We're Number One! We're Number One!

According to this Yahoo! Sports article, the Red Sox are favored 3 to 1 to win the World Series in 2009.

Alright!

Let's start the season tomorrow.

No, wait. We have to give Lowell and Papi time to heal, don't we? Ok. I can wait.

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Are they done yet?

TTFN, y'all!

Congrats to the Phillies

First of all, Wow! Dawn. That was the best comment I've ever had. Very well thought out and, I think, pretty "spot on." I think I agree with all of it. Ultimately, I'd rather see Papi healthy, but we have to do what we have to do. Like I said in a previous post, I'm a Red Sox fan first. There are players that I love with all my heart (my jersey that I picked for my Red Sox Destinations trip was Tek's), but I want the team to win. In this day and age, I am learning to not get too attached to players. Especially with El Diablo Scot Boras running the show. Anyway, thanks, Dawn for those insights.

You, too, Ted. I always appreciate your comments, too. Don't want you to feel slighted, there.

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So, here we are. This is the time of year that I love/hate all at the same time. Baseball is over. I love the season of Autumn, the cooler temperatures, the changing colors, etc. But baseball is over. That makes me sad. I sit around, wistfully thinking about being at games, either at Rangers Ballpark or Fenway Park. Dear Lord, even thinking about being at Fenway Park gives me goosebumps. I've been there two season in a row, and I still get all giddy at the prospect of going back. What is it about that place? Some would say it's just a baseball stadium. My reaction to a statement like that would not be pretty. That would be like saying a Rolls Royce is just a car. Or a Steinway is just a piano. (I've played a Steinway. It intimidated the crap out of me. I was playing an $86,000 piano. I'm serious. I didn't make that up.) Fenway Park is magic. Bill Simmons says it's haunted. I couldn't get our tour guide to offer an opinion about that. But Ted would, I'm sure, back me up when I say that there is definitely something special about that place. In fact, I think I just decided that that's where I want to be when Jesus comes back. Yeah. What better way to end it all? Go from heaven on earth to the real thing.

I don't even know how I got off on that tangent...

So, the Phillies have won it. I'm glad about that. I wonder if the Rays fans will be whining about the conditions. Tough bounce. It is Philadelphia in practically November. Yeah, it's cold. Duh. You knew this gig was tough when you signed up for it.

However, it brings to mind the idea that MLB needs to maybe have some kind of backup plan for the WS in just such situations as this. The NFL has their Super Bowl in a predetermined location each year. Baseball could do that, but it's different. You have potentially seven games of WS play (unless the Sox are in it) and only one Super Bowl game. What if the team that normally plays in that stadium got in the series? They would have home field advantage for the whole thing. You could wait until the playoffs are set to pick the stadium. (Or you could just pick Rangers Ballpark every year... ROFL!!!) Oooorrrrrrr...how about this?? MLB builds a stadium somewhere in the south that is for World Series games ONLY!!! Build a huge theme park around it. People who could afford a trip to the World Series would get admission to the theme park with their WS ticket.

I know. Crazy idea. And most fans would not support such a scheme. After all, what better thing than to see your team play in a World Series game in their home stadium?

But this whole thing of having to delay a game for two whole days is pretty crazy, too. And with the best teams in baseball typically being in the Northeast, well...it gets cold in them parts in October.

When do they announce MVPs and ROYs and stuff? Soon, I hope. I know one thing. Cliff Lee better get a Cy Young award. Oh, wait. Brandon Webb won 22 games, too! Hmm...that complicates things a little doesn't it? But Lee had the second best ERA in the majors.

Well, I've rambled enough for one day. I gotta go back to pretending to work for about another hour. I'll be back in a couple days, probably, to let you know what I thought of Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon.

TTFN, y'all!

What's Up With the Umps??

MLB umpires are getting worse and worse.

I'm not watching these Whirl Serious games, but I've seen two questionable calls, one in each game, that seem to have had a bearing on the outcome of the games.

Major League Baseball cannot afford this. While I acknowledge that umpires are human and, therefore, prone to make mistakes, I just can't bear to see the quality of officiating that we have had, really for the entire season. It's just been consistently bad.

