ANOTHER Low Scoring Game, But The Red Sox Win!

I swear, these low scoring games are going to be my undoing. The Boston Red Sox are just plain NOT hitting, but last night they prevailed over the pitching poor Texas Rangers. And the way the Sox have been swinging their bats, you'd never know that Texas lacks quality pitching. But all's well that ends well, and it did, 2-1 Sox.
The Sox scored the first run of the game in the 4th, the Rangers tied it in the 5th, and the Sox scored the winning run in the bottom half of that frame. Wakes struggled but pitched 6 2/3 innings for the win. Little Manny Delcarmen called his 7th inning strikeout of Sammy Sosa the biggest of his career. From the Courant........

BOSTON - "Manny Delcarmen called it the biggest strikeout of his career.
Facing Sammy Sosa with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh Friday, trying to protect a one-run lead, Delcarmen appeared all too aware of how big a strikeout would be. After walking Michael Young to bring Sosa to the plate, Delcarmen started baseball's newest 600-homer man with two straight balls.
"I'm trying to save [Tim] Wakefield's win and I'm like [sigh], just stay under control," Delcarmen said. "Mikey Lowell came by and said, `Hey dude, just trust yourself. They're not going to hit your fastball.'"
Sosa never did. After Delcarmen ran the count to 3-and-1, he blew two 96 mph fastballs past Sosa, helping to preserve a 2-1 victory before 36,756 at Fenway Park."

Peter here. That was nervous inning number one. There was one more to come. After the Darkman, Hideki Okajima, pitched an easy and effortless 8th, and where would we be without him, it was Paps time. 27 pitches of Paps. A close call at first infuriated him, and it resulted in Kenny Lofton being on base. He stole second, and lo and behold, nervous time was upon us yet again. But after a hit batsman, a delirious, fist-pumping, jump-in-the-air Paps struck out Michael Young to end the game. And my night!
So the Sox move to 49-29, tops in the AL East by a wide margin. These pre-All Star games are so important, for the Sox could open up an insurmountable lead should they win a good portion of those games. But sometimes things don't work out exactly as planned. We'll wait and see, anguish and delight written across all our faces and within our souls in the days to come.
It'll be Robinson Tejeda facing our ace, Josh "Baseball" Beckett as we go for win number fifty. Let's hope the Sox lumber returns and shows its face. Bigtime. My nerves can use the rest. Click on the title of this post for more on the game. And have a wonderful weekend. GO SOX. Forever.

June Swoon? YES!

I came across an article from the Hartford Courant today that said so much, and said it well. You see, the Boston Red Sox have a sub .500 record so far this month of June, but they haven't lost any ground on anyone. Here's a little bit of what I mean, from the Courant........

"You'd never know it by looking at the standings, but the Red Sox are experiencing a good, old-fashioned June swoon.
With two games remaining in the month, the Red Sox are sitting below .500 for June at 12-13.
The Red Sox ended their second West Coast swing in three weeks Wednesday with a stumble in Seattle, swept in a three-game series for the first time this season.
After not losing more than two in a row in either April (16-8) or May (20-8), the Red Sox are now riding their second losing streak of the month of at least three games.
But the worst might well be over.
Despite their hard landing, the Red Sox actually gained ground in the American League East over the course of the road trip. The lead was 81/2 over the Yankees the morning of June 18. Today, it stands at 91/2 over Toronto.
And when the Red Sox take field at Fenway Park tonight for a four-game series with the Rangers, they begin a stretch of 18 home games in their next 21, with just a three-game trip to Detroit July 6-8, before the All-Star break."

Peter here, and that's great news about the upcoming schedule. All the teams are under .500, and a whole bunch of home games should, and I say SHOULD, help put some distance between the Sox and their pursuers....if they can put together some wins. Beckett and Daisuke are just fine, Julian must bounce back from his last start, Timmy Wakefield must bounce back from his last half month and Gabbard has to bounce, period. This is a critical 21 game stretch when the team can all but rule the AL East or let the other teams creep back in. I hope the Sox can make the most of it.
Thanks to the Hartford Courant for this post's idea,. The entire article is linked to the title of this post.

The Rangers are in for four. 7pm Fenway baseball tonight. FINALLY. Here are the pitching matchups.

Jamey Wright (1-1, 7.43 ERA) vs. Wakefield (7-8, 4.52) tonight
Robinson Tejeda (5-7, 6.57) vs. Beckett (11-1, 3.07) Saturday
Kameron Loe (4-6, 6.02) vs. Julian Tavarez (5-5, 4.60) Sunday
Brandon McCarthy (4-4, 5.90) vs. Kason Gabbard (1-0, 6.48) Monday

OUT AT SAFECO

It was the top of the eighth inning that convinced me that the Boston Red Sox were not going to win this game. Youkilis was on second base, in scoring position, with only one out. Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek were due up, and I thought to myself that this was "do or die" time. Stop making every Mariners pitcher look like a cross between Cy Young and a young Bob Gibson, when he was literally unhittable. But two fly ball outs dashed those brief hopes. Daisuke retired the side in the bottom of the eighth, but the Sox could not score in the top of the ninth, and then the Darkman came in for the bottom half of the inning. He was able to record only one out while giving up two base hits. Paps to the rescue! And he was brilliant.....17 pitches in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. But his mates couldn't push across a single run, and when it came time for the bottom of the eleventh and out limped Joel Piniero, fresh from an ankle injury, I knew that Tito had given up on this game. Was the bullpen devoid of any pitcher with two sound legs? The rest of the story? We all know. Another loss at Safeco Field and a somber trip back to Boston.
On the bright side, two things. Daisuke Matsuzaka's performance was first rate. He went eight innings, giving up only one run on 3 little hits, while striking out 8. Why we can't score runs for the guy is way beyond me. But if he continues to pitch the way he has, the wins will pile up for him and his club. OUR CLUB. The second bright thing from yesterday was the 4-0 Oriole's victory over the Clemens-led Yankees. Great job Baltimore. A three game sweep over the hated pinstipers. NICE! (hey Faithy, your Baltimore club was so clutch! We love your comments here! Keep 'em coming!!!))
Up next is an off day today. And that's a good thing. Let the guys get accustomed to the eastern time zone once again. And then the pitching poor Texas Rangers come to town. Home cooking and Fenway Park should help us get back on track. We have to hope.
Click on the title of this post for the latest news on Curt Schilling, who we won't see until after the All Star break, and Brendan Donnelly, who had to cut short a throwing session yesterday. Is Schilling's extended stay on the D/L a good thing? A bad thing? Only time will tell. So click on the title, and have a wonderful Thursday.

Winless In Seattle

Sometimes I have to think really hard to remember the last time the Boston Red Sox emerged victorious from a game at Seattle's Safeco Field. They've lost their last seven games there. Last night was more of the same as Kason Gabbard was wild at first and rocked later. In only 3 1/3 innings he gave up 6 (!!) walks and 4 runs on 6 hits. Back to the minors? We have to hope that will be the case, but until Schill is ALLOWED to return, we might be in store for another one or two Gabbard starts. Last night, the Sox never gave up, coming back from deficits of 4-1 and 6-4 to tie each time. But Javy Lopez, pitching in the 6th inning, gave up a two run home run to Richie Sexon, and those were the winning runs. It was the first tater given up this year by the Sox leftie. He picked a bad time for it. Way bad!

So the Red Sox will try one more time to beat the Mariners on their own field, sending out Daisuke Matsuzaka to face Ryan Feierabend. A win will make the long flight back home much more bearable, and the day off tomorrow that much better. For ALL of us. I'll be glad when we're out of this left coast town, because winning is so tough here. Today, it's 4:30pm baseball on a Wednesday afternoon, heat and high jungle-type humidity soaking and washing over everyone in the northeastern part of Red Sox Nation. So turn on those air conditioners, if they're not already humming, and enjoy the upcoming Sox win. I might be going out on a limb, but after last night's frustration, with all the scrambling just to tie the score two times, our team is hungry for one more victory on this good and bad road journey. A journey that's almost over. But I think the Mariner's manager, Mike Hargrove, put it best. This is what he said, and Tito's response, as written and put so well by the Herald's Tony Massarotti......

"Somewhat incredibly, next Monday, the Sox will play their 81st game of the season, officially reaching the midpoint of their schedule. They are guaranteed of being in first place.
Yet the season can always turn on an injury or unexpected slump, and so baseball lifers, like (Mariner's manager Tony) Hargrove, always know the first rule of the game: You take nothing for granted.
“Your job as a manager is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” Hargrove said. (AMEN!)
Added Sox manager Terry Francona, when informed of Hargrove’s comments last night before batting practice, “He’s right.”
Francona, after all, lost his hair a long, long time ago."

Peter here, and I have all my hair, but any lead, be it 4 games or 14, means nothing. Ya have to keep winning! And I have to say this...well said, Tony Hargrove. Oh, click on the title of this post for more on the trade that's not going to happen. I'm talking about the White Sox lefthander Mark Buehrle, a would-be 4 month rental. It would have been nice, but the other Sox wanted too much young talent. And without a contract extention, it wouldn't have happened anyways. And when Jon Lester's name popped up in the brief discussions, well, that was it. That was all she wrote! Check out Tony Massarotti's piece...well-written and informative. He writes for the Boston Herald. And I write for you! And I hope that never changes.

A Tough One For Tavy

I have to be honest with you........I was unable to watch the game last night. Those 10pm starts are killer for me. Maybe it was just as well, because Julian Tavarez had a rough night, and the 'pen was woeful, too. Five runs in the fifth inning put the Red Sox in a hole they just couldn't climb out of, and after Timlin gave up three more runs in the seventh inning, the sound of televisions being turned off echoed all throughout New England. Eerie and mournful sounds of defeat. It'll be nice to get back to Boston on Thursday. So very nice.
But the Sox are in good shape, even though Curt Schilling is peeved at young Theo for being held out for so long. I agree with Epstein, though. I think the rest will do the old man some good. But I DO hope he comes back before the All Star break. Well before. And the rumors about Mark Buehrle continue to swirl throughout Boston and Chicago. But those rumors indicate that there will be no deal. I linked a Boston Globe article that goes into the specifics, and updates us on the fortunes of Jon Lester, too.
Tonight it will be fresh from the minors Kason Gabbard facing the Mariners' Hernandez. Let's start another winning streak. PRONTO. Click on the title of this post for more on the late night goings-on in Seattle.

Congrats go out to first baseman Kevin Youkis. This is from the Herald of Boston.......

"With his 120th consecutive errorless game at first base, Kevin Youkilis [stats] broke Stuffy McInnis’ Red Sox record set in 1921."

Way to go, Mr. All Star to be. 120 straight games handling the ball dozens of times each and every game. THAT'S AMAZING! YOUK!!!!!!

Beckett First Pitcher In The Major Leagues With 11 Wins As The Red Sox Beat The Padres 4-2

It was vintage Josh "Baseball" Beckett Sunday as the Boston Red Sox defeated the San Diego Padres 4-2 Sunday afternoon in California. Josh went 8 strong innings and mixed his changeup and curveball with a devastating fastball. The Padres never had a chance once the Sox scored three runs in the third inning. He was that good. Jonathon Papelbon threw a two strikeout ninth inning for his 18th save. It was an all-around great game.....the kind of game we as Red Sox fans are getting used to. And that's where the fun of 2007 is. The offensive star was none other than the Captain, Jason Varitek, who tripled and homered and called a great game behind the plate.

The Sox are 48-26 and have the best record in all of baseball, and the rumor is that they are very active in the pursuit of White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. He would add a lefty to the rotation and would provide insurance just in case Curt Schilling is on the D/L for a longer than expected period of time. But I hope his arrival doesn't mean that Julian Tavarez would have to step out of the rotation. He's been too valuable, giving the club seven great innings almost every time out. Buehrle would be eligible for free agency after the '07 season, so if the Sox were to acquire him it would have to include a contract of 2 or more years. No four month rentals for THIS team.

The Red Sox travel north for a three game set with the Mariners. The pitching matchups will be.......

Julian Tavarez vs. Jeff Weaver
Kason Gabbard vs. Felix Hernandez
Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Ryan Feierabend

It should be a fun series as we try to take two of three, if not more, from them before winging back to Boston and Fenway Park for a weekend series with the Texas Rangers. But first things first......Seattle, here we come. And click on this post's title to read about the untimely death of ex-Red Sox pitcher Rod Beck, he of the handlebar mustache and the overpowering fastball. He will be missed.

Human Buzz Saw

Once in a while during the long baseball season, the Boston Red Sox come across a pitcher that they have no chance to beat. A human buzz saw. Last night his name was Chris Young, a 6 foot 10 inch pitcher for the San Diego Padres who throws lights-out. On Saturday night he limited the Red Sox to only one hit in seven innings, and his San Diego club defeated the Sox 6-1. Wakes kept it close until the 5th and the 6th, but it was too late. Truthfully, there was no way the Padres could have lost this game, and that's because of Young's dominance. Looking on the bright side, and there always is a bright side in MY world, Snyder and Timlin were just fine coming out of the 'pen. And a game like this makes it so easy to "turn the page," and that the Yankees lost a heartbreaker makes it easier still. So we go on. And on. Through the month of October.

Today's late afternoon game has a marquee pitching matchup. It's 10-1 Josh "Baseball" Beckett versus 9-1 Jake Peavy, whose numbers are astounding. San Diego is a darn good club, and taking two of three sure would be sweet. But if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. We'll be going north to Seattle for three, and then, finally, Fenway. Home cooking, the Green Wall, family, friends and loved ones. And the fans, those special marvelous Red Sox-mad fans. Won't that be nice?

Click on the title of this post for more on the San Diego dominance that was Saturday. And now we turn the page and look forward to late afternoon Sunday baseball, as only our Sox can do it. Have a wonderful Sunday with YOUR family, friends and loved ones, and as always, thanks for stopping in. I don't know what I'd do without you. I'd probably walk around the house muttering unintelligible words to no one. I'd be, as John Lennon wrote and sang in a song from 1965's Rubber Soul, my favorite Beatles' album, for many reasons, a NOWHERE MAN. That's what he thought of himself then, in 1965, a sell-out pop singer in a wildly popular band. He was wrong. He was the force behind the best band that ever was, or ever WILL be. But I digress...where was I? I know! GO SOX! GO RSN! Go Josh. Take care, my readers. Love ya all!!!!! More than you'll ever know.....

Daisuke NL Domination Continues

It started out alarming, disaster waiting in the wings, just out of sight, during Daisuke Matsuzaka's first inning. He walked the first three men before retiring Mike Cameron. But a single drove in the Padres only run before he retired the final two men of the inning. Catastophe, murder and mayhem, blood and guts averted. And that was the only trouble the man from Japan had all night, as he went 6 innings, giving up that lone run on 5 base hits while striking out 9 (!). And the bullpen continued its fine work, as Lopez and Little Manny Delcarmen combined to pitch the seventh, the Darkman threw an almost automatic 10 pitch 8th (if he's not an All Star selection, it'd be a shame) and Paps hurled a one hit ninth for his 17th save. Daisuke's record is now a great-looking 9-5, and his ERA has lowered to 4.01. He's getting better with every start. Expect more of the same. All season long!
The Padre pitching was good, with Greg Maddux going a strong 6 innings himself. That's why their record is so splendid. But the Sox scored the only two runs they would tally all night in the 4th inning on singles by Peds, Manny, Youk and the Captain, and that was all she wrote. That was all ANYONE wrote! One dark spot? Julio Lugo still looks clueless at the plate. How long will it be before we see Alex Cora starting a few games at shortstop? On the bright side, the Red Sox record moves to baseball's best 47-25, and those are sweet numbers indeed.
It's Wakefield and Young tonight, late. Young has a miniscule ERA of 2.36, only 1.62 over his last three starts. But our Sox find ways to win. That's why we love 'em! Have a great weekend, and don't forget to click on the title of this post for Tony Massarotti's Boston Herald Saturday piece advising Schill to chill......there's no hurry to come back before your shoulder is sound. And that's a compliment to the makeup of this team we love to love. Here's a little more on Schill, from Amalie Benjamin's Globe article....

"While Schilling is eligible to return July 4, the club could keep him out through the All-Star break a week later to give him extra rest.
"I think it's too early to get into timetables," general manager Theo Epstein said. "It's unfortunate. No one wants to see a pitcher on the disabled list. It's an opportunity to get him rest, rehabilitation, and restrengthening, so we can get him in peak condition to have an outstanding second half. There's an argument to be made that all pitchers should get a blow of some sort for optimal performance in the second half when it matters most. That's not commonly done. But with Schill, this might be that opportunity, a blessing in disguise to some extent."

Peter here, and I agree. A rested and shoulder-healthy Schill in the second half would make a dominating team (ours!) even more overwhelming....a scary thought for the other AL teams scrambling to keep pace. Two words to those teams.....WILD CARD!

Red Sox Nation......Red Sox International. We're ALL The Same!

Yes, we're ALL the same....we love the Boston Red Sox. From the USA to the shores of Japan, the love for the Sox knows no bounds. I want to share an email with you that I received from a fellow Red Sox fan and blogger. He lives in Japan, where the number of Red Sox fans grows every day. Here it is, and I'll be back with a comment and a link to his blog.
******************************************************************
Peter-san
Thank you for your email and blog post and LINK!

In Japan, a 5 minute program named "EAST SIDE STORY" is broadcast
every week.
It shows topics about Yankees Red Sox Rivalry
Just a Last night, Jeff Goldberg of the Hartford Courant acclaimed
Dustin Pedroia "Little Giant" in the program.
Mike Timlin was featured last week
and Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe talked about Okajima's bullpen
bag before.

Redsox is getting more and more popular in Japan.

YES ! Your RSN is spreading to Our RED SOX INTERNATIONAL.

Go Sox!!
SuperBowl
******************************************************************
Peter here. Thank you Superbowl-san! The Red Sox mean so much to me, and I'm so happy that you too have found what it's like to be a Red Sox fan. I want to say hello to all your blog friends in Japan, and each and every member of Red Sox International. We are all brothers and sisters....forever.

Click on the title of this post for the link to SuperBowl's blog, and look at the banner at the very top. THE DARKMAN LIVES! And he's huge in Japan. And here too, although his nickname hasn't quite caught on as it has in the Far East....NOT YET! Here's the link, or just click on this post's title. http://blog.goo.ne.jp/superbowl/
And to all my readers the world over.....have a great weekend, and GO SOX! The Padres are tough. But as Bruce Springsteen wrote and sang in a song from 1987, the Sox are TOUGHER THAN THE REST!

The Red Sox Shut Out the Braves Yet Again

Before the crowd found their seats the score was 5-0, Before they finished their first beer it was 7-0. And with Julian Tavarez pitching the way he was, and has been, the Braves were unable to put up ANY numbers on the scoreboard. He has been as steady and excellent as any starter on the staff, and as long as he pitches lights out, he is staying in the rotation. The team would be crazy to move him elsewhere. He's in a groove, maybe a season-long groove. And that's huge for the success of the club.
The bats awakened in a big way, too. Home runs by Manny, Papi, a lead-off one by JD Drew, Coco Crisp yet again and Eric Hinske helped the Sox tally 11 runs, while the Braves scored a big fat lovely hard-boiled goose egg. That's two shutouts in a row for the Sox pitching staff. Not bad, huh?

It's an off day today as the team travels westward to play their last NL team. And the schedule saved the best team for last.....the San Diego Padres. But the Sox are playing good ball, pitching well and hitting the ball on the nose......most of the time. They are 46-25 and 10 games ahead of the hated Yankees. And that's just the way we like it.

Curt Schilling has been placed on the 15 day disabled list, although his MRI showed no structural damage. And that's good. Let that shoulder rest. Lester or Gabbard, hopefully the former, will step in and perform just fine. With Tavy pitching so well, the rotation has no weak spots. And our bullpen is one of the best there is. It's no wonder the Sox have the best record in baseball. And that's just the way we like it, too.

Click on the title of this post for more on Curt Schilling, and enjoy your Thursday. And as always, thanks for being here. You always make my day. Everyday.

Josh Baseball..Sooner......

FROM THE GLOBE, just now, on this Wednesday afternoon......
**********************
" The Sox have announced that Josh Beckett will pitch Sunday against San Diego, taking Curt Schilling's spot in the rotation.
It would be Beckett's normal day of rest.
Julian Tavarez will pitch Monday in Seattle. A TBA in the rotation would come up Tuesday in Seattle. That happens to be Jon Lester's day to pitch as well."
*********************
Peter here......Jon Lester! The plot deepens. And our Sox still sit on top of every team in baseball. Can I explain what's happening? No, I can't!

GOOD NEWS About Schill........

This is from the Herald, just now...the entire article is there for you by clicking on this post's title....here we go.......

ATLANTA - "Curt Schilling's exit out of town wasn’t good news for the Red Sox.....
After suffering through one of the most ineffective starts of his career, Schilling was sent back to Boston yesterday to undergo tests on his right pitching shoulder, including an MRI.
According to a source last night, the MRI showed no structural damage. ****Peter here, and YES!!!!!****
Schilling had been bothered by discomfort in his shoulder in the days leading up to Monday night’s start, according to a clubhouse source. The feeling evidently continued into the 4 1/3-inning appearance against the Atlanta Braves during a 9-4 loss.
“I think we knew going into the start he wasn’t feeling like a spring chicken,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before last night’s game at Turner Field. “I could probably go through 100 starts with him like that. Again, you certainly watch and maybe even sometimes closer. That’s why we wanted to get him checked. He’s pretty good about telling us how he feels. They don’t always have to tell you, but his body language between innings was a little different than normal. He looked like he was thinking about a lot of different things.
Francona said after last night’s game that Schilling will be re-evaluated by the Red Sox medical staff Friday. The hurler is scheduled to pitch Sunday in San Diego, getting an extra day off because of Thursday’s off day."

Peter here, and I told you, good news or bad, I'd be here for you. I am!!!! And I always will be. And this latest Schill news is GOOD news. I hope he rests for a couple weeks, if he needs that long a rest. Thank goodness. So far, it wasn't deadly news. We'll be fine. Get well, Curt. And maybe hello Jon Lester.....Red Sox Forever. And click on the title for more about Curt.

RSN Japan....The Latest! THE DARKMAN....And Me!

This is from my fellow blogger, and he's from Japan. His name is Superbowl-san, and he is a good friend of mine. Here's his message.....
****************************
Peter-san....This is SuperBowl...
It's long time no mail and good to sweep GIANTS and Bonds.
A bit of good news from Japan.
"BOSTON REDSOX" is ranked as 4th hit product in the first half of this
year by Nikkei MJ
(It's not a Sports magazine)....but just a Japanese Wall Street Journal.
Go SOX !!
SuperBowl
*****************************
Superbowl-san, THANK YOU! You make us all happy, all of us who live in the northeastern United States, Red Sox Nation. Superbowl, be well, be healthy, and thank you so much!
The link to Superbowl's blog is right here...just click on the title, and look at the VERY top...the banner! His blog is on my link list, too. He speaks for so many Red Sox fans on the other side of the world. FOR US TOO!!!! And I love him, and every one of his Red Sox fan friends. You see, we're ALL the same...we're all brothers and sisters!
And check out the banner on Superbowl's blog....the Darkman, our Darkman, on a Coca-Cola can. We love Hideki Okajima, and our friends from Japan love him. What could be better? Superbowl-san...thank you! Your friend. Peter-san. Always and forever. I thank you!

ACE

That's right......Josh Beckett IS our ace. Last night he became his winning alter-ego Josh Baseball as he pitched 6 rain-shortened innings in the Boston Red Sox 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves. He only allowed 4 hits. The winning run came in the form of a 4th inning Big Papi home run, as the Sox record moved to 45-25, best in the majors. And the bullpen was equally splendid, with Kyle Snyder, Hideki Okajima, our Darkman, and Jonathon Papelbon pitching three scoreless frames, preserving the shutout. A good win all around.

Curt Schilling is in Boston and yesterday had his shoulder MRI exam, but the results have not yet been made public. We will hear something today, that's for sure. We have to hope it's not serious. It's the same shoulder that was operated on in 1999, but the problem is hopefully not related. Schilling's velocity has not returned since his ninth inning 96 MPH pitch to Shannon Stewart in his Oakland near no hitter. Get well soon Schill. And if he's out for a couple of weeks, is that Jon Lester's ticket back to the parent club? I can't see anything else that makes sense. Any sense at all.

Click on the title of this post for more on Curt Schilling. Tonight, it's the hot Julian Tavarez facing the Braves' Carlyle. Let's keep it going. And don't worry. I'll be back with any Schill news, good or bad, happy or sad. So check back. Thank you!

***BREAKING RED SOX NEWS.....Curt Schilling Sent Back To Boston For MRI***

From the Boston Globe, news of ailing Curt Schilling..........

"Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling left the team and went back to Boston today to meet with Red Sox team doctor Thomas Gill and have a precautionary MRI on his shoulder.
According to multiple reports, the Sox will be looking at his right (pitching) shoulder.
A Red Sox official told us there were concerns over the lack of velocity in Schilling's performance last night. According to the NESN radar gun, Schilling never hit 90 mph over his 81 pitches last night.
The Red Sox confirmed that he would be undergoing a precautionary MRI and there was no word yet on whether or not he would miss his next start, scheduled for Sunday against Jake Peavy and the San Diego Padres."

Peter here...oh boy! Will this mean that Jon Lester's call-up to the big leagues is that much closer?? I have to think so. Be well, Curt. I knew from pitch number ten that all was not right last night. WE ALL DID.

Thank You A & E Television

I'm sure you're all familiar with the post-season baseball magic of the year 2004. The ALCS comeback, when the Red Sox came back from a 3 game deficit to beat the hated Yankees, and the 4 game sweep by the Red Sox of the now champion St. Louis Cardinals rank high among the ultimate sports moments for many of us. A&E television was nice enough to send me the 12 disc 35 hour PLUS DVD set of the 7 game 2004 ALCS Yankee-Red Sox series, and the 4 game 2004 World Series sweep between the Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals, and I promised I'd review them. I will....right now! They asked me to run a banner advertising this magic collection, but I told them that my blog, this one right here that you always come back to, was and always will be ad free. That will never change. OK........
This 12 disc set is available in standard definition only. Until the powers-that-be can agree on one and only one high definition format, DVDs in high definition will always be a thing of the future, even though they are available now. You see, there are two combating formats, Blue Ray and HD-DVD, much like the Beta-VHS video tape wars of the early 80s. There will be no winners....not now. NOT EVER. Not until one side or the other prevails. Right now it looks like Sony's Blue Ray format will emerge victorious, for many reasons. Back to this particular DVD set, though. If you like your baseball Red Sox style, and 86 years was more than long enough to wait for the nirvana of a world championship, click on the title of this very post for all the ordering details of this tremendous boxed set. The DVDs are full screen standard definition, with an entire 12th disc dedicated to the 2004 World Series film and assorted player interviews. This set arrived on my doorstep just a couple hours ago, and I have checked out a few minutes of each. Much to my delight.
I do want to say that I'm used to watching hi-def programming, and these are not that. Not close. But if you like your baseball Boston style, this is for you. Please, click on the title of this post for all the information you'll ever need. And thank you A & E. And hello to 2004 Red Sox baseball. One of a kind.
Now click on the title, and enjoy! I must admit I think I'm selling out to you, my readers, because you're here to read my words about Red Sox baseball as it happens, every day. THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE. But the A & E people were nice enough to send me this wonderful boxed set, and I'm doing my part telling you about it. If you're looking for hi-def, wait a couple years. But click on the title just to check out what you might be missing while we ALL wait for that one and only one high definition DVD format. Until then, enjoy! Clicking on the title will take you where you want to go for all the info, and I will be back early in the morning with all the details of game number two between the Braves and our Sox.
Again, my readers, thank you...I'm not selling out, I'm just informing you of a good product at a great price!

Mayday Mayday

From the very first inning I knew something was "off" with our ace, Curt Schilling. His pitches lacked speed and pop and location. The line drive to Coco in centerfield that resulted in a double play and the end of the first inning was hit on the nose, a veritable bullet. It was then that I thought Curt's night might be a short one. The Braves' Chipper Jones summed it up as well as anyone. This is from the Hartford Courant........

"He's not throwing as hard as he used to, obviously," said Braves third baseman Chipper Jones (3-for-5). "The thing that makes Schill so tough is his ability to paint. He can throw that fastball and cutter on both sides of the plate and change speeds with the curveball and split.
"I just had the feeling that he didn't hit his spots tonight. He tried to get the cutter under the lefty's hands and left it out. He tried the backdoor [slider] and got too much plate. He just seemed out of sync."

