Don’t Bother Reading This Post

18 Monday Mar 2013

Tags

MLB Baseball, Nationals, Predictions, Red Sox, Spring Training

So what does this Sox obsessed fan say about the 2013 season?

First, I’m almost never correct; so you can stop reading now if you’re interested in accuracy.

Second, even when I try to be a bit objective, I have trouble tamping down my enthusiasm and hopes for the Sox.

Third, my two days at Spring Training this year mean nothing and has given me no real insight, tho it has gotten my juices flowing for the regular season. Plus, as everyone knows (and often overlooks), Spring Training bears no resemblance whatsoever to what happens in the regular season. Won-Lost records in March are useless, tho the last two weeks when most of the starters play most of the games might be indicative of something (perhaps the first couple of weeks of the regular season, at best). Spring hitting and pitching statistics are unreliable. And finally, a teams’ lineup for most of the year often differs significantly from that of Opening Day (re, injuries, etc.).

However, I can’t resist making a few predictions about the coming Sox season and a few other observations as well.

$1,040 If the Nats Win It All

04 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by Richard in Family and Friends, Go Sox

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

AL Pennant, Braves, MLB Playoffs, Nationals, NL Pennant, Orioles, Red Sox, World Series

If the Nats win it all, the Millers stand to win $1,040.

The proof?

As you can see from the two pictures above, on Jan. 6, 2012, when no one was predicting the Washington Nationals would make the playoffs, yours truly was in Las Vegas with younger daughter Elizabeth. As any good father would do, I purchased some Pennant and World Series bets.

Actually, I purchased four tickets, two for Elizabeth and two for myself.

So, if the Nats win the NL Pennant, both Elizabeth and myself will each collect $160.

Then, tho unlikely, if the Nats win the World Series, we each stand to win an additional $360.

Total between us would be $1,040, $520 each.

If you subtract the cost of the tickets, that’s a ‘profit’ of $1,000.

Additionally, I bought a World Series tickets for both my Atlanta nephews, and they stand to win $200 each should the Braves make it from the Wild Card spot all the way to winning the WS.

Then, I threw in another $10 to buy my so-called Baltimore O’s friend a WS bet/ticket. I don’t know how much he stands to win if they go from their Wild Card spot all the way to win the WS. But it probably doesn’t matter. It seems NR (true initials) can’t find his ticket. Typical O’s fan, I guess.

(Full Disclosure: Because I am a loyal Red Sox fan, I also made bets for then AL favorites, two for the Sox winning the AL Pennant and two for them winning the WS. That was $40 down the drain.)

Anyway, my total outlay?

$110.

Any questions?

Why the Sox Won’t Make the Playoffs & the Nats Will

09 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

MLB, Nats, Playoffs, Red Sox

Sox Won’t

Nats Will

Sox Lead the Majors!

07 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

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MLB Charitable Giving, Red Sox

Well, I got your attention, albeit a bit disingenuously, tho I know you were not really fooled by the blog title.

According to this morning Boston Globe article, the Red Sox lead all the other 29 Major League teams in charitable giving in their community, having contributed $52 million dollars to the Boston area via their foundation over the last 10 years.

The article’s worth reading as the way they have ‘spent’ this money strikes me as smart. They don’t just throw money around but grant it wisely. And the $52 million is only what they give through the non profit foundation and doesn’t include autographed items given to nonprofits, entrance to Fenway events, appearances by present and former players, and tickets to Sox games. Nor does it include what the owners give personally, what many of the players give through their own foundations, nor what the Sox help raise for other charities.

How do the Sox compare to the other wealthiest teams in their charitable giving?

According to the Globe in 2011 they gave more than twice as much as did the Yankees ($7.6 million vs $3.6 million).

So while the Sox continue struggling to maintain a .500 record and to stay out of last place, at least they are good citizens and continue to give back to their community.

A Few Baseball Notes

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

A Baseball Dilemma, Nats' Tickets, Red Sox

Free Seats for Nats’ Game vs the Braves:

First person to contact me gets two free Nats’ tickets for this Friday, July 20, 7:05 game. Seats are four rows behind the Visitor’s dugout.

Email me: Samesty84@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Contest Winner:

Despite a bit of grumbling, mostly in good fun I think, I have declared Elizabeth R. Miller, related, the winner of two seats in any stadium she chooses for coming in first place in the MillersTime Baseball Contest #3.

Sox in the 2nd Half of the Season:

I was thinking that because of the closeness of the teams in the AL East and because Ellsbury, Crawford, & Pedroia were returning that the Sox were looking a bit stronger for the second half of the season. Plus, they won three of their first four games since the ASG.

But with Ortiz hurt and heading to the DL and the pitching still shaky, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m just dreaming. I don’t think all is lost just yet, but unless the Sox pitching stops giving up multiple runs in the early innings, it doesn’t look so good for the Beantown Boys.

What say you?

A Quick Read About an Current Baseball Dilemma:

I’ve Always Loved the Yankees. What If My Son Loves the Nationals?, Mitch Rubin, Washington Post, June 14, 2012.

If you missed this Father’s Day post by Rubin, check it out. I suspect he is not the only one facing this kind of difficulty (I’ve noticed that one of my daughters has, at various times, been cheering for the Mets, and now the Marlins).

Let me know if you have any advice.

Youk: “Do Not Make Outs”

25 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

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Tags

Joe Posnanski, Kevin Youklis, Red Sox

The trade is done.

The end, as it always seems, came swiftly, and, if not a surprise, the reality that Youk’s nine years as a Sox (Red) was over brought some sadness to everyone connected to the the Red Sox Nation.

For those of you who follow the Sox as well as for those of you who might have been surprised by the trade, the ending was bittersweet, to repeat a tired phrase.

Whether it was inevitable, whether it was obvious, necessary, what baseball is all about, what baseball has become, what it will mean for Youk, for the Sox (Red and White), we’ll simply have to wait and see.

But already lots of articles, lots of pictures, lots of videos, lots of tweets and lots of blogs have already claimed to explain what happened and to catalogue Youk’s rise, accomplishments, injuries, and current difficulties.

The one column that told me something I didn’t know or feel, or perhaps explained something better, more clearly than anything I’ve read in the last few days was from long time sports writer Joe Posnanski.

“What percentage of the time do you make an out? It’s simple and it’s naked…And this bluntness is why I love Kevin Youklis as a player, ” writes Posnanski in his blog this morning.

Read the entire column/blog for yourself: Youk.

Photos From Fenway

21 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Fenway, Red Sox

As I wrote previously, our family returned to Fenway a few weekends ago (the family has been going there since at least the late 40s). We tried to see the ‘new’ Fenway tour, which turned out to be nothing of the sort. Then we came back the next day to attend a game and to introduce another generation to the park and to the ‘bricks’ that we have contributed to the entrance at Gate B.

Here are some of Ellen’s photos:

Two Free July 4th Nats’ Tickets & Other Baseball Notes

20 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

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Tags

Marlins' Park, Nats, Red Sox, Two Free Nats' Tickets, Yunkees

This and That on My ‘Baseball’ Mind:

1. Free Tickets:

I find myself unable to use two good Nats’ tickets for Wednesday, July 4 at 11:05 against the Giants. The seats are on the first base side, about 20 rows off the field, just to the right of the catcher. If you’re interested, first to contact me either by leaving a Comment below or writing me at Samesty84@gmail.com gets the tickets.

Something’s Wrong Here

13 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Don Orsillo, Fenway, Jerry Remy, NESN, Red Sox

While awaiting the righting of the Red Sox shaky ship, I have two complaints that ostensibly don’t have anything to do with their current baseball struggles, tho on reflection, maybe there is a connection.

First, Touring Fenway:

I wrote a couple of years ago (A Modest Proposal) that I thought the Fenway Park tours were sadly lacking, and the one at the Nationals’ new park in Washington was far superior.

Therefore, I was delighted when Jere Smith of the good Sox blog A Red Sox Fan from Pinstripe Territory, alerted me to a Red Sox announcement that there was to be a new, improved tour beginning this, the 100th year, of Fenway.

Angels Will Beat Phillies in the WS

12 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

2012 World Series, Angels, baseball, NYY, Phillies, Red Sox, Washington Nationals

As I prepare to head to the Nationals’ home opener today, I ‘note’ that my beloved Sox are in last place in the AL East with a 1-5 record, an improvement over last years opening of 0-6.

I also note that the Nationals are tied for first in their Senior Circuit Division with a record of 4-2. While the Nats, or any other team, could never replace my Sox infatuation/obsession, it’s nice to consider that my ‘home’ team may be competitive this year.

Anyway, neither the Sox nor the Nats seemed to impress the contestants in this years MillersTime Baseball Contests.

Here, then, the wisdom of those who succumbed to my endless nagging to participate in the six contests: