Frustration at Fenway

Oh My Josh! Beckett Goes After the Buckets
As Cheap Hits Cost Him a Win

Bitter End to a Nice Day:
Millar Helps O's Dump Sox, 5-3; Yanks Romp
That's More Like It, But Papi Can't Do It All
Is Manny Playing Too Shallow in Left Again, Tito?
Gagne Wouldn't Have Made a Difference
But Maybe Jermaine Dye Would Have
Given Some Life to a Soft Sox Offense
More Good News:
Schilling Strong in Third Rehab Start
KG's Going to Break Out the Sox Hats
And Throw Out the First Pitch Tomorrow

Sox Get Gagne

Boston Gets a Closer to Set Up
Are the Sox Set Up for Success?

Gabbard, Murphy, and Beltre Gone
Shaughnessy: A Day to Remember
Extra Bases: Surgery for Donnelly
Sox May Win It All, But Won't Dye Trying
The Buzz: Dye Deal Dead

Who's Getting All the
Buzz in Boston?

Are the Sox Still the Talk of the Town?

The Local Nine Looks Like They're Headed for a Pennant
The Rock-Solid Pats Just Rolled Out the Randy Moss Show
The Bruins Will Have a New Man Behind the Mask
And Now the Celts Are Gonna Get Garnett

Survey: Which Is the Hottest Team Now?

To Dye For

Deal Dye-ing Down
Edes: Price Still Too High for Dye

Is J.D. Drew Through as a Starter?
Will Sox Give Up Delcarmen or Masterson?
Cafardo: Dye Has Tools Sox Need

No Tex for Sox: Braves Set to Acquire Teixeira

Will C's Punch The Big Ticket?

Will the Green Trump the Sox at the Trading Deadline?
Will the Sox Fall to Third Place on the Boston Buzzmeter?
Will the Bruins Try to Land Sidney Crosby Next?

So Lonely ...

... at the Top for the Sox

At 8 Games Back, Yankees Don't Stand So Close to Me
Bombers Need to Send an S.O.S., Because Sox Can't Stand Losing

Dome Sweet Dome

Sorry Yankee Fans, But the Sox Have
Too Much Tampa Left on Their Plate

The Sox Do What They Do Against D-Rays, 7-1
Mr. Automatic: Wake Just Can't Lose at the Trop
A Power-Hitting 1B? Youk Looked Like One Last Night
Not to Be Forgotten: Coco, Belli, and Drew Come Through
The Real Deal: Is This Delcarmen Thing Going to Hold Up?

"They took the lead... We've got the confidence that we're going to come back. When you're on the other side, you don't know if you're going to come back. It's tough. I think those guys, right now, they're just overmatched." -- 7.27.07, Julio Lugo can go home again

Ace Returns to Race: Schilling to Return Aug. 5 or 6
Catching Up with Bryce Florie
El Guapo Blows Save on Bobble-Belly Night

Not What the Doctor Ordered

Dr. Charles's Worst Nightmare Comes True
New England Fans Gather Moss

Patriots Marketing Machine Kicks Into Gear Today
Dice is Nice, But Sox Aren't Really Star Attractions
Quiet Manny's Not Even Being Traded This Year
J.D. Drew Doesn't Exactly Fire Up the Fans
Coco's Getting Dressed in Hallways
Papi Can't Be More Overexposed
And The Team is in Tampa

Two Manny, Too Much

Manny's On, Decks Two; Cleveland Rocked, 14-9

Gabbard's Stock Tumbles Like the Dow
Long Ball: Silent Manny's Homer Was Third Longest at The Jake
Once in a Blue Moon, Four Balls Will Find Wily Mo's Bat
'Tek, Coco, and Lowell Step Up in 17-Hit Attack
Tito's Slow Hook: Tavarez in a Little Too Long
Okajima in the 8th, Lopez in the 9th

"No thank you." -- Manny's response to reporters attempting to get a quote from him for his fans

Schill Toiling in Triple-A; Toledo Tops PawSox

Brady Added to Bunch

Extra Bases: Sox Make a Minor Move
Clark Joins PawSox; Ellsbury on DL

Brady Clark Stats

Now It Gets Interesting:
Bonds* Responds to Schilling, Costas' HBO Comments
NY Times: Chemist Says Sheffield, Bonds* Used Drugs
WEEI Audio: Canseco Rips Schill, A-Rod and Promises
His Next Book, 'Vindicated,' Will Be a Blockbuster
Globe: Canseco Rips Schill

He Can't Take the Heat

It's Another Postgame No Show for Coco as Crisp Gets Dressed in a Hallway and Avoids the Tough Questions

Globe: Duel Doesn't Go Sox Way

“But he [Crisp] slowed down, just steps from the plate. Why? Not sure. Crisp walked away from reporters after the game, choosing to put on his shirt in a hallway. Catcher Victor Martinez, who applied the tag, also didn't stick around in the Indians clubhouse.

" 'I knew I had no play at first base,' Barfield said. 'I was watching Coco all the way. I just made the throw to the plate.'

"And got him. Or not, depending on your viewing of the replay, or which of the 29,614 in attendance you asked. What is clear, though, is that Crisp had enough time to make it home before the tag. What is also clear is that Manny Ramirez was not close to home plate to indicate to Crisp whether to slide. That, though, is not out of the ordinary for Ramirez." -- 7.26.07, Amalie Benjamin, Boston Globe

Johnny Damon Never, Ever, Ever, Ever, Never Hid From Reporters After a Game or
Ducked the Tough Questions for Four Years in Boston.

Sox Burnt to a Crisp

Slowco Stops to Jog While 'Running' Home with Tying Run And Slides a Mile Short of the Plate. Why Ever Slow Down in a 0-1 Game? Why Ever Slow Down When Trying to Score?

“Now for some reason, Coco Crisp is going hard until he comes to within 10 feet then he slows up, now where’s the on deck batter [Manny]?, he’s nowhere to be found… The way Barfield comes up with that, it’s almost like he didn’t expect Crisp to go, and it seemed to take him a while to get rid of that baseball, and Coco would have been safe had he been running hard. … and one more look at Crisp as he’s running hard, now he slows up, and that costs him at home plate, but again there’s nobody there to tell him, well, to run hard and slide.” -- 7.25.07, Jerry Remy, NESN analyst on Coco’s play in the 6th inning

Tito Missed the Boat on the Play of the Game
Manager Doesn't Mention Coco's Run, or Missing Manny

“David hit the ball with the shift, and they’re so deep, and it took that extra hop, and Coco had a chance, if it goes to either side of the plate he’s safe. Victor [Martinez] did a good job blocking the plate, in a game like that you have to take that chance to go ahead see if we can get a run, to tie that game. It just didn’t work. With Jason on first, that’s my fault, I didn’t communicate that very well, I’m gonna have to take that one.” -- 7.25.07, Terry Francona, or is was it really Francoma tonight

Thanks for the Help, Manny

While Coco Stops and Goes Coming Home
On-Deck Manny is Hanging Back By the Dugout

From Bad to Worse: 'Tek Gets Hung Up in No Man's Land
When Cora Takes on the Hit-and-Run in Disastrous 8th
Lugo Gets Thrown Out at Second to End the Inning
Cleveland, Carmona Shut Down Sloppy Sox, 1-0
One Bad Ball from Josh Bleeped-on-NESN-Again Beckett

Red Sox Connecting with Their Cut-off Man
Meet the Simpsonized Sox

El Guapo Shows His Pride

Rich Garces Opens Up On His Time with the Sox, Weighs In On Food and Playing in Nashua, Reveals His Sadness During the '04 Series, and Talks About What It Takes to Make a Comeback in the Can-Am League

The Dirt Dogs El Guapo Chat Transcript

Hi Rich! I was wondering if you paid attention to the Red Sox during the World Series run. You played with a lot of those guys and were only a few years removed from Boston. Did you watch at all, and what were your thoughts?

