Let's go Red Sox!!!

[I Are Baboon]

WOO HOO!

It's going to be a tough series against Oakland. The two teams match up very closely. Oakland's #1 pitching staff against our #1 offense.

We ought throw Pedro in game one and move Wakefield up to game two. That would leave Lowe to start game three at Fenway, where he throws MUCH better at home than on the road.

[nhiker]

:D I am such a sucker make room I am climbing up there onto the bandwagon with you guys.
:P

[Kilroy]

Yeah but that would mean your second best pitcher only pitches once in the 5 game series if it goes the difference.

I know Lowe's home road split is bordering on the ludicrous...
but this way..if need in game 5 you can have Pedro Lowe and Wakefield Available.

Believe it or not..IMHO the whole series comes down to game 1... Pedro beats Hudson and things look good. Game 3 could be really interesting as Ted Lilly is pitching great right now.

I do admit I wouldnt mind having Lowe pitch game 3 at home...but you have to play the percentage's

Kilroy

[Mr_Cheeze]

Another good reason to pitch Wakefield in Game 2: Having the righty Mirabelli in the lineup against tough lefts Barry Zito. However, I think that Grady is going to be stubborn and run his best 1-2-3-4 combo in that order, meaning Lowe in Game 2. I hope he proves me wrong. Lowe scares me more than any pitcher in this series and playoffs in general. Can he handle the pressure?

I like this matchup, though. Except for one superb game pitched by Hudon this year against the Sox, they have generally hit him pretty hard.

Sox take it in four games.

[radair]

Not sure Mirabelli being a righthanded batter means much against Zito, as Varitek is a switch hitter.

The guy that scares me is John Burkett. I think they should use Suppan and Bronson Arroyo and let Burkett take a seat.

[I Are Baboon]

The guy that scares me is John Burkett. I think they should use Suppan and Bronson Arroyo and let Burkett take a seat.


What they need to do is start someone like like Brandon Lyon, then bring Burkett into the game in the 2nd inning. After all, it's the fisrt inning that kills Burkie. :D

[Mr_Cheeze]

2:37 AM, Eastern Standard Time

Bases loaded. 1 Out. 1 strike.

Bunt?!?!

Alllow me to be the first to say... ooooohhhhhhhhhhh

:'(

[I Are Baboon]

That was a BALLSY play last night!!!!

That *thud* you hear is the sound of many of the Boston faithful jumping off the bandwgon, much to my utter disappointment. >:( How many tough losses have the Sox bounced back from this year? MANY.

[Mr_Cheeze]

You are right. But that game last night was a microcosm of the weaknesses of this team. Bullpen failure, mediocre defense, and questionable managing decisions. Why Ortiz wasn't pinch run for in the... I forget which inning... before Mueller hit the double. Jackson probably would have scored on that play, and it would have been a two run lead. Also, why go with Embry to get the last lefty. It's like Grady was trying to save Kim from having his ego shattered by another blown save in the playoffs. I had no confidence in Embry in that situation.

[radair]

Bigger question for the Thursday morning quarterbacks: WHY TAKE OUT TIMLIN??!! He was on a roll and would have shut down the A's in the 9th.

Oh, I'm hurting this morning..... :'(

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Sleeep....must have......sleeep. :-\

[I Are Baboon]

Christ, is this offense EVER going to hit again????? >:( >:(

We kill the ball at Fenway, so that is our only hope to come back from this 0-2 deficit. Remember, we fell down 0-2 to Cleveland in '95 and came back to win that series.

[knucklebuste]

THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO PREVAILS. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH HHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

knuckle
(anti-sports fan)

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Christ, is this offense EVER going to hit again????? >:( >:(

We kill the ball at Fenway, so that is our only hope to come back from this 0-2 deficit. Remember, we fell down 0-2 to Cleveland in '95 and came back to win that series.


True, but Oakland's pitching staff is FAR better than Cleveland's '95 staff that even Troy O'Leary's bat could wake up against....It doesn't look good. Too much celebrating as Wild Card "Champions" and a shitty bullpen = END OF SEASON.

[Mr_Cheeze]

Baboon is right. No need to jump off the wagon yet. They came back in '99 (not '95) from 0-2. And in 2000, the Yankees came back from 0-2 vs. Oakland to win that 5 game series. It can be done. Fenway should wake up the bats. The big question is for game four... Burkett or Pedro? Has to be Burkett as much as we might wince collectively. Pedro threw 130 pitches on Wednesday night. He needs another day of rest. Then I will take Pedro vs Zito on three days rest in game five.

Optimism people. Optimism.

[knucklebuste]

COTB

[AA]

COTB


Translation please........

