An Ode to the '05 Red Sox

Its official, they're dead. Stick a fork in them. No more baseball for over six months. But with this elimination things seemed a bit different. That's true for a few reasons. the first is that there's no more sense of desperation. There's no more thinking, this has to be the year. They've won and we know they could do it again. But I think there are two other reasons why this seems different.

While there were losses after last year, including Pedro, Lowe, and Cabrera, this years team is going to lose a lot more. We've already said goodbye to Bellhorn and Embree. Now we must prepare to probably say good bye to Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Mike Timlin, Graffanino (so quick of a stop, but I liked him anyways), and Kevin Millar. We might as well say good bye to Manny, as well, since all signs point to him wanting to get traded out of Boston. He's hiring a new agent and has even talked to members of the White Sox about how he'd like to play for them. While we're at it, we might as well say goodbye to Foulke, since i don't see how he'll want to come back. he was actually at a Bruins game while the sox were playing in Chicago. This elimination has brought on a sort of end to the championship team as we knew it.

But the most disturbing thing about it all is this. They weren't good enough to win. I don't mean talent wise. I mean they weren't likable enough to win. I didn't find myself enamored with the players. I found myself getting sick of Damon's nightly rock star show. I got tired of Millar trying to conjur up phrases to justify his existence to himself. I got sick of Foulke getting mad at fans because he sucked. I'm sure it was him who came out and questioned why Schilling wasn't booed. Hey pal, two words, bloody sock. He likely could have had a successful year this year had he not put himself out on the line like that. So the fans realize that and we've stayed off his back.

Then there is the whole Manny thing. I'm sick of 'manny being manny'. that's cool when your hitting .320 and the team is winning, but there comes a time when you realize that you're not the DH and part of being successful is playing defense and committing yourself to it with each pitch. No pitcher needs to remember to look into left field before each pitch to make sure his left fielder is actually in the field. You also have to realize that you might actually have to play a couple weeks without getting a day off to rest your butt. He makes too much money to act like that. If Manny wants to leave, they'll try to trade him. But at what cost? We saw what pitchers do to Ortiz when Manny's not there. So if there is a trade, the chances that we'd get talent for talent is extremely low. Instead, we'd probably have to take on some other teams financial mistake. I can't wait until Manny gets to Chicago and realizes Ozzie is insane and would actually expect Manny to play on a daily basis and give a hoot in the field.

You see, this team wasn't likeable! But for every diva on the team, there's a guy that is worth rooting for. That's while I still love this team. I love cheering for Trot Nixon. I love cheering for Tim Wakefield. I love cheering for Schilling, even if he is a self promoter. I love cheering for the Big Papi. I love cheering for the Captain. I love cheering for Mirabelli, Papelbon, Kapler, and Billy Ballgame Mueller.

I'll cheer because I know we actually have young and exciting talent. the future is actually right down the road and they're kids you can cheer for. So i like the future if it is lacking those other faces and means Papelbon, Hanley, Pedroia, and Hansen. and we'll get a few good gamers to come in and get the Sox back to a team that is good enough to win. Likable enough to win that is.

Lost Forum

So I thought it might be cool to have a 'Lost' discussion thing every thursday. Its on on Wednesday nights at 9 so we'll talk about episodes here and talk about what we think is going on.

Episode 3-
So is the counter thing just a test on human behavior? I think Jack was right that its a bit foolish to think that a small old computer like that could be significant, and why would they have test that would cause disaster if it wasn't completed? I think these people, like Locke, just want something to do. They want a purpose, so they're willing to just type numbers into a computer. But it was interesting to see that Jack did press the button even though he didn't think anything would happen. The fear of the unknown can be controlling. I also thought that John had a good point when he responded to Jack saying that that computer couldn't possible control anything by saying, 'just like its impossible for you to know that guy?' We already know the impossible is possible on the island.

as far as the prisoner trio, i saw that betrayal of the girl coming. so are the rest of them survivors, too? and Jin speaks English?!?!?!?! I screamed when i heard that and leah yelled at me for being loud late at night. could he have spoken english the whole time or does he suddenly know it?

so what are your thoughts?

more quick hits

so i haven't had something to write a whole post on, but here are some things that could be put together to make a whole post.

ok, so the red sox had their worst loss in postseason history, but i say the 19-8 loss last year was worse. they'll just shake this off and at least win two more. will they win it all? i don't think so. they're just limping through and falling apart. I said this at the beginning of the season and still think it. I don't think we'll have a real good shot at winning it all for a couple more years. by then, our farm system will have produced a couple studs. One has already made it, Jon Papelbon, and another few are on the way, i.e. Craig Hansen, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Hanley Ramirez. Although i'm not crazy about Ramirez. this off season will be interesting. Will Manny be back? Will Damon and Mueller resign? Will they even attempt to resign billy ball game? What will happen with foulke? Will they get a real second baseman or just patch it for a year until Pedroia is ready? one thing is for sure and I never thought I would say this, but last week i actually said to Leah, "i wish we had Pedro."



i think the most relaxing song in the world is 'Dust In the Wind' by Kansas. I have a few songs that i think are great 'chill songs', but this one takes the cake. Some others of mine are 'Where the Streets Have No Name' by U2, 'Long As I Can See the Light' by CCR, for some reason 'Universally Speaking' by Red Hot Chilli Peppers, 'Disarm' by Smashing Pumpkins, 'Epiphany' by Staind, and 'Sweet River Roll' by Waterdeep. what's your favorite 'chill song'?



Read the second book of the Narnia series, 'Prince Caspian' on Saturday. Great chapter where Lucy sees Aslan and says he's bigger. He tells her that she's just grown up more. He was the same size, its just that she had grown up and he appeared bigger now. I thought that was a good picture of God. As you grow up and mature He seems so much bigger, though He has not changed at all. I also liked the part where she realized she should have followed Aslan even if the others hadn't followed because he would have been with her and that was enough.



for 'Lost' fans, did you know Michael Keaton was originally casted as Jack and he was going to die in the first episode?