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Late Red Sox notes

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

CHICAGO -- Curt Schilling's start Friday night -- six innings, one run allowed -- was the best he's had since coming back from the disabled list earlier this month.

''Better, definitely improved,'' said Schilling in assessment of his performance. ''We mixed up my pitches, stayed out of the middle of the plate -- other than the home run (to Josh Fields in the second).''

Schilling said his fastball command was ''better . . . there was more focus on that anything else. I commanded the ball to both sides of the plate.''

This was Schilling's first game with Kevin Cash behind the plate, but the two worked well together.

''I think we felt really good about what we were doing going in,'' said Schilling.

Giving it to you straight
Ozzie Guillen was typically candid in his postgame assessment.

''Twelve hours of my life I wasted and I'm never going to get it back,'' said the colorful White Sox manager. ''Tough day for everyone. I think that's the one of the reasons they're in first place and we're in last place. They hit better than we did and they pitched better than we did.''

Here and there
-- The Red Sox are 13-6 in their last 19 games at U.S. Cellular Field. Their last five wins -- here and in Boston -- against the White Sox have resulted in an aggregate 50-14 score.

-- In the nightcap, David Ortiz enjoyed his third multihomer game of the season and 29th of his career. Of those, 27 have come with the Red Sox. He also tied his career high with four hits in the night game. He's done that 11 times, including twice this year. The last occasion was on Toronto on May 9.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 11:27 PM | Permalink

Game story: Red Sox score 21 runs in sweep of Chisox

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

CHICAGO – The forecast for the day was bleak. For the Red Sox, the reality was far sunnier.

Expecting to dodge the rain the entire day, the Sox instead played under blue skies and shone themselves Friday, sweeping the White Sox in convincing fashion – 11-3 in the first game and 10-1 in the nightcap.

The two victories meant they would lose no ground in the standings to the Yankees, who were playing the Tigers in Detroit late Friday/early Saturday after a 4-hour and 2-minute rain delay. When the Yankee game started, the Sox' lead was six games, five in the loss column.

The 21-run surge for the Sox may signal an offensive awakening for the Red Sox, who in the last week have scored eight or more runs five times. In the night game, the Sox belted three homers – two from David Ortiz – for the first time in almost a month.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, yesterday marked the first time since in a half-century that the Sox had scored 10 runs or more in two games on the same day. They last did it against the Kansas City Athletics on June 23, 1957.

For the two games, the Sox pounded out 28 hits. Ortiz homered in the fourth to put the Sox ahead 2-1, then hit a second shot – this one solo -- an inning later. Later that same inning, Kevin Youkilis socked a 410-foot wallop to left, just his second homer in the last 22 games, a three-run drive that increased Boston's lead to 9-1.

Curt Schilling went six innings in the second game to pick up his second straight win, allowing just one run on three hits in what was clearly his best effort since coming off the disabled list earlier this month.

For the two games, the Red Sox bullpen pitched a combined 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball.

The sweep gave the Sox a 4-1 record to date on their last long road trip of the season.

Accustomed to playing before sellout crowds, with their nomadic fans often outnumbering those of the home team, the Sox in the early game saw a U.S. Cellular Field that was almost silent, with perhaps a couple of thousand fans in the seats, the result of a makeup date from the night before.

The energy level was almost non-existent.

''This,'' Mike Lowell would say later, ''was like a Thursday day game between the Marlins and Pirates . . . with the threat of rain.''

Lowell, of course, lived through more than a few of those in his seven seasons in Florida. So, too, did Josh Beckett, yesterday’s starting pitcher.

Perhaps, then, it was no surprise that Lowell and Beckett were two of the principal contributors to the Red Sox’ first-game win.

Lowell, now regularly installed as the Sox’ No. 5 hitter, produced three hits, two runs and two RBI while Beckett overcame a shaky first inning to become baseball’s first 16-game winner.

Beckett gave up a two-out double in the first to A.J. Pierzynski, then walked three straight hitter, a temporary lapse in control that was hardly typical. In his previous 13 outings, Beckett hadn’t walked more than two hits in a game .

''His stuff was good,’’ said manager Terry Francona. ''He just made a few mistakes. A guy hit a double and then he lost the strike zone.’’

Beckett, however, rediscovered it in time, catching Juan Uribe on a called third strike and limiting the damage to one run.

''Three walks in an inning – I wasn’t too excited about that,’’ Beckett said. ''I was lucky to get out of it with just one run.''

He then held the White Sox scoreless until the fifth, while the Red Sox offense caught up against Chicago starter Jon Garland.

Beckett wasn’t typically sharp, perhaps owing to the fact that he was pitching with seven days’ rest, the result of the spot start by Julian Tavarez Sunday and Thursday night’s rainout.

''It’s easy to be great when you have great stuff,’’ said Lowell. ''But what counts is what you do when you don’t have your best stuff. Josh was able to grind it out today.’’

There were plenty of offensive sparks. Six different hitters produced multihit games, led by Lowell with his three hits. Additionally, six different players chipped in with at least one RBI, including Bobby Kielty who didn’t get into the game until the eighth and produced two sacrifice flies in two plate appearances.

Lowell, in particular, has taken to the No. 5 spot in the batting order. A notorious first-half player, Lowell has hit a sizzling .375 in August and has 15 RBI in 21 games.

''I love hitting fifth,’’ said Lowell, who has displaced J.D. Drew in most games in that spot. ''I think my mindset works better there. I like it. My production, my power, my mindset is right for that. And hitting right after Manny (Ramirez) and David (Ortiz), you’re going to have opportunities (to knock runs in).’’

And the miniscule crowd and early afternoon start? It didn’t impact the Red Sox, who generated their own energy.

''At this point in the season,’’ Lowell said, ''every game is important to us.’’

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 11:09 PM to McAdam | Permalink

Game story: PawSox split doubleheader

BY DAN HICKLING
Special to the Journal

BUFFALO -- When you’re locked into fourth place in the dying days of the season, you take the positives where you can find them.

For the Pawtucket Red Sox that would be the hitting streak, now up to a franchise record 20 games, compiled by Jacoby Ellsbury.

Ellsbury hit safely in both ends of the PawSox’ double-header with the Buffalo Bisons, staged at Dunn Tire Park in Buffalo.

The PawSox were blasted by Buffalo, 7-0 in the opener, but got even in the nightcap with a 7-4 win, their first over the Bisons in their last 11 tries.

Ellsbury enjoyed a big night, going 4-for-7, and swiping a base (his 32nd) to regain the sole lead in the International League.

After lacing a third inning single in Game 1 to tie the club mark that had been jointly held by Dave Stapleton and Dave Berg, Ellsbury knocked Jeff Harris’ first pitch of the nightcap into center field to establish the new standard.

In the opener, PawSox starter David Pauley (6-6) was tagged for all seven Bison runs, including six in the bottom of the fifth.

A fielding error by Jed Lowrie, who was making the first appearance at third base of his three year professional career, allowed two of those runs.

Pauley then gave up a two-run double to Andy Marte, the last man he faced before departing.

Pawtucket managed just five hits off Bison hurler John Koronka (3-3), who went the distance striking out six while walking one.

In the nightcap, the PawSox scored four runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead, then held on from there.

Starter Devern Hansack (9-7) while Travis Hughes picked up his 22nd save, extending his team record.

Although the PawSox have long since been out of the IL playoff picture, the club has been a key link in what has been a very vibrant Red Sox player development chain.

Having moved the likes of reliever Manny Delcarmen and starter Kason Gabbard (since traded) to the big leagues, skipper Ron Johnson and his staff were handed the likes of Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, Dusty Brown, and Clay Buchholz, all of whom earned battlefield promotions from Double-A Portland during the year.

And under Johnson, all of the above continue to develop nicely.

''To have guys move up through the system is the goal,'' said Mike Hazen, Boston‘s Director of Player Development, while making the rounds of the club‘s affiliates. ''To see them make progress and improve, to the point that they’ve earned a promotion, is definitely satisfying. Those guys who have moved up, the Ellsburys, the Lowries, they’ve earned those promotions. So it’s extremely satisfying.''

Another of the midseason arrivals is right-handed reliever Lincoln Holdzkom, who has become a valuable set up man in the PawSox pen since his Ju;y 27 promotion.

Holdzkom, who was picked up by the Sox before the season after being waived by the Chicago Cubs, had allowed just one earned run in his previous eight outings, prior to last night.

