August 13, 2007

The Sock Recognizes Lucen from SoSH

From a P&G thread:
This team played .692 ball the first two months of the season. They've played .600 since the All Star break. They are not collapsing, the Yankees are simply insanely hot. All this "we're cooked" and "we might not even make the playoffs, never mind win the division" bullshit is sickening. Grows some fucking balls for Christ sake. The only two teams in the AL with better records than us since June 1st are Seattle and the Yankees. And Seattle hasn't been much better than us.

If you want to curl up into the fetal position and cry about the fact that this team isn't perfect or about how the Yankees are such an unstoppable team, be my guest. Just don't be surprised for being called out as the sackless pieces of shit that you are.

Fuck.
Amen, brother.

You either got faith or you got unbelief, and there ain't no neutral ground.

The bus is leaving. We'll be making 45 stops between now and September 30. Are you on or off?

61 comments:

allan said...

I'm on until I die. Maybe even longer than that.

tim said...

THIS...IS....FENWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[/300 reference]

laura k said...

Hell, you can do it without growing balls. Just ask me, thatdietcokegirl, Sarah, Beth, or any of the other posters around here who don't own testicles.

allan said...

There was a similar roll call back on August 5, 2004.

And only two days after that post -- August 7, 2004 -- I posted:

The Most Frustrating Red Sox Season Ever? ...

If 2004 is the most frustrating season (I'm not convinced (yet)), it's because of pre-season expectations. We saw management remove the one and only reason Boston failed to go to the World Series and they added Schilling and Foulke. We all agreed: This was the most-talented Red Sox team of our lifetimes.

I'll support this team until the very end of the season -- whichever day in October that may be -- and I'll watch every pitch of every game that I can, but this summer hasn't been a whole lot of fun.

allan said...

testicles

I know. But I didn't feel like putting in ellipses.

laura k said...

I know. But I didn't feel like putting in ellipses.

No need, thank you for even thinking of it. :)

laura k said...

Roll call: IT IS ON.

Anyone who is off the bus now should not be allowed to climb back on later. If only.

allan said...

Tito in the Globe before yesterday's game: "[Coco's] legs are tired. Not sure it's because of the flu. We're all passing it around. Whether it's the sore throat or the flu, everybody's kind of had a touch of it since the airplane ride [from LA to Baltimore]."

Let's get healthy and keep winning.

allan said...

Anyone who is off the bus now should not be allowed to climb back on later. If only.

That's what The Big Red Kahuna said back on 8/5/04:

"By definition, if you are a Red Sox fan, you are always ON. The heart-wrenching, blood pressure-increasing, age-reducing, sleepless-inducing part of rooting for the Sox year in and year out is a part of the overall package. Can't choose when to deal with it and when not to. Just can't. ... You f'ers that are off aren't allowed back on."

Rob T. said...

On On On On ON

ALWAYS ON

allan said...

Also:

The Sox have 25 home games remaining and there are still 13 spots available in the Papi Walkoff contest.

See the right-hand column for the link.

Pokerwolf said...

There's no choice for Red Sox fans. What is this "OFF" you mentioned?

FEEENNNNNWAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
[/Braveheart reference]

Pokerwolf said...

The Sox have 25 home games remaining and there are still 13 spots available in the Papi Walkoff contest.

I'm guessing if we picked already, we can't pick again, right?

allan said...

Yeah, but if less than 13 people come forward this time, I'll open it up to everybody.

Right now, the next 4 games are taken, so I'll see.

CaKeY said...

Come with me
And we'll see all there is to see
You can be who you want to be
We can go anywhere today
Yeah yeah
Its okay
We know Tito always knows the way
All aboard there's no time to delay
Come along we can sing and play
Yeah yeah
(do do do do)
Let's get on the bus!!


(doodlebop reference, what can i say, i have a small child)

:)

tim said...

The Sox have 25 home games remaining and there are still 13 spots available in the Papi Walkoff contest.


Did you ever allow that guy who chose never this season?

If we get to pick again, I want to pick the game that I'm going to...


Pokerwolf said...

FEEENNNNNWAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
[/Braveheart reference]


Haha, nice. Thats the first thing I thought of, but decided to go with the new fad.

allan said...

Did you ever allow that guy who chose never this season?

No.

Patriots Film said...

Of course I'm on the bus.

