SOX STUFF

This current system is a sham, the fans (more so the league) should be disappointed to let the all star voting become such a popularity contest. I would hope Nomar would turn down an invitation. The league should start a system of checks & balances because this is a mockery! As much as I like the Red Sox to represent I also want to see the guys that deserve it the most make the team!

Not to change my tune but I can't help but smirk when I see that all 8 balloted Red Sox are in contention!

(This headline title was posted in the 7th inning of Monday's game, so for those of you that have inquired or seen a similar headline elsewhere you heard it here first)

Lowe rubs his bloody blister all over his pants, loads bases, walks in a run and then it's all down hill from there.... 7 Run 6th for Baltimore doesn't give us a chance!

In the biggest non-surprise since finding out American Idol reject William Hung received no professional training, Derek Lowe shit the bed again. Insert here your favorite play on words using Derek's name; "How Lowe can he go?", His name is Lowe, his ERA isn't", and the list goes on.- posted by Denton on Surviving Grady.com

David McCarty hits walk off homer in the 12th to win a wild one for the Sox!

Foulke blows his first save as a Red Sox, hats off to him for his performance to date though..

"It's not like we are going to say, "Oh, damn, you're right! Red Sox suck, I'm going to become a Yankees fan just like you. Sign me up!" No, you see, we don't choose to become Red Sox fans; we are chosen. It's preordained. This fact should be obvious even to the mentally impaired, for if it was a simply a matter of choice, why would we choose eternal suffering?"
--Bambino's Curse

7:05 start turned into 8:30 as grounds crew prepared for rain (which never came)

If you saw tonights game as well as the KC game, you'd understand that for Schilling to be forced to miss a start, Francona would probably have a broken jaw and the clubhouse would have about 20K worth of repairs.

In other words, Curt does what he thinks is best for himself short term and doesnt worry about the future or the thoughts and opinions of his manager.

Oh, just IMO (in My opinion), of course.

You know, this is pretty chicken @#%$ to say, even imply. You don't know the first thing about me, and you say something this durogatory?
So you are implying that I will stay out on the mound and pitch at the cost of my season? Or at the cost of this teams season? This is so far opposite the truth it makes me sick.
I get paid to pitch, ONCE, every 5 days. No pinch hit appearance, no 1 inning relief shot, one start, every 5 days.
I work my ass off to make that day the most important day of my life. I work my ass off to win, that game, that day, at all costs. I work my ass off to take care of my 9 innings.
You don't think I know myself better than anyone? I get paid to pitch, not manage, I don't tell the manager when I want to start, I don't tell the manager that after x amount of pitches I am done, the manager manages, I pitch.
It's a 7 month season, this being my 16th one, I know how it works, I know how I work.
If I thought missing a start would make things better for the rest of the year it'd be done. If I thought that staying in a game would cost me my next start, I'd be out. I work with about 8 different people to keep my arm, my legs and my head in shape to take the ball 40 some odd times and win, not just pitch, but win.
The work I do between starts, both physical and mental is so that when I take the ball, the 24 guys wearing the same uniform as I do, expect to win, and the 25 guys on the other side of the field know it's gonna be real hard to win. I feel that, barring and act of God, when I get the ball, we're winning. If that means 7IP and 125 pitches, or 9 innings and 102 pitches, so be it. It's what I do.

You're basically saying that I'm selfish, which contrary to some circles belief couldn't be farther from the truth. Oh there is some selfishness in that when I pitch I want us to win beyond belief, and even better if I am good enough to be the guy getting the W. But us winning on the day I start overtakes every other concern I have.
I am not out there hoping to get through 6, 7 innings so the bullpen can come in. I go out there fully intending to face the other lineup 3-4 times and finish the game. 6 innings leaves 1/3rd of the game left, I can't bitch about getting a ND or an L if I leave a third of the game to be played when I come out.
I was brought up and taught that starting pitching, good starting pitchers, are about innings. Because if the innings are there, and you have talent, the other numbers will fall in to place.
I have never, ever in my life put my needs ahead of the teams, ever.
Oh sure, a quick internet search and you could find me saying some stupid things, I've certainly done that, I'm human.
I've had issues with teammates, more than one, happens. Never had an issue with someone that was about the team first though, or someone that worked their ass off to be better.
People actually wanted to use the KC CG as an excuse for the Toronto game, which was wrong. I pitched bad in Toronto, arm felt great, but I pitched bad. Don't make excuses for me, I don't need them, and they are like assholes, everyone has one.
As for tonight, well I was thinking after the 5th that I'd be in this one until my pitch count forced me out, but I didn't let that happen. Had I pitched better in the 6th and 7th I most likely would have still come out with a 12-0 lead and a normal 4 days off, after the 7th inning.
You want to rake me over the coals for something I say, or something I do on the field, feel free, that's how this business works.
But please don't ever assume to know how I think, or feel, based on nameless quotes or comments, or a gut feeling, too many people in the media do that already.

SOSH Message Boarders continue to chat a bit and Curt chimes in again a few hours later.

