Results tagged ‘ Bill Hall ’

Enough Left In The Tank ??

…. to make it to the postseason ?

 

August 3 Amigos.jpg

Some things have to happen, and some things SHOULD happen to lead us in the right direction, and it’s getting pretty late in the season too. As of today, we have only 35 games left to the end of the regular season, and the Boston Red Sox are 5.5 games behind. I am not talking about overtaking 1st place….I am not insane.
But to make a bold move forward to grab the AL East wildcard spot, some things have to be pushed, and some shoving has to be done….and fast!
1. Yesterday we all heard about the Sox claiming Johnny Damon off waivers from Detroit. The deal still has to be made with the Tigers, but if they don’t want him….we could really use a veteran hustler wanting to make an impact to save his reputation in the game. The dude can work the outfield, and yeah, he can hit too. (Theo needs to make him grow his hair back a.s.a.p.) Now, if we could acquire Trot Nixon, Kevin Millar & Pedro Martinez…..the Cowboys can ride-in and get this party back on track!!!!!
2. Our Captain needs to get back to us real soon. Martinez has zero days off & it will start to show soon. Tek needs to hit the ground running and hit the ball like he did this spring. We all know he is an excellent catcher, one of the best in history I’d confidently say. I see him anxiously watching from his perch at the entrance of the Sox dugout…I know you want to be out there Jason.
3. King Beckett needs to regain his confidence and become the “Beast” we all know he can be. I know he is supremely capable of dominating the mound…and so does he.
4. Mikey Lowell and J. D. Drew need to stay healthy, and be dominant in the Sox lineup. Their presence in a game has been and will be KEY for the remainder of the season.
5. Utility Player Bill Hall is now a Key Player in the mix and needs to continue to shine. He has proven that he can hit the longball & play all over the field this season.
6. The kids that have been thrust into the bright lights have to keep it up, and even kick-it-up a notch into overdrive to get us past the Rays. These newbies are so important to our team, they have held things together during this unprecedented season of injuries.
How’s that for now ?? A lot has to go right….but we all know that it CAN HAPPEN.
 
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- fenway fruitgirl 2010   “BEHIND THE NET”

Let’s Talk About Bill Hall

Bill Hall.jpg
One of the new players in our Red Sox roster, is not new to baseball at all. Our new jersey # 22 is a well-known National League 3rd Baseman named Bill Hall. (Formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers since 2002 & Seattle Mariners)
Weighing-in at 210 lbs., Bill is a fairly big guy who can use his body to belt the ball deep into the outfield, or right out into the stands of Fenway Park. The 6 foot tall veteran had a slow start to the season in April, but learned the Fenway outfield on the cuff, and has made great strides in both his fielding, and his at-bats in May.
31-year-old Hall is a true “Utility Man” in just about every sense of the word. The Boston Red Sox primarily use him as an outfielder, but he is comfortable as an infielder (2B,SS,3B) as well, and has already also acted as the Sox’s Emergency Catcher while starting catcher Victor Martinez was out with a broken toe and veteran catcher Jason Varitek acted as regular catcher.
On two occasions so far this season, Hall has also filled-in as a pitcher ! (Late in the game on 5/8/10 vs. Yankees  &   as closer on 5/28/10 vs. the Royals) Now that’s a true Utility Man !
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Bill, and he is a gracious and friendly guy…one that I look forward to seeing blossom through the year in our lineup and out on the green grass field of my beloved Fenway.
(I told ya I’d be writing about ya Bill…..I’ll be watching you from BEHIND THE NET (Home plate) 
- fenway fruitgirl 2010   “BEHIND THE NET”     (photos shown are from mlb.com)*
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BUSY….BUSY….BUSY

 


May Abreau Scutaro.jpgPayback.       Game 26  -  2010    Buchholz (Sox)  vs.   Saunders (Angels)

Last night’s game was wild. Certainly more entertaining that the last match-up between the Red Sox and Angels on October 11, 2009 “Black Sunday”….

The Sox bats were swinging, and Bill Hall made himself useful…and made a liar out of me too! Lots of Homeruns & doubles…Youkilis hit his 5th HR.

I am told that the team got reamed by a furious Theo & company pregame. There were scouts, official suits & radar guns and laptops (more than usual in my section)….so changes are coming.

It was the beginning of Marine Week in Boston, and they were in full force at Fenway on Monday night, in the stands, and a group of recruits took their oath in front of the Fenway crowd pregame.

(Wednesday May 5th Nomar Garciaparra will be honored at Fenway pregame, and the Red Sox Home Base Day will take place on Friday May 7th)

 

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The flat screen tv’s were tuned to the Bruins & Celtics games…as Boston’s TRIFECTA unfolded for us all to see and enjoy on a beautiful night. Around the 7th inning, when the Bruins game wrapped-up, the huge screen on the electronic scoreboard replayed highlights of the playoff hockey game between innings, and the final score (3-2) for us all to cheer about. And as our game finished at Fenway, so did the Celtics game in Cleveland, and that was played on the tv’s also. It was a very exciting night for sports fans in New England to be sure.

I just want to mention how really polite the Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels were, they are really a class act……I even saw skipper Mike Soscia take BP with his team! Impressive.

 

Mike Soscia BP.jpgWe are still in 4th place in the AL East right now, and there is a lot of work to be done, but I just want to say that, if they play like they did last night…or close to it – we will vault to the top soon enough. Always keep a positive attitude, and have faith in the Sox.

Peace, Love & Baseball.

- fenway fruitgirl 2010

     

 

PITCHING

 

 


STRIKE.jpgLet me begin by paying proper homage to our most veteran active player…..Mr. Tim Wakefield.

It is possible (but not likely because of injuries & an extremely long season) that our Knuckleballer has pitched his last official start of his career on Sunday April 25, 2010.

For now, he will pitch from the bull pen. And believe me, he’s needed there…and will mess-up our opponents sufficiently after dealing with our starting pitchers’ fastballs….dealing with a slowing, sinking knuckleball mid-game, then onto Bard & Pap’s rockets afterwards.

Wake has had  1,995 Career Strikeouts  (only 5 shy of the Over 2,000 Club who’s active members are: Jamie Moyer, Javier Vazquez & Andy Pettitte).  Tim’s  189 Career Victories place him 3rd among active pitchers in the MLB…175 of them were playing for Boston-3rd in Red Sox records. Not Bad Mr. Wakefield !!

Now to the Sox Bull Pen’s Musical Chairs Saga…

Veteran pitcher Scott Atchison has been optioned to Pawtucket to make room for Fabio Castro to come up and join the team in Toronto. He will wear # 55. Best Of Luck Signor Castro.

 

pap.jpgJonathan Papelbon is tied for 1st place in the AL for saves. He has 275 relief appearances, only 1 shy of Ellis Kinder at 276 (4th place in Red Sox history). Maybe tonight ??

Now onto other things….

Boston is currently tied for 3rd place in the AL East, and is also in 3rd place for Homeruns in the AL. (Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox)

Current best Averages On The Boston Red Sox:  Captain Jason Varitek .379, Darnell McDonald .375, and Kevin Youkilis .372      (very nice guys)

Dustin Pedroia’s 5 Homers are tied for 8th place in the AL, and Most Ever by a Red Sox 2B in the month of April.  (Boston runs on Dustin)

 

 

Kids Day Pedroia.jpgRealistically, Sox fielding is horrendous (Bill Hall Needs To Go Away) and the Bull Pen needs to do better……..and so does our collection of Aces.

Things will get better and more consistent, it’s only April, after all.

Peace, Love & Baseball.

- fenway fruitgirl  (behind the net) 2010

 

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