Manny Wins!

By a twist of fate, we happened to have tickets to today's Dodgers game. Unlike many of our fellow visitors to Dodger Stadium today, our tickets were purchased long before the trade that brought the Dodgers their new left fielder, Mr. Manuel Aristedes Ramirez. Last week's trade made us all the more eager to attend; Tessie was too excited to sleep last night, so she napped on the way to the game.

Manny has done a lot in a short time to "energize the fan base" as they say. Before the trade, the Dodgers were hovering around .500 in a division (the NL West) that can charitably be described as mediocre. Since the arrival of the Dreadlocked One (who, incidentally, will be required to adhere to his new team's more conservative tonsorial policy, um, eventually), local media have been going nuts with "Manny sightings" around town and ticket sales have picked up dramatically. Manny was acquired during a ten-game homestand; the average attendance for the pre-Manny games was a respectable 41,344, but with Manny, the Dodgers have averaged 54,252. (Capacity is 56,000. Put another way, Dodger Stadium was 97% full all weekend.)

Manny did not disappoint. By the fifth inning he was 3-for-3, a triple short of the cycle. He finished the day 4-for-5 (although I think his fourth hit should have been an error on the Arizona third baseman), and the Dodgers won, 9-3, on a sweltering day at the ballpark.

For now, the fans are happy. "Manny being Manny" may have been an act in Boston all along; today we saw a focused player who ran out ground balls and alertly reacted to other batters whether he was in the field or on the basepaths.

As a Red Sox and Dodgers fan, I am conflicted. Manny was frustrated by his contract with Boston, specifically the two option years the Red Sox held at $20 million each, that could have kept him there until 2010. Instead of taking it out on his agent (you know, the guy actually responsible for creating that situation), he took it out on his team. I believe he tried to undermine his own value to the Red Sox, through a series of calculated actions, with the intent that they would find him unworthy of $20 million for next year. That would make Manny a free agent, free to negotiate and sign with any other team. Obviously, he thinks he'll get more than $20 million on the open market next year.

He may actually be worth more. He has amazing baseball skills, as he has demonstrated here over the last three days. But how can he be worth anything as a teammate when he has put his future paycheck ahead of his current team's success? After watching him today, I am convinced that he was holding back in Boston, and I am convinced they did the right thing in trading him. Manny joins a long list of player who left the Red Sox too early, but he left them no other choice.

Either that, or National League pitching just plain stinks.

Tessie knows none of this. She is simply happy to see her favorite player, even if she doesn't fully appreciate the mercenary characteristics that brought him here for her amusement. After the eighth inning, when got his fourth hit, he was replaced in left field by Juan Pierre. So Manny's day was done, as ours soon would be. Walking back to the car, we asked Tessie "Who won the game?"

"Manny won!" she replied.

Traded!

Manny Ramirez, the Red Sox' dreadlocked, baggy-pants left-fielding malcontent, has gotten his wish and been banished, er, traded, to the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Note: Not the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles, just the Los Angeles Dodgers. Period. See how that works, Arte Moreno?) The Red Sox may miss his powerful bat, but the man had worn out his welcome with his erratic defensive play, lackadaisical approach to running, criticism of management, and the frequent self-diagnosed ailments that would keep him from playing in important games.

He was an instrumental part of the 2004 and 2007 World Championship teams, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 World Series. It was the 2004 team in whose honor Tessie was named, so Manny's departure, though inevitable and probably the best thing for all concerned, brings a touch of sadness.

The sadness is compounded by the fact that Manny was Tessie's favorite player. She never expressed that sentiment as such, but it was obvious when watching games. The happy-go-lucky outfielder with the baggy pants and wild hair was immediately recognizable (although Tessie occasionally thought that similarly coiffed and complected Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero was also Manny), and Tessie would refer to all Red Sox players as "Manny" until she recognized them for themselves. Her first four-word sentence may actually have been "Manny hit home run!" The last time we watched the Red Sox, Manny did in fact hit a home run, much to Tessie's delight. She'll miss seeing him in a Red Sox uniform, I'm sure.

