"Snap out of it!"

Okay, I've allowed myself one full day to wallow in my post-Red Sox season depression. It's funny, I don't remember feeling this down last year - but that may have been because of the way they exhausted me during the playoffs. Nearly losing to Cleveland, then the epic comebacks against the Rays. Phew.

But this year we're three and done. Swept. In some ways, the playoffs reflected the regular season. I love this team, and loved watching almost every game. But I really wasn't sure we had what we needed to go deep in the playoffs. Certainly, my angst was multiplied by watching that Yankee Juggernaut. They look like a steamroller - and we certainly didn't do well against them in our last few outings. I'm afraid we would have been toast in the ALCS. Now it's up to the Angels to call on whatever emotional vibes they've been using and knock out the Yanks. Still, it would have been nice to go further into the playoffs - or to have at least played all five games of the ALDS.

But you must admit, this decade has been a good one for the Red Sox and its fans. And I like to think we're on a three year cycle. Won in 2004. Swept in ALDS in 2005. No post-season in 2006. Won in 2007. Lost in ALCS in 2008. Lost in ALDS in 2009. Ergo => another World Series Championship in 2010.

In the meantime, one of my favorite recent photos by my pal Kelly:
If I were a catcher and this freight train was approaching, I'd be cowering by the backstop!

Love our goofy guys

I got my 2009 Red Sox Yearbook in the mail today. Here's the cover:

Even better is page 2:

It's going to be a fun year!

Youk.... and more

Today, Kevin Youkilis finalized a 4-year deal with the Red Sox. They've locked him in to a great contract : 4 years for $41 million. So we've locked in the AL MVP and the runner up to long term contracts. Who needs Teixeira?

I applaud Theo and Company for what is shaping up to be a great off-season. While everyone was lamenting that we were losing out on the pricey free agents, our Front Office has quietly gone about cementing some of the key elements in our 2009 success. And another piece of the jigsaw puzzle may be about to fall - from the Globe:

In what may be a final attempt to end a stalemate that has existed throughout this offseason, Red Sox captain Jason Varitek has a meeting planned with club owner John Henry on Friday night that could facilitate a resolution with the free-agent catcher. Reached by phone on Friday, Varitek would confirm only that he is meeting with Henry "tonight,'' in the Atlanta area, where Varitek makes his offseason home.

I love that Jason is removing Borassss from the equation. As the guys on MLBN's "Hot Stove" said tonight, it's up to Tek to tell John Henry that he wants to end his career as a Red Sox. He may only get a one or two year deal out of it, but it would be beneficial to both sides for this deal to get done.

Two down, one to go

Boston Globe photo by Jim Davis

Wow! What an incredible game last night - and here are the three heroes! The Sox blasted out to an early lead (thanks to Jason Bay's three-run homer in the 1st inning, pictured above). Then, the Angels slowly whittled away at that lead, scoring single runs in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th. Suddenly it was 5-5 ( A side note: I must admit, I fell asleep for the 5-8th innings - awoke in time to see Paps record the 3rd out of the 8th. Hey, it was a late start!) Things looked grim. But - these Sox never give up. Papi lead off the 9th with a double; Crisp replaced him on the basepaths; and then JD Drew (on the left, above) connected for a two run homer to center. WOOT! It's now 7-5. Papelbon finished them off in the bottom of the 9th - which included a spectacular catch by Youkilis (in center).

And suddenly, we're up 2-0 in the Division Series. So, too, are the Rays - we can only hope that the White Sox can rally and at least make the Rays work for another victory.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is game 3 for us - and we're back home in Fenway Park. I'm afraid to jinx anything, but I find it hard to believe we can win at least one of the next two. Of course (gamedropping), the only three games I saw at Fenway this year were three losses to - ahem - the LA Angels. Still....here's hoping.

An interesting twist. The Sox have beaten the Angels in three straight post-season series. In1986, the Sox defeated the California Angels. In 2003, we beat the Anaheim Angels. In 2007, we beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Maybe they need to take a page from the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays' playbook and rename themselves yet again?!

"Dog Days" of Summer

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Good victory last night for the Sox - actually, another "classless" victory, 12-1. I missed the game - DVR'd it, so I might hang onto it and watch it during the next four days of no live baseball. Kevin Youkilis had 6 RBIs, including his first career grand slam. And Drew, back from several days off with a back strain, had a homer - and Manny followed it immediately with another. Those kind of games are rare - and to have two in one week is, well, great!

Remember my post a few days ago, about first pitches and not knowing how they choose who does them? Well, the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday called upon a world class, award-winning athlete:

AP Photo by Morry Gash

Yes, it's Uno - winner of this year's Westminister Dog Show! A much better choice than Paul Reiser, IMHO!

