August 7 2006 update
Today is August 7, 2006. The Yanks and Sox have two months of regular season play left before its all said and done. Couple of thoughts and then quick comments on some players.
- The Yanks weathered the storm in the first half. They lost three key parts of their offense and kept pace. Things are starting to come back together and they have a small lead in the AL East. The Sox and Yanks will most likely change positions before it’s all over, but I feel much better as a Yankee fan now, today, than I did two months ago.
- The Sox could easily have been 1-9 in their last 10 games. Ortiz hitting walk off homeruns and the Sox coming back in the 9th inning is exciting, but no way to sustain the last two months. Things have to change for the Sox if they are going to stay in this.
- Players.
Veritek. I’ve said this before. I hope his injury is not career ending and he comes back to hitting 250. But I hate this guy and losing your team captain and the leader in the field is killer. If the Yankees lost Posada, it would probably be the biggest impact after Rivera. Hope you have a nice time sitting around your Newton house, Jason. You jerk.
Josh Beckett. His melt down last week could not have been more beautiful. Cruising for 5 then total collapse. It happens. I just hope it’s a sign of things to come, you have this guy for the next 3 years. Josh Beckett, meet Carl Pavano and Kevin Brown. And keep throwing those fastballs, trust me, no one can hit them.
Jon Lester. Still not convinced. Papelbon might be the real deal, but I would give Lester some more time before anointing him the future Clemens.
Coco Crisp. I love Mike Adams, but his insistence to compare Coco to Damon is driving me nuts. Coco is no Damon, at least not right now, so give it up. Although he does make some pretty amazing catches.
Trot Nixon. The Gods of Red Sox Nation shined down on you when he went down. I would rather have Wily Mo in the line up than Nixon. Plus I hate Nixon, he looks like a drunk frat brother who just rolled out of bed. I’ve seen soccer balls that are less round than his head.
David Ortiz. I have to admit I love this guy. Clutch is clutch, and with all respect to Paul O’Neil, this guy is the greatest come-through player I have ever seen. I just hope whatever skeletons he has in his closest stay there, because there is not a single person who does not like this guy.
Youkilis, Lowell and Loretta. Water, welcome to your own level.
Alex Gonzalez. Why hadn’t I heard of this guy before this year. I love defensive players, I think they play the game like all kids should learn how to, and Gonzalez is pretty impressive in the field. But if McAdams says that anything over 250 is bonus one more time, I’ll send him a harshly written email.
Manny Ramirez. His RBI numbers are a little down, but everything else is typical Manny. The thing that bugs me is that this guy has trained Red Sox Nation to put up with his antics. David Ortiz in the line-up could not have worked out better for Manny.
Seanez and Tavarez. You, you light up my life, you give me hope, to car-ry on. I love these two guys almost as much as my own children. They are the reason I watch every single Sox game, in the hope they are put in like yesterday. These guys should carry the torch for the next decade.
Papelbon. Yeah yeah, he is great. We get it. Let’s see how his arm is feeling over the next 7 weeks.
David Wells. Why is everyone excited about his last outing? I didn’t see anything that was great. I like his lunch pale working man shtick as much as anyone else, but let’s see how he does when he starts seeing the Yankees and Chicago.
Lopez, Corky Miller, Mirabelli. One is worse than the other. I would keep Miller in just because of his first name. The Sox have used 6 or 7 catchers this year.
Francona. Yeah, he sometimes makes mistakes. But this guy is under the microscope like no one else in the league. Only in this town do people STILL complain about this guy’s 2004 season, after he won a World Series title. I think Terry tells it straight, doesn’t give answers that say nothing and supports his players.