Hello from Far West of the Fens (Wichita chapter)

It's been 1 week today since I left Boston on a 2 week driving trip to Kansas and back to visit family and visit points in OH, MS, IA & IL along the way. It's been a fantastic trip so far and I have so much to blog about, I feel like my head is going to simply explode.

I've had some wonderful baseball experiences and blessed time with my Dad along the way. Best of all, there is more to come - we are leaving my sister's house here in Wichita on Wednesday, bound for Dyersville, Iowa - home of the "Field of Dreams". I cannot wait!!

So.. I still have a lot to write about from this last week.. and post cards to send.

BUT!! Today, I was hurting SO much for some LIVE RED SOX baseball, that I gave MLB.com a chunk of change to give me live game coverage for the whole season - almost every game played, any nite, etc. If I had paid that money for JUST this game tonight - to see Josh Beckett pitch a complete game shut out and watch Dlowe's great pitching performance and return to Fenway - it was worth it just for that!! WOW.

Sure, but have you seen my WBC Trophy??

Damn you World Baseball Classic!! Damn you Dice-K and your "rubber arm". You went out and won it for Team Japan and now you've left "Team Red Sox" up the creek with your penchant for giving up a boatload of hits and pitching all wild and the like. I harken back to last season and your trademark "implosion" innings. Ahhhh.. how I miss those. Sadly, now it's not confined to just one inning. Sure, you were on the DL for a bit (ahem, ahem, the WBC is evil) but now it's June, you're 1-4 and have a fantastic ERA of 7.33. I'm sure your WBC MVP trophy is pretty and it's nice to show folks when you are entertaining, but can we PLEASE agree that we've got some damaged Dice-K here, due to that "wonderful world-uniting sports classic"? UGH. Watching him pitch is kind of PAINFUL at this point.

I was actually glad I was working today and missed most of this messy 6-3 loss at the hands of the Rangers. Ells made an UNREAL catch in center (making #1 Web Gem on Baseball Tonight, btw) and banged up his shoulder, reports are he may not be starting on Tuesday against the Yanks. There was also some careless running on the base paths which led to the Sox being thrown out 3 times. Eh.. not the end of the world, but not a great day.

I was a bit chagrined to learn I missed such a gem last evening, though. Talk about 'what a difference a day makes'. Lester kept Texas to just 2 hits, he was perfect through 6 1/3 (someone will have to tell me - did Eck discuss this fact openly through the entire broadcast??), Papi had a HR and signs point to him climbing out of this slump. (Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!!)

I can't wait for the Yanks to come to town on Tuesday to start the 3 game series. Beckett goes Tuesday, Wake on Wednesday & Penny Thursday. I get absolutely FRENETIC about a Sox/Yanks series. And I am feeling VERY good about this one - especially if we can find a way to keep Lugo off the field. (He is a Yankee spy, I am convinced...) I just read on the Globe's Extra Bases blog the Sox are rumored to be on the search for a shortstop as a "stopgap" to cover until Lowrie returns. Seriously, could there be better news to start this week?? I can't think of any.

Postcards from the edge of the week...

All week long I wanted to blog and now it's Saturday. So much running around in my brain in regards to this week in sports. Makes me wish I had a video blog and could just record myself spewing my thoughts. Nevermind, that doesn't sound so pretty.

So.. a bunch of sports happenings this week, I'm just going to touch on a few:

Rodney Harrison of the Patriots has finally hung up the cleats and retired. I figured, as many others did, that this was coming soon. KUDOS Rodney. Next to Troy Brown & Wes Welker, Rodney is one of my all time favorite Pats. I will miss his unrivaled competitive drive on the field. Luckily, he will be sharing his unbridled honest opinion regarding the game with the masses now that he has joined the broadcast team of the NFL on NBC. I cannot wait to hear this. His comments on Peyton Manning earlier this week already have me smiling.

I've been a Braves fan since youth. (this photo is my actual Tom Glavine baseball card from 1992) They are my NL team, and though I don't follow them like I do the RED SOX, they are close to my heart. Tom Glavine, one of my favorite players of all time - the winningest active pitcher in the major leagues - was released by the Braves on Wednesday. A shocking move which raised ire with both teammates and fans in Atlanta. This move came just after he had thrown 6 scoreless innings in a rehab start. Sure, he was coming back from elbow and shoulder surgery and he's 43, but THIS guy is the REAL DEAL - a competitor, like few others and the Braves made another cool move in screwing over their fanbase yet AGAIN this season. I hope Tommy lands with another team and does very well, just so he can show up the asshat ownership in Atlanta.

