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October 29, 2004
What's the World Coming To?
First the Red Sox win the World Series, now this morning on the way to work I noticed a large group of people gathered in front of the Boston Public Library, persumably anxious to get in and get after all those books? What the hell is going on?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 28, 2004
Speaking of Parades...
...news reports suggest that the sox parade will be going right by our apartment. We're just on the other side of Boylston from the Back Bay Fens, with a great roof view.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
Helicopters
There are STILL two helicopters circling Fenway right now. While I appreciate that they cut the number down from the six we spotted from the roof last night, I think it's time someone tell these fellas to go home and rest up for the parade.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
Bandwagon
The sports guy sums up what we were all thinking:
"6:10 - Following a Ramirez single, Fox shows Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore wearing Red Sox sweatshirts and clapping excitedly. I wish I was actually driving the Red Sox Bandwagon right now, just so I could screech to a halt, whirl around, point to them and scream, "Get off! RIGHT NOW! I mean it! Get off! Move it! Gather your things and GET OFF!""
Though it should be noted that the Sports Guy would have to park the sellout wagon somewhere before he slid behind the wheel of the Red Sox Bandwagon. He still has it every once in a while, kind of like Shaunessey.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
You're Hurting Me!
I can't really figure out what to do now.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 26, 2004
Reality Interrupts Baseball
While this may look like an all-day-all-night red sox site, it actually was created with a different purpose; to periodically chronicle Sara and my impending move from Boston, the bluest of blue states, where we've both lived for most of our lives, to the reddest of red that is Houston. Note that this isn't particularly a move of our choice, but I'm getting transferred for work, Sara can continue with her job offsite and a host of other reasons has made it in our best interest to give it a shot, at least for 6 months. While this was pleasantly interrupted by the sox run for the series, the reality of the whole thing is starting to set in.
As of today, we have a firm date of when we need to be down there, two days after Christmas. We've also been in touch with the corporate housing people and are awaiting floorplans and the like to decide where we'll stay the first 6 months (one place includes the promise of "European charm in the heart of Houston", which is a little much, but most places seem pretty nice so far). We've also arranged for our contractually required intermediate-sized rental car, I've sent off my application to finish up my MBA at UH and I just booked by two pre-move trips down to Houston. Sara has even started the process of trading in her giant iMac for a laptop.
I feel cautiously optimistic about the whole thing.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 25, 2004
Two Down, Two To Go
So watching the game from our roof didn't exactly turn out to be the best idea. First, the radio is on a full 3 second delay, which gets really confusing when you can hear the crowd moan or roar before anything happens in radioland. The TV delay is only about a second, so it's a little more acceptable, though we still knew when Foulke struck out Edmonds and the rest before we actually saw it. I guess we are getting use to that effect.
Second, who would have thought that blimp would be so loud? Aren't blimps suppose to be quiet? Isn't that there thing? This one sounds like a crop duster circling Fenway and is rather annoying after a few innings.
Third, we decided to take a walk around Fenway just to take a look at the security and so Sara could take a few pictures during the seventh inning stretch. I'd estimate about 25,000 police officers. We walked thru the alley in back of our appartment that goes next to the Boston Arts Academy, looking in the windows there were about 100 police officers getting dressed into their riot gear and monitoring the game on TVs.
There was also a small, sad memorial on Landsdowne Street, no more than one candle and one pot of flowers, at the spot that poor girl died the other inght.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 24, 2004
Shilling's Cleat
Wouldn't it have been better if Shilling wrote something like "McCarver Sucks" instead of "K ALS" for all those closeup bloody sock photo ops?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 23, 2004
The Game Hasn't Even Started...
...and McCarver is already annoying. What is the deal with the scarf fella?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
Distractions
How many hours will I spend on this site next week at work?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
Random Thoughts On The Series
1. As much as I'm a fan of the guy, I can't believe they're going with Mirabelli in Game 1. You know as soon as Wake is done Francona is going to want to get Varitek into the game, and then you are majorly exposed if something should happen to him, Pokey catching the final innings doesn't sound very good to me.
2. With Papi's defensive shortcoming for game 3-5 in St. Louis, I think you have to seriously consider Pokey starting at 2nd base. Bellhorn has the better bat, but I think they'd be served well by extending their infield range on the right side, especially for Game 4 when Lowe is on the mound. Plus you add a nice bat on the bench that you can bring into a key situation and there is always going to be more substituting when the DH is gone anyway. I'd say unless Bellhorn lights it up in the first two games, you've got to sit him in at least two of the games in St. Louis.
3. St. Louis has some seriously strong throwing arms in the outfield, this is going to come up at some point.
4. This team has two good lefties out of the pen to deal with Papi and Trot, unlike the Yankees.
(Ed. Note: Looks like Kline is out, but that's still one good lefty.
5. Mathany is probably the best defensive catcher in baseball.
6. Don't let Pujols beat us.
7. Sox in 7.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
6 Hours And Counting
I just got home from my morning class at BC, sitting down at my computer with the rehearsal of God Bless America wafting over from Fenway (a block away) and through my window. On my walk over from the T, (I got off at the Fenway stop because I needed to pick up some batteries so we can listen to Game 1 from our roof tonight) I passed at least 3 groups of guys that were clearly drunk already and a handful of others that looked suspiciously rosy for this early in the morning.
I have no idea how things get out of hand during these events.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 22, 2004
Game 1 Planning
Unfortunately, Sara pointed out yesterday that we watched every single Sox victory over the Yanks in a different place this year. Consider:
Game 4: Elixir in San Francisco
Game 5: Various airport bars in Pittsburgh, Atlanta & seperate bars at Logan
Game 6: Various TVs at Boston College, Sara's brother's apartment & home
Game 7: Charlie's on Newbury Street
Further, with the exception of the part of Game 6 we watched at home, we have never before watched Sox games at any of these places before. She contends that this is sufficent circumstanial evidence that part of the reason for the Sox unprecedented comeback was our unprecedented viewing schedule. While I pointed out that we also LOST two games we watched at different bars in SF, regretably I can't argue that this completely overrules her theory. As a result, we are going to have to keep up this schedule, which is complicated by the fact that I think I have watched Sox games at every bar in a 5 square mile radius of Fenway. Here's what we're thinking so far:
Game 1: Me, Sara, a battery operated TV, PBR and a seat on our roof. I just hope we don't get screwed up by time-delayed broadcasting.
Game 2: Downstairs bar at Joe's on Newbury Street. Bonus points because this is where Manny met his wife.
We're still working on the others, suggestions would be appreciated.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 21, 2004
Best Headline So Far
Boston Counters Rodriquez's Slap With a Knockout Punch
--New York Times
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
Good Golly, Miss Molly
Overheard on Boylston Street in the celebration:
"This must be what it was like after WWII. Only, you know, this is a little more crazy."
(Ed. Note: There were probably fewer "Show your T-ts!" chants back in '45 I bet. But still...)
OK, that was fun. Sara and I, on account of the fact that this was a fairly unprecedented game, decided we'd watch at a bar where we'd never seen a sox game together before. That bar, Charlie's on Newbury, was as packed as I've ever seen it before. To the point that the weren't letting people downstairs anymore after the 4th inning. 7th game packed.
How can you describe it? Why would you try? Who has ever been so nervous of a SEVEN run lead as all of Boston was in the ninth inning? How many days will it take for my voice to come back? Before Game 1 of the World Series I hope.
Ugh. I'm spent. We walked around Fenway for twenty minutes, which is the next block from our apartment, and then retired to the roof of our building to observe the scene and smoke some celebratory cigars (which the Berkeley students/neighbors mistaked for the marijuana a depressing number of times). I'm sure Sara will have some photos of the fun here soon. All I can say is, the Sox have never lost to the Yankees in a playoff series since we got engaged. I almost wish I had some doubts about the whole engagement thing so this could dash them.
Oh yeah, it's 2:11 and the helicopters are still circling.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 20, 2004
Nervous
It started around noon, lasted through my Sarbanes-Oxley interview, and has been picking up steam ever since. I am in full legs bouncing knuckles cracking mode 4 hours early. Will DLowe revert to his past playoff hero status? Will Kevin Brown reach back into his bag of tricks for one more game 7? Will everyone's eardrums pop if Pedro gets the nod in the 8th inning? Will we be able to make it home from the bar safely if the sox lose? Will we be able to make it home from the bar safely if the sox win? Will they bother having the world series is the sox pull it out?
Soon.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
Batting Third For The New York Yankees, Brian Boitano
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 19, 2004
Big Papi's Biggest Fan?
By the way, I can confirm that Sara was on the Big Papi bandwagon waaaaay before it got this popular.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
Red Sox Express
Due to some poor planning, our long ago scheduled flights home from San Francisco yesterday did not take into consideration the fact that Game 5 was a 5:15 start. It was terrible. After sticking it out until the end of game 4 at Elixir, we were forced to follow the game through glimpses of airport bar TVs in Atlanta or Philadelphia, cell phone calls on runways and an intricate web of phone messaging. Fortunately, once I was finally on the plane to Boston the fine Delta pilot gave some intermittent game updates for "those that might be interested in the ballgame," which of course was everyone on the damn plane. Somewhere of North Carolina the Sox closed the score to 4-3. Over Maryland they tied it up in the 9th. By Rhode Island it was in the 11th and when we touched down it had reached the 12th. I ran through the airport looking for a TV, only to find most of the restaurants closed since it was so late. I finally made it to the Sam Adams bar by ticketing in Terminal B, to see the bottom of the 13th. The place was packed, people were cheering and high-fiving, the waitress was frazzled. Airport personnel kept ducking in to see the game, then running out between at bats to do something else (and yes, there were more than a few security people that perhaps had more important things they should have been doing). Sara's plan landed about 5 minutes after mine in a different terminal, so she was watching in the Legal Seafoods.
