tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773Mon, 17 Mar 2014 22:37:37 +0000Commander KickassMunchkinBinkyBig PapiJason VaritekTimmy WonderpitchesGood thingsMr. AwesomeAsshatJonathan PatmybumDahmerErniesuckCRWLackeyJDCarl CrawfordDice-KMannyPretzelsLowriderSaltygoodbyeKazerudDuckyTitoFetusMarco ScutaroPOSRonald McDonaldStrike-out-kingDaniel BardBrad PennyReddickulousJohn SmoltzVMartBaseballlessnessI hate Theo EpsteinOkajima(Devil)Adrian BeltreGonzoMudpieMike CameronAdmiralAlfredo AcevesKevin Cash sucksBruinsCookiesGrumpyJenksBoston sportsCaptain PlanetDougieFelix DoubrontLittle TekScott AtchisonTakashi Saitobadasseryprofound sadnessstupid YankeesASGCelticsDennis EckersleyFrankieJJ HardyJavier LopezSharkyWolverineAndrew MillerBobby ValentineC+Franklin MoralesJunichi TazawaNancyPedro MartinezRamboRocco BaldelliVantasticBartolo ColonCC SabbathiaCalvilesCharlie ZinkCody RossGargoyleJim RiceJimmy FundJohnny PeskySchillingSpine PunchesVerlanderhome runsno-hitterAJ BurnettBOPBabyfaceBullpen bandDaniel NavaDave RobertsElephant ManGeorge KottarasJosh BardKeeblerMatt AlbersRyan KalishSauceScugoSteroid Monkeyrain delayrumorsAardvarkBill HallJoel PinieroPrince FielderRandy JohnsonRentaripoffRyan LavarnwayRyan WestmorelandTrot Nixon is sadYamaico NavarrokickassnessAdrian GonzalezAlan EmbreeAngelsBedardCamelCarl PavanoCooperstownCy YoungDan WheelerDeftonesFlyswatterGabe KaplerHank Steinbrenner is a silly manJC RomeroJason JohnsonJolt-cola CocoJustin MorneauKazmirKevin Youkilis is an asshole crybaby.Mariano RiveraNick PuntoNomarSatanSkeletorTedy BruschiTen ThingsTommy HottovyVirtual waiting hellWily Mo PeñaeMpTyopening dayramblingtradesALCSAaron BatesArmando GalarragaBaileyBartohno ColonBen CheringtonBenderCarlos SantanaCarlos ZambranoCole HamelsConsecutive selloutsCredit card fraudDane CookDustin RichardsonDwight EvansFausto CarmonaGeorge SteinbrennerGreen DayHouseICUJim ThomeJoe TorreJose IglesiasJosh HamiltonJosh McDanielsJunior SeauKen Griffey Jr.King FelixKurt WagnerLarry LucchinoLoloLostMatt CasselMatt HollidayMichael BowdenOasisPawsoxPretty WomanPrinceRIPRandy MossRich HillScott FeldmanSea DogsShoppySweeneyTom BradyTop games of 2008TwigWBCYazasteriskendingshypehyperboleknuckleballsmanateesnick adenhartnicknamespolicyscreamingsigningssilly outfielderssolve for Xspontaneous combustionstop booing your own playersScreaming at the ShortstopLiving in Boston's revolving door of miseryhttp://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Jup)Blogger627125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-1328715721210071592Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:41:00 +00002012-10-31T12:41:03.299-04:00Scutaro Saves The Giants: And Other Thoughts That Annoy MeMarco Scutaro was the NLCS MVP.<br /><br />Josh Reddick won a gold glove.<br /><br />John Farrell is the new manager.<br /><br />The first two annoy me because they won awards for other teams when they should have still been on our team. Give me one reason other than payroll that Scutaro was traded away. I LIKED Scutaro. He was one of the few who didn't quit in September 2011. And Reddick? There was just no reason to trade him. Who the hell did we get? Bailey? I don't want Bailey. Give me back Reddick!<br /><br />Guys, this infuriates me. Instead of asking why can't we get players like that, I ask why we don't keep players like that? Why get rid of Reddick? Why trade Scoots when we clearly don't have a shortstop. Oh, I'm sorry... Nick Punto was the shortstop, right? Fantastic.<br /><br />And Farrell? I don't have faith in a single person that our front office lusts after. They have a horrifying track record of lusting after the wrong man for the job. Lugo. Renteria. Dice K. Drew. Lackey. Failures. And John's record in Toronto leaves me nothing to feel warm and fuzzy about.<br /><br />Maybe it's just me, but I'm finding it very hard to feel positive about this team for any reason. Just sign David Ortiz and give me a reason to give you my money, Red Sox. All I want is one damn reason.<br /><br />And Bobby V. is an asshat. I don't need to justify. I just think he's an asshat.<br /><br />So, here's what I think our lineup will look like next season:<br /><br />Jacoby Ellsbury - CF - for the first ten games of the season until he breaks himself. To be replaced with random outfielder or infielder from Pawtucket and/or the local Quick Stop.<br /><br />Dustin Pedroia - 2B<br />David Ortiz - DH<br />Amadeus Saltalamacchia -C<br />Who - 1B<br />I don't know - 3B<br /><br />At about this point of the lineup card, fans are randomly selected from the crowd to take the field.<br /><br />We clearly don't have a SS. I don't think we have any legitimate outfielders left... Loney isn't coming back to play 1B. I guess Middlebrooks might be on 3rd, but we'll see if he gets healthy.<br /><br />Don't even ask about the pitching. It's just slightly more terrifying than the worst zombie movie you've ever seen.<br /><br />Happy Halloween, everyone. Any chance the Red Sox pull some treats out for their loyal (and cranky) fanbase, or do they just keep assaulting us with tricks?http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/10/scutaro-saves-giants-and-other-thoughts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-1198233624252698624Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:18:00 +00002012-10-04T13:18:55.243-04:00Gone, Bobby, GoneMore official things... <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/boston-red-sox-fire-bobby-valentine-as-manager-after-one-season-100412">Valentine has been canned.</a><br /><br />Now he doesn't have to worry about a sneaky, scheming bunch of coaches. He can focus on coming up with the next big sandwich craze. Good luck,&nbsp; Bobby. Seriously. I don't blame you for all of this, you were just the wrong person for the job.<br /><br />I'd say we can let the healing begin now, but I'm afraid we've got a long couple of years ahead of us, folks.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/10/gone-bobby-gone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-2522474028435575709Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:06:00 +00002012-10-04T08:06:02.469-04:00Thanks: And Goodbye 2012 SoxIt is now officially over. My team laid down and got sexually assaulted by the Yankees for the last three games in a row, putting their end of season losing streak at 8 games to finish out the year.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone who came by the blog this year and read my whining. I know there was a lot of whining, and a lot of sadness, but your visits cheer me up.<br /><br />Congratulations and good luck to all the teams that made the playoffs... except the Yankees. F@!K the Yankees.<br /><br />I hope everyone on the current roster is shipped to the Zimbabwe fall league this year, never to return. I'm glad to hear rumors that Bobby will be fired soon. It doesn't make me feel better, I'm just glad to hear it. And if somehow, in some terrible-miracle sort of way he manages to come back? I am turning in my Sox hat and going to live in a bomb shelter under a mountain somewhere. Listen to me, Lucchino! I do NOT want to live in a bomb shelter!<br /><br />In what should have been a giant party all year long, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the park I love so much, there was just misery. We finished in last place, we lost the voice and the heart of the team (Rest well, Johnny and Carl), AND we handed the division to our rivals. On a silver platter, served on the backs of our pitching staff.<br /><br />Can I call them pitchers? Throwers, maybe. These guys can't pitch.<br /><br />So I hope when they clean out the lockers, the names that currently hang above them are never replaced. We clearly need some new blood on this team.<br /><br />Also, I'll be DAMNED if this team gives Pretzels $100M. We've had enough of those kinds of mistakes.<br /><br />So there you have it. A miserably, whiny post to conclude a miserable whiny season. I look forward to the winter and to watching how this team is disassembled and then put back together. Listen guys, even if next season is worse that this one, it at least won't hurt so badly, because we're ready for it. Enjoy cheap tickets at Fenway!<br /><br />I'll see you all during the winter meetings.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/10/thanks-and-goodbye-2012-sox.