Empyreal Environs

I am abashed. I missed three players for the Massachusetts town name team: Garry Hancock, Fred Hatfield, and Al Worthington. I have amended the list and made amends by taking on a task no reasonable person would consider undertaking.

How did I discover the missing three players, you may ask? Okay, you’re not actually asking yourself that, but I’ll pretend that you did anyway. Love for the Red Sox is not limited to Massachusetts, I realized, and decided to expand the team into the entire New England region (even those poor Yankee-deluded fools in the nether regions of Connecticut).

I didn’t realize how utterly insane this project would be until I found out that tiny New Hampshire has over 250 towns and an additional 20 or so “unincorporated places.” In comparison, Massachusetts, with six times the population, has 351. Maine’s municipality count weighs in at just over 500, is 35,384 square miles, dwarfing Rhode island’s 40 towns and 1,545 square miles.

Who needs to follow the hot stove shenanigans and GM-hiring hijinks? Relive Red Sox history and explore the quaint boroughs and hamlets of our region all in one table.

For something funny, see what the sponsor of Dick Porter says.

30 November 2005 ∙ 3:45 PM ∙ 2005 News & Quirky Things ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 11

Inspired by Andrew’s recent quiz on 12eight, I compiled a list of Red Sox players whose names corresponded with Massachusetts town names. Throughout history there have been 31 players whose names were more or less the same as 20 townships, with four “Gardners” and “Russells” tied for the highest number of players. I bent the rules a bit by allowing the town “Becket” to be matched with the new right-handed pitcher Josh Beckett, Mike Gardiner with “Gardner,” as well as “Hanson” to count for Craig Hansen.

I was surprised to find that there were no Carvers, Chesters, Conways, Daltons, Dennises, Douglases, Dudleys (although there was a “Dud Lee”), Eastons, Ervings, Franklins, Gills, Hamiltons, Heaths, Holdens, Lincolns, Miltons, Monroes, Montagues, Montereys, Newtons, Nortons, Norwoods (although there was a Norwood Gibson), Palmers, Randolphs, Somersets (which was a past owner’s name), Sterlings, Townsends, Warrens, or Westons on the team, ever.

And who knew there were no towns in Massachusetts called Adkins, Agbayani, Agnew, Bailey, Bowsfield, Brickner, Byerly, Campbell, Dropo, Ferrell, Fullerton, Gosger, Heflin, Irvine, Kell, Littlefield, Litton, Newsom, Owens, Patterson, Runnels, Sheldon, Schofield, Stuart, Truesdale, Vernon, Willoughby, or Worthington. According to the list I got from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website, there are no towns that start with the letter “J,” either. There is a town called “Sheffield,” but thankfully the Red Sox don’t have a player with such a name.

The table below is compiled from a spreadsheet I made with the all-time roster (courtesy of Red Sox Diehard) and all the town names; if you’re interested in seeing it, I can e-mail it to you.

The Red Sox All-Time, All-Town team is heavy with right-handed pitchers and is a bit shallow in the outfield with only three ballhawks. The AT-AT team, as I like to call it, has 8 All Stars. Let’s hope George Lucas isn’t particularly litigious this holiday season.

28 November 2005 ∙ 11:55 AM ∙ 2005 News & Quirky Things ∙ Permalink

How irked are Florida Marlins fans at the ongoing fire sale? Probably not very, because in the two seasons since their World Series win, the Marlins hardly captured the imagination of the region. In 2004, their seasonal attendence was 1.7M with an average attendance of 21,539 a game to rank only 14th in the NL, ahead of only the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Montreal Expos. (By the way, terrible job, Pittsburgh. You can’t support your team with the delightful park they get to play in? Are the Penguins and Steelers really so much more compelling?) With the move of the Expos to Washington DC, another club catapulted over the the Florida franchise in 2005. This rendered the fish 15th in the league with 1.8M total attendance with an average of 22,872 a game despite not making the playoffs. Since the fans voted with their wallets, baseball in the Sunshine State is witnessing another exodus of talent from their tax-free climes.

At least Jeffrey Loria had Larry Beinfest wait a couple of seasons before selling off the team’s assets. A beneficiary of the payroll slashing are the Red Sox, who officially acquired Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, and Guillermo Mota on November 25th. In return, Boston bids adieu to Hanley Ramirez and three right-handed pitchers, Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado (who turned out the be the player to be named later), and Harvey Garcia (who was thrown in to balance out the addition of Mota). Consensus amongst Florida Marlin blogs such as FishStripes and Maverick Ball is that they are happy to see Mota go. That’s how it goes with middle relievers, though. Red Sox fans were happy to see Todd Jones walk at the conclusion of 2003, and now see how he was rebounded for the Marlins this past season. The Red Sox threatened to walk from the deal if Mota was not included, and by happenstance or not, the Yankees had been inquiring about the pitcher. Like Mark Bellhorn and Alan Embree, they can have him when we’re done with him.

