Tagged: Red Sox
Taste The Pie!
2010 Pretty In Pinstripes Challenge Tracker: Entry #38 – 5/17/10 – Red Sox @ Yankees
Box Score:
You have your good ol’ American Apple Pie…
And then you have your good ol’ Yankees walk-off pie…
Which one tastes sweeter? Yankees fans across the globe will agree that it’s the latter.
On a night where things didn’t look to be going the Yankees’ way, two swings of our bats turned this game from the worst loss of the season, to the best win of the season so far. Why? Because it was our first walk-off win of the year!
Oh, and it didn’t hurt that it happened against the Red Sox, and specifically off of Jonathan Papelbon.
After many walk-off wins last year, we’ve been feeling a little deprived in 2010. The Yankees have been off to a hot start, despite the injuries, so we have very little to complain about as fans. We have been feeling that something’s been missing, though. That something is: The Pie.
We’ve had many games on the road so far this season, so the opportunity for a walk-off hasn’t presented itself much. In this game, however, it did, and our bats took full advantage of it.
Phil Hughes had a bad start. I wouldn’t read too much into this performance if I were you, we all knew his ERA wouldn’t stay at 1.38 all season. Hughes has enough confidence in his abilities to bounce back from this. Hopefully our clutch hitting gave him a moral boost as well, and he will dominate in his next start.
Our bullpen was absolutely horrendous. I was horrified by what I saw today. Whether it was Boone Logan (I’m heartbroken about this) or Chan Ho Park, our pitching today blew it. Boone Logan at least managed to recover from the solo home run he gave up, and pitched a double-play ball, and fielded the grounder to end the inning. That doesn’t excuse the home run, but it somewhat makes it easier to swallow. Park, on the other hand, got himself into quite a mess (dare I say, he crapped his pants?) and needed Damaso Marte to save him.
Park pitched well in the seventh inning, and kept his sheet clean. He came in to pitch in the eighth, and gave up three runs (two home runs) on four hits, without getting any outs. That wasn’t very pretty, because he also gave up the lead. Damaso Marte came in to keep the deficit at two runs, and recorded the three outs. Marte came back to pitch in the ninth inning, and got two outs, before Javier Vazquez was brought in for the final out.
Vazquez threw five pitches, recorded the final Boston out of the game, and actually received cheers from the crowd at Yankee Stadium. Ironically, that five-pitch strikeout was enough work from Javy to get him his first home win of the season.
After the messiness from every pitcher in this game not named “Javier Vazquez”, the Yankees needed heroics in the bottom of the ninth inning. We needed the Bombers to live up to their names, and give us the lifeline we need to secure a home win.
The Red Sox brought in their self-overrating closer, Jonathan Papelbon, to get the save. We brought in the heart of our lineup to the matchup.
Alex Rodriguez asks his haters: “How does my clutchness taste, b*tches?”
In true Bronx Bombing fashion, Alex Rodriguez came through in the clutch, once again. Anyone who has been doubting A-Rod’s power, can kiss his pinstriped Dominican butt.
With Brett Gardner on base (who has a perfect record against Jonathan Papelbon), Rodriquez dropped an A-Bomb on the Red Sox. He blasted a two-run home run to tie the game. At the very least, we were going into extra innings, so we were happy that we hadn’t lost the game.
How many times has A-Rod come through in the clutch for us? I lost count. All I know is that I am thankful he’s a Yankee. I would hate to be the team that has to face him.
This clutch home run from Rodriguez can be added to the game-winning home run against the Twins. I think we can safely say that A-Rod’s slugging is back from its early hiatus.
Alex Rodriguez was one of our two heroes on the night. We’re used to having him as our hero, so very few of us were surprised by his home run. We were ecstatic, and we were cheering like crazy, but it came as no surprise.
I don’t know about you, but our second hero was a huge surprise to me.
Marcus Thames asks: “Melky, who?”
Okay, I think we’ve pretty much disproved the insane claim by some fans, that we need Melky Cabrera to get walk-off wins. While Melky seemed to shine in the walk-off role last season, Marcus Thames is here to tell us that he can do that, too.
Marcus Thames hit a walk-off home run. Who would have guessed?
I most certainly did not predict this. In the seventh inning, I did predict that we would get a walk-off win off of Jonathan Papelbon (and my Twitter Faithful will confirm this). I never imagined that it would co
me off of the bat of Marcus Thames.
me off of the bat of Marcus Thames.
After Papelbon hit Cervelli with a pitch, and put him on base, Marcus Thames came up to the plate thinking “Oh no you di’iiiiiin’t!” and quickly made him pay. He connected with the very first pitch he saw from the Boston closer, and blasted it for a two-run home run.
Thames gave us our first walk-off home run of the year, and he got the first walk-off home run of his career.
If we win our 28th World Series Championship this year, you know that this Marcus Thames home run will be in the 2010 highlights reel.
You can find Beeeebzy’s blog entries and more at 161st-and-River.com.
What’s On Your Buckett List?
2010 Pretty In Pinstripes Challenge Tracker: Entry #28 – 5/7/10 – Yankees @ Red Sox
Josh Beckett has inspired me to change my spelling of the word “bucket”.
On my Buckett List: destroy Josh Beckett.
The Yankees did that last night, and boy did they do it well.
The final score was 10-3. I think that qualifies as a proper beatdown in Beantown.
Beckett had us fooled for a little while. The first few innings went by quickly, and Beckett got several strikeouts under his belt. He made us think that he was back to being good. He fooled Red Sox fans into thinking that he was capable of getting another win this season.
Boy, was everyone wrong.
Everything seemed to be flowing smoothly, and we were witnessing a pitchers’ duel. That changed with what felt like the blink of an eye.
A Yankees game at Fenway is never drama-free. While this game was only three hours long, it still gave us a lot to talk about. Josh Beckett hit Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter. When asked about whether or not he “raised an eyebrow” when Beckett hit him, Derek Jeter said “Yeah… because I did so much damage against him this game”.
I love Derek’s sarcasm.
Did Beckett hit our boys intentionally? No way. Wh
y would he? Before he started inflicting bruises on our players, it was a close game. The Red Sox were one home run away from taking the lead. I find it highly unlikely that an “Ace” (I use that term lightly to describe Beckett this year) would purposely put runners on base in a situation like that. He even hit his own catcher, Jason Varitek. God knows Varitek is young enough to take a hit from his own pitcher.
y would he? Before he started inflicting bruises on our players, it was a close game. The Red Sox were one home run away from taking the lead. I find it highly unlikely that an “Ace” (I use that term lightly to describe Beckett this year) would purposely put runners on base in a situation like that. He even hit his own catcher, Jason Varitek. God knows Varitek is young enough to take a hit from his own pitcher.
Josh Buckett – err… Beckett – is not dumb enough to hit batters with the bases loaded, Yankees or not. He just completely lost it. He went crazy with his pitching, hitting our batters as well as his catcher. I was expecting him to hit the umpire next.
What could have possibly happened between the fifth and sixth innings that caused Beckett to implode like that? Granted, the Yankees were already winning 3-1 by the sixth inning, but that was because of Nick Swisher’s home run in the fourth. It’s not like he was giving up hits left and right. Beckett seemed to recover from the home run, and pitched well in the fifth inning. Then, all Hell broke loose.
I need to investigate this further.
On my Buckett List: Watch replays of Beckett’s implosion yesterday. You know, purely for research purposes.
After being calm early on, Beckett seemed angry in the sixth inning, which is why quite a few Yankees fans think that he hit players intentionally. He was shouting at players during the game, giving evil stares to batters and runners, and showing slightly insane outbursts with his body language. That doesn’t mean he hit our boys intentionally. If you ask me, that all fits one profile. Can you guess what that profile is?
Let me give you another hint.
I obviously don’t watch the Red Sox post-game shows, but something tells me that the interview with Beckett sounded a little bit like this:
Yes, you guessed it: Josh Beckett has Tourette’s Syndrome.
By the way, Tourettes Guy for the win.