Youk!

Photo by Winslow Towson/AP

What a game today! The Sox dropped the first two to the Cards, two really depressing losses. Today, it looked like the game was well in hand - down to one strike to win in the ninth, Papelbon on the mound. But...the Cards tied it up.

Both teams had tons of opportunities to win this one, but couldn't do it. Top of the 13th, the Chris Duncan (brother of the MFY Shelley) tried to score from first. JD Drew grabbed the single, fired in to home, and Duncan was out by a mile. He tried to bowl over Tek - now that's not a wall I'd choose to run into! Out!!

Lowell led off the bottom of the 13th with a wall-ball single. Then up steps Youk. He'd already homered once in the game, and BOOM - there goes another into the Monster Seats!

A very exciting game. Plus Tampa lost, so our lead in the AL East is back to 1 1/2 games.

One week from today - I'll be in Tampa!

Youk!

AP Photo by Duane Burleson

Man, Kevin Youkilis has been on a tear this past week. He four home runs during the four game series with Detroit (two in one game), and his offense has been incredible. Not too many walks for the Greek God of... Throw in his always reliable defense at first base, and you know that Billie Beane is crying himself to sleep every night. Aren't you glad young Theo couldn't be convinced to trade for him?!

It's strange to think that this is the last time we'll play the Tigers this year (unless we meet up with them in post-season play). I'm afraid that they looked so good on paper at the start of the year - but they haven't shown it on the field. I know that they will eventually come to life - and it's unfortunate that we won't be able to test ourselves against them as they improve. Those MLB schedule makers are so weird.

Tonight, it's the first of three against the Twins in the Homerdome. One bad note: ESPN has picked up Sunday's game, so it won't start til 8pm. Better try to work that nap in Sunday afternoon!

Another cliff hanger!

Winslow Townson
Another night, another cliffhanger ending for the Sox and Blue Jays. Tuesday night, it was Kevin Youkilis who drove in David Ortiz for the game winning run. Last night, it was the Captain - Jason Varitek - who hit a single and scored Manny Ramirez. Both happened in the bottom of the ninth - and it's the 8th last-at-bat win for the Sox this season. [And I'm sorry, Tek, that I doubted you. When you stepped to the plate, I had a K ready to put on your batting line! Oops]

The bats have been pretty dead during the past weeks, but our pitching? Outstanding. Even in our losses, we've seen some gems - both from the Red Sox and the opposition. Can we keep it up?

From Gordon Edes:

How about the pressure facing Tim Wakefield, who takes the mound tonight against the Blue Jays after a bedazzling conga line of high-stepping Sox starters?

The last four pitchers to start for the Sox have taken a one-hitter into the eighth (Clay Buchholz), struck out a career-high 13 (Josh Beckett), pitched eight scoreless innings of one-hit ball (Jon Lester), and pitched seven shutout innings of two-hit ball (Daisuke Matsuzaka last night). You have to go back 11 years to find the last time four consecutive Sox starters went seven or more innings and allowed two or fewer runs.

[PS - Please don't leave us alone with CHB, Gordo]

So tonight, we face the Jays with a chance to sweep them. Sweet payback for their sweep of us in Toronto earlier this season? I hope so! And let's hope to see some dramatics a little earlier in the game - the late heroics make it very difficult to settle down to sleep!

Youk signs

So, the Sox late yesterday announced that they had offered a one-year contract to Kevin Youkilis. Last year, he earned $450,000 - and for that paltry sum, the Red Sox got a Gold-Glove, nearly errorless first baseman - and one who came through BIG TIME offensively during the post-season .

This year, Youk gets a nice raise - $3 million. I think he was hoping for more - he'd asked for $3.75 in his arbitration filing - but that's still a very nice merit increase!

It's so great that we're going to have another year of these three infielders!

Oh, and my Red Sox tickets for the July series vs. the Angels arrived today!! WooHoo!!

Hot time in Boston

Herald photo by Mark Garfinkle
Last night was the first game in yet another three game series against the Yankees. This is actually the last time we'll play them until September - thank heavens! These games make me so tense - I'm bouncing all over the place and/or raiding the kitchen. My waistline will be glad for the break.

