All the Right Moves

Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox doubles to knock in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park May 30, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Jim Rogash / Getty Images)

A-Gon Gets the Big Hit, Red Sox Roar Back Against Tigers

Boston 6, Detroit 4 | Sox on a Little Roll
Bobby Valentine Is the Early Leader for AL Manager of the Year
Lester Had the Right Stuff, But Albers Picks Up the 14-Pitch Win
Gonzo Can't Go Deep Like Before HR Derby, But He'll Do Anything to Win
Hey Paplebon! Alfredo Aceves Can Get 4-Out Saves and Work 4 Days Straight
Happy Days Are Here Again: They're the Best Last Place Team in Baseball!
Take Me to Your Leader: David Ortiz Playing Like an MVP
More Good News: Papi Won't Do the Home Run Derby
Just Let Youk and Middlebrooks Keep Slugging It Out
Byrd Spreads His Wings and Makes a Great Catch

"You can�t let injuries overtake you. It seems like every time we turn around we have another one, but you have to be ready with other guys who can step in and play at a high level, and that�s what we have on this team." -- Red Sox de facto captain David Ortiz


They Both Need a Little Pedroia In Them

Crawford and Ellsbury
(Globe and Getty Images)

Are Crawford and Ellsbury Doing All They Can to Get Back
In the Lineup As Soon As Possible?

J.D. Crawford Doesn't Even Know What Day He'll Start Throwing Again
And Jacoby Should-Be-Back-By-Now Is Just Starting to Play Catch? Seriously?
When Will Scott Boras Let His Meal Ticket Aluminum Foil Man Play Baseball?
Will a Stop-Payment on Their Paychecks Speed Things Up?

Look Who's 40
Boston Dirt Dogs, Goodbye Manny
(Globe and Wire Photos)

Happy Birthday Manny

Oh How We Miss Manny Being Manny | Catching Up with Old Friends

Daniel Boom
Daniel Nava double
(Getty Images)

Nava Double Spells Trouble for Detroit

The Fortune .500's 6, Tigers 3 | Finally, More Wins Than Losses
Sure, Carl Crawford Can Hit 100 Mile Per Hour Fastballs
Not Sure If No-Name Sox Can Survive Without Pedroia
And How's 6-8 Week Jacoby Ellsboras Doing?
Jury Still Out on Bard, But He Threw Hard
Ortiz Quiets Down, Bat Heats Up
Aceves Settles Back Down

"I tried to just calm myself down and keep it simple." -- Dirt Dog Daniel Nava delivers

South Beach Bums

The James Gang: John Henry, LeBron James, Tom Werner
(BDD Photo Illustration)

We Interrupt Our Coverage of the
Basement-Dwelling Baseball Team to Remind You That the
Red Sox Are Cashing In on the Celtics' Demise

The James Gang 93, The Boston Celtics 79
The Celtics Will Be Playing 18 Before They're Winning 18. Sincerely, Mark Twain
Photo: John Henry in Miami of Course, Interviewing Managers for Liverpool
Wilbur: The LeBron Laugh that Roared Arrogance
BDD Archives: Now Pitching for the Red Sox ...


Another Look at the Red Sox Org Chart

Your team's org chart
(BDD Photo Illustration)

"There are very few sportsmen who can match his global reach, appeal and iconic status... We�re going to be able to focus on how to create opportunities for LeBron." -- Red Sox chairman Tom Werner on your friend LeBron James

"What FSM does for Roush Fenway, Liverpool and the Red Sox, we will now do for LeBron James... This represents the next step in our evolution, to represent one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. ... [This partnership] enables us to apply our team and brand marketing experience to elevate LeBron to new heights.� -- Red Sox chief operating officer Sam Kennedy


BDD Photo Illustration / Nick Brown
(BDD Photo Illustration / Nick B)

They're Making a Fortune and They Can't Get Over .500

Boston 7, Detroit 4 | Full Nelson Win for Sox
Tampa Bay 4, Boston 3 | Alfre-doh!
Boston 3, Tampa Bay 2 | A Pinch of Salty
Rays 7, Fighting LeBrons 4: Lester Unreliable | Sox-Rays Brawls History
Did Bobby V Order the Code Red on Luke Scott?

Lin-stant Classic

bdd_lin_catch_052312.jpg

Bobby's Move Makes Game Saving Catch
No-Name Offense Brings Down Orioles

Boston 6, Baltimore 5 | Bottoms Up, Up, and Away
Finn: A-Gon Has Glove, Will Travel
Wilbur: Valentine's Title Talk a Bit Premature
Diva Ortiz Has Lost His Pop Since He Popped Off to Gordo
Kevin Youkilis Was Gonna Be a Captain Too, You Know
Middlebrooks Isn't Goin' Down Without a Fight
Can We Give Nava Some of Crawford's Contract?
Podsednik, Another Genius Pickup By Cherington
Shoppach's Mad As Hell, Valentine in Heaven

"Let it be known he [Shoppach] came in yesterday and wondered why he wasn't playing. He left angry. I like him playing when he's angry, I guess." -- Bobby V Coyote, Genius

Baltimore Flop
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz walks back to the dugout after grounding out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Baltimore won 4-1.
(AP)

Basement Dwellers Manage Just Two Hits in
the Easiest Hitting Park in Baseball

Boston 1, Baltimore 4 | Sox Regain Sole Possession of Last Place
It Was a Nice Little Run for Strikeout King Felix
So Much for the Stacked Lineup, Over .500 Drought Continues
So Can We Trade Matsuzaka and Lackey for Matusz? Probably Not.
Looked Like Another Fenway South Sellout to Us. Sincerely, The Red Sox Ticket Office
So, Where Were the Leaders Night? Just Kidding David... Lighten Up...
I Love Saying 'More Days in First Place.' Sincerely, Dan Duquette
Hey, Hey, Hey It's Matt Albers Getting Hammered By His Old Club
No Truth to Rumor Sox Will Activate Dwight Evans for RF Today
Bright Side: Welcome Back Youk Provides a Little Punch

"There's not more to the story than playing tonight and just going out there and playing...that's it. There's not a story here, just going out and playing.... I played first base for five years here, it's not like they asked me to play center." -- Kevin Youkilis... used to play third base... but no story here...

"I never try to strike them out. If I strike them out, it�s OK." -- Felix Doubront, falls to 4-2

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Big Papi won't pipe down
(BDD Photo Illustration)

Ortiz Complains That He's Not Getting Any

Edes: Ortiz Blasts Notion That He's Not a Leader
Big Papi Isn't Piping Down on Players Meeting Talk
Will Manager Bobby V Give David a 'C' For His Uni?
Why Whine Now? Hey, Must Be the 2-Year Deal Money
Apparently a Mazz Rant Set David 'Rabbit Ears' Ortiz Off
David Takes a Whack at 'Tek and Pedrioia Postgame ...

Ortiz to Gordo on ESPNBoston.com: "Basically, it seems like no matter what you do, it's not good enough. And you can only call leaders the guys who are out diving for balls on the field or calling pitches behind the plate? No. 1, I don't agree with that. And No. 2, what I do I don't do for people to know. I do it for my teammates, to get to know things better. I don't give a [expletive] about anybody knowing what we talk about, No. 1. And No. 2, I don't give a [expletive] what they call leaders."

(oo) What you want
(oo) Papi's got
(oo) What you need
(oo) You know Papi's got it?
(oo) All he's askin'
(oo) Is for a little respect when hits homers (just a little bit)
Hey Papi (just a little bit) when he comes home
(just a little bit) mister Henry (just a little bit)

He's never done you wrong while Manny's gone
Ain't gonna do you wrong (oo) 'cause he don't wanna (oo)
All he's askin' (oo)
Is for a little respect when drives you home (just a little bit)
Papi (just a little bit) when he drives you home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

Henry's given me all of his money
But all I'm askin' in return, Henry
Is to give me my props
When I hit homers (just a, just a, just a, just a)
Yeah Papi (just a, just a, just a, just a)
When I hit homers (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means Papi
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, Big Papi


Rally Big Win

Middlebrooks Baltimore
(Getty Images)

Sox Storm Back to Beat Baltimore

Boston 8, Baltimore 6
Clay Chevrolet... Used to Be a Cadillac
It's the Bullpen Theo Epstein Always Dreamed Of, But Never Had
Papelfraud: A-save-es Proves Anyone Can Put Up Big Save Numbers
Middlebrooks Back on Top Just In Time
Mr. Diving for Balls Goes 2-for-4, Picks Up 2 More RBIs
Holding Pattern: V-Pad Is Becoming Quite the Cusion
Eutaw Ortiz Bombed the Bomb Before Talking the Talk
Birthday Boy Andrew Miller... On the Brink of Greatness
Keep Looking the Other Way While Salty Racks Up the Ks's

"We got a lead and we gave it up and we weren't going to be denied." -- V is for Victory

Road Warriors
David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox congratulates Jarrod Saltalamacchia after Saltalamacchia hit a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in a MLB interleague baseball game on May 20, 2012 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Rich Schultz / Getty Images)

Red Hot Sox Knocking On the Basement Door
And Looking to Come Upstairs in the AL East

Boston 5, Philadelphia 1 | Sox Rolling Behind Beckett
Big Papi Pressure: Beckett Shows Up to Earn His Paycheck Again
Can You Ear Me Now? All-Startalamachhia Goes 466 Feet Deep
Leading Man Can Do: Mike Aviles Goes Deep Again
Boston 7, Philadelphia 5 | Ortiz Powers Sox in Philly
Did You See That Catch Coco Sweeney Made?
Saturday Night's Alright for Hanging on for a Win
Salty Goes 3-for-4, Looking Like an All-Star

"Might as well ride that horse when he�s feeling good." -- Bobby V on Salty


They're the Smartest Fans in Baseball

Philly Fans
(AP)

But We Still Can't Explain How They Got Their Hands On
David Ortiz's Signs for the Players Only Meeting

Adding Insult to Injuries
Papelbon
(AP)

The Philly Hillbilly Draws First Blood Against Boston

Philadelphia 6, Boston 4 | Sox Lose Control
Low 5 for Daniel Bard: 5th Loss, 5 Innings, 5 Runs, 5 Walks
They Won Because the Philly Fans Know the Game Better Than You
And Wasn't Hamels Supposed to Teach Middlebrooks a Lesson?
Day Late and a Dollar Short Dept: Congratulations, Adrian Gonzalez

"No man, Valentine can�t distract Cinco, man. Cinco has ice water in his veins." -- Papelbon still carrying on with this Cinco Ocho nonsense. At least Chad Johnson was original.


Mackanin's Revenge

Who is Pete Mackanin
(BDD Photo Compilation)

They Worked Hard
For the Money

The Boston Red Sox celebrate a victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on May 17, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
(Globe Photo)

Toot-Toot, Hey, Beep-Beep
Big Win for the Dirty Bad Boys of Summer

Boston 5, Tampa Bay 3 | Dim All the Lights in the Trop
Heaven Knows Fouls and Batting Practice Pops Are Not Home Runs...
No Wonder Adrian Gonzalez Has Become Just a Banjo Hitter in Boston
Gonzo Takes It Hard After Faux Guarantee: 'Give Me Some Moore Please'
I Feel Love for Dustin Pedroia, That's It. Sincerely, Fenway Faithful
No More Tears -- Enough Is Enough -- Sox Turnaround Starts Now
This Time I Know It's For Real: Cody Ross HR, 4 RBIs
Rumor Has It Middlebrooks Goin' Down to Pawtucket
Love to Love You Baby: Doubront Wins 3d Straight
Hot Stuff: Mike Aviles Loses His Cool After K
On the Radio: Bobby V in Yankee Town Today
Aceves Aces Last Dance for Save No. 8

"I was going after this game tonight. The guys really wanted this game, and I was just going to do everything we could to win it.... Guys had complaints tonight and I was with them. We've got to fight through it, that's for sure. We're trying our hardest, and I think they're trying their hardest, too." -- Bobby V... not playing the role of a Stepford Wife for once

"Is this the World Series?" -- Don Orsillo on a hot mike after a Bobby V pitching change


This Just In
bdd_ag_god.jpg

God Has Different Plans for Adrian Tonight

Gonzalez Guarantees Home Run
God to Red Sox Nation: Let's Pump the Brakes on the Predictions Here
Ghost of Babe Ruth Seen Pointing to Second Baseman with AG at the Plate
Curt Schilling's Betting the House on A-Gon

"I'm seeing something closer to 1-for-4 with a run scored, but no, no home run tonight for Adrian Gonzalez." -- God responds to Adrian Gonzalez's bold prediction

Shallow Grave
Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Joyce, left, scores ahead the throw to Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 16, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Joyce scored on a sacrifice fly by Luke Scott.
(AP)

