Warning Track Papi

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz walks back to the dugout after lining out to first base during the third inning of baseball game action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday, May 29, 2009.
(AP)

Long Popups Aren't Going to Get It Done David
Sox Stumble on the Road Again

Dome Spells Doom for Wake, Sox | Toronto 6, Second Placers 3
Tim Wakefield... Always in a Position to Collapse at Any Given Moment
Papi's Drop in the Order Continues to Sink Lightweight Lineup
Highest Paid Player: J.D. .252 Drew Goes Deep in Garbage Time, Stalls in Clutch
Enough is Enough: Can We Get Buchholz Up Here to Replace Wake for Starters?
Dustin Pedroia, Nice Average, But 1 Homer and 17 RBIs Is a Big Dropoff
Just Do It: Let Daniel Bard Close a Few Games While Papelbon Tapes Media Gigs
Rogers Centre Usher Bob Bacon to Call Today's Game with Don Orsillo on NESN

"I can't swing the bat better than that. Things just aren't happening. Where you hit the ball, you have no control over that. You have to wait for the ball to go somewhere nobody's at. They get paid to catch it. I get paid to hit it." -- David Ortiz, needs to let his bat do the talking... but now it's screaming .189

There Goes the Streak

In the Latest Episode of "Baseball-tawk,' Two Admiring Bloggers from The Nation
Discuss the End of Jacoby Ellsbury's 22-game Hitting Streak
Welcome to Splitsville: Beckett, 'Tek Step Up in 3-1 Win Over Twins
Beckett Is Officially the Lone Bright Spot in the Starting Rotation
The Ump Was the Ultimate Chump: Todd Tichenor Thinks It's About Him
Are We Sure He Wasn't Supposed to Call a Game in Double-A Not MLB?
Catch Us on CSN's 'The Baseball Show' This Saturday

P-A-C-H-Y-D-E-R-M

New York speller Neetu Chandak, 13, of Finger Lakes, New York, celebrates in the semi-final round of the 2009 National Spelling Bee in Washington, May 28, 2009.
(Reuters)

That Is Correct!

Used in a Sentence: Despite the Red Sox Being in First Place,
David Ortiz Remains the Pachyderm in the Room.
Definition: Any of Various Large, Thick-Skinned, Hoofed Mammals Such as the Elephant, Rhinoceros, or Hippopotamus.

The Wild Card
Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, of Japan, removes his cap momentarily after giving up the third run in the third inning to the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game Wednesday, May 27, 2009, in Minneapolis.
(AP)

Momma Always Said, 'Dice Is Like a Box of Chocolates,'
But He Keeps Leaving a Bitter Taste In Our Mouths
Remind Us Again Why the Sox Paid $103.11 Million?

Globe: Sox Walk on the Wild Side | Minnesota 4, Mediocre Sox 2
So-Called 'National Treasure' Gets Buried in America Again
In the Prime of His Career, Dice-K Will Enter June with 0 Wins and an 8.82 ERA
Kevin Slowey, Not from Japan, But He's 7-1 and Will Make $440,000 This Year
Don't Think That Was the Modern Day Record Theo Envisioned for His Prize Signing
Catcher in the Raw: So George Kottaras Is a Dirt Dog After All
Can't Find Any Websites Devoted to Sending J.D. Drew to the All-Star Game
We've Been Reduced to Rooting for Ellsbury's Hitting Streak
Welcome to the Big Flop: The 0-for-Ortiz Circus Goes On
Delcarmen and Masterson Just Wanted to Set the Record Straight

"A lot going on around the dirt area. George's Canadian background came into play there. He looked like a goalie at times. There were a lot of balls bouncing." -- Tito's keeping it clean after a dirty loss

Sacked Fifth Avenue
Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester walks near the mound as Minnesota Twins' Justin Morneau rounds third base after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 26, 2009, in Minneapolis.(
(AP)

Fifth Loss for Lester After a Dreadful Five-Run Fifth Inning

Globe: Something Amiss with Lester Again | Twins Doing It Mirrors 5, Easy Road Kill 2
Blackburn Slinging in the Dead of Night and Morneau Homers Over Trash Bag
This Just In: Jon Lester and His 6.07 ERA Will Be Watching the All-Star Game on TV
Jacoby Makes a Touchdown Catch and Extends Streak to 21
And It's RBI No. 16 For Dustin Pedroia, Soon to Be All-Star 2B's Ave. Up to .341
From Hot to Cold to Freezing Cold, That's the Bat of J.D. Drew
Quietly, Jason Bay Has Been in a Hitting Slump, Too
Ryan Seacrest Says: Jon Lester... You Are In the Bottom 2 When Smoltz Returns
And Bring Back Closer-By-Committee with Bard, Ramirez, Saito, and Papelbon.
Sad But True: It's News That the No. 6 Hitter Punts a Hustle Double
That's Dave Roberts Right There On the Air

"I felt like I threw the ball pretty well. Made one mistake. He hit it out. That's what makes him a good hitter. I don't think it's a mental lapse or anything like that. It's just not executing pitches." -- Jon Lester, Somewhere Along Da Nile, Which Isn't Just a River in Egypt

