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Baseball Today: Monday, May 21

BYE, NOW: Kason Gabbard (right, Journal photo by Gretchen Ertl) dispatched the Braves with ease yesterday, then found himself dispatched back to Pawtucket moments after the game ended. (Both stories projo.com) Such is life in the big city, especially when you've played three games in two days, your bullpen's a little worn, and you're heading to New York for a three-game series with the Yankees; the Sox, with an off-day Thursday and a chance to skip over the No. 5 spot in the rotation, opted for another relief arm, Manny Delcarmen, in Gabbard's spot. Gabbard was apparently disappointed enough that he declined to speak to the media after the game, but he shouldn't be disheartened. He pitched well enough (projo.com) to warrant another call when the need for another starter inevitably rises -- certainly better than Devern Hansack pitched Saturday (projo.com) -- and he impressed everyone . . . even his old high school teammate, the Braves' Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (Boston Herald)

HERE'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY: If a poll had been taken to choose a player in this weekend series would go 0-for-5 with five strikeouts in a game, the consensus choice probably would have been Wily Mo Pena. But, no, the honor -- such as it is -- went to the Braves' All-Everything center fielder, Andruw Jones. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

NOT THE SAME: There's no question that the A.L. East standings have removed some of the luster from the upcoming Sox-Yankees series. (projo.com) The Boston Herald's Steve Buckley says the matchup has '''all the magic of that pinch-me-I’m-dreaming Colorado Rockies-Kansas City Royals interleague showdown of this past weekend'', and with reason; as Sean McAdam noted Sunday, the Sox ''may be in the process of disproving'' the theory that titles can't be won or lost in April or May. (projo.com) Conversely, the Globe's Nick Cafardo points out these are desperate times in the Bronx, though last night's improbable win at Shea -- Tyler Clippard outdueling John Maine? -- has raised pinstripe hopes that the tide may finally be turning at just the right time. (New York Daily News) It better be, says the New York Post's Larry Brooks, because he thinks the Yanks need to make their move now.

AND WHY SHOULD IT BE? The Post's Joel Sherman says there are ''eerie undertones of 1965'' -- the year the Yankee Dynasty crumbled -- ''for the 2007 Yankees.''

A-ROD, SCHMAY-ROD, WE GOT LOWELL! There's an old baseball saying: You're never as good as you look when you're winning, and you're never as bad as you look when you're losing. That's probably true in both the Red Sox' and Yankees' cases, which is something to keep in mind when listening to the Boston Herald's Gerry Callahan argument that the Sox should forget about pursuing Alex Rodriguez and instead re-sign Mike Lowell to an extension.

NEVER STOP TRYING: The Denver Post's Troy Renck thinks the Red Sox may attempt to involve themselves in trade talks for the Rockies' Todd Helton -- yes, again -- and the Devil Rays' Rocco Baldelli.

BET YOU THOUGHT I WAS CALLING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE: Safe to say that 15 or 20 years ago, George Steinbrenner's Saturday night phone call to Joe Torre would have unfolded differently than this. (New York Daily News)

ANOTHER YANKEE ERROR: But espn.com's Jeff Pearlman thinks George should have pulled the trigger.

BIGGER ISSUES: Jason Giambi's tacit admission that he took steroids could lead the Yankees to void his contract, though general manager Brian Cashman's lip is zipped on the subject at this point. (New York Daily News)

HEAVY LIES THE HEAD . . . Not very surprisingly, Cashman calls this his most challenging time as Yankee general manager. (Newsday)

LAST TO KNOW: Bernie Williams apparently still thinks he can play. (New York Post)

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY: Ozzie Guillen's profanity-laced performance on a Chicago radio station last week opened the door for his old nemesis, Jay Mariotti, to begin greasing the skids for his dismissal. (Chicago Sun-Times)

THE CENTER OF ATTENTION: Guillen's radio rant was prompted by his unhappiness over comments made by controversial catcher A.J. Pierzynski, whose act apparently is growing old with his White Sox teammates. (Chicago Tribune)

THE KIDS AREN'T ALL RIGHT: The Red Sox' Class A team in Lancaster got beat 30-0 Friday night. (yahoo.com)

OOPS: Chad Finn wonders if Jordan's Furniture in Boston will wind up regretting its your-furniture-is-free-if-the-Sox-win-the-World-Series offer of last month. (touchingallthebases.com)

GIMME SOME STEEL, BABY: Writing for Boston Metro, Finn chooses his all-worst Red Sox defensive team.

OLD FRIENDS: Andy Marte is back, but as a platoon player for the Indians (Cleveland Plain Dealer) . . . Tony Clark is still playing, and still making contributions in Arizona. (Arizona Republic)

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:45 AM | Permalink