Cody Loss Play in Right Left Sox for Dead

Tampa Rays 2, Red Sox 1 | Sox Stumble, Tumble in the Trop
Sox Balk the Balk, Go Wild, Bounce Around, Hit Batters
Bright Side: Buchholz Was Not His Usual Horrendous Self
What the Hellickson Is Going On with Adrian Gonzalez?
More Good News: Bullpen of Steel Has Strong Outing
Youk Looks Ready, Time to Ship Down Middlebrooks
Rhymes With Scary

� I tried to break my stride down and kind of tripped over myself and had to reach back and grab it... I lost my footing. I almost rolled my ankle, it felt like, when I was breaking my steps down. I pushed forward and had to reach back. ...Just a lot of stuff going on in that play. It was awful. It ended up costing us the game.� -- Cody Ross, graceful as an elephant in the outfield

Beck in the Saddle Again
Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett waits while the umpires review a call in the second inning of their MLB American League baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts May 15, 2012
(Reuters)

He Was the Texas On Man Today

Boston 5, Seattle 0 | Candle in the Win for the Birthday Boy
Redemption Song? Happy Birthday to You
Beckett's Bottom Line: 7 IP, 4 Hits, 0 Runs, 9 Ks
Stop the Presses: 4 Straight Games Under 3 Hours
Big Papi Gives Mariners the Run-Around, Two Ways
Sox Outscoring Opponents 34-8 During 5-Win Streak
Hold the Applause: Bobby Should Have Taken Him Out Mid-Inning
And It's the 732nd Consecutive Sellout to Boot, No Really
Ichiro? He Plays for Seattle. Sincerely, Jimi Williams
So What Do We Have Here with Mr. Daniel Nava?
The 0-drian Gonzalez Watch in On Again
Aviles's Bat Comes Alive in the 9-Hole

"That's his saddle and he looked pretty comfortable in it." -- Bobby V, postgame

"I don't think I was trying to make a statement." -- Josh Beckett, on his early velocity

Lesterrific
Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester celebrates with teamates after throwing a complete game victory. Cody Ross at right.
(Globe Staff Photo / Bill Greene)

Finally, Jon Lester's the Complete Package

Boston 6, Seattle 1 | Four in a Row for the Red Hot Red Sox
Master and Commander: Lester Effort Helps Right the Ship
Just Sayin' Dept.: Josh Reddick, 9 HRs, Adrian Gonzalez Has 2
Water Seeks Its Own Level. Sincerely, Mike Aviles
Deep Threats Nava, Shop Homer in Easy Win
Streak Over for Dustin Pedroia at 14
Best Park: Game Time: 2:25

"When you're working fast, it's a good thing to be able to pitch and not think about anything. Sometimes you have nights like this where things are going your way." -- Jon Lester on being the anti-Josh Beckett


MAGUIRE
(BDD / MAGUIRE)

Nice W-W-Weekend

Boston Dirt Dogs
(Globe and Wire Photos)

After Beckett Blow Up, Sox Bounce Back Against Tribe

Friday: Boston 7, Cleveland 5 | Buchholz Stays Off Bus to Pawtucket
Captain Pedroia Stays Red Hot with 3 RBIs
Another Not-So-Clean Save for Aceves
Saturday: Boston 4, Cleveland 1 | Doubront Does It Again
Ross Puts Game Away with HR No. 6
Another Day, Another Save for Aceves
Sunday: Boston 12, Cleveland 1 | Mother of All Blowouts
Salty Shakes Up the Offense, Willowbrooks Homers Again
Hot Nava: Little Left Fielder Gets Right in the Flow
Bard's a Little Shaky, But It Doesn't Matter

Double Bogey
Josh Beckett
(BDD Photo Illustration)

Beckett Finds the Rough Against the Indians
Then Buries Himself in the Trap Postgame

EVERYBODY HATES JOSH:
Beckett to Bradford: 'No One Else Wants You Here Except for Your Teammates'
Mazz: Beckett's the Second Coming of the Texas Con Man... Roger Dodger
Passan: Beckett's Golf Round Further Proof Red Sox Aren't His Top Priority
Wilbur: Beckett Needs to Go for Good of the Franchise
Tomase: Beckett Off Course | Light 'Em Up, Bobby V
Edes: Defiant Beckett Doesn't Get It
Video: Beckett Defends Golf Outing

"I don�t want to be part of a reality show. If I wanted to be part of a reality show I would move to LA. That�s not what I�m here for. I�m here to win baseball games and we�re not doing a good job of that. Am I part of the solution or am I part of the problem? I want to part of the solution, not part of the problem..."