J-Bay 1, Youkilis 1, Pedroia 2, Varitek 3, in AL All-Star Voting
Gordon Edes: Sox Have Been Scouting Atlanta OF Jeff Francoeur
Proposition 99: Just Say No to Making the Druggie, Cheating, Lying, Quitter an All-Star
The Onion: MLB Adjusts Drug Policy to Allow David Ortiz to Take Steroids
How Can This Be? Calf Strain Forces Nomar Back to Disabled List

Sick Flick
Red Sox manager Terry Francona removes Brad Penny, right, in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 25, 2009, in Minneapolis. Red Sox won 6-5. Penny (5-1) pitched his third straight victory.
(AP)

Lucky Penny Strikes Out 7, Throws Up Another W

Penny Has Value | Boston 6, Minnesota 5
And the Hits Keep on Coming for Jacoby Ellsbury
Sweet 16 Hits for the Sox, and Jeff Bailey Had a Big One
Designate Him as a Hitter: Iron Mike Lowell Gets 4
Oh No... There's a Year and a Half to Go with Lugo
They've Got the Power: Bay and Youk Keep Banging in the Runs
Stat-Rat-Pedroia Now Batting .337, But He's Tied with Papi for Homers
The Problem with So-Called Saves: Papelbon Gets One for a Horrible Outing
David Who?

"He handled it really well, and I actually thought he threw well even if he wasn't sick. But you add on that - that's pretty good. -- Tito on new kid on the trading block Brad Penny

Sunday: Boston 12, Mets 5 | A Crazy Day at Fenway
Saturday: New York 3, Boston 2 | The Shell of Jon Papelbon Blows a Win
Friday: New York 5, Boston 3 | Lazy Lugo Seals the Loss

Dice-ZZZzzzz

In the Latest Episode of "Baseball-tawk,' Matsuzaka Returns to the Mound
Tonight for Another Long, Deliberate, Sleep-Inducing Game

Clean Sweep
Jays swept away
(BDD Photo Illustration / Meir Weinberg)

Jays Fade Away Early This Year
Sox Close in On First Place

Lester Locks In, Bay Hits Another One Out | Boston 5, Birds 1
It's Never Too Early to Remind Evan Grant: J-Bay for MVP
Robert Ray Was Slightly Better Than Watching Rachael Ray
Torontowned: Sox Have Won 11 of 13 Over Overrated Jays
Papi Happy to Just Stay Out of the Headlines
Cito Is No Tito

Snap, Crackle, and Papi
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz watches his two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of their American League MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts May 20, 2009. It was Ortiz's first home run of the season.
(Reuters)

Our Long National Nightmare Is Over,
David Ortiz Hits Home Run No. 1

Globe: Blast from the Past | Boston 8, Toronto 3
Is Brad Penny Going to Steal 20 Wins for This Team?
J-Bay's Home Run Is Just About to Land on Lansdowne
On-the-Back-9 Boys: Lowell and Varitek with 7 Homers Each? We'll Take It
Also off the Schneid: Rocco Baldelli Hits His First Triple of the Season
In the Big Inning: 4 Homers for the First Time Since April 2007
KY Is Back, And He's Now Batting .404 to Lead the American League
Biggest Surprise of the Night? Record-Tying Jacoby Ellsbury Drew a Walk
Why Isn't Bard Knocking Down K's Up Here?

The Large Father's Father Knows Best: "[He] told me, 'Hey, son, it's not going to get worse than this so go out there, have fun and forget about what happened.'"-- David Ortiz on his dad's advice


Cowboy Kevin's One of a Kind

Boston Dirt Dogs: Thanks for the memories... and all the fun Kevin
(Boston Globe and Wire Photos / BDD Photo Illustrations)

It's Good to Have Millar Back in Town

"Once you're part of the Nation, it's always a piece of you." -- 5.20.09, old friend Kevin Millar on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan Show

''These were the greatest three years of my entire life playing baseball. Playing for the Red Sox, playing for Boston, that city, those fans. And that's 100 percent from my heart.

''It's sad, of course. I don't think there is anyone that did more laughing, more winning, more competing than this team, and who would believe that it is over.

''I don't think people will realize until these guys are gone what they were like, a good group from 1-to-25 that knew how to win on a daily basis." -- 12.8.05, former Red Sox first baseman and World Series Champion Kevin Millar

Millar's the Guy to Say Hello To in a Restaurant, Sincerely, Keith Foulke


BDD - Frank Galasso Illustration

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Wake wins, Millar homers, Papi's Still Lost
(AP and Reuters Photos)

It's the Ageless Ace Tim Wakefield's Best Outing of the Year
Someone Had to Be Tipping Pitches to Old Cowboy Kevin
And David 0-for-Ortiz May Not Have Hit Rock Bottom Yet

Sox Climb on Wake's Back for a Win | Boston 2, Toronto 1
A Super Side Session Results in the Return of the Good Wake
He Can't Walk, But You Have to Give The Runner Ellsbury Credit for Batting .305
Forget the Manny-and-Papi, We've Got Bailey-and-Kottaras Doing All the Damage
Why Can't All Sox Games Last 2 Hours and 13 Minutes?
Papelbon Pitches One Clean Inning, Some Call It a Save

"If we move David around, everybody moves, and then I don�t think it puts us in the best position." -- Terry Francona, completely overthinking and overselling the result of simply moving some dead weight from the top of the order

A Candid Keith Foulke Talks Burger King, Steroids, and Schilling

A Tribute to Jerry Remy

Get Well Soon, RemDawg. We Need You Back in the Booth.

