Thursday, October 31, 2013

Red Sox Win the World Series - Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts about the Red Sox winning the World Series.

This was the front page of the Boston Herald this morning... A lot of things had to break right for the Red Sox to win this year but Koji Uehara emerging as one of the most unhittable closers in baseball was one of the biggest. Uehara my sunshine, my only sunshine... It is a lifetime of columns like this why I viscerally hate Dan Shaughnessy. I also remember how he said putting seats on the Green Monster was an abomination that was going to ruin the park... One more reason to love John Farrell - when he came out after the game to accept the trophy - he wasn't wearing one of the cheesy t-shirts or hats that have become ubiquitous at these events. I've grown to hate those hats and shirts almost as much as Dan Shaughnessy. Almost... How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Fox Sports microphone pop?... Sad to think that last night babies were born in New England hospitals and those babies have never witnessed a Red Sox World Series championship. Won't someone please think of the babies!... Semi-sad to think that some key players from the 2013 team won't be around next year. Stephen Drew will be replaced, Jacoby Ellsbury most likely will be gone as a free agent, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia who is also a free agent (though his departure is not as sure as Ellsbury)...

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Boston Sports

Since Y2K the Patriots have won 3 Super Bowls, the Red Sox have won 2 World Series, the Celtics won the NBA Championship, and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup. In addition since 2000 Boston College won 4 NCAA Hockey Championships and Boston University added another.

Every year Boston is host to the Boston Marathon and the Head of the Charles - two of the preeminent events in those sports in the world. Plus the Bean Pot college hockey tournament which is on the bucket list of events to attend of hockey fans everywhere.

The above doesn't even count this year's Red Sox team which is currently leading the World Series 3 games to 2 with the Series returning to Fenway Park.

I bring all this up because I can't stop thinking how blessed Boston sports fans have been. If there is any solace or hope for St Louis fans - since Y2K every major sports team in Boston except the Red Sox has also lost in the finals of their sport. If the Red Sox end up losing you won't hear me complain. The team has already delivered way more than any fan had a right to expect his season.

Besides - given all that has happened in recent Boston sports who would have any sympathy for us? When it comes to sports opulence - we has it.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Top 5 Living Red Sox Players

Here's who I consider the Top 5 living Red Sox players.

1. Carl Yastrzemski

2. Pedro Martinez

3. Jim Rice

4. David Ortiz

5. Tie: Dustin Pedroia, Dwight Evans, and Freddy Lynn

Missing the list - Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs. Clemens misses the list because of steroids and playing for the Yankees. Boggs misses the list because he's a douche (why do you think you never see him around Fenway Park - the team doesn't want him around).

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- McDonald's is discontinuing the Dollar Menu. I blame Obama.

- Groom halts own wedding with a bomb scare. He should have just eloped.

- Nintendo is discontinuing the Wii. That makes me sad.

- Cool - Oregon to California in 5 minutes. I love videos like this.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

There are 6-years old kids in New England who have never seen a Red Sox win a World Series! Won't someone please think of the children!... Very cool - how cereal transformed American culture... You have to read the article and then watch the video. The whole thing is very cool. That song is awesome... If the Red Sox do win the World Series - many people will be comparing John Farrell's time in Toronto to Bill Belichick's time in Cleveland... Awesome headline... Creedence Clearwater's Born on the Bayou has a ton of Cowbell. I wonder if they used Blue Oyster Cult's record producer...

Sorry for the Lack of Posting


Sorry for the lack of posting. So here's a picture of Johnny Cash eating cake.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Who knew? The first scientist was a woman. Before Mary Somerville - people were called "men of science".

- Top nuclear missile commanders fired! Poker News has more detail on the poker cheat Admiral. Have to wonder if this scumbag cheated other Navy men at cards while at sea.

- Story about a guy with a nematode in his mouth. Clicked to find out what a nematode was and was mesmerized by story.

