EITHER/OR

5 REASONS TO BE CONCERNED RIGHT NOW

• Papi is looking terrible at the plate and is in the middle of a 2 for 15 slump. he basically has not hit for any from of power since he homered vs. the Yankees two weeks ago. It shits me to say this but he looks disinterested and then there is the infamous "wrist pop" from a few days ago.
• Next and even better is the man batting after Papi who should be batting 7th. Mike Lowell (0 for his last 15) is either, hurt or regressing two years before we thought he would - how great is that? I know he's giving 100% out there as everyone is, but his 3-1 swing in the 8th today was a killer blow for the team. That was ball 4 and Bay was on deck (why is he not batting 4th?)
• Where is Lugo going to go when he comes back? Lowrie is a much better player as we can all see, but I have a really bad feeling that he's gonna pushed aside for a guy who at this stage only has 4 more extra base hits on the season.
• Clay is looking bad but I'm not that worried for some reason. I just need to make up my 5 reasons.
  
• Luck and road record - it's getting worse and worse for both. This team has the highest run differential in baseball and is fighting for the frigging wild card right now - are 162 games enough for this to even out??
  

NOW FOR SEATTLE - THIS WILL BE FUN

What a crazy and in the end crappy weekend

• Sox were swept vs. Anaheim in a series were just nothing went right it seemed.
  
• Souths finally lost a game to the West Tigers who outplayed them in a furious second half were they took no prisoners.
  
• I saw the "Dark Knight" - talk about depressing. Not Machinist or Requiem depressing but downbeat and fantastic for a big budget blockbuster from the ever reliable Chris Nolan
  
• Greg Norman took us up there for a minute before ultimately failing once again. A fantastic effort for a 93 year old at a tough British Open course but ultimately most Aussies were short changed again.
  

THE ANGEL WAY!

It's hard to like baseball when you watch your team lose a game like today vs. the Angels.

Maybe if the Red Sox didn't draw so many stupid damn walks then we would win Angel style, right??The Sox drew seven walks and the Angels...one

Clutch hitting and a little small ball Angel baseball is the way of the future even those two germs in FOX booth today agree (Brenneman and Karros), and it was evident to see as the Sox left 12 runners on base today and the Angels 4 who were getting shut down by Beckett who lost a game he should have won (opposite of his last start)

Papi has so far hit two home runs in his rehab assignment so it is a good idea to leave down there as we blow more and more winnable games on the road especially as we face the might of Seattle next week - can't wait.

Quote of the Week - "From the time this guy has stepped foot in the majors, he has known how to win" Joe Buck talking about Captain Clutch - the great Derek Jeter as he strode to the plate in the All Star Game on Tuesday. Your a fucking loser Buck and the laughing stock of any baseball fan who has half a clue on the game. Yankees have not won shit since 2000, in case anyone forgets.

Off to watch my man Chris Nolan's latest film to make the day a little darker

GOD HELP ME

It's hard blogging about the Red Sox now because I have been such a negative creep. I don't know why I get like this it just seems like everything is bad when the chips are down at various stages even though I have various friends trying to keep me calm and they won the whole fucking thing last year.

Some times I need to take a deep breath and relax and thank god there is only 3 games till the All Star Break. I love the game so much and look forward to watching each and every game as I learn more each day but I can't stop throwing things it seems.

Knowing me I would have had the shits that the ball on the photo to your left actually didn't bounce over the fence and complained if the Sox lost that game by a run.

PS - Since I stopped blogging about Souths , they have started winning

NEW MOTTO FOR THE SEASON

When in doubt blame Varitek and Lugo.

Getting sick of these one run losses from hell, thank god the Red Sox won it all last year otherwise I might have thrown Victoria out of the window after the failure to score any runs with the bases loaded in the 9th today. It's hard not to be upset today as the Sox (as they just about every single time they play) had a chance to snap victory today from the jaws of defeat.

Why can't this team lose via blowouts - they are more fun and make the quota of 60 losses that you know you are going to have - that much easier to handle. The All Star break can't come soon enough...

IF THEY THREW STRIKES THEY'D BE DANGEROUS

To see my reaction to todays fiasco - go here

Mark this as the day I lost the plot again...

These are the days where you are too scared to click on mlb.om or primer as baseball is the last thing on your mind.

Motto for 2008 : When in doubt blame Lugo

HOW MUCH LONGER ON 50 WINS...?

As the rest of the nation (well the right hand side ) gets ready for the State of Origin, I am sitting here pondering the Red Sox...

Am I worried? Not really - we had tough losses like this last year and Tampa are playing good baseball at the moment. Remember when Curt Schilling once said that Tampa are a "100 win team when Scott Kazmir is on the mound..."

Maybe he was right...

NOT GOOD

Terrible game to lose as we approach what could be one of the more important weeks for the Sox this year with the road trip continuing to Tampa Bay and New York.

MDC was terrible today and why was Aardsma stretched to an extra innings work? Who the fuck scores 10 runs and loses to one of the worst teams in baseball - Who the fuck walks Michael Bourne - one of the worst players in baseball?

Not happy

I'VE BEEN LAZY & THE SOX HAVE JUMPED TO 44 - 28

The Baltimore and Cincinnati three games sets both yielded similar results with the Sox losing next two. The opening loss to Baltimore was quite painful as Hideki Okijima gave up 4 runs to the Orioles in the 8th inning. It looked like a bad dream and I felt like I was having flashbacks to 2005/06 when our bullpen was disastrous then as well..

Similar story in the bandbox at Cincinnati as they dropped a lazy opening game but went on to win the next two games without Manny - go figure. Then again we have an extra power bat in the line up now with JD Drew posting a very exciting OPS over 1 for the first time as a Red Sox player!!

Two Reasons why I have been lazy...

1 - A hugely busy week at work
2 - The US Open

I'd have to say this is the best US Open since Pinehurst in 1999 when Tiger and Phil Mickelson chased Payne Stewart to no avail - and it has not even finished yet!!!I think it is because even though the best score posted was only one under - you just knew there was birdies around the corner if the right shot was played...Not like the bores of Oakmont and Shinnecock Hills we have had to put up with...

FIRST TEAM TO 40 WINS

The score was simple - JD Drew 2 - Seattle 1

That home run swing today was a thing of beauty during a classic pitchers duel between Eric Bedrard and the under hyped Justin Masterson. I normally don't see day games but a call from the security company at 2.30 meant no sleep, so I waited for the game to start an hour later and have not slept since with Eli waking up around the 7th inning anyway.

Not much more to say as I said all I need to about Drew yesterday and he was a major reason we won today including a fantastic catch in the outfield today to starve Seattle of early runs.

JD DREW (39 - 26)

Following JD Drew is parallel to the trials and tribulations many fans go through following baseball . Baseball (like Drew) can drive you crazy one day - yet you keep coming back for more - knowing the game will give you something to seemingly remember each day - or drive you crazy.

Sort of like Drew who can go into massive funks where you think he might never bat over .220 again and all those freaking slow dribbler outs to second base that start driving you nuts. A month later he is batting .330 again and effortlessly hitting grand slams over the Green Monster or hitting knucke balls to straight away centre.

He is am amazingly talented ball player who makes the game look easy. Perhaps too easy? Sometimes it looks like he is not enjoying himself on the field (look closer he is - especially in the dugout) or playing hard like a true dirt dog (I hate that term and feel no need to defend that crap). I guess the thing is that the Red Sox have a guy on the field being paid $14 million per year too much in some fans opinion that could be put to better use.

We don't know exactly how sick his little child Jack was last year and nor should we, yet when his performance was beyond bad it seemed the Red Sox had no choice but to mention it. Some fans just knew he had to rebound to his career normal numbers around .286 .391 . 501 sooner or later...

Then in September and October last year he hit .342 .454 .618 as as the Sox marched onwards and upwards to a another World Series including a grand slam in Game 6 vs. the Indians that I still dream about. This year after a huge 3 for 5 today vs. Seattle (including two scorching line drives for outs) he is so far batting .318 .417. 509. That leaves him in the Top Ten for OPS in the American league and maybe even good enough to earn his hefty wage and even finally having the Fenway faithful cheer his name DREWWWWW before each at bat now.

His defence this year has been excellent including a couple of great catches in the Tampa Bay series that saved what seemed off the bat to be certain extra base hits. Don't forget he is a certified criminal for sitting out a game or two because of vertigo (think of Hitchcock not U2) especially as though most people criticising him have probably had it as well...

It's OK, I'm not a genius as I didn't think he would hit that Grand Slam off Fausto Carmona either (for starters I was hungover after two nights of celebrating the birth of the twins) and he will probably go into another pull happy slump this season again soon, but screw it, I still think Theo made the right move grabbing him (Lugo is another story).

So far with Ortiz out indefinitely he is stepping up to the plate right when the Sox need him and with Manny is carrying the team on his shoulders as the rest of the team find their rhythm in the meantime...

TRIFECTA! (38-25)

Red Sox - Celtics and Souths all win in one day!!

Red Sox

I woke to scenes of an all in brawl with Covelli right in the middle of it. I was more concerned and relieved that the Sox had found a way to get rid of James Sheilds personally as they cruised to a 7-1 victory on the back of Manny's 503 home run and the continued on base exploits of one - JD Drew.

Celtics

I fell asleep at the 7th inning of the Sox game and didn't wake up until after the Celtics had wrapped up what looked like an awesome game 1 on the back of some heroics from Paul Pierce - I must have been sick becasue I could not lift my head from the pillow to watch this one.

Souths

Easily the biggest surprise of the trifecta as Souths pulled off an unlikely win against a Warriors team that is not very good at league but great for players frequent flyer accounts. Hopefully more teams will realise this and play them for the softies they are up the middle who are terrible with the ball on hand. They scored all of their tries of kicks.

LIFE WITHOUT PAPI (35 - 25)

In a season where the Red Sox have struggled to gain any real consistency (except at home) they were dealt another blow today when news of Big Papi's injury was revealed to be worse than initially thought.

While the Boston Herald think it might be a month, new reports have surfaced that it could be a few weeks. Rather than dwell on the negatives (and its better than talking about today's crappy loss) I think I might talk about the reasons why this is not the worst think in the world for the team and why we might not be in too much trouble

1 - The team did just fine when he was in the worst slump of his career. His inability to drive home Pedroia and Ellsbury who were hot at the time, was frustrating to say the least. Manny was picking up all the slack behind him as well.

2 - Papi got hot in May when Manny went into a slump that resulted in him hacking at bad 3-1 pitches in his quest for 500. The two have not been hot together this season except for maybe a game or two. Seems like a dumb point so don't shoot me - it makes sense if I can explain it in a 5 minute conversation.

3 - Manny gets to DH for a while, rest his legs and watch the "big 3" of Drew - Coco - Ellsbury run down fly balls all day and form one of the top outfield defences in baseball this season. Maybe only the Mets with Church - Beltran and Chavez is better...

4 - A chance maybe to bring up Moss who is in piping hot at form in AAA since he had his appendix removed & or look at the hard hitting - no field Chris Carter who might add some much needed pop to the line up in Papi's absence.

5 - A chance for Ortiz to rest his knee and re boot his system now for a big final three months. This year the Sox won't have the big 10 or so game lead going into the second half of the season and they'll Papi fresh for some big pennant race games and hopefully the post season...

6 - We have some games coming up that will be in National League ballparks and prevent the use of the DH. Papi not fielding at first won't kill us in the games. 9 games in total including 3 in Houston, Cinci and Philly each...

However my inner pessimist can't resist and I think Youkilis is the key and has lost his power stroke again with this hand injury he picked up - we need him to come up big and show some pop in his bat like he always seems to in April/May.

JD Drew needs to step up a little further and slugg a little higher. His numbers are better now , than this time last year , but they could be better. Coco needs to get on base again - it's below .300 again I think he is useless unless he gets on base at least a third of the time he comes to the plate. Lugo for the sake of mention is still frigging useless...

Baltimore are not a very good team but I won't complain about today's loss because we were lucky to win the Friday extra innings game. Manny has hit 3 home runs in 3 games and is the only person to hit home runs in the next two games after reaching the milestone of 500. Don't let Okijima's ERA fool you - he has regressed from last year but is still a great set up man at this stage. MDC and Hansen showed some great form in the series even Aardsma - lets hope they keep it up.

This was written while watching Dogma - I found it hard to concentrate at times as I forgot how funny this piss take of a movie was, especially this quote from Bartleby which sums up my baseball obsession maybe : You can't be anal retentive if you don't have an anus.

THE LESS LEAGUE I WATCH THE BETTER OFF I'LL BE...

From the Herald...

AFTER putting his hand down almost a minute early yesterday, timekeeper John Hayes was quick to raise it afterwards, admitting he had erred in winding up the first half, a mistake South Sydney coach Jason Taylor described as "astronomical".

Experienced timekeeper Hayes was yesterday said to be "extremely embarrassed" after pushing the button with still 55 seconds remaining, sounding the siren to end the first half in a controversial moment NRL officials described as "unfortunate and regrettable".

At the time, the Rabbitohs were down 12-6 but were deep in attack after receiving a penalty close to the St George Illawarra line. The siren was sounded before the completion of the first tackle, forcing the Rabbitohs into a speculative kick which was cleaned up by Dragons winger Jason Nightingale.

"Astronomical error," Taylor said afterwards. "We had time to play an entire set of six, and for the hooter to go and us to have to kick the ball, it changes the whole game. It was embarrassing, I thought."

The NRL's chief operating officer, Graham Annesley, said Hayes - a timekeeper in grand finals and State of Origins - had acknowledged he had erred.

"I haven't spoken to the timekeeper but I have spoken to one of my staff who has," Annesley said. "He's put his hand up. He's made a mistake, and it's the first mistake that's been made since the NRL took over the timekeeping three or four years ago.

"We took it over because of a Wests Tigers game when the two timekeepers [one from each club] didn't know the extra time rule, and this is the first incident since then. He admits he made a mistake, it's human error. It's just one of those things that's unacceptable."

But Annesley said Souths had no grounds for appeal.

Obviously we have no grounds for appeal, I get the point but this is becoming a joke. All I know is there is no need for me to watch a game much longer when fundamental errors keep getting made and I'm not just talking about Souths (the send off for Luke O'Donnell was a joke - it should have only gone on report).

This game is run by idiots and I can't handle mistakes being made much longer. I wish sometimes that Souths were never allowed back into this stupid competition in the first place. That period of not watching league was very rewarding for me the more i think about it.

There are some mistakes that are unforgivable and this is one - that idiot will be ringing the siren at the toilet known as ANZ stadium next week for sure.

I'm not saying we would have scored because being the exceptionally retarded team that we have in 2008 we would not have, but I cant handle simple errors being made.

J Spaceman said it best in 2001...

Out of sight is always out of mind
I think out of mind is out of sight
I was just looking for some peace of mind
I just couldn't find a peace of mine

They say that pride comes just before a fall
I have fallen and I wasn't sure
You know that I have fallen further before
I just cannot stand falling no more


If I am good I could add years to my life
I would rather add some life to my years
Life is really what you make it they say
I can't even make my mind up today

The world keeps turning it keeps me in my place
Where I stand is only three miles from space
Standing space is all the space I can stand
Gravity just keeps on keeping me down

500!!

Undoubtedly, Manny is my favourite Red Sox player this decade, probably ever. Lu and I were going to name our boy after the great man, but we decided to have two girls instead. For a while there Victoria was known as Manny, the only reason being that we were still on a high after his heroics in the 2007 playoffs. To commemorate his run to the magical mark of 500 home runs I have decide to list my top 5 favourite Manny Ramirez home runs. Todays shot was smashed to right field by Manny - what better way to hit 500!!!

5 - Game 3 World Series vs. Jeff Suppan - Smashed - any worry that Red Sox fans had over this old friend beating us were quickly laid to rest by Manny in the first inning with this no doubt shot.
4 - Game 5 ALDS Game 5 vs. Barry Zito - The Sox had been made to look foolish against Zito all series until Manny unleashed on Barry Zito to give the Red Sox some breathing space. It is better well known becasue he admired the shot and pointed to the Red Sox dugout afterwards. Some people considered this a massuve sin - what a bunch of wankers.
3 - April 25 , 2004 - This was at Yankee Statium on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. The Red Sox had already had a big 12 inning victory the day before and we were locked into a classic pitchers duel between Javier Vasquez and Pedro Martinez. The only difference in the game was a Manny home run that was smashed into deep right of a hanging curve ball. The best part of the day was the fans booing Derek Jeter however.
2 - April 16, 2004 - The first one I ever saw him hit live. It was at Fenway and the place was pumping as it was the first Yankee game of the year and the first appearence of A Rod in a Yankee uniform. It was an opposite field shot (always my favourite) that got the crowd pumping as the Sox strolled to a comfortable win.
1 - Game 2 ALDS, 2007 - Bototm of the ninth and they walked big Papi to get to Manny. A few seconds later the ball was sailing over the Gren Monster and you knew then and there that the series was over. Manny was the best hitter in the playoffs last year and it basically started with that hit.

HERE COMES SICKNESS! (33-24)

A fairly routine day at the office or did I secretly have the brown undies on???

The Red Sox it seemed could not do anything right in Baltimore while up north in Detroit the Celtics at around the same time where playing the best fourth quarter of their post season and on the way to a meeting with their famed rivals, the LA Lakers. It seemed defeat was always just around the corner for the Sox as they struggled to break a 2-2 all dead lock with a string of terrible at bats from around the 7th inning until the 13th when Manny was able to reach on a throwing error by Melvin Mora. The Red Sox finally had a little bit of luck in grabbing an away win that they so desperately needed. Now sitting at 2-5 on the road trip with 3 games to play I am hoping for at least another two wins before they head home to what will be a rampant Boston next week with the NBA finals next week beginning Friday morning (our time).

Some lingering questions to ponder on the greatest game ever invented (with Mudhoney thumping in the background)

• Is Chase Utley good or is that porch a little too close on right field for comfort? Seems every time he hits a home run it is a three quarter swing over the right field porch. I remember Manny blooped one over that porch in 2005.
  

• Joba's first start is Tuesday night. So will that make it a public holiday in New York? Are they filming his pre game routine and trips to the toilet as well?
• Are we witnessing Pedroia's one really bad month he might have once a year? He is having some terrible at bats lately.
  
• It was funny listening to the White Sox crew today basically saying the central is theirs as they still have areas of improvement. I'm counting out Detroit until they can keep their team ERA under 8 but Cleveland have a lot more areas they can improve on. Hafner is struggling beyond belief though. It seems a long way from over in the central. Chicago are good but I am not sold on their offence. Which means they will beat the living crap out of us when we face them
  
• Hands up if you thought the 3 game set between Tampa Bay and the Red Sox this week would be for top spot in the east???
• How about the Cubs comeback? Down 8-0, then 9-1 to win 10-9! Rockies are down - there will be no 2007 miracles for them this year. Everyone is on to them...
  

Now for other sports...

• Waratahs were gone after they failed to score against 14 men. I love how we didn't see a replay of why Thorn was sin binned either. I watched most of the game (except for when the first 20 minutes ofsportscenter was on) and was a tad impressed. I don't mind the new rules but still got bored easily with the game in areas. Crusaders bombed two tries cause they hate passing.
  
• Ricky Ponting scored 10,000 runs today and apparently 12 people saw it.
  
• Souths might win tomorrow vs. the Dragons now that Gasnier is out but it is highly unlikely.
  
• The next dumbest team to Souths and Auckland this year is Parramatta. Inu is a freak though and Hayne is not a centre - if he is there in Origin 2 the Blues will get smashed. I love how after one bad game they are calling for Slaters head. People have no idea in this country sometimes. Hodges won't be playing for starters.
• Can't wait for Celtics later. Subdued celebrations from the Celtics and an affection for the fine rivalry that exists between these two teams - this will be huge.
  

THEY'RE WINNING...(32-24)

I've been playing heaps of the Walkmen lately and especially the debut album 'Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone' which gets dusted off every 3-6 months and full on heavy rotation at Phil Coorey FM . Heres the opening lyrics to the album and track...

They're winning
I know it's not fair, but what is?
I'm giving up hope.
I've stood in line so many times.
How could I do it all again?
They're starting
To run out of steam,
Fall to their knees.

Make of it what you will... I am using it as an emphasis on just how hard it is too follow a baseball team for 162 games knowing they will lose at least 60 games, if they are brilliant. The losses keep coming but you have to take it in your stride - there is nothing else that comes close to following baseball - nothing. Or using it to describe the Celtics as well...

Check when we lose, I just can't bring myself to write anything as they plays are rewound in my head over and over again. Check the wins - I can't shut the fuck up. Don't ask me how I can still bring myself to even speak about Souths...