[knucklebuste]

CURSE OF THE BAMBINO

[AA]

I'm obviously not very quick ???

As for the Sox chances, I'd love for them to win but I have a bad feeling they are in too big a hole. Hey it's almost Hockey season......... wooo hooo!

[joe]

Woohooo. Hockey season!

PS I'd also love to see the Sox pull themselves out the hole that they've dug but it's looking like a pretty deep hole at this point :(

[Mr_Cheeze]

Hey it's almost Hockey season

As if the Bruins will bring us out of our doldrums. They aren't going anywhere with that defensive corp. Defense and goaltending. Bruins won't make the playoffs and next year will likely be a strike year. But hey, I don't want to be pessimistic. So... let's go Celts!! Comeback player of the year... Vinny Baker. Salut Vin.

[nhiker]

Well they are back to even....and lets all get ready to bang our heads against the floor together! :) To be a Red sox fan is to completely understand pain and suffering! If Leo Tolstoy was still alive he would write about the Red Sox....and suffering and War and madness and Bucky Dent and Bill Buckner! A long tale of suffering missery and pain and dashed hopes :'(. I can't wait to feel awful again comrades! Break out the Vodka and let us toast our team! :'(

[Mr_Cheeze]

I don't know about this stupid curse thing anymore after two bizarre wins. We had an inning on Saturday where Oakland seemingly lost their collective heads and forgot how to play baseball. Four errors and three major baserunning gaffs. That was the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen.

The yesterday afer Hudson left with the oblique strain. They face the knuckler Sparks and STILL couldn't hit other than the Damon HR.

And suddenly the bullpen looks great.

Hopefully it doesn't all come crashing down tonight. Go Pedro!

[AA]

Those were some strange games. I hope they pull it out tonight. if you think about it everything is leaning in Bostons favor. A rested Pedro vs Zito on 3 days rest and momentum clearly on the Red Sox side.

As for the Bruins, yes they have a suspect D, and 3 mediocre goalies but I still love to watch. It is sad that I know that if they do happen to make the playoffs they will get bounced in the 1st round. I predict that there wont be a work stoppage, both sides are trying to hold their ground at this point but everyone knows that if they miss a season several teams will fold.

[nhiker]

Great News the B's are down to 2 mediocre goalies Now!
The just sold Shields to FL...for Cash$...

[Mr_Cheeze]

Several teams should fold. It's because of this watered down product that has coaches using the boring trap defense because there aren't enough skill players on any given team other than a couple who can beat it regularly or play good, stay at home defense.

I think there will be a work stoppage. And then the game is going to suffer, much like MLB did after 1995, and the Bruins will be even worse because good players won't come to a team that cannot see fit to offer long term, market rate contracts. Until Jacobs sells the team, which doesn't seem to be on the visible horizon, we will continue to have this mediocre product for a fan base that has been nothing but supportive... perhaps too much so. I, for one, will not pay money to see them at the Fleet Center. No way. I want to see attendance drop so much that Jacobs has to change the way he does business or sell the team.

[I Are Baboon]

Those were some strange games. I hope they pull it out tonight. if you think about it everything is leaning in Bostons favor. A rested Pedro vs Zito on 3 days rest and momentum clearly on the Red Sox side.

A quote I got from The Sporting News: In Boston's favor, pitchers going on three days' rest in the playoffs are 5-14 since 1998.

8)

[AA]

Holy Sh*t they won! I must say I cant believe what I just witnessed.

[steve_b]

Nice relief pitching from Lowe.

[nhiker]

OH my God! I thought for sure they were going to gag that up like a fur ball! Oh well bring on the Yankees, this ought to be fun. 8) ::) 8)

[I Are Baboon]

OH my God! I thought for sure they were going to gag that up like a fur ball! Oh well bring on the Yankees, this ought to be fun. 8) ::) 8)


BRING ON THE YANKS! Oakland scared me a hell of a lot more than the Yanks do. I really like this matchup. 8)

Holy crap am I tired this morning. That game last night was the most stressful I have ever watched.

[steve_b]

BRING ON THE YANKS! Oakland scared me a hell of a lot more than the Yanks do.

Be careful for what you wish for! The Yanks can put up some runs. ;)

[nhiker]

BRING ON THE YANKS! Oakland scared me a hell of a lot more than the Yanks do.

Be careful for what you wish for! The Yanks can put up some runs. ;)

I hear you here Steve, but we have to hope our pitching which must be a little tired now can hold out. But if we are hitting that gives us a shot! The offence needs to do there thing. I think that Oakland pitching staff was the best in the AL......and the offence woke up. ??? Hope is the absence of rational thought in the face of overwhelming previous experiance. ::) And if one more freaking color analyst brings up poor Bill Buckner! Christ leave that poor ba$tard alone, please!

