fenwaydav's Blog

Jason is the best catcher and one of the biggest assets to the Red Sox.  The announcer on TBS said he's slow and doesn't hit that well.  BULL!!!! Time and time again he has proven to be the anchor for the team.  That out he made in the top of the ninth I think was SPECTACULAR.  He ran down the guy on third to cause a crucial out.  Jason Varitek is my MVP.

Tonight before I lay me down to sleep I pray to the Weather Gods not to make me weep.

Rain as hard as you can these next two days,  but come Sunday make it dry so I can see the Red Sox beat the tar out of the Yankays. 

The game is meaningless I know and won't mean a thing,   but the last regular game of the season at Fenway Park will surely make me sing.

So Kevin please try and even you AJ, make me happy even GAY....

I'm not a poet and I really don't try.  Chip and Graham keep you comments to yourself and don't make me cry....

Can you believe I have never set foot in Yankee Stadium.  Born and raised in NYC,  I was never a Yankee fan.   I was,  like my father taught me to be a Met fan.   I don't remember what Daddy did  before the Mets, Oh I'm sorry I do he was a Dodger fan.   Here we are the first day of Fall upon us and both the Yankees and the Mets will have brand new homes come Spring.   Yankee and Shea Stadiums will become parking lots.  The house that Ruth built  has a million moments for players and fans alike that can never be replaced.  In over 8 decades it has seen some very famous moments, some even with the Red Sox.  During the 74-75 season the Yankees played at Shea, while they remodeled Yankee Stadium.   Some feel they botched up the job and ruined the facade.   Here's wishing our Famous Rivals take 80 years to adjust to the New Yankee Stadium.  I am no longer a Met Fan, how could I be.   My family despises my affection for the Red Sox and just can't understand my loyalty.   I have been in the area for about 30 years and although my accent reminds New York,  my team is Boston.   I hope the owners continue to upgrade Fenway Park and doesn't strive for the 90,000 plus seating these new placs will have. 

I guess Tom Brady wasn't faking his knee injury during the off season.   Just a few minutes into the first game of this 2008-2009 season Brady was down for the count.   Knee repair may cost him and the Patriots the season.   As sad as you may be,  this is the facts in the life of a Quarterback.  Drew Bledsoe was the darling of the Patriots when back in 2001 he was side lined due to injury when Brady stepped in.  Bledsoe's career with the Patriots was soon over, after about 8 seasons.  This is Tom Brady's 8th season with the Patriots. (2000-2008)  Most likely he won't play this year anymore.  Is this the end of his career  with the Patriots?  A lot depends on the season without him.  My guess his Shelf Life with the Patriots is almost ready to expire.  Use it now or throw it away. 

It doesn't take long before the high dreams set in.  Jacoby Ellsbury took a tour of Manny Ramirez's old digs.  Just a little place at the Ritz Carlton.  Nothing really special.  A 6.9 million dollar Pent House.  With Kelsey Hawkins in tow,  (The future Mrs. Ellsbury?) they viewed these deluxe quarters.  Ellsbury with his $406,000 salary maybe living a pipe dream.  His lifestyle is no longer in the bracket of a triple decker walk up but the Ritz seems a bit over the top at this point.  Oh well maybe Manny is going to rent him the space.  Maybe he'll have to sell his one remaining sleeve.  I have an extra bedroom he can rent and I'm just blocks from the Park.  You think he'll mind sharing the room with Daisy's litter box?

This Tuesday will be the last All Star Game played at the current Yankee Stadium.  Although the new stadium will retain the name,  it will be hard for it to  attain the history that  will come down with the bulldozers and wrecking balls.  Love 'em or hate 'em  whatever you think of the Yankees, you got to have some appreciation for the house that Ruth built.

The Yankees biggest rival my favorites the Red Sox will have and overwhelming presents at this historic game.  From the Manager to the out numbered amount of Players, The A.L. team might as well be call the Red Sox with a few other's.  From Babe Ruth to J.D. Drew and everyone in between,  through the years Red Sox Nation has been a royal pain in the side of the Yankees.

Next year in a new place to call home the Yankees will start to build new ledgends, if not only in their own minds.  When I sit in Fenway Park to watch a game, I always thank God the owners have decided to build around our field of dreams and not take it down.   May the new home of the New York Yankees be a lovely place to watch them fall into a 86 year slump.......

The game started over an hour later than it should have.   Were they being a little over cautious, yes, but do you know how heavy that tarp is to roll up?  HEAVY, VERY HEAVY!  It was about 85 degrees at game time and it felt that high in humidity.   I showered before I left the house and by the time I walked the 2 blocks to Fenway, I was soaked.  (Not from rain).  They must have there own little Doppler on the roof.  The crew was grooming the field and in an instant they started to unroll and cover the field.  We all looked at each other like what the heck and as soon as it was in place it started to rain.   It only lasted about 10 min. or so, but they left it on for a long time after.  The crowd started getting restless with boo's and claps, but they do things when they want to do things.  It was hot and sticky but I kept dabbing myself  with my blue & white bandanna.  (Didn't Janis Joplin sing a song about that?)