The trade was a group effort. Like so many things in Boston, a hodgepodge of personalities joined ot pursue a common goal. As the Big Dig is a major public works projects by committee and for a time the 2003 Red Sox had a bullpen by committee, this trade was executed by GM by committee. So what if too many chefs spoil the soup? Maybe it takes a lot of chefs like Bill Lajoie, Craig Shipley, Jed Hoyer, Ben Cherington, Peter Woodfork, and Jeremy Kapstein to make a great trade, which I think this is.

26 November 2005 ∙ 9:42 AM ∙ 2005 News ∙ Permalink

Peter Gammons reported on SportsCenter that all that is left to seal a Marlins/Red Sox blockbuster deal are the physicals. The deal calls for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell of the Marlins to come to Boston while Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, and a player to be named later go to Florida. For your viewing pleasure: the box scores from the 2003 Marlins/Yankees World Series. Here you will see that he started two games for a 1-1 record, pitching 16 and 1/3 innings with 8 hits, 2 earned runs, 5 walks, and 19 strikeouts.

I’m too giddy to even post coherently about this at the moment. See what can get done when there aren’t leaks? Did someone have Dr. Charles Steinberg forcibly bound and gagged in a 4 Yawkey Way closet? Has Larry Lucchino learned his lesson after bungling the Alex Rodriguez and Theo Epstein negotiations?

Will wonders never cease?

21 November 2005 ∙ 7:43 PM ∙ 2005 News ∙ Permalink

Photograph from the Washington Post

Steve Belichick died late Saturday night after spending his day as he loved, watching college football, of course. His Midshipmen won, overcoming a halftime deficit to beat Temple. His son did not tell his team of his loss until after they had defeated the New Orleans Saints.

Anything that can be said about the elder Belichick has already been said far more eloquently than I ever could in David Halberstam’s The Education of a Coach.

“Steve Belichick also passed on to his son--a far more privileged young man operating in an infinitely more affluent America--a relentless work ethic, one that had been part of his own boyhood as the son of Croatian immigrants who had settled in Youngstown, Ohio, and had survived the Depression. The lessons of that difficult childhood and young manhood were never forgotten. If you were new in the country and your name was Belichick (or Bilicic, as it had been until it was changed by a first-grade teacher in Monessen, Pennsylvania, who had trouble spelling it), you were likely to get the worst jobs available. But you always worked hard. You always did your best. You did not complain. You wasted nothing. You had to be careful in good times because bad times would surely follow. Nothing was to be bought on credit. As a high school fullback Steve had earned a scholarship at Western Reserve, but just to remind himself how lucky he was, he had taken a job in the mills during the months after graduation, turning coal into coke for 49 cents an hour, unbearably hot, unpleasant and dangerous work. Nothing else in his life would ever seem hard again.”

Requiscat in pace.

21 November 2005 ∙ 7:21 AM ∙ New England Patriots ∙ Permalink

Week 10: November 13, 2005
Patriots (5-4), 23
Dolphins (3-6), 16

Had the Patriots lost this game, they not only would have conceded the lead in the division, but also would have confirmed the status of Miami as the constant and fabled thorn in their flesh. Truth be told, a loss in Pro Player Stadium probably would have been the death knell for New England’s chances for another playoff run.

ESPN’s Tom Jackon selected Asante Samuels’s crushing of the presently svelte 226-pound Ricky Williams on a 2nd down and 10 yard running play in the 3rd quarter as his number one “Jacked Up” hit, but I think this has more to do with Jackon’s dislike of Williams than wanting to highlight a Patriots player. I’m not a big fan of Jackson or his segment because it isolates big tackles without the context of the drive or game. For once, however, Jackson’s selection as dead-on: the Samuels tackle was immediately followed by a 3rd down and 5 yard incomplete pass play from Gus Frerotte to Marty Booker, who was covered by none other than Samuels.

Fullback and West Palm Beach naitve Heath Evans, who was cut from the Dolphins’ roster on October 23rd, came back to haunt his former team. In place of the hobbled Corey Dillon, Evans plowed for 84 yards to lead the Patriots in rushing. As a Dolphin, Evans was tapped to write the player blog for the Palm Beach Post, the only thing that distinguished him while on that team. I checked, it seems that his archives have already been pulled since he was waived. Miami probably wished they could have just as easily erased his production, which was key to the Patriots’ fifth win of the season. How can you not like a guy that said, “I’m just glad we won because the soreness is always a lot worse after a loss. I haven’t played this many snaps in a long time.... What started as a negative turned into a positive for me and my family.” Welcome to our family.

