Talk To The Fist

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

I Gladly Trade You a Sack of Crap for another Sack of Crap

In a move reminiscent to getting rid of Carl Everett, the Red Sox unloaded their Korean bomb to Colorado in exchange for Charles Johnson (a washed up catcher) who they immediately released! Think about that. They wanted to be rid of Byung-Hyun Kim so bad they took a player that they didn't want even more than Kim. Is that even possible? Well not exactly since they also received a minor league left-handed pitcher Chris Narveson. The full article has more of the numbers behind the deal but this was nothing more than taking the retarded step child out behind the tool shed, hitting him over the head with a shovel until he stopped moving for good, and then never speaking his name again. PR spinster Theo Epstein had this to say about the original contract he offered Kim (2 years 10 million dollars).

We certainly made a mistake and I take responsibility for that"

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Oh Johnson, You Still Have So Much To Learn

Archrival?" Johnson said with a laugh after yet another question about Boston. "It sounds like we're reading a comic book or something. It sounds like we're watching "Superman" or "Spider-Man 4."

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Don't Worry We Are Still Idiots

I think if we do [act crazy], we'll win more, and we just need to do that," says Damon, attempting to untangle his mane while he answers. "If we start becoming a little more serious, it could be different. But I think we've kept the core of the guys around. We can still cut up and have a good time."

Mike Berardino writes an interesting piece about the Sox and their wild ways. Clement, Wednesdays starter, what do you think about all this idiot talk?

I don't know how many people I've called an `idiot' in my life. The big thing is they know how to have fun, but they also know when it's time to play. To me that's why they're good. There's also a laid-back approach to it, too, that takes some of the pressure off what's going on."

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Myers Back: Kim Sayonara?

The Red Sox acquired Myers from Seattle in August, didn't resign him, the Cardinals signed Myers in December and then traded him to the Sox in March. Yeah that makes a lot of sense. It doesn't mean much since his time will be limited, but it may suggest that BK Kim will definitely not be playing in a Red Sox uniform this year.

Mike's also a guy that can go two innings, so it's not a drain on your staff as much as a normal situational lefty is." Tito said Tuesday

The Season Hasn't Even Started Yet....

... and I am already tired with all the ads on NESN. It is going to be a long summa'. That Toyota ad has to go. Interesting notes from today: both Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling pitched today for their teams, they both just happened to pitch in minor league games instead of in Tampa against each other. David Ortiz wore number 79 today instead of 34 his regular number. Remy said on the air that Big Pappi must have left his jersey in Ft Myers.

Sox Yankees: Can't Wait? Watch it Today

The long awaited Sox Yankees season opener is just a few days away, and I will quote Jerry Remy and say

I just can't wait."

Now you don't have to, the time has come the Sox will play the Yankees today, your wait is over. Sort of. The Sox and Yanks gear up for their last meeting of the spring at 1pm and the game will be broadcast on YES network for all of those with DirecTV. With that said it is hard to believe that THIS SUNDAY, it all starts over again. The games that mean something, the rivalry, the quest for the world championship trophy, and you can’t forget the all important fantasy stats.

LISTEN TO THE GAME

Get Some

It was all fun and games for Trot Nixon Saturday until the game against the D-Rays started. Nixon made two throwing errors (that didn't show up in the scorecard) which cost the Sox two runs. It appeared that Nixon forgot how to play ball for a moment. But Nixon's woes were not the Sox problem; they were no-hit by devil dog pitching until the fifth inning and left the park with only three hits and no runs.

Shake Hands and Come Out Fighting

The tension between the Red Sox and the Yankees were not just on the field with the players last year, they were also off the field with the fans. These high tensions reared their head at an Acton school where a principal made the students shake hands and make up after a flare up, but magnanimous school officials thought one better and decided to ask the pro-teams to do the same. The Boss of the New York players said this much

He thinks it's a great idea," A Steinbrenner spokesman said

Tito's endorsement on the other hand was less resounding.

If our guys want to go shake some hands, they're going to do it," Francona said. "I'm not going to make them."

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Fenway Will Stay, Boston Won't Pay

In a stark contrast from the last owners of Fenway Park, the new ownership group have decided to stay in Fenway Park (for now) and more surprisingly they didn't ask the city for any money for the planed improvements and repairs. But this is Boston and everything is political so Menino wasted no time making it clear that the city wont be paying any monies for the parks future improvements.

We don't have the finances to do it." said Menino Tuesday

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SO HOW DO YOU USE THIS THING BRONSON?

(AP Photo/Rick Silva)

D Lowe shows off his new found batting stance he intends to sport this year in the NL. Prior to the game Lowe visited with some of his former teammates to enjoy a laugh. Lowe also got a chuckle out of Bronson Arroyo getting a hit off him in the second inning of Monday's nationally televised game. After leaving the game D Lowe was interviewed by Duke Castiglione, son of Joe, who asked Lowe what the difference has been becoming a Dodger.

We don't have as many fans. Lowe replied

Tito: Whats the Difference This Year Without Pedro?

Well, Nobody has been late.

Said Francona during an in game interview with ESPN on Monday against the Dodgers. Francona went on to say that if you are asking him the same question in June or July then they have a problem and he thinks Wells and Clement will do just fine. He added at the end of his interview that he was just teasing and for the ESPN broadcasters to pass that along.

Is Your Shortstop Fat?

Edgar Renteria officially weighs in at 6 feet 1 inch 200 pounds. Jetter tips the scale at 6'3" 195 lbs. It certainly appears that Edgar has a beer gut, to be kind. If his league leading high average or his steals fall off this year it will not be a surprise since he is so fat. Thebostonblogger.com will point the finger directly at his waist line.

Theo Takes the Blame

In a 1900 word essay Tony Massarotti wrote just about everything you would need to know and more about Byung-Hyun Kim. Why? I am not sure. My essay on Kim would be only two words in length. "He Sucks." One point of interest would be that Theo Epstein takes full responsibity for his bad deal and Kim's propensity to suck.

It's my fault, It's the responsibility of the club to do everything in its power to help a guy, but in the end not everybody can play in Boston." Epstein said

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Schilling to Miss First Two Weeks

Tito told reporters Saturday that Schilling will in fact not make the opening day Start in the Bronx, and will miss at least the first two weeks of the season. Wells will take the hill at his old home for the MLB season opener game Sunday night. Why Wells? Is he our second best pitcher?

He's been there before... Regardless of how that game goes, if it doesn't go the way we want it, he'll be fine. I just think that's best for our whole entire staff, to let David take the ball the first night, because he's done it before." Terry Francona said

The team will place Schilling on the 15 day DL to start the season.
Wakefield will start the home opener
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O'Wells Gets Shelled

Wells sporting the St Patrick Day green gets shelled in the first inning on Friday, but settles down for three scoreless innings. Damon notched his first homer of '05 in the second.

Final						1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9				R		H		E
				Florida		3		0		0		0		0		0		0		0		0				3		9		0
				Boston		0		2		0		0		0		0		3		0		x				5		7		0
			W: Scott Cassidy (2-0) L: Bryan Corey (1-1) S: Jason Kershner (3)

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Clement's Time to Shine?

I'm confident that this is the right situation for me," said Clement. "I'm confident in the team that's going to be behind me and the catcher I'm going to have behind the plate, the other pitchers I'm going to have with me."

I'm not obsessed with my walks," said Clement. "In the past, when I was young, people were obsessed with it. When you go out there thinking about not walking people, it's going to happen. For me, it's just being able to consistently repeat my delivery and arm slot and being able to attack the strike zone. At the same time I have to realize that I do have a lot of movement on my ball. It's not always going to be as pinpoint as I might hope or want it to be. But I know if I can keep improving, the better I get with that, it's going to make me a much better pitcher."

