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Postgame -- This and That

-- J.D. Drew's hitting streak was snapped at 11 games. Drew, who had pretty much been carrying the Sox offensively during his streak, went 0 for 4, including three strikeouts.

-- Justin Masterson has thrown at least six innings in each of his first five starts in the majors, the seventh Red Sox pitcher since 1965 to be able to make that boast.

-- Dustin Pedroia, who was 2 for 26 on the homestand, went 1 for 4, a one-out single to right off Cincinnati closer Francisco Cordero in the ninth.

-- Jacoby Ellsbury has hit safely in each of his four games since missing three starts because of a jammed right wrist. But he has had only one hit in each of those games, going 4 for 18 over that stretch. His hit last night was a double. He was robbed of another, most likely another double, on a superb defensive play by first baseman Joey Votto.

-- The Red Sox are only 4-11 in their last 15 road games.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:32 PM | Permalink

Postgame: Varitek No-Show -- Flight Issues

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

CINCINNATI -- Jason Varitek, who has been stricken with strep throat, did not fly with the Sox to Cincinnati after Thursday night’s game.

He tried to make it here last night, but flight issues left him stranded in Cleveland for a while, so he did not make it to the park during the game.

Francona wasn’t expecting him to play, but thought he’d be available as an emergency in case something happened to Kevin Cash. Cash, though, made it through last night’s game without a problem, and he’ll start today, too, catching Tim Wakefield as he always does. Varitek is expected to back him up today.

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:27 PM | Permalink

Postgame: Casey Ovation, 1,500th Hit

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

CINCINNATI -- Sean Casey played eight years in Cincinnati, and when he was with the Reds, he was called “Mr. Mayor” for his affable personality.

The fans remembered him fondly when he came to the plate for the first time last night, giving him a long ovation. Casey acknowledged it by stepping out of the batter’s box, doffing his helmet and holding it out to the fans.

“That was special,” said Casey afterward. “I had a great relationship with the fans and to get that kind of ovation was one of the best moments of my career.”

Adding to career moments, Casey dunked a single to left in the seventh inning. It was the 1,500th hit of his career.

Earlier, Casey said he would appeal the three-game suspension he was given for his part in the June 5 brawl with the Rays at Fenway Park. His appeal will be heard on June 23, the same day Crisp’s appeal of his seven-game suspension will be heard.

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:26 PM | Permalink

Postgame: Ramirez (Hamstring) Leaves Game

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

CINCINNATI -- Manny Ramirez, who started in left field despite a sore right hamstring, had to leave the game in the seventh inning when it tightened up on him.

Manager Terry Francona said Ramirez will not play in today’s game and he said the Sox would be cautious about returning him to the lineup before he’s ready.

“We’ll wait until he’s better rather than put him in there and have to take him out in the middle of a game,” said Francona.

While he was in, Ramirez drilled an RBI single to right in the fourth inning for Boston’s only run. It was the 1,653rd RBI of his career, breaking a tie with Tony Perez and moving him into 24th place on the all-time list. It also was his 140th RBI in interleague play, tying the Mets’ Carlos Delgado for the top spot in that category.

Ramirez had been able to spare his right leg extra strain by serving as the Sox’ designated hitter for the previous 10 games, given that luxury because David Ortiz (left wrist) is on the disabled list. But the designated hitter is not used in National League parks, and the next five Boston games will be in N.L. cities – two more games in Cincinnati and then there in Philadelphia.

With Ramirez out of the lineup, Coco Crisp, who took over Ramirez’s spot in the batting order, came to the plate representing the tying run in the ninth against closer Francisco Cordero. He flied out with a man on first and two outs.

So the Sox now are down two sluggers – Ortiz and Ramirez – possibly the best one-two power-packed punch in the history of the game.

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 10:24 PM | Permalink

Schilling "Blah;" Varitek Still Sick

-- Curt Schilling threw in the bullpen before torrential rains soaked Great American Ballpark. It wasn't much to write home about.

Schilling didn't want to discuss it as he grabbed a pen and began to work on a newspaper crossword puzzle.

"Not now," said Schilling.

Manager Terry Francona offered a critique of the session.

"He had kind of a blah day," said Francona. "I don't think he was real thrilled about it. It wasn't one of his better days."

