An Open Letter to JD Drew

Dear David Jonathan (JD) Drew II:

We the fans of the Boston Red Sox, also known as Red Sox Nation, are extremely passionate about our beloved team. We love the Red Sox, our mothers, our spouses, the Red Sox, our children, our pets, and the Red Sox. Essentially in that order.

We are a forgiving sort. Ask the once maligned Bill Buckner.

That said, you, sir, are pressing your luck.

You have no heart. You play without any passion. And you have the guile to wear the number of a recently departed dirt dog, a true Red Sox, Trot Nixon.

If you were actually skilled at the sport of baseball, you could be a deadly, silent assassin. Instead you are a deadly, silent saboteur. You kill the team from within.

Tonight you played in a game against the rival New York Yankees. You probably were aware of the history of the Yankee franchise before receiving this letter. We do not need to make you aware of the intensity of the rivalry or the arrogance of the New York fans.

In the 8th inning of the game tonight you were facing a rookie pitcher still wet behind the ears. You were batting with two men on base with the Red Sox behind by two runs. You had an opportunity to earn your rather sizable paycheck.

Instead you phoned it in.

You watched five pitches to draw a full count, 3-2. Then you decided to take a meager, half-hearted check swing at a pitch in the dirt.

For shame, Mr. Drew, for shame!

Any member of Red Sox Nation could have performed at least as ably in that situation. A ninety-year old grandmother with a stroller and cataracts, recently declared legally blind, could have done the same thing at the plate.

Only she would have been pissed off about striking out.

You, sir, simply turned and walked back to the dugout. You showed no disgust, no anger, no fire or passion.

That behavior will NOT BE TOLERATED. You better get your head together and find a reason to play baseball with passion. We may be a forgiving lot, but you are sinning in the worst way.

If you are not up to the task at hand, may we suggest that you simply donate your entire salary to a charity such as the Jimmy Fund?

You can expected to be booed unmercifully for the rest of your days in Boston if you don't improve your performance. Consider yourself warned.

With best regards,
Red Sox Nation

Comeback Kid(s)

Wow. What a change of emotions for me tonight.

I worked late and got home around 8:30 PM. I left work with sinus pressure and a slight headache. I was hoping it would improve on the drive home. Unfortunately, I was nearing a migraine by the time I got home. I took some medication and my sinus spray. I was feeling down about getting a headache and the Sox approaching a tough 1-0 loss to the Devil Rays.

I took more medication a little later and started to feel just a little better. I decided to walk to Dunkin' Donuts and get a small ice coffee. When I got home the Sox had escaped a bases-loaded jam thanks to Mike Timlin. Eric "gag me with a spoon" Gagne had just entered the game. Surprisingly, Sir Chokes-a-Lot only allowed one hit and struck out the side.

My head was starting to clear and the ice coffee was helping. Ever an optimist, I liked the Sox chances in the bottom of the 9th.

After Mike Lowell tied the game on a solo homerun I was feeling really optimistic. (He should have won the game on a two-run homer, but that's a different story.)

I decided that Jason Varitek needed some inspirational music. I started up "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" on the laptop. It worked. Tek lined a ground rule double to right field. Now I decided on "Heat of the Moment" for Coco Crisp. It also worked. Sox win 2-1. My head feels fine.

I was elated. My head didn't hurt. The Sox came from behind to win 2-1. My inspirational music selections were 2-for-2. Oh, yeah, the Yankees are getting destroyed 12-0 at home.

It was a great feeling to see the comeback kids pull one out this year. The team hasn't had the same magic so far this year that they've possessed the last three years. I hope they are able to hold onto it.

Speaking of comeback kids, Jon Lester pitched a great game tonight. It's a great feeling seeing him pitch this year after beating cancer. Tonight was his best start of the season. I hope that it portends a strong finish for him. He's a strong person and continues to become a stronger pitcher.

756* - Ignorance is Bliss

The inevitable finally happened last night. 

Barry Bonds, he of the ever growing brow and jaw line and the ever shrinking testes, hit the 756^th homerun of his tainted career.

I avoided all replays of number 755 and I intend to avoid all replays of 756.  I haven’t read any of the expanded coverage and I won’t be reading it any time soon. 

I’m going to ignore Barry Bonds.

Bud Selig ignored the steroid era of baseball for far too long.  He’s the reason that Bonds was able to break what is typically considered the most hallowed record in all of sports.  I’m now going to take the same approach as Selig and ignore the problem.

I know that ignoring everything Barry Bonds related won’t change history, but I certainly don’t have to acknowledge his fraudulent accomplishments nor do I have to give them any more of my time than it takes to write this entry.

I can’t stand many things about Barry Bonds, his lies, his cheating, his self-righteous smug arrogance.  I also don’t like much about Alex Rodriguez.  Rodriguez lacks instincts.  He comes across as a cheap shot artist and someone who tries too hard to be liked.  He’s a Yankee, for crying out loud!

At least Alex Rodriguez is someone who can be celebrated when he surpasses Bonds.