Damp and Dreary

It was a cold and dreary night in Boston on Tuesday, with a misty rain falling through most of the evening. And the results for the Red Sox weren't much better, as the fell to the A's, 5-3.

It was a mixed bag for Felix Doubront. He struck out a season-high eight batters, but allowed five runs in four innings. The bullpen shut down Oakland the rest of the way.

The Red Sox could do little with A's rookie pitcher Jarrod Parker, who allowed just one run into the seventh inning.

The Sox rallied in the ninth, scoring two runs on Mike Aviles' bases loaded single. But after Lars Anderson struck out (Kevin Youkilis had a bat in the on-deck circle at one point to hit for him, but it was pretty clear he couldn't go), Dustin Pedroia grounded out to end the game, and put the Red Sox one game under .500 again, at 11-12.

No word yet on the status of Aaron Cook, as the Red Sox had to make a decision on the pitcher by Tuesday. It is anticipated he will be brought up, as Lars Anderson was sent back to AAA after last night's game. He will probably work out of the pen initially.

Trivia Will Be Monday Next Week

The Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks tonight, 87-80 in Game 2 of their playoff series, so that means that there will be a Game 5 in their series, which will be played next Tuesday night. So that means our Trivia Night at Professor Thom's will happen next Monday night, May 7th, at 9 PM.

I will post the Sneak Peek question and special categories on the blog here on Sunday.

Hope to see many of you for another edition of Trivia Night next Monday at 9 PM.

April Ends at 11-11

The Red Sox concluded the month of April last night with a record of 11-11 with a laugher turned nailbiter, an 11-6 win over Oakland. It was also the first April since 2009 the Red Sox left April with at least a .500 record.

Not bad for a team that was 4-10 nine days ago.

David Ortiz continues raking, as he hit two more home runs and Darnell McDonald had three hits including his second home run, and fell just a triple short of the cycle.

It was 11-1 Red Sox by the seventh inning, and then the A's rallied for five runs courtesy of two former Red Sox: Coco Crisp singled in two and Josh Reddick hit a three-run shot off Clay Buchholz. (Reddick's pictured falling into the bullpen trying to catch Papi's first blast.) All of a sudden it was 11-6, and Buchholz was out. Junichi Tazawa came in and promptly loaded the bases.

Flashbacks to the previous home game, anyone?

Vicente Padilla came in and struck out the one batter he faced to end the rally. Scott Atchison loaded the bases in the top of the 8th with no outs. He struck out the next hitter, and Franklin Morales came in and got a terrific DP started by Dustin Pedroia.

Oh brother.

Alfredo Aceves came in and allowed just a two-out double to wrap it up. I hate those games when you're up by 10 runs in the seventh and have to use your closer. (I'm sure Bobby Valentine was having flashbacks through that rally as well.)

No matter. It's a victory, and Felix Doubront takes on the A's tonight at Fenway.

The Red Sox also announced today that the rainout from April 22nd will be made up as part of a day/night doubleheader on July 7th at 12:35 PM. I'm glad to hear it will be made up in July rather than September, which is New York's last trip into Fenway.

Trivia Q&A: April 30

Whenever we have to move Trivia to another night, the crowd is always less, and that was the case on Monday. But we still had a respectable 14 teams come out, including some regulars, many of whom also enjoyed Professor Thom's lobsters and the Red Sox win over the A's.

I thought the scores might be a bit higher for the Clint Eastwood Film Trivia, but I guess Clint isn't as popular among the Trivia regulars as I might have thought. The scores were strong for Dead Rock Stars Trivia though.

The team of I Was Late Tonight Because My Pet Rat Was Vomiting Uncontrollably ( a takeoff on one of my True or False questions from last week) led throughout the night, and got 4 of the 5 IQ Trivia questions right and won the night with 49 points, and an easy 10-point win. Congrats to Alex and his friends on their win.

Second place went to The Awesome Sauce with 39 points, and third place went to Is That The Smell of Victory or Should I Move To Another Car? with 37 points. (They also captured Best Team Name for the night.)

A reminder that we will be doing Trivia again next week on Monday, May 7th at 9 PM, unless the Boston Celtics get swept in the first round series. If they are out in four, we will be doing it on Tuesday, May 8th. (Game 5 is scheduled for next Tuesday.) Stay tuned to this blog for more info as the week goes on.

