Blog

Briefly.

So the US Men’s National Soccer Team lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago meaning that the US won’t qualify for the world cup for the first time since 1986. The quotes say it all regarding what the USA Today says is “…the lowest point in its( the US) sporting history.” SI wrote, “the most surreal and embarrassing loss in US soccer history.” The Daly News, “It took 90-plus minutes for United States soccer to regress 30 years.” 

Trivia: In the movie “The Natural”, what number did Roy Hobbs wear, and why did he wear that number?

Useless headline: Celtics complete undefeated preseason. 

You know how it smells outside after a rainstorm? There’s a word for that. Petrichor. It’s the name of an oil that is released from the earth into the air before rain begins to fall. 

Though only 4-2, the Patriots have won 11 straight road games, one shy of the team record. 

Few things in life are more aggravating than trying to peel a hard-boiled egg that is not cooperating. 

Quote of the week, from John Gruden on Jacoby Brissett comparing Indianapolis’ offense to the Patriots’ offense: “The only thing similar to the Patriots’ offense for Jacoby Brissett is when he says, “ready, break!”

How about those BC Eagles knocking off Louisville. Stunning! 

Sad story. The bodies of a guy (21) and his girlfriend (20) were found in Joshua Tree National Park, CA. The couple was reported missing on July 28, after they failed to check out of their accommodations near the park. Temperatures topped 100 degrees in the park in late July and it was unclear whether the couple had water and supplies with them. The two bodies, found in rugged terrain near a popular trail, were locked in an embrace. 

For the second season in a row (a couple of weeks ago), both Oakland Raider quarterback Derek Carr and Tennessee quarterback Marcus Marriota were injured on the same day. What does that mean? Nothing really. Just a weird coincidence. 

Whenever someone says, “I don’t believe in coincidences”, I say, “Oh my God, me neither!” 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Nose hair extensions are the latest bizarre beauty trend. (Google up some pictures of these. Disgusting!) 

So I turned on the news yesterday at 5AM and channel 7 has “breaking” sports news. Gordon Hayward’s agent says Hayward is “likely out for the season.” BREAKING NEWS?!?! Are you shitting me? Anyone who saw it happen or saw one of the 16 million replays had that figured out. Even if there was question the “breaking” news said he is “likely” out for the season. Gimme a break! 

“Break”, get it! 

Useless information, supposed to fire my imagination. This just in, Santa Claus (St. Nick himself) has been found buried beneath an ancient church in southern Turkey. 

Last week in the NFL New Orleans, Houston and Tennessee (Monday Night) were the only favorites to beat the point spread. It was also the first week since 1973 where two teams that were 13 or more point underdogs won their games outright (Miami over Atlanta and the Giants over Denver). The New Orleans/Detroit game saw 5 defensive/special teams scores. 

The Pawtucket Red Sox will begin their 2018 home season with a weekend series against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. DYK, the 2018 season will also mark the 77^th year of McCoy Stadium, which opened in 1942, by far (46 years) the oldest ballpark in the International League and it is the oldest ballpark (by 17 years) in all of AAA baseball. I haven’t been to McCoy Stadium since the 2^nd leg of my brother John’s tri-state stag party, circa 1996. Nice place, I think… 

Trivia answer #1: Robert Redford grew up a Ted Williams and Red Sox fan and hence, Roy Hobbs wore #9. 

“Because I’m still in love with you

I want to see you dance again

Because I’m still in love with you

On this harvest moon.”

Briefly. 

Trivia #1: What pitcher became the oldest to win his 20^th game of the season for the first time in his career? It was in the final major league game he played of his 18-year career? He was 39 years old at the time.

Trivia #2: What number did Ty Cobb wear? 

I read a list of the “Best Foods at Every NFL Stadium.” Standing out to me was the Cardiac Cards Dog (at University of Phoenix Stadium) – an all-beef hot dog wrapped in a burger with maple peppered bacon topped with pico de gallo & roasted poblano queso. Best sounding drink? The Ole Smoky Bloody Mary at the Titans Nissan Stadium. A Bloody Mary loaded with carrots, hickory smoked sea salt, hot chicken, celery, feta stuffed olives, bacon, okra, asparagus, cheddar cheese stick, pickled tomatoes and habanero pickles. 

