SOX GET AN F AGAINST A'S

It's been all or nothing for the Red Sox these past few weeks. They've looked amazing against the NL East and the White Sox. Then they looked absolutely dreadful against the D-Rays and Athletics. The Sox are now tied with the Yankees in the loss column for 1st place in the division. Frankly, I'm worried. We've only scored 20 runs in the last 5 games, which isn't enough to win consistently.

The Sox SHOULD go on a run in the next 8 games. We've got 4 against the atrocious Kansas City Royals, a makeup against Texas, then 3 against last place Seattle.

The West Coast trip coming up could make or break us. We need to start scoring more runs, getting better outings from our starters, and our bullpen needs to keep us in games.

A big question in RS Nation is what the Sox should do at the trade deadline. I don't think we should do much of anything. Perhaps pick up a veteran middle reliever, that's about it. I don't think we should trade off any of our top prospects for some 4.00 ERA starter to pitch for us for a few months.

We have a team capable of making the playoffs, and if we do get that far, it is certainly a team capable of winning in the playoffs. We have Schilling, Beckett, Wakefield, and Lester. Wells is still trying to come back. We could use another starter, especially with the doubleheaders against New York coming up. I don't think we need to go crazy about it, though. We shouldn't give up any prospect that is on the verge of making the Big League squad. We can trade some A, or AA prospects for a serviceable 5th starter. The emergence of players like Papelbon and Youkilis as top players will undoubtedly give some merit to the Red Sox farm system.

THE OTHER TWO TEAMS IN BOSTON

With the Red Sox and Patriots annually competing for championships, I often look over the other two teams in Boston. Part of the reason being that it is painful to analyze and philosophize the goings on at the Fleet Center, from the penny pinching of the miserly Jeremy Jacobs, to the bumbling moves made by Danny Ainge.

Anyways, the Celtics are attempting to create a contending team. The NBA Draft saw them acquire two point guards, Sebastian Telfair from Portland, and Rajon Rondo from the University of Kentucky. This gives the C's a trio of young point guards. This means they will probably make a move to acquire on of the numerous frontline players available on the trading block.

The most popular name thrown about in the Celtics trade talkings is Allen Iverson's. Obviously, AI would improve the team. He'd take pressure off of Pierce and generate a great deal of energy. However, if things didn't go perfectly, things could get ugly.

The Boston sports media is relentless, especially when it comes to athletes that don't seem to be giving 110%. When Antoine Walker had his first stint with the C's, he was dubbed a "punk" simply because...well...who knows why. Because he wiggled? Iverson's persona and perceived personality is far more "punk-like" than Walker's was. Already, sports writers are advocating that Ainge not acquire him.

Would Iverson make the Celtics into a legitimate competitor for the title? No. However, is there any individual player who could do that? No. Iverson would help the team, give them a shot to go deeper into the playoffs, make the Celtics more attractive to prospective players, help encourage Pierce to stay by giving him quality teammates, and at the very least, put people into the seats and generate some excitement around the Celtics.

Meanwhile, the Bruins are looking to rebound from a ghastly 2005-06 season. The Bruins will be blown to pieces. According to their front office, Shawn McEachern and Alexei Zhamnov will see their contracts bought out. Hal Gill, Brian Leetch, Tom Fitzgerald and others will not have their contracts renewed.

After letting Mike Sullivan linger, the Bruins finally fired him and hired Dave Lewis to be the new head coach. They also picked up Zdeno Chara on the free agent market. They'll attempt to assemble a semi-competitive team while preparing to build a championship contender sometime in the near future. It's a slow process, but Bruins fans have been patient for 34 years, they will wait another 5 or 6.

SCHILLING SCHNUBBED

Manny Ramirez, Mark Loretta and David Ortiz will be starting the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. Jonathan Papelbon will be in the bullpen. At the moment, Curt will not be on the mound or even in the dugout. Schilling is 10-2 with a 3.54 ERA, but was passed over by White Sox and AL manager Ozzie Guillen. Part of the reason for this is because of players getting in on a stupid rule forcing every team to have a single representative on the roster. The Royals will be sending Mark Redman, who is 5-4 with a 5.59 ERA. The game counts, but it doesn't count enough to send the best players.

The American League is stacked with talent at every position. The AL should roll over the NL. The AL has not lost an All-Star Game since 1996, and has won every All-Star Game since the infamous tie in 2002. Over the past 18 All-Star Games, the AL is 14-3-1.

The fact that Schilling didn't make the team, and wasn't even selected as a candidate for the final spot to be voted on by the fans is BS. He's got 10 wins, is a bona fide star, and his ERA is 11th in the AL. Oh well, it will be good for him to get a few days off.

