Unshakable Catatonic State

So. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series last night. Yep. 2nd time in three years. Let me repeat that: 2nd time in THREE years. This team, the team who tried nearly every damn year for almost a century, has won 2 of the past 4 World Series. I know it seems like I'm really not that enthused but trust me, that has yet to be the case. It just hasn't hit me yet; it really hasn't. I didn't get to watch the game because I was on the road all last night. I even tried to turn to the sports station in my car, but it was trashy and staticy. I didn't get home until about 4am and didn't even have to see the highlights to know that the Sox won. My mouth dropped open and all I could tell myself was, "They didn't win. I don't believe that," while drinking my blue Gatorade. Honestly, the weird thing was that I accepted that they won in 2004 right off the bat. There were no feelings of, "Oh, my God! Did they really win? This must be a dream!" But that's how I feel now. Maybe it's because I've been constantly on the go as of late and haven't really had time to appreciate my team. If that's the case, I apologize. This makes me no less happy though; understand that. And as I look at their team website, I'm starting to tear up because I really have appreciated my team through everything they've been through. Not once did I turn my back on them throughout this journey. Not once did I waiver when they almost let the Yankees take the division, or when they almost got knocked out the ALCS by Cleveland. No because true fans, diehard fans, don't do that. True fans don't break out their 'nalia the day after a team wins a championship, when they haven't worn it all season. True fans don't say their favorite team is "so and so" only because they've been successful of late. Yes. I'm elated that the Sox won the Series again, but I'm more content knowing that I don't have to wear my emotions on my sleeve to show my joy.

No Time To Bask

So, as of Sunday night, the Red Sox....are going to the World Series! I have no time to bask in this joy though, for reasons I really can't mention right now (other than school work and things). But, I'll be able to talk about it next week, for those of you who care (annnnnd that would be no one!). Anyway, yeah. So the Sox beat the Indians in 7 games, man. It was tough watching that game at first, but then I started making food and I wasn't really paying attention until my roommate started getting upset. I suppose she and her boyfriend are either both Indians fans, or they just felt like rooting against Boston. Either way, serves them right :) Everyone from here to Timbuktu knows I'm a die-hard Sox fan, but I was quite reserved as I saw the game come to a close. I did call my parents and some friends who could've cared less, and I did shed a little tear, but other than that...nada. Don't have time for celebrations, dawg. I have an extremely difficult paper due Monday on Emile Durkheim or something, I think I have an Italian test this Friday (maybe I should find that out?), UNC's Homecoming is next week (and guess who's on the staff?), and my 21st birthday is next Saturday. I'm broke as hell. Scratch that. I'm broke down in general. My life is in shambles. My job sucks. I know it'll get better, and hopefully it'll start with the Sox winning Game 1 of the Series tonight...if there is a game.

Ohhhh Muh Gawd

The Sox won Game 5. What, did you expect me to start this blog off with some other information? Heck no, dawg! In my opinion, this is probably the most significant piece of Red Sox news of 2007. And if they win on Saturday, that'll be the most important. If they win Game 7, etc., etc. Josh Beckett, man...thank you. That's all I can really say. I have no money to give you, no gifts to offer you, seeing as though you can buy practically anything you want in this world. But just know that my "thank you" comes from the heart :)

Now, on to some more troubling news: Joe Torre walked away from a one-year managerial contract worth $5 million, with incentives that could've made it $8 mil. **Sniff, sniff**. Yeah, I know I'm not a Yankees fan in any way, shape, or form, but damn. I think it's really sad. I mean, he's been the manager since I was 8 years old. That's 12 freakin' years! He's a legend! I know I shouldn't joke around about this, but I think New Yorkers collectively committed suicide when they found this shit out, for real. I'm guessing this would be considered altruistic suicide, in the terms of Emile Durkheim, since it results from too much integration. See? Majoring in sociology does teach you something worthy of mentioning. I'm really, really, really, really, really hungry right now, so I shall dress myself and eat brunch.

Hmm, Well....I Dunno

(Tulowitzki and Braun, Top & Bottom)

Sigh. See, I've been having this dilemma, right? I'm trying to come up with my choice for Rookie of the Year, and I have no freakin' idea who to choose. AL is a cinch, has looooooong been decided (Dustin Pedroia, baby!). But the NL is really bothering me. If any has paid any sort of attention to this past baseball season, they would know that NL ROY is between two: Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki and Brewers 3B Ryan Braun. Both attractive young men, both excellent ballplayers. Wow. I'm mad at how I put the fact that they were attractive before their being good players. Need to get my priorities straight here. Anyhoo, yeah. At first, I was all over Tulowitzki because he was on my fantasy team and was doing pretty good. Don't really remember how I found out about Braun; I think I first saw his name on one of those forum things. For some reason, don't know why, I always wind up pulling for the underdog. The Rookie of the Year argument has been no exception, either. While everyone was dropping their panties over Braun, I, on the other hand, was still for Tulowitzki. I'm guessing it had a lot to do with Braun playing in Milwaukee, and that team leading their division for almost the entire season. When you think about it, no one really cares about the Rockies, and that's understandable. In my opinion, all that other shit is subjective. The most important factor in trying to figure out who should win this is the numbers. Numbers don't lie, people! And here are theirs:

Tulowitzki:

Games/ AB/ R/ H/ 2B/ 3B/ HR/ RBI/ TB/ BB/ SO/ SB/ CS/ OBP/ SLG/ AVG
155/ 609/ 104/ 177/ 33/ 5/ 24/ 99/ 292/ 57/ 130/ 7/ 6/ .359/ .479/ .291


Braun:

Games AB/ R/ H/ 2B/ 3B/ HR/ RBI/ TB/ BB/ SO/ SB/ CS/ OBP/ SLG/ AVG

113/ 451/ 91/ 146/ 26/ 6/ 34/ 97/ 286/ 29/ 112/ 15/ 5/ .370/ .634/ .324

So, according to your stats, Braun should be your NL ROY. But guess what else is measured? Fielding. Ah, yes! I'm not even about to copy and paste that shit up here because putting the offense up here took a long time, but I will say Tulowitzki's fielding % is .986 (11 errors), with Braun's being .895 (26 errors). And, also, Tulowitzki did turn an unassisted triple play the other month, only the 13th time that's been done in ML history.

So in conclusion, although the hitting stats point to Braun, I think I'm picking Tulowitzki still. After all, his team is in the playoffs, and the boy can field. AND he wears his hat like a G!

Thank You

I'd just like to give a quick "thank you" to all 30 ML teams and the hundreds of players who made this season one to remember. It's been quite a while since I could honestly say that I enjoyed the entire season from start to finish. From the three no-hitters, to the new home run record, to the thirty runs scored in a single game, the players never ceased to amaze me. It also helps that my team, my guys, shared the best record in all of baseball and ended up winning their division for the first time in twelve years. Hell, I could start bawling thinking about how happy I was during the regular season, and how excited I am for the post season. With that being said, let them play ball...and let me get back to my schoolwork :)

Almost Shed a Tear

I'm sorry, but I had to add this picture. I know I said I didn't really care, but it looks so sad :(

Twelve Years and Six Schools Later

And the Red Sox finally clinched the AL East. Thank ya, Jesus. Thank ya! The last time they won the division, I was a 3rd grader at Manassah E. Bradley Elementary School in East Boston, and didn't give two shits about them. Since their last division title in 1995, my parents had another kid, we moved to North Carolina, I've gone to six different schools, and I've grown from a child to a young woman. That's just crazy, man. It was a long time coming but hey, I'll take it. Shit. Dice-K pitched great last night, so kudos for him. I almost thought the Sox would have to wait another day to clinch, but thanks to the Baltimore Orioles' amazing and greatly appreciated comeback, the Yankees lost.

Okay, enough about the Sox. So, I'd gone to bed pretty late last night after starting a shitty paper on sociological theory that's due Monday (Yeah, I'm working on papers on Friday nights; I have no friends and no life :( ). But anyhoo, I just so happened to emerge out of my slumber and saw David Wright talking on "SportsCenter" or whatever. Damn, I felt so bad for the guy. He's still one of my baseball boyfriends or whatever I called him before, but it honestly pained me to watched that interview. He looked and sounded like he was about to cry, and for good reason, mind you. I don't know the stats off the top of my head and I'm too lazy to look them up, but the Mets have lost like, 11 of their last 15 games or something along those lines. They're currently in a series with the Marlins, a team to whom they've lost like 10 in a row. Ah, love that attempted use of good grammar, huh? I mean, this team (Mets) were leading the damn NL East division you might as well say since Spring Training ended and here they are, the last few days of the season, and they're not leading anything. No division, no Wild Card, nothing. If the season ended today, they'd be out. That's a tough pill to swallow, man. Like Buttermaker from "Bad News Bears" once said: "Baseball's hard. You can love it but, believe me, it don't always love you back". If I really really cared, I'd cry for them. Hey, if the Red Sox can muster up the greatest comeback in postseason history, maybe the Mets can win the next few games and hope the Phillies (who are leading the division) lose. **shrugs shoulders**

What In Tarnation?!

3 1/2 games? Really? I think that about says it all...

All Feel Good Stories Must Come To An End

Elation

Written on: September 2, 2007


Wow. I don't even really know where to begin right now. I'm shaking, but it's an excited shake because I'm happy. Clay Buccholz, rookie for the BoSox, pitched a no-hitter against the O's last night. It was only his 2nd ML start so if this is any indication of how his career will be, good for him. I got in from wherever I was and turned to ESPNews, where I saw he had no hits through 5 innings. I decided to turn to the game and alternated between watching that and doing my homework. I was on edge the entire time and tried not to get too excited about it, or pay too much attention to it. But I definitely had to turn away during the 9th inning, but I turned back in time to see Buccholz strike out Nick Markakis. I was freakin' ELATED. And the only thing that sucks about it is that I had no one in which to partake in the joy. My family and most of my friends pay no attention whatsoever to baseball (or to sports in general) so I mean, I had to bask in the glory by my lonesome. But it was all right. Think it's bout time for me to purchase another Sox ballcap, so I need to get on that. I have to tinkle, but I don't feel like getting up. I finally got my oil changed yesterday, so my vehicle is now good to go. Would be nice to have a new CD player, but that's gonna have to wait. I have way too many bills to pay. My grandmother had a birthday party for herself yesterday, and it was pretty interesting. I usually wouldn't hang around old people like that, but basically everyone on that side of the family was there, my nephews, cousins, etc. We had a good time though, and the food was delicious. Is it wrong that I already hate school and we've only been in class for roughly two weeks? Maybe if all my classes were interesting, I wouldn't give a damn. But guess what? They're not. I'm not even gonna open this can of worms again because I've already talked about that in previous entries. I'm mad that The Departed is on Cinemax now. I love that movie, though. I have it at home, but I hardly watch it. I've noticed that once I buy a movie I really like, I'll wear it out for about a week and then never watch it again. I've watched the movie like, twice since I bought it though (b/c I'd seen it a million times prior). Now with CDs, that's a different story. I know when I got Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album, I freaking killed it for about two months straight, and I would probably still be listening to it if my car CD player worked.

Hello Goodbye, KG

So the MLB trade deadline came and went today and although there weren't really any MAJOR deals, it was semi-interesting nonetheless. For starters, the Braves acquired Mark Texiera from the Rangers yesterday for Jarod Saltalamacchia (or however the hell you spell that crap) and some others. Red Sox received, from the Rangers, Eric Gagne for Kason Gabbard (hence the "goodbye" part of the title). Scott Proctor is now a Dodger (no one really cares....well, I don't), Kyle Lohse is a Phillie, Luis Castillo is a Met, etc., etc. I'll finish this tomorrow, for I am deathly tired.

And I just shat myself as I've just learned that Matt Morris was traded to the Pirates. To the Pirates, really?

