Thoughts for a Friday

1. Continuing the debate from earlier this week... Is there any doubt that Millar will get a standing ovation tonight? As GR pointed out, the circumstances are different (non-NY, Sox did not want him back). However, this is likely to spark more questions to/ comments from Damon (probably in the paper on Sunday).

Dumb reporter A: Did you see that Millar got an ovation from the Sox fans? After seeing that reaction do you feel any differently?

Dumb baseball player A: Kevin was lucky that he had me go first and show him how to tip his cap to the Fenway crowd.

2. As bad as it is to see the Sox offense struggle, imagine being KC, who basically have 5 regulars batting below .200.

3. What the hell happened to Dustan Mohr?

I Can't Wait for the Album

The Onion has done it again. With a hot breaking news story.

Uggla

I've been meaning to post this for weeks now, but this guy is awesome.

I'll Try to Get My Sox News From Somewhere Else

Like here...

The newspapers and radio stations in this town (Boston) have gone insane. Now that the idiots are gone, and have been replaced by those who carry themselves like professionals, it is next to impossible for the reporters to create controversy.

Yes, Manny will not run everything out, and Loretta doesn't dive to knock down grounders with runners on second (allowing them to score), but you can't dislike the personalities on this Sox team.

And it is killing the writers and talk show guys...

The newest thing the writers do is bash the front office. While they are trying to keep ticket prices somewhat reasonable (and from an economic stance, if you can get $200 for a seat, and only charge $100, you are hurting your organization) by finding other revenue to avoid the aforementioned $200 price tags, they are getting killed for it.

Conspiracy theories abound...The latest and greatest? That the Sox KNEW that game against the Yankees was going to get rained out the other night, but let fans in to sell drinks and food and hats, etc...

Now, here's why that is garbage. If that were the case, they could have put off calling that game for another hour or so. The game was called at 7:45 or so. Second, it was against the Yankees, and they probably make a ton of money on advertising on NESN. The Yankees have the same deal with the YES Network. It pays for BOTH organizations to play that game.

Finally (although there are probably many more practical reasons), ARAMARK, the concession stand vendors pay UP FRONT every year for the right to sell food and drinks at Fenway. That means that the front office doesn't benefit from sales from each game. Rather, they get a lump some (like rent from the vendor) before the season starts.

Check out CHB's column today...or the Herald...or D and C on EEI. All ridiculous.

This could be over before it starts

Reports are that the Stros have offered Clemens his same $18 MM salary pro-rated over the remaining portion of the season. The offered coupled with the Stros strong start would, to me, make them very likely to retain his services.

Clean Your Own House First, Joe.

So Torre was disappointed that the Sox fans booed Damon. ''I'm a little disappointed in the reaction by the fans," Torre said. ''I guess we should feel proud. Evidently, wearing a Yankee uniform overrides winning a World Series and busting your tail for four years. Without Johnny here, they may have been working on 89 or 90 years."

Hmmm. Surely the Yankee fans would be so much above that. Has Torre forgotten only one year ago. fresh on the heals of having blown a couple of fairly important games in October 2004 and starting the season with two blown saves also against the Sox. well, Yankee fans booed Rivera. And the season before, Jeter was mired in an 0-30 slump at one point and the Yankee "fans" booed him as well.

So thanks for the lecture Joe. Red Sox Nation. Perfect we are not. But don't go throwing stones in your own glass house.

Sweep!!!!

I was wrong. I thought, coming in, that a split was the most probably result, but the Sox pulled off the early season sweep.

Actually this is one more reason that the two game series is stupid. The Sox should have waited about three hours so that the Yankees would not get into TB until 3 AM. But seriously it is now going to be a 5 game set in August, which should be entertaining and could set the tone for the last 6 weeks of the season. I like that a lot.

Waaahhhhhhhh

Usually I my posts about Sox articles by this guy involve some incredibly awesome pun like "Chasshole". (Get it?!? It sounds like "asshole"! But it's also his name!!!! Isn't that, like, incredibly awesome?) But this article is just too pathetic. I mean, you can practically hear his whining coming through the computer screen.

Warmest Reception on a Chilly Night!

Welcome back, Doug Mirabelli!!! In a trade for Josh Bard and Cla Meredith, the Red Sox have re-acquired Doug. Oh, and cash...

I can hear all the people on EEI now...For weeks they've been clamoring for a Mirabelli deal. Big-O, and the rest all said it would never happen and that it would look desperate if it did...So, let the desperate shouts begin...Who cares? With the way Wake has been pitching, and how Mirabelli can catch him, let another pitcher who can win games enter the fray.

Now if we can only hit before the ninth inning.

I can't wait for Doug to get the biggest cheer out of Fenway tonight. As opposed to that Damon guy. It is unfortunate that he couldn't keep his mouth closed after he left.

Warm reception on a chilly night?

Joe and Jerry (Castiglione and Trupiano) during yesterdays game talked about Damon's reception tonight. They both thought that he would initially be received with a round of applause, but after his first at bat he becomes a Yankee.

This IS the news story of the day, at least in Boston. Taking a quick run through the stories in each city:

NY times leads with this story about how Damon is helping to relieve tension in the clubhouse (Don't ask me for the details).

NY Times also has an interesting piece on Wake and catching him

NY Daily News leads with the sports page on Damon's return

Globe has this drivel from Shaughnessy, which starts out about the rivalry and turns to Johnny Damon, "center of the universe"

The Herald has this piece that's similar to the NYtimes piece (e.g. "The same old idiot") but is focused on his return

Finally, Yahoo didn't even let Passan take a crack, instead off loaded it to an AP writer. By the way, Passan writes about Kim Ng the assistant GM for the Dodgers. Kudos to Passan, the Ng story is WAY more interesting than the Damon drivel.

So, will Damon have a warm reception?