Peter here. Out of sync for two straight starts, too. When Curt himself was asked if he was hurting in any way, he said and repeated that "it's not any one thing." I don't like the sound of that. Clearly something was wrong. I hope he can fix what ails him, because this 2007 Red Sox team needs him. Badly. Is it MAYDAY time? Not yet, I hope.
Schill's troubles overshadowed a career night for Coco Crisp, who went 4-4 with 2 home runs. Keep it going Coco. Now if JD Drew could approach his numbers from last year and Julio Lugo could bring his batting average up to .275 or so, the club would be so much better off. But first things first....let's get Curt right. That's the most important thing right now for the Boston Red Sox of 2007.
Click on the title of this post for the Boston Globe's Gordon Edes' take on Curt Schilling. So true..........

Wakes Good Enough.....Sox Sweep Giants

After three innings, the score was 7-2. The game was essentially over. And good 'pen work by Joel Piniero and future All-Star pitcher Hideki Okajima assured the Sox of a weekend sweep of the San Francisco Giants. Imagine...the Darkman on the All Star team. He's a lock!! How sweet is that? I'll miss the Giants......and I'm sad they had to go, but the season marches on. The middle of the lineup, Papi, Manny and Youk combined to go 6-11. With that kind of production, Sunday was like a walk in the park on a cloudless and warm day, butter-drenched popcorn flowing from the sky as multiple rainbows shine down with their multi-colored hues, bathing everyone in beauty. Yum! And the mere mention of Kevin Youkilis brings this to mind.....he is quickly closing in on the all-time fielding record for a Red Sox first baseman. And remember.........he is a converted third baseman. This is from the Herald........

"Youkilis made it through another game without an error yesterday, making nine putouts in the Sox’ 9-5 win over San Francisco at Fenway Park. His errorless streak is at 116 games, three shy of the club record set by McInnis in 1921.
Not bad for a player who, like the former shortstop McInnis, never intended to play on the right side of the diamond.
“I feel more comfortable (this year). It comes to me naturally and I don’t have to think as much,” said Youkilis, who played first base in high school but then not again on a regular basis until last season. “Last year I had to play everything through my head and now, more or less, it’s a reaction. It’s a lot easier.”

Peter here, and think about it. 116 games at first base.....with ZERO errors. Amazing, and quite an argument for his future All-Star game appearance(s). But there's a log jam on the first base section of the All Star ballot, with Big Papi to be the eventual winner at that position.
So the Sox move to 20 games over the .500 mark at 44-24, while the Yankees continue to win. And win. The Sox need quality starts from Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett tonight and tomorrow night as the road show moves to Atlanta for a three game set. The game tonight is a nationally televised one....on the Connecticut-based ESPN and ESPNHD, at the fan friendly time of 7pm. Which Curt will it be? We'll all find out....together.
Click on the title of this post for all the latest on Brendan Donnelly, who was put on the D/L list with forearm pain. We hope his stay will be a short one. And birthday wishes go out to Paul McCartney....number 65. Time sure does fly.
Have a great week....the weather will be fabulous through Sunday. And I hope all the fathers out there had a wonderful day with their loved ones. That goes for all the Moms, too!! Thanks for stopping by, as always. I'm doing my best to keep every one of you informed about that team we love to love. The Boston Red Sox. Forever!

I Read The News Today, Oh Boy. SWEEP!

Way to go Timmy!! Finally, the Boston Red Sox are 20 games over the .500 mark.....all the details you want, or don't want, in the morning. 44-24....not bad...not bad at all! Our team, our town...our BOSTON RED SOX! AWAYS AND FOREVER!

WP: T. Wakefield (7-7)
LP: M. Morris (7-4)


Hasta manana!

Daisuke Shuts Down The Giants

It was all Daisuke Matsuzaka for seven stellar innings Saturday afternoon in a nationally televised game between the Boston Red Sox and the San Francisco Treats........err......Giants, and the Red Sox emerged victorious, 1-0. Manny Ramirez provided the game's only run with a 4th inning home run, and that was all Daisuke needed. Although a couple more Sox runs would have made this viewer, this fan, a lot more comfortable.Things got a little "iffy" in the 8th inning as the Darkman, Hideki Okajima, entered the game and allowed the first two hitters to reach base. But a visit to the mound by his pitching coach John Farrell seemed to do wonders. First and second, no outs, and you-know-who at the plate. Read this, from the Courant.........

"Hideki Okajima was in trouble, big trouble, and he knew it.
Starting the eighth inning in relief of Daisuke Matsuzaka and asked to protect a one-run lead, Okajima allowed the first two men to reach, then promptly fell behind 2-and-0 to the next hitter, Barry Bonds.
Pitching coach John Farrell rushed to the mound, giving Okajima a moment to assess his predicament.
"I was excited too much," Okajima said through an interpreter. "I tried to do too much. I said to myself, `I'm sorry Daisuke. We've have two runners on the bases. I'm sorry.'"
Farrell told Okajima to challenge Bonds. Three pitches later, Okajima had nothing to apologize for. Three called strikes later, Bonds was walking, head down, back to the dugout."

Peter here, and that 8th inning was the height of a sense of upcoming doom. But the Darkman retired the next 2 batters harmlessly and then Jonathon Papelbon threw an 11 pitch ninth for the save, and all was rosy once again in Red Sox Nation. But lately it seems to be either feast or famine with the Sox offense, with the emphasis on famine, although the Giants' pitcher Matt Cain did indeed look good. That has to change.
This afternoon it will be Timmy Wakefield, trying to build further on his wonderful start 6 days ago. And again the Sox try to go 20 games over the .500 mark. Is this, the third time, the charm? I hope so. I certainly hope so.
Click on the title of this post for more on the game, from the Herald of Boston, the Hub of the universe. Enjoy your Sunday!

Top Of The Order Powers Sox

On a night that the Boston Red Sox and the Fenway Park crowd saluted a 2004 championship season hero, it was power from the top of the batting order and rock steady pitching by Julian Tavarez that catapulted the home team to a 10-2 drubbing of the San Francisco Giants.
Something special was in the air as Dave Roberts strode to the plate to begin the game. The crowd rose as one to salute him, and the players and manager stood on the top step of the home dugout and did the same. My eyes grew misty as I watched the spectacle as memories of that key stolen base flashed through my mind. What a way to start a Friday night of baseball! And the Sox sported a new-look lineup, with JD Drew and Dustin Pedroia batting in the one and two spots. Together they combined to go 8 for 9. The rest of the club? Would you believe 1-24? I kid you not, but the 10 runs scored by the good guys were by far the most in recent memory. Let's hope they saved some runs for the rest of the weekend.
Julian Tavarez settled down after allowing 2 first inning runs. He was rock steady through 7 as he solidified his hold on the number 5 spot in the rotation. Said ex-teammate Barry Bonds........

"He looks a lot calmer as a starter than coming out of the bullpen all wired up," said Bonds, Tavarez's teammate in San Francisco in the late 1990s. "He looked a lot calmer and knew what he wanted to do out there. You could see it in his delivery. You could see it in his face. He just was more focused."

Peter here. The bullpen finished off the Giants, as the Darkman breezed through a 1-2-3 8th inning and Joel Piniero finished things up. Coupled with the Yankees' loss to the Mets, the AL East lead grew to 8 1/2 games, and with Tom Glavine pitching for the Mets today, that lead might widen further. The Fenway pitching matchup features Daisuke Matsuzaka going against the Giants' Matt Cain, as the Red Sox hope to increase their AL East lead. Catch it on Fox in a nationally televised 3:30 duel. This morning, finally, a sense of relief has washed over RSN. Fleeting, just a hint, a taste, but sweet nonetheless. More please!
Click on the title of this post for more on the Friday night performance by Julian Tavarez, penned by the Boston Herald's Steve Buckley. Great reading. And everyone, thanks for stopping in. Have a wonderful weekend.

Memories Of The Boston Red Sox 1967....Part Four

As Peter said to me recently, I think it would be more interesting
for the readers to just recall some very special
memories and not worry so much about the chronology of
that very special season, circa 1967. The year the
baseball world woke up and noticed the Boston Red Sox
once again. After so many years. No Ted, just Yaz, and so many others! And as you will read in
the upcoming paragraphs by our blog buddy Jay,
there were so many teammates who overachieved and did everything possible to march
not only to a first place finish in the AL,
(remember, there were NO divisions) but to one darn
victory away from winning it all. They captured our hearts and our souls!! Read on for more of
Jay's thoughts, priceless memories of what was, and what
might be again. But it will never be the same as 1967.
We go back 40 years, with smiles of joy.....

"To that end, the Impossible Dream team had an array
of vagabond players, retreads and just plain average
ballplayers who did something special. One such
player---a familiar name for some of us,
was Jose Tartabull. He played for Seattle in
the 90's. Back in 1967, Jose Tartabull was a role
player for the Red Sox. Danny Tartabull is his son.
The elder Tartabull, as I recall, started with the
Kansas City Athletics (yes, that's right, Kansas
City!). I believe he also played for Cleveland and
perhaps a few others. He wasn't a good hitter but was
supposedly a decent fielder. He was part of a very
memorable moment in 1967. Let me set the scene........

The game was against, I believe, the Angels, maybe
the White Sox..... ...anyway, the Sox needed a win
badly and were protecting a 4 to 3 lead in the 9th
inning. I don't recall the batter but Tartabull was in
right field and a fly ball was hit to him. Ken Berry
was on 3rd and was considered a fast runner and always
a threat on the bases....I will let the immortal Red
Sox announcer Ken Coleman take it from
here..."Tartabull coming on..he's known for his weak
arm. Here's the throw to the plate (in the background
someone yells safe) but Coleman quickly comes back and
yells "OUT AT HOME!! Tartabull has thrown the runner
out at the plate..Sox win!!"

A huge moment, just because players that we never
expected to shine had their unbelievable days of
glory. A bunch of them. All in 1967. So MANY vital and
pivotal moments of heroics. And that's what made 1967
so very special! And why we were, just kids at the
time, so very happy.

