The Foul Line Baseball Blog

I've resigned myself to the fact that Jerry Remy is going to be "elected" President of Red Sox Nation, but I don't have to like it. I guess I've never really understood the appeal of Jerry Remy. Sure, he's a career .275 hitter, with a whopping 7 career home runs, and he did make the all-star team in 1978. But this guy for President??

Remy was a non-factor as a player during his 7 years with Boston. Teams never had a game plan when they played Boston on how they could contain Remy. They were worried about guys like Yaz, Rice, Lynn and Fisk. How did this guy get so popular?

Maybe it's because he's so engaging doing his color commentary on NESN. I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of hearing "Buenos Tardes, Amigo" to begin every broadcast. Is "Remy" a Spanish last name? Could it mean disheveled chain smoker with a porno actor mustache by any chance? I can see NESN wanting to have an ex-player doing commentary. Who wouldn't want to add that insight to the broadcast? But maybe we could have got someone with either half a brain (Dwight Evans?) or at least a little character. Bill "Spaceman" Lee would be perfect. Of course Bill Lee would be hammered for every broadcast, but I think that would be part of the allure. At least he would have a reason for his incoherent babble.

Side note: I actually had the pleasure of meeting Bill Lee a few years ago during a Pro-Am golf tournament in Sarasota, Florida. He was playing in a foursome with Ozzie Smith and two guys I never heard of. My dad and I caught up with him on the second hole of the course, and he was already blasted. During the few minutes that we talked with him, he was more engaging and real then a season's worth of Jerry Remy.

Jerry, you can keep your awful Lumber Liquidators voiceovers and your unhealthy affection for Wally the Green Monster.

I'm voting for change in Red Sox Nation. The People have spoken...

Let me start off by saying I really like David Ortiz. He is the catalyst behind the Boston Red Sox success the past several seasons, but I am having a couple of problems with Big Papi this year.

First of all, I can appreciate Ortiz's career high batting average of .325, and both of his steals this year have been memorable, but I miss the old David Ortiz. The David Ortiz who was Mr. Clutch in the playoffs in 2004 and mashed 54 home runs in 2006. I want to see Big Papi spitting on his gloves and smacking dingers. The sight of Ortiz's 230 pounds stretching singles into doubles, reminds me of Chris Farley doing his "Flashdance" impression in Tommy Boy.

Now I understand that Ortiz has had injury problems this year, and pitchers aren't giving him much to hit, but the playoffs are right around the corner. The Sox don't need another .300 hitter, they need someone to step up and get the big home run.