Time to find out a little about the Red Sox from their SBN blogger, Randy Booth. His Over The Monster blog covers the Boston 9 365 days a year.
Rev Halofan, Halos Heaven: Other than a .357 magnum, is there a way to get Dustin Pedroia out?
Randy Booth, Over The Monster: Doesn't look like it. He has been able to hit everything at any spot over the plate. He's been hot the entire season and the Angels might get lucky if that hot streak ends come October.
RHF, HH: I assume an aching Mike Lowell will be replaced at 3B by Kevin Youkilis with Sean Casey taking over at 1B - what to the Red Sox lose / gain with this configuration?
RB, OTM: It's more loss than gain. Sean Casey is a solid ballplayer, but he isn't the player Mike Lowell is. Youkilis, also, is a much better defender at third base. If Youkilis and Casey is the combo at the corners, then the defense is the obvious concern. Offensively, Casey is solid but not as good as a healthy Lowell. However, bad news for Angels fans: both J.D. Drew and Lowell practiced and could start Wednesday's game.
RHF, HH:. Who do you take for Game 3 if Beckett cannot start and why?
RB, OTM: It has to be Tim Wakefield. Wakefield is hit or miss, but he is a big game pitcher. Paul Byrd has been solid since coming over from the Tribe, but I'd rather see Wakefield in that situation. Even if Wakefield is having an average day with the knuckleball, it still be good enough. If Wakefield faulters early though, Byrd would most likely see action.
HH: The bridge to Papelbon seems to be Boston's weakest link, which middle relievers are you the most comfortable seeing in the game to hold a tie game or to protect a 1-run lead?
OTM: Justin Masterson will prove to be an excellent set-up man once the playoffs start. Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen finished the season solid, so those three will be the ones to get the ball. A combination of those three should be sufficient in bridging to Jonathan Papelbon (who hasn't pitched well as of late). I'd probably be more willing to give the ball to Okajima or Delcarmen, but Masterson is very close behind.
HH: Since Pink Hat Nation will have bought up all the Fenway Park (pardon me, "Pahhk") seats and transplant college kids will be at all the sports bars (pardon me, "Spots Bahhs"), where do die-hard Red Sox fans get together to watch the game?
OTM: Doesn't matter where because Red Sox Nation is everywhere (what, Halos fans don't like that answer?) But honestly, just like other baseball fans (yes, that's true, we aren't aliens here in New England) it's all about being with other fans and watching the best game on Earth. For me personally, if the Sox make it back to the World Series I could be watching them in the land of baseball purgatory: Kansas City. Eww.
Well Randy, I hope your visit to Kansas City includes an Angels World Series victory.
JD Drew practicing is not bad news
Drew is a bitch.
Nice post though, I enjoyed it.
hauldog - September 30, 2008
Pride cometh before the fall
Never underestimate Red Sox Nation myopia. The Sox’ll miss Manny more than they’re willing to admit. This is not your 2007 Angels team.
Halos in 4
PieceOfAase - September 30, 2008
Wait.....
You mean GA will play, our first baseman will not have a stomach virus and we will have our starting centerfielder?
I know I missing something.
hauldog - September 30, 2008
They didn't like your responses over at Over the Monster, Rev.
In fact, they don’t like you. Apparently Randy’s meeting with the leader of our “rogue website” might give you some credibility.
Speaking of credibility, what were the names of some of those periodicals you recently appeared in?
NoDakHalo - September 30, 2008
Yeah
ESPN the Mag and Wall Street Journal… but hey, they have Ben Affleck…
Rev Halofan - September 30, 2008
I was parodying John McCain
and his negotiations meme in my post on this thread. No post with a link to the Boondocks, the phrase “Parabola of Evil” and the Adriatic sea in it should be taken too seriously.
0157H7 - September 30, 2008
Cannot have it both ways
You cannot make me believe that you expect people to take you seriously one minute and then not take you seriously the next minute. You write a stupid joke that nobody gets, they see you are mister baseball poster with all the right knowledges and percentages but suddenly then “you shouldn’t be taken seriously” when your “humor” goes the way of Beckett’s oblique. No free passes for making dumb, obtuse jokes.
Rev Halofan - September 30, 2008
Forgive me for having depth as a writer.
I very much expect to be taken seriously when I write seriously about something, and not seriously when I make a joke.
0157H7 - September 30, 2008
then learn to write better
Rev Halofan - September 30, 2008
It is their god given right to win.
hauldog - September 30, 2008
The tone they use in their responses to your interview is beyond hilarity.
They are shaking in their boots at the thought of having to face us in the playoffs this year. They hate the Angels, they hate Halos Heaven, they Hate Rev, and they are frightened by the team that they have to face tomorrow.
The fear of the Halos has reached record levels in Boston, particularly at Over the Monster and I cannot wait to see this serious play out.
NoDakHalo - September 30, 2008
series*
NoDakHalo - September 30, 2008
I'll take you seriesly when you're being series
Rally Manatee - September 30, 2008
What a fucking douche bag
I hate that guy.
Sethy - September 30, 2008
Who? Randy?
Randy is a stand-up guy. He writes well and politely, and treats others with respect. If there’s something wrong with that, I don’t know what the world is coming to.
0157H7 - September 30, 2008
Any relation to John Wilkes?
;)
Judging by the interview segment, I’d say I might enjoy having a brew with this fellow whilst watching the Angels-Red Sox series. I do have some non-evil Red Sox fan friends.
I apologize for the tone of some of our fans here, who may appear to be uppity, but it has been nothing but failure when the Halos play Boston. So, our team may have a shot this time and we are very excited at that potential. Some people have a screwed up way of stating that excitement and can resort to an infantile “he did it first” sort of mentality. Apologies, my crimson-hosed friend.
Downing Rules - September 30, 2008
8-1 is nothing but failure?
Recent Past better indicator of near-term future than distant past.
Rev Halofan - September 30, 2008
I like your optimism...
hopefully, it’ll rub off onto me.
I should have added “in the playoffs” to my statement of Halo failures against Boston.
Downing Rules - September 30, 2008
His replies
Just read douchey to me. Simply, I’m just completely irritated by Red Sox fans. And it’s not every Sox fan, but it is their Nation as a whole. Some of Randy’s responses, especially the one which he says Masterson WILL prove to be an excellent set-up man in the playoffs, just really rubs me the wrong way. YOU DON’T KNOW, RANDY!!! Give your opinion, but don’t give your prediction.
The Nation knows little about our team, whereas ESPN and FOX shoves the Sox down our throats like we’re Jenna Jameson paying off her latest BMW. SHUT UP, YOU DON’T KNOW US!
I just posted my emotions at the time of reading his post, and that’s how I felt. There’s no scientific reasonsing or anaylsis as to why, so I’m not going to defend my feelings. Don’t try to find my VORP in this post, you fucking stat heads.
Sethy - September 30, 2008
Sethy...I understand, but you gotta let it go...
Back in 1995, I attended a LOT OF GAMES due to many reasons I cannot name here without putting you to sleep.
Anyway, I could not believe how punchy the Red Sox fans were back then. They came out in large numbers just like the Yankees fans, but they pushed me to nearly fight with them every game I attended between the Sox and Halos.
My beef with them was that, yes, they have beaten our team in 1986, but they were still owned by the Yankees. Further, the Yankees had 20+ world series titles to their handful. In other words, they talked a lot, but had nothing to back it up. The Yankees did have a lot to back it up.
So, in summary, 2002 brought the Angels a ring and since then, the Red Sox now have something to back up their smack talk they used to bring me in 1995. All is good. Bring on the smack talk — we all have rings now to show each other. No problem. Life is good.
Downing Rules - September 30, 2008
It's okay.
I have a lot of respect for many of the posters here, and I like the energy that people show on HH – it’s a larger community than on OTM. Also, I understand that many of the Sox fans out in Cali give you reasons to dislike us as a community. I’ve never been to the West Coast, but if you saw me at an Angels game I wouldn’t be causing a scene or anything.
0157H7 - September 30, 2008
Was that a joke?
Just kidding – you would be in the distinct minority if you were a polite, amenable chowd.
Rev Halofan - September 30, 2008
Hey Rev, nice work on answering the questions on Over the Monster
they clearly tried to zing you (and us Halo fans) and you shot right back (for all of us).
tanana40 - September 30, 2008
Yawkey hated blacks
And yet the street named for him remains in the former world capitol of slavetrading.
Rev Halofan - September 30, 2008
Sorry Rev
I didn’t really care for your responses over at OTM. I think there were a few too many zings and not enough actual dialogue back and forth.
Your answers to 2 and 3 were fine, but the others were a little more contentious than I thought was necessary. I dislike Red Sox Nation as much as anyone, but sometimes you have to suspend that for the greater good.
Just my opinion.
Gorbachav5 - September 30, 2008
Maybe you didn't see questions 4 & 5?
They’ve got to be able to take it if they’re going to dish it.
TheTypingFiend - September 30, 2008
the manny picture sent the credibility train crashing
or event the “(wherever you are from)” comment. i thought Rev had a briliant reply to the manny pic, classic. it’s on tomorrow!
SCHalo - September 30, 2008
I respect GORB's opinion
I have learned over the years that if you know the window is only going to be open once, you may as well steal the silverware before you crawl out.
Rev Halofan - September 30, 2008
John Kruk, ESPN super expert picks: SOX in 5
Quote (or something like) “The Sox will just find a way”
AnaheimHalos61 - September 30, 2008
Sure they will find a way, just like Kruk always finds the way...to the salad bar
Big Easy Halofan - September 30, 2008
I'd wager that Kruk hasn't had a salad in almost 25 years.
halofan4life - September 30, 2008
I think that is the point of his comment
hauldog - October 1, 2008
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