News, Notes, and Love Letters
Your 2008 Mayor's Cup Champions! Red Sox won their game today against the Twins, capturing the Mayor's Cup for the second year in a row. They won by a score of 12-7 with Tek, Ortiz, and Manny each chipping in with 2 hits a piece and a huge 3-run shot by Kevin Cash(yeah, I know I'm surprised too). Buchholz looked really good out there, despite giving up 2 runs in his last inning pitched. Aardsma looked shaky and Timlin gave up a run himself. So, in case you if you're a follower of patterns like myself, the Red Sox have won the Mayor's Cup in 2004, 2007 and now 2008....you know, only saying :P
Hairy Accountants With Spreadsheets: The Boston Globe takes a look at the 2008 Red Sox' Projections Which I'll list the ones they have in here underneath the cut. They also were really smartassy and had like "If you were willing to bet XYZ" usually related to the player somehow...I'll list what they say with the comments.
Varitek: .253 BA, 17 HR, 70 RBI, 60 R, 129 K (up the K's and BA a tad, and down the HR and you got my thoughts on it....betting your captain's C)
Youkilis: .290 BA, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 89 R, 84 BB (That sounds reasonable, maybe a few more homers and a few more walks....betting a full head of hair)
Pedroia: .300 BA, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 77 R, 40 2B (A little bit of a down year in terms of him, but I think he'll do better. He sees this shit, he'll probably get all chip on his shouldered and kick major ass. Though I say that he'll probably have the same amount of RBI as said here if he's batting second...5 inches of your height on the line)
Lowell: .282 BA, 17 HR, 81 RBI, 64 R, 34 2B (This sounds more or less like what I'd think to get from Lowell. Anything more will be a bonus for me. Seems productive enough...WS MVP bet)
Lugo: .266 BA, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 76 R, 26 SB (I think Lugo will have a better year than this, but I think he'll probably hit these numbers if he ends up starting the season on the DL. Hopefully his defensive numbers will be okay...3 year sentence w/ the Rays)
Manny: .301 BA, 33 HR, 113 RBI, 93 R, .957 OPS (Back to the Manny we all know and love. I'd up the OPS a bit and the HRs, but mostly that's my opinion...pair of Oakley thumps)
Jacoby: .329 BA, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 70 R, 38 SB (I'll be shocked if these numbers actually happen. I love the guy, but I think he's not gonna be that good this season. He'll be good though...a feature in GQ mag)
Coco: .279 BA, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 62 R, 19 SB (Why such a dropoff with the SB? Mehh, that's them. I hope Coco hits these numbers though. I dunno if he will with Boston, however...breakfast cereal cabinet)
JD: .278 BA, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 90 R, 29 2B (I'm hoping he does at least a bit better than this. I like the 20 HR projection though. I'm hoping he'll be serviceable enough as a hitter...willing to bet a Pats Super Bowl Ring(2004))
Ortiz: .298 BA, 41 HR, 130 RBI, 109 R, .994 OPS (Yeah, that sounds about right...willing to bet a lifetime supply of Vitamin Water)
Beckett: 14-8, 3.50 ERA, 203 IP, 187 K, 64 BB (Barring any back issues, I expect this from him. Maybe a lower ERA....willing to bet Stan's Rodeo Ointment)
Matsuzaka: 14-8, 3.54 ERA, 193 IP, 188 K, 64 BB (I'll jump for fucking joy if he has these numbers. They're almost identical to Beckett...willing to bet a big sushi dinner)
Wakefield: 11-9, 4.03 ERA, 181 IP, 123 K, 63 BB (I find it odd that he'll have less walks than Beckett and Matsuzaka...the rest sounds more or less the same...I'm guessing they're factoring in possible time on the DL here...willing to bet a flight w/ the Blue Angels)
Lester: 10-10, 4.42 ERA, 175 IP, 149 K, 89 BB (Not really buying it. I can see him getting 10 wins and the walks may be somewhat at that line, but I think he'll be really good this season. Just a weird gut feeling...willing to bet Celtics' playoff success?)
Bartolo Colon: 4-4, 4.37 ERA, 12 GS, 51 K, 22 BB (Interesting they include him...but I mean this is basically the numbers of a 5th starter...I can take it...also are you willing to bet White Castle Sliders)
Schilling: 4-2, 3.48 ERA, 62 IP, 58 K, 10 BB (This is IF he fucking even makes it back...willing to bet a top level Everquest account)
Timlin: 4-3, 3.63 ERA, 62 IP, 39 K, 15 BB (Sounds good enough for me...lower the ERA a bit and we got ourselves a deal...willing to bet a bowhunting trip)
Okajima: 5-2, 6 SV, 3.15 ERA, 60 IP, 56 K (Anything better than this is a bonus for me...though I kinda hope the ERA is a little smaller than that...willing to bet a week's paycheck)
Manny Del: 4-2, 3.57 ERA, 58 IP, 58 K, 27 BB (Aww just like his idol, Timlin! :) but yeah I think he's gonna be better than this...at least I hope so...willing to bet free battery from AC Delco)
Papelbon: 4-2, 39 SV, 2.70 ERA, 60 IP, 66 K (Sweet deal...willing to bet backstage passes to teh Dropkick Murphys?)
