Come Live With Me and Be My Love.

Username: BoSox2010
Headline: Just an Old Baseball Club in Search of a Shortstop.
Vitals: 105 years old, Boston, MA


About Me: First things first, the obligatory: Personal ads are always so hard to fill out. How do you say that last season you were a pretty good baseball club, consisting of (relatively) decent people, who pitched pretty well, scored a lot of runs, and won a lot of games, without sounding like you're full of yourself? And if you succeed in doing that, how do explain why you're once again heading into the holiday season without a reliable shortstop to share it with--without sounding like you're a waste of time? I'm really not a bad ball club to play for. I'm dedicated to winning and playing in the post season. I'm competitive. I have a worshipful (albeit slightly crazy) fan base. I've been burned in the past and am sometimes a little wary to start out but I'm looking forward to taking some chances and seeing who's out there.

About the One I'm Looking For: I smile when I think of you. You might not be overly flashy or sexy but you are competent. You're cool and collected. You're goal oriented and nothing is going to stand in you're way. You're so comfortable in your own skin that you don't have to be the star. You don't make waves or cause a fuss. You've got a pleasant personality and you're interested in something--anything will do.

My Idea of a Perfect First Date: You go one for two with a pair of walks and an RBI. You play passable defense--I'm not asking for anything spectacular--you make the routine plays; maybe turn a double play or two.

My Perception of an Ideal Relationship: I'm not looking for a long term commitment. (My last shortstop left me to go to Toronto because I wasn't ready to commit to him yet.) We'd spend a lot of time together but nothing too serious. We get along. We laugh. I'm comfortable, you're comfortable. And we work together to help each other be better.

What I've Learned From Past Relationships: For the past five years, I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to fill the void left by my last great love. It hasn't been easy. I've been picking up bits and pieces along the way but none have been able to fulfill that role. I've learned that not everyone can play here. And while I thought that I could deal with sub-par defense if it might come with an improved offense, that doesn't seem to be the case. At the same time though, all glove and no bat won't cut it either.

Sound like you? I'd love to hear from you. Ask for Theo.

Must Be David Ortiz Day.

While in the Dominican Republic David Ortiz is championing another cause besides raising funds for pediatric cardiology services, he is also lending his voice to a campaign to end domestic violence.

The radio campaign "Pégale a la Pelota, Jamás a una Mujer" (Hit a ball, Never a woman) is aimed at baseball fans and has ballplayers making comparisons between baseball and abused women. (It probably isn't as awful as that sounds or it plays better in a more chauvinistic culture.)

Says David of women (my translation):

"...so beautiful and I think that we know that we come from a woman and that we should pay them respect. And know that we live for a woman and that she is a rose."

"[A woman] is a flower that decorates the lives of men and that we should only give her caresses."

*Quietly mumbles to herself that he means well and that it's a different culture where he can say things like that. Is also very impressed that she got the accent marks to appear.*

Domestic violence is a serious issue anywhere so good on David for standing up against it.

Como se Dice Big Papi?

This amused me:

David Ortiz is in the middle of an extensive publicity campaign for his golf tournament; Facebook, Twitter, press conference at Fenway, and now a press conference down in the Dominican Republic. Besides the golf tournament, he spoke with Hoy (a Dominican newspaper) about trade rumors and the possibility of playing Dominican Winter ball. Regarding trade rumors he gave the standard answer that they didn't faze him and that he was turning the page on last season. And he didn't so yes or no to playing for the Dominican team Leones del Escogido. (Although here he says that on a scale of one to ten the possibility of him playing is a five--I'd take that as a diplomatic no.)

The part that amused me though was in the comments, where twice he's referred to as Big Daddy. It was just sort of odd.

Also, how the hell does he know Rachel Dratch? (Who is one of the celebrities invited to the tournament.) I just learned that she's from Lexington but it seems like a strange combination.

Like Crocuses or the First Robin.

