2007 was a banner year in many ways - we all got to celebrate as the Sox won it all, the Mother's Day MIracle, Clay's no-hitter, the Sox also picked up a whole host of individual awards, and the front office managed to re-sign the key components of championship team. Back in September, I wrote this (pardon the egotastic move of quoting myself):
This 2007 Red Sox team is magic.
I know the 2004 team is the benchmark by which everyone measures this year's group, and all other groups that will likely come after, but I'm telling you... this team is magic.
It's no coincidence that we've witnessed so much special awesomeness surrounding the club all year: the Dice-K hoopla, the Mother's Day Miracle, the Lester comeback, Beckett establishing himself as the #1 ace, the Coco outfield gymnastics, the rookie surge from Pedroia and Ellsbury, the Papelbon mastery, the out-of-nowhere Okey, the Papi clutchness in spite of injuries, the Lowell slugging, the Youk defense, the Clay no-hitter, and now these back-to-back from-behind victories. These things are not just happening all at the same time, in the same season, to the same team at random.
I'm telling you- this is BIG STUFF. 40 years later... maybe it's the scales righting themselves.
I'll say it again: this 2007 Red Sox team is magic.
What an amazing, unbelievable season.
On a more personal note, I somehow had the good fortune to go to 78 baseball games (!!), spending practically the entire summer and fall traveling to ballparks around the country, watching a ton of baseball and spending time with friends-- an experience I'll probably never have the chance to do again. Lucky for me, my grand adventure just happened to coincide with the Sox, Cubs and Phils all making it into the playoffs.
But now, for better or for worse, it's time to put 2007 permanently into the history books -- and move on to 2008. Baseball is as much about change as it is about nostalgia- and at the turn of the year, with spring training around the corner, nothing is a more apt passage than this from A. Bartlett Giamatti's A Great and Glorious Game:
Baseball is about homecoming. It is a journey by theft and strength, guile and speed, out around first to the far island of second, where foes lurk in the reefs and the green sea suddenly grows deeper, then to turn sharply, skimming the shallows, making for a shore that will show a friendly face, a color, a familiar language and, at third, to proceed, no longer by paths indirect but straight, to home.
Baseball is about going home, and how hard it is to get there and how driven is our need. It tells us how good home is. Its wisdom says you can go home again but that you cannot stay. The journey must always start once more, the bat an oar over the shoulder, until there is an end to all journeying.
So here's to 2008 - may it bring as much success on the diamond as 2007, and even more happiness everywhere else.
Big hat tip to reader Lisa for the Giamatti quote- can't ever have too much Giamatti. And my own personal Top 10 for 2007...
Top 10 Sporting Events I Attended in 2007
1. World Series, Game 4 - Denver, CO
2. AFC Championship, Colts vs. Patriots - Indianapolis, IN
3. Mother's Day Miracle, Red Sox vs. Orioles - Boston, MA
4. Spring Training, Phillies - Clearwater, FL
5. World Series, Game 1 - Boston, MA
6. ALDS Game 2, Red Sox vs. Angels - Boston, MA
7. U.S. Open, golf - Pittsburgh, PA
8. Red Sox vs. Yankees, Beckett vs. Clemens - New York, NY
9. Phillies Week, vs. Cubs and Brewers - Chicago, IL & Milwaukee, WI
10. AFC Playoffs, Colts vs. Chiefs - Indianapolis, IN
I'd love to hear what your favorite sporting events you attended in '07 were! And any grand plans for sports in the year ahead? Who's headed to spring training? Who's going to the NFL playoffs? Anyone going to brave New York to hit up the All-Star Game in July?
Mike Lowell = Derek Lowe?
You might think it would be hard to confuse this guy:
With this guy:
But you would be wrong.
Mike Lowell was at last night's Gonzaga-Utah college basketball game as a guest of his buddy (and former Marlin) Mike Redmond, catcher for the Twins. Redmond went to Gonzaga and is a huge Zags fan-- and so he asked Lowell to stop in and speak to the team in the locker room after the game. Whatever Lowell said must have been pretty awesome, because the Seattle papers reported his "speech was greeted with cheers" by the team.
But the hilarity came during the game. Mike and Mike sat together right behind the Zags' bench- and word spread around amongst the spectators and players that there was a big-time baseball player in their midst. This caused some confusion for Gonzaga basketball player- and avid baseball fan- David Pendergraft ("Pendo"). Fellow Zags player Matt Bouldin said:
It's funny, right before the game Pendo was saying, 'Derek Lowe is sitting right behind our bench.' I'm like, 'Where?' I'm looking for two minutes and I don't see him. Later I heard the announcement that it was Mike Lowell.
I said, 'Pendo, it's Mike Lowell,' and he's like, 'Ahhh, sorry.' Pendo's a baseball fan. I expected a lot more out of him.
I'm pretty positive this is the first time someone has ever mistaken Mike Lowell for Derek Lowe. Just don't tell Alyssa Milano about this.
Tito Is Underrated
An oldie, but a goodie- from back at the beginning of November: a Pittsburgh paper, of all places, had an article about skipper Terry Francona and looking back at the team and the 2007 season.
The first part discusses how criminally underrated Tito is a baseball manager- which I have to agree with, even if I don't agree with how the author describes the situation:
Francona doesn't get the same respect [as Bill Belichick] -- and he doesn't cheat. The feeling among many Boston bumpkins is that their team wins because it has a big payroll. Even Red Sox management seems to believe that. It didn't give Francona a contract extension this summer -- he has a year left on his current deal -- even though his team ended 86 years of New England agony by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, made the playoffs again in '05 and went wire to wire to win the American League East Division this season.
"I don't know that I've ever checked," Francona said when asked whether he feels appreciated. "I know I don't care. There's no room for me to have an ego up here. It just wouldn't work."
I think Tito's contributions often get overlooked, but I don't think it's a matter of him not getting any respect. At least, I hope that's not the case- because anyone who actually followed the team, and watched the games (and Tito's strategy) unfold would have a hard time faulting the decisions he made. But I think the constant hyper-attention on him in the white-hot spotlight of Boston has worn him down at times, though he'd never come right out and say that. I found this quote particularly telling- because it sounds like he doesn't really care about the media so much as it bothers him when the fans are so quick to toss him to the wolves
Do you think it's easy managing the giant egos in today's game? Do you think it's easy managing in a market the size of Boston, where the media is relentless and brutal and the fan base passionate, opinionated and always willing to second-guess?
