Someone's Mad

9th inning - Jon Papelbon got really mad when he rushed to cover first and lost the race with a Ranger. MAN he was mad. I hate to tell him, but the dude looked safe. Gotta learn to pick your battles, yo.

But he recovered and walked away with a save and finally, a win for Boston! Surprisingly it came when Wakefield pitched against Texas. Of course, it was tense for a while: Manny Delcarmen got the nod in relief of Wakefield, and immediately walked Michael Young to load the bases, bringing up Sammy Sosa. Six fastballs later, Delcarmen pumped a 96-mph heater past a swinging Sosa to escape the jam. It's never easy.

Matt Clement has been rehabbing his shoulder since he had surgery in September of 2006. I would LOVE to have surgery on my shoulder and get it over with but Clement's looong rehab is making me reconsider that plan..

The Opposite of What We Wanted

Well, we got a sweep. We just got it in the wrong direction.

One bad loss and two close ones. They lost 2-1 today in an 11-inning disappointment. Pineiro managed to lose the game and he only pitched 1/3 of an inning! That's quite an accomplishment.

So Schilling's out till the All-Star break, and.....hold up. I just read that Pineiro twisted his ankle on Monday. No wonder he su...well, let's hope that's the reason why he sucked. He's got an excuse, he might as well use it.

I just realized how far behind my schedule to the right is. I haven't updated it since May! I guess I better get on that..

The Right Way

Things are looking right again. Boston's winning, NY's losing, just how it's supposed to be. Beckett is leading the Majors with 11 wins, Ortiz and Manny are producing RBIs, and Papelbon is saving games. Oh, and Wakefield is being bad, but that just means things are normal (kidding -- he does sometimes throw good games. And of course, we know that when he's good, he's very good, and when he's bad...6-1 losses happen).

And here come the trade rumors: The Chicago Sun-Times reported on Sunday that the Red Sox have become the front-runner in the crowded derby of teams trying to acquire left-handed starter Mark Buehrle.

The newspaper also reported that Allard Baird, who is assistant to the general manager for the Red Sox, was on hand for Buehrle's most recent start.

The White Sox have reportedly targeted Red Sox prospects Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie.

The past couple of years, Epstein has been reluctant to trade top prospects. However, as deep as Boston's farm system has become, there's a chance the Red Sox might be more open to dealing a highly rated Minor Leaguer this year.

That would be a great pick up, but there's so much talk about how good the prospects are, it makes me pretty hesitant; we may just be dealing 'em out only to watch 'em get really good.

Beckett Can Hit

The Red Sox are actually winning, but it's only the 7th inning so you know they can still blow it. Josh Beckett had an RBI double. Yes, I said Beckett. I wish I could WATCH THE GAMES and see stuff like this!!!

And Curt Schilling is apparently back in Boston to run some tests.. Oh no. Red Sox manager Terry Francona indicated that Schilling's right shoulder was the cause for concern. HEY that's the same thing that's wrong with me. Perhaps he has some impingement as well?

And just because he needs some positive press: Coco went 4-for-4 and belted two homers in Monday night's loss - the loss sucks but maybe Crisp is ready to break out.

I'm very uncomfortable with this 8 game lead. I want a 28 game lead. Tonight has to be the start of something good, because I feel an implosion coming on if it isn't.

Took 'em Long Enough

Most shocking ejection of the year: David Ortiz! I have the severe misfortune of not seeing the games, but I can only imagine how bad the call must have been to make the normally easy-going and jovial David Ortiz mad enough to be ejected. Man, I need to see footage of that!

In better news...Dustin Pedroia started the game off with a 2-run shot -- can you imagine the future of this kid? Good things will come, and the booting of Loretta for Dustin is looking better by the minute.

In best news...we finally won a game! 10-2, and it feels good. And NY finally lost, which is also quite helpful. How did we get those 10 runs? Well, Pedroia of course, a Manny force out, a J.D. Drew 2-run double, a Pedroia single, a Drew single, Pedroia hit a 2-run double, and Wily Mo sent him home with a ground out. Really, if Pedroia and Drew can get into gear, they will be all the offense we need -- Pedroia was FIVE-FOR-FIVE with FIVE RBI!! Well...I didn't want to say it, but...I think I'm in love.