More Fun and
Games at Short

BDD - Michelle Schacht
(BDD / Michelle Schacht)

Running Out a Lightweight Lineup Is Starting to
Catch Up with the Slumping Sox

Sunday: Sox Look Green Around the Gills | M's 3, Sox 2
Another One Run Loss? Charge It to The Invisible Papi
All Set with the Bay-Lowell 3-4 Combo. Sincerely, Manny and Papi
Rocco Baldelli Is No Coco Crisp, Or David Ortiz
I Can Show You How to Make Wake the DH Tomorrow. Sincerely, Joe Maddon
Saturday: Beckett Comes Up Aces | Sox 5, M's 3
Interactive: A Closer Look at Ortiz's Homerless Season

"I threw it away. I just threw it away. It happens. Did I want it to happen? No. Obviously it happened at the wrong time... You try to slow things, and I slowed it down too much, I think. I took my time. It's just that I got a little lazy. I didn't come back over the top of the ball." -- 5.17.09, Nick Green on how he airmailed the ball from short

Homecoming Sting

Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester throws against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning during a baseball game Friday, May 15, 2009, in Seattle.
(AP)

Lester Loses It Again, Mariners Sink Sox

Seattle 5, Boston 4 | Lester Woes Continue
Son of a Bichiro, Suzuki Slaps Two of Those Really Long Singles
Papi Gets Benched, And Sox Lose By 1 Big Run Again
You Can Pin the Loss on Ortiz, Again, But Not on Jacoby Ellsbury
This Just In: Manny Ramirez Apologizes for Exposing David Ortiz
Rocco Baldelli Did His Part as Papi's Replacement: 3 Strike Outs
Buchholz and Bowden... It's Just a Matter of Time Jon, Josh
Is John Farrell Going to Be on the Hot Seat Soon?
So How Long Can Tito Keep Throwing Baldelli's and Bailey's Out There?
A 6.51 ERA for Hall of Famer Jon Santana Sabathia Lester?
David Aardsma, Save Machine... But He's No Daniel Bard
Bright Side? Sox Eschew Hanging Sox Caps on the Road This Friday

"It shows that, really, two mysterious things happened in the universe today." -- Ichiro Suzuki was on a different planet last night

People Like Him,
But That's About It

After Leaving 120 Runners on Base Yesterday, And Still Being 0-for-2009 in Homers, Big Papi Tries Out a Daily Affirmation Program to Help Him Get His Swagger Back
Ortiz: Just Put Down, 'Papi Stinks'


He's Not Big Papi ...

BDD -- Meir Weinberg
(BDD Photo Illustration / Meir Weinberg)

He's Just the Ghost of David Ortiz

Sox Hang Tough, But It's Halos 5, Boston 4 in 12
4 Hits From Pedroia, But Not the 1 We Needed
5 Hits for Lugo, But Just 1 Run Scored Is The Problem
Penny Could Still Be the Ace of This Sorry Squad with His 6.69 ERA
3 for 23 with Runners in Scoring Position Is Beyond the Pale
Another 2 2/3 Of Outstanding Relief from Ram-Ram
That Was Dan Duquette's Manny Delcarmen

"Sorry, guys. I don't feel like talking today. Just put down, 'Papi stinks' " -- David Ortiz, who going to ride the pine for a while


LA Times: Anti-Doping Experts Say Manny Used Steroids
Dan Duquette: Merloni Was Backpedaling on Meeting

"The fact of the matter is that Lou [Merloni] couldn't point to the doctor that said it and then he couldn't really even point to the year that he alleged that it happened and then he started backpedaling... Now if Lou was making a correlation between education on the health risks of steroids and making a long jump saying that the club was encouraging steroid use, that's way out of bounds... Some of the national media that I've talked to on this Merloni issue they said 'If this was really the case, why didn't this come out a long time ago?' There's nothing about this in the Mitchell Report. Here, he's alleging an event that happened eight years ago [2001] in regard to steroid education in the Red Sox organization. As we know, this issue's not going to go away..." -- 5.15.09, Dan Duquette, still talking Red Sox 'Roidgate with Stone Cold Sports

Early Wake Turns to Quick Funeral

Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield hangs his head in the dugout after leaving the game in the fifth inning after giving up seven runs against the Los Angeles Angels during a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, May 13, 2009.
(Jim Davis / Boston Globe Staff)

Angel Stadium Remains a House of Horrors for Tim Wakefield

Ugly Red Shirts 8, Boston Blues 4
4-0 Lead Disappears, Then So Do the Sox Bats
AL All-Star Jason Bay Is Definitely Producing More Than Manny Now
Dan Shaughnessy, Dave Roberts, and The Next Nostradamus...
Stop With the Papi Will Hit One Out Tonight Predictions
Matt Palmer Does a Reverse Shaky Wakey After Second Inning
Note to Theo: Resist the Temptation to Send Bard Back, Ready Is Ready

