Fan Mail

I just restarted a little activity I had gotten away from for a bit: writing to Red Sox players asking for autographs. It’s a fun little pastime that combines two things I enjoy, namely the Red Sox and getting mail. It’s fairly simple. I just write a letter to a player in care of the Red Sox (or whichever team the player is currently playing for), include a baseball card (or other small item like a sticker) and a SASE, and ask for an autograph. Sometimes, the player actually sends something back. Most of the time, I never hear anything again. Sometimes I get a nice form letter explaining why they can’t sign anything. Sometimes I get something other than what I sent, signed. And, sometimes they actually sign the card I send. It’s a little bit of a gambling rush when the envelope comes back in the mail. Which category is it going to be? Naturally, there are things that can be done to improve my odds. Generally, I don’t try the stars. Manny and Ortiz get way too much mail to even bother opening most of it. So, they’re out if I want a signature. Although, if I just want something, they might still be an option. For example, I hear Cal Ripken always sent a nice “Drink Milk” card of himself along with a form letter explaining how busy he was. Tony Gwynn apparently used to respond with a copy of his entry in the SD Padres media guide. Those would have still been pretty cool to get. Naturally, these things have no actual value. I have no idea who actually signed any of the things the players send. It could be the player, or a clubhouse boy. I have heard of some players having their girlfriends sign things for them. But, they look nice sitting on a shelf so it’s OK by me.

This week I sent a letter out to Tim Wakefield and Jon Lester. We’ll see what happens. I’ve heard that Wake only signs for charities. So, my main hope from him is some literature on a charity. But, I’ll see.

Has anyone else tried for autographs through the mail? Any successes or failures you’d like to share?

Red and Green

Once again, I’m reminded of how turned upside down the Boston Sports scene is these days.

I admit, the last week or so, I’ve been a bit distracted as a Red Sox fan. Our boys in green have been diverting some of my attention away. So, in a way, it’s nice to be able to combine the twin passions. During the broadcast of Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the cameras caught Curt Schilling in the crowd. I remember a few years ago when a certain injured Red Sox shortstop caught some flack for attending a Celtic game instead of rehabbing, but I’m not going there. What caught my attention was what Curt was doing in the shot. He, amazingly enough, knew the camera was on him. So, he was pointing to the championship ring he was wearing, and then to the Celtics. The obvious interpretation is, “Here’s what the Celtics want, and will get. A Championship Ring.” Can you imagine? A Red Sox player was providing the championship example for a Celtic player. Don’t worry Celtic fans. I know it’s been a long time. But, the Red Sox did it and so can the Celts. The Celtics also honored Jon Lester during the game. Were the Celtics really hitching their wagons to the Red Sox stars? Who would have expected that to happen in the Garden? Where am I?

Speaking of the Sox and Celts, I hear that the Red Sox have moved up a couple start times again. Tuesday and Thursday’s start will be moved to 6:05 to avoid a conflict with the Celtics game…in LA! When does this happen? Are the Red Sox actually moving the scheduled time of their game so fans can go home and watch TV? Is this Francona’s doing? He pushed ownership so he could watch the game, didn’t he. I haven’t seen an official explanation of the reasoning. Is it the ratings on NESN? Is it late concession sales at Fenway? If the Celtics series goes to game six, will the Sox ask Philadelphia to move their start time so our fans can watch the Celtics?

I have no idea what’s going on around here anymore. I know I like it though.

BEAT LA!

You can take the "Devil" out of the name...

...but you can't take the "Devil" out of the Rays.

I heard a quote the other day from Rays manager Joe Maddon. He said that the next step that the Rays needed to take as a franchise was to learn how to win at Fenway. He said they already knew how to win in the Bronx. The next step was Fenway. It seems to me that the next step the Rays need to take as a franchise is to stop acting like a bunch of gutless punks. I can't take them seriously as an organization unless they stop throwing at guys and causing brawls. I thought that by dropping the "devil" and the Dukes, the Rays were turning over a new leaf as a franchise. This looks like the same old Devil Rays to me. Pathetic.

On the plus side, it's nice to see a brawl with some actual emotion. None of the usual clear the benches and stand around the infield. This one actually had some punches thrown and landed. It actually had tempers.

Speaking of tempers, a couple of them flared up in the dugout as well. I'll trust the team when they say it's not a big deal. I'm sure it happens all the time behind cameras. You spend enough time with someone, and it's bound to. But, I did have one question. Who knew that Manny cared enough about anything to get into a brawl over it? That was impressive to see.

