SHAUGHNESSY RESPONDS TO MY POST

A few days ago, I wrote a response to Dan "Shank" Shuaghnessy's Sunday column

I also sent an e-mail to Shaughnessy with a link to the post and said this:

I just read your column from Sunday's Globe. I wrote a
response to it on my blog. I think you should check it
out if you have the time.

This was his reply:

sorry -- no time for fanboy rants.
shaughnessy

To which I answered:

Actually, it wasn't a rant, it's a pretty well
structured and well formulated argument. But if you
don't have time and/or are afraid that some amateur
might blow your arguments utterly out of the
proverbial water, that's cool.

I just wanted to show everyone how afraid Shaughnessy is to even read what us lowly fans think of his column. He couldn't even give it a glance? He somehow found time to respond to my e-mail in about 30 minutes. And his comparison of Kevin Garnett to A-Rod clearly proves that he isn't doing much research for his columns.

Also, Shank's response illustrates how he and his elitist columnist buddies in print media view all us bloggers. We're just "fanboys." There's no way we could ever come up with an opinion on the same level as the great Dan Shaughnessy.

Who else wants to start a collection/bake sale to raise enough money to get Carl Everett back here and pay him to kick Shaughnessy in the nads?



Photo Credit:
Boston Globe/Jim Davis

WE DON'T LIKE KINGS HERE IN BOSTON, LEBRON

How sick did TNT's announcers make everyone with their incessant LeBron ball-washing? When he was 1 for 10 from the field, all they could talk about was how unselfish he was. When he finally made a basket, they ogled the finishing touch on his lay-up.

King James was held to 2 for 18 from the field, and turned the ball over 10 times. The Celtics also had some trouble with hanging onto the ball (23 team turnovers), but were able to dominate on defense, coming away with a 76-72 win over the Cavs.

Ray Allen had 0 points for the first time since 1997. Pierce had 4 points and 6 turnovers. But, Kevin "A-Rod" Garnett had 28 points and 8 rebounds (suck on that, Shaughnessy).



Kendrick Perkins added 7 points and 12 rebounds. Rondo had a big night with 15 points and 6 assists. Cassell came off the bench with 13 points, including two huge 3 pointers down the stretch.

Both teams were sloppy, and I don't think this game is a good indicator as to how the series will go. James, Allen, and Pierce will all improve in the games to come. But if you ask me, the Celtics are capable of more improvement than the Cavs.

Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
AP Photo/Winslow Townson

WAKE OF DESTRUCTION

Tim Wakefield was brilliant in a 5-0 Red Sox win Tuesday night, going 8 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits, walking nobody, and striking out 6. He easily could have pitched the 9th, but for some reason Terry Francona decided to shove Mike Timlin into the game. I guess Timlin needed the work, as he hasn't pitched since May 1st. This was Wakefield's 3rd straight quality start.

And how about Kevin Cash? He went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI, raising his average to .361. When does it become time to consider using Cash games started by pitchers besides Wakefield? His bat is hot, and a little more rest might help Varitek at the plate.

Ortiz and Ramirez went back-to-back in the 7th. Manny now has 497 career homeruns.

Terry Francona tied Walpole's Joe Morgan for wins as a Red Sox manager with 301.

Clay Buchholz faces Armando Galarraga Wednesday night.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Duane Burleson

DEAR SHAUGHNESSY, KG IS NOT A-ROD

I try to avoid the writing of Dan "Shank" Shauhnessy whenever possible, because I like hanging onto my brain cells. But his desperate attempt to plunge Boston back into the murky swamp of negativity from which he spawned with his Sunday column illustrates two things about Shaughnessy: he is an idiot, and his inability to adjust to the Boston Sports Renaissance has made him irrelevant.

In an environment in which sports columns are an endangered species, dying out because of blogs; only the most unfit, unreal, unintelligent, and outlandish columnists will survive. Shank knows this. He tried riding the waves of sports radio, but his personality failed to make an impression on the air. So now he writes columns like Sunday's wad of toilet paper, and bloggers like me write about him. It's like when Woody Paige vomits his opinions on Around the Horn. Woody's loud and he's wrong, so he gets the attention.



