CLICK HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES »

Sunday, May 6, 2007

One Month In


*Photo from Yahoo.com*

After a 4-3 win vs. Minnesota, Boston sits at 20-10 for the year, 5.5 games up on the next closest team in the AL East, which just so happens to be the Yankees.

Roughly one month and a few days into the 2007 season, just a few observations from the knucklehead who writes this trainwreck.

Pitching, both starting and relieving, have been very, very good. Beckett sits at 6-0, Schilling at 4-1 after today, Wake is at 3-3, Daisuke at 3-2, and Julian at 1-3, but with a little run support Saturday could easily be 2-3. The bullpen, led by Pap, Okajima, and Donnelly has been a pleasant surprise for anyone who sat through last years travesty of a pen with Seanez, Foulke, Riske, etc..

With the warming of the temperatures has come the inevitable awakening of the bats. Papi has been solid from the get go, along with Lowell, Drew, Cora, and Youk. Now, Manny is starting to be Manny, and Coco Crisp, El' Capitan, and Lil' Dustin Pedroia are coming around as well. About the only guy scuffling right now is Julio Lugo, and I'm gonna attribute that to the "first year on a new team/trying a little too hard" syndrome. Talk to me in L. June, and I think it'll be a different story. Besides, any guy that runs that fast in such a goofy way was BORN to be a Red Sox player.

Which leads me to this: this team is EERILY similar, in a good way, to the 2004 group. While I'd like to take credit for this observation, it was actually brought to my attention by my good buddy Christine, who writes over at "Boston Red Thoughts", which is linked to your right. If you haven't done it yet, go check it out: home girl can WRITE, plus she's getting hitched later this year, so she needs the positive vibes.

Anyway, this group may be goofier than the '04 bunch: I've never seen a group of athletes, usually the most macho cat's on the planet, engage in as much man hugging, funky hand shakes, and after today's game, leading the league in petting each other's head like a cat. If you don't have NESN or the Extra Innings package, let's just say Manny, Julian, and Lugo in the dugout was QUITE the scene. I would not be able to describe it and do it justice, so just use your imagination. Unreal.

So with all that, images like the one I threw up here should be available all year: Ortiz bear hugging Manny while everyone else, including Tito, clap and applaud.

Finally, what this team DID NOT NEED is Roger: go to New York, win your 8 games, and go play golf while this band of misfits heads to October. I hope that $28 million pro rated salary keeps you warm in your retirement years Roger.

Man, do I love this team.

35 comments:

Tex said...

hitched? are we living in the 1800's?? :)

ya know christine is right..this team definitely has its own personality!!

Ted D said...

Sorry Tex: MARRIED.

Jeesh you are picky!

Gotta go: Insomnia may be breaking as I actually feel tired at 11:15.

Hope you have a great day tomorrow Texas.

Tree Newt said...

You see, I have to go away for a while so y'all will appreciate me more. I get taken for granted when I'm on every day. You know, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

And how in the world have we snowballed Tex like we have? That's the first time anyone has ever even hinted that there should be 2 of me! Seriously, thanks Tex...that was a humbling comment.

And HamHock, I hope you slept a bit last night.

VTek said...

Hi Ted - When Ortiz got into that verbal scuffle with the 3rd base umpire his first time at bat Saturday night (and then was heard shouting 'Horse $hit' when they panned over to the dugout), I had to LOL thinking back to your online salute to him earlier that afternoon!

Also, caffeine can cause insomnia. For other info, you might want to check out www.lhj.com/sleep

Ted D said...

Mattie, good to have you back: you've been missed. As for Tex, she just calls 'em like she sees 'em: you are the good one, Scott is the funny one, and I'm the goofball. Nothing wrong with that.

Hi Carol: actually went to the doctor today, and he gave me some Ambien, so IF I take it, hopefully I'll sleep. Reminder: don't EVER read the warnings on medicine given to you by a doctor: SCARED ME TO DEATH.

And Carol, Ortiz was HOT no? I can't believe that with the stuff coming out of his mouth that he did not get tossed.

Stacy said...

There is no IF, only WHEN on taking the ambien. Angie and I can hold you down and Rakes can take a straw and shoot it down your throat! :)

Ted D said...

Joking Stacy, joking.

Though Angie is giving me funny looks!

Christine E. said...

Evening everyone!

