What team do you hate more than anything? Well, the Yankees are a given. Of course I hate them most of all. But coming up a close second are the Angels. And I'm not exactly sure I can tell you why, I just get this irrational (maybe even rational) grrr thing going on with them. I dislike the Mets, but it's kinda hard to hate them right now, they're kinda pitiful.
But hey, do you like anyone off that team? I have respect for Rivera and Jeter, but I think most Sox fans will say that. As for the Angels, because of Papi, I notice Torii Hunter but I don't really like him, per se. On the Mets, Jeff, of course!
Who do you dislike MOST off of that team? Oh most of the rest of the Yankees, because they're Yankees. I have this real amazing dislike of Joba Chamberlin, but I'm not sure where that came from. As for the Angels, I just don't like that team, not really any players specifically. And the Mets, well, I had this kinda weird dislike for Ryan Church, but then... well, he's not a Met anymore, is he?
Now let's talk about YOUR team! Who is your team anyway? Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers.
How many times have you seen your guys play this year anyway? In person? Zip. But I did watch most of the games on TV or online. I did see two Cape League games in person.
Who is your favorite infielder on your team? For the Red Sox, if I have to pick who my favourite player on the team that plays in the infield is, that's Nick. But for our regular infielders, that's probably Mikey or Dustin. For the Braves, it has to be Chipper, but followed closely by Adam. For the Dodgers, I got back to that my favourite player that plays in the infield is Blake. But my favourite regular infielder would be Raffy.
Who is your favorite outfielder on your team? For the Red Sox, it's JD. For the Braves, it's Nate. For the Dodgers, it's Andre. That was easy.
Who is the best player in all of baseball without having a biased team opinion? I don't know, honestly. I can go by what I'm told repeatedly, but I always take that with a grain of salt. Too many times, little things aren't noted, and big things are given too much weight. A guy hits a home run, but makes two errors, sure he's a good hitter, but he's a detriment to his team. So my slightly biased, and admittedly so, opinion would be Andre Ethier.
Alright, who on your team this year do you think won't return next year? Billy Wagner, which makes me kinda sad. I'm a little concerned that Chipper will retire, but I think he's got at least one more. And Adam better damn well return. Orlando Hudson, perhaps. I can only wish Casey Blake, but I think it's more likely that my Blake gets traded.
Who is your team's top pinch hitter? For the Red Sox, Rocco or Nick. For the Braves, Greg Norton. For the Dodgers, since you can hardly call Manny a pinch hitter, but he's damn good when he is one, I'll say I suppose it's Jim Thome, right? Ugh. I'd rather say Mark Loretta.
Who is the BEST pitcher you ever got to see pitch live? Live and in person? Well, that would have to be that kid from the Y-D Sox, but for the life of me I can't remember his name. If I can say on TV, then I'd pick John Smoltz.
Fill in the blanks: "When ____ comes out of the bullpen, I feel nervous."? Saito. Easy. When he was pitching for the Dodgers and when he was pitching for the Sox. I have never liked him. Ramirez and Belisario can be really hit or miss. Soriano makes me nervous, but most times he's okay.
Another fill in the blanks! "___ was the stupidest signing my team ever made!"? Well, besides the obvious Lugo answer, signing Adam was kinda odd. Not that he was here all that long, but still, why did we need another everyday first baseman? I have some weird reaction to Jim Thome that I have no idea where it comes from. I was ripped when we got Casey Blake for obvious reasons, but I can't deny he's a good player. The trade of Jeff for Ryan Church I will never understand.
What stadiums have you seen a MLB game in? I have never been inside an MLB stadium. I did touch Fenway once.
Who is last in your team's division? Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks.
On your team, what starting pitcher seems to never get the run support? Oh, Timmy. Though it's been better for him lately. Clayton, always. Drives me nuts. Derek's had it rough for a bunch of his starts in a row, but that's getting better. Vasquez and Jurrjens can make something out of nothing, so the lack of run support is hardly noticed.
Is there anyone on your team who has been on the team since you started watching? *laughs* Well, most of the teams, considering I started watching the Red Sox at the very end of 2007, the Dodgers at the beginning of 2008 and the Braves at the beginning of 2009.
