The Best Off-Season EVAR!

[tehuti]

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Bright Solstice! Happy Kwanza!

Did I leave any out? Because after the last two weeks, every member of Red Sox Nation is celebrating.

The departure of Victor Martinez was met with astonishment by Red Sox fans. How could the team let him go? Slugging, multi-position playing catchers don't grow on trees. We got outbid by Detroit? Seriously? Does anyone even live there anymore?

Maybe the front office had it all under control. They traded just three prospects for Adrian Gonzalez, a legitimate All-Star first baseman, who put up gaudy numbers in the canyon that is Petco Park in San Diego. If he could hit .298, 31 home runs and 101 RBIs, imagine what he could do in Fenway.

Then, days later, they picked up free agent outfielder Carl Crawford. At 29, he's already stolen over 400 bases, and hits for decent power and percentage. He was one of the highest profile free agents this off season, and signing him had the added benefit of taking him away from division rival Tampa Bay. These two players did not come cheaply, and now we finally see why the team let that other guy go.

But the icing on the cake came today. Cliff Lee, the most highly regarded free agent pitcher in years, spurned the Yankees and the Rangers to return to Philly. And he did it for less money, no less! Not only does this mean the Yankees are finally learning how we felt all those years, but Lee went to the National League, so the Red Sox don't have to deal with him until the World Series.

And after the last few weeks, what Red Sox fan isn't assuming that the boys from Beantown are heading there in 2011?

Comments

[jjlivesstrong.livejournal.com]

First let me say I pretty much don't give a rat's ass about sports, so I didn't read the full post...

BUT...

I thought the season was over? Does this Red Sox thing have to go ALL year. I started to say that I can't think of any CA team whose fans are this crazy. But then I remember the Raider's Dog Pound. Those guys are certifiable.

So I guess I'll step back and just go back to ignoring sports ;-)

JJ :-)

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

Sorry you are not a sports fan. Here sports are part and parcel of the life force. This is the busy season of baseball, where people are shifting teams, looking at prospects and setting future goals.

[jjlivesstrong.livejournal.com]

It's not that I don't like sports... I like watching games with friends, especially the big stuff, but I don't seek sports info out on my own.

There was an exception to that a while back. When the WUSA (Women's United Soccer Association) was around from 2001-2003 I was a rabid San Jose Cyber Rays fan. My partner and I bought half season tickets for the first year, and after the first game we bought tickets to every other game. For the next two years we were in the Gold section which meant you got chairs in stead of bleachers and you weren't facing the sun so you could actually see everything. The first season they won the championship and it was played in San Jose, and it was an AMAZING game... Double overtime excitement! The other two seasons they didn't do as well, but they were still great to watch... Plus the fans were amazing. The team was captained by Brandi Chastain (of take of my shirt and swing it over my head fame when winning the World Cup), but my favorite player by far was head goalie LaKeysia Beene. There is a new league now, and maybe this next season I can get to Boston for a Breakers game. The Breakers were one of the teams from the WUSA. I'm sad the Cyber Rays were not revived. Would have been fun to go to a game with all my old gear.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane :-)

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

If you do make it up to Boston I'll go with you. I have never seen a live soccer game unless you count the 8 year olds. Maybe a real soccer game played by adults with some one beside me who knows what is going on will make me enjoy the game more. And if my health improves I'll take you to a Red Sox game.

[jjlivesstrong.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a plan!!!

Regarding health I am guessing from you handle that you have fibromyalgia? That's a bitch of a disease. My mom, my sister, and my ex all have it. I've lucked out!!!

If you don't have fibro skip everything I just said, and I'll just say feel better soon!

JJ :-)

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

Lupus has been my main curse since I was in my teens. Fibro came along in my late 30's because lupus wanted to take a break but still fuck up my life. The Fibro in fibrowitch comes from an engineering term that use to mean to control multiple lines in a manufacturing plant.

[jjlivesstrong.livejournal.com]

Autoimmune issues suck all the way around. So sorry fibro decided to jump into the game when a time out had already been called. I couldn't resist the sports bend considering the original post :-)

I know squat about engineering, I would have never guessed that in a million years.

JJ :-)

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

Ya I have been a safety engineer since the late 80's I witnessed a family friend die in a work place accident (pipes fell off a truck and crushed him) been interested in making the work place safer ever sense.

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

I have been a Red Sox fan to long to think they will do anything less than fuck up. If I ever start thinking we are going all the way I remember to cross my fingers and spit three times in the wind.

[tehuti.livejournal.com]

I've been a fan my whole life, too, so I understand, but it is definitely time to stop being so jaded about our team. They've gone all the way twice in the last six years, and last year's team would have had a shot if they'd stayed healthy. The 2011 team is shaping up to be better. Time will tell...