Opening Day

Opens tomorrow. Damn rain.

It's over

Last night the Tampa Bay Rays won the ALCS 4 games to 3. The Sox put up a valiant fight to battle back from 3 games down to get to a 7th game, they just couldn't get it done. I am bummed, but at least I don't have to listen to those jackasses on TBS anymore.

Playoffs

Tonight is do or die for the Dodgers and tomorrow is do or die for the Sox. Both teams pretty much walked through their Division series winning 3-1. Now each team is losing 3-1 in the Championship Series which is a best of 7. The last three games for the sox have been terrible. Terrible pitching, no offense, lost opportunities. It has been very disappointing. I am hoping the day off, travel to a sunnier state and Dice-K on the mound will revitalize them and they will come off with a win. We will see tomorrow.

As for the Dodgers, it would be cool if they won since I still love Manny, but I really don't care that much.

GO SOX!!!

When it comes to October, no one dominates like Boston

This was a headline on ESPN and makes a few of us question, "Really? Are we in some alternate universe?" The answer is clearly, "NO!" We are the Red Sox of a new generation. A team headed by a great manager in Tito Francona and filled with players who are young, old and in between and who collectively, have the biggest heart and desire to win in the game. They are an exciting team to watch. They're not filled with the feeling of something to prove, nor do they have a chip on their shoulder from sucking for as long as they've been a team (hmmm, Tampa anyone??)

Last night's game was amazing. Two great pitchers (how come no one dares to call Lester our Ace BTW?), lots of strong defense (by the Sox) and hits that mattered. Now we head to Tampa to attempt to beat our nemesis for the ALCS. It should be a great series. I can't believe I have to wait til Friday, but at least it will give me a chance to catch up on my sleep. I know I should be taking advantage of all the sleep I can get right now, but baby understands - he cheers too!!

There's only ONE October! GO SOX!!

Our Yogi and Clinch!

On Friday, Johnny Pesky's number 6 will be retired at Fenway Park. He technically does not meet the requirements set in place a long time ago by former Red Sox owners for retirement, but his personality and his numbers do. Pesky is an important part of Red Sox history and team community today. He's kind of like Yogi Berra is to the Yankees: a part of the greater generation, a ballplayer with great numbers, and someone who has given everything for their team. Pesky has a foul pole named after him in Fenway Park and he is always at the games unless sidelined by illness. I am really happy for him and the Red Sox management for retiring his number.

Oh yeah, and the Red Sox clinched a playoff spot last night!! We'll just have to wait and see if Tampa starts losing and we win the rest of our games to see who takes the division. Go Sox!!

Out with the old, in with the new

Last night was the last home game for the Yankees at their beloved Yankee Stadium. The Yankees beat the Orioles and Mariano Rivera threw the final out of the game. He didn't get a save, since they won 7-4, but it was fitting none-the-less. I didn't watch most of the pre-game ceremonies, or much of the game for that matter, but I did get to listen to Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra in the booth for a while reminiscing about the old days and the best players they ever played with and against. Old clips were played from games of yore, perfect games, World Series wins, the Shot Heard Round the World, and famous speeches. We were also reminded that Yankee Stadium is not just a baseball park, boxing matches were played there, several different Popes came to perform Mass there, football games were held there, movies were filmed there, etc.

Apparently, in the 7th inning, a video of Bob Sheppard was played reading this poem:

“Farewell old Yankee Stadium, farewell
What a wonderful story you can tell
DiMaggio, Mantle, Gehrig and Ruth
A baseball cathedral in truth
Farewell.”

I don't know if he wrote it, but it certainly seemed fitting.

I have a few of my own memories from that stadium. One time a whole bunch of us went there for our friend's birthday and we sat up so high (I'm pretty sure it was the last row) that when it rained, we were covered. Another time, that same friend and I went to a Yanks-Sox game during which Manny hit a foul ball literally straight up in the air in front of us that seemed to hang in the air for 10 seconds. We couldn't see home plate, but we saw that ball hanging.

I know a few of you have many more memories than I do, but I just wanted to share my part of this historic stadium. I didn't get to see Jeter's speech at the end of the game, but it sounded like it was pretty classy, and I agree with the gist of it: share your memories of this stadium with friends and family and carry them with you to the new. I support all of you Yankee fans in this new endeavor. I hope you'll do the same for me if Fenway ever gets replaced.

