Archive for the ‘Red Sox’ category

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Manny Being Manny

April 17th, 2007

I am thoroughly excited to read the new ‘New Yorker’ article about Manny Ramirez. I need to track it down ASAP. I can’t remember the last time I even picked up a ‘New Yorker,’ but the old rag has my attention now.

I was watching TV earlier and a commercial for Heelies, or some competitor, came on and it struck me that Manny Ramirez seems to me like the type of guy that wears Heelies. I can totally picture him wheeling around The Home Depot, the supermarket, the Red Sox clubhouse, or wherever he goes. I would bet money that Manny owns some Heelies. And it they’re not made in his size, then he plunked down $5,000 to get a pair custom-made.

It would be just fascinating to spend some time with the enigma wrapped in a riddle, infused by madness that is Manny Ramirez. I mean, this is a guy that was selling an autographed grill on eBay for a neighbor. Wha…? Paraphrasing David Ortiz, as quoted in that article, ‘Manny is just a crazy shit. He lives on his own planet.’ I love it. From a sneak preview of the article, I learned that Manny watches The History Channel and wants to visit the Forbidden City in China. No doubt he’d be wheelin’ around on his Heelies hip hoppin’ down the Great Wall of China with his iPod cranked up and his dred locks blowing in the breeze.

When his Washington Heights high school baseball team was chronicled by the ‘New Yorker’ about 16 years ago, the world learned that Manny got up early in the mornings and ran up hills dragging a tire on a rope tied to his waist. We know that he still works very studiously at what he does, with a fierce dedication. However, he’s also a space case. I can’t wait to find out more idiosyncracies about him. Until then, I can only imagine that he sleeps with a teddy bear, watches the Teletubbies, probably speaks fluent Italian, has season tickets to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has never written or cashed a check, thinks Curt Schilling is the assistant manager, probably loaned Theo Epstein that infamous gorilla suit, thinks the Green Monster speaks to him between innings, is deathly afraid of Wally the Green Monster mascot, probably calls Mayor Menino from time to time, can’t remember his shoe size, refuses to shower until Doug Mirabelli is out of the shower room, and thinks the show ’24′ is a reality show.

Manny is the Syd Barrett of baseball. Gifted by God with immense talent, yet fragile and introverted. The miraculous thing is that Manny has been able to stay focused enough to keep doing what God put him here to do. Why, you ask? That’s just Manny being Manny.

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Posted in Bizarre, Red Sox

Bay Area Baseball

April 6th, 2007

The San Francisco Bay Area is a ‘Two-Team Town’ for all intents and purposes. You’ve got the San Francisco Giants in downtown San Fran and then you’ve got the Oakland A’s just on the other side of the bay. The distance is similar to that of Queens to Brooklyn, I’d imagine — maybe a little closer.

First off, it’s strange to be on west coast time. By the time you’ve left work the vast majority of teams have already played (some as early as 10:05am PST for the 1:05p starts) and there’s possibly only a few games left: LAA, LAD, SF, OAK, SD & SEA. Most of these teams play eachother, so that really means that there’s about 3 games left by 7:05 PST. It’s nice to watch (or listen) to the games at work via — because I feel like I can keep closer tabs on what’s going on. Especially being in a Fantasy League for the first time in years.

But the time difference aside, I actually enjoy the baseball here in the SF Bay area. It’s the opposite of New York where the American League Yankees dominate the headlines and water cooler gossip. Out here, the National League Giants are the focus of conversation and the A’s are an afterthought. The Giants are televised nearly every night whereas the A’s are a little harder to find. It’s nice to watch the Giants… watch HD quality baseball of two teams you could care less about. The ambivalence is relaxing. I’ve even found myself tuning into some Giants games during the day just to stay in touch with baseball.

Don’t worry, I am not going to turn into a Giants fan. The Sox are my pride & joy and I’m not getting involved with any team that does business with the likes of Barry Bonds. Most people feel the same here as well. I often hear “Yeah, I love the Giants.. but I hate Bonds.”

It’s nice having baseball on during the day. Kinda like the nice change with Sunday Morning Football. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the 8:05am start for Marathon Monday.. but apart from that, it’s ok. Besides, I’ve got one Sox fan neighbor in the cube next door, two on the floor above — and even better — not a Yankees fan in sight. I love this place.

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Posted in Baseball, Default, Red Sox

Nixon, you will be missed.

