Tuesday, August 24, 2010

On the Fence: Damon With a B

By now you've heard about the possibility that Johnny Damon may be returning to the Bean for another stint with the Boston Red Sox. The Sox picked him up off of waivers and while Damon has a no trade clause in his contract (one that specifically designates the Boston Red Sox as a team he cannot be traded to) the two sides are trying to work out a deal.

I am on the fence about these shenanigans.

On one hand, this adds a new wrinkle to the 2010 Boston Red Sox. It gives us something else to make the final six weeks of a tough season even more interesting. It could make the team more competitive, like adding P.J. Brown to the '08 Boston Celtics roster. The only difference is the history of course with Mr. Damon.

Would Johnny Damon help this Red Sox team make a push for the playoffs? I think he probably would. Could he be the puzzle piece to take Jacoby Ellsbury's spot in the lineup? Maybe. Does he still have enough juice in his legs to get around the bases and make some plays in the outfield? Yes, probably.

So from that perspective, I think the move would be great.

On the other hand, he is a BUM!! He blew off the Red Sox who seemingly gave him a decent contract and an opportunity to build something special only to go the hated New York Yankees. You don't move from one franchise to another in a heated rivalry like that. Go to the Tigers, FINE. Go to the Orioles, OK. Go to the Rays, I don't care. But to the Yankees? I don't f-ing think so.

Johnny Damon is a traitor through and through. He is a guy that chased the money and the fame and where is he now for it? He's no better for it. Take him, in comparison to a guy like David Ortiz. Ortiz has been the darling of this city, playing for a salary that is, quite frankly beneath him. He has struggled and the media has ridden him, HARD, but he still wants to stay in Boston. He wants to finish his career here and show the fans of Boston that he still can win and do it in style. There have been bumps in the road, but none that have been insurmountable.

Damon on the other hand, took the money and run, so to speak.

Johnny Damon is no better then Roger Clemens in my book and he should stay where he belongs...OUT OF A RED SOX UNIFORM!!

Labels: Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, Detroit Tigers, Johnny Damon, New York Yankees, Roger Clemens

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

5 Reasons for a Red Sox Comeback

Time is stretching thin for the Boston Red Sox to make a real comeback of any sort in the final six weeks of the season, but being the optimistic nut job who didn't count the Celtics out at the end of the regular season this past year, I am weighing in as an ardent supporter of the Sox making a final run here in the last weeks.

There are a number of things that make me believe that this is possible. Here are five of them.

1.) Pedey is back. While one player a team does not make, Dustin Pedroia is the heart and soul of the Boston Red Sox and even though in his absence they still were respectably above 500, with him back in the lineup you just get a sense that there is more fight in them then you've seen since his injury.

2.) Starting pitching is strong. Starting pitching on this team hasn't been on point all season, with injuries and some rocky outings from John Lackey and Dice-K, but the rotation seems to have gelled here in the last month or so and appears to be primed to make a run at it. Now if we could get the bullpen in order, we might be talking a ring.

3.) The bullpen. Wait...what...you just said if we can get the bullpen in order we would be in better shape, now you're telling me they are going to help us get to October? Here is where my optimism comes in. First of all, I don't envision Jonathon Papelbon having any more implosions like he did in Toronto. I think he will steady the ship and he will be ready to go for a final run. The rest of the bullpen has been mediocre at best, but traditionally they pitch better when Pap is on his game. This is a shaky one, but I am erring on the side of positivity here.

4.) The Rays will falter. You know the Tampa Bay Rays are going to stumble down the stretch, they have to. They have been teetering on the edge for a while now, salvaging wins here and there and getting some lucky breaks from the Red Sox. If the Red Sox can put a string of wins together the Rays luck is bound to run out.

5.) Don't underestimate the power of the fans to power our local nine into the playoffs just so we can make some noise for the New York Yankees. There is something to be said about a team and it's fan base that can comeback from 0-3 down against their most hated rivals. I know, it was a different team, but it wasn't a different city. The fan support the Red Sox will see down the stretch should be unprecedented and when they feel it, it will lift them past the Rays and into the playoffs.

You can choose to be negative, but I am looking on the bright side and betting that I'll be right just like I was with the Celtics!!

