Out in Center Field
blogging the Boston Red Sox - love the team, love the game
Updated: 1 hour 37 min ago
Top 10 (Or So) Sox Prospects
At Bus Leagues Baseball, Extra P. and OMDQ spend baseball season trying to keep up with MLB's murky substrata - the minor leagues. As a birthday gift to Center Field, the guys decided to delve into the world of Sox prospects past and present.
Yesterday, OMDQ took a look at the Top 100 Sox prospects of all time. Today, Extra P. delves into the current Top 10(ish) Red Sox Prospects. In addition to talking stats and numbers, he was also kind enough to evaluate each of the guys' future prospects as Baseball Boyfriend material. Bless him!
Like my colleague before me, I am going to rely on Baseball America's prospect rankings for the basis of my projections. In fact, if the good folks at Baseball America would like to just go ahead and hire us, we could cut out the middle man, which I believe would reduce the exorbitant cost of gasoline. Somehow.
Anyway, here's the list, with one crucial addition from me, using my incredible powers of hindsight:
- 1. Clay Buchholz, RHP 2. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF 3. Lars Anderson, 1B 4. Justin Masterson, RHP 5. Jed Lowrie, SS 6. Ryan Kalish, OF 7. Michael Bowden, RHP 8. Nick Hagadone, LHP 9. Oscar Tejeda, SS 10. Josh Reddick, OF 10a. Che-Hsuan Lin, OF
30 Saves, 30 Fistpumps
Gameday Open Thread: Mariners 7/22
Totally Anonymous
I told you Geoff Baker had an awesome blog - and now thanks to Geoff, we get this gem:Seems that Boston slugger Manny Ramirez was leaving the ballpark, with headphones on trying to look inconspicuous and quickly get away from the crowds still leaving the stadium. He started to cross South Royal Brougham Way, against the signals of a traffic cop who was directing pedestrians. The police officer demanded that Ramirez open his wallet and show identification. He warned him that he could face a $500 fine and possible arrest for disobeying a police officer.
It became clear to those watching that the policeman had no idea who Ramirez was. He didn't ask for an autograph or anything, but did ask Ramirez if he'd attended the game. After the brief lecture, and no argument from Ramirez, the police officer let him go with no further trouble.Playing on Manny's iPod during the incident? "I Fought The Law and the Law Won." Kidding, of course. It was "Free to Be You and Me".
Which reminds of the time the tables were turned, and it was Manny Ramirez who sailed past the authority figure outside the Jake in Cleveland... and Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo were left standing outside the clubhouse entrance, like rejected groupies.
Baseball America - All-Time Top 100 Red Sox Prospects
At Bus Leagues Baseball, Extra P. and OMDQ spend baseball season trying to keep up with MLB's murky substrata - the minor leagues. As a birthday gift to Center Field, the guys decided to delve into the world of Sox prospects past and present.
First up, New Englander OMDQ goes all nostalgic on us, reliving his memories with the help of the Baseball America All-Time Top 100 Sox Prospects list. Tomorrow, Extra P. will examine the current crop that's still down on the farm.
Kevin Morton, LHP (1990: #61)
Believe it or not, I still remember Kevin Morton, seventeen years after he first appeared in a Red Sox uniform. Baseball-Reference.com helps out with the dates and details, but I already knew that Morton's story was one of instant promise: in his Major League debut, he shut down the mighty Detroit Tigers (actually 1991 record: 84-78) with a complete game five-hitter. Just a month before his 23rd birthday, he allowed only one run, a homerun to Cecil Fielder leading off the seventh inning, and struck out nine.
Morton stuck with the Sox for the second half of the 1991 season, posting a 6-5 record and 4.59 ERA, but it was his only major league experience. He played for four different organizations over the next four seasons, compiling an 11-33 record in the minors before hangin' em up.
Eric Wedge, C, Red Sox (1990: #63)
Affectionately known as "Wedgie" to my wife, who could barely believe her eyes when she saw him in the Cleveland Indians dugout last year.
Scott Cooper, 3B, Red Sox (1990: #68; 1992: #86)
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to one of the reasons the Red Sox deemed Jeff Bagwell expendable in 1990. The team had Wade Boggs in the majors at the time, with Cooper virtually ready at Pawtucket. Who cares if we trade our AA third baseman to Houston for half a season of middle relief help? Damn you, Lou Gorman.
Sure, you can argue that Cooper later appeared in a couple of All-Star Games for the Sox. But that would be dumb, especially since Bagwell's OPS+ in the year of Cooper's second All-Star appearance, 1994, was 213. Damn you, Lou Gorman.
Maurice Vaughn, 1B, Red Sox (1990: #76; 1991: #10)
Like Morton, I can also remember hearing about Mo Vaughn before he was known as Mo Vaughn. There is a very clear memory in my mind of Joe Castiglione talking about "Maurice Vaughn, who has twenty homeruns at Pawtucket" sometime in 1990. He looked pretty bad during an extended look in the majors in 1991 and started to hear whispers of "bust" when he homered 13 times in 355 at-bats the following season, but put everything together in 1993 and went on to enjoy a number of productive seasons in Boston, including an MVP in 1995.
Mickey Pina, OF, Red Sox (1990: #79)
You know how I remembered random stuff about Kevin Morton and Mo Vaughn? Well, I can tell you absolutely nothing about Mickey Pina. Sorry.
Phil Plantier, OF, Red Sox (1990: #83)
Sometime in 1991, I wrote a letter to Baseball Digest wondering if Phil Plantier deserved consideration for the Rookie of the Year Award. Plantier's numbers in 1991? 53 games, 148 at-bats, 11 homeruns, 35 RBI, .331/.420/.615, 178 OPS+. I was a brilliant child who did not yet understand things like "sample size". About a year later, Boston traded Plantier to San Diego for reliever Jose Melendez. Nooooooo. The next season, Plantier hit 34 homers and drove in 100 runs for the Padres. Nooooooo. Fortunately, he faded quickly after that, or Red Sox fans might never have forgiven Lou Gorman.
Jeff McNeely, OF, Red Sox (1991: #20; 1992: #16)
Something totally weird about McNeely that I just learned several seconds ago: in 1993, he stole 40 bases and was caught 7 times, an 85% success rate. The following year, he stole 13 bases and was caught 17 times, a 43% success rate.
Tim Naehring, SS, Red Sox (1991: #46)
Naehring homered in the first game I ever attended as a Red Sox fan. Also, he has the same first name as my brother and the same middle name as me. Little things like that are amusing to me.
Greg Blosser, OF, Red Sox (1991: #64; 1993: #72)
Blosser had a career OPS+ of -18. I'm not even sure how that's possible. He kicked around the minor leagues for a long time after playing his last major league game in 1994, and I believe still owns the Atlantic League record with three homeruns in one game.
Frank Rodriguez, RHP-SS, Red Sox (1992: #9; 1993: #25; 1994: #39; 1995: #36)
Finally, a top-prospect-for-reliever deal worked out in the Red Sox favor. After being named to the Baseball America Top 100 list for four straight years, including once in the Top 10, the Sox gave up on Rodriguez and dealt him to Minnesota for closer Rick Aguilera. Aguilera saved 20 games and helped the Red Sox reach the postseason for the first time in nine years; Rodriguez won 13 games in 1996 but never came close to meeting expectations.
Aaron Sele, RHP, Red Sox (1992: #71; 1993: #84)
Sele came to Boston in 1993, posted a 7-2 record and 2.74 ERA, and everyone thought he was the answer to our prayers. I seem to recall having two copies of his Topps rookie card, valued at a whopping $1.50 apiece. But while he put together a nice career eventually, spending fifteen years in the majors with six different team, he never lived up to that original hype.
Trot Nixon, OF, Red Sox (1994: #13; 1995: #46; 1996: #39; 1999: #99)
It took Trot a little while, but he eventually got off the Top 100 and into the Fenway Park outfield, where he became a fan favorite upon becoming a full-timer in 1999. I was at the last game he played for the Sox in 2006, when everyone pretty much knew he wouldn't be back the next season, and it was nice to see the fan's acknowledge him before his first at-bat and when he was replaced in the field in the fifth inning.
Luis Ortiz, 3B, Red Sox (1994: #86)
Yet another third base prospect who didn't quite make it, Ortiz's biggest contribution to Boston sports history was being a part of the trade that made Jose Canseco a Red Sox.
