I'm Tired of Boobirds

Yesterday’s Globe had an article about Mark Bellhorn. It talks about how he had a tough time at the beginning of the playoffs and how the fans got on him, one guy even yelling at him to take himself out of the lineup.

As much as I love being a member of Red Sox Nation, sometimes these people really piss me off. I’m one of the very few people in the world, it seems, who supported Francona’s decision to keep Bellhorn in there because, like him, I had faith that he would come around and play a big role in this thing; and having his bat in the lineup was a better option than having Pokey’s glove.

I’m making a point here, but in the process of making it, I’ll also be shamelessly gloating a little bit.

The Sox won game 6 of the ALCS 4-2. Bellhorn hit that unforgettable 3-run homer that was originally called a double and got overruled. I think it’s safe to say that, had Pokey been in that game instead, there’s a very good chance we don’t go to the World Series.

The Sox won game 1 of the World Series 11-9, thanks to Bellhorn’s 2-run homer in the 8th inning to put us ahead for good. He also reached based 3 other times with a single and 2 walks, and scored 2 other runs. I think it’s safe to say that, had Pokey been playing we may not have won that game, which in turn changes the entire complexion of the series.

He drove in 2 runs in our 6-2 win in game 2.

My point? Like I said, I’m gloating. But more importantly, I think the members of Sox Nation owe this guy an apology. I’m not talking about the ones who doubted him; I can understand that, I just refused to do it myself. I’m talking about the ones who booed him mercilessly at Fenway before he took off.

I am tired of fans booing players who don’t deserve to be booed. A guy like Bellhorn, who you know is a solid player and is out there giving it everything he has, does not need to be booed when he’s struggling. He needs the support of the fans. He needs them to let him know that we’re behind him and we know he’ll come out of it.

These people need to learn when to boo. Booing an ass wipe that deserves it like Barry Bonds is fine, booing the Yankees is fine (it’s usually a show of respect anyway), but don’t boo the home guy when he’s struggling and you know he’s trying like hell to help the team.

NESN showed game 3 of the World Series last night. As I was TiVoing it, I must have watched the Jeff Suppan base running blunder 5 or 6 times, chuckling each time I replayed it. I was actually anticipating this game just so I could do that.

I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. I’m still completely baffled that a Major League ballplayer could look that clueless on the base paths. As I mentioned when it first happened, he looked like a squirrel that can’t make up its mind about crossing the street as you’re bearing down on it in your car.

I’m very happy that Theo and Tito put the hammer down on the A-fraud sniping. It was really starting to get out of control and was looking very unprofessional. The rivalry is great, it’s the best thing in sports IMO, and I love being involved in it. But it’s time to cut the crap and get back to just playing baseball against these guys.

Speaking of the Yankees, what can these two teams possibly do this year to top what happened last year? After what happened in “03” I figured there was absolutely no way they could top that for drama. A Sox victory would obviously make it better for us, but as far as drama goes, I didn’t think it could be any better.

They proved me wrong in “04”. Here in “05” I say it again. There is no way they can possibly top what happened last year. All right guys get out there and prove me wrong again.

Pitchers and Catchers Report

Today is the day. Pitchers and catchers are officially expected to report to Spring Training, followed by position players early next week.

Notables from this year:

This is familiar territory. Yet this year there is something unfamiliar about it. We start the 2005 season as World Champions. Most members of Red Sox Nation have never been in this position before. And for those who have, it was a lifetime ago.

I like it. I don’t care if we have a target on our backs, that every other team in the league is going to be gunning for us and getting up for their games against us a little more. I’ll take it every year, and I’m sure the players feel the same way.

If Pedro were still here it would be another 3 or 4 days before he showed up. But since he’s with a new team he decides to show up to their camp 10 days early. On the other hand, D-Lowe is also no longer with us but we can’t get him out of our training facility.

Nixon has already been down there for about a week after a tough season of injuries, just another reason to love the guy. And as always, Tek has been down there for a few days already, doing what he always does, another reason to love him too.

Everyone is talking about how this is only the second time in the history of the NHL that the Stanley Cup will not be awarded. It’s not being blamed on the flu epidemic of 1919 that killed over 20 million people, forcing the cancellation of the championship series, and the lockout of 04, 05 that cancelled the entire season. It’s being blamed on the Red Sox. We were the defending champions in baseball both times, so now it’s our fault.

It makes perfect sense to me. A lot of people have blamed a lot of bad things on the Red Sox in the past, so why not this?

For anyone who is not watching ABC’s “Lost”, first of all, you are missing one of the best shows on TV, and one of the very few shows that I watch and actually look forward to seeing every week.

