All-Starter

Damon Now Leads Ichiro by 126,556 Votes.
Great Job Folks.

"It would be great to represent the world champions at the All-Star Game. And hopefully I can get into the starting lineup. It would be a great accomplishment for me, a big change from my days in Kansas City and it would be pretty cool." -- 6.30 Johnny Damon, MLB.com

All-Star Showdown

Johnny's on the Spot.
And You Can Give Him One.

ESPN.com Quickie Says Johnny's Got No Mo'
'Johnny Damon: About to lose out to Ichiro for ASG start'

ROCK STAR THE VOTE
Get Johnny an All-Star start Click here to vote early and often.

The DominiCon Man

(Steve Kurth Illustration)

Paydro Can't Let Go, Still Whining About Leaving Champs,
Sox Negotiating 'Tricks'

"I don't miss the media - at all; don't miss the talk (radio) programs that they have on WEEI. Don't miss any of the negativity that was around there. Pretty much all the negatives that everybody sees, I don't miss." -- 6.30 Martinez to Boston Herald sportswriter Michael Silverman

Lucchino: 'Pedro had a demonstrable injury, in his case in his shoulder'

“It seems like the negotiation that never ends, that one that comes up every once in a while. He’s having a wonderful year there and I guess we should try to be gracious about it but we made a very strong effort to sign him, maybe he doesn’t see it that way, we certainly did. I especially wanted him here, made a major effort to get it done but for the last minute improved offer that the Mets threw out there we had the best offer that he would have received from any of the other 29 teams in baseball by a considerable amount. So it was really that lightening struck at the last minute for him and I think that explains the negotiation more than anything else.

“There was discussion about that (voidable contract) early, early on in the negotiation. That was in the previous year right after Pudge Rodriguez signed a voidable contract because he had a demonstrable injury, in his case in his back. Pedro had a demonstrable injury, in his case in his shoulder and after there was a question whether Pudge’s contract was going to become commonplace, or at least used in other circumstances with other players, and that was thrown out that he would have a contract and if his shoulder went out, actually nice thing about that is that he was receptive to that, he said to us ‘listen I don’t want to be paid if I’m hurt and I can’t pitch, I don’t think that’s fair’ so there was some discussion about it early, but that was not the past year, but the year before that.” -- 6.30 Larry Lucchino to WEEI's Dennis and Callahan

The Comeback Curt

(AP Photo)

Red Sox Nation Comes Out for Schilling's Rehab Outing

"I thought it was a very positive step. There was some progression from first through fifth. In the fourth and fifth, I felt like I started to pitch. A lot of progression, as much mentally as physically." -- 6.29 Curt Schilling on his 78 pitch start

D&C 'EEI: Schilling on Philly Chumps and Bad Umps

Sox End Losing Streak

Champs Put Losing Behind Them 5-2
Battery is Electric
Belli, Bellhorn Go Deep 6
Timlin Saves the Day Game

(Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

Is He Putin Us On?

Kraft Says He Gave Prez the Ring

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration / Karl Stier -- THIS IS NOT AN ACTUAL EBAY ITEM)

Russian President Pockets Patriots Ring

Have it Your Way, Keith

Eric Wilbur's Blog: King of Pain
Foulke Festival: Do You Want an Apology with That?

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration / Karl Stier)

Shirts That Fit the Nation to a T

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration)

All the Fast Food Fans Are Wearing Them

Heeere's Johnny!

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration)

"I'm not gonna hurt ya Foulkie. I'm just gonna boo your brains in."

A Little Foulke Music from Red Sox Nation

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration / Don D.)

You want fries with that Keith?

Does Foulke Think All Fenway Boo-Birds Flip Burgers?

"I'm more embarrassed to walk into this locker room and look at the faces of my teammates than I am to walk out and see Johnny from Burger King booing me." -- Keith "Don't Call Me a Closer" Foulke

What do you think of Foulke's quote?

"If Foulke keeps pitching like he is, he's going to be working at Burger King. He's really good at serving whoppers!" -- mantiz04

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WEEI'll Talk for Trucks

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration)

That's All Foulke: Knee, Moles, Trades, Payday, Cars and Trucks

"That's fine," Foulke said (about talking to WEEI every week). "That's more answering questions about different things. And I get a free truck. If you give me a free truck, I'll talk to you more." -- 6.16 Keith Foulke to the Hartford Courant's David Heuschkel

Body by George

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration / Karl Stier)

"The 74-year-old Boss, who will preside over a summit of Yankee executives today in Tampa, decided yesterday, while lifting weights, to tell his publicist, Howard Rubenstein, to let the world know that 'my patience is a little short by the fact that the team is not performing up to its great capabilities.'" -- 6.28 Boston Globe

Alabama Slammer

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration / Don D.)

