How representative are they?

I'm already missing baseball - and the season just ended! I'm trying not to look at the financial news right now - the Market is down 600 points in light of the failure of the House to pass the bailout bill. So, instead, I'm amusing myself with politics! My sister sent this to me via email - I think it's one that's been making the rounds, but I think it's right on the money!

>>Let Me See if I Have This Straight.

I'm a little confused.

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different." Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable. Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive and a heartbeat away from the presidency should a 72 year old man (who has had cancer 4 times) die.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard law graduate who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now...

Angels' roster

Per Boston.com, here's the 25 man roster Scioscia is going with:

Pitchers (10): John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, Jon Garland, Jered Weaver, Francisco Rodriguez, Scot Shields, Darren Oliver, Jose Arredondo, Kevin Jepsen.

Positional players (15): Erick Aybar, Brandon Wood, Jeff Mathis, Chone Figgins, Garret Anderson, Kendry Morales, Juan Rivera, Gary Mathews Jr., Mark Teixeira, Vladimir Guerrero, Robb Quinlan, Mike Napoli, Howie Kendrick, Torii Hunter, Reggie Willits.

I love SNL

Thanks to becks for finding this link to last night's opening of SNL. It's the follow-up interview by Katie Couric of Sarah Palin - very funny, but also scary. It's way too close to the truth

Playoff schedule

From the Globe: here's the schedule for the playoffs:

• Game 1: Wed., Oct. 1 @ Anaheim, TBS
• Game 2: Fri., Oct. 3 @ Anaheim, TBS
• Game 3: Sun, Oct. 5 @ Boston, TBS
• Game 4: Mon., Oct. 6 @ Boston*, TBS
• Game 5: Wed., Oct. 8 @ Anaheim*, TBS

Let's blame it on the rain

So, the Sox lost a much delayed game last night, beaten by the meaningless Yankees 19-8. The rain caused the game to start late, and resulted in another delay mid-game. The Sox loss means the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays are champions of the AL East - and means we will now play the Angels in the Division Championship series.

But let's not dwell. Instead, let's enjoy Jonathan Papelbon and Manny DelCarmen channeling their inner Milli Vanillis:


And one point to consider: the last time the Sox lost 19-8 to the Yankees? Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS. After that loss, the team went undefeated in the post-season, and won the World Series. Just saying....

The New Guys

So, here are the heroes of last night's game.

David Aardsma, winning pitcher

Jeff Bailey - hit a triple and scored the winning run

Chris Carter, who got his first RBI in the majors

Mark Kotsay hit a double to allow Bailey to score the go-ahead run.

Take a good look. You probably won't see some of them after the playoffs start. But they've had a nice cup of coffee....and perhaps might push us into first place in the Division.

Step 1 Achieved

Screen cap from Surviving Grady

Giddy Wake says it all! The Red Sox secured a playoff berth last night with their victory over likely Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.

On to the ALDS!

Johnny Pesky

Getty Images

To me Johnny Pesky IS the Red Sox. He's been a part of the organization for 69 years - as a player, a coach, a manager, an instructor, and an "ambassador." He has an unquestioning love for the team, for Fenway Park, and for the fans. Every time I've been to Fenway in the past three years, I see him at least once. Often he's sitting at a table in "Autograph Alley," tirelessly signing autographs and posing for photos. I've seen him sitting in the stands behind home plate when the Park first opens, greeting surprised fans as they head in to watch batting practice. A few years ago, Bud Selig said he couldn't sit in the dugout during the games - which created an outcry among fans and players both. And one can't imagine the World Series Ring Ceremonies in '04 and '07 without Johnny there to help raise the banner.

So I was so excited to hear this afternoon that the Sox are finally going to retire number 6. They had previously only recognized members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who had played for 10 years or more for the Sox, and had finished their careers as members of the team. Such restrictions meant that only the "cream of the crop" would be honored: Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Joe Cronin, Yaz, and Carlton Fisk. I mean, I'm glad the Sox haven't retired tons of numbers (like our rivals to the southwest have). But I can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor - and I'm so glad they're doing it while Johnny is still here to enjoy it.

I hate waste

12 men left on base last night? No excuse. At this rate, we won't clinch a playoff berth until the last out on Sunday.

But we will make it!

Brad Faxon

Greenwood/Getty Images

Stepping back from baseball for a moment...Before baseball became my all-consuming passion, I also followed the PGA Tour. I was really into it in the 80s for several reasons: I had huge fan-girl crushes on Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman. They played several tournaments in this area, so I could go out and actually see some of the big names play. And I had a hometown favorite, Brad Faxon. Brad grew up in my hometown of Barrington, Rhode Island - and was actually a casual friend of my brother's. When I went to tourneys, he'd always greet me like a long-lost friend, which is a great feeling. He even won a tournament here, the Provident Classic (which they have since quit playing!). Our whole family adopted him as our favorite player, and my dad in particular loved to watch him play. As a matter of fact, when my parents sold their house and moved into assisted living, we found a photo of Brad and my brother Mike in among the family photo display!

He's been battling injuries for the past two years, and hasn't been playing much. He's only a few years away from the Champions Tour, so I think he'll try to play in a few tournaments until then, keep his Tour card current through exemptions.

Meantime, there's a really nice article about him on the PGATOUR.Com site, talking about his charity work and how he won the Payne Stewart Award last year for all he's done. I think all of Barrington is pretty proud of him!

Review: Burn After Reading

Yesterday, I finally got back to the movies! I've been trying to get to a film for weeks - but something always seemed to come up to prevent me. I was tired, or my friend Susan had something come up, or I was uninspired by the choices. So yesterday, as a treat since I was stuck working half the day, my buddies and I caught the new film by the Coen Brothers. And considering I was in a feisty, negative state of mind after having my weekend blown by work, it was a good choice!

In this dark - well, black - comedy, John Malkovich is a CIA operative who is fired. He decides to write his "mem-whas" - which his wife downloads when trying to get their financial statements with an eye toward divorce. The CD is left at the local gym, where Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand find it. They try to cash in by blackmailing the operative, who is unaware that wifey is sleeping with George Clooney and wants a divorce.

This is a pretty simplistic summary! As is typical in the Coens' films, there are so many layers and under-plots, well, they simply can't be explained. They get some wonderful performances from all their actors - especially Tilda Swinton and George Clooney (one of my pals thought he overacted, but I loved his role). And a special award needs to be created for the absolute theft Brad Pitt does of every scene he's in. He is so funny in his role as a totally clueless personal trainer - I sometimes forget what a gifted actor he is.

So, a funny, funny film - but very dark. And very bloody, of course - a great deal of shocking violence. Very nuanced performances all the way around.

Things that annoy me

My buddy Cyn had a good post the other day called "20 things that suck more than last night's loss." I'm stealing her idea.

I have been in a particularly feisty mood of late - perhaps stemming from the fact that I had to work Saturday because of Parents' Weekend - so here are things that really annoy me (in no particular order):

• People who snap their gum when they chew it
• Men who leave their hats on in a restaurant
• People who have forgotten how to use their car's turn signal
• People who try to drive and have an animated discussion on their phone
• People who wait until the last minute to merge into traffic
• The price of airline tickets
• Feeling like I have to be a WW role model all the time
• Feeling like I have to be a role model in front of my students all the time
• The start of the new fall television season coinciding with the end of baseball season and playoffs (you can only record so many things at once)
• My Comcast DSL
• Fox Sports
• Tim McCarver
• Joe Buck
• Smart asses
• The GOP
• Dumb asses
• People voting based on exteriors - just because Palin's a woman or Obama is African American - VOTE SMART, people - delve into the issues!
• Dumb asses who write editorials in our local paper. Latest example: the woman who wrote in to support Palin, saying that McCain demonstrated his respect for women by choosing her and how we should all respect women. She closes with "Gov. Sarah Palin is my kind of girl." Kind of undermines the point, doesn't it??
• Living in a Red State
• Hypocrites
• The New York Yankees
• Yankee Fans
• The Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays
• Rays fans
• The Red Sox losing

On a more positive note! Ellen Goodman had a great column in Friday's Boston Globe (which was reprinted here today with a different title: "Women, Palin and the Vote"). She discusses the difficulties Democratic women are having with Palin's candidacy. Her last paragraph is particularly powerful:

After all, Palin may yet be the fulfillment of an old feminist prophecy that Texan Sissy Farenthold once described with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek. We will have achieved equality the day mediocre women take their place beside mediocre men.

Amen, sister.

Magic Number 2

That Papelbon is crazy. But he's also good, as he showed last night. He got out of a tight spot in the top of the 9th, sealing the deal with a strikeout. The Sox won 4-3! Unfortunately, the Rays also won, so we didn't gain any ground in the race for the Division title. However, the post-season is looking more and more within our grasp. The question becomes whether it's better to face the Angels in the first round. We've owned them in the post-season - yet, this year, we've had real difficulties beating them. The other choice: the White Sox (if they hold on and win the AL Central). If we end up as wild card and the Rays win the division, the White Sox get to head to the House of Horrors.

I like our chances against the White Sox, if that happens. I fear the Angels a little.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still need to win a few more games.