Thanks for the very nice mention in your post, Ted..:-)

I appreciate you, corn flakes..-)

Hope you got some sleep, Ted...:-)

Day off..:-(

Hope everyone is well!

Tex said...

Scottie....are you gonna want those Sat game tickets??? cos if not...Im putting up on craigslist for bigger bucks

Ted D said...

Hey Tex: He most likely won't get home for another hour or so, so hopefully he'll check in. How's the busniness trip going?

Christine, your'e welcome: and no sleep yet, but I'm taking the Ambien in about 2 hours so I'm hopeful.

//I appreciate you, corn flakes..-)//

Welcome to the family Christine!

Christine E. said...

//Welcome to the family Christine!??

Really? Does that mean I get a cerel name too?

Sorry you did not get to sleep yet..:-( One piece of advice on the Abien..don't fight the drowsiness-a friend of mine took it once and then struggled to stay awake, and it was pretty awful...

Tex said...

Sweetwater is dead. dry county...
No baseball No alcohol...whats a girl gonna do??

Tree Newt said...

We all better send the law to keep an eye on Tex...no suds, no game...things could get ugly in Sweetwater!

KAYLEE said...

How the heck do you live without that TEX? AT least its an off day.

Ted D said...

Sure Christine, but I can't give you one where I'm picking on you! I'm already leery of taking this thing Christine, now you've really got me worried.

Speaking of cereal, how are ya raisin bran?

Tex, ESPN is showing the MFY's game, if you are so inclined.

Tree Newt said...

Jr., just posted a new one for my thousands and thousands of dedicated readers. Little end stuff, though. Oat Bran is tired.

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Jr you do know people have taken those and slept for 72 hrs. Gosh I wish I was there, take your bed and put it in the backyard see if we could get birds to roost on your head!

Ted D said...

Scotty, don't be messing with me: I'm not real sold on this thing.

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

(spoken in my best Forrest Gump voice)
Oh Ted. that pill is the best thing. I take them every nite.they taste just like a box of chocolot.

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

zzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz zzzzzzz

Oh sorry I was over reading Save the whales new post.

Did you take! did ya did ya.

if you feel stoned let me know!

Christine E. said...

I did not mean to scare you Ted...:-) If you take them as prescribed you will be fine.. My friend took hers with alchohol and fought the sleepiness--and THAT Is what made it ugly

If you took the other ones (Roserum), you could have Abe Lincoln and a talking beaver in your dreams...LOL

Tex said...

FSN is showing the Astros/Reds game...SCOTTIE...do ya want the Sat tickets????

Tex said...

hey i just posted about roger on another blog I am a member to...its some redsox girls


http://soxsistahs.blogspot.com/

Ted D said...

Not yet Bub: gotta make it through 24. I figure about 9:45.

No worries Christine: there is no way on earth my wife is letting me get away with not taking this and getting some sleep.

Ted D said...

Tex, I click on that every now and then. I'll try to read it tonight, but it may be tomorrow.

SCOTTIE: ANSWER TEX'S QUESTION!!

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Tex, sorry Jr's health has taken front row attention! It looks like I will be having to work, sorry for not getting back yet.

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Christine, would that be abe as a talking beaver or a talking beaver dressed like Abe? just asking.

Christine E. said...

Neither, Cap'n Crunch; It's Abe Lincoln, and A talking Beaver, AND a guy in a diver suit with the big tank on his head (but never talks...)
You have never seen the Rozerem commercial?

http://www.rozerem.com/

:-)

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

No I am a ala natural high kinda guy.

Ted D said...

It's a very funny spot Bub: sorta like your days growing up in the mid 70's!

Flower Power indeed!

Tex said...

wait...where have i been?? jrs health?? your son?? is he ok??

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Tex, sounds like you smuggled a bottle in your suitcase! JR is Ted, his illness is he won't close his eyes at night. The is he ok part may never be answered.

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Ok Jr so I guess you took it right?
I was doing some reading, did you know it has a laxitive in it. how does that work when you are a sleep?

Ted D said...

Would you please SHUT UP? I just took the thing, as 24 ended with Jack having killed 8 Chinese thugs, and Rivera gave up a Home Run in the ninth and THEEEEEE YANKEES LOOOOOOSE!

Magic pill taken, new post coming, and bacon grease is out.

Tex said...

kaylee...where you been?