but no time for any of that. instead, i'll leave you with a picture. it's all i've got in me tonight.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
K-O and Pat the Patriot
SO MUCH TO SAY.
but no time for any of that. instead, i'll leave you with a picture. it's all i've got in me tonight.
but no time for any of that. instead, i'll leave you with a picture. it's all i've got in me tonight.
Monday, June 14, 2010
detour
I'll post here when I'm able/have something to say, but baseball is my all-day every-day right now. I'm updating http://youcanfeelthesun.blogspot.com for the time being...
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Tyler
Ugh. I hate feeling full. I just had Chinese food on a whim and though i dont feel sick, i dont feel like my lunch was very productive. Also, there's so much food left over. I hate throwing all of this away but there's no question, I'm not taking it home and i'm not finishing it.
Yesterday I got up early to beat the traffic heading east to Rancho Cucamonga. The Quakes played the Storm in the last of their 4-game series. Pretty good game; I continue to be greatly entertained when I make the drive to the Epicenter. The reason I wanted to be there was so that I could see Tyler Chatwood in action, finally. I read about him the night before and found out that he was invited to the major league camp in the spring. So. He's one of THOSE minor leaguers. A "prospect". He's got two plus pitches, his fastball and curveball. Short guy, but the downward angle of his fastball is more pronounced than you'd expect; his curve is "kneebuckling". Both of these analyses, I witnessed first hand. His fastball stayed between 92-94, hitting 95 once that I saw. His curveball often baffled hitters. He's young and I think over the next few years he's going to be altering a few things... for instance, he doesnt use his lower body much. He relies heavily on his upper body strength. His delivery is pretty smooth, and the ball looks like a rocket out of his hand. Reports say that he can reach 97mph. Obviously he needs to expand his repertoir... I'm pretty sure he's working on that currently. Change up, i think. Some other trivia.. he had Tommy John Surgery at the age of 15. 15. He's 20, born in 1989. So young. One of his biggest hangups is his command. I'd read about it, but I saw it when he walked the first two batters he faced. He went 5.2 innings and pitched a laborious 105 pitches... the last inning.2 that he pitched were better, i think 11 and 9 pitches respectively or something reasonable like that. Otherwise, he was at or up over 20 pitches almost every inning. Pretty wild. Struck out a bunch of guys out, but ran up the count very often.
But, all in all, he came away only giving up 3 hits, and didnt allow any runs. The Quakes won it 4-0, and the Storm hopped on a bus and went home.
How about those Red Sox? Mike Cameron is on the mend. Jacoby Ellsbury is in my dreams as a healthy man, so he must be getting there too. We're winning games even if it's not effortless. Dustin Pedroia and Jon Lester continue to surpass expectations. Beckett is hurt... maybe? Jury is still out on that one. I'm still trying to figure out how a team gets swept by the Orioles. Perhaps I should just let that slip into the "ancient history" realm. It was a weird game last night vs Toronto, both pitchers (Lackey, Morrow) struggling very early on. I barely take heart that our guy went an acceptable 6 innings while Morrow lasted 1.2.... Lackey was nothing special. "Subpar" as written on www.redsox.com , in fact.
On an unimportant note, I'm happy that J Van Every made the best of his time on base (a walk and a hit last night); he came away from the game responsible for scoring 2 of the Red Sox' 7 runs. I feel a little more positively about him than the term "lukewarm" implies. Not a favorite, but it's always nice to see a quiet, hardworking, good natured, sort of on the older end former Paw Sox player get something done. Chris Carter is being called up to the Mets for some service time. Maybe he'll finally be able to translate his minor league success into major league magic.
Agh, I miss New England baseball. I'm loving the Quakes, but it's not... relevant. To me. It matters because I make it matter, but really, I'm not studying the Angels' farm system so it doesnt make a ton of difference whether or not I know what's going on with their High-A club. I miss being immersed in Paw Sox, Spinners, Sea Dogs, and Salem Red Sox action. I miss wishing that Greenville was a little closer. Now Greenville is the least of my worries. Hard enough to be around in the late afternoon to catch a radio broadcast of any of those teams. Catching games at 7pm is so much more convenient than at 4pm. No wonder people over here dont care as much. Noone's day is done by 4. Then by the time you fight traffic and get home and havent had dinner... forget about watching out of market games.
Well, I must get to another Quakes game one of these days. I want to meet Tyler. I dont know why I havent yet. Dice-K tonight. Try not to think of the possibilities. The safest thing is to just... watch and see. Go Red Sox.
Yesterday I got up early to beat the traffic heading east to Rancho Cucamonga. The Quakes played the Storm in the last of their 4-game series. Pretty good game; I continue to be greatly entertained when I make the drive to the Epicenter. The reason I wanted to be there was so that I could see Tyler Chatwood in action, finally. I read about him the night before and found out that he was invited to the major league camp in the spring. So. He's one of THOSE minor leaguers. A "prospect". He's got two plus pitches, his fastball and curveball. Short guy, but the downward angle of his fastball is more pronounced than you'd expect; his curve is "kneebuckling". Both of these analyses, I witnessed first hand. His fastball stayed between 92-94, hitting 95 once that I saw. His curveball often baffled hitters. He's young and I think over the next few years he's going to be altering a few things... for instance, he doesnt use his lower body much. He relies heavily on his upper body strength. His delivery is pretty smooth, and the ball looks like a rocket out of his hand. Reports say that he can reach 97mph. Obviously he needs to expand his repertoir... I'm pretty sure he's working on that currently. Change up, i think. Some other trivia.. he had Tommy John Surgery at the age of 15. 15. He's 20, born in 1989. So young. One of his biggest hangups is his command. I'd read about it, but I saw it when he walked the first two batters he faced. He went 5.2 innings and pitched a laborious 105 pitches... the last inning.2 that he pitched were better, i think 11 and 9 pitches respectively or something reasonable like that. Otherwise, he was at or up over 20 pitches almost every inning. Pretty wild. Struck out a bunch of guys out, but ran up the count very often.
But, all in all, he came away only giving up 3 hits, and didnt allow any runs. The Quakes won it 4-0, and the Storm hopped on a bus and went home.
How about those Red Sox? Mike Cameron is on the mend. Jacoby Ellsbury is in my dreams as a healthy man, so he must be getting there too. We're winning games even if it's not effortless. Dustin Pedroia and Jon Lester continue to surpass expectations. Beckett is hurt... maybe? Jury is still out on that one. I'm still trying to figure out how a team gets swept by the Orioles. Perhaps I should just let that slip into the "ancient history" realm. It was a weird game last night vs Toronto, both pitchers (Lackey, Morrow) struggling very early on. I barely take heart that our guy went an acceptable 6 innings while Morrow lasted 1.2.... Lackey was nothing special. "Subpar" as written on www.redsox.com , in fact.
On an unimportant note, I'm happy that J Van Every made the best of his time on base (a walk and a hit last night); he came away from the game responsible for scoring 2 of the Red Sox' 7 runs. I feel a little more positively about him than the term "lukewarm" implies. Not a favorite, but it's always nice to see a quiet, hardworking, good natured, sort of on the older end former Paw Sox player get something done. Chris Carter is being called up to the Mets for some service time. Maybe he'll finally be able to translate his minor league success into major league magic.
Agh, I miss New England baseball. I'm loving the Quakes, but it's not... relevant. To me. It matters because I make it matter, but really, I'm not studying the Angels' farm system so it doesnt make a ton of difference whether or not I know what's going on with their High-A club. I miss being immersed in Paw Sox, Spinners, Sea Dogs, and Salem Red Sox action. I miss wishing that Greenville was a little closer. Now Greenville is the least of my worries. Hard enough to be around in the late afternoon to catch a radio broadcast of any of those teams. Catching games at 7pm is so much more convenient than at 4pm. No wonder people over here dont care as much. Noone's day is done by 4. Then by the time you fight traffic and get home and havent had dinner... forget about watching out of market games.
Well, I must get to another Quakes game one of these days. I want to meet Tyler. I dont know why I havent yet. Dice-K tonight. Try not to think of the possibilities. The safest thing is to just... watch and see. Go Red Sox.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Johnny
Jon Lester comes through once again. Apparently his ERA has fallen from 8.44 to 3.71 in his last four starts which is a VERY good sign, and shows some serious improvement. Rather, some serious recalibration. Lester is so stinkin good. His first few starts were not up to snuff but Jon is one of the ones who is actually pulling his weight around Fenway Park these days.
Went to a Quakes game yesterday. Some good baseball being played at the Epicenter. It's always a great game in one form or another- extra innings, walk-off wins, someone going 4-4, a dominant pitcher, a rehabbing major leaguer, etc. I've quickly familiarized myself with the team's usual starters and think of them all fondly, somewhere between how I feel about the Spinners and how I feel about the Paw Sox. I already know these guys better as a unit than I did the 2009 Spinners, but I'm not quite sentimental about them like I am with the Paw Sox. I'm excited to see Tyler Chatwood start tomorrow at 10:35am... he is my buddy and favorite among all the players. As for favorites based on what I've witnessed of their performance, well, Roberto Lopez is their captain-esque catcher. He bats near the top of the lineup, has a great athletic and muscular build, and also has this leader's air about him. I remember him getting absolutely plowed into on a play at the plate, but even after being mauled he held onto that ball after applying the tag. That was a couple games ago (well, of the games I've gone to). Chatwood seems to be one of their best, has had a pretty strong start to the season and... well, i'll let you read up if you're interested:
http://www.halosheaven.com/2010/2/1/1286963/tyler-chatwood-angels-top-prospect
Perfect Dallas Braden and his precious mound. Awesome that he threw a perfect game... I think the 19th in MLB history? I havent watched a ballgame in about a week... the series vs the Angels was blacked out of course and I've been on the go for the past few days while we played the Yanks. Maybe I'll watch today's game tomorrow... I want to see Lester do his thing.
Bed time so I can get up early to beat the morning traffic to Rancho Cucamonga. Quakes vs Storm.
Went to a Quakes game yesterday. Some good baseball being played at the Epicenter. It's always a great game in one form or another- extra innings, walk-off wins, someone going 4-4, a dominant pitcher, a rehabbing major leaguer, etc. I've quickly familiarized myself with the team's usual starters and think of them all fondly, somewhere between how I feel about the Spinners and how I feel about the Paw Sox. I already know these guys better as a unit than I did the 2009 Spinners, but I'm not quite sentimental about them like I am with the Paw Sox. I'm excited to see Tyler Chatwood start tomorrow at 10:35am... he is my buddy and favorite among all the players. As for favorites based on what I've witnessed of their performance, well, Roberto Lopez is their captain-esque catcher. He bats near the top of the lineup, has a great athletic and muscular build, and also has this leader's air about him. I remember him getting absolutely plowed into on a play at the plate, but even after being mauled he held onto that ball after applying the tag. That was a couple games ago (well, of the games I've gone to). Chatwood seems to be one of their best, has had a pretty strong start to the season and... well, i'll let you read up if you're interested:
http://www.halosheaven.com/2010/2/1/1286963/tyler-chatwood-angels-top-prospect
Perfect Dallas Braden and his precious mound. Awesome that he threw a perfect game... I think the 19th in MLB history? I havent watched a ballgame in about a week... the series vs the Angels was blacked out of course and I've been on the go for the past few days while we played the Yanks. Maybe I'll watch today's game tomorrow... I want to see Lester do his thing.
Bed time so I can get up early to beat the morning traffic to Rancho Cucamonga. Quakes vs Storm.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Another great dream
This has been a great month for dreams. Once in a while, I go to bed hoping to dream about something in particular- and almost never end up dreaming about it that night. Lately, though, it has been a given almost each night that my dreams involve something baseball-related.
I recently received a call from the Director of Baseball Ops for the Red Sox. Our conversation left me inspired and motivated, and I couldnt sleep for most of that night- I was up fidgeting and thinking even as I was trying to embrace rest. Even once I did get to sleep sometime around 2am, I was awake and alert once more by 7am.
Last night, I dreamed that I was standing and talking with Jonathan Papelbon, my Cinco Ocho (play on Chad Ocho Cinco.. Pap wears #58). We were in a boxed off section a little ways down the first base line from the dugout. He asked me to go get Dusty Brown's chest protector from the Sox' workout room/clubhouse. I set out to get the requested piece of equipment, and made my way through Gordon College's campus, where old friend Josh Morrison warned me not to take a detour through Drew Hall because visiting hours were over. My destination was where Jenks/the Library is in real life, and once inside the big building I descended some stairs and entered the workout room where a bunch of players, mostly prospects that I know of, were getting their work in. I went to where a pile of styrofoam, multi-pieced chest protectors were and selected the blue one as Cinco has instructed. A coach (reminded me of Torey Lovullo, new Paw Sox Manager) asked if I wanted either of the green or white ones, as they were bigger than the undersized blue chest protector I held, but I told him that Papelbon told me blue. As I climbed back up the stairs, suddenly I was in an outdoor mall complex that my friend Tiffany and I had visited last weekend. It was nighttime and very busy. I dont think I ever made it back to Cinco but as I was on my return journey the individual pieces of the chest protector started falling out of place.
John Buck made the Lansdownahs proud last night(Lansdownahs=my roto team). 3 homeruns, 5 RBI in one go.
My pitching is also tearing it up for me. If i could get a couple adequate bats- not even a BIG bat, just a few regular performers- I would be in formidable shape.
Oh Lars Anderson. Like Beckett, I've just never been super impressed with the person of Lars. Admittedly, he's off to a strong 2010, but we'll see what the season brings. The reason I mention it at all is because he was called up and had his AAA debut yesterday.
One more... Bowden, what's the problem? It hurts to see you struggle so much. I want to know what the hangup/s is/are because his last start... well, lets just say that I'm not going to be posting a screenshot of it. Not good. Are his adjustments not working for him? Or does he simply have some kinks to work out? Was it just a bad day? More information please.
I recently received a call from the Director of Baseball Ops for the Red Sox. Our conversation left me inspired and motivated, and I couldnt sleep for most of that night- I was up fidgeting and thinking even as I was trying to embrace rest. Even once I did get to sleep sometime around 2am, I was awake and alert once more by 7am.
Last night, I dreamed that I was standing and talking with Jonathan Papelbon, my Cinco Ocho (play on Chad Ocho Cinco.. Pap wears #58). We were in a boxed off section a little ways down the first base line from the dugout. He asked me to go get Dusty Brown's chest protector from the Sox' workout room/clubhouse. I set out to get the requested piece of equipment, and made my way through Gordon College's campus, where old friend Josh Morrison warned me not to take a detour through Drew Hall because visiting hours were over. My destination was where Jenks/the Library is in real life, and once inside the big building I descended some stairs and entered the workout room where a bunch of players, mostly prospects that I know of, were getting their work in. I went to where a pile of styrofoam, multi-pieced chest protectors were and selected the blue one as Cinco has instructed. A coach (reminded me of Torey Lovullo, new Paw Sox Manager) asked if I wanted either of the green or white ones, as they were bigger than the undersized blue chest protector I held, but I told him that Papelbon told me blue. As I climbed back up the stairs, suddenly I was in an outdoor mall complex that my friend Tiffany and I had visited last weekend. It was nighttime and very busy. I dont think I ever made it back to Cinco but as I was on my return journey the individual pieces of the chest protector started falling out of place.
John Buck made the Lansdownahs proud last night(Lansdownahs=my roto team). 3 homeruns, 5 RBI in one go.
My pitching is also tearing it up for me. If i could get a couple adequate bats- not even a BIG bat, just a few regular performers- I would be in formidable shape.
Oh Lars Anderson. Like Beckett, I've just never been super impressed with the person of Lars. Admittedly, he's off to a strong 2010, but we'll see what the season brings. The reason I mention it at all is because he was called up and had his AAA debut yesterday.
One more... Bowden, what's the problem? It hurts to see you struggle so much. I want to know what the hangup/s is/are because his last start... well, lets just say that I'm not going to be posting a screenshot of it. Not good. Are his adjustments not working for him? Or does he simply have some kinks to work out? Was it just a bad day? More information please.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
While I'm Taking Screen Shots...
(the guy pictured is not on the Quakes anymore)
good old R.A. Dickey. I remember watching Zink vs Dickey last year in RI... duel of the knuckleballers
"He threw 90 pitches, 68 for strikes."
WOWWW. That's beautiful. Really. Average of 10 pitches per inning.. and phenomenal command.
thanks www.MiLB.com ... good stuff today.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Just a dull ache now..
Yeah, y'know, being away from Fenway is not the life for me.
One day, I'll work there. It may be soon, it may not be for years, but everything comes back around to baseball. If I could do anything, I think I'd be Mike Hazen's sidekick.
I've had a ripping headache all day, didnt sleep well last night after spending hours on drawing up an important cover letter. Dreamt about front office people (not kidding).. no one in particular, but i remember being stressed out, which clearly ties directly into my current situation. Tossed, turned, got up at 7 and worked on the cover letter for a couple more hours until work.
Alrighty. Well, tonight I'm really just writing to post something. We can start with the easy stuff... Petey was incredible last night, and Youk and Scutaro were right there with him. combined 9 for 15! 9 runs and 4 rbi! noice. I'll have to go back and see if Petey did that thing he does when he steals... I watched a lot of the game but was out of the house for some of it. I believe those were his first steals of 2010. AND Mr Jason Varitek, 3 for 5 with 2 runs and 4 rbi (as many as Petey/Youk/Scutaro put together!)... part of me is so stoked that Tek is showing more than just signs of life. He's never been a favorite, but I like the way he plays the game and I appreciate what he means to our pitching staff.
How many times have i mentioned that I'm not a Beckett fan, never have been? Trust me, I'd love to be. If only he'd give me a reason to be. His temper makes him entertaining to me, but otherwise he's just frustrating. He has this reputation for being so ... good. But... he's not been our team's Ace over the past few years. I must have gone off on this tangent before so I'll end it here.
I'm listening to the Paw Sox broadcast; the accents are so endearing. The commercials are quite small-townish and they make me smile. The team that the PawSox are playing came out on top of their game last night... after 15 innings. They're dead tired. There should be no question who wins tonight, and yet we're trailing by 2 runs. Kason Gabbard (who has bounced around a bit over the past few years) is pitching in place of Fabio Castro who got bumped up to Boston. Good Lord. Boston. What a mess it is up there. Nothing that cant be fixed, but it requires good players performing at or above their "par" levels. When my head isnt throbbing I will try to post some good points from the farm system, because there are some sharp looking players early on in 2010.
With that said... Bill Hall just doesnt fit on this team. I hate to be yet another hop-on on the bludgeoning bandwagon, but I'm trying to bring to mind anything that Bill Hall has contributed yet this season. Ah. One RBI.
Well well well. Check you out, Buckaroo. (Shoot, sorry, I know that some nicknames are gratingly obnoxious. I like "Buckaroo" so much because it's somewhat deprecating, and I've often had trouble taking Clay's attitude, or the attitude I've perceived him to have, seriously.) So far he's thrown 82 pitches over 6 innings! Efficient. Has only given up 1 ER! Pitching well though his strike out and hit against counts are not exactly stellar. I'm going to live in the moment because at any second he could start to crumble, as have become characteristic of the rest of our starters. It's refreshing to see so few runs scored against. The fact that we have only scored once in response is another story all together. Buckaroo. Reminds me of both a little kid and Dunkaroos.
You were waiting for it! I know you were... Michael Bowden is up tomorrow. Tonight he's sitting a handful of rows up from the net behind home, charting and texting and feeling bored. What I wouldnt give to be a 23 year old guy who gets paid many hundreds of thousands of dollars.. I would gladly chart games a few times each week, and wouldnt even be bored doing it.
Alright, my eyes are burning out of my head (or so it feels). Went to a Quakes game on Sunday, was one of those impeccably sunny warm days that make me desperate for Fenway, McCoy, or Hadlock. Sunny Sunday afternoons were MADE for baseball.
One day, I'll work there. It may be soon, it may not be for years, but everything comes back around to baseball. If I could do anything, I think I'd be Mike Hazen's sidekick.
I've had a ripping headache all day, didnt sleep well last night after spending hours on drawing up an important cover letter. Dreamt about front office people (not kidding).. no one in particular, but i remember being stressed out, which clearly ties directly into my current situation. Tossed, turned, got up at 7 and worked on the cover letter for a couple more hours until work.
Alrighty. Well, tonight I'm really just writing to post something. We can start with the easy stuff... Petey was incredible last night, and Youk and Scutaro were right there with him. combined 9 for 15! 9 runs and 4 rbi! noice. I'll have to go back and see if Petey did that thing he does when he steals... I watched a lot of the game but was out of the house for some of it. I believe those were his first steals of 2010. AND Mr Jason Varitek, 3 for 5 with 2 runs and 4 rbi (as many as Petey/Youk/Scutaro put together!)... part of me is so stoked that Tek is showing more than just signs of life. He's never been a favorite, but I like the way he plays the game and I appreciate what he means to our pitching staff.
How many times have i mentioned that I'm not a Beckett fan, never have been? Trust me, I'd love to be. If only he'd give me a reason to be. His temper makes him entertaining to me, but otherwise he's just frustrating. He has this reputation for being so ... good. But... he's not been our team's Ace over the past few years. I must have gone off on this tangent before so I'll end it here.
I'm listening to the Paw Sox broadcast; the accents are so endearing. The commercials are quite small-townish and they make me smile. The team that the PawSox are playing came out on top of their game last night... after 15 innings. They're dead tired. There should be no question who wins tonight, and yet we're trailing by 2 runs. Kason Gabbard (who has bounced around a bit over the past few years) is pitching in place of Fabio Castro who got bumped up to Boston. Good Lord. Boston. What a mess it is up there. Nothing that cant be fixed, but it requires good players performing at or above their "par" levels. When my head isnt throbbing I will try to post some good points from the farm system, because there are some sharp looking players early on in 2010.
With that said... Bill Hall just doesnt fit on this team. I hate to be yet another hop-on on the bludgeoning bandwagon, but I'm trying to bring to mind anything that Bill Hall has contributed yet this season. Ah. One RBI.
You were waiting for it! I know you were... Michael Bowden is up tomorrow. Tonight he's sitting a handful of rows up from the net behind home, charting and texting and feeling bored. What I wouldnt give to be a 23 year old guy who gets paid many hundreds of thousands of dollars.. I would gladly chart games a few times each week, and wouldnt even be bored doing it.
Alright, my eyes are burning out of my head (or so it feels). Went to a Quakes game on Sunday, was one of those impeccably sunny warm days that make me desperate for Fenway, McCoy, or Hadlock. Sunny Sunday afternoons were MADE for baseball.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Red Sox, you are the only-only-only..
We finally get some wins under our belts, and I dont have time to post about it. I promise that I'm not one of those who only likes to complain. I still have to watch tonight's game anyhow, before I can write... I was treated to a very nice dinner out tonight so I missed my baseball for the evening. sounds like youk was the hero of the night... and mcdonald was the man last night. Quick thoughts on yesterday's game... Darnell McDonald manufactured that win for the Red Sox. Between Reddick and McDonald.. well, lets just say that the Paw Sox portion of the lineup was a more potent force than the remainder of the team that the Red Sox fielded. I also appreciated how McDonald subsequently started in CF tonight. Players dont always get instantly rewarded like that for doing well, but I think that's the message that needs to be sent to this team. Perform, contribute, and you'll see playing time.. no matter if you're out of Pawtucket or Boston, if you've been with the team for half a day or a number of years. Geez, and look what he did tonight- 1-for-3 with a walk, 2 runs, and an RBI. He's definitely making a case for himself. (Unfortunately, Petey was 0-for-5. Did draw a walk though.)
