Nomar Garciaparra, originally uploaded by slidingsideways.
A few more quick notes on the long holiday weekend -
- I know it's nice that Nomar got an ovation. I know I'm probably just being Scrooge-like about it, but I can't help but remember the bitter taste he left along with the good times. His comments about the fans this week have come off just a touch effusive and glib. Seeing him is like seeing an ex. In the first moments you may only remember what was good, but sooner or later you remember why you left.
- Or some of us do. Dan Shaughnessy apparently forgot that he wrote to us, the fans, that "[Nomar] is not your friend" in the days after the trade, while the loss was still fresh, but I didn't.
- From a purely objective point of view, Tim Wakefield making the All-Star Game is a grandstanding, crowd-pleasing travesty. This, however, is not a blog with a purely objective point of view. CONGRATULATIONS, WAKE!
- I have officially run out of fresh adjectives to describe how I feel about watching Josh Beckett pitch. Just refer to my previous explorations on the subject if you want to get a sense of tonight's game against the A's.
- Tonight saw another return of Josh Beckett the Hotheaded Enigma, as he spat curses to himself like a madman while walking off to a standing ovation in the 7th. As we know, I never get tired of Josh Beckett the Hotheaded Enigma. Long may he reign at the top of our pitching staff and the American League.
- Jonathan Papelbon also finally scratched my strikeout itch. A comment on one of last week's posts called me out for saying Papelbon's record-breaking inning in Baltimore wasn't dominant, but his fist-pumping, knee-buckling, bat-missing save against Oakland in the rain tonight is more what I had in mind with that description. Watching Pap strike a bitch out, to paraphrase the legendary Papel-blog, does wonders for my health and well-being.
- If you haven't heard, Kevin Youkilis is holding a book drive at the ballpark next weekend to benefit his Hits for Kids foundation. The organization is dedicated to enhancing the Boston Public Schools by collecting over 100,000 new or gently used books to donate to the schools’ libraries. Book donations will be collected at each of Fenway Park’s five gates during the Red Sox weekend series against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, July 11th and Sunday, July 12th. Recommended titles are available at a 20% discount at the New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton, and online at www.ecookbooks.com/battingforbooks.
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