A New Over The Monster Feature

To spice up open threads a little bit here on Over The Monster, Allen and I have talked about adding a feature, or game, that has been featured on other SBN blogs like Fish Stripes, a Marlins blog.

It's a prediction-based game. You, as a reader, will guess on three categories:

1. Player of the Game
-This will be a judgment call by the OTM staff. There will always be one decisive winner. Since this is a Sox blog, we choose Sox players only. If the Red Sox lose 10-0 and don't earn a hit, we're still going to find the best player of the night. Choosing correctly will earn you ONE (1) point.

2. Pitcher's Line
Simple: guess the starting pitcher's innings pitched, hits, runs, walks and strikeouts. If you are within one of any category, you will earn ONE (1) point. For example:

PREDICTION: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 SO
ACTUAL: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 SO

That person would earn 3 points because the IP, BB and SO were within one of what actually happened. If you get a category exactly right, you earn TWO (2) points.

3. Above and Beyond
This is where it gets fun. You can make any prediction you want that is game related. Think Kevin Youkilis will hit for the cycle? If he does, you'll make out with big points. Think David Ortiz will get ejected and throw a rosen bag grenade at the ump? If he does, you get REALLY big points. Think Manny Ramirez will get one hit? Well, you won't get big points, but you'll probably get a third of a point or something. It's a judgment call by us, but if you go out on a limb and are right, you'll win big. If you go small, you win small.

So once the open thread goes up you can place your predictions. After the game we'll tally it all up and we'll keep record of who's winning and all that good stuff on one of the sidebars.

You might be asking: why do this? Well, because it's fun and you can show off how smart you are. PLUS the winner will get some type of prize at the end of the season. I don't know what it is yet, but I guarantee it'll be worth it -- OR YOUR MONEY BACK!

One last thing: WE DON'T HAVE A NAME!! So if you have a name for us (Fish Stripes uses "Ichthyomancy." Weird.) reply in this thread with it. If we like it and we use it, we'll give you a point just for being a smart, little Sox fan. That way you are already in the lead.

So look for the new game tomorrow night and get crackin' with some names. I'm too lazy to think of anything really good...