Shank even made an allusion to Andy Reid's "blueprint" for beating the Patriots. As if football teams didn't know that pressuring Brady would slow down the Pats' offense. And as if teams like the Cavs, Pistons, Lakers, and everyone else in the NBA didn't know that getting all the calls, making every free throw, and running your ass off up and down the court would be the formula for beating the Celtics. The Cavs were 2-2 against Boston this season, they hardly needed Atlanta to show them that the Celtics are beatable.

I could analyze, deconstruct, and blow apart almost every argument Shaughnessy makes in his column, but his words are hardly worth my words. I may just be some lowly blogger writing for fun, but at least I can be proud of my writing, my arguments, my opinions.

One sentence, however, was so ludicrously awful, that it must be addressed:

"As for Garnett, I have only two words of warning: Alex Rodriguez."

Unbelievable. Shaughnessy, out of nowhere, compares Kevin Garnett to one of the most reviled athletes in Boston. The Shank tries to point out how A-Rod has no rings, and neither does KG. The Shank tries to portray Kevin Garnett as a choker, just like A-Rod. But it's deeper than that. Shaughnessy chose the comparison to Rodriguez because of things like this:



But all of this is a front for Shaughnessy trying to get under the skin of Boston fans, trying to get fans TO HATE the Celtics for going the full 7 games with Atlanta. TO HATE the Celtics if they lose to Cleveland, or Detroit, or God forbid LA. Shaughnessy wants the 2007-08 Celtics to become the 1986 Red Sox...chokers. That way, he can write more books and columns about how horribly difficult it is to be a Boston fan, and how we should all be proud of ourselves for struggling so valiantly against God's cruel designs.

Back to the quote. A-Rod actually isn't that bad of a post-season performer. He's not "clutch" per se, but he's hardly an automatic out in the playoffs. At the same time, KG has numerous solid post-season performances under his belt. And he looked great in the series with Atlanta. Before coming to Boston, KG averaged 22.3 points, 13.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 47 career playoff games with the Timberwolves. That's pretty fucking good, Shaughnessy, yet you dare to compare him to Alex Rodriguez?

As for you, Shaughnessy, I have only two words of advice: stop writing.

Sources:
Shank column
BasketballReference.com

DICE-K WALKS AROUND TROUBLE FOR 5TH WIN

Daisuke's pitching line for this game was Jon Lesteresque. 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 8 BB, 1 K, 0 HR, 109 pitches. Matsuzaka actually had a no-hitter going until the bottom of the 4th with two outs. He pitched around those 8 walks, but he failed to go deep into the game.

I would have liked to see Francona leave Daisuke in there for another inning. The Sox had a 4 run lead to work with, Daisuke was pitching well despite the walks, and the bullpen needs all the help it can get. Daisuke is a physical freak, his arm simply doesn't get tired at 100 pitches like everyone else. It's time to use that to our advantage.

Craig Hansen came in and looked sharp in the 6th. But he struggled mightily in the 7th, forcing Okajima into the game. Hideki allowed a single that scored two runs and made it a 5-3 game. Okajima is carrying a nice 0.64 ERA, but has allowed 8 of 10 inherited runners to score. He only let 4 of 28 score on him last year.

Ortiz and Lowell appear to be getting into the swing of things. Papi was 2 for 4 with an RBI double and a solo homerun. Lowell was 3 for 5 with a single, double, and 2 run homer.



Tim Wakefield goes against Nate Robertson Tuesday night.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Paul Sancya

YANKEE FAN MURDERS RED SOX FAN

An argument about the Red Sox and Yankees got out of hand in a Nashua bar early morning Friday. Ivonne Hernandez, a Nashua native and Yankee fan, allegedly ran down a pair of Red Sox fans with her car after arguing about the rivalry inside the bar. One, a 29 year old from Nashua, died of head trauma on Saturday. The other, a 21 year old woman, is recovering from minor injuries. Police say a lack of skidmarks indicate that the accident was no accident.

This is a classic case of passion for sports going too far. This isn't just a Red Sox/Yankees thing. It's also an example of extreme stupidity. What does someone expect, being a Yankee fan in New Hampshire, and driving around in this car?



That's asking for an argument. And when the inevitable drama ensues, one has to be mature and intelligent enough to withstand some insults without going over the edge. But apparently, Ivonne Hernandez didn't think that far ahead.