The AL East will have a very good showing on the AL team. Five of the starting 8 position players are AL East players, including all 4 infielders. Five of the 12 pitchers are from the East. Five of the 13 bench players are from the East. Overrall, 15 of the 33 players are AL Easters.

Why the hell is Ramon Hernandez a candidate to get the final roster spot?

STREAKS END, SOX STILL WINNING

The Red Sox ended Interleague play with a record of 16-2, which ties a record for most wins against the AL. The Sox win streak was stopped at 12 on Friday night, but they've still won 14 of their last 15 (.933). They also set a Major League record with 17 games in a row without an error. They've since made errors, but it is an impressive record to hold, especially for a Red Sox team.

Jason Johnson made his Red Sox debut on Friday night and didn't impress all that much. He went 4 and allowed 5.earned runs The bullpen kept the game close, but the offense wasn't capable of putting up more than 2 against Willis and the Marlins pitching staff.

As a team, the Sox went 8 for 34 (.236), but without Manny they were a combined 5 for 30 (.167). Manny had both RBIs. The Sox also had no extra base-hits. Willis stymied us. 'Nuf Said.

The Man of the Game is Dontrelle Willis who went 7 innings allowing only 2 runs and struck out 7. He also had a walk at the plate.

Here is the B*tch-Goat:
Johnson: 0.7 - 4 IP, 5 ER
Crisp: 0.1 - 0 for 3, 2 Ks
Lowell: 0.1 - 1 for 4, 3 LOB, GIDP
Varitek: 0.1 - 0 for 4

The Sox rebounded nicely with an 11-5 victory on the next day. Wakefield had a solid start and finally got the support he's been deserving all season long. Nine of the 13 hits the Sox had were for extra bases. Ortiz and Manny each had two homers, and Mike Lowell reclaimed his MLB lead in doubles with 29 thus far. Who knows how many runs we would have scored with a DH. Wake was 0 for 4, with 4 LOB, 3 of those he left on were in scoring position with 2 outs.

The Man of the Game is tough one between Manny and Ortiz. I'm going to have to go with David, though, because Manny struck out twice, and Papi had an extra double. Ortiz was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI, with a pair of homers, and a double. He scored 3 times.

The Sox had a closer game to finish the series and Interleague play. The thing that impresses me the most from the past few weeks is the fact that we can win blowout games 11-5, then the next day win a game 4-3. We can maintain leads when we get them, and come back from deficits when we fall behind.

The Sox jumped out to a 3-1 lead by the 3rd inning. Youkilis led off the game with his 10th homer of the year and his 40th RBI. Varitek led off the 2nd inning with his 8th homer and 39th RBI. The 3rd run was also via the homer as Ortiz had a 2 out solo shot in the 3rd. He's got 26 now with 75 RBI.

Lester pitched nicely and made good bid for win #4 of the season and his career. He allowed 2 in 5 innings of work. Tavarez pitched a scoreless 6th, but allowed the tying run to score in the 7th. It was the 2nd Blown Save of his season. Timlin came in and shut the door on a Marlins rally. Delcarmen got 2 outs in the 8th before Jonathan "Fatality" Papelbon came in and got the 4 out save. It was his 25th save, which is a new Red Sox rookie record, passing the late Dick Radatz.

The game winning RBI came from the bat of Mark Loretta, who saw his 14 game hitting streak end, but his game winning Sac-Fly was also his 500th career RBI.

The Man of the Game is tough. No player in the game had more than 2 hits, neither starting pitcher was great, and no reliever was totally lights out. I'm gonna have to go with Miguel Cabrera who went 2 for 5 with a game tying homer, and 2 runs scored.

The Sox stay in Florida to face the D-Rays.

CATCHING UP

Okay, I haven't done the Man of the Game, or the B*tch-Goat in quite some time, so I'm going to play some catch up to get back on track.

6-5, @ NYY, L 13-5:
Man of the Game: Jason Giambi* - 1 for 2, 3 run HR, 3 walks, 3 runs scored

B*tch-Goat:
Beckett: 0.7 - 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 8 R
Van Buren: 0.3 - 1.1 IP, 5 ER

6-6, @ NYY, L 2-1:
Man of the Game: Chieng Meng-Wang - 7 IP, ER

B*tch-Goat:
Crisp: 0.2 - 1 for 4, 4 LOB
Nixon: 0.2 - 0 for 4, 3 LOB
Varitek: 0.1 - 0 for 4, K
Cora: 0.1 - 0 for 3, 4 LOB
Seanez: 0.1 - inherited runner scored
Pauley: 0.3 - 6.2 IP, 2 ER