''I just feel healthy now,'' said Holdzkom, who had never pitched above Double-A before arriving in Pawtucket.''It’s been a while since I’ve been on the DL. I‘d been out for the last two and half years with various (shoulder) injuries. It finally took until June for me to feel healthy. And health is of major importance. This is my first full season in about three years, and everything is finally paying off. If you’re not healthy, it’s hard to have confidence in your stuff. And if you have a lack of confidence, you’re going to pay the price.''

HERE AND THERE: Infielder Royce Clayton, who was signed Wednesday by Boston to a minor-league contract, made his PawSox’ debut in Game 1. If all goes well for Clayton, the 16-year big league veteran is a strong candidate for a September callup by the Bosox. Clayton takes the roster spot vacated when left-handed reliever Javy Lopez was called up by Boston …Meanwhile, LHP Jon Lester, who was optioned to Portland to make room for Lopez, will start for the Sea Dogs on Monday against Trenton. He would have been sent to Pawtucket, except that his next turn coincides with that of Clay Buchholz, who is scheduled to throw that day at Rochester.

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 11:08 PM to PawSox | Permalink

Game 2 lineups

Quick turnaround here..as Game 2 is just 75 minutes or so away.

Red Sox

Julio Lugo ss
Dustin Pedroia 2b
David Ortiz DH
Manny Ramirez lf
Mike Lowell 3b
Kevin Youkilis 1b
Bobby Kielty rf
Coco Crisp cf
Kevin Cash c

Curt Schilling P

CHICAGO
Jerry Owens cf
Josh Fields 3b
Darin Erstad DH
Paul Konerko 1b
Jermaine Dye rf
Juan Uribe ss
Danny Richar 2b
Andy Gonzalez lf
Toby Hall c

John Danks P

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 6:45 PM | Permalink

Final

Red Sox win the first one here, 11-3, making them 3-1 on the road trip so far.Jason Varitek was the hitting star (four RBI) and Josh Beckett became the major league's first 16-game winner.

We'll have second-game lineups soon....

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 6:40 PM | Permalink

Final: Red Sox 11, White Sox 3

The Red Sox broke things open with six runs in the last two innings and coasted to a 11-3 win over the White Sox in the first game of a day-night doubleheader today.

Get the box score here, and get the play-by-play here.

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Insurance runs

Red Sox pinch-hitters provided two runs in the eighth to give the Sox a bigger cushion.

Bobby Kielty, hitting for J.D. Drew, delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring David Ortiz. Kevin Youkilis, meanwhile, hit for Eric Hinske and chipped in with an RBI single.

Mike TImlin is on for the eighth, with the Sox leading 7-3.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 5:12 PM | Permalink

Exit Beckett

After allowing two two-out singles in the sixth, Josh Beckett has left the game, replaced by Javier Lopez, brought in to face lefthanded-hitting Jerry Owens.
The Sox still lead 5-3..but the White Sox have the potential tying runs on base

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 4:16 PM | Permalink

Lead narrows

A two-run homer by rookie Josh Fields has brought the White Sox to within two -- 5-3 through five innings.
Josh Beckett retired the next three hitters after the two-out homer, but probably won't pitch much beyond the sixth due to his pitch count.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 3:59 PM | Permalink

Not Quite the Texas Rangers, but...

...the Red Sox have scored five uanswered runs and now lead 5-1 as the game heads to the bottom of the fourth.
Singles by Coco Crisp, Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell gave the Sox a 2-1 lead and after J.D. Drew reached on an error to load the bases, Jason Varitek produced a two-run single to left.
A single to center from Eric Hinske then plated Drew as Varitek took third, but an inning-ending double-play by Alex Cora finished the inning.
Varitek's last multi-RBI came on Aug. 15.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 3:34 PM | Permalink

First lead

Singles by Coco Crisp, Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell -- with some help from White Sox left fielder Andy Gonzalez -- led to a run for the Sox, who now lead 2-1 in the top of the fourth.
Crisp was on first when Ramirez stroked a one-out single to left. When Gonzalez bobbled it, Crisp took off for third, then rode home on Lowell's single up the middle.
A second White Sox flub -- this one by second baseman Danny Richar, and ruled an error -- resulted in J.D. Drew reaching base and the Sox filling the bases.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 3:25 PM | Permalink

(Red) Sox Tie It Up

Julio Lugo singled home Alex Cora (two-out double) in the top of the third to tie the game at 1-1.
The hit was Lugo's second of the game and gave him 13 RBI in the last 14 games. Lugo now has 62 RBI for the season, third among American League shortstops.

Bottom 3: Bos 1, Chi 1

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 3:04 PM | Permalink

Rocky First for Beckett

Josh Beckett struggled with his control in the first. After getting the first two hitters, he gave up a double to A.J. Pierzynski, then walked three straight hitters -- Paul Konerko, Darin Erstad and Jermaine Dye -- to force in a run.
To put that in perspective, it was only the third time this season that Beckett has walked three batters in a start; this time, he did it in the first inning.

After 1: Chi 1, Bos 0

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 2:37 PM | Permalink

Lots of No-Shows

We're underway here, with a light rain falling. The ``crowd'' -- and we use the word advisedly -- can't be more than a few hundred. With bad weather in the forecast and a short-notice turnaround, few people who held tickets to the originally scheduled game last night decided to make the matinee.
There have definitely been Grapefruit League games with much bigger crowds. In fact, there may have been spring training ``B'' games with bigger crowds.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 2:12 PM | Permalink

Let's (Hopefully) Play Two!

Skies are gray here, but the Red Sox and White Sox have a lot of baseball to get in today.

Here are the lineups for the first game:

RED SOX

Julio Lugo ss
Coco Crisp cf
David Ortiz dh
Manny Ramirez lf
Mike Lowell 3b
J.D. Drew rf
Jason Varitek c
Eric Hinske lf
Alex Cora 2b

Josh Beckett p

WHITE SOX

Jerry Owens cf
Josh Fields 3b
Jim Thome dh
Paul Konerko 1b
A.J. Pierzynski c
Jermaine Dye rf
Darin Erstad lf
Juan Uribe ss
Danny Richar 4

Jon Garland p

Eric Hinske has recovered from the calf muscle cramp that forced him from Wednesday's game, as 90 minutes before gametime, appears improved, though manager Terry Francona cautioned that Hinske would have to go out and ``test'' the calf before the Sox sign off on his return.
``He'll go out and move around,'' said Francona of Hinske. ``He says he feels good, but we want to make sure he's OK. But I think it's a go.''
Spoke briefly to Dustin Pedroia, who hit in the cage this morning and reported feeling much better about his left elbow. Plans are for Pedroia to play the nightcap against lefty Jon Danks.

Reserve catcher Kevin Cash will be behind the plate with Curt Schilling in the night game. Cash has only caught Schilling in spring training and in side sessions.

Bobby Kielty has been taking some ground balls at first, and while he hasn't played there since his time with the Twins, Francona indicated he wouldn't hesitate putting him there if necessary.

Mike Lowell seems to have taken over the fifth spot in the batting order from J.D. Drew -- even against righthanders. Drew's power production has been a huge disappointment (no homers in more than two months; .391 slugging percentage) while Lowell leads the team in RBI (86).
Previously, Francona had stressed the importance of alternating left-right-left through the batting order, but with Drew's dropoff, that seems less of a priority.
``Because of production,'' Francona said, ``at some point, you have to stop being stubborn and do it.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 12:34 PM | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Greetings from rainy Chicago

Sean McAdam is waiting, like the rest of us, to see whether the Red Sox play two games, one game or no games today out in Chicago. In the meantime, he joins us by phone for another edition of projo SoxTalk. Click here to listen to the full audio file. The topics: the weather forecast, the scheduling possibilities for the rest of the weekend, the pitching possibilities for the rest of the weekend, the promotion of Javy Lopez and the demotion of Jon Lester, and the health of Dustin Pedroia.

Here are some excerpts from Sean's comments:

Today's weather: "There were people with the White Sox yesterday saying that, if anything, the weather today was going to be worse than it was yesterday, which is a little hard to believe given what we saw yesterday. But their report showed it raining from early afternoon today until past midnight, so it is going to be a definite challenge getting -- nevermind two -- but just one in today."

What might the schedule be if games are postponed today: "I'd say at this point that they're keeping all their options open. The tricky part is that Saturday is the Fox game of the week, with a 2:55 (3:55 Eastern time) start here on Saturday, which makes it impossible to do a separate-admissions doubleheader, because you need close to three hours in between the two games to do that, and of course you couldn't have a game scheduled to start at 9 o'clock local time. So the options would be to play a regularly scheduled, one-admission doubleheader, which would cost the White Sox a gate, on Saturday. There's talk that they can't do a day-night doubleheader [on Sunday] because of the collective-bargaining agreement, because Sunday is getaway day for the Red Sox. So they would have to do another single-admision doubleheader on Sunday, and then looking forward, there is a mutual off day on September 24, so the teams may have to resort to coming back here and playing one or number two."

