What Just Happened. From RedSox.com:

"The Red Sox traded Nomar Garciaparra, minor leaguer Matt Murton and cash considerations to the Cubs today as part of a four-team deal. Boston acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Expos and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins. In a separate move, Boston got outfielder Dave Roberts from the Dodgers for Henri Stanley."

It's running slower than Doug Mirabelli to first base, but SoSH is the place for all the latest news. ... The general mood about the deal? Everyone -- and I mean every single poster -- thinks Theo got the fleecing of his life (and frankly can't believe (a) he'd pull the trigger on such a one-sided deal and/or (b) that that is all Nomar could fetch). There has to be some secret part of the deal -- some other players -- that we have not been told about yet.

The Red Sox have scheduled a press conferece for 6:00 pm. I can't wait to hear the rationale.

HUGE Deal! Details as they come. Right now, it sounds like a four-team deal: Red Sox, Expos, Twins, Cubs.

Nomar to Cubs
Lowe to Twins (will he pitch against the Sox tonight?!?)
Matt Clement, Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz to Red Sox
and
Cubs send Alex Gonzalez and a prospect to the Expos

Despite the rumors, this is still a dizzying turn of events. ESPN reports that Nomar is on his way to Chicago right now. ... The Yankees got Loaiza from the White Sox for Contreras and cash.

Tim Wakefield will start tonight.

The Deadline Nears. Excellent outing for Bronson Arroyo last night. I agreed with the decision to let him pitch the 8th inning. He had sailed through the 6th and 7th, throwing a total of 17 pitches and looking very relaxed. Whether he was actually fatigued, I don't know, but he hit a rough patch, allowing 3 hits to start the 8th before recording his 8th strikeout and being relieved. Boston pitchers did not walk anyone for the second straight game. The last time that happened was August 10-11, 2002 against the Twins.

I really like Arroyo, though one of the reasons for that may be that I seem to remember only his good starts -- like his 100-pitch effort against Toronto on May 15 or his 8 shutout innings against Texas on July 9. All of his bad outings vanish -- poof! -- from my mind as soon as the game is over. It may not be completely illusionary; right now, both Pedro Martinez and Tim Wakefield have higher ERAs than Arroyo. ... I'm having the opposite experience with Derek Lowe this season. All I recall are his meltdowns.

Johnny Damon agrees with me: "The only two that I think should have gotten suspended were Tek and A-Rod." Why was Kenny Lofton fined? Arroyo thinks Lofton may have punched him in the head. "I haven't seen the tape, but somebody punched me, and when I looked around he was the closest one to me." ... Scott Williamson had a rough outing with Pawtucket on Thursday. He retired only one of six batters, walking three, hitting one and allowing a 3-run double. Only nine of his 28 pitches were strikes. He did not have any discomfort, which is fantastic, though he will likely make another appearance with the PawSox before rejoining the big club.

Gabe Kapler's throw to nail Justin Morneau at third base leading off the 7th inning last night was amazing. The ball was hit off the wall and was rolling back toward the infield. Kapler's throw reached Bill Mueller on the fly and he was able to tag Morneau easily. Kapler: "Truthfully? I didn't think it was that good of a throw. I just kind of launched it. It just ended up in the right place." Kapler also had 3 hits and 2 RBI, and is filling in admirably for Nixon.

The latest news is that Randy Johnson is definitely staying in Arizona. The deadline ends at 4:00 pm and from the talk in the morning papers, it looks like both the Red Sox and Yankees are staying pat.

More Racist Shit From The Bush Camp. The Bush campaign insisted on knowing the race of an Arizona Daily Star journalist assigned to photograph Dick Cheney during a rally this afternoon. The paper's managing editor was told the Secret Service needed to know the photographer's race so they could distinguish her from someone else who might have the same name. ... Hmmm, how many women named Mamta Popat do you think are running around Arizona taking pictures? ... The Star refused to provide the information.

Loyalty Oath. People wanting to attend a weekend rally in New Mexico for Dick Cheney are being told they must sign an endorsement for George W. Bush. The endorsement reads in part: "I, (full name) ... do herby [sic] endorse George W. Bush for reelection of the United States. ... In signing the above endorsement you are consenting to use and release of your name by Bush-Cheney as an endorser of President Bush."

