tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43868264489602285622008-07-26T16:12:33.484-04:00Rootbeer & Baconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283723449195439219noreply@blogger.comBlogger233125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-91101937004933781922008-07-26T16:11:00.002-04:002008-07-26T16:12:33.505-04:00

Jed Lowrie looks like an evil prep school kid from an 80's movie.

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-89706389741451681332008-07-24T09:14:00.004-04:002008-07-24T09:24:19.614-04:00

I hate to keep harping on the thing but the more time passes, the more convinced I become that Manny will be traded. I still say the Diamondbacks make the most sense. Would the team be better without Manny? Probably not, but if they could find an at least suitable replacement option for him - basically anybody that would give them more than Coco Crisp or Brandon Moss - then I think the trigger

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-42341928891593795622008-07-21T17:05:00.003-04:002008-07-22T10:38:11.743-04:00

1) Well for the 15th or whatever straight year, I have not heard one person drop a, "So, did you see the ESPYs Sunday night?!" on me. Time to give them up ESPN. Nobody cares. 2) Even with much of Bob Lobel's now infamous WEEI rant being discredited I still stand by my belief that Manny will get traded and his destination will be Arizona. Let's not forget that Arizona's GM, Josh Byrnes is

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-76654998747400104172008-07-18T11:52:00.003-04:002008-07-18T12:41:14.032-04:00

After reading this dispatch from Bob Lobel via the Globe's "Extra Bases" blog I would like to go out on a limb and predict that Manny will be traded prior to the July 31 trade deadline. I've been kind of thinking this could happen for a while, but five things have seemingly come together now that could push this whole situation over the top. Note this is all being drawn from what Bob Lobel said

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-38692581152728317122008-07-18T11:50:00.001-04:002008-07-18T11:51:57.099-04:00

I have Brian Fuentes on one of my fantasy teams. Yesterday, I saw a flag next to his name indicating that there was current news on him. The news stated that the Red Sox would not get into a bidding war for his services as they did not see relief pitching as an extreme need. Forget for a moment, that improving the relief corps is a need for the Red Sox and instead focus on the good news; the

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-92056578152530650762008-07-17T14:51:00.002-04:002008-07-17T14:52:55.247-04:00

So, as I figured it is bye-bye James Posey. It is too bad but I think the Celtics were smart in not matching the 4 year/$25M contract which he got from the Hornets. Guaranteeing that kind of cash and years to a 31 year old role player is a risky proposition so I think ultimately the C's made the smart decision. It's tough not to get wrapped up in emotion over watching him go, but let's use the

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-44596549154945268402008-07-16T11:02:00.001-04:002008-07-16T11:03:43.457-04:00

So as you all probably know the all star game was last night, and went into the early morning. I watched it until the 15th inning and was thrilled when it was over and I could go to bed, I am still absolutely wiped today though and I hope to make it early night since there are absolutely no sports on tonight. So here are some thoughts from all star weekend.(or is it week since it took up the

Pricing Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520932286315571194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-36775675575494445782008-07-14T17:11:00.002-04:002008-07-14T23:36:45.428-04:00

The All Star Break is here, the Red Sox are in first place, and Papi is due back in less than two weeks. Things are looking pretty good right now. Of course there are some huge qualifiers with the above three statements like the fact that this first half has seemed drastically longer than most thanks to the Japan games, the Sox first place lead is only a tenuous .5 games, and how good Papi will

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-73043128187853220812008-07-11T11:25:00.002-04:002008-07-11T15:37:36.964-04:00

I was watching ESPN on Thursday and they were previewing the AFC East. I was at a bar and the sound was off so I did not hear exactly what they were saying, but at the bottom of the screen, the question was posed, "Has the rest of the NFL caught up to the Patriots?". I thought about this, and instantly the answer that came to my mind was, "yes, they probably have". But guess what? Who cares.

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-87731144260366045422008-07-11T08:50:00.000-04:002008-07-11T08:51:36.733-04:00

Now that Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Clay Bucholz, and Manny Delcarman are in the majors it is time to look down into the minors to see who will be coming up in the next couple of years. Right now our team is the 3rd oldest team in the league with only Philadelphia and Houston being older. With players like Mike TImlin, Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, and Manny Ramirez dragging our average age to

Pricing Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520932286315571194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-42105964423942880052008-07-10T08:23:00.002-04:002008-07-10T08:29:30.768-04:00

I just thought I would send out a quick shoutout to the ENTIRE state of Minnesota as I would like to thank them for all that they have done for the people of Boston. Most recently of course was the three game sweep that helped propel the Sox within two games of the vaunted Rays.Other than that think about it what other state has contributed more to our success in sports over the last decade.

Pricing Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520932286315571194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-73595582895094284222008-07-09T08:08:00.002-04:002008-07-09T08:10:08.957-04:00

Apparently we should let manny push old guys around more often, for the second game in a row Manny cam through in the clutch only this time with a game tying two run home run in the bottome of the 8th. We are only 3 games behind the rays now thanks to the Yanks. Go Sox!!

