Musings from Mandy

Hey Tom, I just wanted to say, "Sorry", I'm sure you don't remember meeting me at the Burlington Mall. But I was about 13. I had on a Charlotte Hornets starter jacket and I had Paul and Chris with me. My biological brother and his best friend who never left my side. I had convinced my mom to drop us of at the mall to meet you. We had heard that you were going to be at the Burlington Mall raising money for the Bridgewater State Girl's softball team or something like that. I was in the beginning of my love of baseball. Paul and I had started collecting baseball cards and making Daddy buy us cards (all of which are now dusty in our cellar just waiting for a hot water tank to blow so my mom can toss them). Anyway. I was starting to like baseball, but mainly I liked liking something that my dad and brother liked. Then we went to the Burlington Mall. We were allowed to get one thing signed per person. I had an 8X10, and about 9 baseball cards. You smiled...

The 2007 AL East Champion Boston Red Sox. I love this team. After 22 games in person this year...too much money spent at Fenway and the Baseball Tavern...2 kick ass road trips...one that almost killed me....one horrifc Jack Daniels encounter and almost commiting manslaughter when Papelbon blew the 14th inning and Detroit. It's finally ours. The AL East Champion Boston Red Sox. It has a such a great ring to it doesn't it? Anyway, I don't have a ton to say, I'm thrilled, relieved and excited. I'm glad it came off Mo. I'm hoping this team got hot at just the right time. Anyway, some awesome pictures from Kelly taken at the game last night and some fun pictures of the Sox partying at Game On after the game. SWEET! (I cannot WAIT to be home for the ALDS next weekend. Between getting to watch Monday Night Patriots this week, the Red Sox on national TV starting next week, and my kids having standardized testing so we are just going to hang out a lot this week, I fee...

HAPPY AL EAST!!! Thank you Baltimore! HI CONOR! (back with a real post later!)

I can accept a little fun ribbing. I think this is hilarious.

LT is "confident" that if the Chargers play the Patriots 10 times, they win 9. There is a difference between "confidence" and "stupidity"... Patriots just marched down the field. I think we are going to dominate tonight.

I just moved into a new house a month ago, and I have been getting my mail forwarded. And the other day...I got mail from Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds since I got here. That is right. From A-Rod I got my card returned along with an autographed A-Rod photo and from Barry Bonds I got my card back, unsigned, along with another Bonds card and a letter thanking me for being a fan. So my two least favorite baseball players on the earth do at least, return mail. So now I have heard back from 4 players, Manny (card returned unsigned), Timlin (card returned signed), Bonds (card returend with letter), and A-Rod (card returned unsigned with autographed photo). Seriously?

"They show no class, no class at all, and maybe that comes from the head coach" L "I steal nick names and am a little bitch" T Good afternoon! I am going to be semi-live blogging today while I eagerlly await tonights killer matchups. Chargers @ Patriots and Yankees @ Red Sox. A very busy night in New England. I am in prime form. I alept till 11:00. Had some homefries and sweet tea. Watched the pregame shows. I'm ready to go. I got 7 hours to kill and you do too... A few thoughts from the pregame show... *Boomer annoys me. *Why do we need so many people on the show? *Everyone likes the Patriots. Me too. *"Coach" Mike Ditka keeps forgetting his picks. Good work "Coach". I once coached a basketball team at the Boys Club. From this day forth, I would like to be called, "Coach" please. *Eli Manning will play today. Well thank God. I still can't get over the feeling that Eli would rather be running around a field with ...

Brutal. The one word text from KP summed it up entirely. It was brutal. I watched the first four innings or so from my couch and then checked in sporatically at the one real bar in North Carolina. I had a strange sense of uneasyness the entire time. But a 6 run lead in the 8th? I'll take it. Now, I have a confession to make. This loss was my fault. Last night, I was chatting with a very attractive young gentleman who was a friend of a friend. He was from Connecticut and was...a Yankees fan. Obviously I had to have a little fun with him. I told him that he should really go check the score for me and was telling him how those Tigers are fiesty and that he better watch out or they'll be watching October at home, I told him I was really sad when the Yankees traded my favorite player, to which he said, "um, you mean Johnny Damon?", to which I replied, "You signed Johnny Damon...you traded Scott Proctor, who was my favorite pitcher in any bullpen" Yes,...