Fighting over sports, to me, is completely acceptable behavior. But there has to be some rules. Weapons shouldn't be used AT ALL. And fights should be offered, then accepted by both parties. And numbers between fighting groups should be even, so there's no 5 on 1 beat-downs. Running down someone with your car, or cheap-shotting some guy on the street (as a Bruin fan did to a Montreal fan a few weeks ago) is deplorable behavior, and should be brutally punished.

Hernandez is being charged with reckless second-degree murder, aggravated driving while intoxicated and two counts of reckless conduct. I'd also throw in first degree stupidity, which isn't a crime, but it should be.

Source:
WBZTV.com

Photo Credit:
WBZ

GOODBYE, ATLANTA

I don't think I was the only person to get annoyed by the Hawks during this series. Horford really came off as an impudent prick. Mike Bibby's comments were not only uncalled for, but were silly considering the city in which he plays is known for having some of the most fair-weather fans in the country. And then there was Atlanta's PA announcer leading all the chants and cheering. To me, that was the most annoying aspect of this series. And thank God it's over.

The Celtics' annihilation of the Hawks in game 7 makes it hard to believe that the series even got to a 7th game. Pierce had 22 points and 8 rebounds. Garnett had 18 points and 11 boards. Perkins registered a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Powe came off the bench with 12 points.

Defensively, the Celtics played an even more phenomenal game. They had a total of 11 steals and 10 blocks. The Hawks were held to an abysmal 24 for 82 (29.3%) from the field. And best of all, Mike Bibby was held to 2 points. Two points! HAHAHAHA



Now the Celtics have to play the 4th seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The C's better be able to step it up on the road, because Cleveland is a real team and is very capable of winning games in Boston. The C's and Cavs played 4 games this season, splitting 2-2. Neither team was able to win on the road in the season series.

Here is the schedule for the series with Cleveland:

Game 1: Tuesday 5/6 - 8:00PM - vs. Cleveland
Game 2: Thursday 5/8 - 7:00 PM - vs. Cleveland
Game 3: Saturday 5/10 - 8:00 PM - @ Cleveland
Game 4: Monday 5/12 - 8:00 PM - @ Cleveland
Game 5: Wednesday 5/14 - TBA - vs. Cleveland
Game 6: Friday 5/16 - TBA - @ Cleveland
Game 7: Sunday 5/18 - TBA - vs. Cleveland



Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Winslow Townson
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

SOX PUSH KAZMIR AROUND

The Red Sox got out to an early lead against Scott Kazmir Sunday afternoon, and although the game was made close in the late innings, were able to pull away at the end for a 7-3 victory.

Lester had a typical Jon Lester start, 112 pitches in 6 innings. Although he pitched well and allowed only one run, he put the Sox in an awkward position. Manny Delcarmen had to be brought in to pitch the 7th.

Delcarmen was one of the X factors of this team coming into the season. If he did well, then Papelbon and Okajima would have some support in the bullpen. The dynamic duo could take more days off, and there'd be someone reliable to pitch the 7th inning when the starter could only get through 6.

But things haven't worked out that way. After another struggle on Sunday, Delcarmen's ERA is up to 7.30. ERA is not a good way to gauge a reliever, but every other Delcarmen stat is as bad or worse. His WHIP is 1.70. He's throwing 20.1 pitches per inning. Opponents are hitting .333 off him. He's inherited 12 runners, and 7 of them have scored.

Although the Sox still managed to win Sunday (thanks in large part to Okajima, Papelbon, and Youkilis), this trend with Delcarmen simply cannot continue. Last year, we saw how effective the Sox were at conserving Papelbon so he could last the whole season. We also saw Okajima wear out toward the end of the year.

In 2008, Papelbon has already had 4 outings longer than an inning. In 2007, he had a TOTAL of 4 appearances that were longer than an inning. Papelbon has 14 appearances and 15.1 innings so far. By May 4 in 2007, he only had 11 appearances and 11.1 innings. This may sound like a small difference, but if it continues throughout the year, it will take its toll. And the Sox won't have Papelbon available to pitch 2 tough innings in the World Series, if need be.



The Red Sox now head to Detroit for 4 games. Daisuke goes against Bonderman in the series opener Monday night.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer