Captain America - The First Juicer

I never really knew much about Captain America growing up. I was more of a DC Comic reader growing up.

So when I saw the preview for the movie that opened this weekend (and made more money that I could make in 10 lifetimes) two things struck me as odd about it.

First of all, what the hell was Paramount thinking NOT releasing this on 4th of July weekend?

Secondly, didn't Steve Rogers' transformation from a weakling to Captain America ring a bell with you?

A kid has tremendous heart and desire, but doesn't have the physical abilities to succeed... or at least keep up with the competition.

So in order to keep up and beat the competition, he is pumped with all sorts of unusual chemicals that transforms his body and BANG! He's a hero! He's the best! Everyone wants to be him!

Replace Dr. Abraham Erskine and his Super Sodier Serum with Victor Conte and "The Cream and the Clear."

Switch out Steve Rogers with Jason Giambi wandering into the A's clubhouse in 1995 meeting his new teammate Mark McGwire and in 1997 teaming up with Jose Canseco.

A few trips to BALCO later, he went from a lean first baseman to a professional wrestler!







It's the same damn story!
Granted, Captain America was taking out Nazis, so there's no loss of honor pumping your body up for THAT goal.

But still, are you trying to tell me that Stark Industries couldn't have made some quality post war bucks bulking up some big leaguers?

Here we are trying to get the whole steroid era behind us... and we have some awful Hall of Fame controversy on the horizon, the Bonds and Clemens trials this year... and now Hollywood is making juicing COOL again?

It's a bad lesson for kids.

Kids should know that if you want to turn your body unexpectedly into a muscular frame, you should do it more honestly!

You know like being bitten by a radioactive spider or getting hit with a ton of gamma rays!

They are replaying the 2003 Home Run Derby on MLB Network

No matter what you think about Performance Enhancing Drugs and if you are glad to see the 'roids era fading way, you can NOT deny that it was more fun when these guys were on juice.

Jason Giambi is on now and he is launching them into the U.S. Cellular Field night.
Alex Rodriguez is the guest announcer.

Can you IMAGINE what was being shot into the player's butt back then?
In 2003, did ANYONE know what BALCO was?


So maybe they should let them juice up for the derby... FOR THE FANS!

Chris Berman JUST SAID "Does it have enough juice?" for Giambi's latest hit.

Ahh the irony.

5 of the 6 homers Papelbon has alowed this year have been devastating

Jonathan Papelbon has coughed up 6 homers this year.

One he let up on June 2 to Oakland pinch hitter Kevin Kouzmanoff. It was a solo shot that made a 6-3 Red Sox lead 6-4, which was the final score. No harm done.

His other 5 homers he's let up have staggering punches to the gut that spoiled games that would have otherwise been highlights of the season.

Don't believe me?

On April 7th he let up a 10th inning, tie breaking home run to Curtis Granderson in a game where the Sox had a chance to win the opening series against the Yankees.

On May 17th, the Sox were down 5-0 in the first and 6-1 in the second to the Yankees when they came all the way back and handed Papelbon a 9-7 lead in the 9th. He allowed a game tying shot to A-Rod and a walk off shot to Marcus Thames.

And then came tonight... a game that could have been the highlight of the entire season. Facing Ubaldo Jimenez... falling behind to Ubaldo Jimenez... rallying to beat Ubaldo Jimenez (including a double from John Lackey!)

Daniel Nava was going to be the hero. The Red Sox were going to basically say "We fear no pitcher!"

And 2 pitches into the 9th, Papelbon lets up a homer to Ian Stewart... and a walk off to Jason Giambi.

GIAMBI! I still have to worry about f---ing Giambi???

A night of glory was turned into a teeth grinder of the grandest level.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 22

April 4 - 9-7 win against Yankees (On Opening Night, the Red Sox overcome a 5-1 Yankee lead with a game tying HR by Pedroia and a go ahead passed ball.)
April 10 - 8-3 win against Kansas City (Beckett out pitches Zack Greinke and nearly gets decapitated by a line drive.)
April 14 - 6-3 win in Minnesota. (Okajima gets Morneau to pop up with the bases loaded in the 7th and Papelbon wiggled out of a 9th inning jam.)
April 20 - 7-6 win against Texas. (Darnell McDonald introduces himself to Boston with an 8th inning game tying homer and a walk off hit in the 9th.)
April 21 - 8-7 win against Texas. (The Red Sox were down 4-0 early only to win it on Youk's 2 out 11th inning double.)
April 23 - 4-3 win against Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 3-0 lead but win it on Adrian Beltre's bases loaded walk.)

April 24 - 7-6 win against Baltimore. (The Red Sox score 6 in the 7th and hold off a late Baltimore comeback attempt.)
April 26 - 13-12 win at Toronto. (The Sox blow an early 5-0 lead but hang on for dear life in a slugfest.)
April 27 - 2-1 win at Toronto. (Buchholz holds the Jays down for 8 but it takes a bases loaded walk in the 8th to go ahead.)
April 28 - 2-0 win at Toronto. (Daniel Bard wiggles out of trouble in the 8th to help Lester shut down the Blue Jays and finish the sweep.)
May 4 - 5-1 win against the Angels. (Juan Rivera misplays Jeremy Hermedia's 2 out flyball into a 3 run game winning double)
May 5 - 3-1 win against the Angels. (Papi and Beltre homer and the Sox hang on despite squandering many potential rallies.)
May 6 - 11-6 win against the Angels. (Dice-K puts the Red Sox in a 4-0 hole before they even bat. The Sox bats respond.)
May 10 - 7-6 win against the Blue Jays. (Sox blow an early 2-0 lead, take advantage of some errors and hang on.)
May 18 - 7-5 win in New York. (Sox climb back from a 5-1 hole. A day after hitting a walk off homer, Marcus Thames drops a fly ball to start the winning rally for the Sox.)
May 25 - 2-0 win in Tampa. (Big Papi supplies all the offense as Papelbon wiggles out of a 9th inning jam.)
May 29 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Zack Greinke holds the Sox to one run, but they make it stick)

June 1 - 9-4 win against Oakland. (Lackey puts the Sox in a 4-0 hole but Victor Martinez goes 5-5 and the Sox score 9 runs late.)
June 2 - 6-4 win against Oakland. (Dice-K puts the Sox in a 3-0 hole before they come to bat, but come back thanks to Papi's homer.)

June 8 - 3-2 win at Cleveland. (With Papelbon unavailable, Okajima, Ramirez and Bard hang on to make a winner out of Wakefield.)

June 19 - 5-4 win against the Dodgers. (Sox make 4 errors, blow a late lead and let Manny homer, but they win it in the bottom of the 9th on a Pedroia single.)
June 20 - 2-0 win against the Dodgers. (Dodgers blow an early bases loaded scoring opportunity and allow Buchholz to settle down for the win.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 21

April 6 - 6-4 loss against the Yankees. (Scutaro's error leads to the winning run.)
April 7 - 3-1 loss against the Yankees. (Sox leave the winning run on in the 9th only to lose on Granderson's 10th inning homer)
April 9 - 4-3 loss in Kansas City. (Bard coughs up the lead, denying Wakefield a win.)
April 17 - 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Sox can't score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 11th... lost it in the 12th.)
April 17 - 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox comeback falls a run short, leaving two on in the 8th)
April 25 - 7-6 loss to Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 4-1 lead, leave the winning run on second in the 9th, let up 3 in the 10th and could only score 2 in the bottom of the 10th)
April 30 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (Tejada ties the game with a 2 out 8th inning homer and wins it with a bloop in the 10th)
May 1 - 12-9 loss in Baltimore. (Dice-K and Wakes get pounded, wasting 2 homers from Ortiz and an early 4-1 lead.)
May 2 - 3-2 loss in Baltimore. (Varitek is thrown at home trying to score with 2 outs in the 8th. Sox get swept in the 10th.
May 12 - 3-2 loss against the Blue Jays. (The Sox rally in the 9th comes up a run short and Kevin Gregg gets an ugly save.)
May 15 - 7-6 loss in Detroit. (The Sox blow a 6-1 lead and lose it on a 2 out bases loaded walk in the 12th.)
May 17 - 11-9 loss in New York. (The Sox come all the way back from a 5-0 first inning hole to take a 9-7 lead in the 9th... but Papelbon lets up a 2 run game tying shot to A-Rod and a 2 run walk off shot to Marcus Thames.)
May 21 - 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Big Papi's bid for a game tying 9th inning grand slam is caught at the warning track.)
May 27 - 4-3 loss to Kansas City. (Dice-K walks the go ahead run in and lets another score on a wild pitch as the Royals no name bullpen shut down the Hot Sox.)
May 28 - 12-5 loss to Kansas City. (Sox blow a 3-0 first inning lead to be blown out in Fenway.)
June 3 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox lose a slugfest where two Boston runners are thrown out at home.)