But on the bus doesn't mean you blindly believe the sox are the best team in the league, every year. It just means you have faith in your team. I'm completely confident in this team's ability to win the world series, and in fact I think we have a damn decent argument at being the best team in the league.
HOWEVER! being the best team doesn't mean you win. Just because the yankees are playing ridiculously well and probably have 0 chance at sustaining that doesn't mean they won't. shit happens. so i'm prepared for the possibility that we lose, although i'm completely confident that we'll win the division.

arghes.

allan said...

All true. I'm not a fan of blind faith in anything.

And again, Boston is playing good ball. Their record since whatever bears that out.

If NY keeps playing .800 ball or scoring 14 runs a night, there's nothing we can do, really. There's no team in history that can stop that. However, the odds of that happening for the next 45 games are quite high.

We'll see how much the O's feel like rolling over tonight. At least Lee "Embedded Yankee" Mazzilli isn't managing anymore.

Patriots Film said...

Yeah, the o's have done better against the yanks this year. I think we agree, but you said it better.

Go Sox!

Jackie said...

Metaphorical cojones, lgirl. ;)

My brain knows that this is true, but I have to admit that my gut hasn't gotten the message and regularly feels like it wants to hurl when contemplating the season's trendline. But 4 GA is still 4 GA. Bring on the D-Rays!

Devine said...

I'm on, but I may throw up on a few of the seats before it's over.

tim said...

If NY keeps playing .800 ball or scoring 14 runs a night, there's nothing we can do, really. There's no team in history that can stop that. However, the odds of that happening for the next 45 games are quite high.

You mean...low? :P

s1c said...

ON, ON, ON, ON, ON, etc for 40 more times.

WEEI pulse -

1) - Yankee fans love to call and say I knew you would choke.

2) - Francona is the reason why the Sox lose, and any wins are because the Sox are overcoming this handicap.

3) - Theo we told you we need a bat at the trade deadline.

4) - If the Sox blow the division this will be even worse than 78.

5) - Gagne's new nickname is Canadian Bacon.

6) - Face it Manny has lost a step and can't do it any more.

7) - Francona and Theo had nothing to do with 2004. That was Duquettes team and they just grabbed the glory. This year shows how bad those two really are.

8) - Surprisingly - NO BRIDGE BURNERS.

"Who would sup with the mighty must climb the path of daggers." WOT - 8

(if blogger loses this post I will go postal)

allan said...

You mean...low? :P

Maybe. I mean it's a high number -- like 1 in 100,000.

Anonymous said...

Well, that's complete and utter bullshit IMO. Supporting the team and wanting them to win does not mean you never criticize, you never whine a little bit, or you never fret.

Fuck that "on or off" garbage. It doesn't work that way, never did, and anybody who thinks it does is a self righteous, sanctomonious asshole. I'm sick of this "either you're with us or you're against us" CRAP. I expect it from George Bush, but not fans of a game.

Amen THAT.

mugro said...

Redsock:

I have been a daily faithful reader of your blog since the summer of 2004, and a Red Sox fan since I was born. My son is 2 1/2 and can identify every member of the Red Sox lineup (but cannot yet count past five!).

I don't think that I have ever posted a comment to your blog, but I have followed along pretty faithfully. I remember reading the 2004 post about being "on or off the bus" and identifying with it. Especially the part about watching every game through the end of the season, even though it was not always fun.

I was the only person among my family and friends that could watch game 4 of the ALCS in 2004. I couldn't NOT watch it. I sat there with my stomach turned into knots, wanting to puke, telling myself that for better or worse, I was there until the end. I was insanely hoping for a miracle even in the 9th inning with Mo on the mound. And, a miracle was delivered!

Some years, the miracle will not be delivered to Red Sox Nation, and we will all say to one another "Maybe next year." That is just the way it is. But, a true fan never gives up and never turns away. A true fan always holds out hope that the miracle can occur and that the talent and performance of the team can be rewarded with that World Series ring.

I knew that the division was not "in the bag" and that the Yankees, like some horror show monster, are never truly dead. But, NOW IT IS ON, folks. It is ON. We will see if this year's team has what it takes to go the distance.

That, in fact, is what we live for as fans.

Danie said...

I'm definitely on, but I'd like to request a seatbelt, because I know that although I have no doubt we can and will win it all, I'm thinkin' it might get a tad rocky as well... :)

allan said...

Mainecatwoman said...
Supporting the team and wanting them to win does not mean you never criticize, you never whine a little bit, or you never fret.


I totally agree. As I said earlier this afternoon, "I'm not a fan of blind faith in anything." Perhaps you missed that.

I'm sick of this "either you're with us or you're against us" CRAP. I expect it from George Bush, but not fans of a game.

I think that's the first time anyone has compared me to George Bush. However, I believe it was Jesus who first used that phrase. "He who is not with me is against me..." Matthew 12:30; see also Luke 11:23. Also, at Mark 9:40, Jesus said: "...whoever is not against us is for us".

I'm much more comfortable with that comparison.

self righteous, sanctomonious asshole

Do not post this type of thing here.

allan said...

The April-May Yankees were not the true measure of that team. Neither are the July-August Yankees.

Same thing with the early and current Sox.

Anonymous said...

I apologize for the language,then, but not the sentiment. I hate this type of artificial division of fans into "believers" and "nonbelievers." It's a form of entertainment, a game that we all choose to enjoy in a way that suits ourselves and our personalities, and none of it is inherently better or worse than anyother.

allan said...

Fuck that "on or off" garbage. It doesn't work that way, never did

"Fans" who moan and cry because their team is in first fucking place with a four game lead are not fans. They are crybabies. And I'm sick to death of them crying about having a nice little lead.

Concern? You should always be concerned during a baseball season. It goes on for a long time. Lots of crazy shit can happen.

People calling themselves true Red Sox fans are acting like the team been eliminated. They are saying that after 2004. Well, fuck that shit.

laura k said...

I hope you mean low odds. The odds are very, very low.

allan said...

It's a form of entertainment, a game that we all choose to enjoy in a way that suits ourselves and our personalities, and none of it is inherently better or worse than any other.

Sure, and I'm simply venting about the woe-is-us crowd.

I hated them in 1978, I hated them in 1986, I hated them in 1995, I hated them in 1999, I hated them in 2004, and I hate them in 2007.

If they really think the season has been pissed down the drain right now, then they should put their remote where their mouth is and stop watching the games.

... so I'm not like Jesus?

laura k said...

anybody who thinks it does is a self righteous, sanctomonious asshole

Is it possible people feel differently than you, and are still decent people?

I guess not.

laura k said...

Allan. You just quoted the bible. Please report to sick bay immediately.

Anonymous said...

I understand, but I guess I just see it differently. "Woe is me" is how some people like to watch their games, live their lives...to me, it's harmless, and it bothers me that otherwise good people get judged on such stupid stuff. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to be a fan, IMO. We all just ARE. No one is better than anyone else or in a position to judge anyone else's fandom.

As for Jesus, well...I don't know. Do you WANT to be like him? It looks like hard work.

FWIW, for 30 years I have watched in good times and bad, although some years with more enthusiasm than others. I always have hope although all season long I wring my hands, curse, and fret. It's the way I am, the way I have always been, and it makes me no better or worse than the pollyanna in the next bar seat.

Sorry for the rant. JMO, but it IS something I feel strongly about.

Anonymous said...

"Is it possible people feel differently than you, and are still decent people?"

That's my point. The SoSH poster has basically called people gutless dirtbags for seeing things differently than he does, and everyone here is applauding it.

mugro said...

Worrying that the Yankees will come from behind and take the division is a very real concern. You, of all people know that, redsock.

allan said...

The SoSHer's point was this:

"If you want to curl up into the fetal position and cry about the fact that this team isn't perfect or about how the Yankees are such an unstoppable team, be my guest."

That's it. That's not the attitude a true fan of any team takes. And that's what more than a few Sox fans are doing now. They are free to do that, but they better not do it here.

laura k said...

Metaphorical cojones, lgirl. ;)

I understand. I reject the metaphor, since I see no correlation between courage or fortitude and the presence of the real kind. :)

allan said...

Mugro:

As I said: "Concern? You should always be concerned during a baseball season. It goes on for a long time. Lots of crazy shit can happen."

Of course I'm concerned. Some crazy shit is going on right now.

allan said...

And now I'm going to fill out my scorecard and head over to the G118 post.

Anonymous said...

"That's not the attitude a true fan of any team takes."

I guess we will just have to disagree on what constitutes a "true fan," then, if such an artificial division actually exists, and I don't believe it does. IMO, a fan is sone who enjoys a game or a season in whatever manner brings them pleasure, and it's not up to us to judge it. period.

