It's Iggy's World and We're Just Living in it

Take that Vlad Guerrero, Dice-K, and the hundreds of other atheletes that either refuse to, or think it's too hard to learn English.

So what does Iggy do?  He requests an English interview with the God of baseball, Peter Gammons.  See how much he poured?

This kid has been here for a year, and according to mulitple sources, when he's not in the gym, he's studying English and US history.  Have I mentioned I'm a fan of his? 

(ITM note:  I really need to scoop up his jersey T, before Ft Myers).

Oh, and did I mention that Iggy went 2 for 3 with three RBI last night (true, it was against Northeastern, but by now you understand I'm hardly raitonal).

Pedroia: "We're gonna kick BC's Ass,"

I swear Pedroia can do no wrong in my book, and this one is right in my wheelhouse.  Just saying what everyone else in Boston is thinking. 

Even if he was a terrible second basemen, I'd need him on our team....the golden quotes continue.

Get fired up boys, baseball is on its way, and Pedey is here to kick ass and take names.

Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects: My Main Man Iggy...

It's no secret, everyone knows I've got a man crush on Jose "Iggy" Iglesias.  The hands of a mongoose and the makeup of a really well-rounded ballplayer.  I think half of London already knows that I'm all sorts of infatuated with the 20 year old Cuban.

So while I'm a little upset he's only checking in at #52 on Baseball America's list of the Top 100 prospects, I'm convinced it's because most people haven't seen this stud live and in person.

I liked him prior to last year's Spring Training....but after reading more about him, and meeting him in Ft Myers....it quickly turned into a case of baseball man love (see Jacoby Ellsbury in early 2007, right before the pink hats and eventual injuries got to him).

A-rod is apparently trying to move in Iggy too...he better recognize.   "It's a Miami thing"....easy pal.

Either way, Iggy is Boston's top rated prospect, but you can also find Anthony Ranaudo (#67) and left-hander Drake Britton (#97) on the list. 

Not that I care, but look at who checks in at #37 and #75....