"It sucks because it seems nobody else wants you here except for your teammates. What are supposed to do? What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to go home and pout and take that home with me. That ain�t happening. That�s not me. Like I said, if I wanted to be part a reality show I would go to LA. I�m not into that." -- Josh Beckett to Rob Bradford

Boston Dirt Dogs
(BDD Photo Illustration)

"They took the beer out of the clubhouse, but nothing changed. They switched the man in the manager's office, but he's no better. The rot in the Boston Red Sox organization runs too deep for cosmetic upgrades, and nobody better personifies it than Josh Beckett, the clueless, defiant egomaniac who's poisoning another Red Sox season." -- Jeff Passan, Yahoo Sports

"We get 18 off days a year. I think we deserve a little time to ourselves... I spend my off days the way I want to spend them... My off day is my off day." -- Josh Beckett, off base again

"It doesn't look good." -- Bobby V on Michael Kay show today... no wonder he was ill prepared for his press conference with the Boston media




BDD Photo Illustration / Steve Garberg
(BDD Photo Illustration / Steve Garberg)

1. Change 'Didn't Execute' to 'Flat Pitches'
2. Cash Weekly Check for $302,884.00
3. Nod Whenever Valentine Speaks
4. Ask Wife How Baby Is Doing
5. Work On My Short Game


BDD / James MacLeod Cartoons
(BDD / James MacLeod Cartoons)

From Bridge Year to
Year of the Bagman

bdd_bagman_0512.jpg

It's BYOBag at Fenway Again Tonight

Meet Bag Man, the New President of Red Sox Nation

Time for Fenway Fans to Tee Off on Beckett

Josh Beckett - Stop Snitching
(BDD Photo Illustration)

While Josh Spends All His Time Putting Around
For The Wollaston Whisperer

"But I'm sure that Josh wouldn't do anything that's going to jeopardize his team or his season. I know that." -- Bobby V, the comedian

Beckett Hung McDonald Out to Dry Sunday, But He Hit Long Drives on Thursday
Josh Couldn't Pitch in the 17th, But He Had No Problem Playing 18 Holes
Yes, Hitting Long Drives All Day Long Is the Best Remedy for a Bad Back
Every Game Counts, Every Game... Every Game... Especially Golf


He's Got the World on a String

BDD_JA_beckett_10.24.07_sga.jpg
(BDD Photo Illustration / Steve Garberg)

Beckett Keeps Doing Whatever He Wants, Whenever He Wants
And No One in the Red Sox Organization Will Stand Up to Him

"If that was the case [that Beckett played 18 holes], I would say that was less than the best thing to do on that day off." -- Bobby V yesterday

"I've never seen a pitcher get hurt playing golf." -- the shell of the puppet that is Bobby V today... after they got to him

Sights for Sore Eyes

BDD - Derek Lowe Returns
(Globe File and Wire Photos)

And Some Cheers for Our Ears

Oct. 20, 2004: Johnny Brings Down the House that Ruth Built
(Oct. 20, 2004: Getty Images Photo)

Now More Than Ever, the Red Sox Could Use
A Couple of Likable Guys That We Loved to Love
Welcome Home Derek Lowe and Johnny Damon

Oct. 20, 2004:
Home plate umpire Randy Marsh, New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, and Johnny Damon of the Red Sox watched Damon's second inning grand slam home run during the seventh and final game of the American League Championship Series between the Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
(Oct. 20, 2004: Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

Give It Up Tonight for 2 Special Members of 'The 25'

Oct. 6, 2003: Damon gave a wave to the fans as he was put into an ambulance after colliding with Damian Jackson in Game 5 of the ALDS.
(Oct. 6, 2003: Boston Globe Staff Photo / Barry Chin)

Thanks for the Memories Johnny and D-Lowe

Feb. 22, 2005: The scene at the Red Sox minor league facility looked more like a rock concert than a sporting venue, and at no time did it more so than when Johnny Damon came out of the clubhouse and made his way to the field. With his hair flowing out of his hat, he was surrounded by screaming fans on his left, some young, some old, some male, some female.
(Feb. 22, 2005: Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

