A funny thing happened to me this weekend while visiting home. I had THREE people tell me my blog needs to be updated. You know what that means? The SDMBTA Nation has grown to 4 people now!!!
I was perfectly content with giving the blog a rest after the Sox season came to an end, and then apply the defibrillator to it come Spring Training. I honestly didn't think I would have anything really interesting to say until then (not that I ever do). But lately there have been a number of things that have come about that I could write about.
I could write about my substitute Chicago teams. How the Bears do not resemble the Bears, with a competent QB and a shitty defense. How the Bulls are going to suck this year, yet why I'm going to be naming my firstborn son Derrick Rose Anderson. How the Blackhawks have been equally frustrating and exciting in the early stages of their season.
I could write on how I might be the only person outside of Philadelphia NOT rooting for Tampa. And trust me, it has nothing to do with the Rays beating the Sox. Simply put, their stadium and fans suck and they don't deserve a baseball team.
I could write about this past weekend, and how thoroughly disappointed I am in myself for not putting JK in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. How several weeks ago, while blind drunk I got my ass kicked on the dartboard (I'm not good at many things, but this is one of them). And how this past Friday night, I redeemed myself by whipping out the 45 jersey and dropped 55 points on the previous victor. Or why steak fijitas are a bad idea after a rousing night of drinking. Or why booze and catching cell phones off a second story balcony don't mix (the Razr literally exploded, but my new phone is cooler anyway).
I could write a long overdue homage to Paul Newman, one of my all-time favorite actors and the main star of two movies in my top 5.
I could write about some promising developments in the female department (one of them is a tall brunette). How I have a sick fetish for ballcaps and my collection has now grown to 27, but is missing a certain LA Dodger cap. Or how my Skoal addiction is getting out of control.
I could write about how this semester is thoroughly kicking my ass, and making me poor in the process. Why buying new PS3 games during said semester is a very bad idea. Or why GH World Tour (T-minus 4 days!!!) might be my ultimate downfall.
I could write about my new house I'm moving into in January, and how it might be the coolest house ever built. On second thought, that deserves it's own post, and will be done closer to move-in day.
So there are a lot of things I could post about. But I'll pass on all that for now. Frank TV is on!!!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The days are bright and filled with pain... Enclose me in your gentle rain... The time you ran was too insane... We'll meet again, we'll meet again
So my lone blog reader got on my case yesterday about slacking on my posts. This statement stunned me.
I have a reader?
Anyway, I know I've been slacking. School, work, and Call of Duty 4 have been taking priority post-Soxtober. On top of that, I really haven't had anything profound or interesting to say. The Sox simply got beat by a better team that deserved to punch their ALCS ticket. When Game 4 ended and the Rays stormed the field, I wasn't angry or heartbroken. I knew going into the series that the Sox would have to play out of their minds to beat Tampa. It just didn't happen.
Having watched this team all year long, especially when all the injuries hit, I knew what this team was. An overpaid softball team that somehow made the playoffs. They relied way too much on the long ball, and it was their undoing in the playoffs. When they couldn't hit any home runs, they had to string together multiple hits just to score a run. And they proved that throughout the series. To be honest, I was glad they at least took one game, showing the same heart and fight they did all year.
Those last three games of the regular season were like the playoffs to me. Intense, full of drama, and exciting. I was too hungover and napped through most of the Cleveland game, but the Detroit and Minnesota games were the most exciting games any of my Chicago teams had played in 3 years. It's highly likely they just expended too much energy in those games and just ran out of gas.
It was a thrilling, unexpected year. Full of plenty ups and downs. I'm proud of them for exceeding expectations, and for showing heart when their backs were to the wall.
But this isn't to say I was content with them losing in the ALDS. In fact, I was little disappointed. Sackless couldn't have possibly thrown a better game in Game 1, so that was a lost cause. But Game 2 was theirs. They had Kazmir against the ropes in the early innings, and they repeatedly let him regroup. It was frustrating. Tampa didn't win Game 2, the Sox lost it. But had they won it, and then Danks followed with his Game 3 gem, who knows what happens. Pink might have pitched better in Game 4, the hitters might have relaxed and hit more, and Tampa may have shriveled under the pressure. But we'll never know.
But this year's club taught me many things. Among them:
1. Ozzie is a much better manager than he gets credit for.
2. TCQ and Alexei are absolute studs.
3. While I will certainly miss Crede, Uribe earned the 3rd base job next year.
4. John Danks is stealing my heart from Mark Buehrle.
5. They desperately need a centerfielder/leadoff man.
6. I'm actually looking forward to seeing more of Clayton Kerosene.
7. Paulie's best days are long gone and Swish deserves the 1st base job.
8. AJ is a douche but wins games.
9. Pink is the ace of the staff.
10. My next big Sox purchase will be a Danks jersey.
So that's it. The playoff beard has been shaven. My lucky Ozzie jersey has a date with the wash machine. Ratty hat deserves a break. It was a fun season, I was glad to witness it. Kenny will make some moves, and the key pieces are there for another run next year.
And the Sox exiting the playoffs are a good thing. School is getting tougher, the Bears are leading a very winnable division, the Hawks drop the puck tomorrow (which I am downright schoolgirl-giddy about), the Derrick Rose Bulls are around the corner, and Guitar Hero 4 drops in 16 days. Oh, and one more thing.
134 days until Sox pitchers and catchers report for spring training.
I have a reader?
Anyway, I know I've been slacking. School, work, and Call of Duty 4 have been taking priority post-Soxtober. On top of that, I really haven't had anything profound or interesting to say. The Sox simply got beat by a better team that deserved to punch their ALCS ticket. When Game 4 ended and the Rays stormed the field, I wasn't angry or heartbroken. I knew going into the series that the Sox would have to play out of their minds to beat Tampa. It just didn't happen.
Having watched this team all year long, especially when all the injuries hit, I knew what this team was. An overpaid softball team that somehow made the playoffs. They relied way too much on the long ball, and it was their undoing in the playoffs. When they couldn't hit any home runs, they had to string together multiple hits just to score a run. And they proved that throughout the series. To be honest, I was glad they at least took one game, showing the same heart and fight they did all year.
Those last three games of the regular season were like the playoffs to me. Intense, full of drama, and exciting. I was too hungover and napped through most of the Cleveland game, but the Detroit and Minnesota games were the most exciting games any of my Chicago teams had played in 3 years. It's highly likely they just expended too much energy in those games and just ran out of gas.
It was a thrilling, unexpected year. Full of plenty ups and downs. I'm proud of them for exceeding expectations, and for showing heart when their backs were to the wall.
But this isn't to say I was content with them losing in the ALDS. In fact, I was little disappointed. Sackless couldn't have possibly thrown a better game in Game 1, so that was a lost cause. But Game 2 was theirs. They had Kazmir against the ropes in the early innings, and they repeatedly let him regroup. It was frustrating. Tampa didn't win Game 2, the Sox lost it. But had they won it, and then Danks followed with his Game 3 gem, who knows what happens. Pink might have pitched better in Game 4, the hitters might have relaxed and hit more, and Tampa may have shriveled under the pressure. But we'll never know.
But this year's club taught me many things. Among them:
1. Ozzie is a much better manager than he gets credit for.
2. TCQ and Alexei are absolute studs.
3. While I will certainly miss Crede, Uribe earned the 3rd base job next year.
4. John Danks is stealing my heart from Mark Buehrle.
5. They desperately need a centerfielder/leadoff man.
6. I'm actually looking forward to seeing more of Clayton Kerosene.
7. Paulie's best days are long gone and Swish deserves the 1st base job.
8. AJ is a douche but wins games.
9. Pink is the ace of the staff.
10. My next big Sox purchase will be a Danks jersey.
So that's it. The playoff beard has been shaven. My lucky Ozzie jersey has a date with the wash machine. Ratty hat deserves a break. It was a fun season, I was glad to witness it. Kenny will make some moves, and the key pieces are there for another run next year.
And the Sox exiting the playoffs are a good thing. School is getting tougher, the Bears are leading a very winnable division, the Hawks drop the puck tomorrow (which I am downright schoolgirl-giddy about), the Derrick Rose Bulls are around the corner, and Guitar Hero 4 drops in 16 days. Oh, and one more thing.
134 days until Sox pitchers and catchers report for spring training.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
And while I'm bitching about Sackless Vazquez...
In addition to watching most of the Sox game today, I've been watching a lot of the other games too. You know what I love the most?
Watching 37 Frank TV promos during every fucking commercial break. TBS is making a grave mistake by force-feeding viewers so much of this shit. Do they really think we'll want to watch his stupid show after all those promos? There's a thing called backlash. If the public gets too much coverage of something, they inevitably turn against it and stop paying attention. It's not once in awhile. It happens every fucking time.
There's no question this guy is funny and good with his impersonations. But does he deserve a fucking sitcom??? Impersonations are funny in stand-up routines. But not 30-minute sitcoms.
During the last commercial break, TBS opened it with a Frank TV promo, showed a Dish Network commercial with Frank, and then closed the break with another god damn Frank TV spot. I'm getting really fucking sick of this.
Fuck off, TBS.
Watching 37 Frank TV promos during every fucking commercial break. TBS is making a grave mistake by force-feeding viewers so much of this shit. Do they really think we'll want to watch his stupid show after all those promos? There's a thing called backlash. If the public gets too much coverage of something, they inevitably turn against it and stop paying attention. It's not once in awhile. It happens every fucking time.