Two bits of news. "The Census Bureau provided the Department of Homeland Security statistical data on people who identified themselves on the 2000 census as being of Arab ancestry. There is no indication that the agency requested similar information about any other ethnic group." ... "US civilian authorities in Baghdad failed to keep good track of nearly $1 billion in Iraqi money spent for reconstruction projects and can't produce records to show whether they got some services and products they paid for."

Unfinished Post. I had some internet connection problems this afternoon and wasn't able to finish my blog entry. Now it is shortly before tonight's game, so I'm just putting it up as is. It's long enough.

Brawl Fallout:

               Red Sox              Yankees



Suspended  Varitek   4 games    Rodriguez   4 games

           Kapler    3 games    Sturtze     3 games

           Nixon     3 games

 

Fined      Varitek   $2,000     Rodriguez   $2,000

           Kapler    $1,000     Sturtze     $1,000

           Nixon     $1,000     Lofton      $  500

           Schilling $  500

           Ortiz     $  500

Everyone involved thinks the punishments are too severe. ... Check out these quotes: Rodriguez: "I was on my way to first base and I got punched in the mouth by a glove." and Brian Cashman: "I thought we were a lot more peacemakers than the guys on the other side of the fence." ... That's some serious denial. Obey Pedro: "I never knew that provoking somebody into fighting was an act of self defense. I'll have to remember that the next time I'm in a bar and some guy inadvertently bumps me on the elbow and I say "fuck you" to him while I gesture with both hands for him to bring it on."

Francona on Rodriguez's claim that he was the victim in the brawl: "I'm not a lip reader, but I can read those lips. The word 'victim' wasn't coming out." ... Rodriguez: "I know on the tape it looks like my words were what started it. My words were strong and harsh, but they were just a reaction, a repetition of what had been said to me."

I think Watson's ruling is too harsh, also, and am having a tough time figuring why the Red Sox were more heavily fined. I would have suspended Varitek and A-Rod 2 games each -- and that's it. We still have no idea what Varitek said -- Jason hasn't elaborated and A-Rod has been coy. Of course, this whole incident could have been avoided if Rodriguez had simply shut up and trotted to first base. The pitch wasn't a fastball and it was not anywhere near his head. It was a run-of-the-mill HBP -- although it's quite possible the pitch was retaliation for Nomar's getting plunked the night before and Rodriguez knew that. But it clearly was not a pitch that should have started a brawl.

Karen Guregian of the Herald takes Tito to task for letting Pedro pitch in the rain in Baltimore, "risk[ing] injury on a slippery, muddy pitching rubber? Isn't this the same guy the Sox take great pains to coddle? Isn't this the guy they're completely overprotective of with the slightest hint of trouble? Isn't this the guy who, along with Curt Schilling, the Red Sox need most if they intend to get to the promised land?"

What was Francona thinking? Guregian gives us the answer: "He said he spoke to the umpire between innings, making sure if Pedro had a problem with the mound, the game would be stopped to have the grounds crew take care of it. That was the extent of his concern." For what it's worth, Martinez defended his manager: "Was it worth the risk? Yeah. ... The thing was, I couldn't afford to slide. When I go through the full stretch, sliding cost me to pull (my hip) a little bit. But it wasn't too bad. I got out in time." ... Martinez's hip is still sore, but "Everything's fine, it's going to be OK. I ran on it, it remained a little tight, I threw a little bit, it didn't feel all that good. But with a little time, a little therapy, it will be OK." ... Francona added: "He did good. I think these things happen." ... Especially when you allow them to happen, you frigging idiot.

Trade News: The most important news is that Randy Johnson will likely be in Arizona and not New York. ... Several teams, including the Marlins and Padres, have inquired about Derek Lowe. The consensus is if the Red Sox do anything, "it will be minor." Sean McAdam reports on a couple of possible deals involving, Derek Lowe, Kevin Youkilis, San Diego's Brian Lawrence (P) and Jay Payton (OF) and Philadelphia's Ricky Ledee (OF).

If Scott Williamson's rehab assignment Thursday for Pawtucket went well, he will be activated from the disabled list this weekend. Pokey Reese is eligible to come off the disabled list August 4, but factoring in a rehab assignment for him, he probably will not return until the middle of August. ... Byung-Hyun Kim took the loss for the PawSox Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits in four innings to Syracuse. ... Lowe has never fared very well in the Metrodome. In 9 games, he has allowed 29 hits in 18.2 innings and has a 7.23 career ERA.

Friday: Bronson Arroyo (3-7, 4.20) vs. Kyle Lohse (4-7, 4.87)
Saturday: Derek Lowe (9-9, 5.56) vs. Brad Radke (7-6, 3.69)
Sunday: Pedro Martinez (11-4, 4.15) vs. Johan Santana (9-6, 3.36)

19th Nervous Breakdown. "George W. Bush is withdrawing more and more from aides and senior staff, retreating into a private, paranoid world where only the ardent loyalists are welcome. ... Bush's erratic behavior and sharp mood swings led White House physician Col. Richard J. Tubb to put the President on powerful anti-depressant drugs ... but White House insiders say the strong, prescription medications seem to increase Bush's sullen behavior towards those around him. ..."

It's hard to say how reliable this is, but CHB (and I don't mean Shaughnessy) has published several similar stories over the past few months; plenty more here.

In a similar vein, if Americans are unhappy with low-quality/low-paying jobs, Susan Sheybani, an assistant to Bush campaign spokesman Terry Holt, suggests: "Why don't they get new jobs if they're unhappy -- or go on Prozac?"

Why In The Hell Was Pedro Even Pitching The Seventh Inning? Read today's game stories and you'll get the picture -- the muddy mound, the rain-slicked mound, the wet pitching rubber, the constant drizzle. In the top of the seventh, Boston had taken a 12-2 lead and Pedro Martinez had thrown 83 pitches. There was absolutely no reason to send him out for another inning. But that's what Terry Francoma did, thus ruining my enjoyment of another Red Sox win.

Just like Baltimore's Todd Williams, Martinez had trouble keeping his footing on the mound. He later said that while pitching to Javy Lopez (who doubled), he "felt a little pinch in my right hip. I thought it was going to go away, but it continued to pinch. I tried to stretch it a little bit, and it felt worse." Martinez needed 9 pitches to get Karim Garcia to pop to shortstop. At that point, "Dave and Tito [and trainer Chris Correnti] came out and tried to take me out. I said, 'No, let me see if I can continue to actually get the couple of outs that I was supposed to get.'" Jerry Hairston and Larry Bigbie followed with singles before Martimez was pulled.

After the game, Martinez's hip was still sore, but he said he plans "to run the crap out of" the injury in the next few days.

Francona on the trip to the mound: "I just wanted to make sure he was OK. In a game like that I didn't want to leave him out there longer than he needed to stay out there." ... It's shit like this that make me seriously question Francona's intelligence. Leaving Pedro out in the pouring rain, nearing 100 pitches and working with a 10-run lead in the 7th inning is beyond moronic. ... And I was not alone in my annoyance. A very small sample:

"Someone stick a mirror under Francona's nose to see if he is still breathing!"

"It's a @#%$ huge deal if Pedro hurts himself. I was at the Hermanson non-game, and I don't want to see a replay here. Tito is a dolt."

"Now they run out thinking he MAY be hurt ... and LEAVE HIM IN THE GAME!"

"If Pedro slips and pulls something here though Terry may not make it to the end of the year alive let alone employed."

"If there is a better recipe for injury, I don't know what it is."

"Just a moron. Total buffoon running this team."

Trot Nixon isn't ruling out the possibility of missing the rest of the season. Jerry Remy's comments during NESN's broadcast last night were pretty ominous. The Red Sox are considering their options for right field. Sean McAdam mentions Boston has spoken with Colorado about Larry Walker.

