Results tagged ‘ Boston Red Sox ’

BROOKLYN NATION

I am a Red Sox fan.  It says so on my blog page header.  I’ve been a Red Sox fan since about 1977.  My Pop was a Yankees fan.  I’ve already made you all familiar with the story.  The Chris Chambliss game of the 1976 ALCS is still the singular most spectacular game I ever attended.  I had no hate for the Yanks yet.  But in ’77 I felt myself gravitating towards the Red Sox.  My Pop kept balance between us.  He kept feeding me a steady diet of my Mets’ life but I spent equal time in Yankee World and it was all good!  In 1977 the Yankees signed Reggie Jackson and I never missed an at-bat of his.  But by ’77 the Bronx Zoo really started taking form.  By ’77 there were players that just started rubbing me the wrong way; Craig Nettles being the lead culprit.  In 1978 I remember running home from school to watch game 163, the AL East Playoff game or as everyone now knows it – The Bucky F’n Dent game.  YAZ was an instant hero of mine when he crushed that early home run in the game.  I’ve been a fervent BoSox fan since.  My Yankee “Hate” (which is really and honestly misleading) didn’t truely kick in till after Thurman Munson passed away.  By then Mickey Rivers, Chambliss, Catfish and Sparky Lyle were no longer on the team and BOSS George was really coming into his own.  That, Ladies and Gentlemen is the Genesis of:

the BROOKLYN Chapter of
Red Sox NATION
How can such a thing exist in NYC?  I just told ya!  NUF CED!!
But you must know I have ALWAYS spent as much time going to
Yankee Stadium
as I do going to see the Mets.
Now, I must admit something to you, then warn you about another.  There is some Yankee fan in me as much as I hate to admit it.  But I will stand firm that my SOME is a hell of a lot stronger and more knowledgeable and appreciative of Yankee Tradition and History than many, many vermin sniffing the curb sides on their way home from the Stadium disguised as Yankee fans.  You know who you are.
With-in this BloggerHood I have done my best to keep my most derisive Yankee comments to myself, because they can be just that; – derisive.  I’ve done it out of respect for my fellow bloggers who are Yankee fans, to which I still consider myself the newcomer on the block.  I haven’t wanted to move into the Hood like Godzilla out for a nice afternoon jog through Tokyo.  But after a few months of getting to know me, I think yous’guys know Baseball regardless of what team is my love and all their histories included.  Anything and everything this blog puts forth is either for love of our game or just to have a little fun, even if it is at other teams/fans expense.  Being a Mets fan, I was in St. Louis for the 1987 playoffs with my old army room-mate who’s Pop had season tickets…so we took some leave and went .  Making it no secret I was a Mets fan amongst his friends, I enjoyed 4 days with them being called Pond-Scum!  It was great.  My point is, I’m equal opportunity so fire away.
Tonight the rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox resumes.  Before I go any further I must inform you forthright; M’Lady, Jane, our delectable She-Fan is the inspiration for today’s post. 
She IS NOT one of the Yankee fans I described above!! 
I have the utmost respect for you Jane, you must know that. 
You are the Grand Supreme High Exhaulted Blogologist!
It’s just coincidence I decided to wait till today to tap into my inner NUKE and announce my Red Sox Fandome with Authority. 
Today, [your post is smartly entertaining] as always! 
However there was one particular image missing from the Josh Beckett montage.  If only the Yanks could have hit 20 home runs against Josh Beckett on this night,
 maybe just maybe this memory wouldn’t exist, but at the very least 
you could have had this image remain safely repressed
in the farthest reccessess of  your Yank-ollections. - 
…Until I came along that is.  Different team?  Yea.  Same guy?  You betcha.
I respectfully call this post:
Getting Back for Josh Beckett
This Total Recall was brought to you by Brooklyn Nation.
Let’s go Red Sox
Happy Baseball Everyone.
Here’s the rest of that collage for you Marlins fans.
Why did the BTB make a collage of the Marlins?
I collect Front Pages and I’ll make a collage about any team just as long as I have stuff to use.
I have all my ticket stubs from the 80′s on…etc.
Just for you Jane, I’ll show you the one my son asked me to make him
(10 yrs ago)
 as a show of respect to your favorite team, you personally,
and to show I mean everything in fun.
Let the games begin!  Good luck Jane, Yankee fans and Red Sox fans everywhere.
Brooklyn Nation is open for business.
BTB
 
*this post has been pre-approved by Jane our beloved She-Fan.
: )
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Gargling with HATEorade

OPENING DAY!!

