Remember What Happened Last Year During Interleague Play?

When I saw Kara had written a blog post about the Stanley Cup win I felt the stirring to write my own post, seeing as how I hadn't in a while. Really though, nothing I can say at this point in the Red Sox season can top that. Kara suggested that I write about how the Red Sox are in first place after that horrendous start to the season. I told her I'd better write fast in case they lose tonight. The Yankees are breathing down our necks and two straight loses to the Padres of all people have me worried.

Yes, interleague play is upon us once again and offers nothing more than the crappy logo you see up there and the novelty of pitchers hitting. Last year during interleague play in Colorado and San Francisco is when we saw the rash of injuries that the Red Sox never quite recovered from. I still think there was some voodoo at work during last year's season. This year we have the crazy idea being floated around that Adrian Gonzalez play the outfield to let Ortiz play 1st and get some at-bats. We also have Clay, Carl Crawford, Jed and Bobby Jenks on the DL already this year so if interleague play is going to do us in again I hope those boys in Pawtucket and Portland are ready.  Here's hoping we at least get to see Josh Beckett hit a homerun.

Stanley Cup Champions!!!

 A good amount of partying has been done, and a rolling rally has gone through the streets of Boston. Reason being? The Boston Bruins are now Stanley Cup Champions!

After a 39 year wait, the Cup has been brought home to Boston. With a season that started in Prague, the team has done plenty of bonding throughout the year. Some bromances have been created (i.e. Kerjci, Horty and Looch (one of the epic 3-way bromances); Bergy and Rex) and as some have said, the team has created the rare bond of brothers.

This bond (plus the skills of the team and the ability to come back in situations of adversity) was one of the biggest reasons the Bruins were able to come away with the Cup. Unlike a few of the teams that Boston faced, that relied a lot on the stars of their team, the Bruins were able to work together as a TEAM. As they always say, there is no I in team, and that was surely the case here.

As a fan myself, I will always remember the 2010-2011 season. I had a feeling for months that this year was special, and it was definitely a great feeling to have. Now knowing that I can go on saying the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup, and I got to see the parade in person, there is no better feeling than that, and I can wait until the B's win their next championship. Hopefully, it just won't as long of a wait. So until next time, go B's.

Bruins Heading to Round 3!

With a sweep over the Philadephia Flyers in round 2, the Bruins are now heading to round 3 (Eastern Conference Finals) to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning! The date of the first game is still indetermined as the Western Semifinals are still going on. But still, nonetheless, Bruins are moving on.

I have said that I have a good feeling about this year, and I'm extremly proud that the B's have made it this far. They haven't made it this far into the playoffs in years, and (in my opinion) whatever happens against Tampa (though I hope we win, obviously) I will be happy anyways that we made it this far. And the team showed that they can get over what happened last year to do what they need to do.

Now, the only bad news is that Patrice Bergeron suffered a minor concussion and will likely be out for at least a week. With his history of concussions, I sure hope its only a week, since we definitely will need him at some point next round. But, in the case that he doesn't play in the first few games (in which Tyler Seguin will be put in), I still have faith that the rest of the team can step up. They do have the skill, and the determination to do so.

This 3rd round will definitely be one to watch. I absolutely wish the Bruins the best of luck. With black and gold currently running through my veins, I will always believe that they will go all the way.

I Think This Is the Year

Bobby Orr with the Stanley Cup

It's been a while since Boston Bruins fans have seen an image like the one to the right. In cases like mine, I haven't seen one at all, being born in '91. But with that being said, I think the 10-11 season is the year the the Bruins will make it to the finals (and in my mind, win it).

Now here's why: the Bruins have all they need to do so, and have proven themselves to be a great team. The team has 2 (2!) great goaltenders in Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask. The B's have a great defense (one thing that's proven whether we win or lose). The team also has a proven offense we all know can score. And don't forget the fact that the Bruins are a tough team (physically and playing-wise). With players like Shawn Thornton, Adam Mcquaid, and multiple others, everyone knows the Bruins know how to get down.

Overall, the B's have all they need for a Stanley Cup. I've been actually thinking this since December, but with the recent moves made before the trade deadline, it's been solidified in my brain. The Bruins will go farther into the playoffs than years past, and I'm already thinking of my place at the parade.

The Pitcher Catcher Relationship, 2011 Season

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

You know I'm a sucker for catchers. Jason Varitek is what got me interested in the Red Sox in the first place and I'll willingly embrace any catcher that comes along (except Kevin Cash, who I have an irrational dislike of). What intrigues me about catchers is the fact that more or less they're in charge of the pitcher out there. I know, I know, there is the school of thought that says that a catcher doesn't have much to do with how a pitcher pitches but I think that's a bunch of hooey. I think a pitcher can have a bad day with a good catcher but I think he's more likely to have a good day with a good catcher.

Last Spring I wrote about Josh Beckett trying to get along with Victor Martinez in anticipation of  Victor catching much more frequently than Varitek last season. Tek ended up catching Beckett a lot last year, not that that helped Beckett anyway (see above about bad days with good catchers). This year it is hoped that in Victor's absence, Josh can once again readjust to a new catcher, this time Jarrod Saltalamacchia While Josh has a lot of other issues to get over besides the catcher one, I was heartened to read this in the Extra Bases blog on Boston.com. That sounds a whole heck of a lot more positive than Josh was about Victor this time last year.

I'm eager to see Salty in action, not for his bat, but for his relationship with the pitchers. Because really, when it comes down to it, that's what I really want in a catcher. A guy who makes the pitcher comfortable and happy.

All Stars and a Hat Trick

Yesterday, players named to the NHL All-Star game. From the Boston Bruins, there were 3. Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara were the 2 players named to play in the game, and rookie Tyler Seguin was named to participate in the SuperSkills Competitons, along with 11 other rookies from the NHL. The All-Star festivities are to take place in Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30. Both will be shown on Versus, with the SuperSkills competition on Saturday at 7, and the All-Star game on Sunday at 4.

After the All-Star players were announced, the Bruins took on the Ottawa Senators at home at the TD Garden. The Senators came into the game struggling, in the midst of a 5-game losing streak. On the other hand, the Bruins were coming off a win against the Pittburgh Penguins, where they scored 4 goals in the last few minutes of the 3rd period to win.

When the Bruins took on the Senators, they made everything look easy, scoring 6 goals, and not allowing Ottawa to score any. 3 of the 6 Bruins goals belonged to Patrice Bergeron, who earned his first career hat trick (which he celebrated twice, after the first hat trick goal he was credited to was actually Brad Marchand's goal). The other goal scorers for the Bruins were Blake Wheeler, Brad Marchand, and Tyler Seguin. Tim Thomas was his usual self, making 31 saves, earning his sixth shutout of the season (whcih leads the NHL).

Another note of the game: Mark Recchi played in his 1,613th game, passing Bruins legend Ray Borque for 8th place on the NHL career list. The three stars of the game were:
1)Patrice Bergeron
2)Brad Marchand
3)Tim Thomas
The next game for the Bruins is Thurday against the Flyers.