Diary of a Mad Boston Sports Fan

Inspiration

2008-05-19T20:43:00.006-05:00

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?

2007-11-04T19:50:00.001-05:00

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

2007-10-28T23:13:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-10-21T22:59:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-10-18T16:42:00.001-05:00

I love it.

Playoff Hangover

2007-10-14T20:15:00.000-05:00

Between the elation of Friday night's game and the despair of last night, I'm beat. Just as nothing could go wrong for Boston in the ALCS opener, nothing could go right in the second game.

There's not much more one can say about Josh Beckett without sounding tedious. He stifled the Cleveland offense after surrendering a solo shot to Travis Hafner in the first, but settled down to retire 11 Indians in a row before giving up another hit. The Boston hitters provided ample support with Big Papi and Manny both reaching base in all 5 at-bats. The Red Sox machine drove Cleveland ace, C.C. Sabathia, from the game in the fifth inning after reaching him for 8 runs. Beckett was pulled from the game in the sixth after only 83 pitches, but with a commanding lead and the Sox bullpen gave up only one more run for a 10-3 victory.

Last night was a different story. The offense was good enough to come from behind twice but missed opportunities in the late innings to secure the win. Schilling was not particularly effective, charged with 5 runs and surrendering the lead twice, and the 'pen allowed the tying run in the sixth and totally crapped the bed in the 11th by handing the Indians 7 runs in the top of the frame. Deservedly maligned Eric Gagne took the loss but Javier Lopez and Jon Lester were also atrocious. The loss overshadows fine performances by Mike Timlin, Hideki Okajima, and Jonathan Papelbon, who combined for 4.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing only two hits and getting four strikeouts in the process. By contrast, the Cleveland bullpen held the Boston hitters to 3 hits over 6.2 innings.

This series will be a long, grind-it-out affair. Neither of these teams is going to roll over and the Boston fans who were thinking "sweep" after Friday's game - and there were some - got a cold dash of reality last night. The good news is that Sabathia and Carmona were hit early and often but the bad news is that we are looking at a suddenly suspect Curt Schilling along with the questions about Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield. If Cleveland takes the lead in the series, don't be surprised to see Josh Beckett go on short rest in Game 4.

Here's my wrapup from today's Pats game.

I Feel Like Stewie Griffin Today

2007-10-09T10:57:00.000-05:00

You know, the sadistic little brat from "Family Guy". "Victory is mine" indeed so I'm gonna pile it on. The only thing that mars this day from total perfection is that I had to take the day off from work and thus, I couldn't rub it in my boss' face.

Blown out in Game 1, bugged out in Game 2, pulled out Game 3, and crapped out in Game 4. That sums up the Yankees vaunted forty-leventh consecutive trip to the offseason. Tell me, does that console the fanbase in the face of a third consecutive first round KO - all since the Greatest-Choke-of-All-Time in 2004?

I tried to imagine what happened in the owner's box after the third out last night but got so scared I needed to sleep with a teddy bear.

A few words for A-Rod: If the option is yours, STICK WITH THE YANKEES! Nobody is gonna want to pay through the nose for someone who tears through the regular season and then becomes this in the playoffs, unless it's one of those teams who like to put fannies in the seats but couldn't care less about the postseason. If it was just one playoffs, I'd be first in line with the "Sign A-Rod" chants but this is 3 years in a row that he has freakin disappeared once the regular season ended.

Two words for Theo Epstein: SEE ABOVE! A-Rod is not a reclamation project a la David Ortiz. A change of laundry is not going to overcome whatever causes his playoff paralysis. Theo, you have a third baseman in the fold who is top-tier defensively and upper-middle tier offensively. Certainly, he's been a bargain in the fifth spot (at about $5 million cheaper per year than J.D. Drew). His name is Mike Lowell. Please please please sign him.

edited to add these haikus i posted in The Joy of Sox:

Unlucky thirteen
A-Rod nine for sixty-one
Invisible Man
****
There once was a man named Torre
Who again in October says "Sorry"
"We just couldn't do it"
So George says "Just screw it"
and throws Joe under a lorry

SWINCHED!*

2007-10-07T17:26:00.000-05:00

That's right....swinched. A sweep/clinch. In a perfect weekend for Boston sports fans, the Patriots remained undefeated, Boston College mauled Bowling Green, the Bruins won (!), and the Boston Red Sox advanced to the ALCS after sweeping the LAA Angels 3-0 in the division series.

