Random Thoughts Before the Start of the ALDS

I've been waiting for the game to start today and started to think about the some different random thoughts I had regarding the season, the postseason, and all things MLB.  So, I'm doing what I do best and posting them on the blog.

Photo from The Boston Herald

• Jon Lester has been pretty incredible of late, and we fans hope he can continue his dominance today.  But, I think another important thing to point out is the Rays will be having Matt Moore start for them today.  Moore may be 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA this season, but he was on the disabled list all of August.  Since coming back on September 3rd, he has yet to go more than 6.1 innings.  If the red Sox can chase Moore out of the game early, they'll have a good chance against the Rays bullpen.

• It's pretty fair to point out that if the Rays are able to get Lester out of the game early, they could also have an advantage against the Red Sox bullpen.  Aside from Uehara and Breslow, the bullpen has a lot of question marks.  Doubront made the roster, and Thornton did not.  The fact that we need to bring up the fact that Doubront made the roster over Thornton tells you something about the bullpen.

• The tarp is currently down at Fenway Park because of showers and batting practice for both the Red Sox and Rays has been cancelled.  I live in Connecticut, and I can't remember the last time it rained.  Sort of ironic that it should rain the first day of the ALDS.  Hopefully, the showers clear away before the game.

• Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reported that John Farrell arrived at Fenway Park at 7:45 this morning, and Salty was there too.  Does that mean Pedroia wasn't the first player at the park?

• NESN reported that Dustin Pedroia called the Red Sox "2013 World Series Champs" as early as the Marathon Bombings.  I know it would mean a lot to Boston if the Red Sox were able to win the World Series.  A lot of emotions there.

• Reds Manager Dusty Baker was fired this morning.  Now, I'm not a big Dusty Baker fan or even a Reds fan (though, I've remained an Arroyo fan over the years), and I don't know the circumstances.  However, I would think if your manager could get your team to the playoffs, even the Wild Card playoff game, they deserve to keep their job.  Same can be said with the speculation that Ron Washington would be fired (which they have now said he won't be).  Don't get it.

• Alex Rodriguez has filed a lawsuit against MLB and Bud Selig are trying to "smear his character and cost him his livelihood." If you recall, Rodriguez is currently appealing his 211-game ban because of his involvement with Biogenesis.  Personally, I would think that someone in Rodriguez's many, many attorneys would advise Rodriguez that he's making matters worse.  Adding fuel to the fire.  Of course, A-Rod's attorneys want to get paid, and A-Rod wants to stay in the public eye.  The fact that A-Rod feels the need to file his lawsuit on such an important day for the postseason (four games today) shows his need to stay in the spotlight.  Really showing his "character" and "livelihood."

That's all I have for today.  I would love a Red Sox sweep of the Rays!  Again, I'll be going to the game tomorrow, and I'll be sure to share pictures from the game on Monday.  Here's one last photo I found to put you all in the mood for the playoffs:

Photo from www.timesunion.com

Twitter Friday

It's another Twitter Friday!  Red Sox take on the Dodgers this weekend, a year after making the blockbuster deal that sent Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, and Nick Punto to the Dodgers.  Let's hope for a series win- a sweep would be best!

Here are this week's tweets:

8/16

 

8/17

8/18

8/19

8/20

8/21

8/22

And the Tweet of the Week:

Dempster Beans A-Rod, But Red Sox Still Lose

This weekend's games were frustrating to watch.  Friday night's game kept getting worse for the Red Sox the longer the game went on.  The Red Sox ended up losing 10-3.  Saturday night's game was better for the Red Sox, as they won 6-1.  Last night's game went back and forth until the 6th inning when the Yankees scored 4 runs, and the Red Sox lost 9-6.

Now that the scores are out of the way, let's talk about the real story from last night's game: Dempster beaning A-Rod.  Alex Rodriguez was the first batter for the Yankees in the top of the 2nd inning  Dempster went behind him with the first pitch.  A few pitches later, Dempster succeeded in hitting Rodriguez, and the crowd went wild.  

Warnings were issued to each teams, which sent Yankees Manager Joe Girardi went ballistic and was ejected from the game.  ESPN broadcasted the game, and the commentators seemed to side with Girardi.  They seemed to think Dempster hit Rodriguez on purpose, and there are definitely reasons to say that's true (Dempster supposedly claims he was just trying to come in on Rodriguez).  

Whatever the case, Dempster seemed to lose his mojo after the incident.

Do I think Dempster hit Rodriguez on purpose?  Honestly, I do.  I understand why he's denying it, but someone had to be the first pitcher to bean Rodriguez after the circus A-Rod has created the past couple of weeks.  Chances were that the Red Sox were going to be that team to do it.

I don't think this will be the last time Alex Rodriguez is beaned... probably this week.  In my opinion, Rodriguez has dug his own grave.  Fans are angry at him.  The Yankees are angry with him.  Other players are angry at him.  I'm starting to wonder if the only people who isn't angry at him are his lawyers.

This weekend, there were reports that someone(s) from Rodriguez's camp was/were the one(s) who leaked the information about Braun and Cervelli.  The MLBPA is looking into this allegation, as this would violate the collective bargaining agreement.  

Baseball players are supposed to have their teammates backs, but I'm starting to actually feel bad for the Yankees players, as they have to have A-Rod's back.  The guy only seems to think about himself, and it has to be hard to rally around a teammate like that.

I watched one of Alex Rodriguez's attorneys on the Today Show this morning being interviewed by Matt Lauer.  Lauer asked the attorney why Rodriguez was the only player to not take the deal MLB presented when the Biogenesis fiasco started.  The attorney answered that there wasn't any proof that Alex Rodriguez did anything wrong.  

I'm tired of the whole Alex Rodriguez drama.  Luckily, the Red Sox's deal with the Rangers for A-Rod never went through after the 2003 season.  The Red Sox still will have to deal with the A-Rod drama this season, as the Red Sox play the Yankees 7 more times in the remaining 36 games.

Twitter Friday

Hello!  I have to start today's Twitter Friday post by saying this blog now has its own Twitter page; you can follow it @BornIntoItInIA.  I started to Tweet from it yesterday and was pleasantly surprised when Jerry Remy started to follow it.

Also, what a win by the Red Sox last night!  Coming from behind to score 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning and winning 8-7! 

Just a reminder, I will not have any new posts next week as I will be out of town on vacation.  When I return, I plan on doing a post about the whole A-Rod, PED, suspensions issue, so look for that probably Monday, August 12th.

Now, without further delay, enjoy Twitter Friday!

7/26

7/27

7/28

7/29

 

7/30

7/31

8/1

 

8/2

And this week's Tweet of the Week: