Around the Bellhorn

On your Mark, get set, Mueller and Roberts go home
Sox win in walk off, 3-2

MLB.con: "Sox lose as Bellhorn strikes out"

Ian Browne checks in with "Dewey beats Truman" gaffe.

"Hi, I am the author of the bogus story that was up on MLB.com for a few moments last night. here is what happened. i have a deadline of filing the story at the last pitch. in the type of game that last night was, my only choice is having one story ready to go if they win and one if they lose. unfortunately, in my rush to get down the locker room after bellhorn's hit, i sent the WRONG microsoft word attachment file to my editor. for some reason, my editor deployed the story as was, without making the changes, even though this person was indeed aware of the final score and knew that the Red Sox had won. it was an operator error on my part, and a terrible editing error on the other side. basically my mistake was flicking the wrong switch, and after all, isn't that why i have editors? anyway, if you could please run my explanation in any way possible, i would appreciate that. i don't want people to think i was making up the wrong score and didn't know that the Red Sox actually won the game. it's tough being compared to Dewey defeats Truman :) thanks a bunch." -- Ian Browne, MLB.com

Schill Win Blown

Curt came up big but Foulke blows save and gets win

Deja O's All Over Again

Mora the same, Wake comes undone,
Baltimore owns Boston 9-6

Sox lose third straight but Ace has 21 tomorrow

Lowe Boat to China Club?

Change in the Weather May Have Forecast Lousy Performance

After the Sox beat the best closer in baseball Friday night, the forecast called for a long period of heavy rain on Saturday. So did D-Lowe and friends decide to stay out a little late thinking they had the next day off? Reports are circulating among people who live in New York City and other media types that some players went out on the town after the big comeback win in the Bronx. One source told Boston Dirt Dogs that Derek and a few teammates were out at the famed China Club past 3:30am Saturday morning. The rain stopped a few hours later and the Sox soon found themselves down 9-0 to the Yankees after the second inning later that afternoon.

"D-Lowe looked like he had an hour of sleep." -- Michael Felger, Fox Sports Net

"...have to wonder if they did not believe it (the game) was going to be played." -- Greg Dickerson, Fox Sports Net

Time to Take a Walk
on the Wild Side

"I went to the miserable game yesterday at Yankee Stadium. I'm done seeing the Red Sox. They broke my heart yesterday and nearly got me arrested for assault. At least this time I wasn't fighting an 11 year-old. No, this time it was his trash father...." -- Sox fan Sara Stonner, New York City

NEW YORK NIGHTMARE

Pete Can't Even Compete

Not ready to go Pedro is a no-show like D-Lowe. No excuses necessary for sorry Sunday effort. Subtract the division from the equation.

Sox played like Ryder Cup Runnerups 11-1

Manny can't get the ball out of the infield while Tek is 0-for-34 for the Bronx

More Good News and Positive Signs: No-Name Baltimore Oriole Lefthander Facing Sox on First Game Back from Road Trip

BRONX BLOWEOUT

Fore! Yankees 14 Boston 4

Gidget Goes South in Gotham

A Real EmBorasment and a Tubthumping

We'll be singing
When we're winning
We'll be singing

He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down
He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down
He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down

Pissing the game away
Throwing to the wrong base

He drinks a whisky drink
He drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink
He drinks a cider drink
His agent tries to remind him of the good times
He's been in games that remind him of the better times:

"Oh Derek Lowe, Derek Lowe, Derek Lowe..."

He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down
He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down
He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down

Pissing the game away
Throwing to the wrong base

He drinks a whisky drink
He drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink
He drinks a cider drink
He sings the songs that remind him of the good times
He sings the songs that remind him of the better times:

"Don't cry for me, George Steinbrenner..."

He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down
He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down
He gets knocked down but he gets up again
You're never going to keep him down

We'll be singing
When we're winning
We'll be singing

Johnny Apple Seed

Damon Plants a Game Winner,
Sox Confidence Grows

Nixon, Roberts, Cabby, Johnny Cash in on Rivera Comeback Kids Win It in Ninth,
Foulke Closes it Out 3-2

Money Grab

Catch of the Year

Let's Go Bronxon Arroyo

No 'tip your cap' to them. No 'turn the page,' no 'whatever it happens,' no 'we'll get 'em tomorrow.' No excuses. No marathons. No backdoor wildcard.

B.ullpen K.ey?

"BK had a hip flexor problem at the tail end of the minor league season, he's here working out, getting ready both physically and mentally for 2005. He's been making progress of late. He's going to throw a couple of side sessions. If that goes well, I wouldn't rule out his contributing this year."-- GM Theo Epstein, Red Sox Pre-Game Show on WEEI

TWENTY
SOMETHING
SPECIAL

There's a New Scheriff in Town

Damon, Millar Go the Distance for Schill
Sox Trump Tampa 11-4

A Ton of Seats

The Boston Red Sox announced their intention to add an additional two thousand seats to venerable Fenway Park. In the past few seasons, the Sox have modified the ballpark by adding the Monster Seats and the right field roof seats without changing the atmosphere or the character of the venue. New box seats have also crept ever closer to the playing surface, with fans able to distinguish the cologne of players (not Bartolo) and sprinkle in comments about players’ nose hair.

Where exactly will another 2000 seats fit in the major leagues’ smallest park? It’s too obvious to suggest that the box seats are moving in even closer. Fans need chain mail to watch from the boxes now.

Only through some true imagination can Theo and the Trio squeeze in the anticipated seats, that at fifty bucks a pop, could add another eight million dollars or so (plus concessions) to Sox coffers.

‘Gondola seats’. The Sox intend to string a series of wires from the roof boxes on both sides of the field. After using the facilities, Sox fans would board gondolas suspended from the wires and peer through glass-bottoms to the field below. Of course, the gondolas would be in play, creating yet additional caroms for enemy outfielders to overcome. Painting the bottom of the gondolas white might even confuse Minnesota outfielders.

‘Laugh-in seats’. On the NBC ‘Rowan and Martin Laugh-In’ show, characters appeared from behind a wall through ‘window’ seats. The Sox will add hundreds of ‘window’ or ‘laugh-in’ seats in the wall. During the game, the windows are opened, and any balls hit through the windows are ground-rule doubles. Of course, during visitor at-bats, if a ball were launched toward the wall, fans would close the windows to keep the balls in play, reducing the chances of extra bases.

‘Triangle seats’. The Sox could install many hundreds of seats in the centerfield ‘triangle’ adjacent to the bullpen. Players drive only a handful of balls during each homestand into this remote area of the park, so run production would probably increase marginally. Free agent pitchers need not apply. The seats could alternatively be named the ‘Wayback Wasdin’ seats.

‘Pole seats’. The Pesky Pole goes largely underutilized. The Sox intend to construct seats suspended from this landmark, too. If the pole is sixty feet high, with seats every six feet, then another ten seats are projected. It does give ‘standing room’ new meaning. Getting fans to sign off on liability concerns shouldn’t be much of a problem with such a unique vantage point.

‘Backstop seats’. The upper portion of the screen could surely hold Generation X-ers, particularly those who would be willing to ‘camp out’ in designated squares, lying either prone or supine during the game.

‘Hammock seats’. The back wall of the bleachers provides yet another opportunity for profit, er, entertainment. Fans could easily hang suspended from either pitons and ropes or specially designed hammock seats.

‘Helo seats’. Currently, with the high cost of fuel, the Sox have elected not to put fans in specially designed Sikorsky MH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters. The Sea Stallion has a large fuel capacity with extended loiter time and can spend up to six hours on station. A specially configured Sea Stallion could easily fit up to fifty Sox fans, giving them a unique perspective of the ballpark, also providing heavy armament should crowd control come into play from Jeff Nelson or other surly bullpen types. A fleet of ten Sea Stallions would be noisy, but also assist in keeping the field dry should inclement weather arise.

I’m sure that other readers can develop some equally cost-effective seating plans for Ye Olde Towne Team. After all, a team that sold out its entire eighty-one game schedule surely counts a lot of dreamers among its fans.

- Ron S.

See the 20-game winner tomorrow on Today (8:30am)

Sox Keep Comin'

Bats out of Hell: Kentucky Fried Kickin'. Bellhorn Makes Noise. Nixon's the One. Fire in the Belli.

Wake Shaky Again. Bottom Line, Sox Win 8-6

Tim gives a better performance in his Bernie & Phyl's commercials

Pen is Hell Bent: Myers, Mendoza, Timlin, Foulke Finish Off D-Rays

It was pretty ugly, but the "W" is beautiful

New York Times on Jason E. F. Hutton:
"When Jason Varitek speaks, people listen."

Ramirez Ramirez

Manny Loves Hanley

See You in Court

Nomar's keeping busy while the Cubs fight for the playoffs: "...Contract action where the defendants (Sanderson Sales & Marketing Inc.) refuse to refund the plaintiff his down payment on a restored car. The defendants agreed to refund the money after the car was sold at auction for over $118,000 to another buyer, but the defendants now refuse. The plaintiff (Nomar Garciaparra) did not buy the vehicle because the original estimate he was given was far less than what the defendants ended up charging. The plaintiff and his wife, both well-known professional athletes, signed the vehicle and had pictures taken with it in order to boost the purchase price." -- Nomar Garciaparra v. Sanderson Sales & Marketing Inc.; Steve Sanderson, 9/13/2004 04-9415-A

And the Beat Goes On

"NO NOMAR: The Cubs hoped shortstop Nomar Garciaparra would miss only about five days with his strained right groin and be ready to play again. But that appears to be out of the question.

Asked if Garciaparra was expected back next week, manager Dusty Baker couldn't say.

''I don't know, that's a tough one,'' he said. ''We got to get him some at-bats and get his timing down. I hope he can play next week. We are hoping and praying he can.''

There is no guarantee, however, that Garciaparra will be back in the lineup before perhaps the final week of the season."-- Mike Kiley, Chicago Sun Times

"Nomar started the following day and went 0-4 with a double play. At one point, the Cubs Cory Patterson hit a home run and Nomar never moved off the on deck circle. Cory took a step toward Nomar for congratulations and Nomar started looking at his shoes again. Patterson turned back to seek a friendly hand."-- Steve Kerman, Chicago Daily News

Who Will Show Up Tonight?

Division is Wild Goose Chase

Just print the stinkin' "Wild Card Champion" t-shirts now and tell Picked-Off Millar to man the taps at the Baseball Tavern... it's Wild Card Party Time! Yee-yah! Pedro goes six innings in a pennant race. Cowboy Up!

All That Kaz

Kazmir Makes Sox Itchy

Another Lefty Rookie Has the Right Stuff Against Sox

Pedro Leaves After Six, Sox Lose After Nine, 5-2

More good news: Mueller reinjures knee.

Too bad only 35% of Sox "fans" want him starting in right.

Hell of a Play KFK

Next time we'll "Tell you he's coming to second,
and the ball's comin' with him. Cowboy Up!"

The First Family of Fashion

Juliana Ramirez with son Manny, 18 months, and husband Manny, right, at the Red Sox Wives fashion show and luncheon today at The Heritage on The Garden during a fundraiser for the Gillette Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Fight for the Pennant in Oakland

Fandemonium in the stands

Former Sox farmhand Frank Francisco was arrested after he threw a chair and hit two spectators in the head during Monday night's loss in Oakland.

Bad News Bear is Out Again.
Is Garciaparra Gone for Season?

"You think George will cry after this one?" Henry asked.

A Fine Meche

Bronson-of-a-Gun

Can of Cornrows
Boston 9 Seattle Scoreless

"He doesn't just want to pitch, he wants to be a winner and a contributor. You can see the difference. He's growing up kind of right in front of us." -- Terry Francona

Bellhorn (74) and Damon (73) Lead RBI Parade
Millar, Manny, Kap and even Hyzdu Chip In

Hey Nineteen

"...Sweet things for Boston, Cy Young and Schilling" -- Steely Dan, Hey Nineteen

Schilling the Stopper Again
Boston 13 Seattle 2

"I wanted to come here and help this team get to a World Series, and right now it's working out that way. We're playing great basbeall and things are going well for us." -- Curt Schilling

"He's got wins to the left, wins to the right. And he's the only Cy in town." -- Buffett

'Manny Ortez' Does it Again
More Bellhorn, Damon, and Roberts

Sweepless in Seattle

Wake Stops Another Win Streak
Manny Having a Little Too Much Fun in the Field

Madritsch as Hell and Sox Take It

Seattle Slews Boston 7-1

Cabrera Brothers in Arms

The Yankees win. Theeee Yankees win.
Sox now 3-1/2 back of New York,
and Pats can't cover 3-1/2 vs. Indy

Corey Thrillin'