*Talk about absolutely fantastic news, Kevin Everett is moving his arms and legs . Everett, a tight end injured in the Bills game Sunday, originally was thought to be paralyzed. So great. *Not that everything is about us, but it is, anyone who as ever seen Travis Roy at the Bruins game or the "Dream On" montage at Game On or read 11 Seconds knows how devasting this kind of thing is. *This is a really sad story about high school football players paralyzed in games. As someone who stood on the sideline for 40 plus college football games, I have to say this was always one of my biggest fears. The story does, however, have a somewhat bright light, and that is a charity started to help these injured high school football players. I swear, if I am ever a millionaire, I am going to have a lot of fun giving my money away. *Well, the Patriots kicked ass and took names on Sunday, as expected. Now we learn we may have cheated by stealing Jets signs. I say, whatever works. I do...

The Colts and Saints kick off the NFL season tonight, and I've been trying to get back in the football swing of things. Things haven't quite gotten off to a great start for the Pats, with Moss and Richard on the injury list and Rodney taking HGH and Tom possibly being distracted by baby drama. I'm not worried, I know that we are well coached, and that our game plan is going to be well thought out. The thing is, I'm not sure that I'm ready for the stress. I've still got a baseball season to focus on. And, I'm not quite over last season yet. I really thought we were getting 4 in 6 years. It had such a great ring to it. It said, dominance, it said, dynasty . I loved our team last year. I thought we were getting Corey one more ring and showing Larry how it is done in New England. After we dispelled the Chargers, I thought, there we go, that was it. And even when the Colts came back after that horrific Hobbs call and Peyton couldn't watch...I still...

I'm getting my life in order and the blog is back, hopefully to stay... So I've had access to MLB TV for about a week now, (thank you Joe) and in that time I've seen the Sox lose every time I watched. Last night I was planning my lessons for the next week, and my computer was running low on battery. Instead of plugging in my computer and throwing on the Sox game, I put it back on my desk and let it charge, hopped in the shower, and got ready to go out. I got to the bar, and checked my phone, and had a missed call from Katie, and two texts from my brother...the first one read, "The Red Sox have all the hits through the 8th", and the second being, "Clay got a no-no". I was wondering if Paul was messing with me, then Frank's "Awesome" text came in. I got the goosebumps, Paul called and filled me in, then I called Katie back and she told me she had wanted to call but had the whole "fate of the no-no" to worry about. I totally un...

Finally got the Sox highlights on Sportscenter. Saw Lester's reception. Man I miss us. PS. In North Carolina, they have these things called Palmetto beatles, a fancy name for cockroaches, and a lot of people have them, and we are currently working on killing the little mo-fo's, and I just spent a good 20 minutes at war with one, chasing him around my apartment with a spray bottle of "home defense". I finally was getting nervous I might miss the Sox highlights and had to go get a shoe. I will kill these bugs. PPS. Michael Vick shouldn't have waited so long to plea. Always better to go first in these kind of things.

"They're loud, they're drunk, they're obnoxious. They're one of the few places you'll hear racial comments . . . it's just different." Angels outfielder Gary Matthews, Jr. on Red Sox fans at Fenway Park. I'm always surprised when I hear things like this said about Fenway. I took in 20+ Red Sox games this year, about 15 last year, and about 10 the previous year. Not once, in all that time, have I ever, ever heard a racial comment. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. Every village has its own idiot. But I really think that Sox fans are fair when it comes to race. We will cheer for, love you, boo you, hate you, regardless of color, creed, ect. I'm sure Mr. HGH himself will find Fenway a much more hospitable place the next time he comes to Boston.

