Results tagged ‘ J.D. Drew ’
Fenway Franks
It’s been quite a while since I’ve blogged. Been busy, especially in the midst of a 9-game home stand. However, after working 6 games, I’ve finally gotten to try the brand new Fenway Frank!!! So, the Evil Empire comes to town, and I am blogging about hot dogs??????
Of course!
I know you’ve all been drooling at the thought of eating a hot dog at a ball game. Is there anything more American than that??? But, there may have been some worries! Or some gasps from the fans! Replacing the Fenway Frank? Who would ever think of such a thing?
Let me tell you, though, the new Fenway Frank is DELICIOUS! Much better than the previous incarnation. I loved it. It was a great taste, and a very juicy hot dog. Make sure you get 3 or 4 the next time you are at a game.
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/16977198001?isVid=1&publisherID=245991542
Anyway, this home stand has been pretty darn good. Tonight, the Yankees made are making their first trip of the season to Fenway. It was a slow night for me out there, but it has been quite a game. Pretty much a typical Yankee – Red Sox game. They are well over 4 hours played, and don’t seem intent on stopping anytime soon.
Was nice to see Jason Bay tie the game up of Mariano Rivera with 2 outs. We almost had J.D.P. Drew ground into his 3rd double play of the game to end it, luckily the ball was hit just a bit too softly to give Bay a chance. Will be interesting to see when and how this one ends.
I’m a bit disappointed that the next two games will be starting at 4pm and 8pm. What a buzzkill, especially since these next two days are going to be in the 80s. Instead of two SUNNY, HOT afternoon games which leads to lots of great vending, Fox and ESPN want to get some early season ratings of April Yankee – Red Sox games. Gahhhhhhh. Oh well, look for me on National TV then. Vendahhh number 41 on scorecard!!!!
Well, back to the Sox game for me.
Go Sox!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I tried out the new MLB Gameday preview. Not a fan!
P.P.S. YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUK. Walk-off (I hate that term) Game winning HOMER for Kevin Youkilis. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, just like the new Fenway Frank!!!
Groundhog Day 2: The Sequel
Starring………………..
Shocking, I know, but position players aren’t even due to report to spring training, but J.D. Drew is already injured. I don’t understand how somebody can be so fragile, it is mind boggling. Rocco Baldelli and Mark Kotsay (edit: since Kotsay had back surgery, insert Brad Wilkerson) better get ready for a lot of at bats and time out in RF this season.
Busy Night in Boston
Last night, the Boston branch of the Baseball Writers Association of America held their annual awards dinner last night. At the dinner, Dustin Pedroia picked up his AL MVP Award:
Also, at the awards dinner, Rocco Baldelli picked up the Tony Conigliaro award, along with his BRAND NEW Red Sox jersey.
The Red Sox signed Baldelli, formerly of the AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays, to a 1-year contract. He will see the majority of his work as the 4th outfielder. He could see considerable time in either CF or RF depending on Jacoby Ellsbury’s progress and J.D. Drew’s injury status.
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon (AL Manager of the Year) and Tampa Bay reliever Dan Wheeler (New England [born] Player of the Year) were also honored. Reportedly, the Red Sox tried to sign those two at the dinner, but were rebuffed.
It was also confirmed that the Red Sox have indeed offered a 1-year contract to former Atlanta Brave Cy Young Award winner John Smoltz. Reportedly, the base contract is for around $5 million with incentives based on time on the active roster that could double the value. John Smoltz is coming off an injury, but hopefully there is still some juice left in the arm.
I was actually hoping that Smoltz and Tom Glavine would both retire. No. Not because I do not think they can not or should not pitch in the major anymore. It is because along with Greg Maddux, who just announced his retirement last month, it would be quite a sight to see an induction ceremony of Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz 5 years from now in Cooperstown.
How many times do 3 pitchers of this caliber actually pitch for 1 team for a LONG time? Very rarely. How many times have 3 pitchers of this caliber that were teammates been inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame together? NEVER! That would be quite historic.
I’ve been a Braves fan (they’re my NL team although not as much now), ever since our family first got cable as teen. I actually hated the Braves at first, because their games (and they were terrible), would always interrupt my 2 hours of NWA / WCW wrestling on Saturday nights. However, after watching them play, I grew attached and then enjoyed my wrestling / baseball double feature on Saturdays.
Anyway, now that I returned from detour down memory lane, it will be very strange to see Smoltz in a Red Sox uniform after spending his entire Major League career in a Brave uniform. Hopefully, he will ended up healthy and could be a surprising big contributor down the stretch. Looks like he will also fill the mantle left void by Curt Schilling, as the elder pitching statesmen for this team.
Finally, it looks like Mark Kotsay may return to the team. While normally an outfielder for most of his career, I envision that Kotsay will fill the Sean Casey role on the 2009 club. Mostly, he’ll be the back-up for Youkilis and Lowell (at 1b only, Youk will move over to 3b when Lowell needs a rest), but could see time in the OF depending on the health of Drew and Baldelli. I like Kotsay, he has always be a solid player, but wonder if he will be happy in this role.
Since the Sox recently signed Brad Penny and Josh Bard, it’s nice to see the Hot Stove getting a tad bit warmer.
Go Sox!!!
Looking Ahead
It’s that time of year. The time to look into the future and see what lies ahead. So, let me put on my swami headgear, take out some sort of crystal thing, and this magic little 8 ball thing:
Okay, now we are ready for our 2009 Predictions:
- The New England Patriots will not win the Super Bowl. (Okay, now that I got my obligatory bad joke out of the way, we can continue.)
- The Pittsburgh Steelers will win the Super Bowl.
- The Boston Celtics will win the NBA Championship….again!!
- The Boston Bruins will lose in the 1st round of the NHL Playoffs. (I really hope that is not true, but I only go by history.)
- Some race horse will win the Kentucky Derby and then the Preakness. Then for weeks we will hear about how great this horse is and it will be hyped up as the first winner of the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Then in the Belmont, the horse will finish in 8th place or something stupid. This seems like an annual ritual.
- Tiger Woods will win the first golf tournament he plays when he returns from his knee injury.
Now, let’s get to the baseball stuff:
- Jason Varitek will sign a 2-year contract with the Red Sox.
- The Dominican Republic will win the World Baseball Classic.
- Manny Ramirez signs with the San Francisco Giants. The city of LA has never done a complete 180 on anything faster.
- David Price will become the 1st pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young in the same season.
- A.J. Burnett will make 18 starts this season, however, J.D. Drew will spend more days on the DL than Burnett.
- C.C. Sabathia will be the AL All-Star Game starter while the NL will send Pedro Martinez to the hill.
- After throwing a complete game in the 10 inning All-Star Game, leading the AL to a 3-2 victory, Sabathia’s shoulder falls apart lifting the All-Star Game trophy MVP.
- Ryan Howard, Mark Reynolds, and Adam Dunn combine for only 400 strike outs between them.
- Curt Schilling signs with the Tampa Rays in mid-May, and goes 8-0 down the stretch to help the Rays surpass the Yanks for the AL Wild Card.
- The Dodgers win the AL West over the Giants after Manny sits out the final month with a “calf strain”, code for “I’m not happy with only getting a 2-year, $50 million contract.”
- The Red Sox win their 3rd World Series Championship of the Century. (Hey, this wouldn’t be a Red Sox blog without this prediction, am I right?)
Now, that those are finally finished, I must say I enjoyed watching the MLB Network and their broadcast of Don Larsen’s perfect game. I am looking forward to more of their stuff. However, I do hope they cut back on showing Viagra ads when I am watching the channel with my son. He is 4, and doesn’t really notice that stuff yet, but……Please MLB, keep those for after bed time. I know they pay the bills for you, but just do it. Okay? Great!
WOW! CRAZY! UNBELIEVABLE!
Let’s recap my evening last night.
I get my son into bed and back downstairs ready to watch the game at about 8:40 or 8:45. I turn on the TV, flip over to TBS and it is the top of the 2nd and the Rays already have a 2-0 lead. Christ! I sit down at the PC and head to ESPN.com to see how it happened. Iawmura hit followed by another Upton HR. Damn!
