It's not breaking news that our very own Dustin Pedroia is the 2009 Rawlings Gold Glove winner at 2nd base. It's a well-deserved honor. Put it on your shelf, Dusty, and hope that your shiny MVP award will be sitting next to it soon.
Speaking of the AL MVP award....it's coming soon. Here are some other dates you may want to jot down on your calendar.
November 10th: Rookie of the Year Announced November 12th: Manager of the Year Announced November 13th: AL Cy Young Winner Announced November 14th: Free Agents are....free November 18th: AL MVP Winnter Announced December 1st: Last day to offer salary arbitration December 7th: Last day for those offered arbitration to accept February 25th: Red Sox Spring Training Begins! April 6th: Opening Day at Fenway Park!
Three cheers to new Uncle Kevin Youkilis for being Game 1's Cape League Alumni Player of the Game!
He didn't care that going into the game he was 0-17 against Tampa Bay starter, James Shield - he nailed two hits off of him.
During the game Youk went 3 for 4 with two Doubles and an RBI. On the field he made Mike Lowell proud by knocking down Upton's shot up the line and holding him to a single in the 8th, during a critical point in the game.
Who will be tonight's player of the game? I can't wait - GO SOX!
Wondering what SoxyLady is up to? Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SoxyLady *Photo credit to Jim Davis of the Globe Staff
As far as I can tell there are 14 Cape Cod League Alumni playing in this years ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and The Tampa Bay Rays.
Red Sox: Jason Bay, Chatham 1999 Sean Casey, Brewster 1994 Kevin Cash, Falmouth 1999 Jacoby Ellsbury, Falmouth 2004 Mark Kotsay, Bourne 1994 Javier Lopez, Falmouh 1997 Justin Masterson, Wareham 2005 David Ross, Brewster 1996 Jason Varitek, Hyannis 1991-1993 Kevin Youkilis, Bourne 2000 Left Off: Mike Lowell, Chatham 1994
Rays: Jason Bartlett, Harwich 2000 J.P. Howell, Bourne 2002/Wareham 2003 Evan Longoria, Chatham 2005 Carlos Pena, Harwich 1996/Wareham 197 Left Off: Eric Hinske, Hyannis 1997
I'll be tracking their progress and naming a Cape League player of the game.
This is another instance where I thought the Cape League Alumni Player of the Game was going to be easy to choose. Varitek. But then I started reading around the bloggernauts and everyone seems to be cheering for Kotsay. So once again, I leave it up to you.
Edit:My dad just reminded me of how strong Kotsay's game really was. In the 9th inning he should have had the game winning RBI, but Teixeira made an amazing play. In my mind, the POG still goes to Tek, but I had to add this info in case it changes anyone else's mind.
I've been tagged by Natasha of SohoButterfly to play a little game. The game? Divulge 7 weird or random facts about yourself with the world. And then tag 7 other bloggers to do the same about themselves. So here goes nothing (I'll even stay away from what-some-may-consider-strange Sox obsessions!)
I LOVE Broccoli - no seriously, it is one of my favorite foods ever. I would eat it every day of the week if I could (and I guess realistically I could but my husband might hate me as he is not a lover of the broccoli.) My preferred way to eat it? Steamed with no butter/salt. Mmmmm....
My first word was "touchdown" - ok, so maybe it sounded more like "tutdown" but it wasn't "mamm" or "dadda." As the legend has it, my dad and I would watch Monday night football together while my mom was taking night classes. Whenever "our team" would score he'd yell "Touchdown!" and throw his hands in the air. My mom, was giving me a bath one night and put her hands up in the air and said "so big," like many mothers do, but to her amazement I threw my hands up in the air and yelled "tutdown" with a big, proud, smile on my face. And so started my obession with watching sports.
I hate playing sports - I don't have an athletic/coordinated bone in my body. I love watching sports, but you'll be hard pressed to get me to play anything. No baseball, no bowling, no frisbee...nothing. I'll keep score, thanks! I mean I've sprained my ankle twice since May..... just by walking.
I have a ridiculous sense of smell - Lord help me if I ever get pregnant (for more than one reason) because I hear women who are carrying become more sensative to smells and other senses. I can smell a fly fart from 100 feet away. It drives my husband insane because at least once a day I'm asking what the strange smell is in our house/car/ yard/dog, while he can't smell anything.