Tim Dwight also had an excellent outing, particularly his 59-yard reception in the 4th quarter to set up the go-ahead touchdown with less than three minutes on the game clock. Of course, according the New England script for the season, he is on the injury list as “questionable” with a rib ailment and has missed practice.

On with the game breakdown:

• Patriots: 161/248; Dolphins: 231/209. Advantage: New England.
• The two changes of possession that went in New England’s favor ended up in Adam Vinatieri field goals: Rosevelt Colvin’s jolting of Randy McMichael in the 2nd quarter and Ellis Hobbs’s interception in the 4th quarter. However, an interception of Tom Brady by Yeremiah Bell later in the 4th quarter led to a Dolphins touchdown and the lead. Advantage: Miami.
• As with last week, the teams were tied for red zone efficiency in terms of percentage (40%), but this week they were also tied with number of attempts converted (2 for 5). Advantage: Push.
• For the first time in many weeks, the Patriots’ low number of penalties (6 for 38 yards) can be attributed to smart play rather than paltry time of possession. The Dolphins amassed 69 penalty yards on 4 infractions, which seems small. However, 49 of those yards were tied up in a key pass interference call in the 3rd quarter against Miami cornerback Travis Daniels as he covered Andre Davis. This pivotal call brought the Patriots into the opposition’s territory and eventually resulted in a field goal to keep the visiting team in contention. Advantage: New England.
• Third down conversion rates are a continuing concern for the Patriots, largely attributable to the lack of a consistent running game. Last week, New England was 4 for 11 for 36%. This week, the percentage remained the same but they converted 5 of 14 third downs, so they are at least creating more opportunities for sustained drives. The Dolphins converted 7 of 17 for a 41% third down efficiency rating. Advantage: Miami.

The Patriots face the itinerate Saints (2-7) at Foxborough. With the win, New England would have their first winning streak. Frankly, if they don’t win, they’ll need to start praying to the saints of desperate or lost causes: Jude Thaddeus, Gregory Thaumaturgus, Philomena, and Rita of Cascia.

Game Leaders
Passing
Tom Brady: 21/36, 275 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Gus Frerotte: 25/47, 360 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Heath Evans: 17 carries, 84 yards, 0 TD, 21 yard longest gain
Ronnie Brown: 14 carries, 64 yards, 0 TD, 16 yard longest gain
Receiving
Deion Branch: 5 receptions, 82 yards, 0 TD, 30 yard longest gain
Ben Watson: 3 receptions, 37 yards, 2 TD, 17 yard longest gain
Marty Booker: 5 receptions, 102 yards, 0 TD, 35 yard longest gain
Chris Chambers: 6 receptions, 69 yards 2 TD, 17 yard longest gain
Defense
Michael Stone: 6 tackles, 2 assists
Ellis Hobbs: 5 tackles, 2 assists, 1 interception
Rosevelt Colvin: 3 tackles, 3 assists, 1 forced fumble
Zach Thomas: 8 tackles, 4 assists
Kevin Carter: 3 tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack
Travares Tillman: 3 tackles, 1 assist, 1 interception
Yeremiah Bell: 2 tackles, 1 interception
Jason Taylor: 2 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack

20 November 2005 ∙ 10:40 AM ∙ New England Patriots ∙ Permalink

Dave Wilder, director of player development for the Chicago White Sox, interviewed today with the Red Sox for their still-vacant general manager position. Wilder’s background consists more of talent evaluation and scouting than Kim Ng’s, but he lacks her strengths in arbitration and contract negotiation. He worked with Atlanta Braves GM John Schuerholz for 5 and half years, so hopefully Wilder learned how to build a productive farm system from his former boss. He did pull the trigger on claiming Bobby Jenks off waivers, so he contributed a jewel to the White Sox World Series ring.

Wilder has been in his current position for two years. Minor League News gave the White Sox farm system a 7.5 out of 10 rating and the team is ranked 12th on Baseball America’s 2005 Organizational Talent Rankings. I still favor Ng for the job, but the ownership group doesn’t seem interested in her at all. Since that is the case, I would prefer to see if Wilder has what it takes rather than opting for the conventional tactics of Jim Beattie or Jim Bowden.

Best of all, Tom Yawkey is probably turning in his grave.

19 November 2005 ∙ 8:11 PM ∙ 2005 News ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 1

Jims Beattie and Bowden have impressed the Red Sox executives enough to warrant second interviews. These major league executive veterans (read: retreads) seem to have been given the nod over my preferred candidate Kim Ng. So, the Red Sox get Richard Carlson and Peter Cushing instead of Cate Blanchett or Harrison Ford their 2006 release of Still, Feverish, We Believe.

Forgive me while I try and hide how blasé I am by these choices. It seems that Red Sox management believes that hiring other teams’ tried and tired leftovers will avoid further public relations mishaps. It’s difficult to get worked up over such banal options. The Bs, Bowden and Beattie, provide the bromide needed for the management team’s image. Fans might need the same should either oldtimer be tapped for the position.

