Red Sox Reality Check

Channel surfers' delight as the Sox won (9-2) for the first time in seven games in Texas and the Celtics evened their series at two with the Pacers with a 110-78 blowout. Seven strong innings from 'Then Came' Bronson Arroyo, three hits from Kevin Youkilis (the Talisman is back), and homers from Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon, and Jason Varitek made for a relatively easy win. Mike Timlin and Keith Foulke closed out the win. Foulke had his command back and his fastball was in the 88 range, up from the mid 80s. Arroyo held the powerful Rangers to 5 hits and a walk while recording five strikeouts. Former Sox fill-in Pedro Astacio got touched up for the loss, as after three decent starts he has reverted to his struggling form over the past couple. Unfortunately for the Sox, the Yankees and Orioles both won, and the Orioles moved to 16-7, behind a game tying homer from Miguel Tejada and another shot from Brian Roberts. Texas Trip Notes. Terry Francona sat out his second game of the Tam...

Fehr and Yawning: Selig Will Get Rejected on 50-Game Penalty for Steroids (The Smart Players Using the High-End 'Roids Can Beat the Low-End Tests Anyway) Newsweek: Nomar and the S Word What's the best word for Fehr, anyway? Smarmy, unctuous, weasel, unscrupulous, untrustworthy, treacherous, duplicitous, mendacious, disreputable, perfidious, disgusting, fulsome, cloying?

Stop the Madness

Never unnecessarily cloud the truth with facts. Maybe that would be an alternative mantra for Washington after 'plausible deniability.' After languishing without a World Series title for 86 years (Henry's comet appearing with lesser frequency than Halley's), the Sox finally broke through in 2004. The solution? The appearance of Billy Beane's 'Greek God of Walks', Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis made his debut in Toronto with unusual fanfare, a home run in his first game, followed by the infamous 'air five', a variation on the Silent Treatment. He went on to have a solid if unspectacular season, the talisman smashing the curse. Of course, that is the stuff of legend, and fantasy, as the principal curse-buster was the simple answer: pitching, pitching, and more pitching. The work of Schilling, Pedro, Lowe, and Foulke in shutting down the Yankees and the Cardinals, not curses, spells, or voodoo provided the answer. Naturally the season got off to a sluggish st...

Schadenfreude: taking pleasure in another person's pain or misery. No doubt that much of Baseball America is taking pleasure at the Sox demise, not only with respect to the return to mediocrity, but also the way they've done it, accelerated by injuries to high paid aging stars. That would be the 'mean reversion' of age and injury impacting a pitching staff that was fortunate to avoid that last season. Sure, the Yankees have fared worse, even last night as back to Cy Young form Roy Halladay blanked the Bombers and RJ 2-0. With 140 games to go, the chowderheads who said Johnson would win 30 better hope for a 30 game winning streak in 29 starts. That's schadenfreude . Not to mention at 205 million dollar payroll, but of course, the season is young. At this point,with six losses in a row in Arlington, and 8 out of 9, I'm beginning to believe my 'strip joint' theory, and suggest that a number of us go on a 'fact-finding mission' to uncover the truth ...

First, the good news. The Sox remain at the .500 mark. Now, the reality check, getting the road trip off on the wrong foot. The Sox grabbed the lead on a two-run triple by Kevin Millar that Gary Matthews probably should have caught. Aside from that, the offense was on holiday. Tim Wakefield weakened in the sixth, as quality start became a historical term for the Sox, as the Rangers went on to top the Sox 7-2 behind quality work from Chan Ho Park. Is he in a contract year? While the Sox have had Jin Ho Cho and B.K. Kim, the Rangers have had the best of the lot in Park. Park, entering this season 13-18 in three AL seasons, allowed two runs in seven innings, mixing his pitches well in sending the Sox to the ignominy of the post-game mean and retreat to their watering hole to recharge for tomorrow. There's no time for wallowing in self-pity, as the offense feels the urgency to start producing during the pitching staff infection. Ouch. The best part of the game is Rico Petrocelli doing ...

"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is." Yogi Berra The Sox are testing out my hypothesis about selected road trips. Last night on WEEI, the announcers speculated that excessive nightlife was a cause for the D-Lowe departure after last season. Rumors about Lowe's post-game styling were flying. Of course the Sox elected to replace Lowe with a pitcher picture of decorum, David Wells. Anyway, although I haven't been to the Arlington area, my guess is that there are plenty of distractions available for young guys with too much money and time on their hands. A quick search of the Internet, er, revealed seven strip clubs in Arlington, Texas. While the home team is enjoying a little quality family time, it takes little imagination to envision American League visitors losing sleep and brain cells out on the town. Statistically speaking. If I had to be stranded on a desert island with one book, the Baseball Encyclopedia might not b...

