Geaux Tigers!!!!

2009 College World Series Champions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beckett and Baseball

My good friend, Cyn, had the best title of her live blog today....and she predicted SO accurately what was coming. As in the ole quote out of the film about Wyatt Earp when he was warning the town..."tell them I'm coming and Hell's coming with me!" Well today JPB took the bump and perhaps he was channeling his inner child and thought he was playing cowboys and indians...cos he made it war on those Braves. (no offense to anyone reading)

7 K's, no walks, 5 singles and only 1 double was allowed by Beckett...winning the game with 3-0.

It was also the first appearance by Lowe since he helped us out of a drought and win the World Series in 2004. It appeared he was received well and given a standing ovation after he was taken out of the game. Tip of the hat and all.

Beckett appeared to be in 2007 form...the year he didn't win the Cy and should have. I'm ready to see my Sox again this July and August...

En Fuego!!!

Pick one. I really don't care which one you select. Choose whichever one suits your fancy....cos you may need one of them at the next Yankee - Red Sox series since we are 8-0 ahead of the pinstriped pinheads after this series.

Penny tossed 117 pitches with his last striking out Matsui looking a bit bewildered Im sure. 6 shut out innings...after Ortiz hit a homerun during the 2nd. Penny left the game with the Red Sox in the lead 1-0.

Then the game begin to get interesting. Yankees got ahead 3-1....next thing you know....Red Sox are on top 4-3....and Paps came in to close it down. ::sigh::

A Sweep. The best part? I love this quote from Papi regarding his come back here lately....Papi may be on the right track with trying new habits to enhance his hitting. Sounds good to me.

"I put hot sauce on pretty much everything," Ortiz says, aiming a bottle of his mild Original into a bowl of mondongo (beef tripe soup) before taking a spoonful. "But I like mild hot, not burning hot. Not crazy hot."

"It's not about being a tough guy," he says. "I'm telling you right now, number four is pretty dang hot." He's referring to Grand Slam. "I do not think a human being should try something hotter than that.

Red Sox 6 Yankees 0 and no that's not the score of the game

So last time we spoke the Red Sox did some cleaning up with the Yankees....well tonight Beckett took the mound. And by "took the mound", I mean he took command over the rubber and made those pinstriped devils pay. Josh had 8 K's, pitching 6 innings, 2 hits with the game being a shut-out. The bullpen (MDC, Ram Ram and Bard) followed suit with only 1 hit and 1 K...no runs.

Bard ended the game with hitting the radar gun at 100 mph twice...

Drew, Ortiz and Green brought 2 rbi's with Kotsay bringing the other run. Ortiz hit a home run dead to central!!!! Green also hit a home run!! Slowly but surely Big Papi is returning!

Game score Red Sox 7 Yankees 0
We're tied for 1st place now but on top of the Yankees as we've won more games against them in the season...hence the title.

Brooms....Ain't it Great!!??!!

Note not only did we win this game...we won this series AND we've swept the Yankees in the first 2 meetings....apparently a history lesson is involved. Since 1971!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOT.

So Joba may have pitched his heart (does he have one?) out...with 12 K's....then pumps his fist after the inning he hits one of our players......Josh won the game...

I Live For This

You may have wondered what happened to me...I was on a roll and then I stopped. But I have to say the broom stopped me...ya know The Broom the Sox used to sweep the Yankees at Fenway? Well tonight the Sox are back playing the Yankees but in New York. Lester is on the mound and so far so good. 100 pitchers 70 strikes and 9 K's....heading into the bottom of the 7th inning. I'm not going to jinx it....Im posting but will finish it after the game. We'll see the results.

Yes....I heard this team

Cleaning can be fun.

I had to work the conference so unable to watch the game....but I promised Sean that I'd post a picture of the game's score. As you can see in the background...the Sox won 4-1...thereby making a sweep of the series.

So does God listen when both pitchers pray?

Tonight we have Andy vs Justin
Andy who has had his share of issues and problems....let alone the rumors of his alleged affair(s)...but the admission of using HGH...being tight with Clemens who obviously doesn't know the truth if it hit him in the face. Andy is a somber dude. I've rarely seen him smile...but that may be due to the Yankees not winning much lately. So I won't judge.

And then there's Justin
son of a missionary. Heck Justin was born in Jamaica while his father was a missionary. Justin professes his religion and Papelbon admits he can't recall ever hearing a curse word come out of Masterson's mouth. Newly married. Always seems to be jovial.

So when you have both pitchers professing to be a christian....who does God listen to?

Or is it really a test of wills and ability?

**and thanks SG crew for inspiring me for today's post. Check back later for a recap of the game's score.

Sweep or Mop...Game Three Tonight

OH and I forgot...Beckett was on the mound last night although I think he just wasn't into the game....you can see that look of disgust on his face saying "Man I should be at Daisy's hooking up with some new hot chick now that Whitney's out of the picture instead of playing this game"

I KEEEEEEEEED I KEEEEEEEEEEED.....JP was extremely displeased with himself and his pitching. But

WE Won...that's all that matters.