I have about three more hours to go before I catch the Flushing Flu.  That’s not a very positive opening line is it?  OK…let me try again then.  April showers will only bring a Muddy May in Citi-by-the-Bay.  Don’t get me wrong.  I know Opening Day is special no matter your hometown team’s situation.  That’s why I am home today to watch all the games.

For different reasons not necessarily because of something that happened in the game, some of my more special Opening Days I attended were in 1976, 1982, 1984, 1990, 1999 and 2006.  I’m not going today.  I just didn’t try to get tickets.  I’ll be happy at home today.  I WILL be happy because of or in spite of my Mets.

My Mets?  I saw today’s line-up:
SS – Cora
2B – Castillo
3B – Wright
1B – Jacobs
LF – Bay
CF – Matthews Jr.
RF – Francoeur
  C – Barrajas
SP – Santana

I’d would be starting Angel Pagan in CF and batting him lead-off.  My starting catcher would be Josh Thole.
With what we have to work with, those are the only changes I’d make.

Josh Thole and Fernando Martinez would be on this team if I were in charge and Matthews would not.

I am still a little miffed that Bobby Parnell is not on the Opening Day roster.

Otherwise, it is what it is.  (what a lame saying).

And now there’s the game from last night.  First I want to tell the Commssioner, Give Opening Day back to Cincinnati!

I know it was only game one of 162 for the defending Champion Yanks, OR a good way to start 2010 if you’re part of The Nation.  Here’s a quick re-cap of my conflicts, or lack:

Of course, I was born into this world a Met fan.  The first season I can say I watched start to finish and everything is still recorded in my mind would be 1975.  I bought baseball cards, watched some on TV and played outside mimicking my guys prior to that.  But 1975 is when I became a freshman student of baseball.  My POP was a Yankees fan and I rolled right along with him through ’75-’77.  By the end of ’77 and entering ’78, things really started to change.  The old BRONX ZOO was in full effect, I learned more and more about this NYY BOS rivalry, and coming off the 1975 World Series, I just started gravitating to the Sox.  YAZ quickly became my favorite player outside Flushing.  When Thurman Munson died, it doused a simmering “hate” for the Yanks I was developing.  By 1981, my YankHate had gone full blown.

My Yank hate must be explained somewhat.  If they aren’t playing the Mets, and they’re not playing Boston, I will root for the Yanks.  Hate is misleading when I say it.  I’m an antagonist.  I can be quite sharp tongued and loose lipped about them.  But deep down inside, I like them.  Maybe it was George Steinbrenner….and some other things thrown in.  It has more to do with the fans, certain fans, Those fans.  You know who you are.

The Yanks are loaded and are a real good bet to repeat.  Here’s my obligatory shot in the arm, and cheap shot to the groin.  The double steal by Jeter and Gardner shows a dimension Joe (National League minded) Girardi can wreak havoc with.  That was no cheap HR Granderson hit.  After one game, whether I hate him or not,  ARod looked in top form, and the A.L. East better think of something quick to stop him.

Jorge Posada?  He giveth and taketh away.  He showed a quick bat pulling the inside pitch off the screen for a HR, and we saw the increasingly occuring and mystifying Passed-Ball.  The Battery is already leaking acid.  Ouch!

Right now the bullpen is as effective a bridge to MO as that bridge that collapsed in Minnesota a couple of years ago.

When I was making coffee this morning I noticed Joba’s picture on the back of the milk carton.

It’s only one game….I know.  My Opening starts in two hours from now.  I’m just gargling with a little
Hate-orade so I don’t choke on that Saltine cracker the Yanks served up last night.

