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Under the Cushions
Random Musings
August 10, 2002
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Manny Ramirez seems to be inspired by Foxy Cleopatra's hair style these days
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Manny Ramirez has the same haircut that Destiny Child's lead singer Beyonce Knowles sports as Foxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers: Goldmember. Lets hope he has as many hits as she does. Tee he he...
Fox baseball analyst Kevin Kennedy introduced highlights for today's Red Sox- Twins games by saying "One of my guys, Nomar Garciaparra, who I called up when I was in Boston..." What a fool. Even if this was intended to be humorous or self deprecating, which I did not note, it is a ludicrous statement. Kennedy was never hired by a major league team after the Sox fired him. He was certainly not the reason Nomar was called up, and if he was, he could be working today. During his managerial career he was often criticized for pandering to his star players. Was this comment meant to change his reputation? Alternately, Kennedy's ego was supposedly among the factors that led to his dismissal in Texas and in Boston. A little slice of humble pie could have helped him to catch on with another team. Comments like today's Nomar quote exhibit that the ego remains intact. On another note, ego or no ego, I would hire him to manage my all- mustache team.
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Carlos Baerga is part of the feel- good 2002 Red Sox
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The Red Sox roll into mid- August with two Cy Young candidates, a healthy starting nine, and the additions of Johnny Damon and Cliff Floyd to their lineup, yet still trail the Yankees by 5 games in the American League East. The clubhouse is also said to be a much happier place. We haven't heard any complaints from Jeff Moorad that Manny is uncomfortable, and Carlos Baerga seems to react to each positive moment with the flourish of a 6 year old seeing his parents after a long day of school. Interestingly, the Sox were 3 games behind the Yankees on August 13, 2001, and trailed the A's by 2 games for the Wild Card. By August 16, 2001, when Jimy Williams was fired, the Sox were 5 1/2 games behind the Yankees and fading. That team featured malcontent Carl Everett, and was missing Pedro, Nomar and Varitek due to injury. This year they are not 'team turmoil' and are more stable with Grady Little at the helm than at any point during Jimy Williams/ Joe Kerrigan's lost season. The Sox were 65-53 when Williams was fired, and are 67-48 today, but the bottom- line is that with all of the improvements they have made, and with the better clubhouse atmosphere, the Sox still trail the Yankees and are again playing for the Wild Card. The Yankees have suffered through injuries to several key players and the trades they have made have not been effective. Jeff Weaver and Raul Mondesi have underachieved, but the return of Mariano Rivera and Roger Clemen$ from injuries may be more important than any deadline dealings. Hopefully the Red Sox are stable enough to remain in the race this season. Either way, it will take more than Carlos Baerga's hugs to catch the Yankees.
Much has been made of the Sox inability to win close contests. Specifically, through August 10, they are 11- 18 in one run games. The theory is that they are not coming up with the dramatic late- inning hits. They are not executing early in the games either. Several times in the past week, including twice on Tuesday night against the A's at Fenway and twice more on Thursday night the Sox had the bases loaded and failed to come up with the big inning. During Tuesday's 9-1 loss, Doug Mirabelli batted with the bases loaded twice, stranding all six men. They need to make the most of these scoring opportunities if they are to be a factor in October.
So much for Shea Hillenbrand's new found patience at the plate. Through May the Red Sox third baseman was being lauded for taking pitches and walking more often than his rookie campaign. In 2001 he walked only 13 times in 139 games. This season he has appeared in 111 games and walked only 17 times. That projects to about 24 walks in 2002. His success early in the season, which earned him a spot as an American League All- Star starter, was attributed to this new- found patience. Although he is no longer exhibiting that same restraint, he continues to excel, batting .307 with 16 homers through August 10. Perhaps patience is over- rated?
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John Henry Williams
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This next statement is in poor taste and manners on so many levels, but I can't resist. A potentially tough September call up decision was avoided when Ted Williams son John Henry ended his baseball career with the Red Sox rookie league team in Florida. It seems cooler heads prevailed. Our memories of his tryout are frozen in time.
It may be a sign that I have been watching too many baseball games, but I would love to react like Red Sox closer Ugueth Urbina at work. I envision a scenario where I say goodbye to a client, slam down the phone, do a split, pump my fist and point to the sky. The funny thing is that it might help the morale in my office. I have also tried to get the high five into play in my office, with mixed results. The worst part is walking past the bathroom and giving a high five. Lets just say some people may not realize there are paper towels available to dry their hands with.
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Off(erman) You Go
Red Sox release Jose Offerman
August 1, 2002
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They Got HIM?
Cliff Floyd traded to Boston
July 31, 2002
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Cryogenic Freeze
e-mail on the Ted Williams situation
July 11, 2002
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Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto
Dan Duquette, Man or Machine?
March 30, 2002
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Oink Oink My Good Man
Paul O'Neill Looks Like a Pig
October 30, 2001
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Fenway 2001
Games I Attended
October 30, 2001
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Dan Shaughnessy Responds
July 5, 2001 |
Izzy Alcantara
Charges the Mound
July 3, 2001 |
Nomar In Rehab
Recovery In Style
July 3, 2001 |
Lou Merloni
My Twin?
May 30, 2001 |
Damn Bambino
Pedro Sounds Off
May 30, 2001 |
Randy Johnson
Nails a Bird
March 24, 2001 |
Psycho!
Clemen$ Hits Piazza
October 30, 2000 |
No Crying In Baseball
Pedro vs. the D-Rays
August 29, 2000 |
So Long Fatty
Clemen$ Exits Fenway
October 15, 1999 |
Carlton Fisk
Flips the Bird
October 15, 1999 |
Chuck Knoblauch
Argues
October 8, 1998 |
Sox- Yankee$ Jokes
October 1, 1998 |
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