Great, now i'm looking at tonight's box score. I'm never gonna get to sleep, and I need it. Well, ok, we'll end on this note. Cinco Ocho got the win last night, Oki got the win today... he struck 2 batters out in his 1 inning. Bard looked verrrry nice today over two innings of middle relief and 29 total pitches (21 thrown for strikes), striking out 3.
(and finally, if Bard's line for the night looks good, take a gander at Neftali Feliz's 2 innings- he also struck out 3 batters, but over a total of only 23 pitches! (15 for strikes) Yow.)
More later, of that you can be sure.
Oh. Had an incredible dream starring Jeff Natale and Michael Bowden of all people, sitting in the stands at a minor league park I've been to in past dreams. Wasnt really a personal dream, but that's all you're getting. Suffice it to say, during and after I felt like I was missed equally as much as I myself am missing McCoy. I'm thankful for these baseball dreams that I've been having. They've been very deep and vivid, emotionally. And they've all made me happy.
Great, now i'm looking at tonight's box score. I'm never gonna get to sleep, and I need it. Well, ok, we'll end on this note. Cinco Ocho got the win last night, Oki got the win today... he struck 2 batters out in his 1 inning. Bard looked verrrry nice today over two innings of middle relief and 29 total pitches (21 thrown for strikes), striking out 3.
(and finally, if Bard's line for the night looks good, take a gander at Neftali Feliz's 2 innings- he also struck out 3 batters, but over a total of only 23 pitches! (15 for strikes) Yow.)
More later, of that you can be sure.
Oh. Had an incredible dream starring Jeff Natale and Michael Bowden of all people, sitting in the stands at a minor league park I've been to in past dreams. Wasnt really a personal dream, but that's all you're getting. Suffice it to say, during and after I felt like I was missed equally as much as I myself am missing McCoy. I'm thankful for these baseball dreams that I've been having. They've been very deep and vivid, emotionally. And they've all made me happy.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Back for more
That was fun last night. I think I'll try it again.
I hadnt seen a Sox game since last week, so as soon as I was awake I started up Boxee and caught the game around the 3rd inning. Ugh. Terrible. And it seems like that's how it went while I was away up north. Swept by the Rays in a 4 game series, that's just embarrassing. The Rays are a strong team, so the embarrassment has nothing to do with them... but WE should be much better than that.
..and then I look at our team. I take a good concentrated look, and see that maybe we're really not better than that. I'm not sold on one single acquisition we made in the offseason. Beltre, Scutaro, Hall, Cameron, Lackey- none of them feel like they're part of our champion-caliber, gritty, tough, always-contending team. They're still strangers. I didnt have that feeling with Bay or VMart when they joined us.
The Red Sox have played 13 games as of the time of this writing.
We've won 5 of those games.
(Dont do the math to find out how far under .500 we are... it hurts. Just tell yourself that it's early, there's no sense getting worked up, and read on.)
We've held the opposing team to 5 runs or less in 6 games, and have only won 3 of those 6 (meaning, more often than not when we get beat, the other team is really scoring runs; and even after holding them to 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 runs, we havent been able to produce enough of our own to come out on top).
On the other side of things, we've been held to 5 runs or less in 9 games (9 out of 13 total), and we've won ONE of those (meaning, other teams' pitching has been more effective against us than ours has been against them slash our offense is perhaps just very weak, as supported by the previous bullet point).
If we're not going to be scoring runs, our starters have GOTTTTTTT to be stepping things up. That's the most anxiety-inducing part of these early-season struggles for me... pitchers are strange and wonderful beings, impossible to understand, complex, unpredictable, and filled to overflowing with intensity.
I've never been a huge Beckett believer... have seen him toss some gems, for sure, but I've always liked Lester as our #1. Sure, I acknowledge that there's a sort of gruff, constantly pissed, murderous-temper quality that gives Beckett more of an Alpha aura, but when it comes to results I'd see Johnny more surely getting things done right, if anyone.
Still, no matter about my personal preferences... they're both considered to be toward the top of the list in MLB. Lackey too (for the record I was unenthused by this pickup, though I did and still do hope that he would make our strong rotation even stronger).
so what's going on here?!
The Sox need to start assigning laps and pushups for fielding errors. And maybe if they incentivize for increased offense.... say, Tito takes everyone out to JP Licks after every game in which at least 7 of 9 guys get a hit. Or we could dream a little smaller and just say that the team gets a pizza party every time Papi only strikes out once in a game.
Hmm, interesting. I'm looking at the individual player stats.
Petey has 5 home runs, the most of any of the guys- can you guess who has the second most right now? Jason Varitek, with 3. (I should note here that he has only played in 3 games to date.) Pedroia is also breaking away from the pack in Total Bases (37.... next in line is Youk with 21!), Hits (18, Beltre and Scutaro after him with 12 apiece), RBI (13, Hermida/Youk/Beltre each with 6), and then the stats (BA, OBP, SLG, OPS). Petey is a machine of a man right now, more than usual. So while I dont enjoy watching my team bumble around on the field game after game (lately), it is incredibly fun watching Petey be on FI-YA.
Again, we're working off of a small sample size here. They've been playing for mere weeks. But until things have had a chance to balance and settle, what else is there to do but talk about what's happened thus far?
I must be Boston at heart.. I've rambled on about nothing for a long time here, but have done it with vigor. At least, I feel invigorated.
Here, let's end on a positive note. I was reading through my scorebook tonight, looking at the games I'd recorded, and I came across the game Bowdie pitched that nearly ended up being a no-hitter.
I hadnt seen a Sox game since last week, so as soon as I was awake I started up Boxee and caught the game around the 3rd inning. Ugh. Terrible. And it seems like that's how it went while I was away up north. Swept by the Rays in a 4 game series, that's just embarrassing. The Rays are a strong team, so the embarrassment has nothing to do with them... but WE should be much better than that.
..and then I look at our team. I take a good concentrated look, and see that maybe we're really not better than that. I'm not sold on one single acquisition we made in the offseason. Beltre, Scutaro, Hall, Cameron, Lackey- none of them feel like they're part of our champion-caliber, gritty, tough, always-contending team. They're still strangers. I didnt have that feeling with Bay or VMart when they joined us.
(sorry, i couldnt help including this. i miss jason bay .. just a little.)
I feel like I could get used to Mike Cameron and Adrian Beltre, but the others... I mean, clearly Lackey has been widely hyped for his performance, so it's not that I think they're all no good. Although Lackey isnt an ace as far as 2010 proves it, and that's all that matters to me, what he can do for the Sox. For a team touted as having 3 aces (and a 4th in the making in Buchholz) we sure dont seem to be able to keep opponents' bats quiet. Look at the facts here, ladies and gentlemen:The Red Sox have played 13 games as of the time of this writing.
We've won 5 of those games.
(Dont do the math to find out how far under .500 we are... it hurts. Just tell yourself that it's early, there's no sense getting worked up, and read on.)
We've held the opposing team to 5 runs or less in 6 games, and have only won 3 of those 6 (meaning, more often than not when we get beat, the other team is really scoring runs; and even after holding them to 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 runs, we havent been able to produce enough of our own to come out on top).
On the other side of things, we've been held to 5 runs or less in 9 games (9 out of 13 total), and we've won ONE of those (meaning, other teams' pitching has been more effective against us than ours has been against them slash our offense is perhaps just very weak, as supported by the previous bullet point).
If we're not going to be scoring runs, our starters have GOTTTTTTT to be stepping things up. That's the most anxiety-inducing part of these early-season struggles for me... pitchers are strange and wonderful beings, impossible to understand, complex, unpredictable, and filled to overflowing with intensity.
Mechanics, psychological stuff... everything from the concrete to the abstract can throw a pitcher off his groove. If they're not working right, so to speak, how do we make them work again?
so what's going on here?!
The Sox need to start assigning laps and pushups for fielding errors. And maybe if they incentivize for increased offense.... say, Tito takes everyone out to JP Licks after every game in which at least 7 of 9 guys get a hit. Or we could dream a little smaller and just say that the team gets a pizza party every time Papi only strikes out once in a game.
Hmm, interesting. I'm looking at the individual player stats.
Again, we're working off of a small sample size here. They've been playing for mere weeks. But until things have had a chance to balance and settle, what else is there to do but talk about what's happened thus far?
I must be Boston at heart.. I've rambled on about nothing for a long time here, but have done it with vigor. At least, I feel invigorated.
Here, let's end on a positive note. I was reading through my scorebook tonight, looking at the games I'd recorded, and I came across the game Bowdie pitched that nearly ended up being a no-hitter.
(taken at the 7.19.09 game, actually)
Paw Sox vs the Indianapolis Indians, 7.19.09. It was literally down to 2 outs in the top of the 9th with no hits allowed to that point, and Fernando Cabrera gave up a scorcher of a line drive right into left-center. FCab, of all people- around that time last season he could do no wrong, he was on a roll. That was a beautiful day. There was a fair on the neighboring football field after the game with a mini baseball history museum, and some games, and food, and booths, etc. Some notes from my scorebook: I sat in Sec 10, Row C, Seat 9. Bowdie went 5 innings, a somewhat high count of 4 BB but 5 SO, two of them looking. I apparently found it necessary to note that Mike screamed F&*# from the mound after walking Shelby Ford in the 5th- his 4th walk issued in the game, frustrating as he doesnt think of himself as a pitcher who walks a lot of guys. Oh, and the gun read 101mph on Bowden's first strike thrown in the 2nd inning. Haha. Fat chance. Finally- looking at the Indy Indians' current roster, it seems like they've got a lot of familiar names: Argenis Diaz, Brandon Moss, Jonathan Van Every, Craig Hansen... some old friends :) Anyhow, we won 3-2!
Taken on the night I became a Red Sox fan.
Aaaand we're back..
(Note: I wrote all of this, then started searching through my archives for a picture of Petey to post, and decided to look through pics for half an hour.. then tried to fit a bunch of random favorites in here. Enjoy my mad photography skillz.)
http://youcanfeelthesun.blogspot.com/
Since i moved, I've been posting on the blog linked above. It's just life stuff, but it has been baseball-heavy of course. I really dont think most people who check that blog care about my baseball fixation, so maybe i'll try to split my content matter between sites.
2010! Moving right along, isnt it? Unfortunately for Red Sox Nation, all is not well. The Red Sox have tried to keep steady focus on their season, to leave dwelling on their collective personal issue outside of work hours so to speak, but clearly their distraught hearts are affecting their play.
..distraught because they're missing a rambunctious and previously-very-present fan at Fenway of course.
Had I known that my leaving would have THIS kind of effect on the start of the season, believe me, I never would have moved away. To the Red Sox, I would like to say this: I'm hurting as much as (and probably more than) you guys.
Hurting, in part, because you guys have had some pretty pathetic moments already. Thankfully, as usual, Dustin Pedroia is keeping me- and all of you- afloat when it's gametime.
No matter how bad things are looking... flat offense, errors, disappointing pitching... Petey steps up to the plate and within a minute I'm on my feet and my hands are in the air- homerun! stand-up double! rbi! He's always doing something right.
I have no specific agenda in writing tonight. Not sure if i'm missing the PawSox or RedSox more... at least I can watch the Red Sox. At least the Red Sox will come out this way in a few months. I listen to Paw Sox broadcasts when I can... just wish i could be there now and then. If Fenway was home, McCoy was my best friend's house, you know? The place I wanted to be if I couldnt be at Fenway. I almost always went alone, but i had many friends and acquaintances there- players, people who worked there, other fans. It's strange for me to think that Sean Danielson and Jeff Natale are gone.
He got picked up by the Cardinals in the offseason but was eventually let go during Spring Training. Sad sad sad. Such are the Minors though.
Last year around the trade deadline, I remember having a panic attack at work. My coworker Bill, who shared a room in the office with me, can attest. I was a mess, repeating over and over in my head that the rumors about an impending trade involving Michael Bowden were just rumors until proven otherwise, checking twitter and google news every 30 seconds up until the deadline- and then a few minutes beyond, just to make sure that I knew what was happening if and when anything did. He was just too big a part of my Paw Sox (and subsequently, Red Sox) experience last year.
I've come a long way. I like the guy a lot and root for him loudly, and beyond that I do believe in his ability and his work ethic, but without any anxiety I can say that this may be the year that Boston gives him up. I'm not basing this off of his performace thus far- over two starts, he's gone 6.1 innings, with 3 very solid and 3.1 not so spotless- is reminiscent of last year, which was spectacular at times and pretty subpar at others. Again, it's pointless to make any conclusions after two starts, and so few innings thrown.. I'm just bringing you up to speed a bit on his 2010 so far. In any case, there are prospects who should be stuck with through serious developmental challenges; anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a Buchholz fan, but his ceiling is high if/when he gets himself together. You hang on to a struggling ace, I'm all for that, I see the sense in that sort of investment. Bowden has never projected to be an ace (that's ok, we cant all be) and for a while now it looks like the Sox have lost hope/interest in grooming Bowdie to crack their rotation- he knows his role has changed and has publicly embraced it, which is a very smart move on his part- even if it could be looked upon as something of a demotion (but whether it is or isnt, a team player just wants to help his team win in the end).
Still, they've got him starting for the Paw Sox because 1) it's easier to stick a trained starter into a relief situation than a bullpen guy into a starting role and 2) may as well exercise his stamina/endurance if he's going to be a middle reliever, an innings eater. And who knows? Any given pitching staff is stupidly volatile (stupidly, because they're here one minute and gone the next, freak injuries, psychological blocks... it's crazy how quickly we went from having what felt like 10 big league/ready, momentum-carrying starters last year to having 3 to count on, who were performing unpredictably at best). Bowdie might have a shot at the rotation again, I dont think anyone has said Absolutely Not to that idea. It will be an interesting first few months, because he's a different pitcher now in a lot of ways- changed form/mechanics, leaner, new fashion statement (no socks showing... what a shame; the PawSox look like sandlot kids next to Scranton-Wilkes Barre (Yankees AAA) where everyone wears their socks showing, so sharp (they play sharply too, another way in which SWB makes the PawSox look like neighborhood kids, hehe)).
In summation, I'm definitely pulling for this guy as much as I ever was- I hope this season finds him making great progress and exceeding expectations. If it comes to it, though, and we get something/someone we need (take your pick at this point..) in exchange for Bowden, I wont despair.
But as things stand right now, what say the Sox call him up to the big club in time for their series in Los Angeles vs the Angels?
I had such a good Dustin Pedroia dream last week.
It's detailed on my other blog.. maybe I'll paste it here soon. Forgive the dull descriptive word here, but I just felt so happy both during and after the dream, like I had had an unexpected visit from a good friend who I'd been missing.
What else... Chris Carter (traded from the PawSox to the Mets organization last year) ate the Paw Sox alive in one of their recent games. He was 4 for 4 with something like 30 homeruns and 77 stolen bases. Or something like that.
Well, he really did go 4 for 4. It was really impressive, but clearly i'm fading fast.. i should definitely be sleeping after the weekend I've had. I saw Scott Kazmir pitch for the Angels' A team, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He did well and pitched more than half the game (too lazy to go look at my scorebook). Oh, and just now as I was looking for a good pic of Petey to post, I came across a bunch of other pics that I decided I'd like to post too. They're all from one of the most memorable games I've ever been to- June 20 2008, the night of the Celtics parade. We played the Cardinals.. it rained something terrible before the game/during the Celtics parade inside Fenway, so much so that many typically-hearty New England folk left the park. I was a direct beneficiary of this, and had a couple VERY good seats behind the on deck circle (i think my ticket was actually for the bleachers, so it was quite a steal). Anyhow, in perusing that night's pictures, I decided that I should mention the following:
On my long drives to and from Laytonville this weekend, I listened to this Kings of Leon song quite a bit, as most of the lyrics remind me of Boston, the Sox, and everything that fits under that sentimental and beloved umbrella:
What a night for a dance, dont you know I'm a dancing machine
With the fire in my bones and the sweet taste of kerosene
I get lost in the night so high I don't wanna come down
To face the loss of the good thing that I had found
Woo hoo hoooo
Woo hoo hoooo
In the dark of the night I can hear you calling my name
With the hardest of hearts, I still feel full of pain
So I drink and I smoke and I ask you if youre ever around
Even though it was me who drove us right in the ground
See the time we shared it was precious to me
But all the while I was dreaming of revelry
Gonna run baby run like a stream down a mountainside
With the wind in my back I wont ever even bat an eye
Just know it was you all along that had a hold of my heart
But the demon in me was a best friend from the start
So the time we shared it was precious to me
All the while I was dreaming of revelry
Dreaming of revelry
And I told myself Boy, away you go
It rained so hard it felt like snow
Everything came tumbling down on me
In the back of the woods, in the dark of the night
Paleness of the old moonlight
Everything just felt so incomplete
Dreaming of revelry
http://youcanfeelthesun.blogspot.com/
Since i moved, I've been posting on the blog linked above. It's just life stuff, but it has been baseball-heavy of course. I really dont think most people who check that blog care about my baseball fixation, so maybe i'll try to split my content matter between sites.
2010! Moving right along, isnt it? Unfortunately for Red Sox Nation, all is not well. The Red Sox have tried to keep steady focus on their season, to leave dwelling on their collective personal issue outside of work hours so to speak, but clearly their distraught hearts are affecting their play.
..distraught because they're missing a rambunctious and previously-very-present fan at Fenway of course.
Hurting, in part, because you guys have had some pretty pathetic moments already. Thankfully, as usual, Dustin Pedroia is keeping me- and all of you- afloat when it's gametime.
I have no specific agenda in writing tonight. Not sure if i'm missing the PawSox or RedSox more... at least I can watch the Red Sox. At least the Red Sox will come out this way in a few months. I listen to Paw Sox broadcasts when I can... just wish i could be there now and then. If Fenway was home, McCoy was my best friend's house, you know? The place I wanted to be if I couldnt be at Fenway. I almost always went alone, but i had many friends and acquaintances there- players, people who worked there, other fans. It's strange for me to think that Sean Danielson and Jeff Natale are gone.
Jeff and Sean
Sean
Neither of these guys got their due allotment of playing time last year, so in a way I'm glad that they're free to move on to new opportunities (Sean's in the Reds organization now but Jeff is unsigned last i heard).. still, even beyond their contribution to the actual games played, they were fixtures at McCoy for various reasons.. they made auxiliary marks on Pawtucket. I miss Charlie Zink too- it just wasnt his year last year.
Last year around the trade deadline, I remember having a panic attack at work. My coworker Bill, who shared a room in the office with me, can attest. I was a mess, repeating over and over in my head that the rumors about an impending trade involving Michael Bowden were just rumors until proven otherwise, checking twitter and google news every 30 seconds up until the deadline- and then a few minutes beyond, just to make sure that I knew what was happening if and when anything did. He was just too big a part of my Paw Sox (and subsequently, Red Sox) experience last year.
But as things stand right now, what say the Sox call him up to the big club in time for their series in Los Angeles vs the Angels?
I had such a good Dustin Pedroia dream last week.
What else... Chris Carter (traded from the PawSox to the Mets organization last year) ate the Paw Sox alive in one of their recent games. He was 4 for 4 with something like 30 homeruns and 77 stolen bases. Or something like that.
(With the Royals now.) He had a lot of fun with the Sox just recently.. and i JUST missed picking him up in fantasy. Argh. Someone got him off waivers right before I could.
Maybe going into a slide wasnt necessary, Jacoby. But everyone in RSN should be upset w Beltre (ok, that's a bit harsh); he had little to no business trying to catch that ball when you were running in on it. PLEASE heal quickly.
I like him, always have. But Wake and question marks go hand in hand these days.
One more time for tonight.. man this guy is awesome.
On my long drives to and from Laytonville this weekend, I listened to this Kings of Leon song quite a bit, as most of the lyrics remind me of Boston, the Sox, and everything that fits under that sentimental and beloved umbrella:
What a night for a dance, dont you know I'm a dancing machine
With the fire in my bones and the sweet taste of kerosene
I get lost in the night so high I don't wanna come down
To face the loss of the good thing that I had found
Woo hoo hoooo
Woo hoo hoooo
In the dark of the night I can hear you calling my name
With the hardest of hearts, I still feel full of pain
So I drink and I smoke and I ask you if youre ever around
Even though it was me who drove us right in the ground
See the time we shared it was precious to me
But all the while I was dreaming of revelry
Gonna run baby run like a stream down a mountainside
With the wind in my back I wont ever even bat an eye
Just know it was you all along that had a hold of my heart
But the demon in me was a best friend from the start
So the time we shared it was precious to me
All the while I was dreaming of revelry
Dreaming of revelry
And I told myself Boy, away you go
It rained so hard it felt like snow
Everything came tumbling down on me
In the back of the woods, in the dark of the night
Paleness of the old moonlight
Everything just felt so incomplete
Dreaming of revelry
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Strange and Wonderful Days
I've been living in Peabody, a temporary situation, since last wednesday when i quit my job. As everything seems to be with my ex-boss, my final good-bye was a bit backhanded, and so i really had very little reason to feel any warm-fuzzy sentimentality upon exiting the office for the last time. I havent looked back since, save to realize maybe twice since then that i never have to deal with it again.
I cant recount everything that has happened in the past month, for life has been non-stop. The last time the red sox were home, i went to all but one of the games in the homestand. That has been my full-time occupation lately. On Friday, the second game in the last series of the season, I arrived to the park before the gates opened, and took my usual place on the green monster. Soon, I was informed that there would be no batting practice that day, but that I had a chance to head down onto the field to explore the warning track. As if it was a race, i sped off down the steps to the gate by the visitors' dugout. I had circled the entire field and was leaning against the bullpen wall, looking in (in the same fashion as pitchers do, looking out at the field during a game; it was a bit tall for me), when the announcer came on over the loud speaker. Breathing in what i assumed would be some of my last on-field-air, i waited to hear instructions for exiting the field. None would come, however, and instead I heard "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen... We would now like to invite members of the 2009 Boston Red Sox out onto the field, where you will have a chance to greet them......" Sure enough, at that very moment, a small hoard of men emerged from the dugout and began making their ways past the crowd standing on the clay behind the ropes. Noting that another group set out going the other way around the field, I quickly took stock of who was heading my way and decided by process of elimination that no matter who was in the other group, I was probably more interested in shaking their hands. Let's be clear- I dont really discriminate too badly, but I figured that there were enough fans there that the players would never make it the full way around the field. I couldnt help but grin as I wove my way through the electrified net of people along the track in the outfield. Settling for an open spot in left, I (perhaps fittingly) ran into Michael Bowden first. He sees me at almost every game I'm at, and so as he spotted me from a bit down the line of people there was no surprise in his features, but reached out his hand, put on a shining smile, and made straight for me. Hunter Jones followed soon thereafter, and beyond that the sequence of events is a blur. Any of you who know me personally would expect that the highlight of the evening was when I shook Dustin Pedroia's hand, and I'd say it was, as I can remember how quiet excitement directly after the contact quickly turned to gleeful frenzy. I saw Jon Lester (heck, i saw them all) but he wasnt really shaking hands. Those who did, and it seemed like most were, generally tended to ask some variation of the question, "How're you doing?" Who else? A number of the call-ups, Dustin Richardson and Fernando Cabrera... Daniel Bard knew me still, which always is a pleasant surprise- when you dont imagine that someone you've had several personal interactions with will recall them, but they do afterall. Also, I'll be completely honest, I'm not fabricating things here, but when you show up at Fenway and sit directly behind the bullpen for many games in a row, people IN the bullpen start to look at you like the recognize you. That's the case with Brown, Varitek, and the bullpen catcher Mani Martinez especially. With Dan, he and I had met over the winter and had come across each other a number of times since then, at events and Spring Training and games. We're facebook friends too, and I post pictures of him when I have new ones, so it makes a bit of sense. Shook hands with Tek, Victor Martinez, Youk, Gonzalez, Drew, you get the point. Had a picture taken with Josh Beckett!
