Category: Baseball

Jon Lester

Don’t act surprised.

Were you not paying attention?

The Red Sox are going to trade Jon Lester either today or tomorrow and it’s been pretty much a given that the deal would happen since the Red Sox tried to open contract negotiations with Lester prior to the start of this abysmal season.

Every pundit on the planet agreed that signing Lester would take at least 20 million dollars a year over at least five years, and that includes a home town discount. The Red Sox initial offer? Four years at a total of 70 million dollars. Not only did Lester’s people ignore it, but they were so floored by how completely unrealistic it was that they were never able to figure out how to counter it. The offer was so insulting that it effectively ended negotiations before they started.

After seeing that, how could you possibly expect that this would end with anything other than Lester getting traded at the deadline?

The question now becomes, if we trade him now will he sign with us in the off season?

My thought is: No.

If we weren’t going to put up the money to keep him last off season, why should anyone expect us to put up the money next off season?

The (two time World Series hero) Jon Lester era will be coming to an end within the next 31 hours or so.

Not This Year

We’ll have to settle for one championship in the house this year.

My step son’s team took an early lead but the other team chipped away. In the bottom of the fifth (they play six innings) the other team took the lead. His team came back in the top of the sixth and retook the lead, only to lose in a walk off. It was tough to take, but it was a great game and they had a heck of a season.

They’ll get ’em next year.

Another Big Day for Little Humans

Yesterday was a huge day for my step kids. Today was no different.

First, my step daughter’s softball team won their league championship. Congratulations!

Next, she had another performance of the play she’s co-starring in. This time her mother, brother, father, and step mother got to see it too. All of the kids did another excellent job. It was definitely a little tighter the second time around. I wish they had a couple more showings, but there will only be the two.

Finally, my step son’s baseball team earned a spot in their league championship game tomorrow. We aren’t yet sure who they are playing, or what time, but there is a chance we’ll have another champion in the house tomorrow.

What a great weekend it’s been so far!

Almost Missed It

It’s bed time and I haven’t posted anything today.

Last night I sketched out a new song idea on my iPad. This morning I redid the one vocal I had and recorded a second. Tonight I did all the guitars for last night’s song, double tracked the entire too-hard-to-play song, and fixed one part on another song that sounded off to me.

The Kings are winning in game three of the Stanley Cup Finals. I smell a sweep. Oh, and the Red Sox lost.

You are up to date.

Red Sox Check In

I haven’t posted about the Red Sox lately. Let’s check in and see what’s up.

The last 22 games:

Lost 10 in a row
Won seven in a row
Lost five in a row and counting.

It’s going to be a long, long year.

We’ll always have 2013, right? Right?

Don Zimmer

Former Red Sox manager Don Zimmer has passed away.

For me, Zimmer was the first Red Sox manager. By that I mean he was the manager of the first Red Sox team I lived and died with. The end of the ’78 season was the first time I followed baseball. 1979 was the first year I couldn’t get enough. It was also the first year I went to Fenway. Don Zimmer was there that night with me.

Then there was the 2003 Red Sox vs Yankees playoff and the Great Zimmer Toss of ’03. I was playing in Break Even and we had a gig at Burgundy’s Billiard room in Derry, NH. The place seemed to be wall to wall big screen televisions and every 5 minutes the replay of Pedro Martinez grabbing the elderly Zimmer by his bald head and chucking his fat ass to the ground was shown. I will never forget that night. I will never forget watching the Red Sox and Yankees clear the benches in a play off game. I will never forget seeing a senior citizen trying to take out a professional athlete.

Don Zimmer is a legend. Even if he did work for the Yankees forever, he will still be missed.

Happy trails to you, Zim.

Papi

Today is a special day for hockey fans. There are four playoff games, all of which have different start times, all of which are nationally broadcast.

I turned on the tube to watch the first game, New York and Philly, and the cable was already on NESN. As soon as the TV picture came in I see Big Papi, David Ortiz, drill a line drive into the right field seats! AWESOME!

CIMG5710

It was after he crossed home plate that I realized it was a reply of yesterday’s game. I am such a tool.

So I switch it over to hockey just in time to see Philly score. It’s 2-1 Rangers. I have some pretty decent timing today, even if in one case I was a day late.

Happy Opening Day

There really shouldn’t be a debate about this. Opening day of the Major League Baseball season should be a national holiday in the United States. Sure, the National Football League brings in better television numbers and I believe generates more annual revenue league wide, but we are a nation of baseball people. It may be “America’s Pastime” in name only these days, but it is still America’s Pastime.

The Red Sox begin their World Series title defense against Baltimore today at 3:05. Last season was a miraculous worst-to-first turn around. They had no business winning it all, but somehow they did. This year I feel the same way. They have no business winning it all. I would not be surprised to see them finish third in their division.

Having said that…

REPEAT!
REPEAT!
REPEAT!

Not since 1916 have the Red Sox managed to win two consecutive World Series Championships. This is the year! The two-in-a-row curse will be broken!

(Damn it, did I just use the word, “curse”? Crud)

Go Red Sox