The 300s 2019 NFL Bracket Challenge

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Back before the MLB season started, I introduced a new way of gambling on professional sports: the bracket challenge. Modeled after March Madness, each entry requires that you pick each playoff team and their seed, as well as the winners of each playoff game every step of the way. I asked The 300s team to submit their picks before Week 1 started. Let’s check out how the guys think this season will shake down:

Mattes:

(AFC): Yeah, I know; I look like a real homer by picking the Pats as the No. 1 seed (and eventual Super Bowl-winner). But that defense looks LOADED, and we still got that Tom Brady guy. And yes, the Chiefs seem like an easy pick for the No. 2 seed after last year’s epic run. I’d like to have chosen someone else, but again, let’s call a spade a spade. The Jags coming in as the three seed might surprise some, but I think the vast majority of the NFL world is sleeping hard on them this year. Their defense is still elite (and only got better this offseason), and they finally have a good quarterback for the first time since Nam. The AFC North is going to be a battle all season long, and honestly the toughest decision I made was keeping Baltimore out! Though the Texans may look like they loaded up in recent weeks, I think Houston fans are in for quite the disappointment this year.

(NFC): This year will be Aaron Rodgers’s redemption. After a string of injury-plagued seasons and questions surrounding his psyche and character, the 35-year-old future H.O.F. will be determined to shut all the doubters up. He’s got some great weapons on offense, and the Packers should also feature the best defense they’ve had in years. I will be shocked if the Packers are not, at the very least, a top-two seed in the conference this year. The Saints will continue to roll as the No. 2 seed, although they’ll feel a lot of pressure from a solid Carolina squad, which comes in as my first wild-card team. The Eagles will give New Orleans a run for their money for a bye behind an MVP season from Carson Wentz.

In the end, we finally get the dream Super Bowl matchup that we as NFL fans have been deprived of for FAR too long: Tom Brady vs. Aaron Rodgers. And ultimately, Brady and the boys will win No. 7 after the best cherry on top the NFL has ever given us. 

Big Z:

The Patriots will make the playoffs and get a first-round bye again because they always do, but their unprecedented run of success has to take a year off at some point (not come to an end). I’ve got the Patriots bowing out in the Divisional Round. I’m not buying the Browns, so I’ve got the Steelers and the Chiefs in the AFC CG with Mahomes getting to the Big Game in his second year as a starter. In the NFC I’m going with the Boys. With Zeke on board they should be locked and loaded. In the Super Bowl, I’ve got Mahomes and Reid hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Joey Ballgame:

(NFC): My first impression as I filled this out is that The NFC is muchhhh tougher, at least internally. The South in particular where you have the Saints, Falcons and Panthers and the North where all four teams will compete. That’s just a motherfucker. At the same time, those teams will have a tougher time building solid records when the teams they play twice a year are that much better than the teams in other divisions, so they’ll kind of cannibalize themselves in terms of the playoffs. 

(AFC): As for the AFC, I see the Pats, Browns, and Chiefs sleepwalking their way to the Division crown. The Jags might get some fight out of the Texans, and honestly who even knows what Nick Foles is so they could shit the bed entirely. After that I kind of rolled the dice. I like the Bengals offense and the Texans, despite Bill O’Brien’s best efforts, still have a good team. Add that to the fact that the Titans and Capt Luck’s former team are looking rough and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the South have two playoff teams. 

I had all division champs in the divisional round save the Vikings, who I think could cause some trouble. After that though I think Baker runs out of magic against the Pats and Drew Brees and Co. are a little too much for the Birds. We know what happens next.

Dom:

(AFC): I’m in agreement with the rest of the boys in that I think the Pats should roll through the conference this year. This is as excited as I’ve been for a Pats team in a long time, and that’s saying something. The Chiefs took a step backward this year, the Jaguars are marginally better and their competition in the South got worse, and I will never be afraid of Philip Rivers. I think this is the year the Browns finally make the playoffs, but that run can only last so long.

