I know this is belated, but here it goes anyway…

Sunday Kim, Kim’s Dad, and I had the privilege of going to Fenway to catch a game (thanks to Kim’s Dad). After losing the first three games of the series by a combined score of 39-20, the Fenway organist was playing songs such as “Dream the Impossible Dream” and “I Wanna be Sedated” during batting practice. Thanks for the optimism.

I know I don’t have to explain to anyone reading here, but attending a game at Fenway is like getting to see the Sistine Chapel. So many nooks and crannies that have stood their for almost 100 years. You’ve got to hand it to John Henry and Larry Lucchino too, they really have found ways to add seats so it looks as if they have been there for just as long.

I tried to sneak my way into almost every area of Fenway I could besides the field. I tried to get on the Monster, nope. I tried to get in the Press Box (which is normally a piece of cake), nope. By the end I was surprised they let me into my seat.

With the good of Fenway’s charm also comes the bad. The seats are about as small as airplane seats and even less comfortable. I want a new rule: if you weigh more than 250, you are required to get aisle seat.

I know the Sox lost, but this game was far and away the best of the five. Schilling pitched a great game (7 innings, 3 runs–all from an HGH HR), and with the score tied in the 5th, Papi hit a solo shot to give the Sox the lead. Watching a Papi HR at Fenway is almost magical. The entire stadium stands up and cheers. And since Fenway is so small, it’s like the stadium is one big family. Worth going to the game just for that moment. Plus booing Damon and chanting “ster-oids” and “bal-co” was fun too.

Since we lost though, I do have a few complaints. Such as the things Tito has no excuse for:

• Letting Timlin start the 8th
• Bringing Lopez in in the 8th rather than PBR
• Pinch hitting for Kapler in the bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, 1 out. I know he’s no Manny, but he can make contact.
• Not pinch hitting for Belli in the bottom of the 9th. Lopez sucks, but he’s got a better chance than Belli does against Rivera.
• Hansen in the 10th.

Speaking of PBR, a quick suggestion. Stop using “Wild Thing” as your entrance music. (I think he threw more balls than strikes in the 8th.) “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” was much better, and fitting.

Well, at least I get to see the Sox in person again on Monday at Oakland. I would have loved a win, but sometimes you’ve just got to see the silver lining. Crap, Kim must really be having an effect on me.

Oh, and pictures!

I’ve finally organized my pictures from Sunday’s game, you can see the highlights here (and above). I skimmed through the rest of my Sox pictures and noticed that Manny’s always stretching his hammies. I guess they’re been bothering him for most of the season. So it’s not that I like taking all those pictures of Manny bending over, it’s just that he always is. I think he’s got a masseuse in the Monster.

Edit: Oops, Matt beat me to it.

It’s been a less than stellar week. I promise that’s not the reason I haven’t posted recently. (OK, maybe a little bit.) Once I can get back into the rhythm of things, I’ll put up a post whose optimism would make even Kim happy — or whose pessimism would make me proud. We’ll see which.

Around the 7th inning yesterday I went berry picking. Yes, you heard me berry picking. Why? Because I was so freaking disgusted with the level of play of the Sox that I couldn’t stand to watch any more.

They can’t just lose anymore, now they have to do it in the most painful ways possible.

Bottom 4th: Overcome a 3-run deficit and get a one run lead.

Top 5th: Blow the lead.

Bottom 5th: Tie the game again.

Top 6th: Walk in TWO runs with 2 outs, then give up a bases clearing double.

Bottom 6th: Go berry picking.

I’m going to be at the game tonight. Please, please, Schilling, I beg of you, right the ship so I don’t have to be this pissed off in person.

In the first game, we couldn’t hit (0-16 w/ RiSP). In the second game, we couldn’t pitch (Lester lasted all of 3.1 IP with 5 ER). The MFY had innings today where they scored, 3, 4, 4, 5 and 7 runs. The best part of the night came from some fan next to the crowd mike. In the 8th inning of the second game with Youk batting I hear, “Aim for Mel Gibson’s head.” Brilliant.

I’m just about had enough of this, but am to disgusted to write much more. I don’t like when the Sox lose; I really don’t like when they lose in a long, drawn-out game; and I really hate when the lose to the MFY. Add all those three together, twice, and I think I’ll just go to sleep and pretend we’re not 3.5 games behind in the AL East. Oh yeah, there’s another game in 12 hours, crap.

So that’s what a win against a team above .500 looks like. I had almost forgotten.

Great job by the offense to bounce back after Wells blew a two-run lead handed to him by Papi (#42). In one of those “I never thought it would happen in my lifetime” moments, Coco came through with a clutch 2-run wall ball double to take the lead back in the 6th. And the bullpen made it stick. For all of those PBR-haters out there, how’s this line for the ninth:

So we get an off-day to relax before the biggest series of the year (no, that is not an understatement). And guess who will be there Sunday night? Kim and yours truly! Time for the Sox to make a towards the top of the standings again.

The Sox lose five. I go away for a few days and the Sox win three in a row. I get back into town, and the Sox lose the next two. I’m not liking this pattern, but at least I’ll be out of town for the entire MFY series!

Being a streaky team is only a good thing when you win. Right now, they just look pathetic. Curt gave a great outing last night (7 IN, 9 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 4 K), and Optimus Papi (again) came through in the clutch to tie the game at 2 with an RBI single. But thanks to Francoma, Timlin is sent out for a second inning and all that rallying is lost.

Kim (who was at the game) noticed that whenever a pitcher comes in from the bullpen, a groundskeeper follows the pitcher out holding his jacket. The jacket is then handed off to another groundskeeper who brings it into the dugout. Which leads me to this question: Why can’t we have the bullpen car for this? First, it would save time. Second, after the little fiasco in Tennessee this weekend where Adrian McPherson was run over by a golf cart driven by the Titan’s mascot, I’m thinking Wally could finally do something to help the team. Can you say: A-Rod, Rivera, Jeter, Wang, oh, you get the drift. Now if Theo was being clever, he could help the current team without hurting the future. Best midseason pickup ever?

After all the craziness of the past week, I figure it’s time for a short vacation. So, I’m going somewhere relaxing where I can calm my nerves: Las Vegas. The good news is I can hopefully watch some of the Sox games at the sports book. The bad news is, with how they’ve been playing, I will probably be watching the Sox games at the sports book. See everyone Tuesday!

I don’t want to talk about it. You probably don’t either. But since Matt’s still up in SF, the duty falls to me. Let’s just pretend this week never happened an move on, huh?

Usually, when I make my yearly pilgrimage to Massachusetts to visit my family and my team, I get upset that I have to miss a game while on the plane. Right now, though, I’m pretty happy about it. Since the whole drinking heavily method of dealing with the current state of the Red Sox isn’t going to fly while on a plane (bad pun tribute to Jerry Trupiano), I’m thinking denial will have to do.

Once I get to Boston, though, the boys better step it up. In good superstitious fashion, I of course believe that my presence will help. I’m 2-1 at Sox games this year (with the one loss an understandable defeat in a Snyder start on getaway day). Better yet, in the two games I’ve gone to this year where I was rooting for the home team, both teams won in walk-off style. Seeing as the Sox only seem to be able to win on walk-offs right now, expect heroics next Tuesday (I believe) vs. the Tiggers and a return to television for Matt and I Sunday night as the Sox beat up the Evil Empire. As for the rest of the games this homestand, I’m hoping my mojo works via NESN. Unless anyone has any spare tickets, you know, for the sake of the team?

I’m still up running around WWDC, so just a quick note about yesterday’s game. We lost 5-4 to the RoyAAAls when PBR gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the ninth. Considering that on the last homestand all three wins came via the walk-off, I guess it’s only fair that two of the last four losses ended the same way.

I am starting to get worried about what’s going on with PBR. If he really loses it, the Sox may as well throw in the towel.