A New Closing Time?

The International League hopes not to see this guy again.
(farm4.static.flickr.com)

It's probably so hard to reminisce about Spring Training. You know, that time when pretty much close to nothing happened? The craziness of Manny's antics and the long-haired circus of yesteryear apparently left sunny Fort Myers. But for me, there was Daniel Bard. Just coming off being the 2008 Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the year, there was already a mild swarm of buzz surrounding the young 23-year old entering camp. But I don't really think that the Nation was ready for what was to arrive. It appeared as if this kid just hopped out of bed in Fort Myers and catapulted the ball into triple-digit insanity. He may have not been the biggest story heading into camp in terms of media focus, but that didn't curb my intrigue one bit. I mean who was the last guy who launched the ball 100 MPH in a Red Sox uniform? Not Pedro, not Roger*, not even our current closer and beloved Riverdancer Papelbon could turn it up to that 6th gear. And just to find out that he struck out 5 straight batters in a brilliant 2 1/3 inning performance against the Blue Jays last night (Forgive me for missing the game. Just chilling in Oriole Park watching the highly-buzzed debut of the mighty Wieters, which provoked me to write this entry.). This is exactly why this kid is worth the buzz, and probably loads more. In the illustrious 108 year history of the franchise, it just might be possible that we may never have seen anything like Mr. Bard.

Could this guy be dancing in our hearts in 2012?
(cdn.bleacherreport.com)

The kid's story starts right out of high school when he signed as the 604th pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft by of all teams, The Empire. After not signing (smart move Danny!), he signed with the Sox as the 28th pick of the 2006 Amateur draft, just months after leading his UNC Tarheels to the finals in the College World Series. Despite the promise, Bard didn't exactly set the world ablaze in his first year in the professional ranks. A 7-plus ERA wasn't exactly microscopic, but it was the lack of control (78 BB in 75 1/3 IP in 22 starts) was the problem that needed a little highlighter. So much highlighter in fact, that the Single A bosses made the decision to put Bard down to the 'pen. Winter ball in Hawaii redeemed the decision, as he threw for a 1.08 ERA in 16 appearances. Despite the remaining control issues, the Sox brass knew they were on to something heading into '08. In Single and Double A, the flamethrower whiffed 107 in 77 2/3 innings, showing that when he utilizes his control, he can be as untouchable as the stratosphere that he seems to be reaching. Receiving the honors of being the best Minor League pitcher in the system, followed by impressing the higher-ups in Spring Training didn't halt the kid one bit. In 58 batters in Triple A, he struck out half of them! On top of that, the fireballin' Bard (really struggling for a nickname) allowed only 5 BB and 2 ER in his 16 appearances in Pawtucket. Bard's dominance only made his call up this year more imminent, combined with the fact that Javier Lopez couldn't even get the dog out this year. With that, a new era in the Sox 'pen may have started on the 10th of May. Let the fireballing madness begin.

I smell some competition, Mr. Paps.
(swamigp.files.wordpress.com)

So we head into this afternoon. Bard's MLB stats so far: 8 1/3 IP, 3BB, 7 K's, and a 1.08 ERA. Not too shabby of a start for a guy who was supposed to be called up later in the season. I normally don't get excited with prospects, especially because they are just that. Prospects. They all have raw ability, they tear through the minors, but somehow don't have the gusto to maintain their swagger in The Show (i.e, Craig Hansen, Frankie Rodriguez), disappointing many. It seems as if it happens more than not. But this kid could be better with the simple fact that he has built his professional career through the adversity he had already faced in the beginning, which shows some strong character makeup. His stuff, consisting of a high 90's fastball with a breaking fastball in the mid 90's, is also worthy of at least some attention. If "Pyro" (How's this for a nickname?) can master his slider in the bigs, we could possibly be talking about the most feared pitcher in the Sox bullpen. Which brings me to the situation with our personification of dominance currently, Jonathan Papelbon, and how he said a few months back that he would likely test the free-agent waters a few years from now. It could be possible, that the Sox are grooming this kid extra-carefully (Only 23. I'm 23. Shows I haven't done that much in life in comparison. Damn.) so that he may become the future back-end stopper for the Crimson Hose. In fact, I know it's the ideal situation for the Sox brass, knowing how they don't like to throw multi-million dollar contracts to pitchers. And you always hear about Papelbon and his shoulder management program, which puts more of a red flag on the situation. This makes for some intriguing babble for the next couple years if Bard can keep pace of what he has produced so far. Bard anchoring the back of the bullpen seems like a stretch now, but who in the Nation wouldn't like to see 100 MPH in the 9th inning in a close game? With how the scenario is unfolding now, this could be even more of a reality than even Clay Buchholz becoming the ace of this staff. Storylines like this are all the more reason why a 162 game season just isn't long enough.

