Red Sox Baseball as Seen on the Cards

Manny Being Manny

2006-03-05T00:56:00.000-05:00

While Manny Ramirez is still my favorite player (primarily because of his godlike hitting abilities and his one-two combination with David Ortiz), I question his recent behavior off the field. He's doing his flip-flop with the trade again, and he backs out of the WBC but shows up late for spring training anyway. He's also one of the most expensive players around, and it may very well be that it has all gone to his head. However, we must play along with Ramirez, as once he gets it together mentally, you can just let his bat do the talking!

Baseball's Olympics

2006-02-26T23:49:00.000-05:00

I'm just starting to come out of off-season hibernation, but I'm getting excited about the World Baseball Classic! For those who haven't heard, the World Baseball Classic features sixteen teams in a championship face-off for bragging rights and a cool trophy. Red Sox players Mike Timlin and Jason Varitek will by playing for Team USA, barring any last-minute changes.

Merry Christmas, Everyone! (I'm blocking centerfielders out of my mind)

2005-12-24T21:47:00.000-05:00

In this time of giving (which, at least for one team to the south of here, is also a time for taking), I would like to wish all my viewers a safe and merry Christmas and a happy brand-new year. (For those of you who don't celebrate Christmas, have a great day off anyway!) December 25 also carries special significance in the baseball world as it is one of just three days in the entire year that the Baseball Hall of Fame is closed. (The other two are Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.) Remember, there's still winter ball and the World Baseball Classic to keep us busy in the off-season. Happy Holidays!

TWO GMs?

2005-12-16T13:17:00.000-05:00

The Hot Stove really started to heat up when the Red Sox reportedly signed Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington, both natives of my home state New Hampshire, to share the powers and responsibilities of general manager, with the possibility of Theo returning to an advisory position. To the best of my knowledge, we have never had a two-man GM like this before. (Any baseball historian who knows otherwise, please post a comment with the details. Upon verification, I will post it in the main article and credit you if you so desire.) I can see potential "de-generalization" of "general" management, where one GM focuses on duties as they pertain to on-field performance, collaborating with the other, who primarily concerns himself with the business of baseball. Then again, maybe these two new guys will simply be "talking heads" for Theo, who will be the brains behind the club when he comes back. As I have said countless times in the past, only time will tell...

Public Service Announcement

2005-11-25T20:25:00.000-05:00

Now, I rarely post any non-baseball topics to my blog, but I feel that, as a blog owner, I have a certain duty to warn the computer-using population of virus threats.

Recently, a friend, who shall remain nameless, advised me of emails appearing to be from the FBI. If you receive such an email, DON'T OPEN IT! Instead, press the Delete button to purge this virus-carrying email from your inbox. (If you have a "Secure Delete" feature, use that.) It's not worth the risk of attempting to report this as spam. (Whoever sent this will pay in the long run)

If the FBI REALLY wanted to contact you, they would visit you in person. Also, ALWAYS ask to see the badge of any uniformed officer who visits your home, even if you think you know him or her.

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

THEO TO GO

2005-11-04T19:11:00.000-05:00

As you may know already, Theo Epstein (aka Young Theo) has resigned the position of GM for the Red Sox. Now, before you accuse him of being another greedy exec, keep in mind that his business decisions helped us break the Curse. What will Young Theo do next? Some say that he will take a year off since no other team is hiring right now. Only time will tell.

Thanks for a great season

2005-10-08T00:44:00.000-04:00

Well, if we won the World Series every year, it wouldn't be so special now, would it? Hey, the White Sox haven't won it all since 1917! Still, this doesn't mean that the White Sox are BETTER, just HOTTER. Any team can go through streaks (both winning and losing) at any time. It's just that it counts in the playoffs.
On a lighter note, the Bruins are back. Time to find out what this hockey hubbub is all about. Go Bruins!

PENNANT RACE!!!!

