Great Times

Took my three daughters (ages 13, 9, 6) to Fenway tonight and saw a spectacular game. First of all, thanks to Halladay and Lester it lasted just over two hours. Secondly, Lester was brilliant. So glad we didn't trade him. Lastly, the game had everything. My girls got to see Papelbon come in to his half dozen theme songs, Pedroia make a tremendous play to save the game and Ortiz lumber home with the game winner.

On top of the game, we also had some pleasant weather after a miserable day. Rain stopped as soon as we got to Boston at around 6 PM.

Makes me two for two this year at Fenway. I'm thinking some one reads this and starts feeding me complimentary tickets so the Sox keep winning!

Smoking Aces

No this is not a movie review.

The Sox need their ace to step up today and stop a losing streak. The Rays, as predicted in the previous blog, are a tough team. Josh Beckett takes the mound today and the Sox must avoid the sweep. After getting swept in Toronto and splitting in NY, we don't want to be 1-7 in the division on the road. Lord Beckett should show his worth today and dominate the Rays.

Here's the perfect day. Offensively, the Sox make Shields throw a lot of pitches and by the fifth or sixth inning get to him for about four or five runs. Of course we need to get some timely hits for a change. Beckett holds them to two or three through seven. Oki pitches a scoreless eighth and Papelbon closes the door in the ninth. Simple enough.

Clemens and Pedro stopped many of losing streaks in past seasons. Our present ace needs to do the same.

This are not the Rays of past years

As Red sox Nation copes with this flu bug that has hit the team, we should not expect that Tampa Bay is necessarily the cure.

These guys have been playing .500 ball. Facing Garza, Jackson and Shields this weekend is no easy task. The pitching staff has thrown the ball well. Troy Percival as closer is a big improvement over last year, too. Offensively, Crawford, BJ Upton and Carlos Pena are solid offensive players. Their thirdbaseman of the present and future is here and his name is Evan Longoria. He is a stud. I saw him play for Chatham in the Cape Cod League four summers ago and he has some serious tools.

So let's hope to take two out of three this weekend. Wake in a dome tonight may be our best bet. His numbers versus these guys at the Trop is pretty unbelieveable.

Pedroia Paranoia

Is this guy for real? Ok, he wins the Rookie of the Year while batting over .300 with eight homers and fifty rbi's. Ok, he is the definition of the word scrappy. Ok, he enjoyed a great postseason (HR in Game 7 of the ALCS and leadoff HR in Game 1 of the World Series). But the facts are; he is currently no taller than I was when I was first able to enjoy the rides at Rocky Point, he is slow enough to time by a sun dial, and his upper cut swing looks better suited for the slow pitch softball league (no offense to slow pitch softball) at Camp Oakdale.

How does this guy do it? I'll tell you what it is -- he has IT? IT is that thing you cannot but your finger on. IT is intangable. IT defies the odds. IT makes girls wear "I'm Lustin' for Dustin" T-shirts. Please do not try and explain IT, just accept IT. Sophomore slump? Nope! The Guy With IT is leading the league with a batting average of .364 and 11 doubles.

Personally, I know he has arrived because Yankee fans absolutely hate him. I'm sure this has nothing to do with the fact that Robbie "future batting champ" Cano is batting .173 Pedroia is all ours and the Nation is crazy with Pedroia Paranoia.

Fenway

Saturday night's game was a great one to open my season attending Sox games. On average I'll go to about six or seven games.

In my biased opinion, the Red Sox playing at Fenway is the best atmosophere at any sporting event in the world. I've been to South Bend to watch ND-Michigan, Wrigley Field, the Metrodome, old and new Boston Gardens, Texas Stadium, Foxboro (old and new stadiums), Camden Yards, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, the Meadowlands and Madison Square Garden.

Camden Yards is my favorite stadium but Fenway is electricity. Even last night in 45 degree weather it was such a thrill. The loudest I have ever heard a crowd was 2004 ALCS Game 5 versus the Yanks. Ortiz's walk off single after nearly 5 1/2 hours made that place erupt. Last year's ALCS Game 7 versus Cleveland was intense and staying late watching them celebrate was also a lasting memory.

No other venue sells out like Fenway. We all know how difficult to get a ticket is, but when you do it becomes an event. I don't care if they are playing Kansas City. Finding the secret, free parking spot, buying nuts from the peanut guy (with the peanut earrings), smelling the sausages cooking, walking through the concourse and getting your first view of the green grass, being part of the buzz of the crowd, yelling "Youk", chanting "Let's go Red Sox", dodging the peanut vendor's erratic throws, singing "Sweet Caroline", screaming for Papelbon as he enters to Wild Thing and then that Dropkick Murphys song from the Departed and finally walking out with the crowd after a thrilling victory -- all this cannot be duplicated. It is pure 100% Fenway.

