Former Red Sox GM Lou Gorman had worked out a blockbuster trade with then Astros GM Bob Watson that would have sent Roger Clemens to Houston, but the deal fell through when new Astros owner Drayton McLane refused to part with Craig Biggio. In his upcoming book "One Pitch from Glory," Gorman says he would have sent Clemens and a catcher to Houston for Biggio, Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch, Eddie Taubensee and a lefthanded pitching prospect.
Last Sunday, Kevin Youkilis made his first appearance at first base, moving over from third and replacing David Ortiz. ... Adam Stern sprained his right thumb Saturday night sliding into second base. ... Curt Schilling has the flu. ... Alan Embree and Jason Varitek recall the final out of the ALCS. ... The Red Sox and Yankees will play again on March 29 in Tampa, then open the season April 3.
This Saturday's game against Tampa Bay will feature the spring debuts of David Wells, Keith Foulke and Bill Mueller. ... Wells: "Everyone's loosey-goosey in this clubhouse. It's a lot different than I imagined it. It's pretty comical to me. New York was reserved, but we had fun. We had characters, but we were a lot more business-like. Here, they like to have fun. They're a bunch of kids."
March 8, 2005
Monday: Yankees 9, Red Sox 2
They just can't get it done in October when the pressure's on, but winning in early March seems to be no problem. Whatever.
Yankees 020 211 030 - 9 14 0
Red Sox 000 100 100 - 2 8 0
March 7, 2005
Update to 1918 Website
March 6, 2005
Sunday: Red Sox 5, Phillies 4
Another win this afternoon. Box to come.
Terry Francona says he won't use a strict platoon in right field with Trot Nixon and Jay Payton, but Payton will get a decent amount of playing time against lefties. Nixon hit only .133 (2-for-15) against lefties last year compared to .336 against righties. In his career, Nixon has hit .293 against RHP and .213 against LHP. Trot: "I don't like it. I don't accept [that I can't hit left-handers]. ... I've had my opportunities against lefties, but usually tough lefties and guys out of the bullpen."
More on Dave Roberts, from Newsday. ... Read an excerpt from A Tale of Two Cities: The 2004 Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry and the War for the Pennant, in which Shonda Schilling and Michelle Mangum (now Johnny Damon's wife) had to be separated from one another after ALCS Game 3. Catfight!
The highlight was a triple play begun by shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the top of the sixth inning. Ramirez leapt high and caught a rising line drive by Todd Pratt, stepped on second to double off Ryan Howard, and threw to first to get Jason Michaels. Boston then rallied for four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Starter Jeremi Gonzalez allowed two hits and two runs in two innings.Phillies 110 200 000 - 4 5 0
Red Sox 001 004 00x - 5 9 0
Terry Francona says he won't use a strict platoon in right field with Trot Nixon and Jay Payton, but Payton will get a decent amount of playing time against lefties. Nixon hit only .133 (2-for-15) against lefties last year compared to .336 against righties. In his career, Nixon has hit .293 against RHP and .213 against LHP. Trot: "I don't like it. I don't accept [that I can't hit left-handers]. ... I've had my opportunities against lefties, but usually tough lefties and guys out of the bullpen."
More on Dave Roberts, from Newsday. ... Read an excerpt from A Tale of Two Cities: The 2004 Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry and the War for the Pennant, in which Shonda Schilling and Michelle Mangum (now Johnny Damon's wife) had to be separated from one another after ALCS Game 3. Catfight!
Saturday's Games
A split.
Day
Jason Giambi is one of seven Yankee regulars who will make the trip to Fort Myers for Monday night's game. The other six are Bernie Williams, Hideki Matsui, Ruben Sierra, Bubba Crosby, Tony Womack and Rey Sanchez.
The old Pedrophile blog is now Boston Blood Sox.
Day
Red Sox 100 140 010 - 7 10 0Night
Twins 300 061 110 - 12 15 3
Red Sox 302 000 003 - 8 15 2Boston plays the Phillies this afternoon.
Reds 212 001 001 - 7 11 1
Jason Giambi is one of seven Yankee regulars who will make the trip to Fort Myers for Monday night's game. The other six are Bernie Williams, Hideki Matsui, Ruben Sierra, Bubba Crosby, Tony Womack and Rey Sanchez.
The old Pedrophile blog is now Boston Blood Sox.
March 5, 2005
Fat, Drunk and Lying Is No Way To Go Through Life
In the Providence Journal article I linked to below, David Wells claimed: "I never believed in [the Curse of the Bambino]."
Ten fucking seconds on Google got me this:
Ten fucking seconds on Google got me this:
October 14, 2003It's gonna be hard to root for this fat, lying fuck this year.
Wells keeps curse going
By Steve Wilstein, The Associated Press
BOSTON -- If the Bambino is looking down, he's smiling at Boomer. ... "I believe in it," Wells said, meaning the curse. "That's just one man's opinion. ... I just try to follow suit and keep that theory alive."
I Am Third
For those looking for controversy in camp, here is something. It's not much, but both Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz want to bat third. Some numbers:
David Wells threw about 60 pitches of batting practice on Friday and will make his spring debut next Saturday, March 12 against the Devil Rays. "I like to prove people wrong. It gives me satisfaction. People say, 'You're a fat piece of shit.' I'm like, 'Okay, but I'm a piece of shit who's still getting people out."
Tim Wakefield says he's a starter. "I don't have any plans of going to the bullpen when Wade Miller is healthy." ... Francona brushed aside any questions, saying it's too early to answer specific questions about the rotation.
Bronson Arroyo makes his spring debut tonight against the Reds in Sarasota. Francona: "I'm sure [Arroyo] wants to start. I understand that. ... The flip side of that is, if I had to choose one guy out of our rotation who could go to the bullpen and be a star ... that's him. So it's interesting. But again, to start the season, he's going to be in the rotation." That could mean Francona believes Miller will be on the DL on April 3.
The Globe's Chris Snow notes that "Arroyo's success against righthanders -- they batted .227 against him last season -- reinforces the notion that he'd be appealing out of the bullpen. Another plus: he's generally sharp early in games. Last season, opponents hit just .213 against Arroyo in the first inning and .235 in innings 1 through 3."
Those numbers are correct, but in 2004, Arroyo actually had a lower OPS-allowed in Innings 4-6 than he did in Innings 1-3. Some splits:
Curt Schilling is one of seven players who have been invited to testify before a congressional committee on steroid abuse on March 17. The other players are: Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. Barry Bonds was not asked (yet).
In Tampa, Slappy continues to protest too much. Meanwhile, Reggie Jackson is auditioning as his jokewriter: ""Trot Nixon. What's that? I thought it was a racehorse. ... If I were [Slappy], what I'd say is, 'I got 25 bucks. Watch me play.'" ... I honestly don't understand the 25 bucks line. Is that a reference to his salary? ... The Globe's Eric Wilbur comments.
Manny GM AVG OBP SLG HR RBII was a big supporter of the Manny 3rd/Ortiz 4th move last season and I still lean that way now (though I do agree that Manny needs less "protection" than Tiz and Papi could benefit from seeing more fastballs if Damon or Renteria is on first), despite the numbers above.
2004 #3 51 .289 .373 .599 15 46
2004 #4 100 .318 .409 .621 28 84
Career #3 .329 .410 .625
Career #4 .324 .424 .624
Ortiz GM AVG OBP SLG HR RBI
2004 #3 91 .307 .410 .625 26 135
2004 #4 51 .280 .388 .570 14 46
Career #3 .306 .373 .617
Career #4 .258 .344 .480
David Wells threw about 60 pitches of batting practice on Friday and will make his spring debut next Saturday, March 12 against the Devil Rays. "I like to prove people wrong. It gives me satisfaction. People say, 'You're a fat piece of shit.' I'm like, 'Okay, but I'm a piece of shit who's still getting people out."
Tim Wakefield says he's a starter. "I don't have any plans of going to the bullpen when Wade Miller is healthy." ... Francona brushed aside any questions, saying it's too early to answer specific questions about the rotation.
Bronson Arroyo makes his spring debut tonight against the Reds in Sarasota. Francona: "I'm sure [Arroyo] wants to start. I understand that. ... The flip side of that is, if I had to choose one guy out of our rotation who could go to the bullpen and be a star ... that's him. So it's interesting. But again, to start the season, he's going to be in the rotation." That could mean Francona believes Miller will be on the DL on April 3.
The Globe's Chris Snow notes that "Arroyo's success against righthanders -- they batted .227 against him last season -- reinforces the notion that he'd be appealing out of the bullpen. Another plus: he's generally sharp early in games. Last season, opponents hit just .213 against Arroyo in the first inning and .235 in innings 1 through 3."
Those numbers are correct, but in 2004, Arroyo actually had a lower OPS-allowed in Innings 4-6 than he did in Innings 1-3. Some splits:
PA* AVG OBP SLG OPSIn the no-hitter against Northeastern, Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson pinch-hit for David McCarty. He fanned on three pitches and played the final half-inning at first base. Johnson, almost 49, last batted in the major leagues in 1984, two years before Aaron Greenblatt, the pitcher who struck him out, was born.
Inning 1 125 .213 .317 .352 .669
Innings 1-3 370 .235 .320 .388 .708
Innings 4-6 308 .250 .296 .382 .678
Innings 7-9 62 .305 .333 .525 .859
* = AB + BB + HBP
Curt Schilling is one of seven players who have been invited to testify before a congressional committee on steroid abuse on March 17. The other players are: Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. Barry Bonds was not asked (yet).
In Tampa, Slappy continues to protest too much. Meanwhile, Reggie Jackson is auditioning as his jokewriter: ""Trot Nixon. What's that? I thought it was a racehorse. ... If I were [Slappy], what I'd say is, 'I got 25 bucks. Watch me play.'" ... I honestly don't understand the 25 bucks line. Is that a reference to his salary? ... The Globe's Eric Wilbur comments.
March 4, 2005
Red Sox 11, Boston College 5. A win in the nightcap puts Boston at 3-0. The SoSH game thread was the only place I found a box score.
Boston College 000 500 0 - 5 5 5Boston plays two games on Saturday: Minnesota at 1:05 and Cincinnati at 6:05.
Boston Red Sox 422 300 0 - 11 11 0
Red Sox 17, Northeastern 0. Led by Tim Wakefield, five Red Sox pitchers combined on a seven-inning no-hitter this afternoon against Northeastern University. Wakefield and John Halama each threw two innings. Boston scored 12 runs in the 5th inning.
Pedro Martinez threw 60 pitches over three innings against the Cardinals. He allowed three hits and two runs (one earned), struck out three and walked one. New York won the game 7-5. ... The Yankees lost to Pittsburgh 9-6.
Pedro Martinez threw 60 pitches over three innings against the Cardinals. He allowed three hits and two runs (one earned), struck out three and walked one. New York won the game 7-5. ... The Yankees lost to Pittsburgh 9-6.
Clement Pleased With Outing, Varitek. Matt Clement threw 35 pitches (or 36 (I also counted 36)), 21 for strikes, allowing one run, two hits, a walk, and a wild pitch in two innings. Afterwards, he had high praise for Jason Varitek, who encouraged him to use his two-seam sinker and four-seam cutter more than usual.
Byung-Hyun Kim threw a 1-2-3 third inning, but two of those outs were very hard hit balls that were held up by a fierce wind blowing in from right. Abe Alvarez looked good in his inning (6th). After a one out walk, he retired the next two Twins on a short pop to center and a called third strike. ... Coverage from the Fort Myers News-Press: The game, the fans and the cold.
The Globe's Chris Snow continues his fine work this spring with a feature on Kevin Millar. ... Bill Mueller ran sprints in the outfield yesterday afternoon. ... Curt Schilling threw in the bullpen for the fourth time and is about one week away from appearing in a game. ... Bronson Arroyo will pitch tomorrow night against the Reds.
Terry Francona wants to get all 58 players in camp into at least one of today's two 7-inning games. ... Tim Wakefield starts against Northeastern University at 1:05 pm. David Ortiz will bat third and Manny Ramirez fourth. Doug Mirabelli will catch Wakefield. ... Mike Timlin starts against Boston College at 7:05 pm. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez gets the start and reliever Matt Mantei will make his debut. Kelly Shoppach will catch.