There was speculation in the media about how effective Curt Schilling would be, pitching on eleven days' rest but the veteran righthander quickly set aside those concerns. Although he had to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth, Schill was in control from the outset. Angels' starter Jered Weaver was equally effective and the two were locked in a pitcher's duel until the top of the fourth when Weaver made two mistake pitches that resulted in back-to-back homers by David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

Pitching with the lead, Schilling never looked back. He gave up only 6 hits over 7 innings, all but one a single. The lone extra base hit was a fluke double that a less generous scorer would've ruled was an error by Coco Crisp. (In fairness, Crisp snared a sinking liner after a long run and the ball was jarred loose from his glove when he hit the ground.) Schilling's counterpart, Weaver, was lifted in the fifth for Scot Shields, who held the Sox to one hit over 2 complete innings.

The Red Sox saved the explosives for the top of the eighth, when they sent 11 men to the plate and scored 7 runs to put the game away. Hideki Okajima sandwiched a double and a walk around 3 flyouts in the bottom half of the frame and Eric Gagne mopped up. Gagne continues to struggle with the concept of a "clean inning" as he surrendered the Angels' sole run.

Considering that the Angels managed to score only 4 runs in the entire series, I suppose I shouldn't bitch about Gagne. But that's the wonderful thing about being a Boston fan - we bitch about everything.

I was all set to bitch about the Pats not covering the spread, but then Randall Gay stripped Browns' tight end Kellen Winslow of a reception, recovered the fumble, and ran it in for the touchdown. Once Gostkowski kicked the PAT, the 17 point lead was regained and order was restored to the universe. However, they did give up a season-high 17 points today, so I'm starting to worry about the defense....

The Eagles of BC thrashed Bowling Green by a lopsided 55-24 score and look to move even higher in the polls this week. They are now 6-0 on the season, their best start in 65 years, but go on the road to face Notre Dame and Virginia Tech over the next two weeks.

Trot Nixon just homered off of Roger Clemens and the Indians now have a 2-0 lead against the Yankees. Sweet!

Manny Being Manny

2007-10-06T00:24:00.000-05:00

(photo courtesy of SportsIllustrated.com)

In the words of Forrest Gump "That's all I have to say 'bout that."

Boston goes up, 2-0, in the best of five ALDS series against the Angels. The teams head back to Anaheim (I think, because their name is so goddamned confusing. "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim"? *snort*) In any case, wherever they're going, they'll be playing the third game with Curt Schilling set to face Jered Weaver.

In the other series, Cleveland eked out a win over New York to take a 2-0 lead as well. I'm lovin it. I don't want to face the Yankees in the ALCS - I want them rubbed out in the first round for the third year in a row. Mostly so I can rub my boss' face in it next week because on top of being an unmitigated asshole, he is a YANKEES FAN. (Is that redundant?) I don't have all that much confidence in Cleveland's starter, Jake Westbrook, but New York has to wonder which Roger Clemens will show up for the game.

Lots of baseball, lots of football, and still time to celebrate Mrs. Potato's birthday. Happy b-day, sweetheart.

Hello, October!

2007-09-30T16:14:00.000-05:00

The Boston Red Sox go to the postseason for the fourth time in the last five seasons with the AL East Division title and the best record in the major leagues both in hand. Josh Beckett starts on Wednesday against the Angels with Curt Schilling probably going on Friday as the Sox chose the "B" option for the schedule.