Putting My Sox On Again

The official pose of the 2009 BoSox Starters.
(bostondirtdogs.boston.com)

And you thought I wouldn't write about the Sox again. OK. I know you did. I know I have intelligent readers. But I admit to you it's a little awkward that it has been 24 days since I wrote anything about my Mudville 9. That's because I felt like I had to be caught up in every stat and tidbit before I wrote about the team again. Being in another continent let's just say has a little to do with it. But after seeing Beckett toss another strong start against the Twins in today's afternoon delight, I feel as if I'm ready to get back on the saddle. As always, there are a few things on my mind with the team and with the sport, good and bad. I'll try not to be too mundane, considering we are in first place, by a half-game mind you, but still on top. But I think I see a little bit of the Simon Cowell in me coming out. Don't say I didn't warn you. But I'll sprinkle some positivity here and there, I promise. We'll start off with a story that that broke just before I even left the country a few weeks back.

Say it ain't so Manny. A female fertility drug?
(everyjoe.com)

While in the middle of M&M World in NYC, I decide to check my phone for the weather forecast for the upcoming days in Sweden. What I found was a headline that almost had me faint in a rack of M&M pajamas. "Manny Ramirez Suspended 50 Games For....." I didn't need to read the rest. If you know me, I'm probably the last person on Earth who liked Manny and defended him to his very last antics in Boston. I was the first person everyone called when the Bay trade happened, almost like someone consoling the mourning. Despite all the times Manny had frustrated the front office and his teammates (I'm finally willing to say he did quit on them), he had excited the Fenway Faithful with so "Manny" memorable moments, including 2 World Series Titles, one of which he was the MVP. I was sort of a closet Dodger fan for the last months of the 2008 campaign, as he was destroying National League pitching at close to a .400 clip. But the drug suspension news probably just completed the separation process between Manny and me. Sure he would be the one who would high-five a fan after a catch, or go behind the Monster to do I don't wanna know what. But performance enhancers? I immediately wanted to get into defense mode, but realized from the many revelations before that it's pretty hard to defend someone who has been proven to have broken the steroid rules (See: Roger Clemens*, A-Rod*). The fact that I haven't put an asterisk to Manny probably shows I still have some sentiment, but this moment in time clearly showed me that I had to get rid of it. The weirdest part is that they found he had traces of a female fertility drug in his system. What? A FEMALE fertility drug? I guess I wouldn't leave it past Manny to have something that foreign in his system. Apparently, this is what is used to mask the steroids for testing. But still. WOW. Since the A-Rod* situation however, I just feel that anybody could be cheating, and that's the way it is. I don't even care anymore. This era of baseball happened, some high-profile names got busted, and we are beginning to move on. It's just frustrating to have to suspect every star player in the sport of drug use, and these recent findings don't help at all. However, I do feel that a majority of the players in the league do it the right way, and that the combination of testing, national shame, and the awareness of the health issues involving these drugs deter many from even wanting to use. As for the purity of the 2004 season, we'll we don't have evidence that he was using anything at that point. That's the only thing we can go by. But this just reminds us with the most painful fact of the steroid era that we will have way more questions about it than we can ever answer.

