Who are those guys?

Eric Hinske, one of the offensive catalysts for the Rays this year, is batting .174 over the last ten games
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

So we're into August of the 2008 season and the Sox are still in second place with the Tampa Bay Rays not looking to slow down any time soon, right?

Well, no. At least, not the way I see it.

(That sound you hear is my whistling when you note that we haven't posted anything here since May!)

Sure, the Rays are still 3 games ahead of the Sox in the standings. And, yes, they've won all but one of the six games they've played in August, indicating the team is on a bit of a tear. They also won twelve of their 25 games in July, including a seven game losing streak that led them into the All Star break.

Add to that, the fact that the team with the best home record in the American League (and second best home record in MLB) now has to play 30 of their 49 remaining games on the road. With a struggling Scott Kazmir and only Akinori Iwamura, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria hitting around .300 over the last ten games.

And in addition to THAT, Carl Crawford and Jason Bartlett are both out of the lineup (but not yet on the DL) right now. The team is starting to show signs of faltering and it will be interesting to see how they handle it all with this ten-game road trip they have (Seattle, Oakland and Texas) beginning tonight. Incidentally, when they return home after the Texas series, their first opponent will be the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and all Points West. The team that just happens to have the best ROAD record in MLB.

Today's Rays' acquisition of the Oriole's relief pitcher (and former member of the Red Sox bullpen) Chad Bradford should help bolster the Rays' bullpen a bit, but how much will it really help?

There's no denying that the Rays are having a season much worth celebrating. Going from the cellar dwellers of 2007, to leading the league for the majority of 2008 is an amazing feat.

I'm just not ready to count the Red Sox out of this race.

Congratulations, Jon!

(Reuters Photo)

"It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again."

Okay, the season is better than a week old, but it's Opening Day at Fenway and that's what's important, right?

The Sistahs are going to make a concerted effort to post more - the off-season is our time of rest, seemingly - so we hope you join us while the Sox make a run for back to back Championships!

Every year on Opening Day, the fellas at Surviving Grady post the video of James Earl Jones' "People Will Come" monologue from "Field of Dreams". They didn't do that this year, so I'm picking up the ball they dropped. Enjoy. (Oh yeah, and GO SOX!)

See this face?

This is the face, I promise you, of a player we will absolutely adore all season long.

I've always liked Sean Casey and I was thrilled when the Sox signed him. Here's a guy who could have signed somewhere else and been a starter. Instead, he chooses to sign with the Sox as a bench player. There hasn't been a photo taken of him yet where he isn't smiling. He hasn't given an interview yet where he doesn't mention how willing he is to do "whatever Tito tells me".

He's a team player who all the players love. Voted nicest in MLB by his peers, we now have him and Papi in the same clubhouse. Watching players running sprints and taking batting practice on NESN isn't doing it for me. I really just can't wait to see Sean and the rest of the guys take the field.

Mark your calenders, those of you not making the trek to Ft Myers this week, for Friday, February 29th. That's the first Spring Training game NESN will be airing. If you're looking for a baseball fix, it'll definitely be worth your time!

(Photo by Matt Stone)

You had to know a phone call was coming

(Groggily) Mmmm?
Bronson, it's Lenny. Did I wake you up?
(Still groggy) Mmmmhmmm.
Dude! It's three-o'clock in the afternoon!
What's your point?
Whatever...I have a question.
Make it fast, Len, I didn't sleep the entire time I was in Boston...
Uh, yeah, Boston was what I wanted to ask you about. I don't know how to say this so, oh what the hell...Bronson, are you high?
Loaded question, bro.
No, I mean, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?


Aw, that? Dude, I explained that! It was a JOKE. I sang about getting out of Cincinnati and going back to Boston. Get it?
Bronson?
Yeah?
Do you want to get out of Cincinnati and go back to Boston?
Well...yeah.
Then, dude, it isn't a joke, it's the truth. And it's really unfair to all the fans in Cincinnati. You're the number two starter there, B. You need to start focusing on being a Reds player and stop obsessing on being a Red SOX player. That ship has sailed, dude. That ship has sailed. The Cincinnati fans love you. You need to love them back.
:thinks:
Bron?
Hmm...
Are you thinking about the Cincinnati fans?
Yep.
Aaaaand?
Do you think I could get the Cincinnati fans to talk Theo into bringing me back?
I gotta go, Bron. I'll talk to you in April.
:sings:

:weeps: Oh man! I really miss Boston too!

Dear Youk

Let's see, where do I begin?

Oh, wait, I know...

What the fuck is wrong with you?

Seriously? I need to know.

I think it's wonderful that you're out and about, looking for new charitable endeavors to support.

But an energy drink called "SlumpBuster"? With the tag line “Take Down a SlumpBuster”?

Are you out of your freakish head? Do you not realize how many baseball fans, how many RED SOX FANS are women?

And do you not realize that, if not for your ability to play baseball, in some circles YOU'D be considered a 'slump buster'?

How is it possible that, in 2008, you are so far behind the times that you looked at this idea and thought "Great! I want to be associated with a practice that humiliates and demeans women! Sign me up!"?

I expected better from you. I'm sorely disappointed. It was a group of women fans who started "DoKY", so you know there are women out there who support you. This is a slap in the face to all of us.

That number 20 t-shirt of mine is going right in the trash.

Beazer

*This letter represents Beazer's views only and isn't intended to speak for all the Sistahs.