Dec.
10, 2018
Local Basketball Players Take Next
Step at Tabor Academy
•
What started as a story about one of SouthCoast's best female
high school players defecting to SouthCoast's preeminent prep school
became about three of them doing it during reporting. Had a lot of fun
with this.
Oct.
30, 2018
Time For Red Sox Nation to Enjoy
The View
•
"Now comes the hard part. Knowing we're going to watch Red Sox
baseball for the rest of our lives and it will never be able to top
that."
NOTE - This column originially ran
on my blog, as did a long piece on Boston's prowess with two outs and
two strikes after the team took a 2-0 series lead
and a shorter one on the important of the pennies in
even the largest payroll.
Oct.
15, 2018
Showcase Series Has Become Eyesore
•
"Analytics do not concern themselves with aesthetics. Put
another way, winning baseball and watchable baseball are nowhere near
complete agreement. We're doing great with the former. We are
forgetting the latter, and Saturday night is becoming what happens too
often."
Oct.
6, 2018
Saturday Offers Price Another
Opportunity to Shine
•
BOSTON -- David Price has not, in fact,
gotten as raw a deal about his postseason results as you might think.
It remains amazing, however, that he can't shake the problems.
Oct.
5, 2018
Red Sox vs. Yankees in 2018 Feels a
Lot Like 2004
•
"The Cubs universe became champions, and then the Cubs
universe became complacent. It is human nature. It’s why those who hold
that motivation and drive are the special ones. It's why this week is
so special. Why getting the Yankees was so important. This isn't 2004,
but rest assured, it feels as close as our lifetimes are ever going to
get."
Sept.
24, 2018
Struggles With Red Sox Bullpen
Nothing to Worry About
•
... because all of one year ago, a team with a worrisome
bullpen
down the stretch overcame it and won the World Series. Sort of an
extended headline for you there.
Sept.
10, 2018
Bullpen in Dire Need of a Boost
•
Attempting to contextualize the badness of the Red Sox relief
corps,
I discovered Brandon Workman will be my "this is the guy who's gonna
save this" for the rest of the season.
Aug.
27, 2018
As October Looms, Red Sox-Yankees
Still On
•
"You'll probably also seeing this Sox-Yankees pairing run
through
the prism of 1978, because nuance died at some point in the intervening
40 years is nuance. Among the saving graces in John McCain's passing is
that he didn’t have to see nitwits proud of their 280-character
synopses of his 82 years, but to be fair, their lives probably wouldn't
fill half the old 140. But I digress from the important matter of the
Red Sox funeral march."
Aug.
15, 2018
With Barry Bonds, Is It Time to
Forgive and Forget?
•
"That bother you? Mark McGwire's been an MLB coach for a
decade. Roger Clemens is welcome at Fenway again. Tiger's all that
moves the needle in golf these days. Forgiveness there has long since
come. If it's OK for them, it's OK for us."
July
30, 2018
The 2018 Red Sox On Path to
All-Time Greatness
•
"As Jackie Bradley Jr. dusted himself off on Sunday afternoon,
it struck me that we really might be watching the greatest Red Sox team
ever assembled. Regardless of competition, regardless of final
standing, regardless of everything other than the amazement they spark
with alarming regularity."
July
16, 2018
Soccer Wins on World Stage
•
"There's never going to be a moratorium on soccer bashing, not
when the bashed are so quick to play the victim. ... It's witless. It's
also harmless, and it's as clear now as it has even been: It's their
loss. Soccer's here. Soccer won."
July
2, 2018
J.D. Martinez Brought More Than a
Potent Bat
•
"This is all, mind you, without referencing the league-leading
25 homers, 196 total bases and 67 RBI that J.D. Martinez produced with
his own bat ... This is the extra stuff. The stuff that makes a good
team a great one, a great one something more."
June
25, 2018
Red Sox, Yankees Riding High in the
AL
•
"Sox PR noted the Red Sox and Yankees have been within two
games of each other in the standings every day since the end of play on
May 1. They're just about even again this morning, Tampa (37-40)
closing to a scant 14 games back with its three straight wins. There
hasn’t been a two-team breakaway pack that dominant in any division
since 2012."
June
18, 2018
Phil Mickelson Should Have Owned Up
to Frustrating U.S. Open Moment
•
About lying, about the big tournament that stars just couldn't
crack, and about Jackie Bradley Jr.
June
11, 2018
Nothing’s Guaranteed in MLB,
Especially Can’t-Miss Prospects
•
Better known as "The Craig Hansen Column," inspired by his
induction to the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame.
June
4, 2018
From Red Sox Fast Start to Yankees
Rainouts to Keith Olbermann’s Return
•
More thoughts, this time on what happened to the hot-starting
2002 Red Sox, the Yankees getting rained on seemingly everywhere they
go and the return of one of the great soliloquists of modern times.
May
28, 2018
Five Worst Days in Red Sox History
All Well in Past
•
The Hanley Ramirez/Pablo Sandoval signing day was not of the
worst in Red Sox franchise history, but thinking about it did lead me
to one of my favorite column concepts in a long time.
May
21, 2018
Let's Stop Pretending This is
Serious Business
•
"It's a funny thing, anniversaries. The passage of time. Manny
being celebrated on the way to 500, Lester being the rising stalwart,
Buchholz being the future ... they both feel fresh and a million years
ago. They last, they linger, and they also don't."
May
14, 2018
These Winnipeg Jets Prove Joy Lost
Can Be Found
•
"For the last seven years, I'd have told you I'm a Winnipeg
Jets fan. That stomach pang might have been the first time I truly
believed it. I'm all-in, riding along with a rabid fanbase that got the
rarest of gifts: The team back that they lost. The gift those of us
left in Hartford, among many other forgotten outposts, never will."
May
7, 2018
Are You Excited For Red Sox-Yankees?
•
"The Yankees and Red Sox are a combined 49-19. ... They have
not simply been the class of baseball in 2018, they have operated
almost exclusively in their own orbit. They will get the national
spotlight this week, with all three games on national television. They
will, in a rare occurrence recently, actually warrant it."
April
30, 2018
Thoughts That Come To Mind
•
On Rick Porcello's resurgence, on the strikeout finally
exceeding the hit and the why-wouldn't-you on the renaming of Yawkey
Way to Jersey Street.
April
23, 2018
Sean Manaea's No-Hitter of Red Sox
is Laughing Matter
•
When the Red Sox were no-hit in the wee hours of Saturday, a
17-2
offensive juggernaut rendered entirely silent by a pitcher they slapped
around for seven runs in four innings last September, I laughed. I
mean, how could you not?
April
9, 2018
Baseball Needs to Realize That Ties
Are OK
•
The solution to the extra-inning problem is far simpler than
baseball will ever likely realize. And it's certainly simpler than the
auto runner.
April
6, 2018
After Strong Start, Red Sox Looking
Forward to Yankees
•
BOSTON -- Live from the home opener, the
Red Sox beating up some Florida dregs is notable, but bring on the
Yankees already. Let's see how good this team really is.
April
2, 2018
What We Learned from the Red Sox'
First Weekend
•
In short, why was Xander Bogaerts so good and Carson Smith so
bad?
March
29, 2018
Talking Points for 2018: Part Two
•
A transcript of Nick Friar and I discussing our thoughts on
the 2018 Red Sox. This piece includes chat on Alex Cora and all the
comparisons to the Yankees, plus more.
March
28, 2018
Talking Points for 2018: Part One
•
A transcript of Nick Friar and I discussing our thoughts on
the 2018 Red Sox. This piece includes chat on David Price, whether
they've got enough offense, and that infield defense.
March
27, 2018
Red Sox, Yankees Set to Battle in
AL East
•
Alex Cora and Christian Vazquez, he of the new three-year
contract, are the first real pieces of the future of the Red
Sox-Yankees rivalry, at least from this side. Meanwhile, the Yankees
youth emerges.
March
19, 2018
Blake Swihart Gives Red Sox Options
•
But Xander Bogaerts, Drew Pomeranz and Carson Smith figure to
play a lot bigger role in the success of the 2018 Red Sox.
March
12, 2018
New Year, New Strategies for Alex
Cora and Red Sox
•
How much can a leopard really change its spots? How adaptable
are we from our true nature? ... This is a high-minded way of asking
whether the Red Sox can be more aggressive at the plate.
March
5, 2018
Bruins Shouldn't Take Current Win
Streak over Canadiens For Granted
•
Less about the Bruins than it is about the Canadiens, Knicks,
Raiders, Niners and other jewel franchises all stinking out loud at
once.
Feb.
26, 2018
Spring Training is Hope, But Still
Just Practice
•
Finally, pizza strips get their takedown, plus thought about
Olympic hockey overtime and Adam Vinatieri.
Feb.
19, 2018
Why The Olympics Simply Continue to
Entertain
•
The Olympics are the perfect disposable sports TV. ... The
amazement
in the moment never wanes. I’m seven again. We could all use more of
that.
Feb.
7, 2018
Win or Lose, Patriots' Super Bowls
Have Been Classics
•
Another thing about the nature of these games, though? They
all feel
like lost opportunities. ... That, however, is the ultimate first-world
fandom problem. Doesn’t necessarily make the wind come back into your
gut any faster, but it remains a really nice problem to have.
Jan.
29, 2018
'Two Bills' Way Better Than One
•
A preview of ESPN's latest 30-for-30, which wouldn't look out
of
place if ESPN shifted gears and only programmed things of direct
interest to me.
Jan.
22, 2018
MLB Players Union Getting What it
Deserves
•
The union wants to believe it's being treated unfairly as the
hot
stove barely simmers. I'd like to point out they had a chance to see
this coming and to stop it, and instead chose to worry about chefs.
Jan.
15, 2018
We're Awash in Sporting Greatness
•
"To some degree, we all want to believe we're living in the
best
era. That we're getting to see the best ever ply their trades — in
every aspect, of course, but certainly in sports. We're doing pretty
well, aren't we?" And I'm not merely talking about New Englanders.
Jan.
8, 2018
People Will Believe What They Want
To
•
When a story like Seth Wickersham's ESPN piece on the Patriots
is
refuted much as it's reported, we're left at readers to judge anonymous
sources vs. anonymous sources. And thus, we're left with almost nothing.
Dec.
26, 2017
Red Sox Staring at 2009 In The
Mirror
•
Memories of the failed Mark Teixeira pursuit, how much easier
being
in a bad division that year made coping with it, and how history might
just repeat itself.
Dec.
18, 2017
It's Fun to Play 'What If' With
Adrian Gonzalez
•
As he enters the journeyman phase, still playing under the
megadeal
he signed with the Red Sox, it's a moment to wonder if it was all worth
it.
Dec.
11, 2017
Don't Panic, Red Sox Fans
•
It's been a trying couple of days for me on a professional
level,
but much like the Stanton-to-Yankees situation as it relates to the Red
Sox, things will probably be OK once we calm down, assess and execute
proper countermeasures.
Dec.
4, 2017
Fans Can't Steer The Ship
•
Eli Manning has driven me insane for most of his career, but
him
being benched for Geno Smith? I'm mad at the Giants, but like most
fans, there's not a whole lot I can do about it.
Nov.
20, 2017
On Stanton's Opt-Out and the
Comeback-Kid Celtics
•
One more big reason not to want Giancarlo Stanton, and a
handful of
little reasons that the Celtics winning streak is ridiculous.
Nov.
13, 2017
Stanton Isn't Worth Price for Red
Sox
•
Why would a team that’s close, and that has concrete needs
elsewhere, spend prospects and financial flexibility for a superstar
that only sorta fits when they could better target resources elsewhere
for better value?
Nov.
7, 2017
Red Sox Banking on Cora's
Connection to the Clubhouse
•
Four big-market teams hired four first-time MLB managers this
winter. Four teams chasing that missing something, because where they
are, something’s just not quite right. Some guys fit better in certain
spots, though, as was clear at Alex Cora's unveiling.
Oct.
30, 2017
Can Baseball Sustain Record
Statistics?
•
The only runs getting scored in this World Series are via home
runs.
Home runs are rampant in the game. How long can that keep happening
with them holding the same captivating sway?
Oct.
23, 2017
Red Sox Make Bold Move By Picking
Alex Cora
•
It's a bold play to put your neck out on something untested,
no matter how good the bones look, no matter how smart you look to the
experts in the moment. Dave Dombrowski’s been doing it with these Red
Sox for more than two years, and he did again on Sunday afternoon.
Oct.
16, 2017
Cora Should Be The Call
•
Let's talk the managerial search for a minute. The Red Sox
interviewed Houston bench coach Alex Cora on Sunday, the off day of the
American League Championship Series. They should hire him. OK, that
probably wasn’t a minute.
Oct.
12, 2017
'It's Time For A Change'
•
Reaction to the firing of John Farrell via a 34-minute presser
in which perhaps eight interesting words were said.
Oct.
10, 2017
Dombrowski's Job Just Beginning
After Sox Squander Late Lead
•
BOSTON -- It was a four-hour game that
didn’t have you looking at your watch, the sort that makes knowing
there are no more until spring sting all the more. Ultimately, though,
the conclusion was simple. As with the rest of the series, the Red Sox
got their best in position, and their best failed them.
Oct.
5, 2017
Why The Red Sox Will Win (vs. the
Astros)
•
It'd be an upset, but not a stretch. Part of our Red Sox
playoff preview, with Nick Friar writing the counterpoint.
Oct.
2, 2017
Sox Surely Made Some of Us Eat Crow
•
It really is different in Boston, with its constant need to
question and second guess, often for attention and filling time, and
the hyper focus on the day-to-day, often losing that seasons are
long-term things as much about personality balance as picking the right
reliever. Is it better this way? I suppose that depends.
Sept.
25, 2017
Red Sox Primed for October
•
After months of needless difficulty, of off-the-field stuff
obscuring what’s between the lines, of running into outs and
squandering games, the 2017 Red Sox played like the 2017 Red Sox we
expected.
Sept.
19, 2017
Which Red Sox Will Be on Playoff
Roster?
•
Basically five spots left each for pitchers and position
players, and my thoughts on them mght surprise you. (Or not. I don't
know you that well.)
Sept.
11, 2017
Football Braces For Change
•
Football participation is down in Massachusetts, down to its
lowest point in at least a decade. The sport's not going extinct,
though, so what happens next?
Sept.
4, 2017
Enjoy Our Labor Day PGA Stop,
Because Things Can Change
•
We celebrate so many “only in Boston” events that, honestly,
lack punch. Our Labor Day turn in golf’s big spotlight almost never
has. Even if you’ve enjoyed it for years now, enjoy it doubly so today
and in 2018, after which ... who knows?
Aug.
28, 2017
Mayweather-McGregor Was Better Than
Expected
•
If you paid $100, you left happier than you did the night you
paid it for the Manny Pacquiao fight. If you saw it for $30 at a
drive-in, $10 at a buddy’s house or $0 on the dark web, all the better.
Sometimes, that's all that matters.
Aug.
21, 2017
Win Over Yankees Was Great, but
Could Have Been Even Better
•
This was, in so many ways, a game for the sales brochure. And
yet, among all the things it was an advertisement for, the most
memorable might be the pitch clock.
Aug.
15, 2017
Benintendi, Judge in Rookie of the
Year Battle
•
There's no question Aaron Judge has a big lead on the
preseason favorite, but this could get interesting depending on the
voting bloc at year's end.
Aug.
8, 2017
Sox Struggles Aren't As Bad As They
Seem
•
Know how many positions are outperforming their 2016
counterparts offensively by OPS this year? Two. And yet, the plan —
replace David Ortiz’s bat with pitching — has worked.
July
31, 2017
Beltre Had Greatest 'One and Done'
Season in Red Sox History
•
I quantified with numbers the thing I already believed to be
true, then got to reminisce about Nick Esasky's 1989. That's a full
column.
July
24, 2017
Personality Just Start of What
These Sox Lack
•
The 2013 Red Sox that thrilled us were more than the sum of
their parts. The 2017 Red Sox are not, for whatever reason, so change
must be coming.
July
17, 2017
'Hard-Luck' Porcello Needs to Start
Pitching Better
•
Let’s not overstate things. His ground-ball rate is down from
last year. Hard contact is well up. Porcello has allowed 156 hits in 20
starts. The second-most in baseball is 142.
July
10, 2017
Red Sox, All-Star Game Need Tweaks,
Not Fixes
•
Baseball's is the only All-Star affair that even remotely
resembles a genuine game, but it does not come close to showing the
game at its best. Let those best play, and leave the lineup card Tetris
in the dust.
July
4, 2017
Red Sox Are Good, But Being Good
Isn't Good Enough
•
The 2017 Red Sox are good, but not especially interesting. It
wasn't always that way, and the way we today rank our four teams
regionally wasn't either.
June
26, 2017
Sports Thinking Needs Some Smart
Change
•
Coming to you live from a Rhode Island cottage we rented with
friends for the wedding of other friends, musing on the ways our sports
would be different if we started them over from scratch.
June
19, 2017
TV is Blocking My View
•
When Fox's graphics-heavy coverage of the U.S. Open coincides
with one of the great ideas in broadcasting history, the NESN sidebar,
we ask simply: Does it enhance, or does it distract?
June
12, 2017
Best Thing For Price is to Just
Pitch
•
One of life’s great lessons is not to make things harder than
they have to be. From the moment David Price bolted from his last
minor-league rehab without even a platitude, Price has almost
pathologically made things harder than they have to be.
June
5, 2017
Talented Red Sox Due for Breakout
•
Two months of Red Sox baseball this season have me entirely
unsure exactly what this team is, but there’s too much talent on this
team for a breakout not to be coming.
May
29, 2017
Having David Price Back Key for Red
Sox
•
I don’t like David Price getting installed back in the majors
so soon, but I get it. They need him, if not now, soon.
May
22, 2017
Eduardo Rodriguez Stepping Up for
Red Sox
•
Drew Pomeranz isn't pitching with much confidence, but there's
another guy in the latter half of the rotation who is.
May
15, 2017
Can The Red Sox Solve Third Base?
•
On great teams being able to survive one bad position, old
arenas (as we say goodbye to White Hart Lane) and hot pink pinstripes.
May
8, 2017
Farrell Makes Right Decision With
Kimbrel
•
Farrell lucked into looking like a genius a little bit, using
his closer outside the ninth inning, but he looked it all the same.
Plus some Machado and NBA dominance thoughts.
May
1, 2017
Will Xander Bogaerts End Up Like
Nomar?
•
As in elsewhere once free agency closes in. Not necessarily
with a torn groin.
April
24, 2017
The Two Biggest Red Sox Surprises
So Far
•
Mitch Moreland and Marco Hernandez. Sorry. I spoiled the
surprise.
April
10, 2017
Questionable Decisions in Sox Early
Going
•
"He's not 100 percent after the amount of vomiting that went
on yesterday" is an early quote of the year, plus thoughts on Craig
Kimbrel's usage and Pawtucket's goofy continuation of a "let's make
every ballpark Fenway" plan.
April
3, 2017
Red Sox Preview: Not Necessarily
Better Than Last Year
•
The Red Sox of April 3, 2017, are worse than the Red Sox of
Oct. 10, 2016. ... I'm also pretty sure that doesn't change that this
is a playoff team. That this is a team whose place among the World
Series betting favorites is well earned.
April
2, 2017
Red Sox Preview: Don't Sleep on The
Yankees
•
I have higher hopes, or perhpas more accurately a higher
potential ceiling, for the Yankees than even their broadcasters,
apparently.
March
27, 2017
Teams and Players Change, But
Memories Remain
•
The Whalers announced they were leaving Hartford 20 years ago
Sunday, and thus, a column about remembering the names that mattered to
you (in all sports) long ago.
March
20, 2017
World Baseball Classic Action is
Pleasant Surprise
•
I think we’re best to enjoy this year's World Baseball Classic
for what it has been: Found money. The rare pleasant surprise in a
world full of overhyped, overblown events.
March
13, 2017
Confident Umpires Can Improve
Baseball's Pace Issues
•
That is what this sport needs. Not pitch clocks. Not no-pitch
walks or extra-inning gimmicks. Empower the next Doug Harvey. And take
the banal stuff, the stuff technology can handle, off his plate to help
it happen.
March
6, 2017
Red Sox Will Need 10 Pitchers
•
In the wake of the David Price injury news, some numbers.
Namely,
"the past five seasons, MLB teams averaged 10.5 starting pitchers used
per season. ... Those rotations averaged 946.2 innings."
Feb.
27, 2017
David Ortiz Could Do Anything and
We'd Love It
•
A happier spin on Donald Trump boasting about shooting people
on Fifth Avenue. (Actually not about that at all! It's a look at how
iconic teams and players moved on after retirement. Brooks Robinson,
Willie Stargell, Al Kaline, Tony Gwynn, etc.)
Feb.
20, 2017
Three Things That Could Go Wrong
for Red Sox This Season
•
I’m cautiously optimistic in the winter’s rebuild like
everyone else, but consider Chris Sale's transition, the leadership
void and the potential for disaster in the bullpen.
Feb.
13, 2017
Javier Lopez Hung On Forever (and
Other Thoughts)
•
Discussing everyone's favorite lefty specialist after his
retirement, plus what I like about the "start with baserunners on in
extra innings" proposal.
Feb.
6, 2017
New England Sports Nation is
Plenty's 'Villain’
•
Written pre-Super Bowl, I note "The lack of buzz these past
two weeks because our region has no real invective with Atlanta got me
thinking, though. Man, we’re hated a lot of different places, because
we’ve ruined a ton of people’s days."
Jan.
30, 2017
Professional Sports Are Getting
Offensive
•
We spent last week talking about the Atlanta defense. ...
Sunday’s game, however, will be about offense. Much like every other
sport seems to be at the moment.
Jan.
24, 2017
406 A Number Falcons’ Defense is
Looking Past
•
Jon talks football, specifically the underrated Atlanta
defense and Super Bowl LI. Everyone to your storm cellars.
Jan.
16, 2017
Why Fans Don't Care About Morality
in Sports
•
Big-time sports aren’t idle fun, not when this kind of money
is involved. But that doesn’t change what draws people to them, and
it’s high time we remembered that when hectoring fans about how to
watch them.
Jan.
9, 2017
Curt Schilling is Overselling The
Drama
•
Schilling The Salesman, the talk-radio host, can’t sell just
coming up short because he took too long to put it together, too long
to maximize his talent. Not the way he can sell. There’s money in
martyrdom.
Jan.
2, 2017
Boston Sports Scene Still Lacks
True Revolution
•
The Revs play in a football stadium they failed last season to
fill even 30 percent of. The book on the team is they don’t spend money
and don't innovate. And it’s a shame.
Dec.
28, 2016
Will the Red Sox regret dumping
Clay Buchholz?
•
Thoughts on Mr. Buchholz, Edwin Encarnacion's terrible trip
through free agency, and there being more to Curt Schilling's Hall of
Fame problems than meets the eye.
Dec.
19, 2016
Red Sox Enjoying Sustained
Excellence Under John Henry
•
What if, on Dec. 20, 2001, John Harrington and the Red Sox
limited partners chose Charles Dolan over John Henry? Reaction would've
been warmer, for one, stupid as that makes plenty look.
Dec.
12, 2016
Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry Rising Again
•
Had this feeling immediately after Chris Sale, before Aroldis
Chapman. Would've seemed a little more prescient had it been published
before the latter.
Dec.
5, 2016
Analyzing Baseball's CBA, Making
Sense of College Football Playoffs
•
Probably should've just gone the whole way with the first
note, given "How much bleeping money did the MLBPA just leave on the
table?!" is a valid full-piece argument.
Nov.
28, 2016
Losing Teaches Lessons
•
Ralph Branca, one of the greatest losers any of us will ever
see.
Nov.
21, 2016
Rick Porcello's Cy Young Could Come
Back to Haunt
•
In the sense that it's gonna be right up there with award
votes involving the Red Sox that look kinda bonkers down the road.
Nov.
14, 2016
Sports Can Provide Needed Connection
•
The first post-election column had to feature some sort of
reference to politics, but it's not so hard to find a tie to sports in
there.
Nov.
7, 2016
Cubs Journey Feels Familiar to Red
Sox Fans
•
As baseball Octobers go, this one is tough to top.
Nov.
1, 2016
Is Terry Francona Ushering In New
Way to Play Baseball?
•
"You can't build the Empire State Building out of Legos," and
other things that are much less memorable than what Jeff Brantley said
about Tito back in 2000.
Oct.
24, 2016
Red Sox Connected to World Series
•
BREAKING NEWS: There are a lot of former Red Sox still playing
baseball at this point in time. Here are 10 of them, ranked, because
that's how the Internet does things.
Oct.
17, 2016
Not Letting Sorrow Blot Out Great
Postseason
•
A super brief Red Sox postmortem, because the rest of the
playoffs have been bonkers good. Plus, Mike Hazen, Torey Lovullo, and
spare me the Jon Lester-Andrew Miller historical rehash.
Oct.
12, 2016
Goodbye Papi: Saying Farewell to
the Man Who Brought Hope Back
•
BOSTON -- Everyone wrote farewells to David
Ortiz. Heck, I wrote about four through the years. This one, though, is
the best one. (I am not biased in any way.)
Oct.
10, 2016
Rainout Lets Red Sox Hit Reset
Button
•
BOSTON -- After Game 3 went washout, giving
Boston a tomorrow (and a win, in a sense) without having to put its
season on the line.
Oct.
9, 2016
Red Sox Have to Find Themselves
•
BOSTON -- "The Red Sox, who for a decade
were never unprepared for the big stage, who always executed when it
counted, who we could be assured would keep their heads no matter the
spot, ceased to be long ago. It took time to build that. Maybe this is
that time."
Oct.
6, 2016
ALDS Preview: Francona, Farrell's
Bullpen Management Could Decide Series
•
There's no pick in here, but the pick was Indians in 4. Close
enough.
Oct.
3, 2016
Meaningful Baseball in October is
David Ortiz's Final Gift to Boston
•
BOSTON -- A report from Game No. 162, in a
year that will finally again have a Game No. 163.
Sept.
26, 2016
Enjoy The 2016 Red Sox
•
"Get too deep in thought and it can be easy to forget the
point. Four of the last five summers here have provided terrible
baseball, unlikable teams, Patriots autumns. OK, we're not shaking the
last one. Few teams, however, have been as enjoyable to watch beginning
to end as the 2016 Red Sox."
Sept.
5, 2016
Red Sox On Path to Playoffs
•
The rotating carousel at third base has never gotten the play
the
one at shortstop did, and a genuine first guess of John Farrell's
bullpen usage.
Aug.
29, 2016
Time For Sox to Strike, Plus Some
Tiger Thoughts
•
A deep dive into the PGA Tour money list on the 20th
anniversary of
Tiger's pro coming-out party, on top of the usual Red Sox silliness.
Aug.
22, 2016
Wins That Slipped Away Will Loom
Large
•
Too many late losses and given-away games when the division
race is going to come down to the wire.
Aug.
15, 2016
Why Signing Jonathan Papelbon is
Not a Bad Idea
•
If handled correctly, low risk and short leash. Plus, he's no
bigger of a jerk than Hope Solo is.
Aug.
8, 2016
Yankees Getting Ready to Break Out,
Be Relevant Again
•
One of many in a series on this theme, as it turns out.
Aug.
2, 2016
After Non-Waiver Deadline, Sox
Projected to Make Playoffs
•
Trade deadline redux, noting Baseball Prospectus had
Cleveland, Texas, Toronto the Red Sox and Baltimore as your likely five
AL playoff teams.
July
25, 2016
Red Sox Squander Opportunity in
Split with Minnesota
•
Two tough losses in the face of a brutal schedule coming in,
plus thoughts on MLB relief usage and whether this generation lacks a
Ken Griffey Jr.
July
17, 2016
Let's Enjoy It as Sox Go All-In
•
Four trades in eight days speak to a wide-open American
League, and that there's something to be won out there right now.
July
10, 2016
Why's Everyone Trying to Fix the
All-Star Game?
•
Think about the NBA All-Star Game? Think about the Pro Bowl.
Then tell me baseball has a problem. (Plus: A tepid defense of "this
time, it counts!")
July
3, 2016
Is It Time to Let Clay Buchholz Go?
•
Clay Buchholz has been here longer than you probably think,
and hasn't been as good. So, how will we remember him?
June
20, 2016
Thoughts of a Trade, Title
•
Some musings on the Mets as a trade partner, plus Cleveland
and memories of 2007
June
13, 2016
There's More to Life Than Sports
& Tragedy
•
Trying to spin the never-ending rumors about David Ortiz into
some thoughts about the Orlando shootings. There were some things I had
to get off my chest, and I had a space in the sports section to do it.
June
8, 2016
4.25 Could Be Magic Number for Sox
Pitchers
•
Thoughts on where the Red Sox starters might end up for the
year,
more stadium inanity in Atlanta and remembering the Nick Punto trade.
May
29, 2016
Red Sox Need to Beef it Up Against
AL East
•
A little bit on division play, a little bit on the company the
young core is keeping, a little bit on Hanley's baserunning.
May
22, 2016
On Keeping JBJ and Watching Ortiz
Assault Old-Age Record Books
•
The first of hopefully many post-Noah columns, with Jackie
Bradley Jr. in the midst of a 27-game hitting streak.
May
8, 2016
On Orsillo, Price and Bartolo
•
Featuring casual abuse of Steve Lyons, an interesting thought
about looking strikeouts and "one of the greatest moments in the
history of baseball."
May
1, 2016
Confidence, Sinkers Key to
Porcello's Early-Season Success
•
A thought about pitchers and confidence as I deep dive into
the numbers for the rolling Rick Porcello and the wrecked Clay
Buchholz. (People liked this one.)
April
24, 2016
How Instant Replay Became An
Unfixable Mess, and How to Fix It
•
Year of the Balk! I was among those who failed to realize that
being "right" matters a lot less than we thought. (Inspired by hockey,
though baseball certainly hasn't helped.)
April
17, 2016
Red Sox Living in the Short Term
•
A column built around numbers, as opposed to all my other
columns built around numbers.
April
11, 2016
Don't Blow Sox Blown Opportunity
Out of Perspective
•
BOSTON -- Live from Opening Day, where it
was a day without pomp and, ultimately, a feel-good win from the new
big-money pitchers.
April
10, 2016
Mixed Feelings Entering Monday's
Home Opener
•
One week in, the 2016 Red Sox are clearly resilient and
perhaps a whole lot more.
April
3, 2016
Farrell, Sox and a Lack of Slack
•
My 2016 season preview focuses on Farrell's short leash
perhaps
pushing against Boston's longstanding philosophy to protect its future.
March
27, 2016
There's A Little Red Sox in Just
About Everyone
•
Fun, fun piece. As we begin the 2016 season, 29 of the 30
teams have
a tangible connection to the Olde Towne Team, which is of course the
only way we're capable of relating to baseball.
March
20, 2016
Farrell Facing Key Lineup Decisions
•
On possibly platooning Pablo Sandoval, making more peace with
Jon
Lester's departure and Adam LaRoche's Family Matters. (Not as good as
actual Family Matters.)
March
14, 2016
Patriots, Red Sox Contrast is
Striking
•
"The Red Sox always 'pay attention.' The Patriots mostly
'ignore.' I
don't think that has much to do with their relative sucesses and
failures, but the juxtaposition is striking."
March
6, 2016
Poor Defense at First Base Not a
Major Concern
•
As we worry about Hanley Ramirez, you will be shocked to learn
the
number of recent playoff teams who had pretty bad defensive first
basemen. Shocked, I say.
Feb.
28, 2016
The Rise of Specialization
•
Given defensive shifts and platoons and one-inning relievers
and
everything else, how much longer is the everyday player really going to
be a thing?
Feb.
21, 2016
Embracing The Optimism That Comes
With Spring Training
•
John Farrell's willingness to pull the rip cord faster is a
major shift, and should be treated as such.
Feb.
14, 2016
Annual Tease by Red Sox Awaits
•
I tab Hanley Ramirez, Rick Porcello and Carson Smith as
critical
pieces should the 2016 Red Sox be any good. Because predictions are
totally something I'm awesome at.
Feb.
8, 2016
Broncos' Defense Leads to 'Super'
Dud
•
The Super Bowl reaction column is one of the great "well, I
don't have to worry about a topic this week" staples for the weekly
columnist.
Jan.
31, 2016
Logical As It Would Be, I Can't
Root for Cam
•
"Honestly, (Peyton Manning)'s a lot like me — in his 30s, a
spirited pizza enthusiast and unable to throw a football all that well."
Jan.
24, 2016
Expanding Designated Hitter a
'Logical Step'
•
Football grew past two-way players. NASCAR grew past beach
racing. Hockey's growing past fighting. Baseball needs to grow past
viewing the DH as a sideshow.
Jan.
17, 2016
Weekend Discoveries about NFL,
Stephen Cooper and the AL East
•
To review, it wasn't a dirty hit, Wareham's NFLer is
remembered for his dirtiness and the AL East appears it'll be dirty ...
in a good way!
Jan.
11, 2016
Watching Ken Griffey Jr. Play Well
Worth It
•
"There are many things that 14-year-old Jon Couture believed
that 35-year-old Jon Couture finds very silly. However, there is at
least one thing we remain consistent on.
Chicken pox was not a valid reason to miss seeing Ken Griffey Jr. play
baseball."
Jan.
3, 2016
If He's Gone, Tom Coughlin Left
Worthwhile Legacy
•
Twelve years in New York, 12 years helming my team to a couple
titles. Pardon me if I want to salute that, even deep in Patriots
country.
Dec.
28, 2015
'What If's Not Enough to Retire 25
•
The great Tony Conigliaro debate, not one I have much trouble
picking a side on.
Dec.
22, 2015
Leagues Should Make All-Star Games
More Fun
•
The story of John Scott, Rory Fitzpatrick and the NHL screwing
up something it looked like they were getting right.
Dec.
15, 2015
NFL's Most Consistent Skill is Dumb
Luck
•
The amazement at our relative calmness at two really crappy
teams making the NFL playoffs in one year.
Dec.
7, 2015
Price Contract Will Pay Off, Somehow
•
Have I mentioned I love the David Price contract because of
the opt-out yet? Because I really love that opt-out.
Nov.
30, 2015
Any Price Apparently Right for
Pitching-Starved Red Sox
•
Some UMass football attendance numbers after a David
Price/pitching market thought. Because why not?
Nov.
23, 2015
Regulation Makes Daily Fantasy
Safer Bet
•
Wherein I teach you something about the Montana Lottery and
why it's important.
Nov.
16, 2015
Teams Like The Red Sox Need To Take
Risks
•
Also known as "The Reaction to the Craig Kimbrel Trade" column.
Nov.
10, 2015
On Grantland, Deadspin and Search
for High-Minded Sports Writing
•
And we begin with a WWE reference because I'm mad with power.
Nov.
2, 2015
Why It's Not Always Smart to Feast
on Free Agency
•
Hard to miss that the 2014-15 baseball offseason was a
minefield. To the point we shouldn't forget entering 2015-16.
Oct.
26, 2015
Shorter Season Better for Major
League Baseball
•
And other thoughts about the sport's revival in Kansas City
and John Farrell.
Oct.
19, 2015
Easy to Root for Any of MLB's Final
Four
•
Even the Mets, for goodness sake. THE METS.
Oct.
12, 2015
Fair is Fair Game These Days
•
The NL Wild Card game was the latest reminder that the debate
between fair and unfair is never as easy as it seems.
Oct.
5, 2015
Recent Baseball History Kind to
Strong Finishers
•
Like, say, a Red Sox team that closed 28-20.
Sept.
21, 2015
Will 2015 Be Greatest MLB Playoffs
Ever?
•
The bad-blood dripping signs certainly look good, even if the
Red Sox aren't 17 miles near the thing.
Sept.
14, 2015
David Ortiz Changed Everything
•
On the occasion of his 500th home run, a not-quite-storybook
salute to Boston's not-quite-storybook superstar.
Sept.
7, 2015
Will Sox Bid Adieu to OF?
•
The Jackie Bradley Jr.-Mookie Betts-Rusney Castillo outfield
could be both really great and really fleeting.
Aug.
31, 2015
On Orsillo's Final Days, PawSox
Move and Joe Kelly
•
It's a thoughts column, which is rare for me. Far more rare
than my writing the words "NESN's general incompetence."
Aug.
25, 2015
Sox In Rush To Move Forward With
Dombrowski
•
"Dave Dombrowski is what panic looks like."
Aug.
17, 2015
Farrell's Cancer Announcement Not
About 'Perspective'
•
Soapbox time, in my lifelong campaign for people to stop being
so trite and cavalier with words.
Aug.
4, 2015
Don't Give Up on 2016 Just Yet
•
After burying the guy's moves last week, campaigning for Ben
Cherington to get one more winter to fix this.
July
27, 2015
Sox Are Stuck in Neutral
•
Running through Ben Cherington's biggest multi-year contracts
as GM makes it pretty easy to see what's going wrong here.
July
17, 2015
Midseason Report, Part 2: How The
Red Sox Can Make The Playoffs
•
If this works out, and it probably won't, here's how it'll
probably go down.
July
15, 2015
Midseason Report, Part 1: Hope,
Faith
•
"There is promise here, but it's promise that may not fully
manifest itself until 2016."
July
6, 2015
Where Did You Go, Mike Napoli?
•
What's the problem with the beloved first baseman? Fastballs,
mostly.
June
29, 2015
Star Treatment: Who's The Red Sox
Choice?
•
With Dustin Pedroia hurt, I look to four guys ... and really
think it can be just one of two.
June
22, 2015
Let's Do Something About MLB Fan
Safety
•
The NHL got it right more than a decade ago by putting up
nets.
Hopefully baseball can get there without someone having to die first.
June
15, 2015
In Defense of John Farrell
•
The numbers show why it's rarely worth it to fire a manager
mid-season, even if he deserves it. (Which I don't think John Farrell
does.)
June
8, 2015
Red Sox Can Pounce on Wide-Open AL
East
•
Games within the division represent opportunity for a team
that, well, doesn't really deserve it.
June
3, 2015
Struggling Red Sox Have a Lot to
Prove
•
The Red Sox are the Mets, and that's not a good thing.
May
25, 2015
Big Papi Shows Signs of Decline
•
Annually, the most dangerous column to write in New England
sports.
May
18, 2015
Red Sox Offense Shockingly Shoddy
•
What to make of baseball's potential best offense being unable
to hit.
May
11, 2015
Patriots Fans, What Would Pedro
Have Done?
•
Marrying the new Pedro autobiography with the story of the
day. Well, the month. Well, many months.
May
4, 2015
Mayweather-Pacquiao Was The Fight
We All Deserved
•
The latest in my "Just Put Your Wallet Away" series.
April
27, 2015
Holt Hot Off The Bench
•
The latest in a line of utility player heroes that'll get you
some nice fan cred down the road. Well, unless he's something more ...
April
20, 2015
Different Ramirez, Same Results
•
BOSTON -- Hanley's sure got a lot of Manny
in him. Let's see if we're smart enough to enjoy it this time while we
can, OK?
April
14, 2015
A Moment To Savor
•
BOSTON -- If great defense usually beats
great offense -- as Super Bowl 25 taught us -- what the heck happened
at the home opener?
April
6, 2015
Prognosticators Looking at Sox with
Rose-Colored Glasses
•
The 2015 Sox might not be as good as people think they'll be,
but I look forward to watching them try to get there.
