It's a baseball town - Red Sox tickets

Johnny Be Good

"He spent a couple of days in Rhode Island last week and was part of a charity event at Foundry Sports Medicine on Wednesday. Proceeds from the event will benefit Friends Way, The Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Women's Oncology program at Rhode Island Hospital." -- Providence Journal

"It's incredible... What more can you ask for? Even being mentioned in the same sentence as Jesus or God... I mean, those guys are awesome. I'm just a knucklehead."-- Johnny being Johnny

Another Ticket Fiasco and Virtual Waiting Nightmare

Sox fix TicketsDotCom flaw they said never existed which locked thousands of fans out of an Opening Day opportunity during Christmas at Fenway. This time fans wasted a weekend locked in VWR hell hoping for more 'Magic Links' but if you had 700 windows open, or a 'Tinyurl,' are a scalper, or ticket 'broker,' you're fine as usual as the Red Sox Ticket Fiasco beat goes on.

It's Not in the Cards

Shocker: Red Sox Nation Cards are a Scam
And the 'Stocking Stuffers' Advertised on December 9, Won't Be Arriving Until Spring Training

"I waited 8 hours and never received the opportunity to pay $85 a seat for my tickets. My sister bought me the RSN for Christmas and when I was selected yesterday I thought I won the lottery. Instead, I didn’t work today and wasted 8 hours waiting to come out of the Virtual Waiting room. I have called and e-mailed the Sox before but when you have an endless supply of supporters you don’t need to worry about the little guy!" -- Stephen Thompson

Is it a Red Sox Nation or Patriots Country?

Even on the brink of another Super Bowl appearance, a survey on the Patriots section of boston.com revealed that a whopping 82% say the Red Sox rule.
(Gerry Callahan just threw up in his mouth)

Yankee fan Brady and Yankee player Jeter Separated at Birth?

"Derek Jeter's. I like how Derek Jeter does a lot of things."-- Tom Brady when asked by WEEI's John Dennis "if you had a son and could by him one player jersey, whose would it be?"

Why Tom Brady Loves the Yankees

"Back in the late '90s, the University of Michigan football team had two very good quarterbacks. At the time, the "better" one was Drew Henson, who doubled as the U of M third baseman.

Henson was both a star quarterback with Heisman Trophy hopes and a top-rated major league prospect who was drafted by the Yankees yet, like many Yankee prospects, was traded away to the Reds for Denny Neagle. However, Steinbrenner is a graduate of Ohio State University (Williams actually, honorary from OSU) - Michigan's main rival in football. Looking for a way to screw over his rival team, George gave Henson a $17 million dollar contract to get him off the Michigan football team.

With the expected QB gone, Michigan had to turn to its backup - Tom Brady. Tom took his role and led Michigan to a Big Ten title and sending them to a BCS game, a victory over Alabama. In the spring, the Patriots took a small risk and picked him.

Without George blowing money to screw over a rival, Brady might never have gotten his chance to show what he was worth...and never be in the situation he is in now." -- Gordie Fall, Waterford, MI

"I just wanted to clarify the info you had about Brady and Steinbrenner. George did pilfer the Michigan QB in order to screw over the Wolverines but that was done after 2000, a year after Brady graduated. Henson in fact played a full year at Michigan after Brady left and was relatively successfull. During the 1999 season, Brady and Henson split time with Henson doing most of the slinging and throwing of interceptions (see the second quarter of that Orange Bowl) and Brady coming in and leading the team to victory late in the game. In the Orange Bowl, Henson sat on the bench the entire second half while Brady brought the team back from a 2-touchdown deficit." -- Christopher Murphy

"The email about Tom Brady/Drew Henson/NYY is just plain false. Henson was a true freshman in Brady's fifth year (red-shirt senior), and started two games. AFTER Brady graduated, Henson was the full-time quarterback at UM for a full season before he was drafted by the Yankees. George played no part in Brady's success. In fact Brady started over Henson and had an amazing season, leading Michigan to a 11-1 record and a Rose bowl victory. It is truly unbelievable that Brady was drafted in the sixth round, and this may be indicative of how good a player Henson might become." -- Rick James (superfreak?)

World Series Ball Joins Trophy on Tour

Breaking Ball News:
Joins Trophy on Tour

The Boston Red Sox and Doug Mientkiewicz today announced that the baseball caught by the Gold Glove first baseman for the final out of the 2004 World Series will begin accompanying the Championship Trophy on its year-long tour throughout Massachusetts, New England, and Red Sox Nation. Representatives of the Red Sox and Mientkiewicz reached an agreement for the exhibition of the ball over the weekend. It will be encased in a special plaque created to commemorate the moment.