A Look Back at the Life and Good Times of Johnny Damon

Johnny Be Good
(Boston Globe Advertisement )

No, Really, The Pleasure Was All Ours

"Coming in here, you kind of get these old vibes that are fresh in your mind. We had a lot of good memories here, and I have a lot of fond memories of the players. It's a great place to play, too." -- 6.19.09, Derek Lowe makes a Brave return

Beane Town Mourns



Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls
Fenway Park Won't Be the Same Without 'The Voice'
Rest in Peace, Carl Beane

Finn: Beane Dies While Driving
Petraglia: Beane Was Much More Than the Voice of Fenway


MAGUIRE
(BDD / MAGUIRE)

Remembering Beane Ball

CarlBeane.com Photo: Sox Announcer Restrained
(CarlBeane.com Photo)

Sox Announcer Held Back After Benches Clear in 2007

'Now Being Restrained for the Red Sox Media Team, Carl Beane'

"New York pitcher Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record and ESPN.com drilled Red Sox broadcaster Uri Berenguer (Spanish Beisbol Network) with a fastball in the helmet. Berenguer collected himself off the dirt before saying a few words to Klapisch, who approached home plate with more adult words. Both players were restrained. Benches emptied. Red Sox [media team] manager Carl Beane got into the action, which featured plenty of pushing and shoving." -- -- 6.4.07, Kevin Gray, Union Leader Blog

Butler Did It
Billy Butler of the Kansas City Royals rounds the bases after hitting a 3-run home run during the 8th inning of the game against the Boston Red Sox on May 8, 2012 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

Royals Rally in the 8th for Win, Sox Season Slip Sliding Away

Kansas City 6, Boston 4 | No Finishing Touch for Red Sox
Gonzo Hits Just Enough to Get Everyone Off His Back for a Day
Vaunted Red Sox Offense Puts up Goose eggs from the Sixth Inning On
Middlebrooks Cramp Puts Damper on Fast Start for Youk's Replacement
Will He or Won't He Be Able to Stay in the Lineup the Rest of the Way?
Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Matt Albers Blowing the Save

"I thought [Bard] was in complete control of the game." -- Bobby V... wrong again

Let's play the player game:

Player A is Dustin Pedroia. He's the third best hitting second baseman in Major League Baseball (.309/.384/.504), 4 home runs, plays flawless defense, 14 walks against 15 strikeouts, makes $8 million this season.

Player B is Adrian Gonzalez. He's the 12th best hitting first baseman in Major League Baseball (.280/.343/.390), 2 home runs, 12 walks against 24 strikeouts, makes $21 million this season.

Middlebrooks Robinson
Will Middlebrooks of the Boston Red Sox runs to first after hitting a three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium May 7, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Ed Zurga / Getty Images)

Could This Be the Second Coming of One of
The Last Great Third Basemen?

No. 64's Season Is Starting to Look Like Brooks Robinson's MVP Year in '64
2 Home Runs, 10 Total Bases for the Red Hot Red Sox Rookie
Youk Can Take All the Time He Needs. Sincerely, Bob from Accountemps
Cold School Hamels Would Like to Welcome Will Middlebrooks to the Big Leagues
I Don't Think It's Fair for Youkilis to Lose His Job. Sincerely, Drew Bledsoe
Kevin Youkilis Will Now Be Known as the Greek God of Pinch Hitting
Where There's a Will There's a Way...
The Weary 11, Kansas City 5 | Road Sweet Road
16 Hits After 17 Innings Gets Hapless Sox Back on the Winning Track in KC
The $173,186,617 Team Beat Up on the $60,916,225 Team, Thank You Bud Selig
Under the Radar: Pedroia Hitting .343 Over the Last 15 Games
Doubront Was Decent, Which Means Excellent to Bobby V
Strand Theater: V-Pad Saves Sox

"Just wanted to help the team win." -- Will Middlebrooks, who may have inherited the Adrian Gonzalez personality gene

"It shouldn�t be mathematically possible for me to run that far." -- Kelly Shoppach on his first career triple

MAGUIRE
(BDD / MAGUIRE)