I was surround by kids.   As I wrote several times I can do without being surrounded by kids.  To my pleasant surprise,  they were fun to be around.   In  front were twin boys who Grand Dad  and Nana must have spent hundreds on food and jerseys for the boys 9th birthday.  To the left was Liam who at 6 wanted to be a Umpire when he grew up.  I felt like a nasty old man when I told him everyone hates Umpires.  His mother wasn't thrilled with me either.  Both got over it. 

I was able to sneak in a frozen liter bottle of  Stop and Shop Ice Tea and a bag of pretzel sticks.  I learned a long time ago the food taste better when I bring it. 

Papalbon wasn't able to finish the Cardinals off in the 9th and off we went to a marathon of extra innings.  I had gotten what I wanted out of the game.  I love to sing Take me out to the Ballgame in the 7th inning stretch and Sweet Caroline in the 8th, so when it went into the 11th inning I said my goodbyes and home I headed.  It was still the bottom of the 11th by the time I got home.   I had left my AC going, and my place was like a meat locker.   I am sorry to all you environmentalists, but I have no real excuse except to say I'm a pig.   I had a quick sandwich of leftover  eggplant parm. and a root beer and slide back in the recliner to finish the game.  When I woke up 2 hours later I was happy to find out that the Red Sox won. 

I heard Curt Schilling is having surgery and probally pitched his last ball for the Red Sox.  Someone  get me a bandaid for my heart.  I was one of those people who blogged they should have never given into him for another season.  It seems sometimes the Red Sox sometimes love wasting money.  I still haven't seen 50 million dollars worth of Dice-K yet.   Will we ever?  Just like Shilling he has his good days but so far highly over rated.  Today I've come to ridicule the likes of Curt Shilling and will save our imports for another day.

Yes he and his wife were very generous with there time and money for  several charities.  These organizations got by without him and will survive when he goes.  I have never seen him as a real Red Sox, like I do someone like Tim Wakefield or Jason Varitek.   Even people like J.D. Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury spell Red Sox more than he did. The best part of Curt Shilling was when he was coming to Boston and doing those Ford Commercials.   As far as I'm concerned that bloody sock routine was one of the biggest hoaxes in Sports History.  If you look back at some of the video, he wasn't in any pain.  Blood on the sock, SO!  If your ankle is bleeding, it will get blood on your sock. 

Have a safe trip back to Phillie and I wish you and the family well.  I expect to see you in some kind of broadcasting position.  I doubt very much local Boston.   The house is up for sale and I'm sure you will make it if it doesn't sell right away with the slow market.   To me it will always be the house Drew Bledsoe lived in.  To honor the occasion of your departure, Red Sox management should do one more thing.  Track down Gloria Gaynor and from center field, have her sing her famous rendition of  "I WILL SURVIVE",  cause I will and you will and life will go on.   

When did this all start?  I mean this so called tear the City apart in the name of celebration.  I think in earnest, it was the World Series Win 4 years ago.  I watched from my window back than as thousands paraded through the streets destroying everything in it's path.  Cars were set on fire, store front windows shattered,  even a ambulance overturned.  Than the Patriots wins.  Why not do your celebrating at Foxboro?  The same path of destruction in Boston.  When the Red Sox won the 2nd World Series things were a little better, I think mainly due to the fact they won out of town. 

The smell of victory in the air brought all the losers who think it's cool to be in a crowd out.  Just like the Red Sox and the Patriots I will bet the house that the crowds did not consist of many fans.  Looking at the morons putting street signs through store fronts just makes me sick.  The break down of the crowd that do these senseless crimes are as follows.  For every hundred people 75 are from out of state and never watched a Celtic game.  The other 25 are a mixture of people who are out there just because. 

It's ashamed that when one of our teams are on the verge of winning a major event, I get a sick feeling that there is going to be trouble.  I addition to the restitution these people should pay, they  should also be humiliated.  Put there picture on the T with the caption I did a very stupid thing.  In some cases, put the parent right there also.  There caption should read  I RAISED A STUPID KID"

I was watching the News @ Noon on one of those other channels.  The reporter was talking about all the preparation going on at the Garden for tonight's big game.  It was a nice enough little piece till the end when she said, "It's just like the old days". Something about that little phrase just didn't sound right to me. It's as different as night and day those 2 periods of time. Back in the 80's the fans were different.  The people who line up around the Garden trying to get a ticket are   fair weather fans.  The season ticket holders stood by them in the years they finished last. A lot has changed.  The building isn't even the same. No dear it's not just like the old days! 

