Fall From Grace

This is how they did it. This is how the Bombers' Empire crumbled. The Yankees of 2000 were perfectly balanced. Both young and old players. The highest payroll, yet most underpaid team in baseball. Jeter, Bernie, Posada, Rivera and Pettite all were under their pre-arbitration contracts. The low pay youngsters allowed them to overpay for Wettland,Tino, Justice, Cone, and Clemens. Knoblach was wildly overpaid, but was a perfect addition to the young/old formula. Nobody could touch them.

Then, Steinbrenner comes back from exile. He fires the Stick, Gene Michaels. Cashman comes in. They completely abandon that winning model. The Yanks have always been in the perfect position to kill everyone with it. They have the ability to outbid everyone and anyone. They once had the best farm system, bar none. This isn't the NBA or NFL where the draft is your sole channel of talent, and a string of success leads to a bench full of 30th draft picks. In Major League baseball, the Latin ballplayer goes to the highest bidder as soon as the pubic hair arrives. How does Pujols come up and the Yanks don't outbid everyone? His whole town gets a new caddy and a Jeter jersey. Since Bernie came up there has been no quality outfielder for 15 years? Does Jay Buhner count as 2 in 20 years?

At this point, there is only one solution. Trading the best SS in baseball, A Rod, for young talent. Pitching. They will continue to hover around the top without winning a damn thing at this pace. Let's just hope no one is reading.

Here We Go Again

Here we go again. Sox/Yankees tonight at Fenway. This is Boston's big chance. This is Boston's big chance to gain some breathing room. The Thrill tonight against Mr. Wang, no offense. No contest , right. I don't care how well Wang is pitching, I'll take Curt every time. But now, c'mon. Even before, I would have put my money on Schilling. Even before the Yankee line-up was decimated I would have picked the Sox. Now, Murderers Row looks more like Mendoza row. Looks more like the Royals. More like the Knicks. More like the Liberty. I can't wait to see the beating, Michael Barrett style. All Schill has to do is get past A-Rod. That's it. Once Schilling gets past A-Rod, he faces the likes of Cano, Stinnet, Phillips, Melki, Bernie, and Cairo. Rally killers one and all. The Sox line-up, right now, is flat out better. The Greek God of Walks has better leadoff numbers that Gaymon. Lowell and the Captain are hitting the tar out of the ball. Meanwhile, Gay-Rod is hitting into game losing double plays. And to top it all off, the Red Sox closer is better too. Who woulda thunk that. Papelbon is the premiere closer in baseball today. Period. That includes all relievers coming out to Metallica's Sandman. All of this spells bad news for the Bombers. By Thursday morning, the Sox should be up 4 1/2 games. By September, who knows. The Yankees are leaking from every oriface, ebola style. I've said it before, and I'll say it agian, the New York Yankees do not make the playoffs. The Sox better step on their necks and keep stepping on 'em, Phil Leotardo style. They better take care of buisness now, before they miss their chance.

While I blather on about the Yanks this year, the real problem is next year and the year after. Defining move: the Red Sox waited and got Boom Boom Beckett, The Bombers jumped at Pavano and Wright, two guys who were always #4 starters, and what do they have to show for it? By showing patience and getting the real gem, the Sox distance themselves and still underspend the Yanks. Mr. Wang, no offense, is a great find, no doubt, but they need 3 more quality young players in the mix. The Big Eunuch went from Show Stopper to flood gate opener. The fact that they have no young outfielders is a joke! Unlimited money for Latin scouting and what do they have to show for it? Put a fork in 'em. They're all done

Changing the World

It didn't take long to change the world really - less than an hour when I looked at the clock. Who knew that changing the world included valet parking?

Yet that's what I discovered Monday morning after Jerry Remy asked me to give blood.

He didn't ask me personally, he asked the members of the NESN viewing audience and Red Sox Nation when he mentioned on air that he was teaming up with the good people at Mt. Auburn Hospital for a 3 day blood drive. As he discussed it on air, he went from offering a free t-shirt to "maybe I'll autograph them" to an autographed free RemDawg Nation '06 shirt.

But I didn't do it for the t-shirt. Oh sure, it's a nice perk, but I have so many t-shirts that I would have done so even if that hadn't been an incentive. I did it because I like knowing I can do something that will change the world while I motor through my rather ordinary life as a keyboard warrior. See, I've always had a fear of what would happen if someone I loved needed blood and there wasn't any. I don't know why I have that fear, but I do.

In college, I realized that fear - not for me but for a friend who's grandfather needed blood. It turned out, because the hospital was so short in supply due to a low donor turnout that summer that they were going to have to charge the family since none of them were regular donors. Granted it was for medical reasons and the staff was very sympathetic, but that's how it was. The medical necessity had already put a financial strain on the family so; I was all over it like a cheap suit.

Later that afternoon, five of my friends were lined up outside the hospital's donor center ready to roll up our sleeves for him and whoever else needed blood.

I knew my friend's mom was a single mom and her grandfather had been the man in her life to raise her. They were about as tight a family as you could get and to lose him would have been devastating. Instead, he was able to dance at her wedding and watch as his grandchildren were christened years later.

We had changed a world.

That's what giving blood is about: changing someone's world. Except in rare cases, you never know whose world that will be. Maybe it's someone like my friend's grandfather who was the primary bread winner for the family. Maybe it's a child who will one day grow up and find the cure for some devastating illness. Maybe it's the mother whom a family relies on as the gravity that keeps them all in orbit.

You just don't know - because it might even be you or someone near and dear to you.

Too many people have too many excuses. The people at Mt. Auburn were thrilled because they had 20 appointments booked where they normally had one - so they are grateful for those that signed up. But we're coming into summer where the need for blood increases and the supply decreases, so they'd love to have more.

RemDawg asked and I said, "Not a problem." Now I'm asking you: can you, will you make that call to change the world? All it takes is an hour and they give you juice and cookies when you're done. (How can you say "no" to cookies?) So do it - check the www.theremyreport.com for details or call 1-800-GIVELIFE if you can't make one of his blood drives. As they say, if you don't give blood because no one asked you, then consider yourself asked. Please, give blood.

After all, it's a nice feeling to change the world.

The Problem with Met Fans

Flashback to the first Red Sox/Yankees game of the year. Theeeee Yankees lose. It great, right? Damon. The whole Mirabelli thing. Getting raced to the ballpark from the airport. Papi smashing one. See Ya! Michael Kay style. Feeling pretty, pretty good. Pappelbon's a horse. Wakefield looked good. On my way to work, I saw a ton of Sox hats. I'm walking around like 10 feet tall, right. Bernie sucks. What DH bats eighth? Dontrelle Willis bats higher in the order than that dope. The Yankee relief corps looks hittable. Sheffield to the DL? Great day. Great day. I get to my second job. First one there. Put on the YES Network. (I live in NYC) Order my food. Watch the highlights. Getiing ready. This is gonna be good. Chacon vs.Boom Boom Beckett? Ha ha ha! C'mon, its in the bag, right? I can't wait to sweep tonight. Uh, oh. Things take a turn for the worse. Something goes suddenly awry, Yankee Fan comes in, yelling and screaming, "We're not watching that damn game tonight!" Hmmm? Then he slams off the TV. Can you slam off a TV? I dunno.

I do know what happened though. Its not because the Yankees lost last night. Its not because I'm a loud mouthed, Red Sox fan. Its because of the other guy. Met fan. Met fan sucks. He ruined it for everybody. You see, it seems Met fan hates the Yankees more than he likes the Mets. I don't get it. They hardly even play each other. Only played once when it mattered. And during that series, Met fan broke his hand punching stuff. Now, if I did that nonsense every time the Sox lost to the Yankees, I'd be a paraplegic. Met fan once said to me, "I'd propose to my girlfriend, but, she's a Yankee fan." Moron. What are you, a maniac. Mrs Q. Public's a Yankee fan. So what? She's a girl. Does it really matter? Met fans, in general, have a little guy complex. Furthermore, and I firmly believe this, they are closet Yankee fans. I said this to Met fan once, once. Veins popped ouf of his forehead, violent shakes. Vito Spatafore style. All I know is, Met fan wrecked it for us. He was screaming at Michael Kay. He was screaming at Kenny Singleton. He was screaming at Al Leiter. Maybe, if Met fan got in touch with his inner Yankee, I could watch the freaking game. Go Sox!!!

I know, I know, the game was rained out!!! You're lucky this time Met fan. Oh gross, I looked up and Spike Lee was wearing a Mets hat. Front runner.

Editorial note: The publisher of Yankeessuck.com is a Mets fan who lives in new England and roots for the Sox in the AL. He most certainly DOES NOT resemble the "little guy" remark, and has no closet Yankee stuff. In the past, he may have hated the Yankees mosre than he like the Mets, but the Mets are getting better all the time - and a humorous blog called Yankeessuck.com is a great way to deal with those kind of issues. We invite more Mets fans to send their comments.

Set Foulke Free

Nobody will ever forget anything that Keith Foulke did for the Boston Red Sox in 2004. In 2003, the Red Sox had a disastrous closer-by-committee approach as they never had a real closer on the team. Signing Keith Foulke was like a breath of fresh air. That fresh air turned stale in 2005 when Foulke struggled mightily and ended up having surgery on his knee. This year, however, has been different. It was his job to lose, and he lost it after his first appearance when Tito chose Papelbon over Foulke in a close game. Ever since then, Papelbon has been the MVP of the team, only giving up one run this entire season. That leaves the question, what about Foulke?

Ever since losing his closing job, Foulke has come in to eat up innings, and I have been impressed with how he has handled everything. Foulke has been nothing but a complete professional, willing to do whatever he can in order to help the Red Sox win. In a 14-3 blowout over the Yankees he pitched one inning, giving up a hit, and lowering his ERA to 3.80. The past three appearances he has gone 3.1 innings, with two hits and a walk. The question is how long will Foulke's new role continue? He's been doing a pretty decent job with a record of 2-1, however he's being paid to be a closer, not an eat-up-innings guy. With Papelbon doing as well has he is, the only thing I can see happening is Foulke being traded to a team that needs a veteran closer. Despite last season, I think that Foulke is still a great closer, but Boston is a hostile environment, and I just don't see him returning to be a closer here. Papelbon has become our "foulke" hero, pun intended, and seems to love pitching for Boston more than anything. Now it's time to let Foulke be a closer again in another market, it's just not fair to him to keep him here.

Weighing In on Damon

I was refraining writing this amidst all the hoopla during the mini-series, trying not to beat a dead caveman. But, after his grand slam last week, I just can't help myself. Whenever Yankees fans asked me what they were getting in Damon, I had this to say. You're going to love him. He plays hard every night. He plays hurt. He may throw like your Grandma Tilly, but he gets to balls, most centerfielders don't. He's fearless. He's the best leadoff hitter I've ever seen, this side of Rickey Henderson. He steals bases. He scores a ton of runs. My only contention with the signing from a Yankee point of view is, with the way he plays, I don't think he can keep it ip for four years. Sure, this year, and maybe next, he'll be better than Coco Crisp. Not after that. Damon has a knack for the heroics. See game 7 vs. the Yankees. He's already made a believer out of one Yankee fan. Last night, my buddy Z, sends me this text, "Damon just hit a granny, he's all man!!!" Yes he is Z, yes he is. You can't help but love the guy. This brings me to the boos.

Any Red Sox who signs with the Yankees is going to get boo'd when he comes to Fenway. Period. Its part of the rules. See Roger Clemens. Likewise, any Yankee who signs with Sox is gonna get boo'd in the Bronx. See David Wells. Joe Torre and the rest should just calm down. This is what happens. Its supposed to happen. It makes the game fun. Money, however, is what takes some of the fun out of it. Ever since Mo Vaughn said , "Its not about the money", I knew, its always about the money. No shame in that. Just say so. Don't say, "I'll never play for the Yankees..." Blah blah blah. The Public does not forget. Some memories are stronger than others, though. Sox win pennant behind Johnny's grand slam out trumps most.

Books: Now I Can Die in Peace

By now we all know "The Sports Guy" Bill Simmons and his love for the Boston Red Sox (as well as all things Boston). In the fall he published a book full of Red Sox columns, both from his old website and some that were posted on ESPN.com's Page 2.

The book starts off during the Nomar age of the Red Sox, where Simmons discusses how much he loves Nomar and how he could become a Boston "Pantheon" athlete. The columns then snake through Nomar's rise and falls while wearing a Red Sox uniform. All the dates the columns were posted are included, so you can see how the opinions of certain players change throughout the months/years. A great example of this is Carl Everett, who Sports Guy absolutely loves during his first month or two in Boston, then decidedly sours on later in that season when he head butts an umpire and proves to another fan base that he is positively insane. His hatred of Roger Clemens never seems to waver however.