"I can handle that," Francona said. "What I have a hard time dealing with is seeing people at our parade the other day cheering me and holding up signs with my name on it. I know they were calling me a dumb ass 10 days before that."
The article closes out discussing not Tito's strategy - but his relations with his players, possibly his greatest skill of all. And the part about Jason Varitek is fascinating- as that's a side of Tek nobody ever gets to see.
But his strength is working his clubhouse, relating to his players, making them want to play their best not just for themselves, but for him.
It could be old pro Curt Schilling, the one star Francona had when he managed bad teams in Philadelphia. Or it could be rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
"We play cribbage every day at 1 o'clock and talk about everything," Francona said. "I can trust that kid with anything."
It doesn't matter. Francona has a feel for what makes each of his players tick. He also knows team captain Jason Varitek has his back.
"When we were on the field after the [clinching] game the other night, he put his head on my shoulder and cried like a baby," Francona said. "He had willed everybody to be so good. I think that's why I'm so calm. I know he's in charge. It's his team."
Hat tip to boston_princess for finding this article!
Oregon's Finest
No offense to Herbert Hoover, Nike or Sally Struthers, but the three best things to come out of Oregon:
The Bend Bulletin did a reader survey of what the biggest stories in Oregon were for the year 2007, and it should be no surprise that Oregon native Jacoby Ellsbury made the list. From the article:
Madras native Jacoby Ellsbury helps Boston Red Sox win the 2007 World Series.
Madras native and Oregon State University baseball standout Jacoby Ellsbury, 24, got his chance in the big show when he was called up from the minor leagues to play for the Boston Red Sox in September. The speedy rookie started in centerfield in key games, including throughout the playoffs and World Series, and served as the leadoff hitter as the Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies to win the world championship.
Ellsbury made his debut on the big stage with style, racking up seven hits in the World Series, and was the first rookie since 1946 to have four hits in a World Series game. In November, Madras welcomed him back with a parade.
I think Jacoby single-handedly turned an entire generation of Oregon schoolchildren into Red Sox fans. The free tacos just sealed the deal.
Big props to those of you who recognize what's in that first picture.
Slumpbusting... For Charity!
It gets so monotonous posting cute story after cute story around here - the sappy sweet stuff is all good and fine, but I think we're all adult enough to know that professional baseball ain't all sunshine and unicorns and hearts and flowers. Baseball players have a reputation to protect... and Kevin Youkilis is here to bring the focus back to what really matters: slumpbusting!
For anyone out there lucky (sheltered?) enough not to know about slumpbusters, how about I let Mark Grace, the King of Slumpbusting, tell you all about it? From his 2003 interview on "Rome Is Burning":
A slumpbuster is when you have to take one for the team. It's finding the biggest, nastiest, fattest broad, and you put the wood to her to come out of your slump. Also known as 'jumping on a grenade for the team'.
All class, that one. If that's not enough background info for you, Curt Schilling also commented on the subject for Maxim magazine back when he played for the Dbacks:
That was premarriage Mark. [laughs] If you are struggling at some aspect of the game and you're a single guy, there's a way that players believe you can relieve the negative karma. You go out and fornicate with a woman who might be of less than appealing visual quality I guess is the way to put it. The key to slumpbusting is alcohol intake before the excursion.
So there you are.
Normally, taking down a slumpbuster isn't something to be proud of. But Youk has found a way to turn slumpbusting into dollars for the kiddies: he's coming out with a new sports energy drink that's going to be called SlumpBuster. Even better... there will be a special drink to be called "Youk's Signature" SlumpBuster -- and proceeds from that will go to his Hits For Kids charity. So now you can go out slumpbusting... for the children!
I enjoy the press release announcing the creation of this interesting new product- watching publicity flacks bend over backwards to try and make this sound anything less than dirty is hilarious. To wit:
Red Sox Gold Glove first baseman Kevin Youkilis has teamed up with California based MBSB Holdings, LLC to produce a new energy drink geared towards sports fans and athletes. SlumpBuster, a term widely recognized by athletes and fans, will be launched in the 1st quarter of '08 with hopes of being the official energy drink of locker rooms and stadium concession stands worldwide.
Get involved and be the first in your area to "Take Down a SlumpBuster".
Come on now, that press release ain't fooling ANYONE. I'm curious to see how the hip and happening MLB officials and front office types are going to react to this - because that crowd is totally known for being laid back about this sort of thing.
Matt Clement is heading back to the National League from whence he came: the St. Louis Cardinals signed him today to a one-year deal for an undisclosed amount, with a club option for 2009. So he'll again be wearing red this season... just of a different variety.
Clement had surgery in the fall of 2006 that kept him off the mound for the Red Sox for the entirety of 2007. The last time Matt pitched? June of '06. This offseason, the club declined to offer him arbitration, so the Sox and Clement officially parted ways.
As a Sox fan, I wish Clement luck in his new home- but as a Cubs fan, I hope he rides the pine again.
Locker Room Politics
Tucked in amongst the normal "Are we going to trade Jacoby?" and "When is the Santana deal going to happen?" and "Who is going to start in center field?"" questions in the latest Red Sox Mailbag was a question I've always been curious about myself:
I've always wondered about how lockers are assigned in the clubhouse. Who does the assigning? Who is next to whom? Where are the "best" locations in the room, and who has lockers there? Do veterans get to pick their own locker location? Do players change their locker location? Is it possible to get a layout of who is where or is that private information?
-- Abbe B., Vineyard Haven, Mass.
Good question, Abbe B. from Vineyard Haven. I'm less concerned with the specifics of exactly who has which locker where, and more curious about who decides where everyone's locker is (and how), and if there's any interesting stories about people having to switch lockers during the season-- you know, Okajima can't stand the music Papelbon listens to or the smell of Doug Mirabelli's chicken parm leftovers makes Schilling sick. That's like a little peek into the inner politics of managing the team in general. The response answered a little of that- but not much:
Red Sox equipment manager Joe Cochran is mainly in charge of aligning the lockers in the clubhouse. Cochran has been with the Red Sox for a long time, and he has a good understanding of the dynamic of the team and how to make everyone most comfortable. I'm sure that in certain cases, Cochran asks Francona or Epstein where to put certain players.