The good news is that he's joined our local team, and we'll be seeing him in his new uniform this weekend. Tessie is already looking forward to it.

Will return soon...

The move to Travels With Tessie World Headquarters has been dragging on a bit, hasn't it? Just yesterday, we (finally) got a new desk delivered and (mostly) set up the computer, so blogging activities will resume shortly.

When they do, we'll have plenty of material to post, as the last month and a half have been exceptionally busy. For now, though, I present the above photograph, taken after the Dodgers' 1-0 victory over the Angels on June 29th, in which the Dodgers prevailed despite the combined no-hitter hurled by Anaheim's (or is that Los Angeles of Anaheim's?) Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo.

So Tessie gets all the breaks: on her very short baseball fan resume, she's already got a Red Sox World Series Championship and a live, in-person no-hitter. I hope she appreciates that her father took much longer to witness the same feats.

Baseball Tessie

The Red Sox beat the Tigers tonight, 6-3, and hit three home runs in the process. After the game, Tessie and I watched highlights on MLB.com. (I think Big Papi is her favorite player.)

That's my girl!

Yesterday, when I came home from work, and after I collected my kiss from Tessie, she toddled over to the TV and asked, "Sox?"

I had to explain that the game was already over, but that the Red Sox did beat the Tigers that afternoon, 5-0. Then we contented ourselves by settling in to watch the Dodgers lose to the Diamondbacks.

Chavez Ravine

The Red Sox are in town this weekend for three exhibition games against the Dodgers, so we took Tessie to see the 2007 World Champions. She's been to two other baseball games already (and one in utero), but this was her first time seeing the team in whose honor she was named.

I certainly hope they'll do better next time: the Dodgers beat them, 3-1.

Even though the Red Sox have already begun their regular season with two games in Tokyo, these three games in L.A. are exhibition games, so it's a good thing this one didn't count. Nor will tomorrow's game, a throwback extravaganza to be held in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in front of 115,000 fans.

We decided to skip that one because, like so many other things in Los Angeles, the traffic and parking hassles are likely to more than cancel out any enjoyment of the actual event.

So we went tonight to Dodger Stadium, in Chavez Ravine, just north of downtown Los Angeles. A much sparser crowd of only 34,404 was in attendance, making the experience more pleasurable and giving Tessie plenty of room to roam and make new friends.

We left after the seventh inning stretch, which is normally something we would never do, but the game was late and we wanted to get Tessie home before it got too far past her bed time. Besides, the Red Sox left the game long before we did - all of the starters had been replaced by the seventh inning by what one of the Dodger announcers called the "Witness Protection Lineup."

Since it wasn't the same team, we broke with tradition and left before the final out. We actually even arrived home before the final out, which we saw on TV.

Tessie didn't get to see the Sox win, but she did make it to the seventh inning stretch:

The Best Part

I admit it. I despaired. After predicting and then watching super-closer turned super-goat Eric Gagne blow yet another save back in August, I lost all hope that the Sox would even reach the post-season, let alone win the Series. I despaired for Tessie, fearing that I had somehow revived the Curse, and that she would resent me forever for naming her in honor of the 2004 Curse-breaking Sox and "that damn 'Tessie' song."

As I lay on the couch that night, gasping for breath (I was hyperventilating - really), I worried that Tessie would face ridicule or disparagement because of her misguided father's moronic idea to name her in honor of a bunch of guys neither one of them would ever meet. I seriously contemplated changing her name.

The Red Sox did manage to hang on to just enough of their early season lead - it's a marathon, not a sprint, the saying goes - and they advanced to the postseason, sweeping the Angels, bouncing back from the brink of elimination against the Indians, and then sweeping the Rockies to win it all. Tessie has now witnessed in her first full season what it took me 37 years to see, and what many fans never saw - the Red Sox as World Champions.

So what was the best part? The victory itself? No. As great as it feels to have watched, cheered on and encouraged a team to an eventual championship, I do realize that this has a rather limited effect on my life, as my cheering, I'm sure, had a limited effect on the Red Sox.

The feeling that this is only the beginning? No, again. While a Red Sox 'Dynasty' may in fact be in the works, and there is reason for great optimism in Red Sox Nation, anything can happen. Injuries, misguided trades, bad calls - all can conspire to crush a season. I am grateful for 2004, of course, and now 2007. Next year is next year, and anything can happen.

Vindication for Tessie's name? No, not that either. Dark as the depths to which I sank in August were, I did eventually realize that a name is just a name. She can make of it what she will. She may, in time, choose to be called 'Teresa,' or 'Terri,' or even by her middle name, Caroline. (Yes, Caroline, as in 'Sweet Caroline,' as in sung at Fenway in the eighth inning. When I lay it on, I lay it on thick. I'm still surprised Hannah let me get away with this.) She's got options. If she wants to keep her Red Sox fanhood a secret, instead of wearing it on her sleeve and her driver's license, she may. (She may not, however, switch allegiances to the Yankees. Ever. Under any circumstances. Tessie, do you understand?)

Avoiding my worst nightmare? Not quite. In true, pessimistic Red Sox fan fashion, in the back of my mind I held a bit of dread that the Red Sox would win the the first three games of the best-of-seven World Series and then lose the next four. This sprang from the 2004 ALCS, in which the Red Sox did precisely that, recovering from losing the first three games to win the next four and advance to the World Series at the Yankees' expense, bestowing the title of "Greatest Choke of All-Time" on the Bronx Bummers. If the Sox managed to unravel, the New-Yawk-accent-inflected catcalls would have been deafening, and undeniable. So, while relief and joy compete for preeminence in my baseball-obsessed psyche, I never really felt that such a collapse was in the offing.

Dancing around the room with Tessie in my arms after Jonathan Papelbon struck Seth Smith out swinging to end the game and win the World Series? That was pretty sweet, as were Tessie's final Victory Tosses. (Possibly her final Victory Tosses ever, as I expect her to have put on enough weight by next season that hefting her up over my head will be out of the question.) Her delight, uncomprehending though it (probably) was, enhanced my joy. She giggled, applauded, cooed and babbled, all with a grin as wide as it could have been.

The best part came earlier in Game Four. I had settled in on the couch to watch, and Tessie came toddling by (she is a toddler, after all), and plopped her stuffed bear down in a seated position next to me. Before she backed away, she leaned in and gave him a hug and a little peck. My response? Jealousy, of course; I had yet to receive one of my daughter's kisses. "What's this?" I said, "Mr. Bear gets smoochies and I don't?" I leaned over, and she did in fact give me a kiss before toddling away again. That was it. First one ever. While Jon Lester was striking out Troy Tulowitzki in the bottom of the third inning. Ahhh.

That was the best part of the World Series.

Tessie's Newest Stunt

I only managed to catch the last cycle on video, but Tessie ran through this particular feat of climbing skill about a dozen times. (Climb the chair, sit up, grab table, slide off chair, repeat.)

Meanwhile, we've been having an exciting time watching baseball. After every Red Sox win, Tessie gets tossed in the air. (Don't worry - I never fully let go and she really, really likes it!) She gets one toss for every run the Sox scored, plus one for every home run they hit. I still owe her the tosses from last night's victory in ALCS Game Seven: eleven runs scored + Pedroia's home run + Youkilis' home run = 13 tosses! Earlier in the season I was also adding a toss for every consecutive Yankee loss, but they seem to have stopped playing...

We may have to end this particular tradition this year, though: she's getting a little too big for me to be tossing her so many times. Hopefully, we'll get four more opportunities this season, and then we'll have to come up with something new next year.

On to the World Series!

The Division

Tessie, in her first full season as a Red Sox fan, has now seen them claim the title of American League Eastern Division Champions. After the Sox won last night to reduce their magic number to one, the Yankees blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning, then lost on a two-out, bases-loaded bunt in the 10th. Much rejoicing followed. Tessie and I danced around the room (o.k., I did the dancing; Tessie just hung on for dear life), while Hannah sat back, temporarily relieved to know that any subsequent emotional breakdowns on my part are at least a full week away.

