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Baseball Today: Wednesday, May 16

Around the baseball world in 10 minutes . . .

RETURNING THE FAVOR: Jim Leyland calls the Red Sox ''one of the best teams in baseball,'' but adds, ''hopefully, they're feeling the same way about us.'' They probably are after Justin Verlander (above left) shut them down and the Tiger offense scored seven runs on Tim Wakefield and the Sox bullpen in a 7-2 victory last night. (projo.com) Verlander was just what the doctor ordered for the Tigers (Detroit News), as was Magglio Ordonez (above right), who had the big blow, a three-run homer in the third inning that broke a 1-1 tie. Not that that's anything new; Steven Krasner points out in Inside The Game that Mags owns Wakefield.

UH OH: The Boston Herald's Steve Buckley says ''The only thing that can hurt the 2007 Red Sox, we all agree, is injuries. And now guys are starting to get injured.'' J.D. Drew, who hurt his lower back crashing into the bullpen wall while trying to catch Brandon Inge's home run (right) is the latest.

GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME: So the Sox say about one of their walking wounded, Josh Beckett (projo.com). But it's still not clear whether he'll be able to make his scheduled start on Friday.

IBID: John Smoltz, scheduled to start Saturday for the Braves against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, is also feeling better, but he, too, doesn't know if he'll be able to saddle up. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution blog)

THANK YOU: Gary Sheffield is getting booed by the Fenway crowds, but considers it a badge of honor. ''They know their sports here,'' he said. (Detroit Free Press)

GET OUT YOUR POM-POMS, BOYS: Allan Wood is disgusted by the juvenile cheerleading coming out of the Tigers' television booth. (joyofsox.blogspot.com) Still, I can't believe they're any worse than the Hawk . . . who, hard as it may be for anyone under the age of 40 to believe, was one of the best, most objective and analytical announcers I've ever heard when he worked for the Red Sox.

I'M NOT GETTING IN YOUR SANDBOX: Barry Bonds says he doesn't have time to engage in ''childish activities,'' so therefore he has no response to Curt Schilling's recent a) criticisms of, and b) apology to, Bonds. (San Francisco Chronicle)

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THIS . . . The Astros' Lance Berkman damns Bonds with some very faint praise in an attempt to defend him. (Houston Chronicle)

THE SPEED OF ROCKET: Roger Clemens' comeback is progressing so quickly that he may make his Yankee debut as early as May 28. (New York Post) If you want to see for yourself just how well it's going, you'll get the chance; ESPN will broadcast his start for Class A Tampa on Friday night. (New York Post) Clemens, meanwhile has cut ties with his controversial trainer. (New York Daily News)

CH-CH-CHANGES: On a rainy night in Chicago, Joe Torre tinkered with his lineup. (New York Daily News)

GARBO SPEAKS! After a winter and spring of silence, ex-Yankee Bernie Williams will emerge in public this weekend to deliver the commencement address for Iona College's graduation ceremony at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. (Newsday) Williams also will receive an honorary doctorate in humane letters.

IF IT WASN'T FOR BAD LUCK . . . The slump-ridden Rocco Baldelli now has a bad hamstring to worry about, as well. (St. Petersburg Times)

OLD FRIENDS: Alan Embree flubbed his first shot at replacing Huston Street as Oakland's closer (San Francisco Chronicle), though the A's came back to win the game. (Note to Rotoworld.com: Don't blame Ken Macha for bad game management last night. He was fired at the end of last season and is currently a NESN analyst) . . . David Wells pitched a season-high eight innings for the Padres but wasn't involved in the decision as Cincinnati beat San Diego in 12 (projo.com) . . . Edgar Renteria had a two-homer night for the Braves in Washington (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . Hanley Ramirez helped carry the Marlins on a night when Miguel Cabrera didn't play (Miami Herald) . . . Ron Mahay is on the disabled list in Texas.

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 7:00 AM | Permalink