Nomar Garciaparra, SS, Red Sox (1995: #22; 1996: #36; 1997: #10)
A friend asked me in 2002 if I thought Nomar was a Hall of Famer - I said yes, without a doubt. That prediction did not work out well for me, which is too bad because he was absolutely awesome for his first four seasons.
Jeff Suppan, RHP, Red Sox (1995: #50; 1996: #35; 1997: #60)
It's ironic, really: Suppan, one-time Red Sox prospect, was the guy who helped turn the tide in the 2004 World Series when, as a member of the Cardinals, he was caught off third base. The Red Sox took advantage of the mistake and went on to win the game and the series.
Jose Malave, RHP, Red Sox (1995: #94)
The first Nashua Pride game I ever went to, in the late 1990s, I was shocked to see Jose Malave in the lineup and made a bet with my girlfriend that if he got a hit, we had to name our first son "Malave". He homered; she backed out on the Malave thing, but I still managed to name our son Joseph. I win.
Donnie Sadler, SS, Red Sox (1996: #28; 1997: #51)
I literally have no idea what to say about Donnie Sadler. He was fast? He's still kicking around, spending last year in the Diamondbacks organization? That's about all I've got.
Andy Yount, RHP, Red Sox (1996: #45)
No idea why Yount ever made Baseball America's list, especially at such a high spot. If the stats at The Baseball Cube are correct, he had only appeared in 13 games at that point in his career, with few positive results. He never played in the majors.
Brian Rose, RHP, Red Sox (1996: #78; 1997: #44; 1998: #22)
Rose is sort of the poster boy for failed Red Sox pitching prospects. He won 17 games at Pawtucket in 1997 and seemed to be on his way to big things, but never transitioned well to the majors.
Michael Coleman, OF, Red Sox (1996: #98; 1998: #51)
Like Greg Blosser, Coleman played a few games in the majors before ending up as a slugger in the Atlantic League.
Carl Pavano, RHP, Red Sox (1997: #17)
You know Carl Pavano as the almost comically injured pitcher who has appeared in exactly two games for the Yankees in the past three seasons; Red Sox fans know him as the top prospect who was dealt for Pedro Martinez in December 1997 - only one of the most important deals in team history.
Chris Reitsma, RHP, Red Sox (1997: #46; 1998: #88)
Reitsma had quite the journey. Top Sox prospect...Rule V draft pick...returned to the Red Sox...traded for Dante Bichette...quite the journey, indeed.
Robinson Checo, RHP, Red Sox (1998: #79)
I knew very little of Checo besides his name, but Baseball-Reference.com tells me that he was known as "The Dominican Mystery Man", which is a pretty cool nickname.
Dernell Stenson, OF, Red Sox (1999: #22; 2000: #66; 2001: #77)
One of the more tragic figures in recent baseball history, Stenson was on the verge of a solid major league career in Cincinnati when he was murdered in 2003. His player page at Baseball-Reference.com is sponsored by Minorleaguebaseball.com.
John Curtice, LHP, Red Sox (1999: #56)
Talk about weird: Curtice was born two days after me and had already appeared in four professional games by the time I started by senior year of high school. That's really, really young, folks. He never appeared in the majors.
Steve Lomasney, C, Red Sox (2000: #50)
Lomasney's final tally as a major leaguer: one game, two at-bats, two strikeouts. On the plus side, he caught Tim Wakefield for an inning and threw out two runners attempting to steal.
Sun Woo Kim, RHP, Red Sox (2000: #94)
After being traded from Boston to Montreal for Cliff Floyd in 2002, Kim appeared in four games for the Expos. His ERA+ was 479.
Brad Baker, RHP, Red Sox (2001: #76)
Baker has never appeared in the majors, but was still kicking around in the high minors as recently as last season.
Tony Blanco, 3B, Red Sox (2001: #87; 2002: #93)
I got nothin'.
Seung Song, RHP, Red Sox (2002: #60)
Impressive at times in his minor league career, Song has never quite been able to break through.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, Red Sox (2003: #19; 2004: #39; 2005: #10)
It would be really, really nice to have Ramirez playing shortstop and batting at the top of the lineup for the Red Sox right now. Of course, it was even nicer to have Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, the two players Boston received for him from Florida, leading the way to last year's World Series victory.
