Musings from Mandy

Hello MFY, so we meet again. It’s nearly June and the Red Sox are (get ready, breathe in, breathe out) 10 and a half games up on the 2nd place Yankees and Orioles, and…drum roll please, only 1 and one half game out of last place. See Devil Rays fans (all 3 of you), there is hope for you yet! Anyway, two months in and heading into the 3rd Yankees series of the season…here are some of my thoughts: *I don’t want Karma to take this the wrong way, but it almost seems like it’s going too easy. I mean, I’m a Boston fan, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. (all while hoping it doesn’t). *Dr. Charles Steinberg is really responsible for Papelbon having “Shipping up to Boston” play when he gets to the mound? And here I was so excited that he loves that song. (and another thing, I hate people called doctor that aren’t actually the people you want working on you when you drop from a heart attack or something…If I ever get a doctorate of History or something, I am not having people call me...

Awesome game last night. Here are a few random thoughts because I'm too tired to put together a coherant paragraph. *I'm very thankful that Curtis Granderson's HR didn't end up being the difference, after I jokingly cheered for him during introductions and kept singing his praises the first few innings.(he's a SoxStalker {my fantasy team} and he writes a great blog on MLB Insider on ESPN.com) *Me and Katie were annoyingly keeping any eye on the empty owner's seats, and eventually they appeared to be filled with a tall blond and a tall dark haired gentleman with slight sideburns. We both immediately got nervous that it was Tom, so I had to go down and investigate. Alas, it was not Tom. I did find it funny thought that in the owners seats John Henry sat in the 2nd row and let his guests sit in the first. It wasn't a completely wasted trip however, because I did have a sweet seat for an inning or so. *And on the way back up I saw Mrs. Papelbon, Mrs. Varite...

Went to the game yesterday. Sometimes I swear you just know something good is going to happen. After standing behind home plate for most of the game, and my 13 year old cousin Ty decided to sneak down to the good seats. We ended up getting to 5 rows back for the whole 9th. It was unbelievable. In an inning where you needed everything to go right, we got everything to go right. I still have no idea why you would take Jeremy Guthrie out in that situation...he had only thrown 91 pitches! (but, thanks anyway Orioles, a good time as always). As for Josh, nothing worse than being at the game when something happens like your starter getting taken out early and having no idea what is going on. *Also, a note to the media that seems to be annoying Mr. Ortiz. I want to make it clear right now, you make David unhappy or put him an a bad light, I will hunt you down, and I will hurt you, then, I will burn your house down. Okay? Just want to make sure we are on the same page here. ::lookin...

Ryan Hollweg does his pregame routine. He's a forward for the NY Rangers. As for the Sox, Joshua is dominating just as I knew he would, and hey, look at that, Wily Mo didn't strike out once. Good win, I'll take it. I wish that our rotation was in a different order for this weekend, but, Tavarez is due for a good start. Right? Due? Overdue even? Even in April, doesn't get much better than that. Matsuzka tonight, Vince Wilfork's Draft Party tomorrow, and then some more Sox Yankees for the rest of the weekend! And it's the weekend!

*I love those NY papers. Hehe. *Bob Ryan has a good one about the freaking amazing 3rd inning . Just for the record naysayers, I did call it. I told Paul that the Sox were going back to back to back to back. (I meant to say that Jason would hit one too and thought that they would hit 3 in a row, but I said it wrong.) But I did call it. So, if anyone wants to hear it directly from Paul, call my cell phone number only change the last number from a 3 to a 5. One more thing on the 4 HR's in a row. It's happened five times in baseball, and once Terry Francona's dad was involved, and TWICE, J.D. Drew was involved. What are the odds of that happening? *I mean, I know it is early and all, but you can't ask for much more than what we got this weekend. Gordon has the game report. *When Papelbon came on in Saturday and Wild Thing started playing...I mean, it was like a dream come true. We all new he needed a song. He is so bad-ass. I mean, the ovation he gets / everyone singi...

A few thoughts from last night and a few links... *The GD shift pisses me off. *Jerry sounds like he has chronic bronchitis. *Curt talking to Dice-K and showing him the knuckleball yesterday was hilarious. Dice-K seems like a great time. *Papelbon coming into save gives me butterflies...and not the nervous kind, but the, "we are about to kick some ass" kind. Also, I love when he throws a close pitch and stares down the umpire with a, "You better hope you never cross my path when I'm duck hunting" look. *How about Dougie? Looks like he has single handedly taken care of the run support issues for Wake. Maybe we should have him catch Dice-K on Sunday. Actually, never mind. The links... *The Celt's lost their last game of the year with a last second shot by Flip Murray. I watched some of this game, actually. I love Big Al. I may even get a Jefferson shirt at some time. But I'm going to wait and hopefully get an Oden or Durant. Gary Tanguay was say...

Dice-K is sadly a memeber of the Tim Wakefield school of run support. Overall he looked good though...Daisuke could have very easily gotten out of the 4th with the questionable call with Veronon Wells safe at first after Mike Lowell's throw, and, if that sharp grounder to Lugo had been hit to Gonzales instead of Lugo it's a double play. (Lugo's been good mostly with the D though). (also, I'm really starting to fall for J.D. - until the first pulled hamstring anyway) It's okay though, I can't think of a better place for Dice-K to get his second win than this Sunday @ Fenway against the MFYankees. *Devern has looked like the real thing so far for the PawSox . * Edes's notebook has Gabe Kapler forgetting to put Lester on the scorecard the other day, and the pitcher had to miss his start. He ended up throwing a simulated game instead. Gabe Kapler, who was willing to go to the low minors to learn how to manage, was caught by one of the game's technicalit...

