While it's raining in Crabcakeland, the Sox trail 2-1 to the Birds, as the Orioles struck for a pair of dingers by Eli Marrero (7) and Melvin Mora (15), he of the 5 mouths to feed (quintuplets). Trot Nixon nearly put the Sox ahead with a double high off the wall, only to get picked off second with the bases loaded to kill the rally. Bad Dirtdog!
GM Theo Epstein and the Baseball Bunch retooled the fringes of the roster today, exiling Jay Payton to the 'designated for assignment' list, promoting Rule V draftee Adam Stern (what are I-IV?), and trading Ramon Vasquez for Alex Cora, a defensive middle infielder upgrade. Lenny DiNardo, we hardly knew 'ya, also returns to the PawSox.
Payton apparently had a blowup after last night's game, and gave the Sox little option but to move him. Payton obviously had defensive skills and some pop in his bat, but couldn't displace any of the Sox regulars. Unfortunately, GM Epstein will have to seek 50 cents on the dollar for a replacement, unless he grabs salary.
Meanwhile Kevin Millar asks for a trade (supposedly) but no team had an immediate response to the Sox request for six dozen rubbed up baseballs. Future manager but current Idiot Johnny Damon conducted his own All-Star poll and favors either Timlin or Arroyo over Curt Schilling for the closer spot. As they say in Ball Four 'consider the source' about an evaluation of pitching savvy and arm strength. We can only hope there's still room in the woodshed after Tito Francona finishes ''counseling" the children.
The good news comes from outside of Boston, as 24 year-old RHP Jon Papelbon yields only 3 hits and a run with 7 strikeouts and no walks in six innings during his first AAA start. Meanwhile, 21 year-old Anibal Sanchez moves up to Portland (AA) and pitches 4 shutout innings allowing 2 hits and fanning 6. David Murphy had 3 hits to raise his average to .271 as he tries to shake the 'good field, no hit' label so common to minor league suspects.
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