In the Spring of 1969 my youngest daughter was 4 months old and not well.  We spent a lot of time at home.  We watched a lot of Ball Games.  In those days there were a lot more afternoon games.  Perhaps thats where Our real love for Baseball came from.  What brings back this nostalgic moment?  Well I just read that Russ Gibson passed away this past Sunday. The very same day Dick Williams the manager of the 1969 Red Sox was voted into the Hall of Fame.

For me when a player from the '69 team passes away it's like an old friend has gone.  I loved that team.  It helped me keep my sanity during a very difficult time of my life.

R.I.P. Russ

Of course I can never write about that team without adding a photo of Tony Conigliaro.

Tony taken away to soon.(photos from google.com)

noni

If asked who my favorite Pitcher for the Red Sox is, I would never say Jon Lester.  I think he is still too young, inexperienced, and maybe even cocky.  Just my opinion.  But boy did he prove me wrong last night! Great Job, Jon!

I am sick of Television dictating when we watch the Sox.  Sunday night baseball su*ks!  I sure I'm not the only one tired on Sunday, and the thought of staying up late with work the next morning just dosen't work.  They are two East Coast teams.  Why did they play so late, with an hour rain delay?  The afternoon was beautiful in Boston.  The game should have been over by the time the rain threat came in.!

Okay, I have to admit I am finally sick of Manny being Manny! There was no need for the crap he pulled this weekend.  I am usually a huge Manny fan, no matter how nuts the stuff he does appears to everyone.  I love him, I think the team needs him, But, with the Yankees in town you just don't pull this crap.

Manny you really disappointed me this time. The sports writers are right (it kills me to say that) It's not even August yet. Cut it out Manny.  When the season is over in October then you can open your big mouth! Right now just get out there and do what you get paid for! Play Ball!

Noni

Isn't that a beautiful face??  Just knowing he is playing tonight brings a smile to my face and I'm sure I'm not the only one!

I don't usually write anything negative about the Boston Sports writers, but, after reading a column in yesterdays Globe from Kevin Cullen I must comment.

Kevin seems to have a problem with Red Sox fans chanting "Yankees S*ck".  He thinks people that chant this at Red Sox vs Yankee games are either drunk, obnoxious or stupid!

Well I am none of the above and I chant "Yankees Su*k" anytime the teams are playing each other, or even when I happen to turn the channel and flick by a Yankee game, or happen to talk to someone about the Yankees, like my New York co-workers. (who take no offence and give it back to me).

He says he is embarrassed by fans that say that. Well I'm embarrassed by him, a Boston Sports Writer, I think he should be writing for the New York Daily News.

To make matters even worse Derek Jeter is his hero.  You've got to be kidding me.  Has the man not seen anything Mike Lowell has done for the Kids in this town???? Mike is also a good family man and a great teammate.  How about Mike Timlin?  How about Papi? We have a whole team to pick a Hero from.

  So Mr Cullen if you have to pick a hero why not look at your own (or so you say) Team.

You may be teaching your sons that the Yankee's don't Su*k, but hopefully as true Red Sox fans they will soon figure it out themselves.

Guess that's enough ranting for today.  Can't wait for the Games to begin!!

Noni

Boy, definetly a nail biter.  12 innings.  I was so happy it was a 4:30 in the afternoon game and figured it would be over at a reasonable time.  Then tie score. Little scary, but our guys looked pretty good and then Mike came through again.

Now a day off, travel time. And a weekend with the Yankees! 

We are having a family reunion on Saturday, people from everywhere including our New York nephew, neices, Aunts and Uncles.  Some of which are (how do i say this)....Yankee Fans.

I'm sure the radio's will be on and the crowd a little rowdy!

To make it that much better, Big Papi is back!!

We're not to sure if Manny is playing, but we showed last night we can win without him, so as much as I like Manny, It's okay if he feels he needs a little time off.  I don't think he will, I think with Papi back Manny will be playing, and feeling just fine!

Noni

Photos from bostonherald.com

Hopefully this trend will continue.  Great job by Lester. 29th save for Paplebon. What more could we ask for?

Didn't see the game, I hate west coast games.  No way can I stay up and watch the game so I have to wait to get in to work ; ( to find out the score.

No negative talk about baseball today.  Actually anytime they win my negative co-worker has nothing to say about baseball.

Can't wait for them to get back to the east coast so I can watch at least some of the game.

noni

Wakefield has been one of my favorites for years.  He's really looking pretty good this year, except he is not getting much support from the rest of the team.  But yesterday I thought he had the game locked.  Then came the 7th inning.  Looks like Tito can't let anyone pitch more than 6 full innings.  Beckett did the same thing over the weekend, 6 innings and we looked good, then the 7th inning.