El Guapo: "I was a little sad because I was there for seven years because I worked hard all those seven years I was there. I deserved something like that. I went through injuries, pulled muscles, hamstring, groin, tendinitis in my arm... I went out there and pitched a couple of times like that... I wanted to be there. I was watching from home and it was so sad because I was not there when it happened."

The Dice is Right

Matsuzaka Gets His Game On, Puts on a Show
Indians Come on Down, But Don't Get a Prize

High Five: Matsuzaka Outduels Sabathia, 1-0
Lowell and Behold: Mike Big Swing Scores Big Run
Getting Defensive: Youk and (gulp) Wily Mo Flash the Leather
Hitting Machine: 14 in a Row for Lugo
It's a Wrap: Oki in the 8th, Cinco Ocho in the 9th

"I'm grateful for the one run that my teammates were able to score against him [C.C. Sabathia]." -- 7.24.07, Daisuke Matsuzaka on his run support

The Real McCoy
Schill Still Won't Play for Yanks
And Can't See A-Rod Coming to Boston

The Goodell, the Bad, and the Ugly

Ookie's in the Doghouse While Waiting for the Big House
NFL Fiasco: Goodell Bans Vick from Training Camp

NBA Nightmare: Stern to Discuss Point Shaving Scandal Today
MLB Misery: Bonds* Still Stuck Behind Aaron; Commish Stays Away
And Barry's Ex-Mistress Will Appear in Playboy
And the NHL ... Would Kill to Have Any of the Above Problems

Les is More

6-2, and Even a Better Night Than
Anyone Could Have Hoped for from Lester

Lesterrific: Jon Goes 6 Strong, Just 2 Runs, 5 Hits, 6 K's
Coco Keeps It Going at His Old Home
Manny Hits in His Old Town, Too
Old Timlin Just Keeps Going, and Going
Lopez Will Make You Forget Pineiro and Romero, Sincerely Theo
Just My Mannys Being Mannys, Sincerely Dan Duquette

"This isn't even about baseball. It just doesn't get any better the way a guy like that comes back to us. It's about family. The big thing is he's a great human being and that makes it an even better story. That wasn't your run-of-the-mill DL stint." -- 7.23.07 Curt Schilling on Lester’s return to form

BRADY IN YANKEE CAP, AGAIN
38Pitches.com: Schill Breaks Down PawSox Outing
(And Will Break His Silence with Bob Costas Tomorrow Night)
WBZ-TV: Ortiz Shows How Much He Can Move His Arm

Back in the Saddle

It's More Than a Game When Lester Returns Tonight
Welcome Back Jon

Shaughnessy: Happy to Deliver Good News

"Lester was 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA when cancer put his life in danger and his talent on the shelf last season. He returns to the big leagues intent on showing he belongs, breaking out of the glass bottle that's been home for 11 months. He takes the ball representing the Red Sox and millions of families who've been touched by cancer.

" 'It's the ultimate human interest story and he deserves good things to happen,' said [Red Sox GM Theo] Epstein.

"Tonight all of us are Red Sox fans." -- 7.23.07, Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Gallery: Lester's Journey
Survey: So Who's the Fifth Starter?
Wilbur: The Right Time
WBZ-TV: Roche Goes 1-on-1 with Lester
Buckley: Lester Makes It Matter

Gonna Fly Now?

Will Homers Be the New Theme from Manny?

BoSox 8 ChiSox 5: All the Right Notes
BoSox 11 ChiSox 2: Big Factors in Romp
Weekend Photos: AL East Leaders Make a Strong Statement

Here We Go, Lugo,
Here We Go ...

Lugo's Going to Beat the Curse of Orlando Cabrera
By Playing Just Like Him!

Sox Rock and Roll on Friday Night, 10-3

They Got It Wrong

Umps Blow Easy Call on Drew Home Run Turned Double

Tito Tossed From Game, 3-0 Lead Taken Away
McClelland Simply Didn't Do His Job, But Offers This ...

"We all know that umpires make mistakes, not many, but they do happen. You have to understand that we have one chance to get it right, and I was calling it from three stories below. With runners on base, we were all looking in different directions." -- 7.20.07, Tim McClelland offering the lamest of excuses on one of the easiest home run calls ever... it's the bounce, stupid. By Gary Brown, Springfield Republican

Mike Port Says Umps Don't Have an Angle Out There?!?
And No Suspension for Tim McClelland, Mr Port?
After Tito Took the Time to Teach Him About the Wall?

"The replay indicated they did not rule correctly, but the replay is from an angle that people on the field don't have." -- 7.20.07, Mike Port, Theo's old boss, who as supervisor of umpires, makes an excellent assistant GM

Breaking News: Lobel Withdraws from RSN Prez Race

"I withdraw. A vote for me is a wasted vote. If elected I will not serve." -- 7.20.07, Bob Lobel to BDD, withdrawing from the Red Sox' Red Sox Nation's presidential race

Don't Worry About the Losing Streak
The Sox Have It All Under Control ...

... The Red Sox Announce New Candidates for
the Team's Red Sox Nation Presidential Election

More Than 100 Fans Toss Hat in the Ring

RSN Prez Election Update: The Red Sox are rolling ... on the election front anyway. “It’s exciting to see that so many fans are immediately declaring their candidacy,” Red Sox President Larry Lucchino said in a statement released today. “We seek those who demonstrate a love of the Red Sox, whether they are celebrities, media members, business leaders, or our heart and soul, the regular fans.”

The team released an updated list of "celebrity fan" nominations today, and it includes: Jerry Remy, Joe Castiglione, Jon Meterparel, Don Orsillo, Peter Gammons, Mike Barnicle, Bill Simmons, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Bob Lobel, Alberto Vasallo, Mike O’Malley, Denis Leary, Amalie Benjamin, Natalie Jacobson, Bill “Spaceman” Lee, Dennis Drinkwater, Butch Hobson, and Sam Horn.

“Regular Fan” nominations include: Rob Crawford – Brookline, Ted Morse - Warren, Conn., Gary Vincent- Fat Face Fenner’s Fishack, Hermosa Beach, Calif., Rick Swanson – “The Fan’s Commissioner,” Jon Sobus – Columbus, Ohio, Eric Schlechte – Boise, Idaho, Ian Baddeley – Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom, Jason Kempen – Kaukauna, WI, David Furbish – Lakeside, Calif., Larry Winer – Lynn, Dave Welsh – North Providence, R.I., Scott Whicker – Shelby, N.C., Nancy Beyer – Orange Park, Fla., Luis Cosenza – Harrisburg, Penn., Laura Schiffer – Brockton, Cathy Mitchell – Sheridan, Wyo., Carole Joyce – Phoenix, Ariz., Jeffrey L. O'Connor – Tulsa, Okla., Kenneth J. Nornhold – Hummelstown, Pa., Joshua Marc Broekstra – Meridien, Conn., David A. Dillavou Sr. – Nashua, N.H., Timothy Walls – Rochester, N.Y., Jared Carrabis – Saugus, Ricky Benedetto – Brooklyn, N.Y., Adam Desautels – North Troy, Vt., Dan LaFleur – Derry, N.H., Brian Polito – New York, N.Y., Ryan McCain – La., Harry Murphy – New Jersey, and Joshua Valk – Texas. Apparently Jessica Biel's application is still being reviewed.

Fans accepting the nomination for president must submit a written or videotaped response to the following questions: A) As President, what would be your first act? B) As President, what would your advice be to John Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino? C) As President, what would your advice be to Commissioner Selig?

Fans may vote online on a date to be announced. According to the team, this initial polling will help narrow the field to 25 finalists. The votes and applications will be reviewed by the Red Sox’ fan services department, whose decision is final.

In addition, a panel of celebrity judges will narrow the list further, after debates, to be followed by the ultimate voting period, which will be open to all fans, whether you purchased a membership or not.

Simmons Rips RemDawg in Podcast

Candidate Bill Simmons responded to Jerry Remy's rant against his platform letter in his podcast today. Transcript courtesy of Dan Lamothe at Red Sox Monster. Bill Simmons today:

"Remy has not been this uspet since the Store 24 in Malden* told him they were not going to be carrying Marlboro Reds anymore."

