Fun In The Sun

George Steinbrenner sits in his gloomy office overlooking legends field, while informing his press minions of his prophetic vision of a World Series win in '06. Joe Torre and Brian Cashman, the henchmen, try to figure out how they're going to fulfill this prophecy with a rubber-armed center fielder, incapable pitching, and washed up muscled heads trying to find a way to fool drug tests.

Across the "Sunshine State" sits City of Palms park, where Red Sox spring training camp ensues.


See you in October, Mr. Steinbrenner.

Shannon.

Will they never learn?

Today Sportscenter precdicted that the Red Sox will not make it to the playoffs, while the Yankees will once again find themselves sitting on top of the American League. Likewise, a baseball magazine I happened to glance at about a week ago predicted the top five teams in the American League (if I am not mistaken) will be: 1.) Yankees 2.) White Sox 3.) Orioles 4.) Athletics 5.) Angels

I don't understand why none of these publications can clearly see that the Red Sox have set themselves up rather well this offseason. First of all, we have a better offense that most of the league (about the same level of talent as last year) and our pitching has improved tenfold (esp. the bullpen). The Yanks have no hope in hell of beating our pitching (like they didn't in 2004).



So once again the Sox are underdogs (but how could you not even fear a team with Manny, Ortiz, Tek, Schill, Foulke, and Trot?), Mark Bellhorn has long hair (and NO pinstripes), and there is snow in New England. Yes, the world has finally returned to normal.

Ready For Spring

Having devoted the better part of the last twenty days to my lengthy analysis on "America's Pastime", I haven't found the time to partake in my usual baseball gushing, including this blog. I must say, self-motivated absense from ESPN and BostonDirtDogs has made me appreciate the game for the game itself and not politics. So in essence, the research paper on baseball has made me a better and wiser fan.

And so once again I will commence operation "Try To Blog Everyday", hopefuly my efforts will not be found futile.

Now, being a self-proclaimed Harry Potter scholar, (and having written a 10 page paper on baseball recently,) only I could find quotes so similar that raise a few questions.

The first is a quote from Quidditch Through The Ages a book JK Rowling wrote for charity around year 2000 (after publishing GoF) : "Long may the game continue to evolve and long may future generations of witches and wizards enjoy this most glorious of sports!"

Now the next quote is from Bud Selig about the game of baseball and the World Baseball Classic( around 2005): “As baseball continues to grow globally, more and more fans around the world have the opportunity to appreciate the grace and excitement of our great game”

Interesting how they are in essence the same quote. Mr. Selig, are you also an accomplished HP scholar?



Shannon.
(Happy Spring Training!)

Suck it up people

Have you ever realized how many baseball players are babies when it comes to money? I mean, would A-rod and his family really suffer a detramental blow if his paycheck was cut by, oh I don't know, 100 million dollars. It makes me sick to think of all the starving, poor, homeless people of the world fighting for scraps of food, and eventually succumbing to a premature and hungry death. While athletes, movie stars, and celebrity icons can spend 4 hundred thousand dollars of a dog collar.

I mean, money doesn't make the world go round, people shouldn't be so greedy, and they should also consider the feelings of their fellow man or woman.

Theo's Back..what a saga...

Also, Dear MLBPA, Rot in hell. Yes that's right. In no way, shape, or form, is it right for you to market explicitly contempuous merchandise that favors any team at another's expense. You know, you're business wouldn't die if George Steinbrenner was stuffing money any which way that he can.

Pat Get A life.
Shannon.

Troubled Waters

It seems that the threat of midterms has led Pat to hermetically seal himself away from everyone and everything, except his textbooks, leaving me to captain this blog through troubled waters.

Yes I admit, the fact that biology homework is a driving force encouraging me to stay on the computer as long as I can, eventually leading me to succumb to posting, which in the off-season (or at least in a painfully boring/exhausting off-season) can be at times a chore. Which leaves me to ponder and yes elaborate my feelings about the olde towne team. I don't even know what's going to happen.

There are talks of Theo's return, which could help ease some of my nerves, but the main fact is that we have major holes in our infield (and not to mention Centerfield) And contrary to the Yankees, our pitching, for a change, doesn't leave me uneasy. I guess I shouldn't expect a 98+ Win season, like I have gotten accustomed to over the years, not with the key components we are currently missing...but I don't think the Sox should manage anything less than 70 wins with their rotation.

Well, this year will test our fandom. I mean, if I wanted a team of perrenial winners I'd have been a Yankees fan. < < The best fans $$ can buy ;)
Shannon

Spring in the Air?

Spring is in the air, and while the prospects of Lacrosse practice, and opening day linger upon my mind, it slowly dawns on me that it is only January. Yes, an unseasonably warm, mild january. Looking outside I find it hard to believe that the Pats are playing tonight. It can't be, I tell myself, as the only clear image to come into my head is the Snow Bowl game from the January of years past. Spring Fever has prematurely invaded my head and even my happiness level has gone up, until at least I see the calendar.

This excitment for Opening Day, though, has made me think about all the holes the Sox still need to fill. We need a miracle to replace all the key components lost to free agency in time for April, let alone, Spring Training. What will we do? What would Johnny Do? Well, never mind that last comment...It's hard to believe how fast our team has fallen apart. Are we condemmed to repeat the cycle of crushing defeat after we've finally reached the promised land?

I guess to quote Shakespeare, "All that glisters is not Gold"

Shannon.
Keep That Faith.

E-Manny-Cipation

Recently Manny Ramirez has stated that; He would like to stay in Boston, for he wants to play for a contender, and be with his good friend David Ortiz. Unfortunately, knowing the business of baseball, this statement does less to ease my nerves than a proposed trade to god-knows-where.

Why? Well, there was once a time when I was full of hope, optimism, excitment during the offseason, to say the least, I was naivive. Reports went out that Pedro Martinez, one of the most storied pitchers in Red Sox history, not to mention my favorite pitcher of all time, was to return with the Red Sox for the 2005 + season(s). David Ortiz even expressed his happiness to his return, which made me ecstatic,but... 24 hours after Ortiz's comments, Pedro signed with the Mets.

So Manny, Please, Please, Please do not leave us. (Especially in our hour of need.)

Shannon.