mstar1

How is it where you are?

Well on the other hand a lot of todays 'great players' are out golfing today... I'll take him just as he is..playing baseball meanwhile....more pertinent matters ....Its off and on rain here- in the mid 50's-- hopefully clearing by game time...

You might be surprised how good he actually is in other parts of the game inspite of his misplays, trainwrecks, and oddities which get all the airplay A few years ago he lead ML outfielders in assists, There were reasons that the Cleveland 3B coach didnt send Lofton home in game 7, That may have been part of it... Even though he is not the speediest thing out there he definitely knows how to play LF....especially at Fenway which isnt easy.. He also took some key extra bases in the Angel series that were absolutely slick when John Lackey was pitching.... but I feel no need to defend Manny, People seem to love him, and respect him or others....not so much... whatever One thing I do know He is a helluva lot of fun to watch everyday, even when he does something like walk off second to talk to the shortstop (which he has done) and gets picked off..he makes a huge difference by his presence on the field I was thinking the other day that not only was he a catalyst for change for the Red Sox, who were just some team going not particularly anywhere when he arrived but who now sell out every game and are always in contention, but he was also part of the same when he was in Cleveland, when they had their own long run of sellouts and divison crowns after an incredibly long drought. Inspite of 'Manny being Manny' He has been a big part of making two also ran franchises very successful, very profitable, and very exciting... Lots of people have put up numbers, some more impressive than Manny's but who can say that they did that? Not many.. Wahtever -I dont see how anyone cant love him.. but each to his own

He probably wont disappear into the left field wall like he did last year during the game. for two pitches.... Only Manny Someone , somehwere has got to make the Manny highlight reel movie someday, no matter how much the phrase is thrown around he is really One Of A Kind.

World Series Day.. I have to tell you Im feeling conflicted. Im feeling some withdrawal pangs already. No matter what happens, in a week or so baseball will put 2007 to rest, and we'll wake up with no game-- All the more reason to watch this be a great series between the two teams that are left standing after 8 months and 170+ games. Like the ALCS, I m looking for a great series with twists and turns , ups and downs and a slew of dramatic moments. Who and when is the charm of the game.... Good Luck (but not too much -youve already a lot) to HAP and the other Rocky fans, enjoy the ride its been historic.. That being said, Sox in 6, ended with a Manny Ramirez walkoff in the 9th

I cant say much about MNF I have other things on my mind for the next week or so-- I do have this scene, one of my alltime favorites, for an offday

I found a little of the PapelJig for you, the barefoot and in his underwear version. .. Heres the Dropkick Murphys, who were playing at the time, for the full effect And since Im on the Dropkicks, I migh as well post one of the official Sox songs Tessie

Yea Mirabelli was there and so was Kevin Youkilis... (but he didnt play past the ALDS in '04, he may not have been on the WS roster im not sure on that.... I'll take that Lobstah vs Steak bet! and do I have to keep fixing that for you? :) ..Do any of you physics experts know what the knuckleball will do in Colorado? and Here are several hundred photos from todays Boston Globe GAME PHOTOS CELEBRATION The Scene At FENWAY

I always (well except when he was beating the Red Sox) liked Joe. He was a stable breath of fresh air for that organization after all of its past hurricanes. If they wanted to change directions I would have thought he could have been eased out more graciously for all that he has done for them