Byung-Hyun Kim threw a 1-2-3 third inning, but two of those outs were very hard hit balls that were held up by a fierce wind blowing in from right. Abe Alvarez looked good in his inning (6th). After a one out walk, he retired the next two Twins on a short pop to center and a called third strike. ... Coverage from the Fort Myers News-Press: The game, the fans and the cold.
The Globe's Chris Snow continues his fine work this spring with a feature on Kevin Millar. ... Bill Mueller ran sprints in the outfield yesterday afternoon. ... Curt Schilling threw in the bullpen for the fourth time and is about one week away from appearing in a game. ... Bronson Arroyo will pitch tomorrow night against the Reds.
Terry Francona wants to get all 58 players in camp into at least one of today's two 7-inning games. ... Tim Wakefield starts against Northeastern University at 1:05 pm. David Ortiz will bat third and Manny Ramirez fourth. Doug Mirabelli will catch Wakefield. ... Mike Timlin starts against Boston College at 7:05 pm. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez gets the start and reliever Matt Mantei will make his debut. Kelly Shoppach will catch.
March 3, 2005
Thursday Night: Boston 4, Minnesota 3. That's nine in a row, right?
Both teams scored in the first inning; Payton doubled, went to third on Bellhorn's grounder to first and scored on Varitek's sacrifice liner to left. Kevin Youkilis's bases-loaded single in the 4th made it 2-1. In the 9th, Shawn Wooten homered and another run scored on an error. Both were needed as Denney Tomori allowed two doubles and a single, but held on for the save. Box and recap.
The Yankees and the Pirates tied 2-2 this afternoon; Cesar Crespo and Derek Jeter both went 0-for-2. ... From the Times: "Mariano Rivera pitched batting practice for 12 minutes on Wednesday and said he felt fine. Rivera is behind the other pitchers because he did not throw during the off-season. 'I didn't want to, simple as that,' he said."
Both teams scored in the first inning; Payton doubled, went to third on Bellhorn's grounder to first and scored on Varitek's sacrifice liner to left. Kevin Youkilis's bases-loaded single in the 4th made it 2-1. In the 9th, Shawn Wooten homered and another run scored on an error. Both were needed as Denney Tomori allowed two doubles and a single, but held on for the save. Box and recap.
The Yankees and the Pirates tied 2-2 this afternoon; Cesar Crespo and Derek Jeter both went 0-for-2. ... From the Times: "Mariano Rivera pitched batting practice for 12 minutes on Wednesday and said he felt fine. Rivera is behind the other pitchers because he did not throw during the off-season. 'I didn't want to, simple as that,' he said."
Rain Tonight? With "cloudy skies and fitful spits of drizzle" in Fort Myers this afternoon, tonight's game against the Twins could be washed out. A decision is unlikely until close to gametime (7pm).
Terry Francona says Byung-Hyun Kim's velocity is returning. "Not back to where he was in Arizona [92-93 mph] but back to where he's throwing 88-90, which his probably good enough. The crispness has been there." ... Wasn't Kim already throwing in the high 80s when he was getting slapped around last year?
Johnny Damon's book, "Idiot: Beating 'The Curse' and Enjoying the Game of Life" (written with Peter Golenbock), arrives April 4. "They wanted someone who was honest to kind of tell what went on during the course of the year. ... It took about 25 hours. We had it done by Dec. 20. The rough draft was out in the middle of January. ... It's a combination 2004 miracle season and my days with Oakland, a few of my early days, some days when I was younger."
Manny Ramirez and Bronson Arroyo did not attend yesterday's World Series ceremony at the White House. ... Arroyo's CD "Covering The Bases" will be released on July 12. ... In Sapporo, Japan, Gabe Kapler hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat of the preseason as the Yomiuri Giants defeated the Nippon Ham Fighters, 4-3. ... Steinbrenner: "Losing that series was very hard. Very hard. I hate to lose. I'm a very bad loser. And I hope my men feel the same way this year. I just hope we get out there and get the job done."
Bruce Allen at Boston Sports Media Watch reported yesterday that Boston Dirt Dog's scoop that Nomar Garciaparra didn't want his World Series ring was a hoax. ... Allen has a brief follow-up today; BDD has not yet weighed in.
Terry Francona says Byung-Hyun Kim's velocity is returning. "Not back to where he was in Arizona [92-93 mph] but back to where he's throwing 88-90, which his probably good enough. The crispness has been there." ... Wasn't Kim already throwing in the high 80s when he was getting slapped around last year?
Johnny Damon's book, "Idiot: Beating 'The Curse' and Enjoying the Game of Life" (written with Peter Golenbock), arrives April 4. "They wanted someone who was honest to kind of tell what went on during the course of the year. ... It took about 25 hours. We had it done by Dec. 20. The rough draft was out in the middle of January. ... It's a combination 2004 miracle season and my days with Oakland, a few of my early days, some days when I was younger."
Manny Ramirez and Bronson Arroyo did not attend yesterday's World Series ceremony at the White House. ... Arroyo's CD "Covering The Bases" will be released on July 12. ... In Sapporo, Japan, Gabe Kapler hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat of the preseason as the Yomiuri Giants defeated the Nippon Ham Fighters, 4-3. ... Steinbrenner: "Losing that series was very hard. Very hard. I hate to lose. I'm a very bad loser. And I hope my men feel the same way this year. I just hope we get out there and get the job done."
Bruce Allen at Boston Sports Media Watch reported yesterday that Boston Dirt Dog's scoop that Nomar Garciaparra didn't want his World Series ring was a hoax. ... Allen has a brief follow-up today; BDD has not yet weighed in.
Newsstand. Seth Mnookin's article in the April issue of Vanity Fair is entitled: "Those Fabulous Red Sox." Read some excerpts here, then go buy the whole thing. ... Also, his book "Hard News: The Scandals at The New York Times and Their Meaning for American Media" looks good. Hunter S. Thompson called him "one of the best and brightest journalists of this ominous post-American century."
And two from New York magazine:
Can Pedro Save the Mets?
Handicapping the Yanks: Why the Red Sox shouldn't get too confident
And two from New York magazine:
Can Pedro Save the Mets?
Handicapping the Yanks: Why the Red Sox shouldn't get too confident
Toot. Thanks.
"Joy of Sox: Probably the second biggest Sox blog out there. ... [He] seems to have gotten a little less serious and a little more willing to crack the occasional joke. It's a great read and definitely one of the few Sox blogs fans should be required to check out." -- BigK, East Coast AgonyI think by second biggest he means after SoSH (insert eye-popping emoticon here). That can't be right.
March 2, 2005
Translation. I received an email from one reader offering "a very rough translation" of the Korean Red Sox comic I posted a few days ago. The full comic is here.
Manny Ramirez: Genius Batter!
"Yeah!"
"Yeah ... yeah ... Yoo!"
"Hah!!"
"Ha ... ha!"
"Yoo...!"
"The tough guy dominates over the cute boys!"
Curt Schilling: The ambition of the 2nd man!
"No Randy, no Clemens?!! Pedro's lost his power. Hehe ... I will take this year's AL season!"
David Ortiz: Shrek ... and ...
"He he!"
"This is crazy! Why am I the ass?! This doesn't make sense!"
Pedro Martinez: Request for naturalization (citizenship)
"Where did you come from again?"
"I've come from the planet P45."
Keith Foulke: Going at the slowest pace
"Slowest pace, huh? Hehe!"
"Well, how else would you describe him?"
"Shut up!"
Johnny Damon: The new evolution
Derek Lowe: The loss of will
"Run! Run! Your legs will hurt, not mine!"
Allowed steals: 34 times (1st place), Lost points as pitcher 138 points (1st place)
***
The US Fund For UNICEF is conducting an online auction to benefit Tsunami relief. The Red Sox have donated several items, including the chance to throw out the first pitch at a game this season. Check it out here.
New Blog: Jeff in Oklahoma is The Exiled Sox Fan. ... Further spring cleaning: I removed a few blog links (and updated a few more), specifically those who hadn't been updated since last year's playoffs. I think it's safe to say those are dead.
Manny Ramirez: Genius Batter!
"Yeah!"
"Yeah ... yeah ... Yoo!"
"Hah!!"
"Ha ... ha!"
"Yoo...!"
"The tough guy dominates over the cute boys!"
Curt Schilling: The ambition of the 2nd man!
"No Randy, no Clemens?!! Pedro's lost his power. Hehe ... I will take this year's AL season!"
David Ortiz: Shrek ... and ...
"He he!"
"This is crazy! Why am I the ass?! This doesn't make sense!"
Pedro Martinez: Request for naturalization (citizenship)
"Where did you come from again?"
"I've come from the planet P45."
Keith Foulke: Going at the slowest pace
"Slowest pace, huh? Hehe!"
"Well, how else would you describe him?"
"Shut up!"
Johnny Damon: The new evolution
Derek Lowe: The loss of will
"Run! Run! Your legs will hurt, not mine!"
Allowed steals: 34 times (1st place), Lost points as pitcher 138 points (1st place)
***
The US Fund For UNICEF is conducting an online auction to benefit Tsunami relief. The Red Sox have donated several items, including the chance to throw out the first pitch at a game this season. Check it out here.
New Blog: Jeff in Oklahoma is The Exiled Sox Fan. ... Further spring cleaning: I removed a few blog links (and updated a few more), specifically those who hadn't been updated since last year's playoffs. I think it's safe to say those are dead.
A Lineup! Tomorrow night against the Twins:
Good news on the pitching staff. Curt Schilling took a "big step" in his third bullpen session (45 pitches), but will throw in the pen a few more times before facing hitters. ... David Wells had a solid session, painting the corners against Adam Hyzdu, Dave Berg and Simon Pond. ... Wade Miller worked off a mound for the first time since last August, throwing between 27 and 31 pitches (reports vary). The team thinks it's likely he'll start the season on the disabled list -- there is absolutely no reason to rush him -- but Miller says, "I'm very optimistic about starting the season with the team." If put on the DL, he could be activated as soon as mid- to late-April.
Matt Mantei says his comments about Randy Johnson dealing with New York were misinterpreted. "I said he doesn't like a lot of media attention. He doesn't like the fans being on top of him. It came out, 'He hated the media, and he hates the fans.' So I called him, and tried to explain it to him. ... They're probably going to love me there. I'm off to a great start with Yankee fans, don't you think?" ... Mantei will pitch against Boston College on Friday night.
Speaking of the Unit, tightness in his left calf muscle meant he was scratched from his first Grapefruit League start on Thursday. MFY fans are told not to panic:
Something they should panic over? Suzyn Waldman will be Jon Sterling's radio partner this season. Yikes! Note: Waldman will become the first female full-time radio color commentator in baseball history, so congratulations are in order.
Tony Massarotti of the Herald seems downright broken-hearted about how nice and quiet it is in Fort Myers: "Things are presently so stale in Sox camp, in fact, that any and all attempts to address issues are being met with perspective, logic, reason and, unfortunately, sanity. ... Naturally, it can only stay this way for so long (we hope)." Gee, Tony, maybe you'll have to start writing about the players, examining some actual issues for the upcoming season, and letting us know about promising minor leaguers (Bill James: "We have five shortstops in the minor leagues who are going to be major league players. I'm not kidding you [Hanley Ramirez, Kenny Perez, Dustin Pedroia, Christian Lara and Luis Soto].).
Bob Ryan spotlights Jay Payton. Tito: "Jay is basically taking the place of both Kapler and Roberts. He's going to play some right with Trot. He's going to back up Johnny. He'll play some left. He's going to get his at-bats." ... Being Theo: "Atop a mountain in British Columbia this winter, skiing with his girlfriend, Epstein was recognized by a fan, though only his eyes and nose peeked out from his cold-weather gear."
The Idiots head to DC today to meet the Idiot-in-Chief. Damon: "I really want an autograph for my son. My son is 5, but he knows every single president. His favorite, of course, is Zachary Taylor because he carried a sword."
