Friday, July 31, 2009

Versatile V-Mart Value

"V" as in victory.
(blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Ladies and gents, I'm bouncing off every wall in my house! Today, the Sox have acquired the catalyst they so desperately needed in their lineup. The spunky-30 year old veteran Victor Martinez will soon don a Red Sox uniform and help shake up an offense who haven't necessarily been Murderer's Row these past couple of months. The catcher/first baseman also adds some O.C.-type energy to a team that has been as entertaining as a Grand Canyon vacation slideshow. I'm not gonna go far as to say that the season is saved, or that there will be a duck boat parade this autumn, but at least we have another solid bat to give us a fighting chance in this dog-eat-dog AL East race. As much as Doc Halladay stimulated my salivary glands, in the end I believe the Sox made the right move not just for this year, but puts them in a interesting position for 2010 as well. This deal now makes the club option for Varitek more of a focal point in the Sox's offseason plans. Meanwhile, the Sox retained prized pieces like Buchholz and Bowden, which could be used in a deal to be made later come the winter months (AAAADDRRRIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAN!). After 2010, we will have the option to move on to Mauer, and with possibly two prospects in hand. I said before that the team that we had been fielding lately was not fit for a playoff run. With Victor Martinez, the Sox may have the battery (kinda' fitting) that can jolt this team into the month of October.

I see another O.C. in our midst. Good times!
(sonsofsamhorn.net)

I bet that many of you are disappointed that we were not able to land the explosive Padre slugger Adrian Gonazalez this afternoon. But by looking at the potential deal, it made less sense than any of the rumoured moves projected (Oh, forgot about Laroche for Kotchman. Still befuddled). Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely loooooooooooooooove it if Gonzalez was entrenched in the middle of our lineup. In fact, I believe that the Sox should consider making a big push for him in the offseason, considering that we are in obvious need of a fear-provoking slugger. But as you probably already know with the Martinez deal, we have a bit of a logjam. Not only is Adrian Gonzalez is a strong hitter who hits to all fields, but he is a Gold Glove first baseman. Considering we have his 2008 AL counterpart in Youkilis, and that Gonzalez doesn't play anything else, it leaves Tito with a real dilemma. Added with that, the deal would have required Jed Lowrie, which ruins our overall infield depth. A Beckett-Lester-Halladay staff would have filled me with so much adrenaline that a strait jacket would have been the best selection for my future wardrobe. As much as we neeeeeeed that 3rd starter, I couldn't see Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi trading his ace within the division that easily. As much as I think organizations overrate prospects, giving virtually our whole entire farm system might have been a devastating maneuver for the long term (Plus, I'm not giving up on my 100 MPH-man, Danny B.!!). With Martinez, we get catcher, first base and DH versatility, which can potentially aid the health of three key players. It's obvious that Lowell will need at least a game off a week, which allows V-Mart to man first base. While I recognize that he's been heating up lately, Papi is a shell of what he once was, and the switch-hitting Martinez is a legitimate pick to spell Ortiz for a few games, especially against left-handers. It's also been reported lately that Jason Varitek has been as beat up Joe Frazier, while having less pop than the boxer at the plate. Enter, Vic Martinez, who can add some more veteran leadership while boosting production at the backstop position. Many have been saying that the Martinez deal will cram the clubhouse, creating a negative environment. But I think it will be the exact opposite. The bottom line is that everyone knows Martinez is there to help the Sox do one thing. With the championship-minded culture that has festered within the Sox organization the past seven years, I think that the players could put their egos aside and do what is best for the team; to raise another red banner outside Fenway. As awkward as it's gonna look, that V-Mart/J-Bay special handshake is going to be purely delightful!


Before I Peace: Second Chance For An Extra Point
(espn.com)

To conclude this "Vic and Vick" entry, I decided to dedicate this section to Vick and his recently lifted suspension. Vick has kinda' been on my mind today, considering that there have been alleged Vick sightings in the New England area, and that Belichick is one of the few coaches in the league that haven't ruled out bringing in the former Falcon QB. In a way, the October reinstatement is a veiled suspension, but Vick has been allowed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to pursue another employer. For all you people that feel like Vick should have no right to resume his career or should be suspended for more time, I'm afraid you're gonna have to let bygones be bygones. Vick already has an obstacle to climb in proving his remorse to the public, as evidenced by his title as the "Most Disliked Athlete In Sports" according to Forbes Magazine. It is rare that I agree with T.O. about anything, but he had a point when he said that an additional suspension would have been ridiculous. I don't think that a case of double or triple jeopardy will accomplish anything more that the justice system has in this situation. I acknowledge that he lied to the commissioner and to the public about his involvement with the dog-fighting world. But hasn't he ultimately served his punishment for everything? Other than dying for his crime, Vick has been punished effectively with the jail time, his time away from the pigskin, lost loads of respect and millions of dollars. As much as I was appalled by Vick's association with dog combat, there are players in the league that have done horrific things to human beings that don't bear the stigma Vick has to endure. Even though PETA stands for a respectable cause, my respect for the organization goes down when they assume that Vick isn't capable of remorse and even should be subjected to a brain scan (Hey, aren't we technically animals too?)! Let Michael Vick get his second chance before we condemn him for eternity (or at least to a brain examination).

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Worst. Timing. Ever.

Another case of apathetic heartbreak.
(static.open.salon.com)

Well, isn't this a pleasure to hear. Right when the Sox are becoming destined for third place, news comes out that the most-feared 1-2 punch in the American League in the past decade were on the infamous 2003 positive tests list. Ladies and gents, the dark steroid cloud is now over Boston (don't let the sun fool ya'). Meanwhile it is like Mardi Gras in Yankee Universe. It was one of those things I saw coming but didn't. I mean, there was lots of chitchat directed to the subject that whether the two used. After all, they were the key cog to the Red Sox machine for almost 6 seasons. There has also been a lot of skepticism as to why there weren't many big Red Sox names leaked, even on the Mitchell Report. I saw it coming eventually, but with these two names in particular still come with so much shock and confusion as if I were hungover and was somehow stranded in the Mojave. Both Manny and Papi were moved away from steroid suspicion in the end due to the fact that they didn't look the part. None of them had a "Bonds-esque*" head or "McGwire-esque*" arms. They were simply too portly and merry to be shoving needles in unsuspecting places. But as the Clemens* debacle teaches us (also in the portly club), steroids don't discriminate based on body type. If it were anybody for me on the Sox, the 1st guy down would have been Nomar, especially because he was a well-known workout freakoholic. The 2001 Sports Illustrated cover, along with the constant injuries that followed, heighten my suspicions to this day. For Manny, it seemed like the whole cat was out of the bag when "hCG-Gate" hit last May. However, this doesn't help in my recovery from Mannyholic-ism in the least bit. There was much speculation about Ortiz, considering his mighty drop-off in power as well as the many injuries (the wrist, the knees) that have plagued him the past few seasons. However, he has been a spokesman for stricter punishments for abusers of performance enhancers. Naturally as a fan, I just shrugged off his weak performance this year as a classic birth certificate dilemma, hoping he was probably older than listed on the game programs. Now, I have to forcefully accept the fact that Manny and Papi are as guilty as the Bonds's*, the Clemens's*, and the A-Rod's* (as you can see still holding on to my sentiments here). I will now hear constant scrutiny in the next few days of the legitimacy of the 2 championships, despite the fact that the positive tests happened a year before the official glory years. With everything that is going on with the team, this couldn't have been a worse time for me to digest all this "juicy" news. But since the return of Manny to the Dodger lineup (still fighting whether to put an asterisk on him), I have wanted to write an entry not just on the steroid era, but cheating in general in our national pastime. In the end, recent news like this is hard to filter through because baseball has a two-faced legacy: One of a provider of pure, wholesome competition and another of downright trickery. As wrong as it is, cheating in baseball has been an integral part of the sport as the hallowed records. And as the steroid era has displayed to us, we're still dealing with the complications. Needless to say, I need to vent about a few things.

Saliva: My Anti-Steroid
(blogs.sfweekly.com)

Currently, we believe as baseball fans that we're just emerging from the dirtiest era in the history of the sport. But looking through the history of the game, the early days were one giant cesspool. Ever wonder why the ball was so "dead" in the Dead-ball era? Pitchers did everything short of urinating on the ball to make it softer and easier to produce movement, thus making pitches more difficult to hit. Hall of Fame pitchers such as Ed Walsh and Burleigh Grimes were notorious for having the spitter in their repertoires. Even when the pitch was banned in 1920, 17 pitchers were granted allowance to throw spitters until the end of their careers. Imagine if Barry Bonds*, Sammy Sosa*, and Mark McGwire* were allowed to keep taking 'roids because they were making a living out of it while the rest of the league was left with Wheaties and Snickers. One of the most single iconic moments of the sport, the Bobby Thompson homer in 1951, doesn't escape the realm of shenaniganism in baseball. Apparently while the Giants were 13.5 games back of the Dodgers for the National League crown, there was a Giants coach in the centerfield clubhouse who used a telescope to identify pitches, and would then relay the info to the Giants with a bell system. One can't help that one of the most intriguing pennant races in baseball history was aided by a "mini-Hubble" past centerfield. And let's not pass over the forgotten plight of the game, gambling. People seem to easily forget that a whole World Series (1919) was determined by players, who decided to boot away a championship opportunity in order to receive compensation from gamblers that their owner wouldn't give them. The World Series in the two years prior also aroused suspicions of players throwing games. The legendary 1908 NL race between the Cubs and Giants had an attempted bribe thrown in the mix, which was allegedly brought on by Hall of Fame manager John McGraw. The field dimensions also play a role in this story as well. In 1968, the average AL runs per game was 3.7 to go with a .237 league average. That year was known as the "Year of the Pitcher" in which some parks installed higher pitcher's mounds to slim their team ERAs. Even as a little leaguer, I learned the fundamentals of sandpaper, Vaseline and baseballs. Even though I never applied any of these methods, it is just pure evidence how cheating is part of the lore of the game, just like a suicide squeeze. The variations of play in the past make clear that each era in baseball simply can't be compared at face value.

Looking cleaner by the day.
(afrankangle.files.wordpress.com)

When you browse through the history of this game, it gives me a new perspective not only on how cheating has played a big role in the sport, but our complicated relationship as fans with this notion as well as the constant amnesia towards it. It seems like with the recent findings, the re-examination of Pete Rose, and the historic slugging of Albert Pujols, a whole new batch of different questions and some old ones have risen back to the forefront. First is the question of whether Pete Rose, who was betting on games while being manager of the Cincinnati Reds, should receive the go-ahead for Hall of Fame enshrinement. I'm probably in a shrinking minority of people that says Rose shouldn't be enshrined. Despite all the records that he amassed, people forget that he broke a cardinal rule of the game, a rule that's posted on every clubhouse in the bigs for years, a rule which had to be harshly implemented by first baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in order to heal the wounds of a fixed World Series. If Charlie Hustle gets in, then you sure have to give consideration to guys like Shoeless Joe Jackson, who has the 3rd best career batting average in the history of the game. I'm also in the minority of letting in guys like McGwire*, Sosa*, and Bonds* in the Hall if, and only if they acknowledge their use of performance enhancers. Listen, like I touched upon in the previous paragraph, the Hall of Fame is filled with players who went through questionable methods to enhance their careers. Along with the grandfathered spitballers (Burleigh Grimes, Red Faber), you have Gaylord Perry, who was a wizard with Vaseline, and Whitey Ford, who had concocted his own solution to add weight to the ball while cutting the ball with his wedding ring. All pulled off their high jinks while their actions were illegal according to baseball's rule book. While I don't agree with steroids and the players that used them, Bud Selig, the owners and the Players' Union didn't impose any harsh punishment for PED use until 2004, long after the days of the Bash Brothers in Oakland. We don't put an asterisk on the 1919 World Series, nor do we have a separate section for spitballers and corked bat villains in the Hall. So why are we saving the angst for these steroid guys? Yes I use asterisks in my writing for added emphasis and hyperbole, but at the same time, these guys shouldn't be over-punished for something the the owners, the union, and the fans (Yes, us!) not only allowed, but celebrated outright. We knew about the andro, we saw skinny second basemen suddenly lose their necks and we saw the 500 homer club get as crammed as a celebrity after-party. But as long as the homeruns were flying, everyone turned a blind eye to it.....well, at least until congressional hearings started popping up.

The juice is on the loose, and I don't mean O.J.
(mouthpiecesports.com)

Many of my friends ask me if we are ever going to escape this steroid issue. Honestly, I feel as if we're doing our best to flee right now. Remember when we thought that the A-Rod* saga was going to be the top story of the 2009 baseball season? That seemed to have blown over as the Yankees have made a strong push in the AL East. With Sosa, the public wasn't quite as shocked (Although I bet some Cub fans still felt the way that I feel today). In the past couple of years, it now seems that we just take each accused name, build the story for a couple of days, then nonchalantly lump them in as another casualty of a tainted generation and forget about it. We have gone from blaming individuals (Canseco*, Bonds*) to creating a whole era based on PEDs where we can place our blame. Each name become less of a shock, as we have become immune to the last five years of high voltage revelations. However, a new cast of characters always seem to emerge in this steroid showcase. If we really want to move from this, why don't we reveal every name on that 2003 list? There will be no punishments doled out anyway, and we can release a whole bunch of demons that having been building up from the past twenty years. Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi have admitted their wrongdoings, and now it's like they have never even seen the stuff (Sorry, can't keep up posting all these asterisks). The constant leaking of names every couple of months only takes away from the action on the field, while making this Steroid Era feel millenniums longer than it actually is. The hard fact to face is that cheating will always exist in baseball in some way. If someone found out that putting Crisco on a bat will make the ball go farther, at least 25% of the league will be going to Costco to stock up. Finding that extra edge is as much of a part of the baseball legacy as the numbers .406 or 755. The best thing is not only admittance from those involved, but like I have mentioned in the past, we must recognize that we can't answer every question and we just tackle what's in front us. Combined with that, we must also be aware that the history of the sport is not as pure as we make it out to be. In my opinion, steroids, like turpentine and baby oil, are just a another pockmark to an otherwise great game. By being proactive and not reactive in the future, not only will we leave this chapter in baseball, but we will be better in cleaning up the game rather than create the caricature that is being drawn up.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

D-Day Approaching For The Nation

Pretty much sums up all my emotions currently.
(espn.com)

Well folks, the season is at its crossroads. That loss needless to say left a bloody taste in my mouth and had me almost go Keith Moon in my room. With a 4-7 record since the break and playing .500 ball for the month, I suddenly don't feel so hot about this 2009 Red Sox team. My feelings of melancholy have been made worse due to the Dice-K rants, our .250-hitting power hitter wanting Mega Millions jackpot-type money and the recent performances of Papelbon, which have been as fun as a stomach pumping. To top that off, it seems like Nicky Green's mediocre defense has reared its ugly head, taking him off his walk-off pedestal that has been keeping him away from the Boston criticism machine lately. Tonight, we have to face Brett Anderson, the young kid who the Sox made a fantasy baseball icon by baffling us to the tune of 2 hits. The Sox need a catalyst, and bad. I've been bouncing around the Internet trying to catch up on the latest rumors on what Theo and the Sox organization are up to. I am sweating bullets here as the fury from last night's loss still remains in my system (Plus it's like 85 degrees in my room. Might be time for some AC.). So before I write probably the most disproportionate entry I have ever written, I will have to talk some soccer to cool myself down before I get to the nitty grit.


