He's Got It Wade

Miller Bounces Back from Bad Outing to Clip Birds
Johnny Bangs Head Again But He's OK, Day-to-Day
Olerud is Double Trouble for Millar
Sox Sharp in 5-1 Win

"I plan to be back tomorrow. The only thing in question is my right knee." -- 5.31 Johnny is a Rock, Not Just a Rock Star

Schilling Now Shooting for July Return
WEEI Dennis and Callahan Audio:
Schilling On His Rehab and Slower Fastball

Millar Opens Up His Stance...

...On John Olerud, Throws Mientkiewicz Under the Bus a Bit,
And Makes a Heartfelt Statement to the Nation.

5.31 Kevin Millar sit-down with the press (paraphrased excerpts from WEEI): That’s just part of the business. Somebody thought he needed to be here. I’ve been a fan of John Olerud since I was in college and he was winning batting titles. John Olerud and myself is better than just myself at this time. He's a professional and I can learn a lot from him.

There's no right or wrong here. There's no 'who's better?' From Day One I've given everything I have to the Red Sox. None of this is for lack of effort. Ever. And there are other things you can bring to a team beside what shows up on the back of a baseball card. You want to know who’s backing you when things aren’t going your way. Everyone's behind you when you're hitting home runs. The true test is who’s on your side when things aren’t going your way, and I know my manager is on my side, and that feels good, so I've given my all since day one. The fans are behind me. How could they not be? People are behind me. But because I'm not doing good, people felt they gotta make a move. I've been scrapping at the plate, two home runs, but I did this last year and the patience paid off. Hey, the same guy's at first base.

It’s just like Edgar Renteria, Jekyll and Hyde, the fans were booing him, and now are loving him. If I'm 2-for-3, 3-for-4, 3-for-5 -- he's breaking out! It's the same (expletive), not rocket science. I've been booed before. I will be sitting down some games, no doubt about it. A day here and there will make the team better. I can sit behind John Olerud. There's a difference of a track record there. I learned from John Olerud. I'm mean, Doug Mientkiewicz, I love him to death. But that was my point. I don't think we were upgrading with him.

Doug and I are kidders. Last year was a different situation. I had gotten hot before he had come. This was not a jab, this was just (expletive). Doug and I are friends. He'll laugh when he hears it, or he should. He knows me.

When they bring in Troy Glaus up here, you'll be answering the same questions (after Bill Mueller chimed in).

I'll be all right. Olerud was a good signing, even if I were hot. He’s a veteran guy, had a great career, this guy can hit. He’s a nice guy, he’s a guy you learn from. He’s a guy who won a gold glove. He won a batting title. This is good stuff. This isn’t like a big controversy in this clubhouse. I’m fine, I’m okay. As much as you guys want to see me blow up, last year, yeah you’re gonna see that. I didn’t think that was an upgrade. This is definitely a situation that makes our club better. I’m here to win. This isn’t about Kevin Millar and the selfishness. I’ve never been selfish. I’ve been here day one, I’ve given everything I got to my teammates, my clubhouse, this city, the media, this team. That’s one thing you guys can’t say. I’m here everyday. Sometimes the results aren’t what I want, or what the fans want but it’s not lack of effort. From day one, I’ve given you everything I have, and I’m still going to do that. This is definitely an upgrade to our team.

The open stance was obviously something that I’ve never done and it worked last year for a couple of weeks. It worked 6-7 weeks and it was great, but I’m going back to just hitting like I hit before. Hopefully it clicks in and it works. But I’m basically just making my stance regular old bob, little bit of a bat whiffle, a little bit of a leap with the front hip, hopefully launch over the green monster, but last year was something that I had to make an adjustment, it just worked and it went off. This year, it’s been tough to find that same thing and I think it’s just odd because I don’t hit open. I did last year for that short of time but all the way through the Florida days, and a couple of years in a row I hit .300, I didn’t hit open.