Trials and Tribulations of The Often Injured Pride of Rhode Island: Rocco Badelli is frustrated, to say the least. Yet again, Hendricken's own is beginning the season on the DL. But now he's gone public with his issue which is metabolic and/or mitochondrial abonomalities
The Rhode Island native decided it was time to reveal the serious health issue that has kept him sidelined for much of the last few seasons. The 26-year-old Rays center fielder said he has metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities, which causes severe fatigue and muscle cramping.
I'm not much of a doctor, but the basic thing that was said was that he gets severe fatigue and his muscles can't ever really recover after even a brief workout. He admits there still isn't a specific diagnosis but any rumors about him having MS or a rare blood disease are not true. That's gotta really fucking suck to not know what exactly is wrong with you but knowing that there IS something wrong. Baldelli doesn't think it's life threatening, however, but he also isn't planning on retiring. It is a serious problem, but it doesn't seem like it's life threatening.
I kinda feel for the dude though. I mean he just wants to play ball but his body is betraying him in the worst way when he needs it the most. That's gotta be awful.
2008 the Swan Song? This is a bit of a throwaway line that I only saw just in passing before I went off to work this morning(which makes me wonder why the hell I missed it last night as well). The Globe was talking to Timlin, and he talked about his just passed 42nd birthday and he dropped a pretty big nugget of newsage that doesn't seem to be known anywhere else.
"I feel pretty strong," said Timlin, adding that he may have benefited from cutting back on his normal offseason routine of throwing five days a week to following Mike Reinold's program of three times, and adding some weight work. "And my body feels way better. We love Boston, and we wanted to enjoy the fruits of our labor."
Timlin expects this to be his last season.
"When God tells you you're done, you're done," he said. "I'm sure he'll put it on my heart."
So yeah, it looks like Timlin is going to ride off gracefully into the sunset after 2008. I really hope he has a great little swan song and that he does for real this time. It'd be nice to see him retire as a Red Sox. I mean this is a guy who almost retired after 2002 because he was fed up with the game...he found his love of the game again because of Boston and Boston found a great anchor in that bullpen. May he have himself a good season and a great note to go out on...as great as it can be I mean.
Hairy Accountants With Spreadsheets: The Boston Globe takes a look at the 2008 Red Sox' Projections Which I'll list the ones they have in here underneath the cut. They also were really smartassy and had like "If you were willing to bet XYZ" usually related to the player somehow...I'll list what they say with the comments.
Varitek: .253 BA, 17 HR, 70 RBI, 60 R, 129 K (up the K's and BA a tad, and down the HR and you got my thoughts on it....betting your captain's C)
Youkilis: .290 BA, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 89 R, 84 BB (That sounds reasonable, maybe a few more homers and a few more walks....betting a full head of hair)
Pedroia: .300 BA, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 77 R, 40 2B (A little bit of a down year in terms of him, but I think he'll do better. He sees this shit, he'll probably get all chip on his shouldered and kick major ass. Though I say that he'll probably have the same amount of RBI as said here if he's batting second...5 inches of your height on the line)
Lowell: .282 BA, 17 HR, 81 RBI, 64 R, 34 2B (This sounds more or less like what I'd think to get from Lowell. Anything more will be a bonus for me. Seems productive enough...WS MVP bet)
Lugo: .266 BA, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 76 R, 26 SB (I think Lugo will have a better year than this, but I think he'll probably hit these numbers if he ends up starting the season on the DL. Hopefully his defensive numbers will be okay...3 year sentence w/ the Rays)
Manny: .301 BA, 33 HR, 113 RBI, 93 R, .957 OPS (Back to the Manny we all know and love. I'd up the OPS a bit and the HRs, but mostly that's my opinion...pair of Oakley thumps)
Jacoby: .329 BA, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 70 R, 38 SB (I'll be shocked if these numbers actually happen. I love the guy, but I think he's not gonna be that good this season. He'll be good though...a feature in GQ mag)
Coco: .279 BA, 7 HR, 45 RBI, 62 R, 19 SB (Why such a dropoff with the SB? Mehh, that's them. I hope Coco hits these numbers though. I dunno if he will with Boston, however...breakfast cereal cabinet)
JD: .278 BA, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 90 R, 29 2B (I'm hoping he does at least a bit better than this. I like the 20 HR projection though. I'm hoping he'll be serviceable enough as a hitter...willing to bet a Pats Super Bowl Ring(2004))
Ortiz: .298 BA, 41 HR, 130 RBI, 109 R, .994 OPS (Yeah, that sounds about right...willing to bet a lifetime supply of Vitamin Water)
Beckett: 14-8, 3.50 ERA, 203 IP, 187 K, 64 BB (Barring any back issues, I expect this from him. Maybe a lower ERA....willing to bet Stan's Rodeo Ointment)
Matsuzaka: 14-8, 3.54 ERA, 193 IP, 188 K, 64 BB (I'll jump for fucking joy if he has these numbers. They're almost identical to Beckett...willing to bet a big sushi dinner)
Wakefield: 11-9, 4.03 ERA, 181 IP, 123 K, 63 BB (I find it odd that he'll have less walks than Beckett and Matsuzaka...the rest sounds more or less the same...I'm guessing they're factoring in possible time on the DL here...willing to bet a flight w/ the Blue Angels)
Lester: 10-10, 4.42 ERA, 175 IP, 149 K, 89 BB (Not really buying it. I can see him getting 10 wins and the walks may be somewhat at that line, but I think he'll be really good this season. Just a weird gut feeling...willing to bet Celtics' playoff success?)
