Pics From ITM in Ft Myers - Until Next Year

We here at ITM are already planning next year's trip to Ft Myers. The next 10 days are likely to drag prior to opening day......but for now, we can look back on some of the pics below and remember happier, warmer times in Ft Myers.



ITM Note: These are a filtered set of pictures we decided we could post without getting in trouble with real life issues (work, significant others, etc).




The crowd gathers at the Minor League Complex as Dice-K gets ready. There was not a fan or scout to be found the day before.

Solid seats for the Sox/Astros game.

View from the right field seats.

Joe Murph never takes a day off......usually.....sometimes. Blogging from his bberry (and/or feverishly checking the Georgetown score....I wasn't allowed to bring that game up for the rest of the trip).

How does Theo always manage to look so cool? Serious man love/envy.

Getting a close up view of Casey Kelly's bullpen session. Joe ponders if he could take him deep.

Another set of solid seats in Bradenton against the Pirates.

BP at the City of Palms Park.

The Pirate's stadium in Bradenton....certainly smaller than City of Palms Park....but we liked the Cape League-like feel.

Iggy knows a high roller when he sees one..

Iggy, shaking hands, kissing babies, spinning double plays and knocking triples. In a word, studly.

Diçe-K Update

Little live blogging as we take in some BP at the City of Palms Park.

ITM sat beside the beat writers, press (mostly Japanese), as well as Theo and his entourage to watch Dice-k throw in a simulated game against some nervous minor leaguers.

We've got some good pictures and video we'll be posting later on; but it's safe to say Dice-K looks to be in great shape and showed no ill effects of his recent physical set backs.

The Dice man went a little over 2 innings, allowing no hits and walking one. He looked strong, pumping fastballs past hitters and using off speed pitches to keep the kids swinging and missing.

He still failed to really attack hitters, and needs to shake off some additional early rust, but he was effective.

It was definitely an anticipated event, with lots of press and cameras on hand, a far cry from yesterday's loose and free feeling. Theo watched quietly and said little....the same could be said for pitching coach John Farrell.

This morning left us feeling cautiously optimistic about Dice-K. Fingers crossed for continued positive progression.

Ok, it's nearly game time here, with nearly the full squad in the starting lineup and Lester on the mound.

More to come later, Go Sox.

A Quick Recap From Ft Myers

ITM just returned to our disaster of a hotel room after a great day of baseball. We were lucky enough to meet, take a picture, and briefly chat with Jose Iglesias after morning workouts at the minor league complex a few miles away from City of Palms Park. Safe to say our tails were wagging in excitement.

After stalking Casey Kelly for a bit, and learning that he was the starting pitcher in the Double AA match up against the Rays, we decided to take in a few innings.

We sat with Kelly's family and other minor leaguers with the 20 year old stud on the mound. It felt amazingly similar to watching a little league baseball game. With most fans up the street at the big league club, we got an up close and personal experience with the best prospects in the Sox system.

Kelly went 3 innings, allowing one earned run and some loud outs, but there is no doubt the kid has a ton of talent. He's got a live fastball with late movement and a great breaking ball, but got into trouble at times when missing a few of his spots over the plate.

I know we're pretty high on Iggy (our new nickname for Iglesias, pass it on) as it is, but he managed to confirm our man love even more today. He made a smooth backhanded play to his right and showed off a strong arm across the diamond to get a speedy runner. At the plate, he went 2 for 3, going to the opposite field with an outside fastball and hitting a triple to the left-center gap (ITM note: we have exclusive video of the triple, and other minor league happenings....we can call it exclusive because there were no other cameras there today....we'll post it once we get home).

We also managed to take in a bit of the Triple AAA game which was being played simultaneously on the adjacent field. Lars Anderson (pic below) worked a walk and showed off some speed around the bases, scoring from first on a double.

After about 4 innings we ran up the street to City Palms Park to take in the last few innings of the big league club. We got in to see Marco "don't hate on me" Scutaro hit a tater to give the Sox a 3-0. The high number players were quickly substituted in and the game ended at 6-0. After asking around, we were told Wakefiled was lights out for 5 quick innings....making Tito's job that much more difficult of course.

Here are a few blackberry pictures from the day, better pics/video to follow once we're back to upload them:

....yes, that last pic is a list of do's and don'ts for living with alligators......where are we???

Shout Out to Ryan Westmoreland

We often joke around here on ITM, but when it comes to a teenager having to go through brain surgery, that's no laughing matter. As a result, my moral compass wouldn't allow me to go to sleep tonight without a quick post to wish Ryan Westmoreland good luck.

Westmoreland, 19, one of Boston's top prospects, will go in for brain surgery on Tuesday (presumably at MGH) for what the media is calling cavernous malformations.

I'm not a doctor, nor do I pretend to even know the proper pronunciation of the condition, but I did a quick good search and here is what I got (courtesy of the Mayo clinic):

Cavernous malformations are vascular malformations in the brain or spinal cord. Also known as brain cavernous hemangiomas or cavernomas, cavernous malformations are groups of abnormally tiny and larger, thin-walled blood vessels filled with blood that may slowly seep into surrounding tissue. The leakage of blood from the cavernoma may be more significant and cause what is called a hemorrhage.


One good thing I get out of the above is that it doesn't sound cancerous....but it certainly sounds like something you wouldn't wish on anyone....so best of luck to Ryan. Get well soon.


PS: David Beckham blew out his achilles earlier today, erasing any chances of him playing in the world cup and possibly ending his career. Soccer? That's right, I only care because I did the same thing and my blogging career was in question for some time.

Cameron is Fighting Father Time, and Winning

Sometimes, I get back to my computer and there are 8 quick gchat IM's from Joe Murph's waiting for me. It's rare, but when it happens, I know he's shaking like a school girl at his computer. I've known Joe since preschool...so I can literally hear his voice get higher as he fails to control his excitement.

Yesterday, he nearly reached the end of the internet to find the carve out below from SI.com....so I felt the need to pass it along:

"Mike Cameron, 37, who barely finished behind Jacoby Ellsbury in all of the Sox's agility and speed drills on the first day of spring training, has led National League center fielders in UZR each of the past two seasons."

Has Cameron found the fountain of youth? Most guys are hanging them up at 37, instead, he's checking in right behind one of the best athletes in the game in all of the agility and speed drills? (a player who is also over 10 years younger) Really?

There is no denying that going from J-Bay to Mike Cameron is an overall downgrade, but like true Sox fans, we're searching for optimism.

That said, we all have questions about his 300 likely strikeouts (plus or minus), moving Jacoby to left field, and the actual importance of UZR's.

For Cameron especially, time will tell. Red Sox fans will either love him, or hate him.

J-Bay's Feelings Are Hurt: Did He Not Play in This City?

I don't pretend to know Jason Bay....but he seems like a stand up guy from the Great White North. He's a quality ball player that gives it his all and keeps to himself. In the end, he wanted more money and years than the Red Sox, and every other rational team in baseball, were willing to pony up.

He went to the Mets.

....that sad, red-headed stepchild of a baseball team in NYC. Most Sox fans got past it with relative ease....but that doesn't mean we forget.

J-Bay was greeted by some boos when the Sox played the Mets in a Spring Training away game this afternoon. According to WEEI.com:

Upon stepping into the batter’s box in second inning of New York’s game against the Red Sox, at Tradition Field Jason Bay was announced to the fans at the spring training home of the Mets and was peppered with a smattering of “boos.” Bay’s reaction? “I thought it was a little harsh,” the former Red Sox outfielder said with a grin. When asked how he would classify the reception, Bay explained, “It was luke-warm, at best.”

Upon hearing the explanation, Mets third baseman David Wright yelled over, “For everything you brought to that city, they should cheer for you.” Bay seemed genuinely amused — while still somewhat surprised — coming away from the re-introduction to his former teammates with an understanding of the situation.

“They travel well,” said Bay of the Red Sox fans in attendance. “I didn’t expect to get cheered. I’m not there anymore.”

J-Bay and D Wright have to be kidding.....right? Didn't J-Bay play in Boston for more than a year? He knows how much our hometown team means to us. Everything about the Sox has an irrational effect on our lives....when you're on our team (and you produce), you're god....but when you run to another team equally far away from your "home" for more money....well then see we have a problem.

Let's be honest, if the Sox lose a tough game, most people know to stay away from me the next day. My wife sometimes grabs me a beer out of the fridge and hands it to me without saying a word. I liked J-Bay, I still only call him by his nickname.....but it's not like he put us on his back and brought us to the promise land. We don't owe him a thing. If anything, Boston brought him into the spotlight and made him a household name (as well as a boatload of money).

Unless he's on my fantasy team, he's no longer on my radar. He can get swallowed by the giant new stadium in New York.....and storm on home when his Mets eventually blow any chance of making the playoffs once the games become significant.

J-Bay, you know better. We loved you. However, now some of us will still cheer for you, some will boo, but most of us just won't care.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Draft Day

(Yes this is our League's photo....and yes our league name is "Jim Abbott's Stumps"...what of it?)

There are a handful of very important weekends throughout the year......Easter weekend, July 4th etc....and then there's the fantasy baseball draft weekend.


In our distorted world, the word fantasy should be struck from the phrase, to us, it's very real.....and it's this weekend.


The draft may be tonight at 7pm, but people have started congregating in Plymouth since last night. Wives are left at home, children and dogs are nearly forgotten, it's game time.


Hours, days and weeks of preparation are put into draft strategies and projections......only for some of us to have a few too many adult beverages before it even begins, resulting in selecting Steven Drew in the third round (it happens).


The continuous question is always whether or not to draft a Red Sox ballplayer for your fantasy team. Personally, I have Dusty as my second basemen (who I kept as a part of my keeper league), and it can be difficult to watch.


Last year, I also had David Ortiz....which is why I wrote constant posts about how terrible he was for the first two months....he effectively sank my chances last year.


This year will be tough...do you draft Dice-K as a ultra late round pick as a back end arm? He's got upside, but he's on your "real" team....which you stress out about everyday anyways....why compound the stress levels?


Should be an interesting night and spring training, both fantasy and real.


Game on.

Help Needed....Ft. Myers or Bust?

The ITM staff members have been spending the holidays eating and drinking way too much, arguing with family members over Boston's off season moves, and conjuring up dates and times that a bunch of us grown adults can go sledding like the good ol' days.

While the holidays are often a time for rest and relaxation, the three of us will be meeting in a few days to discuss a very serious topic...... Are we going to Ft. Myers in March to continue our obsession with Heidi Watney....I mean, the Red Sox?....

Prior to the John Lackey trade, we had blown up the idea of sinking a fair amount of money for a trip to the land of old people....but when we solidified the best pitching rotation in the big leagues (as currently constituted), some interest has returned. Granted, even if we purchase tickets, we reserve the right to be irrationally pissed off about any future off season move and cancel the entire trip out of spite.

This is where we need your help. Should we collectively man up and go to Ft Myers to spend some time (and money) in the sun watching a Red Sox team that we're not entirely sold on, and sink beers with the thousands of old time Irishmen transplanted from Boston? Or should we boycott Spring Training as a result of our general dislike of the Red Sox moves and decide to be fiscally responsible for once in our lives? Vote on the poll above to help us out.

Happy Holidays.... Go Sox

This pic should make us all feel a little better.....

It's cold as hell here in Boston today.....my hair froze while waiting for the subway this morning...and I don't think it was even wet......anyways, I figured this picture would stir a little optimism into a frozen Red Sox Nation. Ortiz has clearly been working hard in the off season....he's showing off the guns in this picture from Boston.com

I'm glad to see he didn't just eat salsa and subway cookies in the off season. He looks ripped up and ready to blast 40+ taters again....I'm knocking on wood right now, you should be too.

It's Officially Baseball Season...

The Superbowl and it's ridiculous hype is finally over. Thank god, now we can sincerely start worrying about baseball and more importantly, the Red Sox. Not that anyone in New England really cared about last night's game, but there is something about the end of football season that officially accelerates all of us into thinking about spring training and the boys of summer. Sorry Celtics and Bruins, we love you and all, but we'll really pay attention come playoff time.

As we draw closer and closer to both the warm weather and the start of the 2009 baseball season, ITM will be taking a look at the 2009 Red Sox in closer detail. Of course we'll offer our predictions once the season is close to kicking off, but we'll also take a look at Boston's off season moves, trade deadline possibilities, and where we stand against our AL East rivals.

An intricate part of ITM's ramp up to the 2009 season is our trip down to Ft. Myers to take in some spring training baseball. We'll be headed down in early March and will likely travel with away games as well. It's likely we'll hit up every chain restaurant and bar on the way, but that's part of the Floridian experience....and there will surely be a ton of fantasy baseball trash talk between us.....but hopefully, we'll be able to provide some of you back here in New England with some thoughts, opinions and stories from City of Palms Park and beyond.

Pitchers and catchers report in just 9 days.....ITM reports in about a month...it's baseball season Red Sox Nation, get excited.