SZ637

BY JIM DAWSON
AUGUST 22, 2016
WHO(M) DO YOU TRUST?
Let’s see now. Eduardo has a hamstring pull – not Farrell’s Fault, unless you blame him
for rushing Eduardo back after that dislocated kneecap.
Steven Wright on the DL with a right (pitching) shoulder strain – Farrell’s Fault for
pinch running him against the Dodgers.
The opening game 4-3 loss to Detroit after leading 3-1 in the 8 th – Farrell’s Fault for
choosing Junichi Tazawa who has been a train wreck for some time. Tazawa’s ERA was
in the 4’s when he started the 8 th inning and gave up 3 straight hits (it became 4.58).
Ziegler (2.46 ERA) allowed one of two inherited runners to score. Ziegler was the
choice to start the 8 th (unless you’re using a dart board to make decisions). He is a
ground ball pitcher and after Saturday’s game had 3 holds and a 2.35 ERA. In mop up
duty Sunday Tazawa gave up 2 more earned runs and now has a 4.79 ERA.
Steven Wright says he’s not pitching Tuesday. John Farrell left open the possibility.
Who(m) do you trust?
If the Red Sox get to the playoffs and even the World Series, it will be despite their
manager. They now face the Tampa Bay Rays who play in one of the most hideous parks
that I’ve ever watched a game. The Rays are a hideous 52-70, 30-35 at home. If the Sox
win less than 3 of the 4 games there, they should be ashamed. Of course, there is always
the Farrell Factor.
PATRIOTS
Actually got to see the Bears game. The Pats looked OK. Garoppolo led them to the
Red Zone 4 of the 5 times they had the ball in the first half, and if Bolden hadn’t
fumbled they would have gotten some points out of it. The O Line blocked a bit better,
especially on the running attack. The Pats had 114 yards rushing with Blount (69 yards)
and Tyler Gaffney (31 yards) the mainstays. The D, however, gave up 125 rushing yards.
And the Pats Offense was a depressing 2 of 10 on 3 rd down, while the D was decent,
holding Chicago to 5 of 14 on 3 rd down.The Pats allowed 3 sacks and 5 QB hits. They need to do better. The Bears gave up 1
sack and 4 QB hits. #59 LB Rufus Johnson (whom I thought the announcers were
mistakingly calling Anthony) had 1 tackle and 3 assists which tied him with Jamie
Collins (3-1) for 3 rd most. #65 DL Anthony Johnson was 1-1 with a half sack. Trey
Flowers (watch this guy) had the other 1⁄2 sack.
With the unfortunate news that Dion Lewis will need more knee surgery and RT
Sebastian Vollmer will start the season on injured reserve comes the realization that only
one of them could be put in the IR able to return category. I love Lewis but that O Line
needs Vollmer. If he isn’t on that IR return list, his injury must be significant. Marcus
Cannon is the less than inspiring RT replacement (can ‘Scar’ light a fire under his butt?).
The 3 rd game (Friday) vs. the Panthers (it will be a good test) is usually the game that the
starting QB goes 3 quarters. If the Pats fear an injury to Garoppolo because of that OL,
he might be in for just the first half. The Pats Defense will have a big role to fill in 2016.
BULLET
• Congrats and good luck to Warwick North in the Little League World Series.
E-MAIL
That would be John Loudermilk who also penned hits for country icon Chet Atkins,
Marianne Faithful and others.
Roger Boudreau
Very good Roger. And that would be John D. Loudermilk. You're getting to be a savant.
-Z
That's Google savant.
Roger Boudreau
Hi Jim,
As usual, I enjoyed the zine and am completely befuddled by the quiz... as usual.
I saw a TV commercial for the Hot Club - I am befuddled (again). Based on what I read
in the zine I pictured the HC as a bunch of beer drinking geezers arguing about sports
and politics. What I saw on TV was bunches of attractive 20/30 somethings! What is it –
geezers or beautiful people?
Bill Shea
I'm at the Hot Club Weds and Fridays. I see a mix of young and old. The old early. Some
of the young come later (9-10). - Z
Excellent issue, Jim. I agree about Farrell. Thanks.
Dave Burlingame
It will be tough for the Sox to make the playoffs because Farrell can't manage in a
coherent fashion. - ZDo you think it’s the illness or are his talents just .. uh, let’s say...limited?
Dave Burlingame
Many people felt he was limited before he got sick. I was willing to give him a chance.
