And a man lovingly called “Batshit” will lead them

I sit here, getting ready for another day at Fenway (thanks to Kelly), and I’m surprisingly uninspired.

Crazy-ass photo of Bobby Kielty lifted from Sports Illustrated (Taken by Barry Zito)Don’t get me wrong, nobody screamed louder than I did last night when Papi hit that grand slam.  And watching the team pile on after that was a beautiful way to end the game.  But I’m totally sapped of energy.  August is STILL too soon for this team to be trying to kill me, but they are.  So I’ll leave you all with brief notes as I watch the end of the replay of the game on NESN and prepare to head back to Fenway for my fifth game in seven days.

*  Please tell me they are saying "Dreeeew"  and not continuing to ‘boo’ JD.  Seriously, idiots who are booing him this weekend, look at a box score once in a while and learn something about baseball.  Also, kudos to JD for getting his 1000 major league hit last night!

*  Speaking of 1000, Mike Timlin made his 995th appearance last night.  For those of you still booing JD Drew, that means he has five more appearances to hit 1000.   In his last 10 appearances, he’s pitched 12 innings, walked 2, given up 2 earned runs (both coming on August 3rd!), given up 6 hits (only 1 since August 8th)  and struck out 7.  Not bad for the ‘old man’, eh?

*  Tito thinks it would be ‘incredibly stupid’ to change the way he’s using Gagne.  I’m begging someone at the Red Sox to get Tito a dictionary.  Either that, he thought it was ‘opposite day’ when he made that comment.

*  Totally not related to baseball:  Vinny Testaverde is back with the Patriots!  I’m a sucker for a story like that!  Can’t wait to see him play.  Or, more accurately, can’t wait to see him sitting on the sidelines in a Patriots uniform!

*  If you’re a fan of this screen grab from Surviving Grady, catch the NESN show "Lights Out" Sunday night at  11:25pm, it looks like they’ll be showing some more clips from that interview.  (Or maybe they’re just teasing me with pictures of his beautiful face!) 

*  With Tavarez pitching today, barring any game postponements, the rotation in New York at the end of the month will be Matsuzaka, Beckett and Schilling.  Man, that rotation should inspire more confidence in me than it does right now.

*  D’Backs Starting pitcher Micah Owings beat Atlanta last night.  Not only did he pitch well, but he went 4-4, including two home runs.    No word yet on whether or  not Braves pitcher Buddy Carlyle went home and kicked his dog.

*  I continue to put "Sox Appeal" on each week as it starts and then turn it off about five minutes in.  I’m  positive it makes me more stupid with each week.  Make it stop, NESN, make it stop!!!

*  My final rant on this since after 2:05 the point is moot, but Tavarez on the mound, Cash behind the plate and Kielty in right field against a 6-1 pitcher with a 3.50 era, gives me very little to be enthusiastic about this afternoon.   I’m convinced that since Tito has already announced that Papelbon is ‘unavailable’ to pitch, we’ll also see Gagne today.  Sadly, I won’t be getting drunk at the game so I’ll have to be watching it all unfold whilst stone cold sober.  Sigh.  Hey, this is what I signed up for when I became a member of the ‘nation’, right?

 *  Tony Conigliaro’s fateful beaning happened 40 years ago yesterday.  I can’t explain how this affected Red Sox fans if you aren’t one.  Especially those of us from Revere.  Tony C is practically a saint in my home.  I was born a year after he was beaned, but I knew all about it and all about Tony probably before I ever saw a baseball game.   It never gets easier to watch the clip or to see that photo of Tony.  And watching Manny go down Friday, when it initially looked like he got hit in the face, brought it all back for a lot of people.  RIP Tony.

*  Speaking of FRIDAY, NESN/WEEI/Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund raised $3,688,179.00 during their annual Radio Telethon.  The likes of George Steinbrenner and Bud Selig donated decent chunks of change to the cause.  Steinbrenner is, admittedly, quite generous each year to the Jimmy Fund.  Selig, I suspect, might have ulterior motives.  But we’ll take it from where we can get it!  Thanks to EVERYONE for being so generous!

* And finally, I had a rant all ready to go about Selig giving Giambi preferential treatment about the steroids issue just so he can set himself up to NOT punish Bonds.  When I floated this idea past my father he laughed it off.  Seems my father has a little more faith in Jason Giambi than I do.  My father thinks Giambi squealed on other players (which would explain why Mitchell isn’t interviewing any  other active players) and when the ‘investigation’ is over, Giambi will be retiring from baseball just as the shit hits the fan.   Me?  I’m still skeptical.  But my dad’s scenario certainly would make things much more interesting.

Sheez, that’s a lot of typing for someone who is ‘uninspired’, eh?  Have a great day, folks.  I’ll see you at the ballpark! 

(Edited to add:   I just looked at my ticket for today’s game.  The seat number is "21", which just so happens to be "my number".  So I’m hoping that’s a good sign!  Hey, I might not believe in curses, but I’m always looking for an 0men or two!)