And right as I was finishing my first beer, Big Papi ended it. Now I have to figure out how to get out of tonight's class to watch game six. Let's hope for a rain delay.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 12, 2004
It's Only One Game
Just got home from class to find a 6-0 deficit and Mussina throwing a perfect game so far. Guess Pedro will have to carry us. Just to be safe, I'm going to fly to San Francisco tomorrow to see if that helps things. Pedro has never lost to the Yankees when I've been in San Francisco.
What are YOU doing to help the team?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 11, 2004
Polling
Interesting post from Mark Blumenthal on the peculiarities of "likely voter" polling. One of the questions used by pollsters to determine this catogory is to ask who the respondent voted for in 2000. When you total up those responses, it comes out that about 60% of people asked claim to have voted, even though the actual turnout was closer to 51%. It begs the question, if pollsters can't get an accurate read on an election that happened 4 years ago, how in the world can you trust them to predict the future?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 10, 2004
Irony?
Is it ironic that I get a day off from my Social Issues in Management course because of Columbus Day?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 08, 2004
Game Three
OK, I am off to watch game three of the Sox-Angels series at Anam Cara in Washington Square. You may or may not be aware that Anam Cara was indirectly responsible for the Sox losing game 7 to the Yankees last year. Sara and I watched a number of games there earlier in the playoffs against the Yanks & A's, each of which the Sox managed to win. In short, we were good luck, or rather, our being at Anam Cara and watching was good luck. But, when I arrived a full two hours before the beginning of game 7 that day to grab a seat, there were about 6 people there, each "reserving" about 8 seats each. At that point, the sox were finished. Either we could watch at home (which we did, even going as far as picking up lucky beers Boddington's and PBR, and making lucky mac & cheese with lucky sausage on top) or stay, insisting on a seat and creating a whole load of bad red sox karma and bad blood pressure increases for the irate stan. A no win situation, they lost, of course. You'd think they would have developed a reasonable seating policy to combat this from occurring again, but they subbornly insist on retaining an unfettered seat-yourself free-for-all.
Of course I tried to boycott, but that didn't last long. They came out with the wonderful andouille sausage sandwich and followed that with having the delightfully fruity Lindeman's Framboise on tap, which I can enjoy because I am secure in my masculinity.
I had to forgive.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 06, 2004
Tense Bostonians
Unfortunately, I had class yesterday so I couldn?۪t watch all of game one. I followed the first two innings online at work and then hoped on the B Line for the interminably long ride out to BC. I rushed up campus, oddly enough passed the remnants of a Howard Dean speech (he apparently is a Yankees fan and, oddly enough, is only about 4 feet tall), and made it to Fulton Hall at about 6PM. The Sox were already up 8-1 at that point, but there were still at least 60 people crowded around the two TVs in the lounge, standing room only. In the next inning (7th?) after Erstad homered and Garrett Anderson reached first on a Shilling error, the tension was palpable. The people who had seats were sitting on the edge of them, people were swearing and talking to the TV and we still had a SIX run lead in the 7th! SIX!
I?۪m glad I?۪m more level headed about this.
--------Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
Question
If a man wanted to post his baseball playoff predictions on his blog and he wanted to do this in two columns, how would he go about doing this?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 05, 2004
Predictions
Twins in 4
Championship Series
Division Series
Championship Series
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 04, 2004
Take That NRA!
From the people will write letters to the editor about anything department.
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
"...what events do you swim?"
"...what events do you swim?"
-John Kerry, next President of the United States, not getting the joke
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 02, 2004
Quote Of The Day
"These are the rules of a polite society."
--Stan to Little Drummer Girl, requesting she put away her sticks
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM
October 01, 2004
Hard Hitting Debate Commentary
1. I thought it was pretty even after I watched it.
2. Everyone seems to disagree. Even some respectable people, not just DNC flunkies and the like.
3. Then I read some opinions of some normal people in the heartland to see if they seemed to have the same opinion and it seems pretty clear this didn't change anyone's mind on anything. Anyone leaning remotely towards either candidate though their guy did better. I don't see Kerry picking up any votes because of last night, best case it excites his base.
4. Speaking of the DNC, am I the only one that thinks 75% of these "Faces of Frustration", are just the the President, you know, breathing?
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Posted by stan at 11:23 AM