The News Gets Worse And Worse

Red Sox Nation held its collective breath last night as Jonathan Papelbon, after throwing a pitch to Lyle Overbay, grabbed his right shoulder and had to leave the game, which Mike Timlin came on and saved, 2-1. Kyle Snyder pitched seven shutout innings for the win, and struck out eight. Papelbon will have an MRI done on Monday, and the best case scenario is that he may miss from 5-7 days with a shoulder strain.

Worst case scenario? I don't want to even consider that.

Curt Schilling will now miss his scheduled start on Monday due to a muscle strain in his right side suffered in his last start this past Wednesday in Oakland. He figures to be back on Saturday, which would be his next regular start against Kansas City.

At this rate, it seems like the batboys will be pitching before this season ends.

But the worst news of all from Friday was the news that Jon Lester (pictured) has a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. It is treatable, and he will begin his treatments next week. It is our hope that we will see Jon back on the mound at Fenway Park in 2007. Our thoughts are with him and his family in this very difficult time for them. He's a part of Red Sox Nation, and that means he's family.

Get well soon, Jon. You're in all of our prayers.

Loretta Was NOT DFA'd

I got an email earlier today from my friend Chris that a rumor was going around that Mark Loretta was designated for assignment last night after the Red Sox 6-4 win over Toronto. When I saw the rumor, it made absolutely no sense to me. You don't see players designated for assignment in September because the rosters are expanded to 40 players, and teams use DFA to open up a major league spot for someone else.

And besides, the Red Sox are so banged up at the moment that taking a productive hitter like Loretta out now is beyond stupid, and also, the rosters are now set for the postseason, so he wouldn't play in October with a contender. Loretta has handled himself with such class this season that treating that way would be wrong. He may not be in the Sox' plans next season, but he deserves to play out the season with them.

At the Royal Rooters fan forum, I discovered a thread about this Loretta rumor, and it was started by Rotoworld, a sports web site that gives their take on all the major sports. (I've seen them listed on a few other web sites, including Bornintoit.com.) But by the end of the thread, I discovered that Rotoworld took it off their web site, and that Royal Rooters had closed the thread down.

I couldn't find anything else about this rumor on any other web site, including both Boston papers, who would have been all over this.

So this rumor proved to be baseless. It also proved something else.

Rotoworld sucks.

I don't know who's behind that web site, but they consistantly get information wrong, and do it with a smugness and an arrogance that just turns me off. These wiseasses love to bash EVERY move that Terry Francona makes. They think they know everything, and are famous for their 20/20 hindsight and Monday morning quarterbacking.

I know the Internet can be a haven for rumormongering, but don't trust anything these guys say. You know what they say about opinions...

Thanks Alex

Finally, the Red Sox catch a break.

Alex Cora hit a long fly ball to right in the seventh inning last night with the score tied 4-4 and two outs. Alex Rios ran back on it and the ball hit off his glove and as he tried to grab it with his bare hand, he wound up swatting it into the right field stands, 10 feet from where he was. It was Cora's first home run in a year as the Sox broke their six game losing streak, 6-4, over Toronto.

Rios' blunder will be repeated over and over again on those sports highlights shows, and will probably rank up there with the ball going off Jose Canseco's head in terms of outfield blunders that led to home runs. Thanks Alex.

The Sox flashed some nice leather last night, especially from Cora, Gabe Kapler and Dustin Pedroia. He continues to impress in the field, and I love the way he turns the double play. I think the Red Sox have a real diamond in the rough with Pedroia. (And can the Sox give him a lower number than 64? He's not a linebacker or a defensive tackle.)

This month-long disaster comes to merciful end, and the Red Sox ended up 9-21 for August, their worst month since August 1985. (I'll have more on it in an upcoming post.)

David Wells was traded to the San Diego Padres during last night's game, for a player-to-be-named-later, probably minor league catcher George Kottaras.

No word yet on the tests being conducted on Jon Lester and the enlarged lymph nodes he was discovered to have had. Hopefully everything will be OK with Jon, and it's a good bet his 2006 season has concluded.

Godspeed, Jon.