When you walk in to the clubhouse and look to your left, it's a long row of most of your position players. In that row, you will find Pedroia, Lowell, Alex Cora, Julio Lugo, Youkilis and others. Off in their own little corner are Ortiz and Ramirez. To the right is another little corner tucked away where you'll find Varitek, Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield. To the right of that is "pitchers' row," where you'll find relievers such as Mike Timlin, Javy Lopez, Manny Delcarmen, etc.
At the end of that row is one more corner, where you'll find Hideki Okajima, Matsuzaka, Beckett and Papelbon. Papelbon's space has always gone to a player with some clout on the team. It once belonged to Carl Yastrzemski, and it has been passed on to others such as Dwight Evans, Bret Saberhagen, Pedro Martinez and Keith Foulke through the years.
This little tidbit raises a few points: (1) I wonder which "certain players" the equipment manager has had to go to Theo and Tito about; (2) I love that Manny and Papi are "off in their own little corner" - that just seems RIGHT somehow; and (3) Papelbon's locker placement means he has "clout" with the team. This is both awesome and terrifying.
Maxim-imum Curt
Back in 2002, a pre-Sox Curt Schilling gave a very interesting interview to Maxim magazine. Curt and Maxim? 2008 Curt would probably keel over and/or die before talking to Maxim. Not only was 2002 Curt loose enough to speak with a lad's mag, 2002 Curt was also loose enough to talk about asshole baseball players (Barry Bonds), beaning guys with a pitch, his dislike for Mitch Williams, Lenny Dykstra's after-hours habits, his inability to stop chewing tobacco and, of course, slumpbusters. He also dropped a couple of M-F bombs along the way -- how very Josh Beckett of him!
I quoted a small piece of the article the other day, but thought I'd go ahead and post the full article here-- because it's chock-full of gems. 2002 Curt deserves to be heard.
On Friday it was announced that in addition to picking up the Thomas A. Yawkey Award from the Boston Baseball Writers for being the Most Valuable Player on the team, Lowell has also been voted the winner of the Tommy McCarthy Good Guy Award for 2007.
No official list has been released of confirmed attendees for the Boston Baseball Writers Association Awards dinner next week, but Lowell, Beckett, Papelbon, Lester, Youkilis, Ellsbury and Buchholz all picked up awards -- so it's likely most of those guys will be there. Also, Papelbon and Pedroia are scheduled to be at the New York Baseball Writers Awards the following week as well.
Let's update that Red Sox trophy cabinet for '07, shall we? In addition to the World Series and American League trophies, these Sox also snagged awards:
World Series MVP - Mike Lowell, 3B ALCS MVP - Josh Beckett, SP Gold Glove - Kevin Youkilis, 1B Silver Slugger - David Ortiz, DH Delivery Man - Jonathan Papelbon, RP AL Rookie of the Year - Dustin Pedroia, 2B Edgar Martinez Outstanding DH Award - David Ortiz, DH Baseball America Manager of the Year - Terry Francona
2007 All-Star Team
Josh Beckett, SP
Mike Lowell, 3B
Hideki Okajima, RP
David Ortiz, DH
Jonathan Papelbon, RP
Manny Ramirez, LF
The Sporting News Awards
Rookie of the Year: Dustin Pedroia, 2B
All-Star: David Ortiz, DH
This Year In Baseball Awards
Starting Pitcher of the Year - Josh Beckett
SetUp Man of the Year - Hideki Okajima
Closer of the Year - Jonathan Papelbon
Performance of the Year - Clay Buchholz, no-hitter
Postseason Moment of the Year - J.D. Drew, grand slam ALCS game 6
Topps Rookie All-Star Team
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Hideki Okajima, RP
Boston Baseball Writers Association of America Awards
Thomas A. Yawkey Award (MVP) - Mike Lowell, 3B
Pitcher of the Year - Josh Beckett, SP
Fireman of the Year - Jonathan Papelbon, RP
Tony Conigliaro Award - Jon Lester, SP
Jackie Jensen Award - Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Tommy McCarthy Good Guy Award - Mike Lowell, 3B
Minor League Player of the Year - Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Minor League Player of the Year - Clay Buchholz, SP
Player of the Month
April: Hideki Okajima, Rookie of the Month
May: Dustin Pedroia, Rookie of the Month
September: David Ortiz, Player of the Month
September: Jacoby Ellsbury, Rookie of the Month
Player of the Week
May 14-May 20: Daisuke Matsuzaka
May 28-Jun 3: Dustin Pedroia
Jul 23-Jul 29: Manny Ramirez
Aug 20-Aug 26: David Ortiz and Mike Lowell
Aug 27-Sep 2: Clay Buchholz
Clemens.
I've made my adoration of Roger Clemens no secret - he and Nolan Ryan are my baseball idols, he and Craig Biggio are the reason I fell in love with baseball, and he's also the primary reason I became a Red Sox fan in the first place. I may have been the only person in the U.S. who adored him because of his giant attitude, not in spite of it. But that's how I like my Texan pitchers- crazy good on the mound, with a hell of a lot of brashness and balls of steel.
In the wake of the Mitchell Report fallout, I have very purposely not written anything about Roger- not here, not at Ladies..., not at Babes Love Baseball. I've avoided addressing the subject in print because I'm utterly confused and conflicted, so I have had no clear perspective or opinion to offer. Losing Roger to retirement was difficult enough- but losing him under the cloud of suspicion that he's now exited with? Leaves me at a loss for words. The possibility that one of my greatest heroes was a fraud, for at least a period, is less like getting the rug pulled out from underneath and more like destroying the entire landscape of what I've known as "baseball". (<-- hyperbole alert!)
After watching Roger on Sixty Minutes tonight, I still can't sort through the mess. I can't decide if his repeated and strident denials cause me to believe him more... or if his weird fixation on Vioxx and dismissal of the validity of a lie detector cause me believe him less. I do know he is bitterly angry, and I am too. I just can't figure out if I'm angry at him, angry at McNamee, angry at the culture of steroids in baseball-- or angry at myself for being naive when it comes to my idols. Probably all of the above.
So this is the open forum/thread for everyone to discuss The Roger Situation (as I think I will now refer to this debacle) -- because even though I'm conflicted, it's still ludicrous not to talk about it. What did you think of the Sixty Minutes interview? Do you believe him now more, or less? And don't be worried if you think he's a big fat liar who got steroids shot in his butt every day since 1997, or if you aren't sure about the steroids thing but still hate his guts anyway- everyone is allowed to post... so long as you don't rip on him for being a Longhorn. Some things are just sacred.