Do you know what happens when you go to watch a game at Fenway Park on May 2 and it's 45 degree's and raining?  It not being fun is the least of the problems.  A 7:05 game that doesn't start till 9:30 is not a good thing.  Before the first ball is even thrown out,  people who drink are pretty wasted to say the least.  I bought my friend Lorna to the game with me who had never seen a professional game and Never saw Fenway Park.   My favorite seats in grandstand proved to be the only saving grace in a evening of total disasters.  The fact that these seats were under cover at least kept us dry.  Before we left the house I had the weather on.   Even a lay person like myself  saw the rain that was left had the slightest cover of Boston.  He said (NOT FOX) it's moving east and should be out of here within moments.   I figured by the time I walked to Fenway from my apartment it should just about be over.   It wasn't.  It got worse.  We sat and watched the rain pick up intensity and the cold wind blow in.  Lorna was raped in two blankets and she was still freezing.  It would let up almost to a stop and start all over again.  The giant screen was showing the Celtics and I thought if I wanted to see the Celtics I would have stayed home.  I was praying for it to be called already and it wasn't.  When the crew started to remove the tarp the crowd went wild.  I said to Lorna it would still be a half hour before it started.  I was wrong, it was 45 min.  I know this is the nature of baseball at Fenway or any place for that matter.   It really wasn't the 100 dollars any more.  I got the tickets a couple of months ago and that money wasn't fresh in my mind any more.  I was really excited that Buchholz was pitching.   At the third out in the bottom of the 2nd I looked over to Lorna and asked if she was ready to leave and she couldn't say yes quick enough.  I was so looking forward for the 7th inning stretch and the 8th inning singing of Sweet Caroline, she would have got a kick out of that.  I walked home and 10 minutes later I was watching the game from a warm apartment.  I didn't turn Lorna into a Red Sox Fan or a Fenway Park fan.  To bad for her. 

Forget what happened in Japan.  Forget Oakland and Toronto.  Tuesday April 8, 2008 Is the real opening day of  Baseball.   Yes my friend that is when the Red Sox return to Fenway Park.  Forget what the calendar say's Tuesday is the real first day of Spring.  From my window I can see and hear them cleaning the streets of the neighborhood.   (Not that they wait till now to do it)  The restaurants and other shops have signs in their windows to let you now The Boy's of Summer are back.  Jordan's is giving away more furniture if the Red Sox do it again.  This year it has to be a Sweep.  I wouldn't run out and buy anything unless you truly need it.  Don't get me wrong it's not that I don't think they will do it,  I just don't believe this year will 4 in a row.  This year my living room won't be lite up from the lights of  Fenway Park.  A new 16 story building has taken care of that. That's all right, I know it's there.  I'm ready for 6 months of crowds.  As for traffic, it's always bad around here.  I wrote in Oct. how good it was to see it over,  now  I write how wonderful to see it all start again.   Yes the Red Tail Hawks will be gliding over head and Manny will be Manny.  Gene Lavanchy will just have to get use to his most hated 3 words  RED SOX NATION.  Geno I hate them too!  I go to my first game of the season on Thursday April 10th.   Yeah on Thursday I'm walking over to Fenway Park  to watch the game......Did I tell you parking is up to 50 bucks........

Doug Mirabelli who was Tim Wakefields catcher has been let go.  Mirabelli was one of the only catchers in the American League (for that matter any league) that was able to catch Wake's corralling knuckle ball.   A younger and cheaper Kevin Cash will now give it a try.  This happened once before in 2005 when he was traded to the Padres.  It was only one month into the 2006 season when Mirabelli  was given a police escort from Logan to Fenway Park.  Doug arrived just in time to catch for Wakefield  in a game that they won.  By the way, it was against the Yankees.  Good guy not great stats but likable enough.  Is this the last we will see of Doug Mirabelli?  Time will tell....

What ever happened to freedom of the press?  It appears that Curt Schilling can hand pick who he will speak to.   He wants surgery, the Red Sox want a more conservative approach to his shoulder problem.  He states this may be an end to his pitching career, at 41 how much further  was he going to go?  I for one still contend that he knew about this problem when he was begging for the Sox to give him another year.  If he is such a good Christian like he contends (I didn't say Pretend), he should opt for the surgery and nullify the 8 million dollars.  Whatever happens with Curt, it's certainly not over.  A quick course at the Barbizon School of Broadcasting and presto chango here comes The Wide World  of Sports.  I'd like to see his reaction when someone he wants to interview will say NOT YOU to him.....

I screamed and hollered let him go.  8 million dollars could have been spent so much better.  It was never any big secret I never liked him.  Yes even with the BS of a bloody sock.  Now he's not talking to the Red Sox.  A week before he is supposed to report to Florida and his shoulder hurts.  All you people who would scream, but fenwaydav he does so much for the community.  He pulled a fast one for sure.  He knew his shoulder was bad. But you know what I blame the Red Sox for letting him slide to what is going to be a sit on the bench year.   The Red Sox are now trying to reverse the deal. HA! Good Luck....You paid for a lard ass to fill a seat.  I would try to get Dane Shulman and Associates to sue the crap out of him.....