Losing Streak Comes to a Screeching Halt with Walkoff Win
Sox 1, Jays 0 Youk Single Stings Halladay, Jays Seems Like Old Times: Sox Get First 1-0 Walkoff Since 1980 Lowell Returns and Flashes Some Leather David and Manny Get the 9th Inning Assist Cheap Win for Pap; Tough Save for Pedroia Red Flag: Drew Day-to-Day
"I said, 'Go ahead and send him [Ortiz].' The way Halladay was pitching, take your shot with [one chance], because that might be all we had." -- Terry Francona making the winning call
"He hit a good pitch, man. When I let it go, I thought he was either going to take it or swing over it, but he was sitting all over it. Hats off to him. I threw a pitcher's pitch and he hit it." -- Clay Buchholz, took a tough loss
Rays 5, Sox 4 6 Stranded in Final 3 Innings Before Another 'Pen Collapse Look Who They've Got Their Haynes on Now: Mike Timlin David 000000rtiz and .370 Manny Don't Get It Done in the 9th Cha-ching: Kevin Cash 3-for-3 hitting .323 The Magic Is Gone: Wake Just Doesn't Own the Rays Anymore The Mighty Casey Just Limped Out That's Enough Carl Crawford
"I don't know, I guess Joe [Maddon] just took a chance and it paid off. I threw a couple of good pitches, a couple cutters in, one he swung over, the other he got enough of to pull past [Dustin Pedroia]." -- Mike Timlin's still got it... Rays got lucky..
Masterful Debut Blown by Lopez, Delcarmen, and Even Okajima | Wrap
Gasoline Alleycats Give One Away: L.A. 7, Sox 5: The Steal Deal: Coco Crisp Is Not Leaving Town Without a Fight Manny, Dusty, Youk 1-2-3 in AL Batting Too Little, To Late But Ortiz Gets a Hold of One
Things to tell the manager before the pitching begins: "Warming up I was a tad dizzy, I was hoping to get through it." -- 4.24.08, a not-so-confident Manny Delcarmen
While You Are Reading This, Another Red Sox Player Is Coming Down with Flu-Like Symptoms
Angels 6, Sick Sox 4 Can't Comeback and Win 'Em All Lester Needed More Rester, But Jon Took the Ball on Short Call Lugo Is Looking to Get Into the AL Batting Title Mix, Casey Too Hunter's Not Nice to Boston Either with That 4-for-5 A Fastball Right at Us: We've Seen The New Craig Hansen Before Papi's Getting Closer Every Day Flu-K Scratched; Back Scratches Youk, Too
Comeback Kids 7, Angels 6 Backup Plan in Place: Sorry Coco, Ellsbury Is What He Is Jacoby Jumpstarts Sox with Homers, Bunts, Steals, and More Dustin the Win: More Props for Pedro, the League's Leading Hitter Power Play: Youk Brings the Big Stick in the 5th Pauley Gets Whacked: You Won't Be Seeing Our Friend Around No More Okajima Holds It Tight, Then Hands It Over Sick as a Dog: Varitek Expected to Play Again... Eventually Agent 99 MPH: Save No. 8 for Mr. Automatic
4.23.08, birthday boy Terry Francona on tonight's lineup [on sports radio WEEI]: "Ellsbury's going to play center field today. Coco is to the point where he's ready to play, he's still feels it. We've already talked to J.D. though, we got a lefty going tomorrow, and it's a quick turnaround, so we'll play Ellsbury in right, Coco in center. Guys already kind of know where we're shooting for. The bottom line is we're trying to win every game we can... I just can't flat out manage it like a fan, because that wouldn't be doing my responsibility. There are some other factors that you have [to consider...]"
Barks and Bites: If Ken Macha didn't knock ya into a coma on
Monday, you may have seen the guy in the upper deck who caught a foul ball, went
into an extended touchdown dance, and subsequently dumped the ball into the
lower grandstand seats. Well,
the Today Show is apparently looking for the guy. Another fine representation of Red
Sox Nation for the country to see. Hank will love it. The Coco for Gabe Kapler
talk kicked in a bit on Dennis and Callahan this morning after Kap
knocked in another game winner for the Brewers last night as Eric
Gagne blew
save No. 4 for Milwaukee. Jesse Spector
catches up with Kapler in his blog, where Gabe reveals he's a fan of the
British version of The Office over Carrell and crew.