Jay Payton, RFMatt Clement will start opposite Kyle Lohse and pitch one or two innings, followed by Byung-Hyun Kim. Denney Tomori, Abe Alvarez, Mark Malaska, Kris Wilson, Jeremi Gonzalez and Josias Manzanillo will also pitch. ... The game will be broadcast for free on MLB.TV. Other freebies: Mets/Nationals (today 1:00) and Pirates/Yankees (tomorrow 1:15).
Mark Bellhorn, 2B
Jason Varitek, C
Kevin Millar, 1B
Edgar Renteria, SS
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Roberto Petagine, DH
Adam Hyzdu, CF
Billy McMillon, LF
Good news on the pitching staff. Curt Schilling took a "big step" in his third bullpen session (45 pitches), but will throw in the pen a few more times before facing hitters. ... David Wells had a solid session, painting the corners against Adam Hyzdu, Dave Berg and Simon Pond. ... Wade Miller worked off a mound for the first time since last August, throwing between 27 and 31 pitches (reports vary). The team thinks it's likely he'll start the season on the disabled list -- there is absolutely no reason to rush him -- but Miller says, "I'm very optimistic about starting the season with the team." If put on the DL, he could be activated as soon as mid- to late-April.
Matt Mantei says his comments about Randy Johnson dealing with New York were misinterpreted. "I said he doesn't like a lot of media attention. He doesn't like the fans being on top of him. It came out, 'He hated the media, and he hates the fans.' So I called him, and tried to explain it to him. ... They're probably going to love me there. I'm off to a great start with Yankee fans, don't you think?" ... Mantei will pitch against Boston College on Friday night.
Speaking of the Unit, tightness in his left calf muscle meant he was scratched from his first Grapefruit League start on Thursday. MFY fans are told not to panic:
Something they should panic over? Suzyn Waldman will be Jon Sterling's radio partner this season. Yikes! Note: Waldman will become the first female full-time radio color commentator in baseball history, so congratulations are in order.
Tony Massarotti of the Herald seems downright broken-hearted about how nice and quiet it is in Fort Myers: "Things are presently so stale in Sox camp, in fact, that any and all attempts to address issues are being met with perspective, logic, reason and, unfortunately, sanity. ... Naturally, it can only stay this way for so long (we hope)." Gee, Tony, maybe you'll have to start writing about the players, examining some actual issues for the upcoming season, and letting us know about promising minor leaguers (Bill James: "We have five shortstops in the minor leagues who are going to be major league players. I'm not kidding you [Hanley Ramirez, Kenny Perez, Dustin Pedroia, Christian Lara and Luis Soto].).
Bob Ryan spotlights Jay Payton. Tito: "Jay is basically taking the place of both Kapler and Roberts. He's going to play some right with Trot. He's going to back up Johnny. He'll play some left. He's going to get his at-bats." ... Being Theo: "Atop a mountain in British Columbia this winter, skiing with his girlfriend, Epstein was recognized by a fan, though only his eyes and nose peeked out from his cold-weather gear."
The Idiots head to DC today to meet the Idiot-in-Chief. Damon: "I really want an autograph for my son. My son is 5, but he knows every single president. His favorite, of course, is Zachary Taylor because he carried a sword."
The Art Of The Steal. Philadelphia Inquirer, March 1, 2005:
[I]t all began with a wink of an eye after Rivera walked Kevin Millar with no outs in the bottom of the ninth in Game 4 of the series. "Terry winked at me and I knew what I had to do," the 32-year-old Roberts, now with the San Diego Padres, said before a recent workout with his new team.
Amazingly, Roberts hadn't played in 10 days when Francona sent him in to pinch-run. But when the 5-foot-10, 175-pound speedster was called upon, he was ready for his moment. He had spent days studying video of Yankees relievers' pickoff moves, looking for an edge. ... Roberts spent the innings leading up to his steal of the century in the clubhouse, stretching, running in place, and riding a stationary bike. ...
Roberts took his lead. Immediately, thoughts of Maury Wills, the great former Los Angeles Dodgers basestealer, crept in his mind. When Roberts was with the Dodgers, Wills had tutored him. "He used to tell me that one day I'd have the opportunity to make a big difference in my career by stealing a base when everyone knows it's coming," Roberts recalled. "All I could think about was what Maury said: This was my opportunity." ...
March 1, 2005
Clippings. Kevin Kernan, New York Post, September 26, 2004:
Make No Mistake -- Bosox Still Cursed
"The Red Sox can goof around all they want, but they still have no clue how to win the biggest of games. ... The Yankees are good at playing the big game on the field. ... [R]ight now, it appears the Red Sox have lost their will to battle the Yankees when it matters most."
February 28, 2005
The Rotation. Thinking about who Boston's five starts will be, Tim Wakefield tells Gordon Edes: "I know the situation with Wade Miller, too. I don't see any reason why I should be the guy who goes to the bullpen. It's either me or Bronson. I think Bronson's the more likely candidate for that. ... At his age [28], he might be a little more resilient than I am right now. I could probably pitch every day, too, but he's shown in the past that he can pitch back-to-back days -- two innings, two innings, then get the day off."
Of course, if Miller -- who long-tossed from 210 feet this afternoon and expects to throw an abbreviated bullpen session tomorrow -- opens the season on the DL, then both Wakefield and Arroyo will start. But at some point, it will be a tough decision for Tito. While I sympathize with Wakefield and agree that he's been jerked around quite often during his tenure -- his stint as the closer back in 1999 shaved four years off my life -- I do not want to see Arroyo in the bullpen.
Starters for Monday's game against the Yankees: Abe Alvarez vs Chien-Ming Wang. ... MLB's Ian Browne looks at the fight for the final two spots off the bench. ... Terry Francona expects Bill Mueller to play in a game about March 10. ... Chicago Tribune: "Cubs may regret letting go of Clement" ... Francona said Trot Nixon will not face Randy Johnson on Opening Night. David Ortiz and Johnny Damon will probably be the only left-handed batters in the lineup as Jay Payton (.216 in 37 AB against Johnson) will likely play right field.
Pedro Watch: One week ago at the Mets camp, when a heckler blurted, "Who's your daddy," Martinez grabbed his crotch. ... Later on, he threw 29 pitches to Jesus Flores, John Pachot and Andy Dominique, and even with Pedro calling out what he was throwing, only four pitches were hit hard. Pedro also had this to say about Mike Piazza: "Mike doesn't have any problems receiving pitches. He's got pretty good hands. His throwing program, I don't know who's going to help him or what he's going to do." Nice. ... On Sunday, Martinez threw for the final time before Friday's scheduled exhibition game start. Including his warm-up tosses, the right-hander threw close to 70 pitches. "I feel like everything is clicking right now. My breaking stuff is coming along."
Of course, if Miller -- who long-tossed from 210 feet this afternoon and expects to throw an abbreviated bullpen session tomorrow -- opens the season on the DL, then both Wakefield and Arroyo will start. But at some point, it will be a tough decision for Tito. While I sympathize with Wakefield and agree that he's been jerked around quite often during his tenure -- his stint as the closer back in 1999 shaved four years off my life -- I do not want to see Arroyo in the bullpen.
Starters for Monday's game against the Yankees: Abe Alvarez vs Chien-Ming Wang. ... MLB's Ian Browne looks at the fight for the final two spots off the bench. ... Terry Francona expects Bill Mueller to play in a game about March 10. ... Chicago Tribune: "Cubs may regret letting go of Clement" ... Francona said Trot Nixon will not face Randy Johnson on Opening Night. David Ortiz and Johnny Damon will probably be the only left-handed batters in the lineup as Jay Payton (.216 in 37 AB against Johnson) will likely play right field.
Pedro Watch: One week ago at the Mets camp, when a heckler blurted, "Who's your daddy," Martinez grabbed his crotch. ... Later on, he threw 29 pitches to Jesus Flores, John Pachot and Andy Dominique, and even with Pedro calling out what he was throwing, only four pitches were hit hard. Pedro also had this to say about Mike Piazza: "Mike doesn't have any problems receiving pitches. He's got pretty good hands. His throwing program, I don't know who's going to help him or what he's going to do." Nice. ... On Sunday, Martinez threw for the final time before Friday's scheduled exhibition game start. Including his warm-up tosses, the right-hander threw close to 70 pitches. "I feel like everything is clicking right now. My breaking stuff is coming along."
More Korean Toons. Poking around the site, I found comic strips of all teams (Yankees here), as well as the ALCS and World Series.
February 27, 2005
What's Doing In Camp. From the last few days:
Curt Schilling has had two throwing sessions -- 47 pitches on Thursday and 42 on Saturday -- and he wasn't happy with either one of them. "I was expecting a lot more out of myself today than I got," Schilling said on Thursday. "It's going to take time. I guess I'm going to have to be patient. I got through the day and my ankle didn't hurt." ... Also: "I just didn't feel like I expected to feel. ... I always expect it to be better than it is."
On Saturday, Schilling stopped in mid-windup about seven times during his 12-minute session. He didn't speak to reporters afterwards. "He's got some work to do," Terry Francona said. "Personally, seeing him on the mound I feel good, because I know we have five weeks until the season." ... Schilling is scheduled to throw again on Tuesday.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Wade Miller threw 180-foot long tosses. He has been working out in Fort Myers since the beginning of February and Francona said the difference is "night and day" compared to where Miller was when the manager saw him two weeks ago. Miller will do long toss from 210 feet today and is expected to play catch Monday, take Tuesday off and head to the bullpen on Wednesday.
Bill Mueller did some light jogging and fielded some grounders yesterday. "The knee is feeling wonderful, but they don't want to push it right now. I'm not going to start running hard until two more weeks, or something like that."
David Wells showed excellent control in his second impressive session in three days on Thursday. ... Keith Foulke threw off the bullpen mound Saturday without any blister trouble. ... According to the Herald's Jeff Horrigan, Byung-Hyun Kim looked impressive during a Wednesday throwing session. ... Matt Clement should love the Red Sox offense. Last year, the Cubs scored two or fewer runs in 10 of his 13 losses; Clement also lost two 1-0 games and the Cubs were shut out in two of his other starts. Clement went 9-13, 3.68. ... The Herald has stories on Roberto Petagine and Hanley Ramirez. There has been talk of converting Ramirez from shortstop to center field, but Francona says that won't happen this spring.
Boston Dirt Dogs reports that Nomar Garciaparra said of his World Series ring: "I don't want it. They can keep it." ... Abe Alvarez and Brandon puffer were shocked when told they were getting rings. ... The Red Sox will attend a White House ceremony this Wednesday, March 2. Curtis Leskanic (retired) will also attend but Mets Pedro Martinez and Doug Mientkiewicz will not. ... Quote of the Week: Mientkiewicz: "That [Sox-Yankees rivalry] wasn't all it was cracked up to be as far as I was concerned. ... I still say the Twins-White Sox series were just as intense as that one."
The magnitude of winning the World Series didn't hit Alan Embree until he was elk hunting near Vancouver in November. "It was all quiet and peaceful, and all of a sudden, I just had this thought. I forget where I was. I was replaying the games in my head after that. The endings of each one of them. It was dramatic, all of it. You didn't get a chance to soak that in because of all the hoopla."
Man, it would be great to get a copy of this. "In New York and St. Louis, and at Fenway, [Mike Timlin] carried his Sony handycam in the clubhouse, in the dugout, on the field during batting practice, on airplanes, and in hotels. He shot three hours of footage, sent it to a professional videomaker after the World Series, then mailed the finished product to all Sox players, coaches, and clubhouse personnel." Dan Shaughnessy notes that when Red Sox chairman Tom Werner asked if he could show it on NESN, Timlin said no.
Jayson Stark asked four pitchers, three scouts and nine GMs/assistants: "Which team has the best lineup in baseball?" Survey says? "Of the 14 men who voted on the AL lineups, 13 picked the Red Sox as the best of the best. ... [E]very regular in this lineup has had at least a .370 on-base percentage in one, or both, of the last two seasons. Which is downright ridiculous." ... The Yankees finished second overall, although some slotted them in as low as fifth.
