Offeria Ejected, Dejected

Rent-a-Wreck^™ Crushes a Double to Right in the 7th
(Just Doing Our Part to Stay Positive for Mr. Sensitive)

Wake Leads Funeral Procession, No Kinks for Davies in 7-5 Braves' Win
Mr. Manny Ramirez is Now Batting .229

Belated Happy Birthday Boomer

Eat, Drink, and Be Ready (for Tuesday)

Miller's Crossing

Sox Wade Through Hudson

Miller Makes it into 7th Inning
Foulke Can't Blow Save, Sox Hang On 4-3

It's Mueller Time Too, Bill Gets First Homer
La Russa Reverse Child Psychology Worked: Fans Boo Edgar
Just Another May Day for Tek

Set Your Tivo: "We've got a kick ass feature airing on Red Sox This Week Sunday night at 10:00pm on UPN38. It's a look back at all of Manny's big HR's throughout his career leading up to 400. We've got some great Cleveland video and seeing a svelte Ramirez is definitely worth tuning into. It's all set to music and NAT calls and should be great when we finish. Hope you like it." -- Brian Fox, CBS4/UPN38 (And don't forget to watch 25 years of Boston Sports with the venerable Bob Lobel on Sports Final Sunday night at 11:30pm on CBS4)

Doug on DL

Doug Mirabelli On 15-Day Disabled List with Wrist Injury

Doug Mirabelli has a sore wrist and has gone on the disabled list.
Shawn Wooten has been called up from Pawtucket.
(And Kevin Millar has been dropped to 7th in tonight's batting order.)

Shocker: Tactical Mistakes by O'Toole Led to Snelgrove's Death
Sick 'Em Bob: Lobel Files Suit Against Out of Control Cartoonist

Egg on Sandberg's Face Over Manny Mistake

La Russa Was Wrong About Renteria

He Can Hide Here

"...I think it’s gonna be hard for him to hide here and I think it takes a special type to play in Boston. Somebody who really likes the attention. Not being able to hide will really bother Edgar." -- Tony La Russa slapping the shy, sensitive, doesn't want attention and needs to hide tag on our shortstop

Home of the Braves

Boston Braves Fans Invade Fenway as the Bitter Rivals Square Off in in a Beantown Showdown

Toughest Ticket in Town

Boston Braves Fans Already Milling Around Fenway Hoping to Get a Ticket for Tonight's Bitter Battle

Red Sox at the Quarter Pole: 2005 vs. 2004

Deja Diva

He Misses Johnson, But Will Face the Yankees on Sunday

Hip Hops Pedro Start Again: He First Used the Hip Excuse on Roger Clemens in 2002
Then Had His Hip Checked Last Year

RJ was moved from Friday start and is lined up to face Sox: "Torre said Wang, because of off days Thursday and next Monday, will be passed over in his next start because of a preference to keep the veterans in their normal routines. This means Randy Johnson will pitch Saturday, and not Friday against the Mets and Pedro Martinez. Also factoring into that decision was it would keep Johnson in line to pitch against Boston the following weekend." -- 5.17: Around the Horn, Journal News

The Shortstop Shuffle

Will Rent Own the Position?

"The Red Sox, meanwhile, chose to invest money that might have helped retain Pedro Martinez or Derek Lowe in Renteria. With the signing of David Wells (2-4, 6.75) now looking like an unmitigated disaster, one has to wonder just how judiciously the Red Sox allocated their resources this winter.

"While a more impulsive organization may have looked at what Cabrera did in the second half and postseason last year and compensated him accordingly, the Red Sox and their pragmatic GM Theo Epstein took the long view..." -- Kevin Hench on FOXSports.com

Ask Edes Mailbag on Renteria

"...Edgar's batting average steadily rose on the trip, he had a couple of big hits, and while he's made a few errors, he's made more than his share of outstanding plays, too. The man has a track record as a winner. Give it some time, instead of opting for the snap judgments of the uninformed." -- Gordon Edes Mailbag 5.19.05

Manny Reasons for Ramirez Slump

"I find it astonishing that as of May 18, he was hitting just .237. The lowest his average has been this late into a season was .219, and that was in June, 1994, his first full season in the majors. He told our Chris Snow that he's worried about the health of his mother, but was vague about her condition and described it as arthritis only with prompting. He has used ailing (and dying) relatives before as excuses, so both reporter and reader alike are advised to tread carefully..." -- Gordon Edes Mailbag 5.19.05

Thoughts from Larry and Terry

Larry Lucchino	Terry Francona

On David Wells Having a Rehab Start:

Lucchino: "“It appears in retrospect they should have (given Wells a rehab start). I guess there’s no question about (it) when you have that kind of rusty performance it sure looks that way... you know it’s just a mistake and we made a mistake and now we’ve gotta move on and deal with the next game."

Francona: "That wasn’t really ever going to be an issue. He had proven in the past he didn’t really need it."

5.19.05: Larry Lucchino on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan

John Dennis: Should David Wells have had a rehab start?

Larry Lucchino: “It appears in retrospect they should have I guess there’s no question about him when you have that kind of rusty performance it sure looks that way. But when you’re dealing with a guy who’s been a 20 year veteran, you cut him a little slack. You give him an opportunity to have some input into his fate and into his rehab schedule. (JD: Larry are you privy to how the dynamic unfolded as they decided whether to have a rehab start? Did Wells perhaps talk Terry out of it? Did they discuss it? Did Theo get involved? Are there other factors in this thing that we’re not aware of?) Well, I’m not privy to all the details, that’s something that the manager works on with the doctors and the trainers principally. I suspect Theo, who was on this road trip this time certainly was a participant in the process in some way, shape, or form. But it really is a manager/medical determination. (Gerry Callahan: I guess the question was, was the team ready for that? ‘Cause curiously Jeremi Gonzalez stuck around and was ready to come in quickly. It seemed almost like it was a rehab start against a major league team.) Yeah, well that is the way it played out. Again it’s easy to say that in retrospect, but you’ve got a guy who has a track record, who knows his abilities and you know it’s just a mistake and we made a mistake and now we’ve gotta move on and deal with the next game.”

On Incentive-Laden Contracts

LL: “In certain circumstances I think they work very well. I am not a big believer in using them across the board but I do believe that in certain circumstances for example when you are coming off an injury, when there’s some uncertainty about a player’s performance either for injury or for age or other factors, I think they do make some sense, it’s just pay-for-performance, and that’s not a bad thing. One thing I am not a believer in is the front office making any effort whatsoever to monitor how that plays out during the course of a season. You don’t sit here with a chart that’s says ‘oh my gosh, if he does this, he does that, he gets this. You just can’t monitor that, you have to make sure the manager’s decisions are not based on that so you don’t make any effort whatsoever to influence.”

On Francona’s Contract

LL: “Don’t be so sure about that (Francona having a World Series victory clause), he had a set of incentives in his contract there for post-season play… (on Edes story on Francona’s contract) I suppose it’s fair comment but our view is we entered into a contract and if you start renegotiating the contracts of certain people, like your manager, like the people in the front office because of superior performance, you’ve got a couple of problems. One is that you’re going to open the floodgates of a bunch of other folks coming in saying well you did it for ‘X” why don’t you do it for me. And that’s particularly inappropriate when you built in this contract certain incentives for post-season performance.

On David Wells Allegedly Being at the Audioslave Concert in San Francisco on Monday Night

Frank from Gloucester: “Larry, have you heard anything about David Wells was a concert the other night there, he’s having a great time dancing and enjoying himself, it was a real party, last Monday night… one of my moles told me that (discussed on the JT The Brick radio show)?"

LL: “I have not. I’ve heard nothing about last Monday night (three days ago). Was he at a concert at the same time that a game is going on Frank? (Concert was at 8:00pm PT, Sox-Oakland game started at 7:00pm PT)"

On Concerns

LL: “I’m worried about the middle part of the order. I’m worried about David and Manny straightening themselves out and producing at the heroic levels that they produced at last year, that’s a factor. I’m worried a little bit about the team’s personality, when it comes together, how will it come together. It takes a couple of months every year for the guys to gel, to come together, to create a kind of collective personality, I don’t think that has emerged yet from this team. I'm worried about Trot Nixon's knee... I guess we gotta worry a little bit about the bullpen, and baseball these days, has always been based on pitching, but more and more it’s based on bullpen specialization and you worry about the specialists in the bullpen being able to perform at the levels of last year.”

Incentive-Laden Contracts
Bite the Big One

The Team Takes One for Well$

Did David Rush Back Because He's a Dough Nut?

"That's what my contract is, incentive-loaded. But there's nothing I can do. If I could turn back time, I'd do it. But I signed the contract and that's the situation that it's in. I have to deal with it.Yeah, I'm bummed by it. I'm not going to lose any sleep. My health is more important than the money. The money, it's nice to have. But if you're not going to get it from your incentives, then so be it." -- David Wells, who earns an additional $200,000 per start from 11-20 and $300,000 per start from 21-30 (comments made on 4.26.05)

Dunkin' David Returns Home

(At least his skin is thin)

It's All Wells and Bad

Boomer Not Ready for Prime Time. Sox Lose 13-6. Bad Road Trip.
Rent-a-Rest: Mr. Sensitive Takes a Seat

Should Wells Have Made a Rehab Start?

Lucchino Skywalker Returns in Star Wars Episode III

This Space for Rent

Internet, Radio Heat Lights Fire Under Edgar

Choakland Turns to Edgartown as Renteria Leads Sox to Victory
Sox Take a Walk on the Wild Side in 7-5 Win
Embree, Foulke Shut the Door, Cla Goes Away

Boston Sports Blog: Feeling a Bit Short
Survey: How Concerned are You?

"The Rent signing has the potential of being a $40 million boner ...we have learned over the years that some players simply can not deal with the pressures of playing in Boston while others yearn for a nice 5 year deal in KC ... shy, sensitive, and batting .250 with mediocre defense is not a good recipe. ...it could get ugly." -- fox13weather on SoSH

State of the Ankle

More time in the boot. No timetable on return.

5.17.05 -- Curt Schilling on with WEEI's Dennis and Callahan: The ankle update Curt: “Umm, you know, umm I don’t know (little chuckle). I don’t know. I met with Dr. Theodore last week before we left and Chris Correnti and I got together and I was told that I had another week in the boot ‘till the end of the trip. It felt better last week which was an improvement. I feel almost like meaningless one because I’m not out there yet. I’m going to get examined again on Friday and the goal will be to go from there. I’m hoping that we’re near being out of it but there’s a lot of work to be done once I get out of the boot. You think about some of the basic concepts of what’s happening, what’s gonna happen going forward. I’ve had a boot on for the past couple of weeks, so my ankle isn’t getting any stronger. It was weak when I hurt it to begin with. So I’m not going back out there until it’s strong, if not stronger than it was. How we can do that, and how quickly we can do that is going to be the big question. There’s some discomfort, but nothing like there was. I’m throwing with my short boot on as best I can to keep the arm as best I can so there’s a lot less lag time between being ready next week and getting out there and pitching.”

Sandberg Throws Dirt on Manny

Rhyno is Clueless on Ramirez, Rice (and still mad at Palmeiro):
Questionable Hall Inductee Says Manny Doesn't Belong in Cooperstown

Sandberg: I think the Boston Red Sox outfielder has taken advantage of Fenway Park. He's very comfortable there hitting balls off the Green Monster, and he's been very constant in what he contributes year in and year out with his run production.

(Yo Ryno - Manny played half his career in Cleveland and had more than half his HRs while there (236) .In fact, Manny's best year was 1999 with Cleveland, when he had 44 HRs and 165 RBI! No monster seats at Jacob Field last time I checked!)

Sandberg: At this point of his career, Ramirez reminds me of Jim Rice and Andre Dawson. Both of them hit over 400 home runs in their careers, but they're not in the Hall of Fame yet. Ramirez could have six or seven years left and wind up with 500-plus home runs. At that point, you could talk about Manny as a Hall of Famer. But not now.

(No, Jim Rice only had 382 career HRs. Ryno is right about Manny not being a hall of famer RIGHT NOW, but the guy is only 32 years old. It's stupid to even talk about it or compare him to one guy who never even reached 400 {check your stats next time buddy} and another who limped his way to the plate to get his 400th when he was 38 years old! Jim Rice is an 'almost' HOF'er, with just under 400HRs and just under a .300 batting average {.298}.) -- Jason Dalrymple, Quincy, MA

Rent-a-Wreck^™ Could Be a Disaster in Boston

Nation Needs to Back Off About the Long Swing, Weak Hits, Slow Running, Bumbling Fielding, Big Contract, and Lack of Leadership from the $40 Million Shortstop

In an excerpt from an interview with WEEI’s Dale and Holley, Tony La Russa talks about Renteria's adjustment to Boston and takes a sneaky whack at Edgar: “I think he (Renteria) comes into this situation, they’re paying him a lot of money, I think the fans, probably the expectation he’s gonna do something like Nomar, in Nomar’s vintage years. And I don’t know if he can be that productive. He’s a sensitive and shy guy and this is why a lot of us worry about him coming into Boston. You know Boston, there’s a lot of expectation here, the fans are very passionate. And they’re not going to be as forgiving as they were in St. Louis. So we’re concerned that if he doesn’t really play to their expectations and they start hootin’ on him, and I know fans don’t want to hear this, but it will not help an Edgar Renteria. I think it will hurt his feelings, and I’m just telling you he’s a really great guy, he’s very good player and I think it’s gonna be hard for him to hide here and I think it takes a special type to play in Boston. Somebody who really likes the attention. Not being able to hide will really bother Edgar.”

BDD Investigation: Edgar's cousin may have Hay Fever, which would explain the slow start. Stay tuned.

Francona Donations Pouring In from Nation

Fans Chip in to Help Feed Tito's Family. Sox Manager is Struggling to Get By on $550,000 Plus an Extra Couple Hundred Thousand as His Share for Winning World Series and More for Appearances and Commercial Endorsements. Sox May Raise Cup of Draft Beer Price to $8.00 So Francona Can Buy a Bigger House.
Won't You Help Him Renegotiate His Contract? Please?
Cheapskategate: Edes Uncovers Piker Sox Scandal
(WEEI's Dale Arnold: "Michael wondered off the air 'Did Tito plant the story?'" Update: Dale "was joking" during that exchange)

Does Francona Deserve a Raise?

The Team with No Theme Can't Deliver a Clutch Hit
6-4 A's, Sox Beat Themselves, 13 L.O.B.

Red Sox Nation West

Holding All the Cards in Oakland

MR/400 Operating System

Manny Hits a Milestone
But More-of-the-Sveum Holds Him at Third When Sox Needed Tying Run
Ichiro Throw Was Up the Line, Manny Would Have Scored
Millar Helps Olivo Break Slump, Beat Sox

Box: Seattle Takes Series with 5-4 Win on Sunday
Yankees Win Eight in a Row, Get Right Back in the Race

Gammons Apologizes to Mr. Baseball

Peter Gammons on WEEI's Sunday Baseball Show: "I owe Felgie an apology, I gave him the Mr. Baseball treatment, I wouldn't send him a voicemail I'll say it publicly, I feel badly about that 'cause I get frustrated with this Boston, 'Well Manny Ramirez is the only guy' and hence the Albert Puljols thing. I'm really glad that Chris Snow, who by the way is phenomenal, did that story today because I asked the manager, a couple of coaches, three of his closest friends, 'What's going on? Is there something that's bothering Manny?' This guy is a hall of fame player, if you take adjusted OPS he's 22nd all time and he's way down off of that since the last All-Star game. And I'm very glad to know what it is because I just haven't sensed that joy that he has when he plays. I don't know if you guys feel the same way but I haven't had the sense this year that he's been as joyous as he's been in the past."

Steve Buckley: "I don't know if joyous is the word for it, but preoccupation is what I've been sensing all season, particularly in left field, there are occasions where he can be on any given day a top left fielder in baseball, but there are too many days when he's not."

PG: "I agree. I don't subscribe to the Manny-being-Manny because I think he's better than that and I know how hard he normally works, just as I don't believe in the canard that he's actually a genius savant. But Manny's a great hitter. At a time when their two veteran starters are hurt, and some other guys have struggled, you kind of look for 'gee will the guys in the middle of that order pick them up?' Now obviously Johnny Damon has been unbelievable and Varitek and Nixon and Ortiz is Ortiz but it's just been something that I sensed that was wrong. He's had some at-bats this last week where he normally is on everything and he looked completely confused by pitches right down the middle of the plate. And I'm glad to know, 'cause he's pretty sensitive about family so, if that's bothering him, he gets a hall pass on that one."

Greg Dickerson: "Where do you rank Manny in terms of great right-handed hitters in the game?"

PG: "I think he's in the top 3 or 4. Pujols is in such a class by himself and the other two guys that rank ahead of him (Manny) if you take all the different adjusted OPSs and all those numbers, Frank Thomas and Bagwell, but they're sort of at the end of their careers. So Manny's can be pretty close to second, in those categories, just as a pure hitter and, no I shouldn't say that, third, because Alex Rodriguez absolutely deserves to be in that group, but he hasn't been. From the All-Star break, that's 112 games to be around .260 and little under .900 OPS, that's way below what Manny does for a living and what he does well. (On the lineup switch) In spring training, they wanted Manny Ramirez to hit fourth because David Ortiz has never been in that fourth position where he gets pitched around and they knew it was going to happen, and he's never been in the position of taking walks the way Giambi and Manny are so good at doing. And Manny was uncomfortable with it, which I found a little strange because he had great numbers hitting cleanup last year, but obviously this was weighing on him and so he postponed that, didn't want to do it, and he's done it now and I think it's clear by doing this that he has said 'OK, I'll trade my comfort for the good of the team' and I think that's really good."

Mom's Arthritis Was Distraction for Manny

Listen to WEEI Audio Highlights:
Dale and Holley: Foulke's not an idiot, the new team chemistry, velocity drop
Wade Miller on his comeback and Fenway Park
Jimy Francona gets defensive on Cla Meredith, slams Holley
The Big Show: Gammons goes wild on Manny, and Mr. Baseball

Surprise: Nixon Will Have Offseason Leg Surgery

Nixon's the One... Two, Three, Four

Trot Slam Lifts Sox Late
Miller Deep Sixth, Five Solid

Box: Sox 6, Seattle 3

Sox Lose by Touchdown

Seattle Run Game Too Much for Boston
Gonzo, Halama Come Back to Earth

Box: Mariners 14, Sox 7

Final World Tour

Like Sting Leaving The Police,
Damon Will Fly Solo After Final Tour with Sox Band

Is Manny Mailing It In?

"There was a time when he was a dominant offensive force at
the end of games." -- Peter Gammons on Manny Ramirez

Gammons Says What You've Been Thinking:
He's Never Seen Manny So Disinterested

5.12.05 ESPN's Peter Gammons on WEEI's Big Show: "One thing I find interesting, that... and I think he gets, after his early days in Boston, he gets a wonderful ride, but the complete disappearance of Manny Ramirez as a real player. Yeah he hit a home run on the breaking ball yesterday, but he's a .260 hitter with a .880 OPS since the All-Star break last year. Doesn't there come a point where that becomes a little bit of a concern, he gets hit on the leg and doesn't play two games. I don't know. I find him as distracted as any time I can ever remember him... He just doesn't seem to be into the games at all. There was a time when he was a dominant offensive force at the end of games."

Steve Buckley: "And his defense is as lacking now as it's ever been."

Gammons: "I just wonder, this is a long time, same OPS since the All-Star game as Mark Loretta. Is that what you want for $20 million in a left fielder who's a defensive and baserunning liability?...Then they had him traded to the Mets this winter too... There are lot of things, just the way he walks and so forth, they wanted him to hit fourth and not third and he wouldn't do that. I don't know... I'm amazed a little bit that he gets the pass that he gets... maybe it's resignation. I had a fan come up to me at the ballpark and say "how in the world could you not pick Manny as one of the 5 best players in baseball? And I went "umm what?!? Kidding me?" I mean there were other priorities, the qualifications for the other selections were defense, baserunning, accountability, leadership. But I was just amazed, the guy was really angry about it. ...Their best player is their catcher."

(Michael Felger; "Because he brings all those intangibles) "Well he produces too."

Michael Felger: "You can't say he (Varitek) produces on the level of Manny Ramirez, Manny's the best right-handed hitter in the game when he's Manny Ramirez, you can't compare the two..." (talk about great Tek is)

Gammons: "Well he (Tek) understands and accepts responsibility. He's a very intelligent man. And accountability is to me something that's very important in baseball. And I think David Ortiz is an extremely accountable person. He got his contract although he is obviously one of the most underpaid guys in terms of his contract. Doesn't seem to be a problem. Goes out, doesn't brag about it, he's a leader in his own way. He is their, not Manny Ramirez, excuse me Michael you're wrong, David Ortiz is their best offensive player. NO question about it. No comparison. He is a dominant force in the lineup."

Felger: "Because he's hitting better right now but you're saying..."

Gammo: "HE's been better for two years Michael, watch the games. Watch what happens when good pitchers are on the mound. Watch against guys who throw hard, who throw inside. And watch what happens. I'm not talking about garbage time numbers, I'm talking about numbers that mean something."

Felger: "Pete, I'm with you, I'm just.. I'm just saying that I've heard people say it time and time again 'the best right-handed hitter in the game,' that's all I hear about Manny Ramirez, the best right-handed hitter in the game..."

Gammo: "WHO SAID THAT? Who said that?

Felger: "About Manny Ramirez? That's his title. That's all I hear about Manny Ramirez."

Gammo: "Oh, have you ever heard of Albert Pujols? Don't, don't make a fool of... please that's foolish to say that, that's sad and sort of foolish... it's not worth a discussion. There are only two players in a comparable period of time in HIStory who have the numbers that Pujols does and that's Williams and DiMaggio in their first 4-1/4 seasons. He's the dominant right-handed hitter in modern baseball."

Congratulations Bob Lobel for 25 Years on Channel 4
You Can't Turn the Clock Back, But You Can Wind it Up Again!

A Final Tribute to Bern-Dog

Sox Go on West Coast Trip
(And West Won't Trip)

A Sox batboy gives 'Blue Cowboy' Joe West a hand during Monday's game against Oakland. Now that his spurs are cleaned, can you widen his strike zone?

Captain Crunch Surreal

High-Tek Rebound

Another Walkoff Winner 6-5

Foulke Blows Save, But Tek Saves the Day
(Nation Cries: 'Where Was Cla?' :-)

Foulke Adds New Pitch to Arsenal

Keith's Homemade Meatballs Make Sox Fans Sick to Stomach

Would you make a change at closer?

Right on the Manny

Quiet Manny Makes Some Noise

Wells to test foot on Friday, Schilling stays in boot

The Cowbino Hits One for the Babe

A Throwback to Ruth: Millar Homers for Birthday Girl

BDD Exclusive (FOX 25 grabbed the story from here, but gave us no credit): "I have a truly amazing story that happened on my 25th birthday, May 9th, that I think would make a lot of people smile.

"Monday at the Cheesecake Factory where I'm a waitress, Kevin Millar (my favorite Red Sox player) came in with his family and because it was my birthday and because of his hitless streak, I asked him to hit a home run for me on my birthday. He looked at me and said... "I tell you what. If I hit a home run tonight, it will be for you."

"Meanwhile, he has yet to hit a home run all season. So, I go to the game, have amazing seats, 7 innings go by and no home run and I think to myself... "at least you got to meet him, whatever, it's okay...." THEN SLAM!!! KEVIN SENDS ONE INTO THE MONSTAH!!!!! I go nuts. Everyone around me has heard me predict this and is hugging me and high-fiving me. I thought that would be the end of my story but after the game, I wanted him to acknowledge his promise so I wait with 200 other fans outside the players' parking lot for him to come out. The crowd sees him finally and starts going nuts. I start yelling "CHEESECAKE!!!" (haha, I'm a loser, I know, but it was the only way he would recognize me!) Finally, his wife sees me and starts elbowing Kevin who personally starts waving to me and I get passed security. He gives me a big bear hug and says "See. I told you I'd hit a home run for you on your birthday."

"I was wondering if you could do a story on it to show Boston what a down-to-earth, awesome guy Millar is. After my birthday, he is on fire!! It made this Back Bay waitress have the birthday of her dreams." -- Elizabeth Roderick (File under: The Big Tipper)

KEVIN MILLARGE

Sox Win on Home Run King's Huge Blast

The Best Defense is a Clutch Offense

Doug Minwhat? John Olewho? Join the Millarmy!

Cowboy Up, Up, and Away, Sox Win in Walk Off 3-2
Dopetel Throws Kevin a Fastball Over the Plate
Props to Damon, Bronson, Embree, Mantei

If You Thought the Cowboy was Done,
You Don't Know Jack.

"We're going to go out and dog-fight you. That's what what this team is all about and that's what it's been like for the last 2 1/2 years."
-- Kevin HR Millar

Manny Returns to Lineup Tonight
No B.K. Cla: Meredith Switches to No. 40
Wells Ahead of Schedule, Will Throw Bullpen Session Tomorrow

BREAKING NEWS:
Boston Licensing Board Issues Sox Warning on Fenway Alcohol Violations

5.10.05: Boston Police Captain Charles Cellucci (right) speaks before the Boston Licensing Board at Boston City Hall, as Larry Cancro, Senior V.P. of Fenway Park Affairs, looks on. The board issued the Red Sox a warning.

Sox Brass Not Expected to Be Jailed for Selling $3.00 Drafts for $6.00

Stones Will Roll into Fenway

It's Official: Two Shows on August 21 and 23

Exclusive Set List: (I Can't Get No) Statistician; Sympathy for the Devil Rays; When the WHIP Comes Down; AL East of Burden; 9th Inning Nervous Breakdown; Everything is Turning to Gold Gloves; Get Off of My Mound; Honky Tonk Kevin; It's Only John's Payroll; Let Pete Go; Might as Well Get Juiced; Jumpin' Jack McCormick; All Sold Out; Kevin Brown Sugar; Winning Ugly; He's So Cold; Crazy Papi; Let Curt Bleed; Lowe Down; Hang Curve; Luxury Tax; Anybody Seen My Baseball?; Manny's Brand New Car; Bye Bye Johnny; Wild Card Horses; Money Man(ny); Before They Make a Run; Paying the Cost to Beat the Boss; Tumblin' Rice; One Hit (to the Outfield); Tito's Little Helper; Little Red Sox Rooter; Paint the Corners Black; Ruby Tuesday and Widescreen Wednesday; (Home Run Records) Shattered; You Can Sometimes Get What You Want; Waiting on a Contract

Curt Schilling Injury Update

No update on condition. Expects Wells to return first.

5.10.05 -- Curt Schilling on with WEEI's Dennis and Callahan: Is the ankle getting better? Curt: "I don't know, I really don't. It's... I have the boot on and the etiquette handed down was to wear the boot around the clock and for an extended period of time and check it every so often and go from there. Is it on like 23 hours a day? Pretty much. Pretty much. I'm gonna keep it on here until the end of the homestand and get it checked here at the end of the homestand and go from there. Does that mean you get out of shape again? Cause I know the hardest thing over the winter was staying in shape Yeah, um I am actually doing two a day right now. Keeping the boot on riding the bike or swimming. Working with Chris Correnti, when I get into the park and later again in the afternoon to kind of speed up the work that I wasn't able to do before. Just trying to make sure that, when we met the other day, one thing I said was that I want to be on the mound the minute I can be but the way it's going now, it might be quicker for me to come back as a middle reliever."

On travelling with the team: "When I get away from the game, that energy that you get from the ballpark you start to lose. And you lose it fast. And getting back into the swing of things takes a long period of time for me. And I don't want to have to do that to get back on the mound. It looks to me now like Wellsey's doing well and he was working while we were gone. He's probably going to be back before me." So you don't think he (Wells) belonged there with you on the bench? No. No, no, no, no, no, no this is an individual thing. He had things set up with one of the therapists here to do his rehab and his work and my concern again was just mentally being kind of still in the thing while I'm not pitching, and that's a priority for me."

Cowboy Up and Out of Here
Congratulations Kevin, Sox Romp 13-5

5.10.05 -- Curt Schilling on with WEEI's Dennis and Callahan: On Kevin Millar staying over Mientkiewicz Curt: "I was, just given the way things are around here, I was comfortable and I felt pretty sure that Kevin was going to be the last one standing in that one. And then the ball thing happened, and I knew it." On Millar's first home run: "You know what, it's tough. You guys talk about it daily. Hourly. But you still don't think about it as much as we do. One of the grinds of playing here is the media. And having to answer really stupid questions sometimes and dealing with those kind of things on a daily basis and when a lot of times you don't understand is we think about it around the clock every minute, every hour, every day and it was no mystery that our infield had I think two home runs and it's May something, which is pretty amazing considering our record. So yeah, it was bothering him. It's funny, it's one of those things that's funny. Like if somebody in the clubhouse says to me like I'm giving up a touchdown a game, I laugh about that. But if you say it publicly, I don't (BDD gulps). And he's been hearing it from both sides, and to get that out of the way is nice."

Trot Nixon: Underrated, Underappreciated, Overlooked
Johnny Damon Keeps Rockin' in Fenway Farewell Tour
Edgar Renteria and Miguel Tejada Were Not Separated at Birth
Just Another Day at the Office for Tim Wakefield
Manny Plunked Again

Bill Caine Sox-A's Photo Gallery

Cla it Ain't So!

Theo, Tito Made a Mess with Meredith

"I doubt Mantei--he of the string and twine shoulder and elbow--was coming back in Game 2. So, Meredith ended up there out of necessity, not because they thought he was the right choice.

"I usually don't say "boo" when it comes to in-game mgt. But, I said to myself in Game 1 that it was a better time for Meredith than Mantei. It's not unconscienable, but there's no extra credit for winning the series. The Sox lost a game. But, I agree, a double-header is always a bitch to manage.

"I said it before; we need an upgrade in the pen and until the injuries, I saw Arroyo as a relief-ace type. Halama in the 7th of a tie game is a bad recipe. ...He looks downright dreadful--as overmatched as any pitcher I've seen in a while. Please send him to AA before it's too late. Not AAA, but AA. 13 innings in AA is nothing to base a promotion on; should Pedroia be up then?

"Reminds me of Kirk Bullinger in '99 and he was lights-out over 30 or 40 AA innings and he had the same style, etc. But, Cla is 21 and I am not giving up on him, but this vintage has no business being in MLB. DH3 is 100% correct. ...All I'm saying is it's not nerves at the big-league level; his stuff is not good enough right now. And to use a month of 1-inning stints as a reason for promotion to AAA and then the majors seems imprudent. He threw absolute garbage to every lefty I've seen up--and that's not counting the several walks.

"I could be wrong, of course, but in my opinion he's not someone that can help the Red Sox in 2005 and he's not a relief ace prospect based on his stuff. The track record of minor-league relievers is filled with potholes. He's young and needs more seasoning, but I expected a lot more. Where's the 88-90, the slider, or deception?" -- Paul M., SoSH Dope

Tie Game is Child's Plā

Sox Split Clā-Night Doubleheader

Miller Goes Down Smooth, But Tito Gives Game Awā 6-4
Clā Can't Throw Strikes, Stās in for Sexon Slam

"I don't think that's the greatest of moves (bringing Meredith into a tie game) to make that early." -- Dennis Eckersley

He's Got It Wade

Gonzo's on the Ball

Jeremi Spoke in Fenway Today
Millar Finally Homers... Close Enough
Harbinger: Tito Uses Mantei and Timlin for 19 Pitches
Sox Chill Cold Mariners 6-3

Greenwood: These guys aren't like they seem

Rest in Peace Bernie Logue

Gammons on Books, Nomar's Body, and Roid Reversals

Exclusive: The Cla Meredith Rapid Rise to Stardom Continues:
Tito Names Cla to A.L. All-Star Team Proclaiming 'He's Ready'

NOW COMES
MILLER TIME

Wade Takes the Mound at Fenway Today After
Gonzalez Makes His Case to Stay in Boston

Renteria Out for Game 1, Damon Back in Lineup

"Wade Miller, I think that’s a great pick up. I got to see him quite often the last couple of years, the only thing that’s stopped him is he’s had a couple of freak injuries rather than actual injuries where he needed surgery or what else I’m not sure what the injuries were. Great pitcher, hard thrower. He pitched well against us many times over the last three years." -- 12.22 Matt Clement on Wade Miller

The Embedded Pacer?

Celtics Losing is All Wells and Good for Mr. Boston

The Mother of All Embarrassments

Get 'Em Gone

"I liked Indiana because I thought they were the tougher team, their leaders were tougher... the Celtics half court offense was atrocious. One pass, one shot, four guys standing around."
-- TNT's Charles Barkley

Mientkiewicz' Fifth Home Run Leads Mets to Win
Pedro Improves to 4-1 with 11 Ks

Thanks to Matty Lyons Who Gave Us 50-1 Giacomo in the Derby
because "he was a character in the Count of Monte Cristo"

It Puts the Biscuit in the Basket Tonight
Don't Hate tha Playah, Hate Today's Game

"Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans (well not for us anyway). Kevin McHale is not walking through that door. Robert Parish is not walking through that door. If they did walk through that door, they would be gray and old." -- The Great Rick Pitino

Clement's in Control

Matt Sinks Mariners. Ortiz, Mueller Timely in 7-2 Win

Garciaparra needs more rest before starting rehab
Tear worse than anticipated

Wade in the Water?

Wade Miller practices his throwing motion today while Chris Correnti, assistant trainer, looks on. Miller is scheduled to start in Sunday's game but it is expected to rain all weekend.

Damon, leg, Renteria, finger, out of lineup tonight

Breaking News: Edgar Renteria
Arrives Back at Fenway

BDD Exclusive: Edgar "Ironman" Renteria has arrived back at Fenway Park from Detroit where he suffered a game ending bruised fingertip. Stay tuned for updates on his condition.

Horse of a Different Color

'I Feel Like I Got My Face
Torn Off on the Last Play'

Pierce to Media: 'I Have a Fractured Jaw'
Hot Head Ejected, 'Injured' After Hard Intentional Foul
Team Gets Him Off the Ultimate Career Hook

Walker Steps Up

Comin' On Home!
Celtics Take Pacers 92-89 in OT

'You're So #%@!ing Hot!'

Pat O'Brien Tells Antoine How He Feels About His Game

NO CINCO DE NO-NO

Bronson Takes No-Hitter into the 7th and is 9-0 Over Last 15 Starts
Ortiz Rallies Sox to 2-1 Win

Clutch Papi

Cinco Arroyo

It's a Holiday Matinee for Bronson
Ay Corona! Kentucky Fried Cleanup Today:
1 Damon, CF; 2 Nixon RF; 3 Ortiz, DH; 4 Millar, 1B;
5 Varitek, C; 6 Renteria, SS; 7 Mueller, 3B; 8 Payton, LF; 9 Bellhorn, 2B

Headline Envy

Whatever Happened to the Yankees?

It's Deja Vu All Over Again. But They're Fielding Another Lineup Tonight:

The Stolen Yankee Caps Have Been Found!
(FYI: BDD is a Wang Joke Free Zone. Lame, Too Easy)

The Shortstop Shuffle

Will Rent Own the Position?

"The Red Sox, meanwhile, chose to invest money that might have helped retain Pedro Martinez or Derek Lowe in Renteria. With the signing of David Wells (2-4, 6.75) now looking like an unmitigated disaster, one has to wonder just how judiciously the Red Sox allocated their resources this winter.

"While a more impulsive organization may have looked at what Cabrera did in the second half and postseason last year and compensated him accordingly, the Red Sox and their pragmatic GM Theo Epstein took the long view..." -- Kevin Hench on FOXSports.com

This Old House Story

Smug Red Sox fan Christopher House, left, with his attorney Matthew J. McCarthy wait for their hearing on their involvement in an altercation with New York Yankees' player Gary Sheffield at the Edward Burke courthouse.

No House Arrest, GAP Guy Was 'Bumped'
Shamed Fans Won't Be Charged

GAP Guy Owns Suit

Juvenile court clerk Matthew Donovan, whose father is the Suffolk civil clerk magistrate, leaves the hearing on his involvement in an altercation with New York Yankees' player Gary Sheffield at the Edward Burke courthouse.

Tim, Timlin, Win

Wake Moves to 5th All Time on Sox Win List
Eight Straight No-Run Appearances for Timlin
Damon, Youk Stay Hot with the Sticks
4-3, No Blown Save for Foulke

Slam Halama Ding Dong

Belli Slam, Halama Lead Sox. Another Dinger Off Foulke.
No Panic in Detroit, Sox Win 5-3
(Two More Errors for the Anti-Miguel Tejada,
And No Hits for Mr. Best-Shape-of-His-Life)

While Schilling and the Sox are battling in Detriot,
David Wells is watching basketball in Boston.

Bad Reporting: Curt Schilling never, ever called Lou Pinella an idiot.
So why on earth would the Boston Herald run a story that says he did?
(This is why Schilling is only talking after he pitches, and only about the game now)

The Dalai Halama Himself

And he says, "Oh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me. Which is nice."

Mets Get Rings

Former Red Sox Mr. Jodi Mientkiewicz, Paydro Martinez,
and Nelson de la Rosa Get Their World Series Rings in New York

Pedro, Nomar No Longer on Same Path

05.03.05: They always seemed to be headed in the same direction. Their every act on a baseball diamond just another step on the road to Cooperstown. But now their paths have diverged, with one still solidly marching to enshrinement and the other once again rehabbing a serious injury that has the baseball world wondering what his future holds. Continued on FOXSports.com

Is the Good Chemistry Gone?

"It's just very different and (in) this clubhouse, you've gotta have some guys that can alleviate the, I say this word loosely, the stress, in this game... having guys like McCarty and Kapler and Dave Roberts in the clubhouse... D-Lowe, I mean just real guys that kept it real free and easy."

Did Theo Mess Up the Right Mix?

5.3.05: Listen to Curt Schilling on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan: Gerry Callahan: "Last year in the second half we talked about the intangibles, the certain something this team had, and the players played into that, you heard it all the time that this team just had something going on, does it feel at all like that's gone now, that you got to create a new (environment) if you want to have the kind of season you had last year, that those intangibles cannot carry over from one season to the next?"

Curt Schilling: "Oh they can, they're different. There's a lot of things that are different about this team off the field as much as on. I mean you look at everything that happened after we won last year and all the agendas for different people that happened and... it's different. The attitude outside the clubhouse is different. I think this was the first team I've ever played on, and I've always believed, everybody talks about chemistry and a lot of people that don't play the sport, or don't compete like this for a living, they call chemistry a bunch of crap. And the fact of the matter is before last year I've always said chemistry comes about from winning. You don't have good chemistry from not winning because people don't like each other when they're not winning and things happen in the clubhouse when you're not winning and when we were playing that .500 streak last year our chemistry never changed, never changed. We were the same group of guys, same attitude, same demeanor, same everything. And once it started picking up it was funner (sic) because we were winning but the chemistry never changed."

GC: "You didn't lose anybody to whom you would attibute that, like you lost Pedro obviously and I guess you lost some of the smaller role guys like Dave Roberts but the key guys are back..."

CS: "Yeah, but you know what there's come chemistry guys that aren't here. (GC: Like who?) Gabe Kapler. David McCarty. Both those guys were an enormous part of this team's relief valve. Very, very big parts. And I think Mac is probably as big a part of this clubhouse and this team as anybody on the roster. (GC: So was it a mistake to cut him loose?) Oh, I don't...I'm... I'm just saying it's different. It's just very different and this clubhouse you've gotta have some guys that can alleviate the, I say this word loosely, the stress, in this game. People want to call it a game, and you play a game for a living, but it's a job. Don't kid yourself. It pays well? Sure. But there are the same day-to-day stresses coming in and out and maybe even more so in this market and having guys like McCarty and Kapler and Dave Roberts in the clubhouse... D-Lowe, I mean just real guys that kept it real free and easy."

Hourly Sox Coverage is Not for Everyone

"If you would have said that we were going to be a .500 team at the start of May and our infield was going to have two home runs, I would have thought we'd be playing with 7 or 8 guys on the disabled list. But that's the way it is. It's such a cliche sport but they're so true. You're talking about 162 games. In this town it's so different because the fans ride an enormous emotional roller coaster every game and I think that fever is brought on by the media, and the amount of coverage and the amount of publicity that this team gets on an hourly basis. Players just cannot get caught up in that and that's one of the strengths of playing in another city and it can be a strength here if you can isolate yourself inside that clubhouse and just focus on what you're doing."

Curt's Injury is Bad to the Bone

"It wasn’t a bruise, it was a stress reaction, which is a precursor to a stress fracture. That’s one of the considerations we’re looking at. There’s some differences of opinion as to exactly what it is and I’m not sure that anybody can be 100% sure unless… the MRIs are not perfect. We’ve done what we can do test-wise, now it’s up to how I feel and how they think it’s coming along. It was a real sharp pain (after the pitch), and it kind of stayed with me and didn’t go away and I knew something had happened and in my gut I thought that maybe I had broken scar tissue, adhesions, or something. I had what’s called an osteochondral defect in the ankle also last year which is what I had dealt with from April on and that was basically a bone bruise that got bad and when you continue to bruise a bone, the bone dies, and part of that bone died and so when they went in there to do one of the surgeries, one of the four surgeries they did was remove part of that bone. And when they do that they go in and they fracture the bone that’s left and let it heal over itself. And things accumulate. And this is a small joint and so there’s a lot going on in there. I think this is a real inexact science from the standpoint of when it’s gonna be right. I’m sure it’s not overnight, but I’m not that it’s 14 days. That’s why we’re pushing everything else as hard as we can to make sure that I don’t fall behind in any other spots. If I can get out and play some catch I’m going to try and do that. Today, or tomorrow, or whenever we think it’s right, keep my arm in shape and be ready to go. There’s a lot going on. I’m wearing the boot around the clock. I’m using the bone stimulator two to three times a day. Getting treatment from Russell at the ballpark. Sue Falsone and Craig Friedman from API out in Phoenix are out to see me and doing some things and Sue was in on the surgery when I had it. Craig is the head of my rehab in the offseason. So we’ve got a lot of people going." -- 5.3.05 Curt Schilling on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan

Don't Ever Forget
What Happened to Torie

Boston Settles with Family of Slain College Student
O'Toole to Retire, But Not the Commissioner

Outlaw 'Students' Still Need to be Punished
And Torie's Shooter Brought to Justice

"I guess the best way to describe it is I feel like I'm in hell. It's so difficult to get up in the morning and know she's not going to be here." -- Dianne Snelgrove, Torie's mother

Video Clip Recorded Fatal Fenway Shooting

"Milien fired two shots from a pepper-pellet gun that was tucked into his shoulder, aimed at head level. Then voices on the video clip called out, "They hit her in the eye" and ''You [expletive] killed her," as the camera panned toward the sidewalk, where a man in the crowd signaled for help... ''I didn't know what he would be shooting at and I was trying to figure it out," the student said. ''No one was around."

"The video shows that only police were in close proximity to Milien. When the camera pans to the sidewalk, the crowds appear relatively calm, except for those near Snelgrove, calling for help... Chris Borgesani, a freelance cameraman who was nearby, also said the violence had cooled significantly by the time of the shooting." -- 11.13.04 Boston Globe

When You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail

A Simple Plan of Lining Lansdowne Street Before the Bars Let Out Would Have Prevented the Mob Scene... and the Shootings

A Rocky Start to 2005

Neal in the Coffin

Motor City Shakedown 8-3
Good Start for Gonzo

Who's on First?

Olerud Awakening

"I ran the bases today, hit, took ground balls. I feel good." -- 5.2.05 John Olerud on WEEI's Big Show

Sox Sign John Olerud to Minor League Deal
He'll Report to Ft. Myers to Rehab Foot
Is it the End of McCarty? Petagine in a Bottle? Competition for Millar?
Olerud Determined to Keep Playing

"There are some small bones in the foot, and he had some torn ligaments in there. [The surgeon] had to fuse the bones together, and the surgery went fine. The foot is getting better and he continues to rehab it, but he's not running on it yet."-- 2.3.05 Olerud's agent, Joe McIntosh

Is Kevin Out?

But He's in the Best Shape of His Life

"I've been in the weight room. I've worked as hard as I ever have this offseason, probably the hardest I ever have. I'm in the best shape I've ever been in just because of this whole thing (Mientkiewicz vs. Millar). I'd do pushups just to keep the nights going by." -- Kevin "Home Run" Millar on MLB.com

Everybody Hits

Clement, Foulke Shaky Again. Nixon, Mueller, Ortiz Lead Hit Parade
Sox Win First Series in Texas Since 2000, 6-5

Gammons on Tejada, Wade Miller, Kelly Shoppach, etc.
Damon on retiring, the Yankees, and other teams he'd play for
Rent-a-Wreck apologists in full swing even though Edgar has gotten a
free ride with no pressure or 'high intensity'

Bronson-of-a-Gun

Arroyo Stops Arlington Skid
Damon Delivers, Youk is Served, 9-2

ESPN's Steve Phillips: 'Sox Signing of Renteria Worst in MLB'
'Mets Signing Pedro Was The Best'

Cheats Skate

Make it 100 Games Bud, You're Only Going After the Manny Alexanders of the World Anyway

Fehr and Yawning: Selig Will Get Rejected on 50-Game Penalty for Steroids
(The $mart Players Using the High-End 'Roids Can Beat the Low-End Tests Anyway)
Damon Wants Stronger Penalties, 'Jason Garciaparra' Worried About 'False Positives'
Newsweek: Nomar and the S Word

Baseball's Still Not in the Clear

"Dr. X desn't sell the drugs (THG, a.k.a. the clear) to athletes, though; he prefers to deal with distributors. 'The users can't be trusted, even though they have thier (reputations) to lose because--guess what? They're users. They'll lie, cheat, steal, kill their grandma to get what they want.'...'I know my stuff is the best out there. I hear who's working with who. I know who's winning.'...'Here is this guy (Jason Giambi) with all the money in the world who's taking something you can find at Gold's Gym? You take Deca (a steroid) today and come back in 2006, and you're gonna pop (test positive). A guy on my stuff could walk into the test with a needle in his ass and not worry."... 'If the NFL wants to test for every known steroid, that's more than 100 tests per player--32 teams, 53 players, 100 tests; and they aren't cheap. And that's for known substances. I know there's 10 they don't know about.'" -- 4.25.05 Will Carroll, Sports Illustrated, The Creator (Will Carroll is coauthor of The Juice, which is in stores now)

Top Power Guys Off to Weak Starts
'Supplement' Restrictions Slowing Down Middle Relief?

Deep Thoughts

Here Comes the Pride

Phony? Baloney!

No Cold Feet, Just Hot Hand for Pierce
Pacers Can't Handle The Truth
Celtics Even Series 110-79