..he was the last one I came across, and I had nothing to show for this whole experience as I had been too concerned with talking to and shaking hands with each player. Also, there's not much room on my phone for pics.
----------------------------------------
I wrote all of the above about 2 weeks ago. Lately, I just havent been in the right space mentally to go back and face the end of the season. Everyone has something to say about how the postseason went for us, and this being Boston, the difference is that they all write about it. Self included. We're opinionated and we pretend like we've each got the key to what really happened and why no matter what the sport. I try not to make a habit out of reading blogs, because quite honestly, it's almost all the same thing, simple reiteration of what some espn or boston globe writer has already tweeted or otherwise written. That's just boring to me. I already take issue with the machine that is the "BOSTON MEDIA".. we have a bit of a hot-cold thing going on. So I really dont enjoy reading other people's regurgitation of what sports writers have already written.
All that said, I'm going to write a bit about it, too, because I've got months to kill here. And lets face it: I'm "from" Boston, and I've got my own trunkload of opinions, and by golly the world simply must hear them. Then again, I'm sure I'm less credible than all those who shop for their thoughts on the matter from ESPN as my opinions are just my own (I love ESPN- but I dont agree with everything those writers say, and i'm not going to copy-paste their ideas here).
First off, I'm not in bad shape here. I'm doing alright, and it's probably due to the fact that I'm not yet dwelling on just how long I will be without baseball. And on the upside, the Mesa Solar Sox have a bunch of A and AA guys on their team, which will keep me mildly entertained for another month. The big names right now are Casey Kelly and Jose Iglesias, the latter of whom defected from Cuba- both of whom are young stars in the making. But other familiar names include Randor Bierd, Richie Lentz, Chris Province, Dustin Richardson, Luis Exposito, and Ryan Kalish. Those are the hometeam guys as far as I'm concerned, but along with this mix I'm also kept up on the progress of guys like Stephen Strausburg, Mike Minor, Jason Heyward, and Scott Sizemore (not Mesa guys). I'm looking at a roster right now for Mesa, though, and clicked on a player named Starlin Castro, because he has a sweet name. Apparently he's an up and comer for the Cubs. If nothing else, paying attention to the Arizona Fall League will help me make the most of my roto league's minor league draft, which most people seem to blow off. Alas, out of 6 teams, the Solar Sox are most definitely in 5th place- but the 6th place team is undefeated after 6 games, so ouch there.
I'm in Maine now, and life is different here. For one thing:
Yep. Snow. I watched the snow coming down across the valley the night before I took this picture. It was beautiful, and it filled me with sadness, and it quieted me. I'm not quite ready for Winter, and that's a fact. Anyhow, it's all gone. Melted yesterday. It's acceptably warm out today, so spirits are high enough. Being here, though, with nothing to do... it has given me time to take stock of all of the tickets I collected over the 2009 season. Actually, unfortunately not ALL. I know that there are still a few Paw Sox and Red Sox tix in my car, and I also know that I am specifically missing at least one game's ticket (Oct 3rd). So. Try as I might to keep them all together, the fact is that I have lived in 4 different places since August. Still:
No, that's not all of them. This is a pic of each unique ticket I got- notice that there are no Becketts or Lowells. Strange, because just now I could have sworn that I remember having a Beckett ticket. Anyhow, it's not here with me if I ever did have it.
A lot of people speak about an emptiness that they feel once the Red Sox are done for the year. There's more to my life than following the team, but I do have shame for the way in which I've let myself go, spiritually-speaking. Thankfully, being here with my family and some longer-term friends helps a lot. Shame is a lie that keeps us from doing what we need to do and being who we can be. Knowing this is one thing; letting shame and fear drop away is another. I'll get there.
I've got some crazy ideas floating around in my head. For one, I'd say that Papelbon's time in Boston is up (ok, i know i'm not the only one out there who feels this way). Not because of the way things ended- everyone has tough games, and one guy doesnt win or lose a game for a team, much less a series. As soon as I knew about Daniel Bard, I began baiting fellow friends/fans by saying that Pap's out, Bard is our guy. Didn't take long for me to be serious about this, and not just instigatory. Oh, who knows. Bard had a great first year, but you dont bank on your less-than-half-a-year-experienced rookie over your proven top-of-the-league closer. You cant do that, unless you're in it for the gamble. Still, I really really like Cinco, but he's obnoxious sometimes. This isnt just a personality thing either- it's cute, it's funny when he doesnt cross the line, but the guy has been known to run his mouth a bit too far; in addition, his performance this year has not resembled what he did for our team last year either. Lots of saves still, yes, but more times than not I'd credit the offense for that before I'd shake his hand in gratitude after a game. It's definitely a loss for the Red Sox, that the Cinco Ocho of 2008 didn't really come out to play in 2009. So let him go to the Yankees, although they've already got their man for the time being. I have no idea if that will happen once Paps is a free man (after 2010 season)- a lot rides on 2010 I imagine. But in my infinite knowledge (sarcasm ends here.. the next part I'm serious about), I project that Bard will continue to look a lot like the man we saw in Game 3 of the Boston-LA 2009 ALDS, closer or not.
Saito has already walked the plank, so to speak. I'd also like to bid farewell, if not a bit preemptively, to Paul Byrd. Agree or disagree with me as you will, but I'd say that Cabrera, Delcarmen, Woodward, Ramirez, Anderson are all up for grabs. I'll be sad to see Billy Wagner go, but I get it. I'll also be sad to see Cabrera go if he does- and I havent looked up his history of being DFA'ed/his options/etc but I'd hope they'd send him back to Pawtucket. Though he is 28. Not quite a prospect, already in a pitcher's "prime". Had a great year in AAA this year though. I dont know, maybe he's just not the guy for us. I'm curious to see where all of our catchers wind up throughout the system... Expo, Federowicz, Wagner, Brown, Kottaras, Chen.. names that we've all heard tossed around, and yet none of them seems to be quite the whole package. Then again, a bunch of them are still in single and double A ball. In the time I've paid attention, I havent figured out the catching situation in our farm system.
Well, as rambly as this entry has been- now it will come to an abrupt stop. There's so much more to come.
I cant recount everything that has happened in the past month, for life has been non-stop. The last time the red sox were home, i went to all but one of the games in the homestand. That has been my full-time occupation lately. On Friday, the second game in the last series of the season, I arrived to the park before the gates opened, and took my usual place on the green monster. Soon, I was informed that there would be no batting practice that day, but that I had a chance to head down onto the field to explore the warning track. As if it was a race, i sped off down the steps to the gate by the visitors' dugout. I had circled the entire field and was leaning against the bullpen wall, looking in (in the same fashion as pitchers do, looking out at the field during a game; it was a bit tall for me), when the announcer came on over the loud speaker. Breathing in what i assumed would be some of my last on-field-air, i waited to hear instructions for exiting the field. None would come, however, and instead I heard "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen... We would now like to invite members of the 2009 Boston Red Sox out onto the field, where you will have a chance to greet them......" Sure enough, at that very moment, a small hoard of men emerged from the dugout and began making their ways past the crowd standing on the clay behind the ropes. Noting that another group set out going the other way around the field, I quickly took stock of who was heading my way and decided by process of elimination that no matter who was in the other group, I was probably more interested in shaking their hands. Let's be clear- I dont really discriminate too badly, but I figured that there were enough fans there that the players would never make it the full way around the field. I couldnt help but grin as I wove my way through the electrified net of people along the track in the outfield. Settling for an open spot in left, I (perhaps fittingly) ran into Michael Bowden first. He sees me at almost every game I'm at, and so as he spotted me from a bit down the line of people there was no surprise in his features, but reached out his hand, put on a shining smile, and made straight for me. Hunter Jones followed soon thereafter, and beyond that the sequence of events is a blur. Any of you who know me personally would expect that the highlight of the evening was when I shook Dustin Pedroia's hand, and I'd say it was, as I can remember how quiet excitement directly after the contact quickly turned to gleeful frenzy. I saw Jon Lester (heck, i saw them all) but he wasnt really shaking hands. Those who did, and it seemed like most were, generally tended to ask some variation of the question, "How're you doing?" Who else? A number of the call-ups, Dustin Richardson and Fernando Cabrera... Daniel Bard knew me still, which always is a pleasant surprise- when you dont imagine that someone you've had several personal interactions with will recall them, but they do afterall. Also, I'll be completely honest, I'm not fabricating things here, but when you show up at Fenway and sit directly behind the bullpen for many games in a row, people IN the bullpen start to look at you like the recognize you. That's the case with Brown, Varitek, and the bullpen catcher Mani Martinez especially. With Dan, he and I had met over the winter and had come across each other a number of times since then, at events and Spring Training and games. We're facebook friends too, and I post pictures of him when I have new ones, so it makes a bit of sense. Shook hands with Tek, Victor Martinez, Youk, Gonzalez, Drew, you get the point. Had a picture taken with Josh Beckett!
..he was the last one I came across, and I had nothing to show for this whole experience as I had been too concerned with talking to and shaking hands with each player. Also, there's not much room on my phone for pics.
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I wrote all of the above about 2 weeks ago. Lately, I just havent been in the right space mentally to go back and face the end of the season. Everyone has something to say about how the postseason went for us, and this being Boston, the difference is that they all write about it. Self included. We're opinionated and we pretend like we've each got the key to what really happened and why no matter what the sport. I try not to make a habit out of reading blogs, because quite honestly, it's almost all the same thing, simple reiteration of what some espn or boston globe writer has already tweeted or otherwise written. That's just boring to me. I already take issue with the machine that is the "BOSTON MEDIA".. we have a bit of a hot-cold thing going on. So I really dont enjoy reading other people's regurgitation of what sports writers have already written.
All that said, I'm going to write a bit about it, too, because I've got months to kill here. And lets face it: I'm "from" Boston, and I've got my own trunkload of opinions, and by golly the world simply must hear them. Then again, I'm sure I'm less credible than all those who shop for their thoughts on the matter from ESPN as my opinions are just my own (I love ESPN- but I dont agree with everything those writers say, and i'm not going to copy-paste their ideas here).
First off, I'm not in bad shape here. I'm doing alright, and it's probably due to the fact that I'm not yet dwelling on just how long I will be without baseball. And on the upside, the Mesa Solar Sox have a bunch of A and AA guys on their team, which will keep me mildly entertained for another month. The big names right now are Casey Kelly and Jose Iglesias, the latter of whom defected from Cuba- both of whom are young stars in the making. But other familiar names include Randor Bierd, Richie Lentz, Chris Province, Dustin Richardson, Luis Exposito, and Ryan Kalish. Those are the hometeam guys as far as I'm concerned, but along with this mix I'm also kept up on the progress of guys like Stephen Strausburg, Mike Minor, Jason Heyward, and Scott Sizemore (not Mesa guys). I'm looking at a roster right now for Mesa, though, and clicked on a player named Starlin Castro, because he has a sweet name. Apparently he's an up and comer for the Cubs. If nothing else, paying attention to the Arizona Fall League will help me make the most of my roto league's minor league draft, which most people seem to blow off. Alas, out of 6 teams, the Solar Sox are most definitely in 5th place- but the 6th place team is undefeated after 6 games, so ouch there.