After 8 long days without internet AND cable TV with the exceptions of some sneaking done at the Sheraton I am back thanks to the shady internet guy who came today and and the new roommate who figured out how to get my wireless internet working. Anyway, for the last week + I have been like a junkie in need of heroin. Through phone calls, texts, bits and pieces of info through the Chicago news (for some reason we get there here), and the occasional break from high school football in the local paper, I have been without sports. I haven't seen Sportscenter, I haven't seen the Sox play except for when we could pick up Maryland TV in the Outerbanks last weekend, (I saw the O's first walkoff), I haven't read Rob Bradford...it has been a cold dark world. It's also been a kind of stress free world. I haven't been on Tom Brady Baby Watch 24/7. I haven't spent nights worrying about our lack of offensive production. I haven't heard announcer after announcer complai...

Just a quick update to let everyone know the big move to North Carolina is happening tomorrow, so posting may be a little scarce for the next week or two, but hopefully I'll have internet up and running at the new house soon! In the meantime, Go Sox!

Well, last night was fun wasn't it? It was one of those Red Sox games where you just knew something good was going to happen. The Sox finally got some timely hitting, Batshit pitched alright, the bullpen was once again great, and, incase-you-forgot-who-your-mother-fucking-closer-is , it's me , Jonathan Papelbon . He makes me a ridiculously happy girl. Today is Bobby Doerr (it might get a little dusty when you read that one) day at the Fens, where Bobby says he his making his last trip because he's getting too old to fly out from Portland. Also, it's Timmay's birthday. The amount of good karma flying around Fenway today will be too much for the lowly Orioles. *Also, the picture above is UNDEFEATED!

I realized this morning while writing the ESPN entry, that I commented on my “list” of sporting events that I planned on going to. I’ve decided to make an actual list of places I’ve been and places I’m going for your viewing pleasure. Places I’ve been… Fenway Park, Boston, MA Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY Oriole Park @ Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL Rogers Center, Toronto, ON Comerica Park, Detroit, MI The Ballpark at Arlington, Arlington, TX The Boston Marathon, Boston, MA Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA The Boston Garden, Boston, MA The TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA The Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY The Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto, ON Saratoga Horse Races, Saratoga, NY LeLacheur Park, Home of the Spinners (A), Lowell, MA McCoy Stadium, Home of the PawSox (AAA), Pawtucket, RI Volcanoes Stadium, Home of the Salem Keizer Volcanoes (A – San Fran), Salem, OR Places I’m going… Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ Turner Field, Atlanta, GA Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL U.S. ...

ESPN loves lists. They are a lazy journalist’s best friend. (Yes, I know I wrote a list yesterday, I am not trying to be the exception.) Anyway, ESPN currently has a Page 2 list of the “Cantonized” or current NFL players with a “ticket for Canton”. Anyway, I decided to take a peak. Starting off the list is 3 QB’s, Farve, Brady, and Manning. At some point in my life I am going to Canton to check it off my list, and I think I’m going to wait till the weekend Thomas Edward Brady is inducted. The only reason I’m writing about the list is that we are pretty well represented on the list, both current Patriots or former Patriots on the list. Incase you were curious, here are the “Cantonized” Patriots. 2. Tom Brady 6. Richard Seymour 10. Adam something, used to kick for us? 14. Junior Seau 33. Randy Moss 35. Ty Law Not to shabby. They then had a list of “on the bubble” and here is what read for Rodney Harrison. Dirty player or ultimate glue guy? Harrison has been called both. He...