Bartolo Colon: 4-4, 4.37 ERA, 12 GS, 51 K, 22 BB (Interesting they include him...but I mean this is basically the numbers of a 5th starter...I can take it...also are you willing to bet White Castle Sliders)
Schilling: 4-2, 3.48 ERA, 62 IP, 58 K, 10 BB (This is IF he fucking even makes it back...willing to bet a top level Everquest account)
Timlin: 4-3, 3.63 ERA, 62 IP, 39 K, 15 BB (Sounds good enough for me...lower the ERA a bit and we got ourselves a deal...willing to bet a bowhunting trip)
Okajima: 5-2, 6 SV, 3.15 ERA, 60 IP, 56 K (Anything better than this is a bonus for me...though I kinda hope the ERA is a little smaller than that...willing to bet a week's paycheck)
Manny Del: 4-2, 3.57 ERA, 58 IP, 58 K, 27 BB (Aww just like his idol, Timlin! :) but yeah I think he's gonna be better than this...at least I hope so...willing to bet free battery from AC Delco)
Papelbon: 4-2, 39 SV, 2.70 ERA, 60 IP, 66 K (Sweet deal...willing to bet backstage passes to teh Dropkick Murphys?)
Trials and Tribulations of The Often Injured Pride of Rhode Island: Rocco Badelli is frustrated, to say the least. Yet again, Hendricken's own is beginning the season on the DL. But now he's gone public with his issue which is metabolic and/or mitochondrial abonomalities
The Rhode Island native decided it was time to reveal the serious health issue that has kept him sidelined for much of the last few seasons. The 26-year-old Rays center fielder said he has metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities, which causes severe fatigue and muscle cramping.
I'm not much of a doctor, but the basic thing that was said was that he gets severe fatigue and his muscles can't ever really recover after even a brief workout. He admits there still isn't a specific diagnosis but any rumors about him having MS or a rare blood disease are not true. That's gotta really fucking suck to not know what exactly is wrong with you but knowing that there IS something wrong. Baldelli doesn't think it's life threatening, however, but he also isn't planning on retiring. It is a serious problem, but it doesn't seem like it's life threatening.
I kinda feel for the dude though. I mean he just wants to play ball but his body is betraying him in the worst way when he needs it the most. That's gotta be awful.
2008 the Swan Song? This is a bit of a throwaway line that I only saw just in passing before I went off to work this morning(which makes me wonder why the hell I missed it last night as well). The Globe was talking to Timlin, and he talked about his just passed 42nd birthday and he dropped a pretty big nugget of newsage that doesn't seem to be known anywhere else.
"I feel pretty strong," said Timlin, adding that he may have benefited from cutting back on his normal offseason routine of throwing five days a week to following Mike Reinold's program of three times, and adding some weight work. "And my body feels way better. We love Boston, and we wanted to enjoy the fruits of our labor."
Timlin expects this to be his last season.
"When God tells you you're done, you're done," he said. "I'm sure he'll put it on my heart."
So yeah, it looks like Timlin is going to ride off gracefully into the sunset after 2008. I really hope he has a great little swan song and that he does for real this time. It'd be nice to see him retire as a Red Sox. I mean this is a guy who almost retired after 2002 because he was fed up with the game...he found his love of the game again because of Boston and Boston found a great anchor in that bullpen. May he have himself a good season and a great note to go out on...as great as it can be I mean.