Coming Soon to a Rotation Near You

bdd_dicek_samurai_soxnation.jpg

Matsuzaka's Still a Wild Man, and He's Added a Bad Elbow to His Repertoire
So It's Time for Bobby V to Make Room for Dice-K

It's Not McDonald's
Kind of Place

Darnell McDonald
(Matthew J. Lee / Boston Globe Staff)

Adam Bomb Sinks Sox in 17
Orioles Lower the Broom at Fenway

Baltimore 9, Boston 6 | Stinko de Mayo Party Rocks On at Fenway
Wilbur: Gonzalez the Perfect Face for These Free-Falling Sox
Byrd Doesn't Exactly Fly Around the Bases, Does He?
Ain't Life Grand? Middlebrooks Likes to Watch
Maybe Clay Buchholz Could Be Mr. Mop Up Man?
Curse of the Andino: 3-Run Blast By the Sox Killer
You Thought Josh Beckett Would Pitch In? Haaa
Gotta Get Away? Jarrod Saltalmacchia Does
And It's the Greek God of Walking Programs
More Days in First Place for Dan Duquette
More Bad News: Liverpool Loses FA Cup
Baltimore 8, Red Sox 2: Sox Cooked Early in Stinko de Mayo Matinee
Baltimore 6, Boston 4: Friday, the 13th. Horror Show at Home Continues

�I thought I had it. They just made a great play. Great throws. I thought I had a good jump and thought I could make it." -- Marlon Byrd, who ran around third slower than Milan Lucic skating through water

A Beautiful Night
For a Sellout

Fenway Park. Sold out again
(Yoon S. Byun / Globe Staff)

Just Ask the Red Sox

Globe: Fenway Sold Out, Plenty of Good Seats Available
So Why Do They Sell the Standing Room Seats in December Again?
Nah. The Sox Don't Profit from the 400 Percent Markups at Ace Ticket Either
Survey: 85 Percent of the Fans Aren't Buying What the Sox Are Selling
On WEEI: Sam Kennedy's Knee-Jerk Reaction and Talking Points:
1. The Red Sox Were Using This Fuzzy Math Before We Got Here
2. Everybody Else Cheats, Too

"We have a [sellout] definition that is tied to this metric which the team has used for a long, long time and again it's based upon the seating capacity at Fenway, and that goes back to if there are more standing room tickets sold, that's how you can exceed that seating capacity. It's a metric and a definition that's been used here for decades, and by other professional sports teams in town." -- Red Sox COO Sam Kennedy, dealing with the faux-sellout mess on WEEI's Mut and Merloni show

Say It Ain't Mo!

BDD / James MacLeod Cartoons
(BDD / James MacLeod Cartoons)

It Might Be the End of the Road for the
Closer Sox Fans Loved to Love

So Is Papelbon Now The Heir Apparent As He Claimed for So Many Years?
Cashman Can Only Dream of Stealing Mark Melancon Away From the Sox Now
Lupica: Mo Might Not Be Able to Save Career
Sherman: One Sad Ending

"At this point, I don�t know. Going to have to face this first. It all depends on how the rehab is going to happen, and from there, we�ll see.� -- Mariano Rivera, sounding like he's going to retire

Bench Time for Gonzo?
Adrian Gonzalez yells and tosses his bat after striking out and leaving the bases loaded in the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics in a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
(AP)

How Low Can Adrian Go Before He Takes a Seat?

Oakland 4, Boston 2 | It's McCarthy's Park
Is Adrian Gonzalez 'Tired' From Counting All The Money?
Pathetic Numbers: .697 OPS, 7 Extra Base Hits, 20 Strikeouts
Fair Trade? Even Anthony Rizzo Is Having a Better Year Than Gonzalez
Carl Crawford Has Carried the Team More Than A-Gon Since Arriving in Boston
So Much for Daniel Bard's Upward Trajectory Every Game He Pitches
There's No Place Like Home... Where the Sox Have Lost 7 or 8
The Tiny Market A's Have a Better Record Than the Sox
Middlebrooks, Mortensen Just Fine at Fenway
And Beckett's Cooked Already?

