No doubt much of the weight of the Sox inability to produce or perform on the mound falls on Francona. He has proven himself to be one of the best player's managers not to lose complete control of his team by year 2 but for some reason its not working, or it wasn't. I think today's game against the Jays when considered against yesterdays represents the awakening. They finally are scoring, Jed Lowrie is leading hitting statistics, Daisuke is starting to pitch well, and Crawford got a hit... A HIT!
These two games bode well for the future if we can continue to split series at the very least or even build off from these three games we'll be back to .500 before anyone forgets about the beginning of the season. Overall I think this team will start to look like '04 when they were 0-3 facing elimination and everyone said it couldn't be done... it happened and this year is a good chance for something similar to happen again.
CELTICS
This close win with so much emotion is exactly what this team needed to start the playoffs. This is an emotional team that thrives on pressure situations and big moments to find their stride. With half the team filing for social security within the next 3 years they needed a team of younger versions of themselves to come in a challenge their authority. And then there is Jermaine O'neal, yeah him, he showed up with the talent he used to have and put up a good stat line which is a necessity in Shaq's absence. I believe this is the first time we've seen this team truly click since we sent Perk into exile (Oklahoma is about as close to exile as you can get... Texas)Just kidding.
We got quality minutes from everyone that played in the second half and came back to battle back and forth with an emerging titan in New York. Like Doc said when that final shot went up I think we all thought it was over, but it wasn't. Billups is out for Game 2 so they just lost Mr. Big Shot in a pivotal game. We're going to finish this series in 5 at most and Spike Lee can suck it.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sox Talk Continued...
I agree Bam, this is an adjustment period for Crawford. Things can be ok, if we win four straight against the Blue Jays, or even three, 6-9 would places us above the Jays in the division and 5-10 is not the end of the world. The O's are facing the Yankees and have lost four straight bringing them back down to earth and turning them back into the Orioles we have come to know and love as Sox fans. The issue I want to talk about is Terry Francona.
We he has done in Boston will make him one of the greatest Red Sox mangers of all-time. We have won two championships with him at the helm and I don't think we had any business winning it in 04, but that team was special. It is almost blasphemy as a Sox fan to call out Francona, but this team was simply unprepared for the season. The sox have excelled in management throughout the recent years, and that is a big part of their success. Yet, this season, after eleven games, we have the worst record in baseball, sit at the bottom of the Al east, and as a team have the worst era in baseball. This team was not ready for the 2011 season, there is no other explanation. With a little inspiration we won 2 out of three against the Yankees but have no beat any other team in baseball. The team has no passion. They have no determination to win. Even sox dirt dog Youklis is hitting .182 after a horrible spring. Get the boys ready to go Terry!!
I really think the Sox will turn it around, I just hope that this little fiasco at the beginning of the year doesn't cost a playoff spot by a game and a half in October.
We he has done in Boston will make him one of the greatest Red Sox mangers of all-time. We have won two championships with him at the helm and I don't think we had any business winning it in 04, but that team was special. It is almost blasphemy as a Sox fan to call out Francona, but this team was simply unprepared for the season. The sox have excelled in management throughout the recent years, and that is a big part of their success. Yet, this season, after eleven games, we have the worst record in baseball, sit at the bottom of the Al east, and as a team have the worst era in baseball. This team was not ready for the 2011 season, there is no other explanation. With a little inspiration we won 2 out of three against the Yankees but have no beat any other team in baseball. The team has no passion. They have no determination to win. Even sox dirt dog Youklis is hitting .182 after a horrible spring. Get the boys ready to go Terry!!
I really think the Sox will turn it around, I just hope that this little fiasco at the beginning of the year doesn't cost a playoff spot by a game and a half in October.
Sox Talk, Continued
So far the best thing to happen this season is the rain out yesterday evening. For what it's worth maybe they'll actually win that game if it comes in mid June because as of now they are doing just about everything necessary to lose. Daisuke can't pitch a good inning which isn't uncharacteristic of previous years intermittent woes but now with a high-powered offense on paper it seemed like he would at least be able to win the occasional game with a reasonable ERA. We got enough runs to take the first series from the Yankees which is a small victory but unfortunately to compliment Daisuke, we have had some run support issues in several gems thrown by Beckett, Lester, and Lachey (2 Wins). We did start the season off against two teams that were hot and have continued to perform very well so we can at least write the first two series off as bad luck. That said, hopefully, we can recover from two crippling losses at the hands of the now Crawford-less Rays led offensively in game 1 by none other than Johnny Damon (insert expletive and Benedict Arnold reference).
As Chuck pointed out, most have hit the panic button far too soon but some frustration is warranted. The panic button will still be there blinking red until we rattle off a reasonable streak and get back to .500 baseball but let's give this team some time to adjust to the pressure placed upon them. The die hard fans of Boston, well reputed drinkers I might add, are not always the most receptive group for a new acquisition yet to adjust. Imagine going from a place where you had only about 100 people regularly in attendance (and about half of them staying awake) to 35,000 people watching intently and screaming the entire time. Tropicana does not compare to the bright lights of Fenway, let's allow Crawford a small adjustment period before we condemn him. Once Crawford finds a comfort zone and this line up clicks there wont be an issue in many of these tight games. The missing piece of this puzzle is the fun and grit of Sox teams of old (i,e. the "Cowboy Up" era). Once this team finds their stride and clubhouse balance there will be no question where the power lies in the AL East.
As Chuck pointed out, most have hit the panic button far too soon but some frustration is warranted. The panic button will still be there blinking red until we rattle off a reasonable streak and get back to .500 baseball but let's give this team some time to adjust to the pressure placed upon them. The die hard fans of Boston, well reputed drinkers I might add, are not always the most receptive group for a new acquisition yet to adjust. Imagine going from a place where you had only about 100 people regularly in attendance (and about half of them staying awake) to 35,000 people watching intently and screaming the entire time. Tropicana does not compare to the bright lights of Fenway, let's allow Crawford a small adjustment period before we condemn him. Once Crawford finds a comfort zone and this line up clicks there wont be an issue in many of these tight games. The missing piece of this puzzle is the fun and grit of Sox teams of old (i,e. the "Cowboy Up" era). Once this team finds their stride and clubhouse balance there will be no question where the power lies in the AL East.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sox Talk
Red Sox fans made unofficial history by hitting the panic button sooner than anyone else in history. Yet, it was hard to blame them after ever magazine and website picked them to be World Series Champions like it was nothing. As we went down to 0-6 and watched our pitchers give up homer after homer it seemed our exciting lineup couldn't cover our inability to get people out. When Josh Beckett took the hill today he did exactly what Sox fans needed. He pitched. The Sox struggled to score with RISP, and Crawford is yet to find his stroke, but the Sox played their best game of the VERY young season. Pedroia finished the series red hot, and taking two out of three from the Yankees will give the Sox confidence moving forward. With a struggling Tampa Bay team coming to Fenway (1-8) the Sox are in perfect position to turn the season around by winning two series in a row against their most hated rivals. April is too early panic. Let's GO
The Masters
Finally Tiger got his s*** together. Finishing at -10 and being within striking distance all day was a rejuvenating masters experience. I wanted so badly for a 5 player play-off with all those stuck at the -10 mark. Watching someone I've never seen or heard of was not what I had imagined when the day started.
Rory was another intriguing story considering he's only 21 and was on top of the leader board and in control. Unfortunate shots on the back 9 ended his day a bit early.
I believe golf and golf fans all want Tiger to finally win a tournament. Without him being the winner every other week I could care less. Watching today I wanted in my heart of hearts for Tiger to win. It just isn't the same without him. I like the Red shirt on Sunday and the oddly quiet confidence he exhibits. Most exciting shot of the day for me was on 15 when Tiger hit it and started walking expressionless and the ball landed within eagle distance, he would birdie the hole but it seemed like another little representation of his renewed presence.
Rory was another intriguing story considering he's only 21 and was on top of the leader board and in control. Unfortunate shots on the back 9 ended his day a bit early.
I believe golf and golf fans all want Tiger to finally win a tournament. Without him being the winner every other week I could care less. Watching today I wanted in my heart of hearts for Tiger to win. It just isn't the same without him. I like the Red shirt on Sunday and the oddly quiet confidence he exhibits. Most exciting shot of the day for me was on 15 when Tiger hit it and started walking expressionless and the ball landed within eagle distance, he would birdie the hole but it seemed like another little representation of his renewed presence.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Final Four Review
Butler vs. VCU
I don't care what your seeding is, there is no such thing as a fluke run to the final four. VCU got here by shooting three's, and against a stingy Butler defense they were held to only 36% on 8-22 shooting. You could see some shots rim in and out, but it just wasn't their night. The whole time watching that game I just had a gut feeling Butler was going to pull it out. Butler is just a good team with a great program that knows how to win tournament games. Now 14-3 under Brad Stevens in tournament play. 14-3! which makes them 10-1 in the last two years! You have to love a team that shoots free throws pretty well 20-26 (76.9%) has the winningest coach in his first four years, and is led by two senior stars in Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard. They are a gritty team, and they don't make very many mistakes.
Kentucky vs. Connecticut
The first half showing by Kentucky was disgusting. It was embarrassing to watch star Brandon Knight shoot short on shoot after shoot. They couldn't fall out of a boat and hit water. The announcer at one point even said at halftime the Huskies were twenty minutes away from playing for their third national chmapionship. Not so fast though, UK came flying out in the second half turning the game into the heavyweight battle we all anticipated. BUT, you have to make your free throws. Kentucky finished 4-12 from the line, that is pee wee basketball type percentages. You don't go to a national championship shooting like that. I don't know why Calipari teams can't shoot free throws, maybe it is because he recruits raw athletic street ballers, or because he is to busy yelling at Terrence Jones in practice to make them shoot free throws, but 33% percent from the line is the reason they lost. Everyone says they "should" have won the game, but I feel if you shoot like that from the strip you don't deserve to win.
I don't care what your seeding is, there is no such thing as a fluke run to the final four. VCU got here by shooting three's, and against a stingy Butler defense they were held to only 36% on 8-22 shooting. You could see some shots rim in and out, but it just wasn't their night. The whole time watching that game I just had a gut feeling Butler was going to pull it out. Butler is just a good team with a great program that knows how to win tournament games. Now 14-3 under Brad Stevens in tournament play. 14-3! which makes them 10-1 in the last two years! You have to love a team that shoots free throws pretty well 20-26 (76.9%) has the winningest coach in his first four years, and is led by two senior stars in Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard. They are a gritty team, and they don't make very many mistakes.
Kentucky vs. Connecticut
The first half showing by Kentucky was disgusting. It was embarrassing to watch star Brandon Knight shoot short on shoot after shoot. They couldn't fall out of a boat and hit water. The announcer at one point even said at halftime the Huskies were twenty minutes away from playing for their third national chmapionship. Not so fast though, UK came flying out in the second half turning the game into the heavyweight battle we all anticipated. BUT, you have to make your free throws. Kentucky finished 4-12 from the line, that is pee wee basketball type percentages. You don't go to a national championship shooting like that. I don't know why Calipari teams can't shoot free throws, maybe it is because he recruits raw athletic street ballers, or because he is to busy yelling at Terrence Jones in practice to make them shoot free throws, but 33% percent from the line is the reason they lost. Everyone says they "should" have won the game, but I feel if you shoot like that from the strip you don't deserve to win.
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