Thursday August 15, 2002

FLOP 'TILL YOU DROP SIX GAMES BACK

11 L.O.B. Another one run loss. Yankees win 17th game in their last atbat. Another season lost.

"Now batting for the Boston Red Sox, the shortstop, Nomar GARRH-see-a-pop-up"

Lucchino on streaks, strikes, Grady, catching the Yankees, and stopping the Backstreet Boys...

Sounds like Grampy Little is Gone if the Sox Don't Go.

Wednesday August 14, 2002

SIGNS OF LIFE IN SEATTLE

Sox Won't Die On the Side of the Road. Nixon Leads the Turnaround, 12-5 Final.

Tuesday August 13, 2002

IT TAKES LOWE TO MAKE THIS THING GO RIGHT

Weakness in Seattle

Just another road trip, just another loss, just another summer
slipping away.

Poetry in a Pinch

The force of hopeful habit
Brings us to many ends
Whose points are not apparent
As misfortune far extends.

There are many ways to lift your team --
To give the boys a spark,
And then there are the lineup moves
That whistle in the dark.

Oh -- a million futile gestures
Where failure's chance is stark --
But none is quite so useless
As pinch-hitting Tony Clark.

8.14 - Romero Romine

Monday August 12, 2002

Nothing to Fehr but Friday Itself

No strike date set. Revenue sharing and luxury tax amounts to be finalized this week. If there's a snag (and if this is just a cheap PR stunt), players will take it up again on Friday. MVP (Most Valuable Playerep) Tony is second from left.

Enos 'Country' Slaughter Dies

Best Baseball Name of All-Time (and the mad dasher who scored the winning run against the Red Sox in the 'held the ball' game 7 in '46, passed away at 86.

The Bulldog is Ready to Growl

Hermanson to replace Wakefield in rotation once Pawtucket rehab done? Or is Casey the one?

Floyd, Damon Banged Up

Clifford to be ready tomorrow, but Johnny's knee has The Nation concerned.

Sunday August 11, 2002

...and it's one, two, three strikes they're out at the old Fehr game?

Twins Get Knuckled Under, Season Not Over

Sox Still Won't Hit, But Win 3-1. Yankees Crush Choakland. 
No Ground Gained.

Hench Goes Hollywood

Read our guy's Rants in Gordon Edes' Notes column in yesterday's Boston Sunday Globe

First Propped by Big Dog last summer (on WEEI's Sunday Baseball Show), Kevin Hench is the real up-and-comer of Big League Baseball Writers. Hench, whose Hardball column has been posted here since July 2001, is the King of the New Keyboard. The so-called "hottest writer" plugged by the 'I hate New York' t-shirt guys was always an also-ran. Kudos to The Boston Globe's Gordon Edes for catching this rising star. This snippet from yesterday's 'Hench's Corner':

''Here's hoping the enduring image from another summer of discontent is not the baffled countenance of Boston's finest as Terrence Long pulled Manny's would-be walkoff homer out of the bullpen. The image of the cop in the pen got me thinking: Has there ever been a Red Sox relief corps in more dire need of police protection?''

Saturday August 10, 2002

Wake Up! Sox Only Four Games Back!

Pedro Gets World Serious.

Now that's someone to tip your cap to Grady. Sox 2 Twins 0.

Friday August 9, 2002

Pop-Up Plops Down

The defense rests again and it's lights out for late inning hitting.

Minnesota 5  Boston 4

CastillOH-MY-GOD!

What in the world was Frank doing in there in the seventh inning of a tie game?  Embree comes in for Texas blowouts, but not tie games?  Lefties coming up and no Haney? 

Grady drops to 4-17 in last 21 one-run games
(and what is Felipe Alou doing this evening?)

Grady's Game Strategies

(or lack thereof)

8.9 - Posts From Around the Web after latest one run loss:  "Can anyone think of a good reason for Frank Castillo to have started this inning?  Rivas can't hit lefties. Guzman can't.  Koskie can't.  Ortiz can't. There's two rested lefties in the #%&! pen... I think that 92 year old fossil that Tom Caron just interviewed could pitch better than Frank Castillo... After another dose of this passive, spectating managing, some Lou Piniella over-managing would be refreshing... Come on, for the love of Christ, if we lose another one run game I'm going to spray paint my neighbor's dog orange and beat it senseless with a frying pan... This one is Grady Little's fault. Castillo's blowup was easily predictable and there were much better options in the pen. The team's inability to get any runs off of lefthanders was easily correctable, but Grady Little doesn't have a #%&! clue... Wow, these other teams sure are rude! We bring in the 12th guy on the pitching staff to pitch a tie game in the seventh inning and the Twins bring in their top setup guys!!  The nerve!  They have obligations as guests just like Grady does to be a genial, obliging host, don't they?... The way Grady manages is the way you manage an "A" or AA team. Lots of support and understanding and wins or losses don't mean too much as long as your guys develop. So, you stretch players past their apparent limits to see if they can adjust, see if they can grow. That's all just fine, at AA. Not here. This guy is throwing away our shot at the playoffs... I would be very curious as to how Lucchino is reacting to all this.  I suspect Grady should rent."