Baltimore Flop

Bronson Arroyo-yo

The Young Starter Has Been Up and Down This Season
While Rodrigo Lopez is 6-1 at Fenway Since 2002

''I just got killed, straight up. They hit every pitch like they knew it was coming... It was like BP out there." -- 5.30 Bronson Arroyo

Home Cooking is a Dish Served Cold

Second Rate Effort Against First Place Team. Sox Lose Easy 8-1.

Rest in Peace J.P. Villaman

"Boston Gana!"

Dogs Pound

The proprietor of my favorite breakfast haunt, “Ernie’s” in Melrose reminds me that the customers don’t open to the paper to read about filibusters, war, or pressing social issues, they read the gossip column and sports.

Media Envy. A natural tension exists between broadcast media and print media, which now includes mainstream journalism, web destinations (www.bostondirtdogs.com being a flourishing one), and the cottage industry of blogging. Needless to say, no MCAS or SAT standards restrain any of the above. Once upon a time, “real” journalists skewered Rotisserie players (wannabes) and continue to lambaste the ‘Internet geeks’, as though they own the “sports thought” franchise. WEEI, as sports ‘think tank’ as it were.

Both sets of media educate, inform, and entertain their audiences. We also have to ask where to draw the line among news reporting, rumor, innuendo, and character assassination. This week, one of the more outspoken WEEI commentators replied that if he were going to get inside information, he’d go to ESPN Insider, not Dirt Dogs, the implication being that most Internet sites have neither scoops nor reliable data. Peter Gammons defended the site; he correctly reported that overseer Steve Silva has numerous sources both within and outside the sports world. Time has proven Mr. Silva right on numerous occasions, from the extent of player injuries to obscure signings from Japan.

You want economy; you have to pay for it. Athletes, like other celebrities, sacrifice elements of privacy in exchange for the oversized salaries they earn. Some perform better for the media than they do on the field, which can enhance their popularity, prolong their careers, and even lead to broadcasting careers (e.g. Steve Lyons).

“Baseball isn’t a matter of life or death, it’s a lot more important than that.” Monster seats don’t go for $999 on eBay because of a lack of interest. Yogi Berra was right, “that place is so busy that nobody goes there anymore.”  When people care enough to spend weeks’ salary on entertainment, they care about players’ health, players' weight, Wonderlic scores, and whether they get enough rest. The average shoeshine boy in Boston knows about rotator cuff and labrum tears, and the fragility of the ulnar collateral ligament. When people talk about mechanics around here, it’s as likely to be about arm slot or throwing across their body as about auto repairs. So if Dirt Dogs reports that Keith Foulke may have visited Dr. James Andrews’ shop in Alabama, fans want to know if he’s hurting. Do they have a right to know? I’m not sure, but Mr. Foulke clearly understands that he’s not ‘just plain folk’ around here. He’s sports royalty and his subjects ‘need to know’.

Internet paparazzi? Unwritten rules do protect the athletes from themselves, too. The national focus on performance-enhancing drugs abrogates that limit, but many others exist. You don’t hear or read about athletes’ philandering or sometimes overindulgence in the ‘worship of Bacchus’, because it’s simply off-limits. By the time we know a problem exists, you can be sure the players’ families, front office, teammates, clubhouse attendants, parking lot guys, and peanut vendors know it.

It happens. Publicizing players’ ethical challenges doesn’t serve anybody’s benefit, and are ordinarily handled in house. A former Patriot player told me that Ray Berry was a fantastic coach because of his skill in handling not only football responsibilities but also off-field issues, ironic considering the scandal erupting after Super Bowl XX. Sometimes a player gets a positive reputation for being a standup guy in dealing with the media (e.g. Jim Rice’s accountability when negative performance affected the outcome of a game) or by virtue of being a solid citizen away from home. Roger Clemens, whatever your take, always carried a reputation as being the straightest arrow in the quiver.

Humbling profession. I’m not talking about baseball. “What’s the difference between God and surgeons? God doesn’t think he’s a surgeon.” The most successful doctors thrive off the triad and truism of accessibility, affability, and ability. Doctor Bert Zarins has maintained a good reputation with the Patriots in the background. Dr. Bill Morgan’s medical stewardship of the Sox ran aground. Physicians aren’t any different than anybody else with respect to personal lives and frailty. I don’t know if there have been any physician saints since Cosmas and Damian. How Dr. Thomas Gill’s tenure goes with the Red Sox may not necessarily depend on his skill, but his luck, too. Medicine isn’t nearly as exact a science as people want to believe, and ‘House’ is as typical a doctor as John Rocker was a typical relief pitcher.

Turf wars. A turf war for ‘eyes’ reigns just as much in the media world as it does in the sports world. Sports radio has a loyal and demanding audience, and mostly gives the fans what they want. We’re fortunate not only to have fascinating teams to follow but passionate sports journalism in Boston, too. Attempts to lessen the credibility of print media, even ‘Internet geeks’ diminishes only the critics. As my son reminded me when he was in high school, “it’s OK, Dad, geeks rule the world.” Just ask John Henry; I’m sure he’d agree.

-- Ron Sen, Boston Dirt Dogs contributor (Check out Ron's blog, Red Sox Reality Check)

20/20 Archives

In memory of those who have died in our nation's service.

PAY THE RENT
HIS PROPS TONIGHT

Boo Birds: Get to the Orioles Game Early Tonight
You Owe Rent a Standing-O in His First At-Bat
Hey La Russa, How You Like Me Now?

Def Champs Have
Yankees Number

Papi Comes Up Big, Rent Owns The Stadium,
But Wells Was the Star in 7-2 Sox Win

Sweet '16'

Boomer Gets the Babe Off His Back
And Keeps New York Off Balance All Night Long

Boston Massacre
in the Bronx

Edgarand Slam Leads Slaughter in Stadium

(And Let's Hear Some Big Cheers for the Hot Shortstop on Monday)

Sox Bang Out 27 Hits in Near Record Romp
Will Torre Ask Tito to Apologize for Running Up Score?

Manny Wakes Up with Four Singles
Damon Gets Sox Motor Running with 4 Hits
Trot, 5 RBI, 3-Run HR, Just Keeps on Ticking
Foulke Has Perfect Inning, Looking for Reporters to Talk To

MC Hammer

Matt Pounds Yanks. Clement is the Cement of Sox Staff.
And Should Be 7-0.
Sox Are the Bombers in 17-1 Win
Photos from Saturday's Game

Olerud Awakening: John Gets 3 Hits in Debut. Millar Expected to Start Tonight.

Gammons Latest: Foulke Saw Dr. Fleisig for Delivery Evaluation

"Keith Foulke took last Monday's off-day to go see Dr. Glen Fleisig and the staff at ASMI in Birmingham for an evaluation of his delivery. Because ASMI is in conjuncton with Dr. James Andrews, there were reports that Foulke was having shoulder problems. Foulke would not discuss it. "Every player has the right to privacy," said one Sox official. "Most of our pitchers go there at some point each year." Why not? Fleisig might be one of the best practicioners of pitching biomechanics in the world." -- 5.28 Gammons Notes, ESPN.com

Game Over in
a New York Minute

Embree? Oh No Tito!

You Cannot Have Embree Face Sheffield with the Game on the Line. Period.
The Entire City of Boston Knew Sheff Would Crush One Tito, Why Didn't You?
Where Was Mantei? Where Was Timlin?
Forget Sveum, That's Bad Baserunning. This One's on Tito.
''That's a little early to start mixing and matching.
Alan's had success vs. those guys." -- Francona
NO, IT'S NOT TOO EARLY. THAT WAS THE CRITICAL INNING.
THAT WAS THE BALLGAME. THAT WAS THE TIME TO MAKE A MOVE.
Wrong Number Tito: It's not Sheff's career 1-for-6, it's Embree's 6 home runs

Yankees continue to roll with 6-3 win

With the Great Weather We're Having,
It's a Good Weekend for Dinner and a Movie

Oh and "Go Sox!"

Show Me the Manny!

No Ma Excuses My Friend. It's Time.