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Spring Training Standings

As of 3/18

American League

Team	W	L	PCT
Tampa Bay	8	5	.615
Los Angeles	10	7	.588
Toronto	7	5	.583
Cleveland	8	6	.571
Chicago	8	8	.500
Detroit	6	6	.500
Minnesota	7	8	.467
Baltimore	6	7	.462
Boston	6	7	.462
New York	6	7	.462
Oakland	6	10	.375
Texas	6	10	.375
Kansas City	5	9	.357
Seattle	5	9	.357

Shilling Appointed to Steroids Task Force

Curt Schilling was named a member of a new congressional steroids task force. He will be used in an advisory roll. Surprisingly Jason Giambi was not asked to be a part of this panel. In an odd moment the congressional committee introduced Frank Thomas (on a video screen) and Curt Schilling and announced their desire to have these two men on their task force. Then the committee asked for the rest of the players (the bad ones?) to be brought in. Mark McGuire pleaded the fifth in his opening statement and Rafael Palmeiro lashed out at the committee stating he never used roids, and asked to be a part of the (good players) task force with Schilling and Thomas.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
See Comments for full transcript

R.I.P. Dick Radatz

1937-2005

Damon Signs Long Term Contract

Damon Signs Long Term Contract...for his hair. It turns out those merry makeover men, A.K.A. as the Fab Five, from "Queer Eye" wanted to cut Johnny Damon's hair during the taping of a new episode at Red Sox spring training. He said no way and argued that he is under contract with his books' publisher to keep the long locks through the promotional period of his new book Idiot. Can you blame him? The Boston Blogger presents photographical evidence bellow.

Exhibit A:
Damon with short hair and an ugly dude.

Exhibit B:
Damon with long hair and hot wife.


Case Closed

Schilling: Testifying Hampers Opening Day Hopes

Schilling will going to D.C. to testify about steriods set you back, and make it more difficult to be the opening day starter?

Absolutely... There's never going to be a good time for something like
this. We had to rearrange my entire schedule this week."

Keith Foulke: Why did your last spring training suck so bad?

Why did spring training for you last year suck so bad?

I hurt my calf last year right off the bat, coming back from that I took a ball off the knee. Those two things set me back, put me in a lot of bad habits for the entire spring training. Luckily I figured it out in the nick of time. This year I am healthy and strong, feel good and I really don't foresee any of those problems from last year coming back... From there it messed up my mechanics, and I started getting into a bad arm slot. They (Red Sox Management) were pretty worried, and I was concern because I didn't know what was going on. (Smiling) We had two or three conferences with Tito, Theo , and thoes. But in the long run it worked out and it will be much better this spring.

Said Keith Foulke after his 2005 spring training debut. He pitched one inning with his line pictured above.

Halfway Spring Training Leaders

LEAGUE LEADERS

American League Rondell White AVG 1. R. White DET .667 2. T. Womack NYY .529 3. B. Inge DET .526 4. M. Teahen KC .500 5. M. LeCroy MIN .500 Complete Leaders Gabe Gross HR 1. G. Gross TOR 5 2. B. Inge DET 4 3. R. Gotay KC 3 4. J. Rodriguez CLE 3 5. J. Bailey BOS 2 Complete Leaders Brandon Inge RBI 1. B. Inge DET 10 2. A. Gonzalez TEX 9 3. C. Everett CHW 9 4. C. Kotchman ANA 9 5. R. Gotay KC 8 Complete Leaders Brandon McCarthy Wins 1. B. McCarthy CHW 2 2. M. Hensley ANA 1 3. J. Westbrook CLE 1 4. J. Bonderman DET 1 5. D. Creek DET 1 Complete Leaders James Baldwin ERA 1. J. Baldwin BAL 0 2. J. Bonderman DET 3.00 3. R. Lopez BAL 3.00 4. K. Brown NYY 5.14 5. R. Bauer BAL 6.43 Complete Leaders Jason Kershner SVs 1. J. Kershner BOS 2 2. S. Dunn ANA 2 3. B. Embry KC 1 4. S. Sauerbeck CLE 1 5. C. Spurling DET 1 Complete Leaders

National League Michael Coleman AVG 1. M. Coleman WAS 1.000 2. K. Casto WAS 1.000 3. R. Castro WAS 1.000 4. B. Jordan ATL .533 5. J. Wilson WAS .500 Complete Leaders Carlos Lee HR 1. C. Lee MIL 4 2. J. Lane HOU 3 3. R. Stratton CIN 3 4. A. Pujols STL 3 5. M. Cabrera FLA 2 Complete Leaders Carlos Lee RBI 1. C. Lee MIL 11 2. P. Fielder MIL 10 3. M. Cabrera FLA 8 4. K. Robinson NYM 7 5. J. Phillips NYM 7 Complete Leaders Les Walrond Wins 1. L. Walrond FLA 2 2. J. Young COL 2 3. A. Levine SF 2 4. C. Carpenter STL 2 5. J. Marquis STL 2 Complete Leaders Derek Lowe ERA 1. D. Lowe LA 0 2. L. Ayala WAS 0 3. B. Bray WAS 0 4. H. Carrasco WAS 0 5. C. Durbin WAS 0 Complete Leaders Aquilino Lopez SVs 1. A. Lopez LA 3 2. G. Mota FLA 2 3. A. Reyes STL 2 4. B. Bruney ARI 1 5. C. Qualls HOU 1 Complete Leaders