No game tonight, so my wife and I went out to see Fever Pitch. My first impression (naturally) is that Fallon's character, Ben Wrightman, makes the rest of us merely devoted fans look much better to our wives than the obsessed beyond belief Fallon. Second, the movie truly has loads of terrific sight gags and oneliners, to the point that my wife said that she thought she would be sick she laughed so hard, Pitch captures the wide emotional swings that captivate Red Sox nation. Even tonight, in the wake of the double disabled dip, the debate rages on Sports Radio about why the Sox were willing to 'break up' their championship team (a mere 150 million dollars or so would have locked up Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez, and Derek Lowe). The film also explores the complex relationships between and among men and women. The scene depicting the distribution of season tickets was sidesplitting. Sure, there's a little baseball tossed in with the humor, with a few season and posts...

Memorable rain out/rain delay moments? Rick Dempsey of the Orioles always had some with his comedy routines, and as I've mentioned, I saw a grounds crewman have sudden death at the first game I ever attended as they ran out the tarpaulin. The Orioles and Sox both have an open date tomorrow, but I haven't heard when the game is rescheduled. One would think the Sox might want it to be played later (presuming they might be playing a bit better). The timing of an extended road trip (starting against the nightmarish Rangers) that can eat up pitching, coupled with key injuries creates more than a few problems. With less quality pitching, the Sox absolutely will have to carry that extra pitcher (12) and the offense (that historically can struggle on the road) has extra pressure on it. The Pen is mightier than ... nothing. The Sox relief corps is last in OPS, next to last in strikeouts per 9 innings, and next to last in losses (5). Keith Foulke just hasn't found the groove, and as...

The sky isn't falling. Ah, maybe it is. Whatever we do, I hope it is not in the Bobby Sprowl tradition. That is, do not try to 'rush' guys who aren't ready (Papelbon, Alvarez, Lester) out of desperation and make them head cases forever. My argument about starting Wakefield every fourth day makes more sense to me now.

Tedious. That's the only way to describe last night's game, from the glacial pace to the outcome. It felt like a World Series game - played at night, lasted forever, and made it impossible for children and tired old men to see the outcome. The less said about this game, the better. If the Billy Beane triad of the season is evaluation, repair, and completion (what has Beane won is a legitimate question) then themes are emerging. First, that the offense has largely been adequate, particularly at Fenway. Even with neither Manny Ramirez nor David Ortiz at peak production, the Sox are scoring runs. However, if the Sox are Achilles then the bullpen has been their heel. Keith Foulke became the culprit this time, torched for four runs late when asked to deliver a two inning save. Well, as they say 'momentum lasts only as long as the next day's starting pitcher' so we'll see what Tim Wakefield can deliver tonight. Heading off to Texas for an extended roadtrip, the Sox ca...

After awkwardly coming off the mound last night, David Wells has an unspecified foot injury and has been placed on the DL. We haven't heard whether he has a sprain, stress fracture, or other injury. Lenny DiNardo has been called up, and John Halama will go into Wells' slot in the rotation. Obviously, many eyes are on Wade Miller's progress as an alternative. I've always wondered about pitching Tim Wakefield every fourth day, and working other guys around him. For example. Clement Wakefield Off day Schilling Arroyo Wakefield Clement Schilling Spot Starter Wakefield Arroyo Clement Schilling Wakefield Spot Starter Arroyo Off Day Schilling Clement Wakefield The cons: this disrupts the pitchers' customary schedule. The pros: you get only two appearances from spot starters, with more starts from Wakefield who is likely to outperform your spot starter, and you get an occasional extra day of rest for one of your other starters. Would Wakefield be more OR less effective (or...

Originally published at www.uwritesports.com by Ron Sen Election to the Baseball Hall of Fame shouldn’t be a popularity contest. But, if it were, shouldn’t a popular player get an even break? Concerning Cooperstown, that sleepy village in northern New York state, Luis Tiant remains on the outside looking in. We can only ask why and examine Tiant in comparison with some of the Hall entries. I remember Tiant as the Cuban, cigar smoking, whirling dervish on baseball’s Mount Olympus, the mound at Fenway Park. He looked more like a sausage vendor than an athlete, cut from the John Kruk mold, playfully butchering the English language, but on the mound he was all business. In Game 1 of the 1975 World Series, he carried the Sox to an improbable victory, not only with his pitching, but with his bat, delivering a hit and scoring a key run. From a longevity standpoint, Tiant pitched in 19 seasons, winning 229 games and losing 172, a winning percentage of .571. One of Bill James’ principles is th...