Foulke Goes South on Sox Again

Four Wheel Drive Floors Sox Trucker
Rough Start for Miller, Tough End for Pen
Cleveland Rocks Boston 12-8

"Foulke has an 11.00 ERA is save situations in 2005 -- in 18 innings, he's allowed 29 hits, 22 earned runs, 6 walks, and struck out 12." -- 6.29 Boston Globe

Snapped!

(Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

It Had To End Sometime For Johnny and the Sox

Millwood Shuts Down Sox
Indians End Boston Win Streak at Seven With 7-0 Win

Sox Drop One

(Globe Staff Photos / Jim Davis)

Doh!

Trot Nixon Can't Grab This Grady Sizemore Homer
Nixon: 'It should have been an out'
Bellhorn's Error Leads to Two Unearned Runs
Not That It Mattered Anyway

Philadelphia Flyers

(AP Photo)

Sox Battle Back After Blowing Big Lead, Top Phillies 12-8

Is This As Good As It Gets?

Manny Hits 19th Career Grand Slam, Has 8 Homers in 12 Games
Sox Sweep Phils, Finish Road Trip 6-0
Francona Can Laugh at Philly Boo Birds
Season-High 7 Straight Wins For Sox
Orioles, Yankees Reeling
Schilling's Almost BackFriday Afternoon, Sox Were Half Game Back; Now They Lead By 2½
Bill Caine Philly Photos

Too Hot To Handle

Matt Clement cools off during yesterday's game. (AP Photo)

Clement Pitches Sox to 11th Win in 12 Games

Manny Launches 7th Homer in 11 Games
Sox Hit Six Doubles and a Triple
Oh, and the Orioles and Yankees Lost Again

Wake, Rattle, And Roll

(AP Photo)

Introducing Your First-Place Red Sox

Sox Take Over Top Spot in AL East
with 8-0 Victory in Philly and Baltimore's Loss in Atlanta
Wakefield Goes Eight Shutout Innings
Manny, Papi, Mirabelli Provide Pop

Jerry Remy: 'This Place Sounded Like Fenway Park When Wakefield Walked Off the Field'

Welcome Back, Tito!

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration)

Philly Fans Greet Francona as He Returns Home

It's Father's Day in New York Tonight

Let's Hear it Yankee Fans

...A Little Bit Louder Now

"...when I called the Yankees my daddy. I was feeling it that night so I said it, but I was saying it more for my team (the World Champion Boston Red Sox), than for me. I was feeling like I could not beat them because my team was not helping me." -- 4.13.05 Paydro throwing his team under the bus

More Sox Love from Mr. Martinez

Pied Piper Packaging Sox

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration)

Rock Star Taking Groupies with Him

"I'm going to take my time, call guys like Kevin Millar, Billy Mueller, see where they end up, guys I've enjoyed playing with here. Put a package together, that's how much I care for these guys and how much they care for me. When I'm a free agent, I'll call Kevin and say, `Hey, who wants you?' I'll tell him who wants me and we'll turn another clubhouse inside out.'' -- Johnny Damon to Michael Silverman, Boston Herald

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Oleruds' Faith Helps Them Cope with Their Daughter's Illness

This Van's a Rockin'

(Above: Van breaks down the complicated algorithms on BDD :-) / Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration)

So John Henry Came Knockin'

Score One for the Internet Stat Geeks
(I got three words for you EV: Flat Screen Monitor :-)

If One of Eric's Stat Findings Gets Played and Results
in a Grand Slam, Does He Get a Ring?
Will John Henry Hire Whiner Line Callers Next?
Van the Man | Go Figure

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Well-Played Followup by Tomase on Manny Attack Column
Tomase Talks About His Sox Sources on The Big Show

The Road Warriors

(AP Photo)

Late Show Trips Tribe

Rent-a-Winner Comes Through in Clutch
The Professionals: Olerud and Mueller Produce Tie
Payton Plays Hit and Run; Even Embree Escapes Trouble
How Sweep it Is! Comeback Kids Grind Out a Win 5-4

Olé, Olé... Olé, Olé, Olerud

Cleveland Needed a Clean Sweep

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo)

Come to Think of It, So Does Philadelphia

"We had been planning for an All-Star break move [to Pawtucket], but with Edgar Renteria's wrist a little sore we wanted to see sooner rather than later how he'd adjust to a higher level." -- Theo Epstein on Pedro, Boston Globe

'Pedro' Goes to Pawtucket

(Pawtucket Red Sox Photo/Illustration)

Dirt Dog Dustin Gets the Call Up to Triple-A

Top second base prospect Dustin Pedroia has been promoted from the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. He will start for the PawSox tonight against the Durham Bulls at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI. Pedroia hit a two-run homer off the message board in left-center in Portland last night while Sox GM Theo Epstein was in attendance.