March
30, 2015
A Trip Around the Major Leagues
•
You wouldn't think you could cover 30 teams in a column the
size of mine. You're right about that.
March
24, 2015
Koji Uehara: Gamble, or Better With
Age?
•
Two years to a 40-year-old closer feels like one of those bad
ideas that could seem obvious later.
March
16, 2015
Championships Won on Field, Not in
Offseason
•
NFL free agency makes for a nice reason to call everyone
stupid.
March
9, 2015
Seeing is Believing For Pedroia
•
The loudest guy in the lineup was average last season, and
it's not the first time.
March
2, 2015
Two Different Deals, Two Different
Stories
•
Calming down about the new owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox and
David Ortiz's latest soundoff.
Feb.
23, 2015
Victorino Fits Best in Utility Role
•
Shane Victorino shouldn't be the starting right fielder for
the Red
Sox, even if that happening will probably result in some Jay
Payton-type pouting.
Feb.
16, 2015
The Merciful End of All-Star Season
•
The next time you're ready to complain about the MLB All-Star
Game,
remember how bad the other three are. (By the way, first column I've
ever written while marooned in Boston because of snow.)
Feb.
9, 2015
Sox, Yanks Could Roar Again in AL
East
•
If the Yankees are terrible in 2015, and hoo boy they might
be, do me a favor and forget I ever wrote this.
Feb.
4, 2015
Butler Delivers Lasting Memory from
Super Bowl XLIX
•
Some Super Bowl musings, primarily about how long I've been
watching Bill Belichick and how quickly history can turn.
Jan.
26, 2015
Inflating Footballs? Nah, Let's
Talk Baseball
•
Talking about commissioner transitions is more fun than
talking about inflation pressure in footballs. Barely.
Jan.
19, 2015
To Fix Baseball, Eliminate Games,
Not Minutes
•
Tighten up the nightly MLB product? Absolutely. But while
you're at it, stop pretending a 162-game season makes sense anymore.
Jan.
12, 2015
2024 Olympics Must Be Our Games
•
We probably shouldn't be holding the Summer Olympics in
Boston. If
we do, though, it's got to be with the will of the people behind it.
Jan.
5, 2015
Concussions: A Lot of
Hand-Wringing, Not a Lot of Action
•
On Saturday night, the Steelers showed we really don't care
much about concussions after all. High time we admit it.
Dec.
29, 2014
Time for Baseball Hall of Fame to
Switch Gears
•
The interminable, aggravating din that passes for Baseball
Hall of Fame debate can't be finished soon enough, because it's ceased
to be about the only reason the Hall exists: to celebrate players.
Dec.
22, 2014
In Ben We Trust? Not a Bad Mantra
•
You mad at Ben Cherington? At least he's not Ruben Amaro with
the Phillies.
Dec.
15, 2014
Losing Lester Hurts, but Plan B is
a Good One
•
Be mad the Red Sox squandered their homegrown ace, but getting
three starters for the price of one? It could be a lot worse.
Dec.
8, 2014
Sox Aren't Only East Team Making
Improvements
•
Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez are signed, and the rest of
the AL East ... yeah.
Nov.
26, 2014
Moves Not Making Sense? They're
Stockpiling Offensive Talent
•
BOSTON -- The Red Sox are playing
big-market baseball. Get all the talent, hold it, and hope it falls
together. Just so happens almost all theirs is offensive at the moment.
Nov.
24, 2014
BU Freshman Jack Eichel, a.k.a. The
Next Big Thing
•
Well, this was inevitable.
Nov.
17, 2014
Signed or Not, Stanton's Future a
Mystery
•
Congrats to Giancarlo Stanton for getting paid. It'll be
interesting which blows up first: His value, or his team.
Nov.
10, 2014
In Pros, Game Time is Commercial
Time
•
I'm not happy the NHL is talking about ads on its jerseys, but
let's not pretend anyone's going to boycott watching because of them.
Nov.
3, 2014
This Time, Cherington is Rebuilding
His Core
•
This isn't your basic rebuild for the Red Sox ... this time,
they need a new core. And the discussion starts with Pablo Sandoval and
Chase Headley.
Oct.
27, 2014
Lost Cause for One Team, Lost
Rivalry for Two
•
Andrew Friedman and Joe Maddon leaving Tampa Bay not only guts
that franchise, but takes all the starch out of the Sox-Rays rivalry
... the best both had going.
Oct.
20, 2014
Royals Filling Air With a Familiar
Magic
•
Ten years after 2004, the Royals are doing a heck of a job
recapturing those feelings of, "Finally, it's our turn."
Oct.
13, 2014
Playoffs Mask Some Truths
•
Some idle musing on how, in the time of advanced stats gaining
acceptance, we still settle things with the dreaded small sample size.
Oct.
6, 2014
'Classic' Misused, Patience Abused
•
An 18-inning, six-hour game where basically nothing happened
gets me digging deep into baseball's offense problem. Not going to lie,
I thought I did well.
Sept.
22, 2014
Yankees Chose Their Fate in 2014
•
To begin the final week of the Derek Jeter Farewell Tour,
noting how strange it is that the win-at-all-costs Yankees chose
honoring No. 2 over trying to chase a championship.
Sept.
15, 2014
Fans Also Have A Say
•
Hard not to be bothered by all the bad news coming out of the
NFL, hard not to see how easily this could happen to any sport, and
hard not to be amazed that so many fans don't realize the power they
have to stop it.
Sept.
8, 2014
Busy Winter Has Its Bright Spots
•
Three Red Sox thoughts, just as the Patriots mercifully
relieve them of their place in the New England sports spotlight for the
year.
Sept.
1, 2014
UMass Football Hitting Potholes on
Road to Big Time
•
The "Jesus, Minutemen" column that's been 2.5 years in the
making.
Aug.
25, 2014
Back to the Drawing Board for
Cherington, Red Sox
•
Blow it up, win World Series, blow it up is not the general
path one often sees from their professional baseball franchise, but
here we are.
Aug.
18, 2014
Replay Still Leaves Communication
Gaps
•
BOSTON -- What Xander Bogaerts making a
stupid mistake at second base shows about the weaknesses in the
developing replay system. No, really!
Aug.
11, 2014
Fame No Longer Part of Fortune in
500
•
Eighty-five years after Babe became No. 1, musing on what the
dropping offensive numbers mean for a milestone that supposedly lost
its value a couple years back.
Aug.
5, 2014
Three Reasons to Keep Watching
These Red Sox
•
Had to play this card eventually. At least I'm playing it
without mentioning "the kids" ... saving graces.
July
28, 2014
Focused on the Future
•
Celebrating the Atlantic League's efforts to speed baseball's
pace of play. Because there's getting to be a whole lot of waiting and
not a whole lot of hitting.
July
21, 2014
Sox Are Streaking ... But Is That A
Good Thing?
•
BOSTON -- Winning seven of eight in a weak
AL year is just the kind of thing that could mess up some potential
gains for the future.
July
14, 2014
Lester Winning Wage War
•
One man's read on the Jon Lester contract situation from a
hotel room in Philadelphia. Because that's how this works.
July
7, 2014
Confused By Sox? Look To Offense
For Answers
•
BOSTON -- This will be the new normal
unless Ben Cherington works some offseason magic. And, since this is
the Internet, the David Ortiz stat that will shock you!
June
30, 2014
Tune In The Game, Tune Out The
Trollers
•
The return of the weekly column, now going
on Mondays. About soccer, but about more than soccer as well.
April
22, 2014
Loss Doesn't Drain Optimism On
Proud Boston Day
•
BOSTON -- Skipped the Patriots Day game in
2013. Could not skip the 2014 game.
April
5, 2014
Friday's Ceremonies Were
Unenjoyable, Unforgettable
•
BOSTON -- Ring Day number three. With a bit
heavier emotions behind it, thanks to real life.
March
30, 2014
This Year's Sox Poised For Great
Things
•
What passed for my baseball preview in 2014. I'll say this ...
the workload was a heck of a lot easier than it was about a decade ago.
January
28, 2014
Ortiz Draws From Familiar Well
•
The great "David Ortiz is leaving town" blip in the 2014
radar. But that's not what compelled me to write this.
Nov.
13, 2013
Farrell's The Total Package
•
Reaction to Terry Francona nipping John Farrell for AL Manager
of the Year. The greatest article I've ever written on a cell phone in
a gas station parking lot. (That's not entirely true, but it's close
enough to just print the legend.)
Oct.
31, 2013
Another Unforgettable Sox Title
•
BOSTON -- The ultimate story, written for
the third time.
Oct.
30, 2013
Behind Lackey, Sox Can Win it All
•
The ultimate redemption story. No, really, I'm not forcing
that this time.
Oct.
25, 2013
Lester's Glove Raises Questions
•
BOSTON -- A short story on Boogergate,
which is sadly not a term I used in said short story.
Oct.
25, 2013
Early Lead, Series Edge Disappear
•
BOSTON -- Oh, so there's the resilient
Cardinals we've been hearing about!
Oct.
24, 2013
All Eyes on Cardinals' Wacha in
Game 2
•
BOSTON -- The phenom set to arrive.
Oct.
24, 2013
Boston Makes St. Louis Pay for
Mistakes
•
BOSTON -- It was over quick.
Oct.
23, 2013
Two Best Set to Battle It Out
•
In which the Cardinals are picked in six games. Hey, nobody's
perfect.
Oct.
19, 2013
Scrappers Have Red Sox on Brink of
Pennant
•
On the off day between Games 5 and 6, story number 6 million
on the sum being greater than the parts.
Oct.
13, 2013
Scherzer Will Rely on Short Memory
•
BOSTON -- Game 1 of the ALCS ended too late
for the print edition, so did a preview pitchers story for Game 2.
Oct.
12, 2013
Sox,
Tigers Bring Big Bats to ALCS
•
Story never made it online, so here's an image of the layout.
Sox in 6, just as predicted.
Oct.
5, 2013
Red Sox Opener An Extension of
Charmed Season
•
BOSTON -- Execution, grit and team were the
watchwords of the day.
Oct.
4, 2013
Red Sox-Rays Series Breakdown
•
In which the Red Sox are picked in five games. Close enough.
Oct.
3, 2013
Six-Inning Scrimmage Just Part of
the Process
•
BOSTON -- How to keep your team ready
during a playoff layoff.
Oct.
1, 2013
Bumpy Road Back To A Good Place
•
Adapted from the blog, all the teams that the Red Sox could've
been in the regular season, but weren't.
Sept.
5, 2013 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox rampage past Detroit
Tigers, 20-4
•
BOSTON -- A three-game series in September
with the betting favorites to win the American League pennant
represented an opportunity. While it's Boston with the league's best
record, questions remain about a team continuing to exceed even its
highest expectations.
Aug.
28, 2013 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane
Victorino answers doubters with recent play
•
BOSTON -- It took about 40 minutes after
Tuesday’s final pitch for Shane Victorino to arrive at his locker. As
the time dragged on, even past his usual laid-back standards, a member
of the Red Sox PR staff offered an explanation to those waiting to ask
about his two-homer, seven-RBI masterwork. “He’s in the training room.”
Sept.
4, 2013 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane
Victorino answers doubters with recent play
•
BOSTON -- For the second straight night,
the top two offenses in the American League staged a pitcher’s duel
that wouldn’t look out of place in October. On Monday, the Red Sox were
never able to get that one critical hit. On Tuesday, Will Middlebrooks
needed one pitch.
Sept.
4, 2013 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox edge Detroit Tigers
as Jon Lester outduels Max Scherzer
•
BOSTON -- During a forgettable September in
Baltimore three years ago, Koji Uehara blew two saves in 10 days. ...
Is that the last time Uehara gave up a run? No, but you’d be forgiven
for believing it was.
Sept.
3, 2013
Another Rocky Road That Defies
Explanation
•
The puzzle and sadness of Daniel Bard's downfall.
Aug.
28, 2013 -- MassLive
Shane Victorino's 7 RBIs power Red
Sox to 13-2 rout of Orioles
•
BOSTON --
Aug.
28, 2013 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane
Victorino answers doubters with recent play
•
BOSTON -- "I don't think we've played our
best baseball yet,
and when we do play our best baseball, it's over," Boston catcher David
Ross said. "When we get our pitching and our hitting clicking, we're
going to run away with it." Exhibit A was Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Aug.
27, 2013 -- MassLive
Sunshine Village Challenger Eagles
receive red-carpet treatment from Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park
•
BOSTON -- The smiles are the first thing
you see. Dozens of them. Unmistakable and infectious.
Aug.
27, 2013
Farrell Commanding Respect
•
Assessing the manager, above and beyond the success his
players have allowed him to have. Or, at least trying to.
Aug.
1, 2013 -- MassLive
Who's on third? Red Sox plan to
platoon Brock Holt & Brandon Snyder, with more options in
Triple-A
•
BOSTON -- There were no final-day deals
made at Fenway Park
on Wednesday, the 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline passing with the
addition of Jake Peavy late Tuesday being Boston's last move. Don't get
used to a stagnant roster, though.
July
31, 2013 -- MassLive
Brandon Workman earns first win as
Boston Red Sox defeat Seattle Mariners 8-2
•
BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia broke out of his
slump with three
RBIs, Brandon Workman capped another strong outing with a pair of
bases-loaded strikeouts, and the Red Sox grabbed an 8-2 victory from
the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game set at Fenway Park.
July
31, 2013 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell
weighs in on replay in baseball after botched home-plate call
•
BOSTON -- Think there was enough fervor in
the past 24 hours over Jerry Meals' botched call on Daniel Nava's
game-tying scoring attempt in Monday night's 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay?
Imagine if that "two-game impact," as Red Sox owner John Henry declared
it, plays a critical role in the playoff shakeout come Sept. 29.
July
25, 2013
Sox Show Belief in Pedroia
•
On the occasion of the second baseman officially becoming the
face of the franchise.
July
19, 2013
Red Sox Better Than Just Likable ...
•
Coming out of the All-Star break. This is no longer a "win us
back" Red Sox team unlike many we've seen of late. This is, like all
the others, a "win it all" Red Sox team. Expectations, and the mixed
bag they bring.
July
14, 2013
Ortiz Continues to Defy Odds
•
In celebration of No. 34 on the occasion of him moving to the
top of the hit list for DHs.
June
27, 2013 -- MassLive
John Lackey does Pedro impression
in 5-3 Red Sox win over Rockies
•
BOSTON -- In the early days of February,
Clay Buchholz
offered a bold prediction for the upcoming season. "I think at some
point," he said, "John Lackey's going to be named the ace of our
staff."
June
26, 2013
2007 Memories Show Success is
Fleeting
•
With the Rockies coming to town for the first time since 2007,
a look back to the (relatively speaking) forgotten champions and an
incredibly fun October.
June
21, 2013 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox offense explodes in
15-5 win over Miami Marlins
•
BOSTON -- The wave circled Fenway Park in
the fifth inning
last night. Given it was 96 degrees at first pitch, it was a nice way
for the crowd to unglue themselves from their chairs. A rare home rout
probably felt even nicer.
June
5, 2013 -- MassLive
Surprise players contributing for
Boston Red Sox
•
BOSTON -- In what was viewed this winter as
a transitional year, the blueprints for success in 2013 all featured
the team’s big names stepping up. And some have, the pitching staff
prominent among them. But to be near the top of the American League
nine weeks into the season, it's taken additional help from both the
young and the unexpected.
April
29, 2013
Savor The Sox Early Season Success
•
Coming off a 69-win season, best record in the majors coming
out of April. That'll do.
April
9, 2013
Red Sox Start Roller-Coaster Ride
Right
•
BOSTON -- They're up, they're down,
they're up, they're down. From the home opener.
March
31, 2013
The Evolution of the Red Sox Starts
Monday
•
The 2013 season preview column. Stressing a lot of new faces
and a lot of flawed teams in the AL East.
Feb.
1, 2013
Francona Book An Entertaining Look
•
Deserving kind words for an entertaining read, though
certainly not one without flaws.
Jan.
25, 2013
Adding Pedro Martinez Creates
Much-Deserved Buzz
•
Brief on Red Sox addition of Pedro Martinez as a front-office
something.
Jan.
9, 2013
One Hockey Fan Puts His Money Where
His Mouth Is
•
Goodbye, NHL. Not a column I enjoyed writing, but a column I
couldn't shake the feeling I had to write.
Dec.
8, 2012
Red Sox Ahead of Schedule
•
Hardly blown away by what the Red Sox have been up to, but
they didn't have to do much to improve on 2012. That should count for
something.
Nov.
27, 2012
Not Much Buzz for Red Sox
•
It's going to be a long rebuild, but we're basically still
waiting for it to start.
Oct.
24, 2012
Tall Task Ahead For Farrell
•
Not live from Boston, nor all that sold on the idea that a
manager is going to be what ultimately saves this franchise. (Yeah,
it's a little obvious.)
Sept.
25, 2012
Three Long Years
•
Looking at this season's five major turnaround teams, and
whether the Red Sox have a similar quick rise in them. In the first of
a series, it's all Ben Cherington.
Aug.
28, 2012
Red Sox Back to the Good, Old Days
•
BOSTON -- Forty-eight hours after the
megadeal, I'm done celebrating it. It's already time to start hoping
the second half of the fix doesn't ruin the first, and we're past the
point where things working out can be assumed.
Aug.
25, 2012
A Season's Worth of New Lows
•
Adapted from the blog post following Boston's 14-13 loss to
Los Anaheim. My idea of fun is examining bottoming-out points,
apparently.
Aug.
2, 2012 -- MassLive
Daniel Nava (wrists) latest Red Sox
player to land on disabled list
•
BOSTON -- Daniel Nava, come on down. You're
the next contestant on the Red Sox disabled list.
July
19, 2012 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox offense erupts in
10-1 win vs. Chicago White Sox
•
BOSTON -- On Tuesday night, Carl Crawford
legged out two infield hits as part of a 3-for-4 night. He scored two
runs. He stole three bases. He played well in left field. A showcase of
the skills that brought him to Boston, and the kind of performance
rarely seen here.
July
19, 2012 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl
Crawford enjoying fresh start
•
BOSTON -- Things have gotten bad enough for
the Red Sox this season that, near traveling secretary Jack McCormick's
desk in the clubhouse, there now hangs a pencil drawing of Mother
Teresa. ... The White Sox, however, offered a more direct assist: a
pitcher making his major-league debut.
July
13, 2012
Statement Time for Struggling Sox
•
With a 23-game stretch against quality competition, most of
which to start post-Break play, there's not going to be much question
what they are.
July
4, 2012
Are The Sox The Real Deal?
•
Midseason awards, on the occasion of the 81st game. Puts a
nice sort of a bow on the first half, in so much as a team this
schizophrenic can be summarized.
June
28, 2012
Jury Out, But Sox Are Contenders
•
BOSTON -- Live, from the final game of a
7-2 homestand that again seems like the start of something big. Though
we've heard that before.
June
26, 2012
Youkilis Still An Underdog At Heart
•
On the occasion of Kevin Youkilis' trade to the White Sox. Not
like Nomar in how it ended, but like it in how it feels his potential
was never fully realized. Repackaged from the Sox blog.
June
21, 2012 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox sign first-round
draft pick Deven Marrero
•
BOSTON -- A native Floridian who played
three seasons at Arizona State, first-round draft pick Deven Marrero
probably basked in the mid-90s temperatures that smothered Boston on
Wednesday.
June
20, 2012 -- MassLive
Clay Buchholz bailed out by
Boston's bats in 7-5 win over Marlins
•
BOSTON -- Last week in Miami, the Marlins'
Logan Morrison did some damage against Red Sox right-hander Clay
Buchholz, slamming a solo home run in a losing effort. Tuesday night,
he struck again, piling up a career-high five RBIs ... as Buchholz's
resurgence hit the skids. Fortunately, his league-leading run support
didn't.
June
20, 2012 -- MassLive
Red Sox squash talk of their
'toxic' clubhouse
•
BOSTON -- There were no hazmat crews
present as the Boston Red Sox began a nine-game home stand Tuesday
night at Fenway Park, but players and coaches sought to clean up any
perceptions the club is a "toxic" mess as it labors in the AL East
basement.
June
20, 2012 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox on-field play's all
that matters to players
•
BOSTON -- Making his weekly WEEI radio
appearance Wednesday, ESPN's Buster Olney stood behind the blog that
sent the word a twitter on Monday, deeming the unhappiness within the
Red Sox "multi-layered" and "to a degree that I have rarely seen in
covering this sport for 25 years." Those points came with qualifiers.
June
15, 2012
Epstein On Long Road To Chicago
Success
•
A reunion at the old yard in Chicago. Not crazy about the
headline ... really was more focused on the problems dogging the Cubs,
and how the Sox seem to want to adopt some of them.
June
7, 2012 -- MassLive
Josh Beckett of Red Sox superb, but
not good enough in 2-1 loss to Orioles
•
BOSTON -- Three straight sixth-inning
singles were about all the offense Baltimore could sustain against
Beckett, but the Orioles made it enough, winning 2-1 to reclaim sole
possession of the division.
June
6, 2012 -- MassLive
Daisuke Matsuzaka expected to start
Saturday for Boston Red Sox
•
BOSTON -- Some three hours before last
night's game against the Orioles, Daniel Bard milled in one of the
players' parking lots, the mystery of his next move solved. ...
Pitching in his place for the Red Sox on Saturday will be Daisuke
Matsuzaka, returning to the major leagues one day shy of the one-year
anniversary of his Tommy John elbow surgery.
June
6, 2012 -- MassLive
Red Sox notebook: Daniel Bard sent
to Pawtucket; Darnell McDonald activated from 15-day DL
•
BOSTON -- Daniel Bard’s search to find a
consistent release point, and with it the success as a starter that
came so readily in relief, will continue in Triple-A.
June
6, 2012 -- MassLive
Red Sox pitcher Alfredo Aceves
coughs up two runs to give Orioles an 8-6 win in 10 innings
•
BOSTON -- On their prior visit to Fenway
Park, the Baltimore Orioles bled out a struggling Red Sox team for 17
innings. Boston showed far more life Tuesday night, but the results
were all too familiar. An extra-inning loss, and last place in the AL
East.
May
16, 2012 -- MassLive
Waves of emotion for Tim Wakefield
on his big day in Boston
•
BOSTON -- Saluted for the better part of a
week this spring and part of both the home opener and Fenway Park's
100th anniversary celebration, Tim Wakefield had every right to be as
bleary. He did not lack for emotion, however.
May
15, 2012 -- MassLive
Josh Beckett silences critics with
dominant day on the mound, win against Seattle Mariners
•
BOSTON -- Spending his 32nd birthday on the
Fenway Park mound in a consistent drizzle, Josh Beckett offered Red Sox
fans the only apology they're likely ever going to get from the brash
righty: a dominant pitching performance.
April
20, 2012
Behind Parties And Profits, The
Real Star: Fenway Park
•
For the day of the 100th anniversary game. Struggled with it,
but ultimately, just went with my gut. And finished writing it sitting
in the back of my car in the Seaport. That's a first.
April
19, 2012 -- MassLive
Boston Red Sox send Mark Melancon
to Triple-A Pawtucket
•
BOSTON -- Across two weeks in December, the
Red Sox acquired Oakland closer Andrew Bailey and Houston closer Mark
Melancon via trades, hoping each would play a major role in the team’s
bullpen reconstruction. ... Bailey is recovering from thumb surgery and
might not pitch his first
Red Sox game until September. But at least he still has a locker.
April
19, 2012 -- MassLive
Texas Rangers get past Boston Red
Sox, 6-3
•
BOSTON -- Well, cross Franklin Morales off
Boston's bullpen savior list. And chalk up another loss in which the
first instinct is to second-guess Bobby Valentine.
April
18, 2012 -- MassLive
Jacoby Ellsbury looking ahead to
regain spot in Red Sox lineup
•
BOSTON -- Jacoby Ellsbury lived through
Tampa Bay shortstop Reid Brignac landing on the back of his right
shoulder, partially dislocating it, then watched the play once on
video. That was enough for him. Now it’s about staying positive.
April
18, 2012 -- MassLive
Mark Melancon rocked in Red Sox
relief appearance
•
BOSTON -- When the Red Sox acquired Mark
Melancon from Houston for Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland, the hope was
he’d play a pivotal role in a bullpen rebuild. Four appearances into
his season, the Sox would settle for a clean inning.
April
18, 2012 -- MassLive
Jon Lester, Red Sox blasted by
Texas Rangers, 18-3
•
BOSTON -- Jon Lester entered last night’s
game against the Texas Rangers as arguably baseball’s best starting
pitcher without a victory. ... In his 2012 Fenway debut, Scott Atchison
was warming in the second inning, and it only got worse.
April
17, 2012
New Day For Red Sox
•
BOSTON -- The lazy Monday morning game on
Patriots Day, hijacked by Bobby Valentine's mouth. An all-too-rare
column off the game.
April
13, 2012
Good Times of Yesteryear Never
Seemed So Good
•
The darkest home opener preview column I can ever remember
writing.
April
5, 2012
Long Winter Makes Baseball's Return
That Much Sweeter
•
Lead-in piece to Opening Day, which has not been able to get
here fast enough. Even more than normal.
March
16, 2012
How To Describe Valentine Thus Far?
Exhausting.
•
Written from afar. I can only imagine the daily machinations,
though the contact genius one must pick up has to help the coping.
March
5, 2012
Jason Varitek's Legacy Isn't So
Easy to Define
•
Trying to put The Captain in perspective. Yes, I'm pretty sure
it's officially capitalized in New England.
Feb.
18, 2012
Supporting Star: Wakefield Part of
All The Success
•
Retirement piece No. 1 of the winter. Well, at least I assume
it's No. 1.
Jan.
20, 2012
Bleak Time For Red Sox
•
Not optimism. Blame the weather.
Dec.
2, 2011
Love Him or Hate Him, Valentine
Makes Teams Better
•
For a little while, at least. The result of a whole lot of
mining through 2001-02 New York Times articles.
Nov.
14, 2011
Papelbon Decision Makes Sense, But
He'll Be Missed
•
I don't know that I totally said it makes sense, but I guess I
kind of did. Had some numbers left on the cutting-room floor on this
one.
Oct.
26, 2011
Ben Cherington Moving Forward With
Theo's Foundation
•
BOSTON -- The new guard introduced. "New
guard" being used despite said guard having been here since before the
old guard arrived.
Oct.
13, 2011
Empty Feeling Inside Fenway
•
Theo Epstein, Globe expose fallout. It's not a pretty time.
Oct.
2, 2011
A Crazy Finish, and An Odd Future
•
Terry Francona got Grady Little'd. Going to take a bit of time
for my head to get wrapped around that one.
Sept.
30, 2011
Red Sox Collapse Boggles The Mind
•
Piece in the aftermath of the actual season.
Sept.
23, 2011
Sox Have To Pull it Together
•
Written while at a Sunday game, attempting to overview a whole
lot of weeks where I didn't write anything for the print edition. It
works well enough.
Sept.
15, 2011
Shallow Pitching Has Sox Treading
Water
•
BOSTON -- The Sept. 14 game against
Toronto, in which Daniel Bard blew a lead in a game the Sox needed,
ended up being the last I saw live during the 2011 season. Can't
remember ... did anything interesting happen the rest of the way?
Aug.
31, 2011
Sox Living Up To Dream-Team Tag
•
Look at that published date. I literally could not have
written this any closer to when the season went off the rails. I'm
either a tremendous jinx or an unheralded genius. You make the call!
June
6, 2011
Big Tests Ahead For Sox
•
Written while at a Sunday game, attempting to overview a whole
lot of weeks where I didn't write anything for the print edition. It
works well enough.
April
19, 2011
Daisuke, Sox Rise To Challenge
•
Increasingly rare write-up off a game. Thanks, 11 a.m.
Patriots' Day start!
April
17, 2011
Reaction To Manny is Just Baseball
Being Baseball
•
If you're going to be a Manny apologist, the least you can do
is own it.
April
10, 2011
Overpaid? Sure, But Not In Big
Picture
•
Written earlier in the week and held until the weekend.
Probably should have been held until after Beckett's exemplary start,
but that wasn't really the point of the piece.
April
8, 2011
Home Sweet Home: Good Showing Can
Erase Early Woes
•
For once, I'm glad the Yankees are in town for the opener.
March
28, 2011
O's Aren't Zeroes Anymore
•
Lost in all the outrage at Buck Showalter and his blaspheming
at the Red Sox? He's probably going to make the Orioles into something
pretty good not far down the line.
March
7, 2011
Expect Big Things From Papelbon
•
Me predicting things almost never ends well. And yet, here we
go again.
Feb.
15, 2011
Eight Spring Things To Keep An Eye
On
•
Ten was the plan. Nine's always a good baseball number. Eight
is what you write when you run out of time while aiming for those other
numbers.
Dec.
12, 2010
A Method To Red Sox Madness
•
Not live from the Carl Crawford press conference!
Dec.
7, 2010
Gonzalez Helps Red Sox Now -- And
Later
•
Went to the press conference on my own, just wanting to be
there for it. Mentioned it in passing to my old boss. He knew me well
enough to ask if I wanted to write, and the new boss said yes. Thus
ended my radio silence.
Sept.
13, 2010
Another Defining Offseason
Approaching For Theo Epstein
•
Jumping ahead, because it's the last "Inside Baseball" and my
last piece as an S-T staffer. As close to a goodbye column as I'm going
to write.
Sept.
3, 2010
Tiger Woods Saga Reaching Critical
Stage For Game
•
NORTON -- Sadly ended up the only story I
wrote off this year's Deutsche Bank Championship. (That's a story in
itself.) At least it was a good one.
Sept.
1, 2010
Drew's Failure Flies Under Radar
•
All those years getting bashed, and I just don't think people
have the starch left to really get on him when he deserves it most.
Aug.
29, 2010
Actions Overshadow Words With Damon
•
A very solid Stat in Inside Baseball and an ... odd ... topper
column. Sadly, I know which part I had a bigger part in creating.
Aug.
27, 2010
This Time at Tropicana, It's All or
Nothing
•
Finally jumping on the "sweep or shut up" idea. Given I've
thought they didn't have it for weeks, I'm proud I made it this long.
Aug.
19, 2010
Bad Breaks Hardly Whole Story of
2010 Red Sox
•
BOSTON -- Noting the bullpen's largely
forgotten role in whatever sad ending this season's probably going to
be capped by.
Aug.
8, 2010
Ellsbury Quiets Critics in Return
From Injury
•
Inside Baseball with a weak attempt at some bigger statement
from Ellsbury, plus some sundries.
Aug.
6, 2010
2010 Red Sox Season on the Brink,
But Hardly Lost
•
To me, this is the weekend where the playoff dreams actually
die. Even if they do, though, they've move than earned their keep this
season.
Aug.
1, 2010
Red Sox Rationalize, But Keep On
Managing to Keep Hope Alive
•
This started as a burial piece after a rightly quiet trade
deadline. Then I went down to watch the last inning and a half of
Saturday's game with the family. My ears were ringing from the echoed
cheers off the grandstand roof.
July
30, 2010
After West Coast Trip, Time of
Essence for Red Sox
•
They're not dead yet. Well, they might be, but they've done
just enough to make me think they're not quite dead yet.
July
25, 2010
Soccer Game Provides Another
Winning Moment for Team Fenway
•
First true Inside Baseball in a little bit, with a stack o'
baseball notes after what'll stand as my production from "Football at
Fenway" -- another blog expanded to newspaper column.
July
21, 2010
Still Plenty of Value in Jonathan
Papelbon
•
Another column inspired by the blog (and the Sox being on the
West Coast). I feel like sometimes people get so caught up in the
details, an obvious big-picture statement like that headline gets a
little too lost.
July
18, 2010
Sox Will Need More Than 'Plan L'
For October
•
Another state-of-the-team piece. Stradding that line of it not
being pessimism so much as realism.
July
14, 2010
The Boss Drove Baseball, Even in
Boston
•
Tribute to George Steinbrenner, who only doesn't belong in the
Hall of Fame if we're kicking out all the non-players.
July
11, 2010
For Fernandes, Cathcart, Chasing
Baseball Dream All About Grind
•
Not bad for a day washed out by some almost Biblical rains.
July
6, 2010
Boston's Ballot Power Ain't What It
Used to Be
•
Column spawned from a blog post looking at a decline in Red
Sox fan-balloting power. Kevin Youkilis ended up losing the Final Vote
to Yankee Nick Swisher, which I didn't so much predict as infer would
probably happen.
July
4, 2010
J.D. Drew, Face of the 2010 Red Sox?
•
Inside Baseball evolves from a J.D. Drew column spawned from
sports radio into a half-point stock taking.
July
1, 2010
Pedroia, Red Sox Soldier On
•
BOSTON -- Who likes swearing? Dustin
Pedroia likes swearing.
June
27, 2010
Mike Lowell Story Grows Uglier By
The Day
•
Inside Baseball goes single issue with Mike Lowell going on
the disabled list. He may never come off.
June
20, 2010
Big Guns Haven't Much Humbled
Boston's Bottom Line
•
Inside Baseball tackles how Boston's offense has performed
against the league's best pitchers. Plus, a local item extravaganza.
June
19, 2010
Fitting Tribute For Manny in Return
•
BOSTON -- In my head, the ideas this were
based on were a lot better. Disappointing on all counts.
June
10, 2010
Red Sox Tab Mattapoisett Native on
Draft's Final Day
•
Short story, but got him on the phone. We'd just done a big feature involving
him in the week's prior for reasons only tangentially related to
baseball.
June
7, 2010
Bay Sox Face Same Challenges in 2010
•
NEW BEDFORD -- Column off opening night,
which will not be getting shipped to Cooperstown any time soon. (The
game, though the column's not going anywhere either. Especially since I
didn't talk to the mayor about his meeting with Slamu, The Slugger
Whale.)
June
6, 2010
28-Year-Old Ricker Running The Bay
Sox Show
•
Feature on the summer's manager, who oddly enough isn't even
the youngest in the league. Believe the guy running things in Vermont
is only 26 or 27, though I'm pretty sure he doesn't follow me on
Twitter like Ray does.
May
31, 2010
Bay Sox Set For Second Season
•
Kicking off coverage of another year of summer baseball and
chuckling at announced attendance numbers. There's a lot worse ways to
spend $5 on a summer night than watching young Div. I college baseball
talent.
May
30, 2010
Full Circle: Westport's Allen
Levrault Back Where It All Started
•
I give one of SouthCoast's few former major leaguers the
career wrap he never got. He had a lot to say, which around a writer
who always has a lot to say results in something about as long as you'd
expect.
May
23, 2010
Old Ballplayers Don't Retire, They
Just Fade Away
•
Inside Baseball's salute to the sage Tom Henke, who managed to
avoid the almost unavoidable kvetching that's rampant among the
veterans in the 2010 Red Sox clubhouse. The spectacles must have given
him great wisdom.
May
18, 2010
Red Sox Failure To Pitch In Getting
Tired
•
When history looks back, I hope it smiles on the time I
threatened myself with a harpoon because John Lackey's been terrible. A
legitimate starting pitching rant, but in a rational sense.
May
16, 2010
Padres Merely Latest Surprise To
Break Strong From The Gate
•
Inside Baseball remembers the other teams of recent vintage to
surprise early in the year. That I wrote a whole article about whether
Toronto was for real at the beginning of last May is almost as fun as
this being the same weekend the Globe wrote about the Padres.
May
9, 2010
Scouting SouthCoast's Boys of Summer
•
Inside Baseball has the second (and probably final) edition of
an in-season runthrough of future Bay Sox and Gatemen players. Also,
the fun rundown of teams to be no-hit twice in the same season.
May
4, 2010
Still Waiting For Real Sox To Emerge
•
BOSTON -- Trying to make sense of the rare
Baltimore sweep / thrashing of the Angels double. Even if I called the
latter, it was unexpected.
April
25, 2010
Are Running Games Stealing Boston's
Edge?
•
Inside Baseball gets eaten whole by my stolen base study,
which ended up being everything I hoped for ... except the conclusion
was one I kind of already figured. Regardless, multiple spreadsheets
were made in the making of this episode.
April
22, 2010
Struggling Ortiz Takes Back Seat to
Lowell
•
BOSTON -- Time/space necessitated a
notebook, but then the first part got out of hand, then things changed
... this worked for what was needed.
April
19, 2010
April Slump Has Different Feel
•
BOSTON -- The difference? Your irrational
hate for pitching and defense! Yes, you! (Not really.)
April
15, 2010
Hermida Making Good First Impression
•
MINNEAPOLIS -- Michael Bishop reference
alert! Michael Bishop reference alert!
April
13, 2010
Loss Aside, A Beautiful Day for
Baseball in Minnesota
•
MINNEAPOLIS -- I tend to get caught up in
the home-team fervor on the road. Only time I can think of it not
happening was in Tampa Bay, where they play in a dome and ring friggin'
cowbells.
April
11, 2010
These Sox Should Be Built Road Tough
•
The first Inside Baseball of the season, looking ahead to
Minnesota and serving as an homage to BU 4, Miami (Ohio) 3. Somehow.
April
7, 2010
Another Marathon, With More to Come
•
BOSTON -- Proof that it's a lot easier to
file a column in the sixth inning on Opening Night than ... you get the
point. The piece about the defense pretty much fell apart right when I
decided to write it.
April
5, 2010
There's Nothing Quite Like The
Feeling of an Opener
•
BOSTON -- It's a lot easier to file a
column in the sixth inning on Opening Night than it is to do it on July
8. Trust me on this one.
April
4, 2010
2010 SOX PREVIEW: Winning Tradition
Starts From Within
•
Building around the idea the big-money Red Sox have a roster
where their own draft picks make up almost a third, and what it could
mean for the future. Kind of found its way while I was writing it, thus
the original starting five paragraphs being rightly cast off by the
boss.
April
4, 2010
2010 SOX PREVIEW: Nine Key Questions
•
The 2009 version is going to be tough to top in its
prescience, but I had to try.
March
28, 2010
Our Boys of Summer Spring Into
Action
•
Sunday column cobbles together the numbers of some future
SouthCoasters to be. Not a bad thing to touch on every couple weeks, I
think.
March
21, 2010
Millar Still Plugging Away
•
Inside Baseball ... a bit on the non-descript side, but not
bad for working five desk shifts a week, I suppose.
March
14, 2010
Top Prospects Impress At Spring
Training
•
Deft editing by the desk to work in the breaking Ryan
Westmoreland news. Someone has Inside Baseball's back, which is nice.
March
11, 2010
Sox, Nomar Ended It Right
•
A column the morning after finding out I was a top-10 finisher
in the APSE national contest for column writing in my circulation
group. This feels up to that snuff.
March
7, 2010
Ellsbury's Offense Key To Sox
Success in 2010
•
Crafting an Inside Baseball lead from a New York City hotel
room in the 90 minutes before checkout isn't the best long-term
strategy.
March
2, 2010
Strong Statement for Bishop Stang
Hockey Team
•
BUZZARDS BAY -- Late-game substitution on
another high school playoff game. Believe this makes four games in
almost eight years.
March
2, 2010
Family Tie Brings Joy of Sport Home
•
This is what I get for letting the boss know I was excited
about my sister-in-law's college basketball career.
Feb.
28, 2010
Five Things to Watch at Sox Spring
Training
•
First Inside Baseball of the season, in which I apparently try
to make up for the length I didn't write during the winter.
Feb.