Kelly Shoppach C, Red Sox (2004: #78)
The Sox had two prospects on the 2004 list, Ramirez and Shoppach; both were traded for key players on the 2007 World Series team. (Coco Crisp may have been replaced by Jacoby Ellsbury in the postseason, but his defense was invaluable during the regular season.) Shoppach was a backup in Cleveland until this season, when Victor Martinez's elbow injury has resulted in increased playing time.
Brandon Moss, OF, Red Sox (2005: #72)
Breaking into the Red Sox outfield is not the easiest thing in the world to do, especially with the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury as The Phenom (he needs a waaaaaay better nickname than that). That Moss hasn't been dealt yet surprises me.
Jonathan Papelbon, RHP, Red Sox (2005: #91; 2006: #37)
The interesting thing here is that Papelbon's prospect status centered on the belief that he would be used as a starter. He was supposed to assume that role last season before eventually heading back to the bullpen. And here's something amazing that I just noticed about him: his ERA+ in 2006 was 515. 515! This was no fluky 515, either - he pitched 68.3 innings in 59 games.
Jon Lester, LHP, Red Sox (2006: #22)
As a future project, I might look through each team's Top 100 representation since 1990 and see if any single year's class can claim a connection to team lore that rivals Boston's 2006 group. I haven't been a huge fan of Lester, but he's the type of player that will be talked about in hushed tones for a long, long time. It'll be awesome fifty years from now, when two million people claim to have been at Fenway on the night he pitched his no-hitter.
Craig Hansen, RHP, Red Sox (2006: #54)
Signed his first contract on July 26, 2005, and was in the majors less than two months later. You wouldn't have to look very hard to find someone willing to argue that the quick call-up did serious long-term damage from which he still hasn't quite recovered.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B/SS, Red Sox (2006: #77)
Isn't it ironic that the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year was left off the list entirely the year before he won the award?
Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP, Red Sox (2007: #1)
I don't know if he'll ever really earn the ace-type money Boston is paying him, but my man Kaibutsu will have a pretty good Major League career as a number two or three starter.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Red Sox (2007: #33)
Speaking of spots in Red Sox lore: where do "beating out a routine grounder for your first major league hit" and "scoring from second on a wild pitch" rank?
Clay Buchholz, RHP, Red Sox (2007: #51)
The one thing I will never forget about Buchholz's 2007 no-hitter: looking at him in the ninth inning and thinking a) he looks like he's about sixteen and b) he's gonna throw up.
Daniel Bard, RHP, Red Sox (2007: #81)
Struggled at times in his 2007 debut, but has pitched very well Greenville (A) and Portland (AA) this season.
Michael Bowden, RHP, Red Sox (2007: #83)
An All-Star with Portland (AA) this year, he was promoted to Pawtucket (AAA) just before the All-Star Game last week. He was 9-4 with a 2.33 ERA for the Sea Dogs - at the ripe old age of 21.
Huge, big, large thanks to OMDQ for this wonderful post!
Here I Come To Save The Day
Who was that (un)masked man?
Just when we think we've got Mr. .214/.298/.347 all figured out, he goes a pounds a 2-run tater out of Safeco -- simultaneously helping stop the Sox skid, and killing off any potential trade value the M's might have gotten for Jarrod Washburn. For going 2-for-4, raising his OBP above .300 for the first time in over 2 weeks, and making Tito Francona look like some kind of mystical soothsayer, Jason Varitek (finally) earns Baseball Boyfriend of the Day honors.
Honorable mentions: Jon Lester's ears, Jed Lowrie's two RBIes, Jonathan Papelbon's 1 2/3, Ichiro Suzuki's insanity (and 0-fer) and Jarrod Washburn's mediocrity.
Feels weird to celebrate a win on the West coast, huh?
Gameday Open Thread: Mariners 7/21
Blogponents: Seattle Mariners
In which I highlight noteworthy blogs for you to gather reconnaissance on the Red Sox upcoming opponent. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Lookout Landing: SBN network site, chock full of news and analysis - with a twist of humor
Bleeding Blue and Teal: another great news and rumors Mariners source
U.S.S. Mariner: a constantly updated, and quite witty, look at the M's
Mariners Blog: written by Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times - very Rob Bradford-esque
Bleeding Blue and Teal: another great news and rumors Mariners source
U.S.S. Mariner: a constantly updated, and quite witty, look at the M's
Mariners Blog: written by Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times - very Rob Bradford-esque
ESPN Hearts Dustin Pedroia
ESPN has developed a serious man-crush on Dustin "Pleats" Pedroia.