"You know what, Jerry Remy? Normally, I don't feud with retiring second basemen unless they have a career OPS over .660. In this case, I'm going to make an exception.

"Originally, I had planned to bow out of the race and throw my support behind the great Peter Gammons, who really should be Red Sox Nation president. But screw that. I'm going to stay in the race, I'm going to win the presidency, and you know what my first act's going to be? I'm going to push the Red Sox to ban all smoking in Fenway Park.

"You're screwed, Remy. You're going to be announcing Red Sox games with a two-foot nicotine patch on your right arm, and every time the Sox are putting together a rally, you're going to frantically be chewing seven pieces of Nicorette at the same time. Eventually, you're going to need Jim Rice to carry you out of the press box, like he did after you blew out your knee in '83.

"So, I'm coming for you, Jerry Remy. I'm coming after you and I'm coming after your lungs."

Another One Bites the Dust

The '07 Watered-Down Offense Comes Up Short, Again, 4-2
Too Bad Their Bats Don't Slam the Ball
as Hard as They Slam the Ground Lately

Dustin-Led Offense Ekes Out 11 Hits
But the Runs Are Few and Far Between, Again
Fuzzy Dice: Still Can't Get a Clear Picture of the Pitcher
Will He Figure This Out by Game 2 of the ALDS?
A Cloud of Dust: What's Up with Pedro on the Bases?
The Buck Stops Here: 'Jima Gives Up Another Homah
Don't Jenks Them! Sox Fold Like Cheap Suits in 9th, Again
Frustration Nation: The Fellowship of the Miserable Makes a Comeback
Emergency Session of the Red Sox National Assembly
to Elect the Mayor of the Miserables, ASAP
Will Batting Coach Boras Tell Us What's Wrong with Drew, Too?
The Old Manny Would Have Hit it Out, Right?

"You go through some things -- bad luck, not enough [luck]. They say you make your own luck or breaks, but we're not doing enough to make it better." -- 7.19.07, Terry Francona on the sad state of affairs

RemDawg's Got a Brand New Website
Edes Chat Wrap

Here's to the King

On July 20, 1976, All-Time Home Run King Henry Aaron
Hit Homer No. 755 off the Angels' Dick Drago -- the Final HR of His Career

Let the Campaign Begin: The Nomination Forms for
President of the Red Sox' Red Sox Nation Are In
Platform Statements from: Gammons, Simmons, Crawford, and Brown

Biel for President

Sorry Jetes, But BDD Nominates Jessica Biel
for Red Sox Nation President

Jeter Dater Reveals She Wore Sox Gear Into Yankee Stadium
And That's Good Enough for Us

“I didn’t really understand the rivalry until I went to a game [at Yankee Stadium]…I went to Tufts so… and my friend told me I had to wear Red Sox gear... It was one of the best New York experiences of my life [being a Red Sox fan in Yankee Stadium] and I loved it. I had a hat, I had a Red Sox t-shirt, they knew who I was. It was pretty interesting.” -- 7.19.07, Jessica Biel, Regis and Kelly

Formal RSN Prez Entries to Be Submitted Today on Team Website

Election Updates: On last night's pregame show, Tina Cervasio did a segment with a candidate Larry Lucchino named on Friday, Rob Crawford, who had a guitar and played a little Red Sox rah-rah song. Later in the game broadcast, Remy said he read a bunch of applications yesterday and one caught his eye from, surprise, Rob Crawford (who Rem didn't realize was also on the pregame show). What a coincidence! And Rob apparently came up with the idea to give away four season tickets to those in need. What a great idea and good to know Rob had access to the four season tickets... with a little help from Papa Red Sox. RemDawg also mentioned last night that he does indeed know who Bill Simmons is and that "some thought he was serious" in his rant against the sports guy Tuesday night.

Fan Not Happy with Swanson's 'Pink Hat' Answer

"I have a comment about your most recent interview with Rick Swanson, the would be president of Red Sox Nation. I was irritated by his response to the question about the "Pink Hat Crowd". The pink hat crowd does not (only) apply to women! It refers to the "new" red sox fan who goes to Fenway because the team is doing well and it seems like the trendy thing to do, but really have no interest in the game itself. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENDER!!!!

"I have been a Red Sox fan all my life. I cried at age 9 in 1978, went to game 7 of the ALCS in 1986 with my Dad (a season ticket holder), was crushed 1986 watching game 7 of the World Series with my now husband in college, spent my 10th wedding anniversary watching Jason Varitek stuff his glove into A-rod's face in the Right Field Grandstands in July 2004, cried on the phone with my Dad in October 2004 when they finally won it all and just last night took my 9 and 7 year old DAUGHTERS to their first game. (Yes, they wore pink hats and looked great!) Tell Mr. Swanson that back in the day there were many of us in the stands watching and loving the Sox just like he was, and his attitude about us "ladies" certainly does not represent me or my many female friends and relatives who ARE Red Sox Nation." -- 7.19.07, Tina Connelly, a real member of the real Red Sox Nation

Archives: Simmons Out of Running for Red Sox Prez
The Real Red Sox Nation

The Can't Comeback Kids

Don't Ask, Dotel: Sox Drop Another One to Kansas City, 6-5

It's a Five Inning Game at Fenway
More or Lester? It's Time to Send Tavarez to the 'Pen
Bottom Line: Julian Gets His Butler Kicked Again
Manny's Hits a Big Popi in the 9th to End It
But Hit One Deep, and Played Left Deeper
Another Great Play for Dustin, Lowell? Not So Much
For Real: Yanks Just 6 Back in Loss Column

"I think it's a low point in the season. ... Once again, it's kind of a relief pitcher that's starting." -- 7.18.07, Dennis Eckersley, Extra Innings

He Missed a Homer By a Hair ...

... But Coco's Triple Was Huge

The Fan Who Would Be President

Red Sox Nation Presidential Candidate Rick Swanson
Shares His Plan for Red Sox Fans with BDD

Average Joe Is Ready to Take on the Celebrity Candidates
Wants to Drop Cost of Joining Team's Nation to $1
And Create a Disneyland-Style 'Red Sox World'

Boston Dirt Dogs is conducting a series of interviews with the candidates for president of the team's Red Sox Nation fan group. Today, we conducted an e-mail Q&A with Rick Swanson, who was named as a candidate last week by Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino.

ON RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF RSN

BDD: Rick, as you are not in the public eye like most of the other candidates, would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Swanson: I am 56, married since 1985, wife Diana, sons Casey 19, and Teddy, 16 and Erica 13 today. I am a Physical Education teacher for the Children's Center of Conn. I teach at an alternative school in Stratford, Conn.

I live in Glastonbury, Conn. I was born and raised in New Britain, Conn. I went to Doane College in Crete, NE and graduated in 1972. I played third base on the baseball team in college. I earned my Masters in Special Education at the University of Hartford in 1995.

I played baseball in the Hartford Twilight League from 1971-1974. I presently play softball in a 55 and over league called Vernon Senior Softball League, and I am on the board of directors.

BDD: Why do you want to become the president of Red Sox Nation?

Swanson: Since I went to Fenway Ambassador day in Fenway in 2002, I have wanted to find any position with the Red Sox. That night I was told how the new owners wanted to hear from the fans, and how email was simple to reach anyone in the organization, just by using the first initial, last name, at redsox.com. I have many ideas about baseball, but foremost is my passion to help the Red Sox win the World Series.

BDD: What makes you qualified to be the president of this rabid fanbase?

Swanson: I feel I have the same passion any real Red Sox fan has, but I have been able to reach the leaders, for 5 years now, and they really do listen to my ideas. I know how Red Sox fans think. 99% of fans would never have let Cabrera or Dave Roberts ever leave the team until they retired. They were the reason they won the World Series. I also wrote in May of 2003, "If you get Schilling, it will bring rings to Boston, and make heads roll in NY." Any real fan knows it was Bernie Carbo that was the real hero of game 6 in 1975. I have been lucky enough to have been there at the most crucial times.

