Texas Tough

I still have two reasons to fly my flag at Fenway!!! Texas boys Rock!

Beat the Hell out of t.u.

I knew there was more reasons I would grow to love Beckett. I heard a rumor but it was confirmed. I've been so busy over the holidays and all which is why I haven't blogged. But nothing made me happier to see that My Josh was rooting on his favored team: The Texas A&M Aggies!!! I live in Austin but really am not a Horn fan at all. Not that I hate them like most Aggies do....but I just really wanted to attend A&M but got sidetracked in life...had loads of friends who did go so I got to attend many games at Kyle Field. I am SO disappointed that I wasn't there to see Josh introduced but Stoked to see he wore an A&M cap to the game. No telling where Josh will turn up next......now wonder who he roots for in pro-football? Cowboys or Texans??

But the next best part?? The Aggies tore it up on Kyle Field beating t.u. Wooo Hooo!!

Edit: I was perusing looking for more Joshisms.....and came across the post Red posted on 10-25-07 about his man-love for Beckett...just made me smile and swoon all over again. Just so ya understand I am not all giddy like a girl about Josh's cuteness....it's his command on the mound and post-pressers that just reel me in.

WELL???

Ok so I swore I wasn't going to post about the waiting for Lowell to sign. I grow tired of looking for new material to read in the news or blogs and all I find is Sign Lowell...Mikey SIGN NOW...What's taking so long??....But the waiting is killing us all. I mean we had to endure all this back in 2004 with Tek and FINALLY right before Christmas...or was it on Christmas?? Heck...All I know is I figured SOMEONE would have to take Tek's place as "that player" who we were all sitting on pins and needles waiting to see the ink dry on the dotted line. Did ya know that Mikey has a finance degree?? and he had a 4.0 gpa in high school?? Ok So he's all set for retirement now...And he and his wife are high school sweethearts....awwwwwww

Turkey Day is around the corner and before you know it you'll be stuffed to a tryptophaned daze with pumpkin smeared across your shirt when all of a sudden you'll be awaken by someone screaming "TOUCHDOWN!!!" or "Honey, Do we have any of that Pecan Pie left??"

Anyhoo....Has Lowell Signed YET???

Who is That you ask?

Naw...it aint a baseball. It's just The Beckett during Spring Training. It's just a 20 game winner this season, and that aint counting Post-Season! The only one to make it in the last 2 seasons. It's just Mr. October, the one who tore down the Indians teepees, crushed their wigwams, poured water on their smoke signals for help, smeared their warpaint on his face and took the Chief's squaw for his own. It's just Commander KickASS of the F.U. Brigade, the one that took a pickax to the Rockies and chipped away their hope and dreams of becoming a new empire of destiny. It's just Josh being Josh....fluent in fuckinese and Master of Post Pressers. Muy Grande in Texas of November 2002. The next year he wins WS MVP with the Marlins. The Winning Pitcher of the All Star game. The first MLB pitcher since 2005 to win his first 7 starts. Just the ALCS MVP this year. It's just JPB, the tall silent Texan. Well silent till pushed by the media with stupid ass questions. It's JPB, southeast Texas boy, Kid Heat, a 2-time World Series Champion of 2 different teams AND leagues!! All at the tender age of 27. He's been in the Show since 2001. Here it is 2007.

So C.C., keep the stinking award. JPB has plenty of time to get it. Besides, Josh is most likely sitting in a deerstand somewhere in south Texas with his gun pointed at dinner.

Don't Fight It

I was lying down half asleep attempting to nap while listening to some tv show in the background when I heard this comment "You fight the waves so much that you forget to enjoy the ocean." That comment resounded in my brain over and over and I woke up and couldn't get it out of my head....so here I am.

We see obstacles as just that: Obstacles when instead they can be Opportunities to grow and mature and learn from. When life's ocean brings waves to our life, we fight them, look for ways around them, go under and around....when what we should do is sink in them....feel it....the flow and ebb of where it leads....then come up for air. Perhaps if we handled stress and problems that come our way the way surfers do...they go WITH the ocean waves instead of fighting them....we'd end up at our goals. Make Obstacles Work for us. Make us stronger and better.

Sometimes It's not ALL about the Red Sox or Me

Jarvis Green. You may recognize him. He plays for the Patriots and has been filling in for Seymour in the defensive end position. But there's another position he's been filling in for another player: Father Figure.

