The World Baseball Classic, if you were wondering if I was becoming a boxing fan. Just an excuse to point out that Dustin Pedroia is the American League MVP. And Dustin: Keep the day job.
Showing posts with label Red Sox aka Red Sawx. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red Sox aka Red Sawx. Show all posts
Friday, March 06, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Finally - Jim Rice Elected to Hall of Fame
In this March 1989 file photo, Red Sox designated hitter Jim Rice gets set to take batting practice at training camp in Winter Haven, Fla.
'Bout time. Jim Ed's numbers look better and better as the steroid freaks shrink back to the size of their testicles. He got 76.4% of the vote; 75% is required.
Rice's stats, from the Jim Rice for the Baseball Hall of Fame website:
JIM RICE Highlights:Oh, and Rickey Henderson was elected to the Hall of Fame today, too, but Jim Rice is the big story.
One of league's dominating hitters for 12 years, from 1975-1986
Averaged .304, 29 HR, 106 RBIs during this period
4 - 200 hit seasons, 11 - 20 HR seasons, 8 - 100 RBI seasons
only player to get 200 hits / 35 HRs 3 consecutive years
6 times Top 5 in MVP voting
8 time all-star
8 time Top 10 slugging, including 5 times in Top 2
4 times league leader in Total Bases
Only AL player since 1937 to have 400+ bases in one season
Outstanding defensive left fielder
Career Totals: 2,452 Hits, 382 HR, 1,451 RBI, 79 Triples
Remember: These achievements came in the pre-steroids era when hitting 30 HR a year was a big deal.
Boston.com: Rice Elected to Hall
Boston.com photo gallery: Rice Through the Years
Bob Ryan, Boston Globe: Nudging Rice over the borderline
Boston Herald: Sox’ Rice gets call to Hall, finally
Boston Herald Photo Gallery: Elected
Monday, December 08, 2008
Winter Break
For your offseason/holiday season pleasure, Sawxheads has audio of Jerry Remy singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Sleigh Ride. Like Jerry Remy's dancing, they are both wonderful, awful and hilarious.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
All Hail American League MVP Pedroia the Destroia
Boston Globe: Most Valuable: Pedroia
Pedroia was named the American League Most Valuable Player today, becoming the first Red Sox player to earn the honor since Mo Vaughn in 1995. It is the 10th MVP award in club history. Minnesota's Justin Morneau finished second, and Pedroia's teammate, Kevin Youkilis, finished third.
Pedroia, who became just the eighth player in AL history to earn MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger awards in the same season
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The 25-year-old Pedroia emerged as a franchise cornerstone and an offensive force in his second full major league season, batting .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs while establishing franchise records for a season by a second baseman in runs, hits, doubles, batting average, total bases, and extra-base hits. He is the first Red Sox second baseman ever to be named MVP and the first AL player at his position to be so honored since Nellie Fox of the White Sox in 1959.
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He became the third major league second baseman ever to tally 100 runs, 200 hits, 50 doubles, and 20 steals in a season, joining the Yankees' Alfonso Soriano (2002) and the Astros' Craig Biggio (1998).
After a slow start -- he was batting .260 on June 13 -- the fiery Pedroia was consistently outstanding through the rest of the summer, but his MVP candidacy gained momentum during a late-season stretch when he seemed to singlehandedly carry the Sox.
During a five-game period when Youkilis was briefly sidelined, Pedroia batted cleanup and hit .667 (12 for 18) with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs, and six runs scored. He batted .345 with an OPS of .949 in the second half, and in August and September, he batted a combined .353 with a .995 OPS.
Gold Glove awards aren't always the best indicator of good defensive play, but Pedroia truly did have an outstanding year with the glove. He made just six errors at second base, the same number of miscues he committed during his rookie season.
He finished second to Oakland's Mark Ellis in fielding percentage for AL players with at least 100 games at the position. His .992 was barely eclipsed by Ellis's .993, and it stands as the third-best percentage ever by a Red Sox second baseman, behind Mark Loretta (.994 in 2006) and Bobby Doerr (.993 in 1948).
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Youkilis finished sixth in the AL in batting (.312), sixth in on-base percentage (.390), third in slugging (.569), and fourth in OPS (.958). He won the Hank Aaron Award as the best offensive performer in the league, but did not win the Silver Slugger award at first base, losing out in a vote of managers and coaches to Morneau.
Pedroia, who made just $457,000 last season, didn't have an MVP bonus provision in his contract. Morneau earned $75,000, while Youkilis got $25,000.
ESPN: Pedroia beats out Morneau to win AL MVP
MLB.com: Pedroia named AL MVP
Teammate Youkilis gets two first-place votes, finishes third
NYTimes: Pedroia Is American League M.V.P.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
I'm With The Spaceman
Boston.RedSox.mlb.com: 'Spaceman' lands in Sox Hall of Fame
Lee offers plenty of opinions during induction Friday night
The July 31 trade that sent Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers? That is a highly sore subject for Lee.
Perhaps it takes a free spirit like Lee to completely understand a free spirit like Ramirez.