Tonight, the home plate ump called one of the Rays out on a checked swing strike. Then he gave him first base. Which was it?? A strike out or a walk? How do you call a strike, then call a walk?? I saw the video clip. It was clearly a strike. His swing went past the point of no return. Does making a bad call tonight that benefited the Rays make up for the alleged botched no-balk call last night? Do two wrongs make a right? No, but three lefts do...

This is unacceptable. Perhaps if baseball had a real commissioner, he might address this issue. But since all we have is Bud Selig, that's not likely to happen. Sigh.

Rumors, rumors, rumors. Always one of the most fun parts about the off-season. And yes, as far as I'm concerned, the off-season started last Sunday night.

The most interesting rumor that I'm following is the one that has Mark Teixeira possibly becoming a Red Sox. I would love that. My daughter would also love that. We are both pretty big Tex fans, although it really pained me to see him with the Halos. I liked it better when he was with the Braves. And I really, really, really, really don't want to see him wind up with the Yankees.

But here's the problem. Do we need a first baseman? I dunno. A lot depends on Mike Lowell's status for next season. I love Mike Lowell almost as much as Dawn (ok maybe not...that would be kind of, you know, gay). If he's healthy, Youk plays first base, and we don't even need Kotsay (whom I don't feel is a good fit for the Sox anyway...he was a good bandaid). But if Lowell doesn't make it back from this hip injury, Youk could play third and Tex could play first base. Mark Teixeira is a fantastic switch-hitter (who walks a lot) and a gold glove first baseman. We saw his handiwork as we were playing the Angels in the playoffs. He robbed us several times.

I still feel like shortstop is our weakest position. What's up with that? It seems like all these years, we have never been strong at short. I don't even remember who was playing shortstop in '04. Then we got Renteria from the Cards, and he was forgettable. Then we had "E6" (thanks for that, Dawn...I love that), who is less than weak and Alex Cora, who is adequate, but not great. Jed Lowrie is ok, but still young with a lot to learn. And his plate performance leaves a bit to be desired. (I'm not just saying that because he made the last out of the season, either.) He wound up with a .258 avg, which ok, but even Lu--I mean E6--had a higher average than that. So, HEY THEO! Get us a shortstop!

We also need to get our starting rotation back in order. That kind of fell apart at the end of the season. I love Wake, but I think it's time for him to hang it up. Dice K was our best this season, going 18-3! He improved quite a bit over last year. Lester was next at 16-6. He had a pretty good season, too, along with a no-no against KC. But next was Beckett, who only won 12 games this year. He was disappointing this year, and I know he's tired of people asking him if something was wrong, but HEY...SOMETHING WAS WRONG!!

So for next season, we have Dice K, Lester and Beckett. Maybe Byrd. I don't know...jury's still out on him. I think he might be ok. We need at least one more strong starter, maybe two. The bullpen actually finished a little stronger than it started.

Ok. So. We have a few players that really need to get healthy over the winter. Lowell, Papi, Drew... We need a strong shortstop, and we need a couple of strong pitchers for the starting rotation.

I'm optimistic about '09.

Now I have to start thinking about something else to write about for um...*counting* November, December, January, February, March...*ahem* FIVE! Yeah, that's it. Five months. Dear Lord...might as well be 50! It would help if I liked football more. But even then, all we have is Jerry Diva Jones and his band of delinquent misfits and our girly-man quarterback. Pft.

Back to work with me!

TTFN, y'all!

How Long Until April?

I had my few moments of pity party.

I stomped around and grumbled about how the Sox didn't deserve to win that game.

Then I got over it.

I wear my Red Sox shirt with PRIDE! I won't go running home with my tail between my legs. (I'm speaking figuratively...I don't really have a tail. In case someone didn't know that.)

And I'll tell you something. There'd better not be ANYBODY out there trying to blame Jon Lester for that loss! He was pretty brilliant out there last night. I guess Garza was just brillianter.

"Brillianter??"

Oh, well.