By far the best part of the book is Simmons' editorial notes that he makes throughout the book. Throughout all his columns are simple little notes where he expands a bit on his previous points, taunts himself for making a poor prediction or, as he often does, responds with something not completely relevant or short. One of the charms of the Sports Guy is his ability to write simply like a normal person, sharing stories of his friends and family. He also shows an uncanny ability to laugh at himself and how things he writes turn out to be wrong. It's refreshing to find a writer with little to no ego.

I did however, have two problems with this book. The first is, while the subject is baseball, it is an almost 100% Red Sox book. There are mentions of other teams, but for the most part this book is completely slanted to the Sox. For Sox fans of course, this is great. I have slightly more love for the Red Sox than the Yankees, and even then it's close. If you are not a Red Sox fan, it is perhaps a tough read. The second problem is, a lot of it is material that I've already read. Although Simmons notes in the articles make an interesting read, in some cases it's not worth it.

If you are a fan of the Sports Guy, or want a slightly different perspective on the most recent trials and tribulations of the Red Sox franchise, this book is for you. Sports Guys writing is often refreshing and has a new angle, which doesn't happen often in the world of sports. I would recommend this book, unless you're a cynic like me, in which case it's a toss-up.

Sox Bury Yankees

Oh boy. That was a good one. Sox win. I'm poppn' my collar Three 6 Mafia style. Part of me is glad its finally over. Back to business as usual and all. With the series over, let's see what we have learned.

Public School:

1. The aces are not the aces. Big Eunuch and the Thrill have cemented themselves as number twos. Boom Boom Beckett and Bullwinkle have emerged as their team's respective go to guys. I do think Curt has a decent shot to rebound, but Johnson looks done.

2. The Yankees pitching staff is terrible. Besides Mussina, there is no one. Eunuch, Chac Diesel, Mr. Wang, and the rest look simply mediocre.

3. As much as it makes me want to puke up in my mouth to say it, Derek Jeter is still one of the best baseball players out there. Thursday night, 3-4, 3 stolen bases and an RBI. He made an unbelievable stab to seemingly end the game. If it weren't for Miguel Cairo doing his best A-Rod impersonation, the headline would have been: Yankees bury Sox.

4. John Papelbon is the real deal. 8th inning. Bernie Baseball on third. Two outs. 55,000 screaming Bomber fans. Papelbon gets it done. Comes in for the ninth and shuts down the Yankees. Theeeee Red Sox win. This kid is tough as nails.

5. Yankees outfield/line-up in serious, serious trouble. With Sheffield and Matsui down, the once formidable Yankee batting order takes a big hit. Some of the names flying around? Soriano, Craig Wilson, Lew Ford, Reggie Sanders, Jeff Conine. I hope they don't get Alfonso. A) He's good. B) He's on my fantasy team. I hate having to root for Yankees.

6. Johnny Damon still plays a mean centerfield.

7. When Coco Crisp gets back, the Sox line-up will be as tough as hell. The Greek god of Walks moves down to 8th. Not for nothing, his lead-off numbers right now are better than Damon's.

8. Giambi Juice is a scary, scary hitter. Whenever he's up, I'm worried. Think they regret trying to trade him last year?

9. Theo Epstein knows what he's doing.

10. The Red Sox win the Pennant.

The Public at Large:

I was at the game last night, I have no idea what happened elsewhere in the world of sports. Some thoughts while at Yankee Stadium: Yankee fans seem to hate A-Rod as much as we do. Stupid Chant: Hip Hip Jor-ge. You can't help but say, Hip Hip Your Gay. Roll call's kinda cool. I love Yankees Public Address announcer Bob Sheppard. Old school. Real old. Paleolithic School. I didn't catch nearly as much grief as I thought I would for wearing my Sox cap. The Stadium seemed sorta empty. All in all, good time family fun.

I heard Gammons on the Big Show Thursday. He said, when Clemens was in Toronto, the Rocket broke down and blubbered, Johnny Sack style, when talking about leaving the Red Sox. It just breaks your heart.

Hey NY, You're feeling my pain

New York fans are about to find out, the hard way, why Johnny Damon was only worth 10 million/year to us.

I know what you're thinking, "Karla, you said Damon was dead to you and you would speak no more about him."

Watching last night's game I have to admit, I lied.

Damon can not be dead to me so long as he continues to throw himself in my face with the very things that frustrated me in Boston.

Was it a good thing he made a spectacular catch to rob former team mate Doug Mirabelli of a home run? Well, ask me in September when he can't "play through the pain" any more and players begin to realize they can run on him because he has no arm. Any player flaunting the fact they will "never" go on the DL is not a team player. They are not helping the team and they are not helping themselves in the long run.

That was the frustration we felt in Boston all these years and now it's your nightmare to deal with in the fall.

So New York, you're welcome to him. As the saying goes: 200 million can buy talent, but it doesn't buy teamwork. At least I can sleep well at night knowing that Coco Crisp is not only responsible about his injuries, but that we have enough depth to cover and that's how responsible management builds a team.

As a side note: I wish Matsui a speedy recovery. No one deserves the injury he received and, having a son who missed the spring ball season because of a similar injury snowboarding last January, you have my sympathy and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

No more CHILL in Schilling

Editor's note: Curt Schilling is scheduled to start against Mussina tonight in the Bronx. Welcome new blogger, Josh Q. Public, with his view of Boston's man on the mound.

Alright, here we go. Curt Schilling is off to blistering start. This is more important than you may think you know. Don't fret, The Public is here to tell you why. Curt's performance last year was far from uplifting. It was like watching Fox Mulder at the end of the X-Files, you know, right before Terminator Two took over. Schilling was 8-8, had 9 saves, and a 5.69 era. Mendoza line pitching at best. Fresh off of the surgery, there was no telling if Curt would come back at all. And that would have be fine. In my book, he gets a free pass for life. What he did in Game Six, against the Yankees, goes down as The Most Heroic Performance I've Ever Seen.

The win against the Cardinals, icing on the cake. Idiot, and I do mean idiot, not in a loving, Red Sox way, but as in, stupid idiot, Kevin Millar, asked this last year: ''When he comes into the game, people cheer him like he's the Pope ...Why does he get a free pass?" Are you out of your goddamned mind, Kevin? Do you really need an answer to that? Anyway, free pass aside, things looked pretty bleak for Schill the Thrill, and the Red Sox suffered.

That is why his start this year is so encouraging. He's 5-1, 3.02 ERA, with a league leading 45 strike-outs. Pretty, pretty good. Good for Boston. We saw last year, as Schilling goes, so go the Red Sox. He did what he could, but just never got healthy enough to really help the team. Well, he looks pretty gosh darn healthy to me now. And, I love the way "Boom Boom" Beckett goes out to the mound and pitches his heart out, like a Hansen brother on crack. John "Wild Thing" Papelbon really seems to be lights out. Papi continues to be a beast at the plate. I'm not worried about Manny one bit. Not one bit, I tell you. Getting Mirabelli back buys a few more wins too, but none of it will be enough if Schilling isn't a legitimate #1 starter again. And that my friends, is what Curt Schilling's torrid April, means for Boston's October.

Side Note:
Teammates in Arizona used to call him "Red Light," for the way he turned on for the TV cameras. Nobody likes a big mouth, but here are some classic Schillicisms:

"After the game, they're asking me about Deion, and I say if he didn't tackle with pads on, he sure isn't going to tackle in baseball...He's nothing more than a glorified flag football player. Tell Deion I'll meet him on the playground after recess."

"I'm not sure I can think of any scenario more enjoyable than making 55,000 people from New York shut up."

"We just did something that has never been done yet, It ain't over yet. It ain't over by any stretch against this team and this organization."

"I just wish everybody on this planet could experience the day that I just experienced. I will never use the words 'unbelievable' and 'the Lord' again in the same sentence."

"I don't think there's anyone on the planet better than me in a game that matters."