Tito announced the starters for next week's games:
Thursday, March 3 -- Matt Clement v the Twins
Friday, March 4 -- Tim Wakefield v Northeastern University; Mike Timlin v Boston College
Saturday, March 5 -- Anastacio Martinez v the Twins; Bronson Arroyo v the Reds
Sunday, March 6 -- Jeremi Gonzalez v Phillies
Monday, March 7 -- Abe Alvarez v the Yankees
Curt Schilling has had two throwing sessions -- 47 pitches on Thursday and 42 on Saturday -- and he wasn't happy with either one of them. "I was expecting a lot more out of myself today than I got," Schilling said on Thursday. "It's going to take time. I guess I'm going to have to be patient. I got through the day and my ankle didn't hurt." ... Also: "I just didn't feel like I expected to feel. ... I always expect it to be better than it is."
On Saturday, Schilling stopped in mid-windup about seven times during his 12-minute session. He didn't speak to reporters afterwards. "He's got some work to do," Terry Francona said. "Personally, seeing him on the mound I feel good, because I know we have five weeks until the season." ... Schilling is scheduled to throw again on Tuesday.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Wade Miller threw 180-foot long tosses. He has been working out in Fort Myers since the beginning of February and Francona said the difference is "night and day" compared to where Miller was when the manager saw him two weeks ago. Miller will do long toss from 210 feet today and is expected to play catch Monday, take Tuesday off and head to the bullpen on Wednesday.
Bill Mueller did some light jogging and fielded some grounders yesterday. "The knee is feeling wonderful, but they don't want to push it right now. I'm not going to start running hard until two more weeks, or something like that."
David Wells showed excellent control in his second impressive session in three days on Thursday. ... Keith Foulke threw off the bullpen mound Saturday without any blister trouble. ... According to the Herald's Jeff Horrigan, Byung-Hyun Kim looked impressive during a Wednesday throwing session. ... Matt Clement should love the Red Sox offense. Last year, the Cubs scored two or fewer runs in 10 of his 13 losses; Clement also lost two 1-0 games and the Cubs were shut out in two of his other starts. Clement went 9-13, 3.68. ... The Herald has stories on Roberto Petagine and Hanley Ramirez. There has been talk of converting Ramirez from shortstop to center field, but Francona says that won't happen this spring.
Boston Dirt Dogs reports that Nomar Garciaparra said of his World Series ring: "I don't want it. They can keep it." ... Abe Alvarez and Brandon puffer were shocked when told they were getting rings. ... The Red Sox will attend a White House ceremony this Wednesday, March 2. Curtis Leskanic (retired) will also attend but Mets Pedro Martinez and Doug Mientkiewicz will not. ... Quote of the Week: Mientkiewicz: "That [Sox-Yankees rivalry] wasn't all it was cracked up to be as far as I was concerned. ... I still say the Twins-White Sox series were just as intense as that one."
The magnitude of winning the World Series didn't hit Alan Embree until he was elk hunting near Vancouver in November. "It was all quiet and peaceful, and all of a sudden, I just had this thought. I forget where I was. I was replaying the games in my head after that. The endings of each one of them. It was dramatic, all of it. You didn't get a chance to soak that in because of all the hoopla."
Man, it would be great to get a copy of this. "In New York and St. Louis, and at Fenway, [Mike Timlin] carried his Sony handycam in the clubhouse, in the dugout, on the field during batting practice, on airplanes, and in hotels. He shot three hours of footage, sent it to a professional videomaker after the World Series, then mailed the finished product to all Sox players, coaches, and clubhouse personnel." Dan Shaughnessy notes that when Red Sox chairman Tom Werner asked if he could show it on NESN, Timlin said no.
Jayson Stark asked four pitchers, three scouts and nine GMs/assistants: "Which team has the best lineup in baseball?" Survey says? "Of the 14 men who voted on the AL lineups, 13 picked the Red Sox as the best of the best. ... [E]very regular in this lineup has had at least a .370 on-base percentage in one, or both, of the last two seasons. Which is downright ridiculous." ... The Yankees finished second overall, although some slotted them in as low as fifth.
Tito announced the starters for next week's games:
Thursday, March 3 -- Matt Clement v the Twins
Friday, March 4 -- Tim Wakefield v Northeastern University; Mike Timlin v Boston College
Saturday, March 5 -- Anastacio Martinez v the Twins; Bronson Arroyo v the Reds
Sunday, March 6 -- Jeremi Gonzalez v Phillies
Monday, March 7 -- Abe Alvarez v the Yankees
February 26, 2005
Yankee Edition. Three headlines from this past week:
New York Post: Trot Turns Down Heat
Providence Journal: Nixon Backtracks Somewhat On A-Rod
Newsday: No Backpedaling By Nixon
The Yankees are publicly shrugging their shoulders about watching the Red Sox get their World Series rings at Fenway. Mike Mussina says: "They won. They can do it however they want." When told the Sox were giving out a total of 500 rings within the organization, he joked, "Are they giving one to everyone who has played since 1918?" ... Hey Mike, as Yankee fans are (were?) so fond of saying, "How many rings have you won?"
On March 7, the Yankees will travel to Fort Myers to meet the Red Sox for the first time since October 21, 2004. Joe Torre says none of his top five starters will make the trip and he may put only "a couple" of regulars into the lineup. It says here that Slappy will not be one of them.
New York Post: Trot Turns Down Heat
Providence Journal: Nixon Backtracks Somewhat On A-Rod
Newsday: No Backpedaling By Nixon
The Yankees are publicly shrugging their shoulders about watching the Red Sox get their World Series rings at Fenway. Mike Mussina says: "They won. They can do it however they want." When told the Sox were giving out a total of 500 rings within the organization, he joked, "Are they giving one to everyone who has played since 1918?" ... Hey Mike, as Yankee fans are (were?) so fond of saying, "How many rings have you won?"
On March 7, the Yankees will travel to Fort Myers to meet the Red Sox for the first time since October 21, 2004. Joe Torre says none of his top five starters will make the trip and he may put only "a couple" of regulars into the lineup. It says here that Slappy will not be one of them.
February 25, 2005
More Blogs. Two more new blogs about the defending World Champions:
The Professional, The Idiot and The Tailback
I love the picture in this post.
108 Stitches
Subtitled: A Boston Red Sox fan married to a New York Yankees fan bitches about baseball.
The Professional, The Idiot and The Tailback
I love the picture in this post.
108 Stitches
Subtitled: A Boston Red Sox fan married to a New York Yankees fan bitches about baseball.
February 24, 2005
Three New Sox Blogs. Well, new to my list of links.
Red Sox Wire
Hoo's On First
Platooned
If you have a Red Sox blog that I haven't listed, let me know.
Red Sox Wire
Hoo's On First
Platooned
If you have a Red Sox blog that I haven't listed, let me know.
Lords of the Rings. It's official. World Series rings will be issued to players and coaches prior to the afternoon home opener against the Yankees on April 11. The Rd Sox will issue an unprecedented 500 rings to players, coaches, management, and myriad team employees. The Globe's Chris Snow: "The ring will marry tradition and spectacle. The stately "B" logo will be angled exactly as it is on the team's caps and done with rubies. Each ring will include the recipient's name, which is not necessarily standard operating procedure. The rings will be white gold."
Hey look, it's more A-Rod comments:
Arroyo: "He was talking to the umpire like 10 minutes after the [slap] play and they had already called him out forever ago and I was just kind of looking over at him and smirking. And he said to the umpire, 'Look, he's laughing at you because you made the wrong call.' I didn't have any interaction with him other than that."
Millar: "A lot of us in this locker room, when we watch a guy like Derek Jeter play over and over again, he's a winner. I don't know if [Rodriguez] grasps for respect, but you don't need to tell people you're an upper-tier player. You don't need to tell people that you work out seven hours a day. That's an article that rubbed guys wrong. When you're a professional, you do your work."
Damon: "There've been many nights where I haven't been to bed at 6 in the morning. You know, if that's what it takes to be him, he's a heck of a player. If it takes getting up at 6 in the morning for him, that's great."
Millar: "Everybody in this game works out in the off-season. Everybody comes into shape. You're not going around having to promote [yourself]. That's where we've got so much respect for Derek Jeter. ... You never see him put on a fake mask in front of anybody. We respect that. We compete against these guys. I play first base. I talk to everybody in the big leagues. You know who's fake, you know who's not."
Arroyo: "If he's called me Brandon twice, it's probably intentional, I would think. I've heard he's a student of the game. ... Who knows? Maybe he thinks I'm a nobody."
Foulke: "Let him talk all he wants. Just ask him who's got the ring."
Arroyo: "You would think he'd know [my name]. It might be a mistake, but probably not. He's been listening to Tim McCarver." ... The next day, Foulke told Arroyo that if Rodriguez charges the mound against him, he'll have to deal with "Kevin Foulke."
Unnamed Red Sox player: "It doesn't matter who he plays for, guys just don't like him. Maybe because it's here, and because it's the Yankees, [we] hate him even more."
Slappy himself: "As far as earning your stripes, I really couldn't agree [more] with Trot Nixon and the guys that have said that because hopefully in due time, when I pay the price like Paul O'Neill and Roger Clemens did, then the fans of New York would realize that, hopefully, I'm a Yankee." ... Odd that he would cite Fat Billy as an example of a true Yankee.
And for good measure, here's Matt Mantei: "It's going to be a tough fit for Randy [in New York]. He doesn't like the media. He doesn't like fans. He doesn't like anybody. He's going to have a hard time. ... I don't like the Yankees. I don't think anybody does, except the Yankees. It's true, though."
Various sportswriters are tsk-tsking the Red Sox. Karen Guregian (Herald): "Red Sox players don't like Alex Rodriguez. Fine. We get it. He gets it. Everyone on the planet gets it. ... Championship teams are supposed to be above the fray, above the gutter talk. Only the Sox players keep shoveling the trash. ... It's time to clam up and play nice."
Howard Bryant (Herald): "Like the Yankees, the Red Sox know the feeling of being world champions. They have something else in common with New York: They are becoming one of the most hated teams in baseball. ... Executives and players from the Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays, Angels and A's have all expressed this sentiment. 'It's called winning with class, and they haven't figured out how to do that,' said one Yankees player."
Murray Chass of the Times called the ongoing Slappy Ragapolooza "one of the most distasteful instances I have witnessed in 45 years of covering baseball" -- although to his credit Chass was referring more to his fellow writers taking players' quotes out of context.
And into camp strode David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, both as sunny as the Florida weather. "That's my personality," Ortiz said. "I can't change. If I change my father [will] hit me in the head with a bottle of water." Ortiz is also a little slimmer than last season. "I tried to stay away from the spoon. ... Everybody thinks I can be in GQ now." How did he spend his winter? "I only have one tape at home, the Red Sox one. I watch it over and over and over and over. I just watch that tape. It kind of hits me afterwards. When things are happening, you don't put attention to it, but when you're kicking back at home and you watch the DVD that they made for all of us, you realize, 'Man, I can't believe I did that.'"
Ramirez arrived with a headband with the flag of Brazil and dreadlocks with beads at the ends. ... Asked about his goals for 2005, he said, "I'm thinking, maybe, an average of .275 with 25 homers and, maybe, 100 RBI." When told he's averaged .321-38-116 during his first four seasons in Boston, Manny said: "I know. But this way I'm going to feel good about myself when I reach them." ... He told one reporter that David Ortiz has a reggae CD coming out. ... After being fitted for his World Series ring, Ramirez joked that he'd be selling his on eBay. ... Manny also said that after the last out was made in St. Louis, he tossed his glove and cap into the air during his sprint to the infield. He has no idea where they are "Maybe Mientkiewicz has them, too."
Bill Mueller is already in camp, stretching, running and hitting. He arrived last weekend with no noticeable limp. The Pro hopes to play the entire season.
Millar has also put on 15-20 pounds working out this winter -- not swinging some KFC drumsticks, presumably -- increasing his weight to about 220. The Cabin Mirror may also appear on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."
The 31-year-old Damon is in the last year of his 4/32 contract and would love to sign an extension and finish his career in Boston. Right now, I'd say the odds are not with him; maybe two years if he shines in 2005, but nothing more than that.
Jackie MacMullan has an absolutely hilarious story in the Globe on Della Grallert, who answered the phones at Fenway Park during home games last year. "It's amazing what people call for. It's everything from, 'That was a lousy call. Can you connect me to the umpires' room?' to 'Who is this guy the Red Sox have on the mound? Let me talk to Francona.'"