I hated wedding planning - I wasn't one of those girls who had my wedding planned from the time i was seven years old. In fact, up until we started planning our wedding I didn't have much of an idea - at all - about what I wanted, or what was important to me (which turned out to be loved ones present, photography, outdoor ceremony and a rockin' DJ). The details stressed me out. While my wedding day was the most perfect, beautiful, best day of my life - I would NEVER do it again. EVER. I hated wedding planning. Hated it. I wouldn't take the $50k we spent from anyone to plan another wedding. No thank you.
I prefer film photography to digital - I'm still kind of in the old school of thought that anybody can take a digital picture and make it look good - but it takes a lot more talent to take a film picture and make it look good. This is despite the fact I have a rockin new digital camera. Maybe it's because I haven't had enough time experiment with it? Maybe it's because of that lack of time, I don't know how to use it yet, and I can't take a picture worth crap? Yet, somehow, when I took photography classes years ago I won awards and even had a picture display in the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. I don't know. I loved the entire process from rolling the film, to taking the picture, to developing it. I used to love taking pictures and showing them off. Now I shy away from it as much as possible because they are just no good.
I don't drink beer - I don't drink much of anything alcoholic, actually. I'm not opposed to it and don't care what others do, but I just don't like the taste of beer or most alcohols. Every once in a while I'll try and enjoy a nice glass of wine, or a fruity girly drink...but that's about all I'm into. In fact, I sit in the "family friendly" section most times I go to Fenway. I hardly ever sit in the bleachers anymore because I get too annoyed at the people getting up and down all game for beer runs. I'm there to watch the game!
Now here comes my real challenge - choosing others to tag. I'm more of a blog "troller" than "commenter" so some of these people may not know I read their blog, or may not care to play. Best case scenario is they indulge me, worst case I send them some new blog traffic. Here goes!
If any of you are on Twitter, you know about the phenomenon which is an "RT" or "Re-Tweet" - basically you just copy what another person tweeted about and give them credit back to their user name. It's a great way to get your blog posts, white papers and other interesting information passed around the Social Media Circus.....I mean Circuit.
Anyway - I want to play off of that and "RP" or "Re-Post" a blog posting I read this morning from The Joy of Sox. Honestly, I loved this post and think as many people as possible should read it. Should The Joy of Sox want me to remove it...I will gladly do so.
It's way different than last year. We are way better than they are. We lost to a team not as good as us. ... The last two days, we shouldn't have given up anything. ... I want to throw somebody through a wall. ...
[On Sunday] they scored on a pop fly they called a hit, which is a joke. [On Monday], they score on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball anywhere else in America [except in Fenway Park]. And [Pedroia's] fist-pumping on second like he did something great.
Some comments:
1. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
2. You ought to be angry at your second baseman who should have caught the ball, but stopped running and watched it fall in front of your center fielder. (Is he saying the official scorer's ruling was a "joke" and calling out Kendrick and Hunter? If so, that's extra fun. Hit or error, your guys blew it, and allowed the runs to score.)
3. You won the game in which that pop fly was hit.
4. Your team is playing in Fenway Park. Pitch accordingly, i.e., don't throw fat, hanging curves to a guy who might win the AL MVP award.
5. I'll bet your teammates didn't appreciate the pity party you threw on the mound whenever they did something that was not to your liking. Torii Hunter was screaming and celebrating whenever he did anything positive. Figgins practically did a dance on third base after his triple, and your whole fucking team whined and cried for the entire series. You losers could give Kevin Youkilis pointers on bitching.
6. You won 100 games, but you are not as good a team as you think you are. Based on your runs scored and runs allowed, your expected record was 88-74 -- five games worse than the Blue Jays.
8. Your team's .200 average (8-for-40) with runners in scoring position, your multiple blunders on the basepaths, ineptitude in the field, refusal to take pitches and work the count, and your irrational habit of giving up outs sealed your defeat to a stronger all-around team. Enjoy your winter.
8. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Torii Hunter:
I'm pissed off. I'm upset. This one's going to be with me for a while. It doesn't feel good, because we're a better team than they are.