12, 2010
Red Sox Have Trucked A Long Way
•
Trying to make something warm out of perhaps the Red Sox most
egregious overblown event.
Jan.
25, 2010
In Seattle, Sox Can See Their New
Plan in Action
•
Inside Baseball visits how the Mariners scored less and won
more. Not that I'd recommend it, but apparently it can work.
Jan.
13, 2010
Mark McGwire Only Part of the
Steroid Story
•
Built off a blog post from
earlier in the day.
Jan.
10, 2010
Gatemen, Bay Sox Scheduled To Meet
June 9
•
Broken out from Inside Baseball, the scheduled showdown of our
summer baseball squads. The stuff forgettable dreams are made of.
Jan.
10, 2010
New Bedford's Russell Souza Out to
Craft Hit, Hitters
•
Interviewed the guy in October. Story ran in January. There's
really no reason for this other than my own lack of professionalism.
Jan.
6, 2010
No Pause in Theo's Plan, However It
Works
•
I'll admit that the highlight of the whole thing was the shot
at Rod Gilbert, though I've been a bad assessor of my own work before.
Jan.
5, 2010
Bruins' Year Needs to Be About More
Than Jan. 1
•
The column I thought I'd be writing the day of the Winter
Classic. That the Bruins went in the tank regarding injuries as soon as
it was written -- Patrice Bergeron may have broken his thumb during the
waning paragraphs -- did not help.
Jan.
2, 2010
Tim Thomas' Long Wait is Over
•
BOSTON -- Continuing my odd tradition of
only covering highly desirable hockey games, a sidebar off the Winter
Classic.
Dec.
31, 2009
The Year in SouthCoast Sports
•
Annual package I put together, from design to story selection
to writing. FInally got smart enough to spread it out across the whole
month of December, as not to drive myself crazy trying to read
360-something sports sections in two days.
Dec.
27, 2009
The 10 Worst Sox of the Decade
•
My contribution to the end-of-the-decade pro sports roundup.
The top 10 went on the blog.
Dec.
20, 2009
Ellsbury's Defensive Reputation Up
For Debate
•
The best 'Inside Baseball' in weeks, starting off with trying
to figure out just what Boston's heart-throb center fielder really is
capable of.!
Dec.
11, 2009
Red Sox 'Bridge' Should Be Plenty
Troubling
•
Wasn't going to rip the offseason until, well, the GM opened
season on it. (And yes, I did actually need the help.)!
Dec.
6, 2009
Epstein Off to Winter Meetings With
Tons Left To Do
•
Building off my "well, I guess I don't hate Marco Scutaro"
blog post, plus a few other nuggets.
Dec.
1, 2009
Mark Frost's "Game Six" Shows How
Baseball's Changed
•
A book review 'Inside Baseball,' and on a Tuesday no less.
With special blog extra!
Nov.
26, 2009
Northeastern's Football Decision
Puts Wareham's Laperriere at Crossroads
•
Localizing the bigger-than-the-region story. Oh, the
foundation pieces of journalism.
Nov.
17, 2009
Lesson in Indy About More Than One
Play
•
Truly great games still get me all fired up about football.
Nov.
15, 2009
Still Stories Among BBWAA Awards
•
My third-annual ballot column, which officially makes it the
longest I've done anything I bothered to call "annual."
Nov.
10, 2009
Sub's Goal Lifts New Bedford
•
NEW BEDFORD -- First round of the South
Sectional boys soccer playoffs ... I have reams of notes that were
useless as soon as I sat down to write. Only doing this every six years
doesn't make for the best quality.
Oct.
27, 2009
Five Years Later, Impact of '04
Title Remains
•
Ah, memories.
Oct.
20, 2009
Success for 2010 Riding on the
Trade Winds
•
The supposed start/return of my Tuesday column for the
offseason. We'll see if I can stick to it for a change.
Oct.
13, 2009
It's Already Next Year for Sox Brass
•
BOSTON -- From the Red Sox breakup day,
after Theo Epstein gave his yearly assessments and Terry Francona sat
there as hangdog as ever. Let there be no doubt the man still loves his
job.
Oct.
12, 2009
Red Sox Finish Not That Far-Fetched
•
BOSTON -- As I said to the boss, I feel
like I've got a pretty good track record on season-ending pieces. Don't
think I've ever written a bad one, though the day game helped big here.
Oct.
11, 2009
Counting on Clay for Game 3 Heroics
•
BOSTON -- Looking at what we can learn, if
anything, from 0-2 comebacks past. Took 10 minutes too long to write to
make BU's banner-raising ceremony down the road.
Oct.
8, 2009
Now's The Time For Sox
•
Was going to be an attempt to figure out just what this Sox
team really is, until it occurred to me that only the future matters at
this point. A point I best made by referring to the past. Yeah, this is
what happens when they don't pay for me to go anywhere. Major hat tip
to WBZ's Jonny Miller for the unprompted sending of audio from
California.
Oct.
8, 2009
Jon Couture's Sox-Angels Breakdown
•
Everyone's favorite ... position-by-position. You know, just
the way the game is scored and played? Angels in 4 despite losing more
categories.
Oct.
7, 2009
Angels Have What it Takes ... On
Paper
•
My way of painting the opponents as world beaters. I don't
think anyone really thought that Boston would win solely on history ...
least I like to think that, even though I know it's not true.
Sept.
30, 2009
Sox Are In, But What a Confusing
Bunch
•
A little more on the rambling side than I like to be, but the
points are all still good. Given all the good stuff happened after
deadline, hard to complain.
Sept.
20, 2009
John Henry's Blanket Statement
Needs Some Folding
•
Inside Baseball comes out swinging at Sox owner John Henry,
but gets more attention for noting something about Babe Ruth.
Sept.
16, 2009
Dice-K, Staff Returning to Intended
Form
•
Live from Fenway with everyone's favorite pitcher who
routinely makes the press wait 20 minutes for an interest-free press
conference.
Sept.
13, 2009
A Different Kind of Boston Marathon
Awaits Sox
•
Inside Baseball builds on one of the more pertinent scheduling
quirks that appeared when the thing first came out. Also, Ed Kranepool?
Sept.
7, 2009
Brad Penny Shows Other Side, But
Why?
•
Inside Baseball casts aspersions about the catcher, and offers
up more Pirates statistics than anyone ever knew they wanted. Plus, I
ruin a Royals fan's day.
Aug.
23, 2009
Dominating Win Flashback to Better
Days
•
One day later. Still standing strong on my "this team isn't
that good" stance, but that might not last.
Aug.
22, 2009
With Sox, Seeing is Believing
•
It wasn't until after I was done that I realized I'd
essentially buried a team that, at the time of writing, was in a
playoff position. This is one of those that could come back to haunt me
... well, if anyone cared much about what I write.
Aug.
21, 2009
Serious Series for Sox, Yankees
•
A pretty pedestrian preview column. As I often say, you can't
win a Pulitzer every day.
Aug.
14, 2009
For Sox, What Happens Next Matters
Most
•
I think I really did notice the Justin Verlander 100-mph
fastball on pitch No. 123 before most people. Fat lot of good that's
done me.
Aug.
11, 2009
After Lost Weekend, Sox Face New
Reality
•
Making sense of an 0-6 week at the critical juncture of the
season. Less "all is well" than I've come to expect from myself.
Aug.
9, 2009
Growing Pains For The Home Team in
First Season
•
My self-assigned epic on the inaugural year of the New Bedford
Bay Sox, semi heavily reworked by the boss on deadline. I'd like to
think we'll share the Pulitzer.
Aug.
9, 2009
Influence of the Media, Steroids on
the Hall of Fame
•
Inside Baseball is centered around a couple of book reviews,
something that's a lot easier to do when the books are good.
Aug.
2, 2009
Winter's Low-Cost Pickups Have
Delivered What Sox Paid For
•
A Sunday column with an idea that may not have gone as far as
I thought it would have before I started looking up numbers. I'm still
on the "Rocco Baldelli has been kind of a waste" bandwagon, but I'm
hanging closer to the edge now.
July
31, 2009
There's Nothing Tainted About How
Papi Made Us Feel
•
Somehow, I manage again to not plagiarize myself despite
writing the same story for the umpteenth time.
July
26, 2009
Score One For New Bedford's Souza,
Sarasota
•
Inside Baseball on the local tie to Baltimore moving its
spring training across Florida, plus way too many details about quality
starts.
July
25, 2009
Facing Orioles Just What The Red
Sox Needed
•
Trying to combine some offensive struggles and some player
moves all in one neat package.
July
20, 2009
Tom Watson's Finish An
All-Too-Common One for Cinderella
•
I think it's fair to say every time a 59-year-old man almost
wins a major championship, I'm going to have something to say about it.
July
19, 2009
Lugo's Farewell Was A Matter of Time
•
Inside Baseball starts with a repackaged
blog post on top of all the usual frivolity.
July
12, 2009
B.J. Ryan's Story Cautionary One
Before Closer Shopping
•
Inside Baseball had no idea about Ryan Franklin's majestic
goatee before including him in the column. I feel like it would have
changed something if I'd known.
July
5, 2009
Manny's Return Fresh, But
Rule-Skirting Stories Sure Aren't
•
I always get concerned when Inside Baseball defends Manny in
even the slightest way and no e-mails roll in. Not the sign of an
active readership.
July
4, 2009
Bay's Timing Problems Take Another
Hit From Hernandez
•
The lede got tweaked a bit by the desk ... apparently, buring
the name of your subject five paragraphs down doesn't always work in
the printed medium.
July
3, 2009
'Halfway' Home, Boston Could
Scarcely Be in Better Spot
•
And in saying that, here's a bunch of theories about how it
could all fall apart. Ah, the negative media.
June
21, 2009
All-Star Game No Sure Thing for
Wakefield
•
Inside Baseball gives a deep look to the knuckler's All-Star
chances, which would be great if these things frequently used logic. I
like it regardless.
June
19, 2009
Rain Won't Dampen Reality
•
Written around a downpour. Well, more through it, but there
was one possible scenario that made me keep things up in the air for
press time.
June
14, 2009
Timing is Everything in Sox-Yanks
Series
•
Inside Baseball points to something else unearthed on the
blog. Oh, the blog.
June
11, 2009
Price is right with Green
•
My inevitable Nick Green story ... his path to 2009 is just
too good to ignore.
June
9, 2009
Theo Epstein's Focus Always on the
Future
•
Inside Baseball makes a rare Tuesday appearance to preview the
2009 MLB/Sox Draft. More of a look into the process than anything else.
June
7, 2009
Life After A Legend in Wareham
•
The giant Sunday story I wrote that didn't get chewed up and
imploded by the office computer system.
June
1, 2009
Community Embraces Bay Sox
•
News-side story built around the remnants of that 45-minute
interview. It was about 24 hours after this that my brain went into Bay
Sox overload and ceased to work.
May
31, 2009
Hurdle's Exit Shows How Quickly
Salad Days Can End
•
Inside Baseball pays homage to a long-distance crush, which
leads an Arizona resident reader originally from New Bedford to tell me
long distance really is the only way anyone should love Clint Hurdle.
May
31, 2009
Baseball In Her Blood: Bay Sox CEO
is Building A Foundation
•
The first of two long features on the brains behind our sudden
glut of summer collegiate baseball teams. One of the few times I've
received a thank-you phone call from a subject after something runs,
for what that's worth.
May
24, 2009
Ellsbury Still A Work in Progress
•
Inside Baseball would have been better with Jacoby Ellsbury
quotes, but because they're only Ellsbury quotes, it wouldn't have been
that much better.
May
23, 2009
Santana Worth The Price of Admission
•
Struck me as a perfectly apt topic before the game, then he
went out and was only sort of dominant. I made it work.
May
21, 2009
From Wareham to Toronto, Aaron Hill
is Still A Hit
•
Nurturing the SouthCoast tie to a guy who's got to be among
the MVP favorites two months into the season ... for whatever that's
worth. Far more successful than some of my previous forays into the
visitor's clubhouse.
May
17, 2009
Ortiz, By The Numbers
•
Inside Baseball builds off a blog post ... and one of the
worst days David Ortiz will ever have.
May
15, 2009
There's Nothing Quite Like A Game 7
•
Another hockey foray via an ultimate game, though this time, I
had to file in the period between the third and overtime. That's not
generally a formula for overwhelming success.
May
10, 2009
Luckless Lester Hanging Tough
•
Inside Baseball gets a live lead off a debacle of a Sox game.
Debacle being the key word if the Sons of Sam Horn message board
actually gets close to getting Lastings Milledge elected to the
All-Star Game.
May
9, 2009
Red Sox Trying To Slow Down Rays
•
On Boston's struggles allowing stolen bases to the Rays, which
has been both everyone's problem with the Rays and really not that big
of a deal.
May
8, 2009
Suspension Further Taints Manny's
Image
•
You spend all day telling people to remember how many
blowhards there are out there, then you remember you're one and the
cursor's blinking on an empty page. On the plus side, an ensuing radio
interview on the subject I did with ESPN Radio in Toronto
might have been the best I've ever done.
May
3, 2009
Should We Take Toronto Seriously?
•
In classic Inside Baseball fashion, the answer is no ...
unless it's yes.
April
26, 2009
Comebacks A Confidence Boost For Sox
•
They do seem to be developing a knack of winning games they
have no business winning, don't they?
April
25, 2009
Sox-Yankees Still Delivers The
Thrills
•
And this is how we get around the game not being over by the
time I've filed. Using a spreadsheet to do so is just a touch of
overkill.
April
21, 2009
Families of Fallen Servicemen
Honored Before Patriots Day Game
•
Sometimes, the best way to tell a story is just to get the
hell out of its way.
April
19, 2009
No Need For Panic, But Sox Have
Issues
•
Inside Baseball digs through some always valuable two-week-in
stats to make valid points. At least, I think they're valid.
April
12, 2009
Opening Day Up Close ... and
Uncomfortable
•
It's never great when I think the best part of 'Inside
Baseball' is the stat at the end. Though, I did have a national
championship winning hockey team to watch later in the day ... I
couldn't fuss forever.
April
10, 2009
Sox in Search of Right Relief Mix
•
BOSTON -- Featuring Manny Delcarmen, who is
unfailingly a beacon of optimism. That's a good thing.
April
9, 2009
Baldelli's Back, But Now What?
•
BOSTON -- An underwhelming day for both of
us. Sadly, I have far less of an excuse.
April
8, 2009
Worth The Wait
•
BOSTON -- Very much not the best day,
despite the quality of the game. But certainly beat out my other story for today,
which might be the first ever I'm only half-linking based on suckage.
April
7, 2009
For Chris Carter, Two Opening Days
Better Than One
•
BOSTON -- It was going to get written one
of these days, so why not when the rains came?
April
6, 2009
Opening Day A Rare Treat at Fenway
•
Love this ... digging through the past to find some of the
more notable times the Sox opened a season at home. It's as rare as it
should be when the average April temperature in Boston is about 17
degrees.
April
5, 2009
'09 SOX PREVIEW: So Have Right Mix
of Depth and Firepower
•
The mainbar, focusing mainly on the depth-building.
April
5, 2009
'09 SOX PREVIEW: Nine Questions
•
Asked and answered by the author. I'm my own judge and jury.
April
2, 2009
Despite His Flaws, Calipari Still
Worthy of Respect
•
As the wife pointed out, in no way did this turn out going
down the path I thought it was going down when I started writing. Funny
how that happens.
March
29, 2009
Schilling Was Worth The Price
•
The best 'Inside Baseball' ever written quickly because I had
to get myself to Manchester for the NCAA ice hockey regionals.
March
24, 2009
Not Always Well Received, Schilling
Always Gave All
•
I'll never forget the time I used "Everquest bender" in a
Schilling column. Someone e-mailed me complaining they had to look up
what it meant, and really, I'm not even sure what it meant.
March
22, 2009
Dice-K Last Sox Standing in WBC
•
Inside Baseball delivers ... once you get past that opening
item.
March
15, 2009
Classic is Baseball's Best
Ambassador To World
•
Back to the full-on Inside Baseballs of my youth. Oh, the good
times we had.
March
11, 2009
A-Rod Blunder Simply Yankees Latest
Gaffe
•
I can only hope the withering evisceration from a Q-list
columnist doesn't make Brian Cashman cry.
March
8, 2009
Seeking Uniqueness With The
Marketing Dollar
•
Inside Baseball's favorite ticket promotions of the preseason.
Way more fun that that might make it seem.
March
1, 2009
Price of Playing in WBC Could Be
High
•
Inside Baseball informs the world that the sky is falling.
Feb.
24, 2009
Gatemen, Bay Sox Meeting Will Have
To Wait
•
A little cheapie picked up when filling out the outstanding reaction piece
to John Wylde's death.
Feb.
22, 2009
'Yankee Years' Captures Era
•
Second straight shortened 'Inside Baseball,' though at least I
had a vacation I could blame this one on.
Feb.
8, 2009
A-Rod News The Latest In A Rough
Winter
•
It was a Manny Ramirez column before news broke and my desk
got their hands on it.
Jan.
18, 2009
Next Challenge For Sox? Keeping
Papelbon
•
That's not entirely true, but Inside Baseball clears that up.
Jan.
15, 2009
Catching Up With The Next Big
Thing: Lars Anderson
•
Not to be confused with wrestling's next big thing, who isn't
very good at hitting baseballs, I bet.
Jan.
11, 2009
In or Out, Rice Got A Fair Shake
•
Inside Baseball goes pre-emptive on the Rice issue, thus
saving me a potential plate of crow. (There were other, actually valid
reasons for this as well.)
Jan.
5, 2009
Wylde Gives Bay Sox His Best
•
Region's baseball institution offers Whale City a thumbs-up.
And oh yeah, he may be over cancer.
Jan.
1, 2009
The Top 10 Local Stories of 2008
•
Blurbs to go with the top 10 package I put together
every year.
Dec.
25, 2008
Teixeira A Rare Miss For Sox
•
Merry Christmas! You're all doomed!
Dec.
20, 2008
Field of Dreams?
•
Handicapping the Bay Sox' chances of success. Very good, if I
do say so myself.
Dec.
18, 2008
Bay Sox Success Starts With GM
•
The New Bedford Bay Sox jersey is ugly. This has nothing to do
with that.
Dec.
18, 2008
Lang Happy To Have Team, No Matter
The League
•
Short chat with the mayor. Well, part of a short chat, thus it
seeming even shorter.
Dec.
11, 2008
Sabathia Signing More Than Meets
The Eye
•
My writing gimmick is definitely allusions to the past. Sixty
percent of my stuff must start that way.
Dec.
8, 2008
Tazawa Signing Stresses MLB-Japan
Relationship
•
Like the first Inside Baseball about Junichi Tazawa, this one
didn't feel real good at the end.
Dec.
4, 2008
Signing Has Parallels To The Past
•
Dustin, Nomar. Nomar, Dustin. May not never meet again, by the
grace of God.
Nov.
20, 2008
Crisp Never Lived Up To Lofty
Expectations
•
I didn't use the word "failure" here, but I think I did on the
blog.
Nov.
19, 2008
Proving 'Em Wrong A Way of Life
•
Pedroia wins the MVP, and I have exclusive quotes ... from
April 2007.
Nov.
16, 2008
Just What Is The Value of Jason
Varitek?
•
An attempt to explain why he's coming back. Not in those
words, but that's really where we ended up.
Nov.
9, 2008
Debate Rages As Year-End Awards
Arrive
•
My second annual "ballots for my own amusement." Who knows
what extreme I'll hit on this year?
Nov.
2, 2008
Sox Opt For Fort Myers, Sign New
30-Year Deal
•
A bit of a misnomer, because the new stadium probably won't
actually be in Fort Myers. Ease of headline use for a Massachusetts
audience, I say.
Oct.
29, 2008
Sarasota's Sox Hopes Take Big Hit
•
My first byline as "Standard-Times sports editor." Thanks to
the local tie, I'm one of the few reporters up here writing this story
as it happens.
Oct.
21, 2008
Ortiz Couldn't Fill Hero's Role
This Time
•
On roughly 45 minutes sleep, with quotes I transcribed sitting
in the Tampa airport at 6-something a.m. How cosmopolitan of me.
Oct.
20, 2008
Rays Saw Opportunity and Took It
•
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- My fourth ALCS Game
7 in six years. The Sox have won two, the home team has won three.
Oct.
20, 2008
Beckett Did His Job in Game 6
•
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Breaking cowbell
news in the notebook.
Oct.
19, 2008
Heat-Treated Sox Handling Rays Best
•
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Strangely
disorganized. I blame it on the perfect atmospheric conditions and
eating too many cookies.
Oct.
19, 2008
Trop's Become Rays' Trap
•
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It's my first game
at stadium No. 16. Of course I have to offer a pocket review that's not
really a review.
Oct.
19, 2008
Lester Boston's Best Bet For Game 7
•
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Written pregame,
fully aware it might never be needed. Glad it was.
Oct.
18, 2008
Sox Counting On Beckett To Carry
Momentum
•
Next day's pitchers and last day's emotions all rolled into
one.
Oct.
17, 2008
Sox Not Letting Go Of This Series
•
One of the greatest comebacks I think I'll ever see. The end
of a very strange day.
Oct.
17, 2008
Sox Battered Like A Broken Record
•
The desk ended up having to flip the notebook after the
comeback, after I'd flipped it to include all the Tampa homer records.
The headline never got changed, it appears.
Oct.
16, 2008
Papi, Boston Bats Not What They
Used To Be
•
A castigation of No. 34, who doesn't seem to believe he
deserves as much. Stupid facts getting in the way.
Oct.
16, 2008
Tampa Elevates Kazmir To Face
Daisuke
•
Off-day notebook, but mostly just a next day's pitchers story.
Oct.
15, 2008
Magic Shoe On The Other Foot
•
It's over, except it isn't. At least not until it's actually
over. Yogi Berra has nothing on me.
Oct.
15, 2008
Lowell To Have Surgery Monday
•
Well, what do you know? I was right all along.
Oct.
15, 2008
Sox Spring Move To Sarasota Not
Dead Yet
•
Of all the places for this semi-breaking news to appear in
these parts, The Standard-Times could not have been among the favorites.
Oct.
14, 2008
Lester's Wobbles Leave Sox in
Trouble
•
I can't almost hear Terry Francona, tearing into us for having
the audacity for epecting Jon Lester never to give up a run again.
Though that's more a Daisuke 2007 thing.
Oct.
14, 2008
Ortiz Can't Cash in Key Chances
•
The day's notebook, helped by the afternoon start, what with
time to write about actual game happenings.
Oct.
14, 2008
Wakefield's Postseason Struggles
Confounding as Knuckler
•
Preview of the Game 4 pitchers, though I'm annoyed I wasn't
there to ask him how he felt about all this bad history.
Oct.
13, 2008
Lester Is Boston's Sudden Stopper
•
Previewing Game 3 via the off day.
Oct.
13, 2008
Notebook: Beckett Bemused By ...
•
Didn't get a Web headline, but that's with what we're dealing.
Oct.
10, 2008
Fight Night? Not Quite.
•
The main story from the ALCS preview, written mainly so I
could design this
Oct.
10, 2008
Jon Couture's Sox-Rays Match-up
•
Taking the Red Sox in seven games. We're all doomed.
Oct.
9, 2008
Rays Bullpen Playing Catch Up
•
Literally, the worst in history last year. I love getting to
use literally properly.
Oct.
8, 2008
Varitek's Complete Contributions
Can't Be Overlooked
•
An ode to his Game 4, though not built on the same premise as
everyone else's.
Oct.
7, 2008
Red Sox Moving On To ALCS
•
They own the moment.
Oct.
7, 2008
Lowell Likely Done For Season
•
The day's notebook with a significant topper, though I may
have jumped the gun on the surgery part.
Oct.
6, 2008
Not Just Yet
•
As a 7:29 first pitch slowly became insufficient, this kept
evolving and growing. See if you can make out the parts that were
staples of the "Sox win" version.
Oct.
6, 2008
Back-to-Back Too Much For Drew
•
There's only so much I can do when the notebook has to be
mostly filed before the game starts. Realities of the business.
Oct.
5, 2008
Iron Will
•
Already one of my favorites. Cooch meets SouthCoast's
Crocodile Hunter on his way to the Ironman in Hawaii.
Oct.
1, 2008
Their Time: Pedroia, Youkilis Lead
Sox Into Playoffs
•
This year's big playoff preview feature. Last year's won an
award, so it'll need to be the proverbial hero in the dark.
Oct.
1, 2008
Jon Couture's Sox-Angels Matchup
•
Position-by-position breakdown, leading to ... Angels in 4. A
weary region holds its breath to mock me.
Sept.
30, 2008
Sox Can Win Without Beckett, But It
Won't Be Easy
•
Heavy conjecture about the topic of the day. Just looking to
add to the discussion.
Sept.
30, 2008
[[
inside baseball celebrates the rays ]]
•
Still to be posted.
Sept.
28, 2008
Francona Has Big Decisions To Make
•
Discussing the postseason roster on a rainy, Sox-Yankees
lacking Saturday afternoon.
Sept.
27, 2008
Retiring Pesky's Number Just Feels
Wrong
•
Not really said by anyone else, but I'd like to think I
explained myself well enough.
Sept.
25, 2008
Boston Welcomes Second Preseason
•
A long night that, mercifully, wasn't actually a long night.
Sept.
25, 2008
Tito Not Sweating The Small Stuff
•
Excessive explanation, probably. But I wanted to save the good
stuff.
Sept.
23, 2008
Will Magic of '07 Return in Time?
•
Forced metaphors don't feel as forced when you're open about
it.
Sept.
23, 2008
Lowell, Drew Still Healing
•
In fact, they are. That means notebook.
Sept.
21, 2008
Pedroia Stands Tall in MVP Race
•
This week's Inside Baseball seemed better in my head, but
still stands pretty damn tall in the end, I think.
Sept.
17, 2008
NB's Souza Serious About Sox in
Sarasota
•
Talking to the city native who equates opera and baseball, and
is behind "Citizens for Sox."
Sept.
14, 2008
Gold Rush Coming Sooner Rather Than
Later
•
This week's Inside Baseball will not go in the packet for the
Pulitzer committee.
Sept.
11, 2008
Sox Need 'Pen To Write Happy Ending
•
Held up rather well for a game that ended a half-hour after I
had to actually file this.
Sept.
9, 2008
Sox Pack Fenway With Record Sellout
•
Notebook's all personnel moves and executive quotes.
Sept.
9, 2008
September Sox Better Than Momentum
•
Start of the Tampa series, and ... I don't know what they
headline means. The column's better than I thought, though.
Sept.
7, 2008
Milestone Monday Was Matter of Time
•
Inside Baseball talks about the sellout streak, though in the
context of what the only longer runs infer the future of Boston's is.
Sept.
3, 2008
Beckett, Lowell Expected Back Friday
•
First notebook in a while, and it's all injury updates. And
yet the team's won 20 of 29.
Sept.
3, 2008
Sox Doing Little Things Right
•
My 200th game as a member of the media was a complete
slopfest, over by the fifth inning. Proud moment.
Sept.
2, 2008
Again, Weir Fades From Contention
•
NORTON -- Written after following the
Deutsche Bank's final group for 17 holes. Sweaty, sunny day, but good
day.
August
31, 2008
Deutsche Bank Last Chance To
Impress Ryder Captain
•
NORTON -- The first half of the
Norton-Boston double, featuring our new favorite non-SouthCoast
SouthCoaster, D.J. Trahan.
August
31, 2008
Sox Finding Right Mix
•
Second half of the double. The Michael Bowden debut, not
unlike all the other debuts.
August
31, 2008
Players Against Replay Should Be
Reviewed
•
Third half (?) of the double, though really it should be the
first since it got written before the others.
August
30, 2008
Good News on Beckett Just What Sox
Need
•
Building around Josh Beckett's trip to Alabama (which
apparently was actually Pensacola, Fla.)
August
26, 2008
Forget Nostalgia, Rivalry ... Sox
Need Wins
•
How can there be romance when there's a steamrolling by the
Angels to be earned?
August
24, 2008
Healthy Jays May Have Soared With
Rays
•
This week's Inside Baseball proposes the team I picked to
finish fourth, and who is finishing fourth, shouldn't be finishing
fourth.
August
17, 2008
Lugo's Return May Not Unseat Lowrie
•
This week's Inside Baseball writes what everyone else wrote,
but with way more numbers than anyone else. My calling card.
August
16, 2008
Rest Ordered Up For Buchholz
•
Notebook from a rainout.
August
13, 2008
Byrd Lands At Fenway
•
Pretty straightforward. The next day, the AP stole my lead, so
at least I noticed it first.
August
13, 2008
Looking For Spark From Explosion
•
The column that the middle was cut from in the print edition.
To top it off? No readers e-mailed about it.
August
10, 2008
Papi Being Papi Without Manny
•
Inside Baseball goes deep in game logs and makes another
spreadsheet. It's my idea of a leisurely afternoon.
August
3, 2008
Still Time For 'Pen To Write Chapter
•
This week's Inside Baseball leads with what the Sox didn't do
at the deadline. Shorter than normal, but only because Fernandes got
broken out.
August
3, 2008
Dropping Down Elevates Kyle
Fernandes' Game
•
The latest update from SouthCoast's only MLB prospect, who
just made High-A and took seven minutes to tell me he almost quit the
game earlier this year.
August
2, 2008
Dropped Into Playoff Race, Bay
Couldn't Be Happier
•
Flows smoothly for having to rewrite because the triple he hit
in the 12th inning essentially won the game.
August
2, 2008
Great Debut Doesn't Solve All of
Sox Problems
•
Because it's always a good idea to work shredded mix tapes
into the lede of your column after a Hall of Famer gets traded.
August
1, 2008
Rid of Ramirez, It's Time For The
Sox to Move On
•
In the time waiting for a conference call that never came, I
also produced this
Manny timeline for his Red Sox years.
July
31, 2008
Once Again, We Await Word on Manny
•
He has a way of dominating the headlines, doesn't he?
July
30, 2008
Angels of Not, Sox Reeling
•
John Lackey comes within two outs of a no-hitter, hours after
L.A. gets the best bat of the trade deadline. That's pretty close to a
perfect storm, I think.
July
30, 2008
Astros GM Denies Sox Interest in
Tejada
•
Perhaps the shortest notebook I've ever written, and it's
still like 15 inches.
July
29, 2008
No Tiger, But Plenty of Excitement
Expected at Deutsche Bank Championship
•
NORTON -- At TPC Boston. Plus, the story's
good and I inexplicably parred six of seven holes in one stretch.
July
27, 2008
Salesmanship Stops With Sox Brass
•
Inside Baseball had no lede item, but was done. So, I cranked
one item up above where it belonged, and closed my eyes.
July
27, 2008
Old Times Not Good Times in This
Rivalry
•
Despite this headline, this makes no reference to the really
old times. As in, 26 rings and all I got is this T-shirt with pictures
of them all.
July
26, 2008
Joba, Youkilis Go To Round Three
•
Shuffled far more times than the usual Red Sox notebook, even
if I still can't believe he'd throw at a leadoff guy in a 1-0 game.
July
26, 2008
Yanks Command Attention From Sox
•
I'd like to think I wasn't the only one who'd just kind of
forgotten about the Yankees. (Especially in a relative sense.)
July
23, 2008
No Reason To Save This Stat
•
Building on the death of a legendary journalist, I discover
the frightening similarity between David Aardsma and Francisco
Rodriguez. Not bad for throwing something together after a round of bad
golf.
July
20, 2008
Playing All-Stars Longer Key To
Avoiding Late-Night Scare
•
Inside Baseball says the obvious, and explains why Brian
Wilson can actually fly.
July
18, 2008
Sizing Up The Sox Second Half
•
As it says. Getting used to doing these, though apparently it
came across as negative.
July
17, 2008
Longoria, Kazmir Rays of Light
•
NEW YORK --Some rather extreme neglect of
Dioner Navarro in my Rays feature going into the second half.
July
16, 2008
Drew's Finish Better Than His Start
•
NEW YORK --Red Sox recap from the Game,
written before Drew won the MVP or announced he nearly pitched.
July
16, 2008
Legends of Then, Now Open Game in
Stirring Fashion
•
NEW YORK --In-game column. Rather cobbled
together, but it works well enough. I'll do better next All-Star Game.
July
15, 2008
Drew Finally Gets His All-Star Due
•
NEW YORK --Live, from the press conference
cluster. Talk about a little prescience, huh?!
July
15, 2008
Boston, New York Share All-Star
Spotlight
•
NEW YORK --For the front page. Not
prescient, given how generally terrible they all were.
July
13, 2008
Beane Deals Still Mystify Oakland
•
Inside Baseball salutes the man who nearly became Theo
Epstein, and kept him from becoming "Theo Epstein."
July
12, 2008
Buchholz Still Just Potential In
Waiting
•
Well, shucks. If I had walked five guys, I'd have been pretty
good!
July
9, 2008
Even In Perfect Spot, Bonds Not
Worth It
•
A lot easier column to write when I'd deluded myself he was a
notoriously slow starter.
July
8, 2008
Sox Show Why They're Still A
Playoff Team
•
First Sox game as a married man, after the 3-7 road trip.
July
8, 2008
Masterson Sent Down, With Eye on
Bullpen
•
Two story notebook.
July
6, 2008
The 2008 Ideal All-Stars
•
What I'd have to presume is the start of an annual feature.
July
6, 2008
Magic of Cooperstown? A Lot of It's
Missing
•
Inside Baseball announces the wedding, in its own way.
June
15, 2008
Lugo Miscues In The Past ... Well,
Almost
•
Inside Baseball digs into the actual damage of Julio's errors.
So many errors.
June
12, 2008
Dice-K Working At Team's Pace
•
Notebook, with updates on the various and sundry. Like that's
ever not true.
June
12, 2008
It's Been An Ugly Path To The Top
•
Everything is wonderful, even thought it isn't. (And yet, it
is.) Make sense?
June
8, 2008
Rice: 2007 Sox No Match For '75
•
Inside Baseball needed a lede. Jim Rice came to the rescue.
June
5, 2008
A Method To Epstein's Madness in
MLB Draft
•
A Web exclusive story on the draft. Aren't
we just on technology's cutting edge? (No. I refused to cram the
Stanley Cup clincher in agate. Almost the same thing.)
June
4, 2008
Ortiz Hopes Two Weeks Will Do Trick
•
Obligatory Big Papi wrist sheath update.
June
4, 2008
Sox Better Equipped To Produce
Without Papi
•
The speed story I almost wrote the night Jon Lester threw a
no-hitter instead. I think I wove it into current events pretty well.
June
1, 2008
No Second Thoughts On Taking Second
Look
•
Inside Baseball visits the replay issue, and says a lot of
what everyone else already has. I mean, it's about replay. It's a
literary device.
May
25, 2008
San Diego's Crash Largely About
Lacking Foundation
•
Inside Baseball's mostly about the Red Sox. Nice, for once.
May
22, 2008
Sox Hope Ex-Ace Proves To Be Bargain
•
Bartolo Colon a go go. Sent in early so my desk could go to a
midnight showing of 'Indiana Jones.'
May
22, 2008
Manny Slumping, But Not Pressing
•
Brandon Moss like cookies and ice cream. That's not in this
notebook, but you should know that.
May
21, 2008
Masterson Stymies Royals For First
Win
•
Another game story, though this one took a lot longer than it
should have.
May
20, 2008
Lester Caps 'Long Road Back' With
No-Hitter
•
It could have been a better story, definitely. But now I can
say I saw one, forever.
May
19, 2008
Sox Win Slugfest
•
Souped-up gamer on my off day. I just can't sit still.
May
18, 2008
Stars Shine in Surprising Places
•
What this has to do with this week's Inside Baseball, I remain
largely unsure. Though, I mean, I did write about the All-Star Game
May
18, 2008
As Manny Heads For History, What
Does It Mean?
•
It's not good when all of your research has to stand in for
all the quotes you didn't get.
May
17, 2008
Gabe Still Has Game, On and Off
Field
•
The obligatory "Gabe Kapler's back" story. Perfect for a
rainout.
May
11, 2008
A's Rank As Surprising West
Contender
•
With special hat tip to West Coast correspondent Matt Bruce.
Also, the Stat that became a trivia question at my Jack and Jill.
May
5, 2008
Inconsistency Holding Back Delcarmen
•
Some semi-deep number study, which may or may not be a good
thing. Sadly, no quotes from the two most compelling parties.
May
4, 2008
Prospects (May) Always Be Measured
Against Santana
•
This week's Inside Baseball, featuring fun with the
transaction wire. Also, no dumping on the Giants.
April
30, 2008
Sox Happy Rough Stretch is Over
•
The story I tried to do last week, showing it would have been
better last week.
April
30, 2008
Halladay's Best Isn't Good Enough
•
Is it still a Red Sox notebook if it leads with Jays stuff?
April
27, 2008
Arizona Assault Now Takes Many Forms
•
Inside Baseball, poorly formatted but featuring a love note to
the desert and the lowest scoring teams ever.
April
25, 2008
Masterson Provides Glimpse of Future
•
Written later than the main column, but somehow probably
written better.
April
25, 2008
Sox Bats Can't Overcome Bullpen
•
More big picture than that head would seem.
April
22, 2008
Canadiens' Price Right All Night
•
MONTREAL -- My first hockey game ...
logically, at Bell Centre with 21,000-plus in rapture over a Game 7.
Overwhelming, to put it lightly.
April
21, 2008
Lowrie Making Most of Chance
•
Sadly, I was three-quarters of the way through this story when
I remembered I wrote it last week.
April
20, 2008
Longoria Takes The Early Money
•
I tried to spin Inside Baseball into a big picture story,
though I don't think it totally worked. But hey, more Kyle Fernandes
news!
April
16, 2008
Lowrie Wastes Little Time
•
Let's pretend I sat on this story for a couple days because I
knew he'd have three RBIs in his debut.
April
13, 2008
New Book Dissects 'Greatest Game,'
Era
•
Inside Baseball trolls the book review side of the street, and
with good reason.
April
12, 2008
Buchholz Takes To Big Stage
•
Could not have worked out better. He wasn't even mentioned in
the early gamer we ran.
April
12, 2008
Timlin Struggles in First Outing
•
Friday's notebook had a lot better lede if Timlin could have
just pitched nondescriptly.
April
11, 2008
Sox Beat Tigers, Lose Lowell To
Thumb Injury
•
My new plan of writing "gamer notebooks" on days off ... long
day off, it was. 1:30 to 1:30, I believe is accurate.
April
9, 2008
Notebook: Youkilis Hitting Stride
Early
•
Short and sweet and full of hawk jokes.
April
9, 2008
A Forgiving Buckner Puts The
Nightmare Behind Him
•
I'd like to think the digging I did unearthed some worthwhile
nuggets.
April
8, 2008
Sox Anxious to Ring In Home Opener
•
Shockingly, Monday at Fenway Park appeared sparsely attended
by players.
April
6, 2008
Hard To Read Much From First Week,
But ...
•
Does it still count as breaking a story if it's the High-A
prospect that no one may care more about than you and his family?
March
30, 2008
AL East Unlikely For Change At The
Top
•
Inside Baseball stands as the local MLB preview, complete with
season predictions.
March
27, 2008
One Loss in Land Far Away Means
Nothing
•
After the second Japanese game, the Sox-specific (and largely
secondary) picture.
March
26, 2008
For Good and Bad, Opener The Price
of Success
•
After the first Japanese game, the bigger-than-the-Sox picture.
March
23, 2008
'08 SOX PREVIEW: Youth, Veterans
Fit Perfectly
•
The centerpiece of the preview, talking about team chemistry.
March
23, 2008
'08 SOX PREVIEW: Parts In Place,
But Repeating No Easy Task
•
The second story of the preview, talking about ... you know.
March
23, 2008
'08 SOX PREVIEW: Jon Couture's
Starting Nine
•
The inside of the preview: nine talking points.
March
16, 2008
Fernandes Looks To Rebound
•
Inside Baseball's semi-annual visit with SouthCoast's one
professional prospect. To be continued, should he get back to Portland.
March
14, 2008
Sox Cut Mirabelli, To Go With Cash
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Thursday's lone story,
probably reworked since I had to go catch a plane midway through the
game.
March
13, 2008
Delcarmen Has Finally Grown Up
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- A spring after writing
about his immaturity, we go full circle.
March
13, 2008
Buchholz Still Seeking Sharpness
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Wednesday's notebook,
written from the condo. Hammond Stadium is still awful.
March
12, 2008
Greenwell Pulls No Punches
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Steroid banter with my
childhood hero. I left that part out almost entirely.
March
12, 2008
Beckett Will Miss Japan Trip,
Report Says
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Tuesday's notebook.
Suffice to say, reworked a couple times.
March
11, 2008
Ellsbury, Sox Next Big Thing,
Living In The Moment
•
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- And yet, not
living in the moment. My favorite of the spring.
March
11, 2008
Sox Not Worried About The One That
Got Away
•
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Monday's notebook.
Santana-riffic, especially because my computer wasn't smashed by that
foul ball.
March
10, 2008
Dodgers Shutting Down 'Baseball
Heaven'
•
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Everyone else seems to
like this more than I do. And they didn't even get to hear Vin Scully.
March
10, 2008
Boston Will Be Patient With
Beckett's Back
•
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Sunday's notebook, no
worse for wear after a 40-mile wrong turn.
March
9, 2008
Pragmatic Sox Set For Tough Opening
Stretch
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- A lot of people seem
to have not gotten this. Regardless, there's no way they're .500
through April. OK, maybe a very little way.
March
9, 2008
Beckett Pulled With Sore Back
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Saturday's notebook.
Suffice to say, the day very quickly ceased being a lazy Saturday.
March
8, 2008
Kottaras Catching On
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Held together pretty
well despite Theo Epstein declaring the organization doesn't have its
'catcher of the future.'
March
8, 2008
Closer Hopes He Opened Up Market
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- I really wish I'd been
able to ask where Papelbon's sense of contractual honor sprang from.
March
7, 2008
What's The Story With Torre?
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- This would have been
much better as a notebook lede.
March
7, 2008
Papelbon Settles For Modest Raise
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Thursday's notebook. I
gotta figure out how to get salary figures.
March
6, 2008
Sox Need More From Lester
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Where Spring Training
stats aren't overvalued, but used to prove a point.
March
6, 2008
Rival Friendlier Than Advertised
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Wednesday's notebook,
leading with the impending Francona-Torre love-in.
March
5, 2008
Subtle Change Could Make Difference
For Dice-K
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The editors do love
Dice-K over Daisuke, I've noticed.
March
5, 2008
Papelbon Looks For Fair Deal
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Tuesday's notebook,
basically led by another whole story. That doesn't happen enough.
February
17, 2008
Few Issues For Sox This Spring
•
This week's Inside Baseball finds the nothing in a nothing
Spring Training.
February
14, 2008
Sleaze Lurks Around Every Corner
•
This seemed much more insightful while I was writing it, for
some reason. But hey, what says Valentine's Day like Congress recaps!
February
10, 2008
O No, Baltimore A Mess
•
The season's first Inside Baseball begins the long, thorough
process of burying the Orioles.
January
16, 2008
This Buch's Gaining Value
•
CHESTNUT HILL -- Live from the Sox Rookie
Development Camp, I show my maturity by leaving out gratuitous slams at
Boston College.
January
8, 2008
Rice Denied Again, And It's The
Right Call
•
All I forgot were the comparisons to Albert Belle. Bring on the hate
mail.
January
1, 2008
All The Success Hasn't Made It Less
Sweet
•
Last story of the year, wraps the year.
December
20, 2007
1972 Dolphins Perfectly Phull of It
•
I am such a wicked fanboi, dood.
December
14, 2007
Selig's Legacy Hinges on Cleaning
Up Game
•
Spend all day watching old white people and reading PDFs,
apparently.
December
2, 2007
Plenty of Big Names Could Be On The
Move
•
The start of the Winter Meetings gets an Inside Baseball. One
bereft of insight, but one nonetheless.
November
20, 2007
Sox Get Lowell Without Giving Ground
•
So many things I don't have to write about now.
November
14, 2007
Sox World Keeps Spinning
•
Hey! Smash a bunch of stuff together!
November
12, 2007
Awards Time Upon Us Again
•
There was no Pats this week, so Inside Baseball returns! With
ballots!
November
7, 2007
Better Than Outspending? Not Having
To
•
Schilling returns! 38Pitches.com commenters rejoice!
October
30, 2007
Sox Questions Start With Lowell
•
DENVER -- Adapted from a season's over
three questions written 10 days prior, when Cleveland led 3-1.
October
29, 2007
Sox Time Is Now
•
DENVER -- For the second time, I'm writing
a "Sox win the World Series" column on location. I can't believe it
either.
October
29, 2007
Francona Pleased By Daisuke's
Offense
•
DENVER -- Game 4 notebook.
October
28, 2007
Red Sox Ready To Repeat History
•
DENVER -- After Game 3, a sort of preview
to the Sox win column. Much better than Game 3 three years ago, which
some people didn't get.
October
28, 2007
Francona's Helpers Lend Major Assist
•
DENVER -- Game 3 notebook, referencing
Brad Mills calling the pickoff that helped win Game 2.
October
28, 2007
Cook, Lester Put Trying Times Behind
•
DENVER -- Game 4 preview.
October
28, 2007
Offense
Pacing Postseason Run
•
DENVER -- Thrown together when it became
clear that the game wouldn't end by East Coast deadline. Perhaps the
fastest I've ever written as a pro.
October
27, 2007
Sox Try To Minimize The Coors Field
Effect
•
Off-day story, written before I spent like 36 hours in Denver
with a pretty nasty headache. Yeah, this altitude stuff is all bull.
October
26, 2007
Sox Grind It Out For Hard-Fought Win
•
Game 2 column, and the last for the S-T front page. Decision
had little to do with me, or logic.
October
26, 2007
Crisp Will Get More Series Chances
•
Game 2 notebook.
October
25, 2007
Sox Let Bats, Beckett Do The Talking
•
Front-page column, which I oddly struggled with for a game so
one-sided. Don't like it.
October
25, 2007
Young Jimenez Up For Challenge
•
Ubaldo has 19 career appearances. Tonight is Curt Schilling's
19th postseason start.
October
25, 2007
Snyder Best Rounds Out Staff
•
Notebook. I guess Francona's still to meet Claude Julien.
October
24, 2007
No Worries About Layoff
•
In a span of about 10 minutes, I fell in love with Clint
Hurdle. Even if his bullpen usage confuses me.
October
24, 2007
Wakefield Left Off World Series
Roster
•
It really kind of felt like he was either going to cry or
immediately announce his retirement. Neither happened.
October
24, 2007
Jon Couture's World Series Matchup
•
In which, after an internal debate, I pick the Rockies in 6.
Well, at least I have a legacy as a writer now.
October
23, 2007
Papelbon Takes To Postseason Stage
•
In some alternate universe, Ryan Garko's fly ball tied the
game at 5. I'd like to at least know how it finished there.
October
23, 2007
Rockies 101
•
World Series opponent primer. It didn't exactly reproduce very
well on the Internet.
October
22, 2007
Seventh Heaven
•
How have I covered three ALCS Game 7s in five years? And all
of them dramatic in their own way?
October
22, 2007
Fans 'Cowboy Up' With Familiar Face
•
ALCS Game 7 notebook. Like he would have missed this, Orioles
or not.
October
21, 2007
Sox Were Made For This Moment
•
My finding a beautiful wife is the only thing that was less
likely than J.D. Drew hitting a pivotal playoff grand slam.
October
21, 2007
Mueller Returns To Scene of Shining
Moment
•
ALCS Game 6 notebook, featuring everyone's favorite
forgettable batting champion.
October
21, 2007
Dice-K Gets One More Shot To Prove
Worth
•
Matsuzaka cramming it up Cleveland's collective would be my
highlight of the year. (He didn't, but it still would have been cool.)
October
20, 2007
Signs of Life From Pedroia, Drew
•
Sleep-deprived off-day story, but did they end up showing some
life in the final two games or what?
October
20, 2007
It's All on Schilling's Shoulders
Tonight
•
With special Nexis digging from 1993! As though I ever need an
excuse.
October
19, 2007
It's Never Easy in October
•
CLEVELAND -- Post Game 5 column. Seems to
be the favorite of a lot of people.
October
19, 2007
Nameless Game 5 Notebook
•
CLEVELAND -- You're thinking cliche about
"our objective is to win today," and man, does Terry Francona just
deliver.
October
18, 2007
Sabathia is Playoffs' Polar
Opposite of Beckett
•
CLEVELAND -- Game 5 preview. And no,
nothing in here makes a joke about Sabathia's size.
October
18, 2007
Francona Sticks By His Plan, His
Players
•
CLEVELAND -- Off-day column on ... the guy
in the headline.
October
17, 2007
Red Sox in New Territory
•
CLEVELAND -- Post Game 4, from the snuck
seat in the press box. Panic low because, well, I did predict seven
games.
October
17, 2007
Sox Marvel At Rockies' Run
•
CLEVELAND -- Hey, wouldn't it be cool if I
got to see a Sox-Rockies World Series?
October
16, 2007
Sox Need To Get Back In The Zone
•
CLEVELAND -- Post Game 3, out in the
Pronkville seats. So wait, you mean it's not going to be easy? (The
column makes the headline non-cliche, which is nice.)
October
16, 2007
Kielty Could Get Second Start
Tonight
•
CLEVELAND -- Game 3 notebook. I'm really
hoping they spelled 'Kielty' right elsewhere.
October
16, 2007
Will Slow or Slower Win Tonight's
Race?
•
CLEVELAND -- Paul Byrd vs. Tim Wakefield.
The winner? Gravity. (And HGH sellers, as we later found out.)
October
15, 2007
Game 3 Presents New Stakes For
Dice-K
•
CLEVELAND -- Game 3 pitching preview. The
Sox beat the Game 3 "jinx."
October
15, 2007
Dirt Dog Coming Back to Haunt
•
CLEVELAND -- Off-day notebook. It's Trot
Nixon. He's back. We're all thrilled, for him and for us.
October
14, 2007
Francona Enters Postseason of Errors
•
After Eric Gagne and Game 2, but before the hi-larious race to
the airport for a far-too-early flight.
October
14, 2007
Nameless Game 2 Notebook
•
The lead is Boston's success driving in runs with the bases
loaded. It's harder than it sounds.
October
13, 2007
Leave The Predictions To The Pros
•
It's about Ortiz, Manny and the offense. Not that you'd know
it from the headline.
October
13, 2007
Carmona Not Sure He's The Favorite
•
Game 2 preview. I'm sure enough for both of us.
October
13, 2007
Kielty Delivers On Success
•
Not a bad notebook for needing to be done before the game
ended.
October
12, 2007
Farrell Elevates Sox After Building
Indians
•
Through stumbling across my lede, one of the better stories of
my season. Even if no one wants to read about the pitching coach.
October
12, 2007
Aces Up
•
Bold prediction: Friday night is going to be awesome. (And it
was, no thanks to C.C. Sabathia.)
October
11, 2007
Role Players Keep Rolling Along
•
Any time you can build around Alex Cora, you're doing
something good.
October
9, 2007
Pedroia Ends Slow ALDS On A High
Note
•
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Futzed with this
throughout my extra day in Anaheim. Did not end my trip on a high note.
October
8, 2007
Ortiz, Manny Bring The Power
•
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- I quite like this one.
Has that "written covered in champagne and beer spray" feel.
October
8, 2007
New Schilling At His Postseason Best
•
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Headline encapsulates
story. Really needs nothing else.
October
8, 2007
Sox, Angels A Postseason Mismatch
•
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- ALDS Game 3 notebook,
leading with various playoff numbers. In no way a Stat That Time Forgot.
October
6, 2007
Angels Prove They Belong in
Postseason
•
The classic "written before Game 2 is over" column. It still
works ... L.A. still pissed it away, and did they give my father and
brother something to see.
October
5, 2007
Game 2 Starters Found Groove Just
In Time
•
Game 2 preview. Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his playoff debut, OMG.
October
4, 2007
Red Sox Ace Made Pitches, And
History
•
How often does one get to make references to Mordecai 'Three
Finger' Brown?
October
4, 2007
It's Manny's Time of Year
•
Jerk couldn't even hit a home run to make things more
relevant. What a hollow .800-something average.
October
4, 2007
Wakefield Will Have To Wait
•
Pre-game notebook. Can't believe I'd forgotten clubhouses are
closed in the playoffs ... I've covered friggin four of them.
October
3, 2007
Bring It On: Papelbon Ready For
Spotlight
•
The preview centerpiece, and honestly, I think I've outdone
myself.
October
3, 2007
Aces Thrive on Big Stage
•
ALDS Game 1 preview.
October
3, 2007
Angels 101
•
Meet the first playoff roadbump, same as the first playoff
roadbump three years ago.
October
2, 2007
Youth Group Inspires Confidence
•
The playoff preview stoires roll on. See what happens when I
try!
October
2, 2007
A Hot September Offers No Guarantees
•
Stats everywhere! Isn't it weird the games starting will
actually feel like less work?
Sept.
30, 2007
Surprise! Ortiz Still Among
Baseball's Best
•
Inside Baseball, led with the story I'd written Friday night
before the clinch.
Sept.
29, 2007
Division Win Fuels Fans' Happiness
•
Little to do with fans, but for 30 minutes, I'll take it.
Sept.
29, 2007
Buch Stops Here: Rookie Shut Down
For Season
•
Like a notebook, but he's the only story.
Sept.
28, 2007
Nothing To Worry About
•
Does uncreative headline equal uncreative story?
Sept.
27, 2007
Lowell Leads Sox Attack
•
Game story. I was there anyway, and I can't stand not doing
anything.
Sept.
26, 2007
No Appeal To Sox Off The Field
•
Is it a great rant column, or simply a rant? America, decide!
Sept.
23, 2007
Best Record More About Home Field
Than Format
•
This week's Inside Baseball isn't my best effort. That Stat,
though, is superb.
Sept.
19, 2007
Sizing Up Sox For Early October
•
Man, timing is everything.
Sept.
17, 2007
Durable Youkilis Stuck in an
Unlikely Position
•
Sunday's notebook, which could've used the time afterward, but
couldn't.
Sept.
17, 2007
Sox Surviving Manny's Absence
•
Sunday's story, written too quick given they actually did what
things up well before deadline.
Sept.
16, 2007
Rebuilding Begins Anew For Twins
•
Inside Baseball. Can't be bad when a player from 1904 gets
referenced.
Sept.
16, 2007
Beckett's Evolution Shines Through
in Win
•
Saturday's MVP performance was from John Farrell, Sox pitching
coach.
Sept.
15, 2007
Ramirez Still Not Ready To Return
•
Friday's Sox-Yankees Notebook
Sept.
15, 2007
Dice-K Remains Mystery
•
Friday, written quick to avoid the crunch of high school
football.
Sept.
14, 2007
No Finality From The Finale Series
•
Sox-Yankees. For the gabillionth time.
Sept.
9, 2007
Sizing Up The AL Rookie Race
•
This week's Inside Baseball secretly replaces normal stat
analysis with VORP and Folgers crystals! And insults Twins middle
reliever Pat Neshek!
Sept.
4, 2007
Wakefield Should Be Ready To Go
Thursday
•
I referenced a butterly flapping its wings and spawning a
no-hitter. I'm a poet!
Sept.
4, 2007
Dice-K Shows All His Ups and Downs
•
Apparently, no one told Daisuke that it was not acceptable to
suck.
Sept.
2, 2007
Buchholz An Important Part of
Boston's Future
•
Live, from Chicopee Falls, I write about a no-hitter
semi-drunk. And we weren't even done with our game of Uno.
Sept.
2, 2007
Roster Expansions Give Some Final
Shot at Glory
•
Please note the correction within Inside Baseball, which has
actually spawned a pretty nice exchange.
August
31, 2007
Francona Fumed (About) Fashion
Police
•
NEW YORK -- Oh, baseball. You're so funny
sometimes.
August
31, 2007
Three Close Calls, But Three Losses
•
NEW YORK -- I resisted the urge to work in
Boston's similar three-game sweep from 1999.
August
30, 2007
Banged-Up Manny Sits Out
•
NEW YORK -- This was actually the spot
where I learned the concept of "cheating" on a pitcher.
August
30, 2007
Clemens Gets His Man; Beckett
Doesn't
•
NEW YORK -- From the basement, he looked
really hittable is what I'm saying.
August
29, 2007
Manny Serves Up Another Bronx Blast
•
NEW YORK -- How often does the chance to
start a notebook with Nine Inch Nails come along?
August
29, 2007
Baby Bombers Sprout Hope For Yankees
•
NEW YORK -- It just so happened that in the
first game, Joba Chamberlain fulfilled my pre-written stuff perfectly.
August
28, 2007
Ready To Rumble
•
Pre Sox-Yanks series hype column.
August
26, 2007
Sizing Up The Best of The Rest
•
A few more predictions I'm sure I'll regret weeks from now. [EDITOR'S
NOTE: Not mentioned anywhere? Colorado!]
August
23, 2007
Four Foes Not To Be Forgotten
•
It would be really nice is these teams aren't all out by the
LCSes. [EDITOR'S NOTE: One actually made the
playoffs!]
August
20, 2007
Gagne Shows Best Stuff in Losing
Cause
•
Notebook. It always makes me smile to hear Eric Gagne's
stronger-than-you-thought accent.
August
20, 2007
Sox Aren't Ready To Panic Yet
•
Aaaand here come the backhanded swings at J.D. Drew!
August
19, 2007
Pena's Plight Reflects Failing
Method
•
Sunday's Inside Baseball. Need I say more?
August
14, 2007
Sox Have Made Their Own Bed
•
Sunday was the first time this year I've actually been mad at
the Red Sox. It was eventually going to happen.
August
14, 2007
Francona Plans To Stick With Gagne
•
The notebook. Desperately needed Gagne quotes, but he wasn't
around. Must have been off not shaving.
August
13, 2007
Show Will Play On After Beckham
•
Somehow not damaged by my writing on laptop battery power,
unsure whether the computer would shut down at any moment.
August
12, 2007
Ankiel Having A Blast In His Return
To The Bigs
•
Borderline chill-inducing stuff in Inside Baseball. Stuff you
probably knew, but hopefully you didn't.
August
9, 2007
Baseball Bigger Than One Tainted
Record
•
This is revision number three. Ultimately, the one extra day
probably didn't affect the story much, but did make me feel better
about it.
August
8, 2007
Even in Decline, Schilling Can
Still Deliver
•
A requested folo, since the only West Coast baseball we get in
the paper is home run records.
August
6, 2007
IB: Santana Can't Mask His
Disappointment
•
This week's Inside Baseball avoids the "rank the deadline"
idea, instead letting the Stat shine.
August
1, 2007
Epstein Pulls Trigger On Difference
Maker
•
The column on the Eric Gagne trade, written after I found
myself a working laptop.
August
1, 2007
Sox Don't See Ortiz ...
•
The notebook on trade deadline day, written after I found
myself ... see above.
July
29, 2007
IB: Not Much Excitement Blowing in
the Trade Winds
•
This week's Inside Baseball is not exactly an advertisement
for my deserving a larger stage. Well, outside of The Stat That Time
Forgot, as always.
July
25, 2007
Boston Bench Has Some Building
Blocks
•
Based on weekend interviews, would have been much better if
I'd done more weekend interviews.
July
23, 2007
Lester's Call-Up Sign of Strength
•
On the announcement Jon Lester will return on Monday in
Cleveland. Half news, half column.
July
23, 2007
Ortiz Out Again, But No Real Worry
•
Notebook, leading with his shoulder injury and continues
sitting out.
July
22, 2007
IB: Westport's Fernandes Takes
Another Step Up
•
Inside Baseball. SouthCoast's Sox prospect now in the High-A
California League pinball machine. Plus, Book Corner!
July
20, 2007
A Long Night of Missed Chances
•
It's a lot easier to write a game story when you can spend the
whole game doing it.
July
20, 2007
Hamstring Sends Drew to Bench
•
The notebook, written entirely during an unexpectedly free
hour and 56 minutes. Thanks, rain!
July
20, 2007
'Experience of a Lifetime' for
Mattapoisett Girl
•
Strictly mop-up work and editing on a Sox-skewed news story
about a local blind girl who threw out the first pitch. The EMC Club is
very nice.
July
19, 2007
Surreal Moments Bring Out The Fan
in Everyone
•
The weekly column, spinning off the British Open. Way off the
British Open.
July
17, 2007
Sox Need Schilling, But No Hurry
•
Written around No. 38's side session, and an apparent panic
among the lunatic fringes. Already, more credit than they deserve to
get.
July
17, 2007
Sox Finding Their Power Strokes
•
The notebook, Gabbard-free since he was going to dominate the
AP gamer. The nuggets at the end about the famed Leo Nunez honestly
made my entire drive home happy.
July
12, 2007
Playoffs Seem Certain, But Causes
For Concern
•
"Large divisional leads have a way of skewing perspective, but
the 2007 Red Sox have literally done nothing their ancestors from 2002
and 2006 didn't also do on their way to missing the playoffs." I'm just
all sunshine, aren't I?
July
10, 2007
Lowell's Star Burning Brightly
•
The annual All-Star feature, this time on everyone favorite
thrid baseman who wants Fidel Castro dead.
July
4, 2007
Time To Tweak The Midsummer Classic
•
Three ideas to make the All-Star Game, and picking the teams
for it, better. Whatever that means.
July
3, 2007
Sox Not Worried About Struggling
Middle
•
A story sadly deficient in mentions of the night's highlight:
Jacoby Ellsbury going second-to-home on a passed ball.
July
1, 2007
IB: Feeling Loney At First, Dodgers
Send Nomar To Third
•
Inside Baseball cranks through a little Gameday Audio, and
features private e-mail in-jokes.
June
24, 2007
IB: Youk's Snub Not Biggest
All-Star Sob Story
•
This week's Inside Baseball digs deeped into the voting than,
and I guarantee this, anyone who's voted.
June
20, 2007
Despite Slump, Schilling Still A
Bargain
•
The eternal question: Does Whale City understand the concept
of BABIP?
June
17, 2007
IB: Bonding With Giants Fans at
Fenway
•
Inside Baseball meets some delightful San Franciscans and
crazy kids from Nova Scotia.
June
16, 2007
A S*d Tale
•
The best headline on any column of mine I can remember. Bonds
related, obviously.
June
16, 2007
Roberts Steals A Place in Sox
History
•
A Sox-Giants notebook plum full of joyous memories.
June
13, 2007
Lugo No Longer Leading Man
•
A beefy notebook, which is always nice.
June
5, 2007
Pedroia Looks Like He Belongs
•
Rain cancelled all our high school games, so we needed copy.
Fortunately, that plucky little bastard has started swinging.
June
4, 2007
Sox Fall On A-Rod Homer In Ninth
•
The most rushed gamer you'll read today. You name it, I forgot
to put it in. To me, there's nothing harder to write than game stories
in mid-stream.
June
4, 2007
Francona Not One For Arguing Antics
•
Sunday's notebook, which fortunately had the part updated that
needed to be updated.
June
3, 2007
IB: Epstein Focuses On Impact As
Draft Approaches
•
Intrascrotal hematoma. Welcome to this week's Inside Baseball.
June
3, 2007
Clemens Delays Return
•
Pure news, thanks in large part to my somehow ending up in the
front of the Brian Cashman postgame scrum.
June
2, 2007
With Giambi Out, Yanks Juggle DHs
•
Notebook from Saturday. As much Yankee news as Red Sox,
because Joe Torre just seems more forthcoming sometimes.
May
29, 2007
Nixon Well Received in Boston Return
•
I resisted the urge to talk to fans. Ultimately, it would have
ended up poorly for everyone involved.
May
29, 2007
Youk Steals Trot's Thunder
•
Hassle-free notebook.
May
27, 2007
IB: It's Not His Body, But Use
That's Hurting Bonds
•
Inside Baseball attempts to get 'Perlozzo's Boner' in the
baseball lexicon. It's going to be a long road.
May
20, 2007
IB: Cust's Comeback Means He's No
Longer Majors' Fall Guy
•
Inside Baseball salutes Jack Cust, the man seveal
Standard-Times staffers screamed at during a previous 12:30 p.m. PawSox
game. Yeah, I left that part out.
May
16, 2007
Red-Hot Start Reminds of Five Years
Ago
•
The 2002 Red Sox ... the best team that sucked. (History will
show I was right about this. At least enough for our purposes.)
May
15, 2007
Watching Dice-K A National Fixation
•
The shame in this is I'll apparently never get to see the
video footage of one of my greatest moments: the Nippon TV interview
with the plastic signs.
May
15, 2007
Beckett's Finger On The Mend
•
The notebook, which could not be more cut
avulsion and dry. Wokka wokka wokka.
May
13, 2007
IB: By Comparison, Pena's Chances
May Be Fleeting
•
Sunday's Inside Baseball, brought to you by walks. Many, many
walks.
May
12, 2007
A Night For Burres, Not Wily
•
End the nominations. Worst game of the year has been decided.
Fortunately, I saved my worst for it.
May
9, 2007
A Different Kind of Clemens Closure
•
The Jon Couture Clemens story, complete with personal
anecdote. Join us next time, when I tell the story of why I liked
Hideki Okajima before you did.
May
7, 2007
Fast Acting Doesn't Make Clemens
Quick Fix
•
My boss called me twice this afternoon. Both calls added far
more work to my pile than I'd had previously. To me credit, I think, I
kept picking up.
May
4, 2007
Wild Dice-K Cause For Concern
•
I'd really like to know if tracking his pitches is getting me
anywhere. Though on a night where the quotes were sparse, it helped
immensely.
May
3, 2007
Beckett Hangs Tough For Sixth Win
•
Definitely did not end up the perfect game I was hoping I'd
see four innings in.
May
3, 2007
Francona Fosters Communication
Without Translation
•
Another short notebook that actually isn't that short.
May
2, 2007
Epstein's Dream Team Shining So Far
•
It's always good to pen a love sonnet about something right
before they blow a save.
April
29, 2007
IB: Yankees Have Heard Bronx Cheers
Before
•
Comparing the 2007 Yankees to their 2005 counterparts, for
whom things worked out. Columns are better when you have an actual
topic.
April
23, 2007
Pedroia Takes It One At-Bat At A
Time
•
Sometimes, the timing of your pre-game interviews couldn't be
much better. (And that's before considering he'd make a run at Rookie
of the Year.)
April
23, 2007
Lester Making Strides Toward Return
•
Of more interest to me, enclosed is the answer to the
"consecutive bunt hits" question from the day previous.
April
22, 2007
Beckett Battles Through A Challenge
•
I really hope people are actually getting something out of the
pitch data stuff I've been trying to pepper in lately, because it
really makes it hard to do a whole lot else during the game.
April
22, 2007
IB: Losses Put Torre's Feet to the
Fire
•
I dare say Inside Baseball can't believe he wasn't fired.
April
21, 2007
Cora Nation: Sox Use Five-Run
Eighth ...
•
When the rally made everyone blow up their Alex Rodriguez
stories, suddenly making my other story a gamer made a whole lot sense.
So much sense, I wouldn't have thought of it had it not been suggested
to me.
April
21, 2007
A-Bombs Remind Us Of A-Rod's Talent
•
Originally the notebook lead until it couldn't just be in the
notebook, and then the notebook was ditched all together.
April
15, 2007
Ortiz To Wear Appreciation On His
Back
•
Originally the lead to Inside Baseball, broken out as its own
story.
April
15, 2007
IB: Yanks Stretching To Find Source
of Injuries
•
Everything else, which is more than 'everything else' usually
entails.
April
12, 2007
It's Dice-K Night at Fenway Park
•
This was the news-side scene story, which featured meeting these
guys on the street. I'm gonna guess 100,000 sales is out of
reach.
April
12, 2007
Overshadowed, But Not Overmatched
•
The sports-side sports story, which you might imagine I
enjoyed about 40 times more.
April
11, 2007
Beckett Shines in Opening Day
Spotlight
•
Probably not worth having tracked his pitches all afternoon,
but I had the extra time. Using it made sense.
April
11, 2007
Start of Dice-K ERA Steals Spotlight
•
So did the game being over in the second inning, but who's
counting.
April
8, 2007
IB: Rice Comments Lend Insight Into
Reality
•
This week's Inside Baseball, drawing upon the two Tampa Bay
Devil Rays games I've watched this season. Also, the source
of a two-page handwritten hate letter! (Read the April 15 update for
details.)
April
4, 2007
Wamsutta To Open New
Baseball-Themed Club
•
I mingle with the idle rich again, and enjoy a sneak peek at
their new club. Apparently, I really am the target demographic.
April
3, 2007
No Way This Role Reversal Lasts
•
Good for Kansas City. They can look back on this fondly when
Gil Meche is 16-11 at the end of the year.
April
2, 2007
On The Doorstep of a New Season
•
Written for the front, front page, and guest edited by Cooch
HOF member Jonathan Comey!
April
1, 2007
'07 SOX PREVIEW: A New World:
Dice-K Fits Right In
•
One-half of the centerpiece for the baseball preview, on
Daisuke's adjustments to America.
April
1, 2007
'07 SOX PREVIEW: Tinker Boys: Sox
Spent Spring Tweaking Repertoire
•
One-half of the centerpiece for the baseball preview, on how
all the starters spent spring training working on stuff. That's a poor
explanation, really.
March
25, 2007
IB: Tavarez Can Hold The Fort
•
This week's Inside Baseball, which had the added advantage of
being done at 10:15 a.m.
March
23, 2007
Papelbon Move Works Only if Setup
Men Do Too
•
Whoops. Goodbye, day off. Though that's always an inevitable
story of the season.
March
21, 2007
Gyro's Mystery is Mind over Matter
•
This, and every other story like it, will do nothing to shut
people up about the gyroball.
March
15, 2007
Heat's Off Drew
•
J.D. Drew talks a lot, and I'm pretty sure he actually says
something when he does it.
March
15, 2007
Varitek's Hitting Woes Continue
•
This might be the first notebook I wrote all spring trip that
didn't lead with a pitcher.
March
14, 2007
Crisp Playing His Own Game
•
Coco Crisp changed his hair style, and at no point called me
'useless.' Apparently, everyone's moved on.
March
14, 2007
Snyder Will Experience Variety
•
The notebook, on Kyle Snyder genuinely being just happy to be
here. Washing out of Kansas City will do that.
March
13, 2007
Sox, Yanks Special For Crowd
•
Apparently, the girl I saw sitting at the ticket window at
5:30 p.m. the night before goes every year. Doubly glad I left her to
her own insanity.
March
13, 2007
Papelbon Looking For Feel of Curve
•
Hopefully this doesn't read as disjointed as it felt. (Even if
it did all end up a lie, since he became a closer again.)
March
12, 2007
[[Dice-K,
Fans OK With Speed Bumps]]
•
Yeah, he was bad. Oh wait, he wasn't trying. So why are we
televising this again?
March
12, 2007
Lester Sets A Northern Goal
•
Added bonus being that while watching him pitch, the dugout
roof saved me from being killed by a BP home run.
March
11, 2007
Tigers Introduce Okajima to
American-Style Hardball
•
It's the rumble in Lakeland that wasn't. Though it was at
least exciting. Timo Perez ... apparently a calming force when players
rush the field.
March
11, 2007
IB: Fernandes Heeds Advice of
Clemens
•
This week's Inside Baseball catches up with SouthCoast's lone
prospect, who's at least Red Sox property. Every small paper has the
local player in the majors story, if they're lucky.
March
10, 2007
Tender Back Puts Timlin on Hold
•
Philly's park is lovely, but the day wasn't much for extra
notebooky stuff.
March
9, 2007
Pineiro Angling For Closer's Role
•
No he's not. "Pineiro Angling For Good Impression" would be
better, given the story makes two references to that. But really, I
also wouldn't have eaten an entire bag of Ritz Toasted Chips tonight if
we're giving out do-overs.
March
9, 2007
Schilling Keeps Working on Changeup
•
I have nothing needlessly rotten to say about this headline.
And plus, they did, you know, send me a new computer to work on, which
is nice.
March
8, 2007
Sox Bullpen Remains Question Mark
•
Having planned to write this halfway through my trip before it
began, it probably ended up being the best possible day for it anyway.
March
8, 2007
Papelbon Strong in 50-Pitch Effort
•
Five innings, one hit. Yes, it doesn't matter, but let's
pretend it does. More fun.
March
6, 2007
Lester Makes Another Step To
Normalcy
•
Not even one pitch for every minute it took to drive over
there from City of Palms. And no turkey legs for sale.
March
6, 2007
Beckett ... Blister Woes
•
I did not mention the Nomar "press conference" in this
notebook because I didn't see it, but no way it could have topped last
year's in Vero.
March
5, 2007
Delcarmen Has Grip on Situation
•
Story features no actual mention of his oft-mentioned hair
highlights.
March
5, 2007
Schilling Hopes Changeup Becomes
Work of Art
•
After the mad dash down Metro Parkway. After his start,
Schilling immediately left, meaning we all had to go cross-town before
the game was over to talk to him.
March
4, 2007
Papelbon Holds Lofty Standard
•
He was pretty damn awesome, I have to say. Even if this did
still feel like a relief appearance.
March
4, 2007
Old Face Fields a New Question
•
Had to write about Wakefield, so why not here. Plus, a hint at
the 600-page '07 Sox Media Guide.
March
3, 2007
An Other-Worldly Night at City of
Palms Park
•
I suppose technically I wrote the headline.
March
3, 2007
Silver Lining in Manny's Slow Start
•
With plenty left over for my long-awaited Kyle Snyder feature.
March
2, 2007
New Bedford's Chin Has Blast
Against Sox
•
Sometimes stories just work out. Like, "Oh, hey. Our local
player on Northeastern's mom is standing on the concourse, wearing his
jersey."
March
2, 2007
Beckett ... Curve ... Leadership
... Next Level
•
As the notebook should be, it's everything else.
March
1, 2007
A Good Start For Schill
•
There is nothing more fitting than a spring game ending in a
tie. Trust me.
March
1, 2007
Ellsbury Shows Glimpse of Talent
•
Far more enjoyable. Least that's what I think.
February
25, 2007
IB: AL East's Other Three Remain
Just That
•
So you're not surprised when you read it, I wrote this from
the bottom up. Keep note of quality.
February
23, 2007
Is Curt's Weight Why Theo's Waiting?
•
I don't know why I remembered Schilling talking about his
weight last spring, but I did. Where I learn the valuable journalistic
lesson that you can't throw out stuff like "EverQuest bender" and
expect people to know what you're talking about.
February
18, 2007
Inside Baseball: Q & A With
John Farrell
•
The now-annual season-opening series meets the new pitching
coach.
February
14, 2007
Nine Non-Closer Sox Stories to Nosh
On
•
Apparently, I did this to myself. I guess massive page layout
crashes have a way of affecting work, above and beyond blowing
storm-related deadline.
February
7, 2007
Next Stop? Sox, Springtime
•
When all else fails, let them know you really like baseball.
It might even help when they later decide they hate you.
Jan.
31, 2007 - Sports Page One
Schilling, Talk and All, Worth The
Extension
•
I'm not sure I actually believe that. I'm pretty sure I've
grudgingly convinced myself, though. I'm also sure I'm miffed other
people who wrote this days later got more attention.
Jan.
29, 2007 - SportsMonday Page Three
Helton Works, But Only At The Right
Price
•
Never did I think I'd even for a moment worry about trading
Julian Tavarez, and somehow be glad when it all didn't happen.
Jan.
27, 2007 - Sports Page One
J.D. Drew Ready To Shoulder The Load
•
News of his official signing off a conference call. Unlike the
last time this happened on a game day, I actually managed to write and
still be on time.
Jan.
24, 2007 - Sports Page One
No Closer to Closer? That's Fine
•
My semi-analysis of the closer situation, at least until
Baseball Prospectus writes something about it and completely changes my
mind.
Jan.
10, 2007 - Sports Page One
History Again Muddies Hall Call
•
As I was saying at work, I'm pretty sure every two months, I
write at least one story/column based around calling a peer an idiot.
This should serve me well in the future.
Jan.
7, 2007 - Sports Page One
[[Don't
Make Boise's Run About Missing OSU Matchup]]
•
Definitely didn't see this coming up as a topic a couple of
days prior. That's the kind of thing that makes it so damn fun.
Dec.
24, 2006 - Sports Page 10
Local Sports Story of the Year:
Nos. 2-10
Dec.
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
Constant Roster Shuffle Simply Part
of Today's Sox
•
About halfway through the column, I decided that I didn't
really like the idea I'd started the column with. Unfortunately, I was
already halfway through the column and had no actual idea to replace it
with. Proud moment.
Dec.
15, 2006 - S-T Front Page
Boston Rolls Out The Welcome 'Mat'
•
I have to admit, this one is far better than the story in the
sports section. Given the day was about scene, not baseball, that's
hardly shocking.
Dec.
15, 2006 - Sports Page One
D-Mat Has All Makings of an Ace
•
The sports story, which has a couple strong quotes in it, but
really isn't fleshed out to be much of anything. Hopefully you feel
differently.
Dec.
14, 2006 - Sports Page One
Red Sox Get Their Man
•
I was told it was 'very, very' good, which is nice, since I
futzed with it for in excess of three hours.
Dec.
13, 2006 - Sports Page One
Matsuzaka's Coming, But If He
Doesn't ...
•
Another one of those ideas that just came to me rather
innocuously. Indirectly thanks to 'Cold Pizza,' but they shouldn't be
proud of it. Or anything, for that matter.
Dec.
11, 2006 - Web-Only Story
Sox Brass in Calif. With 'Record'
Offer
•
Filed somewhere in the vicinity of 2 a.m., probably right
after Scott Medeiros got done shooting up the Foxy Lady. At least as
good as anything else you'll read this morning. I even broke tradition
and lowered the saturation of smarm!
Dec.
7, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox See Drew As A Part, Not The
Whole
•
How would you rather spend an afternoon other than poring
through 207 L.A. Times stories that mention J.D. Drew?
Dec.
5, 2006 - Sports Page One
World Still Waits For Sox First Move
•
I have also been waiting, but eventually, I had to write. I've
been told the J.D. Drew section is really good.
Nov.
29, 2006 - Sports Page One
This Time, Manny Talk Seems Real
•
I'm apparently saving the screaming about how stupid it is for
when it actually happens. Given my ballot seems to disagree with my
argument, I suppose it works out that I'm not better known for once.
Nov.
22, 2006 - Sports Page One
Morneau One Of Many Who Fill '06
MVP Bill
•
I wrote the headline. I can have no complaints. Though
apparently, writing the column makes me part of the downfall of
American journalism.
