HYDE'S INSIDE PITCH

GONNA MISS YOU, BIG BOY

2009-11-21T15:12:27Z

I got a phone call Friday night from a good friend. It was Ron Johnson. The man who has managed the PawSox since the start of the 2005 season. I had speculated in this blog that RJ might be the man to replace Brad Mills on Terry Franconas' staff. Mills is off to manage the Astros. After extensive talks with Tito and general manager Theo Epstein, RJ got the call earlier Friday. He will become a coach on the major league staff. His exact position has yet to be determined, but the Sox get a guy with ample experience and an incredible working knowledge of the current 40 man roster. "Of the current group, I've managed 28 of the 40, including guys like Youk (Kevin Youkilis), Pedey (Dustin Pedroia) Jake (Jacoby Ellsbury) and Lester (Jon Lester). Johnson has been managing for 18 years, the last ten in the Red Sox chain and is understandably thrilled that he's been chosen. "Hydes, this is unbelievable. They had me fly up to Boston and we went through a five hour interview. You know what it's like. You try to do a good job. The fact that it's with Boston and Terry Francona makes it that much more special." RJ didn't waste any time fueling the fire and fanning the flames of the rivalry with the Yankees. Kevin Long is the Yanks' hitting instructor and a former player for RJ. With his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, Johnson called his old friend - "I told him that they should enjoy this year, because there's no way theyd be repeating." Long asked me why. I told him I was now on the Big League staff. There's nothing Ron Johnson loves more than his family and his ranch in Tennesee, but he is already chomping at the bit to get back, days before he carves the Thanksgiving turkey, "I wish Spring Training would start next week. I'm very excited, it's very satisfying after being in the minors so long." Buddy Bailey was the man who preceded RJ in the hot seat in Pawtucket. Bailey was extermely good to me in my first season (2004) with the PawSox. I was devastated when he was fired on the last day of the season. A few months later, I met Ron Johnson. From day one, we hit it off. The respect he showed me and the friendship he afforded me will be nearly impossible to replace. The PawSox staff will have a decidedly different look in 2010. Hitting instructor Russ Morman was fired at the end of the season and RJ and trainer Greg Barajas have earned promotions to Boston, leaving pitching coach Rich Sauveur as the final holdover from the group. I really could sit here all day and wax on about the skipper, but I don't need to anymore. The Red Sox have rewarded his efforts with a well-deserved locker in the Fenway clubjhouse.

EVERY MAN HAS HIS PRICE

2009-11-19T13:07:13Z

Davey Johnson had it made. The former All Star second baseman and World Champion manager was living the high life. Playing some golf, managing Team USA and basically, having a well-deserved good time. I had the pleasure of watching Game One of the recently completed World Series with Davey and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt at a bar in Portsmouth, RI. I had asked Johnson if he had a yen to get back into the game. He was adamant. No way, no how! He was dabbling in real estate, teeing it up and loving life. It looks lke he's sacrificed all that for a trip into baseball torture. He was introduced this week as the senior baseball adviser for the Washington Nationals. The most incompetent, futile, "who cares?" organization in all of sports. Quick, name three members of the Nats. Can't? Don't feel badly, no one can. Resting their hopes on number one pick Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals are also relying on some of that Davey Johnson "magic" to help the struggling franchise. The Nationals had to open their purse for Strasburg, the hard-throwing righthander and apparently had enough left over for Johnson. Already, the hyperbole is flowing as Johnson claimed the San Diego State product was "a little more advanced at this stage than Dwight Gooden was." I really like Johnson and I wish him well. It gives the Nationals some personality in their front office and a small, very small reason to care about Washington.

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The George Kottaras "era" is over in Boston. The Canadian-born catcher was released this week by the Red Sox. Almost immediately, the Brewers picked up Kottaras off waivers. George came over to the Sox in the trade for David Wells a couple of years ago. In 2008, he platooned with Dusty Brown in Pawtucket and had a great year. In 2009, he served as Jason Variteks' backup until Boston dealt for Victor Martinez. As I predicted earlier in this blog, the signing of Varitek to a deal spelled the end for George in Boston. Kottaras has improved greatly in the last few seasons. With Milwaukee, he has a chance to make the Brewers roster. Jason Kendall (.241, 2, 43) will be 34 on opening day. He caught 134 games in 2009 and is the incumbent. 33 year old Mike Rivera was the backup (.228, 2, 14). As manager Ron Johnson pointed out many times, Kottaras has a "pop" in his bat that a lot of other guys don't have. The release of Kottaras (he was out of minor league options) will likely mean that Mark Wagner and Dusty Brown will share duties in Pawtucket in 2010. I wish George all the best. He's a cool guy.

