Hey kids - anyone out there?

Hi everyone! It's a beautiful day outside.

TG - I've got the Yankees/Jays game on the MLB.tv trial and a certain Rance Mulliniks is doing color commentary for CBC Sports. It's marvelous. (He's definitely just as much of a looker as he was 18 years ago.)

Yep, I'm here...and watching on mlb.tv rather than the idiots on the tube.

Gonna jump in the shower quick-like here, will be back in 10.

Aaah. Whoa. It's not 2004. I meant 22 years ago. >

hey people.

GO SOX!

Remy is already cracking up too much to talk.

what made them crack up?

Does anyone have any idea what is going on at NESN?

Don and Remy cracking up => me cracking up.

I wonder what's so funny?

It's so gorgeous outside, I'm dying to be at Fenway and I would have loved to cheer on our All Star delegation when they got their jerseys before the game. Ah, well, I guess I can't go to them all. I'm just wicked spoiled.

Hey everyone!

I'm loving this mlb.tv trial

Today on SportsCenter, Boston is up for possible Titletown and they interviewed Paps at Fenway, it was great

Whatever is cracking them up happened off air. Maybe we'll see a highlight later.

I certainly hope so! It was one of their worst crack-ups ever.

Danielle...me too about the trial. This is awfully tempting...

ecl, I know if only I wasn't a poor college student...

everytime Coco comes on in th mlb.tv commercial I smile, it's too funny

Marketing triumphs!

Pettitte having trouble in the second in Toronto--he gave up 4 runs before getting one out (double, RBI single, walk, 3-run home run).

Even better, the hitter who got the homer is Marco Scutaro, who now has three homers on the season (and is one of my favorite non-Sox).

You wanna give us a base? Why thanks, we'll take it.

DREWWWW

DREW!!!!!

Yeehaaaah! I'm liking this already.

Danielle, I'll have to look at the prices. Money is a tad tight for me too right now.

And Coco makes me smile very easily. He's so quirkily adorable.

LOL, fc...I'm just such a baseball addict they had me at the first glimpse.

Well Helloo, Mr. Youkilis. Go on and stretch out your bad self.

Liza, Pettitte seems to be in the decline phase at this point in his career. I remember him when he was very, very good.

ecl, the regular mlb.tv is like $40 for the month and $60 something for mlb.tv premium

$40/month? Oh well...

oops, I meant for the year

it's like $15 for the month but if you have the audio already maybe there is an upgrade price

$40/year I can do.

In college, a couple of my friends split a MLB.tv subscription for a year. They seemed pretty happy with it. The one thing I'm not sure about was how they split up games - like if you can watch the same game on the same account from two different locations? Maybe this might work for you?

The Indians picked the wrong pitcher to start today's game (0-5 with an over 7 ERA)

Abby, that's a great idea but my friends down here aren't really baseball fans and the ones that are are back home with NESN

Thanks for the idea, though

That wasn't a very pretty play.

Pedey didn't look very happy about that.

No problem. It worked for them because you can't get Giants or Yankees feeds in Boston ;).

My brother uses my mlb.tv out in hawaii and gets the Red Sox games even though I'm blacked out here.

DaisuKKe :)

Doesn't seem fair, does it, Ian?

Baby Sox on TV to get us over the break! Awesome! (For NESN viewers anyway.)

I love the Sea Dogs. Whee!

Don and Remy with teddy bears: just a tad disturbing.

Hey y'all!

It looks like a beautiful day in Boston. We finally have sun here, too, as opposed to oppressive smoke.

DO and Remy were killing me at the beginning of the game. Their giggles were making me laugh. ha!

Those Vermont teddy bears of Remy & DO are adorable--especially Remy's mustache.

Well, it's causing them to crack up some more, so it's all good. . . . :-)

Cute dugout shot!

Well ecl, they do it off where your IP address registers. Since his doesn't come up in the Red Sox television market (obviously), he gets the game.

Hey, Mayor: I don't think you're running slowly enough. I think you could take a little bit longer on the base paths.

OK, fc--now I agree--Don's starting to creep me out a little with Fursillo.

I meant that it's not fair that you get blacked out at all. Everyone who wants to watch a game should be able to watch it, IMO. After all, only so many people can fit in the ballpark.