Ortiz's wrist

You can always trust Red Sox Nation to overreact to any type of bad news. Goodness knows that it would be no fun to act rationally, and think things out before jumping. Word is coming out that David Ortiz is going to miss some time. As a red sox fan, I’m a little tired of hearing the words tendon, sheath, and wrist. The word on the street appears to be a month or two on the DL. Already airheads on EEI are talking about getting Barry Bonds to fill in the slot. Are you kidding me? Let’s forget all the bad stuff that Bonds would add to the team. Let’s forget that we don’t know if he can actually play after sitting around on his couch since last October. Ignore the distractions that would run through the clubhouse instantly. I ask you, do we really need him?

Ortiz is a great hitter. I’d be a moron to suggest otherwise. But, how’s this for a scenario. Move Manny into the DH spot. He hits better there anyway. Then we can finally play Coco and Ellsbury full time. Jacoby, Coco, and Drew would give the Sox an amazing defensive outfield. The line-up, while different, could still score some runs. Let’s look at a potential line-up of: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkilis, Ramirez, Lowell, Drew, Varitek, Lugo, Crisp. Wow. We haven’t seen a line-up like that in Boston since…well, since forever. The speed is oozing out in big globs. Lugo-Crisp-Ellsbury might be the fastest three batters ever to follow each other in a line-up. So, sure, we’ll miss some of Papi’s homers. But, suddenly runners can score from first on doubles. There could be a runner in scoring position every time Youk gets a bat in his hands. The Sox won’t need to wait around for a blast. They’ve shown a willingness to run all over other teams when the need to. Sure, the line-up would be much better with Papi. This option would be…different. I’d like to see how it goes for a month or two. Besides, does anyone in the division look like they’re going to run away from the Sox if they struggle a bit? Maybe it’s time to have some fun.

And if it doesn’t work, we can always offer Coco, Lugo, and Hansen to the Reds for Griffey.

500 not too Manny

Quite the weekend down at Fenway South. Fans who made the trip were treated to quite the collection of games. Since the team comes first, I’ll start there.

So far, the road trip is being saved nicely. What had started out as sub-par has a chance to reach the .500 level with a sweep tonight. You know how I feel about a .500 road trip. It’s all I ask out of a team. It was nice to see the variety of games too. Friday night had the nail bitter. The bullpen stayed the course deep into extra innings to allow Baltimore to give one away. Sunday’s game was a nice and easy cruise to victory. Colon looked good again. Not great, but certainly fifth starter good. It gives the Sox a lot of options with their young pitchers if he can pitch this way, even if it’s just for another month.

The story of the weekend, however, was Manny Ramirez. On Friday, he celebrated his 36th birthday. Then, on Saturday he joined the ultra-exclusive 500 home-run-club. (He also joined the even more exclusive “clean” 500 home-run club) It was fitting that #500 was a bomb to right-center. If anything is classic Manny, that is. It was nice to see Manny finally get it over with. I’m sure he was pressing a bit to get it, so it’s nice that he can relax now. (as was shown by the fact that he hit #501 on Sunday) It was also great to see how his teammates reacted. To hear them describe a teammate reaching a milestone as one of their career highlights was impressive, and a testament to what Manny accomplished. It also makes me wonder how many of Barry Bonds’s teammates reacted the same way when he hit #500.

A couple facts about Manny’s 500th stand out for me.

Of the 23 other players who have hit #500, only three have a higher career batting average than Manny. (You may have heard of them: Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, and Babe Ruth)

Best research stat heard on the radio after the homerun: The Red Sox have now had 3 players hit #500 in a Red Sox uniform. Jimmie Foxx did it when he became the 2nd overall player to do it (after the Babe). And, of course, Ted Williams did it when he became the 4th overall player to do it, after Mel Ott. So, the Red Sox had #2 and #4. Manny became #24 overall. A 2 and a 4 make a 24. And, what number does Manny wear on his back? That’s right, #24. It’s spooky.

Manny got the home-run ball back. The fan who caught it said it was Manny’s accomplishment, so he deserved the ball. (He did get some autographs in return) And what is Manny planning on doing with the ball he deserved? Auction it off for charity. So, the fan gave up a wad of cash to do the “right thing” and give the ball back, and Manny’s not even keeping it. I think I’d ask for it back. Heck, I could auction it off and give 75% to charity. Everybody wins.

I don’t know what I’d do if I got the ball. For a first home run, or other lesser milestone I’d give it back. Ask for a signed bat or ball in return. If the ball was a $40K value, maybe give it to the Hall-of-Fame to accompany my picture. How cool would it be to be able to say I was in the Hall-of-Fame? But, didn’t Murray’s #500 go for $400K? A ball I could sell for close to half-a-million? I think I’d have to take the cash…or at least think it over for a day or two.

What would you do?