The deal that wasn't...

The days and weeks leading up to the deadline pointed to the Sox not doing much of anything. In the last couple of days, there have been names like Clemens, Schmidt, Soriano, and Andruw Jones being thrown out as real possibilities. What a big tease.

If not for the recent injury to Trot (won’t know how severe until at least 4:01 PM today), things would probably be status quo. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may have altered the thinking in the front office. But apparently it wasn’t enough to persuade them into making a deal. Say hello Wily Mo & Kapler. Let’s hope this isn’t the beginning of the end for Trot.

While some of the deals proposed made some sense, but they didn’t really address the major need of starting pitching:

1) Lowell & prospects for Linebrink & Lugo
2) Lowell & prospects for Shealy & “more than reputable starter” (who?)

From fairy land…
1) Andruw Jones for; Lester, Coco, and Hansen (yeah, OK. Why not Papelbon too?)
2) Clemens – if he didn’t want to ruffle feathers in Houston before, why now?
3) Schmidt – see ridiculous Braves offer above.
4) Kip Wells – did the Sox really “lose out” on this one?
5) What team would trade a starter (Buehrle) for a CF (Coco) hitting .260?
6) Both Lowell & Coco were assured they were not on the block?

The good thing is that the Sox didn’t have a Duquette knee jerk reaction to the Yanks acquisition of Abreu & Lidle. They kept their young talent intact and didn’t leverage the future. While that trade helps the Yanks, it doesn’t put them over the top. It shores up the rotation with an upgrade over Ponson, and adds a little more pop (not power) to the lineup. They also poured gasoline on Sheff. Have fun with that in the clubhouse.

Pitching is what makes the difference down the stretch and in the playoffs. While the Yanks did improve, they basically added a #5 guy. Their staff ace in Mussina has been the anchor, but has been prone to breaking down the last few years especially late in the season. Wang has been good, but he’s not dominant (36BB, 45K’s) and is unproven in the playoffs. The Big Unit just came off a shelling by the D-Rays (now 11-9, 5+ Era), and Wright rarely gets past the 5th inning.

The Sox have Schill leading the way despite his last outing. He gets better the bigger the game is. Beckett has been inconsistent, but has only given up more than 3 runs twice in his last 10 games, and lowered his ERA by ½ a run during that span. He’s young and still getting better, maybe he’s figuring out the AL. Lester has pitched very well and should continue to get better. Wells returns tonight and will probably get shelled. Let’s hope he rights the ship quickly. He could be a huge asset down the stretch. Wakefield is still on the shelf and his return is still weeks away. The experiment in the #5 spot has only produced 1 win since the break. Ouch.
Why did the Sox stand pat? Here are some issues that may have affected their reasoning:

1) David Wells. He probably would have packed it in if he didn’t think he’d pitch down the stretch. Must have looked good in side sessions.
2) Wakefield. Should be back in a couple of weeks, solid innings eater.
3) Phil Seibel. Return from 2005 Tommy John surgery, started 9 games in AA with a 1.20 era, now in AAA with 1.86 era. Stay tuned.
4) They already have similar to what’s available.
5) The infield. Why would you change the best fielding % in the majors?
6) The farm (the pricetag). Front office refused to part with talent for a rental player. Aside from 2004, can you name a good deadline deal for the Sox? Suppan? Sauerbeck?

The Sox should be there at the end. They’ve been able to withstand multiple injuries (Wells, Clement, Coco, Pena, etc) and still have one of the best records at this point of the season since the 70’s. Will Schill, Beckett, and Wake be enough in a short playoff series? The Angels, Twins, and Tigers (in that order) will be very tough in a short series.
It doesn’t seem too far out of reach for the Sox. As long as health isn’t a major issue, they should be able to grind their way into the playoffs. They have a favorable schedule and a recent history of playing well down the stretch. Regardless, it’s going to come down to the last week if not the last couple games. Strap in folks. It’ll be the Sox, Yanks, Twins, and Chisox battling for 2 spots. Should be one of the most exciting finishes in recent memory…

Sox start left coast trip on a roll...

Sox 5th starter du jour Snyder pitched fairly well in his 3rd start for the Sox. After cruising thru the first 4 innings he was affected by an apparent cramp, yielded 2 runs, and was not able to return to the 6th. Lets just hope its only a cramp. This rotation cannot afford another setback.

Sox rook Kason Gabbard gets his first major league start today. He had a great start at AA Portland, but struggled in AAA Pawtucket before making adjustments. His last 2 starts have been solid. Apparently he didn't make the trip with the team because Theo had a deal in the works for another starter. Who? Take a look at todays starters around the league. The potential deal may also have been nixed due to Wells apparent recovery. He had another good side session and could return as early as Aug 3rd or 8th.

Few notes...

Great job by the front office inking Beckett for another 3 years, at an average of under $9M per year. Even at 26, Beckett is still better than any of the latest free agent signings, and at less $. Pavano, Clement, AJ Burnett, etc have all been disappointing. Can you imagine how much Beckett would cost on the open market? Probably $12m+ at a minimum.

Jon Lester returns to his hometown and starts tomorrow. With 50 of his friends and family present, it will be interesting to see how he responds. He seems to have embraced the deluge of local media with open arms. Good sign for a rook...