2005-09-24T23:35:00.000-04:00

We are exactly tied with the New York Yankees for the AL East right now. Anything could happen at this point... perhaps this entire race will come down to the final games against the Yankees! Talk about a climactic race! (Of course, it ain't over 'til it's over. Comebacks, after all, make up the excitement of the Sox and the Sox-Yanks rivalry.)

Get ready for some action!!!

David Ortiz: The Key to Team Batting

2005-09-13T18:23:00.000-04:00

Where would the Red Sox be right now without David Ortiz? Ever since Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, Ortiz has been famous for his power hitting in tight situations. When we are down by a run or two, we're often saved by a trademark Ortiz walk-off homerun! That's exactly what happened during the 11th inning last night at the Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays. Now, this is very special, because if Papi hits another one out of the park tonight, he will have tied his career season high of 41 (set last year). That would be a big thing for the big slugger!

SCHILLING IS STILL SCHILLING

2005-09-10T18:33:00.000-04:00

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling has once again proven his dominance over the Yankees. He pitched 8 innings of five-hit, two-run ball today, and the Sox won 9-2, putting them 4 games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East. Interestingly, the last time he pitched against New York as a starter was during the ALCS that made him a legend!

Bellhorn to Yankees

2005-09-02T12:37:00.000-04:00

Mark Bellhorn has declined an option to go to the PawSox and has left the team. The second baseman now plays for the Empire. Personally, I'm surprised that the Yankees even wanted Bellhorn, considering his notorious strikeout numbers. I guess one team's trash is another's treasure!

Recent Happenings

2005-08-27T15:47:00.000-04:00

Curt Schilling finally pitched a start after all this time in the bullpen. Even though we lost that game, give the guy a break! It's been a while for him, and he will undoubtedly fall back into place very soon. Until then, keep an eye on "Little Schill"! Jon Papelbon! For a rookie, Papelbon has done extraordinarily well and definetly has a future.
However, in order for the pitchers to help us win games, we need run support. This means than we have to stop leaving runners on base. Far too many times, I have seen bases-loaded, no-out situations only to have everyone strike out. The best Red Sox triple is worthless if nobody gets a hit to score him.

It's...it's...IT'S SCHILLING!

2005-08-22T12:34:00.000-04:00

YAY! He's back in the rotation! Today is an off-day (have a safe flight!) but tomorrow Schilling is scheduled to pitch against the Kansas City Royals! (BTW, KC finally broke their 19-game losing streak the other night!) Now, as Red Sox fans, we must remember that we are still susceptible to jinxes, so we must be careful...

CARDINAL RULE: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS ANYONE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT SCHILLING'S PERFORMANCE UNTIL THE SCORE IS FINAL.

Warmup comments such as "Get ready to throw some HEAT!" are OK, however.

Sea Dogs!

2005-08-21T12:28:00.000-04:00

When I went to the Fisher Cats-Sea Dogs game, the Sea Dogs won. I personally think that both teams are great, even though thr Fisher Cats were the home team. I noticed an up-and-coming Red Sox prospect wearing number 2 at shortstop. His name is Hanley Ramirez. I have confirmed with Fenway Ambassador Drew Thurlow that he is NOT related to Manny Ramirez, although both are from the Dominican Republic. Hanley made some amazing plays look routine! I've even heard rumors about moving Renteria to 3B and putting Hanley in as a shortstop next year! Keep an eye on Hanley...

THE RED SOX OF THE FUTURE

2005-08-19T14:02:00.000-04:00

Tonight I am going to a New Hampshire Fisher Cats game in Manchester, NH. The Fisher Cats will be facing the Portland Sea Dogs, AA affiliates of the Boston Red Sox! These players are the big-leaguers of tomorrow, and now I have a chance to see them today! (I will take pictures to post soon!)

