BDD is a feature of Boston.com. It is not produced by The Boston Globe Sports Dept.  More


BDD Home

Most Recent


Boston Dirt Dogs home



Rotoworld News for Boston Dirt Dogs:


38 Pitches

Baseball Almanac

Baseball America

Baseball Prospectus

Baseball-Reference.com

BLOHARDS Blog

Bradford Files

BoSox Club

Boston Sports Blog

El Guapo's Ghost

ESPN Red Sox Clubhouse

Gammons

Hit and Run

The Joy of Sox

MannyRamirez.com

MLB Players Association

RedSox.com

Red Sox Reality Check

RedSoxStats.com

The Remy Report

Retrosheet

Rotoworld.com

Sawxblog.com

Seth Mnookin Blog

Show Me the Money

Soxfan vs. Yanksfan

Sox Nation.Net

Sox Prospects

The Soxaholix

Sports Illustrated Sox Page

Surviving Grady

Touching All the Bases

Keeping Up with
Old Friends

Bronson Arroyo

Josh Bard

Mark Bellhorn

Orlando Cabrera

Scott Cassidy

Tony Clark

Roger Clemens

Wil Cordero

Rheal Cormier

Johnny Damon

Jorge De La Rosa

Brian Daubach

Andy Dominque

Adam Everett

Carl Everett

Cliff Floyd

Casey Fossum

Chad Fox

Nomar Garciaparra

Tony Graffanino

Shea Hillenbrand

Adam Hyzdu

Byung-Hyun Kim

Sunny Kim

Damian Jackson

Derek Lowe

Brandon Lyon

Matt Mantei

Pedro Martinez

Lou Merloni

Ramiro Mendoza

Cla Meredith

Doug Mientkiewicz

Kevin Millar

Bill Mueller

Matt Murton

Mike Myers

Trot Nixon

Jose Offerman

Jay Payton

Roberto Petagine

Hanley Ramirez

Edgar Renteria

Dave Roberts

Freddy Sanchez

Scott Sauerbeck

Jeff Suppan

Ugueth Urbina

Todd Walker

Scott Williamson

Other Characters

Barry Bonds

Jason Giambi

Randy Johnson

Carl Pavano

Mariano Rivera

Alex Rodriguez

20/20

Barks and Bites

Baseball and Football

Bob Lobel Chat

Catching the Bus

Cowboy Up!

The Critical Moment

Dirt Dogs History

Don't Blame Buckner

Edesdropping

Evil Empire

Grady's Defense, pt. 2

Hench's Hardball

The Lucchinos

Millar Time!

The Nation Speaks

Nine Eleven

Sale of the Century

Second Page

Theo Epstein Chat

Theoretically Speaking

Yankees Suck?

Yesterday's News

2002: Strike Out

2001: A Sox Odyssey


Most Beloved Since '67:
BDD All-Beloved Team


Most Beloved Since '67: BDD All-Beloved Team


go-redsox.com, a Japanese-language Red Sox blog
What is this?


Discussion Boards

Dirt Dogs
Sox Board

Playoff Bound in '07?

On the Front Burner

Off the Field / Fodder

Game-by-Game

Major League Matters


Sons of Sam Horn

The Remy Report

NYYfans.com


 ARCHIVES

Most recent news

July 2007

June 2007

May 2007

April 2007

March 2007

February 2007

January 2007

December 2006

November 2006

October 2006

September 2006

August 2006

July 2006

June 2006

May 2006

April 2006

March 2006

February 2006

January 2006

December 2005

November 2005

October 2005

September 2005

August 2005

July 2005

June 2005

May 2005

April 2005

March 2005

February 2005

January 2005

December 2004

November 2004

October 2004

September 2004

August 2004

July 2004

June 2004

May 2004

April 2004

March 2004

February 2004

January 2004

December 2003

November 2003

October 2003

September 2003

August 2003

July 2003

June 2003

May 2003

April 2003

March 2003

February 2003

January 2003

2002

2001


If You're Going to Fort Myers, Go Here First:

Spring Training Guide


A Look Back on the
2004 Regular Season

BDD XMLBDD My Yahoo

Please email for more information or questions.

Contents Copyright 2001-2006 Boston.com, except logos used in accordance with the Fair Use provision (section 107) of US Copyright Act.

Photographic images published with full rights from The Boston Globe and Associated Press unless otherwise indicated.



Boston Dirt Dogs Home

Boston Globe: Sox-Yanks pitching matchups > Sox do it again > Wake Comments were doctored > Robinson's legacy set in stone >  Thumbs

Boston Herald: 'Tek good in pinch > Heckuva first game > Cora corralled > Schilling offers a far-from-Curt response > Chamberlain to miss Sox

ProJo: Varitek's 9th inning homer fuels comeback > Ailing Cora could be put on the DL > Schilling insists: I won't play for Yankees > Wrapup

Hartford Courant: Farnsworth comes up big in Yankees win > ESPN settles with Reynolds > Phillies beat Astros > Tigers rally past Twins

It's Red Sox vs. YankeeZZZzzzzz: Rivalry's Buzz Takes a Beating
38Pitches: 'Umm, no.' | Wilbur: Space Shot | Yankee Swap
Video: Big Papi Explains Reason for Hitting Woes

Dec 29, 2004:

bdd_barksbites2.gif

Denny_Tomori.jpgTurning Japanese again

1.18.05: Our underpaid correspondent Daigo Fujiwara who runs the Watertown, MA website JapaneseBallplayers.com checks in with the latest from the Far East:

"Sports Nippon is reporting that the Sox offered Denny Tomori (photo on right) a minor deal with incentive if he makes the cut for major league roster.

"Tomori is a 37 years old side-throwing relief pitcher that can throw 95 mph fast ball. (152 km/h please check the math) he also throws a sinker (fork ball?, I don't know what it is called in English), along with three other kind of breaking balls from the sidearm. Similar style pitcher is Shingo Takatsu of the White Sox and he was effective last year. (Editor's note: Hopefully Tomori doesn't throw the "Palm Ball" that Joe Garagiola With Vin Scully referred to coming out of Bob Stanley's hand 60 times in Game 2 of the '86 Series on NESN last night)

"Though his numbers are less than impressive, his odd style might throw the hitters off. The Sox made an offer and waiting to hear back from him. He may wait to see if any other team offers him a roster spot.

"Yesterday's Sports Nippon reports that the Boston Red Sox is showing interest in sending coaching staff(s) and young player(s) to Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (was Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, but Daiei sold it to Softbank this off season, yes, its Iguchi's team) 's spring training camp. The Japanese team told the media. The Hawks spring training camp will be at Ikimeno Mori ground in Miyazaki, starting Feb. 1.

"The reason for this is, reportedly, to "study and learn how Japanese train and develop young talent." but the newspaper goes on to say the Red Sox must have interest in scoping out Hawks's catcher Kenji Jojima.

"Jojima will be FA after the 2005 season and have requested to the club for a permission to attend major league team's spring training this spring. It is not uncommon for Japanese players (especially bigger name players) to be invited to the MLB camps. Ichiro did it in 1999 with Seattle and Nori Nakamura was with Dodgers last year etc.

"Hawks wanted to sign Jojima for multi year contract this season, but he insisted in one year deal, it is widely known that he is interested in coming to the major 2006 and become first Japanese catcher to do so. He is 28 years old. He signed 1 year $5mil with the Hawks, has career .293 average.

"The article shows no mention of Varitek and I think it is baloney! Yes, he is a pretty good hitter but I don't see him playing anywhere with Tek behind the plate.

"If anything, Hawks and Sox might engage in more business partnership sort of thing, that would be cool. The new owner, Softbank's Masayoshi Son is ambitious and partnership with them is a good move on Sox's part, I think. Yomiuri Giants and Yankees have a thing going, but Yomiuri's fan base and player talents are both declining. Son shocked the NPB by signing Tony Batista this year."

Better than the Bruins.

NESN will debut Red Sox World Series Winter on Monday, Jan, 3 at 7 p.m. Red Sox fans have seen all the highlights, but now they can see all the games as NESN re-broadcasts a total of 25 World Series and postseason games in prime time on 25 different nights this January and February.

Included in NESN’s Red Sox World Series Winter presentations will be each game of the 1975 World Series, 1986 World Series, 2004 American League Championship Series and 2004 World Series. Red Sox fans can tune-in and hear the original broadcast teams including Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek in 1975, Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola in 1986, and Joe Buck and Tim McCarver from this past October.

NESN’s Tom Caron will host Red Sox World Series Winter, providing background information and interesting anecdotes looking back at these history making post-season appearances. 

DATE

GAME

AIR TIMES

1/3/2005

1975 WORLD SERIES GAME #1

7:00 - 9:00 PM

1/4/2005

1975 WORLD SERIES GAME #2

7:00 - 9:00 PM

1/6/2005

1975 WORLD SERIESGAME #3

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/10/2005

1975 WORLD SERIESGAME #4

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/11/2005

1975 WORLD SERIESGAME #5

7:00 - 9:00 PM

1/12/2005

1975 WORLD SERIESGAME #6

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/13/2005

1975 WORLD SERIESGAME #7

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/17/2005

1986 WORLD SERIES GAME #1

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/18/2005

1986 WORLD SERIES GAME #2

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/19/2005

1986 WORLD SERIES GAME #3

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/20/2005

1986 WORLD SERIES GAME #4

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/24/2005

1986 WORLD SERIES GAME #5

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/26/2005

1986 WORLD SERIES GAME #6

6:00 - 10:00 PM

1/27/2005

1986 WORLD SERIES GAME #7

7:00 - 10:00 PM

1/31/2005

2004 ALCS GAME #1

7:00 - 10:00 PM

2/1/2005

2004 ALCS GAME #2

7:00 - 10:00 PM

2/2/2005

2004 ALCS GAME #3

6:00 - 10:00 PM

2/3/2005

2004 ALCS GAME #4

6:00 - 10:00 PM

2/8/2005

2004 ALCS GAME #5

6:00 - 10:00 PM

2/9/2005

2004 ALCS GAME #6

6:00 - 10:00 PM

2/10/2005

2004 ALCS GAME #7

7:00 - 10:00 PM

2/21/2005

2004 WORLD SERIES GAME #1

6:00 - 10:00 PM

2/22/2005

2004 WORLD SERIES GAME #2

7:00 - 10:00 PM

2/24/2005

2004 WORLD SERIES GAME #3

7:00 - 10:00 PM

2/26/2005

2004 WORLD SERIES GAME #4

7:00 - 10:00 PM

Tickets with Theo.

"Theo Epstein donated to my non-profit arts center some awesome box seats (with him) for any game next season. The winner gets an opportunity to chat strategy, roster changes, etc. We are doing a silent auction, proceeds to benefit the Brookline Community Center for the Arts which is in danger of losing its home. Auction ends Friday, so time is of the essence!" http://bccaonline.com/auction.html

Bum steer.

Ron Bumgarner is the Red Sox senior adviser for ticketing. Thousands of Red Sox overnight campers and out of the loop online purchasers were shut out of Opening Day pax when savvy internet users, scalpers, and ticket brokers used the annual tickets.com loophole to avoid the virtual waiting room and purchased tickets instantly instead. Yet the Providence Journal serves up this report: "The Red Sox use an online ticket sales company called tickets.com that Bumgarner called "the best-in-breed in the business of these providers." Tickets.com has conducted an investigation of these rumors, and determined that it would not be possible to bypass the virtual waiting room by reading the source code.

"They're telling us it would not be possible" to bypass the system in this way, Bumgarner said. It is possible that there were some shenanigans surrounding the online sale. "We are certainly not ruling it out and are aggressively trying to identify" a scam if there was one, he said.

Spare me. The scam is now three years old and running strong. Almost as long as the scalpers have been running the ticket show around Fenway while the frightened front office spends their time and money harassing paying fans inside the park instead. Again, nowhere has current ownership fallen flat on its face more than the ongoing ruse of Red Sox ticket sales and distribution. Bumgarner certainly doesn't have a clue as to what's been happening.

Sox going for brokers.

