Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Annoying Pests
Johnny Damon, on the '07 Red Sox:
"They were a great team all year," Damon said. "I think we were the only team that really played them tough."
Aw, the poor Yankees didn't get to play the Red Sox in the playoffs.... And they definitely would've beat us, too.... Life isn't fair, the way it sends little bugs out to harm you--and, incredibly, not the team you're playing at the time. Boo hoo.
Remember how we laughed at how Damon's average dropped 31 points in his first year with the Yanks? In his second year, he topped it, dropping 46 points below his '05 mark. The best part, of course, was how Yankee fans were still "taunting" (?) us with "tell Theo thanks for Johnny!" Oh, and the classic "players still come from Boston to New York to try to get a championship." So let's put this next part in boldface:
Johnny Damon won the World Series in a Red Sox uniform. He then went to the Yankees, and the Red Sox, not the Yankees, won the World Series again.
I think I might go back and compile some of the best quotes from Yankee fans from the past few years.
But you can't top the Yankee players themselves. That whole bug thing: I don't know what's funnier, the fact that the Yankees thought the bugs were put there on purpose* and/or that the league was out to get them by not stopping the game OR the fact that they can't get it through their thick heads that both teams had to deal with the bugs. No, I do know. It's the second one.
*This is from Baseball Prospectus via Joy of Sox, and they don't say where the quote came from, so blame them if it's not true, but: ""If someone came out twenty years from now and said they released those bugs on purpose, I'd believe it." --Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter
"They were a great team all year," Damon said. "I think we were the only team that really played them tough."
Aw, the poor Yankees didn't get to play the Red Sox in the playoffs.... And they definitely would've beat us, too.... Life isn't fair, the way it sends little bugs out to harm you--and, incredibly, not the team you're playing at the time. Boo hoo.
Remember how we laughed at how Damon's average dropped 31 points in his first year with the Yanks? In his second year, he topped it, dropping 46 points below his '05 mark. The best part, of course, was how Yankee fans were still "taunting" (?) us with "tell Theo thanks for Johnny!" Oh, and the classic "players still come from Boston to New York to try to get a championship." So let's put this next part in boldface:
Johnny Damon won the World Series in a Red Sox uniform. He then went to the Yankees, and the Red Sox, not the Yankees, won the World Series again.
I think I might go back and compile some of the best quotes from Yankee fans from the past few years.
But you can't top the Yankee players themselves. That whole bug thing: I don't know what's funnier, the fact that the Yankees thought the bugs were put there on purpose* and/or that the league was out to get them by not stopping the game OR the fact that they can't get it through their thick heads that both teams had to deal with the bugs. No, I do know. It's the second one.
*This is from Baseball Prospectus via Joy of Sox, and they don't say where the quote came from, so blame them if it's not true, but: ""If someone came out twenty years from now and said they released those bugs on purpose, I'd believe it." --Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Here's A Laugher For You
Dude writes column telling Red Sox fans to "admit it, we feel bad for the Yankees."
AND IT GETS PUBLISHED.
There seems to be a little bit of tongue-in-cheek-ness to the whole thing, I guess. I mean, he is coming out and pointing out the flaws in the Yankees. You can read them and laugh. But it really seems like the guy is honestly expecting us to say, Hmmmm, you're right, I do feel kinda sorry for them.
Unbelievable.
I'm starting to think there's a huge faction of baseball fans who started watching around the year 2000. In their little world, the Red Sox are the team who's won the most--we HATE them. The Yankees always seem to lose in the end--we feel SORRY for them. Unfortunately, these are the people who have all the media jobs where they can tell other equally stupid people how to think. Oh well, screw 'em all. Anybody with any sense at all knows the truth.
Kim and I, over the past few nights, have been watching both Decline of Western Civilization films. There's one scene in part two in which Gene Simmons says, "people tell you it's lonely at the top...they're full of it." Earlier today, I read a quote from an author who knows a lot about candy but doesn't know shit about baseball. He said, "Red Sox fans are finding out what Yankee fans already know--it's lonely at the top."
Gene Simmons was right. My team just won the World Series--and it's AWESOME. I've got a zillion friends up here at the top of the mountain, and we're dancing like fools and spitting on the Yankee fans who litter the valley. With gigantic grins on our faces. All this bullcrap talk about us being like the Yankees is just another way to insinuate that Red Sox fans wanted to lose all along. No, we wanted to win. We have. We're happy.
Let's just say, for argument's sake, that it was somehow made "official" that it is indeed "lonely at the top," and that every team's fans know that going in. Do you think we would've said, "well, let's not root TOO hard for the Red Sox. We wouldn't want them to win and make us all LONELY...."? Eff that! Like every single fan of every single team, we root for our team to win. What is going on here? Why is the last hundred years of history erased? To call the Red Sox the "new Yankees" in 2007 would be like calling black people the "new white people" a few years after slavery was abolished. "Yeah, I felt bad for you guys while you were oppressed, but ever since you were all freed, come on, you're just like any other race." No! Wrong! I don't expect people to stop liking their team and start liking mine. But I would think they would at least realize A. what Red Sox fans went through for decades and B. that the Yankees are the only Yankees and always will be, at least until they have a slump that lasts a minimum of 86 years.
But I'm really just getting worked up about the media. I have to stop paying attention to them.....
AND IT GETS PUBLISHED.
There seems to be a little bit of tongue-in-cheek-ness to the whole thing, I guess. I mean, he is coming out and pointing out the flaws in the Yankees. You can read them and laugh. But it really seems like the guy is honestly expecting us to say, Hmmmm, you're right, I do feel kinda sorry for them.
Unbelievable.
I'm starting to think there's a huge faction of baseball fans who started watching around the year 2000. In their little world, the Red Sox are the team who's won the most--we HATE them. The Yankees always seem to lose in the end--we feel SORRY for them. Unfortunately, these are the people who have all the media jobs where they can tell other equally stupid people how to think. Oh well, screw 'em all. Anybody with any sense at all knows the truth.
Kim and I, over the past few nights, have been watching both Decline of Western Civilization films. There's one scene in part two in which Gene Simmons says, "people tell you it's lonely at the top...they're full of it." Earlier today, I read a quote from an author who knows a lot about candy but doesn't know shit about baseball. He said, "Red Sox fans are finding out what Yankee fans already know--it's lonely at the top."
Gene Simmons was right. My team just won the World Series--and it's AWESOME. I've got a zillion friends up here at the top of the mountain, and we're dancing like fools and spitting on the Yankee fans who litter the valley. With gigantic grins on our faces. All this bullcrap talk about us being like the Yankees is just another way to insinuate that Red Sox fans wanted to lose all along. No, we wanted to win. We have. We're happy.
Let's just say, for argument's sake, that it was somehow made "official" that it is indeed "lonely at the top," and that every team's fans know that going in. Do you think we would've said, "well, let's not root TOO hard for the Red Sox. We wouldn't want them to win and make us all LONELY...."? Eff that! Like every single fan of every single team, we root for our team to win. What is going on here? Why is the last hundred years of history erased? To call the Red Sox the "new Yankees" in 2007 would be like calling black people the "new white people" a few years after slavery was abolished. "Yeah, I felt bad for you guys while you were oppressed, but ever since you were all freed, come on, you're just like any other race." No! Wrong! I don't expect people to stop liking their team and start liking mine. But I would think they would at least realize A. what Red Sox fans went through for decades and B. that the Yankees are the only Yankees and always will be, at least until they have a slump that lasts a minimum of 86 years.
But I'm really just getting worked up about the media. I have to stop paying attention to them.....
Goldglove
Kevin Youkilis wins a Gold Glove. Boomer Scott was the only other Red Sox first baseman to win it. Carlos Quintana never won one? Come on.
So, I always thought Youk kind of looked like a friend of mine who goes by the nickname "Gold." Gold.
So, I always thought Youk kind of looked like a friend of mine who goes by the nickname "Gold." Gold.