The Yanks have dropped their last 3 with A-Ro (no "D", get it) committing 5 errors in his last 5 games. He's getting booed at home all the time. Rumors have him headed out of NY where he supposedly can't handle the pressure any more (16 errors already). Don't see anyone taking on that salary however. Also, it looks like the Octavio Dotel experiment has ended in NY.

Trade Deadline:

The Mike Lowell for Jake Peavy trade shouldn't have been published. What a goof.

Why would the Sox have any interest in SS Julio Lugo, when Gonzo is better???

Don't look for the Sox to take on $30M remaining for a Bobby Abreu type player either...

The rumors with any substance:

Kyle Lohse: 2-5, 7.14 Era (Sox said no thanks)
Odalis Perez: 4-4, 6.94 (again, no thanks)
Livan Hernandez: 6-8, 5.85 (already have similar, NL pitcher, asking price too high)

Look for a swap of relievers to happen: Julian Tavarez / Rudy Seanez, for a Ray King (Colorado) or similar exchange

With Wells return looking good and only a handful of teams out of it, this team on the field should be the same in Oct...

Sox limp out of the gate in 2nd half...

Boy are those Sox hitters making these mediocre guys look good. The Sox pitchers (other than Schill) made that Oakland lineup look like bashers (2nd to last in AL in runs). Yes, Oakland is typically a good 2nd half team, but that wasn't Atlanta's Hudson on the mound last night either.

While its way too early to be alarmed, the Yanks are winning right now (settle down Yankee fans - its only a 4 game streak). And those ChiSox don't look like they did last season going a combined 1-5 vs the Sox and Yanks (going 19 innings to get the 1 win). That team era of 4.5+ is not even close to last season. Look for Detroit (a full run lower era) to take the central going away ("hip" pick is Chicago right now). Don't count out a good pitching Minnesota team taking a run at the Chisox & wildcard either.

Sox now have more pitching issues. It sounds like Wake will be put on the DL soon. How far is the tandem of Jason Johnson & Snyder going to take you as your 4 & 5 starters? Here comes David Pauley or Marc Deschenes folks. The bats better get hot when these guys are on the mound.

What it comes down to is Schill & Beckett being lights out. Someone other than Papi & Manny need to step up every night.

Clement is probably done (and maybe not just for this season - offseason trade to NL is likely).
Whatever happened to Lenny DiNardo?
Are we pinning our hopes on Wells getting healthy? Yikes.
Will this push Theo to do something at the deadline?
Are Pedroia, Murphy, Ellsbury, Moss, or Edgar Martinez now expendable?

Yanks aren't in a much better situation. Sidney "don't hit the judge" Ponson is now taking the mound for the bombers. Good luck with that one. Other than Mussina & recently Wang, there's no consistency. Your young players are getting hurt, and nagging injuries are mounting (Damon, A-Rod). The dog days are coming and they are OLD.

Looks like the trade deadline just got more interesting. The real question is there a deal out there for either team to put them over the top? Not likely for either. Both need more pitching (and do you even consider an NL pitcher at this point?).

Would like to see Theo go after Cleveland's Cliff Lee. His name hasn't been put out there yet. Cleveland is out of it, and he's only signed thru this year. Numbers aren't eye popping by any stretch (9-6, 4.68 ERA) but would be a solid #5 guy. He's a better option than what we have now, and you probably wouldn't have to give up the farm to get him.

Other possibilities:
Kansas City - Mark Redman 6-5, 5.02 (free agent at end of season)
Colorado - Josh Fogg 7-5, 4.23 (last year of 1 year deal)
Atlanta - John Smoltz - too much to give up
Philly - Jon Lieber 3-7, 5.56
Florida - no one is left
Nats - Tony Armas 6-4, 4.44 (just off DL)
Cubs - Glendon Rusch 3-7, 7.48 (just off DL)
Pittsburgh - Kip Wells 0-4, 9.13 (just off 60 day DL)

First Half a success...

How can it not be while sitting with a 3 game lead over the Yanks?

Their 53 - 33 is best record at the break in recent memory (52 - 33 back in 02).

Overall it's been a great first half.

The Downside:

- Trade of Arroyo (how does this one look with the injuries to the staff & Wily Mo? Ouch.)
- Injuries: Wells, Foulke, Clement, DiNardo, Wily Mo, Coco
- Nagging injuries: Varitek, Wake, Timlin, possibly Schill
- Tavarez & Seanez performances out of the pen
- Inconsistent Beckett - still hasn't found the AL groove yet, too many homers

The Upside:

- Addition & success of young arms (Lester, Delcarmen, Hansen, Lopez)
- Papelbon success - possible consideration for rookie honors, Cy, & MVP
- Youkilis solid at 1st, best OBP for leadoff
- Defense - best in MLB - gold glovers at 3rd, short, and make case for 2B
- Offense - 2nd in MLB - Lowell, Youkie, Loretta making the difference, Gonzo & Coco coming on
- Chemistry? Jury still out on this one. Havent' heard much, but nothing bad either. Manny might actually be happy.
- Intangibles: Sox have very few road trips in 2nd half, only one is more than 2 cities long

The deadline:

Needs? Other than a 5th starter or an arm in the pen, Theo seems to have an easy job. This would figure to be one of the less active deadlines in recent memory. The price of acquiring pitching is also sky high apparently.