To hell with Crank Yankers. Air some of those calls on NESN!
Hey look, it's more A-Rod comments:
Arroyo: "He was talking to the umpire like 10 minutes after the [slap] play and they had already called him out forever ago and I was just kind of looking over at him and smirking. And he said to the umpire, 'Look, he's laughing at you because you made the wrong call.' I didn't have any interaction with him other than that."
Millar: "A lot of us in this locker room, when we watch a guy like Derek Jeter play over and over again, he's a winner. I don't know if [Rodriguez] grasps for respect, but you don't need to tell people you're an upper-tier player. You don't need to tell people that you work out seven hours a day. That's an article that rubbed guys wrong. When you're a professional, you do your work."
Damon: "There've been many nights where I haven't been to bed at 6 in the morning. You know, if that's what it takes to be him, he's a heck of a player. If it takes getting up at 6 in the morning for him, that's great."
Millar: "Everybody in this game works out in the off-season. Everybody comes into shape. You're not going around having to promote [yourself]. That's where we've got so much respect for Derek Jeter. ... You never see him put on a fake mask in front of anybody. We respect that. We compete against these guys. I play first base. I talk to everybody in the big leagues. You know who's fake, you know who's not."
Arroyo: "If he's called me Brandon twice, it's probably intentional, I would think. I've heard he's a student of the game. ... Who knows? Maybe he thinks I'm a nobody."
Foulke: "Let him talk all he wants. Just ask him who's got the ring."
Arroyo: "You would think he'd know [my name]. It might be a mistake, but probably not. He's been listening to Tim McCarver." ... The next day, Foulke told Arroyo that if Rodriguez charges the mound against him, he'll have to deal with "Kevin Foulke."
Unnamed Red Sox player: "It doesn't matter who he plays for, guys just don't like him. Maybe because it's here, and because it's the Yankees, [we] hate him even more."
Slappy himself: "As far as earning your stripes, I really couldn't agree [more] with Trot Nixon and the guys that have said that because hopefully in due time, when I pay the price like Paul O'Neill and Roger Clemens did, then the fans of New York would realize that, hopefully, I'm a Yankee." ... Odd that he would cite Fat Billy as an example of a true Yankee.
And for good measure, here's Matt Mantei: "It's going to be a tough fit for Randy [in New York]. He doesn't like the media. He doesn't like fans. He doesn't like anybody. He's going to have a hard time. ... I don't like the Yankees. I don't think anybody does, except the Yankees. It's true, though."
Various sportswriters are tsk-tsking the Red Sox. Karen Guregian (Herald): "Red Sox players don't like Alex Rodriguez. Fine. We get it. He gets it. Everyone on the planet gets it. ... Championship teams are supposed to be above the fray, above the gutter talk. Only the Sox players keep shoveling the trash. ... It's time to clam up and play nice."
Howard Bryant (Herald): "Like the Yankees, the Red Sox know the feeling of being world champions. They have something else in common with New York: They are becoming one of the most hated teams in baseball. ... Executives and players from the Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays, Angels and A's have all expressed this sentiment. 'It's called winning with class, and they haven't figured out how to do that,' said one Yankees player."
Murray Chass of the Times called the ongoing Slappy Ragapolooza "one of the most distasteful instances I have witnessed in 45 years of covering baseball" -- although to his credit Chass was referring more to his fellow writers taking players' quotes out of context.
And into camp strode David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, both as sunny as the Florida weather. "That's my personality," Ortiz said. "I can't change. If I change my father [will] hit me in the head with a bottle of water." Ortiz is also a little slimmer than last season. "I tried to stay away from the spoon. ... Everybody thinks I can be in GQ now." How did he spend his winter? "I only have one tape at home, the Red Sox one. I watch it over and over and over and over. I just watch that tape. It kind of hits me afterwards. When things are happening, you don't put attention to it, but when you're kicking back at home and you watch the DVD that they made for all of us, you realize, 'Man, I can't believe I did that.'"
Ramirez arrived with a headband with the flag of Brazil and dreadlocks with beads at the ends. ... Asked about his goals for 2005, he said, "I'm thinking, maybe, an average of .275 with 25 homers and, maybe, 100 RBI." When told he's averaged .321-38-116 during his first four seasons in Boston, Manny said: "I know. But this way I'm going to feel good about myself when I reach them." ... He told one reporter that David Ortiz has a reggae CD coming out. ... After being fitted for his World Series ring, Ramirez joked that he'd be selling his on eBay. ... Manny also said that after the last out was made in St. Louis, he tossed his glove and cap into the air during his sprint to the infield. He has no idea where they are "Maybe Mientkiewicz has them, too."
Bill Mueller is already in camp, stretching, running and hitting. He arrived last weekend with no noticeable limp. The Pro hopes to play the entire season.
Millar has also put on 15-20 pounds working out this winter -- not swinging some KFC drumsticks, presumably -- increasing his weight to about 220. The Cabin Mirror may also appear on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."
The 31-year-old Damon is in the last year of his 4/32 contract and would love to sign an extension and finish his career in Boston. Right now, I'd say the odds are not with him; maybe two years if he shines in 2005, but nothing more than that.
Jackie MacMullan has an absolutely hilarious story in the Globe on Della Grallert, who answered the phones at Fenway Park during home games last year. "It's amazing what people call for. It's everything from, 'That was a lousy call. Can you connect me to the umpires' room?' to 'Who is this guy the Red Sox have on the mound? Let me talk to Francona.'"
To hell with Crank Yankers. Air some of those calls on NESN!
February 19, 2005
Funtime! On Tuesday -- before either the Red Sox or Yankees had begun their first workout -- Trot Nixon took a swipe at Slappy McBluelips. Nixon was annoyed at Rodriguez's recent comments about his early morning work-outs.
After Nixon's comments, reporters from the major New York dailies sent reporters to Fort Myers and Theo Epstein tried to lower the heat. "[A]s a whole, our team has been pretty modest in victory and respectful of the opposition, especially the Yankees. ... There's always going to be sort of personal rivalries that flare up from time to time. ... I think it's really a blip on the radar screen." ... Terry Francona thought he might tell his players to cool it a bit.
But there were other blips. David Wells mouthed off: "I remember [A-Rod's] press conference when he went there. He said a 'we' in his conference, like he's won three or four rings with them, and he hadn't. That kind of disturbed me. He shouldn't put himself in that category. You've got to earn it." ... Wells also noted that when he spoke with Brian Cashman about returning to New York, Cashman said "'We're going to go with youth this year.' And then they turn around and sign Randy [Johnson]."
On Friday, Bronson Arroyo said Slappy "was out of line" after being hit by a pitch back on July 24. "[That] incident and knocking the ball out of my hand, I think had a lot to do with people's perception of the way he plays the game. I think people could perceive him as a little bit of a dirty player and not as likable as maybe he once was." ... And Jason Varitek added: "I don't need to boast" about workout habits.
Joel Sherman, New York Post:
Keith Foulke also wanted the Final Out ball: "I didn't really think about it at the time. After he caught it, there were other things going through my mind. Afterwards, I would have definitely liked to have it back. We got back to Boston and I asked about it, and I didn't get it, so that's the end of that. He didn't give me the ball. That's it. That's a tired issue is what that is."
Pedro Watch: The Mets ace arrived on Tuesday carrying a Red Sox tote bag, but quickly added that he also owns a Mets bag. "Believe it or not, I feel better this year than I did last year. For some reason toward the end of the year everything just clicked and I kept getting stronger and stronger."
Garry Sheffield's yapping was news in Tampa. He says he used steroids (clear and cream), but unknowingly. "[T]he bottom line was I thought it was rubbing cream on my legs." Call it the Jergens defense. ... On Friday, George Steinbrenner was in camp, but kept his mouth closed in taking about the Red Sox. "We will play the game on the field." After last year, what else could he say without looking like a fool?
Speaking of last year, here's Newsday's Shaun Powell:
"He said he's doing all this while 600 players are still in their bed. I said, 'What's wrong with me taking my kid to school? I'm not a deadbeat dad, you clown.' ... Some of his remarks, you don't see Jeter doing that stuff. Bernie, Jeter, Posada, they just go, do their work, show up at spring training, and go get it done every year. ... [W]hen people ask me about the Yankees, I tell them about Jeter and Bernie Williams and Posada. I don't tell them about Rodriguez." (Also)Over in the Yankees' camp, no one came to A-Rod's defense. Jeter: "I'm not getting into a war of words with them. That's between Trot and Alex. You ask Trot what he meant." Posada: "It's not my problem, so don't make it my problem." Mike Stanton lumped Slappy in with the team's "supporting cast."
After Nixon's comments, reporters from the major New York dailies sent reporters to Fort Myers and Theo Epstein tried to lower the heat. "[A]s a whole, our team has been pretty modest in victory and respectful of the opposition, especially the Yankees. ... There's always going to be sort of personal rivalries that flare up from time to time. ... I think it's really a blip on the radar screen." ... Terry Francona thought he might tell his players to cool it a bit.
But there were other blips. David Wells mouthed off: "I remember [A-Rod's] press conference when he went there. He said a 'we' in his conference, like he's won three or four rings with them, and he hadn't. That kind of disturbed me. He shouldn't put himself in that category. You've got to earn it." ... Wells also noted that when he spoke with Brian Cashman about returning to New York, Cashman said "'We're going to go with youth this year.' And then they turn around and sign Randy [Johnson]."
On Friday, Bronson Arroyo said Slappy "was out of line" after being hit by a pitch back on July 24. "[That] incident and knocking the ball out of my hand, I think had a lot to do with people's perception of the way he plays the game. I think people could perceive him as a little bit of a dirty player and not as likable as maybe he once was." ... And Jason Varitek added: "I don't need to boast" about workout habits.
Joel Sherman, New York Post:
Alex Rodriguez is turning into Bobby Valentine before our eyes. His mere smile, the way he answers questions, the style he carries himself at work all generate loathing even from folks who hardly know him. With Valentine now in Japan and largely forgotten, it is possible the most skilled player in the game has morphed into the most hated. ...Daily News writer John Harper called the Sox "sore winners" who are "positively obsessed" with Slappy. Meanwhile, the Yankees open camp, but all the New York papers want to talk about is Boston. ... According to Dan Shaughnessy, it's New York that has Boston on the brain:
The world champion Red Sox held their first workout for pitchers and catchers yesterday and once again there were representatives from the New York Times, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and Newsday on hand to watch the Sox go through their paces. These are not day-tripping reporters. These guys are camped out here, more than two hours from the Yankees' base in Tampa. ...In Boston, fans were irate when news leaked out that players may receive their World Series rings at a separate ceremony rather than before the home opener April 11 against the Yankees. After quoting John Henry -- "I don't think it's necessary to do anything in anybody's face. ... I can't imagine feeling any worse than we did in 2003, except for the way they felt in 2004. ... We still haven't finalized the ring decision. I have no idea if they will be ready." -- Shaughnessy wrote:
"The Red Sox right now, I think, are bigger than the Mets in New York," said veteran baseball columnist Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. ... Wells found himself splashed on the front page of yesterday's Post, next to the headline, "RAT SOX" with subheads reading, "Wells: Torre dissed me" and "A-Rod's all talk." Boomer was on the back page of the Daily News next to the headline, "FAT LIP."
No one in the Nation wants to hear about the rings not being ready or gentlemen's agreements. Don't forget how much the Yankees love to rub it in. Before Game 7 last year, the Yankees brought back Bucky Dent to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, then they put the Sox owners in the Babe Ruth Suite. No More Mr. Nice Guy. Put the World Series championship ring on Bronson Arroyo's hand Opening Day and let's see if A-Rod can slap it away.Schilling on his right ankle: "It's good. It's coming. I still feel like I'm a little bit behind, I'm not sure how much. I put a pair of spikes on for the first time last Friday and I'm making that adjustment. Just moving around in it. Throwing-wise, I'm just a little bit behind, but I'm working the mind-set that April 3 is the day ... That's my target ... I think I passed all my big tests. Now I just have to guard against trying to catch up in three or four days. And every day I feel better about things." ... Francona said he was "surprised" by Schilling's mobility during fielding practice.
