I woke up feeling a little sick today, and then remembered that the game was on NESNplus, which I can't get at school. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed, and thus the only post I could muster the energy for was a picture post, featuring the presumptive ALDS Game 1 lineup:
Golden Boy (CF) - Ells has become the leadoff man we all hoped he would. In fact, has improved so much that I'm caving and buying his shirt (it says GOLDEN BOY rather than ELLSBURY... a backhanded compliment, but a compliment nonetheless).
Pedey (2B) - I won't waste anyone's time by reiterating my love for our feisty second baseman, but I will note his extraordinary ability to get hot at the right time... I for one think he's on the verge of one of those streaks that can't be stopped.
V-Mart (C) - Here's hoping that the blue light special on hits continues all the way through Soxtober (and into November)... Victor has a hit in his last 29 starts, and would have an intact hitting streak if not for his pinch-hitting appearance in the Bronx last weekend.
Youk (1b) - Despite some doubters, Youkilis has managed to anchor the Red Sox lineup nicely this season: consistency has been his byword. The power numbers are there, along with the famous plate discipline that made him the Greek God of Walks.
Papi (DH) - Despite a horrendous first month, Papi has put together a respectable season, nearly reaching the 30-100 mark. And we all know that the postseason is a completely different beast: the real David Ortiz emerges in October.
The Token Canadian (LF) - Don't let the extreme paleness scare you away: Jason Bay is a very productive bat to have in the lineup. He plays average to above average defense (especially at Fenway), and is always dangerous at the plate.
Mikey (3B) - Though the hip has inevitably slowed him down, Lowell's bat is as dangerous as ever. His reflexes in the field are still good, even if his range is diminished... and, as evidenced by bis photo above, he has a knack for coming through in big situations.
DrewCrew (RF) - Despite his below average popularity with some (less than enlightened) fans, JD has quietly put together a very nice season. Also, his lack of feelings allows him to come through in the clutch, hitting three run bombs with all the excitement of rubber cement.
Gonzo (SS) - According to reports, Alex's hand is just fine, which is a HUGE sigh of relief. In the field, Gonzo's steady hands are invaluable, and his bat has been a nice surprise. On a totally unrelated note, Tito calls him "Gonzie," which to me evokes memories of the Fonz. Coincidence? I think not.
When I woke up this morning, it was forty-three degrees in Hartford. I looked out the window, and the big maple tree on the lawn was brindled in red and gold. Fall is my favorite season, and it's officially here.
Full disclosure: Autumn was my favorite season before I was even aware that there was such a thing as Major League Baseball. ( I'm from the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and there's no foliage that can beat our foliage.)
When I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do was play in the piles of leaves in my front yard, at least until I got a rake handed to me at the age of six. However, when I discovered the wonderful world of the Boston Red Sox, my favorite time of year took on a whole new meaning.
Because I'm on the younger side, my first Sox related heartbreak was in 2003: Tim Wakefield is the classiest man I can think of, and the look on his face as he walked off the mound that night at Yankee Stadium broke my heart. Of course, what happened just a short year later all but erased that from the collective psyche of New England, but the excitement of the season is a constant.
Every year, when I feel the crispness start to creep into the air, and leaves begin to get the slightest tinge of yellow, I look forward to Soxtober (the only other franchise that can rival that catchphrase? Colorado, with "Rocktober"). NESN is right: I live for this.
Remember when Dane Cook was the height of cool? Still, this ad gives me goosebumps - in a good way.
There's been a lot of talk lately about the Sox "backing into the playoffs." Tito is resting the regulars, and trying to get the pitching lined up. I understand that it's frustrating for those who bought tickets to this series to watch a glorified PawSox lineup get beaten up by Roy Halladay, but you know what? I trust Tito, and I trust his staff, because they have led us to the promised land more often than anyone in living memory.
Now, some of you might subscribe to the Billy Beane theory: namely, that getting into the playoffs is the real test, and it's a crapshoot from there. I understand the logic, because anything can happen, especially in the LDS when the series is best of five, but I find it lacking. Normally, I swear by the theories of Bill James just as much as Beane does, but even more than that, I believe that good pitching will beat good hitting, every time.
Lester is giving me confidence tonight, he looks to have bounced back well from the beanball incident in the Bronx. Becks, assuming his "back spasms" were nothing more sinister, is not to be doubted in the postseason. Clay, of course, has yet to prove himself, but Daisuke looks to be on the right track. The bottom line, of course, is that if Lester and Beckett are at their best, they're practically unhittable, and can go deep into games. In a five OR seven game series, I like our chances behind those two.
In the Postseason, Josh does whatever the hell he wants. Including cursing in live press conferences. Suck it, FCC!
Golden Boy (CF) - Ells has become the leadoff man we all hoped he would. In fact, has improved so much that I'm caving and buying his shirt (it says GOLDEN BOY rather than ELLSBURY... a backhanded compliment, but a compliment nonetheless).
Pedey (2B) - I won't waste anyone's time by reiterating my love for our feisty second baseman, but I will note his extraordinary ability to get hot at the right time... I for one think he's on the verge of one of those streaks that can't be stopped.
V-Mart (C) - Here's hoping that the blue light special on hits continues all the way through Soxtober (and into November)... Victor has a hit in his last 29 starts, and would have an intact hitting streak if not for his pinch-hitting appearance in the Bronx last weekend.
Youk (1b) - Despite some doubters, Youkilis has managed to anchor the Red Sox lineup nicely this season: consistency has been his byword. The power numbers are there, along with the famous plate discipline that made him the Greek God of Walks.
Papi (DH) - Despite a horrendous first month, Papi has put together a respectable season, nearly reaching the 30-100 mark. And we all know that the postseason is a completely different beast: the real David Ortiz emerges in October.
The Token Canadian (LF) - Don't let the extreme paleness scare you away: Jason Bay is a very productive bat to have in the lineup. He plays average to above average defense (especially at Fenway), and is always dangerous at the plate.
Mikey (3B) - Though the hip has inevitably slowed him down, Lowell's bat is as dangerous as ever. His reflexes in the field are still good, even if his range is diminished... and, as evidenced by bis photo above, he has a knack for coming through in big situations.
DrewCrew (RF) - Despite his below average popularity with some (less than enlightened) fans, JD has quietly put together a very nice season. Also, his lack of feelings allows him to come through in the clutch, hitting three run bombs with all the excitement of rubber cement.
Gonzo (SS) - According to reports, Alex's hand is just fine, which is a HUGE sigh of relief. In the field, Gonzo's steady hands are invaluable, and his bat has been a nice surprise. On a totally unrelated note, Tito calls him "Gonzie," which to me evokes memories of the Fonz. Coincidence? I think not.