Pats Have a Back Who Can Run

Mariners Greet Arrival of Red Sox

"The Red Sox needed only three innings to knock out Tim Hudson and blew out Oakland, 8-3, to complete a three-game road sweep of the AL West leaders. Anaheim, Texas and Oakland were supposed to be big obstacles for the Red Sox, and instead, Boston won eight of nine and outscored the Westies, 63-35. Overall, that makes 26 wins in 31 games for the Red Sox, 14 of their last 15, and they're just two games behind the Yankees. Imagine the AL East as one of those Dukes of Hazzard car chases: While the Yankees have cruised on the easy road through Toronto and Tampa Bay lately, the Red Sox disappeared into the side road from hell -- mud bogs, cattle crossings, a leap through a hay barn -- but as both turn the corner and head down the home stretch, Boston is still right behind New York, bigger than ever before in the rear-view mirror." -- Buster Olney, ESPN The Magazine

"I can't wait for these next few weeks," said Martinez, his anticipation palpable when someone mentioned the upcoming six apocalyptic games with the Yankees. "I've been through a lot (in seven years with Boston) and I know not to get my hopes up but man, we are more balanced and confident than I've ever seen. Everything is how it's supposed to be at the end of the season. Just like you dream. Only now the dream feels real."-- Lisa Olsen, NY Daily News

 BOSTON MSACRE

Easy Street for Pete

Sox Sweep, Kick A's to the Curb Again

Ho, hum... Boston 8, Choakland 3

Sox move to 30 games over .500 taking 20 of the last 22

West Coasting

Night Kap Contributes Again

"I prepare the same way every day whether I'm starting or not." -- Gabe Kapler

Lowe Picks Up Where He Left Off in Oakland

Derek Does it Again, Sox Romp Over A's 7-1

("We needed to get Matt Clement" says hello to all the armchair GMs out there)

Yankee Dirtbag Randy

"The rule states that if your team is here and ready to play, and the other team isn't here and not ready to play, there should be a forfeit, and we believe there should be a forfeit." - Yankees president Randy Levine

The answer: "No!" is blowin' in the wind

"The Yankees absolutely embarrassed themselves. Every time Randy Levine talks, he embarrasses himself. Win it on the field, will ya! Are they scared of the Red Sox because they might have better pitching and defense than they do for the first time in ninety years? People were killed in that hurricane, for God sakes! How are the Yankees damaged in comparison to the people in South Florida? The Yankees look very, very bad in this whole thing. The Red Sox are up their rear ends; that's why they are running scared here." -- Mike Francesca, WFAN

Sox Win Dirty

""The Yankees are all clean cut," said Millar. "They wear helmets during batting practice. When Schilling first came over here, he'd say, `Look at them. They look like pros.' Over here, we're not. You see guys during BP wearing sleeveless shirts or parachute tops, no hat, game hat, red-and-blue hat. We look like sloppy, no-discipline dirtbags."-- Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe 9.9.04

"Boston's players believe it's OK to look the way they want, within reason, because they have the approval of management. When Damon arrived at spring training sporting a beard and flowing locks, Epstein received critical letters from fans who told him if he was doing his job properly, he'd order his center fielder to get a haircut.

"But Epstein held firm, under the theory that players are individuals and should be allowed some freedom of expression provided it doesn't get in the way of the team concept and winning games. Epstein actually prefers loose, free-spirited "dirt dogs" in the Millar-David Ortiz mold, because he thinks they'll be less inclined to melt in a pressurized environment like Boston." -- By Jerry Crasnick, ESPN Insider

Jump Starter

"The reason I came here was to be on the mound here in September and, hopefully, October. It's set up that way now. If this team had won [the World Series] last year, I would not have been here." - Curt Schilling in Sports Illustrated

Up, Up and Away

'Manny Ortez' Goes Deep

And Mueller, Roberts Put it Away

Bronson bounces back from bad outing

Sox tie it up, take the lead, and break it open,
topping Oakland 8-3

Star Tek

Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek slept uneasily, having absorbed a half-dozen foul balls off his face mask. Catching takes a toll on you, physically and mentally, the sum total of countless contrecoup brain trauma, however subtle. How else can you explain Yogi Berra?

As he drifted off to sleep, with its inevitable dreams, he entered a conversation with Science Officer Spock, the Vulcan from the Starship Enterprise.

Varitek: “We’ve really been on a tear, winning 18 of 20, playing great baseball.”

Spock: “Random chance seems to have operated in our favor.”

Varitek: “In plain, non-Vulcan English, we’ve been lucky.”

Spock: “I believe I said that.”

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