And They’re Back

A couple losses, and the morons come screaming back.

My personal favorite was this afternoon’s radio. The comment was made that Josh Beckett didn’t talk to the media after the game last night. They wondered why. They started out by saying that it could simply be that Beckett had nothing to say. He pitched well, nothing interesting happened to him, so why bother? They could have left it at that. But, no. They said that because he didn’t talk, they were now “forced to speculate.” Imagine that. They admitted that the most reasonable answer was looking them in the face, but they were still going to go ahead and make stuff up. Why did Josh Beckett not see it fit to make the media’s job easier? Was he mad that Bobby Valentine had played NL ball and bunted in the seventh? Was it another case of unrest between the pitcher and his manager? Remember when Beckett played golf that off day? What controversy is hidden in Beckett’s silence? Who else wants to come up with something? No answer is too outlandish. After all, we’re “forced to speculate.” I was, of course, forced to change the station.

We need a few more wins to get the EEidiots to go back where they belong. It would be nice if it came tonight. Why are the Sox having such trouble with the Orioles? I have no idea. I think it’s mainly because with their injuries, they are the Orioles. Frankly it’s amazing the Sox win any games with Podsednick-Byrd-Nava as their outfield. When Gonzalez slumps too, it’s just too much. So, you get streaky results. Win three, lose three. If the back-ups swing the bat well, the Sox win. When they don’t, the Sox lose. The nature of a back-up player is the inconsistency. That’s the killer. So, the team gets inconsistent results. Say what you want about what Carl Crawford did when he was healthy last year. He’s better than Podsednick. Ellsbury is better than Nava. Until those guys get back, the Sox are going to be streaky.

The deficit is back to four games…behind just about everyone else in the league. It’s an amazing logjam out there. What does that say? That the Sox are in good shape. They’ve been playing with their AA team, while the rest of the division has not, and they have stayed close. They’re in striking distance. When they get players back, it looks like it will be an easy cruise to the division.

The waiting is the hardest part.

Fenway Fever, By John H. Ritter

Uh-oh. Has the dreaded Curse of the Bambino returned? Is that why the Sox have gone on an extended losing streak? How can it be reversed this time? That’s the challenge facing young “Stats” Pagano as another promising Red Sox season begins to slip away. What can he do to try and put an end to this madness? How can a kid fight whatever forces are at work? What can any of us do?

I was fortunate enough to have a copy of this book provided to e in order to review. I admit that because of that, part of me hoped the book would be terrible. Then, I could trash it, and brag about how honest I was with my review. When I saw the write-up on the back, I thought that “wish” might have come true. Another book about the Curse of the Bambino? Weren’t we done with that yet? Is that the only thing you can write about in a Red Sox book? Even now? As I read the book, though, I was delighted to find that it wasn’t the case. This was a fantastic read. It’s another book geared towards kids. As such, there were a few times when I read something and thought, “That must be for the youngsters reading this.” Those distractions are the only things I can fault this book for. Fenway Fever ended up treating the Curse of the Bambino like Shoeless Joe treated the Black Sox. A magical story that used the curse as a backdrop, without dwelling on it. Sure, the curse was the main storyline. But this was really a book about family, and faith, and fandom. I greatly enjoyed this book. I can easily see a kid enjoying it even more.

Rating: 3 bases (if I were a kid, I bet I’d add that fourth base)

Red Sox 1-36: 9 is for…

Retired number 9 for Ted Williams

Much like my entry for Carl Yastrzemski, I’m going to have a tough time finding new things to say about the greatest Red Sox player ever. He’s been discussed and rediscussed at length. And, why wouldn’t he be? I always have one question when I think about the greats of yesteryear. Who would they compare to in today’s game?

I know that the easy, and correct, answer is “nobody.” But, who comes close? Or, which pieces need to be put together to create Ted Williams?

He could hit. He could hit for power. He could hit for average. So, of current Red Sox players, we’re looking at Adrian Gonzalez, but better. He was disliked by the media. Are we talking John Lackey dislike? Daisuke Matsuzaka level? He had the flair for the dramatic. Like Papi? Is that the buzz he created when he stepped to the plate? Was it Dustin Pedroia level fame and adoration? Nomar in 2000? Pedro? Did people in 1941 know what they were looking at when he stepped to the plate? Looking back at over 100 years of Red Sox history, we can say with some certainty that the great ones really were great. In 1941, with only 40 years of reference, was he just considered pretty good? Who was he?

9 is for Number 9, Ted Williams

It’s the 21st Century!

And now you’d know it from this blog as well. Section 36 finally has it’s own Facebook page!

I know. I’m late. But I could never figure out why a blog would need a page. Now? I’m still not sure. But, I figured what the heck. So, check out the link on the side of this page to like me. To really like me.

And I’ll eventually figure out what there will be to like.

June Contest

If you remember, I had a contest in April to help celebrate the 100^th birthday of Fenway Park, as well as the 100^th anniversary of that year’s World Series. The prize was a copy of Mike Vaccaro’s wonderful book The First Fall Classic. That book chronicles the 1912 World Series, and does a fantastic job. I’m doing another contest this month to give away another copy of this book. What hoops am I going to make you jump through this time to enter? I’m glad you asked.

Once again, it’s not a difficult entry. Simply send me a picture of you in Section 36. That’s it. Everyone who sends me a picture of themselves in Section 36 gets one entry into a random drawing. The winner of the drawing (or randomization, or dice roll, or dart throw, or however I decide to do it) wins the copy of the book. To make it even easier, it doesn’t have to be a new picture. It doesn’t even have to be section 36 in Fenway Park. It can be any section 36 you find yourself in. So, anyone can enter.

So, find those pictures of you in Section 36. Or, get to a game this month and take a picture of yourself in Section 36. When you do, send them to me (section36 at gmail dot com). I’ll accept entries until 12:36 PM on June 30. So, get me those pictures!

Good Luck!