Feeling Minnesota?

Sox Need Twin Killings All Weekend Long.  Casey's at the Mat.

The Precarious 'Even Keel'

(Lose the attitude?)

8.9 - From JD at Your Turn:  "One area that some of us have commented about over the past few days is the demeanor of the Red Sox players during their recent .500 streak. The sight of players laughing after an error by one of them in a crucial game against a wild-card opponent rubbed many of us the wrong way. Others have come out in defense of the players and stressed the importance of the team maintaining an even keel during tough times. I can’t say that I disagree with that thought, as I certainly don’t want to see our team pressing during this crucial stretch.

I guess what I would like to see from the Red Sox players is an attitude of righteous indignation. The attitude of players who know that they are very good and will simply not stand to have lesser teams take away what rightfully should be theirs. In short, the kind of attitude that Pedro Martinez takes to the mound every start. Pedro looks like the most fun-loving guy in the dugout when he’s not starting, but when he’s on the mound, he is all business. The team could do worse than take their cue from him."

Thursday August 8, 2002

Sweet 16
and Lowedown

Sox Survive to Live Another Day 4-2

Derek Comes Through in an Honest-to-God "Must" Win:
"I felt I had to win this game."

OfferMariner!

Seattle Makes An Offer.  Will Jose Come Back to Haunt Us?

Wednesday, August 7, 2002

Sox Need a Little Kick Me Up

Lowe will have his hands full with A's to Zito.
(And the Yankees have already won today)

NOT LONG ENOUGH

Oakland is to Dye for. A's Get Extra Outs and Hold On for 3-2 Win.

A Nation Turns Nasty

(Here's Where John, Tom, and Larry Learn That They're Not in San Diego, Florida Anymore)

8.6 - After Last Night's Game from Pumpsie:  "Sorry, but a "winner" hits that ball a few inches further than Manny did for a three-run walk-off homer. "Close" only counts in horseshoes. In baseball, we have winners and losers and this team plays like a bunch of losers.  This is a talented (7 all-stars plus Floyd), underperforming, disappointing, sleepy team which gives away way too many atbats, loses focus at critical times and doesn't seem too disturbed about it. And, yes, Grady Little and Tony Cloninger have a LOT to do with that.

And not only did Damon, while positioning himself somewhere on the Mass Pike, break the wrong way twice on Hatteburg, he (Damon) laughed about it BOTH times with Nomar and Floyd. He laughed about it, as if this was a Sunday pickup softball game. And I thought to myself, "you know, I've NEVER seen a Yankee laugh at a goof he had just made and still be on the team the next day.  And that's the right attitude, and that's why we always come up short to these #%&!   Could you imagine Bernie Williams yucking it up with Jeter after screwing up a play like that (or waiting around for Terrence Long to congratulate him on his catch after the game!)?  It would never happen.  Those guys are serious as heart attacks.  I wish our guys were as well.

After watching Nomar lately, I have to admit I've come to understand those who say that Derek Jeter is a better ballplayer than Nomar and that they'd take Jeter over Nomar.  Nomar is more talented, for sure.  Nomar's a much more talented hitter than Jeter, and is a better defensive player than Jeter (Jeter's better on the basepaths but that just might be because Nomar's too precious to go sliding into second... (God forbid).  But Jeter comes through again and again and again and again when it really matters... and Nomar doesn't.

Jeter will battle in a key atbat as if his very life depended on it. And, more often than not, he'll get the job done.... somehow.  Nomar goes up there (admitting he doesn't even know who the pitcher is until he gets in the ondeck circle) with his mind made up to swing at the first pitch and gives atbats away every game. Let's face it, Nomar's the anti-Ted Williams.

And Nomar does not get himself dirty... for anybody. What is he made of, antique glass?  He has good speed (probably better than Jeter's) but does he ever try to use it on the bases when the team really needs it?  Too much trouble, it seems.

This team lacks cojones and focus.  Kind of like our "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" manager."

Burkett Bounces Back?
No time like the present.

Tuesday, August 6, 2002

Fenway Unfriendly Again

Ho-hum, A's Bash Boston 9-1.
Yankees lose too, so no ground lost, only passion.

Arrojo on DL

Bulging Disc in Back. No Surgery But Season, Red Sox Career, MLB Career Probably Over.

DR. MORGAN NEEDS TO WORK HIS MAGIC

 Damon out with sore knee.

(or as Johnny says, he's out because of "the glut of outfielders")

Monday August 5, 2002

IronManny Needs a Day Off

Oh well, there goes another $95,679.01. Only 51 games left Manny, plenty of time to rest and get ready for the bump to $18M next year.

(Correct, I'm not including the +$16M signing bonus paid over 5 years, oh and thanks Dukee for spending like a drunken sailor who just hit the Powerball)

Sunday August 4, 2002

Texas Game - Saw Massacre

 Number 15 is Nice and Easy for Pete

Nomar and company take care of Rangers 11-3...
to improve to 24-28 in their last 52 games.