Perhaps watching some TV would relax you. Here are some shows that will be on soon:
Oct. 10 - Red Sox at Rays, 8:30 Oct. 11 - Red Sox at Rays, 8:00 Oct. 13 - Rays at Red Sox, 4:30 Oct. 14 - Rays at Red Sox, 8:00 Oct. 16 - Rays at Red Sox, 8:00 Oct. 18 - Red Sox at Rays, 4:30 Oct. 19 - Red Sox at Rays, 8:00
The Yankees stopped playing more than a week ago and yet their season keeps getting worse.
If you think that is impossible, then just consider the following:
1. The two teams that outplayed them in the AL East both clinched Division Series yesterday. ...
2. The Yanks still might have to deal with this World Series: the Red Sox vs. the Joe Torre Dodgers. That will make the attack of midges that helped drive them from the playoffs last year seem like thousands of kisses. ...
3. Seven of the eight starters expected to work in the ALCS will be 28 or younger. ... [T]he Red Sox and Rays are not only fighting to reach the 2008 World Series, but already are ahead of the Yankees for 2009. ...
4. It must gall the Yanks that the Red Sox can handle the Angels, but they cannot. ... Against the Yanks, Aybar not only would have gotten down the bunt, but the Yanks then would have thrown the ball away, setting up the Angels for an insurance run, as well. ...
The Yanks sit at home. Their season done. Yet their season keeps getting worse and worse.
I can't wait to watch the game again on TIVO, listen to interviews and just soak it all in some more.
Here are some pictures I took of the celebration. I didn't have my camera on the correct setting (d'oh - I'm TRYING not to be upset that they are all blurry) they'll just have to do! The party was "subdued" on the field - not at all like previous ones we've all seen on TV ;o)
I talked to my dad about it. We just cannot come up with a Cape Cod League Alumni Player of the Game for last night. By virtue of their win, it should have been an Angels player. The only one eligible is Teixeira. While he rocked it in Game 2, last night he went 2 for 6, Left 5 men on base and didn't score a single run or RBI - so really, does that constitute a POG?
We then started looking at the Sox Alumni, who honestly, didn't fare any better last night. Is it possible to have NO player of the game? Leaving it to you, once again, to decide.
Who was the Cape Cod League Alumni Player of Game 3 ALDS 2008?
Bay - 0 for 5, 4 LOB Cash - No Stats Ellsbury - 2 for 5 , 2 out RBI Kotsay - Struck out for Cash in 11th Lowell - 0 for 4, 3 LOB Lopez - Got the Big "L" Masterson - 1 H & 1 K in 1.1 IP Teixeira - 2 for 6, 5 LOB, No RBI/R Varitek - 1 for 3, 1 LOB Youkilis - 0 for 5, 3 LOB Nobody!
I'm tired. You're tired. We're all tired. I have not been able to put together comprehensible thoughts on last night yet. Instead I decided to catch up on my blog reads for the past few days, and came across this in a post from Joy of Sox:
Uploaded to SoSH by amarshal2
Quite honestly I cannot stop laughing. Today just got a bit better. Thanks Erick Aybar.
Game 3 Cape Cod League Alumni Player of the game to come later. Don't forget to join theDustin Pedroia for MVP Group on Facebook! Show your support for our favorite sailor cursing hitting machine!!
Bay has been named the Cape Cod League Alumni Player of the Game (by me) for the second game in a row. In yesterday's win over the Angels, Bay batted .556, had a first inning 2 run homer and a total of 3 RBIs.
Honorable mentions go to: Jacoby Ellsbury who, like Bay, had another fantastic game. He batted .444, had a double, 2 RBIs and stole some bags - but he also left four men on base, which is why he was once again edged out by Bay. Mark Teixeira had the Angels managed to win, he would have easily been player of the game. He batted .714, scored three runs, had an RBI took part in a double play. He was on fire.
My posts may be a little lack luster, but the games sure have not been. The first two games of this series have reminded my why I love baseball. I may be a little sleep-deprived, but don't let that fool you. I'm ecstatic.
The winner was clear to me...until it became a little blurry.
Jason Bay! Jacoby Ellsbury! So I made my *official* polling call to my dad and my brother (b/c there cannot be a tie between the three of us). Dad said "Bay, no questions!" Brother said "Ellsbury for overall player, Bay for play of the game" - Does that work? Hmmm....So I need your help. This is just too close for me to call. My brother said Bay would be the less "controversial" pick...but do I just want to play it safe? No, instead I'll pass the buck to you.