Many think it’s overkill but I love Thursday night football, pro and college. 

If you don’t like what’s going on then either do something about it or get out. 

Who will win more playoff games, the Red Sox or the Patriots? 

I imagine Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens is coming into this season with a woody. 

Taxachusetts? Not so much. According to the Census Bureau, which regularly releases details on taxes collected by state and local governments, Massachusetts taxes are pretty average and second to New Hampshire as the lowest rate in New England. For every dollar people earned in MA, about 10.4 cents went to state and local taxes – in line with the national average of 10.3 cents. There are 18 states with higher overall tax rates including what some might call Taxawii and Tax York. Said numbers are from 2015, though at least MA hasn’t pursued any recent tax changes. 

The best thing about this time of year? Candy corn. Especially the ones with the chocolate bottom. 

The Houston Texans’ rookie QB, 22-year old Deshaun Watson, donated his first NFL game check ($27,000) to help three women from Houston who work in  the team’s cafeteria. A man humble beyond his years. 

Tom Brady. Noting the obvious here but I liken these days akin to the days of Pedro and Larry Bird. If you’re not taking the time to watch the Pats, you are missing one of the greatest players of all time. 

The past few days have been too hot and too muggy. This morning it’s too cold. If some people weren’t complaining, they wouldn’t utter one word. 

Need a hint to the trivia? He was a Yankee. 

There is finally a “ray of hope” that one day CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), the mysterious brain disease ravaging the NFL, may be treated. Boston University researchers have found a biomarker that may be detected while a patient is still alive. Previously, CTE could only be confirmed in a post-mortem brain exam. More study is needed, but the hope is that the results could lead to early detection that could help millions of athletes across many sports. 

Speaking of CTE-related behavior, rapper B.o.B. has started a GoFundMe page to prove that the earth is flat. He hopes to raise $200,000 to launch satellites into space to “find the curve” of the earth.

“Ice cold Buuuuuuud Lite here!” The best running commercial today.

R.I.P. Hugh Hefner. He’s in a better place now. Well, maybe not. 

Trivia answer #1: Mike Mussina

Trivia answer #2: Ty Cobb wore a uniform with no number 

Stand. 

“You’re my blue sky,

You’re my sunny day.

Lord you know it makes me high

When you turn your love my way,

Turn your love my way, yeah.”

Briefly.

Chris Sale, 300 strikeouts. Congrats! DYK, if the Red Sox hold on and win the division, Sale will be the only AL pitcher in the DH era to throw 300 strikeouts for a division winning team. We note the “DH era” because the argument is (a good argument, mind you) that it is more difficult to strike out 300 batters with pitchers batting than it is with a DH. Babe Ruth aside… 

Oh, and the Sox clinched a playoff spot along the way. 

Trivia #1: How many 300-strikeout seasons did Nolan Ryan have? 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 

Signing, you’re doing it wrong. Nothing was funny about Hurricane Irma but… a sign language interpreter in Manatee County on Sept. 8 reportedly confused some of his viewers, warning about “pizza” and later a “bear monster.” The NY Times reported that the interpreter was a lifeguard who has a deaf brother and was selected last minute because there was little time to find one prior to the Board of County Commissioners meeting. 

ESPN gives the Celtics a 12% chance of winning the title this coming season.

Headline of the week: “Free abortions offered to women affected by Hurricane Harvey” – “affected”, is that what you call it??

Headline of the week part deux: “Fireball whisky bagels arrive just in time for tailgating season” 

The Bruins beat the Canadians Monday night. I just like saying that. 

A Pennsylvania high school golfer defied odds (67 million-to-1) when he sank two holes-in-one during the same round (9-hole course). Let the records show that just 4 or so weeks ago two holes-in-one were had in back-to-back foursomes at Bradford Country Club during the Garibaldi Golf League. Odds are that the high schooler was sober… 

If you are a follower/believer in David Meade, a Christian numerologist and self-described “researcher,” what are you doing today given that the world is ending tomorrow?? Meade says that Sept. 23 is foretold in the Bible’s Book of Revelation as the day a series of catastrophic events will begin, and as a result, a major part of the world will not be the same. What am I going to do? I’m going to have a beer and a slice of pizza. 

Andrew Benintendi, that cute little hunk of a man, has four extra inning, game-winning RBIs this season. The most by a Red Sox since Clyde Vollmer in 1951. 

Speaking of the Bruins, what’s a Jack Studnicka? He’s an 18-yeard old wannabe Bruin. 

The Chargers stadium holds about 30,000 people and they didn’t come close to filling it at their home opener. As a matter of fact, word has it that more than half the fans were Miami fans. Why would anyone go? It costs $100 to park! 

Useless information, supposed to fire my imagination… – This Canadian town holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s only community with two exclamation marks in its name – Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha!

This isn’t being insensitive but don’t tell me to feel bad for people who choose to vacation in the Caribbean during hurricane season.  

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The mother of a man who police said attempted to rob a Starbucks in California, but was thwarted by a Good Samaritan, reportedly said her son plans to sue because the hero used “excessive force.” 

The Patriots, under Belichick, have never lost at home to a rookie QB. 

A Financial Times journalist was killed by a crocodile while washing his hands at a lagoon in Sri Lanka during a holiday with his pals. The 25-year old Brit is believed to have been dragged under the water at a lagoon called Crocodile Park after being ambushed by the reptile. He is understood to have wandered away from his group to find a ‘toilet’ when he was attacked. 

I guess this is much more meaningful if you are a woman but the headline read “6 Women Accidentally Wear Identical Dresses to Wedding”. I saw the picture and, ironically, they were all ugly too! 

R.I.P. Boxing legend, Jake LaMotta, the onetime middleweight champion of the world who was played by Robert DeNiro in 1980’s “Raging Bull”, died Tuesday, his fiancee told the Associated Press. He was 95. Ya, that’s what I said too! Fiancee?!?! 

R.I.P. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, 73. Heenan, who worked as a wrestler, professional wrestling manager and commentator for more than 40 years, was “regarded by many as the greatest manager in sports-entertainment history,” said the WWE. 

Trivia answer: 6 – Nolan Ryan went 12 seasons between his 5^th 300-strikeout season and his 6^th! 

“Talent is overrated. Hard work and consistency is always connected to ones character.” Inky Johnson (I chose to leave in the grammatical errors) 

“Now in darkness, world stops turning

Ashes where the bodies burning

No more war pigs of the power

Hand of God has struck the hour”

Briefly.

Is it really a legitimate complaint that the Red Sox aren’t hitting homeruns? Hey, instead they are running and running at the right time. Last checked, the Sox are 23-1 when stealing multiple bases in a game. More? The Red Sox are 5^th in the majors in stolen bases, 27^th in homeruns, yet they lead the division over Baltimore (1^st in the majors in homers) NY (4^th), Tampa (7^th) and Toronto (11^th).

Devastation. Estimates are that 25% of homes in Key West were demolished. Incredible! Residents cannot all check on their homes until all bridges in the Keys are examined for safety. See trivia #2 below.

The Cleveland Indians have now won 22 games in a row, an American League record. The major league record is 26 in a row.

The Cleveland Browns have lost their last 13 openers. Wow! Which brings us to…

Trivia #1: Who was the starting quarterback for the Browns when they last won on Opening Day? (If you were listening to Mike n Mike on Monday morning around 7:00am you would get this. Otherwise, likely not)

Trivia #2: How many bridges are in the Keys? 

I didn’t see one play from last night’s Texans/Bungals game. Thank God! DYK: The Bungals are the first team since the 1939 Eagles to go their first two games without an offensive touchdown.