Well, apparently Papi still has his health, but that's it.
(espn.com)

It's great to get off the plane after a satisfying vacation and find that you favorite team has played well enough to capture first place. Most of the headlines I received when I was abroad were more from the surface. I was pumped when we swept the Blue Jays (who I predicted to be fourth in the East, possibly last), who are now in a huge tailspin. I saw that Jason Bay was tearing the cover off the ball, opening up more of a place in my heart for him (with the help of the indiscretions from you know who). But after getting back and settling into pure baseball mode again and reading everything that is happening, I wondered how they were still in first place. For starters (har, har, har), the starting pitching, which was supposed to be our bread and butter, is more like our moldy cheese and salami right now. The Sox came into today's game against the Twins with a gi-normous 5.36 ERA amongst their starters (26th out of 30 in the MLB). The supposedly dominant trio of Beckett, Lester, and Matsuzaka have combined for an 8-10 clip with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP (Still looking at those numbers in disbelief.). While Beckett is showing some signs of turning it around, Lester (6.07 ERA) is far from showing any evidence or consistency that he is ready to become the next dominant lefty in the game. Dice-K (8.82 ERA) is making it more difficult to expect more than 5 innings out of him, while pushing me further to buy a WBC voodoo doll. I'm about one more bad start away from convincing Tito that having the bullpen pitch the whole game could be a better idea than to trot one of those guys out there. Smoltzy can't come quick enough. On top of that, we're seeing a legend continuing to fade in front of our eyes. Papi's currently batting a measly .194 with a .297 in both OBP and slugging. Can you say, YIKES? Ever since his 1st dinger of the year on the 20th, he has gone 3 for his last 27 with only 1 RBI. So bad that he had to be dropped to 6th in the batting order for the first time since he was a Twin several years back. What's even more disheartening is that you know it's getting to him, as evident with him breaking his bat off his leg in this afternoon's game. You would think that homerun would have sparked Papi's confidence, and he would emerge as something of his former self. Nevermind being in the twilight zone, he has become the twilight zone. The Big Man doesn't seem like he has the same aura anymore, a mere ghost (Why can't I get cheesy Patrick Swayze movies out of my head?). As much as any Red Sox fan right now, I'm still hoping for the best, but at the same time must see the reality (gulp) that this could very well be it for a once dominant force in the batter's box. With all this, you would think that the Sox could easily be in 4th right now. But here come the rays of optimism I promised you.

Somebody give this man a moniker!
(mlb.mlb.com)

This afternoon, I read a small article on boston.com on how the Red Sox are in first place despite some of the glaring issues like the ones previously mentioned. For me, a few things come to mind. First off, how 'bout Mikey Lowell? Once considered a dead man limping, as of now he is on pace for a season arguably better than his 2007 campaign (ESPN Proj: 28 HR, 115 RBI's, 52 2Bs, 195 Hits, .524 SLUG). No one expected this. Not the scouts, not the Nation, probably not even Mikey Lowell himself. But I won't complain. His "I'm back" game was the April 25th game against the Yanks where he drove in 6 to help Boston win a slugfest. Not a bad time for an "I'm back" statement game, huh? Knocking on wood that nothing "Bo Jackson-esque" happens to him in the future. Who also would have figured that Jason Varitek would have 10 times as many homeruns right now as Big Papi? I think I feel the world flipping upside down on its axis now. I mean, you have to realize that 'Tek hit more homeruns this afternoon than Papi has hit all season. Sure his average is .248, but I sadly would have taken that from him last year (54 points over Papi now), and he is sure to smash his '08 total of 13 HR by the All-Star break. Then there is the combo of MVPedroia, Youkilis, and Bay who have just carried the offense brilliantly in '09. Right there, the Sox potentially have 3 MVP candidates that could sit dead-center in their lineup and pick up where Papi left off. The Nation would love it if the Big Man got back to form, no doubt. But I think the Sox are in safe hands with this trio. The trio have totaled so far 153 hits, 62 extra base hits, and 260 total bases. All that, and Youkilis was on the DL for a short period. You can't talk about this year's Sox team without talking about the insane job the bullpen has done this year. A 2.99 ERA coming into Thursday's game is solid enough for first in the majors amongst bullpens. The combination of Okajima, Masterson, Delcarmen, Saito and Papelbon have done there jobs in the back end of the 'pen (scary just to even look at). But how 'bout Ramon Ramirez? Brought in by the Crisp trade, all he has done is allowed 2 ER in 24.1 IP, a .139 average against, and has even saved a game this season. I'm sure there are teams who are dying to have him as a closer, and yet he's our 6th-7th inning guy. Not to mention that we have a kid called up right now who can throw triple digits. We just need to give the kid a nickname. I don't think Daniel Bard provokes that much fear on the loudspeaker. Not yet anyway. Not that I'm a conspiracy theorist or anything, but I think the Sox brass is secretly hoping this kid pans out just so they won't have to pay Papelbon the big dough and have his shoulder go out on him in the 2nd year of a 5 year multi-million contract. Just throwing it out there.