(NFC): This conference is a total crap shoot. I don’t think there is a clear winner in any division save the West, which the Rams should win easily. Beyond that, I don’t believe Cam Newton has what it takes to win the South, which allows Brees another division title, Wentz and Co. should handle the Cowboys to take the East, and both Aaron Rodgers and the Vikings bounce back this year to come out of the North.

I see the Championship round games being basically the same as last year. I do think Goff will disappoint and Gurley will wear down again, allowing the Vikings to ride a balanced team performance into the NFC final. Brees and co. will get their revenge for last years PI call while Brady tops Mahomes again. In the end I see Brady prevailing over Brees in a QB matchup for the ages.

Red:

(AFC): I think the Patriots are still the cream of the crop in the AFC. Is that blind fanaticism for my favorite team? ….no. They’re just still the best team in the conference. The Chiefs are still electric, but are without their dynamite running back (unless everyone’s sleeper Damien Williams takes off). I think the Texans take a step forward this year after beefing up their OL with Laremy Tunsil and Deshaun Watson another year removed from his knee injury, althrough trading Jadaveon Clowney won’t necessarily help. The Steelers are going to be good again, but are now without their two best players from the last few years. The Chargers and the Ravens do just well enough to make the playoffs, but don’t make it very far. Despite what Skynet/ESPN tells you, the Patriots will not lose to the Texans, especially not because of Brady’s age. In fact they will topple ole Billy O’Brien once again and make the Super Bowl. Again.

(NFC): The Saints have some unfinished business and arguably the most electric player in the league in Alvin Kamara for Drew Brees to feed so I’m picking them to also advance to the SB as a No. 1 seed. The Rams don’t get the benefit of shitty refs this time and I honestly think that team takes a step back with the suddenly breaking down Todd Gurley. This is why you don’t give running backs record setting contracts. The Vikings rebound from a down year, the Cowboys clinch a Wild Card spot as do the Seahawks who pull an upset in the opening round, as the Eagles make it to the NFC Championship with a finally healthy Carson Wentz but can’t get over the hump. 

Super Bowl LIV: Pats 21 – Saints 17

Super Bowls are never as high scoring as people think they will be. You don’t even have to look back all that far (February) for a prime example of this. So I’m taking the Pats to grind out their 7th Super Bowl. 

This may be a Boston blog, but you gotta be crazy to bet against the Patriots this year. Pats are the odds on favorite to win it all here at The 300s, and most of us agree it’ll be the Saints out of the NFC. Big Z is the only one with a mind of his own…good for him. Go Pats, hello Antonio.

IT 2 is in Theaters Now. Go See It. (DON’T WORRY, NO SPOILERS)

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Thursday night I went to a clowns only pre-screening of IT 2 at Alamo Drafthouse. People in New England may not be familiar with Alamo Drafthouse, but it’s basically what AMC modeled their Dine In theaters after. They held clowns only showings of the new IT movie all across the country, and what a hilarious idea. I’m not going to lie, my first thought was it would be a great event for a mass shooting because it would take a much longer time to identify the shooter. I guess that’s just the time we live in. Anyway, my wife was able to convince to go for the people watching, and it did not disappoint. We sat in a room full of 50 or so clowns watching Pennywise wreak havoc on Derry while eating a Royale with cheese and drinking a milkshake like god damn Vincent Vega.

Now I’ve never claimed to be the biggest horror movie buff, but I’ve been coming around the last few years. I thought this movie was awesome. It had a bunch of funny banter courtesy of Bill Hader and James Ransone, but also a ton of jump scares and an incredibly creepy soundtrack. Even the scene with the old lady from the preview below had me nearly jump out of my seat. And I knew it was coming! The special effects were really well done too, making the mind-fuckery of Pennywise as realistic as I could have hoped for. Lastly, Easter eggs are everywhere, so I can’t wait to see it again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqUopiAYdRg&t=54s

One thing I will say is that you need to see this movie either in theaters. The sound design was incredible; there are scenes where you really feel like a part of the action. If you watch on your own tv and have the volume down or are distracted by other stuff around the house, the best parts of the movie just won’t have the same effect.

Otherwise I have very few negative things to say about the movie. For those who read the book, they may want a little more out of the ending, but will find it enjoyable all the same. I didn’t read it, so I thought the ending was fine. I found IT 2 infinitely more satisfying than Midsommar, which to me was a garbage can in a prom dress. That is to say, although it looked beautiful and was well made, everything else about it sucked. Literally the first thing I said when it finished was, “What the fuck did I just watch?” I left the theater after IT 2 with a smile on my face. I was dressed as a clown though, so take that however you like.

Antonio Brown Posted a Call He Had With Jon Gruden, Asks for His Release After Raiders Void His Guaranteed Money

By on • ( Leave a comment )

This story just gets weirder and weirder man. When I first started writing this blog I was going to talk about California’s “two party consent” law and how AB could be in hot water for illegally recording and posting a phone call. Welp, threw that draft in the trash because in the last hour Antonio Brown has taken to the Gram to ask the Raiders for his RELEASE. It would seem the Raiders have now had enough of Antonio Brown’s shit.

You thought AB’s “emotional” apology in front of the team on Friday morning was the end of the story right?

Brown is in the 1% of the 1% of athletes in the world so he wants it his way all the time, but even top performers in any workplace can only push the boundaries so far before you get fired. And it seems like Antonio Brown is indeed about to get fired.

AB then thought it would be a neat idea to record a call he had with his coach, who basically is telling him to cut the shit, and turn it into some (very well produced) hype video. It looks like a Nike commercial, but it just makes AB sound like a moron. He’s trying to depict himself as a guy fighting against all the odds and all the haters to come out stronger on top when all he’s doing is shining a light on how petulant he’s been.

Gruden straight up asks Brown “do you want to be a Raider or not?” He’s been Brown’s biggest supporter through all the nonsense this offseason, but even Gruden pleads with him, “Please stop this shit and just play football.”

AB shot his way out of Pittsburgh, got PAID by Oakland, then injured himself, then threw a tantrum over a helmet, then aired his dirty laundry with his bosses over his fine, then called his boss a “cracker,” then posted a recorded phone call with his coach on YouTube and is now paying the consequences with his wallet. Not exactly a sympathetic figure here.

It seems like Gruden understands AB is an absolute lunatic but just does not care. Get the man on the field on Sundays and just laugh through all the rest.

And that is totally fine, I almost respect Gruden’s blinders in the sake of talent, but holy hell does it make the team look bad and it cannot have a great affect on that locker room culture.

A lot of people have started to become legitimately worried about Antonio Brown and where his head is at mentally. Rich Eisen literally asked Drew Rosenhaus if Antonio is alright. Even Michael Irvin is concerned and he played on the 90s Cowboys.

Some are saying he’s unraveling in front of our eyes stemming from the absolutely vicious hit he took from Vontaze Burfict a couple of years ago.

I don’t know, but it seems like AB is dead set on burning bridges and the Raiders may be ready to let that bridge go up in flames. All I know is I spent a 3rd round pick on Brown in my fantasy draft last week so I am taking this entire situation personally.

The 300’s Official UFC 242 Preview

By on • ( 1 Comment )

What time is it? KHABIB TIME.

That’s right folks, our annual serving of championship-level Dagestani violence has just about arrived as Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to unify his undisputed belt with Dustin Poirier’s interim one. Both fighters have now made weight, with even Nurmagomedov making it look easy, so nothing stands in the way of us determining who is the best 155er in the world.

We haven’t seen “The Eagle” since he included in his post-mauling of Conor McGregor a hurdling of the cage in an attack of Conor’s team. HIS team then went INTO the cage to go after McGregor and were thus suspended for a year. The loyal 155lb champ swore to not fight until his teammates were also again eligible and so we went a year without seeing the most dominant fighter on the planet ply his trade.