YANKS SIGN WILLIAMS

NEW YORK - After an underwhelming start to the season which saw the Yankees fall as many as 11 games behind their arch-rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the AL East standings, the Yankees have again pulled out their checkbooks to lure another aging superstar from retirement: Ted Williams. This latest blockbuster signing comes as the Yankees welcome the Red Sox to Yankee Stadium tonight for a three game, must-win series. Having previously lured Roger Clemens, age 44, from semi-retirement with the promise of a big paycheck, the Yankees pursued a similar strategy in bringing Williams, 83 at the time of his death, to the Bronx.

Williams spent 19 seasons in a Red Sox uniform before retiring in 1960, and dying in 2002. He compiled Hall of Fame statistics: 17 all star game selections, 521 home runs, a .344 career batting average, and two American league Triple Crowns. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, in making the announcement, said, "I expect this will be a controversial signing, but the fact is Ted will bring a level of dynamism and leadership that's been missing from our clubhouse."

The headless, cryogenically preserved corpse of "Teddy Ballgame" will start out as a designated hitter. Current Yankees DH Jason Giambi could not be reached for comment, but his agent, Arn Tellem, said, "Jason's productivity has fallen off a bit since he got off the 'juice,' but I expect this is only a temporary situation. Eventually, medical science will develop an untraceable performance enhancing drug, and Jason will bounce right back."

Yankee Manager Joe Torre echoed Cashman's sentiments, saying "Teddy will fit right in in this clubhouse. There are a lot of guys here who've been around a while and know what it takes to get it done. Ted's had a full life and will fit right in. He'll make all the other guys feel younger and more alive."

Terms of the agreement were not released, but a confidential source within the Yankee organization reports that Williams' contract includes provisions for ongoing cryogenic support between games, and travel separate from the rest of the team in an ice cream truck. His contract also specifies that the Yankee team doctor be a specialist in geriatrics; given the average age of the current Yankee roster, this condition has already been met. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has been undergoing cryogenic suspension treatments in the off-season, in what family members describe as a desperate and pathetic attempt to prolong his life enough to witness another Yankee championship. It is believed that Steinbrenner and Williams met in the same cryonics facility in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Williams will report to the Yankees' training camp in Tampa for extended defrosting before making his return to the major leagues some time next month. Cashman added: "This guy is one of the all-time greats, there's no disputing that. Sure, he's a little past his prime, being dead and all, but at least he's not getting any older. There's no other player in either league who can make that claim."

Yahoos at Yahoo!

A post I initially made to a Yahoo! sports message board in response to George Steinbrenner's announcement that Roger Clemens would return to the Yankees:

A short history lesson, for those who may be interested:

As World War Two went on, and it became increasingy apparent that Nazi Germany would not win, Adolf Hitler sank further into madness and insanity. He began to promise new 'wonder weapons' that would change the course of the war and bring victory to the Thousand Year Reich. Among these weapons was the V-2 rocket, the Vergeltungswaffe-2 (Vengeance Weapon #2). Many of these rockets were launched against London and other cities in England, and they did cause death and destruction, but they were ineffective in turning the tide of the war. As we all know, the Nazis lost, and Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker as Russian troops closed in on him.

Now look who is promising a wonder weapon, a 'Rocket' in fact, to turn the tide.

Who says history doesn't repeat itself?

And Yahoo!'s overreaction:

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It has come to our attention that you may have violated the TOS(http://www.yahoo.com/r/ts) on Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/).Please reread the TOS and cease any use of your account that may violate the TOS.

If your use of your Yahoo! account is brought to our attention again,and we believe that such use violates the TOS, then we may terminate your account without further notice.

Please do not reply to this email. Any questions concerning Yahoo!'sServices should be submitted through the on-line form in the help area( http://help.yahoo.com/).

-Yahoo!

Yahoo also expunged every single post I had made.

Well, it couldn't have happened to a more appropriate bunch of guys...

From Yahoo! Sports:

The headline is funny, but the photo makes it hilarious.