Lester takes the mound...

Jon Lester returned to the mound today and threw 8 pitches in one inning of work, retiring all three batters he faced in the "B" league game this morning. Lester had this to say after the game. "Command was great. I went away when I wanted to go away and went in when I wanted to go in. I was in the general vicinity [with] all my pitches. I don't know what the velocity was. It felt good. We'll just build from here and hopefully get stronger as camp goes on, and if the velocity isn't there, hopefully it will build back up to normal ... I don't think the treatments are a factor right now. I'm still building it back up from the offseason, but I think I'm right about at 85 or 90 percent, getting close and starting to feel a little more comfortable with my body and how things are flowing."

So great!

*The Celtics won again! 4 in a row now. According to Paul though, (as in, my brother), even if they win the rest of their games, they will still be one of the three worst teams, and therefore get two ping pong balls in the lottery thingy. (1. Kevin Durant please). Tony Massarotti says that is not the case. He's probably right.

*The Bruins beat the Canadians and Devils this weekend, and are now 4 points out of the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.

*The Patriots had a VERY busy weekend, signing Adalius Thomas, Kyle Brady, and Sammy Morris. I am very excited. The Patriots also have Wes Welker coming to Gillette today. The NFL network was saying last night the Pats are going to offer him a 7 year 38 million dollar deal. Not that the length really matters in the NFL b/c you can cut a player at any time. John Tomase says that the Patriots will put a "poison pill" in the contract. And, we already knew this but, Tedy will be back. (which is good, b/c I love driving by his house on the way to Amy's). Tedy said, "“I feel great. I’m ready to play. I’m more hungry now than I’ve ever been. I want to win another championship.” I love him. (I don't usually like Karen Guregian but this one has some good Tedy quotes).

*In Red Sox land, Papelbon retired all 6 batters he faced, striking out 4 against the Twins. That is great news. Jon Lester is starting for the first time this spring against the Twins in the "B" game (mostly minor leaguers), while Joshua is starting the "A" game against the Dodgers. (Hi Nomar!).

*Forbes ranked the GM's in the 4 major sports. For the locals, Scott Pioli was 20th, Theo 30th, Mike O'Connell (formerly of the B's) 73rd, and Danny Ainge was 92nd.

Now, obviously they aren't going to get a list everyone agrees on, but Kevin McHale is first? When is the last time the T-Wolves won a championship? Have they ever won one? I'm not sure.

Billy King is 3rd. When was the last time the 76er's won a championship? I'm pretty sure Dr. J was still on the team. And, he should have gotten a ring out of the the Allen Iverson era.

And, everyone's favorite a-hole, Bill Polian is 9th. How do you put him 11 spots ahead of Scott? Where are his other two rings? I don't see them...Nope, not there at all. Just one. Actually, in the time it took me to write this post, Polian called up the league to complain he wasn't higher than 9th, and that he got nudged by the 1-8 people on the list.

Some other notes from the list, Joe Dumars is 15th...didn't the Pistons just go back to back? Terry Ryan of the Minnesota Twins is 53rd! 53rd and his team consistantly makes the playoffs and has talent with a payroll subtantianlly lower than the big spenders in the MLB. The GM of the Denver Nuggets name is Kiki. (just thought you should know). Also, I'm sick of hearing how much of a "genius" Billy Beane is. Again, show me the freaking rings. Oh, and Brian Sabean of the Giants paid Barry Bonds 18 million dollars this year when most teams didn't want him, 31. Isiah Thomas is 82 (I know SG will hate that one).

*UNC completed a season sweep of Duke. Tyler Hansbrough took an elbow to the nose and bled all over the place with 14.5 seconds left.

*The Patriots of George Mason are a win away from making the tourney again this year.

Shouldn't he be home practicing not throwing interceptions to Colts in AFC Championship games?

I'm just plain giddy about this one...

