Surviving Grady

Summertime Blues

2008-09-05T09:16:00.004-04:00

It happens every year. You wait all winter, trudging through the snow, sliding around on icy roads and cursing the constant dark. You promise yourself this will be the year that you really get your money's worth out of New England summer. Spring rolls in, baseball starts, and the next thing you know it's hurricane season, the leaves are turning, and another summer has passed you by. To remedy that, at least for two-and-a-half minutes, I give you Mungo Jerry.

Very nice, eh?

Now, Red will be back from his "business trip" soon and I feel like I haven't had a chance to flex my man-in-charge muscle during the posts this week. And being a man of the people, I won't do it now. Instead, I give the ladies what they want. And what they all seem to want is Jason Varitek.

Enjoy.

Tonight, it's back to Red Sox baseball. The return of Josh Beckett combined with the Rays facing Halladay? Smells like two-and-a-half to me.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

2008-09-05T01:31:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe it, but a real NFL football game was on last night. It reminded me of two things:

1) Summer is almost over.

2) The Giants had no right winning the Superbowl last year.

To officially welcome football back from its summer vacation, I wanted to post the football speech Tom Cruise made in "All The Right Moves." For those of you who don't remember, before Tom became part of the Jupiter student-exchange program and was replaced with an alien double, he made some decent movies. But I was unable to track it down. Instead, I give you Rudy.

Now, back to baseball!

Where Are All The Sox Addicts?

2008-09-04T08:29:00.002-04:00

As you know, Red and I spread our seed, so to speak, over at Barstool Sports. El Presidente keeps it real over there with the winning combination of sports talk and hot chicks. I stumbled on a nice feature while I was...uhhh...looking for yesterday's box score. He does a "Wake Up With" section where he features, you guessed it, pictures of the hot chick du jour. Well, check out Wake Up With Hot Chicks Spotted At Fenway. I was very disappointed there wasn't a single Sox Addict in the bunch! How are Red and I going to take over the NESN post-game show if we don't get some representation?

For the ladies, I'm scouring the web for "Hot Guys Spotted At Fenway." If that comes up dry, I'll just post a few pictures of Tek.

Sweep! Finally...

2008-09-03T17:45:00.000-04:00

Baltimore took longer than usual to show why they're a last-place team. But in the end, they literally threw away a chance to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. A throwing error by the pitcher in the bottom of the ninth broke a 4-4 tie by allowing Alex Cora to score the game-winner. The win for the Sox puts them just three-and-a-half games behind the Rays, who play the Yankees tonight. Although the Sox aren't likely to get any help from the pinstripes with Carl Pavano (dubbed "American Idle" by the NY media) starting.

The Sox have taken two-out-of-three games in their last four series, flirting with sweeps in three of those but losing the final game. Despite being down 4-0 after six, the Sox were not to be denied. The comeback started with a Dustin Pedroia home run in the seventh. And if this surprises anyone, where the f@&k have you been? Later in the inning, a bases-loaded walk to Coco Crisp by reliever Rocky Cherry (a name straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon) scored Jason Bay, and that's when any doubts you had began to slip away.

In the top of the eighth, Javier Lopez walked Aubrey Huff and was yanked in favor of Masterson. After stealing second, Huff ran into an out at third, and Masterson got a double-play to end the inning. The Red Sox immediately capitalized in the bottom of the eighth with an Ortiz walk and, you guessed it, a Pedroia double. Kotsay tripled them in to tie the game, and the O's finished themselves off in the ninth, and the elusive sweep was complete.

The Pedroia train just keeps on rolling. Three more hits, and RBI and two more runs scored. Has it ever happened that a Rookie of the Year won the MVP the following year? Because this could happen.

"Daddy" Does it Again

2008-09-03T08:37:00.003-04:00

What more can we say about Dustin Pedroia? He came up big once again, helping Jon Lester and the Red Sox cut the deficit in the AL East to four games. And, he dances. Kinda.

Like Father, Like Son

2008-09-02T00:44:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since Roger Clemens has made the papers. Perhaps the torch has been passed, as Koby made headlines, and just like dad, not for anything he did on the diamond.

Koby Clemens, Mark Ori and Jimmy Goethals were arrested early Sunday morning after several members of the Salem Avalanche baseball team spent Saturday night at a popular Salem restaurant.
According to the news release, police were dispatched to a disturbance in the restaurant's parking lot at 2 a.m. on Sunday and, upon their arrival, found approximately 50 people in the lot.
Clemens, a 21-year-old catcher, is the eldest son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens. He has hit .268 for the Avalanche this season with 29 doubles, seven homers and 52 RBIs while learning a new position and catching catcalls from fans and media as his father contends with allegations of cheating on his wife, Debbie, and using performance-enhancing drugs during his baseball career.

Meanwhile, Pedroia just keeps on keepin' on, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and another run scored. Our elf now has 184 hits, the most for a Red Sox second baseman held since Del Pratt in 1922. If you're keeping score at home, that was 86 years ago. Why does that ring a bell?

Byrd pitched good enough to win, going seven and giving up four. The win left the Sox an even five games behind the Rays and pushed the O's to five games away from elimination. Just another reason it's great to be a Sox fan.

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

2008-09-01T09:42:00.000-04:00

Just like in the last series against the Yanks, the Red Sox were unable to complete the sweep. In fact, since losing the rain-shortened two-game series to the Jays, the Sox have taken two-out-of-three from the O's, Toronto, New York and now Chicago. Nothing wrong with taking two in any series, but a sweep would be nice. You know, get on a little winning streak, maybe creep a little closer to the Rays. The five-and-a-half game lead looks pretty solid with just 26 left to play, but the Sox face the Rays head-to-head six times in the next couple of weeks, and it's there the division will be decided.

Today, we get the pleasure of filling our bellies with grilled meats and cold beer on another stunning late-summer day in Boston.

RIP Killer Kowalski.

Bizarro Line-up Enough To Beat The White Sox

2008-08-31T09:53:00.002-04:00

Ozzie Guillen had a batting average of .264, with 69 homers and 619 RBI in a career that spanned 16 seasons. To hear him talk, you'd think he was a Hall of Famer. While his team clings to a half-game lead in their division, Ozzie continues to talk. And talk and talk.

Ozzie stormed into Boston spewing his street corner psychology, saying the Red Sox would not be able to play at a high level after completing a series against the Yankees. After an 8-0 pasting on Friday evening it appeared the White Sox were having trouble getting up for the series.

After last night's 8-2, 15-hit attack left the White Sox with the smallest of leads to make the post-season, Ozzie opened his mouth, and sure enough, something came out. Referring to an intentional walk to Pedroia in the eighth:

"I never thought I would walk a jockey," Guillen said.

It was a harmless comment, everyone knows Guillen loves Pedroia's game. But Ozzie couldn't stop himself, talking about Michael Bowden's performance:

"He got us on a bad day," Guillen said. "He's OK. He didn't really impress me. He beat a team that right now is not swinging the bat well. The first inning he threw all fastballs. We're a fastball-hitting team and we couldn't get him. When you deserve credit, I'll give you credit. He didn't impress me.

When a 21-year-old kid shuts down a major league team in his debut as a starter, it's impressive. Wake goes for the sweep this afternoon on a picture-perfect day in Boston. Maybe the 42-year-old knuckleballer can impress Guillen.

Cue Travelling Music

2008-08-30T13:30:00.003-04:00

One of the nice things about my job is it keeps me off the streets (much to the delight of society) and neck-deep in cheap beer. The not-so-nice thing is that on occasion, I am plucked rather suddenly from my everyday life and sent to far-flung, exotic locations like Newark, Kansas City and Chesterbump, IL (an actual place; look it up).

Yesterday, I was thusly plucked, given my marching orders and pointed toward a plane. So here I sit, miles from the comfort of home and Jerry Remy, with a packed week ahead that will keep me from giving Surviving Grady the attention it deserves.

