rician blast

Let's say the Sox win the division, going 6-5 the rest of the way, while the Yanks go 9-3 and finish one game back. Does that make anyone here comfortable going into the PS? I don't want to see this team limp into the playoffs. I want to see them clicking, starting right now, leaving no doubt who the AL East champs are. The opportunity was there to make a statement this past weekend and they did not capitalize. Maybe I'm making too much of the whole thing, but I would like to see the Sox go into the PS on a roll.

Subtitled "Ya Know I Done It"

OJ: "Poker? I'll do more than poke her! I'll slash 'er fkn throat."

Gotta love this line on ESPN.com: • From watching him overthrow his cutoff man in an attempt to throw runners out at the plate, there's only one possible conclusion: Johnny Damon is the only guy who doesn't understand how terrible his arm really is.

Ahhh, yes. The misdirection play. It's great in football. It's transparent in this forum. Who here insinuated a kid should be "kept in a bubble?" Who ever treated it as some heinous act? Like I said, this shouldn't even be a story, but it has been made one, so the players actions have been questioned.The kid wanted an autograph. In turn, the player was a wise ass to a 10 yr old kid. Was it "kinda" funny? I guess so. Was it classless? I think so. Like I asked earlier, would Jetes have done this? Unless the kid was s***ing on Duncan, then he should sign the fkn thing and move on. His actions wreak of PATMG..."pay attention to me, goddamit"....syndrome. The thing that I get the biggest kick out of here is that some are trying and compare the Yankees suck chant, as performed by idiot fans, to the actions of a MAJOR LEAGUE BALLPLAYER! Then again, maybe he and the drunken or otherwise impaired fans SHOULD be held to the same (minimal) level of scrutiny...after all, both he and the fans are really only observers to the rivalry. For the record, yesterday I asked my kid, who is a huge baseball fan, what he would have done. He said "Shelly who?" 'Nuff said for me!

No, you're thinking of Ultra-Thin Panty Liners.

Yes, it is every paying fans prerogative to boo whomever they choose. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. I DO sometimes wonder what the motivation is? Do they think it'll make him play better? Can't be that dumb. Do they think he's not trying and this will make him put forth greater effort? Maybe. Do they think he has no clue that he is underperforming? No, he knows he blows. Do many fans boo because it makes them feel part of the event? Sure they do, it's "the thing to do." When Drew comes up in the clutch I usually say "here comes a K on a slider out of the zone" or "here comes a DP" but I still pull for the guy. Then when he fails I say "you fkn suck"...to the TV. But if I'm at a game? I'm enjoying my time there, can't be bothered booing...actually would feel like a dick if I was booing...what's the sense? He K's and I go drop another $50 on brews for me and the boys.

I don't think anyone has said they're really upset with the whole thing, just pointing out it was a classless move, so no "lightening up" is nexessary. Couple of thoughts: (1) Are you seriously comparing the actions of a MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER and how he treated, directly, a KID seeking an autograph...to the actions of a bunch of drunk a-hole fans who wear vulgar shirts? No comparison. (2) We're not debating the kid's reaction to it...and maybe the kid was fine with it. What I raised was that the act in and of itself...pulling crap on a 10 year old...shows a lack of thought and lack of class. Let me ask you this...would Jeter have done this? If not, why do you think he wouldn't? Again, not a big deal, but to defend him is ridiculous. BTW, you'd think a guy with only 58 ABs this year, none against the Sox, and who is not even a blip on the radar screen of this rivalry would be humble and respectful.

I really thought Clemens was about to do a reenactment of a playoff start vs. the A's (1990?) where he has a borderline call go against him and he pulls a nutty. That Mienkxxxxx play was key. I come away with no positives from the losses. No "that was exciting" for me. No "damn, this is like October baseball," feel good, I'm just happy to be a fan ********. That fkn series sucked and I harbor the same contempt for ARod's posturing and Jeter's fistpump and Clemens ego and HGH-fueled Diesel Dome of a head, and the fair weather Yankee fans that will certainly come out for at least a day or two as I did before the series.

So most of you are totally cool with it? I'm surprised. I have two boys that play and are huge Sox fans. If my 12 yr old asked for an autograph and got that piece of sh*t from a player he'd be pretty upset. Unlike me, he stills thinks pro-athletes are pretty awesome. Assuming the story is true and Duncan knowingly did this for a 10 yr old kid, I'd call it poor judgement. I'm not gonna blast Duncan, I don't know him, and maybe he's a great guy...but I firmly believe it's very poor judgement and quite disrespectful to treat a kid this way, just to get a laugh. Again, all this is assuming the story is on the up and up.

I've been one to blast Drew for a lack of intensity, but I have to admit this: If he was hitting .300 with 20 HRs and 85 RBI's, and exhibited the same demeanor I'd be saying good for him, he stays level-headed, not too up or down, and just does his job. So I now realize there is a double standard attached to players when they approach the game as he does. In football I can't stand the end zone ******** we're subjected to and I love when a player scores and just drops the ball or flips it to the ref. In basketball I get irritated by a dunk that is followed up with the staredown or some goofy, body-shaking. I also don't like when a guy homers and shows up the pitcher or walks down the 1st base line, etc...I like when a guy just runs the bases, period. So for now, I'm getting off Drew's back regarding his lack of visual enthusiasm, the guy just may be approaching the game the way he feels is appropriate...professionally...and without overt celebration (not that he's had all that much to celebrate on a personal level).

Avg. HRs 2Bs RBIs OBP OPS Nixon .257 3 17 31 .346 .691 Drew .259 8 26 50 .362 .755 You wanna cry about the money, and how it was a bad investment, could impact the organization going forward, etc. maybe you have a case. But if you think Trot would be performing at a higher level, look at the comparison above and tell me what Nixon has done so far. In fact, Drew has played in 33 MORE GAMES this year. When Nancy Drew has played in more games than you, ya got problems. Are you upset over the WMP trade too?

You referring to Bags? BTW, I saw Giambi in the highlights this a.m. I swear he changes size every few months. Maybe it's just me but he looks like he gets big, then deflates for a very short time, then gets big again. He looked a bit slender last night...maybe the vertical/horizontal controls in my TV were off?

After seeing the little bit of excitement coming from him I wondered if he was relaxing just a little bit. Last night was a good night for him. Maybe the game-day thread should have a Pinnochio theme.

This is immature, I know, but I gotta share: We had a kid on our HS team that used to scratch his balls and ass constantly...it was hilarious. When I was a Soph I didn't play much and he was a Sr. So we younger guys had the the scorekeeper keep track of how many times he went to the balls or ass in an at-bat, in an inning, etc. then tally it all up. If I recall correctly he had one at bat with like 28 ball/ass scratches/picks and ended up one game somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 touches to those areas. Funniest thing was a buddy of mine was an electrician doing a job at the high school 20 years later and he was in the classroom of our coach...the coach still had the scorebook and in it were these notations that the scorekeeper had made regarding the ass/ball-picking. Ahhh, back in the day when life was easy and being an immature ******* was ok.

Yes I do realize this, I looked up his stats too. -You do recall The Blister of '86? (Mets-Sox WS) -The Sweep of 1988? (The Sox ACE comes up short again) -The Ejection of 1990? (Pitching poorly against the A's he blames the ump and gets tossed) -The Pounding of 2003 (Game 7 of the ALCS, the "warrior" lasts 3 innings giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and has his ass bailed out by Mike Mussina...with an assist from Grady Little) -The Hammering of 2004? (Loses Game 7 of the NLCS vs. St. Louis) -The Hammy of 2005? (lasts 2 innings in his WS start) I know what his numbers look like. I also know he is NOT the guy you want on the mound in a must win situation.

Why suspect Nixon? Because of a dramatic change in his appearance, a rise in power numbers followed by a flame out, and the ensuing injuries. My list? Sox: Nomar, Varitek, Nixon, O'Leary, Carl Everett, Damon, Hillenbrand, KAPLER, Foulke..to name a few. Yanks: AROD, Sheffield, Giambi, Jeter, Tim Raines, Strawberry, Clemens, Soriano, Posada, , Sierra, etc. Others: Bonds, Thome, Sexson, Pujols, Sosa, Bagwell, Andrue Jones, Huff, Burnitz, Chavez, Tejada, Luis Gonzalez, Jay Payton, Glaus, Jim Edmonds, McGwire, Salmon, Moises, Carlos Pena, Pedro, Trevor Hoffman, Percival, Urbina, Francisco Cordero And that's just scratching the surface.