CENTER FIELD :: Secret Weapon

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Secret Weapon

I have unlocked the secret to the Sox victories in Cleveland these past two days: video games.

Rob Bradford mentioned before Monday's game that several of the Sox players were amusing themselves with the (awesome) video arcade game system the Indians have set up in the visiting clubhouse at ~~the Jake~~ the Prog:

Last year you might remember the Red Sox players being immersed in Tecmo Bowl, an old school football game for the Nintendo system. This year the players have switched over to the new machine in the room, Golden Tee. Clay Buchholz, Jed Lowrie and Josh Beckett were immersed in a round on the system before tonight's game, although we don't have confirmation who came out victorious.

Just coincidence, I'm sure. But then, before last night's game, Rob once again spied a pivotal Sox player warming up using video games:

Classic scene when a group of Red Sox players looked over at their starting pitcher before the game and just started laughing. Tim Wakefield was in the zone ... playing the video game "Buck Hunter." Usually the knuckleballer's pre-start routine revolves around just crossword puzzles, but when in Rome. After all these years, it would be safe to say that he knows what he's doing.

If holding a (fake plastic) rifle and shooting at (fake digital) deer helps Wakefield to pitch only two earned runs over 6 innings, I'd say the Sox should buy a Buck Hunter machine and carry it around with them at all times. I'm pretty sure Timlin, Beckett, Lester and Papelbon would get some use out of that, too.

Comments (6)

[ Piney61 ] says:
on April 16, 2008 1:25 PM

Too Bad they Didn't Have Guitar Hero. We could've heard about a Javier Lopez vs Clay Buchholz Death Match Duel or something(IIRC, Lopez was the best of him, Wake, and Mirabelli in 07 and I heard Clay likes the game too)

[ mouse ] says:
on April 16, 2008 2:05 PM

Why do I find the video game exploits of ballplayers so amusing?

They should have an arcade in the clubhouse at Fenway at the very least, if they can't get that traveling Buck Hunter. Sounds like it really helps the players focus....

[ Meghan ] says:
on April 16, 2008 2:33 PM

This is hilarious, but I do have this warning to offer: I used to play Golden Tee all the time with some of my friends, and one of them actually broke his pinky finger on it one night, since it got caught on the edge of the game as he was trying to spin the tracking ball. As long as none of the guys do that, all should be okay.

The would probably have to renovate the Fenway clubhouse to get that stuff to fit, but it would totally be worth it.

[ Lyndsay ] says:
on April 16, 2008 4:49 PM

don't tell the Cubbies about this - one of their players would probably injure himself and go on the DL playing one of these games.

[ Lyndsay ] says:
on April 16, 2008 4:51 PM

NOOOO to Guitar Hero....it would be the death of Papelbon.

[ Kristen ] says:
on April 17, 2008 9:00 AM

That's settles it, then. The boys need to start hanging out at my local bar which has BOTH Buck Hunter AND Golden Tee. I'd even buy the rounds.

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