Current Events
1. People magazine named what R&B singer as its "Most Beautiful Woman in the World" for 2012?
2. The governor of what eastern US state signed a bill last Wednesday outlawing the death penalty, making it the 17th state to do so?
3. What NBC broadcaster was named prime-time host of the 2012 Olympics this summer, the ninth straight Olympics he has hosted?
4. One person was killed and nearly 100 were hurt when high winds caused a tent to collapse in what midwest city, right after an NL baseball game that many attended?
5. A media report last Saturday claimed what late foreigh leader gave $66 million to the presidential campaign of 2007 of French president Nicolas Sarkozy?
6. A report last week said which midwestern state lost the most jobs, over 23,000, over the past 12 months?
7. Where in the sports world did Chandler Harnish gain national notoriety this past Saturday?

Dead Rock Stars Trivia
1. Bon Scott was the original lead singer of what heavy group before his "death by misadventure" in 1980?
2. Ian Curtis was the lead singer of Joy Division and died in 1980. What was the cause of his death?
3. Marvin Gaye was shot and killed on April 1, 1984, the day before his 45th birthday. Who was charged with his murder?
4. Between Otis Redding, Ronnie Van Zant and Janis Joplin, which one did not die in a plane crash?
5. Rapper Biggie Smalls was murdered in 1997 in a drive-by shooting in what US city?
6. John Bonham was the drummer for what hard rock band until his death in 1980 by asphyxiation?
7. Between John Lennon, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley, who lived to the oldest age?

Clint Eastwood Films Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. Play Misty For Me
2. A Fistful of Dollars
3. The Apostle
4. Escape From Alcatraz
5. Silverado
6. The Bridges of Madison County
7. Gran Torino
8. Witness
9. The Enforcer
10. Air Force One

General Knowledge
1. The Rock of Gibraltar is located at the southern tip of what country? ( 1 pt)
2. For over 70 years, the Rockettes have been based at what New York City venue? ( 1 pt)
3. What modern country was once home to the ancient Aztecs? ( 1 pt)
4. Agoraphobia is not the fear of sweaters, but of what? ( 2 pt)
5. What 1968 Beatles hit song was written for John Lennon's eldest son? ( 2 pt)
6. What politician delivered the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention? ( 2 pt)
7. What athletic shoe brand introduced the word "sneakers" in a 1917 ad campaign? ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. In what sport's hall of fame was fashion designer Vera Wang inducted in 2009? ( 4 points)
2. What comic book villain plots to undermine Barack Obama's inauguration in a Spiderman edition issued just before the 2009 presidential swearing-in? ( 5 points)
3. Meaning "mouse's mouth" in Spanish, what Florida city's aging population has earned it the nickname "God's waiting room?" ( 4 points)
4. Suomi is the official language of what European country? ( 3 points)
5. Henry Wirz and Champ Ferguson were the only soldiers convicted and executed for war crimes committed during what war? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. Beyonce Knowles; 2. Connecticut; 3. Bob Costas; 4. St. Louis; 5. Moammar Khadafy; 6. Wisconsin; 7. Last pick in the NFL Draft.

Dead Rock Stars Trivia
1. AC/DC; 2. hanging; 3. His father; 4. Janis Joplin; 5. Los Angeles; 6. Led Zeppelin; 7. Michael Jackson.

Clint Eastwood Film Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. yes; 2. yes; 3. no; 4. yes; 5. no; 6. yes; 7. yes; 8. no; 9. yes; 10. no.

General Knowledge
1. Spain; 2. Radio City Music Hall; 3. Mexico; 4. public places; 5. "Hey Jude;" 6. Barack Obama; 7. Keds.

IQ Trivia
1. Figure skating; 2. The Chameleon; 3. Boca Raton; 4. Finland; 5. The Civil War.

Stink Floyd

The Red Sox ran into a buzzsaw on Sunday in their attempt to sweep the White Sox and the seven-game midwest road trip.

Gavin Floyd (pictured) retired the first 14 batters of the game before he walked Cody Ross. The no-hitter was still intact until the 7th, when Dustin Pedroia hit a clean single. The Red Sox got their first run on David Ortiz' double and Ross single. They had the opportunity to tie the game up, but left runners at second and third.

Josh Beckett had a very inauspicious start, giving up three in the first, including a two-run shot by Adam Dunn. But Beckett settled down, and left with the game at 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

Chicago added another run in the 8th, and that was it at 4-1.