Millar is pumped and jacked

Now He's Jacked and Pumped

Stop the Presses: KFK is Actually Going to Get in Shape

"I've been in the weight room. I've worked as hard as I ever have this offseason, probably the hardest I ever have. I'm in the best shape I've ever been in just because of this whole thing. I'd do pushups just to keep the nights going by." -- Mr. Red Sox on MLB.com

"While shoveling the steps this morning (again), I finally understood. Of course. The Red Sox won the World Series, right? This is hell freezing over."
-- 1.28.05 Allen Rutberg, Holliston, Boston Globe, Letters to the Editor

Mariano Rivera as the Gimp

The Gotham Gimp

Mariano Rivera Stars in New Nike Debacle

Denny Tomori signs with Red Sox

Breaking News: Sox Sign Tomori

95 MPH Throwing Relief Pitcher Picks Sox over Reds, Blue Jays and Dodgers

37-year-old Japanese league (Yokohama Bay Stars) pitcher Denney Tomori agrees to a one-year deal with the Red Sox (amount undisclosed and changes if he makes the cut in spring training). He chose the Red Sox because Theo called him personally and told him that the Red Sox needed him. Tomori and his agent conducted an open house practice session Dec. 11 in Anaheim and 22 teams sent scouts. The Sox sent three scouts there to check him out at the time. Official announcement expected next week. Read more on Tomori here.

Sox Get Ball for One Year

New Ballgame Baby! Henry Lays the Hammer Down

BREAKING BALL NEWS: SERIES BALL COMING BACK TO BOSTON

Minky Gives Ball Back to Sox "For One Year"

"We have reached an arrangement with the Red Sox
but we will wait for them to disclose the details."
-- Jodi "Pants" Mientkiewicz to Gordon Edes

"There was never a fight, there was never words exchanged. It was very cordial, and we worked something out. I want the fans to see it, and that's what both the Red Sox and I agreed on. They waited a long time to see that ball and to live it. The fact that I had it was just so we could keep it and give it to the fans and let them see it. I didn't expect all of this with the ball. Sometimes in life you think you're doing the right thing and it doesn't turn out that way. That's kind of what happened here. I didn't think it was going to come out to this. Like I said, I gave Derek Lowe the Game 7 ball from the ALCS, and no one seems to want that one. There were never any hard feelings about it, though, with me and the front office. The whole thing, when the article came out, was blown way out of proportion. It made it sound like we were fighting for the ball. In order to be a fight, the other side has to not want to give something up and that's not my point. They never asked for it. When they asked for it, they got it. They're coming to get it and now it's over and done with." -- New York Met Doug Mientkiewicz

Jodi Expected to Make Official Announcement Soon
Doug Busy Signing "Last Out" Series Balls for eBay

Red Sox vs. Mets Game 6 1986

Sox Blow Two Run Lead in 10th, Lose Game 6 6-5
Stanley, Gedman Come Undone After Schiraldi Meltdown
"Worst Loss in Red Sox History"

The Night We Never Met

The Red Sox Try to Clinch Their First World Championship in 68 Years Tonight on NESN

In Case You Can't Bear to Watch Game 6...

Watch Paul Pierciaparra (he's the one in the black and grey stocking hat)
and the Celtics Take on the Pacers Tonight

Truth or Consequences? "Pierce Not Piece for C's"

Sox Make Trade for the Blade

Mientkiewicz Trade Official
Mets Introduce New BP Jerseys

Theo Makes Trade for The Blade

Millar's His Binky, So There Goes Minky

Historic World Series Ball Negotiations with Jodi Mientkiewicz Ongoing

Ian Bladergroen profile from USA Today Sportsweekly: Opening Day age: 22 HT: 6-4 WT: 210 B/T: L/L A torn wrist ligament suffered in July ended what could have been an amazing statistical season for Bladergroen, a 44th round draft and follow from 2002. When injured, he had been among the minor league RBI leaders and was having an overall Player of the Year calibre campaign. Bladergroen, who hit 32 homers in his last year of junior college, has plus power and is an excellant defensive first baseman. He hit .285 with 6 homers and 36 RBI at short season Brooklyn in his 2003 pro debut.

Mientkiewicz on the move

It's a Whole New Ballgame

Now That Delgado Has Signed, Theo is Scrambling to Move Minky

"Now that Delgado has landed with the Marlins, I think the Red Sox will trade Mientkiewicz to the Mets for either Victor Zambrano or Jae Wong Seong. The Red Sox need a healthy starter. Just my albeit humble prediction. -- Chip

Minkball Not Playing Well in Bismark: "Just Give the Ball Back Doug"

John Henry Wants Ball Back, Doug Gone
"I think the whole thing is disgusting," said one Sox decision-maker.

ACE OUT: 'Fold' Schilling Goes Down to Brad Garrett
But Curt Raises $5,000 for SHADE in Celebrity Poker

California Dreamin' No More

California Screamin'

Transplanted New Englanders, friends of ours, and Red Sox fanatics Jon Davis (Dukes of Hazard Movie), Daniel Kellison (Jimmy Kimmel Live), John Ennis (Mr. Show), Eli Roth (Cabin Fever), Dicky Barrett (Mighty, Mighty Bosstones), Bill Simmons (ESPN.com), Dave Rath (Hollywood talent manager), Adam Roth, Gabe Roth and the rest of the Left Coast Crew throw back a few at the first annual Kevin Hench's (FoxSports.com and BDD alum) Red Sox World Series Celebration at Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica, California on Monday night.

Eli and Sports Guy Wanted More Appletinis

Red Shirts Going Away

Red's Dead Baby. Red's Dead.

Reliable SoSHer Reports Sox Are Done with the Hideous Red Shirts
New Alternate "Setback" Jersey to be Introduced Midseason

Curt Schilling on Bravo's Celebrity Poker

Ace of Diamonds is Dealing

On Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown Tuesday

Curt Schilling plays no-limit Texas hold 'em against Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Sarah Rue and Catherine O'Hara for charity in the first episode of the series' fifth tournament on Tuesday night. Schilling plays to raise money for The SHADE Foundation, the skin cancer awareness foundation he and his wife Shonda founded in 2002. Check your local listing for a time in your area. (Boston is 8:00 p.m.)

Horrible Hankie

The Newest Item for Sale Today at the Steelers.com Pro Shop
(The Steelers AFC Champion t-shirts are also 50% off)

Patriots Steelers AFC Championship

BRANCHING OUT

Schilling Breaks Out a Brady Shirt

Dynasty 41 Pittsburgh 27

Favored Over Eagles by 6

R.I.P. Johnny
"For three days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow but phone calls taper off."
-- Johnny Carson 1925 - 2005

Oil Can Boyd Wants to Return

Well-Oiled Machine

Rock & Roll 45's

Yes He Can: Boyd Wants to Return to Big Leagues at 45

"I'm throwing the ball as well as I ever have. I probably throw 90, and I've never thrown 90. I'm throwing all of my pitches."-- Former Sox Star Dennis Boyd

Slappy Speaks Up

Slap Shot

Slap Yap Yaps

"We beat him up a couple of times during the season, and he sat crying on the bench," Rodriguez recalled of Schilling. "Then he lost Game 1 in the series, and he wasn't talking."
(Except for the fact that Curt was talking just fine after he lost Game 1)
Asked whether he thought the comments were made for self-motivation and to stir up the rivalry, Schilling responded: "If that's what he needs, cool."

Say Hello to My Little Friend

See You in April Mr. McBluelips

Who's Crying Now?

"The biggest move, when all was said and done, was the non-move. I think if we get A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez], we don't get here [to the World Series]. I don't question that for a second," said Schilling.

"He's a Hall of Famer, sure. But after getting to know people who a) play with him and b) have played with him, I don't think it would have worked here. I think this clubhouse would have been a much different place, and I don't think it would have been better, given the personalities involved." -- 10.28.04 Curt Schilling on Slappy

Rocket Returning to Houston

Another Rocket Relaunch

The Greatest Red Sox Pitcher in History Breaks Prima Donna Paydro's Salary Record

Merloni to Angels, Offerman to Phillies, Williamson to Cubs

Belli Knew Minky Was After the Ball

Belli Knew Minky Was After The Ball All Along

Minky's Mind Was Already Made Up

""I could read his mind," Mirabelli said of Mientkiewicz. "He was
in that dog pile and squeezing his glove as hard as possible."

Doug Digging Trade Show Circuit

Top dollar paid for signatures and memorabilia

"Typically, organizers have flown in Sox players -- who dubbed themselves the Dirt Dogs during the '04 season -- to sign memorabilia for three or four hours in a private setting, then fly them back out. "Someone like (cable channel) QVC will sell a jersey for three grand," Mirabelli said. "At public shows, there's a flat fee. But I'd rather do private stuff; you don't have to feel like you're taking money straight from the public." -- Las Vegas Sun

Lawyers, Deans, Professors: Mientkiewicz last in line for rights to ball

U. S. Supreme Court Delivers Opinions on Million Dollar Ball

Thanks Beautiful Looking Good

Year-to-Year Contract Cub Nomar Garciaparra says "the Achilles is feeling really good"
326 days after his day-to-day soccer sheath wrist groin Achilles nagging discomfort.

'Rest' Was Key to Recovery

"It's funny because, often times, the doctor tells you that what you need is rest and you don't want to hear it," he said. "But they're actually right sometimes. Actually having the rest and having an offseason, it feels really good. You can't control the future or what will happen, but as of right now, I feel great." -- Nomar Garciaparra going into another free agent year

Ballgate Update

Breaking Ballgate News

Online Book Offers To Pay Minky FSU Tuition,
Then Give Sox Series Ball to Boston Fans

"Sportsbook.com is determined to purchase the ball and toss it back to the Boston community which stood by its team for almost nine decades," said Alex Czajkowski, Marketing Director, Sportsbook.com. "We have a very loyal customer base in Boston who have been great to us over the years," Czajkowski said adding "This is an opportunity for us to give something back. If four years at FSU is all it takes to bring a piece of history home to millions of devoted Boston Red Sox fans, then Sportsbook.com is more than willing to foot the bill." Sportsbook.com has informed the Boston Red Sox and a representative of Doug Mientkiewicz of its offer.

MLB I live for this fan casting calls

Commercial Appeal for Boston's Finest

Nation Idol

Vote-for-Mike Schuster-for-(insert team here)-Fan-of-the-Year and other over-the-top types are already in line for MLB's new "I Love This Game" commercials* casting call taking place
at Fenway on Saturday. I would imagine you need to bring your Official Red Sox Nation membership I.D. card in order to participate in the screening to represent Red Sox Nation.

* Fan promotion commercials are for playoff team cities only. Milwaukee, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Colorado and other Triple-A Fans are not invited to participate in this promotion as it is hopeless for them to compete and MLB is admitting it's now a 10 team league.

Pedro Martinez still taking shots at Sox

Delusional Diva Still
Burning Boston Bridges

"For me, it was pretty much easy to work with Omar. He kept it under the radar, did what he had to do. He didn't have to lie, didn't say anything negative."