Come Back and Haunt Me

It's been a while, yeah? Well, believe it or not, baseball hasn't been at the forefront of my mind lately. Paying bills and getting ready for my fifth semester of college HAVE, though. Today is July 29th. You know, I could go on this whole bit about today being a very important day in baseball history and blaze blaze, but I'm not going to do that. Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame today, and that sentence alone should speak volumes. I never really got the chance to see them play that often because when I really started getting into baseball, those two were just finishing up their careers. But I do know what they've accomplished. I mean, what true baseball fan doesn't? Ripken with his humility and 2, 632-game streak, Gwynn with his eight batting titles and friendship with Ted Williams, etc. What I'm still trying to figure out is, who in the hell didn't vote Ripkin and Gwynn into the Hall today? Those should clearly be unanimous decisions. The writers who didn't vote for them are probably the type who believe players like Russell Branyan should be inducted (sorry, that was kinda low seeing as though he's without a job now). I know one thing: if I ever get to visit Cooperstown in this lifetime, I'll probably shit 20 live chickens.

Side note: As lame as this sounds, I'm really excited about "300" coming on DVD Tuesday. When it was out in theaters I thought it was lame, but for the past few months I've been wanting to see it. "The Convenant" came on Starz last night, and that was a pretty decent movie. "The Benchwarmers" is now one of my favorites, ha ha.

Just Pictures, Hardly Any Words

I know I've talked bad about him in previous posts, but he's still my baseball boyfriend...along with the rest of the world's. Even if he IS gay, so what? Still sexy as shit.

No Need for a Funny Headline Here

In my opinion, last night was probably the most exciting night in the general sports world this year. More interesting than the Super Bowl, more exhilarating than the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, and any of those other First Year Player Drafts, for last night was the 2007 NBA Draft (presented by Sprite...hey, you gotta put it in there). Unless you went Helen Keller on me last night, you should already know that a) there was actually a draft and b) who the first four or five players selected were. You know, I'm really not one to watch drafts, especially an NBA one because it's not really my sport, but I sort of felt as though I should do those players justice and just tune in. After all, they're my peers. The majority of those guys are my age or younger, I got the pleasure to see of their skills when I was graced with tickets to games at the Dean Dome (they're so hard to get now even for students), and one dude, who was drafted in the first round, goes to my school (or should I say went?). For those of you curious enough, I'm talkin' about Brandan Wright, drafted 9th overall. I honestly enjoyed watching the draft and hopefully, I'll continue to get more into the NBA as time progresses. And I'm counting the days until Psycho T goes in the first round (Tyler Hansbrough for you lames out there).

Now on to my love, my passion. The baseball world was relatively humdrum and overshadowed by the draft and whatnot, but two vastly significant events took place last night: Craig Biggio got his 3,000th career hit (well, make that his 3,002nd) against the um...you know, I don't even remember. He's the 27th guy to become Mr. 3,000 (first since Ralph Palmiero in '05) and the 9th to get all 3,000 with one team, or something along those lines. Amazing accomplishment, and kudos to Biggio. I'm not the sentimental type, but I kinda teared up a bit on that one. Don't know Biggio and I probably never will, but that shouldn't stop me from saying he's one of the nicest, scrappiest, hardest playing and most giving guys in sport. There shouldn't be a doubt in any sane person's mind that he'll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but I just hope it isn't any time in the near future. I'd love to see the guy keep playing and get hundreds and hundreds of more hits. On another note, Frank Thomas became the 21st player in history to collect 500 home runs....and then dude gets thrown out of the game a little while later for arguing balls and strikes, ha ha. I thought that was hilarious. Just goes to show that umps really don't give a damn about how great a player is; can still get thrown out with the rest of 'em.

**Side note: I watched "Edward Scissorhands" this morning and I swear to you, that has to be Johnny Depp's greatest movie (yes, even better than his appearance in "Nightmare on Elm St."), and possibly one of the greatest "creepy" movies ever. I dunno, it must be Johnny Depp week in the cable world or something because "Scissorhands" came on this morning, "The Libertine", which is also pretty good, came on this morning, that "Pirates of the Caribbean" crap (the first one) came on this morning, the second one is coming on TV Sunday afternoon, and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is coming on tonight. Another one of his movies came on last night, but that's neither here nor there, ha ha.

