Talkin' Sports: A Great Time To Be In Boston

Yesterday marks the official first day of fall--I remember mostly because it is my brother's birthday and for the fact I'm still in a period of grievance over the end of summer. For most people it can bring a whole host of resonating feelings including going back to school, the leaves turning, and the approaching winter.

A glass half full view of fall for me is sports: Fall season brings back football(college and NFL), baseball playoffs, the start of the NHL season and eventually the NBA season. I guess every city more or less has a reason to be excited, but few are lucky enough to have such consistent success as Boston currently enjoys. Amidst the whirlwind of Boston sports that has been accumulating the past few weeks stand a number of interesting and obnoxious topics that stand out--Let's get to it.

"Boston is really the only team heading into the postseason that you can look at and say, "This team is ready for the playoffs." Aside from the middle relief, which hasn't been too good, Jon Lester is pitching well and Daisuke Matsuzaka has looked good. The Sox look to me to be the one, of all the teams likely headed to the postseason, that is the most dolled up and ready to play in the playoffs." - Excerpt from an ESPN article (September 24th, 2009)

- Now, I'm all about Boston being in the good graces of ESPN analysts (unless of course you include them all death-wishing the Patriots on Sunday and for once being right) but I'm a little unsure on the level of consistency. Since early August most of the major networks have made love to the idea that the New York Yankees and Anaheim Angels are the two best teams in the league(I assume based off of wins and losses). How quickly things have changed? Despite still having the best records in the American League, there have been several questions drawn up about each of them. The same ESPN article mentioned above, raised questions about Brian Fuentes closing for the Angels and what the hell the Yankees have been doing with Joba Chamberlain.

- The Angels must have the Red Sox in their heads after the past few postseasons. I think the Red Sox probably have them in their heads as well, for a set of different reasons--including some of the comments about who was the better team--after the Red Sox left them on the field last October (The Los Angeles Whiners Of Anaheim). Seriously guys, I mean even I knew the umpires missed the strike three call against Nick "Bellhorn" Green the other night, but shut up. Spare yourselves the humiliation. You want to whine? How about the fact that in 2007 your closer gave up the longest home run of his career in one of the biggest baseball moments of his career. See you in October.

- The Yankees, despite having a mix and match rotation at best, have one of the best offenses ever. That lineup is absolutely stacked and the prospect of them being matched against our sputtering middle relief is a torturing thought.

- Seriously, A.J Burnett has been as close to a bust as you can have while winning 12 games. He defines inconsistency. You mention Joba around Yankees fans and baseball people alike it's like drool from Pavlov's Dogs, I just don't seen anything good about a conditioning factor of 4.73, which of course is his ERA this year.

- Hideki Matsui has hit well against Boston this year. He is batting 340. with 4 home runs and 12 RBI's in 50 AB's. 9 of those RBI's have happened at Fenway and one of those games included a 7 RBI outburst. Don't be fooled. He has crushed 13 home runs since August 1st and is a career 302. hitter in the playoffs with 6 home runs in 41 at bats. I seem to recall a playoff game a few years ago when Pedro Martinez buzzed him up and in, and he proceeded to go hitless the remainder of the game. He did not contribute nearly as much the rest of the series either. Hint hint.

- Texeira has killed the entire league this year with his RBI's. He is right there with Matsui, batting 344. against the Sox with 5 home runs, 11 RBI's and 5 doubles. He is especially dangerous at home with that short porch.

- It's hard to pitch around guys like Texeira when your second basemen is having a season like Cano is having (320./23HR/46 2B's/79RBI). Oh yeah, he bats 7th in the order.

- Manny Delcarmen started out the first month of season without giving up a run. His era has risen by at least a run in each month(except July when it raised from 4.00 to 4.66), since then, and even more steadfastly since the All-Star Break. His ERA so far in the month of September is 19.67. That's like MVP Baseball on PS2 circa 2005 vs. The Royals rotation. Tito claims his struggles are associated with him "opening up too soon during his windup." Delcarmen is necessary for a World Series run--they need to figure that problem out fast.

- On the flipside, how valuable of a signing has Billy Wagner all of a sudden become?
(Take that, Papelbon).

- Daniel Bard worries me tremendously. His two biggest games this year have resulted in the worst losses of the year (up to that point). August 4th he came into the game in the 8th inning and gave up a long home run to Evan Longoria (this was more or less his first exposure in 2009 to the playoff race). The Sox went onto lose that game when Longoria hit another long home run in extras. August 9th is still the worst loss of the season. Enter Bard, exit Damon to right center, Texeira to shallow right, with back to back home runs. This was his first exposure to a playoff atmosphere against the Yankees. 8th inning, 2 outs and a lead from the newly acquired Martinez: Blown. Sox might want to re-evaluate paying Papelbon (do it please).

- I like the thought of Lester and Papelbon back to back in the playoffs. If Dice-K can keep up his recent brilliance, we are in excellent shape in a short series.

- Ortiz, Ortiz, Ortiz. Look up his numbers since his eye drops. I think mid-June is actually one of their testing grounds for steroids as well. Anyone have anything to say now?

NFL - Ok, so now onto football. The Patriots almost blow it first week of the season, brilliant two-minute, game-on-the-line, nothing-we-haven't-seen-before playcalling by Brady, game over. Forget your QB, cry over your dropped passes Owens.

- Down to reality as the Patriots struggle against the Jets. Sanchez has been solid with ridiculously quick feet and good composure. Brady, and the swiss cheese line in front of him, look shaky and can't get the offense going.

- Matt Light has been man handled this year.

- Apparently the Jets won the Super Bowl. Congratulations. See you on November 22nd.

- In other NFL news, some photographers down in Costa Rica are suing Tom Brady and his lovely wife for hiring "improperly trained bodyguards" that opened fire upon them during a trip earlier this year. "The bullet narrowly missed striking the heads of Cortez and Aviles," The lawsuit said. When asked about the incident? Tom smiled and said he has not comment.

- You mean properly trained bodyguards? Tom obviously knows how to secure his perimeter. I don't think he is going to take a chance down there knowing full well some of the crazy shit that can happen. Obviously a little over the top, but the way Papa Razzi's run around nowadays? I'm glad the incident caused them to shit their pants (the lawsuit claims physical and mental harm). I guess you just don't fuck with Brady.

- On Monday night, U2 played at Gillette Stadium, Bono informed the crowd "Everyone, I would just like you all to know that you are in the presence of god...and of Tom Brady".

- Mayo out hurts. Welker out hurts. Galloway in might be hurting even more. What the hell is going on with him?

- We miss Richard Seymour already. The loss to the Jets on Sunday was the wound. Watching Richard's brilliant performance in that Raider's game was the salt.

NHL AND NBA are upon us and right around the corner.

- Good riddance Phil Kessel, we liked having you here, but you didn't want to stay here. I hope Chara eats you.

- Trading the human punching bag that Scott Walker annihilated last year in the playoffs is one thing. Trading him to the Carolina Hurricanes to skate alongside Scott Walker? That is cruel and unusual punishment.

- I'm glad the Celtics are back. In part because of seeing NBA resume again, but mostly so I can wash away the court side visions of Game 7 against the Magic.

Pretty soon the four major sports teams will all be playing. Playoff games will overlap with regular season mash ups and there will be a more convincing excuse to drink and go out every night of the week. Enjoy it while it lasts.

I'm not sure about you but it's the only thing getting me through the start of this year.