An Impossible Dream.

I have a soft spot for AAAA guys; guys who stick it out in triple A either because they love the game or they don't know anything else. I very much wish that I had the courage to continue to pursue a dream I had since I was a kid instead of just doing the practical thing and trading it in for a steady income. I badly want them to succeed, to be rewarded for their hard work. Of course, that means that by the time I'm really pulling for a guy, he's got very little chance left.

After today's game, NESN showed the documentary A Player to Be Named Later about the 2001 Indianapolis Indians, AAA affiliate of the Brewers. Given my penchant for spoilers, I watched with dread knowing that it wasn't going to turn out well for most of them. But I did learn a couple of interesting things about Marco Scutaro: 1. In 2001 he was really into remote control cars and 2. His wife is a stunningly beautiful woman.

Marco!

I am not a fan of Lou Merloni and his habits of saying very obvious things (Nobody hits good pitching? Get that man a Pulitzer.) and telling me what I think. It's mostly the telling me what I think that gets to me. Normally to save myself the frustration, I just skip over the videos with Merloni in them. It's better that way. I am glad that I watched this one though. Marco Scutaro's little yell as he leaps into the air is worth it.

Marco may have won a little piece of my heart.

Blame Mr. Goba.

I know a lot less about Venezuela than I thought I did. I thought that Chavez ruled the country with an iron fist (which he does in many ways) but the paper this Marco Scutaro interview appeared in seems to be independent. And then I thought for sure that the equator ran through Venezuela but it would appear to sit completely north of the line. Apparently my 7th grade geography lessons have either failed me or have been completely forgotten but I do know one thing for certain: Winter ball is a big deal in Venezuela.

For the past fifteen years Marco Scutaro has played for the Caracas Lions but didn't this year and as the season draws to a close the Caracas paper The Universal was on the case. He told the paper that it was a little sad not being able to play and a little boring sitting at home but he was a free agent and he had to think about not only getting a contract but also about his future. He hasn't really talked with the Lions this season but he's happy for them and believes that they can win the championship for the fans after they let them down last season. Apparently Marco's dream scenario of the last two teams standing (Caracas and Magallanes) is a possibility and he's a bit misty-eyed over the prospect. It will apparently be a spectacular game that will cause the country to come to a standstill and will be taken note of by the entire world. And he would play if he could but he can't.

He's ready for the Major League season to start. (Aren't we all?) He wants to get to spring training so he can start the new challenge in his career. He took less money to play in Boston (the interviewer asked why he didn't get a better contract after the season he had in Toronto) so that he would have a shot at the post-season and what better team could there be to try and do that than with Boston? From his experience playing with Oakland in 2006, he says that it's marvelous to play for a team that has a shot at the post-season. He's in constant contact with countryman Victor Martinez. Victor told him that he had to sign and after he did it seemed that Victor was happier about it than Marco was. They're good friends because they started their careers together with Cleveland. He doesn't care where he bats in the lineup, he just wants to play. He's always thought that his job was to get on base and run the bases well and to score runs; that's what he intends to do where ever he's hitting. He doesn't know yet where Francona will put him but he'll adapt.

He also says that the Blue Jays told him that they were rebuilding and didn't think that they would be able to compete during that time. And they were sorry that he was leaving them. And he loves Venezuelan ball and he will be back every season until his health doesn't allow him to play anymore.

Marco.

I don't know Marco Scutaro's politics but earlier today he was at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas for a meeting with the U.S. officials. Here's my question: Did the kid's father tell him to cover up the NY on his T shirt?

Marco It Is Then.

That certainly happened quickly. I was still kicking around ideas for my Marco Scutaro post when Edes has it that they're thisclose to signing him. And Ian Browne has it at two years. I suppose that he was the best option available but mostly it's just uninspiring. Welcome to Boston though.