As far as I can tell there are 13 Cape Cod League Alumni playing in this years ALDS between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Jason Bay, Chatham 1999 Sean Casey, Brewster 1994 Kevin Cash, Falmouth 1999 Jacoby Ellsbury, Falmouth 2004 Mark Kotsay, Bourne 1994 Mike Lowell, Chatham 1994 Javier Lopez, Falmouh 1997 Justin Masterson, Wareham 2005 Robb Quinlan, Cotuit 1997 David Ross, Brewster 1996 Mark Teixeira, Orleans 1999 Jason Varitek, Hyannis 1991-1993 Kevin Youkilis, Bourne 2000
I'll be tracking their progress and naming a Cape League player of the game.
The Sox are going to the playoffs. Johnny Pesky's number has been retired. Mussina got his 20 wins for the first time in his career. I survived an overnight cruise in NYC, and let me tell you it was an experience!
And...I finally started playing around with my pictures from the 2008 Lime Rock Vintage Festival. What do you think?
No, no, no not thesePirates (although their logo is fully appropriate) Yinz see, we're not gowen to talk like iss today while drinking arn dahn at da park.
This is more like itAye, we're goin' t' kick some Blue Jays booty while drinkin' Sam Adams down at the Park Gar. Ahoy, Rays beware, we're comin' t' get you, gar! Where can I find a bottle o'rum?
Talk like a Pirate day is fully legit - so get to it! Here are some fellow blogger friends who have already spread the love
And Rapscallions, don't forget t' join the Dustin Pedroia for MVP Group on Facebook t' show support for our fa'orite sailor cursin', rum swiggin' Red Sox Pirate Aye, me parrot concurs.
Thanks to SoxyLady friend, Jeff Foulks, for his speedy photoshop work as I'm currently sans image editing software.
For the first time since 2002 the Red Sox will have a true opening day - one at home! Don't get too excited. They only play three games at home, against Tampa Bay, before heading to the west coast to battle LAA and Oakland.
And our hats off to Dustin Pedroia (for MVP) tonight for getting his 200th hit this season in tonight's win against Toronto. He is only the third Red Sox Player to get 200 hits and 50 doubles in a single season. Who were the other two? Tris Speaker (1912) and Wade Boggs (1989).
Is there anyone left in RSN who isn't convinced our very own "F@ck yeah" kid should be the 2008 American League MVP?*
Need a little nudging? As of the time of the blog post these are Pedroia's stats in the American League
Offense
1st in number of Runs (112)
1st in number of Hits (193)
1st in BA (.327)
1st in Doubles (48)
1st in 4-Hit Games (7)
3rd in number of At Bats (602)
3rd in Total Bases (300)
Tied for 7th for most games played (143)
Tied for 10th for Sac Flies (7)
Tied for 12th for OBP (.377)
Tied for 14th for Sac Hits (6)
18th for SLG (.498)
Tied for 18th for Stolen Bases (17)
Tied for 22nd for RBIs (78)
Tied for 36th in Homeruns (17)
Tied for 47th in Walks (45)**
Defense
Fielding Percentage of .991
6 errors in 661 total chances
Turned 89 Double Plays
*My dad thinks Pedroia's biggest competition for AL MVP is Rangers player Josh Hamiltion. You know, the guy with the amazing story. More than his story, are his stats which may give Pedroia a run for his money.
Player
TEAM
POS
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
TB
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
AVG
J Hamilton
TEX
OF
142
567
90
173
33
5
31
124
309
60
110
9
1
0.372
0.545
0.31
D Pedroia
BOS
2B
143
602
112
197
48
2
17
78
300
45
48
17
1
0.377
0.498
0.33
**Our Destroia doesn't walk much. He's too busy swinging. The Boston Globe had this to say yesterday
Dustin Pedroia has swung the bat 1,114 times this season. He has connected with 1,027 pitches and missed 87. Think about that. It's the best percentage in the majors this season.
John Lackey:
6. You won 100 games, but you are not as good a team as you think you are. Based on your runs scored and runs allowed, your expected record was 88-74 -- five games worse than the Blue Jays.
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