tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59469252011-04-21T15:35:50.994-04:00Everything From The Ninth Inning On....The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1142875755478781642006-03-20T11:59:00.000-05:002006-03-20T12:29:15.550-05:00

Good baseball trade, but it hurts a little. The Sox have just sent Bronson Arroyo, he of the hometown discount, to the Cincinatti Reds for young slugger Wily Mo Pena. The move makes perfect sense: one of the starters had to go, and Boston needed power-hitting depth. People say Arroyo was a great fit for long man in the bullpen, but let's be realistic. How often does a rotation with 5 quality

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1142558207863121712006-03-16T19:33:00.000-05:002006-03-17T11:07:31.493-05:00

Sox or C's, Sox or C's? Which to discuss? Both so interesting. Let's have a practice portion of each...- The Celtics are actually beginning to show the promise Danny Ainge has been talking about since, well, the Cold War. The way they've done it is, somewhat disheartingly, the only way to improve in today's NBA: luck. A trade of Wally Szczerbiak and bad contracts for Ricky Davis and bad players

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1139962237034175262006-02-14T17:26:00.000-05:002006-02-16T17:04:05.060-05:00

Even bears wake up every now and again.It's Valentine's Day, a day of romance, love, and admiration, also coincidentally the two-year anniversary of Alex Rodriguez's move to New York. Some people look back at such times and remember the great loves they may have had or the emotional thrills they've felt when it turned out their girlfriend actually liked stuffed bears. But not The Ninth. No, The

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1133915518397378002005-12-06T18:44:00.000-05:002005-12-06T19:31:58.456-05:00

If you are, as the Ninth has been, attempting to do work while reloading ESPN.com every five minutes, here's something a bit more interesting than the Worldwide Leader claiming AJ Burnett to the Jays as breaking news for the 5th time today. It's an idea born completely by the Ninth and is a result of zero industry sources, other than a half-empty pack of Camel Ultra-Lights. It's simply an idea

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1131406901628775832005-11-07T17:38:00.000-05:002005-11-07T18:43:32.216-05:00

After a particularly delicious Patriot victory over Indy last season, the Ninth wrote the following:The Ninth would like to know if now, finally, people get what's going on in Indy. Next winter, when inevitably they find themselves in another playoff game at Gillette, are we at last going to accept that they don'’t have a chance? Or is it going to be the same old nonsense about a high-powered

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1130901589368817312005-11-01T23:53:00.000-05:002005-11-02T01:49:58.383-05:00

To paraphrase Theo's Grandpa, of course. So Epstein is out and Boston is wavering somewhere between apoplectic and suicidal. Upon dictionary check, there is little literal difference between those two states. So sorry. But there are two articles I wish you to read before you finish your seizure: Peter Gammons and Bill Simmons. They're both fairly close to right, and you should listen to them.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1128545836882938832005-10-05T16:04:00.000-04:002005-10-05T17:04:23.513-04:00

Light your hair on fire, spray paint the furniture, toss all babies out with bathwater. It's an ugly Red Sox loss, and you can panic if you'd like, but do it for the right reasons. Losing the first playoff game, especially on the road, means very little. Someone has to go up 1-0, and it might as well be the home team. Consider how much trouble Chicago would be in if the decision went the other

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1128452026878372672005-10-04T14:51:00.000-04:002005-10-04T14:53:46.886-04:00

Well, they made it. Too bad Cleveland let the air out of the balloon and robbed us of a shot at the division. Hey, don’t say I didn’t warn you. But do the Red Sox really have a chance to repeat? Well, let’s talk about it. Ok, fine, I’ll begin.You’ll remember that about this time last year (who am I kidding, you don’t remember) The Ninth insisted that Boston was as good as any team in the playoffs

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1128111224645888732005-09-30T14:36:00.000-04:002005-09-30T16:18:51.120-04:00

The Ninth Editorial Office is in a tizzy. All writers have been pulled off other topics, meaning another delay on our long-awaited romance novel, and put front and center on the Sox. We have an open tab at Dominoe's (now they put steak on pizza!), we're using Zima bottles for ashtrays (I employ a lot of 14 year-old girls from the 90's), and the Official Ninth Dog hasn't been fed for weeks.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1128033355573156152005-09-29T18:15:00.000-04:002005-09-29T18:35:55.580-04:00

That's all I got time for, one paragraph, but I couldn't let today pass without remark. Must-Win games in June? Nope. July? Eh. August? Not really. But this, this is a must-win game. It is not critical that New York also loses, although it would help, but the Sox can't risk going down two games. So Matt Clement, welcome to the biggest game of your life. Pitch well, pitch deep, and prove to Dusty

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1127940722455993782005-09-28T16:49:00.000-04:002005-09-28T16:52:02.463-04:00

How to start a thing like this? Someone should be giving Bud Selig a dorky high-five right now. The trick worked. Another division added, a wild card introduced, and several years later we have the tightest last week, maybe, ever? I could look that up, but my Internet is down, and yours isn’t, so go for it. There’s a bit of intrigue left in the NL, but it’s looking mostly set at Atlanta, St.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1127672475964656192005-09-25T13:41:00.000-04:002005-09-25T14:25:10.496-04:00

Well we really knocked it out of the park last week. Kevin Faulk, perhaps feeling the pressure of the Ninth One selection, gained a massive 30 total yards and as a non-factor. Ninth One Curse? Absolutely. Oh the power a rarely read blog can wield.This week is a tough game to read, not a challenge the Ninth One selection committee really needed. It would be nice to say that Corey Dillon is going

