m-l-b-dot-t-v

so MLB.tv has started sprinkling the commercial breaks with their own ads. Yes, I pay to see the games on MLB.tv and StiLL get commercials for MLB.tv. Messed up. The commercials are mostly a smattering of MLB players saying keep watching MLB.tv. They've been adding lots of players lately which, I suppose, is supposed to make the words MLB.tv less boring. And honestly, hearly A-Rod struggle with the pronunciation, is less boring. However, Coco Crisp is the latest and greatest addition. Listen to how he adds the line with style. I've heard it 100 times and it still makes me laugh. I'm cuckoo for Coco Crisp.

500!

I remember finishing my Master's degree. I remember sitting in that meeting, answering question after question. I remember walking out into an empty office knowing I'd done it-- that i had finished. I remember the lack of event. No fireworks. The world didn't stop. The lack of fanfare was shocking and disappointing. Years of study went into that lack of fanfare. Many many more years went into Manny's lack of fanfare at Camden Yard.

I hate MASN. I watch all the Sox games on MLB.tv (more on that later) and I see all the other networks. Obviously I find NESN the most entertaining. And in a close second I dig YES. And Way way way in last are the biased boys of MASN. They are the ones who reported that Shill's sock was a fake. So yes, if Manny were to hit his 500 with the absolutely least appreciative network, it would surely be MASN. They never miss an opportunity to insult Manny. And they didn't even after Manny inducted himself unceremoniously into the hall of fame. I feel blessed to have witness this, Manny's 500th homerun, the 24th such homerun to be hit in major league baseball. Clearly, we are all blessed to have witnessed such a hitter as they clearly do not come along every day.

499

Lost in Seattle

LOST is always full of Red Sox references. Tonight the Sox game included a LOST reference! Juliet (aka Elizabeth Mitchell) was spotted in the crowd wearing a Sox hat, of course!

Double Trouble

Nothing is better than a bench clearing ejection, but almost as fun is a random double ejection! Pent up and permanently frustrated Lugo got thrown out while minding his business at short and Francona followed. I loving watching Tito jaw with the umps because he's otherwise so mellow. It's shocking (and funny) to see him so worked up...

E-6? You make the call...

I don't think this was scored as an error but I'm sure it would have been if Lugo had been the one at short. I wish the media would cut Lugo a little slack because the (1) shortstop is a hard position and probably the one in which you have the opportunity for the most errors and (2) the stress of sucking only makes you suck more...

Japanese Jumping Jacks?

Before he came out of the game, clutching his back with a fatigued shoulder, I watched Dice-K do these crazy jumping jacks behind the mound.

It took me a minute to realize that he was cleaning his cleats. Sure is an athletic fellow... Now let me just state for the record, that before Dice-K's back, I mean, shoulder injury, I mean, fatigue, he was losing his first game. Now the ironic part is that he was pitching better, IMHO, than we've seen him all year. By that I mean that he was not walking every other batter. There are rumblings about putting him on the DL. Thankfully, the Sox have a plethora of pitchers...

Are the Good Days Gone?

I love Mike Timlin. He seems like a great guy. I'm sure there are tons of benefits to keep the veteran clubhouse guy on the roster, but I've begun to cringe everytime he takes the mound. While it's not as bad as when Gagne' took the mound last season, I do have to watch through my fingers. I do assume that Timlin will give up a homerun. Granted, I am occasionally pleasantly surprised. But on a night when the rest of the was glorious, the Sox handed the Mariners the win. While the Mariners went for it, taking the risk by throwing JJ Putz, their closer, in the ninth. We played it, uh, safe, I guess, by saving our best for last. Last never came.

While some pitchers recreate themselves, replacing velocity with command, Timlin hasn't exactly done this. Sad as it is to say, I think it might be time for Timmy to retire. Or at least be reserved for days when the game has been decided long before the ninth...

I'm uncomfortable with change...

I don't have the luxury of watching all the Sox games on NESN. Being on the left coast, I rely on MLB.tv for my game coverage and they generally opt to show the home team's network. So I see the game but I don't get the in-depth explanations of the all-knowing Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo. For example, why, oh why, did Jason Varitek bleach his gear?

Beige is not a good look on a drab grey uniform. However if it busts this traveling slump I guess I'm for it..
BTW, Happy 2,000th game, Manny!

Fenway Flashback: In the middle of Yankee-Red Sox chaos, a squirrel finds a quiet spot

8-28-08 Yankee Stadium

Home, Sweet Home

It's been rainy and cold here for the better part of the week. It's getting depressing. And the Sox.... well, that's getting depressing, too. So I decided to take a trip down memory lane to last week when the boys hit 2 grand slams in one game.