"Manny was well loved, and then he'd have his little fits, and then we'd patch things up and we'd win a world championship," said Lee. "This year, I think Boston just kind of got fed up with winning. That's too bad."
The way Lee sees it, the Red Sox would have repeated as World Series champions if they had ignored all of Ramirez's off-field antics and just kept him around.
"We could have been world champions again," roared Lee. "And then he wouldn't have hit those 6-irons into the wind against the Cubs; he would have hit them against Tampa Bay. And we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. A prophet in his own time is not well received in this town. I was, for nine years and 142 days. And I told everybody on [sports radio station WEEI] and everything that they would not win it without Manny Ramirez. They told me to shut up. I told them, 'You guys don't like to win, do you?'
"He's the greatest hitter I ever saw. I loved the guy. He's a prima donna, and he pushed down the traveling secretary. Well, you pick the traveling secretary up, and you dust him off, and you apologize and you go back to work. He's the greatest I ever saw. I like Jason Bay. I'm not saying anything disparaging against Canadians, because I've married two of them."
Even Ramirez taking games off with injuries that didn't seem to be more than routine nags was no offense to Lee.
"He always took August off," said Lee. "In France, they give you a month vacation and give you two hours for lunch."
Even more entertaining -- or outlandish -- was Lee's take on what the Red Sox should do this offseason.
"Sign Manny Ramirez," Lee said. "We just had that conversation. He's already saved L.A. Sure, they should patch it up with Manny. You're going to have to see his number on the wall sooner or later here, aren't you? He's going to be standing right where I'm standing. Mark my words. Because if he doesn't go in the Red Sox Hall of Fame, [it's not right]."
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Oh Captain, My Captain
Jason Varitek hits a solo home run in the sixth inning.
One more game. One more win.
Last night was a great win for the Red Sox, but it was not fun. It was tense. And it started out with a cable disaster, as TBS didn't have the game on. They were showing a rerun of some not-funny show. We were in full panic mode. Checked Fox, the nets, ESPN, no game. Ran to computer, no video. My friend is on the floor trying to find a radio station -- we are lost in the wilds of Central Mass., lousy radio. Then after about 10 minutes TBS finally runs the technical difficulties crawl. Finally find the game at 1280 AM and THEY STARTED WITHOUT US! They couldn't postpone the game until the fans could see it? We hear that Upton has hit a home run, but don't know if anyone was on and the score.
Finally, picture and we learn that it is only 1-0. Much cursing of TBS. If our curses work, Ted Turner is going to hell. Go and take your lousy announcers with you. (OK, you can leave Ron Darling behind.)
The game itself was tight. We were tight. Beckett was pitching like a pitcher, not a young fireball, not trying (probably unable) to blow by hitters with his diminished fastball. Most of the scoring came from one run homers that landed in the front row. We kept leaving men on base, 12 in total, which made everything all the more ominous. Wasted opportunities, leaving the door open for the Rays.
When Varitek got up with two outs in the 6th I (dramatically) announced, oh, just call the inning and take the field; the guy's 0-for-the-series. And Varitek promptly hit the homer! I took full credit. And Crisp gets on, Bartlett commits an error (which ends up wiping out his HR) and The Large Father singles in an insurance rune. But even with a lead we were still quiet. Could this really be happening? Yes, it is. Okajima looked like 2007 Okajima. Masterson put on one runner but settled down after John Farrell came out to the mound and talked to him. And Pap was Pap, Mr. I Do Not Give Up Postseason Runs. Ever. shut down the Rays and lifted his index finger as Youkilis caught the final out. One more win. One more game.
The Red Sox are 9-1 in elimination games, including 9-0 in ALCS elimination games, with Terry Francona as manager. Let's make it 10-1 tonight.
Boston Globe Photo Gallery: Game 6 ALCS
Boston Globe Photo Gallery: The scene in St. Pete
Boston Herald Photo Gallery: Game 6 ALCS
Boston Globe: For Varitek, 'C' stands for clutch
Captain hits crucial blow
Bob Ryan, Boston Globe: Captain deserves a big salute
Boston Herald: Homer is good sign for Sox
’Tek adds to crazy run
But on those occasions when Varitek produced anything even remotely above average on offense, the Red Sox were nearly unbeatable. They went 9-0 when he recorded a two-out RBI with runners in scoring position, 11-0 when he recorded a two-out RBI of any kind, and 29-5 (.853) when he drove in a run, period.
Boston Herald: Storybook ending
Time to write off the Rays
Jonathan Papelbon celebrates the Red Sox win.
One more game for all the marbles, baby. One more game.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Miscellany
(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Interview with one of my favorite authors, E. Annie Proulx, in the LATimes.
This dailykos diary has clips from the Bill Maher show from HBO last night.
Jere from A Red Sox Fan From Pinstripe Territory has many photos and videos from the Red Sox amazing Game
While ACORN is being excoriated for voter registration fraud for having workers fill out bogus registration forms, then flagging them as bogus before sending them in to the states, Republicans hired a firm to deliberately defraud voters into changing their registration from Democrat to Republican. Read this LATimes article on the firm hired by the California Republican Party -- Young Political Majors, or YPM -- which has a long, documented history of voter registration fraud. In California, they duped people into changing their registration to Republican by telling them they were signing petitions for tougher penalties against child molesters. That's fraud with intent to commit fraud.
