so i'm on a time crunch again, but here it is:
My friend Victor is still laughing about this moment in time. Victor, Roshan, and I had made the trek up to Manchester to see the Fishercats take on the visiting Sea Dogs (my home team... Maine will always be home). John Smoltz was making a rehab start for Portland that night and the three of us decided we had to be there. We get to the park and scalp some $5 tickets which end up being wayyyyyy out in left field. I dont know if i have ever felt farther from home plate in my life, save for during the offseason. We're about 8 rows back from the field and the visiting bullpen is right there, one of those open spaces that's simply a mound and a plate in foul territory. The guys are all sitting on a bench 2 feet in front of the first row of seats. Smoltz pitches about 4 innings that night, then hits the showers... the entire stadium clears out. Especially our section as it's so far from the action. The three of us decide to move down into the first row because we're all experiencing varying amounts of intrigue at the relievers being right there.
We sit down right behind the guys. Can hear them talking and no doubt they can hear us talking even better. I notice pretty quickly that Richie Lentz and Dustin Richardson are among the relievers, both of whom I had seen during a Jimmy Fund event this past winter. Roshan had gotten his pic taken with Dustin; I had spoken like a chatterbox with Richie, fast and furious. The other guys, I was struggling to recognize and cant remember who else I noticed there.
Before I went to the Jimmy Fund event, which was based around bowling and meet'n'greet prospects-style, I had looked up all the guys I was going to be coming into contact with. As I researched Richie a bit, I found his personal site and noticed that the song playing on his page was by a Christian worship/rock bank called Hillsong. Huh, pretty random, kind of obscure, definitely not what I expected to find on this minor leaguer's homepage. When I met him, I mentioned that we had a shared favorite band... especially at the time, Hillsong was really all that I was listening to. Hillsong and whatever they decided to play at Fenway. He was just as surprised at my mentioning it as I was to have discovered the common ground in the first place, and told me he'd never heard that one before.
yadda yadda yadda, skip to the game in Manchester... there he is, and I know that every guy I met at that Jimmy Fund event has remembered me from then on (Bard, Masterson, Bowden, Reddick, Anderson, Kottaras, Carter, etc) but still dont presume that this will be the case when I come upon most of them. So I dont say anything, and after all, it's the middle of a game, definitely not the time to be starting up a conversation. These little kids next to us are being really rambunctious, talking serious smack to Roshan especially for whatever reason and he is responding... well, one of the little guys directs his attention at me: "Hey, how'd you get these seats anyhow?" ...as if they were great seats, which I dont consider them to be. I laugh a little, and he goes on, "Do you know the players or something?" And I laugh a little more. I had told Victor (roshan knew as he was with me at the Jimmy Fund event) about when I had met Richie once I noticed him sitting in the bullpen. Very amused at this point, I dont really respond to the kid because of the way he's saying the things he's saying- he's clearly just being fresh. Victor shoots back at the kid with, "Yeah, she does actually" and I just have to roll my eyes... Roshan is 30, Victor is 21, and they are baiting 10 year old boys. The boy looks at me unbelievingly, of course, and says "No you dont"... then, "Who (of the players) gave you the tickets?" I smile, and before I can say anything the boy adds, "Who's that?" and he points directly at Richie. HAH! I tell him it's Richie Lentz... and it's a little awkward, as Richie is essentially a part of the conversation, he's sitting so close. I can all but see his ears perk up as his name is mentioned. The kid is not buying it, and presses for further information. I'm trying not to crack up at this point because i feel stuck between this kid (who is comically aggressive) and richie (who is surely listening to me talk about him), with my 2 friends watching from the sidelines. I tell the kid that I know that Richie likes Hillsong, and immediately Richie cranes his head around to face me, an unforgettable wide smile spread wide across his face. "I knew I recognized you." A little bit of chat, some laughter, and to be honest I figured he'd at least recognize my face but I know that my friends were impressed or surprised. AND, haha, the kids were dumbstruck. That was by far the best part. The silence that ensued.
So thanks Richie. You made my day. My friends still laugh about that incident. Good to literally just see you last night, glad your rehab stint is coming to an end, and maybe I'll see you in Portland on Wednesday!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
#30 Continues To Impress
Bowden's day looked something like this: a strong 7 inning outing during which he allowed 1 run, 6 hits, and no walks. He struck out 6, and threw 80 pitches, 60 for strikes. WOW. That's amazing, that last bit. 75% of his pitches were strikes. He threw about 11 pitches per inning. Phenomenal. You cant measure a Paw Sox pitcher by his wins/losses... they simply dont have the run support. Bowden lowered his ERA to 2.96, back down below 3 once again. His last 3 outings have been very strong, and I had a serious case of Bowden pride today tracking the game at work (simultaneously listening to the Red Sox game... both were day games).
Papi... all I will say (for now, and maybe ever) is that if you were surprised by this bit of news- that David Ortiz is named among the 104 who tested positive for PEDs in 2003- you are blind (sorry to sound harsh) or have been in denial for a long time. Look at the guy (notice, spring training headlines this year were all about how he "slimmed down") and even forgetting about that, look at his history... from no power, to BIG power, to steep decline. Injury. These things are all by-the-book when it comes to steroid use. I would have been surprised if his name WASNT on the list. I'm one of very few people (it seems) who felt compassion towards ARod when his big steroid story broke, and so I am now feeling the same towards Ortiz. Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Orioles, i dont care who is exposed. I dont like that they were using in the first place, but I REALLY dont like that names were leaked at all, or that they continue to be leaked. REALLY dont like that. It's not because I dont want to know but because these results were supposed to be anonymous and were never going to be released. I cant believe that there have not been any lawsuits... I would think that the players have every right to get (legally) angry about this, because back when these tests were administered, the stuff wasnt banned (lest we forget- and again, I dont like that anyone juiced, now, then, whenever. but the rules regarding all of this have changed between now and then and it's important to keep that in mind for objectivity's sake).
Yikes, that wasnt supposed to take up this much space. I'm stopping right there, although so much could be said. Really dont want to ramble on into the night about something that's talked about enough as it is. Summary: poor players. boo whoever leaked/is leaking names.
Saw the Spinners tonight. It was Celebrate How Much of a Quitter Manny Is night... the anniversary of his being traded from boston to the west coast. Interesting idea for a promotion. For my part, I barely even noticed... they did some contests and things but it wasnt really such an active promotional night. They WERE selling programs for 50 cents instead of a dollar (whoopdeedoo right? hey, i'm frugal). Saw Richie Lentz there, who in my mind of course is supposed to be up in Portland- heard later from him that he was finishing up a rehab stint, will be back in Maine by the end of the weekend.
Quick Richie Lentz story... no, I'll write it tomorrow, I need to get this post finished and go to bed.
Anyhow, Spinners won. Swept Tri-City, in fact. I found it interesting how much more the pitching seems to revolve around pitch counts/inning limits. Our starter was going strong but was out after 3 innings... 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 bb, 1 k. yeah. Before the game he had hurled 15 innings over 6 games (!!!) and had a .60 ERA. Looking at those stats, I was understandably confounded. Low ERA, and yet averaging just over 2 innings each game! What kind of sense does that make? Now I get it a bit more. I think I had noticed this trend at the other games I've been to this season but hadnt really dwelt on it. We got 5 pitchers into the game so lots of kids got their work in for the night. Wilkerson (strong performance in RF, 3-5 with 2 runs and a SB), Hedman (1-4 with 4 RBI and a near triple-called-out), Almanzar (reached base all 4 ABs with a walk, single, hbp, and drop 3rd strike), and Bermudez (3-4 with a stolen base) were players of note for tonight. Wilkerson continues to impress everyone. Unfortunately Ryan Westmoreland (another "very impressive young man") had the night off. Relief pitcher Michael Bugary pitched 1 inning, striking out the side (allowing two singles).
Time for sleep. Soulfest tomorrow night and Saturday. I cant believe I'm almost 24.
TRADE DEADLINE: HASTEN.
Papi... all I will say (for now, and maybe ever) is that if you were surprised by this bit of news- that David Ortiz is named among the 104 who tested positive for PEDs in 2003- you are blind (sorry to sound harsh) or have been in denial for a long time. Look at the guy (notice, spring training headlines this year were all about how he "slimmed down") and even forgetting about that, look at his history... from no power, to BIG power, to steep decline. Injury. These things are all by-the-book when it comes to steroid use. I would have been surprised if his name WASNT on the list. I'm one of very few people (it seems) who felt compassion towards ARod when his big steroid story broke, and so I am now feeling the same towards Ortiz. Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Orioles, i dont care who is exposed. I dont like that they were using in the first place, but I REALLY dont like that names were leaked at all, or that they continue to be leaked. REALLY dont like that. It's not because I dont want to know but because these results were supposed to be anonymous and were never going to be released. I cant believe that there have not been any lawsuits... I would think that the players have every right to get (legally) angry about this, because back when these tests were administered, the stuff wasnt banned (lest we forget- and again, I dont like that anyone juiced, now, then, whenever. but the rules regarding all of this have changed between now and then and it's important to keep that in mind for objectivity's sake).
Yikes, that wasnt supposed to take up this much space. I'm stopping right there, although so much could be said. Really dont want to ramble on into the night about something that's talked about enough as it is. Summary: poor players. boo whoever leaked/is leaking names.
Saw the Spinners tonight. It was Celebrate How Much of a Quitter Manny Is night... the anniversary of his being traded from boston to the west coast. Interesting idea for a promotion. For my part, I barely even noticed... they did some contests and things but it wasnt really such an active promotional night. They WERE selling programs for 50 cents instead of a dollar (whoopdeedoo right? hey, i'm frugal). Saw Richie Lentz there, who in my mind of course is supposed to be up in Portland- heard later from him that he was finishing up a rehab stint, will be back in Maine by the end of the weekend.
Quick Richie Lentz story... no, I'll write it tomorrow, I need to get this post finished and go to bed.
Anyhow, Spinners won. Swept Tri-City, in fact. I found it interesting how much more the pitching seems to revolve around pitch counts/inning limits. Our starter was going strong but was out after 3 innings... 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 bb, 1 k. yeah. Before the game he had hurled 15 innings over 6 games (!!!) and had a .60 ERA. Looking at those stats, I was understandably confounded. Low ERA, and yet averaging just over 2 innings each game! What kind of sense does that make? Now I get it a bit more. I think I had noticed this trend at the other games I've been to this season but hadnt really dwelt on it. We got 5 pitchers into the game so lots of kids got their work in for the night. Wilkerson (strong performance in RF, 3-5 with 2 runs and a SB), Hedman (1-4 with 4 RBI and a near triple-called-out), Almanzar (reached base all 4 ABs with a walk, single, hbp, and drop 3rd strike), and Bermudez (3-4 with a stolen base) were players of note for tonight. Wilkerson continues to impress everyone. Unfortunately Ryan Westmoreland (another "very impressive young man") had the night off. Relief pitcher Michael Bugary pitched 1 inning, striking out the side (allowing two singles).
