Thoughts On Last Nights Game, The "Presidential Race" for Red Sox Nation, Sawx vs. Yanks & More

(SawxBlog Montage)

The Red Sox magic number remains stagnant after a night where the club lost an interesting game to the Minnesota Twins 5-4. The Yankees also won down in Tampa to help keep apply any pressure there is on the Red Sox and their division hopes. I thought last nights game was actually a pretty fun one to watch. I was in my apartment with Jeannine doing laundry, eating Red Sox peanuts, and cookin' hot dogs, just like being at the ballpark (minus the laundry which I avoid doing like the plague).

It'll be curious to see how much Beckett's sub-par outing last night will effect his chances in the Cy Young race, I hope not too much, but ya' never know. I do know that if he went out there and had a dominant performance he would have been a cinch for the Cy but oh well.

I really thought the Sox were going to come back there at the end, it just seemed like it was going to roll into one of those classic Fenway Park Red Sox wins, we just couldn't push that final runner across the plate. Hats of to V-Tek though on his HR to help us pull within one. Even though it seems like it's been rather frustrating to see Varitek at the plate this year with his strikeouts and all, he has been having some pretty clutch hits down the stretch here (he had that HR in Tampa when we came back) and I'm pinning him right now as my dark horse candidate to be the hero of the playoffs for the Sawx. Speaking of candidates that leads me to my next topic of discussion...

The Red Sox Nation Presidential Race is A Sham & a Joke

I loathe this "presidential race" and think it's a complete and utter joke which helps make real Red Sox fans (and I'll include myself in that category) looked dumbed down in this post 2004 world in which we live in. First off we have all these b-list Boston only celebrities running for the title of President of Red Sox Nation who in the end are trying to jump start their name into our consciousness...kill me now. And Sorry Sam Horn, you may have a great message board named after you in the vein of Sam Adams (whose birthday was yesterday by the way), but honestly, we don't need you to be "our" president, when in the end it's just a career move for you. Which brings me to Remy.

Don't get me wrong here, I love listening to Remy on the air. I love the fact that a lot of the time it seems as if he just took a few pulls on a phat spliff with "the Don" before going on the air, but if I have to listen to him plug his (no offense) sh!tty website or talk about this "presidential race" more then the ACTUAL PENNANT RACE the Red Sox are in then I'm going to get all mid evil on my television set. I would much rather have Curt Gowdy pushing Narragansett Beer on Red Sox fans then Remy trying to shove sausages and Wally down our throats. Stick to what you're good at, you're spreading yourself a little too thin buddy. And Tim Russert, did you really monitor this? Wow, Tommy W has a lot more pull then I ever thought I guess...

If they really wanted a real president then they should have gone to real fans. I think I, Peter N, Soxy lady, the fellahs at Surviving Grady, or any of the other wonderful Red Sox blogs out there would have been a much better choice then the flipping owner of the ducks tours, I mean, really?!? The issues I care about are small but universal among Sox fans. Solve the ticket problem, all your season ticket holders are scalpers and vice versa. Give us beer vendors.

Red Sox vs. Yankees inevitable in ALCS?

Talking about this is like talking about your chickens before they hatch, but it is Friday, so what the heck. As a Sox fan I never would want to face the Yankees in the playoffs, however even as I type that I know I'm lying. There's a part in every Red Sox and Yankee fan that yearns for it more then anything. Nothing is more fun then a Red Sox vs. Yankee ALCS, not even the World Series. Both sides of fans live off of it and root harder then ever, and that's what makes them so fun. Here's two e-mail's I've received (of many) from Yankee fans that makes me love and hate them in the same breath.

"The Evil Empire is coming to get you!!!
 
:-)
 
Signed,
 
Derek Vader"

And....

"Derek,

Its a GREAT Game.

Its a long season

Its the BEST Rivalry in ALL of sports.

This will be a FANTASTIC weekend of baseball for Boston and New York.

Looking forward to October.

Maybe the next time I am in Boston we can meet.

Take care,

Scott"

RSN to Choose Greatest Games in Fenway History for DVD Collection

I don't think this is launching until 10/1 however sounds pretty interesting and fun, see the press release below:

As the Boston Red Sox begin their pursuit of the 2007 World Series championship, A&E Home Video, MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and Major League Baseball Productions invite the membership of Red Sox Nation and baseball aficionados everywhere to help create history by selecting the greatest games played at Fenway Park for inclusion in an upcoming DVD set.  From October 1 through October 22, Red Sox Nation members will have the opportunity to cast their votes for the most memorable home games over the past 40 years of the storied franchise, exclusively at RedSox.com/greatgames.  The six games that garner the highest vote totals will then be assembled into a special collector’s edition DVD entitled BOSTON RED SOX: GREATEST GAMES IN FENWAY PARK, a 6+ DVD set scheduled to be released in 2008.

