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Sunday, October 11, 2009
When the Red Sox and the Angels were set to play yet again in the ALDS most people thought it would be business as usual. The Sox have dominated the Halos over the past few seasons when it mattered most. I am not going to sit here and lie to you and say that I was not one of those people, I was thinking that the teams were more evenly matched this season, but none the less the Sox were going to win. Well the day has to come when you no longer have someones number, it happens in every sport (Pats vs Colts is the first that comes to mind) and for the Red Sox it has now happened in back to back seasons. The Tampa Bay Rays lost the "Devil" in their name and then lost the jinx against the Sox and bounced them out in the ALCS.This time around there wouldn't even be a decisive final game i.e. a game 5 as the Sox are swept out of the playoffs for the first time since the eventual champion White Sox did it in '05. So instead of looking at the many reasons the Sox lost this series (poor fielding, uninspired pitching, lack of hitting, and a bullpen that was very shaky) let us look to the off season and who will be around Jason Bay, maybe Jason Varitek, most likely as an expensive backup. What about the rotation will Wake return? Will Dice-K be healthy? Can Clay keep the momentum from a good season? All these questions and more in the weeks to come...since we don't have any more Red Sox baseball to watch the rest of 2009, we must all trust Theo and company to answer these questions and more so we don't lose yet another number next fall.
Labels: Boston Red Sox, clay buchholz, Dice-K, Indiapolis Colts, Jason Bay, Jason Varitek, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, New England Patriots, Playoffs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Theo Epstein, Tim Wakefield
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
After "throwing at" Bobby Abreu this past weekend in LA, Josh Beckett's "punishment" has come down from Major League Baseball. He is suspended for six games even after not being thrown out of the game.
Click here for the complete BS, I mean story.
In a related story, Bobby Abreu is still a whining baby, even if he isn't wearing pinstripes anymore. There's no crying in baseball, except in New York (and aparently Los Angeles.)
adam@wickedpissadude.com
Click here for the complete BS, I mean story.
In a related story, Bobby Abreu is still a whining baby, even if he isn't wearing pinstripes anymore. There's no crying in baseball, except in New York (and aparently Los Angeles.)
adam@wickedpissadude.com
Labels: Bobby Abreu, Boston Red Sox, Josh Beckett, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, New York Yankees
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I recognize that it has been almost two weeks since my last post about Flavor Flav, so first let me thank Timmy for holding down the fort. Your man is on top of his shiiiiiiiii…and he has been keeping the WPD thang afloat.So, what have I been up to you might ask, while the Sox and the Pats have successfully popped the City of Champions bubble? Well, I have been moving closer to the Evil country. This is true. I have moved out of the sticks of Vermont and into the big city life of Southern CT where the only channels we get are the YES network and MSG…ARGH!! Thankfully all the baseball I am watching these days is on national tv and if I ever dare to turn on the YES Network the banner at the bottom of the screen reads Yankees Classics – 1998 or some BS like that.
The move went well…thanks for asking. Aside from missing the Saturday Red Sox loss, the Sunday Patriots loss and the Monday Red Sox loss, everything else has been all good. I will be back “online” with the game tonight and for the all important third debate tomorrow night, so deep breaths.
My two cents? We are going to pull out this win tonight. Everything points to a win. Look at the way the ALDS went. We were supposed to sweep the Angels and they squeaked out a game. Fine, we handled that. This time, I think the opposite will happen. History would say that we would fall to 3-1 behind the Rays, given previous ALCS performances, but I think this year will be different. We’ll send this thing back to the Trop tied up at two and then take it to seven where we will win it.
Keep in mind, I suck at predictions, so don’t take my word for it. Timmy is Nostradumbass…but I am a close second.
GO SOX!!
Labels: Boston Red Sox, Connecticut, Devil Rays, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, New England Patriots, Vermont
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Jon Lester was stellar in his Game #1 start on Wednesday night. The man is simply becoming one of the best starters in the game. What were we all worried about that Beckett was going to have to sit out? In 7 innings, Lester gave up just six hits (all of which were singles) and no earned runs to put the Red Sox in a good position to take Game #1, which they did by a score of 4-1. 
