Very Busy Days

So today was a big day, being the Trade Deadline and all. By 4:00, we knew that we had acquired Victor Martinez and Kotchman, but we lost good old Justin Masterson, who I just might miss. He'll be good someday. Like Cla Meredith, who we used to own. Saw him pitch for Baltimore tonight, and he was pretty good. Unlike when he pitched for us--I distinctly remember calling him "Clah" because I thought his name was weird and he sucked so much he didn't deserve the correct pronunciation.

So anyway (I ramble way too much), it was a productive day (did you see Ellsbury rob that home run today? AWE-SOME). Unlike yesterday, when the news about Ortiz broke. And frickin Dan Shaughnessy, whom I no longer like, pretty much ripped him a new one in the paper today. Said of the '04 Boston/NY series, "Our cheaters were better than your cheaters." He really tore into him, which kinda sucks, until we have the results of just what he took. It's so easy to knock A-Rod and Giambi for using, but now that the tables are turned...well, it really sucks. I wish he hadn't done it, but I won't be saying much more about it until we have more to go on.

Speaking of the 2004 World Series, I am watching the DVDs right now....Game 6, to be precise, and it is so ass-kicking to see all the "old Sox." Like my old favorite Mark Bellhorn, #15 Kevin Millar, my beloved Trot Nixon....oh man it is so exciting. And Bronson was on the team back then... I won't lie, when Ortiz came to the plate I was a tad sad, wondering....

But hey, watching the 2004 Sox/Yankees games never fails to put a smile on my face. And I need one now!

P.S. What I really need to watch is some 2006 footage with the Gonz. Man, I loved that foo.

Long Time No See

How sad to log in and see the notice, "last published on May 7." Well, finals are over for me and I am ready to enjoy the last summer of my life, watching the Red Sox (well, listening to them. Still refuse to pay for MLB.TV until it gets cheaper) and having fun.

So since I last posted, Ortiz finally hit a home run, Youkilis left and came back, Pedroia left and came back, and Matsuzaka returns tonight against the Mets. I am so excited about playing the Mets, I love the AL/NL showdowns because it's the only time I get to see anyone from the NL. The Mets are one of 3 teams I like from the NL (others being the Reds because of Bronson and the Cubs because...well, they're the Cubbies) so I am really looking forward to this series. And TBS has the game on Sunday so I will even be able to watch them.

Let's aim for 2 sweeps in a row (hey, I like the Mets and all, just not enough for them to win any games).

At Last, It Makes Sense

My neuro exam is over and I am ready to comment on A-Rod. I am a little behind, ok?

Actually, for once in my life, I don't have too much to say. I think now, especially with this news, it's almost expected that if you are good, there is a reason why other than natural talent. Which is sad. But how many baseball players have taken steroids? It's just not that shocking anymore. I think more than anything, it's just disappointment--I mean, even though the man sucks post-September, he is still a very good baseball player and his use of steroids taints the whole thing.

Oh, well. People cheat, and you move on. But this does make my nickname for A-Rod, Dirty Cheater, look perfectly accurate (which I started calling him after he knocked the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove, an image I will NEVER forget). I used to have a picture of Nomar, A-Rod, and Jeter (the three shortstops, if you recall) and I put a giant X on Jeter's head, made an arrow pointing to A-Rod that said "Dirty Cheater," and then there was Nomar all normal-looking. I may have even posted it on this site somewhere. Ahh, memories.

Beckett's 20th Win

May I start off by asking what the hell the Sox did to make opposing pitchers want to hit them so much? We all know about Youkilis (and the Yankees) but tonight Hinske and Varitek got hit in the same inning! Then Ellsbury almost got hit in the 9th, and Pedroia did get hit! This is getting suspicious. We don't need anymore Youk-type injuries.

So Jacoby Ellsbury is definitely a new favorite. He ran into Boston's bullpen and over a chair, all to make a catch in foul territory that yes, he held on to. The Toronto commentators even said it was impressive, one of the best they've seen! Ellsbury and Pedroia, my two favorite players (remember the last 4 players I said that about were Bronson Arroyo, Mark Bellhorn, Alex Gonzalez aka The Gonz, and Trot Nixon...hopefully DP and JE will break the curse).

This is going to sound strange, but...the bullpen held a lead! Josh Beckett left after 6 fantastic innings, then Manny Delcarmen came in and pitched a 1-2-3 7th (2 strikeouts even).

Okay. 8th inning. Our new nemesis. A good start though, a solo Jason Varitek homer. But nothing else good for us. So who would guide us through the potential disaster known as the 8th inning? Delcarmen actually stayed in this time, unlike last time when he came out and Gagne killed it (in a bad, bad way). He got his first out, then as I'm witnessing Toronto's meltdown, they take him out! UHH, okay. Not what I would have done, but okay. Javier Lopez came in, got the second out, got the third out. Nice pitching, actually. You went against me, Francona, and it worked this time. Hopefully it will continue working.

3-run shot in the 9th from David Ortiz! He is "more dangerous than dynamite," said the Tampa Bay guy. Follow that up with a Lowell solo shot, 8-1, this one was over (even with Gagne pitching the 9th). Ortiz and Lugo gave Mike an excited hug in the dugout, how nice :) Brandon Moss hit the first triple of his career, which is very awesome.

And yeah, Toronto? I HATE YOU. Up 4-0 going into the 9th against the Yankees and the next thing I see, it's 4-4. HATE HATE HATE. It was single after single after single, and those add up. It wasn't bad enough you swept Boston, NOOO, you had to blow a 4-run lead against NY in the bottom of the 9th! Extra innings--at least they won. Took 'em 14 freaking innings and a large percentage of my sanity though!

Rant of the Day:
Many fans are saying "as long as we get the Wild Card..." To them, I say: Not good enough! Had we been in second place all year, yes, the WC would be fine. But getting it now, after we've basically been in first place all season...hell no, I do not accept the WC. Plus, the Wild Card is just not as legitimate, really. I want to win. I want first place in the AL East, and settling for the Wild Card is not in the gameplan.

The Trade Deadline

..is over. And we got Gagne for Gabbard. And Murphy. And Beltre. I guess they really wanted him!

I didn't pay too much attention to the trade talk, mostly because I thought we had such a great team already we wouldn't be interested in anyone. However, when I arrived home at 1:30 and ESPN was crazy with the Gagne talk (and of course, Teixeira), I figured something was up! And as 4:00 neared, the news became final, and Gabbard was no more.

(Hold up -- David Ortiz just hit his 2nd HR of the night! That's our man.)

So...I know Gagne will help the team, and we can never have too many GOOD pitchers (or else we'll trade them all away and last year will happen again...still mad about Bronson?!). But I liked Kason! And Murphy was gonna be so good...ahh, well. I guess when your 3 favorite players get traded away, nothing will bother you too much anymore!

Many Men Were Good

We sorely needed a win tonight and barring any crazy stupid hijinx, it looks like we will get one! Actually, Boston is one out away from a win, and after those two one-run losses, it is nice to get a big win.

Kason Gabbard started this evening, and yes I have my eye on that one. He is only 2.5 yrs older than me, after all. I might as well like him, he is wearing Bronson's number (but that golfing, fishing, and hunting thing might be a problem). And he just officially got the win. Timlin, Snyder, Lopez, and Okajima followed. You never know what you're gonna get when Mike is in the mix, but it ended well tonight.

Best moment of the night came from Eric Hinske -- a bases loaded triple will always win. Unless the game had a grand slam in it, then the triple has to take the backseat. Luckily for Hinske, he was the star for me tonight.

Keep it up now!

Not So Great, That One

That game didn't go according to plan.

Wakefield was off, as was our offense. Things that were not off? NY's offense and pitching. So all of that made for a bad combo.

In positive news (well, sort of positive), Bronson Arroyo gave up 6 runs in 2 innings (and then came out) and he didn't get a loss. His bullpen only allowed one run over the next 7 innings and Washington imploded. So at least one good thing happened today.

Keep it Up

What's this I see? Another Boston victory? And it was a beatdown as well? 9-3! And the best part is it was Matsuzaka pitching - 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 run. MUCH better!! Maybe he is finally getting in a groove.

A lot of HRs from our team tonight: Ortiz, Lugo, Manny, Lowell. I love it when the HR Bug bites these guys. Papi was 4-for-5 tonight, Pedroia was 2-for-4, and Lowell was 3-for-4. I hope it's like this forever and no one gets hurt to screw it up.

The Curt Schilling comments and subsequent apology? He says things all the time, you have to learn when to ignore and when to pay attention. Francona thought it was important, but me? I just ignore, ignore, ignore until I hear Bronson's name, or Trot's. I miss them.

You Knew I Was Going to Say Something About...

Bronson! So this is old news but I have to mention it at least once. Arroyo will be making a lot of money now: a two-year extension will pay him an additional $25 million and keep him under contract through at least 2010, plus an option for the next year. “I honestly didn’t think they were going to even talk to me about a contract this offseason,” said Arroyo, who had two years left on his current deal. “But they were serious.” I like that Cincy is so interested in keeping him, it's good to see a team be committed to him and not jerk him around (...what?). But this is kind of sad: “Last year in the beginning of the season, I was still watching a lot of Sox games and I was kind of still caught up in the middle emotionally about being traded,” Arroyo said. “I’m a Red through and through now.” :( I still want him on the Sox.

Let's see....we also have Don Orsillo news! Don Orsillo agreed to a multi-year contract extension to remain the voice of the Red Sox on NESN, the network announced in a press release. I love RemDawg and Don, they are perfect together. Can you imagine a NESN without them?

And last but not least, it's almost Truck Day! The Sox equipment truck will leave Fenway Monday at approximately 1:00 p.m. to begin the 1,480-mile journey to the team's spring training facility in Fort Myers. And you know who else will be there Monday? Matsuzaka, of course! Can you feel the baseball in the air?