Fenway Flashback: Manny Being Post-Season Manny

September 5, 2007
Fenway Park
ALDS Game 2 LAA@BOS

There are lots of reasons that I will miss Manny. This is not one of them:

Neither is this:

But this, this I will certainly miss:

Almost makes all the antics worthwhile, doesn't it?

Wardrobe Malfunction

Video courtesy of MLB.com and FSN Northwest
Last night, Lester grabbed his, ahem, groin in the 7th inning, prompting a visit from Jason Varitek, followed by Terry Francona and Paul Lessard. It was later reported that it was "discreet equipment adjustment". Now that's as funny as Manny getting in trouble for jaywalking!

BTW, I'm still having trouble with the flash player. It's playing the videos twice, still, so if you bother to watch them, hit pause at the midpoint. I spent most of today trying out other players but haven't been able to get any to cooperate with blogger.

screw you youtube

Still mad at the youtube and aol conspiracy and all those kind folks who go around reporting copyright violators, I spent much of the day test driving different flash converters. The results of my experimenting is this little clip of manny losing the ball under his ass. It gets funnier each time I see it. Which is good because I can't seem to stop the video from looping through twice.

This video belongs to MLB.com and FSN West

And this man wants a Gold Glove

My favorite moment

Alhtough I did enjoy the hit parade that was last night's game, I got the best laugh from this Manny moment when he hurdled little Ellsbury to avoid a collison out there in left center. Here's the copy that is totally owned by nesn and illegally posted by me:

Answering the call...

Extra Bases reported that Manny was seen in the scoreboard, escaping the sweltering sun at Fenway yesterday during a pitching change. I know it's not unusual for Manny to be seen in the scoreboard. What was unusual this time, is that he was seen making a phone call. Lol. Manny got his bat back and his sense of humor =)

In more cellphone news, Extra Bases also reported that Mike Lowell was caught stealing -- a cellphone, not a base! When asked about it, Lowell said he only stole the phone because there were no peanuts or nachos to steal. He said he's always on the look out for peanuts and nachos. Would have been even funnier if he stole a beer! There are video clips of the snatch on the Extra Bases blog.

And most importantly, the batting gods smiled upon the struggling sox lineup last night and gave every slumping sock his swing back. Even long after the game was one and everyone, especially Jerry Remy, wanted to go home and kick back a cold beer, they kept on hitting and hitting and hitting. This game will definitely be used as an argument in favor of allowing to teams to forfeit their at-bats.... Here's hoping the boys can keep the hitting going right through the weekend as the Orioles come to town.

Personally, I've been buying into all the all-star hype, getting all psyched up for another all-star game, forgetting that I hate all-star snooze-fests. I've been a little bit stressed about what exactly I'm going to do with myself over the 3 off days, though. And then I remembered that the All-Star break isn't a national holiday and I don't actually have any days off! Still don't know what I'm going to do without ballgames to watch!

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

Manny Being Manny

The highlight from yesterday's disaster of an outing in Baltimore was clearly Manny's crazy catch and assist. Manny made an out-stretched catch just shy of the wall, ran up the wall and high-fived a Sox fan, ran down the wall, and fired to the infield in time to get the runner who had to go back to first to tag. Lovelovelove when Manny plays defense!

498

Manny's right on track to hit the big 500 on the next homestand...Here's 498:

While I'm celebrating Manny, I thought I'd share these pictures of Manny hanging out in the scoreboard during the Angels game a couple of weeks ago.

It's The End of An Era

The Red Sox have designated Julian Tavarez for assignment. It looks like they are trying to trade him to the Rockies. Either way, it's the end of an era. As much as he drove me nuts, I'm really gonna miss the crazy fellow! For old times sake, here's Manny petting Julian...

497 = 427

Finally, Manny busted his homerun slump and is back on track toward #500...

Whose line is it, anyway?

IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
2.2	2 0	0	0	0	4	0

Can you guess whose line that is? Oki? MannyD? Nope!! It belongs to this nutcase:

And his partner in crime hit a game winning homerun, they are definitely my collective player of the game...

The come-from-behind 9th inning was phenomenal. It had it all -- great base running, bunting, Ortiz hitting!!!, and Manny's homerun. I couldn't pick a clip of the day so here's the whole half inning (up until the pitching change)...

And Manny actually spoke to the press about it. Well, "spoke to the press about it" might be an exaggeration. But he did stand in front of the mic looking just slightly less annoyed than Josh Beckett. His answers are, of course, unintentionally hilarious.

Manny rolls through a stop sign

Manny Being Manny and Big Papi Being Big Papi

Now that games count again, (Thank God!) the Sox pitching is back on track. Dice-K and Lester both threw outstanding games against the Oakland As. Papelbon's command came back as well. The bats were looking a little jet-lagged until Big Papi hit this fantastic homerun. Manny, of course, tried to steal the show -- and he succeeded by starring in the funniest clip of the day. I love Manny being Manny...