May 27, 2007
Ranger ballpark
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
YES Men
I told you that I like the men over at the YES network even though they are Yankees... check out their commentary about the umpire. It's very funny --
Monday, December 17, 2007
Fenway Flashback: Who Loves Mirabelli??
May 21, 2007
Yankee Stadium
Well it comes as a surprise to me, but I have to say if I can't watch a game on NESN the YES Network is the next best thing. Yes, that's the Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network. Isn't that crazy??
Although the men of YES are clearly Yankees, they are quite respectful of the Sox. I especially enjoy John Flaherty, a former catcher, who actually made his way up through the Red Sox farm system and bounced around the majors before he became a Yankee. Flaherty has only been out of baseball for a few years, so he played with most of the guys out there and gives great insight into what's going on in their heads -- or at least what would be going on in his head. Maybe it's his Sox background that influences the whole staff, but the YES men are far more fair and respectful than other regional networks (like the evil MASN).
Flaherty can't say enough about Tim Wakefiled. Like many catchers, knuckleballs freak him out. He gushes on and on and on about Mirabelli.
Laughs! I especially like that he quotes Varitek as saying Dougie has the perfect personality for catching knuckleballs because he doesn't really care that much. That's funny...
Overall the Wakefield game was pretty rough. Again we gave him no run support. Do you think that the boys are watching the knuckleball while they are in the field, then when they get up to bat, they don't even remember how to swing? Something is definitely wrong with the Sox bats on Wakey's nights...
A few nice memories from the night though -- first there must be nothing scarier in the world than Papi running at you full speed. Especially if your teeny little Jeter:
And here's a nice defensive play by Manny. Yes, you read that right -- a defensive play by Manny! I just really love the look on his face when he gets up, like he's as surprised as anyone..
Yankee Stadium
Well it comes as a surprise to me, but I have to say if I can't watch a game on NESN the YES Network is the next best thing. Yes, that's the Yankee Entertainment and Sports Network. Isn't that crazy??
Although the men of YES are clearly Yankees, they are quite respectful of the Sox. I especially enjoy John Flaherty, a former catcher, who actually made his way up through the Red Sox farm system and bounced around the majors before he became a Yankee. Flaherty has only been out of baseball for a few years, so he played with most of the guys out there and gives great insight into what's going on in their heads -- or at least what would be going on in his head. Maybe it's his Sox background that influences the whole staff, but the YES men are far more fair and respectful than other regional networks (like the evil MASN).
Flaherty can't say enough about Tim Wakefiled. Like many catchers, knuckleballs freak him out. He gushes on and on and on about Mirabelli.
Laughs! I especially like that he quotes Varitek as saying Dougie has the perfect personality for catching knuckleballs because he doesn't really care that much. That's funny...
Overall the Wakefield game was pretty rough. Again we gave him no run support. Do you think that the boys are watching the knuckleball while they are in the field, then when they get up to bat, they don't even remember how to swing? Something is definitely wrong with the Sox bats on Wakey's nights...
A few nice memories from the night though -- first there must be nothing scarier in the world than Papi running at you full speed. Especially if your teeny little Jeter:
And here's a nice defensive play by Manny. Yes, you read that right -- a defensive play by Manny! I just really love the look on his face when he gets up, like he's as surprised as anyone..
A-Rod vs. Katie
A-Rod was on 60 Minutes last night, interviewed by Katie Couric. No part of my brain can even venture to guess why they chose Couric to do the interview. She was worse than awful. Couric tried to be hard hitting in her questions, but failed to get much of a response from Rodriguez. Like most athletes, his answers were short, answering yes or no whenever he could. Couric failed run with it, and try to draw out his answers. Instead, she simply went on and read her next question. She didn't even read them well. A-Rod was pretty stoic through most of the interview. The big focus was, of course, whether he'd ever done steroids, which, of course, he said had not. I don't know whether I believe him or not. But this I do believe:
"I've never felt overmatched on the baseball field. I've always been a very strong, dominant position. And I felt that if I did my work as I've done since I was, you know, a rookie back in Seattle, I didn't have a problem competing at any level. So, no."