I really love our Red Sox, but I think it's time to regroup and figure out what the he77 is going on!

We really need to step up these road trips.

Noni

Pretty boring with no Red Sox Games this week.

I think that Next to Mike Lowell, Manny is my favorite player.  I love his antics, like not going to the press conference at the All Star Game in New York.

And after the way the New York Papers treated Paplebon I don't think any of the Sox should let New York interview them.

Just a few pictures of Manny I borrowed from Google.com

Manny, don't stop being Manny! We love you just the way you are!

Noni

Of course it's great that the American League won the All Star Game.  Now when we get to the World Series The Boston Red Sox will have home park advantage.J.D. what more can I say, he is having an unbeliveable year, and this game is just one more thing to add to his scrapbook! Way to go J.D.

It was just so good to see Papi at the game the past two nights.  It's okay he couldn't play, at least he was there for the Teams support!

I understand Paplebon's frustration!  You wait your entire life to be in an All Star Game, and it has to be in Yankee Stadium and the fans and New York Reporters treat you like "Crap".  There was no need for  the name calling the Daily News did, and the way the fans treated Jonathan and his wife during the parade, well, there is no excuse for that.It's okay Pap, we love you in Boston, and that's really all that matters.

Again I went to bed early, had enough of the "Praising of Yankee Stadium".  If they love the Stadium so much why not just fix it, not build a new one.

And how good was it that J.D. took it all home for us! Woo Hoo!!

Noni

Justin Morneau, Congratulations!

I started to watch the derby, I love this kind of competition.  And I was really hoping the old guy, Berkman won.  But I guess to be in the competition means any of them could and should win.  They are all that good.

But after 1 hour I went to bed.  It was turning into a farewell to Yankee Stadium.  Which I am sure will be done over and over this season.  I have never had the urge to see or watch anything pertaining to Yankee Stadium, and it's not what I tuned in for.  Tonights game will probably be worse.

Jonathan Papelbon thinks Mariano Rivera should be the closer at tonights game.  That's really very nice, but I don't think he's saying this because he thinks Rivera is better than him, but once again it's all about "Yankee Stadium".  You know, a Yankee, pitching the last ball in the last All Star Game, to be played in the old "Yankee Stadium".  Oh Please!

I hope Jonathan gets to pitch at least one ball.

Big Papi looked great last night, and Manny not showing up for the Press was priceless, "Manny being Manny".  I'm sure he was enjoying being in New York with family.  He did show for the Derby and he will be at the Game.  That is where his obligations end.

Good Luck American League!

Noni

Not only are we on to the All Star Game, The Sox are in First Place!

Not a bad place to be in mid season.

Good Baseball this weekend!  We'll take 2 out of 3.

Big Papi is going to play in a couple of games in Pawtuckett.  Hopefully he'll be back in the next two weeks.  I really miss him.

noni

Don't you just love this guy? 

He doesn't mind that he doesn't play every game.  He just wants to play for the Red Sox, and do the best he can.

I think he's the spirit the club needs!

Tonight it's  Baltimore, and the sox get to play against Kevin Millar, another fun guy.  Someone I thought the team missed. Not for his ball playing ability, but for his team spirit. Well maybe Sean is the guy to fit in that position.

He also looks just like my nephew Patrick, That just makes me like him more!

Friday is always just a lazy night, sitting around trying to unwind.  I love Friday night Baseball and I like seeing Buchholz pitch.

Speaking of young pitchers I heard (and read) Jon Lester is engaged. 

noni

Noni

Everyone is smiling at Fenway today.  After a 3 game sweep the last a blow out on a scorcher of a day!

And it looks like Jason might have found his groove.  I really hope so.  I love Tek, but lately I really feel like he needs a day off, and then on the hottest day of the year he has two hits. He even got a triple play reversed!

Photos from yahoo.com

Of course this is all what I have read, no time to watch the game yesterday.  It was my granddaughter Madisons 7th Birthday.  She invited most of her Girl Scout Troup and a few cousins. (plus mothers). It was at my house, I have the bigger yard, and Maddi has a three foot deep pool and a swing set at my house.  It was a great party, the pool was a big hit, and the girls were great.  It was worth all the work just to see how happy she was all day!

We ended the day with a black out.  So I couldn't even watch the highlights on tv.

Happy Belated Birthday Baby Girl.

Noni

Thank God the Sox are headed home tonight!

I hate when they play the Yankee games in New York. I guess Yankee fans hate when they play in Boston? 

I was happy with the split.  Although the 2 games we lost were not the ones I thought we would lose. 

I watched a few innings and went to bed ( late game, I get up very early) I always make sure the tv is on the game so if something good happens I hear the noise, well, it wasn't good but it woke me.  Javier gave the lead away, well at least that's what my husband was shouting!

