Baseball is an odd business

Last night, the Red Sox played an exhibition game against the Puerto Rican National Team. You need to keep in mind that all the national teams going into the World Baseball Classic are basically made up of MLB players. That means that the major league teams, like the Red Sox, are currently made up of minor leaguer players and prospects while the national teams are made up of actual veteran playerss.

As to be expected, the Red Sox lost their game but since it was an exhibition, it doesn't matter.

It turns out that it doesn't even matter who you were playing for duing the game because at one point in the game, the Red Sox sent one of their players across the diamond to play for Team Puerto Rico. He actualy pitched for them against the Red Sox, his own team.

That's right folks, the guy you see in red standing on the mound is Red Sox prospect Erik Rivera who up until yesterday evening was assigned to the Red Sox affiliate Greenville Drive. Then, at some point in the evening, the Red Sox announced that he was now assigned to the Puerto Rican National Team and he went out to pitch. I have no idea if he is still assinged to Puerto Rico or if he is once again assigned to Greenville.

Baseball is a weird sport and I really like it.

As for today, not only did the Red Sox lose 4-0 to the Yankees, I had to listen to those idiots on ESPN. Since when did ESPN start covering spring training games?

Regarding the game itself, Crochet did okay but not great. He seemed a little off so Cora pulled him in the 3^rd inning for a break and then put him back in the 4^th to get him to 53 pitches. He faced 11 batters, struck out 3 and gave up 3 earned runs.

One high note for the Red Sox was Tolle. He came in in relief and threw 3 really good innings, facing 10 batters, striking out 7 and giving up 0 runs.

Their next game is tomorrow against the Phillies and there is no tv coverage. Guess I'll be listening to the game on WEEI.

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The Bruins held their own last night and managed to squeak past the Penguins, winning the game 2-1 in regulation and picking up the two points.

This still leaves them in the second wildcard slot but now the closest team to them is three points away.

Their next game is tomorrow against the Predators. Puck drops at 8:00pm

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Because I made a trip to Boston last week, my gas tank was below a half full. So on Friday, I ran over to BJ's and filled my tank for $2.49 per gallon.

Yesterday I noticed that it's up to $2.59 per gallon.

I didn't drive by there today so I have no idea what it is up to currently but I can tell you that according to Gas Buddy, the cost of a gallon of gasoline at most gas stations in my area is between $2.80 and $3.10 per gallon which is slightly more than what it's been for the last year.

I guess what I'm saying is the news media keeps telling me that gas prices are going through the roof because of the attack on Iran but I'm not really seeing it.

This is another case of fear mongering by the news. It ranks right up there with the national news starting their broadcast with, "Millions in the path of a a winter storm!" like it's the end of the world.

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Here are some links:

• It's tough to shoot down those little drones.



• This might be the right move. He can play football but he's a bit of a problem off the field.



• Apparently someone is blowing up the weed in New Jersey.



• If I rent a car, I can take my EZPass transonder off my car and use it on the rental. How am I going to do that with a sticker?

The Beast is no longer

This afternoon a young man who has a side gig collecting old machines and either rebuilding them or scraping them, took The Beast. I asked him if he intended to rebuild it because I have the owners manuals for the machine and its engine. He said he was planning on giving the engine to a friend who had a log splitter with a destroyed engine and scrap the rest of the machine for its steel value.

So now I once again have plenty of room in my garage and no worries about what to do with the old machine.

As he was leaving he told me that if I had anything else in the future to call him. I told him I had an ancient push mower that I probably would be replacing in the near future and he said, "Give me a call. Those old mowing decks are worth some good money."

If I replace my mower this spring, I'll give him a call..

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Looks like The Very Stable Genius and his minions have entered the 'shut it all down' stage of US diplomacy.

Is it possible that this entire military action is just a way distract everyone from the Epstein files?

Just asking...

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This evening will be a baseball and hockey kind of night.

Red Sox are up first at 6:05 when they take on Team Puerto Rico.

This is followed by the Bruins taking on the Penguins at 7:00.

Yes, I will be switching back and forth between them.

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Here are some links:

• He does kinda look like a crack head...



• I'm I the only one that thinks this is a bad idea?



• I'm one of those people who "...may find the humour..."

Interesting baseball game

The Red Sox lineup this afternoon consisted mostly of guys that I've never really heard of.

Fielders named Matt Thaiss, Vinny Capra and Mason White. Pitchers named Ryan Watson, Michael Sansone and Patrick Halligan.

Even with most of their regular players off to the World Baseball Classic, the Red Sox still managed to hold off the Blue Jays, winning the game 7-6.

Tomorrow they will take on Team Puerto Rico. First pitch is at 6:05 and the game will be carried by NESN+

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I read this story and the first thought that crossed my mind was that famous scene from the movie Mr. Mom

I'm trying my best to stand by my initial belief that it was about time we decided to kick Iran's ass. They have caused nothing but pain and suffering for not only their own citizens but for people all over the world. They are the primary support for almost every terrorist organization on the planet.

But I'm finding it difficult simply because I don't think The Very Stable Genius has an endgame for his war. He keeps telling the Iranian people to "rise up and take control!" which is a recipe for disaster if ever I heard one. The last time the Iranians rose up and took control, they ended up with the religious fanatics.