"Dog -- I can't believe how awful of a user experience Tickets.com provides. The Red Sox really need to drop them as their ticket provider. They can't even come close to meeting the demand. Not to mention their system is full of holes, so all these ticket brokers get in the back-door and load up on tickets (then charge a ton of money for them on eBay). Some brokers even sell advice on how to beat the system on eBay. I've heard horror stories from several programmers that used to work in Tickets.com Wallingford, CT headquarters. They would talk about how screwed up and hacked up their system was. Ugh.. this is terrible...

If you actually look at the source code of the ticket page, you can see all the hidden variables that get passed at server time. Anyone with any technical expertise could easily figure out the correct variables to pass to the server, thus back-dooring the entire "virtual waiting room".
If Tickets.com had their act together, all of this would be done on the server side, and the client (the web-user) shouldn't be able to see any of the code. Instead, Tickets.com has produced an easily back-doorable system so that ticket brokers can scoop up all the tickets, while other Sox fans and I sit here today, wating in virtual waiting rooms, cursing with frustration.

Regards, Carmine"

No passports needed.

12.12.04: More on Nationgate:

"Members of the world's largest baseball fraternity have seen videotape of that last out in the 2004 World Series several million times. Face it, Red Sox faithful cannot get enough of the moment, and why should they? After all, has any other band of baseball brethren suffered as much at the hands of so many for so long? Not even close. This is the team that has birthed the most loyal fans in the game. Having said all that is why current Red Sox management and, in large part, Major League Baseball, should be ashamed of themselves for nothing more than gouging these fans for another fast buck.

In Thursday’s editions of the Boston newspapers — there it was. As promised, or as threatened, your own official “Red Sox Nation” card designating you as a, of course, card carrying member of this fraternity. Only 10 bucks, and for your hard earned cash that isn’t being spent on tickets or concessions, you get a shot at trinkets and throwaway toys that were mass produced for about a buck forty.

Isn’t it bad enough people are taking out fourth and fifth mortgages to attend a single baseball game? Isn’t it bad enough that a soft drink and hot dog are about equal in price to a coronary bypass? There will be buyers, of course, but this is a terrible idea from a sport that has tinkled on it’s fans for some time. Perhaps if they are going to sell such baubles, how about donating every nickel to the Jimmy Fund? Or at the very least, taking $10 off a ticket to a home game next season.

The John Henry-led Red Sox have shown themselves to be a first class organization that cares about their fans, and I applaud them for it. Here’s hoping this is nothing more than a momentary lapse of good judgment."  -- Ed Berliner's CN8 Sports Pulse, Fastest 60 Seconds, Boston Press Box

Stock answer.

If somebody wants a census of RSN Citizens nationwide or measure interest in the Red Sox, just have the Sox offer stock and see how fast it would sell out.

The Celtics, Indians and Packers each sold stock over the years. The Celtics stock initially went for only $17 per share, slightly more than a $10 annual membership card in MLB-RSN. Possibly the Celtics IPO helped finance the Fleet Center? The Indians must have used their stock money for the "Jake by the Lake." How much of the revenue from a stock sale would MLB take? Did the Indians have to share their revenues with MLB? These are questions that need answers.

OK, maybe Sox Stock could get a little pricey even at $17 per share because there would have to be minimum purchases - like say 50 shares. Otherwise the bookkeeping would be a nightmare.

Each season, we RSN Citizens see the Yankees buy more high priced free agents and their payroll climb over $200 million. Theo wouldn't have to burn up his calculator wrestling with new contracts versus a budget limitation . . . or . . . use the money for a New Fenway? You're right the Sox are the most popular team - there are more and more fans everyday now that we won the Series. Most every Sox fan would really enjoy owning a little piece of their team - even if it's only 50 or 100 shares, even if there's never a financial dividend, just as long as the franchise is strong with more latitude to make deals and operate.

I've suggested this several times via the Sox website but never got a response. As someone recently said "Why not us?" even selling stock already. It has been done before! -- J.V."

Taking it to the grave.

"I’m a former Townie and a Red Sox fan now living in Virginia Beach. I read the Sportsmen of the Year article in SI and was touched by an idea expressed by one of the fans in the article. It was a request for creation of a Red Sox fan grave marker. I believe this is a wonderful idea and I would certainly purchase one for my dad, John Castor, who was a faithful Sox fan (I can still see him sitting on the floor, against the couch, swearing at the tv) but he never got to see the Sox win; he was born in 1918, (but, I believe, had a hand from above in this year’s incredible victory. Yes; I am Bostonian, Irish, Catholic and believe in that kind of stuff!)

Anyway, is this something that is in the works? -- Majorie Doyle"

Don't fear the reaper Margorie. iI you buy two fake World Series championship rings and 5 members of  your family sign up to become Official Members of Red Sox Nation, you get 50% off your Red Sox Grave. Call now, MLB Advanced Media Operators are standing by...

Paul Pierciaparra.

"Come on! Give “Pierciaparra” a break! At least he wanted to play and made a difference in the final outcome of the game. The image of Nomar sulking by himself on the bench at Yankee Stadium will be forever engraved in my mind and everyone knew from that point on that he had to go. Pierce isn’t going anywhere. It was his passion and intensity that caused the mini-conflict between him and the Doc, not a lack thereof as it was in Nomar’s case. Let’s not jump to conclusions…" -- Rick H.

Check off the calendar.

2005 Red Sox schedule items of interest:
- Critical period of the season -- Sep 6-21, playing 16 consecutive games without a day off against Angels, @Yankees, @Blue Jays, A's, and @Devil Rays
- Longest road trip of the year = 10 games w/ Tigers, Angels, Royals (not bad compared to 2004)
- 4 times the team will have to play 14+ consecutive days without a day off (seems pretty harsh)
- Only 3 west coast series all season (good)
- Playing most AL Central teams 6 times, but we get an extra 4 games against the Tigers (good/bad?)
- Playing most AL West teams 9-10 times, but we miss 4 games against the M's (bad)
- Playing 4 of 6 NL Central teams, but we miss last place Milwaukee
(bad) and wild-card Houston (good)
- Playing 1st place Atlanta and Philly in the NL East (bad), but not NYM
(bad) and last place DC (bad)

 -- Lew

Here's Johnny.

