Saturday Afternoon Thoughts

(Note: I did a run this morning in 95% humidity with a 78F dew point.  So my brain is maybe not operating so well right now).

I have two thoughts on this lovely -- albeit hot -- Saturday afternoon:

1) Despite the fact that I love Robert Kraft and everything that he has done to create what is undoubtedly the best football team I will ever see in my lifetime, I am not agreeing with the lack of signing Tom Brady.  Now, I don't want to say that TB is the linchpin that holds the Patriots together, but I don't want to say that because it is, in fact, an understatement.  There are three things that made the Patriots team of the decade:

•  Bill Belichick and various other coaching genii around him (although then they leave and become much less genius-like)
• A strong, solid defense (or else you'd just be the Colts and fizzle out year after year)
• Tom Freaking Brady (see: Brett Favre in numerous pressure chokes, Tony Romo, etc...)

Now, I know that Cassel did not play shamefully when he was put on the spot, but he was still no Tom, as the games against equivalent/better teams showed (see: Pittsburgh [it still makes me wince]).  There is no other Tom in the entire game and may never be.  So sign him!  Now!  Do it!

I had mostly been ignoring this story on the grounds that it was probably another fruitless media hunt against the Patriots ('Belichick neglects to say 'Bless You' to woman sneezing in restaurant'-type material).  But more and more is surfacing to show that he is not happy.  Now I will continue to be in happy denial.  Pass that Foxborough Kool-Aid.

2) I like the Red Sox's chances.

Yes, really.

You never thought that you would read that here, did you?

Now, it has been a trying season.  In fact, that's an understatement.  This has been one of those seasons where you actually start to see why Red Sox fans mention the Tobin Bridge so often as a jumping point.  Remember when Papelbon blew two saves in a row?  Or when we came back against the Yankees, then lost it in the bottom of the ninth (due to A-Rod no less)?  Or when Bard came in against Cleveland and was a disaster zone?  Or the countless injuries that we've had to endure (Buchholz pulls his hammy running the bases)?  Or Bill Hall at the start of the season?  Or Papi being on-again-off-again?  Or....or....or....  The list goes on and on and on and on.

But, one thing we did see after the hideous start is that this is, in fact, one of the best teams in baseball.  Run prevention-schmrum prevention.  They can hit, pitch, and even have dramatic moments from guys just called up from Triple A (Daniel Nava, Darnell McDonald).  And they did have one of the best records in baseball through May-June.  Here is my logic: if we get people back off the DL (Pedroia, Martinez, and the pitchers, who are getting off the DL), then we could make a run for it.

Conversely, the Yankees and Rays will probably slump.  So we just need to time this for when they are.  I feel like the Yankees are evil mutant robots who never tire or get injured in a big way, so I'm thinking it might be the Rays.  Either way, I -- of all people -- have not given up hope.  So neither should you.

Stupid Yankees

The Yankees made the Twins wish that they had just lost on Tuesday night (crazy game!) by kicking their butts yesterday. The final score was something like 7-1, I am too lazy to look it up.

Philly and the Dodgers also won.

As someone who is cheering against the Yankees and Phillies, it was maybe not my day. But something deep inside me also wants the Yankees to win round one so that we can play them in round two....although the Yankees this year are a ridiculous powerhouse, so maybe that is a bad idea.

Red Sox play tonight. I fear I won't make it through the whole game because I have to be up too early tomorrow. Boo.

And for something completely different...

I really must give credit to the Yankees and Red Sox. They rarely make it boring.

In a complete reversal from yesterday's result, today the Red Sox won 14-1. Tazawa was the winning pitcher and allowed no runs in 6 innings. Tomorrow will be Beckett and Sabathia (plus it is on ESPN so I can watch it!).

In the best news of the day, though, Wakefield is scheduled for Wednesday, which was supposed to be Penny's day.

Gagne of the Year

I am hereby inaugurating a new award in baseball. It is called the 'Gagne of the Year.' Awarded to the most recent pitching acquisition who turns out to be a complete disaster. Of course, this award is in honor (?) of Eric Gagne, who was so brutal during the 2007 playoffs that the only safe time to play him was when the Red Sox had a 5-run lead late...that way he would be unable to blow it in the case of a grand slam.

This year's 'Gagne of the Year' goes to Brad Penny. Not only has he pitched quite incompetently late in the season, he capped off his awfulness tonight by conceding 6 runs to the Yankees in the first two innings. Final score: 20-11 (that was 20-11 for the Yankees of course...there was no last-minute comeback here).

Congratulations (?), Brad Penny.

Wakefield pitched tonight in Pawtucket as part of rehab. His comments:

"I feel very comfortable that I can pitch in the big leagues again." He added that he felt well. "Physically, I feel great."

We want -- nay need -- you to come back. Please come back. Please!

Now he's not

(I'm back in the States so time to take control of this blog again!).

No Favre with the Vikings this year. He claims to have figured out that he is too old and rusty to get through another season. This leaves them in a bit of an awkward situation since there are two QBs who were about to be left behind for Favre. Now they get to play. And all this a week before their training camp starts.

Is it just me, or did the Patriots start training, like, months ago?

In baseball news, the Red Sox and Yankees are battling it out for top of the AL East. More importantly, I will get to see the Red Sox three times in the next month, once at Fenway. Yay!

Crazed Yankees vs. Red Sox series

So Friday night turned out to be one of those nail-biting extra inning games, which Youkilis won in the bottom of the 11th with a walk-off homer. Phew! Oh, and Papelbon did show up (and didn't do so well, but at least allowed no runs. Phew!).

Yesterday the Yankees had a 6-0 lead which they then blew, losing the game 16-11. There was a grand slam. It was insanity. Fabulous game, even if it was very, very long.

One game remains in the series tonight at 8pm. Then we are back to boring.

Oh, and my new concept, Yankeeerwerbungschadenfreude, is being presented in its full glory this season. The term roughly means, 'taking joy in the failure of expensive acquisitions by the Yankees.' See, for instance, Teixiera in Friday night's game.

Varitek back with Sox, Torre's book looks awesome

Yesterday Jason Varitek signed a 1-year deal to catch for the Red Sox again. I think that this is great. Varitek haters be gone with you. He's been an important part of the team for too long to let go.

Also, I simply must read Joe Torre's book about how insane the Yankees are. Apparently, A-Rod basically stalked Jeter. It's just too easy to make the Yankee jokes on that one.

State of arbitration

This article by Jeff Passan documents how teams have handled arbitration this year. The Red Sox have extended to Varitek and Byrd, which means that any team that takes them will need to give up draft picks to do so.

Passan also notes: 'The Yankees scrimping. This really is a recession.'

Youk ties the knot

Sad that I learned this from a Yankee blog, I know...however, as this blog is founded on the premise that I spend far too much time surfing the Net, this is a testament to that.

I love the idea of a bunch of fans standing around chanting, 'Yooooooouk.' Priceless.

Also, I love random Jets fan who has to talk smack. Yet another reason I hope we can win tonight.