Sign of the Apocalypse

Probable Pitchers

Thursday, Aug. 31 Julian Tavarez (Red Sox) vs. Roy Halladay (Blue Jays)

The curse of the grackle
By: BILL JENSEN
8/23/2006 1:54:11 PM
In September of 1969, the NL East division–leading Chicago Cubs were playing the New York Mets at Shea Stadium when a black cat bolted onto the field and ran past the Cubs’ dugout. The Cubs went on to lose the division lead and the Mets won the World Series. On eBay, you can buy a photo of the cat streaking past Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, signed by members of the team. If the Boston Globe , masters of merchandising that they are, had any sense, they would do the same with the pics they took of the grackle.

In the top of the ninth inning of the August 1 loss against the Indians, an injured black grackle appeared in the infield at Fenway and proceeded to skitter between second and third base. For several innings. The crowd chanted “bird! bird! bird!” and the PA played the Beatles’ “Blackbird.” The fans ate it up. After the game — the umpires and grounds crew having done nothing to rescue the flightless creature — so too did one of Fenway’s resident red-tail hawks. According to the Herald ’s Jeff Horrigan, the feast left “only a pile of feathers on the empty field.”

Ever since that baleful bird visited Fenway, the Sox have been in a tailspin. Phoenix staff writer Mike Miliard noted in his Sox blog on August 10 that the team’s problems all came down to the appearance of the bird — a curse, if you will.

As of press time, the Sox are a woeful 6-14 since the grackle did his dance of death on the basepaths. And after last week’s catastrophic collapse against the Yankees, Miliard could now follow in the footsteps of Dan Shaughnessy and create a cottage industry of “Curse of the Grackle” books and merchandise, feasting on the team’s misery and raping the bones of the poor bird, much like Shaughnessy has done with the Babe over the years.
But he’s too much of a fan for that. And he doesn’t believe in curses.

Rebuild?

I say dump Wells and anyone else who's not coming back next year. Get whatever. The Pink Hats will still go to Fenway to sing Sweet Caroline. I've decided to give Theo, et al. this year based on injuries and the kids. But that's it. 2007 starts today.

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twer well If it were done quickly.

Well, just think of all the stuff you can do this September.

Haters: imagine if Theo had pulled off a deal and traded Lester, et al. No way the Sox make a run with these injuries.

And NO WAY the Yankees go far in the playoffs. If they do, I just have to teep my cap and call them my Daddy (this year).

Slugless in Seattle

Just when you thought. . .

Wow, if the Yankees' pitching didn't suck and A-Rod could put the bat on the ball, this thing would be over.

The Sox failed at every element of the game in Seattle. Lousy defense, lousy pitching, lousing hitting.

I mean really, if Manny was playing, he would actually have to cut the ball off for Coco.
Dustin, you are not Gary Sheffield, you are David Eckstein.
Timmy: I love you man, but I'm starting to think that the Baseball World Series was, uh, a mistake?
Theo, you don't have to beat the Yankees, but you should be able to get the wildcard with $120M

Red Sox Nation

We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender and even if, which I do not for the moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, will carry on the struggle until in God's good time the New World with all its power and might, sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the Old.

Game Five: Meltdown

Game Three: Houston, we have a problem!

Is Roger Clemens still available?

Game Two: Never Bring a Knife to a Gun Fight

And don't get into a slugging contest with the Yankees, especially when your bullpen are NOT the Untouchables

Game One: Horror Story

The Revenge of Johnny Damon.

Five for Fighting

Let's get it on!

Here's a taste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnieMQ0P4M0

W is a W is a W

It ain't pretty, but it's a sweep. No excuses; buckle down; just win.

Cowboy (Throw) Up

They're ruining my SUMMAH!!!!!!!!!!

Darkest Before Dawn?

Let's hope that's the bottom, because it doesn't get much worse than that farce of a game in KC.

Don't Quit - Never Give Up

Get back loretta
Your Papi's waiting for you
Wearing his high-heel shoes
And his low-neck sweater
Get on home loretta
Get back, get back.
Get back to where you once belonged.