Sunday Funday....Going Around the Horn

It’s been a while since I’ve posted much of anything as we’re officially in the winter doldrums. That said, I’ll quickly go around the horn….

• Mike Cameron wants to stay in Boston despite the Sox bringing in Carl Crawford…..no surprise there, JD will likely go down with a hangnail in late April. Plus, Mikey sees the writing on the wall, this team has “special” potential.


• The Sox will not be bringing in the right field fences. Apparently, the Boston Historical Society could care less if Daniel Bard gets drilled in the head in their European style bullpen. (ITM note, the Sox still think this will happen in the upcoming years)


• I’m pumped about Max Ramirez joining the Sox. The team certainly needs the depth at the catcher position, plus, given his history with Boston (re: Mike Lowell trade), I’m glad he finally got here.


• I still can’t believe Beltre got that kind of money. I mean, good for him, but Texas will regretting that deal by 2013. Also, Pedey’s quote on Beltre was great…. “He wants to win. He plays great defense -- he gets to a ton of balls at third base” Nice Pedey, Nice.


• Speaking of balls, Buckner is going to coach the Brockton Rox huh? Good for him. Lock your doors though Billy boy, lock your doors.

A last point, come February, I’ll be heading across the pond to spend 6 months in London for work…..it’s likely to result in some ridiculous posts about their terrible ability to appreciate baseball, and my inability to conform to any of the cultural differences. Stay tuned....5 weeks until pitchers and catchers....

ITM: Going Around the Horn

The Sox fumbled away a very winnable series ending game in Baltimore this afternoon, but overall, we should be pretty upbeat with their recent play. As the weekend comes to a close and reality gets ready to slap us in the face tomorrow, let's go around the horn:

-I feel like every start Lackey has had this year has been a complete struggle. While I was impressed with his grit today to keep his team in the game and go deep into the game, I'm very much concerned with average stuff (anyone else notice he was only touching 89 or 90 on the gun?)

-Every time I think Manny Delcarmen has finally reached that next level we're all waiting for...he struggles for an extended period of time. Perhaps I should reduce my expectations.

-Despite today's loss, the Sox have still won or split 12 out of their last 15 series

-Boof "you completely forgot about me, didn't you?" Bonzer touched 95mph on the radar gun during a bullpen outing. There, I just wasted 10 seconds of your life.

-I realize he's just a kid, and it's early, but I was surprised to hear that Casey Kelly got his first win of the season in Double A Portland the other day. He's now, 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA. Joe Murph and I were ready to facebook poke the guy after watching him in Ft Myers.

-Apparently Ortiz is fine after taking a fastball off the hand this afternoon.....although he was 0-12 in the series....anyone concerned?

-I remain somewhat surprised with the Sox offense, consider the following: 4th in batting average (.274), 2nd in taters (79), 1st in RBI (304), and 1st in hits (556). Studly?

-Asked what he could add to the lineup upon his return from another lower abdominal issue, center fielder Mike Cameron joked, “Sexiness and color.” I can respect that, now produce for Christ's sake.

Now I gotta get back to screaming at the Celtics, not sure how they can look so good and so bad the same time.

Headed Into the Weekend by Going Around the Horn

Leading off with the Friday edition of going around the horn with a truly unique story....

-Pawtucket Pawsox Daniel Nava is a super creep. He's been leaving a ticket to every game in Erin Andrew's name, hoping to one day meet her. And he's been doing this for THREE STRAIGHT YEARS. Dude, you're a triple AAA ballplayer, she's a headliner, dominating the national sidelines and dancing with the stars. We all love her, but you don't see me leaving an office pass in her name to come visit me in Boston everyday, get over it. Erin Andrews is not walking through that door.

-That said, look up Daniel Nava, he has put up the best offensive numbers in the minor leagues for the Sox over the past two years. Hopefully he'll make me eat my words.

-I still don't understand how Lester/Ortiz/anyone can be so bad in April every year. Mark Teixiera appears to do the same. It both amazes and frustrates me. Every year I freak out and think "this is the year they don't break out of it". I don't need this kind of stress in my life.

-Don't look now, but the Rays are pulling away in the AL East (I know, far too early), but the Yanks are struggling, and the Sox are only 3.5 games behind the Bronx Bombers. Just saying.

-Clay Buchholz may not be our ace right now, but he's gotta be considered our 1A. I'm more confident with him on the bump this year than nearly anyone. From pitching for his life in Spring Training to being the rock in a star-studded rotation this year, he's been studly.

-Mr. David Ortiz. We all owe you an apology. Keep it up though, because the media can quickly turn.

-I'm not sure why there is such a cry over Theo going undercover at a Pear Jam concert. Leave the guy alone. ITM note, he kind of looks like Cheech from "Cheech and Chong"...