Labels: Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia, John lackey, Jonathon Papelbon, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Now We Must BELIEVE

Remember back in 2004. Remember when the Boston Red Sox were one year removed from the home run that rocked the Nation by Aar...I am not even going to put his name on this blog. Remember when the Red Sox were down 3-0 to the dreaded New York Yankees? Remember when Boston fans came to game 4 of the ALCS with signs that read BELIEVE?

Only Boston fans would have the guts to bring signs to the ballpark that read Believe. Even after all of the heartache. Even after all of the tears. Boston fans still truly did Believe in their beloved Boston Red Sox. We Believed in that band of idiots to pull off the unthinkable and they did. They pulled off the biggest comeback in professional sports history, amplified by the history between the two teams. And the rest is history...until...

THIS YEAR.

It's time once again Red Sox Nation to BELIEVE. Break out your rally caps. Grab a Boston.com sign that reads Believe and is shameless promotion for the website and start BELIEVING in this 2010 club.

It's not enough to just simply think, oh maybe they have a shot at getting the wild card, you really have to BELIEVE it in your gut. You can't just wear a rally cap and hold a sign...it doesn't work that way. In 2004, all of Red Sox Nation truly believed there was something special about that team. There was something in them that wanted to break the curse and when millions of fans are that certain about it, so too are the players.

You know the players can feel it from the stands. The belief that their fans have in them to pull off the unthinkable. Now We Must Believe.

It will take some nicely timed losses by the Tampa Bay Rays for us to pull off a nifty little comeback here at the end of the season. It will take a couple of wins on a good night for the Red Sox to pull it off, but I truly BELIEVE that they can do it. I BELIEVE that when push comes to shove, the adversity this team has faced this season will give them the strength to power through and become a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. The Boston Red Sox are the team that NO ONE wants to face in the playoffs because we have insane starting pitching and our bats can go off on any night (hopefully they will down the stretch.)

So, are you with me? Do you BELIEVE in the 2010 Boston Red Sox?

Now WE MUST BELIEVE!!

- Adam

Labels: Boston Red Sox, MLB, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Red Sox are BACK!!

That's right, I said it! The Red Sox are BACK and I am not backing down from that at all...well, first...maybe I should explain.

Remember back in the day, back before the 2004 miracle comeback against the New York Yankees? Remember when the Boston Red Sox M.O. was to break our hearts every year and then come back to a loyal fan base the next year and expect us all to cheer as loudly as we possibly could because this might be THE year?

Those were the good old days weren't they? The time when everyone in New England (sans Southern CT because let's face it, I'm in Yankee country) commiserated over the failure of the Red Sox to get over the hump. That's when watching baseball in Boston was fun.

Then came 2004 and the miracle comeback. Then it was the sweep of the World Series which was euphoric. Then there was 2007 which was a much easier trek to the World Series and another easy win.

We were ok with the way 2008 and 2009 went down because we had those rings. The team was still fun to watch and we had a future of endless possibilities in Pedroia, Ellsbury, Dice-K...those were the days.

Then came 2010. The season of the injury for the Boston Red Sox. Now you watch a game and you never know what your gonna get, but most likely you won't get all of the big name guys you love. These days your likely to get a streaking Big Papi (good news for the Nation if they ever make a run) and a bunch of other schlubs from the minors.

So why then would I say the Boston Red Sox are back? Well, it's simple, they are back to their pre-2004 form. When the hopes and dreams of Red Sox Nation were dashed night in and night out. Remember in 2003, you would watch a game and the Red Sox would be down maybe 6-3 to the Cleveland Indians. You'd stay up to the 7th or 8th inning to see what happens and all of a sudden the offense would explode for a couple of runs. They were making a game out of it. The Indians would get out of the jam in the 8th and you still stayed with the game because you knew they were going to win it in the 9th. Someone would get a base hit with just one out and the fate was sealed, the Red Sox were going to win that game...only...THEY DIDN'T. They blew it.

Oh wait...that as last night's game.

The Red Sox are BACK!!

Labels: Big Papi, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Dice-K, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, New York Yankees, World Series

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

You Have To Endure This Because I Had To...