Aaarr!

Celebrate appropriately!

Better baseball news

Yes, I'm trying to ignore the past two evenings. Okay, we lost two out of three at the Trop - I'd hoped this might be our last visit there this year, but I'm not so sure now. We're still seven games ahead in the Wild Card race, so I think our playoff chances are pretty good. As they say, it's not the car you drive, it's how you finish the race.

Meanwhile, two bits of good baseball news...

Yesterday, all of the MLB teams announced their 2009 schedules. Yes, I know we still have tons of baseball left to play in 2008, but I have little or no chance of seeing another game in person this year. Hence, it's fun to start dreaming and planning for next year. By bedtime last night, I already had hotel reservations in two cities - Baltimore and Atlanta - and a line on a place in DC. Woot! But that might not be all - I've got a nostalgic hankering to see some games in Detroit - and that series in June looks pretty inviting! I know, ten months away - but a girl can dream!

The local baseball news is interesting. Our AA team, the Lookouts, has been the farm team for the Cincinnati Reds since 1988. Yesterday, they severed ties with them - and became the AA team for the LA Dodgers. Not that I think I'll get a chance to see Manny or Nomar play here in Hooterville, but we'll certainly get a look at some of their young prospects. It could make for some fun baseball next year!

Hot bat on ball action

File photo - snagged off Google originally

Yes, the Sox came to play last night. And Scott Kazmir didn't show up to pitch.

It was an amazing game. Kaz walked the first two batters on eight straight pitches - the Big Papi planted one in right field. Two batters later, Mikey Lowell parked one in left - and that was pretty much the game. Kazmir gave up 6 hits in 4 innings - but four of those where home runs. The Sox went on to win 13-5 - an awesome game for every Red Sox fan. And quite reminiscent of most of our games at the Trop - up until this year. It was our first victory at the Trop since we clinched the Wild Card last September - that has to mean something, right?

Commander Beckett takes the mound tonight. I just hope we saved some runs for the next two games....

Oh, and last night's attendance was 29,772 - and it sure sounded like there many, many Red Sox fans there!

On to St. Pete!

Tonight, we start a three game series at that house of horrors, Tropicana Field. We haven't been able to win a game there this year, but I'm hopeful! I think if we want to consider ourselves serious contenders, we've got to win at least one game.

We're only one game back in the AL East today. The Wild Card is within our grasp - is that enough? Is it better to grab any route into the playoffs, and then sit back and set up our pitching rotation for maximum success? It's an argument we revisit every year...

Reality check

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy:

• Eight of 10 teen fathers do not marry the mother of their first child
  
• Less than half of mothers who have a child before the age of 18 graduate from high school
• Teen parents will have 10-15% less income in their lifetime
• Children of teen mothers are 50% more likely to have to repeat a grade in school and are less likely to finish high school
• The sons of teen mothers are 13% more likely to end up in prison

These are sobering facts. This are also the reality that most pregnant teens face. I hope Bristol Palin realizes how lucky she is to be part of the Republican family. She won't have to rely upon aid from the government to improve the life of her child - she won't have to rely upon programs that her mom would like to eliminate.

My Wish

This is what I want to see this weekend. I hate the Blue Jays

The Trop

Someday, I'm going to get my act together and write about my various Red Sox trips this year, post photos, etc. Someday

Meanwhile, Mike over at Progressive Boink has an hysterical entry about his recent visit there. He really captures the place perfectly. If you've ever been to a game there, you'll really appreciate this one!

Looking for a bright spot

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

I choose to ignore the outcome of last night's game. Well, the outcomes of the last two games. The Sox had realistic opportunities to win both, and just couldn't cash in. Who would have thought we'd be worried about out offense at this point in the season - they've always stepped in and saved our bacon.

Instead, I'm going to remember the two bright spots from last night's game: Josh Beckett and Justin Masterson. Beckett was only in his second start since coming off the DL, and is still showing signs of rust. But he gave us a good outing - 6 hits and only one, keeping the Rays pretty much under control. And then Justin Masterson stepped in and pitched 2 no-hit innings in relief. I think he may be what we need to plug a big hole in our bullpen.

Speaking of holes....oh, Timlin.....

Pitiful

Okay, it's the bottom of the 12th. Sox and Rays are tied at one. The Sox have stranded 5 men on base over the past three innings. But the real problem has been the umpiring. There have been several questionable calls, and the pitch calling has been incredibly inconsistent - the strike zone seems to change by the pitch.

File a protest!