So with that, I am handing the keys to Denton, who will be your host until I return in about a week--or perhaps sooner, if the gods of business choose to smile upon me. I am certain you will be safe in his hands, although the fact that I'm checking in now and he hasn't seen fit to put up a Saturday post might raise a red flag as to the amount of new material you'll be getting during the week ahead (I kid. I'm sure it's just a tie-up with his parole officer.)

Besides keeping me from my bed for a week, this trip has also caused me to miss a farewell celebration for Bridget--AKA Trot's Hat in the comments section--who is shipping out to London. Our loss is the UK's gain, and we wish her safe and happy travels.

Peace, love and f@#k Giambi.

Josh Beckett Has a Time Machine

2008-08-29T07:52:00.001-04:00

You understand what's at stake here.

Yeah.

We all like Julio. He's a nice guy. Lotsa fun in the clubhouse. Hell, if I had a dollar, and he needed a dollar, well, f@#k, I'd give him that dollar. Just hand it to him and shit.

Right.

But soon he'll be ready to come off the DL. And we can't have that.

Si.

Now, killing the guy would be messy. We can't have blood on our hands.

Perish the thought.

So you're gonna have to go back in time and make sure he never gets a job in professional baseball.

::nods::

We have a time machine here. Is it ready, doctor?

Gah.

Excellent. Now go and make things happen. To Julio.

Yeah.

::Travels back to 1985, Dominican Republic::

Hey, kid. Where you headin'?

The ballfield. My name's Julio. I play Little League.

Well I guess that's cool. If you like being poor.

Huh? Baseball players ain't poor. They make a lotta money.

That's what they tell you. But once you're on a plane to America, they put you to work. Mowing grass or stitching pig bladders into fancy purses for the rich.

Aye carumba.

Want my advice? Stick to math.

Math? Like school math?

Damn straight. That's where the real money is. Adding, subtracting. Here.

What's this?

It's a calculator. You can do all sorts of cool tricks with it.

::fiddling with it:: I don't see no Donkey Kong on here.

It ain't a f@#kin' video game, pancho. It's numbers. The lifeblood of everything in this world.

::still fiddling with it:: Hey, this is pretty cool.

You wouldn't happen to know where the Lowries' summer vacation house is, wouldya? I gotta drop off a sack of bats.

::Later, back in 2008, at Bukowski's Tavern::

So blah, blah, yadda yadda yadda, we're all set.

Good work, Josh. Now I've got to get to my secret base on the moon to help NASA locate Mecha-Giambi. I trust you'll take care of the tab?

Sure, sure. No problem. Eh ::picks up bill, squints:: Damn, I should've asked Terry to figure the tip. I can never do percentages. Hmmmm....

Excuse me, sir. I couldn't help but overhear your predicament. Perhaps I can offer some assistance. You see, I am in the business of mathematics.

Okay. Eh...

Looking at your bar tab, it appears that you've had six whiskeys, two Jaeger shots and a half-dozen Heinekens.

Well, it is breakfast.

With your bar tab being $250, I would estimate an adequate tip to be 42 dollars.

Thanks, buddy, I... hey, you look familiar to me. Do I know you?

Not unless you attended MIT, my friend.

::The Next Day::

Ready for another time travel assignment?

Uh. Sure.

Excellent. You're familiar with Tim McCarver?

The broadcaster?

Not if you can help it.

Genius.

* * * * * * * *

Apologies to McSweeneys, the Dugout, and readers everywhere.

I Heard Charles Nelson Reilly

2008-08-28T22:37:00.002-04:00

Next Stop, Carnage

2008-08-28T03:27:00.000-04:00

Back in August of 2006--on my goddam birthday of all days--the Sox opened a critical 5 game series at home against the Yankees. When New York arrived, the Sox were a mere one and a half games behind them in the standings. When they left, having taken all five games, we were six and a half games gone. And we never got closer than five and half games again for the rest of the season.

It was a dumbfounding, jaw-dropping, push-yer-nuts-through-the-meat-grinder kind of series, each loss more stupendously painful than the last. It was the nail in the coffin, assuring us in every way except mathematically, that the Sox were destined to spend October on the sidelines. Even though we'd just embarrassed the Yanks in the 2004 ALCS a couple years earlier, this utter f@#k-up of a series hurt. Bad.