There is nothing about this war that makes me think it will go any differently than the war in Iraq or the war in Afghanistan. In other words, we will probably be mired in another 10 year war against an enemy that doesn't care if he lives or dies because he is convinced that his invisible friend will have a bunch of virgins waiting for him in the afterlife.

In my tiny brain, this looks like a long shit-covered road that leads to the worlds largest septic tank and we are marching straight down the middle of it. Personally, I expect that we will probably see attacks on American soil. I'm thinking it might be time to stock up on ammo...

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Several days ago I did something I have never done before - I listed a television for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

I hate trying to "sell" my old stuff. It's a pain my ass and I always feel like I might be taking advantage of some poor guy who can't afford to buy a new tv so he's settling for tv that he hopes will work longer than a few days.

Turns out no one wanted it. Hell, as far as I know, no one even looked at it. So I took it to a charitable resale organization and gave it to them. I may not have gotten anything for it but it is no longer sitting in my living room taking up space and maybe the charity will make a few bucks.

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Here are some links:

• In all honesty, he's not wrong.



• The apple does not fall far from the tree.



• Oh Canada.

Gas is gonna get expensive

Someone, either Iran or one of the many terrorist organizations funded by Iran, has attacked oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. This means we will see oil prices, and gasoline prices, go up.

Also, several US service members were killed in an explosion. There is no information about what caused the explosion. It could be an Iranian missle or drone, it could be a suicide bomber or it could be friendly fire. I feel bad for their families and friends.

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The Red Sox blew a commanding lead over the Orioles and ended up losing today's game 8-7.

They were up 6-1 through 4 innings. Then, in the 5^th and 6^th innings, the Orioles came to life and ran up a quick 7 runs to the Red Sox 1 run, giving them the 8-7 lead. And that was how the game ended.

Tomorrow they take on the Blue Jays and NESN will carry the game. First pitch is at 1:05pm.

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Pat sent me an email telling me I wasn't getting what I was paying for. He was talking about my internet speed and, technicallyspeaking, he is correct. My ISP advertises speeds at 400mbps and the image I showed had me at only 310mbps.

If I had used the speed test my ISP wants me to use, I'm sure I would have gotten better results but I don't use their speed test. I use a speed test that Netflix created a few years ago called FAST that uses servers in Chicago. I figure it gives me a true picture of what my internet speeds are, not what the speeds are on my ISPs local network.

So anyways, I did a quick test again this afternoon and these are the results:

I'm getting what I pay for.

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Here are some links:

• Am I reading this right? Did they actually send in a SWAT team for a guy with a box of ammo?



• Looks like even Iranian ex-presidents aren't safe...



• Key sign in this story: "Try another one. This parking spot will cost you two flat tires."

I can back out of my driveway now

After the last storm, I ended up with a mound of snow at the end of my driveway that was at about 5½ feet tall.

Yesterday as I was backing out, I realized I had no idea if one of my neighbors was coming down the road and I might back into them.

Today I went out with two shovels, a ice chopper and my old snowblower in an attempt to knock down at least half the height of the mound. I didn't want to use my new snowblower because the snow was hard. Not quite ice but really close to being ice. It's what I call glaciated snow.

It took me more than an hour but this is thre result:

I can once again see if I am about to back into someone.

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The Very Stable Genius launched his new war last night and, so far, it seems to be going his way. I hope it stays that way.

Look, when the Iranian student revolution took place in the 70s and they overthrew the Shah, no one thought it turn Iran into the absolute shithole that it became. It turned out that way simply because the students believed the ayatollah was on their side and he was the right guy for the job. What they failed to recognize is that the ayatollah was a religious fanatic who had his own agenda.

So for the last 50 years, the Iranians have been under the thumb of a series of religious nutcases who think murdering woman by hanging them from a construction crane is a good thing. And not only have the religious fanatics been awful for the Iranian people, they have also fomented religious fanaticism throught the world. They are the driving force behind such wonderful organizations as hezbollah, hamas, the houthi's, the palestinian islamic jihad (PIJ) as well as various Syrian militias. They also supply Russia with a lot of the drones used against Ukraine during Psycho Vlad's "special military operation".

In other words, the Iranian government has been the worst thing on the planet and have caused most of the worlds problems.

In my opinion, it's about time we did something about them. I just hope that the US military doesn't experience large scale injury/death.

I also hope that whatever government arises to fill the void in Iran isn't even more evil than the nutcases that have been there for the last 50 years but I don't think it's going to end well for them.

Oh, and get ready for all the previously mentioned terrorist groups to start attacking everyone they feel is involved. Hell, the houthi's have already threatened to blow up any ship passing through the Strait's of Hormuz

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The Bruins could not overcome the Flyers and they lost 3-1 this afternoon.

They are currently in the second wildcard slot, only two points ahead of the Capitals.

Their next game is Tuesday, March 3rd, when they take on the Penguins. Puck drops at7:00pm

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The Red Sox beat the Twins this afternoon, winning 13-8.

Grey threw a shakey start, facing 8 batters over 1⅓ innings, striking out 1 while giving up 2 earned runs and walking 2.

Duran is swinging a hot bat and he managed two home runs.

Their next game is tomorrow against the Orioles. First pitch is at 1:05pm and the game will be carried by NESN

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Here are some links:

• This is Massachusetts, one of the most corrupt state governments in the nation, and I know that somehow or another, this is going to cost me money.



• Make America Healthy Again...



• For those of you looking to downsize.