let's see how far we've come

great, now i have that Matchbox 20 song stuck in my head.

i know i haven't blogged about the Sox in... well, so long that i cannot actually recall unless i were to go & physically look it up. the thing is, i had lots to say, but every time i would consider blogging about them, the Sox would lose! which would make me not want to talk about the bullpen woes & the utter lack of anything even remotely close to offense & the immense frustration of losing games that we had been leading. and then they would win. and i would think about blogging. enter vicious cycle. you get the idea.

this is getting silly though. i can't just not talk about them! so i will dive back in with some random thoughts & see if we can't just get back on track here. work for you? (if the answer is 'no'... well, we've discussed this before. just remember who's in charge here.)

1. i feel the need to lead of with: yes, i know that the Celtics won last night. and no, i don't really care. i am happy for them & the city of Boston. but i still don't give a flying flip about basketball. we all enjoy different things & that is one sport that just holds no appeal to me whatsoever. so if you're a basketball fan & more specifically a Celtics fan: hooray! you must be so excited. and i am proud to say i still can't be called a bandwagon fan of any sort.

2. Bartolo Colon should never be allowed to so much as *look* at a baseball bat again, let alone actually hold one. that was one of the most painful visuals -- figuratively, and also apparently *literally* -- i have seen in a good long while (not counting the mere existence of Julio Freaking Lugo). convenient though, as i hear Matsuzaka is about ready to return. on the topic of our pitchers at the plate though, Lestah seemed to look pretty darn at ease there. working full counts & at least making contact is ok with me. and a far sight better than we get from Lugo most days too! =P

3. speaking of E6. the reports said Lugo didn't play on Saturday due to a stomach ailment. i am thinking the ailment was Tito's. and it was that his ulcer needed a rest from Lugo's presence (as much as a black hole has presence) in the lineup & on the field. seriously. we could stand a cardboard cutout between second & third and it would be more productive. i mean, based solely on the laws of probability, it would occasionally block a hit. and it certainly wouldn't be well on its way toward a 40-error season.

4. also on the sick front, was The Cap'n. that's twice this season now! first the flu & then strep throat. ::shaking my head:: i haven't ever suffered from it, but i know people who have. they say it's a lot like swallowing molten knives. and Tek caught 8 innings, and smacked out a home run feeling like that?? leaves me no doubt that Fisk speaks the truth when he says Tek has a good four or five years left. all i know is he better retire with the Boston B on his cap and the red C over his heart. i'm looking at you, Epstein.

5. that game with the Orioles on June 12? when Hernandez & Mora chased that ball up the third base side? and then it dropped between them? i'm sorry but that's some funny stuff. makes me feel like i'm watching an old Abbott & Costello skit. that rundown with Youk was pretty entertaining as well.

6. also on the 12th: when Baltimore opted to give Manny an intentional free trip to first to load 'em up & take their chances with Lowell, as Mikey stepped up, i said "now would be a *great* time to launch one, Lowell." and then i had to pick myself up off the floor when he did. after i admired it, Manny-style, from my carpet-level view.

7. we have just been all about the home run lately. and that's with Manny playing what amounts to every other day & *no* Papi. we're getting them from all sorts of unlikely places. Pedroia's recently sleepy bat. a few rare treats from Ellsbury & Coco. Youk going deep in his hometown. but really, it's been the JD Drew Show. i am thinking he likes that 3-hole. i wonder what we'll do when Ortiz is ready to come back...

8. on the subject of Coco: does anyone else think that his asking price has just shot through the roof? i am wondering if some teams had him in their radar, thinking "trade deadline fire sale!" uh, not so much now.

9. which gives me a great segue to another speedy centerfielder. am i wrong or does it just never get old watching Runs Like Hell get away with grand theft all around the base paths?

10. Lugo batted leadoff last night. at first, i was none too pleased. i wanted to know who in their right mind would approve such an atrocity. and then i realized that was the one way to guarantee he couldn't possibly hit into a double play at least once in the game. =P

11. a standing ovation for The Mayor in Cincinnati made me happy. i love when we recognize old friends.

12. Jon Lester: strong candidate for the 2009 Julian Tavarez Second Chance Award. nuff said.

i am glad we go into this afternoon's rubber game split. i have to admit, i was terrified coming into this series. and not just because the Phillies whomped the Cardinals 20-2 over the weekend. they have some strong pitching. a lights-out relief crew (i vaguely recall what that's like...). and they can hit pretty much everything. i've had quite enough of Rollins making highlight reel stops at short (yes, probably a little... ok a lot of SS envy). and i am over Howard at the plate with his multiple home run games & his triples. i'd really like to get the heck out of Dodge & flee back to the friendly confines of Fenway. so here's to some hefty Sox offense as wee Justin Masterson battles the 6-2 Kyle Kendrick, who hasn't lost a game since mid-April (that's 5 wins & 5 no-decisions since his April 16 loss, and the Phillies haven't lost a single one of his last ten starts). the good news is that no matter what happens today, the Sox will retain first place in the AL East -- worst case scenario, a Sox loss & Rays win today *and* a Rays win tomorrow would still give us a half-game lead.

::clicking my heels::
there's no place like home... there's no place like home...