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Good news if you're looking for a place to live. Curt Schilling has dropped the price of his 11,000 square foot, 7 bedroom home in Medfield, Mass. Originally on the market for 8 million, it has dropped to 5 million and now to 4.5 million, the same price he paid Drew Bledsoe in 2004. Such a deal!!

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One last thought that has absolutely nothing to do with baseball. Has there ever been a bigger political "lightweight" than Sarah Palin? Check out this weeks' cover of Newsweek. I've only been to Alaska once, but I'm quite sure they're better off without her.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY

2009-11-17T14:12:04Z

That may be one of the most over-used cliches in the world today (along with "it is what it is") but it amuses me how different sides will spin things to get you on their side. I read on the Red Sox website, an article about their ticket prices for 2010. "Many Sox tickets to stay at '09 prices." Meanwhile in the "Boston Herald"- basically the same information, but the title blurted out "Fans hit Sox for hiking ticket prices." We are already well aware of the cost of a day at Fenway. It is really unattainable to a lot of folks these days. If you can get tickets, can you afford them? The tickets are snapped up by season ticket holders and companies that re-sell them. While the Sox boast that their most expensive ticket is only $328, we all know that you will likely spend much more to get to the park on any given day. The upper bleacher seats are the cheapest at Fenway and they sell for $12. More expensive than the best seat in the house at McCoy. When fans lamented about their team spending too much money on free agents, I used to think "So what, let 'em spend..it doesn't affect me." Well now it has. The payroll is so out of control that the price of tickets continues to rise in the worst economy in recent memory. I understand economics and why things happen the way they do. I think it benefitted the PawSox in 2009 and should again in '10. Despite the poor weather, a slumping club and a slumping economy, more than 600,000 fans clicked the turnstiles at McCoy. All this being said, it's tough to argue with the success the Red Sox have enjoyed at the gate. They've got a sellout streak of 550 games, dating back to May of 2003. At some point, there has to be a limit. I wonder just how close we are to reaching it. Unlike a lot of clubs, the Sox have a genuine interest in winning. They consistently go out and fill needs and constantly try to make the team better.

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Congratulations to Clay Buchholz. Buch was slated to tie the knot this past weekend with "Deal or No Deal" model, Lindsay Clubine. Lindsay was present on several PawSox road trips in 2009 and is about as nice a gal as you'd ever want to meet. It has been a good year for the young Texan. He has established hmself as force to be reckoned with in the American League and has a beautiful bride to boot.

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Nothing to do with baseball, but boy oh boy, how about the "onions" on Bill Belichick? I can see him taking the gamble on fourth down against the Colts. His team, his call. But how about being man enough to admit you were wrong when it didn't work. EVERYONE in the world knows it. If you say you made the right choice, do you think the fans are gullible enough to believe it? Perhaps we need to put Coach Bill in the Phil Jackson category. Maybe he won those titles because of the athletes he had playing for him. Maybe he's not really a genius.

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Sometimes during the season, I throw in a movie review or restaurant selection. Two movies I really enjoyed recently. "Law Abiding Citizen" with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx and "2012", starring John Cusack. In the latter Woody Harrelson plays a tremendous part in the movie. I never in a million years would've picked him if you told me one member of the cast of "Cheers" would become a major motion picture star. Both movies feature somewhat implausible plots, yet are extremely entertaining. Next on my list to see is "The Blind Side", starring Sandra Bullock. It's based on the real-life story of Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman, Michael Oher

NOT A BIG FAN OF THE "KING"

2009-11-14T15:37:28Z

Now that baseball has hit a slow spot, we are hammered over the head by the NBA and its' incessant marketing of Lebron James. I've told you before in this space why I am not a fan of James. (He wears a Yankees hat and he is a lousy sport) He is not educated and I think it shows. The other night after a game against the Miami Heat, James told an interviewer that he was thinking about not wearing the number 23 anymore as a tribute to Michael Jordan. A nice sentiment, perhaps, but not very well thought out. Several years ago, Major League Baseball retired the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. It has been well-documented what type of man Robinson was and the sociological impact he had on this country. As a result, that number will never be worn again by Big Leaguers (after Mariano Rivera retires). This gesture by James gets me on many levels. First, Jordan was no pioneer. He entered the NBA in the mid 80's after Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had rekindled interest in basketball. Jordan, although a prolific scorer, is not the leading scorer in league history. That honor is held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 with Karl Malone second at 36,978.) Jordan is third, 6095 points behind Jabbar. Jordan was nowhere near being the first African-American in the league. Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton signed a contract with the Knicks and Earl Lloyd played for Boston in 1950. I think the thing that irks me most about James and his lack of knowledge when it comes to the history of the NBA, is the number that he says he wil wear starting next season. He wants to wear the number 6. Think about the irony of this. James wants to wear the number worn by arguably the greatest winner in the history of team sports. A man who won two national championships at the University of San Francisco, a gold medal as a member of the United States Olympic team in 1956 and then went on to win 11 NBA titles in 13 years with the Celtics. Bill Russell. Russell was a 5 time MVP, a 12 time All-Star and really the first African-American to achieve superstar status in the NBA. Is this really anything more than one Nike guy pimping another? Don't get me wrong. Jordan was incredible. I actually paid money to see him play (a big thing for a guy in the media). I certainly don't blame Jordan because he was adored by a generation of kids who wanted to "Be Like Mike" . All I'm saying is- do your homework. A lot of kids look up to a guy like Lebron. His shameful display after being eliminated in the playoffs by Orlando last year is still fresh in my mind. He was more scarce than hair on Kevin Garnetts' head when it was time to shake hands and congratulate the Magic. My greatest wish for Lebron James is that he takes the title of "best player to have never won a championship" away from Charles Barkley. Baseball clearly got it right when they honored Robinson. They say "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Keep on truckin' Lebron.