Look in those eyes. I think he sees October.
(bostonsports.mlblogs.com)

So there you have it. Like in every season, there are the grave concerns that waltz together with beams of hope. That's the beauty of this game. Even as the Yankees come surging from the dead, I look at the team and know that we could fend them off throughout the summer. The fact that we have beat them in every matchup this season doesn't hurt my confidence either. But regardless, it is those beams of hope that make the long haul turn out much more gratifying in the end. The length of the season is detrimental physically and mentally in some ways, but for the players teams who can create moments in that period of time, the feeling is extra euphoric. Even if an injury (just ask Kirk Gibson, '88) or a whole season (J.D Drew, '07) has brought you to the abyss, there are so many opportunities in this game to become the hero. Thriving in spite of that super-long grind is what makes a championship season in baseball so much more rewarding than in other sports. So as I leave for the Mid-Atlantic to get the first look at Matt Wieters, I will have no doubt have my eye on Papi, Lester, and Matsuzaka, for there is still plenty of time for redemption. Many complain that baseball has such a long season, but for many others, they're glad it works that way.

It's Good To Be Back....And To Go Back For More

I would stay anywhere to keep this guy hitting long balls.
(blog.masslive.com)

After 18 days, 8 flights, one 8 hour bus ride, visiting 5 majestic countries and collecting some of the best memories of my life, I am back in the land of the free. And there was soooooooo much to catch up on. I caught my first baseball game and first episode of Sportscenter since May 6th, but ironically am going to avoid McDonald's/Burger King for a little while, considering that it was my diet for most of the trip. Apparently my choice of cuisine didn't take a vacation. Taco Bell anyone? Anyway, if you ask about the jet lag, it has probably regulated my sleeping schedule, considering my body and mind were 6 hours behind schedule before the trip anyway. Since embarking on my crazy Euro Journey, the Red Sox captured 1st place (capped with the sweep of the previously red-hot Blue Jays), the unfortunate exits of the Bruins and Celtics from their respective postseason bids, gas somehow going up 30-35 cents, Manny becoming the latest PED casualty in the MLB, and most importantly Big Papi FINALLY going yard after almost 150 at-bats. Let's hope it doesn't have to take me going to Sweden (where I was May 20th) to have him go on a power streak (if you can call one a power streak). But on second thought, I probably wouldn't mind it. Sweden, Austria, Norway, or whatever land abroad, I seemed to have been captivated by the European aura. It's only been close to 48 hours since I returned to the Boston area, but I can already proclaim to all of you that this trip was a life-changing experience, and quite possibly a catalyst for more to come.

Viva Europa! Casa Europa? Stay tuned.
(CEB II)

It would be an understatement to call this latest Eurotrip a major step in my maturation process in the last half-decade. Not that I was Bozo The Clown entering my freshmen year of college, but I definitely didn't have the peripheral understanding I have now way back when. It's hard to develop a worldly mentality when you've grown up in one place for a huge majority of your life. In fact, in March 2006, I took my 1st flight in almost 16 years when I went to the Dominican Republic on Spring Break. Ever since that point, I have been on more flights than I can count, have seen so much more than I can remember, and have been in the European continent for a combined total of almost 4 weeks. And you know what? I want more. Coming back to the States allows me the opportunity to reconnect with the people and experiences that I enjoy about being home. The baseball games, barbecues, pick-up softball games, and poker tourneys are always welcomed in my heart. But it also brings me back to the stressful reality that I am coming back to a less than stellar recession situation looking for a job. Combined with my friends' stories that I've been hearing about their experiences in the office along with the limited amount on the pallet for my field of concentration, let's just say I have a little bit more on my mind than I did overseas (Have the Queen/Bowie "Under Pressure" in my head). Like I said in my second entry, moving out of the familiar confines may well be my best option at this point. But what if it is? Now more than ever, I am embracing the idea a lot more of leaving the state I've called home for 21 years of my life, and I may be willing to go real far to do it. My love for Europe along with the prospect of salvaging of my career path in the overseas realm makes for an intriguing possibility. It also gives me more of the cultural experiences that I'm looking for. I kind of regret not trying some Mozart Balls while I was in Vienna (It's an actual candy. It's chocolate and everything. Stop laughing! Nevermind.). Nevertheless, it seems as if a new opportunity is starting to shine brighter and brighter in front of me.

What I like to call "Direction Unknown".
(CEB II)

So a popular song by The Clash pretty much epitomizes my situation right now as I sit here watching the Sox and the Twins, pondering the direction I should go next. Now more than ever, I realize that I may need to go further out of my comfort bubble to start my career and the next chapter of my life. But it might not be the most frightening thing for me, considering I relish the occasional flight to another land. Staying on that land might present me more of a challenge, but may also present more opportunities to flourish in more ways abroad than I do right here. If I go, I know I'll miss tons of things from home. The trips to NYC, playing the Wii with my 6-year old cousins, attending games at America's Most Beloved Ballpark, and being only a short distance away from anybody I needed. But sacrificing those things might open up more for me. I just hate to think about that now, but I also am excited for what new experiences could potentially come from this. All I know is wherever I go, I have to have a NESN/ESPN package for the TV. There is no way I'm sacrificing THAT much my friends. Well, off to spending another stressful night on Careerbuilder.com, wondering if or when.


Before I Peace Out....

- Many have been asking me of photos from the trip. Unfortunately, they're held hostage in my friend's laptop right now, and it's too large of a quantity to just send in one shot. Once I get hold of my pictures again, expect some amazing montages from each country of the Eurotrip and some quality albums on my Facebook page. Get excited ladies and gents!


Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report (Haven't done this in a while.)
- Bubba Gump Shrimpz - 51-38-9 (Tied For 1st, Steroid Freaks' Anonymous, 1.5 UP)
Solid performances from players like Morneau and Lincecum are helping this team stay up in the standings in what could be a 7 team race now. Harden on DL expected. Hope Bannister will make a good substitute.

- Mocha Sox -18-48-4 (12th, Yahoo Public 38095, 25 GB)
Talk about a tank job of a season. Volquez now on the DL, which makes my pitching more of a question mark, even with Halladay. Grabow plugged in for closer, but how many opportunities will he get? I don't know why this offense (Uggla, Youkilis, Granderson, Sizemore, Lind) haven't become more dominant.

- Firehawks - 31-36-3 (8th, Yahoo Public 162279, 15.5 GB)
Offense lately has been Helton and Bay, but that's it. Possibly could see the resurrection of the 'Hawk offense with the arrival of Wieters on Friday (And I'm going to be at Oriole park to see it!). Pitching has been taking a huge turnaround despite the struggles of Lester. The once lost cause team now seems dangerously hot.

Norway - The Perfect Storm

Norwegian flag. I can get use to seeing this.
(CEB II)

On Saturday, I achieved a first in the Eurotrip in that I was actually going to a country that I had never been to before. Enter, Norway. Even though I knew their big national holiday was coming up, I didn't know what to expect in Oslo. I mean, the only thing I knew that came from Norway was the legendary group a-ha. You know, the "Take on Me" guys? Well, anyway, that was my only factoid of Norwegian history at the time. That, and that the Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding Olympics were held in Lillehammer in '94. My flight there had to have been easily the most festive flight that I had been on in this trip so far, everyone probably buzzed from the celebrations that were to come. After landing in the airport, I got out expecting some sort of Scandinavian Mardi Gras. What I got, was a ghost town.

Who has champagne, a flag, and likes Norway? This guy!
(CEB II)