"They are free to do that, but they better not do it here."

Well, you shouldn't have to listen to stuff you don't eant to on your own blog.

laura k said...

That's my point. The SoSH poster has basically called people gutless dirtbags for seeing things differently than he does, and everyone here is applauding it.

And you in turn basically called everyone else dirtbags for applauding it.

I can apply the on/off mentality to my love for - and faith in - my team without extending it to the rest of the world. Many of us bring something totally different to sports than we do for any other arena.

To me it looks like most Red Sox fans have forgotten that we're still in first place. The SOSH poster and Redsock are slapping them around a bit, is all.

allan said...

One more thing.

If someone had told me that on August 13, we'd be in 1st, 4 GA ahead of the Yankees, I'd say Thank You!!!

And that's where we are. Time to look forward.

allan said...

One thing I have not heard is that we are being punished for gloating too much in April and May.

So we are making some progress.

Anonymous said...

"And you in turn basically called everyone else dirtbags for applauding it."

Sooo...does that then make it ok for everyone here to applaud a guy calling others a dirtbag?

I simply disagree with the premise that there is a "right way" and a "wrong way" to be a fan. I respect that the Joy of Sox doesn't want to hear it in hs space, but the insinuation that anyone who enjoys the game in a manner not approved by the SoSH poster is not a position i agree with.

Anonymous said...

"but the insinuation that anyone who enjoys the game in a manner not approved by the SoSH poster is not worthy of watching games or being called a fan" is not a position i agree with.

Edit

allan said...

If these fans are giving up when the Sox are in first place with a 4-game lead, I wonder what they did after Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS.

Anonymous said...

"I wonder what they did after Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS."

probably what I was doing...drinking heavily and watching Game 4 through their fingers.

s1c said...

MCW - Join us at the game thread!

Joe Grav said...

"You either got faith or you got unbelief, and there ain't no neutral ground."

thanks president bush ;)

allan said...

You either got faith or you got unbelief, and there ain't no neutral ground."

thanks president bush ;)


It's Bob Dylan, actually.

Jackie said...

One thing I have not heard is that we are being punished for gloating too much in April and May.

Heh, even if I believed it, this site is the last place I'd ever go to air THAT opinion.

And are you trying to say you weren't ready to commit hara-kiri after Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS? Or in the 8th inning of Game 4? Hell, I sometimes feel ready to give up on them when I'm watching the damn DVD, and I KNOW they pulled it out. Besides, as statistically improbable as it is for the Yankees to come back from 14 games out to win the division, it was sooooo much less probable for the Sox to come back in that ALCS.

lgirl - I knew you knew it was metaphorical, I just think "balls" is one of those expressions that's silly to pick on. You, me and Mike Lowell know that testicles are not required for intestinal fortitude, but I don't think there's any harm in using the term. Just like I don't think a person needs to have a penis to be a real dick (see also, Suzyn Waldman).

allan said...

are you trying to say you weren't ready to commit hara-kiri after Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS?

I was devastated (a possible sweep, this coming after '03). Yet I stayed there, scoring every pitch of that 19-8 beating. All I wanted was to not get swept.

Hell, I sometimes feel ready to give up on them when I'm watching the damn DVD, and I KNOW they pulled it out.

Ain't that the truth? When I got the DVD set, I rewatched Foulke against the Thermos in Game 6 and my palms were seriously sweating.

I don't think a person needs to have a penis to be a real dick (see also, Suzyn Waldman).

:>)

Jackie said...

I still can't watch Game 4 without feeling a little bit of dread (and I flat out refuse to re-watch Game 3). It's kind of pathetic, actually, but what can you do.

Anonymous said...

"Join us at the game thread!"

Well, thank you for the invite. Good game last night, especially by Tim.

Should shut some of those annoying whiners up for a day, eh?

;-)

laura k said...

Jackie, you're welcome to think it's silly, of course. However, it's something I feel strongly about, so I mention it. That's all.

allan said...

Winning %s in quote have been corrected to reflect reality.

allan said...

I flat out refuse to re-watch Game 3

Well, why would you really? Talk about 3 wasted DVDs in the box set.

The only reason I can think of is to watch the happy faces on the MFY and know that those smiles will be long gone within a few days. But then you might as well watch Game 7 and see all the sad sacks in the stands instead.