Kevin Millar was named co-AL player of the week. His hot streak started after noticing Seattle's Miguel Olivo's open stance. "He looked like he was on a lot of pitches, so I went in the cages and I tried it and I liked it. That night I ended up getting three hits and I was like, 'Yeah, I like this stance.'" Here's a shot of Millar celebrating his award, courtesy of SoSH's Dennis Upperdeckersley:



Scott Williamson will throw a side session today, make another rehab appearance Thursday and likely be activated Friday or Saturday in Minnesota. ... Alan Embree said the Sox are being conservative and "a little paranoid" over an irritated nerve above his left elbow. ... Gordon Edes asks: "What does a 6-foot-10-inch pinstripe look like? Sooner than later, it appears, we are about to find out."

Howard Bryant in a Herald pay column: "Manny Ramirez and manager Terry Francona had a spat before the All-Star break, and the Sox slugger took himself out of the game immediately before the break and three games later in the week citing a bad hamstring. ... Upper management, never pleased with Ramirez outside of the batter's box, believed he was attempting to sabotage the season in a way similar to last season. ... Ownership, at this point, again believes Ramirez to be a major problem. ... One American League executive said Sox ownership underestimated the emotional turmoil of its players. ... Even in victory, there were speed bumps. In one of the wins against Oakland, Pokey Reese, upset at his utility role, groused at mop-up duty in a blowout. He eventually went into the game."

Another reason to love Nixon: David Heuschkel reports that "Nixon was upset ESPN baseball broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe mentioned on the air Sunday night that Nixon hurt himself during Saturday's brawl ... The statement was retracted after a Red Sox official informed ESPN it was inaccurate. Nixon, who said Sutcliffe apologized to him, couldn't resist taking a shot at Tim McCarver. 'McCarver does it all the time,' Nixon said. 'He might as well put a Yankees jersey on.'"

The Hits Just keep On Coming. Trot Nixon and Curtis Leskanic (right shoulder tendinitis) are on the 15-day disabled list, and Jason Varitek missed last night's game because of a sore right wrist. ... Andy Dominique replaced Nixon on the roster; Terry Adams took Leskanic's spot.

Scott Williamson allowed one run in .2 of an inning for Pawtucket, walking two, striking out one and throwing 20 pitches. He'll pitch Tuesday for Portland and hopes to rejoin the team Friday in Minnesota. ... Alan Embree has been battling spasms and tightness in his left triceps for about a week. ... Although Boston has two consecutive Thursdays off, the rotation will likely remain intact. ... "Yankee Bob" Watson says "you can best believe that" there will be some suspensions regarding Saturday's brawl, but not until Wednesday or Thursday.

Derek Lowe sounds like he thinks he's gone: "You guys all got me traded ... I'm just trying to enjoy the last Red Sox-Yankees game before I go elsewhere. ... If I'm the problem around here, well then we all need to move on. I don't feel like I need to go out and consistently prove that I deserve the ball the next 11 or 12 times during the year."

Kevin Millar: "I was in a coma the last two and a half months" -- before opening up his stance before last Wednesday's game. During the six-game homestand, he went 14-for-20 with 6 home runs and 11 RBI, raising his batting average 28 points in five days. He was 10-for-13 with four homers (all solos) and eight RBI against the Yankees. ... Millar is also Boston's emergency catcher. Tito: "He said he's not good at balls in the dirt. I said, 'I already know that.'" ... New York Post: "Kevin Millar's bat is nearly as unstoppable as his mouth."

Dave Anderson of the New York Times wrote the following sentence before the series began: "For Contreras, it will be another opportunity to embarrass the Red Sox for having been outbid two years ago by the Yankees, who lured him with a four-year, $32 million contract." Another opportunity? Shouldn't Contreras have embarrassed Boston at least once before he gets another chance? ... Lawrence Rocca, Newark Star-Ledger: "Contreras has a mental block against the Sox. He tried to explain away this latest disaster as just a bad night at the office, as a result of lacking physical control over his pitches. You don't have to be Dr. Phil to realize that's a load of hooey." ... For the record, the Cuban Con Man is now 0-4, 16.44 against the Red Sox.

Willie Randolph on the recent Red Sox-Yankees dustups: "It's still not the way it was before. There used to be a real disdain between the players for each other. ... [W]e expected to get brushed back. We'd get together in the dugout afterwards and talk about who to get back, and when to do it, and that was it. ... When I first came up Thurman pulled me aside and filled me in on the way it was. ... Guys came out of those pileups really battered and bruised. ... I get flashbacks still. My blood starts to boil."

