(you don’t often see this kind of affection expressed in public, not without someone winning a free taco)
As scapegoats go, Cleveland’s 3rd base coach is a slightly more timely choice than Chris Benoit Paul Byrd. But make no mistake, despite being handicapped by baseball’s 2nd highest payroll, the effervescent presence of JD Drew and the best efforts of Eric Gagne, Boston captured their 2nd AL title in 4 seasons in impressive form. Though not quite the wild ALCS comeback of ’04, the bludgeoning of the Tribe following Manny Ramirez’ “it’s not the end of the world” remarks speaks to both the character of the ballclub…and perhaps how they shouldn’t have ever faced elimination in this series to begin with.
Though this is hardly a profound observation, it should be noted this is a period of unprecedented prosperity for Boston sports. Along with the Red Sox returning the World Series, the Patriots continue to run up the score humble the opposition on a weekly basis, BC sits at no. 2 in the BCS standings, Foxboro’s MLS entry are back in the playoffs, and apparently the local basketball squad has added an OK player or two.
In short, if there’s anyone out there having a shittier Monday morning than Joel Skinner, Paul Byrd or Eric Wedge, it’s Jeremy Jacobs.
Yeah, but try to enjoy any of this with bozos like that Michael kid in the post down below whining about their team not making the playoffs or about how East Coast teams have all the money. I’m just so tired of the whining (I prefer the winning). God, I hate people. I don’t buy the argument about how they never should’ve faced elimination, though. Cleveland had the second-best record so I would hope that #2 should be able to challenge the Sox. They arguably have better pitching, too, with the exception of the closer.
BTW, you misspelled Vag-man’s name.
Clearly you haven’t been keeping a Joel Skinner baseball card in your wallet since ninth grade like I have.
Bruins are on fire! Best lead off record in a long time.
indeed, the Bruins are 5-2. They also couldn’t be further out of the public consciousness than if they were 0-7. Admittedly, this is as much the fault of jerky (ahem) bloggers as anyone else.
We stumbled into good seats for this, unbelievable game/postgame. If the Sox’ powerhouse scouting team have broken down the Rockies as they did St. Louis in ’04, I have high hopes for the WS.
“95 coming in, 195 going out” – Pedroia
I have to say I’m a little dissapointed that with the Indians eliminated there won’t be the opporunity for the Fausto Carmona/”Carbona Not Glue” pun headline I was fully expecting from CSTB.
It’s a bit more obvious than Mark “When I Talk to” Loretta but still… were you saving your A material for the World Series?
Yeah, Boston came back in an honest way, and scapegoats or no, they just played a better game. But Josh Beckett never said “fuck” during his MVP acceptance speech, and I was hoping he was the new Teddy Fucking Ballgame of the MFL.
That the SF Chronicle broke the Paul Byrd HGH story on the day of the game is bullshit, imo. I have to wonder at the timing and motivation of their sources. They had to do it that day? They can’t wait until today? Then again, if you’re in SF sitting on a story about two East Coast teams on a playoff day, it’s the ONLY day anyone’s gonna pay attention to it. Byrd’s press conference, where he talked about his reputation, church speaking engagements, new book, wrestling with “temptation” to cheat, etc., was also painful to sit through.
Gotta remember Rog’s dismissal of East Coast teams who have all the money when the whining about the Yankees starts in Boston during the winter meetings.
Ben
That the SF Chronicle broke the Paul Byrd HGH story on the day of the game is bullshit, imo. I have to wonder at the timing and motivation of their sources.
Given MLB’s immaculate timing in releasing steroid-related nonsense during each of the last 10 postseasons (give or take 9), I can only guess that someone in the PR dept. for Budwise’s non-profit venture gave the green light to have this seed-filled turd drop just as the postseason’s most competitive series reached its conclusion. After all, MLB has always done a shitty job of big-upping its good qualities (cf. Dane Cook, McCarver, Steve Trachsel) – why try righting the ship now?
If someone makes a joke re: Cook et. al. being the “good qualities” of MLB, I’m gonna buy an Aube CD off eBay and throw it at you.