SCHILLING

2005-08-17T23:14:00.000-04:00

Of late it seems that Schilling has been going through a slump as a closer. Somtimes thia can cost us a game, but I stand behind Curt, no matter what happens. Curt Schilling went against all odds last autumn, and there is no reason that he cannot once again become the "Schil" that we all know and love. Despite the last few games, I do believe that Schilling will trimph once again. I stand behind Schilling 110% of the way!

RAINOUT

2005-08-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's game was called on account of rain. Since only four innings were played, this game does NOT count in the official standings. Right now, it looks like the game will not be replayed, meaning that the Sox will simply play a 161-game season this year. (Of course, if the final game has playoff implications, the game will have to be somehow squeezed in.) Imagine having to wait over four hours for rain that never stopped! That's what the fans in attendance had to do.

Tickets for last night's game may be redeemed for unsold tickets of equal value at the ticket window. If all tickets are sold out, unless the Sox replay the game, you're out of luck.

More Fenway pics

2005-08-14T17:28:00.001-04:00

Here's the plaque from when Fenway was remodeled back in 1934.

Here's a view from the .406 club (you can see it before the game if you take the Red Sox Tour)

And here's batting practice! Note how Renteria (SS) has taken the field!

Pictures from Fenway

2005-08-14T17:28:00.000-04:00

This is the outside of Fenway Park.

FENWAY UPDATE

2005-08-10T17:25:00.000-04:00

When we were getting ready to go to the game, it was discovered that the tickets were for the previous night's game! Although we didn't get those seats, we did find two other tickets for sale for the correct game. These were in the bleachers, but we could see the outfield just fine. Manny went into the scoreboard during the seventh inning, during which the Rangers scored five runs. The Red Sox won 8-7 in 10 innings--leaving only 41 minutes to catch the last train to leave Boston at North Station! (We managed to catch that train, which left one minute before midnight, with 3 or 4 minutes to spare--what a race!) I'm not quite sure what we would have done had we missed that train... Anyway, it was a 4-hour, 13-minute 8-7 Red Sox victory in front of ourselves and 35,306 of our fellow fans. Pictures will be posted soon.

Answer to last post's question: Lower- $90.00

FENWAY!!!!!

2005-08-08T10:17:00.000-04:00

Finally, the day I've been waiting for is tomorrow! I'm going to Fenway, and I have a very nice camera to prove it! Yes, tomorrow's night game against the Texas Rangers will feature ME in the front row of the grandstand! Barring any unforseen circumstances (injury or suspension) the Texas pitcher will be Joaquin Benoit, and Matt Clement will start for the Sox. As you know, Clement is new to the Sox this year, signed as a free agent during the offseason from the Chicago Cubs. Considering he has gone 11-3 so far this year, he apparently has had no problem adjusting to the AL rules. (The DH rule is twofold: In the NL, the pitcher must bat, meaning that the other pitcher has an easy strikeout most of the time. With the DH, this is eliminated, and the pitcher no longer has a chance to pad his record.) Now, for a little game...

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

How much do you think I paid for my two grandstand tickets?
My total bill (before taxes and shipping) was NOT $105.00. Do you think that it was higher or lower? The answer will be in the next post.

MANNY RAMIREZ REMAINS IN BOSTON

2005-08-06T21:03:00.000-04:00

Last week, I took a vacation to Provincetown, MA, the last town on Cape Cod. (latitude 42°03.771' N, longitude 70°08.970' W for all you GPS heads out there.) The Boston traffic wasn't too bad, but it still took nearly four hours to get there from Merrimack, New Hampshire. On the way there, I listened to the radio. The sportscasters were talking about Manny Ramirez being traded to the Mets. Deals would be made. Deals were all set, ready to be signed. Commercials aired. Commercials would end. Deals would die. I counted down the time left until the trade deadline using my watch (which is radio-synched to the US atom clock) and I am happy to report that Manny Ramirez WAS NOT TRADED! Not only that, but he took back all of the talk of trades, and it's the first time I've heard Manny use the line, "Manny Being Manny"! WHAT HAPPENS IN BOSTON, STAYS IN BOSTON!