Benvinguts Ibracadabra!
(img.alfonsojimenez.com)

Recently, Team Barça touched down in Los Angeles for their 12 day West Coast tour. The tour includes three games against Beckham's Galaxy, the Seattle Sounders, and Chivas. While it isn't Real Madrid or Valencia, the 7th team trip to America gets me more pumped for the season that's to come. For this excursion, the defending champions of Europe bring with them a new addition, world-class footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 55,000 gathered at Camp Nou Monday to be the first fanatics to witness the Swedish star don the Barça colors for the 1st time. Being a new fan to the team, I can't help but feel the excitement that has carried through this move. With this transfer, Barcelona gets a player who is extremely gifted with the ball and has displayed his marvelous talent on the stage of three countries (including his Swedish national team). The transfer adds a diverse element to Barça's attack, which already has playmakers such as Iniesta, Xavi and Henry to name a few. It's also a bonus when the player is so psyched and enthused just to be on the team. Gone as a result of the transfer, is Samuel Eto'o, a striker who was just as large of a part of the club's success as any other player in the last half decade. His 108 goals with Barcelona along with his two brilliant performances in the Champions League Finals in '06 and '09 will surely be missed. My only concern is Ibrahimovic's knee, which has been a recurring problem over the past few years. He is 27 years old, which isn't exactly a baby in soccer years. Many wonder how Zlatan's body will hold up during the length of a 5 year contract. In the meantime, he still has to maintain his reputation as an acrobatic dynamo on the pitch in order to help Barça achieve additional success. The factor that might off set the injury in the end is Barça's depth, which not only has young forward Bojan Krkic waiting in the wings, but also have other star players to carry the load of a grueling season. Anybody who has ticket connections in the West Coast, you know my number!


Will this Doc heal the Sox?
(gamblingiq.com)

Aaaaaah yes, ladies and gents. Welcome to the nitty grit. I have a nugget of truth to share with all of you, and it ain't pretty. However, I believe that there is hope only if the party I am referring to takes some action within the next couple of days. That nugget: The Red Sox will NOT make it to the playoffs as they are right now. We just came off a loss in which we allowed 21 hits to the worst hitting team in the American League, while blowing a three run save situation with two errors in the 9th. Baserunners ran wild on our catching, which only gives me more nightmares about our next battle with the Rays. Over the past couple of months, so many holes have been exposed on this team, from a lack of a threatening presence in the lineup to our mediocre defense. Papelbon hasn't been lights out this year either, which changes the way I look at the strength of the Sox bullpen nearly every day. Like I have said to many, it is imperative that the Sox create some kind of catalyst, a trade, a fight or something. I'm not encouraging Mets craziness, but show us some life! But since I'm forcing myself to write this to find the bright side, I'm gonna do just that. In fact, just this afternoon, The Phillies decided to go the alternate route and acquired Cliff Lee from the Indians. Many analysts and beat writers now wonder if that makes the Sox the front runners for Doc Halladay. You probably know from my past entry that I am favoring a deal for offense over pitching due to the fact that I'm still haunted by having only 3 hits in Game 7 of last year's ALCS. However, not only would Halladay's arrival to Fenway make me do 1,700 back flips, but it is making more sense by the day. Think about this: Who is the true 3rd starter of the Red Sox? You can never predict Wake, even after his pre-injury success this year (Also has a 9.89 ERA in the postseason since '04). Brad Penny has only 2 wins in the past two months, while not completing 7 innings of work in a single start during the entire '09 season. Matsuzaka is as good as lost due to his recent negative ramblings of the Sox conditioning program for pitchers. Between the differences of the Japanese and American methods of strength building, combined with the article I found stating that a curveball maybe better for the arm than a fastball, I don't know what to think of pitcher development anymore. All I know is that Daisuke most likely will not be physically or mentally ready should the Sox make a postseason run. As for Smoltz, I flew out of that bandwagon so fast, I still have the scars of road rash all over my body. What possessed me to think that a 42 year old National League pitcher coming off shoulder surgery would consistently get batters out? He has faced teams like Baltimore, Kansas City, Oakland, and the "Natinals", and has got rocked nearly every time (Remind me to bring a tranquilizer for myself when he pitches against the Rays or Yanks). And my favorite piece of bait Clay Buchholz (yawn) still has not wowed anybody since coming back to the bigs. Don't mind me paraphrasing from the Seinfeld gymnast episode, but the Sox must realize that Buchholz can bring us to the threshold to the magical world of sensual delights that most teams dare not dream of. It seems like the national sentiment is slowly heading my way on this issue, as Steve Phillips encouraged the Sox to pull off the Halladay move on the air with Mike & Mike in the Morning, as well as a Jerry Crasnick article detailing some of the most famous trade chip prospects who didn't pan out. With Halladay, we could fix that 3 starter problem by compiling indisputably the best 1-2-3 starting combo in the majors, making the postseason a lock (granted that the Pope personally blesses the lineup to boost run support). With Victor Martinez, we could have a switch-hitting power bat who can play the roles of catcher, 1st base and DH, helping out Lowell, Ortiz and the recently declared beat-up Varitek get some much needed R&R. Martinez may be the most vital pick up not only for his production, but he can turn around the attitude of a clubhouse that has turned Yankee-like this year. The fact is that the Sox need to make a move more than any team right now (as I'm witnessing a 5 run 1st inning by the A's). After all, there are two football seasons quickly approaching.

Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
- Bubba Gump Shrimpz - 122-84-18 (1st, Steroid Freaks' Anonymous, .5 UP)
Coming off a tough loss last week, and a rough start for this week. Just like the Red Sox, the team could benefit from one more quality pitcher or impact bat. Hanging on first, but barely as the 2nd place P-Mac has been on fire. Probably waited too long to make a Josh Hamilton trade, which could cost me the opportunity to improve by trade before the Aug. 2nd deadline. Hoping Kendry Morales can carry the load.

- Mocha Sox - 69-84-7 (10th, Yahoo Public 38095, 20.5 GB)
The run of 5 straight series has ended, but only 10 games outside the playoff bubble. Got beat on a few offensive categories, but the pitching helped out by the Buerhle perfect game. Justin Upton has been a beast since I acquired him by trade. Probably the team I'm least worried about heading into the next couple of weeks.

- Firehawks - 69-79-12 (9th, Yahoo Public 162279, 22 GB)
Came up reeeeeal small against the 1st place team (0-8-2), putting me further into a tailspin. Have lost 3 of the last 4 series. Offense has picked up a bit but not enough to win categories. Only 6.5 GB from playoff contention, but lacking the kind of punch to make huge strides in the standings. May have to make a big move for a bat soon (Sounding painfully familiar).

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Clay Buchholz: Deal Or No Deal?

I'll pick the trade suitcase, please!
(poptower.com)

As another trade deadline approaches, many fans wonder if their team will make the big splash that will hopefully energize their club to the postseason and all of its glory. Unless you live under Gibraltar, you know that ace pitcher Roy Halladay has been the most sought after prize in this year's trading sweepstakes, with some teams willing to give up their most-prized jewels in their farm systems. As intriguing as a Roy Halladay would be with staff anchored by a Jon Lester and a Josh Beckett, the Sox need to give these guys run support when they get out on the bump every 5th day. Averaging 2.8 runs a game since the All-Star break, Boston definitely needs a shot in the arm if they are going to continue their push for the AL East crown, and ultimately the World Series. Recently, Theo Epstein and Co. decided to acquire Pirates first baseman Adam Laroche, a player notorious for his stellar 2nd half showings and his mastering of pitch counts (.328 on-base percentage really isn't convincing). Unless this guy hits a homerun in all of his 4-8 at bats he will get per week, I don't see how this move will ultimately fix this anemic offense. To top that off, we're now paying Julio Lugo to hit homers for the Cardinals. Our offensive savior, Jason Bay, has barely been hitting his weight with a .212 clip over the past two months, and a .256 clip overall. His inability to hit anything other than a fastball has made me dub Bay as "the white Pedro Cerrano" every time he steps into the box. The $70 million dollar man and pitch count extraordinaire J.D. Drew is only batting .233, while helping Boston's leadoff spot plummet to one of the worst in the league in OBP and OPS (How's that for irony?). With our recent offensive plight affecting our road to October, there maybe only one controversial move that can fix the problem (.388 slugging and .233 average in the last 30 days. YIKES!). This may be blasphemy to some, but I would be entirely open to dealing our no-hit wunderkind Clay Buchholz in order to help this team get to the promised land.