Today's loss to the Twins bookended the season, with the 7-1 drubbing by the KC Royals in the opener seeming to be a distant, vaguely unpleasant memory. Along the way, we've watched the maturation of the stars of the future (Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia) and the further growth and development of current players like Coco Crisp, Jonathan Papelbon and Kevin Youkilis. (If anyone had told me at the start of the season that Youk would finish with a 1.000 fielding percentage at first, I'd probably have suggested medication to them.) Even with missteps along the way, this is the team that Theo built, well set up for both present and future.

Arguably coming off his finest offensive season in terms of hitting for power, average, and production, Mike Lowell anchored the new infield with his veteran presence. A free agent at the end of the playoffs, Lowell should command major interest from many teams which leaves the Red Sox with an interesting dilemma: do they make a long-predicted run at A-Rod or do they stand pat with Lowell? With Julio Lugo under contract and minor leaguer Jed Lowrie opening eyes down on the farm, it doesn't seem feasible to keep Lowell and move A-Rod back to his natural position at shortstop unless there's a blockbuster trade in the offing which clears the way.

But all of that is looking ahead. Right now, the Red Sox face the Angels in the first step towards a World Series championship. Shades of 2004...

Nightmare on Salem Street

2007-09-15T13:49:00.000-05:00

I had a horrible nightmare. It was in three parts. The first part of the dream was about one of my favorite football players. I dreamed that he had been caught up in an investigation into a pharmacy that sells performance-enhancing drugs. While his teammates were still coping with that, his respected (but not terribly well-liked) head coach was accused of cheating and an investigation supported the allegation. While I chewed over all of the above, the Red Sox puked up 6 runs against the Yankees and lost.

And then I realized that I was wide awake in my favorite chair, reading the sports page. Balls.

Couch Potato's Delight

2007-09-09T11:01:00.001-05:00

I was planning to write a season preview for the Patriots...and to follow up on last night's Red Sox loss...and maybe throw in a word or two about BC's victory over N.C. State yesterday. But I've worked the last 2 nights and I've also learned a thing or two about gloating over wins against Carolina teams (Mrs Potato hails from the Tarheel State).

Instead, I'm planning a long sojourn on the couch to watch the Pats take on the J-E-T-S Jets!Jets! Jets! at the Meadowlands. I hope it's an equally long day for Eddie the Fireman. I have a bowl of ice ready to soothe my aching thumb, which will be patrolling the remote between the Pats and the Sox, who wrap up their four game set with the Orioles today.

Speaking of the Birds, Mrs. Potato has taken to calling them the "Drill-ioles" after Cabrera's meltdown the other night.

Around The Horn

2007-09-05T21:50:00.000-05:00

Sox just lost to the Jays, 6-4, as Hideki Okajima gave up a two-run shot to Vernon Wells in the 8th inning. The Yankees dope-slapped the Mariners so the lead is down to 6 games. I have no freakin' clue what the "magic number" is now since I have math phobia and trying to figure it out makes me break out in hives. Somebody help me (and pass the Benadryl).

There's a really annoying commercial on for McDonald's. I may have to boycott them just to protest.

Joba Chamberlain carries a pink backpack out to the Yankees bullpen. No, this is not one of those vicious Internet rumors - saw it with my own four eyes. It's hard to type & snicker at the same time.

My beloved Boston College Eagles cracked the football polls! Congrats to QB Matt Ryan and CB DeJuan Tribble for being named ACC Players of the Week.

The Pats keep making the news - rumor is that Richard Seymour is lost for the season although the typically tight-lipped Pats have yet to confirm that. I'm still taking in the whole Rodney Harrison fiasco. Really don't have much to say other than I am bitterly disappointed in him. I'd like to give him credit for not only making a public statement but admitting to what he did; after all, this is more than what most have done. However, the fact is that he chose to knowingly break the rules and cheat. Now I have an inkling of what San Francisco Giants fans might feel about Barry Bonds. I don't like the feeling.

Big Baby is in the house! The Celtics signed draft pick Glen Davis and also veteran forward James Posey in the past week. The season looks more promising by the day...

And the Bruins began Pre-preason warmup. I'm not sure what "pre-preseason" means other than an attempt to get some face time in the news because they've certainly done nothing in the offseason to warrant attention.

