Game 36:Go Big Or Go Home

A pair of first inning homers from DP and Big Papi helped power the Red Sox to a 7-2 win over the Tigers in Detroit tonight. Boston is 19-17 and 5 1/2 games out of first place at this writing.

Another One Hundred Word Challenge

You've heard it before. The challenge is located here, and anyone can play. The word this week is "Swimsuit". My entry, called "Unpacked", follows:








It came in a green canvas sack, brought to my door by a tall man with a stern face. The first time he came, he told me her effects would come later. I unpacked it alone, not wishing to explain to Kara just now that this was Mommy's stuff and where Mommy was. I didn't know how to say it. I laid out her items, some smelling of her sweat. The last thing was a black swimsuit. Did they have pools there? Did she swim? Did she lay out in the sun? The pile of green clothes told me nothing.

And Two More Things....

I don't know if this is going to be a movie, or if it's just a dumb little Youtube thing, but if you lived through the 70s, or played wiffleball, or both, you will probably find this cute.

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It is Yogi Berra's 85th birthday today. Now, Yogi Berra is about as Yankee as Yankee can get-and you should know, by now, our policy about Yankees around here. Berra is a Hall of Fame catcher, a living part of history, commercial pitchman, and sidewalk philosopher. While I can't say that I love Mr. Berra-after all, he is a Yankee, through and through-but I deeply respect him, and hope he has a great birthday.

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Game Thirty Five: Juuuuuuuuuust A Bit Outside

At Fenway today, the Blue Jays scored three runs on Travis Snider's RBI double and home run, while the Red Sox were busily scoring not at all. Suddenly, trailing 3-0 in the 9th and having wasted a fine emergency start from Old Man Wakefield, the Sox rallied, scoring one run off of Toronto Closer of the Day Kevin Gregg. Then David Ortiz, who was 2 for 4 on the day to bring his average up to .200, was then called out on strikes on a ball that, reputable reports suggest, was closer to the visitor's dugout than it was to home plate. Much discontent was voiced, resulting in the ejection of the usually placid manager Terry Francona. But the ruling remained, and America's Next Top Outfielder, Darnell McDonald, popped up to end the game in a 3-2 loss.

The Red Sox are 18-17 on the year, and after a day off tomorrow, they travel to Detroit and then head into New Jack City.

Game Thirty Four: Run That By Me Again?

Powered by a Jason Varitek home run and 7 strong innings, (3 hits, 0 walks) from Dice K, the Red Sox beat the Jays again last night, 6-1.

You heard me.

Game Thirty Three: Never Bring A Knife To A Gun Fight

...and don't score 6 runs in a 7 run game.


The Red Sox escaped with their very lives today. After beating up on Toronto's Brandon Morrow and Josh Roenicke for 7 runs over the first three innings, Boston managed to hang on and win 7-6 with three key innings of relief from Okey Doke, the Bard of Avon, and the Lord of the Dance.

A cute moment on Twitter and more bragging

Basketball player Steve Nash was (accidentally) hit in the face during last night's game. He ran into the elbow of Spur Tim Duncan. After being stitched up, Nash returned to the floor and the Suns won the game. Today, Nash tweeted the following:



Via @the_real_nash: "A 3 year old at the park just asked me why I have a bandaid on my face. Me: I bumped into someone's elbow. Kid: What was his name? Me: Tim."


I giggle every time I read that.


***

I know, I know, shut up. But I still think this is cool. Maybe I'm the only one who submitted-who knows? But it's neat to be picked, even if I don't win anything.

Mention Monday, the one where we talk about acceptance and fear

First of all, if you're a human being, and you're not reading Seth Godin's blog, you're missing out. Godin is an author, speaker, and guru, and if you're not provoked to think after reading a few of the things he has to say, then I just don't understand how your brain works.

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Second of all, the fine folks at FoldedWord Press, who clearly can't have very high standards, have elected to publish a piece I wrote called Red Polish. Inspired by a series of pictures, the challenge was to write a piece of fiction that could fit into a Twitter post (140 characters.) At noon Pacific time, which is, I don't know, midnight in real time or something, the piece will go up here.

Game Thirty Two: Jon Lester isn't perfect....but Dallas Braden is?

In Boston last night, Jon Lester held down the mighty Yankee bats while the Red Sox slapped AJ Burnett upside of his head in a 9-3 win which put Boston at 16-16 for the year.

But the baseball world's true star was Dallas Braden, a cleverly named Oakland A's pitcher, who, for the 19th time in baseball's 130 year plus history, pitched a perfect game-27 men up, 27 men down-no hits, no walks, no errors.

There's something beautiful in doing something exactly as well as it can possibly be done. And on Mother's Day, in front of the grandmother who raised him after his mother's death? And after having a set to with glamour puss Alex Rodriguez? THAT's why I love baseball.

Happy Birthday,William Martin Joel

Happy Birthday to my single favorite recording artist, the man whose work has meant more to me than virtually any other, the Piano Man his own self.