OK, show of hands - who hasn't enjoyed the Kevin-Youkilis-in-goggles era? Manning first behind those fancy specs while sporting a monster shiner, he looks like he's getting ready to play Laser Tag. Since it gives him something of a tough appearance, we don't have to tell anyone it's all because he couldn't handle a warm-up throw. Maybe he can make the goggles a signature thing, like Rip Hamilton of the Pistons and his goofy plastic mask. Hey, if Youk can make the Chia pet goatee work, he can certainly pull off a pair of glasses. It made me start thinking of former players who wore the glasses. Chris Sabo was the first that came to mind. But how about Luis Rivera, former light-hitting shortstop in Beantown, he of the tiny, whispy mustache and glasses complete with that thing that connects around your neck to keep them on. Classic.
Other be-goggled heroes of note: Kurt Rambis, Horace Grant, Ben Franklin.
So as I write this, the Sox just went off for four runs against Houston, highlighted by back-to-back doubles from Manny and Mike Lowell. Good to see for Manny, he's been struggling mightily lately. I find Manny to be a confusing player sometimes - when he gets hot, it's absolutely rediculous - he hits everything, and he hits it to any part of the park. But when he gets cold sometimes he looks like a little leaguer. I mean there are times when he just flails. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it's pretty puzzling. Still, there's no doubt he's one of the best right-handed hitters of his generation. Maybe tonight's rocket of a double is a sign of good things to come.
By the way, who the heck designed Houston's stadium? It must have been some executive getting wasted on eight or nine gin and tonics on a Friday night. You can almost imagine the sketch of the park on a barroom napkin, and the conversation he had with the guy next to him. "I'll build a big wall in left, just like Fenway, but I'll also put an almost impossible angle at the end of it where the wall juts back like 10 feet and players can get lost like in the Bermuda Triangle. And we need a hill, a big hill, in centerfield. But in play, so our centerfielders can blow their knees out chasing routine fly balls. And in the middle of the hill we should have a pole, an exposed pole, that can also be in play, and when balls hit off it they will be live. That'll be sweet. And then I'll encase the outfield in glass, creating awkward shadows and strange tricks with light and dark that will mess everyone up. I bet our players would LOVE to play 81 games a year in a place like that!"
I mean, I'm all for modern stadiums, but are you kidding me? A pole? Really? What's it's purpose. It can't be load-bearing (and if it is, I don't want to be anywhere near it). Is there a firestation upstairs? And then there's the hill. Who thought THAT was a good idea? I wish I could have been there the first time an Astros centerfielder wandered out to look at his new surroundings. I mean, I don't get it. If it doesn't enhance the look of the place, if it doesn't make things better for the fans, and if it might cause career-ending injury to anyone who ventures near it, why bother? If you want goofy stuff in your new stadium, put a pool in centerfield. It worked in Arizona. But let's not make centerfield look like a mini-golf hole.
Sort of makes you appreciate our beloved Fenway even more. It may be old, parts of it may be dirty, and there may be less leg room than a puddle-jumping airplane, but at least there isn't an obstacle course anywhere on the diamond.
Oops. As I write, Lester gave up two runs, got drilled by a line drive, and served up a homer to old pal Mark Loretta. Looks like its time to stop blogging and start paying attention again. Keep your fingers crossed for another comeback victory.