Pricing Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520932286315571194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-73682961381968136782008-07-08T16:44:00.002-04:002008-07-08T16:46:32.413-04:00

Guess what? We get it. Jason Varitek does not deserve to be an All Star this year. Quit crying about it because it won't change. Guess what else though? I've got a fearless prediction and that is that Jason Varitek has the 2008 All Star Game MVP Award coming his way. Crazy? Yeah. But remember Terry Steinbach? Or more accurately, remember Terry Steinbach who won the 1988 All Star game MVP

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-79216746419730847402008-07-08T10:46:00.002-04:002008-07-08T10:48:35.030-04:00

Oh My God look what happens when Manny actually swings at the pitch, he actually drives in the winning run. He is AMAZING!!!!!

Pricing Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520932286315571194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-54461059458339766292008-07-07T16:57:00.001-04:002008-07-07T16:58:53.600-04:00

Despite the minimal amount of time I actually spent watching sports over the weekend, there still is a bunch to cover... 1) Julio Lugo. Guess what? I'm not going to bash him. He made a huge defensive play against the Yankees Sunday night, robbing Bobby Abreu of an RBI single or double in the sixth. If the bullpen actually holds onto that 4-2 seventh inning lead then that is the play of the

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-20629973421673638642008-07-07T14:46:00.002-04:002008-07-07T14:58:29.384-04:00

Building off Mike's post, just about everything having to do with the Red Sox grinds my gears right about now. But, here are just some finer observations and things I noticed over the last 8 games or so: -First and Foremost, I am officially done with Manny Ramirez, and will now start to campaign for the Sox not to pick up his option for next season. Curt Schilling called him "the greatest hitter

Ben Lauranzanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250470430049973284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-17963964398432582762008-07-07T14:25:00.001-04:002008-07-07T14:27:23.938-04:00

Back in 2006 I convinced Ben to play fantasy Baseball for one year, and what was a precursor to the blog he wrote a couple posts on the league wall titles what really grinds my gears. Now Ben has a baby as you can obviously tell from the pictures all over the website so he does not have the time needed to post as often, since he doesn't and I have to much time on my hand as I slowly transition to

Pricing Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520932286315571194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-88591982405123733962008-07-06T16:27:00.002-04:002008-07-06T16:48:19.212-04:00

Wow no one has posted on the new baby filled Rootbeer and Bacon in the last couple of days. I was down on the cape visiting my grandparents and fighting the traffic which was the worst I have seen it. The tourists didnt know what to do on the cape when it rained on Saturday so apparently they all thought that driving around was the best thing to do. I will not go down there again until the season

Pricing Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520932286315571194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-40618610967665895752008-07-03T15:49:00.002-04:002008-07-03T15:50:39.790-04:00

Well I'm just as frustrated about that abomination in Tampa as the next guy. Let's be clear too, the best team definitely DID win each of those games. Just as frustrating to me are the last two games of the Houston series, which they lost but could have won each as Saturday saw a bullpen implosion in the late innings and Sunday saw them strand 13 runners en route to only scoring 2 and losing 3-

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-71466417957609755152008-07-01T19:07:00.001-04:002008-07-01T19:09:59.160-04:00

Rootbeer & Bacon welcomes Lucy Anna Lauranzano to Titletown.

Ben Lauranzanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250470430049973284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-29414460606762555172008-07-01T18:52:00.002-04:002008-07-01T19:06:35.466-04:00

I will be the first to admit that the last three weeks have been hazy for me at best. I have been waiting for, then watching my wife give birth to our first child, so for the first time in my adult life there is something more important that sports. However, am I the only one who thinks that Red Sox nation is cutting Manny waaaaaay too much slack? Sure, he is hitting very well and has helped

Ben Lauranzanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250470430049973284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-28481691481523675062008-07-01T17:25:00.001-04:002008-07-01T17:27:06.039-04:00

Jason Varitek's contract expires at the end of the year. We know this. The question is, what to do with him. If you are in the "Keep Varitek" camp then you probably believe that his leadership and deftness of handling the pitching staff are invaluable assets to the team and things you may not appreciate until they are gone. It's really impossible to quantify the merit of these claims, but if

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-83334413318734748042008-07-01T17:24:00.001-04:002008-07-01T17:25:27.129-04:00

It's been long enough. It is now officially Jed Lowrie time. Julio Lugo's place on the team now and moving forward should be as a backup utility infielder and pinch runner. Nothing more, but maybe something less if they choose to eat his contract and cut him next year. If they can flush $8M down the toilet with Cut Schilling this year and they flushed $4.5M on Joel Piniero last year, I would

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-68117706591614529412008-07-01T07:42:00.000-04:002008-07-01T07:43:13.512-04:00

So another weekend has passed we are only a few weeks away from the All Star game and you still have one day to vote so make sure you go out there and make sure that your 25 votes count I know I have. It was a fairly boring weekend though the Sox were in Houston and lost 2 of 3 then lost last night to the Rays and Hideki is really starting to bother me. Anyway here are some notes from this

Pricing Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520932286315571194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386826448960228562.post-84213905989702401872008-06-30T17:11:00.001-04:002008-06-30T17:12:46.001-04:00

Everybody gets to do a Red Sox midseason report and I want to too! Maybe you are sick of these and maybe you aren't but whatever, I feel like writing one. I'll try and bring some new insights to the fold here but that may be difficult. Regardless, here you go. (Note that I meant to get this up on Friday, but that didn't work out. I have updated everything to reflect the numbers through

Neil Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624301285806003054noreply@blogger.com