Eric Hinske just a single shy of the cycle last night. Sox owner John Henry
and Lance Armstrong were seen hanging together at Abe & Louie's on Boylston Street on
Marathon Monday. Could be Henry wants to extend Red Sox, Inc. into the cycling
world? Or maybe John was just recruiting him for a future episode of Sox Appeal.
The two planned to head to Ciao Bella for more bonding. Schilling:
Intent? And will someone step up and take the Bledsoe bungalow off Curt's hands for a cool profit? The Jordan's
Monster Sweep ends this Sunday! At 7 p.m.! Did you know that 14 percent of teams
have swept championships since 1977? We included roller derby and world team
tennis to get to that number... so the chances are pretty good you'll win some
free furniture... yeah right. Surviving Grady has a look at the new Tina
Cervasio, head-turner
Ms. Heidi Watney. She could be a Soxy girl.
Jonathan Papelbuns is worried about the new jugband in the bullpen. Sorry,
but unless Torii was telling a story about Mickey Rivers,
he may have been stretching it a bit about having batteries thrown at him
from the bleachers at Fenway. Does Don Orsillo live on the equator or sleep in a tanning bed? That's quite the April tan D.O. No truth to the rumor that RemDawg took Monday off to pick the silverware for the new Jerry Remy's Sports Bar, slated to open at Logan Airport's Terminal C in June. Get well soon hockey fan
Keith Foulke. Other old friend Trot Nixon
"brings
his energy to Chukchansi." This just in:
Johnny
Damon's not dead yet. Is this the worst Red Sox roster in the last decade? The beer man is back at Fenway by the way, in the box
seats anyway. You can get a 12 oz. Coors Light for a mere $6.75 served at your
seat. The Manny HR banner on the left field light stand stands at 496 ever since
he took those two days off. When former Red Sox shortstops attack each other: Renteria vs. Cabrera. Eric Wilbur checks in with more cowbell planned for the Sox visit to St. Pete, and a look at Academy Award nominee Dustin Pedroia. Now it can be told: Fenway not-so-secret secrets revealed. The bidding on so-called "cursed" David Ortiz t-shirt-quality-jersey for the Jimmy Fund is now up to a whopping $83,000. The bidding ends tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
Sox 8, Rangers 3: Go Slow Bartolo: Buchholz Gets His Game Under Control Now That Was a Monster Sweep... Where's the Free Furniture? Walking Texas Rangers: They Turned It Up to 11 He Is the Messiah! Ellsbury's Going to Be OK at Leadoff, CF Pedroia is the Best Baseball Player in the History of the Universe, Even the Yankee One Any Day Now: Ortiz Is Pushing to Get His Average Over the Mendoza Line Lugo Takes a Lickin' in This Town, But Keeps on Kickin' Thurston Howl: 0-for-5 for the Manny in Left
Was the Over-the-Wall Grand Slam Ball Concrete Evidence That the Big Slumpi Is Over?
Looks Like Ortiz Was the Only One That Could Afford the Buried Jersey After All
Red Sox 11, Rangers 3: Papi's Back in the Swing of Things Dice-K Mediocre: It's More Questions Than Answers, Again Is Lowrie Going to Give Lugo a Run for His Money? Just Give Sean Casey the 10th Player Award Right Now Can Coco Go Now? Ellsbury's All Over the Bases Pedroia Power: Sophomore Thumps One Out of the Park
(BDD Photo Illustration - Steve Garberg)
"My teammates are the best. They are so happy to see me come through."
-- 4.18.08, David Ortiz on his big night
Who Needs the Pope ...
(BDD Photo Illustration)
... When We've Still Got Curt Schilling in Boston?
Fun from the archives... "When he comes into the game, people cheer him like he's the Pope. You think they'd let Pedro get away with this? Why does he get a free pass?"