6-8, @ NYY, W 9-3:
Man of the Game: Curt Schilling - 8 IP, 3 ER, 4 K

6-9, TEX, W 4-3:
Man of the Game: Trot Nixon - 4 for 4, 3 run, 2 out HR, double

6-10, TEX, L 7-4:
Man of the Game: Hank Blalock - 3 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 Runs, BB

B*tch-Goat:
Lester: 0.6 - 4.1 IP, 3 ER
Tavarez: 0.2 - 2.1 IP, 2 ER
Foulke: 0.1 - IP, 2 ER
Lowell: 0.1 - 0 for 4, 3 LOB

6-11, TEX, W 5-4:
Man of the Game: David Ortiz - 2 for 4, 4 RBI, GW 3 run HR with 2 outs, down by 2 runs

6-11, TEX, L 13-6:
Man of the Game: Mark DeRosa - 4 for 6, 2 RBI, 2 Runs, SB

B*tch-Goat:
Pauley: 0.6 - 5 IP, 6 ER
Tavarez: 0.1 - 1.1 IP, ER
Seanez: 0.2 - 0.2 IP, 2 ER
Foulke: 0.1 - 2 IP, 4 ER

6-13, @ MIN, L 5-2:
Man of the Game: Johan Santana - 8 IP, ER

B*tch-Goat:
Tavarez: 0.7 - IP, 4 ER
Crisp: 0.3 - 0 for 6, 2 K, 7 LOB

6-14, @ MIN, L 8-1:
Man of the Game: Justin Morneau - 2 for 4, Grand Slam, BB

B*tch-Goat:
Clement: 0.4 - 4.2 IP, 3 ER
Van Buren: 0.2 - 0.2 IP, 4 ER
Delcarmen: 0.2 - 1.2 IP, ER, Grand Slam HR
Nixon: 0.1 - 0 for 3, 3 LOB
Varitek: 0.1 - 0 for 4, 6 LOB

6-15, @ MIN, L 5-3:
Man of the Game: Carlos Silva - 6 IP, 0 ER

B*tch-Goat:
Wakefield: 0.5 - 6 IP, 3 ER, 4 R
Ramirez: 0.2 - 0 for 5, 2 K, 6 LOB
Mirabelli: 0.2 - 0 for 3, PB
Tavarez: 0.1 - IP, ER

6-16, @ ATL, W 4-1:
Man of the Game: Jon Lester - 6 IP, ER, 3 K

6-17, @ ATL, W 5-3:
Man of the Game: David Ortiz - 2 for 3, 2B, HR, BB, 2 RBI, 2 Runs

6-18, @ ATL, W 10-7:
Man of the Game: Kevin Youkilis - 2 for 6, 2 run HR in 8th

6-19, WAS, W 6-3:
Man of the Game: Manny Ramirez - 2 for 5, 2B, HR

6-20, WAS, W 11-3:
Man of the Game: Mark Loretta - 3 for 5, 3 RBI, Run

6-21, WAS, W 9-3:
Man of the Game: David Ortiz - 2 for 4, 2 out Grand Slam, 4 RBI, 2 Runs, BB

6-23, PHI, W 10-2:
Man of the Game: Josh Beckett - 8 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 8 K, no-hitter thru 5.1 IP

6-24, PHI, W 5-3:
Man of the Game: David Ortiz - 2 for 5, GW 2 run HR in 10th

6-26, PHI, W 8-7:
Man of the Game: Kevin Youkilis - 2 for 6, 2B, game tying RBI in 12th, scored game winning run on Ortiz single

6-27, NYM, W 9-4:
Man of the Game: Manny Ramirez - 2 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI (both with 2 outs), Run, BB, Assist

6-28, NYM, W 10-2:
Man of the Game: Josh Beckett - 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 K

6-29, NYM, W 4-2:
Man of the Game: Curt Schilling - 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 K, Pickoff

So there we go, all up to date.

SMALL BALL AND DEFENSE? NOT YOUR FATHER'S RED SOX WIN 12th STRAIGHT

Bunt singles, diving catches, stolen bases, sacrifices, and some great pitching combined for a 4-2 Red Sox victory over the Mets for sweep #3 in a row, and the 12th win in a row. The last time the Sox won 12 straight was in '95 during Morgan Magic. That was also the last time we won the AL East.

David Ortiz hit homer #23 of the season and his 200th career blast. 111 of those have come in the past 3 years. Loretta also knocked one out. The Sox had 3 bunts, two of which were for singles, one was a sacrifice that moved Crisp to 3rd base to be knocked in by a Youkilis Sac-Fly.

