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Yankees win but Red Sox Nation tries to rain on Eric Chavez

 YANKEES KEEP WITH TRADITION AND WIN:

Eric Chavez

Eric Chavez (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was quite a ceremony in Boston yesterday, as the Red Sox celebrated the 100th year anniversary of their home known as Fenway Park.

The New York Yankees had a front row seat, and even came dressed for the occasion wearing vintage uniforms of the New York Highlanders, the name of the Yankees prior to 1913.

Personally, I found the throwbacks dreary and dirty looking but I did dig the maroon and grey striped socks or stirrups.

The ceremony itself was very moving with any and every Red Sox alive being introduced to the packed house, with only Roger Clemons and Kurt Schilling noticeably missing.

It brought tears to my eyes and reiterated the utter respect I have for the Red Sox as an organization.

That feeling came crashing down fast when ex-Red Sox’s Pedro Martinez and Kevin Millar, from the 2004 team, thought that making a frat-boy speech while running up and down the top of the dugout was a proper way to end the event.

Honestly, it was inappropriate and such an embarrassment even though the two clowns successfully broke the Guinness Book record for the  biggest “cheers.

All I thought was this would never go on in New York and I wouldn’t want it too. And with the state of the current team it showed a lack of respect.

Well, after an overall memorable event, things only got worse in Red Sox Nation as the Yankee bats pounded on pitcher Clay Buchholz, with Swisher, Eric Chavez, Chavez again, A-rod, and Russell Martin all going deep.

Cano, Granderson, Ibanez and the Captain all each had a hit in the Yankee 6-2 win.

The Red Sox looked lost, sloppy and very un-Boston like on a day when so many franchise and baseball icons were on hand to watch them win.

If anything can get a struggling team motivated it would have been the celebration before yesterday’s game. The pride I had watching, as Yankee fan was undeniable, so how the Red Sox players let this one slip makes me realize how much disarray the current team is in.

I doubt a team with as much talent as the Red Sox will stay in this rut much longer, as maybe they should go on a team retreat or something? Continue reading ‘Yankees win but Red Sox Nation tries to rain on Eric Chavez’ »

2012 MLB Team Preview: Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox were the talk of sports after the 2011 season, but for all the wrong reasons.

Boston Red Sox logo.

After missing the playoffs on the last day of the season, revelations started pouring out about players’ lack of discipline in the clubhouse, as a collective group took to partying during games instead of supporting their teammates.

For Boston Fans, the humiliation from last season’s nightmare still lingers and now it is up to the players to earn back their trust.

Nothing is worse than underachieving when you have oodles of proven talent but lack the attitude to go with it.

As the great Vince Lombardi once said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”

Now the question is do the 2012 Red Sox have the drive to work themselves back to the top in the face of adversity?

Let’s see how things are shaping up in Beantown:

THE POSITIVES:

The biggest positive for the Red Sox is that 2012 brings a fresh start so they can get things back on track again. The organization needs to show that last season will never be repeated, as their loyal fans deserve that. This has been a contending team enough times in the last decade to know how to win and there are no more excuses…THE PARTY IS OVER.

The Red Sox offense is almost the same as 2011, which is a good thing as the bats were the best in baseball. Collectively the Boston bats led the Majors last season in RBIs (842), doubles (352), hits (1600), runs (875), total bases (2631), OBP (.349), and slugging (.461). They hit the third most homers with 203 and had the second best batting average posting a .280. This line-up is terrifying and is littered with All-Stars like Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.

THE NEGATIVES:  Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Boston Red Sox’ »

New York Yankees: Who was hot

Iván Nova prior to the New York Yankees game a...

Image via Wikipedia

The plain and simple fact is that New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova was looking hot.

And NO…. I did not mean in a sexual way, but on the mound as Nova was throwing heat last night in his second outing of the spring.

Nova pitched four innings, allowing just two hits, no runs and fanned three of Bobby Valentine’s Red Sox.

Boston did win the game 1-0 but this isn’t the regular season and Spring Training the outcomes are meaningless, it is what is in between that fans should focus on.

As for Nova, he silenced all the haters’ uncertainty about his lack of command. His change-up and slider almost looked identical and his fastball was clocking in at 92-95 mph on the radar gun.

And according to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand the timing couldn’t have been better, as skipper Joe Girardi announced, “he is going to start judging now.”

You can be certain that Nova has given his skipper plenty to think about, as after that kind of outing he is emerging into what I see as the Yankees number three. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Who was hot’ »

New York Yankees: Deja vu for Bobby Valentine

Turning boozehounds and bad attitudes into competitive and team oriented baseball players will be no easy task, even for Bobby Valentine.

Happy Valentine's Day...

Happy Valentine's Day...Yankee Universe!!(Photo credit: Јerry)

It is no secret that the newly minted Red Sox manager will have his hands full in Boston. And the sports world will be watching as Valentine once again aims to clean up another mess of a team like he did with that other New York team, the Mets back from 1998-2000.

Back in his Mets days it was for New York bragging rights, at a time when the Yankees were the sports worlds favorite sons.

Now with Boston the odds are not as stacked against Valentine because the Red Sox have the talent to win but do they have the heart is the question.

Valentine does have one familiarity that relates to both his past and future tenure, and that is the New York Yankees.

The last time he was in an MLB uniform as the Mets skipper, he saw the Yankees win the World Series for the 26th time.

And now, in his MLB return, Valentine has signed on to wear a uniform that is about as anti-Yankee, a Red Sox one that still has beer on it from 2011.

So, all the recent comments out of Valentine’s mouth are expected, and understandably have pissed off a lot of Yankee fans for good reason, myself included. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Deja vu for Bobby Valentine’ »

NFL Funniest Video Kid Hates Patriots Tom Brady

Since the MLB off-season is a snooze so far, here is a fan video that will give you a laugh.

You might have already seen this kid’s video pop-up on other sports sites but I had to share it because it is hilarious. It also explains how young the anger starts for Philadelphia Eagles fan.

As this kid really HATES New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, as this video was filmed during the November 28 game between the Eagles and Pats……aka the Philly Massacre at the hands of Tom Brady who won the game 38-20.

ENJOY…but please try to block out when the kids dad offers for him to take a swing at the TV, another glimmer of fine American parenting at work.

Red Sox Hire Bobby Valentine

Red Sox Nation

Image by acme401 via Flickr

If you had not heard yet, ex-New York Mets skipper, turned ESPN analyst Booby Valentine has been named the new GM of the Boston Red Sox.

Valentine will have his hands full in Beantown, as he will have to crackdown on the Red Sox players who preferred hosting keg parties and eating fired chicken to cheering on their teammates.

Valentine knows that Boston fans are still stewing, and rightly so considering the level of betrayal they felt by their beloved Red Sox.

Luckily for Valentine, ringleader and pitcher John Lackey is already out for the entire 2012 season. Lackey was deemed injured about a week after the September collapse. The Red Sox declared that Lackey needed Tommy John surgery, which approximately has a 12-15 month recovery. Continue reading ‘Red Sox Hire Bobby Valentine’ »

Red Sox John Lackey Needs Tommy John

The Prudential Tower lit up for the 2007 World...

Image via Wikipedia

Well, the good times are no longer rolling up in Boston as the Red Sox clubhouse turned frat-house will be without one founding member for the 2012 season, pitcher John Lackey.

Ben Cherington confirmed the news during his first official press conference as Boston’s new GM.

Cherington said that Dr. Lewis Yocum out in Los Angeles recently examined Lackey’s elbow and he determined that Tommy John surgery was the way to go.

Lackey has been a mess since arriving in Boston, and he made a ritual of beer drinking taking precedence over supporting fellow teammates during games. Lackey was dealing with off-the-field issues this season, but that is no excuse to be disrespectful.

Many people in the world deal with severe personal issues, and they still show up to work and do their job. The whole Lackey-issue seems to be a lack of immaturity, but even more worrisome is the negative effect it had in the clubhouse.

If Lackey actually rested his throwing arms in between starts, instead holding brewskies all the time, maybe he could have avoided this predicament in the first place. Whether the Red Sox would have made the playoffs if Lackey weren’t around, my answer is yes they would have. Continue reading ‘Red Sox John Lackey Needs Tommy John’ »