Papi's Up: Mr. Clutch, David Ortiz

Is there anything more exciting than a David Ortiz at bat. He's the Jack Bauer of baseball. Getting it done in heroic fashion. In Monday's NY Post, one unnamed AL manager had this to say: "The voters got it wrong. I would do almost anything to avoid facing Ortiz late in a close game...What is more valuable than that?" You can say that again. What is more valuable than that? There. I did it for you. Monday night. Mike Myers on the mound. Bought, just to get Papi out. Game on the line. Was there any question Ortiz was going yard? When I'm watching the game, and I see Big 'Ol Papi lumbering to the plate, I yell, to anyone who's in earshot, Papi's up! That's my mantra. Believe me, he does not disappoint.

We don't have to say what he did in '04 in big time at bats. Lets look at last year, Ortiz hit .352 with runners in scoring position. .368 with men in scoring position and 2 out. .346 in close and late situations with 11 home runs. Compare that to, hmmm, I dunno, Gay-Rod? .290 .302 .293 and 4 dings. Who do you want up when it matters most? The other night against Baltimore. 6th inning, game on the line. Papi's up! Base clearing double deep to right. Another Red Sox victory. So tell your Ma, tell your Pa, Papi's Up!

Side note: On the Jack Bauer reference. Anyone whoever says they hate 24 hasn't watched it. Just give them a box set of any season, but with only one disc. They'll be hounding you like a crack fiend for the others.

Sox-Yankees again tonight with Sox in 1st place. Last night was just embarassing for NY.
Take your shoes off. Put your feet up. And be a Sox watcher!

Off-Season Moves On Balance

It's been a month into our MLB season and it's time to take a look at who made the best moves this off-season. Going into the season, it was greatly believed that the Blue Jays and the Red Sox had done the most to improve themselves. The Sox, acquiring players through trades instead of free agency, added Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Mark Loretta, Alex Gonzalez, Coco Crisp and Wily Mo Pena to play various roles on their squad. Lowell, Crisp and Pena have all made an impact with their bats (although Pena has been ... 'generous' in the outfield), while Loretta and Gonzalez have shored up middle infield defense, an area the Red Sox struggled with last year. Josh Beckett pitched fantastically at the start of the season, but has since come back to earth with a couple of weaker starts.

The Yankees were surprisingly quiet this off-season, only adding one high-profile free agent all Red Sox fans will be familiar with. Johnny Damon's nickname in New England went from "Jesus" to "Judas" this off-season, as he 'took the money and ran', to the New York Yankees. Damon has had a productive season to say the least, but the Yankees have struggled in the pitching department and unless they get another starter pitching well not named Mussina, one wonders how easily their success will be sustained.

Without a doubt the team in the East with the most money to burn was Toronto. GM J.P. Ricciardi spent like a kid in a candy store, using a combination of trades and signings to bring in: closer B.J. Ryan, starter A.J. Burnett, first baseman Lyle Overbay, third baseman Troy Glaus and catcher Bengie Molina. These five players generated more buzz and enthusiasm than the Blue Jays have seen since the World Series years. So far, so good. Only Burnett, due to his trick elbow, has failed to live up to expectations. Glaus has shown great power, Overbay's great clutch hitting, and Molina's strong handling of the young pitching staff. Ryan has been superlative, owning an ERA of 0.00 and only allowing 3 hits over the better part of 13 innings.

Perhaps I retract my earlier statement that we can tell the off-season winners after a month. Right now it appears the big 3 in the East are all at very similar levels. The Red Sox have added a great supporting class for their big two, and the Blue Jays have sprinkled talent on every corner of the diamond, virtually eliminating a formerly weak line-up. The Yankees kept it simple and have so far been rewarded with Damon's good play and a potent offensive line-up. For now, let's call it even.

The race in the East is tighter than Don Zimmer's waistline, with the Sox and Yankees sharing the number one spot again, seemingly destined to continue this arrangement for eternity. The Blue Jays sit a game and a half back, with the Orioles and Devil Rays floundering below .500 once again. For the first time in a long time though, the AL East appears to be the weak sister division of the American League. With the White Sox, Tigers and Indians all playing exceptional baseball in the Central, as well as the Rangers and A's playing well in the West, the East is not retaining it's stranglehold on the headlines. Most of this has to do with the big three in the East beating up on each other, the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays having seen each other a lot in this early season. It shows how close all of these teams are together with nobody really leaping away from the pack. Who knows what the next few weeks of play will bring us, as these three teams get a break from one another and hope to gain some wins against some other competition. With just 6 games between the Yankees and Red Sox over the next month, as well as 3 between the Jays and Sox, it's time for one time to pull away. Who that might be of course, is anybody's guess.

