From Tuesday 28 June 2011 to Thursday 30 June 2011, the Boston Red Sox played three away games against the Philadelphia Phillies. Eighty games played – Eighty-two more games to be played.
The Red Sox lost games one and two
The Red Sox won game three
The Phillies won the series
Over the three games, the Red Sox had a total of:
Six runs, twenty hits, one error, three homeruns
Over the three games, the Phillies had a total of:
Nine runs, eighteen hits, zero errors, four homeruns
The Red Sox had:
44.00% of the total runs, 52.63% of the total hits, 100% of the total errors, 42.86% of the total homeruns
Red Sox highlight: Jon Lester's pitching Red Sox lowlight: Eight men left on base Phillies highlight: Ryan Howard's homerun Phillies lowlight: Cole Hamels' right hand injury
My Comment: How fitting is it that Francona gets his 700th win in Philadelphia, though the game should have been a shutout. Another person celebrating today is Drew Sutton. On his twenty-eighth birthday, Sutton had two hits, one RBI, and scored one run. Congrats to both men! And it is another end of series win for Boston to avoid the sweep. If we do meet Philadelphia in the World Series (assuming of course that we make it!), hope the results then are different. Next stop is Houston and it would be great to end the road trip with a series win.
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester; Winning Pitcher: Jon Lester (10) PHILADELPHIA: Starting Pitcher: Cole Hamels; Losing Pitcher: David Herndon BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (15) BOSTON: Homeruns: Jason Varietek (4,5), Dustin Pedroia (7) PHILADELPHIA: Homerun: Ryan Howard
RED SOX: Wins 46, Losses 34, Percentage .575
Next game: Friday 1 July 2011, 5:05 p.m.PT/8:05 p.m.ET, Houston Astros, Minute Maid Park, Tim Wakefield
Stephen Drew Sutton was born on 30 June 1983 in El Dorado, Arkansas. He is twenty-eight years old today and Drew is an infielder for the Boston Red Sox. Have a surprise-filled day!
Drew’s photo is from the website boston.redsox.mlb.com
Red Sox highlight: Two hits Red Sox lowlight: Josh Beckett's pickoff error Phillies highlight: Cliff Lee's pitching Phillies lowlight: Three men left on base
On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number six out of twelve is:
MOVIES – Part 3
76 Watch The Movie, The Pride Of the Yankees This 1942 biopic, The Pride of the Yankees, is the life story of Lou Gehrig who played first base for the New York Yankees. Gary Cooper portrays Gehrig, nicknamed the “Iron Horse” for never missing a game. However, Gehrig becomes sick with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and his baseball career comes to an unexpected end. And of course the film has Cooper speak Gehrig’s famous farewell - “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth”. Actual teammates of Gehrig appear as themselves in the film, one of them being Babe Ruth. The Pride of the Yankees is available on DVD in a Collector’s Edition.
95 Watch The Movie, Bang The Drum Slowly Based on the 1956 novel of the same title, the 1973 film Bang the Drum Slowly, is another tale of death-too-soon in the world of baseball, fictional though it is. The start pitcher and the unfortunate catcher play for the New York Mammoths, based on you-know-who (see entry above). The time frame is one season and the catcher’s illness is kept secret by his best friend, the pitcher. It’s not a good season either for the team as a whole, but when the catcher’s condition is revealed, the Mammoths turn things around. Bang the Drum Slowly is available on DVD.
103 Watch The Abbott & Costello Skit, “Who’s On First?” I don’t remember when I first heard the routine “Who’s on First?”, but I know it was sometime in my adolescence. It is the best! I laugh every time I hear it. If somehow you have missed this hilarious baseball gem, read the text here and see the performance below. Enjoy!!!
114 Watch The Movie, Sugar This 2008 film, Sugar, is the fictional tale of a young Dominican Republic pitcher (Sugar) who makes his way from a Major League sponsored baseball academy in the DR to the Minor League Single-A affiliate of the made-up team Kansas City Knights. In Iowa Sugar lives with a farm family and begins his exposure to American life. With only one friend from the Dominican Republic on the team, Sugar struggles to find a place for himself in this unfamiliar setting and begins questioning his goal to become a Major League baseball player. Sugar is available on DVD.
134 Watch The Movie, Fever Pitch This 2005 romantic comedy, Fever Pitch, is based on both the 1992 book, Fever Pitch: A Fan’s Life and the 1997 British film. Soccer is the sport in the book and the first film, but baseball is the game in the American film. Not just baseball, but Major League Boston Red Sox baseball! Taking place over the 2004 baseball season, Fever Pitch is the falling in love of a Red Sox obsessed fan with the not-so-obsessed woman who wins his heart while Boston wins the World, as in Series! I have never seen so many Red Sox logoed items in my life as were displayed in character Ben Wrightman’s apartment. My meager Red Sox items are put to shame. Fever Pitch is available on DVD in Full Screen, Widescreen and Boston Red Sox Curse Reversed Editions.
