year we can get back on top and win another championship,” said Warsofsky.

Then, in a few years, Boston fans can cross their fingers that a champion like Warsofsky can be the good luck charm that the Bruins, now almost four decades deep in Cup drought, need after an extremely disappointing end to their 2010 playoff run against the Flyers.

“It’s one of those things you can’t put in words. When it happened we were all devastated,” he said.

But, if his luck continues, 2010 will be soon forgotten when Warsofsky attains his ultimate dream of winning a Stanley Cup—at home.

Parts of this article also appeared in the Marshfield Mariner