There's no question this guy is funny and good with his impersonations. But does he deserve a fucking sitcom??? Impersonations are funny in stand-up routines. But not 30-minute sitcoms.
During the last commercial break, TBS opened it with a Frank TV promo, showed a Dish Network commercial with Frank, and then closed the break with another god damn Frank TV spot. I'm getting really fucking sick of this.
Fuck off, TBS.
ALDS Game 1: Rays 6, Javier Vazquez's testicles 0
Let me just come right out and say this. I never want to see Sackless Vazquez pitch another game in a Sox uni. Ever. Never, never, never, never, never, never. NEVER AGAIN.
I've had it with that sackless, choking, overrated, shrinking loser. He sucks. Need a pitcher for a meaningless Spring Training game? Javy's your man. Big, important, critical game? Javy should be reglegated to cheerleading duties. Or at least batting practice pitcher. After the game, Sackless said: "I thought I threw the ball much better than the past three games, but still I didn't get the job done and that's the bottom line."
Really, dickhead? Guess what? I've heard that same response for FOUR FUCKING GAMES IN A ROW. And not just any four games. THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT GAMES OF THE SEASON.
Here's hoping Vazquez stays in Tampa and never finds his way back to Chicago. Go away, and don't ever come back, jackass.
What pisses me off is that Buehrle, Pink, and Danks pitch the games of their lives this past week, and this is what we get for that effort?
Not that the Sox had much of a choice. The big three were obviously out of the question. They manned up so hard earlier this week, they deserve a four day rest.
I listened to some of the postgame on the radio, and a lot of Sox fans were saying Clayton Kerosene deserved the start. I find that statement a little amusing. I understand that Clayton is lefty, and Tampa has struggled against lefties, but are you really going to trust a 25 year-old rookie with the Game 1 start? That's asking a lot. Yes he pitched well today in long relief, and his saving of the bullpen was admirable. But starting is a completely different ballgame. He came in the game when it was already 6-3, and Tampa likely laid off the accelerator at that point. Clayton can afford to be a little more aggressive in that situation. But when it's 0-0, completely different.
The game wasn't terrible. The Sox got some hits, briefly rallied, and might have tied it had they gotten a clutch hit or two. But once again, the clutch hit was nowhere to be found. They relied on the long ball too much. Give credit to Tampa's bullpen, in particular Balfour and Howell, who were completely unhittable. Had Sackless actually performed like a major-league pitcher, and had a decent outing, we might have had a chance. But that's like asking a dog to quack. It will never happen.
We still have four more games, two at the Cell, and three pitchers who actually don't shrivel on the big stage. It's not over.
The Rays knocked you guys down today. Pick yourself up, and go kick their asses tomorrow. You're good at that.
I've had it with that sackless, choking, overrated, shrinking loser. He sucks. Need a pitcher for a meaningless Spring Training game? Javy's your man. Big, important, critical game? Javy should be reglegated to cheerleading duties. Or at least batting practice pitcher. After the game, Sackless said: "I thought I threw the ball much better than the past three games, but still I didn't get the job done and that's the bottom line."
Really, dickhead? Guess what? I've heard that same response for FOUR FUCKING GAMES IN A ROW. And not just any four games. THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT GAMES OF THE SEASON.
Here's hoping Vazquez stays in Tampa and never finds his way back to Chicago. Go away, and don't ever come back, jackass.
What pisses me off is that Buehrle, Pink, and Danks pitch the games of their lives this past week, and this is what we get for that effort?
Not that the Sox had much of a choice. The big three were obviously out of the question. They manned up so hard earlier this week, they deserve a four day rest.
I listened to some of the postgame on the radio, and a lot of Sox fans were saying Clayton Kerosene deserved the start. I find that statement a little amusing. I understand that Clayton is lefty, and Tampa has struggled against lefties, but are you really going to trust a 25 year-old rookie with the Game 1 start? That's asking a lot. Yes he pitched well today in long relief, and his saving of the bullpen was admirable. But starting is a completely different ballgame. He came in the game when it was already 6-3, and Tampa likely laid off the accelerator at that point. Clayton can afford to be a little more aggressive in that situation. But when it's 0-0, completely different.
The game wasn't terrible. The Sox got some hits, briefly rallied, and might have tied it had they gotten a clutch hit or two. But once again, the clutch hit was nowhere to be found. They relied on the long ball too much. Give credit to Tampa's bullpen, in particular Balfour and Howell, who were completely unhittable. Had Sackless actually performed like a major-league pitcher, and had a decent outing, we might have had a chance. But that's like asking a dog to quack. It will never happen.
We still have four more games, two at the Cell, and three pitchers who actually don't shrivel on the big stage. It's not over.
The Rays knocked you guys down today. Pick yourself up, and go kick their asses tomorrow. You're good at that.
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not... We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love...we’ll give it a shot!
I'm still having a difficult time grasping this whole "Sox made the playoffs" thing. To think about where they were a few days ago, clinging to the faintest of playoff hopes, still stunned over that horrific Twins series. Ozzie said it himself, "our heads were hanging when we left Minnesota."
I still haven't come down from the last three games. That Detroit game was exhausting in its own right, the Sox looking beaten until Alexei's dramatic grand slam. And the Minnesota game? One of the greatest games I have ever witnessed. Both teams were so locked in, the slightest mistake could decide the game--and it did. I was emotionally spent after that game, and I still am. Just thinking about how hard this team fought, and what they overcame to get here.
So now Game 1 of the ALDS starts in about two hours. I don't really know what to think. I'm thrilled they made it, but I'm really not sure what to make of their chances. For starters, Tampa is an awesome team, they play out of their minds at home, they're young, quick, and opportunistic. Essentially, they're like the Twins, but better. Their pitching is great, and they have clutch power hitters too.
While the Rays can win in a number of ways, the Sox are pretty limited in their approach. They're a softball team playing in a professional baseball league. They need some clutch extra base hits and their pitching to come through. But I'm not really confident with Nuke Vazquez getting the start today.
But whatever happens, happens. I'm not going to give myself a stroke if this team gets swept. I'm going to enjoy seeing them in the playoffs, and see if they can prolong this magical ride. Because I look at two things. For starters, they weren't supposed to be here in the first place. Nobody saw this coming. The Tigers or Indians were supposed to be here instead. Secondly, I'm still so happy and proud of them for how they battled back these last few games. In a sense, they're playing with the house's money. Nobody expected them to contend, nobody thought they'd pull off that dramatic three-game streak, and nobody expects them to beat the Rays.
I do think they have a chance in the series. Not a great one, because they have to fire on all cylinders, make no mistakes, and hope Tampa hurts themselves with any playoff jitters. The Sox suck in domes, on turf, on the road, and against Tampa this year. But Buehrle, Pink, and Danks have testicles the size of mountains, so maybe they can lend some to Javy. Thome and Griff have to be motivated. Paulie, JD, and AJ are playoff vets, and Alexei continues to shine as this season wears on.
So maybe I'm grasping at straws. Maybe this series will be a disaster. But whether the Sox get swept or they win the World Series, I'll enjoy it no matter what.
But it is October, and strange things happen all the time. As Wesley Snipes once said in Passenger 57:
Wesley: "Ever play roulette?"
Terrorist: "On occasion."
Wesley: "Always bet on black!"
I still haven't come down from the last three games. That Detroit game was exhausting in its own right, the Sox looking beaten until Alexei's dramatic grand slam. And the Minnesota game? One of the greatest games I have ever witnessed. Both teams were so locked in, the slightest mistake could decide the game--and it did. I was emotionally spent after that game, and I still am. Just thinking about how hard this team fought, and what they overcame to get here.
So now Game 1 of the ALDS starts in about two hours. I don't really know what to think. I'm thrilled they made it, but I'm really not sure what to make of their chances. For starters, Tampa is an awesome team, they play out of their minds at home, they're young, quick, and opportunistic. Essentially, they're like the Twins, but better. Their pitching is great, and they have clutch power hitters too.
While the Rays can win in a number of ways, the Sox are pretty limited in their approach. They're a softball team playing in a professional baseball league. They need some clutch extra base hits and their pitching to come through. But I'm not really confident with Nuke Vazquez getting the start today.
But whatever happens, happens. I'm not going to give myself a stroke if this team gets swept. I'm going to enjoy seeing them in the playoffs, and see if they can prolong this magical ride. Because I look at two things. For starters, they weren't supposed to be here in the first place. Nobody saw this coming. The Tigers or Indians were supposed to be here instead. Secondly, I'm still so happy and proud of them for how they battled back these last few games. In a sense, they're playing with the house's money. Nobody expected them to contend, nobody thought they'd pull off that dramatic three-game streak, and nobody expects them to beat the Rays.
I do think they have a chance in the series. Not a great one, because they have to fire on all cylinders, make no mistakes, and hope Tampa hurts themselves with any playoff jitters. The Sox suck in domes, on turf, on the road, and against Tampa this year. But Buehrle, Pink, and Danks have testicles the size of mountains, so maybe they can lend some to Javy. Thome and Griff have to be motivated. Paulie, JD, and AJ are playoff vets, and Alexei continues to shine as this season wears on.
So maybe I'm grasping at straws. Maybe this series will be a disaster. But whether the Sox get swept or they win the World Series, I'll enjoy it no matter what.
But it is October, and strange things happen all the time. As Wesley Snipes once said in Passenger 57:
Wesley: "Ever play roulette?"
Terrorist: "On occasion."
Wesley: "Always bet on black!"
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