-- September 2005, Anonymous Curt Schilling comments from former player
Ramirez Remains the King of New York Two Manny, Too Much as No. 494 and 495 Sinks Yanks
Sox 7, Yankees 5: Manny Leads the Way | News and Notes 5 Away from 500: It's Manny's World, We Are Just Living in It It Was Great to Get 8: Welcome to the Season Josh Beckett Is A-Rod on Deck? Farnsworth Says He Was Just Trying to Be Aggressive Shhhh... Ortiz Went 0-for-5 Again Papelbon Barely Hangs On J.D. .362
"I worry about Manny getting hit in the face, that�s what I�m worried about. We showed up to win, and that�s what we did. That�s as far as it goes for me." -- 4.17.08, Sox manager Terry Francona on Kyle Farnsworth's fastball past Manny's head
The Buchh Doesn't Stop Here for Night and Day Clay and His 6.75 ERA Loose Cannon Lugo Lets One Fly and It Was Time to Say Goodbye Singles Aren't Cutting It As David's Not Papi Without His Power Jacoby Can't Jumpstart: Ellsbury Goes 0-for-5 at the Top Tavarez Throws Gas on the Fire While Timlin Seals the Deal On the Bright Side: Aardsma Was Alright, Again
"I think there were some good things we can take from this game; we had some guys swing the bats well and we battled back. But we've got to find a way to get some more innings out of our starters." -- 4.16.08, Sox captain Jason Varitek
Deep 6: Wake Pitches in with a Quality Start Rookie was a Rock: Lowrie Steps Up Big Time Bat, Glove, and Wheels: Is Jed the Real Deal? The Hitting Machine: Ortiz Comes Through with 1-for-5 Say It Together: Aardsma in the 8th, Okajima in the 9th
"I can't even describe it. It's one of those moments in your life you are always going to remember." -- 4.15.08, Jed Lowrie, Jacoby Ellsbury du jour, on his 2-RBI first MLB hit
4.15.08, Dr. Craig Morgan on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan: "He (Schilling) called me when he was angry about a month ago and was having recurrent pain, and said 'Listen, I want to pitch again next year,' and the possibility of the New York (Yankees) option, he would consider. He didn't say he was going to do it, he didn't do any of that. I think it was in part of anger... Oh that's definitely possible. He told me, despite this thing, he doesn't think he's done and he wants to pitch next year. And if you read between the lines, that's (pitching for the Yankees) definitely a possibility. I don't think he's going to pitch for Royals next year, if he pitches at all,""
4.14.08, Dr. Craig Morgan on ESPN radio in Philadelphia: "It's my opinion that he's (Schilling) angry enough that it's entirely conceivable, even though he's 40 years old, it's entirely conceivable that he will have the operation, rehab, and pitch for the Yankees next year."
But Schill Still Says No Pinstripes for Him...
4.15.08, Curt Schilling WEEI's Dennis and Callahan: �The first word that popped into my head, is a word that I think is new to the English language, but everybody understands what it means is �misrember,� Schilling said. �I talked to doc probably within the last week. He�s called me a couple of times during my rehab, but I�m not really sure how he got to some of the conclusions he got to. But I think you guys know me well enough to know that me wearing pinstripes, regardless of what point of the season or my career it would have been, is not an option. I can�t remember how or think back to having that conversation specifically or� it�s not an option. Never has been an option. And I�m not really sure where he�s drawn from a conversation standpoint, but from a rehab standpoint, I�m probably as surprised as anyone how well it�s gone and where I�m at.�
Comeback Complete in Cleveland, Sox 6, Indians 4 Big Bloopi: Ortiz Is Back... with a Couple of Well-Placed Singles The Hits Keep on Coming for Youk, and Now a Home Run Not Your Average Slow: Joe Borowski Can't Blow One Past Manny Bunting His Way to the Top: Coco Had Cleveland on the Run Has Lester Lost It? Another Long Short Stint for Jon Tip of the Cap to Tavarez: Julian Had a Ball Last Night Shortstop Spark Plug: Lugo Lit the Fire in the 9th Papelbon, Indians Gone, Grab a Coffee
"It was fun at the end. There's something to be said for perseverance. Tavarez did a great job. If he stumbles anywhere, we're in trouble, but he gave us a chance." -- 4.14.08, Terry Francona
Actually, It Was More Like a Happy Four Hours Sox Go Up Big Early, Finish Off Yankees Late
Sox 8, Yankees 5: The Game May End Any Minute Now Sox Nickle and Dime Yanks with Stinging Singles It Takes Two These Days: Jacoby and Coco Make Sox Go The Nibbler Is Back: Dice-ZZZZZzzzzzzzz Puts Nation to Sleep Early Hold on a Minute...or a Couple of Hours: 'Pen Seals Win It Was Old Outside: Home Run Mike Timlin is Back
"It was a long, cold night, but it turned into a long, cold good night." -- 4.14.08, Terry Francona
Kudos for Coco
(Boston Globe Staff Photo / Matthew J. Lee)
While the World Is Rooting for Jacoby, Coco Just Keeps Playing Ball
But Is Crisp Getting Ready to Head Out West?
"Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp has purchased a $3 million getaway in a gated Rancho Mirage, Calif., community. The home in the Palm Springs area has four bedrooms and seven bathrooms in 8,500 square feet, with a pool, a spa, a waterfall, a two-room master-bedroom suite, his-and-her bathrooms, a wet bar, a media room, three fireplaces and an air-conditioned garage." -- 4.13.08, Hartford Courant
Sox 4, Yankees 3: Sox Earn Win Via Decision A Better Start for Beckett... for 5 Innings Anyway Top of the Order to You: Ellsbury Gets Sox Started 0-for-4: Ortiz Struggles Continue, Down to .070 Mouse Must Protect This House: Pap Hangs Around to Close It
"I thought they were going to pitch around him, trying to get him to chase, but Manny came out on that first pitch and drove it into the gap. I'm sure that's not the way they wanted it to happen... It was definitely a great at-bat. Manny smells those RBIs, and they come in bunches." -- 4.12.08, Dustin Pedroia on Manny Ramirez
Sox Take One on the Chien-Ming Wang Just Two Hits for Still-Japan-Jet-Lagged Offense
Wang Allows Two Hits in Going the Distance in Yankees 4-1 Win Big Night for Buchholz is All But Forgotten Earth to Tito: It Was a Terrible Time for Timlin J.D. Drew Can't Do It All for the Next Four Years Is Manny Still Going for that MVP? Coco! or Jacoby!? ... Is Not the Problem
"It was terrible, absolutely terrible. I came back and pitched terribly. -- 4.11.08, Mike "Not ready for prime time" Timlin
Red Sox 12, Tigers 6: Sox Hang Tough, Break Loose Tim is Timeless: Wake Goes Five Solid to Get the Win Casey's Not Bad at the Bat; Youk and Drew Come Through, Too Sign of the Times: Manny Just Keeps on Running More Pen Problems: That's Just Julian Being Julian Popular Papi Mired in 0-for-10 Slump Saving Paps for a Tight Yankees Game Tonight? Nope. Thumbs Down, Lowell on the DL
�Just before the last Super Bowl, Bill Belichick gathered his football players and said let�s win this one for real� Just this one time.. Let�s not cheat. You know what happened? They lost. Even if you feel all eyes are on you, you can't give up on cheating!� -- 4.9.08, Cartman, South Park
(4.7.08: Adrian Peterson, Brian Urlacher, 50 Cent, Dwight Howard, and David Ortiz. Vitaminwater Photos / Bill Kostroun)
Should a Pooped Papi Have Flown to New York City to Shoot a Spot for Vitaminwater on the First Day of Rest Back Home? Do We Have a Watered-Down David on Our Hands?
Boston Herald, Steve Buckley, 4.10.08: �I just don�t want the Red Sox to come to me and tell me what I can do and what I cannot do,� Big Papi said. �That�s why I don�t even want to talk about it. . . . I don�t want them to think that if I struggle, it�s because of that.�
For Ortiz, it comes down to this: Throughout his tenure with the Red Sox, he has been in the �yes� business. Whether it�s been community outreach activities (speaking with kids, posing for pictures, etc.) or personal for-profit endeavors (such as TV commercials), Ortiz has been able to do it all while maintaining his status as one of the game�s top offensive performers.
As he put it yesterday, �I�ve been doing this for years. I don�t want people to get the wrong idea.�
But when the story of this season is written, it�s now going to be tough for Red Sox players to complain about the burdensome trip to Tokyo, Los Angeles, Oakland and Toronto when one of their own - indeed, one of their marquee attractions - tacked on an extra trip in order to be in a television spot.
Asked about the New York trip, Ortiz said, �Whenever you sign a contract, you�ve got to do it.�
From the Perfect Timing Department ...