June 6 - 4-3 loss in Baltimore. (Sox rally to tie the game in the 9th only to lose it on a small ball rally in the 11th.)

June 10 - 8-7 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow an early 5-0 lead and then after rallying in the 9th to take the lead coughed it up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th)
June 13 - 5-3 loss to Philadelphia. (Sox 9th inning rally comes up short)

June 22 - 2-1 loss in Colorado. (The Sox waste a solid Lester start and twice leave the bases loaded.)
June 23 - 8-6 loss in Colorado. (The Sox batter Ubaldo Jimenez around but Papelbon lets up 2 homers in the 9th to lose it.)


Down to +1.

Maybe the Sox can avoid the sweep tomorrow... either way this one HURT!

Sully Baseball Predicts...THE DIVISION WINNERS AND WORLD SERIES PICKS

1972 and 1990 were big years in the life of your pal Sully.

On May 14, 1972, the same day Willie Mays hit a home run to defeat the Giants in his first game as a Met, I was born in Willimantic, CT.

And in June of 1990, I graduated from high school in Atherton, CA and went off to NYU.

I predict there is going to be a very 1972 and 1990 feel to this year.

As I said in my 40 Fearless Predictions post, the days of a World Series pick being absurd is over.

And while everyone and their moose is picking the Cubs or Mets against the Red Sox or Angels or Yankees... I feel that a team filled with young talent taking a "Why not us?" attitude will be the ones who survive this season and October.

It might sound like I am sticking my neck out with my picks this year... but again, how is anything out of the question after seeing the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays.

SULLY BASEBALL'S OFFICIAL PICKS FOR THE YEAR

AL EAST: NEW YORK YANKEES

They are designed to beat up inferior teams in the regular season. However their lack of depth is startling. $200 million payroll and they don't have a jack of all trades infielder? That being said, they'll win 94 games.

AL CENTRAL: MINNESOTA TWINS

The White Sox are in transition, the Royals are a year away, the Indians have too many pitching question marks and the Tigers are a catastrophe. Meanwhile the Twins can pitch, hit, field and have some pop. This shouldn't be a close race.

AL WEST: OAKLAND A'S

Billy Beane knew when to fold 'em and dealt away Danny Haren, Rich Harden and Joe Blanton. Now the team is loaded with young arms and have injected (sorry) Giambi into the lineup with Holiday and Cabrera. Plus I think the Angels are going to take 2 steps back this year. This division is ripe for the taking by a less than perfect yet hungry team.

AL WILD CARD: BOSTON RED SOX

The Rays have talent, the Angels have experience and the Indians and White Sox will play hard. But the Red Sox pitching staff will be the difference.

NL EAST: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Sorry Mets... bringing in a closer with a penchant for blowing the big games isn't the answer. Plus Philly will have a little swagger and way too much young talent for the Mets to beat them. And did someone mention the Marlins?


NL CENTRAL: CINCINNATI REDS

Dynamic young sluggers... a surprisingly deep pitching staff... a fan base revived... it will be a fun year along the Ohio River. Meanwhile Cub fans will see a team that looks better on paper not gel and will end the season talking about year 102.



NL WEST: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Manny all year long will bring the fans in. Young arms like Broxton, Billingsley and Kershaw will win the games. And despite the best efforts of the Diamondbacks and Giants, the Dodgers finish in first with 96 wins.

NL WILD CARD: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

How does Tony LaRussa do it? He has another Cut and Paste rotation and is banking on young Colby Rasmus and won't have Troy Glaus... and yet still pushes St. Louis to 90 wins past the Mets, Marlins, Diamondbacks and Cubs.

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

TWINS defeat YANKEES

3 games to 2

A'S  defeat RED SOX

3 games to 1

That's right... I am saying a dream ALCS rematch between the Red Sox and Yankees will be preempted by two low budget teams playing in football stadiums. FOX takes a big gulp.

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

DODGERS defeat CARDINALS

3 games to o

REDS defeat PHILLIES

3 games to 2

The Dodgers hold up their end of the bargain of providing star power to the LCS. More people start criticizing the Red Sox for dealing Manny. 

The Phillies take an early lead but the playoffs turn into a Joey Votto/Jay Bruce coming out party.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

A'S defeat TWINS 

4 games to 3

Nobody watches the game played in the two ugliest parks in the game... and it is a shame as some of the best young talent in the game squares off. The A's pitching staff is the difference in a 7 game thriller.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
REDS defeat DODGERS
4 games to 2

Fox Execs pull their hair out as they have yet another World Series matchup without a national following. Yet even they have to admit the Reds are exciting.