I don't follow soccer (what the hell does "Bend It Like Beckham" mean anyway?) so look elsewhere for Revolution news. Like, follow the link.

Honey, I Shrunk the Lead

2007-09-03T20:39:00.000-05:00

EIGHT RUNS IN THE SIXTH INNING? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!!

I wanted John Farrell to stand behind home plate with a sign that said "Strike zone here". Or run out & put a tourniquet on somebody or something.

Now I'm trying to figure out how it is that Matsuzaka pitches his ass off in games where he's getting no run support whatsoever but then blows up with a 9 run lead in this game. What was a 10-1 laugher became a 10-9 squeaker by the time the pitching hemorrhage was stopped.

The Sox have now scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th so I don't have to hit the inhaler just yet (see above) but that phantom out at 2nd just made me fucking apoplectic. What the hell was the ump looking at?

Obviously, this team is bad for my health. Oy, my blood pressure.

Take My Picture Off The Milk Carton

2007-08-26T15:33:00.000-05:00

I'm still here - just recovering from my swoon since the Garnett-for-half-the-team swap the Celtics pulled off in July. I was semi-hoping for a Reggie Miller comeback but I'm still not sure that won't happen, especially if the C's start strong.

Meanwhile, I'm watching Hooooooooooo-lian Tavarez stifle the White Sox but panicking about the Red Sox lack of offense. They've only knocked in 7 runs today, fuhcrissake.

/rant
I never thought it was possible, but I longed for Tim McCarver during yesterday's game. I truly felt bad for Joe Girardi, stuck with a partner like Matt VASSgersian. Girardi attempted to provide insightful analysis of the game but found himself continually stymied by this blithering idiot. Bad enough that he said Jermaine Dye's double off of Wakefield was a "knuckleball left over the plate" when the replay clearly showed it was an overhand curve. Worse still when he said that a foul tip struck A.J. Pierzynski while it never touched the catcher & in fact, struck the umpire on the throat protector.

But the worst yet was Vasgersian's unprovoked ten minute tirade about Manny Ramirez, after the Sox leftfielder cut off a ball to the outfield and held a White Sox runner at third base. Somehow, Manny's hat falling off during the play was an unpardonable sin in Vasgersian's moral code and led to a description of Ramirez' hairstyle that bordered on racist, e.g. "this dreadlocked, Rastafarian thing he's got going on." Ignorant, uninformed, and inept. I hope Fox partners Girardi with someone more worthy of him in the future.

/end rant

I feel better now.

Well, the game is now over and the Sox scored 4 more runs, tying a team record for consecutive 10+ run-games. My panic attack is over. The offensive output was heartening, although the Chicago White Sox pitching staff is hardly reminiscent of, say, the Atlanta Braves of the 90's. This series was a first-class mugging, though, with everyone contributing, including PawSox call-up Kevin Cash and recent acquisition, Bobby Kielty.

The sweep, combined with the Yankees' 2 losses against Detroit, now open up the Red Sox lead to 7.5 games - pretty sweet as Boston heads to the Bronx for 3 games beginning Tuesday night. Andy Pettite matches up with Daisuke Matsuzaka in the opener, with Clemens vs Beckett in Game 2 and Chien-Ming Wang facing Curt Schilling in the final game of the series. The games will probably all boil down to a contest of bullpens, as both teams' offenses are clicking on all cylinders.

Suddenly Relevant

2007-07-31T18:55:00.000-05:00

After a 21 year drought, the Celtics finally have another Big Three: Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and now Kevin Garnett. The ex-T'Wolves star did not come cheaply, as Dealin' Danny Ainge sent 5 current players (Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, and Theo "Invisible Man" Ratliff) and 2 future draft picks.

Although the price seems steep, the real cost is Jefferson, who has steadily improved since joining the C's and is generally seen as a star in the making. While I like Ryan Gomes, he was a role player: steady & reliable but never destined to be more than an occasional starter. Telfair was as good as gone once he displayed his "I wanna be Pacman Jones" tendencies and Ratliff was...well...invisible. Gerald Green is a human highlight film on offense and a federal disaster area on defense.