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1127405789945859662005-09-22T11:15:00.000-04:002005-09-22T22:54:01.686-04:00

Terry Francona is killing this team. Those who have followed the Ninth know that I am not a big manager critic. Very rarely are they presented with decisions that have clear right or wrong options. You can look at different numbers in any situation and defend a variety of choices, so I try not to attack any one move. But right now, Francona is making a big mistake. Wakefield should have been

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1127016681433584022005-09-18T00:07:00.001-04:002005-09-18T12:08:22.166-04:00

Huge win on Friday night for Boston. H-uge. For the Red Sox to fall out of first place at this point would have to be considered a major failure, and it would take a toll on the team psyche. Presuming they have one. Also, getting involved in a Wild Card race with the best team in the AL right now, the Cleveland Indians, doesn’t seem like a great idea. And for those eagerly raising your hands and

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1126217528250423242005-09-08T16:18:00.000-04:002005-09-08T18:22:55.323-04:00

To paraphrase John McClane, the Red Sox seem to have themselves some starting pitching. The last trip through the rotation was a fun one, with each fellow looking about as good as he has all season. No better time than September. And it sure makes the bullpen look good when you never have to use it. Combine this all with the red hot Millar-Olerud tag team and all of a sudden we have a contender

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1125452709303248692005-08-30T21:26:00.000-04:002005-08-30T21:46:02.626-04:00

Curt is probably disappointed, and the WEEI callers are sure to be annoyed, but tonight's appearance was a distinct step forward. Schilling got in trouble with one bad curveball, a few bad splitters, and mediocre control, but turned the start around with his two buddies, location and velocity. After the second inning, Curt switched to sliders and fastballs and seemed to find his command. From

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1125326398208094252005-08-29T10:27:00.000-04:002005-08-29T10:42:13.360-04:00

The Ninth does, and that's why I vote regularly in Internet-based reality TV polls. And so should you. As we mentioned earlier in the season, Bravo's "Situation: Comedy" features an official Childhood Friend of the Ninth and (ahem) loyal reader. As I know all of you have been watching, there is little need for a recap, so I'll keep it brief. Two teams are trying to make a sitcom. There, how was

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1124916205401393732005-08-24T18:45:00.000-04:002005-08-24T18:51:31.083-04:00

An interesting thing these Red Sox. As of Wednesday afternoon they have the second-best record in the American League and the White Sox, their lone betters, have been in a tail spin for weeks. Boston's held first place for months with the Yankees unable to make any real push, a fact which doesn't seem likely to change. But after all this, even with a record 21 games over .500, it's hard to say

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1123629705736311712005-08-09T19:10:00.000-04:002005-08-09T19:21:45.740-04:00

Just flipped on the game to notice that Matt Clement has made a slight change to his pitching wind up. Hadn't read anything in the paper about it, but his leg kick seems to smaller and more deliberate. Clement's knee used to come quickly up almost parallel to his hip, and then he would drive to the plate. It looks like Wallace has slowed this process down some and shortened the height of the kick

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1122834626077713622005-07-31T14:08:00.000-04:002005-07-31T15:00:16.090-04:00

Trading deadline and the John Pabelbon debut all in the same afternoon! It's enough to make you forget the emptiness you have inside. And he almost struck out the side in the first. Pleasure, thy name is Pabelbon.How do you get a girlfriend if your name is Terry Tiffee? Hello Miss, I'm Terry Tiffee and I will be your date for the evening. Why are you crying?So far this is shaping up as the

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1122500617822688352005-07-27T16:27:00.000-04:002005-07-28T00:39:49.086-04:00

It is so hot in New York that Alex Rodriguez's ego has actually started to melt.The best day in sports, baseball's trading deadline, is fast approaching. For those of you who haven't marked your calendars, it's this Sunday the 31st at 5pm. And if your calendar is marked with the trading deadline, chances are it isn't marked with much of anything else. Boom. Anyhoo, the Sox have been mentioned in

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1121814045947951442005-07-19T18:21:00.000-04:002005-07-19T19:01:51.073-04:00

Ok, the Sox made a few moves this afternoon, and they're a little strange.1) Designated Alan Embree for assignment.2) Acquired 2B/3B Tony Graffanino from the Royals for essentially nothing.3) Acquired OF Adam Hyzdu from the Pirates for less than essentially nothing.Alright, easy stuff first. Theo got Hyzdu because Boston is facing three left-handers in a row (Fossum, Hendrickson, and Buehrle) and

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1121379246483963322005-07-14T17:55:00.000-04:002005-07-14T18:14:06.490-04:00

For those who haven't heard the news, Yankee starter Chien-Ming Wang has been put on the 15-day DL and will miss tomorrow night's start. WFAN's Michael Kay however is reporting a rumor that Wang's shoulder is shot and he is lost for the season. If that turns out to be true, and say what you will about Michael Kay, but he does have plenty of Yankee connections, it will be a BIG loss for New York.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1121291385068130322005-07-13T16:48:00.000-04:002005-07-13T18:14:50.570-04:00

If you're the kind of person that loves it when your buddy picks up his old guitar and soulfully strums classic Pearl Jam songs while cleverly mimicking Eddie Veder's voice, then you'll love Bronson Arroyo's new album. What possibly makes Johnny Damon think we want to hear his opinion on every topic Red Sox and otherwise? Sure, you hit baseballs, I 'd love to know what you think of the upcoming