The Patriots have reportedly signed Adalius Thomas, LB, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens. He had 83 tackles and 11 sacks in 2006 and is, in a word, nasty. After a season where they caught a lot of smack (mainly from me) for being close to 11 million under the salary cap, the Pats appear ready to open up their checkbook.

We also signed TE Kyle Brady (not Tom's brother). That pretty much says au revior to Daniel Graham.

(I still hope we draft LB Patrick Willis out of Ole Miss)

Adios Corey!

The Patriots have released Corey Dillon. We don't win in '04 with out him. Thanks for everything, Corey, good luck!

Oh, finally Friday. Woohoo! WKatie and I will be going to Game On to watch Dice-K take on the Eagles if anyone is interested in joining us. And yes, I am rocking my Matsuzaka jersey at work today.

Happy finally seeing Dice-K pitch day! Chad Finn said it better than I can, "I'm giddy with anticipation for Daisuke Matsuzaka's Red Sox debut tonight, and no, I don't care that it's against freakin' Boston College; he could be facing the Saugus Little Leaguers at this point, and after all these months of devouring the hype, intrigue, and grainy YouTube footage, I'd still be geeked to watch him finally take the mound in a Red Sox jersey."

Michael Marot of the AP has a great story on Patrick Willis, a LB out of Ole Miss that is getting a strong look from the Patriots. He seems like our kind of guy.

Mike Timlin has nicknamed Papelbon "Starter Boy". I wonder how he came up with that one. That is pure genius!

A-Rod needs to stop using his words. Here's a guy that should go with the Manny approach.
"I remember being 18, almost in tears," Rodriguez says. "... I just felt like, 'Get me back in my senior high school uniform.' Then sure enough (Piniella) gives me a big kiss on top of my head. He goes, 'Son, I love you. I love you. I just want you to do well. From that day on, for the next 12 years, he's been just like a father to me. Doing his own Piniella impersonation, A-Rod says, "'Come here son, let's work on your swing.' ... This is now 1 o'clock in the morning. I can remember it like it was yesterday. He (Piniella) will be there in his underwear and T-shirt, maybe smoking a cigarette, and we'll stay there until 2:30-3 o'clock in the morning talking about a swing."

I'd rather everyone didn't know that I had a colonoscopy. How come people call the Pirates the Bucs? I mean, I understand that a buccaneer is a type of Pirate. But it still doesn't make sense. A Yankee is a Northener, but we don't use that. A Marlin is a Fish but we don't call them the Fish. I think the whole thing is stupid.

File this one under bizarre. Greg Maddux likes to pee on people. "Maddux is a master of strategically timed nose picking, sidling up to an unsuspecting rookie in the shower and urinating on the kid's leg, and inventing just the right nickname for a teammate with big ears, a prominent schnozz or some other pronounced physical qualities. "

Okay, Rangers tickets are on sale. Trying to get opening day.

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I'll check back later.

Oh to hear Jerry's sweet voice again...

Hello, I'm blogging from home today, but I didn't want to let anyone who checks daily down (aka, the 3 of you). Anyways, as we all know, the very first spring training game of the year took place last night against the Minnesota Twins. (And I missed almost all of it!). I got home last night at 6:50 ready to watch Curt and my dad asks me if I wanted to go to Kryssy's hockey game. Playoff hockey game. So, being the good cousin that I am, I headed off to the game. We sit down and an Andover guy has been yelling since we sat down to the Andover girls. He was loud, a little obnoxious, but was only cheering for his team. My dad turns to me and goes, "What's that guy's name that killed that guy at the hockey rink?", and I go, "Junta or something?" and he goes, "Yup" and looks at the guy. I go, "Dad, he's not that bad" and he goes, "No, I'm talking about me, I might need to kill him".