Time for sleep. Soulfest tomorrow night and Saturday. I cant believe I'm almost 24.
TRADE DEADLINE: HASTEN.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Jammin To Oasis All Day Long..
Everyone knows. Petey didnt hit Kottaras home. We lost. It was embarrassing and it wasnt the first time this season that the Red Sox have disintegrated mid-game. Thankfully, I think the Sox are still widely considered to be the team that will pull off a rally when a rally is needed. Nothing is ever over till it's over. Papelbon is a problem, and the red flags that have been popping up all season with regards to him are not going away. True- relatively speaking, he is still mostly getting it done. He plays for a great team that has the ability to give him run support. I'm not even close to the first one to say it- and I've been thinking this for the majority of the season, so nothing new about any of this- but Paps isnt clutch anymore. Those lights-out 9th innings are few and far between these days. He walks guys (a lot). He gives up home runs. He's not the closer he was last year, not by a long shot. Does he really deserve that big $$ contract that he was chattering about this past offseason? I've no doubt that someone would offer it to him. But as for the interests of our team, i'm split- I miss the adrenaline and cocky energy that Paps brought last year.. it was truly electric. He doesnt bring the same presence in 2009. My excitement at his entrance into a game begins and ends with Shipping Up To Boston.
This is not all to say that Paps lost the game for us... we had some other issues defensively, and though Clay had a pretty bland outing in my opinion (underwhelming I guess... nothing like the ACE he's projected to be), there were errors and plays that didnt get turned and things that didnt fall our way. Whatever happened to pitching endurance by the way? 5.2 innings is ok for a starter. Not great. In the 6th I recall that he walked a guy on 4 pitches. Whoever comes up from AAA, I would hope they'd bring a serious fresh arm. I dont know, maybe my standards are too high. Then again, we've got one of the most powerful pitching staffs in MLB. If the standards arent high here then I dont know how we got to where we are.
Phillies just acquired Cliff Lee. The anxiety continues regarding talks between the Red Sox and Blue Jays.
A few of us from work are heading to McGreevy's this evening. We have a voucher for 2 hours free in the downstairs VIP room, access to whatever video games they've got, and some free apps.... all because our last trip there was VERY unsatisfactory. I couldnt believe the way I was treated by the manager, or whoever he was. In thinking about it, I'm really not aware of any other instance in which I have been more aggressively disrespectfully treated. The only reason I'm bothering to go back is because of the free stuff. Too bad because it's a cool place. Baseball bar. Co-owned by Dropkick Murphys guys. Right around the corner from the office.
Back to work. Adios...
This is not all to say that Paps lost the game for us... we had some other issues defensively, and though Clay had a pretty bland outing in my opinion (underwhelming I guess... nothing like the ACE he's projected to be), there were errors and plays that didnt get turned and things that didnt fall our way. Whatever happened to pitching endurance by the way? 5.2 innings is ok for a starter. Not great. In the 6th I recall that he walked a guy on 4 pitches. Whoever comes up from AAA, I would hope they'd bring a serious fresh arm. I dont know, maybe my standards are too high. Then again, we've got one of the most powerful pitching staffs in MLB. If the standards arent high here then I dont know how we got to where we are.
Phillies just acquired Cliff Lee. The anxiety continues regarding talks between the Red Sox and Blue Jays.
A few of us from work are heading to McGreevy's this evening. We have a voucher for 2 hours free in the downstairs VIP room, access to whatever video games they've got, and some free apps.... all because our last trip there was VERY unsatisfactory. I couldnt believe the way I was treated by the manager, or whoever he was. In thinking about it, I'm really not aware of any other instance in which I have been more aggressively disrespectfully treated. The only reason I'm bothering to go back is because of the free stuff. Too bad because it's a cool place. Baseball bar. Co-owned by Dropkick Murphys guys. Right around the corner from the office.
Back to work. Adios...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
dun dun dun
one more. bottom of the 11th, and we are staging a comeback. lowell and kottaras got singles to start the inning, green sacrificed, ellsbury grounded out but scored lowrie who was pinch-running for lowell. petey's up. he's gonna take it really hard on himself if he doesnt score georgie..
Buchholz Bombs
Well, maybe not that bad. vs A's. 5.2 IP, 9 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. But the pace he set for the game is something we never recovered from. 107 pitches thrown by Buckaroo. 2 hours into the game, and we were just at the mid-4th mark. I didnt watch his last start but I know that this one was comparable to that one with regards to pace/pitch count. Going too deep in counts. I dont mean to sound overly critical here- if you're reading this post, you've likely read others, and have picked up on my decided non-fandom. I've got to say, he's one of ours, and as such I want him to succeed so that the Red Sox can succeed. I mean it. Anyhow, the game is still going. We're in the 11th now... A's just scored a pair.
Spent most of the game watching from the Bleacher Bar. i give it two thumbs up. wasnt crowded which was nice, though that must just be a tuesday night thing. sweet to be field-level. If you've never been there, it's a bar that's built into the wall / under where bleachers would continue on to be out in center field. If you look at the wall behind where Jacoby stands you can see a square of metal gate which is colored/shaded so that people on the field side cant see in but those inside the bar can see out. biggest gripe- my soup was good, but for $4 it was tiiiiiiiiny.
So Buck and Bowden and Westmoreland (who apparently wasnt part of the offer afterall) and Lars and Josh etc etc are still ours. The story changes hour by hour but I cant help tracking it all the same. PawSox games wont be the same without those furtive glances that i still have yet to really understand. I'll admit to my lack of perspective on this whole trade deadline thing. Kind of feel like i've had the rug pulled out from under me... thought that Theo was a little more protective of his team's future, a lot more keen on building as much depth as possible in arms down through the system (several writers have made the point that with smoltz flopping, penny cooled off, wake on the DL, dice-k... aaahahahaha, and buchholz adequate at best, our pitching "depth" consists more of kids who will be ready in a year or two- that all of a sudden, we're down to trying out bowden next, and tazawa come september). where do we go if we lose buchholz and bowden or masterson? i just dont get it. yes, we'll have halladay, lester, beckett... and then? tell me who you'd insert there. because no matter who i think of (major league ready), it means two days of REALLY hit or miss ball. struggle, inconsistency. Coming into 2009, pitching was supposed to be our no-brainer. It has proven to be anything but.
I am very literally falling asleep in my chair. gonna make the switch to my bed. no more energy to write good night!
Spent most of the game watching from the Bleacher Bar. i give it two thumbs up. wasnt crowded which was nice, though that must just be a tuesday night thing. sweet to be field-level. If you've never been there, it's a bar that's built into the wall / under where bleachers would continue on to be out in center field. If you look at the wall behind where Jacoby stands you can see a square of metal gate which is colored/shaded so that people on the field side cant see in but those inside the bar can see out. biggest gripe- my soup was good, but for $4 it was tiiiiiiiiny.
So Buck and Bowden and Westmoreland (who apparently wasnt part of the offer afterall) and Lars and Josh etc etc are still ours. The story changes hour by hour but I cant help tracking it all the same. PawSox games wont be the same without those furtive glances that i still have yet to really understand. I'll admit to my lack of perspective on this whole trade deadline thing. Kind of feel like i've had the rug pulled out from under me... thought that Theo was a little more protective of his team's future, a lot more keen on building as much depth as possible in arms down through the system (several writers have made the point that with smoltz flopping, penny cooled off, wake on the DL, dice-k... aaahahahaha, and buchholz adequate at best, our pitching "depth" consists more of kids who will be ready in a year or two- that all of a sudden, we're down to trying out bowden next, and tazawa come september). where do we go if we lose buchholz and bowden or masterson? i just dont get it. yes, we'll have halladay, lester, beckett... and then? tell me who you'd insert there. because no matter who i think of (major league ready), it means two days of REALLY hit or miss ball. struggle, inconsistency. Coming into 2009, pitching was supposed to be our no-brainer. It has proven to be anything but.
I am very literally falling asleep in my chair. gonna make the switch to my bed. no more energy to write good night!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Rollercoaster.
Some pics from Bowden's start back on July 19th..
His latest start on Friday night 7/25 was great. I was chatting with a friend for the last few innings but MB's 7 innings got charted. 2 ER, 4 hits, NO WALKS, 5 K. Pitch counts per inning: 15, 8, 7, 15, 11, 13, 14. 83 thrown over 7 innings. VERY impressive.
The JUICE improved to 5-0 on the season as of yesterday morning. 5 wins was our goal for 2009 in total. we were so terrible last year, and the thing is, nothing has changed. we have three new people taking the places of 3 players from last year. that's it. new management. it's remarkable. we come out on top every game by 10+ runs. i did just fine... the field was larger than regulation size so one particular at-bat could have been more, as I made as solid contact as i've made all season and drove it on a line to the 2nd baseman. the infield was so much bigger to begin with. i got a hit, and i did well in left field, assisted in a double play even :) not commonly done from way out there.
Charlie Zink.. walked about a batter per inning on sunday, but in the end only gave up a few hits (didnt score it... he went 6 innings, and i think it was only 2 hits through 5 innings, with 2 more in the 6th). We won, he got the win, it was pretty nice. They were making contact off him but not productively. Made sure I was there early to see him warm up (arrived well before that though, in time to catch a few side sessions featuring Gonzalez, Bowden, and Johnson.. that was an unexpected surprise) and was just as fascinated watching him pitch up close as I had been a couple weeks earlier. What a sweet pitch, the knuckleball. I've mused with friends here and there over the idea of pitchers learning the knuckler, not as a primary pitch, but as something to pull out a few times each game, to really just mess around with batters. They wouldnt have to be really strong knuckleballers, they'd just have to be able to command it (as much as you can command it) one pitch at a time, a handful each game. I wonder why pitchers dont. Maybe it's just that tough to throw correctly.
...here it is, nearly 48 hours after i started this post. Finally, it's hot out, the sun is shining. While i was walking outside during lunch, I actually thought to myself...
*Wild Thing just came on. PAPELBON flashed into my mind*
...I actually thought to myself that I was glad I was working today and out of the sun. Sounds crazy? Ever since I read about Kelli Pedroia's story a year or so ago, I have had very little desire to sit out in the sun. Dont get me wrong... I love playing outside. I love walking around Boston in the sun. I love sitting out on the lawn before a Paw Sox game, I love going to the beach though I never do anymore. But as I get "older" (almost 24, wow dee dow) I think more and more about the long-term reality of the body i'm living in. I have one semi-significant sunspot on my back and I really dont care to acquire any more. I'm also terrible at taking the time to put on sunscreen, so if I'm in the sun for more than 30 minutes I am burnt. It's just not good for me. Thankfully I've found good ways to be out and enjoying the warmth... more often than not I'm under an overhang at Fenway or McCoy, and even if I'm not I'm generally at evening games. Working through the day helps too for the same reason- when I get out, I can play soccer or wiffleball as the sun is fading.