And His Sox Won't Be Red

I wanted Buerhle. God knows, I wanted him. Alright, so maybe that didn't sound right, but if you've been paying any kind of attention to sports news the past few days you probably know what I'm babbling about. White Sox are looking to unload Mark Buehrle, and according to the "grapvine" (yeah, the metaphorical gossip source), the Red Sox were looking to trade for him. When I first heard that, I nearly shat myself, no joke. At first, I didn't really pay attention to who the Sox would give up to get him; I was only concerned about seeing Buehrle, probably the most efficient pitcher in baseball, in a damn Red Sox uni. Then I got to thinking: who exactly would the Sox have given up in order to get the dude? Got question, huh? Yeah, probably. They already got rid of Hanley Ramirez and Freddy Sanchez in years past and look @ what they've become. Exactly. Jacoby Ellsbury, who's in the Sox system (Triple-A Pawtucket, I believe), is a very promising kid and had the Sox given him up to get Buerhle, dude would've probably gone on to win the fuckin' Triple Crown or something had he made it to the bigs. That's the kind of luck the Sox seem to have when it comes to giving up good prospects. But no need to ponder nor fret any further, for there won't be a trade...or will there be? Guess what? I have mosquito bites on my ankle and my diet SUCKS right now.

Heels Back On Top....Sorta

Well, so uh...my Tar Heels are back at the College World Series finals against the Oregon State Beavers. As you may well remember, we came like, one defensive play away from winning it all. Tear, sniff. It's a new year, though. I've been watching the guys (Heels) since the Super Regionals or whatever you call it and they've had me on edge basically the entire time. Can't knock their hustle though, because they always seem to find ways to win. I know, being a student at UNC I should know basically everything there is to know about basketball, baseball, and women's soccer right? WRONG. I barely know shit about NCAA baseball man, because that just isn't my forte. Don't get me wrong, I know some stuff. For instance, pitcher Adam Warren? Yeah, I went to elementary, middle, and high school with him in the great city/town of New Bern, NC, ha ha. Dead serious. Outfielder Reid Fronk is a very attractive young man. Andrew Miller, pitcher for the Tigers, played for us last year. And that's basically where my knowledge ends, whew! Yeah, so I'm ready for this Game 1 and I hope the series turns out a LOT better than it did last season.

Whatever You Do, Don't F*ck With the Cubs, Son

I'm Embarrassed 2 Be A Sox Fan B/C of This...

It's kinda funny though, aha ha ha.

Fellow Red Sox Nation

Fellow Red Sox Nation

And I'm Shakin' Right Now

Why? Because Justin Verlander just threw a no-hitter. I don't know why, but as I watched that final out, I got chills all over, man. A no-no is a wonderful thing to watch, but imagine how I'd feel if I were at the ballpark? Hell, imagine how I'd feel if I were Pudge, who caught Verlander, or Verlander himself? Dude was throwing 102 MPH IN THE NINTH INNING. Nasty. Just freakin' nasty. Like, it was just sad to watch the Brewers submit to him. I don't know what I did to my blog, but it's ugly as hell now. Need to fix that asap. As for some Verlander stats, he was drafted 2nd overall in 2004 behind Matt Bush (and where is Bush now?), he was the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, his no-no was the 6th in Tigers history, 1st one at home by a Tiger since 1952 and 1st one overall by a Tiger since 1984, 3rd guy to be named ROY one season and throw a no-no the following, um....he's not on my fantasy team no, but he should damn well be. Oh yeah, and he's only 24. Let me repeat that: He's ONLY 24. That's ridiculous, damn. If Curt Schilling had actually pulled out his "almost no-no" a few days ago, I'd probably have shat myself, so serious. Damn, Wikipedia sure does update stuff fast. It already has all the info and stuff up there. Wowzer. After hugging everyone, Justin's wife/girlfriend/fiancee/lady friend went out there to hug him. Looks like someone's gettin' "fellated" tonight.