Orsillo started college in 1991? He looks pretty much middle-aged now. I had been out for more than a decade in 1991. Ugh, I feel old.

unfortunately that's the rules MLB has in place. If you live in the market of any team you should be able to get the games which is why they do it.

they are planning to amend the blackout restrictions.

Ian, did you mean to say "get TO the games?" Because otherwise I don't quite get what you're saying. But they jolly well SHOULD amend the restrictions.

So can anyone read lips?

Coco looks so good with those braids. I just wish his hairline could get some help.

Coco said something about putting him on TV

he mumbled the first words abit otherwise I'd have the whole thing

No i meant that you can get the games on television.

unfortunately that's the rules MLB has in place. If you live in the market of any team you should be able to get the games which is why they do it

Yeah, like I can watch Orioles games all the time living in Charlotte NC. *insert eye roll here*

Ian, so they "do it," i.e., have blackouts, which means you CAN'T get the games! Which is ridiculous and needs to change, obviously.

That Coco spot in the commercial is too adorable!

their blackout rules aren't perfect which is why they are going to change them.

Bethie, that makes no sense to me either, about the O's and Charlotte. How many hundred miles is it? (sigh)

By the way...NYY still down by 4. TB-CLE tied at 2.

YOOUUUK gettin it done at third.

...but dude, it's time to lose the glasses.

I dunno. But if they would get a map, they would see there is no way in hell I am in that market.

Out of the 4 teams I am blacked out from seeing, we only played one this year other than Baltimore and that was the Phillies. Sox aren't playing the braves or nationals this year so I don't give a crap.

But they play Baltimore A LOT!!!!!

Assholes and their restrictions deprive me of red sox ball. Not good for business.

And I didn't get to see the catch by Youk, but it sounded impressive. :)

Peralta with a 2R-Hr Cleveland up 4-2

Bethie: It was. Youk had to back up and change course a couple of times to make the catch--and it was way, way back from third base (it was almost in Manny's territory).

And, yeah, 439 miles is a bit of a stretch.

Burnett is rolling along against the Yanks--he's thrown 72 pitches through 6.1 on three days' rest.

...am I a bad person for being madly in love with the entire Jays' starting rotation?

Liza: Yes. You are evil.

Sean: That worked, but have you learned nothing?
Good for you, though.

Yay for the Mayor!!!

Make that 77 through 7 for Burnett.

(hearts hearts hearts)

Sean Casey, slower than Mike Lowell

Sean: keep your elbows in when you run

Horse-leg-kick on base? Hysterical.

Bethie, you're blacked out from the Phillies too? That makes no sense. Washington either. And of course just in case either of us wanted to actually watch the Braves (not I), we get practically all their games on the regional cable channels.

I say let Liza keep on loving them since they've already lost marcum and mcgowan.

Maybe her loving them will make them trade Burnett, leaving Halladay as the only one who will stay.

Sean Casey: looks faster in slo-mo replays.

Sean Casey: Not fleet of hoof.

Did we just miss an at-bat for that TAPED SEGMENT?
BAD NESN.

And Litsch. Don't forget him and his delicious cross-seam fastball.

Hansen drumming baseballs on the dugout bench = AWESOME.

And yes, the bullpen NEEDS to put out a CD. That would be fantastic.

That's the first time I've seen Hansen doing the bass part! Hilarious.

you must have been watching the other day when the he got lit up like the Rockefeller Center Xmas tree

Go MDCBB! Still rockin' the joint. (Well, at least their rhythm is on-target right now.)

And yes, as Remy said--I'd buy a CD. . . .

I'll take it!

I want a CD too - they've got that rhythm GOING! :D

loading them up for Mr. Grand Slam

Holy moly...I wasn't paying attention. Had NO idea Cabrera was that huge! Good NIGHT!

Yes. I saw. And I managed to miss Halladay's two-hitter. :P

I'd get the DVD, not the CD.

Cabrera: 6'9" of hotheaded pitcher.

Ian jinxed it.

fc -- yep.

Cabrera does seem pretty hotheaded. Intense. Not someone I'd want to be anywhere near should he lose his temper.

(Burnett update: 89 pitches through 8. 4 hits, one walk, no runs, 8 strikeouts.)

Yanks still down 4-0. Tampa Bay down 5-2 in the seventh.

I did. My bad.

FANTASTIC diving/sliding catch by Ells.

Manny just said to Jacoby, hey i could've done that

Lovely catch there, Jacoby!

That was so far outside it went by my window.

aw shit...

Sabathia hit a home run for the Brewers this afternoon

Dice-K is driving me crazy. Strikes, Dice, strikes! These high-pitch count games do not help.

And Cleveland is up 5-2 in the 8th v TB.

THANK YOU DICE-K.

Daisuke Houdini

Great job Dice, but please stop scaring me like that.

whew...Dice! That could've been ugly. Let's win this one--TB and NYY are both losing their games.

Woo hoo...Dice-K now leads the league in walks! Hell yeah! *eye roll*

Good play to get the out at first. Whew.

LOL, Ian! I was just thinking that Houdini would have to be a new nick for him. He's GOT to stop that.

That's ENOUGH OF THAT.

(The Mustache homered off Burnett and he came out after 8.1. Oh well. Still an impressive line...)

Also, I want to punch Daniel Cabrera.

Things that make you go hmmmm....

ecl, is that a C&C Music Factory reference, or an Arsenio reference?

this is by far the ugliest 2-0 game we've seen

Good running, Youk! Cabrera is outta there.

Nice running, Youk...

Yanks lose to the Jays 4-1. TB down 5-2 still in the eighth.

Neither, fc. I don't keep up enough w/pop culture to know where the phrase came from. Was just commenting on the number of tight inside pitches.

fc i guess ecl is not hip to be square :D

C&C/Arsenio: cool in their time.
Huey Lewis? Never cool. /gentle tease

just caught this on Extra Bases

In other news, Sox outfielder (Greenville) Che-Hsuan Lin was named the MVP in the Futures Game at Yankee Stadium today. Lin went 2-for-2 with a homer to lead the World to a 3-0 win over USA. Lin also leads the Sox farm system with 26 steals

Lin is awesome. Thanks for the tip, Ian.

Ian, I'm hip about some stuff...but during that time period I was living TV-free, and don't watch much of it now that I have it. Just news and sports, pretty much...and some audio music channels.

Ells... oh well.

We really should have a *lot* more than two runs.

LOL, fc.

I hate when that happens. C'mon, guys....capitalize!

"I hate when that happens." = 80's SNL reference.
C'mon, admit it ecl, you were glued to the tube.

"I hate it when that happens!" Hysterical skits on SNL. Billy Crystal was great.

/child of the 80s.

If Steph were on, this is where I'd have to fight her over her glee that Youk is out, Jed is in. /Chattiness induced by beer-is-taking-effect

Liza i'm just finishing up a post about it right now.

lol fc. i guess you're not taking sunday off.

Where *is* Steph?

Youk looked like his arm was sore.

/Chattiness induced by work-avoidance.

fc, LOL....between 1975 (h.s. graduation) and 1997 I watched virtually no TV at all. I do remember watching SNL in its early heyday (late 70s) with friends in the college dorm. After college I lived in the vast wasteland of upstate NY and was too poor to afford cable for many years. So, no. Those lines are part of the cultural lexicon. That's the only reason I use them. No idea where they come from.

Everything in moderation - including sobriety.

Steph's been busy--she did sound really happy about Jed, though.

Cleveland FTW Final score 5-2

DaisuKKKKKKKe

I'm happy for Steph that she's happy about Jed. And he looks happy out there as well.

Nice closing act by Houdini.

ecl, I'm happy that you're happy that she's happy that he's happy.

LOL! Not only that, I'm happy as well! It's fun to see different faces on the field.

fc, I'm happy that you're happy that ecl is happy and that she's happy that teph's happy that jed is happy.

spelling correction: *steph's not teph's

:::head spin:::

Ian, I'm happy that you're happy that fc is happy that Ecl is happy that Steph is happy and that Jed is happy.

We're one big happy family.

W're all happy.
THE END.

I want yellow sunglasses.

Yay Jed!

Uh oh. Okie.

I think the Birds scare him.

since some of y'all aren't happy with MLB blackout rules, here's your chance to tell MLB commish Bud Selig what you really think.

he's holding a chat on Tuesday at MLB.com and will be answering fan's questions.

here's the email address to send your questions to:

allstarchat@website.mlb.com

"Lowrie to Casey."
This is the team that came back virtually in its entirety from last year.

Things that make you go hmmm....

Nice fielding, Jed.

Why is Oki in against the O's? sigh

fc: Back in its entirety, but with more depth.

Liza: I know, just an observation. About time passing and things changing, or something.

fc: One word - injuries.

Houdini-esque.

Good move, Tito. Go MDC!!!

Giambi is so freakin' hideous.

Do you think the O's have found some sort of tell in his motion or something? The difference in Oki v. O's and Oki v. everybody else is just ridonkulous--and I can't believe it's random luck.

ecl - I totally agree. His mustache is completely out of control.

Uh no...I don't think he was making a phone call. LOL...

xrays were negative on Youk

Abby, it's not just the 'stache. He's UGLY and has been for quite some time now. Didn't used to be...I found a picture of him to send my cousin (who adores him) and he was reasonably good looking about 5+ years ago. He just aged horribly.

And, may I add, the mustache covers up a scary-looking scar on his upper lip. So although it needs reining in, it's an improvement.

He just aged horribly

steroids will do that to you

Tiara: THE fashion accessory to have this season on the ballfield.

Stache ruined Burnett's complete-game shutout that was not to be. Urg.

Yeah, the stache covers up the scar. But what about the rest of his face?

:)

That was so mean of me.

It is way too hot to be wearing a plastic Nixon mask.

I'm thinking RemDawg the horndog really want to say does she wear the tiara during sex too.

That was a great freaking ad with Papelbon for Sox Appeal

In real life, Pap would taken the guy's place himself.

Ian, you've got a good point there. Clemens looks pretty dreadful to my eyes at this point (could be because he's a jerk). Bonds seems to have weathered well so far. Who else?

That ad was funny the first few times, but after NESN's been showing it every inning I'm already tired of it.

I went to school with the guy who flubs the first date.

And cracking up at Bethie. Stache needs a Nixon mask to cover up the rest of that mug.

CASEY. UGH.

I'm thinking Casey might want to stay at first when he hits

Sean...stop doing that, please.

They've shown that ad before? That's the first time I've seen it.
And Sean, love ya, but leave the running to the kids.

liza that's the first time they've shown it on the HD feed. they run different channels on the non-HD feed.

...I'm on the HD feed. They've been showing it all day for me.

...and I'm not, and it was the first time.

oops i meant they run different commericals on the non-HD feed.

and i'm with you fc. I've never seen that one before

Just as a question--don't we have a first-base coach to tell people to hold up on going to second? Who maybe should realize that Casey's not going to make it to second if the ball is fielded well?

they must run different ads for different people because i just checked the DVR of the game which is the non-HD feed and I didn't get the commercial there but I did get the HD feed of it.

Just a heads up to everyone, Big Papi is supposed to be on Mike & Mike in the Morning (ESPN2) tomorrow. The show is from 6-10am but I'm guessing Papi will be on in the 8 or 9'oclock hour. They'll be at Grand Central Station for the show

DREWWWWW
And that's a reminder of what a close game it still is.

I've been trying to find a copy of the one that RemDawg and Orsillo did that they showed last night on the HD feed. It wasn't shown on the non-HD feed here.

Nice JD, and thank you!

Agreed, lone1c. I don't know why he keeps running.

Maaaaaan, I wish I could sit down and watch that show in the morning -- will be rushing around getting ready for work, though. :(

don't worry ecl, i'm sure texy or myself will take care of the minions with some video

Thank you in advance! I love me some Papi. :D

although i'm thinking about taking the week off from blogging.

NICE, mdc.

Taking the week off? Any particular reason?

vacation perhaps.

I'm actually going to have time to post something on mine for a change. But I don't blame you if you take some time off after being there for your faithful readers day in and day out all this time.

WHAT? A week off from blogging?
What about the public's need for information?

...and video!

Seriously, I don't have a blog because I have no time to write.

I would love some video of Big Papi on Mike & Mike.

My plans are the daily minor league post and maybe if something else comes up.

I've got a million things to do this week as it seems everything wants to fall into place at once. I've got to go to the doctors since my medication needs to be refilled and he won't refill it without seeing me, I need to finish an appeal for my disability claim, i need to see my lawyer about getting the rest of my settlement, i need to find a doctor who will take someone without insurance to help me finish my appeal of which i need said settlement money to pay for.

