A beautiful night at The Ballpark

After having attended both games of a double-header last August during the Boston Massacre, I was absolutely itching to get back to Fenway Park to see my Sox in action. So my friend Steve Daniels and I got some tickets to Tuesday night's game versus Oakland and drove down to Boston to catch some of the last regular season action at Fenway this season.

I've actually only been to Fenway 6 times now, but it will never get old. The weather was ungodly good - gametime temps at 7:10pm were over 80F and when the game finished just short of 11pm it was still over 70F. Not a cloud in the sky and a gentle warm breeze blowing out to centerfield.

Upon entering the ballpark, I was hoping for a couple of specific things during the matchup with the Oakland Athletics, apart from us winning the game:

1. I wanted to see David Ortiz hit a home run
2. I wanted to see JD Drew continue his recent hot hitting - just so Red Sox Nation could get off his case and he could smoke right into the ALDS
3. I wanted to see Jonathan Papelbon pitch
4. I did NOT want to see Eric Gagne pitch
5. I wanted either Manny Ramirez or Kevin Youkilis to play at least a little - both had been out for significant time (Manny for about a month, Youk for almost 2 weeks)

Well - I got almost all my wishes. Ortiz hit a 2-run HR in the 8th inning, JD Drew had 3 hits, Pap pitched (1 pitch - 1 out in the 8th with the tying run at the plate), and BOTH Manny and Youk played siginificant time in the game despite Tito saying Youk was likely a scratch and giving ZERO indication in regards to Manny's status.

Unfortunately - Eric Gagne also pitched and despite his shaky performance he did not have a meltdown and in fact, during his stint on the mound the AL scoreboard flashed up that the Tampa Bay Ray had scored 6 runs in the 6th inning of their ballgame versus the yankees to take a 6-5 lead - The Park erupted and I think Gagne almost fainted as he'd never heard that kind of applause during his stay in Boston.

Fortunately, the best laugh of the day came before we even got to the ballpark and also came at the expense of Monseuir Gagne - the guys selling the unofficial Red Sox programs outside the ballpark were giving away free bumper stickers with each program that read,

"Gagne is a yankee spy"

Too funny...

Curt Schilling started and despite a solo home run given up to the #2 hitter of the game, he was brilliant over 6 innings - 6H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 6K, 6.0IP. Brian Corey pitched a shaky 9th inning giving up his first 2 runs of the year since his late summer call-up but likely AL Rookie of the Year 2B Dustin Pedroia made a great over-the-shoulder catch and doubled a man off second to end the ballgame.

And just to top things off, I find out from another fan while in the MBTA (subway) station that the Red Sox's magic number had dropped to 3 when New York lost in extra innings when ex-yankee Dioner Navarro homered leading off the 10th in Tampa Bay.

Aaahhh...

This is getting ridiculous...

I know I have snidely remarking that it appears that MLB is doing whatever it can to hand the yankees a playoof spot, but this is kind of getting ridiculous now.

Due to an unexplained "family matter" the Toronto Blue Jays excused #2 starter AJ Burnett (who has been SMOKIN hot lately and mowed right through the Red Sox last week) and replaced him with fill-in rookie starter Jesse Litsch - record of 6-9 with an ERA over 4.00.

Fortunately, the Blue Jays lineup which is an absolute shell of the one that faced the Red Sox is not rolling over against Andy Pettite.

So we'll see. But don't put your money on the rookie in the Bronx if you know what's good for ya. Hopefully Litsch will have a chip on his shoulder.

Unless Bud Selig had it surgically removed in the dark of night last evening... but then maybe the Sox would get this sort of treatment if THEY had won 25+ titles too. Of course if they HAD, we'd have a salary cap by now.

Ridiculous...

A curiosity? A coincidence?

I was just wondering if this was all in my head - maybe someone can explain it to me.

Toronto Blue Jays lineup versus the Boston Red Sox this week:

1. Vernon Wells (CF) Gold Glove CF; 32HR, 106RBI, 302. avg in 2006.
2. Reed Johnson (LF)
3. Alex Rios (RF)
4. Frank Thomas (DH) over 500 career HRs including 3 in one game this week vs Sox
5. Lyle Overbay (1B) 22HR, 92RBI, .312 avg last year
6. Aaron Hill (2B)
7. Greg Zaun (C) veteran catcher
8. Russ Adams (3B)
9. John MacDonald (SS)

Blue Jays lineup versus New York this week:

1. Reed Johnson (RF)
2. Matt Stairs (1B) slow but potent bat; slug speed on basepaths
3. Alex Rios (CF)
4. John Ford-Griffin (DH) are you kidding me?
5. Aaron Hill (2B)
6. Russ Adams (3B)
7. Adam Lind (LF)
8. Curtis Thigpen (C) 0 for last 23
9. Ray Olmedo (SS) another rookie (see John Ford-Griffin)

I guess Toronto figured that one game against New York was all they needed to try for... Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas have played an entire season and today they're sore (Wells - shoulder, Thomas - knee).

And it is just a LITTLE bit of a downgrade when you've got Adam Lind in LF instead of Rios (who had to cover for Wells in center), Thigpen the rookie behind the plate who is mired in a 0-23 slump and batting right at the Mendoza line, and Olmedo in there instead of the Gold Glove caliber SS MacDonald.

Curious...

And here's a picture for all you Tom Brady fanatics - of course, you have to expect this from a Michigan guy.

A tough stretch

I've spent the last week or so asking myself a very simple question:

"What are the Red Sox DOING?"

But before I get too serious, I think I should let my two readers know that the reason I'm writing this is for a few very good reasons:

1. I wanted to be able to tell people that tease me about my sports teams losing to "go read my blog" instead of using phrases such as:

"If you can't talk to me when they're dominating, don't bother talking to me when they're not."

OR

"Does the phrase 'I've NEVER been charged that much at the vet's before' mean anything to you?"

2. I realized that I am a part of Red Sox Nation - and we NEVER quit. yankees don't have a single solitary clue what The Nation means to us - they don't have anything close. We outnumber the opposing team's fans in THEIR ballparks almost every time. We're louder, more loyal, less conceited, kinder, better sports, and we don't care what other people think about us or our team. We hate the yankees just like everybody else, except more so - and not because they've won a lot, but because they act like they're God's gift to the baseball world.

3. Winning is important but it ISN'T everything. Sure, I love to see the Sox win. And I hate it when they lose, but I've been too emotionally swayed by Boston's Win/Loss record over the years. I don't sleep, I get sick to my stomach, and I lose precious time with my family while I stew about losing streaks. If the Red Sox losing makes me worry more than my conscience bothers me about my poor attitudes, then sports are in the wrong priority slot in my life. So maybe this post is as much about perspective as it is about providing some valuable data on why the Red Sox are gonna be just fine...

So, "What are the Red Sox DOING?" With the Boston lead in the American League's Eastern Division down to 1 1/2 games as of this evening, I am sure that the many ulcers developing all over Red Sox Nation are asking something along the same lines.

However, after all the internal (and a few external) tirades I've blown through recently regarding such topics as players being bought off (ala Black Sox 1919), MLB officials and umps "arranging" for a positive yankee swing this late season, the inevitable yankee surge (ala Bucky F**king Dent) and the uncanny chain of statistically improbable events occuring - I've come to realize that the Red Sox are exactly where they needed to be at this time of the season. AHEAD. Obviously no one in the Red Sox front office would like to see us limp into the playoffs as we are undoubtedly doing at present, but then the factors involved here are more complex than "the Red Sox were winning a lot and now they're struggling." Who's chasing who?

So who is better off heading into this post-season? New York or Boston?

Let's take a look at some historically proven trends and issues that have played key roles in previous post-season pushes:

1. Health - it has been said almost to the point of boring ad nauseum by broadcasters all over the sports world that one common denominator amongst championship teams in nearly every sporting discipline is that of overall team health. Right now, the Red Sox are hurting big time and it is no small coincidence that their recent decline has directly coincided with that. The yankees had similar injury issues earlier this year but their record suffered for months, not weeks. And regardless of recent events, the Sox are making the right choices to bench players with nagging injuries to preserve them for a post-season run. On the other hand, just to give themselves a chance at catching us for the division crown, the yanks have a injured Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, and Johnny Damon playing nearly every day - and don't give me that bunk about "playing through the pain" and "tough guy" crap. The Boss wants the AL East title - period. Kevin Youkilis is arguably the toughest competitor in baseball and only a doctor's mandate is keeping him on the bench right now.