The Globe's "Names and Faces" Mark Shanahan writes in: "Hirsute Sox star Johnny Damon is writing a book. No kidding. In fact, the center fielder's already taken pen to paper. "More than a quickie, we see this as a classic," said his literary agent, Ian Kleinert, whose other clients include Iggy Pop and Tommy Chong. "This will be an inside chronicling of a legendary team." Crown Publishing calls Damon's book a "major deal," which typically means the author's getting a high six-figure sum. "I don't know if  he'll talk about the hair," said Michael Cader, founder of Publisher's Lunch, an industry newsletter. "Perhaps they're saving that for the sequel." Kleinert said Damon is currently ruminating with veteran ghostwriter Peter Golenbock , who's done books with Phil Esposito and several ex-Yankees, including Ron Guidry, Graig Nettles, and Sparky Lyle. Best of all, the as-yet untitled book will be launched in the Big Apple on April 5 the day after the Sox open the season against the Yanks. "The idea was to do it in the Yankees' backyard," said Kleinert. "And we'll have another event April 11 when the Yanks are in Boston."

I don't know if this is of any interest to you, but apparently Johnny signed a deal with Random House publishing. This is the report that was published:

More on the same from emailer: "Red Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon's candid "insider's account" from the time he joined the team to winning the World Series, as well as ruminations on the team's future. Like Damon himself, to Rick Horgan at Crown, in a major deal, by Ian Kleinert at The Literary Group in affiliation with Impact Marketing Solutions."

My friend who works for another publish company sent me this, and said hes probably going to get some substantial cash. The second sentence doesn't really make sense, and my friend said it was probably a typo, and that Crown is the publishing company (part of Random House), Ian Kleinert is the agent who represented JD, and Rick Horgan will be the editor."

Damon right on cue: I love Johnny Damon. So deadpan funny he can get away with saying anything. On Channel 7 Sports Xtra last, last Sunday night, he's got Wendy Nix down at his house in Orlando touring the place, and Johnny says they are moving across the lake soon, blah, blah, they show him in the hot tub with friends, he's got a friggin' beer bong (I hadn't seen one since high school). As they tour his crib, Wendy and Johnny go into the game room and Johnny shows off the pool table and says "we haven't got much use out of this yet... the only thing that's been on here (pool table) are these duffel bags... and Michelle."

Ft. Myers rumblings.

12.2.04: "Fellow Sox fan: A short note to let your readers know that another 600 seats will be added this season at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, which is on top of the additional seats that were added last year for Spring Training when the Nation set an all-time franchise Florida attendance record. The idea of building a replica Green Monster in Fort Myers remains in discussion and won't be up standing in 2005. Friendly Reminder: Sox Spring Training tickets go on sale Dec. 7. For more of the latest scoop on planning a trip to Spring Training, you can visit my Web site, Modern Baseball where I annually update "A Fan's Guide To The Ultimate Spring Training Experience" that “The Sporting News” has called "the electronic guide to it all." GO SOX, and that Giambi is now a proven cheating bastard! Regards, Joe Connor, Proud Red Sox fan since birth!"

And you thought you heard the last of '1918.'

Be sure to check out the upcoming independent short film -- "1918" - screening soon at local film festivals. The film, based on a true story, tells the story of two life-long Red Sox fans who miraculously land tickets to the World Series. On the way to the big game, disaster strikes at every corner. Unlike other Sox-related films, "1918" boasts a creative team composed of almost exclusively Massachusetts natives. Cameras began rolling early during the 2004 ALCS and continued through the World Series. The film, written and directed by Dartmouth native Jay Burke, was shot on High-Definition and is currently shopping for a distributor. Check out 1918film.com for more info and screening dates.

"There really isn't much curse talk in the film at all, the story is about two guys who get tickets to the world series, and on the way there, some new disaster keeps hitting. In other words, their fate in their journey kind of mirrors what it has been like to be a fan over all these years. Right when you think you're there... wham. Something hits.

1918 might be the working title, it might be the final title. We don't have a better option right now...

The other thing is, we didn't know they were going to win it this year. Before we shot, we thought 1918 would be appropriate, since it's almost this albatross around Sox fans' neck (and these characters reek of that). The story pretty much takes place in one day (minus the opening scene from 1986).

The title 1918 also puts us as almost guaranteed first listing in every film festival guide, for the festivals we get in. That's great for exposure.

Also, people could *assume* what the content is, but that type of double-entendre is actually good when you're marketing a film - and playing with expectations (e.g. "I don't want to see a whiny film like that", response, "no, it's not that way at all"). Talk is good. This film will get out there, and we expect it to be a hit at the local film festival circuit (Boston Independent, Nantucket, Rhode Island, Boston Int'l, etc) at the very least. Eventually people will know what it's about by word of mouth, and it's got locally-made written all over it. It's definitely pro-Sox and it isn't whiny. So people have to come out and see it to see for themselves.

Oversensitivity as filmmakers for making sure everyone likes our title could backfire as well. If you go least common denominator, you run the risk of falling into a trap where the title is so neutral that it's not catchy. The fact that you're asking is a good thing for us, I think!

Thanks again,
Jay"

Dirt Dog mom.

Oldie but goodie 10.9.04: "Good Morning, I have to send a note to tell you of a special woman who often (when it comes to the Red Sox) leaves me wondering if I actually know her. She is my mom of 26 years and an absolute nut who has left me shaking my head all season with late night trips down to Boston, and even later night drives back to Vermont after the game.

She is 50 some years old and when it comes to the sox she is like a little kid. Yesterday was the ultimate in "head shaking antics" from my Mom.

Here is the story. She calls me 1 hour before game time and says that she is on Storrow Drive and that she would be there soon. This was a little surprise to me, as I did not even know she was going. Lucky her! 45 minutes later she calls me back and says. "Don't worry, I just got in an accident on Storrow Drive...have no idea where they are towing my car, but have caught a cab and will be there for the first pitch." Lastly she said...Please, don't tell your father!

I know you guys have a lot going on...but I thought that was a story only you would appreciate. She is a fervent reader of your site (as am I) and would be glad to know I sent out the props for her that I did to you. Thanks...And GO SOX!"