Crisp had a sparkplug kind of night with the bunt single, scoring the go ahead run, stealing 2nd base beforehand, and making a sensational catch on a ball that would have tied the game and extended the 8th inning.

The Sox move to 4 games up on the idle New York Yankees and 5 up on the Blue Jays. The Sox fly down to the Port of Miami (Rick Ross song) to play the upsurging Marlins. Newcomer Jason Johnson faces Dontrelle Willis in the opener. Wake goes against Brian Moehler in Saturday's game. In the finale, Jon Lester goes against Josh Johnson.

After the Marlins, the Sox stay in Florida to play the (Devil) Rays, then go to Chicago to play the White Sox. Then it is All-Star break time. This time, it counts!

COME ON OUT AND BEAT THE METS

The Mets are the first interleague test of the season thus far, and the Red Sox have already passed regardless of the outcome of tonight's game. The Sox won the first two games of the NL East dominating Mets by a combined score of 19-6. Terrific pitching performances from Lester, and Beckett. The bullpen has been great and with 19 runs in 2 games, it's pretty safe to say the offense has been doing great.

Last night saw the return of Pedro Martinez to the Fenway mound. He was not Vintage Pedro, at all. His head seemed out of it and few of his pitches were sharp. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by emotion, perhaps he was intimidated by the Sox lineup, perhaps he is still a bit off due to his hip injury. Maybe all three of those things combined. Whatever the cause, he didn't look good and the Sox jumped on him.

Thankfully, Sox fans did not jump on him as easily. Fans gave him a standing ovation several times. On his way to the bullpen, on his way back, and on his way to the mound. The Pedro haters and suspected racists at BostonDirtDogs are proclaiming it the "Quietest Standing Ovation in History." To be honest, I've heard louder ovations, but never a louder one for a player on another team. Also, how many standing O's did he get? Four or five? Pretty damn good if you ask me.

BDD is also claiming that the standing ovation was orchestrated by Red Sox brass by showing a highlight reel of Pedro Martinez moments. I guess Luchino and Henry probably went around Fenway bribing people to cheer for him to, Barabbas style.

Pedro got cheered because he was a great player for us for 7 years. His exit wasn't the most graceful, but compared to players like Damon or Clemens or Vaughn, it was relatively clean.

The Sox send 201 game winner Curt Schilling to the mound to face 286 game winner Tom Glavine in a battle of two of the great veteran pitchers in the game. I think the Sox can get to Glavine a bit, and Schilling might be able to keep the Mets bats silent.

PAPELBON'S ERA SOARS TO 0.46!!!

Jonathan Papelbon had a rare lapse Monday afternoon, allowing his 2nd earned run of the season, as well as his 2nd blown save of the season. The Sox blew a 6 run lead in the final 3 innings of the game.

In the 12th, the Sox fell behind and were 1 out away from a devastating loss. Crisp had doubled, but was unable to advance. Youkilis, who has had a good number of clutch hits for us this season, knocked him home with a single. Kevin smartly advanced to 2nd on the throw home. Ortiz hit a single to knock in Youk and win the game 8-7. It was the 9th straight win for the Sox.

Now we face a real test, one of the best teams in baseball, the New York Metropolitans. Lester goes tomorrow for win #3 against Alay Soler. Josh Beckett goes against Pedro on Wednesday. Billerica's Tom Glavine goes against Curt Schilling in the final game. Glavine is 11-2 this year.

REASONS NOT TO BOO PEDRO MARTINEZ
A few weeks ago, Damon returned to Boston and was booed by a significant number of fans at Fenway Park. Now, I wasn't against the booing of Damon, although I wasn't necessarily for it. However, if a large number of fans boo Pedro, I think it will be a shame.

Pedro was on the team for a longer time than Damon. Pedro was with us for 7 years, Damon for 4. Pedro suffered with guys like Mark Portugal backing him up in the rotation, and Chad Fox blowing saves for him. Damon had Ortiz, and Ramirez knocking him in.

For years, Pedro Martinez WAS the Boston Red Sox. In 98, he was the only pitcher to win a game in the post-season for us. In 99, he was 2-0 in the playoffs with 17 scoreless innings, and the only win against the Yankees in the entire 1999 post-season. He won 117 games for us in his career and we should always be grateful for that.

He left the team, for more money and a chance to be the #1 starter elsewhere. However, he never promised to never play for the Mets. Damon did promise to never play for the Yankees. Pedro made it pretty clear that whatever team gave him the best offer, he would pitch for them.

Pedro shouldn't get booed. If he does, it will be a small and ignorant segment of Red Sox Nation that has difficulty liking players that have accents, or it will be a group of moronic Red Sox fans that think Kevin Millar and Brian Daubach were great players.