In a single day, the network alternately aired a puff piece montage all about him, posted an article fawning over him, and then sent Joe "Don't Call Me VORP" Morgan to talk with him about playing second base. It seems they have succumbed to his many, many charms. I'm not exactly sure what those charms might be, but if you just ask Dustin, he will most certainly be sure to tell you.
First up, the video of the Peter Gammons-narrated montage, aired before yesterday's game against the Angels. Gammons says that Pedroia "looks like a little stuffed toy from FAO Schwarz" - which is both true and awesome. (And Gammons should know-- he's definitely got that Lord Of The Rings hobbit action-figure vibe going.)
Red Sox marketing folks alert: if you made a Pedey Bear, I would totally buy one. Of course, each Pedey Bear must come with a dirty uniform, a wad of chew in its cheek, a bald patch, and when you press its paw, it says, "FUCK YEAH!" Also, it likes to play cribbage with Tito Bear.
video courtesy of ESPN
Next, Peter Pascarelli f-loves him some Pedroia:After just a season and a half, Pedroia seems like he's been in Boston forever. On a team of considerable age that is yet becoming younger, Pedroia has all the look of becoming a Derek Jeter-like leader for the next generation of Red Sox. Pedroia doesn't have Jeter's natural ability and grace, but he uses dogged intensity and his love of the game to do the same thing Jeter has done for more than a decade in New York -- be a daily role model for how a Yankee is supposed to play. "He's amazing, really," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "People always talk about Pedroia being so scrappy and so good fundamentally and how he gets so much out of his ability, as if he's some kind of overachiever. And all that is true in some ways. But the fact is that this guy is a very good hitter. Nearly every ball he hits is hit hard. And he gets to fastballs that few guys in the majors can turn around."I guess we can add Mike Scioscia to the list of dudes with man-crushes on Pleats. And in the "Not At All Awkward Interview With A Guy Who Doesn't Really Care Very Much About Baseball" category...
video courtesy of ESPN Two thoughts: 1. Joe Morgan is really short. 2. "They don't really come after us like they did wh... a couple of years back." Dustin was absolutely going to say, "when you used to play" -- and then decided not to make Joe Morgan feel old. How sweet.
video courtesy of ESPN
Next, Peter Pascarelli f-loves him some Pedroia:After just a season and a half, Pedroia seems like he's been in Boston forever. On a team of considerable age that is yet becoming younger, Pedroia has all the look of becoming a Derek Jeter-like leader for the next generation of Red Sox. Pedroia doesn't have Jeter's natural ability and grace, but he uses dogged intensity and his love of the game to do the same thing Jeter has done for more than a decade in New York -- be a daily role model for how a Yankee is supposed to play. "He's amazing, really," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "People always talk about Pedroia being so scrappy and so good fundamentally and how he gets so much out of his ability, as if he's some kind of overachiever. And all that is true in some ways. But the fact is that this guy is a very good hitter. Nearly every ball he hits is hit hard. And he gets to fastballs that few guys in the majors can turn around."I guess we can add Mike Scioscia to the list of dudes with man-crushes on Pleats. And in the "Not At All Awkward Interview With A Guy Who Doesn't Really Care Very Much About Baseball" category...
video courtesy of ESPN Two thoughts: 1. Joe Morgan is really short. 2. "They don't really come after us like they did wh... a couple of years back." Dustin was absolutely going to say, "when you used to play" -- and then decided not to make Joe Morgan feel old. How sweet.
Sox Video Roundup
I will now present a complete and total summary of the events that transpired in Anaheim this past weekend.
Yep. That pretty much sums up the weekend's series against the Angels.
As a distraction this gloomy Monday morning, I've got the best videos from this weekend's victories games breakdowns on the West coast.
#1: Manny's roll in the grass, er, attempt to dive-catch a ball.
#2: Jed Lowrie reads the lineup for FOX.
#3: Coco Crisp sacrifices life and limb to make a catch.
First up, Manny's outstanding gold glove-caliber performance in left field on Friday night. Jacoby can't decide if and how he should go after the ball hiding underneath Manny's butt.
video courtesy of NESN
Jed and Coco after the jump... Next up, baby rookie Jed gets to step into the spotlight and read the lineup for FOX during Saturday's game. Anyone else get the feeling that the players have no desire to do these segments, and so foist them off on the new guys (Sean Casey) and the rookies (Jed Lowrie)?
video courtesy of FOX
And finally, by popular demand, Coco's wall-smashing catch in the outfield on Saturday night. How very Bacon Pants of you, Coco. Josh Beckett really loved that catch.
video courtesy of FOX
video courtesy of NESN
Jed and Coco after the jump... Next up, baby rookie Jed gets to step into the spotlight and read the lineup for FOX during Saturday's game. Anyone else get the feeling that the players have no desire to do these segments, and so foist them off on the new guys (Sean Casey) and the rookies (Jed Lowrie)?
video courtesy of FOX
And finally, by popular demand, Coco's wall-smashing catch in the outfield on Saturday night. How very Bacon Pants of you, Coco. Josh Beckett really loved that catch.
video courtesy of FOX
Be Vewwwy Vewwwy Quiet
Shhhhhh - we're going hunting for a very endangered species, a creature seen so rarely that we would be fortunate just to catch a mere glimpse of it. An individual who enjoys hockey, goggles and sucky pitching. This species is easily recognizable by its distinctive call, "How aboot that blown save, eh?" Of course, I'm talking about The Eric Gagne Fan.
It was thought that any of these animals who were left migrated westward towards the green pastures of Wisconsin -- but apparently, one of their number was left behind here in New England, because Amanda was lucky enough to capture one on film last week.
Take heart, fellow explorers! There are still Eric Gagne Fans to be found! Who knew?
Gameday Open Thread: Angels 7/20
Courage
Nike's just about to unleash their new ad campaign on the world. Entitled "Courage", the video spot features quick shots of a wide variety of professional and Olympic athletes set against the sounds of the Killers song "All These Things That I've Done". And alongside all-time greats like Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, Arthur Ashe, Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton and John McEnroe, the Red Sox own Jon Lester makes an appearance.
The accompanying Nike website says of Jon:On August 31, 2006 , doctors discovered Jon Lester had enlarged lymph nodes, and a few days later he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma. On October 27, 2007, Lester clinched the World Series for the Boston Red Sox. On May 19, 2008, he threw his first career no-hitter.FIRST career no-hitter, indeed.
Gameday Open Thread: Angels 7/19
Gameday Open Thread: Angels 7/18
Has It Been That Long?
So I realized late last night, in those dwindling half-lucid moments just before I fell asleep, that I had forgotten something.
My train of thought went from planning my budget for the next few weeks, to picturing the July calendar in my mind's eye, to realizing it was already July 17th, and then thinking back on what I was doing this time last year (in Chicago! quit my job! going to baseball games every week!). And then I realized... it had been over a year since I started this here lil' blog adventure. And I had completely forgotten.
It all started with Deadspin, and its patented irreverent, sarcastic and sometimes delightfully crass way of examining sports and the athletes who play them. A group of eight women commenters decided that while the KSK boys were more than adequately representing the ultra-male voice of fans, there wasn't really a group of women out there to counterbalance them. So we dreamed up our own little spot where we could drool over eyeblack and forearms, but also drool over VORP, an alley oop and the nickel defense. From there, it was only a matter of months before I discovered I was overrunning the place with baseball talk, and rather than dial it back... I decided just to create my own place where I could go on and on (and on) about baseball to my heart's content. And so I worked on the design and making the place all pretty and shiny for a month...
And then on July 7, 2007, Center Field made its grand debut. With a post about what an old-school hottie Yaz was. Of course.
Things were a little up-in-the-air for that first month or so, but CF pretty quickly settled down into all Red Sox, all the time. Second post? Papelbon kicking over a water cooler. Third post? Stating the obvious truth about Dusty Baker's amazing ability to suck. See, things haven't really changed that much after all. Mostly because Dusty Baker will always suck - it's a constant.
Since that time, I've been fortunate to enough to join the illustrious Babes Love Baseball team, co-manage the 1986 Toronto Blue Jays to third place in the AL East, and somehow manage to keep this place going for over a year.