Nov.
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
Voc-Tech Looks To Start Rivalry
With A Win
•
You write a story about two 0-10 teams playing on
Thanksgiving. Even Agawam vs. West Springfield has never had that
happen, and believe me, they've tried.
Nov.
20, 2006 - Sports Page One
Lombardo's A Leader, Through and
Through
•
Is this too cliche? Part of me is concerned, the other part of
me thinks it's fine.
Nov.
15, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox Bid Worth Every Penny
•
The crux is generally that I'm glad the Sox are throwing their
weight around again, a la Manny Ramirez. Especially since they'll make
that bid money up at the expense of my sanity in 2007.
Nov.
11, 2006 - Sports Page One
Hot Stove Heats Up In A Hurry
•
In so much as it can heat up without anything having
officially happened, that is. That's part of the charm.
Nov.
8, 2006 - Sports Page One
Epstein Ready For A Busy Hot-Stove
Season
•
The Revs column idea has been passed on, given I had actual
Red Sox news to write about. In so much as there not being any news is
news.
Nov.
1, 2006 - Sports Page One
Finally, Pats are 'Red' Hot
•
This definitely falls in the 'making lemonade' category, since
it capitalizes on my complete inability to pick football games properly
in 2006. Well, it doesn't really, but I need to start feeling better
about that.
Oct.
25, 2006 - Sports Page One
History Buff Wants To Bring
Old-Time Base Ball Back
•
He wants to start a vintage team, complete with unis and no
gloves. He probably won't be happy I pointed out the "broken fingers"
part.
NOTE - Not only did I get a letter from a Tabor
Academy professor who wants me to speak to his "Baseball in American
Society" class, I was linked to on the Baseball Primer Newsblog
for the second time.
Oct.
24, 2006 - Sports Page One
Oldham Leads ORR Through Golf
Sectionals
•
Technically, nothing more than me on the desk culling together
all the day's high school golf sectionals action. Since it let me
relive the worst day of my organized athletics life, though, I at least
got mylsef a byline out of it.
Oct.
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox Tab Magadan As Next Hitting
Coach
•
Hockey Homecoming got a late start tonight, thanks to the Red
Sox making their latest move just early enough that I couldn't pretend
I was already on the road. Well, I probably could have, but I would
have felt a little guilty about it.
Oct.
18, 2006 - Sports Page One
Fans Get Cheated By A Case of Dry
Mouth
•
I honestly have no idea what this headline means -- it's about
how it's easier for announcers to try to be funny than intelligent --
though people have helped me understand it a little more. This ended up
being a very popular column, which is always a nice surprise.
Oct.
17, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox Bring in Farrell As Pitching
Coach
•
Being a baseball writer sometimes means news stories. Wordy,
'why can't I cut this stupid thing shorter' news stories, but ones that
definitely get their point across.
Oct.
15, 2006 - Sports Inside
Coaching Moves Kick Off Offseason
Makeover
•
Inside Baseball returns to its regular form, somehow not
treading on the blog with analysis of the two men who actually would
take over the vacated coaching positions.
Oct.
12, 2006
Remembering Gastall's Tragedy
•
A small local blurb brought about thanks to Cory Lidle's death.
Oct.
11, 2006 - Sports Page One
Let's Not Make Too Much of Managers
•
In the face of the Joe Torre saga, my Wednesday column is
back. Though in saying that, I was the one that stopped writing the
thing all along. Regardless, I missed it.
Oct.
8, 2006 - Sports Inside
[[
the statbox inside baseball ]]
•
Inside Baseball graded the entire Sox roster with the stats
alongside ... a compromise on a day when I needed the time to do other
things. Highlights included, and kind of ended with, Jason Johnson
receiving a ZZ-.
Oct.
3, 2006 - Sports Page One
Heads Already Rolling At Fenway
•
Column as we found out the fates of both Dave Wallace and Ron
Jackson. Not exactly my finest effort, for reasons I never really was
sure about.
Oct.
1, 2006 - Sports Page One
Today, Trot Says Goodbye
•
This week's Inside Baseball is all Red Sox, but sadly
Stat-free. There's enough little recalled stuffed in the Nixon piece to
kill weaker men, and that's with piles left mercifully on the cutting
room floor.
Sept.
30, 2006 - Sports Page One
Papelbon Needs To Get A Shot To
Start
•
Columny, but with the nugget of news that I've been shouting
about quietly since April. If you can, really, shout quietly.
Sept.
28, 2006 - Sports Page One
Rough Finish For Beckett
•
Another pseudo-gamer, though I never really felt like I had
this one all together. On the plus side, though, we all learned Josh
Beckett's favorite swear word.
Sept.
28, 2006 - Sports Inside
Clement Could Miss 2007
•
Sometimes, these notebooks are about as straightforward as
you're going to get.
Sept.
24, 2006 - Sports Inside
So, Who's Up For Another Moronic
'Trade Manny!' Offseason?
•
For this week's Inside Baseball, I wrote my own headline. Can
you tell?
Sept.
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
Foxx Worthy
•
Cramped for space, they had me write a gamer on the night
David Ortiz hit his 50th home run of the season. As such, the end got
cut off, and I don't care. Like I've said in the past, it's fun when I
only have to do it every once in a while.
Sept.
17, 2006 - Sports Inside
Everyone Made Out on Pedro Deal
•
This week's Inside Baseball celebrates the Mets, and the
unbridled joy that was the Carl Everett Era. I've heard so much about
it of late, I feel like I missed something.
Sept.
10, 2006 - Sports Inside
Sox Still Bring Smiles
•
The first official Inside Baseball in many weeks seems even
better after the Sox lost in 12 to the Royals. That would be the 54-89
Royals, who have beaten $120 million Boston five times in a row.
Sept.
6, 2006 - Sports Page One
Papelbon Has 'Dead Arm,' Not Tear
•
An unfinished column scrapped when news happened, and I got to
finally learn what Dr. Gill looks like. Combine this with the notebook,
and you could get the impression I know what I'm doing.
Sept.
6, 2006 - Sports Inside
Tavarez To Stay In Rotation
•
A notebook it took three attempts to get through the system.
Somehow, not all of them were due to my idiocy. Some were due to George
Kottaras.
Sept.
1, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[At
Times Like These, Tito Shows His Value]]
•
Space issues (sort of) killed the notebook, but this column
got the proverbial 'critical praise' from two co-workers before it even
made it to print. That's rare, and for once, brings me genuine
excitement.
August
27, 2006 - Sports Page One
Kyle Fernandes: A Work in Progress
•
A Sunday centerpiece look at one of Westport's own, trying to
make his way up from 2005 draft pick and Low-A Greenville. Came out
excellent, thanks to some help from an awful lot of people.
August
22, 2006 - Sports Inside
Hansen Gets Chance To Regroup
•
Probably the best notebook I've ever written, just chock full
of extra statistical nuggets. Course, it's still a notebook.
August
22, 2006 - Sports Page One
Not Much Left In Sox Drawer
•
On day after my laptop craps out, it's an honest assessment of
where the Red Sox are after the five-game sweep. Suffice to say, it's
all about letting the facts speak for themselves.
August
20, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Hang
'Em Up: These Sox Hopes Are Worn Out]]
•
On August 20, I bury the 2006 Red Sox. In a delightful turn of
events, I then leave the game, go directly to the paper and lay out the
cover which buries the 2006 Red Sox. A true jack of all trades, I am.
August
20, 2006 - Sports Inside
Seanez Squeezed Off Of Staff
•
Notebook from Burial Day
August
19, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Junk
Ball: Pitchers Make It A Long, Ugly Day]]
•
The doubleheader, which years from now, will somehow be enough
to identify this. After all, Game 2 was the LONGEST
NINE-INNING GAME IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY.
Amazingly, even though the game ended 90 minutes plus after my
deadline, this somehow holds up. I am, apparently, a genius.
August
19, 2006 - Sports Inside
Happy Hinske Off To Hot Start
•
The Notebook to The doubleheader, which didn't sustain as well
as the column. Contrary to David Letterman's assertions, apparently, my
genius switch has an off position.
August
17, 2006 - Sports Page One
The Hard Side of Softball
•
The story which inspired the Jonathan Darling "Isotopes
Playoff Media Guide" Photoshop. It's interesting, but it would be more
interesting if you could actually hear the delivery of 'Hawk'
Medeiros's quotes.
August
15, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[To
Be Better Than Good, Aces Need To Step Up]]
•
I spent half this game with a stomachache, debating whether I
could go home if I actually got sick. I'd like to think the column
holds up regardless of this fact.
August
15, 2006 - Sports Inside
Lefty Breslow Recalled To Bolster
Overworked Bullpen
•
I doubt Craig Breslow would remember me from having giving him
my boss's phone number in Spring Training, and really, I don't want to
find out.
August
13, 2006 - Sports Inside
Dombrowski's Vision Brought Roar
Back To Tigers
•
This week's Inside Baseball, written and assembled in a semi
panic since I neglected it forever. It, however, is more awesome than
normal.
August
13, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Sox
Reclaim Their Winning Formula]]
•
Words on a page, friends. So many words on a page. Yet it had
such highre hopes at the start, though I suppose this is the flip side
to how many columns I save somewhere in the middle.
August
12, 2006 - Sports Page One
Lowell Shines On A Weird Night
•
It was all enough to make you forget he's still not hitting
much better than .200 since the All-Star break and still went 1-for-5.
August
12, 2006 - Sports Inside
Foulke's Tale More Of The Same
•
The notebook led with Keith Foulke not being activated, which
succeeds in existing and little else.
August
9, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Epstein
Bowed To Panic In Bard Deal]]
•
Looking back, I really wish I'd made more a stink about this
when it actually happened. I just didn't, which makes this look a
little worse.
NOTE - These people
tend to think I'm an idiot.
August
6, 2006 - Sports Inside
[[Boston
Bashers United On One Slugging Team]]
•
One of my favorite Inside Baseballs ever, I spent multiple
days digging up stats on performances against Red Sox and formed the
'Sox Killers' side since 2003. That, and a Stat Nick remarked was 'one
of the better Stats in a while.'
August
4, 2006 - Sports Inside
Red Sox Acquire Catcher Lopez
•
It's a notebook with a newsy lead. Not bad for another night
off.
August
2, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox Crouching Into An Uncomfortable
Position
•
The notebook, which features a funny, smiling Mike Lowell
story that seemed incredibly less fun when he fouled a ball off his
foot and limped around like a doomed horse.
August
2, 2006 - Sports Page One
Varitek To Have Surgery
•
I get newsy, panicky and rational all in the same 20 inches.
Plus, any time there's quotes from Doug Mirabelli, you know it's got to
be good.
August
1, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[No
Move Was Sox Best Move]]
•
On a night where David Ortiz makes me question whether I'm in
an alternate universe, I ignore it all together. It's not quite that
simple, but in the end, I suppose that's where we get to.
August
1, 2006 - Sports Page One
Eight Too Much In Wells' Return
•
Good to see the old man is sticking to his silent, silent guns
thanks to some of my peers.
July
30, 2006 - Sports Page One
Big Star Big Papi Had Stuff To Do
•
A largely nonsensical headline to another walk-off, though
that's the fun of writing in a one-column hole. Not that I did it, mind
you. Just explaining the story.
July
30, 2006 - Sports Inside
[[Francona
Says Sox Are Sound At Deadline]]
•
Inside Baseball predicts no Sox trades. Also, I debate whether
it would have made sense for me to, out of the blue, go talk to Alfredo
Griffin.
July
29, 2006 - Sports Web-Only
Sox Tumble Thanks To Six-Run Seventh
•
It's a Web-exclusive game story, not weighed down by an actual
headline or Jon Lester winning.
July
29, 2006 - Sports Inside
Wells Gets Chance To Rewrite Ending
•
The notebook, which seemed like the best thing to put in the
paper when the game started at 10 past nine.
July
26, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Pitching
Not Only Need At Deadline]]
•
Analysis of the AL contender's deadline needs. I always like
an idea flows so well, I have to go back to the beginning and lop off
fluff. Because, well, it's fluff.
July
23, 2006 - Sports Inside
Despite Curt's Comments, Rotation
Has Big Rift
•
Inside Baseball begins to rise again, but this might have
worked better if I'd printed all the stats I calculated.
July
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox Have To Keep Up Scrappy Play
•
Sure do. Elaborate, isn't it? Especially since it would be
more true than ever a couple of weeks later.
July
21, 2006 - Sports, Somewhere
Wakefield Could Miss Month
•
No one has analyzed the upcoming month for Doug Mirabelli this
deeply. I'm sure of that. And it was edited down to this!
July
19, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Rookie
Pitcher Starts To Piece It Together]]
•
On Jon Lester's one-hitter. What my boss called the greatest
column I've written in the time he's been at the paper, and I'm
inclined to agree with the sentiment.
July
19, 2006 - Sports Inside
Health Would Be Big Acquisition
•
The notebook, written under my new personally mandated length
policy. If resumes don't need to be longer than one page ...
July
17, 2006 - SportsMonday Page Two
[[Strong
Finish Saves Mnookin's 'Monster']]
•
The Sunday column on Monday, with an ode to Sam Horn. Clearly,
I enjoy The Stat That Time Forgot too much.
July
16, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Stopper
Shows Up In Time Of Need]]
•
Much easier to write than I had thought it would be, since I'm
now paranoid that being interesting during the average regular-season
game is impossible. An overflowing fountain of optimism, I am.
July
16, 2006 - Sports Inside
Boomer Eyes Return
•
The notebook, with late attempts to edit it quashed in the
interests of deadline and sanity.
July
13, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Halfway
Home, Sox Look To October]]
•
The apparently annual "Looking To The Second Half" piece. I
remember last year not wanting to write this, writing it and then being
really glad I did. The give and take of the newspaper business.
July
11, 2006 - Sports Page One
Shooting Star
•
My Jonathan Papelbon feature for the All-Star break. It, like
most interview I do, fell victim to that transcribing truth -- the
answers to the questions seemed a lot better before I actually typed
out what they were.
July
9, 2006 - Sports Inside
All-Star Game Has More Problems ...
•
Inside Baseball, written without the benefit of air
conditioning because my parents apparently chose not to go that route
today, but with an argument I'm pretty sure I've gone into before.
July
2, 2006 - Sports Inside
[[AL
Dominating Lackluster NL, But Why?]]
•
Inside Baseball. You know the drill by now.
June
29, 2006 - Sports Inside
Sox Defense Sets Record
•
A packed notebook, though not packed with Wily Mo Pena
reporting to Lowell on Friday for a two-game rehab assignment. So
consider this an addendum.
June
29, 2006 - S-T Front Page
Emotional Pedro Wins Hearts, Loses
Start
•
The Pedro column that brought out that cup-spiking feeling of
'Wow. I really nailed it.' again.
June
28, 2006 - S-T Front Page
Strikes and Smiles: Pedro's Back
•
The biggest problem with this? There's really no way to
include everything quoteworthy Pedro said. Also, I always get better
headlines when I go on the front page. And that includes when I write
my own headlines.
June
25, 2006 - Sports Inside
Fans Doing OK With The All-Stars
•
Inside Baseball looks at the All-Star voting, but is hurt by
my refusal to leave the house. Though I did have a very good reason.
June
23, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Low
Expectations Were Too High For U.S.]]
•
In the face to U.S.'s (expected) loss, this is as close to
actual soccer analysis as the paper has had since we let our soccer
writer go. Take that it's coming from me, uninformed guy, for what you
will.
June
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Slinging
Shuffle For Sox]]
•
The notebook from a night most notable because I almost lost
my scoresheet, and went back to the concourse to find it sitting next
to a trash can as I was leaving.
The main story from the game never made it on the Web. More
joy.
June
16, 2006
Bonds A Sad, Not Tragic, Figure
•
Barry's visit to Boston, fueled up with all the things you'd
expect.
June
11, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[First
Start Not A Sign of Future]]
•
Jon Lester's debut. I'm going to refrain from discussing the
nearly five-hour rain delay that submarined me covering my first-ever
doubleheader. Rest assured, there's plenty of other writers who were
there who'll bitch for all of us.
June
11, 2006 - Sports Inside
Future Looks Bright Down on the Farm
•
The soccer story from earlier in the week killed Inside
Baseball, since it ate up the time I planned to spend, you know,
talking to actual people. I'll take the tradeoff.
June
9, 2006 - Sports Page One
Fans' Allegiances Divided
•
This was supposed to be on the front page until al-Zarqawi
died. All the better, since I don't think it was what they were looking
for anyway.
I feel a little guilty that Frank Dell'Apa of the Globe wrote the story they really wanted,
but I kinda like mine too.
June
4, 2006 - Sports Inside
[[Bandwagon
Fans Becoming A Touchy Subject]]
•
This week's Inside Baseball. A vivisection of a fellow writer,
a review of a book, a sort-of mistatement about Freddy Sanchez and a
celebration of my own big day. Plus, ten cent beer!
June
2, 2006
Viewing A-Rod A Matter of
Perspective
•
Alex Rodriguez cheated on his wife. Or something.
May
28, 2006 - Sports Inside
[[Pena
Has Made The Most of His Opportunities]]
•
This week's Inside Baseball. His going on the DL makes me even
more disappointed I didn't get to talk to him for this, since it really
works even better than it would have had Coco Crisp just come back.
May
28, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Moment
To Cherish For Schill]]
•
Emotion! And I think I got in all 800 people he mentioned
after the game.
The notebook written for this game never made the Web site.
But it's a notebook, so that's life.
May
27, 2006 - Sports Page One
Liner May Spell Unfortunate End
•
Probably slightly more fatalistic than the moment called for,
but watching David Wells crumble like a skyscraper will do that.
May
27, 2006 - Sports Inside
Schilling Doen't Feel The Hype of
200
•
This could be bulletin-board material ... if baseball worked
like that. And if I was important.
May
25, 2006 - Sports Page One
Yankees Find Way To Put Together Win
•
Clearly, the writing Gods enjoy me saying what I said
yesterday, then creating an evening where the column is far better. I
would be smart to stop with the trifling.
May
25, 2006 - Sports Inside
Crisp Will Be Back On Top
•
Notebook. Most of the statistics even made it through the game
unscathed. Most.
May
24, 2006 - Sports Inside
[[Sox
Fail To Cash In]]
•
You know I respect you guys, so I'll be honest. This column
sucks. I tried real hard, but just never came up with anything
compelling I could work with. Read it, but crank your expectations down
to high school journalism levels.
May
24, 2006 - Sports Inside
MainHead / Pena Trying To Push
Through Injury
•
I'm not sure what this says about me as a journalist, but I'm
getting to the point where I'm starting to enjoy writing the harder
news notebooks as much as I enjoy the columns off the game. Newswriting
being my kryptonite and all.
May
23, 2006 - Sports Page One
With Modicum of Pitches, Ace Proves
Self
•
And here I thought I would be the only person on staff ever to
use "modicum." At least I've still got "fete," "kiosk" and other 50
centers below the "Ivy League Word of the Day."
May
23, 2006 - Sports Inside
Crisp, Kapler Get Back In Swing
•
The usual battle to make a 14-inch notebook a 20-inch
notebook. I don't want to see if I won.
May
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
Interleague Play Here To Stay,
Needs Some Tweaking
•
Sunday's Inside Baseball takes shots at Oakland, sort of, but
not before coming up with an interleague solution that's far too easy.
May
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
Club's, City's Baseball Past is Rich
•
This would have been a much better time if, like had been
hinted at, Henry Aaron showed up at the baseball dinner at the Wamsutta
Club. When he didn't, it was like I was back at college again, trying
to make something out of what my editors thought was nothing.
May
14, 2006 - Sports Inside
Yankees Are Dealing With An
Unfamiliar Health Crisis
•
Sunday's Inside Baseball benefits from being a little shorter
than normal and from analyzing a point deemed both intriguing and
compelling by critics: that the Yankees are cooked, or at least well on
the road to cooked.
May
10, 2006 - Sports Page One
For Young, 50-Game Punishment Fits
Crime
•
Much of this was actually in a Sunday column back after the
incident, the removal of which was mentioned in passing sometime this
afternoon. Because, you know, I don't deserve to know these things.
It's only my work.
May
9, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox-Yanks All About The Arms
•
Did you ever wonder what it would look like if 20 inches worth
of words were just strung together with a modicum of effort? This isn't
it, but it's far closer than I'm sure my boss was hoping for.
May
7, 2006 - Sports Inside
Bats, Not Arms Powering Blue Jays
•
Inside Baseball finishes what snuck up on me as an
eight-articles-in-seven-days stretch. The Stat was cut this week
because, well, it wasn't very good. The rant, however, stayed.
May
6, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Millar
Brings Back The Memories]]
•
It's hard to combine a notebook and a game column into one
thing. They come out crappy.
May
5, 2006 - Sports Inside
Injured Riske, Wells Show Signs of
Improvement
•
Generic notebook. Written so I could validate sitting in the
front row (with the window open) with my conscience. It all worked out.
May
4, 2006 - Sports Page One
[[Only
Time Will Tell On Pena]]
•
Another one of my favorites: the story on the day off. Course,
it was a lot better before they lost the game and Jonathan Papelbon
became the story, but deadline being deadline ...
May
3, 2006 - Sports Page One
Papelbon Taking Success In Stride
•
The notebook from a game that never happened. Had I not been
so tired, I might even have been more industrious ... not that you'd
have known that until just now.
May
2, 2006 - S-T Front Page
With Damon's Return, Rivalry Can
Get Back To Baseball
•
Whereupon I almost see Johnny Damon as smarter than all of us,
until I realize that goes against most everything I've ever believed.
May
2, 2006 - Sports Inside
Look Who (Else) Is Back at Fenway
•
I hope the utter lunacy of the Doug Mirabelli uber-ovation is
conveyed here.
May
2, 2006
The Arizona Assault Now Takes Many
Forms
•
This week's Inside Baseball.
May
1, 2006 - Sports Inside
Damon's Story Soon To Be Superceded
•
It's the sort of story I hate to write, turned into the sort
of story I'm happy with because I didn't really write the story I hate
to write. Somehow, that works out.
April
30, 2006 - Sports Inside
Time
For The Rocket Sweepstakes To Begin
•
This week's Inside Baseball.
April
26, 2006 - Sports Page One
Bumbling B's Rapidly Becoming
Region's Biggest Joke
•
I literally sat down and thought, 'Wow. I'm really pissed off
at the Bruins right now. Like, really pissed off.' This ought to have
just been called, 'Get The Rage Out.'
NOTE - As if sensing my feelings and proving I
can convey emotion, this link has
one blogger saying, "It's, umm, not exactly coherent, but I'll give him
the benefit of the doubt and assume he wrote it that way because he was
so irate with the way the Bruins have just been flushed down the
toilet." That's about right!
April
23, 2006 - Sports Inside
Sox Better Off With Foulke At The
End
•
This week's Inside Baseball. If, on the morning I left for
Florida, you told me I'd be leading the Keith Foulke bandwagon before
May 1, I'd probably have laughed at you. And told you to move, because
I was late to leave for the airport.
April
21, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox Need Bats To Get Going
•
True that, though even know, it's hard to imagine there would
be a time when anyone had to say that about the greatest offensive team
in the history of Earth.
April
21, 2006 - Sports Inside
Sox Demote Stern, Bring Up Harris
•
Once more, with feeling.
April
20, 2006 - Coastin'/Living Center Spread
Take Me Out To The Ballgame
•
The spilling of what were actually referred to as "insider
secrets." You know, the good stuff, like "Don't pay $90 to park your
car."
It wasn't my idea, but I was more than
happy to write it given the amount of time I spend up there. Plus I
spent an hour on Opening Day surreptitiously walking around the
concourse writing down concession prices, as though someone was going
to notice and call security.
NOTE - It's the story that launched a thousand
media appearances! Well, two radio appearances on different WSAR shows.
They're in Fall River. I'm sure someone listens to them.
April
18, 2006 - Sports Page One
Sox Show This Is A Different Team
•
It's a non-Ortiz walkoff! I can definitely say I enjoyed this
game more because my father and brother were downstairs in attendance,
because it felt good to know they saw the best of the season thusfar.
April
18, 2006 - Sports Page Three
Nixon Makes Strong Return To Lineup
•
The notebook, which does not include that while a good number
of people were in the clubhouse, someone played Adam Sandler's 'At A Medium Pace.' Don't know it?
Read the lyrics, then scream them as loud as you can for effect.
April
16, 2006 - Sports Page Four
Leadoff: An Open, Shut and Reopened
Case
•
This week's Inside Baseball, with 100 percent more Alex Cora
quotes than any other newspaper. And no, I never did slip up and refer
to him as Joey.
April
15, 2006 - Sports Page One
A Thrill To See Schill Back At His
Best
•
I really enjoy working on my days off far too much.
April
14, 2006 - Sports Page One
Little Things Add Up Against Sox
•
In a game where I spent most of the night unsure of what to
write, for some reason, the Sox near comeback in the ninth would have
screwed me up. Not quite sure how that works, though I'm just glad this
had nothing to do with Grady Little.
April
12, 2006 - S-T Front Page
New Additions Delight Fans At
Fenway Opening
•
This ran on the front page, so I'm told, which just made the
juxtaposition ... well, it made me think I could get away with words
like juxtaposition. As though it's ever stopped me before.
April
12, 2006 - Sports Page Three
Lineup Goes Cuckoo For Coco's Injury
•
Now that's a cute way to christen the season's first notebook.
April
11, 2006 - Sports Page One
Papi Stamped As Face of the
Franchise
•
Ortiz gets his money, because he needs it given the jewels he
already has. By the way? The Fenway improvements are awesome, and
that's based on taking about two minutes to go look them over before
yesterday's affairs. If they thought I was odd because I sometimes
bring a camera to the game before ...
April
9, 2006 - Sports Page Three
IB: Papelbon Still Short-Term
Solution In Bullpen
•
His saving a game tonight was merely a happy coincidence, and
really, so was the headline. But the 'Stat'? Pure gold. Also featuring
attendance talk, plus the great 'Enter Sandman' debate that wouldn't be
the centerpiece of my time capsule.
April
5, 2006 - Sports Page One
Barry's Hardly Baseball's Only Story
•
Ignore the fact the Web headline for the column is "COUTURE:"
This is what happens when I sort of try too hard ... if I actually
tried to hard, things would work right.
April
4, 2006 - Sports Page One
It Can't Start Much Better Than This
•
While I was watching with my chicken sandwich, I was
legitimately confused at the prospects the Sox could win. Like, when it
was 5-0, I was taken aback for a moment. I have no idea why that
happened.
April
2, 2006 - Sports Page One
Making It All Fit Together
•
The Red Sox breakdown from Sunday ... and now's as good a time
as any to say I can't remember being so amped for the baseball season.
April
2, 2006 - Sports Page Three
Breaking Down The AL East
•
Last year, I wrote figuring I'd pick the Red Sox, then picked
the Yankees and was validated. You'll never guess what happened this
year.
April
2, 2006 - Sports Page One
Under Pressure
•
The centerpiece of our baseball preview, which could have been
better if I'd actually gotten Sox psychologist Bob Tewksbury on the
phone. But I like it anyway.
March
26, 2006 - Sports Page Four
Players To Keep An Eye On ...
•
... outside the AL East, if by that I mean including Toronto
and not including Florida. Fortunately, our Web site now makes
everything almost unreadable, so no one will notice.
March
22, 2006 - Sports Page Five
Pena's Raw, But Also Worth A Try
•
The column from Tuesday's paper, which makes it seem like
nothing different happen. If Josh doesn't know I intended to write two
pieces, Josh doesn't need to know I intended to write two pieces.
March
15, 2006
Not Everyone Caught Up In March
Madness
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Inexplicably, a weekly
column about the tournament that features my 1,700th headline
complaint, since the point of the column could have been better
explained with "March Madness" replaced with "Bracketology."
March
15, 2006
Notebook: Arroyo Unshaken By Shaky
Start
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- I'll give him credit in
being far less despondent after this start, and more snarky. Though
that could have been the reality that he hadn't just made a cross-state
drive that featured a bus breakdown. I'll look back on this last time
we had together fondly.
March
15, 2006 - Sports Page One
Flushed With Success
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It's never good when,
after reading the headline, I can't remember that the story was about
Terry Francona's new contract. Though maybe with the pictures and
everything, it's better in the paper version.
March
14, 2006
Notebook: Gonzalez Shows Off His
Glove
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In the same way this
day made me a believer in Alex Gonzalez, whose value I didn't really
understand all offseason, every Red Sox fan will get there sometime in
mid-April. It'll be a very happy time, I assure you.
March
14, 2006 - Sports Page One
Getting A Rise Out of A Sinker
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When I would bury
Bronson Arroyo a few days later, it was because -- in a shocking turn
of events -- I've elevated Matt Clement past "toolsy pitcher who's
never done anything." I really hope there's more than my Arroyo musical
dislike at work.
March
13, 2006
Notebook: Papelbon Done With
Camping Spirit
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Not featured in the
text is Jonathan Papelbon's classic quote about his journalistic
ignorance: "I didn't even know the (Boston) Globe had a magazine." It
was far more funnier to the Globe people, I assure you. Kind of like
how it's funny to me the Globe writers seem to think my name is Joe.
March
13, 2006 - Sports Page One
Prospects Need Time Before Phone
Rings
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Something that could
have been something more if it hadn't been so thrown together, though
also something more if Dustin Pedroia was more of an openly chatty guy.
I'm guessing that's not something anyone else cares about.
March
12, 2006
Notebook: Pain-Free, Curt Finding
His Stride In First Start
•
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The one who wasn't pain
free? Chris Duffy, the Pirates player who took an inside pitch with his
helmet, then got chastised for not getting out of the way. Well, not
exactly, but that's sure how the Pirates felt about it.
March
12, 2006 - Sports Page One
Graffanino Bides Time
•
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The last road trip of
the road trip, the fervor was such that it looked like Graffanino would
be traded very soon. That would have been too good a break, as it would
have been if anyone really read this. As opposed to, say, all the other
stories written on him prior.
March
11, 2006
Notebook: Bard Gets His Grip on
Wakefield
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Oh yeah, they did play
an actual game today. And it did matter more than finding out which of
Josh Bard's three gloves got broken in enough in time for first pitch
... and first wild pitch.
March
11, 2006 - Sports Page One
Foulke A-OK With Progress
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Live from the back
field dugout, I marvel at how some of the other writers are able to
identify pitches as they're thrown, especially since that means they
should probably still be playing baseball.
March
10, 2006
Notebook: Arroyo Won't Dismiss This
One
•
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- In what proved to be
one of Bronson Arroyo's final appearances as a Red Sox heartthrob, the
bricks start falling into place. Also, Bill Mueller was so
non-controversial, he barely (if at all) made the notebook.
March
10, 2006 - Sports Page One
Little Different For Grady In L.A.
•
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The know still knows
how to quip, and looking back from the other side on 2003, he finally
sees it the way everybody else does. It just took him a few minutes
longer than everybody else.
March
9, 2006
Notebook: Bard Catches On To Extra
Duty Behind Plate
•
JUPITER, Fla. -- The prime beneficiary to
John Flaherty's retirement speaks to two of us, given four people made
the drive to the game. This continues what would later become a comic
obsession with backup catching.
March
9, 2006 - Sports Page One
Lowell Ready To Earn His Money
•
JUPITER, Fla. -- Day Two of the reminiscing
trip, now we're reminiscing with Marlins fans about the days when no
one had to worry whether Mike Lowell would hit .250.
March
8, 2006
Notebook: Flaherty's Retirement
Leaves Sox In A Pinch
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- On an extremely busy
first day, we pseudo-break something on the trip blog, then
follow in the next day's paper. It's journalism in the 21st century,
which shouldn't be confused with jouramlism in the 22nd century --
that'll have more telepathy.
March
8, 2006 - Sports Page One
Old 'Idiot' Pays Friends A Visit
•
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Kevin Millar returns
with Baltimore, and his black warm-up offers a slimming effect the red
just wouldn't have.
March
1, 2006 - Sports Page One
For All Bode Miller's Antics, (At)
Least He Was Honest
•
I wrote the headline this time, so when I'm bitching later
about the word 'antics,' remind me of that.
NOTE - The cavalcade of initial letters --
cavalcade meaning five -- this sparked are in the March 1, 2006,
update. They continued throughout the month. Also, among stories on the
newspaper's Web site, this was the most popular sports story and in the
top dozen overall.
Feb.
27, 2006 - SportsMonday Page Five
IB: Pedro's Ailment Spells Relief
For Red Sox
•
No "Stat That Time Forgot," but "By The Numbers" is a more
than passing stand-in. Until then, the always popular look at former
Sox players will have to do.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says Pedro Martinez's ailing toe is making the Red Sox decision
not to re-sign him look wiser by the day." Also, in the inaugural
public revelation of some Web specifics on S-T.com, this was bost the
day's most popular sports story and 13th most read overall.
Feb.
26, 2006 - Sports Page One
Family Affair At Finish Line
•
NEW BEDFORD -- A story we've written
before, but never this thoroughly ... New Bedford High's legendary
basketball coach, stewarding his senior son as they try for a state
title -- they've got an outside shot to do it, and it would be their
first in a dozen years. I like it, though I'm biased.
Feb.
22, 2006 - Sports Page One
Manny's Delay No Big Deal
•
Apparently, 'contrivoversy' translates to 'controversy' when
you don't read notes about changing my made-up words.
Remember: If you can't say anything nice, don't tell the editor in
chief you have a Web site.
Feb.
19, 2006 - Sports Page One
IB: Touching All The Bases
•
The 2006 edition of Inside Baseball kicks off with a question
and answer with Red Sox manager Terry Francona.
Honest to God. I still can't really believe it either, nor can I
believe it was buried behind the state track meet. Fortunately, no one
reads these yet.
Feb.
18, 2006 - Sports Page Two
Baseball's Spring Stories Begin Anew
•
A little review of some spring stories that have nothing to do
with the Sox. And, much as I've never written the column before, I'm
pretty sure that headline isn't feeling the freshness.
Feb.
1, 2006 - Sports Page One
After Busy Winter, Sox Sticking To
Story
•
In the end, the "presentiation" this needed was a big, red
question mark with the Sox logo in the place of the period. It looks a
lot more impressive in person, I assure you.
Jan.
27, 2006 - Sports Page Three
New Bedford Pair Set Mat Marks In
Victory
•
I happen to think it's a rather well-rounded story for one
done over the phone on the fly. At least we reconfirmed that I'm weird,
because I enjoy the small stuff as much as the big.
No one should enjoy taking high school phone calls as much as I do.
Jan.
26, 2006 - S-T Front Page
[[Around
The Bases And Back For Sox, Theo]]
•
I drove 120 miles for this, and it's far better than the one
from yesterday.
Jan.
25, 2006 - S-T Front Page
[[Theo's
Return Marks New Chapter In Sox Soap Opera]]
•
Thanks, self-explanatory front page title.
Jan.
20, 2006 - Sports Page One
Power Play
•
I have to say, I'm not enjoying the new "Cooch hates the Red
Sox all offseason" way of life, but I'm not exactly planning on shaking
it up any time soon.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that Theo's return shows that this episode was simply
about power."
Jan.
18, 2006 - Sports Page One
Classic Might Be Just That
•
One of those headlines written to fit a space ... I love
those. And here when I sat down, I thought I was going to rip the WBC.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that we all might end up watching the World Baseball
Classic...simply because there won't be anything else on at that time."
Jan.
11, 2006 - Sports Page One
Jim Ed Still Not Worthy of Hall
•
References to the chance of comedy in 2016/2017? None.
Jan.
6, 2006 - Sports Page One
Texas Ready To Take The Title
•
I actually feel a modicum of pressure, given I was so vocal
about the predicted outcome. Thankfully, the odds of me getting any
letter about it is low enough to laugh at.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture thinks that Texas is poised to break through and beat Southern
Cal tonight."
Dec.
28, 2005 - Sports Page One
Sox Could Do Worse Than Appease
Deal-Thirsty Mob
•
One of those that seemed a lot better at the end than it did
at the beginning.
Dec.
25, 2005 - Sports Page One
UNPOSTED:
Tom Pina, Kidney Transplant Bodybuilder
•
At some point, I will attempt to rectify this.
Dec.
22, 2005 - Sports Page One
Bottom Line: This Is A Huge Loss
•
You have my word ... the entire column is not that obvious. I
mean, you had no idea Bronson Arroyo was a left-handed pitcher, did you?
Dec.
13, 2005 - Sports Page One
Two Heads Won't Outshine The One
•
Still available, World Series everything! SALE! SALE! SALE!
Look at us! We've made a decision! Buy some grass!
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that two heads might not be better than one, and also
seems a little tired of the continual Red Sox soap operas."
Yeah, you could say that.
Dec.
11, 2005 - Sports Page One
Manny-Tejada Swap Short On Reality
•
This would be far more exciting than when the Montreal Expos
were supposedly moving to Boston, but ultimately is probably ending the
exact same way.
Dec.
9, 2005 - Sports Page One
Now The Sox Have Really Blown
Things Up
•
Second straight day with a column, second straight day my
headline starts with 'now.' I suppose putting the word 'Stupid' that
big in the paper might agitate some people.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that the team has shown they're not afraid to shake things
up, and they're really done that this offseason."
Dec.
8, 2005 - Sports Page One
Now Grady Has Real Chance To Prove
Himself
•
You didn't think I could really just let this slide by, did
you?
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at Grady Little getting second chance to prove himself as
a big league manager."
Nov.
23, 2005 - Sports Page One
Strongman Won't Let Injuries Stop
Him
•
Also known as, "What I Did On My Monday Vacation." It was fun
when, watching tonight's Celtics game, I got to see the team's trainer
and go, "I talked to that guy!" like a four year old.
Nov.
23, 2005 - Sports Page One
Kelliher's Return One of Few Laker
Bright Spots
•
The second of two high school football features that took me
way too long. You'd be amazed how much faster these things work when
you have the right phone number for the kid you're trying to talk to.
That headline is going to get me in trouble ... I have no doubt.
Nov.
22, 2005 - Sports Page One
Trade Just What The Sox Need
•
Sixty-four minutes, and it doesn't seem terrible. It's amazing
what happens when you sit down and realize that the trade you've been
mixed about all that is worthy of a 'Yes, this is a really good idea.'
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture writes that even Theo couldn't have written this up any better,
and that this deal could be exactly what the Red Sox needed."
Nov.
22, 2005 - Sports Page One
He Does It All
•
The first of two high school football features that I've been
working on far too long.
Just a piece of advice. When a coach tells you a kid is soft-spoken,
he's usually not kidding. Not that there's anything wrong with that,
but just go in with a few more questions than you might normally. Makes
for fewer "um" moments.
Nov.
15, 2005 - Sports Page One
In A Final Vote Between Worthy Men,
The Better Year
Won
•
As soon as A-Rod was announced the AL MVP winner, I began to
hope against hope I wouldn't really have to write because I had
absolutely nothing new to add to what I'd already said. All things
considered, this did come out far better than nothing.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says in a race between two worthy candidates the better year
won."
Nov.
8, 2005 - Sports Page One
'Red' Stove Will Be Heating Before
Too Long
•
This is what happens when your boss wants you to write an
offseason preview column, but there's really nothing that's gone on to
warrant such a column. Though really, if Hector Carrasco comes to
Boston, I'm going to feel very vindicated.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that the Red Sox hot stove will be boiling over fairly
soon. He looks at some of the likely issues."
