Happy New Year

Happy New Year, all!

Not much to say right now, because, sadly, we are in the time of year when there isn't much baseball news. Not much going on at all. Fortunately, the Sox have managed to not be stupid and trade Ellsbury. I know the Rangers are kind of eyeing Buchholz. I really don't think the Red Sox are going to part with him, either.

I've read some complaints in the "mail bag" on the Red Sox site. People seem to think that, because the Sox aren't making any moves, that they aren't doing well. Bollocks!! Obviously, these folks have never heard the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" And, friend, the Red Sox ain't broke!

The Rangers? Now they're broke. Irreparably, in my opinion. But nobody asked for my opinion...

Sadly, Jim Rice did not make the HoF this year. He should be there. Maybe next year.

At this point, I don't have much to say about Roger Clemens. I think he hurt himself by waiting so long to come up with some official statement. Makes it look like he was thinking up a good lie.

However, I think Mitchell may have done baseball great harm by focusing so much on events that happened before there were any bans. If you didn't do anything against the rules, you shouldn't be punished. Period.

Football playoffs are going on. I don't watch much football. A lot of people are predicting a Cowboys/Patriots match-up. I don't know. I live, of course, right next to Dallas. But I'm not much of a Cowboys fan. Jerry Jones is to blame for that. I think it would be very cool if the Pats could go all the way. Maybe they will luck out and not have to play the Colts again. Their match-up with the Jags this weekend could be tough. I'm figuring the 'boys will lose to the Giants. Their momentum was mashed flat in that last game against the Redskins. I don't know what their problem was, but you just don't want to go into a playoff situation on the heels of a miserable performance like that.

My prediction? Superbowl=Patriots/Packers Pats win, making history as the first team to ever go 16-0 and win the Superbowl. They've already made history. So they might as well make some more.

A Red Sox Destinations Trip

I know I haven't updated in a long time, but there really hasn't been a whole lot to say. The Mitchell Report came out and shocked and dismayed a lot of people, and emotions are running high as to what MLB's response should be. I've gone through several opinions, and basically where I've come down is this. Unless it can be proven that any of these players used forbidden substances after they were banned, they should be left alone. A lot of the players named were using steroids before they were banned. Not much you can do about that. Whatever happens, baseball needs to move on. Oh, yeah. Selig should be canned. Just because all this happened on his "watch." Besides...we need a real commissioner.

Ok. On to something positive. Very, very positive.

We're going to Boston again. This time in the form of "Red Sox Destinations." We were thinking about going up there in August to see the Rangers play again, but I got to looking at the Destinations packages that the Red Sox offer, and realized that several of them are actually at Fenway. Most of them are in the other parks that the Red Sox visit, but a few are at home.

I noticed that two of the Destinations packages were against the Yankees at Fenway. And one of these is in late July. So I started calling. It was Saturday, so I guess they were closed. I started emailing. Finally, late Saturday night, I got a response (or maybe it was Sunday night) via email from one of their representatives. He said there were still spots available for the July Yankees games, but they were going fast.

I called early Monday morning, and finally got hold of him. Heheh...we were sitting in a room at Stephanie's orthodontist's office when I finally got hold of him. I booked us three spots for the July 25-27 series against the Yankees at Fenway Park! That's right, folks! I'm going to see the Sox play the Evil Empire at Fenway Park in July, 2008!! As we are prone to say in Texas,...YEEHAW!!

Along with tickets to all three games (I'm told we will get to sit in the newest section of seats that they are adding for '08, on top of the first base side, where that "temporary" box was), we get to stay at the Copley Marriott for several nights (we extended our stay there for one night so we can go back to the hotel after Sunday's afternoon game). We also each get a game-used ball, an official player jersey (we get to choose the player, too), and a pre-game reception with Q&A with a current player, plus photo ops and autographs with the player. It says there are 125 spots in each one, so the crowd won't be too terribly big.

I'm so pumped about this, I can hardly stand it. And...when I checked back on the web site on Tuesday...it was sold out! By the end of the week, the other Yankees destination at Fenway was sold out, as well.

I can't even imagine what it's going to be like to get to witness the greatest rivalry, perhaps in all of sports, live at the greatest ballpark in America.

Ok. I have to stop typing about this. I'm drooling all over the keyboard. Hahah....

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! And I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Blessings to you in 2008.

TTFN, y'all!