Meanwhile, last night's loss was a killer. It looked like it was ours after Jason Bay's home run in the 8th, but it was not to be. It was a big win for the Rays - their first at Fenway this season, something they needed to do if they want to be taken seriously. Still, there are a few games left to be played!

Oh...on to the 13th after we strand two more baserunners...

Taking Aim at First Place

from Robin Hood, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth

So tonight it will be a battle of Division Rivals. Who would have thought a year ago that we would find ourselves challenged by the Devil Rays for the Division lead? But, as the cliche goes, that's why you play the game. The Rays have faltered a bit in the past week, and the Red Sox seem to be clicking again. Players are returning from the DL and performing. Mike Lowell homers in his first at bat! Beckett looks awesome on the mound! Even Big Papi's towering home run (and his fantastic reaction) look vintage. It's shaping up to be a key series - and one that hopefully will be enjoyable for RS fans.

Tonight is also memorable for another reason - from mlb.com

When the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night to kick off the home stand, they will make baseball history.

Well, check that. Red Sox fans will make baseball history. The 456th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park will break the record set by the Cleveland Indians' die-hards, who packed Jacobs Field for all 455 home games played from June 12, 1995-April 2, 2001.

It's amazing to ponder that. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of those crowds over the past three years, harking back to my first visit as an adult in July 2005:
For me, Fenway will always be the "field of dreams." Every time I walk up that ramp and see the green field, the Green Monster, and the fans, I get goosebumps. I can only imagine what it must be like for a rookie to be actually out on that field, hearing the cheers (and boos). How could you NOT be fired up, wanting to give it your all.

Judging from ticket sales, I imagine this record will go on and on...it will be a very difficult record for another team to break.

Small Town Values

I'm from a fairly small town - @18,000 residents in my growing up years. And I lived in a pretty affluent community. Yet I cannot relate to Mrs. Cindy McCain

Looks like stuff I have in my closet now!

Happy Birthday, Old Friend

Those of you know me well know that I am not a scary cat lady. Yes, I have a cat, but I don't let that stop me from having a regular life. When I go out of town, friends step in and care for her, and she is generally oblivious. As long as the water bowl and the food dish are full, she goes about her regular routine of sleeping, eating and pooping.

However, today is Agatha's 16th birthday! It's hard to believe it was that long ago that I was introduced to her by her human parents - colleagues who had adopted a stray cat, only to discover she was pregnant. Suddenly, I found my heart grabbed by this (then) tiny black cat.

Of course, since then she's gotten much bigger! I think she's about 16 pounds now, and starting to feel the effects of age. She's slowed down - and she can't jump as high as she used to. The vet says she's starting to have kidney failure - which explains the amount of water she consumes. Still, her numbers have actually improved this year - and she sure seems happy and healthy.

She is a great companion. She curls up next to me on cold winter nights, and loves to watch the Red Sox with me (although her attention wanders very quickly). She is quite a talker as well - when she gets on a talking spree, I love to say to her "Sully" - to which she replies "Meow" (close to Mac!) [Sorry, an insider's joke for NESN watchers]

And here she shares her opinion of both the Rays and the Yankees:

So, happy birthday Agatha - named for Agatha Christie, of course!

Wakefield

Tonight, our Tim Wakefield hits a milestone: his 500th game for the Red Sox. From the ProJo:

Tim Wakefield will be making his 500th appearance on the mound for the Red Sox tonight when he starts in the middle game of the three-game series against the Rangers.

That will make Wakefield only the 23rd pitcher in major-league history to have 500 games and 350 starts with the same team. There are only two other active players who have reached those milestones, though each of them — Tom Glavine and John Smoltz — happens to be on the disabled list right now.

Wakefield is the 46th pitcher in major-league history to appear in at least 500 games for one team, and he is only the second Sox pitcher to work in 500 games. Bob Stanley (637) was the other.

What a fantastic milestone for Timmeh - and the team. He's been the one consistent element in our pitching staff for all these years. We can always count on him to eat up innings when he hits the mound, and he's proven time and again that he'll do whatever the team asks. Whether it's starting a game, or going out to the bullpen. He gave up that game-winning home run to Aaron (censored) Boone in 2003 - and then stood on that same mound in Yankee Stadium a year later and reveled in the Sox' improbably victory in the ALCS. His salute to Johnny Pesky that year brought tears to my eye - as did Mike Timlin's tribute to him during the 2007 celebration.

And he does it all while looking like everybody's dad. To watch him on the field during batting practice - even on the day he's pitching - he's so relaxed. Some of that ease comes from the fact that a knuckleballer can pitch forever! And we hope that's the case.

Here's a great shot of Wake during pre-game stretches in Baltimore, enjoying a little Sinatra music that was playing in the stadium:

Don't mess with the Librarian

Briefly creeping back to politics....

