|
July 5, 2009
|
You may not know it, but that Sox jersey you wore to the game last night—or that you’ll wear to the bar tomorrow—says a lot about who you are.
It says a lot about your lifestyle. A lot about what makes you tick.
What follows is a breakdown of Sox fans by their jersey of choice. It’s important to note that not every fan has every characteristic. It’s just that if you own said jersey, there’s a good chance you fall into one of the categories below it.
Here we go—
• You played high school football
• You will never dance at a club, but have no problem standing in the corner and staring down your girlfriend while she does.
• Drinks of choice: Bud Heavy on draft and shots of Jaeger.
• You own a Tedy Bruschi jersey.
• You REALLY like yelling "Yooooouuk!"
• You’re less than six feet tall
• You own a Wes Welker jersey.
• You think guys with long hair are hippies
• You loving doing stupid and dangerous things in the name of proving that you can.
• You had a rat-tail in the fourth grade.
Julio Lugo
• You’re Latin American
• Your last name is Green
When Dustin Pedroia went deep in his first at bat of the year, I remember thinking….wow, forget about him feeling the pressures of being the reigning American League MVP.
Going into this season, I wasn’t exactly sure what to think of Dustin. Was 2008 the best we are going to see from him? What’s his ceiling? I believed then and I still believe that he is a batting champion waiting to happen. But, is he going to be the type of hitter that hits close to 20 home runs a year? I wouldn’t put anything past this kid. I know that he went 190 at bats between home runs this year, but that’s only because pitchers have been attacking Pedey differently and he’s been taking what they give him.
When most people watch Dustin hit, they think that his swing is long and pitchers think that they can get a fastball in on him. The truth of the matter is is that his swing isn’t long. We get so caught up on his long stride and violent follow through, but what we fail to see is that his path to the ball is short and pitchers and pitching coaches are starting to realize that too. During the first two months of the season Pedey has seen a ton of fastballs away. Rather than trying to pull that pitch, Dustin has been slapping singles and doubles to right. I always felt that a true "home run hitter" was someone that can go deep the other way. I don’t think that Dustin has ever gone deep to rightfield. So as long as pitchers keep the ball away from him, get used to seeing singles and doubles laced in the gap to right. That’s what good hitters do, that’s what batting champions do. I’m not saying that he’s going to hit 4 HR’s this year. Pitchers don’t always hit their spots and their will be times when pitchers challenge Pedey in… when that happens he knows what to do with it that’s for sure… just ask Ricky Romero.
So, Youkilis is in a foot boot with plantar fascism (or whatever it’s called) and Pedroia has been sidelined with a lower left abdominal strain, and many people blame the World Baseball Classic. Theo Epstein? He’s come to his own conclusions about the cause of these injuries.
Asked if he blamed participation in the WBC and the timing of the tournament for the injuries to Pedroia, the reigning AL MVP, and Youkilis, who finished third in MVP voting last season, Epstein replied: "I think people can reach their own conclusions about that."
Asked what his own conclusion were, Epstein said, "I don’t care to tell you guys."
Testy. "That’s for me to know and you to find out!"
Seriously, just come out and say it, Theo: "I hate the World Baseball Classic because it’s spitting out injured Red Sox players."
Perhaps we need this dilemma to hit close to home for Bud Selig. Perhaps Ryan Braun, who plays for Bud’s former team, the Brewers, needs to go down with a significant injury.
Hey, ya never like to see anyone get clipped. But Braun has to take one for the team in this instance.
The World Baseball Classic, which about as riveting as softball in the Olympics, will begin soon, so a half dozen Red Sox players have left the parent club to represent their home countries.
David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, Javier Lopez and Dice-K Matsuzaka will spend the next month playing competitively in a useless exhibition, while Sox followers pray they don’t get hurt.
Listen, I’m all for nationalism and putting the smack down on the Italians, but the World Baseball Classic is only surpassed in stupidity by the NFL Pro Bowl. One of these days, a high-profile player is going to get hurt and that will be that.
Hopefully.
I guess we need to make our mistakes before we can learn from them or something, so the WBC goes on.
Terry Francona, that deft political beast, says the tournament doesn’t bother him.
"I think it’s great — the players that want to go should go," Francona said. "I don’t have any [problem with that]. But it’s just hard from where we sit. This is the way we make our living. And if somebody comes back from that thing, especially a pitcher and they’re not healthy, it directly gets in the way you make your living, and that’s hard. If Dice-K comes back and his arm is sore, you can’t go out and get another Dice-K. That’s just being realistic."
Hurray, Jason Varitek is back with the Red Sox! No doubt he’ll be a jolly-good soldier in 2009…
Given this ongoing charade (and don’t kid yourself, it ain’t over, not when pride’s involved), the Red Sox undoubtedly need a new captain, because captains are so important and everything. So, let’s look at some of the candidates for Varitek’s vacated position, since no fan retains a shred of respect for our dearly retained "leader."
* Dustin Pedroia. Qualifications: He’s short, loud and obnoxious, just like Napoleon.
* David Ortiz. Qualifications: He used to hit meaningful, game-winning hits, and fans love the past.
* Mike Lowell. Qualifications: He’s from Coo-ba, and those hombres are loco, esse.
* Josh Beckett. Qualifications: He’s from Texas, site of the Alamo, where…wait, the Texans lost at the Alamo, forget it.
* Curt Schilling. Qualifications: He needs a new job.
* Jonathan Papelbon: Qualifications: Has a closer ever been the captain of a team? Well, has a closer ever performed the River Dance after winning a postseason series?
* Kevin Youkilis. Qualifications: He hates Joba Chamberlain.
So, who’s the most qualified? I’d give it to Youkilis. Sure, Pedroia is the reigning American League MVP and he’s bald. But is he bald AND sweaty? No, he isn’t, and that’s how we like our leaders.
Welcome back, Varitek. Now go get your shine box.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the signing of Red Sox Second Baseman and 2008 American League MVP Dustin Pedroia as cover athlete for "MLB 09 The Show," according to the PR Newswire.
"Dustin Pedroia has made a tremendous impact on an already storied Boston Red Sox organization and was an integral part to their 2007 World Series victory," said Scott A. Steinberg , Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. "We are excited to have him become part of our MLB franchise, represent MLB 09 The Show, and join the impressive roster of MLB stars who have served as previous cover athletes."
This past season, Pedroia was the first second baseman in nearly half a century to be named the AL MVP by hitting .326 with 17 home runs, 83 runs batted in, and 118 runs scored. He is the 10th player in the history of the Red Sox to capture the AL MVP and the 8th player in AL history to win the MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger awards in the same season. With his scrappy and aggressive approach, Pedroia has quickly become a fan favorite at Fenway Park, a truly historic and treasured stadium in one of baseball’s most passionate cities.
As the newest representative of SCEA’s baseball franchise and face of MLB 09 The Show, Pedroia’s duties include participation in the game’s motion capture process, A.I. consultation, integration into all facets of the marketing campaign, and spokesperson for the franchise. The latest installment from the best-selling MLB franchise game is due to hit stores in Spring 2009 as the only officially licensed first party software title exclusively for PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)), PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable), and PlayStation(R)2.
Sure, Dustin Pedroia must be thrilled to take home the American League’s MVP award. Think of all the superstars he overcame to do this. He has once again proved so many wrong. Just as he did during Spring Training as he gets some payback to Gary Tanguay for comments he made in 2007.