Otriz: Captain Piss in a Cup

They pick me [to be tested] every time," he said. "I don't know why. I don't know if it's because I'm a big guy, or what, but all I know is all they are going to find is a lot of rice and beans."

The Sox have been tested for steroid use and if there is anything that going the 2004 World Champions, this is going to be it. At least 6 players and as many as twelve had to piss in a cup for drug testing. The players are notified by former GM Mike Port AKA the VP of pissing technologies.

I'm glad it's over," Ortiz said. "It's good to just get it out of the way."

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Nomar Calls it a Hoax

You may remember hearing that Nomar said to a fan during Spring Training in Arizona that he didn't want his World Series ring the Red Sox had decided to give him. The story originated from BostonDirtDogs.com but has since been taken down off the site due to questions of its accuracy. The Boston Blogger has turned up a google cached version of the page for your viewing pleasure. On Monday Nomar was questioned on the subject during an ESPN baseball broadcast and had this to say.

They were putting it out like I was bitter...They found out later it was a hoax." Nomar Gariciaparra said

It turns out that Mr. Hamm called EPSN and asked the broadcasters to retract the story in hopes that it would all go away. Hmmm?

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Schilling Subpoenaed

Curt Schilling was issued a subpoena Wednesday to speak in front of Congress with regards to the steroid scandal. Frank Thomas, Rafael Palmeiro will join Schilling on March 17th to testify in front of the House of Representatives Government Reform Committee. It appears that they have called steriod users and non-users to tell their side of the story. All said 11 players, or former players were subpoenaed, including Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi and of course Jose Canseco.

Schilling Sick: Opener in Question

He hasn't thrown to hitters yet, so that's the next step before he gets into a game," said Sox manager Terry Francona. "[The flu] doesn't really affect his arm, but it doesn't help the fact that it's going to push him back a couple of days."

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Don't Believe the Hype... oh wait...

...there really isn't any. One year ago in the wake of A-Rod being snatched up by the Evil Empire the Red Sox and Yankees were set to meet for a Spring Training game. The first game since Grady Little was fired for leaving Pedro Martinez in one inning too long. The first game since Red Sox fans took one more step toward believing The Curse really did exist. Never has there been so much hype surrounding a preseason game ever. Tickets were on sale on Ebay for over a thousand dollars a piece, the New York Times sent three reporters down to cover a game in which the starters would be playing about three innings in. It had all the billing of Game 8 of the ALCS. This year in the wake of the Yankees making a historic choke and the Red Sox breaking any said to be curse, the Sox and Yankees will square off tonight for the first time since the ALCS. The game is at night and broadcast on NESN, but that is where the ridiculousness stops. The way it should be, don't worry it will all start up again in just 27 days.


(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Sox Look Forward to Hitting the Yankees Wang

The Red Sox will face the New York Yankees Monday night in a split squad match up at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. Abe Alvarez will face the Yankees prospect Wang.
Full Name: Chien-Ming Wang
Born: 03/31/1980
Birthplace: Tainan, Taiwan
Height: 6'3" Weight: 200
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Platoon: Now Playing in Left Field

Nixon had earned his way through Jimy Williams and Grady Little's tutelage to an everyday right fielder. Then he became injured, and struggled to find time against righties or lefties last year. A career .293 (vs righties).213 (vs lefties) hitter will be on a short leash from Francona who has tipped his cap that he will play Jay Payton in right field against most lefties.

Jay Payton gives us a nice blend of contributions. We're going to go with the most production we can get with both of them." Francona told reporters

Nixon the hard nose team player was not afraid to say how he felt about it.

