Not that I would ever assume myself to be smarter than anyone else, or to have a better tastes than anyone else -- but let's be honest -- November is a brutal month when it comes to things baseball related to talk about. With that in mind, I'm resorting to the old stand by of recommendations. From time to time I'll come on here and put my tastes on display and offer up some suggestions on some Red Sox related item, along with it a brief review of said item. So excuse me while I take off my Red Sox cap, and throw on my arrogant, condecending review-er hat.First up: The Teammates: A Portrait of a Friendship written by David Halberstam.
The Teammates follows the final trip made by Johnny Pesky and Dom DiMaggio, along with Halberstam, to see Ted Williams before his passing. While that is the premise of the book, the heart and soul of it deals simply with four men. Ted Williams, Dominic DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr. What they were as ballplayers, as men, and obviously the relationship they had as teammates. The author also does well in showing the bigger moments that shaped their lives, all the while keeping the book greatly entertaining and in parts very, very funny.
As cliche as it sounds, it was a different time --- and definitely a different game. David Halberstam was/is/will always be a giant in a world of authors and writing about baseball was something that fell right into the sweet spot of his swing.
The book itself isn't too long at 217 pages in the paperback edition, and I guarantee it won't even feel that long. I strongly would have to recommend this to anyone who enjoys A) well written books, B) well written books on baseball, C) any Red Sox fan and D) well.... everyone. It has the irrefutable seal of approval from the "Nation of One" critics, whatever that's worth.
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Believe me when I say this; I'm the first person to pipe up about how tired pontificating over rumors is. Not only due to the fact that rarely do these rumors come to fruition, but 99% of rumors are simply a "wish list" rather than being based off of some concrete evidence. With that said, allow me a brief amount of time to expound on a rumor circulating. That of the Red Sox trading in order to acquire 
Good lord I'm ready for next season to begin. Yes, the season is a long 162 games and by all means could and should be shortened (to 154). But for me baseball is the perfect game. There is no doubt that the NFL is king in this country. Baseball might be raking in record profits, but football is number one. But c'mon, it takes minimal effort to be a football fan. 16 days out of the year, plus the playoffs and draft day. So let's say 20 days out of the year is the minimum it takes to be a football fan. Filling ones time reading the arrests during the week, or only caring about football because of your fantasy team is all well and good. But as exciting as football, college or the NFL, can be. It pales in comparison to baseball.
Back from my sabbatical. Whether it was a general disappointment in the Red Sox, a peaked tolerance level of the garbage TBS production or just a general short term burn out on all things sports -- I had to step away for a few days. But now? Back to the same old bitter, irrational, angry person that rambles on this website.
