As we head into the All-Star break the Sox are looking pretty good. The offense has been a suprise this year to some. I know around work no one expected, for reasons I can't understand, for Lowell to hit has well as he has. He has a carreer batting average of over .3oo and while he had a bad year last year, that was an aborhition. I think the other suprise has been the pitching, I for one didn't see the woes coming that we've experienced this year. While it has improved of late, there was a stretch where I cringed when ever the bull pen was called on, and no one could fore see Schilling and Becket giving up the quantity of long balls they have this year.
As for the All-Star game it's self, I'll watch, I always do, if only to see the Sox players get their turn at the plate or the mound. The one thing I do enjoy is the HR contest that will air tonight. While I admit it is way too commercial, it's essentially a 2-3 hour advertisement for Century 21, when one of these guys gets a groove, it's just damned impressive. The first year I remember seeing this type of display was '99 in Fenway, when McGwire was launching 400 footers over the Monster and score board. I'm sure I'll hear it from Zeb and AA, but I'll just consider the sources in those cases.
5 comments:
What? I've always liked the HR contests, more so years ago than now as it's turned more and more hokey every year. Also, it's gotten like the slam dunk contest, most of the guys you want to see won't compete. But I will watch as usual.
I figured I'd get the ol' "It's too corporate" attitude. Well do you have any predictions? I'm thinking Dye will have a good turn out and out last Big Papi.
I'll take Ryan Howard.
I just put up my post about the weekend games and other stuff on http://sportszeb.blogspot.com
Great points AA, both on Berman and the Sox success. I don't think any one was suprised by the increase in defense this year, but your right on about the bench. The one thing I do like about Willie Harris is that he has that Dave Roberts feel about him when pinch running. Of course what allows that to happen is the deep bench defensively. Knowing that if you run for Trot you have a good solid back up in Kapler, or as was the case in the marathon yesterday Cora coming in. I thought they may bring in JT Snow and move Youk over to third, but Cora is more than passable at third. It's great to have the options though.
Didn't someone pick Ryan Howard to win?
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