This morning as I sipped my cup of hot coffee in my bathrobe and slippers, I was forced to re-live October of 2008. The confetti, the smug smiles on the faces of our most hated rivals, it all came rushing back to me.

Today is Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. The Skankees will have their home opener against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and since I had to endure the details of the home opener on the news this morning, I will bore you with the details too.

Four time world champion Bernie Williams will throw out the first pitch (who I learned today was a wonderful guy and a great musician because the news anchor ran into him in a music store and he was nice to her son...NOBODY CARES!!!) Whitey Ford and Yogi Bera will be on hand to help manager Joe Girardi hand out the rings to his team.

Girardi said this is way sweeter then winning it as a player because you get to hand the rings to your teamates. Wow, a Yankee that is full of it...SHOCKING!!

There are a few Yankees on the team who have been through ring ceremonies before, Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera who will each have five rings, described as a "fist full" by the New York media.

One final note about today's ceremony, George Steinbrenner "the boss man" will be in attendence for the event which starts at 1:05p.

Now that I have made you suffer through the details like I did and now that I know you are saying exactly what I said, WHO CARES!?!?!?!? I will say to you what my wife said to me when I was done complaining about the coverage..."they'd be doing the same thing on the Boston news stations..."

Just because she's right, doesn't mean I have to like it!!

adam@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: Bernie Williams, Boston Red Sox, Derek Jeter, George Steinbrenner, Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees, Whitey Ford, Yogi Bera

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

LMFAO: Sox v. Yankees Perspective

Bill Burr on the Opie and Anthony show post-2009 Yankees win...HYSTERICAL!!

Labels: Bill Burr, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Opie and Anthony

Monday, April 5, 2010

A Storied Boston Sports Weekend

Who knows what the history books will say about the 2010 Boston Celtics. Who knows what late summer has in store for the 2010 Boston Red Sox. One thing we do know though is that this past weekend felt like the City of Champions was back. If just for one warm night in early April, Boston was abuzz with the glory of a city poised to do something special.

The day started out as a pretty ordinary day. The Celtics were at the Garden hosting the toast of the league, Lebron James' Cleveland Cavaliers. For the past few years the Cavs have been the team to beat in the East and every year, they have been beaten. This year, though, will be different, according to all of the analysts. This will be the year of King James' coronation. But, that's not how it shook out yesterday.

The Celtics surged to a 22 point lead late in the third quarter only to stave off a fourth quarter surge by Lebron James and win 117-113. It was the Celtics, the team who had been around the block a few times, the team who had hung a banner or two in the rafters, the team with the most recent ring that would hang a big game on Lebron and his Cavs, serving notice that the Celtics were not going to quietly ride off into the sunset in 2010.

The win by the Celtics alone would've been enough to satisfy the appetite of a Boston sports fan that is dying for some good news these days, but the day was barely half over when a click of the remote flipped on pre-game chatter for Opening Day at Fenway Park.

The most storied rivalry in all of sports. The dreaded, New York Yankees, who came into the historic Fenway Park as World Champions, were in town to kick of the 2010 season. Many analysts have the Yankees repeating and some place the Boston Red Sox in third place so on paper, this might not have been much of a match-up, but paper means nothing when these two teams collide.

Josh Beckett on the mound vs. CC Sabathia was bound to be a pitchers duel and through three it was pretty close to that, but it all started to unravel as the Yankees jumped out to a 3-1 lead on back to back jacks off of Beckett and it looked like the pundits were right, this year the Red Sox would continue to not be a match for the Evil Empire.

But then, a resurgence. The Boston Red Sox, trailing 5-2 at the end of five innings, rallied with back to back 3 run innings to surge past the Yankees 9-7 in an Opening Day shot across the bow that served as a warning to the league that this Red Sox team would not be pushed around.

Neither win carried all that much weight in the grand scheme of the season. The greatest importance either game held was that the Celtics were jockeying for the three seed in the playoffs, but it was the spectacle of the day. A beautiful day in Boston. The sun was shining. The duck boats were out (not on parade just yet) and our beloved sports teams were winning.

It's that magical time of year between April and June or September and October when two of our most beloved teams, (the Celtics and Red Sox or the Red Sox and the Patriots) are playing on the same afternoon and the results are positive on both fields of play. It's a great feeling to have and something that very few cities ever have the opportunity to experience.

