Spinsterblog

My crushing disappointment and anguish has been temporarily counteracted by the recent presidential election, so I thought I’d take this time to write a little entry about the World Series.

Game Seven of the ALCS was a weird experience, to say the least. Erin and Danielle were pretty damn gracious about conceding the series pretty early, whereas late into the game I was still arguing that the Rays were going to lose. And unlike them, I was imagining that I was going to be pretty damn bitter and cranky about it for weeks. And then, unbelievably enough, the Rays actually WON and I was able to feel very sympathetic about their pain. Trying not to come across as gloating is MUCH more fun than trying not to irrationally yell at people for things over which they have no control.

Let me tell you how gracious Danielle was. The next morning, when I was in the most flaily of my excitement, and had started saying I might fly to Florida for the WS Game Two, she did not say, “That is a ridiculous idea.” No, she said, “Maybe I’ll come.” (I believe my reaction was pretty much stunned disbelief. IN A GOOD WAY.)

And so, that is how we found ourselves headed to Florida three days after the Rays won the Pennant. Like LUNATICS.
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4:27 PM: Danielle links me to a Kevin Youkilis MacFarlane figurine

4:57 PM: I suggest someone buy it and keep it until Youk retires. I do not come out and say it, but the clear meaning is that I want to buy it for myself.

First inning (roughly 8:30): Kevin Youkilis is hit by a pitch and leaves the game with a bone bruise. He is day to day.

And, actually, this reminds me that I hear Julio Lugo is running again and starting to improve.

All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.

Julio Lugo is my favorite player.

Y’all, I do not know how I am going to make it through the next twelve hours.

I am a giant ball of squee and nervousness and excitement and impatience. And while all that is going on, people out there actually expect me to focus on my job and things that are totally unrelated to the Boston Red Sox. Tell me that isn’t the craziest thing you’ve heard since someone said the words, “…and JD Drew with a grand slam to put the Red Sox ahead.”

This year feels very, very different for me from 2004. Read more…

In the spirit of Overheard in New York, I give you Overheard at Camden Yards Last Weekend:

Guy Who Was Teaching His Date a Lot About Baseball: They’re not booing him. They’re saying, “Yooouuuuuuk,” which is short for his name: Youkakolis.

Youkilis: Originally uploaded by emmyl658

I would probably have been less snarky about this comment and much more forgiving had there not been a giant picure of Kevin Youkilis accompanied by his name in GIANT LETTERS right there on the Jumbotron.

And that, my friends, is why Red Sox Nation rolls its collective eyes at Orioles fans.

On a related note, I would like to say that although I seem like the likely candidate, I am in no way responsible for Youk getting injured yesterday.

For once.

So, I was talking to kate the other day and, since she knows what a giant baseball jinx I am, she asked if I’d broken anyone during my trip.

Umm, myself?

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So, a few years ago–in fact, it may have been the TB/Boston brawl game in 2005 that Danielle and I attended–I went on this whole rant about HBPs and how teams shouldn’t retaliate, and why can’t someone be the more responsible party…blah blah blah.

Let us fast forward to last night, where I called Danielle in a tizzy because Kevin Youkilis had been hit by a pitch. And for no reason other than the fact that his team is awesome. I gave up on my whole “live and let live” thing and started calling for JoshBECKETT to bean someone in the head with a 97-mph-fastball, because they hurt poor little Kevin Youkilis. That is NOT COOL. Clearly someone should be out for blood, and I choose Beckett. Because you KNOW it had to be bad if Youk came out of the game. Usually he’s got, like, a broken arm with the bone protruding from the skin and he just ignores Terry Francona so that they won’t pull him.

And, of course, this makes me feel guilt, because clearly this is my fault. It is *possible* that just yesterday I was asked who my favorite player was, and I had to explain that I couldn’t have one, but my LEAST favorite player was Kevin Youkilis. What the hell, baseball gods? Now my least favorites are getting injured, too? 

Watch out, A-Rod!!

Some people have been known to doubt my magical player-jinxing skills. I cannot understand why.

We started fantasy baseball for the season and my team is XYZ PDQ, because I like to pick teams based on their names, because I am lazy like that. So yesterday Danielle put in the rosters, and yesterday I managed to hurt Chris Young, who is out with a groin injury. See? Magical skills.

And apparently Danielle hates Kevin Youkilis, because she gave me a Youkilis t-shirt for Christmas. I’m not sure why she thinks that if she paid for it, it will somehow avoid my baseball jinxing. I, on the other hand, am far more cautious and haven’t even unfolded it yet, because I fear for Youk’s life. So when Youkilis hurt his ankle on Saturday, Danielle texted me to let me know, and I replied, “I’M SORRY!!”

I received the following text message from her in reply: Clearly you should ritually sacrifice that youk t-shirt. I underestimated your dark powers, Voldemort.

Originally uploaded by emmyl658.

My baseball jinx is well documented. So when I was at spring training and I was THISCLOSE to Kevin Youkilis, I didn’t do anything. I didn’t have him sign my ticket or my hat, even though he was right there and signing for everyone. Because, you see, I figured that it would all start out so innocently–I’d get a signed ticket and then I’d frame it and hang it on my wall. Everything would be okay for about ten minutes, and then my magical jinxing skills would kick in, even though I’ve said twelve MILLION times that he is NOT my favorite. The next thing you know, Kevin Youkilis would have some sort of broken leg or have been traded to the Kansas City Royals and I did NOT want that guilt on my conscience.

So I stood back a couple feet and didn’t do anything besides take pictures. I sure hope Red Sox Nation appreciates the great sacrifice I made for them, dammit!

Also, I feel it bears repeating that Julio Lugo is my new favorite player. I love his shoddy defense!!1!!1!

“David Wells returned from an African safari hoping to bag a bigger prize: a World Series ring with San Diego.” I feel like this should be the first line of a joke: David Wells went on an African safari, and…

Yeah, I know I haven’t posted in months and months. Sara nagged me just the other day. And I don’t really have much to say right now, other than to mention my seething anger that the Red Sox gave up on Alex Gonzalez and signed Julio Lugo. Hey, Theo? When we lose yet another game because Lugo’s such a crappy shortstop, don’t come crying to me. Also, clearly Lugo has been chosen as my new Favorite Player (to jinx).

Tomorrow I leave for Florida, where there will be sunshine, happiness, and spring training. When I return I will be sure to actually log in and post some pictures and regale you with stories.