Tonight: Pedro Martinez (10-4, 4.01) vs. Erik Bedard (4-4, 4.04), 7:05 pm
Tuesday: Tim Wakefield (6-6, 4.17) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (8-6, 3.61), 7:05 pm
Wednesday: Curt Schilling (12-4, 3.38) vs. Joe Borkowski (1-2, 4.03), 7:05 pm

What A Difference Two Games Make.

Mike Vaccaro, New York Post

July 24: "Schilling and Foulke were supposed to be the Red Sox' means of catching the Yankees this year. Better luck next year."

July 26: "Consider this a useful weekend of field research for the Yankees, who get on with the rest of their summer fully aware once again that the Red Sox ... are very much Out There. Lurking. Loitering. Waiting. They're hiding in the weeds, dangerous as a camouflaged rattlesnake."

Kevin Kernan, New York Post

July 24: "There will be no flags raised by the Red Sox this year. ... The AL East dresses in Pinstripes again. Even if the Red Sox make it into the playoffs as a wild card team ... they are in big trouble."

July 26: Boston's victory Sunday night "gave the Yankees another reason to fear the Sox come October. ... [The Yankees] figure to survive the AL East, but the way this pitching staff is performing, they have no chance of winning a World Series."

Quotes From The Battlefield. Bronson Arroyo: "I threw a sinker in there. ... It got him on the elbow pad. If I had thrown a strict four-seamer and hit him in the ribs, maybe it looks obvious. But the guy dives out over the plate and hits balls 500 feet to right-center, so I'm going to try to get in on him. ... I don't have good enough stuff to stay on the outer half all day, especially with a team like this."

Alex Rodriguez: "Usually I don't get that angry about anything. I get hit a lot, but I smelled something funny that I didn't like. ... I thought it was a little out of the ordinary to get back-to-back pitches inside like that."

Jason Varitek: "He was yelling at the pitcher, yelling a few things at Bronson. I told him, in a few choice words, to get to first base. Then it changed from him yelling at Bronson to us yelling at each other and then things got out of hand."

Rodriguez: "I don't remember what I said. I don't remember what I said to Arroyo, either."

David Ortiz: "I look up and I see Sturtze choking the (expletive) out of my guy. If the league is fair, they'll see I was trying to break it up, because I had a lot of chances to knock the (expletive) out of him."

Gabe Kapler, asked if he had a history with Tanyon Sturtze: "We do now."

Theo Epstein: "It had more intensity than most postseason games. This win and the way it happened should prove to be very important to us. It's hard to have a more meaningful regular-season victory. We've been kind of waiting to have this feeling all year."

Manny Ramirez: "That was the craziest game I've ever been a part of."

Bill Mueller: "I don't know if I've ever hit one out of the infield off (Rivera). It's a win against the Yankees, which is always nice."

Varitek was in the clubhouse: "I've never been that nervous watching a game. I almost jumped to the ceiling when Bill Mueller hit the home run."

The Gerbil, watching the game in Cooperstown: "All I looked for was Pedro. I never saw him. He was probably up in the clubhouse. That figures."

Sam Borden of the Daily News notes: "When the Yankees and Mariners fought in 1999, Rodriguez, then with Seattle, hung on the outskirts of the donnybrook, joking with Derek Jeter while punches were thrown around them."

What Else? The Red Sox acquired RH reliever Terry Adams from Toronto. He may be with the team tonight and will likely replace Baked Malaska in the pen. ... Scott Williamson will make a rehab appearance for Pawtucket today and Lenny DiNardo is currently rehabbing in Fort Myers. ... Derek Lowe says he is unfazed by the rumors of a possible trade to the Phillies. Still bothered by a blister on his right thumb, Lowe faces Contreras at 8:05 pm tonight.

George Bush Is Not A Complete Loser. Chimpy McCokespoon got another trifecta at the recent World Stupidity Awards, winning Stupidest Man of the Year, Stupidest Statement of the Year and his second consecutive Reckless Endangerment of the Planet award. ... The US was also cited for having the Stupidest Government of the Year. The awards were presented by the Main Organization Revealing Obvious Numbskulls.