I can remember going to games when the home team was not very good. I concede that it wasn't as exciting but it was still memorable. My earliest memory was going on a bus trip with my Dad, uncle and friend of mine. Sox were down by three with two out in the 8th. Next two guys get on base and my father turns to me and says, "Dewey is taking this guy deep". I look at my uncle and he shrugs. Of course, Dwight Evans goes over the Monster to tie the game. Sox ended up losing but I didn't care it was a great night.

I would like to hear from anyone that has a Fenway story or another venue that they think measures up to Fenway.

Silent Treatment defined

silent treatment (n) -- in baseball, the act of covertly acknowledging a player's home run by ignoring him as he enters the dugout.

Last night's was a classic. The best thing was the fact that struggling Papi knew it as soon as he got into the dugout after connecting on his grand slam. He took out his dip and then everyone jumped him. It would have been better if they could have kept it going longer.

By the way, Ortiz looks like he is ready to break out. Hitting the ball the other way (homer and line out last night) is a big time sign of a player that is relaxing and staying back on the ball. For the first time this week, I am playing Ortiz on my fantasy baseball team. He also gets righties both Saturday and Sunday.

95% sure I'll be attending my first Sox game of the year tonight.

Manny is a very bad man

Back in the winter of 2000 the Sox tried to sign free agent pitcher Mike Mussina. The were outbid by the dreaded Yankees for Mussina's services. Dan Duquette used money earmarked for Mussina on a star outfielder from Cleveland by the name of Manny Rameriz.

Eight years seasons later, Mussina has won 106 games for the Yanks and been a mainstay in their roatation. Manny has batted over .290 each season, topped 100 rbi's in all but one year and been a huge presence in the middle of the order for the Sox. Both were good signs for their respective clubs. Which signing was better?

Clearly, the answer is Manny. Aside from the fact that we should put a fork in Mussina because he looks done, Manny at $20 million a year when the team picks up his option is money well spent. If we were solving crossword puzzles, Mussina would be the pick but we are trying to win games.

Which brings us to the fact that the New York Yankees have never won a World Championship with the Moose. While the Sox have been crowned twice and Manny has been an integral part. Thank goodness George spent all that money.

Though Manny can be a P.I.N.T.A. he has been invaluable to us. Believe it or not Manny has matured greatly. Farnsworth throwing at him last night was a great example. Manny did not lose his head, he got back in the box and played. While many expected Beckett to retaliate, the Sox put the incident in the back of their minds and will get theirs later.

Clearly the Yankees are reeling without a clear number one pitcher. The Sox are sitting high on the hog with money well spent on the guy that was the consolation prize back in the winter of 2000.

Book chat

Just finished the new Michael Holley book entitled Red Sox Rule. Quick read at just over 200 pages. Book examines the forces (Grady Little) that enabled Terry Francona to be hired as Red Sox manager and the experiences (MLB dad, star player in college, injury in the majors and managing in the minors and majors) that made him the man he is today.

Personally, I have always been an admirer of Francona. He seems like a good guy that always says that right thing at the right time. Throw in the fact that he has won two World Series titles in four years and how can you not like him.

Best part of the book was his experience managing Michael Jordan in the minors and the Arizona Fall League. I won't ruin the book for those that will read it but Jordan competes in everything. Also, there is some insight into Francona's frustrating relationship with Manny. The best word to describe Manny is aloof.

Overall, a good book.

Other Red Sox books that I have read and enjoyed:

• Red Sox Century by Glenn Stout and Robert Johnson -- this is the definitive history of the franchise. Each year is documented. If you are a serious fan this is a must read.
• Feeding The Monster by Seth Mnookin -- interesting look behind the scenes of how the Sox are run. You get to know Theo very well here.
• The Teammates by David Halberstam -- for Sox fans of all ages but especially those during the Ted Williams years. I felt sad for Teddy after reading this one.
• The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams -- this is a must for people wanting to understand the complexities of hitting. Other than that avoid.
• For Red Sox Fans Only! by Richard Wolfe -- this one was disappointing. Collection of stories about people and their beloved Sox. If you heard one "Now I can die peace" story you've heard them all.
• Reversing the Curse by Dan Shaughnessy -- the best of the post 2004 World Series books. If you ever read the original, which is also very good, you must read this one. Goes along with the HBO special of the same name but more in depth.
• The Legend of Wally the Green Monster by Maxwell Carey and Marilyn Mase -- great kids book. I assume many people have bought this for a young Red Sox reader.
• Faithful by Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King -- this is so bad it is readable. Two guys with great seats at Fenway chronicle their 2004 season. King, who is that Stephen King, trades emails with an author who I have never heard of complaining about how 2004 is going to be just another year. Best part is when King totally gives up on the Sox after Game Three (19-8) of the ALCS. To hear these two struggle with being Sox fans and know the happy ending is the only thing that kept me reading.