Shortly before the fateful 60 Minutes interview last night, Roger Clemens went on the offensive against Brian McNamee's threats to file a lawsuit against Roger... and Clemens filed a lawsuit of his own. Roger is suing McNamee in county civil court for defamation - seeking an unspecified amount of damages- and an affirmative finding by the court that he did not defame McNamee. A 1-2 punch, in other words. Roger's filing alleges that McNamee only implicated Clemens after a federal prosecutor threatened McNamee.
Quoting from the lawsuit:
All of McNamee's accusations are false and defamatory per se. They are not true, and they injured Clemens' reputation and exposed him to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, and financial injury. McNamee made the allegations with actual malice, knowing they were false.
All the lawyers that are reading along are mentally checking off the elements that establish a prima facie case of defamation. False and defamatory statement? Check. Acted with malice and actual knowledge of falsehood? Check. Damage to the plaintiff? Check and check.
Why the delay in filing the lawsuit? Why not file it back in December, when the Mitchell Report was first released? According to the Rocket's lawyer:
"We kept thinking McNamee might change his mind and come to his senses and admit he was lying," Hardin said. But, Hardin said, instead McNamee arranged to talk to Clemens Friday and, rather than getting back to Clemens as promised, their conversation was leaked "with spin" to Newsday.
Roger also says that he plans to testify before Congress on the subject of steroids without asking for immunity or invoking any kind of Fifth Amendment rights to avoid answering questions.
Strap in folks, this is gonna get (more) crazy.
Goose Hearts Beckett & Papelbon
If I had been old enough during the prime of Goose Gossage, I very likely would have had a secret crush on him-- despite the fact that he's such a big Yankee. He's totally my type of baseball boyfriend: a rough-and-tumble character with a blistering fastball that he would blow past batters with pinpoint accuracy... and a rough attitude to match his appearance. Goose wasn't afraid to peg a batter to keep him in line, a la Nolan Ryan, and he basically helped pioneer the role of a closer in baseball-- but back in the day when closing meant going three innings, not one. Also, there is the matter of his spectacular fu manchu; that alone should earn him Baseball Boyfriend status.
Some of my favorite Goose anecdotes are mentioned in a Time magazine article from 2005:
He once called Yankee owner George Steinbrenner "the fat man upstairs" and another time punched a teammate on the nose during a bathroom brawl. In 1986, after San Diego Padres owner Joan Kroc, the widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, banned beer in the clubhouse, Gossage famously remarked, "She is poisoning the world with her hamburgers, and we can't even get a lousy beer."
And one of my all-time favorite Goose quotes:
Barry Bonds stands up there. When's the last time Barry Bonds was knocked on his ass? Never ... The owners can save millions of dollars--take the pitcher off the mound and put up a tee. 'Cause what they're playing is tee ball. They pitch around him. If I was going to pitch around him, I would have saved four and just put one in his rib cage. You want to go to first? We'll do it easy.
I love that in a pitcher.
So it's no surprise, really, that Goose hearts him some Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon. In two different newspaper articles, Goose says that Josh is one of the few baseball players he admires -- and that Jonathan is the closer that most resembles his own style.
Rich "Goose" Gossage's stomach turns when he flips on major-league baseball today. Raised in an era when a man took pride in getting his hands dirty, he has watched pitching become the equivalent of shampoo: delicate, soft and a lot of finesse.
Those he admires are few, a list that includes Josh Beckett and Bobby Jenks.
Who resembles Goose Gossage the most of today's closers?
GG: "Don't forget, it's so much different now than it was when I pitched. I was the middle man, setup, and closer all rolled into one. If I pitched one inning, I felt guilty. But in terms of style, I'd say [Jonathan] Papelbon. He's got that high riding fastball that can dominate a hitter. That's the way I was taught. The only thing I don't like about Papelbon is that fist-pumping he does at the end. We were taught to never show up the hitter, and I never did."
Awww- come on, Goose! Don't hate on the fistpump!
Goose has come very close (but no cigar!) to getting into the Hall of Fame over the last few years - but all indications are he'll get in when the inductee(s?) are announced tomorrow.
Wakey, Wakey, Eggs & Bac-y
How about a happy little tidbit, just right for getting your day started off right? And yes, I admit I have been dying to find a way to use "Wakey, Wakey, eggs and bac-y" around here. It's the little things that make me happy.
You might have seen the Tim Wakefield Celebrity Golf Classic listed over in the sidebar calendar as coming up at the end of the month - but the Dec. 31st issue of Sports Illustrated had a small story in their Unknown Stories of the Year from baseball, that gives a lot more insight into what that tournament is all about:
Tim Wakefield was just a pitcher in the minors in 1992 when he made a major pledge to his friend Betsy Farmer, the cofounder of a cash-strapped, five-year-old preschool serving 30 children with special needs in Melbourne, Fla. "If I ever make it to the big leagues," Wakefield said, "I want to help you out."
The Pirates called up Wakefield that summer; a few months later the Space Coast Early Intervention Center was down to its final $51.12. "I was getting ready to close the school," recalls Farmer. But Wakefield, a Melbourne native, kept his word and used his new major league connections to organize an off-season golf tournament. It raised nearly $40,000, an amount matched by Wakefield, who was making $150,000. "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for him," says SCEIC executive director Sally Shinn. "It's that simple." The 16th annual Tim Wakefield Celebrity Golf Classic, held last January, netted more than $250,000.
The school, which now has 90 full-time students, will open a new, 15,000-square-foot facility on Jan. 7. "It's very important to reognize that children with special needs can function normally in society," says Wakefield, 41, whose knuckleball helped propel the Red Sox to two titles. His aid isn't just financial. A father of two, Wakefield regularly visits the school, sitting on the floor and playing with the children. "He'll go for the most severely challenged child, and he doesn't bat an eye," says Shinn. "He's got a great touch."
And the article is accompanied by the gosh darned cutest photo of Wakefield engulfed by a pile of happy kids. You can click the picture above to see the photo full-size. And I bet you dollars to donuts that if Wakefield sold those "Wakefield's Warriors" shirts online, he could make a ton of money for charity. Think about it, Tim!
The Callup
The East Oregonian has another feel-good article about hometown boy wonder Jacoby Ellsbury. In addition to the normal bits of info about Ellsbury (he was named by his mom after seeing an advertisement for Jacoby brand tractors), there's a great little story about the day in 2007 when Jacoby got the callup to The Show.