Celtics

Game 5 was easily the most exciting moment of the post season for the Celtics. After a comfortable 3 quarter lead it all went pear shaped fast. (the home fans who must have been glad they packed the brown undies before they arrived at the stadium)

Check out the text message updates I sent to a friend to get a feel for the tension which was think in the bottle shop today...

1 - Up 84-71 at the end of the third quarter
2 - Up by 8 Six to go...
3 - Only up by 6. Playing bad, 5 to go
4 - Up by 6 , 4 to go
5 - Time out. They should be right, bedard is cruising as well
6 - Up by 8 with 3 minutes to go
7 - Rondo not playing well, still up by 8, 3 to go
8 - Up by 5
9 - up by 3 with 1.56 to go
10 - Jesus. Up by 1. This is fucked. Sox don't look like scoring a run either , bottom 6
11 - 1 minute to go. Up by one still. Timeout
12 - Huge shot!!! up by 3, 47 seconds
13 - Up by 3 , 8 seconds to go
12 - Up by one. 8 seconds to go. Our ball. Jesus
13 - Fouled him, up by 3 with 4 to go
14 - Not over yet
15 -kg with two free throws to close them out
16 - winners!!!
17 - That is the most intense and nerve racking 2 minutes of basketball for me ever. phew. Sox still down by one still, fucking bedard.

So this week so far I have followed 3 games of close baseball vs. the Mariners and a couple of massive playoff basketball games against the Pistons. Is it any wonder I am not stressed about the fate of Souths? Some days I wonder if Aussie sport will serve me any purpose in life what so ever again soon.

SHIT FROM AN OLD NOTEBOOK (32-23)

What am asshole of a loss today as it seemed the Red Sox seriously went out of their way to lose this one to one of the worst pitchers in baseball. Rather and whine about every little fucking thing that went wrong, I'm gonna pull out the handbrake and relax. It's better to channel this aggression towards work and do something productive like put the prices up...

More in game rants are whats required - after a loss like this I have no energy and don't want to say anything bad about the team except Lugo who I swear goes out of his way to ensure that the Sox won't make the playoffs each game he puts on the spikes...

Lyrics for Shit From An Old Notebook (Just another in the long line of classic Minutemen songs)

let the products sell themselves
fuck advertising and commercial psychology
psychological methods to sell should be destroyed
because of their own blind involvement
in their own conditioned minds
the unit bonded together
morals
ideals
awareness
progress
let yourself be heard

BACK IN THE WINNERS CIRCLE (32-22)

Nice win with its fair share of drama including probably the best catch we might see all year from Ichiro , another defensive gem from Pedroia at second that saved a certain run early in the game and an absolute joke of a double play by Adrian Beltre at third in the 9th as well - just a crazy but great game. After hacking their way at King Felix all night the Sox were able to break away in the 8th inning. Funny because while I prayed it would happen here in chatter, I didn't think it would except of course for the bloop parts as well..

Then hopefully we can bloop a few hits for runs in the 8th like the Yankees did yesterday...

On the back of a Pedroia ground rule double and opposite field Manny rocket after they intentionally walked Big Papi (that was probably the best move McLaren made and it was pretty bad...)

Funny little team the 2008 Red Sox are...

- The offence is not firing all on cylinders yet is doing just enough to get by...
- The bullpen is not in good shape with even Okijima and Paplebon showing signs of worry as they both struggled today, especially Paplebon who gave up 2 runs after a pretty bad fielding error on his behalf. (Miguel Cairo does annoy the piss out of me though) Having to trot paps out there with a 4 run lead is a worry though he hadn't pitched since the Kansas 11-8 win...
- Youkillis injured right at the end of May - uh oh
- Manny not looking to hit 499 yet - just putting up good at bats again...
- Drew reaching base consistently & playing stellar defense in right with a good running catch and a play where he was able to hold a runner at third by not letting the ball get by.

Tough to watch today with 4 million reps visiting and the Celtics game on as well...

WHAT ARE WE? THE CELTICS?? (31-22)

Amazing team at Fenway while a shocker on the road so far this season...