Two books that I want to read are A Tale of Two Cities by Tony Massarotti and John Harper and the Jason Varitek and Massarotti collobaration entitled Dynasty: The inside story of how the Boston Red Sox became a baseball powerhouse.

Anyone have other suggestions for our book chat?

Instant Classic

Great game tonight. Your boy Lester cruises throught he first three innings only to fall apart in the fourth and fifth innings. Tavarez to the rescue. Then Youk goes deep in the 8th. Lugo, Crisp (who I admit did play well -- hopefully some GM was watching) and Pedroia manufacture a run. Papi gets a cheapy and Manny hits a bomb. Papelbon in the 9th and it is over. Very impressive comeback.

Observation time;

• I really hope the Indians leave Borowski as closer "That boy good! He got talent!"
• Papi's excorism before the game worked
• How many balls were hit to the warning track tonight?
• Tavarez was the MVP tonight
• Watch out the Sox are starting to hit
• Would love to see Lowrie play tomorrow. Pedroia or Lugo with a day off?
• Lester!! Lester!! How can someone be so good for three innings and then just fall apart?

"Start spreading the news"

Ugly game last night. Dice K struggled but got it done. Sometimes it is not about us.

The rivals looked a little off last night. Phil Hughes seemed a tad nervous. Twice he crossed up his catcher and it cost him two runs. He also could not hit a spot to save his life. Joe Manager (not Torre) again failed to make the right move by not bunting in the later innings. Cano looks overrated.

Realistically, we did not see Petitte, Jeter, Chamberlain or Rivera in the series. The rivals saw our three best starters. Let's take the two out of three but not get too overexcited about it.

To the Rubber Game

Sox win. Sox win. What turned out to be a very long afternoon / night even by Sox-Yanks standards, was rewarded with a victory that symbolizes the franchise post 2003.

Strong starting pitching: Beckett was solid painting both sides of the plate at 92-95 and dropping in a vicious curve.

Timely hitting: Ellsbury and Pedroia get on base and Manny shows why he is "a bad man". Think Joe Torre would have pitched to him? Youk comes through too.

Bridge to the closer: Delcarmen and Oki survive and get the ball to the closer.

"That's the Defense": Ellsbury, Casey, Drew, Lugo all made plays worthy of Baseball Tonight.

Door closed: After two hours Papelbon blows away the first three hitters and battles Cano to the end. 97 mph 4 seamer and a 90 mph split!! Absolutely filthy.

A couple of observations

• Tim MacCarver is not good. Did he truly believe that Papelbon was going to re-warm up and only face Arod in the 8th? Good thing Joe Buck was more concerned with the ramifications from his bosses, who watched his stand up act during the rain delay, to even say anything to his partner.
• Loved seeing the masses up front in the Dennis Drinkwater seats after the delay. Their camera phones got a lot of use.
• What's up with the new mascot(s)? After the game I saw a Red Sock walking around. My wife tells me there is a twin (left/right) that also is in the mix. I warmed up to Wally but this is going to take some getting used to.
• Did anyone miss the last out? Fox had to show the green flag to start NASCAR. With two outs in the 9th they abruptly started the race and put the game on the Fx channel. I was prepared and was able to catch the last out. Direct Tv to the rescue. Those NASCAR sponsors paid for their commercials to be aired during a race not a silly baseball game.

Dice K vs Phil Hughes tonight. Advantage Sox! Good thing tomorrow is a Saturday for us teachers. ESPN Sunday Night Baseball + Joe Morgan + Peter Gammons = good stuff.

CoCo vs Jacoby

Enough already. This platoon thing in centerfield is getting interesting. What is management's angle for playing Crisp so much over the first two weeks of the year? Smart money is on the fact that he was injuried during spring training so other teams (the Cubs in particular) could not get a good look at him. So now the Sox are playing him to showcase his abilities. This I get. However, there is the smell of Jay Payton here.

Crisp has hinted that he has no interest in being a part time player. Management may be having some uneasy flashbacks to Payton literally walking away from the team after not accepting a reserve role. While Theo and the boys tried to get something in return, Jay-bird flew the coop. The Sox were forced to place him on waivers and got nothing for him. I'm sure Theo wants to get something in return for a very good defensive centerfielder with a very affordable contract. But I cannot approve of catering to an athlete that "threatens" to ruin a happy family if he does not play.

In the meantime, the most exciting player they Sox have had to come through their system since Hanley Rameriz plays sparingly. One could only hope this does not slow his progression into being a stud. Here's a vote for the present and future centerfielder to get his time now and for the next ten years.

"Reunited and It Feels Soooo Good "

Welcome back, Bill Buckner. Grown men were shedding tears as Buckner emerged from the Monster. Can you tell me another sports franchise where something like this could happen? A man that was cursed (pun intended) after that one play, returns eighteen years (I don't remember him coming back in 1990 but evidently he did) later to a louder ovation than Bill Russell, Bobby Orr or even David Ortiz yesterday.

This is why me being a Red Sox fan is not comparable to rooting for my Cowboys (Jackie Smith wasn't brought back when we/they won 3 out of 4 Super Bowls), Celtics or UCONN basketball. The Sox are about the good, bad and ugly history of the franchise. People are Sox fans for life which coincidently has it's own share of ups and downs.

Two extreme side notes -- #1 Dice K looked awesome yesterday. #2 Buckner still has a good head of hair.

Seriously though ...

I know it is very early in the season but after the lost weekend up north, this is what we got ...

• The Sox are in last place. Though we don't expect this to last, it is still a little scary to be looking up at four teams.
• Papi looks old and real mad. Where's that big smile? I read on line that he was pretty miserable over in Japan and on the west coast but he is either pulling every pitch foul or hitting into that gross shift. How about driving the ball into leftcenter a couple of times?
• The middle relievers are awful. Outside of Bryan Corey and Oki, those guys look spooked. Delcarmen against Frank Thomas was like a bad horror movie. You don't want to look but you kind of have to because you know what is going to happen. Two for two with a double, grand slam and 6 rbi's against Manny. So long Kyle Snyder -- 6 foot 8 and he throws 68 mph. Does that make any kind of sense? David Aardvark -- one batter vs Toronto, up one ball two strikes and he can throw nothing but four straight arrow 4 seam fastballs. Walk. Javier Lopez should go back to catching. How much does Timlin really have left?
• Every team we play is going to be sooooo jacked up to play the Old Towne Team. Were they really waving hankies Friday night? Who does that? The Jays did have the powder blue uniforms on display. Pretty sweet.
• Former Sox farmhand David Eckstein killed us Friday and Saturday. He sprinted down to first after every walk, defensively made every play look close at first base and stuck his bat out three times to get five rbi's on balls that travelled a combined 300 feet. I did see Pedroia towering over him while standing at second base. "We represent the Lollipop Guild, the Lollipop Guild ..."

Finally, the boys return home to Fenway tomorrow afternoon to get their rings. Let us try to forget this past weekend and enjoy the memories of 2007.

Detroit is winless in six tries and we avoid Verlander. The Gambler vs Dice-K, Bonderman vs Lester and Robertson vs Wake all games we are favored to win according to the pitching match ups. Let's get at least two out of three. Then some scrub team from down I-95 comes to town.

It is time to get serious.

Personal Letter to Jon Lester

Dear Mr. Lester,

It is with sincere pleasure that I write to you this morning. I have not been the biggest fan of yours over the last four months. It was my hope that the Red Sox organization would come to their senses and trade you and Jacoby Ellsbury for Johan Santana.

While many baseball evaluators see you as a "top of the rotation" starter of the future, I never felt that way. Please don't get me wrong, I rooted for you vehemently your rookie season and even more as you recovered from your battle with cancer. However, a chance to get the best lefthander pitcher in baseball for two young, unproven players was too tempting for me not to wish for. Josh Beckett and Santana (signing him to a long term deal is not my concern because it is not my money) back to back would quite simply not be fair. The organization has finally learned winning championships is all about pitching and defense.

That being said, I loved watching you pitch yesterday. You were far more confident than your first start over in Japan. While I'm still waiting for you to get ahead of the hitters, you seemed to finally "get it". Great job challenging the A's with your fastball and not nibbling when you were down in the count. Let that solid defense work for you. You made it look easy yesterday.

In closing, Mr. Lester congratulations on the impressive performance. Please do not hold it against many of us that wanted that trade to happen. Good luck the rest of the way and as of right now I am overjoyed that Theo did not make that trade.

Sincerely,

All Sox Blog

P.S. I reserve the right to change my opinion after your next start.