Happy New Year! Now Get Writing... Oh and Football. Yay.

I think I had a case of blog burnout. For over six months, I've been unable to even so much as think about writing a blog post about sports. It used to be that all I wanted to talk about was sports, but after 365 days of all sports, I just couldn't. I needed to purge my mind. Plus, the fact that the Red Sox went from last to World Series champs back to last really took the wind out of my sails.

But then football season happened. I love football season. I love that every week is so crucial to a fan because there's only 17 of them in the regular season. And in the whole scheme of sports playoffs, football's is fleeting. NFL playoffs last less than a month and there are just 11 games so each one, for me, can't be missed. Even the teams I don't care about... which is most of them.

When the New England Patriots are in the mix, that's when it gets dicey. I have butterflies. I have anxiety. I have issues. You would think I was part of the team the way my insides turn to jelly. It's especially nerve wracking when they finish the regular season so weakly — barely beating the lowly Jets and then losing to the Bills in an unspectacular fashion. So basically, I'll be a mess come Saturday evening when the Ravens come to Foxboro!

But I digress... if I love football season so much, why couldn't I get back to writing about it? By the time I thought of it, it was too far into the season to risk jinxing the Patriots' amazing October run with Rah-Rah blog posts about how great they are and how Tom Brady isn't even close to retirement. Plus... I was still dealing with that whole burnout thing.

So it's a new year and new goals and resolutions and all that happy crap so back on the writing train I go. Plus, I'm convinced I'm getting stupider by the day by not writing. Especially after having the last 13 days off where I spent more time in my pajamas than out of them... watching endless hours of television and possibly drooling on myself a little bit.

Happy New Year to all... and I hope you'll visit Balls of All Sizes once in a while!

PS:  If the Patriots lose to the Ravens, I will completely blame this blog post. And myself.

Day 287: Patriots are Headed to the AFC Championship Game!

Well, that was fun! The New England Patriots are going back to the AFC Championship game after beating the Indianapolis Colts 43-22 Saturday night. The Colts put up a pretty good fight for a good portion of the game and at one point were down just six points. But the Patriots were all like, I don't think so, and put a foot to the throat of the Colts early in the fourth quarter and never let up.

If the Colts had been playing anyone else, I would've been rooting for them. I like Andrew Luck. Out of the core of good, young quarterbacks in the NFL right now, he seems to have the best head on his shoulders. He's not as cocky and mouthy as some of the others—like the two who played Sunday afternoon. With Andrew Luck at the helm, Indy is capable of of great things... but the interceptions will get ya every time. And throwing four INTs against the New England Patriots is not advised. They will make you pay.

Tom Brady didn't really factor into this game much—he went 13-for-25 with 198 passing yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was basically on the field to keep the defense honest and mix in a passing play here and there. He did connect with Julian Edelman six times for 84 yards. The real story here is the running game. After LeGarrette Blount exploded for a career day in the final game of the regular season, I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering if it was a fluke. Or is this guy really that good?

I think at this point in time we can say Blount is really that good after his second consecutive spectacular game. And this time, it counted just a little more. He rushed 24 times for 166 yards and four touchdowns. FOUR! His longest run was 73 yards which of course, was for one of his TDs. Normally I'm more of a high-flying passing fan but this kid is seriously fun to watch.

There was a bit of sadness over the Patriots' game on Saturday though. Remember that post I did back in October about the Foxboro teenager, Sam Berns? He's the kid battling a rare, rapid-aging disease called Progeria who had befriended Robert Kraft. Well, just a day before Sam was to serve as honorary captain for the Patriots in their playoff game against the Colts, the 17-year-old passed away.

Robert Kraft, who had a special relationship with the young man, issued a statement following Sam's death on Friday night. (Click the link to read the whole thing.)

“I loved Sam Berns and am richer for having known him. He was a special young man whose inspirational story and positive outlook on life touched my heart. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend time with him and to get to know his incredible family.”

I'm glad the Pats won this game for Sam.

Day 286: Nobody Puts Tom Brady in the Corner.

Did you hear about this guy, Vinnie Iyer, from The Sporting News and the article he wrote this past week? He decided to rank the eight remaining NFL quarterbacks left in the playoffs. He based his rankings on different aspects of the game: arm strength, mobility, pocket presence, intangibles, blah blah, and then ranked the QBs within each area and assigned points. His results are a little shocking and kind of stupid.

Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson all scored 28 points to put them tied for first. Drew Brees came in fourth with 22 points and Cam Newton was fifth with 21 points. Phillip Rivers and Colin Kaepernick each scored 19 points to tie for sixth place. And then... in the lonely last place spot (the corner, as I like to call it) is Tom Brady, scoring just a 15 on Iyer's stupid point system. Wait... did I call it stupid already?

So the fact that Tom Brady has more Super Bowl wins than the other seven quarterbacks combined means nothing? Or that the Patriots have had to deal with both major personnel changes AND major losses to injuries means nothing? What about the NFL-leading five fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives this season? Nothing?