I don't like it... That's a simple fact. Everybody wants to go out and play every day, I've had my opportunities against lefties, but usually tough lefties and guys out of the bullpen." Said Nixon

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Wakefield In Arroyo Out... If Miller Healthy

I don't have any plans of stepping down or going to the bullpen when Wade Miller gets healthy. That's just my own personal opinion. You'd have to ask [Francona] what they're thinking."

Hey Tito what if Miller gets healthy who is the odd man out?

If I had to choose one guy out of our rotation who could go to the bullpen and be a star and be the Ramiro Mendoza [of old], throw 100 innings, that's [Arroyo]," Francona said

Charles Bronson Arroyo how do you feel about that?

Obviously I'd rather be in the rotation than pitch out of the pen, but I'll do whatever they want me to do," said Arroyo

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Perfectly Meaningless

The long wait is over, see that wasn't so bad. Well, almost, in 30 some odd days it will all be over when the regular season starts, but the Red Sox are playing baseball games again. Unfortunately baseball games that mean very little and very little can be gleamed from them. Last spring Keith Foulke was hit harder Baghdad Police Department, and come opening day hitters went MC Hammer on him (you can't touch this). One game and one win, or is it 9 wins in a row, or is it a good start from the biggest off season acquisition, Matt Clement (who game up one run over two innings)? None of the above, this game meant nothing and nothing good or bad can be taken from it. The good news is that in a few days when we get shelled by 10 runs that game won't mean a thing either. This game means one thing and that is a very important thing indeed. A live Red Sox game was on NESN last night, and that is very very important. All is well with the world again.

Now bask in all of its' meaningless statistical glory.

Boston 4, Minnesota 3

Preview - Box Score - Recap

Line Score

FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MINNESOTA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 8 1 BOSTON 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 x 4 7 2 FINAL WP - JEREMI GONZALEZ (1-0) LP - J.D. DURBIN (0-1) SAVE - DENNY TOMORI (1) HOME RUNS: BOS - SHAWN WOOTEN (1) OFF TREY HODGES IN THE 8TH TIME: 2:36 ATT: 7,589

Box Score

FINA MINNESOTA (3) AT BOSTON (4) MINNESOTA AB R H BI BOSTON AB R H BI J Bartlett SS 3 1 1 0 J Payton RF 2 1 1 0 L Maza PH-SS 2 0 1 1 A Stern RF 2 0 1 0 M Ryan LF 2 0 0 0 M Bellhorn 2B 2 0 0 0 T Dunwoody RF 3 0 1 0 D Berg 2B 2 0 0 0 L Ford CF 1 0 0 0 J Varitek C 1 1 1 1 J Tyner CF 0 0 0 0 S Wooten C 2 1 1 1 M LeCroy 1B 2 0 0 0 K Millar 1B 1 0 1 0 G Jones 1B 2 0 0 0 D McCarty 1B 1 1 0 0 E Munson 3B 2 0 1 0 E Renteria SS 1 0 0 0 A Fox 3B 2 0 0 0 H Ramirez SS 1 0 0 0 T Tiffee DH 4 1 1 0 K Youkilis 3B 2 0 1 1 A Rios RF-LF 2 0 0 0 T Hummel 3B 2 0 0 0 J Rabe LF 2 0 1 1 R Petagine DH 2 0 0 0 M Redmond C 2 0 0 0 S Pond PH-DH 2 0 0 0 C Heintz C 2 0 0 0 A Hyzdu CF 2 0 0 0 L Rodriguez 2B 2 0 1 0 C Ambres CF 1 0 1 0 B Abernathy 2B 2 1 1 0 B McMillon LF 2 0 0 0 G Lombard LF 1 0 0 0 TOTALS 35 3 8 2 TOTALS 29 4 7 3 MINNESOTA 100 000 002 -- 3 BOSTON 100 100 02x -- 4 E--B McMillon, C Ambres, L Maza. DP--MINNESOTA 1. LOB--MINNESOTA 8, BOSTON 6. 2B--J Payton, T Tiffee. HR--S Wooten 1 (1) (off T Hodges). SF--J Varitek. IP H R ER BB SO HR MINNESOTA K Lohse 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 J Durbin (L,0-1) 2 2 1 1 2 2 0 W Eyre 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 D Gassner 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 T Hodges 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 BOSTON M Clement 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 B Kim 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 J Gonzalez (W,1-0) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 J Manzanillo 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 A Alvarez 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 K Wilson 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 M Malaska 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 D Tomori (S,1) 1 3 2 1 0 0 0 WP--M Clement, D Tomori. SO--MIN: M Redmond, A Fox, J Bartlett, A Rios. BOS: S Pond 2, M Bellhorn, R Petagine, S Wooten. BB--MIN: J Tyner 2, L Ford. BOS: E Renteria, D McCarty, K Millar, H Ramirez. T--2:36. A--7,589.