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1120692781029291612005-07-06T18:49:00.000-04:002005-07-06T19:33:01.063-04:00

Finally, something to write about.News came out today that Terry Francona is going to use Curt Schilling in the bullpen to help him "work himself back into shape." Theo Epstein insists this is just what the club needs, which is quite a surprise to The Ninth who thought a #1 starter is just what the club needs. Clearly we are missing some information. If Curt, as we have been lead to believe, is

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1120164951095643842005-06-30T16:10:00.000-04:002005-06-30T17:33:45.990-04:00

It's been an interesting season to be in New York. Of the year's great plot lines (the out-of-nowhere Nationals, the dumb-luck fortune of Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox, the competitive eating career of John Kruk), the Mets and Yankees certainly have to rank near the top. It's been a fascinating experience to watch first-hand as the Metropolitans have danced back and forth over the line of

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1119489766013662312005-06-22T20:00:00.000-04:002005-06-22T21:30:37.450-04:00

Jerry Remy is now quoting "Meet the Parents" for no apparent reason.Matt Clement: Sometimes pitchers can get away with smoke and mirrors for a while. In Pete Schourek's second go-around with Boston he shot out of the gates quickly. His first several starts were near shutouts, and by the pitching line it looked maybe he had found his younger self. Like that was possible. Anyone who was watching

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1119313763155843872005-06-20T18:08:00.000-04:002005-06-20T21:28:43.576-04:00

Oh all right, I'll come back. How to comprehensively catch you up on the Ninth's thoughts about this year's team? I know, it's not your fault, it's mine, but we can get past this. Let's go one by one.Jason Varitek: Uh, did you see the plate block he pulled on Jack Wilson this weekend? For those of you who missed it, Jason leaned to his right to receive an incoming throw while dropping his leg

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1114291391836101672005-04-23T16:04:00.000-04:002005-04-25T16:08:37.566-04:00

Is anyone else unable to hear the word playoffs without thinking of the great Jim Mora "Playoffs!" reaction, and then, in celebration, mimicking his voice to yourself over and over until you've creeped out everyone in the grocery store? Yeah, me too. So tonight the Celtics open their postseason the way they have opened many others, against the Indiana Pacers. Unfortunately this series is battling

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1113327637112980142005-04-12T12:05:00.000-04:002005-04-12T13:40:37.113-04:00

Maybe I'm the only one on this, but wasn't the ring ceremony a bit much? Dan Duquette and John Harrington got a lot bunk over the years for turning the Red Sox into the Great Team on the Hill. They seemed to actively desire the kind of organization that didn't have to call you back, didn't shake your hand, didn't really care about your opinion; not because they were jerks necessarily, but because

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1112639081702461422005-04-04T14:23:00.000-04:002005-04-04T14:24:41.703-04:00

You know what that was like? It was like showing up at the airport for a big vacation and finding out you’re taking the bus. “Oh one of the seats by the bathroom, yeah, I guess that’s ok.” Crumm-y. It’s not so much that they lost, we saw that coming. It’s that it was precisely no fun. No hitting, crummy pitching, uninspired defense. Anyone concerned with the State of the Union at this point needs

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1112327666224848262005-03-31T22:40:00.000-05:002005-03-31T23:15:12.216-05:00

Before we get on to this upcoming baseball season, I would like to say a couple words about the site. The Official Ninth Email Box was jam packed this morning with welcome backs after my long absence and questions about the schedule for the future. What happened to the radio gig, will Nine by Nine be returning, what are the major tenants of American Transcendentalism? Well, the answers are:

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1112159798332880432005-03-30T00:15:00.000-05:002005-03-30T00:16:38.333-05:00

Hey gang, long time no see. The Ninth just got back from vacation, what’s your excuse? Oh, you don’t need one. So how about these Celtics, hu? In the last two weeks I’ve heard somewhat convincing arguments for Danny Ainge as Executive of the Year, Doc Rivers as Coach of the Year, Ricky Davis as Sixth Man of the Year, and Antoine Walker as League MVP. Oh, also Wyc Grousbeck as Dorky Owner Who

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1109280626356524822005-02-24T16:02:00.000-05:002005-02-24T16:34:24.206-05:00

Antoine Walker, welcome back. The Celts have reacquired The Bomb for Tom Googs, Yogi Why Is He Named That Stewart, and Gary Payton. Is this a good move? I will say definitively, no. Marcus Banks can not play an NBA point gaurd, and Delonte West isn't ready yet. Toine has point skills, but that doesn't work on a fast break team. He needs to be under the basket rebounding (9.4 rpg this year Mr.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1108749272801149922005-02-18T12:53:00.000-05:002005-02-18T12:54:32.806-05:00

Each time the Red Sox imploded in earlier seasons, an Official Ninth Friend would call and insist “they have to blow up the team.” In a thoroughly Bostonian fashion, he would overreact, utterly panic, and prepare for the life boats. “Trade the superstars”, he would yell, “there’s something about them that can’t win.” Astute analysis. Manny, Nomar, and Pedro were usually the source of his ire, and

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1107555756024782312005-02-04T17:21:00.000-05:002005-02-04T17:22:36.026-05:00

The problem with writing your prediction column on Tuesday is that when you think of more stuff to say, you have nowhere to put it. Unless you want to write a whole other column, and let’s be honest, I’ve had a tough enough time getting one of these puppies finished. Two is a bit presumptuous. But sloth be damned, I’ll get it done. So here we go, Super Bowl article numero two. I mean it’s not