I'm in Maine now, and life is different here. For one thing:
Yep. Snow. I watched the snow coming down across the valley the night before I took this picture. It was beautiful, and it filled me with sadness, and it quieted me. I'm not quite ready for Winter, and that's a fact. Anyhow, it's all gone. Melted yesterday. It's acceptably warm out today, so spirits are high enough. Being here, though, with nothing to do... it has given me time to take stock of all of the tickets I collected over the 2009 season. Actually, unfortunately not ALL. I know that there are still a few Paw Sox and Red Sox tix in my car, and I also know that I am specifically missing at least one game's ticket (Oct 3rd). So. Try as I might to keep them all together, the fact is that I have lived in 4 different places since August. Still:
No, that's not all of them. This is a pic of each unique ticket I got- notice that there are no Becketts or Lowells. Strange, because just now I could have sworn that I remember having a Beckett ticket. Anyhow, it's not here with me if I ever did have it.
A lot of people speak about an emptiness that they feel once the Red Sox are done for the year. There's more to my life than following the team, but I do have shame for the way in which I've let myself go, spiritually-speaking. Thankfully, being here with my family and some longer-term friends helps a lot. Shame is a lie that keeps us from doing what we need to do and being who we can be. Knowing this is one thing; letting shame and fear drop away is another. I'll get there.
I've got some crazy ideas floating around in my head. For one, I'd say that Papelbon's time in Boston is up (ok, i know i'm not the only one out there who feels this way). Not because of the way things ended- everyone has tough games, and one guy doesnt win or lose a game for a team, much less a series. As soon as I knew about Daniel Bard, I began baiting fellow friends/fans by saying that Pap's out, Bard is our guy. Didn't take long for me to be serious about this, and not just instigatory. Oh, who knows. Bard had a great first year, but you dont bank on your less-than-half-a-year-experienced rookie over your proven top-of-the-league closer. You cant do that, unless you're in it for the gamble. Still, I really really like Cinco, but he's obnoxious sometimes. This isnt just a personality thing either- it's cute, it's funny when he doesnt cross the line, but the guy has been known to run his mouth a bit too far; in addition, his performance this year has not resembled what he did for our team last year either. Lots of saves still, yes, but more times than not I'd credit the offense for that before I'd shake his hand in gratitude after a game. It's definitely a loss for the Red Sox, that the Cinco Ocho of 2008 didn't really come out to play in 2009. So let him go to the Yankees, although they've already got their man for the time being. I have no idea if that will happen once Paps is a free man (after 2010 season)- a lot rides on 2010 I imagine. But in my infinite knowledge (sarcasm ends here.. the next part I'm serious about), I project that Bard will continue to look a lot like the man we saw in Game 3 of the Boston-LA 2009 ALDS, closer or not.
Saito has already walked the plank, so to speak. I'd also like to bid farewell, if not a bit preemptively, to Paul Byrd. Agree or disagree with me as you will, but I'd say that Cabrera, Delcarmen, Woodward, Ramirez, Anderson are all up for grabs. I'll be sad to see Billy Wagner go, but I get it. I'll also be sad to see Cabrera go if he does- and I havent looked up his history of being DFA'ed/his options/etc but I'd hope they'd send him back to Pawtucket. Though he is 28. Not quite a prospect, already in a pitcher's "prime". Had a great year in AAA this year though. I dont know, maybe he's just not the guy for us. I'm curious to see where all of our catchers wind up throughout the system... Expo, Federowicz, Wagner, Brown, Kottaras, Chen.. names that we've all heard tossed around, and yet none of them seems to be quite the whole package. Then again, a bunch of them are still in single and double A ball. In the time I've paid attention, I havent figured out the catching situation in our farm system.
Well, as rambly as this entry has been- now it will come to an abrupt stop. There's so much more to come.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Autumn Arrives
I havent been outside yet, but I can see the silhouette of trees blowing around out there through the curtains. It leads me to believe, along with the golden light that's filtering through the fabric, that today is a most excellent Autumn day. Fall has become my favorite season, though I dont really want to discriminate against the others. The weather is so relieving after whatever the year's summer has brought; September brings us new faces on all of the MLB teams; and there's a general sense of introspection and reflection that I settle into. I've discovered that I enjoy being alone in this season, I enjoy the feeling of yearning to be with someone who I'm not with. Fall is mellow, earth tones, acoustic music, coffee and pumpkin and apple and spice and the settling of dead leaves on the pavement and the smell of brush fires and the last celebration of being outside before winter comes.
Come October 1, I will be unemployed. Quite happily so. It has been relatively smooth sailing at work but with a week and a half to go that could come crumbling down at any point. I've lived with that same mentality the entire 2+ years I've been there, actually, and though I've rarely been treated in a hasty manner (to my face), I've seen how other people are treated. And I've had a few ridiculous and unnecessary situations come my way as well.
The Office is back on! The first episode was solid.. not an all-time favorite, but it included some lines that I'll be quoting for months and years to come. Of course, I was at the game when the first episode aired (I watched it after the fact on nbc.com/theoffice). Fenway never gets old. I was exceedingly giddy to be there on Thursday, as if it were the first game of a new season. The fact that we've got minor league call-ups on the team now adds to the excitement for me. Most of the time when I go, I try to make sure Mike knows I'm there. It's nice to know that you're on the home team, and that everyone is rooting for you in a general sense- but when he sees me standing or sitting behind the bullpen, I hope he feels, at the very least, like there's someone present who is pulling for him. No matter what kind of work we do, I feel like we all need someone who we know believes in us. I'm sure I'm not the only one at Fenway on any given night who would put Bowden on their list... hmm, maybe top 5 favorite players in the park? But he knows my face, he knows my name, and if it doesnt translate as a sign of enthusiasm and support then I dont know what else I could do. Now we've gotta work on getting Sean Danielson some playing time next season... with any team...
Speaking of Sean, he's unknowingly responsible for my latest addiction- to Kings of Leon. I'd hear one of their singles on the radio now and again but really wasnt fond of it. Then, the Paw Sox season ended, and everything associated with Pawtucket immediately became sentimental. Sean is a big Kings of Leon fan, and the single reminded me of him, so I started not changing the station when it came on. Then, I found things about it that I liked... then heard another single and liked it even better... then went online to listen to both... then started listening to a whole bunch of KoL... and this was like a big snowball effect, because once I listened online, I went tumbling head over heels for this band. I also found out that their song Closer is the song that Dusty Brown had playing as his at bat music this season. I remember asking a number of different people if they knew the song but no one did. Ta Da! I got it. Now go listen to it on www.grooveshark.com . (The part of the song he had playing as he walked to the plate was just the beginning instrumental bit.)
What a busy past few weeks. Weddings (Jeff & Laura! Dave & Rachel!)... ballgames... 2 trips to Maine... a new MacBook Pro and free iTouch... an office move... a Maggie move (and another one to come in about a week or so). Yep, I'll be living with my brother for a couple weeks. Scary... a house with 3 or 4 guys two years younger than me. Well, I've been there before and it wasnt a wreck. :)
The last time Bowdie pitched was 9/8. Anytime now...
In other news, Josh Reddick is seeing some fair playing time. Dustin Pedroia is hitting homeruns. (I was at the game 9/8/09 vs O's where he hit 2 hrs in the same game, for the second time in his career.) Jason Bay is hitting homeruns. Alex Gonzalez is quiet and easy to like. Dusty Brown is up with the big club and also getting some time behind the plate. Daniel Bard is a Major Leaguer, not a minor leaguer trying to prove himself. Sometimes I come back to the realization that life happens, just keeps moving along. I dont have to try to make it happen. With baseball, it's great to watch life happen for these guys. With myself, well, there are some unknowns on the horizon, and I'm trying to embrace that. I'm not going to NZ afterall... I'm going to Ireland with my brother, about which I am extremely excited. A brother-sister trip is something I've been waiting for my whole life!
I bought Pop Tarts as I do once every very long while. They are down in the kitchen, nearly audibly calling my name. Then it's off to softball... playoffs have begun. The lazy part of Saturday is just about over!
Come October 1, I will be unemployed. Quite happily so. It has been relatively smooth sailing at work but with a week and a half to go that could come crumbling down at any point. I've lived with that same mentality the entire 2+ years I've been there, actually, and though I've rarely been treated in a hasty manner (to my face), I've seen how other people are treated. And I've had a few ridiculous and unnecessary situations come my way as well.
The Office is back on! The first episode was solid.. not an all-time favorite, but it included some lines that I'll be quoting for months and years to come. Of course, I was at the game when the first episode aired (I watched it after the fact on nbc.com/theoffice). Fenway never gets old. I was exceedingly giddy to be there on Thursday, as if it were the first game of a new season. The fact that we've got minor league call-ups on the team now adds to the excitement for me. Most of the time when I go, I try to make sure Mike knows I'm there. It's nice to know that you're on the home team, and that everyone is rooting for you in a general sense- but when he sees me standing or sitting behind the bullpen, I hope he feels, at the very least, like there's someone present who is pulling for him. No matter what kind of work we do, I feel like we all need someone who we know believes in us. I'm sure I'm not the only one at Fenway on any given night who would put Bowden on their list... hmm, maybe top 5 favorite players in the park? But he knows my face, he knows my name, and if it doesnt translate as a sign of enthusiasm and support then I dont know what else I could do. Now we've gotta work on getting Sean Danielson some playing time next season... with any team...
Speaking of Sean, he's unknowingly responsible for my latest addiction- to Kings of Leon. I'd hear one of their singles on the radio now and again but really wasnt fond of it. Then, the Paw Sox season ended, and everything associated with Pawtucket immediately became sentimental. Sean is a big Kings of Leon fan, and the single reminded me of him, so I started not changing the station when it came on. Then, I found things about it that I liked... then heard another single and liked it even better... then went online to listen to both... then started listening to a whole bunch of KoL... and this was like a big snowball effect, because once I listened online, I went tumbling head over heels for this band. I also found out that their song Closer is the song that Dusty Brown had playing as his at bat music this season. I remember asking a number of different people if they knew the song but no one did. Ta Da! I got it. Now go listen to it on www.grooveshark.com . (The part of the song he had playing as he walked to the plate was just the beginning instrumental bit.)
What a busy past few weeks. Weddings (Jeff & Laura! Dave & Rachel!)... ballgames... 2 trips to Maine... a new MacBook Pro and free iTouch... an office move... a Maggie move (and another one to come in about a week or so). Yep, I'll be living with my brother for a couple weeks. Scary... a house with 3 or 4 guys two years younger than me. Well, I've been there before and it wasnt a wreck. :)
The last time Bowdie pitched was 9/8. Anytime now...
In other news, Josh Reddick is seeing some fair playing time. Dustin Pedroia is hitting homeruns. (I was at the game 9/8/09 vs O's where he hit 2 hrs in the same game, for the second time in his career.) Jason Bay is hitting homeruns. Alex Gonzalez is quiet and easy to like. Dusty Brown is up with the big club and also getting some time behind the plate. Daniel Bard is a Major Leaguer, not a minor leaguer trying to prove himself. Sometimes I come back to the realization that life happens, just keeps moving along. I dont have to try to make it happen. With baseball, it's great to watch life happen for these guys. With myself, well, there are some unknowns on the horizon, and I'm trying to embrace that. I'm not going to NZ afterall... I'm going to Ireland with my brother, about which I am extremely excited. A brother-sister trip is something I've been waiting for my whole life!
9/9/09 - happy 23rd birthday Mikey
The above pictures are from 8/30, 9/8, and 9/9.