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-8768941300746676114Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:51:00 +00002012-09-04T14:51:06.408-04:00It's Over: It's BEEN Over.This season is like a never-ending train wreck. The horror just continues rolling along, and we are powerless to stop it, or look away.<br /><br />There is no joy in the team. The manager is defeated, and quite frankly sounds like he yearns for retirement. The play on the field is flat. If you thought they were slumping from April-July, just get a load of their numbers in August. This team has been in a giant, collective slump all season, and they don't know how to pull themselves out of it.<br /><br />It's a train wreck.. I feel no joy in watching it. I feel no compulsion to write about it. Like they always say, if you can't say something nice...<br /><br />Every day, my Sox fandom looks itself in the mirror, straightens its navy blue "B" hat, sighs and announces we're still in for the long run. And we are. But we don't have to like it.<br /><br />I'm taking solace in the fact that Keebler has the entire offseason to put his own stamp on the team. So far, he's traded away Youk, Shoppach, Beckett, Gonzalez, Crawford, and Punto, and essentially got back a diet soda with a loose lid from Wendy's. I don't know how much faith I have in his trade-making skills, but I have no choice but to go with it. For the record, I still feel a little numb about the trade, considering Beckett was my favorite pitcher for years and years. Also, I'm disappointed that Keebs stripped us of the chance to ever see a healthy Crawford play - but there's no guarantee that there would ever BE a healthy Crawford.<br /><br />Also, Sauce? ENOUGH. Either shut your damn mouth or get off my team. There's enough negative feeling around the Sox without you being an asshole crybaby.<br /><br />Twenty-plus more games to play, and it's looking more and more likely that this team will finish under .500 and in last place. I'm afraid to hope for change, because I don't know how much worse it can get. All I can do is try to shield my eyes from the carnage.<br /><br />That being said.... go Sox.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-over-its-been-over.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-158718108029657614Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:27:00 +00002012-08-23T08:27:51.763-04:00The Rage: One Step FurtherDone.<br /><br />I am done with you, Jon Lester. And you, Josh Beckett. You self important assholes.<br /><br />I harbor no more love for you, Dustin Pedroia. You don't even deserve the honor of a stupid nickname any more.<br /><br />Jacoby Ellsbury. Adrian Gonzales. What more important things did you have to do?<br /><br />Our ENTIRE outfield! Not a SINGLE ONE of you could bother? The ENTIRE infield? Were you too busy getting spiffed up for the Beckett Bowl?<br /><br />I am so disgusted. I don't care what's going on with the team. I don't care that you had a charity event to go to THAT NIGHT. I don't even care if you don't like funerals. You entitled little crybabies should have shut up, put on a suit, and gone to Pesky's funeral.<br /><br />It disgusts me enough that they allowed all of you to wear his number. You couldn't be bothered to win a single game that you played in his honor. You couldn't bother to show up for the games that coincided with the Jimmy Fund Telethon. You. Didn't. Try.<br /><br />Big Papi, Amadeus (who, by the way, managed attendance at both events), Dahmer, and Padilla... thank you. Thank you for being professionals, and good people, and showing up to a funeral that most people in New England would have loved to have been able to attend.<br /><br />As for the rest of you? You're dead to me. You are not men.<br /><br />It's going to be a quiet night at the ballpark for me tonight.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-rage-one-step-further.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-1976304291822008027Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-08-15T08:00:25.896-04:00suckBabies In The Dugout: Anger In My HeartIt is becoming increasingly hard for me to separate my love for the Red Sox with my hatred of the players on this team. I'm not being reactionary. Not a single one of them deserves to wear that uniform.<br /><br />I hate buying into what the media tells me to think about these guys. Really, I do. But with the reports that seventeen players had a meeting with ownership behind Bobby's back, I'm done supporting the players. They make me angry. A bunch of whiny, overindulged babies who don't like that the manager has expectations for them? Aw, poor them. Hey, I didn't like that Bobby left Jon Lester out that night to get pounded either (mostly because he was making the game unenjoyable for me), but it's Lester's goddamn JOB to pitch, and when we have no one left in the bullpen, either take your lumps or PITCH BETTER.<br /><br />I feel no sympathy for them. I have no respect for them. And the ownership that allows them to be crybabies is just as bad. Let me clarify - I don't have anything against the ownership. For as long as they've been in charge, things have seemed pretty good around Fenway. I think they made the wrong decision to hire Bobby in the offseason, but once you hire him, he's your guy. Support him, and see to it that the employees under him don't feel like they have power to veto him. He's a manager. The fact that they didn't let him manage if a failure on their part, and they have to be held accountable for the millionaire monsters they've created.<br /><br />We wanted these guys to win one for Pesky? Please, I don't even want them associated with the name Johnny Pesky. Their entitled bullshit attitudes are the opposite of everything Pesky stood for. There is no honor in having these guys win a game for a person that they didn't even deserve to be around.<br /><br />Yup, I'm talking to all of them - Beckett, Lester, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Gonzalez... You name 'em, I'm disgusted by them. There is no leadership among the players. Or if there is, the only thing that's being led is a&nbsp; march up to the owner's office to whine that Bobby made them feel bad. Suck it up, you jackasses. You don't want to play for Bobby? Too goddamn bad. It's not your decision. You signed your name to those contracts and it's your RESPONSIBILITY to earn that money.<br /><br />This season has been painful. That game last night? Hideous. I have no good good things to say about the team. I have no happy or warm feelings about any of the games on the rest of the schedule. And it kills me to say that I don't like this team, because I truly and honestly did like them at the beginning of the season. But they have no heart, no fight, no desire. A new manager isn't going to change that. We got a new manager. Remember, they managed to get Tito fired and it didn't improve their desire to win at all. The change has to come from ownership. The next time they get a text message crying that Bobby hurt someone's feelings, instead of calling a meeting to let the players cry, they should tell them to take their frustrations out in the work out room and the batting cages.<br /><br />That being said, I'm still in it. And unlike a lot of people I know, I want them to win. I just don't think they will. So go Sox.... you've got a month and a half left. Start earning your paychecks.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/08/babies-in-dugout-anger-in-my-heart.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-5904453414022687468Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:10:00 +00002012-08-14T09:10:08.646-04:00goodbyeJohnny Peskyprofound sadnessAnd the baseball world gets a little smallerEarlier this season, we lost the voice of Fenway when Carl Beane died.<br /><br />Yesterday, we lost the heart of the Red Sox with the passing of Johnny Pesky.<br /><br />Despite knowing that he couldn't possibly live forever, I didn't think the end would come this soon. My heart is broken. I'm sure many, many people can relate when I say I felt like Johnny Pesky was my grandfather.<br /><br />Johnny always had a minute to spare for anyone who wanted one. I met him on a few occasions, and he was always wonderful and accommodating. Johnny once said that his autograph was worth about ten cents, and maybe he's right about that. The autograph may be worth ten cents, but the experience of getting to talk to him for even two minutes was priceless.