I got out to what seemed like an evacuation. There were only about less than 10 planes in the airport, and not many establishments seemed to be open. Other than a few family members of some of the passengers and me having a little trouble with one of the automatic doors, there was about as much noise there as a Charlie Chaplin film. We got to our hotel with relative ease, still nobody on the streets. After settling at the hotel, we ended up strolling to the nearest 7-Eleven, or as I like to call, "The Embassy", for there seems to be one everywhere abroad. There, I ended up getting a simple Indian rice combo that cost the equivalent of $15. $15 dollars! I mean, $15 dollars? Let's avoid this for now. But it was here that we were informed of the madness known as Eurovision, in which virtually all the locals were fixated on. Armed with an explanation, and some expensive 7-Eleven food, my friend and I headed back to the hotel to catch the end of the contest. And the winner.........(drum roll)....Alexander Rybak representing the country of.......(louder drums)....NORWAY! Absolute craziness! Norway were the victors, and in world-record fashion. Aside from the fact that the guy was born in Minsk (his last name in Russian literally is "fisherman"), the victory gave the city of Oslo even more of an excuse to paint the town red (literally) with national pride. People now started to flood the streets and bars. The clock struck midnight, meaning it was officially syttende mai, May 17th, or Constitution Day for all you historians out there. I realized that the scene in which I arrived at 4 hours before was just the calm before the storm, a perfect storm. Get excited!

Oslo + May 17th = City of Crunk
(CEB II)

The next 24 hours were exactly what I expected upon arrival. I started off the night at a champagne bar a couple blocks from the hotel. What better way to start off a national holiday/Eurovision victory but with some bubbly. I hung out with a few of the locals, who helped us fathom the significance of the day and the celebrations ahead. After sleeping off the champagne, my friend and I went back into the city. We encountered a city of many locals gathered on a beautiful day, dressed in traditional garb, which I heard was reeeeeeeeeal expensive. And if they're expensive by Norway standards, it's probably something that needs a mortgage included. There were also many of what I call "moving discos" where apparently high-school grads rent out these vans for a month and just go nuts (Now thinking that I went to the wrong high school). I was patriotic in my own way, drinking a few glasses of Ringnes, the local brew, and waving my Norwegian flag down Karl Johans Gate. One can only imagine the deluge of people in every bar, monument, and restaurant in the city. It makes July 4th like a Tuesday night in the library. After going back to nap off the Ringnes buzz, I re-entered a city that wasn't even thinking of stopping the festivities. That night ended up being spent at a fancy club called La Belle Sole, a place where apparently the prince frequents. In there were the trendier, more beautiful young people in the city and of course, more Ringnes (excitement ensues). Nothing like a Norwegian royal cap-off for a couple of Americans to a crazy 24 hours that began with a "Fairytale" from a Belarusian-born violinist (By the way, that song is probably in my head for the rest of my life. I'm serious!).

Oslo. Sure to be back.
(CEB II)

The final day was a 180-degree transformation. Sunny skies were replaced by drizzly breezes and the Norwegian flags that were on every pole on Karl Johans Gate were replaced by pink banners. Kind of made me think I was dreaming this whole thing. Made me think I was in a whole other city. But I don't blame them. Every country should have their post-national holiday hangover day, especially if you party like these guys. Hey, it gave me the opportunity to be more touristy. I sit here on my last day in beautiful Sweden reminiscing about my times of the land out west. The scene made me briefly forget about just missing May Day here in the Swede Land, which apparently is a big deal. Constitution Day in Norway just furthered my love and respect for the Scandinavian charm. It doesn't hurt that a beer lover like me has access of brew from every corner, something only my uncle could only dream of (his birthday coincidentally, May 17th). Even though a Snickers bar cost $3 dollars, this experience was worth the price of admission. Oslo, have room for one more?

Before I Peace Out...

- Shoutout to David Ortiz for finally hitting a HR after almost 150 AB's. Hope this is the beginning of something good.

- AUSTRIA HERE I COME!!!!!!!!

Greetings From Barcelona

Sweden. Now that's what's up!
(CEB II)

IIIIIIIIIII'M BAAAAACK! Well, at least on the blogosphere. It feels like it's been too long of a hiatus for me, but it's been a fun one. I speak to you from the lovely city of Barcelona, home of the architectural genius of Gaudi, glistening harbors, and the '92 Summer Olympics. So many memories of this trip are rushing to my head here as I write this in my hostel. I'm trying to battle a weak wireless signal and an urge from my friend's laptop to go up 3 lines every time I type a half-sentence. But what can I say, I'm a man of the people. In anticipation of heading to the biggest party of the trip in Norway, I just had to do an entry today. I mean, I'm already thinking of the songs and pictures that will be on the grand montage when I finish the trip (Hint: expect some cheesy 90's dance pop). If that doesn't get you excited, you are simply not human.