Schilling shocked that Pedro threw Tito under the bus

Curt Schilling is a Steelers fan

Steel Curt

"I'm a Steeler fan"

Schilling's Apparently Tired of Being Associated with Winners
Big Schill Must Think Big Ben is the New Bradshaw

And Kevin Millar Reminds Theo That He Has Better Legs Than Mientkiewicz

Tedy Bruschi in Sports Illustrated

Eats Roethlisbergers for Breakfast

Dr. Z Gives Pats All 'A's'

"How about New England being favored over a 16–1 Pittsburgh team that’s playing at home? That ought to get the Steelers mad enough to ... to what? Put up more points? Figure out a way to crack a defense that stopped the Indy machine dead in its tracks on Sunday?

"No, I don’t think that’ll happen. I don’t like a rookie quarterback, even one as formidable as Ben Roethlisberger, against a Bill Belichick defense. Of course I said the same thing in October, when I picked the Pats to win. But Pittsburgh beat a crippled team that played without Corey Dillon (144 rushing yards against the Colts) and was without both tackles by game’s end. If your tackles can’t stand firm against the Steelers’ outside rushers, you’re dead meat, and that’s what happened to New England. Pittsburgh’s wingmen, Joey Porter and Clark Haggans, were turned loose and gave Tom Brady a rough afternoon.

"Belichick and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel had two weeks to prepare for the Colts, and the result was devastating for Indianapolis. I’ve got to believe that during that time, they were doing a workup on the Steelers as well. The Patriots win it and meet the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX."

— Paul Zimmerman, Sports Illustrated

Sox sign Bellhorn, Arroyo

A couple of one year deals

Numb3rs starring Peyton Manning on CBS

The Artful Dodger

"I didn't do anything wrong!"

D-Lowe wishes Boston and the Red Sox "nothing but the best" but said that the Sox spent the same money signing "4-5 guys to replace us (Pedro and him)" and that Pedro's lashing out at the Red Sox took him by surprise. Derek also denies the rumors that he went out before the September 18 Yankees debacle and called it a "low blow." He was frustrated by the way it snowballed again after they clinched in Tampa saying "somebody kept resurfacing it (stories of his going out too late) either in the media or the front office because it would have died, case in point Tony Massarotti wrote about it last weekend." However he reiterated that a big market city like Boston "with intensity and media coverage" is appealing to him. "There's nothing like it" according to Derek who unlike Pedro left this town saying that the Red Sox were "a great organization."

WEEI D&C: Derek Doesn't Pull a Pedro on Way Out of Town
And Had 1,000 More Reasons to Over the Pampered Prima Donna

Sneak Preview of Numb3rs

To help capture an over-hyped quarterback-turned-playoff-lightweight, FBI Special Agent Don Eppes recruits his genius brother Charlie, who uses a mathematical equation to identify the Peyton Manning media mania point of origin by working back from the playoff game locations.

With Special Guest Star Peyton Manning

Somebody Gotta Peyton

Ready Tedy

From Peyton to Pittsburgh's Place

Patriots vs. Colts in AFC Divisional Championship

Jets Steal Page from Yankees Playbook
Double-Choke Debacle in Pittsburgh

"Hoo-sier Dad-dy!"
"Hoo-sier Dad-dy!"

Peyton Gets Spanked by Big Daddy Again Tonight

Doug Mientkiewicz World Series Ball Movie

Dinner and a Movie

Just a Couple of Things You Can Do Before 4:45 on Sunday.

Don't Put Miracle on Ice Just Yet: Curt May Try to Come Back Month Early

Marvin Miller at Boston Baseball Writers Dinner

Marvin the Martian

Union Jerk is on Another Planet When Talking About
the Scourge of Steroids in Baseball

MLB New Harsher Steroid Abuse Policy in Baseball

NEW POLICY WONK

The Incredible Bulk

Bonds* Knows He's Still in "The Clear" with New Policy
Artificial Heir to HR Crown's Growth Treatments Will Beat System
No Forced Retirement for Bonds* in "Harsher" Steroid Plan
Cheater Won't Be Banned in in New Drug Deal
Aaron, Ruth Legitimate Records Remain at Risk

1975 World Series Game 6 Red Sox Reds

CARBO LOADS SOX ON HIS BACK
BOSTON BATTLES BACK TO BEAT CINCY, SEEING REDS TONIGHT

Bernie Shot Heard 'Round the World

Carbo Stays Alive and Hammers Another Pinch Hit Homer. Bernie Three Run Bomb at 11:11 p.m. Brings Sox Back from Brink in Eighth to Tie Game 6 at 6.

Lynn Slams Wall and Ball. Dewey Goes Way Back for Greatest Grab.
Pen Writes Winning Script. Fisk Pole Shot Seals Deal in 12th.

Spaceman on Launchpad for Game 7 Tonight

New York Times OP-ED on Ballgate: "Doug Mientkiewicz should return the ball to its owner: the St. Louis Cardinals. Or he should just mail it to Bud Selig, the commissioner of baseball.
Let him decide what to do with it."

Terry Francona's Gotta Go!
Stool Pigeon: Tito's the Metamucil Informer!