Sure, Tom Brady didn't have his best season statistically. He didn't blow the doors off any records or anything like that. Instead, he methodically lead a team of new guys, rookies and replacements to a 12-4 record, good for the second seed in the AFC and a first round bye. Back in December, this article on the Bleacher Report hit the nail on the head with this statement about Brady: "He's reverted back to his pre-2007 ways of squeezing maximum production out of minimum talent."Amen.

I dunno... call me crazy but I'd rather have a proven veteran at the helm going into these high-stress games. Someone who has demonstrated the ability to lead his team in all sorts of weather and all sorts of situations. Someone who never gives up—no matter how many points separate him from his opponent. A two-time Super Bowl MVP, perhaps?

Day 285: Giving Bill Belichick a Reason to Smile

The New England Patriots have made the playoffs again this year—something that has become more expected than hoped for with this team. Since Bill Belichick took over the head coaching duties for the Pats back in 2000, they've missed the post season just three times with only one sub-.500 year. They've made it to the Super Bowl five times, winning it all three. He has a trio of Coach of the Year awards, including one in 2007 when the Patriots finished the regular season 16-0.

A lot of really good stuff has happened to Belichick during his time in New England. He pretty much controls every aspect of the team. He probably makes a bajillion dollars. He gets to coach Tom Brady. He can be really vague and assholish to the media and it's just how he is so he can get away with it. Seriously? I'd be smiling like the cat who ate the canary. But not this guy.

It's no secret that Bill Belichick isn't the most smiley guy on the planet so when he does turn his frown upside down, it's something to be documented. Because his grins are so rare, the Wall Street Journal took to the post-game press conference footage to document each and every time this infrequent occurrence transpired. In case you're wondering, that's 114.5 minutes of footage to comb through to find something about as easy to locate as a needle in a haystack.

For a guy who wins more often than he loses, he has a lot of reasons to smile. But he doesn't. I have to wonder if smiling pains him. Maybe deep down inside, he's ridiculously happy but it's hurts too much to show it. In the end, the Wall Street Journal concluded that Belichick smiled just seven times and even threw in a laugh—but just one of those. Laughing must really hurt him. If so, maybe he should try cartwheels instead.

Of course, all seven previous smiles took place after wins so I'm really hoping the Patriots give him a reason to do it again on Saturday.

Day 281: Saturday Night Matchup: Patriots vs. Colts

The New England Patriots did not face the Indianapolis Colts in the regular season this year, which was a little weird because it seems like they play each other every year. That's ok though, because now they get to host them in an AFC Divisional game on Saturday, January 11th. The Pats are 2-1 against the Colts in the playoffs—beating them in the AFC Championship game in 2004 and the AFC Divisional game in 2005, but then losing a close AFC Championship game in 2007.

This game will be interesting and there will be a lot of factors in place. The Colts are coming to Gillette Stadium. Outside. In January. If the weather this winter so far is any indication of what these two teams are in for, expect nasty or snowy or cold. I can only hope it's all three. Tough for a team like the Colts who plays in a climate-controlled dome half the time.

If the weather is really shitty, it could be a battle of place kickers. Former Patriots kicking hero Adam Vinatieri, who is 35-of-40 with a long of 52 yards this season, will face off against his replacement, Stephen Gostkowski who is having the best season of his career. Gostkowski is 38-of-41 with a long of 54 yards. How will the 41-year-old Vinatieri handle Gillette in January? This time around, let's hope he doesn't.

While the Patriots enjoyed a bye week over Wild Card Weekend, the Colts battled hard against the Chiefs overcoming a 28-point deficit to beat KC by a single point. So how's this going to play out? Will the Pats be rested and strong and ready to rumble? Or will the Colts be pumped up and riding the high of that huge comeback win? Or maybe the Colts be exhausted and sluggish...

In 2012, the only time New England faced then rookie Andrew Luck, they blasted them 59-24, scoring 21 points in the final quarter. But the Pats also had a lot more weapons then. This season, Tom Brady had a slightly better completion percentage than Luck and over 500 more passing yards. When you look at the season stats, both quarterbacks are pretty even. However...Brady has just a tinch more experience in big games than Luck, so we shall see.

The only thing I know for sure is that I'll be parked on my couch, most likely swaddled in my blankie. My nerves will be shot. I might be slightly intoxicated and probably eating piles of junk food. I'm a stress eater. Now where are those good luck jammies?

Day 279: Wild Card Weekend Starts with a Wow!

If the NFL playoffs are going to be anything like the Indianapolis surprise comeback 45-44 win over Kansas City, it's going to be a wild ride! I'm sure there are a lot of Chiefs (and fans) shaking their heads right now wondering what the hell just happened. Well... you blew a 28 point lead early in the third quarter and now you're going home. What happened to that amazing defense I kept hearing about? Amazing defenses don't give up 45 points...

The Chiefs were stung hard by the injury bug often so that didn't help their cause much. The biggest being their star running back, Jamaal Charles. He suffered a head injury during the first quarter and was being evaluated for a possible concussion. He never returned to the game. The Chiefs also lost another running back, Knile Davis, as well as outside linebacker Justin Houston and wide receiver Donnie Avery.

But in the end, it was Andrew Luck who led the Colts to a one point victory, outscoring KC 35-6 after the Chiefs scored an early third quarter touchdown to go up 28. And that's with Luck throwing three interceptions in addition to his four touchdowns. It was the success of his connection with TY Hilton that propelled the Colts to victory. Hilton had 13 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Quite the comeback for the home team!

Patriots fans will need to wait until Sunday to find out who New England will face next Saturday. If San Diego beats Cincinnati, the Pats will play the surging Colts in Foxboro. If Cincinnati wins, the Bengals will make the trip to Gillette Stadium. Not sure who I'm rooting for...

Day 273: NFL Week 17... Depressed.

The end of the regular NFL season always depresses me. Sure... the Patriots will have at least one more game in the postseason, but if they screw that up, it's over. Those 17 weeks of football seem to fly by faster than any other sports season out there. Those precious 17 weeks...

Most years (present season included) week 17 can be a crazy collection of if/then scenarios for lots of teams on the postseason bubble. If this team wins and this team loses than this other team will make the playoffs but only if they win too. Or, like with the Pats, the outcome of their final week could mean either a first-round bye or a fourth seed. Thankfully, the Patriots beat the Bills 34-20 on Sunday to take the #2 seed in the AFC and earn that first-round bye.

Normally a Patriots game during the final week is pretty boring. They've usually wrapped up their spot in the playoffs and it's not even worth watching. But today... today was fun. The weather was horrific—torrential rain, puddles on the field, slippery pigskin. You couldn't have paid me enough money to sit in those stands in that weather. I was quite comfy wrapped in my blanket on the couch!

LeGarrette Blount made that last game even more fun by putting on quite a show. He rushed 24 times for an astounding (and career high) 189 yards and two touchdowns. His longest rush of the day was 36 yards. And if that wasn't impressive enough, the 250 pound running back added another 145 yards on kickoff returns. His 334 all-purpose yards set a new franchise record—and put him 12th in NFL history. Bill Belichick even said he was "the best player on the field."

Tom Brady's day was just ok—14-for-24 for 122 yards, one touchdown and a bullshit interception that wasn't his fault. But with the weather like it was, who can blame him for relying on the running game to get the job done. Good thing that running game didn't let him down! And Stephen Gostowski, who is having quite a season himself, made four field goals to add to the scoring.

So now it's on to the playoffs. With all the injuries the Patriots have had to endure this season, I don't have high hopes for much success in January. But that's how I like to handle it... if I get too cocky about the Pats' chances in the postseason (*cough*2008*cough*), I think it's bad luck. If I'm more of a glass-half-empty fan, things tend to work out a little better. Let's see if this theory holds true this time around.

Good Luck, Patriots! Kick some ass...

Day 245: Week 13 and the Playoffs Loom Large for Many.

December might be my favorite time for football. With just four weeks left to the regular season, the playoffs loom huge in the not to distant future. Some are still struggling to secure a spot, while other teams are battling for position—division wins, first round byes and home field advantage. Entering this week, there are 24 teams that are either in a playoff spot or within one game of a playoff spot. The entire AFC East, AFC North and AFC West are all in the mix, and the Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks can all clinch a playoff berth this week.

After the events of the off-season with Wes Welker leaving, Aaron Hernandez murdering someone and Rob Gronkowski recovering, I wasn't sure what to think of this Patriots team. Would it just get written off as a "rebuilding" year? At 8-3 I think the Pats have surprised a lot of people and some of the things Tom Brady has achieved with very few weapons is pretty astonishing. With last week's historical comeback win over the Broncos, I'm beginning to now think they can do anything!

The Patriots are traveling to Houston to take on the 2-9 Texans. On paper New England should have no troubles coming away with a win, but these are the games that scare me. The Pats need to be ready for some serious heat on Tom Brady—the Texans blitz almost more than any other team in the league. And with a win today, New England will guarantee their 13th straight winning season.

When I was making my picks for this week, I noticed some real great match-ups. Denver at Kansas City? I'm almost looking forward to this game most of all. Both teams coming in at 9-2 and both teams coming off a loss. The Chiefs looked defensively lost in their loss to the San Diego Chargers and maybe now they're coming back down to earth after jumping out to a stunning 9-0 record. The Broncos have something to prove after that colossal upset in chilly Foxboro last Sunday night. With a high of 54 degrees expected in KC today, Peyton should do ok... his little hands won't be cold like they were last week.

New Orleans at Seattle—another tough pick. I initially picked the Seahawks but just changed it (which will most likely come back to haunt me.) Is anyone else wondering how the hell Seattle is 10-1 riding the best record in the NFL? Well, if you go back and look at the teams they've played, you kinda get the drift. The Saints will be the first real challenge since they played Carolina and San Francisco early in the season. Plus... really? Can the universe really let the 'Hawks go to 11-1?

I'm having a hard time accepting that there are only four weeks left until the playoffs. I'm not ready for the season to be winding down... but I am ready for a Pats win and we've got some crappy weather outside today that's perfect for hunkering down on the couch!

