#%@*!!!

Thanks to my buddies over at Surviving Grady for this tidbit on Beckett's performance last night...so it gave me alittle inspiration to write about.

*Picture from Getty off of Yahoo Sports

So OK...I admit Beckett has not had a great season...but heck he's been on the DL most of it!!!!   But last night I was excited, anxious and alittle scared for Beckett.  But he delivered...for a while.  I have to say at the top of the 7th I was shocked Tito kept Beckett in (yah I know I shouldn't be).   I actually thought after that 2nd homerun hit off of Beckett, Tito should have pulled him.  But he didn't but thank God for Hitting. I know the saying "Pitching wins games" but a game isn't won by no Runs. But BACK to why I'm writing this...

With the addition of Beckett to the Sox back in '05, Boston added a few choice words to their vocabulary such as 'horseshit'.  Now Beckett is an intelligent Texas boy so don't let his lack of 'big words' fool you but sometimes those 4 letter words just make you feel better when you've had a shitty game/day.   Never one to mince words, when asked about his start, Beckett gave me giggles at his response: 
"I don't have any words that aren't four letters," ....  "I started leaving some balls up."

Now if Beckett could just get his balls in gear and quit leaving them up to be hit....we'd all be happier.
And yes I'm choosing to use a picture of Beckett NOT getting a homerun hit off of him so THERE

And for all you Beckett Haters.....leave me be. I'm taking my smiles where I can get them.

Never Give Up

Determination                                            Persistence                                                   Guts

                             Work through it                                        Cowboy UP


6 games back in theWild Card?  Yanks losing....if the team thinks they can Do This....then SO DO I!!







   

It Ain't OVAH till It's OVAH

BELIEVE                                                                               FAITH

Two words used alot in the church of God and in the church of Baseball, particularly in Boston.

You pray and pray and hope that God answers your prayers to give you the answer you want.  Some of us 'pray' to the Gods of Baseball in hopes of making it to October Road with our team.   Some churches you pray on your knees, some do the cross thing with your hands, some kneel and bow, but in Baseball, we pray in all sorts of ways.

There are times we are praying for that hit and runs at the end of the game to take it away from worthy opponents.   Basically the prayer goes like this (said under your breath) "pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease" 
                                                                                                                                                                                    

Then we may use another cultures means and methods in making sure our opponents go down a fiery death....

or sometimes we just get distracted from the game  itself...

Either Way...Baseball is a game where It Ain't OVAH till IT'S OVAH!!!

Imagine a World With Peace

Lots of those remembering those who died on 9-11 due to terrorists. I chose and planned out to visit the firestation who lost the most men....the firefighter who greeted me was kind enough to take a picture with me.  I also visited Ground Zero...I can't explain the urgency I had to visit.  I felt compelled to do more than just be there.   The pictures of Ground Zero stay with me...I remember vividly the incident of teetering on a sawhorse trying to look over the mesh fence to see what I could see of Ground Zero....only to be yelled at by a local police officer to get down.  There were flower bunches hanging on this fence, some new...some old....but people were leaving their thank you's and sympathy behind.  As I tried to move across the sawhorse to get down....a firetruck came barreling down the street, watching it get closer, I became mesmerized and overcome...freezing in my steps I watched as they turned the corner. A firefighter half hanging out the window with a look of despair on his face.  Our eyes met and I nodded to him...he nodded back and the truck turned the corner heading towards Ground Zero....to find more bodies of those lost. 

 

It was at that time I realized I was on Holy Ground...a cemetery of sorts and made my way off the sawhorse to the ground.  I think of that weekend often as it was the push I needed to move on....to do something and not become stagnate any longer in my life.  Since then, so much as changed in my life but once again, I feel the tug of What's Next.....I am making plans now to return to NYC next year.  It will be 10 years....10 years that some have been without their moms, their dads, their brothers, their sisters, their children, their friends....the memories of that day are etched into our minds...the pictures of the towers being hit and dropped....but the pictures we should be remembering are those who were lost and the good they left behind...

Lackey Answered Buch's Call

So after last night's Amazing Game by Buchholz and his call for his fellow Texan teammates to BUCH UP....Lackey was NO lackey and kicked some Mariners BooTAY.  And not wanting himself to be outdone by the entire pitching staff last night??  He KO'd 10...count them T E N to the dugout.  He needed this, the team needed this....and quite frankly SG crew (myself included) NEEDED THIS or else I think they were going to take away my Texan flag I toss about in the games the Texan Red Sox pitchers play in.  I wish the picture to the right was better...and showed my Red Sox Nation-Texas tshirt (like the previous post).  What was so much fun on that Fan Appreciation Day was being able to connect without saying A WORD at first with Lackey, Buchholz  and then BARD!!! (forgot he was born in Texas) FIRST TIME EVER at Fenway, someone told ME they were from Texas! albeit only born and lived there probably a few months :)
STILL Once  Born a Texan....Always a TEXAN.