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I wanted to take a moment and respond to Carlos who asked who I thought might be impact players in Pawtucket in 2010. My "Picks to Click" are #1 Mark Wagner. With some AAA time under his belt, Wags has all the tools to be successful in 2010. I like his defense, his ability to throw out runners and I think there will be more pop in his bat. #2 Michael Bowden. This young righthander has spent a season plus in Pawtucket and just turned 23. His poise and work ethic are unparalleled. #3 Jeff Natale. Nat is my "sleeper". He is spending the offseason working on his conditioning and has already dropped 15 pounds. Natale is determined to show the Red Sox he is a viable Major Leaguer. The guy can flat-out hit.

WHO CAN BLAME THEM ?

2009-11-12T15:36:39Z

As the general managers meetings wrap up this week, bits and pieces of informaton trickle through as they set the stage for the upcoming Winter meetings. This year they hold the gathering in Indianapolis (a far cry from last year, Las Vegas). Anyway, I digress. The GMs, on the surface, didn't get a whole lot done but you have to think that feelers were put out and there will soon be some action. On my "Santa" list- 1. Roy Halladay 2. Jason Bay 3. Adrian Gonzalez 4. Matt Holliday (if I don't get #2). We did learn what members of the 2009 team will be back and which won't. Victor Martinez, Tim Wakefield and now Jason Varitek will all be in the fold in 2010. Varitek and his greatly diminished skills will serve as a back-up to Martinez. Not good news for the likes of George Kottaras, Dusty Brown or Mark Wagner. Tek took the 3 million dollar option to remain a Red Sox captain. Think about it. 3 million dollars to catch once or twice a week. He will no doubt, continue to tutor the pitchers and anyone smart enough to listen. His preparation is legendary, both physically and mentally. Where else can you make three mill to hang out with your buddies, take some batting practice and sign some autographs? Let me know where I can enlist. To be fair, he has earned it. A two-time World Series champ, a gold glove, an All Star and the long-time "C" on his chest. Varitek has the respect of teammates and opponents. And I know I mentioned it before, but 3 million to catch a couple of games a week. Nice work if you can get it. Now I don't think the Sox look at him as a charity case. Not by any means. They have proven (a la New England Patriots and their "Belichick-ian" style) that there is absolutely no room for sentiment. This is a business. Obviously the Red Sox feel that there is some value in bringing him back for another year. I think it's a good move. You know exactly what you're getting. The pitchers trust him. He is still solid defensively (the arm notwithstanding) and he has occasional power still. A very very solid (and a little expensive) reserve. Tek had to swallow his pride last year when he turned down ten million to go to arbitration and wound up making 5 million for the season., He is already used to being paid at or near this level (poor guy!) As I mentioned, the young catchers in the organization suffer and it postpones the inevitable passing of the baton to the man I am certain will be the next captain of the Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia. Other things will start happening and they will start soon. After all it is exactly two weeks before Thanksgiving. Anybody know where Theo Epstein is eating this year?