I have lots to be happy about so I hate to complain but every year it is the same thing.. I would have liked to have seen the pregames that the teams setup, There was alot in those instead of watching Screechin'Jeannie (what the hell happened to her hair?) Velasko and Kevin Kennedy. In the old days you'd get the player intros, the fly overs, the first pitch, the national anthem and whatever other surpirises the home team had which set the tone and feel for the game and made you feel at least alittle bit like you were there. I spent a portion of the last week yelling at Tim McCarver. Analysis is one thing, opinion is another. I wish he would learn to call a game instead of inflicting his opinions upon everything that happens. He went on for a half of an inning that Schilling had to come out early in game 6, He did the same with DiceK and Westbrook in game 7 who both pitched well. It seems everytime someone throws a ball off the plate [He CANNOT understand why someone isnt warming in the bullpen!! going on and on and on,, while missing a good amount of what actually IS happening. There is a reason that he is an announcer and not the manager that he thinks himself to be.. They missed an entire inning of a Beckett masterpiece talking about ...Joe Torre....Why and what that had to do with the game at hand I'll never know, other than it keeps the 'big market' happy They are better than they used to be when they were fawning all over the Yankees, but still.... The commercials,, The Transformers bit on the screen, Dane (Theres only one October!) Cook, very few crowd shots, no postgame stuff---never mind the starting times.. I dont like the idea of in game interviews with the managers much either-there is a game goin on... Wheres Vin Scully when you need him? boy-I must be tired and grumpy today <_< I just found THIS blogspot written by a Clevelander entitled "Pain" Good Luck Linda and Cleveland fans--- I understand, Its only been the last few years since things have turned around here. I know it is no consolation but it was worth the wait

I fixed that for you HAP, it was slightly misspelled. :) I hope they dont play up The Rocks and Sox on FOX!! angle. Fox is hard enough to take*.. Linda root for whoever you want. Thanks for your graciousness, Ive been on your end a lot of times, and Im usually not quite as nice as you about it. It stings when you give your heart to your team as you obviusly have...I hope that during the series that I wasnt being the sterotypical RedSox ahole fan, especially to you I honestly was ticked at Lofton for heading to the mound in game 5, he earned his boos imo --Boston is a tough town, dont run at anybody, unless you want to be booed for years afterward. Maybe its just a regional difference-- we care for our guys too as if they were family and dont take kindly to things like that. He is probably an alright guy, but he crossed a boundary... In some ways that was also a turning point, the Indians were way up (3-1) and let something small get under their skin. The fun and fire in there eyes' was never there after that moment that I could see... As far as the Lofton play---I have seen that play a jillion times in Fenway and imo Lofton most likely would have scored, but in fairness to the third base coach that angle at Fenway is extremely tough to read and there are also blind spots there. Fenway can be like playing inside a pinball machine instead of a modern stadium, and if someone isnt used to it, its a tough call that had to be made on a dime. He made the safe call -- There was also only one out at the time with Blake and Sizemore coming up. Okajima just made the perfect pitch and got the clutch double play, otherwise the whole game could have been different ...Thats home field advantage....I hope they dont hang that poor guy in Cleveland. It was a good series which is what i wanted--These come from behind 7 game ALCS are the most exhilirating and draining experiences,.... Thats my third seventh game in 5 years--Im glad the Sox came out on top but I havent got the stamina for many more of these.. Well yea but its taken 105 years* maybe more on this later-is anyone else annoyed at the Fox coverage?

There will be no need for the Sox to celebrate their victory by skiing, I am pretty sure that they will want to come home for the party that awaits...... :)

Its a perfect day in New England today....Peak foliage, great weather and....I think that there is some game tonight! (with all the fuss being made over a manager from some team being fired -its hard to tell). Good omens: My computer crashed yesterday down to zilch as it did exactly before game 6 of the ALCS in 2004, and Clevelanders seem to be Counting Their Chickens way too quickly. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Thats a mistake---- .....as if Curt Schilling needs anything else to motivate him..... they could be choking on those shirts by the end of the night.... GO GET EM CURT!!!! ...I'll be back when I can--either today or during game 7!