From yesterday's New York Times:

Shortly after becoming mayor, former city officials and Wasilla residents said, Ms. Palin approached the town librarian about the possibility of banning some books, though she never followed through and it was unclear which books or passages were in question.

Ann Kilkenny, a Democrat who said she attended every City Council meeting in Ms. Palin’s first year in office, said Ms. Palin brought up the idea of banning some books at one meeting. “They were somehow morally or socially objectionable to her,” Ms. Kilkenny said.

The librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, pledged to “resist all efforts at censorship,” Ms. Kilkenny recalled. Ms. Palin fired Ms. Emmons shortly after taking office but changed course after residents made a strong show of support. Ms. Emmons, who left her job and Wasilla a couple of years later, declined to comment for this article.

Now that just gets my dander up all over again. Don't go messin' with the Public Library - or the Librarian!

Most Valuable Pedroia

Photo taken at Safeco Field, Seattle, June 2007

Shaking off all the political stuff...

Dustin Pedroia is the hottest guy on the Red Sox. And I don't mean that in the usual way! He is doing it all right now - hitting, fielding, and inspiring the team. He's so hot right now, even Ozzie Guillen was dissing him this weekend. Called him a jockey! And then said he wished the Sox had traded Pedie instead of Manny.

If you look at the League Leaders, Pedie leads in hits (185), runs (107), and batting average (.327). He's tied for third with 42 doubles. And he's doing it all now, when we need him most during the waning days of the season. Some nights, it feels like he's carrying the whole team on that little 5'6" frame. The excitement is contagious. Big Papi is talking about how Pedie makes it fun to play, makes him happy to come to the park. Last night, Paul Byrd devoted part of his post-game press conference to pay tribute to Pedie's play.

I'm not sure he's a viable candidate for league MVP, but he sure is the team MVP right now.

Editing to add:

This awesome picture by Allan Vega:
El Tiante!

It's all about choices

Kind of surprising news today that the 17-year-old daughter of presumed Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin is 5 months pregnant. Sources say McCain knew about this before he chose Palin. Hmm. The spin-meisters are out in force, but the theme is obvious. From CNN -

• "Fortunately, Bristol is following her mother and father's example of choosing life in the midst of a difficult situation," Family Research Council president Tony Perkins said.

• Evangelical leader Richard Land also backed Palin completely."This is the pro-life choice"

• The McCain aide emphasized that Bristol decided to keep the baby, a decision "supported by her parents."

Interesting choice of words. Interesting, because if Palin's Republican party had its choice, the decision would have been taken out of Bristol's hands. They would prefer that no woman have any choice in the matter of reproductive freedoms. I am happy to live in a country that allows all women - even Republicans - the right to choose.

Music Review: The Baseball Project

No, the "baseball project" isn't my desire to see the Red Sox play in as many different stadiums as possible (although that IS one of my on-going travel projects!). No, the Baseball Project is the brilliant idea of musicians Scott McCaughey and Steve Wynn. As their website says:

Rock n' roll vets Scott McCaughey and Steve Wynn have an unhealthy love for music undermined only by an even more unhealthy love of baseball.

My buddy Kelly strongly recommended their CD when I was in Boston last month, and I finally got around to ordering it. OMG - it is fantastic! They've come up with 13 baseball-themed songs, but they're not cheesy or don't stretch the point. They're in turns funny, poignant, and catchy!

For me, there are two stand-out songs. The first is "Ted F-----g Williams." According to the liner notes (which are also brilliant), Williams used to stand in for batting practice and shout that he was Ted F'g Williams "and I'm the greatest hitter in baseball." Check out these lyrics:

People say it's hard to like a man who doesn't fail and show he's human. But failure's not a sign of grace. It only means you don't know what you're doing. And everyone says "he Mick!" Mantle this, Mantle that -- it makes me sick. It's just so hard to see. Why do they like him better than me? I'm Ted F-----g Williams!

Awesome - I can so hear Williams saying that. And the tune is so catchy - I find myself singing along and shouting out that refrain very loudly!!

My other favorite is the last song on the CD, "The Closer." Listen to it and hear the voices of Jonathan Papelbon and Mariano Rivera:

If you're only in it for a little while you'd better make it count.

There are other goodies on the album - the Curt Flood salute "Gratitude," for example, and Scott McCaughey's explanation about what really happened to Black Jack McDowell ("The Yankee Flipper.") So, if you love baseball, and you love good music, check out The Baseball Project's first CD, Volume 1: Dying Quails and Frozen Ropes.

Volume 1? I can't wait for volume 2!