Sunday Reading

("Batting Practice Balls" photo by Flickr user Boston Fan in Michigan)

Here are five links for Sunday afternoon while we all try to recover from seeing Britney Spears bald:

"From Pearl Lagoon to Back Bay" [ESPN]
"From Cessna airplane to motorized canoe to Pearl Lagoon, the journey isn't for the weak." Amy K Nelson visits Red Sox pitcher, Devern Hansack, in his hometown in Nicaragua.

"Rule Changes" [Baseball Musings]
David Pinto breaks down the recently announced MLB rule changes.

"It will be fun rolling out Dice-K" [NY Newsday]
Ken Davidoff looks at "the Rivalry's newest wrinkle" -- and he doesn't believe in the gyro ball.

"Crap Sandwich" [Dan Shaughnessy Watch]
Thank the stars that "the Watch" reads Shaughnessy's drivel so that we don't have to.

"59Fifty Surgery" [Bugs & Cranks]
Bugs & Cranks offers step by step instructions on how to perform "surgery" on a new hat. (I usually just send mine through the dishwasher with a rubber band around it, but these instructions are better.)

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Sunday Afternoon Reading

Here are seven links for Sunday afternoon as we get psyched for the "Dice-K all day every day" media frenzy that will begin continue when Daisuke Matsuzaka arrives in Fort Myers this week. Sushi for dinner anyone?

"New England Japanese" [Matsuzaka Watch]
Mike Plugh explores the cultural bridge that Matsuzaka is likely to forge between the people of Boston and the nation of Japan. Good stuff.

"Matsuzaka factor Mobilizes Red Sox" [Boston.com]
"It is an open question how Daisuke Matsuzaka adjusts to the world of the Boston Red Sox, but it's clear how much the Sox have already transformed that world for their new Japanese pitcher, to a degree unprecedented for anyone else who has ever worn the uniform."

"Matsuzaka Masterpiece: Glimpses of Greatness in Arm of Teenager" [NY Times]
Jack Curry tells the story of Dice-K's gutsy 17 inning 200+ pitch performance as a high school pitcher in Japan.

"The 100 Greatest Red Sox" [Top 100 Red Sox Project]
A group of Red Sox bloggers have united to count down the top 100 Sox players in the history of the franchise. Today they've added #89 Butch Hobson and #90 Brian Daubach.

"Who Do You Love?" [Boston Dirt Dogs]
Vote for your favorite Red Sox since 1967.

"Making Noise: Batter Up! Is MLB Prepping for an Interactive IPO?" [Yahoo]
This article analyzes the business side of Major League Baseball's "Extra Innings" deal with DirecTV.

"Bill Veeck, Baseball Genius" [One More Dying Quail]
A New Hampshire blogger takes a unique look at baseball owner and promoter, Bill Veeck, who was best known for sending a midget to bat as a publicity stunt.


Dog and Newspaper Cartoon by Leo Cullum
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