One of my favorite (though overlooked) Bush quotes is this one: "It's very interesting when you think about it, the slaves who left here to go to America, because of their steadfast and their religion and their belief in freedom, helped change America." In Senegal, July 8, 2003.

The Game Of The Year. I'm speechless.



Today's game had it all -- a brawl featuring A-Rod and Varitek, 4 Red Sox errors (including 3 on three consecutive plays), New York taking a quick 3-0 lead, Boston coming back 4-3 (with 4 hits on four consecutive pitches in the 4th), Tito getting ejected, blowing the lead and trailing 9-4, cutting the gap to 9-8, falling back 10-8, and then winning the game 11-10 with a 2-run Mueller home run off Rivera in the 9th. ... And two perfect innings from Ramiro Mendoza.

Every batter Rivera faced -- all five -- hit the ball hard. ... If you missed it, don't worry. MLB is selling a download for $3.95. Well worth it. You'll get to hear Buck and McCarver crying at the end!

This game could really turn this team around. They played hard Friday, but fell short. Today, they stormed right back after both the fight and the Yankees' 6-run 6th and puts several runs on the board. ... I'm ready for a 20-4 run. I believe! How about you?

Someone -- Finally -- Says The Obvious. It's Gabe Kapler. From the Globe: "I think we need to battle a little bit harder. I think we've had a couple of instances recently where we've gotten behind in a game and have become semi-lifeless, and I think it's important that we show a little amount of tenacity right now." (And in the Herald) ... Kapler's words could have been a little stronger and if he was an everyday player, perhaps they would have been. The question is what is this team going to do about it?

Fans need to vent and get back on the horse. ... Day-night doubleheader today. According to redsox.com, lefty Abe Alvarez is up from Portland (AA) to make his major league debut against Rodrigo Lopez at 1:05 pm; Tim Wakefield/Dave Borkowski at 7:05 pm.

Afternoon lineup:

Bellhorn 2b
Mueller 3b
Ortiz DH
Ramirez LF
Garciaparra SS
Nixon RF
Millar 1B
Varitek C
Kapler CF

The Yankees arrive tomorrow and if the Red Sox don't get their act together fast, it's going to be one ugly weekend.

The 9/11 Commission Report. Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Official Government Edition. ... PDF files are here.

Share Your Vodka And Brownies With Me. Boston's 9-7 victory over Seattle yesterday was a perfect example of what I was talking about when I wrote that this team can infuriate me even when they win.

I met my YLP* Laura on July 20, 1985 (!), so we spent the day out in the city together for our anniversary. I taped the game, we avoided bars with possible sports scores updates, and watched it when we got home. ... I got all nostalgic (for 2003) when they scored eight times in the 4th, but then Lowe and the bullpen let the Mariners creep slowly back into the game. And frankly (Mr. Shankly), as Seattle closed the gap to 9-7 in the 8th and Foulke let the first two guys get on the bottom of the 9th, I fully expected the Red Sox to lose. And since I knew the game was already over (the team was likely flying back east as I was watching), I was really curious (morbidly so) how it would happen.

Seattle had the winning run at the plate three times: Boone, Edgar and Jacobsen. But the Real Foulke emerged in the nick of time, striking out all three batters (he got Edgar looking on a picture-perfect fastball on the inside corner). ... Boston won the game -- and I felt nothing. No joy, no satisfaction, barely any relief.

Random things: NESN continues to miss pitches because it shows too many goddamn commercials; Sox fans missed the first pitch of the tops of the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th (all Boston batters). ... In the 9th, Trot Nixon had about as good a chance of hitting Mike Myers as I would have. Totally overmatched against the sidearming lefty. ... Tito has 0% confidence in Mendoza. With Embree in serious danger of pissing away the game in the 8th, he refused to go the pen again. ... For solace and commiseration, an excellent alternative to the vacationing Soxaholix is Surviving Grady.

Pedro goes bird hunting (and his mates will treat Bedard like a pinata) at 7:05 pm.

*YLP = Yankee Loving Partner

Another Foulking Loss. Many fans are calling this morning's 8-4 choke to Seattle the worst of the year. Perhaps it is. My low point was Edgar's pinch-hit game-tying home run in the 9th. ... After Boone's ball sailed well over Manny's head and the left field fence at 1:44 am, I shut the TV off, quietly filled in my scorecard and went to bed. Where I dreamed that we weren't relying on Derek Lowe to stop this nearly three-month-long skid.

Lots of ifs in this one: If Arroyo starts the 8th, perhaps the pen survives the 9th; if Nomar was quicker getting to Ichiro's grounder up the middle to start the 8th, perhaps Embree finishes the inning; if Mueller makes a decent throw to second on Winn's grounder, perhaps the Mariners do not score their 2nd run that inning.

Hell, if Boston could have scored more runs (bases loaded, 1 out in the 1st, Nomar GIDP (but hey it was on the 2nd pitch (he hacked the first one foul, which came after Villone hit Mueller and walked Ortiz and Manny; nice patience, Nosmarts)); 1st & 3rd with 0 out in the 4th, Millar foules out and Kapler lines into a DP; leadoff double in the 5th, but Bellhorn dies at third) ...

Last year, this team made me hopeful even on days they lost. This year, even when they win, they piss me off. I need a drink ... and the cabinet is empty.

Treading Water. The Tigers beat the Yankees this afternoon, so a win against the Angels would be most appreciated. Going 1-3 in Anaheim is not acceptable. ... When is this team going to realize that a winning streak will not just magically happen -- they have to bear down, stop mailing in their at-bats when they are behind by more than a couple of runs and battle for a full 9 innings every day. ... The fact that they are tied for the wild card does not lessen my annoyance.

Curt Schilling says his right ankle feels better than it has in two months and he plans to pitch this afternoon (on 9 days rest) without an injection of Marcaine. ... Schilling and Pedro Martinez will fly back to Boston tonight rather than accompany the team to Seattle for a two-game series. ... Schilling discusses his first half-season in Boston, the fans and the media. He also calls Newsday's Jon Heyman "an idiot and a liar."

Terry Francona said he's not using Manny Ramirez as the DH against the Angels because it would force David Ortiz to play first base and weaken the infield defense. I think Manny's bat makes up for any possible lost fielding prowess -- c'mon, is Millar really than much better than Ortiz? Manny refers to himself now as "a pinch-hitting specialist." ... Ortiz and the Red Sox wait to hear "Yankee Bob" Watson's ruling. ... Did you know that Johnny Damon and Mark Bellhorn played together on a high school all-star team in Florida?

According to Gordon Edes, Alan Schwartz's new book, The Numbers Game: Baseball's Lifelong Fascination with Statistics, "present[s] the evolution of baseball statistics and the vital role they played practically from the time the game was invented." ... Schwartz says Boston is the model of how a team can integrate both the traditionalists and the number crunchers: "I'm very impressed by the Red Sox. Everybody keeps an open mind, which is immensely powerful."

Strike Up The Band. "So let me get this straight: The army, confronted with the fact it doesn't have enough musicians to play at all the soldier's funerals, looks at that problem and comes up with this solution -- hire more musicians. You know I'm not a military man but it seems to me that those guys might want to start thinking outside the coffin on this one. Maybe less dead people. It's a thought." Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

This past Thursday, Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL) spoke out about the 2000 election debacle, the GOP and HR-4818, a bill that would provide international monitoring of the November presidential election. "I come from Florida, where you and others participated in what I call the United States coup d'etat. We need to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Over and over again after the election when you stole the election, you came back here and said get over it. No, we're not going to get over it and we want verification from the world."

According to this report: "Those comments drew an immediate objection from Republican members of the House. Leaders moved to strike her comments from the record. The House also censured Brown which kept her from talking on the House floor for the rest of the day." ... Ain't democracy wonderful?

This Is 'Joy Of Sox' Blog Post #666 -- Really. On Friday, George W. Bush met with a group of Old Order Amish during his visit to Lancaster County, Pennslyvania. According to the Lancaster New Era: "At the end of the session, Bush reportedly told the group, 'I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job.'" ... The question is: Who Would Jesus Torture?