OK, I’m on NESN during the pregame show and SportsDesk. Now here I am on NESN.com. This leads me to wonder if you want me to keep you company when you go to the dentist?
Anyways, here are some items floating in my stream of consciousness:
Frank Viola pitched 2836 1/3 innings in his career, only one in relief. “Sweet Music” was born in Hempstead, N.Y., in case you didn't pick up his slight accent when he’s on the air.
Has anybody seen anyone who spits as much as Matt Garza?
Life of a closer: Frank Francisco had allowed seven runs all season prior to Boston hitting the Texas right-hander for six runs in two-thirds of an inning last Friday night. His ERA went from 2.01 to 3.66.
I really find it interesting that in the seventh inning Aug. 14, the Red Sox intentionally walked Marlon Byrd to face the Texas designate hitter. Granted, the batter was Andruw Jones, but that’s not something you see that frequently.
No, it’s not your imagination. Jonathan Papelbon has already walked more batters than he has in any season in his career.
According to Hit Tracker, the longest Red Sox homer of the season thus far has been Jason Varitek’s 454-foot homer on May 28 to the far reaches of the upper deck in Minnesota. To give you some perspective on that, the homer traveled the length of one football field and to the opponents’ 49-yard line of a second field. Take that Tom Brady.
You remember Johnny Damon? You know, the guy with really long hair that Red Sox Nation loved one season and hated the next? Damon in six years with the Royals had 894 hits. In four years with the Sox, he had 730 hits. And now, completing his fourth season with the Yankees, he has 600-plus making him the first player in more than 60 years to collect 600 hits for three different teams — joining Willie Keeler and Doc Cramer.
Announcers Dave Roberts and Harold Reynolds each had 53 career triples.
Can you imagine how good the Tigers would have been had they not traded Jair Jurrjens to the Braves for Edgar Renteria?
If Mark Teixeira is the AL MVP this season, he would be the first AL switch-hitting MVP since pitcher Vida Blue in 1971.
Double your pleasure: Starting the series in Toronto, Mike Lowell, Jason Bay and J.D. Drew each had 23 doubles.
Since May 20, JayBay has 16 homers and Youk has 14, placing them behind Big Papi’s 19.
Very special thanks to Rick Walker’s at 306 Newbury Street in Boston for being so gracious and letting me try on so many outfits during our last video segment. And thanks to the Greenway Carousel for allowing us to shoot and giving me a free ride.
