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Baseball Today: Friday, July 6

WORTH THE WAIT: The Red Sox didn't play their first game of the season against the Devil Rays until Tuesday night, and one can only imagine what their record -- back to a season-high 22 games over .500, at 53-31 -- would be if they'd had. Last night's 15-4 romp completed a three-game sweep and gave Josh Beckett his 12th win of the season, tying him with Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia for the major-league lead in victories. (projo.com) It also positioned him for possible selection as the starting pitcher for the American League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game, which Beckett admits is ''exciting . . . it’s completely out of my control but it’s exciting.'' Also headed to San Francisco next week is Hideki Okajima, who earned both the final A.L. All-Star berth in online voting by fans and a rousing ovation from the crowd -- which he returned with bows to all corners of the ballpark (AP Photo, above) -- when it was announced last night. (projo.com)

As for the game itself, it was decided in the first inning when the Sox scored six runs, an outburst capped by Coco Crisp's grand slam (AP Photo, left). (projo.com) When it finally ended in the rain 3 1/2 hours later, the Sox could be comforted by the fact that, after a rough start with losses in two of the first three games, they finished 5-2 on the homestand . . . and that nearly 20 percent of their games in the second half of the season are against Tampa Bay.

BREAK TIME'S OVER: The road gets considerably tougher tonight: The Sox now head to Detroit for three games with the defending A.L. champ Tigers, who are eagerly awaiting Boston's arrival. (Detroit News) So are their fans; the club anticipates sellout crowds all weekend. (Detroit Free Press)

READY TO GO: The Tigers are feeling pretty good about themselves heading into the series after routing Sabathia yesterday. (Detroit Free Press)

ROSTER MOVES: True to their word, the Sox sent Jacoby Ellsbury back to Pawtucket immediately after last night's game (Boston Herald), which Terry Francona had said they'd do in order for him to continue his development by playing every day. They'll announce his replacement today and it's expected to be Jeff Bailey (projo.com) . . . which is indication that Kevin Youkilis' quad problem could keep him out of some, if not all, of the games this weekend.

MORE ROSTER MOVES: If the possibility of seeing Ellsbury again isn't enticement enough, PawSox fans have yet another reason to get out to McCoy Stadium: Clay Buchholz, the organization's top pitching prospect, is expected to be promoted from Portland any day now. (projo.com)

I LIKE MIKE: Sean McAdam wonders if the Red Sox shouldn't look into re-signing Mike Lowell, which everyone assumes they won't do. (projo.com)

AT LAST, ACCORDING TO PLAN: The Yankees finally won a game yesterday in the manner everyone expected them to win lots of them -- a relentless offense overcoming mediocre pitching, both the opposition's and its own. (New York Daily News) The Yanks' mediocre pitcher, Kei Igawa, trashed his locker after being lifted (New York Post), joining Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth as Yankee hurlers who vented frustration over their failures in, ah, unique ways.

COMING BACK: Peter Abraham writes that Phil Hughes could be back with the Yankees by the end of the month. (yankees.lohudblogs.com)

MAN BITES DOG: Umpire Lance Barksdale apologized to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel for blowing a call that led to a Philadelphia defeat. (Philadelphia Inquirer) Manuel -- who had been ejected by Barksdale for arguing the call -- was gracious, saying, ''I told him, 'Even I made a mistake one day.' ''

FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS: In a season fraught with injuries, the Blue Jays learned yesterday that Troy Glaus may not be hurt as badly as originally feared. In the meantime, two other members of the team's walking wounded -- Reed Johnson and Lyle Overbay -- are ready to return. (Both stories Toronto Sun)

ERROR, PHILLIES: Rhode Island native Jim Salisbury, the main baseball writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, calls the signing of Pat Burrell a $50 million mistake.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM: Many people in Chicago expect the White Sox to be active in the trade market in the next three weeks. (Chicago Sun-Times)

WHISPERS: A major-league executive says there's ''a pretty good chance'' Bobby Abreu will attract interest from a National League team this month, assuming the Yankees are willing to pay a significant portion of the $10 million he's still owed (Bergen Record) . . . If the White Sox trade Tadahito Iguchi, they may inquire about Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson (Daily Record) . . . Shawn Chacon would like a contract extension from the Pirates (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

OLD FRIENDS: Ex-Sox farmhand Matt Murton, now with the Cubs, has drawn interest from the Padres (San Diego Union-Tribune) . . . Scott Williamson doesn't understand why the Orioles got rid of him (Baltimore Sun).

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:57 AM | Permalink