You heard the man. Gotta' sell high!
(espn.com)

Now that I got that out of my system (and lightning didn't strike me), I will not only explain why we should pull the Buchholz trigger, but my prospect philosophy in general. To be honest it's not all that complex. I actually believe in building a strong farm system, because it can help an organization in two ways. One is that the minors can produce star players that the organization can have contractual control over, which is extremely beneficial to a club's finances. The other way a farm system can help a team is it could help position a team to make a move for proven commodities. The Red Sox farm system has been blessed with a pool of talent, as evident by the performances of Pedroia, Youkilis, and Lester to name a few. The impact has been so strong, that now it seems that Epstein doesn't want to part with any of his finest young talent. But other than that no-hitter on his 2nd start, what have we really gotten out of Clay in his time in the majors? He has been billed by many analysts as the best pitching prospect in the majors, but it has been a while now (He's 25 next month.), and he doesn't necessarily have a strong foothold on a rotation spot. In his 20 starts in the major leagues, he has recorded only 5 quality starts (last one was April 26th of last year), and only 2 of those starts went 7+ innings. Meanwhile, Braves prospect Tommy Hanson already has 4 quality starts in only 8 trips to the hill, and he started in June! Buchholz is 6-11 overall with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP, not exactly the ace he's predicted of becoming. Yet, Buchholz is still highly valued as a top prospect. So much so that Theo would rather pay two multi-millionaire shortstops to play for other teams than give up the right hander. But prospects are as sure of a thing as a fruitful career stemming from an American Idol victory. Remember Craig Hansen, the next closer of the Red Sox? Delmon Young and Andy Marte were sure things, too. Even hot starters like Jeff Francoeur and Fransisco Liriano have fallen flat on their faces lately. Sure you have contractual control as an organization, but how good is control if your prospect doesn't live up to the bill (which many don't)? For a failed prospect, contractual control has as much meaning as a high school superlative. Meanwhile, competing teams are strengthening through trade and free agency, while your "piece of sliced bread" loses value, and can only be traded for a bucket of balls and a rosin bag. Look at how the Oakland A's experiment has worked out. The Billy Beane A's have only won one playoff series in his tenure, touting some of the biggest young prospects while trading and letting go some of the club's marquee names in the process. We must realize that prospects are just as much of a risk as an over-hyped, over-paid shortstop. Otherwise, we would have a super league if all prospect predictions came to fruition.


The potential cup of Red Bull the Red Sox need.
(espn.com)

So in analyzing Buchholz's hype in correlation to his actual MLB performance, this would be a great opportunity for the Sox to sell high and acquire a mainstay in their offensive attack. It isn't a secret that our offense was going to be a concern entering this year. I mean why do you think John Henry threw such a fit when he couldn't sign Teixeira in Texas this past offseason? We have so much pitching in the minors that we have the liberty to have some of them pursue playing shortstop. The Red Sox have the luxury of having both a rich farm system and the financial resources to not only compete, but to make some mistakes and have them not stunt the franchise (See: Renteria, Lugo, possibly Drew). As Herm Edwards would agree to, they are equipped to be able to play to win in every game and every season. And we still have Michael Bowden, right? I'm not saying that Buchholz will never mature into a fine pitcher, but the truth is that we're at a stage that we really don't know if his stuff will materialize. The no-hitter is the only performance that makes us as fans hold on to what he can be potentially. But I believe that the no-no against the O's was the worst thing that happened to him (minus the Penthouse Pet girlfriend or the Deal or No Deal model fiancée....on second thought....). He has now heightened expectations so high in a city that speculates every player down to their ingrown toenail. In that 4 inning performance against Texas this past Wednesday, I saw that same deer in the headlights look that consumed his face during last year's mess of a season. Even after meetings with a sports psychologist and some success in the minors, I don't know if that face will ever go away if he still plays in a city like Boston. The major point is if your gonna get something, you have to give up something in return, and I believe we have enough young talent to roll the dice here. Remember who we had to give up in the Beckett deal? The 21 year old shortstop Hanley Ramirez, whose maturity was questioned while in the Boston farm system, has developed into one of the most complete players in the game (Never know with prospects, case and point.). But in return, we received a dynamite postseason pitcher and a future World Series MVP in return, establishing a core for our triumphant 2007 season, and possibly for 2008 if injuries didn't come into play. How does getting Hanley back sound? Not only would we get a solid, proven 5-tool offensive player, but we can fill the gap at shortstop that has been vacated and re-vacated as often as a room in a swank Hollywood brothel. Or how about a Victor Martinez, a catcher who can also provide some switch-hitting power and a body at first base, while adding some spunk to a clubhouse which is considered drab at best. Anything beats watching Varitek go through vertigo at the plate (Don't get me started with 'Tek! EERRRRRRGH!.....O.K. coming down now......). Besides, I hope we are over the Larry Andersen/Jeff Bagwell trade by now. So I really hope Theo and his brain trust know what they're doing. After all, Lars Anderson is hitting .263 with a .396 slugging percentage in Double A Portland right now.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Greatest Hall Of Fame Entry Of All Time

(cantotalk.blogspot.com)

Congrats HOF Class of '09.
(media.charlotteobserver.com)

The past couple of days, I have been witness to a mix of tragedy and triumph. The Sox have lost 5 straight (knocking on wood they pull through tonight against the O's) in which they scored only 13 runs within that span. And remember that infamous Lebron getting dunked on video? That video was as disappointing as Whitney Houston's career post-Bodyguard. Was I supposed to see Yeti in that clip? The beginning of the Adam Laroche Era doesn't exactly get me into party mode. That added with the death of the Taco Bell Dog had me on the brink of locking myself in the basement. O.K., it wasn't that bad, but it had me checking for a pulse for a few brief moments. On the other side of the coin, how 'bout that perfect game thrown by Buehrle? It was fun to catch those last 6 outs of an historic moment, called by the duo of Harrelson/Jackson, which I believe is one of the best broadcasting duos in baseball (Put that one on the boooooooooooard, YYYYEEEEEEEEES!). It's hard to believe that there have been only 18 perfect games thrown, which is less than the membership of the .400 club, and the 500 homerun group, putting tons of perspective on how rare and spectacular this feat is. The perfecto also gave me a joyous reminder of when crazy Carl Everett broke up Mike Mussina's bid back in 2001. All of this history, and there is a Hall of Fame induction looming for two of the game's legends turned immortals. Cooperstown to me was like Disneyworld to pretty much every other kid back in the day. Going there as a 10 year old, die-hard baseball fan was like a foreign priest going to the Vatican for the 1st time. It feels as if in a couple days, two respectable cardinals will be inducted into baseball's holy land. On Sunday, Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson will be the prominent members of the Class of 2009. On one corner, we have a first-ballot speedster who once proudly proclaimed that he was "the greatest of all time". And then we have another, who had to wait until his 15th and final year of eligibility to be enshrined with the elite. With all the anticipation of seeing a legend on my favorite team being honored, combined with potentially a record amount of third person references in induction ceremony history, Sunday for me will be the ultimate day of rest for me as I watch the festivities in my room, visualizing myself being in good ole Cooperstown.


Worth the wait for this slugger.
(getsportsinfo.com)

Jim Rice
Finally, my mom's favorite player enters Cooperstown a Hall of Famer. And I think there are many others in the Nation that are glad that the BBWAA got it right. With help from his induction, Rice will be hailed by the baseball masses as one of the most feared right-handed hitters in his generation, and rightfully so. From his rookie year in '75, Jim Ed and fellow rookie teammate Fred Lynn took the American League by storm from the get go as the 1-2 Rookie of the Year punch for the pennant winning 1975 Boston Red Sox with 22 homers and 102 RBIs in 144 games. Probably for the first time ever, the title, "The Gold Dust Twins", never sounded so intimidating. In a 12 season span from 1975 to 1986, Rice averaged 29 homers, 106 RBIs and a .304 average,while hitting 73 triples during that span! His MVP 1978 season was nothing short of brilliant, considering he amassed 46 homers, 139 RBIs, 15 triples and was the first AL player since DiMaggio in 1937 to rack up over 400 total bases in a season. His supernatural strength inspired even more awe, highlighted by his broken-bat check swings and his carrying of Jerry Remy off the field after his knee injury in Yankee Stadium. His surliness with the media was also well documented during his playing days, and may have been a detriment to his entrance in Cooperstown. But I'm glad baseball's writers finally recognized that he was truly worthy of enshrinement, especially if you put his career numbers next to Rabbit Maranville (How does a .258 hitter make it to the Hall? Another case in point for Jim Ed). And all of these accomplishments were with the Boston Red Sox (16 years), and without help from a bath of HGH or andro, gaining complete respect from pundits and passionate fans alike nowadays. In every sense of the word, the nation is with him.


