FRS

44,000 Teary Eyed Fans

Tonight is the MLB All-Star Game and I considered tuning in just to see all 44,000 teary eyed fans at Target Field watching Derek Jeter’s final tip of the hat. But then I realized that Atlantic Broadband, in their continuing efforts to force a cable box on me, has removed the HD feed for FOX from my available channels, so I didn’t turn it on.

It wasn’t until the 4th inning that I realized I could watch it in HD using my MLB.TV package. This turned out to be a good thing as Jeter was already out of the game so I didn’t have to listen to the FOX announcers lavish praise on him. That reminds me, I have been lax in keeping up with Grantland.com’s fictional Derek Jeter Diary, The Captain’s Log.

I was also very lucky and missed the FRS’s “all-star” pitcher John Lester give up a single and two doubles, allowing two runs in his 2nd inning appearance.

The Purple Whale swam past the 44,000 mile mark on the way to DD this morning.

Started down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1391

Replacing the F in FRS

John Lester

Since my last, kind of negative, post about the Red Sox and their seven game losing streak, they lost three more games to make it ten games in a row down the tubes. But now it seems like it is time to replace that expletive that starts with an F with the word Fun because they have reeled off 7 straight victories.

In a nice bit of symmetry, the pitcher featured in that other post watching a home run hitter from the opposing team circle the bases, was today’s starting pitcher as well. His performance today was as different as could be from his performance was those 10 days ago, he dominated, 7 innings, 4 hits, striking out 12, walking one and allowing zero runs.

Being a fan of the team is fun again and I bet playing on the team is fun again too.

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1364

Putting the F in FRS

FRS

Since last Wednesday when the FRS beat the Twins 9-4 and we were finally 2 games above .500. Since early April they have lost 7 games in a row, by the scores of 4-3, 1-0, 6-1, 6-2, 7-4, 6-4 & 7-2. Next up is a three game series against the Tampa Bay Rays who are in last place only a game worse than the Red Sox. So if all goes as it has been, by Sunday the Sox can capture sole possession of last place in the American League East. I really did pick the wrong year to pay for MLB.tv…

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1358

10 Run Mercy Rule

Kind of wish they had the 10 run mercy rule in the major leagues tonight. The FRS are down 12 to 2 in the 7th inning against the MFY. The official scorer at Fenway did take some mercy on them just now, ruling an obvious 6th error of the night a fielders choice.

The Emperor got a bath tonight. We are headed up to North Carolina to do the Foothills Photo Rally 4 and he needed to look a little less grungy around all the other cars. I was going to take the cheater’s way out and dust him off, then touch up the real dirty areas with some Quick Detailer, but realized I really needed to break out the hose and bucket. After last Saturday’s trip to Atlanta and back in the constant light rain/mist mix he was dirty enough to warrant the royal treatment.

Started down went up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1313

MLB.TV Takes Its Toll

mlb.tv

Previously on “Life of Brian” it was nothing for me to listen to the FRS game on the internet and blog away, but now that I’ve spent the big bucks to watch the game, it is really hard to minimize the game to write about some inane bit of my day.

Opening Day Part I

A beer company and an ex-ballplayer attempted to turn baseball’s opening day into National Holiday recently. Donna and I both thought, “Great, another holiday we won’t get off.” And it turns out about 100,000 internet crazies were for it, but getting anything actually done required Congress, so it didn’t happen.

And, even if today had become a holiday there would have been no celebration here in Dunbarton Oaks, as the FRS lost their first game of the season to the Baltimore Orioles 2-1, thereby laying claim to last place in the division…

Dunkin Donuts saved the day though, they gave anyone who asked, a free small iced coffee in Tennessee, Virginia, Northwest Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas all day on March 31. Apparently South Carolina wanted to play along too, because I got one on the way home from work. I can even get another free small iced coffee tomorrow, but we will have to drive a little further to get it, as it is only being offered in northeast Ohio.

Renunciation Of Citizenship

Official-Red-Sox-Nation-Citizen

For the past 10 years I’ve been listening to the Red Sox baseball games on the internet, because it was a throwback to a simpler time when I was a kid and my mom would always have the game on the radio. It also gave me something to listen to in the background while I wasted time surfing the web. Eight years ago I joined the Red Sox Nation because there was a couple dollar discount on the MLB Gameday Audio I was using to listen to FRS games and I got some cool benefits (that would have been more helpful if I actually lived within driving distance of Boston.) Oh, and there was a membership card I could carry around in my wallet to prove my citizenship.

Last August, MLBTV ran a special of $19.95 for their Premium service for the rest of the season and I took advantage of it. Turns out with that I can have the best of both worlds by watching the game on TV in HighDef and listening to the radio announcing team make the call. It was good. So this year I decided to spend the $130 for the full year of MLBTV Premium. Unlike the deal they had for audio, there is no corresponding package with TV, so this year I won’t be card carrying member of the Red Sox Nation. I’ll still be a citizen in my heart, but I won’t be able to watch batting practice from the Green Monster or get 10% off at the fan shop at Fenway.