138 Watch The Movie, The Sandlot Baseball on a kid’s level is the story of the 1993 film, The Sandlot. The film is a reminiscence told by the adult who was the new kid in a Los Angeles neighborhood back in the summer of 1962. With the friendship and help of the best ballplayer in the neighborhood, the new kid improves his baseball skills and earns the respect of the other members of the team. It is a summer of adventures and of the Beast. The Sandlot is available on DVD as are The Sandlot 2 (2005) and The Sandlot: Heading Home (2007).
152 Watch The Movie, Cobb This 1994 biopic, Cobb, is based on the book Cobb: A Biography. It is the life of Tyrus Raymond Cobb from the perspective of his biographer while he was with Cobb and writing the biography. I haven’t seen this movie and most likely never will. Cobb may have been the first inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but he is one of the last players baseball would ever want to represent the sport. Cobb is available on DVD.
My Boston Red Sox DVD Recommendations:
I owe all the DVDs in the following list, but a few of them I have not had the pleasure of viewing. The films are listed in the order I think they should be viewed, but feel free to ignore my suggestion and see whichever ones interest you, in whatever order you like.
Still, We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set)
Faith Rewarded: The Historic Season of the 2004 Boston Red Sox (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set)
Wait ‘Til This Year: A Totally Different Look Back at the 2004 Boston Red Sox Season (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set
The Boston Red Sox 2004 World Series Collector’s Edition All seven complete ALCS games versus the New York Yankees All four full World Series games versus the St. Louis Cardinals
2004 World Series: Boston Red Vs. St. Louis Cardinals
History Rings True (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set)
Red Sox Vs. Yankees: The Ultimate Rivalry
The Boston Red Sox 2007 World Series Collector’s Edition Complete ALCS games 5, 6 and 7 versus the Cleveland Indians All four World Series games against the Colorado Rockies
2007 World Series: Colorado Rockies Vs. Boston Red Sox
Red Sox Memories: The Greatest Moments in Boston Red Sox History
Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set)
The Lost Son of Havana
Images: Left: Sugar from the website amazon.com Center: Fever Pitch from the website amazon.com Right: The Sandlot from the website upload.wikimedia.org
From Friday 24 June 2011 to Sunday 26 June 2011, the Boston Red Sox played three away games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Seventy-seven games played – Eighty-five more games to be played.
The Red Sox lost games one and two
The Red won game three
The Pirates won the series
Over the three games, the Red Sox had a total of:
Nine runs, twenty-four hits, four errors, three homeruns
Over the three gamers, the Pirates had a total of:
Eleven runs, twenty-two hits, six errors, two homeruns
The Red Sox had:
45.00% of the total runs, 52.17% of the total hits, 40.00% of the total errors, 60.00% of the total homeruns
Red Sox highlight: Andrew Miller's pitching Red Sox lowlight: Ten men lest on base Pirates highlight: Two runs Pirates lowllght: Four errors
My Comment: It was an ugly game, but it was a Red Sox victory. The total number of runs equalled the total number of errors and Boston was fortunate enough to have the majority of the runs and the minority of the errors. After a day off, the Red Sox head into another Park (all the venues on this road trip are Parks) and they will be looking for better results against the Phillies. The Philadelphia series is being seen as a pre-cursor to the World Series. No matter what happens four months from now, Tuesday should be the start of a good series.
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Andrew Miller; Winning Pitcher: Andrew Miller (1) PITTSBURGH: Starting Pitcher: James McDonald; Losing Pitcher: Tim Wood BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (14)
RED SOX: Wins 45, Losses 32, Percentage .584
Next game: Tuesday 28 June 2011, 4:05 p.m.PT/7:05 p.m.ET, Philadelphia Phillies, Citizens Bank Park, Josh Beckett
Red Sox highlight: Three homeruns Red Sox lowlight: Dustin Pedroia's fielding error Pirates highlight: Two homeruns Pirates lowlight: Two errors
My Comment: On second loss to Pirates, the Boston Red Sox move to second place in the AL East. More hits and more homeruns by Boston were not enough to overcome Pittsburgh. The Red Sox will try to salvage a victory tomorrow to end the series on a positive note. Speaking of positive notes - congratulations to Josh Reddick on his first homerun of the season!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield; Losing Pitcher: Tim Wakefield (3) PITTSBURGH: Starting Pitcher: Jesff Karstens; Winning Pitcher: Jeff Karstens PITTSBURGH: Save: Joel Hanraham BOSTON: Homeruns: Adrian Gonzalez (16), Josh Reddick (1), Jacoby Ellsbury (9) PITTSBURGH: Homeruns: Lyle Overbay, Garrett Jones
RED SOX: Wins 44, Losses 32, Percentage .579
Next game: Sunday 26 June 2011, 10:35 a.m.PT/1:35 p.m.ET, Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park, Andrew Miller
Daniel Paul Bard was born on Tuesday 25 June 1985 in Houston, Texas. He is twenty-six years old today and Daniel is a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Have a dynamic day Daniel!