Marquise Hill drowned earlier this year in a jet skiing accident in New Orleans. A teammate from childhood, college and then on to the Pros...now a teammate for the family. Green had known Hill since the 10th grade at De La Salle High School in New Orleans and played with him at Louisiana State University.

Now Green is stepping in to help in taking care of Marquis's 2 year old son, Máshy. Green has 3 children of his own with his wife but now is inviting Inell Benn, Máshy's mother and Máshy to spend time with his family. Inell has since moved to Austin, Texas to attend nursing school but Green is doing what he can to step in to help his friend who is gone.

In times when we in the Red Sox Nation are worried about keeping Lowell and Timlin.....Green is taking care of his own....and is helping me keep things in perspective.

Somewhere deep in the heart of Texas

Wonder what Josh Beckett has been doing? I mean we've been seeing Papelbon, Ortiz and Manny making the circuit. The Red Sox won the World Series for the 2nd time in 4 seasons....a 2nd Duck Boat parade....dancing in kilts. autograph signings with players...craziness. and where is Josh Beckett after all that?

Hunting in South Texas on his ranch in Cotulla, Texas....waiting to hear if he gets the CY with his ring.

Friends

Tomorrow a dear friend's mother is undergoing surgery for breast cancer. I don't know all the details...but I don't need to. All I know is fear exist. But I'm posting tonight to let my friend and his family know that there are people out here praying for them. See those ornaments? They are from the Susan Komen site. Hope Promise and Cure. it's YOUR Hope. Komen's Promise to find a Cure for Breast Cancer.

Remember: FEAR is

False Evidence Appearing Real. Ted's Mom, if you're out there reading. PV's, Hygs, and Rally Hoots to ya!!!

Have you had your Wheaties Today?

I may have to start eating breakfast

Beckett....any Questions?

Lester...Its All Good.

I think we've finally found our rhythm....it's in the bullpen, The Pirates and the MDC Band. That's our Admiral leading the tunes. Tonight Lester took the mound with something to prove. The boys dug in all the way to the end. Lowell and Kielty brought their solo homeruns to keep us in the lead. Lowell gets MVP of the World Series and deservedly so. I'm sure I'll be blogging crazy this week but tonight I need my sleep.

Dynamic Duo

Batman and Robin were the originals. But if you're talking about the Red Sox, most people think of these two.

But not last night. The two Rookies are fast taking over in the spotlight in this World Series and for that matter this year's play-offs.

Dustin and Jacoby. Pedroia and Ellsbury. Munchkin and TacoBoy. Whichever name you call them, they are making names for themselves in the baseball world. They are setting the table for the Boston Red Sox fans to feast on.

Both had 5 ABs. Neither K'd or Walked. Dustin got 3 hits, Jacoby got 4. The numbers just speak for themselves....VOLUMES. Dustin had 2 singles and a double while Jacoby had a single and 3 doubles. Each had 2 ribbies while Dustin had 1 run and Jacoby had 2. Dustin's been here all year, he's scrappy and bringing lots of excitement but post-season he has just broke out. Then Ellsbury comes up from the farm and DaYUM...them farm hands make you smile with all their energy. These boys are setting the table with the finest china I ever ate on.

And yah I know we won that game with more than their runs. Lowell and DiceK provided 2 ribbies each. YES I said DICE-K provided 2 ribbies with a single at bat. Tek and Tiz gave us the other 2. It was a game....a loooooooooooong game. So today's Game 4 and possibly this Series could be over if this young man can bring his best stuff tonight. Lester has won a much bigger game this past year, but tonight would really just be icing on the cake. A cake that Manny just doesn't want to eat quite yet.

Excerpt from mlb.com story: Leave it to Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez to put the current state of affairs in proper perspective. "We don't want to eat the cake first, before your birthday," said Ramirez. "We've got to wait and see what's going to happen [in Game 4]."

Who's On First...What? no he's on 2nd.