Sox Need Offense

Last season I cringed whenever a ball went in the direction of our shortstop, Edgar Renteria. His nickname in the end became Rent-a-Wreck. To say that he was not well-liked in Boston would be a huge understatement. In 2004, Orlando Cabrera and Pokey Reese split time at shortstop, and both quickly became fan favorites. Neither returned for 2005, and the Red Sox signed gold glove shortstop Edgar Renteria to a 4 year deal worth $40 million. Red Sox fans were assured that while the Sox were losing some offense, they were gaining a lot in defensive capabilities.

Renteria, however, never looked comfortable, either on the field or at the plate. He committed an astounding 30 errors and hit only .276 last season. Theo and the rest of Red Sox management kept saying that Renteria would get better, and was just making the adjustment going from National League to the American League, however this adjustment went the entire season before the Red Sox finally cut their losses, and sent him to Atlanta.

This season was going to be different. We learned our lesson about signing a gold glove shortstop that lacked offensive power from the National League. This time, the shortstop that we signed, Alex Gonzalez from the Florida Marlins, was not even a gold glove player. He came with accolades about his defense, however, and once again the Red Sox management said that we were sacrificing offense for defense. I agree with one half of that statement, it's hard to get worse than 30 errors in a veteran shortstop. In 19 games at shortstop, Gonzalez has only committed one error, allowing Red Sox Nation to breathe a sigh of relief whenever a ground ball heads in his direction. His bat is not keeping up, and he is currently hitting .181 with 0 home runs and 5 RBIs. Gonzalez has also failed to get the bunt down to advance the runners on base many times. It just seems as if he cannot get anything right.

How long can we let this continue until we finally allow backup Alex Cora to get a chance to start? The Red Sox need to win some games, and offense wins games. I think that it's time to stop allowing our veterans to go so long in a slump. We waved goodbye to Hanley Ramirez who is currently hitting .280, and Edgar Renteria who is currently hitting .364 with 2 errors and is riding a 17 game hitting streak. Why do they become hot only AFTER leaving our team? Something has to be done to turn around the slump before it becomes a hole we can't dig ourselves out of. Red Sox management is proud of the team that they are putting on the field every day. Sure, they improved the pitching and the defense, but we still aren't winning games. Offense scores runs. You can't win a game without scoring a run. It's time for things to change around here.

Until next time,

The Red Sox Girl

Rain Delay

One of the problems with being a known Sox fan as well as someone who writes about them on a regular basis here is that people often hold me accountable for the team or management decisions.

"What the hell was Tito thinking leaving when he was getting shelled like that?" or "Why did Theo think Tavares and Seanez were a good addition to the bullpen? Those guys couldn't save a game with a life preserver in a bathtub..." and other such statements.

This week has been no different. I have found myself explaining to people about why the 2004 team has since been dispersed or why trade someone who seems on the top of their game or not negotiating to the point of absurdity with a star. When you're talking to people who follow the team and the game with an understanding of the game, it can lead to a level of insight that enhances the game. When you're talking to a bandwagon fan that doesn't get how it all works, it can be an act of frustration.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for educating people but someone who only knows that last 11 games of 2004 and that's all they want to know, it's tedious.

Right now the Boston media is all about how the second Boston/NY game didn't get called early enough for most folks. This leads to the obvious question to me: why didn't they call the game before people had to head into the park? This followed by the angry statement: obviously there is a hidden financial agenda for having people come in. If this had been any other team, the game would have been called earlier.

Not true folks - just read my rain delay blog from a year ago when I signed Pesky's Pole after they called the Sox/O's game an hour after it was supposed to start.

Here is the reality of calling a game: when you're playing a 160 game scheduled with few off days and a bunch of people who don't really do double headers the way they used to, rescheduling a game becomes a logistical nightmare. Not only do you have to deal with the ticket issues (and believe me, there are ticket issues out the wazoo), but you have to schedule travel schedules and look at what works for your teams. Do you really want to tire out your players in a double header to then herd them onto a plane and head out on a road trip? Do you really want risk a level of injury to some of your key players who - later in the season aren't going to be able mask the aches and pains in August they way they can in April?

If there is any chance of getting that game in, they're going to do it. After all, one of the turning points in the 2004 season was that game in July people wanted to call due to weather. Instead it was played and it became the scene of Bronson's comment about A-Rod's salary that lead to Tek's infamous glove wash. It was the turning point the Sox needed to galvanize them and drive them forward.

There are times when the play it out thing gets ridiculous. The risk of injury in those conditions it far too great in order to get to the sixth inning mark before it can be called a game. Not only that, but the losing team is always frustrated because they'll never know if that rally was going to turn things around or not.

The truth of the matter is, unless baseball is only played under a dome there will be games that are called due to weather and that call will be made at the last possible moment. It is frustrating for the fans, the players and everyone else involved, but it is a reality. Like anything else in life, it's what you make of it. There's a reason why Mark Twain once said that if you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a minute and it will change. The other night they tried waiting a minute, it didn't change so the call was made and people are mad.

Me, I go back to another saying: This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.

Forget about Damon, Mirabelli is back!

Well the rumors are no longer rumors anymore, today the Red Sox reacquired catcher Doug Mirabelli. Mirabelli. who was with the Red Sox from 2003 to 2005 as Tim Wakefield's personal catcher, was exchanged with Josh Bard (Who was Wakefield's catcher for the beginning of this year), pitching prospect Cla Meredith, a player to be named later and $100,000. Wakefield was sent to San Diego earlier this year in a trade for second baseman Mark Loretta. '

Josh Bard has 10 past ball ins 7 games this year. Mirabelli had 6 past balls all of last year, 15 past balls in 2004, and 14 in 2003 while working with Wakefield.

Wakefield will make the start tonight with Mirabelli behind the plate for the Red Sox for the first time since October 7th, 2005. That was the game when the Red Sox lost to the future World Series Champion White Sox at Fenway, 5-3.

Oh, Wakefield opponent tonight? The New York Yankees are back in town for a two game series. Chien-Ming Wang will be the starter for the Yankees.

So three parts of 2004 World Series championship team will be back in Fenway for the first time in 2006: Johnny Damon, Mike Myers and Doug Mirabelli.

He's Back

The long anticipated of Johnny Damon in pinstripes will be happening tonight and we all know where the cameras will be - right in his face where he loves them.

Look, I'm among those that bear him no ill will, but I have totally and thoroughly lost all respect for the man. I'm sorry, you don't say you'll never sign with the Yankees unless the Red Sox "insult" you (and I'm sorry - $10 million a year plus incentives is not an insult no matter how you look at it) and then, after signing with the Yankees, trash talk the very team that catapulted you from an OK player to movie star fame and expect me to respect you.

I understand that Damon wanted to play with the Yankees when he was younger - it's OK, he's not from a world where the Yankees represent all that is wrong with baseball. But he had been trash talking them since Steinbrenner took a pass early on in his career.

Of course when "Idiot" debuted last year trash talking his ex wife (boy, doesn't that make the kids feel all warm and special to have daddy trashing mom in print like that?), he made the mistake of trash talking A-Rod and Jeter in print as well. After a contract signing and a quick rewrite for the paperback version, Damon showed he is a company man. In case that wasn't enough, he trash talked Sox management and got more than a few digs in at former comrades in arms.

Look, the man is who he is. I will neither applaud nor boo him as his true colors are showing... and no, they aren't blue pinstripes. They are a cowardly yellow and a greedy shade of green.

Had he gone to the Yankees saying, "I love Boston and the opportunity to play there, but the truth is I've wanted to be a Yankee since I was a kid..." and left it at that, most of us would have been fine with it. Had he not trash talked the Sox, we would have blamed management for not resigning him.

Now I admit I feel betrayed and hurt. He's acting like a man who thinks he's hot sh** on a silver platter when he's maybe a cold fart in a paper cup.

This is not the man that good naturedly posed with Mr. Bear for a photo or put me at ease when I panicked at dropping his World Series ring on the floor. I don't know which one is the real Johnny, but I do know this, 2004 was two years ago. He's "moved on" and so will I besides... from that whole rock star perspective, Gabe Kapler is several times the babe Damon ever was and he'll be back before you know it.

Until then, I can only say that, as always, tonight I'll be rooting for the Sox and may they squash the Yankees like the bugs they are.