As an ex-pitcher and ex-pitching coach, he should be much better at handling a pitching
staff, but he's woefully weak. He and Willis need to go. Pronto. - Z
You may remember my comments about Johnny be good back when he was crowned
heir to Francoma's reign. I knew he was a reincarnation of the Devil. That was met with
many rough comments from many people. Well the old song "True colors come shining
through" has come home to roost. Sending in one of your top pitchers to pinch run is
absolutely the single dumbest thing I have ever seen.
Jumbo, you and I are on the same page on this one, he has to go and I mean now.
Hanging on to him telegraphs to the rest of the team that he doesn't care about them one
iota. They should be so far on first place by now that even the Cubbies can't see them. At
least my Braves have the distinction of being the worst team in all of baseball and that is
far better than sending one of your top pitchers in to pinch run.
Ted Bates
I wrote this to Bill LaPlante: “Since you are my hockey expert, here's my question: Bill
Russell won 11 NBA championships in 13 years. Has any hockey player (and I thinking
Canadiens) ever done that?”
You are right on with your inner voice about Canadiens, Jim.
Henri Richard won 11 Cups in his 20 year career with Montreal; more than any other
player (he never went to management).
I consider him the greatest Canadien of all time; even greater than his brother Maurice
or Jean Beliveau or Howie Morenz. I have his autographed picture and Beliveau's up on
the wall. He always seemed to be in position at both ends of the ice and had a smart
hockey mind. Tough too, for a small forward.
He was a complete player as a centerman. He's ranked at number 29 on the top 100
players of all time by The Hockey News (got that from Wikipedia, which mentions that
only Bill Russell has an equal number of championships for the North American
continent). Funny how you came up with that question and they mention in the bio of a
hockey player. So, their greatness' are duly noted.
Sox are within striking distance if they can make a push in the last 40 or so games of the
season. Can they? (I hope so but don’t trust Farrell to get them there - Z)
Take care and thanks for the kudo that I know a little bit about the "fastest game on two
legs".
Bill LaPlanteTHE HOT CLUB
Charlie Clancy asked the Bear and me what sports require the best hand/eye
coordination. The Bear and I agreed baseball and then hockey. Charlie thought golf.
FootJoy said it was hockey because both the player and the puck are moving.
We were talking about the Patriots and what was their most important off season
occurrence. While most agreed that it was Tom Brady being suspended for the first four
games, there was a school of thought (yeah led by me) that wondered if the return of
Dante Scarnecchia to coach that horrible offensive line might be the most important.
Captain Jack’s friend Kim was talking with us about Ryan Lochte when I mentioned that
Lochte’s girlfriend is a Playboy playmate. Kim wanted to know why that mattered and
said “What about Trump’s wife?” I said some call her ‘Eurotrash’. Kim said “What
about Trump?” Charlie Clancy said, “He can’t swim.”
We were talking about craft beers and how the market has changed as a result. Captain
Jack’s friend Mark remembered when the only upscale beer was Heineken. I told them
when Victoria and I were in Amsterdam, we went into an “Irish Pub” with huge banners
advertising Guinness and Harp beer. We went in for a drink and I asked for a Guinness.
Don’t have it I was informed. How about a Harp. No, also not in stock. The waitress
then told me that Heineken had the concession rights and was the only beer available.
LAST ISSUE’S QUIZ ANSWER
The question was name the singer/songwriter who had a brief career as a singer but a
much better one as a songwriter, and who wrote a #1 song for Paul Revere and the
Raiders and hits for the Everly Brothers, Sue Thompson, Kris Jensen and Stonewall
Jackson among others. Only Roger Boudreau had the correct answer – John D.
Loudermilk, who wrote Indian Reservation, a #1 hit for Paul Revere and the Raiders.
Loudermilk also wrote the great Break My Mind, Sad Movies(Sue Thompson), Tobacco
Road (the Nashville Teens), Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (the Casinos), Ebony Eyes
(Everly Brothers), Torture (Kris Jensen), Waterloo (Stonewall Jackson) and Abilene
(George Hamilton IV). His cousins Ira and Charles Loudermilk are the Louvin Brothers.
THIS ISSUE’S QUIZ
This English actor and singer is most recognized for two international hit songs that
came from musicals (one went to #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The other reached #14). He
also had a hit album in 1975 (which contains one of my favorite songs). He still
performs as both an actor and a singer. Hint: he was in a movie that I’ve always liked –
White Mischief, which starred Greta Scacchi and Charles Dance. Name?