Random Wednesday Thoughts

For May 23, 2007:
1)
Okay, yes, I am developing a new-found liking of Julian Tavarez. Before he came to Boston, all I knew about him was his killing of a dugout phone prior to the 2004 World Series. Oh, yeah, and he gave up that homerun to Mark Bellhorn in Game 1 of the Series. Even at the start of the 2006 season - when he punched out that Devil Ray in a Spring Training game! - I was sure his stay in Boston would be brief. The tide started to turn for me when I saw the Braves and the Sox play in June in Atlanta. He was out mixing with the crowd every day, cutting up with his teammates and really seemed to be enjoying himself. I was seeing a different side to him. And this year, he's really opened himself up the people of Boston, sharing some of his background (he grew up in the Dominican, never had any formal schooling, and still sends money home to his family every payday). And he's still outrageous - earlier in the week, he said in an interview that if he hadn't been a baseball player, he would have been a porn star!

He may be crazy (Batsh*t he's been called), but he's OUR Batty!

2)
You knew it was only a matter of time before A-Rod showed his cheap side. Last night, he took a late hit on lil Dustin Pedroia in the 8th. Yes, he broke up the double play, but as he stood up, he gave DP a hard elbow jab to the ribs. I mean, DP is all of 5'9" and 160 pounds. As one blogger pointed out, it's like the senior beating up the wide-eyed freshman. We know A-Rod is the master of the cheap shot - remember the ALCS in 2004 when he knocked the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove - but this incident may have exposed him to the rest of the world. Mike Greenberg this morning on ESPN Radio, was predicting that tonight's starter, Curt Schilling, might have a statement to make about the incident when Alex steps up to the plate.

Personally, I hope they wait and catch him when he's not expecting it - like, in the Junes series at Fenway!


3)One of the things that McCarver is always praising Derek Jeter for (besides his "calm eyes") is that he NEVER argues a call. I hope he was watching his boy last night. Left standing, merely watching three consecutive Papelbon pitches sail by him for called strikes, Captain Intangibles was quick to give the ump an earful. Sit down, sir.

4)
Here's David Ortiz waiting to greet Manny Ramirez at home plate, after Manny hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning - a lead the Yanks never overcame. Wouldn't you love to run into that bear hug?

5) According to ESPN this morning, the magic number for the Sox is now 108!

IT'S ONLY MAY! IT'S ONLY MAY!

6) Oh, and old greasy Jason Giambi may be in trouble. In an interview with USA Today last week, he pretty much admitted to using steroids, or something. Today's NY Daily News says that he failed an amphetimines test last year - information that's not supposed to be made available to the public. Hm..

7) Win tonight!!