Top 10 games I was at:

1. Game 4 2004 ALCS
2. Game 6 1975 WS
3. Game 162 1967
4. Game 6 1986 WS
5. Playoff Game 1978
6. Game 7 2003 ALCS
7. Opening Ring Day 2005
8. Game 4 ALDS 2003
9. Papi at the Bat 6/11/06
10. 8/1/73 Fisk Munson fight on home plate. Write a Red Sox book, get the facts right

BDD: What does the term, "pink hat crowd" mean to you?

Swanson: The young females that are now in the stands. In the old days, it was only fathers and sons that followed the Red Sox. Back then few females had any passion for the Red Sox.

BDD: What kinds of things do you anticipate being able to do as the president if elected? What are your plans?

Swanson: My first goal is to put Pesky back in the Red Sox dugout. I wrote a story that BDD ran in April. If elected I hope to take it to Bud Selig, and get Pesky back where he belongs.

I plan on doing the same thing that I do now. Writing and telling the team what they could do, to get better, and win it all again. I want to be the person that lets the organization know how all the fans feel. If I was president, neither Lugo or Drew would be in Boston, but Cabrera and Roberts would still be here.

I feel I will make an impact on the organization, even if not elected. right now I want them to use a six man rotation. I feel the way they do things in Japan is better than how we do them. I want every starting pitcher to go out there, and expect to pitch a complete game every time out. by changing to a six man rotation this will happen 50 percent of the time. I want all fans to decide right now, who belongs in the rotation Delcarmen or Tavarez? I sent this to Larry {Lucchino] today:

Larry,

Time to cut the cord with Wily Mo. His last at bat was brutal. Even Orsillo said, all the pitcher needs to do is throw a curve ball with 2 strikes, because Wily Mo will swing and miss. He did, and Pena looked lost again. We don't need Sanders, we need Jacoby Beep Beep Ellsbury, the Navajo Roadrunner, back in Boston now. Just release Pena

Don't let Tavarez start tonight. He looks like a deer in headlights. Switch roles with him and Delcarmen. Manny could give you 85 pitches tonight, and next time more. Gabbard Schilling and Delcarmen give us the six man rotation, without Tavarez. When Schilling returns you could start that. Until then put in the hometown kid in the rotation.

I know all of my ideas will not work, but I feel if elected at least they will check out some of the innovative ideas I have come up with. Wouldn't you like to see if CoreControl really worked?

I feel my writing helped them win before as this is what I wrote after game 2 against NY in 2004:

"I'm going to say something now that probably no other Red Sox fan would even say, or even think. I hope they lose game three and fall behind 3 games to zero. Then I want to see the greatest comeback ever in the history of baseball. The 2004 Boston Red Sox will be the first team in baseball history to come back from the grave, and win a 7 game series after losing the first 3 games. Then on top of that they will then go on to win the World Series in four straight, over the Cardinals."

Then I wrote this the morning of game 4. I called it The Sermon on the Mound:

"The Sox are my (Bob) shepherd; I shall not want (more after ending this 1918 chant). He maketh me to lie down in the shadow of the green (monster) pastures: he leadeth me beside the still (muddy) waters. He restoreth my soul, (with confidence to hit and catch the ball): he leadeth me in the paths (of the baselines in spite of the third base coach's poor decisions) for Smoky Joe's name's sake. Yea, though I walk (on four straight pitches) through the valley of the shadow of (a sweeping Yankee) death, I will fear no evil (empire): for thou art with me; thy bat and thy glove they comfort me. Thou preparest a seventh game before me in the presence of mine (NY) enemies: thou anointest my head with (glove) oil; my cap runneth over. Surely goodness and victory shall follow me all the days of these playoffs: and I will dwell in the house of Ted for the World Series."

I met Jeff Goldenberg director of event operations last November. I explained how a Walkstool could eliminate [standing room only] at all games. I demonstrated how this product could help ushers and security. I explained how a platform added to the [standing room only] section of State Street Pavilion could add 200 tickets to each game.

ON TICKETS AND FENWAY PARK

BDD: How often do you get to Fenway Park to see a game?

Swanson: Since 1957 I have gone to between 3 to 10 games a year, every year, except the strike year of 1994

BDD: How do you get your tickets to games?

I never bought tickets in advance. Up until 2003, I just went to any game, and always got in. In 1967 at a doubleheader with Minnesota, (this was the largest crowd ever in Fenway listed 35,469, but there were over 40,000 that night), between games my father said, "lets get tickets for the last game of the year, maybe it will mean something." We sat in section one row 5 on the last game of the year. He made me wear a suit with a red tie to the game. I said it would be different that day. Then I went with him to 3 World Series games, (he let me skip school) and we never had tickets. For game 7 it was Columbus Day, and Jersey Street was filled with people trying to get in. It was five of one, and we did not have any tickets. A man said to my father, 2 bleachers $50. My dad said $40, and he took it. Then another said to my father, who now had the tickets, I will give you $75, another said $150, then someone said $200. I got nervous that he was going to sell. I said "Dad, it is game 7 of the World Series, the Red Sox will never get here again in our lifetime, lets go to the game, forget money." We ran around to the bleachers, and entered the park when the Anthem finished.

In 2002 I went to a game about a month after I contacted Charles Steinberg for the first time. Looking for tickets, the price was high for me, and my two sons, and son's friend, Jon. I found 2 SRO, and the guy sold them for $30 instead of $36, so I was up. I decided to knock on the glass for the offices at 4 Yawkey Way. I told the attendant that I was communicating with the VP of the team, and wanted to know if I could get 2 tickets now. He let me go to the office on the second floor, the receptionist, offered me soda and a snack, I asked if Charles could find 2 SRO tickets for me. She came back and said he did not have any SRO but I could buy 2 grandstand, directly behind home plate. I was thrilled and for $88 more all 4 of us were in. The seats next to us were empty, and we sat together for a memorable game. I took my mini cam to the game and took footage of one of the most memorable games of the year, Terrence Long running over 100 feet in 5.65 seconds. Here it is. Including replay, as our tickets had a TV right in front of us. If you listen to the audio you can hear Jon's reaction when Boston lost. Ever since then, the leaders of the team have read my thoughts on how to help the team, this new ownership has let me go to practically any game I want. I try not to abuse this privilege, and only ask for about 5 games a year. I was once told, "If you feel like you need to be there, let me know, and you will."

BDD: Do you think Fenway is filled with the most passionate Red Sox fans, or is it filled mostly with people who can afford to be seen at the Fenway scene every night?

Swanson: I usually have SRO tickets, and those have always been the true passionate fans.

BDD: Are the Red Sox doing all they can to protect fans on the streets outside Fenway and wiping the scalpers out of the area on a nightly basis?

Swanson: It is better now than in the past. Most of it is done on the internet now anyway.

BDD: Do you think the ticketing system is fair?

Swanson: I think they are doing their best with only 36,000 for each game.

BDD: How do you feel about the massive number of Red Sox tickets that are available only through online ticket brokers and dangerous street scalpers?

Swanson: I think this ownership has tried to stop scalping. I can't understand why they let stub hub be a sponsor though. The last time I did not have tickets I stood in line on Lansdowne Street, and made it into the park, because they save tickets for the day of the game.

BDD: According to Team Marketing Report's Fan Cost Index, which compiles the cost for a family of four to attend professional sports events (two average adult tickets, two average child tickets, two small beers, four small soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking, two programs, and two baseball caps), the Sox were the most expensive take in the major leagues at $313.83. Should the Red Sox be working harder to make a night at Fenway more affordable for working families?

Swanson: I never pay to park, and get SRO tickets. I don't think it costs too much.

BDD: Are you in favor of a new Fenway, or building a new park?

Swanson: Never.

BDD: How do you feel about all the advertising at Fenway Park?

Swanson: I liked it better when the green monster was just green, and only Tom Yawkey and his wife used Morse code as the only other sign.

BDD: Do Fenway vendors scream too loudly in fans' ears when walking the stands at Fenway, interfering with the enjoyment of the game?

Swanson: In SRO sections they don't scream as loud.

BDD: At the end of the day, are Green Monster seats just high-priced obstructed view bleacher seats?

Swanson: I feel I was the first to think of putting those seats there. In 1999 I wrote to Ted Williams and said that they should put bleachers on top of the wall, instead of having a screen there. Ted had his secretary Mary Duhly Xerox my email and mail it in a letter to the then leaders of the team.

BDD: Have you ever waved into a camera while being on a cell phone at Fenway?

Swanson: No. This year a friend said ESPN zoomed in on me using my camera to take my own footage of a game. It was the night they wore green, and beat NY 7-6. He told me the announcer said: "Look at that fan with the grin on his face, soaking in every moment and memory of this game."

BDD: What should happen to front row fans who reach onto the field of play at Fenway?

Swanson: I have written many letters telling Boston to stop this from happening. I want ushers to wear shirts that say "Keep your hands in the stands" I want signs on top of the wall from canvas alley to the bullpen.

BDD: Do you think foul balls grabbed by the ball boys and girls should be handed to kids in the front row seats? Or should the Sox have an usher take the balls up to the kids in the cheap seats between innings?

Swanson: Bringing them up to cheap seats would be a good idea.

Shallow Grave

Manny's Starting to Kill the Red Sox By Creeping Up Too Much in Left. Why Won't Tito Tell Him Where to Go?

"Regardless of what the numbers show, if you try to force somebody into playing where they are not comfortable, they are not going to make plays. You can look at depths all you want, and we spend a lot of time not just [on left field]. Every position. But if a guy is out of his comfort zone, he is not going to make the plays. You can push somebody back all you want, but if their first thought is 'in,' that's not going to work." -- 7.17.07, Terry Francona on where Manny decides to play in the field

Sox Go Down with a Wimper, 9-3
7-Eleven: KC Beats Sox for 7th Time in 11 Games
Five in 7th: The Bad Wake Had a Terrible Night
It's Offensive: Nunez, Another Unknown, Shuts Down Boston's Soft Bats
No Man's Land: Pedroia Destroys Red Sox Rally in 7th
Enough is Enough Theo? 21 K's in Last 41 at-bats for Wily Mo
Lopez, Pineiro Put the Game Out of Reach
Bright Spot: Lugo Is Getting His Average Up

"We're not firing on all cylinders right now." -- 7.17.07, Wake states the obvious

They're Baaaaaack ...

They Make a Fortune and They've Been
Playing .500 Baseball Since June 1

RemDawg: Simmons Out of Running for RSN Prez

Interim Acting President of Lucchino's Red Sox Nation Tosses
Sports Guy's Application in Official Trash Can

NESN's Red Sox analyst and interim acting president of the team's Red Sox Nation, Jerry Remy: We’ve got all kinds of people coming out of the woodwork who want to be permanent president (of Red Sox Nation)… some of this stuff is unbelievable… these people have been writing in, we’ve had these candidates, and they’re writing in why they should be president… there’s one that really kind of irked me a little bit. Who the heck is Bill Simmons? The sports guy he calls himself. I briefly went through his ‘why he should be president’ thing… he’s always wanted to be a president… that’s No. 1, of something. He said ‘I’ve always wanted to be the president of something.'

Red Sox play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo: You’re not buying it?

Remy (shrugs): Everybody does… and he says ‘I really don’t care what it is.’ So does that mean he’s serious about this job? No. Right away he’s telling you he just wants to be a president of something, he doesn’t care what it is, anything. So be president of your trash can. OK?

And it gets worse. Second, ‘I think I can get free tickets out of this.’

Orsillo: So you’re questioning his motivation also.

Remy: He rips Mike O’Malley. Mike O’Malley just did the picnic in the park thing, for charity. He’s been subjected to seven years of Yes, Dear. In other words, he wants no part of Mike O’Malley.

Orsillo: Yes Dear’s a good show.

Remy: This guy’s running for president. This sports guy he calls himself.

Orsillo: And he’s ripping other people on the way.

Remy: And here’s the one that that bugs me. I’m not going to mention what he says about me, but he says … in other words, if he’s elected, you would never have to worry about his health. He would be able to serve out his tenure. In other words, he’s saying that physically …

Orsillo: You’re day-to-day and could die anytime?

Remy: Well who couldn’t. Everybody’s day-to-day. That really ticked me off when I read that. He’s got a lot of foolish stuff on here that just makes no sense, so Bill Simmons, the sports guy, see this:

Remy: Buh-bye … what did Coco do?

Orsillo: He struck out. He’s the second strikeout for Leo Nunez.

Remy: OK. That’s enough for one night but I’m telling you, some of this stuff is unbelievable. This Simmons goes right to the trash. The sports guy he calls himself. He wants free tickets. And he’s ripping my health. And he’s ripping Mike O’Malley of all people.

Orsillo: Yes. Obviously he has not seen you, because you’re in fantastic shape …

Remy: I don’t see him at the gym every morning. Plus I wouldn’t know him anyway if I saw him. So Simmons, your application has just been torn up and thrown in our official trash can here in the booth.

Orsillo: We have some ice cream; we have half a cookie… Who ate half this cookie? This is still a good cookie.

Remy: You know this in tongue in cheek, but this is for real. Don’t be writing in and saying you want to be president because I always wanted to be president of something. You want to be president of one of the greatest nations in the world, Red Sox Nation, you have to represent the people. He’s talking about getting free tickets. He’s ripping Mike O’Malley. He’s ripping my health. I mean, c’mon. The sports guy. There’s a lot of sports guys out there, right? Your campaign is officially over. Now he’ll rip… what does he write for again?

Orsillo: I think ESPN.

Remy: He’s gonna rip my brains out tomorrow, probably (laughing). That’s all right. He’s a good guy… He’s got no chance of being president. … See how people eliminate themselves. That’s why you don’t jump into a race too soon. People just eliminate themselves by what they do.

Orsillo: It’s a little early to be part of the smear campaign, right out of the chute…

Checking in with Curt ...

Sox Make Hay
While Kason Shines

Another Gift of Gabbard: Ka-fax, Sox Blank Royals 4-0

In Good Time: At 2:18, Gabbard and Fast Rules
Bannister's Slide: Dustin, Manny, and David Go Deep
A Healthy Cut: Dustin Drills One Over the Wall
Another False Start? Manny Goes Over and Out, Too
No Excuses: Papi Puts Up a Two-Run Tall One
Kason Point: Gabbard's Got to Stay in Schilling's Rotation
Julian Will Do Just Fine

Survey Gallery: Sox Going Shopping?
Ask Edes: Spinning Their Wheels

The Cure to Boston's Run Scoring Woes ...

... Might Not Be Here Til Next Year

NY Daily News: 'Lucchino Has Never Stopped Wanting A-Rod'
Danny Picard: It's Still Alive

"A-Rod had no choice. So he went to New York, but he wanted to go to Boston.

"Come November, things will be different. There will no longer be just a 72-hour window to work out a deal. No third party can interfere with Rodriguez playing where he originally wanted: Shortstop at Fenway Park." -- 7.16.07, Danny Picard's blog, 'I'm Just Saying'

Don't Look Now ...

But After Toronto Turned Boston to Splitsville
the Sox' Lead in the AL East Is in Single Digits
For the First Time Since June 19

July 16 American League East Standings East W L PCT GB Boston 55 36 .604 --- Yankees 45 44 .506 9 Toronto 45 46 .495 10 Baltimore 41 50 .451 14 Tampa Bay 35 56 .385 20

The Real Red Sox Nation ...

... Doesn't Have a President
And Was Around Long Before Henry, Werner, and Lucchino Rolled Into Town with Money-Making Ideas

The Red Sox, Inc., Nominate Celebrities
to Be President of Larry Lucchino's Nation
And They Want $14.95 for Your Nominations, Seriously.

"Already, such personalities as Joe Castiglione, Hazel Mae, and Sam Horn have accepted the nomination of fans. In addition, such media members as Mike Barnicle, Peter Gammons, and Bill Simmons have joined the race. Boston business leaders Dennis Drinkwater and Cindy Brown have accepted nominations, as has renowned author Doris Kearns Goodwin. Two of the Red Sox' more ardent 'average fans,' Rob 'Just A Regular Rob' Crawford and Rick Swanson, 'The Fan's Commissioner,' have tossed their hats in the ring...

"All fans worldwide will be able to vote, predominantly on line, at no charge. Accommodations will be made for those fans who do not use computers. Fans can nominate themselves or can nominate others by paying a $14.95 fee, which makes the nominee a Citizen of Red Sox Nation, the club's on-line fan community." -- 7.13.07, Red Sox Friday Press Release

... It Took the Sox 6 Months To Figure This Out
The Real Red Sox Nation: For Fans Only ...
Sox Fan's Words Led to Birth of Nation

"My secret was so little known that I didn't know it myself. It took Globe sportswriter Dan Shaughnessy, a cottage industry when it comes to Soxabilia, to break the news in his newest book, 'Reversing the Curse.' (You can look it up: Page 70.) And it took the local Web fanzine Boston Dirt Dogs to also report it five months ago.

"Since no one should ever doubt the veracity of a journalist or the World Wide Web, the story must be true: I coined the term 'Red Sox Nation.' It was not Shaughnessy, who is often credited with concocting the name but voluntarily revealed otherwise. And it certainly was not the Red Sox, who charge folks $9.95 to join a slice of promotional pie called 'Red Sox Nation.' Not incidentally, Boston Dirt Dogs reported in its April story that Major League Baseball had exerted enough pressure on a tiny website called RedSoxNation.com to kill it. Yet the URL lives on: Try clicking your way to RedSoxNation.com now and you'll automatically arrive at the official Red Sox website. Surprise." -- 9.26.05, Nathan Cobb, Boston Globe

Oh Baby! Danny Sees Video, Has Sense of Humor
More LA Actors Producing: Remy and Orsillo Parodied
Gammons: Silliness Over Selig Being at 756

Off and Running

Papi, Manny, and Lugo Make the Most of a Fresh Start
Sox Jump All Over Halladay, Jays, 7-4

The Bottom Line: Wake Has Won Five of Last Six Starts
Another Bad Halladay: Roy Was Rotten Again
Arm and Hammer: Manny Picks It Up on Both Sides of the Ball
Warning Track Papi: No Homer, But David Drilled the Ball
His Positive Attitude Is Starting to Pay Off:
Lugo Gets Over the Mendoza Line, Now Hitting .201
But Mirabelli Takes the Miserable Mantle at .182
Brand New Manny: Delcarmen Holds On Tight
Cinco Ocho Turns 21

Are the Sox Sending Schill a Message Through Peter Gammons?
Curt Thinks So. And It Bothers Him. Today's Interview on WEEI
Gammons Responds to Schill Comments on ESPN-890:
'He Always Has to Throw Mud When Someone Raises a Question'
BDD E-Mail Q&A: Schilling Tells All
BDD Presents: The El Guapo Experience

Is Papi Getting Too Big?

Does Papi Have Too Much on His Plate?
Does His Knee Need All Those Commitments?

He Stepped Up for Charities, 'Wrote' a Book with Tony Massarotti, Starred in Ads for Nokona Bats, Vitamin Water, ESPN's Sports Center, D'Angelo Sandwich Shops, and Introduced a New Shoe for Reebok ... Had a Plane ...
So Is All That Weighing on David? And Dragging Down His Power Numbers?

Where in the World Was Dice-K Yesterday?

Pittsfield. Where Else?

Matsuzaka Looks at City's Baseball Documents from 1791

"Having expressed an interest in seeing America's earliest known official reference to his profession, Matsuzaka's handlers made arrangements to have Mayor James M. Ruberto show the 1791 document located in the Herman Melville Room at the Berkshire Athenaeum yesterday afternoon.

"By the time he arrived at the Athenaeum's main entrance shortly after 3 p.m., about 30 people had gathered to catch a glimpse of the baseball phenomenon. Matsuzaka — donning a low-drawn ball cap, a T-shirt and shorts — was escorted into the building by two Pittsfield police officers. Three friends, his wife and infant son accompanied the 26-year-old Tokyo native on the visit.

"Matsuzaka, whose English is limited, seemed interested in the original hand-written ordinance and the original book page containing the minutes that were hand-written during the annual town meeting in Pittsfield in September 1791.

"The Pittsfield ordinance — banning the playing of baseball, cricket or any other games using a ball within 80 yards of the town meeting place — also seemed of interest to his wife.

"Ruberto showed Matsuzaka the documents, explained their importance, and then presented him with gifts — two baseball caps with the 1791 date on them, two red T-shirts meant to be worn during the human baseball event Saturday at Wahconah Park, a set of the Art of the Game baseball cards and a replica of the historic document."

Matsuzaka seemed happy with the gifts." -- 7.11.07, Scott Stafford, Berkshire Eagle

Second-Half Thoughts

10 Questions Going Forward

Meanwhile, Down on Causeway Street ...

All-Star Wrap: Beckett Wins, Lowell Singles,
Sox Get Home-Field Advantage in Series

On the Road Again

Shea 'Bagwell' Hillenbrand Gets Released

Seems Like Yesterday He Was Traded to Arizona,
Joined the Blue Jays, Giants, and Angels

Future 3, 4 Hitters in Boston?

Manny Jr. and Son of Papi Play on the Field in San Francisco
Galleries: Sox and Sons | Sox Stars

"...my arm has not hurt all year, not in any significant way anyway, but up until about 5 days
ago it has not felt right for any period of time this year." -- Curt Schilling

Curt Speaks His Mind in an Afternoon E-mail Exchange Covering Everything from His Rehab and Weight Gain to Fenway Fans, Julio Lugo, and Peter Gammons

In an e-mail Q&A with Boston Dirt Dogs this afternoon, pitcher Curt Schilling sounded off on a number of different topics, including his rehab progress, mistakes of the past offseason, accusations of cheap shots, Fenway fans, Julio Lugo’s treatment, his blog, and who would win a Red Sox hot dog eating contest.

BDD: Curt, if you don't see marked improvement on the mound upon your return in the second half, would you consider retiring at the end of this season?

Schill: The long and short is that I've already seen significant change and improvement, so I am not even looking in that direction.

BDD: Curt, you wrote in your latest blog entry, "It's going to be longer than I had hoped," regarding getting back on the mound at Fenway. Is the longer-than-anticipated return due to any setbacks in the rehab? Any rehab goals not being met? Or was it the medical staff's decision?

Schill: Every goal the staff has set we've met or exceeded. The rehab, with less input from me than I probably would like, is being completely controlled by Dr. [Thomas] Gill, Paul Lessard, Mike Reinholt and John Farrell.

BDD: If you had to pinpoint a date, when can Red Sox fans expect you back on the mound?

Schill: Nice try.

BDD: Peter Gammons made the following comments on July 5 about your impending return to action in a radio interview with Michael Kay: "They're [Red Sox] now saying first week of August, at the earliest [for Schilling's return to the rotation] and his arm has not come around with the rest."

Schill: That's not true, or right.

BDD: More from Gammons: "It may be that the winter of not working out and getting heavy has maybe put just [Schilling] on the periphery of becoming a very average pitcher. Now it could also be that he gets two months rest, goes into September, and comes back and is strong, but, they're very concerned about Curt Schilling at this point."

Schill: Would love to deny all of that first line but I can't. There is no question I showed up to camp heavier than I wanted to or should have. There is and was no excuse but 'not working out and getting heavy' is a lie. I was with our strength coach 4-5 days a week once I started my throwing program. I made some critical mistakes this winter in many places and one of them was allotting time properly. There were many significant non-baseball real life issues that came about 4-6 weeks before camp opened. I NEVER skipped a throwing day, never, but I didn't do some things I probably should have.

As I stated earlier one of the things I've always had was my arm strength. Things have changed and the natural progression of arm strength through my throwing program changed this past year. Doing what "I'd always done" when it comes to throwing didn't work this winter and I am where I am as a result of that. Thankfully Dr Gill and the staff have implemented some programs that are having significant impact on all things concerning my arm and it's being addressed. If I could go back and change the events I would, I can't, but it was not as Peter says 'from not working out'.

BDD: Kay then inferred that you took a cheap shot at Theo Epstein when you made the "people who haven't played the game" comment a couple of weeks ago. Gammons was asked about it and about your thinking you'd be back sooner rather than later.

Schill: There was no cheap shot. When have I ever taken a cheap shot? I have said dumb things and things that didn't need to be said, but I don't do the cheap shots. I spoke with Theo the next morning and made it clear to him that it was not directed at him personally. I have more respect for him, and our front office, than that.

At that point I'd heard "Maybe this is a good thing…yadda yadda" about 45 times, and I was less than happy hearing it. I don't think like that and people that do tend to annoy me. I am being paid to do one thing, win games, and being on the DL, for reasons mostly of my own doing, can in no way be construed by me, no matter how you look at it, as a good thing. I think the comment was aimed more at the people standing at my locker than anyone. Being on the DL sucks, and having played with people that have no problems being on the DL, you want to make sure the people you are rehabbing with and your teammates know that the DL is the last place on the planet you want to be.

BDD: More from Gammons -- "I think [Schilling] thought that [he was ready to pitch], then came back and tried to throw this week and found out that he couldn't."

Schill: Again, that's just wrong and not true.

BDD: Gammons also said ... "Curt takes a lot of shots at a lot of people, it's unfortunate. He's taken shots at doctors. And I'm sure he's frustrated but there's no question that the team was irate with the fact that he never worked out in the offseason."

Schill: My 'shots' are opinions and the funny thing is, if people in Peter's line of work didn't ask the questions, they'd have no answers or 'shots'. That doesn't excuse the things I've said in the past which have been wrong, misinformed or hurtful. I've done that and had to rightfully take the heat I deserved in many cases. I'm no different than anyone else in that regard, except that my opinions or shots seem to matter a lot more than they should to many people. I showed up at spring training at 251 [pounds], the day I went on the DL I was at 236. I'm hovering right at 235 now, which is as light as I would ever want to be during the season, but the weight issue was handled quickly in Florida. That's still no excuse for showing up at the weight I did and I don't have one except as I stated above. I don't have a problem with people if they want to question me or my desire, commitment when I've done something that warrants it, and in some respects this is exactly what happened. Having said that, my arm has not hurt all year, not in any significant way anyway, but up until about 5 days ago it has not felt right for any period of time this year.

BDD: One more quote from Gammons -- "I mean he wanted a $13 million extension and didn't work out ... That has really impacted the way the team feels about Curt Schilling at this point. ... They way they took it, they felt that he was saying 'you know what, my video game business is far more important than winning the World Series.'"

Schill: In my opinion this is Peter conveying a message to me from someone that didn't want to say it to me directly. That or taking a huge stab in the dark, which he does quite often.

BDD: Are you still speaking with the Red Sox regarding a new contract? Does the break from playing allow you more time to focus on the topic? Or have you put this on the back burner until the offseason?

Schill: No. I honestly haven't thought of it once this year until it was brought up in conversation or interviews. I said what I said and meant what I said. If there is interest in me coming back after the seasons over then they'll let me know.

BDD: When is the last time you spoke with Theo, and what did you talk about? Have you spoken to John Henry recently? How about Larry Lucchino, do you two have a relationship? Do you IM Tom Werner?

Schill: [I spoke with Theo on the] last day of the homestand and we were talking about some of the young kids that have been up and down this year as well as [Mark] Buehrle's situation. I spoke to Mr. Henry last week. I spoke to Mr. Lucchino yesterday. I have IM'd with Mr. Werner a few times this year when he was back on the West Coast.

BDD: Do you think the additional commitments of charity endeavors, commercials, shoe launches, etc. have contributed to David Ortiz's power numbers being a bit off this season? Or is that a reach?

Schill: Absolutely not. People sometimes forget that this is the -- major leagues -- and it's not easy. David, up until about a week ago was hitting close to .325 and slugging near the top of the league as well. He's been pitched a lot tougher this year as well. He's as committed and focused as he's every been.

BDD: Manny Ramirez seems to be a happy camper this season, any guesses why he hasn't been able to get on a consistent run yet?

Schill: See above. Manny is no different, working his ass off everyday in the cage, lifting too. Manny has been horribly unlucky this year as well. He could have had 3-4 home runs in the first few series this year. He hit a ton of balls to the wall in a few parks and he's had more o'fers with nothing but line drives than anyone I've played with since Gregg Jefferies.

BDD: Both clubhouse newcomer Julio Lugo and second-year center fielder Coco Crisp have gone through struggles at the plate this season. Lugo has been primarily upbeat while Coco has gone through some periods of being slightly reclusive. How has each guy handled the struggles, and the pressures of playing in Boston? Do you think the fans have been rough on these guys?

Schill: They have both been good. Both of them are working as hard as you can work to get right and be good. I think the adjustment to Boston is a hard one but I think both of them have made strides and I think Coco is back to being the guy we saw the first week of last year as well.

BDD: Last Monday against the Rangers, the fans at Fenway were chanting, "Let's go, Lugo," when the struggling shortstop stepped to the plate. Were the players on the bench surprised that, in lieu of boos, the fans were actually getting behind a struggling player?

Schill: That was huge, we all noticed and I know he had to. That's the first time I've seen someone get the complete opposite reaction than we were all expecting and a lot of us remarked how awesome it was that the fans reacted that way, it blew us away.

BDD: Do you think the fans at Fenway are still as tough as the fans in Philly? Or do you think $200 seats, the 10-game lead, and/or '04 Series win under the belt, has softened the fan base a bit? Are we, gulp, glorified Cardinals fans now?

Schill: There is no comparison in the fan bases. The fans in Philly have had to endure decades of ineptitude and poor management. They want to believe but have been screwed so often by so many that they became worse than jaded, they became apathetic. Late in the '90s there was minimal interest in the Phillies and it was a tough place to play. The die hards there are incredible fans. The 1993 season is what that city truly can be if they can get going again and that was an incredible experience.

BDD: You changed your mind about retiring after this season, any chance you could change your mind on any of the following once you do retire?

A run for U.S. Senate or other political office?

Schill: Probably not.

BDD: What about a stint in the media, NESN analyst, a la Dennis Eckersley, Baseball Tonight commentator, etc.

Schill: Absolutely zero chance of this ever happening, less than zero actually.

BDD: Would you be interested in a Gabe Kapler run up the Red Sox managerial ladder, or pitching coach?

Schill: No. It takes more time to be a great coach than it does a great player. The time needed to be great at coaching is truly overwhelming. These guys put in 14-16-hour days, every day at the park.

BDD: Would you consider packing up shop in Medfield and move back to Arizona?

Schill: No

Schill: If you were the Sox GM, what player would you work feverishly to sign to a new contract extension over the All-Star break: Mike Lowell or Curt Schilling?

Schill: Mike Lowell. I am signing a one-year extension, no more, so I'd be much more inclined to take care of someone that's an everyday player and will be looking, most likely, for more than a one-year deal.

BDD: Curt, you wrote in your latest blog entry, "I do, for better or worse, write this all myself. Though a few times I have wished someone else could have fallen on the sword…" Which 38Pitches.com entry would you do over and why?

-- Your slightly early announcement on Papelbon going back to the 'pen in March?

Schill: This was an absolute and total mistake on my part. The spring training schedule is such that starting pitchers have a goofy schedule and aren't always around the team when it travels or plays night games, I absolutely thought everyone knew about it when I heard the news that morning.

-- The Gary Thorne bloody-sock comment response in April?

Schill: Wouldn't change anything.

-- The Bonds* apology?

Schill: No, I wouldn't change this. I was sorry I said what I said. Regardless of what I think I had no right to say the things I did and drag people into the situation that didn't deserve it. No one has that right.