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1107313925946014562005-02-01T20:04:00.000-05:002005-02-01T22:12:05.946-05:00

The NFL can be a little simple-minded. Sit down Kordell Stewart, we're not talking about you. The Colts came into the playoffs having demolished their recent mediocre opponents and were given a great chance to throw over the Patriots, despite the rich and expansive history to the contrary. Then the Steelers, considered the best team in the league, were picked by many to blast past New England to

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1106267747916749632005-01-20T19:33:00.000-05:002005-01-20T19:35:47.916-05:00

The Ninth would like to know if now, finally, people get what’s going on in Indy. Next winter, when inevitably they find themselves in another playoff game at Gillette, are we at last going to accept that they don’t have a chance? Or is it going to be the same old nonsense about a high-powered offense, an improving defense, and what can Belichick possibly dream up this time? Guys, he always

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1105738758491213062005-01-14T16:36:00.000-05:002005-01-14T16:39:18.490-05:00

Amplitude Modulation giveth, and Amplitude Modulation taketh away. That’s right folks, the AM radio dial that so warmly welcomed The Ninth earlier this week, has turned the cold shoulder. Til next Friday, at least. I have been bumped from today’s show on The Zone, so don’t try tuning in. If you were planning your day around it, as I’m sure you were, feel free to see what Dr. Phil and Justice,

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1105575003735176472005-01-12T18:41:00.000-05:002005-01-12T19:58:45.360-05:00

So far, 2005 has been both kind and unkind to The Ninth. In the unfortunate department, Blogger has mysteriously stopped functioning at my office, suggesting that somehow The Ninth Official Boss has caught on to my screwing off/prize winning journalism. I fear he has noticed my constant (ahem) typing and found a way to block the website from our server. The immutable law of employment: if your

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1102965409333501732004-12-13T14:13:00.000-05:002004-12-13T14:24:43.760-05:00

Hold on to your hairpieces, according to Peter Gammons, Pedro Martinez is now extremely close to being a New York Metropolitan. I guess he doesn't want to win anymore. Honestly, if he's that dumb, good riddance.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1102717724653572802004-12-10T16:48:00.000-05:002004-12-10T17:35:28.866-05:00

Somehow the Bengals are getting lumped in with the Browns, and that ain't right. These guys aren't so bad, and they can really score. More specifically, they can score in the one fashion that New England can't really defend at the moment, deep passing. It's deceptive to look at the futility Baltimore and Cleveland experienced against the Patriot secondary and think that Belichick and Crennel have

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1102532813098052922004-12-08T13:53:00.000-05:002004-12-08T14:08:48.356-05:00

Red Sox pick up their first free agent, Matt Mantei. Basically, he's a Scott Williamson replacement. When healthy, he has dominant stuff. Killer fastball and a nasty little slider. Problem is, he's pitched more than 50 innings only once in the last 5 years. His shoulder's been reconstructed more times than Bush's cabinet. But it's probably a low-risk, high reward contract, so if healthy he'll be

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1102092918762617112004-12-03T10:56:00.000-05:002004-12-03T12:27:57.436-05:00

Ok, ok, enough flowers. It's starting to look like a funeral in The Ninth Home Office. And really, the cakes and chocolates are nice, but it's hard enough to stay in shape. I'll write, I'll write, I don't need to be bribed. Your concern and interest is appreciated, and I'm sorry I had to return the car. To accept it just wouldn't have been ethical. Also, I prefer horseback. Anyhowzers, how 'bout

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1101163165195328002004-11-22T16:40:00.000-05:002004-11-22T17:41:08.193-05:00

Alright, the Ninth One tonight is really easy, it's going to be Tom Brady. He's going to throw for a million yards and 2 million touchdowns. Don't check my math. But The Ninth vowed at the beginning of this thing that we wouldn't ever pick Brady because that's too easy. Oy. Such standards. So, as tempted as I am to pick Deion Branch with a surprise big start, I'm going to the defense. The Ninth

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1100708153482537412004-11-17T10:11:00.000-05:002004-11-18T10:18:59.493-05:00

Pedro Martinez had a private, sit-down meeting with Georgy Fats yesterday, and you know how the Nation reacted? They didn't. Nobody cared. Jason Varitek is getting closer and closer to catching for Mike Scioscia in Anaheim and Sox fans just yawn and wonder where they left the TV Guide. Amazing stuff. This is a city that was apoplectic when Lawyer Milloy was released. A group of folks that had

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1100218853716648142004-11-11T20:00:00.000-05:002004-11-11T19:43:41.530-05:00

The Hot Stove will be fired up in earnest tonight at midnight (just the way the veterans like it), as individual negotiating rights between teams and players expire. At 12:01, officially, it's olly-olly-oxen-free. Could that phrase possibly have been about free oxen? Free agents will talk to all teams, and markets can start forming in earnest. See, as of now, we really don't know much. Gammons is

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1099692022047784692004-11-05T16:28:00.000-05:002004-11-05T17:00:33.740-05:00

The Celtics might officially get, as Bill Simmons would say, frisky. They lost game 1, and they did blow 15 points worth of padding, but somehow in doing it they showed a lot of promise. The fact is, with Paul Pierce, Gary Payton, and Mark Blount they have more talent than most clubs at the 1, 3, and 5. Doesn't seem like it should be true, but it is. If those guys can stay healthy and out of foul

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1099522497877122152004-11-03T17:23:00.000-05:002004-11-03T17:54:57.876-05:00

