Yanks-Sox Part 1

Oh man...what a game! A-rod hits two home runs, one of which Coco chases over the wall into the bullpen! A-rod did some fantastic baserunning after hitting a double. But none of that mattered, because if there is a team in all of Major League Baseball that has the number of "The Great Mariano Rivera," it is the Red Sox of Baahhhhston. Oh, what an 8th inning! We enter the eighth inning down 6-2 after A-rod cranked the aforementioned 2 homers. Myers pitches to Papi, who hits a double. (Is it just me, or does he look just a touch faster this yeaR?) Myers gets pulled, boggling the baseball minds who expect him to pitch to JD Drew, on deck after Manny. Vizcaino steps in, and the Sox tear him up. Walks manny, Drew gets a grounder to advance the runner, and Lowell with an RBI single. I called a double, expecting nothing less from Captain Graybeard (jump on my bandwagon, will you...I'm all about that nickname for Mikey. Unless you think M-lo would be better?). So Mo steps in, and hell continues to break loose on the Yankees. Tek with a single, Coco with a sick liner for a triple, and Cora brings him home. Ahh, sweet victory. Not to mention a solid 9th pitched by Hideki Okajima, against the top of the order. Lovely.

Notes:
Coco and Tek seem to wake up offensively. Hurrah!

Pedroia's drought continues. With the way Cora has been playing, do you sit the little man for a game or two?

Bullpen continues to look solid. When the offense takes off, we are un-freaking-stoppable.

Sabres win the series against NY Islanders. If the Devils win, we conquer all of NYC, with the Rangers in our next series. One by one...

Go sox. Beckett takes the mound against some little leaguer today. In fact, I gotta go so I can catch some of the game on FOX before I head off to the PawSox game here in Buffalo.

Wowza...

So, can you tell I went back to school this week? I've been busy, but here are some thoughts.

-I stand by my prediction that Josh Beckett will have a career year. The kid has been amazing this year.

-Way to back up Wakey, guys. Finally, Timmay gets the run support he needs. The knuckleball was lookin good last night.

-Dougie Fresh with two homers in his last two starts! Dougie's going deep tonight!!!!

-Wily Mo Pena crushed the ball in Toronto the other night. I know because I was there. It was a pretty good game, other than the rough inning that Matsuzaka pitched. Okajima was fierce. I don't think the three walks in the fourth (fifth?) would have been such a big deal if we could have hit the ball. I mean, Youk didn't even touch a base, and you know that never happens. It was mad cool to see Dice-K pitch, though. He wasn't locating very well. It will be interesting to see what the Yankees do with his stuff this weekend.

-Jon Lester continues to improve. That kid is a hero, and I don't care what anyone says about it.

-Coco is back in the leadoff spot. I'd like to see them give him a shot there. He certainly did better there today. I know, only one game...but still.

-Pap goes 4 for 4 in save opportunities. I'd give that kid half my liver if he needed it.

-On the topic of the Toronto Blue Jays, how awesome is Rios? It's fun to watch those guys...it's like they know they don't have a chance in the East, so they just have some fun. I'm hoping to get a chance to see Halladay someime this season.

And on to our big weekend, the first series of the year against the Evil Empire. They've got three pitchers on the DL, but I'm looking forward to the matchup of Schilling-Pettitte tomorrow. It is undeniable that A-Rod is hot, hopefully we can put out the flame. (I am resisting the obvious joke here.) It's always interesting to see these two teams match up early in the season. There's no Boston Massacre this year. I'm calling it at 2-1 sox for the series. Let's go sox!

And while we're giving NYC a big fresh can of whoop-ass, lets share some with the Islanders. DiPietro or no, let's go SABRES!

HYPE!!!!

Well, it looks like the one person who got lost in the Japanese shufflue was Felix Hernandez. Who promptly issued a big "Screw You" to the 350 members of the media who were there to gawk at everyone but him. I say, good for you. kid. At least Seattle has one pitcher with the ability to win. Would have been nice if Dice-K could have won his Fenway intro. I thought he looked good, but I didn't think he had the command he had last week in KC. Through I'll credit him with playing a helluva psychological game. He had Ichiro swinging at pitches in the dirt by the end of the 7th. Good stuff.

Today, let's wake up the bats (Haha, get it..."Wake" up!) when Timmay takes the ball against some guy from Seattle who isn't Felix Hernandez. Go Sox.