<br /><br />I cried when I heard. I always wondered what I would do when Johnny passed away. I didn't expect that the answer would be 'bawl like a giant baby and mess up dinner because I just couldn't properly roll arancini through my grief.' Dinner came out ok despite my inability to roll risotto, but it tasted sad. If you can taste the love put into a meal, you can taste the sadness behind it as well.<br /><br />My boyfriend laughed at me last night. Maybe he was right to. I probably looked ridiculous sitting on the couch, clutching a tissue, with tears rolling down my cheeks as I watched the NESN special on Johnny. He said he didn't understand why I was getting so upset over the death of someone I didn't even know. I told him he didn't have to understand, he just had to accept.<br /><br />It eases my grief a little that the last game Johnny attended was a win. Also knowing that he got to play such a prominent part in both the 100th anniversary celebration, Opening Day, and the World Series victories. I am thankful that the Red Sox officially declared the right field pole "Pesky's Pole" and retired his old number 6 while he was still around to see it. I don't think anyone loved the Red Sox, Fenway, or baseball more than Johnny Pesky, and now no one can ever separate Fenway and Johnny. His name, his fingerprints, his stories are all over that park.<br /><br />Johnny, if there is a ball park in the afterlife, I honestly hope to see you there. And if I do, I suspect that you will be sitting in a folding chair, signing autographs and telling stories. Rest in peace, dear man. You are loved and missed. http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/08/and-baseball-world-gets-little-smaller.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-4117908634515598945Tue, 22 May 2012 14:12:00 +00002012-05-22T10:12:07.197-04:00The Magical Journey To Over .500: A Mission Squarely In Doubront's HandsFor the first time in about a month, the Sox have the opportunity to go above .500. They have reached the .500 mark on a couple of occasions, but have never been able to crack the mediocre mark.<br /><br />With the team on a bit of a hot streak, they have their best chance yet to get there. The mission is in Felix Doubront's left hand. Felix has already gotten us to one big checkpoint this season... he was able to secure the first win of the season. I have plenty of faith in this kid to pull out a win tonight.<br /><br />But if he doesn't, it's ok. Because&nbsp; it's just one of those seasons, and we just have to accept it. All the luck in the world to you tonight, Felix. But no pressure.<br /><br />Hell, we've seen that even if he pitches as badly as Dahmer (who again gave up five runs) the offense seems to be awake enough to back him up. I guess my main advice is try not to give up more than five runs, and we may be fine.<br /><br />With the way this team is going, it's definitely going to be an interesting summer.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/05/magical-journey-to-over-500-mission.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-8111988960333659370Tue, 22 May 2012 12:03:00 +00002012-05-22T08:03:32.252-04:00Carl CrawfordCody RossPretzelsRonald McDonaldRyan KalishSox Outfielders: Obviously EndangeredI don't know what's going on beyond the diamond, but the job of "Red Sox outfielder" has quickly become one of the most hazardous jobs in the market.<br /><br />The latest addition to the quickly-growing list of injured outfielders is Cody Ross.... which really, truly sucks. I like Cody Ross, and he's been coming up with key hits for the team. Now he's out about eight weeks with a broken foot, and we are beyond replacements-for-replacement level players. We're at replacements-for-the-replacements-of-replacement level players. It's getting scary.<br /><br />I know I've asked before, but can we please keep this team in bubble wrap when not in use? Seriously now! We've got three outfielders on the 60-day DL. Pretzels, Crawford, and&nbsp; Ryan Kalish may be back this season, but we'll see what happens. Neither Ellsbury or Crawford have even begun baseball activities as far as I know.<br /><br />McDonald, Repko (remember him?) and Ross are only on the 15 day DL, but again, it remains to be seen what will happen.<br /><br />Red Sox... bubble wrap and duct tape. That's all you need. Get on it.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/05/sox-outfielders-obviously-endangered.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-6980105493869945775Fri, 11 May 2012 13:39:00 +00002012-05-11T09:39:48.425-04:00BinkyCommander KickassDahmerDaniel BardFelix DoubrontLeaving Time: Updated For All The SuckIf you've read this blog long enough, you'll know that my best friend and I have what we call the "Lackey Limit." It began last year after a string of incredibly terrible Mudpie starts. Basically, the Lackey Limit is a rule that states if John Lackey has given up 8 or more runs in 4 or fewer innings, we leave the park, go to Game On, and consume mass amounts of alcohol to destroy all memories of the game before they become permanent. Believe it or not, we left several of his starts last year for just that reason.<br /><br />After the pretty horrific continuation of baseball this season, I've decided that the other pitchers all need similar rules. It's only fair, right? Assume that all of these rules end with "and then we go to Game On to get smashed."<br /><br />The Beckett Break Point: Whichever comes first, four home runs or six runs in three innings or less.<br />The Lester Let-Down: If Jon Lester has thrown 90 pitches in two innings, it's not going to get better.<br />The Buchholz Booze Time: Any time Clay Buchholz steps on the mound.<br />The Doubront Departure: If Felix steps to the mound and has that look of abject horror on his face and then allows eight runs or more in four innings or less.<br />The Bard Back-Out: If Daniel has walked eight or more batters in any point of the game.<br /><br />For the record, I want to sign Oswalt so we can have the Oswalt Opt-Out.<br />We could also have the Cook Cop-Out.<br />The Dice-K Dash Away.<br /><br />You name the pitcher, I can make up a limit for how much of said pitcher I can take. <br />http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/05/leaving-time-updated-for-all-suck.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-8619435811106110667Fri, 11 May 2012 11:59:00 +00002012-05-11T07:59:10.160-04:00Commander KickasssuckDear Sox Fans: You SuckI'm ashamed of you, Red Sox Nation. I truly am. I sat in that wind-blown, cold park last night watching Beckett and the boys suck, just like the rest of you. I groaned every time he gave up a run. And I did plenty of booing...<br /><br />Johnny Damon. I booed Johnny Damon and ONLY Johnny Damon. Because he is no longer on the Sox, and no longer allowed to be loved in Boston. (Love him if you want, but he's a lying traitor and I will never cheer for him again)<br /><br />At a time where the team is struggling as bad as we've seen in a very long time, I assumed that the only people coming out to the park were there to actually support the team. I was wrong. When Beckett walked off the field to that chorus of boos, I was ashamed for my fellow fans. Ashamed.<br /><br />Yeah, he sucked. Yes, there have been lots of reports about what a terrible soul-stealing cancer he is and how he is secretly plotting to take over the world or something like that. He's terrible. He needs to be traded a league in Antarctica far far from civilized people so his terrible attitude and love for beer and chicken can never torment anyone again, right? Whatever. You know what, if the Sox do end up trading Beckett and he goes on to pitch well for another team, I'm sure the same people who are booing him now will ask why we always get rid of our good players.<br /><br />Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but what good does booing do? You get to tell the team you disapprove of their play, right? Awesome. So they're unhappy that they're playing poorly, and you're unhappy that they're playing poorly, and instead of trying to change, everyone will just wallow in the misery. Fine. Boo whoever you want. I'm still going to cheer for my team, and I'm still going to be ashamed of all you boo birds. Do me a favor and just don't come out to the park if you hate the team or individual players so much. You're making hard for the people like me who want to support them.