ITM: Going Around the Horn, Friday Edition

(an old pic...but damnit it's a good one for a Friday)



It's Friday, 70 degrees and sunny, the Sox have somehow won 7 of 9, and their upcoming series against the O's means they'll effectively be playing a Double A ball club. With that, let's quickly go around the horn....


-The Sox are 6-3 on the road? Really? That's gotta be a record through 9 games for the Sox


-Lars Anderson took one step back last year, perhaps being stifled by the hype, but apparently he has taken two steps forward this year. He was just promoted to Triple A Pawtucket (lock your doors). The 22 year old prospect was hitting .355 for Portland in 17 games this season, with 5 taters, 16 RBI and a slugging percentage of .667 (leading the league). He'll be splitting time at first and DH....could it be that Theo wants to see if he can hit at a major league level this year??


-David Ortiz has struck out in 33% of his plate appearances. You gotta try to do that. In the words of Tony Mazz.....talk about a turd cutter.


-It's official, despite T Murph's last post...I'm worried about V-Mart. If he doesn't hit, he's not a catcher.


-Another quality Pedroia quote...(in regards to the last two games in Toronto) "We run prevented the sh*t outta them". Priceless.


-According to the Wall Street Journal, the Red Sox are the second most hated team in baseball. I immediately assumed the Yanks would be number one.....but the Indians??? Did they mean the most irrelevant team in baseball? How are the Yankess only fifth? Someone check the methodology, because that simply can't be right.


-I hate how excited we all are about getting back to a 500 record.....baby steps I guess.


-The Red Sox are pulling much lower TV rating thus far this year.....partially a product of the Celts and Bruins playoff runs. However, even when the Sox are on without local team challengers, they're only pulling a 5 share....as compared to years past when they routinely pulled in 10-15 shares (sometimes closer to 20). Safe to say this team is not as exciting.....and the novelty of winning has worn off a bit in Boston....certainly the pink hats don't know what channel NESN is anymore.


-T Murph and I were allowed back into Remy's last night....and he managed to make it through the night without throwing up in the bathroom. We took in both the Rays and Yankee games while we were there.....this just in, the Rays are scary good. I'm talking best team in baseball hands down good (right now at least). They're on pace for 123 wins (that's not a made up number, that's real). Their makeup of young and confident talent is terrifying. I hate to say it because they're in the AL East, but I love watching them play.


-Mike Cameron may be on the mend, but I'm willing to roll the dice on Darnell McDonald and run with the 31 year old's confidence. Surely his .333 average won't last all season, but he already has more taters and RBI than Ortiz and Vmart. I don't care about respecting elders if he's producing and the Sox are winning....


Buchholz and Lester have put this rotation back on track, it's up the Lackey to keep it there tonight against the O's.

Go Sox.

ITM: Going Around the Horn

Quick lunchtime post to help me get through another rain-filled Monday.

-Dice-K just wrapped up a simulated game at the minor league facility. He threw 62 pitches and struck out seven over three innings of work, allowing two hits. The media is giving him the thumbs up and waving their Japanese flags, but I'd like him to do it in a game against some major league talent....not 18 year old kids.


-I can't figure out how Josh Beckett can't be offended by the rumors that the Sox will not go past 4 years in their extension offer. When you consider the AJ Burnett deal as the benchmark, and the 5 year, 82.5 million dollar package to bring Lackey to Boston, you have to assume Beckett is drooping some mean F Bombs and breaking stuff throughout the entire state of Texas. Perhaps it's a negotiating ploy, but if they're unwilling to go the extra mile to lock up Beckett, consider him gone (and possibly to the Yanks).

Please remember:

-Beckett is two years younger than Lackey

-He's had a comparable injury history

-He has better overall numbers than both Lackey and AJ (both regular and post season)

-He's been the ace of your rotation and leads by example, taking Lester under his wing

-He put us on his back in 2007 and carried us to a world series championship



Since when have the Sox become amazingly risk averse? Maybe being burned by all the current dead money on the books has caused them to act irrationally.....but to me, this is a slap in the face to our ace.



-I've been striking out in my efforts to find a Jose Iglesias t-shirt jersey thus far, any help would be appreciated. Maybe ITM just needs to get on the ball and make our own?



-The Rangers are reportedly still interested in Mike Lowell. I had someone in my office try to convince me the Marlins or some other NL team will grab him.....Seriously? With no DH there is no chance he goes to a NL squad. Mark it zero, next frame.



-For a list of the offseason improvements made to Fenway, check out the Herald's article here. Also, read the comments to the story and you'll think that all Red Sox fans are pathetic whiners. In fact, read the comments to any Herald article and all you'll see are complainers. Annoying.



Alright, lunch is over, back to the grind.



6 days.....Go Sox.