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Wow! That's all I can say. I thought for sure Oakland had us after game 2, but this was a series for the ages. The ALCS is gonna be very interesting!

[Mr_Cheeze]

Man, I was so pent up watching that final inning last night. When Williamson walked those two guys, it was, "Oh no, not again. " You see all of those people at Jillians who were all like cannons ready to explode one way or the other. I mean, I couldn't go to sleep for over an hour after the game was over.

And what was with FOX showing that frigging Damon/Jackson replay about 30 times? Christ, enough! They bumped heads, we got it. Then the idiot sideline reporter sounded disappointed after the game when he told of how Theo Epstein didn't want to see the replay of the mishap a second time.

But I don't know about Wednesday night. The Bruins play their season opener. It's going to be a tough call as to whcih game to watch.

::)

[I Are Baboon]

I hear you here Steve, but we have to hope our pitching which must be a little tired now can hold out. But if we are hitting that gives us a shot! The offence needs to do there thing. I think that Oakland pitching staff was the best in the AL......and the offence woke up. ??? Hope is the absence of rational thought in the face of overwhelming previous experiance. ::) And if one more freaking color analyst brings up poor Bill Buckner! Christ leave that poor ba$tard alone, please!


Oakland has SUPERB pitching. Our offense did NOTHING, but we still won the series. If we can get into the Yank bullpen, we are going to score a LOT of runs.

As far as Buckner goes, I wanted to reach into the TV and choke the life out of Steve Lyons. When then guy hit the dribbler foul in the 9th, all we hear is "OHHHH....CAN YOU SAY BILL BUCKNER!?" Steve Lyons is a fucknut.

That 9th inning last night damn near killed me.

[I Are Baboon]

And what was with FOX showing that frigging Damon/Jackson replay about 30 times? Christ, enough! They bumped heads, we got it.

Be happy John Madden was not in the booth with his "Coach's Clicker." :D :D

[If_Rider]

But I don't know about Wednesday night. The Bruins play their season opener. It's going to be a tough call as to whcih game to watch.



Three words - Picture in Picture!! 8)

[nhiker]

Who is the Game 2 starter? I read Lowe is but now I am hereing Burkett!

[Mr_Cheeze]

Just wanted to chime in following the 4-3 loss today. That crap that happened in the 4th inning was bush league, bigtime. It made no sense for Pedro to throw at Karim Garcia. It was obviously intentional. Then the umps warned both benches which was unfair to the Yanks. Then Ramirez goes apeshit when the frigging pitch wasn't anywhere near his head. I just couldn't believe all of that crap. Then to top it off, Zimmer goes after Pedro and get tossed away like a ragdoll. Actually, I thought that was kind of funny after seeing that Zim was ok. He is crazy! Not Pedro's fault there. But it was his action that started the whole thing. And what made it worst of all is that Clemens came away with the win! Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will forever be a Sox fan, but I did not like seeing what I saw in that game. The Yankees proved the better men and team today.

[AGENTGRAPE]

i was at the game yesterday, so far on all the tv highlites they didnt show zimmer pick up pedro from 100 ft put his head down and charge like a dying bull !fists a flailing at pedro 'smack that yankee bitch down' martinez. the old fart was trying to blindside him.then fights started breaking out in the stands cause they shut down every beer concession. it was fugly. too bad a game of this magnitude had to go sour like old milk in the fridge while on vacation.

[JimmyTwoTimes]

DIE GRADY! DIE!!!!!!

[nhiker]

DIE GRADY! DIE!!!!!!


They always find a way dont they! :-\
RIP 2003 Season :'(

[knucklebuste]

Now you see the trend. The Yanks really did it to us this year. Watching that game makes me realize why I don't watch sports. I've never been so stressed out in my life. Every year the Sox do well or exceptionally well and who always puts up the dam that stops the flow? THE YANKEES. Face it. This is something unworldly, beyond our comprehension and the basic #1 fact arising from that is this. The Red Sox can not beat the Yankees. Well, maybee once, maybee twice, but they always knock them back down into the hole where the curse of the Bambino abounds and will prevail for all time to come. The only way in my mind to break the curse is to completely rip down Fenway Park and rebuild it. Then the curse will be gone. But that is unlikely to happen and we can look forward to many, many more years of misery. So I will part, asking you this one final question. Are you on, or are you off?
Knuck

[pmwoodward]

Cowboy Down!!

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Let's get it ooooon again! I'm ready for PAIN. GIMME PAIN!!!

post your predicitions for the AL EAST. Here's mine:

1. Boston
2. New York
3. Toronto
4. Tampa Bay
5. Baltimore

[I Are Baboon]

You have not felt pain until you try ordering Green Monster seats through their secure, "first come, first served, secure online ticket office." AHHHHH!! I wanted to put my first through my monitor this morning!

