Rocky Mountain High

The Red Sox are in Colorado today for some more interleague play. Despite my complaints about interleague play, the Red Sox have shown that they are more than up to the task, tearing through the competition and putting themselves within spitting distance of the Yankees for first place in the AL East.Colorado in particular is an National League park that holds a fond place in all our hearts since the Sox swept the Rockies there in the 2007 World Series. The spoils are much more modest this time around but a sweep here could put us in the lead. I like to imagine John Denver is looking benevolently down and wishing us well, although in all honesty, he's probably a Rockies fan.

What is most amazing about this tear that the Sox are on is that they've been doing it with that ragtag outfield they throw out there every night. Who would have thought that we would be doing this well with people like Bill Hall, Darnell McDonald, and Daniel Nava out there? Tonight it is even more ragtag as usual with J.D. Drew taking another day off to rest his hamstring (no DL for him though, thank God) and Josh Reddick joining the crew. Although Mike Cameron will be there and that man is not ragtag at all.

In other news, I hear word that Josh Beckett threw a bullpen session on Monday and will be doing another one or two before doing a minor league rehab. Minor league rehab? In a small park where you get good views of the players? I may be planning a road trip to Portland or Pawtucket in the near future. Who's in?

Hey, Grumpy Guy Sitting Next to Me Yesterday - I Have A Few Things to Say to You

So yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of attending Fan Appreciation Day at Fenway where I got to shake hands with all sorts of players like Bill Hall, John Lackey, Jeremy Hermida, Bill Cameron, Jason Varitek, Dustin Pedroia, Keven Youkalis, Ramon Ramirez, J.D. Drew, and Joe Nelson. Josh Beckett, to my dismay, did not grace us with his presence. I assume he was off getting a massage or something.

I was lucky enough to enjoy this experience with some Twitter friends @shelley1005, @__fc, and @pinkberryoasis but my seat for the game was a single seat all by myself (in case you missed it, here is why I had a seat all by my lonesome). I was on the end of a row next to the grumpiest guy ever to come to a Red Sox game. He sat with his arms folded for most of the game and made comments to his companion (a young man who's replies I never quite caught). Here are a few of the things I would have said to him yesterday had I not feared his grumpy wrath:

1. Dice-K is not getting traded before the All-Star break. No way, no how. And I don't think any West coast teams are interested in trading for him just so he can go to California and be with more Japanese people.

2. The Red Sox didn't trade anyone for Marco Scutaro. He was a free agent that we picked up in the off-season. That 10 minutes you just wasted trying to remember who we traded him for is time you are never getting back.

3. Manny del Carmen is actually a good pitcher despite what you think. Now I know why you didn't respond to my enthusiastic "Oh look, Manny del Carmen is pitching now!" Your bad vibes alone is what caused those 2 home runs.

4. And if you didn't like MDC why did you have nothing to say about Scott Atchison, who frankly deserves more bad will than MDC? Or do you not know who Scott Atchison is?

5. So Tito put both J.D. Drew and Ortiz in to pinch hit for 2 different players. When Ortiz struck out the 2nd time you can't tell Tito he should have hit Drew for Ortiz. That just isn't possible.

6. I think I heard you muttering something not so nice about Josh Beckett. You are lucky I didn't hear what you said because that would have been enough to make me stand up and kick your grumpy ass.

Accentuate the Positive

Plenty has been written this morning about last night's crushing defeat at the hands of the Yankees - a game that frankly we deserved to win after clawing our way back from a 5-1 deficit. I could write paragraphs and paragraphs about it but I'm not going to because after losing 3 straight games with no one thing you can blame for it, I think it's time to be positive and think about the good things that have happened lately. I know, I know, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades but at this point what else do we have to hold on to but the feeling that things could turn around at any second.

- V-Mart. That man has been in such a slump that I cringe when he comes up to bat with 2 outs. That's not how I viewed V-Mart last year. Well, last night he had 2 home runs. That's right, 2!

- J.D. Drew. Everyone's favorite outfielder (did you see the beautiful diving/sliding play he made on Saturday?) was the man of the hour last night, coming through in a clutch with a 3 run home run and putting the Red Sox back in the game.

- David Ortiz. He may not be the Big Papi we remember but he isn't the sad sack he was last month. He's been doing some damage lately and showing some fire.

- Marco Scutaro. Nope, I didn't like Marco's signing. I loved Gonzo and didn't want to see him gone. Marco though, has been making some really nice looking plays out there and he has filled in the lead off spot very admirably for Ellsbury. Combine that with his funny facial expressions and we've got a winner.

- Dice-K. He's proven that he can only pitch well with Varitek behind the plate and when he does he's brilliant. Oh wait, this is getting into negative territory so I should stop there.

- Josh Beckett. No, he hasn't done anything great lately but I can feel it in my bones that he's going to tear through those Yankees tonight and avenge Tim Wakefield. Then he might punch Papelbon for good measure.

Any high points I have missed? Feel free to comment. Kara and I changed our blog settings so that anyone can comment without logging in so if you've been wanting to disagree (or agree) with me anonymously, here's your chance.

The Sox Start a Grueling Road Trip Today

When I'm trying to go to sleep at night I often come up with wonderful blog posts in my head and sometimes I think I should get up and write them right then, but then I think no, I'll just write it in the morning. Inevitably, I have forgotten my brilliant post by the morning and today is no exception. I had a great, witty, post in my head last night. I think it had something to do with Jon Lester and I know the Tigers were involved but for the life of me I can't even remember what the crux of it was going to be. So instead of that post you're getting this.

The Red Sox are in Detroit today to start a a 3 game series against the Tigers who have been quite dominant lately. Then off to New York to visit the Yankees, who the less said about the better. Then home again for an odd 2 game series against the Twins before heading off to Philly for some inter-league play. Thank goodness the Devil Rays aren't involved is really the only upside I can see. In actuality, the Red Sox have been playing much better as of late. But is it good enough to beat these teams? And on the road no less?

As an aside, for those of you who missed it, J.D. Drew was the postgame guest on WEEI the other day and it is worth a listen if not only to hear his lovely Georgia accent but because he made a joke, an honest to God joke that sounded natural.