At Least I was at the Ballpark
My personal record is 0-2. I've been to Fenway Park twice this season and both times the Red Sox have lost. (And the members of the Brownie Brigade have let me know that I have been shut down for the season - No more trips to Fenway!) But you know what - a bad day at the ballpark is better then not being there at all. Yesterday was also the first "hazy, hot and humid" day that we have had this summer in the Boston area so water was without a doubt the beverage of choice at the game. I took some photos - but besides being an very amateur photographer with a very simple camera, where we were sitting the sun was shiny directly at us so it was tough taking pictures. Also - when I'm at the park I am so there to watch the game; to get caught up in the cheering and excitement of watching baseball live that I don't even leave my seat let alone remember to remember to take a lot of pictures. So I hope you enjoy them.
The bullpen band was alive and well yesterday and since we were sitting in the bleachers we could hear them every time they played.
John Smoltz was our starting pitcher and as much as I want him to have the time to succeed - as much as I believe he can - I think this is an experiment that needs to come to an end. Sunday afternoon Smoltz allowed 6 earmed runs in the 5 innings he pitched - including three runs in the bottom of the third when the Orioles already had 2 outs. Smoltz is now 1-4 with a 7.04 ERA. Smoltz has innings of brilliance - I think at this point he would be better suited to be a reliever out of the bullpen. And I hope this is what the Red Sox will do once Wakefield is off the DL.
Of course it really doesn't matter how good or bad our pitchers are if we can not get hits!
J.D. Drew went 1 for 3 yesterday and he was pinch hit for by Rocco Baldelli in the 9th.
Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 4 with one strikeout and he stole his 44th base of the season. Jason Bay....sigh....he was 0 for 4 with one strikeout.
And our inability to prevent opposing teams from stealing bases was evident again yesterday. But at least Baltimore only had one stolen base.
Our bullpen did its job yesterday - Masterson, Saito and R. Ramirez gave up no runs and no hits in 4 innings of work, but we lost the game 6-2 to the Baltimore Orioles and combined with a Yankees win (Yes - my good friend Scott had his baseball birthday wishes all come true) the Red Sox are once again trailing by 2 1/2 games. We begin a 4 game series with the Oakland A's tonight when Josh Beckett takes the mound.
Congrats to Jim Rice!!
If I couldn't be at Cooperstown yesterday, then being at Fenway Park on the day that Jim Rice was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame was the next best thing. When it was official - and he was in the HOF - on the scoreboard at Fenway Park they showed a portion of Rice's speech. Rice was part of the Red Sox from my youth and to stand and cheer with the Fenway Faithful when he was shown on the screen yesterday was a very special moment. It was an honor that was long overdue to one of the best players of his era. And we found out yesterday just how much it really did mean to Rice to finally get that phone call after 15 long years.
Congrats Jim Rice - and thank you for continuing a great tradition! With Rice's induction into the HOF - he joins there the left-fielder he replaced, Carl Yastrzemski, as well as the left-fielder that Yaz replaced, Ted Williams. 50 seasons worth of left-fielder coverage for the Boston Red Sox is enshrined in that hallowed hall. Not to shabby if you ask me.
The bullpen band was alive and well yesterday and since we were sitting in the bleachers we could hear them every time they played.John Smoltz was our starting pitcher and as much as I want him to have the time to succeed - as much as I believe he can - I think this is an experiment that needs to come to an end. Sunday afternoon Smoltz allowed 6 earmed runs in the 5 innings he pitched - including three runs in the bottom of the third when the Orioles already had 2 outs. Smoltz is now 1-4 with a 7.04 ERA. Smoltz has innings of brilliance - I think at this point he would be better suited to be a reliever out of the bullpen. And I hope this is what the Red Sox will do once Wakefield is off the DL.Of course it really doesn't matter how good or bad our pitchers are if we can not get hits!
