Timlin at Fort Myers this year - Courtesy of Kelly O'Connor/sittingstill.net and used with permission
I have spring fever, I’ll admit it. My focus has pretty much been looking out the window or going for walks to take in the gorgeous weather – so I apologize for dropping the ball here.
How excited was I to read that the Red Sox signed Alan Embree to a minor league contract? I seriously yelled, gleefully, “Oh my God, Alan Embree!!!!” when I read it this morning. Alan was “dead” to me for a while (I ended up getting over the whole signing with the Yankees thing eventually but have a harder time wrapping my mind around his laughing at the Red Sox (and especially Mike Timlin) while sitting in the Yankee dugout in 2005 and watching them get swept by the White Sox. BUT it’s time for bygones to be bygones, no? (Yes. Yes it is. )
Speaking of Mike, on March 10, my man Mike Timlin (I know he’s retired but he’ll always be “My man”) turned 44 years old. I only point this out because of the amazing photo Kelly O’Connor took (and sent me!) on her first full day at Spring Training yesterday. Mike is looking good and, by all accounts, doing well. This all pleases me greatly. And I look at that picture above and shake my head when I think about how many people consider the guy “old”. Keep on keeping on, Mike!
Alan and Mike are forever intertwined in my mind not just because of ’03 and’04 but because of how, in 2005, Mike defended his friend to the media on the day he was designated for assignment. When asked how he felt about it he turned it around on them and asked them how they would feel if one of their associates was dumped. One of Timlin’s most endearing qualities, in my opinion, is how he has the tough guy exterior but is willing to let his soft side show too. I’ve missed both of these men wearing the Sox uniform and while (no offense to Alan) I’m rather it had been Mike signing the contract, I’m happy that Alan is getting another chance with the team.
The very first blog entry I ever created was about Alan Embree. I was cranky, he was cranky. (I didn’t start blogging because of him…I had set up the blog and just not started yet. Seeing him in pinstripes and then reading what he said – see the entry for his quotes – really set me off. ) In hindsight, I can’t blame him for saying things like that toward the team that had just dropped him. You say things when you’re upset that you don’t necessarily mean. At the time I took it all to be a slap to the fans, some of which (like me) still supported him. I hope I take things less personally these days…but I’m not so sure. 🙂
In September of 2008, I did “Five Fun Facts” on Alan Embree (which reminds me that I haven’t done that in a while…need to get back in the groove!).  My favorite Fun fact that wasn’t on that list? The man was on the mound in 2004 when the Red Sox won game 7 of the ALCS. For that memory alone, any grudge I might have held has gone by the wayside.
Welcome back to the Nation, Alan! Now I have another “old guy” to root for.
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