Projo Sox Blog

FAILED STRATEGY: Ramirez came to the plate in the eighth inning last night with a runner on third, one out, the score tied 0-0, and a double-play threat (Mike Lowell) on deck. Most years, that would be a gold-plated invitation for an intentional walk. But Ramirez has struggled so much recently -- especially with fastballs -- that Twins manager Ron Gardenhire elected to pitch to him. In his Inside The Game feature, Steven Krasner breaks down the sequence, along with all of Ramirez' previous at-bats, and tells how he was able to deliver the game-winning run.

LOOKING FOR RELIEF: We all know relief pitching is scarce. We all know that what's available probably isn't very good. So the Red Sox -- in need of bullpen help -- yesterday made what may prove to be their most crucial midseason decision. They shipped Justin Masterson (left) to Pawtucket to turn him into a relief pitcher, and recalled Clay Buchholz to take his place in the starting rotation. Masterson thus attempts to reprise the Papelbon 2005 role: Minor-league starter, with some big-league experience, turned eighth-inning setup man. It worked spectacularly for Papelbon, and the Sox, in '05; they're obviously hoping it will work again this year. McDonald has all the details. Krasner caught up with Buchholz in Pawtucket last weekend and fills us in on the progress he made while in the minor leagues.

AND THE GOOD NEWS JUST KEEPS ON COMING: McDonald and Krasner report on David Ortiz' first outdoor batting-practice session, which went surprisingly well.

I KNOW YOU: Doug Mirabelli paid a visit to the Sox' clubhouse yesterday.

TOPS AT SOMETHING: The blog Bleacher Report lists Jason Varitek as the worst All-Star selection of the last 10 years, a list that includes old friends Freddy Sanchez and David Eckstein. Varitek's been quite a topic of conversation around here; today he's the focus of a Dan Shaughnessy column. (Boston Globe)

NOBODY'S PERFECT: Not the fans, not the players, not the system. That's what SI.com's John Donovan says when it comes to selecting the All-Star team . . . and Varitek (obviously) is one of the examples he uses.

POTENTIAL REPLACEMENTS: The blog MLB Trade Rumors looks at the catchers' market. There are catchers available, though few get the heart a-pounding.

MIDTERM GRADES: Joe Haggerty gives out his midseason awards on his Hacks With Haggs blog. (And thanks, Joe, for the call out!) They also got an 'A' on Yahoo.com's Steve Henson's middle-of-the-term report card; unfortunately for them, the Rays got an A-plus. J.D. Drew (third in the MVP list) and Jacoby Ellsbury (third in Rookie of the Year) are the only Sox mentioned in Tom Verducci's midseason-award handouts. (SI.com)

CLOSING IN: Baseball Analysts thinks the Rays' resurgence is for real, though their odds of winning the World Series (11-1) are still higher than those of the Red Sox.

DAVID FOR THE DEFENSE: David Chalk of Bugs and Cranks takes issue with my commentary on his post yesterday, and I'm happy to give him the floor to raise his objections. And, David, I'd love to enjoy an ice-cold Gansett with you anytime.

ALTERNATE ENDING: This has been a magical run for the Rays, so when Carlos Pena homered in the ninth inning off All-Star closer Joakim Soria yesterday afternoon you just assumed they would go on and, once again, finish the deal. It was a shock, then, that they didn't; instead, the Royals reached Warwick's Dan Wheeler for four runs in the 10th inning and snapped Tampa Bay's winning streak, 7-4. (St. Petersburg Times) The Tampa Tribune's Marc Lancaster talks about the new perception of the Rays, how they are "well past condescending pats on the head from those who have traditionally bullied them. No longer dismissed as a young team with potential on a hot streak, the Rays seem to have convinced the powerhouses around them of their legitimacy." Which makes what happened yesterday, even though it was just one game, all the more surprising . . . and, I suppose, a true sign that they've really arrived.

THAT'S ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT IT: Chuck LaMar's reign as Tampa Bay GM from 1995-2005 wasn't exactly steeped in glory, but he's proud of the foundation he laid, which, he says, has led to the team's current success. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

AND HERE'S THE OTHER: The blog Walkoff Walk, in slightly NSFW language, describes LaMar's achievement as "crippling inadequacy and historic [ineptitude that] allowed the team to stockpile draft picks."

HEY, REMEMBER US? It seems like the Yankees are being looked at as an afterthought in the A.L. East race, even though they're only three games behind the Red Sox in the loss column. But underestimate them at your peril, because Hank Steinbrenner says they're ready to make a run. (New York Post) And Mike Lupica -- of all people -- agrees, saying the Yanks are "good enough to beat the Red Sox, off what we are seeing from the Red Sox lately. And good enough to make a run at the Rays." (New York Daily News)

AND IT ALL STARTS TONIGHT: The Yankee comeback, if it's coming, could start right now as the first-place Rays arrive at Yankee Stadium. (New York Post) It's a rematch of the two spring combatants (New York Daily News), though the Rays' recent contretemps with the Sox have kind of pushed all that into the background.