Little league players

Some of you may have heard that a 9 year old Little League pitcher in New Haven has been banned from pitching because he can throw a 40 mph fastball. That is pretty awesome for a 9 year old. The league has said he can play another position, but he can't pitch. Apparently, parents of players on opposing teams were upset because they thought it was dangerous. Now, I don't know this kid's stats, but all the articles I have read about this say that he has not hit a batter. The idea that the league wants him to play a position that he is not good at gives this kid a bad message. Yeah, you are too good at something so we want you to play a position that you aren't good at so other kids aren't scared to bat. This also sends a bad message to the batters on the other teams. We'll take care of you and protect you from something you are scared of, you'll never have to face anything scary in your life.

As a prospective parent I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, yes, I want to protect my child from everything scary in this world. On the other hand, I know this is an impossible task so I want to be able to prepare my child with the best resources available to face anything scary that might come his way. If you allow kids to face challenges and obstacles, won't they be better prepared to face them as they get older?

I can see that to a 9 year old batter, a 40 mph fastball would be scary, but it can also be a challenge. The batter can decide to bat against this pitcher, and yeah, he might strike out a bunch of times, but maybe, just maybe he'll get the bat on the ball. He might foul out, but at least he'll have made contact and that in itself is a victory.

All I have to say is shame on you league officials in New Haven who banned a kid who was really good at something he likes. Let him play in the next age group up, but don't ban him. Don't punish him for being good at something.

The Weasel

Bud Selig must be bored out of his mind to attempt this. When will MLB ever get a new Commissioner? Let it go Bud - it's over and done with!

Manny being LA

Yesterday as the trade deadline approached, the Red Sox were involved in a major deal in which Manny Ramirez was traded away to the Dodgers, Jason Bay was received from the Pirates and the Pirates got 4 players, 2 from the Sox and 2 from the Dodgers. The Sox are also paying the rest of Manny's salary for this year. No word on if the Dodgers will be required to pick up Manny's option(s) or not.

This is a sad day in Red Sox Nation. Manny is a Hall of Fame player and always puts up great numbers. Lately, though, he has been a royal pain in the ass in the clubhouse, getting into a fight with one of his own teammates, getting into a scuffle with the PR guy over a request for a ridiculous amount of tickets, and to put the icing on the cake, taking himself out of the lineup of the first game of the Yankees series last week.

Manny has been one of my favorite players since Nomar left in 2004. Manny helped the Sox win the 2004 and the 2007 World Series. I was at his first game at Fenway where he hit a home run in his first at bat. Sure, Manny has his antics, his weirdness when he cuts off relays to home and allows an inside the park home run, throws the ball into the stands when there are only 2 outs, hi-fives a fan after catching a fly ball, etc. Despite his playing style, his numbers are irrefutable: 2318 hits, 510 HR .312 avg over 16 seasons.

It will be an interesting second half of the season without him. Jason Bay has some big shoes to fill. Good bye Manny, we will miss you - say hi to Derek Lowe and Nomar for us.

Sweet Setlist

Aerosmith isn't on tour this year so I live vicariously through their website and updates. Recently, Steven Tyler played with Billy Joel at Shea Stadium as a final farewell to Shea (it's the last year of this ballpark too). Check out the setlist:

2008 All-Star game

I finally had a chance to watch what I had of the All-Star game (up to the 10th inning). I really enjoyed the pre-game ceremonies with all the Hall-of-Famers there and the tribute that was paid to Yankee Stadium. The unfortunate thing, was that the Yankee announcer, Bob Sheppard, was not able to do the announcing. He has been the voice of Y.S. for 56 years and is not in very good health right now. The even more unfortunate thing, was that Joe Buck filled in for Sheppard. You would think they would at least have another current ballpark announcer do the honors, possibly Vin Scully (since he's from the Bronx), or maybe share it with the Red Sox announcer and the Rockies announcer. But seriously, just because it was on Fox, we got stuck with Joe Buck. During the pre-game when he was introducing all the HOFers and the starting players for each team at each position, he did ok. Until he FORGOT to introduce the catchers. Who he then did introduce after the managers. Dumb ass.

A few thoughts on the pre-game:

I think Yogi, Whitey Ford and Willie Mays got the loudest cheers from the crowd.

Joe Buck is a dumb ass.

Sheryl Crowe is a good singer, but her rendition of the National Anthem was too slow and boring for the All-Star game - what about Bon Jovi who was in town the night before?

Wade Boggs is still an asshole - all the hall of famers wore the cap they were inducted into the hall with except Boggs. Yes, we all know you played for the Yanks and won your World Series there, but wear your Sox hat and bring your Yanks hat - that's what all the classy players did!

Rollie Fingers has the best mustache in baseball.

Yankee fans are mostly stupid. When Paplebon came in when the game was tied they started shouting for Rivera. First, wouldn't you want your guy to come in during a save situation? Paplebon shut up their "overrated" chant pretty quickly.

Yogi Berra is the most adorable ball player around.