2000 relaunch.

I have been a long time reader of not only your site, but also when you posted over at SoSH, where I am also a member. I am writing to you in the hopes that you could give my site a link in your next section of Barks and Bites, or wherever you choose. I run www.redsox2000.com, which is in effect an ezboard community with close to 300 members. We have been low key for the past couple years, but have just launched a new site design that looks great graphically. This new design incorporates the green monster, along with a scoreboard at the base, and an animated citgo sign above the monster seats. I encourage you to visit our site and see the great stuff going on there. I am not writing to you just so our board's traffic will increase, but because I think it is finally time for our quality posters and page designers to finally get a little credit for their work over the past couple years, as I have seen happen over with your endorsements of SoSH, Royal Rooters, and RemDawg's among others.

Odds and ends.

Only four people in total wrote in about Sean McDonough leaving. Not exactly an uprising, but a testament to the Outstanding job that NESN's Don Orsillo does each and every game. How much would you play to have a D.O. call of the World Series final out on file over Joe Castig's under whelming call (which was more fitting for a Twins win in June)? 10% of the unofficial RSN is deaf or hard of hearing. The Red Sox will be getting back to them regarding closed captioning on Red Sox 2004 DVDs and the pre- and post-game shows. The Boston Police still owe us their findings on the Victoria Snelgrove killing. Please visit The Benjamin Foundation, get a copy of Bambino's contract, and help fight Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Now that they're through spamming the internet, check out Call of the Green Monster. HBO Reverse revised curse documentary was exceptional in the last 15 minutes. Paul Sullivan (who is putting out a new movie, First Time Caller, steals the show. Can we now stop talking about how everyone who died between November 1919 and October 26, 2004 didn't get to see them win it all again? Enough already. Anyone can purchase a poster of the SI Sportsmen of the Year cover at www.sicovers.com. A bunch of the recent Sox covers are right there on the front page. Nice 16x20 posters available. Minutemen do it in an Instant. UMass' 61-59 Stunner Over UConn will re-air this Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m., ESPN Instant Classic. What about Bob? New England sports treasure Bob Lobel returns from some well-deserved R&R in Florida to host (with Liz Walker) the 22nd Annual WBZ Children's Hospital Telethon set to air Tuesday, Dec. 14 on UPN 38.


Christmas at Fenway, December 11 and 12, Sox Pax details

You can get NESN's "Faith Rewarded" DVD by calling 1-877-9REDSOX or online here
It's in New England retail stores only, but many are holding off until Tuesday.


We have a winner: NESN puts out a curse-free DVD

12.1.04: A Ruth-less effort: Just watched the new NESN "Faith Rewarded" DVD, (in stores on Friday). It blows away the MLB World Series DVD. Hats off to Russ Kenn and everyone involved in the production. Let's start with Steve Zirkilton, of Law and Order announcer fame, who does the narration throughout. Professional, and doesn't get in the way of the story, like Denis Leary's clumsy read and uncomfortable Hollywood "Papi" talk did on the MLB WS DVD. First chapter begins with a brief look at the 2003 playoffs, the A-Rod saga, how it overshadowed even the Patriots Super Bowl run. They then move to Spring Training and use some of the same footage as the MLB version (MLB Productions was involved in this effort as well). Lots of brief interviews with John Henry, who does a great job throughout, Larry Lucchino, Trot, Tek and Millar... but not too much Millar this time. They get into the game one loss in Baltimore where Pedro gets racked in the second inning (and was out of the park by the 8th), move onto Schilling's first win as a Red Sox for the second game "day off felt like a week." Timlin pops up with his camouflage shirt again.

They get into the first plane disaster when they left Baltimore at 5:30am, even had a shot of Johnny Damon on the plane, which basically blew Opening Day. Damon is terrific in his interviews as well. Millar says they call Ortiz "The Big Cat." Good to know he has as many nicknames for the players as he does annual team slogans. They get into David's walk-offs early. More interview clips with Jerry Remy, Tom Verducci. On the media side Gammons and Edes were unfortunately missing from this release. Everything is nicely paced and edited.

Next is the first Yankees series sweep. Tom Werner makes his cameo. Then the May-June slide covered very briefly. Nomar's heel, Jeter's tumble in the Bronx, complete with the money shot on Garciaparra sulking on the bench when everyone was on the top step. You get the All-Star game, watch them drop 9-1/2 games out. Then the turnaround. The Yankees fight. More soundbites from Tito, Theo. And 9 wins in a row. John Henry reminds the smarter-than-you crowd who deny the obvious "this year we saw a complete transformation of Manny Ramirez." Then the pennant race, the big win at Yankee Stadium to move 2-1/2 back. And the playoff clincher.

The playoffs begin, and yes there is plenty of ALCS and WS footage. The first curse mention is that of "The Curse of The Big Papi" on David's shirt. Damon slips up once and mentions "breaking an 86 year curse" but we'll give Johnny a mulligan. Otherwise, this thing is curse-free, and Babe Ruth free, unlike that crap on the MLB WS version. You get the full Slappy, no worries. Bells ring when Bellhorn bangs one off the pole. And a nice look at the "past." Most excellent footage of Boggs crying, Hurst, Billy Buck, and even Oil Can while the voiceover repeats "generations have come and gone... generations have come and gone." Great stuff. After they wrap up each series you get the usual on-field and clubhouse celebrations along with nice little extras like the team coming off the plane at Logan, and a shot of a couple of people waving at the busses on the morning drive back to Fenway. That's the real stuff, the raw, spontaneous actions of the fans that sends chills, not the packaged parade shots that you knew was coming up. The early morning arrival back at Fenway. And thank God Larry Lucchino can sleep easy because you get Mr. Mayah, sayin' "Let the parade begin!" (and I thought it was a rolling rally the whole time). And the coup de grâce is that it ends with The Standells' "Dirty Water," not the godawful "Tessie" screamed by that pack of rug rats.