So, no matter what happens in the Celtics playoff push or the season series with the Yankees, we'll always have April 4th, 2010 as one of those special days in Boston sports where two of our teams knocked off two of "their" teams to bring home W's to our beloved city.

adam@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron James, New England Patriots, New York Yankees

Monday, March 15, 2010

Episode 161 - Drinking Games

Here in New England we love our sports and we love our drinks. As of late the cocktini consumption has been to dull the pain rather than enhance the enjoyment. The Celtics are inconsistent. The Bruins are deplorable and the Patriots are laying in wait. The Red Sox get a pass for now, at least until opening night against the Yankees. Well the guys wrap up the St. Patrick's Day Weekend with a visit from Uncle Dukes fresh off the selection show for March Madness. Adam was the oldest person at the parade and Timmy and his family drank Irish Milkshakes and ate corn beef. It is all here along with the fantasy round up as we head into the playoffs. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

theshow@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: adam, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, guinness, irish, march madness, milkshakes, new england, New England Patriots, New York Yankees, st. patrick's day, timmy, uncle dukes

Monday, March 8, 2010

Episode 159 - Senior Discount

Adam and Jess were out late at a party while Timmy and Gianina went to the late show at the movies. The guys bitch and complain about the prices of drinks and movie tickets all the while bickering that the Patriots have not been big spenders themselves. Timmy will check in with Scotty Dukes "down on the farm" and see how the move is going. The fantasy seasons for hoops and hockey are coming to a close and Adam is still hoping to make a little noise. Are the Yankees actually, finally getting too old? Is Adam right to say Yankee fans are obnoxious? What does Timmy think about them? All that and a delightful story about the Drum Hill Rotary. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

theshow@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: adam, drum hill, fantasy sports, New England Patriots, New York Yankees, Scotty Dukes, timmy

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

NY or Philly - Who's Douchier?

In honor of the World Series tonight and because there isn't much in the way of New England news these days, here's a clip from the Daily Show trying to determine which city has the douchier fans.

We all know it's the NY fans, but Philly is a close second, especially if you watch the clips.

Good news is Boston fans didn't even come into the conversation. Of course we didn't, not only are we not douchey, but we're the greatest fans in America...EAT IT ROCKIES FANS!!!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Clash of the Cretins

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

-Adam

Labels: Boston Red Sox, Daily Show, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Sports Fans

Monday, October 5, 2009

Ep 118 - The Lollipop Guild

In honor of another great win for the New England Patriots in which Tom Brady found two of the three members of the Lollipop Guild (Wes Welker and Julian Edelman) open for completions we have ceremoniously summoned the spirit of the Wizard of Oz to name this episode The Lollipop Guild. While we explored other options that involved Ya Dude's at Gillette and their Super Ex-Girlfriends, we decided to stay on the playing field to name this episode.

It wasn't pretty, but the Patriots got it done and are now 3-1, this week, Adam gloats over his standing prediction of a 13-3 finish for the Pats even as the road traveled gets much tougher with the Patriots headed to Denver next week.

The Red Sox provided much less excitement as they are spending their couple of days before the playoffs start trying to figure out which rookie sensation will help them win the World Series this year, even while getting screwed by Brett Favre (Timmy explains.)

And it's fantasy round-up time as the boys round the horn on baseball, football, hockey and nascar. A BIG congratulations to our World Series champion Coach K who went 19-3 with his Bentley Bombers to take home the crown.

If you'd like to get in on our Wicked Pissa Dude Basketball Fantasy League, click here and get signed up.

Like the show? Drop us a comment below and let us know, we'll read it on the show this Thursday.

Also, if you can't find any of the links we were talking about on this weeks show you can find a list here.

Thanks for listening!!

- Adam

Labels: Baltimore Ravens, Boston Red Sox, Julian Edelman, Lollipop Guild, New England Patriots, New York Yankees, Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Wizard of Oz

Friday, September 18, 2009

Red Sox Playoff Tickets

It's that time of the year again and as we close in on Soxtober, time to get in the annoyingly long line of Red Sox Nation hoping to get tickets to potential playoff games. The likelihood that you will get tickets is slim to none, but hey, it's worth a try right? We'll probably have the Angels in the first round and despite last night's loss, we'll likely beat them and have the Yankees in the ALCS, so better get in line now.

