Minky has "The Ball"

Doug Mientkiewicz is treading very dangerous water and I really hope he pulls himself out before he drowns in it.

Minky has “The Ball”, the one that ended 86 years of frustration. The one that Renteria hit back to Foulke, who then trotted halfway to first and underhanded it to Minky, which clinched the World Series and touched off the biggest celebration “The Nation” has ever been involved in.

He held onto it during the hug fest on the mound and then gave it to his wife in the locker room who later had it authenticated by MLB. It now sits in a safety deposit vault of where only he knows the location.

There is a good chance that Minky will be the guy in the first base tandem who is traded away before the season starts. Whether he stays or goes, as it stands right now, he will forever be remembered in Red Sox Nation as a guy who came over here and played a key role in suring up the defense that helped carry us all the way to a World Series victory. A hard-nosed player who gave it everything he had on the field and was very good at making spectacular plays, a true “dirt dog”.

I really, really hope he keeps it that way by giving “The Ball” back to “The Nation” where it belongs. He knows the sentimental value it has in these parts. He has talked about keeping it in the family and making it a family heirloom, or worse, possibly selling it to the highest bidder to make some money from it.

There are really only 2 places “The Ball” can end up to make this situation work out in Minky’s favor and prevent him from going from hero to the scorn of “The Nation”.

1. The Hall of Fame (I would be happy with it being there if they wanted it)
2. Back to the team (where it will be displayed somewhere for all to see)

Minky, you’re still loved here, so please do the right thing and give us “The Ball” back.