Let the Games Begin

It'll be nice to put a Red Sox uniform on," Clement said Wednesday.

After meeting the President, hanging out on the white house lawn, and visiting injured veterans from the Iraq war at a VA hospital in D.C., the Red Sox flew back to Ft Myers to take on the Twins at 7pm Thursday night. Matt Clement will take the mound and throw the first pitch of this meaningless game.
Watch the game live and free on MLB tonight at 7pm

Welcome Idiots to the White House

On a day when the Washington Nationals played their very first game, the George W Bush greeted your World Champion Red Sox at the south lawn. Bush asked them what took them so long, and David Ortiz replied...

The wind.

AS RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE

MARCH 2, 2005

SPEAKER: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES


BUSH: Please be seated, unless you don't have a chair.
(Laughter.) So, like, what took you so long? (Laughter.) Welcome.
And welcome to the citizens of the Red Sox Nation. (Applause.) I'm
proud to be joined by the Vice President. He's a Chicago Cubs fan.
So, like, he knows what you've been through. (Laughter.) We're
really glad you're here.
There's been a lot of people in this town waiting for this day to
come. Some have said it would be a cold day when the Red Sox made it
here. (Laughter.) I am honored to welcome the world champs, the
mighty Boston Red Sox, to the White House. (Applause.)

I want to welcome the members of the Massachusetts delegation who
are here. I know that Senator Kennedy is here. Senator Kerry is on
his way. We have just finished a ceremony honoring Jackie Robinson.
I know members of the congressional delegation are here from like
Massachusetts -- and everybody else that claims to be a Red Sox state.
(Laughter.) You all are welcome here. I appreciate the Commissioner
coming. And, Bob, it's good to see you. I thank the members of my
Cabinet who are here. I appreciate the Mayor being here, the Mayor of
Boston. (Applause.) You've had a heck of a year, Mayor. (Laughter.)

I want to thank and welcome my friend, Tom Werner and Larry
Lucchino. I'm sorry John Henry is sick. You know, Lucchino, I knew
you'd amount to something eventually. (Laughter.) I appreciate the
way this team played baseball. You know, it took a lot of guts and it
took a lot of hair. (Laughter and applause.) It took a great manager
and coaching staff -- (applause) -- and I'll never forget calling
Terry Francona after the team won the championship, and he -- the only
thing I remember him saying was, it's all -- it all depended upon the
players, which is why he's a good manager, isn't it?

I appreciate the fact that Dom DiMaggio and Jimmy Piersall are
with us. (Applause.) You guys represent a lot of great Boston Red
Sox players that a lot of us grew up watching play, and you're welcome
here in the White House, and you're representing a great tradition of
wonderful folks.

You know, the last time the Red Sox were here, Woodrow Wilson
lived here. (Laughter.) There were only 16 teams in baseball then.
After the World Series victory in 1918, a reporter from Boston said,
"The luckiest baseball spot on Earth is Boston, for it has never lost
a World Series." (Laughter.) That's one optimistic writer.
(Laughter.)

Senator, welcome. Good to see you. Only time I -- I like to see
Senator Kerry, except when we're fixing to debate. (Laughter.) If
you know what I mean. (Laughter.)

No one really expected the answer to the curse of the Bambino
would come from a group of players that call themselves "idiots,"
except for maybe idiots who don't understand baseball. This is a heck
of a team. This is a team that came together from South Korea and
Dominican Republic, from Anchorage, Alaska, Fort Riley, Kansas, and
incredibly enough, Midland, Texas. (Applause.) Oh, yes. Finally,
somebody from Midland amounted to something. (Laughter.)