Get signed up here.

Registration has already begun and it ends at noon time on Monday, so hurry up and get signed up. The drawing for the ALDS tix will be held on Monday and you'll be notified if you've won on Tuesday.

GOOD LUCK!!

- Adam

Labels: ALCS, ALDS, Anaheim Angels, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Red Sox Tickets

Monday, August 24, 2009

Ep 106 - Death Valley

The White Mountains of New Hampshire ate Timmy and his neighborhood buddies alive over the weekend or was it Gooch that did them in? Find out on today's show.

Adam and wifey headed north for a return to studio VT for a weeklong getaway. Well, it's a vacation for Adam, because life is a vacation these days, but wifey is hard at work keeping the lights on.

Oh right and there were some sports to discuss. The Red Sox dropped two of three to the Yankees to fall to 7.5 games back of the New York Yankees. It wasn't pretty and the final stretch of the season won't be pretty either if something doesn't spark this team into a win or two or ten.

The Patriots also dropped their 2nd pre-season game to the Bengals, but Timmy and Adam agreed that coach doesn't put a whole lot of stock in wins and losses in the pre-season. Bring on September 14th and the Buffalo Bills.

Listen Now

Labels: Boston Red Sox, Boston Sports odcast, buffalo bills, New England Patriots, New York Yankees

Excuse Me Sir, Are You Josh Beckett?

Will the real Josh Beckett please stand up? We need him back in a BIG way. Our stopper. Our ace. Our go to guy, is nowhere to be found and at the most crucial time for our beloved Boston Red Sox.

When Junichi Tazawa can come in and pitch six scoreless innings and close the door on a Yankees lineup who admitedly has been pounding the ball, shouldn't Josh Beckett be able to do the same thing the very next night?

Brad Penny? Now that was somewhat excusable and he is paying the price for giving up an insane amount of runs to the pinstripes, but Josh Beckett? Up until the last two games, he was the odds on favorite to win the AL Cy Young award. NOT ANYMORE.

This Josh Beckett has given up 15 runs over his last two starts and gave up 5 home runs last night alone...yes in ONE GAME. This is NOT the Cy Young winner we have grown to love in the Boston area. This is a guy who just a year ago was pitching in the Japanese Industrial League...oh wait that was the guy who WON this weekend.

The Red Sox went into this weekend on the brink of turning things around. They had just taken three straight from Toronto (which admitedly is not saying much) but with even a couple of wins this weekend they could've been right back into the hunt for the top spot in the AL East. Instead, the normally solid Josh Beckett let the team down when they needed him the most.

The Red Sox are now 7.5 games back of a NY Yankees team that is showing no signs of letting up. The only silver lining for the BoSox is that the Rangers and Rays pounded on each other over the weekend, which has Boston still standing at the top of the AL Wild Card chase by one game.

Labels: AL Cy Young, Boston Red Sox, Josh Beckett, Junichi Tazawa, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays

Friday, August 21, 2009

Red Sox v. Yankees Preview

My what a difference three games make. After getting swept by the New York Yankees and dropping two out of the three from the Texas Rangers, the Red Sox found themselves out of the AL Wild Card lead and on the brink of dropping out of the conversation as to who is the top team in the AL East, but some cool, fresh, Canadian air was all they really needed as they completed the sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays last night at the Roger's Centre.

Now order has been restored to the Nation that has collectively been holding it's breath over the last week wondering if the Red Sox bats would ever come alive and boy did they ever. The Sox sluggers put up 24 runs in the three games and not against any slouch pitching either. Remember when we wanted to get Roy Halladay? Ya, well, this week we got TO him and put up some big numbers on the big fella.

So, the state of our nation is...ok. While the bats are swinging and the injuries are mending we still have some major question marks going into this weekend series with the Yankees.

How will Brad Penny fair against one of the most prolific offense in the majors?

Will Junichi Tazawa be able to battle the Yankees bats to grab his second win of the season?

