AL EAST CHAMPS!!!!

After 160 games the Sox clinched the AL East for the first time since 1995! After an impressive 8 innings by Dice-K and some fantastic clutch hitting by the whole team, the Sox had won 5-2. Now they just had to wait to see if the Yanks would lose the O's. It was not looking good as the Yanks were up 9-6 with 2 outs in the 9th. But the O's would rally to tie in the 9th and win it on a bunt in the 10th! You can only imagine how crazy I went...quietly though, Grace was sleeping! After the Yanks loss, the team ran on to the field to celebrate with the thousands of fans that stuck around in the stands to see if the Sox would clinch. Only in Boston! It has been an up and down year for the Sox. They spent from April 18th on in first and had a 12 game lead at one point and it got widdle down to 1 just few days ago. Celebrate and then get back to business. As many Sox players fans said last night...11 more wins to go.

Check out player interviews here.

And the highlight of the clinch here.

And if you get a chance check out the great pictures of Grace from her birthday on the post before.

She is 1!!

Yup, yesterday Grace turned the big 1!! That's right...for one whole year she has managed to put up with her Crazy father. Amazing, huh? I think so too. Yesterday was a fantastic day for her. Of course she had no idea, but it was filled with cupcakes, presents, friends and then more cake. What a perfect day for her. I am not complaining...I mean I got a whole lot of cake!

Grace is wonderful little girl. She spends her day laughing, crawling, clapping, telling us what she wants by using sign language and then laughing some more. We could not be happier or more blessed to have her in our lives. Amy and I spent a lot of yesterday talking about what the day was like when she was born and all the things that have happened over the past year. As you can imagine, we do not remember what life was like before she was here and we wouldn't change it for the world. We love you!!!

Welcome Back Manny

This afternoon when I checked to see the Red Sox lineups, I was very surprised to see Manny back! I am not going to lie, just the idea of having him back in the lineup and on the field is music to Red Sox fans heart. And not lame music... when I say music I mean Sweet, Caroline. And then to top it off he singled in his first at bat and walked in his 3rd. A solid 1-2, 1 BB and 1 run scored game. And the Sox won 7-3. It is good to have you back, Manny. Welcome Back, Welcome Back...Welcome Back!

An open letter to Mr. Lugo

Mr. Lugo,
For the past few months I have been known to call you "the worst everyday player in baseball". After tonights performance I must publicly apologize for my oversight. While your numbers are not stellar, they are improving and tonight your big home run clinched a playoff spot for the Boston Red Sox. You are no longer the "the worst everyday player in baseball". I hope that you can expect my apology and because I am certain you truly are reading this...Lo Siento. Oh, and let me be the first to offically say, "Welcome to the Red Sox."

Sam Carter

p.s. Just so you can watch it again and again, here is your HOMERUN.

Dusty Baker, Mistake Maker

Where does ESPN find these guys? On baseball tonight they just asked Dusty Baker about whether or not it is important for the Yankees to win the divison. He went on to say that it was more important for the Red Sox to win because, "They have not won the AL East since 1998". First that is just flawed logic. Second, it was 1995! I wish it was 1998, but that year the Yankees won 114 games and finished 22 games ahead the Sox! AND NOBODY CORRECTED HIM!!!!

Literally while I was writing this about Baker, Eduardo Perez, yup the former Devil Ray great, said that Josh Beckett would not win the Cy Young because, "He threw 113 pitches over 6 innings and that will not cut it. He only has 19 wins, he needs more." Once again, flawed very stupid logic, but he has 20 wins now. AND NOBODY CORRECTED HIM!!!! The four letter network strikes again.

On a happy side note...Eric Gagne came in when the Sox were winning and did not allow a run. His stats now when entering the game and Sox are winning... 8 games, 14 runs, ERA 15.75. Much better.

An a Amazing Stat

I have just taken a quick break from studying, it is nice to have one everyone once in a while, to prove a theory about Eric Gagne. Usually I am wrong when it comes to this stuff, but sadly I am right about this one. What I am about to tell you is painfully true and should NOT be the case for a closer. Are you ready? This is not for the faint of heart...

Gagne pitching in games when he enters and the Red Sox are losing...

7 innings pitched, 0 runs allowed, ERA of 0.00

Gagne pitching in games when he enters are the Red Sox are winning...

7 innings pitched, 14 runs allowed, ERA of 18.00

This guy is a closer...A CLOSER! He is supposed to be able to hold leads and this stat helps us to know that he is worse when he enters with a lead. That is amazing.

FRANCOMA...if a graduate student with a child, who has NO free time, can figure this out so can you! Please STOP using him. I beg off you.

I am done

That is right. I am done. The Red Sox are awful. I mean it. I do not care that they will most likely make the playoffs. They are awful. The have blown a great pitching performance by John Lester, because Terry Francona does not seem to KNOW what everyone, and I mean everyone, else knows. Gagne is pathetic. NEVER use him again. EVER. He cannot be on the playoff roster and he can not ever wear any Red Sox apparel again. I give up on these guys and move on. They are awful, Francona is awful and everything associated with this team is awful. I am done.

Now, How do I feel...

Somewhere between....


















This has been the most up and down sports weekend I have ever had. I wish the Sox could have put the Yanks away, but they did not. But I am glad they won on Saturday. I am really excited about the Utes blowout of UCLA. That was just the what the doctor ordered after such a slow start. And I glad that the Pats did a number of lDt and the Chargers. Tomlison needed to be shut up after his, "If you are not cheating you are not trying" routine. Their best defensive player was busted for steroid use, which among other worse things, is CHEATING! I guess that is the Charger way. Anyway, glad the weekend is over. It was just too much for one guy too handle. At least this little girl keeps me smiling....

How I feel today....

and a whole lot of...

How I feel....

and very

My final comments of CameraGate

First off, I will let Bill Simmons tell you all how I fell,

"That reminds me, everyone's talking about the other teams and implying they were the victims. What about Pats fans? How did we deserve this? Our favorite team cheated, we lost a No. 1 pick, our coach pulled the football version of the Watergate break-in, our entire mini-dynasty has been tainted according to the outside world. ... Seriously, what did we ever do other than support a perpetually crappy franchise with a bad stadium for years and years and years? Do you think we wanted any of this to happen? All week, I almost felt like I did something wrong just because I rooted for these guys. Well, no more. Call them cheaters, call them villains, call them the evil empire, but it's still my team. You can't disown your team just because it does something sleazy, just like you can't disown a close family member for doing something sleazy. Your team is your team. I hate what happened, I think it has been terribly overblown, we paid the price, and we're moving on."

I love how people hated the Pats before and would say things like, "They have always been good. It is time for someone else." These people do not know much about football history. The Pats record during the time I lived in New Hampshire was 47-80! Does that sound good to you? They were awful, awful, awful. I realize that now they are cheaters and I hate it. I am glad that got caught and I glad they have been punished, but do not give the fans a hard time for this. We suffered through an awful team for years. We do not deserve this. Do not hate us...hate Belichick, but not us.

As for the punishment, I think it was a bit light. But not for the same reason others might think. I am not sure that suspending Belichick would have done any good. He would still be able to coach the team all week and could still draft up the teams plays. The fine for him was just right, because it was the most he could give. BUT, the light part is taking away a first round draft pick. The Pats never really use their first rounders. They always get their big names later. They even trade their first rounders away. This does not hurt them. I would have taken away all of their 2nd day picks. Seriously, that would have hurt them more. And those are my final thoughts.

Just some thoughts...

With school starting I have not had a lot time to write because I spend all my time reading and when I do have free time I like to play with Grace and spend time with Amy. So, I thought I would write some of things that I have been thinking...

• I am completly disappointed in the New England Patriots. They cheated, that is the bottom line. They did not need to and there is no excuse. I hope that they get punished and I hope it fits the crime. BUT, this is NOT worse that Steriods. Steriods is cheating, but the serious issue with steriods is that the health risks. It causes rage and causes death! It killed Ken Caminiti and Lyle Alzado and it will continue kill others. Please do not compare steriods to CameraGate. They are not the same. But, I still am disappointed in my Pats.
• School is hard, but I really like it. We have had some great guest lectureres that love what they do and they makes me very excited.
• Laura and Sean went to the Red Sox game last night. I would have loved to have been there, but I am glad that if anyone got to be at such an exciting game it could be them. When I got home from serving as a missionary, Laura would tell me all the time that I would love Big Papi. She is right and so she deserved to see this big hit.
• Finally, my Dad announced his retirement yesterday. He is great example and I really proud of him for all he accomplished. Last night I googled Gary Carter NJHA, and the 3rd article down was about this retirement. The thing that makes me most proud of is that he talks about being most excited to spend time with my mom and serve in the Church. Thank you Dad. Thank you for always making sure we know what is important in life. We love you very much.

I will be more positive

GO SOX!!! And Dice-K too! Since I know you read my blog, I apologize for saying you are reason #1 the Red Sox will not win the World Series. You are not reason #1. You just make me mad sometimes. So, I am sorry. And because I am completly certain you read my blog....私は残念である.

Reason #1 the Red Sox Will NOT Win the World Series...

This is not a good picture, but that is Dice-Homerun, I mean Dice-K. Look, I am not giving up on this guy for the long haul, but he cannot be trusted down the stretch and in the postseason. He has hit a rookie wall, or what we saw last year...the Beckett Wall. He has to adjust to league, with better hitters, who make adjustments and are not is aw of him. He has hurt this team lately and he will continue to do so. I would much rather see Buchholz get some innings starting games and let Dice-K rest. But that won't happen and he will reason #1 the Sox will not win the World Series this year.

Clay has a Day!

I had to wait a whole day before I blogged on this, because I had to let it sink in. Red Sox Rookie pitcher, Clay Buchholz, threw a no-hitter in just his second major league start and it was amazing. I wish I could have watched it (but we are in the area that gets blocked out of Baltimore games on MLB.com...STUPID!!) but I followed every pitch in aw of what he was doing. This young 23 year old kid mixed his pitches in a way that most veteran pitchers have not figured out yet how to do. He was brilliant and it was exactly what ever Sox fan needed. After a tough week of baseball, Clay literally helped every Sox fan feel better. He did that for me at least and that is saying a lot. He summed it up best during his interview on NESN after the game. After being asked a question the sold out crowd starting cheering and he loooked around and said, "Wow!" Wow is right Clay, wow is right! So thank you very much Clay Buchholz and Welcome to the Sox!

(Here is the highlight of all 27 outs of his no-hitter! It is chicken soup for the Red Sox fan soul.)

Appalachian is HOT HOT HOT!!!

With what many are calling the biggest upset in college football history, Appalachian State University (A Division 1AA school) is officially HOT HOT HOT!!!! Congrats on the defeat on the previously #5 ranked Michigan Wolverines.