Now comes the time when I get to thank everyone who's helped me out along the way. And so I should start with Will (now here) - who was really the catalyst that started this whole chain of dominoes way back when. Huge thanks to my posse of fellow Sox writers, who have been nothing short of phenomenal with support, and links, and laughs - Ian, Dan, Beth, Red & Denton, Kristen, Dan D., Erin, Sarah, Tex, Caroline & Jennifer and Allan. Thanks and undying affection also go out to my pals who don't happen to be Sox fans, but do all happen to be fantastic baseball writers and great supporters: Caryn, Tim, Kevin, Michael, David, Bernadette, Rob & CTC, Tuffy, Enrico, Jon and Eric. I'd also like to pay homage to other sports-obsessed folks who provided assistance, inspired me with their wit, and became trusted confidantes and friends: Orson, Holly, Peter, Jimmy, T. Kyle, J-Money, Jebus, Sarah, Brian, the cabal, Margaret, Francine, the Ladies, Sooze, Lizzy & Sarah, and Clare. I can't say thanks enough to Janelle, Gwen, Kat, Amiee, Greg, Laura, Clint and Angela for all the memories of endless days spent at a ballpark or football field, and the memories of countless nights filled with whiskey-soaked sports rants. And last, this whole thing is thanks to my dad and brother, who I blame in equal parts for making me a sports fan.... hook 'em.
Same time, next year?
Fug
Fess up. Who is the insane Red Sox fan that is bidding $8,250.00 (not a typo) for an 8 1/2 foot tall (also not a typo) reproduction of this:
Seriously? Stop the madness. What exactly would one do with a near-9 foot tall fugly fake Statue of Liberty plastered with Sox logos? Other than set it on the front lawn at Halloween to scare away kids.
I suppose it could be worse. The Sox statue is neither as fug as the Pirates one, nor as racist as the Indians one. Although neither of those teams have found any insane people to bid on those monstrosities... yet. There's still 4 hours to go, though.
Papelspawn
My friends and family know I'm not one to get all googly over babies... but these pictures of the soon-to-be Daddy and Mommy Papelbon are too cute not to share. These were taken at Vitaminwater's MLB All-Star week celebration at Hudson Terrace on July 14, 2008 in New York City.
Ashley looks positively radiant, and Jonathan looks downright proud of himself. "ME MAN. ME MAKE BABY. ME AWESOME."
Lugo's Manny Memories
Hacks With Haggs has an interesting Q&A up that he did with Julio Lugo a short time ago, before Lugo landed himself on the DL. It's a great introspective look by Julio back at his early days of baseball - and even more interesting, it's got some great tidbits about Manny Ramirez.Did you ever, as a kid, watch Manny play when he was with the Indians?
JL: I never went to Yankee Stadium, but I went to go watch him play at Double-A and he was with the Indians and he hit a home run to straightaway centerfield. The crowd starting going crazy. I remember that, and I still have the bats at my house.
One day when I was in the minor leagues I went to go watch Manny play in spring training, and I saw him before the game. I went 'Oh Manny...how are you' and he was like 'Oh...how are you.' We didn't really know each other well, but he told me he was going to give me some bats after the game. And I told all my friends. I was like 'Oh [expletive], Manny is gonna give me some bats.' And I was waiting outside after the game, and I thought that Manny forgot. I was like 'man...', but then Manny showed up a while later and he had the bats with him. I remember that and I still have the bats in my house. It felt so good, and to this day that was one of the best moments in my baseball career.
What's it been like to play with him...a guy you always looked up to?
JL: Everybody knows about Manny and how good a hitter he is. But nobody knows about how good a person Manny is. You've got to be there to understand. When I was struggling last year I didn't want to talk to anybody. But I would check my voice messages and he would leave me messages like 'Hey don't worry about it. You're going to be fine. Tomorrow is your day.' That kept me up all the time. That kept me up. It was amazing. Every time I made a play, I would turn around and he would be like pointing at me. He stole my heart, man. People don't see it on the outside, but he really cares about me. He cares about everyone.
Does that perception about him surprise you given how he is with you?
JL: It's surprising because he don't say much and he doesn't express his feelings that much. You've got to be real close to him for him to express his feelings. But I never hear Manny say anything negative. If something negative happens, he'll be like 'don't waste your energy on it.'
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