Obama is racking up the endorsements.
The McCain campaign finally released a 2-page summary of Cindy McCain's tax returns (pdf file); she's clearly middle class as she makes only $4.2 million per year, not $5 mill.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Sleep Is For Fans Whose Teams Aren't In the Playoffs Any More
Red Sox players celebrated after J.D. Drew's walkoff hit in the bottom of the ninth inning kept their season alive.
(Getty Images Photo / Elsa)
Boston Globe: Game 5 ALCS Photo Gallery
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Call the Wahhhmbulance for the Angels
Joy of Sox: Schadenfreude 64 (A Continuing Series)
Special Los Angeles Angels Edition!
Read the whole post at Joy of Sox, it's hilarious.
The Angels feel they should have won the series. That would have required better fielding, pitching and hitting. And less whining.
There's no crying in baseball.
See you next year, weenies.
On to Tampa Bay
Boston Globe Photo Gallery: Game 4
Boston Globe Photo Gallery: Celebration: Red Sox Advance to ALCS
LATimes Photo Gallery - ALDS Game 4
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Jacoby!
REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES)
Soxs'?
Ellsbury was awesome in the Red Sox win over the Angels last night, from his 3 for 5 night from the plate (which should have been 4 for 5 as one of his hits was deemed an error by the scorer, depite the centerfielder never laying a glove on the ball), 2 stolen bases, a run, an RBI, and a great, great catch in the 8th inning. Watch the catch here on MLB.com.
The picture of horizontal Ellsbury reminds me of this famous picture of Bobby Orr (wikipedia):
And Jacoby has a blog! Jacoby Ellsbury's Postseason Blog
Boston Globe: Ellsbury stole some of the spotlight
Rookie is off and running again (there's a post-game interview with Ellsbury at the top of the article)
NYTimes: Pesky Ellsbury Beats Angels at Own Game
Boston Herald: Jacoby Ellsbury does it all
Comes up big at the plate, in the field
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Video Lasts Forever
Comcast New England: Jonathan Papelbon: The High School Years
Click on the link to see three videos of Jonathan Papelbon, the intimidating closer of the Red Sox, dancing in a high school talent show. (He's actually quite good!) The videos were supplied by his mother to the Red Sox, so the first video is of the Red Sox team showing them in the lockerroom before last night's game. Hilarious.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Friday, September 05, 2008
Ellsbury Is a Human Highlght Film
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Robs Aubrey Huff of a home run.
I can't put mlb.com videos directly onto my blog, so once you get to MLB.com, click the "Jacoby Ellsbury" tag next to the video for more great catches.
I'm so glad we didn't trade him in the offseason.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Our Little MVP
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
He's only the best hitter in baseball: Number one in the AL in batting average, hits, runs scored, and multihit games, third in doubles and hardest to strike out, fifth in total bases. One of the smallest guys in the league, too, with tiny hands. Hats off to Pedroia the Destroia.
Lynn Item: Red Sox second baseman Pedroia is simply first-rate
BOSTON -- It seems every time Dustin Pedroia is in the vicinity of the baseball, the chants begin: 'M-V-P, M-V-P.'
And why not? His name litters each game's box score as much as it does the list of American League offensive leaders: batting average, number one at .326 entering last night's game against the Orioles; hits (first, 183); multihit games (first, 53); runs scored (first, 106); doubles (third, 42); total bases (fifth, 274); hardest to strike out (third-best, every 13.1 plate appearances).
Friday, August 22, 2008
A Final Paean to Manny
A final ode to Manny from Charlie Pierce.
Charles Pierce, Boston Globe: Manny Ramirez's Long Goodbye
Exit stage left, dude. It's been fun.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Charlie Pierce on Manny
Charles Pierce is hilarious. He's the guy who coined "C+ Augustus" for Bush, and for that he has a special place in my heart.
slate.com: Burning Manny
Who's crazier, Manny Ramirez or the Bostonians who grew to despise him?
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Greatest Ever Manny Tribute
Read this whole post when you've got a few hours. I still haven't finished it.
Cursed to First: Manny Scrapbook
Saturday, August 02, 2008
I'm With Papi
Boston Globe: Ortiz tries to make best of it
Asked if he's heard how happy the Yankees were that RamÃrez was no longer in the American League East, Ortiz smiled wearily in acknowledgement of the fear and loathing RamÃrez's presence had caused the Bronx Bombers in his 7 1/2 seasons with Boston. "Well, we would be, too," he said. "I guess."
While general manager Theo Epstein said the trade seemed to improve the atmosphere in the clubhouse, it didn't seem to have the desired effect on Ortiz, who clearly was feeling RamÃrez's absence. Ortiz, sitting in front of his locker, took a long draw from his energy drink.
"I need to calm myself down now," he said. With that, he waved off any more queries.
Friday, August 01, 2008
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