Since then and in Khabib’s absence, Dustin Poirier has claimed the Interim Lightweight Championship in an unexpected and yet fairly one-sided beating of Max Holloway. Moving up to Lightweight has done wonders for the 30 year old Louisiana native and he looks to put the cherry on top of his slow and steady climb to the peak of MMA on Saturday by delivering Khabib Nurmagomedov his first loss.

The Main Event

Khabib Nurmagomedov (C) vs. Dustin Poirier (IC) For the  Undisputed UFC Lightweight (155lb Bout) Championship

We probably don’t need to get into too much detail about “The Eagle’s style, but it’s MMA porn so why not. The only way I can possibly explain it is that Khabib employs a encyclopedia-sized playbook of set ups to shoot in on his opponents, put them on their backs, and as he says himself, “smash” them until the ref steps in, they give up their neck, or leave their arm unattended and ripe for a kimura. In terms of the shot, The undefeated native of Dagestan has a violently explosive double leg that he sets up by winging overhand rights earlier in the fight. He’ll then use the same motion, pull the punch, and shoot in. He’ll also shoot a low single from wayyyy outside. Although he has successfully taken opponents down this way, he mostly uses this technique nowadays as a way of feeling out his opponents skill level and to judge their reaction of the attempt. This technique, after all, is how he set up the overhand right that he landed on McGregor in the 2nd round of their fight: using the same foot work as the outside low single shot, Khabib feigned like he’s going for it just as he had in the first, and then popped back up and threw the punch. With all of that said, it’s possible Nurmagomedov’s most effective takedowns happen along the cage, where he can isolate his opponents and use the trips he has perfected from his sambo background. Once he is on top, and especially if he is able to utilize his patented figure four on a foe’s ankles and lower legs, it is going to a long night for whoever is underneath,

Poirier has grown into quite the boxer over the last couple of years. He throws lightning fast combos aided by slick footwork, and he throws everything with some hate in his heart. Heavy shot after heavy shot comes at his opponents, and he has a particular ability and affinity to go to the body. When, not if, this fight goes to the ground, Poirier represents an interesting challenge. He is indeed a blackbelt in BJJ and has pulled off some nifty submissions in the past. If nothing else, he is a hunter and will not be content to just sit there and get pounded on.

I’m a big fan of both guys so this is a tough one to pick. In the end, Poirier just has not shown the takedown defense in the past for me not to think he winds up on his back early and often. With that said, his own grappling acumen and toughness makes me wonder how easily he’ll give up his back or arm.

The Pick – Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Dustin Poirier (TKO, RD3) and unifies UFC Lightweight Championship

Co-Main Event

Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder – Lightweight (155lb) Bout

In the Co-Main Event we have a rematch of a July 2015 bout between fan favorites and perennial contenders Edson Barboza and Paul Felder. In the first bout, the UFC did Felder no favors by putting the still-green Philly native in the cage against the peaking and absolutely savage muay thai practicioner Barboza. Philly Tough is Philly Tough however, and “The Irish Dragon” was able to stick it out to lose a brutal unanimous decision.

As mentioned, Felder was a different fighter back then. Sure he came from a traditional muay thai background as well, but he was just as much a brawler at the time and relied on his toughness more than anything. Since then, we’ve seen him become a very technical striker with a high fight IQ who also has found some comfort in his grappling. Felder has seemed to have also found his power source as well, as he knocked out three straight opponents prior to his previous two fights, a decision loss to Mike Perry up a weight class on short notice and UD in arguably his best performance to date over James Vick.

Barboza is Barboza. He has the fastest switch kick in the UFC and will land it anywhere. He of course is known for his vicious leg kicks and has finished opponents by crippling them more than once. He also will throw an array of flashy spinning strikes (sorry Terry Etim) when things get boring to keep his opponents on his toes. I’m not going to lie, I have no idea what Edson Barboza offers on the mat but I don’t see the fight going there anyway.

I’m a Paul Felder stan, but I just think Barboza does what he does except better.