Well, I’ve been a little bit MIA lately eh? I promise to never leave you alone on the trading deadline again. I left to go shopping with my mom yesterday morning and my cell phone was 100% dead, so, not realizing the significance of the day, I left it at home charging. A trip to Walmart, Homegoods, the dentist, Target, TJ Maxx, and Sports Authority later. I returned home to find a panic related voicemail from Katie telling me, “I really needed you to be at work today”, and about the Gagne deal. I will never again be away from the TV / internet on the 31st of July again. Anyway, here are 10 things I think I think (again, sorry Mr. King) about the trading deadline, Celtics (yes, the Celtics!), Patriots and whatever topic I need to get to 10. *I was surprised how disappointed I was to see Kason go. I was legitimately bummed out. The kid came up, pitched well, always kept us in it, and was very good looking. Everything I love in a starter. I wish him very good luck in Texas (except fo...

Working on a post right now, but found this while google image searching for Kason and thought it was too good to pass up.

Now, I would hate to be those people who are still complaining about the tuck rule. I would. That being said, Ellis Hobbs got a letter of apology from the NFL for calling an incorrect penalty on a play that eventually led to a Colts touchdown. So, I'm not going to whine, I'm not going to complain. I'm just going to say that Peyton's Super Bowl doesn't count and needs to be removed from the record books. That's all. The Patriots are free to play the Bears next Sunday, by the way.

Man it is good to see you Mr. Harrison! The always adorable Bruschi family. My God I have missed you! Mike Vrabel playing with Tedy's kids. Bill, I've missed you too. Especially your cut off sweatshirts and surly disposition. All photos from The Boston Globe because I spent two hours in traffic trying to get to training camp yesterday before finally giving up and coming home.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/07/27/speed_recovery/?page=full I love him.

The Red Sox are continuing to show me why I hit the panic button a little too soon. But, let’s face it. I’m nothing if I’m not a panicky, crazy, worrier of a fan. We just took 3-4 from the Indians, Jon Lester completed his amazing comeback, Matsuzaka and Beckett dominated, Gabby and Tavarez were picked up by the bats for once, and today we are heading onward to Tampa Bay (would give a major organ to be laying on the beach outside the Sirata right now). Today is the first day when training camp is open to the public and is my last chance to see the Patriots live, probably for the season, unless I somehow make it out to Charlotte on the 24th, but I’m probably not driving 6 hours for an exhibition. Tonight we got Timmay and the gents taking on those cute (allbeit peskey) little Tampa Bay Devil Rays. And seeing that it worked last time, let’s not forget who likes to murder small animals.

Faithful readers, I have an announcement to make. I’ve accepted a teaching job in North Carolina and will be moving very soon down there to get an apartment and whatnot. I will do my best to keep the blog up, but if I’m MIA for the next few weeks, I appreciate your patience. (That means I don’t want nasty, are you ever going to blog again messages). I do, however have some tickets that I am not going to be able to use because of the move. Let me know if anyone is interested! I have five tickets to the games August 11th and August 12th games at Camden Yards if anyone knows anyone looking for any. The Friday night, August 10th ones were $40 each and are in Section 262 and the Saturday ones are on August 11th for Section 71 LR and were $18. I'll sell them as 5 together, or as 2 / 3 if anyone knows anyone that is interested. I also have 5 tickets to the Phillies / Marlins game for that Thursday night, as we were going to stop on the way down. Also, I have 2 tickets to the PawSox ...

Do me a favor...google, "A Rod is a little bitch" ...how great is that. I'm so famous. Thanks to Ashley for pointing that out!

Dear Thomas Edward, Hi, how’s it going? I know you’re a little busy these days with Baby Brady and birthday celebrations and whatnot, but I just had to write you a quick little long rambling note. First, let me tell you a few things about me. When I get 12 cents in change, I think of you. When I picked up one of the new David Ortiz hats at the Reebok outlet the other day and realized that it had come in contact with an Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl Champion hat, I threw it back, and then went and washed my hands. So, maybe right now, you’re thinking, “So, you’re completely out of your mind! So I have a Yankees hat on my head! Who cares? You shouldn’t care, just so long as I keep winning you football games.” And that theory is well as good, except you play football here. In New England. And I’m not your average fan Mr. Brady, incase you haven’t noticed. (although I know there are plenty out there like me). I worry constantly. I fret. I overanalyze. I was depressed for months after the A...