From age 30 to age 39 (average season) --------------Runs-----HR-----RBI Player A----- 90 ----- 23.5 -----87 Player B----- 84 ----- 20 ------ 87 Answer below . . . . . . . Answer: Player A, Dwight Evans Player B, Carl Yastrzemski Unfortunately for Dewey, the first half of his career didn't match up to Yaz.

My son, an Orioles fan, informs me that teams with pitchers who achieve at least 7 strikeouts per nine innings are likely to win at least 95 games. I'm not sure where this statistic comes from, but he's a master of statistical manipulation. The Birds jumped on David Wells, aided by mediocre defense (they say you can't hide bad defense, and that adage proved true). Wells left with pride and foot injured, and Matt Mantei limped off later. Johnny Damon had a spectacular game with 3 hits, 2 walks, and has reached base nine times in the past two games. Don Orsillo regaled us with the fact that the Sox have won 8 of 10 games in which Damon scored. Make that 8-3. The Sox are currently second in runs scored in the AL, and sixth in ERA, but after one streak of hot pitching, they've cooled off. It won't get easier for them after the Baltimore series as they travel to Arlington to face the Rangers. I have this theory about why teams have problems in certain cities, and it has ...

Not going anywhere? I've never seen cricket, but somehow I think it must look something like this. How's the joke go? My wife wants me to call her Pedro, because I never take her out. Terry Francona appears to need a map to locate the bump, because Wells doesn't have his command tonight, missing around the plate, or over it. Brian (Don't Call Me Brady Anderson) Roberts had an incredible first inning with a single and two stolen bases to manufacture a run. Meanwhile the Sox keep threatening Bruce Chen (Bill Lee lite) while unable to get the big hit to open it up. I have this nagging fear that Abe Alvarez is cut from the same cloth, Mark Buerhle without a fastball. B.J. Surhoff is one of my favorite players...in game 161 a few years ago at Fenway I saw him backing up a throw at third base (from left field), with the Birds down 8 - 3 in the bottom of the eighth inning of a meaningless game. Playing the game right.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/v/valenjo02.shtml More thoughtful comments on Red Sox past. John Valentin had a breakout season in 1995 which landed him megabucks. Unfortunately he never again achieved the same proficiency, although he did have a terrific ALDS and solid ALCS in 1999. My recollection of Valentin was as a solid but unspectacular defensive player, but as I recall he moved (pretty much kicking and screaming) to third base to make way for Nomar Garciaparra. In some ways, I wonder if Bill James would consider him a prototypical player, peaking not far from age 27 and declining steadily from there. Serious knee injuries contributed to his decline, but isn't that a part of sports, too (ability and durability - the Patriots Way).

Come on, admit it, you're more addicted than ever. Winning never gets old. 1. My mom used to get upset with me for wearing out the batteries on the transistor radio from falling asleep on the west coast games. 2. I still have my ticket stub from Game 1 of the 1975 World Series. $4.50. Can you buy a beer at the park for that? 3. Speaking of that, have we Sox fans forgotten how great Luis Tiant was, and what a big game pitcher he was. 4. I used my 1966 Carl Yastrzemski card as a noisemaker on my bicycle wheels. Anybody else remember doing that? 5. Shaughnessy makes me crazy; but He Who Must Never Be Named is a good one. 6. Anagrams fascinate me. Daniel Shaughnessy = Dan lies as he hugs NY? 7. Cursed be the great Red Sox killers of the past forty years - Gates Brown, Tom Tresh, Amos Otis, Larry Hisle, Derek Jeter, and so on. 8. Does Wade Boggs still eat chicken every day, or was that just a superstition? 9. The best game I ever personally saw pitched in Fenway was Jim Palmer throwing...

A number of posters present thoughtful response to my commentary on 'head-hunting'. Steve D writes, "The problem with your scenario (heavy fines and suspensions etc.) is that it's impossible to prove intent." Both leagues have personnel assigned to mete out discipline in exactly this situation after review of the context of the situation. Steve is correct that every pitcher says "the pitch got away". Using that logic, managers should never be warned, and no one should ever be ejected, because no court, judge, and jury were assembled to prove intent. A secondary (and surely less plausible point for most) note is where wildness occurs. Generally, RHPs will be wild inside to RH hitters (natural ball movement) and LHP outside to RH hitters. Having pitched from Little League, Babe Ruth League, Legion, high school, college, the Intercity League, and even in an old men's league, I don't think I hit 3 lefthanded batters, and nobody anywhere near the hea...

Originally published at Steve Silva's www.bostondirtdogs.com “It’s pretty funny until the rabbit gets the shotgun.” – John Salley A baseball thrown at a major league hitter at ninety miles per hour allows him about 0.4 seconds to analyze and react. Prior to today’s action, there had been 99 batters hit by pitchers in the National League and 101 in the American League, not a significant difference. Judging by today’s action between the Red Sox and the Devil Rays one wouldn’t know that. The feud between the Red Sox and the Devil Rays goes back literally years, although like many conflicts, few remember the origins. However, each year it seems that the quid pro quo expands, unchecked by changes in management, managers, and players. This weekend a series of hit batsmen again erupted in gang warfare, culminating in an attempted drive-by hit on David Ortiz by Lance Carter after Carter had brushed back Manny Ramirez who promptly responded by hammering the next Carter fastball into the ble...

The Red Sox closed out their road trip with an 11-3 mashing of the D-Rays, a game marred by a beanball war. Bronson Arroyo (2-0, 4.01) collected the win, allowing 3 runs in 6 innings, although he was ejected following a hit batsman leading off the seventh inning. Following Arroyo's ejection, Mantei, Myers, Timlin, and Halama combined to shut out Tampa over the final three frames. The longstanding feud between the Sox and Rays erupted over the weekend, particularly fueled by Scott Kazmir hit batsman and reinforced by Red Sox retaliation. Lance Carter hit Manny Ramirez today, who followed with a homer on the next pitch, and Carter narrowly missed beaning David Ortiz during the next at-bat, leading to benches clearing and numerous ejections. Jay Payton broke the game open with the second grand slam of his career in the eighth, and Ortiz then delivered his seventh homerun of the season deep into the right field bleachers. Johnny Damon (.333) had four hits leading the way, and Edgar Ren...

To paraphrase the old movie Parenthood, baseball is much more of a roller coaster than a merry-go-round. Also, by virtue of playing almost daily, the Red Sox and others are subjected to our microanalysis, which overplays the importance of each game. First, to lighten the mood, another story from the late Vin Orlando . Years ago, the players were congregated in the clubhouse, being regaled by the troubled Jimmy Piersall about how strong he was and how he could outperform anyone on the team on an arm-strengthening machine. The machine had a broomstick/dowel fixed to a rope and pulley system with a weight on the other end. By rolling your wrists and tightening the rope, a player could develop his forearm strength. Piersall boasted that he could do three times as many as any player on the team. Ted Williams told Piersall to shut up and "stop being an asshole." As players occasionally do, they made a friendly wager, with players putting their money on Piersall or Williams. Accord...

Can't stand prosperity. Despite 6 decent innings from Tim Wakefield (4 runs, 2 earned), the D-Rays folded, stapled, and mutilated the Sox bullpen after the Sox tied the game with a two-run ninth inning rally. Eduoardo Perez launched a walkoff homer deep into the left field seats off Alan Embree's first offering. Embree continues to struggle. Mark Bellhorn and Johnny Damon had delivered key ninth-inning hits to tie the game at four. Although he didn't get the win, Scott Kazmir was outstanding holding the Sox to one run in seven innings. Truth be told, having just got back from Mexico, I'm excited to see baseball again, after watching soccer on Fox, soccer on ESPN, soccer on some German channel, soccer on RAI, and CNN-international. Bill Muellar sat out with the flu, with Ramon Vazquez starting a key around-the-horn bases loaded double play in the bottom of the eighth to keep the game in reach. Farm stand. Miller Time. According to the Sea Dogs web site, Wade Miller will ...

The Red Sox behind the combined shutout pitching of Matt Clement (2-0) and Keith Foulke (S3) defeated the Orioles 1-0 to take over sole possession of first place in the American League East. In doing so, the Sox evened their road record at 4-4. The Sox pitching staff recorded their second consecutive shutout over the Baltimoreans. Ramon Vasquez had a groundout in the second inning to plate the game winner. At the 16 game mark, one-tenth of the season, what can we say about the season thus far? From a team perspective, the Sox have the largest run differential in the AL, at 25. The Marlins have the largest overall at 33, having allowed only 44 runs all season. The Sox are tied with the White Sox with eight wins in their last ten games, and their only deficiency with a small sample size is a 2-3 record in one run games. Offensively the team is third in runs per game, third in slugging percentage and fourth in on base percentage. At the same time, overall production has diminished only sl...

"Fatman Returns" or some other meaningless title as the Sox seized the moment behind eight innings of three-hit, shutout ball by David Wells (2-2) to move to 9-6 and regain a share of first place with Baltimore. Jason Varitek added a three-run homer off former Sox Bruce Chen. The Sox shutdown hot-hitting Brian Roberts and Miggy Tejada en route to the rout. This was the second consecutive shutout appearance for Wells, who lowered his ERA to 3.51, and has allowed only 2 walks in more than 25 innings. Matt Clement faces Oriole ace Rodrigo Lopez (2-0, 2.66) today. Stat mongering. The Sox road record went to 3-4 versus their 6-2 home slate thus far. Although the Sox have been productive lately, only two regulars, Varitez and Johnny Damon are hitting over .300, so even better days could be ahead. The Sox are second in runs scored (the penultimate stat after wins), third in OPS and tied for second in home runs. They are 12th in stolen bases, to which we all will recall the importanc...

