Sure, I was really hoping for a sweep of the Yankees this past weekend. I think 2 straight series sweeps of the Yankees would make up for the 4 game sweep the Yankees pulled on the Sox last year. But hey, 5 out of the first 6 is great news. Thanks Yankee's bullpen!
In other news, I was really looking forward to seeing the Cubs play the Cardinals on ESPN. Its not very often I get to see the Cubs on TV out here. Unfortunately, one of the Cardinals pitchers, Josh Hancock, was tragically killed in a car accident last night, so the game has been postponed. He was only 29 years old, one year younger than me - and he pitched 3 innings in Saturday's Cubs / Cardinals game. He actually made his major league debut with the Red Sox back in 2002 (he retired the first 6 ML batters he faced). Another strange fact - this is the second Cubs / Cardinals game that has been postponed due to a player's death in the past 5 years. Back in 2002, a game at Wrigley was postponed due to the death of Darryl Kile.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Home Run Etiquette
At Fenway, is it expected that home runs hit by the opposing team should be thrown back into the field?
I ask, because being a Cubs fan, home runs hit by the opponents MUST be thrown back into the field. You'll even see people out on Waveland or Sheffield who catch a ball launch it back INTO the park. Fans who don't throw it back risk loud ridicule, beer showers, and bombardment by empty beer cups.
(I don't think Wrigley Bleacher Bums are savvy - or sober - enough to throw a slice of pizza, they're too busy eating hot dogs and drinking Old Style. However, after the 4/16 Fenway pizza incident, are slices of Connie's Deep Dish in play? Man, that would hurt.)
I ask, because being a Cubs fan, home runs hit by the opponents MUST be thrown back into the field. You'll even see people out on Waveland or Sheffield who catch a ball launch it back INTO the park. Fans who don't throw it back risk loud ridicule, beer showers, and bombardment by empty beer cups.
(I don't think Wrigley Bleacher Bums are savvy - or sober - enough to throw a slice of pizza, they're too busy eating hot dogs and drinking Old Style. However, after the 4/16 Fenway pizza incident, are slices of Connie's Deep Dish in play? Man, that would hurt.)
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Got Room in Red Sox Nation For a Recovering Cubs Fan?
For years, I've been somewhat of a fair-weathered Red Sox fan. My true allegiance is to the hopeless Chicago Cubs. I really love the Cubs, but as usual, they're in the basement of the NL Central. That's the same place they ended last season. You'd think with a lineup of Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, and Barrett with Zambrano, Marquis, Lilly, Hill, Prior, and Wood on the mound the Cubs would be unstoppable. Of course though, they don't get the clutch hits and their bullpen routinely blows games. Some things never change. I'm going to join Cubs Anonymous and follow the 12-step program to rid myself of the pain associated with my obsessive behavior in yearning for a winner.
This season, though, a strange thing happened to me. I've finally found myself seriously rooting for the Red Sox and actually caring about the outcome of the game. I actually want them to win for once. Being a Cubs fan, I've always been jealous of the Red Sox and the team's success. But I've finally realized that the Cubs really do stink - and I've been able to appreciate the talent of the Red Sox.
When the Sox are down a few runs, I expect them to mount a comeback and win the game, and they do. When the Sox are winning in the 9th inning, I expect the bullpen to save the game, and they do. My feelings for the Cubs are exactly the opposite. When they're down a few runs, I expect them to lose, and they do. When the Cubs are winning late in the game, I expect the bullpen to blow the game, and they do. Its just no fun rooting for the Cubs. I'm tired of it. However, I still won't give up on them - there's still a little bit of optimism left that they'll get it together and put together a winning season.
It all came together for me this past Friday. I was out at the People's Republik with my buddy watching the Sox / Yankees game. When the Sox put up 5 runs on Rivera in the bottom of the 8th, I think I was one of the loudest people cheering in the bar. My buddy told me that he'd never heard me cheer that loudly for the Red Sox. It feels great to cheer for a great team. Plus, tonight - seeing back to back to back to back home runs solidified my Red Sox fandom.
The other thing that finally hooked me was actually listening to Remy and Orsillo call a game on NESN. They're a great duo up in the booth. (As good as they are, I still miss watching the Cubs on WGN listening to Steve Stone and Harry Caray calling a game.) It was the pizza incident last Monday that made me realize just how great Remy and Orsillo are. I know its last week's news, and its already been blogged over at Deadspin, but I absolutely love the play-by-play of the April 16th pizza incident. Every time I watch this clip, I still find myself laughing out loud. Its stuff like this that's really pulling me into Red Sox Nation.
So, Red Sox Nation, do you have room for one more fan? Please? I think I'm hooked.
P.S. - I love Fenway, but Wrigley is still better.
This season, though, a strange thing happened to me. I've finally found myself seriously rooting for the Red Sox and actually caring about the outcome of the game. I actually want them to win for once. Being a Cubs fan, I've always been jealous of the Red Sox and the team's success. But I've finally realized that the Cubs really do stink - and I've been able to appreciate the talent of the Red Sox.
When the Sox are down a few runs, I expect them to mount a comeback and win the game, and they do. When the Sox are winning in the 9th inning, I expect the bullpen to save the game, and they do. My feelings for the Cubs are exactly the opposite. When they're down a few runs, I expect them to lose, and they do. When the Cubs are winning late in the game, I expect the bullpen to blow the game, and they do. Its just no fun rooting for the Cubs. I'm tired of it. However, I still won't give up on them - there's still a little bit of optimism left that they'll get it together and put together a winning season.
It all came together for me this past Friday. I was out at the People's Republik with my buddy watching the Sox / Yankees game. When the Sox put up 5 runs on Rivera in the bottom of the 8th, I think I was one of the loudest people cheering in the bar. My buddy told me that he'd never heard me cheer that loudly for the Red Sox. It feels great to cheer for a great team. Plus, tonight - seeing back to back to back to back home runs solidified my Red Sox fandom.
The other thing that finally hooked me was actually listening to Remy and Orsillo call a game on NESN. They're a great duo up in the booth. (As good as they are, I still miss watching the Cubs on WGN listening to Steve Stone and Harry Caray calling a game.) It was the pizza incident last Monday that made me realize just how great Remy and Orsillo are. I know its last week's news, and its already been blogged over at Deadspin, but I absolutely love the play-by-play of the April 16th pizza incident. Every time I watch this clip, I still find myself laughing out loud. Its stuff like this that's really pulling me into Red Sox Nation.So, Red Sox Nation, do you have room for one more fan? Please? I think I'm hooked.
P.S. - I love Fenway, but Wrigley is still better.
Scratch that - Back to Back to Back to Back
HOLY CRAP! Is this some sort of a MLB record? Back to back to back to back home runs. I need to stop making blog posts about the game! Because as soon as I make one, I have to update it!
Ramirez, Drew, Lowell, and Captain Kapow Varitek.
Ramirez, Drew, Lowell, and Captain Kapow Varitek.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Neglecting my blog
I've totally neglected my blog here. I'm not sure if its writer's block, or if I've just been too busy. Its strange - I think about posting my random thoughts here pretty much every day. Yet, in the end, I don't.
Why? I'll have to give that some thought.
Why? I'll have to give that some thought.
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