This may seem like not a big deal, but it was a turning
point in 1967, as things began to go our way.
Tartabull had no business throwing out the fast Berry
on that play at the plate. But he DID!
One other thing...the 5 year old Danny Tartabull was
on the cover of the '67 yearbook as a participant in
the Father-Son game early that season. If memory
serves me right, he ran to 3rd base instead of 1st on
his time at the bat. But he was a kid, soon to be headed for baseball glory on his own.
Like father, like son.

And so it goes in life. For all of us. If not yet, it will!
As John Lennon wrote and sang about his then young son,
"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy.
Darling, darling, darling, darling Sean."
And then this...so true, forever. The words will always bring tears to these old eyes of mine....
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
So true, John. And I cry, yet again. At this very moment. Thanks John.

Peter here, and thank you Jay. I admit I added a few
words, but your memories are downright priceless. I
thank you so much! These little tidbits about the
average players, they're the ones who confounded all
the baseball experts and fans. The Sox came one step,
ONE GAME away from a World Championship. Well, thats what
dreams are made of. And those '67 Sox made MY dreams,
and Jay's too, come true. And baseball was never the
same again. Not in Boston.

It's been 40 years now. That was the
summer of Sgt. Pepper, and THE year of the Red Sox.
And for me (Peter), and Jay, too, that will never
change. We are forever better because of that
wonderful 7 months of baseball, Red Sox style.

Thank's again, Jay. My readers, comments are so
welcome....Jay will be reading. That I promise you. GREAT
JOB, JAYSPAY. Great job '67 Sox. And thank you for
reading. May we rid ourselves of these hitting
woes and come out swinging. For Jay and me, and all of
you, have faith. And ALL of RSN, our nation.
FOREVER. Case closed. Now let's win 8 of 10!
Click on the title of this post for the complete boston Red Sox roster, thanks to say. Click away!

Humpty Dumpty

I'm sure you all know the story of that good egg Humpty Dumpty, who took a great fall off a wall and "all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again." Well, this 2007 Red Sox team is beginning to remind me of Humpty. Last night it was Josh Beckett's turn to get bashed. And he was. By the end of the third inning it was 5-0 and the Fenway fans had had the wind knocked from their sails. Boston was silent and mute, sad, in fact. The hallowed park became eeriely and unnaturally quiet. A scary quiet. And so it stayed for the rest of the night. In an experiment, Tito batted JD Drew first, and he promptly went 0-5 and left 7 (!!!) men on base. Beckett was gone after 5, but the Red Sox were in pieces after 3. And all of RSN might not be able to put them together again.
Barry Bonds and the Giants come into town, and they'll send none other than Barry Zito to the mound. When it rains, it pours, and it seems I've been wet for two weeks! And the Yankees are on fire, having won 9 straight. These are tough times for a Red Sox fan, but I still have faith. The team HAS TO start hitting. They've scored 2 runs or less in 7 of the past 9 games. And that just won't do. Not if they want to win games.
So lets all take a lesson from Humpty Dumpty and stay away from sitting on any tall walls. And let's hope the Red Sox pieces, unlike poor old Humpty's, can be put back together again. Click on the title of this post for more on the latest loss of this summer of '07. And keep the faith, RSN.

Day And Night

Curt Schilling's last start was like a sunny day, fair-weather puffy white clouds streaming eastward towards the tranquil blue Atlantic Ocean. His start last night, full of promise and hope, was vastly different, a pitch black night with rumbles of thunder and deadly crackling lightning flashes scorching the ears and eyes. Yes, it was that bad. The first batter of the game reached base, a run scored. Another run came across the plate in the second. And then, could it be? Things looked as if he had turned things around in the third and fourth innings, but then there was the fifth, and after that, he was gone, seemingly vaporized by one of those bolts of white-hot lightning. It was 6-2, soon to be 9-2. And the Red Sox took another step backwards. As Bruce Springsteen sang in a song from his 1987 album TUNNEL OF LOVE, "...one step up, two steps back." He was writing and singing about marriage's ups and downs. I'm talking about that team we love. They've won only 5 of their last 13 games. Lugo and Coco and Drew, and that's one third of the darn batting order, continue with their oh for fours. Errors abound. The Yankees have won 8 straight. As the title suggests, it's like day has turned into night. Daydreams of peace and love have morphed monsterously into nightmares of murder and mayhem. OR WORSE. But hope is on the horizon....not in the form of a new player, but just this. A new approach for the guys, our guys at the plate. Be patient, swing at good pitches. Is it the fault of Mags (the Red Sox hitting coach) ? I cannot answer that question. I don't KNOW the answer. Ok, back to the future, which is RIGHT NOW, as we look forward to........read on.......

Josh Beckett tries to bring us back to the light once more, and it sure would be great to see the Sox start winning regularly again. They have to start hitting. The pitching has to be consistant, although it generally has been good, with a clunker or two thrown in like the one last night. Sorry Curt....it was. We all know the Sox aren't going anywhere but second place if they continue to hit this way. Lugo, Crisp and JD Drew--that message is meant for you.
Click on the title for more on Curt's aborted start and the Red Sox stumbles and bumbles from the Herald's Michael Silverman. AND GO JOSH. We need you. Badly. Right now!

Wake's Up!

A little change in his pitching mechanics, suggested by his batterymate Doug Mirabelli, did wonders, as Tim Wakefield was superb for 8 innings. And after the Colorado Rockies scored their lone and lonely run to tie it in the 8th inning at 1, the Red Sox, as they have done all season, got mad and came right back in the bottom of the frame to score the tie-breaking run on a Pedroia single, a Big Papi almost home run, his third hit of the night, and a sacrifice fly by JD Drew. After that, Wakes handed the ball to Tito, and Tito handed it to Jonathon Papelbon. GAME OVER. Case closed. SOX WIN! Automatic! Paps is one of the biggest and best reasons why the Sox are such a dangerous team. It almost wasn't fair to see him buzzing 97MPH fastballs past the Colorado batters after they were baffled and befuddled by Timmy's offerings. I couldn't help but smile. No nervous anything in the ninth makes things fun in the late innings, and we are so lucky to have him right there, in the role that he was born for.
The hitting woes continue for Julio Lugo, bumped down to the bottom of the order, and Coco Crisp, who batted eighth, but they're only the two most glaring offenders. Too many times lately our Red Sox lineup makes the opposing pitcher look like Cy Young. And sometime, it's going to catch up with us. On the other hand, if they can find the hitting strokes currently missing and score 4 to 6 runs a game, coupled with the superb pitching that's not going anywhere, watch out American League. Watch out Major League Baseball itself! So a little patience at the plate, a few timely hits every other inning, and leave it to the bullpen to shut 'em down. As it has all year. Stand-outs are Brendan Donnelly, the Darkman, Hideki Okajima, who has come out of the shadows and is getting as much press in Japan as his buddy Daisuke, and I know this because I hear from my Japanese readers, who call Hideki the Darkman, much more than the scribes and fans do here, and Paps, the elite closer of the league. A formula for success?? Oh yes!
Tonight it's Curt Schilling, looking for a successful follow-up to his historic last start, facing the Rockies' Fogg. The Red Sox are 41-22, and it would be so great to go 20 games over .500. 7pm tonight, at the Fens. And with Josh Baseball going tomorrow, a win tonight makes the possibility of a sweep so attainable. And with the Yankees so hot, every win is important. There's a lot of season left.
Thanks for reading, and click on the title of this post for more on Timmy's huge and wonderful effort, from the Globe. As always, thanks for being here.

Memories Of The IMPOSSIBLE DREAM Season. The 1967 Boston Red Sox-Part Three

Peter here, and here is Jay's latest installment of
THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM SEASON. THE BOSTON RED SOX 1967.
My comments will appear with a star.

"Okay, let's get started with the 1967 season. Remember
now, I was 15 years old and really not aware of
what was to come. It wasn't like I woke up one day
before the season and said, "Okay, I'm going to find a
favorite team this year!!" *Peter here....just
checking to make sure that you know when it's me. And
I felt the same way!*

Looking back on it, I guess there were some events in
early April that in hindsight must have made me take
notice... i.e. the Yaz catch off Tom Tresh and the
Billy Rohr near no-hitter, but still they won a few
and lost a few and weren't really noticeable on the
radar early on that year. They had a group of
players on this team that could not have foretold the
story waiting to unfold. *And I'll never forget Ken
Coleman's call of that 9th inning Yaz catch in the
Billy Rohr near no-hitter. Yaz was in left, and the ball was hit to dead left, and at the stadium, there's so much room behind the leftfielder. So he just turned his back on EVERYTHING and raced for the wall, seemingly not even tracking where that sure-to-be base hit would land. But, well, let's just say he was airborne, and then Ken Coleman, and I know to this very day that he was the best baseball broadcaster, with Ned Martin or without, who I've ever heard, said these famous words......"He dives and
makes A TREMENDOUS CATCH!!!!!" Remember, those last three words will forever echo in RSN. Imagine a man screaming those immortal utterances at the top of his lungs. It was cry-inducing material, backed up by the films later in the day. THE BEST CATCH I HAVE EVER SEEN. I still get a lump in my throat to this very day. Back to Jay.*

And it was one of the best I've ever seen. But then two batters later,
Elston Howard, clutch man that he was, broke up the near no-no against those Yankees.
Truth be told, the follow-up outings by Billy Rohr
after the near no-hitter were not much to talk about,
and to be honest I'm not sure the Sox won the "Tresh"
game, but again reflecting on 1967 40 years later they
probably were the first inkling of what was to come.
*I too was experiencing my first taste of the Boston
Red Sox, and the magic to come. And 40 years later,
the magic continues.*
I don't have any other recollections of April 1967
right now, but the 2 mentioned here as I look back
over
40 years served as a strong reminder of the Impossible
Dream, OUR Cardiac Kids.