Nobody wins everyday, not even the World Champions, not even with more power from Manny Ramirez (5) and David Ortiz (4). Even a quality start (7 innings, one run) from Bronson Arroyo wasn´t enough as Embree and Foulke left the cold cuts on the table and the Jays ate the Sox lunch. Arroyo departed with a 3-1 lead, and the pen ran dry, yielding a pair of Toronto runs in the 8th and the game winner in the 9th. Boo-freaking-hoo. Fourteen games into the season, few patterns have emerged. Starting pitching seems to have righted itself with the return of Curt Schilling, and the ´new dudes´as the Patriots say (Wells and Clement) seem to be acquitting themselves pretty much as expected. The offense looks to produce baserunners and power, while matching them will determine the extent of offensive success. The bullpen has been inconsistent thus far. While the start hasn´t been fantastic, it hasn´t inspired panic either. Wake up. The Sox announced an extension for graybeard knuckler Tim Wakefield,...

Curt Schilling picked up his first win of the season with ten strikeouts and five runs allowed in five innings as the Sox extended their home record to 6-1. Manny Ramirez continued his tear with a pair of homers to move into a tie for third in the homer lead and second in RBI. Stat notes. The Sox are now 3rd in runs scored and second in OPS (.805) trailing league-leading Baltimore. The Orioles, along with Cleveland were my sleeper picks before the season. The Sox moved into a first place tie with Baltimore and are now 6th in ERA in the AL. Quality starts 7, record 6-1 Non quality starts 6, record 2-4 Baseline expectations for the newbie - QS winning percentage around 70%, non QS expected about 30% ...anyone going onto the playing field or in any way interfering with play will be subject to arrest and prosecution or losing their season tickets. The Sox did the right thing by pulling season tickets from fans who had 1) contacted or 2) doused Yankee right fielder Gary Sheffield. Admitte...

The quality start mantra came true again, as the Sox moved to 7 quality starts in 12 outings with a 6-1 record during those games. This time it was Contract Year Tim Wakefield coming through, abetted by a Renteria homer (Fenway does affect your power). Did the World Championship season dull your interest in the Sox? Didn´t think so. Why else would you be here? I ask myself which is better, the nuclear attack of sustained offense or the synchronization of a thousand merciless woodpeckers drumming enemy lumber? The answer of course is both. In O´Nan´s and King´s Faithful , they recite the tale of woe of our sister team, the Hanshin Tigers, the misery loves company tale of playing second fiddle to the Japanese Evil Empire, the Yomiuri Giants. Sure enough, last night I meet a couple from Japan, who are baseball fans, of the Yomiuri Giants and Matsui in particular. They speak little English but understand the Tigers-Red Sox connection. Baseball is universal. Winning never gets old, anymore ...

Another day of firsts, with Clement earning his first win, accompanied by two Manny homers, including a grand slam. Four consecutive wins calm the animus of The Nation, as the "football mentality" that afflicts us requires us to dissect each victory and loss. Steven King in "Faithful" reminds us that we "hate what we fear, and sensible Red Sox fans fear the Yankees." The hangover of victory from 2004 continues, gradually eroding the fear of failure transcending generations of Sox fandom. The Sox hold a two game lead over the Yankees, who previously dominated the Orioles, but seem baffled bz the Baltimore Birds of 2005. Fenway Frank. Does anyone believe that the 275 buck a pop seats will hold down the cost of attendance for the riff-raff? There is no truth to the rumor that John Henry will replace Grant on the fifty... Holy visual impairment, Batman! Brian Roberts, the banjo hitting second sacker of the Orioles leads the league in hitting and home runs. Qua...

Jerry Remy has done a terrific job throughout his baseball life, from an extensive major league career and 1978 All-Star appearance to broadcasting since 1988. Watching Baseball gives Remy´s insights into how to watch and anticipate the daily race that comprises baseball´s annual marathon. He reviews a number of fundamentals about hitting, pitching, fielding, and baserunning. He also shares a little bit about the psychology of the game, the rise through the minors, and the relationships that players and management have. Occasionally, he gives great insight into ´behind the scenes´insight such as Dick Allen saying á slump is only as long as your last at-bat´or that Cal Ripken didn´t have great positional play early in his career. But most of the time he paints with broad strokes, yielding information best suited to your novice to intermediate fan. For those who have played higher level baseball (college or semi-professional) there probably isn´t enough meat to go on the ample bones abou...