O's Release 2008 Schedule
And more pieces of our puzzle are filled in. So plan your trips to the beautiful city of Baltimore now, Sox fans. (O's fans--you're already there! All you have to do is buy tickets to the game! You're so close on this one....come on, you can do it!)The order of our series against the O's goes: Away, away, home, home, away, home. Weird. There's one weekend series down there, end of May. Also, a two-game mid-week April series, and a weekday August series.
At left, our almost-completed 2008 Red Sox schedule. The release of the Oakland schedule will prove key to this project. (Or, if the Red Sox would just go ahead and release theirs.)
Buy My Stuff/Curt Schilling Back With Red Sox
So I made a DVD that contains the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox Rolling Rallies, which were taped by me. A donation of 12 bucks gets you both rallies. I made up a little store for this. Click here to go there and buy the DVD and get all the details. Thanks.Wow, late night news. I love it. Schilling is reportedly "close" to that one-year deal with the Red Sox he wanted. Sweet. He's even blogged about it already.
Update: It's official. Schill back. Here's his new blog post.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Latest Gedman/Kwiz News
Rich was at the Rolling Rally--his second--as we know. This dude, who apparently is the vice president of Red Sox Nation, interviewed him afterward. The article is more about a specific game, and only includes a few Geddy quotes, but it's a fun read. I have to point out, though, that the guy looks up a past boxscore and finds it on Baseball Reference, "thanks to Google." So, you're telling me the VP of RSN was not aware of BR? Or retrosheet--which is where BR gets their boxscores? Maybe I should've run for prez....
In Kwiz Newz, Kwiz Season is on, and I was happy so many people took a shot at the first question. Thanks, everybody.
In Kwiz Newz, Kwiz Season is on, and I was happy so many people took a shot at the first question. Thanks, everybody.
Kwiz Carbo
This day in RSF/PT history: 11/5/05, I write what I think is a pretty funny post--but no one comments. Also that day, quiz season started. As it will today. Here we go. I'll start you off with an easy one. Remember, answers go in the comments section. Since comment moderation is still on, you may answer and get it right, only to find out later someone had already gotten in ahead of you--the first one to answer gets the credit. But, please, one answer at a time. Once you've answered, don't answer again until someone else's answer has been posted. Okay, the question is:
I played on the Red Sox in 2005. If you take each of my names and replace it with a word that directly relates in some way to that name, you'd get "Shakespeare is the pride of England." Minus the "is," "the" and "of," of course. Who the eff am I? (And bonus points will be awarded for figuring out the connections.)
More on the '07-'08 Kwiz season: Kwizzes will be spelled with a K and will be named after a Sox player who wore the number corresponding to the quiz. (This one: Bernie Carbo=1.) There will be 27 quizzes, in honor of the championship season of 2007. 2 and 007. 27. This will also be to mock the Yanks in their never-ending quest for that 27th championship. The kwizzes will always be here, but the results will be posted on the Kwiz page, linked at right. We'll talk prizes later.
Other stuff happening soon: Your chance to own a piece of history, as I'll be selling some cheap stuff to you that I made. Also, the RSF/PT glossary, which I finished a while ago, but have been just letting sit.
I played on the Red Sox in 2005. If you take each of my names and replace it with a word that directly relates in some way to that name, you'd get "Shakespeare is the pride of England." Minus the "is," "the" and "of," of course. Who the eff am I? (And bonus points will be awarded for figuring out the connections.)
More on the '07-'08 Kwiz season: Kwizzes will be spelled with a K and will be named after a Sox player who wore the number corresponding to the quiz. (This one: Bernie Carbo=1.) There will be 27 quizzes, in honor of the championship season of 2007. 2 and 007. 27. This will also be to mock the Yanks in their never-ending quest for that 27th championship. The kwizzes will always be here, but the results will be posted on the Kwiz page, linked at right. We'll talk prizes later.
Other stuff happening soon: Your chance to own a piece of history, as I'll be selling some cheap stuff to you that I made. Also, the RSF/PT glossary, which I finished a while ago, but have been just letting sit.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Ridgefield In Peace
Squash is dead. Not the sport. Not the vegetable. The dude. If you lived or worked in Ridgefield, Connecticut between the beginning of time and today, you know that "Ridgefield News Store" is really "Squash's."