Keith Foulke also wanted the Final Out ball: "I didn't really think about it at the time. After he caught it, there were other things going through my mind. Afterwards, I would have definitely liked to have it back. We got back to Boston and I asked about it, and I didn't get it, so that's the end of that. He didn't give me the ball. That's it. That's a tired issue is what that is."
Pedro Watch: The Mets ace arrived on Tuesday carrying a Red Sox tote bag, but quickly added that he also owns a Mets bag. "Believe it or not, I feel better this year than I did last year. For some reason toward the end of the year everything just clicked and I kept getting stronger and stronger."
Garry Sheffield's yapping was news in Tampa. He says he used steroids (clear and cream), but unknowingly. "[T]he bottom line was I thought it was rubbing cream on my legs." Call it the Jergens defense. ... On Friday, George Steinbrenner was in camp, but kept his mouth closed in taking about the Red Sox. "We will play the game on the field." After last year, what else could he say without looking like a fool?
Speaking of last year, here's Newsday's Shaun Powell:
A choke, and aura goes up in smokeThe Red Sox play the Yankees for the first time on March 7 in Fort Myers.
In due time, some choking victims make full recovery.
Their face returns to its natural color, their watery, red eyes slide back into the sockets, they're up on their feet again ready to resume a normal life. Except something's missing with the Yankees in their convalescence, four months after heaving up That Three-Uh-Oh Lead. ...
As they gather this week at Camp Steinbrenner, their first time together since their historic playoff flop, the Yankees are forced to swallow another grapefruit-sized bit of reality: They haven't won a World Series since 2000 and in a reversal of fortune, now find themselves chasing the Red Sox.
They are truly desperate, throwing a ton of money and weight in the direction of a 41-year-old pitcher.
And they are being disrespected, almost daily, it seems, by a chest-pounding Red Sox team that's eagerly taking cuts specifically at the Yankee with the most skills. ...
What really hurts is that redemption from an embarrassing ALCS loss to Boston can't be attempted for seven agonizing and somewhat meaningless months. ... Only then will they get to do what they couldn't last October: close out the Red Sox. Only then can Alex Rodriguez finally swing back at the Sox, who are talking about a $252-million player as though he's worth 10 cents. ...
February 13, 2005
Camp. For the first time since March 1919, the Red Sox will open spring training as the defending world champions. Both Chris Snow (Globe) and Tony Massarotti (Herald) tell us what to expect. Not a lot of surprises, basically. ... Don't miss Gordon Edes's excellent feature on Jason Varitek.
In Gotham, the Post's Mike Vaccaro writes about the Yankees seeking vindication
In Gotham, the Post's Mike Vaccaro writes about the Yankees seeking vindication
for one of the most stunning stumbles in baseball history. It's funny: in a lot of ways, the Yankees got off easy last year. The world was so caught up in the absorbing saga of the Red Sox -- and it's a far more human reaction among neutral parties to cheer the winners than to rag the losers that it's only been recently that the Yankee ramifications have become completely evident.Yes!
And it's hard to sugar coat the truth:
The Yankees suffered the greatest choke in the history of American sports.
February 12, 2005
Mueller Has Knee Surgery; Schilling Still Eyeing Opener. Bill Mueller underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday. The Professional expects to fully return in approximately a month (he had surgery on the same knee on May 28 last season and returned July 2).
Curt Schilling says he's feeling good and has starting on April 3 as his goal. ... His bloody sock from Game 2 of the World Series is in the Hall of Fame, part of an exhibit which includes his spikes from the same game, Johnny Damon's bat (Game 4 leadoff HR), Derek Lowe's jersey from Game 4, Pedro Martinez's cap from Game 3, Manny Ramirez's bat (used to tie a postseason record 17-game hitting streak) and Keith Foulke's spikes.
Pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers next Thursday and Theo Epstein says he's done dealing "for now, barring something totally unforeseen." ... It's hard to say if there's room, but when camp opens, Byung-Hyun Kim will be trying for a middle-relief spot. ... The Red Sox agreed to a minor league contract with 1B Roberto Petagine, who played in Japan the last six seasons. ... Gordon Edes talks to Dodger Derek Lowe.
The Globe has news on both Matt Mantei and Wade Miller. Trainer Chris Correnti on Miller: "It's too early to tell. We'll see how the next two weeks go. ... The whole key is to get his arm strength up before he gets on the mound. We don't have a timetable yet."
Curt Schilling says he's feeling good and has starting on April 3 as his goal. ... His bloody sock from Game 2 of the World Series is in the Hall of Fame, part of an exhibit which includes his spikes from the same game, Johnny Damon's bat (Game 4 leadoff HR), Derek Lowe's jersey from Game 4, Pedro Martinez's cap from Game 3, Manny Ramirez's bat (used to tie a postseason record 17-game hitting streak) and Keith Foulke's spikes.
Pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers next Thursday and Theo Epstein says he's done dealing "for now, barring something totally unforeseen." ... It's hard to say if there's room, but when camp opens, Byung-Hyun Kim will be trying for a middle-relief spot. ... The Red Sox agreed to a minor league contract with 1B Roberto Petagine, who played in Japan the last six seasons. ... Gordon Edes talks to Dodger Derek Lowe.
The Globe has news on both Matt Mantei and Wade Miller. Trainer Chris Correnti on Miller: "It's too early to tell. We'll see how the next two weeks go. ... The whole key is to get his arm strength up before he gets on the mound. We don't have a timetable yet."
Predictions, Part 1. From the pre-season magazines I have seen so far:
Street & Smith's
Red Sox picked for 2nd; Randy Johnson gets the Cy; Slappy is MVP; Yankees beat Atlanta in World Series.
Lindy's
Yanks win East; Red Sox get wild card; Johnson wins Cy; Yankees top Cubs in October.
The Sporting News
All 6 writers say Boston finishes 2nd; 4 say Sox lose ALDS to Angels; 1 says Sox beat Twins but lose ALCS to NY; 1 says Sox beat Angels but lose ALCS to NY.
World Series: 2 say Yankees over Cubs; 2 say Yankees over Cardinals; 1 says Yankees over Giants; 1 says Atlanta over Yankees.
Street & Smith's
Red Sox picked for 2nd; Randy Johnson gets the Cy; Slappy is MVP; Yankees beat Atlanta in World Series.
Lindy's
Yanks win East; Red Sox get wild card; Johnson wins Cy; Yankees top Cubs in October.
The Sporting News
All 6 writers say Boston finishes 2nd; 4 say Sox lose ALDS to Angels; 1 says Sox beat Twins but lose ALCS to NY; 1 says Sox beat Angels but lose ALCS to NY.
World Series: 2 say Yankees over Cubs; 2 say Yankees over Cardinals; 1 says Yankees over Giants; 1 says Atlanta over Yankees.
February 10, 2005
Which Red Sox Player Are You?
Take the quiz.
 | You scored as Johnny Damon. You are Johnny Damon!! You are very down-to-earth and like to joke around a lot. This is apparent through your appearance. You are known for looking unkempt, perhaps even caveman-like, but everyone loves you for it. Oh yea... Johnny is my homeboy!
|
February 9, 2005
Rev Up The Truck. Spring draws closer. Living in Manhattan, I don't get NESN, but it has been showing condensed versions of the glorious post-season recently. ... Why condensed? Does NESN have so much quality programming it can't show the entire games, especially the ALCS? ... It's probably a MLB contractual issue.
The best place to relive the games is Surviving Grady. (I love today's photo.) But is Red quoting Al Stewart? Gulp. ... I also hope to watch my wonderful DVDs of all 14 games during spring training and report on all my goose bumps, racing heartbeat, chewed fingernails and tears of joy.
What I've Been Doing Instead of Posting: I'm finishing up bios of Babe Ruth and Carl Mays for SABR's upcoming Deadball Stars of the American League (I wrote about John Titus for the National League volume). Then I'm off next week to Vermont and Montreal. On February 20, I'll be in Boston, hugging the World Series trophy. More frequent posting will resume on February 21.
The best place to relive the games is Surviving Grady. (I love today's photo.) But is Red quoting Al Stewart? Gulp. ... I also hope to watch my wonderful DVDs of all 14 games during spring training and report on all my goose bumps, racing heartbeat, chewed fingernails and tears of joy.
What I've Been Doing Instead of Posting: I'm finishing up bios of Babe Ruth and Carl Mays for SABR's upcoming Deadball Stars of the American League (I wrote about John Titus for the National League volume). Then I'm off next week to Vermont and Montreal. On February 20, I'll be in Boston, hugging the World Series trophy. More frequent posting will resume on February 21.
February 6, 2005
16 NRIs. Sixteen non-roster players have been invited to spring training, including first baseman David McCarty. Also: catchers Shawn Wooten and Jeff Bailey, infielders Dave Berg, Tim Hummel and Kenny Perez, outfielders George Lombard, Billy McMillon and Simon Pond, right-handed pitchers Josias Manzanillo, Scott Cassidy, Jack Cressend, Jeremi Gonzalez and Kris Wilson, and left-handed pitcher Jason Kershner.
While MLB.com's Tom Singer picks the Red Sox to win the East and says the Orioles will press the Yankees for the wild card berth, he gives New York the nod for the World Series. Bah.
While MLB.com's Tom Singer picks the Red Sox to win the East and says the Orioles will press the Yankees for the wild card berth, he gives New York the nod for the World Series. Bah.
January 31, 2005
Slappy. The blue-lipped one talks to Bob Klapisch about what will likely be his legacy as a Yankee:
Slappy also boasted: "My approach is to win championships. The only way to do that is to be myself, and to take care of my world. With my talent people will follow naturally."
In the heat of the moment, you do things sometimes out of instinct. I thought it was a smart play, and we almost got away with it. We put an umpire in the position of having to turn over a call like that in Yankee Stadium. It gave us a shot. (Umpire) Jim Joyce told me, 'if you'd knocked the crap out of (Arroyo) it would've been legal because he was in your way.' So if I had a chance to do it again, I would've tried to run him over. Even though I probably would've hurt someone with my weight and velocity, dropping my shoulder down.Of course, right after the game, Rodriguez maintained that he hadn't done anything wrong (oh goodness no!) and was simply in his normal running motion. ... And now he's admitting he'd injure another player in order to cheat (though he would have had to go way out of the baseline to hit Arroyo)? I suspect he won't be digging in at the plate at any time this season against Boston.
Slappy also boasted: "My approach is to win championships. The only way to do that is to be myself, and to take care of my world. With my talent people will follow naturally."
January 30, 2005
Guapo Gone Wild. So Rich Garces fails to show up for a Venezuela Winter League game on January 17. His wife files a missing persons report and there is speculation that he may have been kidnapped.
But now we learn that El Guapo is safe and sound -- he was simply at a beach party and had neglected to tell his family. ... Man, that must have been one hell of a party.
But now we learn that El Guapo is safe and sound -- he was simply at a beach party and had neglected to tell his family. ... Man, that must have been one hell of a party.
One To Nine. As was the case in 2004, the Red Sox will head into spring training in a few weeks with their 25-man roster just about set. The Herald's Tony Massarotti proposes this batting order:
Tony Massarotti (Herald): "The bottom line is the bat of Kevin Millar is worth more than the glove of Doug Mientkiewicz ... In 2005, Mientkiewicz is due $3.75 million, while Millar is slated for $3.5 million. ... The Red Sox can find someone to do what Mientkiewicz does, which is why David McCarty already has been signed to a minor league contract. ... Seriously, people, was this even a decision?"
Millar's streaky bat has always annoyed me (and his adventures in the outfield make Manny look like Willie Mays) and I absolutely loved Malphabet's glove work (and expected his bat to rebound from last season), but this is still probably the right decision. The salaries are relatively the same, so I assume that wasn't a factor. Still, that lineup will hit like a motherfucker, so perhaps sparing some offense at first in favor of defense wouldn't have been such a bad idea. Ah well, Kentucky Fried Kevin it is.
At the same time, the Sox and Snook agreed on where the World Series baseball will be for the next year. It will be encased in a special plaque and join the trophy on its victory tour.