OUR HERO: Forget the .143 batting average. Forget the .208 on-base percentage. His game-winning hit off Jonathan Papelbon Sunday night has Yankee Universe fawning over Brett Gardner. (New York Post)

STAND UP FOR ONE OF YOUR OWN: The Yankees are calling on the American Mustache Institute -- oh, yes, they are -- to help get Jason Giambi (left) elected to the All-Star team. (New York Post) Doesn't look like they can count on Steve Silva's support, though. (Boston Dirt Dogs)

YOUR OWN LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN: For a price -- and probably a steep one -- you can own just about any piece of the old Yankee Stadium you want once the wrecking ball arrives. (New York Magazine)

'WE'RE GOING FOR IT': That was Brewer GM Doug Melvin's explanation for the acquisition of C.C. Sabathia -- pardon me, CC Sabathia (Detroit Free Press) -- yesterday from the Indians. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) ESPN.com's Keith Law (Insiders only) doesn't think this deal was "such a slam-dunk that Cleveland couldn't afford to pass it up." ShysterBall's Craig Calcaterra takes issue with the open letter to Cleveland fans by Indians owner Paul Dolan, saying he finds it "odd that the team is so publicly divulging what happened during contract negotiations."

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE: The Rockies point to their spot in the standings -- 6 1/2 games back in the underwhelming N.L. West -- and see themselves as contenders despite their 38-52 record. Woody Paige says maybe so, but not for much longer if they don't emerge from their current 17-games-out-of-24-on-the-road stretch in decent shape. (Denver Post)

THAT'S A START: The Rockies kicked off their road trip by spoiling Sabathia's arrival in Milwaukee with a 4-3 win over the Brewers. But they still have their concerns, like Todd Helton's ailing back and Troy Tulowitzki's immaturity. (All stories Denver Post)

ALMOST PERFECT: Hiroki Kuroda took a perfect game into the eighth inning and wound up with a one-hit shutout -- his second consecutive complete-game shutout -- as the Dodgers beat the Braves last night. (Atlanta Journal and Constitution)

END OF AN ERA: The Beatles ushered in the concept of stadium rock with their 1965 and '66 concerts at Shea. Now the originial venue is about to close its doors, but Billy Joel will send it out with a bang by holding two concerts at Shea Stadium, on July 16 and 18. (New York Sun)

UNLIKELY BLOGGER: Would you believe . . . Milton Bradley? (bats.blogs.nytimes.com)

WRIGLEY ON ICE: It's official: This year's NHL Outdoor Classic will be held at Wrigley Field on Jan. 1 between the Blackhawks and Red Wings. (Biz of Baseball)

'JAJAJAJAJA': Get Ozzie Guillen mad enough and that's how he'll respond to your e-mails. He does answer them, as the Chicago Tribune's Rick Morrissey discovered.

BACK IN CONTROL: Good news for the Cubs: Rich Hill striking out six, walking one and allowing one hit in four scoreless innings for Mesa of the Rookie League. (Chicago Sun-Times)

THE UNANSWERABLE QUESTION: Baseball Musings' David Pinto wonders if Greg Maddux and the Padres offense are ever going to be good on the same day again.

FREE FOOD, AND ALL YOU DO IS WATCH BALLGAMES FOR NOTHING: That's the standard cry of those who claim sports media people have a soft life. Joe Posnanski tells what it's really like sometimes. (joeposnanski.com)

MEDICAL REPORT: It's looking less and less as if Dontrelle Willis will pitch for the Tigers again this year, as he's been able to get into only one game after a month at Class A Lakeland because of his ailing knee (Detroit Free Press) . . . Roy Oswalt thinks he's close to returning to the Astros (Houston Chronicle) . . . The Padres' Michael Barrett needs facial surgery after fouling a ball off his own face (AP via Yahoo.com) . . . The Nationals say they'll have support in place for Elijah Dukes as he recovers from knee surgery (Washington Post) . . . Felix Hernandez will start for the Mariners Friday, his first game since spraining his ankle against the Mets a couple of weeks ago. (Seattle Times)

TRADE TALK: There are rumors the shortstop-starved Dodgers are inquiring about the Pirates' Jack Wilson. But not only does Wilson want to stay in Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review), but the team itself is not inclined to let him go (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) . . . The Angels say they won't be active in this year's trade market (Los Angeles Daily News) . . . The Mets are the latest team to announce they're not interested in Barry Bonds (Newsday) . . . Expect the Cubs' pursuit of Rich Harden to intensify now that the Brewers have Sabathia. (Chicago Sun-Times)

OLD FRIENDS: Jeff Suppan is headed to the disabled list (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) . . . Pedro Martinez pitched 5 1/3 decent innings and got the victory even though the Mets almost blew a nine-run lead to the Phillies (mlb.com) . . . Phil Dumatrait has been reactivated off the DL by the Pirates. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

-- ART MARTONE