Back in 2nd
Tara:
I didn't think I ever live to see the day.
Susan/Circle:
What that an African-American is poised to become the next President of the United States?
Tara:
No, that the Red Sox would fall out of first place because of a loss and a Tampa Bay win over the Yankees.
Susan/Circle:
Seriously what's next — Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
Tara:
Well, Josh Beckett's definitely had fire and brimstone coming down from the skies look about him after his 11 hits and 5 runs in 5 2/3 innings performance last night.
Susan/Circle:
Yeah, while Julian Tavarez's angry batshitedness was amusing, Beckett's seething is on a whole other level.
Tara:
They say his teammates don't even want to make eye contact with him when he's in one of his rages. Hell, I don't even want to make eye contact with him on the TV.
Susan/Circle:
Let's face it, if Josh Beckett couldn't throw a 98mph major league fastball, we'd more than likely be seeing him on an episode of Cops.
Tara:
Absolutely. He'd be another shirtless redneck streaked in blood and professing his innocence.
Susan/Circle:
What is up with the shirtless rednecks anyway? Is there like some redneck handbook that instructs one to remove shirt before transgressing into criminality?
Tara:
Yeah, I think that's in there along with instructions regarding the optimal placement of broken down cars in your front yard and deep frying Twinkies.
mmmm, deep fried twinkies...
i go to the (ohio) state fair for about 20 minutes every year - just to get 2 deep fried twinkies and a hand-shaken lemonade. and then i've met my hilljack quota for the year.
Posted by: chris | 2008.05.14 at 09:56 AM
At least he's got smoother edges than John Rocker.
Posted by: louclinton | 2008.05.14 at 09:57 AM
Hmmm... deep fried twinkies good.
I saw how pissed Beckett was. He should be. Giving him a low inside fastball to a left handed hitter. It was really weird because I was listening to MASN and the announcer basically said there is no way this guy was going to hit a homer against Beckett and the next pitch. He also "predicted" Manny's grounding into a 1-2-3 double play. It used to be that we could count on only having to beat the Yankees to win the division. Well they are sucking right now and two teams have taken their place. Arghhh.
Posted by: vasoxfan | 2008.05.14 at 10:01 AM
Speaking of hillbillies, I'd like to thank WV for feeding the Debacle Elect another power-packed lunch of "hey look I won another state!" when we really needed to serve her up a helping handful of "get the hell out of the race" chips.
Dumbasses. Then they follow it up by exit polling that they'd rather screw the entire country with McCain or simply not voting than vote for Obama which feeds the seedy media something to gnaw on for a week or two.
Posted by: Kaz | 2008.05.14 at 10:17 AM
these aren't your father's devil rays, that's for sure. btw, nice ghostbusters ref h.b. don't cross the streams!
Posted by: granular_serene | 2008.05.14 at 10:18 AM
Yeah, this democracy stuff is bullshit. People end up voting for whomever they want instead of listening to their betters and following instructions like good citizens.
We should go to a system where only people who hold identical political views as ourselves are even allowed to vote.
Or better yet, maybe we should just scrap this whole messy voting thing altogether and let the smart folks like Kaz just appoint our leaders?
Posted by: h.b | 2008.05.14 at 10:28 AM
Kaz, it's West Virginia. I've been there before with my WV friend (Chinese girl ironically). What the hell do you expect? Many of these people think he's still a Muslim and one said she wouldn't vote for a half-breed. Worthless hicks I tell you.
Good thing it does little to nothing trying to strike down Obama's lead.
As for Beckett...I'd be cursing like him too if I pitched that disappointingly. I mean when the middle relief does a better job than your ace, something's fucked up.
Posted by: Colin | 2008.05.14 at 10:29 AM
I heard Josh Becket was actually hurt in the game - that contributed to his bad mood!
:)
Posted by: RationalSoxFan | 2008.05.14 at 10:36 AM
A missed opportunity. The Sox should still have won that game.
For the record I am opposed to the Batshit release. He should have been retained strictly for clubhouse karma reasons. Another bad move by Theo.
On anther note thank goodness the media driven hate fest called spygate has come to end. ESPN showed their true colors by bending the truth, making absurd comments and generally bashing the Pats the whole time. Tom Brady was spot on in his analysis yesterday.
Posted by: Scott | 2008.05.14 at 10:56 AM
"there's no point for democracy when ignorance is celebrated
political scientists get the same one vote as some Arkansas inbred
majority rule, don't work in mental institutions
sometimes the smallest softest voice carries the grand biggest solutions"
- fat mike
Posted by: jamesfrmmaine | 2008.05.14 at 10:57 AM
Oh God, no. Not a political thread. Not today.
BTW, people at work sometimes call me "Beckett" because of my foul mouth and seething temper.
Oh, and my in-office gun rack.
Posted by: Bob | 2008.05.14 at 11:11 AM
Sorry, h.b., but that canard of a response isn't valid. Nowhere did I say that WV shouldn't have voted, nor do I say that they should listen to instructions or allow others to dictate their actions.