18 November 2005 ∙ 1:54 PM ∙ 2005 News ∙ Permalink

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association came to an agreement over a tougher schedule of penalties for violators of the performance-enhancing drug policy. The notable lacuna of amphetamines has been mended and agreement enforces a “three strikes and you’re out” approach to steroids. One of my primary issues with the policy remains: the testing is limited to urine. Since blood tests are still not permitted, any player taking the next generation of growth hormones will go undetected and unpunished.

To be sure, this is a great leap forward. However, it is incredibly shortsighted not to allow blood tests nor the retroactive testing of stored samples for enhancers for which tests have not yet been developed, as the National Football League does. The MLB drug policy continues to be mere window-dressing to satisfy Congress. The federal government will probably intercede in a few more years, when offensive production propels into the stratosphere once again and the gaps in the policy are exploited by the next generation of cheaters. And the burlesque will begin anew.

16 November 2005 ∙ 10:41 AM ∙ Around Baseball & Opinions ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 9

Dayton Moore withdrew his name from consideration for the Red Sox general manager position this afternoon and declined to meet with the team for a second interview. It seems that Braves GM John Schuerholz convinced Moore to stay, most likely putting Moore in a favorable place in the plan of succession upon the former’s retirement. Moore also brought up his three young children whom he would like to see grow up, preferably away from the prying Boston media.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Ned Colletti, former assistant GM with the San Francisco Giants, as their GM. Once again Kim Ng was shunted aside within her own organization. But such an oversight may work in favor of Boston as their candidate pool dwindles. Recently, both Indians assistant GM Chris Antonetti and Blue Jays director of player personnel Tony LaCava stated they weren’t even interested in interviewing for the club. I shudder to think that the preponderance of Jim Beattie fluff pieces were just floated out to the public so that fans could begin to accept the idea of the former Montreal and Baltimore GM as part of Red Sox baseball operations.

Let’s end the charade once and for all. The Red Sox should run the team via internet polls. Genuine Red Sox Nation cardholders would have special access to more pivotal decisions, of course. The marketing team could also make each game like “American Idol” and have voting devices to determine Terry Francona’s in-game moves. I’m a citizen of the Nation and I demand my right to vote. That’s what this country was founded on: no frustration without representation.

15 November 2005 ∙ 9:21 PM ∙ 2005 News ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 4

I was an early adopter of Apple’s iPod; I bought the 5 gigabyte model when it first came out, before there were 10G or 20G configurations available. I loved every inch of it, from its distinctive 90-degree Lucite edges to its mechanical navigation wheel.

Only recently, however, have I started exploring the podcasting spectrum. As with other self-publishing ventures (this site included), the results can be mixed. You can find premium offerings put forth by National Public Radio such as selected clips of Bill Littlefield’s “Only a Game” or Robert X. Cringely’s “NerdTV” from the eponymous Public Broadcasting Service program. There are also the shows put forth by My Sports Radio, which can be uneven in execution, but do not lack for enthusiasm.

My Sports Radio’s Red Sox program, hosted by Alex Reimer, is called “Without a Curse”. Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal was a recent guest, engaged to speak about the Theo Epstein imbroglio. The week before, David Pinto of Baseball Musings was quizzed on possible offseason moves by the Red Sox and other teams. The host was congenial but unflinching, asking questions repeatedly if he felt his guest was skirting the issue.

Reimer, by the way, is 12 years old. In fact, the day he interviewed Pinto, October 31st, other kids his age were trick or treating or pranking their neighbors.

He’s been a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and he uses a clip from this appearance in his intro. Despite his years, I’d say he’s better at conducting interviews than the majority of the so-called talent on the airwaves at WEEI. He can hold his own in baseball discussions with some of the game’s notable personalities, which is more than can be said for WEEI mainstays such as Michael Felger or John Meterparel.

In fact, in his show with McAdam, he said in a jaded tone, “I don’t listen to [“The Big Show”] much any more,” to which the beat writer quipped, “Was it something I said, Alex?” If you have qualms listening to a young kid talk baseball, just remember, you eventually got used to Tony Massarotti’s somewhat lacking timbre. What Reimer lacks in age he makes up in smarts and confidence. Check him out now before the Boston sports scene loses yet another young rising star to burnout.

15 November 2005 ∙ 10:01 AM ∙ Quirky Things ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 2

Week 9: November 7, 2005
Colts (8-0), 40
Patriots (4-4), 21

I’ve already expressed my opinions on this debacle, but I thought it would be worthwhile to revisit some of the details of game to see if there were any positive things New England could build on for the future. Suffice to say, such encouraging examples are few and far between, but hey, at least we’ll always have memories. If the New England Revolution win the MLS Cup this afternoon, Boston can still call itself Title Town.

