Archive for the ‘baseball’ Category

5 Years ago in Red Sox history…A-Rod

Posted: February 16, 2009 by datechguy in baseball
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Again looking back at that 2004 season the news this week was A-Rod going to the Yankees. Baseball Musings said the following:

Soriano for Rodriguez is a great deal, especially since money doesn’t matter to the Yankees. It’s the wrong move in terms of defense; Jeter is the one who should move. And of course, who’s going to play 2nd?

Actually, they are going to score so many runs they can probably get by without a second baseman. A murder’s row of A-Rod, Giambi and Sheffield (in any order you choose), surrounded by Jeter, Posada, Williams and Matsui. All Lofton and the new second baseman have to do is play defense.

You think Boston fans are a little upset?

He linked to Bambino’s Curse which had this to say…

The word according to Theo,

“We talk about a player’s makeup, but what we want to know is, `Is he a good teammate?'” — Theo Epstein (Holley, Globe).

As it shall be spoken, so it will be done.

With the advantage of hindsight we note that the Red Sox have won two world series since the A-Rod trade. That is two more than the Yankees have made it to.

No more west wing

Posted: February 15, 2009 by datechguy in baseball, opinion/news
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I think one of the reasons why our friends on the left seem to have a rose colored look at the world is their perception of the White House.

We’ve had the American president, We’ve had Dave, and we’ve had the West wing and let me tell you. You have people who actually think that our democratic friends are riding white horses to save the world.

They see Barak as all of those people in all of those roles and are willing to buy what is being sold.

I once asked if Obama was Pumpsie Green, apparently he is Pumpsie Green with Scott Boras as his agent.

All quiet on the Red Sox front

Posted: February 13, 2009 by datechguy in baseball
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The Boston Globe notes that its as peaceful and quiet in Red Sox land as opposed to the land of the Yankeess:

The calm and the chaos – the tale of the Red Sox and Yankees.

But does it really matter in mid-February that the Red Sox seem a sea of tranquillity compared with the Yankees and the turmoil they are about to endure with L’Affaire A-Roid? The fact is these are the two elite teams in baseball.

As pitchers and catchers reported to the Sox’ minor league complex yesterday, the atmospheres of the rival camps will be diametrically different. As Terry Francona and Theo Epstein addressed the Red Sox media, you wouldn’t have been surprised to see a cocktail waitress carrying a frozen drink with an umbrella. When Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi address the Yankees media, you might see a few men in white coats carrying straitjackets.

There’s plenty of time for things to fall apart, but right now the Red Sox are on Easy Street compared with the Yankees.

I wouldn’t make too much of it, the yanks have always been strong finishers. A tumultuous clubhouse doesn’t mean losing the A’s of the 70’s did just fine. Don’t forget there could be steroids revelations on the sox side too:

I find myself having to come to grips with something that I have looked to ignore for a considerable amount of time. Red Sox players are not exempt from the steroid debacle that has engulfed our National Pastime. It would be foolish to be optimistic enough to think that our Red Sox were on such a moral high ground that none of the players that we let into our lives cheated to earn their place there.

It is with that thought, and attempting to come to grips with my reactions towards a player that was let into my home and my heart on a nightly basis, that I decided I must flesh out my stance on such a player before he was named publicly.

Now, I have no knowledge of any players, outside of Jeremey Giambi, on the 2003 roster (or God forbid, the 2004 Championship roster) that used performance enhancing drugs and I don’t claim that anyone in particular used them. But with 5-7% of Major League ballplayers having tested positive during that season, that leaves 1-2 players on every 25 man roster and 2-3 players on the 40 man roster a user of performance enhancing drugs on every team.

There are a 100 of unnamed names. It won’t be fun to find out.

A touch of Joe

Posted: February 10, 2009 by datechguy in baseball, opinion/news
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Had things to do so haven’t livebloged morning joe today.

8:04 a.m. A-Rod is no fool, contrition extends his value as a player.

8:07 a.m. Of course to Bob Herbert to oppose president Obama’s policy you are Taliban, the beheaders.

8:24 a.m. No earmarks? We’re back to the era of the meaning of the word is is.

8:38 a.m. Carol King environmentalism yada yada yada

8:50 a.m. Peter Gammons was as always great. I didn’t miss the best part of the day