Daniel Bard’s photo is from the website boston.redsox.mlb.com
Red Sox highlight: Nine hits Red Sox lowlight: Eleven men left on base Pirates highlight: Relief pitching Pirates lowlight: Seven men left on base
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester; Losing Pitcher: Jon Lester (4) PITTSBURGH: Starting Pitcher: Paul Maholm; Winning Pitcher: Paul Maholm PITTSBURGH: Save: Joel Hanrahan
RED SOX: Wins 44, Losses 31, Percentage .587
Next game: Saturday 25 June 2011, 4:05 p.m.PT/7:05 p.m.ET, Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park, Tim Wakefield
On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Today’s category number six out of twelve is:
MOVIES – Part 2
39 Watch The Movie, The Rookie Based on a true story, The Rookie offers inspiration not only for aspiring Major League players, but for anyone who has a dream unfulfilled. This drama is the 2002 telling of Jim Morris’ life, who grew up in that bastion of baseball - the state of Texas (sarcasm, just in case you’re wondering). With the support of his family, Jim pursues his late-in-baseball-life travels/travails through the Minors until his debut in the Majors. What is your baseball dream? Life dream? The Rookie is available on DVD in Full Screen and Widescreen editions.
43 Watch The Movie, For Love Of The Game This 1999 romantic drama, For Love of the Game, is based on the 1991 book of the same name. Another Kevin Costner baseball film (Bull Durham, Field of Dreams), the action takes places on the pitcher’s mound and in the pitcher’s mind. Costner’s Billy Chapel is pitching the final game of his Hall-of-Fame career and as he proceeds to pitch a perfect game, Billy reminisces on his not-so-perfect love life. Will Billy be able to take those back-and-forth memories and find a new life when the game is over? For Love of the Game is available on DVD.
54 Watch The Movie, 61* In the 2001 made-for-television movie 61*, two baseball players compete to break Babe Ruth’s 1927 single season record of 60 homeruns. The year is 1961 and the ballplayers are teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris of the New York Yankees. They are a study in contrasts - one is loved by fans, the other hated; one is a womanizer, the other married; one fails, the other prevails. With the backdrop of Mark McGwire’s bid to surpass the record that Mantle or Maris broke, an historic season with the Yankees unfolds. 61* is available on DVD.
62 Watch The Movie, Soul Of The Game The 1996 made-for-television movie, Soul of the Game, focuses on Negro League baseball players Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Jackie Robinson. And how Robinson’s signing to integrate Major League Baseball put a strain on the relationship between them. Fortunately, there is a positive resolution and baseball life continued. Soul of the Game is available on DVD.
73 Watch The Movie, Major League This 1989 comedy, Major League, portrays a season (not-based-on-reality) with the Cleveland Indians. The team is made up of misfits who somehow manage to win their division and thwart the plans of the new owner to move the team to Miami. Only by having a low attendance could the team’s owner break the contract with Cleveland and Rachel Phelps’ idea to field an absolutely poor-performing team utterly backfires. Watch a pitcher who has no control, a base stealer who can’t get on base and a batter who performs voodoo ceremonies. This film spawned two sequels – Major League II (1994) and Major League: Back to the Minors (1998). All three films are available on DVD.
74 Watch The Documentary, The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg A 1998 documentary, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, presents the story of Hall of Fame and Jewish baseball player Hank Greenberg. It is through interviews with family, friends and teammates, as well as film footage that Greenberg’s life is told. And along the way, America’s story is revealed in that era. The documentary is available on DVD.
Images: Left: For Love of the Game from the website imdb.com Center: Soul of the Game from the website imdb.com Right: The Rookie from the website amazon.com
From Monday 20 June 2011 to Wednesday 22 June 2011, the Boston Red Sox played three home games against the San Diego Padres. Seventh-four games played – Eighty-eight more games to be played.