We already heard about Josh Beckett telling Jacoby not to "screw it up" - but this anecdote gives a little more insight into Jacoby's state of mind that day.
With an injury to Red Sox centerfielder Coco Crisp, Ellsbury was called up by the big club on June 30 at Fenway against the Texas Rangers.
Hawkins, his girlfriend from Pendleton, drove Jacoby from Pawtucket to Fenway on that memorable day. "I was sick to my stomach all the way there - the magnitude of what was about to happen was becoming a reality. I thought about what I had said when I was a fourth grader in Madras when I told those that would listen, I wanted to be a ball player in the bigs, and now it was about to happen. It truly was an amazing moment and drive to the stadium."
Once he got to the stadium and was in the locker room he thought things would settle down. As he was putting on his Red Sox uniform, star pitcher Josh Beckett came up to Jacoby for what he expected to be words of encouragement. Instead, Beckett looked him straight in the eyes and said, "Don't screw it up."
As it worked out he didn't screw anything up, but instead played well with a couple of defensive gems, hits and a stolen base.
Josh Beckett: motivational speaker to the youngsters. Book him now for your next event! Thanks for helping Jacoby out with those inspirational thoughts, Josh.
PETA Wants Clemens On The Phillies
Roger may be embroiled in the biggest scandal to hit baseball since, well, the last steroids scandal - but People for the Ethical Treament of Animals (PETA) has come up with solutions to all that ails him: go vegetarian... and sign with the Phillies.
Dan Shannon, Assistant Director of PETA and avid Red Sox fan, fired off a letter to Clemens yesterday suggesting that he look into switching to an all-vegetarian diet. And in a rather un-PETA-like move (made even more surprising because the author is a Sox fan and the recipient is, well, Clemens), the letter is relatively light-hearted-- and also manages to get in jabs at Ken Griffey Jr. and Cubs fans.
Some excerpts:
On behalf of PETA, I'm writing to offer a suggestion that may help you fend off all the critics that are descending on you like a pack of Cubs fans going after a vendor's last beer. To prove that you don't want any nasty growth-promoting drugs in your body, go vegetarian.
[A] chicken or a pig drugged by the meat industry suffers more injuries than Ken Griffey Jr.
And if you ditch all the cholesterol and saturated fat in meat now, you'll be less likely to keel over from a stroke when testifying in front of Congress.
He's totally thinking about how much he loves veggie burgers
But PETA isn't just concerned about Roger and the steroids issue he finds himself embroiled in- they're also concerned about the future of his career:
And while you are pondering your next career move, may I recommend that if you do play next season, you sign with the Phillies? Citizens Bank Park has the best vegetarian food of any ballpark
I am sure the city of Brotherly Love would welcome Clemens into the Phillies fold with open arms.
Mirabelli Deal In The Works
Break out the chicken parm, because it sounds like Doug Mirabelli may be headed back to don the Boston home whites again in 2008.
Per the Boston Herald's sources, Dougie Fresh and the Sox have come to agreement on terms that would bring Doug back under a one-year contract worth $550,000, with incentives that will take it up to $1 million. Both the Sox and Dougie had to give in the negotiations - the Sox wanted a non-guaranteed deal, but Doug's guaranteed portion is down from the $750,000 he made last year.
In celebration of the Stud Who Hits Bombs, I thought this would be an excellent time to revisit the classic "Day In the Life of Doug Mirabelli" -- which is uncredited, but if anyone knows who wrote this originally, I'd love to know...
A Day In The Life of Doug Mirabelli
9:00 Shakes off the cobwebs and gets out of bed.
9:01 Lets out a blistering fart and takes 60 second piss on his hands, farts 5 more times.
9:03 Drinks 3 raw eggs Rocky Balboa style and opens the fridge.
9:05 Take out leftovers from the Kowloon pupu platter for 3 he picked up last night.
9:15 Grunts at his wife and gives his kids 20 bucks each to leave him alone.
9:17 Takes a dump.
9:22 Sings Van Halen in the shower.
9:25 Shaves and leaves his goatee.
9:30 Takes 35 vicious cuts with his bat naked in front of the mirror, screams out loud "DOUGIE'S GOING DEEP TONIGHT!"
9:45 Puts on his cowboy boots and tight jeans and tank-top and gets ready to leave.
9:50 Grunts at his wife and kids and tells them he'll see them tomorrow.
9:57 Pulls onto Rt-1 with Led Zeppelin blaring, cuts three people off, gives the finger to all three people.
Freed from the shackles of having to host Red Sox rookies at his ranch in Texas this offseason (boo!), Josh Beckett spent the New Year in Las Vegas. Josh, his girlfriend, his best friend and other assorted Beckett buddies partied it up at Pure nightclub (inside Caesar's Palace) on New Year's Day at a party hosted by Paris Hilton. Seriously. I cannot imagine a more dissimilar pair of people. There most assuredly were epic eyerolls from Josh if those two crossed paths on the dancefloor.
Others in attendance? Mo Vaughn. Seriously. Also Chiefs RB Larry Johnson, Jaguars DT Marcus Stroud, Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin, and former Falcons RB Jamal Anderson. And Suge Knight. Seriously.
It doesn't make up for no Beckett Boot Camp stories, but Josh showing up to a Paris Hilton party- and Mo Vaughn in attendance as well? To have been a fly on the wall...
Haven't had your fill of steroids-related allegations? How about a rumor with no evidence to back it up -- and not even a name to attach to it? An allegation that is so generic it could refer to almost anyone on a World Championship team? And how about if that team is the 2004 Red Sox?
Well have I got the rumor for you!
Steve Lombardi from the Yankees blog Was Watching reports that when he was listening to XM Radio's The Show yesterday, co-host Kevin Kennedy in discussions about the Mitchell Report mentions seeing some steroid use first-hand. Quoting Steve's report:
In wanting to make a point about the Mitchell Report not being the all-inclusive bible of naming PED users, Kennedy said that a current colleague of his, who was with the Boston Red Sox in 2004, told him that he (the colleague) witnessed, for a fact, a member of the '04 Red Sox injecting himself in the buttocks with a needle full of PEDs. Kennedy said that the user is no longer a member of the Red Sox - but, he was a player on the team that won the ring in 2004. As per Kennedy, his colleague said that the "user" was giving a demo (to the "colleague") on how to do the injection.
So there you go.
