Comments on: Random Thoughts on the Red Sox, midget-heads, blow-up dolls, and other sundries http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:30:20 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55667 Lyndsay Thu, 08 May 2008 21:10:36 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55667 hmmm lizard. yes. I noticed last night that his eyes kind of bulge out, like when he was being interviewed in the clubhouse after the game, and it pretty much scared me how big his eyes got. hmmm lizard. yes. I noticed last night that his eyes kind of bulge out, like when he was being interviewed in the clubhouse after the game, and it pretty much scared me how big his eyes got.

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]]> By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55666 melissa Thu, 08 May 2008 19:30:28 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55666 Coley, You are definitely right about beat reporters trying to stay in the good graces of the players and manager. I don't think they were afraid to talk about it though, I just think they didn't see it as a big story. Sunday before the game Sun-Times beat reporter, Joe Cowley actually mentioned it in passing when he was on the radio with the White Sox pre-game host. He said that the Sox had erected a shrine including blow-up dolls in an effort to break their hitters' slumps. He and the host just laughed it off as if it was a non-story. They also mentioned that the day before players had shaved the 3rd base coach in an effort to bring good luck, I find this more horrifying personally. On Monday it was mentioned on local sports radio that Toronto papers had written about it and Tuesday is when it became front page headlines on the Sun-Times. That's also when all of the columnists started their finger wagging and tsk-tsking. So in this instance I don't think the writers thought twice about it being offensive just that it was typical juvenile clubhouse behavior. I would also add that it was in fact a one time incident from everything that's been reported in Chicago. The other factor that might have played into the reporting is the fact that it occurred on the same day that Ozzie went into an obscenity filled tirade against the fans and media in Chicago before the game. Had Ozzie's tirade not occurred they might have used this story to fill space. Coley,
You are definitely right about beat reporters trying to stay in the good graces of the players and manager. I don’t think they were afraid to talk about it though, I just think they didn’t see it as a big story. Sunday before the game Sun-Times beat reporter, Joe Cowley actually mentioned it in passing when he was on the radio with the White Sox pre-game host. He said that the Sox had erected a shrine including blow-up dolls in an effort to break their hitters’ slumps. He and the host just laughed it off as if it was a non-story. They also mentioned that the day before players had shaved the 3rd base coach in an effort to bring good luck, I find this more horrifying personally. On Monday it was mentioned on local sports radio that Toronto papers had written about it and Tuesday is when it became front page headlines on the Sun-Times. That’s also when all of the columnists started their finger wagging and tsk-tsking. So in this instance I don’t think the writers thought twice about it being offensive just that it was typical juvenile clubhouse behavior. I would also add that it was in fact a one time incident from everything that’s been reported in Chicago. The other factor that might have played into the reporting is the fact that it occurred on the same day that Ozzie went into an obscenity filled tirade against the fans and media in Chicago before the game. Had Ozzie’s tirade not occurred they might have used this story to fill space.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55657 Sarah Green Thu, 08 May 2008 16:15:21 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55657 I think the Buck looks like a sort of desert lizard, that loooong neck seamlessly conjoined to that small, pointy head, the heavily lidded eyes....even the darting, flickering way he moves when he shakes off Varitek. It's very reptilian. I think the Buck looks like a sort of desert lizard, that loooong neck seamlessly conjoined to that small, pointy head, the heavily lidded eyes….even the darting, flickering way he moves when he shakes off Varitek. It’s very reptilian.

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55665 Lyndsay Thu, 08 May 2008 14:49:15 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55665 also, I would really like for once one of the reporters in the post-game press conference to come out and ask Tito, "when is the team going to address the issue of how much Julio Lugo fucking SUCKS?" props for balls if it's Heidi Watney that does that (probably not though, she's still kinda clueless). also, I would really like for once one of the reporters in the post-game press conference to come out and ask Tito, “when is the team going to address the issue of how much Julio Lugo fucking SUCKS?” props for balls if it’s Heidi Watney that does that (probably not though, she’s still kinda clueless).

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55664 Lyndsay Thu, 08 May 2008 14:45:00 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55664 Melissa, I always vote for Allan Embree on the bizarre-looking player scale. But yes Polanco's head I noticed is definitely wide, like someone smashed it down into his neck from above. on the other side of the head size spectrum...Clay Buchholz's head is way too SMALL for his body. it looks like at the end of "Beetlejuice" when B's head starts shrinking (I really hope someone remembers this!) so that was interesting matchup last night. Melissa, I always vote for Allan Embree on the bizarre-looking player scale.

But yes Polanco’s head I noticed is definitely wide, like someone smashed it down into his neck from above. on the other side of the head size spectrum…Clay Buchholz’s head is way too SMALL for his body. it looks like at the end of “Beetlejuice” when B’s head starts shrinking (I really hope someone remembers this!) so that was interesting matchup last night.

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55663 Lyndsay Thu, 08 May 2008 14:39:26 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55663 hehe, I was just about to ask, Sarah, how 'bout everyone's favorite team liability last night, ay? I know how much you love him. The Eck surprisingly held back his feelings toward the Buck last night. he seemed overly concerned though about Buck's "injured" ankle - "can someone please check on him? please? is he ok? can you guys fly me out to Detroit tonight so I can personally ice it? I think the kid needs Dr. Eck right now." all in all a very entertaining game though...what with Youk all mumbling and angry at the ump most of the game. that was one of the more hilarious things I've seen on the basepaths in a while. hehe, I was just about to ask, Sarah, how ’bout everyone’s favorite team liability last night, ay? I know how much you love him.

The Eck surprisingly held back his feelings toward the Buck last night. he seemed overly concerned though about Buck’s “injured” ankle – “can someone please check on him? please? is he ok? can you guys fly me out to Detroit tonight so I can personally ice it? I think the kid needs Dr. Eck right now.”

all in all a very entertaining game though…what with Youk all mumbling and angry at the ump most of the game. that was one of the more hilarious things I’ve seen on the basepaths in a while.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55662 Sarah Green Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:56 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55662 Well, it's also not really clear to me whether this was a continuously appearing "shrine" or just a stunt they pulled in the visitors' clubhouse in Toronto. Either way, it was clearly more offensive to Canadian sensibilities than Chicagoan ones. What I find kind of sad is that neither the players nor the manager seemed to see anything at all lame about it. I cannot really see Jim Leyland or Terry Francona or Joe Maddon letting things get that far. Well, it’s also not really clear to me whether this was a continuously appearing “shrine” or just a stunt they pulled in the visitors’ clubhouse in Toronto. Either way, it was clearly more offensive to Canadian sensibilities than Chicagoan ones.

What I find kind of sad is that neither the players nor the manager seemed to see anything at all lame about it. I cannot really see Jim Leyland or Terry Francona or Joe Maddon letting things get that far.

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]]> By: coley http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55661 coley Thu, 08 May 2008 04:18:58 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55661 Melissa, it's not unusual that none of the Chicago beat writers were eager to write about the blow up dolls. Those writers need access. If they start blogging about every little gossipy item from the clubhouse, it won't be long before players stop talking to them. Toronto reporters, on the other hand, don't need to talk to White Sox players on a regular basis. Melissa, it’s not unusual that none of the Chicago beat writers were eager to write about the blow up dolls. Those writers need access. If they start blogging about every little gossipy item from the clubhouse, it won’t be long before players stop talking to them.

Toronto reporters, on the other hand, don’t need to talk to White Sox players on a regular basis.

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]]> By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55656 melissa Thu, 08 May 2008 04:03:12 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55656 To the Chi-Sox the clubhouse is like Vegas, what happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse. That seems to be the reaction of most of the players and Ozzie. It's too bad that they think bizarre facial hair and playing with blow-up dolls can actually make them better at baseball. What I find interesting is that this was not a story in Chicago until after the Toronto papers wrote about it. None of the Chicago beat writers gave it any ink at all so evidently they thought it was Vegas as well. Placido Polanco looks like he needs to have holes drilled into his temples to relieve the pressure created by his wide forehead. He has to be in the top 5 of the most bizarre looking players in baseball. Jorge Cantu of the Marlins is the only guy I can think of that looks scarier. To the Chi-Sox the clubhouse is like Vegas, what happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse. That seems to be the reaction of most of the players and Ozzie. It’s too bad that they think bizarre facial hair and playing with blow-up dolls can actually make them better at baseball. What I find interesting is that this was not a story in Chicago until after the Toronto papers wrote about it. None of the Chicago beat writers gave it any ink at all so evidently they thought it was Vegas as well.
Placido Polanco looks like he needs to have holes drilled into his temples to relieve the pressure created by his wide forehead. He has to be in the top 5 of the most bizarre looking players in baseball. Jorge Cantu of the Marlins is the only guy I can think of that looks scarier.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/07/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/comment-page-1/#comment-55655 Sarah Green Thu, 08 May 2008 03:05:32 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/random-thoughts-on-the-red-sox-midget-heads-blow-up-dolls-and-other-sundries/#comment-55655 Ugh. Tigers walk off with a gift win after Lugo can't turn a single routine play in the bottom of the ninth. Papelbon walks all calm-like back to the dugout, walks over to the bench, turns around, and then suddenly kicks the ever-loving crap out of two Gatorade coolers sitting on the dugout steps. I just know he was imagining they were Julio Lugo. It's okay, Pap. I know he's your teammate but you're only human. Ugh. Tigers walk off with a gift win after Lugo can’t turn a single routine play in the bottom of the ninth. Papelbon walks all calm-like back to the dugout, walks over to the bench, turns around, and then suddenly kicks the ever-loving crap out of two Gatorade coolers sitting on the dugout steps.

I just know he was imagining they were Julio Lugo. It’s okay, Pap. I know he’s your teammate but you’re only human.

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