IF YOU AIN'T GOT A BULLPEN . . . Yogi Berra's most cogent maxim was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt this weekend, as the Sox' relief corps was torched for 11 runs (10 earned) in 6 1/3 innings in blowing a 3-3 tie Friday night (winding up in a 6-3 loss), turning a 4-2 deficit into a 10-2 defeat on Saturday and allowing a 2-2 game to morph into a 7-4 defeat on Sunday. Steven Krasner has the excruciating details of all three, two of which turned on Manny Delcarmen (above) showdowns with Frank Thomas. The results: A two-run double Friday night and a grand slam yesterday afternoon.
So the infinite road trip finally ends, and now, reports Krasner, the Sox return home for a day of rest and then a day of emotion: The Fenway Park opener against the Tigers and the ring ceremony, which will begin around 1 p.m.
SHORT STORIES: Krasner reports the "defensive nightmare" of shortstop Julio Lugo continued with three errors yesterday, giving him four for the weekend. Meanwhile, down on the farm, Joe McDonald talks to Sox executives who are singing the praises of Jed Lowrie. Coincidence, coincidence . . . but just something to stick away in the back of your mind.
KEEPING WATCH: He'd never, ever admit it, but the Sox' relief implosion has probably raised the hopes of Craig Hansen, whom McDonald profiled Saturday. Already gone from the Boston bullpen is Kyle Snyder, though Krasner says he was a victim of the numbers game and his departure wasn't related to his 0-out, 2-walk, 2-runs-allowed performance on Saturday.
HINDSIGHT'S 20-20 . . . AND EYE-OPENING: Chad Finn lauds Baseball Americafor putting Josh Beckett -- then with the Marlins -- on the cover of its 2002 Prospect Handbook and relates in horror the top names in the Red Sox farm system at the time. (Horror, you say? How about Seung Song, Tony Blanco and Rene Miniel at 1-2-3?) Kevin Youkilis has made it from that class, and so, at a lower level, has Manny Delcarmen -- the weekend notwithstanding -- but, as Chad writes, "the organization was pretty damn far from being 'a player development machine'." (touchingallthebases.com)
FROM ONE A-ROD TO ANOTHER: Alex Rodriguez says he's praying for Alexa Rodriguez, the young girl who was attacked by a hawk while taking a tour at Fenway last week. (New York Daily News)
FEELING BETTER: Joe Girardi was sick over the weekend -- from a flu bug and not his team's play, though the Yanks' 13-4 and 6-3 losses to the Rays weren't exactly what the doctor ordered -- but both he and his club were feeling better yesterday after a 2-0 victory in which Joba Chamberlain hit 101 on the Yankee Stadium radar gun, which is said to be a little fast. (Both stories New York Daily News) Feeling the pain now is Jason Giambi, who has a sore left groin muscle and may miss tonight's series finale against Tampa Bay. (New York Post)
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR: There are times when the joys of working at a baseball stadium are lost on this poor chap, who apparently is employed at the Great American Ballpark -- they are still calling it that, right? -- in Cincinnati.
JUST WAIT: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Jim Reeves says that if the Rangers manage to stay in contention through midseason, they may give Barry Bonds a call.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: When White Sox GM Ken Williams was pulled into Jose Canseco's web of steroids accusations -- under the "Williams knew what was going on and didn't do a damn thing" subcategory -- he didn't skulk into no-comment territory: He's hinting that he's going to file a lawsuit against Mr. Self-Appointed Whistleblower. (Chicago Sun-Times) "I'm not the guy that you want to go down that road with," Williams said. "Because I'm more likely to come out swinging, and I'll swing a hell of a lot harder than any punch you'll throw at me.''
TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE: Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt is familiar with cheating: In 1980, he was suspended 10 days for being caught with a thumbtack on his finger to cut the ball. (espn.com) (Honeycutt also scores in the Dumb Criminal Department: He rubbed his face absentmindedly with the hand that had the tack, cutting a gash in his forehead.) So perhaps his accusations should be taken more seriously than most after he announced he has a picture that shows Padres ace Jake Peavy with pine tar on his right hand. Peavy, though, says it's just dirt and that umpires can come out to the mound to check him any old time. (Los Angeles Times)
IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK: Dave Duncan's complaint about a St. Louis radio station putting him on the air without his permission has resulted in the host's suspension and the producer's dismissal. Even so, the Cardinals' pitching coach says he may still file charges with the FCC. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE FANS, YOU END UP SITTING WITH THEM: And Ozzie Guillen doesn't want to be sitting with some of the people who e-mail him. (Chicago Sun-Times)