Ortiz Sends a Personal E-mail to Sox Fans This Morning
Would David Share Some Thoughts on His Slow Start? Or a Batting Stance Tip That Will Turn Up His Power? Nope, Guess Again ...
Forget the Water, Is There Too Much on Papi's Plate?
(BDD Photo compilation)
Does David Need All Those Commitment$?
Too Many Hands on His Time? David Ortiz steps up for fans, charities, "wrote" a book with Tony Massarotti, is featured in advertising for Vitaminwater, Nokona bats, ESPN's SportsCenter, D'Angelo sandwich shops, XM radio, has introduced a new shoe for Reebok ... and even had a plane ...So is all the off-field activity dragging down David's numbers or not?
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal, 4.10.08:On Bucker: "To think that Buckner was, until Tuesday, regarded by Sox fans as some sort of villain is to display an ignorance of the very fans they otherwise venerate. Talk about a tin ear."
On Diamond: "And when Werner was shown raising his arms and swaying to the music, the thing became laughable."
On Red Sox Nation: "Expanding the brand is one thing; relentlessly harping on the team�s appeal is quite another. (It should be pointed out this was not the most egregious co-opting of the Red Sox Nation concept. That came last month when the Henry and Lucchino had Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer swear in broadcaster Jerry Remy as the make-believe president of a nonexistent fan club)."
On the Green Monster Auction: "But the Green Monster auction was something else entirely. Effectively sold out for the season, the move smacked of greed, which is hardly becoming of the group."
Did Someone Tell Rent-a-Wreck 'All Is Forgiven,' Too? Lester Takes the Loss, Tigers Get Their Win, 7-2
Sox Lost Without Extended Introductions, Pomp, and Circumstance Too Happy to Be Home: Sleepy Sox Offense Hit the Snooze Button 4th of Goodbye: Thames Takes Lester Deep in 39 Pitch 4th
(Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)
Old Friend Todd Jones Nearly Kept Tigers Streak Alive Good News: No More Talk of 'United States Win Streak' for Sox Bad News: Lowell Has a Bum Thumb Did Japan Jet Lag Kick Back In?
Game 6 was gone before Buckner's blunder: "...the game was tied and essentially lost at that point. Blame Clemens, McNamara, deer-in-the-headlights Schiraldi, Gedman, or Stanley, but not Buckner, who if not for him, the Sox would not have even been there, he had a fabulous year in '86." -- July 2001, Boston Dirt Dogs
Buckner Aside, Rotten Roger Was the Real Game 6 Goat Anyway
(AP File Photo / Roger Clemens first pitch 10.25.86)
Maybe Rocket Needed Some B-12 to Finish Off the Mets in '86 Or Maybe McNamara Just Misremembers What Was Said ...
''Roger said he just had enough,'' Sox manager John McNamara on Oct. 25, 1986
Another story Clemens can't get straight:1986 Clemens gave himself the hook in the game, telling manager John McNamara, �That�s all I can pitch.� Clemens later informs the press: �My blister was at a point where I couldn't finish off my slider. I didn't want to hang my slider and jeopardize the team. But I thought I did my job.� ... 1988 McNamara gets fired. Suddenly, Clemens reverses his story, throwing his old skipper under the bus and saying he never wanted to leave Game 6 after all.
-- Esquire feature: The Wonderful, Despicable Life of Roger Clemens
Is One of These Guys Throwing Out the First Pitch? Or Will Someone Else Tingle Fenway's Spine Today?
