Outstanding.

Very cute, vi.

He was always too beautiful for this game.

Hope the Red Sox are giving out free Ring Dings to commemorate the event.

Would you say there will be a plethora of dignitaries there to honor him?

Would you say there will be a plethora of dignitaries there to honor him?

I wouldn't, but only because I prefer to use the term "veritable cornucopia".

Having a cornucopia is definitely a good way to make sure that El Guapo will show up.

Having a cornucopia is definitely a good way to make sure that El Guapo will show up.

Not as good a way as free Ring Dings.

Would you say there will be a plethora of dignitaries there to honor him?

I know that I, Jefe, do not have your superior intellect and education, but could it be that once again, you are angry at something else, and are looking to take it out on me?

Why not just put the Ring Dings in the cornucopia?

Double post.

Why not just put the Ring Dings in the cornucopia?

You cannot force open the petals of a flower. When the flower is ready, it opens itself up to you.

El Guapo may well be my favorite nickname for a Red Sox player ever. TE Jr.--when finally shown a picture of Garces--asked "how could he have been a pitcher?" How, indeed, son. How, indeed...

We can confirm that this deformed lamb is not a progeny of sheep ovum and a human sperm.

TE Jr.--when finally shown a picture of Garces--asked "how could he have been a pitcher?"

"Because he couldn't cut it in center field."

In his Red Sox career, spanning 7 seasons and 261 appearances, Garces was allowed to come to the plate two times - both in 2001. He struck out once and grounded into a double play once. That GIDP should does figure to be an interesting box score to track down.

Here it is. Here's the inning;

t7 6-5 0 --- 3,(1-1) BOS Manny Ramirez Masato Yoshii 7% 76% Double to LF (Line Drive to Deep LF)
t7 6-5 0 -2- 3,(0-2) O BOS Troy O'Leary Masato Yoshii -5% 71% Popfly: SS
t7 6-5 1 -2- 2,(1-0) RR BOS Chris Stynes Masato Yoshii 17% 88% Home Run (Fly Ball); Ramirez Scores
t7 8-5 1 --- 2,(0-1) BOS Brian Daubach Masato Yoshii 1% 89% Single to CF (Line Drive)
t7 8-5 1 1-- 2,(1-0) BOS Doug Mirabelli Masato Yoshii 1% 90% Single to RF (Line Drive); Daubach to 2B
t7 8-5 1 12- 2,(0-1) OO BOS Rich Garces Masato Yoshii -4% 87% Ground Ball Double Play: Bunt P-SS-2B

As a side note I had gone to the game before at Shea which turned out to be Bobby Valentine's 1000th win. After the game I went back to Stamford, CT where I was living at the time and as I often did went to Bobby V's restaurant for dinner. Sure enough Bobby showed up and bought a round for the bar. That's my good Bobby Valentine memory.

BREAKING NEWS: I’ve been informed that number 34 was also worn by David Ortiz. Congrats to him, too.

And don't forget Jim Piersall, who wore #34 the year he was sent to the bughouse.