It was such a staple of the town, I just assumed, as a little kid, that every town's newsstand-type shop was called "Squash's." After middle school, me, Pat, Mike Lep, and Suff would sometimes head over there to buy Panini baseball stickers, and then go trespass in some building and sit and put them in our albums. Man, I was the king of "nerdy trespassing." Me and my friends would sneak into places, only to do completely innocent things, like play board games and stuff. In fact, I recommend this to you young people. You get the thrill of breaking and entering, but when you get caught, the people see you're not really doing anything wrong, and let you off easy.
What's the lesson here? Squash is dead, dude! I'm proud to say I represented his store in two different seasons of youth baseball. Once in Little League, "triple-A." That was the year I got my black eye. And once in Pony League--when me, the aforementioned Mike Lep, and Fran Trejo were told we were gonna have to "tow the load," as the rest of the team kinda stunk. Our coach that season is actually quoted in the above obituary. It makes sense that dude would talk about scoring chicks in an obit.
While looking at the other Ridgefield obituaries, I saw one person who graduated RHS a year after I did. William Perron--died in a car crash. I remember the name, but can't come up with any memories of him. I found a pic of him online, and he was wearing a Sox hat and a Bad Religion T-shirt. Nice job, guy. Hopefully Squash has opened up a new place in whatever dimension you're both in, so you can get Panini stickers or whatever.
Thinking of these dead people makes the "extra hour" we just got seem a little unfair, doesn't it? Ah well, they'll get the last laugh when we lose the hour next spring. But we'll get it back again. But then we'll lose it again. And so on, and so on, until we're all dead. Except for me. I plan to live forever. Could happen. My girlfriend says "you wouldn't want to be alive after a certain point." Eff that, I'm Papa Smurfin' it--when you die, you're done forever, so I say keep rollin' 'til the wheels fall off. And then get prosthetic wheels. Re-sign Lowell!
It was such a staple of the town, I just assumed, as a little kid, that every town's newsstand-type shop was called "Squash's." After middle school, me, Pat, Mike Lep, and Suff would sometimes head over there to buy Panini baseball stickers, and then go trespass in some building and sit and put them in our albums. Man, I was the king of "nerdy trespassing." Me and my friends would sneak into places, only to do completely innocent things, like play board games and stuff. In fact, I recommend this to you young people. You get the thrill of breaking and entering, but when you get caught, the people see you're not really doing anything wrong, and let you off easy.
What's the lesson here? Squash is dead, dude! I'm proud to say I represented his store in two different seasons of youth baseball. Once in Little League, "triple-A." That was the year I got my black eye. And once in Pony League--when me, the aforementioned Mike Lep, and Fran Trejo were told we were gonna have to "tow the load," as the rest of the team kinda stunk. Our coach that season is actually quoted in the above obituary. It makes sense that dude would talk about scoring chicks in an obit.
While looking at the other Ridgefield obituaries, I saw one person who graduated RHS a year after I did. William Perron--died in a car crash. I remember the name, but can't come up with any memories of him. I found a pic of him online, and he was wearing a Sox hat and a Bad Religion T-shirt. Nice job, guy. Hopefully Squash has opened up a new place in whatever dimension you're both in, so you can get Panini stickers or whatever.
Thinking of these dead people makes the "extra hour" we just got seem a little unfair, doesn't it? Ah well, they'll get the last laugh when we lose the hour next spring. But we'll get it back again. But then we'll lose it again. And so on, and so on, until we're all dead. Except for me. I plan to live forever. Could happen. My girlfriend says "you wouldn't want to be alive after a certain point." Eff that, I'm Papa Smurfin' it--when you die, you're done forever, so I say keep rollin' 'til the wheels fall off. And then get prosthetic wheels. Re-sign Lowell!
Hobby Turning To Obsession
Okay, I found a Globe article from October 16th which solves some 2008 schedule mysteries. 1. We avoid the Braves. So our natural rival games are split between Philly and... Arizona! Whatever. I was right about the central teams we play, and all those dates are set on the schedule.
2. It would be a series in Oakland to start the year. If we play them in Japan, that series will be two games in Japan, two in Oakland on the first week of April.
