Hello again sports fans. Yes, it’s been quite awhile since Dirty Watah has seen any activity, but with the hot stove starting to warm a bit, and the Patriots fighting for a playoff spot, it seemed like a good time for an update.

So, in honor of everybody’s favorite Turkey-filled holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to go with a “things I am thankful for” theme. Of course, I’m also a bitter pessimist, so along with the things I’m thankful for, you get the things that need to be improved (e.g. sucks):

Thankful: The Sox winning the bidding rights for Matisyahu for a mere $51.1M. (And you all thought I would forget about his nickname, shame on you.)

Sucks: The Sox looking to trade Manny…again. You really think that you can replace his consistent .310 AVG, 40 HR and 100 RBIs? If you were about to say “JD Drew,” then just stop reading. It makes no sense to pay injury prone Drew $56M over 4 years, when the Sox wouldn’t pay Judas $52M. Ask any Dodger fan and they will tell you to stay far far away. Don’t get me started on Julio Lugo.

Thankful: The Sox signing southpaw Hideki Okajima, the 30 year-old Japanese reliever who went 2-2 with a 2.14 ERA in 55 games in the Japanese league last year. Why is this good? Because it only costs the Sox $2.5M over the next two years with a $1.75M option for 2007. Compare that to some of the other free agent relievers on the market:

• LaTroy Hawkins, RHP, 1 year/$3.5M
• Chad Bradford (yes, the same Chadford), RHP, 3 years/$10.5M
• Danys Baez, RHP, 3 years/$19M
• Jamie Walker, LHP, 3 years/$12M (oh, and he’s 35)

$1.25M doesn’t look so bad, huh?

Sucks: Re-singing Mike Timlin for a year. I think even Okajima can spell “burnt-out.”

Thankful: The Patriots beating the Chicago Bears in Foxboro…
Sucks: …despite FOUR turnovers.

Thankful: Brady escaping Brian Urlacher with about as much dexterity as Screech from “Saved by the Bell.” Oh, and the first-down signal was a nice touch.

Sucks: Junior Seau, we barley knew ye. Really a shame to watch him end his season on what looked to be a routine tackle. Here’s the good news for Junior: when the Pats win their second game in Miami this season, he’ll get a pretty ring. (Hey, I can’t be pessimistic ALL the time.)

Even though it’s a little late, happy thanksgiving to everyone. It’s just too bad that ballplayers don’t have big sales on Black Friday like Target does.