The roster moves: "With the Yankees, there's just a ton of left-handed hitters in that lineup, and Terry Francona didn't feel comfortable going into that series with only Hideki Okajima in the bullpen as a lefty to go to. So Lopez gives him that matchup lefty that they haven't had since Lopez was sent down earlier in the month, and as Terry Francona said yesterday, there has been some inconsistency with Jon Lester certainly -- as his E.R.A., which is nearly 6, attests -- but they understand that's part of the process ... This way, it gives them a lefty for both series [against Chicago and New York]. It only costs Lester one start, and then he's back on September 2 and presumably with the club and in the rotation the rest of the way."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:38 AM to McAdam | Permalink

Baseball Today: Friday, August 24

WHEN IT RAINS . . . it has the chance to mess up the best-laid plans of mice, men and the Red Sox. Everything the Sox have done, pitching-wise, over the last week has been to line up Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling, their top three starters, for the three games at Yankee Stadium next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. (That's what the bringing-up-Clay Buchholz/giving-Julian Tavarez-a-start sequence of last weekend was all about.) Last night's rainout in Chicago (above, AP Photo) doesn't affect those plans just yet, even with Beckett and Schilling scheduled to pitch in today's day-night doubleheader. (The off-day Monday gives them a built-in cushion.) But the weather forecast for Chicago remains ominous (weatherunderground.com) and if today's games are affected by the weather, well . . .

Sean McAdam reports the teams are looking into the possibilties of doubleheaders on Saturday or Sunday, or even for the Sox to make a return trip to Chicago on a mutual off-day Sept. 24. (projo.com) For Beckett to pitch Wednesday, he has to pitch today if he's going to stay on four days' rest; therefore, it's imperative for the Sox to get at least one of today's games in. (Schilling could still pitch Thursday if he pitches tomorrow.) What they do if both of today's games are postponed is anybody's guess. Mine is they skip Schilling entirely in this series, pitch Beckett tomorrow, then use Schilling on Tuesday, Matsuzaka on Wednesday and Beckett on Thursday in New York. But that's all it is: A guess. Stay tuned right on this blog; McAdam will be providing constant updates from Chicago.

ALREADY WORKING ON IT: The Red Sox already had rejiggered their pitching staff in light of the left-leaning White Sox and Yankee linueps, as they brought back Javy Lopez for left-handed fortification in the bullpen and sent Jon Lester down to Double-A Portland. (projo.com) McAdam reports on the moves, saying Lester went to Portland and not Pawtucket because a) he can't be recalled to Boston until Sept. 2 because of the 10-day rule (players sent to the minors can't be brought back for 10 days), b) he'll pitch Sept. 2 for the Sox against the Orioles and c) to avoid him having a week's rest prior to that start -- his next scheduled start for Boston would have been this Sunday -- he'll pitch Monday, and Monday is Clay Buchholz' day to pitch in Pawtucket. And the reason they don't want to push back Buchholz is because he's probably going to start for the Red Sox on Sept. 1 against the Orioles.

Whew. Got that?

In more mundane matters, Sean's notebook has injury updates on Dustin Pedroia, Eric Hinske and Doug Mirabelli, and the Sox signing veteran roustabout shortstop Royce Clayton to a minor-league deal.

A NEW MAN, FOR BETTER OR WORSE: Schilling, says the Boston Herald's Tony Massarotti, has lost some battles to Father Time and is in the process of remaking himself as a pitcher. Question is, can he complete the makeover fast enough to be effective down the stretch and in the postseason?

COMING OUT OF IT: The Boston Globe's Gordon Edes thinks the mega-slumping Kevin Youkilis is showing signs of life at the plate.

NOT COMING OUT OF IT: Discontent with J.D. Drew is rising throughout Red Sox Nation. The latest to weigh in: FoxSports.com's Kevin Hench.

OH, PLEASE: Don't tell Seth Mnookin that Daisuke Matsuzaka has been a disappointment for the Red Sox, because Dice-K has pitched much better than his 13-10 record would indicate. (sethmnookin.com)

27 INTO 25: Massarotti reports the Sox will have flexibility on their playoff roster, flexibility enough to add a Lester or a Buchholz or a Jacoby Ellsbury even though they won't be with the team on Aug. 31, the day the postseason eligibility list is supposed to be set, thanks to the injured Matt Clement and Brendan Donnelly.

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN: As most of you know by now, USA Today has anointed the Red Sox as the new America's Team, based on the fact that they draw more fans on the road than anyone else. Peter Abraham, however, wonders if the 896-person difference in the average road attendance between the Sox and Yankees isn't due to the fact that the Sox get 55,000 every time they visit New York while the Yankees only get 36,000 when they come to Boston. (LoHud Yankees Blog) The blog Strike Zones and End Zones does the math and calculates that, if you take Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park out of the equation, the Yanks average 38,040 per game while the Sox drop to 37,131.

LET'S GET REAL, SHALL WE? The whole premise is silly anyway, says Abraham, because ''anybody with any common sense knows that the mighty New England Patriots are America’s team.'' I told you the other day, he's from New Bedford.

LOOKING BACK, NOT AHEAD: SI.com's Tom Verducci thinks the Red Sox are peeking into the rear-view mirror these days.

LOOKING AHEAD, NOT BACK: Next week's series at Yankee Stadium will mean something after all, writes the New York Post's Justin Terranova. And the Yanks have a new weapon to throw at Boston in Joba Chamberlain. (New York Daily News)

BUT FIRST . . . The Yankees have a little matter of four games in Detroit, where their season came to an end last October. (New York Daily News)

CATCHING THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME? The Tigers are coming off three losses in four games at Cleveland, which dropped them 2 1/2 games behind the Indians in the A.L. Central. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

DOMINO EFFECT: If this is Joe Torre's final year as Yankee manager, as many suspect, the Yanks may also lose free agents Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. (New York Post)

GLORY OF THEIR TIMES: With all the research material available on the Web today, many stories of old ballplayers don't hold up to scrutiny. The latest: In a story on how wearing golf gloves became popular among major league players, mlb.com traces it back to Ken Harrelson, who said he first wore one as a rookie in 1963 and hit a home run off Whitey Ford of the Yankees. Only problem is, Harrelson didn't hit a home run off Ford -- and, indeed, didn't even hit one against the Yankees -- in 1963. (baseball-reference.com) The incident in question could have occured on Sept. 9, 1964. It had to if Ford was the pitcher, because that was the only home run Harrelson ever hit off him.

TWO OF US: How often do Trevor Hoffman and Billy Wagner ever blow saves, let alone blow them in the same game? Yet that's what happened last night at Shea Stadium in a game the Padres wound up winning in 10 innings. (New York Daily News) Even so, the Daily News' Filip Bondy says the Mets have no worries, at least not when it comes to winning the N.L. East.

SAME OLD SAME OLD: FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal says Wednesday's 30-3 embarrassment is a continuation of the Orioles' sad recent history.

CAPTAIN VIDEO: The blog Bugs & Cranks culled YouTube and came up with some of the best managerial blowups of all time.

THE REAL ISSUES: The blog ShysterBall researches the favorite baseball team of the presidential candidates. Sox fans include Mitt Romney, Christopher Dodd and, in a strange way, Bill Richardson, who claims to be both a Sox and Yankee fan (the logic of which, ShysterBall points out, ''Abraham Lincoln identified the flaw with . . . 149 years ago''). Rudy Guiliani and, perhaps, Hillary Rodham Clinton are Yankee fans.

NOTHING FROM THE MIDDLE: Don't expect the wild card to come out of the Central Division in either league, writes FoxSports.com's Dayn Perry.

LOCAL BOYS: Rocco Baldelli was scratched from his rehab assignment Wednesday because of soreness in his legs. (St. Petersburg Times)

QUICKLY: The Rangers' Michael Young is sick of losing (FoxSports.com) . . . The Padres are worried about Chris Young's sore back (San Diego Union-Tribune) . . . Ever see one of those ballpark marriage proposals? This one really backfired on some poor guy in Houston (FoxSports.com) . . . Mike Sweeney may stay with the Royals, after all. (Kansas City Star)

OLD FRIENDS: David Wells is headed to the Dodgers (Los Angeles Daily News) . . . Edgar Renteria is headed to the disabled list. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:55 AM | Permalink