Red Sox Stink 2007

End of Season Thoughts

I’ve been pretty quiet lately, mostly because I am sick to my stomach about this season. Or at least I was, until I had some zen green tea, did some yoga and become one with nature. That, and I thought about it over a beer at the Saloon in Pearl River, NY. Some thoughts…

1. Terrible for the Yankees to NOT say anything about Torre in the stadium ceremonies. And don’t give us that crap about only honoring players. Torre was as much of a factor in the success of all those years as any player, and while I thought it was time for a change, he should have been a highlight. Jesus, most of the spectators ONLY know Torre as a Yankees manager and don’t even think of some of the older guys.

2. So, the Yankees went 10-4 over the last two weeks and even had a six game winning streak in there. And they took 2 out of 3 to the Sox the last weekend of the season, almost winning the third game. You know what that means to me? JACK SHIT!! Who freakin cares? They are still not playing in the post season. Ooooohh, wonderful, they can play well when it doesn’t count. GREAT!! Who cares. Why not play well when it does count?? That would be fun, you know, winning in the beginning of August and stuff. Look, I am realistic. With the injuries they had, their pitching was in trouble. And yeah, I know, the top three pitching staffs in the AL are all in the AL East, so they see a lot of good pitching, but SO DO THE RED SOX and DEVIL RAYS. And that’s another thing. I refuse to call them the “Rays”. It’s stupid that some dumb marketing research group doing focus groups with a bunch of idiots found out that people get offended by the term “Devil”. They should spend some time at Fenway to see what kind of offensive terms can be applied to a baseball team. How about the Tampa Sweet Rosy Cheek Cherub Rays with love arrows to shoot young couples with romance potion. Sweet Hey-Zeus they have to be joking.

3. Red Sox fans are now Yankee fans. You know that, right. When did I realize this? When fans had signs that said “2000” at the last home stand against the Yankees. 2000 is the last time the Yankees won a World Series. Hmm. 1918 was kind of catchy. The Red Sox hadn’t won a world series in 80-something years, so the Yanks played on that. But for some reason “2000” is not quite the same, because IT WAS ONLY 8 YEARS AGO. So for all Red Sox fans, welcome to my old world. You have no argument anymore that you are better than me. I am still better than you because I buy nice shoes, go to church (of the Fonz) and smell nice. So EFF OFF.

4. What is going on with Giardi. Have a pair of balls my friend. So you screwed up with Mo Rivera thing last week. Big deal. Don’t get all teary eyed and mamby pamby about learning things. You were acting like my 4 year old when I told him to apologize to his grandmother about breaking the chain that turns her antique lamp on. Oh, boo hoo, quivering lips. BE A MAN.

5. The Yankees will be fine next year. Again, if one of those major injuries didn’t occur, it would have been a different story. So it’s not like the organization is in trouble. They need starting pitching, need another outfielder, and someone to play first. My thoughts on some of the players.

Giambi. Giambi had a great year, and I mean great. 32 home runs, almost 100 RBIs (with not a lot of guys on base) and played first base a lot, and adequately. But goodbye. He would be a good DH, especially being a left hander, but not for any kind of money. He said he wants to come back, but he will get better money on the open market. Good luck, I always liked him even though he was over paid.

Abreau. I am torn on this one. He’s going to want a big contract, but is one of the most consistent players on the team and he never gets hurt. He hits for some power, high RBIs, steals some bases and is upper 290s usually in batting average. I would bring him back if he accepts an offer.

Mussina. I hate to say this, especially after he won 20 games, but I would not bring him back. He might want a 2 or 3 year deal to get to 300 wins, and he is not young. He would be a good 4 or 5, but not for 11 mil a year or whatever they paid him this year.

Pettitte. I, like most Yankee fans, like Pettitte. But at what price do you bring him back? He will probably want something in the range of 15 mil a year, which is way overpriced.

Pavano. This a-hole should play for free given how much he stole from the Yankees. He finally starts to win games when his contract is over. Out of principle, I wouldn’t even let him keep his Yankee’s jersey.

Cano. Trade him.

Hughes and Kennedy. Keep Hughes, get something for Kennedy.

6. The Red Sox can go eff themselves. And I mean that. I hate Pedrioa, who I swear I saw at my first grader’s field trip last week wearing a Power Rangers backpack. Curt Schilling continues to open up his big mouth, now its about Manny. I still love Francona. I have finally realized that Jason Varitek got divorced because he thinks he will sign with another team next year and wants to get married to his true love, a guy, in a state where gay marriage is legal. Nothing wrong with that, to each his own, but don’t hide it Jason. But other than that, I have no real opinion about the Red Sox. They have some serious injuries which unfortunately for them are coming at a terrible time. But this team is sort of like the last 1990s Yankees, they have some kind of magic that comes to life when it has to. Other teams fear them, and they seem to get things done when it counts. Good luck in the playoffs, I hope you lose in three.

7. So back to the Yankees. I have heard that it is less stressful being out of the playoffs before it starts, than heading into the playoffs, for Yankee fans. BULL CRAP. It sucks not being in the playoffs. Sure, when I knew they were out I kind of relaxed a little, but no way it’s better. Nope.

8. So the Yankees are not playing in October for the first time in 13 years. But the things a lot of fans do not put into perspective because it is all about “now”, is the unprecedented success this team has had over the last 13 years. There was one period when they were in 6 out of 8 World Series, won 4 out of 5 World Series, and were 3 outs away from winning 5 out of 6. It has been an incredible run that took a year off because of injuries and some underperforming players. It doesn’t make this year any more fun, but it makes it a little easier. I am not sure what is worse, getting into the post season for the first time in 25 years like the Brewers, or being out for the first time in 13 years. I would say the Brewers situation is worst, but I am not a Brewers fan.

9. If I were a Red Sox fan, I would be steamed with what Manny is saying and doing out west. He actually said in an interview that he was never happy in Boston. Check out the LA Times. I, personally, love it, but I hate the Red Sox.

10. I went to a Sox game last week when they clinched a playoff spot, and got kicked out of the game in the 7th inning. I didn’t actually get kicked out, a friend of mine did, but I had his back and went to. It was the first time in my life I got kicked out of a sporting event.