We Love You Papi Papi Papi !!!! (click this title to link to the story)

In light of the most recent allegation that Big Papi is included on "The List" - the list from 2003 of players that tested positive for performance enhancing drugs (the same list that A-Rod and 102 others appear on) - I've been up since 2 am researching steroids and the MLB list of banned substances. I will admit that until now I have consciously remained ignorant to the whole subject - I guess accepting it as part of the "Era", an attitude shared by many.Yes,...

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Sox Recap - game from July 28, 2009

Hail, Hail the gang's all here !!! or Fried RiceIn a pre-game ceremony at the Fens last night, the Boston Red Sox retired Jim Rice's familiar number 14. In attendance, lining the 1st baseline, were Rice's family, Hall of Famers Eck and Pudge, and other former team-mates and coaches including Dewey and Freddy. 90 bazillion year old Johnny Pesky unveiled the "14" on the right field facade (I hope they gave him a closer seat after !!!), Jim Ed threw out the first pitch (VERY high and outside big...

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Randomness

Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame....The recent Baseball Hall of Fame inductions have spawned at least 2 controversies, and probably more !!!!First.... Hank Aaron announced that he supports the induction of [juiced] players into the Hall, but with an asterisk. With all due respect Mr Aaron.... "WTF?!?!?!" What exactly would the "legend" of said asterisk be ???? uh..... "* CHEATER" ?!?! "* FRAUD" ?!?! "* GENETICALLY ENHANCED" ?!?!Certainly, I have no idea what the committee will do but here's...

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Gardening 105 - or 3-headed monsters

So I'm out in the garden the other day... doing what all gardeners do - drinking beer and catching some rays !!!! Anyway, after inspecting the crops and tying up the tomato "TREES" (they are approaching 6 ft tall!!! - I'm glad I opted for the 36" tomato cages rather than the 54" version - NOT !!!!). So, my attention shifted to the row of sunflowers (8 in all) that reside in southern most "Oregon" (remember the garden is shaped like California).For some reason,...

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Sox Recap - game from July 27, 2009

Beckett Bounces back behind Bombers' BatsThe Red Sox bats returned last night (obviously the bats took a longer All Star break than the rest of the team), hopefully marking a sign of things to come and not a flash in the pan. The Sox pounded out 14 hits in an 8-3 win over the Nomar-less As...Beckett pitched 7+ innings (pitched to 1 batter in the 8th giving up a triple) giving up 2... well ok, officially 3 runs.... on 8 hits and punching out 10 !!! "Danny Boy" Bard took over for the 8th giving up...

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James Edward Rice

Shipping up to Cooperstown"Big Jim", "Jim Ed", "Jimmy"..... it doesn't matter how you to refer to Jim Rice....TODAY YOU CAN CALL HIM A HALL OF FAMER !!!!!!!!!Anyone that knew me growing up, knows I've personally been waiting for this day for 20 years. To a young Red Sox fan growing up in the 70's and 80's, Jim Rice was THE MAN !!! My room was plastered with posters, magazine covers and pictures of my childhood idol. I even kept a scrapbook and scored many...

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Sox Recap - 18 July - 24 July

July 24th - A Penny saved is a win earned !!Obviously it's been a dismal start to the 2nd half of the season - a 1-5 road-trip that saw our boys "vault" into second place, 2 games behind the EVIL Steinbrenner Empire. The pitching staff had held it's own with a 4.23 ERA over that span. But the "Bombers" bats turned out to be toothpicks, hitting under .200 over the same timeframe. NOT the way to win ball games guys !!!! Nuf CedFINALLY the boys returned to friendly Fenway last night on the brink of...

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Mighty Mouse - or "Friends, Romans, countrymen...... LEND ME YOUR EAR!!"

Here I come to save the day !!!!!!!So Mom visited for the weekend - in from Wisconsin. Although this visit caused pre-arrival hustle and bustle (AS ALWAYS - need no criticism, RIGHT?) to be sure the house is "acceptable", it's always "nice" to have her visit (you know what I mean). Actually having her here motivated and gave me a reason to dig the rest of my daughter's bedroom set out of the basement - where the dampness was affecting the particle board...

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Sox Recap - game from July 18, 2009

ROOKIES !!!!!! Tito apparently forgot that "binky" yesterday as I suggested as the "Bombers" bats are once again silenced by a pitcher just out of diapers !!!!! This is becoming as glaringly painful as a broken record as the Sox were boy-handled by Toronto starter, Marc [long Polish name]. TITO, PLEASE listen to me !!!!!! Nuf CedBrad Penny toed the rubber (and possibly his Sox "career" - more in a bit) and was bested by a "boy wonder" in an outing in...