More later.."

Peter here, and Jay, thank you for just a TEMPTING
taste of 1967. My comments between the star
symbols were, I hope, to your liking. And to all my
readers, thanks....Jay always loves to read and
respond to your comments, as do I. Thank you Jay AKA
jayspay AKA great friend with a wonderful memory for
all the best stuff.

The Sopanos....Or As America Said Last Night, As One..."What The F**k??"

First of all, I'm sorry for the implied "bad" word, but that's how I felt. At the time I watched, which was this very Monday morning between 7:30am and 8:30am, and that's called time shifting, I was confused. I still am! To say anything more? Well, I'm not going to! Not now. And I'm sure that there are so many of you who have followed THE SOPRANOS these past 8 plus years....so I won't ruin everything, or anything, about last night's finale, the forever finale. I'll just wait until mid-week. But even then, what could I say?

Click on the title of this very post for a great article about what happened, or what probably DIDN'T happen. ONLY if you've seen it. If your viewing is or will be delayed by hours or days, come back and THEN click on it, because it gives you a sense of what last night was all about. Or not! But don't ruin anything...watch the show first! For me!!!!!!!

And stay tuned for the Jay T memories of the Red Sox Impossible Dream 1967 season...first thing tomorrow morning. Any thoughts about the last episode of the show that provided "water cooler fun " for so many years?? I'd love to read and respond. And thanks for reading!!!!!!

5 To 1 Baby

It seemed that yesterday the Boston Red Sox were in a hurry to catch their Boston-bound plane, so much in a hurry that sloppiness and errors abounded in their 5-1 loss to the D'backs. And Mike Timlin didn't help much either, as his 8th inning throwing error led to 3 runs, and put what was a close game out of reach. But Randy Johnson was determined NOT to be beaten......he looked so much better than he had the past 2 years for the Yankees. His back seemed to be fine, and it showed yesterday with improved velocity and location in his pitches. Both he and Daiske went 6 innings, and it was a 2-1 game in favor of the Arizona club after those 6 frames. It wasn't to be yesterday for the Sox. But what could have been a disasterous road trip turned into a 3-4 one, and that's OK. Their record is 40-22, and that still looks good even after their recent losing streak. They're back at Fenway to face the Colorado Rockies, starting Tuesday evening. Can winning ways be far behind?
Click on the title of this post for an article by the Boston Globe's Nick Carfado on why the Sox should re-sign Curt Schilling for next year. The article originally appeared in yesterday's Globe, but for all of you who missed it, it's good reading.
And about that last Sopranos episode.........I have it on my DVR in Hi-Def and I'm trying to avoid reading or hearing about it from a myriad of sources this morning. I'm watching it a little later today, and I'll have my thoughts posted immediately afterwords. Until then, enjoy your Monday, and be safe.

'Pen Flawless In Red Sox Comeback Win

They did it again. The Boston Red Sox roared back from a 3-0 deficit and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 in 10 innings. It was their 19th come-from-behind victory, and that's the sign of a good ball club. Julian Tavarez, in what might have been his last start of the season (see Jon Lester related story below), was great for 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 base hits. He struck out 5 and gave way to the Sox bullpen. And the 'pen responded with perfection from Donnelly, the Darkman, Hideki Okajima and Jonathon Papelbon. The Darkman was perfect for two innings and was credited with the win while a rusty Paps earned the save, although he threw a ton of pitches. The batting star was the captain, Jason Varitek. He batted in three with a home run and a double. The winning run was driven in by Mike Lowell with a pinch hitting at-bat sac fly.
The Sox have now won 3 straight as they keep their lead over the Yankees at 10 1/2 games. The Yankees have been playing good ball of late with 5 straight wins. It had to happen sooner or later. The Red Sox record, and it sounds so nice, is 40-21.

There's quite a match-up today on the pitching mound as Randy Johnson, who has been sharp lately, faces Daisuke Matsuzaka. That should be fun. And with the weather being what it is on this grey and rainy Sunday in the northeast, a late afternoon game seems like it will be must-see TV. And with a win the Sox will erase most of the bad memories of the 3 straight losses that started this road trip in Oakland Monday through Wednesday.

Jon Lester took a step backwards yesterday pitching for Pawtucket. This is from the Boston Globe.....

"Jon Lester lasted just 2 2/3 innings last night in his latest rehab start with Pawtucket, as manager Ron Johnson evidently decided the lefthander was better off not laboring beyond the 70 pitches he threw to get eight outs. Lester allowed Ottawa three runs on five hits, and left trailing, 3-0. His rehab assignment cannot go past June 18, so it would appear he'll make at least one more start before his call-up."

Peter here, and the way JT (Julian Tavarez) is pitching, there is no hurry needed. Jon will be fine when he's ready, and so will the Red Sox.

My readers, click on the title of this post for three selections from Big Papi's book, "Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits,” as told to and written by the Boston Herald's Tony Massarotti. Fun reading yours for the clicking. Let's hope the bats stay hot and your Sunday is a great one. And may the Sox be with you.

Tuesday morning, get ready for part three of my friend Jay T's 1967 Red Sox memories. And for those of you ready for the final Sopranos episode, tonight on HBO at 10PM EDT, I'll leave you with a mental picture of Tony Soprano, cowering in his hideout bedroom, shotgun cradled like a newborn baby, mute, silent but deadly. For someone.

Crooked Numbers, At Last!

Finally the Boston Red Sox seem to have broken out of their batting slump. Josh Beckett was, well, Josh Beckett last night in Arizona as the Sox beat the D'backs by a score of 10-3. He allowed 5 hits and 3 runs over eight strong innings. Joel Piniero pitched a clean ninth to finish things up. The batting star was someone who every member of RSN has been waiting for to start hitting the way we all know he can. JD Drew, back in a National League Park, had two 3 run home runs and 7 total RBIs. And Papi and Manny had multiple hits in front of him, making the middle of the order more closely resemble what Theo envisioned before the season started. Let's hope JD can keep it up. Julio Lugo started the game with a bang, a deep rocket shot 30 rows into the crowd. He also pulled the "hidden ball trick" on an unsuspecting runner at second base. I almost fell off my chair!

I guess it's safe to chalk up Josh's first mediocre start back from his injured finger to nerves, nerves or uncertainty about his finger. And a potent Yankees' lineup. But last night all his pitches were working, and he only needed 92 of them in his 8 innings of work. Economical? Oh yes, and fun to watch, too.

Tonight, it's Tavarez up against Owens in what might very well be Julian's last start. He'll soon join a bullpen that has another "new" face....Mike Timlin, back and healthy. To make room for him, JC Romero was designated for assignment. Too many lefties, with the Darkman and Javy Lopez ready and able, made his jettison inevitable. But having a "pitching well" Mike Timlin can only help us.
Having two straight victories under our belts never felt so good. Click on the title of this post for more on the game, from Gordon Edes of the Globe, as the Sox move to within one game of the 40 victory mark. They are 39-21. For some reason, 40-21 sounds SO much better. Tonight can fix that!

I had a little problem publishing this post.....if you have any doubts, just add www to my blog addy, just like this....
http://www.peteronall.blogspot.com/ Phew! Peter here, on Saturday morning, feeling better because this post showed up....finally!!

Schilling Redux

It's Friday morning, and Curt Schilling's masterpiece is worth another look. I guess it's too bad he shook off 'Tek and threw a fastball to Shannon Stewart, but as Schill himself said, the club needed a win in the worst way. Boy, did he give them one. Thanks Curt.....you ARE our ace. This year AND next (I hope).
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Boston 1, Oakland 0
Preview - Box Score - Recap


(38-21)
Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Boston 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1
Oakland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
WP: C. Schilling (6-2)
LP: J. Blanton (5-4)

(31-28)
Box Score Play by Play
Scoring Summary
Top 1st: Boston
- D. Ortiz homered to deep right
Boston
AB R H RBI BB K LOB Season Avg
J. Lugo ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .217
K. Youkilis 1b 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .341
D. Ortiz dh 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 .332
M. Ramirez lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .288
J.D. Drew rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .224
M. Lowell 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .317
J. Varitek c 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
A. Cora 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .293
C. Crisp cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .226
Totals 31 1 4 1 3 3 10
Batting
HR - D Ortiz (11, 1st inning off J Blanton 0 on, 2 Out).
RBI - D Ortiz (42).
2-out RBI - D Ortiz.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1.
Team LOB - 6.
Fielding
E - J Lugo (7, ground ball).
Oakland
AB R H RBI BB K LOB Season Avg
S. Stewart lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
M. Ellis 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254
N. Swisher rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
E. Chavez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
J. Cust dh 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .230
D. Johnson 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
M. Scutaro ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227
M. Kotsay cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
J. Kendall c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190
Totals 29 0 1 0 0 4 2
Batting
Team LOB - 2.
Fielding
E - J Kendall (3, dropped foul ball).
Boston
IP H R ER BB K HR Season ERA
C. Schilling (W, 6-2) 9.0 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.49
Oakland
IP H R ER BB K HR Season ERA
J. Blanton (L, 5-4) 7.1 4 1 1 3 2 1 3.60
R. Flores 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
C. Lewis 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 10.00
Pitches-strikes - C Schilling 100-71; J Blanton 117-70; R Flores 2-1; C Lewis 15-10.
Ground balls-fly balls - C Schilling 11-12; J Blanton 11-9; R Flores 1-0; C Lewis 2-1.
Batters faced - C Schilling 29; J Blanton 29; R Flores 1; C Lewis 4.
Game Details
Umpires: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Dale Scott. 2B--Paul Emmel. 3B--Dan Iassogna.
Time: 2:10.
Attendance: 31,211.
Weather: 65 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 9 mph, out to center.
Game Notes
BOSTON PITCHER CURT SCHILLING HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH SIX INNINGS.
BOSTON PITCHER CURT SCHILLING HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH SEVEN INNINGS.
BOSTON PITCHER CURT SCHILLING HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH EIGHT INNINGS.
BOSTON PITCHER CURT SCHILLING HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH 8 1/3 INNINGS.
BOSTON PITCHER CURT SCHILLING HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH 8 2/3 INNINGS.
THE SINGLE BY OAKLAND'S SHANNON STEWART WITH TWO OUTS IN THE NINTH INNING ENDED CURT SCHILLING'S NO-HITTER.

