Baseball: Red Sox (Domi)Nation

Congratulations to the Red Sox, who swept their way to their second title in four years. I'm just sorry I can't watch as often as I used because this was an enjoyable team to watch. At times frustrating, and they certainly made things interesting in the ALCS, but they had a plan, and they came out every night and stuck to it, and it worked.

It's a good thing I'm not the GM, because if I was, I'd be handing out ludicrous contract extensions along with the champagne last night. This team got gutty performances from nearly everyone that was on the roster, from Beckett to Kielty, but especially from the guys whose contracts ran out as they donned the celebratory goggles—Curt Schilling, who showed he has something left in the tank, Mike Timlin is simply a freaking warrior, and Mike Lowell* was a deserving Series MVP and a class act all the way. Wherever you guys end up next year, you'll be Sox for eternity with me.

Special congratulations to J.D.Drew and Julio Lugo, who turned in valuable contributions after suffering through diifficult seasons and plenty of doubts, all is forgiven and let's move on from here.

And Terry Francona who just did a phenomenal job. He is 22-9 in the playoffs, and 8-0 in the World Series. He had a stubburn approach through the season that at times seemed too slow to adjust, or too cautious, but he was managing for the long haul and it showed this postseason—when other pitchers and teams seemed out of gas, the Sox were still throwing it. A fantastic job, and he should never hear any shit from fans in Boston as long as he stays.

Oh, and I'm going to really enjoy the Beckett Era.

*UPDATE: Please re-sign Lowell and spurn the preening two-headed egomonster Boras-Rod. If Lowell has to play the last two years of his contact in a wheelchair it would make me happier than having A-Rod on this team.

Baseball: Game Three Time-Delay Blogging

Yes, that's right, watching the game on TiVo. Getting ready for Kid F's birthday party tonite, and it's time to unwind. the fun starts in the comments...

Baseball: Roamin' Holliday

Perhaps the biggest play in Game 2 was when Matt Holliday got picked off first base by Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon in the 8th inning. It might have seemed like a fluke, or a lucky play—but the truth is, Holliday was out before he even got the hit...

David Pinto excerpts a fascinating story about how advance scouting led the Rockies to think they could steal on Papelbon, and how the Sox outguessed them—picking Holliday off in a key situation where they would never normally try. Check it out, really, really interesting look at the game behind the game.

Game Two: Random Thoughts

In no particular order... "Shut the fuck up, McCarver." (repeated ad infinitum) ... "What the hell are you talking about, Buck?" ... "I guess Pedroia's wrist is feeling better." (predicted line that didn't materialize) ... "That bank robbery ad is a good one. And that new Malibu looks promising." ... "So, Chris Myers, do you regret leaving a post as respected, serious ESPN guy to become the jackass in the stands for FOX Sports?" ... "Papelbon is a downright embarrassing on-field celebrator."

"Curt Schilling, why do you have to be a Republican jackass, it's the first thing I think of when I see you." ... "No, of course they are not taking Manny out for defense in a one-run game, with his spot due up in the ninth, McCarver you stupid jackass." ... "Oh...busting out a second White Stripes tune..." ... "I hate these hi-tech vented batting helmets that the Rockies are wearing, I'm glad the Sox (and Yanks) have not made the switch." ...

"Sitting Ortiz or Youk in Colorado really is a Sophie's Choice." ... "That said, I think I'd sit Ortiz in Game 3." ... "I can't believe I just thought that. But, it's true." ... "Dice-K is going to get lit up in Denver." ... "OUCH!" (as Drew hits the canvas after taking fastball on the ankle) ... (watching stupid Verizon ad) "Do some (non-Apple) laptops really require that retarded external wireless card/antennae thing?" ... "J.D. Drew is officially off the hook for his crappy season." ... "What's with Manny and the helmet flipping." ... "The Rockies are going to be kicking ass in the sucky NL West for years to come." ... "What the hell was Holliday doing?" ... "Look at Manny's ridiculous uniform pants...I love that freak."