The Oxford skyline. Now for that dude on a broomstick.
(CEB II)

Let's take it to Sweden, where I made my long awaited return after 2 1/2 years. In the town I was at (Lund), the scenery had an interesting blend of modern structures with a look from the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the older one, the better one, the less insane-looking one). It's nice to be walking in a city where the roads are made of cobblestone, kinda like walking through Nantucket. The people are so polite, and for the women....let's just say believe the hype. Sometimes it's like a model convention is happening in town and the cobblestone acts as the catwalk. But I digress. The country has a charm that goes beyond aesthetics. Overall, it feels like the place I would move to if I had to set up shop in Europe. Now only for that language bit. Next we go to the infamous Oxford University, home of 38 (yeah, that many!) colleges. The culture there, let's just say makes my college very liberal in comparison. The fashion for example, made me think I had arrived at some glorified Mr. Rogers convention. Being the oldest university in the English-speaking world, many of the buildings in Oxford, well, were mad old. However, I found that there were many people who liked to indulge in the occasional libation. Don't ask how much I spent on the gaming machines. I even got to go to a bar where J.R.R Tolkien pounded a few. Last, but not least, I visited Christ Church, where they filmed the movies for Harry Potter, somebody you may have heard of. Even though I'm not a huge fan of the series, you could not help but engulfed in the environment, and at the same time look for good ole Danny Radcliffe at the same time. Nothing like some ancient architectural wonders to get you in the mood, which brings me to Barcelona. I have probably experienced the best weather so far here in Spain, or what I like to call, the Motherland. It is probably the place which the diversity is so expanse, so much that they blend in well with the tourist population. Who knew an Irish pub would be next to my hostel? The combination of palm trees, sea view, and concrete gives the city a Miami-Boston feel. Nothing wrong with that ladies and gents.

Barcelona. Don't exactly want Columbus as my GPS.
(CEB II)

I don't know what to expect in Norway, but if it is anything like the rest of the trip so far, then I'm uber-excited. I have learned that I have to live in Sweden at one point in my life, I probably shouldn't fly a low cost airline again (you'll end up spending the money anyway), that a majority of the diversity in Oxford is at the local KFC (go figure), and that I have to be in Barcelona whenever there is a soccer match. I have to get my outer-Fenway sports rush somehow on this continent. Most importantly, I am grateful to have many friends around the world, for if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't even of thought to have embarked on a journey and enjoyed this beauty. And just a tally for you Eurotrip movie fans: 4 countries, 0 creepy dudes sat next to on trains, 0 incidents with robot-mimes (although may have been close in Barcelona), and 0 visits to odd sex clubs. Hoping to keep the stats up. Stay tuned folks.

2 Things Before I Peace Out....

I bid a tearful goodbye, an in memoriam if you will, to the '08-'09 Bruins season. Kinda glad I'm not in Beantown for that.

A special congrats to all my Babsonite compadres graduating in the Class of 2009 tomorrow! So wish I was there.

Twilight Zone For Papi?

The Big Man is still a coveted autograph.
(CEB II)

During my surfing session of the daily sports news, I went to the Sox fan site/blog, bostondirtdogs.com. The picture that greeted me was of the once dominant David Ortiz, possibly strolling back to the dugout as he got overmatched again by an opposing pitcher, adorned with the headline saying "Is David All Done?". The image struck me hard, for it's the month of May, and we haven't seen Big Papi like this at all, not even after his less than stellar start last year that included a balky wrist that hampered him for when he did play. At least the wrist was an alibi for his inabilities in the previous campaign. But this year, Sox Nation is totally baffled as to Papi's ineffectiveness against pretty much anybody and everybody. The lazy pop-ups on hitters' counts, looking bad on hittable breaking balls, and not coming through in the moments that made him a Fenway legend in years past. Most importantly, 0 HOMERUNS so far on the season! You can't emphasize that enough. Recently, he is enduring a slump that has him 2 for his last 20 with 1 RBI in his last 6 games, including an 0-fer weekend at the Trop. The sad part is that it doesn't seem that long ago when he was carrying the team on his back, carrying the Sox to heights never seen before while smashing team records. But just when that picture said a thousand words, Tony Massarotti's blog entry on the Boston Globe cemented the meaning of those very words, and my fears.

