Saturday Roundup - 10/27/09
Time for my weekly roundup of stories you might have missed, follow up
stories and a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
1.
mlb.com
Wanted - one Vice-President and Assistant General Manager for the Boston Red Sox. For if the news is correct, Jed Hoyer, the man who currently holds that position, is about to be named the new General Manager for the San Diego Padres. Hoyer, who has been with the Red Sox since 2002, made headlines in 2005 when he and Ben Cherington served as co-general managers during Theo Epstein's 10-week "vacation" from the team following a falling out with team president and chief executive officer Larry Lucchino. And one of the big moves he made in those 10 weeks? The deal that sent shortstop Hanley Ramirez to the Florida Marlins for pitcher Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell. There is no word on when the formal announcement will be made, but I wish him well.
2.
boston.com
The Red Sox might have another vacancy. It is being reported that Terry Francona's bench coach, Brad Mills, is one of the 4 finalist to become the next manager for the Houston Astros. That is what happens when your team is successful and you have quality people. They are in demand in other places. In addition to Mills, there has been some interest in our pitching coach John Farrell - but Farrell has indicated that he will be back next season. Good luck to Brad Mills.
3.
http://www.insidesocal.com
I have started reading this great book that looks in depth at Game 6 of the 1975 World Series as well as the history of baseball leading up to that game. As you all know, I am old enough to remember the '75 WS and I have to tell you - the memories this book brings up for me? It gives me goosebumps! Mark Frost is a very talented writer and his story telling is impeccable. The book is so much more then just about "that game". You get a very clear understanding of the people who were involved. The players, managers, everyone involved in that series - you learn about their backgrounds and what made them the people they were. I can not wait to finish the book and I highly recommend it. Along with The Yankee Years it is the best baseball book, in my opinion, to come out this year. You do not have to be a Red Sox or Reds fan to enjoy this book.
1.
mlb.comWanted - one Vice-President and Assistant General Manager for the Boston Red Sox. For if the news is correct, Jed Hoyer, the man who currently holds that position, is about to be named the new General Manager for the San Diego Padres. Hoyer, who has been with the Red Sox since 2002, made headlines in 2005 when he and Ben Cherington served as co-general managers during Theo Epstein's 10-week "vacation" from the team following a falling out with team president and chief executive officer Larry Lucchino. And one of the big moves he made in those 10 weeks? The deal that sent shortstop Hanley Ramirez to the Florida Marlins for pitcher Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell. There is no word on when the formal announcement will be made, but I wish him well.
2.
boston.comThe Red Sox might have another vacancy. It is being reported that Terry Francona's bench coach, Brad Mills, is one of the 4 finalist to become the next manager for the Houston Astros. That is what happens when your team is successful and you have quality people. They are in demand in other places. In addition to Mills, there has been some interest in our pitching coach John Farrell - but Farrell has indicated that he will be back next season. Good luck to Brad Mills.
3.
http://www.insidesocal.comI have started reading this great book that looks in depth at Game 6 of the 1975 World Series as well as the history of baseball leading up to that game. As you all know, I am old enough to remember the '75 WS and I have to tell you - the memories this book brings up for me? It gives me goosebumps! Mark Frost is a very talented writer and his story telling is impeccable. The book is so much more then just about "that game". You get a very clear understanding of the people who were involved. The players, managers, everyone involved in that series - you learn about their backgrounds and what made them the people they were. I can not wait to finish the book and I highly recommend it. Along with The Yankee Years it is the best baseball book, in my opinion, to come out this year. You do not have to be a Red Sox or Reds fan to enjoy this book.
4. 
boston.com
The New England Patriots are in Jolly Old England getting ready to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday from Wembley Stadium. This will is the third straight season that the NFL has held a regular season game in London and there is some speculation that the League would like to have a team based in England within ten years as part of a league expansion. And you read that right - a TEAM based there with other teams in the league having to regularly travel to England to play them. After reading about the logistics nightmare getting the Patriots over to London (6'2', 350 pound guys do NOT like being stuffed into an airplane for 5-6 hours, let alone dealing with the time change) I really don't know if I like this idea. Some players say they would support having an additional regular season game or two being played in England - different teams involved each time - and if the season is expanded from 16-18 games that is a possibility, but most were not sure if they would be willing to play for a team who called London home. I guess we will have to wait and see on this one. Good luck to the 4-2 Pats as they take on the 0-6 Buccs!
4.
http://www.sleepandhealth.com
After consulting with sleep medicine specialist Dr. Charles A. Czeisler of Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women's Hospital, Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics has a new practice drill for the team - MORE SLEEP! As a result - there will be no more morning shoot arounds on the day of games and practice will not start until noon on those days. According to Czeisler:
boston.comThe New England Patriots are in Jolly Old England getting ready to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday from Wembley Stadium. This will is the third straight season that the NFL has held a regular season game in London and there is some speculation that the League would like to have a team based in England within ten years as part of a league expansion. And you read that right - a TEAM based there with other teams in the league having to regularly travel to England to play them. After reading about the logistics nightmare getting the Patriots over to London (6'2', 350 pound guys do NOT like being stuffed into an airplane for 5-6 hours, let alone dealing with the time change) I really don't know if I like this idea. Some players say they would support having an additional regular season game or two being played in England - different teams involved each time - and if the season is expanded from 16-18 games that is a possibility, but most were not sure if they would be willing to play for a team who called London home. I guess we will have to wait and see on this one. Good luck to the 4-2 Pats as they take on the 0-6 Buccs!
4.
http://www.sleepandhealth.comAfter consulting with sleep medicine specialist Dr. Charles A. Czeisler of Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women's Hospital, Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics has a new practice drill for the team - MORE SLEEP! As a result - there will be no more morning shoot arounds on the day of games and practice will not start until noon on those days. According to Czeisler:
"What we are trying to do is leverage the power of sleep. As pro athletes,
they spend so much time trying to practice and master the skills of the
game - and sleep turns out to be a very critical part of the process.
There is evidence that you can significantly improve free throw
percentage and reaction speed if you optimize levels of sleep.''
The Celtics have already started on this system in the pre-season and so far Doc Rivers is happy. He has said:
"I think they're fresh. I think we've had better practices, [but] it
may be because we're a better team than we were last year. I do like
it, I think our guys love it."
K.G. and Ray Allen were not initially sold on the idea - they like early morning practices - but even they now admit that getting more sleep is helping them. Now if they could only find a way for moms to get more sleep....
5. Do you Twitter? If you do - make sure you follow me! Just click on the button in my blog header up above. Anyway, last night the following statement was thrown out for all baseball fans to finish: I love baseball because...and my 140 character (or less answer, as allowed by Twitter) was "when you are a fan, strangers can become instant friends no matter where you are." So I ask all of you the same thing, how would you finish this statement? - "I love baseball because..."
6. Finally, I would just like to wish my good friend Scott and his wife
Happy Anniversary!
~~ Julia
5. Do you Twitter? If you do - make sure you follow me! Just click on the button in my blog header up above. Anyway, last night the following statement was thrown out for all baseball fans to finish: I love baseball because...and my 140 character (or less answer, as allowed by Twitter) was "when you are a fan, strangers can become instant friends no matter where you are." So I ask all of you the same thing, how would you finish this statement? - "I love baseball because..."
6. Finally, I would just like to wish my good friend Scott and his wife
Happy Anniversary!
~~ Julia
I love baseball because...it's the sport the Houston Astros play. I'm not very good at these "fill-ins" obviously. I hope I'm not going to be graded on it. :)
Yes Brad Mills is a finalist for Houston, but I'm having a hard time getting excited about him. It could be because I don't know enough. My first choice is Acta, but who knows with this wacky front office.
http://stonebutch99.mlblogs.com
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You remembered my Anniversary! ;) That puts you one up on me! LOL! Good thing we didn't have a wager on whether or not I'd remember! Thanks for the anniversary wish! I was all set to watch baseball tonight, but the weather just wasn't cooperating! It's hard to believe that it's almost basketball season! I am looking forward to watching the Lakers repeat as Champs! Hopefully, it will come at the expense of the Celtics! :)
Scott
http://fotr.mlblogs.com
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There's been a lot about the Big Red Machine in the news lately. Wonder why that is?
Good luck with the VP and bench coach search!
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Thanks for the book suggestion. I'm always looking for good insider baseball history titles and that game was one for the ages. (And good luck to your Pats overseas. Let's see if they run up the score this time ;-)
--Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
http://mtrredstatebluestate.com
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Jules.. (hoping it's ok for me to crown you Jules : ) I will definitely go check out that book suggestion. This was such a good post.. full of "stuff" : ) Kudos to Scott and his wife.. .awesome! Family rules.
As for the "new" idea of more sleep. More Kudos. I firmly believe in the power of the mind and believe if they "think" when they are snoozing they will indeed improve : )
Great Post Kid!!!
Buz - http://buzblog.mlblogs.com/
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SCOTT - I'd take that wager - but I don't think you'll be forgetting again! ;-) And the Celtics? Bring on your Lakers! They are going DOWN!!! But I have to agree on this - the season is starting already? Yikes!!
BUZ - Jules is just fine! :-)
Julia....errr.....Jules! :-)
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Thanks for the book suggestion, I might have to look at that for my mom for Christmas...and then maybe borrow it from her haha And the story about the Celtics is really interesting, my track coach in college gave us lectures about sleep that pretty much was the same as the dr. you quoted -- and believe me, it helped to be vigilant about getting 8-9 hr a night! Hope it has the same positive effect on the Celtics!
~AZ
http://azinneck.mlblogs.com
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