Red Sox Look to 2010, Patriots Look at Oilers

The analysis of the 2009 Red Sox continues, even as the club prepares to move onto 2010.

Sean McAdam says that Theo Epstein may well once again load up on retreads this winter to try and fill holes. He’s got three possible pitchers that might be on Epstein’s list this winter. Joe McDonald says that the Red Sox starting rotation is a lot more settled heading into 2010 than it was going into 2009. Mike Fine has Epstein saying that changes will need to be made heading into 2010. Peter Gammons says there will be  some tough decisions to make this winter.

Amalie Benjamin says that there aren’t any minor league prospects that seem poised to make the full-time leap to the majors in 2010. Michael Silverman says that Epstein needs to figure out his plan of attack for shortstop very soon. Pedro Gomez has a position by position assessment of the Red Sox.

Stan Grossfeld has a feature on a Red Sox fan battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Nick Cafardo has Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez on opposite sides in the NLCS.

Patriots

Greg Doyle offers some first impressions of the Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers. Ian R. Rapoport has the Patriots very aware of how dangerous Chris Johnson can be. Mark Farinella has Bill Belichick making giants out of the Titans in preparing his team.

Brian MacPherson looks at the official return of Junior Seau. Michael Vega has Seau ready to go. Karen Guregian has Seau jumping right into things, setting an example for his younger teammates. Rapoport says that Seau’s main goal is still that championship ring for his finger. Shalise Manza Young says that Seau can’t resist the call to duty. Andy Vogt says Seau has been through all of this before. Rich Garven has Seau once again ditching the surfboard for a playbook. Mark Farinella welcomes back the world’s oldest teenager. Christopher Price examines where Seau will fit in. Glen Farley has Seau having another senior moment.

Mike Reiss says that the Patriots offense is struggling to find itself.  Monique Walker has Tom Brady very aware of the struggles of his offense. Guregian has Brady looking for a big-play revival this weekend. Farley says that Belichick had a long talk with his offense yesterday.

Ron Borges has NFL retirees moving closer to getting more financial assistance from the league. Jeremy Gottlieb goes around the league. Michael Felger has his mailbag.

Rapoport’s notebook has Sebastian Vollmer set to fill in for Matt Light if needed. Young’s Patriots journal has more on Vollmer. Vogt’s notebook also has Vollmer getting pressed into action.  Garven’s notebook has the offensive line’s continuity being disrupted this weekend.

Celtics/Bruins

Paul Doyle has the Celtics looking sharp in Hartford last night. Mark Murphy has Rajon Rondo raising his game in the preseason. Jim Fenton says that it has been so far, so good for the Celtics in the preseason.

Bob Ryan looks at how Eddie House has found a home in Boston. Jeff Jacobs remembers when the Celtics playing in Hartford was a frequent occurance, even during the regular season.

Murphy’s notebook reports that KG took a hit last night, but kept going. Frank Dell’Apa has Rondo and KG hooking up last night like old times.

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell has the Bruins looking to spark things up on the road. Stephen Harris has coach Claude Julien switching up some lines.