The Red Sox won game one
The Red Sox lost games two and three
The Padres won the series
Over the three games, the Red Sox had a total of:
Nineteen runs, thirty-seven hits, two errors, zero homeruns
Over the three games, the Padres had a total of:
Fifteen runs, twenty-seven hits, one error, two homeruns
The Red Sox had:
55.88% of the total runs, 57.81% of the total hits, 66.67% of the total errors, 0.00% of the total homeruns
Padres highlight: Four runs in the fourth inning Padres lowlight: Ten men left on base Red Sox: highlight: Ten hits Red Sox: lowlight: John Lackey's pitching
My Comment: Unfortunately this official, multiple-delayed, rain-shortened game did not produce another series win for the Red Sox. And for the second game in a row, Boston outhits San Diego and has nothing to show for it. Let's hope the Red Sox have better results on their nine-game, interleague road trip which begins on Friday.
SAN DIEGO: Starting Pitcher: Clayton Richard; Winning Pitcher: Clayton Richard BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: John Lackey; Losing Pitcher: John Lackey (6) SAN DIEGO: Homerun: Will Venable
RED SOX: Wins 44, Losses 30, Percentage .595
Next game: Friday 24 June 2011, 4:05 p.m.PT/7:05 p.m.ET, Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park, Jon Lester
Padres highlight: Relief pitching Padres lowlight: Chase Headley's throwing error Red Sox highlight: Thirteen hits Red Sox lowlight: Eleven men left on base
SAN DIEGO: Starting Pitcher: Mat Latos; Winning Pitcher: Chad Qualls BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Alfredo Aceves; Losing Pitcher: Dan Wheeler (1) SAN DIEGO: Save: Heath Bell
RED SOX: Wins 44, Losses 29, Percentage .603
Next game: Wednesday 22 June 2011, 10:35 a.m.PT/1:35 p.m.ET, San Diego Padres, Fenway Park, John Lackey
Padres highlight: Orlando Hudson's homerun Padres lowlight: Relief pitching Red Sox highlight: Ten runs in the seventh inning Red Sox lowlight: Nine men left on base
SAN DIEGO: Starting Pitcher: Wade LeBlanc; Losing Pitcher: Cory Luebke BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Andrew Miller; Winning Pitcher: Matt Albers (2) SAN DIEGO: Homerun: Orlando Hudson
RED SOX: Wins 44, Losses 28, Percentage .611
Next game: Tuesday 21 June 2011, 4:10 p.m.PT/7:10 p.m.ET, San Diego Padres, Fenway Park, Alfredo Aceves
From Friday 17 June 2011 to Sunday 19 June 2011, the Boston Red Sox played three home games against the Milwaukee Brewers. Seventh-one games played – Ninety-one more games to be played.
The Red Sox won game one
The Red Sox lost game two
The Red Sox won game three
The Red Sox won the series
Over the three games, the Red Sox had a total of:
Twenty-four runs, thirty-seven hits, two errors, five homeruns
Over the three games, the Brewers had a total of:
Eleven runs, twenty hits, three errors, five homeruns
The Red Sox had:
68.57% of the total runs, 64.91% of the total hits, 40.00% of the total errors, 50.0% of the total homeruns
Brewers highlight: Two homeruns Brewers lowlight: Yovani Gallardo's pitching Red Sox highlight: Tim Wakefield's pitching Red Sox lowlight: Seven men left on base
My Comment: Another series win for the Boston Red Sox and Alex Gonzalaz had his one thousandth career hit in this rubber game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Boston Bruins were honored in Fenway Park before the start of the game and there was an en masse ceremonial first pitch. Boston gets to stay put this Sunday and wait for the San Diego Padres to arrive and begin a three-game series tomorrow.
MILWAUKEE: Starting Pitcher: Yovani Gallardo; Losing Pitcher: Yovani Gallardo BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield; Winning Pitcher: Tim Wakefield MILWAUKEE: Homeruns: Nyjer Morgan, Prince Fielder BOSTON: Homeruns: Kevin Youkilis (11), Dustin Pedroia (6), Marco Scutaro (2)
RED SOX: Wins 43, Losses 28, Percentage .606
Next game: Monday 20 June 2011, 4:10 p.m.PT/7:10 p.m.ET, San Diego Padres, Fenway Park, Andrew Miller
Brewers highlight: Three homeruns Brewers lowlight: Five men left on base Red Sox highlight: Nine hits Red Sox lowlight: Adrian Gonzalez's fielding error
My Comment: The Milwaukee Brewers have the same scoring today as they did yesterday, but the end result against the Boston Red Sox was certainly different. This current winning streak may have been short, but Boston will start a new one tomorrow and go for the series win. Even with their loss and the second place team's win, the Red Sox still lead the AL East!
MILWAUKEE: Starting Pitcher: Randy Wolf; Winning Pitcher: Randy Wolf BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester; Losing Pitcher: Jon Lester (3) MILWAUKEE: Save: John Axford MILWAUKEE: Homeruns: Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart, George Kottaras
RED SOX: Wins 42, Losses 28, Percentage .600
Next game: Sunday 19 June 2011, 10:35 a.m.PT/1:35 p.m.ET, Milwaukee Brewers, Fenway Park, Tim Wakefield
Brewers highlight: Four runs Brewers lowlight: Craig Counsell's fielding error Red Sox highlight: Two homeruns Red Sox lowlight: Eight men left on base
MILWAUKEE: Starting Pitcher: Shaun Marcum; Losing Pitcher: Marco Estrada BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: John Lackey; Winning Pitcher: John Lackey (5) BOSTON: Homeruns: Jacoby Ellsbury (8), Adrian Gonzalez (15)
RED SOX: Wins 42, Losses 27, Percentage .609
Next game: Saturday 18 June 2011, 4:10 p.m.PT/7:10 p.m.ET, Milwaukee Brewers, Fenway Park, Jon Lester
From Tuesday 14 June 2011 to Thursday 16 June 2011, the Boston Red Sox played three away games against the Tampa Bay Rays. Sixty-eight games played – Ninety-four more games to be played.
The Red Sox lost game one
The Red Sox won games two and three
The Red Sox won the series
Over the three games, the Red Sox had a total of:
Seven runs, fifteen hits, one error, two homeruns
Over the three games, the Rays had a total of:
Six runs, fourteen hits, zero errors, two homeruns
The Red Sox had:
53.85% of the total runs, 51.72% of the total hits, 100% of the total errors, 50.00% of the total homeruns
Red Sox highlight: Adrian Gonzalez's homerun Red Sox lowlight: Nine men left on base Rays highlight: Two runs Rays lowlight: David Price's pitching
My Comment: The Boston Red Sox end up having an eight and one road trip - fantastic! So much for Joe Madden rearranging his pitchers so that the best ones faced Boston. It may not have been a sweep, but the Red Sox won the series against the Rays. Ending home to Boston, still in first place in the AL East - Sweet!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz; Winning Pitcher: Clay Buchholz (6) TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: David Price; Losing Pitcher: David Price BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (13) BOSTON: Homerun: Adrian Gonzalez (14) TAMPA BAY: Homerun: Casey Kotchman
RED SOX: Wins 41, Losses 27, Percentage .603
Next game: Friday 17 June 2011, 4:10 p.m.PT/7:10 p.m.ET, Milwaukee Brewers, Fenway Park, John Lackey
Red Sox highlight: Josh Beckett's complete game shutout Red Sox lowlight: Josh Beckett's pickoff error Rays highlight: One hit Rays lowlight: No runs
My Comment: Finally, the first complete game by the Red Sox in the 2011 season! Josh was outstanding and Boston returned the shutout favor. Definitely pitching was dominant today for both the Red Sox and the Rays. Well, a new streak begins and Boston remains on in the AL East. And as I'm writing this, the Boston Bruins have a three to nothing lead over the Canucks at the end of the second perios in the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. How symmetric it would be if the Bruins win the championship by the same score as the Red Sox! Good Luck Bs!! UPDATE: Boston Bruins Win The Stanley Cup!! The score was Bruins 4, Canucks 0 YEAH!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett; Winning Pitcher: Josh Beckett (6) TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: Jeremy Hellickson; Losing Pitcher: Jeremy Hellickson BOSTON: Homerun: Kevin Youkilis (10)
RED SOX: Wins 40, Losses 27, Percentage .597
Next game: Thursday 16 June 2011, 4:10 p.m.PT/7:10 p.m.ET, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Clay Buchholz
Red Sox highlight: Adrian Gonzalez's three hits Red Sox lowlight: Five men left on base Rays highlight: James Shields' pitching Rays lowlight: Seven men left on base
My Comment: So the Red Sox nine-game win streak ends with a whisper. Barely any sound from Boston today as they are shutout for the first time since Sunday 29 May 2011 at Detroit by the Tigers. On a positive note, Jacoby Ellsbury has been named AL Player of the Week. He is the third Red Sox player in a row to receive that honor. Way to go Jacoby! Despite the loss and an apparent win by the Yankees, Boston will remain in first place in the AL East. The new streak starts tomorrow!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield; Losing Pitcher: Tim Wakefield (2) TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: James Shields; Winning Pitcher: James Shields TAMPA BAY: Homerun: Justin Ruggiano
RED SOX: Wins 39, Losses 27, Percentage .591
Next game: Wednesday 15 June 2011, 4:10 p.m.PT/7:10 p.m.ET, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Josh Beckett
On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number six out of twelve is:
MOVIES – Part 1
6 Watch The Ken Burns Documentary, Baseball To me, Baseball is the definitive history of baseball on video. It is structured into nine innings that begin with the origins of baseball and end in 1993. This documentary originally aired on the PBS network during September 1994. It became available on DVD in September 2004 and includes an additional inning of features titled Extra Innings, making it a ten DVD set. In September 2010, PBS aired The Tenth Inning which covers from 1994 to 2009. This is also available on DVD and Blu-ray by itself. It is also included in a revised Baseball DVD box set. I highly recommend Baseball and any future innings Ken Burns decides to document.
14 Watch The Movie, Bull Durham A slice of life in the Minor Leagues is portrayed in Bull Durham, a romantic comedy from 1988. Starring Susan Sarandon, Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins, the lives of these three people intersect one baseball season in Durham, North Carolina. A woman, a catcher and his rookie pitcher form a crooked sort of love triangle in which there is poetry, profoundness and posturing. The sound track of the film is great and I’ve always liked Costner’s character’s name – Crash Davis. Though I’m not sure that in combination with Robbins’ character’s nickname it would make for a confident sounding battery – Crash and Nuke. Or perhaps opponents would find it intimidating. What do you think? The film is on DVD in the original release, Special Edition and Collector’s Edition versions.
19 Watch The Movie, The Natural This 1984 drama, The Natural, is based on the 1952 book of the same title. An obsessed and disturbed woman shots an up-and-coming pitcher and such begins the saga of Roy Hobbs. The majority of the film takes place years after the shooting when Hobbs (played by Robert Redford) comes to a struggling team in order to rescue it and lift it to a pennant. I’ve only seen this film once, and although there are a number of on field and off field dramas to keep the film moving, I couldn’t take seeing Robert Redford get shot again. It was such a surprise the first time. Yes, the film’s ending is different from the book’s – the requisite Hollywood happy ending is in play – after all, Robert Redford mustn’t go down in defeat. The film is available in the theatrical version on DVD and Blu-ray and in the director’s cut version on DVD.
21 Watch The Movie, Field Of Dreams Based on the 1982 book Shoeless Joe, the 1989 film, Field of Dreams is another baseball movie gem starting Kevin Costner. This baseball fantasy takes place in Iowa and involves a farmer, the 1919 Chicago White Sox scandal, a reclusive writer (a different one than in the book) and a dream fulfilled. For Red Sox fans, there is a scene at Fenway Park and supposedly (I don’t remember) Ben Affleck and Matt Damon can be seen at the game. Conflict in the film is between the reality of providing a living to support a family and the romance of playing professional baseball. Part of the baseball field in Iowa that was used in the film is still intact. Of course Field of Dreams is available on DVD in an Anniversary Edition and Collector’s Edition.
27 Watch The Movie, A League Of Their Own Until A League of Their Own came out in 1992, I never knew that there had been a professional women’s baseball league. How I wish the league had continued and perhaps, instead of dreaming of being the starting catcher for the Boston Red Sox, I had actually played professional baseball – as I’m sure do many women. Someday a woman will play in the Majors and I hope I’m around to see it. In the meantime, enjoy this fictional story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (would it have evolved into Women’s Major League Baseball?) which is available on DVD in a Special Edition. The famous quote uttered by Tom Hanks’ character is: "Are you crying? There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball!" Maybe there’s no crying, but perhaps a little sadness for what the league might have become.
31 Watch The Documentary, Viva Baseball The documentary, Viva Baseball, aired on Spike TV in September 2005. It covers the history of Latin American baseball players in the Majors. Viva Baseball is available on DVD.
32 Watch The Movie, Eight Men Out The account of the 1919 Chicago White Sox in which eight members of the team accept bribers to throw the World Series, is told in 1988’s Eight Men Out and is based on the 1963 book of the same name. Known as the Black Sox scandal, the film tells the background of life for the White Sox players which leads to those men being approached by gamblers. Whatever the truth behind this murky event in professional baseball history, no team will ever throw the World Series again. Eight Men Out is available on DVD in a 20th Anniversary Edition.
Images: Left: Baseball from the website upload.wikimedia.org Center: A League of Their Own from the website upload.wikimedia.org Right: Field of Dreams from the website upload.wikimedia.org
From Friday 10 June 2011 to Sunday 12 June 2011, The Boston Red Sox played three away games against the Toronto Blue Jays. Sixty-five games played - Ninety-seven more games to be played.
The Red Six swept the Blue Jays.
