Maybe Cole is bored too

From a man who proved this fall he knows how not to choke, Cole Hamels, the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP, stated the obvious about the New York Mets: "For the past two years they've been choke artists."

He appeared on hostile radio, WFAN, to pump a World Series DVD but got goaded into some good-natured Mets-Phillies ribbing with Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts. The Mets swung back with Darryl Strawberry - a long-retired cokehead from the 1980s.

Finally, some juice for the SoxandPhils as the winter meetings ended with the biggest news being a manager's extension and a trade of backup catchers.

In some ways, that's a good thing because the Mark DeRosa trade is dead. And the Red Sox continue to disagree with Scott Boras about whether anyone, including the Red Sox, has offered Jason Varitek a contract.

Oh, wait, I missed this huge news while I was out for a bit today. The Red Sox unveiled their latest marketing ploy today: a bunch of new garb for the pink hat crowd. This makes me want to start wearing my Roger Clemens jersey again.