Best moment of the day: Dave Roberts received a loud standing ovation of nearly a minute when he dug in for his at-bat in the top of the first inning of Friday night's Red Sox-Giants game. Aww!! He said this earlier: "It's been marked on my calendar for a long time. Just flying in, it brought a smile to my face. Getting to walk around the city last night and taking a cab over here to Fenway Park and just seeing some of my old teammates, things like that ... it was just a special time and fans here, they waited a long time for what we did in 2004. To be a part of a great team like that and be a part of history, it's a humbling experience, it really is."

Uhhhhhhhhhh

12-2?

12-2????

What is going on?! That is an embarrassing score. A score that is not Red Sox-like.

Hey! Men! Can you please start winning again?

Feels Nice

Finally, Boston finished a game before I fell asleep. And it was a win, which is very important considering the fact that that lead is dwindling. NY is winning now, which isn't too great, but at least we won't lose any more of the lead.

A new look to the lineup: Poor Lugo got slammed down, right down to the 9 spot, and Pedroia got the better half of the switch and moved up to leadoff. He went 1-for-4 and Lugo went 1-for-3, so nothing concrete yet on that one.

Jon Lester is in Pawtucket, which is good news. He will be back with the team in no time!

Tomorrow = Win #2 in a future streak of 40.

That's What I Like

J.D. Drew just hit his second three-run home run of the game. PLEASE keep it up Mr. Drew!

Scary moment: Manny Ramirez was hit by a pitch on the wrist and was down for a while. He got up though and took his base, then Drew retaliated with his second HR. Nice team spirit!

9-1 lead, looks like Josh Beckett will be 9-0 after tonight. Niiice.

P.S. What the hell South Carolina baseball team? You all had a 6-0 lead with a grand slam in there and you lost 9-6? WHAT is that?!?

Schilling Was Superb

Could it be? The Red Sox won a game!!?

Of course, there has to be bad news: Curt Schilling came within one out of tossing the first no-hitter in his career. He'll probably always twitch when he hears the name 'Shannon Stewart.' But it was an incredible pitching outing when we really, really needed one. Plus, Boston only got one run (a HR from David Ortiz, of course) so it was the perfect time for Schilling's near-perfect game.

And Draft stuff: Boston selected University of Washington lefthander Nicholas Hagadone with the 55th pick of the draft. They took Ryan Dent, a high school shortstop out of Woodrow Wilson High School in California with the 62nd pick.

Bad News All Over the Place

Bad news, bad news, bad news.

Tennessee lost to Arizona last night in the Championship Game of the WCWS. I really wanted Monica Abbott and her Lady Vols to take their first title in school history, but it was not to be. AZ got to her for 5 runs in the 5th. BAD.

The Yankees won last night. Again. WORSE.

Boston lost 3-2! That means they've lost every game in June except one. Oakland seems to have their number, but it is time to change that. They cannot keep losing like this: they're only up 9 games on the nearest foe. WORST.

Time for all the bad luck to change!

Returning Now

Okay, I'm back. My vacation is over and I have to go back to work. Life is not fun anymore!

And you know what makes it worse? Staying up until after 12 so I can watch a Red Sox game when I have to get up at 5:30, and then they lose because of A-Rod. I was messed up the whole next day, and for nothing! And now the games don't start until 10, and I cannot possibly stay up to watch the end of these games. And even if I had last night, losing in the 11th inning is no way to go.

So...NY won today so Boston needs to get back on track and start winning again, and it has to begin tonight. It's not time to fall apart!

But I have been thoroughly enjoying the Women's College World Series. I think I mentioned it last year, actually, but I love love love watching college softball. I even picked Tennessee this year and now they are in the finals. Could even win the whole thing tonight. Go Lady Vols!