Give Mark Bellhorn a Hug!

So...

Tony Graffanino, eh? What is it about him that people like? Oh, is it that he hits? That must be what it is, because as far as I can see there isn't much else. And not that hitting the ball is necessarily a *bad* thing; it isn't. However, in order for Graff to be the second coming of Christ (like you'd think he was, the way people like Tom Caron are fawining all over him, drooling, denouncing Mark Bellhorn, etc.) he might have to play a little defensive ball. I know, what could I possibly be thinking?! He hits, right? And what's the unsaid rule of baseball? If you hit, you can be a complete blithering idiot on the field (sorry, Manny...).

I guess I'm biased because I think that Mark Bellhorn is a great defensive second baseman. Yeah, he struggles at the plate. Ya think he's nervous? Could it have something to do with him blinking about seven-million times at the plate? Take a valium, Mark...you can do it! Are Sox fans putting too much pressure on you? Do they rudely and disgustingly "boo" you? Do they think that because we're losing games (hello, bullpen!) it's your fault?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you just might be right. And you know what, it's not his fault. Yeah, yeah....he needs batting practice and maybe a little more confidence. But damn it! People! Get off his back! Do you see how the man plays second? How many catches does he make? How great of a double play can this man turn? A great one. And you know what else? He's a team player. Wow.

At any rate, the actions in the clubhouse as of late (ie; Bellhorn goes on the 15-DL with a sprained thumb, Graff comes to Boston and gets some playing time), and the on-field bobbles by Graffanino, I'm just wondering why on earth he's a better second baseman than Bellhorn. The other teams already know why *they* like him--hell, hit a small bloop to short right, and it'll get right through; Graff doesn't hang out there! He sucks around all day on the bag over at second. And when he *does* hang out on the edge of the grass, he drops the ball. Yeah. Last Wednesday I saw it with my own little eyes; routine fly, short right field...he's got it! Oh no, wait...it's on the ground. My bad!

And I'm sorry Tony. I know you're a wop like me, but I'm not feeling the love. I've stood by Mark Bellhorn all year, cheered my lungs out; I wear a Bellhorn shirt to Fenway (and get harrassed by little kids!); I stick up for Mark Bellhorn at every turn. I remind people that he's got seven homers on the season, that he's good with the doubles, that he's clutch as hell, that defensively he's great, he's got less errors that Ren-Dawg (I know *that* isn't saying much...sorry Eddie!). Hell, when was the list time you saw him commit an error?

Anyway, before we fire up the Italian-American Day festivities at Fenway, let's give Mr. Bellhorn a little more credit; he's been on our team for two years, he's been with us through the good and the bad; he's been clutch when we needed him (Pesky Pole, anyone?). Damn it, he has more home runs on the season than Kevin Millar, yet for some odd reason Mark Bellhorn remains the eternal whipping boy. I mean, every time the guy hits a homer, somebody else on the team does something even more fabulous (like the time Mark homered then had to live in the shadow of a catch-and-block by 'Tek at the plate) and everyone forgets about it. Mark Bellhorn doesn't bling! He doesn't need to; he quietly does his job and stoicly hangs out in short right (where he should be! Hello, Graffanino! Take a left, douchebag!)

So, enough with the jeering. Hell, we've always rooted for the underdog, right? Isn't that what we do best? Give it a rest, Boston fans! Let the man rest (in Arizona). Do I think this trip to the DL was spawned by this lack of production? Totally. The sprained thumb could be healed by now, but Mark needs a break. So let's give him one! And when he gets back, give him a big 'ol sweaty, greasy hug to show that you care!

(Or, if you're Christian, give him a banana)