3. All the Yankee dates now set.
So, at left, I've almost got the whole thing down. Red with black lettering are home games. White with purplish text and the @ symbol are, duh, road games. White with red lettering means I know the team, but not sure of home or away, or not sure which is the off-day. And some of those have more than one team as a possibility. But this gives you a good idea of the sked.
Seth Myers on Weekend Update tonight: "A-Rod opted out of his contract...he's the perfect fit for a team with money to spend who doesn't like winning." The best part was how he was grinning ear to ear during and after the joke, knowing that everyone knows he's a Sox fan.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Sox Home Opener Vs. Detroit (I Think)
According to the schedule on the Tigers' site, we play them at home on Tuesday, April 8th at 2:05, then two night games the next two nights. I think it's safe to say April 8th will be our home opener, complete with ring ceremony.
Other schedule news: I've got confirmation on the Sunday start times. The Mariners, like the Brewers, have a Sunday game at Fenway, and they also list it as being at 1:35 (eastern). Wow, it really is curtains for the ol' Sunday 2:05-erino.
Okay, wait a minute. This is interesting. I was trying to figure out who we'll play to start the season (after the Japan series with Oakland), which I assume will be a road series, due to what I mentioned in the first paragraph here. I eliminated most teams through all the released schedules. The teams unaccounted for are:
Oakland: Would we play them after the Japan series? And have a one-city west coast trip? No.
Toronto: We play them second, so we couldn't play them first.
That leaves one more team. The Yankees. And I'd say they ESPN definitely tabs that game as the Sunday nighter. So, my call is that we start in NY, Sunday, March 30th, followed by a Tuesday and a Wednesday game, possibly with Tuesday being a day game. Then, off to Toronto for a three-game weekend series. Off-day on Tuesday the 7th, then the ring ceremony and Opening Day against Detroit on Tuesday the 8th. Mark your calendars! In pencil!
(Of course, tomorrow I'll find out that they've already announced all this somewhere. My '08 makeshift schedule--minus the Yankee assumption, is here.)
Update: After doing more process-of-elimination work, I think those second two blank series on my sked have to be against NY. Therefore, maybe that Oakland idea isn't such a bad one. The Japan games on the 22nd and 23rd, then some exhibition games over there, then stop in Oakland for three to start the year, then a day off before going to Toronto. Or maybe I'm missing something obvious. Check in with me in a few days....
Other schedule news: I've got confirmation on the Sunday start times. The Mariners, like the Brewers, have a Sunday game at Fenway, and they also list it as being at 1:35 (eastern). Wow, it really is curtains for the ol' Sunday 2:05-erino.
Okay, wait a minute. This is interesting. I was trying to figure out who we'll play to start the season (after the Japan series with Oakland), which I assume will be a road series, due to what I mentioned in the first paragraph here. I eliminated most teams through all the released schedules. The teams unaccounted for are:
Oakland: Would we play them after the Japan series? And have a one-city west coast trip? No.
Toronto: We play them second, so we couldn't play them first.
That leaves one more team. The Yankees. And I'd say they ESPN definitely tabs that game as the Sunday nighter. So, my call is that we start in NY, Sunday, March 30th, followed by a Tuesday and a Wednesday game, possibly with Tuesday being a day game. Then, off to Toronto for a three-game weekend series. Off-day on Tuesday the 7th, then the ring ceremony and Opening Day against Detroit on Tuesday the 8th. Mark your calendars! In pencil!
(Of course, tomorrow I'll find out that they've already announced all this somewhere. My '08 makeshift schedule--minus the Yankee assumption, is here.)
Update: After doing more process-of-elimination work, I think those second two blank series on my sked have to be against NY. Therefore, maybe that Oakland idea isn't such a bad one. The Japan games on the 22nd and 23rd, then some exhibition games over there, then stop in Oakland for three to start the year, then a day off before going to Toronto. Or maybe I'm missing something obvious. Check in with me in a few days....
That...Was...Awesome
I just watched Manny on Leno. Really cool. His knuck-dust with Steven Carell was priceless. He also pointed out that he said the "it's not the end of the world" thing to take the pressure off, and then we won seven in a row. I'm sure you'll all see this online tomorrow.
I love our players.
Next up, Papi on Conan....
Okay, now I just watched that. Also good. I liked the new handshake, complete with dance. And a funny story about Papi's Halloween experience. Lots of Boston people on TV tonight: Conan and Leno themselves, Papi and Manny, and Steve Carell. The odd man out was Jerry Seinfeld. I've seen him on a few shows lately, plugging his cartoon movie, and he now sounds like Jimmy Fallon's impression of Jerry Seinfeld.
Anyway, the best part of the Papi interview was when Conan asked about re-signing Mike Lowell. Ortiz was totally pro-Lowell, of course, and then Conan told him to make it happen or he'd have to do it himself. So Papi turns to the camera and says "Theo! Do it!" Awesome. We're all in agreement, then.
I love our players.
Next up, Papi on Conan....
Okay, now I just watched that. Also good. I liked the new handshake, complete with dance. And a funny story about Papi's Halloween experience. Lots of Boston people on TV tonight: Conan and Leno themselves, Papi and Manny, and Steve Carell. The odd man out was Jerry Seinfeld. I've seen him on a few shows lately, plugging his cartoon movie, and he now sounds like Jimmy Fallon's impression of Jerry Seinfeld.
Anyway, the best part of the Papi interview was when Conan asked about re-signing Mike Lowell. Ortiz was totally pro-Lowell, of course, and then Conan told him to make it happen or he'd have to do it himself. So Papi turns to the camera and says "Theo! Do it!" Awesome. We're all in agreement, then.
Friday, November 02, 2007
"They're Killin' Me, Whitey, They're Killin' Me!"
When I was in college, back in a time we called "'93," a sketch-comedy show called "The State" came out. I loved it. Then, it almost became a network show. Then, it disappeared. Then, every fake-ass, coffee-house indie rocker and their left grandmother acted like it was their favorite show as the 1900s became the 2000s, even though they were too young to see it when it was on TV. A VHS tape of stuff I'd taped already was released. It was hard to find. The people from the show went on to do many fine things: Viva Variety, Reno 911, Stella, all the stuff Michael Ian Black does, The Baxter, The Ten, and a movie I watched once again last night, Wet Hot American Summer.
Today, I checked to see if the State DVD box-set was any closer to coming out. Terribly, despite the nice trailer they made for it, MTV has decided NOT to release it. At least not now. When are they gonna just give the people what they want? In the meantime, please go to itoonz or amazzzon or whatever and download an episode or two. I guess if people buy those, there's a better chance they release a DVD.
Today, I checked to see if the State DVD box-set was any closer to coming out. Terribly, despite the nice trailer they made for it, MTV has decided NOT to release it. At least not now. When are they gonna just give the people what they want? In the meantime, please go to itoonz or amazzzon or whatever and download an episode or two. I guess if people buy those, there's a better chance they release a DVD.
Updates
I knew there was something else that was awesome about Girardi being the new Yanks' manager: His little son is a huge Big Papi fan.
And now Torre is the Dodgers manager. I guess Torre thought, "Hmmm, what would be the opposite of New York?"
Abreu will be back with the Yanks in '08. Good. Love hatin' that guy. I wondering if he's practicing his not-swinging skills right now.
Royce Clayton was DFA'd. "I ain't got my assignment." But John Farrell will be back as pitching coach.
Oh, one more thing. And this may shock and amaze you. But I'd like to say "anti-terrible job" to Jorge Posada. After 2006, I was sure he was pretty much done, his numbers in a steady decline. But he had a great season. Granted, it was a contract year, but still. This also gives hope to anyone who has doubts about Varitek as he ages. If Posada can do that well, Tek can, easily.
And now Torre is the Dodgers manager. I guess Torre thought, "Hmmm, what would be the opposite of New York?"
Abreu will be back with the Yanks in '08. Good. Love hatin' that guy. I wondering if he's practicing his not-swinging skills right now.
Royce Clayton was DFA'd. "I ain't got my assignment." But John Farrell will be back as pitching coach.