Derek Lowe joins the Los Angeles Dodgers

D-Dough is Gone But
Will Never Be Forgotten

Derek Wants Intensity in Laid Back LA

"In the middle of the year, I struggled, and I'll be the first to admit it," Lowe said. "There wasn't a more disappointed guy in all of baseball than myself when it came to those four or five weeks when I struggled. I just kept telling myself that it was a long year and things could turn around."-- D-Lowe Doesn't Pull a Pedro

Say it Ain't So! Derek is a Dodger, and he won't go shoeless with that contract.

To distract you from the D-Lowe travesty, Sox set up Matt Clement on Dale & Neumy today

Vanderjagt makes Colts workout t-shirts

"Hoo-sier Dad-dy!"
"Hoo-sier Dad-dy!"

Peyton Gets Spanked by Big Daddy Again on Sunday

Update: "AFC Champions 2004" Gear removed from Colts Website

Vanderjerk Made T-shirts

The Colts Are Just Waiting for the NFC Champion to be Announced

Shea Hillenbrand joins the Toronto Blue Jays

Shea Hey is a Blue Jay

The Hillenbrands Come Back East

"I'm not going out quietly, I'll tell you that much," Hillenbrand said yesterday. "They think we're stupid."

"But if you tell me that Bill Mueller is going to be the first one off the bench and he's going to give you a day off, would you sign him to two years for $4.5 million? And they're talking about cutting costs and saving money. I'm not stupid."

"Why not sign me to a multiyear [contract]? Sign me now so I don't have to go to arbitration." What happens if I go out and have an All-Star year this year and go to arbitration? You have to pay me more."

Hillenbrand said on-base percentage is overrated unless you're the leadoff batter. To me, if I get a 7-8-9 hitter on base, it don't mean [expletive] to me." ...

They don't know what they have with me. If they get rid of me, they'll know what they have. You've heard of Jeff Bagwell?"

-- 5.29.03 Shea Hillenbrand on the Red Sox trading him to the Arizona Diamondbacks

The Flaxseed Oil Kid Will Ride
the Quarter Horses to Toronto This Time

Shea-hole is excited to see Theo "that little twerp"
(among other things he called the GM) 19 times a year.

The Horse and the Horse's Behind

"The horse's name is 'Lewinsky'" -- Steve Ciaccio, WEEI

The Hillenbrands Get Ready for Move Back East

Where's Noah's Ark When You Need It?

Welcome back Shea!
And yes, we've heard of Jeff Bagwell.

Wade Boggs Grabs Shotgun, Jumps in Truck
After Seeing Hillenbrand Animal Clan

Randy Johnson New York Media

Dr. Jekyll is All Smiles Now

Angry Yankee comes out of hiding

United They Stand

The New York Media gathers outside Randy Johnson's hotel hoping for an impromptu interview with the apologetic Bad Apple himself.

"You'll See What I'm Like!"
-- Big Jerk threat to cameraman Vince Everett

Delgado not coming to Boston

Theo Won't Sign Delgado

But Carlos Would Look Great in a Boston Uniform

Randy Johnson New York Meltdown

Big Baby Blowup

Hothead Melts Down in Midtown

Big Apple Snapple

The Manhattan Project's Tirade
Watch the Video Here

Angry Unit Shoves Cameraman on Day One

"Don't talk back to me!"

The Bronx Hillbilly

Come 'n listen to my story 'bout a man named Randy
The sad Diamondback, was his modus operandi
And then on the day he turned his head to cough
He saw a cameraman, and told 'em to #&@! off.

"Frightened", he is, country boy... city streets...

Well, the first thing to know, is he's a millionaire
A tall, ugly southpaw, with curly 80s hair
He said, the "New York Yankees is the only place for me"
So he loaded up the truck and he moved to NYC

"Toilet", that is, press pools... nudie bars...

Well, now it's time to say goodbye to "The Randy Honeymoon"
He might be better suited playin' basketball with Boone
We're all invited back again to this reality:
He's just a cranky cracker with a gimpy, swollen knee

Hillbilly, that is, set a spell, take your shoes off

Y'all come back now, hear?

-- Peter Stasiowski, Boston Dirt Dogs

Meanwhile Schilling Runs a Marathon

...Shonda Schilling, not the Big Guy

Boston Red Sox Ace Curt Schilling, in the spiffy Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts throwback jersey, hugs his better half Shonda, as she finishes the P.F. Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon Sunday in Phoenix. Shonda finished the marathon in 4 hours and 50 minutes raising $40,000 for the SHADE Foundation. It was Shonda's first marathon (congratulations!). She will now be running the Boston Marathon in April to raise money again for SHADE. Stay tuned for details on how you can sponsor Shonda's first Boston run.

And Gammons Has a Beer

... Named After Him.

Get some limited edition Harpoon 'Commissioner's Pale Ale' produced to honor Peter Gammons and his role in the Hot Stove Cool Music benefit supporting the Jimmy Fund.

Hot Stove, Cool Music

Party Like a Rock Star

Charity Begins with the Home Team

Send in Your Hot Stove Photos

D-Load

Derek Packs in on for LA

"They always say the next best rivalry is L.A. against San Francisco. Obviously on the West Coast, it's just as big. To be a part of that, a new beginning. That's the most exciting part... It wasn't money, it wasn't location. If you're going to go to a place for four years you want to make sure they have a chance to win and so I found it... So you're going to go out there and work your tail off these next six weeks and go in there and they're the defending champions in the (National League) West. So you want to go out there and make sure they win it again."
-- D-Lowe on pitching for the Dodgers

Yankee-Beater Ball Staying On Derek's Mantel,
No Authenticity Stamps Necessary.

Parting Shots: D-Lowe's Thoughts About Mud Slinging and the Media in Boston

Doug Mientkiewicz and the World Series Red Sox ball

Ballgate Swings Wide Open

Everybody Has An Opinion on the Story They Want
Everyone to Stop Talking About

"Doug sounds like he is trying to sound like a guy thinking this out as he goes along. I have heard everything said recently by Doug and canny wife, Jodi who clearly has a big future in public relations work and I hear a whole lot of spin going on. As both Doug and Jodi admit when she first saw him in the clubhouse, she quickly got around to asking; “do you still have the ball”? Interesting preoccupation, don’t you think? ...

"Some achievements in baseball despite occurring in a team context speak so much of individual accomplishment; a three thousandth hit, a no-hitter, a 20 strikeout pitching performance, hitting for the cycle, really any record individual performance, that we readily accept that the player deserves to keep memorabilia associated with the performance. But where was the individual performance here?

"What heroic individual feat trumping team play did Doug Mientkiewicz accomplish in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series that merited singling him out over the effort of the Boston Red Sox team and the hopes and histories of their legions of fans over 176 baseball games?

"The first time such a playoff series winning baseball came Doug Mientkiewicz’s way in a Red Sox uniform was in game 7 of the ACLS. He rightly saw that if one individual deserved the baseball, it was Derek Lowe and he gave the ball to Derek Lowe; nice gesture, Doug. ...

"I am confident that despite the initial response by Larry Lucchino who probably regrets his public airing, the matter will now be negotiated quietly behind the scenes. But make no mistake, Red Sox ownership will not tolerate a situation with an employee where they feel they are being taken advantage of and have options.

"If Doug and Jodi Mientkiewicz don’t come to their senses, Doug won’t be wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform in April 2005. This would be truly unfortunate as it is generally understood by people in the know that the Boston Red Sox intended if possible to trade Kevin Millar, in part because of off-field behaviors, and make Doug Mientkiewicz their first baseman, a move vigorously debated-largely supported by the fans." -- Brasstacks on RedSoxNation.net

Hot Stove, Cool Music Tonight
Cesar Salad Days Over, Crespo to Pirates
Five Out of Five Sources Agree: "Mets Get Beltran"
Ray-from-Lynn Reveals His Secrets

Hellowe Goodbye

Hellowe, Goodbye

D-Lowe Has Signed Deal with the Dodgers
Press Conference in LA on Tuesday

Saturday Wake Service:
Donovan's Tavern in Dorchester at 6:00 p.m.
Joe's American Bar & Grill on Newbury Street, 9:00 p.m.
Division 16, 11:00 p.m.
The Rack, 2:30 a.m.

Sunday Funeral Procession to Los Angeles:
Leaving from Dunkin' Donuts in Quincy, 11:55 a.m. sharp.

"If you don't have a drink and shed a tear for our own Derek Lowe tonight, I don't know what we're doing in this life."-- Ted Sarandis at sold-out Conte Forum

Godspeed and Thank You for Everything D
You Will Be Missed by Many in Boston

Mientkiewicz Ballgate with World Series Ball and Red Sox

The Verdict is In

Especially the Mrs.
But Sox Were Dumb Not to Claim The Ball Before Series Sweeper.

Making the Most of Ballgate

“Foulke underhands the ball to first. ... He’s out!. ... and Mientkiewicz steals it! Over to Jodi. Mientkiewicz stole the ball! It's all over! It's alllll over! Doug Mientkiewicz is being mobbed by the fans. It's alllll over! Doug Mientkiewicz stole the ball.”

-- Dearly departed Boston Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most, on Doug Mientkiewicz legendary play to end Game 4 of the 2004 World Series against St. Louis.

Twins Killing: Minky Thrown Under Bus for Taking Ball

Hrbek, Larkin, Kelly Kick Doug to Curb
And Jodi emails the Star Trib too

Gene Larkin: "I think if I had it and the team had wanted it, I'd give it to the team," Larkin said. "If Doug wants to keep it for himself, honestly, I don't think the Red Sox would want him on their team."

Twins Legend Kent Hrbek offered this advice: "If Doug was playing in the U.S. Open tennis tournament and he won it on the final serve, then that tennis ball belongs to him. But baseball is a team game, so that's a team ball. That's what I would have done.

Hrbek recalled Mientkiewicz's tenure with the Twins when he often angered his employers with bold comments. "There goes Dougie," Hrbek said. "Right in the middle of another controversy."

Manager Tom Kelly: "He needs to give the ball back. Can you imagine him stepping on the field there if he doesn't?" He didn't need much time to determine what Mientkiewicz should do. "That ball is certainly not his," Kelly said. "... When Mr. Lucchino asks for the ball, I'm sure he'll hand it over. Right?"