[I Are Baboon]

PS: No, I did not get tickets. I gave up.


My AL East predictions:
Boston
NYY
Toronto
Tampa Bay
Baltimore

Baltimore will finish last, but will still be above .500.

[nhiker]

;D Bring on the Pain baby!!!!!
Predictions:
NY ::)
Boston :o
Toronto
Baltimore
Tampa bay

[JimmyTwoTimes]

PS: No, I did not get tickets. I gave up.


My AL East predictions:
Boston
NYY
Toronto
Tampa Bay
Baltimore

Baltimore will finish last, but will still be above .500.



Tickets? At Fenway? BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Won't be easy until we get our new park. Should build one at the Seaport District.

[knucklebuste]

GARCIABBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[minkhiller]

I'd like to highjack this thread just long enough to tell Joe Thorton to get well soon, very soon.

[nhiker]

"I'd like to highjack this thread just long enough to tell Joe Thorton to get well soon, very soon."


Hey this is the thread for the otha $hitty Bawstin sports Team!!!! ;D

Lets not mix our beatings....please!

[minkhiller]

Ok Ok...Kevin Millar, get well soon.

[nhiker]

Yea, the way this is going the will be asking me to fill in by june :o ;D ::)

[minkhiller]

Just remember that only high volume tires are allowed on the infield. ;)

[Mr_Cheeze]

Ok, time to revive this thread.

Nine wins in a row and counting with Pedro going tonight versus John "Way Back" Wasdin. Should be in the bag. The Yankees are within sight, 3 1/2 games to date and six games left between the two teams. Think Steinbrenner is a little nervous? I do.

I know. There are those of you who will claim to not want to get on the bandwagon because of some stupid "they'll blow it as usual and I ain't gonna get sucked in" notion? Anybody who believes in this curse of the bambino stuff deserves to be miserable. Jump on the bandwagon and enjoy the ride for what it's worth.

Anybody missing Nomar these days? Anybody willing to admit that they were wrong about how that trade would have worked out?

[ArmOnFire]

What has Ole numbah 5 done in Chi-town?

I like Cabrera(?), and Mienkewicz (?) the sox definately needed a solid 1st baseman.

Trot, get well soon.....


Changing subjects, I think Rohan Davey will be at the un-employment line soon......
The Jags 2nd stringer, Gray looked good, we should try to get him.....

[ArmOnFire]

I heard some story about a kid that was at a game that got hit by a ball, and he happens to live in the Babes old house?

Saying how the curse could be broken?!!!!???

When we fall it is gonna hurt! They are setting us up for another huge disappointment.

Go Sox!

[TA]

Im following the wagon but im still afraid to jump on.
Too painfull.

[gnurider1080]

ive given up on the red sox. im not much of a baseball person anyways. go pats!

[Mr_Cheeze]

bump

Well, looks like the Sox are in, baby! This team has seemed to have peaked at just the right time of year. Here is hoping that they face Oakland or California as opposed to the Twins, who I think may just upset the Empire this time out.

It'll be interesting to see how the rotation plays out. Shilling should definitely start game 1, but Francona has already shown that he, like Grady Little, has this disconcerting overconfidence in Pedro. He may just leave the rotation as is and go with Martinez, Shilling, and probably Lowe and Arroyo, which leaves Pedro for game 5. On the bright side, that would leave Shilling for game 1 of the Pennant series, should they succeed. It's probably too much to hope for a sweep.

[radair]

....It's probably too much to hope for a sweep.


Maybe not!

I just had to knock the political stuff off the top......

GO SOX!

[fvh420]

I have tickets to today's game!! hoping to see the sweep. I had tickets to opening day but I couldn't go, my son was born 4/8/04, 6 months ago today. He was born 10 days early. I had the opening day tickets for months, everyone told us 1st time babies come late so I was surprised when my wife went into labor early. As a result, I couldn't go to the game. I am hoping that karma will smile on me and I can party tonight celebrating the sweep.

Go SOX!!!

[ArmOnFire]

Now you'll always remember you sons birthday

My son was born the last time the Patriots lost!

[ArmOnFire]

Almost forgot,

Have fun at the game

;D

[fvh420]

Thanks...In case you couldn't guess, we had a blast. Hung around after the game for a while, slapped hands with Millar & Manny while hanging over the front row next to the Sox dug out, Shilling gave his hooded sweatshirt to a 7 or 8 year old boy standing next to me. That was one happy kid!

Sox win Friday...riding Lynn Sunday..perfect weekend.

[I Are Baboon]

RED SOX OVER YANKEES IN FIVE.