As far as the Sox….I had Mike Cameron here with the Mets.  He strikes me as a round peg in a square hole in Boston.  Last night did nothing to ease my jitters about the RedSox offense going into this season.  And Beckett?  He’ll be alright.  He’s never really been the greatest pitcher in Fenway, especially early.  I’m waiting to see Lackey take his turn for the BoSox.  Beltre at third base?  His defense isn’t a concern.  His bat is.

While I’m on the subject of hate and being this is my first Opening Day in the BloggerHood, I guess it’s time for full discloser.

Fan of –  Mets,  Red Sox.  Mets vs. RedSox?  No conflict.  I am a Mets fan.  And as I said, the Yankees trail third.  I have a rooting interest in the White Sox for family reasons.

I am a National League Fan!!!  I do not support the DH!!

I am a traditionalist and will tend to look favorably OR fairly towards the “original sixteen teams”.

In direct conflict with the above statement….teams I “hate” are (in order):

National League:
L.A. (back-stabbing) Dodgers  (Sorry Emma!)
Philthadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
Chicago Cubs
S.F. (spineless, jellyfish, flat-leavin’) Giants
Arizona D-Backs
Houston Astros
San Diego Padres
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
Colorado Rockies
Washington Nationals
Florida Marlins
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals

American League:
Yankees
Baltimore Orioles

Happy Opening Day to All, and to All Good Luck this season. 
Let the Hate begin. 
Not really, just having a little fun.

BTB 

BoSox Buy Beltre

It’s been announced the Red Sox signed Adrian Beltre……and Mike Lowell is gonna…..?

It’s only a one year deal though….which speaks to what I said in my last post.

Now the rumor is the Mets and Red Sox swapping Mike Lowell for Luis Castillo.  Apparently Dustin Pedroia hinted he’d be willing to move to short stop.

The Hot Stove just got a little wierd….like looking at H. Matsui in an Angels uniform.  Know when something just doesn’t look right?

Point of amusement >…..Matsui and Ichiro can’t stand eachother.  It’ll be fun watching them in the same division now.

 

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METS!!! RedSox! (& yankees)….*sigh*

I trust everyone in the BloggerHood is safe and home and doing well, and is ready to take on 2010 after partying away ’09. You should be awake by now. C’mon.

OK? Good! Now the sarcasm can flow more freely. I guess this is fair warning because it seems anytime I start talking about the Yankees, even though I’m very fair, I just can’t help myself and usually take a shot or two at’em. Don’t wooorry Bomber fans. This isn’t the posting you need to worry about. This one is nicey-nice.

THIS WHOLE METS-YANKEES-REDSOX THING I HAVE GOING ON:

It’s really very simple. From birth I must have been encoded to be a Mets fan. There was never any doubt. How it happened? I have no idea. My PoP was a Yankees fan. Being what it was, he took me to an equal amount of Yankee games and Met games at Shea. So, one afternoon after school I was home doing homework. My Pop called home and told my sister to have me ready to go at 5pm or so, but for what I had no idea. I just knew we’d be outside. Later that night, in the bottom of the 9th inning, I watched Chris Chambliss’ HR drop out of the sky and the Yankees won the ALCS of 1976. I was 9 yrs old. I’m sure you’ve seen the footage by now of that insane scene that ensued. Ladies and gentlemen, till this day that was the sickest, most incredible night I ever had at a ballgame.
I really didn’t hate the Yankees yet, but they sure weren’t my team. However I’ve always watched them just as intently as I do the Mets. I never missed a Reggie Jackson at-bat, how could you not love Munson and Guidry was class. But by 1977 and ’78, I knew my future lay in antagonizing their fans because they had truly become “the Bronx Zoo”. To me, The Yankees are like having that brother you don’t always get along with, but never loose your sense of connectedness with. I appreciate their long storied and glorious history. I’m a baseball fan. I actually consider myself a better Yankee fan that half of these zeroes slithering around our city streets who call themselves Yankee fans. Because of the Chambliss game, I do have that one small spot for them in my heart. But I warn you, it’s small. Anyway, as it stands today, I revel in Yankee folly. I love to antagonized the hell out of their fan base, because as a New Yorker, I know how to get under their skin better. It’s just certain fans that earn my ire. Otherwise, honestly, I don’t hate them. As a New Yorker, I’m damn glad to have ‘em around. All that other nonsense about being cross town rivals is for another day.
By 1977 and ’78 I came to understand the Red Sox were their biggest rival. I wanted them to win the ’75 world series because as a Mets fan, I hated the REDS. I was leaning by this time. It happened very naturally. I ran home from school to watch the A.L. East one game playoff between the Yanks and Sox in the infamous Bucky “f’n” Dent game of 1978. Once the Sox went up on a Carl Yastrzemski homerun early in the game, I was hooked as a Red Sox fan ever since. YAZ always remained one of my most favorite players of all time! Oddly enough, so did Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench. That Big Red Machine was an insane team. I didn’t like them, both those two players made an indelible impression on me though, just like Yaz.
There, that’s it. I don’t hate Bucky Dent like Bostonians. I didn’t feel for Buckner what Bostonians felt, (Bostonians and greater New England, sorry folks) because after all I am a Mets fan. There is no internal conflict should the Mets and Sox face off. I compartmentalize. I don’t claim 2004 means as much to me as it did to New Englanders, but DAMN! – that was sweet. I would never insult you fine N.Englanders that way. Outside of NY, I truley love New England and the enemy of my enemy is my friend! But, in respect to RedSoxNation, I really like them a lot! I’ve been going to Fenway one to three times a year, on average, since 1993. I do my best to represent theNATION when ever they come to NYC and keep SoxNation kickin’ in Brooklyn. I wear my SOX stuff to Yankee Stadium all the time! When they find out I’m a NY’er just like them…LOL – You should hear their tones change! LOL!! It’s a gas!

