The graphic says it all. 

Week 1 @ Arizona: 22 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD
Week 2 vs Miami: 29 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD
Week 3 vs Houston: 24 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD

Good for 1st in the NFL in rushing yards,  yards per game and tied for 1st in touchdowns. Decent month for a guy many Patriot fans wondered would even make the team. 

The one they call blount force trauma has seriously picked up his game the first three games of the season. Gotta give that O-line some love as well. As a former linemen I know nothing is possible without a solid offensive line. The Patriots inability to establish any sort of a run game was ultimately what led to their demise in 2015, so to see this to start off the 2016 campaign is very encouraging. I love Brady but you gotta be able to run the ball in the playoffs. 

With the revolving door at QB between injuries and suspensions LG stepped up to the plate and preceded to just pound the rock on some very solid defenses. Grown ass man football. 3 yard and a cloud of dust football. Brissett statically may have picked up the win against the Texans, but it was due in large part to LG's 105 yards and two trips to touchdown land.

​Nobody is ever going to get LeGarrette Blount confused with Jamaal Charles, he's a power back. He just wears defenses down. You're not going to be able to tackle him after a while. You may keep in check but then before you know it he's gonna take you to the house on a long run like he did against the Texans last Thursday. 

​But don't let the big man fool you...He's got some ups as well!!

Congratulations to LeGarrette on his AFC Player of the Month award. Don't be shocked if Bill doesn't dress him this week just to keep him in check. Never know what kind of head games that man is going to pull.

Yes I'm kidding, but at the same time you really never know with this team. 

​I could get really used to this though. Party like it's 1776 (except with freedom)

Let's start off on a positive note.

The 2016 Boston Red Sox ARE American League East Champions.

There will be playoff baseball in Boston for the first time since the magical 2013 run.

​We did not finish in last place again.

Unlike Mariano Rivera, or Derek Jeter: David Oritz' farewell tour final season will end in the postseason.

2016 American League East Champs.

Plus the Red Sox just had an 11 game winning streak, things are looking alright. But then the last two nights have happened. Two straight horrible losses to the Yankees. I know, I know baseball teams lose all the time, and they were due for a loss or two after such a hot streak, that's just law of averages. BUTTTTT the way the Red Sox have lost their last two games has really startled me as Red Sox fan. Especially with post season play beginning next week. 

It sucks, I should be wicked happy. The Red Sox just won the division. Only the 3rd time they've done it since 1996. I mean I am souped about that, don't get me wrong. It is just one game but man was it horrible timing.

Unlike all the players celebrating last night, I'm not too ready to start going crazy about this team. Let's not forget all the flaws they have that people had been talking about all season. In a perfect microcosm of this season the Red Sox bullpen blew what should have been a great win. In peak pre 2004 fashion Kimbrel and Kelly found an all-time way to spoil a good time last night. 

Side note, even though I'm heated at Kelly for being fake good, the biggest tease in pitching and giving up a walk off grand slam there's no denying this was a great tweet. A +. 

At the same time though, I feel like Joe Kelly is using the unjust MURDER of a great Gorilla, and care taker, (who was just trying to protect a child) so he would not get heat from Sox fans for giving up a walk-off grand slam. Not cool bro. Don't use Harambe to cover your flaws. 



​
​Briefly, before talking about last night I have to address Tuesday's game. The Red Sox had to win that game. Yankees are out of it. You have your "ace" on the hill. You've won 11 straight. Magic Number is 1. You gotta have that killer instinct and end it all that night. Don't mess around, you never know what can happen, we all remember 2011.

You brought David Price here to win that game. He's supposed to be your ace. You didn't pay him 217 million dollars to be a #3 starter.  I am actually a David Price guy. I don't hate his deal (yet) He's going to finish with an ERA just over 4 which is not something you want from your "ace" but he's really turned it on the second half of this season, despite his 6 earned run (including 3 BOMBS) performance Monday night. Maybe I'm upset because I was robbed of a chance to watch the Red Sox celebrate an AL East Title in person Monday night, but I'm really just worried about this team's pitching going into October. David Price has a track record of ending the season strong, then blowing it all in the playoffs, let's hope Tuesday was not a glimpse of things to come. 

Last night Clay Buchholz started again and was fantastic. 6 shut out innings, only 1 hit allowed. Pretty much all you can ask for out of a guy like Clay. No Clay bashing from me here. Just look at what he did for the Sox last night. Makes me very curious of what his role will be come postseason. ​Do you ride the hot hand?

Clay sure did hold it down.  

Craig Kimbrel did not. 

Nope, the Red Sox All-Star closer decided to walk 3 batters, and give up a hit to another. 4 batters faces, 4 reached base. Aka he record 0 outs. Idk how much you know about baseball (I would think a decent amount if you took the time to read this) but that's not exactly what you want from your closer.

The big knock against Kimbrel all year has been how ineffective he is in non-save situations. So my big question is since the Red Sox (and Kimbrel) knew they had clinched the AL East before the game was over (since the Blue Jays lost) that they got a little too ahead of themselves? Win or lose they still were division champs, so they decided to lose I guess? 

The knock against this team all year has been the bullpen. They have the hitting, and despite being held together with duct tape, they have the starting rotation (on paper) to compete in the post season. Everybody knew the bullpen had been TERRIBLE. There was a stretch in August where it felt like the Sox blew an 8th inning lead every night for like two straight weeks.

Ironically, in September the Sox bullpen was lights out. Literally. For the first 3 weeks of the month there was a combo of like 5 pitchers who had not allowed a run. Overall, I'd say our bullpen has pitched a lot better as of late, but come playoffs, against over 90+ win teams, it's going to be a rollercoaster. 

Kimbrel scares the shit out of me in the playoffs. When he's on,  he's really on. I mean he's had shades of  who was in Atlanta this season. But when he's off....holy shit, buckle up, because it's going to be a bumpy ride. He always is trying to paint that outside third to opposing hitters, but when he can't, he just keeps trying, and he keeps missing. Then before you know it he's walking everybody. He doesn't go after guys and it drives me insane because he is so nasty. 

That's pretty much what happened last night before he had to be pulled from the game before he even recorded an out. I can't stress enough how much that worries me. I do believe Kimbrel knew the Sox had already clinched the division and just wasn't in the game mentally. I mean that's been the biggest excuse for his ineffectiveness this season when pitching in non-save situations. That "the pressure wasn't there" and closers can't pitch in those situations. To me that's such fucking bull shit, it shouldn't matter, idc if I didn't play baseball, nothing is going to change my mind about that. Do your fucking job. 3-0 lead against the Yankees who going into the 9th only had 1 hit, win you are AL East Champs (even though you already were) and he just does nothing. 

So Kimbrel gets yanked and Joe Kelly gets two outs. It was shaky, but they were outs. It's 3-1 and the Red Sox are 1 out away from a win and a legit celebration then this happens.
​

I don't think I've seen a pitch more down the middle in my entire life. Just back breaking. Worst part was I knew it was coming, I have zero faith in Kelly in that spot. Those damn Yankees, even when they're dead they still find a way to ruin shit for the Red Sox. But tbh as much as it sucks Kelly gave it up, I almost don't even blame him. I mean it was 3-0 with Kimbrel going in, the game should be over. I don't think he was truly expecting to go into this game. I place most of the blame on Kimbrel, if he just did what he's supposed to do, this never happens. 


That grand slam is what lead to one of the strangest celebrations I've ever seen. What looked like a 3-0 win, turned into a 5-3 loss in the blink of an eye. Despite that they still clinched the division thanks to the Orioles coming back in the 9th to beat the Blue Jays. So it was champaign shower time. 

Papi had one message after the game. 

I guess if Papi says it then I'm cool with it. I just thought last night it was a really bad look by the Red Sox to start celebrating after that loss. I know the baseball season is a marathon not a sprint and they have accomplished a ton, just doesn't seem right to me to do that after a loss. It wasn't just a run of the mill L either. They gave up a walk off grand slam. Yes you made the playoffs and won the division, but the biggest weakness your team has was just broadcast in full display. Celebrating to me after that just doesn't seem right, it's like celebrating your anniversary with your spouse by getting divorced.  


​It started very subdued, like they wanted to party, but didn't wanna be the party starter, but once it started, it didn't stop. Shit was lit. That's not a player getting sprayed, it's the President of Baseball Operations.

Luckily, if the Red Sox are going to have another celebration it is going to have to be after a win. 

Despite how upset I was about last night and most of what I said in this blog, I am happy we won the division, that's step one. I really hope this cast of characters can find a way to have Big Papi call it a career with ring #4. 

I'll end with this...Let's Go Red Sox!!!!

Song: When the Tequila Runs Out
Artist: Dawes
Album: We're All Gonna Die

Song: WALLS
Artist: Kings of Leon 
​Album: WALLS

Absolutely horrible news to wake up to. Literally the first thing I saw and it's absolutely heartbreaking. Three men died in a boating accident around 3 am this morning in Miami, including Miami Marlins Ace Pitcher Jose Fernandez. 

RIP to Jose Fernandez and the two other men on the boat who's names have yet to be released.  During a press conference by Miami-area Coast Guard it was announced they were close friends to Jose. All 3 were under 27 years old, Jose was only 24. 

As a baseball fan it's horrible news, Jose was one of the brightest young pitching stars in all of baseball. To the average fan they may not have known who is because he was playing for the Marlins, but man this guy could really pitch. One of the top young pitching talents in the game. The dude just struck everybody out. Absolutely filthy. He was leading the NL in strikeouts per 9 innings this year. 2013 NL Rookie of the Year. Extremely promising career in front of him. Both he and Giancarlo Stanton were huge parts of the Marlins revival and getting people in Miami excited about this team.  Sad to see such a bright, young talent be taken away so tragically and suddenly. 

As a person, and especially as a 24 year old person, this really is hitting me harder than I would've ever expected. Seeing someone younger than you pass away always hurts, it's even worse when it's in an accident that could've been avoided. Everybody thinks they're just gonna die when they're old, but you obviously never know what is going to happen day to day. Everyday really is a blessing, you never know when it's going to be your last. I've been out on boats late at night too and you think nothing is going to happen to you. I was lucky enough to make it back, Jose and his friend were not. I'm not going to speculate whether or not alcohol was involved, and even if it was I'm not going to cast judgement. It's what people do, I've done it, you've probably done it too. People make mistakes, just really horrible news. Three men all under 27 years of are gone. That's the tragedy here.

Fernandez broke onto the scene in baseball in 2013, going 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA and 187 strikeouts. He was an all star and NL Rookie of the Year. After Tommy John surgery he missed most of the 2014 and 15 seasons but when he was able to pitch he still put up insane numbers. 2016 was Fernandez' first full season back after the injury and he was pitching extremely well, Jose was named an All Star again in 2016 and will most likely finish top 10 in the NL Cy Young voting. Jose was a team guy too, always had his guys backs, always there to cheer on a teammate as seen here in one of the more noteworthy reaction after a Giancarlo Stanton homer in 2013.

Jose Fernandez defected from Cuba at the age 15 in 2008 after 3 unsuccessful tries to make it to America. 3 charges of "being a traitor to Fidel Castro" after each failed attempt. The most telling story is that on his 4th try to make it to the U.S. someone was knocked overboard into the gulf. Jose just jumped in the water right away to save who fell in, just by human instinct. Had no idea who it was, just helped because it was the right thing to do.  The woman he risked his life to save happened to save was his own mother. Crazy story. It's obvious Jose Fernandez was a great guy, who was proud of where he came from, but also proud to be here in America, doing extremely well. He became an American Citizen last season, just a true story of perseverance and success as an immigrant in America in the 21st century. Very family oriented. It's sad and maybe messed up to say right now, but the loss of future wealth for his family in addition to Jose is devastating. 

In Miami, a city with the most Cubans in the world, outside of Cuba, he was beloved. 

What is even more tragedic is that Jose Fernandez' wife was expecting the couple's first child. Jose posted this on instragram only FIVE days ago. 

Really makes me sad to see this. Jose Fernandez was just 24 years old, with everything in front of him, and just like that it's gone. It sucks. It sucks for baseball, for the Marlins, for Miami, for Cuba and most importantly his friends and family.


RIP Jose Fernandez 
July 31, 1992- September 25, 2016

I think these uniforms are appropriating duck culture...


Just kidding about that, but tomorrow the Oregon Ducks will seriously be wearing uniforms that actually make the players look like Ducks when they take the field against the Colorado Buffaloes. If you are unaware, the University of Oregon is also the alma mater of Nike founder and former CEO Phil Knight. Oregon always has the best uniforms because of that. They also have an insane number of uniform combinations, like millions. There actually may be more possible Oregon uniform combos then there are powerball number and March Madness bracket combinations combined. I don't think Oregon has worn the same uniform twice in like 20 years. That probably isn't true but you'd believe it right?  I do and am going to start telling people that even if it's not true, what's the worst that could happen?


I absolutely love the look and think it's a pretty funny idea to have the duck legs in the uniform. My only question is what took so long? I feel like this is a perfect fit and something we need to see across all other sports. We need to see more teams truly embrace their mascots and start incorporating it into their uniform and lives in general. Have the Chicago Bears wear bearskin rugs as jackets on the sidelines when it's cold. Instead of hats, have everybody on the Kansas City Royals wear a Crown. Honestly how perfect would that have been as reigning World Series Champs? Make everybody on the Utah Jazz learn how to play a jazz instrument, (if I was there I'd call double bass) Let's have the Carolina Panthers wear cheetah uniforms, which is close enough to a Panther. Let's give the Dallas Cowboys guns and lassos...okay maybe something different but I think you get my point. 

I am not a lot of things, but one thing I am is an idea man and I think this new true mascot uniform campaign could really start taking off if given the chance. Just picture it now...

The 2013 Red Sox are my favorite champion of all the Boston sports championships post 2000. That may be a hot take but it's how I feel. 2004 was definitely more important but 2013 to me was extra special given the 2012 season and of course the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. The 2013 Red Sox were also full of characters, they had the whole beard thing going on as well, it was also my first Red Sox season as a 21 year old, I could go on for hours about that season but that's not what this post is about.


No in 2013 David Ortiz had one of the funnier moments of his career. Maybe it wasn't funny at the time, but it sure was awesome. If some of that phone case blinded Dustin Pedroia next to him it wouldn't have been funny but luckily that didn't happen.

After striking out against the Baltimore Orioles after he thought he had gotten ball 4 earlier in the at bat he took out his frustration on the dugout  phone to the bullpen. 

Even with his "This is our fucking city" speech, overall great season, and insane post season highlights, when I think of 2013 David Ortiz, this is one of the first images that comes to mind. Just a great baseball moment. I love seeing players react and do crazy shit. It's one of the best parts of baseball IMO. 


Anyways, with the final days of his career coming to a close, David has been getting the farewell treatment from other clubs across baseball. I usually hate the gifts that retiring players get as they are usually just a waste that the guy will never use, but this move by the Orioles is A+

I love this for many reasons. First off, it's not some boring cliche gift that all the other teams have been doing, Papi doesn't need bottles of wine or a surfboard. 

Nope, instead he gets this gag gift from the Orioles and I for one am all on board. You don't need to give a multimillionaire stupid shit that he'll never use. No, you need to give him the phone he smashed in your dugout. This is actually a hilarious move if it's the actual phone. Still don't know if I 100% believe they saved it for this, but if they did bravo.  Actually, if they smashed another phone to give to him that'd almost be even better. I just gotta know.

I just think this is good for baseball and if it can start a precedent across baseball to do goofy gag-gifts for retirement tours then I'm all in. The Red Sox and Orioles have had bad blood ever since the O's got good again. Plus technically until this sweep there was a pennant race going on. I don't want rivals being all buddy-buddy. I want troll jobs and this is an A+ troll job by the Orioles. Yeah we basically ended your AL East dreams this week, but thanks for the laugh. Have fun losing in the wild-card game. 



Oh and as we all know, this wasn't the last bullpen related incident for Papi in 2013.

When are these bums going to figure it out?

Honestly when will you guys learn?

I hate this cocky Pats fan dance we all do after games like this but honestly you deserve it, Houston.

You gotta beat the Patriots on the field, not online, not with gimmicks, and not with social media bullshit. We've been dominating the NFL since 2001 aka longer than you have existed. That's right, the Patriots have been on a reign of success since before the Houston Texans played their first game in the fall of 2002. 

I don't even hate the Texans as a team, I mean there are so many ex Patriots in their organization both on the field and off the field it'd be stupid too. Guys like Vrabel coaching, and Wilfork still playing. Literally 2 of my 5 favorite Patriots of all time.

Plus they aren't a real threat to the Patriots, and realistically never will be, I mean it's the Houston fucking Texans, come on. Brock Osweiler showed last night that he's a bum. They are not ready for prime time players who don't even deserve to be on the same field as the Patriots. Yet here they are again.


It all started in 2012, and honestly the Texans haven't been the same since.

​Let's take a trip back to 2012 shall we. The Houston Texans are 11-1. They are riding high and are having easily the best season in their franchise's brief history. They destroyed the eventual Super Bowl champion Ravens 43-13 earlier in the year and looked like they were going to a legit contender come playoff time. 



Then week 14 came.


The Texans had a Monday Night Football game against the Patriots. The old guys vs the new upstart Texans. It was a VERY hyped game. The Texans had just clinched the AFC South and at the time were the #1 seed  in the AFC. To celebrate they made some team Letterman Jackets and wore them as a team on the bus for their game against the Patriots.  

Fucking losers.




I can't believe there's no video online but I can vividly remember Connor Barwin (picture #98) talking about how they were going to be adding patches for winning the division, then the AFC, and Super Bowl. Make it a big tradition in Houston.






That did not happen. ​


This did. 

After the "Letterman Jacket game" the 2012 Houston Texans finished the year 1-3 to fell to 12-4. They lost out on a chance to have a first round bye, barley beat a bad Cincinnati team in the wildcard round. Then they came back to Gillette Stadium and lost to the Pats in the divisional round, 41-28. The game was not even as a close as the score would indicate. I would know, I was there. Pats were up 38-13 at one point.

Anyways the Patriots literally killed the Texans. Literally.

​Next season they started 2-0. They finished 2-14 and head coach Gary Kubiak lost his job. 

Patriots have beaten the Texans 4 times since the "letterman game"  a playoff game later that season, in 2013, 2015 and again last night. 

The Houston Texans official twitter posted this before the game. When are they going to learn??

Now obviously no coaches or players thought of this (I'd hope) and it was probably some poor kid that just runs their twitter who likely got fired.   But talk about bad timing. First off this is such a lame, basic tweet by an official NFL team twitter page. Who cares how you score first? All that matters is if you score, which the Texans did not do last night. Not even once. Focus more on play calling then which cool emoji you're gonna use, Texans.

Not only did the Texans get shut out, but they didn't even cross mid field until late in 3rd quarter. I might be wrong about exactly when it happened, but they played horribly. Tbh I don't even remember when they crossed midfield, I just know it was very late as I was having a few adult beverages watching the game at a bar with some friends. Yeah that's right, I have friends AND I drink, pretty cool and unique huh? And oh by the way, the Patriots were starting 3rd string QB Jacoby Brissett. Jacoby barely threw for 100 yards but it was more than enough to beat Houston.

The Texans have since deleted the tweet, which is probably the first right call they made all night since they couldn't figure out how to do anything right last night. 

Also what loser voted for a special teams touchdown first? They must of been really disappointed, and why does special teams get the rock on fingers? Still don't get that.


Final Score: Patriots 27 Texans 0


​P.S. Houston at least.. 

Double P.S. 

This is still the G.O.A.T. Houston pro sports team tweet that was later deleted (after they eliminated the Mavs in the 2015 playoffs)

My favorite middle school emo band is back!!!! Let's goooooo!!


Song: Death Wolf
Artist: Taking Back Sunday
Album: Tidal Wave

Also I saw TBS live at Lupo's 4 years ago for the 10 year anniversary of an album that came out in 2002. Now it is 14 years. Time is a bitch. Great show though. Lot of moshing, didn't partake, but some random chick tried to climb my back and get on my shoulders. Pretty rad stuff. 

Via: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/09/21/jacoby-brissett-doesnt-smoke-drink-or-like-to-fail-hes-perfect-for-the-patriots/


"For a 23-year-old newly imbued with national fame, Jacoby Brissett is a man of few vices. One of them is chocolate chip cookies, which in college he baked for his offensive linemen. He’s more likely to spend free time studying film than hanging on the town. The closest he comes to alcohol is talking with his high school coach, whose name is Jack Daniels. “He’s a guy that’s never had a drink, never had a smoke, never even thought about doing something like that,” Daniels said."

Now look, maaaaaaaybe this decision paid off for Jacoby since he's made it to the NFL, BUT I do not trust someone that young who doesn't drink. I still don't know if I entirely believe this story, but if it is true we all better watch out. If someone is 23 and doesn't drink it usually means there is something off about them. There are only 3 excuses a person can have for not drinking: they're pregnant, they're trying to lose weight, or they're a recovering alcoholic (aka a quitter). That's really it. I don't care if you have to work early, not a valid reason. I don't think Jacoby is with child or in bad shape, so what's his excuse? 

​
Like Bryan Cox said, every man needs a vice. 

This is just a big red flag to me as a Patriots fan. Now I know Jacoby isn't going to be the starter for very long but I do not like our chances. People who drink tend to improvise in their lives, and you need that skill in your QB. Things don't always go as planned during a night of heavy boozing and the same can be said on the field. You need to be quick on feet to react when something goes haywire. When you're shit faced you never know what may be coming next. Same thing as QB. 


If someone has NEVER drank it means they probably don't had fun friends. If you don't have fun friends, you're probably a loser. If you're probably a loser off the field, then more than likely, you're going to be a loser on it as well. It's just science.

Yeah I get it, he wants to be "healthy" but you know what isn't healthy? Being  a 23 year old who has never gotten drunk. Like do you have a single funny story from the last 5 years bro?  Do you know how much fun I've had in my life while drunk? All the fun I've ever had. Even Brady who is a health freak has a drink once in a while, plus I've heard a lot of stories of the antics TB12 used to get into so he knows how to have a good time. 

Obviously you don't want your quarterback to be Johnny Manziel but I do think this is a really weird thing. People who don't drink are just weirdos that I do not trust.


​Know who else didn't drink? 



​

Not exactly a guy you want to be associated with.

​I think if the Patriots want to have any chance against the Texans they need to take Jacoby out for a night on the town like the boys in Varsity Blues did with Mox. Only way to shake the nerves of your first career start.