Baseball America's 2011 TOP 100 PROSPECTS


1. Bryce Harper, of, Nationals

2. Mike Trout, of, Angels

3. Jesus Montero, c, Yankees

4. Domonic Brown, of, Phillies

5. Julio Teheran, rhp, Braves

6. Jeremy Hellickson, rhp, Rays

7. Aroldis Chapman, lhp, Reds

8. Eric Hosmer, 1b, Royals

9. Mike Moustakas, 3b, Royals

10. Wil Myers, of/c, Royals

11. Jameson Taillon, rhp, Pirates

12. Dustin Ackley, 2b, Mariners

13. Shelby Miller, rhp, Cardinals

14. Manny Machado, ss, Orioles

15. Matt Moore, lhp, Rays

16. Michael Pineda, rhp, Mariners

17. Freddie Freeman, 1b, Braves

18. John Lamb, lhp, Royals

19. Mike Montgomery, lhp, Royals

20. Chris Sale, lhp, White Sox

21. Jacob Turner, rhp, Tigers

22. Desmond Jennings, of, Rays

23. Brandon Belt, 1b, Giants

24. Martin Perez, lhp, Rangers

25. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3b, Indians

26. Dee Gordon, ss, Dodgers

27. Chris Archer, rhp, Rays

28. Zach Britton, lhp, Orioles

29. Kyle Drabek, rhp, Blue Jays

30. Gary Sanchez, c, Yankees

31. Casey Kelly, rhp, Padres

32. Tyler Matzek, lhp, Rockies

33. Jarrod Parker, rhp, Diamondbacks

34. Kyle Gibson, rhp, Twins

35. Randall Delgado, rhp, Braves

36. Travis d'Arnaud, c, Blue Jays

37. Mike Minor, lhp, Braves

38. Brett Jackson, of, Cubs

39. Jonathan Singleton, 1b/of, Phillies

40. Brett Lawrie, 2b, Blue Jays

41. Manny Banuelos, lhp, Yankees

42. Jordan Lyles, rhp, Astros

43. Dellin Betances, rhp, Yankees

44. Jenrry Mejia, rhp, Mets

45. Aaron Hicks, of, Twins

46. Tony Sanchez, c, Pirates

47. Alex White, rhp, Indians

48. Trey McNutt, rhp, Cubs

49. Wilin Rosario, c, Rockies

50. Billy Hamilton, ss/2b, Reds

51. Christian Colon, ss, Royals

52. Jose Iglesias, ss, Red Sox

53. Nick Franklin, ss/2b, Mariners

54. Jason Kipnis, 2b, Indians

55. Zack Wheeler, rhp, Giants

56. Brody Colvin, rhp, Phillies

57. Jean Segura, 2b, Angels

58. Simon Castro, rhp, Padres

59. Wilmer Flores, ss, Mets

60. Miguel Sano, 3b/ss, Twins

61. Drew Pomeranz, lhp, Indians

62. Zack Cox, 3b, Cardinals

63. Grant Green, ss, Athletics

64. Devin Mesoraco, c, Reds

65. Nick Castellanos, 3b, Tigers

66. Danny Espinosa, ss/2b, Nationals

67. Anthony Ranaudo, rhp, Red Sox

68. Danny Duffy, lhp, Royals

69. Jake Odorizzi, rhp, Royals

70. Jarred Cosart, rhp, Phillies

71. Jake McGee, lhp, Rays

72. Derek Norris, c, Nationals

73. Yonder Alonso, 1b/of, Reds

74. Jurickson Profar, ss, Rangers

75. Anthony Rizzo, 1b, Padres

76. Tyler Chatwood, rhp, Angels

77. Cesar Puello, of, Mets

78. Andrew Brackman, rhp, Yankees

79. Stetson Allie, rhp, Pirates

80. Nolan Arenado, 3b, Rockies

81. Matt Dominguez, 3b, Marlins

82. Tyler Skaggs, lhp, Diamondbacks

83. Chris Dwyer, lhp, Royals

84. Tanner Scheppers, rhp, Rangers

85. Brent Morel, 3b/ss, White Sox

86. Craig Kimbrel, rhp, Braves

87. Andy Oliver, lhp, Tigers

88. Josh Sale, of, Rays

89. Zach Lee, rhp, Dodgers

90. Rubby de la Rosa, rhp, Dodgers

91. Chris Carter, 1b/of, Athletics

92. Hak-Ju Lee, ss, Rays

93. Arodys Vizcaino, rhp, Braves

94. Jonathan Villar, ss, Astros

95. Deck McGuire, rhp, Blue Jays

96. Wilson Ramos, c, Nationals

97. Drake Britton, lhp, Red Sox

98. Austin Romine, c, Yankees

99. Matt Davidson, 3b, Diamondbacks

100. Joe Benson, of, Twins

I've Been in London for 48 Hours and I'm Already Freaking Out

How do you say Stud in Spanish?....

- I missed team photo day? Really? I can only assume Manny was late.

- A Gon was cleared to swing a bat and take BP? Ahead of schedule nonetheless?  Why haven't I printed my planned "ITM-Arriba Bitches!" T-shirts?

- Joba is getting heat for being super fat in NYC? I wish I could buy the NY Post just for the back page.

48 hours into my nearly 6 month stint in the UK and I already feel like I'm "missing" everything. Granted, being in Boston wouldn't be much different seeing how the team is in Ft Myers, and not everyone is quite on the same level of Red Sox infatuation as I am of yet...but those days are coming.

Yesterday was technically day one in London. I dragged my wife to three different pubs close by our "flat", as expected, no baseball...only some crazies playing "soccer".

Don't get me wrong, I'm actually some what of a soccer fan, but let's get serious, I need the Sox. "Yeah I golf on Sunday, but I hate golf."

I totally forced that Old School quote, but somehow it's worth it.

Anyways, I'll make it a mission of mine to search out some kind of semblance of baseball while I'm here. I don't care if I have to start a facebook fan page/revolution and pay off the bar to purchase the channel in order to play he Sox game, I need to make this happen.

If and when I fail miserably at the above, I'll turn to MLB.com and just stream some Sox games through my computer at 2am local time here across the pond....the wife will love that.

All that said, I'm flying back to the States for 4 days of Spring Training greatness in less than a month.  The greatest use of 20,000 American Airline miles ever.

Jimmy Edmonds Calls It Quits

Jim Edmonds has decided to hang up his cleats at the age of 40.  I can't say I blame the guy, his doctors have pretty much told him that his achilles is bound to rupture if he was to start up spring training.  Believe me, that's nothing fun to deal with.

Why is ITM blogging about a retiring NL center fielder?  Because I still believe that his catch is the best I've ever seen.  He pretty much said to Willie Mays, "See how much I poured?".  Sure the Gary Mathews Jr. over the wall catch was impressive, but "the catch"  by Jimmy E (can I call him that?) still amazes me some 10 years later.