Yah I know what you're thinking...oh anyone could have come up with that catchy phrase for a blog with the debate over playing Tiz or Youk on 1st base in Denver. And then you throw Mikey in the mix cos Youk can cover 3rd. However, how can you NOT post about this? AND how you can you NOT use this cliche? Soooooo

Ortiz or Youk or Mikey? Of course we all know Tito has went with Tiz to play 1st and Mikey to play 3rd in Game 3. What I love is a quote I read from the Globe:

Youkilis insists he's fine with all this. "It doesn't bother me," he says. "I want to play, but I totally understand the situation. Look, I'm doing everything I've always wanted to do. I'm playing in a World Series. I'm playing every day. I'm happy. I just want to win. We all do. All three guys are pulling for each other. If I have to take a seat, that's just the way it has to be."

They are team players. They just want to get it done. I mean think about it....did we seriously think at the beginning of the season that we'd even HAVE this dilemma of Which one to play?? We had no clue that Youk was gonna Bust OUT this season as well as Senor Doubles with his RBI stats appearing. I like these odds. I know David has his knee issues....but do ya really believe that Tito or David would risk losing a game JUST so David Can Play?? IF YOU DO...then so be it. I am not by no means a Tito apologist....but I believe that at this level, Tito knows what he is doing and he has a plan. That is to ride down Boylston Street on another Duck Boat.

It's less than 10 hours away from Game time. So get to the store and buy your snacks and drinks. Hunker down on your easychair, couch or bed. Sit back and Enjoy cos it's Game 3 of the 2007 World Series about to commence. Oh maybe you should grab an oxygen mask....just in case for those moments when DiceK is at bat :)

Let's Go RED SOX! ClapClap ClapClapClap

IT'S TACO TIME

So according to Taco Bell's Contest, if a player stole a base, everyone in America would get a free taco. Well lookie above...its Taco Boy. Jacoby stole a base and won us dinner!!

Schill just said "It was the Papel-Jima Show tonight" How EFFING Cool is that?

Just a few of my favorite "things". :)

Great Pick OFF By YOUK!

Lets Go Red Sox!!

Speechless

All I can say is I'm damn proud of Joshua Patrick Beckett.
I'll let Ted do the game review. I'm just posting these pics from Boston Globe for a taste of Game 1.

How Hard Core are YOU??

Well these fans are putting up a replica of the American League Championship flag up (which is TEXAS size by the way) on the John Hancock Tower. So how much love and devotion to YOU have for the Sox as they battle the PPS's? (purple pin-stripes)

Together Again!!!

It all started tonight with this ex-Red Sox player, Kevin Millar, Number 15, mentioning during line-ups allowing Pedroia to use his number. Millar off the 2004 World Series team throws out the 1st pitch. That in itself got me all psyched up.

Having Billy Mueller last night and now Kevin Millar? What greater World Series mojo could be better than that?? Having Millar do a commercial segment rooting us on on FOX.

So ya know what Indians go ahead and call anyone you want to sing the National Anthem...cos nothing can stop this team and the mojo going. Tonight Dustin came up big for us! A 3 Run double and a 2 run HR! He was Player of the Game for sure!!! And then there's Josh Beckett. He's earned MVP for the Series and rightly so winning both of his starts over the Indians.

And now we head to the World Series...a trip down memory lane for many. Watching these fools dancing on the field, getting sloshed by budlight, smoking those hot cigars, and smiling ear to ear. I'm just happy. Looking at Fenway there are still loads of fans there. This road to October has been a long hard one. We jumped out there in first and remained for almost the entire time. Shared best record in the American League with the Indians....and today the Best Team won the right to represent the American League in the World Series. Now the focus changes...let's just enjoy it once again. Do we believe? Hell Yah!

I just know the next few nights will be spent in preparation to watch the Series. and ya know Dane Cook is right. There IS only ONE October....and it's being played in Boston.

History

I know they say you can't go home again....but I've been reminincing over 2004. Three years ago today, this Nation was on the edge of their seats....watching Game 7 of the ALCS between the Red Sox and the Yankees. It was us or them...do or die....we had been down 3 games....Millar popped off and said those famous words "Don't Let Us Win.." before Game 4 and we did....Game 5 & 6....then it seemed to be the longest game in history (of course we KNOW which game was)....then it was over. We were the ALCS for 2004....but more importantly The Boston Red Sox were headed to the World Series for the first time in 86 Years!


The above picture is the cover of an e-book written by Mark Newman of mlb.com and of which myself and several other friends I have were in. That was a magical time, a magical team, destiny happening before our eyes. The Millar drawing a walk, Roberts coming in and stealing "that" base, it just was like living in a dream.

