Growing out of it

I'm watching the Red Sox-Yankees game on the ESPN's Sunday telecast, and getting mighty pissed off with the commentator team. I love Jonathan Miller. That soothing voice of his, and humour, is a joy to listen to.
But please, someone tell Joe Morgan to take a back seat when the Yankees are playing? His bias...I mean, unabashed love for that team is embarassing, no, irritating, well, infuriating. I'd be throwing my beer cans and popcorn at the TV. If only.

At least JD Drew (my current eye candy) is hitting well.

The New Dawn

To honour the start of the new season, I leave a link to the makers of the Pappet.

Am I glad I paid my year subscription to MLB.tv for this. At least I'll be able to watch the damn game in the morning.

Funny.

Just after I posted the post below about the pork song, I hear that the Red Sox signed Bartolo Colon. Yes, the 5 ft 11 in, 245 lb Bartolo Colon. Immaculate timing?

I think I'll just go die now

So the off-season has been slow. Very slow. As in, the highlight of the off season was Sean Casey signing with us. And people like Bobby Kielty re-signing with us.

And then this happens.

Can we have one too?

I was reading this article about how the Red Sox treat their top prospects. Note especially about two-thirds down, they actually advise young athletes on how to treat clubhouse attendants and hotel workers. And that left me wondering if we could have something similar for new Ph.D. students.
You know, show them things like

(1) treat cleaners, technicians and store personnel with respect,
(2) do your rota without complaining. You can complain when you are a postdoc, not a student,
(3) how to mentally prepare for the upcoming year (concentrate, keep your head down, work hard),
(4) how to deal with criticism (a.k.a. Boston baseball equivalent of the media).

If only...

More on baseball...

The fabulous guys over at Surviving Grady has a 2007 version of the "Unused Audio Commentary". This series actually started in 2004, when it was between Tony LaRussa and Tito.

BTW, I don't really keep up to date with all the winter transactions that goes on.
But I did note that Oakland was having a garage sale (of sorts). Swisher, Kotsay, Scutaro, Haren are gone. All the name that became synonymous with the post-Zito era, have left. The last time such a big sweep happened was, I guess, when Zito, Hudson and Mulder left (okay, and Tejada too). I'm guessing they are or are to be free agents within the next year.
I've got no problem with Billy Beane doing that. I've read "Moneyball". But it hurts to see all the eye candies disappear so quickly. At least they still have Chavvy.

Another thing. I can't believe that Mirabelli is back with the Red Sox with his totally abysmal average. So, as long as Tim Wakefield can throw, it seems Mirabelli is going to get a paycheck. I hope he sent Wake a card or something. A masseur might be good, since Wakefield turns 42 this year.
From the Red Sox point of view, it makes sense. Rather than having a new catcher to collect 10 passed balls in the first handful of games, have a decent catcher with terrible batting averages. Only for Timmy.

Okay, baseball rant over. I feel happy now.

Will we remember you?

I was reading this over at the ESPN website, and was curious to see Rheal Cormier's name (it's about a third of the way down. It's alphabetical, so you'll get to him sooner rather than later).
Who he, you may ask. Well, I remember Cormier from his Red Sox days. Probably only because they (Joe Morgan and Jon Miller, ESPN Sunday Baseball broadcast team) kept on talking about how he chops wood during the off-season to keep fit. Don't ask.
I guess he was that typical southpaw one-batter reliever, durable because he was a lefty and a reliever. I hear it's his left shoulder is giving him problems, and judging from the stats and age (like, he's 41 this year) I think he will stay retired (unlike a certain Hebrew Hammer).

And I am a sucker for that French Canadian twang. Eric Gagne, anyone? (though apparently Cormier is Acadian while Gagne is Quebecois- but it is Wikipedia. And I thought Cormier had American citizenship now)

Anyway, I think I'll have to add Mike Philbrick's name on to my all-time favourite baseball journalists. BTW, I'm a fan of Rob Neyer, Jim Caple and Jayson Stark (or should I say, used to be. I am not going to pay subscription to ESPN just to fulfil my Neyeristic fantasies). I like to enjoy reading baseball columns. No, I am definitely no Bill James.

Baseball star in UK

Hey, it seems that Kevin Milwood is gonna be in London on holiday. Is he planning to go to the X'mas sales or something???

Sleepless nights

Every year, I start watching baseball in the postseason, then get really into it, and then my team gets kicked out. Not this time. At least I'll have another 4 more games to watch. If I can stay awake for it all.

Having said that, I was surprisingly calm throughout Game 7 of the ALCS. Maybe it's because it was the second time since 2004. That breaking the curse thing sure worked. The game, it's important, but I can be a bit more laid back about it.

Am so looking forward to the World Series.
I've never watched any team play in Coors Field. All that I know is it's a pitchers' graveyard...

Curtis has a blog!

People, Curt Schilling has a blog!

I mean, it's Curt Schilling. Bloody socks. Ankle man. (One of) The man who won us the World Series.
I'm gonna link it, I'm gonna link it, trah-lah-lah-lah-lah!

(And here's a link to his game company site)


Anyway, here's his first entry, and I kinda like the way he has done it.
I like the way he says he doesn't have keen insight into anything apart from baseball. That he's not a yes/no kinda guy. That he' admits to being probably more wrong than right.
He has laid down the foundations for what he will (or might) say and what he might not.

Personally, I have mixed emotions when it comes to Curt Schilling. I bet he's hard work. I'm sure there are aspects I would hate, if I knew him personally. But I don't. What I admire about him is his dedication to his work (if I was a pitcher, I probably would leave the three volumes of opposing team batter's scouting report to Tek), the fact that he is his own agent (Scott Boras, anyone?), that he is a great pitcher.

Closer gone

I heard the sad news that Keith Foulke is to retire. 'Tis with a tinge of sadness I see him go, after what he had done for the 2004 Red Sox, after the two seasons he had to endure in Boston afterwards, that he has chosen to retire. He was great when he was healthy, and was a great joy to watch in those post-season games....best of luck with him in his new life.
On the other hand, Bellhorn is still going, with a Spring training invitation from the Reds. A few people are ending up there (whatever happened to the LA/SD - Boston connection?), including Arroyo...might be interesting to see them this season. Shame that LaRue is not there catching anymore, he is kinda cute.

This season is an interesting one for me, as Dice-K Matsuzaka joins the Red Sox. I might just have to fork out a few quid to get some broadband broadcasts of the games.