Oh, one more thing. And this may shock and amaze you. But I'd like to say "anti-terrible job" to Jorge Posada. After 2006, I was sure he was pretty much done, his numbers in a steady decline. But he had a great season. Granted, it was a contract year, but still. This also gives hope to anyone who has doubts about Varitek as he ages. If Posada can do that well, Tek can, easily.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Snapped By Folk
Good 2007 wrap-up by Andrew here.
Scroll down and look along the right side of my blog for links to places with Rolling Rally pictures. If yours are online somewhere, or you know of any other good galleries (not from newspapers--regular folks only), feel free to let me know and I'll add them.
In "Team That Hasn't Had A Parade In A Long Time" news, Joe Girardi will be the new Yanks manager and will wear number 27. After that nice long talk we had about how they should stop with the 27 crap, for their own good. Oh well, just keep adding pressure to the cooker. I love that Girardi is their choice, as he's such a button-down guy--that'll keep the Yanks facial hair and below the collar hair-free. In other words, looking like the losers they've been for seven years. Perfect. Anything that keeps the Yanks the opposite of us is good. (And I'm not kidding--Girardi didn't allow facial hair when he managed the Marlins. Keep those top buttons buttoned, guys, that's the best way to choke. You can respect the game while looking weird--and win, too. Dumbasses.)
Scroll down and look along the right side of my blog for links to places with Rolling Rally pictures. If yours are online somewhere, or you know of any other good galleries (not from newspapers--regular folks only), feel free to let me know and I'll add them.
In "Team That Hasn't Had A Parade In A Long Time" news, Joe Girardi will be the new Yanks manager and will wear number 27. After that nice long talk we had about how they should stop with the 27 crap, for their own good. Oh well, just keep adding pressure to the cooker. I love that Girardi is their choice, as he's such a button-down guy--that'll keep the Yanks facial hair and below the collar hair-free. In other words, looking like the losers they've been for seven years. Perfect. Anything that keeps the Yanks the opposite of us is good. (And I'm not kidding--Girardi didn't allow facial hair when he managed the Marlins. Keep those top buttons buttoned, guys, that's the best way to choke. You can respect the game while looking weird--and win, too. Dumbasses.)
Sunday
Only some teams have their '08 schedules up, and fewer have it up with game-times. But the one team who has times up, and who plays the Red Sox at Fenway on a Sunday, is the Brewers. According to their sked, the game starts at 12:35. That's central time, making it a 1:35 start in Boston. Does this mean our 2:05 Sunday games are moving back a half-hour for '08? If so, this reporter would like to pledge his allegiance to the new, alien Sunday start-time. I always liked the old 1:05 starts, so this would be kind of a compromise. You still have a little extra time to sleep in, or to get to the game if you live far away, yet the game will get out a little earlier.
Also note: This could just be a screw-up by the Brewers. I still anxiously await another team that plays us at Fenway on a Sunday to release their schedule, so I can confirm this. Or for the Red Sox to just release theirs! It November already! Opening Day is fast approaching! My current makeshift 2008 schedule is here.
Also note: This could just be a screw-up by the Brewers. I still anxiously await another team that plays us at Fenway on a Sunday to release their schedule, so I can confirm this. Or for the Red Sox to just release theirs! It November already! Opening Day is fast approaching! My current makeshift 2008 schedule is here.
.680 Ball
Saw 25 Red Sox games this season. The Red Sox went 17-8 in those games.
In playoff games, I went 2-0. In May and August combined, I went 6-0. In games against the Yanks: 3-0.
