Can we please put some kind of moratorium on all electronic strike zone replays during MLB telecasts? First ESPN invented the K-Zone, perhaps the only tool that could make Joe Morgan more maddening to listen to. And now NESN has provided our beloved Don and Jerry with a similar contraption during every Red Sox telecast. Has this sort of replay ever enhanced a broadcast? What’s especially funny about NESN is the new dead-on centerfield camera – because the tiny replay dots still look a good six inches from where the pitch appeared to land with the naked eye. Who’s calibrating these things, anyway? A blind dwarf? Shouldn’t at least some of the dimensions appear accurate? I guess if we can take anything from the technology it’s how difficult the umpires

Continue reading "Strike Three For Electronic Replay"

Did you see that thing bubble up on poor Youk's face yesterday? What did it take, like, 15 seconds? He misplayed a throw and - BAM - his cheek blew up like a balloon. I wish I could describe the phenomenon with some sort of medical jargon, but I can't. Instead I found myself starting at the TV, mumbling outloud to nobody, repeatedly - Look at Youk's face! I thought maybe he and Manny had another sparring match between innings. What's perhaps most amusing is that the injury was suffered by our gold-glove first baseman, he of the longest errorless streak ever at the position, during warm-up tosses prior to the top of a frame. The dude handled everything hit and thrown at him for more than a full year - scorching liners and off-target throws alike - and lets one of his teammates tag him during break time. He looked like Rocky Balboa at the end of the first Rocky movie.

Continue reading "Kevin Youkilis is smuggling golf balls in his face"

So there I was, lounging on the couch with my dog, half-way paying attention to Kevin Cash's eighth-inning at-bat Wednesday night. Half-way paying attention, you see, because Cash's last 40 or so trips to the plate have resulted in something of a similar outcome - ugliness. Obviously nobody is expecting a 40-40 season from a back-up catcher, and he continues to do what he was brought here to do - catch Wake - but his swing hasn't exactly been drawing comparisons to Griffey, Jr. of late.

And then it happened - Cash launched, and I mean launched, a soaring homer that sailed over the Monster and pinballed off a few cars in the parking lot across Landsdowne Street. If you are going to hit your first home run in more than three years, you might as well do it in style.

In case you're counting, that's two nights in a row that a struggling catcher lifted the Red Sox to victory. Just a night earlier it was The Captain roping a single to right to plate the winning run, following up a base hit the night before that snapped an 0-for-a zillion slump. Funny how this game works - two nights in a row the Sox have sent a batter to the plate in the clutch that drew a collective groan from Red Sox Nation, and two nights in a row the scenario ended in celebration.

Continue reading "Catching A Break"

OK, show of hands - who hasn't enjoyed the Kevin-Youkilis-in-goggles era? Manning first behind those fancy specs while sporting a monster shiner, he looks like he's getting ready to play Laser Tag. Since it gives him something of a tough appearance, we don't have to tell anyone it's all because he couldn't handle a warm-up throw. Maybe he can make the goggles a signature thing, like Rip Hamilton of the Pistons and his goofy plastic mask. Hey, if Youk can make the Chia pet goatee work, he can certainly pull off a pair of glasses. It made me start thinking of former players who wore the glasses. Chris Sabo was the first that came to mind. But how about Luis Rivera, former light-hitting shortstop in Beantown, he of the tiny, whispy mustache and glasses complete with that thing that connects around your neck to keep them on. Classic.

Continue reading "Channeling Chris Sabo"