When I was learning about audio engineering in college it changed the way I treat my ears. When I hurt my back in high school pole vaulting, it changed things too (it's never been the same... regardless of phys training sessions, etc, I think my back is always going to be slightly damaged goods from here on out). I'm really hoping I can continue to be smart about the sun/my skin.
This is a crazy tangent I just went off on.
Another day is passing by, and we still have some of the guys I've been most fearful that we'll lose. Watched another Bowden interview... he's got great composure, very well spoken- granted, everyone asks him the same things so he should have his answers down pat!
..speaking of whom, Twitter just informed me that the Red Sox made an offer of Buchholz, Bowden, and Westmoreland for Halladay. my heart is racing. i am not happy, and i dont understand this trade. i dont know how much you know about Ryan Westmoreland but he is just as much of a prospective-powerhouse as Buckaroo and Bowden have been considered over the past year+. i havent felt this unhappy and suddenly preoccupied in ages.
i need to go work. i can bury myself in research/searches. i try to tell myself that there's no way the jays will take 1 unproven major leaguer and 2 guys who are not major league ready for the best of the best, but i have no idea what's going to happen.
His latest start on Friday night 7/25 was great. I was chatting with a friend for the last few innings but MB's 7 innings got charted. 2 ER, 4 hits, NO WALKS, 5 K. Pitch counts per inning: 15, 8, 7, 15, 11, 13, 14. 83 thrown over 7 innings. VERY impressive.
The JUICE improved to 5-0 on the season as of yesterday morning. 5 wins was our goal for 2009 in total. we were so terrible last year, and the thing is, nothing has changed. we have three new people taking the places of 3 players from last year. that's it. new management. it's remarkable. we come out on top every game by 10+ runs. i did just fine... the field was larger than regulation size so one particular at-bat could have been more, as I made as solid contact as i've made all season and drove it on a line to the 2nd baseman. the infield was so much bigger to begin with. i got a hit, and i did well in left field, assisted in a double play even :) not commonly done from way out there.
Charlie Zink.. walked about a batter per inning on sunday, but in the end only gave up a few hits (didnt score it... he went 6 innings, and i think it was only 2 hits through 5 innings, with 2 more in the 6th). We won, he got the win, it was pretty nice. They were making contact off him but not productively. Made sure I was there early to see him warm up (arrived well before that though, in time to catch a few side sessions featuring Gonzalez, Bowden, and Johnson.. that was an unexpected surprise) and was just as fascinated watching him pitch up close as I had been a couple weeks earlier. What a sweet pitch, the knuckleball. I've mused with friends here and there over the idea of pitchers learning the knuckler, not as a primary pitch, but as something to pull out a few times each game, to really just mess around with batters. They wouldnt have to be really strong knuckleballers, they'd just have to be able to command it (as much as you can command it) one pitch at a time, a handful each game. I wonder why pitchers dont. Maybe it's just that tough to throw correctly.
...here it is, nearly 48 hours after i started this post. Finally, it's hot out, the sun is shining. While i was walking outside during lunch, I actually thought to myself...
*Wild Thing just came on. PAPELBON flashed into my mind*
...I actually thought to myself that I was glad I was working today and out of the sun. Sounds crazy? Ever since I read about Kelli Pedroia's story a year or so ago, I have had very little desire to sit out in the sun. Dont get me wrong... I love playing outside. I love walking around Boston in the sun. I love sitting out on the lawn before a Paw Sox game, I love going to the beach though I never do anymore. But as I get "older" (almost 24, wow dee dow) I think more and more about the long-term reality of the body i'm living in. I have one semi-significant sunspot on my back and I really dont care to acquire any more. I'm also terrible at taking the time to put on sunscreen, so if I'm in the sun for more than 30 minutes I am burnt. It's just not good for me. Thankfully I've found good ways to be out and enjoying the warmth... more often than not I'm under an overhang at Fenway or McCoy, and even if I'm not I'm generally at evening games. Working through the day helps too for the same reason- when I get out, I can play soccer or wiffleball as the sun is fading.
When I was learning about audio engineering in college it changed the way I treat my ears. When I hurt my back in high school pole vaulting, it changed things too (it's never been the same... regardless of phys training sessions, etc, I think my back is always going to be slightly damaged goods from here on out). I'm really hoping I can continue to be smart about the sun/my skin.
This is a crazy tangent I just went off on.
Another day is passing by, and we still have some of the guys I've been most fearful that we'll lose. Watched another Bowden interview... he's got great composure, very well spoken- granted, everyone asks him the same things so he should have his answers down pat!
..speaking of whom, Twitter just informed me that the Red Sox made an offer of Buchholz, Bowden, and Westmoreland for Halladay. my heart is racing. i am not happy, and i dont understand this trade. i dont know how much you know about Ryan Westmoreland but he is just as much of a prospective-powerhouse as Buckaroo and Bowden have been considered over the past year+. i havent felt this unhappy and suddenly preoccupied in ages.
i need to go work. i can bury myself in research/searches. i try to tell myself that there's no way the jays will take 1 unproven major leaguer and 2 guys who are not major league ready for the best of the best, but i have no idea what's going to happen.
Friday, July 24, 2009
More rain.
It just keeps on a'comin. I dont know why this has to be, but Boston has been under one big grey cloud for the entirity of "summer". And of course, before summer was spring, which is rainy. And winter is dark/cold/snowy. Basically, it's been a long stretch of tough weather. I dont think there's anyone here who hasnt felt the effects.
Another little note from last night... Cameron Rupp, huge kid, power hitter, catcher. Could be a future there.
Ahh, one of the bat boys from last night was named Victor Martinez. For one night, it looked like V-Mart had come to boston... and we still had Bowden/Bard/Masterson/etc, so I was happy :) Heh. Hmm. They used all of the Red Sox' plate songs as each player came to bat... that was fun. And they played Night Moves! Youk's Beard of Truth (look it up if you dont know what i'm talking about) was trying to start a movement to get Kevin "Night Moves" Youkilis to have "Night Moves" as his at-bat music. It seems that the song is slowly making it's way.. infiltrating Fenway. I'd never heard it played there before.
Just started coming down again. Rain had been threatening all day after a rambunctiously stormy night last night. Hope Bowden gets to pitch... he doesnt need any more rest, he needs to be turned loose! Matt LaPorta is in town (well, in Pawtucket) with Cleveland's farm team.
WOAH! i love Oasis.
Belly filled with oreo soft serve frozen yogurt. Great tunes. Hour and a half left of work. And my shorts finally dried out (from the rainy commute this morning). Not unhappy.
Another little note from last night... Cameron Rupp, huge kid, power hitter, catcher. Could be a future there.
Ahh, one of the bat boys from last night was named Victor Martinez. For one night, it looked like V-Mart had come to boston... and we still had Bowden/Bard/Masterson/etc, so I was happy :) Heh. Hmm. They used all of the Red Sox' plate songs as each player came to bat... that was fun. And they played Night Moves! Youk's Beard of Truth (look it up if you dont know what i'm talking about) was trying to start a movement to get Kevin "Night Moves" Youkilis to have "Night Moves" as his at-bat music. It seems that the song is slowly making it's way.. infiltrating Fenway. I'd never heard it played there before.
Just started coming down again. Rain had been threatening all day after a rambunctiously stormy night last night. Hope Bowden gets to pitch... he doesnt need any more rest, he needs to be turned loose! Matt LaPorta is in town (well, in Pawtucket) with Cleveland's farm team.
WOAH! i love Oasis.
Belly filled with oreo soft serve frozen yogurt. Great tunes. Hour and a half left of work. And my shorts finally dried out (from the rainy commute this morning). Not unhappy.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Cape Cod All-Star game
It rained, and so -admittedly- I did not stay for the entire Cape Cod All Star game. I'm usually a trooper through rain and cold (and shorts, and no sweatshirt) but tonight was just not the night for all of that. Anyhow, I arrived around 4 at Fenway, so though I'm not saying that I had already spent plenty of time there by the point at which I left (around 7:45pm) I AM saying that my entire body was as wet, my hands and clothes as spongy, as 4 hours out in the rain will make a person.
I loved every second of it, though.
If you ask me in person, I'll rave to you about everything I witnessed on the field during and prior to the game. The pre-game homerun derby was a bit weak, but fun anyhow. I was in a field box seat behind the sox dugout and in prime position despite the umbrellas that kept popping up thoughout the section.
...just a note: you paid $10 to see a game. i paid $10 to see a game. you are watching the game. i am watching your umbrella. if you want to have it open, well, you cant. or you're not supposed to, because it takes up a WHOLE lot of space- more than you think. go sit under the overhang if you're really that worried about the rain.
well, again, it wasnt so bad for me, but i knew that the people around me were unfortunately in seats where umbrellas had become unexpected but full-on obstructions to their view of the field. anyhow, i cant wait to pay attn to the cape league next year. kind of a drive, but then again, so is Pawtucket. I'll tell you this- Pawtucket cant play like these kids can. Everyone on the field from both teams was a Dustin Pedroia, was a Jacoby Ellsbury, an Evan Longoria... super talented, super young, and always motoring. I was impressed just from watching each team take BP and then fielding practice prior to the game. Guys were running on and off the field as if they were aggressively running the bases! The game itself was pretty fast-paced. A ton of very sharp-looking plays in the 3 full innings I stayed for. Every batter blazed towards first after making contact, and so many routine ground balls to short or third were very close plays, always a near tie at 1st between the batter and the ball.
There was one particular pitcher on the West team (plays for Wareham) who impressed me the most- though the West pitching was clearly dominating the East for the time i was there. Workman was our starter over two innings, and then Eric Pfisterer came in. He was born in 1990. yes, FIVE WHOLE YEARS after I was born. THREE after my younger brother. I cant even fathom... but he was so efficient and was really workin it tonight. A lefty with a fastball that generally clocks in through the low-90s, a curve, and a changeup (minus the lefty bit, sound familiar?).. also has one of those fully-overarmed deliveries where it looks like he's brought the ball straight up over his head and then uses his upper body in a motion that seems to hurl the ball downhill (another point of familiarity..).
.... i got sidetracked. for over an hour. it's way past bedtime. more later.
I loved every second of it, though.
If you ask me in person, I'll rave to you about everything I witnessed on the field during and prior to the game. The pre-game homerun derby was a bit weak, but fun anyhow. I was in a field box seat behind the sox dugout and in prime position despite the umbrellas that kept popping up thoughout the section.
...just a note: you paid $10 to see a game. i paid $10 to see a game. you are watching the game. i am watching your umbrella. if you want to have it open, well, you cant. or you're not supposed to, because it takes up a WHOLE lot of space- more than you think. go sit under the overhang if you're really that worried about the rain.
well, again, it wasnt so bad for me, but i knew that the people around me were unfortunately in seats where umbrellas had become unexpected but full-on obstructions to their view of the field. anyhow, i cant wait to pay attn to the cape league next year. kind of a drive, but then again, so is Pawtucket. I'll tell you this- Pawtucket cant play like these kids can. Everyone on the field from both teams was a Dustin Pedroia, was a Jacoby Ellsbury, an Evan Longoria... super talented, super young, and always motoring. I was impressed just from watching each team take BP and then fielding practice prior to the game. Guys were running on and off the field as if they were aggressively running the bases! The game itself was pretty fast-paced. A ton of very sharp-looking plays in the 3 full innings I stayed for. Every batter blazed towards first after making contact, and so many routine ground balls to short or third were very close plays, always a near tie at 1st between the batter and the ball.