Damon, cfLast Wednesday, the Sox traded Doug Mientkiewicz to the Mets for minor league first baseman Ian Bladergroen. Before the 2004 season, Baseball America listed Bladergroen as one of a dozen breakout players in the minors and the 22-year-old batted .342-13-74 in 74 games at Capital City (A) before a ligament tear in his left wrist ended his season in July.
Renteria, ss
Ramirez, lf
Ortiz, dh
Millar, 1b
Nixon, rf
Varitek, c
Mueller, 3b
Bellhorn, 2b
Tony Massarotti (Herald): "The bottom line is the bat of Kevin Millar is worth more than the glove of Doug Mientkiewicz ... In 2005, Mientkiewicz is due $3.75 million, while Millar is slated for $3.5 million. ... The Red Sox can find someone to do what Mientkiewicz does, which is why David McCarty already has been signed to a minor league contract. ... Seriously, people, was this even a decision?"
Millar's streaky bat has always annoyed me (and his adventures in the outfield make Manny look like Willie Mays) and I absolutely loved Malphabet's glove work (and expected his bat to rebound from last season), but this is still probably the right decision. The salaries are relatively the same, so I assume that wasn't a factor. Still, that lineup will hit like a motherfucker, so perhaps sparing some offense at first in favor of defense wouldn't have been such a bad idea. Ah well, Kentucky Fried Kevin it is.
At the same time, the Sox and Snook agreed on where the World Series baseball will be for the next year. It will be encased in a special plaque and join the trophy on its victory tour.
January 25, 2005
Good Deed. Larry Mahnken, who writes the excellent Replacement Level Yankees Weblog: "My apartment burned down at about 2am [Monday] morning. I'm currently homeless."
Keving18 at SoSH adds that Larry "is currently unemployed and had no property or homeowners insurance" and suggests that a donation via Paypal at his site would be much appreciated.
Keving18 at SoSH adds that Larry "is currently unemployed and had no property or homeowners insurance" and suggests that a donation via Paypal at his site would be much appreciated.
January 24, 2005
The Coma Guy. Can this actually be true? ESPN's Bill Simmons:
Here's a movie idea: diehard Red Sox fan falls into a coma before the 2004 playoffs, spends the next four weeks fighting for his life, then regains his senses after the World Series. He survives ... only he feels ripped off, because as millions of Sox fans say, "I saw them win in my lifetime," this poor guy is the one who didn't see anything.More. I googled his name, but all I got is Simmons and various links to the story. If this is legit, I think we'll be hearing more about this guy pretty soon. ... The Sox ought to have him throw out the first pitch when they raise the flag in April.
Never mind. It's too improbable, right?
Meet Steven Manganello, known from this day forward in Red Sox history as The Coma Guy.
January 23, 2005
Waiting On A Sunny Day. One of several pictures posted by Anne at SoSH:
Another poster says Truck Day is exactly 3 weeks away!
Another poster says Truck Day is exactly 3 weeks away!
January 22, 2005
Stop Sniveling ... After Alex Rodriguez slapped the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove late in ALCS Game 6, costing the Yankees a run and possibly the AL pennant, Curt Schilling called the chop "freakin' junior high baseball at its best," then twisted the knife. "Let me ask you something: Does Jeter do that? You know for a fact he doesn't because Derek Jeter is a class act and a professional, that's why."
Yesterday, "still clearly seething" from Schilling's comments (according to Michael Morrissey of the New York Post), Slappy McBluelips answered back: "To me it was just odd, because I mean we beat him a couple of times during the year and he was crying on the bench. And then he lost Game 1 and he wouldn't talk or anything. And obviously, he wins Game 6 and then he's still talking 'till today. ... I just hope he continues to talk about me and my teammates. It's going to give us great motivation to beat him up in the future."
Schilling: "It's not true, I talked after Game 1. I don't care what Alex says. When someone says that, you consider the source. ...[I] was upset, but I wasn't crying on the bench. ... If that's what he needs (for motivation), cool."
Slappy also took the blame for his pitiful performance (2-for-17) in Games 4-5-6-7 of the ALCS: "At the end of the day, I feel like my job was a failure because I was basically taken there to be the final part of a world championship team. So if you have to blame someone or point a finger at someone, you have to look in my direction, and I take 100 percent of the blame." ... He said his team's unprecedented choke job has been "the driving force of my winter."
Read the Globe, Daily News, Post, Times, Hartford Courant and Newark Star-Ledger.
Dirt Dog improves on the classic picture of Slap-Rod. He also links to a story in the Las Vegas Sun, wherein Doug Mirabelli talks about Doug Mientkiewicz after the final out was recorded in St. Louis. "I could read his mind. He was in that dog pile and squeezing his glove as hard as possible." I figured from the snip that Belly knew Snook was planning to hoard the ball, but Mirabelli actually supports Malphabet. Right after the story broke, he called Mientkiewicz and told him: "You are the dumbest guy in America if you give the ball back."
Also: Mark Bellhorn and Bronson Arroyo agreed to one-year contracts on Tuesday. The team will likely move either Doug Mientkiewicz or Kevin Millar once Carlos Delgado decides where he wants to play. The Globe's Chris Snow looks at the Sox's two first basemen; he also wrote a nice feature on Theo Epstein's four assistants.
Yesterday, "still clearly seething" from Schilling's comments (according to Michael Morrissey of the New York Post), Slappy McBluelips answered back: "To me it was just odd, because I mean we beat him a couple of times during the year and he was crying on the bench. And then he lost Game 1 and he wouldn't talk or anything. And obviously, he wins Game 6 and then he's still talking 'till today. ... I just hope he continues to talk about me and my teammates. It's going to give us great motivation to beat him up in the future."
Schilling: "It's not true, I talked after Game 1. I don't care what Alex says. When someone says that, you consider the source. ...[I] was upset, but I wasn't crying on the bench. ... If that's what he needs (for motivation), cool."
Slappy also took the blame for his pitiful performance (2-for-17) in Games 4-5-6-7 of the ALCS: "At the end of the day, I feel like my job was a failure because I was basically taken there to be the final part of a world championship team. So if you have to blame someone or point a finger at someone, you have to look in my direction, and I take 100 percent of the blame." ... He said his team's unprecedented choke job has been "the driving force of my winter."
Read the Globe, Daily News, Post, Times, Hartford Courant and Newark Star-Ledger.
Dirt Dog improves on the classic picture of Slap-Rod. He also links to a story in the Las Vegas Sun, wherein Doug Mirabelli talks about Doug Mientkiewicz after the final out was recorded in St. Louis. "I could read his mind. He was in that dog pile and squeezing his glove as hard as possible." I figured from the snip that Belly knew Snook was planning to hoard the ball, but Mirabelli actually supports Malphabet. Right after the story broke, he called Mientkiewicz and told him: "You are the dumbest guy in America if you give the ball back."
Also: Mark Bellhorn and Bronson Arroyo agreed to one-year contracts on Tuesday. The team will likely move either Doug Mientkiewicz or Kevin Millar once Carlos Delgado decides where he wants to play. The Globe's Chris Snow looks at the Sox's two first basemen; he also wrote a nice feature on Theo Epstein's four assistants.
January 16, 2005
#26. Thanks to Red at Surviving Grady for listing me as one of the 39 things that haunt his sleep.
Which reminds me to tell you to buy his upcoming book -- Surviving Grady: A Journal of Unhealthy Red Sox Obsession During the Greatest Season Ever. With a great picture of Dave Roberts on the cover, it will be unleashed on the world in April.
Which reminds me to tell you to buy his upcoming book -- Surviving Grady: A Journal of Unhealthy Red Sox Obsession During the Greatest Season Ever. With a great picture of Dave Roberts on the cover, it will be unleashed on the world in April.
January 15, 2005
Sunday Conversation. Curt Schilling talks to ESPN's Jayson Stark:
I will do everything within my God-given ability to be healthy, 100 percent, on the mound that night [Sunday, April 3, facing former teammate Randy Johnson when the Red Sox open the season in New York]. ... I am convinced now the ankle will be healthy by then. But the arm has to be where it needs to be. I have to be comfortable knowing I can take the ball on Opening Day, and not go out there with a pitch count.ESPN will broadcast the entire interview on Sunday night.
Yawn. Filip Bondy in the Daily News:
The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 5 games.
The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 6 games.
The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 7 games.
The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox at all.
Also, in 2005, New York has a question mark at first base, a gaping hole at second, and an aging center fielder. The closest Bondy comes to addressing these issues is when he says having Bernie rather than Beltran in center will be better for the team's clubhouse chemistry. Oy.
Yankee stove hottest -- Surge ahead of Bosox by landing RandyYes, the Yankees were unable to sweep the Red Sox, thanks (in part) to "a stolen base and a line drive." But, as Bondy neglects to mention:
"... An inferior Yankee rotation was just a stolen base and a line drive away from sweeping Boston in four games. The Yanks might have pulled it off, forever disguising that motley rotation and weary bullpen.
But we are talking about probabilities here, and the AL East odds have changed dramatically over the past couple months. The Yankees are drubbing the Red Sox this winter, 19-6, maybe worse. They are now an intimidating, mercenary team capable of putting together a 1998-type season, minus only the good feelings.
... Apparently, Theo Epstein wasn't watching very closely last winter when the Yankees frittered away their slim advantage over his team. Epstein has virtually replicated Cashman's errors, step by step. ..."
The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 5 games.
The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 6 games.
The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox in 7 games.
The Yankees were unable to beat the Red Sox at all.
Also, in 2005, New York has a question mark at first base, a gaping hole at second, and an aging center fielder. The closest Bondy comes to addressing these issues is when he says having Bernie rather than Beltran in center will be better for the team's clubhouse chemistry. Oy.
January 11, 2005
January 10, 2005
Welcome To New York! Oh, this is going to be good.
Here (with video (and subtitles!)).
Randy Johnson is in town for his physical, but things got a little out of hand when a CBS 2 camera caught up with the future Yankee on the way to the doctor's office.Johnson: "Don't get in my face and don't talk back to me, alright!"
Monday morning, in midtown on Madison Avenue between 58th and 59th streets, CBS2 cameraman Vinny Everett shot some video of Johnson, a standard procedure with a big-name athlete coming to town.
The security representative with Johnson put his hand on our camera, and swiped it away.
Here (with video (and subtitles!)).
Four More Blogs. Not always about the Sox (they talk about football too, for some reason), but worth checking out:
Platooned
Cursed to First
The Baseball Desert
Felines for Anarchistic Green Democracies
Platooned
Cursed to First
The Baseball Desert
Felines for Anarchistic Green Democracies
January 9, 2005
A Slow Sunday. Joel Sherman of the Post compares the Red Sox and Yankees rotations:
Dirt Dog has comments from everyone involved in Ballgate (Josh Beckett says keep it). He also says Derek Lowe has inked a deal with the Dodgers.
Following a report in the Houston Chronicle, ESPN reports that Carlos Beltran has signed a 7/119 deal with the New York Mets. Houston offered 7/108, which was fine with Beltran, but the Astros would not give him a full no-trade clause.
My ticket for Game #2 (Yankees, April 5) arrived yesterday. Hurry up, spring!
Red Sox Yankees EdgeIf everyone is healthy, I would say Johnson tops Schilling, but Clement and Wells are both better than Pavano and Mussina. I'll agree with him on Wright and Arroyo.
Schilling Johnson ---
Wells Mussina Mussina
Clement Pavano Pavano
Miller Wright Wright
Arroyo Brown Arroyo
Dirt Dog has comments from everyone involved in Ballgate (Josh Beckett says keep it). He also says Derek Lowe has inked a deal with the Dodgers.
Following a report in the Houston Chronicle, ESPN reports that Carlos Beltran has signed a 7/119 deal with the New York Mets. Houston offered 7/108, which was fine with Beltran, but the Astros would not give him a full no-trade clause.
My ticket for Game #2 (Yankees, April 5) arrived yesterday. Hurry up, spring!
Spinoff. For those you who come here for political comment and are bothered by all the goddamn Red Sox information, you're in luck: I've created another blog.
Joy of Sox will feature Red Sox/baseball stuff and This Blog Needs No Title (or whatever it ends up being called) will be about everything else.
Joy of Sox will feature Red Sox/baseball stuff and This Blog Needs No Title (or whatever it ends up being called) will be about everything else.
