No Guts, No Glory

Clemens Can't Take the Heat of a Playoff Race in Boston
So He'll Take the Money and Fade Away Quietly in Houston

Clemens OKs $22M Deal to Return to Astros
Photo Gallery: Roger and the Red Sox
Sox Comment on Clemens-to-Astros

Extra Bases: Pena to Have Wrist Surgery, Mirabelli Gets Start
Meet David Pauley | Eric Wilbur: Rotating Reservations

Paid for the Privilege

A Sox fan behind the dugout had an apparent verbal confrontation with Keith Foulke after the reliever's departure.

I haven't been to a Red Sox game for more than a year. I'm sure that I've been to hundreds over the years, and verbal abuse has traditionally been a part of the Fenway experience. Sort of like Durgin Park, except meaner and with poorer quality food. Except usually it's the fans who suffer. At least in the past, the Kevin Bacon six degrees of separation shrank to only three seats of separation from the nearest patron "in the bag."

Do you feel superior when you "trash" a professional who hasn't performed up to his best? (Why blog then?) What have you done for me lately? (Anybody else think Foulke should have been the World Series 2004 MVP?) Is it your right to heckle because you ponied up 75 bucks? (Nobody can hear you in the bleachers anyway.) Did you just forget your medicine? (Lordy, it's so expensive, I can understand that.) Are you the best in the city at your profession and never had a bad day? (Guess we can leave that one out.)
Yes, Keith Foulke may not be Mr. Lovable, with his "Johnny from Burger King" act, and he isn't at the peak of his career. He's had a rough go of it lately, and I'm perfectly willing to cut him beaucoup slack. And I don't want to hear about overpaid professional athletes. Do you offer to give back your salary if you have a bad day? Did you impress your significant other with your macho display? But to what end does vilifying mediocrity at the ballpark serve you or your peers? (Again I guess that wouldn't apply to blogging or Larry Lucchino, but I digress.)

Did you know that between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. one out of every 13 drivers is intoxicated? God forbid we hear the statistics for Red Sox fans. Of course, at 7 bucks a beer (or whatever they charge), the Sox are making public drunkenness pricier, if not more difficult.

Now I don't know if the "plaintiff" (boorish heckler) was intoxicated, or even paid for his ticket. (Does free advice or criticism have a higher place in the hierarchy of free speech?) Maybe he's proud of himself for putting Foulke in his place. Somehow I think Foulke knows a good outing from something less. And we know that baseball isn't even Foulke's favorite sport.

We Bostonians pride ourselves on our sophistication and savoir faire. We have some of the finest educational institutions in the world, and along with global warming the compassion warming has occurred in the Hub, at least relative to the '70s. I'm for taking boorish behavior out of the ballpark and putting it back online where it belongs. Amnesty for Johnny Damon, humanity for Keith Foulke, and maybe even for the rest of the mercenaries in the bullpen if they can get a few outs...

Let's leave the heartless criticism of ballplayers where it belongs, to the sportswriters.

-- Ron Sen, Boston Dirt Dogs contributor and founder of Red Sox Reality Check

Can Pauley Get the Job Done?

Theo's Choice Will Be Put to the Test in Toronto

Well, Well, Wells

Josh Joins the Floundering Red Sox Starters Club
V-Wells Has His Way with Sox Again and Again and Again

Powerhouse Jays Blast Sox 8-5, Now 7-3 vs. Boston
When Beckett's Bad, He's Horrendous
House of Glaus: Troy Takes Beckett Deep Twice Too
9.82 ERA: Riske Business is Pretty Much Bankrupt
Justin Speier Owns Manny Ramirez

Papi Pops Off on Sox Pitchers

"They've got good hitters. But we're not pitching the way we're supposed to. That's what I say. When we come to hit, they don't give us [anything] to hit. Why do we have to give them [something] to hit? That's it. I mean, the guy is hitting three homers on pretty much the same pitch, something up in the strike zone. [When] I hit one, I don't see another pitch again all night. We've got to make adjustments." -- 5.30.06, David Ortiz to the Globe's Chris Snow

'Wayback' Clement Puts Sox Too Far Behind

"You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day..." -- Bad Day, Daniel Powter

Staff on Brink of Disaster After Another Clement Collapse
Safe? Sorry: Youk Had To Throw to Third to Save Game
Riske, No Reward, Blue Jays 7, Boston 6

Manny Plays, And Shows Up
Tito Should Have Used More Delcarmen and Van Buren
Coco Crisp and Ramirez Lead the Comeback Charge
Jason "Remember Me" Varitek Leads By Example
Was the Infield Too In on Hillenbrand Winner?

Eric Wilbur: The So-So Sox
Survey: Who Should Start on Wednesday?

Extra Bases: The Latest on Clemens

Can't Find a Better Matt

Theo Covers Clement with New Song for Pearl Jam

Waitin', watchin' the clock
It's Renteria again
It's got to stop
Tell him, pitch no more
He practices his speech
Then he opens the door, MC rolls over
Pretends to watch as Tito hooks him, it’s over

He lies “his stuff’s good enough to win”
Can't find a better Matt
He dreams of Clemens wearing the red
Can't find a better Matt
Can't find a better Matt
Can't find a better Matt

Ohh no
Talkin' to himself
Everyone else already seems to know
He tells himself, oh

Memories back when he was bold and strong
And waiting for Boston to come along
Swears he knew him, now he swears he's gone

He lies “his stuff’s good enough to win”
Can't find a better Matt
He dreams of Clemens wearing the red
Can't find a better Matt
He lies “his stuff’s good enough to win”
Can't find a better Matt
He dreams of Clemens wearing the red
Can't find a better Matt
Can't find a better Matt
Can't find a better Matt

Yeah
Theo loved him
He don't want him to leave this way
He needs him, yeah
That's why he'll be back again
Can't find a better Matt
Can't find a better Matt
Can't find a better Matt
Can't find a better Matt

714*

*It's the Real Deal

Aaron and Ruth and Pray for the Truth

Well, Hello Coco

Crisp Finally Makes Fenway Debut After Missing 42;
Sox Bullpen Falls Apart After Huge Wake

Loretta Leads the Charge on Offense Again, Sox Sweep 5-4
Mirabelli Almost Lets the Game Pass Him By But Hangs On at the End
Defense Never Rests: Gonzo, Lowell Keep Throwing the Leather
Harris Shows Some Stick and Sticks Gathright at the Plate
The Seanez and Tavarez Show Must Not Go On
More Bad News: Timlin on DL, Wells a No-Go

``I just feel like I'm hitting the ball consistently hard and the majority of the balls are falling in this month. I stick to the process and try to take as much emotion as I can out of it." -- 5.28.06, Mark Loretta, hitting .410 in May

Curtain Call

Win No. 200: Saturday Night's Special for Schill
Sox Win 6-4

Loretta's On Fire, Stays Hot
Manny Decides to Sit This One Out
Nixon Steps Up to Cleanup with Three RBIs
As a Left Fielder, Youk Makes a Great First Baseman
Foulke, Papelbon Nail Down Historic Win

"Just walking on that field after the game is an experience I'll never forget. Those are the things that, when you're done playing, they last forever, the memories the fans can create for you." -- 5.27.06, Curt Schilling on His Curtain Call

It's Not-So-Friendly Fenway for Foulke

Johnny from Burger King Gets Keith's Attention
Was Foulke Asking 'Do You Want Fries with That?'

Frustrated Foulke Trying to Find Consistency

Down Goes Boomer

David Didn't Kneed This

Wells Drilled on Right Knee By Travis Lee Line Drive
Has Deep Contusion, No Sign of Serious Injury So Far

And All That Kaz: Sox Finally Get to Top Lefty, Tavarez Gets Win, 8-4
Ortiz Turns the Game Around with Bases Clearing Double
Have You Voted for Mike Lowell Today?