We got there at the end of the first period, Woburn was up 1-0 over Andover. Turns out Kryssy has the lone goal. (I always miss her goals). Woburn played very well, Kryssy got another assist and they won 5-1. The win means the Tannerettes (defending State Champs) need to take on #1 St. Mary's Saturday night. (too bad I'll be drunk at the Harp). My favorite part of the game however, was when Kryssy was taken down from behind by one of the Andover girls. Kryssy looked up, and you could tell she was looking for a number. Next shift, she went in and crunched the girl in the corner. They should know better than to mess with my cousin. So we are outside after the game, and I have this conversation with my Grandmother's husband.
Me: Where is St. Mary's?

Malcolm: WHERE DO YOU THINK ST. MARY'S IS? THERE IS ONLY ONE ST. MARY'S.
Me: Seriously? I'm pretty sure Mary is a popular saint and there are a lot of her around.
Grandma: Amanda, It's in Lynn. Malcolm, you didn't know that before the season.
Malcolm: Well of course I did, the St. Mary's that has a good girls hockey team is in Lynn.
Grandma: You did not.
Me: Dad, let's go. We need to go right now. (before I pull a Junta on Grandma's husband).

I missed all of Joe Mauer. That makes me sad.

Anyways, we made it home in the 9th inning. 4-4. I really like the Red Uni's, I just am a little confused about the blue under the arm pits. Is it sweat? Is it designed like that? I need Bob Ley to get on this.

Alex Ochoa throws a lasar to Castilla to end the inning. Absolute rocket. No bounce, nothing. It keeps the game tied at 4-4. Don asks Jerry about Wally's Travel book that is coming out in April. Apparently in the offseason Wally went around New England and someone wrote a book about it. Super. I can't wait to get my copy. In the bottom of the 9th, the Twins bring out someone with the game Errol. I don't remember if that was his first name or last name, but I do remember he was very handsome and spent most of last season in Double AA New Britian. I do believe that is in CT. Road trip anyone? I have to say, that I am pretty sure someone pretty high up in the Twins organization is gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but they always have a ridiculously good looking team. Anyway, Errol makes it through the 9th and its tied.

Dad: Do they play extra innings in spring training?
Me: No.

Don: And we head to the 10th...

"The reason we are still here is because of Alex Ochoa and his throwing arm" Jerry says. Paul yells over, "Jerry is so pissed right now".

A graphic just comes up on the screen advertising Sports Desk after the game. The third thing on the list is, Wally's Season Over. I get very nervous about our green friend before realizing they are taking about Szerinavioennabialbiack that plays for the Celtics. Phew? A season without the Green Monster? That would just be a tragedy.

Onto pitch for the Sox in the top of the 10th is Chris Smith, #97 out of UCal Riverside. He is also very handsome. Bob Rodgers makes a nice play at SS to get the first out of the inning (it's the NESN guy, they were low on bodies). The second out is a fly ball to Alex Ochoa and Chris gets the K for the 3rd out. Nice work Mr. Smith.

"This is the last thing you expect in game one of Spring Training" Jerry remarks bitterly.

The PA announces that this will be the last inning. Jerry lets out a soft, "woohoo" (just kidding...he was thinking it though).

Errol is back out there for the bottom of the 10th. I'm not complaining. A very good looking #71 for the Red Sox has some warning track power. The next rather large gentleman gets on and Brandon Moss comes into run.

Jerry and Don start rambling about the Mayor's Cup, which, the Sox and Twins play for every year. Jerry asks Don who won last year. I yell at the TV, "The Twins, they went 4-1 against the Sox in ST last year". Paul doesn't believe me. Jerry finds the stats. Turns out the Red Sox were...1-4 against the Twins last year. Paul isn't pleased.

Errol works Castilla to a 3-2 count, and he...K's.

Chad Spann, aka, Jon Lester's hunting buddy, K's to end the game on a wild pitch, gives chase down the first base line but is thrown out.

I decided at this point to make fun of Hazel Mae for everyone, however, my NESN screen turned black for a full 4 minutes after the game, so I ended up in bed.

Dice-K tomorrow. I can't wait.