The Over The Monster Podcast - Episode 22 - The Positivity Episode

by Matthew Kory on Sep 23, 2011 10:00 AM EDT in Podcasts

With just six games to go and two teams breathing down their throats, the Red Sox enter a must win period of the schedule. Today on the podcast, Chad Finn of the Boston Globe, joins Marc, Matt, and the rest of the podcast crew, including Tommy the helper monkey, Ralph the Rat, and Potty the Happy Commode of Death to dissect the nasty situation the Red Sox find themselves in.

Then, after yet another unfortunate and entirely unforeseeable potty-related death (RIP Tommy the Helper Monkey) they turn their attention to Carl Crawfordit. That's the jumping off point to look at some of the more unlikely events that have conspired to put the Sox in this unenviable situation. They also talk some John Lackey, and the pitching staff in general. Then they try to wrap things up with what has been going right for the Sox and the team's chances of success in the regular and, should they make it that far, post season.

All in all, it's a not too pessimistic 22nd episode of the Over The Monster podcast!

You can subscribe to and/or download the podcast at iTunes and/or listen and/or download at our hosting site, Podomatic. PLEASE email us with questions, ideas, insults, compliments, complaints, and any drywall installation tips at OTMPodcast@gmail.com. Thanks as always to Kahoots for the music, many thanks to Chad Finn for re-jiggering his phone to talk with us, and of course thanks to you for listening.

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there is absolutely nothing to be positive about

with this team right now.

the 2011 Red Sox have turned into shit

by gizmosandy on Sep 23, 2011 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

Well that just isn't right.

Are they leading in the Wild Card? Are they probably a playoff team?

Writer at Over The Monster. Follow me on Twitter! It'll be super awesome fun! @mattymatty2000

by Matthew Kory on Sep 23, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Please-save the attempted humor for the content in your articles, not the responses.

Who can take your comment seriously?

I’m certainly not going to argue with you about it, but the facts are the facts. They are holding on for dear life, that wild card lead is not a result of anything they have done this month.

This team is playing like shit right now. If they get into the playoffs, they do so backing in. They do not deserve the playoffs based on how they played this past month.

The season is 6 months long, not 5, they have not shown up for the final month.
I will not get excited for a team that is “probably” a playoff team, that should have been a lock to get in.

I want them to win, but the way they are playing is embarassing. People that get upset when fans of the team are negative are just riding a high horse.

This month

The bullpen has sucked
The starting pitching has sucked
The offense has pretty much sucked, and the numbers are inflated by a couple blow outs.

positive my ass

the 2011 Red Sox have turned into shit

by gizmosandy on Sep 23, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Good thing they don't award playoff spots based on September records, yeah?

You said it yourself. The season is six months long.

Twitter: @Marc_Normandin

by Marc Normandin on Sep 23, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure I understand how that translates to being positive based on whats happening RIGHT NOW

with this team.

the 2011 Red Sox have turned into shit

by gizmosandy on Sep 23, 2011 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

The comment you responded to is actually

a comment steeped in denial, since the best predictor of how we will play over the next 6 is our recent performance, and not our record in June when we actually had healthy starters and a good bullpen. The team that played in June isn’t available now.

But hey, Baseball Prospectus says we have an 88% chance of making the playoffs. Better still, even though the Rays won last night, BP says our odds went up yesterday and the Ray’s went down!

by flasoxfan on Sep 23, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

If I recall correctly,

September performance is, historically, not a particularly strong predictor of playoff performance.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Sep 23, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Ant that is relevant

for a team with two healthy starters in what way?

I calculate either a 48% chance or a 35.4% chance that the Rays will catch us.