- Very cool - Loki does impression of Owen Wilson doing Loki

- Heh heh - Swedish police speed up escalator on soccer hooligans

Monday, October 14, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Holy crap! What a great way to wake up in the morning! I went to bed when the Red Sox were losing 5-1 and I find out this morning they won 6-5! Holy crap!... Not sure what it says about me but I found Boy Dance Party pretty funny... I think in real life you would have to feed a Ticket Oak newborn infants at midnight on a full moon for the magic to actually work... Can you blame me for going to bed early? Boston fans already had their great comeback for the day when Tom Brady threw a TD pass with almost no time left to beat New Orleans and make Rob Ryan react like this...  Have you seen that "Hey lady that's diesel!" commercial? I hope some blonde out there mis-understands the point and puts diesel into her car... Heh heh - vintage birth control... Confession - when I was a kid I thought dining "al fresco" meant eating while wearing no underwear. Now as an adult when I hear a woman suggesting eating al fresco I immediately think she has no panties... Either the smartest or luckiest seal in in the world... I hope Boston sports fans realize how truly blessed we are... Do you want to see pictures of beautiful women wearing nothing but milk? Of course you do...

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The Red Sox Magic Number is now 8... God bless Fisher House. How can any politician say they support the troops while allowing military death benefits to go unpaid - especially when things like the Congressional gym remain open?... Love Nathan Fillion - it's great that he Tweeted this GIF of himself... Was Clint Eastwood right when he described President Obama as an empty chair? How do you negotiate with an empty chair?... Sorry Giants fans but this is funny... A Sequester in Ancient Rome was a man who held a bribe for a client until a politician delivered upon his promise. The more things change the more things remain the same... Cool simplified explanation of what the Higgs-Boson is all about... Is Larry Bird really so cheap that he has to resort to stealing other people's Chicken McNuggets?... Ha ha - this is awesome. Gotta love hockey...

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Player Comparison

Here's a player comparison I've been thinking of these past few days:

Player A - .272 BA/ .370 OBP/ .470 SLG/ .840 OPS/ 127 OPS+
Player B - .283 BA/ .359 OBP/ .496 SLG/ .854 OPS/ 122 OPS+

Pretty close right? How about compiled numbers?

Player A - 1470 R / 385 HR / 1384 RBI / 78 SB
Player B - 1346 R / 358 HR / 1327 RBI / 308 SB

Player A played 2606 games while Player B has played 2064 games and is still playing. Very good chance that Player B passes Player A if he stays healthy but playing healthy has always been a concern with Player B. It should be noted that Player A was an 8-time Gold Glove winner and is regarded as one of the best all-around defenders at his position in baseball history. Player B has 3 Gold Gloves.

Player A is Dwight Evans and he's not going into the Hall of Fame. Player B is Carlos Beltran and all those people thinking he's a Hall of Famer need to take a deep breath.

Sunday, October 06, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The Red Sox post-season magic number now stands at 9... If they ever made a live-action Sponge Bob movie - Ben Kingsley would be my choice to play Squidward... Dr. J and John Havlicek, shirtless and wearing sombreros... Just saying but the big problem for the Jets has been turnovers. Tim Tebow never turned over the ball... If I were President - I would make Bill Belichick my Press Secretary. Those White House briefings would be epic!.... By the same token - Bill Belichick should get Hodor to fill in for him at Patriots press conferences. Same amount of information but more entertaining... Is Carlos Beltran a Hall of Famer? How did Bernie Williams do on the HoF ballot? Oh yeah - that's right...

The New National Anthem - Free Bird

If I were in Congress every April 1st I would propose a law changing the National Anthem to Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird. I think that would be great. I bet you would get a lot of Congressional support for the law from the South too.

How great would it be if the law went into effect prior to the next Olympic Games? Imagine other countries having to sit through 9 minutes of Southern Rock each time a US Olympian medaled - or would that be metaled? Imagine proud US citizens playing air guitar while the world watched - each citizen putting their own stamp on the guitar anthem. It would be awesome.

Already the words "Free Bird" are a joke/insult to most musicians or bands - how ironic would it be if they all had to actually learn to play the song? Play Free Bird would take on a whole new meaning and level of hostility from other bands.

Too bad I'm not in Congress.



Saturday, October 05, 2013

Boom Boom - Out Go the Lights

Was driving home the other night and scanning through the radio I came upon Pat Travers Boom Boom Out Go the Lights.



Always liked the song but I think this is the first time I ever really listened to the lyrics and realized he's talking about punching his girlfriend. Holy crap! And the crowd eats it up. Really was a eye opener. It also got me thinking about other songs about men hitting women.

Only Women Bleed - Alice Cooper

Better Man - Pearl Jam

Every Breath You Take - Police (maybe not about hitting but it is a serious stalker song some people use at weddings!)

Any others?