Thanksgiving in September

after all our bellyaching about the boys not playing up to potential & intensity... after all our fickle fandom, cheering for players when they're on a tear, and booing them the second they slip (oh, admit it, RSN is nothing if not impatient -- it's a byproduct of being so passionate)... after all the gloom & doom (myself included)...

we have a lot of reasons to be thankful -- and excited! -- about what we've seen of late.

1. that JD Drew is finally hitting. like for real.

2. that Manny is back. and dude. he is *back*.

3. that Youk may still be sore, but he's a gamer. and he doesn't care if he's playing hurt as long as his playing isn't hurting the team.

4. that Oakland loaded the bases. only one run scored.

5. that Sox loaded the bases. three runs scored. (yeah, i know. i was shocked too.)

6. that erratic outing or not, Lester threw some serious pitches for strikes yesterday.

7. that Mike Lowell doesn't appear to be seriously hurt after temporarily coming up lame crossing first base in the third(?) inning.

8. that Gagne got himself in a little bit of trouble (not entirely on his own) and then got himself out of it with back-to-back Ks to end the eighth.

9. that it didn't matter when the Yankees clobbered the Rays (as well they should with their ace on the hill against some pitcher no one's ever heard of before), because the Sox won their game 11-6, and they still have a three-game division lead. not that the Yankees care about winning the division title, of course.

10. that someone as wee as Pedroia can launch a baseball up into the Monster seats in about two-and-a-half seconds.

11. the mere existence of speed like Jacoby Ellsbury's.

12. that we have the good fortune of "package deals" the likes of Mike Lowell (He Who *Still* Needs A New Boston Contract, I'm Talking to You, Epstein, And You Owe Us For the Julio Lugo Thing!) and Jeemer.

13. that we're not involved in the eight-team division/wildcard battle going on in the National League, please pass the Pepto Bismal to your nearest Mets-Phillies-Braves-Cubs-Brewers-Diamondbacks-Padres-Rockies fan.

14. that with a Magic Number of two, the Red Sox have Commander Kick Ass starting tonight, and the Crankees will have to face Scott KKKKKKKKKazmir instead of JP Howell (who?).

15. that we get quotes like this from Big Papi:
What does it mean for a man who last year hit 54 home runs to hit the half-century mark in two-baggers a year later?
"You have to run a lot," quipped Ortiz. ...
But the Red Sox finally grabbed the momentum and kept it in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff man Pedroia again was a catalyst, smashing a solo homer to left. Ramirez walked and Ortiz doubled to left, setting up Lowell for yet another RBI opportunity. The third baseman did not disappoint, smacking a two-run single to left.
Ortiz had just one complaint.
"Mikey, he's been putting it together," said Ortiz. "All I asked him was, 'Man, can you go deep so I can stop running?'"
(Boston Red Sox News)

16. that Cheerio Mouth will pose for photos like this. seriously. just try not to laugh. he looks like he shifted his gaze off Tek's sign to see the entire Sox bench has just mooned him over the railing.

(Sports Illustrated)
i'm telling you. i've seen this photo about a dozen times now, and it's still funny.

speaking of funny, you have to check out this Frank Thomas MLB commercial.

a bunch of people got their panties in a wad over it, but i'm sorry, it's funny, and i think we, as a generalization, need to lighten up.

now it's common knowledge that Red Sox fans tend to be a bit on the superstitious side. so i consider this to be good luck:
today i got a package in the mail here at work. it contained this:

a MLB issued (womens size) Mike Lowell All Star batting practice jersey that i won in a contest i entered around the All Star Break. and i never win *anything*. that *has* to be an indication of a good luck charm that it arrived *today* in time for me to wear it *tonight* right? (now i just need to hope someone gets a new contract so i don't have *two* jerseys of former favorite Sox... no... wait... we're talking about *good* luck here.)

anyone think that if i wear my two jerseys together that the Yankees will just spontaneously combust?