"I thought he looked great. The ball came out of his hand well. He threw fastballs from both sides of the plate. His velocity was good. He fielded his position well, got off the mound off the bunt real well. We weren't just encouraged, we were thrilled." -- 5.26.06, Tito on Wells before he got drilled

Extra Bases: Dustan Demoted | Wilbur: Special K
Edes Mailbag: No Quick Fix Needed

Electric Company

Beckett, Papelbon Power Sox Past D-Rays

Short and Sweet Night for Young Guns Josh, John
Ace Was Razor Sharp for Six; Closer Gets 16th Save in 4-1 Win
Sweet Loretta: Mr. Right Place, Right Time is Hitting at a .303 Mark
'Tek Gets His Average Up to .235, Papi Snaps Out of Big Slump
Tough Night for Timlin, Love the Four-Out Save

"He had no-hit stuff tonight. He really did. It was electric. They had some real strong, long at-bats ... and just kind of made Josh run out of gas." -- Terry Francona on Beckett's Outing

Is Tito Hanging His Starters Out to Dry?

Because 3 of the Starting 5 Are Getting Taken to the Cleaners

Extra Bases: Coco Gets Into the Swing of Things
Gordon Edes Chat Wrap: About Last Night, Clement, Manny, and Mohr
Bradford: Flaherty Still Picking Apart Big Unit's Problems
Eric Wilbur: No Position to Make

If Clement Keeps Getting Used As Target Practice

Maybe It's Time for a Change...

Clembarrassment!

Clement Got Nailed... And Hammered
Matt Torments Sox With Underwhelming, Uninspired Outing
Wildcard Wannabees Can't Kick Yanks While They're Down

JV Bombers Put Sox in the Hurt Box, 8-6
Manny on Fire: Numbers Starting to Add Up After ManRam Moon Shots
Hustle and Go: You Can't Stop the M-Train DeMarlo, Nor Can You Contain It
(Especially with the New Manny Being Speedy During His Home Runs)
Wily Mo No-Go: Pena Doesn't Go for the Plate on Wild Ball to the Backstop
Pennant McPheever Grips Hub? No Soul Patrol Sox Stuck in American League East Idle
Youk the Man: Mr. OBP Continues to Contribute Night In and Night Out
Bottom Feeders: Back of the Order Full of Ordinary People
Big Floppi: Ortiz Has a Bad Night Wrestling New York Arms
Mohr or Less? ...Less
Photo Galleries: Game Pics | The Scene at Fenway

Extra Bases: Notes and Observations About Last's Night's Sox Loss
WEEI Audio: John Henry Talks About Clemens and Other Sox Business
Tito Plans to Give Manny a Day Off Now That He's Heating Up

Hell Week in the Fens

The calendar might say May, but don't take the summer whites out of mothballs just yet. In this land of eternal September, there will be a distinctive autumn nip in the air this week as the Red Sox dig in against their chief antagonists in three key matchups that should offer the first prognostications for October on Yawkey Way.

The curtain lifts tonight as 5-4 Randy Johnson takes the mound for the Yankees at Fenway Park. Next comes Scott Kazmir (7-2) on Friday when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays come to town. The anchor will be Ted Lilly (4-4), who awaits in Toronto where the Sox will close a three-game series one week from tonight.

The three lefties have combined for a 14-3 record in their 27 starts against the Red Sox dating back to 2004. That's when Lilly rejoined the American League East and Kazmir came over in a trade with the Mets. Johnson arrived in the Bronx a season later.

Most of this damage was inflicted last season. The triumvirate of Johnson, Kazmir, and Lilly combined for a 9-1 record with a 3.27 ERA, .222 batting average against, and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings over their 16 Boston starts. They arguably played a bigger role in the Red Sox abdicating the AL East crown than did Keith Foulke's knees, Edgar Renteria's glove, or Kevin Millar's bat. During last September's homestretch, the Sox lost four of the five games started by a member of the lefty trio and watched their 3½ game Labor Day lead evaporate.

It was Johnson who turned in the marquee performance of that run. On September 11, he held Boston to one hit over seven innings in a 1-0 win at Yankee Stadium. Granted, the version of the Big Unit we saw two weeks ago was more like the Big Eunuch. The Sox pounded him for five hits and seven runs — three earned — in an appearance characterized by the New York media as gutless. Moreover, he is pitching poorly this year, certainly more so than in the start of his first season in the Bronx. But when the weather warmed last year, so did RJ. He finished 17-8, including 5-0 in six starts against Boston.

Whereas Johnson was an addition of gluttony, Lilly and Kazmir were additions of necessity. For Toronto and Tampa Bay to see October any time soon, they have to forge inroads against either Boston or New York. After the 2003 season, the Red Sox certainly appeared the more attainable. Perhaps empowered by Boston's 26-27 record in games started by lefties, the Jays and Rays both set out to bolster their rotations by juggling southpaws.

Toronto moved Mark Hendrickson — who never mastered his surroundings at the SkyDome — to Tampa Bay and acquired Lilly. The Jays also called up Gustavo Chacin late in the 2004 season. Meanwhile the Devil Rays, in addition to picking up Hendrickson, signed John Halama and traded for Kazmir before the 2004 deadline. With so much mud slung on the walls that partitioned them from the AL East's elite, some was bound to stick. In the case of Lilly and Kazmir, some did.

The forced intimacy brought on by an unbalanced schedule has produced one silver lining for intra-divisional have-nots. Scheduling 19 games against divisional foes is MLB's equivalent to housing five siblings under the same roof. With that much time together, you learn everything about your brother and that knowledge helps you in cutting an existence of your own. It's hard to hide dirty laundry.

Just ask Mariano Rivera who has blown only 11 save opportunities since 2003, but six to the Red Sox, who are well acquainted with his cutter. Ask David Ortiz, whose .327 start was interrupted by a Devil Rays shift that employed four outfielders and a semi-vacant infield. He's hit .250 since as other teams have employed shifts of their own.

That's what makes this week so important. Tampa Bay and Toronto have been watching and taking notes. The former makes a dangerous spoiler who finds vindication in watching Kazmir shut down their feuding partners to the north. The latter have now graduated to contender status and savor the potential two-game swing in the standings whenever Lilly is up against their rivals. As for the Yankees, they will always be that immovable big brother that hogs the bathroom.

Each now owns a policy that insures it for some degree of success against Boston. All have collected on it in the past and will make claims at every opportunity to come. No such policy is currently in force against the Yankees, nor has one been since Tawny Kitaen knocked hubby Chuck Finley out of baseball with a right cross.

So, the Sox lineup can figure on a steady dose of Johnson, Kazmir, and Lilly for the remainder of the season. That's 11 potential starts in all, kicking off tonight. Pretty substantial for a division that was determined by a tiebreaker last year.

-- Bob Ekstrom, Boston Dirt Dogs contributor and writer at Sports Central

The Virtual Villain

From Sony Online Entertainment: Curt Schilling is not only a baseball hero but also a virtual villain battling in a video game -- for a good cause. His computer-generated likeness will live in the online world of EverQuest II during the Yankees vs. Red Sox series June 5 - 7. Log into www.battleals.com, challenge Schilling and for every victory Sony Online Entertainment will donate $5 dollars (up to $10,000) to the ALS Association, benefiting patients with Lou Gehrig's Disease.

