My Favorite Part of the Week

From my beloved Mailbag:

What is with Manny Ramirez? Is he actually wanting to stay in Boston this year or when will trade rumors come up again?
-- Thomas S., St. David, Ariz.

Knock on wood, but it seems that Ramirez has finally found true happiness in Boston. It is a strange thing this time of year not to hear Ramirez's name in trade rumors. I think the team has never been on better footing with Ramirez than it is right now. It will be fascinating to see if they pick up his options for 2009 and '10. That once seemed like such big money, but not anymore the way the market has jumped.

Can we have an update on Big Papi? Haven't heard about his surgery in a while.
-- Annalesa A., Louisville, Ohio

No news is good news on this front. Ortiz is doing very well in his recovery and should be ready to go at full throttle in 2008.

Good news with both Manny and Ortiz! EVEN BETTER NEWS COMING UP:

Fenway Sports Group, an arm of the company that owns the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park, said today it is buying a controlling stake of the minor league Salem Avalanche baseball franchise, based in Salem, Va.

PEOPLE! A Red Sox ANYTHING in Virginia would be so fantastic! We are so deprived down here...