"How crazy must it be to have Manny Ramirez as your dad?"

(at left) Boston Red Sox's Manny Ramirez hugs his oldest son Manny along with younger son Manny Jr. during the team's batting practice before Game 2 of the baseball World Series against the Colorado Rockies. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

"Why am I not surprised that Manny named both his sons Manny..."

Redemption

I've been hoping for it all month. A chance for J.D. Drew to erase a season of disappointment with a big postseason. Putting your team up 4 in the first inning of an elimination game does just that. Two out, bases loaded...exactly the kind of situation he's NOT come through on all year. Each time Drew's been in one of these spots, I'm talking to the TV, "Come on, J.D., now's your chance!" Only to have the weak cut at strike three or the 4-3 groundout.

The Sox are alive for Game 7, and J.D. Drew is the reason why. Nice to see you smile...

Baseball Tonight

ACE BANDAGE
3 Ws, 26Ks, 1 BB, 1.17 ERA. Is there anything else that needs to be written about Josh Fucking Beckett? This is a Bob Gibsonesque performance. In fact, Gibson had it easy. Three postseason wins? You've already got your ring back in the 60s. This is vintage Pedro stuff. Beckett's three games have been utterly dominating. He can't win the ALCS for this team by himself, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Beckett come in from the 'pen to pull Dice K's ass out of the fire in game 7 and have the Indians collapse into a collective fetal position at the sight of Commander Kick Ass striding to the mound.

BEING MANNY
Thank God, he's swinging at a .500 clip and carrying half the offensive weight of the team or Manny might get under my skin. No, not for his comments the other day that had all the morons in Boston all fired up. Manny was refreshingly honest when he noted that losing "isn't the end of the world." It's not. And recognizing that is probably why he stays loose, and is the all-time leader in postseason HRs, and rides a fifteen game hitting streak (tied with Pete Rose for the all-time record) into Game 6.

Should Manny have gotten down on the play at the plate early last night? Absolutely. When David "Already Scheduled My Knee Surgery" Ortiz hustles 270 feet to score from first, should Manny have made more than 90 feet of baserunning progress? Absolutely. Has his showboating crossed from mildly amusing to actually embarrassing? Yes.

But as long as Manny's producing like this: .440 BA, .611 OBP, .960 SLG with 4 HRs and 12 RBI in 8 playoff games, I'll pretty much forgive anything. I love that goddamn goofball.

CLASS DISMISSED
At risk of being labelled a concern troll, I'll throw my two cents in on l'affaire de Torre... No, I don't think the keys are Torre's for as long as he wants them—his contract is up, and by the (unrealistic) standards of his employer, his performance has been a disappointment, and nobody should be "manager for life."

I think the time was right, with the team headed into a bit of a youth/rebuild-on-the-fly mode, for a new manager. But the whole way Torre was handled this postseason was pretty disgraceful. This is a man who has presided over a stretch of success unmatched since the days of Casey Stengle, and in a much, much more difficult environment in every way. He has been nothing but professional and gracious and deserved to be treated with a lot more respect than the corpse of George Steinbrenner and his two douchebag sons gave him.

Not that I wouldn't wish this anyway, but I hope the Yankees suck next year. Specificallly, I hope they hire Mattingly, fail to make the playoffs, and Cashman finds himself without a job next October.

Here's Torre's press conference. Classy even after flying down to Tampa to get slapped in the face.

MAVERICK
I hope Mark Cuban buys the Cubs. No group of tired old owners and douchebag Commissioner could deserve an in-your-face guy like Cuban more.

FANTASY A REALITY (or vice versa)
Speaking of greedy motherfuckers running baseball, a federal appeals court denied MLB their ridiculous attempt to restrict other entities from using player's names and statistics for fantasy leagues. In its infinite closeminded- and shortsightedness, MLB tied to create a monopoly and shut down all the other fantasy operators. As if the advent of fantasy baseball isn;t the greatest thing that's happened to that sport in a generation. Morons.