If you want the parade, you get some great inside-the-duck-boat shots in the Extras which also include O.C. doing his awesome bit on the handshakes, and the NESN 60-second profiles on some of the players. There's a William Joseph plug at the end as I believe he contributed background music. The music is not electrifying like the short Brian Fox CBS-4 effort, but it doesn't get in the way of the production either.

You won't be disappointed if you get this DVD as a stocking stuffer that's for sure. Ebert out.

Fascinating tidbits

12.1.04: Why not Curt? Is Curt Schilling the most fascinating person of 2004? Find out next Wednesday night when "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2004," an hour-long ABC News special highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, politics, sports and business. Among those competing with Schilling for number one: Donald Trump, who could give Schill a run for his money (although putting Chris Russo on The Apprentice 2 probably blew it for him). The skanktress Paris Hilton. Old news Oprah. Usher, poor-man's Michael Jackson (the one from the 80's of course), and world-class buffoon Michael Moore. Unless there's a dark horse among the other four not named, Schilling wins the thing hands down.

So D-Lowe said he was not even invited to the Ft. Myers WS celebration next week in his own backyard, while the Sox said Derek was not available. "There was sort of a miscommunication," said Adam Grossman, the Red Sox special projects coordinator. "We will make an invitation to him." Adam also told us in the Globe last week that the way for all young people to try to get a job with the Red Sox is to have a friend whose dad is friends with Larry Lucchino. Wonderful.

Dakota got fired, and now he might get served. Word is that one of the NESN targets of the former morning talk show host's Page 6 gaffe is considering suing Mr. Hapless for slander. Yikes. Maybe Steve should have trotted out his old "Kerrigan going to the Yankees as pitching coach" fake rumors or one of his goofy Varitek-Posada "studies" that morning instead. Let's just pray that 'EEI puts him on permanent hold if he tries to call back.

The Inside Track gals just reported on FSN that Johnny Damon is scheduled to appear on Celebrity Poker, while Kentucky Fried Kevin Millar is the potential target of a makeover by the Queer Eye gang. Now that's must-see-TV. They also reported in today's Herald that J-Lo paid off the $1,800 booty she owed Affleck for betting him, after they broke up, that her Yankees would get past the Sox in the ALCS.

Cartoon characters: Yes that was Hench's head exploding in "The Wave Home," episode one of Hollywood Sports Guy's new ESPN.com cartoon that debuted last week. Who else's head explodes at the mere mention of Dale Sveum? They actually had the episode finished before the Sox won the Series and had to tack on the "it was all a dream" ending. Episode two was due out today. And another former Dirt Dog original and Dream Job dropout Nick Stevens is starring as Thurston Long in another cartoon on the CBS NFL pre-game show. When am I going to catch a break?

More on Minaya, and Tim Hudson

A BDD source reiterated tonight that overall, Omar Minaya "is just overwhelmed." "He already has ZERO respect from the other front office personnel. Jim Duquette is the one leaking information to the press, trying to screw him over, and the front office is in complete disarray. The stories on espn.com are complete BS. Minaya gets easily intimated by other GM's and ownership-level types. Lastly, Minaya is very cheap both professionally and personally. Pedro is just using Minaya to push the Sox."

Regarding Choakland: A MLB source said "Hudson is out and will not re-sign with them and the front office knows this. He (Hudson) wants to come back to the East coast but the A's will not let him walk for just draft picks." Make your move Theo.

R.I.P. Teddy Ebersol, member of Red Sox Nation

The Ebersol family released the following statement today in connection with Sunday's jet crash in Montrose, CO: "His wonderful spirit lives on in our family, and in all who knew and loved him. Of course, everyone who knew Teddy was aware of his passion for the Boston Red Sox, and a highlight of his short life was the Red Sox winning their first championship in 86 years. Like his team, Teddy never lost hope."

Sportscolumn of the Year

Tom Verducci hits the jackpot in the new SI "Sportsmen of the Year" issue that hit newstands today. Some highlights from Verducci's piece:

The most emotionally powerful words in the English language are monosyllabic: love, hate, born, live, die, sex, kill, laugh, cry, want, need, give, take, Sawx.

The Boston Red Sox are, of course, a civic religion in New England. As grounds crew workers tended to the Fenway Park field last summer after a night game, one of them found a white plastic bottle of holy water in the outfield grass. There was a handwritten message on the side: go sox. The team’s 2003 highlight film, punctuated by the crescendo of the walk-off home run by the Yankees’ Aaron Boone in ALCS Game 7, was christened, Still, We Believe.

“We took the wording straight out of the Catholic canon,” club president Larry Lucchino says. “It’s not We Still Believe. Our working slogan for next year is It’s More than Baseball. It’s the Red Sox.” -- (Umm, Larry, I think another team used something similar recently... need a copywriter? Call me :-)

--

What the Red Sox mean to their ­faithful—and larger still, what sport at its best means to American culture—never was more evident than at precisely 11:40 EDT on the night of Oct. 27. At that moment in St. Louis, Red Sox closer Keith Foulke, upon fielding a ground ball, threw to first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz for the final out of the World Series—and the first Red Sox world championship since 1918. And then all hell didn’t just break loose. It pretty much froze over.

--

On its most basic level, sport satisfies man’s urge to challenge his physical being. And sometimes, if performed well enough, it inspires others in their own pursuits. And then, very rarely, it changes the social and cultural history of America; it changes lives. The 2004 Boston Red Sox are such a perfect storm.

The Red Sox are SI’s Sportsmen of the Year, an honor they may have won even if the magnitude of their unprecedented athletic achievement was all that had been considered. Three outs from being swept in the ALCS, they won eight consecutive games, the last six without ever trailing. Their place in the sporting pantheon is fixed; the St. Jude of sports, patron saint of lost athletic causes, their spirit will be summoned at the bleakest of moments.

The issue also features a Rick Reilly piece entitled "Buckner got my vote." Reilly leads with "So the Sportsmen of the Year are the 2004 Boston Red Sox? Big freakin’ beans. You want to know who deserves the Sportsman urn more?

Bill Buckner, that’s who."

