Mr. AutoMattic

Ace of Diamond is Also an All-Star
Clement's Savage Slider Sticks Bucs

Treasure Hunt Comes Up Empty for Pirates in 8-0 Shutout
Payton a Trophy in Showcase
Nixon Sets the Stage
Big Papi a Triple Threat
Mueller Sneaking Up on People
IronManny Sits Out

"Pretty much everybody associated with the Sox knew Ramírez, plunked just above his left foot by a pitch Saturday night, wouldn't be playing yesterday, even though new NESN analyst Gary DiSarcina, the former Angels shortstop, practically demanded that Ramírez suck it up, strap on a shinguard, and play, the way his former teammate, Chili Davis, used to after getting hit by a pitch... But Francona didn't even bother to wait to see how Ramírez felt yesterday morning; he assumed after taking Ramírez out of Saturday's game that he wouldn't want to play and gave a heads-up to Payton and Olerud that they would be playing." -- Gordon Edes on Manny Tejada

What Was Jay Thinking When He Came Here?

"I could get 200 at-bats or I could get 500 at-bats"
-- 3.2.05 Jay Payton (Boston Globe)

"Payton, who made a show of his displeasure at being a part-timer when he walked to his position when subbing for Ramírez Tuesday night, walked, hit a two-run home run, and singled and scored." -- Gordon Edes on Jay's Gotta Play

Not Your Daddy's Lineup

1 Nixon, RF; 2 Rent, SS; 3 Ortiz, DH; 4 Millar, LF; 5 Olerud, 1B;
6 Tek, C; 7 Playton, CF; 8 Mueller, 3B; 9 Bellhorn, 2B