***FINAL...A ONE HIT Complete Game For The Boston Red Sox Ace Curt Schilling!!!!!***

The Boston Red Sox are keeping intact their lack of lumber...so far. 1-0 SOX. And who knows what will happen. I DO know one thing.....we NEED this win. Stay tuned for either sadness (no no) or euphoria. A huge win it would be...the A's are being stymied by our ace, Mr. Schilling. And he's coming out for the 9th. I don't want to get ahead of myself, or ahead of time itself, so I will meekly blend into the background. For now....2 down in the bottom of the 7th....1-0 good guys. Our guys. Can we just have 7 clean, uncluttered and quick outs? I hope so. The team we love is SO in need of a win. And here we come, and ONLY ONE BATTER has reached base all afternoon against Schill as we leap into the 8th. And that runner was on base because of an error. I do not want to say anything to change the luck. So I won't.
Now everyone, let's wish Curt good luck. Faith, now more than ever. I didn't mention a CERTAIN something, nor will I! Here's a hint, through 7 plus, and more to come.............

Boston IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Curt Schilling 7.0 0 0 0 0 4 0 3.58

Oakland IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Joe Blanton 7.0 4 1 1 2 2 1 3.61

Holy moley, my goodness, I am riveted.......a few runs would be nice. Maybe I could stop pacing and cut out my unceasing and nervous mutterings that sound something like "GO SOX," hands running through my hair while my eyes glance towards the brilliant bold blue sky. But no such luck. And maybe that's OK!

And now, to the last half of the 8th. I will leave you now......but not for long.........

***UPDATE*** 2 outs in the 8th for the A's. 3 outs! Sweet revenge, or a Schill masterpiece? Or both????

HE HAS ALLOWED ONE BASERUNNER THROUGH 8 INNINGS, and that was because of an error. Schilling comes out for the 9th. It's his game, and our forever memories!

And the Sox win 1-0...a ONE HITTER FOR SCHILL! So close, but chalk up the win!!!!!!!!!!! May I say WOW!!! I just did!! That ONE base hit happened with 2 outs in the 9th. Great job Curt! I love our team!!!!!!!!! Boston Red Sox FOREVER! In MY world, and hopefully yours, too!

Four Straight Losses And Six Of Seven

This isn't any fun, and I sure hope the Red Sox turn it around and escape Oakland with a victory today. After seven double plays in these last two games and runs you can count on one hand, thumb not included, this is the first major swoon the club has faced this year. Yesterday it was Timmy Wakefield's turn to have a quality start. He went seven innings and allowed only 3 runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. But he had no run support. Again JD Drew sat against a leftie, and again Lugo and Crisp had zero hits. Did Theo pay JD $70 million to be a platoon player? I don't think that was in his original game plan. They represent three guys, one third of the starting line up, who were supposed to provide power and pop to the lineup, but who so far have been more fizzle than pop, more blah than wow, more ho-hum than "standing ovation" game altering base hits. And I will never get used to it. Tito said just yesterday that JD Drew WILL get hot, scorching hot. I'm waiting! We're waiting!! RSN is waiting!!! On the bright side, the Darkman, Hideki Okajima, finished the game flawlessly, but it seems that the team left its lumber back at Fenway, and that's not a good thing.
Get away day is a day game at 3:30 this afternoon, with Curt Schilling, trying to stop this four game freefall, going against the A's righty Blanton. It'll be nice to see a righthander again. It would also be nice to see some crooked numbers up on the scorboard. A lot of them. In the top row, the visiting team's row. Only.
Click on the title for more on this confounding stretch of Sox baseball, written by the Boston Herald's Jeff Horrigan. And if you have a lucky hat or shirt or jacket, or a lucky ANYTHING, bring it out. We need something......just what, I'm not sure. Except maybe 8 or 9 runs in each of the next few games. That'll help!

Red Sox Shut Out By A's And DiNardo. DiNardo??

April and May were so much more fun to write about than June has been. SO FAR. I fully expect the Red Sox to emerge from this mini-June swoon. SOON. Last night Lenny DiNardo went six strong and outpitched Daisuke Matsuzaka, although he did so with a ton of walks. It was a peculiar night all around for the Boston club. Read this, from the Globe........

"The Sox hit into more double plays (5) than they had hits (3), which offset the six walks DiNardo issued in six innings. All three Sox hits were singles, by Julio Lugo in the first, David Ortiz in the sixth, and Mike Lowell (off reliever Kiki Calero) in the seventh.
The last double play was the weirdest. Rookie Dustin Pedroia, who had been hit by a pitch, dropped to the ground to avoid a hunk of Ortiz's bat that went airborne when the Sox DH lined softly to third baseman Eric Chavez in the eighth. Pedroia was still prone when Chavez flipped to first baseman Nick Swisher to double him up.
"He took a step, the bat came flying by," manager Terry Francona said. "He lost the ball and fell. That's the kind of night it was."

Peter here, and that WAS the kind of night it was. But it was the 6th inning that frustrated me and the Sox the most, because they should have come out of that inning with a couple runs, at least. Peds, Papi and Manny filled the bases with Youk at the plate. With the count 3-1, DiNardo threw a pitch that was clearly out of the strike zone, and plate umpire Paul Emmel just plain missed it, calling a ball. Youk was displeased, but not as much as he was when he hit the next pitch to third base for yet another double play. It was at that exact point I switched off the TV and turned on the radio to listen to the balance of the game in bed. I thought it might change the Sox luck. Nope. It didn't work. Not last night, a night of voodoo mayhem.

So the Sox have lost 5 of 6 and are now 17 games over .500 with a single digit league over the Jays. And it's no fun! Timmy will try to right the ship tonight against the A's starter Kennedy. Time to start a winning streak? Oh yes!

Click on the title of this post for more on the game, from the Globe. DiNardo? I just don't get it. He was throwing puff pastry stuff for us last year! Little League hittable stuff. The Sox still have some kind of weakness, and I think it's all in their heads, when a lefty is on the hill for the opposition. But DiNardo? Jeez! I DO NOT GET IT.

***JON LESTER Is Close!!***

This is from the Globe, and I'll be back with a comment......

****One more for Lester?****

"Even with his 1.26 ERA in six rehab starts with Pawtucket, there were strong indications that Jon Lester would not be called up this weekend to pitch in Arizona, replacing last night's starter, Julian Tavarez. He will likely get at least one more start with the PawSox.
Yesterday, he threw a seven-inning complete game (as part of a doubleheader) for Pawtucket, giving up one run on four hits and one walk, striking out one. The run came on a sixth-inning solo home run. Lester threw 87 pitches, the most he has thrown in a rehab start as he attempts to come back from anaplastic large cell lymphoma and an episode of forearm cramping."

Peter here, and this news warms my heart. We'll see him soon. Really soon. And he's ready to throw 90 plus pitches at full velocity. How great is that? Way to go Jon, and we'll see you in 10 days or so. And the Fenway Faithful, and all of RSN, will stand as one and show you our love. LOUDLY!!!
Click on the title for more of Red Sox Notebook.

Walk Off Woes, But A Rain Check Is Needed

The exhausted Boston Red Sox team arrived in California in the wee hours of the morning after their last battle with the New York Yankees ended Sunday night. And after a valiant attempt to start this Western road trip off with a win, Kyle Snyder allowed a walk-off home run to Eric Chavez in the 11th inning, and that ended it. 2 straight losses.....they've never had 3 losses in a row this year, and Daisuke Matsuzaka will try to prevent exactly that tonight. I was not able to watch the game, as is the case with many of these West coast contests, so I'm going to link the Boston Herald's account of the game for you to read. Just click on the title of this very post for all the game details. Your rain checks will be valid for any of my upcoming game summaries. And I'll be back a little later on this grey Tuesday with something for you. Promise.

Sox Kudos From A Cubs Writer!

I came across this article from the Herald of Chicago, and it's highly complimentory of our Red Sox. More on that later, after this...the entire article, from the Herald News of Chicago, is yours by clicking on the title of this very post. But read this excerpt and my comments that follow, and THEN click......

**RED SOX ARE WINNERS**
June 4, 2007

"In a lineup which features thumpers like David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, it's easy to see why Kevin Youkilis gets good pitches to hit.
Youkilis, a 28-year-old from Cincinnati, has taken full advantage of the opportunities opposing pitchers present him. In fact, Youkilis was the talk of Boston through the team's first 50 games this season.
Big Papi has been productive, and Ramirez still does his thing, but Youkilis was the team's best hitter through May. He began June with a slugging percentage of nearly .600, thanks largely to a hitting streak which had reached 21 games by May 30.
He can play first or third base, but his principal value is at the plate. He was batting .358 through his first 48 games, with 17 doubles, 8 homers (he hit a standup inside-the-park shot on Memorial Day), and 30 RBIs. Youkilis has been so productive that manager Terry Francona moved him into the no. 3 hole in Boston's lineup when Ortiz was sidelined with hamstring tightness.
Fifty games does not a season make, but the Red Sox will be home free if players like Youkilis, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, shortstop Julio Lugo and outfielder Coco Crisp continue to play with pizzazz. .
Pedroia's work out of the No. 9 hole has produced a plethora of unexpected RBI opportunities for Lugo, and the entire front half of Francona's lineup. Lugo, fourth in AL stolen bases two years ago, had 30 RBIs batting leadoff through May 29. Ramirez had 31 and Ortiz owned a team-high 38.
The 2007 season has already produced historic developments for the Red Sox. Boston scored 5 ninth-inning runs at Fenway to beat Baltimore May 13. It marked just the ninth time in big-league history that a team rebounded from a 5-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth...........the Red Sox organization is cut from a different cloth than that of the Cubs. It's a winning cloth."