Over the three games, the Red Sox had a total of:
Thirty-five runs, forty-six hits, two errors, six homeruns
Over the three games, the Blue Jays had a total of:
Six runs, twelve hits, one error, two homeruns
The Red Sox had:
85.37% of the total runs, 79.31% of the total hits, 66.67% of the total errors, 75.00% of the total homeruns
Red Sox highlight: Jon Lester's pitching Red Sox lowlight: Nine men left on base Blue Jays highlight: Jose Bautista's homerun Blue Jays lowlight: Kyle Drabek's pitching
My Comment: Stunned and delighted by the Boston Red Sox! Such fun for everyone - players and fans. As great as the hitting was today, Jon Lester's pitching was excellent! He now leads the AL in wins. The unbeatable combination on display. While leading in many categories is good, still being on top in the AL East is the best!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester; Winning Pitcher: Jon Lester (9) TORONTO: Starting Pitcher: Kyle Drabek; Losing Pitcher: Kyle Drabek BOSTON: Homeruns: Adrian Gonzalez (13), Dustin Pedroia (5), David Ortiz (17), Kevin Youkilis (9) TORONTO: Homerun: Jose Bautista
RED SOX: Wins 39, Losses 26, Percentage .600
Next game: Tuesday 14 June 2011, 4:10 p.m.PT/7:10 p.m.ET, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Tim Wakefield
Red Sox highlight: Two three-run homers in the fifth inning Red Sox lowlight: Ten men left on base Blur Jays highlight: Edwin Encarnacion's homerun Blur Jays lowlight: Seven men left on base
My Comment: Red Sox hitting is amazing! Boston had twice as many homeruns, three times as many hits, and four times as many runs as Toronto. This was a game in which every Red Sox starter had an RBI - how rare is that! And now Boston has won eight games in a row - the season high for the team. Will it be another sweep for the red hot Red Sox tomorrow? Leading the American League with the best record, Boston seems to only be getting better and it's fun!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: John Lackey; Winning Pitcher: John Lackey (4) TORONTO: Starting Pitcher: Brandon Morrow; Losing Pitcher: Brandon Morrow BOSTON: Homeruns: Jason Varitek (3), David Ortiz (16) TORONTO: Homerun: Edwin Encarnacion
RED SOX: Wins 38, Losses 26, Percentage .594
Next game: Sunday 12 June 2011, 10:07 a.m.PT/1:07 p.m.ET, Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre, Jon Lester
Red Sox highlight: Eleven hits
Red Sox lowlight: Jed Lowrie's two fielding errors
Blue Jays highlight: One run
Blue Jays lowlight: Seven men left on base
From Tuesday 7 June 2011 to Thursday 9 June 2011, the Boston Red Sox played three away games against the New York Yankees. Sixty-two games played – One hundred more games to be played.
The Red Sox swept the Yankees
Over the three games, the Red Sox had a total of:
Twenty-five runs, thirty hits, one error, five homeruns
Over the three games, the Yankees had a total of:
Thirteen runs, twenty-four hits, three errors, two homeruns
The Red Sox had:
65.79% of the total runs, 55.56% of the total hits, 25.00% of the total errors, 71.43% of the total homeruns
Red Sox highlight: Seven runs in the seventh inning Red Sox lowlight: Mike Cameron's fielding error Yankees highlight: Curtis Granderson's homerun Yankees lowlight: Eight men left on base
My Comment: Thank you New York Yankees for wanting this 3 hour 27 minute rain delayed game to be played. Once again, the Boston Red Sox have swept the Yankees in New York and do it in dramatic fashion. Boston will not be denied! Every Red Sox starter was in on the fun - everyone had at least one hit and eight scored the runs. Now Boston is two games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East. Next stop, Toronto!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett; Winning Pitcher: Josh Beckett (5) NEW YORK YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: C. C. Sabathia; Losing Pitcher: C. C. Sabathia NEW YORK YANKEES: Homerun: Curtis Granderson
RED SOX: Wins 36, Losses 26, Percentage: .581
Next game: Friday 10 June 2011, 4:07 p.m.PT/7:07 p.m.ET, Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre, Clay Buchholz
Red Sox highlight: Two homeruns in the ninth inning Red Sox lowlight: Seven men left on base Yankees highlight: Alex Rodriguez's homerun Yankees lowlight: Francisco Cervelli's two throwing errors
My Comment: The Boston Red Sox have won another series and are going for their second sweep of the New York Yankees this season tomorrow. Glad that the oldest active player in the Majors was able to add one more win to his total. Way to go Wake! Boston is hitting the ball hard and for distance. And, the Red Sox are all alone in first place in the AL East!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield; Winning Pitcher: Tim Wakefield (3) NEW YORK YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: A. J. Burnett; Losing Pitcher: A. J. Burnett BOSTON: Save: ALfredo Aceves (1) BOSTON: Homeruns: David Ortiz (15), Carl Crawford (6), J. D. Drew (4) NEW YORK YANKEES: Homerun: Alex Rodriguez
RED SOX: Wins 35, Losses 26, Percentage .574
Next game: Thursday 9 June 2011, 4:05 p.m.PT/7:05 p.m.ET, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Josh Beckett
Red Sox highlight: David Ortiz's homerun Red Sox lowlight: Four men left on base Yankees highlight: Nine hits Yankees lowlight: Mark Teixeira getting hit by a Jon Lester pitch
My Comment: Good start to another possible sweep of the Yankees by the Red Sox. Although he gave up a run, Papelbon has logged his 200th save - Congrats Jonathan! Let's comeback tomorrow and do it again! Also, David Ortiz has been named the AL Player of the Week. That's two in a row for Boston. Super Congrats!!
