Suck it, Joe Maddon

Joe Maddon shows you his 'O' face.

You know, even if I weren’t a Sox fan I would have had a soft spot in my heart for Tim Wakefield being named to his first All-Star team while being in his 40′s.  I know he plays for the big, bad Red Sox who are right up with the Yankees and Mets of world spending mad money to buy championships.  But come on, you can’t tell me it was the best move in an exhibition game to have him be an extra innings reliever.

He’s a wild card when it comes to his knuckle ball and his 70 some odd mile per hour “fast” ball, but even for one trip out to the mound.  Give the old guy a bone Joe.  I’m not shocked he used Beckett and Papelbon, why wouldn’t you?  Clearly there was an audience for Wakefield out there, Boston fan or not.

Most people probably missed the story or just didn’t care, but I think it’s a shame.  I’ve also learned I really don’t like the Home Run Derby anymore.  It’s too long, and it’s boring.  I’m not going to jump on the bandwagon of people still accusing these guys of rampant steroid use, I think I’ve just accepted it for what it is.  Maybe it was the players, although I did enjoy watching Nelson Cruz stroke the ball out of the field with ease.  It was probably Chris Berman.  Is there anyone else on the face of the planet so hopelessly annoying who thinks their shtick is God’s gift to broadcasting?  I challenge you to find someone worse than him.

Back to Wakefield.  Joe, what were you thinking?  You know it is destiny that the American League wins this thing every year.  You could have started Wake and left him in for the first few innings, and your squad would have found a way to come out on top.  C’mon Joe, where’s your pair?

Not Like They Drew It Up

Well, the opener with the Rays opened with a bang and landed with a limp thud. While watching Dice-K toss more meat than a butcher on a Saturday morning, it was hard to contain my discontent while I was in class. Did I say that out loud? Of course I didn’t watch baseball in class…how is that even possible? McKay doesn’t even have air conditioning, let alone cable.

The Rays took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth when Boston remembered they were in the middle of an actual game. Watching them sleepwalk through the first two-thirds of the game was about all I could stand. It felt like we were picking up right where we left off last year, being out hustled and even outhit by the young bucks from Florida.

The middle of the lineup woke up with Jason Bay driving in Kevin Youkilis on a shot to dead center on a Manny double. For those of you that don’t know, a Manny double is a triple, or a play that 99% of all major league hitters should get to third on, while Manny would have “hustled” for a stand up double. I don’t hate Manny, if it weren’t for him this team wouldn’t have rings. It’s just something fans have done with a half joking, half sick sort of sense of humor. Anyway…

The Sox made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth with Jason Varitek blasting a dinger to right field, but were unable to muster up enough to pull into a tie or even pull out some late inning heroics.

Boston takes their 1-2 record to L.A. to play an Angles team reeling from the tragic loss of 22-year-old pitcher Nick Adenhart. It’s always sad to see someone who has their life stolen from them with everything still yet to come. Truly a sad day for the Angles, baseball, and well, pretty much everyone.