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!)