Changing of the Guard - Balfour Ragefest

For a while now, you've known Three if by Strike as the "unofficial fan page of Kelly Shoppach."  Obviously that was before the catcher was traded from Boston to the Mets, but with the season the Sox were having, there was no reason to call it a day after the deal.

Well, the regular season is over, and to keep things fresh around here, Three if by Strike will be endorsing various people or phenomenons, and our newest adventure was introduced on the blog just a few posts ago.

With the MLB postseason getting underway on Friday, I give my complete allegiance to the Balfour Ragefest.  Fewer things in baseball have been as ridiculous as this (Kevin Millar's "Rally Guy," the Los Angeles Angels "Rally Monkey" and the Tampa Bay Ray's cowbells come to mind) and I doubt there will ever be anything like this again.

If you're just catching up with us, Ragefest is what ensues when Oakland closer Grant Balfour enters a game at the O.co Coliseum.  It seems so simple, but there's nothing quite like this in all of sports.

So without further ado, welcome to Three if by Strike, "the unofficial East Coast fan page of the Balfour Ragefest!"

(Not Yet) Official Fan Page of Kelly Shoppach

 Great beard and a great nickname -- sometimes that's all it takes, and this is one of those times.  Starting in the minors for the Sox back in 2002, Kelly Shoppach has worked his way up to spots with the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays and now back with the Boston Red Sox.  The only thing he's missing?  A well-deserved fan page.

Ever since our recent endeavour to try and get Shoppach to have a beer with us, we decided that a fan page was in order.  We'll be keeping everyone updated with Shophouse stats, Shophouse pictures, Shophouse fun facts, etc.

Since our name alludes to a batter getting out and has nothing to do with Shoppach in the least, I doubt we will ever be official, but I like to give credit where credit is due regardless.