Anybody Have Any DVDs?
The 2010 PawSox have a nice blend of good young prospects (Lars Anderson, Josh Reddick, Felix Doubront) and seasoned veterans (Boof Bonser, Scott Atchison, Chad Paronto) and an articulate and friendly manager in Torey Lovullo. For the most part, it’s a fun team to hang around.
But we desperately need to add somebody with a good DVD collection.
On Friday night after Pawtucket’s 3-2 loss in Norfolk, the team had a 3-hour bus ride to Durham. Just before we departed, trainer Jon Jochim asked, “Does anybody have any movies?”
Silence.
Jochim tried again, “Anybody have any movies?”
Crickets.
Finally, on J.J.’s third try, Chad Paronto chimed in, “Do I have to do everything on this team?”
To Chad’s credit, he has a collection of really good movies. All three Godfather flicks, Goodfellas, Raging Bull . . . we’re talking all-time classics. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had Vittorio DeSica’s “The Bicycle Thief” on DVD.
Unfortunately, I don’t know if he has anything that I haven’t seen at least 10 times.
Last night’s selection was Casino. Great direction by Scorsese . . . easily the best performance of Sharon Stone’s career . . . and who doesn’t love watching the violent brilliance of Joe Pesci.
I just wish I couldn’t recite the dialogue from memory.
So far on bus rides this year, movie selections have included Caddyshack and Rounders. Apparently, movies made in the last 10 years are not eligible for viewing.
The next time the PawSox add a player, the scouting report needs to include his DVD selections.
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It was great to walk into the clubhouse on Friday and see the familiar smiling face of Gil Velazquez.
(photos courtesy of Kelly O’Connor)
The 30-year-old infielder had been stuck at extended spring training camp in Ft. Myers after breaking his left thumb while diving into first base in a Red Sox exhibition game on March 16th.
Gil is thrilled to be back with the PawSox after enduring the drudgery of extended spring training. He described the routine as follows:
6:45 – wake-up.
7:15 – arrive at training complex.
8:00 – take the field for batting practice/workout.
11:00 – take a break/grab bite to eat
12:00 – play an exhibition game in front of no fans in hot Florida sun
4:00 – sleep
That’s the way it goes from Monday through Saturday. The players get Sunday off.
Gil was so happy to be back in uniform for a real game last night that he probably even enjoyed watching Casino.
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According to Sean McAdam of CSNNE, the Red Sox designed outfielder Jonathan Van Every for assignment after Boston’s loss to Philadelphia on Friday in order to open a roster spot for Jacoby Ellsbury.
Here’s what McAdam wrote:
Van Every, obtained earlier this season in a deal with Pittsburgh, is out of options. If he clears waivers, he’d likely accept an assignment to Pawtucket. The Sox have up to 10 days to determine whether to trade him or send him through waivers.
Ellsbury played in a game for Pawtucket this week, joining the lengthy list of big name stars who have rehabbed with the PawSox over the last few years.
I thought it might to be fun discuss a few of them with PawSox owner Ben Mondor who – in addition to being a great boss – is a fantastic storyteller.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (rehab stints in 2008, 2009 and 2010)
“I enjoy him tremendously contrary to our managers. You see, Daisuke has a habit of loading the bases or putting two men on and then striking out three men. That drives a manager crazy and I laugh my head off because I think it’s the most entertaining thing in baseball.”
Jason Varitek (rehab stint in 2006)
“A quiet man who does his business – a real pro. He did a heck of a job rehabbing because he was serious about getting back to the big leagues. He was a pleasure to have around.”
Curt Schilling (rehab stints in 2005 and 2007)
“Curt Schilling was in a world of his own. He was a veteran by the time he reached us on two rehabs. It was like a business deal when he was here – forget about the other guys and do what it takes to get him back to the big leagues. It was all business.”
Tim Wakefield (rehab stint in 2009)
“I wish he was my brother – that nice a guy. He was a really classy guy to have around. He set a good example for the other guys in the clubhouse and so forth. We were proud to have him here and I wish he would come back often.”
Manny Ramirez (rehab stint in 2002)
“My buddy Manny – he made baseball what it is for me. I could go on forever – Manny and I used to sit down and talk. He said, ‘Man, you don’t take this too seriously.’ I said, ‘Do you?’ and he said, ‘No.’ He did things a little bit out of the ordinary like the time we were playing a weekday game and around the 6th or 7th inning, when we took the field, we had no left fielder. So the manager is hollering, ‘Where the heck is Manny?’ They searched the clubhouse and couldn’t find him and finally the clubbie solved it – Manny had gone in uniform to a barbershop on Newport Avenue to get a haircut in the middle of the game. It didn’t bother him at all. I thought that was funny.”
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The PawSox will look to snap a 3-game losing streak as they open a series at Durham on Saturday night at 7:05.
I hope you’ll join us for radio coverage beginning at 6:50 on the PawSox radio network and pawsox.com.
And don’t forget “PawSox Insider” every Saturday afternoon from 2:00 to 3:00. If you don’t live in New England, you can listen to the show live on WHJJ’s website or find archived episodes at pawsox.com in the multimedia section.
I’d love to hear from you. The address is dhoard@pawsox.com.
And if you Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard
Heard It From Hoard 