Headline of the week: “Adidas creates ‘puke repellent’ sneaker for upcoming Oktoberfest” 

Quote of the week (a couple of weeks ago): “Who’s going to beat the Patriots, really?” Me 

At last, a fully operational urban delivery drone system is here, only you probably won’t be able to use it. Drone logistics startup Flytrex has teamed up with Iceland’s main online retailer, AHA, to launch a currier drone service in Reykjavik. Specifically, it’s servicing one part of Reykjavik – robotic fliers carry food across a river in the city, cutting delivery time from 25 minutes to 4.

Next season all 32 MLB teams will open on March 29, the earliest ever. The reason? They need more days off during the season. Really.

Speaking of schedules, I’d be pissed if I were a Saints fan. The Pats played Thursday night and get 10 days to prepare for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints. The Saints played Monday Night and play on short rest. That sux.

Pastrnak…, signing…, good! Bruins for you non-knowers. Speaking of which, this answers the question whether the ‘e’ is really needed in words like “kickr”, “hittr”, “peckr wreckr”, “cock suckr”, etc.

In soccer news, really. “Our” Revolution lost 7-0 the other night and were outshot 20-0. Now I ain’t no soccer guy but that is horrendous!

Useless stat of the week: The Minnesota Twins set an MLB record on Tuesday when they hit homeruns in each of the first 7 innings of their game vs. Kansas City. That’s not the useless part. The useless added stat is that they hit 2,675 feet of homeruns in the game.

A sign of the apocalypse – Real clowns are worried that the movie ‘IT’, that just hit theaters and is based on Steven King’s novel, might ruin their careers. 

Speaking of “real clowns” ya, I know a few.

Trivia answer #1: Jeff Garcia

Trivia answer #2: 42 (one of which is 7 miles long) 

“You are like a hurricane

There’s calm in your eye.

And I’m getting blown away

To somewhere safer

Where the feeling stays.

I want to love you but

I’m getting blown away.”

The Patriots lost.

Briefly.

This year’s class inducted into the new (last year) PawSox Hall of Fame included Pudge Fisk, Mo Vaughn and Joe Morgan. In case you had no idea, like me, last year’s inaugural class included Wade Boggs, Jim Rice and former owner Ben Mondor,. 

What the…! A health professional in California reported cases where eclipse-viewers sought medical treatment because they put sunscreen on their eyeballs to watch last week’s solar eclipse. I’m speechless. 

Trivia #1: Where was Curt Schilling born: Massachusetts, Hawaii, Texas, Rhode Island, Alaska, Iowa or California?

This past week Chris Sale became the fastest pitcher to reach 1,500 strikeouts. Think about that! The pervious top 4 were, not in order, Nolan Ryan, Kerry Wood, Pedro and Randy Johnson. 

Trivia #2: Earlier this season, Clayton Kershaw was mentioned in the record books. What did he do? Third fasted to 100 wins, third fastest to 2,000 strikeouts, third best ERA for pitchers with at least 1,500 innings, third fasted with in the 50 yard dash?

Conor McGregor lost the fight. Period. Done. I don’t care if he fought better than Mayweather’s previous three opponents or that he supposedly “quieted his doubters.” He lost. The circus has left town. 

The Massachusetts Port Authority says more than 20,000 cars each day enter Logan Airport to pick-up and leave friends or relatives for their flights. They have since agreed to do a study ti impose a fee on those drivers, part of a deal with environmentalists seeking to curb congestion and air pollution amid a surge in airline traffic. – Some might call this a sign of the apocalypse??? 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A University of Tampa sociology professor has been fired after tweeting that Hurricane Harvey was “instant karma” for Texas voting republican. 

Speaking of the hurricane, jeez! What a catastrophe. 

So Detroit’s Matthew Stafford is now the highest paid player in the NFL. He does have all the numbers to back it up, well, all the numbers expect winning games. 

Japan won the Little League World Series defeating Lufkin, TX 12-2. As if the hurt of the loss wasn’t enough, Lufkin lies about 100 miles northeast of Houston. Japan has now won the Little League World Series 11 times, 5 times in last 8 years. In case you weren’t paying attention, Japan had allowed only one run in the entire tournament heading into Sunday’s game only to see themselves down 2-0 after three batters and two homeruns by Lufkin. From there, well… 

DYK: Little League has a Challenger Division for youth with physical and mental challenges. Champ Pederson, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, was enshrined as a member of the 2017 Little League Hall of Excellence class before the title game. He’s the first player from the Challenger Division to get that honor. Very nice.  