I have until the end of the week to sign my lease for next year and need to decide if i'm going to move closer to newington or move into my parents other place temporarily. Just a bunch of shit falling into place at once

actually most of those things constitute my day tomorrow

Jules...make time! It's always good to get West Coast perspective on our wonderful guys.

Oooh, pretty Vermont mountain shots!

um, Ian - you know I was kidding, right? A guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do. Unless it was the guilt talking... ;)

Ian, multitask much? ;D

Go Paps!

...okay, you get a free pass if you take the week off.

I also let TG know so she might post the clip

And if you want to see more of Paps, they should replay the Boston Titletown on SportsCenter at 6p today

Cora -- so nonchalant.

i knew you were kidding fc. I actually feel bad about not blogging as much but it works out rather nicely with it being somewhat of a slow week for Red Sox news.

I always multitask ecl. I have already written two blog posts during this game with one going up at 9 PM tonight and the other one was about Lin being Futures MVP.

It's just the way the cookies crumbled for me this week and I don't mind.

plus Steve will post anything that's really important if I happen to not be around when it happens.

Although the way i work, i should get most of that done tomorrow since the doctor has walk-in hours and my lawyer is getting an earful for blowing me off on Friday since he never called me to tell me our meeting was canceled.

Ian, I've said it before and I'll say it again...you remind me a lot of my cousin in Houston, the one who lives/breathes/eats sports. Guy multitasks so much that I believe he can even do so while he's asleep.

Ian, I hope it all falls into place for you--that's a lot to have to deal with at once.

ecl, I wish I had the time. I'm working at least 50 hours/week in addition to family. Not to mention that we've picked up golf ;-).

PAPS! Do NOT blow this.

Paps is scaring me.

Yeah, Ian, good luck w/all this!

Pap. Throw strikes, buddy.

I really can't wait to see what the guys say on the softball site i run for them when they find out the site will be getting updated less frequently this week. That ought to go over real well.

mlb.tv folks - is it common for it to freeze up? It's done so about a half dozen times this afternoon.

Thanks all y'all.

Ian, the possibility of moving closer to Newington is enough to deal with let alone the other stuff. Good luck with all that.

it does freeze up from time to time ecl.

this is a little bit too stressful for me. :(

Apparfently Pap has taken over from Oki in the effort TO KILL ME.

lol fc. all of my friends live up there so it's not like it would be a bad thing.

fc you know how that town is. most people never leave. for me when i go up it's like a high school reunion when i go watch the boys play softball.

geez, thanks for swinging on ball 4!!!

ecl: It only froze for me once--at the start of the bottom of the 8th.

mine froze then too but it does often freeze multiple times during the game (usually when going to commercial so it's OK).

It froze when I was watching the NYY/TOR game earlier and I missed Marco Scutaro's 3-run home run. (/sad)

Ian: yup, I have friends there too and I was stuck there for years but finally escaped.

mehh, it's okay. At least I haven't had to log in again each time.

Shit shit shit shit shit

(begging, pleading...)

PAP
WTF

I was wondering what Liza was "shitting". Looks like you guys are a few seconds ahead of me (probably due to the freeze).

(Invoking several deities in whom I do not believe.)

PEDEY SAVES THE DAY

Thank GOD

I trust something good is about to happen due to fc's comment. :)

PLEATS!!!!!!!

We're back on top--all is well with the world.

Ian, good luck this week. Give your lawyer hell ;-)

Thank Pod for Pedroia--awesome catch to end it--and put us at the top of the division going into the break!

Bless you Pedey. (wiping forehead)

Back to first place we go!!!! :D :D :SD

Whew!!!

FIRST PLACE!!!!! WOOO HOOOO!!!

1ST PLACE BABY

yeah!

yeah!

Before everyone leaves...hope we get a chance to hang out on Tuesday. I'll probably watch some on TV, some here.

Life is back to normal - Red Sox back on top the AL East

And now time for my one meal of the day

Eat up, Danielle!

My hubby and I have golf lessons this week. I do hope to catch some of the All Star game.

What a game today--the pitchers were trying scare us all.

JD, you don't fool me with that false modesty - I can see that sneaky smile.