While Josh Beckett’s Tourette’s Syndrome is only my explanation for his erratic behavior, it makes sense. Think about it. We’ve all heard him use offensive language in press conferences before, out of nowhere. We’ve seen him make controversial remarks, also out of nowhere. That screams “TOURETTES **** **** ****!!” to me.
I may be giving him too much credit, he could just be a pr*ck, but it’s more fun to imagine him with Tourette’s Syndrome. Think about it, it’s a pretty good explanation for Josh Beckett.
Anyway, like I said, the Yankees won the game 10-3.
On to the second game!
On CC’s Buckett List: Barbecue some Red Sox batters and have them as a snack.
On my Buckett List: Continue watching the Yankees own the Red Sox.
What’s on your Buckett List?
You can find Beeeebzy’s blog entries and more at 161st-and-River.com.
Boston: Putting the ‘B’ in “Bullsh*t”
I’m always fascinated by how far the Red Sox will go to attract attention. They’re like little children throwing hissy fits just so people will look at them. As if the Bostonian Lovefest not-so-cleverly disguised as ESPN isn’t nauseating enough, the members of Red Sox Nation crave attention so much that they make baseball moves for the sole purpose of gaining publicity.
You probably guessed where I’m going with this. The entire Nomar Garciaparra publicity stunt was disgusting.
Yesterday, “Nomah” signed a one-day contract with the Boston Red Sox for the price of a McDonald’s Big Mac meal (or something), and then announced his retirement. The Red Sox claim to have done this so that they can honor a player that has given so much to the organization. Nomar claims to have done this because, in his heart, he will always be a Red Sock.
Give me a [EXPLETIVE] break.
Where do I even begin to tackle this gigantic load of bull feces?
The Boston Red Sox want to honor Nomar Garciaparra? Really? Am I the only one who seems to remember how the organization treated Nomar in 2004? The Red Sox front office trashed Nomar left and right after they threw him out, they wiped the the Green Monster with him. They gave him the true “Boston Treatment” after he left, just like they verbally slaughter every single player that leaves Boston.
Oh yes, they obviously respect him and want to honor him.
Give me a [EXPLETIVE] break.
Suddenly they want Nomar to retire with the Red Sox? What the Hell happened here? The Red Sox are the poster children for Schizophrenia. Time to up their medication!
I find it absolutely hilarious that they want to honor a player whose departure, as they claimed in 2004, was the reason they won the World Series that year. It’s mind-boggling how this organization cannot seem to take a stance on anything (players, team philosophies, payrolls, PEDs) and stick to it. They switch sides faster than politicians in Washington. It’s truly an insane phenomenon.
After this publicity stunt of theirs, it won’t surprise me if, in a few years, they re-sign Johnny Damon to a one-day contract so that he can retire a Red Sock. Knowing Damon, he’ll probably ask for $5 million.
•
Dear Red Sox Organization,
While the vast majority of your fans seem to have the memory-span of goldfish, the rest of the country can clearly remember what happened six years ago. So, please, cut the crap. We’re not buying it.
Sincerely,
Everyone Outside Of New England
•
What irks me even more is that their media is just as schizophrenic as they are. So many “All Hail King Nomah” articles fell from the Boston sky yesterday, that I honestly felt that the Apocalypse was near. *The sky is falling! THE SKY IS FALLING!*
Excuse me while I try to remember what the Boston media was saying about Nomar back in 2004.
Were they praising him?
No.
Were they sad to see him go?
No.
Were they honoring the 8.5 years Nomar gave the team?
No.
Were they honoring the man who was the face of their pathetic organization?
No.
They were crucifying him. They got their orders from the Red Sox front office and sat at their computers typing slander after slander about Garciaparra.
I don’t know why this even surprises me anymore. They do the exact same thing every time a player leaves the Red Sox.
I can’t wait to see what they’ll write about Jonathan Papelbon should he leave Boston. They’ve worshipped him so much over the past few years that their schizophrenic 180° flip will be fun to see.
Now these writers received their new orders: Love Nomar. Praise Nomar. Worship Nomar. Fellate Nomar. So, they did. They threw out what little journalistic integrity they had left (which wasn’t much) and let go of their 2004 stances. Surprise, surprise.