<br /><br />After all, isn't that why you GO to the park?<br /><br />Shame on all of you who booed last night.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/05/dear-sox-fans-you-suck.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-862006260253033021Thu, 10 May 2012 12:17:00 +00002012-05-10T08:17:50.574-04:00goodbyeprofound sadnessRest In Peace, Carl BeaneI know I haven't had time to post a lot, but the tragedies that have happened in the sports world lately deserve at least a few words.<br /><br />I was out shopping for new apartment stuff (like curtains... you don't realize how important curtains are until you don't have them) and a TV on in one of the stores was talking about the death of Carl Beane. I had to stop and ask the guy behind the register what happened. Car accident. I would find out later that it was a heart attack that caused the car accident. It's a terrible, tragic loss. <a href="http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120509&amp;content_id=30826084&amp;vkey=news_bos&amp;c_id=bos">Carl was too young to be lost.</a><br /><br />I guess that's the nature of tragedy. It takes people who are too young whenever it pleases. It turns a routine drive home into a nightmare. It leaves wives without husbands, daughters without father, and grandchildren without a grandpa. It also leaves Fenway without a voice.<br /><br />I'm going to the game tonight, if it doesn't get rained out. I know that they will do the right thing and have a moment of silence for Mr. Beane. The more appropriate action would be to leave the park in silence for the night. For me, and for so many others, Carl was the voice of that old park. His narration at the 100th anniversary brought tears to my eyes. It was so beautiful.<br /><br />All I can hope is that tonight, they win for Carl. Even if they do, it just won't sound the same. Rest in peace, Carl Beane. Fenway will never sound the same without you.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/05/rest-in-peace-carl-beane.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-1925994412984324328Fri, 04 May 2012 12:08:00 +00002012-05-04T08:08:06.816-04:00goodbyeJunior Seauprofound sadnessRest in Peace, Junior.I was sitting in my office when someone casually said from across the room, "Huh. Former Patriot Junior Seau found dead in his home." That shock, that moment of terror you feel when someone you know has been hurt or killed, flooded me. I walked over to my coworker's desk. "What?"<br /><br />She read the headline again. "Who's Junior Seau?" She asked.<br /><br />"He was one of my favorite football players." I responded, rushing back to my own desk so I could look up the information on my own. I didn't know Junior personally. I knew who he was on the football field, and I adored him. I frequently talk about how much I adore Tedy Bruschi, but if I had to pick&nbsp;a second favorite, it was Junior, hands down. So despite not knowing the man, I was struck by the news of his death. Even a few days later, just thinking that he's gone makes me sad. For so many, you connect to the players you watch week after week. You may never know the man, but you feel like you've gotten to know the player. You see the heart and determination that they lay out on the field in every game, and you connect. When tragedy befalls them, you feel it.... not nearly on the level that their loved ones do, but you feel it.<br /><br />I didn't know if I was going to write anything about it. As more information came out, and the news of the death&nbsp;likely being caused by suicide arose, all I could think was that this could have been avoided if only Junior asked for help. I watched his mother weep on television, and my heart hurt for her. These were the tears of a woman who truly didn't know there was anything wrong with her son, a woman who would have done anything to help him had she known. But she didn't know. Junior, by all accounts, was a happy, friendly man who loved life. There were no signs. I keep reading the same thing. Everyone said there were no signs.<br /><br />In 2010, when he drove over the cliff, it didn't register to me that it could have been intentional. Now I, surely along with everyone who knew him, wonders if he was trying to end his life that night. If someone that he knew and loved had recognized it as a cry for help instead of an accident, would he still be alive right now? Herein lies the problem with the more charismatic among us... they're so good at being charming that it's harder to see when there's a problem. No one can tell me Junior wasn't charismatic. I won't believe you.<br /><br />So here I sat this morning, still thinking of what it took to push Junior to suicide, thinking that he should have just asked for help. I'm sure his family is thinking the same. I clicked through my blogroll, reading Sox updates when I came to an entry titled <a href="http://www.cursedtofirst.com/2012/05/junior.html">"Junior" on Cursed To First</a>. Feel free to head over and read it. I'll wait.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Back? Good. I don't think it can be said enough... there's no shame, no weakness in needing help. I urge people to be an open ear or a shoulder to cry on for the people that they love most. If you're having a hard time coping with something in your life, please find someone, anyone to talk to. It can only get better if you stick around to see it get better. <br /><br />In a perfect world, no families would have to suffer through the pain and confusion that Junior's family is going through right now. But even in this severely imperfect world, there's plenty of help to be had. It doesn't make you any less of a woman or a man to ask for it. Rest in peace, number 55. Though&nbsp;far, far too soon, rest in peace.<br /><br />http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/05/rest-in-peace-junior.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-840583028218695643Tue, 01 May 2012 11:54:00 +00002012-05-01T07:54:51.730-04:00Big PapiCalvilesDahmerMunchkinNick PuntoRonald McDonaldClay Buchholz: Terrible PitcherYou have a ten run lead. You've cruised through six innings in front of your team's home town fans. Your offense is looking spectacular and everyone is feeling the good vibes despite the park being&nbsp;a brisk thirty seven degrees below zero (might be a slight exaggeration). You walk out to the mound for the seventh inning with a low pitch count. Realistically, you know you should be able to get the next three outs with minimal problems and then you can hand the game over to the bullpen.<br /><br />But you're Clay Buchholz, so what you actually do is implode and try to give up that ten run lead.<br /><br />It's amazing how Clay lost it so quickly. He was cruising... and then he was giving up five runs without being able to record that last out. Terrible. Clay is legitimately the only pitcher in the Sox starting rotation that has yet to record a quality start on the year. Yes, it's that bad. This isn't a case of bad luck, it's a case of sucking. In 29 innings, he's allowed 40 hits and 28 runs with 15 walks and 16 strikeouts. Ok, maybe it IS a bad start, but he's got options left and I can point him to the Pawtucket shuttle if need be.<br /><br />Call me unfair. Go ahead, do it. I've never really liked Clay. He frustrates me, because he'll show a tiny glimmer of being good, and then he'll have a five-run inning where he just cannot get the last out. I never thought I'd say this for the season, but thank God for the bullpen. They made it scary, but they got the job done.<br /><br />If it weren't for Papi and the rest of the offense, this could have been an ugly night. Two home runs for the Large Father. His offensive contributions for the night were a home run, a walk, another home run, and then a ground out in his last at-bat. I'll go ahead and also give credit to Calviles, Munchkin, Ronald, and Marlon Byrd, all who had multiple hit games last night. Actually, it's a little odd because the players who didn't have a multiple hit night didn't hit at all. Weird, I know.<br /><br />An additional "boo, you suck" to Nick Punto for missing that popup. I guess anyone could have caught it, but no one did, and Punto got the error. It didn't end up causing any additional harm, but really Nick? Terrible. You're terrible.