Lucchino Airs Dirty Laundry, Drags the Nation into Mess

WEEI's Glenn Ordway: "He (Lucchino) wants to return it to ‘Red Sox Nation,” and now the Red Sox are charging people $10.00 to be a part of ‘Red Sox Nation.’ …I agree with that (there’s hypocrisy on Lucchino’s part)… Larry Lucchino could have dealt with it in a private manner behind closed doors as opposed to putting it out in the public. He chastises the media all the time for creating stories, creating controversies, I hear him all the time on Dennis and Callahan ‘here we go again’ well ‘here we go again’ Larry Lucchino is out there and creating controversy himself and kind of throwing some dirt out there."

It's Doug's Lucky Day

Sox President Larry Lucchino: "We're going to make a request of him to return it to us. We want it to be part of Red Sox archives or museums so it can be shared with the fans. We would hope he would understand the historical nature of it… This is a gray area as to what players think they can take with them. We're going to ask Doug for the ball. I think it would be a nice gesture on his part to return it to Red Sox Nation."

Shaughnessy Sets the Record Straight

CHB on Mustard and Johnson: "I was actually curious about the ball, and I had been asking myself, ‘he must have it,’ he actually walked by me in the corridor in St. Louis after they had won and I said ‘is that the ball?” and he was clutching it like he was Tiki Barber going into the line holding the thing. So I assumed he had it, and why wouldn’t he have it? So I did call and we chatted briefly about the Millar situation, first-base trade and there’s not really anything groundbreaking or new there and I wasn’t particularly interested in that anyway unless he was going to say ‘I demand a trade’ or something. I said ‘what about the ball?’ He was very forthcoming, he was very lighthearted. When he says ‘I can be bought’ I know that’s tongue in cheek. I think in the paper… I read somewhere where he said he expected a lighthearted article, I kinda thought it was, I mean I said it was like the Faberge Egg, The Hope Diamond, and it wasn’t until Lucchino called me back which was late Thursday night and said that they’re going to ask for it back that it took on a little bit of kind of a contesting of the ball. And at that point I called Peter Chase, Charles Steinberg, and Glen Geffner and said ‘here’s what I got, it would be good to get Doug again on this’ and they were unable to reach him for the rest of the night, I said ‘you can call me until 1:00 in the morning. John Henry called me at midnight and said he was going to try to talk to Doug. He said he couldn’t believe no one had asked about it. He was kind of surprised. I think that they’ve kind of been wondering. I was in Lucchino’s office Tuesday and said ‘what’s up with the ball?’ he says ‘geez I don’t know’ and he called somebody in their administration and that kind of got the ball rolling so to speak. I was just curious, but when Doug called me back he was very forthcoming about it and I certainly didn’t misquote him and I don’t think he’s pretended to say that, he wanted to present it as he said it with his tongue in his cheek but I thought that was apparent… I didn’t present it like he’s throwing down the gauntlet or anything and I did try to reach him after Lucchino at 9:30 on Thursday night, and that was with calls all day and emails. I emailed John Henry at noontime Thursday (to ask him about it), he said ‘I’ll get back to you on this today and 12 hours later he called me… I don’t think Doug’s a bad guy at all. I don’t blame him for doing what he’s doing. I think that he’s got it. When a guy puts it in a safety deposit box and has it authenticated I think it’s pretty clear he thinks it’s his and I’m not saying that makes him a bad guy at all. He seems like a great guy. It’s just an interesting question… technically I think the St. Louis Cardinals own the ball, one guy at the Red Sox said ‘the Cardinals buy the balls for the games there, we buy the balls for the games at Fenway’… MLB is saying it belongs to the ballplayer unless the Red Sox choose to contest it, I don’t know how strongly they’re going to contest it. If you notice, Doug’s not happy with me, maybe feels ambushed whatever, but at the same time he has the ball and he doesn’t want to give it back, which is OK, but don’t get mad at me because of that, I mean he’s the guy that’s got the ball and won’t give it back… We know it’s a stupid thing, it does happen to have monetary value to a lot of people, certainly to a high bidder it probably would, that’s why Doug has it in a safety deposit box and got it authenticated… It’s just something that everyone has an opinion about it. It’s harmless, fun, nobody gets hurt here, no one’s a bad guy. It’s just a harmless, fun story."

Doug Mientkiewicz on ballgate

Who's Your Mommy?

Jodi Says Lucchino Has to
Go Through Her

Jodi, and Doug's Mother, Are Calling the Shots

Not Your Average Jodi: Mrs. Mink Calls into The Big Show, Says They "Have No Intention of Selling the Ball"

"It’s amazing that we’ve had it for three months, we’ve told lots of other media sources that have asked ‘where’s the ball?’ we told them we had it authenticated, we told them it’s with us in Miami, no one’s ever said anything, no one from the Red Sox has ever said ‘we’re glad you kept that ball’ nothing… I had to just drive home with it, I drove home from Boston and I was scared to death because I had it in the car. As we got back I put it in the same safety deposit box that we have the Olympic medal in and the irony is Doug can’t even get into that box because it’s registered under my name and his mother’s name, so you can’t even really blame Doug, blame me. He (Lucchino) has to go through me.

"He had it in the clubhouse (after the game) and I asked him, I said ‘do you still have the ball?’ and he said ‘yeah’ and I said ‘let me put it in my purse so it doesn’t get lost in here because I don’t know if any of you guys were in there, there was a lot of media in there, and it was chaotic when they won. I just kept it in my purse. And the next day MLB actually approached Doug and said ‘if you want to authenticate it, we’ve got people here and we’ll register it to you, and it will be registered under your name and everything, so he went ahead and did it.