Options?

Clement is probably done for the year - based on his latest tweak during his rehab. The MRI isn't showing damage, so it must be psychological...

Wells might not pitch again. It's quite strange that we've heard nothing about his rehab or medical status. Based on his comments from last season, you'd think he would retire if he couldn't come back.

Jason Johnson? Can't expect much more than 5 runs per game. He was released for a reason.

Snyder? Pauley? These guys seem like the next reasonable option if Johnson doesn't improve.
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Rumors:

Latest is that the Sox were inquiring about Bobby Abreu from the Phils. Apparently they were asking for Jon Lester in return. Right. They would also be taking on $20M for this & next year. How long did it take to say no? However, this may signal the end of Trot. If they don't think he'll re-sign at their value, they probably won't hesitate to get value for him.
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That's it. If Theo thinks Clement and/or Wells can contribute, he might not do anything. Foulke may return to add to the pen. As long as the club stays healthy, he might be seen on the beach.
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ENJOY THE BREAK!

Jermaine the juicer?

After watching Jermain Dye closely in this last series, he is NOT the same guy who played for Oakland a few years back. His last good season was with KC back in 2000. He's been injury plagued ever since. How many guys improve at the age 0f 32 after a history of injuries?
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Dye's #'s back in 2000: .321 BA, 33HR, 118RBI - his 5th year (and best) in the majors...
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He hasn't approached any of those #'s since. He only played 60 games in 2003. He supposedly is still bothered by nagging injuries.
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His #'s this season (if you double his 1st half): .318BA, 48HR, 130RBI - shattering his career bests
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The point is he hasn't been this good - ever. It's his 10th season. He's always been hurt (he missed 20 games last year). If someone has a breakout year early in their career, thats one thing. If a guy performs consistently and his #'s spike for a season, thats another. If there was a relevant reason for the spike, such as hitting in front of a Jim Thome (and not behind) well, OK.
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While no proof or even rumor has been floated out there, this is not the guy we remember. His numbers are off the charts. He doesn't pass the "eyeball" test either. Maybe he's completely healthy now or found the fountain of youth. Are we crazy here or is something just not right? We certainly don't have any proof, only suspicion. Are we missing something? We hope someone can put this to rest out there...

Streaking Sox hammer Pedro...

Did you ever imagine that headline?

Out with the old....



And in with the new...

Pedro's return to Fenway was not what he imagined. Although he noted last week he preferred not to face his old teammates. It wasn't pretty. Petey looked rattled in the first when he had trouble deciding what to do with a grounder hit right back to him. An easy double play ball translated into only 1 out and the runners on base scored. It was clear that the return clearly affected him.

Beckett stole the show last night. So was it that big of a mistake not signing Pedro? You wouldn't have Beckett if you did. Here's a few questions to think about:

How effective would Pedro be if he stayed in the AL? Is the NL he's pitching in truly as weak as the last 11 games have shown?

How much does Pedro have left in the tank? Only 1 pitch hit 91 last night. He's got 2 years left on his contract. How effective is that $14m going to be in the next 2 years?

Looks like the Sox might have been prudent sticking to 3 years...

Beckett looks like he's found himself. The transition to the AL may finally have taken hold. Oh yeah, he's only 26...

Few random thoughts...

Correction - last Sox 10 game win streak was late Aug into Sep, back in 2004...

How hot is Gonzo? His average rose from .220 to .267 in 13 games. Wow.

Sox are hitting .340 as a team during this 11 game streak, and bypassed the Yanks and Toronto in runs scored for the year.

Sox are now on pace for over 100 wins...

Despite multiple injuries and this recent run, the Yanks are only 3 1/2 back. Toronto is hanging in at 5 back. Just feels like more distance should have been made. They were tied with Toronto & 1 behind the Yanks.

What's going to happen at the deadline?

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Probably bullpen help only. Why? The emergence of Lester, the pickups of Snyder & Johnson, and Clement's rehab reportedly going well. Don't forget David Wells, who they may just hold back until Aug 1 anyway. If he was going to retire, he would have already.

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Defense? Nope. Already best in the majors...

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Offense? Who do you take out of this lineup? Outfield: Kapler is back & Wily Mo will be in mid July. Infield: Apparently Pedroia is on fire in AAA, and Cora is batting over .300

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Intangibles:

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Manny has not asked for a trade, and won't, according to his agent.

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Maybe look for a backup for 1B, although Hee Sop Choi is in AAA.

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Dontrelle Wills? No way the Marlins part with him.

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Miguel Tejada? O's looking for an established starter (and not Clement).

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Trot Nixon? Is Wily Mo the future?

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BEST WISHES to Peter Gammons who reportedly is recovering well. Supposedly he will make a full recovery. Let's hope so. We miss you already. Get well soon!

The Papi factor...

Amazing. Outstanding. Clutch. Ice water in his veins. Get used to this scene Boston fans, and burn it into your memories. This is a special time and a special player...

How many times can he possibly throw the team on his back when the game is on the line? Not since Larry Legend have we seen this many clutch performances. Maybe you can throw Brady & Viniteri into the mix, but at a distant third.



He does it in almost every situation including big playoff games. His ability to dial back the emotion and be selective at the plate is amazing. He also doesn't swing for the fences when he doesn't need to. He'll take a single to end it.

Ortiz made the comment that he must be getting into people's heads, after Saturday's walk-off homer. Joe Torre admitted that Papi has caused him bad dreams & sleepless nights wondering how to get him out. He's not alone. Would you want to be the closer facing him?

Is there anything better than putting fear in the heart of pitchers in all of baseball? The alternative? One of the best right handed hitters in the game is on deck...

Is there a better clutch player in all of baseball? Not right now. You'd be hard pressed to find similar prowess from any era. Attention MVP voters, do NOT screw Ortiz out of the award this season. The "I can't justify a DH getting the award" excuse doesn't fit any longer. Ortiz is the exception. An aberration. He's a special player that does not come along very often. Don't miss the boat. Enjoy the ride with all of us...

Who the heck are these guys?

Talk about a drastic turnaround... Think the Sox mind playing vs. the NL after a 9-0 run and now 11-1 overall? Wow.

Almost afraid to write anything seeing as we hammered them after their last loss. Since then they've averaged 7+ runs a game of offense and 3 runs allowed. Pitching has been outstanding, other than Seanez vs Atlanta & today.

Even if the competition hasn't been robust, they've still rattled off 9 in a row. That's impressive. You have to go back to 2002 for the last time they pulled that off.

How does this team stack up against the last 2? Take a look at the standings from the last 2 seasons at the all-star break...

2004: 48 - 38
2005: 49 - 38

2006: 45 - 28

If they stumble to a 4-9 finish, they will still have a better record at the break. Never would have thought that 2 weeks ago. A modest 7-6 record before the break puts them at 52 wins...

Coming to the Fens on Wed: Petey & his Soul Glow return to Fenway...


Will fans step up & applaud?

Or do they think his sugary sweet comments are insincere?

We'll be standing. Welcome back Petey...

Massacre in Minnesota...

Well Sox fans, if you weren't aware of this teams shortcomings, you certainly are after this last series. Other than game 1 with Schill, Papelbon & Timlin, it's been ugly. This is a sub .500 Twins team that had been struggling. They couldn't hit Silva who came in with a 2-8 record and 7+ era. Ouch.

Is this a June swoon? Or is it something more this time? Don't look now, but here comes Atlanta who they struggle mightily against. And here comes Toronto charging into second (tied now) & maybe even first.

Unless things change in a hurry...

Starters

Schill - the staff anchor, having a good season

Wake - poor record but has pitched fairly well, no run support

Beckett - somewhat of a disappointment with lack of consistency

Clement - tired arm & latest whining episode is NOT GOOD, trip to DL coming?

Wells - will he ever pitch again? Effectively if he does?

Lester - youngster needs to come up big
Pauley/DiNardo/Alvarez - just filling the void...

Here's your slated starters upcoming:
Lester - Beckett - Schill - Clement/Pauley - Wake

What does Theo do? Boy, that Arroyo trade just looks worse and worse as time goes by...

Bullpen

Other than Papelbon, yikes. If Timlin stays healthy, he should be fine. Theo just traded Riske - their 3rd best reliever with a 3.72 era - for a 28 yr old lefty from AAA with minimal success in the bigs. Do you buy the "we had a number of righty's in front of Riske and really needed a lefty" line? Unless Riske is a serious injury risk, would you pull the trigger on this one?

This year's staff era combined: 4.84 Last year? 4.74

Offense

1B - Youkilis has been outstanding, #'s better than Millar/Olerud even at leadoff spot
2B - Loretta has been good, #'s way up over Belhorn
SS - Gonzalez is not paid to hit, big drop-off even from struggling Renteria
3B - Lowell has been outstanding, #'s way up over Mueller
C - Tek has been off in average only, #'s similar to last season
DH - Papi has been himself, just awesome
LF - Manny has not been Manny - RBI's 30+ short if multiply to 162 games
RF - Trot has been healthy & significantly more productive than last year
CF - Injuries, #'s slightly off Damon (10HR 75RBI)

Overall runs scored - on pace to score about 900. Last year? 910.

Current projected wins at 92 on current pace, vs 95 from last season...

What to do Theo? Pitching, pitching, pitching. Best out there is probably Zito & Schmidt. Only problem is that both of their teams will still be in the hunt come July 31st. Not much else out there.

All you can count on right now is Schill & Papelbon.

Beckett needs to turn things up. He has the stuff and the mentors to do it.

Clement needs to grow a set. Hopefully he's not done.

Lester must perform. He is the key right now.


All we know is that if things don't change quickly, this could be a long summer...

Did you hear that sound? The HGH bomb just went off...

Thank you Jason Grimsley. Whatever you did to bring attention to yourself and get caught, thank you. And for all those players you named in the affadavit (who will be leaked sooner rather than later) thank you again.

Let's just hope that this forces the hand of MLB and the dispicable MLBPA to start testing NOW. It's probably too late to raid the players named in the affadavit because they probably flushed the evidence as soon as they heard about the Grimsley arrest.

