Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Good News on Papelbon

The word came down last night that Jonathan Papelbon does not have any kind of tear in his shoulder, and that he's suffering from what is commonly known as "dead arm syndrome." He'll have to rest and strengthen his right shoulder, and I would bet that he will be shut down for the rest of this season. Papelbon is too valuable to be risked for the remainder of a season that looks like it will end with the Red Sox missing the postseason.

It was great seeing David Ortiz back in the Red Sox lineup last night. He got a thunderous ovation as expected from the Fenway faithful, and struck out twice in four at-bats. No matter. It's great having The Big Man back.

The Red Sox offense disappeared once agin last night, getting just one run and three hits against Javier Vazquez, but journeyman minor leaguer Kason Gabbard was sensational over seven innings, allowing just three hits to the White Sox, and Mike Timlin pitched two solid innings for the save as the Red Sox won, 1-0. The Red Sox have caught the White Sox in a big offensive slump, and have won the series. They go for the sweep tonight over the defending champions with Kyle Snyder on the mound, who was tremendous in getting the win in his last start against Toronto last week.

It was a nice gesture by the Yankees brass sending a bouquet of flowers to Jon Lester in his fight against non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Goes to show that there's more to this rivalry than the usual brickbats that thrown at each other. And I'm sure Joe Torre remembers the standing ovation he got when he returned to Fenway after his cancer surgery in 1999.

Some things just transcend what is the best rivalry in sports.

3 comments:

Peter N said...

It was a nice gesture, wasn't it?

Michael Leggett said...

Great Gesture!

Torre, himself is a Cancer Survivor, for he knows the score.

Peter N said...

And the ovation for Joe Torre, in his first game back, and AT FENWAY, brought him, and many of us, to tears. A magic night all those years ago.