This is a coupla days late...but.... Well lotsa things. I dont like it when DiceK doesnt get out of the fifth but I can extend him a little grace. Dont forget that DiceK is a a MLB Rookie,,a rookie)... He doesnt speak the language, is learning a new culture, has his whole country watching him and is still learning American baseball. I was surprised that it is such a different game, but it is---Early in the yearwhen he hit a batter, he bowed to him, pitching inside is apparently bad form in Japan --he had to--and still is--learning that, He has never pitched as long a season, or against as quality of batters as he has had to face all through this year. He is still learning how to pitch( much like Josh Beckett of last year). He has had his flareups but he also had brilliant starts with little or no run support, he won 14 but he could have won 18-19. His stuff can be electric. IMO he is still a year or two away from being a great pitcher. There will be flashes of brilliance until then but everything he faces is basically for the first time....I cut him a little bit of slack. Gagne on the other hand should know how to do this by now and was specifically brought in to do it NOW. For one inning.There have been too many hard fought games where 10-12-18 guys have fought to keep it close or ahead for 8 or 9 and he just seems to hand it away more often than not.... The arguments of him being a ninth inning pitcher I dont really buy all that much. Is there really that much differenece between the 8th and 9th? As far as I can tell there are still 3 strikes to an out, 3 outs to an inning and the goal is to get guys out whether 8th or 9th. His confidence is either shot to hell or he is tipping his pitches----whatever it is, he is positioned in a more crucial spot than a starter and the expectations are different.....IF he had been able to string together a series of good spots this year maybe it would be different , but he hasnt, almost anything in a high leverage situation as been at the best scary, and at the worse disastrous. So Far ( there are still games left)---He is really only safe to pitch with either a huge lead or as a mopup guy--- Maybe he will have an electric save tonight, give his confidence a shot and redeem himself I hope some of that ramble answered some of your question or at least gave you a little of my perspective.... now ---- lets play some baseball!!!

AGREED! Im finally back home and I am ready. Now its time for business Pedroia, Lugo and Drew are finally gonna be gamin tonight and play like they mean it. Beckett will be post season Beckett, Manny and Lowell will come up big. Sox pull it together and play like they can... By the wee hours the series will be Shippin off to Boston. I like it when it looks like you're down

O gees this time of year is tough Im not feeling it from the Sox right now, amazing what a difference that a few days can make. Not to take anything away from Westbrook but the plate discipline that they had all the way through the Angels series has disappeared. After having the bases loaded and no outs and not scoring and then the HR by Lofton, (JD Drew got at least an inch and a half off the ground going for that ball), I felt as if 2007 was slipping away....bad baserunning, no clutch hitting....ughh.... Thats been an off and on thing for the 07 Sox, the 04's definitely had that feel. The 07's are exciting at times, other times they look --I dunno a little too professional or something, which is Ok it just lacks that elusive <something> That excitement and simplicity cant be overlooked as to what makes a team great...i was seeing it last night in Cleveland......of course it could show up tomorrow----but Im not seeing it right now....these rollercoaster rides can be a b!tch Anyway Congrats to the Rocks!! I'll be on the road for a few days to New Jersey and be out of touch, I'll get you when Im back time for prayers...and hits from the bottom of the order

Im all amped up and nervous on this end==plus I have to get up and go at 5am This doesnt feel like its gonna be an easy night

20 of 21? What kind of Faustian bargain did this team make in mid September? If HAP has been watching this whole thing from the beginning of this run-- what transpired to make this happen? (I'll take a bottle of whatever it is....) almost nailbitin time in The AL, 2 1/2 hours til game time--Good Luck Linda Z...

Its wierd enough in a Way Meeting My Wow Sister family coordinator insisted we wear them all the time when we first got 'on the field.' In a lifetime of dorkiness that was in or near the top, there is nothing quite like going to rent a house, go grocery shopping, to a construction site, or to a job interview with that stupid thing on. "We are so important--We have nametags!!"--- Even though she was a Nazi about it, that lasted all of a week for me. She later called the Trunk Coordinator to try to get me kicked off the field for such unspiritual insubordination