THE WHEELS OF CHANGE ARE TURNING

2009-11-10T12:47:12Z

They've hardly finished sweeping up the confetti in the Canyon of Heroes (they should have dropped some of it in bales on the Yankees) and things are happening. There really isn't much of an offseason anymore. The Red Sox have picked up the option on catcher Victor Martinez. That was a no-brainer. Martinez will be the every day catcher for Boston, putting an end to the Varitek era. Jason could use his player option to remain in Boston as a back up to Martinez. Tek would still command a 3 million dollar salary. (unbelievable money everywhere but in baseball!) We've always heard about what a leader and example he is, so it shouldn't be a problem if he and his agent Scott Boras decide to remain in Boston. Those moves didn't surprise me. Signing Tim Wakefield for two years did. The 43 year old knuckleballer is coming off back surgery and is recuperating in Florida. If he returns healthy, he could make 10 million over the life of the deal. It is reportedly worth 3.5 in '10 and another 1.5 in'11. With incentives for starts and innings pitched, it could double. Wake is also just 13 wins shy of surpassing Cy Young and Roger Clemens as the winningest pitcher in Red Sox history. If he can regain the All-Star form of the first half of 2009, 25 wins, and 200 for his career are attainable. Boston declined to pick up the option on Alex Gonzalez. That surprised me, given the lack of depth at shortstop in the organization. Jed Lowrie is a question mark after battling wrist problems all year. If he's healthy, he could produce. Gonzalez cemented the infield defense down the stretch and added some bonus offense, hitting .284 with 5 home runs. There is always a chance that Theo could bring him back for less money. Nick Green and Joey Gathright both turned down assignments to Pawtucket and elected free agency. Green recently had disc surgery and should be OK by the Spring. He feels he could catch on as a utility guy with someone. Boston has exclusive negotiating rights with Jason Bay until November 20. After that, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. It looks like he will test the waters, and who can blame him? After all, the Red Sox only offered him 15 million a year for the next 4 seasons.

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Congratulations to long-time PawSox trainer, Greg Barajas. Barajas, the 2007 I.L. Trainer of the Year was named to the Major League training staff. Greg will serve as assistant to newly anointed head trainer Mike Reinold. Reinold was promoted when the Sox let Paul Lessard go. Barajas has earned the bump through the spectacular work he has done in Pawtucket over the last 5 seasons. The life of a minor league trainer isn't the easiest. Aside from tending to the health and well-being of the Sox' prospects, Greg handles logistics on the road, serves as a sounding board for manager Ron Johnson and also acts as a part-time psychologist and babysitter. Anyway, whoever replaces Greg at McCoy has very big shoes to fill.

GOOD LUCK HUNTER

2009-11-07T19:39:52Z

It is inevitable in baseball. Trades are a part of the game. This week the Red Sox dealt lefty Hunter Jones to the Marlins for outfielder Jeremy Hermida. I hope the trade works out for both clubs. I espeially root for Jones, the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native. He spent parts of the last couple of seasons with the PawSox. Jones hasn't had an easy road. He pitched collegiately at Florida State University and had fractures in his pitching arm misdiagnosed. He went undrafted, but persevered and was signed as a free agent by Boston in 2005. Jones worked his way up the chain and ultimately appeared in a handful of games for the Red Sox. Jones told me that he was going to devote the offseason to weight training in an effort to become a major leaguer for good. His path to the Bigs is much more clear now. He is a big strong lefthander who can throw the ball hard. Hunter Jones will have a good opportunity to make the Marlins and become an integral part of their bullpen. I really hope Jones enjoys a long successful career. He is one of the good guys. Jones will join former Red Sox farmhands Hanley Ramirez and Anibel Sanchez in Florida. Boston has had pretty good luck with former Marlins like Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. Hermida is a former first round selection who has been tabbed with the "under-achiever" label. Theo Epstein said this week that he hoped a change of scenery would be what Hermida needed to reach his potential. I like the idea of Hermida as a fourth outfielder, but I'd feel a heck of a lot better if Boston signs Jason Bay. The Sox will not overtake the Yankees if they don't re-sign Bay or someone similar.

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It will be interesting to see who Terry Francona names as a successsor to bench coach Brad Mills. Mills was named the manager of the Houston Astros. One possibility is PawSox skipper, Ron Johnson. Tito has a great deal of respect for RJ and likes the job he does preparing the young prospects for the Major Leagues. Francona has extended an invitation to Johnson every September since 2005 to join the Red Sox staff for the final month of the season. Another twist to Mills heading to Houston also involves the Johnson family. RJ's son Chris is a third baseman in the Astros organization and made his Major League debut in 2009. The younger Johnson is a prime candidate to make the Astros in 2010.