BUT that was 2004....this is 2007. It's a different team this time. It's not the Cowboy Up team...it's not The Idiots either. It's Youuuuuuuuuuuk, El Capitan Tek, Munchkin, Senor Doubles, Luuuuuuuuuuuuugo, Smooothie, Manny being Manny, Big Papi, Hot Coco, jaCOby, YayD, my new BF Bobby, Dougie Goes Deeep, Eric "bang my chin on the ground" Eric "bang my chin on the dirt" Hinske, our SP's "Commander of the F.U. Brigade Beckett, Schill, TimmEH Wakey, and Dice-K and then there's our Pirates of the Bullpen: Nails as the Admiral and his bandmembers: Javy, LesTAH, GagME (ok one I am not happy about), MDC, OKJ, and last but not least our Closer: PapelBudlight "King of the River Dance".



So whatever color you choose to wear tonight, Red with blue lettering, Blue with Red lettering, or Pink even! Make sure the letters are ALL the same: Boston Red Sox. I hope those Indian fans brought their little white hankies so they'll have something to blow their noses in. And how bout Billy Niller throwing out the 1st pitch??!!! is that Effing Awesome or WHAT?

I had no doubt. 12-2. Indians done tonight and it's Dice-K's turn.

Shipping Back to Boston

109 pitches, 8 innings, 11 K's, 1.93 ERA. It was just a night of Beckett being Beckett. Stellar, stupendous, brilliance, outstanding, standing O, dropASSkicking beautiful. There was this little incident between Josh and Lofton. It appears that Josh wasn't happy with something that Kenny did at the plate...so he yells something out to Kenny on his way to 1st...they exchanged ##%$@@^&** and then once Kenny arrived at 1st base...and flew out...he turned to the mound and headed towards Beckett. Benches cleared....Lowell stepped in. It's all good...no punches thrown or any actual fight...well there was this fight about who was going to win the game.

Pre-game antics: Apparently one of Josh's many ex-girlfriend was scheduled to sing the National Anthem...but the Indians swear they didn't know her history....as she is just a good ole Ohio girl. ok whatever....if they were thinking it was gonna rattle Josh's cage, WRONG. Josh collects ex's like he collects deerheads he mounts on his wall.

Pre game commercial had Kevin Millar rooting on the Sox....it was absolutely CuteNESS!!! Just made me smile and remember 2004. Was that a moment of clarity? I know some have been repeating that Millar phrase when we were down 3 games with the Yankees that year..."Don't let us win" he said....well, to have Kevin there rooting us on...it was destiny, fate

or like I think Beckett Kicked ASS.

It's just that Simple....

I searched through all the pictures of the players practicing today....deciding which road to take, which focus I would use tonight....when I saw this. It said everything I felt in just two words. Two Simple Words. I've attended many management and leadership classes in my lifetime...one lesson stands out among them all: The K.I.S.S. rule. Keep It Simple Stupid rule...which is why I love this sign. All the emotion, grit, determination, faith, power, persistence, all the love all rolled into TWO WORDS: BOSTON BELIEVES.

Well, not to be outdone.

TEXAS BELIEVES IN BOSTON AND BECKETT.

It Can Still Happen

So it all comes down to this. Beckett takes us to orgasms Friday.....while Schilling, Daiske and Wake get no love from the boy's bats. We're down 3-1...Thursday is The Decider. Lots of controversy whether Beckett should have pitched tonight. Tensions running hot and heavy even between Sox fans....crying for who's fault it is. My take:

Sometimes...the better team is not who is playing better all through the season. The better team is who is playing the best in October. The Indians and the Red Sox tied for best record...but these last few nights the Indians have brought all of their A games to the park. I will say Saturday the boys played hard and long...but it seemed Monday and tonight, it just wasn't coming. Do I believe there's still a chance??? You BETCHA! Do I think Beckett can win this?? YOU BETCHA! Do I think it's gonna take more than Pitching to win it?? YOU BETCHA!!!

So boys...I would appreciate it if you'd rub some of that 2004 stardust on your balls (the baseballs I mean), play some of that magic music in the clubhouse, put on those rally caps and bang the bullpen water bottles slowly....WE NEED a Win so we can bring it back to Beantown.