2005-08-04T11:05:00.000-04:00

2005-08-04T10:50:00.000-04:00

2005-07-30T22:18:00.000-04:00

FORMER RED SOX PLAYERS TODAY

2005-07-21T00:39:00.000-04:00

After Red Sox major leaguers are past their prime, what exactly do they do? Some go off and spend their millions, albeit some spend them more wisely than others. Others play semipro ball if they have a true passion for the National Pastime. A lucky few (such as Remy) get broadcasting deals. But the most loyal Red Sox STAY with the Red Sox. For instance, did you know that Johnny Pesky's official job title for the Red Sox is "Special Assignment Instructor"? This means that he goes to Red Sox minor league games to look for key prospects, then he helps these future big-leaguers perfect their skills, particularly in the infield. The best way to describe his job is "half scout and half coach." Jim Rice holds a similar post, although he specializes in showing young hitters how it's done. Also, keep an eye out for Hall-of-Famer Carl Yastrzemski. He's a "Player Development Consultant", which is sort of the minor league version of a hitting coach. It is through these greats of yesterday that the greats of tomorrow learn what makes the Red Sox a special team, both on and off the field.

GOOD WORK, JOHNNY DAMON

2005-07-19T11:08:00.000-04:00

After twenty-nine* consecutive games, Johnny Damon's hitting streak has come to an end. Although he did not smash any records, he did take a nice spot in the top ten for the team. Here's the franchise records (for all Red Sox since 1902):

BOSTON RED SOX HITTING STREAKS OF TWENTY-FIVE OR MORE GAMES
First Place: Dom DiMaggio (1949) 34 games
Tied for 2nd: Tris Speaker (1912) and Nomar Garciaparra (1997) 30 games
Third Place: JOHNNY DAMON (2005) 29 games
Fourth Place: Wade Boggs (1985) 28 games
Fifth Place: Dom DiMaggio (1951) 27 games
Tied for 6th: Buck Freeman (1902), Johnny Pesky (1947), Nomar Garciaparra (2003) 26 games
Tied for 7th: George Metkovich (1944) and Wade Boggs (1987) 25 games

Yes, the holder of 1st place IS indeed Joe DiMaggio's brother, Dom. I guess hitting streaks run in the family!

(Source: Baseball Digest)

Not bad at all, Damon!

*30 if you count the All-Star Game, but it doesn't count for official MLB records

ADVISE ALL NOT TO TUNE IN TO ESPN, IMPARTIALITY QUESTIONED

2005-07-17T21:55:00.000-04:00

It seems that the national broadcasts of Red Sox-Yankees games on ESPN (cable) are flawed. The commentary seems to be biased towards the Yankees. Whenever a great defensive play in favor of the Yankees occurs, ESPN makes a big show about it. No such fanfare for the Red Sox, offensively or defensively. When Johnny Damon hit safely in his 29th consecutive game, there was so little Boston emphasis that I had to sub in for them (see previous audio post). Instances such as the safe/out call in the bottom of the 9th tonight are quickly dismissed once ESPN is sure that the Yankees got the call. Something is fishy about this. Aren't games supposed to be broadcast in a FAIR and BALANCED manner? Isn't there an MLB regulation of some kind to keep broadcasters on the up and up? I invite readers to post comments regarding this matter. For or against, it matters not.

2005-07-17T20:25:00.000-04:00

2005-07-16T17:54:00.000-04:00

SECOND TIME'S THE CHARM

2005-07-16T12:14:00.000-04:00

Last night, the Red Sox killed the Yankees 17-1 in a display featuring Trot Nixon hitting a home run that didn't make it over the fence. In a play that was almost scored an error, Nixon scored three runs on an inside-the-park homer to center field. This all happened while I was watching the game on a 5-inch black and white television set in the back of my van!