This is not a deal that mortgages the future, however tired that cliche has become. Garnett has already agreed to an extension with the Celtics (reportedly for 3 years) and although 31 and in the league for 12 years, still ranks near the top in most rankings. I'm not giddy enough to guarantee a championship this year but in a weak Atlantic Division, the C's will almost assuredly contend for the playoffs.

Today was Boston Sports Fan Heaven: it began with speculation and eventual confirmation of this deal, the Red Sox announcing a dealer for reliever/closer Eric Gagne, and the Patriots in training camp. The feather in the cap would be Jeremy Jacobs announcing that he is selling the Bruins and getting out of town. One can dream....

Don't You Wish They All Had This Attitude?

2007-07-23T19:50:00.000-05:00

"I feel good," he said. "I've got my uniform on. I've been there [bullpen] before. I enjoyed every start I got. If they need somebody [again], I'll be more than happy to do it. I felt like something was going to happen. I haven't been doing my job. You've got to be realistic. You've got to admit it, they made the right move. I respect that. I'll enjoy my day, every day, as long as I have my uniform." Julian Tavarez, on being 'demoted' to the bullpen to make room for Jon Lester

Tavarez has really been one of the unsung heroes of the Red Sox this year. His last few starts notwithstanding, he was surprisingly effective as a fifth starter and seemingly adopted Daisuke Matsuzaka (anyone else remember him demonstrating to Dice how to dust off A-Rod?) His enthusiasm for the game has never waned despite his disappointing season last year and he has been willing to pitch in any role the Red Sox have given him.

And quite simply, he's fun to watch. I've been watching baseball a long, long time and I don't know that I've ever seen someone bowl the ball to first base - or any base for that matter. So, thank you, Yo-Yo.

Dickens Update

2007-07-23T06:22:00.000-05:00

The Wonder Dog got through his procedure okay, although they didn't take him into the OR until 3pm. Poor pup hadn't had food or water since 10:30 the previous night & was still pretty groggy from anesthesia when we went to get him.

"Pretty groggy" is a gross understatement, actually. The vet, who stands about 5'6" and weighs maybe 140 pounds soaking wet, went to get him from the kennel. After a few minutes, he came out carrying my 98 pound dog, who looked like he had gone 15 rounds with Mike Tyson - the earlier version. In response to our dismay, the vet confidently said "Oh, he can walk."

And Dickens walked...if you can call a halting, helped-by-a-towel-looped-under-his-belly stagger "walking". We finally got him into the car & home (with 2 'rest stops' during the 30-foot walk from the curb to the door) and he fell onto his bed.

He seemed much perkier when he was offered pizza crust later.

Hot Coco and Julio Down By the Fenway...and Jon Lester Tomorrow!

2007-07-22T17:23:00.000-05:00

One month ago, if you had told me that Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo would lead the Sox to a 3 game winning streak, I probably would have suggested that you ought to put that pipe down. If you had said that the Sox would score 31 runs in 4 games, I might have driven you to rehab myself.

In addition to playing a stellar (as in error-free) center field, Crisp has raised his BA to .277 and has 16 RBIs in the last 15 games, including two 5 ribbie games. He leads the team in triples with seven, good for 3rd in the AL. He still has the ugliest swing in the world but it's working finally.

Julio Lugo, meanwhile, has played better defense than I expected, especially when you consider his well-documented struggles at the plate. Consider one of Lugo's predecessors, Edgar Renteria, who sucked both at the plate as well as in the field in what was probably as bad a case of the yips as Matt Clement. I give Lugo credit for continuing to work hard despite the obvious disappointment he felt.

Now, the hard work is paying off and Lugo has a 12 game hitting streak to show for it, while raising his average almost 40 points in the process. His grand slam the other night was just sweet. And I didn't even mind the curtain call.

Probably the best story of all is the news that Jon Lester will take the mound tomorrow night in his first start in the Show since being diagnosed with cancer last year. Best of luck to him and his family.

Conspiracy Theories and Other Stuff From An Idle Mind

2007-07-18T19:58:00.001-05:00

Here's what I think:

The Yankees are going to "Sheffield" A-Rod. That's right; they're going to pull off a block-buster deal at the trading deadline just to prevent the possibility of his opting out and signing with Boston after the season. It's suspiciously quiet down there in the Bronx....

The only feasible explanation for the decline in David Ortiz' power numbers is that he is more seriously hurt than is being reported. He isn't driving the ball to the opposite field with the same consistency he has in the past.

Pitching may win championships, but .500 baseball doesn't get you into the playoffs. I'm still not panicking but I'm hoping that the Baseball Fairy brings a couple-three bats off the bench to Yawkey Way - preferably a fourth outfielder and another catcher.

Say a prayer for the continued good health of Jason Varitek because there is absolutely no answer in the Sox clubhouse or down on the farm.

Does anyone still think that Wily Mo Pena will be in a Sox uni after the deadline?

The Sox are currently struggling to come from behind against the Kansas City Royals. It's the 7th inning, one on and two out, with the score 6-5. Can you imagine losing 2 of 3 to KC at home??

I started a new job a couple of weeks ago which entails a much longer commute. The job is fine but I'm getting reacquainted with species Massholeus driverus. Mrs. Potato has designed a bumper sticker that I'd like to share with all of you. I'm ordering mine tonight.

Dickens the Wonder Dog has to have surgery tomorrow. No, it's not for guzzling too many carbonated beverages but to hopefully correct a nagging middle ear infection that has left him with a head tilt and facial paralysis (both temporary, thank Jebus.) Keep the puppy in your thoughts, please.

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Red Sox

2007-07-12T21:44:00.000-05:00

Red Sox 7 - Blue Jays 4

Boston got to Toronto ace Roy Halliday early tonight, touching him for four runs in the first inning after Tim Wakefield surrendered a run to the Jays in their first at-bat. The Sox tied it with David Ortiz' single and went ahead to stay with RBIs from Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis, and Mike Lowell.

Ramirez would finish the night at 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs; Papi would add 1 more when the Jays threatened to come back from a four-run deficit later in the game. Meanwhile The Other Manny (Delcarmen) again shined in his relief stint as he took over for Wakefield in the 7th. Hideki Okajima was his reliable set-up self in the 8th and Papelbon got his 21st save after giving up a double in the ninth.

Wakefield has now won 5 of his last 6 starts and runs his record to 10-8 on the season. The Red Sox are the only team in the majors with 3 10-game winners and still lead the majors despite limping into the All Star break.

Julio Lugo continues to show signs of breaking out of his season-long funk; J.D. Drew and Coco Crisp are starting to hit; the starters continue to go deep; and the bullpen has the requisite 7-8-9 arms as well as situational lefties.

What trading deadline?

Lab Tested...Dickens Approved

2007-07-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

"Even upside down, it tastes great!"

"Good to the last drop. Oh wait, that's another product."

"Can I get this IV?"

Chugging contest

"I have to burp."

Well, the votes are in and it's definitive: Coke beats Pepsi. (And thanks to Mrs Potato for the photo editing!)

Fireworks at Fenway

2007-07-04T14:39:00.000-05:00

The Boston Red Sox leapt to a 7-1 lead and hung on to defeat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-5, this afternoon at Fenway. The game featured the first major league RBIs for call-up Jacoby Ellsbury, an impressive relief performance by Manny Delcarmen, and a 3-and-out by Jonathan Papelbon to secure the win. Mike Lowell drove in what ultimately proved to be the game-winning runs with his two-run blast in the fifth.

Tim Wakefield benefitted from unexpected run support and cruised through the first six innings, scattering giving up only one run, a solo homer to Rays' catcher, Raul Casanova, in the second. In the top of the 7th, Wake lost the knuckler and the Rays took advantage. They put four across versus the veteran and reliever, Javier Lopez before Delcarmen came in to strike out pinch hitter Jhonny Gomes. Delcarmen stayed in for the eighth and retired the side after a two-out walk to Casanova.