Day 223: High School Girls Soccer is Rough Business

I never played soccer at a competitive level. As a kid, sure, I kicked that black and white ball around... tried to see how many consecutive bounces on my knee I could do. (The answer: not many.) But my high school never got a girls soccer team until I was a junior. And by that time, I had decided that sports that included balls flying at my face and girls trying to slide tackle me was not my cup of tea. Plus, there's just way too much running. I was more into those non-contact sports like track (sprinter) and softball (really bad second baseman).

But Saturday morning was the Class A girls soccer state championship game between the undeafeted Windham Eagles and the Bangor Rams. A friend of mine has a kid on the Windham team...so naturally, I wanted to show my support (despite my worries about being a jinx.) I'm glad I went. This game was a real nail biter throughout the first 40 minute half. Windham peppered the Bangor goalie with shots—some directly at her, and some that found the crossbar or the football goalpost just behind the goal. Parents in the stands murmured frustrations.

It was obvious from the get-go, Windham was the dominant force in this match-up. I'm not sure Bangor knew what to expect—or if they did, they didn't take the threat seriously. I'm surprised the Windham goal keeper didn't fall asleep with virtually all the action taking place in front of the Bangor net. And I'm positive that the Rams felt lucky to get out of that first half with the score tied at zero. Windham, most likely, felt frustrated. I know the fans sure did.

The second half opened with a quick goal by Windham's Ciera Berthiaume  just 51 seconds into the second half to get the scoring started. The Eagles never looked back and the Rams just couldn't pull their shit together to make a run. Windham, who outshot a sluggish looking Bangor team by what felt like a million to one, ended up winning 3-0 to win their first state soccer title since 1994.

Watching this game made me realize something about soccer: this is a rough game. I admire these girls for their tenacity and resilience—they never seem to give up on the ball no matter where it is and they all take a ball to the face like it's no big deal. There were about two dozen plays in this game that would've forced me into the fetal position. But these girls just get up and chase down the play like they just got hit with a Nerf ball. I saw one girl get hit in the face with a ball—a play that most certainly would've sent me to the emergency room.

Congratulations to the Windham Eagles on their Gold Ball... it was a really fun way to spend a sunny but crisp Saturday morning! (For a complete recap of the game, click on over to the Bangor Daily News.)

Day 214: Thank You, Red Sox... World Series Champions!!

Dear Red Sox,

I'm not sure if you got a chance to read my letter to you back on July 16th... if not, here it is. Surprisingly and gleefully, not much has changed since that day. My feelings for this team never changed. And your drive to succeed never changed. You all went about the season like it was your passion, and not your job.

Now, to reward your fans with not just a worst to first turnaround, but a worst to World Series Champion turnaround, is something that, as a fan, I will never forget. There was a will, there was a desire and there was a camaraderie that fueled this team to overcome adversity and deficits that many Red Sox teams from years past would never have been able to accomplish.

For a team that rarely had problems producing hits and runs over the regular season to still triumph when many of the bats went quiet, was a feat beyond explanation. When bats were silenced, the pitching lifted the team. When pitching floundered, batters who may have been slumping, made timely hits.

And let's not forget about the MVP of the World Series... David Ortiz. The one bat in the lineup that never quieted. The one bat that instilled fear into each pitcher who dared to take the mound against him. In the end, Big Papi batted .688 in the Series and at one point, reached base in nine consecutive at bats. But it was not only his bat that had such a huge impact, but his enthusiasm and leadership. When Ortiz pulled the troops together for a game four pep talk, the Series took a turn in the Sox favor—a pivotal moment for sure.

Jon Lester deserves major kudos as well. The game one and game five starter was masterful in both World Series outings, and if Ortiz hadn't been so locked in, he may have collected that MVP award. Lester has had his problems over the past couple of seasons, but he dug down deep and pulled off one of his greatest accomplishments. He won both starts, allowing just one run, striking out 15 in 15.1 innings, finishing with an ERA of 1.73.

I wish I had the words to thank ever single amazing guy on this team who not only played such a huge role in this World Series run, but also succeeded in reigniting my faith in the team I've loved my whole life. You know who you are... and so does every member of Red Sox Nation. We'll never forget...

For the third time in 10 years, I sat in front of my television, celebrating a World Series Championship and crying tears of joy. So thank you, Red Sox, for making this season one full of fantastic fun and foolish facial hair.

Congratulations!
~Stacy

Day 212: Some World Series Fun Facts

As my friend's almost seven-year-old daughter read her library book about the Red Sox the other morning, she made this astute observation: "Mum, I know why they call it the World Series... because the world watches, and it's really serious." That kid is wise beyond her years. The World Series is very serious business—especially for the die hard Sox fan.

Game five is in the books. The final of the three games on the road in St. Louis was another hard fought battle and another win for the Red Sox. This series is headed back to Fenway Park, giving the Sox a chance to win the World Series at home for the first time since 1918. Can you even imagine what a friggin' zoo Fenway will be?

Instead of trying to give you a recap of yet another nail-biter of a game—because who isn't watching this series—I figured I'd throw out some fun facts...

• Have you ever seen Jon Lester pitch so masterfully? In 15.1 innings pitched in the World Series, Lester is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.59 and 15 strikeouts. He looks cool and collected. He looks comfortable and confident. He looks almost like he could pitch ever night and never get winded. He's locked in, and according to John Farrell, could even possibly be available for some bullpen work, should this series go to a game seven.