Jason Bay had Boston fans saying, Manny who, with his two run shot off Lackey in the sixth inning to put the Red Sox out in front 2-1. He was the first Red Sox player since Todd Walker, to hit a home run in his playoff debut with the Sox and it came at a big spot in the game.
I can’t lie, these 10p starts kill me. My eye-lids were basically opening and closing the entire night, but to watch a good, solid, Game #1 victory like this, was worth the agony I am feeling this morning. Damn I wish I was still in college, I could’ve stayed up for these games no problem back then, but back then, there was no playoff baseball to be had, so I’ll deal.
The Red Sox did what they needed to do. At times it wasn’t pretty, but at times it was spectacular, like Jacoby’s diving catch in center (oh, and his offensive performance was pretty amazing as well.)
It is on to Game #2, with Dice on the mound and a fired up Red Sox team that is ready to be the first team to repeat a World Series title since the Yankees did it…where are the Yankees? Oh right, playing golf in Florida. How’s the weather A-Rod, or should I call you Mr. April!!
adam@wickedpissadude.com
The Red Sox did what they needed to do. At times it wasn’t pretty, but at times it was spectacular, like Jacoby’s diving catch in center (oh, and his offensive performance was pretty amazing as well.)
It is on to Game #2, with Dice on the mound and a fired up Red Sox team that is ready to be the first team to repeat a World Series title since the Yankees did it…where are the Yankees? Oh right, playing golf in Florida. How’s the weather A-Rod, or should I call you Mr. April!!
adam@wickedpissadude.com
Labels: A-Rod, Boston Red Sox, Jason Bay, Jon Lester, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, New York Yankees
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
It’s kind of like when the Detroit Pistons couldn’t get past the Boston Celtics back in the 80’s. It was a playoff rivalry that wasn’t much of a rivalry, because it was always so lopsided and the Celtics would always come out on top. That was, until the Pistons finally broke through the big green wall that was the Big Three in 1987 and made it over that hurdle.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been here before. In 2004, they were swept by the Boston Red Sox who eventually went on to win the World Series. In 2007, it was the same story. So what about 2008? Will it be a repeat? Will the Red Sox take three and be done or will the Angels being the best team in baseball slip past the Red Sox to win the ALDS?
Time will only tell what will become of this East Coast v. West Coast rivalry that has developed quietly in the last couple of years. It’s certainly not Lakers v. Celtics or Red Sox v. Yankees, but it has developed into, at the very least, a far more intriguing series then any of the other first round match-ups for Major League Baseball this year. Does anyone really care what happens in the Brewers-Phillies tilt? I didn’t think so.
The Red Sox may be without Josh Beckett for this entire series. Terry Francona is talking that he should be good to go for game 3, but really do we want that scenario to play out? Wouldn’t we rather get two in LA and not even have to throw Beckett at all in this series? Let’s keep him fresh to the end for the ALCS. I know, it’s basically a dream scenario, but one that I wouldn’t put out of reach.
We’ve heard the injury stories before though. In 2004, it was Schilling who probably wouldn’t be able to go against the Yankees, he did. This time though, the injuries are piling up for the Red Sox. Beckett is hurt, Lowell is hurt, JD Drew is hurt, but they will all “play.”
It always comes down to injuries right? When the Celtics were finally defeated by the Detroit Pistons, they were banged up. Bill Walton was no longer on the team. The big three were banged up and getting older. Danny Ainge and DJ were a step slower and the bench was not nearly as deep as the 1986 team. On the other hand, the Pistons were hitting their stride. Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars were hitting their prime and the front court for the Pistons was stronger, younger and healthier then that of the Celtics.
While this series with the Red Sox and Angels is not a mirror image, certainly the injury situation is similar. It is a matter of health and the Angels are the healthier of the two teams, but if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet against Terry Francona, David Ortiz and the rest of the Red Sox in Soxtober.