BALTIMORE 3, BOSTON 1 (6 innings)

2005-07-08T15:48:00.000-04:00

Last night's partial game:

BOS	0	0	1		0	0	0		0	- 1
BAL	0	0	2		0	0	1		x	- 3

(called, middle of 7th: rain)

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY
I thought that called games were pretty much obsolete. More often, games are postponed if rain is expected during the evening. But instead, the Sox lose, rendering their renowned comeback strategies useless, and the fans get cheated out of 2½ innings of baseball! And what's this I here about Nixon getting picked off with the bases loaded, ending the inning? Tonight we shall avenge this ridiculous excuse for an away game!

WELL, THAT'S WELLS FOR YA

2005-07-06T17:49:00.000-04:00

Being a former Yankee, David Wells can sometimes be difficult to deal with, as his last start illustrated, when he was ejected for arguing with an umpire. It's not Wells' fault entirely. It's just the only remaining taint from his time with the New York Yankees. This goes back a long way with the Yankees, as the black-and-white photo illustrates in 1940.

PEDRO'S ATTITUDE

2005-06-28T22:04:00.000-04:00

On the field, Pedro Martinez was an excellent pitcher. However, there are two parts to being a big-leaguer (or any professional athlete, for that matter): the game itself and the player's behavior off the field. Some of Pedro's locker room remarks were unacceptable. According to one report, Martinez said that the Sox signed Schilling to replace him because of skin color. Not true! Explain Ortiz and Ramirez, then! We offered him a contract and he chose to sign with the Mets. That's that!
I am a Red Sox fan, I have always been one, and I will always be one, and I have always despised the Yankees and always will, and I never thought I would say this, but... HEY PEDRO! WHO'S YOUR DADDY?

Schilling Doing Well, Sox Sweep Phillies

2005-06-26T16:40:00.000-04:00

The Red Sox stuck it to the Phillies this weekend with a 3-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies in interleague play, even though they didn't have ace pitcher Curt Schilling to help them... YET. Schilling is on the verge of returning to the rotation, hoping to be back by thr All-Star break. The Red Sox surprisingly have some roots with the Phillies. Terry Francona once managed for the Phillies, and Schilling set a record for most strikeouts in a season with a whopping 319 Ks back in 1997 with the Phillies!

WE'RE STILL BETTER!

2005-06-18T13:11:00.000-04:00

It has been one hundred two years since the Pittsburg Pirates have played ball against the Red Sox in Boston. They last played the Sox (who at that time were still the Boston Americans) on October 13th, 1903. That's a long, long time ago. How long ago? Well, here are some stats to put things into perspective...

There were 45 states in the Union

The president was Theodore Roosevelt

The Fall Classic was in its 1st year

Fenway Park wasn't to be for another 9 years!

So, last night was the first time the Pittsburg Pirates have ever played at Fenway Park! (Before 1912, the Sox played at the Huntington Avenue Base Ball Grounds.)

And we still beat them!

SHOCKING TRUTHS

2005-06-02T21:37:00.000-04:00

Check this out! The New York Yankees are up to more than just baseball. Not only is George Steinbrenner an unwise spender, he's a convicted felon. You heard me right. This is NOT a joke.
Check out the proof here.

New Link!

2005-05-07T15:53:00.000-04:00

Recently, I recieved a request to link to a really cool Sox site, "Red Sox Hall of Famers". It's really cool. Check it out in the Other Baseball Blogs and Sites menu now!

He can't be serious...

2005-05-03T19:42:00.000-04:00

There are rumors that Johnny Damon wants to retire at the end of the season. He says that he has accomplished his goal (being on a world championship team.) I hope he's saying that just to get the Sox to offer more money, because the team wouldn't be the same without Damon! In fact, baseball wouldn't be the same!

CLAIRIFICATION

2005-04-17T18:40:00.000-04:00

Recently, some steroids-related ads may have appeared on my advertising blocks. These were not supposed to be posted and were put up without my knowledge or consent. The ads that go up are determined by Google AdSense and not by me, so occaisionally something like this happens. Let me make it clear that I do NOT condone the use of ANY substance to enhance performance on the diamond, or anywhere else for that matter, as it is ILLEGAL and DANGEROUS, not to mention embarrasing (just ask Alex Sanchez) when you get caught. Apparantly they just search for "steroids" in a page's text and put up these ads (apparantly assuming that steroids are only a problem with baseball.)

The sites advertised have been blacklisted for life from appearing in my ad boxes.

RED SOX MANNY-A

2005-04-17T18:02:00.000-04:00

Red Sox left fielderManny Ramirez, famous for his skills with the bat as well as his fielding ability, hit his first home run of the regular season in the 3rd inning when he belted a 2-run shot clear over the Green Monster yesterday. Of course, Manny isn't satisfied with just one homer. He hit a grand slam in the 4th, at his very next at-bat. Keep it up, Manny!

STEROIDS SUSPENSIONS COST MONEY

2005-04-09T16:48:00.000-04:00

In addition to Alex Sanchez missing eight games for using steroids, he will also not be getting his full salary. Because the suspensions are unpaid, Sanchez lost $32,787.00 because of the suspension.
Per MLBPA agreement, the exact substance Sanchez took will not be disclosed. However, Sanchez claims that he used vitamins and protein shakes available over-the-counter and didn't realize that they were illegal. Now he knows!

SANCHEZ BUSTED FOR USING STEROIDS

2005-04-05T18:31:00.000-04:00

Recently, Tampa Bay centerfielder Alex Sanchez was the first player to be busted under the new steroid policy. The man hits fewer than 5 or 10 round-trippers per season, and I certainly did not suspect ANYONE on that team to be juiced. (Let's face it: The Devil Rays play a level of baseball between AAA and the bigs. When they win, it's just a fluke. Who would suspect them?) In any case, for the next 10 days, HE GONE!

EXTRA! EXTRA!

2005-04-03T12:50:00.000-04:00

HERE WE GO!!!!
For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox are entering their regular season as DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS! The opening game will take place at 8:05 PM Eastern at the House That Ruth Built. The probable pitchers are Wells (Red Sox) vs. Johnson (Yankees) and the Red Sox lineup is as follows:

Damon 8
Renteria 6
Ramirez 7
Ortiz DH
Millar 3
Varitek 2
Payton 9
Mueller 5
Bellhorn 4

Meanwhile, the Yankees are sending these guys to the plate:

Jeter 6
A-Rod 5
Sheffield 9
Matsui 7
Posada 2
Giambi DH
Williams 8
Martinez 3
Womack 4

(The numbers represent the player's fielding position using standard scorecard notation. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this system, it is as follows:)

1 Pitcher
2 Catcher
3 First baseman
4 Second baseman
5 Third baseman
6 Shortstop
7 Left field
8 Center field
9 Right field
DH Designated hitter (American League only, bats in place of pitcher)

Although the gambling community favors the Yankees to win tonight, that's mainly because of their home field advantage. Ha! If they this that's gonna make them win, they have something else coming! The Red Sox are WORLD CHAMPS!

This is real baseball.

Check back after the game for the score.

Byung-Hyun Kim, I'll Miss Him!

2005-04-03T12:43:00.000-04:00

As you may have heard, Byung-Hyun Kim was traded to the Colorado Rockies. Although he was our "mystery kid" for several years, I think that this might have been his big year. However, as many point out, it is generally not a good idea to sign players like Kim for more than one year at a time. It is this that people question about the Kim trade. In any case, I saw potential in him, and it's a shame to see him go.

2005-03-31T17:55:00.000-05:00

Can't help but laugh at this one!

SOX WIN!