Barks and Bites: Sox chairman Tom Werner was on sports radio WEEI this morning and spoke a bit about the Fenway Opening Day ceremony. On the surprise "goosebumps" guest that is expected to throw out the first pitch, Werner revealed that it would be "somebody who has not been to Fenway Park recently, and who will be a very nice homecoming ..." Some of the suggestions sent into 'EEI included Bill Buckner, Barack Obama, Mo Vaughn, Dave Roberts ... Werner also said that "a special rock star guest would be performing God Bless America" today. It sounded like he said rock star singular, so that may leave out the reborn New Kids on the Block. Werner revealed an interesting tidbit on the just-unveiled 2007 World Series rings: The rings have a picture of the trophy on the side and the 8 players from the '04 championship team will get special rings with two trophies on it." Schilling also called in to WEEI's Dennis and Callahan show this morning and talked a bit more about how the trip to Japan affected the team and how he's not sure what the benefit to baseball was. "We were dragging ass a little bit. ... Are more people now baseball fans because we played in Japan for a week? I don't think so. The people who came to see us are baseball fans. They're not going to like the game any more of less because we played over there as opposed to over here, but I guess in some ways it had to be good for the game, I'm hoping. ... The hardest part to me about the trip is the short timeframe, that seven days is just not enough. It's enough to just start to get yourself acclimated, but the second you're acclimated, you've moving 16 hours again back to California ...". Werner's take: "The fact is we're 2-0 in the United States and we're playing most of our games in the United States going forward. I will say this, it was a great trip but we will be gracious and let somebody else go on the trip next year. ... All of us have to do things in life that's good for the business that you're in. This was good for Major League Baseball and it was good for the Red Sox because we showed our flag in Japan. I wish that our relief pitching had been a little bit better in Toronto, I don't know if that was affected by the long trip or not. In retrospect, I'm glad we went. ... We were fascinated with the warm toilet seats... a couple of players were trying to find out who manufactured them. ... The Commissioner asked us (to go to Japan)... the players voted for it, and I go back to the fact if we had one of those games in Toronto we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Solo Efforts Not Enough as Ellsbury, 'Tek, and Drew Go Deep Lugo Loses It: 3 Errors On the Day for Sloppy Shortstop Beckett's Back? Sort Of. 5 Runs in in 4 2-3; 6 K's, Hits 96 If You Haven't Seen Enough... Game Photos
Don't Look Now ...
(NESN Screenshot)
But Even NESN Knew the Sox Comeback Would Come Up Short
"We don't point fingers at anybody. We win as a team, we lose as a team. When we lose, we all feel like we didn't do the job. They got into our bullpen and did what good offensive clubs do."-- 4.5.08, Terry Francona on the Sox bullpen troubles
FARM REPORT by Gary Jacobs
Making Their Case
PAWTUCKET, RI | April 5, 2008 -- Of course by now you�ve heard of Bartolo Colon�s dominant performance here at McCoy Stadium Thursday, when he worked five sparkling innings against the Indianapolis Indians, striking out five, walking one, and reaching the mid-90�s on his fastball. Certainly he has made his case that if he�s not ready for prime time, he�s no more than one start away.
But Colon was not the only one to make a statement from the mound that day. There are some players here in Pawtucket that are making their case that their ticket to The Show is only an opportunity away.
In Thursday�s opener, Craig Hansen pitched two strong innings, not allowing a hit while striking out three. And well-traveled ex-All-Star Dan Kolb, having signed a minor-league contract after nine years in the Bigs, pitched an uneventful inning.
After the game, Kolb seemed pleased with his performance.
�Not bad for the [cold] weather,� he said with a smile. �It was a little hard to hold on to the ball, but for the most part it went the way it normally goes � I got ground balls, which is what I normally get�everything felt good. Had a little adrenalin, everything is going to be a little off, but I got through it. You always want the first one to go nice and smooth.�
David Pauley, too, acquitted himself well, pitching five strong innings in in the top of Saturday�s twinbill (Friday�s game was postponed due to rain), striking out three, walking no one, and giving up only two hits.
�[Pauley] did a really nice job, first time out,� said PawSox manager Ron Johnson. �He was pitch-efficient, he threw strikes, he [gave] a really good performance�I was really pleased.�
On the other side of the baseball, Brandon Moss is batting .500 thus far, tripling down the right field corner in his first at-bat Saturday, and smoking a double to left in his next one. As unsurprising as that was, one of this season�s early surprises seems to be Jonathan Van Every, who has a reputation of being a light-hitting defensive specialist. Van Every has already hit two home runs while batting out of the nine hole, and making some loud outs as well.
And left fielder Chris Carter, brought over late last year in the Wily Mo Pena trade, has started the season 5 for 9, picking up right where he left off last season.
Johnson: �He came here with a reputation as being a good hitter and he�s living up to it. We saw it in Spring Training. This guy has a really good idea of what he�s doing at the plate�he keeps his hands back, he stays with pitches, he tracks balls well. It�s going to be really fun to watch; we�re going to see some really good things from him this year.�
All in all, the very early verdict is positive for the farm. If the Big Club stays healthy, look for Johnson�s PawSox to pile up wins by the bunch. If not, look for Pawtucket to make a real impact in the continued success of the organization.
