July 2009
Lucky 13!
14 July 2009 ~ Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
American League 4 – National League 3
I’m so delighted that the American League will, once again, begin the World Series on home turf. Being a Red Sox fan, that truly makes all the difference…I think. Afterall, we’ll be in Boston to get that Mo-Jo working. Maybe we won’t be hosting the final party, but in 2004 or 2007 we didn’t either, and it still was all good.
Yes, I am taking the liberty of knowing that the Red Sox will be in this year’s final event. What can I say? I’m a Red Sox fan.
Congratulations goes out to all that either participated or hung out at the game last night. It was a fun game. I’m a little bit ambivalent about it’s usefullness but one thing it does provide is for the guys to have some much-needed time off to regroup for the rest of the season.
It was very cool seeing our president show his colors, even if his Sox weren’t the same as my Sox. It’s the passion I love! Though he really needs to work on that throwing since I’m thinking I have a better arm than him. I’m presuming he was just going through the motion. Let’s hope so.
Now that is over and done with we can look forward to a bunch of things: The July trading deadline; the old, over-paid players to fizzle as we approach the second-half; the young-stud players to sizzle as we approach the second-half. We’ll know if Halliday is coming or going, if Pedro will show up on someone’s roster; if Buccholz will make stay in our line-up; if Wake will keep his knuckleball tricky. Oh, there is so many unanswered questions!
When all is said and done, bottomline is: PITCHING WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Who’s pitching will hold up?
Let the second half of the games begin.
Seeing John Smolz Pitch A Winning Game
Game 86 - At Fenway Park – July 11
Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals
Game 3 of the Series: W ~ 15 – 9
John Smoltz vs. Gil Meche
Since I was at the game this past Monday looking too see John Smoltz’s first win in a Red Sox uniform (and didn’t), I decide I’m going to go to see Saturday’s game virtually at the last minute. And, yes Sport’s Fans, a Red Sox fan can get tickets to Fenway Park at the last minute. Well, I can anyway. I am a huge fan of John Smolz. I want to see him get a win.
I also am a big fan of a couple of Kansas City pitchers: Both Zack Greinke and Gil Meche. No, I’m not a band-wagon Greinke fan; I can spot a pitcher with something special a mile away. But what on earth ever happened to Gil Meche? For a few seasons past, he had something remotely special, especially against the Red Sox. Oh, what these teams do to their pitchers.
Anyhoo, the game starts out as a virtual slug-fest. Gotta love those bats coming alive early and often. My boy Youk, having some recent trouble at the plate nails two, I say two, homers! Varitek, knowing I had my camera, decides to show off and give me a home run treat. I know he did it for
me to show his appreciation of my support for him in the off-season. No, really; I know he did. And, BIG PAPI! I’m loving the comeback, dude! Not to forget, the little man, Pedroia, hits a triple.
So we sail into the top of the fifth with a 9 – 0 lead. One would think, yea(!), Smoltz has this one wrapped up: His first Red Sox win. Wrong! By the seventh inning stretch, I’m ready to throw up. With the
combined efforts of MDC and my boy Masterson (who incidentially gets my free-pass on this one), the KCR have come within two runs of tying this one up!
Well, when all is said and done, the Red Sox get back into the game and pull a win out of the blue. Ya know? Ya gotta’ love these guys but it really
still takes a lotta effort to love them unconditionally.
Glad the All-Star break is here. We could use some regrouping. Let the second half of the season begin. I’m definately psyched for some October-like baseball!
Smoltz at Fenway
Game 81 (I think) – At the Fens – July 6
Red Sox vs. Oakland A’s
Game 1 of the Series: L ~ 0 – 6
John Smoltz on the hill for the 1st time (going in with an 0 - 1, and one no-decision)
Staging was set for a perfect evening at Fenway. Driving in, saw it was 85-degrees; Smoltz on the mound for his first Fenway appearance. We were coming off the Seattle series on a high note. Nomar’s first return to Fenway since July of 2004. Orlando Cabrera in the house. What more could we ask for?
Well, that is a loaded question. What more could we ask for? How about some offense…how about Lugo actually playing like a major league short stop? How about an outing that resembles something decent from our ‘new’ Hall of Fame pitcher? Should I continue?
We can’t let those A’s get us down. Beckett’s taking over tonight. Tek better be catching him because I’m thinkin’ the last couple of Beckett starts that Tek DIDN’T catch were nothing short of disastrous.
Just of note: Tonight was Nomar’s first visit back to Fenway since July 2004. I was never a big Nomar fan so when reports say everyone welcomed him back, they really don’t mean everyone. I think he shut down worse than manny ever did. I saw him as a Cubbie play the Red Sox so that was my “thanks for your service, Nomar; now you’re the enemy” gig, and that was many years ago.
One upside to last night’s game was that I was able to score a ton of decent pictures of some of our boys of summer. In quest of John Smoltz pictures, I was able to score this Tek shot that, in my less-than-humble-opinion, is close to award-winning. Got a great temporary seat for a ton of on the mound Smoltz shots, some Youk shots at third, but that’s about it, afterall our A-squad was somewhere else other than on the field.
Congrats, Guys!
Just wanted to extend a huge congratulations to our boys of summer for making the 2009 All-Star Team.
Wake, as I said earlier: a HUGE apology. I was wrong. I would have never re-signed you. When I’m wrong, I admit it. BUT even a bigger CONGRATULATIONS for making All-Stars for the first time, you old guy!
Joshie: Love ya, babe! Congratulations! So glad you made it again, but you get some rest between starts because we want our All-Star to do his job for us.
Jason Bay: Cool! Good for you. You deserve it.
Dustin: I’d love to see you pick up in the offensive role, but your defense got you there, deservingly.
Paps: Good for you. Congrats. Too bad you’re already deciding where you want to be during contract time, even though it’s a couple years off.
And Youk. Joe Madden is a smart man. I only have one thing to say:
p.s. Yes, I am a poor sport.
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