Ah, who am I kidding. I will not be thinking baseball tonight. I will be thinking, go, you Buffalo Sabres!!! LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO! I think my temperature's up today. Must be PLAYOFF FEVER!!! (Similar to Natalie's bout of Olympic Fever during the second season of Sportsnight. Doctor, Doctor...Mister MD...can you tell me what be ailing me?)

Home Opener...

What a way to kick off the season at Fenway! I forgot the game was on (I know, some fan I am, right?) until the fourth. By that point, the Red Sox were already in double digits. JD Drew with a homer...and a pretty exciting 8th. Brendan Donnelly came in to relieve Josh Beckett who struck out 8, including Ichiro 3 times! He pitched to Guillen, who apparently caught Donnelly pitching with pine tar in his glove a couple of years ago. He turned him into the home plate ump, so there's some bad blood there apparently. He struck out Guillen, and as Guillen walked back toward the Mariners dugout, Donnelly appeared to say something, and Guillen didn't take it well. (And in my highly non-expert opinion, though I consider myself to be a formidable trash talker, I swear it looked like Donnelly grabbed his junk. I would have said something to the effect of, there's no pine tar here, and I still struck you out, punk. Maybe something slightly more colorful than that.) AAAAAAAAAAAnyway, Guillen charged the mound, Donnelly dropped his glove and glasses. The benches cleared (I love it when that happens) and Guillen had that awesome angry hold-me-back thing going on. There were no punches thrown, despite the fact that I was tossing the word sissy around on the couch like it was Christmas. (I like to think I have an effect on the game) Next batter up, Johjima, and Donnelly plunks him in the thigh. He was ejected...Donnelly, not the hitter. But you know you are in the thick of hockey season when you can't help but root for a brawl.

Hopefully none of that will overshadow the fact that little Joshy Beckett pitched like a champion today. It was amazing to see...I love it when that kid pitches. He gets all fired up, I love to see that kind of passion on the mound. He struck out seven today...good for you, little buddy. And it's nice to see JD Drew do well. Three hits each for Tek (or as Steven/Stephen King would say, Tek Money) and Youk. Lugo did well. Take that, you naysayers who accused us of a slow start. Take that.

And on a side note, the games on NESN are so fun. I love that you can hear the taunts of the crowd pretty clearly if you get really close to the TV. And I'm so wishin I was in Boston so I could be on this show.

OPENING DAY!

Oh man...I'm so glad it's the home opener. Becks takes the ball against Seattle today. I love baseball season. It's still hockey season here in the B-lo though. I keep running into friends who want to know what I'm doing for the game Thursday...I keep thinking they're talking about baseball when they're not. I'm definitely pumped to see Buffalo sweep NY. We're firing on all cylinders, Max and Timmy are back. Hopefully Connolly doesn't break his brain again this post season. But I can't think about that right now, not until Thursday.

Is anyone else sick of the Matsuzaka-Ichiro hype? Big whoop, they're both Japanese. Move on people, let the kid throw some strikes and we'll call it a day.

And you should get this kid on your fantasy team: last night, geoff siener went 5 for 5 with 3HR, one of which was a granny. 10 RBIs, and though I didn't see it, a diving catch that I am assured is web gems worthy. ESPN called and everything. I, of course, refused to take their calls on principle...I really miss Harold. Any way, this kid is amazing. Too bad it was only a softball game. But he played like a beast nonetheless.

They're Baaaaaack!

What. A. Game. Seriously, this is the problem with being a Red Sox fan. The highs are phenomenal, the lows are depressing...but I just can't let go. Last night's game against the Rangers was one of those pitching duels you just love to watch. Papi hit two homers...you just don't tell Papi he's starting off slow. And how much do you love that commercial for the Boys and Girls Club..."I gues that's why they call me Big Papi". I think he reminded us all of that last night. And Schill looked good. Commanding pitches, 7 strong innings. And what do you say about Jonathan Papelbon. (Notice how I just skipped the rest of the bullpen? Pinero and I are no longer friends.) (Until the next game) Papelbon, 5 outs! And against Texeira and Young, no less! It's not like he struck out a couple of rookies or the old guys...he fired that last pitch past Michael Young so fast, I literally thought his head would spin or his eyes would pop out like in the old cartoons.. That kid is freaking amazing.

easter guilt...