Peter here, and I like that last sentence. Don't forget to click on the title of the post to read the entire article. It's short but sweet....most of it is here. But I did want to share it with you. And I think it's as much a statement of the Chicago Cubs and their fan's diminished expectations (Lou Pinella, fights in the dugout, etc.) than a rousing "way to go" to the Red Sox. But I liked it! And I would love to read and respond to any of your comments....please!

Bullpen Contributes To Sox Loss

It was a rare faliure of the Boston Red Sox bullpen that allowed the New York Yankees to score a run in the 8th to tie it and another solo run in the 9th that proved to be the eventual winning run. These teams will end up nearly even in their head to head series, as they always do. The Yankees can hit, and that will prevent many losses for them. And the fastball that Paps threw to AROD was a good one that not many players could have hit out. Said the man himself..........

"You're just trying to survive right there on 0 and 2 against Papelbon. He's got so many different ways to get you out," Rodriguez said . "The last thing I'm thinking right there is hitting a home run. I just want to take that pitch and drive it somewhere hard."

Peter here, and yesterday Paps was throwing the ball well. Some have brought up the fact that Papelbon is not as sharp as he was last lear. Terry Francona confirmed the suspicions I posted earler that the cause is a cutback of his between-starts throwing, and also a less active appearance schedule. Tito said this........

"People say, `What's wrong with Pap?' Pap's not hurt," Francona said. "Pap's locating not quite like he did last year because we've cut back so much on his throwing that, OK, if it costs us a walk, to me the trade-off is incredible. We've really tried to manage those types of things. Sometimes you have to give a little bit."

Peter here, and that's what I thought all along. But it was a great pitch that Rodriguez hit out. He reached out and got it. Was that a game we should have won? Yes, even though Josh Beckett had an off night. But the Yankees will win their share of games this season, and I, for one, am happy NOT to see them until the end of August. Of greater concern right now are the Oakland A's, who we play in a 4 game set starting tonight. It's Tavarez versus the always tough Dan Haren. Late night baseball on the left coast. Enjoy! And click on the title of this post for more on Josh Beckett's night.

Red Sox Stomp The Bumbling Bullpenless Yankees Right Into The Ground....Literally!

For the Yankees, this game was a horror show, especially the 7th inning, the inning that showed the whole country just how bad the Yankees really are, in the field and in their bullpen. Their losing record is no surprise, not after seeing that. Players out of place, missed fly balls, dual errors by Jeter, one leading to an injury, and a bullpen that would be more suited to a Single A club. And that was all in one inning, an inning that probably seemed 3 days long for the team on the field. For a Red Sox fan like me, it was about 35 minutes of great entertainment. Oscar worthy and Emmy winning. And then knowing that the 8th and 9th would be taken care of by the Darkman, Hideki Okajima, and Paps, well, that was just icing on the cake. Sweet and delicious. Every last bite!
The offensive star of the game was Mikey Lowell, who has 45 RBI, tied with AROD. He was everywhere in this game. He made the plays, he had 3 hits and he was a warrior in the truest sense of the word on the basepaths. He said this about his aggressive and winning ways on the basepaths....

" Even when it was suggested to Lowell that his hit on Cano might open up a can of worms, he simply said, “What’s the retaliation? They’re going to hit me for playing the game hard? I’ll take that as a good reward.”

Peter right here, and he was the star of the game, a game in which every Sox player but the one with the streak had a base hit. But Youkilis, unselfish player that he is, took 3 walks. Now that's a class act and an All Star to be first baseman, at the plate AND in the field. And Joe Torre, the Yankee skipper, had this to say.....

"You give any club extra outs and it is dangerous. You give this club extra outs and it's suicide."

Peter here, still smiling. And the Sox showed, at least yesterday, why they have the best record in baseball. No, Schill was not good, at least not after the 5th inning. Either was the rapidly aging, even more so than Schill, Mike Mussina. But every other facet of their game was on display, and when compared to their opponent, well, there IS no comparison. CASE CLOSED.

Tonight it's ESPN time, with the always tough Andy Pettitte ready to face our "golden guy," Josh "Baseball" Beckett. If this was an afternoon game, there'd be no weather problems. But there's a wall of water streaming up the east coast, just into southern New Jersey as I type these words to you. Three inches plus of rain is not out of the question. The Yankees would probably like to tuck their tails between their legs and skulk off to Chicago. I hope that gametime arrives dry, but I have my doubts. "If it becomes at all doubtful," using the exact words that the Titanic's captain uttered before he went to his cabin for his aborted night's sleep, I'll be back with a link you can click on for the best radar view of the upcoming approaching storminess. Until then, bring on dem bums!

Click on the title of this post for more delightful Yanks/Sox stuff, courtesy of the Hartford Courant's Jeff Jacobs. When he writes Red Sox, it is MUST reading for all of us! His wonderful commentary is all about Mike Lowell, OUR Mike Lowell, another All Star infielder on this team we love to love. The Boston Red Sox. Thanks Jeff!!

Wakefield Woefully Wild As Yanks Beat Sox

Friday night Red -Sox style was over after 4 innings as the Yankees took advantage of Tim Wakefield's wildness and scored 6 times after Boston had come back to knot the score at 3. This was one of those games that the phrase "turn the page" was invented for. The lone bright spot was a Kevin Youkilis single that extended his hitting streak to 23 games. For Kevin, the beat goes on. For Wakefield, well, he would have been better off hiding his head in the sand, or the infield dirt, or ANYWHERE but the Fenway Park mound. He had nothing, nada, zip, zero. And the New York club took advantage. Bigtime. The less said about this one, the better!

Today it's Mussina going up against Schilling in a game that has victory written all over it. I think. When these two teams play, anything can happen. I'll point right to the beanball war that took place during the game last night. And hot tempers, unfortunately, will be showcased this afternoon. May no one, either a Yankee OR a Red Sox player, be hurt. We've hit the Moose this year, and Schill is still fresh from a 7 inning gem in his last start. The Yanks need a sweep, and so much more. And no one needs any pitcher throwing at ANY one. Here's a news flash...the Yankees will not sweep, and the umpires will NOT tolerate anything...not today. Not after last night. So be it...I'll take Curt over Moose any day, especially at Fenway.

Click on the title of this post for a full report on the injuries to Mike Lowell and JD Drew. It looks like we'll be seeing Wily Mo Pena in rightfield for the next few games. And I never thought I'd be saying this, but that might be a GOOD thing. When's the last time JD Drew hit a ball that got out of the infield, much less for a base hit? Good question!
OK, now it's time.....let's get ready for Yankee-Red Sox baseball part two.....shortly after 3:30pm. On Fox.......nationwide. For ALL of us. Go Sox!!

Memories Of The IMPOSSIBLE DREAM Season. The 1967 Boston Red Sox-Part Two.........Sgt. Pepper And His Band, 60 Years After He Taught Them How To Play!

It's Friday, and that means more 1967 memories of that special season.....1967, courtesy of my friend, Jay T. Here is his second installment of 1967 magic. You can acess part one by going back in the archives to May 25th. Thank you Jay, and I'll be back with a quick word afterwards. Take it away, Jay!
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As I said earlier, before 1967 I had no "favorite team". All any kid had was Mickey Mantle and the Yankees, and I wanted desperately to be different and HATE the Yankees. I did not want to like a team that won all the time. (To this day I hate the Celtics, the Montreal Canadiens and the Green Bay Packers, all of whom dominated their respective sports back in the 60's).

It isn't like I went looking for a team.......I just knew I didn't like the Yankees. So as that famous season unfolded it really was the last thing I expected. The Red Sox were always at the bottom of the league and there was no reason to think 1967 would be any different.

As I think about the players on that team and their young inexperienced manager, Dick Williams, it truly didn't appear there would be anything to look forward to. Yes, we had Yaz, but at that time there was even controversy around him...the feeling was that he got preferential treatment and that the other players may not have liked it too much. We had Tony C, but he was in the news (before the events of August 22) for his social life as well as his play on the field.
Rico, Reggie, Jim Lonborg, George "the Boomer" Scott all went on to some notoriety as players but prior to 1967 there really wasn't much to show as the Sox STUNK!!

They did have a Connecticut connection...opening day starter Gary Waslewski.
Who knew what was to come that summer for the Sox and for a young baseball fan named Jay?

(to be continued next week here at Peter's Red Sox Forever)
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Peter here, and we ALL know what transpired that magic year, but it's been a long time since I've read such memories written like they happened just a few months ago instead of 40 years ago. Nice work Jay, and I, as well as my readers, will look forward to your piece next week. If any of you have any comments or questions for Jay, just leave them in the comment section. He'll be on the lookout....that I promise you.

And on an anniversary note, it was 60 years ago today that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. 20 years later, on June 1st, 1967, he and his bandmates released their self-titled album SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND, and the face of music began its change. Thank you Sgt Pepper and the band. Billy Shears always held a special place near my heart.

Oh, click on the title for a nice article about our write-in candidate for the All Star first base position....Kevin Youkilis. And please leave any thoughts or comments or recollections for Jay in the comment section. Thanks, and have a great June. No June swoon THIS year for our Sox.