• Speaking of locked in... how about David Oritz? What the hell, Big Papi!? I've never seen anything like it. Ortiz is a lean, mean hitting machine. His stats in the WS are mind-blowing. Through the first five games, he's gone 11-for-15 (.733 batting average) with two doubles, two home runs and six RBIs. In addition to the .733 average, his on-base percentage is .750 and he's slugging 1.267. His OPS is a whopping 2.017. He's nipping at the heels of Billy Hatcher's 1990 record for batting average in a World Series of .750.

• And speaking of records... Koji Uehara is approaching one of his own. His save on Monday night was his seventh of the postseason, tying him for most ever by a closer for the playoffs. He also became just the fourth pitcher in playoff history to record four saves of four or more outs. It's not a record, but it puts him in some pretty damn good company. Koji has pitched 12 2/3 innings allowing just one run. All this and he still gets ridiculously excited about every single win.

• And speaking of being excited... THE RED SOX ARE ONE WIN AWAY FROM THEIR THIRD WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE LAST DECADE!!! I might be just a little bit excited about this. I also might be getting more and more superstitious with every passing day. I almost kicked my parents out of my house on Saturday night—citing their presence as the reason the Sox fell behind. Also, I'll be wearing the same exact clothes and sitting in the same exact spot on the exact same couch with the exact same blanket over me.

All I can say is holy shit... it's going to be a crazy ride on Wednesday night!! GO SOX!

Day 211: No One Could've Picked that Game Four Ending

See what I did there? Picked... Sorry, I couldn't resist. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, you must be currently residing under a very large rock. It was the pick-off heard round the world. Red Sox closer, Koji Uehara, snapped a throw to first base that found Cardinals rookie, Kolten Wong, leaning the wrong way for the final out of game four. Red Sox win 4-2, series tied 2-2.

It was a finish that the Red Sox needed. After falling victim to that horrible obstruction call the night before, they needed an equally dramatic finish to game four. One that found the boys of Boston on the winning end. And that's exactly what they got.

But let's just say the road to that final out in the ninth was nothing short of heart attack inducing. The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the third, the Sox came back and tied it up in the fifth. And then the magic happened in the sixth. With two outs in the inning, Dustin Pedroia singled to center. David Ortiz then followed with a walk—one that appeared to be unintentionally intentional. (Who wouldn't? The guy was batting .727 at that point in the series!)

Jonny Gomes, who found out he was playing only an hour and a half before game time, followed... desperate to break out of his 0-for-9 World Series slump. Cardinals relief pitcher Seth Maness threw a steady stream of sinkers to Gomes, but on a 2-2 count, he left that last sinker just a tad high and Gomes made him pay. Big time. He launched a line drive over the left/center fence for a three-run (and eventually game-winning) home run. Sox up 4-1.

Then came the stress. Like most of the close games throughout the post season, I felt nauseous every time a Cardinals' bat connected with a pitch. I felt barfy each time a Cardinals' runner reached base. And I felt the bile rise in the back of my throat when they scored a run to cut the Sox lead to 4-2. With each passing inning, my knees started shaking violently as I sat nervously on the couch.

The bottom of the ninth finally arrived and it was Koji Time. An out... a single... a pinch runner... another out and then it happened. The thing no one wants to see. Carlos Beltran at the plate representing the tying run. Oh shit. I almost couldn't watch. But then... well... see above. There's nothing better than a pick-off to end a game that leaves Beltran standing there at the plate... helpless and alone.

That win, my friends, means one very important thing. This World Series will be headed back to Boston!

Day 210: Obstruction is a Stupid Rule... if You're a Sox Fan.

You could hear the collective groans as outraged Red Sox fans across New England watched the play over and over again wondering what the hell went wrong. I'm not going to lie, I was pissed off too—so pissed I couldn't fall asleep. The obstruction call in the bottom of the ninth inning of game three gave the Cardinals a walk-off win and a 2-1 series lead. And it left Sox fans violently shaking their fists at their televisions.

I spent the next several minutes after the call trying to make myself believe that somewhere, somehow, it was Will Middlbrooks that had been obstructed. That Allen Craig held him to the ground so he couldn't go after the errant throw. Or maybe Craig took a dive and Middlebrooks was just an innocent bystander. But I knew I was grasping at straws—the rule is pretty clear.

MLB Rule 2.00 states:

OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner.

Rule 2.00 (Obstruction) Comment: If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner.

When you really sit down and think about it, it wasn't an obstruction call that lost that game for the Red Sox. It was the Red Sox who lost that game for the Red Sox. In a scenario similar to what happened in game two, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (like Craig Breslow) maybe should've just held on to the ball. Although pitchers are notorious for not being able to throw to any other base but home plate. Remember Julio Tavarez? He would toss the ball to first under handed so as not to overthrow the bag.

But Salty really has no excuse. He's a catcher. He's paid to throw the ball accurately to all bases. He's trained to make crazy snap throws to first from his knees or gun out would-be base stealers at second—all this with a whole lot of equipment impeding him. So yeah, the obstruction call totally sucked, but should the Sox really have been in that situation in the first place? Third base isn't that far away—Salty has the tools to make throws that hit the required target. This throw was wildly errant. Not really the best time to get a case of the yips.

Or do you blame Will Middlebrooks? Granted, it was a tough throw to field as it tailed away from him towards shortstop, but he was also cold, having just come into the game to replace fielding phenom Xander Bogaerts. Maybe Xander handles that throw cleanly, maybe he doesn't. There will always be that question...

It was a play that started out so brilliant with Dustin Pedroia making a diving play to his right and throwing out the lead runner at home. And ended so horribly with an obstruction call allowing the winning run to score. Just add it to the list of crazy World Series plays for the Boston Red Sox. Also, maybe David Ross should catch tonight.

Day 209: Bad Announcers Can Really Ruin a Baseball Game

Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy are really the only two announcers I really enjoy listening to when I watch the Red Sox play. It's really the one downfall of the postseason—we don't get our hometown guys. Instead, we're forced to listen to the inane rambling of some dude who could care less about our team. Some team of guys who has spent the last two hours doing research so they don't sound like a bunch of idiots.

But nothing and no one is more annoying and dimwitted as Tim McCarver. The former major league catcher is the king of the obvious when it comes to providing color for a baseball game. When the World Series is on Fox, like it is this year, we are tortured by his ridiculously vapid commentary that often times makes me want to hurl my shoe at the television. Thankfully, this is McCarver's final season and we will no longer have to tolerate such blather.

I often wish I could just mute the television and listen to Joe Castiglione and Dave O'Brien on the radio, but these days, with the new digital technology and shit, there's a delay that makes it far more painful than watching morons call a game. It makes me sad.

In comparison to the video below... would you rather have to listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver? Honestly, I think I'd choose the team below. Blimey!

PS: This game is killing me.

Day 208: Errors are Contagious, Like the Bird Flu

Ahhhh... the World Series... it giveth and it taketh away.

Remember on Wednesday night when the Cardinals made all sorts of errors and blunders and you may or may not have laughed out loud at their mishaps? Well... karma didn't like that. I think karma is a Cardinals fan. Game two on Thursday night featured a reversal of fortune of sorts. And it did not favor Red Sox Nation. The Sox lost a tough game two 4-2 and the series is tied a game a piece as the teams head to St. Louis.

Just as I had imagined, game two started out with the makings of that pitchers' duel I love and hate so much. Both pitchers were on their game. John Lackey fooled Cardinals batters with that nasty curve that starts off looking like a big fat mistake right down the middle, but then drops out of sight leaving the batter wondering what the hell just happened. And Michael Wacha (Wacha wacha) with his sick change up that was the cause of nearly all of his six strikeouts.

When Yadier Molina drove in Matt Holliday in the fourth with the game's first run, I started to sweat. I could see how much Wacha was fooling the Sox batters. Mostly I was annoyed because it was the first time the Red Sox had trailed in a World Series game since 1986. What can I say, I got a little spoiled in 2004 and 2007.

My hopefulness dwindled with each passing out. Until the bottom of the sixth... Dustin Pedroia drew a one out walk, bringing up David Ortiz. He bashed a couple of foul balls that had announcer Tim McCarver certain Wacha was in trouble. And surprisingly McCarver was right (this pains me to no end to actually type since everything that comes out of his mouth makes me want to barf.) Ortiz launched a 3-2 change up over the wall in left center to put the Sox up 2-1.

Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived. And the events that took place in the top of the seventh will make you want to jab a sharp stick in your own eye. I've tried to block it from my memory so I'll do my best to recap. There was a double steal that never should've happened...a walk to load the bases... an errant throw home that allowed the tying run to score... and the play that almost compelled me type a string of curse words as my Facebook status—an airmailed throw back to third base that nearly found the crowd. Tack on an RBI single and just like that, the Sox were down 4-2. jdlk;fjfo;hglksjhgkjhkjfhg

Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal pulled a Koji and made the 6-7-8 spots in the lineup look like little leaguers. Blah. It sucks fighting to stay awake to watch that crap. If I'm going to lose a few prime snoozing hours, I at least want to be rewarded with a win, dammit.

Boston now needs to win at least one game on the road to get the World Series back to Beantown and I vow to keep my fool mouth shut about the Cardinals and their errors. Karma is a real bitch.

Day 207: One Down, Three to Go, Sox Fans!

Red Sox Nation breathed a collective relieved sigh early in game one of the World Series on Wednesday night when the Sox took an early 5-0 lead after two innings. After scratching and clawing for every run in the ALCS, it was nice to put some early distance between themselves and those tough Cardinals.

If you missed the first few innings, I'm not sure I could even describe what type of shenanigans took place. And I'm not sure you'd even believe me. It may have been a bad sign of things to come when the 6'7" Adam Wainwright doinked his head on the made-for-the-vertically-challenged Fenway dugout roof as he took the field for the first time. Who knows... but the regular season wins leader in the NL with 19 didn't look quite right.

