Thailand and Updike

Firstly, Liz, Rachel, and I will be leaving for Thailand on Friday and will come back a couple weeks later. No idea if I'll have internet access, or the inclination to write anything while staying in what is reputedly the most beautiful country in the world. Pictures and stories will abound upon our safe return.

Finally, John Updike passed away yesterday. I was never a huge Updike fan; nothing against the man and his work, but I just haven't gotten around to reading him yet. However, his October 1960 New Yorker essay "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu" - which covers Ted Williams' final game at Fenway Park and, in a roundabout way, Williams' career - left a lasting impression on me after I first read it some 10 years ago. The opening paragraph gives the quintessential and oft-repeated portrait of Fenway Park; the terse, perfect, and famous line, "Gods do not answer letters," could serve as a subheader on a Williams biography; but perhaps my favorite section, one that I considered during the that magical 2004 postseason run, is obviously about something much more than baseball:

...there will always lurk, around a corner in a pocket of our knowledge of the odds, an indefensible hope, and this was one of the times, which you now and then find in sports, when a density of expectation hangs in the air and plucks an event out of the future.

Wake's back

Photo courtesy of Boston.com

Tim Wakefield, my favorite Red Sox pitcher of all time, will be back with the team next year. Wake currently has 164 career wins. If he is healthy and can put up his standard 12 wins a year for the next three seasons, Wake will surpass the immortal Cy Young and that scumbag from Texas for the most wins all-time in franchise history (both have 192). In addition, his 1,907 career strikeouts are tied for 77th all-time in Major League Baseball history. He already has more strikeouts than Ron Guidry, Bret Saberhagen, Frank Viola, one of the Niekros, and anybody nicknamed "Wayback" (groan). If he gets about 110 strikeouts next year (which is below his career average but probably a pretty good bet, judging from the last three years), he will surpass Whitey Ford, Al Leiter, Catfish Hunter, and Orel Hershiser. Much love Wake - keep it up for another 10 years.

Tim Wakefield approved

Just wanted to shoot out a belated congrats to the Sox on making the postseason yet again. As far as autumn in New England goes, I think I'll miss October baseball more than fall foliage, Sam Adams Octoberfest, and hating returning college students.

Special congratulations go to Jason Bay, who had to switch the dates of his timeshare in Sanibel to November for the first time in his career; to MVP Dustin Pedroia; to captain 'Tek and his robust .220 batting average; to Tito's fleece pullover; to Dice-K's finesse; and to Tim Wakefield, my all time favorite Red Sox player.

(Photo courtesy of Surviving Grady)

Yes, Tim, I also approve.

Okay, back to your regularly scheduled China programming...