Iggy Pop and Other Tales of Spring Training Glory.

Or something like that.

John Lackey wasn't too awful. I mean, yes strikes weren't really his thing today, but he got out of the inning respectably well. For all the work they were supposed to have done on defense, it didn't go so well. But Jose Iglesias crushed that ball for a home run and that was nice to see. The return of baseball (even if it is just shown during the breaks on the Don and Jerry show) is a wonderful thing.
 

I would have gone with the full version of the song but John Barrowman's reaction cracks me up.

Gone Fishin'.

Ben (or Benny as those in the know refer to him) Cherington has used his time in Florida to do a little fishing and has come up with a Carp.

Mike Carp, who was designated for assignment by Seattle, bats left-handed and plays a little first and a little outfield. To make room for him on the forty man, Kalish was moved to the sixty day DL.

The Big Book of Bad Grooming.

The camera adds ten pounds. For these poor souls, apparently, of hair. (I'm  not totally against the idea of men with long hair. I swear.)

(Getty Images)

Word is that Jarrod Saltalamacchia is insecure about his ringlets and so I shouldn't make fun of them. If that were the case, however, it seems to me that he'd just lop the damn things off and be done with it. I suspect that he secretly finds great pleasure in pulling them straight and watching them sproing back.

(Getty Images)

Jonny Gomes belongs to the Hill People. 

(Getty Images)

Andrew Miller looks as if he trimmed his beard with those plastic scissors that they give to kindergarteners this morning. He chopped off part of his moustache and allowed big patches at the back to just grow free. Or something.

Darwin Awards Honorable Mention: Bryce Brentz.

Making it as baseball player is no easy task without adding a couple of extra holes to your leg.

In a genuine Homer Simpson moment Bryce Brentz, decided to clean his firearm without making sure that it was not loaded. And of course the charming knucklehead went and shot his leg clean through. He may be able to make it into a few games near the end of spring training but he's cost himself the opportunity to impress the people that he needs to impress and he's also shown that not being a dumbass isn't something he's capable of.

Mark Your Calendars.

The weather outside may be frightful but in order to bring a little sunshine into your heart and soul, NESN has released the list of games they will be televising this spring. As follows:

Sat, Feb. 23 vs. Rays, 1:30 p.m.

Wed, Feb. 27 at Orioles, 7 p.m.

Fri, March 1 vs. Pirates, 7 p.m.

Sun, March 3 vs. Yankees, 1:30 p.m.

Fri, March 8 vs. Twins, 7 p.m.

Sat, March 9 vs. Orioles, 7 p.m.

Sun, March 10 at Rays, 1 p.m.

Fri, March 15 vs. Twins, 7 p.m.

Sun, March 17 vs. Rays, 1 :30 p.m.

Thu, March 21 vs. Phillies, 7 p.m. (NESN Plus)

Sat, March 23 vs. Pirates, 1:30 p.m.

Sun, March 24 at Phillies, 1 p.m.

Thu, March 28 vs. Twins, 7 p.m.

Sat, March 30 vs Twins, 1:30 p.m. (NESN Plus)

 

Maybe it's not much but it'll do.

There's Nothing on T.V. on Wednesday Night Anyway.

Kevin Millar and Tim Wakefield have joined forces to teach quarterbacks to throw a knuckleball. The adventure was filmed and somehow, someone is declared the winner and gets to go to Spring Training with the Arizona Diamondbacks.


I love Wakey and Kevin Millar is alright with me but I have no idea what to say about this.

Gotta Dream Boy.

With the football finally, finally behind us we can fully turn our attention to the most glorious game of baseball. Players are trickling into Fort Myers; truck day is this week; pitchers and catchers next week. Spring, despite the chill in the air, is in sight.

Where am I going? I don't know.

 I hate to say it because I feel like a terrible jinx but this could be an okay team. If the pitching holds up (and Jon Lester's decline is just an illusion and not an indication that his best days are behind him), there is the possibility that this could be a good team. If Mike Napoli's pelvic bone doesn't collapse in on itself after a particularly enthusiastic swing, there is the possibility that they could be a very good team.

Two years ago, of course, they were going to win one hundred and sixty-plus games in the season and gleefully roll through the post-season. Last year they were a very good team, with a chip on their collective shoulder, embarrassed about the way 2011 ended. And we all know how that went.

Where am I heading? I ain't certain.

The problem is the number of question marks on this team. Has David's ankle healed well enough for him to be what he was last year? Can the youngest Drew be useful? Can Napoli make it through the season without needing a wheelchair? Will he be passable at first? Will our Will strike out one hundred and fifty times this season?

Then there's the question of John Farrell. Did he learn from that disaster that he presided over in Toronto? His teams were sloppy and lazy. I hate sloppy baseball. They were stupidly aggressive. How much of that was the team and how much of that was him? Is he intransigent? Did he push his team beyond their abilities? Did he not recognize their limitations?

All I know is I am on my way.

They might not be much to look at [Aside: Shane Victorino's Hawaiian accent is very cool.] but they're my team. I knew my enthusiasm would return. Have at it boys. And please try not to be embarrassing this season. Thank you.