"We do not have any intention of selling this ball. We’ve actually had people who have asked to buy it and we’ve said no to them. They went through our agent. There was one offer that was very, very low and I think the highest offer was $25,000 maybe I believe. No one has ever asked us to put it anywhere... I don’t understand the timing of it at all, we’ve had it for three months, I would have thought somebody would have contacted us right afterwards, he had it authenticated at Fenway, it’s not like they didn’t know he had the ball, but nobody had said anything and then Shaughnessy called actually to talk about the whole Kevin Millar trade thing, and Doug didn’t want to comment on that so they just started talking about the ball.

"It’s sad that everybody’s dealing with this, and this is this national issue today when the Red Sox could have just come and said we have this museum, or we’d like to do this with it, and do we have your permission, you could still retain ownership. I mean it would have been ‘yes, yes’ here it is. The ball would have already been there probably by now… but that’s not the way things unfolded.

"It’s not any question of the ownership. If MLB says that we own it, and it was registered under Doug’s name, I was standing right there, then yeah, we do own it, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want everybody else to experience it.

"If this is the way that the writer portrayed it to the media, I can only imagine when he called them to get their quotes, the way he said that Doug said it, you know what I mean, I don’t know how that transpired, I don’t know what their conversation was, I can only imagine he called up and said ‘hey, you’ve go this player who says it’s his ball and he’s gonna sell it and send his child, who he doesn’t even have, to Florida State… I don’t think it will affect how he plays, it might affect how some people perceive him and that’s just gonna be whether you believe some of the stuff that you read in the paper today, or you believe the truth.

"I told Doug I said ‘now that this has become funny with the ball, maybe the ball will be my little Nelson and I’ll just take it to the park and take pictures, $10 to take Polaroid pictures…”

(After listening to Jodi, when she's not posting online or emailing about this, has anyone ever seen her and WEEI quasi-celeb-caller Allison-in-Cambridge in the same room together? She's making Brenda Warner look like a wallflower.)

"I just didn't realize how one writer could infuse a load of bull onto a nation. We have all kinds of media from around the country calling to say -- "Will you give the ball back?" Is there nothing else newsworthy right now?"
-- Jodi Mientkiewicz on RedSox.com message boards

Eyechart Sees Ball Differently

Hear what Minky had to say with Dale and Neumy

Mr. and Mrs. Minky Fire Back on Ballgate

Minky Says He Was Sandbagged by Shaughnessy, Says Lucchino Has His Number, Maintains Claim Ball is His

"I should never have called him back, and I did and I didn’t want to... First of all he (Foulke) wasn’t going to throw it to me, I’m yelling at him, ‘throw me the ball!’ I want to be on Sports Illustrated too. He threw me the ball and I held on to it. I held onto the one when we won against the Yankees too. Derek had pitched such a good game, he’s gotta have that ball. I gave it to him after all that he had been through, and I was going to give him this one, and I thought, “this is crazy, I’m a baseball buff, it’s something I want to hang on to.”

“The funny thing about all this, all this came up now. I’ve been telling everybody since the minute we won that I had it. No one has contacted me, no one has said two words to me about this ball.

“The whole thing about me wanting to sell it, I was saying it laughing. The other guy (Shaughnessy), he was laughing. I thought it was going to be a light-hearted article, I was just joking around with him and kidding about it and the whole thing about I can be bought, it was all in jest, it was one of those things. I’ve tried to keep my mouth shut all winter, but when someone backs me into a corner that way, I’m going to come out fighting. If someone portrays me as as someone I’m not, I’m going to have a problem with that. Red Sox fans have not had a chance to know me, to know my personality. The last thing I am is money crazy but I’m also not going to give the thing away either. Not in the near future (does he have plans to sell the baseball)… I would like to keep it. I’ll be more than happy to loan it out, that’s part of baseball history. That’s why I had it authenticated…” -- Doug Mientkiewicz with WEEI's Dale and Neumy

Doug says: "If they want to show it to fans, I’d be happy to. In fact, I’d show it off myself. I was furious when I came home after lifting weights, and got all these messages, people calling my mom, my sister. It’s out of control." -- mabrowndog transcript of Mientkiewicz's interview on SoSH

Jodi Doth Protest Too Much

"well i might find that i regret posting this but i used to post frequently on the twins board and found most of them to be respectful and intelligent baseball fans. from what i have read here over the last 6 months, i find the same to be true here so i will at least impart the truth of this story. yes doug does have the ball and yes we did authenticate it after the series. thank god we did or any person off the street could claim they had the ball. we have told numerous sources since the series ended that we have the ball and not until this article have we been approached by anyone with the red sox to return it to them for a museum. furthermore, the first we heard of that was through the media and not through a personal conversation with anyone with the red sox. doug and i have no intention of selling the ball for profit. doug did say he could be bought, joking and laughing the whole time. he also said how much he knows the value of this ball and what it means to red sox nation. so before everyone goes crazy, know this, we have always had the ball, we have told other media sources we have it and they have never pitted us against the ownership. there must be some agenda here tha