Secondly, there were 2 references to the Sox winning it all. In a flashback scene, the dad of one of the characters, Jack, mentions that, “people need to be miserable, which is the reason the Red Sox will never win the World Series” (the scene takes place before October 2004). Later on, Jack (who has been stranded on this island since about September of “04” and does not know it finally happened) mentions it, saying that it was something his dad always said.

It was done as part of the plot twist, but anything could have been used in its place, so it was great that they went with this piece of irony. I got a laugh out of it

I’m tired of the steroid scandal and what to do about all of the records and awards that may or may not have been influenced by steroids. The past is the past, we can’t change it, and it’s time to move forward.

We have a system in place now to prevent steroid use in the game from this point on. I know it’s not perfect, but it’s a start. There’s no sense in wondering who did what. Each person can decide on their own what they want to believe and what records and awards they want to honor.

Let’s just “play ball”.

Red Sox management is now talking about presenting the World Series rings to the players on a different day, other than Opening Day, when we are not playing the Yankees, out of respect for the fact that they’re the team we beat for the AL Pennant.

What?

Give me a break please. John, Tom, and Larry, you guys are awesome and have done so many good things here since you’ve come aboard. Please abandon this plan immediately.

It’s Opening Day at Fenway. We raise the World Series Championship banner and give out the rings. And we make a big production out of it. It’s not our fault that MLB scheduled the Yankees as the team to be there for it. Do you think Steinbrenner and Co. would have given any thought to us if it had been the other way around?

Not that that should be what makes it right. It’s right because we’re World Champions and we have the right to celebrate our World Championship on Opening Day of the following season, just like every other team does.

Steinbrenner doesn’t give a crap about us; so let’s not let him dictate how we celebrate our championship.

Looking forward to Opening Day and celebrating our World Championship.

“The Truck” Leaves Today

The Red Sox equipment truck is heading down to Fort Myers today. It’s a holiday in Red Sox Nation. Not because we’re World Champions, because it’s a rite of spring, it’s tradition. It’s a big deal around here and it always has been.

Forget about Ground Hog Day, in these parts, THIS is the sign that spring (and baseball) is around the corner. Pitchers and catchers report next week.

Here we are, still about 7 weeks away from Opening Day, but only 5 days removed from the Pats winning their 3rd Superbowl in 4 years, and the Sox are what everyone is talking about. We have a college basketball team in town that has won their first 20 games of the season (before finally losing one) and are ranked number 4 in the country, and everyone is talking about the Sox.

And again, it has nothing to do with the fact that we’re World Champions. It would be this way anyway. The World Champion part just makes it sweeter.

This doesn’t happen with any other professional sports team in the country. It’s still amazing to me that I’m only one of millions of people who have this much passion for this team.

Pedro Martinez should take a lesson from Tom Brady (or any of the other Patriots for that matter) on how to conduct himself, as both a teammate and a sports superstar. But then again, he doesn’t play for us anymore so I really don’t give a crap.

Bill Mueller had his knee scoped again. They say he should be ready by Opening Day. I’ve also read that this could be one of those things he has to deal with for the rest of his career, occasionally needing to get it done. I hope it doesn’t cost him much time, now or in the future.

Although Youkilis can fill in for him and would probably do fine, I want Mueller in the lineup. In his 2 years here, he has become not only one of my favorite Sox players, but one of my favorite baseball players period. I love everything about this guy; he’s the epitome of what a ballplayer (and a person) should be.

I also hope we keep him around a while longer after his contract ends this year.

Dammit! I screwed up with my TiVo last night and missed the first 15 minutes of Game 7, including Damon’s leadoff homerun.

I end with a question,

If Theo Epstein and Bill Belichick ran for governor of Massachusetts, who would win?

It Starts Again Tonight

NESN's "World Series Winter" finally gets good tonight with Game 4 of the "04" ALCS, you know, the one with the stolen base.

I've been watching a little bit of the first 3 games, but it was very tough to get into them, knowing how they were going to end. On the other hand, it was also fun to watch some of the reactions of Yankee players and fans, knowing how the series was ultimately going to turn out.

I haven't seen any of these games since they were first played, it never occurred to me to record them. Thanks to NESN, I now have that chance. I will be TiVoing (which will soon be a word if it isn't already) the last four ALCS games and all four World Series games, then transferring them to DVD to keep forever.

It all starts again tonight with the Millar walk, the Roberts stolen base, the Mueller single, and a few innings later, Papi's blast into the seats.

I can't wait to watch it all again.