***
Of course it�s a bit early to identify trends (or is it?) but Bobby Kielty is struggling in the early going. Kielty has started the season 1 for 7 for a .143 average�Knuckleballer Charlie Zink got shelled in his 2008 Pawtucket debut, giving up five runs in the second inning of his Saturday afternoon start. Compounding his troubles were two errors made by his defense. �Charlie didn�t have his real good stuff today, but we didn�t really play well behind him either- he�s a guy who [the opposition] will put the ball in play, and we kicked some balls around. It happens,� said Johnson�Jed Lowrie has yet to register his first base hit this year- is expectation weighing down his bat?�Johnson, at his accustomed position as third base coach, is sporting a new look: a shiny batting helmet, required attire of all coaches at all levels since the tragedy last year where Double-A coach Mike Coolbaugh died after being beaned off first base. �It is what it is,� said Johnson. �If I had my druthers I�d wear a [cap] but I�m superstitious�I don�t want to be �that guy� to not wear a helmet and then get drilled.��umpire Jason Bradley made his International League debut Thursday � welcome to Triple-A, Jason, and best of luck. -- By Gary Jacobs, Boston Dirt Dogs contributor. E-mail Gary
The Fenway Hawk Isn't the Only Bird with a Bone to Pick Jays Peck Away at Sox in 7th
Jays 6, Sox 3: Shaky Pen Collapses in Canada That's Just Manny Being Lousy, Sincerely, Frank Thomas Tim Was Fine Through Five, But Wacky 6th Sinks Wake Even Shaun Marcum Can Mow Down the Sleepy Sox Just 4 Hits on the Night for Tito's Traveling Band J.D. Comeback Goes Away Quickly
"I keep seeing it as one pitch away the whole time I was up there. One pitch away. That's baseball... As soon as I let it go, I knew. I was like 'Oh no.''" -- 4.4.08, Manny Delcarmen on the one that got away to Frank Thomas
This Just In ...
(Getty Images Photo / Dave Sandford)
Jays Fans Willing to Give Shirts Off Back This Season
��The arm feels good. I didn�t have to rear back any harder. I was consistent all game. The real big thing for me was making sure I had control of my pitches tonight.��-- 4.3.08, Bartolo Colon on his 5 scoreless innings
OK, It Was Just the Triple-A's, But Lester Was Locked and Loaded Yesterday
"I don't think the whole Japanese thing is as big a deal as everybody is making it to be. Take another stride forward and keep working." -- 4.2.08, Jon Lester, a rare Sox lefty getting a win in Oakland
Lester, Big Papi Spark Sox to 5-0 Win Over A's Lefty Lives Up to His Promise with 6 2/3 Strong Youk Knocks in Coco(2-for-5) with Run No. 4 Pedroia Knocks DiNardo Out with RBI Single Papi 2-Run Blast Puts Sox on Top in 7th 'Tek Goes Deep Again, This Time It Counts
Sox Load Bases in 1st... Then Come Up Empty for a While 2-for-1 Special: Ellsbury Sits; Drew Back in Right Could There Be Less Fanfare About Youk's Errorless Streak? Is It the Time of Year for Cora-Over-Lugo Talk? F for A's: Embedded Embree and DiNardon't Get It Done in Middle Relief Remember Me: Corey, Delcarmen Keep Shutout In Tact Sox-A's Box | Log | Photos CSN Video: Paps Pans Japan Trip
"I had asked my teammates to hang onto the game ball, but I guess the message didn't get through." -- 4.1.08, Daisuke Matsuzaka, who wanted the game ball as a souvenir for his newborn son
Dice-OKKKKKKKKK: 9 K's, No Walks in 6 2/3 Strong Innings Sox Offense Evaporates But Clutch Hitting Makes a Difference in Nailbiter Back on the Juice? That's the Question When Jack Cust Goes Deep Living Up to the Overhype? Jacoby Gets Job Done, Drives in Key Run The Umpire Strikes Back: 'Tek Homers! ... But They Call It a Double It's Early, It's Early: That's the Bright Side of 0-for-11 Ortiz Born Again in the U.S.A.: Paps Got His Groove Back, Enter 4-Out Save Box Score: Youkilis 2, A's 1
Barks and Bites: Cue up Journey and fade to black� Bob Lobel won�t be coming down for the 6 and 11 sportscasts on WBZ-TV much longer, and local sports will never be the same. Steve Buckley lays out the Lobel era best in his piece today. Lobel was a friend of BDD from the get-go in July 2001, holding up the Dirt Dogs T-shirts during his sportscasts when the Red Sox won, as he promised when he introduced himself outside of Fenway Park. Through the years, Lobel would share BDD headlines with �BZ viewers from time-to-time and BDD was happy to share the off-the-cuff thoughts of Lobel received via e-mail� hopefully we�ll be able sharing Lobie�s thoughts here from time to time as he sets out on his next course.
