Sports 07-07-2016

From The Press Box

On Second Thought

By Jim Lederman

Hanley Ramirez is a lifetime .400 hitter vs. the Texas Rangers in Texas.

Clay Buchholz was brought up in Texas and has never won a game vs. the Texas Rangers in their stadium. – Time has run out for the career of Clay at Fenway!

When Ben Cherington, former Red Sox GM left Fenway Park, he left the Sox with a $195 million dollar ‘payroll disaster”! How about Pablo Sandoval, Rick Porcello, Allen Craig, Rusney Castillo (a $75 million dollar bust). The Sox paid the 28-year old a contract that was the worst in Sox history!

The “Ace” – the $31 million a year – David Price has allowed 15-home runs this year.

Will manager John Farrell last through the month of July? Or will President Dave make a big trade.

Will the 2016 Vikings play their home games at East Boston Stadium? When will construction start?

Will the Boston Celtics sign a free agent this summer? Kevin Durant wants to win a World Championship.

Don Sweeney – Bruins General Manager – If they fail to make the 2017 NHL playoffs, will he follow the previous GM – Peter Chiarelli and get fired?

Did you see the two leading pitchers on the Chicago Cubs – Jon Lester (9-3) and John Lackey (9-4)? Why can’t the Red Sox get pitchers like that? (They gave the money to Pablo Sandoval and Rusney Castillo!)

I hope the Red Sox keep Travis Shaw as their third baseman.

How much longer until the Winthrop Vikings open the 2016 season?

I drove by HDR (Harry Della Russo Stadium) in Revere last week – we will crush the Revere Patriots on ‘Turkey Day’ – November 2016!

I had season tickets to the 1986 Boston Celtics – (40-1) at home. The Celts h ad 5 – yes five Hall of Fame players – Dennis Johnson (DJ) would shut down Seth Curry and the ‘big three’ (Bird, Parrish and McHale) would dominate in the paint!

Today is my daughter Liz’s birthday – I will always remember the 7^th of July!

The Orioles have two potential home run champions – Trumbo and Davis – they have a solid pitching staff. The Red Sox – they have four all-star players. The al-star game is a week away – three more months of baseball.

The 2016 Winthrop Vikings home schedule – Medfield, Salem, Gloucester and Swampscott, potential MIAA playoff games! Will the Vikings play at Miller Field or at East Boston Stadium? While the construction of a new stadium is under work? A story will follow next week!

A new six-lane track and competition in the shot put and discus – I left out ex-WHS standouts in the shot put – Peter and the late Randy Herdt and David Davis. How about Dana Stone and Susan Goldstein? Track meets and lacrosse at the ‘new’ Miller Field – 2017 could be an exciting year!

The New England Patriots start practice July 27^th. Who w ill be the quarterback – Tom Brady or number 10 Jimmy G? Football return in July – will deflate gate ever end?

July is vacation month – We are planning our annual trip to Ogunquit, Maine. 67 miles from Winthrop – Ogunquit Beach is the one of the top ten beaches in New England – seven miles of a sandy beach – no rocks – (Ogunquit to Wells Beach) have you been to Plum Island? We visited the beach last weekend! How about a trip to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester?

The Boston Celtics draft was disappointing – Will they sign a ‘top’ free agent?

They need scoring – two victories in the playoffs is not a big improvement.

Last Thursday night   was the Agganis football all-star game at Manning Field. I missed my first game in many years – the Vikings did not have a player – the 2017 game will have three Viking all-stars, two ex-Viking all-scholastics – Anthony ‘touchdown Tony’ Palmer and Anthony Fucillo had MVP performances in winning games.

Take a trip up 93-North to Lake Winnipesauke, Weirs Beach with the rides, arcades and train. Stay at my favorite place, the Inns in Meredith – a ride on the MV Mt. Washington – who needs the traffic to Cape Cod? If you have not taken a trip to Maine or New Hampshire – this is vacation month!

T.V. Headlines in sports on Monday morning!
Another rough start for Clay Buchholtz, five innings    hits     runs. The Sox pay him $13.5 million. Let’s trade him or release him! Another Buchholz clunker

Coach Sean Driscoll just ran by me. Have you seen him? He looks great – getting in shape for football! I hope his team is working just as hard. 45- more days until Vikings practice!

Three big ‘defensive line man” – Did you seen Prince Fielder hit a home run off Clay B. for Texas? He must weigh (285), he joins Pablo Sandoval (265) and ex-Patriots Hall of Fame Vince Wilfork (355?) as the starting defense for the Houston Texans – How long before football starts!

Gronk Report

Keeping track with number 87 Rob Gronkowski is exhausting! When number 87 did not participate in the Patriots first ‘OTA’ – his fans were concerned.

The Boston Herald ‘inside track’ – had a Memorial Day report – The Gronkster and his gal pal Camille Kostek, spent the weekend up at ‘Lake Winni” – Lake Winnipesauke, boating at the lake.

The trip of Rte. 93-North is two hours – take the Tilton exit – plenty to do at Weirs Beach and have diner in Meredith. The lake is warm! – July is vacation month! Enjoy the holiday Fourth of July – Fireworks in Winthrop – thanks to Fire Chief Paul Flanagan – Congrats Chief!

Let the Weekend Begin!