WOW!

How else could I begin? Two days after the Sox second WS sweep in four years and I'm still feeling a bit euphoric, a bit sleep derived, and, yes, still a bit high!

My first thoughts on this fantastic season relate to how different it is from 2004.

In 2004, the Sox were a group of veterans, some more seasoned than others.
In 2007, they were few favorites, a few imports, and those awesome rookies!

In 2004, we had a Sox team that skidded into the post-season on the wild card pony.
In 2007, we had a Sox team that took the division lead in April and never let go.

In 2004, it was another year chasing the Yankees, culminating the ALCS 4-game comeback.
In 2007, aside from a bad series or two in the regular season (that mattered not) the Yankees only ever seen in our rear-view mirrors.

In 2004, we lost what most people thought was out biggest impact player in July (Nomar).
In 2007, we called up out biggest impact player in September (Jacoby).

In 2004, a three game deficit to in the ALCS terrified RSN.
In 2007, the 3-1 deficit in the ALCS barely registered.

But how about the similarities? There were many.

In 2004, we had Papi and Manny hitting jacks.
In 2007, ditto.

In 2004, we had clutch pitching performances.
In 2007, ditto.

In 2004, the ALCS was the real series, the winner almost certain (although we didn't know) to roll.
In 2007, (sadly for the Rockies) ditto.

I don't know if we'll ever have another season like this one. A lead over the Yankees that lasted virtually the whole season. Clay Buchholz's no-hitter. Schilling's almost no-hitter. Jacoby's arrival, thanks to Manny's oblique. The rise of Pedroia the Destroyah! Dice-K! Okajima! The Jon Lester comeback story. Waiting patiently for J.D. to open up (still waiting, although his ending showed promise.) The Mother's Day Miracle, Back-to-back-to-back-to-back against the Yankers. Walk-offs from some of the guys, most notably Manny's in the ALDS. A lock for the Cy Young in Beckett! A lock for the Rookie of the year for Pedroia! The World Series MVP Mike Lowell!

Now, looking back, how huge was getting the home field advantage for the ALCS? While it didn't seem to mater in the divisional series, and it surely didn't matter in the World Series, wasn't the biggest part of the reason why no one freaked when they were down 3-1 to the Tribe the fact that we had Becket for Game 5, then a trip home to the Fens?

It was a year rife with special moments around the whole league. Jim Thome, Frank Thomas, and Alex Rodriquez all made the 500 club. There was the one game playoff between the Padre's and Rockies. Tom Glavine got his 300th win and Roger "Way Past His Prime" Clemens got his 350th while managing to prove how unworthy he was of all the special treatment the Yankers afforded him. Mark Buerhle and Justin Verlander had no hitters. Trevor Hoffman got his 500th save. And on a sad note, reputed steroid whore Barry Bonds broke the sacred career home run record held by Hank Aaron, dooming yet another record to the dreaded asterisk, at least until A-Rod catches up.

Not all was good. We still had home field advantage in the World Series determined by what used to be a fun exhibition contest: The All-Star Game. There was Paul Byrd who took flight in the first round of the playoffs, only to have his wings clipped when his large HGH receipts came to light. There was the nonsense with Milton Bradley sustaining and injury while arguing with an umpire. The injury ended his season with the Padre's who ended up needing him in that one game playoff (which they lost by one run, by the way.) There was A-Rod with the stripper, Prince Fielder's paternal angst, and all the ridiculous hype Bud Selig caused by his refusal to commit one way or the other to being in attendance for Bond's 756th.

But hey! You take the good with the bad. MLB didn't have a scandal like the NBA had with an official on the take. There was no MLB player up on federal charges for dog fighting, or any other federal charges, for that matter. Also, people watched baseball games this year, so that sets it apart from Major League Soccer, the WNBA, and (gulp) the NHL!

As we move into the "Hot Stove League" part of the year, many questions come to play. Where will A-Rod play in '08? Where will Mike Lowell play? How about the other number of free agents? What city's media will Barry Bonds scorn and pout for next summer? Will Bud Selig drink an espresso or two so he appears conscious? Will Tim McCarver be replaced by Fox for next years post-season? (If you have a rudimentary grasp on the game and can form sentences, you're a step ahead of old Timmy. If you can ad lib, you're a lock.) Will Joba Chamberlain enter rehab to get that Krispy-Kreme monkey off his back? Will Jason Giambi finally address his overactive sweat gland issue?

Baseball Fever! Catch it!

Labels: 2007, A-Rod, Barry, baseball, Bonds, Hot Stove, MLB, Red Sox

Barry Bonds has lots of answers for questions about his alleged performance enhancing substance use. Here's two I would like answers to:

Barry, how is it your head has grown from 7 1/8 to 7 3/4?

Barry, how is it that your feet have gone from a 10 1/2 to a 13?

My shoe size and hat size have not gone up since I was a senior in high school, even though I am about 80lbs heavier now than back then. On the other hand, if you had allowed a bobble-head to be done in your likeness, the proportions would be pretty accurate.

Please, Mr. Bonds, email your answer to philsox@spieles.com.

Thanks in advance.

Labels: Barry, Bonds, record, steroids

I've been away on vacation, which is why there has not been a "Boxed Up" in awhile. My apologies.

While I was gone, Barry hit #755 to tie Aaron. Nothing much I can say on this except to show this little bit of statistical info and some images and let it speak for itself.

Labels: 755, Barry, baseball, Bonds, photoshop, statistics, steroids

I hate to stand on convention (it has never stood on me,) but I have to weigh in on the Barry Bonds thing. What would a baseball blog be without at least mentioning the biggest story in baseball?

After sitting out for three games with bow legs or shin splints (or whatever), Bonds played today at Wrigley field and hit home runs 752 and 753. He's back on track again and looking to break Aaron's record in the next week or two. So, in honor of this dubious occasion, let me pause to answer some obvious questions as to my thoughts on the whole thing.

1. Will Bonds break Aaron's record? Without a doubt.
   
2. Will I be watching when it happens? If I can. I'm a baseball fan!
   
3. Do I think there should be an asterisk on the record? Only if it is proven that he used PEDs.
   
4. Do I think he used Performance Enhancing Drugs? Yes, I do.
   
5. What do I think, in general, about Bonds breaking this record? I wish it were someone who was a classier guy. Someone who is a little less miserable and mean to teammates and people in general. I will wait patiently for A-Rod to catch him and put this chapter of baseball history behind us.

I, for one, do not believe that alleged steroid use is the worst issue with Bonds. The worst issue is, by far, his attitude. Bonds is not a team player according to many people who have been on teams with him. He jogs to first when he grounds out, but then can steal a base in the next game, which leads me to believe that he dogged it not because of age or injury, but just because he felt like it. He is one of the only players (if not the only) who refuses to lend his name to video games that the Players Association sanctions. He continually blames everyone (fans, media, legal system, etc) for all his woes and never takes responsibility for anything (infidelity, tax evasion, PEDs, etc.) Bonds is one of those athletes who has forgotten the amazing fact that he gets paid to play a game and he should be thankful for that. He should accept his position as a role model for youth even though he did not specifically ask to be such.

At the same time, one cannot logically refute that the man is one of the most gifted/talented individuals to ever play the game. 756 will be an historical moment. I suppose I can put the animosity aside for a night and watch him circle those bases. And I sincerely hope that Bud Selig is there. It is his job!

Labels: Barry, baseball, Bonds, Hank Aaron, history, record, steroids