All the guys are right. The Sox overcame a lot of adversity this year and I'm darned proud of them. I'm encouraged by the comments I'm reading on the web site by the players.

Yeah, they lost. But they aren't defeated.

They're the Red Sox.

And I'm a Red Sox Fan.

And I'm proud of my team.

One question, though.

Is anyone going to even be watching this Whirl Serious?

Not me. And I'm not being vindictive. I just don't care.

Perhaps I should go ahead and pull for the Housewives. My daughter's fiance is from Florida.

Whatever. Anyway...I want to make sure everyone knows this...

I'M PROUD OF OUR TEAM!!

TTFN, y'all. (I'll try to find stuff to write about...I don't have nearly as many adventures as Ted. Thank GOD! Heh.)

Just kidding, Ted. You have a beautiful family.

Really.

I mean it.

Here We Go Again!

This is un-freakin'-believable!

The Mighty Sox have forced game 7 in the ALCS for the third time in five years! Those poor Housewives really don't know what's hit them.

And can we petition the MLB to NEVER give TBS another postseason baseball game??? That was totally unacceptable. And if they had a power outage, how come they could broadcast stupid comedy shows for half an hour?? Huh?? Should have been totally dark.

Tonight, I might just watch with the internet feed from WRKO on. I'd rather hear them call the game, anyway.

Varitek. Oh, Captain, my Captain! Every time I start thinking he's about done, he pulls off something like that. Game winning home run for his first hit in the entire series. Geez.

Beckett. Wasn't totally himself, but it was good enough.

Okajima. Wow. What else can you say?

Masterson. He scares me, but last night, he got it done.

Papelbon. Is it 23 scoreless post-season innings, now? 24? 25?

I will not make any predictions for tonight. I don't dare. But Lester is on. And Garza shut them down last time.

But this is different. This is Game Seven. This is Red Sox Country.

This is the Red Sox Nation.

If we win tonight, I wonder how all those people with all those stupid haircuts are going to feel...

TTFN, y'all.

Apparently, It's Next Year Already

Those are the best tasting words I've ever eaten!!!

In an unbelievable comeback, the Red Sox have forced the series back to Tampa Bay.

J.D. Drew is tonight's hero.

Down 7-0 in the 7th inning and they win it 8-7. As that radio guy says...

"CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??"

I humbly beg forgiveness for giving up.

TTFN, y'all! See you Saturday night!!

See You Next Year

Well, it was a fun season. Sort of.

At this writing, the game is not over. But it pretty much is. Sox are swinging wildly at first pitches, Rays are up 5-0 after three home runs off Dice-K.

It will probably be one of the least watched World Series in history. I know I won't be watching. I absolutly couldn't care less about who wins it.

I would love to have to log on and eat these words later on, but that doesn't appear to be realistic.

So long friends. We'll have to find other things to write about for a while.

TTFN, y'all.

For Boston

I've got the shakes.

Like Ted, I feel lost these last couple of days.

There is a baseball game tonight, but it's, you know, National League. *pft, pft* Where's the mouthwash?

But you know, weird as it seems, I think all is as it should be. The Rays and Sox have been battling this thing out all season, so it only seems fitting that they should be playing each other for the ALCS. And I really, really, deep down in my heart, believe that the Sox are the better team. I guess we will find out this weekend.

This season went by so fast. I hate when baseball season is over. It seems like such a long time until April. I realize that we still have some post-season activity left, but the season is, essentially over, and we are down the home stretch to the finish line. I just hope our finish line is further down the road than the Rays.

Honestly, I want a Red Sox/Dodgers World Series. Bring it on!! I want to hear the Fenway Faithful BOO MANNY!!! *Cue "Shipping Up To Boston by the Dropkick Murphys* Yeah, I do. I want to hear it. And you know they will. Because you know what? At the end of the day (I really hate that phrase, but I'm using it anyway), we are RED SOX FANS!! We are not Manny fans. We are not Johnny Damon fans. We are not "Nomah" fans. WE ARE RED SOX FANS And if you wear a Red Sox uniform, we love you. But if you change that uniform, forget it. Especially if you "diss" us on the way out. We might be more or less neutral if you go peacefully, or if it was Theo's idea to trade you. And if you dare decide to go to the Evil Empire when you could have stayed in Boston??? You might as well have grown horns and exchanged your bat for a pitchfork! *Is the song over yet?*

*Whew.*

Ok. Anyway. Two more days to endure without Red Sox baseball. And then, Friday night, I won't even be able to watch the game, because I will be in Glen Rose, TX, celebrating 23 years of wonderful marriage to my beautiful wife! Woohoo!!!

Nice romantic setting, a cabin by the Paluxy River. No TV. No phone. No wireless internet, either, but that's ok. There's radio, and the game should be on ESPN radio. Unless they decide to air some stupid high school football game like they did last year. Pft. And...there's a hot tub on the deck outside. Yeah, baby!

On a more sombre note, prayers would be appreciated, as my wife will be undergoing a hysterectomy next Wednesday. It's not a life-threatening or cancer situation. Just some complications that couldn't be resolved with less drastic procedures. Should be a pretty routine thing, though. And with today's technology, they say the recovery time should be no more than two weeks! Boggles my mind.

Ok. That's it for now. I've got a driver looking at me. Back to work. See you guys Friday night! (In spirit, at least)

GO RED SOX

TTFN, ya'll!

Red Sox 7, Angels 5

I almost felt sorry for all those Angels fans they were showing at the end of last night's game. Oh, heck, I did feel sorry for them. Because I've experienced that feeling at the end of a Yankees game.

That was one incredible game, though. I watched the entire game on DVR after we got home from a dismal high school football game. (Our team lost 28-14.) Red Sox did that thing they do where they jump out in front and then slowly lose the lead for the rest of the game. Only this time, J.D. came through in the ninth.

Torii Hunter should be embarrassed. Hurt himself jumping up and down like a little boy after a close call at first base. It really affected his play for the rest of the game, too.

Then there was that close call at second base in the ninth when Crisp almost got picked off. But if you look at the video from all angles, the ump made a very good call. The short never tagged Crisp. I don't think he ever touched him at all. But if he did, it was long after he touched the base.

Jason Bay is doing a great job of making us forget Manny. He has a homer in each playoff game, now. Ellsbury continues to shine. Pedey needs to get out of his slump, though. And we need Lowell back for Sunday. But the beauty of it is that, with the players we have in place, we are ok. Kotsay did well last night.

So the Red Sox are now 11-0 against the Halos in post-season.

And wouldn't you know it? I flipped the page from September to October in my Red Sox calendar and whodoyathink is on the page?

Manny.

Ugh.

See you Sunday night. And everybody look for TED on TV!!!!

Lucky bas...oops. I can't say that, can I?? Heh.

TTFN, y'all.

"You'll Laugh So Much Your Side Will Ache..."

For your between game entertainment, I offer this side-splitting video of some amateur gymnastic blunders. I laughed so hard I cried. Really. I thought I was going to hurt myself.

Enjoy.



Extra points if you recognize where the title of the entry came from.

TTFN, y'all!

A Decisive Victory

I can breathe a lot easier tonight.

I was concerned about this playoff series. I'm still not "counting my chickens before the cows come home." The Angels have beaten the Sox 8-1 during regular season. But that was then.

This is now.

This is "Soxtober."

Jon Lester was mostly brilliant tonight. Jacoby Ellsbury was more than brilliant. 3 for 5, and that was having a triple taken away from him to be scored an error on Garry Matthews, Jr. Ellsbury was freakin' inhuman! That catch in center field was amazing.

Final score, 4-1 Sox. And the one that the Angels got was unearned. So there.

And this was the only playoff result that I'm happy with today. I was pulling for the Brewers and the Cubbies.

I'm really going to have a difficult time tomorrow. I hate the White Sox. I hate the Housewives. I'm rooting for a 0-0 tie into 30 innings. In all five games. That way, whoever it is the Sox have to play in the next round will be totally exhausted.

And listen! Do you hear that? It's the sound of silence in New York at both stadiums! What a sweet sound!

See you all Friday night.

TTFN, y'all!