The next step on Schilling's plan wasn't clear.

-- Catcher Jason Varitek, bothered by strep throat, was expected in the clubhouse late this afternoon. Francona said he would be all right to serve as the emergency catcher backing up Kevin Cash, but not ready to start.

Saturday Cash will catch Tim Wakefield, as usual, so Varitek will get another day off.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 5:28 PM | Permalink

Youkilis Holds Court

Kevin Youkilis, a native of Cincinnati and a star at the University of Cincinnati, admitted this afternoon that he was disappointed at not having been drafted by his hometown Cincinnati Reds.

The Red Sox selected him in the eighth round of the 2001 draft.

He will have 138 family and friends in the stands for Saturday's game. Friday he met with the local media.

"When I didn't get drafted by the Reds there was definitely some bitterness. But we've won two World Series rings in Boston so maybe I was better off being drafted by Boston," said Youkilis.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 5:21 PM | Permalink

Francona Unhappy With Papelbon

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

CINCINNATI -- On his weekly appearance on the Mohegun Sun Sports Tonight, Jonathan Papelbon had some harsh words and not-so-veiled threats for the Tampa Bay Rays for when the teams meet again June 30-July 2 in the wake of the teams' brawl at Fenway Park on June 5.

"In my opinion it is a bunch of bull what they did. All I got to say is what comes around goes around. Payback is a bitch. In my opinion, and the way I feel right now, this thing isn’t all settled and done. We still got to play them a few more times and I know when we go into Tropicana things will be a little different than when went in there last time," said Papelbon during the show.

The words were not music to manager Terry Francona's ears.

"I'll speak to him," sighed Francona when the topic was brought up. "We don't need to go there. I'll talk to him."

Francona was upset because Papelbon's words not only could serve to fan whatever flames are leftover, but also from the standpoint of the umpires, who especially now will be on the watch for anything that constitutes further paybacks. One likely fear from the Sox' point of view is that one high and tight pitch from Papelbon, even if it's not meant as payback, could result in the closer's ejection.

Papelbon said this afternoon he understands that concern, but he still seemed steamed by the the James Shields fastball that drilled Coco Crisp, touching off the brawl that occured a day after Crisp had issues with shortstop Jason Bartlett and the Rays had issues with Crisp for his takeout slide of Akinori Iwamura on an unsuccessful stolen-base attempt.

"All of it is (standing up for Crisp)," said Papelbon. "We go through war during the season. If we don't have each other's backs, we'd be worthless as a team."

Papelbon kept on going.

"The play where Bartlett dropped down his knee when Coco slid in headfirst (and suffered a jammed thumb) and then Coco hit their guy, that should be it, a done deal. But they wanted to carry it over (hitting Crisp with a pitch), play their little game and take their cheap shots (punches in the pile). That's why I said it wasn't done. That's what I'll tell Tito. The way I feel isn't going to change," he said.

Papelbon said he wasn't worried about the umpires, hoping they would know the difference between a payback pitch and a purpose pitch to move a hitter off the plate to set up the next pitch, maybe down and away.

At that point, Francona happened by. He leaned over to Papelbon and said, "When you get done holding court, could you come in and see me?"

Papelbon started to say something and Francona playfully but purposefully grabbed a handful of Papelbon's T-shirt and dragged him out of the clubhouse to his office for a brief chat.

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 5:01 PM | Permalink

Ramirez in left field

Manny Ramirez still has a tight right hamstring, but if Friday night's game is played here in Cincinnati, he will be back in left field because the designated hitter is not used in National League parks.

Ramirez has been able to stay in the lineup as the Sox' designated hitter because David Ortiz (left wrist) is on the disabled list. Ramirez had started the last 10 games at DH. He batted .389 with five homers and 13 RBI.

Manager Terry Francona said that Ramirez sat down with him and bench coach Brad Mills and talked about his health, something Francona said Ramirez likely wouldn't have felt comfortable doing a couple of years ago.

"He came in and talked about it and I didn't want to talk him into playing a game he's not supposed to," said Francona. "He's got a hammy that hurts. That doesn't make him a bad person. But how do we get around it because he's such a good hitter."