Out of the cellar and the home cooking sizzles with a shut out and double digit victory. You don´t see this. LHP shutout in Fenway. Running totals. Quality starts - 5, 4-1 Non QS - 5, 1-4 TEAM STATS. Pitching 9th in ERA (4.87), 11th in WHIP, Batting 7th in runs, 9th in OPS. I didn´t see the game so it would be silly to say much about it. Did read Management Secrets of the New England Patriots, by Jim Lavin, an astonishing book about success. An anecdote- about Rodney Harrison driving his mom´s beat up car and being humiliated in high school, vowing never to be in that position again, working to ensure success so that he could get his mom a house and a car. I hope to read Jerry Remy´s book today.

The Sox captured the rubber game of the series and their first series of the season, defeating New York 8-5. After an uneventful and depressing game Wednesday, the Sox and Yankees returned to Fenway under the lights in the rubber game of the series. You never know when you'll get a pitchers' duel at Fenway. That didn't come tonight with Randy Johnson against Bronson Arroyo. The Sox struck early with a two-run shot by Jay Payton into the centerfield seats, and the Yanks got a run back in the third. Edgar Renteria also got his first Fenway tater with a two-run Monstah job in the third. The fun got started in the fourth as wildness by Arroyo and 'three blind mice' umpiring by plate umpire Greg Gibson resulted in a two-out full count walk to Gary Sheffield that opened the floodgates to a four-run inning. Both teams objected throughout to Gibson's inconsistency. Ultimately Sox Skipper Terry Francona got tossed for arguing balls and strikes. It was Francona's firs...

Most of you probably saw the game, so I'll deliver the Letterman 10 reasons not to watch this game. 10. April games are too damned cold. The only good thing about that is your beer stays cold. 9. The Yankees and the Red Sox shouldn't be playing 6 games in April. That's not right. 8. The curse of no Kevin Youkilis, Billy Beane's Greek God of Walks. Youkilis was sent down and Blaine Neal lives. Blaine must have incriminating photos of Master Theo. 7. Christopher Trotman Nixon may have lost weight, but not any skill, as he has an early season OPS of 1.048 including 2 homers and 7 RBI. Unfortunately the effort got wasted tonight. 6. If you didn't watch tonight, you wouldn't have seen Curt Schilling (tiring in the 6th, give up homeruns to Jason Giambi and Bernie Williams. 5. You also wouldn't know that Manny Ramirez had the longest streak of homerless games to open his career. 4. You could have saved your money to watch Randy Johnson pitch against lead guitarist ...

What do baseball players do on open dates? For the Sox players, after Spring Training and an opening road trip, I imagine that most are home with their families. Ballplayers are famous for going to the movies (although a few wouldn't for fear that it would affect their eyesight), and most of the Yankees must have seen the sights in Boston by now. Probably not too many would be in line to see Fever Pitch. Asked about whether he would be wearing his Sox World Series ring very often, Curt Schilling reported (on WEEI today) that his daughter took his ring for 'show-and-tell' today. Pretty cool day at school, huh? Let's hope that the ace has something for show-and-tell tomorrow. By the way, Schilling also predicted that both Hideki Matsui and David Ortiz would have big years because of a determination to take chances, making adjustments to get better. Statistical anomalies. Ichiro has followed up his fantastic spring by hitting .464 thus far, and courtesy of the Sox, Eric Hi...

The Red Sox opened their home campaign with a convincing 8-1 victory over the AL runnerup, the New York Yankees. Tim Wakefield (1-0) pitched seven innings without allowing a run, lowering his ERA to 1.32. While Wake provided the interest, batterymate Doug Mirabelli added the dividends, powering a two-run shot over the monster in the second inning to put the Sox up for good. Following Wakefield, Matt Mantei and Keith Foulke completed the rout with two solid innings of scoreless relief. The Sox touched up Mike Mussina, (0-1, 4.91) for seven runs, four earned in five innings. The thirty-six year-old Mussina was 12-9 with an ERA of 4.59 in 2004 and allowed 178 hits in 164 innings last season. You don't see this. The Red Sox unfurled a massive championship banner engulfing the entire left field wall during pregame ceremonies. The Sox also handed out World Series rings to players, including Derek Lowe and Dave Roberts who returned for the ceremonies. Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, Richard Seym...

Here are a couple of stories people that I found interesting. The first was inspired by David Wells yielding three consecutive homers. Somebody heard this story on the radio: "A Cincinnatti pitcher had yielded back-to-back-to-back homers, and a cannon had been shot off after each homer. The pitching coach came out to discuss it with the pitcher who was visibly upset. The pitcher cursed and muttered something about not needing time to collect his thoughts. The pitching coach replied, "I was just giving the guy time to reload." The second story is a brief story told to me by former Red Sox equipment manager Vin Orlando. Vin was a great guy; he gave me an All-Star Wally that helped break the curse. Sadly he passed away a few years ago. Vin said he was the first Sox employee to greet Ted Williams off the bus from San Diego when he arrived to Spring Training in Scottsdale, Arizona. Vin gave him a tour, and Williams noticed a white house behind the right field fence. Ted asked...