Will we ever see this from #34 again?
(thesituationist.files.wordpress.com)

While reading through, I was just shocked with all the statistics presented on Mazz's blog. A .220 average? Papi having 0 intentional walks out of the 10 issued to the Sox this year? Being ranked 12th out of 14 teams in the American League in OPS from our number 3 hitters and DH's this year? Really? This could just be the tragic reality that may tell the (I don't dare say it.), the decline of Ortiz's career (DUN, DUN, DUUUUNNNN). The worst part of it though is that he seems like he has lost his swagger, his passion for the game. When I think of Big Papi, I always reminisce to the 2004 World Series DVD when Sox co-owner Tom Werner quoted him has having "a smile from here to the Dominican Republic". He wasn't just this slugger, he was this larger than life teddy bear figure that was a big contributor in lightening up the mood of a clubhouse that was historically sour. What I see now is a man that doesn't smile as much, if at all. We can all easily point to the slump as his source of woe, but I can't help wonder if it's more than that. Could the Manny thing/the Sox not providing a bona fide slugger be the problem? Maybe the change in culture of the team that was once a more boisterous bunch to one of a more business-like approach has affected his psyche? I think the main culprit, believer it or not, was his record-breaking campaign when he socked 54 homeruns in 2006. It was in that year that we saw a player who once prided himself in taking balls the other way off the Green Monster change into a slugger who went for the tape measure blast towards the Dunkin' Donuts sign. We saw an athlete who was taking total advantage of the peak of his skill abilities. Looking back, some of Papi's best moments were balls hit the other way. Remember the end of Game 3 of the '04 ALDS off the Angels pitcher Jarrod Washburn? How about in the 8th inning of Game 5 of the '04 ALCS against the Yankees off 'Flash' Gordon? Now, we're seeing a slugger trying to recapture a season of glory with a diminished skill set due to age, injuries, or whatever. Even his hits to the opposite field now seem like anomalies, a series of triumphant mistakes to do something more grand.

Sorry Obama, but you may have lost my vote on 2012.
(cache.daylife.com)

So the Nation is wondering, is there still hope for Papi Legend? I doubt that he will go back to his '04-'06 form, but something between a 2003 (31 HR, 101 RBI, .369 OBP) or 2007 is conceivable (35 HR, 117 RBI, .445 OBP). 8 out of his 20 hits have been extra base hits so far (7 2B's, 1 3B), which hopefully bodes significant in terms of a turnaround for the better. Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan said that Papi's struggles are purely mechanical, which bodes well for Papi and the production of the Sox lineup if, and only if he can make the proper adjustments. Despite the slump, there is probably no other player that will be given the time and leniency from the Nation that Papi will receive, and rightfully so. One could only imagine what a Boston sports fan's world would be like if David Ortiz hadn't strolled through America's Most Beloved Ballpark and graced us with his clutchness. We may be still talking about 90 plus frustrating years of getting over the hump, possibly me being more incensed about a Graffanino postseason error in '05, or even worse, A-Rod* actually being (can't believe I'm saying this), a postseason hero. The world as we know it might be a different place, in fact, I know it'd be a different place. Well, you know what they say. There's nothing like Coors Field......err, The New Yankee Stadium to launch a hot streak. Papi has to come through in this short series in the Bronx. I mean, it was his jersey that was buried in the foundation, right?

Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
- Bubba Gump Shrimpz - 34-19-3 (1st, Steroid Freaks' Anonymous, 2 UP)
Decent offensive showing considering I lost Josh Hamilton to the DL. Finally made my 1st move of the season by getting rid of Hardy at SS. Possibly made the biggest free agent pick up in Derrek Lee, which could take my team far if he gets right.

- Mocha Sox -13-24-3 (11th, Yahoo Public 38095, 10.5 GB)
No closers (Valverde on DL, Corpas bombing, Lidge uncertain) plus sub-par performances from Uggla and Sizemore. Need some collective gelling on both sides, and fast.

- Firehawks - 15-24-1 (11th, Yahoo Public 162279, 14 GB)
Got rid of the ailing Thome for Helton to pump up the offense a bit. Upton still anemic despite 3 SBs. The real Beckett and Lester haven't shown up yet. Falling too fast for comfort.