There was one particular pitcher on the West team (plays for Wareham) who impressed me the most- though the West pitching was clearly dominating the East for the time i was there. Workman was our starter over two innings, and then Eric Pfisterer came in. He was born in 1990. yes, FIVE WHOLE YEARS after I was born. THREE after my younger brother. I cant even fathom... but he was so efficient and was really workin it tonight. A lefty with a fastball that generally clocks in through the low-90s, a curve, and a changeup (minus the lefty bit, sound familiar?).. also has one of those fully-overarmed deliveries where it looks like he's brought the ball straight up over his head and then uses his upper body in a motion that seems to hurl the ball downhill (another point of familiarity..).
.... i got sidetracked. for over an hour. it's way past bedtime. more later.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
A LaRoche..
Adam LaRoche will be donning a Red Sox jersey for the rest of the season. The big news today has been the Red Sox's acquisition of Pittsburgh's LaRoche in exchange for Portland SS Argenis Diaz and Greenville pitcher Hunter Strickland. Dont know Strickland... have met Argenis a few times though. I'm so happy that, out of all of this, I emerge feeling only the slightest twinge of sentimental sadness... the equivalent of a frown and an aww, hope Diaz does well with his new team.
What's going to happen if one of the guys I'm more attached to is the next to go? Do I leave work early to deal with my dismay? Do I sit at my desk and mope? I know my heart will be low. I've never had to go through this before, to the extent that I may experience it now. I didnt know much of anything about the farm system this time last year. Laying in bed last night, shortly after having eliminated not one but two beetles that had been flying around running into the ceiling/walls in the dark, I was giving consideration to the possibility that I may have to say goodbye to a player or two of whom I've grown quite fond over the past 6 months. I had the sudden explicit realization that this is happening now, by the end of the month, if it occurs.. and in that moment I braced myself for my own reaction to the idea, but was pleased when my heart didnt seize up with anxiety. I think I can handle it. Players are right to say that they cant worry about whether or not they'll be traded as they have no control over it. I should feel the same way, but when I'm in the moment watching "Adam LaRoche" become a trending topic on twitter, and when I know that in principle and practice I will part with a player before I part with the Red Sox, things get stressful. (I dont want to part with anyone involved!)
Petey's book signing is tomorrow at the Pru! Also excited for Fenway and the Cape League All Star game. But for now, lunch is over..
What's going to happen if one of the guys I'm more attached to is the next to go? Do I leave work early to deal with my dismay? Do I sit at my desk and mope? I know my heart will be low. I've never had to go through this before, to the extent that I may experience it now. I didnt know much of anything about the farm system this time last year. Laying in bed last night, shortly after having eliminated not one but two beetles that had been flying around running into the ceiling/walls in the dark, I was giving consideration to the possibility that I may have to say goodbye to a player or two of whom I've grown quite fond over the past 6 months. I had the sudden explicit realization that this is happening now, by the end of the month, if it occurs.. and in that moment I braced myself for my own reaction to the idea, but was pleased when my heart didnt seize up with anxiety. I think I can handle it. Players are right to say that they cant worry about whether or not they'll be traded as they have no control over it. I should feel the same way, but when I'm in the moment watching "Adam LaRoche" become a trending topic on twitter, and when I know that in principle and practice I will part with a player before I part with the Red Sox, things get stressful. (I dont want to part with anyone involved!)
Petey's book signing is tomorrow at the Pru! Also excited for Fenway and the Cape League All Star game. But for now, lunch is over..
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Too much rambling.
Can you believe- I have actually been spending a bit of time writing in my paper journal. Really hadnt done much of that for a year+.
What an empty week. Interestingly, when the Red Sox go away it feels like forever; when the Paw Sox go away, it only seems like it will feel that way (and when the Spinners are gone at the same time.. that's just obnoxious!). Usually the feeling sets in during the evening of the last game of that Paw Sox homestand.. but then by the time i look up again, they're due home in another day. I'll see them Friday, and i just saw them on Sunday- but two entire weeks will have passed during which I did not step foot inside Fenway Park by the next time I go to a Red Sox game. Well, I take that back already- I had planned to go to Masterson Bobblehead night in Lowell on thurs, but dont think I'll actually make it there in time, and so was instead resolving myself to check out the Cape League All Star game at Fenway. This option sounds even more appealing now that I know that Petey is doing a book signing at the Pru (read: one block from my work) that same evening, starting 2 hours before the All Star game begins. These things just sort of developed... but it's perfect, since I've already put in to have some time off at the end of that work day.
Caught a couple games this past weekend. Finished Saturday's game alongside M Bowden.
Of course, I'm not slow... You know how little time it took me to figure out that on any given day there is generally one starter (if not two) sitting somewhere behind homeplate? Discovered this within 2 innings of the first game I ever attended at McCoy, when I noticed Kris Johnson sitting 4 or 5 rows in front of me in section 7. So I see where Bowden is when he sits in the stands before and after starts. I check behind the plate no matter who I expect to be there, because it is a point of curiosity/intrigue for me. And I spend the majority of Paw Sox games sitting solo, and enjoying it, and not desiring to go sidle up to Bowden or Zink (or whoever's there) and chat. ..Well, I guess if I'm being honest I should say that there's always some small desire to talk to whoever of the rotation is sitting in the crowd that day. Going to so many games has provided me with the chance to learn the game by being around it, you know? I love talking to guys who get to play baseball for a living, and I know I'm a little hard to figure out because I'm a 23-year-old single female who hangs out by myself at major and minor league baseball games as often as I can manage; and I'm there to learn, and watch, and not to try to score a date. I know that's not normal. Yes, I'm straight, but no, I dont sit in my seat staring at players' butts. It's a beautiful game, there's so much going on across 9 innings, there's so much that has happened in the past to bring the state of the game to what it is today, that baseball (while slow or boring to some) rarely makes me yawn. Even a terrible game allows me room to get excited, albeit I'm "excited" over all of the errors committed- or flat offense. So sitting with a player for a few innings- I think about it at most Paw Sox games. But it's not a preoccupying thought. Since I've been scoring games, and even before I started doing that, I thoroughly enjoy the time to myself. After an overstimulating day at work, I can sit up close to the action and think my own thoughts, and be attentive to everything that's being laid out in front of me. Things are clear - not always easy or free of frustration, but clear - when I'm at Fenway, McCoy, LeLacheur, Hadlock. Just open space, green and terracotta-brown, with sharply-dressed familiar figures all patrolling their own designated territories. The mental image itself is relaxing to me.
.....But once in a while, it's nice to take in the action in the intentional presence of another person. On Saturday evening, when I locked eyes with him across a few sections of seats, I got the urge to move over there and so I did. I often act on my impulses and I feel that this tendency has allowed for a lot of really unique experiences and has produced many opportunities for adventure. Anyhow, my whole deal about going to games alone is that as soon as I have someone else there, I find myself paying more attention to them and very little attn to the game. This actually happened during my last sit-in with MB but I couldnt complain, because I really enjoyed the exchange and we were losing pathetically anyhow at that point.
*aside: just this moment logged in to my hotmail account to find "new" messages titled "Michael Bowden sent you a message on Facebook" and "Zach Daeges wrote on your wall". Had a mini-heart attack, as I am of course currently in the middle of writing about the Paw Sox. Knew something must not be right. Realized that the page it brought me to first was actually one of my folders, in which I keep messages that I dont intend to lose (not all from baseball players, haha, I can promise you that).*
Saturday night was just fine... watching two and a half innings (went to 10) and talking a bit, actually, about music. He's just started learning to play piano. I played for 6 years and have otherwise played a bunch of instruments, know some solid music theory. But here it is- my shining moment came after just another pitch of the many that are thrown throughout the course of a game. Two guys from the other team were sitting directly behind us, and I clearly heard one say to the other something along the lines of "That was a pretty good curveball"... whatever it was, he was calling the pitch a curve. In the last month I've studied up on my pitches (I never pitched after very early little league and so up until this Spring I knew nothing about the unique characteristics of many standard pitches). I had called it a slider in my head- I often try to practice pitch recognition in my head, just for practice- and as I am still in the learning phases, I felt confused when the "pro" diagnosed the pitch differently than I did. I can see the very pitch in my mind even now, and everything I knew about sliders had been displayed before me in that pitch. I leaned over and asked Michael in a subdued tone, and a little sheepishly at that, why it was a curve and not a slider. Speaking just slightly more loudly than I had, and with a subtle smirk in his voice, he replied that he was just going to say that those guys were "retarded" and that it was absolutely a slider. Through a grin he certainly must not have seen (as we were speaking to each other semi-discreetly while correcting the opposing players by looking straight ahead at the field), I murmured something about how I've been working on pitch recognition but there's no way that he knew how proud of myself I was in that moment. I'm not super prideful when it comes to myself (more often I feel prideful when someone I know/am close to/believe in does something excellent)... but I called that pitch, didnt simply agree with someone else who called it but called it myself, and did so in front of a two-time major league pitcher. And I'm a female (sorry ladies... most of us dont know what a curveball does, and most of us dont care to... so guys underestimate females when it comes to sports). I love doing/knowing something that guys dont expect me to (in general here.. not talking about this instance).
One more note about section 6- sitting behind home that night was taking theory and putting it into motion... everything seemed 15x more clear! I could see the ball's movement vertically as well as horizontally and it was a beautiful, beautiful thing.
All of that was really the notable part of Saturday's game. We lost, another game where we had plenty of opportunity but squandered it all away. That's how most of the 4-game series vs Indianapolis went..
-----
Sunday's game was an anomaly. The Paw Sox won... and 4 of our pitchers combined to throw a 2-hit game. We were ONE OUT away from no-hitting the Indians! I'm not awake enough at this point in the night to give you a proper description of the excitement that gripped me heading into the top of the 9th, Paw Sox up 3-0. Then came the first out, a foul out to third. RJ called for IL All Star Fernando Cabrera to replace Javy at that point, and I think we all believed that if anyone could get through the next two outs without giving up a hit (or even a walk), it would be Cabrera. Out #2 followed shortly thereafter. Paw Sox fans collectively held their breath. .....Cabrera gave up a hit, a ground ball through the gap just to the right of 2nd base and on into center. Oh well, still in good shape for the win of course. ...and the next batter jacks one over the fence in left-center! No one can believe it (least of all, Cabrera, I'm sure). Suddenly, the Indians are threatening to force the game into extra innings, or worse, rob us of the win altogether. Thankfully, the final out came and the Paw Sox won. Michael Bowden, who started the game and had a dominant outing, didnt get the win, dadgumit. But he allowed no hits, no runs over 5 innings, throwing 73 pitches and 45 of them for strikes (efficient) while striking out 5. The only blemish- 4 walks issued. His frustration over the handful of walks was surprisingly noticeable, as he shouted very loudly at least once from the mound (wont repeat here what was said). His reputation doesnt include a history of issuing a lot of walks. In fact, in the past he's put up some very impressive K/BB numbers. Downright astounding at times. So again, not known for walking guys. This year, a different story perhaps. I think we've yet to meet the "real" Michael Bowden, because he is clearly still developing in some major ways if, as one example, he goes from issuing a miniscule number of walks one year to a much higher number the next. His overall performance has wavered from outing to outing this year. Now I wonder about what's inside his head- until Sunday, his gametime demeanor had always seemed so poised, professional, and mature (beyond his 22 years) while under pressure. He snapped a bit, just that one inning. Those guys often yell when they're coming off the field after the third out but it's a little different to show that you're phased in the midst of an inning. Especially for a pitcher.
With all of that said, I will be devastated if he is traded. Devastated. His attitude, his ability, everything that I know/have seen about him screams "Boston Red Sox" in the best of ways... I think he's a great fit for our team, or at least that he will be when we have room for him :) Humble, self-aware, well-spoken, "bulldog", meticulous and thorough, determined, huge work ethic. Young.. another reason he fits with what the organization is doing- all of this oft-discussed young talent making waves with the big club.
PS, speaking of trades and trade deadlines, I will be just as devastated if Daniel Bard, Justin Masterson, or Youk are gone by the end of July (yes, sports writers out there are actually suggesting that the Sox include Youk in a deal for Halladay!! at least that one seems far-fetched). Thank goodness Petey's not going anywhere...
Alright, well, that's enough Bowden talk. He IS a favorite. The later it gets, the more I tend to expound and the wordier I become.. probably could have condensed half of what I wrote to, "I really like what I've seen with Michael Bowden and I look forward to seeing him as a fixture in Fenway, hopefully in the next year." Charlie Zink is up next, though I dont really have any personal one-on-one experience with him. Still, I find that I am falling more and more in love with the knuckleball every day...
One more thing. Was just informed that the Red Sox will be retiring Jim Rice's #14 on Tuesday, July 28th before the game vs Oakland. No idea how my "source" found this out, but there you have it.
'Night.
What an empty week. Interestingly, when the Red Sox go away it feels like forever; when the Paw Sox go away, it only seems like it will feel that way (and when the Spinners are gone at the same time.. that's just obnoxious!). Usually the feeling sets in during the evening of the last game of that Paw Sox homestand.. but then by the time i look up again, they're due home in another day. I'll see them Friday, and i just saw them on Sunday- but two entire weeks will have passed during which I did not step foot inside Fenway Park by the next time I go to a Red Sox game. Well, I take that back already- I had planned to go to Masterson Bobblehead night in Lowell on thurs, but dont think I'll actually make it there in time, and so was instead resolving myself to check out the Cape League All Star game at Fenway. This option sounds even more appealing now that I know that Petey is doing a book signing at the Pru (read: one block from my work) that same evening, starting 2 hours before the All Star game begins. These things just sort of developed... but it's perfect, since I've already put in to have some time off at the end of that work day.
Caught a couple games this past weekend. Finished Saturday's game alongside M Bowden.
Of course, I'm not slow... You know how little time it took me to figure out that on any given day there is generally one starter (if not two) sitting somewhere behind homeplate? Discovered this within 2 innings of the first game I ever attended at McCoy, when I noticed Kris Johnson sitting 4 or 5 rows in front of me in section 7. So I see where Bowden is when he sits in the stands before and after starts. I check behind the plate no matter who I expect to be there, because it is a point of curiosity/intrigue for me. And I spend the majority of Paw Sox games sitting solo, and enjoying it, and not desiring to go sidle up to Bowden or Zink (or whoever's there) and chat. ..Well, I guess if I'm being honest I should say that there's always some small desire to talk to whoever of the rotation is sitting in the crowd that day. Going to so many games has provided me with the chance to learn the game by being around it, you know? I love talking to guys who get to play baseball for a living, and I know I'm a little hard to figure out because I'm a 23-year-old single female who hangs out by myself at major and minor league baseball games as often as I can manage; and I'm there to learn, and watch, and not to try to score a date. I know that's not normal. Yes, I'm straight, but no, I dont sit in my seat staring at players' butts. It's a beautiful game, there's so much going on across 9 innings, there's so much that has happened in the past to bring the state of the game to what it is today, that baseball (while slow or boring to some) rarely makes me yawn. Even a terrible game allows me room to get excited, albeit I'm "excited" over all of the errors committed- or flat offense. So sitting with a player for a few innings- I think about it at most Paw Sox games. But it's not a preoccupying thought. Since I've been scoring games, and even before I started doing that, I thoroughly enjoy the time to myself. After an overstimulating day at work, I can sit up close to the action and think my own thoughts, and be attentive to everything that's being laid out in front of me. Things are clear - not always easy or free of frustration, but clear - when I'm at Fenway, McCoy, LeLacheur, Hadlock. Just open space, green and terracotta-brown, with sharply-dressed familiar figures all patrolling their own designated territories. The mental image itself is relaxing to me.
.....But once in a while, it's nice to take in the action in the intentional presence of another person. On Saturday evening, when I locked eyes with him across a few sections of seats, I got the urge to move over there and so I did. I often act on my impulses and I feel that this tendency has allowed for a lot of really unique experiences and has produced many opportunities for adventure. Anyhow, my whole deal about going to games alone is that as soon as I have someone else there, I find myself paying more attention to them and very little attn to the game. This actually happened during my last sit-in with MB but I couldnt complain, because I really enjoyed the exchange and we were losing pathetically anyhow at that point.
*aside: just this moment logged in to my hotmail account to find "new" messages titled "Michael Bowden sent you a message on Facebook" and "Zach Daeges wrote on your wall". Had a mini-heart attack, as I am of course currently in the middle of writing about the Paw Sox. Knew something must not be right. Realized that the page it brought me to first was actually one of my folders, in which I keep messages that I dont intend to lose (not all from baseball players, haha, I can promise you that).*
Saturday night was just fine... watching two and a half innings (went to 10) and talking a bit, actually, about music. He's just started learning to play piano. I played for 6 years and have otherwise played a bunch of instruments, know some solid music theory. But here it is- my shining moment came after just another pitch of the many that are thrown throughout the course of a game. Two guys from the other team were sitting directly behind us, and I clearly heard one say to the other something along the lines of "That was a pretty good curveball"... whatever it was, he was calling the pitch a curve. In the last month I've studied up on my pitches (I never pitched after very early little league and so up until this Spring I knew nothing about the unique characteristics of many standard pitches). I had called it a slider in my head- I often try to practice pitch recognition in my head, just for practice- and as I am still in the learning phases, I felt confused when the "pro" diagnosed the pitch differently than I did. I can see the very pitch in my mind even now, and everything I knew about sliders had been displayed before me in that pitch. I leaned over and asked Michael in a subdued tone, and a little sheepishly at that, why it was a curve and not a slider. Speaking just slightly more loudly than I had, and with a subtle smirk in his voice, he replied that he was just going to say that those guys were "retarded" and that it was absolutely a slider. Through a grin he certainly must not have seen (as we were speaking to each other semi-discreetly while correcting the opposing players by looking straight ahead at the field), I murmured something about how I've been working on pitch recognition but there's no way that he knew how proud of myself I was in that moment. I'm not super prideful when it comes to myself (more often I feel prideful when someone I know/am close to/believe in does something excellent)... but I called that pitch, didnt simply agree with someone else who called it but called it myself, and did so in front of a two-time major league pitcher. And I'm a female (sorry ladies... most of us dont know what a curveball does, and most of us dont care to... so guys underestimate females when it comes to sports). I love doing/knowing something that guys dont expect me to (in general here.. not talking about this instance).
One more note about section 6- sitting behind home that night was taking theory and putting it into motion... everything seemed 15x more clear! I could see the ball's movement vertically as well as horizontally and it was a beautiful, beautiful thing.
All of that was really the notable part of Saturday's game. We lost, another game where we had plenty of opportunity but squandered it all away. That's how most of the 4-game series vs Indianapolis went..
-----
Sunday's game was an anomaly. The Paw Sox won... and 4 of our pitchers combined to throw a 2-hit game. We were ONE OUT away from no-hitting the Indians! I'm not awake enough at this point in the night to give you a proper description of the excitement that gripped me heading into the top of the 9th, Paw Sox up 3-0. Then came the first out, a foul out to third. RJ called for IL All Star Fernando Cabrera to replace Javy at that point, and I think we all believed that if anyone could get through the next two outs without giving up a hit (or even a walk), it would be Cabrera. Out #2 followed shortly thereafter. Paw Sox fans collectively held their breath. .....Cabrera gave up a hit, a ground ball through the gap just to the right of 2nd base and on into center. Oh well, still in good shape for the win of course. ...and the next batter jacks one over the fence in left-center! No one can believe it (least of all, Cabrera, I'm sure). Suddenly, the Indians are threatening to force the game into extra innings, or worse, rob us of the win altogether. Thankfully, the final out came and the Paw Sox won. Michael Bowden, who started the game and had a dominant outing, didnt get the win, dadgumit. But he allowed no hits, no runs over 5 innings, throwing 73 pitches and 45 of them for strikes (efficient) while striking out 5. The only blemish- 4 walks issued. His frustration over the handful of walks was surprisingly noticeable, as he shouted very loudly at least once from the mound (wont repeat here what was said). His reputation doesnt include a history of issuing a lot of walks. In fact, in the past he's put up some very impressive K/BB numbers. Downright astounding at times. So again, not known for walking guys. This year, a different story perhaps. I think we've yet to meet the "real" Michael Bowden, because he is clearly still developing in some major ways if, as one example, he goes from issuing a miniscule number of walks one year to a much higher number the next. His overall performance has wavered from outing to outing this year. Now I wonder about what's inside his head- until Sunday, his gametime demeanor had always seemed so poised, professional, and mature (beyond his 22 years) while under pressure. He snapped a bit, just that one inning. Those guys often yell when they're coming off the field after the third out but it's a little different to show that you're phased in the midst of an inning. Especially for a pitcher.
With all of that said, I will be devastated if he is traded. Devastated. His attitude, his ability, everything that I know/have seen about him screams "Boston Red Sox" in the best of ways... I think he's a great fit for our team, or at least that he will be when we have room for him :) Humble, self-aware, well-spoken, "bulldog", meticulous and thorough, determined, huge work ethic. Young.. another reason he fits with what the organization is doing- all of this oft-discussed young talent making waves with the big club.
PS, speaking of trades and trade deadlines, I will be just as devastated if Daniel Bard, Justin Masterson, or Youk are gone by the end of July (yes, sports writers out there are actually suggesting that the Sox include Youk in a deal for Halladay!! at least that one seems far-fetched). Thank goodness Petey's not going anywhere...
