It’s all about faith

A good shot of Kyle and his Phiten necklace in Atlanta in 2007

Courtesy of Kelly O’Connor

I have no idea the context surrounding the interview. Maybe he did it last season (or in Japan) and it took Bradford this long to write about it. Regardless, there’s finally a peep from Kyle!

“I believe in it,” said Pawtucket Red Sox pitcher Kyle Snyder, who has been using the Phiten necklaces for the past three years. “Even if it’s just psychological. If it’s enough to convince yourself that you feel better with it on, I’m going to wear it.”

Okay.

So it isn’t really baseball-related. I’ll still take it. (And in regard to the Phiten necklaces – I had one a couple of years ago that was given to me. I wore it for a while because I had been suffering with neck/shoulder/back soreness/tiredness whatever you want to call it and it seemed to help. But I felt the same way Kyle did in that it probably really didn’t help, but I felt like it did so what was the harm? A spoonful of sugar, or something like that. I lost my Phiten necklace, though, and didn’t buy myself another one. Given how I’ve been feeling lately, maybe I should pick one up and see how it works?)

One thing about the article, while Bradford credits Daisuke with bringing it to the team, I know (at the very least) Mike Timlin was wearing one before Daisuke was even ON the team. Yes, the Red Sox Chick is a picker of nits. (Hell, Bradford, himself, mentions Kyle wearing it for THREE years.)

The timing of the article is funny because I had already planned to write about Kyle this morning. I said to a friend last night, half-jokingly, that I was probably going to “use all my prayers” on Mike Timlin this season and her response was “Save them for Kyle Snyder. Timlin’s career is almost over and Kyle needs them more.” Which got me thinking that she was right. Kyle is 30 years old (I originally typed 39, which is how old I am. Sorry Kyle!) and could still have a good, strong career ahead of him if he can get healthy.

So if Kyle thinks a Phiten necklace is going to help that process along, I say go for it. Some people think that my prayers are wasted and that they have no power (Brief backstory on my praying. I believe in the power of prayer very strongly and head over to the closest church to light a candle for anyone I think needs it quite often). I disagree, obviously, and I feel like I’ve been able to see the results of my prayers. Kyle (and others) think they’ve seen the results of the Phiten necklace, so why not use it if you believe it is going to help?

Here endeth my sermon. 🙂

Speaking of necklaces, in Pawtucket tonight, Tyler Clippard pitches against Clay Buchholz. I’m not sure if Clippard is on the Phiten bandwagon, but Clay has enough necklaces (Phiten and NON-Phiten) to make up for whatever Clippard lacks.

In Boston, the Cardinals are in town and we get Wake tonight, Crabcakes on Sunday and Saturday marks the return of Daisuke Matsuzaka! Should be a fun weekend.

(Edited to add:  I once wrote a joke post that was a prayer asking God to “smite” someone.  Someone else read this post and began a rather psychotic vendetta against me in his own blog.  So for the sake of stopping any other people from becoming crazed at my mentioning prayer in any form:  No, I don’t think God cares who wins a baseball game and I never have prayed for that.  I DO pray for individuals and, on occasion, some of those individuals happen to play baseball – although, mostly I just pray for my loved ones and the loved ones of others who really need it.  So put those fingers down, no need to send me nasty emails.)