Jason Varitek
Originally uploaded by placidminds.
Is the National League so bad that even the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are a tough opponent after a steady diet of the senior circuit? Also, way to go, Mike Timlin, in justifying my father's nickname for you of "Whiplash." You have now totally set me back in my process of trying to convince him that actually, you've been one of the most solid Sox relievers for lo these many years. The reminders that the phrase was "Timlin in the eighth, Williamson in the ninth" were so close to working, and then you had to go and do that yesterday. Way to squander Papi heroics, too.
Although, also! What is with our "aces" giving up a minimum of three homers per game on the road? What is the DEAL with that? In the last month or so I've seen both Beckett and Schilling be absolutely brilliant at Fenway Park. Then they leave and apparently their powers only extend for a three-mile radius around the Fens. What gives?
And JESUS CHRIST JASON VARITEK JESUS CHRIST ALMIGHTY. You have taken up the Kevin Millar Memorial "Inning Over" Mantel, and I am NOT. HAPPY. After Manny hit an absolutely atomic blast to put the Sox within three in the top of the ninth, I had a glimmer of hope, until you strode to the plate, bat in hand, apologetic look on your face. You then proceeded to strike out. Inning over. Game over. Sox lose.
Obviously it's not entirely your fault, or even mostly your fault. But watching you swing and miss at that goddamned high fastball (seriously dude! Figure it out! Everyone else out here has!!) was what made me most want to put my fist through the TV screen. And given the way I thought Wigginton's homer was going to punch a hole in the dome, so far and so hard did he hit it off Curt Schilling, that is saying something.
12 wins in a row was great. But it's amazing how two back to back losses (to the freakin' Devil Rays!) can have me plunged right back into drowning my sorrows in whiskey and cigarettes.
Guys, please, please don't get swept.
P.S. If there's anyone else out there--anybody at all--who has heard the "Big Papi says" commercials, please come forward. I cannot be the only one who has experienced the magic.
I had a glimmer of hope, until you strode to the plate, bat in hand, apologetic look on your face
That's a look he learned from Matt Clement, and he does it rather well.
Posted by: Iain | July 05, 2006 at 11:46
We are going to need to have another talk, me and him. Or rather, I will talk, and he will listen. Because I am NOT HAVING this for much longer.
Posted by: Kristen | July 05, 2006 at 15:15
I heard the Big Papi says commercial this afternoon i was like wtf is this
Posted by: Katie | July 05, 2006 at 21:00
Just in case any one has not heard the magic that is http://www.papisays.com/ The outtakes alone are FABULOUS!
Posted by: Kate | July 06, 2006 at 19:52