A sports broadcaster making an allegation like this on air (thrown out almost as an afterthought at the end of a show), and naming a specific World Champion team but not the player he is actually accusing -- is the absolute worst tactic. It casts a direct shadow over every former Red Sox player from the '04 team, and invites open speculation about a very small subset of players. It's simultaneously a very general, and yet very specific, accusation- the most dangerous kind.
I'll be interested to see if and how Kennedy is called out to back up what he said, and if the "colleague" steps forward to back up what he said.
Soundtrack to a Championship
As a little Friday treat, just right for listening to while getting ready to go out or pre-partying before playoff action, I'm sharing my own personal soundtrack to the Red Sox 2007 season. These are the songs that are part of my memories of the championship, for a host of different reasons-- classic Fenway tunes, players' at-bat or entrance music, songs played at ballparks, songs played during celebrations after wins... or even random songs played during NESN montages that I associate with the '07 Sox. Enjoy!
And what about you? What songs will remind you of the '07 season?
1986 Is Totally Awesome!
It's time for my semi-regular update on the 1986 Toronto Blue Jays- the team with the coolest mustaches in the game. For a refresher course, I posted about how I got roped into The Sporting News project 1986: Take Two here. J-Money and I also got together and conducted a very serious (if by serious, you mean "not serious at all") study of the '86 Jays and posted our findings over at The Sporting News-- and also here.
The power of Rance Mullinik's Marvelous Mustache continues - because my Toronto Blue Jays are rolling over the competition in the AL East at The Sporting News: 1986 Take Two. The Jays are sitting in first place in their division, with the best record (40-21) in the entire American League. That's right, the only team in the entire project managed by girls is beating the pants off of everyone else. (except the Padres- and we're gunning for you, Friars!) Hey, I gotta enjoy this view from the top while it lasts, ok?
I can't say the same pattern of total domination (hyperbole is awesome when you're winning) is occurring over in the Red Sox camp-- Curt Schilling's guys have only built up a 27-34 record, and are in 5th place in the division. At that rate, Boston will not have to worry about a repeat of the Buckner nightmare, because they won't be anywhere near the World Series.
Besides MY BLUE JAYS, you know who else was awesome in 1986:
Any excuse to post that classic is one I'm going to capitalize on. That clip never gets old.
Roundup
Here's an avalanche of an update, with all the latest random news bits together in one big post.
The Red Sox Rookie Clinicis in full swing. Twelve of the Sox best and brightest future stars reported for duty on the 6th, and will be in Boston for the clinic through this Friday the 18th. Roll call of the Rooks: Aaron Bates, Bubba Bell, Michael Bowden, Dusty Brown, Clay Buchholz, Chris Carter, Devern Hansack, Hunter Jones, Jed Lowrie, Justin Masterson, Dustin Richardson and Jonathan Van Every. The rookies will participate in twice-daily workouts (conditioning, strength and fundamentals), as well as seminars educating them on "assimilating into Major League life off the field, particularly in a market like Boston"- including: Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino, general manager Theo Epstein, vice president of international scouting Craig Shipley, manager Terry Francona, pitching coach John Farrell, hitting coach Dave Magadan, second baseman Pedroia -- a former member of the program -- former Sox lefty Bruce Hurst, UConn men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun and ESPN reporter Peter Gammons.
Clay Buchholz, and the same eleven other Red Sox prospects, will be on Yawkey Way today (Monday) at the Official Red Sox Team Store for a Red Sox Foundation fundraiser from 4:30 until 5:45 p.m. For the price of a $20 donation, you can get Clay's John Hancock-- as well as signatures from the other eleven guys.
Even though there's no Beckett Boot Camp down in South Texas, that apparently didn't stop Jon Lester from heading over to Beckett's Herradura Ranch for some huntin'.
That deer looks like he's trying to lick Jon's face. Except for the whole, you know, "being dead" thing
And speaking of boys who like to hunt Bambi-like animals, Braves pitcher Blaine Boyer was interviewed for ChopTalk magazine, and he has a total man-crush on Josh Beckett. From the article:
In pitching, the power comes from your legs. You watch certain guys pitch, like Josh Beckett and you see that he "falls" into his legs so well. He's got big, strong legs, and he uses the power from his legs and backside to his advantage.
Josh's backside is POWERFUL, y'all.
Terry Francona and Mike Lowell will be the special guests of President Bush at a dinner at the White House on January 22nd. Francona was also the guest of honor at a banquet in his hometown of Brighton, PA, outside Pittsburgh. As part of the program that evening, former classmates and teammates spoke about Francona, including telling some stories about the rabble-rousing he got into as a teen:
They talked about the small amounts of mischief in their teenage years, such as trying to walk out of the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe without paying the bill or how Francona liked to see if he could get his green Mustang coupe to exceed 75 mph.
However, all the speeches ended the same with talk of Francona remaining the same likeable person he was while growing up in Daugherty Township and how he has stayed humble and true to his both his family and hometown roots.
"He's never changed and he is never going to change," [one teammate] said.
Francona got a kick out of the tales of his youth, though he seemed just a touch embarrassed at times, cracking, "I'm going to be the first 47-year-old man ever to be grounded."
And while the rookies are participating in their rookie camp, Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia will be handing out advice of his own at the Arizona State Hitting Clinic, on January 19th and 20th.
And let's close this out with a random video of Jacoby Ellsbury doing some offseason workout exercises - including running with a parachute tied to his back and balancing on a board (while another athlete falls off next to him).
NESN's Red Sox [team stats] go-to gal Tina Cervasio was spotted in the Fox 5 newsroom down in NYC recently.
That would be the same Fox 5 that currently has an opening for a weekend sports anchor!
Word is, Tina's contract with the Sox-owned NESN is up and they haven't exactly shown our girl the love that she deserves. Pity...
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Fox 5 GM Lew Leone hired Tina to work for him when he ran CBS2 in the Big Apple. So he is a fan.
thanks to Surviving Grady for capturing this genius moment with a screencap
Does this mean we're going to be seeing Tina interviewing the Pinstripe gang and the 'Ropolitans? Are we going to need to start up some sort of letter-writing campaign to keep her around - because who else is Papelbon going to have to ogle from behind?
Knights Sox of the Roundtable
Baseball Digest Daily contacted me (and Randy Booth from Over The Monster) to participate in a roundtable discussion about the future of the Red Sox- including thoughts on the Santana trade, longterm contracts for Youkilis and Francona, exercising Manny's contract option, Varitek's role, and Julio Lugo's future at shortstop.
You can read the full discussion here - but I've also included my answers below.