"The offense scored four runs early and gave me a comfortable lead, and I couldn't hold it. I just tried to grind it out and it didn't work. I pride myself on giving the club innings, and I wasn't able to do that tonight." -- Tim Wakefield, now officially out of the Cy Young race

California Love

J.D. Drew gets high-fives from teammates scoring the go-ahead run on a hit by Jason Varitek against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, May 12, 2009.
(AP)

Drew, 'Tek Step Up in Late Inning Comeback
Sox Rally for a Big Road Win

V-'Tek Kicks In, Sox Rally Past Angels
Box: Road Warriors 4, Orange County 3
J.D. Drew Is Starting to Come Through
Jason Varitek Was Worth All the Offseason Fuss Last Night
RBI Machine: Papi's Hardest Hit... Was From Old Friend Darren Oliver
Ortiz Just 12 Homerless At-Bats Away From Breaking Personal Record
Will John Henry Make David a Plaque for the Occasion?
Ell on Wheels: Jacoby's All Over the Basepaths
If Ramon Ramirez Starts, Would He Give Up Any Runs?
Praise the Lord: Masterson Bounces Back to Keep Sox in the Game
Warning: Justin Masterson Is Not Afraid to Throw Behind People
Papelbon Settles Down with Bard Breathing Down His Neck
Anaheimlich Maneuver: Angels Bullpen Is What We Thought It Was
It All Went Up in Smoke for Jared Weaver

"That's a hard game to win on the road. This is a tough place and we've been in a lot of close games here. But we had the lead when we needed it at the end." -- 5.12.09, Tito on a tough win

Ketchum PR: Dodgers Damaged Their Brand with Manny Response
ESPN: Big Papi and the Steroid Conundrum
The Onion: Manny*: 'Am I in Trouble?'

Same Old Story from Clemens? Roger That.

Boston Dirt Dogs -- Miss Remembered

(BDD Photo Illustration)

And Andy Pettitte Gets to Keep His Crown

Roger Clemens Was So Deceptive In His Phone Interview Today,
He Made Dan Duquette Blush

Clemens: Still Selling the 'Pettitte Misremembers' Defense (Sigh)

Roger Clemens* talks to ESPN's 'Goli' and 'Greenie', rambles and scrambles on his relationship with 'his friend' Andy Pettitte, and stumbles through a bizarre script on drug testing, Manny, A-Rod, young kids of all ages, his step father's heart condition, and more.

Red Sox 'Roidgate Update:
Duke, Lou Square Off On Air

July 2003: Former Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette is in rehearsal for his role as Mr. Van Buren in the play Damn Yankees
(Nancy Palmieri / Boston Globe File, July 2003)

Duke on Lou's Story: 'I'm Not Buying It'
Dan Duquette Calls WEEI's Big Show and Clears The Air
Just Kidding, Now There Are More Questions Than Answers

Duke, who was asked if he believed that Lou Merloni was essentially saying that the Red Sox were telling players how to do steroids: "No, but I think it's inferred from his comments and the club was never doing that... we had people come in and educate the players about the risks of utilizing steroids, yes we did. I thought that was very important because a lot of the guys that started using steroids and didn't have medical access to them, there was a lot of health risks for the first users of steroids that were prominent in a number of different sports and I knew it was a player's choice."

Seems Like Old Times... Duquettespeak Is Back!
More Head Scratching After Confusing Clarifications from Duke and Lou, Too...

Dan Duquette on Merloni's statements on Saturday: "No, I'm not buying it, Big O and the reason is that all the medical people were clear on the policy of the club. I will say that I felt it was really important to educate the players on the associated health risks associated with steroid use and abuse because, let's face it, it was a player's choice. It wasn't a team choice. The team made their choice very clear, 'you can't do it, it's against the law and it's against Major League Baseball policy and team policy. Player's still had the choice to do that... I think it's was inferred from his comments, and the club was never doing that."

Lou Merloni: �Well Dan I think what the point was was it was brought up in the sense that teams before steroids were illegal in the game of baseball, were aware that it was going on, and what was said was in the meeting, and I know we�ve had numerous meetings talking about the dangers of steroids, and it seemed like people were realizing that, �listen, these meetings, just, they�re not hitting home, people are still taking them and there was one specific meeting that I think a lot of people were kinda surprised walking out of there because with every comment about how they�re bad for you, there was a �but,� and we were talking about �well, you know the one cycle won�t hurt. It is proven actually you know you can stay on the couch, take steroids, and gain strength.� A lot of people walked out of this one meeting, confused in that �wow, that wasn�t all negative about steroids� and it was actually talked about positive about steroids now we just took it as well they�re sitting there saying �we know guys are taking it, and if that�s the case, then we want to educate these guys not to abuse it and let them know, listen if you�re taking one, you�re OK, but if you continue this process that, you know, that it�s gonna come down to hurt you. So we were saying basically that organizations were aware of it.�

Dan Duquette: �Well after the testing program at the major league level, I thought the most important part of any program that a team could have was education to the players. And educating the players to the choices that they were making so they could make an educated choice. And avert the health risks. See, see the comment that we got Saturday was implying that the club was encouraging steroid use or steroid abuse and that wasn�t the case.�

Lou Merloni: �That�s the way people took it. I mean they took it as I was saying that somebody was up there showing us where to put the needle and that wasn�t the case you know like I�ve explained it with the analogy of trying to teach your teenage daughter about safe sex. Well you�re not happy that she�s having sex but at the same point you gotta educate her how to do the safe sex. And by no means are you encouraging her to go out and sleep with every guy you see, but you�re acknowledging the fact that you know what I�m not happy about it but it�s going on."

Dan Duquette: "Yeah exactly, but the club policy was abstinence. The club policy was abstinence and that was Major League Baseball policy. And that was communicated first. Beyond that, if a player made a choice I thought it was important that they understood what the risks were." -- 5.11.09, WEEI's The Big Show

And Duke Said Lou 'Misremembers'... On His Umm... Back Office Blog...


It Was a Very Good Year ...

Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra (right) will be out for a while with an injured right wrist, and the news might make him feel like leaning on his good friend Lou Merloni, (left), like he did on Sunday morning between stations on photo day.
(Jim Davis / Boston Globe File, February 2001)

Lou Merloni Just Can't Remember Which One It Was

Merloni Doesn't Need Another Player to Back His Story, He Was There...
He Knows the Trainer, the Length of the Meeting, What Was Discussed,
What Time It Started, Who Was There, The Room It Was In...
But He Can't Remember The Year It All Happened

Lou Merloni explaining his perfectly clear comments from Saturday on WEEI's The Big Show: "We start talking about steroids and what went on back in the day there�s an awful lot of people that say, �you know I don�t want to get involved in any of this stuff, you know why did that even come up? What are you doing?� That type of thing. And hey, you look back and you�re like, should you have not said it but maybe obviously dealing with everything right now you�re sitting there saying no. But you know what, it happened. There�s nothing I can do about it. The story did happen. I don�t need, necessarily another player, because I was the player, you know I�m not a reporter looking for a source. I was the player�

"The situation, why doesn�t he know the team doctor? Well, because it wasn�t a team doctor. People say it was a Red Sox doctor who did this. No. It wasn�t. A trainer brought this guy in, who he was, I don�t know. Did I document the day after it happened? Did I write something down? �OK, what was this doctor�s name again, I might need this in the future.� No. But I�m sitting in there afterwards, walking up to one of the trainers who�s no longer with the Red Sox saying �what the hell was that?� Because every reasoning why we shouldn�t take it, we actually got a �but,� and talked about, that �one cycle�s not gonna hurt you,� and a �but,� that �if you�re gonna take it, this is the way to get the most out of it.���

"Do I know what year that meeting went on? No. I know that it was in that minor league conference meeting room. Now was that early in big league camp? Was that in the minor leagues? I don't know. I don't recall that and that's for some people that's like a huge issue but I know I was in the meeting."

Red Herring Warning: Lou's Just Needling Us

Lou Merloni brings up needles early and often on The Big Show: "A lot of people felt that there was a demonstration, like somebody was up there showing them how to put a needle in. That wasn�t the case.�

Red Herring Warning: Encouraged vs. Acknowledged

Merloni denies the 'encouraged' inference, but Duke disagreed: "I don�t know where they come up [sic] I said the Red Sox said �encouraged the use of steroids,� no, they acknowledged that it was going on., there�s a big difference.�. Is it a shocker to think that MLB enabled all this to happen for so many years?"

I Believe Lou's Story. Sincerely, Paxton Crawford
But Lou Doesn't Believe Paxton's Clubhouse Story Ever Really Happened
This Just In: Somewhere On the Planet, Tim McCarver is Still Piling More Dirt
On the Legacy of Drug Cheat Manny Ramirez's Grave
The Mother of All Nailbiters: Sox Hang on for 4-3 Win
Lesterrible Again: Jon Has a Horrific Outing, Tampa 14, Boston 5

Were Duke's Teams Dirty?
12.13.2000: Manny Ramirez and GM Dan Duquette visit out in LF by the Green Monster after today's press conference introducing Ramirez to the Boston Media.
(Barry Chin / Globe File Photo)

Former Sox Infielder Lou Merloni Says the Red Sox,
Under the Previous Regime (Led By Dan Duquette)
Called a Meeting To Have a Doctor Speak to Players
About the Right Way to Use Steroids

Mystery Doc: 'If you're going to take steroids, one cycle won't hurt you...'