Rickey + HOF = Best. Speech. Ever.
(cache.gawker.com)

Rickey Henderson
As much as I am looking forward to Rice's induction, Rickey's speech is absolutely going to steal the show this Sunday afternoon. Almost like how he stole a record 1,406 bases during his stellar 25 year career. And just to think that he has speech coaches working with him. This speech is going to be an insatiable blend of Kennedy's "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" speech and anything George W. has ever said (Get excited!). The enigmatic Henderson redefined the way pitchers hold base runners with his speed and aggressiveness, as evidenced by his 12 stolen base titles. Nevermind his 130 stolen bags in 1982, he is the only player in the AL to swipe 100 bags in a season. And he did it 3 times! Rickey also owns the record for runs scored (2,295), games led off with a homerun (81), and stolen bases in a single series (8 in the 1989 ALCS vs. Toronto). All of this while playing for 10 clubs, including 4 stints with his hometown Oakland A's. Stolen bases and over 3,000 hits aside, Rickey was also known for his quirky quotables and mannerisms, making him a cult hero in sports. His illeisms and his nonchalant grace on the field made him just as good of a character as he was a baseball player, and we like it that way! There have been so many "Rickey-isms" over the years, and each one is more hilarious than the next. Rickey should easily have the record for being the most unintentionally funny athlete of all time. I mean, it's as much of a landslide as the 468 stolen bases that separate him from 2nd place Lou Brock. Rickey, the pressure is on to entertain all of us this Sunday. I have a feeling though, that just like the many times before, Rickey will come through marvelously.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

From Messi To Pumpsie

Now imagine Teixeira on a catwalk in Yankee Stadium.
(top-footballer.com)

Well, it hasn't been a great past few days in the world of sports for me. The Sox can't hit water jumping out of a boat, Tiger Woods missed a cut in a major for only the second time ever, and the dreaded arch enemy Yankees are in sole possession of 1st place in the AL East. Today, the Sox made some "blockbuster" moves by acquiring Adam Laroche from the Pirates (The Official Player Development Organization of Major League Baseball) and Chris Duncan from the Cardinals. Getting a .247 and a .227 hitter on my team gets me as excited as taking an SAT on an overcast day, or reading War and Peace in any state of mind. The huge sell on Laroche is his 2nd half splits, his ability to kill right handed pitching (Sox have hit .221 against righties since June 25th), and his ability to help Lowell get some rest time for his ailing hip. However, I do not see how a guy who is going to make maybe 2-3 appearances a week will get on a groove like in years past, thus making me question if he can help this team in the long run. I'm not rooting against the guy, but this better work, especially because I just found out that the Sox turned down a Buchholz for Victor Martinez deal (throwing hard objects across the room). As for Chris Duncan, at least we found out that Julio Lugo has enough value to be exchanged for another living human being. With all of this fury and confusion in my body, I think its a good time to dedicate an entry to....(You guessed it.) soccer. Popular international clubs like Inter Milan and Chelsea are showcasing their talents in the States, and my beloved Barça squad has traveled to London to participate in a couple of preseason matches at Wembley. With the anticipation of a new season approaching, and my recent dissatisfaction for the one that's currently in effect, let's talk a little about the happenings in La Liga and my adaptation to an international sport.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic/Samuel Eto'o
(cdn.bleacherreport.com)

My mind is now leaving Boston and is slowly approaching Barcelona, where many of the team's faithful are anticipating another treble (Champions of La Liga, La Copa del Rey, and The Champions League). However, much of the news has been happening 500 kilometers away in Madrid, as rival president Florentino Perez has spent €209 million (over $297 million) on four players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká, who are the last two FIFA World Players of the Year (Seems like an oddly familiar situation). Back in Catalonia, all has been quiet minus the acquisition of Maxwell, formerly from the Italian squad Inter Milan. The pursuit for the popular Valencia striker David Villa seems to have ended due to Valencia's persistence not to transfer him. However, a striker swap seems to be imminent as the Cameroonian Eto'o may be packing his bags for Milan. There has been much speculation on Eto'o, who wasn't returning any of Barça president Joan Laporta's phone calls concerning a two year extension. Who will Barça be potentially getting you ask? The Croat-Swedish dynamo Zlatan Ibrahimovic (also coveted by Manchester United, Chelsea), who booted 25 goals for Inter Milan last season to help Inter win the Serie A league championship. Known as one of the highest paid players in the world, he has earned his money in club play by scoring goals that measure solidly in quantity and breath-taking quality (Especially this goal when he was with the Dutch club Ajax, which is probably in my Top 5). Unfortunately, he has also been known for a shaky temper and not coming through in important matches, something that will be put more under the microscope if he ends up wearing the uniform of the most successful team in Europe currently. With all that said, I don't see it being the biggest issue in the world, considering he won't be the most heralded player on a team with the 2nd best player in the world according to FIFA in Leo Messi. We must still recognize that the transfer is not a done deal, but the acquisition could potentially add a flashy new element to an already super-talented Barça team that can match up to their Madridian counterparts.

I think I know why I'm starting to like soccer.
(chinadaily.com.cn)

I have to admit, this soccer thing is like learning a new language. Using "fixture" instead of game, "pitch" instead of "field" and "conceded" instead of "allowed". I'm thinking Rosetta Stone can make a lot of money from new American soccer fans just by building a template for soccer alone. Again, we saw the potential that soccer can catch on in America as over 80,000 flocked to the Rose Bowl to watch Chelsea defeat Inter Milan 2-0. Along with the flock were a few well-known people, from the extremely gorgeous Alyssa Milano to the hilarious Will Ferrell, who was donning a Chelsea jersey on the sidelines. It also got me to thinking that if we're going to fully catch on to this sport, we need to watch the very best. In my first entry of the month, I said the only people who could make soccer relevant were the ones who were wrapped in the American colors. I also left out another important factor: That we have to constantly be assured that we're seeing the elite before we give a full embrace to international football. And let me tell you, I don't think it takes watching a few highlights on ESPN to realize that the best players in the world don't exactly play for the LA Galaxy. Whether it's La Liga, The Premier League or Serie A, I believe that the promoters of soccer should push real hard in exposing their leagues over to the Land of the Free. In the era of YouTube, Twitter, diverse DIRECTV packages and the uncertainty of the NHL's reach, there is no reason why soccer shouldn't amass a few million more fanatics in America. The quality of European soccer just simply steamrolls over that of the MLS. It seems that the only exposure the general American public gets with quality soccer is when the World Cup approaches, which features the best of each nation, and we seem to eat it up (other than the fact that the US doesn't get far). But the quality of play and passion still exists abroad, even after the curtain closes on the famous world tourney. Imagine Yankees-Red Sox or Duke-UNC with people that have no other teams to follow. I believe that the average American sports fan can appreciate that kind of ambiance but can't not only due to the lack of exposure to European clubs, but also to the lack of quality and prestige of clubs in the States. I'm just glad I'm on board to possibly experience the emergence of "the beautiful game" in the States. After watching this Sox team lately, I need some happier storylines.