Game Three tonight. ESPN. Be there or Be

Can't Get Enough??? Nawwwwwwwwwww

Imagine my dismay...when after running all my errands today...early so I can get home in time to sit and watch JPB make mulch of those androids in New York.....I turn on the tv and flipping through to the FOX channel, I see they have chosen in their wisdom The Cubs vs Cardinals game for Austin to watch.

THE CUBS??? vs The CARDS??? Then I find out my friend to the north of me in Arlington (Bickley) is getting the game on FOX. I resort to GAMEDAY and watch figures score, strike out and pitch. I get on SG and find out DP, who is in Texas on tour with the band he plays for, has arrived at his hotel and has settled in to watch the game on FOX...in Nacogdoches, Texas...while still here in Austin...I'm watching figures on Game Day.

But let's just go to the Bottom Line....the picture above. I don't even need to explain.

Enough Said

Pedie is a dream in fielding. JayBay's homerun was sweetness. Youk is a beast. Walk Off is what we wanted.

Oh and Ramirez got the Win.

**picture taken by me with my Instinct of tv screen
No not THAT Ramirez.

Tell me I throw like a Girl...NOW

12 Year Old Mackenzie Brown pitches a perfect game in Bayonne Little League New Jersey. Here are some highlights from the last inning.

Oh yeah...Mackenzie's a girl!

Live Blog of the GAME BY CYN!!!

I'm at work and too busy to do this...but join me as I dodge in and out of posting on Cyn's Live Blog of the game today!!! Doubleheader due to the rain-out yesterday.

Wake's on the mound at 12:30pm EST!!

Tradition, Sports, Family

Trifecta today...or actually Quadfecta or perhaps that should read Quatretfecta: Boston Marathon, NBA Finals between the Bulls and Celtics, the Red Sox playing at 11am(due to the Marathon), and lest we not forget the Bruins vs the Canadiens and all this on Patriot's Day.

Justin Masterson vs. Mark Hendrickson, otherwise known as the Goliath vs Goliath Game

The numbers really speak for themselves:
Red Sox had 39 ABs, 15 Hits, 8 men K's
Orioles had 31 ABs, 5 Hits, 4 men K's
2 DPs by the trio of: Green, Pedroia and Youkilis
Ending Score: 12-1 Red Sox on top.

And yet tradition doesn't stop with this glorious day that's celebrated by New England......the picture speaks for itself

This game was brought to you by the Lester "K"

7 Shut-Out Innings. 9 Orioles Struck Out. Only 4 hits. **pic courtesy of Boston Globe

If anyone was worrying if Lester wasn't here to win...they should put those worries aside after today's game. Not that I think Lester is our savior and taking us to October like many do....but I do think after this game, it's given me reason to pause. And breathe. Cos I need to after that excruciating 9th inning by Saito. Don't get me wrong....I was glad to see no runs scored in the 8th on Ramirez...but Saito allowing 2 men on base in the 9th nearly made me wish I had asthma so I could at least have some instrument to assist in my breathing spasms I was having.

I posted on SG...."CLOSERS are supposed to close the game not LOSE the game" You know there is only one letter difference in those words....coincidence?? Naw...this is baseball. There are NO coincidences in baseball.

And shortly after my post, with Scott's fly-out to right field assisting in the 2nd out....I only had to be concerned with Zaun pinch-hitting skills...which I WAS CONCERNED.

Zaun tried but got whiffed out by the last pitch and struck out looking on a 80mph curveball marking this Saito's 1st SAVE for the Red Sox!!! WoooooooooooooooooooooooT.

There is one letter that stood out today. "K"

**oh and don't tell Nancy but I think I found my new fav player:
**pic courtesy of KellyO from her site at sittingstill.net

Execution is a good thing

It's no coincidence that Beckett uses the term "execute" when discussion of his pitching status arises. Quite frankly, I can't think of any other word that better fits his personality knowing his other passion which involves a form of executing. I mean if anything tells you how much this Texas boy loves his hunting...this direct quote from Beckett back after he'd just won the 2003 World Series and MVP award will:

''Not to say that winning the world championship is not a big thing but like we just -- we don't have a game tomorrow,'' Beckett said Saturday. ''It's kind of a relief to go deer hunting now.''

Beckett won the 2002 Muy Grande in Texas which is an award for shooting the largest deer during the Texas hunting season. The 14-point buck that Beckett shot weighed 245 pounds.*picture from Josh's Herradura Ranch website.

JPB then went on to play for the Marlins in 2003 winning the WS MVP! He was on a roll...even then JPB was spouting off cocky sayings. In an article back then, his dad quoted one of Josh's favorite phrases "Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you. '' Or maybe Josh was talking about the deer? I dunno but I love me some Beckett and his attitude.