Players rob home runs (with varying levels of impressiveness) on a weekly basis, but no one has recreated that catch by Edmonds.  It's a special play that I'll never forget.  So with that, congrats goes out to Jimmy Edmonds.  Straight class homie.

ITM Note:  I made a similar, diving backwards over my shoulder, catch in high school....and pretty much ruined my shoulder.  Out for the season.  Then, some 7 years later I ruptured the hell out of my left achilles...as a result, I consider Jimmy E a brother.

D Bard Has Had a Good Offseason...

D Bard huh?  I always thought he was more Napoleon Dynamite than a popular clubhouse jokester...which still may be the case.....but I gotta give it to the guy, he's clearly put in some hard work in the offseason.

A 100mph heater and the ability to make fun of himself?  That's truly rare. 

That said, D Bard should really consider the future implications of interviews like this.  People like Pedroia don't let these things go easily, as a result, he'll likely have a ridiculous nickname for the rest of his career.  A nickname that Pedroia will drive home by screaming it day in and day out during Spring Training.....to the point where Dan Shaughnesy is even using it.....and that's a situation no one wants to be in.

This video somehow confirms that Pedey is an animal.  Bring on Spring Training.

Christmas Comes Early For ITM....

Boom.

PS:  Sure, I'm going to have to sell off some of these due to my stint across the pond in London, but having them in my hands is better than holding gold.  So give ITM 1,000 hits each day from your browser and you'll get considered.....

How Money is Rondo?

I absolutely love this guy, he can do no wrong in my book.  Anything it takes to win.

PS:  Rondo defending and pissing off Lebron throughout the third quarter?  Priceless.

Sox Sign a 17 Year Old Softball Player From New Zealand - Kevin Millar's Son We Assume

WEEI.com:  According to a report from Stuff.co.nz, 17-year-old New Zealand softball catcher Te Wera Bishop has signed with the Red Sox.

"We have been impressed by his abilities behind the plate, he has excellent hands and a strong throwing arm, and with instruction from our Boston Red Sox coaches, we are confident he can make the appropriate changes from softball to baseball," Red Sox scout Jon Deeble told the website.


The report suggests that Bishop — who tried out for several major league teams last month — will attend the Australian MLB Academy in June. He is expected to sign a contract with the Red Sox on Wednesday.


"I don't know what to expect. I'm just over the moon," Bishop said.

Is this real life?  I come back from a business trip to Brazil and learn the Sox are signing 17 year old softball players from New Zealand?  We have scouts in New Zealand?  Really?  I'd bet that half of Bostonians couldn't find NZ on a map. 

Are we that concerned about the catcher position?

For some reason, the first thing I thought of after reading this story was that this kid must be related to Kevin Millar somehow.  Admit it, Millar, while instrumental at times during the Red Sox 2004 championship season, would undoubtedly have been the best over 35 mens softball league player in history. 

Keeping with Millar's style, apparently the kid is already learning how to hate the Yanks.  Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Alright, T Murph and I are going to join a softball league in the Boston Common....

Going to Spring Training Means Different Things To Different People....

Quick post as I'm sinking adult beverages on my flight home from Brazil....

It's been hard not to get robbed and keep up with Sox news while down here on business, but I'm doing my best. Random thought, doesn't it seem like evey year you hear that everyone is reporting to Spring Training in the "best shape of their career"?

Anyways, I was talkin to a colleuge today, she works in one of our European Offices but has been interacting with me on a daily basis for years. She knows that every year I go to Florida for Spring Training, but simply thinks I go down there to actually play baseball and train for the upcoming summer season.

Little does she know it's the complete opposite occurrence. Sinking beers, obsessing about a game we dont play, and making bets on March Madness games for the next bucket of beers is what realty occurs.

I didn't have th heart to tell her, so I simply let her go on thinking we're actually down there "training".

Whatever allows you to sleep at night right? Can't wait for next month...go Sox.

Progress on Fenway's Improvements....

As if the signings of AGon, Carl Crawford, and bolsting the bullpen didn't have us excited enough about the Red Sox 2011 season. .... Given all the singings and offseason movements, I had forgotten about the improvements being made to ballpark in the Fens.

I'm excited to make my way home from London in late July and get to as many games as possible.  Revamping gate D is needed, (it's a sea of bottlenecks) and I'm interested to see the difference in the center field jumbotron.

That said, doesn't this dude in the video seem like he should stay in the server room playing with computer geek stuff, and not down in the construction zone that is concourse D?  Stick to what you know buddy.

Truck day, it's coming.  Baseball.  It's coming.