A Race of a different Color

Feeling wretched after last night's game I awoke deciding to post on something to distract myself and others....something lighthearted...fun...but then I remembered it was October which makes me think of Cindy. She was this girl I knew back when I lived in Giddings, Texas and worked as a juvenile probation officer. She and I shared a couple of things....we both worked in the criminal justice field and we were both single parents. We also shared in our love to laugh. Cindy was fun and funny. I left Giddings after only a couple of years and continued to visit her but was horrified to hear the news she had breast cancer. She fought hard but with grace...and lost. She left behind a sweet little boy.

Which brings me to why I'm posting. I've never been really fond of the color pink....it's so girly. And alot of times in baseball when pink hats are worn, well...it's just not right to some of us :)

Pink...a color Nancy Brinker selected when creating her organization in search for a cure for Breast Cancer in honor of her sister, Suzy Komen. For anyone who hasn't really researched or checked into the background of why or how this was thought of, you really should. I experienced my own scare a few years back before moving to Austin. I was going for my annual gynocologist visit and always do the self-check....when I felt it...something odd and unusual and not normal. After being referred to a specialist and doing the more advanced check....I had surgery and a large lump was removed from one of my breasts. Without going into all the details....it all ended good. But it was a scare nonetheless...and made me think of life, love and living. My nephew had been killed a couple of months earlier in the year...9-11 was the year before.....I decided that our time was short here and I wanted to live....but that's another story.

Today I sit and realize that I had these plans and goals of what I wanted to do about how to make what Cindy went through matter....and I haven't did them. I promise now in front of you all....I will become involved in this Race for a Cure. To quote from the story Nancy Brinker wrote "Could one person really make a difference?" YES, they Can.

At What Point?

I was thinking today At What Point did I become a full fledged Red Sox fan? It is really hard to fingerpoint the specific time.....however It all began back in the early 80's....maybe even further than that...back to when I was about 13 years old and began hanging out down at the West Orange Little League ballpark where alot of the neighborhood boys played ball. I enjoyed watching baseball. I then went on to high school and college preferring to attend the baseball games than the football games. I can joke around and say it was the uniforms but quite frankly, the tight white pants the football players wore showed alot more than the baseball pants, so that excuse is just a joke. I attended college in southeast Texas at Lamar of which had a stupendous baseball program so I grew to love it more.

Attending Lamar and checking up on the baseball program, I would hear about this kid from Austin's University of Texas named Roger Clemens. After his glorious career with them leading them to the College World Series in 1983, I watched him head off to the Red Sox farm. The year I was attending my last year in college, Roger was in his 3rd season with the Sox when he hit his first 20-K game. I had been keeping up with him but that game was a real head turner and heart stopper. It continued through the 90's....watching from afar...falling in love with a team but not realizing it.

I didn't live there and didn't understand the entire drama behind Roger leaving...just knew when he left and went north....I had to remain behind. Since then I kept up with him and until this year still admired him. But as a faithful and loyal Texan is....I finally realized I had to let him go this year.

It's been a journey to this place I've come to live at now. And the reason I'm writing this now is for all you New Englanders and friends of mine to understand just what it means to this Texas Gal to attend games at Fenway or see pictures ya attend during the playoffs. Before 2003 when I attended my first game at Fenway, reading the sports page or watching a game on tv was like reading a book of some mythical land and nation. But it all became real to me in the summer of July of 2003 whereupon I entered into Fenway walking up to see the Green Monster, turning around and seeing this red seat in the bleachers, the Citgo sign and Fenway Park across the backdrop above homeplate. My heart jumped and tears welled up into my eyes. I was finally Home.

Muy Grande Pitching

"Winning the World Series and shooting a big old buck are the same kind of feeling. They're such a huge rush. There's nothing else that's given me that kind of feeling in my life." That's a quote from Beckett back in 2005 from a Field and Stream magazine. According to Josh, he's a huge fanatic of hunting....he even won the Muy Grande in 2002. Tonight Josh was the Muy Grande of Fenway Park. He came in to hunt for his game...the Indians and got them.

He only allowed 4 hits and 2 runs, one of them being a Pronker Homer....but no walks. Meanwhile, Sabathia just allowed hit and hit then helped us with the go ahead run by a walking it in.

I'm sorry for the time off of the board but I just took a Muy Grande new Job and have been really busy and my home computer went on the fritz and well I just have a life ya know :)

But today I got back on track....just in time for the ALCS....and just in time for Josh. My boy....my good ole Texas boy.