Grandma had a blast :)
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday Nights Are For Sleeping
If he doesnt get called up next week, dont tell me i jinxed him. His phone will ring or wont depending on what the sox brass make of what his season has been, and how he's been looking over the past few weeks. With that being said, I'll venture to state that last night was the last time I'll have the excitement of sitting in the stands at McCoy and watching out of the corner of my eye as MB again and again picked me out of the mosaic of fans. I hadnt been there for pre or post MB start games in weeks so it had been a while since we'd played that game, and seeing as how it's generally assumed that he'll be in Boston very soon, i should have made the most of last night. I've always wondered about this eye footsie that takes place. It's one thing for him to expect me to be there, and to look through the crowd to spot me; it's another thing for him to continually glance over across the park to .. i dont know. To see what i'm doing? When I notice it, I sometimes try to at least put on a little show... tap my hands on my legs to the song playing over the sound system, shout some brief encouragement to whoever's up to bat, stretch... because what else is there to see? During a ballgame, I sit still for the most part, shifting every 10 minutes or so to one of several positions, and I score the game. But I've even got a couple witnesses to this strange phenomenon, not that there's been any doubt left in my mind for a long time of the realness of these occurrences. It's usually obvious enough when he's looking at me sitting in section 1 from his vantage point in section 6 or 7, but it's all the more blatant when i'm in section 3 (because of the angle). He's essentially craning his neck to his right, pretty much behind him. Being undoubtedly the final time this little dance will happen in 2009, and possibly ever, I should have spun to face him (he turns his head definitively in my direction; i face the mound and watch out of my peripheral) or held up a page reading HI or something similar. I've only sat with him twice, and I'm never completely good with doing that... usually I'm afraid I'm gonna get bounced by those over-zealous ushers. Also, when I'm sitting with someone else I have a hard time tracking with the game at all. Still, I love sitting with people who know more about the technicalities of the game than I do. I've become friends with the guy who tapes at-bats for the team, and patches them together and does a bit of analysis on them. His name is Max and he actually graduated from Bucknell one year after two of my best friends, Kearah and Adam, did. Listening to guys like MB and Max talk is refreshing and exciting, because otherwise all I hear all-day-every-day is rollercoast opinions from people who often dont really know, but whose speculations and points of view are somehow generally taken as fact. I get tired of it- i want to know what happened, not just what you have to say about what happened. The Boston media as a unit is a force, that's for sure. I just dont tend to buy it.. which is why I like to get my facts and, yes, even opinions from ballplayers and not as much from reporters.
Man, my writing is already all over the place. Should be an interesting rest of the entry.
I saw a guy on the T a few days ago who looked so smooth in his Dodger blue hat. He was also wearing a similarly-blue t-shirt with white lettering on it, though it wasnt a Dodgers shirt... made me want to get a Billingsley T. I've had to put my like for TX on hold in light of all this wild card stuff, so the Dodgers are getting an extra dose of lovin from me.
The next week will be madness, as if the entire summer hasnt already been. My room is packed away and I plan to completely empty it by noon tomorrow to finish my move to Roxbury. Just for a month, while I finish up at my current job. I'm subletting the room that I'm in right now until January, when I'll come back to Boston and resume life. (Or at least that's the plan, barring any job offers before 2010 from within MLB.) After the move, I'm heading to Foxboro to watch the Revs with a good friend and some of his other friends for his birthday. Softball for tomorrow was cancelled as of this evening so that frees up some time around 3pm. Sunday, church, and then I'm taking my grandma to her first Red Sox game at Fenway! We have incredible seats. I hate hate hate Ace Ticket for how much of a rip-off they are, but I needed seats and I needed them in advance. Craigslist was not helping me. The money spent will be worth it but it's sickening. I like the people I've dealt with at Ace, I like them a lot, but it is really terrible how much they charge per ticket. I realize that this isnt how I make a living, but I can draw some good $$ when I sell tickets wisely- mutually beneficial deals. Why arent we all trying to help each other out instead of just being concerned over getting the better end of the deal? Seriously Ace. $369 for 2 loge seats. Yes, I purchased them so it's ultimately on me, no question. I never ever would have if i didnt have that $200 gift card.
Then September comes, rosters expand, lester bobblehead night happens in portland on 9/2/09, i try to fit as many minor league games in as i can before they're done for the season, and, grin, friday i'm in newburyport on a daaaate. ooooo-oooh. i've been part of a lot of ambiguous date-like situations over the past couple years, but this is very clear-cut. we'll see how it goes. ...and it doesnt end there, as i keep heading north that night to Maine to attend the wedding of my friend from high school to a woman he's been dating for ... 4? 5? years now. Gonna be a fun weekend. During the day on Saturday, they have all kinds of games planned out for us- kickball and the like. It's actually a weekend-long affair, being held at a rented-out summer camp. Everything that they've come up with sounds like it will make for a celebration to remember. My friend Dave, who's birthday is today and who's celebrating tomorrow with/at the Revs game (shhhh, it's a surprise) is also getting married that day. There was no right answer as to which wedding I should attend. I'm closer to Dave at this point in my life, but Jeff is such a long-time friend. Figures that the only weddings I've been invited to this year happen to be on the same day.
As of Monday, my workplace's non-existent dress code (as in, sweatpants/flip flops/cleavage/see through white shirts/tshirts were all allowed... i will dearly miss the flip flops and tshirts, but those of you who know me know that i dont dress provocatively, hah) becomes an existent dress code. We are moving, someday, or so they keep telling us (we were supposed to be in our new location as of last friday).. and the new place is in the financial district, in a nice building, so we have to "adapt to our new environment". I was out sick yesterday and missed the official rundown of the dress code during our staff meeting, so i've only got a memo to go off of. Noticeably absent from mention are flip flops. Also, corduroys. Things that we can and cant wear were detailed so I have hope that both of these articles are still acceptable. But no shorts, except for "dress shorts" (?? i dont really know what those are I guess).. definitely no tshirts. clothing is to be "neat, clean, and pressed"... or something along those lines. Hah. It's one thing to take a job where you know that this will be the standard. You know the rules up front. But the fact that we're having a dresscode wasnt even announced to us until last week! Talk about a serious lifestyle change- no, really, it is. All of the clothing I have out is very casual. I wear the same 4 pairs of shorts, intermixed with a few skirts and dresses. I snag a tank top, or if everything's dirty, a nice tshirt, and head out the door without thinking twice. Flip flops from April through October. Hair? Sometimes, like today, in pigtail braids (you cant wear pigtail braids when you're dressed up like a young professional, that's just silly). I know that I have it in me, but it's more that I never saw it coming. I have one more month at this place and it's going to be tough adjusting for that short period of time.
But really, there's no choice.
I need to spend some time tomorrow catching up on emails and facebook messages. People are starting to followup with me via text/calling to make sure i received their latest note. And that just defeats the purpose. For now, I'm going to fall asleep to the sound of gentle rain outside and the thought of games to come over this next month.
I love you, Boston.
2nd game of the 2009 season
Red Sox vs Rays
Fenway Park
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Hush Up.
I've wanted to post- I really have- but my computer gets VERY overheated everytime I use it. My room is already hot enough. This sounds funny, but resting my hands and wrists on my laptop overheats ME.. just not very comfortable. Right now is no different but I just took a shower and am cool for the time being.
So much happens day to day that it's impossible to cover the past week+ that I havent written. Naturally, a few things stand out... Bowden had another go with the Red Sox; our office move got postponed (we, the employees, were told 7 days before we were all actually planning to move); Zink threw lots of strikes today; I helped cook/prepare a meal for the Lowell Spinners; Dustin Richardson got called up to Pawtucket from Portland; Junichi Tazawa established himself as THE MAN; Josh Reddick decided that he only likes to hit well in AA; I started packing up my room as i am vacating the premises for about 4 months; I started listening to Five Iron Frenzy and Relient K again with renewed fervor.
Alright, alright. I know that Bowden did pretty badly on Friday night. My story for the night goes something like this: Wakefield was slotted to pitch in Pawtucket that night, so naturally I was headed down after an early end to the work day (having to do with the crazy postponement of the move date)... it's around 3:30 or 4, and I'm about 5 minutes up I-95 from the spot that 95 splits off and heads towards Providence, when my phone buzzes that I have a text message from Twitter. I check it out only to find that it's something that the PawSox had posted: ****ROSTER MOVE**** Bowden promoted to Boston...... that was enough for me. I dont think I read one more word of that message. I blinked a few times, thought about how it really was going to be a shame to miss out on seeing Wake so close up, that I would really enjoy watching him from the bullpen before the game, that I'd have great pics of the occasion... and quickly (safely) crossed 3 lanes of traffic to pull off at the Westwood exit and turn around, heading north this time back towards Boston. I tried to find tickets, but it became more and more clear that the best deal I was going to get would be around $70. Uh, no thanks... if I dont find a deal I usually dont go, but I always find deals. It's not like it was the kid's debut- probably would have splurged then. Still, being home and not at McCoy meant that I could watch the game on TV. Even better, I thought to myself, would be to go out and enjoy the game away from home. (SO HOT HERE.) I spent much of the game at Tavern in the Square, where I had a light dinner and a beer and a bunch of big-screen TVs everywhere... the coolest part of it all was that right in front of me both the Sox/Yankees game and the Peabody MA/San Antonio TX Little League World Series game were being broadcast.. the TVs were side by side. Couldnt have been better. Those kids are really fun to watch. It was interesting watching how they handled the game emotionally- obviously none of them are physically developed at age 12.
Anyhow, as we all know, Penny was terrible. By the time Bowden came in in the 5th, things were already looking very very bad. Then Mikey proceeded to throw 63 pitches over the next 2 innings, throwing for strikes about half the time and ultimately allowing 7 runs. He was absolutely mauled. There were three different people at the Tavern who asked me at different points during those 63 pitches something to the effect of, "Who's this new pitcher? Why dont they take him out, because he's doing really badly..." And anyone who knows me would have been proud at how patiently and briefly and uninstigatorially (i believe i just created a word) I explained to all three strangers who Michael Bowden is. I didnt try to fight any of them. I didnt sing his praises (although I did promote him). Just figures that people decided to ask me about him and always added a tagline about how horribly he was faring. You know, I was hopeful the entire time. Not once did I think to myself, shoot, he's really done it now. I mean his 2nd pitch was jacked into the stands by Matsui. (Michael was not pleased with this. Anyone watching NESN got a silent glimpse into his thoughts at that moment in time. Lets just say that even "F***" is in its own way sentimental and not harsh when it comes from him while he's out there. When he shows that sort of emotion from the hill it's genuine and it also even simply means that he's feeling that affected and frustrated by whatever is going on.. he usually keeps it together pretty well. When he yells out there, I feel for him.) All along, I was waiting for something to click and for him to get his rhythm and command and go. Never really happened. He knew it, and now all short-sighted Red Sox fans who dont recall how he's served the Red Sox in the other two games he pitched in will forever remember how badly he sucked. What a tough place for development, especially when the expectations and plans that the organization has for you get distorted by the general media. Oh, by the way, he doesnt even turn 23 till September.
Ok, missy. Enough of all that. It's over. Last night I went to a Spinners game with 100 peppermint brownies in tow. A few months ago I had heard that the "Spinners Fan Club" provides home-cooked meals for both teams and the Spinners staff every Saturday that they play at home. It took this long, but finally I was able to get myself involved. The "Fan Club" consists of middle-aged and older folks. No one my age. Interesting dynamic actually. Anyhow, there were about 10 or so of us yesterday providing for 80 people (and then some, quite possibly). I had such a blast. I didnt talk to a single player, interestingly enough. That's because I was chatting with the other fan clubbers. They are quite the little family there... it reminded me of how the Church should feel. Everyone I talked to emphasized how they do what they do for the players and not for themselves (ie not so that they can get up close to the players), because a lot of the guys make next to nothing and cant afford or dont bother to eat well. Overwhelming to think about... people providing for other people just because. I'm around coworkers most of the day every day, and a lot of my coworkers very steadfastly believe that their life, their money, their time is theirs and theirs alone. People blink at me when I talk about volunteer work, or giving money to certain causes that I STRONGLY believe in (the same way I blink at them when I listen to them talk about living life selfishly). They just dont get it. So it was incredible to meet a group of strangers who took to me immediately, who all got along so well, who were all giving of themselves. That's love, plain and simple. I cant wait until next Saturday, which is unfortunately the last Saturday home game of the Spinners' season.
