June
15, 2006: Why I’m Glad I Don’t Live in Boston and Other Thoughts
By White Russian
It’s
after a sweep like the one the Sox just went through in Minnesota that makes
me thankful I do not live in Boston. You think Sacramento sports talk radio
is bad after the Kings lose a game? Just imagine what it is like in Boston
after they first lose a game in the 12th inning on a grand slam off of Julian
Tavarez, then give up a bases loaded walk, followed by another grand slam
the next day to break open a 3 to 1 game in the 6th inning. To finish things
off comes a 5 to 3 loss in which the offense again failed to provide any offense
for Tim Wakefield. That last game featured a mammoth blast by David Ortiz
in the 6th inning that hit a speaker and landed for a single. Twins outfielder
Torii Hunter said the shot would easily have been a 450 foot home run, but
because it hit one of the Metrodome speakers the ground rules say it is merely
a single (and if the fielder catches the ball, it would be a fly out).
After the first game, which featured the 12th inning slam that spoiled a pitching duel between Curt Schilling and Johan Santana, the Boston Globe’s resident blogger, Eric Wilbur, blamed manager Terry Francona, wondering what young reliever Manny Delcarmen would have done instead of the unreliable Tavarez. Delcarmen gave him the answer the next day as he was the pitcher who gave up the grand slam in game two. It was the first batter he faced.
Francona, the man who took the Sox to their first world championship in 86 years, is not the problem. He is working with what he has – a starting rotation with numerous questions and an inconsistent bullpen. The only solid players in the pen have been seasoned veteran Mike Timlin, who ends up being overworked and was forced to the disabled list with a tired arm, and Jonathon Papelbon, who is a superstar whenever The Diesel isn’t watching.
And despite all these troubles the Sox are only one game out of first place in the East. They will work through it and they will be in the hunt in the end. I'm just glad I don't have to listen to all the doom and gloom that is most certainly going on over the airwaves in Boston.
That said, wouldn’t it be nice to take back that trade that sent away Bronson Arroyo?
Bird Flu Update
Shortly after the article about the ultimate bird flu
solution was posted on usesoap.com the following was spotted at Price
Club: Mahi Mahi filets.
Just Wondering
At Taco Bell you can get tacos, at In-n-Out Burger you can get hamburgers
and at Round Table Pizza you can get pizza, so why can you not get panda meat
at Panda Express?
NBA Finals
The results thus far should be of no surprise. The series is tied at two and
the home team has won every game. It doesn't become interesting until either
team is facing elimination.