I watched the entire game with the TV muted, as Extra Innings had the White Sox feed. As I have mentioned before, I find Ken Harrelson's brand of broadcasting a game to be the absolute worst, as I can't listen to any announcers openly rooting for the teams they cover. So I put on some music while I watched the game. It made watching a far more enjoyable experience.

But I did like those retro early 1970s uniforms the White Sox wore on Sunday (pictured). BTW, does any team in the majors change their uniforms more often than the White Sox do?

The Red Sox now head home at 10-11 for 2012, coming off a 6-1 road trip. Their bats were shut down in the final two games, scoring just two runs. But they got a win out of those two games, so I won't complain too loudly about that. They return to Fenway on Monday against Oakland.

Clint & the Dead Featured This Monday

Due to Tuesday night's Celtics-Hawks playoff game, we will be having Trivia Night this week on Monday, April 30th at 9 PM. (And next week as well, if the series does not end in a sweep for either team.) The crowds are anticipated to be rather large on Tuesday night, so doing Trivia will be nearly impossible with so many focused on the game. So on Monday night, the Special Category will be another edition of "Dead Rock Stars Trivia." I will ask you seven questions about rock (and other pop) stars who left this world way too soon.

The Q Train lightning round will be "Clint Eastwood Film Trivia." I will give you the names of ten popular films, and you have to tell me if the great Mr. Eastwood appeared in that movie.

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What modern country was once home to ancient Aztecs?"

We get started right around 9 PM on Monday night. I appreciate all of you who are able to change your schedule and are able to come out on Monday. This entire month will we keep a close eye on the Celtics and their progress, and any games on Tuesday nights will move our Trivia Night over to Monday. I hope to see many of you on Monday night.

Back Even

The Red Sox got back to .500 last night as Jon Lester pitched a gem, and Alfredo Aceves was money in the ninth, as the Red Sox won their sixth straight in Chicago, 1-0.

Unfortunately, it was another of those games I had to follow on my iPhone, as I was playing softball last night, but every time I checked, the news was good.

Lester did have to escape a jam early on in the first, and had to throw 122 pitches in seven innings. But it was a gutty performance, showing why he is one of MLB's best lefthanders.

All he needed was an RBI single by Adrian Gonzalez in the fourth inning, as he drove in Ryan Sweeney, who had opened the inning with a double.

Jake Peavy showed the form that made him one of MLB's best righthanders before he was hit with injuries the last couple of years for the White Sox. He went all the way and allowed just three hits, and Sweeney was the only Red Sox player to reach past first all night.

It took until Game 40 in 2011 for the Red Sox to get back to the .500 mark after the absolutely abysmal start (thanks Allan and Jere for the info), and this year they get back in half the time. (Although the Sox didn't start off as badly in 2012).

The Red Sox are still in fifth place, but are just 2 1/2 games out, and go for a perfect 7-0 road trip today with Josh Beckett taking the mound at The Cell.

Five Straight

The Red Sox lost their fifth straight game in amazingly embarrassing fashion last Saturday. It seemed it could not get any lower than that.

The Sox have not lost since.

They won their fifth straight since last Saturday, with another 10-3 thrashing of the White Sox in icebox conditions last night in ChiTown.

Daniel Bard went seven solid innings, allowed three runs, two earned.

It was a big night for Darnell McDonald, who hit a bases loaded double that untied the score at 3, and then hit a solo homer later in the game. He had two RBI heading into Friday's game, and tripled that total in two at-bats.

Cody Ross continues to impress at the plate, as the Rodeo Clown had two RBI singles.

The Red Sox have now scored 44 runs in this five-game winning streak, and lead the AL in total runs scored. A win tonight would get the Red Sox back to .500 at 10-10. Jon Lester takes the mound against Jake Peavy at the Cell this evening.

You can add your Red Sox photo to a cool Fenway Park 100th Anniversary Mosaic. I have three pictures in it: with the 2007 championship trophy, at Fenway on Opening Day this year and on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Red Sox Bomb Mr. Perfect

The Red Sox got the whoopin' sticks out again last night, and hit "Mr. Perfect." No, not Curt Hennig, who is pictured here (he actually died a few years back), but Philip Humber for nine runs in five innings, as the Sox coasted to a 10-3 win.