If you played a drinking game and had to drink every time Jonny “do you have my ‘h’” Gomes said, “…at the end of the day…”, you wouldn’t last 4 innings. 

R.I.P. Difficult week for college basketball as the sport lost both Rollie Massimino and Judd Heathcoate, two iconic coaches. 

Some say here’s to the end of summer. I say, here’s to the beginning of fall as the baseball playoffs shape up, college, pro and high school football start up and apple picking season begins. Huh?

Trivia #1 answer: Alaska

Trivia #2 answer: Third fastest to 2,000 strikeouts 

Quote of the week: “I wasn’t particularly close to my Dad before he died… which was lucky, because he trod on a land mine.” – Olaf Falafel 

“Cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do you no good

Now, cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do you no good

When the levee breaks, mama you got to move

 

All last night sat on the levee and moaned

All last night sat on the levee and moaned

Thinkin’ about my baby and my happy home.”

Briefly. 

Yankees radio now includes commercial sponsorship of games’ announced attendance.

Trivia: What boxing class if heaviest? Flyweight, bantam weight or feather weight?

Speaking of which, McGregor doesn’t last two rounds. 

Useless stat: Last Friday night the Red Sox’ Matt Barnes “earned” a “hold.” In two-thirds of an inning he allowed four hits and two earned runs. 

Who isn’t excited about Rafael Devers? Keep this in mind. In 97 at bats he has struck out 27 times. Alarming and climbing. 

Last Sunday, August 20,  the San Francisco Giants were eliminated from playoff contention. 

In case you missed it, the USS John McCain, a destroyer, collided with an oil tanker off the coast of Singapore. DYK, the ship is not named after Vietnam war hero Sen. John McCain but instead named after his father and grandfather, both of them naval commanders during World War II. 

Insightful? On Wednesday night during the Sox/Indians game, play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien stated that Drew Pomeranz had just struck out his 10^th batter of the game. It was in the 5^th inning. “Color” commentator Jonny ‘where’s the “H” Gomes’ chimed in; “10 K’s in 5 innings, you do the math. That’s 2 per inning!” I patiently waited for his next line but it never came… 

As of Monday Christian Vasquez was batting .288 and leading all catchers with 200 or more at-bats. 

Godspeed to all in eastern Texas. Wow! 

Going down? Rocio Cortes Nunez delivered her third child by C-section last week at Seville’s (Spain) Our Lady of Valme hospital and was being wheeled from surgery to a recovery room when she became caught in an elevator. Per local media, staff wheeled her onto the elevator, but while the doors opened and shut, the elevator didn’t move. They reportedly decided to try another elevator, and as they were moving her out with the doors open, it started going up. Precise details are unclear but part of her body was outside the elevator and part was in, and reports suggest she was decapitated! 

A NJ football fan has died and in his obituary he asked for 8 Philadelphia Eagles players to be his pall bearers so that they could “let him down one last time.” 

Chick-fil-A has a store inside of the Atlanta’s Falcons new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Unfortunately, since Chick-fil-A first opened in 1946, the restaurant has a strict policy and is not open on Sundays. Really. 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: ESPN pulled one of its announcers from the University of Virginia’s football game this weekend because of his name, Robert Lee.

R.I.P. Jerry Lewis. DYK; he helped raise over $2.5B (that’s a “B”) while hosting the legendary Muscular Dystrophy Association’s yearly telethon for over 40 years. 

The Trade? I like it.  Win today baby, not tomorrow.

NFL, can’t start soon enough. I feel bad for all those fans who aren’t going to watch anymore. 