Before I Peace: Racial Irony
(espn.com)

Today, I was browsing my Twitter page when I caught a link that Bill Simmons posted, which immediately got my attention. ESPN column writer Howard Bryant reminded us that yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of Pumpsie Green's debut, which more importantly marked the 1st appearance by an African-American in a Red Sox uniform. This anniversary however doesn't feel so golden. Why you ask? In a cruel bit of irony, the 2009 Red Sox roster has zero (count it), ZERO black players on the day of the anniversary. It's very well documented that African-American participation in the national pastime has gone down considerably in the past few years. But for a club that has gone international in the past few years, ZERO BLACK PLAYERS? In fact, the team has as almost as many Japanese players (Okajima, Matsuzaka, Saito) as they do Latinos (Lowell, Ortiz, Ramirez, Delcarmen). The rest of the team is as white as that Sox team before that July day in Chicago. In fact, only Coco Crisp has been the only every day African-American acquisition that the Sox have had since 2002. If you know me, I'm not the first person to make flimsy racial accusations and I'm not in favor of just signing a minority just for the sake of signing one (Lugo would have a terrible shortstop in any color.). But as a minority in America and a minority fan of this club, it is hard not to be conscious of these situations. I realize that the current ownership is aware of the racial hostility that has existed within the city, and they've made some strides in the community. But the image of prejudice still exists in Beantown. You have to remember that not long ago, the Red Sox had Jackie Robinson participating in a try out, and he got turned down. The Sox even had the chance to sign Willie Mays in 1949, but Red Sox scouting thought that it wasn't worth trudging though a few rainy days for a black ballplayer. I mean, imagine a team with Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays in it! Even with players like Jim Rice on the team, black players never felt too welcomed in Beantown. Meanwhile the team continued to fill their rosters with over-the-hill sluggers and mediocre pitching while falling behind other teams in picking from the talent-rich minority pool. While today's Red Sox are thankfully more progressive, the dwindling of the minority presence on the team is disconcerting to say the least. It's not only a reminder of the racial inequality that the Yawkey administration promoted, but it is also a painful reminder of why we were never champions for almost 9 consecutive decades.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Let's Right The Ship! Sox - Rangers Gamecast



As you can probably figure out, I haven't been too proud of my Red Sox (55-37) lately. After a win in Buchholz's 2009 debut at the Rog, the Sox have dropped the last three, including last night's 6-3 loss in Arlington. This brings the team's record to an abysmal 8-14 against the AL West in '09, a division which for some reason has been our kryptonite. The offense has been stagnant at best, with only 10 runs scored in the four games since the break (Magadan job watch is on!). What's more significant is that this recent skid has brought the red-hot Yankees back on to the top of the mountain in the AL East. The 6th inning home run derby-like hiccup marked the first time Smoltz has allowed three homers in a frame in over 15 years. I have to admit, I'm recovering from the hangover brought on by the Smoltz Kool-Aid, who was recently referred to in the Boston Dirt Dogs site as "Smoltzuzaka." Fellow Texan Josh Beckett (11-3) takes the mound tonight in the role of the stopper as he tries to halt another Sox skid. He goes up against the 6'3'', 255 lb. righty Tommy Hunter (1-1), who is making only the 8th start in his major league career for the Texas Rangers (50-41). Feeling a little nervous, considering we haven't exactly done well against rookie pitchers lately. At this point, I would pay for Nick Johnson's flight and drive him over to Fenway personally. Just found out that Wakefield's annual trip to the DL has started today, allowing the Nation to see more of the whiz kid Buchholz in the near future. Really hoping that the offense has saved up their 2nd half surge for this Hunter kid, because my Jeep is ready for the call. Play ball, my friends!

8:11 PM - Well, Tommy Hunter is on his way to a Cy Young Award as he retires the 1st 3 Sox hitters in order on 11 pitches. I feel as if I can go to my high school's baseball team, put an MLB uniform on anyone of them, and they can toss 6 solid innings against this lineup. Obviously not confident right now.

8:14 PM - Kinsler hits a double down the line after Orsillo jinxed Beckett by talking about his success in Texas. I'm feeling that Beckett can't afford to allow more than 2 runs today, especially early.

8:17 PM - Drew catches a sinking liner from Young. 1 out and still in prayer position. Big slugger and Bubba Gumper Josh Hamilton to the plate.

8:19 PM - Hamilton strikes out. Sort of bummed out for my fantasy team's offensive production, but it's always reality team 1st. 2 down.

8:23 PM - A Jones walk and a double steal later, things are looking mighty interesting. Not only are the Rangers filled with sluggers, but they are 3rd in the league in steals.

8:24 PM - Well, Beckett has reached his runs allowed limit. Blalock singles in the first 2 runs of the game. 2-0 Rangers. Chuck = rabidly angry.

8:25 PM - After 21 pitches and a newly cracked remote control, the Rangers rush to a 2-0 lead, forcing us to play a nearly impossible game of catch-up the way the offense has been performing. Is this gonna be another long night?

8:28 PM - After a solid hit, Ortiz decided to trust his inner Rickey Henderson, and paid the price mightily. Not even close at 2nd base as he was out by 10 feet and 2 years. Even Kevin Millar said he had no chance. 1 down.

8:35 PM - Sox can only muster a Bay walk in the top half of the 2nd. Talking myself down with the fact that it's still early and that there's a rookie pitcher on the mound. Oh wait. We've been dominated by rookies this season? Let the anxiety continue.

8:41 PM - Beckett eases his way to a very efficient inning in the bottom half. Can't afford anything but a money performance from here on out. 'Tek, Lowrie and Ellsbury due up for the Sox.

8:45 PM - Lowrie hits a solid liner to right and easily makes it to second. 1 out and a runner in scoring position. I'm cleaning my eyes as I type this. Shouldn't keep going with this semi-sarcasm, because I might be jinxing something.

8:48 PM - Too late on the jinx bit. Catfish.....errr...Tommy Hunter puts up another 0 on the scoreboard next to the Boston name. Hearing a clock ticking louder and louder.

8:49 PM - Just finished watching the Denis Leary commercial on how he and his son watched the playoffs in the same seats in their house during the magical '04 season. The good ole days. Remembering how my buddy Billy Budd played "Dirty Water" in our floor after every win from Game 4 of the ALCS till the end. Speaking of comebacks, I wouldn't mind one right now. If we can only bring Dave Roberts out of the booth and have him start the top of the 4th leading off 1st base.

8:53 PM - Beckett breezes through another inning, and officially is starting to enter "machine mode". Totally lovin' it. As for our bats........

8:59 PM - 1, 2, 3 inning for Walter John.....umm Tommy Hunter on our 3-4-5 hitters. Who would've guessed? Just shocking! At least Beckett didn't have to sit around long. He's probably on the rail of the dugout waiting to get right back on the field at this point. In other breaking news, I just discovered a hangnail.

9:06 PM - Another 0 thrown by BecKKKKett, as he's probably returning to his rail spot in the dugout. Maybe he's deciding to go express and just stand on the stairs. Bet you can tell I'm reeeeeeeaaaaal excited (Wink, wink!) for our bats to come up.

9:12 PM - STRIIIIIKE 3 on 'Tek. If Beckett is on "machine mode", Fernando Hunterzuela must be on beast mode right now. Also see that the Yanks are just cruisin' against the O's.

9:14 PM - I love these "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials. Just genius stuff. It's like Dos Equis's response to the Chuck Norris fact sites, and it may arguably be better with lines like, "People hang on his every word, even the prepositions." Just classic! Has given me my only wide smile in the past hour and a half. Thank you Dos Equis.

9:17 PM - Beckett now up to 13 in a row retired. Slowly reaching "most interesting man" status. However, he isn't even the most interesting man on the mound tonight as Cy Hunter is outdueling him. Somebody unfreeze Ted Williams!

9:26 PM - After 2 outs and a 10 pitch at-bat, MVPedroia wins the battle with base hit to the opposite field. Could this be more to come, or do we have to suit up Yaz for the later innings? C'MON YOOOOUK!

9:29 PM - AND YOUK PUTS THE SOX ON THE BOARD!!! Looks like the MVP's at-bat sparked something as Youkilis hit an opposite field double to cut the Ranger lead in half. Lookin' for Ortiz to pull through in the clutch (fingers crossed).