Time to put it to bed. Bowler gave an opinion of me, which is what this forum is for, to voice opinions, and I gave him my thoughts on his opinion of me, end of discussion.
I don't want ball washing, I certainly appreciate people that support me here, hell I'm human, it's nicer to hear someone say nice job or that was great, rather than you suck or man you really suck. I'm sure when the time comes so will those comments, I don't expect a free ride, nor would I want one.
I browse here and chat with you all for the sole reason that there's (for the most part) pretty intelligent and insightful conversation thrown around.
I don't expect ball washing, and in the same vein I don't expect people to jerk me around to simple be "non ball washers".
The beauty of this all is that when the day ends, with the exception of my right arm, and my ridiculous paycheck, I'm pretty much like every one of you, 4 kids, wife that harasses me (deservedly so most times) with too little time in the day to do 1/10th of what I'd like.
I get offended when people portray me as something I'm not, as would any of you.
The difference for me here, is that I have a vested interest so to speak, in pretty much every topic on this board, this is my life, these are my teammates. I give a crap about both, and I have a perspective that's different than everyone else's, so I take things differently than some people.
RIght or wrong it's the dynamics of me dropping by to post, I don't lose sleep over it, and neither should any of you. Unless you say something personal about me, I don't take it personal, nor should you, unless I give it back in the manner it's dished to me.

Sox Fail to bring out the Brooms

Arroyo looks down at the ball, sort of like how I look at my tennis racket after missing a shot and play with the strings.. "Maybe there is something wrong with the balls tonight?"

Will nothing stop the Red Sox Express? No. Nothing will. And you would do well to get out of its way as it barrels toward you. The Oakland A's certainly did. Even though Derek Lowe continued to pitch like a guy who'd rather be at home watching "Law & Order: The Hall Monitor Years" (coming soon to NBC!), the A's did everything they could to avoid the "W," including a three-run throwing error by shortstop Bobby Crosby (who also went 0-for-4, just to ensure a post-game wedgie from his teammates).

But enough about the A's. This one was all about the Sox. Again. Varitek knocks in three runs with a monster home run. Ortiz and Bellhorn each deliver an RBI. (And how amazing is it when we're sitting here, watching the games, EXPECTING Bellhorn to get a key hit.) Millar, who couldn't have found his ass with both hands last night, collects two hits. And Foulke shuts the door in the ninth.

Not to mention Youkilis, our new cult hero. He gets a hit, scores a run, picks up an RBI. He's been on base in every game he's played since joining the team. Dude even has his own crowd chant. If he were a comic book character, he'd be drawn by Jack Kirby, with a thickly creased forehead and hands like five Hershey bars stuck to a basketball. If he were a cop show character, he'd be the cool but tough cop, the guy who smokes a lot, loves his mom, and gives suspects a good cock-punching every know and then, just because he can. He is young and exciting and fun to watch. And with Mueller in the M*A*S*H* unit, we're gonna see a lot of the kid. I'm thinkin' he's gonna represent just fine.

So... a five game win streak to dispel the demons of a rocky road trip. We're back home now where everything makes sense and Ben Affleck can be forgiven for the craptastic "Reindeer Games." Regarding Affleck, who was in attendance last night, I'm not afraid to give the guy his props. For one thing, he's slept with J-Lo. For another, unlike a lot of these celeb poseurs who show up in the front row at the World Series, he bleeds the Red. Hell, he showed more range as a spectator during the 2003 ALCS than in any of his flicks... cheering his balls off when the Sox were making hay and looking dazed and despondent when the Yanks prevailed.

I'm calling for the brooms tonight. Arroyo will be raring to go after a metza-metza showing his last time out. Even though Mulder will be tough, I've got enough confidence in the Sox bats these days. At least when Kapler and Crespo aren't in the line-up.

And then we get Seattle over the weekend. C'mon, man. Is there no one on this planet who will challenge us?
Posted by Red @ www.survivinggrady.com

Game Highligh: Jason Varitek- Yard... 3 Run Shot in 6th puts sox up for good.

How will the Red Sox Disappoint Us this Season?

Sox Go Batty at Fenway, Win 12-2

Mueller out 4-6 Weeks, needs surgery on his knee

Red Sox will play 29 of their next 30 games against teams outside the AL East

May 25th 1985-Red Sox Traded Dennis Eckersly & Mike Brumley for Bill Buckner

Red Sox win 4-1...

Damon-Yard(3), still has bad hairdo..
Foulke- 0.40ERA, 22 consecutive save chances converted

5/16

Help Wanted: Run Support For Pedro

Derek Lowe not too shabby...got the job done!

Sox Disappointing!

Bunch of Dogs on the field last night!

Lose 12-6

Curt doesn't shine in Blue Jay Land..

Neither does the pen..

Schill-5IP, 3ER, 8H

After Curt lets up 5,

Sox send the whole bullpen to the mound

and they let up another 7 runs.

Sox Lose a crappy game 12-6

Team can't seem to figure out Astroturf.

Sitting Ducks out there

(sorry for all the animal references today,

last night I had a dream that I lived on a farm...weird...)

My Fathers' Red Sox Story!