January 19th, 2007

Word is that Trot Nixon has signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians for $3 Million. Despite sitting out half of the regular season with a [insert body party here] injury, he has become a staple of the Boston Red Sox organization for the past ten seasons.

So long Number Seven. You will be missed.

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Posted in Baseball, Default, Red Sox

Some things will not be missed

October 3rd, 2006

With the 2006 Major League Baseball playoffs kicking off this evening, I figured it’d be a great time to mention one key item that will not be missed upon leaving the greater New York City area: The Yankees Fans.

Take a look at Exhibit A:
Yankees Laundramat

This is the window of a Laundramat on Washington Street (between 9th and 10th) in Hoboken. The owner (or I assume he’s the owner, as he’s often sitting outside of this fine establishment) wears one of several Yankees T-Shirts or Jerseys and often will be watching the game (if applicable). Each time I walk by, I thank my lucky stars that we have had laundry in the basement and I do not need to spend any of my precious life in this building.

While we’re not necessarily moving to be closer to the Red Sox, we’ll at least be in neutral territory. The Oakland A’s.. the SF Giants.. neither of which do I have any major issues with (except Mr. Bonds, of course). But, overall, it’ll be refreshing to get away from these slimy Yankee fans.

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Posted in Hoboken, Red Sox, Yankees

Here we go again

August 18th, 2006


Well, boys.. here we go again. The Bronx Bombers are going to try to march into Precious Fenway in an attempt to put the end to the AL East race.. and I’m scared. The Sox have not been playing well lately, and though we’re only a game and a half out — thanks to my father’s Orioles — I’m hoping to win the series.

In true Yankee Fashion, they’ve managed to buy the top players in Major League Baseball, and crank it up a notch for the last half of the season. The Sox, down captainless, have been struggling as of late, and hopefully will be able to turn on the gas for the next few games. The starters (from Schilling on down) need to come around, the bats need to be hittin’ and the bullpen needs to snap out of the worst funk that it’s been in since the start of the season.

This is the first Sox-Yankees 5-game series during the regular season since 1973, and it’s no doubt going to be the first of the last few series during the later summer months that will determine the playoff matchup this coming fall. Let’s leave the Wildcard for the AL Central, and let’s knock the Yankees out of the playoff picture starting with a big series this weekend.

Speaking of buying their way back on top.. what are the Yankees going to do when Matsui comes back? Damon, Sheffield, Matsui, and Abreu makes one heck of an outfield, good thing the AL isn’t planning on adding a Rover to the lineup. Maybe the Yankees can buy that too.

In any event.. let’s get into high gear as we come into the last 2 months of baseball.. and watch the Sox try to climb back on top.. starting with a big win this weekend. C’mon boys. Show us what you got!

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Posted in Red Sox, Yankees

Going Deep

August 15th, 2006

Just a quick note that Doug “Chicken Parm” Mirabelli has hit a home run in each of his last three games, the first such streak of his career. Tonight, he is expected to start and catch for Curt Schilling, so let’s hope his streak continues.

On a final, somewhat bummed out note, I have to say that Dougie has been much, much less of a mystery in his second tour of duty with Boston. In his first, he was a teammate-bullying cult figure who inspired one of the funniest things I’ve ever read in my life. Yet this year, the media is seeking him out a lot more and we’re learning more about his feelings, admitting he was “nervous” catching Tim Wakefield again. He’s even sought out a “performance enhancement counselor.” Despite the loss of the illusion, Doug is back with a vengeance and in position to set a new single-season career high for home runs. Of course, he knows, I know, LTJ knows, and Captain Larby knows that he hit home run #10 that day at SkyDome. The City of Toronto is lucky that Doug didn’t go ninja on them and use the CN Tower to wipe out scores of people at once.

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Posted in Baseball, Default, Red Sox

A Row Yo

July 21st, 2006

While working out at the gym last night, I happened to glance up at one of the TV’s and watch a bit of the Met-Reds game. I noticed that Bronson Arroyo was starting for the Reds and found myself excited to see him pitch again.

I would never consider myself a Reds fan, but watching Bronson I was immediately rooting for them. It’s a damn shame that the Sox traded him — especially for Wily Mo Pena — but I’m glad he’s doing so well in the NL.

I generally have no opinion about former Sox players (unless they go to the Yankees, of course) — but I have to admit that I’m a Bronson fan. He’s definitely a fan of the spotlight and while I would probably never buy one of his albums, I just might consider buying a car.

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Posted in Red Sox