The ultimate source of my nausea, however, comes from the fans. The same fans who regurgitated what was fed to them by the Boston front office and media back in 2004, are once again regurgitating what is fed to them in 2010. I guess old habits don’t die.
Out of nowhere, “lifelong” Nomar fans are coming out of the woodwork. Suddenly, every single member of Red Sox Nation is saying that they’ve remained fans of Nomar even after his departure. Apparently the rest of America has been hallucinating since 2004, observing an entire fanbase trash the face of their organization and then completely forgetting about him. Apparently that didn’t really happen, and all the Sawks fans have remained loyal to Nomar.
We must have been on one serious acid trip this entire time to imagine all of that.
Red Sox third-world Nation: Kiss my pinstriped a**. I’m going to call you out on your bullsh*t once again.
You have not remained Nomar Garciaparra fans all along. You talked so much trash about him in 2004 that one would think he was a member of the Yankees. You were nicer to Alex Rodriguez in 2004 than you were to Nomar. In true classless Red Sox fashion, you butchered the name of a player who you now claim was your “Derek Jeter”. Really, Red Sox Nation? He was your Derek Jeter? That’s funny, I have never seen or heard a Yankees fan disrespect Jeter. If Nomar was your Derek Jeter, then why all the hate in 2004? Was it because he didn’t win you a World Series championship? Is that why? Don Mattingly never won us a World Series championship, but you will never hear a Yankees fan slaughter him.
In fact, how about you take a lesson from Yankees fans on what it means to be loyal to a player?
We are still loyal to Mattingly. We still praise Don Mattingly. The year after Mattingly retired, we won the World Series. Did we act like classless morons and blame him for not winning championships? No we did not. We continued to praise him, worship him, and love him. When he left us to go coach the Dodgers, we didn’t forget about him like you forgot about Nomar. A small part of us dies every time we see Mattingly in Dodger blue. Every time the name “Mattingly” is mentioned, we praise him like the legend that he is. When you ask Yankees fans about Mattingly, they get choked up and say “we miss him”. Why? Because he truly was our Derek Jeter before Derek became our Jeter. Actually, Derek Jeter is this generation’s Don Mattingly. That is how you treat the face of your organization. That is how you show loyalty to a great player.
What you did to Nomar in 2004 was not loyalty. Forgetting about him from 2005-2009 was not loyalty. Claiming that his departure was the reason you won “The best championship ever” was not loyalty. In fact, do you even know where some of the players who won you that championship are right now? Do you know where Keith Foulke is? Keith Foulke. The former Red Sox closer. The pitcher who was on the mound when the final out of the 2004 World Series was made. Remember him now? It doesn’t surprise me that you’ve forgotten him. It doesn’t surprise me that you didn’t notice that he pitched for Oakland in 2008, or that he currently plays independent baseball. It’s all about Papelbon now. Well, until he leaves you.
I guess forgetting about the players who gave a lot to your organization is a regular thing for you. You all disgust me. I’m ashamed that you are fans of the great sport of baseball.
At least have the decency to be honest about your classless ways. At least admit that you didn’t give two craps about Nomar after he left, and that you were happy to see him go. Enough with your bullsh*t, Red Sox Nation. Enough.
Just when I think you can’t nauseate me any more, you prove me wrong.
This entire Nomar deal is one big publicity stunt. The Red Sox needed publicity after their incredibly boring winter, and Nomar needs publicity to kick off his broadcasting career. The deal that took place yesterday gave both sides what they needed. Nomar gained the attention he so desperately needed, and the Red Sox gained yet another ESPN broadcaster who worships the ground beneath their feet. Both sides won, while baseball fans outside of New England collectively reached for their buckets.
Once again, ladies and gentlemen, the Boston Red Sox, their media, and their fans, put the ‘B’ in BULLSH*T.
You can find Beeeebzy’s blog entries and more at 161st-and-River.com
You Have The Red Sox
Remember the awesome Nike ad I posted up in this blog around a week ago?
In case you forgot, click here.
Well here is something that is absolutely hilarious. While this (obviously) isn’t a Nike advertisement, I think it’s pretty sweet.
Enjoy:
Pretty In Pinstripes 