All of us have a tale or two about our love for the hometown boys. Your first time at Fenway, when you got your picture taken with Wally, when you touched Pesky's pole, there are so many stories from the mouths of Fenway Faithful. My father has shared a few with me and I pass this one on to you and hope to hear yours as well.

1975-Reading Massachusetts

My Dad was sitting at home watching the pre-game for Game 7 of the 1975 World Series. This was the year the Sox were going to win it all and he was as excited as ever to watch it go down. Many of his buddies were attending the funeral of friend's father but my Dad had his priorities straight and stayed home to witness history.

The Game was to start in about 45 minutes or so when he got a call. "Hey George, I know this might sound crazy but we are all here at Jack's funeral, he is all tucked in nice in his casket, we put him in his lucky suit and someone noticed something in his pocket. We reached in and pulled out a ticket to tonight's game 7 of the world series. We are all here mourning our loss and wanted to offer the ticket to you." My father couldn't believe it, he thought it was a joke but it wasn't. He was just offered a ticket to game 7 of the World Series lifted from the corpse of a dead guy.

"Sure as hell I will take them, and tell the dead guy I said thanks". My dad rushed to the funeral parlor, paid a quick thanks to the family and of course personally thanked the stiff.

He drove like grease lightening to the game, the cops had Fenway roped off. He raised his ticket high and screamed "I got the golden ticket", a cop helped him through the crowd and into the stadium.

You all know what happened at the game, Sox Lost 4-3.(I will spare you the historical details)

After the game my Father ran on the field and grabbed a huge chunk of grass from in front of home plate.

This grass (pictured above) is preserved in a plastic bag in a safe place. I have always said we are going to smoke it when the sox win it all.

I carry a sampling of it around with me ready to roll it up when the time is right!

As far fetched as it is this is a true story. There are many living witnesses that can vouch to it.

Share your favorite Red Sox experience with us!

Ok Iddler is back….sorry BII I have been on vacation for a while. Lots to talk about. To start things off I am very impressed with the number of members that have joined the site and are regular posters. That’s great! The message boards are what keeps the site alive, keep it up. Thanks to all for spreading the news of the site to friends etc… Ok enough of that crap….lets talk sox.

First I would like to touch upon the Red Sox movie: “Still We Believe.” As I said before I was at the premier and let me tell you, it was incredible…..The crowd at the premier was electric and drew an amazing amount of celebrities. First and foremost Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar was in attendance. I actually had a chance to ask Kevin his thoughts on the movie and he said last weekend's series sweep of the Yankees "should make watching this movie a little easier" (Yes, a BII exclusive). Also in attendance were sox brass John Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino who were joined on the red carpet by Wally the Green Monster. The movie was incredible and I advise all Sox fans to see it and other fans to view the film when it................(click to read the rest)

Manny to honor stars & stripes today, becomes US Citizen in Miami, misses game.

Robert Mariano "Boston Rob" loses "Survivor All Stars" but proposes to the other finalist.

Sox to face the Indians in a three Game Stint Starting tonight, all games at 7:05

"We owe those guys a little something. They took it to us the first couple nights." -- Pokey Reese refering to splitting last weeks series against Cleveland.

Nixon: Still down with Quad Injury and rehabing back. Exact ETA still unknown, few weeks is the latest report.

A Group Known As "Damon's Disciples" are cowering Fenway Park wearing beards & long hair claiming to be followers of "Damonism", a newly found religion. Their mecca, none other than Fenway Park!

I called the wrong pitch and It ended up costing us the game.-Curt Shilling after today's loss

No more talks, no more happy Pedro, Its all Part of his Game.
His leverage rhetoric is about as sloppy as his 4 innings last night.

Hey it's business, I respect it somewhat. But Pedro but we know already know where this is going!

Playing the Leverage game Pete?
You better produce better numbers than yesterday to get your 15-20million- 4IP, 6ER, 3K's,

Although building a winning team is our primary focus, we have the utmost respect and admiration for our individual players and the sacrifices and contributions they make to help the organization achieve its goals.

We respect our players. We tell our players the truth. We listen to our players. We protect our players. We negotiate with our players in good faith, and we make every effort not to discuss these negotiations in public. We want our players to succeed, and we do everything we can to help them win.

Sometimes, however, our commitment to building winning teams, every year, means that we will have disagreements with our players about the length and precise value of their next contracts. These disagreements are unfortunate but they are inevitable. They will be resolved in time. In the meantime, we continue to focus on our most important mission: winning.

``How long is he (Pedro) planning to stay, three years?'' Ramirez was quoted ``I'll loan them a contract. Whatever they want. How much do they need? It's for Pedro.'' -MR24

Red Sox Message Forum

Boston Red Sox Nation 2004

Nomar leads league in all star voting!

Sox Fail to bring out the Brooms

How will the Red Sox Disappoint Us this Season?

Sox Go Batty at Fenway, Win 12-2

Mueller out 4-6 Weeks, needs surgery on his knee

Red Sox win 4-1...

5/16

Help Wanted: Run Support For Pedro

Derek Lowe not too shabby...got the job done!