Sports

So, the Red Sox put Ramirez on waivers (original). That’s whatcha call daring and surprising. My first reaction was that it was mildly insane; if the Yankees don’t take Ramirez (and they’re the only team that can), the guy’s going to be unhappy in the Red Sox clubhouse for the rest of his contract. But then I had my morning coffee and thought about it a little more. What if this didn’t come as a surprise to Manny? What if Theo Epstein sat down with Manny a week ago and asked him if he was serious about wanting to play for the Yankees? What if Manny sees this as the Red Sox offering him a chance to go where he wants to go? ...

Jason Giambi has been subpoenaed in connection with a steroid scandal (original). Now is the time for all Red Sox fans to feel deeply vindicated. (More seriously — innocent unless proven guilty.)

That’s kind of surreal. The Celtics just traded Walker and Delk to the Mavericks for Rafe LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch, and Chris Mills. Plus a first round pick. It’s hard to make sense of this one for either team. LaFrentz has a $69 million contract which doesn’t expire till 2008 or so. He also doesn’t represent a huge upgrade at center from Tony Battie, although he’s a much better shot blocker. Chris Mills is just kind of there, and his contract expires soon. Jiri Welsch might actually be something; he’s a 6’7” point guard who played well overseas. But giving up Walker for a handful of potential seems very odd. ...

Batting cleanup, this fall morning: Edward Cossette Jim Caple (original) Tom Boswell Eric McErlain (original) And A. Bartlett Giamatti: “It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoon and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, you rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then, just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.” ...

Well, since you asked (original), Eric… I stand by what I said. I am prouder of this team than I could possibly express. They gave me more than I ever expected. And I will die believing that the players on the field did not lose that game. After all, I was right. Pedro pitched like he pitches when he needs to win. Clemens faltered, as I felt he would. The Red Sox remembered how to bat. ...

Not Photoshopped.

And that brings us to a seventh game that has every excuse to be the best game seven ever. After tonight’s game, I’m finally ready to echo a sentiment I’ve heard a few times this post-season. The Red Sox have now given me every bit as much of a season as I could have hoped. They have given me thrills, and hope, and joy, and I say this next without a hint of pessimism concerning tomorrow’s game: I won’t cry bitter tears if they lose tomorrow. I am satisfied. I am happy. ...

I dare say your local baseball fans aren’t building a replica of their ballpark in Iraq. What an amazingly goofy and magnificent idea. I’d like to see a picture of that. For that matter, they ought to see if they can find an Iraqi team. By the by, this entry is courtesy of the Grand Coffee House in lovely Union Square, which has good free wireless. And couches.

Ted Sarandis spent a while this afternoon explaining how good the Yankees starting pitching was, and how the Red Sox shouldn’t get too optimistic. Talked to a couple of Yankees fans. Went on about how the Sox were missing two starters, as if Mirabelli hasn’t caught for Wakefield all year long — and Wakefield was 2-0 in Yankee Stadium this year. Gotta love Boston sports media. Or ignore them, which seems to be working for the Red Sox. Onward, brave cowboys.

Since I think this piece (original) may make the rounds, some deflating is in order. John Lott purports to have proven that the media is biased in favor of black quarterbacks. He claims that his research means that Rush Limbaugh was right. However, his research (whether or not it’s sound) is completely irrelevant when judging what Limbaugh had to say about Donovan McNabb. Limbaugh made a very specific claim about one quarterback in particular. Straw man fallacy. ...