Sox, Celtics, Eagles

David Wells will start opening day in Yankee Stadium. Schilling will start his first game since ankle surgery on Monday in a minor league game. He may miss 2 weeks and the team might go with a 4 man rotation until the 18th thanks to some off days.

Boston.com Story

Clement is slated to follow Wells after an off day, then Wakefield and then Arroyo. Wells and Clement will finish off the Toronto series and Wakefield will pitch opening day at Fenway. Of course, a rainout here or there will alter things but because the Sox are playing divisional opponents they probably won't schedule any doubleheaders.

The rotation looks to be the same as I said it should be with 2 changes. Wake and Arroyo have been switched and Halama is left out altogether. I guess I didn't think of a 4 man rotation because I was so used to Pedro needing extra days here and there in order to stay healthy throughout the season.

The Sox have been busy with transactions lately, assigning people to their minor league affiliates. The following players were optioned to AAA Pawtucket:

P Abe Alvarez
IF Alejandro Machado
C Kelly Shopach

The following players were optioned to AA Portland:

P Chris Smith
IF Hanley Ramirez

The following players were optioned to A Wilmington:

P Manny Delcarmen
P Anibel Sanchez
P Luis Mendoza
P Juan Cedeno

The following players were assigned to minor league camp:

IF Kenny Perez
OF Chip Ambres
P Denny Tomori
P Kris Wilson
IF Dave Berg
IF/OF Simon Pond

The Sox got crushed by the Orioles today.

The Celtics beat the Hornets in New Orleans. They've won 7 straight and 11 of 12.

BIG CHOKERS

So Boston College gets a break with #5 Alabama being upset by #12 UW-Milwaukee. BC starts the game going up 11-0. I'm thinking, it's in the bag, they'll move on to the regional semi-final with ease. Nope. Boston College likes to do this. They like to get the spotlight of Boston sports fans on them and then shrivel up and die. Their football team was on the verge of a Big East championship and a bid to a BCS Bowl. All they had to do was beat lowly Syracuse in Boston. What do they do? Get blown out. The hockey team is ranked #1 in the country and probably the most emotionally important game of the season, a Beanpot game against BU, they lose. The basketball team starts the season 20-0, then loses to Notre Dame, Villanova, and Pitt down the stretch. The Big East doesn't give BC a trophy so in order to prove that they deserved one, they need to do some damage in the Big East tournament. What do they do? Come out flat and lose to West Virginia, a team they beat by double digits twice during the season. They have an opportunity to prove themselves once again in the NCAA tourney and what do they do? Lose to a Horizon League team.

BC Hockey won the Hockey East tournament over UNH. BC, BU, Maine, Harvard, and UNH all got berths in the NCAA tournament. BC will play Mercyhurst in Worcester. BU will play North Dakota in Worcester. UNH will play Harvard in Amherst, MA. In order for BC or BU to win the championship they will probably have to go through Cornell, Minnesota, or Maine and then probably Denver or Colorodo College.