Random Thoughts (July 18, 2008)

I hope everyone likes the new format for the Daily Blog. I did not renew my Yahoo! Geocities account so when it expires -- should be any day now -- the Daily Blog will be the permanent home for my mindless ramblings. Enjoy... I am off to Chicago (via a quick stop in Milwaukee) this weekend for a short vacation. I will be catching the White Sox-Royals game tomorrow, making it eight stadiums where I have seen a major league baseball game. The other seven are Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Shea Stadium, Wrigley Field, the new Busch Stadium and AT&T Park in San Francisco. Yankee Stadium may be a cesspool but it is a historic cesspool and I witnessed the Red Sox victory over the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2004 A.L.C.S. at that cesspool. Shea Stadium reminded me of a cheap knockoff of Yankee Stadium and there was nothing to do around the park pre-game. I caught a Rangers game a few weeks after I graduated from high school way back in 1999 and enjoyed the park, the restaurant in the right field roof deck but did not like that park is like 20-hours away from downtown Dallas. Wrigley Field is beautiful and the neighborhood around the park -- appropriately named Wrigleyville -- is the best stadium neighborhood in the world. The new Busch Stadium is amazing and if you go there, I recommend staying directly across the street at the Westin. AT&T Park in San Francisco is even better than Busch Stadium, McCovey Cove offers a great spot to watch a game from but their ushers are a little sensitive. As for Fenway, there is no better place to watch a game... It looks like the C's plan to replace James Posey will be to re-sign Tony Allen, maybe add a veteran wing player (Mike Finley?) and see what rookies J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker have to offer. It is not the sexy move but it saves the team money right now, giving them flexibility to make a move during the year if needed. I am happy that Danny Ainge did not panic... Veteran free agent point guard Ty Lue signed a 2-year/$5-million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. Lue stated he would have come to Boston for less money. I'm glad he's a Buck, let's keep Eddie House. House may not be great at handling the ball but his shooting makes up for that and there is no need to add a veteran point guard now, Rajon Rondo is a veteran... After hearing Justin Masterson on the "Big Show" yesterday (yes, ESPN 890 is in the rearview mirror already), I have no doubt he will be as loved by the media in this city for his ability to talk and make good points as he will be loved by the fans for his pitching talent... Less than a week until the Patriots start to play football again... Very good news to see Big Papi hit a home run last night in Pawtucket... Enjoy Clay Buchholz tonight...