It's cold and gray and the sun, if it was out, would be disgustingly low in the sky for this time of day. And to top it off, it's going rain later in the week. Not that I'm complaining or anything because soon enough, baseball will be back. Evidence: the Spring Training schedule was released today.

Surprisingly, there are no Yankee games--not really a bad thing.

All Hail Hale.

Over the weekend, Gordon Edes returned to the world of Boston sports writing and every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, was singing! Can I get a squee? Is that allowed? I've always liked Edes. He writes well and has interesting things to say--two traits not commonly found in tandem in a Boston sportswriter. It was a sad day when he departed leaving us in the easily flustered, overly anxious, Chicken Little-esque hands of Tony Mazz.

And what better way to really get started than to pass on the information that DeMarlo Hale will be named Terry Francona's bench coach in a few days, Tim Bogar will shift over to third, and (Pawtucket manager) Ron Johnson will man first.

The Shoulder Bone's Connected to the Collar Bone (Hopefully).

J. D. Drew has a reputation for being a wimp but an acromioclavicular joint sprain is not a walk in the park and the fact that he could play through such an injury (even with cortisone shots) is impressive--not very smart but still impressive.

The scapula is very much a three dimensional bone and, as such, is difficult to describe; there's a sort of crook (the coracoid process) that goes all the way toward the front of the body and can be felt as a bony bump just under the clavicle and there's the scapular spine that sticks out in the other direction (away from the body) and extends above and beyond the flat part of the scapula.

But the scapula as Africa is a good visual, as it's shaped sort of like Africa. On the left scapula, the glenoid fossa (the socket part of the ball-and-socket joint) would be near Morocco. If you started digging in northern Mali, then you'd be the right area for the coracoid process. But the main feature that we're concerned about is the scapular spine. If it was an African mountain range, then it would start in the Sudan and cut across the continent in a northwesterly direction. At the end of the spine, the bone sort of flattens out and forms a roof above the glenoid process. That section of bone is called the acromion process. The bone you can feel on the back of you shoulder is the acromion process.

The humerus is connected to the rest of the body at the glenoid fossa of the scapula. The scapula's attachment point to the rest of the body is at the clavicle or the acromioclavicular joint (AC joint). It's the scapula's only point of articulation. In the anatomical map, the Middle East doesn't exist.

The shoulder joint is flimsy. Between the two bones (the acromion process and the clavicle) there is a cartilaginous disc. The bones are held in place by the muscular structure--the anterior deltoid in the front and the trapezius muscle in the back--and by ligaments strapping the thing together. The important ligaments (for our purposes) are the acromioclavicular ligament (which connects the acromion process and the clavicle) and the coracoclavicular ligament (which attaches the clavicle to the coracoid process). They form a sort of triangle that stabilizes the joint. But it's not a perfect system and it's relatively easy (through direct impact on the shoulder usually by falling) to irritate the ligaments.

A sprain to the AC joint could be as simple as a stretched acromioclavicular ligament (Grade I) to completely tearing that ligament and the coracoclavicular ligament (Grade III)--this injury leaves the scapula (and, therefore, the humerus) unattached to the main skeleton. (There are three more severe grades of injury but they have to do with how far out of place the clavicle ends up.)

JD sprained his AC joint at the beginning of last season. Because they treated it with a cortisone shot (to reduce the swelling) and a couple of days off, one can assume that it wasn't a severe strain. The pain didn't go away and he got another cortisone shot in September. Obviously, the pain still hasn't gone away as he had surgery on the shoulder last Thursday.

Because AC joint surgery is major surgery (it involves either cutting off the end of the clavicle or, alternately, screwing it in place) and no one seems to think that this is a big deal, chances are this surgery was more of a cleaning than a fixing. Occasionally, patients with Grade II injuries (the acromioclavicular ligament ruptures but the coracoclavicular ligament is only sprained) will experience fraying and tearing of the cartilage between the acromion process and the clavicle. And it develops into an impingement. So they go in arthroscopically and smooth it out the best they can. Recovery from the procedure is maybe eight weeks.