Who is your organization's top prospect? Seeing Bowden getting all hit to hell, it's kinda hard to say he's our top prospect, but he probably is since Bard doesn't count anymore. I'd love to say that Blake is. Tommy and Kris certainly were, but they don't count as prospects anymore. Someone is going to get Blake Kelso in a draft coming up and he's going to e amazing. I just hope it's one of my teams.
How do you feel about your team's overall starting rotation? A lot better than I used to be, for the Red Sox. Josh is looking like Josh, Clay is looking great and Jon is locked in. Timmy should be getting better and even if Byrd is hit or miss, he's usually pretty good. Daisuke I want to like, but I have a very hard time doing so. I adore the Braves' rotation so much and will be very upset if it changes next season. Vasquez and Jurrjens are the best completely unknown pitchers in the league. Derek, obviously, I love. Kawakami is adjusting just fine and Tommy (and/or Kris) is growing into a superstar. The Dodgers' rotation is kinda messed up right now. I'm certainly concerned about Padilla because of what the Rangers said, but I like what I've seen pitching-wise. Chad has grown into an ace and that's exciting, Clayton obviously I adore. I'm getting to really like Wolf, he's consistent. I like Charlie Haegar and I want to keep him in the rotation. I also like Jeff Weaver, but he's very hit or miss, as is Kuroda. Jon Garland can be trade bait.
Any thoughts on your closer? I love Jonathan (Papelbon). He's a very good closer. Sometimes I think he talks without thinking, but that's just who he is. He has the stuff, and that's what matters. Soriano makes me very nervous and I'd much rather have Mike closing. Jonathan (Broxton) is a very good closer, and I'm a little surprised I like him so much in that role, but I really do.
Who is your usual leadoff hitter? Jacoby Ellsbury, Nate McLouth, Rafael Furcal. I love them all doing that, too.
Are there any players you feel should be up with your team and not in the minors? No, because if they haven't been called up by now, well, damn. I can safely say this because Blake was called up.
How much faith do you have in your manager? A lot, in all three of them. Tito, the most, because I just like the way he thinks, I like the way he runs the team. Torre is a very good manager, there's no denying it. Bobby sometimes worries me, but he's fair and lord knows he defends his players.
Who is team you just feel bad for? Oh the Pirates for sure. I got pretty mad at them for a while, but now it's kinda somewhere between hopeful and pity. They do try and I don't understand how it keeps happening to them. Like one of these overhauls has to work, doesn't it?
Who on your team deserves more credit than he gets? Well, my obvious Red Sox answer is going to be Jason. And JD too. But Boston fans can be nasty. If you're doing well, they love you, if you're not, they hate you. It's pretty hard to talk to a lot of them. Andre, for the Dodgers. He's just amazing and he doesn't get nearly the press he deserves. Vasquez and Jurrjens, like I said. They are both amazingly consistent pitchers and no one even knows who they are.
Who out of all the AL Central teams do you like the best if you had to pick? Um, no thank you? Okay, okay. I guess Mauer the Twins? But only because you made me pick.
After who your team plays now, who is the next team you play? Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Washington Nationals. *laughs* Oh, should be fun.
What was the best win of the year? Well, as horrible as it's going to sound, being a Braves fan and even more so, a Derek fan, Josh's shutout against the Braves was one of my most favourite games all season.
What was the worst loss of the year? I stayed up so freakin' late just to watch A-Rod hit a walk off homer. That was horrible.
Who is your least favorite player in baseball? I pondered this for a bit (I even asked Keira if she could think of anyone) and I really can't come up with a player that I have a seething Randy-Jones-like hatred for. So I suppose I'll have to go with Joba Chamberlin.
What is your favorite baseball movie? I don't have one. I pick the Scooby-Doo episode with Mike Piazza.
If your manager got fired and YOU got to pick a current manager to replace him, who would you pick? Isn't it terribly ironic that I'd probably pick Torre?
Who is the best closer in the game? Oh come on, who isn't going to pick Rivera?!