Alright, who the hell did that? How could an entire group of people possibly be so dumb? Are you really serious that the worst President this country has had in 50 years is getting re-elected? How could that be? I mean, people actually voted for him. A lot. That's preposterous. The guy doesn't read. You know that, right? Won't read briefs because they're too "hard". Has to have them read to him

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1098997582693265042004-10-28T17:06:00.000-04:002004-10-28T17:09:11.976-04:00

This happens. This is something that happens. -Stanley Spector, "Magnolia" Hard to believe, isn't it? There are teams that have been doing this all along. Going about their lives, building solid clubs, and every once in a while pulling out the Series. And it's no big deal. It happens every year in fact, sometimes even in Florida. And people don't remember. It's won and lost and two weeks later

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1098908499597738182004-10-27T16:09:00.000-04:002004-10-27T16:21:39.596-04:00

The Ninth has been preaching realism and objectivity for just about a year now (another unnoticed anniversary - sob), and there's no reason to stop now. Boston's up 3-0, and everyone's scared the world will explode. Guess what, it won't. They're going to win, enjoy it. Maybe they don't sweep, but they've got this thing in the bag. As we noted before, math and history won't keep St. Louis from

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1098818780992039492004-10-26T15:25:00.000-04:002004-10-26T15:26:20.993-04:00

This weekend The Ninth was kicking around ESPN.com, looking up some numbers. After doing a bit of research on the Cards and Sox, I decided to click on "Scores" and see how the other series were going. No other series. I looked around a bit. I actually did this. It took five minutes for my mind to accept that the Red Sox were in the World Series. And I was in Boston for the games. Demented, but

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1098456949256418652004-10-22T10:29:00.000-04:002004-10-22T11:04:03.913-04:00

And you should too, if you're not there already. The Sox won't be in the Series too many times folks, and I would like to see it for myself. The matchup, we now know, is the St. Louis Cardinals, the team with the best record in baseball. Do keep in mind however that the team with that distinction has not actually won the Series since 1998. In fact, Wild Cards have fared much better of late. But,

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1098393109051014282004-10-21T15:58:00.000-04:002004-10-21T17:46:35.090-04:00

The most humiliating loss in the history of the greatest franchise in sports. That's what it was. Plain and simple. And the Boston Red Sox caused it. Every second since has been Absolute Euphoria. So many forbidden joys, so little time. Do I rush home to watch Remy and Dennis Eck gush about finally beating New York - or head directly to the local sports bar and bask in all the sullen Yankee fan

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1098295248808947222004-10-20T13:33:00.000-04:002004-10-20T14:02:20.800-04:00

Curt Schilling pitched 7 innings last night with a tendon being held taut by sutures. Doctors used stitches to bunch the skin around his ankle and hold it in place. He won Game 6, giving up one run, beating one of the best offensive teams in baseball. With blood leaking its way through his sock. That is remarkable. It was one of the greatest athletic feats I have seen in my life, and there is no

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1098212534509507462004-10-19T14:21:00.000-04:002004-10-19T17:33:00.160-04:00

Somewhere out there is a writer good enough to describe what's going on here, but I am not that man. Bill Simmons made a solid pass, but it feels a bit like traveled territory for him. Shaughnessey, who has lately been doing some of the best writing of his career, is solid, but Bob Ryan, as usual, does the best work on the matter. But still, there's something not quite grasped. The Red Sox have

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1098125754782544482004-10-18T13:31:00.000-04:002004-10-18T14:56:04.450-04:00

Until it gets to 7, this isn't about winning. The Red Sox haven't played well enough for that. For now, it's about pride, it's about fun, it's about making Yankee lives worse. Had Boston executed with even passable ability over the last six days, Sunday night could've been a lot more. It could've meant getting back into the series, or even, God forbid, pushing ahead. Instead, it was a battle for

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1097771772502730992004-10-14T11:28:00.000-04:002004-10-14T12:37:09.386-04:00

If they were your girlfriend you'd break up with them. If they were your wife you'd seek counseling. If they were your children you'd sell them into slavery. Then you'd buy them yourself and make them do the chores they used to receive allowance for, but not pay them, because hell, they're slaves now. And they'd sleep in the barn. Then, once they accepted that life and decided that existence

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1097678122261805032004-10-13T10:08:00.000-04:002004-10-13T11:51:00.900-04:00

There's no crying in baseball....there's no crying in baseball. F that, I'm crying in baseball. The Red Sox finally build the right team, they have the dominant starting pitcher, they're ready to rip through the playoffs -- and the guy gets hurt. He gets bleepin' hurt, pitching in a blowout in the ALDS. Not fighting to advance in a fifth game, not making a valiant play to save a run, not even in

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1097606440564995412004-10-12T13:21:00.000-04:002004-10-12T14:52:33.616-04:00

Two days ago The Ninth was honestly bemoaning another Yankee-Red Sox matchup. Seen it, done it, time for something new. Now I'm so excited I secretly inserted Red Sox player names into important work documents for good luck. And yes, I got caught. I tried to place a bet with The Official Ninth Boss (who owns a prominent national hotel chain) - he asked "how much?", I replied "all you can handle",

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1097262060778982512004-10-08T14:59:00.000-04:002004-10-08T15:01:00.776-04:00

The Ninth One Patriots vs. Miama: David Givens No time to tell you why. Just imagine. Blitzing defense that stops the run pretty well. Go watch baseball!