We've heard the argument about the lack of accurate or reliable testing for HGH. So here are a couple of ideas for the geniuses over at MLB:

1) Implement IOC testing immediately, and use the labs they already have in place. Meet with them and LEARN from their experiences.
2) Draw blood from EVERY player & store it until a proven method of testing can be implemented.
3) Impose stronger penalties for substances not able to be detected yet, such as 81 game suspensions. For those who have retired or are retiring, hit them in the wallet (1/2 of salary or all of it) and block them from being voted into the Hall of Fame.
4) How about some jail time for players? Isn't proof of usage a crime?

While #2 may raise some concerns over issues such as mishandling, it will be a DETERRENT.

How long will it take to make a change? Hopefully Congress steps in on this one. They were able to sway MLB to make sweeping changes in steroid testing. If Selig wants to stay in power, he better stay in front of this one.

Let's just hope this will weed out the remaining cheaters out there starting NOW. MLB can't hide from this much longer.

Let's put some pressure on them ourselves. Write to your Congressman. Seriously. If you want to keep your kids (and others) safe from dangerous and harmful drugs, you are crazy if you don't. As a society, do we want our youth growing up thinking they need to cheat in order to succeed or be the best? Send a message that it's not OK.

Make a difference today! Contact information provided below...

(as a side note, is it really that surprising now that T.O. healed in time for the Super Bowl?)


Massachusetts:

Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Washington Office
317 Russell Senate Building
Washington D.C. 20510
p (202) 224-4543
f (202) 224-2417

Massachusetts Office
2400 JFK Building
Boston, MA 02203
p (617) 565-3170
p (877) 472-9014
f (617) 565-3183

http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm

Senator John Kerry
Washington D.C.
304 Russell Bldg. Third Floor
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2742

Boston
One Bowdoin Square, Tenth Floor
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 565-8519

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/contact/email.html


New York:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
New York City
780 Third Ave, Suite 2601
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 688-6262
Fax: (212) 688-7444

http://clinton.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm


Senator Charles E. Schumer
Washington, DC
313 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6542
Fax: 202-228-3027
TDD: 202-224-0420

New York City
757 Third Avenue, Suite 17-02
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-486-4430
Fax: 212-486-7693
TDD: 212-486-7803

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm

Wang, Yanks survive outstanding rookie performance...

Yankee Stadium. Your second major league start. Against your teams' all time hated nemesis. Sold out hostile crowd. You watched a pitcher in Beckett with electric stuff get absolutely shelled the night before. Your first outing jitters last time out made you erratic. Enter Pauley onto the big stage...

And wow. What a performance. He wasn't overpowering or unhittable. We thought Francona was blowing a little smoke when he noted Pauley's poise. If not for a mistake pitch to Bernie, and the infield hit in the 7th it would have been masterful. If not for Peter Pan (aka Francona, or the opposite of Capt Hook (get it), Seanez could have come in with men on 1st & 2nd instead of a uncorking a bases loaded walk to Giambi. This game should have been tied.

But, we'll take this performance any day. He's still learning, but has proven he can get it done on the big stage against a good lineup. This may keep Lester in AAA for the moment. If anything, we'll be sure to see Pauley later in the season.

Second major league start? Fugedaboutit...

Sox bats just couldn't get the job done with runner in scoring position (not that the Yanks did vs Pauley either). So pass the blame pie to the offense & Capt Hook for this one. Sox should be able to muster at least one win this series...


Other random thoughts...

Is it just us, or have the folks in the MLB scheduling dept screwed the pootch on this one? The Sox & Yanks only have 2 series left & its only the first week of June. Just dumb...


Is Beckett tipping his pitches? Why did he get lit up seemingly every time he shook off signs? Did he just not have any other pitches than his fastball? That would explain Yankee hitters jumping on the fastball...

Will the rain ever stop? What is the record for most rainouts in a season? The Sox already have 4...

Will the beatings continue?

Ouch. What a horrible showing by the Sox. It's reminscent of the first Yankee performance vs the Sox this year. Remove it from your memories...

Tonight, the rook from AA Pauley takes the mound. His first major league outing was rough but that is to be expected especially with a tough Jays lineup (best in AL maybe majors). His task doesn't get any easier tonight in NY. Let's just hope he isn't scarred for life by the experience...

A few thoughts...

Has anyone noticed how amazing Youkilis has been this season? He's played first, and seen time at third and in left field. His defense has been gold glove worthy. He leads the league in many categories at lead off, and has hit successfully in almost every other part of the lineup including cleanup. Amazing. The crime is that he is not on the all-star ballot (no DH this year @ NL park).

As the injuries pile up, the Yankees "B" level players are performing well and keeping them afloat, despite inconsistent pitching...

Loretta & Lowell continue to impress despite recent nagging injuries...

Lets not run the 5-4 Clement out of town just yet. How many #4 starters are that much better? He's supposedly working hard on off days & was fatigued after the 6th. He may have righted the ship. Let's not forget the great run he went on at the beginning of last season...

Will Foulke head to the DL with a bad back? He's actually been effective & a good soldier...

Will the Hansen call-up save tonights game for the Sox? What does it mean for Lester? At least the Sox have been very cautious in his development. Remember it is only the first week of June. But yeah, we're dying to see him pitch too...

Will Boomer ever pitch again? Hopefully, we need him...

How about this?