9:33 PM - DAMN! Hunter out of it after 26 pitches in the inning. So much for the clutch hit, but at least we got to Tommy Hunter. I can't believe I just said that! Am I on Planet Earth?

9:36 PM - STRIKE 3 on Kinsler. 5 Ks for BecKKKKKett as he made Kinsler look like an idiot on a high fastball. 14 in a row retired.

9:37 PM - And you can thank me for the jinx. Young singles to center to break up the run. Only the 3rd hit allowed by Beckett all game. Sorry Red Sox Nation. Feel a double play coming up, I swear.

9:38 PM - And what did I say? Clutch double play pulled off by the Sox off the bat of Hamilton. J. Bay Bay up to lead off the 7th, who is desperately in need of a clutch at-bat right now. His .254 average is making me look waaaaaaaay past his 20 homers.

9:43 PM - Bay leads off with a walk thrown by new pitcher Jason Jennings. Christy Mathewhunter now tensing up in the dugout as his win dangles in the balance. I don't care how we drive Bay in as long as we do it. C'MON DREW!

9:47 PM - Smart 3-2 count hit and run as Kinsler can only throw to 1st to assist in the put out of Drew. Time for Mikey Lowell and his leaking hip to become a hero. Realizing that 'Tek is on deck, making me extra tense to the 200th power. C'MON MIKEY!!!

9:50 PM - Mikey walks. Now our .232 hitting captain steps to the plate. Having a sudden change of mood. Heading into the Prozac zone!

9:52 PM - And in the most shocking news in the history of the universe, Varitek strikes out on 3 pitches in a clutch situation. Such a non factor. In fact, he's a sub non factor if there is such a thing.

9:53 PM - Lowrie weakly pops out, snuffing out a potential rally for the Beantowners. Trying to stare at the satellite box right now until it blows up just so I don't have to watch this. I remember seeing Freddy Lynn in the celebrity softball game at the All-Star break, and he could still rake. Who would you bet your life on in the clutch right now, a 57 year old former ballplayer who plays in primarily softball games, or Jason Varitek? I think I already know your answer.

9:57 PM - The Rangers have struck with two straight hits, putting men on the corners with Marlon Byrd coming to the plate. (Buh buh buh buh Byrd Byrd Byrd, Byrd is the word.) It doesn't take much to get that song stuck in my head. Desperately need a happy moment as I feel first place slowly slipping away.

9:59 PM - Byrd ain't the word right now! Huge K for BecKKKKKKett. David Murphy, the former Sox outfield prospect steps up. Trying to shoo away the "former player/vengeance for letting me go" karma.

10:02 PM - The karma bites again as Murphy hits a sac fly, driving in Andruw Jones. This 3-1 lead mine as well should be a 3,682,185-1 lead, which probably matches our odds of scoring another run. Just frustrating.

10:05 PM - Beckett tosses his 7th K to end the inning, with gum launching out of his mouth in pure anger. At least someone on this team has a pulse. Someone give that man a bat! Hey, he has more of a chance to hit the ball than any of the 7-8-9 guys in our lineup.

10:13 PM - Three flyouts recorded in the 8th. Just pathetic. Already accepting the phrase, "1st place Yankees" into my 2009 baseball vocab. Funny how we can beat them, but can't beat anyone in the AL West (3 outs away from being 8-15 against the division). Need a shot and a cigar right now.

10:17 PM - In another shocker, somebody steals a base off 'Tek! The victor, Elvis Andrus. Varitek throwing out a base runner is this year's Loch Ness. People have sworn they've seen it, but the evidence is probably recorded on some grainy film somewhere.

10:22 PM - After a Kinsler moves over Andrus on a fly ball, Lowrie gets him out at home, moving Michael Young into scoring position. Just one more out before the rally caps.

10:22 PM - Hamilton comes through by putting a knife in the proverbial jugular of the Red Sox. That base hit up the middle makes it 4-1 Rangers. Rally cap has been thrown across the room. Besides, it's just as useful hanging on my window curtain as it is on my head.

10:23 PM - 3rd out recorded, but the damage is excessive. I think a Nationals 10 game win streak is more likely than the Sox getting 3 runs right now.

10:27 PM - Ortiz weakly grounds out against C.J. Wilson, who is making his third outing in as many days for the 1st time this year. 2 outs away from looking up at the Yankees.

10:28 PM - Bay promptly walks on 4 pitches. The hope-o-meter is barely ticking. Give me credit, it's still ticking, even with our $70 million dollar, .234 hitting right fielder coming up. I wonder if Dewey Evans can still play?

10:30 PM - Bay steals 2nd. The team is finally showing a pulse. Just chip away, boys!

10:31 PM - Wait, what pulse was I talking about? J.D. Drew strikes out looking. I think I'm seeing smoke. Oh wait. I think it's John Henry just burning Drew's check in one of the owners' boxes, along with the Lugo stack. 2 down.

10:31 PM - Mikey Lowell drives in Bay on the 1st pitch. I actually just did a slight fist pump. Now I see Varitek is coming up. I think I'm gonna have a stroke. Put me on health alert!

10:33 PM - Well at least Tek didn't strike out, but he wasn't our savior either. Sox lose 4 straight for the 1st time this year, and the 1st game that Beckett has lost after a Sox defeat. Give the victory to Tommy "Roy Halladay" Hunter as the Sox are looking up in the division for the first time since June 7th. I bet the Sox are desperately looking forward to going back to Fenway and facing Orioles' pitching to recharge their dreadful offensive production (.195 average, 12 runs in 5 games,). I know I am. If Beckett and Lester can't get run support to pull the Sox off the skids, I sense more trouble for the Sox in the future. I know it's only July, but with the Yankees continuing their white-hot play (5-0 since the break) and the Rays charging hard behind us (4-1), it's totally feasible that the Sox could easily fall out of playoff contention if they don't pull off a move for a catalytic force before the trading deadline. Roy Halladay is looking more like a suitable option every day, but if we can't hit, he will be as useful as a Miata in a New England winter. I'm not pressing the panic button yet, but October is less of a certainty at this point. Mr. Johnson, my car is warming up.


Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
- Bubba Gump Shrimpz - 117-76-17 (1st, Steroid Freaks' Anonymous, 5 UP)
Survived the 4 day All-Star week with a sizable victory. Pitching again solid while my offense successfully held on for dear life. Made another solid pickup with Kendry Morales, who has first base and outfield eligibility. Hoping to increase this slim lead with a big win this week.

- Mocha Sox - 65-78-7 (10th, Yahoo Public 38095, 20.5 GB)
Make that 5 series in a row for the Sox! More encouraging is that I moved up another spot, nearing closer to playoff contention. The pitching, which was in shambles about 2 months ago, is now the fine-tuned engine running the machine thanks to some smart trades and pickups. Feeling more confident by the week.

- Firehawks - 69-71-10 (7th, Yahoo Public 162279, 14 GB)
Weird week (3-4-3 series record) with me moving up one notch in the standings while falling 2.5 GB. Offense continuing its run of futility, and willing to consider trading a quality arm to correct the problem. Enormous week, as I'm in a matchup with the 1st place team. Jason Bay needs to come back to solid form if this team is to go anywhere. The promise that this team once had is slowly fizzling.