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1097172847927315752004-10-07T13:18:00.000-04:002004-10-07T14:33:21.653-04:00

Is the Ninth so smart that he can actually see the future? Simply put, yes. I'm not sure I've ever been arrogant enough to quote myself, but last Thursday I wrote the following about Pedro: "wouldn't it make sense that a guy who tries to reserve his best for the late innings would do the same for late (season) games?". Wow. He predicts a revitalized Pedro, and we get a revitalized Pedro. I'm also

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1097003013773910302004-10-05T15:02:00.000-04:002004-10-05T15:03:33.773-04:00

Williamson off the roster, Youkilis and Leskanic on. Millar hitting fifth at 1st, Kapler starting in right, batting 9th.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1096994421529830922004-10-05T10:48:00.000-04:002004-10-05T12:40:21.530-04:00

Remember how you felt last October 1st, the day the ALDS began in Oakland? Thrilled, excited, yes, but also vaguely terrified. The Sox had played a good September, and were ready for a climactic postseason, but there was a feeling of doom around the corner. Boston's flaws were obvious, and with a distinctly tenuous rotation and even less reliable bullpen, the Red Sox could be beat. Their job was

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1096580432840041622004-09-30T15:43:00.000-04:002004-09-30T17:40:32.840-04:00

Pedro got shelled last night. Bad control, stuff, and attitude. Together at last. People are lighting themselves on fire because his last four starts have stunk. But let's be fair about this. The first of that bunch was a loss, but it was 6 IP, 2 ER against Scott Kazmir. That's nothing to be ashamed of. The most recent Yankee game was 7 IP, 3ER until he got Grady'd. I'll take that in the playoffs

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1096408855016337102004-09-28T16:37:00.000-04:002004-09-28T18:31:08.680-04:00

The Red Sox have been in the playoffs for a total of 18 hours, and as Jimy Williams would say "uh oh, there's a problem, there's a problem in Boston." Going into the 2003 postseason, the Red Sox were viewed as perhaps the most dangerous playoff opponent out there. Jayson Stark, Peter Gammons, Tom Verducci, they all said keep an eye on Boston. Why? Because they had the one-armed equalizer. Pedro

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1096047638988066852004-09-24T13:52:00.000-04:002004-09-24T17:15:13.133-04:00

Let's be honest, the Sox are in. As of Friday morning, Boston is 6 games ahead of Anaheim in the loss column with 10 games to go. I know that everyone is terrified of junkies, curses, ghosts, and specters so they don't want to say anything, but let's be adult about this. The Red Sox are going to the playoffs. So now we have to ask, who are they bringing with them? A lot of these are obvious: 1.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1095450627004062772004-09-17T15:01:00.000-04:002004-09-17T15:50:27.003-04:00

You know what's hilarious? Building your entire fantasy football team around two running backs, then having one of them go down with a serious knee injury. Stephen Davis, out 2-5 weeks with a knee injury. Yeah, there's a real good chance he'll be back in two weeks. Right. Week 2, season over. Can I have my twenty bucks back? Anyway, on to teams that are good. New England is playing Arizona this

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1095373300410345692004-09-16T16:53:00.000-04:002004-09-16T18:21:40.410-04:00

I mean, what are you supposed to say about a team that doesn't do things wrong? The Sox aren't winning as much as they were, but they aren't screwing up. It's not realistic to continue an unbelievable winning streak, but they have continued to play good ball. Schilling will most likely defeat Mark Tall But Not Good Hendrickson this Thursday evening, and Boston will head to the Bronx with a chance

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1094765207906898992004-09-09T16:52:00.000-04:002004-09-09T17:26:47.906-04:00

Hello ladies and germs...we're gonna try a new something for this year's football season. Because everybody picks winners, we're gonna pick players. Well one actually. We'll call it The Ninth One: the player we predict to be the standout in this week's Patriots game. Doesn't have to be a Pat, but let's be honest, how often am I gonna be picking some Titan or something? That's right, never. You

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1094226357597200412004-09-03T11:27:00.000-04:002004-09-03T11:45:57.600-04:00

-- Last night's win was absolutely shocking. That game had 9-1-loss-but-it's-ok-because-we-still-took-the-series written all over it. Didn't happen though. I realized a strange thing while watching: the Red Sox are now better than I thought they could be. Have Sox fans ever been able to say that? Even last year when we were tearing it up there was that stinky garbage bullpen looming as an area of

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1094055958027933632004-09-01T10:27:00.000-04:002004-09-01T16:21:41.610-04:00

Sometimes, as the song goes, I just happen to like New York. Savor the flavor of the New York Post, the Daily News, and the NYT collectively losing their dignity. A lot better than corn flakes in the morning, I'll tell you that. So here's the question: what if this is as good as it gets? The Red Sox have essentially just equaled a stretch the Yankees put together earlier this year. After being

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1093464038914097702004-08-25T15:19:00.000-04:002004-08-25T16:27:57.456-04:00

--Boston Dirtdogs is reporting that Nomar Garciaparra maybe be done for the season with an injury to the wrist. Like we've said before, the site isn't a bible, but they're right more often than they're wrong. If Nomar does miss a big chunk of the home stretch, Theo looks like a genius and a fortune teller. Better than a geek with a crew cut. -- Last night Mike Timlin looked a lot like the

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1092775753428952782004-08-17T16:45:00.000-04:002004-08-17T16:49:13.426-04:00

