BoSox Blotter

Last night was a bleeder. In more ways than one.

Neither Beckett or Halliday were themselves, and how could they be on such a drizzily night? The hits from both teams seemed rather weak, but often got the job done.

Paps finally gave up a run, and unfortunately it was the winning run for the Blue Jays.

Ah, just can’t do it right now. Can’t write about another loss as this team struggles to get back on track and really start rolling out some wins. Here’s to looking forward to Clement finally having a breakout game and the offense coming alive against Towers of the Toronto Blue Jays.

I also hate seeing the Yankees above us in the division

I just read that the Houston Astros offered Roger Clemens $18mm to return for the rest of the season. If this is actually the case, the Red Sox could, and probably should, let the effort to sign the Rocket pass.

Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s good. But, at $18 million a year being offered by his hometown team, it’s going to take a tremendous amount more to persuade the very money-hungry Clemens to return and finish his storybook career with the Boston Red Sox.

Still, I hope somehow the Sox can get him back.

Ok, both former 2004 Red Sox players (Doug Mirabelli and Johnny Damon) returned to Fenway and were unable to get a hit. But, the Sox beat the Yankees for the first game of a 19-game season series with the bombers.

I’ve heard and read many things about Damon’s first at bat, and perhaps the rendition of what happened is furthest from the truth when recounted by Damon himself. There were so many boos coming through my TV set that you could barely hear applause. Personally, I didn’t think him tipping his hat was initially a gesture of gratitude as much as I thought it was the same old Johnny playing to the crowd. Did he really think tipping his helmut would quiet the Fenway Faithful?

I liked Johnny Damon when he was a Red Sox. I got more than fed-up with him this past offseason and listening to him talk about how good a Yankee he is, and how he fits what a Yankee is…

Johnny, you are a Yankee now. You played on the best Red Sox team ever assembled. That won’t be forgotten, and neither will your departure to the Evil Empire for $12mm more. Hopefully, and I expect he will, Coco Crisp becomes the player you were for your 4 years with the team — either way, I’ll still boo you

WOW! If this is true, it’s a bit surprising, but certainly a very needed move. Reports or rumors are swirling that Doug Mirabelli has been traded for by the Sox in exchange for Josh Bard and Cla Meredith.

If this deal has gone down, I think it exemplifies the Sox frustration with Bard and their realization that they can’t carry him all season in hopes of improvement with Wakefield. They were even willing to throw in top prospect Clar Meredith with cash!!!

Will try and keep updated to see if this rumor gets confirmed.

I’m not sure how Josh Beckett might feel about it, but Terry Francona has said on a number of occassions he’ll be playing Wily Mo Pena in centerfield more since Willie Harris and Dustin Mohr don’t seem to be getting the job done at the plate.

Since Wily Mo doesn’t have any Minor League options, I guess we just need to endure the experience of his learning time up in the majors. Thanks for the Yankees signing him to a major league contract when he was just a teenager, we acquired him in the Bronson Arroyo trade as a player with a lot of potential, but still a lot to learn.

We know he strikes out an awful lot. We know that the baseball turns into a rocket when he does connect. We also know his defense is shaky, and I mean more than just dropping a home run into the bullpen when your hips hit the fence. But, at this point the Sox need some offense. Subsequently, last night’s lone run was from Wily Mo’s bat, a solo shot to right-center.

Maybe this will work until Coco is ready? Dunno…

I’ve heard it on every media outlet today. Pitch count. As we all know Curt Schilling threw 133 pitches in a no-decision against Cleveland. People are criticizing both Schilling and Francona for letting him stay in the game. Not me. I’m their side with on this one. I’m sure that those 33 extra pitches will not be a reason that the Sox ace will be tired or on the DL in September. Of course if that does everyone will be talking about that cold night in Cleveland.

But what ever happened to those days where a pitch count was never thought of? I know that supposedly a pitcher is less effective after 100 pitches, but what about the ones that can keep going? Bullpens are better now days (or so it seems) and there isn’t a so called “fireman” in the pen with the new age roles of long, specialist, set-up and mop-up men. I don’t completely disagree with a 100 pitch count, because it is a fairly close mark and probably saves a lot of careers. But back in the day (even 20 years ago), pitchers must have been a lot stronger and better conditioned. Now a complete game is an iron man accomplishment.

All indications are that Manny Rameriz has finally showed up. And, if the last 10 games are of any importance — .400 and 10 RBIs — I think we can expect a little bit of Manny being Manny.

After walking David Ortiz in the 8th inning, G. Mota of the Cleveland Indians had to pitch to Manny with 2 runners on. Why put 2 runners on in a tie ballgame and possibly the best right handed hitter in the game today coming to the plate? Well, the greatest clutch hitter (aka David Ortiz, aka Big Papi) had a homerun earlier in the night for his 9th on the year.

As is usual with Manny, he has great power to the opposite field. All three of his homeruns this season have gone out at right-center. Although his homerun was not a 500 foot shot, his stance and trot from home plate certainly made it seem like it was. Oh well, what can you say? Manny being Manny…

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As always, you never want to move on to the next city coming off from a loss. Hopefully the Sox can turn around their misfortune that started this lengthy road trip by using their latest win over Toronto as a catalyst to get back in gear.

The Red Sox are first in the AL East, but it’s still very early in the season. The pitching, led by tonight’s hurler (Curt Schilling), came out of the gates of spring training in a mid-season sprint. Play of late, with Wells never being effective and DiNardo basically a “6th” starter at this point, has lead the Sox to drop a few more games than they should have.

At the moment the Sox are a game and a half up on Baltimore, but pretty much the entire league isn’t far behind at this point. So, rather than looking over the shoulder I think it’s much more important for this team to keep pressing. Manny might be getting his swing back for good and go on a tear, and Foulke might be finding himself in 2004 form again. All needed elements for this team to make it happen.

Schilling has been lights out this year. He has certainly cemented himself as the early season ace of this staff after Beckett was unable to close the door on his last outing. Curt Schilling is 4-0 and could possibly go to 5-0 and win 5 games in the month of April (if he does, he would be only the 3rd Red Sox pitcher to do so). The catch: Schilling has never won at Jacobs field.

There’s a non-profit organization called Good Sports. You might remember the $16k someone dished out to have lunch with Theo Epstein in the name of charity??? That was them, I believe. At any rate, it seems the always smiling David Ortiz has offered himself and his services to this organization in the form of a whiffle ball game in your backyard to be broadcasted by NESN:

David Ortiz will join you and your friends for a backyard Wiffle Ball game. And with the Sausage Guy cooking hot dogs and sausages on his cart, you’ll feel like you are at the ballpark. You’ll be the only kid in town to say that Big Papi hit it out of your yard! In case you thought it couldn’t get any better, NESN will be providing coverage of the game! This is a priceless item. All equipment for the game will be provided by Wiffle Ball, Inc. Donated by David Ortiz, Wiffle Ball, Inc, The Sausage Guy, NESN.

Can only imagine how much this event will go for…