With the victory today, Wakefield improves his record to 9-8 and the Sox extend their lead to 12 games over the Yankees, who lost to Minnesota this afternoon.

*******
Notes:
Jacoby Ellsbury - Besides his wheels, this kid has major league discipline at the plate.
J.D. Drew - 2-4, 1R, 1 RBI in the clean-up spot for Manny today.
Coco Crisp - led off game with his third triple of the year and scored the first Sox run.
Doug Mirabelli - 1-4, 2 RBI

VOTE FOR OKI!

Pod People Strike Again

2007-06-24T00:23:00.000-05:00

San Diego 6 - Boston 1

The score was not as close as it appeared, as Boston scored their lonely li'l run with two outs in the ninth. PawSox call-up David Murphy launched a triple to left center and scored on Mike Lowell's double to the gap, spoiling an otherwise superlative performance by the San Diego pitching staff.

Tim Wakefield crumped in the middle innings, turning a 1 run deficit into a 6-0 San Diego lead. His counterpart, Chris Young, meanwhile spun a 1 hit, 11 strikeout gem and let his hitters do the rest.

I was one of those people who cheered when the Sox traded Josh Bard last year to get Doug Mirabelli back but I take that back. Here are their respective lines for the night (with season averages):

Mirabelli: 0-4, 2 K, 3 LOB, .182
Bard: 2-4, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR (2 run dinger), 0 LOB, .263

I love my 20-20 hindsight.

Tomorrow's game projects to be a pitcher's duel, with Josh Beckett (at 10-1) facing San Diego ace Jake Peavy, he of the gaudy 1.98 ERA.

Today in the mail, Mrs Potato & I received our long-awaited bracelets from A Complaint-Free World. We heard about it on Oprah. (Side note to add: I've watched so much Oprah during my forced "vacation" that I'm in severe danger of an estrogen overdose.) The goal is a worthy, if challenging, one: eliminate the negativity in your life by going 21 consecutive days without a complaint of any kind. You keep track of it by switching the bracelet from one wrist to the other every time you complain.

I already have tendonitis in my wrists.

Baseball's Own Little Carmine

2007-06-17T11:07:00.001-05:00

Maybe I'm missing "The Sopranos" too much. After all, I still wonder if, in fact, Adriana managed to get away from Sil in the Jersey woods. Or whether Tony was secretly an informant for the FBI the whole time. Or how anybody can possibly eat that much capicolla (Neapolitanly referred to as "gabbagool" in the show) and survive with digestive system intact.

It all started innocently enough yesterday, with Mrs Potato asking "Who is that annoying man? And where are Don & Rem-Dawg?" (She still doesn't get that change in network = change in announcers but I love her anyway.) I just knew that the unending array of malapropisms, historical inaccuracies and fawning sycophantism seemed vaguely familiar. Suddenly, I made the connection. Tim McCarver is the real-life inspiration for Carmine Lupertazzi, Jr.

I finally surrendered and practiced the Twelve Steps around the issue. First, I accepted the Tims I cannot change. Then I made a list of all the ways Tim was harming me. And now, I'm admitting in front of God and everyone how unredeemably stupid this man is. Here are my favorites from yesterday:

Re: The Green Monster which according to Tim, was built "2 years before the Russian Revolution and 5 years after glasnost." The Monster giveth and the Monster taketh away but apparently the Monster also has entered a quantum time warp since my sources indicate that the period of glasnost didn't begin until 1985. Pretty neat trick, huh?

On describing the 8th inning, in which the Giants had two on, no outs, and Bonds at the plate: "If you're a New York Giants fan, you've gotta like your chances." I'd give him a pass on this one because after all, they were originally from New York, but they left in 1957, not yesterday!

And the fawning sycophantism? Tim fairly tripped over his tongue in heaping accolade after sympathy vote upon one Mr. Bonds. The two of them better hope that California legalizes same-sex marriage but be forewarned, Tim. Remember what happened to Vito.