Some may have been relieved when the Patriots were able to respond with a touchdown by Deion Branch immediately after the Colts’ 5-play opening drive score, but I knew immediately that the home team was in peril. In comparison to Indianapolis’s leisurely jaunt down the field, New England’s opening drive was 11 plays and required a 4th down conversion at the opposition’s 21-yard line. The offensive was designed to eat time and keep the visiting team’s offense off the field with a 5 to 6 ratio of run to pass plays, but Corey Dillon is not playing at the top of his form due to his nagging injuries. Seven-minute drives would not be sustainable for the entirety of the game. The Patriots defense would have to rise up to the challenge of shutting down the highly effective onslaught of Peyton Manning and his myriad weapons.

Despite being on the field of so many grisly defeats from the past, the Colts did not wither as they had done before. In their second drive, which lasted 9 minutes even without huddles, converted a 4th down and 1 of their own at the Patriots’ 46-yard line. The old Colts would have botched this situation, but this new version handily earned the required yardage to continue their drive for a second touchdown.

• Not only did the Colts outearn the Patriots by a little more than 33% in terms of yardage with their 228/207 first and second half yardage split, New England opponents continue to win the time of possession battle. The Patriots held the ball only 23:19 compared to Indianapolis’s 36:41. Tellingly, Hunter Smith, the Colts’ punter, made only one appearance on Monday night. Against most other teams, New England’s 102/186 split would have been adequate, but clearly not against the class of the AFC. Advantage: Indianapolis.
• The primary narrator of the turnover story was Indianapolis. Mike Vrabel had his second interception of the season in the 2nd quarter and his team momentarily seemed to regain momentum. On the enemy’s 17-yard line, however, Dillon fumbled back the ball which led to a Colts touchdown just a little over two minutes later. Making a relief appearance, Doug Flutie also fumbled in the last seconds of the game to complete the epic defeat. Advantage: Indianapolis.
• The teams were tied for red zone efficiency in terms of percentage with each team turning in a rate of 67%. The determining factor was that the Colts were 4 for 6 while the Patriots were 2 for 3. Advantage: Indianapolis.
• Once again, minimal time of possession pared down the penalty yards for the Patriots, who had only 4 infractions for 24 yards. A key misstep in the 3rd quarter was an offsides against New England on a 3rd down and 4 with the Colts just 8 yards from the end zone to grant the visitors a new set of downs. The disturbing trend of the Patriots beating themselves continues. The Colts had 7 penalties for 32 yards. The officials called the game loose as the score was so lopsided. Advantage: Indianapolis.
• Last week, the Patriots were only 1 of 7, or 14%, and this week the dearth of success on 3rd downs continued with 4 for 11 for 36%. The battered Patriots defense allowed an alarming 71% rate of conversion, permitting 12 of 17 chances. Advantage: Indianapolis.

In sum, complete and utter dominance by the Colts. For a team that had so long been on the cusp, they chose a tremendous stage for their coming out party. They now threaten to match the 1972 Miami Dolphins for a perfect season and perhaps the Patriots’ 21-game win streak as well.

Fair warning, however: Bill Belichick has a long memory. He will not forget that 2-point conversion attempt. When his roster is refilled and another game against the Colts is on the horizon, expect that debt to be repaid in full.

Game Leaders
Passing
Peyton Manning: 28/37, 321 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Tom Brady: 22/33, 265 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
Edgerrin James: 34 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD, 9 yard longest gain
Corey Dillon: 12 carries, 40 yards, 0 TD, 13 yard longest gain
Receiving
Marvin Harrison: 9 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TD, 48 yard longest gain
David Givens: 4 receptions, 64 yards, 0 TD, 35 yard longest gain
Deion Branch: 5 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD, 17 yard longest gain
Defense
Gary Brackett: 5 tackles, 4 assists
Raheem Brock: 3 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack
Robert Mathis: 2 tackles, 3 assists, 1 sack
Rosevelt Colvin: 6 tackles, 3 assists
Mike Vrabel: 6 tackles, 4 assists, 1 interception

13 November 2005 ∙ 12:12 PM ∙ New England Patriots ∙ Permalink

Of the three candidates recently interviewed by Red Sox officials, only Dayton Moore, the Atlanta assistant general manager, has been called back for a second interview. Jim Beattie is another aspirant to meet with the club’s brass; his interview with Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner occurred today. The other former candidates, Jim Bowden (Nationals GM) and Wayne Krivsky (Twins assistant GM), probably got the form letter that spoke of there being other more qualified candidates and wishing them bright futures. How convenient that they can read of their hiring status in newspapers rather than having to go through the blockade of human resources personnel and their vague statements.

Moore will likely be a good fit. Baseball America ranked the Braves farm system fifth in March of this year, and Moore played a large part in building this aspect of the team. Jeff Francoeur, a product of that system, came in third for NL Rookie of the Year voting despite not starting this season. Minor League News also ranks Atlanta’s prospect pool high with a 9.6 out of 10.

I’m a bit disappointed that the Red Sox didn’t give Kim Ng a try, but she’ll probably be promoted to GM of the Dodgers. Hopefully Frank McCourt will have learned some patience so this new experiment is not doomed to fail.

11 November 2005 ∙ 3:36 PM ∙ 2005 News ∙ Permalink

If some of the navigation pictures and headers are behaving strangely, give them a sharp rap, some Ritalin®, and then refresh your browser. If that fails, try to clear your cache as well. If the images still don’t resolve, it is a server-side issue with SixApart, the company that hosts TypePad blogs. They are currently undergoing a data center transition, and the necessary files may not have replicated themselves across their servers. The images should fall into line in due time.

Hope you are enjoying the redesign of this site. I finally have time to customize a bit, so expect incremental changes. Let me know if you have any suggestions, too. I’ll run them by the programming and graphic departments and determine if such changes are in the budget.

With baseball season over, I’m also attacking the accumulated stacks of books I’ve been intending to read, so expect book reviews in the future. That is if I can pry myself away from Photoshop® long enough to write a review.

I feel like Bret Easton Ellis with all the brand names I’m dropping.

9 November 2005 ∙ 9:20 AM ∙ Meta ∙ Permalink

Hype does not a good football game make. The sports media acted as if it were the Patriots of last year, with Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour intact and in sync with a functional secondary, that would play their AFC rivals. They tried to present the Colts as the effete pretenders of the past, with a gaudy offense but subpar defense. Everyone wanted to pursue and pimp the sexy storyline to cover up the obvious mismatch.

Say what you will about the Foxborough Mystique and Aura; as far as I know, after they abandoned Yankee Stadium they did not become world-class defensive backs nor ace assistant coaches. Anything for a Monday Night Football ratings boost, I suppose.

Bill Belichick defied his usual course of action by deigning to engage the Colts in an offensive shootout. It was perhaps the best option given his lack of a reliable defensive corps, but in doing so he violated the very principles with which he typically coaches. There would be no annihilation of the opposition’s strengths; for all his game-calling wizardry, Belichick cannot summon effective defenders from thin air nor heal his roster by mere touch.

Even the weather did not side with New England. There might as well have been a dome over Gillette Stadium. Mother Nature did not visit with a timely November flurry to remind Indianapolis that it isn’t nice to fool with her. If the Patriots were going to win, it would have to be on their own merits.

Perhaps we’re seeing a dynasty in the wane. The Patriots seem to ceding their crown, at least temporarily. Even on their own field they are not the most successful team this season: the New England Revolution defeated the Chicago Fire yesterday to win the MLS Eastern Conference Championship. This Sunday afternoon they will face the Los Angeles Galaxy for the MLS Cup.

At about the same time, the Patriots will attempting to regain some amount of dignity against the Miami Dolphins. If the pattern holds, they will win, as they have yet to have a winning or losing streak. Let’s hope last night’s blowout is not the start of one.

8 November 2005 ∙ 6:34 AM ∙ New England Patriots ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 2

Week 8: October 30, 2005
Bills (3-5), 16
Patriots (4-3), 21

I really meant to have this done earlier, but there were other, rather pressing issues with another area team. As everyone knows, when the Red Sox re-sign Mike Timlin, everything else just falls by the wayside.

This game against Buffalo could have been a prototypical “trap” game for the Patriots. With the formidable Colts in the offing, the Bills could have been overlooked if any other coach but Bill Belichick, the consummate preparer, led this team. Yet, it was still an ugly win due primarily to the Bills’ ineptitude on offense rather than New England’s expertise. Buffalo possessed the ball for nearly twice the amount of time, with the differential of 39:20 for the Bills compared to the Patriots’ paltry 20:40.

Although this game would determine the lead for the AFC East, the most compelling story of the game was the return of Tedy Bruschi. After failing to find a single medical expert that advised against his return, the veteran linebacker made his comeback. He played 64 defensive plays and also made some special teams appearances. The heart of the defense ended the game with 2 tackles and 5 assists.

In the 3rd quarter the Patriots finally scored with a 33-yard touchdown reception by Deion Sanders. But the defense immediately gave up the longest offensive for the Bills in this season so far with a 55-yard touchdown catch by Eric Moulds.

There were other flashes of hope. The struggling secondary had their first interception since September 18th when Asante Samuel intercepted Kelly Holcomb in the 3rd quarter. That last time we saw this was back on September 18th when Mike Vrabel got a pickoff of Jake Delhomme.