This series seems different to me than others, however. There is a definite air of desperation surrounding the Yankess - they began Friday 13 1/2 games out of first, their weakest position since the early '90s. A-Rod was being vilified and mocked in the NY papers all week. First he was photographed entering and leaving a strip bar in Toronto with a blonde not his wife; they were followed to his hotel. Hmm.. That night, in the game vs. the Blue Jays, A-Rod seems to have violated an unwritten behavior code. As he ran the base path between 2nd and 3rd, he cut behind the 3rd baseman as he was attempting to catch a high pop-up. Right behind him, ARod yelled "Mine," so the infielder backed off the catch, thinking the short stop had it. Wrond - the ball fell to the ground uncaught, and the Yankees had a cheap run. Not cool.

So a lot of interest for the game last night at Fenway. Here is the scene by the Yankee dugout - ARod's fans donned "princess" masks in honor of his Blonde Bombshell:
Photo by Mark Garfinkle

Tough game to watch if you were a Sox fan, because the Yankees really put the game away fairly early. Lowell had a dazzling play in the first, but then got beaned on the wrist and had to leave the game. Coincidence? I think not. Later, when a player tried to steal third (and the Yankees were already ahead by 6 at the time) and was caught, Torre got into a huge screaming match with the 3rd base ump, and was ejected. Seemed like a desperate attempt to light a fire under the Millionaires club. And the last straw was in the bottom of the 9th: Scott Proctor hit Youkilis (who had extended his hitting streak to 23 games) nearly in the head. (That's the photo on top). The benches leisurely cleared - no fights, although Youkie looked ready to take them all on!

Could be an exciting game today. Schilling is pitching - and he's been known to "avenge" such incidents. However, I think the best revenge is to take the next two games, and send Torre to the unemployment line! I dread today's game for one thing, however: it's on Fox. Aaargh. McCarver and Buck - hey, bartender....

Wow!

Globe photo
What a game last night! I hadn't been able to see much of any of the three games this weekend - between the late, late start on Friday and my busy round of holiday weekend social engagements! - so I set aside last night to soak in the full game experience. Pitcher of margaritas chilled, my online connection humming, NESN coverage, scorecard in hand.

It went way beyond expectations. From the emotional outburst at the return of our original "Dirt Dog" Trot Nixon, to Schilling's seeming return to form, to Youk's inside-the-park-homerun (pictured above), it was amazing. I knew Trot would get a great ovation - but I got a little emotional when they showed his wife Kathryn throwing out the first pitch, surrounded by many of the other wives. The Sox saluted the Nixons for their years of work with the Jimmy Fund - she was always a tireless participant in all of the charitable causes of the Red Sox Foundation.

Schilling took the mound, and showed that maybe Roger isn't the only robust old warrior. He struck out the side in the first, which set the tone for the game. He had a total of 10 Ks last night, his season high. And offense? There were at least 5 doubles in the game, including two by "little Pedroia." And Youks' big hit in the seventh was so much fun! I guess he and Dustin have a little friendly competition going on who is faster. Youk showed up Dustin!

And a victory is always welcome. We've won 4 in a row (and the Yankees have lost 4 in a row). We've got an eleven and a half game lead over second place Baltimore. Yanks and Devil Rays are in the basement, 13 1/2 back.

Tonight is the return from the Disabled List for Josh Beckett. I hope he picks up where he left off - first in the AL in pitching. It ought to be another fun one, as we continue to test potential playoff contenders.

It's only May, it's only May...

Youks for All-Star

AP Photo by Winslow Townson

Okay, we need to start a Youks for All-Star campaign. He's not on the regular ballot, so he has to be a write-in. But -- he was 3-for-3 today, including a homerun around the Pesky Pole, and has a 13 game hitting streak. Plus some incredible work around the bag at first.. Go over to mlb.com RIGHT NOW and do a write in for him

Good game today - we beat the Braves 6-3. Andruw Jones had five strikeouts - highly uncharacteristic for him. We hit ace Tim Hudson early - four runs in the first. And a great start by Kason Gabbard, just called up from Pawtucket for this game. He looked really good - much hope for the future!

Now, on to New York. Three games vs. the fast-falling Yankees at the Stadium. According to BBTN, George Steinbrenner made the statement thru his minions that he would not have any official statements to make about Joe Torre's future until after the Red Sox series. Meaning, if the Yanks have a poor showing in the next three games, Torre could find himself unemployed. Of course, that might be the kind of dramatic move the Yanks need to motivate them.

And add this to the Bronx Drama - from si.com

Jason Giambi's admission to USA Today that he once used steroids could lead to the Yankees taking another shot at voiding his contract. According to baseball sources familiar with the situation who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, the Yankees will revisit the possibility of terminating Giambi's deal if it is determined that he used illegal drugs after they signed him to a seven-year, $120 million contract in 2001

I know, it's only May....but we've now got a 10 1/2 game lead in the AL East...