January 8, 2005
Give It Back. It started with Dan Shaughnessy's column in Friday's Globe:
John Henry (e-mail): "I called Doug to discuss the situation with him on Thursday. We spoke on Friday. We didn't discuss solutions. ... I just wanted to listen to what his feelings were with regard to all of this. I have a great deal of respect for Doug." ... Team spokesman Glenn Geffner: "It's not a huge controversy. This story has been blown way out of proportion."
The location of other World Series final out balls? 1983 Orioles (Cal Ripken), 1998 Yankees (Andy Pettitte), 1980 Phillies (unknown), 1985 Royals (unknown), 1986 Mets (unknown), 1988 Dodgers (GM Fred Claire), 1990 Reds (Todd Benzinger) and 2002 Angels (Darren Erstad). ... The Hall of Fame has the ball from the final out of only two championships -- 1889 and 1903.
Also: Pokey Reese agreed to a $1.2 million, one-year contract with the Mariners on Tuesday. ... Sox players react to Randy Johnson agreeing on a 2/32 contract extension with the Chokers. ... The Dodgers are close to signing Derek Lowe to a 4/36 deal.
It's official: The Red Sox and Chokers will open the 2005 season on Sunday night, April 3. ... David Ortiz says he's still recovering from a nagging right-shoulder injury but expects to be healthy by spring training. [Fuck you, Dale Sveum.]
Doug Mientkiewicz has the ball. The Red Sox want it back. ... "We're going to make a request of him to return it to us," Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino said late last night. "We want it to be part of Red Sox archives or museums so it can be shared with the fans. We would hope he would understand the historical nature of it."Mientkiewicz called the ball "my retirement fund ... I'm thinking, there's four years at Florida State for one of my kids. At least." ... Later that day, Snook called WEEI: "I thought it was going to be a light-hearted article. ... I was just joking around with him and kidding about it. ... If they'd like to show it to fans, I'd be more than happy to. Hell, I'll stand out there myself and show it to everybody."
John Henry (e-mail): "I called Doug to discuss the situation with him on Thursday. We spoke on Friday. We didn't discuss solutions. ... I just wanted to listen to what his feelings were with regard to all of this. I have a great deal of respect for Doug." ... Team spokesman Glenn Geffner: "It's not a huge controversy. This story has been blown way out of proportion."
The location of other World Series final out balls? 1983 Orioles (Cal Ripken), 1998 Yankees (Andy Pettitte), 1980 Phillies (unknown), 1985 Royals (unknown), 1986 Mets (unknown), 1988 Dodgers (GM Fred Claire), 1990 Reds (Todd Benzinger) and 2002 Angels (Darren Erstad). ... The Hall of Fame has the ball from the final out of only two championships -- 1889 and 1903.
Also: Pokey Reese agreed to a $1.2 million, one-year contract with the Mariners on Tuesday. ... Sox players react to Randy Johnson agreeing on a 2/32 contract extension with the Chokers. ... The Dodgers are close to signing Derek Lowe to a 4/36 deal.
It's official: The Red Sox and Chokers will open the 2005 season on Sunday night, April 3. ... David Ortiz says he's still recovering from a nagging right-shoulder injury but expects to be healthy by spring training. [Fuck you, Dale Sveum.]
January 7, 2005
So What's The Difference?* Yesterday, many Republicans used the words "frivolous," "crying wolf" and "conspiracy theory" to describe the suggestion of some Democrats that the Ohio votes in the presidential election might need investigating. One problem was the fact that some counties had more votes cast than actual voters.
But now another day has dawned and what do we see? ... Why it's the Republicans filing a lawsuit to challenge the results of the governor's race in Washington state because (wait for it) there are "lingering questions about why the county shows more votes counted than people voting on Nov. 2."
Unbelievable.
And by "unbelievable," I mean "completely believable."
Any of the conservative people reading this blog care to explain this one?
[* - besides the fact that a Democrat won, I mean]
But now another day has dawned and what do we see? ... Why it's the Republicans filing a lawsuit to challenge the results of the governor's race in Washington state because (wait for it) there are "lingering questions about why the county shows more votes counted than people voting on Nov. 2."
Unbelievable.
And by "unbelievable," I mean "completely believable."
Any of the conservative people reading this blog care to explain this one?
[* - besides the fact that a Democrat won, I mean]
January 6, 2005
Democracy: Yea or Nay? Only 32 out of 530 members of the Senate and House voted Yes to investigate Election Day problems in Ohio.
There have been scores of oddities reported since November 2, including the fact that two Perry County precincts reported turnouts of 124.4% and 124% of registered voters. Nearly 94% of the Senate and House said that wasn't worth taking a closer look at, so those totals were officially certified today as part of the final count. ... Move along, nothing to see here.
I undoubtedly have disagreements with many of the 32 names listed below, but on the issue of having fair elections in this country, they are only ones worth listening to. The other 498 can go to hell.
Senate (74-1, 25 non-votes):
Barbara Boxer (California)
House (267-31, 132 non-votes):
Corrine Brown (Florida)
Julia Carson (Indiana)
William Clay Jr. (Missouri)
James Clyburn (South Carolina)
John Conyers (Michigan)
Danny Davis (Illinois)
Lane Evans (Illinois)
Sam Farr (California)
Bob Filner (California)
Raul Grijalva (Arizona)
Alcee Hastings (Florida)
Maurice Hinchey (New York)
Jesse Jackson Jr. (Illinois)
Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas)
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (Ohio)
Carolyn Kilpatrick (Michigan)
Barbara Lee (California)
John Lewis (Georgia)
Ed Markey (Massachusetts)
Cynthia McKinney (Georgia)
John Olver (Massachusetts)
Major Owens (New York)
Frank Pallone Jr. (New Jersey)
Donald Payne (New Jersey)
Jan Schakowsky (Illinois)
Bennie Thompson (Mississippi)
Maxine Waters (California)
Diane Watson (California)
Lynn Woolsey (California)
Several other Democrats made excellent speeches -- Mel Watt (North Carolina), Grace Napolitano (California), Barack Obama (Illinois) (as did Independent Bernie Sanders (Vermont)) -- but they all turned chickenshit when the time came to vote.
There have been scores of oddities reported since November 2, including the fact that two Perry County precincts reported turnouts of 124.4% and 124% of registered voters. Nearly 94% of the Senate and House said that wasn't worth taking a closer look at, so those totals were officially certified today as part of the final count. ... Move along, nothing to see here.
I undoubtedly have disagreements with many of the 32 names listed below, but on the issue of having fair elections in this country, they are only ones worth listening to. The other 498 can go to hell.
Senate (74-1, 25 non-votes):
Barbara Boxer (California)
House (267-31, 132 non-votes):
Corrine Brown (Florida)
Julia Carson (Indiana)
William Clay Jr. (Missouri)
James Clyburn (South Carolina)
John Conyers (Michigan)
Danny Davis (Illinois)
Lane Evans (Illinois)
Sam Farr (California)
Bob Filner (California)
Raul Grijalva (Arizona)
Alcee Hastings (Florida)
Maurice Hinchey (New York)
Jesse Jackson Jr. (Illinois)
Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas)
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (Ohio)
Carolyn Kilpatrick (Michigan)
Barbara Lee (California)
John Lewis (Georgia)
Ed Markey (Massachusetts)
Cynthia McKinney (Georgia)
John Olver (Massachusetts)
Major Owens (New York)
Frank Pallone Jr. (New Jersey)
Donald Payne (New Jersey)
Jan Schakowsky (Illinois)
Bennie Thompson (Mississippi)
Maxine Waters (California)
Diane Watson (California)
Lynn Woolsey (California)
Several other Democrats made excellent speeches -- Mel Watt (North Carolina), Grace Napolitano (California), Barack Obama (Illinois) (as did Independent Bernie Sanders (Vermont)) -- but they all turned chickenshit when the time came to vote.
January 5, 2005
Standing With Conyers. Tomorrow, January 6, Representative John Conyers will object to Ohio's presidential vote count. However, he will not be allowed to speak unless at least one other member of the Senate agrees to let him have the floor. And that act would force a debate and investigation about what happened in Ohio (and at this point, to think the 2004 elections were fair and correct, can only be ignorance, whether willful or otherwise).
As fellow Red Sox fan William Pitt writes:
As fellow Red Sox fan William Pitt writes:
In a perfect world, all 100 Senators would stand up because of one simple fact: They are where they are because of the vote, and if they do not protect that vote, it may be them looking at the short end of the stick come some future election day. All 100 should stand, but it only takes one. It only takes one to move us closer to that more perfect union, where every vote counts and every vote is counted, where the citizenry can trust that the people leading them were properly chosen, where partisans acting in the dark of night to thwart that simple, admirable goal are exposed and purged from our system.It couldn't be more simple: If we don't have fair elections -- if Democrats or Republicans are able to suppress votes and rig voting machines -- what makes this a democracy? ... So take one minute and tell your senators to stand up for honest elections.
January 2, 2005
Behind The Scenes. Bob Hohler has an excellent look at some of what Terry Francona dealt with last season:
The moment Francona first extended his hand in spring training to Manny Ramirez, the slugger verbally lashed out at the new manager, then briefly boycotted the first team meeting. ... Angered by Pedro Martinez breaking protocol and bolting from Camden Yards before the game ended after he pitched in a 7-2 loss on Opening Day in Baltimore, Francona privately engaged in a long, heated argument with Martinez the next day. ...Johnny Damon has finished the book he's writing with Peter Golenbock. Amazon says the title is "Idiot: ... Or How I Learned to Stop Thinking and Beat 'The Curse'" and it is scheduled for an Opening Day release.
Francona kept secrets, protected reputations, and prevented isolated personnel problems from mushrooming into destructive media conflagrations ... even as he served as a season-long lightning rod for public criticism.
The Steal. Bill Burt talks to Dave Roberts:
"Normally, guys don't like when a pitcher throws over that many times. But honestly, it got me in the game. After the second throw over, I felt like I had played nine innings. I was so focused. ... [After Rivera's third throw] I was going no matter what."
Scoring that 9th inning run "was the greatest feeling I've ever had on the baseball field. ... Friends of mine are telling me that that stolen base will be a defining moment in my career."
I don't know when (or if) Roberts will ever play in Fenway Park again, but if he does, the ovation he'll get will be deafening.
"Normally, guys don't like when a pitcher throws over that many times. But honestly, it got me in the game. After the second throw over, I felt like I had played nine innings. I was so focused. ... [After Rivera's third throw] I was going no matter what."
Scoring that 9th inning run "was the greatest feeling I've ever had on the baseball field. ... Friends of mine are telling me that that stolen base will be a defining moment in my career."
I don't know when (or if) Roberts will ever play in Fenway Park again, but if he does, the ovation he'll get will be deafening.
Bush Math. The New York Times reports on Bush's campaign promise to cut the deficit in half by 2009:
To make Mr. Bush's goal easier to reach, administration officials have decided to measure their progress against a $521 billion deficit they predicted last February rather than last year's actual shortfall of $413 billion.Not only that, but the White House is not including (a) costs for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, (b) the cost of major initiatives like overhauling Social Security, and (c) "trillions of dollars in [other] costs that lie just outside Mr. Bush's five-year budget window."
By starting with the outdated projection, Mr. Bush can say he has already reduced the shortfall by about $100 billion and claim victory if the deficit falls to just $260 billion.
The Disappeared. The Bush Administration is considering a Pentagon/CIA request for "a more permanent approach for potentially lifetime detentions, including for hundreds of people now in military and CIA custody whom the government does not have enough evidence to charge in courts." ... Remember: they hate us because we're a beacon of freedom throughout the world.
Your Tax Dollars At Work. A document posted at The Memory Hole cites a June 1994 Air Force proposal ("Harassing, Annoying, and 'Bad Guy' Identifying Chemicals") which suggested possible new chemical weapons, including:
Chemicals that effect human behavior so that discipline and morale in enemy units is adversely effected. One distasteful but completely non-lethal example would be strong aphrodisiacs, especially if the chemical also caused homosexual behavior. [spelling as in original]Total cost of the project through fiscal year 2000: $7.5 million.
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