GETTING IT OFF MY CHEST

2009-11-05T12:17:50Z

No, I am not happy that the Yankees won the World Series. No, I am not going to congratulate them. If that makes me a poor sport, so be it. The 2009 World Series has come and gone and I can tell you that I did not watch one minute of it. The thought of watching the Evil Empire was more than I could take. In their lavish new stadium, a tribute to excess, they won the Fall Classic. You had the feeling they clinched the Series when they signed Mark Texeira and C.C. Sabathia. They overcame a slow start and methodically put away the Sox in the regular season, the the Twins, the Angels and Philly. As a kid, good sportsmanship was preached to me along with good hygiene, being polite and drinking my milk. Well, I don't drink milk, I might not always be polite (my brother says I am a real-life Larry David), I do shower and brush my teeth, so I guess I've got that going for me. No way can I congratulate the bane of my existence for the last 40 years. Now that it's over, it's time to move on and think about 2010. Theo Epstein, I am talking to you. Dump Varitek, re-sign Bay, make another run at Hanley Ramirez and find a solid fourth or fifth starter. Kate Hudson, I am talking to you. Ditch A-Rod. It got you a lot of face time on Fox, but really, can't you do better than that. Before this playoff, his track record with women was the only thing worse than his batting average in October. Mariano Rivera, I am talking to you. Retire. Ride off into the sunset. If for no other reason, so you can't continue sticking it in the ear of the Sox any more. You're a freak of nature and I say that with grudging respect. Jorge Posada, I am talking to you. Haven't you made enough money to get those ears pinned back? It looks like someone left the car doors open. Joba Chamberlin, I am talking to you. Don't change a thing. Continue to under-achieve and drive Yankees fans crazy. And make sure you go visit your mom in prison. C.C., I am talking to you. CELEBRATE! Eat anything you want. Drink all you can. Gain another 20 or so pounds so they'll have to roll you out to the mound on opening day. Jeter, I am talking to you. Wipe that look off your face. As irrational as it seems, the very sight of Derek Jeter throws me into a rage. Men I know and respect like Dustin Pedroia sing his praises. Everyone says that he embodies what baseball is all about. How many times have I heard-"You can hate the Yankees, but you can't hate Derek Jeter." Yes, I can. Who is he, not to be hated? Albert Schweitzer? Mother Theresa? It is my inalienable right to dislike Derek Jeter and I will exercise that right until the day I die. (After that, I'll probably still hate him. With my luck, Hell is Yankee Stadium, Satan looks like Steinbrenner and Jeter would live in the fiery cave next door.) I don't know what is worse. The fact that the Red Sox aren't champions, or the Yankees are. I think it's the latter. I could live with the Phillies or St. Louis as king of the hill, but I will not be able to sleep a wink or eat a morsel until the Yankees have been de-throned. (Boy, is it going to be a long year??!!)

NOT A FANS' GAME ANYMORE

2009-11-03T14:31:14Z

We have discussed the possibility of replay in baseball before in this space. The common argument against it is that the games are already long enough and this would only make them longer. How about this idea to shorten games? Limit the number of visits to the mound a player can make. In the seventies, Billy Martin made so many visits to the mound as a manager that baseball enacted its' current rule of removing a pitcher after a second trip in an inning. That has worked and has served in the best interest of the game and the fans. I'm sitting here and watching Jorge Posada and Jose Molina make six or seven trips in a single INNING! It is sickening to watch. If these guys haven't been able to get on the same page yet, 9 months after Spring Training started, when will they? I realize that strategy needs to be discussed. I understand that sometimes the pitcher needs a breather. It takes away from the enjoyment of the game. I love baseball. I think it is a beautiful game and for the most part, things should stay as they are. This is a major exception. The visits to the mound are incessant. It often reminds me of the famous scene in the movie "Bull Durham." The pitching coach, Larry Hockett, played by Robert Wuhl comes out to the mound to see what is taking so long as the players converse. In the end they decide that candlesticks might make a nice wedding gift for Millie. It illustrates what might go on in a conversation. It isn't always baseball. The effort to get a hitter out of his groove, to keep it in the pitchers' hand is always a possibility. The thing is, I don't want to hear Bud Selig or anyone else tell us that this is the fans' game. That is a crock! If this were for the fans, we wouldn't be playing into November. I really don't care about the players. They are extremely well compensated. They can flit in and out of the nice warm clubhouse between innings. Coffee and snacks are readily available. It is the fans who suffer. They pay inordinate prices to freeze and get soaked (by the rain AND concession costs) and then must endure the endless trips to the mound. Do something about it. The games in this particular World Series are taking about 3 and a half hours to complete. The average working stiff, let alone any kid who wants to root for his or her favorite team is out of luck. School and work tend to get in the way for responsible people. There may be an entire generation of children that have never seen a World Series game in its' entirety. That doesn't bode well for the future of baseball. As a kid, I watched in awe as men Like Brooks Robinson, Roberto Clemente and Bob Gibson weaved their magic. It is what helped foster my love of the game. Let's make things right. Start earlier, get done in October and for the love of all that's holy, stay behind the plate and let's roll. I'm not going to be surprised if in the ninth inning in game six, Jorge Posada sends Mariano Rivera a text message. Don't laugh. It can't be that far off.

PENCIL IT IN!