Flying The Flag

We're getting to that time again, the fifth anniversary of the worst day in our country's history. Right after we were attacked, American flags appeared everywhere. But soon enough, they started going back into storage. It's time to get them back out, to remember those brave heroes who gave their lives on that terrible day, as well as for those soldiers fighting to protect us abroad.

I received this email yesterday:

On Monday, September 11th, 2006, an American flag should be
displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this fifth anniversary of our country's worst tragedy. We do this in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed
in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood
shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but
disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it
shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our
American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail
over terrorism of all kinds.

Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans
should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it
a priority on this day.

Amen. And thank you.

Defending The Nation Against Barroom Evil

My friend Rhonda sent me a great email today that I thought I had to share with you all. Rhonda is one of the most loyal and dedicated Red Sox fans I know, and she wrote the email like it was a post on a blog. It is her experience with two sets of Yankee fans earlier this week. One of them your typical group of muttonheads, but the other very different. It shows just how cool Red Sox Nation truly is.

The story is a bit long, but well worth the time to read.

My thanks to Rhonda for letting me put it here, and for always Keeping the Faith.

August 29, 2006
Girl enters a New York bar that is not named Professor Thom’s, her first mistake. She’s wearing “work clothes”, including a pair of those high heel shoes in every woman’s closet: the kind in which she knows that if the shit ever really went down (getting chased on the streets of NYC at 2am; having to escape an emergency situation in a jiffy), quick escape would not just be improbable, it would be impossible. Atop her head is a Red Sox cap. Not a pink one, but an old, raggedy, tired, sun-bleached Sox cap. The cap is the one she wears when mowing the lawn for her parents, babysitting, on the subway almost daily, when just watching the game.

Inside the New York bar, she walks past a circle of men who are leaning on the bar sloppily. They remind her of ragged sailors hovering about the leeward rail, ready to heave ho their Dark and Stormies into the swirling Atlantic below.

The men appear over 40ish. They are not all from New York. One has a noticeable Louisiana drawl. One is bald, muscular, loud, and quite unattractive. The other two she can’t see; she only spies their pudgy backs as she glances at the bartender so that he’ll hopefully make his way over. As she approaches the bar for a beverage, the bald, unattractive man notices the girl’s tattered Red Sox cap. He notices she is alone, for now. He notices she is an easy target. He recalls the A.L. East standings, slowly. He decides to make her pay for the mistake that he considers her accessory to be.

“Eh…Hey you! You can’t wear dat cap in here! Boston fan, hah? So where you think you are, honey? Go back to Boston! Take dat off! GO BACK TO BOSTON!”

She knows she shouldn’t go there. That he’s not worth her addressing him. But this week, somehow, she just can’t help herself.

“I can’t,” the woman answers clearly, calmly, loudly. She’s glaring now, directly into his glazed-over, beady eyes.

“Oh yeah?” the man asks, “Why not!?” He is exasperated she’s not flirting with him. He is surprised she is not rattled. Her reaction genuinely surprises the simple, ugly man.

“Because I live here,” she answers, pausing for effect, “And I’ve probably lived here longer than half of you jackasses have.”

The man is not pleased. The men surrounding him, however, are. Because who the hell are we kidding? Half of them think the other half are jackasses too.

The man with the Louisiana accent speaks up.

“Hey,” (he whispers to his friends), “I bet she duzzen’t even know...I bet she duzzen’t even know. Hey blondie, hey—who won the World Series LAST year?”

She is surprised at the question.

“Excuse me?” she asks him.

“Who…won…the…World…Series…last…year?” he repeats ever so slowly for condescending effect, actually thinking he’s got something here.

“Sir,” she answers, “I will not dignify such a question with an answer.”

A young blonde man sitting at the bar to her right speaks up on the woman’s behalf.

“It wasn’t the New York Yankees, I’ll tell you that!” he shouts. Met fan, the woman assumes. God bless ‘em.

She really should just let it all go. She knows she should just let it go, but somehow, this just isn’t the kind of week when she wants to let it all go. Especially when she needs a cocktail.

“You—“ she orders, pointing to the unattractive bald man. Again he looks surprised. “What is it?” she asks him, “Not enough that your team is in first place? Not enough? So much so that you have to pick on girls half your age? Half your size? Who are alone in a bar, waiting for a friend to show up? Just so you can feel like a tough guy for a fleeting moment? Like a winner?

Gentlemen, which, incidentally, is the overstatement of the year…I hope you all thoroughly enjoy the Yankees getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs next month. Because I know I will!”

The men, after some additional douchebaggery commentary, are ready to leave the bar anyway. “Screw her!” they shout to one another. Soon thereafter, they depart.

Then, in classic New York fashion, which is why she loves the City as much as she does, one of the bartenders comes to her rescue.

He engages her in a discussion about his trip to Fenway this season, a few weeks ago. He took the trip with his girlfriend just to show her the ballpark (nice guy) when the Sox played the Orioles. He said they started talking with some Sox fans at the Cask & Flagon, and the Sox fans (season ticket holders) told the Yankee fans they were unable stay for the entirety of the night’s game—that the Sox fans had to get back to the office later. And so if the couple wanted, the Sox fans could call the Yankee fans on their cell phones, and the Yankee fans could sit in their season ticket holder seats, so the seats wouldn’t “go to waste”.

He never expects them to call. Why should they, he figures?

The Sox fans remember to call. The Yankee fans moved to their seats. The seats were right behind home plate.

The Sox beat the Orioles that night, but despite that, the bartender said, smiling, they really loved their night at Fenway. He said how everyone they met while they were up there in Boston “were so nice.” He gave an example of a guy going over to a couple of tourists looking at a map with bewildered expressions on Comm. Ave, and how he offered to give them directions. He complimented how beautiful and clean the city was, compared to New York. Of how much his girlfriend loved it there…even though, of course, he’s a born and bred New Yorker and he loves it here, as if he even had to explain that to the girl.

Then, to the girl’s surprise, the bartender adds this little tidbit:

“I really hope the Sox get healthy soon, and that that finally turns the tide for them. Cuz…it just ain’t the same. You know? If the rivalry doesn’t have that intensity this time of year, it just ain’t the same. You know?”

“I know,” the girl answered.

And she really did know. It was a question she dignified with an answer, even though it bothered her more than the other one ever, ever could.

Papi Returns Saturday

The Red Sox got some good news today, as David Ortiz was cleared by doctors after a battery of tests at the hospital proved that his heart is fine. He will rest today, practice tomorrow, and be in the lineup Saturday night against the Blue Jays.

It will be good to have you back Big Papi.

Still no word on a David Wells trade. As I write this he is still the scheduled starting pitcher for the Red Sox tonight against Toronto. If Wells is dealt, and the rumor is he's heading for San Diego, Lenny DiNardo will supposedly get the start, as his latest start at Pawtucket was scratched yesterday. I guess we'll know by 7 PM.

Unfortunately, some more bad news. Jon Lester is currently being tested at Massachusetts General Hospital for cancer, as his lymph nodes are said to be enlarged. This doesn't necessarily mean cancer, as it could be just an infection. Our good wishes and prayers are with you, Jon.

And on a very sad note, Charlie Wagner, the Red Sox oldest living player at 93, died last night after attending a Reading Phillies game from an apparent heart attack. He was a beloved man who pitched for the Red Sox in the late 30s and early 40s, and was a member of the 1946 AL championship team that was honored at Fenway on Opening Day. Mr. Wagner worked in the Red Sox organization for nearly 70 years, and was assistant farm director, major and minor league pitching coach and special assignment scout, among his many positions with the club.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

The Alex Minasian Trio

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing my buddy and bigtime Red Sox fan, Alex Minasian, at the Kitano Hotel on Park Avenue, as he and his trio did his first headlining gig in New York. Alex is a terrific jazz pianist, and he was there with bassist Ron McClure and drummer Yoron Israel, both longtime jazz veterans with impressive credentials. I also had the pleasure meeting both gentlemen before the show, along with Alex, who was understandably nervous before the gig, as we knew there would be a jazz reviewer in attendance.

I got to know Alex from Trivia Night at Professor Thom's many months ago. He won one week, and then I won the next. We then got to talking one night and decided to combine forces, we were an unstoppable team on Trivia Night! Alex told me about his love of jazz music, and I told him I was a fan as well. He invited me to his first gig at Columbus Circle. I was blown away by his playing.

The Trio went on just after 8, and they did a great six-song set that lasted just over 70 minutes. I was there with his parents and a few other friends, and the Kitano Hotel has a very intimate jazz room. Alex and the group did jazz standards in their set, from legends like Jimmy Van Heusen, James Williams and Bobby Timmons. This is the third time I've seen Alex play live, and once again I was really impressed with his talent. And I must admit, rather envious, as growing up, I always dreamed of being a musician (and a drummer in particular), but I never had the talent.

The Trio did two sets, but I could only stay for the first. I'll have to check with Alex to see how the second one went. I'm sure he and The Trio knocked them dead in that one as well.

I look forward to reading a great review of Alex' show soon (I saw the critic taking notes at the show last night). And if you like jazz and see the name "Alex Minasian" on the marquee, you should definitely check him out. Alex is definitely one of those young jazz musicians whose "keeping the flame" of classic jazz alive and well.

And I expect to see him back at Trivia Night once again this Monday night!!

Painful

Watching the Red Sox lately continues to be a rather painful experience, especially staying up until the wee hours of the morning to do it. When they fell behind 2-0 last night, I was thinking to myself, "this game is over." And sure enough, they lost 2-1, despite another terrific start from Josh Beckett. The Sox are playing hard, and have definitely not "quit," but they are simply undermanned and overwhelmed right now.

I'll be watching, this afternoon at Professor Thom's, the finale of the road trip, as Curt Schilling goes for his 3000th strikeout. (He's one away.)

Thank God these late night games are done.

David Ortiz is undergoing a battery of tests today at Massachusetts General Hospital, and our thoughts and good wishes go with him. Manny Ramirez and Wily Mo Pena also returned to Boston, and they are listed as day-to-day.

Alex Gonzalez, Jason Varitek and Trot Nixon all begin rehab stints at Pawtucket tomorrow, and all hope to be back at Fenway by Sunday. But, as my dad always says, it maybe a case of "a day late and a dollar short." But it will be good to have them all back.

And what may appear to be a "white flag" move, it looks like David Wells is about to be traded to an NL team, either the Padres, Dodgers or Cardinals. It makes sense, as whichever team offers the best prospect the Red Sox should take. Wells insists he'll retire after the season, so getting a good prospect for him makes all the sense in the world. But the deal has to be done by midnight tomorrow night, as that's when the playoff rosters have to be set.

You should definitely check out my friend Jere's blog today, "A Red Sox Fan In Pinstripe Territory." He's got a great discussion of the July 1, 2004 game between the Red Sox and Yankees, the game that featured a sensational catch that Pokey Reese made. And, oh yeah, one that Derek Jeter made, too.

Jere has video from YouTube of both plays, and why Pokey's was better, as I have insisted for two years. You can go to Jere's blog through this link: http://letsgosox.blogspot.com.

Good job, Jere.

A Sad Anniversary

It was one year ago today that Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. My thoughts and prayers are with those who were lost, those who were displaced and who are still struggling to get the lives back into some kind of order.

As the disaster was unfolding, my thoughts were of those good Cajun folks I met on my two trips to New Orleans in August 2001 and August 2002, where my former company held its annual convention. I enjoyed my time down there very much and spent most of it in the French Quarter.

I hope that New Orleans will rise again, despite the nitwit, clueless mayor they have there. I'm sure that in time it will be back and be better, and I look forward to once again visiting The Crescent City.

Please say a prayer for all those lost one year ago. They'll never be forgotten.

Memories Of Better Times

These are dark times for all of us in Red Sox Nation. The 2006 season is literally unravelling before our eyes. More and more it looks like we're going to have to look forward to the 2007 season. But before we do that, I thought it was time to bring out a special memory from November 12, 2004.

I was at the Yale Club with the BLOHARDS that day, as being a member of the group, I heard they were sponsoring a World Series Championship Trophy viewing at the Yale Club in Manhattan, across from Grand Central Station.

It was absolutely brilliant. The trophy was absolutely gorgeous. Fans applauded as two men brought in the The Holy Grail wearing gloves. Red Sox fans lined up to have pictures taken with it. Myself and my friends waited over 30 minutes, but we finally got pictures with it, both solo and together. It was one of the most special memories of my life.

My buddies and I were also photographed by a NY Post photographer, and our picture appeared along with a story about the NY viewing two days later.

I have decided that on the day I die, I want the above photo to be enlarged, placed on an easel and put right next to my casket. As my loved ones and friends are paying their last respects to me, I want them to see me at absolutely one of the finest moments of my life.

That goes double for all the Yankee fans I've known and loved.

I know I will be smiling someplace when that happens.

Going From Bad To Really Worse

The Red Sox put an absolutely patchwork lineup on the field in Oakland last night, and sure enough, got their heads handed to them yet again, 9-0. For those of you scoring at home, or even if you're by yourself (sorry, an old Keith Olbermann reference), the Sox have now lost 4 straight, 10 of 12, and 19 in the month of August. The last time they dropped that many in a month was 10 years ago.

It's painful to watch this team struggle like this. Once again, there was no Manny, no Wily Mo (but a new Pena, Carlos, was brought up when Jon Lester went on the DL yesterday) and no David Ortiz. It was originally said that Big Papi was left out last night due to flu symptoms, which have affected a number of team members.

But now it is reported that Papi was kept out due to the irregular heartbeat that affected him back in Boston earlier this month. The Red Sox are taking no chances with him, as he is flying back to Boston today to meet with team doctors and get it checked out.

We all pray for Papi's good health, above and beyond anything to do with baseball. The Sox need him badly, but are right to take no chances with him. Let's hope we all see his wide, shining smile back at Fenway on Friday night.

Godspeed, Big Man.

At Least Tonight Is Trivia Night

Another awful weekend.
Swept by a last-place club going nowhere.
The injuries mount, as Jon Lester may be done for the season.
This is the first time the Red Sox have lost 18 games in a month since 2000.
And this month isn't over yet.

On the other hand:
The Mets are up by 14 1/2 games, and are winning today.
Football season starts in two weeks.

Irish Night At Shea

I spent an enjoyable evening at Shea Stadium last night. It was Irish Night, with a celebration of Irish culture. There were Irish dances and Irish music on the field to entertain the fans before the game. It is an annual event, and I was there for it a couple of years ago, too. I was also there with my aunt, a few cousins and friends.

The beginning of the game was centered around the Mets lead, courtesy of a Carlos Beltran homer, and the game that newly-recalled pitcher Oliver Perez was pitching. He did not allow a hit for the first four innings, but walked four. It all came apart on him in the fifth as he allowed a grand slam to Ryan Howard. He's having some amazing year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him win NL MVP. The question now is will he hit more home runs than David Ortiz. As I write this, they both lead their respective leagues with 46 home runs each.

The Mets rallied for two runs in the sixth and seven more in the seventh, and they coasted into an 11-5 win. In the section over from us, there was a group of Phillies fans that had most of the section to themselves. They were feeling pretty good about themselves after Howard's slam, one of them even mocking the Mets fans in the area. But once the Mets bats got going, the Mets fans around them let the Phillies rooters have it good.

Chants of "14 Up" (the Mets NL East lead), and "Playoffs" filled the air. But then it got more personal as the Mets lead grew larger: "Philly Sucks" and then a really vicious one got going, "Cheesesteaks Suck!"

I just watched a great Mets comeback, and saw the Yankees lose in Anaheim from the scoreboard updates. Then I headed to Professor Thom's to watch the Red Sox game from Seattle. I was feeling good, but the hat trick was just not meant to be.

It was a good night to be a Mets fan, and to be of Irish descent (I think it is every day). But if you like the Phillies and/or Philly cheesesteaks, you've certainly had better nights in your life than at Shea Stadium on Saturday.

Infuriating

The Red Sox let another win get away, a really infuriating 4-3 loss to the lowly Seattle Mariners last night. Once again, David Wells pitched another gem over seven innings, and came away without a win. The bullpen continues to be the ruination of this team. Mike Timlin gave up 2 runs in the eighth, blowing a 3-2 lead, and now the Seattle Mariners have won the series. The Sox will attempt to avoid the sweep this afternoon, with Kyle Snyder going for the Sox.

The anger is just compounded by the fact the Yankees have dropped four of five so far on their West Coast trip. A golden opportunity to make up for last weekend is being totally wasted. This was a trip that the Red Sox needed to win at least 6 of the 9 games they are playing out there. Now they need to win today, and sweep the first-place Oakland A's this week to do that.

As bad as the sweep at the hands of the Yankees was last weekend, it doesn't bother me as much as the series losses over the last month to Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Seattle twice (remember they lost two of three in Seattle in late July). You have to beat up on the AL bottom feeders, and the Red Sox have not done that. The press will harp over the Yankees series, but the lousy losses against the crappy teams hurt worse.

And it now appears that Mike Timlin's great career may be at an end. Since he came off the DL in June, he's been nearly useless. In the last nine days, Timlin’s gone 4.1 innings, given up 7 earned runs, blown 2 saves, and picked up 2 losses. It's more sad than anything to watch Timlin fail so miserably. I have a lot of great respect for him and the way he plays the game. He's earned the nickname "Sarge" from the Red Sox faithful for his gung-ho approach to pitching.

Timlin will have my everlasting respect for his vital role on the 2004 World Champions. I will also never forget his almost flawless 2003 postseason, and the way he stepped into the closer role and did an admirable job helping the Red Sox get to the 2005 postseason. He proved to be a money reliever, but now it appears to be over for him. I would hope he would announce his retirement by season's end so he can go out with some respect and dignity, and not try to hang on too long, like so many have done.

Used To Be A Red Sox Fan?

As many of you know, I love reading those "letter to the editor" columns in the New York newspapers. It gives you a true handle on how silly and stupid some people can be. On Sundays, the New York Post has a column in their sports section called "Sound Off," which is weekly take of New York sports fans opinions. I came across this interesting letter this morning:

Daring the Bosox

I used to be a Red Sox fan (I go back to Ted Williams's day) but after they lost five straight games to the Yankees, I hereby challenge them to a game of fast-pitch softball. We play Sundays at 8 a.m. at Utopia Parkway/Jewel Avenue in Queens. We have a 71-year-old guy (me) pitching for us. I like our chances.

JACK COHEN
Bayside

The part about the fast-pitch softball is just silly, but what I want to know is: when did this guy give up being a Red Sox fan, before or after they won the 2004 World Series, or did he stop being a fan after the Red Sox got swept last weekend?

Of all the people I have ever known who've been Red Sox fans, NOT ONE has ever stopped being a fan, despite threats from a few to do so. Makes me wonder, if he gave up being a Red Sox fan, what is he now, a Yankee fan? I wonder where this guy's loyalties are.

They sure do print some absolutely bizarre letters in the New York papers these days.

Last Night Wasn't A Total Loss

Found this little gem on Seth Mnookin's "Feeding The Monster" blog today:

“Alex Rodriguez struck out four times in a 6-5 loss to the Angels, and in the sixth inning he stranded a runner at third base with one out. That was the 25th runner that A-Rod has stranded at third base with less than two outs this season, the highest total in the majors.”

Mr. Clutch indeed.

Friday Night Sleepwalk

It was just one of those bad nights for the Red Sox at Safeco Field last night. They didn't hit, didn't pitch, made some bad plays in the field. Very much a "garbage can" game, a 6-0 listless loss to the last-place Mariners. (Take it, throw it in the garbage, come out slugging tomorrow.)

The hitters made the Mariners' Jake Woods look like Sandy Koufax. They had him on the ropes three times, having runners at first and second with one out. All three times they couldn't get anyone in. Both Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis sat out, and hopefully both will be back on Saturday. Curt Schilling was fine for the first four innings, but the Mariners hit him hard in the fifth, scoring three runs, which included the Sox making two errors on one play.

I was watching the game on FSN Northwest, the Mariners' outlet, with Dave Niehaus and Dave Henderson calling the game. The most interesting part of the night was when Niehaus asked Henderson about playing for the Red Sox, and was it the best place to play in his career.

Hendu said Oakland was. He said that in his time in Boston (1986-87), the organization played favorites and that the media was way to brutal on the Red Sox players (he sighted Jim Rice and Bill Buckner as examples). He also thought that Boston was too much of a fishbowl, and the passion of the fans was a little too much for him, as he's always been known as a pretty mellow guy."You'd better not go o-for-4," he said.

Niehaus then brought up the dubious racial history of the Red Sox, bringing up the fact that they were the last of the pre-expansion teams to integrate and passed on having a chance to sign Jackie Robinson in 1945. Hendu wouldn't bite on that, and the subject changed.

I always find it interesting when that subject of the Red Sox not integrating until 1959 comes up. It is true they were not at the forefront of racial integration and the Tom Yawkey ownership deserved to be criticized for it, and it damaged the franchise for years for being too slow to bring in minority players. However, the New York Yankees, the next-to-last team in the AL to bring in a black player (in 1955), get a pass on this subject. They weren't at the racial forefront of baseball either, but since they were winning championships in the 1950s, nobody seems to remember it. I guess like many other things in life, winning makes everything else all right.

However, another thing that is rarely talked about is the inroads the current Red Sox owners have made to Boston's minority communities to try to heal the old wounds of the past. It doesn't excuse what happened years ago, but it always for the best to move forward and not dwell too much on the past.

Off To Seattle

Well, put a hold on the funeral arrangements. The Red Sox had a great three days in Anaheim, winning two of three, and most importantly, pitched very well, from both the starters and relievers.

Hope, once again, springs eternal.

Manny Ramirez appears to be legitimately injured, with knee and hamstring woes. I've been hearing the usual conspiracy-talk nonsense from the usual suspects about how Manny's not really hurt and has given up on the season. Good Lord.

Hopefully Manny's back in the lineup by the end of this weekend.

Mark Loretta missed two games due to a sore quad, but should be in the lineup tonight. I was impressed with the debut of Dustin Pedroia in the Anaheim series. (Or should I say "L.A. of Anaheim?" God, is that ever stupid.) He hit the ball hard, and mostly into bad luck, right at people. But he looks like a seasoned veteran turning the double play at second. He'll be around for the rest of the season, and he should be a starter in 2007. It's just a matter of at which position: 2B or SS.

Josh Beckett had his second best start of the year (after his eight shutout innings against Kansas City back at Fenway in June), pitching six solid innings before leaving with a cut middle finger on his throwing hand. (Naturally the conspiracy theorists were going on about a possible blister.) If the Sox can get THIS Beckett for the rest of the year, their chances will be extremely better for a playoff slot in October.

The Mariners did the Sox a favor by beating the Yankees two of three this week. The favors end tonight, as the Red Sox go to Safeco. The Sox are now 5 1/2 back in the East, 4 in the WC.

Don't write the eulogies just yet.

I Need Your Vote!

No, I'm not running for elective office, but today I signed up my blog with TopBlogging.com, one of those toplist blogging sites. I've joined a couple recently, to get The Mighty Quinn Media Machine more exposure.

TopBlogging has a link at the bottom left side of my main page that says, "Vote Here."(It's just below the clock.) If you press that link, it will take you to a page where you can press another link to vote for my site.

I'll be honest in saying that I have no idea what it means for sure, but I know it would make me feel good knowing that my fans out there are giving me their support.

And of course, it would be un-American not to vote!!

Repeat Viewings of "On Native Soil"

Found out today that "On Native Soil" is being repeated by Court TV three times before the 5th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. As I have written in a couple of previous posts, it is definitely worth the time to sit down and watch.

The next three showings will be on August 27th at 2 PM, September 1st at 9 PM, and September 10th at 6 PM.

Click here for more info: http://www.courttv.com/onair/shows/on_native_soil/