I'm Just Sayin'....

AAAAAAAAA-ROID! AAAAAAAAA-ROID!

Aren't you looking forward to the first time that chant comes rolling out of the Fenway bleachers? I know I am!

Shut Up, John Maddon

After a player on your team did this in a spring training game, why are you suddenly calling out opposing players for a hard slide during the regular season?

I like the whole notion of the AL East suddenly being turned (partially) upside down and the division becoming more competitive. The idea that the division is Boston-New York-and the rest of the bunch has become boring. Moneymaking for MLB, the two teams, and network TV...but boring nonetheless. Don't get me wrong, I still cheer each pinstriped pitfall, but I like the drama of several teams fighting it out for a spot in the playoffs.

I've thought for awhile now that the Rays had way too much talent to be forever sub-.500, starting with the manager. Let us not forget that Maddon perfected the "Ortiz shift", depriving the slugger of untold hits until he finally gets it into his beloved - but thick - head that sometimes, it's not "hitting like a little bitch" to go to the opposite field.

But I digress. And Papi is hurt, so it's unfair to pick on him.

Finally, the Rays have power, speed, pitching, defense, and hitting for average. They play competitive, gutsy baseball and as a result, they've been at or near the top of the division most of the season. Good for them.

So I was more than a little flummoxed when Maddon got his panties in a twist and started barking at Coco Crisp for his slide into second tonight. First of all, the Rays have made a living off of aggressive play like that since spring training. Secondly, the Rays' shortstop dropped a knee on Crisp during a steal attempt in the 6th and...well, ya gotta be able to take what you're dishing out.

Josh Beckett pitched six strong tonight and the Red Sox beat the Rays, 5-1 to move into first place by a 1/2 game tonight. Even with the Papi-sized hole in the lineup, the offense continues to click and the defense is turning out highlight reel plays in each game. Sort of makes Theo look like a genius for signing J.D. Drew last year and not trading Crisp this winter, doesn't it?

The Sox have a chance to add to the lead tomorrow night as Jon Lester takes the hill in the final game.

Inspiration

I've taken a long break from writing - honestly, I haven't felt all that inspired since last fall. Between Spygates and wayward Senators (the U.S., not Ottawa kind), first round losses, and tougher than necessary first round wins, I've had more to bitch and moan about than anything else.

And that doesn't include my work life. I won't go there tonight.

But then, a savvy veteran plays the game of his life and takes the formerly woebegone Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals. Oh, and arguably outplaying the best player on the planet in the process. Yeah, I know, Lebron scored 45...but it's the points that he didn't or couldn't score that were the difference in the game and he was flat outhustled by Paul Pierce in that last mad scrum for a loose ball with seven seconds left.

Then, tonight. If you pitched Jon Lester's story in Hollywood, chances are your screenplay would be dismissed as trite, cliched, and predictable. Sometimes, art imitates life but tonight, life transcended art. Imagine the composure and personal maturity that is required of a young man, who is saddled with the yoke of "can't miss prospect", who battles through treatment for lymphoma, struggles with inconsistency when he is able to play again, and begins to hear the whispers that he is on the bubble for a return to the minors when a certain large redhead comes back to the rotation.

So what does Jon Lester do? He takes the ball and pitches the game of his life. If you didn't at least well up with tears at the sight of his heartfelt hug with Terry Francona at the end of the game, you are either: a) inhuman or b) not a real baseball fan.

Congratulations, Jon Lester, on your no hitter. And to Jason Varitek, who set a major league record for most no-no's caught. Thanks for the inspiration.

Unstoppable? Unbeatable?

The answer to both is a resounding "YES!" as the Patriots came from behind to defeat the Colts today by a score of 24-20. This post could also be entitled "My Big Fat Gloating Post", so if you're a fan of Indy, kindly move on.

Let me preface this by saying that I hate the Colts almost as much as I hate the Yankees. And I am so sick of Peyton Manning's face on every other frickin' commercial that I could puke. So I couldn't help but gleefully celebrate when the Madison Avenue poster boy coughed up the football, a gaffe that sealed the win for the Pats.

Needless to say, I had visions of writing an entirely different post. The Pats - or an unreasonable facsimile thereof - were down 20-10 with about 9 minutes to play. Tom Brady's passer rating was hovering just below 50%, the offensive line was getting shoved around by Indy, and the team set a new team "record" for penalty yards with 146 for the day.

Suddenly, light dawned. The kind of 100-watt glare that comes from the realization "Hey, we're about to lose our undefeated record" and the real Patriots showed up to play. Scorching the Indy secondary on a 55 yard pass play to Randy Moss, Brady efficiently moved the team downfield to cut the score to 20-17. The Pats defense held firm and the offense again went to work. Donte Stallworth came up with a huge 33 yard reception and Kevin Faulk reeled in a pass and dove into the end zone for what proved to be the winning TD.

Tom Brady was 21 for 32 for 255 yards with 3 TD and 2 INT. He tied the team record for TD passes in a season, set by Babe Parrilli in 1964 (32) and then broke that record with Faulk's touchdown. In the process, Randy Moss also tied the Patriots record for TD receptions in a season (Stanley Morgan, 12). Wes Welker continued his hot streak with several key possession catches and a three yarder that brought the Pats to within 3 points late in the game. Rosevelt Colvin had a huge game, including a sack, forced fumble, and the recovery of Manning's fumble.

So they didn't cover the spread or break 34 points - first for both this season - but they won. Better yet, they defeated the only other (previously) unbeaten team in the league. Take that, Indy.

HELL FREEZES OVER....AGAIN

Is there any better time to be a Mad Boston Sports Fan? Boston College defeats Virginia Tech in a thrilling comeback, the Patriots ran their record to 8-0 with a shellacking of the Redskins, the Bruins have a winning record (!), and....

the Boston Red Sox are the 2007 World Series Champions!!!

YES!

Seven Down, Four To Go!

The Red Sox completed another stunning ALCS comeback tonight & defeated the Cleveland Indians, 11-2, to capture the American League pennant. They face the Colorado Rockies in the World Series on Wednesday in rockin' Fenway.

Who am I kidding? I'm so fucking happy I can barely speak, never mind type. I called a couple of friends of mine at the final out & all I could say was "Oh. my. God. Omigod. Omifuckingod."

Josh Beckett was just announced as the MVP - he deserves it with his 2-0 ALCS record and the dominance he's shown in both rounds. But this award could have easily gone to Kevin Youkilis or Dustin Pedroia, who both stepped up immensely when Ortiz and Ramirez cooled off. But maybe the real MVP is manager Terry Francona, who not only kept this team focused and confident when it was on the brink of elimination, but made all the right moves at the right time.

The season continues and the Sox are four wins away from another World Series title. Goddamn.

Good for Joe!

I love it.