Today I went to McCoy. I dont like to do this, but nonetheless I keep counting down the days that remain as part of this super long homestand (11 games), and it stems from the anxiety of not making it to as many of the 11 games as I "feel that I should".. it's all psychological because I never had a plan for how many I'd be attending this homestand. I've only been to two I think, and something inside clearly feels like I'm wasting all of these home games. Definitely a few in my future this week. Today was lovely. I woke up, rolled out of bed, got a few things together, painted my toenails blue, and headed down the highway. General Admission was all there was when I got there, which was around 11:40am. I climbed the steps and hustled to the railing where the view opens up onto the outfield... beautiful day, sunny, hot, but with some clouds in the sky as well. These old-time teams were playing an exhibition game, and the Paw Sox pitchers were throwing in the outfield. (Almost) the first thing I noticed was that Dustin Richardson was out there in a Paw Sox uniform... I hadnt heard anything about this promotion but it must have happened sometime this weekend, as I would later see on the scoreboard when he came in for a few innings that he had pitched 1 game for Pawtucket prior to this one. About 5 minutes after I arrived, Bowden threw a side session in the pen, and then Richardson practiced switching his grips smoothly in his glove. I like listening to them talk with the pitching coach. I like the pitching coach (Rich Sauveur) period.. he's always friendly to me. Side sessions are never something I plan to watch, because I've never paid enough attention to when they happen (although Sundays seem to be a good bet, for starters), but they're definitely a bonus to watch. The view on either end - behind pitcher or catcher - is so unique.
Paw Sox took yet another loss. Their only win in the last 14 or 15 games was led by a shining performance from Tim Wakefield.. sad huh? Billy Traber pitched well enough, but then again, not well enough apparently. The most interesting thing that happened was Charlie Zink assuming a relief role. I had to look out across the field to the pen about 3 times before i really believed it. But he threw strikes, he struck a couple guys out over 2.1 innings. One earned run. He hit a batter with his first pitch :) that was a funny moment....
I've got Sox tickets for Wednesday vs the White Sox, Friday vs Toronto, and Sunday vs Toronto. I'm taking my grandma to her first game at Fenway that Sunday!! She watches all the games on TV, very much a fan. We have loge seats in line with the vistors' on-deck circle, 5th row. PERFECT. It will surely be a night to remember.
UGHHHHH! It's so hot, it's so hot it's so hot. too hot to straighten my hair, no matter the consequences tomorrow morning. bedtime.
So much happens day to day that it's impossible to cover the past week+ that I havent written. Naturally, a few things stand out... Bowden had another go with the Red Sox; our office move got postponed (we, the employees, were told 7 days before we were all actually planning to move); Zink threw lots of strikes today; I helped cook/prepare a meal for the Lowell Spinners; Dustin Richardson got called up to Pawtucket from Portland; Junichi Tazawa established himself as THE MAN; Josh Reddick decided that he only likes to hit well in AA; I started packing up my room as i am vacating the premises for about 4 months; I started listening to Five Iron Frenzy and Relient K again with renewed fervor.
Alright, alright. I know that Bowden did pretty badly on Friday night. My story for the night goes something like this: Wakefield was slotted to pitch in Pawtucket that night, so naturally I was headed down after an early end to the work day (having to do with the crazy postponement of the move date)... it's around 3:30 or 4, and I'm about 5 minutes up I-95 from the spot that 95 splits off and heads towards Providence, when my phone buzzes that I have a text message from Twitter. I check it out only to find that it's something that the PawSox had posted: ****ROSTER MOVE**** Bowden promoted to Boston...... that was enough for me. I dont think I read one more word of that message. I blinked a few times, thought about how it really was going to be a shame to miss out on seeing Wake so close up, that I would really enjoy watching him from the bullpen before the game, that I'd have great pics of the occasion... and quickly (safely) crossed 3 lanes of traffic to pull off at the Westwood exit and turn around, heading north this time back towards Boston. I tried to find tickets, but it became more and more clear that the best deal I was going to get would be around $70. Uh, no thanks... if I dont find a deal I usually dont go, but I always find deals. It's not like it was the kid's debut- probably would have splurged then. Still, being home and not at McCoy meant that I could watch the game on TV. Even better, I thought to myself, would be to go out and enjoy the game away from home. (SO HOT HERE.) I spent much of the game at Tavern in the Square, where I had a light dinner and a beer and a bunch of big-screen TVs everywhere... the coolest part of it all was that right in front of me both the Sox/Yankees game and the Peabody MA/San Antonio TX Little League World Series game were being broadcast.. the TVs were side by side. Couldnt have been better. Those kids are really fun to watch. It was interesting watching how they handled the game emotionally- obviously none of them are physically developed at age 12.
Anyhow, as we all know, Penny was terrible. By the time Bowden came in in the 5th, things were already looking very very bad. Then Mikey proceeded to throw 63 pitches over the next 2 innings, throwing for strikes about half the time and ultimately allowing 7 runs. He was absolutely mauled. There were three different people at the Tavern who asked me at different points during those 63 pitches something to the effect of, "Who's this new pitcher? Why dont they take him out, because he's doing really badly..." And anyone who knows me would have been proud at how patiently and briefly and uninstigatorially (i believe i just created a word) I explained to all three strangers who Michael Bowden is. I didnt try to fight any of them. I didnt sing his praises (although I did promote him). Just figures that people decided to ask me about him and always added a tagline about how horribly he was faring. You know, I was hopeful the entire time. Not once did I think to myself, shoot, he's really done it now. I mean his 2nd pitch was jacked into the stands by Matsui. (Michael was not pleased with this. Anyone watching NESN got a silent glimpse into his thoughts at that moment in time. Lets just say that even "F***" is in its own way sentimental and not harsh when it comes from him while he's out there. When he shows that sort of emotion from the hill it's genuine and it also even simply means that he's feeling that affected and frustrated by whatever is going on.. he usually keeps it together pretty well. When he yells out there, I feel for him.) All along, I was waiting for something to click and for him to get his rhythm and command and go. Never really happened. He knew it, and now all short-sighted Red Sox fans who dont recall how he's served the Red Sox in the other two games he pitched in will forever remember how badly he sucked. What a tough place for development, especially when the expectations and plans that the organization has for you get distorted by the general media. Oh, by the way, he doesnt even turn 23 till September.
Ok, missy. Enough of all that. It's over. Last night I went to a Spinners game with 100 peppermint brownies in tow. A few months ago I had heard that the "Spinners Fan Club" provides home-cooked meals for both teams and the Spinners staff every Saturday that they play at home. It took this long, but finally I was able to get myself involved. The "Fan Club" consists of middle-aged and older folks. No one my age. Interesting dynamic actually. Anyhow, there were about 10 or so of us yesterday providing for 80 people (and then some, quite possibly). I had such a blast. I didnt talk to a single player, interestingly enough. That's because I was chatting with the other fan clubbers. They are quite the little family there... it reminded me of how the Church should feel. Everyone I talked to emphasized how they do what they do for the players and not for themselves (ie not so that they can get up close to the players), because a lot of the guys make next to nothing and cant afford or dont bother to eat well. Overwhelming to think about... people providing for other people just because. I'm around coworkers most of the day every day, and a lot of my coworkers very steadfastly believe that their life, their money, their time is theirs and theirs alone. People blink at me when I talk about volunteer work, or giving money to certain causes that I STRONGLY believe in (the same way I blink at them when I listen to them talk about living life selfishly). They just dont get it. So it was incredible to meet a group of strangers who took to me immediately, who all got along so well, who were all giving of themselves. That's love, plain and simple. I cant wait until next Saturday, which is unfortunately the last Saturday home game of the Spinners' season.
Today I went to McCoy. I dont like to do this, but nonetheless I keep counting down the days that remain as part of this super long homestand (11 games), and it stems from the anxiety of not making it to as many of the 11 games as I "feel that I should".. it's all psychological because I never had a plan for how many I'd be attending this homestand. I've only been to two I think, and something inside clearly feels like I'm wasting all of these home games. Definitely a few in my future this week. Today was lovely. I woke up, rolled out of bed, got a few things together, painted my toenails blue, and headed down the highway. General Admission was all there was when I got there, which was around 11:40am. I climbed the steps and hustled to the railing where the view opens up onto the outfield... beautiful day, sunny, hot, but with some clouds in the sky as well. These old-time teams were playing an exhibition game, and the Paw Sox pitchers were throwing in the outfield. (Almost) the first thing I noticed was that Dustin Richardson was out there in a Paw Sox uniform... I hadnt heard anything about this promotion but it must have happened sometime this weekend, as I would later see on the scoreboard when he came in for a few innings that he had pitched 1 game for Pawtucket prior to this one. About 5 minutes after I arrived, Bowden threw a side session in the pen, and then Richardson practiced switching his grips smoothly in his glove. I like listening to them talk with the pitching coach. I like the pitching coach (Rich Sauveur) period.. he's always friendly to me. Side sessions are never something I plan to watch, because I've never paid enough attention to when they happen (although Sundays seem to be a good bet, for starters), but they're definitely a bonus to watch. The view on either end - behind pitcher or catcher - is so unique.
Paw Sox took yet another loss. Their only win in the last 14 or 15 games was led by a shining performance from Tim Wakefield.. sad huh? Billy Traber pitched well enough, but then again, not well enough apparently. The most interesting thing that happened was Charlie Zink assuming a relief role. I had to look out across the field to the pen about 3 times before i really believed it. But he threw strikes, he struck a couple guys out over 2.1 innings. One earned run. He hit a batter with his first pitch :) that was a funny moment....
I've got Sox tickets for Wednesday vs the White Sox, Friday vs Toronto, and Sunday vs Toronto. I'm taking my grandma to her first game at Fenway that Sunday!! She watches all the games on TV, very much a fan. We have loge seats in line with the vistors' on-deck circle, 5th row. PERFECT. It will surely be a night to remember.
UGHHHHH! It's so hot, it's so hot it's so hot. too hot to straighten my hair, no matter the consequences tomorrow morning. bedtime.
Friday, August 14, 2009
midday musings. just a couple of 'em.
Hi.
The lastest word on the street is that Chris Woodward will shortly be making way for Alex Gonzalez. Some sources are reporting that the Sox have acquired him, but espn.com still reads that they're "nearing" a deal for him. The dance of the shortstops positively confounds me. I know nothing of Alex Gonzalez, save for that he plays for the Reds and was with the Red Sox in 2006.. nor do I have the time to look him up right now, as I'm on a hastily-dwindling lunch break. I hope his defense is exponentially better than his offense (BA .210, OBP .258). But the word on Twitter is that people like this move, so that's sounding good to me right about now.
Zink is on the bump tonight. Can they come home yet? They've got another 4-game series away in Gwinnett. What's worse is that I have been in the mood for a Spinners game (i didnt really know that i had a Spinners mood until this past week..) but they too are on the road. I'm almost considering checking out the Brockton Rox... hahaha... they're probably gone too anyhow.
LETS GO LESTAH! Lets mess with TX.
The lastest word on the street is that Chris Woodward will shortly be making way for Alex Gonzalez. Some sources are reporting that the Sox have acquired him, but espn.com still reads that they're "nearing" a deal for him. The dance of the shortstops positively confounds me. I know nothing of Alex Gonzalez, save for that he plays for the Reds and was with the Red Sox in 2006.. nor do I have the time to look him up right now, as I'm on a hastily-dwindling lunch break. I hope his defense is exponentially better than his offense (BA .210, OBP .258). But the word on Twitter is that people like this move, so that's sounding good to me right about now.
Zink is on the bump tonight. Can they come home yet? They've got another 4-game series away in Gwinnett. What's worse is that I have been in the mood for a Spinners game (i didnt really know that i had a Spinners mood until this past week..) but they too are on the road. I'm almost considering checking out the Brockton Rox... hahaha... they're probably gone too anyhow.
LETS GO LESTAH! Lets mess with TX.
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