Back back to executions...some people think Beckett don't think he gives the batters enough credit for just being "that" good.

But it's like one of the Globe's readers and posters VAGrunt said to this fact in today's paper " If you remember back to the days of Pedro, when he did execute his pitches he was nearly unhittable. And Pedro knew that. If he gave up any hits, it was his mistake. Pedro once said "I'm a bad man." And you know what, everybody already knew it. So when I hear Beckett saying hits are due to his lack of execution, well I'm inclined to believe him. He's no Pedro but he comes as close as the Sox have had in some time"

WELL....I don't know about that LAST sentence...but I do think VA hits the ball on the seam executing my point exactly.

Beckett for President

Yes, I am aware I have not kept up my promise to post at least twice a week. But it's not the first promise I've broken so don't go hating on me yet. I'm lagging somewhat behind in my baseball following this year. Just alot on my plate and I figure I can get my updates on a daily basis on Cyn's and Ted's blog as well as the SG chat room.

Today, JPB steps back on the mound after his suspension he received during the Angel's game. There has been alot of discussion whether or not it was warranted..but bottom line is Josh stepped towards the plate and he should have kept his angry little ass on the rubber. But hindsight's always better than foresight. Let's just hope that this game gets Beckett's sights focused on getting more of the above picture...which I think I found off of Boston Globe.

First game of the year that I get to actually watch Beckett pitch and I'm alittle giddy....yes I said GIDDY. Let's go Texas Boy...do us PROUD.

And if Texas EVER does secede from the union....I'm voting for Beckett for President.

7 Innings, 10 K's, ERA 1.29 Nuff Said.

"It was good, it was big," said Beckett. "Pedey got me on the board in the first inning. I had a lot of adrenaline. If anything, it let me calm down a little bit with the home run. You go out there and don't really feel like you have to be that perfect in the second. It was one of those days where I had to control myself as far as adrenaline. When Pedey hit that home run, it helped me
where I had to control myself as far as adrenaline. When Pedey hit that home run, it helped me bring things down a little bit."

NOW..I don't know about you but when one of the boys hits a homer especially on Opening Day...my adrenaline gets pumping...NOT slowing down.

I missed the game but I'm good

cos Beckett's good...he's DAMN GOOD.

AND BACK in FORM!!!!

Beckett Set for Opener!

Tito has set at least four of the 5-man rotation and what role Masterson will fill this year: Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka, and Wakefield will be the 4 of the 5-man rotation...Justin Masterson will fill in as Reliever. Who the 5th starter is and what role Clay Buchholz is going to play has yet to be decided. It appears the jury is still out on Penny and his ability due to prior health issues....some want to believe Clay will be the 5th should Tito and Theo decide Penny isn't ready to step in. With Spring Training coming to a close....we're all on pins and needles waiting to see what our line-up and pitching rotation is going to be.

ALL I KNOW FOR SURE IS THIS:

April 6th at Fenway, the season's opener, Joshua Patrick Beckett will pitch against the Rays(who's pitcher has yet to be disclosed).

And I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to finagle a way to get to Boston and Fenway.

The Schill is Gone...

So I can't just ignore it? Put my head into the sand?? I thought maybe if I just read about it but didn't write about it...it wouldn't be true. But Schill finally decided to hang up his cleats and when he did...he temporarily put the internet on pause....somehow I think Hell was freezing over.

He gave us a World Series we'll never forget. He gave us his bloody sock. He gave us chills, thrills, and goosebumps that series. We hurrahed on whooped when he was on the mound doing his thing....and cringed when he opened his mouth talking about politics. But we loved him cos he brought us to the Promised Land....World Series Champions!!!!

I have always been a spontaneous type of gal...but I did something I never thought I would....fly up to merely attend a parade...to see the boys float by in duck boats. It was the BEST parade EVER!













I'll never forget the year after we won when I attended Spring Training....I had been invited to a charity dinner that a couple of friends organized to benefit ALS...a disease for which Curt Schilling had become a fighter against. Sitting at one of the front tables with Curt and Shonda at the table next to me...it was one of the most surreal moments in my life. Then when I was asked by the emcee to say what was going on in my mind the night it happened....I felt like a little kid in elementary school who'd won the Spelling Bee. During the rest of the evening, some of us had a bottle of Godiva chocolate liquer and taking shots in the 2004 World Series shot glass. At one point, I looked over as I brought the shot glass to my lips and saw Curt peering over at us...watching us...he sorta had a smile on his face....I remember looking at him, raising my eyebrows as if to say "WOOOOOOT!!"


Thanks Curt for giving us 2 GREAT Years!!!! I wish you well and hope your gaming company really keeps kicking it!!!








**bloody sock picture courtesy of mlb and other two pics are mine.