One of the perks of my Catholic childhood is the awesome guilt thing. I have to tell you, I feel like Tavarez might have had a better outing if I hadn't doubted him. And if that wasn't bad enough, the baseball gods further abused me...and don't think I didn't get the phone calls and text messages to remind me of it.

I was lucky enough (?) to be in attendance at the Mr./Ms. Buffalo show last night, frantically texting friends to see how the game was going. I feel no guilt in doing so (funny how guilt works) as the contestant I was supporting is a sox fan. (and the one who coined the name "Leather Face" for Hideki Matsui. It's funny cause it's true.) I know it's early in the season, so I don't let the errors etc bother me. It was a balmy 38 degrees in Texas last night...it can't be easy to play in that weather. I just have such high hopes for this season...let's hope I am rewarded.

And let the rewards come tonight. At 8:05 pm, Curt Schilling (a blogger himself) takes the ball against Vicente Padilla of the Texas rangers, who seems to be one of the few pitchers who had a worse first outing that Schill himself. Hopefully Schill gets his seeing eye dog or his GPS or whatever he needs to find the plate between now and 8:05. And if you're bored, you should check out Kevin Millar's post on Curt's blog. He's a funny guy, that Millar. I mean, he was hilarious that one time on Queer Eye For the Hairy Guy.

Go Sox.

Hey, Jude...

I have to admit it...I am terrified for this guy's start tonight. Sure, he's got some decent stuff and he did ok when he started last year. (4.01 ERA, a complete game against the Jays.) But he scares the crap out of me. Who doesn't remember the fistfight during Spring Training? He's passionate, we'll give him that. But dear lord, please let him keep the damn lid on til Jon Lester gets back.


(Thanks to MLB.com for that sweet pic.)

WARNING: THIS POST HAS NOTING TO DO WITH THE GAME OF BASEBALL

Ok...I make no secret of the fact that Jason Varitek, Mike Timlin, and Gabe Kapler have one blessed thing in common...the high socks. I am a total sucker for a baseball player sporting the high socks. Until this season, of course. I got a phone call bright and early this morning (thanks for that, by the way) and a message that went something like this...

" So I was watching the game last night, and I noticed that A-Rod was wearing the high socks. I figured you'd be a Yankees fan if you knew that...so just calling to say congrats on the conversion"

Why must that whiny little baby ruin one of my favorite parts about baseball? Makes me angry. Stupid A-Rod. At least I still have Reed Johnson right in my very own backyard. (He's not chained up there or anything, I'm just saying Toronto is pretty close.)

Big Papi Makes Me Smile

First of all:
If I could grow facial hair, I would model it after Big Papi.

Second of all:
Did anybody catch this , at the end of the game against the Royals on Thursday 4/5/07? Matsuzaka, after striking out 10 and getting his first MLB win, went through the line at the end of the game, and was bowing oh-so-respectfully...in response to Big Papi, clasping his hands together and bowing to Dice-K. Possible exchange: "I had four strikeouts, you struck out 10...you win again, Dice-K."

Wakey, Wakey

Oh dear lord, please forgive me...but I cannot handle another season in which Former Buffalo Bison (hereafter abbreviated FBB) Tim Wakefield pitches like a freakin beast, but does not get any run support. I just can't

Happy 2007 Baseball!

So, I've created this blog for a couple of reason. First, because I can't stop talking about the Boston Red Sox. Second, because most of my friends could give a crap about baseball. Third, because the ones who do are Yankees fans, and I am sick of having the exact same argument. You know, the one where I bring up the 2004 ALCS and they say "What's in the past is in the past" and then, being Yankees fans, and having rather small brains, they forget having made that comment, and start talking about the 26 rings they have. you know, the ones they got in the past. The past that didn't matter when we're talking about the Red Sox winning. The past that didn't matter when we're talking about the sox coming back from being down 3 games in a series of seven, and winning that very same series. I'm done having that conversation. I find it much easier to just ignore Yankees fans. You can find me on the Daughters of Kevin Youkilis website too. I'm a Buffalo Girl who flips back and forth between baseball and hockey this time of year (did someone say Stanley Cup?) and who can't get enough of those Red Sox! So bring on 2007...the year which brings us Matsuzaka, Kapler as a manager, the return of Jon Lester (how amazing is that kid, seriously!?!), Beckett's rebound year, no more Trot (I miss your dirty hat already), JD Drew wearing #7, Coco's rebound year, another new shortstop, another Manny hairdo, the list goes on and on. All I can say is...GO SOX!