Canada Dry. The Sox lost the second series of the year, 4-3 at Rogers Centre, despite a ninth inning comeback. The good news - Edgar Renteria keyed the ninth inning rally with a two-out, two-strike opposite field single. The bad news - once again, the bullpen fell apart, this time Mike Timlin who allowed a one-out opposite field double to Orlando Hudson scoring Reid Johnson. Yet another day, the Sox just didn't do the little things necessary to win, hitting behind the runner, taking the base when opportune. Matt Clement's quality start went for naught, largely due to relatively weak offense. The Sox return home for their first homestand of the season, maybe a little home cooking is just what they need. The home opener will pit Tim Wakefield against Mike Mussina and the Yankees. Curt Schilling is scheduled to face Jaret Wright on Wednesday, and Bronson Arroyo tangles with Randy Johnson on Thursday. Welcome back, Terry Francona. Stat Notes: Last year the Red Sox hit for an .883 O...

We hear about locker rooms with signs "play like a champion". The writing doesn't appear to be on the Red Sox wall. Does anyone feel that somehow the 'sense of urgency' is lacking? Jerry Remy gave a handwaving argument why Kevin Millar shouldn't care about hitting behind the runner (after an Ortiz double) because he might as well try to hit a home run. At least to me, that's like saying that because Antoine Walker isn't a great free throw shooter, that he shouldn't work on it. Johnny Damon failed to take third on a short hopper to third base, that can only be described as a concentration lapse. That may have cost the Sox a run via a sacrifice fly. Manny Ramirez, of all people, gets an uncontested steal of third. Either Ramirez makes a terrific heads up move or it's a gross violation of don't make the first or the last out of an inning at third base. Meanwhile, Matt Clement shows off the 'frustration factor', as he has trouble throwi...

Few sports initiate action from the defensive side of the ball. Baseball is one. Nothing happens until the pitcher starts play. Pitching demands a different approach than most sport activities, because more than anything else, it is about deception, not necessarily brute athleticism. Mickey Lolich presented adequate testimony to the difference between athleticism and pitching prowess. If hitting is timing, pitching is about disruption of timing. Orioles pitching coach Ray Miller preaches three concepts: throw strikes, work fast, and change speeds. Changing speeds disrupts hitters' timing. Major league hitters, even with only 4/10th of a second to evaluate and swing, will catch up with a straight fastball. Witness Matt Mantei's struggles thus far. A number of extremely successful pitchers, present and past, relied on their ability to change speeds, more than to overpower hitters. For the Sox, Keith Foulke has the 'Bugs Bunny' changeup that seems to stop in midair. Doug J...

Tom Tippett's Diamond Mind site ( www.diamond-mind.com ) always has a wealth of baseball information. Tom runs the seasons projections (100 seasons worth of play, three seasons worth of statistics used) with his text-based program (Diamond Mind Baseball) and projected the Yankees (97 wins) to top the Sox by a game, with Minnesota and Oakland also reaching the AL playoffs. The importance of winning early in the season is also discussed in another article http://www.diamond-mind.com/articles/espn9809.htm . Observations on the early season are preliminary and obvious. Absent Curt Schilling, the starting pitching has been mediocre at best, with two quality starts and three poor starts. The bullpen hasn't been any more consistent, with Neal and Halama just plain shaky, Foulke unable to find his groove thus far, and Timlin and Embree average to above adequate. The Schilling and Wade Miller watch will be moving to the front burner. We know that Manny Ramirez will hit (.300, 35, 120 if...

The Sox don't die easily, but they died nevertheless, in a day game following Friday's near nightmare at the Rogers Centre. The pitching matchup didn't favor the Sox with Roy Halliday facing David Wells. Wells (0-2) puked up a quantity start including back-to-back-to-back jacks by Corey Koskie, Vernon Wells, and Shea Hilenbrand. As Gary Peters used to say, Wells had the worst kind of wildness, "wild in the strike zone". Trailing 5-1, the Sox pulled within one in the sixth on a titanic David Ortiz three-run homer to dead center field, and got even in the seventh when an Eric Hinske throw pulled shortstop John McDonald off the bag. While trying to complete a 3-6-3 twin-killing, McDonald had to reach to the right field side and this time, the umpire didn't call the 'neighborhood play' a routine out. Wells started the seventh, yielding a leadoff double, and Matt Mantei couldn't put out the fire as the Jays took the lead for good 6-5. Mantei, John Hal...