Pregnancy and emotion

One of the side effects of being pregnant is that you can be extremely emotional. I remember hearing stories from my friends who, when they were pregnant, couldn't watch a Hallmark commercial without a box of kleenex. I heard these stories and thought to myself, "Ha! That won't happen to me! I am in complete control of my senses." Stupid me. The All-Star game was on Tuesday night and since I had to work, I TiVoed it. Before I went to work last night, I started watching the pre-game show and practically fell apart when Yogi Berra came on the screen. That's right, I started getting teary when I saw a Yankee. I literally had to turn it off so I didn't show up to work all bleary-eyed. Stupid hormones. God forbid they decide to tear down Fenway and I decide to get pregnant again. I will be a wreck.

The All-Star game was ridiculous. I added an hour to the recording and still didn't get it all. It lasted 15 innings and finally the AL came out on top thanks the JD Drew and no thanks to Papelbon. The game was played in Yankee Stadium. As I blogged about before, this is the last year of The Cathedral. It was a fitting tribute to the grand old park, especially with the AL win.

Jerry Remy day at Fenway

Yesterday, the Red Sox organization and NESN celebrated Jerry Remy for his time playing with the team and his 20 years as a broadcaster. Remy is also the president of Red Sox Nation - a group of "citizens" (aka fans) of the Red Sox who pay a minimum (or maximum) fee to have a special entrance at Fenway, their own day at the park, discounts at the store and free MLB radio on the computer. A lot of people think that Remy and Orsillo don't pay enough attention to the game at times, but I think it's their entertaining broadcast that makes the Sox games more fun to watch. Especially when this happens:

Bull Durham

Apparently, yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the release of Bull Durham. This is a great baseball movie. If you haven't seen it, see it - even if you don't like baseball. To see interviews with the actors and other movie memorabilia check out this article.

500!

Manny hit his 500th home run on May 31! Yeah for Manny! Last night, he hit his 505th home run. Go Sox!

It's good to be green (or Red)

The Red Sox have installed solar panels on the top of Fenway to help heat their hot water. In this day and age where energy efficiency is so important, it is very impressive that a professional baseball organization would take the time or money to invest in such a project when they could just jack up ticket prices to help pay the bills. Check it out. Another reason I'm proud to be a Sox fan.

Another reason why baseball is awesome

Last night, Jon Lester no-hit the K.C. Royals. This is a major feat in baseball (see comment on previous post). Let alone for someone who less than 2 years ago was diagnosed with cancer. Lester has been a Red Sox hero since he won game 4 in the World Series last year. Last night's game was a true no-hitter - he pitched all 9 innings, and despite the two walks he gave up and the throwing error to 1st base, no runs scored (yes, you can have a no-hitter where the other team scores runs). I didn't get to see the whole game, only from about the 6th inning on, but even in the 6th I could tell that Lester was ON. It was fun to watch, beautiful in fact. To see a pitcher and catcher so in tune and the batter baffled by what is being thrown is truly amazing. The game was a real team effort too, Ellsbury had a fantastic catch and the whole team was rallied behind Lester to help him complete this achievement. Whenever I see a no-hitter, I always think of the movie For Love of the Game, specifically the part when Kevin Costner looks up at the scoreboard with some confusion and asks his catcher, "Ain't nobody been on base?" I'm sure that every pitcher at some point during their no-hitter has this realization and I can't imagine the feeling. Fear, joy, trepidation, doubt, adrenaline all must come into play. Lester handled all of those feelings with grace last night, and it was a joy to watch. Congrats to Lester and Varitek (who had the only HR of the night despite a 7-0 score), and the rest of the team. You gave us all something to be inspired by.

Why baseball is awesome

I just read this article about why baseball is the best sport. I agree with most of it, especially the last sentence - a lot of people think baseball players are wussy - but you try hitting a ball with a 2.8 inch diameter that's going 95 mph.

497

Manny is on his way to 500 home runs. However, since he hit 496 on April 19, his bat has been pretty silent. Ironically, 497 happened when they were away, in Detroit. (Yeah, I know they went to Tampa for three days, but they have been home for all other games). Now they are away from that stupid 486 banner that's up on the Green Monster. You would think by now, Fenway would smarten up to jinxes like that! Go Manny!

A good cause

Some of you may have heard about the Ortiz jersey that got buried at the new Yankee Stadium to try to place some sort of curse on the Yanks by a Bronx-living Red Sox fan. Well, eventually, the news leaked out that he had done this, so the jersey was jackhammered up out of the concrete and was auctioned off to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. Today the bidding closed and it raised over $175,000 for the Fund. As much as I would like the curse the new Yankee stadium, I think this is a greater cause.