So I must say, I'm quite happy to see the Sox returning the favor in 2008, deftly chloroforming any playoff aspirations Joe Girardi's Stormtroopers might have harbored. It was the two new guys -- Byrd and Bay -- and the Elf Himself delivering the crushing blows, and even Manny Delcarmen sacked up when it was still a 4-2 game, striking out two in a perfect seventh inning, before all hell broke loose in the eighth.

I still can't count them out. My mind just won't let me do it. But if the Sox can shut 'em down again this afternoon, as Jon Lester takes on Chandler Bing, then I might start looking into venues for the Yankees Elimination Party.

Y'know. Just to be safe.

Hello, Mark Kotsay

2008-08-27T23:04:00.002-04:00

"To be with the Red Sox will be cool," Kotsay told MLB.com. "I've always said there were a couple of teams I'd like to play for, with Atlanta being one of them. But I'm looking forward to joining the Red Sox and being in the pennant race."

Also, hello to Mrs. Kotsay.

Round One Goes To The Red Sox

2008-08-27T11:42:00.000-04:00

When Tito made the move to bring in Justin Masterson with bases loaded in the seventh to face A-Rod, my hand automatically reached for the remote. Everybody Loves Raymond had to be on somewhere. I personally would have yanked MDC one batter earlier and brought in Oki to face Abreu. Don't get me wrong, I think Masterson has been "the man" since moving to the pen, second only to Paps in reliability. But we're talking about a bases loaded situation in Yankee frickin' Stadium, with Alex Rodriguez at the plate, and despite my growing man-love for Justin, he's just a kid. Then the camera zoomed in for a close-up as Masterson looked in for the sign, and I knew Tito made the right move. The look in Masterson's eyes was...Papelbon-esque. He knew he was getting A-Rod out. At that moment, I knew he was getting A-Rod out. And I think A-Rod knew it too.

A-Rod spent the entire game adding to what I call his "automatic transmission" reputation - no clutch. His 0-for-5 effort included a strikeout to end the first, a double-play to end the third, a fly-out with two on in the fifth, the bases loaded double-play in the seventh, and another strikeout to end the game. Oh, and an error at third. The always supportive fans in the Bronx booed A-Rod with growing passion after each at-bat.

Tim Wakefield started things off, going five innings for the win on his first outing off the DL. He looked pretty good with the exception of Johnny Damon, who, after reading Hitting the Knuckleball for Dummies, smacked two solo shots off of Wake. Okay, someone actually read the book out loud to Johnny, but it looks like some of it sunk in. Other than that, Timmy looked like he might be ready for some October baseball.

A couple of relief pitcher observations:

When Okajima was pitched the eighth, it looked like he was trying to pass a kidney stone.
The Yankee media guide claims they promoted Chris Britton from Triple-A Scranton when in fact, they picked him up last weekend after he pitched a Sunday beer-league softball game representing the Queens County Deli and Pinkie Ring franchise.

The win was big for the Sox, as they gained a game on the Rays who fell to Doc Halladay and the Jays. The loss was bigger for the pinstripes who are now on life-support for even a wild card spot. This evening, a game that will be talked about as the final night game the Sox will play in Yankee Stadium!, features Byrd against Ponson. I like our chances.

Another Nail for Their Heart

2008-08-27T07:41:00.006-04:00

I went to the rock show last night, even though my mind told me, "Red, please don't go to the rock show, where you'll be shuffling around with a pack of folks your age or older, trying desperately to recapture that long-gone feeling of youthful excitement." But I got in line, found a decent spot by the stage, and proceeded to do that "white guy concert shuffle" thing where I just sorta move back and forth and fight to keep my hands from playing air bass.

The band was Squeeze, and the music was fantastic -- a stark reminder that this may be, in fact, the most criminally underrated band of the last thirty years. The venue was Showcase Live, which stands in the shadows of Gillette Stadium at Patriot Place. Good sound, expensive beer, and an altogether not unenjoyable concert-going experience.