2. Pitching - Boston's starting rotation has an absolutely miserable RECORD of late, but their ERA STILL leads the league, even after a sweep against the team with the second best ERA, Toronto. It has been the offense that has suffered of late and even when it hasn't the bullpen has been coughing the lead up. This offense can only win so many games by itself (e.g. NYy of the first 4 months of the season). Get those offensive players healthy (Manny, Youk, Crisp, Papi, Drew, and the list goes on) and this team will once again be, as they say, SCARY.

3. Hitting - still in the top 5 in almost every major offensive category, the Red Sox and yanks are nearly a dead heat here despite the pendulum swinging towards the Bronx late here in the season. But that is why you play a SEASON. The Red Sox CAN rest a little on their laurels thanks to completely demolishing the league for 140+ games. Complacency is different than rest and nothing approaching complacency can be found in Beantown. And despite the NY-biased media machine (don't even BEGIN to deny that), no one in Boston is panicking and no one in New York is comfortable, especially with the recent hitting woes of some key Bombers.

4. Defense - despite the influx of rookies in the starting lineup (averaging 2 rookie STARTERS per game), the defense is actually getting better in Boston. Unfortunately for the Bombers, defensive upgrades mean playing Doug Mientkiewicz, benching Johnny Damon (or DHing him - yikes), and doing anything possible to NOT have to play Jason Giambi in the field - anywhere. Yuck.


Phew... I feel like I just hit an inside the park homerun - a little winded but boy does it put a fresh perspective on "in it for the long haul."

Geez I love baseball - but I need to go kiss my kids good night and snuggle up to the woman of my dreams. After all, they still love me even if the Red Sox could care less about my ulcers.



P.S. Take a look at what New York's Shelley Duncan gave this young Red Sox fan when asked for an autograph at the recent series at Fenway Park... now THAT'S a class act huh?

Quote of the week

"Never Argue With An Idiot. They Will Drag You Down To Their Level, Then Beat You With Experience." Anonymous

My family - we couldn't be more proud

The best part of the pregame ceremony

Check out this video: running through the "T"

Tennessee Volunteers Running Through the "T"

Crank the volume on your machine to max and you'll get a rough idea of what this is REALLY like!!

A brief logo lesson...

I was notified recently that someone in Hawaii had seen a bumper sticker with a big orange T on it... hmmm... of course I had to believe that this was a Power T for my beloved Tennessee Volunteers. But then I do have to be mindful of what we in Big Orange Country refer to as "The OTHER UT" - that being the University of Texas who also uses a similar logo for their school.

Herein lies a thorough yet concise treatise on the basic difference between the two logos. And a little tidbit thrown in at the end just for fun...



The Tennessee Power T is seen in the upper left hand corner here. The color is Tennessee Orange which has less red than the Texas burnt orange and more yellow. In addition, you can see by comparison that there is a distinct difference in font style with the Tennessee Power T being rounded in the interior angles while the Texas T is a classic block font with a simpler overall effect.

The interlocking UT symbol that both schools use is almost identical, but as you can see from the pictures, the Tennessee version retains a more distinct appearance with the lack accenting border while the Texas version is a straight block style.


And now for the finale - the tidbit I promised you. Obviously as a Tennessee alum I MUST be biased towards my school...

I have often told my closest friends and family that if I could ever bring them to a Tennessee football game some crisp November afternoon I would love to be able to do so - if only to have them see the incredible spectacle that is the on-field pregame tradition unrivaled in college football. The Tennessee Pride of the Southland Marching Band forms a large solid Power T and marches in unison up and down the field prior to forming a solid T that splits at the last second to allow the cheerleaders and football team to come running through an open T on to the field. If I can find some pictures to illustrate I will... or better a video (good luck on THAT!). Just imagine this spectacle with 108,000 people screaming at a collective din that makes screaming to your seatmate impossible for about 5 solid minutes: and then the game starts!! GO VOLS!!!