A-Rod showed a led ittle humility and honesty when he was asked about his post season play ("I stunk"), about getting booed by Yankee fans ("It's awful. It's terrible."), and about interrupting the World Series with his announcement about leaving the Yankees ("nightmare"). The blame for a lot of A-Rod's problems can easily be traced back to Boras and Alex did express disappointment in that relationship, but he didn't seem like he had the balls (or is it brains?) to unload the Anti-Christ.
Overall, A-Rod came off a little dumber than I expected. I expected him to dance around questions like he danced around base paths, but he's not quick witted enough to do that. He also came off more honest than I expected. I thought he'd be defensive and cocky. Almost makes me want to believe him... another thing that I do believe though -- when showing Katie his trophy room, he said he'd trade it all for a world championship...
read the transcript of the 60 Minutes interview and watch some video clips here.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Fenway Flashback: The Sun Comes Out
May 19, 2007
It rained and rained and rained in May in Boston. Faced with their second rain out, the Sox faced their second day/night double header, this time against the Atlanta Braves. They ended up playing both games in the rain and the result was the longest, most painful double-header, I've seen. It took me the entire week to watch. The Sox won the first one 13-3. The highlight was an unnecessary grand slam by Mike Lowell. I began mocking to National League to anyone who would listen. Then I ate my words, because the Sox were shut out in the second game 14-0. At least i think it was 14. I wasn't paying that close of attention. I was busy praying for it to end. That game marked the first start that Beckett missed because of that pesky blister. Devern Handsack took the mound and wasn't as bad as I thought. I'm guessing he would have been better if he'd been throwing to Tek, but the double-header-ness forced Mirabelli into a rare, non-Wakefield start. The highlight of that second game was this:
"Rem-Dawg have your colonoscopy with us. GI girls heart the Sox."
May 21, 2007
The sun came out and the Sox redeemed themselves in their final game against the Braves. Because they used 4 pitchers in 3 days with those double headers, they called up yet another pitcher from the PawSox. Welcome Kason Gebbard. Not only did he look hotter than hot, he exuded big league confidence and racked up strike outs.
(Further research indicates that Gebbard is now a Texas Ranger)
Gebbard's outstanding performance made me wonder why the Sox feel they need to buy Santana for $20M per year. The Sox no longer need to buy success. They've got what it takes to build an empire from the draft up. But we need to keep our little rookies, like Ellsbury and Lester, and give them the time they need to become worthy of superstar salaries like Santana. Let's build an empire based on hard work and loyalty . It's exactly what baseball needs right now...
It rained and rained and rained in May in Boston. Faced with their second rain out, the Sox faced their second day/night double header, this time against the Atlanta Braves. They ended up playing both games in the rain and the result was the longest, most painful double-header, I've seen. It took me the entire week to watch. The Sox won the first one 13-3. The highlight was an unnecessary grand slam by Mike Lowell. I began mocking to National League to anyone who would listen. Then I ate my words, because the Sox were shut out in the second game 14-0. At least i think it was 14. I wasn't paying that close of attention. I was busy praying for it to end. That game marked the first start that Beckett missed because of that pesky blister. Devern Handsack took the mound and wasn't as bad as I thought. I'm guessing he would have been better if he'd been throwing to Tek, but the double-header-ness forced Mirabelli into a rare, non-Wakefield start. The highlight of that second game was this:
"Rem-Dawg have your colonoscopy with us. GI girls heart the Sox."
May 21, 2007
The sun came out and the Sox redeemed themselves in their final game against the Braves. Because they used 4 pitchers in 3 days with those double headers, they called up yet another pitcher from the PawSox. Welcome Kason Gebbard. Not only did he look hotter than hot, he exuded big league confidence and racked up strike outs.
(Further research indicates that Gebbard is now a Texas Ranger)
Gebbard's outstanding performance made me wonder why the Sox feel they need to buy Santana for $20M per year. The Sox no longer need to buy success. They've got what it takes to build an empire from the draft up. But we need to keep our little rookies, like Ellsbury and Lester, and give them the time they need to become worthy of superstar salaries like Santana. Let's build an empire based on hard work and loyalty . It's exactly what baseball needs right now...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