GO SOX!!
adam@wickedpissadude.com
The Red Sox may be without Josh Beckett for this entire series. Terry Francona is talking that he should be good to go for game 3, but really do we want that scenario to play out? Wouldn’t we rather get two in LA and not even have to throw Beckett at all in this series? Let’s keep him fresh to the end for the ALCS. I know, it’s basically a dream scenario, but one that I wouldn’t put out of reach.
We’ve heard the injury stories before though. In 2004, it was Schilling who probably wouldn’t be able to go against the Yankees, he did. This time though, the injuries are piling up for the Red Sox. Beckett is hurt, Lowell is hurt, JD Drew is hurt, but they will all “play.”
It always comes down to injuries right? When the Celtics were finally defeated by the Detroit Pistons, they were banged up. Bill Walton was no longer on the team. The big three were banged up and getting older. Danny Ainge and DJ were a step slower and the bench was not nearly as deep as the 1986 team. On the other hand, the Pistons were hitting their stride. Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars were hitting their prime and the front court for the Pistons was stronger, younger and healthier then that of the Celtics.
While this series with the Red Sox and Angels is not a mirror image, certainly the injury situation is similar. It is a matter of health and the Angels are the healthier of the two teams, but if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet against Terry Francona, David Ortiz and the rest of the Red Sox in Soxtober.
GO SOX!!
adam@wickedpissadude.com
Labels: Bill Walton, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Pistons, Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, New York Yankees
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Boy we are going to have a lot to talk about tomorrow night on Wicked Pissa Dude Radio. The Red Sox come out of the gates from the All Star break, fresh off an All-star game MVP and they flop in LA. I understand that the Angels are wicked good, but let's be real, we can't win one game? That's absurd.
I am almost annoyed to the point of not wanting to write anything right now. In fact, I am at that point. Here's the breakdown of the weekend.
Red Sox 3 Angels 11
Red Sox 2 Angels 4
Red Sox 3 Angels 5
Really, that's all you need to know. Thankfully now we'll have a respite by playing the Seattle Mariners. I mean let's be real, if we can't take the next couple of games, we don't even deserve to be in the World Series discussion.
adam@wickedpissadude.com
Labels: All-star game MVP, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, Seattle Mariners, World Series
Saturday, July 19, 2008
It was pure Red Sox baseball. The Sox pulled ahead early. Gave up the lead in the middle and were on the verge of coming back in the ninth. Manny was at the plate, looking to just be Manny. There was one out, runners on 1st and 2nd, hitters count and Manny hit an infield pop up. It took two pitches to get Mikey Lowell and the rest was history.As much as it sucks that the Red Sox lost and are no longer in 1st place, I will say, this is way MLB is so exciting throughout the season. You never know what's going to happen. Last week on Wicked Pissa Dude Radio we were fired up that the Sox were in 1st place and one week later, on the verge of another Wicked Pissa Dude Radio show, the Sox are now 1 game back and the battle for first begins.
I imagine that Seattle will treat the BoSox slightly better then the City of Angels did, but who knows. With Papi on the verge of coming back to the line-up and Lowrie filling in pretty nicely for Lugo, the Sox will be fine. It just would have been nice for them to be able to split this weekend series with the Angels, but such is not the case.
As Timmy would say, we cannot win nationally televised games. My take on it is that Jeannie Glasko (I don't know how to spell her name and I hate her so much it's not even worth Googling it, so F-her) is jinxing the Red Sox and obviously Kevin Kennedy hates the Sox. The only silver lining to today's round of Fox Saturday Baseball was, NO JOE BUCK!! AMEN!!!
adam@wickedpissadude.com
Click here for the boxscore.
Labels: Big Papi, Bosox, Boston Red Sox, Fox Saturday Baseball, Joe Buck, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, Manny Ramirez, Seattle Mariners, Wicked Pissa Dude Radio
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