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.

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! 

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.

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.

Red Sox vs. Washington Nationals

Game 1 of the Series: W ~ 11 - 3 - Brad Penny

 

Game 2 of the Series: W ~ 6 - 4 - Jon Lester

 

Game 3 of the Series: L ~ 3 - 9 – John Smoltz

 

O.K.; it’s over with. John Smoltz, now officially has pitched for the Red Sox. It wasn’t at Fenway, and of course, that will be another big deal. But, it’s over with.

 

His outing ended much better than it started, that’s for sure. He lasted five innings, although they had Bard warming up in the bullpen in the 1, 3 and 5th innings. Smoltz retired the last eight batters he faced. Overall in the 92 pitches he threw, he struck out five, walked one.

 

It was a painful first inning as the Nationals scored four runs on four hits…and they were hits alright. It wasn’t even so much the hits as it was the anguish 
and dispair on the poor guy’s face. I felt terrible.  He has so much baseball-passion and it shows. But he does have Tek, and I trust him.

 

Funny thing about Smoltzie last night: he pitched against a young stud pitcher that was born AFTER John started in the majors. How do you like that?

 

John Smoltz, of course, is a legend. Having spent his over 20-year career
with the Atlanta Braves. He’s an eight-time All Star; Cy Young Award winner; MVP; holds a Pitcher’s Silver Slugger; he’s the 16th member of the 3,000 StrikeOut Club, just to name a few of his accomplishments. He’s only the second pitcher in baseball history to top 20 wins and 50 saves in one season, second of course to our buddy, Dennis Eckersley. He’s the only one to top 200 career wins AND 150 saves. He throws a fastball, slider, high-80′s split-finger fastball, a curve and a change-up.The guy is a beast. And that’s a good thing!

 

I’m happy to have Smoltzie on our team. When I was in Philly last weekend I was able to witness some baseball magic in action. Smoltz’s last rehab start was rained out Thursday (or was it Friday) and rescheduled for Saturday. After the Saturday rehab game, he must have drove like mad to Philly because I was on the sidelines when he came out to the field, for what was probably the first time in public in a Red Sox uniform. The boys were doing their stretches and when John came out onto the field, everyone stopped and he took center attention. The youngin’s especially, had a glow as they stopped to shake howdy. It was amazing to watch. And right in front of me, no less.

 

Hopefully everybody in Boston will have some patience. I know I will. I’m very excited to see what he’s got. Location was a huge problem last night but I know the best is yet to come.

 

Welcome to the Red Sox, John! 

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Games 60, 61 & 62 – At Citizen’s Bank Park – June 12, 13 & 14

Interleague Play

Red Sox vs. Phillies

Game 1 of the Series: W ~ 5 – 2 – Jon Lester Gem

 

Game 2 of the Series: W ~ 11 - 6 – Rain & Diva DiceK

Delay Late nite!

 

Game 3 of the Series: L ~ 6 – 4 – Beckett’s Bad Day but goes yard!

 

June 11

Red Sox vs. That NY Team

Game 3 of the Series:  W ~ 4 – 3

CC can’t get it done.

Big Papi goes yard – opposite field.

Still can’t stand Johnny Damon.

Our line-up pleases me, big-time.

I get to meet Dustin Pedroia this weekend, though I’d prefer it be Kevin Youk.

Red Sox 8 – Pinstripers – goose egg.

Nuf ‘ced!

Red Sox vs. That NY Team

Game 1 of the Series:  W ~ 7-0

I had to comment on this one…

Knew we’d have the Beckett of ‘ol. Caught him smilin’ before the game
.

 O.K. this isn’t the picture from last night…but I saw him….I did; really. I’m sure it will show up on youtube or something…

He pitched great! I love this guy; have I ever said that before?

But, more (or at least equally) important — hey pinstripers — meet our new toy. His name is Daniel Bard.

I’m sure the pleasure is all yours. He surely gave those radar guns a workout.

I suppose slump would work here, too. For my baseball writing anyway. 

SLUMP – (pronounced: sluhmp) noun

11:  A period during which a person performs slowly, inefficiently, or ineffectively.

That would be me.

I’m involved with 90 million different things right now, including some writing, though not about baseball. It’s obscure and off-beat, and requires extra time and effort. It’s not coming out of my head like it should. So it seems my creative juices are flowing in an opposite direction of baseball. Hopefully the Coriolis Effect will return them to the proper flow and things will be ”normal” again…whatever normal is. Or not. We’ll see. 

Traveling to Philly next week. Hopefully will check in then.

Ciao – for now.

Everyone is talking about it. Everyone has been talking about it. I’ve been

talking about it. So now I have to write about it but I really have nothing to say. How weird is that? I find solace in writing and can usually get out what is on my mind, which I have found to be (lately) both a blessing and a curse. But anyway…..

David Ortiz. Big Papi. What’s up with him?

SLUMP – (pronounced: sluhmp) noun

11:  A period during which a person performs slowly, inefficiently, or ineffectively, esp. a period during which an athlete or team fails to play or score as well as usual.

By definition, David Ortiz is in a slump. We’re talking a serious slum, but a slump none-the-less. I look at a bunch of factors. First, and foremost, I don’t know why Terry let it go this long by not adjusting him (moving him
down) in the line up. A week or so ago that should have been done and wasn’t. Now, since it wasn’t done, he’s now taking a couple of mental health days. Yea, we all need them once and a while; Big Papi needs one (or two, or three). I kept my kid out of school a few weeks ago because he was needing one seriously. Being twelve years old is tough and I recognize that. Hey, I’m a nice mom, what can I say?  

Now, next. Why the slump? Well, that’s one of life’s great mysteries. No answer to that one.  This actually seems like a quite extensive slump but would it be so bad if he had been moved earlier. I look at Tek. The guy is doing just fine after his slump at the end of last season, right? But, on the other hand, Tek’s job is catching; no slump there. Big Papi’s job is hitting. What happens when you don’t do your job?

Here is the world according to me: I say rest Ortiz. Put him in the 7 or 8 slot when he returns. See what happens. I’m not ready to throw him under the bus. I want a rested and rejuvenated Big Papi. Afterall, he was awarded the best clutch hitter award a couple years back. I know he has it in him. Right now it’s a game of wait and see but not at the teams expense. Especially once Youk gets back in the lineup, we’ll be fine. We’ll get through this, I know we will. Good luck Big Papi. I still love ya.