See my post why.

by flasoxfan on Sep 23, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that’s because at this point, every day they don’t catch us, we gain more probability of holding the wildcard. The value of one day, is apparently at this point, more valuable than a .5 game gain on us, that’s why the numbers shifted further in our favor. The Rays are running out of time.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Sep 23, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Longest Sandy post ever, by leaps and bounds

by Sean O on Sep 23, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Frustration towards the team and some of the stuff that gets written for this site.

the 2011 Red Sox have turned into shit

by gizmosandy on Sep 23, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

All the players are horrible spoiled babies who try too hard and don’t care, the two time world series winning front office is full of incompetent boobs who wouldn’t know a starting pitcher if they had eight or nine of them. Everything is horrible, everyone sucks.

Is that what you want to read? First off, it’s wrong, but second, it’s just not very interesting. Baseball is fortunately more nuanced than that.

Assuming that first paragraph isn’t what you want, what do you want? You’re frustrated with the coverage here? I’d honestly like to help. What do you want to read about?

Writer at Over The Monster. Follow me on Twitter! It'll be super awesome fun! @mattymatty2000

by Matthew Kory on Sep 23, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not going to argue with you.

But I’d be willing to bet more agree with me than disagree.

Have a good day.

the 2011 Red Sox have turned into shit

by gizmosandy on Sep 23, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not trying to argue with you or anyone.

I’m sorry you think I’m trying to be combative. That isn’t my intent.

Writer at Over The Monster. Follow me on Twitter! It'll be super awesome fun! @mattymatty2000

by Matthew Kory on Sep 23, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah. How could this be construed as "combative"?

All the players are horrible spoiled babies who try too hard and don’t care, the two time world series winning front office is full of incompetent boobs who wouldn’t know a starting pitcher if they had eight or nine of them. Everything is horrible, everyone sucks.

Seriously? What is your “intent” then, pray tell?

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

If you quoted the rest of my response I think you’d see pretty clearly what my intent was.

Writer at Over The Monster. Follow me on Twitter! It'll be super awesome fun! @mattymatty2000

by Matthew Kory on Sep 23, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

So you don't find that combative.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't.

Not in the context of his whole post.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Sep 23, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Because he wasn't responding to you

and because you largely agree with his overall point.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

There is a difference between being argumentative and combative

Combative to me anyway, is argument with anger or need to humiliate. I don’t sense an angry tone, the paragraph you quote was him simply stating what they could be writing on the site every day, seeing Sandy’s point of view.

First off, it’s wrong, but second, it’s just not very interesting.

That can be read as far more ‘combative’ when taken in context with the message but he didn’t end it combatively, he wanted to know what the readership was interested in reading.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Sep 23, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

"Or need to humiliate"

The tone of the text I quoted was dismissive, mocking, and sarcastic. Meant to make the other look like idiotic. i.e., to humiliate.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I, on the other hand,

can make myself “look like idiotic” just fine without anyone’s help, thank you very much.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Crisp, Lewis, Otis Nixon, Harper and Crawford.

Holy crap.

"Playoffs?!? Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game!"

- Jim Mora, seeing through space and time to describe the 2011 Boston Red Sox

by nuthinboutnuthin on Sep 23, 2011 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

So, what do you guys think of the podcast?

Writer at Over The Monster. Follow me on Twitter! It'll be super awesome fun! @mattymatty2000

by Matthew Kory on Sep 23, 2011 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Not a general comment...

… but it’s occasionally tough to hear people mocking (perhaps justifiably) negativity when you’re feeling negative. Of course, I’m not sure how helpful a “Red Sox suck” podcast would be. It’s kinda like being told that you at least have your health…

"Playoffs?!? Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game!"

- Jim Mora, seeing through space and time to describe the 2011 Boston Red Sox

by nuthinboutnuthin on Sep 23, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

In all seriousness

I think we’re all feeling negative to a degree. Some more than others, but it’s hard not to look at the team and how they’ve played in September and not feel negative. But at the same time, it’s important to not be overwhelmed by that negativity. We all know baseball is a game that ebbs and flows and sometimes things look rosey and others they look hopeless.

Not to speak for Marc and Chad, but I think last night on the podcast we all expressed frustration and disappointment with the way the team has played. As Chad said, they’ve had injuries, odd under-performance and just a string of lousy luck. Some of that will, we hope, change, and there is reason to believe it will change. Not all of course. The team is banged up and that won’t change. But it’s not all apple cores and death. It really isn’t.

Writer at Over The Monster. Follow me on Twitter! It'll be super awesome fun! @mattymatty2000

by Matthew Kory on Sep 23, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

"But it’s not all apple cores and death. It really isn’t"

Like hell-we are on knocking on the door of the worst collapse in MLB history.

the 2011 Red Sox have turned into shit

by gizmosandy on Sep 23, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

In the end, the only reply I can come up with is

“so what?”

So what if we do complete the collapse? Will life cease to exist if we don’t get game 163 and beyond? Will there be a 2012 season? Will our endless search for answers and blame consume our lives to the point where we all end up jobless and homeless shaking in an alley way just uttering “theo” over and over again?

There are plenty of positives that are being overlooked right now, Jacoby Ellsbury is an MVP candidate, how many people would have put high odds on that a couple years ago? At one point this season the offense was putting up runs at near historic level and we led the league in wins, despite a horrific start. Josh Beckett decided to be Josh Beckett again. Salty finally owned up to his prospect status and put up a top 5 in the AL catcher performance.

Sure the #1 goal might not be in reach, and the answer is pretty inexplicable (even if you try to dumb it down to THEO, TITO or the PLAYERS in the poll, the answer barely lies with any of them, LUCK and INJURIES should have been options if you weren’t trying to be so absolute about it) but ultimately, so what if we lose? I know I’m still going to cheer for them next year and enjoy that season to the fullest, if you plan to do the same, so what if we lose?

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Sep 23, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Well said.

Writer at Over The Monster. Follow me on Twitter! It'll be super awesome fun! @mattymatty2000

by Matthew Kory on Sep 23, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

No, it wasn't.

So what if we do complete the collapse? Will life cease to exist if we don’t get game 163 and beyond? Will there be a 2012 season? Will our endless search for answers and blame consume our lives to the point where we all end up jobless and homeless shaking in an alley way just uttering "theo" over and over again?

Why the hell did I get so excited in 2004? Did I earn an extra 50,000 dollars that allowed me to buy a fancy new car? Why did I shed a tear when Foulke flipped to Malphabet? I’ll tell ya why.

Because I care.

I care when we win. A lot. I care when we lose. A lot.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I care too

A lot.

The Sox (or the wall depend on the point of view) have resulted in at least 1 broken phone in the last couple of years.

But I’m still going to root and care for them next year no matter what, so things aren’t really as big of a deal as they seem at the time. We suck right now, certainly, but it doesn’t take a lot of digging to find some things to be happy about from the season. Unless you do end up catatonic, or not cheering for the team next year because you’re too embarrassed by this September, the collapse ultimately doesn’t mean whole lot.

‘The collapse’ isn’t the only way this season can be defined, as such “it’s not all apple cores and death. It really isn’t.” It’s only partially apple cores and death.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Sep 23, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Also a "collapse" isn't a "collapse" until you miss the playoffs

Everyone who cites 1978 fails to cite the fact that the Sox made up a 3.5 deficit in the last 14 games (Boston went 12-2 at the end of the season). If the Sox had won the 1-game playoff, people might be talking about how the MFY choked in 1978.

Right now, the Sox’ magic number is 5 v. TB and 4 v. LA. If Boston makes the playoffs, they haven’t “collapsed”.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Sep 23, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

We haven't collapsed.

We are in the midst of a collapse. We are collapsing.

I have not given up on this season in any way, shape, or form. But, that said, I am feeling very negative about our current level of play and rightly so, says I.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions

In November, when I look back at this season

I will certainly take some positives away from it. Salty being a big one, since I was so skeptical on him at the beginning of the year. I will cheer for the Sox this year, next year, and until the day I die (I would imagine).

But I’m not ready to play “Let’s get ’em next year”. I want to freakin’ win and I don’t want to be a friggin’ trivia answer.

The collapse ultimately doesn’t mean a lot in the same way the 2004 World Series ultimately doesn’t mean a lot.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with that Rogue

I am with this team until I pass away good, bad or ugly.

But, it is frustrating watching a team with so much talent blow it.

the 2011 Red Sox have turned into shit

by gizmosandy on Sep 23, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess

part of the definition of a fan is to be unreasonable. Why do I care if one group of millionaires win?

Because I do. This collapse will be worse than ’78 because in ’78 the team that caught us played well (the Rays are only 12 and 8 in September) . Hell, the Rays are only 4 and 6 in their last 10.

Will life on earth end? No.

But. It. Will. Really. Suck.

by flasoxfan on Sep 23, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Fan is short for "fanatic".

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

“Will our endless search for answers and blame consume our lives to the point where we all end up jobless and homeless shaking in an alley way just uttering "theo" over and over again?”

Already there brother.

by Sean O on Sep 23, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yyyyyyyyyy-OUCH.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Sep 23, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I'm only overwhelmed by negativity with respect to the Red Sox...

… there’s always the Pats.

"Playoffs?!? Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game!"

- Jim Mora, seeing through space and time to describe the 2011 Boston Red Sox

by nuthinboutnuthin on Sep 23, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

who haven't won a playoff game in eons

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Sep 23, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Mr. Bundchen gets confused without Gisele telling him what to do

by Sean O on Sep 23, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

True

But I prefer the “band-aid” effect of the Pats to the “lingering wasting death in a hospital bed” of the Red Sox.

"Playoffs?!? Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game!"

- Jim Mora, seeing through space and time to describe the 2011 Boston Red Sox

by nuthinboutnuthin on Sep 23, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

No matter how we collapse,

it will be nothing compared to the pain of that super bowl.

by Sean O on Sep 23, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Again, I know what caused it...

… a-hole Pats fans toasting with champagne before kick-off. And, once again, if you random fans (in Santa Monica) are reading, I will find you and kill you.

"Playoffs?!? Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game!"

- Jim Mora, seeing through space and time to describe the 2011 Boston Red Sox

by nuthinboutnuthin on Sep 23, 2011 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd say Mr. Bundchen saying there was no way we'd score under 20

Proved he was overconfident and indifferent. Funny, considering how he had masterminded the spectacular playoff collapse the year before.

by Sean O on Sep 23, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I blame Asante Samuel and Rodney Harrison

"Playoffs?!? Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game!"

- Jim Mora, seeing through space and time to describe the 2011 Boston Red Sox

by nuthinboutnuthin on Sep 23, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

OK

and the “licking Bartolo Colon” comment helped.

"Playoffs?!? Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game!"

- Jim Mora, seeing through space and time to describe the 2011 Boston Red Sox

by nuthinboutnuthin on Sep 23, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Red Sox Playoffs

Yes, Boston is on the verge of the worst collapse in MLB history. If it were to happen, they would be the new joke. Think, they would be… the Mets!
There is reason to be concerned and frustrated. For sure, there definitely is. However, guess what? They are not 18 games back! They are 2 games up in the wild card lead. The Rays are 2 games down in the wild card lead. Would you rather Boston is in the Rays position?
No, of course not, and that is a silly question. But right now, the panic and concern has caused us to act silly and stupid. All of a sudden the Sweet Caroline thing (which is a joke, yes) is under scrutiny and never has been before. We are calling for Terry Francona’s head. We are all acting nervous and panicked, and we have reason to. Having an all positive episode will get some bad reviews right now, because right now people are frustrated and want to hear others echoing their thoughts. If you want that, you can read Michael Silverman who just comes out from his hole after this awful month. Things are bad and we have reason to be concerned. But do not forget, somehow, amazingly, the Red Sox are still in the lead and have the advantage.

In Lax We Trust - Official Pro Lacrosse Blog of SBN
Follow me on Twitter - In Lax We Trust

by Marisa Ingemi on Sep 23, 2011 3:57 PM EDT reply actions