A few roster moves for the Red Sox - McCarty and Youkilis on the DL, Earl Snyder and Leskanic activated. McCarty's official reason for injury is "only two weeks til roster expand." Earl Snyder, who will very likely be playing third tonight, was Youkilis' backup in Pawtucket, making him Boston's fourth-string third baseman. That's fairly ridiculous.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1092690653981986772004-08-16T17:06:00.000-04:002004-08-17T11:12:55.246-04:00

Doug Mientkiewicz is starting at second base tonight for the Red Sox. With Derek Lowe on the mound. It's certainly odd. He'll be fine range-wise, but gotta wonder about turning the double play. Here's one thought: Toronto's SP Justin Miller has a left/right OPS split this year of 1.102/.597. That is almost entirely unheard of. I can see why you want the lefties in there, but this might be a bit

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1092333262182529322004-08-12T17:10:00.000-04:002004-08-12T17:42:06.900-04:00

I am what is traditionally referred to as an underachiever. While three of the five members of The Official Ninth Family have medical degrees, I have a degree in mixology. That's bartending. And I don't use it. They try to figure out what's wrong with humans, I try to figure out what's wrong with my satellite TV. They write prescriptions for medicine, I write pithy sports blogs. When I'm not too

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1092175702698873742004-08-10T17:05:00.000-04:002004-08-25T17:39:26.960-04:00

First off, I'd like to thank all the folks who were still regularly visiting during The Ninth's posting hiatus of the last week or so. While I've been padding my acting resume (loyal (ahem) Bravo viewers will soon be greeted by a heavy dose of The Ninth in person), the Red Sox have been so utterly uninspiring that it's been hard to write. Come to think of it, that's happened a lot this year. It's

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1091548982535692442004-08-03T12:01:00.000-04:002004-08-03T12:03:02.536-04:00

If you enjoy Will Ferrell and things that are funny, you will enjoy this. Trust me.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1090947451791629272004-07-27T12:48:00.000-04:002004-07-27T17:02:37.773-04:00

Wow, busy day on the site yesterday. Surprisingly, 2 of 3 from New York (accurately predicted in this space, I might add) has a way of spiking interest. A more enterprising unpaid columnist would've seized the opportunity and pieced together a boffo column for all the new readers to faun upon, this one however got the afternoon off because of computer problems at the office, so went home and ate

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1090612867328596472004-07-23T14:50:00.001-04:002004-07-23T16:07:33.130-04:00

A close personal friend of The Ninth remarked, as we were simultaneously watching the Orioles embarrass the Sox 10-5 on Wednesday night, "you know they're gonna come back and take two out of three from New York, don't you?". But not as something to look forward to, more of a "isn't that the annoying sort of thing they'd do?" thing. Play like junk against Baltimore, execute easily the most

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1090526113049406252004-07-22T15:52:00.000-04:002004-07-22T15:55:13.050-04:00

When did the Red Sox forget how to play baseball? They should be paying us to watch this junk. More and more of this, in my opinion, is beginning to fall on Theo's shoulders.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1090440458588812692004-07-21T16:03:00.000-04:002004-07-21T16:07:38.586-04:00

A couple of afternoon roster moves for the Sox. Malaska up, Nelson down. Not much, but it will help. Also, Pokey goes on the DL and taking his place is.......not Crespo! Hallelujah. Youkilis recalled. That means someone thinks Bellhorn can play shortstop. We'll see. With Nomar getting the night off, tonight's infield could very well have Mueller at second, Bellhorn at short, and Youkilis at third

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1090437986884770702004-07-21T14:00:00.000-04:002004-07-21T15:26:26.883-04:00

As those of you who have been (ahem) consistently reading know, The Ninth does strive to remain patient. A great deal of this space has been filled trying to dissuade panic on such topics as Derek Lowe, Terry Francona, the Sox defense, and others. God, I'm a failure. Anyhoots, I think there are two distinct truths in the Boston sports scene: 1) Everyone ignores the big picture, and 2) Everyone

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1090332024649818932004-07-20T09:45:00.000-04:002004-07-20T10:00:24.650-04:00

It's games like that that make you wonder what the point of all this is anyway. What a waste of time.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1090269105149576582004-07-19T15:13:00.000-04:002004-07-19T19:36:07.536-04:00

Haven't done one of these in a while... 1. There are must win games and there are better win games, as in "you better win this friggin' game or I'm gonna punch a hole in the fan." Yesterday was the latter. Must wins are the kind of things that if you don't pull out, you're in serious danger of not getting where you want to be. Like mathematical danger. Although people talk about them as early

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1089909738325991292004-07-15T11:31:00.000-04:002004-07-19T16:44:39.080-04:00

The only thing less logical than midseason predictions of postseason matchups is preseason predictions of postseason matchups. We resisted that absurd little rite of passage in March, so now it doesn't seem so lame to try it out. At least we have three months of information to go on, as opposed to Opening Day when two ESPN writers picked the Vikings as sleepers in the National League. So we'll

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1089732517954241522004-07-13T10:12:00.000-04:002004-07-13T14:47:36.366-04:00

2 Hamburgers, One Hot Dog, Corn on Cob, Potato Salad, Two Pieces of Cake, 6 Beers. 4th of July: Spirited Celebration 5th of July: Dangerous Lack of judgment It's hard to get used to seeing those 77's and 78's in the RBI category for Manny and Ortiz. How do you get 80 RBI's in 86 games? I remember when you could lead a team with 90 for the season. Mark Blount was a nice keep for the Celtics

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1089666717682285072004-07-12T17:11:00.000-04:002004-07-12T17:11:57.683-04:00

Well, this should answer some RJ questions: Unit talks trade.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1089301042788478462004-07-08T10:42:00.000-04:002004-07-08T13:11:31.190-04:00

Ok, the win was sweet last night, but as we said yesterday, we want the sweep. On to some rumor mill fun. Last night on NESN Boston Globe Sports Final Red Sox Weekly Whatever, Bob Lobel reported that the Red Sox were "heavily involved" in discussions for Arizona's Randy Johnson. Bob Ryan and Nick Cafardo were both in studio, throwing in some cents. Here's a breakdown for those who have lives.

