Youth Movement

I see Derek has been running his mouth again...typical Yankee fan. Where should I begin?

Mr. Dent wants the Yanks to bring up some of their younger players. What a great idea! I wonder where that came from. Hmmmm. Buchholz, Lester, Ellsbury, Lowrie, Masterson...and on and on. Good to see the Red Sox have already figured out that formula.

Derek is also complaining about injuries?!?!? Seriously? Lowell, Casey, Crisp, Ortiz, Varitek, Beckett, Schilling, Delcarmen, and Matsuzaka have all missed games this year because of injury or as has been the case lately...illness. But Derek is complaining because Posada's shoulder is hurt and he has to go on the DL...Boo Freakin' Hoo! The Sox have LITERALLY lost half of their team at times this year, yet they still remain tied for first, a game ahead of the Bronx Bums. Oh yeah, and the Bums didn't have to make a world-wide trip to Japan, Los Angeles, Oakland and Toronto in 20 days either.

But as far as the Sox go, there is reason for concern. Ortiz needs to return to his old form. I'm worried that knee injury is more severe than he or the team will admit. A healthy Mike Lowell will be a welcome sight, especially now that Casey is injured. And hopefully the ebola virus that crippled the clubhouse last week is gone for good.

But aside from the injuries, the major question surrounding this team is its bullpen. Papelbon is lights out, and Okajima has been pretty good. But after that, there are big problems. Can Delcarmen be a reliable bridge to the eighth inning? Has Timlin overstayed his welcome? Can Tavarez and Corey get the job done? And who is Aardsma?

Anyway, all things considered, it hasn't been a bad April. But is the Nation concerned? You bet it is. However, let's make sure Derek doesn't forget his Yanks are still in the rear view mirror of the World Champions!

Catcher/Trainer Wanted

Wanted: Catcher with MLB experience with good knees, a cannon for an arm, and can step into job immediatley. Must hit 250 plus and not be associated in any way with the Molina family.

In steps Chris Stewart...played with the White Sox and the Rangers, a 300 triple A hitter and pretty good behind the dish. We're lucky. Things could have been much worse (like the ugly rumor that we were looking at dragging the Red Sox cast off Mirabelli away from his soaps to suit up!) Due apparently to some administrative miscalculation the #1 choice in Chad Moeller got tied up in waivers and if our Molina (apparently it is a new MLB rule that every team must employ a Molina) had pulled up lame like he did earlier this year we may have been a little jammed up.

Given the way we have sprained, pulled, and hyperextended our way out of the gate this year Cash and the boys better have a better game plan than cloning Betemit and Duncan. There is opportunity in this recent rash of ridiculous - and completely avoidable- injuries that have plagued us thus far. Use the setbacks to expand the depth chart downward and get a look at what might be on the field 2 years from now. It's still April. Bring up a few more Stewarts and let's see what they can do. The way things are going, they might be starting in June.

Chin up though. The Red Sux have the series champion lineup on the field and they aren't doing any better.

Opening Day at Fenway Park

So we're crazy, huh? Well, you know...after 86 years of frustration, tears, near-misses, and images of Babe Ruth hovering over Fenway, you'd be a little off-center too.

I've been a Red Sox fan ever since my dad took me to my first game when I was eight years old. There's simply no feeling like walking into Fenway and staring at that glorious green monster. Now my two boys are eight and five, and I'm getting that itch to take them to their first game. The nation must continue to grow, and I'm just doing my part.

How much do we hate the Yankees? Here's an example. My oldest son Nicholas has autism, but he's a pretty high functioning little boy. Anyway, his speech was quite delayed and he didn't say his first words until he was three years old. I proud to say that his first word was dada. After getting a few other important words down, I felt it was time to teach him something practical. So I said to him, "Hey Nicholas, what do you say when Daddy says "Yankees"? Nicholas's response without hesitation was crystal clear..."SUCK!" That's my boy. Ok, maybe we are just a little crazy.

Yankees fans like to talk about ancient history...the Babe, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, 26 World Championships...blah blah blah! Let's talk about recent history. Two world championshps in the 21st century for the Red Sox...zero for the Yankees. But it's not like the Yankees haven't accomplished anything lately. They are, after all, the authors of the greatest playoff collapse in baseball history, choking a 3-0 lead in the 2004 ALCS to the Red Sox. Very impressive.

Anyway, I look forward to a fun year of cheering, rooting, and, of course, good-natured ribbing with my Yankee-loving friend Derek Dent. And from time to time, some of your favorite NEWS CENTER personalities may be chipping in their two cents worth and posting a pro-Red Sox blog or two. But for now, this is Teddy Ballgame saying, "Let's go Sox!", and remember what I taught you Nicholas, OK?

Opening Day at Yankee Stadium

What's it like for a Yankee fan to live in Red Sox nation? Derek Dent sounds off. Of course...we had to let Red Sox fans have their say...That's where Teddy Ballgame steps in! But first, THE EMPIRE!

When I moved here 8 years ago I had no idea how truly crazy the citizens of Red Sox nation were. It didn't take long to find out though. It started with my first trip to the local barber shop. I bounced out the door on a Saturday morning, wearing my Yankees cap as I have every Saturday for years. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and when I walked through the door there were 3 barbers on duty and two chairs open. Beautiful. I grabbed a chair and a paper and waited.

I felt a strange chill however when I began to look around at the decor. Ted Williams, Fenway Park, Red Sox pennants, Red Sox hats, Red Sox newspaper clippings....and in the middle of it all...three ticked off barbers.

The first barber left his empty chair and made a point of grabbing the paper next to me and walking to the back of the shop. No problem. He's on break, I figure. The next barber leaves his empty chair and heads to the back of the shop too, commenting to the remaining barber..."you believe this guy?...wears a Yankee hat to a Red Sox shop!" I tried to laugh it off but the bulging vein on the last barber's face told me I didn't want these guys anywhere near my head with scissors. I folded my paper and left. You're all crazy.

I go to the grocery store with my hat on and the 12 year old bagger sees the hat, smirks, puts the chips in the bag and then a 2 liter soda on top. Crazy.

The Patriots win the Super Bowl and bring the Lombardi Trophy to Portland. Fans fill Congress Street and what do you chant? "Yankees Suck!" You're just all crazy.

Over the course of this baseball season I will be using this blog to reassure Yankee fans that there is a rational voice in "the nation" and I'll do my best to keep you updated on the goings-on with America's baseball team. As for you Red Sox fans, I will also use this blog to point out just how crazy you truly are and take pleasure in enumerating (that means counting Red Sox fans) the many reasons why the Yankees...in fact... don't suck.

I can think of 26 right off the top of my head.