WORLD SERIES

A'S defeat REDS 

4 games to 3

Baseball has to party like it is 1972 or 1990. The Reds get big hits and Johnny Cueto and company look devastating. But in the end, the A's bats explode and clinch the big one. And Fox, forced to promote a series based on young exciting talent and hungry fan bases, will get a 7 game thriller that casual baseball fans will miss but loyal fans will cherish.

Billy Beane gets his World Series title as does Jason Giambi and Nomar Garciaparra.

Then in the off season, despite having a post season with low revenue teams triumphing, the Yankees will sign a big free agent and everyone will start screaming for a salary cap to keep the Yankees from winning every year!

SO THAT'S MY PICKS!

Again, I'm usually wrong... I hope I am because I want the Red Sox to win it all!

But if I am right, good times will be there for Reds and A's fans.

It will be just like the year that The Godfather came out... or the year that The Godfather Part III came out... take your pick!

A-Rod tested positive for 'roids? I'm sure New York will give him a pass

ESPN is reporting that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for 'roids in 2003.


Here are my initial thoughts:

- GEE I WONDER IF THIS WILL GET ANY ATTENTION?

This report is coming in that dead period for sports reporting... post Super Bowl, pre March madness, pre Spring Training.

And New Yorker reporters are kind of bored since the Giants playoff run ended. The Knicks are sub .500 and hockey doesn't sell papers.

The New York press will look at this stories like a shark heading to Amity Island.



- WELCOME TO NEW YORK, SABATHIA, BURNETT AND TEIXIERA!!!!

When the Yankees fork out so many millions of bucks, this is the element that nobody thinks about. The insane pressure and the news cycle.

Even someone as great and seasoned as Randy Johnson couldn't hack it!
Now these three guys are supposed to bring a World Series title to New York and they are about to enter a clubhouse that is going to be as pleasant and calm as the end of Scarface.



- HOW HAPPY IS JASON GIAMBI THAT HE IS OUT OF NEW YORK NOW?

He'd be fielding so many questions about this, maybe even DURING a game.
In Oakland, the spring training media is one guy from the Merc and someone from KNBR.

It's a little different.




- WE CAN'T ACT TOO HOLIER THAN THOU ABOUT STEROIDS

I already wrote about how I think the 'roids era was bigger than Bonds.

It's bigger than A-Rod too... and players on EVERY team used them no doubt.
(Yes Red Sox Nation... even the 2004 team.)

If I found out the people who produce for the shows that I want to produce for got ahead by using an illegal drug, I'd probably take it too.





- A-ROD WILL BE NOSTALGIC FOR THE DAYS HE WAS CAUGHT WITH A STRIPPER

A-Rod get controversy when he yells HA! at a third baseman.

He can't get love when he wins the MVP.

This could get ugly really fast.





- HANK AARON IS LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER, ISN'T HE?


Aaron never got the credit he deserved during his career and always is overlooked when people rate the best players ever.

But it took one (alleged) juicer to break his record and another one to chase it to make us all realize how great he was.

Better late than never.




- CYNTHIA RODRIGUEZ MUST BE LAUGHING HER F---ING A-- OFF

Laughing while living in their old Coral Gables home spending hundreds of millions of dollars.









- THIS CAN'T HELP BUT HELP TORRE'S BOOK SALES

Like he needs any help!








- YOU CALL A WRIST SLAP 'ROID RAGE?

Come on!
Show some REAL rage!

Throw a bat at Mike Piazza like Clemens!

Beat up a cameraman like Kenny Rogers!

Be Albert Belle!



- 9 MORE YEARS!

He wasn't exactly loved in New York as it is with his 2 MVPs and 1 post season RBI in his last 16 post season games.
And he chose to come back!
For 10 years!

Does he really think he's going to be happy here in 2018?





- MADONNA HAS A TASTE FOR STEROID USERS

Hey, it's good to know what you like.


And speaking of that...







- JOSE CANSECO HAS BECOME THE E.F. HUTTON OF BASEBALL!

I wrote before that when Canseco speaks, we should listen.

Well, he said A-Rod used to juice.
And after writing a book where EVERYTHING he said turned out to be true, what was everyone's reaction?
"Oh he's full of it."

If he told me black was white, up was down and Grey's Anatomy doesn't suck, I'd believ ehim.

Teixeria in... Giambi out

I love that Mark Teixeira's wife called the final shot.
She just wanted him to be happy before finally saying "Be a Yankee."

Chances are he won't be both.

Am I the only one who noticed that as one first baseman comes in wearing #25 and bringing about the promise of Titles and Yankee pride...





the last big budget Yankee first baseman went back to the place where he was actually happy.

Battered around by high expectations, scandal and disappointment, Jason Giambi seems more himself now.
He's smiling, back with the team where he probably never really wanted to leave.

Either be a Yankee or be happy.

Some sympathy for Jason Giambi

Newsday writer Ken Davidoff wrote a great article today about soon to be Ex Yankee slugger Jason Giambi.

The article talks about how Jason Giambi made sure that the Yankees clubhouse people and staff got six figure bonuses after winning the pennant shows he is genuinely a good guy...

And it basically confirms what I've thought about him...
He's a nice guy who can get caught up in stuff.

I'm sure when he was a young kid coming into a locker room with Canseco and McGwire and saw them shooting God knows what into their asses, he probably thought "OK, I guess this is what you do in the bigs."

I'm also sure that when he was offered hundreds of millions of dollars he probably thought "I'm really comfortable in Oakland, but I guess this is what you do in the bigs."

And I am also sure he went cold turkey on the stuff in 2004, which resulted in his body breaking down, because he thought "This is the right thing to do."

And I am sure than when he became public enemy number one in the BALCO revelations, he was devastated.

And I am also sure that he wanted to do the right thing and come clean but the lawyers convinced him not to.





He's not a bad guy. He's just a big dumb lug.
He's basically Mongo in Blazing Saddles.

And like Mongo, Jason Giambi just pawn in game of life.

He made some bad decisions, but its hard not to feel for the guy.

(I wish some of MY bad decisions led to a $100 million contract!!!)

The Sully Baseball "ALL F---ING YANKEE TEAM"

The Red Sox and Yankees are starting up a new late season series. And last night's 1-0 Yankee win caused some profanity from your pal Sully

So let's look back at the recent rivalry and put together the Yankee team that made Red Sox nation drop the most F-Bombs.


Damn Yankees is no longer strong enough.






IT'S THE ALL F---ING YANKEES TEAM

C - Jorge F---ing Posada
Lest we forget his homer in the 99 playoffs and his game tying double off of Pedro in 03

1B - Jason F---ing Giambi.
Yeah Tino, Chambliss and Donnie were better Yankees... but I still lament those homers hit in game 7, 2003.

2B - Enrique F---ing Wilson.
He had Pedro's number. Don't ask me how!

SS - Bucky F---ing Dent.
I know Jeter is great and that catch into the stands was amazing, but Bucky Dent prevented a ring for Yaz, Rice, Lynn, Evans, Tiant, Lee, Remy, Burleson, Scott and Hobson. Pretty powerful stuff

3B - Aaron F---ing Boone.
I know it was only one year of misery... but it hurt.

LF - Roberto F---ing Kelly.
Lest we forget his 9th inning home run torpedoed the Red Sox 1991 playoff push.

CF - Bernie F---ing Williams.
The walk off in game 1, 1999... the year after he turned down the Sox offer! Ooof.

RF - Lou F---ing Pinella.
How DID he stab that ball hit by Remy during the 78 playoff game? He couldn't see it! That gets by him and the game is tied!

DH - Reggie F---ing Jackson.
The Dent home run game the Sox the lead... but Jackson game them breathing room with another homer. And they would need every single run as it turned out.


3 Man Rotation

El Duque F---ing Hernandez.
Shut down the Sox in 1999 finale to win the ALCS MVP

Ron F---ing Guidry
Let up Yaz's home run and little else in the 1978 playoff game.

Mike F---ing Torrez
Yeah, I know he was on the Red Sox. But he was a Yankee the year before and some thought he was a double agent!

Closer - Rich F---ing Gossage.
Yeah, Rivera won the 2003 ALCS MVP, but his blown save in 2004 cost him this job. Besides, what image hurt Sox fans more than Yaz popping up weakly to Nettles?

Set Up Man - Ramiro F---ing Mendoza.
All due respect to El Duque, Mendoza SHOULD have won the 1999 ALCS MVP. He wiggled out of potential series turning jams in games 2 and 5... killing any World Series hopes

Manager - Joe F---ing Torre.
He just sits there. And he doesn't seem to do anything... and they still won! I know his moves may have cost them the 2004 pennant, but I used to curse him out so much that he deserves this spot.

A pretty solid team... let's hope there are no new members after this week!