SPORTZINE #606

BY JIM DAWSON

THEN CAME THE LAST DAYS OF MAY JUNE 2, 2015

As Blue Oyster Cult's song of that title plays, I think of similarities with the Red Sox. A deal gone bad. And the line “They couldn't know they weren't going far.” 10-19 in May.

This 2015 version of the Red Sox is sadly lacking chemistry, heart, soul and attention span. I saw the best pitched game of the year by Eduardo Rodriguez, a rookie who may salve the sore point of losing Andrew Miller (what, the Sox didn't think of using him as a closer like the Yanks have?). In Rodriguez's shutout 7 2/3 innings (3 hits), I saw the Sox hit into 5 double plays. These guys have to know that you need a line drive or fly ball, rather than a grounder that will result in a DP. Opposing pitchers aren't that good.

Already I've seen Big Papi picked off 2nd base, and in the Angels game I was at with Driller Killer, Mike Napoli was picked off 1st with runners at the corners and 2 outs. Napoli ignominiously was tapped on the top of the head for the out. Napoli did have 4 RBI on the day. Those transgressions point to a lack of focus and that's from 2 veterans.

At times, the Red Sox are becoming unwatchable (except for Rodriguez's next start). The only thing keeping them in the contest is the weakness of the AL East. In the last 10 games, no team in the AL East has a winning record as I write this Tuesday. Toronto's 5-5 is the best of the lot. However, we need to see the Sox with a semblance of a team.

Red Sox fans can only hope that June doesn't continue the swoon. The switch to Pedroia leading off seems to have helped. Pedey's OBP of .354 is better than Betts' .304. And given that Betts is 2nd on the team in RBI (25) to Hanley's 27, it makes sense. Holt's

.370 OBP leads the active team (the DL'd Victorino's leads at .379).

Either burn the bats or get into a fight. This team needs a spark. Or someone should blow them up and start over. Time to wake up. Play with passion and pride. And pay attention. Or you will lose your fans. I'm going to root for the Cubs. My NL team.

MISCELLANEOUS

You who are willing to pay $2 for the Providence Journal may have seen my letter to the editor (published Wed. May 20). It was missing crucial lines that had been edited out. After saying that Durham doesn't have as much going on as the Renaissance City, I wrote: “And the opinion that the team would draw a million fans is laughable. Ten thousand seats and 72 home games translates to 720,000 fans if every game is a sellout.”

My next line (left in) then added “Let's hope the General Assembly does not sell out the citizens of Rhode Island.” The Pawtucket Times printed the letter (5/30) as I wrote it.

Pal Al and I were at another PawSox game. He brought me good luck again as I won the Trivia Contest (with the wrong answer). Guess no one got the tough question and they just selected a respondent. The trivia: 'Name the first Red Sox player to hit a grand slam.' I had Babe Ruth The answer was Jimmy Collins, but Big Al said it was someone else. I found that Jimmy Collins hit the 1st inside the park grand slam for the Sox(1902).

At the Angels- Red Sox game, we had South Street Pavilion tickets (thanks Driller). $190 per which is one reason Fenway has the highest baseball stadium prices. Budweiser (this is for you AF buddy Mike Curtis) was $9. We had Goose Island IPA for $9.75. The stand that sells Irish beer (Guinness, Smithwick's, Harp) was closed!

As I mentioned last time, I found that McCoy Stadium had beers for $9. A first in the history of the PawSox and not a good one. If Larry Lucchino and Lackeys get their way, McCoy (and then 'the new park') will have the highest minor league ballpark prices.

E-MAIL

A happy 90th to Yogi, a national treasure from the national pastime. "If you don't know where you're going, you might wind up someplace else."

Anaheim vs. Tampa Bay for the Cup...Anaheim in 6 games...they are just too big to move away from the face off circles in to the back boards.

The only person who can tell us if Brady's balls are underinflated and whether or not it affects his performance is Gisele...and I doubt she's talking. Bad Boy, Tom.
Doesn't anyone remember Watergate?  Don't leave a trail (i.e. e-mails) that can be followed!!!!Idiots...the Deflator...and his companion...Bathroom Twit.
Big White "Willie''                                                                                                               Well, you were right about Tampa Bay, but it's the Blackhawks they'll face. You're wrong about Brady though. I don't believe that he had anything to do with the footballs  - Z

QUOTES

Kevin Seifert/NFL Nation (ESPN.com – 5/7), in discussing the NFL's handling of 'underinflated footballs', described Hanlon's Razor: “Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence.”

THANKS TO STEVE LENZ, SPORTZINE IS AT JIMDAWSONSPORTS.COM

THE HOT CLUB

Sarah gave me some great news about the Hot Club: the final permits to renovate the 1983 establishment have been obtained and work should begin in September. My understanding is that the Hot Club will remain open during the remodeling. New bathrooms – Yea!

Foot Joy came into the Hot Club right after my letter was published in the ProJo: On seeing me, he said “You write letters better than the Sportzine.”

Not one, but two people (the Herbster and Rare Earth) told me that the Pawtucket Red Sox are going to end up in Cuba! And they weren't kidding!

A woman on the deck had a shirt on that had the following message on the back:

'Bitches Get Stitches'. Someone needs to explain to me either what this woman might have been thinking or if the world is just going to hell in a hand basket.

Pal Al noted that Blue Oyster Cult was originally called Soft White Underbelly. So I played Cities On Flame With Rock 'N' Roll on the HC jukebox. It was, however, the live version. The studio recording is better.

Dr. John was in the House and toasted us with: “Here's to bad decisions and to friends who accept apologies.”

ANSWER TO LAST ISSUE'S QUIZ

Who was the American session player/arranger who produced 3 albums by a British super group, wrote one of their songs, left to form his own group and died too early?” Why Felix Pappalardi who produced Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire and Goodbye. He co-wrote (with wife Gail Collins and Eric Clapton) Strange Brew. Pappalardi left to form Mountain with Leslie West. Felix had a fight with wife Gail who shot him dead (age 43)

THIS ISSUE'S QUIZ

This singer/songwriter and satirist had a song that went to #2 on Billboard's Top 100 and became his first big hit – a gold record. Yet it was controversial enough that he received a death threat. Name the artist and song.