Tuesday, September 25, 2007

What He Wrote

I'm not a big fan of Dan Shaughnessy. I'm not even a little fan.

But I have to say that I like what he wrote here:

The playoff-bound Red Sox are home tonight to start the final six games of the regular season, and manager Terry Francona continues to straddle the line between playing for the division title (and the best record in the league) and getting his team ready for the postseason.

I say go for it. Beat the Yankees. Win the division. Cop the best record in the American League to give yourself home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Use Jonathan Papelbon the way you'd use him in July and August. Find out if Manny can play before he calcifies at the end of the bench. Tell Eric Gagné to find his mojo on somebody else's watch. Stop babying Clay Buchholz and get the kid ready for playoff action. Play Jacoby Ellsbury until he's no longer hitting .372 or until he gets thrown out stealing one time. Fire all your guns at once and explode into space.

You know where that last sentence comes from dontcha?

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space

Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf
Words and music by Mars Bonfire

Here is the rest of Shaughnessy's article:

In the season's last week, they need to stay on top of things

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Since the Prediction....

When I predicted that the Red Sox would cede the division to the Yankees, they were 3-1/2 games ahead of New York. Now they are only 1-1/2 games ahead with series coming up against Tampa Bay, Oakland and Minnesota to end the season.

The Yankees, on the other hand, just swept Baltimore and will face Toronto, Tampa Bay and the Orioles one last time again before October.

With a non-existent offense and a bullpen in disarray, I still think it's a safe bet to reiterate my prediction.

So now, the Red Sox have HAVE to make sure they don't give up the wild card.

Here's to seeing you on the other side.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

My Prediction

Not one to prognosticate (yeah, right!), I have decided to put my prediction in print (sort of) here with regards to the American League East pennant race.

Here is what I think.

Ready?

Really Ready?

OK... let's do it.

I think the Red Sox will cede first place to the Yankees in September. Their offense (the Red Sox) is inconsistent, and except for the first four spots in the order, practically nonexistent. The Yankees, on the other hand, have been productive all the way down through their batting order.

So, the Sox will make it into the playoffs as a wild card team, but not as a division winner.

That's my prediction.

Let's see what happens.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Belichick's Bungle

So Bill Belichick got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

So what?

In principle and practice it was wrong. It was cheating - stealing signs. Trying to gain leverage over another team with 'inside' knowledge.

Professional and college sports teams (should I mention high school?) all do it. No one is clean.

That doesn't make it less wrong. But it is common practice.

And again, I say,

So what?

It doesn't affect me. Nor does it really affect you or anyone else. We still get our mortgages paid, taxes paid, try to raise our kids to be upright, moral citizens.

I hope.

So what it's done is taken down the glamour or mystique of a team and its leader - that which was trying to be taken down regularly anyway by those who are jealous of the Patriots' success.

That's really what naysaying a successful team is all about.

Jealousy.

So again I say,

So what?

I am not training my kids to revere sports people. After all, they only exist for their entertainment value. And what's entertainment ultimately based on anyway? Nothing real important.

Unfortunately, celebrity is raised to godhood status as a normal part of our culture, and I think that is the saddest statement I take from all this.

Not that a sports figure was caught cheating.

After all, so what?

What else is new?