Now....Will my boy Beckett Bring IT Tomorrow??   I'm betting on it and will be wrapping myself in the flag with my boots on. Beckett better put his ASSKICKING Boots on if he knows what's good for him

Buch UP

The Rally Cry may have been Cowboy Up in 2004 with Millar...but another Texan makes me want to yell at his fellow Texan teammates and pitchers, Beckett and Lackey to "BUCH UP"  and start pitching like the Texas PITCHERS they ARE!!!!   Today after 2 Rain Delays....3 pitchers....11 K's...and NO Runs by the Jays, Buchholz (7 K's of his own)  His last 23 2/3's inning without an earned run!  15 Wins and lowering his ERA with each win!! Last 4 starts WON.

Our Sox are still in 3rd place in our division and 2nd place in the Wild Card...but they keep kicking and scratching all the way till someone shuts the door.

Talk of Clay being the next Cy is in the buzz....and nothing would make me happier to have a Texan win it.



Meanwhile back here in Austin....predictions of triple digits continue...high of 103 in Austin tomorrow. Can't WAIT :SIGH:
I don't look forward to October JUST for baseball........ 

I went to the Woods....discover that I had not lived. Thoreau

I took  path down a windy way somewhere in the middle of Massachusetts.  I felt as if I was repeating a path some had taken long ago.  I came across rubble it appeared  to me with roped off stones to an area to which I was unclear what it meant. 

the closer I approached this rubble of stones, I realized they were put there rather purposely for a reason or reasons.  The crowds around take away the solititude that seems to creep into the day.     Oh to have the passion and desire that Throreau had...to have the Purpose and Deliberate Life to do this.

 Seeing all those rock formations left by others...I had to leave mine.

But  knew mine would be special...apart from others. Taking time and patience to find the rocks and pieces to create my Zen formation....I came across a tiny piece....that I'm still puzzled by what it is.

But it was a blue star. It was perfect as I placed it on top of my Zen.   One day I want to live in the woods as Thoreau did.  Separate myself with others. Simple Life. 

I just wonder if they have baseball there

One. Game. At. A. Time.

It started with Papi doing what he does  best

**pic by Ray Stubblebine Reuters

Clay going long into the 8th to save the bullpen...ERA 2.66  Oh Ok he hit Jeter with a pitch but I'm sure he deserved it
















And God help me....I've been trying to find a photo of Kalish hitting his first homerun in the Majors against NONE OTHER THAN the Yanks!!!!!!!!!!!

I didnt get to watch the games as I was visiting my folks and then met up with a friend I hadn't seen in years....but I was STOKED to see not only did we win....we held the lead the entire time.  One thing I am happy about (other than the WIN) is I didn't have to see Berkman in those pinstripes. :shudders:

And it all happened in a matter of 3 hours and 17 minutes in Yankee Stadium.
Tomorrow Game 2. Be THERE.

Year of the DL

I've really lost count at this point the number of boys who've been out on the DL at some time or another.  I mean it's been pitchers, infielders and outfielders....short DL's...long DL's, questionable DL's and over extended DL's.  But TODAY....Today's DL?????  REALLLLLLLLLLLLY???????????????  :SIGH:

 **pic by Jim Davis of Boston Globe

I hope Youk's thumb surgery and rehabilitation goes better for him than it did for me.  I wonder if he'll get a cast like I did? 

Not that I don't think we can hang....I mean look where we still are without The Little Engine that Could.  Every time we turn around someone steps up to the plate and fills their shoes.  Beltre's been a breath of fresh air...sure he knocked the breath out of Jacoby that one time....but other than that...OK so maybe he's run into a few others but his Grand Slammie tonight was awesome!!  Knocking the Indians on their tonkas.  Meanwhile between Scutaro and  VMart, they love ganging up on Beltre to rub his head...he's got some weird hang up for no one to touch his head and is willing to go head-to-head with you if you dare!!!  He's leading the Sox in batting average! .337  We're up 6-1 top of the 9th with OKJ on the mound.  1 out...and I'm hoping I still have this smile in a few.  **pic by Darren McCollester of Getty Images

Screaming in Seattle

So Lackey flirted with one....boom it was gone, We won but he didn't get the stat. Beckett has good return...but we just can't do enough so he doesn't get the W.

Ok those are not our aces but we still Won....so what the heck happened last night???????????????