Cramp Stops The Clark, But It's Not Another Hamstring-A-Long

Saturday August 3, 2002

MISSED OPPORTUNITY
SOX GET 86'd 8-6.

Another Little Collapse ("I Don't Like the Way You Do It Late... Keep It Going in Another Direction"... shirts at printer now). 

Good News:  One-run loss streak stopped as Sox lose by two!

Grady Rolls Dice with Rolando

But His Arrojoness Hurts Boston as
Mop Up Man Can't Stop 'Em.

Friday August 2, 2002

 Nice Guys Finish First (and Floyd's Future is Here)

Cliff "I love John Henry... thank God I'm here" Floyd and Bobby "I'm ready every day" Howry speak.

How You Feelin'? Trot, Trot, Trot

Gimme' Some Lowevin'

 Derek and the Dirt Dogs Topple Texas.

Thirteen Nothing Final.

Yankee (Still Bitter After All
These Years) Bob Strikes Again!

Fight Club Tally:  Lowe 5 games. Varitek 4 games. Sanchez
3 games. Gary Matthews Jr., the guy who started the fight
0 games.

Gutless.

J. OFF. OUTRAGE

Jose Wouldn't Play.

Thursday August 1, 2002

Breaking News - Thursday Night:

Guilty As Charged!

JOSE SEALED HIS FATE ON MONDAY NIGHT WHEN HE WOULDN'T GO INTO GAME

"I'd Rather Not"

THE PENALTY? OUTRIGHT RELEASE.

 DUKE'S BAD BOYS ARE BACK!

Offerman sets us up with his mouth:

''I don't have to talk to any of you [expletive]. 'You guys [expletive] me up. That's what I have to say.''

(Everett knocks us down with his bat)

No Cliffhanger, Just a Hangover:

We Need a Little Sweet and Lowe To Get Back on Track Tonight

A TEXAS SIZED BEATING

HOMERS ON THE RANGERS

Dream Day Quickly Turns To Nightmare

Curse of the Joseno?

Truth be Told:  Carl Everett Hits Two Home Runs and Seven RBI in the First Two Innings (Tell me again about that Oliver trade Duke?). Texas 19 Boston 7.

Thursday August 1, 2002

OFF GOES OFF ON WAY OUT DOOR

Verbally Abuses Mike Port and Boston Writers.  Blames Media for Problems in Boston.  Angry because he wasn't left behind in California where he has a house, had to "fly to Texas."

IT'S OFFICIAL! TAKE IT TO THE BANKS

It is Offerman (and Banks)

Thursday August 1, 2002 - 8:47am EDT

E X C L U S I V E  BREAKING HUNCH OFFERMAN GETS RELEASED TODAY:

Offermania!

Break out your dancing shoes, but don't do the 'Mockerina' this time. Mike Port en route to Texas to release Jose Offerman. 

 We Think, and Pray, That Larry Did the Right Thing and Spared Rickey and Lou, and Won't Do the Tony DL Band-aid Bailout.

Larry Lucchino with WEEI's Dennis & Callahan this morning:

Knucklehead Knocks 'Em Out

Pitching, Defense, and Sac Flies Get the Job Done.

Wake, Pen Wrap Up Angels 2-1, Sox Take Series 2-1, and Sox Pick Up
2 Players and are Now #1 in Wildcard.

I LIKE MIKE

"This was an indication that we want to bring Red Sox fans what we want to bring them this year."

I'm Just Wild About Larry

"When you're as close as you are here you have to take your artillery out and go for it."

Let's All Go Stop Traffic On Brookline Ave. and Have a $6.00 Warm Cup of Bush Light to Celebrate

E X C L U S I V E  BREAKING NEWS:

How About That!

Bullet Bobby Howry

Sox have signed White Sox Middle Man for Minor Leaguer's Frankie Francisco and Byeong Hak An. Contract: $3.2M over 2 years ('02-'03 + opt)

Lucky Strikes, Cliffhanger Over

Larry was the Lightning, Montreal was the Tree. The Deal Dance was the Can-Can. Gordon Edes was the Man, man.

Floyd Fills the Void

Floyd Tickled Pink to Join Red Sox, En Route to Texas Tomorrow
(Late Innings Cost Him Shot at Anaheim)

Cliff Comes for a Song

RED SOX GET FLOYD FOR SEUNG SONG AND SUNNY KIM.

 Edes On Down the Road:  Gordon Gets Expos, Floyd Right from the Start.  Gammons "Floyd's not going to Boston" is Peter-Come-Lately)

It's Buying Time Again

No Offermania Today as Clark to Go on DL, Rickey Gets Cut, or Lou Merloni (gulp)
Goes Back Down Tomorrow.

DREAM TEAM IS WIDE AWAKE

imPORTant Work:  Henry/Werner/Lucchino/Port/Epstein/Melvin/
Thomas/Haas 'Get The Job Done'

"This is a player of sufficient caliber that even a team south of us (the New York Yankees) was trying to acquire,'' said general manager Mike Port.
"The Red Sox were the ones able to get the job done.''