Another Yankee fan playing cards

"Since you didn't choose to respond to the email about your pictures of A-Rod and Pedro being insulting to the Dominican Community (although you did take time to respond with repeating the Yankees had the biggest choke of all time, as if it had anything to do with the email), let me elaborate for you. I think your fan base is in sad denial if you don't think their is a good deal of racist undertones within your fan base. Take a look at this latest comment from "a good friend of yours" about a minority GM trying to sign Pedro, "But he looks good and is very presentable and Selig wanted a minority GM in Montreal. It's a shame because there were more qualified candidates out there. My last point is he will play the race card with Pedro. Minaya doesn't think you can play if you aren't a Latin player." How dare anyone try to sign Pedro? And obviously he doesn't know what he is doing. He isn't white after all. Take one good look at the next game you go to in Fenway. You can count the amount of minorities at the game (not on the field or a Fenway employee) on one hand. Many minorities feel they are not welcome at baseball games in Fenway. But what do you expect from a franchise that turned away Willie Mays because a Boston scout said, "He isn't our type of player." Say what you want about Yankee fans, but you have Hispanics, Indians, Asians, Whites, Blacks, everyone in the crowd, and they all feel welcome. When I went to Fenway, I got more comments about not being white than being a Yankee fan. My dislike for the Red Sox doesn't stem from the team, but the fan base. Boston is an international city, after all, that caters to many different type of people. But Boston sports, can only cater to whites I guess.

And you have the nerve to claim you guys are the most loyal fans in the world. If loyalty means wearing shirts that says, "Jeter has Aids" or "Jeter Sucks A-Rod", or "Gay-Rod," then you may be loyal but you have no class also. You can't even where a "Boston sucks" shirt in Yankee stadium, because the organization thinks its too offensive. But anything goes in classy Boston I guess. The organization will never have the same class as the Yankees. And as far as the biggest choke in Baseball, see being up by 2 runs, with no one on, and one out from winning you first World Series in 68 years.

- Jason Nanda"

Some Jose Ramos, Dominican Yankee fan responses

"Big Dog,

I, like Jose R. Ramos, am proudly of Dominican descent (20 yrs in the US). I am also very proud of the incredible baseball talent the DR produces, and celebrate as the MVP and Cy Young candidacies amass year after year. I'm also very proud whenever I witness the admiration these players receive day in and day out from Red Sox and baseball fans from all walks of life.

Most of my friends are of Dominican descent too, and let me tell you Big Dog, we laughed our arses off at the AROD-Pedro-Mahow picture. The picture didn't insult me or any of the other ten Dominicans I showed it to.

In fact, it was my DominiCAN brother who doctored the original A-Rod-Jeter photo (which was the SI photo of Alex and Cynthia Rodriguez) to piss-off a Yankee fan friend of his.

Jose Ramos is just another sore-loosing, still-in-denial Yankee fan who didn't get IT. He doesn't understand the fact that players (Dominican or not) want to play for the Yankees, not because they are THE Yankees, but because they PAY more than any other team in baseball. If the Sox were the ones paying the outrageous salaries the NYY pay, they'd have every player in MLB wanting to play in Boston regardless of the number of trophies being displayed. I'd bet he wasn't that insulted when NYY fans were referring to Yankee Destroyer David Ortiz as the Magilla Gorilla.

Keep up the good work.

JJ
A Proud DominCAN and Red Sox Fan"

---

"As a native of Seattle, new to Boston, this last year has been an eye-opener. I now groove to the Red Sox sweet music (of course) because you can’t be here and not get swept away by the love and enthusiasm for this team.

However: My point is “respect” and “Insulting to the Dominican community” as Mr. Ramos put. Who is more insulting than the New York Yankees organization and fans, to baseball as a whole and their own players? I can’t even imagine a Yankees fan using the word respect, it’s so preposterous. Please examine your team and your fans and get back to me on this one, I’m really confused.

Mr. Ramos, respect is a word, just a word, when it’s tossed about so cheaply as Pedro and you seem to use it. True respect must be earned, not just by winning baseball games but also by your actions and comments off the field. Pedro Martinez has gone back on many of the things he’s said. Is that is a disrespect to all Americans... No, probably not.

What it is, is simply an arrogant child behaving as such.

Don’t make respect a Nationality thing. So you’re from the Dominican, it’s a pleasure to meet you.

Go Red Sox

Andrew M Ward
Cambridge, MA"

DJ_sp.jpg.bmp

---

"Thank you SO much for publishing the letter from Jose R. Ramos, who accused Red Sox fans of racism (gee, that card isn't played enough) for accurately portraying Pedro as the Bora$ disciple that he has become. His rantings gave me the biggest laugh I've had since Slappy McPurplelips (aka "the best player in the game today") tried to slap the ball out of Arroyo's glove with his limp wrist. I hate to burst Jose's rather large, delusional bubble, but the best team in baseball is actually the one that launched the biggest comeback of all time, and not, in fact, the team that was embarrassed in its own house.

But please, Jose, grab on to the past with all your might. I have a feeling that's all you Yankee "fans" are going to have for a long, long time. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch Yankeeography.

Kate Huvane
A very proud Red Sox fan"

---

"Wow. Wow is the only word I could come up with in response to the incorrect rant by Jose Ramos on the Dirt Dogs website. Which as a side note Dirt Dogs must be providing a hell of a website if Yankee fans are spending there time perusing through it. First things first. I found the picture of Petey and A-Rod hilarious, and did not see any homophobia in it. It was not an attack on Martinez, just finding humor in the fact that he was meeting with the enemy. To address the statement that the best players in baseball will always choose blah blah blah blah blah. That's a crock of crap to be honest. For example, a fellow named Curt Schilling. What about that one?

Yeah he sure chose the Yankees huh? The bottom line is that players do sometimes choose the Yankees when it comes down to the fact that the Yankees will offer idiotic contracts, i.e. Jason Giambi and Kevin Brown, to get these players. And also, since the Theo Epstein regime took over I find that players are more eager to come to Boston. And how can you insinuate that these comments are racist towards Dominicans when the most prominent players on this, I must add in WORLD CHAMPION, team are Dominicans and are well loved across "the Nation." Finally Jose I am glad that you still enjoy calling A-rod the best player in the game while he hit under .300 and hit miserably with RISP all year. Not to mention the "Bitch Slap Heard Round the World." You were right in saying one thing Jose, We are WORLD CHAMPS.