Can't Take the Heat

Detroit Breakdown, Motor City Sweeptown
Daisuke Medioka Gets Knocked Three Times by Tigers

When the Going Gets Tough, It's Another Tough Defeat, 6-5
Second Half Harbinger? Sox Have Dropped 8 of 13
Irony Manny: Run-of-the-Mill Ramirez Heading to All-Star Game,
But the Slumping Slugger Has No Business Being There This Time
Wily Mo Waivers? He's Having a Bronson Arroyo-Type Season
Would Fewer Commercials Mean More Homers for Big Papi?
J.D. Disappointment: $14M for 33 RBIs at the Break
Something to Build On? Lugo Goes 3-For-3 with Walk
Developing... Reports Persist Timlin Still Alive
Will You Come Home Jeff Bailey?

"Of course there were a few hits that their hitters made some good contact on, but overall I felt that I left a lot of my pitches in soft locations." -- 7.8.07, Dice-K on his soft Sunday

Make the Grade: Red Sox Midseason Report Card

All-Star Update: Beckett Not Starting, Papi Bats Third
Future Stars: Ellsbury, Buchholz Showcased
Gammons: Buchholz to Boston in 6 Weeks?
New at 38Pitches.com: Curt Chimes In on Rehab, and Gets to Some Q&A
WBZ-TV: Paps Ready to Make 'Cinco Ocho' Official

Panic in Detroit?

Tavarez Is in a Tailspin
Tigers Rip Revamped, Overmatched Sox, 9-2

No. 5 Alarm Fire Starter: Tavarez Gets Exposed Again
Miller Time: Sox Look Lost Against Another Lefty
The Numbers Will Be There at the End, But ...
Another Game Goes By Where Manny Doesn't Deliver
Jeff Bailey Era Not Starting Well

"This was my worst outing." -- 7.6.07, Julian Tavarez, who looks like he's hit a wall and has run out of gas

Extra Bases: Bailey Called Up
Ask Edes: Long Road for Lugo

Quiet Riot

Streaking Sox Blow Away Hapless Rays in 15-4 Laugher

Coco's Slam Leads the Way to Romp, Sweep
Star Power: High-5 Lowell, Papi, Manny Lead the Hit Parade
All-Starter? Beckett Starting Tuesday Should Be a Lock for Leyland
Jacoby Being Jacoby: The Spotless Kid's Hitting .375
Slow Going: D-Rays Drag Out Seven Pitchers in Taking Beating
Shhhh, the Cheers are Working: Lugo's Up to .192
Game Photos

Is It October, Yet?

So Much for the Pennant Race This Season

No Surprise: Okajima Wins Star Slot
Sorry Tiger Fans, But the Wired Nation Would Have
Put Lugo On the Team Before Bondo

Eric Wilbur: Falling Stars | Campaign Fun

It's 'Jima Time

Bye Bye Bondo.
Red Sox Nation Is the All-Time, Undefeated
World Champion of the Final Vote.
Sincerely, Johnny Damon and Jason Varitek

All-Star Final Spot:
Vote Oki and Often Until 6

Sixth Sense ...

... Oki Should Pack His Bags for San Francisco

Where, Oh Where, Are Those Devil Dogs?

It’s already July. We’re looking at the All-Star Break in just over a week. Interleague play is history, as are the first 81 games of the season. Major League Baseball’s schedulers have pitted the Red Sox against the Yankees a dozen times and have only seven remaining dates to sprinkle over the next three months. Yet, not a single pitch has been thrown to -- much less at -- a Tampa Bay Devil Ray.

Of baseball’s 61 intra-divisional matchups, only Boston and Tampa Bay have yet to play a series this season. Not that anyone should complain. The Devil Rays may well be the least compelling gate on the Boston sports scene. They’re even a rung below the Milwaukee Bucks, who made a valiant effort to outmaneuver the Celtics for the NBA’s second-worst record during their last trip to TD Banknorth Garden in April. At least the Bucks come to town only twice a year, and the few extra ping-pong balls always at stake are better theater than watching Boston batters hypnotized by Casey Fossum’s fastballs. Not to mention, the ping-pong balls move a lot faster.

As puzzling as our wait for this reunion of old AL East friends may seem, you can imagine how it is to a former schedule maker.

“It’s not unprecedented to have a first [divisional] series show up in June sometime,” acknowledges Henry Stephenson, who, along with wife Holly drew up Major League Baseball’s schedules from their Martha’s Vineyard home for 24 seasons before losing their jobs in 2005. “So it will be July. That’s a little late.”

With the Red Sox and Yankees playing 18 and 14 games, respectively, against Tampa Bay from here out, Stephenson’s successors have given the last-place Rays a magnified prominence in the American League East race on par with New Hampshire’s role in deciding the Democratic nomination.

“As far as we were concerned,” the displaced Stephenson recalls, “the objective was to keep it as smoothly distributed across the board as possible because you can never really anticipate what matchup is going to make a difference. When they don’t come out smoothly, people notice.”

Of course, Major League Baseball must cater to a variety of external considerations that make such a smooth distribution impossible.

“There are special requests that teams make, so we’ll start pushing series around a bit,” explains Katy Feeney, MLB’s senior vice president of scheduling. “It may not even be a Boston or a Tampa Bay request. It could be another team’s request that has a domino effect throughout the schedule.

“The ideal is that, within your division, you play an early, mid, and late series [home and away] but you sometimes bump into stadium unavailability, you bump into the interleague play period. Some things just get squeezed. It’s not a Boston-Tampa Bay issue. It impacts everybody.”

Most teams would probably salivate at the thought of 18 dates with the Devil Dogs. They are baseball’s traveling apothecary, dispensing an elixir of life from the back of their horse-drawn cart in cities across the American League. A three-game series against this pitching staff that has a five-plus ERA will cure a slumping lineup faster than a bottle of Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root.

Well, Tito and Company, you better check the expiration date on your bottle because these are not the Yankees’ Devil Rays.

Last year, the Sox eked out a 10-9 series edge over the Rays while the Bronxmen took 13 of 18. For Boston, every win was a struggle. In a Tim Wakefield start last May, Willie Harris cut down the potential tying run at the plate for the game’s final out, preserving what had been a 5-0 lead to start the ninth. At the conclusion of interleague play in July, the then 50-29 Red Sox dropped three straight in Tampa Bay that started a 36-47 closeout of the 2006 dream.

Devil Ray starters Scott Kazmir, Fossum, and Tim Corcoran combined for a 7-1 record and a 1.70 ERA in 10 starts against the Red Sox in 2006. The trio posted a 14-22 mark and 4.80 ERA against all other clubs, including 1-4 with a 6.67 ERA against the Yankees.

Kazmir will open this week’s series in Boston, but Corcoran is on the 15-day disabled list and the threshold of designation for assignment. As for Fossum, he’s been relegated to the bullpen for -- here’s a surprise -- ineffectiveness. He has paid a starter’s ultimate price as a result of the drought in games against his former team.

For the ranks of Red Sox Nation who are accustomed to watching this team play down to the level of their competition and lie in perpetual wait for the other shoe to drop, the scheduling anomaly that will keep the Sox and Rays commuting between Boston and Tampa for the remainder of the summer is an apple in the Garden of Eden -- beautiful to the unaware beholder but deadly to the touch. For even the ardent optimists among us, the diminished competition can dampen enthusiasm while our autumn competitors are honing their skills against more compelling opponents.

“You really do want to make sure that you get the divisional match-ups at the end of the season when the race is on,” says Stephenson.

“Keep in mind that it is not a one-team or a one-week schedule,” argues MLB’s Feeney. “It is a 26-week, 30-team schedule. By the end of the season, by the end of 162 games, they will have had played the same number of times as the Yankees and Boston play.”

Of course, timing can be everything in baseball as it is in comedy. Maybe some laughter can get us through 18 games with these Devil Dogs. -- 7.2.07, Bob Ekstrom, Boston Dirt Dogs contributor