And.. lastly, but NOT LEAST for SURE!! MARK THIS DOWN. If Julio Lugo continues to play shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he will become the new era GRADY LITTLE. HE WILL be the REASON we don't get to where we NEED TO. AKA: Win the division, stay above .500, beat the Yankees, have a shred of dignity left. I'm sorry, Julio, but this is beyond ridiculous. You will be harmed - probably by your own pitchers, for handing the game to the opposing team. You can't field ROUTINE ground balls or make everyday putouts. Nevermind the fact you can't turn a QUICK double play without your trademark hesitation and second guessing. You've been warned. You may want to spend your time making sure Jed Lowrie is doing well in his rehab. His return and Nick Green's spelling you are the only things assuring you will be able to retire to a beach somewhere on a warm island when you're 65.

Paps is still giving me heart attacks when he comes in to close out a game. Not cool. Not cool at all.

Kevin Youkilis. Is it possible for me to love you more??

Dusty Pedroia. You are my favorite player for a reason. You. Stand. On. Your. Head. Freaking Amazing.

I am very superstitious and I Did NOT like ECK talking about Beckett's no-no while it was "in progress". That said, WOW, do I love Eck. His off the cuff style, insight and honesty is awesome. I'll just not watch the next time there is a no-no happening.

Ok, so those were some of my quick thoughts on a crazy week for me, at least from a sports perspective. I've got another nutty week coming up. I'm leaving for my 2 week, cross-country driving trip to see my family in Kansas on 6/13. Luckily, we will get to stop and take in some baseball related sites along the way.

Meanwhile, I'll leave you with this: I am convinced I could play short better than Lugo and I have hands smaller than a 10-year-old and the throwing range of a squirrel.

A letter to Dave Roberts

Dear Dave,

You will forever be in our hearts as the guy who had the "most important stolen base of all time". I think of you often as I relive 2004 again with friends getting more and more excited about that critical moment in time. When you came back to get your ring and when you were back as a Giant, we clapped and cheered wildly for you. You'll always be a Red Sox player. Frankly, I love you, Dave.

But see Dave, you're back on the scene - doing this color gig on NESN with Don O. and honestly you are driving me bananas. Have you heard of John Madden? Well, you are sounding a bit like him. Redundantly overstating the abundantly obvious. Yes, that sounds about right. Batty, Dave - you are driving me BATTY!! I know you are probably new at this "color" stuff and that's OK. I'm more than willing to give you some time to work out the kinks - I am! Maybe you just nervous and you need some practice. It's DRY, DAVE!! Try some humor? Some "hey, I remember doing something dumb like that" kinda stuff, maybe? Ok, ok. Here - try to go 1 play without making a comment. JUST ONE. See how it goes. Please, for the love of REMY!!

I know I just complained a LOT about you, but please know that I still love you for everything you did for us, Dave and I will always. At least until you push me over the edge and I start covering my ears when you begin to utter a syllable.

Lovingly yours. Go SOX!
~Snoop

P.S. Send Eck

Today. Sox 1st Place and it's MY off day...

..which means, I've actually had a modicum of energy to do something other than come home from work and fall in bed.

And we're in FIRST PLACE, baby!!

I love days like this because after not being able to work for a while, I forgot what these days were like. The sun is out. I drove around with my windows down, damaging my hearing and those around me blasting some music I love. Flew down route 3 with no traffic. Didn't think about how David Ortiz can't hit the ball right now. Thought about some subjects both sports and non-sports relate I'd like to blog about:

• iPod confessions
• How my Dad was so influencial in my becoming a huge sports fan
• Life after Larry Izzo
• Favorite moments @ Fenway and sports in general
  
• Travel blog for my upcoming 2 week cross country trip w/ Dad detailing the times he yelled at me for speeding
• The merits of dating a guy just because he drives a pickup truck
• My on again/off again Youk crush.
  
• New rules at Fenway Park. For example: if you get up and leave during an inning, you are NOT allowed back to your seat, thus disrupting those who actually CARE to watch the game, until the inning is over. Choose your pee breaks wisely.
  
• Julio Lugo: good as a YUGO

Anyway, I decided this morning that unlike most every single day - I wasn't going to listen to sports radio. I don't want to hear more negative crap about Papi. (see my last post on the denial and stuff). So far so good.

Did I mention First place in the AL EAST? Ok, I know it's May and it's lame to get too excited now. The Jays were going to fade; we knew they would. I just didn't think it would be this fast. What makes MY day is when I see my friend who is a Yankee fan and remind him they are NOT in first. I know.. I know. It's May. So, he gives me crap about Papi. I say, "it's nice to see Arod doing so well in games when it's completely irrellivent. Yeaaaaa."

I'll use the rest of my "off day" to recoop, get the coffee smell out of my clothes/car/house and later on, enjoy the Sox game. Praying Papi has a good night. Please. For. The. Love. Of. God.