How do you say, "no run support" in Japanese? . . . Daisuke.

So far so good with Dice-K! I'll be back Tuesday with a monster post and hopefully some fun stories from Texas!

Okay, I lied...no new links this afternoon. I'm doing this thing...called...work. Actually I'm trying to figure out if there is a way for me to change my flight Friday for Thursday and have them drop me off in KC for Dice-K's first start.

One week from right now I will be running through the Newark airport trying to catch my connecting flight to Dallas, TX with the hopes of arriving with time to go to the hotel, check in, change, chug a White Russian (or 8) and be on my way to the Ballpark at Arlington for my first in person Boston Red Sox Experience of the season. One week and one day from now, I hope to be lying by the hotel pool with a giant hangover talking about how great it was hanging out with David Ortiz after the game. Also, I bought two Mega Millions tickets today, so when I win my 80 million dollars tonight, all of my loyal blog readers can come to Texas with me. (I already paid for my room at the Holiday Inn Express and millionaires don't stay there). *From http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/ . "FSN announced today that they has signed Jonathan Papelbon to be Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight's weekly featured baseball interview for the 2007 season. Papelbon follows in the shoes of Kevin Millar (2004 ...

Well, I'm actually going to Texas 8 days from today, rather than yesterday. I got a little excited thinking it was Thursday yesterday. Anyways, here are the links. (ps. this is the 91st post since I started the blog in February. I'm hoping to work it out so that my 100th will be a surely entertaining Texas recap). *The Red Sox organized a lunch yesterday for 10 members of the media and Dice-K and Okajima. Everyone, obviously had a recap. Sean McAdam , Michael Silverman , Tony Mazz , Rob Bradford , Jeff Goldberg , and Dan Shaughnessy , who writes, "Made me wish I knew the Japanese translation of "curly-haired boyfriend." Also made me glad that Curt Schilling isn't yet fluent in Japanese." *Rob Bradford has Mike Lowell answer questions for the blog. Things I didn't know before, his favorite movie is Wedding Crashers and he's a great ping pong ball player. I can't wait to see him next week. *Stan Grossfeld talks superstitions with the ...

*Dice-K gave up 0 hits yesterday but was unhappy with is 5 walks, and was unwilling to speak with the media after the game. I personally, always got mad when I gave up no hits and runs when I pitched. (okay, I never pitched, but you get the point). Shaughnessy says Matsuzaka was seen stretching out during the game and icing after it. (he never ices) Let the massive panic attack begin. Dan does point out, "Only in Boston. Only here could there be a crisis after a guy throws a five-inning no-hitter." *Papelbon looked good yesterday. Craig Hansen did not . *The Ritz-Carlton is making a new Dice-K Tini which has, “includes three parts vodka, one part passion fruit puree and one part sake. It is garnished with a glowing red ice cube made to like dice and pickled ginger.” *Jo-EL Pineiro may be on the market . The mostly likely trade partner is the Reds according to Jeff Horrigan. *Colts President Bill Polian praises the Patriots off season moves . You think Bill? The...

I did not do a running diary of the Orioles and Red Sox yesterday for three reasons. #1. I made a gourmet dinner yesterday during the game. Goat cheese mashed potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise sauce, and breaded chicken. It was quite delicous if I do say so myself. #2. Was anyone elses sound all messed up yesterday? I couldn't hear a thing Jerry and Don were saying, but I could hear some fans like they were sitting next to me. Way to be NESN, please, keep screwing up the 3 Spring Training games that you do show. #3. My cousin Kerry came over to watch the game with me / talk about our Texas Ranger trip (3 weeks!). Anyway, some thoughts from the game: *When they had on Tom Werner and John Henry in the bottom of the 1st, it was painfully uncomfortable to watch JWH on TV. You can tell he hates every minute of it. As the Sox batted Steve Traschel around, JWH called him, "painfully deliberate". I'm pretty sure that is how he feels about all his on camera appearances as w...

Oh, finally Friday. Woohoo! WKatie and I will be going to Game On to watch Dice-K take on the Eagles if anyone is interested in joining us. And yes, I am rocking my Matsuzaka jersey at work today. Happy finally seeing Dice-K pitch day! Chad Finn said it better than I can, "I'm giddy with anticipation for Daisuke Matsuzaka's Red Sox debut tonight, and no, I don't care that it's against freakin' Boston College; he could be facing the Saugus Little Leaguers at this point, and after all these months of devouring the hype, intrigue, and grainy YouTube footage, I'd still be geeked to watch him finally take the mound in a Red Sox jersey." Michael Marot of the AP has a great story on Patrick Willis , a LB out of Ole Miss that is getting a strong look from the Patriots. He seems like our kind of guy. Mike Timlin has nicknamed Papelbon " Starter Boy ". I wonder how he came up with that one. That is pure genius! A-Rod needs to stop using his wor...

Wright Thompson has a great article about Dice-K and adjusting to the Majors.

Dice-K played a little catch with George Kottaras and met with some of the Sox staff. Now, is it just me, or does he look a little chubby?

I love waking up on Sunday mornings, er, afternoons and knowing the Globe is just waiting outside my doorstep. Gordon Edes has a great article at the ridiculous lengths the Sox are going through to make Dice-K feel comfortable. It's a good thing that he is going to get those 10 free flights each year because I'm sure the millions of dollars he's going to be paid won't be able to cover those flights. Edes also has the top 10 storylines of spring training. Happy 90th Birthday Dom Dimaggio ! Mike Reiss has the football notes ...I love him.