My PoP was a Yankee fan. My 19 yr old son is a Yankee fan. My wonderful wife is a Yankee fan. It makes for a fun time at the dinner table to say the least. I still take my son to as many Yankee games as I do dragging him to Mets games. At 19, the kid is an utter panic (that’s a good thing) and I’m enjoying the hell out of going to games together.

There it is folks and here I am today. A die hard Mets fan who likes the Red Sox who, just as long as they’re not playing the Mets or Sox, will go to Yankee Stadium and root for the Yanks….sometimes…it depends. Sometimes as the game plays out it’s more fun to root against them just for fun. I hope this doesn’t make me a METroSOXual. That doesn’t even sound right (note to self…delete that now!) Here’s another bone Yankee fans. The 1995 playoffs were again, some of the best times I’ve had in all of baseball. I was pulling for Donnie Baseball….OK?
I’m holding down the Brooklyn Chapter of SoxNation. Native Sox fans, I hope you approve.
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Yanks-Melkey out, Vasquez in (again), Hear That SoxNation?

Yankee fans should have seen this coming.  Melkey has been playing himself right out of town.  He’s good defensively and has a good arm.  But his offensive skills were negligible and his progression was moving like the blob.  He was too much of a clown in the dugout, especially teaming up with Robbie Cano for a real goofy time.  Joe Girardi and Cashman shared a brain when they demoted Melkey to the farm in 2008.  He was having too good a time and not really producing.  He had his moments, but it didn’t add up to quality playing time.  Getting Granderson was basically the little push out the door.  Who knows?  Maybe Melkey will be better suited for the National League in Atlanta.

Moving Melkey for Javier Vasquez was a damn good move in my humble opinion.  Sure Vasquez fizzled out after a great start of the season for the Bombers in 2004.  He made the All-Star game with a very good 10-2 record (I think, but 10 wins is correct), going into the break.  His second half was miserable.  It turned out is arm was hurting and he didn’t tell anyone.

His work in Chicago wasn’t exactly stellar either.  But I am willing to say it seems like he’s an improved pitcher since 2004.  He has nice strikeout totals and good BB/K ratio.  He’s serviceable.  Most importantly, he is insurance against the Yanks continuing mishandling of Hughes and Joba, and a hedge because nobody is certain what Pettitte will have left.  He will be facing other team’s 3 or 4 starter depending on how the Yanks play it.  So I’d say that’s a good position to put him in to succeed for Javier’s second stint in the Bronx.

Javier Vasquez.  Is it giving you a sour taste in your mouth Yankee fans?  Did this trade jar some bad memories for you?

C’mon SoxNation, this is your opening to jump in.  Let me take you back; Back into time.  The year was 2004 in typically crisp October.  Game 7 of the ALCS, Bronx, and Joe Torre is in a quandry.  It’s the biggest game of the year against their hated rivals and Saint Joe has little pitching options for the game.  The choice is between Kevin Brown (LOL) and Javier Vasquez.  Vasquez must have fell out of favor for not being forth-coming during the second half of the season about his arm trouble.  So, Joe Torre went with Kevin Brown.  Boy did the SAWKS light him up.  Papa Joe comes out to yank Brown, and calls upon Javier Vasquez to keep the Yankees in the game.  Johnny Damon hits a grand slam off Vasquez.  Yankees never had a chance that night.  RedSoxNation was headed to the World Series.  The Red Sox danced on the famed Yankee Stadium grass that night.  Big Papi was the DJ spinnin’ monster jams that series.  The lifting of THE CURSE has as much to do with Kevin Brown and JAVIER VASQUEZ as any other reason.

Nation? I hope you’ll give me props for holding down the fort down here in Brooklyn.  I enjoyed that game and night incredibly.  I won’t say as much as you Beantowners because that wouldn’t be right coming from a Mets fan.  But I am Sox fan since the mid 70′s too.  The enemy of my enemy is my friend.  Outside the Mets my favorite player in life was Yaz.  I must admit though, between my Mets and the Sox, there is no conflict should they play in a World Series (again).

Hot Stove baby!  Warm up!

 

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Who has the Better Starting Rotation: Yankees vs. Red Sox

 

4×4 Yanks-Red Sox

The Starting Front Four of the Red Sox vs. the Yankees:
(eh..hem – allow me SoxNation)

Evil Empire

vs.

RedSoxNation

C.C. Sabathia
Josh Beckett

A.J. Burnett
John Lackey

Javier Vasquez
Jon Lester

Andy Pettitte
Dice-K Matsuzaka

The ACE – Both are aces. I give the edge to Beckett. Two rings to one. Both won rings with their present team. Beckett closed out the Yankees in 2003 with the Marlins. C.C. wasn’t enough to get the Brewers to a W.S. Make your own call when he was in Cleveland. Fugeddabou’th stats. I think it’s fair.

Two Spot – Burnett, when he’s on, he’s really on. When he’s off, he’s befuddling to watch. He’s been a headcase with respect to his catchers, but NYC seems agreeable enough with him. Lackey is a bulldog and more consistent on a game to game basis. I watched A.J. throw his arms in the air after surrendering a HR and yelling aloud “Why did I throw that pitch?!”, somewhat showing up his catcher Posada. We all watched Lackey yelling at his manager, “This is my game skip!” in the ALCS. What say you?
EDGE? It’s close, almost a wash. It’s Lackey by a nose.

Three Spot – Let’s not waist too much time with this. Vasquez didn’t do too well here, literally, since he went to the All-Star game for the Bombers in his first stint. Foolishly, they wanted Randy Johnson instead. He has improved somewhat since then. He has nice strikeout numbers since those days. But currently he’s a really good aquisition for the Bombers, giving up Melkey and a bag of balls.
….(say this fast, for effect)> LesterIsBetterNuff’Ced!!!
Edge – Jon Lester.

Four Spot – Dice-K? Hmmmm. Tough call. Versus all Andy Pettitte has done, key word here being “has”, it’s Andy. C’mon SoxNation it’s true, today. But what does Andy really have left. At least we think there is still a promising future for Dice-K. Don’t we? Last year was a nice Swan Song for Andy. Is there anything left? Perhaps. Now-Now Yankee fans, if I pit Andy against Jon Lester instead of Vasquez, Andy looses to Lester. There’s way too much ahead of Lester and Andy’s career is in the rear view mirror. So, does it matter?

The Verdict – three rounds to one…..TheNATION has a better starting rotation than theEMPIRE. The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger has spoken.

P.S. What comes after the four spot is another matter. The Sox have Buchholz, while the Highlanders continue to mismanage Joba and Hughes, and seem about ready to delete Wang. Is Wakefield still able to flutter a knuckler or is he retired for good?

The Hot Stove is a-burnin’ folks.

 
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