Or maybe it wasn't that Wainwright looked any different... maybe it was that he hadn't faced a lineup as complete and relentless as the Red Sox. The normally solid defense of the Cardinals failed to make simple outs, setting the Sox up for a bases clearing, three-run double from Mike Napoli in the bottom of the first. It was all the scoring needed behind Jon Lester's masterful outing where he pitched 7.2 innings of shutout ball and struck out eight. (And of course, because he was so unhittable, he must have cheated, right? That's what some Sox-haters are saying... but MLB says Lester didn't break any rules.)

The Cardinals, who had the fourth best fielding percentage (.988) in the majors during the regular season, committed three errors and a couple of other miscues luckily not scored as errors. My most favorite blunder came in the second inning when Stephen Drew led off the inning with a sky high pop-up just in front of the plate. Wainwright called for it, waving his arms as Yadier Molina came towards him. Wainwright looked at Molina... Molina looked at Wainwright... and neither one of them caught the ball. It was like a scene out of (insert cliched baseball movie here) The Bad News Bears as the ball dropped innocently between them. Drew was safe at first.

The Red Sox managed to load the bases again in the second on that miscue by Wainwright, a single and another error, setting up a situation no pitcher enjoys—Big Papi sauntering to the plate with the bases jammed. And he scared the living shit out of the pitcher when he launched a bomb into right field that surely looked destined for the bullpen. That's until Carlos Beltran ran it down and robbed Oritz of his second post-season slam while crashing into the wall. Even a Sox fan has to tip their cap to that play. So instead, it was a very long, very loud sac fly.

As the start of game two approaches, my butterflies start to come back. There's a strong change that this game could be the complete opposite of game one—a grinding pitchers' duel that has me watching through my fingers as if it were a scary movie. John Lackey takes the hill against the 22-year-old Michael Wacha who is 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in the postseason. GO RED SOX!

Day 206: Do You Know Sam Berns?

Today is a special day... not only is it the first game of the World Series, it's the first time the Red Sox have been back to the Fall Classic since 2007. It's the first game of a rematch between Boston and the St. Louis Cardinals with the Cards desperate to avenge the 2004 loss in four straight to the Sox. It's also Sam Berns' 17th birthday.

If you've never heard the name Sam Berns, that's ok. Most people outside of the city of Foxboro, Massachusetts had never heard of Sam until recently. Sam has a rare condition called Progeria—a rare disease affecting approximately 250 children worldwide that causes an accelerated aging process. He was basically born old. Sam was diagnosed at the age of two—his parents were told there is no treatment, no cure. Most kids don't make it much past the age of 13, so the fact that Sam celebrates his 17th birthday today, is pretty freaking special.

Sam is amazing because he doesn't let the fact he's living with a deadly disease stop him from doing just about anything. He's currently a junior in high school—he has plenty of friends, he plays drums in the school band and he loves sports. While he can't play sports, he can certainly be a fan and not a day goes by where he doesn't wear some article of clothing that displays a Boston team logo.

Because this is such a rare disease that strikes so few babies, there is little funding and research done to find a cure. Lucky for Sam, his mom, Dr. Leslie Gordon, has dedicated her life to finding a cure for this cruel illness. And the foundation, The Progeria Research Foundation, might just be getting a pretty big donation from a pretty big name in the Foxboro area very soon. Like maybe today.

So there's a movie about Sam called "Life According to Sam" that premiered on HBO earlier this week. Click here for the heart wrenching story about a boy whose youth was snatched way too early, and the movie about his life, and one pretty high profile businessman by the name of Robert Kraft who saw Sam's story and made a deal with this special kid. The New England Patriots owner has pledged to Sam to donate to the Progeria Research Foundation—in fact, he will match every dollar donated up to $500,000 until today (Sam's birthday), possibly a full one million dollar check.

"I didn't put myself in front of you to have you feel bad for me," Sam says at the start of the film. "I put myself in front of you to let you know you don't need to feel bad for me. I want you to know me. This is my life, and progeria is part of it. It's not a major part of it, but it is a part of it."

Happy Birthday, Sam! Let's see if those Sox can't get you a celebratory win!!

Day 203: It's a Great Day to Be a Red Sox Fan!

Last night was another late night for Boston fans as the Red Sox attempted to oust the Detroit Tigers from postseason play. But it was totally worth fighting to keep my eyes open because, in the end, the Sox were successful in their mission and now will be heading to the WORLD FREAKING SERIES for a rematch with the St. Louis Cardinals!! WORLD SERIES... WOO HOO!

For the first time since 1999, the two teams with the best regular season record in their respective league will be meeting in the Fall Classic. The Red Sox, who finished last in the AL East just a year ago, ran away with the division with a 97-65 record. And oddly enough, the Cardinals finished with the same record, winning the NL Central. Do I need to remind anyone of what happened the last time these two teams met in the postseason? Not sure any respectable Sox fan could ever forget that World Series. *cough* sweep *cough*

I'm, by no means, expecting another sweep... even though the Red Sox have won eight straight World Series games since 2004. But the feeling I get watching this team just makes me think this is a team of destiny. That's all I'm going to say because, well, you know... superstitious.

Each player on this Sox team gets his chance to shine, to make a game changing play, to help this team win. The bats were relatively quiet throughout the ALCS, but when the made noise, they made some big noise. David Ortiz batted just .091 with four RBIs in the series—but those four RBIs came on a game-tying grand slam in game two. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit just .188 with two RBIs, one of which won game two.

And then there's the story of Shane Victorino. He was such a strong force during the regular season but fell into a deep slump in the LCS and finished the series batting a paltry .125 and striking out nine times. John Farrell easily could've benched him in favor of Daniel Nava, but he opted to stick with the veteran for his defense and probably figuring he had snap out of his funk at some point. It may have taken him six games, but he finally broke out... and in the hugest way, with a grand slam to give the Sox a 5-2 win and a trip to the WORLD FREAKING SERIES!!

That was one awesome grand slam. One awesome ALCS. One awesome Red Sox team that never gave up even when they clearly couldn't hit the ball. I don't know what else to say... I think it was an emotional night for both the team and fans. I think I may have even shed a tear.

GO SOX!!

Day 200: Now THIS Game is Crucial, Red Sox Nation!

So the ALCS is knotted up at two games a piece. Right now, it's best out of three, people. One team has to win two of the next three games to make it to the World Series. Regardless of who wins tonight, the Tigers would be forced to win the series on the road, and the Sox can clinch it at home. In this case, I like the Sox... but home cooking doesn't necessarily win you games.

If you're looking at just hitting, on paper the advantage goes to the Tigers. The Red Sox couldn't hit their way out of a paper bag right now and are collectively batting just .186. Mr. Clutch, David Ortiz, is batting .067 for the League Championship Series. He has just one hit, albeit a big one—a game tying grand slam in game two that tied the series. But overall, the bats are eerily quiet. I don't like it. If it's this frustrating to me, I can only imagine what these guys are feeling.

Now if you're looking at pitching, well, Detroit has the advantage there too. They've struck out 53 Red Sox batters in just 35 innings pitched. Do the math—that's 1.5 strikeouts per inning or 13.5 times per game. That's some crazy shit. The Sox struck out the just over 1,300 times during the regular season, placing them eighth in the major leagues which averages out to eight times per game. And the Tigers have only allowed 24 hits in those same 35 innings. That math is depressing.

Normally, it's the game sevens that are considered crucial—d'uh, that whole do or die thing. But I'm going out on a limb and saying that game five is the pivotal one in this series. It could mean either momentum for the Tigers going back to Fenway Park, or confidence for Boston as they return home. I'm also sure that if this does go to seven games, I'm going to come back and say that game seven is pretty crucial too!

Game five won't be an easy task for either team. The Red Sox will have to face Anibal Sanchez who pitched six innings of no-hit ball back in game one—a painful 1-0 Detroit win. Jon Lester, who was on the losing end of that misfortune, will attempt to quiet the Tigers' bats that seem to burst into action in game four.

I keep telling myself that if Boston loses this ALCS, I'll be ok with it. I should, right? I mean who ever thought in a million years they'd even be in this spot right now. Who could even dream up the idea that the Red Sox would be able to field a competitive team after a disastrous 2012? A part of me is just happy to be here... but the other part of me... the rabid, lifelong fan in me... wants to WIN WIN WIN!! WIN IT ALL!! So no, I don't think I will be ok with losing this series.

PS: Holy CRAP, it's day 200!!!

Day 198: Red Sox Win Nail-Biter!

Well... game three is in the books and the Red Sox came out on the winning end of yet another amazing pitchers' duel. I'm not sure my heart can handle many more of these ridiculously close games. I mean, really? 1-0? Are they trying to kill me? It sure feels like it.

I really wanted to write something intelligent and thought provoking in response to this game, but all that keeps popping into my head is: RED SOX WIN, RED SOX WIN, RED SOX WIN!!!! aldkjl;akfjdl;kgjldkjgl;kjfkhg MIKE NAPOLI HOME RUN!! BEARDS RULE!!

The pitching so far in this ALCS has been nothing short of masterful. The Tigers' starting rotation is insane—striking out a league series record 33 batters in 21 innings. But the Red Sox have also been holding there own and John Lackey reinforced that Tuesday evening, getting the much needed win over Justin Verlander. Are you kidding me with the 1-0?

I would appreciate it more if maybe the Red Sox would (a) stop striking out, and (b) start hitting the shit out of the ball. Please and thank you. For a team that finished second overall in batting average and scored the most runs in the majors, the Red Sox have really had to scratch and claw for the few runs they've been able to get. It was nice to see Mike Napoli finally turn his luck around with the long pants and get himself a home run...

And now, I'm making absolutely no sense at all because my head is still spinning from this game, so I'm going to spare you any more nonsense and end this post right now.

But before I go.... RED SOX WIN, RED SOX WIN, RED SOX WIN!!

And the Sox and Tigers are right back at it again tomorrow night at 7:30, causing me more nail biting, nervous sweating and obsessive pacing. Jake Peavy will take on the very tall (6' 8") Doug Fister. I can't handle this series! I just can't!!

PS. I sort of wish Koji had a big ol' beard.