Sox Stagger into the Bronx

Mr. Concrete Feet and Crew Need to Step Up this Weekend

Rock Star: "We're a really bad team right now."
Edes Chat Wrap on Weekend Series in NY

Swept Away

Must Win Turns to Just Lose
Sox Drop to 4th Place in AL East

Chacin Better Days, 8-1
Silver Lining: Millar, Rent Bats Come Alive

SOX SLIP BACK INTO

AS DEAD ASS TEAM RETURNS

Olerud Awakening

John Olerud, Kelly Shoppach Called Up. Jeremi Gonzalez Sent Down.

"This guy is a veteran. I've been a big fan of John Olerud for a long time. He was a great hitter and a great player." -- Kevin Millar on John Olerud

You Too?

Bono Expected to Chime in on 'Bama, BBQs and Foulke Tonight at the FleetCenter

Deathofthebambino Has Bingo on 'Bamagate

5.27.05: Excerpts of Foulke speaking on WEEI in his weekly appearance Friday:

On good barbecue places in Birmingham:

Keith Foulke: “Dreamland. World famous.”

On being scheduled to be in Cooperstown on Monday:

KF: “It’s just one of those things, yeah I was supposed to be in Cooperstown but there was something I had to take care of and so I had to go take care of it."

On whether he saw a doctor in Alabama:

KF: “I tried to tell everybody, you know what? Unfortunately for the way I’m pitching there is no health issue. There’s some stuff I had to take care of. End of story."

On talking to people about his mechanics in Alabama:

KF: “That’s one of those deals where that’s kind of where the story ends. No, there’s no health issue. There’s nothing wrong with me physically. Mentally that’s a different story. But that’s kind of the end of the story right there."

What's Up with the Doc?

Herald: Sox Players Unhappy with New Team Doctor

Sox Players Want a Second Opinion

"According to clubhouse sources, Sox ace Curt Schilling visited with team owner John Henry recently to express clubhouse dissatisfaction with the team's new medical staff. ...Privately, at least, players have expressed some frustration about daily accessibility to Gill and about a lack of communication. One clubhouse source said players were amused when Schilling was given the broad range of 2-12 weeks for recovery from his latest ankle ailment, calling the assessment a ``cover your (butt)'' diagnosis." -- 5.26.05 Boston Herald, Tony Massarotti

Schilling Return May be Distant

"According to sources, Schilling was told roughly a month ago that he could need up to 12 weeks to recover from an ankle ailment that forced him to the disabled list on April 29. Based on that time frame, Schilling could be out until the middle or end of July." -- 5.26.05 Boston Herald, Tony Massarotti

The Left Stuff

Sox Can't Hit It

Sox Wilt Against Lilly Again and Again
Struggles Against Lefthanders Continue

Mental and Physical Errors, Pressing at the Plate,
and Undisciplined Play Rule the Day as Jays Win Easy

Things That Make You Go Hmmm:
Foulke Watches 6-6 Game Last Night, Pitches in 6-1 Loss Tonight

Foulkegate Closed

Lucchino Says Foulke Traveled to
Get a ‘Fix on Some Mechanical Issues’

Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino addressed the Foulke situation this morning in his weekly appearance on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan. Gerry Callahan: “Are you concerned, and do you even know the state of your closer physically, mentally? Do you know where he was Monday?

Larry Lucchino: Ah yes we do. We know where he was Monday. We know he was traveling to try to get a fix on some mechanical issues. There’s no physical issue that I’m aware of. But sure, you’re concerned. No team wins in this day and age without an effective closer. Keith Foulke was a very effective closer for us last year and has been for several years. So of course you’re concerned about it, but we have a lot of faith in the guy and he’s gonna work himself through whatever mechanical issues he has and it is essential for that to happen because without a bullpen, without a closer, you’re gonna find yourself watching in October. …We don’t want to have a backup plan, we think Keith Foulke is the plan. We do have Matt Mantei by the way who has closed for two teams in baseball in Florida and in Arizona and he is a guy with plenty of closer experience as well but I don’t think we’re ever gonna have to get to that.