J.D. Drew went 1 for 3 yesterday and he was pinch hit for by Rocco Baldelli in the 9th.Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 4 with one strikeout and he stole his 44th base of the season. Jason Bay....sigh....he was 0 for 4 with one strikeout.And our inability to prevent opposing teams from stealing bases was evident again yesterday. But at least Baltimore only had one stolen base.Our bullpen did its job yesterday - Masterson, Saito and R. Ramirez gave up no runs and no hits in 4 innings of work, but we lost the game 6-2 to the Baltimore Orioles and combined with a Yankees win (Yes - my good friend Scott had his baseball birthday wishes all come true) the Red Sox are once again trailing by 2 1/2 games. We begin a 4 game series with the Oakland A's tonight when Josh Beckett takes the mound. Congrats to Jim Rice!!
boston.com
If I couldn't be at Cooperstown yesterday, then being at Fenway Park on the day that Jim Rice was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame was the next best thing. When it was official - and he was in the HOF - on the scoreboard at Fenway Park they showed a portion of Rice's speech. Rice was part of the Red Sox from my youth and to stand and cheer with the Fenway Faithful when he was shown on the screen yesterday was a very special moment. It was an honor that was long overdue to one of the best players of his era. And we found out yesterday just how much it really did mean to Rice to finally get that phone call after 15 long years.
boston.com
Congrats Jim Rice - and thank you for continuing a great tradition! With Rice's induction into the HOF - he joins there the left-fielder he replaced, Carl Yastrzemski, as well as the left-fielder that Yaz replaced, Ted Williams. 50 seasons worth of left-fielder coverage for the Boston Red Sox is enshrined in that hallowed hall. Not to shabby if you ask me.
Congrats to Jim Rice! & I'm glad you enjoyed the game. That's good to hear! My record is actually 2-0, it's turned around. The one time I went to see a Tribe game, was a school field trip, & they beat the Twins. I remember how cold I was, it was rainy. I still loved it! Then me & my family went this year for my birthday, & it was again against the Twins, & the Tribe won. :) http://tribechick.mlblogs.com/
-TC
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I'm so glad you had fun, even if the Sox couldn't win it for you. I've wanted to go to Fenway ever since I got into baseball--we went to Boston when I was seven and my dad went to a game but I couldn't have cared less at that point.
Congrats to Jim Rice!
♥ Kylie -- http://kylie.mlblogs.com
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Can you make sure you are in attendance on Monday August 10th against the Tigers...we're driving through and catching that game...would love to see your streak continue :)
Todd
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Sorry about the 0-2 record for games you attend -- games are always so much more fun when you get to celebrate a win, but like you said: at least you were there. I hope the Red Sox can turn it around, start hitting and start winning some games (I don't like seeing the Yankees in first place)!
~AZ
http://azinneck.mlblogs.com
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Well, few things are better than a Sunday afternoon at the ballpark, so you definitely have that to smile about. My kudos to Rice too. It was a long time coming, but he got there in the end.
--Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
http://mtrredstatebluestate.com
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Julia,
Even though you're a Red Sox fan and I'm an Angel fan, I definitely can empathize when your team isn't playing up to par, try to hang in there, I just don't see how the Yankees will continue to play like they are, and your offense is definitely going to get hot again. If you guys manage to trade for Adrian Gonzalez (i watch him a lot, he's the real deal) it would make my stomach turn as I would definitely make you and the Phillies the two teams most likely to make it to the series. If you can, check out my blog, let me know what you think. I'm trying to get as many readers as I can, but only having the blog for about a month so far, it's kind of slim pickens. Thank you and keep up the good work!
http://mattwestmoreland.mlblogs.com/
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My record is 1-2. I watched Wandy dominate the Reds 7-0, but also had the misfortune of seeing Gallardo stiffle the Astros in a complete game win. This last one on Saturday was a stinker for sure, 10-3 the Mets whooped up on us. Of course the Astros beat Santana, of all pitchers, the night before.
http://stonebutch99.mlblogs.com
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I love your blog Julia. I wish the Reds had someone like you blogging for us. I root for the Red Sox when the aren't playing against the Reds and yes I do believe the 75 world series was the greatest world series of all time. Congrats to Jim Rice such a respected well deserving individual. Should of been a first run Hall of Famer. Does anyone remember the time when Jim Rice jumped into the stands and carried the injured child across the field and through the dugout to get her immediate medical attention? I think she was hit by a bat or foul ball and Jim Rice didn't think twice. He ran up on top of the dugout and ran over to the girl (I think it was a girl I was maybe 7 at the time) scooped her up in his gigantic arms and scampered back down onto the playing field. Amazing moment.