Kevin Youkilis belted a grand slam and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit two home runs to pace the attack. They got to Humber, who pitched a perfect game last Saturday in Seattle, for two runs in the first, and Felix Doubront took over from there. He went six innings, allowing three runs, and got his first win of 2012, and the third of his career. (With thanks to my buddy Jere, who corrected me in the original post.)

His first 2012 win should have been last Saturday, but let's not bring up that subject.

Youk and Salty are now red hot after slow starts. Junichi Tazawa pitched the final three innings and looked solid and got his first ever MLB save.

The Red Sox now have won four straight on this road trip, and are guaranteed a winning one, with three more games in Chicago before returning home next week.

The news continues to get worse for Carl Crawford, who now maybe out until August after he had his sore elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. He is optimistic for an earlier return, but we shall see.

And a Happy 10th Anniversary to Derek Lowe, who threw a no-hitter on this day in 2002 at Fenway Park against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. And Yours Truly was there live to witness it. Thanks always for the great memory, D-Lowe.

Trivia Will Be This Monday, April 30th

The NBA just announced their schedule for the first round of the playoffs, and the Celtics will be playing the Atlanta Hawks for Game 2 on Tuesday, May 1st. Since we can't schedule Trivia opposite any of their playoff games as the crowds are too big, we will be moving Trivia Night over to Monday, April 30th at 9 PM.

And if the series goes to a Game 5, that will be on Tuesday, May 8th. If the series isn't a sweep, we will be doing Trivia on that Monday, May 7th.

I hate having to move Trivia Night, but we really have no other choice, as the basketball games would end far too late to begin Trivia Night. Game 2 is scheduled to start at 7:30, so it probably would conclude around 10:30.

I appreciate all of you who can reschedule your days and come out. Hope to see many of you this coming Monday night at 9 PM.

"Wherever I Wind Up"

I recently completed reading New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey's new book "Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest For Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball."

If you are going to read any baseball book this year, read this one.

Dickey has been known as quite the renaissance man, as his climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro last winter gained him lots of national attention. But he has lived quite a life, from former first round pick to journeyman pitcher to the current pitcher in the Mets rotation.

Dickey lets it all hang out in this book, which he wrote with New York Daily News writer Wayne Coffey (who I had the pleasure of meeting on a couple of occasions at Professor Thom's for another story he was working on). He reveals many of the most intimate details of his life: from his parents broken marriage, his distant relationship with his father, to two occasions where he was sexually abused as a youngster, and how it had such a profound affect on his life.

Yep, it's not something you read in your average baseball biography.

Dickey had a promising career when he was drafted by the Texas Rangers out of the University of Tennessee in 1996. When he reported to the Rangers, he had a routine MRI done of his pitching arm, and it was discovered he had no UC ligament, and the Rangers dropped their original offer. It devastated Dickey, but he did sign a lesser offer with Texas a short time later.

The book also focuses on Dickey's relationship with God, and how it changed his life.

Dickey's career seemed on the road to be nothing more than a journeyman "AAAA" pitcher until Orel Hershiser, the Texas Rangers pitching coach, suggested Dickey try throwing a knuckleball. He met with knuckleball guru and Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, and it would ultimately change Dickey's life forever, and lead him to the New York Mets in 2010.

Dickey comes off as a likable family man who has finally found peace. I admire the courage it took for him to write this book, especially telling the story of the dark times of his life, and how he managed to overcome them. It's an inspiring story, and if you get the chance, check out "Knuckleball!", the 2012 documentary he is featured in with Tim Wakefield.

Bullpen Bends. Doesn't Break.

Oh brother. I can't take much more of this.

The Red Sox got the bats out on Wednesday night, and staked Clay Buchholz to a six-run lead by the fifth inning, 7-1. Mike Aviles blasted a three-run shot in the second, and Dustin Pedroia had a single, double and triple. It looked like another laugher against the Twins.

Then, Buchholz, who was struggling most of the evening, faltered in the sixth, and left with one out and a 7-2 lead with the bases loaded. In came Scott Atchison, who gave a sharp single to Joe Mauer off his leg that scored two runs. And for whatever reason I cannot fathom, and Tom Kelly, who was doing color on the Twins feed which I was watching, wondered the same thing: Bobby Valentine took Atchison, who was not injured, out after just the one batter.

Why? I still have no idea.

Justin Thomas, who has been absolutely worthless this season, allowed two more runs to score on hits, and then hit Chris Parmelee in the helmet with a fastball. He had to leave, but appeared in the dugout later to be fine.

Valentine brought in Matt Albers, who got a ground ball DP to keep the lead at 7-6.

Vicente Padilla and Franklin Morales pitched an inning apiece, and both looked sharp.

And then comes the ninth, and the Alfredo Aceves Highwire Act.

He got the first out, then gave up to straight singles, and then got a ground out to put men on second and third. He hit Ben Revere to load the bases. He then struck out Denard Span to preserve the win and sweep the series from the Twins.

Now it's off to Chicago for four with the White Sox.

I've always said this team has taken at least five years off my life. It's gonna be ten by the time 2012 ends.

Another Nine Run Lead. Doesn't Disappear This Time.

As I was doing my Trivia Night last night, the Red Sox were scoring early and often, and every time I looked up, it seemed they were pouring it on.

Then I looked up to see the Sox up 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth, with two outs. Josh Beckett had just thrown his 99th pitch, and I realized something: it was nearly the exact same line as Felix Doubront had last Saturday.

8-run lead in six innings, 99 pitches thrown.

Uh-oh.

Fortunately, Beckett struck out the last batter of the inning on his 100th pitch, and it ended his night. It made me feel much better. It wasn't exactly the same. (And the opponents were the Twins and not the Yankees. Just a slight difference.)

The bullpen was stellar last night. Scott Atchison retired all six his faced, and Matt Albers just a single in the ninth to wrap it up.

Mike Aviles (I'm glad I have him on both of my fantasy teams) went 4-for-5 with a home run, and David Ortiz continued his torrent hitting, blasting a moon shot and now leads the AL in batting at .444.

Josh Beckett walked three in a shaky first inning, after getting a 3-0 lead. It looked like he was going to give back the three runs, but allowed just one, on the third walk.

It's two straight for the Sox, and they go for the sweep at Target Field tonight with Clay Buchholz, who really needs to straighten out his season in a hurry.

Trivia Q&A: April 24

It was another big night of Trivia, with 23 teams taking part. The Red Sox and Celtics both had games going on, but it was an overwhelmingly pro-Trivia crowd at Thom's.

The scores were better than I would have thought for US and World Geography Trivia, but they were a bit less for True or False Trivia. No one got the "mintonette" question in General Knowledge, and almost every team said "badminton" (it was volleyball). Heck, I would have said badminton, too!

We had three teams within three points of each other going into IQ Trivia, but the team in first, 33 Days and Counting, got all five IQ Trivia questions correct to win the night with 50 points. A nice win for Emily and her friends, after they had been out the last two weeks.

Second place went to If John Sterling Said It, Then It Must Be Right with 43 points, and third place went to John Quinn Still Owes Me $47 From Our Trip To Colombia with 42 points.

Best Team Name: The Meatish Sweetballs

An important announcement about next week: Right now, we don't know which day Trivia Night will be next week, as the Celtics will have their first round playoff series, and the Bruins have their Game 7 tomorrow. If they win, they will continue in the playoffs. Both the NBA and NHL will announce their playoff schedules either Thursday or Friday, and we will know then about next week. Please check with the blog or on Facebook Friday for more info.

Current Events
1. The National Army Museum of London recently held a contest to pick who was the UK's most outstanding military opponent. What individual was the winner?
2. What radio personality's lawsuit against Sirius XM Radio was dismissed by a judge last week, which was over stock payments he said was promised him but not paid?
3. Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher, at 49, to ever win an MLB game when he got the win over the San Diego Padres. What NL team does he currently pitch for?
4. Which electronics retailer announced recently that they will be closing 50 of their 1400 US stores this coming summer?
5. What Asian country launched its first ever long-range intercontinental ballistic missile last Thursday?
6. Jim Yong Kim was elected president of what organization last week, which is based in Washington D.C.?
7. What troubled Hollywood actress got into a nasty confrontation with another woman in a nightclub last Wednesday and had a drink poured in her face?

US and World Geography Trivia
1. Which of the five Great Lakes is farthest south?
2. The Orange River is the largest river in what African country?
3. The Savannah River forms a border between Georgia and what other state?
4. Saudi Arabia and Iran are separated by what body of water?
5. Melville Island is located in what Canadian province?
6. The Nubian Desert is located on what continent?
7. What sea is off the coast of Libya?

True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. Rats cannot vomit.
2. The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy awarded in all of sports.
3. Yale University is America's oldest university.
4. Jimmy Carter was the first US president born in a hospital.
5. The leech has 32 brains.
6. The pig was the first domesticated animal.
7. George Washington Carver invented peanut butter.
8. "Touch" was the original name of the all-girl pop group The Spice Girls.
9. The Canary Islands are actually named after dogs.
10. CNN was the first cable channel to operate in the United States.

General Knowledge
1. What river does the city of London, England lie on? ( 1 pt)
2. In the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle", which animal laughed to see such fun? ( 1 pt)
3. What organ of the body produces cholesterol? ( 1 pt)
4. What early 1980s sitcom used Billy Joel's hit song "My Life" as its theme song in the opening credits? ( 2 pt)
5. What is the maximum number of digits that can fit on a Sudoku board? ( 2 pt)
6. John Gotti was once the boss of what New York crime family? ( 2 pt)
7. What sport was originally known as "mintonette?" ( 3 pt)

IQ Trivia
1. Vincent Furnier is the real name of what American rock star? ( 4 points)
2. The All Blacks are the national rugby union team from what country? ( 4 points)
3. "Evocateur" is a 2012 documentary about what controversial 1908s TV personality? ( 5 points)
4. "Travels Into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts" is the original title of what 18th century literary classic? ( 3 points)
5. Which cartoon character was the first to appear on a US postage stamp? ( 4 points)

Answers
Current Events
1. George Washington; 2. Howard Stern; 3. Colorado Rockies; 4. Best Buy; 5. India; 6. The World Bank; 7. Lindsay Lohan.

US and World Geography Trivia
1. Lake Erie; 2. South Africa; 3. South Carolina; 4. Persian Gulf; 5. Nova Scotia; 6. Africa; 7. Mediterranean Sea.

True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. true; 2. false, America's Cup; 3. false, Harvard; 4. true; 5. true; 6. false, dog; 7. true; 8. true. 9. true; 10. false, HBO.

General Knowledge
1. Thames; 2. dog; 3. liver; 4. "Bosom Buddies;" 5. eighty-one; 6. Gambino; 7. volleyball.

IQ Trivia
1. Alice Cooper; 2. New Zealand; 3. Morton Downey Jr.; 4. "Gulliver's Travels;" 5. Bugs Bunny.

Ross To The Rescue

Cody Ross gave the Red Sox a huge boost last night, blasting the tying and game-winning home runs as the Red Sox came from behind to beat the Twins, 6-5.

Jon Lester had one bad inning, the fourth, when he gave up four runs, including a two-run homer to Danny Valencia. He settled down and retired the final seven he faced after Minnesota added another run in the 5th.

The Red Sox got their first five runs off Jason Marquis, whose last appearance against the Red Sox was fairly notable: the Sox beat him 3-0, on October 27, 2004 to win their first World Series in 86 years back in 2004.

In the 8th, Franklin Morales allowed a triple to Jamey Carroll and my first thoughts were "here go the Bullpens Arsonists again." He got one out, and then Bobby Valentine brought in Daniel Bard, who got the Sox out of the inning unscathed with a lineout and popup.

Ross put the Sox ahead with a two-out home run to right. Valentine brought in Alfredo Aceves, who allowed just a single in getting the save. (But that second out, a long fly to left that I thought was gone, had me holding my breath.)

Valentine said after the game that Bard maybe used for another inning in the Minnesota series, but he will definitely make his next start on Friday night in Chicago.

On that subject, I don't see where the Red Sox have any other real choice but to keep Bard in the bullpen. Aceves has been simply brutal in the closer role, and would be better served setting up along with Scott Atchison. Andrew Bailey won't be back until the All-Star break, and Mark Melancon is working out his problems at Pawtucket (and has pitched well so far), so you don't know when he'll be back.

You can't trade for any kind of decent bullpen help right now, as no team will move anyone until July 31st at the earliest. Bard's future is definitely as a starter, but in the short-term, he should be working out of the pen. Aaron Cook has pitched well at AAA, and can (and probably will) declare his free agency on May 1st if he is not in Boston. Until the pen settles down, keep Bard where he is for now.

And also, you may have heard this story out of the NY Daily News the other day from jackass sportswriter Bill Madden (sorry, I don't respect this guy, never have) about the "blow-up" Bobby Valentine had with Mike Aviles in the first week of spring training, and how the players forced Bobby V to "apologize" to him shortly afterwards. Sorry, I don't buy this at all. Why? Do you really think a story like this would have escaped the vultures in the Boston media, who've been on a feeding frenzy since last September? And it took a New York tabloid writer, a devout Red Sox hater, to break this? Sounds very fishy to me.