Photo from yahoo.com

Of course I was up from that point on, only to be dissapointed with the end of the game.

I can't believe Mike Lowell did not make the All Stars. : (

I have a little trouble finding blogs on MLBlogs, unless of course they are listed on my blog, or have recently blogged. This morning I ran across a Yankee Blog.  Of course boasting of last nights game.  That's fine, if the Sox had won I would be boasting too.  But the language (even though they are not spelled correctly) was unbelievable.  There are an awful lot of young people that read these blogs.  I think if you need to talk that way you should have your own blog, not a public forum like MLBlogs.

Okay, I am a little cranky, I didn't get a lot of sleep, I worked all weekend and the Sox lost.

Tomorrow will be a better day!

Noni

Justin Masterson looked pretty good yesterday.  He got himself out of some pretty tought situations, but he lost the game.  With a little more support from the guys, the game was his.

2-1 yankee's is nothing to be ashamed of.  Hopefully we will get them tonight.

Manny got hit 3 times.  He didn't seem very upset, I would have been. That hurts!

All the pitchers were pitching inside, and they were all hitting the batters, glad to say no one caused a fuss over it.  Masterson did get warned, but when he hit the next Yankee, nothing happened.  The umpire looked like he was going to throw him out of the game, but he motioned to the third base Umpire and let it go.  You really could tell no one was pitching at anyone on purpose.

Late game tonight, I probably won't see much. had to work all weekend, and it's back to the grind tomorrow. 

Looks like Manny, Pedoria, and Youk got picked for the American League All Star Team. Big Papi too, but he won't be playing.  Arod, better know as "slappy" around here, got pick over Mike Lowell to start on third ; ( That was not for lack of voting on my part!

Noni

For those of you who can't figure it out, thats Johnny Demon on his back trying to catch a Youk hit! Can you see the ball sitting on the railing, a puff of wind and it would have been a home run! (check out the Red Sox fans at Yankee stadium)

Great game, the guys did what they had to and we won.  A little extra thanks to Mike Lowell for the home run.

(photos from yahoo.com)

Hope tonights game is as good, but as it stands the worse we can do is a split.  I don't see that happening.  I think Girardi should have waited a day on his closed door meeting.  And a Happy belated Birthday George!

Another thing of Beauty was my Granddaughter, almost 7 years old and has never been to live fire works.  Last night we took her to them and all she could say was "Awesome'!  She had a great time and so did we watching her!

Photo from boston.com

noni

Unbelievable game last night!. Jon Lester pitched a complete game against the Yankees and we won 7 to 0, it doesn't get much better than that.

I think this is just the thing the team needed to get back on track. 

Tonight its Beckett!  Tomorrow Dice K! We could just sweep this series.

Happy 4th

Noni

It seems like everyone in this office is on Vacation but me, so I will be in for a few hours all weekend.

When I went to bed the Sox were winning, what the he77 happened?

I really am happy they are heading north.(have i mentioned how much I dislike Florida)  4 days against the Yankees should be interesting.

Tonight it's Jon Lester vs/ Andy Pettitte.  I hope we get a smile from Jon tonight! ; )

Mr. Doom is on Vacation so I don't have to listen all day to how Pettitte is going to kick Lesters a**.

Have a safe and Happy 4th.

Noni 

Two and a half games out of first place is really not a big deal.  We are only half way through the season. 

Wake pitched really well last night, not well enough to win, but of course he had no help either.  I'm thinking I'm not the only one that doesn't like Florida.

One more game with the dreaded (Devil) Rays and on to New York!  Woo Hoo! Can't wait.

Of course my negative co-worker is at his best today.  To quote him " the Sox lost again", "the Rays are in first place", "now we have to play the Ynkees this weekend".  "We're done"!

Can you see me banging my head on the desk?

This picture always makes me feel better.

noni

The Sox playing in Florida does not help me like it at all.  Boy I thought for sure they were going to take that game in the 9th.  Oh well, tonights another game, and Wake is pitching!

Big Papi is going to New York, out of respect for all the fans that voted for him, but he will not be playing in this years All Star Game.  That's okay, we would rather he got better and helped us win the pennant.

Brian Daubach, one of my all time favorite players, talked to reporters about how they always got into a scuffle with the (Devil) Rays, he has a bad elbow to remind him.

Brian just took on a coaching job with the Independent Nashua Pride.  I am happy to see he is back in baseball.

(photos from Yahoo.com)

Shout out to Kellia, (Eric Byrns fan) I tried to comment on your blog.  It wouldn't let me. Just taking about you to a certain RedSoxChick last week, when the Diamondbacks were in Boston. Hope you are well.

Noni