Thursday, June 28, 2007
Thought
Question: if "J. D. Drew" stands for "David Jonathan Drew", does that mean he gets BRIs instead of RBIs?
Better to ponder these questions rather than the endless frustrations of the Seattle games.
Question: if "J. D. Drew" stands for "David Jonathan Drew", does that mean he gets BRIs instead of RBIs?
Better to ponder these questions rather than the endless frustrations of the Seattle games.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Sox 4, Seattle 9: Jeff Weaver? Really?
Damn, Julian Tavarez's excellent June couldn't quite continue - and Mike Timlin looks like he needs to be put out to pasture. Maybe to reach his coveted 1000 appearances the Sox could just put him in to deliver IBBs when the game situation called for them.
Damn, Julian Tavarez's excellent June couldn't quite continue - and Mike Timlin looks like he needs to be put out to pasture. Maybe to reach his coveted 1000 appearances the Sox could just put him in to deliver IBBs when the game situation called for them.
Monday, June 25, 2007
RIP Rod Beck
When I first started following the Sox religiously I absolutely loved the Rod Beck - El Guapo middle relief part of the bullpen, and I still think fondly of it. Beck - such a character (the whole "living in his RV by the ballpark" thing just added to his eccentricity), and died way too young. Only 38? He already seemed 38 in '01. RIP, Shooter.
When I first started following the Sox religiously I absolutely loved the Rod Beck - El Guapo middle relief part of the bullpen, and I still think fondly of it. Beck - such a character (the whole "living in his RV by the ballpark" thing just added to his eccentricity), and died way too young. Only 38? He already seemed 38 in '01. RIP, Shooter.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Old Baseball Songs
I won't cover all that I've caught up on in my absence (although Coco hitting 2 home runs yesterday made me do a double-take). But King Kaufman has a nice interview with musicologist Jerry Silverman on baseball songs pre-1922 (date chosen for copyright reasons). From a Sox-centric point of view, I must say I'm disappointed "Tessie" doesn't get mentioned in the interview, although I'd venture it's in the book. While I'm not too hot on the Dropkick Murphys version of the song, I thought it was really interesting to re-do a 1900s song (MP3 link) in the 2000s, and of course the tune always reminds of 2004.
I won't cover all that I've caught up on in my absence (although Coco hitting 2 home runs yesterday made me do a double-take). But King Kaufman has a nice interview with musicologist Jerry Silverman on baseball songs pre-1922 (date chosen for copyright reasons). From a Sox-centric point of view, I must say I'm disappointed "Tessie" doesn't get mentioned in the interview, although I'd venture it's in the book. While I'm not too hot on the Dropkick Murphys version of the song, I thought it was really interesting to re-do a 1900s song (MP3 link) in the 2000s, and of course the tune always reminds of 2004.
Back in Singapore
Am back in Singapore, nursing a post-flight cold. And fever. Which makes me confused as to whether I should starve or feed myself. But I must say, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Park were beautiful. Even if I was shut off from baseball news for a while.
I did, however, catch the last couple of innings of Justin Verlander's no-hitter - don't think I'll forget it. Sitting in a pizza parlour in West Yellowstone, idly glancing at the TV, and suddenly they break into the poker coverage to show the last couple of innings. Amazing stuff. I clapped out loud.
Am back in Singapore, nursing a post-flight cold. And fever. Which makes me confused as to whether I should starve or feed myself. But I must say, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Park were beautiful. Even if I was shut off from baseball news for a while.
I did, however, catch the last couple of innings of Justin Verlander's no-hitter - don't think I'll forget it. Sitting in a pizza parlour in West Yellowstone, idly glancing at the TV, and suddenly they break into the poker coverage to show the last couple of innings. Amazing stuff. I clapped out loud.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
The Oakland Series, and Schilling's 1-Hitter
Man - all the superstitions in me come out in force for a no-hit bid. And while 'twas not to be, glad to see Schilling's comfortable recovery. Command is Schill's bread and butter (he's got to be up there in terms of K/BB ratios of all time), and it's good to see it back. And it was a great way to end a very frustrating series, even if the offense is still asleep.
I think if he had gotten the no-hitter, it could have tipped him into Hall of Fame territory - he's
certainly on the borderline.
(Dice-K's game looked shaky at first, but he got so much better as the game got on. I think we need to make him throw about 50 pitches just before the game starts.)
Anyway, dear readers, I will be taking the next 10 days off to explore Yellowstone - travelling up from Salt Lake City - and then Chicago. And to feast on actual baseball news on TV. Last time I was in the US (last month), I visited Durham Bulls Athletic Park - let's see what I get to see on the way this time... have to say, I like the name of the Idaho Falls Chukars.
Man - all the superstitions in me come out in force for a no-hit bid. And while 'twas not to be, glad to see Schilling's comfortable recovery. Command is Schill's bread and butter (he's got to be up there in terms of K/BB ratios of all time), and it's good to see it back. And it was a great way to end a very frustrating series, even if the offense is still asleep.
I think if he had gotten the no-hitter, it could have tipped him into Hall of Fame territory - he's
certainly on the borderline.
(Dice-K's game looked shaky at first, but he got so much better as the game got on. I think we need to make him throw about 50 pitches just before the game starts.)
Anyway, dear readers, I will be taking the next 10 days off to explore Yellowstone - travelling up from Salt Lake City - and then Chicago. And to feast on actual baseball news on TV. Last time I was in the US (last month), I visited Durham Bulls Athletic Park - let's see what I get to see on the way this time... have to say, I like the name of the Idaho Falls Chukars.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Complete non-Red Sox related
I think Angel Pagan is the coolest name in baseball right now.
Well, until Lance Broadway makes it into the majors, and that's no certainty with his AAA stats.
I think Angel Pagan is the coolest name in baseball right now.
Well, until Lance Broadway makes it into the majors, and that's no certainty with his AAA stats.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Sox 11, Yankees 6: Lowell, Massachusetts
Mike Lowell does more with half the balls of most men - nice homer, breaking up the DP, and getting in the runs, plus a nice dig at the Yankees on the Cano knock ("My take is it's kind of ironic, because that's what they taught us in the minor leagues, and I was with the Yankees in the minor leagues"). But I do feel bad for Mientkiewicz - while clearly just one of those things, it was brutal just watching the play.
The Scott Proctor implosion, otherwise, was just fun to watch. Intentional ball to Manny just so that he could issue a walk to Youks? Brilliant.
Why are the Yankees series always so drama-filled? First Proctor headhunting at Youks (my guess is that it was supposed to be a message pitch, or at least a brushback, but not one meant to be straight at the head), and the HBP on Lowell's wrist, then today Lowell comes back with full power. And that's not counting A-Rod's on- and off-field brouhahas...
All the Red Sox news you can use
Mike Lowell does more with half the balls of most men - nice homer, breaking up the DP, and getting in the runs, plus a nice dig at the Yankees on the Cano knock ("My take is it's kind of ironic, because that's what they taught us in the minor leagues, and I was with the Yankees in the minor leagues"). But I do feel bad for Mientkiewicz - while clearly just one of those things, it was brutal just watching the play.
The Scott Proctor implosion, otherwise, was just fun to watch. Intentional ball to Manny just so that he could issue a walk to Youks? Brilliant.
Why are the Yankees series always so drama-filled? First Proctor headhunting at Youks (my guess is that it was supposed to be a message pitch, or at least a brushback, but not one meant to be straight at the head), and the HBP on Lowell's wrist, then today Lowell comes back with full power. And that's not counting A-Rod's on- and off-field brouhahas...
All the Red Sox news you can use
Singapore Sox Fan
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