Thanks to Baseball Digest Daily for inviting me to be a part of a roundtable discussion with such interesting questions- and thanks also for not including a lame, completely recycled question, like asking us to compare Clay Buchholz with Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy.
What are your thoughts on these same questions?
Question 1: Are you prepared to give either or both Jacoby Ellsbury or Jon Lester in addition to other prospects in order to obtain Johan Santana?
I'm greedy - I want them all. Is that so much to ask?
My thoughts on the Santana SituationTM have run the gamut this offseason. In the afterglow of the World Series victory, I couldn't bear the thought of parting ways with Lester or Ellsbury. But I came to my senses when I realized I was entirely too emotionally attached to contemplate losing anyone on that team (except Gagne - I would have personally paid someone to take him off our hands... thanks Brewers!) It was that blinding glare off the shiny, shiny World Series trophy! It was clouding my rational judgment!
Afterglow aside, I am now prepared to give up Lester. I admire and respect him and appreciate what he has done for the Sox, but of course I'm prepared to deal him for an ace. I have even managed to prepare myself to give up Ellsbury, although I don't prefer to. But I am not yet prepared to give up both Ellsbury and Lester in the same package to obtain Santana. If Theo can nab Santana for a Lester, Lowrie, Masterson and Crisp package- I will be thrilled. But not both prospects. Not unless there's some kind of creative 5-2 swap.
Ultimately, I want Santana in Boston home whites - but if not, I want to minimize the collateral damage. Ideally, that means he ends up on a crappy non-contender (a crappy non-contender in the NL would be perfect), or stays with the Twins in '08 and goes to FA at the end of the year. But if he ends up on a contender like the Mets, I would be satisfied. Or maybe "relieved" is a better word.
Today is the deadline for eligible players to file for salary arbitration. There are three arbitration-eligible players on the Red Sox this year, each of whom has completed three or more years of major league service: Javier Lopez (3.065), Kyle Snyder (4.026) and Kevin Youkilis (3.093). Brendan Donnelly would also have been eligible, had he remained on the Sox roster. I have not seen official confirmation yet whether all of these guys have filed for arbitration, but I would expect that each of them will.
Under the current CBA, the team can continue to negotiate with players who have filed for arbitration -- and the Red Sox have always tended to finalize contracts and get their arbitration-eligibles signed up without having to actually go through the entire arbitration process. In fact, no Sox player has ever gone to arbitration during Theo Epstein's tenure as general manager. Players and clubs exchange figures on January 18th, and then arbitration hearings are conducted (if need be) in the month of February, from the 1st through the 21st.
For everything you wanted to know about arbitration, but were afraid to ask, here's the Arbitration Primer I put together back in November.
Play Ball
I have been on the hunt for awhile now for that "Play Ball" song that is used both at Fenway Park (played over the PA after the kid-of-the-day hollers "PLAY BALL" really loudly into the mic) and also on the Red Sox Report (as the opening and closing theme song). I have yet to figure out who the artist is- no one seems to know- or to find a full-length version of the song.
However, in the meantime, I do have this short version. You can listen or download it below.
click play above to listen you can also go here to download it in .mp3 format
Bulldoggin' It
This offseason, Dustin Pedroia has made sure to give props to Arizona State, Kevin Youkilis has shown love to the U. of Cincinnati, and Josh Beckett has unfortunately thrown his support behind Texas A&M (retch). And now it's time for Mississippi State to get some Red Sox love.
Jonathan Papelbon was back on the Mississippi State campus last night to watch his alma mater take on the Kentucky Wildcats in basketball. During the first break in play in the first half, Papelbon was introduced to the crowd (and got a standing ovation, of course)- although ESPN in its not-so-infinite wisdom declined to show him at any point in their broadcast of the game. (boo!)
Jonathan also then spoke to a whole mess of reporters during halftime- giving the required props to the Bulldogs.
"A lot has changed, that's for sure. It's always good to see that the school that you went to is going in a good direction, and I definitely feel that. Everywhere you go, you're known as a kid that came out of Mississippi State. So I always try to stay true to my roots, obviously."
He also said that it was a good moment when he played back in the south, against the Atlanta Braves, to look out and see people wearing Mississippi State hats and jerseys in support of him.
The reporters also got his thoughts on the current topic du jour in baseball- steroids:
[Papelbon] said, firstly that he never did steroids, and that he doesn't quite understand the reason behind going back and digging up dirt on past players instead of focusing on treating the problem now.
Just like ESPN ignored Papelbon during the broadcast -- apprently the photographers ignored him as well, because I couldn't find a single picture of him at the game. So how about I just post a picture of him back in his college days instead?
Evolution of a Stickbug
The Rookie Clinic is winding down- the guys were at the Celtics game tonight against the Trailblazers, will be attending the Boston Baseball Writers' Association dinner tomorrow night, and then wrapping up the clinic on Friday. They were also out at the official Red Sox team store on Yawkey Way for an autograph session (postponed from Monday)- and raised about $8,000 for the Red Sox Foundation.
The Globe and Herald also have a whole bunch of photos of the guys working out from this week's sessions- including photos of Stickbug Clay Buchholz, who has used the offseason to add about 10-15 pounds on his lanky frame. Witness:
to
What a difference three years and twenty pounds makes, huh? He's all growned up!
There was also a great article in the ProJo about the host families that house the prospects while they're in Boston for the Rookie Clinic:
There are temptations around every corner and any player in their early 20s could fall victim to outside distractions that could end a promising career. So, along with this workout program the Red Sox have implemented, the organization has also asked local families to host these players and become their surrogate parents for two weeks.
The Red Sox have certain requirements for host families, including spacious living quarters so each player can have his own room and bathroom. The house must be located close to Fenway Park and the host families are also responsible for getting their "sons" to the workouts every morning and then picking them up at night, sometime just after 5 o'clock.
In the past the families would feed the players breakfast and then dinner later in the night, but now the players eat twice a day at the workout before heading to dinner with their host families. Each night the players will discuss their day with their hosts, like sitting down with a parent. Aldrich admits sometimes he's had the daunting task of getting some players out of bed in the morning.
Having a bunch of 20-year-old pro athletes in a big city with thousands upon thousands of college females around could create problems for pro organizations and host families, but that's not the case according to Aldrich. In his experience there has never been a problem, especially since the players have weekends off.