Big Beer is still winning. In Massachusetts, the top selling beer by unit is Bud Light, followed by Corona, Coors Light, Miller Light and Budweiser. Bud Light, Budweiser and Corona are all owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is based out of Belgium. MillerCoors, based out of Chicago, owns Coors Light and Miller Light, among others. When broken out by brewery instead of by beer, craft brewers fared a bit better in MA. AB-InBev still topped the chart, followed by MillerCoors. However, Harpoon also ranked with Sam Adams following close behind. “Big Beer” also dominated the sales charts in CT, ME, NH and RI. The only New England state to escape the big beer trend was VT, where Shelbourne-based Fiddlehead Brewing top the charts (though the data did not break out which of its beer was the top seller.) In fact, VT didn’t have any big beer brands on it top seller list instead listing Switchback Ale, the Alchemist’s Focal Banger, the Alchemist’s Heady Topper, and a beer from 14^th Star Brewery. You gotta love Vermont! 

Trivia answer: Feather weight. 

$750M+. Huh? 

“If I could be like that,

I would give anything

Just to live one day, in those shoes

If I could be like that

What would I do,

What would I do”

Briefly.

Jacoby Ellsbury is tied for Pete Rose for catcher’s interference calls in his career. Now I don’t care what the record is, tying Pete Rose in anything is kinda cool. 

Trivia #1: About how long does it take sunlight to reach the earth? Eight minutes; eight seconds; .7 seconds; 15 minutes? 

So Rafael Devers hit a 102.8 mile an hour pitch for a homerun off of the Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman. Hey, big deal right? Well, it was the first homerun he had allowed all year and only the second homerun he has ever allowed to a left-handed hitter. According to Statcast, it was the fastest pitch ever hit for a homerun. DYK: Devers nickname is “Carita” which means “babyface” in Spanish. 

Trivia #2: Rafael Devers is one of ten players to ever post an OPS of 1.000 or higher over 50 or more plate appearances in a season where they were 21 or younger. Which of these players are NOT on that list? Hint, two of these players did it twice: Eddie Matthews, Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Jimmy Fox, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Alex Rodriquez, Albert Pujols. 

Unhittable – you’re doing it wrong. I saw a small piece entitled “Reyes, unhittable”. Denyi Reyes of the Lowell Spinners had a pitching line of 6.2 scoreless innings, six strikeouts and two hits. Two hits!? I thought he as “unhittable”?? 

Just browsing and recognizing some of my favorites minor league baseball team nicknames: Binghamton Rumble Ponies; El Paso Chihuahuas; Hartford Yard Goats; Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp; Lansing Lugnuts; Lehigh Valley IronPigs; Montgomery Biscuits; Richmond Flying Squirrels. 

Monday was National Whiffle Ball Day, established in 1953. Regretfully, I did not play. Regretfully, what whiffle ball did to my shoulder is permanent. 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Teen Sent to Internet Addiction Camp Dies Within 48 Hours. 

Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins) has 11 homeruns in his last 13 games. 

Who is going to beat the Patriots? Really. 

Sox/Yankees again. I can’t get enough! 

Haverhill’s own Jillian Cardarelli was recently recognized in Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: August 2017. Cool! 

Paying tribute – you’re doing it wrong. Sadly, a family tragedy was compounded this week in Michigan when the body of a 59-yeard old man was found Monday, the day after he fell out of a boat while scattering his father’s ashes on Lake Superior. 

In case you missed it, the WEEI/NESN/Red Sox Radio Jimmy Fund Telethon ran this past Tuesday/Wednesday. Many heart-tugging stories both on the radio and during Sox games. On Tuesday night, Dave O’Brien and Eck were interviewing a guest in their booth, an 18-year old cancer survivor much like many others. O’Brien noted that the woman (her name escapes me) was a student at Marquette and referred to her as a “Warrior.” DOH! Any follower of Marquette knows that the spineless school succumbed to pressure several years ago and changed their nickname from the Warriors to the Golden Showers Eagles. Way to go, Dave! 

Speaking of the Sox, nice tribute to the ’67 team the other night. Too long ago for me but at the time that team brought the Red Sox back to life in Boston. Seats were empty in ’66. Red Sox Nation was born. 

Trivia answer #1: Eight minutes

Trivia answer #2: Mickey Mantle. Ted Williams and Mel Ott each did it twice. 

Don’t miss the solar eclipse on Monday. I wish we, northeast,  had a better view but it should be pretty cool. 

“Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun

But mama, that’s where the fun is” 

Good night everybody!

Briefly. 

There is a stairway to heaven and a highway to hell. You figure it out.

I have said before that Aaron Judge is a beast, and he is. However, last season when the Yankees were questioning whether a player the size of Aaron Judge could ever make enough contact to succeed in the majors, his numbers were 84 at-bats; 15 hits; .179 batting average; 4 HRs; 44 strikeouts. Since the All-Star break this season his numbers are 84 at-bats; 14 hits; .167 batting average; 5 HRs; 38 strikeouts. Now that is scary!

Trivia #1: Garlic is a what? Fruit; Herb; Vegetable; Spice; Meat Product

Trivia #2: Seven players have over 2,000 hits for the Red Sox alone. Name them. 

Did you see Wade Boggs on NESN during the Tampa series? He looks like a cross between Jeremiah Johnson and Charlton Heston (Moses in The Ten Commandments).  He did a pretty good job, I thought. 

A California estate featured in the credits of “The Beverly Hillbillies” now has another notable distinction, the most expensive residential listing in the country. The Bel-Air estate hit the market Monday with an asking price of $350 million. Amongst its other features, the 25,000 square foot home, which sits on 10.3 acres, has a ballroom, world-class wine cellar, formal salon, manicured gardens, a tennis court, covered parking for 40 cars, a 75-foot pool and a fully equipped pool house. It also has sweeping panoramic views of downtown LA and the Pacific Ocean. 

Players Weekend in MLB is Aug 25-27. All teams will don overly bright-colored uniforms and hats with nicknames, yes nicknames, on the back. Even the Yankees who have no names on their current uniforms, will sport the nickname shirts. Now while expect some of the nicknames will be funny and entertaining, no thanks. The uniforms and hats are wicked ugly too.  

Rick Porcello threw what is called an “immaculate Inning” the other night. 9 pitches, 3 strikeouts. I think if you asked any pitcher what an “immaculate inning” is they would say 3 pitches, 3 pop-ups. 

The Celtics play what, 82 regular season games? They have 4 exhibition games. The Patriots play 16 regular season games and 4 exhibition. Stupid, but not as bad as baseball’s ridiculously long spring training. I’m not quite sure what the puckheads do… 

Trivia answer #1: Garlic is a vegetable

Trivia answer #2: Yaz, Teddy Ballgame, Jim Rice, Dewey, Boggs, Ortiz and Bobby Doerr. (Pedrioa should be there next season if he stays healthy) 

R.I.P. Former major leaguer (and Red Sox) Don Baylor who at 68 lost his battle with Myeloma. Some of you may recall Baylor presided over the Sox’ “Kangaroo Court” in 1986, assessing fines for whatever he deemed a transgression. For example, in Roger Clemens 20-strkeout game against the Seattle Mariners, he fined Clemens $5 for letting up a single on an 0-2 pitch to Spike Owen. 

And finally, R.I.P. Frank(ie) Conte (90). Just flat out, one of the greatest! The guy could still throw a punch too! 

“And it stoned me to my soul

Stoned me just like jelly roll

And it stoned me

And it stoned me to my soul

Stoned me just like goin’ home

And it stoned me”

 

Good night everybody!

Briefly. 

The L.A. Dodgers started the season at 11-12. Since then they have gone 65-20. DYK, they lost the other night to Atlanta after holding a lead. They had previously set a major league record by winning 53 consecutive games when leading at any point during the game. Incredible!

Trivia #1 (tough one): Charlie Hough and Steve Carlton each hold the MLB career league record, AL & NL respectively, for what?