By pitcher:
Dice-K starts: 6-1
Schill starts: 4-3
Beckett starts: 3-2
Wake starts: 2-1
Buchholz starts: 1-0
Gabbard starts: 1-0
Tavarez starts: 0-1
Notable stuff:
4 homers in a row by the Red Sox
Trot's return
Dave Roberts' return
Walk on the field after Father's Day game
Dice's Fenway debut
Buchholz' MLB debut
A Bonds HR
My first playoff win
Walkoff playoff win
ALCS Game 7
AL East on-field clinching celebration
AL on-field clinching celebration
My second Rolling Rally
No, I didn't forget the WS runs-by-inning contest. AJM/Laureen picked up a run in the fifth to add to their lead. A final effort by Jay/Leggett in the eighth left them five short. No one else made a serious move in the final game. So, after AJM and Kara finish one-two in the '06-'07 Quiz season, each of them wins a linescore contest, alongside Pweezil and Laureen. I will e-mail the winners about prizes. I have everyone's except Laureen (please write me at Two2067 at aol dot com if you want your prize.) I'll also be e-mailing everyone who took pictures at road games for me this season to talk about giving you your "prize." If you don't hear from me, it means I don't have your address, and you should e-mail me. Anyway, final WS linescore results:
Inn./Contestants/Runs
5/AJM & Laureen / 9
3/Kara & Pweezil / 6
1/Peter & Ryan / 4
8/Jay & Michael Leggett / 4
4/savethejellys & Rebecca / 3
9 & beyond/my mom / 1
2/Matty & Quinn / 1
7/Novy & Dan / 1
6/Soxy Lady & Allen / 0
Total WS runs (4 games): 29
Total ALCS runs (7 games): 51
Total runs by inning in ALCS and WS combined:
3/Kara & Pweezil / 21
8/Jay & Michael Leggett / 15
5/AJM & Laureen / 15
1/Peter & Ryan / 11
7/Novy & Dan / 7
6/Soxy Lady & Allen / 5
4/savethejellys & Rebecca / 3
2/Matty & Quinn / 2
9 & beyond/my mom / 1
We really kicked butt in that third inning! Jay/Leggett pulled a bit of an "'81 Reds," doing well in the first and second contest, finishing second overall, but not coming out with a prize. You know what would be fun? A season-long linescore contest!
In playoff games, I went 2-0. In May and August combined, I went 6-0. In games against the Yanks: 3-0.
By pitcher:
Dice-K starts: 6-1
Schill starts: 4-3
Beckett starts: 3-2
Wake starts: 2-1
Buchholz starts: 1-0
Gabbard starts: 1-0
Tavarez starts: 0-1
Notable stuff:
4 homers in a row by the Red Sox
Trot's return
Dave Roberts' return
Walk on the field after Father's Day game
Dice's Fenway debut
Buchholz' MLB debut
A Bonds HR
My first playoff win
Walkoff playoff win
ALCS Game 7
AL East on-field clinching celebration
AL on-field clinching celebration
My second Rolling Rally
No, I didn't forget the WS runs-by-inning contest. AJM/Laureen picked up a run in the fifth to add to their lead. A final effort by Jay/Leggett in the eighth left them five short. No one else made a serious move in the final game. So, after AJM and Kara finish one-two in the '06-'07 Quiz season, each of them wins a linescore contest, alongside Pweezil and Laureen. I will e-mail the winners about prizes. I have everyone's except Laureen (please write me at Two2067 at aol dot com if you want your prize.) I'll also be e-mailing everyone who took pictures at road games for me this season to talk about giving you your "prize." If you don't hear from me, it means I don't have your address, and you should e-mail me. Anyway, final WS linescore results:
Inn./Contestants/Runs
5/AJM & Laureen / 9
3/Kara & Pweezil / 6
1/Peter & Ryan / 4
8/Jay & Michael Leggett / 4
4/savethejellys & Rebecca / 3
9 & beyond/my mom / 1
2/Matty & Quinn / 1
7/Novy & Dan / 1
6/Soxy Lady & Allen / 0
Total WS runs (4 games): 29
Total ALCS runs (7 games): 51
Total runs by inning in ALCS and WS combined:
3/Kara & Pweezil / 21
8/Jay & Michael Leggett / 15
5/AJM & Laureen / 15
1/Peter & Ryan / 11
7/Novy & Dan / 7
6/Soxy Lady & Allen / 5
4/savethejellys & Rebecca / 3
2/Matty & Quinn / 2
9 & beyond/my mom / 1
We really kicked butt in that third inning! Jay/Leggett pulled a bit of an "'81 Reds," doing well in the first and second contest, finishing second overall, but not coming out with a prize. You know what would be fun? A season-long linescore contest!