I love the way this team played, and so do baseball fans. I
mean, this is a team that won eight games in a row when it wasn't
supposed to. It's kind of courage, and a couple of stitches. You
answered 86 years of prayer. That's an amazing feat, isn't it? I
mean, when the Red Sox won, people all over the world cheered. They
cheered in New England, and they cheered in Baghdad, Iraq.
(Applause.) One guy said -- from Boston -- he said, "Now we just have
to wait for the other six signs of the apocalypse." (Laughter.)

I really appreciate what Boston does off the field, too. The
Jimmy Fund is a classic example of a sports franchise giving something
back to the community in which they play. You created the Red Sox
Scholars, which awards scholarships to disadvantaged fifth graders. I
appreciate what individual players do. I know firsthand what the
Schillings do, the Shade Foundation to work to prevent skin cancer and
the -- and Shonda and Curt's leadership in the battle against Lou
Gehrig's disease. I appreciate what the Red Sox are doing in the
Dominican Republic with Senor Octubre.

But most of all, our purpose here is to welcome champs. We wish
you all the best in the upcoming season. We know that you've been
able to do what has been viewed to be the impossible. And just like
that sportswriter said in 1918, you know, Boston is the place to cover
champs.

Welcome to the White House. May God continue to bless you all.
(Applause.)

END

Welcome to the Big Leagues Kevin.. errr Mark

Mark Bellhorn is identified as Kevin Bellhorn in this AP photo posted to ESPN's MLB Photo Wire Site. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Boston Red Sox second baseman Kevin Bellhorn. left, and shortstop Hanley Ramirez
narrowly avoid a collision while going for a pop fly Tuesday, March 1, 2005 at
spring training camp in Ft. Myers, Fla.

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A Cold Bush with Bush?

Johnny Damon thinks that President Bush will apprciate the fun-loving dumb-spoken 2004 Sox.

I think President Bush would love to grab a beer with us, We'd kick back and go hunting for pheasant. You know, that type of stuff. So I think he would mix in well with us." Damon Said

Not sure if Damon knows that Bush is a non-alcolhol drinking former drinker. Damon may not be too far off with his assenment of Bush as the President does still enjoy a non-alcoholic beer from time to time.

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Bring Out The Dead

As the 2004 Red Sox meet the commander and chief on the south lawn of the White House today there will be a great deal more people there on behalf of the Red Sox then just the 25 players on the Word Series roster and the front office. Of Course the perennial hanger-on John Pesky will be there but even more oft forgotten Sox will come out of the wood work today to bask in Theo's and the 2004 Red Sox glory. Jimmy Piersall, who hasn't been seen in public since 1998 and last played for the Sox in 1958. Piersall who went onto play for 8 other teams before retiring in 1967 will be just one of an estimated 1000 credentialed guests visiting the White House on Wednesday. What does it take to get an invite to this gala? Once playing for the Red Sox? How about Ted Nation's Ted Sarandis, or even better why not Ted Nation caller Mike from Lowel? For 86 years former Red Sox players failed to capture the elusive holy grail, and then getting a front page tip of the cap from Theo and other players dedicating this trophy to former Sox players who had fallen short, and thats where it should have ended. No Jim Corsi in the Rolling Rally, No Jimmy Piersall on the White House lawn, let the 50 some odd players who wore a Boston uniform on the field last year be where the spotlight today begin and ends.

Look Familiar

No it is not Fenway park getting more front row seats once again. After the Red Sox won the World Series, ownership wanted to make improvements that may have been postponed as a reward to the players and the fans. 642 seats were added to the fairly small City of Palms Park in Ft Myers Florida raising the total to 7,632. The Yankees spring training stadium, Legends Field, holds 10,000 fans. In addition to more seats the players have received a new training building.

All-around better environment to work out after we get through," Youkilis said. "It was so tight in there, especially in big-league camp when we have so many guys. It was terrible, the other one."

Much of the cost of the additions were picked up by the tax payers in the area, because the Red Sox had agreed to keep Ft Myers their spring training home until 2019. Reporters asked Tito if he has used the new work out facility on Monday...

Do I?" Francona said, "Obviously not."

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