2005-03-28T18:34:00.000-05:00

... but good grief, WHAT HAPPENED? The Pirates scored six runs in less than two innings when we were up 7-1, turning an almost-sure victory into a save situation! Foulke and Mantei were not at their best, giving up 3 and 2 runs, respectively. However, at the end, I like how they brought in Byung-Hyun Kim to close it. Giving up only one run, Kim was credited with a save. Now that's how you use Kim!

Curt Schilling Back on Mound!

2005-03-25T17:11:00.000-05:00

Even though we lost, it was great to have Curt Schilling pitching again for the first time since the World Series. He pitched in front of 7,759 Grapefruit League fans today for 2 ⅔ innings. Aside from two homeruns that happened to be back-to-back, Schilling will probably end up doing fine this season.

FIRST SPRING TRAINING GAME: RED SOX 4, TWINS 3

2005-03-03T22:36:00.000-05:00

Yep, the Red Sox won their first Spring Training game of 2005 today, despite some rather heavy rain from about the 6th inning on that made for a very slippery outfield! There was only one home run in the game, and it was hit by Shawn Wooten of the Red Sox in the 8th inning. That gives us a record of 1-0 in the Mayor's Cup series. We will play the Twins five more times before Opening Day.

This is for the future of baseball!

2005-03-01T00:30:00.000-05:00

One site, all things baseball. baseball-almanac.com

I CAME, AND 90 MINUTES LATER, I SAW

2005-02-12T16:00:00.000-05:00

There was a bit of an ordeal at the Nashua Country Club. The trophy was behind schedule and was brought in about an hour and a half late. During this time, the country club's waiters came out and served free cookies, which I will admit was a nice touch. Then they announced that there would be a limit of one photograph per group, although I managed to talk my way into getting a bonus shot. However, what bugged me the most was that in direct contradiction to what was printed in the newspaper, people were not allowed to touch the trophy itself. Of course, I proceeded to do so anyway. Here's the picture.

While I was in line, I got to talk with many fellow Red Sox fans, including two who had World Series tickets in "press pass"-style holders for all to see. However, the most remarkable fan of all was a man holding a baby born on 27 October, 2004- the day the Red Sox won the World Series! The proud father said that "[the baby] broke the curse!" More photographs are on the way, as I used both film and digital cameras.

WORLD SERIES TROPHY!

2005-02-04T15:07:00.000-05:00

It's official: I will be going to see the World Series trophy in Nashua, NH on the 11th of Febuary! For those of you nearby, the trophy will be at the Nashua Country Club from 6 to 9 p.m., the tickets are $25.00 each (those of you who are under 16, only $10.00) and all proceeds go to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Nashua. Ticket prices are fully tax-deductible as charitable donations. For more info click here.

Sponsor Link

2005-01-31T15:08:00.000-05:00

Save a bundle on academic software at Sprysoft!

Here's a good one!

2005-01-27T16:24:00.000-05:00

type "RED SOX SUPPER" into the Google Search at the bottom of this page for more info.

A-Rod's Cheat Play

2005-01-27T14:44:00.000-05:00

YOU CAN'T HIT THE FIELDERS WITH YOUR PURSE!

"Last Will for Schill"

2005-01-25T16:28:00.000-05:00

I was browsing the web when I stumbled upon a story of a huge Red Sox fan who may have very well saved However, I warn you that this link may amaze you. Curt Schilling. Check it out here. However, I warn you that this link may amaze you.

HE'S GOING TO STEAL HOME! AND THE THROW IS... NOT IN TIME!

2005-01-23T10:50:00.000-05:00

Did you know that there was a pitcher who threw 2 back-to-back no-hitters? Did you know that a pitcher once struck out five hitters in one inning (2 passed balls by the catcher)? Find all this stuff & more on Baseball Almanac's Fabulous Feats in Baseball page.

FINALLY!

2005-01-22T18:30:00.000-05:00

I am hitting myself with a bat for not posting this one sooner! For the first time since you-know-when! THE BOSTON RED SOX HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES! Let's party like it's 1918!