My own freely given opinion is two-fold, however. One, Clinton should realize she's fought well, but lost, and quit the race. Two, I don't agree with how nearly all WV Democrats voted.
I like our system (okay, I could probably do with less or without "superdelegates"), but that doesn't mean I think particularly highly of all of its players at all times.
I also think the Celtics give opponents way too much confidence and tape to look at by not being able to win a game or two on the road this post-season. I'm sure using as much logic as your last post required, you can figure out how that means I think the NBA should blow up its current post-season process and play all 4 home-team games first or just declare the Celtics the winners of each series only because they made an appearance for the first game of each one.
Posted by: Kaz | 2008.05.14 at 11:11 AM
Against my better judgement and all things holy:
"Political art expresses the cliches you agree with, unlike propaganda, which expresses the cliches you don't." — Brad Holland
Posted by: Bob | 2008.05.14 at 11:14 AM
Hillary promised 'a pair of shoes in every closet'. The voters responded.
Posted by: yazbread | 2008.05.14 at 11:17 AM
Not to talk too much baseball, but, if Drew and/or Crisp is unavailable, any chance we'll see Bobby Kielty come up for a visit? Isn't he still in Pawtucket?
Posted by: RationalSoxFan | 2008.05.14 at 11:19 AM
RSF, I'm guessing we'll have Manny, Ellsbury, and Moss ready. Is Moss ready? I haven't looked at our roster closely in a while.
Posted by: Kaz | 2008.05.14 at 11:23 AM
Moss is still out after his appendix surgery. Also, I found out Kielty is out having had hand surgery. so, not sure who they have available to help in the OF if Coco is not ready.
Also, Buchholz was just sent to the DL for a broken fingernail (not a joke). They are calling up Van Every. I thought they'd call up Masterson!
Posted by: RationalSoxFan | 2008.05.14 at 12:05 PM
All that's needed for 100 wins:
1 Ellsbury CF
2 Pedroia 2B
2 Ortiz DH
4 Ramirez LF
5 Lowell 3B
6 Youkilis 1B
7 Drew RF
8 Varitek C
9 Lowrie SS
Personally, I'd like to see Pedroia and Youkilis switched. Pedroia doesn't need protection, because he can swing at bad pitches and do just fine. He also deosn't get on base as much as Youk. Too many injuries and too much sickness so far for this to have been the lineup day in and day out. Within a month I think Lowrie will be back up for good, with Crisp and Lugo packaged to San Diego - maybe for Greg Maddux. July and August will each be 20 win months.
Posted by: paddy24 | 2008.05.14 at 12:26 PM
"Van Every was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 29th round (876th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. He did not play in 2000 because he did not sign until May 19, 2001.
From 2001 to 2007, Van Every played in the Indians organization. Arguably, his best season came in 2004, when he played for the Single-A Kinston Indians. That year, he hit .276 with 21 home runs. In 2005 he was an Eastern League All-Star.
Following the 2007 season, Van Every became a minor league free agent. On December 1, 2007, the Boston Red Sox signed him to a major league contract."
That's all you got?
lc
Posted by: louclinton | 2008.05.14 at 12:43 PM
What's wrong with shirtless rednecks? I'd take this one in a heartbeat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upWgXZqpAZ8
Posted by: nopinkhat4me | 2008.05.14 at 01:06 PM
Ahh. Dr. Venkman. Who ya gonna call?
Posted by: sac | 2008.05.14 at 02:03 PM
Ahh. Dr. Venkman. Who ya gonna call?
Posted by: sac | 2008.05.14 at 02:04 PM
Ovah the shouldah
Manny high fives a fanboy.
Doubles up runnah.
lc
[man that was a cool play]
Posted by: louclinton | 2008.05.14 at 05:00 PM
I know, LC; he actually high-fived the fan after the jump and before the throw.
Gold Glove Manny?
Posted by: Bob | 2008.05.14 at 05:28 PM
Yeah Manny's the best. I dunno how I could explain it to the four and 3/4 year old 'Sox fan if he leave us next year. He told me the other day when he woke up he was going to the Tokyo Dome to play for the Red Sox. When he said he was probably too little he said "It's okay Daddy, I'll call Manny".
Meanwhile, I saw the Rays lose four in a row at Fenway last year. There were two little Ray's fans (aged about 7 and 9) all decked out in their uniforms behind the RAy's dugout. With their parents, they were in a lonely place. I feel great for them today. But it is only May.
Posted by: soxdownunder | 2008.05.14 at 06:18 PM
Not since Manny cut off Damon's throw to the infield have I seen anything so hilarious in baseball. The fact that he actually gets the put out on Huff is even funnier!
Thank you, Manny! We lose, but it's a joyful loss today!
Posted by: Kaz | 2008.05.14 at 06:32 PM
I suspect it was more good fortune than good management that Manny did throw that ball into the bleachers! Savant!
Posted by: soxdownunder | 2008.05.14 at 07:31 PM
not
Posted by: soxdownunder | 2008.05.14 at 07:48 PM