The Pick – Edson Barboza def. Paul Felder (Unanimous Decision)

The Other Russians

Islam Makhachev vs. Davi Ramos – Lightweight (155lb) Bout

Bro, Islam Makhachev is a stud. I think how good he really is is blurred by that loss on his record, a surprising flash KO at the hands of Adriano Martins. At the time however, Martins was perpetually underrated and Makhachev may have needed a wake up call. With all that said, I’m not the only one who has wondered that if Khabib didn’t exist, would his teammate ” ‘Slam” be at the top of the 155 pound heap. Although his wrestling is more finesse based and he is not as crushingly dominant, Makhachev is still completely befuddling once he gets you down.

Ramos is an accomplished BJJ blackbelt who has decided he prefers engaging in fisticuffs. The problem with that is he doesn’t really have the reach or footwork to get where he needs to be to throw sometimes. When he does employ his mat skills though, he’s a handful indeed.

This is interesting the say the least. Ramos is slicker than most and Mkhachev does not apply the same pressure as his champion teammate. Still, the young Dagestani is too hot to not pick.

The Pick – Islam Makhachev def. Davis Ramos (Unanimous Decision)

Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Lerone Murphy – Featherweight (145lb) Bout

Remember earlier when I said Khabb’s teammates joined him in causing mayhem post-UFC 229 and got suspended? Ya, Tukhugov was kind of one of the main perpetrators. As a matter of fact, Dana White’s immediate reaction was to say the prospect was going to be cut altogether. Needless to say that didn’t happen on “The Eagle”‘s watch. So after some USADA trouble and then yearlong suspension for trying to jump the most famous fighter in the world, Tukhugov returns to try and make good on his potential that was once put in question by a 2016 decision loss to a surging Renato Carneiro, his only appearance in the UFC so far.  Unlike his teammates, “Warrior” likes to keep things standing. He is awkward as hell and will hit you how- and from wherever he chooses.

I honestly don’t know much about Murphy except that he once survived getting shot in the face twice, he is a highly touted British (??) prospect, and is a gigantic underdog.

The Pick – Zubaira Tukhugov def. Leron Murphy (TKO, RD2)

So that wraps this one folks. You’ll also get to see Curtis Blaydes kick the shit out of a giant guy and Joanne Calderwood fight Andrea Lee for some semblance of relevance/the right to get demolished by Valentina Schevchenko should her next opponent get hurt last minute. A reminder this one kicks off at 2:00pm EST as it’s in Abu Dhabi. Let’s goooooooo.

-Joey B.

Anddddd Now the Raiders Intend to Suspend Antonio Brown

By on • ( Leave a comment )

What a fucking saga. I mean what is even happening.

In case it was even remotely up for debate, Antonio Brown, and more specifically his head, is now in sole possession of the “Diva/Pain In Ass Wide Receiver” crown. He has surpassed Keyshawn Johnson, who felt it both worthy of his time and wise to write a book, mid-career, called “Give Me The Damn Ball.” He has also surpassed the WR whose name I won’t even utter he was such an asshat, but I’ll say he notably played  for the 9ers, Eagles, and Bengals, stopped getting signed because he’s such an asshole, and then went broke.

And now we have AB. His VERY successful and ultimately lucccrative time with the Steelers ended because he got pissed they drafted another talent and the ball was getting spread around. Keep in mind this resulted in Brown catching over 1,200 yards and a career high 15 TDs. But fuck them right? So he got in an argument with Big Ben, who he may or may not have hated anyway, got benched at the end of the year, and got traded to Oakland.

THEN THINGS JUST GOT STRAIGHT UP WEIRD. First, he froze-torched (look it up it’s a word) his toes almost clear off misusing a cryotherapy chamber. Not great, but ok. A dumb, dumb move but not a malicious or intentional act. However, what seems like mere moments later, the NFL decides his BELOVED helmet of choice (???!!) is now out of code and he has to get a new one. No biggie right? BIG WRONG MY FRIEND. See, AB can’t even imagine taking the field without this one particular helmet. So he sits out. During his first season with the team. Because of the helmet. And he obviously cannot practice not wearing one. Eventually he, the team, the NFL, I don’t know who else come to an agreement on a helmet he can use. All is forgiven. Except not.

Now, the thing is, the Raiders could not have cared less what means of head protection Brown used so these missed practices were not excused. So he was fined. Something to the tune of 50k. He’s making something like 18 mil a year I think, he can afford it right? EVEN BIGGER WRONG BUDDY OL’ PAL. At this point, AB posts on IG about the team “hating” on him and some other indiscernible shit. Who knows at this point.

Welp, I guess today Raiders’ GM Mike Mayock, noted drafted expert and very much not noted football exec, confronted AB about these posts and probably every other fucking stunt he’s pulled this offseason and they got into it. Gave each other the business if you will. Had at it. This exchange of pleasantries went so off the rails that the team is now SUSPENDING ANTONIO BROWN only six months after trading for him and before he plays a single regular season snap for them (in his new helmet). What a Goddam world. And as twitter said (I think Schefter said but no research as always) this thing is NOT over. We could honestly see Antonio Brown, top 5 receiver in the league, get traded again this year. Can you imagine that?! Even Keyshawn and Dickhead Who Shall Not Be Named weren’t so insufferable two teams shipped them in one year. But it could happen here.

This is just such a disaster of a situation. I can’t imagine who would even be takers in such a trade scenario. I guess the Raiders and AB will both hope this all just freezes over (LMFAO).

-Joey B.

PS: You know who has never been suspended from his own team for pure dickshiterry?  Josh Gordon.

Tim Thomas, 2019 Hockey HOF Inductee, Speaks Publicly for the First Time in Forever

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Boston.com  – Retired NHL goaltender Tim Thomas broke a years-long public silence Wednesday after being named as part of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2019.

The mercurial Thomas, who led the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011 and made headlines for refusing to visit then-President Barack Obama at the White House, has avoided the spotlight since walking away from hockey in 2014……“Everybody probably knows nowadays I don’t actually have all that much to say, at least publicly,” Thomas said on a conference call with reporters.

For all the legends, urban myths, and just plain strange anecdotes ingrained in Boston sports lore, the saga of Tim Thomas somehow goes largely unnoticed, at least on a day-to-day basis. Sure, if you were to sit around with your buddies and begin regaling each other with tales of Bruins fandom, particularly in the years surrounding the 2011 Cup win, Thomas and his eccentricities would come up. But otherwise, the two-time Vezina winner and his peculiar behavior is just a footnote in a big book that details pitchers who talked to the ball and offensive linemen who decided they were aerodynamic enough to stage dive.

Make no mistake about it, this isn’t just a post-playing career story. Thomas was always a bit of an odd duck. This of course is understandable as he is from Vermont and people from Vermont are a bit out there. I guess when your identity is half-Canadian, half-New Hampshirian and your atmosphere tests for pot like the air in Hong Kong tests for smog, you’re going to come out a little wacky. There’s also an accepted hotbed of communism in Vermont, which of course Thomas was a huge fan of as well. There he was, a stand out player in a bro-y, popular professional sport and his personal life resume read like someone who may try and overthrow the government.

Then Tim Thomas left hockey in 2014 and that was that. He’s 45 now and is said to live in basically a bunker in Colorado, following a survivalist’s lifestyle. While it would be easy to dismiss that as just as another example of how the B’s old netminder is just a bit of a space case, he actually gave some insight into why he lives the way he does when discussing why he doesn’t make appearances in Boston:

“With the state of my nervous system since I retired, I wouldn’t be able to hardly handle the energy of the crowd in Boston,” Thomas said. “So it isn’t as simple as it may seem. Having said that, you never know what the future may hold. I’m just taking life as it goes.”

Kind of makes you feel like a a bit of a traitor no? All this time we’ve been poking fun at “Timmy” for being some anti-government loon, while all along he just didn’t care for the attention to begin with. It would actually seem like he might have a touch of social anxiety, and as someone who is prone to ingesting a tiny quantity of special brownie in order to function in a large crowd, I can dig that. It gets overwhelming for some people.

But Thomas touched on one other reason for his departure from the hockey world.  Something we kind of forget about. However, it is a reason we’ve seen more and more frequently in the NFL as the risk-reward for playing has been put under the microscope: the love and passion for the game just isn’t there and is outweighed by that for other things.

“I have other interests. I have a totally other focus. I live in a totally different world than the hockey world that I lived in before. I live a long ways away from Boston, and it’s not that fun for me to travel anymore…”

The guy kind of…..just doesn’t give a shit about hockey anymore. And he kind of has that right, right? He gave hockey his entire life up until he was 40. He gave Boston some of his best years as well as a cup. What more can we ask for? We definitely don’t deserve anything.

So cheers to you, Tim. We appreciate the explanation. Congrats on the induction and enjoy whatever the hell it is that you do.

-Joey B,

 

The Latest News on Dustin Pedroia is the Darkest Yet

By on • ( 1 Comment )

ESPN – His name was written in pen on a sign over his locker. His Boston jerseys neatly dangled inside on hangers. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was back with the Red Sox — if only for a quick visit. He hobbled through the clubhouse Tuesday on crutches, his surgically repaired left knee on the mend.

Pedroia really doesn’t think about hitting so much these days as simply not hurting. He’s hoping the latest surgery on his troublesome knee allows him to throw batting practice with his kids pain-free one day. That’s really the extent of the plans for the 36-year-old Pedroia, who has been limited to nine games over the past two seasons.

Still, he wanted to drop by just to chat with his teammates as they opened a two-game interleague series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. Earlier this month, doctors removed bone spurs and performed a knee joint preservation procedure in Vail, Colorado.

Taking the field again? For now, that’s down the priority list.

“It would be nice to not hurt first,” said Pedroia, who has fond memories of Coors Field given that’s where the Red Sox clinched the 2007 World Series. “One step at a time. Hopefully, it works out.”

Before we get into the blog its my responsibility to remind everyone that Manny Machado is a dirtbag whenever discussing Dustin Pedroia. Moving on.

I don’t think many of us necessarily *expected* Dustin Pedroia to play baseball again, but this is probably the nail in the coffin. It sounds like he’s accepted the fact that he’s done and its probably time, but it doesn’t make it any less sad. I’ve held out hope that Pedroia would be able to return to at least a part-time role with the team. That is until I heard Jerry Remy (11 knee surgeries) talking earlier this year about a conversation he had with Pedroia and their shared knee issues.

He asked me, ‘Are there certain surfaces you have problems walking on?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, some hard surfaces.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I’ve got a floor in my house that I have to have changed because it bothers me.’

Remy added, “At the end of my career, I couldn’t move any more. I knew going to spring training I was done.

‘’I haven’t seen that much of Pedroia in the field this year. I saw him dive for a ball the other day and he wasn’t even close to it. But he turned some double plays. So you can’t make that judgement yet.

“But this is discouraging. Mentally, it’s very difficult to go through. It’s all you think about.’’

Dave Dombrowski basically told us Pedroia was done way back in 2017 when he said this knee injury was something Pedroia would have to monitor “for the rest of his career.” Pedroia then got a knee surgery he was pretty hesitant to get and the Red Sox publicly said the second baseman would be back in 7 months. Pedey returned in May 2018 before going back on the DL in June after just 3 games. Then in July 2018 Pedroia started dropping some pretty startling quotes about how he simply cannot risk coming back too early. Here’s what I wrote at the time.

That is scary. That sounds like a guy who is seriously concerned about his ability to recover from an injury. Forget returning to previous form, that is a guy who sounds like he might be done entirely…the days of Dustin Pedroia as your starting second baseman may be gone. Because when healthy, Pedroia can still absolutely mash and is one of the toughest outs in baseball, but therein lies the problem; Pedroia is rarely healthy anymore.