God ---the psychology of fandom-What a great book that would be! I know people who go through all sorts of crazy gyrations (me included) during the course of a game, a series, or a season--religiously Common community experience is definitely part of it, I know in these parts that you can strike up a conversation with almost anyone....brain surgeon, mass murderer, child, octogenarian, Fortune 500 CEO, grocery clerk or crack dealer about the Red Sox and pretty much always have an instant connection and have apretty good time as well. Baseball is a great leveler. The rituals, no matter how seemingly foolish are almost like some primal religious urge to be connected and a part of it....who is to say we arent? I have seen more people spontaneously praying in ballparks than I ever have in any church...it would be an interesting study...If anyone finds a book on that let me know.............. Awesome picture Rhino! I am a huge fan of old baseball photos I just found an old photo the other day HERE. I wasted a good portion of an afternoon going through them.... Here is a picture of the 1903 World Series at the Huntington Ave Grounds in Boston I love that the field is loaded with fans...Boston Fans were misbehaving even then! We have along legacy! .... You are right that they should go after them, but I was reflecting on the stats I posted yesterday ( on base 29 of 36 times up til then in the playoffs--Im not exactly sure where they are after last night...) and wondering if any duo has ever done anything like that before...It seems like the type of thing that you could live for another 50 years and never see again. I feel very fortunate to be watching these two right now......Of course we have along ways to go and a very tough Indians team to face, nothing is even close to being in the bank yet---but so far it has been thrilling............after waiting all week long and chomping at the bit--thank God for a day off--I need to recuperate today... and just because it seems somehow appropriate Here are the managers Joe Cronin and Walter Johnson in Fenway 1935 Oh and one more thing Go Pats! :)

This isnt quite naked , but after reading Jonny's tale of the maidens by the water, I couldnt help but think of this scene from O Brother Where Art Thou... '..come and lay your bones on the alabaster stones.... Only question is ..which ones Jonny?

1. First things first-congratulations to Linda Z, and all the folks/fans of Cleveland. You all are helping to keep me civil and less raspy Thank you. Although I wanted it to be different I knew this series wasnt going to be easy. Up until the last fifteen minutes when the bottom collapsed that was a helluva game, Of course Im sure that from a Cleveland fan/ noncommitted/or Soxhater viewpoint it was all good, They played agreat game. 2. Dear Bud Selig: &^%$ off! I am old, I am cranky, I am tired, Its getting cold outside and I hate thinking about winter. My team lost , Im a little annoyed. Start the games at normal %$#&^ times. 7:05 worked all year. I have no desire to spend my entire October up until after 2AM night after night. Fix it. 3. I still love Trot. He did too much around here for that to ever change, plus he is the consummate ball player, the original dirtdog, the guy who gave you everything everyday in a for real way and not just because thats a nice cliche to throw at someone. Still wish he didnt get that hit, but if it had to be someone its sort of poetic that it was him.Now-NO MORE -thats enough 4. I dont know if he is tipping his pitches, injured, or just plain horrible, but I cringe and go into spasms any time I see him come in with less than a 10 run lead. He is Mr InstantCoronary. I was a very confused by Franconas use of the bullpen last night, especially the order of relievers .It was less than stellar on his part last night, using the late guys early and leaving himself only Gagne (no lead is safe), Lopez(usually the lefty one out guy) and Lester(who as far as I remember hasnt thrown a single relief inning all year) in a tie game. I hope that they examine Gagne and find something, Not that I hope he is injured, but he really cant be that bad, and if they were to DL him now they could replace him on the roster with Julian Tavarez, who is a reasonably good long man, who would have made sense last night. 5. This is going to be a real series which should be good, Im just hoping its not too torturous.---and please no more plagues of frogs and locusts! battling the Indians is tough enough 6. My computer has been erasing posts, crashing and being a general pain in the a$$, which hasn't happened since ( I swear) the ALCS in 2004. I'll take that as a good sign.

One side of me says --sureI want to see a great series, the in game emotional part of me still gets a little over nervous--especially in the playoffs Im all relaxed again thanks to an amazing shot from Manny amd another one from Mike Lowell....maybe I'll be here for a half inning the way this game is going

Boy did I speak too soon.... Serenity NOW! Serenity NOW!

I threw the mojo off--Im feeling as if its my fault at the moment, its a stupid mistake. Its early yet