Rocky Mountain Low

As of right now, the Helton deal isn't going to work out. No big deal. The Sox didn't NEED him, he just would have rounded out a KILLER offense (well, if everyone stayed healthy). What really s*cks about the whole thing played out. The media may say there are no hard feelings between the Rockies and the Sox, but common. There was already bad blood because of the Larry Bigbie deal that never happened. And now:

"This is Todd Helton we're talking about," Rockies owner
Charlie Monfort told the Associated Press today. "We're not just
going to give him up for nothing".

To that I say:

Dear Mr. Monfort,

Todd Helton is a great baseball player, but lets face the facts. He's past his prime. He is not a baseball God. In fact we'd be giving up two strong players in both Mike Lowell and Julian Tavarez for your one, Mr. Helton. To insist they are nothing is a slap in the face not only to them, but to the Red Sox as an organization and to RSN.

You say that you need to build up young talent? You're right, you do. As does every other team in MLB. So trading Helton for young prospects benefits us this year, maybe the next year....but you for years in the future. Why would we do that? We don't play for the short term strategy. You stated Mike and Julian can help you in the short term, but you need more. Ummm....right.
You're asking the Sox to do something you publicly stated you wouldn't. I don't get it.

Moreover, Dear Mr. Monfort - there was no need to leak Lowell and Tavarez's name to the media. Now, not only are their egos bruised by your "nothing" comment but the Sox are going to have to smooth over their relationships with these two players. We were trying to make a deal with your struggling organization. Baseball is business to the front office, right? We weren't playing gossip trash-talk with the media.

Please get over yourself, and try not to come in last in the NL West this year.


Sincerely,
Soxy Lady

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And as for all of this Schill Thrill talk, here's the way I see it. Curt, I love you dearly, but you won't get a contract before the 2007 season even starts. Let's see you go out there, knock 'em dead a while and then draft something up. If you've still got the goods, we want you back. I love to hear you say you wouldn't go to NY if things don't work out with the Sox next season. Stick to your word, Schill - if you don't your political career in MA is dead before it even started.

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Who in the What Now?!?!

(photo courtesy of The Baseball Critic)

"I will play in 2008," were the words 40-year-old Curt Schilling told Red Sox Nation this morning.His contract with the Red Sox ends after this season. "Where I'm going to play beyond 2007, I hope it's Boston, but I will go out and find a home to pitch,” he said. “I hope it's here but there's also that possibility [of pitching for another team]."-Boston.com

He also says it is not a possibility of him to go to the Yankees...where have we heard that before? More on this later, I'm going to have to put some thought into my response to this news.

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What the Hel(ton)?!?!

The possible Todd Helton acquisition has thrown me for a bit of a loop. It could make for a lights out offense for the Sox, presuming everyone stays healthy. Rumor has it the Rockies are willing to pick up a big chunk of Helton's $90M contract and in return they want Lowell, Tavarez and someone else...that someone else according to some is ether Manny Delcarmen or Craig Hansen. The Sox, it appears, are trying to get them to agree to Matt Clement. I am pretty OK with all of this. What I am NOT OK with is the rumor they also want Triple-A center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (according to FoxSports.com).

Ellsbury was the Sox first round draft pick in 2005. He's been compared a lot to Johnny Demon..and while we (alright, I a speaking for myself here) sill may not like him, we can't argue his work ethic, great defensive ability and strong lead-off status. Coco hasn't instilled a lot of confidence in RSN, Wily Mo has a way to go, Manny could be "Manny" at any given time and want to be traded yet again, and Drew (oh yeah, we finally finalized the Drew deal, yawn) has a lot to prove and needs to stay healthy. The only confidence I had in the Sox outfield for the future were with Ellsbury. I have to admit, part of the reason I like Ellsbury is that he is a Cape League alum. I got to see him play in the 2004 Cape League Championship game against my Y-D Red Sox. The Sox with my host brother, Brett Harker, beat Ellsbury's team, the Falmouth Commodores.

Moving on...I'm a bit disturbed about the news that Fenway Park may be serving sushi this coming season. There are apparently a couple of reasons 1) it caters to those fans who have requested healthier food at Fenway and 2) it will help fans get 'in sync' with Dice K. Now honestly people, you don't go to a ball game and expect to get healthy food. You get peanuts, cracker jacks, Fenway Franks and fried dough. If you don't want that "cr@p" food then eat before the game, bring in your bottle of water and deal. Hey, I have nothing against sushi, I just don't think it has any place in a ballpark. And if they take the Dice K reasoning...hello, we don't serve tostones and habichuelas to please Dominican fans. And you can't tell me that Papi and Manny don't deserve that respect.

Lastly, I couldn't write without mentioning how great my boyfriend is. After 5 1/4 hours in virtual waiting rooms yesterday, and incessantly calling the Red Sox ticketing agents he finally got two tickets to the Red Sox game on May 28th, which is Trot's return to Fenway Park!!!!! Granted, our seats are in the upper bleachers (ha!) but hell they were only $12 each! It is an early Valentine's Day present to me. He has also purchased tickets for the April 25th game at Camden Yards as an early 20+10 birthday present to me! Even though the game is 10 days after my birthday I am so excited to go back to Camden Yards, and to Baltimore to see friends and family. He also said we could go to the Cal Ripken museum, YAY!!!! And seriously, this is all HUGE because believe it or not, Soxy Lady's boyfriend is NOT a baseball fan!!

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Moved on Over

I'm back to blogger.

I started my Soxy Lady blog over on wordpress.com because, frankly, blogger annoys me a lot. But I found the functionality over there was lacking too. I liked the site previews they showed when you would mouse over a link but that wasn't enough to keep me there in the end.

So here I am, I moved over most of my posts. And by most of them, I mean I left out all of the posts about the Patriots. We don't need to relive that, right?! Especially when:

Free Countdown Clocks at WishAFriend.com

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This Day in Red Sox History

Monday, January 22, 2003

On January 22, 2003 David Ortiz signed as a free agent with the Red Sox. Big Papi, as he is so affectionately called by members of RSN, came to the team along with two other free agents, Bill Mueller and Kevin Millar. Of the three, Papi is the only one still with the organization.

He’s also known as “Mr. Clutch” - any Sox fan should know why! According to Boston.com:

In three seasons with the Sox, David Ortiz has 15 walkoff hits, including nine walkoff homers. Last year he received a plaque from the Sox that read “David Ortiz #34 The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox.”

For the past two years Papi has been a serious American League MVP candidate. In 2005 he lost to A-Fraud, after significant debates. The feeling was, since he is DH and not on the field all of the time, he doesn’t contribute as much to the game as a position player. 2006 was a different story for Papi, although he broke the Red Sox single season home run record (previously held by Jimmie Foxx), The Sox failed and therefore nobody expected M.V.Papi to take home the prize. It was awarded to Minnesota Twins player, Justin Morneau.

Do you agree a DH shouldn’t take home the MVP prize? I mean to me an MVP means a player who has provided the most value to his team. Pitchers have their own version of MVP, the Cy Young award. So what award does the DH get? Nothing? How wrong is that? Especially for a guy (like Ortiz) who has FANTASTIC stats? There aren’t enough words to talk about all of his accolades or what he’s brought as both a player and a person to RSN. He’s an MVP in my book.

This day in RSH (Red Sox History) proved to be a significant one, indeed!!!

Show your support of this Boston All-Star by picking up one of these kick-@ss shirts from theredseat.com

(No, they didn’t pay me to say that! They just happen to be my favorite site for Red Sox Apparel and related merchandise because everything they have is so unique! In fact, my ‘This Day in Red Sox History’ facts come from their Red Sox Calendar!)

(Photo taken by me at Fenway Park on 10-01-06)

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This Day in Red Sox History

Saturday, January 20, 2007

(photo taken by me at Fenway Park 6-19-05)

On January 20, 1871 the Boston Red Stockings were founded and became the first professional baseball team in Boston (NL). They finished the season with a 20-10 record. Today’s Red Sox (AL) took their name from the Boston Red Stockings. Who, after a series of moves landed and remained in Atlanta where they became the Atlanta Braves.

The AL team was called different names before the owner settled on the Red Sox, to differentiate them from the NL team. Why Sox and not Socks? It was a sign of the times to simplify English spelling.

So Sox fans, raise your glasses and have a drink to celebrate the team who gave us our name!

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Thank You Trot!

Friday, January 19, 2007

The day I have been dreading has finally come. Trot Nixon has signed with the Cleveland Indians. He’s not coming back to Boston (as a Red Sox).

(photo courtesy of RedSoxChick)

I can’t say I’m surprised he signed with the Indians. I also can’t say it wasn’t a good move for the Sox, as Nixon was oft injured. However our alternative, J.D. Drew, isn’t a sure bet either.

Although announcing he agreed to a 5 year/$70 million deal with the Red Sox in the beginning of December, Drew’s deal still isn’t finalized because of an injured right shoulder. So we’re over-paying a right fielder who has a high risk for injury and letting go a guy who has spent his entire career in Boston, is the original Boston Dirt dog and plays harder than anyone (when he’s healthy)?

I don’t know. I don’t have huge confidence in an outfield of Drew, Wily Mo and Manny (when he decides it’s ok to be a ball player).

Anyway, this post isn’t meant to debate the details of what went down. It’s to say “goodbye” to the guy whose helmet is covered in pine tar, face is streaked in eye black and pants are stained with grass.

My cousin and I were lucky enough to be at the Sox vs Orioles game on October 1, 2006. It was the Sox last game of the season. Even though there was a 3 hour rain delay and the weather remained miserable I am so happy I was there. I was able to witness Trot’s last at bat in a Red Sox uniform. I also captured this short video:

Sure it’s sideways, unstable and a little too short but cut me some slack. I actually thought I was taking a picture! What I got was a great memory and a little piece of history.

Soxy Lady will miss you, Christopher Trotman Nixon.

Yes, I am a sap.

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About Soxy Lady

Strong willed woman, who is a huge Boston Sports Fan
Overly emotional about said sports teams
Xtremely loyal
Yelling at the TV during games, you bet!

Love that Dirty Water - Boston you’re my home!
Another World Series? Another Superbowl? Bring it!
Don’t wear pink apparel, black pants or heels to games
Yes, I still smile when I think of the 2004 season

Contact me at: soxylady33{at}gmail{dot}com

I know not everybody in the world is a Boston Sports Fan, and I respect (although I don’t understand) that. I ask that you please respect me. You don’t have to agree with what I’m saying. If you don’t agree simply don’t read or don’t comment.

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