Monday, April 25, 2011

Three Days, Two Games, Pt. 1

Saw the Angels lose to Boston in Anaheim. For those who don't know, the "Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim" is the single dumbest name in the history of sports. Worse even than the Mighty Ducks. It's that bad because it's factually incorrect.

See, Anaheim is a city in Orange Country, Los Angeles is a seperate city in a seperate county (Los Angeles County). They share a state, and are both considered part of Southern California, but Anaheim is not in any part of Los Angeles, city or county.


Imagine if the Yankees called themselves the Manhatten Yankees of the Bronx. Yes, it's that dumb.


Having said that, I do like going to games at the Halo, as the fans there are generally pleasant, though passive-agressive in their issues with Sox fans filling out the stadium during our visits. They do know their baseball, hate the Yankees and I've never heard any of them call it "Edison Field." So they have that going for them.


Anyway, I got to see my 3-year-old nephew Grahm's first baseball game. My brother dressed him in his Daisuke jersey and let him wear his '75 Boston hat, and carried him on his shoulders through the center field concourse to our seats in right. Grahm shouted the whole way, "Let's go, Red Sox!"



I'm serious. The whole way. Above, you see him standing and clapping for the last out, as Daniel Bard got Vernon Wells to ground out to Pedroia.


He ate some cotten candy during the fourth inning, and when given a baby wipe to clean his hands, crumbled the paper into a ball and threw it a few rows in front of us, hitting some lady in the back.


After being scolded by his father, he responded, "But daddy, we have to win the game."


I think he'll fit right it at Fenway.

Monday, April 18, 2011

You Win Three In A Row...

And it's called a streak. A winning streak.

I have to admit, I was officially worried after Friday's game, but just as swiftly I'm feeling really good about Saturday.

I'll be seeing the Sox play in Anaheim. I might even take pictures.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

First 7-0, then 2-8

My brother asked if I wanted to watch the game on his HD TV but, as I was working a bit later, told him I'd drop by after I got off. When I walked into his place and saw the score, I had one of those fleeting feelings that this was a joke he was pulling on me. Thinking back on it, I've no idea how I thought he could have arranged the TV to offer such a ridiculous score, but still, I couldn't believe after last night, against the Rays, that this would happen. Nope, Dice-K just got smacked around like he was Phil Hughes or something. All of which sucked even more because we kept up a conversation while he was at the station yesterday, inspired by Beckett's domination of the Yankees. That curve was a thing of beauty. But, my nephew, Grahm, who is three, did make me laugh with this one: He told his mother that the pizza she made "smelled dangerous." That itself is funny in the way children sometimes offer observations slightly off in their word choice. But Grahm clearly had an agenda, and announced a solution to the problem: "I know, I will have a cookie. They don't smell dangerous!"

Saturday, April 9, 2011

The Red Sox are 1-7, And I Am...

Regarding, today's games, thinking about two players: Clay Buccholz and Carl Crawford. Last year, Clay Buchholz gave up 9 HRs in 173 IP. This year, he's given up 5 in 10 IP. It's only two starts, and considering he gave up four of the dongs in Texas, and the one today came off Russell Martin, I can chock that up to a fluke. However, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't... Concerned. Last year, Carl Crawford hit .307 and stole 47 bases. This year he's hitting .152 and stolen 2 bases. Between May 31st and June 10th of last year, Crawford went 5-33 at the place (that's a .152 BA). There is nothing to indicate he's doing nothing more than starting the season in a slump. Hey, it happens. Therefore, I'm... Just waiting.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Well, That Totally Sucked

A crude title but entirely appropriate considering the Sox' weekend in Texas.

But, before I put my head in the oven, I was reminded by a few sources that a three-game losing streak is something plenty of great teams have had. Including, but not limited to the '98 Yankees, who began their season 0-3.

The optimist in me is a little voice ringing the reminder, "It's not just history, it's precedent."

As for Mr. Crawford, let's not forget that A-Rod started his career in pinstripes hitting .196 over the first 14 games with 13 K's and only 1 HR and 3 RBIs.

Cliches about marathons all well-worn because they're not only effective descriptors but absolutely true.

Does anyone really think the Orioles are going to win the division? If you do, put some money down because you'll clean up come October.