Sat. May 9, 2009, Lou Merloni, who did not specify the year the meeting with the doctor took place, on Comcast SportsNet's The Baseball Show: "I'm in spring training, and I got an 8:30-9:00 meeting in the morning. I walk into that office, and this happened while I was with the Boston Red Sox before this last regime, I'm sitting in the meeting. There's a doctor up there and he's talking about steroids, and everyone was like 'here we go, we're gonna sit here and get the whole thing -- they're bad for you.' No. He spins it and says 'you know what, if you take steroids and sit on the couch all winter long, you can actually get stronger than someone who works out clean, if you're going to take steroids, one cycle won't hurt you, abusing it will.' He sat there for one hour and told us how to properly use steroids while I'm with the Boston Red Sox, sitting there with the rest of the organization, and after this I said 'what the heck was that?' And everybody on the team was like 'what was that?' And the response we got was 'well, we know guys are taking it, so we want to make sure they're taking it the right way'... Where did that come from? That didn't come from the Players Association... well the organization put this meeting together is what I'm saying."

Did Duke's Doc Get Manny Started?

Merloni Didn't Mention the Year the Doc Addressed the Sox
But Things That Make You Go Hmmm... Dan Duquette's 2001 Boston Red Sox...
featuring infielder Lou Merloni... and newly-signed superstar Manny Ramirez
Discuss Merloni's Comments on the Sox Steroids Counseling

Duke 4.14.09: 'The General Manager is Not Father Flanagan'

"The General Manager is not Father Flanagan, and this isn't Boys Town. In professional sports, the General Manager is paid to put the best ball club he can on the field ... if you don't have a testing program that has some teeth in it, with some penalties, you really don't have anything in terms of legislating fairness on the field. You can't tell who's using and who's not using." -- 4.14.09, Dan Duquette

Eagle: Duquette Reacts to Manny's suspension

"If you look at his [Manny's] production with the Dodgers, it's significantly better than when he was with the Red Sox � significantly better. That would be a hint that he may have utilized performance-enhancing drugs." -- 5.8.09, Dan Duquette in The Berkshire Eagle

Duquette vs. Merloni:
Duke Denies Doc Talked 'Roids with Players
Now Merloni Can't Remember The Year or The Doctor...
But He Remembers the Time of Day the Meeting Took Place
... Hmmm, Really? Really?

"It's ridiculous. It's totally unfounded. Who was the doctor? Tell me who the doctor is." -- 5.11.09, Dan Duquette Denial in Boston Globe

Book: Dan Duquette�s Quip Fueled Roger Clemens� �Roid Rage


Back in LA, They Continue to Embarrass Themselves

Signs and shirts commenting on former Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez, at Fenway, during the sixth inning of Boston's baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park in Boston, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
(AP)

Plaschke: Manny Supporters Resemble Giants Fans
Lack of Outrage Shows Scrambled Priorities
Ramirez Talks with Colletti, McCourt
Dodgers Trying to Get Manny to Come Speak With Team...
'Good Luck' Said One Dodger Player

The Natural
Red Sox Jason Bay watches his three run home run off Tampa Bay Rays starter James Shields in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Friday, May 8, 2009.
(AP)

Let's Take a Break From the Manny Mess to Appreciate
A Left Fielder Who's Simply The Best

Another J-Bomb Rallies Sox in 6th Again | Boston 7, Rays 3
The Curious Case of Mike Lowell... Getting Younger Every Day
Taped On His Locker Today: Pedroia's Just Padding His Average
Here's to You Dom DiMaggio. Sincerely, J.D. Drew
Not Going To Comment On the Fall of David Ortiz Today
Should Ramon Ramirez Get an All-Star Nod Over Papelbon?
Does Shields Still Wear that 'Big Game' Tag Like a Badge of Honor?
The 3-1 Brad Penny and His 6.90 ERA Are OK, For Now

"I think that anyone would like to be in those situations, and like to come through. It's not going to happen all the time, you realize that. But I've just kind of been on a bit of a roll. It's been fun." -- Jason Bay, Mr. Late and Close Lately, and Always Mr. Clean Manny...

Another Natural Wonder: Get on the Jim Rice Road to the Hall

Rest in Peace Dom DiMaggio

MacLeod Cartoons by James MacLeod

Red Sox Fans Remain Very Afraid of the Answer
And Here's to You, Dom DiMaggio

Mark Feeney: Red Sox Great Dom DiMaggio Dies at 92
Manny's Shame, Dom's Dignity

"Yes, he�s my brother � and I�m his brother. It�s been a struggle all my life.... It followed me all through my major league career. I was always Joe�s kid brother.... I never encouraged my two sons to get into baseball. I knew it would be twice as hard on them as it was on me. The Joe DiMaggio legend was just too strong." -- Dom DiMaggio liked to say

Red Sox 13, Indians 3: Dirty Dozen Does In Tribe
Denial Is a River in LA: 'We Support Mannywood... Go Dodgers!'
T.J. Simers Take: Manny Has Some Explaining To Do

Manny Docs Revealed

BDD Photo Illustration -- Mr. Punchy
(BDD / Mr. Punchy)

The Dodger Doctors Didn't Know What They Were Doing
So Manny Got a Second Opinion From Three Guys He Knew

Bob Ryan: Just Another Act in the Manny Sideshow
Tony Massarotti: Just Manny Being Shady
Plaschke in LA Times: Ramirez Deserves a One-Way Ticket Out of Mannywood
Eric Wilbur: Glass Houses for Boston

Plaschke: "The best and brightest neighborhood in the Los Angeles sports landscape is a very different place today.