Print the Legend.

I love movies: new movies, old movies, comedies, thrillers, Westerns, dramas, horror flicks, foreign films, blockbusters, little indie films, kids movies. I'll happily watch them all in search of a good story. I love a good story. (Craig Breslow? Good story.) If there is nothing to watch on television, then you can bet that one of the first places I'll stop with the remote is TCM. You can run into some wonderful stories by just leaving TCM on--that's how I saw Bringing Up Baby, an absolute hoot of a movie. [Aside: Incidentally, I get a very Cary Grant vibe from Mike Lowell.]

One of the best story-tellers (and a New England boy to boot) was John Ford. In 1962 he made a movie called The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance about, essentially, truth and the value of it. It's a good movie even if that stupid song does get stuck in my head. The most famous quote from the film is: "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." That's where my mind goes after it stops singing about how "He was the greatest of them all."

Josh Beckett, on the other hand, must be a big fan of the movie because his mind doesn't stop there. He goes to Doniphon (John Wayne) telling Stoddard (Jimmy Stewart): "Out here a man settles his own problems." [Context: Jimmy Stewart plays a young Eastern lawyer who goes out West hoping to civilize them via the law and John Wayne plays a rancher who reluctantly helps him out.]

To wit: Available on December 1, you can purchase a t-shirt with the quote from Muze Clothing that will help support the Josh Beckett Foundation.

The Old Switcheroo.

I really do try to not just pilfer stuff from other sites but sometimes someone is just faster than I am. And there doesn't seem to be anything else to write about.

Jacoby Ellsbury has switched his number from 46 to 2. Interesting? No, not really. True? Yup. Why? Don't know but a cynical part of me can't help but wonder if the marketing department didn't approach him about lowering his number so that they could sell a whole slew of new Ellsbury paraphernalia.

Without Canadians.

I suppose that it comes as no surprise with Jason Varitek taking over the role of backup catcher but the Sox have released George Kottaras--it's a complete non sequitur at the end of the article. Maybe he'll be able to find a job elsewhere.

Doing It for the Kids.

Billy Wagner has a bit of a reputation for being a jerk. It's not wholly undeserved; he's outspoken and not always tactful. He also seems to have a tendency to burn bridges. He did, however, co-found the Second Chance Learning Center in Bluefield, Virginia; an organization that provides tutoring and counseling with the aim of getting kids through high school and into some form of secondary education. Yesterday he ran a baseball clinic down in Virginia for the kids in that organization.

Interviewed about his time in Boston he said:

“I respect those pitchers in the American League. That is no joke. Every hitter, one through nine, is a .300 hitter with power and speed. It was tough, man. That’s a tough league to play in. It was fun to go over there and experience that type of baseball rivalry [with the New York Yankees] and plus going to Boston. You have the tradition and all that is involved in it. It just makes things that much better.”

A couple of days ago I declared that the threat that he might accept arbitration was probably just that: a threat. Reading that quote, though, I'm not as sure. He does sound like he really enjoyed playing in Boston but at the same time I wouldn't put money on him being ready to jump back into the American League. Those Ks were a pretty thing but I'm not going to give him a tag.

Social Calendar Update.

Next Tuesday night (November 17) there will be a benefit at the Boston Center for the Arts to raise money for lung cancer research. The event is called "Life Is a Cabaret" and is being sponsored by Upstage Lung Cancer. During the show, Jerry Remy will be presented with the First Annual Upstage Lung Cancer Fan award. And if you buy one of the top three tiers of tickets, you can attend the reception afterward--for which they are forcing him to stay.

Come Back Bay.

Jason Bay is an extremely streaky hitter and when he goes cold, he goes cold but when he's hitting, there's no one better. Witness: Jason Bay received his first silver slugger award today. I really do think that they need to bring him back. Congratulations to Jason.

Johnny Damon II.

Baseball Prospectus has an interview with Ryan Kalish.