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1089221464326498632004-07-07T11:57:00.000-04:002004-07-07T13:45:24.170-04:00

Well it's been quite a first half, hasn't it? Red Sox Nation has seen comebacks, blow ups, knee scopes, sheath tears, beard shaves, inside the parkers, outside the parkers, and of course, lots and lots of errors. We've watched it all with a modicum of patience, but when the junk has hit the fan, more often than not, so have our angered fists. The record isn't good, but it isn't all that bad

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1088605927448122272004-06-30T10:05:00.000-04:002004-06-30T10:32:07.446-04:00

The site will be back full force after the 4th of July. Sorry for not being able to provide a bit of work-day distraction for you all lately. Last night's game was, of course, a horror show. The Red Sox are quickly becoming the league whipping boy, and, whether fairly or not, are being put in a very tough position. There's little reason to believe they'll take more than one of the next two, then

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1088105756323749422004-06-24T15:30:00.000-04:002004-06-24T15:49:27.496-04:00

For a thorough if somewhat tough to follow breakdown of tonight's draft, check out The Russillo Report, written by The Zone's Ryen Russillo. Russillo's site is a bit messy, but he is, for The Ninth's money (may not exist), the most knowledgeable radio host in Boston. Sox tied at 3, and Francona has had his best bullpen usage game yet. Making Ron Gardenhire look like, well, Ron Gardenhire. It

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1087934974840472942004-06-22T15:28:00.000-04:002004-06-22T16:09:34.840-04:00

No game last night, but there seems to be two major things going on with the Red Sox today: Via Peter Gammons - Beltran to the Sox, Williamson and Youkilis to the A's, Mark Teahan, Mike Wood (prospects) from the A's as well as Kelly Shopach to the Royals. Is there a single person who thinks this is a good idea? Giving the A's the closer they need, sending away our two highest prospects, and

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1087591524712953272004-06-18T16:25:00.000-04:002004-06-18T16:45:24.713-04:00

Alright readers, here's a little insanity test. 1) Did you wake up in a panic on Thursday morning after the Rockies had beaten Boston twice in a row? Were you concerned that perhaps the season was slipping out of control? 2)Were you elated on Friday morning when you opened your eyes and remembered the demolition job the Sox put on the Rockies the day previous and thought maybe they could catch

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1087508216763636242004-06-17T17:31:00.000-04:002004-06-17T17:36:56.763-04:00

Apparently the answer to my question yesterday about how long it takes Nomar to flip his lid was about 10 hours. This interview is fairly ridiculous, but you could see it coming. While he should have learned to have a tougher skin in eight years, ask yourself why, if his injury progressed almost identically to Trot's, did he get sniped and Nixon didn't? He's being a nuisance, but there is a

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1087419694527772912004-06-16T16:07:00.000-04:002004-06-16T17:01:34.526-04:00

First post of the week on Wednesday. I know, I know, not the kind of quality performance I'm being paid for. I know you don't much care, but job #1 (crappy internet company) and job #2 (actor) have kicked it into high gear simultaneously, leaving job #3 (award-winning internet sports writer) looking for its mommy at the grocery store. The station wagon's gone baby, and I ain't sure it's comin

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1086973908237453882004-06-11T13:02:00.000-04:002004-06-11T13:11:48.236-04:00

Sorry gang, busy day, but... 1. How many times in Nomar's career has someone intentionally walked the previous hitter to get to him? I would say less than five. Maybe it happened a few times in his rookie season, but he hit mostly leadoff then and I doubt they were walking too many #9's. We saw it last night though, and he made them pay. Double off the wall, 2 RBI's. Boy was that fun. 2. The

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1086894938601320382004-06-10T13:57:00.000-04:002004-06-10T15:15:38.600-04:00

Well, he was back last night. And he swung at the first pitch. Wouldn't have been right if he didn't. Nomar bounced a nice single through the left side on the second pitch he saw, then in his next at-bat, ripped a ball to left field. It was caught, but it was one of those lasers that only he seems to be able to hit. He later made one of his trademark plays in the hole, but Hands Dominique

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1086813137879725092004-06-09T16:30:00.000-04:002004-06-09T16:37:50.326-04:00

Tonight's actual lineup: Damon CF Bellhorn 2B Ortiz DH Ramirez LF Garciaparra SS Varitek C Millar RF Dominique 1B Youkilis 3B Daubach outrighted, Brown sent down. Nomar and Malaska up. Certainly some surprises...

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5946925.post-1086804246566504662004-06-09T13:05:00.000-04:002004-06-09T14:04:06.566-04:00

As Silvio likes to say, "Just when I thought I was out....". The Ninth unfortunately had to miss last night's game, so I can't relay much about how Pedro actually looked. From all tell however, he was spectacular. Best start of the year, perhaps the best in a long while. Fastball consistently in the mid 90's with sharp curveball and control. Sounds like a blast, too bad I missed it. Luckily, the

The Ninthnoreply@blogger.com