The question mark remains, Boston's pitching. The top 3 in the rotation are solid. No one questions Beckett, Lester or even Buckholz after his most recent performance, but the question mark remains the final two spots in the Red Sox rotation. If Tim Wakefield can come back in the next couple of weeks that will likely shore up the fourth spot, but that is a big IF at this point and Daisuke Matsusaka is on the verge of a return, but he is STILL a big question mark.

So for this Yankees series we hand the ball to our #4 and #5 starters of the moment. Will they be able to get the job done? They must, if the Red Sox have any hope of keeping in the hunt for the AL East crown...or the wild card for that matter.

Labels: Boston Red Sox, brad penny, Clay Buckholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Junichi Tazawa, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Tim Wakefield, Toronto Blue Jays

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

No Jason Varitek? Red Sox Win?

Jason Varitek was not behind the plate last night in the Red Sox 10-9 win over the Toronto Blue Jays and yet all was right with the world, well almost all. The buzz this morning is over Josh Beckett's performance and the 7 runs he gave up. What, he's not allowed to have a bad start?

There are a lot of people talking about how he might have blown his chances at winning the AL Cy Young with last nights start, but I don't think so. I don't think one blemish on a guys record is really going to change the voting all that much. It's very rare for a pitcher to be perfect through the entire season.

It does however, beg the question, what happened? In my humble opinion, I think it was Jason Varitek that he was lacking behind the plate. Tek is the Tom Brady of the Boston Red Sox. You can argue with me all you want, but it is true. The guy calls a brilliant game night in and night out. Just ask Terry Francona or Theo Epstein, you don't keep a guy around with a sub .250 batting average if he doesn't call a masterful game every night.

So, does Josh Beckett need Jason Varitek to win games?

Of course he does not. He won games in Florida without Tek, but with Varitek calling the game he is much sharper and that is just what the Red Sox need. He squeaked out of this game with a ND, but the way the Sox bats have been swinging he might not escape from another sub-par performance.

Here is my call to Tito and the rest of the Red Sox. Start Jason Varitek behind the plate for the rest of the season. Run him into the ground. He will retire after this year anyway and we NEED him to win this year.

Time for a win NOW mentality and that's the way we're gonna get it done.

Red Sox tied for the Wild Card and 7 back on the Yankees.

Labels: Boston Red Sox, Jason Varitek, Josh Beckett, New York Yankees, Victor Martinez

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Episode 103 - Coffee Talk

More technical troubles plague the Connecticut studios so Adam was not able to join the boys this Thursday. Timmy and Billy spill the beans over their passion for certain coffees as Rubba Shoes is forced to defend his local brew of choice.

The Red Sox are chipping away at the Yankee lead in the AL East, or at least trying to at this point.

The Patriots tee it up tonight for the first time since last September with Brady at the helm, they'll discuss.

Rick Pitino might be having coitus near the cannoli you are about to have for dessert! That's right, the guys will get to the bottom (no pun intended) of this spaghetti sex scandal once and for all.

So grab your favorite cup of caffeine and get ready for this weeks Thursday Night Addition on Wicked Pissa Dude. Thanks for listening and tell your friends. Go ahead, talk amongst yourselves...

theshow@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: adam, AL East, Boston Red Sox, caffeine, coffee, coitus, Connecticut, dessert, New England Patriots, New York Yankees, rick pitino, rubba shoes, september, sex scandal, spaghetti, timmy, Tom Brady

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Boston Red Sox Knuckler Tim Wakefield is BACK!!

It pays to be a fan of the Boston Red Sox on Facebook, because you get the latest and greatest news about the team, but don't worry about doing that, because we'll take care of it for you. Just subscribe to our blog and you'll get the latest news delivered to you.

So...on that front, here's the latest on Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Mike Lowell. If the Red Sox weren't going to turn this thing around, I think this would all be bad news, but since I know that they are just a couple of pieces away from first place, this comes in the form of good news.

Directly from the Red Sox fan page on Facebook:

"Good news on the injury front today. Tim Wakefield will pitch on the road at Gwinnett County for Triple-A Pawtucket. He should come back into the rotation right after that, meaning he could start as early as Aug. 20 at Toronto, or perhaps at home against the Yankees over the weekend.

Dice-K also took a positive step today, throwing his first bullpen since going on the DL. Matsuzaka will throw again on Friday, and then on Monday, and presumably start facing hitters after that.