<br /><br />Anyway, didn't get the pictures up this weekend. I won't be getting them up tonight either as I will be back at the ballpark for the second game in two nights. Maybe tomorrow... more likely, never. But it's the thought that counts, and I've thought about posting them a bunch of times.<br />http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/05/clay-buchholz-terrible-pitcher.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-7940154176781024159Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:13:00 +00002012-04-27T09:13:40.548-04:00Carl CrawfordCarl Crawford: Still BrokenI thought this was going to be Crawford's year. I really, truly hoped for it. He's a likeable guy, a good player, and just about any other nice thing you could think to say about him. I hated him when he played against us because he always made us look bad.<br /><br />Well, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/story/2012-04-26/red-sox-carl-crawford-injury/54571296/1">he's still making us look bad</a>.<br /><br />I know it's only April. But Crawford started the season with a wrist injury that he's been rehabbing. And now it's his elbow... a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. He's been shut down from baseball activities again. This time, he's expected to miss upwards of three months. And what are the odds that in July, he'll be ready to play? He won't. A couple of rehab starts, maybe a couple of setbacks, and you're looking at maybe a September return. Or maybe this is just a lost season for Carl.<br /><br />The Sox knew about his wrist before they signed him. Specifically, Theo Epstein, the asshole who ruined the team and then fled like a coward to Chicago, knew about the injury and still threw bags and bags of hundred dollar bills at him. The money Crawford is making from the contract he's currently signed to will be enough to ensure financial security for his great, great grandkids. And while the Sox are paying his absurd contract, our outfield consists of Ryan Sweeney, Marlon Byrd, and whoever else is not injured. It's bad.<br /><br />I feel for Carl. He did not ask for these injuries, and if someone had presented me a contract as large as the one Theo gave him, I would have signed it, too. He didn't ask to struggle last season, and I won't believe anyone who said he wasn't trying. While I feel for him, I think it's time for me to admit to myself that this isn't his season either.<br /><br />Hopefully we'll see him back at Fenway at some point. <a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7033800/jonathan-papelbon-loss-words">He's still got some redeeming to do....</a>http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/carl-crawford-still-broken.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-1198680899558131204Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:29:00 +00002012-04-27T08:29:25.097-04:00AsshatCalvilesCody RossDuckyFelix DoubrontJunichi TazawaMunchkinSaltySauceThings: Lots of ThingsTo say everything has been a whirlwind in the last week is, for me, an understatement.<br /><br />Since last Thursday, I got to attend the awesome birthday bash at Fenway. There is absolutely no way Millar and Pedro were sober while doing that toast. My favorite line from the toast? "This is getting awkward now, stop looking at me!" - Millar<br /><br />Sunday, I went apartment hunting, and found an apartment that I loved. Wednesday I got the application approval for said apartment, and last night, I begun packing for my move next Saturday. It's been a lot. I'm a little upside down right now.<br /><br />But that has nothing to do with sports! And I realized that my poor little blog has been very, very neglected. Let's face it, the past weekend didn't really give me a whole hell of a lot to talk about anyway, unless I wanted to include the phrase 'collapse' (which I didn't), so it was fine not to blog. But this week? Man, they've been pretty spiffy this week, haven't they? They've turned their spiff-dial to 11. Did you know the Sox have a spiff-dial? Well, they do. And it's at 11.<br /><br />Last night for example... the Sox face the reigning King of the World, Phil Humber. They slapped him around, but good. Who slapped the hardest, you may ask? Salty. That's right, Sodium actually hit two home runs in last night's game! And Asshat? He hit a grand slam! I know, I wouldn't believe me either if I hadn't seen it. He also made some nice plays at third yesterday. Despite Ross being out with a knee injury and Munchkin looking like he was trying to take out his own knee, the Sox came away from this one with a 10-3 win. Doubront was lovely. Tazawa got a save. Trust me, it was fantastic.<br /><br />Last night not good for you? Wednesday's game wasn't as spiffy (the dial was only set to 5), but it was a win. Dahmer struggled, letting up five runs on ten hits in five innings.... granted, two of those runs were inherited runners that Atch let score, but let's not get bogged down by the details. It should have been a calm game, but it turned into a nail biter. Just one more reminder that the bullpen struggles! Despite the struggles, they did win 7-6 to complete the sweep of the Twins.<br /><br />I know, you're thinking that wasn't awesome. How about the awesome 11-2 win behind Beckett on Tuesday? The Sox had 18 hits, four of which were from Calviles. Two home runs - Calves and Papi. Doubles from everyone and their grandmother. Twins starter Nick Blackburn only lasted three innings. Granted, Beckett only went six, but he earned that win.<br /><br />Monday's 6-5 win? On a night where Jon Lester looked like pure crap, the bullpen actually stepped up and secured a win! Morales, Bard, and Sauce combined for two innings of work and... AND they didn't allow a run. It's progress, people! Cody Ross had two home runs! TWO!<br /><br />So, I think I'll try to get my 100th anniversary pictures up at some point this weekend, because I don't know how much time I'll have next week to post. Although I am disappointed for the Bruins (I still think they did great, they just need work on their power play.... badly), I am happy that my team has had four good games in a row. We needed it. Now we're only 2 games away from .500! Good luck tonight, Daniel Bard.<br /><br />On a side note, did the White Sox really have Bobby Jenks and John Danks on the same team? Is this hilarious to anyone else? Do you think they'll want Jenks back?http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/things-lots-of-things.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-7624957782674469761Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:29:00 +00002012-04-19T09:29:41.298-04:00AsshatCarl CrawfordCommander KickassMunchkinPretzelsOffense: DownturningThis is my effort to not be overwhelmingly reactionary... but I have to wonder. The Sox have played 12 games, and have won four of them. The ones they won were pretty awesome wins, but the ones they lost were flat out painful. So which is the fluke, the wins or the losses?<br /><br />We all know this team is incredibly talented, but as we've learned from watching the Yankees in the distance for a while now, combining the most talented players doesn't always make a team. Yet it seems like these guys get along... it LOOKS like they work well as a group, but something's missing. The pitching and the offense, so far, are more often on different pages than they are on the same one. Hell, sometimes I think the pitching is in a completely different book. I'll say more about the pitching staff later.<br /><br /><br />I'm not going to get bent out of shape about the last two games. As much as it sucks to lose, the Rangers are a good team... but when we've got good teams on the ropes as often as we had the Rangers, we need to be able to deliver. And it's not happening. Truly, Bobby V. looks as stunned as the rest of us feel every time he walks to that mound. Last night, the heart of our order, Munchkin, Ernie, and Ross, went hitless. The bottom of our order, McDonald and Repko and everyone who came in to replace them, also went hitless. So if the middle of your order isn't hitting, and the&nbsp; bottom of your order isn't hitting, the guys who are hitting are going to be stranded. But what options are there? Pretzels and Crawford are hurt. We're literally looking at a replacement level outfield. What do you do when you have to replace the replacements because they're struggling? You have to go further down the depth chart. It's generally not the most successful practice, and is definitely not a long-term solution. Luckily (hopefully?), it doesn't have to be. Crawford should be back before we know it... but we aren't even sure what we can get from him.