2009-10-31T17:55:53Z

Although the 2009 baseball season isn't over yet, we PawSox fans have already been thrown a bone as far as 2010 is concerned. the PawSox released a tentative schedule of games for '10 and I have to admit, I am looking forward to it. I look forward to it a little differently than most of you. While you check out the home games, I check the entire slate. I look forward to seeing certain people in different cities, the restaurants, the ballparks and life in general with the Pawtucket Red Sox. April 8th is opening day at McCoy Stadium against Rochester. It'll be cold, but it'll be great. Always is. Our first road trip takes us to Buffalo, Rochester and Allentown. Nothing like Buffalo in the spring, except maybe Buffalo in the winter. All the familiar sights and sounds of the International League will be in full bloom, long before the first robin is spotted. There is no way of knowing who will be wearing the familiar PawSox uniform, but they become instant, unconditional friends, travelling companions and partners for the summer. There will be the usual prospects talked about. Bowden, Bates, Wagner and others will more than likely return. The Lars Anderson "watch" will start. All the names that are familiar to us long before we can associate a face with a name will darken the doorway at McCoy. There is a rhythm to the season. Certain things at certain times of the day. To me, there is nothing better than standing down at the batting cage, watching batting practice. Making small talk with the guys, gleaning "nuggets" of information for the broadcast. For a broadcaster, especially one who was never a good baseball player, it provides an inside the ropes look at a world that otherwise, would be off-limits. It allows me a look into a fascinating realm that most of our listeners learn about due to the access I get. As I've said before, it is not something I take for granted. I look forward to Spring Training, getting reacquainted with the old fellas, and meeting the new ones. No better feeling of validation than when a former PawSox standout, now successful in the Majors, gives you the big hug/handshake combo (according to my former broadcast partner, ex-NFL running back Raymont Harris- it's known as "dapping someone down") and you share a story and some laughs. In a way, it gives you credibility with the new guys. Veterans can help make or break you with a club. For example, if Jeff Bailey didn't treat me nicely or respectfully, I could have a hard time with new guys. I think guys like "Bails" appreciate what we try to do and realize we're all in the same boat. I've mentioned before in this blog that a ton of credit goes to manager, Ron Johnson for treating us like we're "one of the guys." Buffalo wings in Syracuse, barbecue in Rochester, Italian food in Buffalo. Red in Scranton, Marv in Columbus and Thurm in Rochester. Good hotels, long bus rides, early morning wake-ups or late-night arrivals. All a part of the fabric of life with the PawSox, and what I think about when a new schedule is released.

A SURREAL MOMENT

2009-10-29T12:29:09Z

Imagine watching the first game of the World Series with two men who've combined to win 4 rings. One man was the MVP of the 1980 Fall Classic and the other was the manager of the team that tore the heart out of Red Sox Nation in 1986. Mike Schmidt and Davey Johnson were in Portsmouth R.I. on Wednesday night and I was asked to act as emcee for the gathering at the posh Carnegie Abbey Club. I introduced the men, asked some questions and the others gathered had a chance for Q & A, as well as autographs and photos. Johnson and Schmidt are former teammates (Philly in '77 and '78). Most recently Johnson was the manager and Schmidt was the third base coach for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. I asked Johnson his thoughts on a couple of his players, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. He was a big fan, noting their work ethic. "No one on that team worked harder or played harder than those two. I love 'em both." Johnson got a taste of the Pedroia confidence we've all come to expect. "Pedroia was taking batting practice and this group of little girls was screaming and begging him for an autograph. He just stepped out of the box, turned to the stands and said he'd be over just as soon as he finished hitting "more rockets all over the yard." Well, these teenagers went crazy, and I just shook my head and laughed. I thought to myself..."Who is this guy?" He finished hitting his rockets and went over and signed." I had to ask the 4 time All Star his thoughts from the other side when his Mets defeated Boston in 1986. "Hey, we were a pitch away from losing the whole thing. Everybody remembers Buckners' error, but I'll tell you what, (Bob) Stanleys' wild pitch was really the key. When we won game 6, I knew they (Boston) had no chance in the seventh game. They were done." Mike Schmidt is going to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for game three on Saturday in Philly. On Wednesday, however, we talked baseball. Schmidt is simply, one of the best to EVER play the game. 3 time MVP, 12 time All Star, 548 homers, Hall of Fame, All-Century team, the list goes on and on. The third baseman offered his thoughts on steroids, and they were quite candid. "I can't sit here and tell you that I wouldn't have taken them if they were around in those days." When asked if there should be an asterisk next to the names of the people who have been implicated in the use of performance enhancing drugs, he said no, "It's enough for me, that you people, baseball fans know who did things the right way. I don't need anything more than that." When the Phils won the Series in 1980, Schmidt and Pete Rose were teammates. Schmidt says that although he considers Rose a great player and a friend, he probably won't ever get inside in Cooperstown. "Unfortunately, I think Petes' time has come and gone. I don't think they'll ever let him in." Both Schmidt and Johnson were very nice and accomodated all the requests for photos and autographs. They patiently answered all questions and analyzed the game for everyone betweeen innings. Johnson won two rings as a player with the Orioles and one as a manager with New York. Schmidt won his hardware (ring and MVP trophy) 29 years ago. For one night, though, these baseball heroes settled in in R.I. and we watched the Phillies beat the Yankees together.