Corey Dillon, playing in pain, scored 2 touchdowns in the 4th to help seal the win for his inconsistent squad. Home field inoculated the Patriots. Despite the Bills having a tremendous possession advantage, the ailment of badly played football plagued the visiting team to a greater extent than their hosts.

• The Patriots earned less total yards than the Bills but increased their gain 42% between the first and second halves with their 100/171 split. In contrast, the Bills were able to earn more yards in the second half by improving from 171 to 202 for a mere 15% increase. Advantage: New England.
• As noted above, the Patriots (finally) intercepted the ball for their 3rd interception of the season so far. That change in possession did not result in points on the board, although Rosevelt Colvin’s sack and fumble recovery in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter gave the Patriots the lead once and for all. The Bills did force two fumbles to score two field goals. I’ll grant the Patriots a slight advantage because their turnover for resulted in more points and the victory. Advantage: New England.
• The Patriots were 2 for 2 for 100% red zone efficiency, showing that they were opportunistic with the limited chances they had in enemy territory. Buffalo failed to convert any of their 3 red zone scenarios. Advantage: New England.
• Since New England held the ball for such a short time, they managed to pare down their penalties to 7 infractions for only 57 yards. The Bills lost 74 yards on 12 penalties. Advantage: New England.
• Although they rarely scored, the Bills converted 7 of 14 first downs (50%) while the Patriots were only 1 of 7 (14%). Advantage: Buffalo.

Game Leaders
Passing
Kelly Holcomb: 20/33, 263 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Tom Brady: 14/21, 199 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
Willis McGahee: 31 carries, 136 yards, 0 TD, 14 yard longest gain
Corey Dillon: 18 carries, 72 yards, 2 TD, 12 yard longest gain
Receiving
Eric Moulds: 9 receptions, 125 yards, 1 TD, 55 yard longest gain
Deion Branch: 3 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD, 37 yard longest gain
Defense
Terrence McGee: 6 tackles, 1 assist
Aaron Schobel: 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Chris Kelsay: 1 tackle, 2 assists, 0.5 sack
Justin Bannan: 1 assist, 0.5 sack
Mike Vrabel: 9 tackles, 5 assists, 1 sack
Asante Samuel: 7 tackles, 1 interception
Rosevelt Colvin: 3 tackles, 3 assists, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble

7 November 2005 ∙ 8:54 PM ∙ New England Patriots ∙ Permalink

Now you can see what I’ve been doing instead of writing. This redesign is in preparation of other changes that will be happening shortly with this site.

Hopefully you will find this page easier to navigate. Be sure to make use of the main menu to the left. The other picture headings aren’t active yet because I am thinking of a way to make them interesting. In the meantime, have fun trying to figure out what the images represent.

One amusing idea I had was to have the sound of an umpire yelling “You’re out!” when a visitor left this site. I thought about going up to Country Joe West or Angel Hernandez and having them bellow into my iTalk. I can think of no finer use for podcasting.

7 November 2005 ∙ 1:58 AM ∙ Meta ∙ Permalink

So, disparaging domain names about the Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino are already popping up like mushrooms after the rain: this one calls for a boycott of the Boston Globe (been there, done that, doesn’t get you anywhere) and you can buy a t-shirt while you’re there. I’d say it’s rather disingenuous to criticize a man that has over-commercialized the Red Sox with a merchandising venture of your own.

The World Series championship days seem so long ago now that many, too many, of the key men that brought the title to Boston are gone. And yet there are certain things that I remember clear as day despite the delirious joy victory inspired. So famished was I for any type of talk about the World Champion Boston Red Sox (do I send a nickel to Lucchino’s coffers each time I use that phrase?), I brought myself to tune into WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan show to hear their weekly interview with Lucchino. He said that it was unfortunate that the World Series did not last more games because the team would have gotten a bigger share of the gate as the series progressed. He did say it with tongue somewhat planted in cheek, but he proceeded to explain in detail and length how the percentages of profit change after four games. I don’t recall the exact split because I was taken aback by his comments were more about maximizing postseason earnings rather than enjoying success in the game.

In contrast, Theo Epstein spoke of certain Red Sox executives who had pen and paper at the ready during Game 4, poised to craft a fitting statement of defeat. Whether it was Dr. Charles Steinberg or Lucchino was left open to interpretation.

Epstein’s press conference on November 2nd also left much to the imagination. After mulling over his departure and having a few more days to read the transcript of his cryptic responses, it would be lunacy for me or anyone else to claim to know the true story of why he left, but I’m left with a few impressions of this regrettable process.

Epstein felt he had earned the right to be treated as part of management. I revise my previous statement that I thought Lucchino was the source of the leaks, but the fact remains that someone with access to sensitive details spoonfed these particulars to Dan Shaughnessy. Such an act seems to be predicated by an apparent lack of respect for Epstein that may permeate the organization. Everyone thought of him as the young protegé and hometown kid willing to take his lumps indefinitely.