2005-01-22T18:28:00.000-05:00

FINALLY!

Johnny Damon

2005-01-21T22:05:00.000-05:00

2002 regular season

2004 World Series

In addition to the change in hairstyle, Damon has reached career highs in home runs, RBI, and times walked. The STATFLASH graph below shows his stats compared to the 2003 regular season. In case you are wondering about the benefits of being walked more often, it means that Damon is getting better bat control, and oftentimes a walk can become the winning run, particularly if he steals second.

A very cool optical illusion

2005-01-19T19:19:00.000-05:00

I created an animated gif file that will cause you to see something that isn't there! Just stare at the center of the picture without blinking until it disappears automatically, and you will see what I mean. This image will automatically repeat every 25 seconds.

Pardon The Commercialization

2005-01-17T22:11:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed that ads have been appearing all over my blog. Please bear with me while I determine which ad layout will work best with my site layout. Some of the ads are not necessarily here to stay, and I promise that I will NEVER resort to pop-ups or pop-unders (look, I hate 'em too!) as these can cause crashes as well as annoyance. Thanks for understanding.

Pokey Reese: Amazing Homerun Hitter

2005-01-17T19:02:00.000-05:00

There have been players that go entire seasons without ever hitting a home run. Most players get a few each season, but you hardly ever see the same player hit two round-trippers in the same game. (In fact, it is not uncommon for the same team to hit two in the same game!)
Pokey Reese took this one step further when he hit two home runs in the same game last May, but only one of them left the park. A bounce off the right field wall sent the ball right past the right fielder, giving Reese enough time to round the bases for an IN-THE-PARK HOME RUN! Later on in the game, Pokey hit one over the fence for his second homer. In-the-park four-baggers are rare enough as it is, let alone in a hitter's park like Fenway.

This is cool.

2005-01-17T14:04:00.000-05:00

Ever wanted a model of Fenway Park (or any other major league ballpark for that matter)? There are these amazing models available at west-ave.com Unfortunately, they only ship to Japan, so I'll just post their picture here because it looks cool.

PLEASE, STOP WHINING

2005-01-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

Despite the fact that we finally broke an 86-year-old curse, people still like to find a reason to whine about our Red Sox. One of the most annoying ones is the Nomar Garciaparra trade.
C'mon people, DID ANYONE WATCH THE 2004 REGULAR SEASON? Sure, he did great in the field, but with the bats? No way. Mostly, he just popped up, grounded out, or struck out, and I will admit that I once saw him get a single, but that's it. The man might have been a star in the past, but from what I saw last year, he's just past his prime, so we traded him. Anyway, good luck with the Cubbies.

Curt Schilling: Red Sox Pitching Sensation

2005-01-16T13:48:00.000-05:00

With Pedro gone, it looks like Curt Schilling is going to be the biggest Red Sox pitching star for 2005.

Many people say that he "has earned his shillings". After what we saw in the 2004 post-season, I would definitely consider Schilling to be loyal to the team, both on and off the field. He has definitely earned his money.

2005-01-16T12:40:00.000-05:00

Here's a cool picture of Manny in the field at Fenway.

2005-01-16T12:39:00.000-05:00

All of this power hitting earned Ramirez the 2004 MVP award after the Red Sox won their first World Series title since you-know-when!

MANNY RAMIREZ!!!

2005-01-16T12:29:00.000-05:00

Manny Ramirez was the definetly the 2004 Red Sox power hitter with 43 home runs (best in the American League) and a .613 slugging percentage, another AL best. Ramirez also became the player with the 5th-most career grand slams in the history of baseball when he hit his 17th on 10 September 2004, surpassing Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth's records!

Welcome

2005-01-15T23:48:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my online baseball card display! Here, you can see the baseball cards that I have available for trade. Feel free to look around. There isn't much here right now, as this blog is still being set up. Expect to see a "museum" of my favorite cards for your viewing pleasure, as well as cards for trade, in the near future.