Nov.
3, 2005 - Sports Page One
Epstein Sees Big Picture Of Life
•
One of those columns I really hope came out right, because I
walked out of Fenway with a smile on my face because I knew exactly
what I was going to write. Just seems like something that could be hard
to follow, which is sad if you think about it.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that Theo sees the big picture in life and thus is able to
move on."
Nov.
1, 2005 - Sports Page One
Three And Out: Money Can't Buy
Theo's Love
•
One of those megalomanaical nights where I got to lay out a
front page prominently featuring my own column. Some day, I can
hopefully figure out a way to show said covers off here.
Oct.
19, 2005 - Sports Page One
Theo's Caught In A Numbers Game
•
You know, I bet John Schuerholz wouldn't care if America knew
what he made per year. So why doesn't the Internet know? The Internet
knows everything!
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that Theo Epstein is caught in a numbers game with the Red
Sox."
Oct.
12, 2005 - Sports Page One
There Are Still Some Sox To Root For
•
Remember when I was winning awards for my weekly column
because the New England AP folks thought I was funny? Reading this, I
don't ... I'm just trying to remember if I deluded myself so much, I
actually faded out of reality.
Oct.
9, 2005 - Sports Page One
Change On Horizon For Sox
•
I think if I'd wanted to, I oculd have done two stories today
given the information presented. But this works just fine, and allowed
me to sleep by 12:30 in the morning.
Oct.
8, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Wait Till Last Year
•
It offers a nice beacon of hope, which is what I felt outside
given how everything ended.
Oct.
8, 2005 - Sports Page One
'El Duque' Saved It In The Sixth
•
I write some long sentences sometimes. More so in the other
story, but I'm just thinking about it now.
Oct.
7, 2005 - Sports Page One
Red Sox Bats Have To Come Back To
Life
•
Not exactly blowout worthy, but a nice day off. Though given
it's October, "day off" translates to flying across the country and
working. I love my job.
Oct.
6, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Sox Blow 4-Run Lead, Drop Game 2
•
CHICAGO -- Oh yeah. They did have a 4-run
lead, didn't they?
Oct.
6, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Wrigley, Comiskey Are Worlds Apart
•
CHICAGO -- Exactly the kind of story that
got me this job in the first place ... actually not having to write
three in a day allowed me to do it. I'd like to think people noticed.
Oct.
5, 2005 - S-T Front Page
In Game 1, White Leaves Red With A
Black Eye
•
CHICAGO -- You'd have thought this would
have been easier than it was. But upon reading it, the couple real flat
zingers show I was clearly straining. I thank you for your patience.
Oct.
5, 2005 - Sports Page One
Believe It Or Not, This One Could
Have Been A Lot Different
•
CHICAGO -- I'd have to say my favorite
story of the postseason thusfar. It just came to me during the game,
then came together really well. Got it done in not time flat, which for
me and my style is an excellent sign.
Oct.
5, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Skip Goes With Field Flexibility
Over Extra Arms
•
CHICAGO -- The notebook, which ended up a
real nice blend of live and pregame. Apparently I'm a much better
writer when there's baseball to cover.
Oct.
4, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Francona Holds Off On Playoff Roster
•
CHICAGO -- Not the greatest notebook in the
world since I skipped all the White Sox stuff, but in the context of
the deliriousness previously mentioned, it could have been worse.
Oct.
4, 2005 - Sports Page One
Boston's Big Boys
•
CHICAGO -- I may well have been delirious
when I wrote this, which isn't good considering it has been in the
works for months. But nevertheless, I'm happier with it than the
outcome of Monday Night Football.
Oct.
4, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Boston Arrives In Chicago Wary of
'Devastating' Pitching
•
CHICAGO -- The story I got filed from the
field. It'll take me at least a day to get used to every reference here
to the "Sox" meaning the Chicago variety.
Oct.
3, 2005 - Sports Page Four
Clincher Came Early, Courtesy of
White Sox
•
It was nice to count the 46 names in the box score. Since it
felt like at least 42, it was real good to confirm it down at 11 p.m.
after I'd driven back to Whale City on my own recognisance.
Oct.
3, 2005 - Sports Page Four
Curt Delivers Wild Card, Quietly
•
Well played on the title side by the new guy. Well played.
Oct.
3, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Sox Take Wild Card; Now Everybody's
Even
•
The way the scoreboard posters put Boston and top of New York,
despite them having won the division title, would be charming if it
weren't so stupid.
Oct.
2, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Sox Lose Battle For First ...
•
While in the car, I actually realized an error I'd made and
drove to work to get it changed. It then was fixed for the print paper,
but ran online wrong. This is what happens when you've embraced
technology to the fullest.
Oct.
2, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Clement Ready For Short-Rest Playoff
•
In a sad turnaround, today, the notebook is probably the best
thing I did because I had time to be thorough. All that's missing is
New York's decision to rest Mike Mussina after they won their playoff
berth.
Oct.
2, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Rotation's Rock Didn't Have It
•
After I was done, I found another great quote elsewhere on my
recorder that I wanted to use. I had no idea writing could make one so
tired.
Oct.
1, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Confident Sox Brush Off Pressure,
Yanks
•
Um, somewhere in the middle. Written for the front page, it
feels like a definite jack of all trades, master of none. But it's
better than if I slammed my head into the wall 14 times ... now that's
a sale!
Oct.
1, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Different View For Embree
•
Story of the day, but not as good as it could have been
because I couldn't get Mark Bellhorn. Stupid Yankees not opening the
clubhouse at a usable time.
Oct.
1, 2005 - Sports Page Three
What Could Have Been For Ortiz,
A-Rod
•
I have to figure this is the worst notebook I've ever written.
I actually hope it is, because I pretty much completely washed my hands
of it the second it was done. I'm glad what's there is right more than
everything else.
Sept.
30, 2005 - Sports Page One
Sox-Yankees: That Has To Be The Plan
•
The classic two-column night. I'd just sent my "Sox lose"
version and was on the phone with my boss when Ortiz tied the game.
Fortunately, it was a relatively quick rework ... I just hope it
doesn't read like one.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture agrees with Johnny Damon that Red Sox/Yankees must be part of
the divine plan." Yeah, because it's not like the third sentence starts
with "I'm more inclined to agree with Terry Francona's take" or
anything.
Sept.
25, 2005 - Sports Page One
September All About Getting To
October
•
This story would have been so much better if I had ever gotten
through to Dom DiMaggio for comment, since then it would be more than
me showing that I'm able to pore through numbers and assemble them into
coherent thoughts. I hope he was doing something important.
Sept.
23, 2005 - Sports Page One
Sox Set To Wait Until Next Year
•
The headline better not be terrible ... I laid out the cover
tonight, and thus wrote it. Though at least it may be as terrible as
the rest of the piece, which has the distinct feel of waiting a little
too long to get to the point until editing got involved.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that Sox should already be looking ahead to next year."
Well, no ... I'm saying they already are looking ahead to next year.
But I suppose I can see the confusion.
Sept.
18, 2005 - Sports Page Three
IB: Sox Not Terrible Against
First-Time Pitchers
•
This week's Inside Baseball involved me digging through career
splits and yearly numbers for something like three hours. I wish I had
ideas this good every week, because it was fun in the way that a
really, really hard workout is fun.
Not that I would know anything about working out anymore. I did eat
Chinese food tonight.
Sept.
17, 2005 - Sports Page Seven
Kapler Leaves For Surgery, Promises
Playoff Return
•
Notebook written well before game. Yawn. The postseason ticket lottery
was broken out, so it's not here.
Sept.
17, 2005 - Sports Page One
10-Inning Win A Hit For Manny
•
It used to be you'd be impressed if I said I'd called David
Ortiz's home run to right on the pitch he hit it. Now, the whole damned
ballpark is calling these things. Though it is more believeable.
Altogether not terrible, considering I had about three minutes after
the game ended to file the thing.
Sept.
16, 2005 - Sports Page One
Sox Lead Cut By A Game
•
A game story from this wondrous gem, which would have had
quotes had the rain not pushed things back 43 minutes. And, probably,
had the Sox just officially laid down after the second inning.
Sept.
16, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Kapler Will Remain A Sox Leader
•
Game notebook, where I consciously opted not to talk to Jay
Payton regarding his return to Boston. Course, he was then booed rather
voraciously, which might be a word I just made up.
Sept.
16, 2005 - Sports Page One
A-Rod Brings Total Package To The
Field
•
My half of a point-counterpoint, saying Alex Rodriguez is the
MVP of the American League. I will now duck, as to allow your thrown
stapler to fly harmlessly over my head.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "The
Standard Times engages in a on-line version of the MVP debate, with Jon
Couture playing the devils advocate and promoting ARod, since he plays
in the field, and Nick Tavares picks David Ortiz." I don't actually
think it's devils advocate, because I believe what I'm saying, but so
be it.
Sept.
13, 2005 - Sports Page One
Good Luck Figuring Out This Race
•
You have no idea how hard it is to just randomly find
something that cost $30 million. If you don't know one off the top of
your head, even Google fights to find a proper solution.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that it will be hard to figure this race."
Sept.
11, 2005 - Sports Page Three
IB: Wins Will Cost Clemens The Prize
•
In the final act of last week's Inside Baseball, it actually
did run, contrary to what the editor who was running the desk thought.
Thus this being so short, since it had the old column tacked onto the
end rather nicely. Whatever.
You'll just have to find out on your own about the 1994 Texas Rangers.
Sept.
7, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Help Coming From Pawtucket
•
The notebook no one knew was coming ... I made two rather
egregious professional errors in one night, but somehow, tomorrow is
still payday.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with
"Couture's notebook looks at relief coming from Pawtucket to help the
regulars get a little rest now and then."
Sept.
7, 2005 - Sports Page One
Ortiz Clutch As They Come
•
There's a good chance my waiting on quotes caused the whole
paper to blow deadline, but to be honest, it really felt like one of
those times when it's warranted. That doesn't make it right, but it did
allow me to fall asleep on my couch watching poker.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture records a nice conversation between Tim Wakefield and Manny
Ramirez, the knuckleball pitcher told Ramirez that Manny was going to
win the game for them. Ramirez replied that Ortiz had already staked
that claim. We know what happened next."
Sept.
6, 2005 - Sports Page One
Progress, But Still Work To Do
•
A story that really came together. Once I ditched the "I'm
gonna drive to Norton!" idea, I had the option of waiting until the end
and actually writing around the quotes. That's a real nice luxury to
have.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, leading a
paragraph with "Jon Couture writes that Schilling made some progress
yesterday, but he and the Red Sox still have work to do."
Sept.
5, 2005 - SportsMonday
Early Risers Sink Putts
•
NORTON -- After I was done, the
tournament-produced notes had a stat that "players who teed off before
noon were a combined 35 under par. The later starters were a combined
41 over par." The AP ended up using it, so I'm glad I didn't.
Sept.
5, 2005 - SportsMonday
Labor Day Weekend Presents
Possibilities For Future
•
NORTON -- What, a press conference with the
sponsor's CEO and the tournament director? Can you say notebook?
The second note is actually what used to be the end of the sidebar,
replacing some BS public relations piece I threw in because I felt like
I should. I have to say the new boss impressed me with that one.
Sept.
3, 2005 - Sports Page One
All Of A Sudden, Andrade Finds It
•
NORTON -- Really happy guy. Which I suppose
I'd be too if I'd just shot a 66 at anywhere other than a par-3 course.
Sept.
3, 2005 - Sports Page Five
Mass. Native Petrovic Can't Sustain
Hot Start
•
NORTON -- The notebook, which doesn't
include the 'New England Roundup' I put together and got broken out.
Basically, it's a stat geek's heaven to write and a reader's joy to,
well, read. At least that's what I tell myself.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "The
Standard Times' Jon Couture focuses on Northampton native Tim Petrovic
while Jim Donaldson and the Globe's Jackie MacMullen follow Rhode
Island's Billy Andrade." The link poster gave me the Petrovic link
because it was different from the other two, which works.
Sept.
2, 2005 - Sports Page One
Olerud's Bat Buoys Red Sox
•
A gamer by request since the paper was too tight for two full
Red Sox stories. Not much else to say, though they won.
Sept.
2, 2005 - Sports Page Four
Foulke Back In The Game
•
A cute little notebook -- on a day where little was stressed
-- which you or anyone else may or may not read.
Aug.
31, 2005 - Sports Page One
Nothing Sure With Schilling
•
I actually found myself slightly more optimistic about the
whole pitching thing after hearing the man speak, which I suppose means
I'm a homer. However, I allowed myself to pin it on his new platinum
blonde hair, which looks much less goofy than it did when Bill Parcells
did it.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that nothing is certain about Schilling right now, except
that he's going to work at getting better."
Aug.
31, 2005 - Sports Page One
Injury Gives Damon A Chance To Rest
... Sort Of
•
Those of you who watched said game will note Damon didn't
actually rest ... he came within a few feet of winning said game. Yeah,
let's not talk about that. After all, it wasn't the people back in the
office who look like an idiot.
Aug.
28, 2005 - Sports Page Three
IB: Red Sox Will Be Adding Some New
Faces
•
This week's Inside Baseball actually gets it right. On a night
the Red Sox blow a 6-0 lead to the friggin' Tigers, I talk about how
they blow leads. And the Stat That Time Forgot actually came up in
conversation later that night. What a magical age.
Aug.
28, 2005 - Sports Page One
Bigger Than The Game
•
The vaunted feature that sent me to Hartford, I somehow
managed to work it in. College didn't teach me the ability to BS ... it
taught me the great importance of using my ability to BS. For the
forces of good, of course.
Aug.
21, 2005 - Sports Page Three
IB: As Baseball Bucks Go, Ortiz,
Jeter Not In Same Game
•
This week's Inside Baseball comes across the stunning
revelation that Derek Jeter isn't worth $19.6 million. If only the
numbers made more of a case for it, we might have gotten somewhere
beyond where we got.
Also, see sly allusions to my current tiff regarding the merchandising
industry.
Aug.
16, 2005 - Sports Page One
This Division Race Soon To Be Sealed
•
Well, maybe no one will read it and figure I mean they'll lose
the division. Or maybe they'll actually do what I say they'll do and
everyone can be happy.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says the Red Sox are their way to their Division title since
1995." So much for the aforementioned Plan A.
Aug.
15, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Three
Another Stern Reminder Of Fate's
Surprises
•
Because this game never happened, there should be no quality
threshhold I have to meet, right? I am essentially writing about things
that don't exist.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture has an article on Adam Stern, with a couple notes on Johnny
Damon and Mike Remlinger tossed in there."
Aug.
14, 2005 - Sports Page Three
IB: Delcarmen Among League's Young
Guns
•
This week's Inside Baseball actually talks to another human
being and quotes him. However, I've not yet reached the point where I
refer to Inside Baseball as a person/thing yet, as is done with my
friend Mick's 'Rink Rap' column. You know, "Is this true? Inside
Baseball thinks so."
Aug.
14, 2005 - Sports Page One
Sox Bats Make Chicago Aces Look
Like Jokers
•
Now, delightful as this piece is, it would have been a lot
better if I had not sat where I sat in the press box. Choosing the seat
where I sat put me next to the press-box favorite: the Web columnist
who not only smells, but who enjoys talking and doesn't seem to fathom
the guy he's talking to is on deadline.
Aug.
11, 2005 - Sports Page One
Rogers' Sideshow Can't Slow Down Sox
•
Not going to lie ... I did not want to write about this, I
wanted to write about Bronson Arroyo. But apparently, because people
vehemently booed Kenny Rogers, that's what people want to read about.
Just wish I would have thought about that before the game, so I could
have collected stuff.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that Rogers' appearance did not slow down the Red Sox last
night."
Aug.
10, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Pitching Carousel Goes Round And
Round
•
You want to talk about white knuckling it ... they made a
stockpile of moves on the day BEFORE Kenny Rogers comes back. Makes me
glad I don't lug around a TV camera ... at least if he comes after me,
I can run.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that the pitching carousel for the Red Sox continues to
spin as the team brings guys in and out."
Aug.
9, 2005 - Sports Page One
It's Kids Night Out -- Thankfully
•
NEW BEDFORD -- It's a rare local column ...
spun off one of my other local columns. Feel free to read these for background.
Aug.
7, 2005 - Sports Page Three
IB: Now It's The Rotation That
Might Need Schilling
•
This week's Inside Baseball marks the grand return of The
Stat, and seemed a lot better to me until I went into the office and
the new boss started talking about the topic. Whatever that means. I'm
not even sure.
Aug.
5, 2005 - Sports Page One
Through All The Ugliness,
Everything Is Beautiful
•
No notebook, so some of the more pertinent items are rolled
into here. Not my best stuff, but well, I wasn't exactly given a whole
lot to work with.
Aug.
4, 2005 - Sports Page One
'It's Time To Pitch Again' For
Clement
•
Some semblance of a notebook ... or at least it was when I
sent it in. Knowing the length of it, I honestly don't want to look at
what it looked like in the newspaper. If I get no complaint letters for
errors I didn't make, I'll call it a winning night.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture notes the Clement is eager to get back out on the mound and get
to work, and that the only concerns he has are physical and not mental,
as he wonders about his stamina after having the time off. Couture has
a couple other items in that article, including a look at the
situations of Keith Foulke and Curt Schilling, as well as Manny
Ramirez's production." Sounds like it all got in.
Aug.
2, 2005 - Sports Page One
Palmeiro Needs To Tell The Truth
•
So cosmically, there was a reason I didn't finish my Monday
column on Sunday night. Here I thought it had been just because I was
tired of writing for one day.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture writes that Palmeiro needs to come out and tell us the whole
truth."
Aug.
1, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Two
Papelbon Debut Anything But Quiet
•
Someday, I hope I can tell people I was at his first start and
have them care. Part of an in-game notebook.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with
"Couture's notebook is similar, featuring Papelbon and some injury
notes."
Aug.
1, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Four
IB: In The End, October Mattered
Most
•
Written off the game, with all the pertinent trade talk tucked
inside.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture notes that the Red Sox focus on October is part of what kept
Manny a member of the hometown nine."
July
24, 2005 - Sports Page One
IB: A Reminder Of A Need For A
Change
•
Inside Baseball hits the front page thanks to the new regime.
Even if the new regime keeps feeling the need to play style cop,
because my affinity for cleverness isn't as clever as I think it is.
July
20, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Embree Couldn't Find His Stuff Fast
Enough
•
A notebook that grew pretty much out of control when the teams
started making deals all over the map. This is one of those days where
I couldn't allow myself to not write ... I enjoy it too much, even in
seven-day stretches.
July
19, 2005 - Sports Page One
O's Are In It For The Long Haul
•
One of the better plain old Tuesday columns I've done in a
while, I think, and I'm not just saying that because it allowed me to
sit back and watch the game without having to write. Though rest
assured that is part of it.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture tells us that the Orioles are in this race for the long haul."
July
18, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Sore Thumb Strikes Bellhorn From
Lineup
•
I also did a super short Sox notebook built around Bellhorn's
fourth-inning thumb injury. Not bad for a night off.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with
"Couture's notebook looks at Bellhorn's injury, Kapler's road back to
Fenway and a couple other items."
July
18, 2005 - Sports Page Five
Cause For Concern, But Not Panic
•
Losing three out of four to the Yankees? Well, it is. Even if
I did get a phone call encouraging something else.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that this weekend has definitely given cause for concern
regarding the Red Sox, but not panic."
July
17, 2005 - Sports Page Four
IB: Yanks Still In The Thick Of
Things
•
Inside Baseball, on a day where the material I had was a lot
less impressive than I thought it was. Course, heaven forbid I write
anything longer than this ... the readers might mutiny.
July
16, 2005 - Sports Page Five
Sox Lefty Faces Six-Game Suspension
•
A short pregame notebook highlighted by David Wells' six-game
suspension.
July
16, 2005 - Sports Page One
Sox Need Wells To Be This Good In
October
•
With the Wells suspension stuff elsewhere, all I can wish is
that he'd made a big deal about trying to throw a complete game. Though
I do thank both John Halama and Jeremi Gonzalez for holding that
precarious 17-1 lead ... storylines are always fun.
And yes, it is two straight days with similar headlines. Don't look at
me.
July
15, 2005 - Sports Page One
Schilling Has To Answer Call For
Sox To Win
•
Even without a headshot, it's the first Sox sidebar under the
new regime. I shudder to read if it got cut up in the editing process
... it feels like I'm back in college again, or at least it will for a
few weeks.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that the Sox need Schilling to perform in order to win the
division."
July
14, 2005 - Sports Page One
Hold On For Sox' Wild Ride
•
As assigned by the new boss, a second-half preview of sorts.
Though we're still trying to figure each other out, it came out better
than I thought it would. That's always nice.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture writes that we should be prepared to hold on for a wild ride in
the second half of the season."
July
11, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Two
IB: AL Proves A Puzzling Blend
•
Inside Baseball, Part Two. Know how the first half was written
as though I thought I was way off on my picks? Yeah, all the mistakes
were in the half I'm supposed to know more about. Heartwarming.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture revisits his preseason predictions." So they hit the whiffs
side ... that seems more than a bit ironic, if not oddly accurate.
July
10, 2005 - Sports Page Four
IB: First Half of NL Season
Somewhat Predictable
•
As a method of keeping myself accountable and getting to write
a little bit about all the teams I never get to, this week's Inside
Baseball revisits my divisional predictions made in spring training.
I've been quietly taking pride in choosing the Padres all year ... now
I can share it with the world!
July
5, 2005 - Sports Page One
All-Stars A Mess, But Fun
•
Well, no. They're not a mess. The AL picks are pretty much
spot on, with the NL bordering on a little funny when Morgan Ensberg
doesn't even make the Final Vote. But I can see how the feeling might
have construed that way ... it was another one of those columns that
kept changing while I wrote it.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the All Star selection process, noting that while it
is a mess, it certainly does create "buzz" for the game and is not an
easy process for the manager."
July
4, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Eight
These Sox Still Tough To Figure
•
I have a very bad feeling about these next seven games, even
if they might help the "This team is not very good" statement look a
little more right.
June
30, 2005 - Sports Page One
Mirabelli Just What The Doctor
Ordered
•
I had no intention of writing much when the day began, but
when you go up and eat two bowls of ice cream, plus a slice of pizza,
pasta salad, some various types of cut peppers and these chicken things
that were dead ringers for old-school Chicken McNuggets, you feel like
giving something back.
June
28, 2005 - Sports Page One
Indians Turn The Tables On Sox
•
It's the game story from the clear snoozer of my 21 Sox games
so far. And yes, I am keeping track.
June
28, 2005 - Sports Page One
Another Anonymous Winner In An
Anonymous Sport
•
Ahh! It's women's golf! Run for your lives! Well don't, but I'm a
realist at heart. I understand women's golf is never exactly going to
grab the public's consciousness, though really, that's exactly what the
column is about. I just wish I'd worked it that Birdie Kim is ranked
about 141st in sand saves.
June
26, 2005 - Sports Page Three
IB: Bullpen Lift Needed For Run At
Repeat
•
This week's Inside Baseball, which was written (and run) before today's
near debacle made it all the more obvious.
June
21, 2005 - Sports Page One
Too Much Of A Good Thing?
•
For all my whining about headlines, this is a better one than
I probably would have come up with. That's all I'll say for now ... I'm
interested to see how this column goes over.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture wonders if the Red Sox have gone too far by trotting the World
Series Trophy to every town in Massachusetts, renaming the left field
foul pole after Carlton Fisk, giving rings to former players and even
raffling off three rings to fans."
June
19, 2005 - Sports Page One
Offense Let Wakefield Down
•
The aforementioned story, in which I managed to play celebrity
watcher as well as baseball writer. In hindsight, I'm not quite sure
the ending really works, but it seemed at least a passable idea a
couple of hours ago.
June
19, 2005 - Sports Page Three
IB: Scioscia Could Learn Something
From Robinson
•
This week's Inside Baseball, which I'm listing first because
it's one of the better ones I've done in weeks. Having live information
always helps, as does having the time on a Saturday to do it justice.
Plus, my favorite managerial whipping boy makes a positive, and
negative, appearance.
June
14, 2005 - Sports Page One
Tyson Does Us All A Favor
•
I always wonder what went wrong when a headline feels
misplaced on one of my writings ... it's probably my fault, but I can
never really pin down why. Regardless, just know I cut out some of the better quotes solely to keep from
getting reprimanded.
June
7, 2005 - Sports Page One
Millar Or Olerud? The Debate Rages
•
Well, it really doesn't, though the fact that's the point of
the story doesn't really go with the way the story was assigned. But in
the grand headline pantheon, it could have been worse. The story could
have been too, and that's always nice.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the ongoing debate of Millar vs. Olerud."
June
5, 2005 - Sports Page One
This One Was Bad, To Say The Least
•
The headline appears to be an offshoot of my conversation with
Steve ... no hello to open, simply "Look at it this way. No matter how
bad the story is, it couldn't be any worse than the game."
June
4, 2005 - Sports Page One
Damon Takes The Hero Role
•
Back to the game story route, which is always useful for games
that can't figure out what the hell they want to be until their last
trimester. And here before the game, I thought I'd have no use for
Johnny Damon material ... makes me wish I hadn't stood there with my
recorder in my pocket.
June
3, 2005 - Sports Page One
How Long Can A Slump Last With Papi
Around?
•
There have been three walkoff home runs so far this year, and
I have been lucky enough to see them all. Back to the usual sidebar
today, which is good, since this was really one of those games where I
could go off. Sadly, however, I can fit in no reference about Ortiz's
U.S. Championship belt.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that slumps just can't last with Big Papi around. He makes
the point that while the Minnesota Twins had David Ortiz, they never
had Big Papi."
June
2, 2005 - Sports Page One
Monster Beating For Wakefield
•
I'm game story crazy, so much so I wrote for too long and
didn't have a chance to give this a true final read before I sent it.
So I already know of a couple clean-ups I'd have done in a perfect
world. This "perfect world" of course being somewhere that doesn't
actually exist, or would disappear instantly if I ever found it.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, included
with the game stories.
May
31, 2005 - Sports Page One
Unhappy Homecoming For Red Sox
•
Little different today, as I wrote a straight game story for
the Sox-Orioles game. I haven't done one ever for Boston, or much at
all since I covered the high school hoops in February. Nice change of
pace.
May
31, 2005 - Sports Page One
Will Patrick Story Have Legs?
•
Because when you're after readers for your regular weekly
column, the topics of open wheel racing, professional bowling and
women's golf are just what the people are clamoring for. They just
don't know it.
May
29, 2005 - Sports Page Four
IB: Running Down The Sox So Far
•
Headlines, piz ... oh wait, I wrote my own and laid out my own
page. The original plan wasn't to stop short of assessing the pitchers,
but inch counts made it pretty clear that was a good idea. Means I've
got some good topics on the burner for next week, which is exactly half
the battle.
May
24, 2005 - Sports Page One
Even I Care
About These NBA Games
•
I step out and make the bold proclamation I've been won over
by NBA basketball ... even if it's only for a week. Let this be the
sign that the games will immediately cease to be entertaining and the
two series will be lopsided.
That's just how things happen around here, I think.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that the NBA playoffs have gotten his attention."
May
22, 2005 - Sports Page Four
IB: Interleague Play Rears Its
Familiar Face
•
This week's Inside Baseball returns in its non-awful form,
with news about my plan to save Interleague Play and the Hall of Fame
Game. And there's a quote from George Steinbrenner, which is always
fun. Least I think so, and really, isn't that all that matters?
May
22, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Tough Night For Sox
•
They played Atlanta on a rainy night where baseball looked
like an impossibility, and it didn't go real well. This is what got
come up with ... I swear I've seen it before. You know what they say
about The Standard-Times ... ten creative headlines, or your pizza's
free.
May
21, 2005 - Sports Page One
Miller All We Had Hoped For
•
Were I still just a fan, Wade Miller would have entered the
"consider dropping $140 because I can't wear the No. 5 jersey to the
ballpark anymore. I almost bought a Varitek one last season despite
this, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I'd probably go with the
red, white numbers, name on the back. They're nice.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that we saw the Wade Miller we had hoped for last night."
May
15, 2005 - Sports Page Four
IB: Could Manny Be Fading To
Mediocrity?
•
This week's Inside Baseball, which is itself an advertisement
as to why I should never work Saturdays. It was so rushed, the stat
that time forgot turned into the quote that time forgot, which itself
forgot to be exciting. I'm such a perfectionist, even if I've decided
"Inside Baseball" is rapidly becoming the best thing I've ever created.
May
12, 2005 - Sports Page One
The Enigma That Is Barry Zito
•
Bit of a different route today, as I look at a former local
Cape Leaguer that I'm assuming has some stronger local following
because of it. Of course, actually speaking to him would have made the
story a lot better, but things like that are probably slightly harder
than you think.
May
11, 2005 - Sports Page One
All Hands On Deck
•
The contributions, they're coming from everywhere. Even from
the first baseman who had no home runs two days prior ... how'd George
Peppard always put it? I love it when a plan comes together?
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the Red Sox using all hands on deck to keep themselves
winning."
May
11, 2005 - Sports Page One
Damon Leading Sox Offense
•
I'd like to thank the man from Oakland who felt the need to
ask Damon twenty minutes worth of fluffy questions pregame, just enough
to ensure I had to wait until afterward to talk to him.
No, really sir. I'm glad you got everything you needed, and in the
future, remind me to spear you in the kneecaps.
May
10, 2005 - Sports Page One
Our Thoughts Again Turn To 'Toine
•
Written from Fenway Park, no less, it's the latest Celtics
debate made by someone who tries hard to follow them. Someone who is
constantly caught up in how not enjoyable they are to watch.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the enigma that is Antoine Walker...should he stay or
should he go?"
May
9, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Three
IB: New Beginnings On An Ugly Day
•
BOSTON -- It's Inside Baseball, it's a
column from Fenway Park, it's the result of what happens when I spend
most of the game coughing and being glad I'm not outside. If I'd had
tickets to Game 2, let's just say I wouldn't have seen the end.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, leading
what I call the Others Receiving Votes category with "Jon Couture looks
at a day of new beginnings at Fenway and has several baseball related
notes as well. Among the things he mentions is the death of clubhouse
assistant Bernie Logue, who apparently fell to his death from the sixth
floor of a parking garage following the Celtics game on Saturday night."
May
3, 2005 - Sports Page One
Serious Steroids Policy Still Awaits
•
This reminds me ... it's NEAPNEA time again. Anyone who has
any major suggestions on what I should enter, feel free to send them my
way. I've done a few good features this year, even if the columns have
been a little weak.
Oh, and because you hate reading about the steroid policy, you can have
a pass.
May
2, 2005 - S-T Front Page / SportsMonday Pages 10-14
Bodybuilding Part Two: The Payoff
•
So, do they win the competition, and what comes next? I know,
and now you, dear reader, can too.
May
1, 2005 - S-T Front Page / Sports Pages One, Six and Seven
Bodybuilding Part One: Fiercely
Determined
•
Meet the Resendes, and see why supermarket bread delivery will
never be looked at the same way again.
April
28, 2005 - Sports Page One
Heads Bobble In Red Sox Nation
•
I really thought I'd be the only one to notice the Bobble
Ankle doll ... then AP ran with it. Jerks.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture isn't quite ready to panic yet, but he could be starting down
that path." And here I'd hoped no one would notice this.
April
28, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Line Drive Shakes Up Bride-To-Be At
Fenway
•
Because I was back in the office due to the rainout, this
ended up on my desk. I was so just being polite when I said I'd do it
if needed.
There is a photo, however, I'd tend to think being hit in the face with
a ball would cause a little more swelling. Good to know for my future
unathletic endeavors.
April
26, 2005 - Sports Page One
Baltimore Finally Puts The 'O' In
O's
•
For a game that was so cut and dry, I couldn't for the life of
me figure out what exactly to write. Somehow, I blame having to wait an
hour for my credential at the press window. In the end, I suppose it's
a lesson: You really do have to hassle people, even if you don't really
want to.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the Orioles "O" finally waking up against the Red Sox."
April
25, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Four
IB: Back-To-Back Shutouts Boost
Hopes
•
Inside Baseball was delayed a day, but here it is. We're
dealing with season starts this week, and the pitching performances of
David Wells and Matt Clement. Plus, I remember my all-time favorite
baseball streak.
And I take shots at the Dodgers, which I fear will be something I get
to do a lot more of as the season goes on.
April
19, 2005 - Sports Page One
Manny's Day In The Sun
•
How nice it was to cover a game that wasn't Sox-Yankees can't
be understated. I could see the field, I could think, I could write, I
could talk to people. Also, they served breakfast.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that yesterday was a holiday from regular baseball and
instead fans were treated to the full Manny Ramirez experience."
Mentioned before this Gordon Edes piece,
I have no idea if that means anything.
April
17, 2005 - Sports Page Five
IB: An In-Depth, First-Hand Look At
... The Pirates?
•
PITTSBURGH -- I suppose this is what passes
for Inside Baseball. When I was done with this, I wondered what exactly
they would do with it. Even the looking back at Kevin Romine was more
relative. However, I'm attempting to expand the reader's world view,
and Pirates-Cubs games do just that.
At least that's what I tell myself.
April
14, 2005 - Sports Page One
Sox Squandered A Decent Outing
•
On the ride home, I stopped to think about just how quickly I
have to churn out a story after a night game. For example, this one
ended at 10:18 p.m., and I filed at 11:30 after about a half hour
downstairs. Fortunately, the initial ideas about the new ace getting a
very Pedro-like offensive performance held up.
Whether it's better than this similar piece
is an exercise for the reader.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture writes that it was a decent outing for the Red Sox ace, but
that his offense did nothing to pick him up."
April
12, 2005 - S-T Front Page
New Champs ... Vintage Performance
•
Even if I didn't know it was for the front page, that's where
it ended up. It's the early season for everyone, and I really feel like
I have to work back into midseason form ... though that will be a lot
easier when there's not 147 media members in a space fit for far fewer.
That is the best headline I've seen one one of my stories in a while.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at a vintage performance by Tim Wakefield and the World
Champions."
April
10, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Red Sox Nation Is Ready To Savor
The Moment
•
For the front page, this is the last story I have to write
that prominently talks about last year and events well past happening.
You probably don't understand how happy I am about that.
Well, you do if you notice this story is all filler.
April
10, 2005 - Sports Page Five
IB: Sox Owning Rivera? Wishful
Thinking.
•
This week's Inside Baseball is all about closers sucking.
Though the headline isn't wrong, it's not exactly right either. That
said, I'm not sure how I would have topped it, though "Rivera
Domination More Than Merely Head Games" works.
Maybe I'll start writing my own headlines.
April
5, 2005 - Sports Page One
One Bad Night For Sox
•
A follow-up for my regular weekly column, with quotes and
general clubhouse insanity. Now let's never speak of the opener again,
because I'm pretty sure after all that, you're getting repeat material.
Unless you don't know the David Ortiz "pink shirt" story.
April
4, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Twelve
Yanks' First-Day Domination Not
New
•
NEW YORK -- The opener notebook for sports,
with some pregame items, some in-game items and a general mix of things
you might find interesting. I'm going to enjoy doing these this year, I
think ... never had to before.
April
4, 2005 - S-T Front Page
A Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry Redux
•
NEW YORK -- The front page story for the
opener. Written pregame, the goal was to make you think it wasn't.
Please don't tell anyone, as these sorts of insider secrets are better
served for an NBC special exposing us all as frauds.
April
3, 2005 - Sports Page Seven
IB: Keeping Tabs On Sox Of Memories
Past
•
NEW YORK -- This week's Inside Baseball in
the midst of so much other baseball, previewing the AL West and giving
you all the Dave Roberts news you could ever want. This week's state
that time forgot? I forgot it.
April
3, 2005 - Sports Page Six
It's A Brand New Ballgame In The
Bronx
•
NEW YORK -- The Pope's death pushed this
"live from New York" off the front page and inside the sports section.
Imagine my joy on finding this out after trudging around a saturated
Manhattan all day to do it ... though I'd have to say I agree with the
editorial decision.
April
3, 2005 - Sports Page Five
AL East Is A Two-Man Race ... Again
•
'05 BASEBALL PREVIEW -- An extended preview
of the AL East, in the vein of those I've been doing in Inside
Baseball. I think this is the first year in at least five I'm picking
the Yankees to win the division, even if the writing of this actually
had me questioning the decision.
April
3, 2005 - Sports Pages Two & Three
25 Men, One Dream: Meet Your 2005
Boston Red Sox
•
'05 BASEBALL PREVIEW -- In my mind, the
core of the baseball preview -- capsules of every player on the active
roster. Twenty-eight guys, all of which I can now name cold ... even
Ramon Vasquez.
Really, not something I should be bragging about, since it should be
common knowledge by this point I've written so much.
April
3, 2005 - Sports Page One
Everyone's Happy ... But Will There
Be Joy In October?
•
'05 BASEBALL PREVIEW -- The visual lead in
the print edition. This was the last thing I wrote before going to New
York, and it kept me up late because I spent most of Friday watching
"Seinfeld" reruns to clear the TiVo out. Yeah, some of these have
nothing to do with the actual stories.
April
2, 2005 - Sports Page One
Farm Fresh: Sox Are Building A
System
•
'05 BASEBALL PREVIEW -- Originally written
for the preview, it ran the day before. Just a slightly more than
cursory overview of the growing Red Sox farm system ... I never did
make the fact box I wanted to put with it.
March
29, 2005 - Sports Page One
Ford A Fitting Savior For UMass
•
More for one of two files: Either the "Things I Think Are
Interesting Stories" or "Things I'm Saying You Should Care About,"
depending on your perspective. Odds of my receiving good-natured guff
about this column from a higher-up opened 3-to-2 at the Stardust in Las
Vegas.
March
27, 2005 - Sports Page Six
IB: Bonds's Absence A Giant Problem
In San Francisco
•
This week's Inside Baseball is 100% indignance free, and
includes 300% more useless statistical knowledge. Useless, but
entertaining!
March
22, 2005 - Sports Page One
Prepare To Be Bowled Over By Hockey
•
It was just fun to write ... felt like the columns I sent in
that won me third in NEAPNEA what feels like seven years ago. Got in
some shots, cracked some jokes and made a case for NCAA hockey that no
one will probably care about. Too bad a reader's letter will probably
take me down a peg sometime Tuesday.
March
20, 2005 - Sports Page Six
IB: Fans Hold The Key To Baseball's
Steroid Dilemma
•
That's not really the point at all, and I'm pretty sure is a
recycled headline, but this is this week's Inside Baseball. In fact,
that headline is totally not the point at all. It's all new material, I
swear. About how baseball got away with their steroid choices.
Just kind of fits with everything else from today, when you come down
to it. Right down to the spending the night eating semi-burned food and
not watching a high school basketball classic.
March
18, 2005 - S-T Front Page
It All Comes Down To Forward
Thinking
•
Everyone else who wrote columns on this seems to be going on
Mark McGwire's refusal to answer questions. Which is fine, though it
isn't exactly shocking if you read Canseco's book.
March
13, 2005 - Sports Page Four
IB: Baseball's Power Brokers Are
All Over The Map
•
This week's Inside Baseball, with the aforementioned power
brokers and more than you ever wanted to know about the NL West. Well,
unless you're Matt Bruce ... in which case, you know far more baseball
than I ever will.