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Sox Thoughts - 19 July, 2009

"No deposit, no return" ???The Beantown Bombers squared off against the Blue Jays Friday night to open the "2nd half" of the season. Clay Buchholz was brought up from AAA Pawtucket to make a "spot" start.Mikey Lowell (on Friday) and Jed Lowrie (on Saturday) returned to the active roster.OBVIOUSLY, I have things to say about these "situations".Buccholz was brought up for the 1 start on Friday to "give Beckett and Wake additional rest after the All Star game"...

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Gardening 104 - or Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice

So, I'm out in the garden the other day... doing what all gardeners do... IGNORING all sense of life's responsibilities !!! ... Anyway, I am inspecting the sunflowers to see if they have started to bloom yet, "... When my eyes beheld an eerie sight.."... SO, I saw this little "monster" (see pic) crawling on the leaves. "...And suddenly to my surprise, he did the mash ." Well, he crawled around on the leaves at least. The "daddy long legs" wanted nothing...

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Blunderdog - or "I don't wanna fix screens, I wanna be a Dentist" (EH, BLOGGER)

There's no need to fear......... !!!!!!!!!So I have this Beagle... I'll call him... Snoopy (cuz that's his name - actually it's Snoop Dawg). Apparently, he's been named Scrappy and Sammy previously - I adopted him from the dog pound. Snooper will be 6 (42 for me and you) in September - and STILL only weighs 25 pounds !!! .... 25 pounds of sheer terror mind you.... or sheer terrified Beagle !!!! (more to follow)It all started 2-1/2 years ago when I decided...

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Gardening 103 - or Casper? or Ants in your pants

So, I'm out in the garden yesterday, yeah yeah yeah, it's a daily thing !!! Anyway, I'm doing what all gardeners do - formulating a new blog, of course !!!! The weather is gorgeous so I decide to go topless - uh, I took off my shirt to "catch some rays" !!! I hung my t-shirt on my "trusty" rake (true gardener, here) that was leaning against a "beautiful" Japanese (red) Maple tree - that dang tree casts a shadow over southern "california" until after noon !!! If I owned this place, I'd be blogging...

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Sox Recap - game from July 12, 2009

Beckett makes his pitch to be American League STARterWhat a glorious day at the Fens Sunday afternoon (the weather wasn't too shabby either) as Josh Beckett pitched a complete game 6-0 shutout over the Royals. In the finale of the unofficial first half of the season, Josh went the distance on the hill (NOT giving the "pen" ANY opportunity to deluster THIS gem) giving up only 3 hits and striking out 7 -- YES, 7 Kathryn Tappen, not 6, as you reported. Good thing you're so cute !!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH........

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Sox Recap - game from July 11, 2009

Another pitcher's duel at the Fens !!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOT!YOUKER !!! YOUKER !!! He must be in the front rooooooooooow !!! Uh, that was Bob Uecker - but I personally have sat in Mr. Uecker's "special" seats - 1 row in front of the Ford sign in right field... check it out next time you visit the Fens - at least 20 rows BEHIND Ted Williams's famous red seat (the one marking the Splendid Splinter's 520 ft dinger) !!! LOL, I have also watched a game from BEHIND the ginormous scoreboard - any seat will...

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ALVIN !!!!!!!!!!!! or Gardening 102

So I'm out in my garden (I know, recurring theme..... but gardening is a full-time "hobby") doing what all gardeners do - getting a "farmer's tan"!!!! NOT, I was topless on this beautiful day. Anyway, as I am admiring my handy work, something becomes painfully obvious..... Alvin, Simon and Theodore admire my vegetable menagerie too !!!!!!!!!!! I KNEW I should have picked up that BB gun at that yard sale a couple of weeks ago !!!!!!As I'm piddling (NO I do...

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Sox Recap - game from July 10, 2009

Lester is lights out, launching the Red Sox into the AL East lead !!!!!!!!!For those of you new to my blog.... Wait, I am new to my blog !!!! this is my first attempt at blogging.... it's all downhill from here, right? DOUBT IT !!!!!!!!!In a classic pitcher's duel at the Fens last night, Johnny Lester was a royal flush continuing his absolute domination over the Kansas City Royals... and on the league as of late.... hmmmmmm, who was it that he "NO HIT" ?!?!?!?! Nuf CedAlthough the Royals' Brian...

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Comic "Relief"

So, I'm out in my garden yesterday doing what "all" gardeners do - "fighting" all the wild bamboo !!!! - If I were a bamboo farmer, I'd be rich !!! Anyway, all of a sudden I have a strong "urge" to [pee]. Although the house (and bathroom) are within 50 paces, I do what every red-blooded male does..... I LOOK FOR A BIG TREE !!!! After a brief scan of the horizon (I have to go REALLY bad now) I spy a tree fit to be my loo. I hurriedly made my way to the tree,...

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