A-Bomb Finishes
Boston's B Team

Too Little, Too Late: Tito Pulls a Grady and
Leaves Wake in to Serve Up Homemade Meatball
Yanks Outmatch, Outwit, Outplay Stranded Sox, 7-5

Holy Runners Left on Base Batman!
This Too Will Pass: Miserabelli Has a Bard Day's Night
(Can We Gas Up the Plane and Get .364 Josh Back from San Diego?)
In Tito We Trust? One Big At-Bat is Too Much 'Wear and Tear' for 'Tek?
In Style Mannyzine: HR Manny Likes to Watch... a Sox Rally Fall Short
(Wait Until Josh Beckett Gets a Hold of Him for Disrespecting Proctor)
No More Wrist Stops: Like Damon, Wily Mo Can Play Hurt, Tito
What If Cora Keeps Hitting Like Hanley Ramirez?
Harris Poll: Survey Said He Just Can't Hit
Youk Too? Kevin Chokes in the Clutch
J.T. No! Don't Let It Snow Tito
Photo Galleries: Game Pics | The Scene at Fenway

"I'm a fly-ball pitcher, I'm pitching in one of the smallest parks in the American League... It's one of those things where if it ain't working, it's going to leave the ballpark quick." -- 5.23.06, Tim Wakefield, Always One Bad Pitch Away from Disaster

Money Can't Buy Him Love

Johnny Long Ball Gets Yanks Off on the Right Foot

"My loyalty is to the team that has me. I'm going to play very hard for the Yankees and getting these big hits against the Red Sox, yeah, I love it. I know the fans hate it because they knew I was helping them out in a big way because of the past four years. It's their loss. I know that and they know it." -- 5.23.06, Johnny Damon on the big hit and the big loss

Eric Wilbur: Bottom's Looking Up
Let It Snow in San Fran: Giants Interested in J.T.

Command Performance

The Comeback Curt Was Great for Eight
Sox Knock Around Banged-Up Bombers, 9-5

Down on the Corner: Efficient Ace Was in Control All Night Long
From Top to Bottom: Widespread Offensive Added Insult to Injuries
It's Swingtime in Boston: Ortiz Gets Sox Rolling on 3-and-0 RBI
The Invisible Manny Makes an Appearance with Homer No. 8
The Long and Short of It: Should Cora Platoon with Gonzo?
Foulke Implosion: Imagine if Keith Was Still the Closer
Photo Galleries: Game Pics | The Scene at Fenway

"That team right now is decimated. They've lost some very significant people. That's not going to be the same team the next time we see them. We have to take advantage of it now." -- 5.22.06, Curt Schilling on Getting Career Win No. 199 Against a Depleted Yankees Squad

WEEI Audio: Schilling Talks About His Big Bounce Back
Eric Wilbur: Tempting to Bury the Yankees
Survey: Time to Count the Yankees Out?

Will the Second Coming Be
Any Better for Johnny?

He's Just Throwing It Out There ...

"To whom it may concern: Red Sox fans disgraced themselves on Johnny Damon's return. As much as I hate Damon now that he's a Yankee like everyone else, we had one game to show Damon our appreciation for four years he spent in Boston. We play New York 19 times, and we couldn't cheer him once and then boo him the 18 times after that. However, you guys at Dirt Dogs know this already. The real reason why I'm writing to you is that, as a site that has daily and mass contact with Red Sox Nation, I think you should begin a campaign to help Red Sox fans get it right the second time around. The next time the Yankees come to town, Red Sox fans should smarten up and give him the standing ovation he deserved. After that, we may boo him as we wish, but he deserves one standing ovation from the fans. I thank you for taking the time to read my e-mail and considering my idea."   -- Boston Dirt Dogs e-mailer Mike Fulton

Bradford: Schilling Willing, But Is He Able? | Wilbur: Hype Is at a Loss
Boston.com: Red Sox Report Card | Ask the Magic 8-Ball a Question
Bob Ryan: The Sox I Know | Extra Bases: Coco Crisp Takes BP

Fifth Starter Fiasco