Alright, well, that's enough Bowden talk. He IS a favorite. The later it gets, the more I tend to expound and the wordier I become.. probably could have condensed half of what I wrote to, "I really like what I've seen with Michael Bowden and I look forward to seeing him as a fixture in Fenway, hopefully in the next year." Charlie Zink is up next, though I dont really have any personal one-on-one experience with him. Still, I find that I am falling more and more in love with the knuckleball every day...
One more thing. Was just informed that the Red Sox will be retiring Jim Rice's #14 on Tuesday, July 28th before the game vs Oakland. No idea how my "source" found this out, but there you have it.
'Night.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
July 8th Pics
Pictures from the July 8th game, Red Sox vs Royals. Lester pitched. I love our guys. Petey, Bay, Lester, Masterson, Bard.. so much talent, so many unique characters amongst the entire team. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a GREAT seat- this is where I usually stand to catch the pre-game activities, but no one came and so it's where I ended up sitting for the whole show too. I did rightfully have a box seat down the third base line... but the dugout seat i ended up with (right next to the media pit) was even better of course.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Let's have a look, shall we?
First thought as I sit down to watch the remainder of the Sox/Jays game: I dont care what anyone says, those old school powder-blue Jays uniforms are sweet. They remind me of my childhood. My favorite player, Jimmy Key, wore one. Not ugly. Definitely great.
It's gotta be the 6th inning (commercial break).. been watching on espn gamecast, and prior to that I had been at Kings in Back Bay watching coworkers bowl or in transit from there to home. We're up 4-1 thanks to a YOUKAH 2-run shot and a David Ortiz double. Petey has scored twice tonight so far. Bay has struck out twice. Yadda yadda... you can look at the box score and like I said, it's the bottom of the 6th so there's more to come.
I've been all over the place. All Star Break.. did some TV watching for much but not all of both the hr derby and the all star game. Wednesday, I trekked out to Lowell to catch the Spinners game with Victor. Thanks to some serious line-cutting, we each secured ourselves a Pedroia bobblehead. What! He's the one who cheated... I just joined him once I got there :) Spinners won and it was a gorgeous night. Scored the game and learned some more major pitches. Before, I could tell you about 2-seam and 4-seam fastballs, sliders, curveballs, knuckleballs, and changeups. Added splitter, cutter, think that's it.
Charlie Zink is of great interest to me since I last saw him start. I was so impressed watching him warm up. Cant wait to catch his next home start. Tonight he had another tough outing- 4 earned runs, 7 walks, 4 HBP, 0 K.. all over 4.2 innings. What changed between last year and now? He was named IL Pitcher of the Year in 2008. "..was named International League Pitcher of the Year after going 14-6and ranking second the International League and all of Triple-A with a 2.84 ERA in 28 starts at Pawtucket." (taken from http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=t533&t=p_pbp&pid=468402) This year, so far, he's 4-9 with an ERA of 5.14. I liked Charlie Zink last year but I was noooowhere near as involved in the happenings of minor league baseball as I am at present. Would have liked to see Zink as king of MiLB.
Daniel Bard just chewed those Jays up and spit 'em out. Man. When he's on, he's ON. Blows it right by batters.
Speaking of strikeouts, Bay just struck out a third time. sigh.
Right, excuse this entry. Basically just keeping my fingers busy while checking email, talking with housemates, and watchin the Sox.
Okie dyed his hair.
Michael Bowden did an interview for weei. http://audio.weei.com/m/25342574/pawtucket-pitcher-michael-bowden.htm
WHAT? I went for the entire post without even mentioning that Buchholz pitched for the big club tonight?? 6 innings, 1 earned run, 3BB, 3K over 5.2 innings. 103 pitches, 66 for strikes.
It's gotta be the 6th inning (commercial break).. been watching on espn gamecast, and prior to that I had been at Kings in Back Bay watching coworkers bowl or in transit from there to home. We're up 4-1 thanks to a YOUKAH 2-run shot and a David Ortiz double. Petey has scored twice tonight so far. Bay has struck out twice. Yadda yadda... you can look at the box score and like I said, it's the bottom of the 6th so there's more to come.
I've been all over the place. All Star Break.. did some TV watching for much but not all of both the hr derby and the all star game. Wednesday, I trekked out to Lowell to catch the Spinners game with Victor. Thanks to some serious line-cutting, we each secured ourselves a Pedroia bobblehead. What! He's the one who cheated... I just joined him once I got there :) Spinners won and it was a gorgeous night. Scored the game and learned some more major pitches. Before, I could tell you about 2-seam and 4-seam fastballs, sliders, curveballs, knuckleballs, and changeups. Added splitter, cutter, think that's it.
Charlie Zink is of great interest to me since I last saw him start. I was so impressed watching him warm up. Cant wait to catch his next home start. Tonight he had another tough outing- 4 earned runs, 7 walks, 4 HBP, 0 K.. all over 4.2 innings. What changed between last year and now? He was named IL Pitcher of the Year in 2008. "..was named International League Pitcher of the Year after going 14-6and ranking second the International League and all of Triple-A with a 2.84 ERA in 28 starts at Pawtucket." (taken from http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=t533&t=p_pbp&pid=468402) This year, so far, he's 4-9 with an ERA of 5.14. I liked Charlie Zink last year but I was noooowhere near as involved in the happenings of minor league baseball as I am at present. Would have liked to see Zink as king of MiLB.
Daniel Bard just chewed those Jays up and spit 'em out. Man. When he's on, he's ON. Blows it right by batters.
Speaking of strikeouts, Bay just struck out a third time. sigh.
Right, excuse this entry. Basically just keeping my fingers busy while checking email, talking with housemates, and watchin the Sox.
Okie dyed his hair.
Michael Bowden did an interview for weei. http://audio.weei.com/m/25342574/pawtucket-pitcher-michael-bowden.htm
WHAT? I went for the entire post without even mentioning that Buchholz pitched for the big club tonight?? 6 innings, 1 earned run, 3BB, 3K over 5.2 innings. 103 pitches, 66 for strikes.
Monday, July 13, 2009
that's not quite right...
I just had a dream that I was standing behind Michael Bowden in a park watching him practice his knuckleball, sort of like I was watching Charlie Zink a few days ago. Except MB doesnt have that pitch in his repertoire. But it was cool how my brain picked some stuff up from watching Charlie, because I distinctly remember MB standing on the makeshift rubber a certain way (ooh! come to think of it, he was a lefty in my dream... he's a righty in real life) and i could see him grip the ball, just the way CZ was doing it.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
i completely missed the boat..
"Hours ago there was only one row between me and Fenway dirt. I could hear every obscenity that came out of Petey's mouth when he didnt get it done tonight. And I could hear the clap of his hands from 2nd when he did."
whoops. so, friday afternoon, i received an email from a housemate who said she had a "really good" free red sox ticket that I could have. apparently, someone she works with had 4 extras and my housemate claimed one for me. i'm not picky about my sox tickets, so i said yes and got really excited. upon arriving home (where i was going to pick up my ticket) I discovered that this seat was indeed a "really good" seat... a field box seat down the left field line. those suckers are expensive, if you dont know.
i get myself over to the park as fast as the mbta can take me, and am partaking in my typical routine of watching pregame happenings from next to the media pit down the 1st base line, watching the dugout fill and the dirt being raked and the sun gleaming (for once)... and nobody comes to kick me out of the seat i'm leaning against... and they're announcing the lineup, and still noone comes... and the players are running out onto the field, and i've sat down at this point so as not to look conspicuous, and still noone comes! so there i am, in dugout seating, with just one row in front of me, and the game has begun. i've done this plenty of times before- and the first hour is a bit nervewracking, because anyone who walks by me in the aisle could be the guy who's coming to claim his rightful spot where i'm sitting. granted, being in the second row, most people who are coming by me are vendors or waiters (yes, dugout seats, woohoo... in-seat waiter service, not that i took advantage of this). and in fact, i've only gone for a complete game in an elite-but-not-mine seat 3 or 4 times before (down in the fieldbox section).. so whenever i get the chance to sit so close, i consciously enjoy every moment, every blade of grass that i can see, every conversation from the field that i can pick up. on friday night, i enjoyed every moment of that game in the most vivid way possible. definitely in the top 5 for best seats i've sat in. i couldnt believe how many open dugout seats there were... i shared about 10 of them with two other vultures like myself.
Lester pitched admirably. Petey drove in the deciding (and only) run with a trademark double off the monster.
Paw Sox.. what a day to be at the park. It was stunningly sunny, not cool and not hot, and McCoy features an overhang that extends over almost all of the seating area down the 1st and 3rd base lines. we lost, but that tends to happen a lot in Pawtucket. after the game was over, i caught beckett pitching the last out of his shutout complete game 100th career win on a tv in the concourse. whew. what a way to hit a milestone.
whoops. so, friday afternoon, i received an email from a housemate who said she had a "really good" free red sox ticket that I could have. apparently, someone she works with had 4 extras and my housemate claimed one for me. i'm not picky about my sox tickets, so i said yes and got really excited. upon arriving home (where i was going to pick up my ticket) I discovered that this seat was indeed a "really good" seat... a field box seat down the left field line. those suckers are expensive, if you dont know.
i get myself over to the park as fast as the mbta can take me, and am partaking in my typical routine of watching pregame happenings from next to the media pit down the 1st base line, watching the dugout fill and the dirt being raked and the sun gleaming (for once)... and nobody comes to kick me out of the seat i'm leaning against... and they're announcing the lineup, and still noone comes... and the players are running out onto the field, and i've sat down at this point so as not to look conspicuous, and still noone comes! so there i am, in dugout seating, with just one row in front of me, and the game has begun. i've done this plenty of times before- and the first hour is a bit nervewracking, because anyone who walks by me in the aisle could be the guy who's coming to claim his rightful spot where i'm sitting. granted, being in the second row, most people who are coming by me are vendors or waiters (yes, dugout seats, woohoo... in-seat waiter service, not that i took advantage of this). and in fact, i've only gone for a complete game in an elite-but-not-mine seat 3 or 4 times before (down in the fieldbox section).. so whenever i get the chance to sit so close, i consciously enjoy every moment, every blade of grass that i can see, every conversation from the field that i can pick up. on friday night, i enjoyed every moment of that game in the most vivid way possible. definitely in the top 5 for best seats i've sat in. i couldnt believe how many open dugout seats there were... i shared about 10 of them with two other vultures like myself.
Lester pitched admirably. Petey drove in the deciding (and only) run with a trademark double off the monster.
Paw Sox.. what a day to be at the park. It was stunningly sunny, not cool and not hot, and McCoy features an overhang that extends over almost all of the seating area down the 1st and 3rd base lines. we lost, but that tends to happen a lot in Pawtucket. after the game was over, i caught beckett pitching the last out of his shutout complete game 100th career win on a tv in the concourse. whew. what a way to hit a milestone.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Cha'lie Zink.