HISTORY BRINGS C.C. AND LEE TOGETHER AGAIN

2009-10-27T13:13:10Z

As the 2009 World Series finally gets underway on Wednesday (seems like our season has been over for months!) the opening game features an extremely compelling matchup. A pair of former Cleveland Indians teammates will take the ball for their respective clubs. C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees faces The Phillies and Cliff Lee. Lee and Sabathia were teammates in Cleveland 2002-2008. That has to be anguishing for Indians fans. (hey, nobody forced you to be an Indians fan) Not only are they former teammates, but they are both Cy Young winners, as well. It will mark just the sixth time ever that two Cy Young winners start a World Series game. Sabathia, who could possibly win his second Cy this year has been phenomenal in the postseason. Sabathia was named the MVP of the ALCS. This postseason, the big fella has gone 3-0, with a 1.19 ERA three starts. Not to be outdone, Lee is 2-0 with a gaudy 0.74 earned run average. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro was honest in his assessment. He engineered the deals that sent Lee to Philly this year and Sabathia to Milwaukee last year, before he struck gold with New York. "I'm excited for the guys to get this opportunity, but I'm bitter they're not doing it for the Indians." Reportedly, the two aces have remained friendly and text each other often.

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Can you name any of the five other times that Cy Young winners have squared off in a World Series game?

1. October 14, 1983 Orioles Mike Flanagan vs. Phillies Steve Carlton

2. October 21, 1995 Indians Orel Hershiser vs. Braves Greg Maddux

3. October 26, 1995 (Same as #2)

4. October 22, 1996 Yankees David Cone vs. Braves Tom Glavine

5. October 27, 1999 Yankees Roger Clemens vs. Braves John Smoltz

Don't feel badly if you guessed Bob Gibson of St.Louis vs. Denny McLain of Detroit in 1968. Neither was awarded the Cy until after the postseason!

THESE UMPIRES STINK

2009-10-25T00:12:04Z

Umpires are kind of like offensive linemen in football. If they do their job correctly, no one knows their name. They make a mistake, they make headlines. This entire postseason has been a disaster for the men in blue. Guys like Joe West, Phil Cuzzi and C.B. Bucknor have brought a lot of unwanted attention to the officials of Major League Baseball. Virtually every playoff game this October has been marred by a bad call or two. It has been so obvious that MLB has revised the roster of umps for the upcoming World Series. Every year they try to integrate new blood into the lineup, but the officiating has been so poor that they will go with veterans to try to minimize the mistakes. I recently read an interesting column pointing out the number of injuries and illnesses that have afflicted the ranks of the umpires, forcing them to use the likes of Bucknor. Here is a partial list from a column written by Dan Lamothe. Lamothe credits Fox Sports. Although MLB won't discuss the nature of injuries or illnesses, Fox uncovered this roster of the fallen. John Hirschbeck (testicular cancer), Charlie Reliford (back), Jerry Crawford (back), Tim Welke (concussion), Ed Montague (concussion and back), Gary Darling (ankle and foot), Rick Reed (stroke), Kerwin Danley (concussion), Alfonso Marquez (back), Bill Hohn (back), Ed Hickok (concussion). 24 of the last 25 World Series have featured a first time W.S. umpire. MLB liked to reward the newer guys who have done a good job. That will not be the case this season. Crew chiefs Joe West, Dana DeMuth and Gerry Davis along with veterans Brian Gorman, Mike Everitt and Jeff Nelson get the call. In the last two Fall Classics, there had been three rookies working in each. Bucknor was scheduled to work his first World Series, but after his incompetence in the ALDS between the Red Sox and Angels, he lost out. Certainly, adding just veteran umpires doesn't guarantee anything. Joe West, Tim McClelland and others have had rough nights too. There are times when I am inclined to think that maybe baseball needs to employ further instant replay to help with botched calls. People might argue that we didn't use the replay years ago. We didn't have the technology then. I'd rather have them get it right. So what if we hurt their feelings. This is, of course, not a new phenomena. I vividly remember Larry Barnett and Don Denkinger blowing calls in the 1975 World Series that hampered the Red Sox against the Reds. I guess it doesn't really matter if they get the calls right in the World Series, especially if they go against the Yankees.

IS THIS A SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE?

2009-10-22T16:13:56Z

There are times when I am amazed at what goes on in the baseball world. I guess the same could be said about any world, but for the sake of this blog, we're talking baseball. I'm not a big memorabilia guy. I have gotten a few autographs over the years, but they are always for my kids. When a major league player does a rehab assignment with the PawSox, it is fairly common practice for the star to sign a box of baseballs for manager Ron Johnson. RJ will always offer me one for each of my daughters. That is about the extent of it. I am always a little surprised when I see the amount of money fans are willing to pay for an autograph or a piece of memorabilia. Uniforms, caps, shoes bats, balls and gloves are all of value to someone. When Yankee Stadium closed down, everything from trash cans to urinals went up for bid. One mans' trash is clearly another mans' treasure. As bizarre as this sounds, the world of collectibles has hit rock bottom. A memorabilia dealer in Saugus Mass. has apparently acquired some "game-worn" underwear and is putting it up for the highest bidder. Phil Castinetti says he has the undies of Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez and Hideki Okajima and as Rich Fields might say on my favorite game show- "They can be yours, but only if the price is right." I have several questions. #1- Who's the creep that traipsed around the clubhouse and picked up the dirty skivvies? #2- Where do you put them? #3- How do you approach someone and tell them you've got this particular item to sell? I've got a lot of other questions, but you get the point. Have we plummeted so far as a society, that this barely raises an eyebrow? Last year, this guy reportedly sold a pair of Alex Rodriguez' underwear for $200. His teammates, Madonna and Kate Hudson are really the only ones who should ever see his "drawers." I don't want anyones' underwear. I can honestly tell you that. When I was a kid, I shuddered when I was given any hand me downs. The thought of touching, much less wearing someone elses stuff, grosses me out. I'm reasonably confident that Pedey, V-Mart and Okie make enough money that they have nothing to do with this. If this has become acceptable practice, I'm really afraid to see what's next. I'm not even going to go there, but use your vivid imagination. A jockstrap once worn by Mike Lowell was reported to have fetched Castignetti over $400 a couple of years ago. What's next, people? Pardon the pun (I guess it is intended) but, this whole used underwear thing- stinks!

DODGER FANS SEEING REAL MANNY

2009-10-20T11:49:18Z

There's no question that Manny Ramirez has been one of the premier hitters of his generation and really, of all time. The numbers speak for themselves. A career .313 hitter with 546 home runs and 1788 runs batted in. Before his 50 game suspension earlier this season, his name had never publicly been connected with any performance enhancing drugs and by anyones standards, was a sure fire, first ballot hall of famer. His legacy remains to be determined in some eyes, but not mine. He was great for a while, while he was in Boston, but at times, it was abundantly clear, he didn't feel like playing. We'd laugh and just chalk it up to "Manny being Manny." He'd botch a ball in left field, and we'd roll our eyes, rationalizing that he'd win us a lot more games with his bat than he'd lose for us with his glove and lack of effort. We kept feeding the monster, patting him on the back and soon it became unbearable for everyone. If Ramirez hadn't been traded last July, there might have been a mutiny in the Boston clubhouse. He got into a fight with Kevin Youkilis in the dugout, in front of the cameras, telling Youk that he was too intense and needed to relax. I'm sorry, but I'll take Kevin and his intensity seven days a week. While nothing seems to matter to Ramirez, Youk works hard and every at bat means something to him. The final straw may have come when Ramirez shoved club employee Jack McCormick to the ground after he told the Sox' traveling secretary to "just do your job". Ramirez was angry that McCormick couldn't fill his unreasonably large game-day request for 16 tickets to a game in Houston. A lot of us pictured Ramirez treating our grandfather that way, and it was more than we could stand. The last straw. Manny not running out ground balls, Manny taking three straight strikes from Mariano Rivera, Manny forgetting exactly which knee was hurt, Manny telling Terry Francona just minutes before a game, he couldn't play. The litany goes on and on. Manny being Manny. So he goes out to L.A. and the fans drink the Kool-Aid. They buy those goofy looking wigs. They rename the town Mannywood and when he hits like he can hit (after lying down in his final months in Boston) Dodger-mania goes through the roof. This year comes the suspension. This year comes very average numbers (.290, 19, 63 rbi) and during the postseason, below average numbers. (1 HR in 29 postseason at bats, 2 rbi in NLCS against Philadelphia). I'm sorry, but when you're making more than 23 million dollars a season, you better produce more than that. He "lollygagged" after the ball hit by Shane Victorino that resulted in a triple, his throw in, was again, "Manny being Manny". The love affair in Hollywood will last about as long as a Britney Spears marriage. It will end and it will end quickly because Dodger fans are smarter than that. After the Red Sox won the Series in 2007, Ramirez skipped the visit to the White House with the rest of his teammates. Regardless of what you thought of the President, George W. Bush had one of the all-time great quips. "Sorry Manny Ramirez couldn't be here. His grandmother must have died...again." Even the leader of the free world knows that "Manny being Manny" always ends badly and L.A. will be no exception.