R.I.P. To Uncle Walter
Walter Cronkite Jr. (Nov. 4, 1916 - July 17, 2009)


Friday, July 17, 2009

Destination Dreamin'

It's blog time, boooooooooyyyyyy!!!!!
(msfriendly.files.wordpress.com)

It's been 4 days since I've seen anyone in my Mudville 9 play in a meaningful contest. Needless to day, I am going through some crazy withdrawal symptoms. Presently, I'm watching the Brewers and the Reds duke it out in a classic.....errr ordinary baseball game. It's something, but definitely not like the usual. It's been so bad, that I actually been contemplating watching "16 and Pregnant" on MTV and thinking up scenarios for a fourth season of Flavor of Love (Combining the two seems real interesting.). Yeah, it's that bad. The All-Star game was another close one, with the Rays left-fielder Carl Crawford helping out our buddy Papelbon in a game which was about 30 minutes shorter in duration than the Home Run Derby. Who ultimately receives the spoils of the catch all gets decided in the next few months. Get excited! For the 13th year in a row, the American League snatched victory away from the senior circuit. How ironic is it that an Oriole might ultimately help the championship path of one of his three divisional counterparts? Welcome to the All-Star game, Selig style! I would also like to give out a "my bad" to the Cardinals fans, who actually did boo Ted Lilly after all. Guess you guys do have a mean streak. Recently, I've been tracking Lance Armstrong's progress through France (PLEASE BASEBALL, COME BACK!!) and went back to my usual bout of nostalgia with my Eurotrip. Then I thought of all the places that haven't been graced with my presence. If you know me, I'm always thinking about the next hot spot for my constant travels. Plus, it helps me keep my mind off baseball, at least for a nanosecond. I still have so many friends I need to meet up with abroad, and so many frequent flyer miles to collect. After an excruciating process of ranking each locale and me trying to desperately avoid Larry King Live, here are the Top 5 global destinations that fascinate me the most.

Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.
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5. Normandy, France
Call me boring. Call me uncultured. But this is probably the only place in France that I'm interested in. For me, Paris is just the Eiffel Tower, berets, and ritzy art museums. Not exactly my cup of joe. I also am a little hesitant to go in a place where the are not tolerant of people that don't parlez français, but I hope that's just rumors. On the coast of Normandy, the education is fixed within the landscape itself. As a World War II buff, this for me is the mecca of all sites. It is on these beaches that the Allied powers successfully penetrated through Nazi fortifications, thus changing the fate of the free world. The Invasion of Normandy, or D-Day, has been a battle that's been portrayed in many movies, including the classic film Saving Private Ryan. Some of the fortifications still remain from those days, and there is the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer, which is officially American territory. But Normandy is not just a walking school lecture. Normandy boasts the finest ciders (my new favorite sweet alcoholic drink), cheeses, pastries, and seafood dishes. Even though I'm not much of a landscape person, the hills and architecture of the region are definitely entrancing. It sure isn't Malibu, but it is worth learning about the biggest battle in history while gaining more respect for our troops past and present. Plus I'm always game for some good fish, cheese, and cider!


Skyline view of downtown Dubai, UAE
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4.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
I'll be the first to admit that when I pick destinations to go to, many prominent areas in the Middle East usually get pushed aside for a date to be named later. And then there is Dubai. I was first intrigued when a co-worker at my old job was discussing his time in the service, and he spoke endlessly of the marvels within the city. This metropolis in the Middle East provides many wonders that seem mythical. Within the city's limits is the mammoth skyscraper, the Burj Dubai, which will be the tallest man-made structure ever built. What's even better is that it even holds space for residence (Gotta save them Roosevelts!). And for people like me who hate to stay in a mall for more than 10 minutes, the Mall of the Emirates (one of the many mega malls in the city) fixes that problem with theaters, establishments of fine dining, and even an indoor ski slope! Despite its location in the world, Dubai has a multicultural population, mixed with many influences from all corners of the globe. Last but not least, the city is famous for its amazing nightlife, with people going "hotel hopping" to the best clubs and bars. Sounds like Vegas in the Middle Eastern desert. Also sounds like I'm down. Now only for that bling I don't have.


M.I.A...take it to the house!
(everydayshouldbesaturday.com)

3. Miami, Florida
Believe it or not, in my 23 years of existence, I have not once set foot in The Sunshine State. Ladies and gents, this would be the first place I would touch down (Ajay, I hope you're reading this). I think I'm too old for the Disney World excursion, which wasn't really that captivating to me even as a young child. The combination of culture and leisure is what gets me buzzin' about the Magic City. I could just imagine myself roaming the beach on a hot sunny day, surrounded by the smell of suntan lotion with a pastel shirt on. After getting my tan on, I envision myself partying the night away with the beautiful people in the many clubs downtown (Hey, I might run into a few Kardashians.). After sleeping off the cuba libres and strawberry daiquiris, I would waltz onto the green for a round of golf, possibly followed by a trip to the American Airlines Arena to watch one of the best players in the NBA put on a show, all with the rhythm of the rumba in my head. This is just one of those cities that simply has it all when it comes to fine leisure. In the words of Will Smith, "This is the type of town I could spend a few days in." With all the beaches and the nightlife, this is the most hip and tropical paradise this side of Cuba. Well, speaking of......


Martí Monument in Havana.
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2. Havana, Cuba

What do you get when you mix in the Old World with a bit of beach life, a passionate baseball culture, and a whole lot of mambo in the air? If you guess La Habana, or Havana, give yourself a nice pat on the back. This jewel of the Caribbean possesses a charm that lures the curious traveler like myself with its eclectic mixture of culture and style. While ensconced in the rays of the Cuban sun, you can relax on the beach, view some majestic fortresses, or even have a large bowl of fried rice at the largest Chinatown in Latin America. For baseball aficionados like myself, you can stroll through the turnstiles (for free admission) to fully experience a ballgame at the Estadio Latinoamericano, which is the sports shrine of the country. And can you believe that all of this is 100 miles from Key West? Even though there is this slight transparent barrier between us and Cuba (may involve a pit stop to Canada to solve this one), that doesn't stop me from being seduced by the city's magnetism. After all, I need to get the world's finest cigars from the source.

Beautiful coastline of Hawaii.
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1. Anywhere in Hawaii
One of my biggest dreams in life is to pick up the phone and call my friends and family. It will be Christmas time and there will be about a foot of snow on the ground on a 15 degree New England day (-10 degrees Celsius for all you international folk). I will be empathetic to their sympathies, but it will be so difficult. Why so hard? Because I would be basking in the sun 5,000 miles away in America's 50th state! With so much influence from Polynesian and European cultures, Hawaii's slogan simply should be, "I Can't Believe It's America." Hawaii has so much going for it, and it's not just the freshest coffee in the United States. From rising with a coconut drink in hand to the sunsets at Waikiki, this volcanic paradise is the closest image of utopia that I can ponder. Other than just chilling at the beach with a Corona in my hand, I could surf in the sky blue waters of the Pacific, or just save time and snorkel under them. And to pay my respects (I know, my history-loving side is coming out.), I could visit Pearl Harbor to see the USS Arizona, sans images of Ben Affleck destroying an important moment in history. When you are going to a luau in Maui with a lei around your neck, that's called living the life! Well, Aloha means "good bye", but I hope I will be using the word to say "hello" very soon.

Honorable Mentions: Monaco, Hong Kong, San Fransisco, Tokyo, Australia, Singapore, Montreal, Grand Canyon


Before I Peace: Justice On My Mind
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I know it's old news. But recently, Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth recently was released from jail after his 30 day sentence was reduced to 24 for a DUI manslaughter incident in mid-March. Former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will soon be released after over two years in the penitentiary for his involvement in a dog fighting ring. My issue is, where is the true justice here? In one case, we have a man who had a .126 blood-alcohol level who killed a human being. Not only does he get less than a month in jail, he doesn't receive the stigma that Vick received for killing dogs. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs as much as the next person, but when we still live in a country where greyhound racing, KFC, and drugging up horses for sport still exists, we have to re-examine our perspectives. In fact, Vick got sentenced up to a half year extra than the original sentence, and for what? So that PETA can feel glad flexing its muscle by shredding the reputation of a reputed dog-killer? Yet somehow, there is little to no protest for Stallworth, who not only had alcohol in his system, but marijuana as well when he killed his human victim. I guess the fact that Vick had no one to pay off in his debacle screwed him over in this deal. For one, this teaches society that killing a person while intoxicated is apparently a way less serious offence than to run a dog ring, which is rarely sentenced to begin with. But this also displays the issue of selective justice based on public outrage. What both of these men did was wrong, but why does one get off scot-free for a 15 year crime while another serves more than necessary for dogfights? Well I guess I know now the next time I'm in a fit of rage, I shouldn't go anywhere near the neighborhood cat.