The Sox get a couple on against Kazmir, but can’t deliver. Kazmir seems to be pitching okay. Certainly not the Kazmir of old, but definitely not the Kazmir of recent either. However, it’s just a matter of time before the Sox get to him…right?
Top of the 3rd, and Upton gets another hit. Can we get this guy out yet? Pena HR, next. Longoria HR next. Gawd! Well, when 1 team is hitting on all cylinders and out pitching the opponent, what are you going to do? You just have to give credit to the Rays. It’s not going to be the year this year.
I check with the wife, see if she wants to watch a show. We’re both tired (my wife works nights, and worked Wed night, so she’s way more tired than me. But you know how it is with kids, your ALWAYS tired.), but I pull up the DVR and see what we have waiting to watch. How about Survivor? Great! We watch the Fang tribe (which could be like the Rays of old, or the Pirates, always losing) lose both challenges and GC get voted out.
The wife’s ready for bed, so she curls up on the couch with a blanket and is off to dreamland as I turn the game back on. It is the Top of the 7th, and Delcarmen just walked the 2nd of two batters, so the Rays have 1st & 2nd with nobody out and Upton (him again?) coming up. Francona, in a desperation moves, brings in Papelbon. However, after a double steal, runs are at 2nd and 3rd. Papelbon works back to a full count on Upton, but gives up a wall ball double that extends the lead to 7-0. That just about sealed up the MVP for Upton.
I get back on the PC, as I’m thinking about going to bed, and type up a little blog to congratulate the Rays, as I’ll probably type up more in the morning.
However, even though I am tired, it is a bit early for me to go to bed. I am a night owl. I like to stay up late. Not sure why, but I’ve always been that way. Sometimes I regret it in the morning, but most times I’m fine.
So, I start surfing the net, checking out some other blogs. I went to a message board that I frequent. I played a few games, all as the game was still on.
Maddon decides not to bring Kamir out for the 7th, and goes with the flame thrower Grant Balfour. Lowrie crushes a ball to RF, that just misses a HR. However, that gets you to take notice. Then when Varitek and Kotsay fly out, oh well. However, Crisp lines a single, but too hard for Lowrie to score. Pedroia then singles, and the Sox are on the board. At least they won’t be shut out.
Now, up comes Papi. He crushes one deep into the night.
Papelbon comes out and gets the Rays 1-2-3 in the 8th. Sweet!
Then, a 4 pitch lead-off walk to Bay, and you can just see how tightly Wheeler is squeezing that ball. Drew crushes a HR to right, and WOW! But, your still thinking how HUGE those 2 runs the Rays got in the top of 7th are. Walks will kill you. But, the Sox are now down a run. If you’re going to lose, if you’re going to get eliminated, this is the way to go out. Not some pathetic 7-0 loss. Wheeler gets Lowrie and Casey, and is almost out of the inning. But here is where some “weird” things happen:
- Kotsay’s line drive goes off the glove of B.J. Upton in CF )who has been tracking down EVERYTHING) for a double.
- Gabe Gross’ throw to home goes straight into the ground, allowing Kotsay to score on Crisp’s single to tie the game.
- Carlos Pena (who had ground into only 2 DPs all season) grouned into an inning ending DP with the leading run on 2nd.
- Evan Longoria, one of the best fielding 3B in the league, makes an error. That runner ends up scoring the winning run on J.D. Drew’s game winning hit.
There I am, dancing around the living room while my wife is fast asleep on the couch. Haha. But, who would have thought? Seriously!! Down 7-0 in the 7th?
We go back to Tampa. There is still a lot of work to be done, but ANYTHING can happen, as we just witnessed. There are lots of questions though:
Can Beckett be Beckett?
Is the offense back?
Should Francona swap Lester to game 6 (on normal rest) and Beckett for game 7 (on extra rest)?
Saturday can’t get here fast enough for me.
Whew!
Panic in the Manager’s Office? I think not!
Am I trying to make up for slacking last week? A second post in one day. Wow!
Anyway, Tonight’s line-up is out, and Terry Francona has made a couple of changes. Let’s take a look at it:
1) JD Drew – RF
2) Pedroia – 2B
3) Ortiz – DH
4) Youkilis – 3B
5) Bay – LF
6) Kotsay – 1B
7) Crisp – CF
8) Cash – C
9) Lowrie – SS
Drew has replaced Ellsbury at the top of the order, while Crisp has replaced Ellsbury in CF. Ellsbury has been struggling, as he was 0 for his last 20 ABs dating back to Game 3 of the ALDS when he doubled in the 5th inning. Obviously, some sort of change was needed, but I wouldn’t call this Panic. It looks like I like to ask questions in my titles and answer no to them. Haha.
Anyway, Drew batted lead-off 8 times early in the season. He batted .172 (5-29) from the lead-off hole. However, he did walk an impressive 10 times, for a respecatble OBP of .385.
We knew that Varitek would be sitting today, as Kevin Cash is Tim Wakefiled’s personal catcher. However, we shouldn’t expect anything from his bat.
Finally, the Sox will be calling in a Dirt Dog from season’s past as the Red Sox Insider is reporting in his blog that Trot Nixon, THE DIRT DOG, will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch tonight. WELCOME BACK TROT.
Go Sox!
Manny Who?
Jason Bay’s 2-run homer in the 6th propelled the Red Sox to a 4-1 victory in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Angels. The blast also had me saying “Manny Who?”, as it sailed over the wall in left field. Chip Carey must have heard me, as he repeated the question on the TBS broadcast, but I’m sure it was sentiment echoed throughout Red Sox nation. Bay also doubled in the 8th to go 2-4 in his first post season game. I don’t know how much pressure Bay really felt coming into this game, but while he is not Manny Ramirez, he is a more than suitable replacement for him. However, Bay was not the only hero on the night.
With is defense, at the plate, and on the base paths, Jacoby Ellsbury picked up 
where he left off last post-season. Ellsbury was 3-5 with a double, an rbi, a run scored, and 2 stolen bases. He lifted his average in the post-season from .360 to .400. However, the play of the night may have been his spectacular catch on Mark Teixeira’s 8th inning blooper. That prevented the lead-off man from reaching, which proved especially important when Vladimir Guerrerro and Torri Hunter followed with singles. More on that later, though.
This could almost be a hockey blog, because the 3rd star of the night for the Sox was undoubtedly Jon Lester. He continued his ascension to becoming a #1 Ace with his performance tonight. 7 innings, 6 hits, 1 walk, and 1 unearned run are the numbers for him. More importantly was the poise with which he performed. Unshakeable, he over came the rare Jed Lowrie error that extended the Angels 3rd, allowing Hunter to knock in the games first run. I thought (if you call yelling at the TV thinking) that Bay could have dove to catch Hunter’s single, as it practically dropped at his feet, but I guess it was smart to be cautious. After that 3rd inning, Lester allowed just 3 singles over the last 4 innings. He retired the last 7 batters in a row he faced, striking out 4 of them. If Lester is going to continue to pitch like this during the post season, Boston is going to be a happy town.
nt play of the night for the Red Sox may have been what happened right after that catch. Guerrero followed the catch with a line-drive single through the left side of the infield against Justin Masterson. On a 1-1 count to Torri Hunter, Masterson got him to pop-up. However, the ball just carried over the outstretched arm of Sox 1b Kevin Youkilis, dropping for a single. Guerrerro, without picking up the stop sign of 3rd base coach Dino Ebel, rounded second and headed for third base. Youkilis was quickly up with the ball and gunned down Guerrero at 3rd base by about 20 feet. Instead of having the Red Sox in a jam with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, the Angels had a runner at 1st with 2 outs. Howie Kendrick followed with a ground (that may have been a double play ball if Guerrerro didn’t get thrown out, but who knows) out to Lowrie at short, and the Sox had 3 outs left to get, which Jonathan Paplebon did by striking out the side in the 9th.
In their returns to the line-up, Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew each went 0-4 with a strike out. A couple of Lowell’s at bats were not typical Lowell at bats. So we’ll see how both of these guys come back after Thursday’s off-day when Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to pitch against Ervin Santana in what should be another pitchers duel. Only a 9:30pm start to that one, so hopefully I won’t be up as late as last night. But it was worth it.
GremEQ
Recent Comments