Mannywood has officially gone to hell.

The giddy streets are lined in shadows. The colorful houses are painted in lies. The friendly shops are stocked with juice.

The mayor is a drug cheat.

Manny Ramirez dropped a bomb on Mannywood today, leveling the Dodger spirit, stripping the Dodger psyche, and robbing the Dodger safe."


Steroids Anonymous Meeting

Stop the Presses: Manny's a No-Show Right Off the Bat


They're Bosom Buddies

BDD / Dario Guzman
(BDD / Dario Guzman)

Manny Would
Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares to bat during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 10, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

Yes, Manny* Being Cheating

99 Problems But a Positive Drug Test Is The Big One
Jose Canseco... Right Again!

MANNY SUSPENDED 50 GAMES FOR POSITIVE DRUG TEST
The Scott Boras Spin Is In, T.J. Simers Should Be Next
I Told You It Was 'Roid Rage. Sincerely, Jack McCormick
Rosenthal: 'You Have to Be An Idiot to Flunk a Drug Test'
More Mannywood: Yahoo 'Source': Drug Was to Boost Sexual Performance
ESPN: Manny Used Fertility Drug HGC, Known to Be Used in Cycle Recovery
When You're Innocent You Fight, Right? Right.
Oh, And Sign Jason Bay

Manny's phony statement: "Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.

"I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation." ....clearly written by Scott Boras and the MLBPA

Does Manny Have a Cousin He Can Throw Under the Bus?
ManScam: You Can Kiss the Hall of Fame Goodbye Big Guy
Back in LA: Oh, Whoa, Whoa, Jamie's Cryin'
Did the White Devils Make Him Do It?


Are We Tainted?

October 6, 2007
(Jim Rogash / Getty Images)

"The Curse was broken by cheaters. Be man enough to accept it." -- 5.7.09, Anthony F., Yankee Fan... wasting no time chiming in

Yankee Fans Will Try to Stick Manny's Stink on Us
Gammons: Sox Don't Believe Manny Was On Steroids

Gammons on ESPN: "I checked (with) somebody in the Red Sox front office asking if they had heard and the response was 'there's no way Manny would', that they believe that Manny would test positive for steroids. So I mean, he didn't exactly leave Boston on the greatest of terms and they thoroughly believe that he would not be doing steroids, in any way." Hmmmm.

Jerry Remy Recovering from Lung Cancer Surgery | Well Wishes
Watch for Us on CSN�s 'The Baseball Show' On Saturday Morning

Lightweight Lineup Can't Play the Heavy

Nick Green strikes out with bases loaded in the 4th inning.
(John Tlumacki / Boston Globe Staff)

Green, Bailey and the Boys Can't Keep Streak Alive
Good Thing No One Was Watching

Cleveland 9, Boston 2 | Pavano Confounds Sox
Not Justin Time: He's a Jack of All Trades, But Masterson of None Last Night
No Youk, No Ells, and No Bay and Pedroia Last Night Either
This Just In: David Ortiz Has Been Reduced to a Singles Hitter
The New York Yankees Could Use a Guy Like Carl Pavano
Lopez Getting Nothin Done from the Left Side Again
No Laffey Matter for Sox in Late Innings

"Just disappointed ... that it's a loss. Whatever the record was coming in and having the one loss now, it was bound to happen some time." -- Justin Masterson... who still praises the Lord after his loss

KerPunk
Jason Bay gets hit in the back
(BDD / MLB Network)

Will Sox Get Any Justice After Justin the Punk
Plunks a Fastball Into the Middle of J-Bay's Back?
Bust Him Like Beckett? Will Yankee Bob Watson Hand the Known Headhunter a Hefty Suspension and Fine?
Farrell Fires Warning Shot After 'Very Obvious' Cheap Shot...

Sox pitching coach John Farrell on WEEI's Dale and Holley Show talking about possible retaliation: "Our guys for one have each others backs and they're certainly be supportive if a situation like that were to arise. Speaking specifically about last night, he [Chamberlain] strikes out 12 guys, doesn't seem to have too many command issues, and if there was a purpose or an intent to throw up and in, or even if the intent was further than that, to send a clear-cut message, you can disguise it a little bit more than making it very obvious with the first pitch in the middle of the back to Jason Bay. So, those things aren't forgotten, we know that there's a history there between the pitcher in New York and our guys here, so not to say that he was specifically out to do that, but I think history speaks for itself, and we've got a number of games left with these guys."

Like Papa Jack Used to Say... Somebody Gotta Pay
But Beckett Was Right... Just to Sit Tight Last Night
Did Joe Girardi Set the Stage for Bay Getting Hit?

NY Daily News today: "As it turned out, maybe Joba Chamberlain should have plunked Jacoby Ellsbury, the very first batter of the game, square in the back and stared down the Red Sox dugout and dared Boston to do something about it. ...

At this point, the Yankees need to do something drastic, it seems, to put a stop to all the bullying by the Sox. Joe Girardi, in fact, seemed to set the stage for some fireworks Tuesday night when he ran the length of the dugout a night earlier to scream at Sox first base coach Tim Bogar, going so far as to warn him: 'You're gonna get somebody hurt.' "


The Red Sox Would Like to Remind the Fans
Not To Boo the Shadow of Big Papi Tonight

BDD / Frank Galasso Illustration

Sox Beat Yanks Out of House and Home

Joba Chamberlain #62 of the New York Yankees walks back to the mound after surrendering a first-inning three-run home run to Jason Bay #44 of the Boston Red Sox on May 5, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)

A New Yankee Killer Is Born in Jason Bay
.556, 3 Homers, 10 RBIs Against Bombers in '09

Is the New Empty Stadium the New Fenway South?
Sox Make Themselves Home Sweet Home in the Bronx
Boston 7, Yankees Lose Again... 5-0 Start Over NY for First Time in 24 Years
A Big Pat on the Back to Pedroia for a Big Bat and a Bigger Relay Throw
Big Cheapie: Papi Gets an RBI, But Has No Short Porch Power
Beckett Hangs Tough, Okajima Comes Through, Saito, Too
It Really Was the Mother of All Turnarounds for Justin Chamberlain
I Read the New York News Today, Oh Boy ...
Daily News: Yankees' Weak Homestand Shows Rivalry with Red Sox is One-Sided
'We Want Torre' Chants Emerge in 9th Inning
Storm Rises Over Yankeegate

"They outplayed us and they outpitched us. All the games were fairly close, but at this point in the season, they're a better team than we are. Boston beat us five times, but we know we're a better team than we've showed." -- Old friend Johnny Damon telling it like it is

BDD / Jamison Odone Illustration
(BDD / Jamison Odone Illustration)

Lefty Groove
Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox deals a pitch against the New York Yankees on May 4, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)

Lester Whiffs 10 Yanks in New Whiffle Ball Stadium
Bay Powers Sox Past Pinstriped Rivals

A Good First Impression: Boston 6, New York 4
Late at Night, Early in the Morning, Sox Domination Over Bombers Continues
Sorry Joe, Tim Bogar Is Not the Second Coming of Alex Pitch-Tipper Rodriguez
Last Sox Lefty to Strike Out at Least 10 Yanks in a Game Was Lefty Grove in 1936
In Room .222, Ortiz Is Double Trouble... And 2 2B's Is As Good As a Homer!
He's UnBaylievable!... 6 Homers for Lowell, and Jason Bay, Too
Hold On a Minute... Ramon Ramirez Gives Up a Rare Run
Mr. Leigh Bangs 2 Long Balls to Raise Ave. to .195
Papelbon a Bit Sharper in Save No. 7

"I don't know what his problem is. He just had something to say and I answered him back." -- Sox 1B coach Tim Bogar on Jumpy Joe Giriardi

Joba's Mom Has Something Goin On ...
Yankees Fans Told Game Canceled, Not Let Back Into Stadium

Is David All Done?

David Ortiz
(Reuters Photo)

He Doesn't Think So
But It Certainly Seems That Way
After an 0-Fer Weekend and Homerless April

Friday: Rays 6, Red Sox 2 (Ortiz -- 0 for 4)
Saturday: Red Sox 10, Rays 6 (Ortiz -- 0 for 2)
Sunday: Rays 5, Red Sox 3 (Ortiz -- 0 for 3)
Rem Says He Hopes to Return to Booth Soon

"I'm not happy. Should I be? But I'll tell you what . . . I'm just gonna keep the flow, keep playing the game, not worry about too many things. I don't want to be listening to all the negativity, all the [expletive], everybody come with. Because it seems like it's never enough. People all they like to see is people fail so they had a reason to talk [smack]. So I'm not paying attention to any of it. I'm trying to stay away from talking because I don't need to talk, I need to do things right now. I will do things, believe me." -- Boston's .208-hitting, homerless No. 3 hitter

Mazz: Big Problems for Big Papi
Rays Stole More Than Madoff This Weekend

Flop At the Trop

Jonathan Van Every
(Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images)

When you flip from the Celtics to the Red Sox and see Jonathan Van Every on the mound and Javier Lopez in right field, you know something has gone horribly wrong

Big Problems for Papi (0 HR April), and Beckett (7.22 ERA)
Game 7 Garza Brilliant Again
Red Sox go down hard against the Rays
Game recap: Rays 13, One-Hit Sox 0

"I just gave up seven [expletive] runs in less than five innings ... Yeah, it's frustrating. It's a lot of things." -- Josh Beckett, after last night's game

BDD is a feature of Boston.com. All posts are by Steve Silva unless otherwise indicated.

Boston Globe:

Rodriguez looks like the steal deal > Despite effort by Rodriguez, Red So fall > Tazawa has come a long way, on and off field

Boston Herald:

Lauber: Eduardo Rodriguez showing Red Sox he's special > PawSox start looms large for Masterson

ProJo:

Rodriguez gem wasted > Chili Davis doesn't want to turn Red Sox into free-swingers > Red Sox draft catcher in third round

NY Post:

How Mariano Rivera has influenced Yankees' top pick > Why starting rotation could be a big Yankees' strength

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