Keeping up with the Joneses, Gonzalezes, Martinizes...

Theo is back in action, making plans for the 2010 Sox.

Alex Gonzalez
Sox declined his 2010 option, but are still negotiating for 2010.

** Victor Martinez
Sox pick up his 2010 option. Theo has declared Martinez to be the Sox everyday catcher. While Tek will likely don a Sox jersey next year, the Varitek era is over.

** Tim Wakefield
Sox drop his option, but sign him for less money to a two year contract, which by all accounts, will be his last.

Jason Varitek
Sox decline his option, but Tek has his own option for less money.

Two wild and crazy guys

I'd like to thank the crazy fans from Toronto, who dress as umpires and call the games from the stands. Toronto embarrassed the Sox this week and the games would have been downright painful to watch had it not been for the umpire fans.

Here is Don and Jerry's commentary on the umpire guys. The are behind the plate, just to the right, barely in the frame. (It's worth enlarging the video)

They are most entertaining when they ring up a guy on a called third strike:

Awesome.

Sooner or later, he was bound to explode... Fight Night 2009

Classic. Not only did Youk charge the mound after getting hit by a pitch yet again, but he actually chased the scared young pitcher and threw his helmet at him. Notice Penny, who came out to join the party as Youkilis was leaving the field.

Once the dust settled, Bay tied the score and Francona, still a little worked up, got himself tossed. That fired him up even more. After the toss, is some awesome commentary by Eck on Brad Penny's late arrival and shower shoes.

John Smoltz and Josh Beckett are a deadly combination. Just ask George Kottaras

In the batting adventure that was Sunday's Sox-Orioles 18-10 (is that right? I lost track) debacle, the boys in the dugout got a little bored. Nothing like the bubble on the head trick to liven up a 4 hour blowout. Thank you, John Smoltz.

Thank you, NESN!

Thanks to NESN and Don Orsillo, in particular, for pointing out the similarities between Disco Denny and Barry Gibb.


Why is there not a DH in the All-Star game? Doesn't it more guys a chance to play????

Game 3 part 2

8th inning

After an hour of non- baseball activities, the game is archived. I half heartedly watch.
Saito proves he is not Timlin 2009.
I doze and awake to Don yelling.
Take a chance that rewind doesn't crash player. It doesn't.
Holy crap. Cc is finally out. Sox score. Tie it. Take the lead. Holy crap. Is this the best game of the year?

9th inning



OMG!!! NICK GREEN PROVES HE IS NOT JULIO LUGO!
He wins baseball boyfriend of the day.
2 down.
Mrs. Texiera. Enough said.

8-0.

2009.

I think we might be watching something special happen here.

Why baseball should not be played in a circus tent

I went and bought myself a slick little screen recorder (iShowU) and so I can make little video clips once again. I just had to clip this lovely snippet of Josh Beckett trying to shag fly balls during BP. Luckily, the Twins will have a new ballpark next year and will be moving out of the trash bag lined circus tent.


video courtesy of nesn

Karma's a bitch

I take full responsibility for last night's debacle and for that, I send my sincerest apologies to Jonathan Van Every and the Red of the Boston Red Sox who were humiliated in St. Pete last night. When the Yankees were forced to use Nick Swisher as a pitcher earlier this season against the DEVIL Rays, I was thoroughly entertained by the idea. I spent days relishing in the collapse of the most expensive pitching staff in baseball. Yeah, karma's a bitch. Last night, the Red Sox found themselves in the exact same situation in the same circus tent and chose to let Jonathan Van Every pitch the 8th inning rather than tax the already exhausted bullpen. While it was embarrassing to watch Van Every hurling 75mph fastballs and Javy Lopez chasing balls in right field, the loss did put things in perspective for me. I hate the Devil Rays. It's somewhat irrational, but I really hate them. I don't know what it is -- if it is their obnoxious fair weather fans -- Did you notice the stands were quite empty last night despite being packed with raging cowbells last fall? Maybe it's their horrible stadium that drives me over the edge. Did you see that homerun off the roof or catwalk or whatever? And poor Bay was running blind out there in left last night. The roof is the color of a baseball. Freaking genius. Maybe it is that they swagger like surly teenagers who think they have it all figured out. Whatever it is, I don't like them and I do not like losing to them and fueling their fire. I think I'd rather lose to the Yankees.

Why MLB.tv, why?????

It's a double header and shockingly enough I'm able to watch Game 1 without a problem. When the game went into a rain delay, I tried to switch to the yanks game but it crashed my browser. This is frightening to me because I didn't log our before it crashed and may be locked out of my own account. Luckily, I'm okay and can log in again. So I watch the second game flawlessly until the 7th when I rewind because I miss what Dob and Jerry are laughing about. The browser crashes again. Now I'm really worried that I'll get locked out. Again I am spared and am able to start the 7th again. However at the end if that half inning, it freezes. The video just sticks on the commercial. I logout and reload the page. Nothing. I turn off nexdef. I paid extra for this but turn it off nonetheless. The video starts again and is... a......little. .... Chop...........py.....to.............say.................the................least. After much cursing, I turn down the video quality to one bar. Whew. It's much smoother. I can't read the score, but at least the video is smooth.

Yeah, that helps...

It was so disappointing to have Opening Day delayed yesterday but yeah, this made it a little easier to swallow.

Of course, it means nothing, but it's pretty fun! Go Orioles! =)

That Little Leprechaun

A little leprechaun joined the Sox on the field yesterday, to bring them luck in their quest for the Mayor's Cup. Apparently David Ortiz taped the number 15 on his back. Very funny. The little fellow later joined Don and Jerry in the booth. Man, baseball on St. Patrick's Day is fun!



screencaps courtesy of NESN

Welcome back, Remy!

Boy was it good to have Remy back for the Yankees game last week. Nothing makes spring training more fun than Remy trying to find something to distract himself when the innings drag on. Last week, it was the Yankees Igawa running in the outfield that caught Jerry's eye....


video courtesy of NESN

LOST writers sound off on the Yankees Red Sox rivalry

Thanks to abc.com for this lovely clip of LOST writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse discussing their personal Red Sox versus Yankees rivalry. It was part of last week's official audio podcast. I just love it when my obsessions overlap! ;)

Papelbon interviews the pen

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?

Spring!

How stinking cute is Jon Lester for showing up at spring training before Truck Day!?

Now I definitely need to get cable tv....

It became apparent early this off-season that the Sox were not going to re-sign Sean Casey. While I agree that there are better options defensively, I was sad to the charming first baseman go. Well, luckily, he won't be going to far! Casey has opted to retire and join the MLB network. Here's hoping they let him interview players (and keep him from talking about wrestling!).

Fenway Flashback: Remember This Guy??

October 3, 2007
Fenway Park
ALDS Game 1 LAA@BOS

I sure hope this guy is back in 2009....

Fenway Flashback: When Bugs Attack

October 5, 2007
Cleveland, OH
While the Sox were enjoying their ALDS sweep of the Angels, the Yankees were struggling against the Cleveland Indians. I mean, really struggling. It was really fun to watch. Like when someone gave Bobby Abreu a glass bat:

And later that same night, someone released sweat-seeking bugs into the park. Who would have thought that teeny little bugs could get the best of big boy Joba Chamberlain. Here's the bug inning. Seriously, is there anything funnier than men swatting madly at invisible bugs, especially when those men are A-Rod and Jeter.

Good times...

Welcome back, Kotsay!

In honor of Kotsay signing on for 2009...