Matt Schooley
American, and A proud member of RED SOX NATION"

---

"Jose,

Your letter is evidence in of itself that you my friend are the one that can't handle the truth. You can not handle the fact that the Boston Red Sox are World Champions. You can not handle the fact that your "team" gave up the biggest choke in the history of sports. And you may be having a hard time handling the 1 for 17 A-Rod put up in games 4 through 7 in the ALCS.

One Yankee fan so eloquently put it to me that, "He could not handle losing like that every year." And the same goes for you Jose.

Having the best player in baseball is just about good enough for second place in the American League. Having the best team in baseball is just about good enough to be World Champions.

Players choose Boston to be apart of a team, a culture, a way of life, and for the love and passion of the Red Sox. I know that for New Yorkers like you, that is a hard pill to swallow, but it is the truth. And you have certainly proved that you can not handle it.

Dan Moran
Springfield, MA
Proud Reader of BostonDirtDogs.com
Proud Die Hard Red Sox Fan"

---

"I myself have been a Pedro fan since he started with the LA Dodgers, and I've been seeing him pitch since he pitched with the Tigeres Del Licey, in the Dominican League, I still remember Pedro coming up to the "Big Leagues" to pitch right beside his brother, Ramon Martinez, I remember feeling good when they made him a starter, I remember feeling bad for him when he went to Montreal, I remember jumping up and down when he won they Cy Young with Montreal, I have followed his career since he started, before I was a Boston Red Sox fan, I had been a Pedro fan... but things change, just because he's Dominican, like me, doesn't mean I will not feel betrayed that he is acting like a prostitute, I really thought that Pedro had more "RESPECT" for himself, he talks about "RESPECT" that he more then money wants "RESPECT" well let's see, we are talking about the same guy who had to stand and hear the "Who's Your DADDY?" chants, the same guy who was called a "Bully" for defending himself against a charging Don Zimmer, all in all I can't remember all the things I've heard Yankee fans say about him, but even so the first team he talks to is the Yankees, and you know why, because he just wants more money, he thinks that he can put pressure on The Sox like this, to get more money, Pedro is not the same player or the same person he was, he's not the same person who built churches, schools, and I don't know how many other things in Dominican Republic, he's just become an Ego-maniac, and the only thing he cares about is Pedro Martinez, my problem is not that he did what he talked to the Yankees or to the Mets, the thing is that I thought he had 2 things:

1. Honor
2. Faithfulness

But obviously I was wrong, now some people may say that all the things being said about Pedro are "racist" but I have yet to see anyone say "Dominicans are... "if Red Sox fans were so racist, would Manny and David be so loved in the city or by the fans? would everybody in the Red Sox Nation be waiting for Hanley Ramirez to come up to the "Big Leagues"? I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and I can say with 100% certainty, that the first Dominican Yankee fans I have met, I met in the US, at least I don't remember anyone I knew back in Santo Domingo being a Yankee fan, and it is no secret that Pedro got a lot of people mad at him for seeing Georgie, and I'm not talking about just RSN, I'm talking about people in Dominican Republic, and anybody who reads a Dominican Newspaper knows this.

Why is it people forget what they want when they want?, a picture of Alex and Pedro being homophobic, the only homophobic person is the one who is threaten by that picture, and let us not forget some T-Shirts sporting "Who's Your DADDY?" slogan, (I wonder how many Yankee fans have them?), or how about Yankee fans dressed in diapers and running into to Yankee stadium to make fun a Pedro, Oh but that wasn't dis-RESPECT-full, to end this little rant I would just like to remind those who may have forgotten, BOSTON RED SOX are the 2004 CHAMPS, the Yankees are "HISTORY'S BIGGEST CHOKE", all the "26 CHAMPIONSHIPS" talk is going to be accompanied by that little remark, doesn't matter what the Yankees do, they will always be remembered for loosing a 3-0 lead to the RED SOX in the 2004 ALCS and being nothing more then a stepping stone on our glorious rise to the top!

Manuel Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez
100% Dominican, and proud citizen of RSN!"

---

From the emailbag: Dominican't believe it

"The racist criticism of Pedro Martinez appearing in the Boston press and the homophobic picture of Pedro and Alex appearing in your website, show that although the Red Sox might be the world champion, deep inside, Red Sox fans like you, will never get over the fact that the best players in baseball, if given a choice, prefer to play in a Yankees' uniform and not a Red Sox's.

I understand that it is hard for Red Sox fans to always have their team play second fiddler to the Yankees, but you guys need to get over that known fact and quit treating players of the caliber of Pedro Martinez like trash just because he is exercising his right as free agent to play with the best baseball team in the world.

The denigrating comments of the red sox fans about Pedro Martinez were uncalled for and the pictures of him and Alex Rodriguez were out of line and insulting to the Dominican community.

You and the red sox fans that have so



Get BDD Gear Here

Get the BDD women's T's, tanks, and more


Get Frank Galasso's 2007 Red Sox Lithograph

Frank Galasso Litho


Rally Against Cancer
Start a team today to win a visit from Dustin Pedroia


Dana Farber license plate


Hot Stove, Cool Music

Get the CD. Support Paul and Theo Epstein's Foundation to be Named Later.


The Gabe Kapler Foundation


The “Curt’s Pitch for ALS” program is a joint effort by Curt and Shonda Schilling and The ALS Association Mass Chapter to strike out Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Curt’s Pitch Goes Global!


Run for SHADE!

For the fourth consecutive year, SHADE Foundation of America will be represented at the Boston Marathon by a team raising funds for SHADE. SHADE is currently seeking marathon runners to join the team . For more information on running with Shonda Schilling on SHADE’s team or sponsoring runners, please visit SHADE's marathon page here. The SHADE Foundation thanks Red Sox Nation for joining in their fight to save future generations from melanoma.


Get a Danny O Fenway Litho, as Seen in the Cooperstown Catalog

Danny O


Why Not Us?
Chasing Steinbrenner
One Day at Fenway


Home

Box Score and Schedules

Yesterday's News

Barks & Bites

Second Page

20/20

Hardball