Hanging Chad

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- I've never actually met Chad Curtis, but in 1992 I shared pleasantries with the former outfielder at Fenway Park.

On the same August night that Larry Bird retired, and Gary Disarcina wore a "33" on his cap, Curtis was playing right field for the Angels and I was playing wiseguy for the right field grandstand. Late in the game, Curtis was long-tossing between innings and skied a throw into the Angels bullpen. I stood up, yelled something super-witty and clever like, "Nice throw, Chad!" and much to my great delight, Curtis heard it, turned in my direction and gave me a full-armed flip-off, glove and everything.

I've been a Chad Curtis fan ever since. Dustin Pedroia? Not so much, according to Terry Francona.

"Last year I introduced [Pedroia] to [Ken] Macha,” Francona said Thursday. “Ken was just making conversation and he said, ‘You know, you remind me of Chad Curtis,’ and he really meant it as a compliment. Pedey was like, ‘Are you [kidding] me?’ I went from I was just introducing a friend to the guy to me having to hold Pedey back.”