Statistics have a special allure for baseball fans. Many of us know of baseball's Pythagorean Theorem and Moneyball introduced many fans to statistically-based player analysis. But statistics don't tell everything, especially about our idiosyncratic devotion to certain players, past and present. So, in a departure from statistics-based analysis, I present my 'wish list' of Red Sox acquisitions that aren't going to happen from around the American League. Well, actually, I will use some stats, because I can't help myself. Because we have arrived in the new 'positive attitude' era in Boston, I'm not going to make any negative comments in this column. Baltimore Orioles: Tough choice with two logical candidates, Melvin Mora and B.J. Ryan. First, who wouldn't want a guy with quintuplets? Mora must want to play two everyday, just to avoid diaper changing. As for Ryan, a strikeout pitcher like his namesake. Pick: Ryan. Toronto Blue Jays: We've got t...

The Sox journeyed to Rogers Centre (nee Skydome) to help the Blue Jays open their home schedule. Rogers Centre features a new, more grass-like 'Field Turf' surface. Things you never see . The Jays opened with promising righthander Dave Bush (the poor man's Alan Sele?) and when he departed, they followed with sidewinder Brandon League . Bush - League? Whatever became of Homer Bush anyway? The former Yankee prospect and Blue Jay second baseman had his career derailed by nagging injuries, including hip problems. With manager Terry Francona remaining on the shelf, acting manager Brad Mills sought to extend his winning streak. Bronson Arroyo pitched six innings yielding 3 hits, a walk, and two runs for a quality start. People 'pooh-pooh' the quality start as a statistic, but it has meaning. A quality start is any start lasting at least six innings and yielding three runs or less. David Smith produces a scholarly treatise on quality starts at Tom Tippett's Diamond M...

Cheating isn't new in baseball; to an extent, it's an art form. Traditional approaches include stealing signs, 'peeking' (hitters trying to check the catcher's position), and baserunners trying to get an idea about pitch type and location from the catcher. 'Peeking' tends not to work, as it can generate brushbacks, and catchers may give deceptive initial location, as Jason Varitek does. Baseballs can be 'doctored' by cooling them (reducing distance) and Whitey Ford/Yogi Berra were known for innovative 'cutting' of baseballs. Who can forget the spitter, Vaseline ball, et cetera from the likes of Gaylord Perry, John Wyatt, and others? Club approaches to 'cheating' include tailoring the field (Tiger Stadium grass growing to prodigious lengths to slow grounders), manicuring foul lines to help or hurt bunting, fluffing the dirt in front of the plate to slow ground balls, and watering the basepaths to hinder speed. The Twins have been accus...

You'd like to learn more about baseball, especially the craft of baseball. Some good reads include: Ball Four, Jim Bouton October 1964, David Halberstam Men at Work, George Will Lords of the Realm, John Helyar Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame, Bill James The Head Game, Roger Kahn The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers , Bill James, Rob Neyer The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, Bill James Baseball's Great Experiment, Jules Tygiel The Heart of the Order, Thomas Boswell

Two games gone into the season, Terry Francona was hospitalized with chest tightness. Francona has a remote history of pulmonary emboli following surgery, and certainly will be evaluated for heart pain as well. We can only hope he had a case of reverse pennant fever, also known as performance anxiety. As I said in another column, managing a bunch of idiots isn't so simple. Sox fans wish Francona a speedy recovery. Absent the Skipper, first Mate Gilligan, er, Brad Mills led the locals to a stirring 7-3, comeback victory as the Sox handed uber-closer Mariano Rivera another blown save , this time with a defeat cherry on top. Three hits, three walks, and a timely A-Rod error led to a super-sized crooked number as the Sox pushed across five runs in the ninth. Tim Wakefield produced a quality start for the Sox, and Mike Timlin picked up the Sox first victory of the year. Edgar Renteria got off the schneid with a key two-run RBI single in the ninth, getting those ducks off the pond . If t...

Originally published at www.uwritesports.com Having advanced deep into middle age, I can't help but know more answers than there are questions. Small children even look inquisitively at me and point. Unfortunately, they never ask the really important questions.Although we live in the City of Champions, formerly known as The Hub, that hardly insulates us from pockets of sports folly. I'm sure you have your own list, but I'll start us off. 1. Blatantly, patently offensive hometown officiating. Gene Hackman pretty much covered it in Hoosiers, but it's become an art form unto itself in the NBA. 2a. Shot selection from hell. I know that Raef LaFrentz shoots 36% on three-pointers, but why is it that I've seen him make three this year and miss seventy seven? Do they count his shots during practice as well? (Illinois, you should read this) 2b. Seven foot tall guys not named Dirk who think they should make a living shooting three-point shots. Brad Lohaus, Travis Knight, Raef...