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Julia - The computer let me log in the first time!! YAY!
I am SO glad you had fun!!! Too bad they couldn't win. Maybe Josh will make up for it tonight. Have fun! I'm going to the Canadian Baseball hall of fame tomorrow...i'll let you know how that is!
Ginny
http://watercooler.mlblogs.com
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Hollowman - thanks for the kind words. Actually it was a 4 year-old boy - Jonathan Keane that Jim Rice carried from the stands through the dugout to an ambulance. The game was on August 7, 1982. I think what Rice did that day was an amazing example of the type of man he is. The media might not have liked him because he did sellout his team mates (more players should be like that) and some fans didn't like him because they felt he didn't give out enough autographs. Rice was paid to play baseball - and he didn't have to jump up in the stands that day - but he did. Who would you rather have standing next to you? A guy who signed a lot of autographs or a guy who reacted quickly when someone needed help? I know who I would choose.
Julia
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Julia, I know you had fun at Fenway. The Dodgers not winniing does not keep me from having a good time at Dodger Stadium. Your pictures are fanstastic. You must have had some great seats.
http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com
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Julia,
Don't feel bad with your record. I once was in St Luis to watch a four game series with my Dodgers and they lost ALL four so your record is better.
emma
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Julia.. that picture of Penny from "behind" begs the question.. "Honey, do these pants make my butt look big?"!!!
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...and NO MORE trips to Fenway for you!!!!! lol
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It looks like you had some decent seats. I know in the old ballparks (Wrigley is the only frame of reference I have) you can get those beautiful "obstructed view" seats. I guess the outfield is pretty safe, though. Glad you enjoyed your day at the field. Glad the Sox lost--sorry, but if you won I'd quickly be running out of October hope!
http://raysfanboy.mlblogs.com
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After some R and R for myself, and inspired by a Tiger fan, I returned to blog tonight. For you the R and R, I know includes Jim Rice and that man known as Rickey H. Congrats to you and the rest of the Red Sox fans.
Aaron
http://mlbtribefan.mlblogs.com
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Sorry you didn't get a W, Julia, but I'm sure you had fun regardless. Great pictures too! I'm just like you...almost always have a camera in my bag but am just too into the game to remember to snap a single pic! Congrats to Jim Rice. You are so right...long overdue! I've seen the picture of him carrying that little boy numerous times in the last few days and it just gives me goose bumps! What a fast and amazing reaction!
Lori
http://luckylori.mlblogs.com
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I really think you should go to more games at Fenway! I am really like it when you see a game in person! ;) Less than 10 days until the "war" resumes. In case you haven't noticed, the Yankees have figured out how to win at Yankee Stadium so don't expect a continuation of the Red Sox' dominance. Of course, with my luck, both Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay will be pitching in the Red Sox rotation by then... ;)
Scott
http://fotr.mlblogs.com
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John Smoltz has been and always will be one of my favorite pitchers. I'm rooting for him every step of the way. He's truly one of the good guys.
BTW, congrats on another BoSox enshrinement.
"Happy"
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...and Manny's the next left fielder in line for the Hall.
Or maybe not.
Steve T.
http://soxblog.mlblogs.com
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Keep going to games! I might not have said this before, but I want any team except the Red Sox and Yankees to win the AL East. I don't think that Jim Rice belongs in the Hall Of Fame, but now that he's there anyway: Congratulations to Jim!
http://paintingtheblack.mlblogs.com
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You're a jinx, obviously Julia. Just like my best friend always reminded me when we would go to football games together. That's soccer, by the way, for those who need the translation. When are you planning on being there next? Cool pics by the way, thanks for sharing them.
Ash
https://ashleymarshall.mlblogs.com
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Julia,
Like you said, at least you were at the ballpark. I went to a Yankees vs Sox game last year (July 26, 2008) and we didn't fare too well, still the atmosphere is great though. So glad you were able to see a snippet of Rice's speech-- must have been a special moment at Fenway.
I definitely agree with you that Smoltz should be moved to the bullpen. He says he has his stuff, he's just not executing.
Elizabeth
http://redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com
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