Lester's dealing K's like a BlackJack dealer in Vegas and yet we LOST. Lost BIG!!!  Flirting with a No-No and No Name Eric can't seem to catch a simple ball out to him.  Yah I blame him.  Sure Lester allowed a homerun after that so BOOOOOOOOOOM....2-1.

NO MORE of this DRAMA!!!!   WIN...boys just WIN.
oh and No Pic cos the one of me putting the boys balls in a vicegrip is not allowed on the net.

Miles and Miles of Texans

(Elaine Thompson/Associated Press)

 

 

Back to Back wins for the Sox with Back to Back Texans on the mound....Yet neither the Tall Texans captured the Win.  Lackey had probably his best outing as a Sox on Friday night fiddling with a No-No...coming out with the Sox on top only for relievers and closers to almost lose it....but in the end we won.
Last night Josh only allowed one hit in his less than 6 innings pitching....but the game was tied. Blame Ichiro. Is the 'old' Beckett back?   Only time will tell but I've missed seeing him....I'm hoping he'll only get stronger.

I also hope Lackey continues his Friday performance for the rest of the season....

Texas and Fenway are God's Country

**Picture courtesy of San Diego Tribune and thanks to my high school friend Perk for finding it for me

Texans love to say that "Texas is God's Country"  but I know better.....God has a little park in Boston as well.

I really don't think the picture needs any explanation....cept maybe Steinbrenner probably was thinking "Oh Shi@#**^%##@$F##%MOth##^&@@&**$####!"
And personally I don't think he got in

Ding Dong...you know the rest

**pic taken off Austin American Statesman Charles Sykes AP


Ok so call me Wicked









He wasn't a Saint...no he owned a baseball team...one that I despise....but did ya know that he actually was banned from baseball some time back for being a convicted felon?  yah yah yeah....Sending sympathy to his family....but it's like he orchestrates these things....the All Star Game is about to begin and it's already ALL about GEORGE.

Timing?? 

Home Run King

Maybe that magic wand I posted worked?   Or maybe Papi came back?  Or maybe Ortiz was pissed at Girardi for not selecting Youk to be on the All Star Team?  or maybe...just maybe the Red Sox luck is turning a corner and we're on our way to a more healthy team. 

I didn't even watch it tonight....I get so tired of the whole mess of the All Star thing cos it's messed up.  If it's exhibition then why does it make or break who gets home team advantage.  Funny thing, Red on SG predicted Tiz to win it.  Ok now...Red predict our boys to get healed.

Even so....I'm not watching the All Star Game.

Three Days...Three Nights

The Sox have 3 days and 3 nights to get well.  I'm really hoping that they take advantage of it.  I don't want to hear excuses.....Papi's going to be swatting at some leather in L.A. and my boy Adrian is going to fill in for the game while the rest of the boys who are on the All Star list recuperate...along with the rest of the gang who are on Sick Leave.  I'd love to have a handy dandy Magic Wand to use in these next three days to heal broken bones, strained muscles, stiff necks, still backs, jammed thumbs or toes, etc.....I have to say I cannot rewrite any of the following any better than Peter Abraham.  I hate repeating what someone says but he gets to the point hitting the nail on the head

Instead of writing a long involved recap of the season to date, let me ask you this question.
If on Opening Day I said the following would be true at the All-Star break ...
* Josh Beckett would have one win.
* Jacoby Ellsbury would play nine games.
* Mike Cameron would have three home runs and 14 RBIs.
* Dustin Pedroia would hit .213 in May then go on the disabled list on June 26.
* David Ortiz would have one home run in April.
* Guys named Darnell McDonald and Daniel Nava would become regulars.
* Bill Hall would be in the top nine in plate appearances on the team
* Every reliever outside of Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon on the Opening Day roster would have ERAs over 4.59.
* Tim Wakefield would have the third-most innings pitched on the staff.
... would you have said the Red Sox would be 14 games over .500 and within three games of a playoff berth?
Probably not.

Nuff said....Let's Play Ball!!! 

Roll of the Dice and We Win and Beckett is on his way back

**photo taken by Kelly O'Connor...used with permission plus I begged for one knowing she was at the Pawtucket game today. 


His name is Joshua Patrick Beckett....he's one of our Starting Pitchers for the Red Sox.  Yah I know he's been out alot but so has alot of other players.  Beckett threw today in the game at Pawtucket and apparently did good.  I begged Kelly on her facebook page for a picture....knowing she probably just sat down at her computer...I've just been so anxious to see him back in our rotation. I'm hoping he'll be Beckettesque and give us what the Dr orders.  You can catch the story over on the Globe where Mike Scandura reports the game.  Beckett threw 68 pitches....42 strikes with 4 K's and no Walks. Ok so one homerun hit off of him, however, the catcher, Wagner blamed himself for calling for the wrong pitch.  Beckett didn't give any chance at interview...but I'm sure he woulda set them straight.