Anyway, the five-game losing streak is over, and Josh Beckett takes on the Twins tonight at Target Field.

Places From Near & Far Featured This Week

Trivia Night on Tuesday at Professor Thom's will feature "US and World Geography," seven questions about places around this planet and country of ours.

The Q Train lightning round will have "True or False Trivia."

The Sneak Peek question for this week is:
"What organ of the body produces cholesterol?"

We will get started around 9 PM. There is a Celtics-Heat matchup tomorrow night at 8 PM, so I am not exactly sure of the precise starting time. We will see. But I do encourage you to get to Professor Thom's earlier rather than later, as tables continue to be gobbled up quickly. Hope to see many of you on Tuesday night.

Prayed For Rain. Wish Answered.

The best possible thing for the Red Sox happened today. A rainout.

I was hoping for one, as I'd rather play a four-game series with New York in either July or September. (July would be better as I'd hate to lose off days in the last month of the season.)

No specific makeup date has been announced.

Now it's off to Minnesota and Chicago, as the Red Sox try to get some dignity back.

At Least I Saw "Knuckleball!" Yesterday

I did a very smart thing on Saturday. I was invited to the "Knuckleball!" premiere at the Tribeca Drive-In last night, and even before it started, something told me not to watch the Red Sox-Yankees, and just follow it on my iPhone.

I'm so glad I did.

I saw the film at the Tribeca Drive-In, which is in the shadow of the World Trade Center site on the Hudson River, just off Vesey Street. I was thinking of a special friend while looking up at the under-construction 1 World Trade Center. A nice crowd turned out for the 8:30 PM start, just after the sun had gone down. (It was my first movie I've taken it at a "drive-in" in some time.)

"Knuckleball!" is a terrific documentary about the famous pitchers who've thrown that crazy pitch, and the film was centered on the careers of the last two pitchers who've thrown it: Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey.

Both men were at the premiere, introducing the film to the audience. I had the pleasure of watching the film with Lisa and Jon from Subway Squawkers in one of the VIP sections.

If you get the chance, catch the film when it becomes available. It's a great tribute to a small fraternity of pitchers who've mastered the pitch (Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough, Wilbur Wood and Jim Bouton are also featured as well), and how R.A. Dickey is now the final keeper of the flame.

BTW, before the film, they brought 9 people up to answer "knuckleball" trivia questions for free tickets to a Mets game at Citi Field, and I was one of them. Most of the questions were rather easy, but the one I drew was "Who was the first knuckleball pitcher to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated?" It was multiple choice, and I guessed "Tim Wakefield." I was apparently wrong, and the answer was Wilbur Wood. Then the guy next to me was asked who the catcher was who was rushed to Fenway Park in 2006 in a police car to catch Tim Wakefield. He guessed Jason Varitek.

Dougie would not be pleased with that response.

The Kiss of Death

Red Sox owners John Henry and Larry Lucchino met with Bobby Valentine and Ben Cherington in Valentine's office after Saturday's debacle.

Cherington, on Valentine's job performance:

"Very satisfied. He makes the lineup out, makes decisions during the game. The players will always influence wins and losses more than anybody else, and that's no different here. He's doing the best he can with the roster he has. It'll get better, He knows that and I know that, and along the way if changes need to be made on the roster, that's my responsibility."

Who the hell is Cherington trying to kid?

I'm betting Valentine's a goner, perhaps sooner rather than later.

A Complete and Utter Disgrace

The only good things I can say about Saturday's game are: Felix Doubront pitched very well, and I did not witness one pitch of this entire travesty.

Last September wasn't bad enough. The crap over the winter wasn't bad enough, either.

You guys simply can't resist embarrassing your loyalest fans enough, can you?

Last April, I was a bit worried about the bad 2-10 start, but I knew they were a far better club than they showed. I had faith in Terry Francona and things would turn for the better. They did.

Does even one of you out there think this will get any better with The Smartest Guy In The Room at the controls?

The Red Sox have made a terrible mistake in the manager's office. And they have a ton of problems that can't be fixed quickly.

I am angry. And I am embarrassed. 

And the Sox acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Cubs tonight for righty reliever Michael Bowden, who was DFA'd last week. That will surely help this shitty bullpen, won't it?