As recently as June 17, Pedroia was fourth in the Eastern League in batting and fifth in on-base percentage (.401) and hits. He remained the only player in the league with at least 150 at-bats who had more extra-base hits (24) than strikeouts (23). -- Boston Globe, 6.17.05

Pedroia was the Red Sox 1st pick (2nd round, 65th overall pick) of 2004 June draft and is rated as the No. 6 prospect in the Red Sox organization by Baseball America, who also rated him as having the “Best Strike Zone Discipline” in the Sox organization.

Pedroia was an All-America shortstop from 2002-04 and Pac-10 Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2003 with the Arizona State Sun Devils, who advanced in the College World Series by beating Nebraska last night. Sun Devils coach Pat Murphy recently expressed regret that Pedroia never got to play in a College World Series. “My heart goes out to Pedro,” Murphy said. “He should be here with us. He would be a great story in Omaha.” Murphy also had the name "Pedroia" written on his hat today as the Sun Devils beat Florida 6-1.

(Arizona State Photo)

Big adjustment for Pedroia

"Seeing major league pitchers, it's not that much different. I was expecting everything to be lights out. They miss their spots just like everybody else. The game is the same as Double A, it's just on a bigger stage with a lot more people." -- 5.13.05 Dustin Pedroia, Boston Globe

Pedroia is a Real Mover

"Kind of an overachieving-type guy. He may not profile in some scouts' minds as the typical high pick. I think he's a winning baseball player. That's what we're hoping for. -- 3.22.05 Terry Francona"

"I'm just going to play my game and hopefully get to the big leagues soon."
-- Dustin Pedroia, 4.5.05

Big Man on Sox Campus

(Boston.com File Photo)

Dustin Pedroia is one of the shortest players in the Sox system
He's listed at 5-foot-9 in some places, but is actually 5-7

Is Pedro on the Fast Track to Fenway?

Meanwhile Out in Cleveland...

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration)

Papelbombs

(AP Photo)

Jon Hit Hard as Theo Scouts Top Dogs
Hip Was Bothering Hot Prospect: Five earned runs on seven hits, including two homers, and four walks in 4 1/3 innings

"I was out of sync. I was catching too much of the plate," said Papelbon, who added that his hip was bothering him a little "and I let that get into my head." -- 6.22 Portland Press Herald

Jon Bon Jovial Talks About His Tough Night with Dennis and Callahan

Sox Special Assistant to GM Bill Lajoie is Scouting Jays' Ted Lilly

Sox Rake at The Jake

(AP Photo)

David and Manny Strike Like Thunder and Lightning
Who Needs Johnson, We've Got Bronson
More Drama with Halama but Trot Nixon is Quite the Catch
Summertime and the Winning is Easy, 9-2

(AP Photo)

Are Manny and David the Best One-Two Punch in Baseball?

"I mixed and matched my pitches. I threw more changeups tonight than I have all year."
-- Bronson Arroyo

Big Pow Wow in Cleveland

(Reuters Photo)

All's Wells that Ends Well

Manny Being Manny: Thrown Out By 30 Feet,
But No One Puts Lovable Left Fielder's Feet to the Fire

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Sox Insurance Policy

(AP Photo)

Good Thing We Still Own a Piece of the Rock Star

Johnny's Ninth Inning Blast the Difference
Pen Implodes as Embree and Foulke Turn Blowout into Close Call
Manny and Tek Run Up the Score Early
Wells Hit Hard in 10-9 Win

Local Massachusetts Newspaper
Takes on Manny for Sitting Out

'Players who care don't leave games after getting hit by pitches that wouldn't have hurt a Little Leaguer. Players who care don't seek days off like the office hypochondriac.'

'Manny's Selfish Act Needs to Stop'

"The free pass Ramirez has received this season from the fans, the media and his teammates is mystifying. But the time has come for someone in the clubhouse to call him out over a disgraceful pattern of behavior that, left unchecked, will only worsen.

"Manny Ramirez does not care this season. And do not believe for even a single solitary second anyone who claims otherwise or tries to justify his disinterest by saying he acted the same during successful seasons past." -- Read more at the Eagle Tribune newspaper online

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Schilling Talks About His Rehab Progress on Dennis and Callahan

The Big Matchup

(Getty Images Photo / David Turnley)

Sabathia vs. Wells

Upbeat Schilling Throws 65 Pitches/3 Innings to Vazquez and Youkilis.
Will Throw Another Simulated Game Friday in Philadelphia.

Say It Ain't So!