Got root?

Last Wednesday, my wife and I had the opportunity to go to New York City, to Carnegie Hall, to see my nephew graduate from medical school. As you might expect, it was a day filled with pride, and of nostaligic memories when he was young contrasting with the purposeful stride of the young man introduced as “Doctor” when he walked across the stage to accept his diploma.

One of the things I noticed however, was that three times during the ceremony, people’s cell phones went off.

Now, don’t get me wrong. You all know I’m a techno-geek, and that I wouldn’t be without my cell phone. But, there is a time and place for everything.

My idea of cell phone etiquette in public gatherings/ceremonies is as follows:

• If you do not need your cell phone on (i.e., you are not on-call, you do not have someone calling you in an emergency) then turn it off. That’s what voice mail is for.
• If you need your cell phone on, because work, or your young children, or their babysitter might need to contact you, turn it on vibrate.
• If you do need to take a call, answer it QUIETLY, and either tell them you’ll call them right back, or quietly move to an area where you will not distrub someone.

I think if more people did that, then less people would hate cell phone users.

So, my nephew Marc is now a doctor, and will very shortly begin his surgical residency. I hope for his sake, no one has their cell phone on in the operating room!

Technorati Tags: cellphone, technology, etiquette

Ah, Julio Lugo. Four years for $36 million dollars.

For what? He’s lousy at the plate. A decent base stealer when he gets on (which seems rare these days — and last year too) but that’s probably about it.

For the second time in three nights Lugo booted an easy grounder which kept an inning alive which ended up costing the Sox two runs.

Poor, poor Julio. He says everyone is too negative. Well, Julio, here’s a positive for you: you are positively stinkin’ up the joint!

Theo Epstein has done a phenomenal job of building this team up, but I don’t understand where his predilection for messing with shortstop comes from. So Cabrera may have partied too much. He eventually settled down and was great while he was here. Then we got Edgar Rent-a-wreck who had a lousy tenure here in Boston because he couldn’t stand the pressure. (Take heart Edgar — at the pace Lugo is going he’s going to make your tenure here look like Hall of Fame material). Then Gonzalez who was great defensively and would have been fine.

But instead Theo brings in Lugo, who supposedly was going to be this offensive force.
He’s offensive alright….

Here’s a positive tip for Julio: take some extra infield practice!!!

Saw a great post on ArsGeek today about a band in the UK that couldn’t afford to shoot a music video, so they played their music in front of the ubiquitous CCTV security cameras and then demanded the footage through the Data Protection Act.

Talk about using The Man!

Well played!!!

So I’m watching the Sox game on Tuesday night, when JD Drew (the Sox $14 million/year right fielder) hits a ground ball, tries to hustle it out, and gets tossed out at first base. Nothing new, although he has been better this year than last.

Next thing you know he’s out of the game. Seems he “slightly strained” his quad. Oh boy, could be a stint on the DL coming up!

In the top of the 9th, with a runner on second, Toronto CF Vernon Wells rips one back up the middle, and Dustin Pedroia saves the game, diving to make the stop and throwing Wells out. (Remember this play — it’s important).

So, they get to the bottom of the ninth in a 0-0 game, and Big Papi ends up on second base after a single and a walk to Manny. But there’s not really anyone to run for him. Why? Because JD Drew is sittin’ on the bench, meaning that Brandon Moss was in the game (and not available to run) and Ellsbury has a groin strain. So, the only one they could have put in was Lowrie. Tito elected to stay with Papi.

Fortunately, Youk hits a single that Wells bobbles and Big Papi hustles home, Red Sox wins 1-0.

Now, to Wednesday night’s game……

It seems that on the dive play the night before, Pedroia jammed his shoulder. But guess who’s leading off the game and playing 2B? Right, Pedroia. Guess who’s not playing? Right, $14 Million Man of Glass Drew.

Late in the game, there was a similar situation — Big Papi on second and only Lowrie to run for him. Well, Lowrie did, and a perfect throw by Vernon Wells and some excellent defense by Toronto’s catcher lead to Lowrie being thrown out.

Manny moved to second and ‘Tek brought him in.

So, what’s interesting to me is this:

JD Drew, $14 million /year, 2nd on the Sox salary list.
Dustin Pedroia, $457,000/hear, 20th on the Sox salary list.

Which one plays his ass off, hurt?

In terms of “worth to the team”, I’d vote that we switch those salaries……