Mike Lowell is not in tonight's lineup, as he is the odd man out a second night in a row."

More on this as it happens, but for now, enjoy the Madden 10 review below and also my playlist for your listening pleasure.

- Adam

Labels: Boston Red Sox, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Mike Lowell, New York Yankees, Pawtucket Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Where in the World is Jonathon Papelbon?

Here is the scenario. You have been held scoreless in 31 straight innings. Literally, you have not scored one run in what amounts to 3+ full games of baseball. The superstar you just traded one of your top pitching prospects for comes up to bat with a runner on 1st. He takes the opposing pitcher deep to give your team a 2-1 lead. You've already lost the first three games of the series and have fallen behind your arch rival by 5.5 games and with a loss would fall behind by a seemingly insurmountable 6.5 games. With a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the 8th inning, your well-rested superstar closer in the pen, what do you do?

YOU BRING HIM IN!!!

Jonathon Papelbon has not worked for the Red Sox since his one inning stint in Friday nights marathon game which the Red Sox lost in 15 innings. Sure, he has not been lights out this season, but he is your big game guy. He is the guy you hand the ball to when you NEED to win games and boy did the Red Sox ever need to win this game.

Instead, Terry Francona brought in Daniel Bard to pitch the eighth inning. Bard retired the first two hitters he faced and then gave up back to back home runs to Johnny Damon and Mark Texiera to give the Yankees the lead 3-2.

Still not going to the bullpen for his closer, Tito decided to go with Hideki Okajima who proceeded to give up a double to Jorge Posada and followed by a base hit which drove in two more runs to improve the lead to 5-2. Still no Papelbon!!

So what now? The Red Sox lose 5-2, have been swept by the New York Yankees and have fallen 6.5 games back of the Evil Empire in the race for first place. They are barely holding off the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays and the team is basically for all intents and purposes in shambles.

Is there a silver lining to this mess? I would say, YES. The pitching (aside from Smoltz on Thursday night) has actually been pretty good this series. We held the Yankees scoreless through 14 innings on Friday night, gave up just 3 runs through seven innings on Saturday and tonight held them scoreless through seven. All a pretty good accomplishment against one of the most prolific and highest paid line-ups in baseball.

If the Red Sox bats ever wake up and start to hit again, all will not be lost during this '09 season. But for the time being, we will have to endure more and more offensive duds until the bats get back on track and the Red Sox can gain some ground on the always surging New York Yankees.

Labels: Boston Red Sox, Jonathon Papelbon, New York Yankees

Saturday, August 8, 2009

David Ortiz Fesses Up

I have mixed emotions about today's press conference held by David Ortiz at Yankee Stadium. As Big Papi joined the sad ranks of Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa, it gave me a moment to pause and really consider the circumstances surrounding the performance enhancing drugs situation and what it really means, if anything, for major league baseball.

On one hand, no player in baseball or any other sport for that matter (I'm looking at you NFL) should EVER use performance enhancing drugs. If a substance is questionable it should be off limits and off limits to everyone.

On the other hand, the supplements that many, if not all of these players were taking were NOT on the banned list of substances in 2003. If they were NOT illegal at the time they were taken, should the players be held accountable for taking these substances? I don't think so. I think accusing them of cheating is unfair to all of the players involved (unfortunately that includes A-Rod and Giambi.)

I think, we need to wipe the slate clean for all of these players and start anew.

If, what David Ortiz said is true, that he has been tested 15 times since 2003 and has never again tested positive, should he still be held accountable? In my mind, the only thing he is guilty of is carelessness in not being aware of what he was putting in his body...which is quite the sin for an athlete, but certainly not illegal.

Is Big Papi to be believed when he says that the only thing he has been doing over the last six years is eating better and working harder? I am inclined to believe him, but I cannot know for sure.

One thing I know for sure is that if I believe David Ortiz and give him the benefit of the doubt, as a baseball fan, it is incumbent upon me to also extend that benefit of the doubt to A-Rod, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and more.

Let's wipe the slate clean and start anew. Implement across the board testing. Let's test EVERY player on every roster once a month and if anyone tests positive they are banned for life, no questions asked. Let's act like adults and own up to this problem and solve it once and for all.

It can and should be done.