June 19th game vs the braves... i saw a marriage proposal flash up on the big screen in center field, and all of a sudden a man who is literally 2 feet to my right (i'm on the aisle, grandstands) and 3 steps down drops to his knee in front of his girlfriend! that was a crazy moment.
Just recalled that and had to jot it down. The Paw Sox offense showed signs of life (they had scored 3 runs in the last 31 innings prior to tonight's game, or something crazy-ish like that) and it even appeared as if they were staging some sort of come back throughout the game- they fell behind early- but it wasnt enough. I hung out by the bullpen before the game and watched Charlie Zink warming up, because I was curious to see what his knuckleball looks like up close. What a sweet pitch. I was mesmerized even though I could tell that it wasnt 100%. Quite a few pitches actually had some spin on them but the ones that he nailed, well, I just had to see it again and again. [[I probably looked pretty silly- a 23 year old female sitting by the chain link fence, surrounded by boys 5-12 years of age i'm guessing (most of them in boy scout uniforms- it was boy scout sleep over night). That's how it is for me a lot of the time though... I have learned not to let not fitting in stop me from doing things. What woman (of my age.. of any age..) goes to baseball games alone (and not just major league but minor league, all around new england), and who among them enjoys SCORING these games for the mere sake of.. scoring the game? I guess stopping to think about it makes me self-conscious.]] Anyhow. Suffice it to say that I learned a little bit from watching Charlie and now that I have a better sense of how to grip the ball I want to try again :) I had always gripped it with all 4 fingernails and sort of heaved it almost shotput like (well, not that drastic obviously, but it felt a little like that)... just trying to get the spin off of it... we'll see how my new knowledge helps.
The Red Sox had an interesting night themselves, a bit of a rollercoaster. Aaron Bates got his first major league hit (I've been a little out of it lately.. i dont know that I even mentioned here that he got bumped up to Boston). Smoltzy did it up. We were ahead 9-1 at one point, the Royals closed the gap by the 7th inning to 9-7, and then we broke it open again in the 7th when a few KC pitchers loaded the bases several times (a couple times on purpose! boy did that backfire, and i was positively gleeful listening to the game in my car heading back up I-95 from Pawtucket. One thing I've learned- if the bases are gonna be juiced, opposing teams should never intentionally walk a guy to get to Tek.. it always backfires, whether we're talking errors, more walks, or grand slams). But you know, we pulled out the win. Tek got another homerun (slowed up a bit on this front, but still on his way to 30!!! i swear it. now or never).
In other news, today was BEAUTIFUL once again. Although now it's raining. This concerns me, because I wonder if it will stop again (last time it started, it lasted for 4 weeks).
WHY am I still awake? Poor decision!
Just recalled that and had to jot it down. The Paw Sox offense showed signs of life (they had scored 3 runs in the last 31 innings prior to tonight's game, or something crazy-ish like that) and it even appeared as if they were staging some sort of come back throughout the game- they fell behind early- but it wasnt enough. I hung out by the bullpen before the game and watched Charlie Zink warming up, because I was curious to see what his knuckleball looks like up close. What a sweet pitch. I was mesmerized even though I could tell that it wasnt 100%. Quite a few pitches actually had some spin on them but the ones that he nailed, well, I just had to see it again and again. [[I probably looked pretty silly- a 23 year old female sitting by the chain link fence, surrounded by boys 5-12 years of age i'm guessing (most of them in boy scout uniforms- it was boy scout sleep over night). That's how it is for me a lot of the time though... I have learned not to let not fitting in stop me from doing things. What woman (of my age.. of any age..) goes to baseball games alone (and not just major league but minor league, all around new england), and who among them enjoys SCORING these games for the mere sake of.. scoring the game? I guess stopping to think about it makes me self-conscious.]] Anyhow. Suffice it to say that I learned a little bit from watching Charlie and now that I have a better sense of how to grip the ball I want to try again :) I had always gripped it with all 4 fingernails and sort of heaved it almost shotput like (well, not that drastic obviously, but it felt a little like that)... just trying to get the spin off of it... we'll see how my new knowledge helps.
The Red Sox had an interesting night themselves, a bit of a rollercoaster. Aaron Bates got his first major league hit (I've been a little out of it lately.. i dont know that I even mentioned here that he got bumped up to Boston). Smoltzy did it up. We were ahead 9-1 at one point, the Royals closed the gap by the 7th inning to 9-7, and then we broke it open again in the 7th when a few KC pitchers loaded the bases several times (a couple times on purpose! boy did that backfire, and i was positively gleeful listening to the game in my car heading back up I-95 from Pawtucket. One thing I've learned- if the bases are gonna be juiced, opposing teams should never intentionally walk a guy to get to Tek.. it always backfires, whether we're talking errors, more walks, or grand slams). But you know, we pulled out the win. Tek got another homerun (slowed up a bit on this front, but still on his way to 30!!! i swear it. now or never).
In other news, today was BEAUTIFUL once again. Although now it's raining. This concerns me, because I wonder if it will stop again (last time it started, it lasted for 4 weeks).
WHY am I still awake? Poor decision!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Jams
Players' songs (plate music, mound music, etc) as found on RedSoxInsider's blog :
Batters:
Ellsbury - "Let It Rock", Kevin Rudolf (f. Lil' Wayne)
Pedroia - "Dre Day", Dr. Dre
Ortiz - "Somos De Calle", Daddy Yankee; three tracks from the album "My Destiny" by Yomo; plus one unknown
Youkilis - "Man In The Box", Alice In Chains
Drew - (no music)
Bay - "Alive", Pearl Jam
Lowell - "Bombtrack", Rage Against The Machine
Varitek - "Kryptonite", 3 Doors Down
Lugo - "Ella Tiene Una Cosa Que Amarra", Pena Suazo
Kottaras - "Going Back To Cali", The Notorious B.I.G.
Baldelli - "All Along The Watchtower", Jimi Hendrix; "Strange Times", Black Keys
Kotsay - "Animals", Nickelback
Green - "Turn My Swag On", Soulja Boy Tell 'Em; "I Run", Slim Thug; "Bet That", Trick Daddy; "Amazing", Kanye West; "Sideways", Dierks Bentley
Bailey - "Moby Dick", Led Zeppelin
Lowrie - "The Kids Aren't Alright", The Offspring
Carter - "Stronger", Kanye West
Pitchers:
Beckett - "Living Hard", Gary Allan
Lester - "I Use What I Got", Jason Aldean
Wakefield - "How Bad Do You Want It", Tim McGraw
Penny - "Red Rider", Lunatic Fringe
Smoltz - "Misty Mountain Hop", Led Zeppelin
Delcarmen - "Boston", MAV Entertainment
Jones - "My Wave", Soundgarden
R. Ramirez - "Lucha", Nancy Amancio
Masterson - "Rebirthing", Skillet
Saito - "Bad To The Bone", George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Bard - "Stranglehold", Ted Nugent
Okajima - "The Oki-Doki", Tatami
Papelbon - "I'm Shipping Up To Boston", Dropkick Murphys
I have noticed that my like of Ellsbury has increased ever since he picked up Let It Rock as his plate music. That song gets me so amped.
PAWSOX TONIGHT. bowden scratched, has a couple weeks off (per standard proceedure with paw sox pitchers.. i guess they all get that at some point during the season).. will be back on the mound sometime after the allstar break. enrique gonzalez up tonight! havent been to mccoy in what feels like ages. looking forward to august 7th in pawtucket, which i just found out is replica jersey night! first 5000 fans. you can bet i'll be there. that's a sweet giveaway, and it comes two days after michael bowden bobblehead night in portland. minor league promotions are incredible.
(last night's sox game was great, even though they lost. long game with lots of pitching struggles for both sides, but petey had a home run, bard showed some dominance (3 k's in 1.1 innings of work), and i got to sing the Bay song. i was hangin out way up there in the cf bleachers with my mom's faculty, a group of 37 of us. yes, i am proud of my ticket-finding skills. did the monstah thang pre-game for sox bp with Josh, the gym teacher at my mom's school (she's a principal). HE BOUGHT ME ICE CREAM IN A RED SOX HELMET. having ice cream in a helmet is a dream i had almost given up on at this point in life... one of very very few ways in life in which my parents have failed me. sorry if you dont understand how i could be so excited about this. dont you remember thinking ice cream in a mini helmet was the must-have item at the concession stand at your minor league park? dreams do come true.)
Batters:
Ellsbury - "Let It Rock", Kevin Rudolf (f. Lil' Wayne)
Pedroia - "Dre Day", Dr. Dre
Ortiz - "Somos De Calle", Daddy Yankee; three tracks from the album "My Destiny" by Yomo; plus one unknown
Youkilis - "Man In The Box", Alice In Chains
Drew - (no music)
Bay - "Alive", Pearl Jam
Lowell - "Bombtrack", Rage Against The Machine
Varitek - "Kryptonite", 3 Doors Down
Lugo - "Ella Tiene Una Cosa Que Amarra", Pena Suazo
Kottaras - "Going Back To Cali", The Notorious B.I.G.
Baldelli - "All Along The Watchtower", Jimi Hendrix; "Strange Times", Black Keys
Kotsay - "Animals", Nickelback
Green - "Turn My Swag On", Soulja Boy Tell 'Em; "I Run", Slim Thug; "Bet That", Trick Daddy; "Amazing", Kanye West; "Sideways", Dierks Bentley
Bailey - "Moby Dick", Led Zeppelin
Lowrie - "The Kids Aren't Alright", The Offspring
Carter - "Stronger", Kanye West
Pitchers:
Beckett - "Living Hard", Gary Allan
Lester - "I Use What I Got", Jason Aldean
Wakefield - "How Bad Do You Want It", Tim McGraw
Penny - "Red Rider", Lunatic Fringe
Smoltz - "Misty Mountain Hop", Led Zeppelin
Delcarmen - "Boston", MAV Entertainment
Jones - "My Wave", Soundgarden
R. Ramirez - "Lucha", Nancy Amancio
Masterson - "Rebirthing", Skillet
Saito - "Bad To The Bone", George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Bard - "Stranglehold", Ted Nugent
Okajima - "The Oki-Doki", Tatami
Papelbon - "I'm Shipping Up To Boston", Dropkick Murphys
I have noticed that my like of Ellsbury has increased ever since he picked up Let It Rock as his plate music. That song gets me so amped.
PAWSOX TONIGHT. bowden scratched, has a couple weeks off (per standard proceedure with paw sox pitchers.. i guess they all get that at some point during the season).. will be back on the mound sometime after the allstar break. enrique gonzalez up tonight! havent been to mccoy in what feels like ages. looking forward to august 7th in pawtucket, which i just found out is replica jersey night! first 5000 fans. you can bet i'll be there. that's a sweet giveaway, and it comes two days after michael bowden bobblehead night in portland. minor league promotions are incredible.
(last night's sox game was great, even though they lost. long game with lots of pitching struggles for both sides, but petey had a home run, bard showed some dominance (3 k's in 1.1 innings of work), and i got to sing the Bay song. i was hangin out way up there in the cf bleachers with my mom's faculty, a group of 37 of us. yes, i am proud of my ticket-finding skills. did the monstah thang pre-game for sox bp with Josh, the gym teacher at my mom's school (she's a principal). HE BOUGHT ME ICE CREAM IN A RED SOX HELMET. having ice cream in a helmet is a dream i had almost given up on at this point in life... one of very very few ways in life in which my parents have failed me. sorry if you dont understand how i could be so excited about this. dont you remember thinking ice cream in a mini helmet was the must-have item at the concession stand at your minor league park? dreams do come true.)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
stay over there on the west coast
http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/07/it_disgusts_me.html
manny sucks.
there's grace, there's forgiveness, but he gets away with so much, it makes me queasy.
manny sucks.
there's grace, there's forgiveness, but he gets away with so much, it makes me queasy.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Mas
Oh, more writing. It's 9:23, and the first game of the Paw Sox doubleheader is still not over (started at 5:30). I'm not sure that they'll get the second game in tonight. Unfortunately, Bowden had another rough outing. I am so antsy to chat with him again. There are lots of things I want to know, but one of the bigger questions centers around what the heck is going on this season. I want to know what he's working on besides his slider, and if it's partly to blame for his lack of command. He's been walking guys. Walked another 5 guys in 4.1 innings tonight, with only two K's. I also want to learn more about how to distinguish breaking balls, splitters, changeups (they're slower but is there anything thing else unique about them?) ... i've been learning this on my own but to hear it from a minor/major league pitcher is taking it to the next level.
Chris Carter is 4-5 right now. Not bad. But dont get me started on the Red Sox. Losing to the A's. Petey is out for the night.. Lugo is in and "up to his usual shenanigans".
Wow. I'm listening to the Paw Sox game via gameday audio, and they just announced that they will be playing the 2nd game afterall. It's the 11th inning, 9:35pm.
I thought I had more to write, but I guess I dont! Night.
Chris Carter is 4-5 right now. Not bad. But dont get me started on the Red Sox. Losing to the A's. Petey is out for the night.. Lugo is in and "up to his usual shenanigans".
Wow. I'm listening to the Paw Sox game via gameday audio, and they just announced that they will be playing the 2nd game afterall. It's the 11th inning, 9:35pm.
I thought I had more to write, but I guess I dont! Night.
Still kickin'
Alright, so it's been a few weeks since my last visit to pavilionsro.blogspot.com . I've been caught up in a number of things. The one activity that most threw off my normal schedule was Soccer Nights- a soccer camp that my church (along with a number of other churches and area organizations) put on for kids around the area. Through all of last week, I essentially sprinted home (via public transportation of course) to change, get my car, and jet over to the field. Made for some seriously long days, that's for sure... but there was not a moment during which I wasnt having a blast. I met some GREAT little kids. The age range of my group was 4-6, with one 8 year old. Man alive, were they cute. Aside from possibly sustaining a minor concussion (a 4 year old girl slid into my head while i was on the ground!), the week was a total success. Rain couldnt keep us down! (except for Wednesday, when it was lightening and thunder all around)..... and as you can tell from the names of the kids I was coaching/in charge of- Anas, Abyen, Abdullahi, Nico, Halima- it was a pretty diverse turnout! All the better. Over 200 kids registered and played throughout the course of the week! I miss working with kids. There's a creative energy in them that you just dont get from people my age or older.
What else? Well, the 4th saw me dealing with the effects of said possible minor concussion (my stomach was sick, my head was in indescribable pain) and so I didnt get to do the normal fireworks stuff. In fact, I was supposed to spend it with my friends Kearah and Adam at Kiip's Red Camp in Gray, but I fell into a bit of a delirious sleep for the afternoon/evening. Not a good scene. However, it was positively SPLENDID to spend time with my family. My Grandma was down and there's never a dull moment with her- truly one of my favorite people. Despite our age difference, I feel like we are the epitome of partners in crime. She is still so strong, sharp, alert at age... 84?
Well, the Mariners tend to embarrass us. I dont know why, but they seem to come out on top when we play them. Doesnt make any sense to me... maybe it is the supernatural power of Ken Griffey Jr because he will always be the man. Just some thoughts- thank you Petey for one more homerun (yesterday). Ellsbury is still beating you in that race :) Is that enough of a taunt to kick you into hr gear? Jon Lester, I want to give you a high five for another strong performance. And of course, hooray for our SIX all-stars... Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay, Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon, Tim Wakefield (extra congrats here), and Josh Beckett. Ian Kinsler really SHOULD get there with that extra player they're selecting. He's had quite a season.
Just completed a trade in one of my leagues (Roto keeper league, AL-only): my ARod, CC, Zobrist (sad!) for his Bay (!), Holliday (!), Kotsay, Lester (!), Figgins. The icing- all of my acquisitions have 3 year contracts, save for Lester who will be back in the pool after this year. ARod and CC on the other hand are both in the last year of their contracts. Zobrist i think has 2 years left. I've grown fond of Ben Zobrist as I have him in one of my yahoo leagues but he sealed this deal, so I thought it worthwhile. Also very good for me, because two of my outfielders were recently traded to the NL, which means i had two gaping holes on my team. There was no one to pick up (no one who is getting any sort of regular playing time.. slim pickings for free agents). I am optimistic as to how this will improve my place in the standings. If nothing else, I cant get much worse off than I already am in that league. Plus I'll have Jason Bay for 3 more years! (DO NOT TRADE HIM... Spend big on SOMEONE who's worth it even if Lugo and Drew (to some extent) were busts for their pricetags!)
Mmmm, my officemates are enjoying the fruits of my strawberry-picking labors this past weekend. Fresh strawberries!! And cherries, less than $2/lb at Star Market. H'amazing!
I will be at Fenway tomorrow (I hate this, i feel like I havent been there for EONS... and they're gone for 2 solid weeks at the start of August too!) and thursday, the latter trip being with my mom's faculty. Looking forward to taking her gym teacher up on the Monstah for Sox bp. He's my age and a serious Sox fan. Plus he can beat me in wiffle ball. ...this is not to say that I cant beat him. I'm sure I can and will, next time we play.
Strange times- both games on Pawtucket's schedule this weekend were ppd due to a soggy field. They're having drainage problems over there in Scranton/Wilkes Barre, apparently. Bowden and Zink are slated for tonight's doubleheader, assuming that they've all figured out the field situation by then. I'm thinking that this could be a great thing for me, as I will be able to see three games this weekend- one with MB pitching and then both games directly before and after. Havent seen him pitch in quite a while actually... I need to count up my ticket stubs. I've been to a TON of games, plenty in Pawtucket. Next week i'm out early for Petey bobblehead night at the Spinners, and the next week after that i'm out early for J Masterson bobblehead night up in Lowell again. Next bobblehead after that is Michael Bowden night in early August... I've got that whole day off so that I can get up there and snag some lunch with one or both parents.
Well, lunch break is well past over. But the sun is shining and it is GLORIOUS outside... dry, not humid; not hot; not chilly. We have waited for this... New England has been missing out on its daily dose of Vitamin D. Ah well, a few days of sunshine and I think we can forgive the weather for its bad behavior.
Sunshine and a boy. I am smiling.
What else? Well, the 4th saw me dealing with the effects of said possible minor concussion (my stomach was sick, my head was in indescribable pain) and so I didnt get to do the normal fireworks stuff. In fact, I was supposed to spend it with my friends Kearah and Adam at Kiip's Red Camp in Gray, but I fell into a bit of a delirious sleep for the afternoon/evening. Not a good scene. However, it was positively SPLENDID to spend time with my family. My Grandma was down and there's never a dull moment with her- truly one of my favorite people. Despite our age difference, I feel like we are the epitome of partners in crime. She is still so strong, sharp, alert at age... 84?
Well, the Mariners tend to embarrass us. I dont know why, but they seem to come out on top when we play them. Doesnt make any sense to me... maybe it is the supernatural power of Ken Griffey Jr because he will always be the man. Just some thoughts- thank you Petey for one more homerun (yesterday). Ellsbury is still beating you in that race :) Is that enough of a taunt to kick you into hr gear? Jon Lester, I want to give you a high five for another strong performance. And of course, hooray for our SIX all-stars... Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay, Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon, Tim Wakefield (extra congrats here), and Josh Beckett. Ian Kinsler really SHOULD get there with that extra player they're selecting. He's had quite a season.
Just completed a trade in one of my leagues (Roto keeper league, AL-only): my ARod, CC, Zobrist (sad!) for his Bay (!), Holliday (!), Kotsay, Lester (!), Figgins. The icing- all of my acquisitions have 3 year contracts, save for Lester who will be back in the pool after this year. ARod and CC on the other hand are both in the last year of their contracts. Zobrist i think has 2 years left. I've grown fond of Ben Zobrist as I have him in one of my yahoo leagues but he sealed this deal, so I thought it worthwhile. Also very good for me, because two of my outfielders were recently traded to the NL, which means i had two gaping holes on my team. There was no one to pick up (no one who is getting any sort of regular playing time.. slim pickings for free agents). I am optimistic as to how this will improve my place in the standings. If nothing else, I cant get much worse off than I already am in that league. Plus I'll have Jason Bay for 3 more years! (DO NOT TRADE HIM... Spend big on SOMEONE who's worth it even if Lugo and Drew (to some extent) were busts for their pricetags!)
Mmmm, my officemates are enjoying the fruits of my strawberry-picking labors this past weekend. Fresh strawberries!! And cherries, less than $2/lb at Star Market. H'amazing!
I will be at Fenway tomorrow (I hate this, i feel like I havent been there for EONS... and they're gone for 2 solid weeks at the start of August too!) and thursday, the latter trip being with my mom's faculty. Looking forward to taking her gym teacher up on the Monstah for Sox bp. He's my age and a serious Sox fan. Plus he can beat me in wiffle ball. ...this is not to say that I cant beat him. I'm sure I can and will, next time we play.
Strange times- both games on Pawtucket's schedule this weekend were ppd due to a soggy field. They're having drainage problems over there in Scranton/Wilkes Barre, apparently. Bowden and Zink are slated for tonight's doubleheader, assuming that they've all figured out the field situation by then. I'm thinking that this could be a great thing for me, as I will be able to see three games this weekend- one with MB pitching and then both games directly before and after. Havent seen him pitch in quite a while actually... I need to count up my ticket stubs. I've been to a TON of games, plenty in Pawtucket. Next week i'm out early for Petey bobblehead night at the Spinners, and the next week after that i'm out early for J Masterson bobblehead night up in Lowell again. Next bobblehead after that is Michael Bowden night in early August... I've got that whole day off so that I can get up there and snag some lunch with one or both parents.
Well, lunch break is well past over. But the sun is shining and it is GLORIOUS outside... dry, not humid; not hot; not chilly. We have waited for this... New England has been missing out on its daily dose of Vitamin D. Ah well, a few days of sunshine and I think we can forgive the weather for its bad behavior.
Sunshine and a boy. I am smiling.
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