Temporary intro post
June 14, 2007
At some point, this will become an amazing introduction post that will convey wit and wisdom to the world. Sadly until then, we’ll have to make do with this. Hello.
And while I’m at it, here is a Credo for this blog (with 100% less Latin)
- This is a Red Sox & Nationals blog. Yes, both. Not a Reds blog, in case anyone was confused.* Who do I cheer for if they play each other? On the one hand, that shouldn’t happen often; AL East vs NL East. When it does, I’ll cheer for whoever is in the pennant race and needs it most. (So that should be the Red Sox for at least the next 5 years or so.) On the other hand, I’m a born and bred Red Sox fan.** I can’t turn my back on the old loyalties. So that makes the hierarchy: 1) Red Sox 2) Nationals 3) Wherever Nomar is playing these days, unless it’s the Yankees (and more on that later).
- I like rationality. So, with rare exceptions (which I’ll state in a moment), I look at the numbers when judging players. By numbers, I mean OBP/OPS/Win Shares/ERA plus, not wins or the other traditional stats. I reserve the right to be irrational when it comes to the Yankees, and to the following players:
- This blog is a Tim Wakefield fan zone. No dissension is tolerated on this matter. None. I don’t care if knuckleballs give you agita. I don’t care if you’re desperate for Lester to join the starting staff. I don’t care if you think Doug Mirabelli is useless (join the club, babe) and blame Wake for that. I don’t care if you’re an idiot and blame Wake for his lack of run support. This is a Tim Wakefield friendly blog. He is my favorite player, the knuckleball is a wonderful pitch, and that’s the final word on the matter.
- Ryan Zimmerman is the third baseman to watch in the NL East. Yes, I know that David Wright and Miguel Cabrera play in this division (for the moment, anyway.) I don’t care. Zim is gonna do great, great things.
- I’m a Nomar fan. Not a Cubs fan, not a Dodgers fan, a Nomar fan. I don’t give a damn how the teams do, except as I want Nomar to win a ring*** and MVP for the World Series. I will really tolerate no dissension here. I don’t care if you were mortally offended by him sitting on the bench while Captain Intangibles threw himself into the stands (and why *do* you care?) I don’t care if his batting mannerisms drive you crazy. I don’t care if you think James Loney is going to be the best first-baseman in the history of the game (here’s a hint, Dodger fans; IT’S UNLIKELY.) This is a Nomar fan zone, with all that entails. You don’t have to love him, or even care about him. But insults won’t go over well. (Unless he chooses to play with the Yankees. Then we all hold our breath until he comes to his senses. But he won’t do that to us? Right? [twitch, twitch, twitch]) By the way, from 1997 to 2001, Nomar was the best shortstop in the game. (From 2002 to 2003, he was second to A-Rod.)
- There are a few other players that I’ve become attached to, that aren’t on the Sox or Nationals. I’ll follow them as the mood takes me.
- I’m a historian. I like footnotes. I use them.
- Anything else needs to be covered, I’ll add it here. Cheers!
*Although I still cheer for Bronson Arroyo. Go Bronson! Give some hell to Jerry Narron for completely overusing you last year and this year, thereby killing your arm. (Seriously people, check out the pitcher abuse points.)
**There was no local team to root for growing up. No, the Orioles didn’t count. I didn’t live in Baltimore. I didn’t even live in Maryland. And Peter Angelos is evil. Also, I come by my Bostonian connections honestly.
***Yes, I know Nomar got his 2004 ring. I want him to win one for games he played in.