<br /><br />As for the pitching staff... our bullpen is horrible. You can't sugar coat it. The front office messed up with this bullpen. Who do you depend on? Just when it seems like someone is going to step up, they give up a handful of runs. Hell, Melancon was demoted because he was so flat out terrible. How do we remedy this? My guess is that they're not going to replace the whole bullpen, but at least in the recent past, we've always had that one guy who we can count on. Who can we count on right now?<br /><br />I'm not panicking and I'm not quitting on my team, but it's frustrating watching these games. On the plus side, Beckett looked good and Asshat got his first home run.... so there's that.<br /><br />I'll try to lower my expectations for Friday.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/offense-downturning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-1199059510610650720Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:10:00 +00002012-04-19T08:10:38.146-04:00DuckyTitoFriday With Tito: Francona Changes His MindI woke up this morning to the news that <a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1061125570&amp;srvc=sports&amp;position=recent">Tito has changed his mind</a> about Friday.<br /><br />Seriously? It literally warmed my heart. It eliminated my need for a warm beverage. I felt fuzzy all over. When I first found out that <a href="http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/tito-wont-be-celebrating-parks-birthday.html">he wasn't going to be there</a>, I was sad. I don't want to go as far as saying I was devastated, but probably more than sad. Something about Tito not being there seemed to make it a little less joyous.<br /><br />I'm glad he's changed his mind and I can't wait to give him the raucous ovation he deserves.<br /><br />I don't care what his motivation. I don't care if Kevin Millar was holding him at gunpoint, forcing him to make the announcement that he was coming. I don't care if he's only going to show up to give the middle finger to the management (imagine the ovation that THAT would receive!), all that matters is that he'll be in house.<br /><br />How many people will be holding up those cans of Welch's juice, toasting to all Tito's done for the Sox? I think I'll be one of those people. I'm happy.<br /><br />I won't be happy with the next post, but right now, I'm happy.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/friday-with-tito-francona-changes-his.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-8410067389699980144Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:07:00 +00002012-04-18T08:20:26.847-04:00AsshatDuckyJason VaritekMudpieSaltyTitoRed Sox: The MusicalNo one really wants me to rehash that 18-3 beatdown, do you? Well, too bad if you do because I don't want to.<br /><br />Instead, I want to talk about a little project Lauren (from <a href="http://toosoxy.wordpress.com/">toosoxy.wordpress.com</a>) and I spent the majority of the game discussing.... Red Sox: The Musical!<br /><br />Picture this... Scene One: Terry Francona asleep at his desk deep within the heart of Fenway Park. The sun rises, Tito wakes up with a big stretch. Music starts playing in the background. Tito brews himself a comically large sized cup of Bigelow green tea and starts in on the song "My Way's The Best Way," an upbeat tune about how the Red Sox will never need another manager. During the song, he alternates between sipping the tea and ripping up pictures of other major league managers he conveniently has sitting on his desk as he declares "My way's the best way for Fenway!" From the doorway, Larry Lucchino is seen watching with his arms folded. Before the song ends, he disappears.<br /><br />Our hero of the musical, Jason Varitek, enters Tito's office to discuss the lineup for the night. He is informed that due to some struggling at the plate, he's going to be resting for the game later that night and Salty will be catching instead. Tek and Tito start in on a duet titled, "I've Got So Much More To Give." <br /><br />Scene Two: The locker room after the game. The team has lost and everyone looks miserable. Kevin Millar and Dustin Pedroia lead the song "Cowboy Up," a motivational song that teaches that you CAN have fun playing baseball. Jed Lowrie stands up to try to have fun, injures himself and is traded to Houston before the end of the song. In the spirit of fun, Lackey, Lester, and Beckett sing a quick version of "Hell Yeah, I Like Beer." At the end of the number, Lucchino comes in and informs our favorite team that he's hired Mike Timlin as bullpen coach and has given him a crossbow to keep our pitchers in line. Julio Lugo arrived and he is bludgeoned by the chorus girls (IE - Lauren and myself... and my best friend, Amy, who has been waiting for another chance to pummel Lugo).<br /><br />Kevin Youkilis sings a basebally version of the old Alice Cooper classic 'Vengeance Is Mine.' He rips out all of his luxuriously flowing hair in anger after striking out six times against the Kansas City Royals. At the end of his song, Lauren gets to appear and they duet a song titled "Love Despite the Rage." Cut to outside on the field at Fenway at night, under a full moon. Salty is sitting alone in the dugout. He too has been struggling at the plate. The catching corps is a mess. He sings the sorrowful tune "Thirty Three" in which he laments the fact that he'll never be like thirty three, despite all the tutelage Jason has provided to him.<br /><br />I don't really know what else happens in the middle here. I didn't plan that far ahead.<br /><br />Cut to the second to last scene of the play. It's game 7 of the World Series. John Lackey is the pitcher on the mound (I know, so unlikely but bear with me), and he unsurprisingly surrenders the go-ahead run in the six inning. With a score of 12-11 in favor of the opposing team, the Phillies, the Sox come up to bat. Quickly, we load the bases with two outs. Salty is scheduled to bat, but while walking to the plate, he is tackled by a&nbsp; runaway Philly mascot and sprains his wrist. Tek is told to go up to bat. He stands at the plate feeling unprepared. The Philly pitcher needs to tie his shoe, so Tek takes the opportunity to look to the sky and ask for guidance. JD Drew's face appears in the clouds (think Mufasa from the Lion King). Jason asks him for advice. Drew announces he's going on the DL.&nbsp; At that moment, Jason realizes that he's always had the strength inside him. Cue "I've Got So Much More to Give (reprise)." Jason somehow hits a grand slam.<br /><br />In the dugout, John Lackey sees what just has happened. He sings, "I'll Do The Right Thing" with everyone sitting in the dugout as his backup chorus. He intentionally makes this crazy jerky motion and tears a hamstring. As he writhes in pain, the dugout chorus sways and sings, "We're gonna do the right thing, too! Oh, our fans are overdue!" The team goes out and plays flawless baseball and wins. They swarm the field, carrying all the injured players and sing all together, "Stronger Together," a song about team unity and the value of green tea. Antioxidants, you know.<br /><br />In the last scene, Jason and Salty are sitting in the clubhouse on a bench talking about the win. Salty tears up, saying that he failed the team when they needed him most and starts singing "Thirty Three" again. Jason stops him and sings "Salty and Thirty Three," a song about how Salty may not ever be Jason, but if he believes in himself, he will carve out his own legacy.<br /><br />I think that's the ending. Much happier story than last night's game, eh?http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/red-sox-musical.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-9199956121188535560Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:36:00 +00002012-04-17T07:36:04.471-04:00Bobby ValentineDaniel BardSharkyBobby Blows The Game: Sox Drop Last Game of SeriesI'm not complaining about my team here. Sharky was on his game, and they could not get much going against him. Also, the home plate umpire gave Tampa almost another whole strike zone worth of strike zone. For reference, the last at bat of the game... Cody Ross saw, I&nbsp; believe, five pitches outside of the strike zone. Three of them were called strikes, and he ended the game. Should he have swung, knowing that the umpire had a strike zone the size of Iceland? Sure. It doesn't make the umpire right though.<br /><br />Daniel Bard was excellent. This was heads and shoulders above his last performance. Unfortunately, it was hot out, and Bard still isn't, in my opinion, as stretched out as other starters. What I mean is that he hasn't really had the chance to throw this many pitches as often as our other starters. In the seventh, after about 100 pitches and two outs, Bard lost it. A blind man could see that he lost it. The kid was clearly done. With relievers ready to go in the bullpen after a base&nbsp; hit and a walk, Bobby V. did what any extremely knowledgeable baseball person would do.... he left the struggling starter in the game to walk two more consecutive batters, walking in the winning run.<br /><br />Bobby screwed Daniel Bard on that. Bard should have been out of the game. Now, I'm all for letting your starters work themselves out of trouble on most occasions, but Bard had nothing left. He's still a converted bullpen guy, and the manager, the self proclaimed smartest guy in the room, should have been paying attention. In my eyes, this loss is on Valentine. And it's not just because I don't like him any more.<br /><br />Still, the boys have nothing to be ashamed of. They won three pretty damn convincing games, and only lost by one run in their only loss. That, dear friends, is a successful series, if I do say so myself. Tonight, Jon Lester opens up a series with the Texas Rangers. In his first two starts this season, Lester has gotten just about no support. Let's see if the bats can give him a hand this time around.<br /><br />Also, Washington Capitals? Milan Lucic is going to destroy you. It takes a really tough guy to attack someone from behind and then call him a crybaby. And I will reiterate the sentiments of Jack Edwards.... Lucic would make the crybaby gesture back to you, but he'd end up scratching his corneas with his championship ring. So.... there's that. Congratulations on win #2, Bruins! Two more to go....http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/bobby-blows-game-sox-drop-last-game-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-214849240054061989Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:10:00 +00002012-04-16T09:10:19.325-04:00AsshatBobby ValentineValentine: Stirring Up Trouble In The Hot Corner?I'm not one to defend Kevin Youkilis, but... really, Bobby Valentine? After the good weekend that Youk had, why are you choosing now to call him out? What kind of manager makes those kinds of comments about his player.<br /><br />I'll be the first one to jump on the "Youk is done, let's trade him" bandwagon, but I wouldn't ever question his commitment to the game.<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/04/valentine-waiting-to-see-the-real-youkilis.html">From ProJo: </a><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I don't think he's as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason," Valentine said. "But [Saturday] it seemed, he's seeing the ball well, got those two walks, said he got his on-base percentage up higher than his batting average, which is always a good thing, and he'll move on from there."<br /></blockquote>He had a bad start, going 0-12. We all know that. But did anyone think for even a second that Youk wasn't trying? I don't like this strategy by Valentine. I don't like that he's calling his players out for no reason. If there's a legitimate need for him to say something, have at it. There was no need, and I don't like it.<br /><br />Kevin Youkilis's response:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">&nbsp;"I'm more confused than anything. Everyone knows I go out and play the game as hard as I can. That's just my style of play. I never was blessed with the raw tools like the guys who have got tools, so I've always hard to use playing the game as hard and with full effort my whole life. I don't know any better. That's just the way I play..."</blockquote>&nbsp;So for anyone looking for a little clubhouse stability, Bobby V. is here to tell you that even when you have a good game, you are not safe from his unfounded criticism. How long do you think before Bobby loses all the support of the players? You cannot question your players' hearts and not expect them to respect you less.&nbsp; We all knew Valentine's act would get old. Who thinks it's already gotten there?http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/valentine-stirring-up-trouble-in-hot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-4026864414089169748Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:29:00 +00002012-04-18T08:23:26.330-04:00Big PapiCalvilesCody RossDaniel BardFelix DoubrontFranklin MoralesSauceScott AtchisonSharkySox Demoralize Rays: More Success on Jackie Robinson DayI want to start out by saying that I love, love, love the idea of all the players wearing #42 for Jackie Robinson Day. It's a wonderful tribute to a man who played an integral role in the history of baseball. I don't like, however, when I am on redsox.com trying to look up Jeff Bailey's uniform number so I can post my opening day pictures and all the numbers have been changed to #42. A minor issue, I guess. Just wanted to get my bitching out of the way.<br /><br />For his second game of the season, Doubront again went five innings. He allowed nine hits and four runs with one walk and seven strikeouts. While the kid was pretty good, we really are going to need to get more than five innings out of him if he's going to be a worthwhile starter. That being said, he's young and I'm willing to give him the chance to adjust to the big leagues. I think he's going to be just fine.<br /><br />For the second consecutive game, Ross and Calviles hit home runs. Ross went out of the park again. I'm sorry I doubted you, guys. Keep it up and I will gladly eat crow for the rest of the season.<br /><br />The real beast though, is Papi. Is he on a tear or what? Granted, he was hitting the first six games of the season, but he's been destroying this weekend. 3-4 yesterday with an RBI, 4-5 Saturday with five RBI's, and 2-4 with 2 RBIs on Friday's game. With a .444 batting average, Papi is downright scary right now. I love it. I guess that's what happens when you&nbsp; show up to camp looking as trim and fit as Papi did... and don't kid yourself, the dude looked good this year. The results at the plate are validating his extra work this offseason. It's pretty awesome.<br /><br />Atch got a little roughed up, but he was saved by Padilla. Morales, though allowing two hits, had a good inning, and Sauce closed the door perfectly in the ninth. That ERA that used to be infinity is now down to 9.00. A few more innings like that, and he'll bring that baby down in no time.<br /><br />Three wins in a row. The last time the Sox had three regular season wins in a row was July of last year. Seems like such a long time ago, doesn't it?<br /><br />This morning's game brings Sharky to face Daniel Bard. I'm going to be interested to see how Bard fares against this Tampa lineup that is probably feeling mighty angry at losing three in a row to the Sox. As for Sharky, he's a mixed bag. I've seen the Sox beat the stuffing out of him, and I've seen him blow the Sox away. What we've got on our side is the fact that this is a big game for Sharky, trying to stop a four-game sweep.... and we all know the nickname Big Game James is normally more of a joke than a reality. This will be interesting.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/sox-demoraliza-rays-more-success-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-2614785281824951888Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:05:00 +00002012-04-16T08:05:18.597-04:00Big PapiCalvilesCody RossDahmerMunchkinSaltyClay Pulls Out A Win: Sox Bats Stay AliveWatching GameDay in the fifth inning. One on, David Ortiz up to bat, down two runs. I sat watching, quietly asking David for his first home run of the season. If we could just tie this up, it would be a whole new ballgame and we'd have a chance. Dahmer seems to have settled down. After four runs in the first and a run in the third, he's kept the Tampa bats quiet. We just need to tie it. There's no one I want at the plate more than David Ortiz in these situations.<br /><br />The little blue pitch locator showed up, "In play, run(s) score." There's a couple of tense seconds as GameDay is updating. I figure a double would have gotten Youk home. It's got to be a home run or a double. But there it is. "David Ortiz homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field. Kevin Youkilis scores." Beautiful.<br /><br />When the team starts responding to my requests, I know they've clicked. I don't know how long this particular click is going to last, but they've clicked. The great thing is that after that home run, it was just two innings before the bats completely woke up to put the smackdown on Tampa Bay. The Sox had scored 22 runs in their first six games, and they had scored 25 in their next two. Admit it, you weren't expecting that at all.<br /><br />The greatest part was that almost all the runs came off the mighty home run ball. As opposed to Opening Day, where 12 runs were scored without a single home run, this game was the opposite. Our batters, at least during this series (hey, don't want to get too far ahead of myself) have found both the timing and the power they need. Home run hitters for the day included Salty, Munchkin, Papi, Calviles, and Ross. I believe at least two of those home runs went straight out of the park and into the parking lot on Landsdowne. Pretty cool if you ask me. I love to see that kind of power out of players that I don't expect it from.<br /><br />Make no mistake, the Sox weren't scoring runs off the slouches in Tampa's rotation. David Price and Jeremy Hellickson are good pitchers. Unfortunately for them, and quite fortunately for us, the Sox had some pent up road aggression to take out, and they were the victims of said wrath.<br /><br />It's a beautiful thing, winning two in a row. Hasn't happened in a good long while.http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/clay-pulls-out-win-sox-bats-stay-alive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-3508660688745968269Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:16:00 +00002012-04-15T19:16:01.302-04:00Commander KickassDwight EvansJason VaritekJim RiceJohnny PeskyPretzelsTimmy WonderpitchesOpening Day: The PicturesI can write out a long, wordy post telling you about opening day... or I can just do this:<br /><br />-My eyes got misty when Tek and Wake walked out from behind the American flag. I had hoped they'd be throwing out the first pitches, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. And who better to catch those pitches than Dewey and Jim Ed?<br /><br />-It was awesome seeing Grandpa Pesky shouting Play Ball! It scares me how frail he's looking. &nbsp;I don't want to think about the fact that it took three people to hold him up.<br /><br />-Beckett was amazing. The Sox kicked ass, and we won 12-2. Talk about the benefits of a home cooked meal.<br /><br />-The loss of Pretzels is going to hurt. If only he hadn't let his marshmallows soften.<br /><br />-Here, have a couple pictures!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rdi-8ie7gGY/T4tPwuEqPfI/AAAAAAAAAUM/Z1DPrUyaAb4/s1600/DSCN3131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rdi-8ie7gGY/T4tPwuEqPfI/AAAAAAAAAUM/Z1DPrUyaAb4/s320/DSCN3131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceOdRI-UHMQ/T4tQOXsJHHI/AAAAAAAAAUU/eTF9JtjqqnI/s1600/DSCN3134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceOdRI-UHMQ/T4tQOXsJHHI/AAAAAAAAAUU/eTF9JtjqqnI/s320/DSCN3134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fES2EFnMpHE/T4tQrS5VeuI/AAAAAAAAAUc/3n61fHvOeAA/s1600/DSCN3135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fES2EFnMpHE/T4tQrS5VeuI/AAAAAAAAAUc/3n61fHvOeAA/s320/DSCN3135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIuw0EY_pDo/T4tRGrbhexI/AAAAAAAAAUk/mCeVv5CYYzg/s1600/DSCN3138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIuw0EY_pDo/T4tRGrbhexI/AAAAAAAAAUk/mCeVv5CYYzg/s320/DSCN3138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-je4rF4eQNCM/T4tRiXdD1OI/AAAAAAAAAUs/5YYBwqsOtFw/s1600/DSCN3144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-je4rF4eQNCM/T4tRiXdD1OI/AAAAAAAAAUs/5YYBwqsOtFw/s320/DSCN3144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AUB5tBAQx8/T4tSAXBQY_I/AAAAAAAAAU0/MvJPG51kHKg/s1600/DSCN3177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AUB5tBAQx8/T4tSAXBQY_I/AAAAAAAAAU0/MvJPG51kHKg/s320/DSCN3177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qi1NP1DRg1s/T4tSelttk-I/AAAAAAAAAU8/XshZfF9z9VI/s1600/DSCN3179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qi1NP1DRg1s/T4tSelttk-I/AAAAAAAAAU8/XshZfF9z9VI/s320/DSCN3179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BkXVP_97Zr4/T4tS8BijpYI/AAAAAAAAAVE/dznmRnIWmvA/s1600/DSCN3204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BkXVP_97Zr4/T4tS8BijpYI/AAAAAAAAAVE/dznmRnIWmvA/s320/DSCN3204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnuoPgfh5lg/T4tTZX8f4lI/AAAAAAAAAVM/eT8ZRrRu5c0/s1600/DSCN3206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnuoPgfh5lg/T4tTZX8f4lI/AAAAAAAAAVM/eT8ZRrRu5c0/s320/DSCN3206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PIM_VOqHfs/T4tT22zD4FI/AAAAAAAAAVU/IeUnCkww89w/s1600/DSCN3208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PIM_VOqHfs/T4tT22zD4FI/AAAAAAAAAVU/IeUnCkww89w/s320/DSCN3208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iP5XnwSqYks/T4tUUp-UmBI/AAAAAAAAAVc/sbvsbLK7UmI/s1600/DSCN3214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iP5XnwSqYks/T4tUUp-UmBI/AAAAAAAAAVc/sbvsbLK7UmI/s320/DSCN3214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TUXeVtV72Y/T4tUwg_CetI/AAAAAAAAAVk/gVfjo4ZJekY/s1600/DSCN3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TUXeVtV72Y/T4tUwg_CetI/AAAAAAAAAVk/gVfjo4ZJekY/s320/DSCN3217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8xamA0fdBw/T4tVOV2umYI/AAAAAAAAAVs/wdqtRsZ1l8o/s1600/DSCN3219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8xamA0fdBw/T4tVOV2umYI/AAAAAAAAAVs/wdqtRsZ1l8o/s320/DSCN3219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHPDejumLWA/T4tVsVcHTEI/AAAAAAAAAV0/Cv_bXy4mOyg/s1600/DSCN3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHPDejumLWA/T4tVsVcHTEI/AAAAAAAAAV0/Cv_bXy4mOyg/s320/DSCN3227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsaGplXTRas/T4tWNEMXnUI/AAAAAAAAAV8/CRelnrz3s9A/s1600/DSCN3297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsaGplXTRas/T4tWNEMXnUI/AAAAAAAAAV8/CRelnrz3s9A/s320/DSCN3297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/opening-day-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1833817845152638773.post-3771485560056872159Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:54:00 +00002012-04-13T09:54:42.021-04:00Good thingsopening dayHappy Opening Day, Friends!It's here. We've finally arrived. Fenway Park's opening day. It's going to be wonderful no matter what happens. I don't care about the 1-5 start. I don't care that Kevin Youkilis' face fills me with unbridled rage. I don't care that Jason-.... no, wait, I do care that Jason and Timmy won't be there to open the park up. That makes me sad. But other than that, I don't care!<br /><br />I'll be there, greeting that beautiful old park as she awakens from her long winter's nap. My little group of Red Sox die-hards will be in the CVS family section. I don't know why. That's just where we could get tickets. I'll be taking as many pictures as possible, and hopefully I'll be able to get them up this weekend. I'm just so excited that even if I don't post pictures, you won't care, right? Let me have my joy.<br /><br />So happy opening day to all my Sox friends out there. We've made it this far. It's all going to be ok.<br /><br /><br /><br />On a little sidenote, if anyone is having problems with my blog, please let me know. There's some weird scripting going on, and my best HTML and Java experts are having a hard time figuring out where the malicious script is getting in. If you click a link that takes you somewhere you shouldn't be, please please please shoot me an email to chelsealowell@gmail.com. Thanks all!http://screamingattheshortstop.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-opening-day-friends.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jup)1