*I hate when, after a tragedy, someone says, "This kind of thing reminds you what really matters". As if something horrible needs to happen to remind me that baseball is just a game. However, story is just horrific. The AA hitting coach of the Tulsa Drillers, Mike Coolbaugh, was struck in the head and killed during a game Sunday during a Texas League game, he was 35 years old. He leaves behind a wife, Mandy, two sons, Joseph and Jacob. His wife is due with their third child in October. * "Reliever Joel Pineiro has been designated for assignment to make room for Jon Lester on the Red Sox roster, Terry Francona announced after the game. Pineiro is out of options, meaning the team has 10 days to release or trade the pitcher." From the Extra Bases Blog . I'm pretty surprised by this one, Pineiro seemed to be pitching better as of late. I think that we must have something in the works / almost complete for another bullpen arm. Also, we have 10 days to trade ...

I got another returned SASE only this time, there was a real life autograph in it. Good old Mike Timlin is my first success story! I sent him the card of him on the Blue Jays, and he sent me back that card signed, and the card of him on the Red Sox with a spiritual message on the back of it. Running Tally: Items returned signed: 1 Items returned unsigned: 1 Items still out there: 18 The back reads, "I play baseball and I hunt. While those seem very opposite activities, they are actually quite similiar - at least in one aspect. They both require focus-whether the focus in on the outisde of the plate, or on the target in the woods. Actually, focus is parkt of what it means to be a believer in Jesus as well. The focus is not on what we're trying to do-but on Who we're doing it for. Read the rest of my story at www.TheGoal.com "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men: since you kno wthat you will receive an inheritance ...

Better late than never...here are some pictures of Clay and Jacoby from the Paw Sox last week! Look at that action shot! I should be a professional!

On April 30th Jon Lester made his season debut for the Pawtucket Red Sox on a cold damp New England night. Tonight, the amazing comeback story comes full circle as Jon will be taking the ball for the big club tonight against those hard hitting Cleveland Indians. I am so excited for him and for all the people he has inspired this last year. Is it 7:05 yet? (also, I know I have been slacking, but I have all kinds of good stuff on the way, promise!) photo credit goes to the Boston Globe

I don't want to talk about last night, or how we could put the Yankees back to 8 games back and didn't, or how we've played like crap the past month, or how JD Drew and Lugo really have done nothing to win me over, or how we cannot buy a hit with RISP. And don't you dare give me the whole, "Amanda, if we had said in April we'd be 8 games up on the Yankees heading into August you'd be thrilled" bullshit, okay? So there we go, that is me, not talking about it.

It's kind of like someone took this picture specifically for me. Like they said, "Hey, look at Paps and Mikey sitting there drinking beers, playing cribbage, you know who would love this picture, Amanda. I better take it for her" Joshua's girlfriend. Now, I'm not saying that Josh isn't infinitely hotter because he plays baseball than he actually is. I'm just saying his girlfriend is...surprising. Manny and Okie drinking wine. My only question is, where is Papi in all these pictures? Maybe these are Papi's pictures? Maybe he took them for me? Papi's probably sitting on the floor indian style between the pilots touching buttons and trying to grab the controller with a huge grin on his face. I mean, how great are these pictures? Kansas City who? Whoever took them, thank you for bringing them into my life.

This is going to be a rambling mess, but I haven't posted in a while and I have a about 29293 things running through my head right now. Proceed at your own risk. Okay, I'm offically stressed out. Our in ability to hit with runners in scoring position is so freaking frustrating I can't take it anymore. David's single followed by Manny popping out last night just added to my tension. I'm wondering if we need to make a move for another bat (although if our lineup could just hit how we know our lineup can hit, all would be well in my world). July 31st is quickly approaching and I think Theo has a big move in store for us. Here is my things with trades. I don't think in terms of statistics or productivity or contracts. I think in terms of how much I love the player. Under those rules, Jon Lester, MDC, the Typo Twins (Jacoby and Kason) (Credits to Surviving Grady for that one) , Mike Lowell and Wily Mo would not even be considered for a possible deal. (I didn't ...