Trivia #2: Where was the first public beach in the U.S. (1895)? Revere Beach, MA; Myrtle Beach, SC; Miami Beach, FL; Lighthouse Beach, MA; Long Beach, CA 

A woman and her husband from the Swedish village of Jokkmokk were hiking in the mountains recently when they called police to tell them she was having trouble walking. Police dispatched an air ambulance and mountain rescue team only to discover the woman was having trouble walking because she was tired from all the hiking. The couple ended up paying $3,600 for the helicopter ride. 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Atlanta’s Julio Jones took a spill while jet skiing in Lake Lanier when he hit a boat wake. He resurfaced but his $100,000 earring did not. 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse, part deux: Lombardi Middle School, located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and named after legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi, will not offer football in 2017 because it was unable to find coaches. 

Tourists have said naked female panhandlers, known as “desnudas”, are harassing them in NY’s Times Square. Desnudas is Spanish for “naked”. Past proposals to license the often obnoxious street performers, mostly naked with body paint, went nowhere because most of them are illegal immigrants and wouldn’t register anyway. 

In today’s non-news, Tom Brady turned 40 yesterday.

Safety Diving, you’re doing it wrong. He was considered one of the best, if not the  best, safety divers in the world, and Stephen Keenan died after coming to the rescue of a fellow diver. Keenan was an expert at free diving – meaning no breathing equipment – and as a safety diver he provided essential backup to other divers in case they got into trouble. He was trailing Italian free diver Alessia Zechini as she attempted to navigate a notorious 85-foot-long tunnel at a depth of 184 feet in Egypt. She became disoriented at 165 feet and Keenan dove down to assist and began guiding her back to the surface. She made it back but Keenan himself apparently blacked out in the last 30 feet of the ascent and could not be revived upon being rescued. 

This news excites me greatly. Red Sox’ injured reliever Carson Smith begins his rehab assignment this weekend. 

Quote of the week: “That’s just how we are. That’s just Texas.” – Cathy Hanks, neighbor of a woman who was not immediately identified, who shot and killed an armed intruder in her home. 

Tuesday night was the first time this season where Christian Vasquez caught Chris Sales. Rick Sutcliff interviewed Sales on Monday night and they discussed how Sales never calls off the catcher. Never. Sales got pounded Tuesday night which makes one wonder whether the battery of him and Vasquez will be seen again this year… 

I’m a hater, we’ve been there before. Now some of you may be of the opinion that this was a nice gesture, sincere, thoughtful, blah, blah, blah. The Chicago Cubs gave a world Series ring to Steve Bartman. I say, “no way!” Steve Bartman, best known for deflecting a foul ball that was set to land in left fielder Moises Alou’s glove with the Cubbies five outs from the World Series in 2003. The article I read said that he “…accidently deflected a foul ball…”. He didn’t “accidentally” deflect it! He reached for it! If he had caught it would they have said he “accidently” caught it? 

Edward A. LeLacheur Park, home of the Boston Red Sox’ short-season Class A affiliate in the New York-Penn League (NY-PL) and right down the road in nearby Lowell, MA, has been named the best short-season ballpark in the country for 2017 by Ballpark Digest. LeLacheur Park beat out the stadiums of all 22 short-season clubs in the NY-PL and Northwest Leagues. 

A grandmother from New South Wales, Australia, is having second thoughts about the ingredients inside Coles’ ice cream sandwiches after one failed to melt in her driveway after four days. 

R.I.P. Ara Parseghian (94) – Parseghian won two national championships at Notre Dame (1966 & 1973). At the time he retired, Parseghian had established himself as part of the “Holy Trinity” of coaches at Notre Dame – no offense Lou. Ara was so beloved by students that when weather turned bad , chants of “Ara, stop the rain!” or “Ara, stop the snow!” cascaded down from the grandstands. DYK, Ara played two seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

“I don’t know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody – somewhere – was practicing more than me.” – Larry Bird. Just one reason why he was so great and just one reason why Tom Brady is so great. 

Trivia answer #1: Balks – Hough had 32 (AL) Carlton had 82 (NL)

Trivia answer #2: Revere Beach 

“Sittin’ here resting my bones

And this loneness won’t leave me alone, listen

Two thousand miles I roam

Just to make this dock my home, now

 

I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

Watchin’ the tide roll away, oh

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

Wastin’ time”