Rocket Will Pitch One Final Season in Boston, Then Retire* Rusty Hardin to Replace Dr. Charles Steinberg as Maestro
Theo Epstein Stuns Baseball World By Working Behind Scenes to Strike Secret $40 Million Deal with Roger
Boston Dirt Dogs has learned today that former Red Sox great Roger Clemens will return to Boston and pitch one final season in an attempt to rescue the beleaguered BoSox rotation. Theo Epstein reportedly was sold on signing Clemens after fully digesting the 18,000-word statistical report Hendricks Sports Management issued to rebut accusations that the pitcher's career rebounded about the time he was accused by that scoundrel Brian McNamee of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Epstein is expected to announce the $40 million deal, done completely behind the scenes, later this morning. Red Sox manager Terry Francona will name Clemens as the Red Sox fifth starter. Clemens is tentatively slated to join the team in mid-July after an extended spring training.
The Hendricks report compared Clemens' performance during the second half of his career to those of Nolan Ryan, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. Theo was sold. Epstein also referenced Clemens' testimony before Congress, where the Hall of Fame lock denied use of any performance-enhancing drugs. That clear and focused testimony convinced the nation, and Epstein, that the Rocket wasn't fueled by anything illegal during his time in Toronto and New York and that his legacy will remain in tact.
After Clemens speaks to the media at a press conference today, his longtime attorney Rusty Hardin will also be introduced as the man who will attempt to fill the deep void left when Dr. Charles Steinberg bolted for Los Angeles and scored a coup by locking up Marilyn McCoo for the LA Coliseum extravaganza on Saturday night. That's when John Henry made the call to Hardin.
In Hardin's first act as Red Sox Maestro, he reportedly asked Jose Canseco to speak at the Clemens press conference. Canseco is in New York promoting his book "Vindicated," which pretty much all but clears Clemens of any wrongdoing during the steroid era. When reached by BDD this morning to confirm his appearance, Canseco said he would not be in attendance, adding "the time is not right"...
* - Oh, and while you are digesting this story, don't forget to check the calendar. And look back at Sox news on this date in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004...
The "Curt�s Pitch
for ALS" program is a joint effort by Curt and Shonda Schilling and The
ALS Association Mass Chapter to strike out Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig�s Disease.
Barks and Bites: If Ken Macha didn't knock ya into a coma on
Monday, you may have seen the guy in the upper deck who caught a foul ball, went
into an extended touchdown dance, and subsequently dumped the ball into the
lower grandstand seats. Well,
Barks and Bites: Sox chairman Tom Werner was on sports radio WEEI this morning and spoke a bit about the Fenway Opening Day ceremony. On the surprise "goosebumps" guest that is expected to throw out the first pitch, Werner revealed that it would be "somebody who has not been to Fenway Park recently, and who will be a very nice homecoming ..." Some of the suggestions sent into 'EEI included Bill Buckner, Barack Obama, Mo Vaughn, Dave Roberts ... Werner also said that "a special rock star guest would be performing God Bless America" today. It sounded like he said rock star singular, so that may leave out the reborn New Kids on the Block. Werner revealed an interesting tidbit on the 
Barks and Bites: Former Sox minor league manager 
Barks and Bites: Cue up Journey and fade to black� Bob Lobel won�t be coming down for the 6 and 11 sportscasts on WBZ-TV much longer, and local sports will never be the same. 
Major league leftovers: Old friend 
Barks and Bites: Old friend and accused performance-enhancer 