"I have to say I'm so impressed with the quality of the individuals," he said. "It's very truthful that this player-development organization has made it a very high priority to get men of character. There's no one here that you wouldn't want to have in your home. They've all been on good behavior. I haven't seen any rowdiness or drunkenness, and I don't think it's because they are in Boston and need to be on their best behavior; they are genuinely disciplined guys and incredibly focused on their training and diets.
"I think the players and the organization can get a lot out of this," added Aldrich. "I think everyone wins. . . It builds camaraderie amongst the players and it builds a set of expectations in them as to how the organization expects them to behave. It's a great way for the organization to implant the culture in a very emphatic way."
Currently, Buchholz and Lowrie are staying with the Aldrich family, but their roster of residents is an impressive one. Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Phil Seibel, Ken Perez, Mark Malaska and Adam Stern have all stayed with Aldrich's.
"We've been lucky," said Aldrich, who said he remains in contact with the players, even the ones who are no longer in the Red Sox organization or in baseball.
Thanks to reader Margaret for the Angelina JC photo!
Set Your Alarm Clocks
The Sox released the official announcement on the Japan trip they'll make to open the season - and you're going to need to plan to stay up late and get up early to catch the action.
Red Sox vs. Hanshin Tigers (exhibition) - March 21st, 11:07 pm ET
Red Sox vs. Yomiuri Giants (exhibition) - March 23rd, 6:07 am ET
Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics (in Tokyo) - March 25th, 6:07 am ET
Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics (in Tokyo) - March 26th, 6:07 am ET
Per the official release:
The general public will have the ability to buy tickets for all four games in Tokyo on Feb. 9. Information is available by calling 011-81-3-5777-8600 between 6 p.m.-10 a.m. ET. More specific ticket information is expected to be available through Major League Baseball in the near future.
The Fenway Sports Group, through its Red Sox Destinations program, has also put together a unique travel package for fans who want to attend the series. It includes seats for three games, including the two against Oakland, as well as round-trip private charter airfare from Boston to Tokyo and four nights hotel accommodations.Standard Red Sox Destination packages to Japan start at $4,999 and are available now.
Lowell Wants Nothing Less Than 100%
Even before the Boston Baseball Writers' Association Dinner began tonight, Mike Lowell had already made the news. Mike was asked about whether he would submit to blood testing for HGH - and he said yes... if the test was proven to be 100% accurate.
If it's 99 percent accurate, that's going to be seven false positives. Ninety-three percent is 70 guys. That's almost three whole rosters. You're destroying someone's reputation. What if one of the false positives is Cal Ripken? Doesn't it put a black mark on his career?
While I understand his point, I think it's going to be difficult to ever find ANY testing method that is absolutely, positively, without a doubt 100% correct with zero margin of error. Are any medical testing methods 100% foolproof? Testing for steroids is far from being 100%, and yet MLB (and the Players Union) has deemed the problem serious enough, and the test reliable enough, to institute testing anyway. So if we're waiting for an HGH test that has a zero margin of error, we're going to be waiting a loooooooong time.
On a completely unrelated note, Mike totally has a crush on Rene Russo. Per the Associated Press report, he "gushed" about getting to do a photoshoot with her... and was more excited about that than his upcoming White House dinner with the President. BURN.
"I'm pretty sure most people are going to say, 'Who's that guy with Rene Russo?' " Lowell said. "It was awesome. I had to do nothing. I just kept looking straight."
Thanks A Lot, Rivera
I really hate it when a member of the New York Yankees does something that makes me like him, even just a teeny-tiny little bit. For example, when the hated Joba Chamberlain writes adorable little text messages to Clay Buchholz. Fortunately, the very fact that they make me (temporarily) like them is reason enough to turn back around and hate them again. It's a very convenient vicious circle.
So I'm safe to disclose that this article from the Commercial Dispatch made me heart Mariano Rivera just a tad:
The Boston Red Sox can thank a member of the New York Yankees for one thing.
If it wasn't for a little encouragement from Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon may not have developed into the type of pitcher capable of finishing a World Series game with a save for the Red Sox.
Already a pretty good closer himself, Papelbon felt the need of getting a little advice from Rivera during the 2006 All-Star Game.
"Even though he plays for the Yankees, I sat down and talked with him for about an hour after the All-Star Game was over and just tried to pick his brain," Papelbon said. "At the end of our conversation, he said, 'Pap look, you're going to follow me, but you are going to do it for a different team and just always remember that closers have to have a short term memory. You have to walk into the office the next day (after you blow a save) and act like nothing happened.' I've kind of taken that approach."
Mariano Rivera: I don't completely hate you. Are you happy now?
Dining With The Sox
Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, Jon Lester, Terry Francona, John Farrell, Dave Magadan and Indians GM Mark Shapiro were all on-hand for last night's Boston Baseball Writers' Association Awards dinner- to answer some questions, take some pictures, pick up an award or two and eat some dinner. Yay- an excuse to post pictures!
No shows?
Kevin Youkilis (presumably: trying to invent a better name for his sports energy drink)
Josh Beckett (presumably: killing deer and/or other random small animals)
Jonathan Papelbon (presumably: ??? who the hell could guess).
After the fun everyone had with last week's Soundtrack to a Championship post, I thought I'd continue the tradition and do another music post this Friday as well, to give everyone something fun to listen to at the end of the week.
This week's theme comes after getting several questions, comments and requests for more information about Kevin Fowler and Pat Green, two Texas Country music artists that Josh Beckett has endorsed by wearing around their gear (and Kevin and Josh are also good buddies and hunting partners). Texas Country is a distant cousin of that pop (crap) Nashville puts out -- it's got more rock, more roots, more blues, and just about every single Texas Country artist writes and plays their own music. Wearing a tshirt for your favorite Texas Country singer is definitely the thing to do back home- so it's no surprise at all that those are a regular staple of Josh's wardrobe.
I've put together a playlist of 30 different Texas Country songs from my iPod that I think will give you a good taste-- Kevin Fowler and Pat Green are both on there. As always, if you like what you hear and are interested in buying any of these guys' music (please do!), I'd recommend buying from Lone Star Music -- support the little guy, not the big chain stores and all that.
My favorites?
"Walk Out Now" and "She Sang The Red River Valley" by Reckless Kelly
"(Love Me) Like You Used To Do" by Cory Morrow
"I Don't Feel That Way" by Charlie Robison
"Carry On" by Pat Green
"Anywhere But Here" by Cross Canadian Ragweed
"$50 & A Flask of Crown" by Bleu Edmondson