As a bonus, I got out of the show to learn that the Sox had beaten the Yankees! "Another Nail for My Heart," indeed. Yet, I still can't count them out. Not until Stephen Hawking shows me, via slide rule and PowerPoint presentation, that a Yankee October is complete unfeasible.

Can you?

Red Sox Throwdown: Most Hated Yankee Ever!

2008-08-26T06:54:00.004-04:00

Despite their lack of 21st-century titles, the Yankees still get us all riled up whenever the Sox play 'em, reminding us that the classic battle between good and evil never truly ends. Even if, these days, evil isn't so much the 600-pound pinstriped gorilla it used to be, but is more like a slightly tougher version of "Jughead" from the Archie comics.

So with the concepts of "good" and "evil" floating in our heads, and with bellies filled to bursting with cheap beer, Denton and I got all introspective and shit, debating about those Yankee players who inspired the most anger within us. The ones we'd most like to see peeled apart by wild emus. The most hated.

And it goes like this:

Denton: For me, picking the biggest d-bag ever to wear a Yankees uni is like trying to pick the hottest Victoria’s Secret model: there are too many choices, each with their own distinct qualities. Not to mention, there's just too much history of hate-able Yankees. It’s like trying to compare the Celtics teams of the Russell era against the Bird era. You just can’t. So I’ve gone the route Dickens would have, and identified the most-hated Yankees of the past, present and future.

Red: For me, the "past" would only go back as far as the early '80s, as I can only generate pure, unbridled distaste for those Yankees who I actually watched. That means, sadly, I have to discount the great Yankees villains of the '70s like Ron Guidry, Bucky Dent, Reggie Jackson and the late Thurman Munson, who played Darth Vader to Fisk's Luke Skywalker. My hatred is more rooted in those Yanks teams of the mid-to-late '90s that gave us fits--with guys like Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, Chuck Knoblauch, Scott Brosius and Mo Rivera.

Denton: Well, if we start there, I'd say Paul O’Neill was the face of everything you could want to hate about the Yankees. His cocky stride to the plate, his whining about every called strike or out call at first, and his oh-so-punchable face. Looking back, his career .305 average against the Sox probably fueled the ire. Put a gun to my head, and I might give him the edge overall.

Red: From the late '90s/early 2000s teams, I'd go with Jeff Nelson. Talk about a punchable face--he looked as if he was ripped right from half the "wanted" posters you see in the post office. And even though he was only with the Yankees for a brief span of time, his impact on the 2003 ALCS against the Sox was enormous, most notably his brawl with a Fenway groundskeeper in the visitor's bullpen during game three. During game four, the Fenway crowd was literally chanting "we want Nelson" late in the game as the Sox threatened. And the f@#ker ambled out of the 'pen, looking as smug, cool and deranged as a guy who just beat a child molestation rap on a technicality, and promptly induced a Nomar double play. I still feel my hands curling into a fist when I think of that whole series.

Denton: As for today's Yankees, it's a toss-up between A-Rod and Giambi. A-Rod is a great baseball player, but he's proven too many times that he carries the douchebag gene. The slap of Arroyo, the “mine” call against Toronto, and the incident that ultimately led to Tek serving him a mitt sammich--those things can’t be ignored. But Giambi gets the edge because not only is he a douchebag and a greaseball, he’s also a cheater. The fact that he admitted it and still gets to go out and cash checks for millions of dollars is wrong. And he looks like a monkey trying to hump a football when he dives for a ball at first. That said, when they finally catch A-Rod for being a juicer, the scales tip in his favor.

Red: You know where I stand as far as current Yankees. If not, please allow Charles Nelson Reilly to refresh your memory:

Denton: And as for future Yankees, it's a no-brainer: Joba. If for no other reason, his obsession with trying to take Youk’s head off with a 97 mph heater gets him the nod. Phil Hughes would have been a contender for the award, but he’s such a nobody that it would be like giving the “Yankees Past” award to Karim Garcia. Too many people would respond with blank looks and rush to their computers to Google the name.

Red: I try to muster the hate for Joba, but then I go and read something like his comments on Clay Buchholz in last Sunday's Globe:

"I spoke to Justin [Masterson] the other day about it. It's a shame for Clay and I know he must be disappointed, but all you have to do is look at his stuff to know that this is only a temporary setback for him. He's got nasty, great stuff, and he's going to figure it out because here's a guy who's pitched a no-hitter in the majors already."

After that, I just can't turn the anger up. So I'll just double up here and say Giambi again. That is, unless the Yanks ever sign Shea Hillenbrand.

What? No Human Head in a Sack?

2008-08-25T10:30:00.001-04:00

During Saturday's pre-game, NESN chatted up Commander Kick-Ass in front of his locker. Going over the visible contents of said locker, I could see a container of chew, a bottle of water (likely a decoy containing straight vodka), some "Mega-Men"-type vitamins and what looked like a shaving kit with the Red Sox logo (the boxer briefs to his left, I'm assuming, belong to Masterson in the next locker over).

Not visible but certainly somewhere in Beckett's locker must also be a rifle, a Rambo-sized hunting knife, a necklace made out of the kneecaps of his enemies, and Leeann Tweeden.

Anything else?

A Man Named Jed, And Other Stories...

2008-08-24T18:36:00.003-04:00

After making the relay to cut down the only runner slower than Sean Casey trying to score, a run that would have put the Jays up by two, young Jed finished matters with the bat, nailing a solo shot to put the Sox up in the 11th. MDC came in to close it out, capping the rare box score where Paps gets the "W" and Delcarmen the save. But we have to keep an eye on Lowrie, check out a fun fact from the Stanford web site:

Favorite Pro Sports Athletes: Brett Boone and Alex Rodriguez

In other news...

Red Sox pitching has the same effect on Vernon Wells as spinach does on Popeye. Vern finished the series 6-for-13 with three dingers, six RBI and six runs scored.

Jim Rice's shirt-and-tie combo on the post-game show looked like an explosion in an Easter Egg factory.

Giambi still sucks.

David Ortiz Won't Sweat a Pounding in Toronto

2008-08-24T09:00:00.005-04:00

You know, for the last couple months, I've been concerned for David Ortiz. His buddy, confidente and aide-de-camp headed west. His wrist was giving him fits. He somehow didn't seem the ginormous presence he has been since the 2003 season.

But with this one quote in today's Globe, on the heels of yesterday's sordid affair in the Great White North, Papi has re-assured me that his badassery is as potent as ever:

"We'll be fine, bro. We go through this [expletive] every year. At the end of the day, we'll take another ring with us."

Word.

Further Proof That Our World Is Controlled by Sleestaks From Their Secret Base on the Moon

2008-08-24T02:18:00.000-04:00

Sox get their asses handed to them in idiot-free Canada.

Carl Pavano pitches his first game since April 2007... and gets the win.

The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in baseball.

Schooled.

2008-08-23T16:47:00.004-04:00

Are you freaking kidding me? 11-0? Did that actually just happen?

Screw that. I'm pulling an Eldon Tyrell and wiping this game from my memory banks. I suggest you do the same.

Sox Win Battle of the Worst Pre-Game Photos Ever

2008-08-23T09:16:00.004-04:00

Folks, I've long since abandoned any aspirations of appearing on the cover of GQ. So trust me when I say, I know lousy photos. And, holy god, the photos of Byrd and Marcum used on NESN's "pitching preview" for last night's game were two of the worst player shots I've ever seen in my life. At first glance, I thought Gollum from Lord of the Rings was taking on Stuttering John.

Beyond that, it was nice to snare a W in Toronto, against a barely-over-.500 team that's been tying us in knots all season. Also good to see Varitek showing signs of life, and the force of nature known as Dustin Pedroia continuing to churn out the hits.

Although Drew's back spasms are troubling, he may not be DL bound. And even if he did go down for a spell, there's a damn good chance that come September, we may find a number of excellent things converging to create the Perfect Storm of Awesome, including a healthy Wake, re-energized Colon, and a rejuvenated Tek.

It could be an embarrassment of riches, people. So long as Lugo remains gagged and bound in a Chelsea apartment.

Is This Team Built to Win the World Series?

2008-08-22T07:54:00.004-04:00

The big man has spoken. And, according to today's Herald, his marching orders for his teammates are as follows: “Win games, win games, win games.”

So here's the million dollar question: Can they? Is Red Sox version 2008 a team equipped to bring us our third World Series title in five seasons -- and, sweet Jesus, did you think you'd ever find yourself even contemplating such a feat in your lifetime? -- or is this 2005 redux; a team that will likely make the playoffs, but sputter out in the first round.

I counted them out at least 17 times during the 2004 postseason. So I know absolutely nothing. But what do you think? Can they go all the way? Is Tek set to bust out like Andy Dufresne? Is Masterson the reliable late inning bridge we so desperately need? Can Ellsbury reclaim a bit of the magic he conjured last October? More importantly, could the world survive a Red Sox-Cubs World Series?

After The Steal, truly anything is possible. What say you?

Sox Wives After Dark

2008-08-22T00:07:00.001-04:00

Earlier this week, during a perfectly innocent Google search for the name of Jon Lester's fiancee, I inadvertently stumbled upon a blog. This blog, it so happens, belonged to Meryl Masterson, wife of Sox pitcher Justin Masterson.

I briefly scanned the page, smiled at a couple of the entries there--including photos of the Mastersons' newly furnished apartment and a particularly sweet anecdote about her genuine awe at sitting near Manny Ramirez on a team flight--and posted a link to it.

Within a few minutes, I had a couple e-mails from readers, most displeased by the linkage. "Her site isn't meant for public consumption," was the general tone.

At first, I didn't agree. I figgered, I found it on Google; it's not like I broke into anyone's Citibank account and started doling out credit card numbers. Moreover, I reasoned, Mrs. Masterson is an adult with a husband who maintains a career that puts him squarely in the public eye. Surely she's aware that stuff she posts on the Internet can be seen by lots and lots of eyes.

But then I started wondering if, in fact, Masterson's wife thought her blog was private--hey, my dad could never figure out the VCR after 20 years; some people just aren't technologically savvy. And what if she dropped some personal info that I hadn't caught on my initial scan of the site?

I debated it for about a half-hour, then, fearing the Gods of Karma, took the link down.

After that, I received about twenty e-mails from readers who bashed me for removing the link. "If it's posted on the web," someone wrote, "it's fair game. End of story."

By that point, it was moot. Meryl, perhaps hipped by a reader or alerted to a sudden boost in traffic, shut the blog down, as Soxaholix noted.

Yesterday, I talked a bit about this incident with our pal Derjue for Boston Magazine's blog. As she points out, Meryl's site is still cached here, but without all the pretty photos.

Honestly, I'm with Derjue on this one. While we certainly want to shield players and their families from the nutjob fans and lunatics who walk among us (Denton, Patrick Bateman, etc.), I found the tone of Meryl's entries utterly charming, and was intrigued by the insider's view of the life of a professional ballplayer (they buy drapes and end-tables, just like us). Hell, I'd like to see more.

Perhaps someday she'll have a change of heart. But my glimpse into her world was pretty cool for the two hours it lasted.

Kevin Gracie Should Be Thanking Red Sox Nation

2008-08-21T17:38:00.000-04:00

Imagine walking into the ballpark to see your crappy team, and suddenly you're fifty grand richer and have season tickets? That's exactly what happened to Mr. Gracie on Tuesday night. ESPN reports:

Kevin Gracie, a 24-year-old student at the University of Baltimore School of Law, was the lucky entrant. He won $50,000, season tickets for five years and was introduced to the crowd before the Orioles played the Boston Red Sox.

"The $50,000 is great, and getting the two season tickets is amazing," said Gracie, of Ellicott City. "My buddy bought my ticket. I was going to switch tickets with him in line."

Hard to believe Yankee Stadium doesn't hold the record, unless there is a minimum IQ level required to be counted. Anyway, I'd love to see how many of the fifty million fans are actually Oriole fans. They probably have a few years left before the fifty millionth one of those walks through the gates.

The excruciating off-day-after-a-brutal-loss marches on slowly.