Just writing it makes me want to get a Padres jersey.
March
8, 2005 - Sports Page One
Madness Has Already Begun
•
Let it be known I watched exactly zero of the Red Sox-Yankees
exhibition game live (it was taped for work reasons) and instead opted
for the entirety of Championship Week action. Well, at least until the
Gonzaga-St. Marys game got boring at the end.
March
8, 2005 - Sports Page Six
IB: Spring Means Nothing ... And
Everything
•
Clearing up the debate on just how I feel about springtime
baseball.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture hits on a number of baseball subjects, but also looks at the
BostonDirtDogs situation. The story is still news out there, especially
in the blogging world, despite the silence coming from Boston.com."
Though the story ran Sunday but was only put on the Web on Tuesday, it
was the most-clicked story of the day by more than a 2-to-1 margin --
471 hits to no more than 235 for anyone else.
March
1, 2005 - Sports Page One
Celtics Haven't Stayed The Same
•
It's about Antoine Walker. I know I usually describe more than
that here, but I have a 9:30 a.m. appointment to be told how my wisdom
teeth are going to be hacked out of my skull. The energy is low.
The next day, the AP runs a news story about essentially the exact same
idea as this column, proving I do have my ear down to what the press is
doing.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that the Celtics are changing right before our eyes."
Feb.
27, 2005 - Sports Page Four
IB: Finally, The Talk Turns To
Actual Baseball
•
If you squint while reading this, you might think I enjoy
exhibition baseball games.
Feb.
22, 2005 - Sports Page One
Hockey Lives On Without NHL
•
One of those classic columns where the thing I thought I was
writing about at the start isn't the thing I'm writing about at the
finish. The best part about these columns? They take about four hours
to write.
Though I did learn more than I ever wanted to know about NBA attendance
figures.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that hockey is alive without the NHL."
Feb.
20, 2005 - Sports Page Four
IB: It's Magic Hour For Invitees
•
More than you ever wanted to know about Josias Manzanillo.
Why? Because given I'm not in Florida, I have to hit with something
you're not getting anywhere else.
Feb.
17, 2005 - Sports Page One
Some Answers Should Start Trickling
In
•
In honor of pitchers and catchers, the S-T's "Red Sox preview"
in the loosest sense of the word. The third straight day with a column,
which I'm sure would be some kind of extremely unimpressive record if I
cared to look it up.
Of course, this page would be where I look it up, so in scanning down
... it's not, really. Maybe for non-on-the-road coverage.
Feb.
16, 2005 - Sports Page One
Story Of 'Juiced' One Well Worth
Telling
•
I bought it, read it in a day and here you are. I'll say it
right now ... it's better than you probably think it is, and depending
on your financial situation, it might even be worth the $20. Or you
could just ask for my copy on loan.
He makes a heck of an argument, and the beauty of it is it's an
argument he has little to do with.
Feb.
15, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Sox Championship Icon Takes On Life
Of Its Own
•
DART, MAT, ACUSH, FAIR, NB -- Many
datelines, many people, one duck in a jester hat.
I'll be honest ... I'm not exactly pleased with how this came out.
Covering what was essentially five different events, there's a lot of
very good stuff that got left out simply because of the limited space I
had. It's probably still fine, but I'd definitely go another route if I
had it to do all over again.
Feb.
13, 2005 - Sports Page One
(The First) Inside Baseball:
Whirlwind: It's Been A Busy
Offseason For The Sox
•
Welcome to my yet-to-be-named Sunday baseball column. Please
note it's equal to a six-page essay, and it's not all Red Sox -- each
week, it'll be a Sox header, with "other" to follow.
Today, the Tigers go to the shed ... by the end of the season, I'll
surely have enemies in every baseball town in the land ... plus
Pawtucket!
Feb.
11, 2005 - Sports Page One
Old Colony Girls Get Even With
Tri-County
•
ROCHESTER -- An excellent high school
basketball game, with the home team (12-4, 10-1) beating a Tri-County
(15-1, 10-1) side they'd fallen to earlier in the season. The
excitement in a 45-41 game is just as strong as in one with more
scoring ... that's what you say when you grew up watching 50-47 UMass
vs. Temple barnburners.
Feb.
8, 2005 - Sports Page One
We Remember How Philly Feels --
Barely
•
After I finished writing this, I put together a statbox of
absurd numbers from this four-year run -- something like 1.3 million
people have watched a Patriot game in Foxboro since their last home
loss, which was 779 days ago. Perhaps the most fun discovery was the
Revolution haven't screwed up the "last New England pro team to miss
the playoffs."
For that reason, I guess I should be glad the Whalers left.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that it wasn't too long ago that Boston fans were a lot
more like Philly fans in terms of being championship starved." It's
good to know S-T stories can still get a mention if they're not the
'big column' featured on the paper's Web page.
Feb.
6, 2005 - Sports Page One
This Matchup Is No Fluke
•
I'm not sure exactly what this is, but it at least started out
as a bit of a mea culpa regarding Tuesday. It didn't so much end up
that way, but honestly, I'm kinda starting to worry about being a
baseball writer now. Not getting sent to the Super Bowl will make that
happen.
Feb.
1, 2005 - Sports Page One
Philadelphia Faithful Often Fly Too
Far
•
Given how many people I know from the Philly area, and
Pennsylvania in general, I probably haven't properly explained how
irrationally I'm digusted by the masses of the city's fans. Suffice to
say, that's no longer the case.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that Philadelphia fans often go too far."
Jan.
25, 2005 - Sports Page One
Another Amazing, Predictable Win
For Pats
•
PITTSBURGH -- The Tuesday follow-up, since
we'd had to file right at game's end the previous night. I feel like
this one really ties up my whole weekend of coverage, and of the four,
it's probably my favorite. Not that I thought any of them stunk.
Honestly, this was one of those that I finished, read it over again,
and said "Wow. That's really good." Sometimes, everything just falls
together right.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks back at yet another amazing, yet predictable win for the
Patriots."
Jan.
24, 2005 - SportsMonday Page Four
Pittsburgh Fans Left Waiting
•
PITTSBURGH -- The post-game column, written
with a Steelers angle because, honestly, the reaction of their fans and
their constant failures was much more interesting to the writer in me
than another New England blowout.
As the columnist, I think it's my job to take what I feel is the most
compelling angle and expand upon it. Especially when I'm flying blind.
You be the judge.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at Pittsburgh fans, disappointed again by the Patriots."
Jan.
23, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Steelers Usually Fall Short
•
PITTSBURGH -- For Sunday's front page,
after we couldn't get into Heinz to take pictures of the playing
surface, what I felt anyway was a nice marriage of all things preview.
Others, as it turned out, didn't feel that way.
Perhaps the nicest part about this story was getting to hang out by PNC
Park again, to the point of where I took a picture I'd taken going on
four years prior again. Oh, how things have changed since then ...
Jan.
22, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Steelers Notebook: Steelers Have
Plenty Of History ...
•
PITTSBURGH -- A simple notebook on the
other team cobbled from research, press conferences and the like.
Nothing much to read after the fact, really.
Jan.
22, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Pittsburgh Fans Steel For Battle
•
PITTSBURGH -- For Saturday's front page,
photographer Mike Valeri and I covered the official Steelers pep rally.
I can't say enough how much I now understand why Ben Roethlisberger had
the top-selling jersey in the NFL this season.
Before writing this, I did a radio interview with a former S-T employee
where I picked the Steelers to win. The party did not, in fact, freeze
my brain.
Jan.
18, 2005 - Sports Page One
Rematch Will Be A Battle ... Seriously
•
Three columns in three days, which may in fact be leading to a
"Good News/Bad News" in the coming days. For now, simply bask in my
ability to create more wordplay per square inch than ever before.
It's an art form that replaces the high school days where I try to work
names like Martha Stewart into columns just to see how far I could
stretch the term "context."
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture asserts that the game will be a serious battle."
Jan.
17, 2005 - S-T Front Page
Peyton Who?
•
FOXBORO -- Even though the column has
little to do with Manning, it gets the "Front Page of the Paper"
headline treatment. It's still there, however, and that counts for
something.
First one filed from the road in a while, which is something I really
enjoy. Not just because I feel totally qualified to do it now, but more
because it's always nice to get a seat placard with a name on it for
the collection.
Jan.
16, 2005 - Sports Page Three
Pressure Is On Peyton
•
If the Manning family has a Christmas card list, I'll now not
ever be on it.
It's disturbing to note just how ineffective Manning has been when it
matters. It almost makes you feel bad he's been made the second coming
of Dan Marino, until you realize he is the second comeing of Dan Marino.
Jan.
11, 2005 - Sports Page One
Talk Is Cheap, But Game Won't Be
•
Now is probably a good time to apologize to Patriots fans
everywhere. Given I'm covering Sunday's Pats-Colts game, Indy is pretty
much a Lock of The Week to win. Sorry about the dynasty and all.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that most talk and hype leading up to big games is empty,
but this matchup Sunday will be well worth waiting for."
Jan.
4, 2005 - Sports Page One
Maybe No. 1 Isn't As Important As
We Think
•
I'm very honest with you all here, and as such, I feel it's
just fair to say ... I've written better than this. Not that I don't
stand by my work, but let's just say there was some rushing done.
And Pete Carroll has a way of discrediting such stuff with pumped and
jacked-itude.
Dec.
28, 2004 - Sports Page One
Twelve Months Worth Recalling
•
At the end of 2002, I submitted an awful recap column written
in the hours before I went to Disneyland. In 2004, I think I more than
made up the difference.
Anytime I can squeeze out even a few more inches about mini golf, I
consider it a success.
Dec.
25, 2004 - Sports Page Two
Sox' Celebration Will Live Forever
•
Part of the paper Christmas package, where each person on the
staff wrote about their greatest sports memory. I was the only one to
pick the Red Sox, although part of that was by design.
Apparently, a fellow member at my gym loved it. That's good enough for
me.
Dec.
21, 2004 - Sports Page One
It's Not About The Money ...
Riiiiight
•
C.R.E.A.M. If you don't get it, look into it.
Though really, I'm just happy to get to make a Chappelle's Show
reference after a week of going, "Yeah! / OK! / What?!" because of VH1.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture notes that being a fan is more and more about rooting for the
uniforms. He looks at the derision being directed towards Pedro for
wanting money and Ricky Williams for giving up money."
Dec.
14, 2004 - Sports Page One
Farewell Goodwill? Martinez Earned
It
•
Not an underrated writeup for netting me angry letters, but
only because this is crying out for people to tell me I'm a shill for
rich assholes. Come on, punks. Don't make me bait you any more openly.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture insists that Pedro has earned the goodwill of Red Sox fans as
he says farewell to Boston."
Dec.
7, 2004 - Sports Page One
The Goal Is Still To Score, Right?
•
This seems an underrated choice for 'column that gets me a
whole bunch of angry letters.' After all, it does sort of generally
spit in the face of sportsmanship and come out in realistic support of
the BCS. Citizens, to your keyboards!
Nov.
30, 2004 - Sports Page One
DVD Is Great, But The Memories Were
Greater
•
Before anyone brings it up, the fact that I call the
production scattershod, then write a column in somewhat the same way is
not by accident. It's called "overemphasizing the point."
Also, this is the latest in my "Captain Obvious" line of columns. Next
week, I boldly state, "The NHL should shut up and play."
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture has a look at the World Series DVD."
Nov.
23, 2004 - Sports Page One
Can't We All Just Get Back To Sports
•
I hate the headline, since I'm pretty sure it's a repeat of a
previous column. The piece isn't, but it does fall under of my general
category of thinking other people are stupid.
However, I really think the headline makes it worse. I am impossible to
craft such things for.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture just wants to get back to sports. Enough of towels and brawls.
He also takes ESPN's Sunday Night football telecast to task for
incompetence." Gross incompetence.
Nov.
16, 2004 - Sports Page One
Labor Pains Seem To Be Avoidable
•
Since the day I was hired, I've always dreamed of this moment
... the day I could get the name of Samuel Gompers into the sports
section.
What could be the classic case of the well-written Couture column that
doesn't really say anything. Hey, I don't think so, but I'm just
looking out for the viewpoints of others.
Nov.
9, 2004 - Sports Page One
Lights, Camera, Red Sox
•
Making my grand return to the weekly column, a story on a
local filmmaker whose thesis at Columbia film school is a hell of a
piece involving the Red Sox. Read it if you like film, or me, or the
Red Sox, or ... just read it.
That's what we call "reaching out to the masses."
Oct.
29, 2004 - Sports Page One
Saving Their Best For Last
•
ST. LOUIS -- The story from the field, in
between the moments of people just leaping around like idiots and
pouring beer on each other.
And everything else.
Oct.
28, 2004 - Sports Page One
Francona's Faith Paid Off
•
ST. LOUIS -- Written before Game 7, the
story of Francona's rise during these playoffs is almost as impressive
as the team's general comeback. He did nothing less than top three of
the best managers in the game.
Oct.
28, 2004 - S-T Front Page
It's Finally Over
•
ST. LOUIS -- Here it is. The story every
New England writer has waited their whole career to pen.
And mine went on the front page of the newspaper.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that many things are finally over, but he doesn't want
this morning to be one of them."
Oct.
27, 2004 - News Page Seven
Meet Me In St. Louis -- It's Nice
Here
•
ST. LOUIS -- The story wasn't bad ... the
headline just makes it seem that way.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that St. Louis is a nice place."
Oct.
27, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Martinez Makes Most Of His Moment
•
ST. LOUIS -- They told me at the paper the
story would have made more sense had I just stuck to Pedro.
I think Manny winning the MVP means I'm right ... if you keep track of
such things.
Oct.
26, 2004 - S-T Front Page
A Tale Of Two Baseball Cities
•
ST. LOUIS -- The city is such a good
baseball town, I got two stories out of it. That's a lot of milking.
And a whole lot of fan chatter.
Oct.
25, 2004 - SportsMonday Page Five
Fighting The ALCS Hangover
•
The pregame story, it is far less sucky than yesterday's
pregame story because I seem to have a point. As a writer, having a
point is always a pretty good thing to have going for you.
Oct.
25, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Curt Schilling Is Absolutely The
Real Deal
•
No, that's really the headline. Totally serious ... look it up
yourself! Yeah, I'm thinking they were just desperate to fill space
near deadline. They've been working hard too.
I can only hope if he reads it, he isn't immediately offended.
Oct.
24, 2004 - Sports Page Two
Dramatic? Yes. Fast-Moving? Not So
Much.
•
Clearly this was a better idea in my head, though the wireless
Internet deciding to conk out certainly didn't make things any easier.
Had the game not decided to speed up, then slow down post-deadline?
Yeah, maybe that too.
Oct.
24, 2004 - S-T Front Page
At World Series, Everybody Is On
Stage
•
It was so surreal that they were actually playing the World
Series at Fenway Park, though the surreality ended when the press line
to get in was 45 minutes long.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with
"Down on the South Coast, Jon Couture of the Standard Times has the
common fans' take with $$$ signs attached."
Oct.
23, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Players Focus On Baseball's Top
Prize
•
The off-day story is always interesting for me, because so
many seem fascinated that I have to work on a day there's no game. If
they only knew we didn't even get fed for free on those days, they
might actually feel bad for me.
Oct.
22, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Players Celebrate Victory, As A Team
•
The story of the clubhouse celebration, of which I hope
someday I can look back on and truly appreciate. I couldn't help while
I was in there, in the moments I wasn't hustling to collect material,
wishing that no press were there and it was just the players' moment.
And I'm completely serious.
Oct.
21, 2004 - S-T Front Page
World-Class Comeback
•
NEW YORK -- The Game 7 gamer, which we will
also call "The Money Shot." I don't know if it's as good as what I
filed after last year's Game 7 collapse, but I do know it was much
easier to write not feeling like I was going to black out at any second.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture writes that 'collapse' has a new spelling this morning."
Oct.
21, 2004 - Sports Page One
Boston No Longer Feeling Inferior
•
NEW YORK -- The Game 7 pregame piece. They
asked the both of us to file some sort of story that could stand up
even after the game result was known, and I was left to write something
good, but not use too much of the stuff I'd collected for the postgame
story.
On the plus side, um, they didn't want it very long.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that after last night, Boston has no reason to feel
inferior to the Yankees."
Oct.
20, 2004 - Sports Page One
A Big Performance On The Biggest
Stage
•
NEW YORK -- The Game 6 gamer. About all the
non-baseball fan has to know about Curt Schilling is the procedure he
underwent just so he could pitch in this game had never been done
before, and thus had to be tested on a cadaver. That's pretty much Sox
vs. Yankees in a nutshell.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture writes that the stage doesn't get any bigger than the one that
Schilling step up onto last night."
Oct.
19, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Back To New York
•
No matter what happens from here on out, I have been witness
to even more baseball history. I'd like to think some of my fellow
press members will grow to accept that viewpoint as time passes, but I
have waning faith that is the case.
Really, a loss in Game 6 just wouldn't hurt as badly now.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with both
"Jon Couture looks at what is turning into an amazing series," and a
pullout quote of my conclusion. I dare say that's never happened.
Oct.
18, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Red Sox Nation Still Believes
•
In the ninth, I filed a story written as though the Red Sox
lost. I then wrote this from it, filing in the 11th when I was beyond
sure the Red Sox would win, forcing us all to comeback and do this all
over again.
I hate them so much.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that Red Sox nation still believes." They do, and you know
what? We're all poor, poor suckers.
Oct.
17, 2004 - Sports Page Three
A Big Crowd, But Nothing To Cheer
For
•
This is what gets written when your deadline hits in the
seventh inning. Which is a shame, because not including that this was
the one-year anniversary of Game 7 is a mighty crime.
The only reason this series goes back to New York is because fate
doesn't want me to have an eye appointment ever.
Oct.
15, 2004 - Sports Page One
Things Look Different From The
Other Side
•
On the train ride back from New York's Penn Station, I was
sitting next to a man who watched both DVD episodes of Married: With
Children and ripped episodes of Family Guy. Looking at him, he did not
look like the type who would enjoy either of these programs.
Not being prejudiced is very important.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the attitude and atmosphere of New York." I'm just
glad it wasn't "Jon Couture writes a column about the series after he
takes a nap," though that would have been cool too.
Oct.
14, 2004 - S-T Front Page
No Support For Pedro As Sox Fall
•
NEW YORK -- The name "Steve Trachsel" was
in this until I realized that I was the only person still bitter about
Pedro losing to him 1-0 on Patriots' Day 2000.
If this series ultimately kills me, it is this game that will have been
the beginning of the end.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says Pedro was once again a victim of no run support."
Oct.
13, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Too Little, Too Late For Red Sox
•
NEW YORK -- At various points during this
game, I had what ended up my conclusion as my lead, wrote suggested
headlines all including a play on "Curt Shelling," and stopped until
Mike Mussina actually lost his perfect game. I also timed the singing
of 'God Bless America' at 1:07.
These things need to be tracked.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture writes that game one certainly lived up to the hype, perhaps
not in the pitching of Schilling, but in the rest of the game." I
suppose it is kind of a game story, though it's a pretty crap at being
that.
Oct.
12, 2004 - S-T Front Page
More Than Just Baseball
•
NEW YORK -- Painting the picture of the
rivalry for a front-page audience. This is of course easier than
painting it for a sports audience, since I don't have to cite
thirty-seven pages of stats to prove what I'm saying.
It was just nice to actually get a seat in the "Print Media Only" work
room for a change, even if the Yankees don't apparently make enough as
an organization to fire up a little wireless Internet for the writers.
Oct.
11, 2004 - Sports Page One
It's All Coming Together For
Francona
•
Ah, the classic off-day piece. I'll be saving the back story
of its writing, including how I got sidetracked by an episode of "Law
and Order: Criminal Intent" when I'm featured on the upcoming show,
"Inside The Writer's Studio."
Course, that just made me remember I was in Feeding Hills tonight. I
forget about these things sometimes.
Oct.
9, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Sox Sweep With Style
•
It was the 16th Red Sox game I've seen this year, and yet the
ending was the same as the first -- David Ortiz, extra innings. Course,
after 4:11, my first instinct was "Thank God. I'll still have a couple
hours to write."
Honestly, if that's not a sign I'm maturing, I don't know what is.
Oct.
8, 2004 - Sports Page One
The Calm Before The Storm
•
This was supposed to go on the front page of the whole
newspaper, but was moved back to the sports section because "it didn't
have it."
Personally I really like it, though that could just be because I was
standing right next to David Eckstein and noted, "Wow. I'm taller than
you."
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with
"Lenny Megliola and Jon Couture look at the buzz and booming business
around Fenway." Lenny interviewed at
the bars around Fenway, but sadly, he probably didn't watch the game there.
Oct.
5, 2004 - Sports Page One
Sox Hope Pedro's Still Pedro
•
I'm not exactly confident about one former ace pitching in
these playoffs. The knowledge he may be on the way out doesn't help
either, not that I'm the binding force behind anything anyway.
I'm just amazed there are so many still assuming he'll just be the man.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says the Sox hope Pedro can show glimpses of the old Pedro this
month." That is what the quotes say, but ... I suppose that's not
exactly what I say.
Oct.
5, 2004 - S-T Front Page
It's A Clean Slate At The Plate
•
It's always a good day when you can see my headshot in a
newspaper box selling the S-T. Especially since the words and process
"dumbed down" got thrown with this one at least three times.
They just didn't want a lot of stats, which is knew but could only
delived so much. I'm not yet at the place in my career where I can make
outlandish statements and not back them with evidence.
Oct.
4, 2004 - SportsMonday Page 3
Numbers Don't Lie -- Sox Can Hit
•
This was a pretty tough one to write, since the most
compelling facts to back the offense levels are just that -- the
numerical facts.
Fifty time batting around in an inning just seems like a damn lot to
me. Probably because I was only on Little League teams that did it two
or three times.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that these Red Sox can hit a little bit." Given how number
heavy it was, that more or less says it all right there.
Sept.
28, 2004 - Sports Page One
Francona's Foibles Less Than
Advertised
•
On a day where I essentially laid out the entire sports
section by myself, my Francona annoyance was lessened by the
fundamental truth that mediocre managers have their fair share of World
Series rings.
This of course sets me up to do a complete 180 in the playoffs, but
since the point last year was ignoring a red hot Red Sox bullpen, and
they likely will not have one in '04. I guess this means I can keep my
"Francona Apologist" card after all.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at Terry Francona's shortcomings, real or perceived, but
says they're not really the reason the Sox will win or lose. His
biggest contribution might've been swinging the scales so Curt
Schilling would come here." That's more than the gist.
Sept.
26, 2004 - Sports Page One
Even When It's Bad, It's Not That
Bad
•
Sort of from Boston, a Red Sox-Yankees mood piece. Of course,
mood makes it sound poetic and beautiful, and there's definite
references to vomit and bathroom stench right in the middle of it.
They never tell you why Fenway is "America's Most
Beloved Ballpark," technically.
Sept.
21, 2004 - Sports Page One
No Scapegoat For This Ryder Flop
•
It's a golf column. It's a good golf column, one that reaches
beyond the scope of the sport and could be enjoyed by non-golfers, but
it remains what it is.
I almost played the race card in comparing the Ryder Cuppers to the
Dream Team, but really, that just seems something better left for those
who enjoy playing the race card.
Sept.
14, 2004 - Sports Page One
Where Did These Sox Come From?
•
Combining the practicality of the Yankees coming to town and
the outright wackiness of a Caribbean cruise.
If you speak to me at any point from here until Oct. 3 about baseball,
expect to hear the name "Brad Halsey" mentioned once, if not several,
times.
Sept.
1, 2004 - Sports Page One
A Strong Run Of Success For Cardoza
•
An update on SouthCoast's strongman, who placed fourth at the
recent pro nationals in Texas.
Someday, maybe I'll actually meet him in person. He can shake my hand,
break a few carpals ... we'll have a grand time.
August
24, 2004 - Sports Page One
Delusions Of Grandeur Better Than
Nothing At All
•
The more I think about it, the title just doesn't make any
sense. Though the column itself may only make slightly more sense than
that on it's own.
Though it's always good to get a "Yankees Suck" reference right up top
-- after touting it weeks ago -- then mock it. Consistency is not the
key.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the hopes raised by the Red Sox six game winning
streak." I'm back on the Bruce bandwagon, by the way.
August
17, 2004 - Sports Page One
In The Olympics, The Stranger The
Better
•
I enjoyed the site entry I wrote about this so much, I decided
to turn it into my weekly column. Just struck me as the kind of
conversation starter that everyone can enjoy batting around.
Of course, I'll probably just get letter from people thinking I'm
making fun of field hockey. I'm used to that by now though ... insert
"lowest common denominator" talk here.
August
16, 2004 - SportsMonday Page Two
Another Cursed Day In Red Sox Nation
•
OK, the curse reference is probably a little much. Didn't come
from my pen though ... and I'm sticking to that.
I was told after filing this that "This is what we're looking for" when
we send people to Fenway. So that's nice, though also means apparently
everything else I've done wasn't.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that the Sox aren't getting the breaks this year." After
last week, this reeks of having being read.
August
10, 2004 - Sports Page One
The Sox, From A West Coast
Perspective
•
This column has to be better than the one I began writing at
7:30 a.m. Sunday in my hotel room at The Venetian ... after having
played poker for three hours and not slept at all.
Any time I can build a column around allusions to the Dodgers, I'm
pleased.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture gets a west coast perspective of the Red Sox." It reeks of
Bruce having not read it, but hey, I'll take what I can get.
July
25, 2004 - S-T Front Page
The Question: Is He Ever Going To
Lose?
•
A foray out of sports full of sports analogies thanks to the
fine quotables of one Craig Barker. I get to touch of quiz bowl, and
use the cliche involving a bookcase falling on people.
It's been called a solid column, and really, that's all I need to be
content.
July
24, 2004 - Sports Page One
Reality Setting In At Fenway
•
Ain't no one going to be calling me a Sox apologist after
tonight.
My first instinct was that this story was awful, and yet upon
reflection, the only thing that's been awful in July here is the Boston
Red Sox.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "The
Standard Times Jon Couture talks about the atmosphere at the game last
night." I believe this is the first time I've made the weekend links,
which is nice.
July
20, 2004 - Sports Page One
Assuming The Worst A Proud Sox
Tradition
•
I believe I wrote this exact same column sometime last season,
but without it being this good and because I was asked. I could go
look, but I'm not really trying to identify whether I've run out of
ideas.
Regardless of that, I like this. There's a Meg story, and more word
plays that should be legal under Massachusetts law.
July
11, 2004 - Sports Page One
Soul of the Sox
•
There may be other things you want to know about Jason Varitek
after reading this story, but I assure you, they're probably dirty
things and you sicken me.
It seems a lot more impressive to say it was six weeks in the making
without including the part where several of those weeks were spent just
waiting for callbacks.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, featured
the day after with "An excellent story from the weekend is a
feature-style piece by Jon Couture on Jason Varitek."
July
7, 2004 - Sports Page One
Sox Turning It Around ... Is That
So Crazy?
•
Please note the eye for consistency. Craaaaazy always featured
five 'a's.
Just file this one under the 'optomism' tab. May as well stick to my
guns while the sticking is good.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here with "Jon
Couture looks at the pieces being put in place for the Sox to turn
things around."
July
4, 2004 - Sports Page One
Scenes From A Major
•
SOUTH HADLEY -- This is essentially three
columns in one, which in my mind explains why it took me like five
hours to write. That seems a better reason than "I was eating ice cream
bars" or "The Unisys live stat system was too much fun."
I only wished I could have worked in items about these two things, but
after 87 inches of actual copy, anymore seemed overkill.
June
29, 2004 - Sports Page One
A Turning Point, For Better Or Worse
•
This is more one of those columns that needed to be written,
and as history as shown, that's rarely if ever a good thing.
You know me ... seasons don't end in June, no matter what anyone says
or thinks.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here with "Jon
Couture also has a bit on Youkilis." Granted it's the same bit that
everyone else has, but it's still nice to be noticed.
June
28, 2004 - SportsMonday Page Two
Big Day With Bats Finally Factors In
•
Does this count as being critical? Does it matter since I
worked in talk of the guy who delivered Chinese food to the office
Saturday night?
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here with "Jon
Couture looks at a big day with the bats getting the Sox a series win."
June
22, 2004 - Sports Page One
Terry Talk Is Mostly Hot Air
•
Is it more than a column based on a goofy photo I used in the
update. Yes, but by just how much is an exercise I leave up to the
reader.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, part of a
pair of articles on Terry.
June
15, 2004 - Sports Page One
Choosing Sides Isn't Easy Sometimes
•
I'm pretty sure a previous column I wrote got a title almost
identical to this, though I'm pretty sure that one didn't feature a
pathetic, direct plea to get back on TV again designed as a witty
ending.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, featured
prominently in the day's update. I dare say this is the most I've been
discussed in there since the day I swore at Bruce Allen on the main
page, and he proceeded to link to it.
That was a fun day, but sadly, I never
got any mail about it.
June
9, 2004 - Sports Page One
A Special Night For The Ace
•
It wasn't supposed to be anything special when I originally
sent in the credential request for Tuesday, Then it was Nomar's return
night, not Nomar's return night, and Pedro's return night all rolled up
into one six hour period.
Baseball's funny, sometimes.
June
1, 2004 - Sports Page One
Sox Are Showing Some Real Smarts
•
Considering I've already come out as saying Derek Lowe is at
least looking over the edge of the cliff, it was nice to be sitting in
his press conference thinking, "You're a nice guy. I'm not even going
to mention you today."
Course, then the manager blew up my column idea, but so be it.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here with "Jon
Couture tells us that despite yesterday's pounding, the Sox are in good
shape and showing the stuff of champions."
May
30, 2004 - Sports Page One
Not Your Average Teen? That's Safe
To Say
•
FOXBORO -- Live from the laptop, it's a
relatively awful soccer match! Even if I'd seen the game's only tally,
it wouldn't have been any better ... between the own goal and Adu
coming out after an hour, some hack somewhere is going write a rip
column on this one.
May
30, 2004 - Sports Page Six
A League Of Their Own
•
Local trio playing for fledgling women's soccer team, says the
drophed.
These are the people who, in a press release, are encouraging fans to
come to their July 11 game against the California Storm. At that game,
you can see California's Brandi Chastain, "who once removed her shirt
after a game." I wish I was kidding.
May
24, 2004 - SportsMonday Page Two
Wakefield Leaves Jays Green With
Envy
•
How I got through a whole column referencing Vermont without
swearing or taking pot shots may be proof I can make it in this
business yet.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here in a
collection of stories about Tim Wakefield's outing. At least I picked a
popular topic, though going up against Bob Ryan
probably isn't the wisest call I've ever made.
May
17, 2004 - Sports Page One
A Raw Deal For The NBA
•
After looking over all my columns from the past year for the
NEAPNEA contest, I've decided I'm straying from my roots a little too
much. An air of professionalism hasn't exactly served me well ... we'll
be shooting for just a whisper in the future.
I feel like this could have been better, and yet stands as it is
anyway. I clearly need to lower my standards again.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture takes Jim Donaldson to task for bragging about not watching the
NBA, but still having an opinion on it. He says the NBA is getting a
raw deal."
May
16, 2004 - Sports Page One
As Movies Go, 'Still We Believe'
Isn't Too Believable
•
Usually when I write something, I'll see the feelings calm
down after I get my thoughts out. Yet the more I think about this
movie, the less I like it.
It's just not good at all. Not a good subject, not well done, not good.
May
11, 2004 - Sports Page One
Lowe Down Could Be Tough To Take
•
Could Derek Lowe inexplicably turn it around and have a year
like he did in 2002? In theory, though it may just be time to admit
Boston's "Big Three" are really just a "Big Two."
This, of course, means he'll throw a no hitter the next time out. And
really, I'm OK if I'm wrong like that.
May
9, 2004 - Sports Page One
Strongman Cardoza Very Close To The
Big Show
•
The not-online pictures really make this story -- you just
can't imagine what it look like to see a man walking with 600 pounds in
his hands. And he's the nicest guy you'd ever want to talk to.
It's rather fortunate he liked the story, as it's never good to anger
people who could physically throw you across a room.
May
4, 2004 - Sports Page One
Who Is That Man In Left Field And
What Has He Done With Manny Ramirez?
•
I got "the phone call" asking for a Manny piece, and here we
go. Though really, when athletes start offering up millions of dollars
to pay other athletes, I shouldn't need to get a phone call.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture wants to know who that guy playing left for the Sox is, and
what has he done with Manny Ramirez?"
May
2, 2004 - Sports Page Three
Brilliant Bullpen Is Boston's
Backbone
•
Really, I wish I could get Vegas lines on things like "The
bullpen's scoreless innings streak will end sometime between when you
write this story and in runs in the paper." I'd be able to retire by
age 30.
April
27, 2004 - Sports Page One
April Games Count Too
•
If nothing else, the Sox can go .250 from here out against the
Yankees and still "split" the season series. Granted that split isn't
what will ultimately decide anything, but it's still nice to think
about.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that games in April count as much as games later in the
season."
April
20, 2004 - Sports Page One
Pats Trade For Dillon
•
The S-T's news story on the Patriots' pickup of Cincy running
back Corey Dillon. Listening in to the conference call, I'll give him
that he's plenty excited.
Course, I would be too coming to a two-time Super Bowl champ from the
Cincinnati Bengals.
April
13, 2004 - Sports Page One
Lefty Offers Lesson For Everyone
•
When you're writing about "a story," the tendency is to try
and say something that no one else is saying while still producing
something that actually makes sense. It's a fine line, and well, I
think I managed to keep at least one foot on it.
Another one that got "critical acclaim" around the office, for what
that's worth beyond making me beam with pride.
April
12, 2004 - SportsMonday Page Two
This Time, They Picked Up Schilling
•
BOSTON --In the same way that going to
Patriots camp without a tape recorder led me to buy one, today will
finally push me over the edge to buy a laptop. I could have been
writing my piece in extra innings, rather than having to wait until
driving back to New Bedford.
The actual story felt a little thrown together, and I didn't exactly
break new ground culling for information, but this is my first of
probably double-digit game features from Fenway. There's always room
for improvement.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the Sox picking up Schilling this time around."
April
6, 2004 - Sports Page One
Minigolf Goes Major
•
This is the longest story you will ever read about miniature
golf. To be quite honest though, it is also the best. As columns go,
this one was right in the wheelhouse.
The whole minigolf circuit strikes me as a lot like quizbowl -- not
really well known, but yet very healthy and solid under the radar.
Suppose that's why I'm not surprised there's overlap between the two.
April
4, 2004 - Sports Page One
Sox Will Be Good -- But Good Enough?
•
I say yes, but then again, I always say yes. Though in the
past few years, I actually seem to believe it.
This is what passes for a Red Sox preview around these parts, though
Steve Britt wrote this piece,
which focuses on the current injuries in a lot more depth. He and I
really do have a ying-yang thing going, given he couldn't resist
cracking out Buckner, Dent and Little within the first five paragraphs.
March
30, 2004 - Sports Page One
No Victory In Defeat
•
It's not a good vibe when your Managing Editor reads your
column and says, "You were busy this weekend, weren't you?" Regardless,
I haven't had a good indignant piece in a while.
The fact that I stumbled across 'Only a Game' while driving back to New
Bedford on Saturday just proves this was meant to be.
March
23, 2004 - Sports Page One
Picking Up The Pieces
•
Know that upside to writing a column each and every week
without fail? This is the downside.
This is what happens when I have an idea about a column, but it never
really goes anywhere because I don't so much realize it's not worth
writing about until it's too late.
March
16, 2004 - Sports Page One
Forgetting Past Sport's Severe Flaw
•
Looking at the lead, it's not what you think.
Looking at the headline ... well, it might be what you think then.
March
9, 2004 - Sports Page One
We All Need That Real Reason to Root
•
The weekly madness begins again with a piece that's probably
closer to my heart than it is anyone else's. But hey, over the course
of 52 weeks, there's going to be a couple of those.
Some would call it "ego." I just call it "humoring myself."
February
28, 2004 - Sports Page One
Memories Make Disc Worth It
•
I really feel like I should be writing more columns as of
late, but in a few weeks, that feeling will wash away nicely with the
onset of Red Sox angst season.
I wasn't exactly bowled over by the Pats DVD, but let's just say there
are worse things one could spend $20 on in the long run. Like, say,
more than a dozen containers of McDonald's french fries.
February
17, 2004 - Sports Page One
Deal Proves A Sport's Sad Commentary
•
It isn't exactly my fastball, but it basically nails what I'm
trying to say -- I'd give a much bigger crap about this trade if I
hadn't given up on baseball solving it's problems a long time ago.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that the Red Sox aren't the real losers in this deal."
Sitting right ahead of one Jim Donaldson to boot.
February
4, 2004 - S-T Front Page
A Sporting Moment For The Ages
•
It was cold, it was crowded and there's a good chance I could
have been crushed by masses again. Though went I went in 2001, I didn't
exactly think I'd be working another two years later.
February
3, 2004 - Sports Page One
This Team Was The Best Ever
•
Quite simply, I believe there is not a team in the Super Bowl
era that the 2003 Patriots wouldn't beat. Not the '72 Dolphins, not the
'85 Bears, none of them. And here's why.
January
27, 2004 - Sports Page One
From Sub-Par To Sublime: The Pats
Through The Ages
•
In the paper, this was 2/3rds of the day's front page, not the
unappealing visual you see on the Net. That said, I'll reitterate that
there's a reason it was easy to sell me on the N.Y. Giants in the late
1980's.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture looks at the Patriots decade-by-decade."
January
16, 2004 - Sports Page One
Pats Have Gone From A Fluke To A
Favorite
•
It's not so much analysis as observation. But then again, I'm
not so much a writer as I am a sassy, young punk who believes he's
invincible. Even with that said, the comparisons to 2001 as a whole,
though muddled, are incredibly striking.
January
9, 2004 - Sports Page One
Loose Lips Sink Ships
•
FOXBORO -- We learn, amazingly, that
people within the Patriots and in the NFL don't really want to talk
about Bill Belichick. The irony of this, of course, being the Globe ran
a Belichick piece on the same day that had, gasp, actual access. But
what can I do.
NOTE - Linked to by NESN's Erik
Wilbur here. My column
link led a little discussion of Belichick as a coach and actually got
listed before Michael Holley's excellent Boston Globe piece
that ran the same day.
January
9, 2004 - S-T Front Page
Sox or Pats: Who Rules The Roost?
•
A front page story that I ended up crafting into an all-out
column instead, mainly because I felt I had more to say than the people
I'd find at the local sports bar. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong.
Still doesn't change what it is.
January
6, 2004 - Sports Page One
Charlie Hustler: Rose Comes Clean,
But Who Cares?
•
Please ignore the grammar error in the opening sentence ...
such is what happens when a column has to be heavily tweaked after it's
written.
Granted, I was asked for a "Pete Rose is a jerk" column. I just enjoy
using reason in my writing and creating anecdote leads about 100 words
too long.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture wonders if anyone cares that Pete Rose supposedly came clean."
At least I'm not dead to the BSMW, though I think my Patriots stuff of
late has been a bit more interesting.
January
3, 2004 - Sports Page One
Eyes On The Prize: Tom Brady Has
Come A Long Way
•
FOXBORO -- Ever wonder what it would look
like if someone wrote a Tom Brady feature during a week he wasn't
available to the press? Wonder no more! The story is still strong, but
there's that obvious gap.
December
30, 2003 - Sports Page One
Fourteen And Counting
•
Cherish what New England has already accomplished, he writes.
Because they're essentially begging to be screwed over, he implies.
December
27, 2003 - Sports Page One
Many Happy Returns
•
First I was going to write this, then I was going to not do
it, then I rushed home to do it and it came out OK. If nothing else,
it's the first time I've hit a pre-set word count since the Red Sox
were in the playoffs.
December
26, 2003 - Sports Page One
Money Can't Buy A-Rod Love
•
I wrote this for the original 72-hour deadline way way back,
but it's only running now. I think it needs more anger, but it's hard
to muster a lot of vitriol during the holidays.
I remember when I worked in news, and would get cussed out for writing
headlines based on song titles. It's as if they didn't understand all
my knowledge is based on trivia competitions.
December
19, 2003 - Sports Page One
'Automatic Otto' Dead
•
It's pretty self-explanatory considering it was written and
researched in just more than an hour. I was in the office as the
emergency reporter in case a late sports story broke, a late sports
story broke, and I wrote about it. It's as though we know what we're
doing.
December
9, 2003 - Sports Page One
Yet Another Reason Not To Like
College Football
•
Catchy title, isn't it? Never mind that I don't even think it
fits the point of the piece, it just feels like "Blah Blah Don't Read
This" was already taken.
It's rare that I'm actually more angry when I'm done with a column that
I was when I started, so I guess that result here means I really do
like college football after all. Odd, yet somehow not heartwarming at
the same time.
December
7, 2003 - Sports Page One
Formidable Five: Consistent O-Line
Has Pats Thinking Big
•
FOXBORO -- My editor said he thought I
played it a little too straight. And here I thought I was writing it
just like a news story because there were quotes involved.
Also, let it be noted that not only did I go out of my way to avoid the
horde and talk to Tom Brady by myself, in just my second question ever
asked of Bill Belichick, I got the sly/snide comment I used near the
end. This definitely amuses me far more than it does you.
December
5, 2003 - Sports Page One
Let The Terry Francona Era Begin
•
When he ever said that he had no problem with second-guessing,
do you think Grady Little just started screaming at the North Carolina
sky for no apparent reason?
The was the beginning and end of the S-T's hard-hitting hiring day
coverage. I would have actually gone to the press conference, but given
how short staffed we are, the paper wouldn't have actually made it to
press if I had.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture weighs on on the beginning of the Francona era." I like the
idea that I've now been around long enough to "weigh in" on things ...
I'm seriously going to start using this phrase more in my daily life.
Maybe then I can be on Sports Pulse again!
December
2, 2003 - Sports Page One
Schilling Already Has His First Win
•
This whole 'bear vs. shark' argument I reference that
Schilling took part in, viewable here, means I will now have to put
a new No. 38 jersey on the Christmas
list.
I just hope they let me wear it in the press box.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says Curt Schilling already has his first win for the Sox." Not
exactly detracting from the belief he doesn't actually read my columns,
but whatever.
November
25, 2003 - Sports Page One
Will Soccer Finally Get A Kick
Start?
•
And narrowly beating out the column about the Presidents Cup
and golf ... it's the column about the MLS Cup and soccer! Be careful
what you wish for.
About a week late to get in with the rush of 'Freddy Adu Saves Soccer'
columns that came out, but that's kind of how I like it. Ignore the
brunt, and try to say something halfway intelligent.
NOTE - I got a fan letter about this column,
readable in the 11/30/03 update.
November
18, 2003 - Sports Page One
Fans Hold The Power To Make MLB
Change
•
A return to the regular column with an indictment of the new
MLB steroid policy. I assure you, it was easier than me taking steroids
and seeing if I could start hitting home runs.
Though that would have been awesome, even with the going sterile part.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that if fans care about steroid use in baseball, they do
have the power to make a change."
It was
also linked to by NESN's Erik
Wilbur here. He
writes, "Jon Couture of the Standard Times says that this entire issue
boils down to one question: 'Do you care if the stars of Major League
Baseball are on steroids?' The answer should be yes, just in case you
were torn. The real question is, whether Major League Baseball will
answer the same way."
November 17, 2003 -
SportsMonday Page 14
A Shining Season For Voc-Tech
Cheerleaders
•
The GNB Voc-Tech cheerleaders won their first-ever conference
championship this year. I called them and wrote a story about it.
That's journalism.
November
16, 2003 - Sports Page One
Just Another Game? Not A Chance
•
FOXBORO -- Technically, this gets the place
stamp because I went up to Foxboro on Thursday. This is really
something I should do more, though "asking questions" is also something
I should do more, and that just probably isn't going to happen for a
while.
November
2, 2003 - Sunday S-T 'Looking Back,' Page A2
Red Sox Still In The Spotlight
•
Written for the News Department as a recap of the week's
events -- Grady and Manny, mainly -- there's no quotes, no new
information and no real insight here. Just a review of the facts.
I guess it's alright. I mean, I still wrote it.
October
28, 2003 - Sports Page One
Next Decision Will Be Bigger Than
Game 7
•
Read the title. That's all there is to say.
October
18, 2003 - Sports Page One
There's No Defense For Grady's
Decision
•
Not a loss.
A betrayal.
October
17, 2003 - S-T Front Page
Sox Hopes Crushed In 11th Inning
•
NEW YORK -- Quite simply, the best thing I have ever
written. What else is there to say?
October
16, 2003 - S-T Front Page
Pedro, Roger Head To An Epic
•
NEW YORK -- It was supposed to be the
ultimate matchup, and it was.
It just wasn't like everyone thought.
October
15, 2003 - S-T Front Page
A Tale Of Wasted Chances ... So Far
•
What is perhaps most enfuriating about this ALCS is that
Boston may legitimately be a better team than New York this season. Not
just because they fattened up on the AL's worst teams during the
regular season, but that they may really have more talent than a side
whose payroll is $60 million more than theirs.
Yet they still can't win because they aren't producing when they need
to, putting up asanine home run totals, but not when it matters.
And now I have to go to New York and possibly watch a Yankee crowd
celebrate another clinch. I'm overjoyed.
October
14, 2003 - Sports Page One
Win Or Lose, We've All Cowboyed Up
•
This came one day before I made the official decision that I
was sick of "Cowboy Up," mentally declaring it a tool for the weak and
an excuse for Bostonians to dress up like cowboys and cowgirls. It's
quite possible my opinion on this would change if the Red Sox were
ahead in the series, but considering Boston won this game, I highly
doubt it.
Honestly, this story probably marks the beginning of burnout ... not
having any real days off for a full week and a half will do that to a
person.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says win or lose, we as fans have all cowboyed up." Thank
goodness Bruce pays attention and links to my stinkers ... I might get
regular readers otherwise.
October
13, 2003 - S-T Front Page
Unscheduled Day Off Came Just In
Time
•
It's amazing what one can do when they don't even play a
baseball game. If I'd hiked across the park to the press buffet, it
could have officially been a full night.
October
10, 2003 - Sports Page One
Frustrated Sox Will Take The Split
•
NEW YORK -- When I started writing both of
my game stories, I thought I was hitting on an insightful point of view
that a lot of people would miss. Instead, it turned out I was hitting
all the points all of the other main writers were hitting.
This would be both a plus and a minus, I suppose.
October
10, 2003 - S-T Front Page
U.N. Fails To Tackle Big Issue
•
NEW YORK -- In hindsight, I can't believe I
wasn't shot or kicked out of the U.N. while trying to do this story.
If nothing else, at least I earned a nickname -- apparently the
original idea had been to send me to Washington Heights, Manny
Ramirez's old neighborhood, but the managing ed didn't think it a good
idea to send me into the mean streets.
October
9, 2003 - Sports Page One
Pitcher-Perfect Performance
•
NEW YORK -- Note to public address system
operators at Yankee Stadium: It is NOT, I repeat, NOT necessary to play
"New York, New York" four consecutive times after a loss. It kind of
defeats the purpose of piping the press conference from way down in the
belly of the stadium out to the auxiliary boxes, since we CAN'T HEAR IT.
October
9, 2003 - S-T Front Page
In Bronx, Sox Fans Tread With
Caution
•
NEW YORK -- Prior to Game Two, there were a
lot more 'B' hats floating around and many fewer '1918' signs getting
hung from the rafters. So I think there's at least a mental block with
wearing the red into Yankee Stadium, but it's certainly a little less
advisable than the barkeep across the street would have had me believe.
Not to say the barkeep wasn't a nice guy, but to say chants of
"Asshole! Asshole!" weren't exactly getting everyone ejected.
October
8, 2003 - Sports Page One
History Is History, But Mystique Is
A Myth
•
This was even before I discovered Yankee Stadium is only
slightly less dingy than Fenway Park.
The point was that the Red Sox have a chance to beat the Yankees, and
have nothing to fear. It's not really a column that needed to be
written, since this Boston team clearly believes in itself, but really
when has anything I've written needed to be said?
October
6, 2003 - SportsMonday Page Two
A Fine Day ... In And Out Of The
Park
•
So wait. I have to go to the playoff game, but rather than sit
in the press box and have to pretend to be impartial and not
emotionally attached, I have to go to a bunch of Fenway bars and be
loud and obnoxious like I probably would have done anyway?
Kids, this is why you should go to college.
October
4, 2003 - Sports Page Two
Bulldogs Crush Case
•
SWANSEA -- Your average high school
football mismatch. That's about all there is to say ... though I
imagine it gets much harder to do in the cold, as writing is difficult
when one has to wear mittens.
Case High School, by the way, is selling ThunderSticks as a
fund-raiser. Do your part, whatever that may mean.
October
3, 2003 - Sports Page One
Youth Served At Foxboro, World Cup
•
FOXBORO -- If you stop reading about
halfway through, it just looks like I'm ripping on little girls again.
So of course, a good portion of the reading audience will do that, and
they won't see my point at the end. They'll instead ensure I can add
"soccer moms" to the group of SouthCoasters who want to hit me with
their cars.
Seriously though, I really like this story. So read it, even if it is
about women's soccer.
October
1, 2003 - Sports Page One
Buckle Up, It's Going To Get Bumpy
•
Each playoff year, Red Sox fans beat themselves up until the
collapse comes. Then they spend the next week being depressed, hating
themselves, yelling at their kids and being generally grumpy until they
snap at the wrong person.
I'm just encouraging them to enjoy it before that, because you never
know. We might never get to be that irrational again.
September
25, 2003 - Sports Page Three
Millar For Sox MVP: It's His
Spirit, Not The Stats
•
Reading the paper this morning, I looked at the headline on my
piece of the S-T's "Who's The Sox MVP?" package and cringed. It just
looked so fruity, so weird, so flaky. I raged about it for moments.
Then I remembered I was the one who'd written it.
NOTE - Our whole feature of potential MVP
candidates was mentioned on Boston.com's Boston Sports Blog,
where Eric Wilbur, um, questioned our thought process. "The players
mentioned, Jason Varitek, Bill Mueller, Ortiz, Martinez, Nomar
Garciaparra, and Kevin Millar are all fine choices. But the sad part
is, not one of the writers chose to nominate Manny Ramirez. If we took
their view of the voting, Manny would get as many votes as Chad Fox,
and that’s just plain stupid."
It sure is, Eric. It sure is.
September
21, 2003 - Sports Page Six
Will Sox Fans Find Relief In
October?
•
A full on analysis piece of the Red Sox bullpen, with the goal
being to choose just which pitchers should find their way on the
postseason roster. It's at a time like this, when there's no BSMW on
weekends and when I'm buried on the S-T Sports Web page, when I wonder
whether the article is being read by more people than the number of
hours I spent writing it.
And no, don't answer that.
September
16, 2003 - Sports Page One
I Second That Emotion
•
It's easy to jump to conclusions in the Boston sports scene,
given the sky has continually been falling almost every day for the
past 80 years. Every so often though , the bluff gets called, and we
all look really stupid.
Sunday was one of those days.
September
9, 2003 - Sports Page One
Numbers
Lie, But This Team Is Truly Special
•
A column all about numbers, ended with an attempt to
invalidate all of them. Well, not so much invalidate as try to show
that there's more to the game that statistics. And note, I did say
"try."
[This column never made it online.]
September
5, 2003 - Sports Page Three
Pats Face Tough Road
•
Chronicling the Patriots schedule by looking at their
non-divisional opponents. An idea that came out ats 55 inches, but got
printed as 36. It's all about fitting the hole ... and not writing the
column assignment you've had for a week in the last two available hours
to get it done.
September
1, 2003 - SportsMonday Page Two
Rocket Soared Back Into Fenway Fans
Memories
•
Considering I bought the tickets to this game in February, to
have some of the best seats in the bleachers while watching Roger
Clemens make his final regular season start at Fenway Park was an
excellent way for it to work out.
Course considering I've now seen the Sox go 0-3 in '03, losing by a
combined 29-19, pardon me if I seem somewhat bitter.
August
26, 2003 - Sports Page One
Relax? It's Not So Easy
•
This was going to be a Pete Sampras column, then I realized my
golf columns cornered the market on my self indulgencements. I wish I'd
done more with it really ... whether or not that more is actually
sending it to Kevin Millar is dependent on how strong Google can be in
searching out player e-mail addresses.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture tries to explain to Kevin Millar the mentality of the fan base
here in New England."
August
22, 2003 - Sports Page One
Pedro Isn't The Only One Feeling
Sick
•
I was called into work to write was termed a "Fire Grady"
piece, but was working out to be less about that are more about there
was just this general malaise around the team that looked like it
shouldn't have been enough to derail them.
Then the Pedro news wafted in.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with
"Gordon Edes says criticism of Pedro for missing last night's start is
way out of line. Jon Couture disagrees, saying plenty of athletes have
played sick. (Apparently NL MVP candidate Albert Pujols isn't one of
them. He's been out of the lineup all week because of a high fever and
flu-like symptoms.)" All I'm saying is that with past Red Sox teams,
namely ones led by a certain hated ex-Number 21, you never had to
wonder if the ace was actually going to make it to the park for his big
start ... or the team picture.
I also got a deluge of mail on both
sides, all of which is chronicled in the 8/22/03 update.
August
19, 2003 - Sports Page One
Can We Get Back To Basics?
•
I sat down at 12:30 p.m., and said I needed a column topic by
1. Then I needed one by 1:30, by 2, by 3 and by 3:15. Only one it hit
about 4 did I start to say anything worth reading.
NOTE - Amazingly, was on the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture wishes to get back to the basics of enjoying sports, before
ESPN ruined everything." I really wish I'd had the time to chop the
front end of the column off and try to redo it, but c'est la vie.
August
16, 2003 - Sports Page One
Looking For A Break-Through
•
And to think when the Breakers started, back on May 5, 2001,
with a 1-0 loss to the Atlanta Beat, I was a student who made his way
down to West Campus not for the game, and not for the subsequent BU
student riot, but to drink disgusting alcohol and watch the craptacular
TV that airs after Saturday Night Live finishes up on NBC.
Ah, memories of college!!!11
August
12, 2003 - Sports Page One
Riding The Shock Wave
•
I have now officially been referred to, in large print, as a
"self-respecting New York Giants fan." No good can ever come of this.
I mean it's true, but it can be explained for what it really is ...
August
9, 2003 - Sports Page One
For A First Impression, Klecko's
Was No Small Wonder
•
FOXBORO -- I've written two Patriots pieces
thusfar, and in both I've found myself quite enamored with Dan Klecko.
This has the potential to either be really good or really bad, given my
neck is now officially "out." Course, I very much think I'm fine, and
that he's got a long career ahead of him.
Thanks on this piece of also due for Rick McGowan of the Newport Daily
News, my neighbor in the press box who allowed me use of some of his
quotes and was just generally friendly and helpful.
August
6, 2003 - Sports Page One
Even Rebuilt Red Sox Don't Frighten
New York
•
I'd never been inspired to write a column by the side of the
New York Port Authority before, and really, it was but the initial seed
here. Still, I remain disappointed that I couldn't work in what was the
oddest "news" story I've read in a while -- The Daily News' piece on
what deli has the tallest pastrami on rye.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says that no matter what the Red Sox do, Yankee fans feel it's
their God-given right to win the division and World Series." He read
the quotes, you read the background. The judgment can be whatever you
want it to be.
August
1, 2003 - Sports Page One
More Than A Game
•
NEW BEDFORD -- When I was brought into the
sports department, I was told I probably wouldn't cover any local
sports because we already had more than enough people from the area and
who enjoyed doing it very much.
After going to this game though, they can send me to any local event
they damn well want. In my mind, there's nothing better than getting
out and seeing what really makes this city tick on a cool Wednesday
night in the summertime. I hope I conveyed that well enough.
July
29, 2003 - Sports Page One
Is It Too Early To Believe Our Eyes?
•
The first column I'll be paid for ... and it's not about golf!
It seemed necessary to write this after screaming "All For Nothing!"
after the last Yankees series. And I really am ready to admit that this
team is giving me "that feeling."
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture wonders if it's too early to hitch ourselves to this Red Sox
wagon." Yup.
July
25, 2003 - Sports Page One
Camp Brings Big Buildup ... And A
Little Letdown
•
FOXBORO -- It was my first-ever trip to a
Patriots Training Camp, be it as a fan or as a reporter, and it was a
little imposing before I getting there. But arriving, it's definitely
not as difficult as I thought ... big thanks go to our Pats writer Dan
Pires for introducing me around and showing me the ropes.
The actual story isn't much, but it definitely proved the advantages of
having a mini tape recorder for interviews. Makes me wonder how I made
do in college.
July
22, 2003 - Sports Page One
British Open Breeds Cinderellas
•
Reading this over in print, it tends to read too much like
Thomas Bjorn lost the tournament, rather than Ben Cutis won it. Given
he was 6-under through 11 holes, that's nothing to be sneezed at. But I
still just see Cutis going the way of Paul Lawrie, rather than that of
Curtis Strange.
July
8, 2003 - Sports Page One
All For Nothing
•
There were so many potential good storylines from this Red
Sox-Yankees series, you'd have to think one of them would win out. But
in the end, all that was proven is that our beloved Red Sox will always
just be our beloved Red Sox.
July
1, 2003 - Sports Page One
Unwritten Rules Cloud Playing Field
•
Honestly, there are some unwritten rules of sports I can buy
into ... like a soccer team voluntarily giving the ball back to the
other team if they'd lost it due to an injury or something. But on the
whole, I'm the kind of guy who'd drag bunt to break up a no-hitter,
who'd pass for the lead under a caution flag, and who'd keep scoring
runs, touchdowns or goals until I was blue in the face.
To paraphrase The Simpsons, don't think for one second that a cow
wouldn't eat you and everyone you care about if it got the chance.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture writes about the unwritten rules in baseball and the honor of
the game. He disagrees with the opinions of Buckley and Massarotti over
the weekend about the Sox shaming themselves." I tried tying in the
NASCAR angle just because it was topical and was also something that
ticked me off, but it is mainly a baseball piece.
June
17, 2003 - Sports Page One
Greatness Is Great, But Exciting
Sells
•
This worked out so much better than the compare-contrast of
Emmitt Smith and Barry Bonds. Maybe finding two athletes that share
common bonds just has that effect.
Some have said to me they liked the column up until the parts
mentioning Roger Clemens. That just comes with the territory living in
New England.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture contrasts David Robinson with Roger Clemens, noting that is sad
that Robinson's legacy will likely fade over the years, due to his
personality type, while Roger's will continue to grow." I'd feel a lot
prouder about it if the ending had been all my own creation, but so be
it.
Also, I got a nice letter from Justin Gorman on the column, though the
fact that I know him means he's biased. Regardless, the letter is in
the 6/18/03 update.
June
10, 2003 - Sports Page One
Grady Could Learn From His Old Boss
•
When I wrote this, I was pretty sure the Sox would bring in a
new pitching coach soon. Course, I didn't think it'd be in the time
between when I finished writing and the time the thing was edited.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture says Grady Little could learn a few things from his old boss
later this week ... Jimy Williams." Given it was the title, I have no
complaints.
June
3, 2003 - Sports Page Three
Kim Under The Microscope In Red Sox
Nation
•
When Byung-Hyun Kim pitched Sunday, giving up two runs in an
inning, I was a little concerned, since my whole column plan had been
built around his Tuesday night debut as a starter in Pittsburgh. It
didn't take much writing around though.
I love it when I don't even use all the stuff I planned on using when I
started writing ... because in the process of creating the column, I
come up with stuff that's even better.
May
27, 2003 - Sports Page One
Anaheim, We Turn Our Lonely Eyes To
You
•
With the Stanley Cup on the way, Anaheim will return to its
role as proxy team for the Boston sporting universe. It's a role
they've been good with, even if they are the epicenter of America's
fascination with ThunderStix.
But don't let me ever hear you blaspheme the Rally Monkey. I'll cut
you, jerkoff.
May
20, 2003 - Sports Page One
Walking On Both Sides Of Hate Street
•
Because of how good a title it is, regarding the love-hate
relationship people are walking with Roger Clemens, I'm willing to
overlook that the correct grammatical usage would be spelling out
"Street," because no actual address is given.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here as part of
a bevy of people weighing in on Clemens. "Jon Couture says that some
Red Sox fans walk a fine line when it comes to Clemens." I do say that.
May
13, 2003 - Sports Page One
A Rivalry Needs Two Combatants
•
What I thought was a pretty good idea got undercut in the Web
version, as the first two paragraphs were oddly missing. That killed
any hope of syndication for a piece that I thought might have been
worthy of it.
This might also be the week that I start writing my columns to my own
length, as opposed to holding myself to the word count. We'll see how
long that lasts.
NOTE - I swapped two e-mails about this piece
with a young New Bedford girl named Martha, who was worried about the
Celtics trading away Antoine Walker. I did my best to calm her fears,
and she wrote back again, telling me "I love your articles! Keep
writing them. Please."
And I hadn't even started sending her
thank you checks yet!
May
6, 2003 - Sports Page One
Wrestling With MLB's Starry Eyes
•
Baseball is doing so well as a sport, I compared it to
professional wrestling in five minutes time. I mean, it didn't make any
sense, but it was printed in a newspaper so it has to be true. Right?
April
29, 2003 - Sports Page One
McGahee Pick Baffling At Best
•
With the NFL Draft being correctly termed an "information
coma," how a team who just resigned a 1,700 total yard runner, signed
an additional back in the offseason, and has a mediocre-at-its-finest
defense can spent its first round pick on an injured running back
leaves me well able to use 650 words for rant.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, my column
rounds out the NFL Draft coverage with "Jon Couture thinks the Bills
selection of McGahee is ridiculous."
Darn tootin.
April
22, 2003 - Sports Page One
Eyes of a Nation Turn to Boston
•
When your editor encourages you to write a column like you
would write a Web site posting, there's the danger of going to the
game, having nothing interesting happen and needing to make up all of
your material. You have no idea how much I wish I was making this stuff
up.
It was a column so good, I ran more than 200 words over my count and
they ran it all anyway.
NOTE - For the first time since the Toni Smith
fiasco, the column ended up on the Boston
Sports Media Watch here. Granted,
all it said was "Jon Couture logs his Patriots Day entry," and it was
smushed in with the Boston Marathon coverage, but I'll take whatever
press I can get.
April
15, 2003 - Sports Page One
An Odd Week At Augusta
•
There really doesn't seem to be a whole lot of analysis here,
beyond the fact that a lot of weird things seemed to surround a golf
tournament that looked like it'd play second banana to the protests
surrounding its home's admission practices. And you know what?
There's not.
April
8, 2003 - Sports Page One
Role Players Do The Job For Sox
•
Going against my urges to attack children openly, and
violently, on a Whale City playground, I do an analysis piece on just
who the Sox are playing where in their platoon infield. My discovery
was basically that things have been pretty easy so far, given both
Jeremy Giambi and David Ortiz pretty much both have batting averages
that start with a decimal point and a zero.
Regardless, I've never enjoyed math and fact-finding as much as I did
calculating the numbers for this.
April
1, 2003 - Sports Page One
A Message To Young Golfer: Grow Up!
•
For the second time in the last five years, a 13-year-old girl
has contended for the title of a women's professional golf major. Damn
little bitches ought to know their place ... on the playground!
March
18, 2003 - Sports Page One
Bracket Busted
•
Nothing gets a sports fan cussing at the television set like
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
March
11, 2003 - Sports Page One
The Finer Points Of The Game
•
What happens when you want to talk about the disasters of
college basketball and ESPN's penchant for bad segments, but can't come
up with a uniform way to meld them.
March
4, 2003 - Sports Page One
Taking A Stand Is Something To Be
Admired
•
With a little trepadation, I start dancing on the line between
sports and politics. So much has already been said about Toni Smith and
her "turning her back on the flag" protests, but after seeing video of
people dragging the flag on the ground as they yelled at for defacing
it ... I had to say something.
And I finally get my chance to publicly call out the idiots who let
tattered flags flap on their cars to this day. It's called flag
etiquette, idiots. Learn it.
NOTE - As I feared, there's some people who spun
the wrong way off what I said. The column ended up leading the day's Boston Sports Blog
on Boston.com and was blasted on the Boston
Sports Media Watch here.
A thorough reaction to what they had to
say is featured in the 3/4/03 update.
February
25, 2003 - Sports Page One
Golf Becomes A Different Kind Of
Battlefield
•
I like writing about golf. Most don't like reading about golf.
This would normally create a problem, except that no one reads my
column anyway.
February
18, 2003 - Sports Page One
Spring Belongs To Pedro
•
In my continuing effort to put a little creative spin on
everything, for better or for worse, the necessary "What to do with
Pedro" piece turns into more praise for the new front office.
Without really intending to, I seem to have become quite the vocal
supporter of the team. But really, I suppose it's not that shocking
after all.
NOTE - "Jon Couture tries to keep an open mind
about Sabremetrics while musing over spring traditions," says the Boston
Sports Media Watch, here.
February
11, 2003 - Sports Page One
Sports-tainment Isn't Really Too
Entertaining
•
Jon Comey had asked me if I wanted to move my column up to
running Monday this week, so I could do a piece on the Beanpot. I
declined, both due to a lack of time to write a 'Pot piece and because
I can't fault people not alumni of the schools involved for being
unenthused about the tournament.
Unfortunately, that left me with just an overarching thought, and not
really a good column topic, to write about.
NOTE - My inclusion on the Boston
Sports Media Watch (here) this
week makes me happy only in that I seem to be getting on there with a
modicum of regularity now, and not just when I make a particularly good
point. Bruce Allen writes "Jon Couture thinks there is too much extra
entertainment around sporting events." Same rationale with a link from
Boston.com's Boston Sports Blog.
Under the headline "Not Music To His Ears" ...
"Jon Couture of the Standard Times is
sick and tired of crooners at sporting events. Save U2's halftime
performance of last year's Super Bowl, I could live without seeing
SmashMouth at an All-Star Game singing their crutch hymn, or watching
Celine Dion tell us that, 'No, no, I really DO love America.' Except
for the spectacle that Rene Rancourt puts on during the holidays from
the Bruins bench. I will not allow you to discontinue that treasure."
I couldn't agree more.
February
4, 2003 - Sports Page One
Sox Owners Trying To Find Even
Ground
•
If the new Red Sox owners have a fault, it's that they're
spending too much time trying to please everybody and respond to every
fan's concern. And making those horrific alternate all-red jerseys ...
too bad I couldn't work talk to those into this.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, Bruce
Allen writes "Jon Couture looks at the Sox owners still trying to find
their way around the city and the fans." Additionally, Boston.com's Boston Sports Blog
mentioned it. Under the headline "That Old College Try" ...
"Even though Jon Couture says, 'When
Chairman Werner assured us that 'nobody likes watching a ball go into a
net' in the New York Times, I launched into a rant worthy of Bucky
(bleeping) Dent,' he writes in the Standard Times that the Red Sox
owners are trying to reach out to their strong followers. This is true,
but for many over the age of 10, it is going to be the product on the
field for which they are judged."
Seems to me the ending would clearly
state that.
January
28, 2003 - Sports Page One
And Now We Turn Our Eyes To Baseball
•
The Super Bowl's barely inked in the books, and I've shifted
to baseball. Drawing a comparison I've seen no one else make, Theo
Epstein has the chance to do what Jon Gruden had just completed: take a
good team and in just one season push them over the top.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, Bruce
Allen writes "One of the few media members younger than Theo Epstein,
Jon Couture says that Theo needs to pull a John [sic] Gruden with the
Red Sox. A few tweaks here and there to an already established team. I
think he's a week early in his Spring Training schedule though." My
count was when the first teams would report, not specifically the Red
Sox.
Additionally, talk about my article led
Boston.com's Boston Sports Blog
for Tuesday. Eric Wilbur talks of the excitement after the Patriots
championship, how much bigger a Red Sox celebration would be, and how
he'd have been mocked if, after the '99 ALCS, he said the Pats, Bucs
and Anaheim Angels would all win titles before the BoSox.
Full text of the BSB write-up is in the
1/28/03 update.
January
21, 2003 - Sports Page One
It's The Best vs. The Best
•
With this year's Super Bowl pitting the league's best offense
against the league's best defense, I looked back to see the history of
when the best play in the big game. Consensus seems to be the defense
wins, but there have been several exceptions.
Regardless, my pick is Tampa.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, Bruce
Allen writes "While Borges drools over the Raiders unstoppable offense,
Jon Couture provides a history lesson to the effect that the better
defense usually wins these games." Jon Couture, in same sentence as Ron
Borges. Thank you, and good night.
January
14, 2003 - Sports Page One
As Long As The Jets Are Out
•
There may have been nothing more disturbing in the media this
past week than the New York Jets becoming the choice du jour of pundits
across the region. Seeing them thrashed would have been entertaining
for that alone if the game hadn't been so dreadfully boring.
A column that takes more of an update feel. Whether anyone else notices
that is open to debate.
NOTE - On the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, Bruce
Allen writes "Jon Couture feels the same as I do about the Jets.
Scary." I really have no response for this.
January
7, 2003 - Sports Page One
Flaws Were On Parade In NFL Playoffs
•
I say my piece on Wild Card Weekend, avoiding talk about the
Giants almost as much as I did on the Web site. I also veil my
predictions for the Divisionals in enough verbiage as to seem like a
professional columnist.
For once, I actually like my finished product.
December
31, 2002 - Sports Page One
2002 Wasn't Perfect, But It Was
Darn Good
•
I toast the year that was while on the way to Disneyland.
Really, how often do you get to say that?
December
24, 2002 - Sports Page One
Cinderella's Shoe is Officially
Empty
•
With the New England Patriots clearly going nowhere this
postseason, I asked myself, "So, who's going to be this year's New
England Patriots?"
Is it really that surprising I picked the Giants as one of my choices?
Nope ... the only shocker is I wrote a personal ad for a trophy and
expect people to take me seriously.
December
17, 2002 - Sports Page One
Voices Of New England Are The Best
•
Let's just say if you had heard Celtics announcer Tommy
Heinsohn go off during the C's-Suns game last week, you'd know it was
the kind of thing that deserved a tribute.
NOTE - Snuck back onto the Boston
Sports Media Watch here, with "Jon
Couture enjoys the broadcasters in Boston and feels lucky to have the
ones that have been here for so long. Especially Tommy."
Additionally, the column was the basis of
an entry on Boston.com's Boston Sports Blog
(about memories that author had hearing Gil Santos call a Dave Meggett
punt return that clinched the AFC East in 1996), and I received a
letter from a reader who urged me not to forget truly the greatest
Boston announcer of all time, Johnny Most.
Full texts of the letter and blog entry
are in the 12/20/2002 update.
December
10, 2002 - Sports Page One
Same Old Sox Taking Shape
•
From the "Things You'll Regret Saying Later" Department, I
advocate trading Nomar Garciaparra for Vladimir Guerrero and say the
2003 Sox will probably look exactly like the 2002 edition. Please bear
in mind I also picked the St. Louis Rams to contend for the NFC title
this season.
December
3, 2002 - Sports Page One
Working Overtime For A Solution
•
If I were a news columnist, or I had a shiny new sociology
degree hanging on my wall, I would have written a column about why five
seasons ago, when there were tie games played in consecutive weeks,
there was no huge backlash about the overtime policy. How we've become
a society quick to decry something as "unfair."
Instead, I come up with a policy I'm not asking get adopted, I'm
demanding it get adopted.
November
26, 2002 - Sports Page One
It's Not About Funny Shoes Anymore
•
My editor called me on Monday afternoon to ask if I could
write about the Red Sox hiring 28-year-old Theo Epstein as their new
GM. The words, "I don't really have much to say about that, plus I
already started writing about pro bowling for this week," actually left
my mouth and traveled through the air.
Now that's classic.
November
19, 2002 - Sports Page One
What's Really Important? Real Life.
•
Really, this column was bound to happen before too long. The
"sports needs to be put in perspective" piece where I start quoting
news Web sites.
On the whole, it went better than it could have.
November
12, 2002 - Sports Page One
Sox Don't Have To Look Far For GM
•
If you ask twelve girls to the prom, and they all tell you no,
don't you have to reach the point where you consider going with the
fallback best friend? Hell, sometimes it even works out better in the
end.
NOTE - The Boston
Sports Media Watch points out my lack of creativity
here, mocking
with "Jon Couture has an original thought....give the job to Mike
Port." Least I think it's mocking.
Hey, it's what I feel. I'm not trying to
compete with the staff of the Herald ... yet.
November
5, 2002 - Sports Page One
Figuring Out Patriots Is No Easy
Task
•
I can honestly say that the Patriots beating the Bills 38-7
never struck me as ever remotely feasible. This column wasn't written
while backpedaling ... we're talking full out sprinting away from zoo
creatures.
NOTE - Column gets mentioned on the Boston
Sports Media Watch in this entry, as
"Jon Couture just can't figure out the Patriots." Yeah, I guess you
could say that, if you thought Kristallnacht was "an unfortunate
skirmish."
November
1, 2002 - Sports Page One
Pats Missed Their Chance / Vote
Bledsoe!
•
Another special extra -- myself and a former Buffalonian wrote
short pieces on why Bledsoe should be the Patriots QB, while sports ed.
Jon Comey and a Pats fan wrote pieces supporting Brady. The entire
package, in run-up to the first "Bledsoe Bowl," dominated the sports
cover.
What can I say? I like Brady, I like the title he won, I just don't
think he was the answer. It's one of those things I'd like to be wrong
about.
October
29, 2002 - Sports Page One
Stars Don't Always Shine The Same
Way
•
It's less about being pro-Bonds or anti-Smith than it is about
finding a connection in the two big stories that don't involve the New
England Patriots. After staring at a blank screen for the better part
of three hours, it became obvious if I had the answers to their slide,
I'd have gone into coaching.
October
22, 2002 - Sports Page One
Pining For Drew Doesn't Do Much Good
•
It's been seven months. The Bledsoe-Brady pissing contest has
officialy lapped being overdone.
NOTE - The column again gets mentioned
on the Boston Sports Media Watch
in this entry, as
"Jon Couture is a Bledsoe guy." The fact that this quote completely
defeats the entire point of the column, meaning our media watchdog
hasn't ever read the thing, is not lost on me.
October
15, 2002 - Sports Page One
Patriots Dealing With New Reality
•
Editing issue ... in my version, Tony Eason's not identified
until
the fourth paragraph, to leave the reader to think I'm talking about
Tom Brady. Thus making the comparison stronger, rather than it looking
like I'm just flinging crap at the screen to see what sticks. So it
goes.
NOTE - This is the first of my columns
I've noticed getting mentioned on the Boston
Sports Media Watch, namely in this entry. Dan
Pires, the S-T Patriots writer, e-mailed all the columnists to say it's
well read inside the Rte. 128 Beltway.
As the archive is down, I can't tell if
any of the prior articles were so mentioned. I do know the Oct. 8
Angels piece was not, which is funny, because it was probably better
than this.
October
8, 2002 - Sports Page One
Adorable Angels Worth Rooting For
•
I really don't like the title, but stop me if you've heard the
Disney jokes before. A lot of this is really a personal recount of part
of the Coast to Coast trip, but the new Managing Edior of the paper
told me he liked it. So really, that's a victory.
October
1, 2002 - Sports Page One
Strange Lesson In Ryder Cup Defeat
•
There's always those moments as fans where we scream out, "How
can you call that play?!" or "It's going to be a pass!" Everyone's an
armchair quarterback, and I hate to say it, but I called the U.S. loss
on Saturday night.
September
24, 2002 - Sports Page One
The Upside Of Becoming A Revs Fan
•
A long time ago, those of us who watch soccer gave up on
converting America to it for real. If a quarterfinal showing in the
World Cup isn't going to do it, nothing ever will.
I just proposed we cut our losses.
NOTE - This column was featured on the Big Soccer
website, which led "Matt from San Diego" to write me the nice letter I
featured in the 9/26/02 update. In a
reply message, he told me, "I guarantee you hundreds of people from all
over the US read your article, as BigSoccer is VERY popular."
"The Magpie" from Cambridge posted on the
boards there, "Had a good laugh at that last one. Nice to see someone
jumping on the bandwagon who can still take the good-nature piss out of
us." Guess I hid my soccer fandom a little too well...
Thanks to Matt and all the guys who
enjoyed the piece!
September
17, 2002 - Sports Page One
Win or Lose, Rams Do It Their Way
•
Far be it for me to try and help the St. Louis Rams, but Mike
Martz's coaching has gone far beyond the line of 'asanine.' Always nice
when Frank Sinatra gets a mention in the sports pages that doesn't
involve "New York, New York" or "Chicago."
September
13, 2002 - Sports Page One
Time For Fans To Play The Blame Game
•
Really, no Red Sox season can end until we the fans have
picked which player cost us a World Series title this time. No one ever
criticizes a champion ... thus why New England is so good at it.
September
10, 2002 - Sports Page One
A Fight Not Worth Waging
•
The National Council of Women's Organizations just figured out
after 69 years, there's no female members at Augusta National Golf
Club. Nice to see the news stream occasionally passes through the
Beltway thinktanks.
If nothing else, be amazed I make it 700 words attacking a feminist's
opinion without calling anyone a pushy lesbian dyke once. Considering
it's a column about golf, double points for me!
September
3, 2002 - Sports Page One
Football Is King, Whether Games
Count Or Not
•
This week, I had three solid ideas: your run-of-the-mill
stathead NFL preview, commemorate the tenth anniversary of '92 New
England Patriots (giving all the Pats fans witch complexes a slap in
the face) or, if I wanted an issue, discussion why women's basketball
just can't take off in this country even when the product is good.
When I didn't have enough stats for the first, enough background for
the second or enough argument for the third, this is what you get.
August
27, 2002 - Sports Page One
All Signs Point To A Troubled Game
•
With baseball's ninth work stoppage seemingly less than a week
away, I expand the strike argument I'd made on Cooch's World just a few
days prior. Packaged with the paper's Red Sox analyst Steve Britt also
slinging doom, it made a hell of a nice photo package.
NOTE - This column was featured on the Baseball Primer
website, dubbed "Baseball for the thinking fan." Writer Jim Furtado
prefaced it with "You don't often see articles like this in small town
rags," and reader comments included "Why are some people beginning to
see the light and that the baseball owners are short sighted weasals?
Who cares, wish more writers in large papers would write this to [sic]."
Thanks to Matt
Bruce for the submission!