Do you realize that Papelbon will more than likely be an All-Star & rook of the year? Now the staggering part. He also has a legitimate shot at both MVP & Cy Young. While it's waaaay too early to crown him with any honors, it's astounding that its not only possible, but really feasible. This is the stuff of legends if he holds up. The Sox may have just found the new Mariano Rivera. Why do you think the Yanks were so successful? Best part? He's only 25...

The Clemens factor...

What will Roger do? At the very least, he is the master of building up the cash flow. So you know he'll get a ridiculous sum wherever he lands, probably the equal of a $20m season.

Here's the most recent outlook for his destinations:

Texas Rangers
Nope. Sorry Ranger fans, if he stays in Texas it won't be with you. 0% chance

New York Yankees
Money will not be the only driving force which is the Yankees best hope. He makes them a better team, but not dominant. An inconsistent Unit with a banged up squad getting older by the minute doesn't make them overwhelming favorites. 10% chance

Red Sox
Clemens makes this team dominant. A rotation of Schill, Beckett, Clemens, Wake, (and insert any #5) is the best rotation in the majors. Back that with MLB's best defense, best closer, and a solid offense, and October looks very bright. Throw in the relationship with Sox pitching coach & close friend Nipper, ability to break the tie with Cy Young, retire his #, and to wrap up his career where it all began are the other major factors. 30% chance

Houston
They are the clear favorites. His current relationship with his hometown team, including all the perks (right down the street from home, no travel unless pitching, son is in the organization, future job in the organization, etc) are difficult to overcome. Having his best buddy Pettite on the squad, pitching in the much easier NL (era of 2+ instead of 3+), and having to live in Houston when he "retires" will probably make him stay. The only factor not working in their favor is that they are a .500 team right now and Clemens alone may not be able to take them to the World Series. 60% chance

Here are some of the questions/factors he may be grappling with:

Best chance to win a world series (Red Sox)
Performance in AL vs NL (Houston)
Life after baseball (Houston)
Current relationships (Houston)
Place in history/milestones (Red Sox)
Intangibles/convenience (Houston)

He's probably made his choice already but is just driving up the price. It's going to be really difficult for him to pass on Houston. It comes down to what he wants most. Money is not a factor as he'll get paid what he wants by any team. The fans may only affect his thinking in Houston (he may not pitch vs Boston or NY in opposing stadiums anyway, or if so - only once). We'll hear many different reports in the next 2 weeks, but don't believe any of them.

Let's just hope his decision comes quickly...

Yankee Bats take last 2...

Game 2? Wake just didn't have it, result of 7ER. Jaret Wright was able to wriggle out of multiple baserunners against Bosox "B" lineup, but only managed 5IP. Why? Torre has the hook (unlike other managers we know).

A-Rod continues to make himself look silly. Hey coach, where did my pop-up go? It was a homerun, you dope. He's also compiled 8 errors already...

Game 3? Clement has a good 1st, gets hit by a line drive in the second, and implodes. Hey Terry, where the hell was the hook? Was there some reason to leave him in there that long? Was it a "back on the horse" type of deal to build his confidence? Yikes.

Papi looked uncomfortable at the plate to say the least. We're just so used to having him end games in a Bird like manner. Those 4K's were tough to swallow, especially the one with the bases jacked. But, he'll be fine. How hard can we be on the guy after everything he's accomplished?

The good news? Manny's back. He's crushing the ball & driving in runs. He's capable of carrying this team on his back for a while. Let's hope pitching cures itself so he doesn't need to.

Big Unit continues to struggle. You hate to say someone's career is over (even if they are in pinstripes), but we might be witnessing the beginning of the end if he doesn't turn things around in a hurry...

Sox missed a prime opportunity to take advantage of the Yanks while they're reeling with injuries. Game 3 was a gift. Let's just hope it provided a wake up call.

David Wells looks to bounce back tomorrow. Don't expect too much out of this outing folks. He's bound to struggle - it's happened too often. But don't worry, Lenny's in the pen waiting...

Enjoy the long weekend folks!!!

Yanks arrive at Fenway with a limp, Wang

Sorry. Just couldn't resist.

Yanks entered Fenway last night with a DL list bigger than any win streak this season. Wang was pitching well before last night, but just couldn't hold on late yielding 7ER. Ouch...

Strange energy in the park last night, almost like not much was expected out of the Yanks. Despite injuries, they still have a very good lineup, and the Sox had Cora & Harris in theirs. The Sox still needed to execute & play well to win. But it almost felt like the beginning of the end for the bombers. That relentless attack just didn't seem to be there. When was the last time a Sox Yanks game lasted under 3 hours? It's usually a grind...

Jaret "don't call me DL" Wright goes to the mound tonight facing a lineup full of guys who have had success against him. You know it's only a matter of time before he gets hurt too.

The Big Unit struggles continue, and he takes the mound on Wed. His 5.62 ERA has Yankee fans wondering if he's done. Get your forks out baby...

Damon (foot & shoulder), Posada (back), and the returning Sheffield (wrist) are all banged up and will probably be in and out of the lineup throughout the season. Add in Chacon (bruise?) and Bubba Crosby to that list as well. By the way, it's more than a contusion if you're put on the DL...
Pavano has been a complete bust, and is probably out for the rest of the season. Sturtze has some sort of tear, and will probably be gone for the year as well. Matsui is gone for the year barring a miracle comeback, but it may be too late by then.