On the “Great Games” voting page, Red Sox Nation members will be prompted to select six games from over 20 hand-picked from the Major League Baseball archives. Members will be able to relive the sights and sounds from these memorable games as each will feature a special video presentation along with a detailed synopsis.  To help diversify the set, the games will be separated into three distinct categories (1967-1986, 1987-2002, 2003-present), and members will have to select at least one game from each of the three eras but no more than four games per era.  Every Red Sox Nation member will be allowed to vote up to 25 times during the three-week balloting period.  Baseball fans can keep tabs on the results with periodic voting updates on RedSox.com.

Comments

[Dogzila]

re: Varitek - I still cringe every time he comes up to the plate. He's had a couple clutch hits lately (2 I think), but so many more chokes in clutch situations that I can't consider him anything like a clutch player. I feel like every other starter on the team has had multiple clutch performances, but Varitek keeps striking out and hitting into double plays in the bottom of the 8th or 9th. And of late he's made a few boneheaded plays as well. I just don't know about him anymore.

re:Playoffs - I agree completely about the Yankees. While one part of me loves the idea of at least *one* freakin playoff season without the MFYs, I can't deny that the 2004 ALCS felt more like the World Series that the World Series did. If we have to beat the MFY to get there, so be it. I'll be pumped up for it.

re:Red Sox Nation - seriously, can we focus on the damn baseball? These two become more annoying all the time. Do what you want, but make sure you at least focus on the core product of baseball. I'm considering killing the sound and playing am radio instead.

Are SawxBlog readers planning on getting together to watch the playoffs at a Spahts Bah anywhere? I have a baby arriving in (literally) the next few days, but I'd love to attend at least one of the get-togethers.

[SoxyLady]

Re: Birthdays - It was also Johnny Pesky's 88th Birthday
(From the game last night: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1402/1450252339_2ec31e644b.jpg?v=0)

Re: Tek - I hate to say that I no longer expect anything from him when he comes to the plate. But you're right..he has had some clutch hits and he's still a master behind the plate in full gear. I would love if he's our dark horse hero in the playoffs.

Re: RSN President - Thanks for the compliment. I COMPLETELY agree it should have been a Sox fan in the race. Not all of this other BS. Have you seen the YouTube campaign videos for Sam Horn and Big Pupi? So horrible. Eric Wilbur also agrees, if you didn't see this: http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wilbur/sports_blog/blog/2007/09/26/national_embarrassment/

[Nocaster]

While I can appreciate the allure of a Sox/Yanks ALCS, if you're a member of RSN and have any hopes of your team reaching the World Series, you had BETTER be hoping the Yanks get knocked out in the first round.

The Yankees are a MUCH better team than the Bosux, in every aspect.

Be careful what you wish for.

[Troy]

Hey Nocaster. Easy there guy. You are the type of Yankee fan I truly hate. COCKY.. Who
is in first place anyway..

[Nocaster]

Trust me, that's not me being cocky. I am not your typical arrogant Yankees fan.

A few points to consider:

Just look at the records over the last 4 months. The Sox are barely over .500 while the Yanks are around 35 games over since the end of May.

The simple fact that after having a 14.5 game lead and we're going into the final weekend (3 games) of the season with the division still in question speaks VOLUMES.

The fact is, right now, I'd take the Yankees Starters, Bullpen, Lineup and Defense over the Sox'.

The only position I think the Sox have an advantage is in LF. And I give this grudgingly as it's Manny we're talking about. He's about as big a flake as there is in the game. And neither he, nor Papi have exactly been tearing the cover off the ball this year. A-Rod alone has just as many homers as the two of them combined.

I know what you're going to say: "But Nocaster, I'd take Youk' over Mientkiewicz any day!", I'd say take him. With the way Youkilis looked on that checked swing last night, and the way Mientkiewicz has been hitting since he came off the DL, I'd say they're two players headed in opposite directions. But, for the sake of argument, I'd be willing to call it a wash.

All I'm saying is, fall back on the Sox position in the standings at your own peril. And again, be careful what you wish for.

PS - If I were a Sox fan, I'd be VERY concerned about having to play the Angels (or a resurgent Cleveland). Making it through the first round is about as far from a given as you could get.

[msj]

Can you post a copy of the map so I can share it with my friends?

[Dogzila]

w00t!

MFY taken out in the bottom of the 10th. Could anything be sweeter? Only if it had been Millar that got the last hit.

Certainly plenty of work left to do, but this is a great way to go into it.

[Derek Hixon]

2007 AL East Champs bitches!

Talk and say all you want Nocast, but if the Yanks were the better team then the Red Sox would be looking up at them in the standing, period. You talk about the Red Sox through such jaded eyes it's laughable. The Red Sox are tied for the freaking best record in baseball. That doesn't happen to a bad team. Have fun getting ousted in the first round.

Snochy Boochies.