He's an outfielder up in Portland, who might eventually settle into center field. He's an athletic lefty, who runs the bases well. He's a lead-off hitter type, who puts together nice at bats. The Johnny Damon comparison doesn't end there, though. Says Kalish:

"...they actually have a nickname for me. I'm like the caveman."

Clearly, he sees it too.

Speak for Your Supper.

On December 1, Larry Lucchino will be speaking at the St. Mary's Education Fund Fall Dinner. The fund supports scholarships for students in the Fall River Diocese allowing them to attend catholic schools. Lucchino was selected for his history of charitable giving. Says E. Dennis Kelly, chairman of the event:

"The Red Sox organization has certainly had extraordinary success with Lucchino at the helm but beyond that, led by Lucchino, the organization has transcended the baseball field to serve an important role within the community. As a charitable foundation, the Sox are out front. Lucchino epitomizes the ideal of giving back to the community."

Completely Off Topic.

I think that the Sox need to hire a new advertising firm. Last year they had their "I Can't Wait" campaign but it absolutely smacked of lack of effort and it looked like it was made on the cheap. If at all possible, they should hire whichever firm puts together the Twins ads. Because I like it. (And it's all about me. Hey. I watch a lot of baseball game., I have an opinion. And I have a blog to write about that opinion on: Fear me.)

Joe Mauer wrapped in bubble wrap? Michael Cuddyer popping out of a box of Styrofoam packing peanuts? Even Joe Nathan, with his pip-squeaky little "Hi!", manages to slightly redeemed himself from his horrid post-season. (Sort of.)

It's fun. It gets you excited for the season. They should do something like this instead of having frozen people telling me that they're excited for the new season.

Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain.

An agent's job is to blow smoke; effectively muddle up the situation enough that the front office-types can't tell their asses from their elbows so that his client gets exactly what he wants. It does, of course, work both ways with the front office-types trying to give the player as little as possible. In the end, the sheer amount of smoke in such a room would cause an emphysemic to hack up a lung right on the carpet.

To that end, Bean Stringfellow (a man who clearly just strode out of a Wodehouse novel) told the Herald:

"I just visited with Billy and his family the other day and I can tell you this much: Billy thoroughly enjoyed his time in Boston. It was one of the best experiences he has ever had in baseball. So, does he rule out accepting arbitration? No, he doesn’t."

He might not rule it out but I have a hard time believing that he would accept it. (Which, given my history with prognostication, probably means that he does and the Sox end up with an $8 million set up man.) Wagner has stated two goals: 1.) Get 400 saves and 2.) Win the World Series. There are clubs where he could have a chance to meet both of those goals; since both Philly and the Mets are out, LAAAAAAAAAAA should probably be looking for a reliable closer, or St. Louis, should Franklin fall back to earth, might be a suitable destination.

Our Fearful Trip is Not Quite Done.

In a surprise to-absolutely-no-one move, Jason Varitek exercised his player option yesterday afternoon to become Boston's backup catcher. I guess it's okay. His teammates all seem to like him and feel that he's important (though maybe Kottaras less so in this instance). He did have a nice start to last season, so maybe he'll benefit from the extra time off. A girl can hope, right?

When I'm Right...

While it certainly isn't his physical appearance, I knew that there was something to love about Craig Breslow. [Aside: He does have a very nice speaking voice.] It would seem that Breslow also made quite the impression on teammate Dallas Braden.

Braden--stupidly named lefty starter out in Oakland; looks like a smarmy bastard in his roster photo; was having a very nice season until he was felled by a severe case of athlete's foot (officially he was put on the disabled list with a foot rash but, for amusement purposes, I choose to believe that it was athlete's foot)--had this to say about Craig:

"Breslow knows everything. I seriously want to be Craig Breslow when I grow up. He knows things most baseball players wouldn't even try to think about. ... I'm not saying we're all a bunch of rockheads, but if we were, he'd know how to build some kind of laser to break up the rocks and turn them into something way cooler."

That is just a tremendous quote. Nomar's also in the video but, to be honest, I didn't watch the whole thing simply because I can't get over that quote.

Yankee Fans Suck.

In this particular space I keep my politics to myself but this both amused me and pissed me off.

The House of Representatives, obviously having nothing more important to do, took up a vote yesterday to congratulate the Yankees on their World Series win. The bill passed with 89% of the vote but that wasn't good enough for Pete King (R-NY) who said:

"Being from New York, I have always considered myself to be a winner. So it is very difficult for me to understand the 'begrudgery' and thought process of those who come from unimportant cities and states." (emphasis mine)

Seriously, guy? Thanks.

A Hunting We Will Go.

Betty Boop - A Hunting We Will Go
by baje22

I am not morally opposed to hunting. I don't particularly understand it's appeal but I'm not against it.

So even though I don't recall having ever seen a Betty Boop cartoon, I was never really a fan of Ms. Boop. (My Dad's nickname for me is descended from Ms. Boop's and it greatly offended my childhood sensibilities to be named after a cartoon character. My grandfather always used to call me Betty and my Dad picked up on that and calls me Booper, or in its full version: Betty Booper Pooper Scooper. It was never a favorite of mine.) She seems to be a bit of a flake. In this cartoon, she will just absolutely die if she doesn't get a fur coat but then the sight of the animals without their fur causes her to see the light and she gives them back their coats. Because skinning animals alive is wrong. Or something.

Hopefully, Josh Beckett has properly vetted the participants in his charity hunting event this weekend (You knew that there would be a point in here somewhere, right? And that really was the only mention I could find of the gathering--a throw away line in an article about philanthropic Tommy Hunter.) so that he hasn't invited any individuals who might share Ms. Boop's ideals. I'd bet she's a trouble maker.

Soup's On.

So Bud Selig wants to push the World Series into November? Fine. We'll just have to start the hot stove season the day after it ends.

The Sox announced today that they've acquired Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins for Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez. The question is: Why?

Hermida is a former first round draft pick who hasn't really lived up to expectations. He had a nice year in 2007 but has been less impressive since then. His numbers last year may have been hurt by a strained oblique. He does have pretty good plate discipline, I guess. Hermida has played mostly right field in his career but played fifty-one games in left last season; either way, he's better defensively than Jason Bay (which isn't saying much) but he isn't fabulous.

I don't know. He does fit into Theo's dream roster filled with players whose names begin with J.

Things I Have Learned in the Past Five Years.

Aw, Philly? You suck. I am glad that you screwed it up on a night when I didn't have to go to work the next morning though.

Here's the thing: I don't actually care that the Yankees won. I would have adored it had they lost, there's no denying that, but I'm not perturbed about their win today. I'm not going to pull my hair out. I'm not even going to be mildly depressed. The whole thing is just kind of, "Meh. Whatever."

It seems that post-2004, it's all different. Yankee fans have lost their power over me. Five years ago the sight of a smug, condescending individual in a Yankee cap would have sent me to ground. But now? Now they're gnats. Now they don't matter. Theo and Co. have imbued me with a sense of security and it's wonderfully freeing.

The Red Sox are no longer a team to be ashamed of and as much as Yankee fans might prance around preening and gloating, they will not convince me that I should be. And as much as they might not want to believe it, I'm not jealous of their team. I'm happy with mine, thanks. The Yankees are no longer the be-all-and-end-all the baseball world.

So let the baby have it's bottle. There's always next year.

Semi Off Topic.

Alright Phillies. Truth be told, I am not normally a fan. I don't understand how you can have Andy Pettitte on the ropes like that but be unable to deliver the knock out blow. And to top it all off, he ends up winning the game. And the less said about Philadelphia fans the better. But today is a new day and I need you to do me a favor tonight and for the next couple of games. I need you, collectively, as a team, to channel your inner John Cleese. Thank you.