I'm off to see Clay tonight! I'll have full details and pictures tomorrow! (Red Sox texts are welcome)

Hello on this lovely Sunday, I hope everyone has had a great weekend. I am currently enjoying the Sox game, but I was going through my mail and I had one of my SASE from the Great Autograph Experiment of 2007 . I sent out 20 "fan" notes with SASE to 20 Major Leaguers, just to see who I'd get back. I got my first back today, unsigned along with my note, from Manny Ramirez. Apparently Mr. Ramirez doesn't deal with fan mail, but someone took the time to send my card back, which is nice. Dear Mr. Demarlo Hale, If you ever run my torn minicus boyfriend into a GD out at home to end the inning again, I promise to inflict SEVERE bodily pain. Love, Amanda And I leave you with the handsomest third baseman and El Capitan...

The badass picture of Wake seemed to work out last night, so here goes it again, this time with your starting pitcher, ladies and gentleman, Mr. Julian Tavarez.

A little bit of bad-ass to start the second half. Tonight, it's Wake vs. Holliday. As for me, I'll be at the Spinners with the rest of the gang.

Sunday morning, we got up at 7:30, d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g and finally hit the road about 9. We got to the hotel in Toronto, the Holiday Inn on King Street about 1:30 after a wrong turn or two. If you ever go to Toronto, I highly recommend the HI on KSt. It’s nice, is right near both the Air Canada Center and Rogers Center, and has a sweet pool on the 16th floor. We went to Toronto for two reason, one, so Kerry and Colleen could cross the Rogers Center off their list of parks to go to, and two, TROT . We arrived at SkyDome / Rogers Center / Rogers Centre (those silly Canadians) a little before two. We bought 9 dollar tickets and promptly sat about 7 rows back from Mr. Nixon in RF. I had decided prior to the game that having no real vested interest in the game, that I would cheer for the Jays out of respect for the home team, and for Trot Nixon, out of undying love. It was the 5th when we arrived. I looked up at the scoreboard and told my cousin, “Hey look, Josh Towers has a no-no”. The next pi...

After leaving Niagra Falls at the crack of 11, we finally made it to our hotel in Detroit about 5 after stopping off to see some old friends, and me almost getting us arrested at the border for not remembering where we had been the night before. (Hey, it was a long trip). We stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn, after hearing that this is where the Red Sox stay. That was not our only reason, part of it was that we wanted to stay somewhere where wouldn’t get murdered, but, it did have something to do with it. We asked the bell boy when we checked in, and he told us the Sox stayed in downtown Detroit at the Atheneum Suite Hotel, which, is where our bell hop friend told us they stay. We never actually checked it out, because we aren’t those kind of girls. (Okay, we are, but we were scared to leave the area directly around the stadium, and directly around the hotel). I guess the Yankees and Twins stay with the Ritz, but the Sox and White Sox stay at the Antheneum. Just so you kno...

Kerry and I left our lake house in NH at 5:30 on Thursday morning, picked up Colleen and her 34 Vera Bradley bags at 7:45, we were off to Cooperstown. We got there in a little under four hours, thanks to my fantastic navigation skills and superb parking job, we entered the hall about 12. As soon as we entered we realized our first mistake. Going during the summer. Little kids EVERYWHERE. Now I love little kids, but only if we share DNA. These little rugrats where everywhere, getting in my way, stepping on my feet, and standing in front of my camera. So, we immediately decided that if we ever go to Cooperstown again, we are going during the day, during the school year. Anyway, besides that, there is obviously a ton of cool stuff there, my favorite two items were the Cy Young jersey and THE sock. I have the complete album on my facebook, but here are a few of my favorite pictures. One thing I don’t like about the H of F is that there is so much stuff, it’s hard to walk through ...