This is becoming hilarious as the Sox continue to play like bad boys on the road. What's annoying is they head to Seattle tomorrow where they have struggled mightily in recent years. Seattle have provided stiff opposition to the Yankees this year and I am expecting the same fearsome no holds barred baseball from probably the only team that was considered a chance to make the playoffs earlier this year, that I can confidently say, will not be around in October.

This team still has 6 games left on this road trip and I am praying for at least 4 wins against the might of Seattle and Baltimore, is this asking too much??

The match ups are not that good either with Colon up against Hernadez, and Wakefield up against Bedard in two of the starts. I consider this Wakefield's last chance to shore up his spot in the rotation with Clay set to return soon...

Guess we'll have to wait and see...

I'VE LOST COUNT WHAT GAME THIS WAS, BUT IT WAS MELBOURNE AND SOUTHS LOST...

If they tackled like this in a few other games we would be talking about the Warriors possibly winning the Wooden Spoon and not Souths. But they can't score tries (never could) and just don't have that edge to get over the line. The Penrith & Cronulla fiasco's will attest to that.

They still give away stupid penalty's still and drop the ball after kick offs - oh wait - that was the same player...

Everyone talks about how bad their options are on the fifth tackle and they are right. Maybe someone should let them know that they are putting themselves in awful positions on the fourth tackle - in some cases comically bad. It seems they have no plan on what they are doing...

All part of the learning experience for Taylor - maybe they should bring in someone to help him...

THE OBLITERATI (31-21)

Feeling like I have been run over by a truck 3 times. Going to try a running commentary as I play a little Mission of Burma in the background.

Top 1st - 2 fly ball outs with pretty good at bats by Ellsbury and Pedroia for no results. We are being no hit again.

Bottom First - First Jacoby runs a long way just to miss taking an amazing catch, then in the next play makes an absolutely spectacular catch diving full stretch to his right. After a piss weak single to Bing Crosby Beckett settles down and gets the next two outs including a K Looking to the Big Hurt.

Top 2 - Three fly ball outs before you could say 1001 Pleasant Dreams....

Ooooo... I stood on the bridge but I could not see
Stood on the bridge but could not see (A 1001, a 1001 pleasant dreams)
It could've been a bad telemarketing joke A bad telemarketer's joke (A 1001, a 1001 pleasant dreams)
The coffee shop was there but it had bad electronics Really really bad electro (A 1001, a 1001 pleasant dreams)

Bottom 2 - Mike Sweeney reaches out closes his eyes on a breaking ball out side the strike zone and the next thing you know...he has a stand up double. Stupid game sometimes...His namesake Ryan then hands the Sox a free out with a bunt . The Sox somehow missed an easy play at the plate as Alex Cora completely fucks up a simple play. Miss the easy out and are down 1-0 with a runner on first reached vis fielders choice.

A 7 pitch at bat with the ever so painful Mark Ellis turns into another bloop hit of a hanging curve ball - excellent. Beckett is being blooped to death already. Needs these last two two outs as urgently as I need an aspirin. Suzuki lines out softly to Ellsbury which leaves the ever annoying Jack Hannahan at he plate. Hannahan strikes out to some vintage Beckett heat as he established an amazing curve ball in the strike zone earlier to Hannahan with his 1-1 pitch.

Oakland 1 Red Sox 0

Top 3 - I now get to see some amazing ads on mlb.tv including the ever annoying and under talented Incubus. Varitek at the plate has an unusually long at bat for his standards that results in a questionable called strike 3. Coco is at the plate now but from the time he arrived I had to serve a customer a bottle of rum and 2 litres of Diet Coke. By the time I sit down again - he is out. He comes the ever reliable Alex Cora to the plate who bloops an easy out allowing the Duke to stay perfect - excellent effort so far. I'm looking forward to the Sox getting no hit - it should be cool

Still 1 nil down to the good guys

Heading to the ad break on the Athletics TV station and who do we hear but the Pixies and "Where is my Mind?" How appropriate...

Bottom 3

Beckett takes cares of the mediocre Crosby in the fashion Sox fans have become used to, with a 94mph foul tip strike out. He's over 40 pitches already and needs to keep his count down and replies with a 5 pitch battle with Cust and a beautiful curve ball there to get Cust looking - that was amazing. Then he strikes out the big hurt with more filth -I love this guy when he is song.