Pedroia was back for Spring Training and we were all pretty excited here at The 300s as No. 15 was ready to go for Opening Day…but only played 6 games before going back on the IL. He publicly stated that his knee “will never heal” back in May and shut down his rehab in an emotional press conference. I was convinced he was going to announce his retirement, but it seems like he wanted to take some time off and give it one more go.

Things sound a lot more myopic now though as this pretty dark update on Pedey dropped the other day. Despite playing in just 9 games in his last 2 seasons, he’s due to make $13M in 2020 and $12M in 2021 before becoming a free agent at 37-years-old. Here’s to hoping Pedroia can at the very least get healthy enough to enjoy his life and then maybe think about playing some ball again, but it seems like that goal is a distant second at this point.

Jayson Tatum Just Got Injured at the FIBA World Cup

By on • ( Leave a comment )

So Team USA narrowly avoided disaster and escaped with a first round W over Turkey, but it took some pretty fortuitous bounces, going to overtime, oh and the Celtics best young player getting hurt for that to happen.

Its too early to tell whether its a serious injury or not, but Tatum needing help to get off the court is not a good sign. Hopefully its just a tweaked ankle and he’ll be fine in a couple of days, but until then we panic.

Red Sox Ticket Prices Are Now Comically Low

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Catch the fever! Tickets to September Red Sox games are going for $6 bucks online right now. That is mental. You can get in tonight for $6, tomorrow for $7 and you can even get into Red Sox Yankees Sunday Night Baseball for $18.

I remember being a kid in the early 2000s and you couldn’t get into a Sox Yanks game for less than a bill. The first thing I did every April was sign up for the Red Sox/Yankees ticket lottery just to get a shot at those tickets for a decent price. Granted the Red Sox are 15 games out of first place in the AL East and 5.5 back of the second Wild Card spot. So as I said to a couple New Yorkers busting my balls over the weekend, we’re getting to the point in the Red Sox season where its almost Patriots season.

What a difference a year makes. Last September the Sox were just crushing teams en route to the World Series and I had no problem staying up til 3 am watching a 7 hour 18-inning game. Hell, I was in freaking Buffalo for work during the ALDS so I had to watch the Sox-Yankees in some Buffalo dive bar and I was more than happy to do it. Now? I’m not exactly racing home to watch David Price give up 5 runs in 5 innings and then opine about how his stuff felt good.

But, if I’m being a glass half full guy, which I know so many of you look to me for my optimism, I could at least expand my bobblehead collection two-fold for less than $20 in the next week.

Just shut everyone down, punt on 2019, make some moves in the winter, and come back with your heads screwed on in 2020. We’re done here.

Merry Allston Christmas

By on • ( Leave a comment )

img_2460-e1567188846675.jpg

It’s the unofficial last day of summer here at The 300s headquarters. We’re heading into Labor Day weekend, and with August 31st/September 1st falling on Saturday/Sunday, Boston is gearing up for a brutal eventful Allston Christmas.

In case you’re not from the area, or didn’t go to school in Boston, Allston Christmas is the time of year when tens of thousands of college students return to the city, Allston in particular. It’s also a moving day for a good number of the young professionals who rent apartments in God’s Country. I mean Allston.

This year, Harpoon has even introduced a new brew to celebrate the holiday.

We’re doing our part here at The 300s, too. As the poet laureate of The 300s, please allow me to present Have Yourself a Merry Allston Christmas.

Have yourself a merry Allston Christmas
Let your move be light
From now on our UHauls will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry Allston Christmas
Don’t get storrowed today
From now on our UHauls will be miles away

Here we are in our Allston days
Like our college days of yore
Craigslist friends who are dear to us
May their rent checks clear once more

Through this year we’ll always be together
In our two-bed split
Snag a brand new couch from the curb below
And have yourself a merry Allston Christmas now

Craigslist friends who are dear to us
May their rent checks clear once more

Through this year we’ll always be together
In our two-bed split
So snag a brand new couch from the curb below
And have yourself a merry Allston Christmas now

If we can get Michael Buble to record this, I really think it’ll take off.

Safe travels and move-ins this weekend everybody!