"This game is all on me. I had two great opportunities and I didn't come through. It's one of those things that I'm going to make a definite point to not let that happen again." -- Adrian Gonzalez, making promises he can't keep

"I think he's just tired. He's played the entire time and his timing and recognition of the strike zone is just a little off." -- Bobby V, trying to sell us that the $154 million superstar needs a day off in May

Oil Caine Boyd

From the Fenway 100 Cutting Room Floor:
Oil Can Used Cocaine Every Day in '86

"I can remember going and locking myself up in the bathroom and smoking some dope right there at the ballpark [in Oakland]. I was afraid that they knew and that the clubhouse manager had smelled it, he was gonna tell on me. So I gotta get rid of it.

"I had it under the bib of my cap, inside the crease inside of the cap. And when I was warming up in the ballgame -- third, fourth inning -- it fell off my head." -- Dennis Boyd to ESPN's Buster Olney in a not-so Can did conversation

ESPN: Oil Can Discussed Drug Use... With Dr. Pappas, Too
The Latest Dennis Boyd Fenway Fantasy Is That He Was
Growing Cocaine in the Outfield Between Starts
Next We'll Hear That Josh Beckett Drank Lone Star and
Ate Popeyes Fried Chicken Every Day in 2011

Dennis Oil Can Boyd - Boston Globe
(Oct. 10, 1986 / Globe File Photo)

Sheee's Baaaack!

Boston Dirt Dogs -- Miss Remembered
(BDD Photo Illustration)

Now Pettitte Says He May Have Misunderstood Clemens

Yankee Doodle Andy Crumbles Under Cross Examination

"I'd say that's fair." -- Andy Pettitte when asked by Clemens' lawyer if it was fair to say it was "50-50" that he misunderstood the conversation with Roger

"Andy Pettitte is my friend. He was my friend before this. He will be my friend after this and again. I think Andy has misheard. I think he misremembers." -- Roger Clemens, after testifying to Congress in February 2008

Felix the Can't
Felix Doubront
(Bill Greene / Globe Staff)

Doubront Can't Handle Triple-A's

Boston 3, Oakland 5 | Sox Offense Fizzles in the Drizzle
For All the Accolades, Dubront Is Carrying a 5.19 ERA
Sox Hitters Make Jarrod Parker Look Like Roy Halladay
Did Papi Sneak Some Rice and Beans Into His Dinner?
Guess God Had Different Plans for 0-drian Gonzalez
Wasn't AG Supposed to Be Some Sort of Superstar?
Will Cherington Trade for Closer Jordan Norberto?
Was Youk's Back This Bad When He Was Single?
More Good News: Crawford Got Paid Yesterday
Bright Side: Rich Not-Over-the-Hill
Noodle-Bat Iglesias to the Rescue

"We're down 5-1. It's very easy to fold, get three quick outs and take it to the house. It's cold weather, nasty weather, but I think it just shows a lot about the team. We came back and we tried to give it a little fight." -- Iron Mike Aviles

Good Old Fashioned A's Kickin'

Punto, McDonald, Aviles
(Jim Rogash / Getty Images)

... Until Buchholz Fell Apart in the Seventh

Boston 11, Oakland 6 | Sox Make It Interesting Against Awful A's
More Good News, Buchholz Stays in Boston, Lowers ERA to 8.69
Breaking: Birth Certificate Reveals David Ortiz Is 26 Years Old
Looks Like the A's Got the Best of that Reddick-Bailey Deal
Was Shoppach Another Mistake in Bobby V's Lineup Card?
It's Mike Aviles's World, We Are Only Taking Up Space In It
The A's Would Have Been Better Off Starting Sam Malone
No-Name Offense Strikes Again: Run DMc, Byrd Fly High
And They Did It With A-Gon and C-Ross Going 0-for-8
Should the Sox Punto and Call Up Middlebrooks Now?
Just Give Pedroia the 2012 Gold Glove Already


MAGUIRE
(BDD / MAGUIRE)

"David�s a star of stars right now. It�s hard to throw a strike by him. He�s using all fields, he�s seeing the ball extremely well. I know it�s the old cliche, but he gets two balls, no strikes, and it doesn�t even bother him to take because he�s very confident in his swing. His swing is as good as I think it can get." -- Bobby V on the Star of David

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

Following feed provided by
Subscribe to Dirt DogsWhat's RSS?

Please e-mail us thoughts, images, attachments here.

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.

Support SHADE!

The SHADE Foundation thanks Red Sox Nation for joining in their fight to save future generations from melanoma.
Hot Stove, Cool Music
Get the CD. Support Paul and Theo Epstein's Foundation to be Named Later.