Top 4

Jacoby pops up to Hannahan in the time it takes me to serve someone a case of VB Gold and a bottle of Rum. Being the great guy that I am , I take the beer to the car and return to see Pedroia is already back in the dugout. This is frigging awesome so far - hope they can keep it up. Ortiz has a pretty good at bat before being retired on a hard liner to Emil Brown - This game is tough as I am seeing triple and have used up my 3 liter allocation of Diet Coke for the day already...

Still 1 Nil down and being no hit by the guy we traded for Doug Mirrabelli.

Bottom 4

Strange play occurs right when I am serving a six pack of urine and a bottle of coke. It seems that Tek was hit by the bat on the follow through from Mike Sweeney which allowed the ever alert Josh Beckett to quickly run and make the basket catch. He then completely dismantles Ryan Sweeney on a called strike three fastball before having a massive one pitch at bat with Emil Brown to retire the side in 8 pitches.

Top 5

Sox are getting no where here as all 3 batters who came to the plate where retired without much fuss at all. I think I'd rather have customers all day then sit here and get all miserable typing this. At least the Celtics are winning in Detroit and with Beckett dealing this is far from over...(no shit - its only 1-0!)

Bottom 5

Beckett falls behind 3-0 to Ellis as I serve a customer a bottle of Riesling. I come back to see him get struck out followed by a bottle of Voss and a nice running catch to Drew which ends in Hannahan popping up to Crisp. Jesus - both these guys are dealing. Beckett has 7 K's through 5 and the Duke has 2. I've never seen the Sox pop up so much

Still down 1-0

Top 6

There goes the perfect game as Varitek is hit by a breaking ball followed by an excellent Crisp bunt that just went foul. Missed it as a carton of Carlsberg was being paid for. Of course he then is struck out. With Cora up next I don't hold out much hope. 1 pitch at bat for the useless bastard - where the hell is Jed Lowrie??? These pop ups (13) are becoming a joke. Their double came on a weak as piss pop up as well that just landed fair - starting to get mad. Sold a couple of Woodstock Cabernet as Ellsbury grounded out to Hanahan - at least it wasn't a fucking pop up. Still being no hit by the Duke...

Bottom 6

Lead off weak as piss hit to Crosby followed by a sale of the new Bundy 8 Year Old rum and a long at bat with Cust that results in a strike em out throw em out double play!! They are arguing but I have to serve someone a bottle of Rawsons Retreat. Seems he was safe as well and it looks like the strike out to Cust has a dodgy aura about it as well - oh well. Frank Thomas reaches on a pop up that lands between Cora and Crisp - jesus. Inning over after a broken bat grounder from Mike Sweeney.

Top 7

Pedroia lines out, Papi finally breaks up the no hitter. Right when I was texting someone an update - I might have cursed it...Warning track power opposite way from Mr April/May just short. Another pop up from Lowell ends the inning - jesus - Beckett only needs 2 runs to win this.

Bottom 7

Beckett gives up a home run to the powerful Ryan Sweeney (Career OPS .679 ) - jesus. Cora and Youkilis combine for an amazing play deep in the hole as I see the Celtics are faltering in the final quarter - jesus. Suzuki the useless bastard gets a hit for my useless fantasy team anyway. Beckett has been great today - small comfort if they lose I guess. 9 K's and no walks through 7

Top 8 and no runs in sight it seems...

Drew does what he knows best - a weak grounder to second while Varitek hangs around for about the time it takes me to do up fly before grounding out as well. Crisp strikes out now as all hope seems lost. Go Celtics

Bottom 8 as MDC enters...

Celtics holding on just - jesus. Beckett was great tonight yet it seems he won't get the win. I'm switching to the Celtics game. Bloody pistons won't go away - the lead is only 9 with 3 minutes to go. MDC just gave up a run. Celtics need to score just once it seems.

Top 9 - no chance - start singing fat lady especially with Cora leading off...

Cora strikes out on 3 pitches - where the fuck is Jed Lowrie?Ellsbury putting up a decent at bat to Street before Sweeney makes a good play at first. Definitely not our night as Pedroia grounds out to the ever reliable Hannahan. Terrible way to spend a hangover - thank god the Celtics won.

Sox now at 31-21 - still the best record in baseball