AAA Columbus is now loaded with former MLB talent past their primes (if they even had one) to try and replace the different broken parts. Heck, Terence Long (starter last night) was released from KC's AAA affiliate because he couldn't hit in AAA.

Sorry Yankee fans, but there is no Aaron Small & Shawn Chacon lurking in the background this year to save your season. No way it will happen two years in a row (they won a combined 17 games, most of them in 2nd half). They are not close to what they were last year. Big Unit also won 17 games last season, and you can forget that...

Mussina has been great so far, but has broken down the past two seasons as well. Your only saving grace may be to leverage whatever prospects you have (including top pitching prospect) include a solid performer in your lineup, and eat a ton of cash - just to acquire Dontrelle Willis/Kerry Wood. But don't forget there are 7 or 8 other clubs including the Sox with stacked farm systems as your competition.

So, your only hope is the trade deadline. Only there's not much pitching (your lineup will be fine). Good luck. Here comes Toronto.

It may be the House that Ruth Built, but it's now Papi's Place

That little excerpt is from NY Post writer Mike Vaccaro. You can read the full article in the link below...

http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/63546.htm

Basically he is suggesting that the Yankee pitching staff should literally hit Ortiz. Not pitch him inside, but drill him. He's also suggesting that Johnson, Mussina, and Chacon attempt it 3-4 times PER GAME. OK donkey boy...

Mind you this will be no surprise - as the media in both cities will run with this one. So don't expect things to get out of hand. Would you like to be part of the Yankee lineup with Beckett throwing 97 and Schilling throwing 95? Yeah right...

Papi is also in the midst of a 1 for 20 slump coming in. Most teams now employ the shift and pitch him inside. He will make the adjustment and eventually make teams pay. He's too good a hitter over a long stretch to be counted out.

Is this another big story in the game's biggest rivalry? It remains to be seen, but doubtful. If the Yankee pitchers are dumb enough to hit him - especially more than once - things will get ugly quickly. If Beckett is on the hill, look out. He's only 25, still maturing, and is emotionally charged on the mound. Someone will pay - and hopefully with nothing more than a bruise.

After all is said and done, it's chalked up to another blowhard NY sportswriter trying to create some turmoil out of nothing. At least he provided a good title for us...

Mirabelli, Ortiz, steal the Johnny Show...

The energy level at Fenway was unbelieveable last night, and it came on the coldest night of the season so far. It almost had a playoff feel to it.

Johnny Damon's first reception at the Fens was probably a little different than what he thought. The boo birds were out in force for his first at bat, but turned to cheers once he tipped his helmet. Many fans applauded him out of respect at that moment, but the park was filled with anti-Johnny signs and even chants throughout the game. It must have been a difficult pill for Damon to swallow especially since he's seen former players like Orlando Cabrera came back to standing O's. The difference? Pinstripes.

Fans can't & won't understand the difference between landing $45 vs. $50 million, especially since players have money in the bank already. Heck, Manny STILL gets booed in Cleveland because he left for more money. Damon's "faux-pas" was signing with the hated Yanks. That apparently is an unforgiveable offense in the Nation. Damon may have underestimated that during his decision process - not that it may have swayed him anyway. But, he did appear somewhat wounded by it. It's also notable that he has handled himself in a professional manner and said all the right things. Despite the idiot monicker, he is a class act...

The real story of the night was the return of Mirabelli. From his plane skidding sideways upon landing, to his 100 MPH journey to the park, he barely made his debut. For those of you who have not driven in Boston rush hour traffic, the ride from Logan Airport to Fenway is a nightmare. Dressing into uniform in the back of a state police SUV, he made it in 12 minutes. Wow. He played very well defensively, blocking a number of balls, and throwing out a runner. It was great to see the ovation he received as well.

So, to recap, a pivotal player in bringing home a World Series gets booed, and a backup catcher hitting under .200 gets a standing O. Only at Fenway. The moral? Don't mess with the Nation...


Big Papi comes through in the clutch once again. The Yankee nemesis continues to punish. Joe Torre will continue to have those Papi nightmares. It looks like their major acquisition of Mike Myers (lefty specialist) to come in and shut down Papi wasn't as critical as they thought. Sweet dreams Joe... That shot Papi hit against the wind was absolutely crushed. Nothing else came close to going out.

So, this is only game 1, with 18 to go. It just has that feeling that every game will be a grind. Nothing will come in under 3 1/2 hours. Would love to have been a fly on the wall to see the reactions of all the new additions to this rivalry - Loretta, Lowell, Beckett, Gonzalez, etc... The words "you have got to be kidding me" was probably said about 50 times. Guess what, it's going to be said a lot more over 18 games...

Evil Empire makes first visit to Fenway with "Johnny Cash" in tow...

The Yanks make their 2006 debut at the Fens. The biggest story is of course the return of Damon. Will the boo's outweight the cheers? Don't count on it. After all, he played every game with an intensity unmatched by most. He also drove daggers into the Yanks during game 7 of the ALCS. Also remember that he brings any negativity uopn himself - for simply taking the money, and more so for joining his former archrivals. (This will mostly go away after his next visit back here anyway).

Our favorite quote from a Yankee fan upon the Yanks signing Damon: "It's like having some guy that had an affair with your wife, suddenly get married to your sister". Priceless... And by the way, we hope you Yankee fans are now enjoying the many insights only Johnny can point out. Yikes.

These two teams start the year off in first gear and still manage to stay at the top of the division. Toronto is greatly improved, Baltimore has had some show of life, and if the D-Rays ever get consistent pitching, they could challenge as well.

The Yanks have been surviving on mostly their powerful lineup. Their starting 5 only has one guy below 4.50 ERA, but their pen has been a bright spot. Giambi has been a surprising performer as well (MLB still not testing for HGH yet...). Defense has been average, and age will certainly become a factor as the year progresses. For those of you waiting for a big splash come July 31 to shore your rotation, don't hold your breath. You've got nothing to trade and no one to go after.

The Sox have been struggling at the plate, especially since the injury to Crisp. His replacements in CF have not performed well, other than the small sampling from Pena. Gonzalez is becoming an automatic out, and his glove alone may no longer secure his position. Manny, Tek, and Loretta are all off to slow starts. The rotation has looked good with Schilling returning to his 2004 form, Beckett looking like a potential all-star, Wake being himself, and Clement looking OK. Filling Wells' spot has been a concern so far, and arms in the minors won't be ready for a while. Papelbon is the best closer in the league right now, and Foulke has been better than last season. Defense has been far better than any team in recent memory.

The Yanks need to get more pitching, which doesn't grow on trees. An aging Johnson with knee & back issues, Pavano who has literally been a pain in the butt, Wright who is destined to go back on the DL multiple times, and even Wang who ended up on the DL as a rookie last season, all spells bad news. The brightest spot, Mussina, is another year older and has broken down the last few seasons as well. The pen is carrying them when the bats aren't, but just ask Tom Gordon & Tanyon Sturtze how effective they were after being overused all season. Your lineup features one player under 30. Your Yankees are built like the Red Sox of old. It's a collection of aging former all-stars on the back nine of their careers, that must rely on bats to slug out wins. That formula may let you see October, but not past the first week...

The Sox obviously need to get more pop from the lineup. Tek, Loretta, and Gonzalez need to get it going. Manny will be fine. Don't be surprised to see a change at short before long, and speaking of changes, welcome back to Doug Mirabelli! It's been great to see Youkilis taking over the leadoff spot with a .406 OBP, and also Mike Lowell (who many had written off) with a .318 BA. It will be interesting to see if Wells makes it back. If not, will they pull Papelbon out of his role? That probably depends on their confidence in Foulke, and the progression of Hansen who was promoted to AAA after dominating in AA. The Sox have many things going for them including youth. It will be much easier to address any issues come July 31 because they will be mostly offense, not defense or pitching. The other major factor is the clubhouse. This team has not jelled fully, and that will come as the season progresses.

Things are looking good in the Nation, even though things are off to a sluggish start. Not much will be settled after this 2 game set, but the Hatfields & McCoys start it off once again...

The future is now...

Wow. Impressive start for Beckett in his Sox debut. After giving up a double and a couple of infield hits in the first, he shut down a tough Texas lineup. It's amazing to see a guy consistently throw 96 and hit 97. It's been a while since we've seen that. Add in that nasty breaker, and look out. Wait until he pitches the opener at Fenway...

Nothing like adding a little fire to the rotation and pen...

Papelbon was equally as impressive especially since it was his first major league save opportunity. He's fearless. It's going to be a while before Foulke sees a close game after that performance. Just getting that giddy feeling...

The scary thing is that they are only going to get better...

Let's run Bard out of town...

Give it a rest. You have to be kidding. We've heard rumblings of fans all upset about the way Josh Bard performed in game 2. The first official panic button has been pressed (maybe some with Foulke in game 1).

We should trade David Wells to get Mirabelli back!

Wake doesn't perform the same without Mirabelli!

Why is Wake the #2 starter (OK, well we question that one...)

Reality check folks - it's only game 2 of a marathon season. Did we all forget that Mirabelli struggled at first? In his first game, there were 2 passed balls and a wild pitch - and that was in late June. Wakefield did find a way to win 12+ games in each season before Mirabelli.

Lets put those short term memories in check for just a moment. Bard just played his first game as a Red Sox. His big league experience is scattered over 4 years in which he's played in 156 games TOTAL. He's not exactly a seasoned vet. His nerves were probably getting the best of him in his first big start.

Replacing Mirabelli is a tall task for any backup. We love the guy, but don't forget that it wasn't exactly smooth sailing before 2 years ago. He performed well over the last couple seasons, which is what people remember.

Give Bard a shot. Let some chemistry develop. Let him at least get comfortable. Remember that the Sox essentially traded Shoppach for him, and he beat out Huckaby in spring training. The Sox believe he has value. Most importantly, he doesn't throw the knuckleball & has no affect on it. Did Mirabelli have some magic voodoo? What about the other catchers before him?

Relax. Stay off the Shaughnessy "disaster" bandwagon. Remember, he's a "!*@#".

Stay tuned for game 3: The emergence of a new Boston star...

(might as well throw the other extreme in early too...)