Time To Rant

Dan:

Maybe you're feeling really good right now. Heck, the Sox beat Chicago last night. They still lead the wild card. They just picked up Billy Wagner. You think there's a lot to feel good about. If this is you, and you don't want to be brought down by a tsunami of negativity, you should click away right about now.

I have a lot of anger and frustration built up by the way the Sox have played these last few weeks. And it's high time I let it out. Consider yourself warned.

-In Game 6 of the 2007 ALCS, I said if J.D. Drew did something big, I'd never bad-mouth him again. Of course, he hit that grand slam. And since then I've tried. I've REALLY tried. But how much can one Red Sox fan take?!?! The highest paid player on the team is our $15 million a year NUMBER EIGHT HITTER!!!! A gutless, pathetic underachiever his entire career, Drew is proving right all the people who said he'd be a terrible signing for the Sox . . . and that includes his old teammates and managers with the Cardinals and Dodgers who said he was gutless. If his recent .235 average and slot as the Number 8 hitter isn't enough to enrage you, how about the fact he asked out of a game against the Texas Rangers -- the same Rangers in a dogfight with the Sox for the wildcard -- in the ninth inning of a game in which CLAY BUCHHOLZ WAS USED AS A FRIGGIN' PINCH RUNNER!!!! And we have TWO MORE YEARS on his horrible contract!!! AARRRGGHHH!!!

-Jonathon Papelbon is a whiny, high-maintenance diva. Recently asked about the possibility of Billy Wagner coming to Boston, Paps said he is the closer and doesn't see any reason for another closer. That the bullpen is fine and doesn't need fixing. Maybe it has to do with speculation the Sox would bring back Wagner as a set up man to Daniel Bard next year, and deal Paps in this offseason. Don't like that, Paps? Well, you're the one who has been saying you are going to free agency to cash in with the highest bidder, even if it is the Yankees. So suite yourself. And, in case you haven't noticed lately, you've been doing a great Calvin Shiraldi impression. I hope we do deal you.

-In June, were you among the chorus of fans saying how we just couldn't possibly deal Brad Penny. How you feel about that now? His recent appearances have even made us long for the days of John Smoltz. And how about Smoltzie's debut with the Cards. What a nice little kick in the stones for Sox fans.

-So much for the theory that Josh Beckett just needed to be caught by Jason Varitek. If this is a sign of things to come, we're screwed.

-Hey look: The offense finally woke up. Sorry, but I'm not buying it. These team has problems, and we actually might be best served in the long run by not making the playoffs this season. You see, if we do get there and have a decent run, the feeling that the team needs serious changes might be dulled. That would be bad. Let's face it, Mike Lowell and Big Papi are breaking down right before our eyes. They aren't going to get better. If Theo is going to rejuvenate this team, he needs to replace them this offseason. And while he's at it, how much longer til it's time to admit J.D. Drew was a mistake and find ourselves a new rightfielder?

-I friggin' hate the Yankees.

-I need a drink.