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester; Winning Pitcher: Jon Lester (8) NEW YORK YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: Freddy Garcia; Losing Pitcher: Freddy Garcia BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (12) BOSTON: Homeruns: Jacoby Ellsbury (7), David Ortiz (14)
RED SOX: Wins 34, Losses 26, Percentage .567
Next game: Wednesday 8 June 2011, 4:05 p.m.PT/7:05 p.m.ET, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Tim Wakefield
On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number five out of twelve is:
MINOR LEAGUES – Part 2
128 Host A Minor League Ball Player Because of the low salaries given to Minor League players, a number of players are unable to afford accommodations and the need for hosting exists. I suppose the best way to become a host is to contact your local minor league team or their fan support organization or booster club to find out if any ballplayers need to be hosted. This is one way to become directly involved in the great game of professional baseball at its most initial stage.
133 See A Single-A Game Minor league baseball known as Single-A is divided into two classifications – Class-A Advanced Leagues and Class-A Leagues. There are three leagues in the Class-A Advanced – California, Carolina, and Florida State. The Boston Red Sox affiliate in the Class-A Advanced category is the Salem Red Sox who play in Salem, Virginia for the Carolina League. In the Class-A, there are two leagues – Midwest and South Atlantic. The Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League is the Boston Red Sox affiliated team located in Greenville, South Carolina. Afraid the only Salem I’ve been to is the one in Massachusetts – no bats, just broomsticks.
137 Catch An Arizona Fall League Game The Arizona Fall League consists of two leagues – East and West – and each league has three teams. League games take place at Spring Training facilities in Arizona and the playing season is from early October to mid-November. There are no specific MLB team affiliations in the Arizona Fall League. So, if your team isn’t in the post-season and you still need baseball in your life, take a trip to Arizona and watch up and coming Double-A and Triple-A players.
145 See A Short-Season A League Game The Short-Season A League comprises two leagues – New York-Penn and Northwest. There are fourteen teams in the New York-Penn League and eight teams in the Northwest League. The Lowell Spinners play for the New York-Penn League in Lowell, Massachusetts and are affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. The length of the Short-Season A League is from June to early September. When your MLB team’s games are sold out or the team is on the road, catch a Short-Season game to tide you over.
147 Attend The Caribbean Series The Caribbean Series tournament is held in February every year and is hosted, on a rotating basis, by the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rica, and Venezuela. In 2012, the tournament will be held in the Dominican Republic, 2013 Mexico, 2014 Venezuela, and 2015 Puerto Rico. League winners from each country’s Winter Leagues participate in this annual baseball event. A trip to a warmer climate for some pre-Spring Training baseball sounds like a wonderful winter diversion from the cold.
154 See A Rookie League Game The Rookie League consists of four leagues – Arizona, Dominican Summer, Gulf Coast, and Venezuelan Summer. The DSL Red Sox and GCL Red Sox are Boston Red Sox affiliates for the Dominican Summer (Dominican Republic) and Gulf Coast (Florida) leagues, respectively. Even though you don’t have to go all the way to the Dominican Republic to see a Rookie League game, go anyway, if just for the adventure of it!
160 Catch A Mexican League Game The Mexican League is the only Triple-A level league operating outside the United States that is sanctioned by Major League Baseball. However, no MLB team has an affiliation with any of the teams in the league. The Mexican League comprises two Zones – North and South – with each zone having seven teams. With no ML Red Sox team to watch, guess you’ll have to find another excuse to visit Mexico.
Images: Left: Arizona Fall League logo from the website upload.wikimedia.org Center: Minor League Baseball logo from the website upload.wikimedia.org Right: Liga Mexicana De Beisbol logo from the website upload.wikimedia.org