But kids grow up. He was not willing to play the ingenue any longer. He helped bring a championship to a town that was fallow for decades. Perhaps his front office peers, for he saw them as peers, never thought of him as being more than a novelty act. Epstein imagined that he had established himself as a full-fledged member of the management team and a league elite, not part of the rank and file. But when it came down to it, Epstein wasn’t accepted as part of the old boys’ club.

Maybe it’s because he didn’t put on airs. So many of the players spoke out on Epstein’s departure: Curt Schilling (not entirely surprising), Jason Varitek, David Ortiz. Rookie phenom Jonathan Papelbon spoke out on how Epstein gave him confidence when he was told by the man who recruited him “to act like you’re meant to be here this whole time.” Much like how the now former Red Sox general manager took to his own responsibilities at the age of 28 with an aplomb and deftness alien to recent Red Sox admininistrators.

For one so young, he understood how the Red Sox were not cursed by figments of former players but by a lack of innovation. The team Theo loved growing up was plagued by uninspired owners and managers who couldn’t see beyond their provincial cant and received so-called wisdom. The legacy of racism and moribund imagination that hobbled the team is so often whitewashed by the song and dance of Shaughnessy’s devising.

How deliciously vile that this specific Boston Globe columnist play a part in this drama. In a struggle between counterfeit understandings of Red Sox history represented by Shaughnessy against a vibrant baseball dynasty-in-the-making exemplified by Epstein, the former triumphed and a part of a promising future that was lost. Why write a new story when you can just keep on reissuing the old?

4 November 2005 ∙ 2:14 PM ∙ 2005 News & Opinions ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 2

If only I could write as well as David Halberstam spoke. He is able to weave a rich tapestry of words both in person and on the page. I went to Brookline Booksmith this evening to have my copies of Summer of ’49 and The Teammates autographed as well as to pick up Halberstam’s latest book The Education of a Coach. I knew that the Pulitzer prize-winning author was a great storyteller from hearing him on the radio, but he is even more charismatic in person.

Halberstam said that Bill Belichick is a genius because he has learned how to learn. This in turn made him both a great teacher and successful coach. The Patriots head coach is able to convey his strategies effectively because he knows how to help others comprehend his lofty concepts. Moreover, Belichick knew he had to earn his players’ faith by showing them how he could help them succeed. He convinced defensive linemen to follow his lead, but not because he had the on-field experience that others tout. Instead, from a young age he was an ardent student of the game; a seeming outsider, but one who used that clinical distance to observe nuances that go unnoticed when one is caught up in the fray of the game.

Since the shop is in Brookline, there was the inevitable Theo Epstein query. A customer asked Halberstam if he thought Epstein’s departure was analogous to Belichick’s resignation from the New York Jets. Halberstam said he doesn’t think enough of the Red Sox situation has been made public to make a determination yet, but did state that he saw similarities between Epstein and Belichick.

I got a copy of the book on Belichick signed to present to my dad. Much like the subject of the story, it was my dad that introduced me football. I hope to get The Teammates signed by Bobby Doerr, Dom DiMaggio, and Johnny Pesky eventually. Now there’s a Red Sox trio that I can actually admire.

3 November 2005 ∙ 11:28 PM ∙ New England Patriots ∙ Permalink

Lost in the shuffle yesterday was the awarding of Silver Slugger trophies to David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Jason Varitek. Recipients of the award are selected by major league managers coaches; each position has one winner. Ortiz and Ramirez have both carried the vote multiple times, garnering their second and eighth awards respectively. Ortiz also won the Hank Aaron award recently for being the best all-around hitter in the league, and the accumulated accolades are beginning to feel a bit like consolation prizes for not winning the MVP vote, which will likely be the case for the Red Sox designated hitter. The AL MVP will be announced November 14th. This was the first year Varitek was so recognized. Boston had the most players on the Silver Slugger team; New York and Texas followed closely with two teammates each.

Today Varitek was recognized for his defensive prowess with his first Gold Glove honor. The first thing that sprang to my mind was the captain blocking home plate to keep Jack Wilson from scoring on June 17th in an interleague game against the Pirates. The Red Sox catcher is regarded as the best game caller and is also reknown for his conscientious preparation for each outing. Just nine more and he’ll tie Johnny Bench and ten more until Ivan Rodriguez, who had won the award 11 out of the past 13 years. It was the first Gold Glove for Boston since 1991, when Tony Peña, another Red Sox catcher, was so recognized.

Of course, we’d prefer other hardware, or a general manager. Heck, how about a functional baseball operations office? Until then, have some new baubles that can be trotted out by the Red Sox public relations office to occupy and amuse the masses, albeit briefly.

1 November 2005 ∙ 9:40 PM ∙ 2005 News ∙ Permalink