Good News is DiceK pitched well. The boys took the game but we're back at 5 games back....I'm ready for the boys to get back on track and quit using up all their accrued Sick Leave.  Enough already

When do we get to see the Amusement?

Amusements Parks always have one....everyone wants to ride them because they're so exciting and fun.  They're fast....turns and circles and up and down....Everyone wants to ride them....it's a staple icon in every Amusement Park.   Baseball parks are like that....they all have excitement at every turn of an inning.

Being a Red Sox fan this season is like riding a rollercoaster.....we're down...then we're up....we're down...then we're on. our. way. up......and we're                       

down again.....Looks like my Texas boy didn't quite do it for us today.  The Jays SP came out in 4th...I think somewhere around his 102nd pitch!!!!   And we were TIED even then. Perhaps it was the fact Lackey put 6 batters on base himself... No matter...Lackey lacked what it took....the Jays brought their bats with the runs and the Sox lost yet again. 

Tomorrow JiggleButt climbs on the mound to see what he can do to squash our pain...although I know he'll try our patience, I'm hoping he'll pull through and give us a W.  Thanks to Sharpy from SG for making these flags for me. 

Now I love myself a good State Fair with an awesome rollercoaster...but if someone could find the safety bar and lock it tight before the game, I'd appreciate it.  Last but not least...last year this seemed to work.  Maybe it will again

Do Not Let the Size Fool You

I'm 5'2    and 1/2".  Yeah I claim every single 1/2 inch of stature but NEVER let my size fool you in what I am capable of.  I will stand up to a man of 6'4" and call him a 'Dick' if that's what he deserves.  Dynamite comes in small packages and up there in the Rocky Mountain High area, I think they got a taste of it as well.  Pedie saved Paps ass BIG TIME last night by dinging his last home run to put us back over the Rockies after Papelbon was playing rock-paper-scissors with every at-bat.  Extra Innings with a west coast game that takes biting your nails to the extreme....I'm dragging here today trying to focus on work. So I figured if I wrote a little diddy about the game, I'd get it out of my head and perhaps get something done. 

5 for 5 and 3 Home runs with 3 Runs and 4 RBI's.  Last night. Apparently the last Red Sox player to hit 3 Dingers in one game was Millar in 2004.  I love these sort of stats because it shows you not to underestimate the players who may not appear to be a hero of a game.  I'm sure if you ran into Dustin on the street at Sullivan's or Dunkin's, you may not even recognize him cos....or maybe you would cos with his personality (after reading just some of his book I get the jest he is a smack talker in general), you could possibly overhear him talking smack to the girl behind the counter on how many donuts he could eat in less than 5 minutes or how many tires he could change in less than one hour.  He's a competitive little dude....but don't let him know I called him little.   But as you can see, JB definitely leaned 'over' so he wouldn't be taller than Dustin.

It was told that Dustin was heard chanting as he walked by Papelbon in the locker room last night "Who's Your Daddy?" **





**Ok maybe that was made up but it sounds like something he would do...and I'm willing to bet my Red Sox tickets in Texas that he did.

Reason I fell in love with Baseball

College Baseball....more specifically College World Series.  Sometime back after leaving high school and heading to college at Lamar University, I fell in love with baseball.  I admit it was the boys I was following at first....but at some point, my focus shifted from adoring the seat of their pants to the way the ball sailed across the plate meeting metal with leather then watching the ball make it's way over the shortstop's head to outfield...all the while watching the batter run his ass off to make it a double.  

LSU isn't in Omaha...so I'm not as invested to watch BUT (there's always a but in baseball-pun intended) Texas is...no not THAT Texas team....TCU, Frogs, Texas Christian University.  It's the last year at Rosenblatt...I'm sad I never got to go before they move it to the new park....but I'll get there one day.

TCU vs UCLA tonight...Top of 7th and the Frogs had a great big ZERO....just seeming to have No chance when Boom. Got one hit and man on First.  BoomBOOM Man on 1st and 2nd.  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM. Bases loaded.  Unknown player to me...gets up to bat and gets a piece sending it right down the middle out to Centerfield....TRIPLE bringing the score to 5-3.  Bottom of the 7th brings a solo home run for the Bruins

Now it's the top of 8th and Frogs are up again. Let's hope the Frogs can pull it off. But there's Double Elimination so the Frogs are still in it even if they lose tonight.

Baseball.....ya gotta LOVE IT!!!

I love baseball....know why?

Stories like Daniel Nava.