The plan heading into this series is to play Ramirez Friday night, sit him out Saturday and then, if he's feeling okay, have him back in left field for Sunday's game.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:51 PM | Permalink

Dice-K Rehab Outing in Lehigh Valley

As reported first in the Journal two days ago, Daisuke Matsuzaka will be throwing a rehab assignment for the Pawtucket Red Sox Monday night in Lehigh Valley against the Iron Pigs.

Manager Terry Francona made the official announcement this afternoon as Dice-K threw a side session in the indoor cage, unable to throw outside on a mound because of rain here in Cincinnati.

Francona said Matsuzaka would throw 70-80 pitches for the PawSox. If all goes well in that outing, Matsuzaka will start for Boston Saturday, June 21, at home against St. Louis.

Matsazaka hasn't pitched in a game since leaving his May 27 start in Seattle after four innings because of a slight strain of his right rotator cuff. His record is 8-0 and he has a 2.53 earned-run average.

"Instead of worrying about whether it is the major leagues or the minor leagues I'm just going to approach the game (Monday night) as I regularly would," said Matsuzaka.

"It was a good and useful break. The big thing was it gave me a chance at this time of year to rest my body. Not just my body, but my shoulder and elbow," he said.
-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:45 PM | Permalink

Starting Lineups, June 13

The starting lineups for Friday night's game, weather permitting

RED SOX

Ellsbury cf
Pedroia 2b
Drew rf
Ramirez lf
Lowell 3b
Casey 1b
Lugo ss
Cash c
Masterson p

REDS
Bruce cf
Janish ss
Griffey Jr. rf
Phillips 2b
Dunn lf
Encarnacion 3b
Votto 1b
Ross c
Harang p

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:22 PM | Permalink

Rain Threatens Tonight's Game

A thunder and lightning storm, accompanied by heavy rain, has invaded the area, and the forecast is for similar storms throughout the night, putting tonight's game in jeopardy. There is a lull in the storm at the moment, but the radar looks ominous.

If the game should have to be postponed, it will be interesting to see how and when it will be made up because this is Boston's only visit to Cincinnati this year.

Saturday's game will be at 4 o'clock because it is scheduled to be telecast by FOX-TV, which makes a day-night doubleheader possibility problematic that day, but do-able, as the Sox discovered a few weeks ago when a similar situation occurred when they hosted Milwaukee.

The Sox-Brewers were rained out on May 16 at Fenway and they played a day-nighter the next day, at 4 and 9.

On Sunday, the Sox and Reds can't play a day-nighter. They have a 1:30 start because the game will be televised by TBS, and they can't play a night game because ESPN has exclusive rights to telecast a game that night.

The only other option would be to have Boston fly back to play the game on a mutual open date.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 3:09 PM | Permalink

Casey Files Appeal

Red Sox first baseman Sean Casey this afternoon officially filed an appeal of a three-game suspension handed down to him by MLB for his part in the June 5 brawl with the Rays at Fenway Park.

Casey's appeal will be heard on June 23, the same day Coco Crisp's appeal of his seven-game suspension will be heard.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 3:07 PM | Permalink

Baseball Today: Friday, June 13

Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson

ALL'S RIGHT WITH THE WORLD . . . IN BOSTON: Combatants on one Thursday, friends on the next (above); Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis making nice after Youkilis' eighth-inning home run last night is just one more symbol of the smooth seas the Red Sox are currently sailing. The journey continued with a 9-2 rout of the Orioles, recounted here by Joe McDonald. It was the finale of a 7-2 homestand, which lifted their overall Fenway record to 28-7 and increased their A.L. East lead to 2 1/2 games. But the sailing's been a lot smoother in Boston than elsewhere this year -- as their 14-20 road record indicates -- so now, says Sean McAdam, it's time for the Sox to show they can be just as successful away from the friendly confines . . . because if they can't, it's "something that could prove to be a serious obstacle to their repeating as World Series champions."

HERE IT COMES AGAIN: And that quest begins in Cincinnati, of all places, as interleague play resumes tonight and continues for the next two weeks. McDonald and McAdam report Terry Francona still isn't an interleague fan -- you're hardly alone there, Tito -- even though the Sox have been pretty successful at it in recent years; they're 31-8 against National League teams since 2006. (And that's not counting last October.) But Sean Casey (who played there) and Kevin Youkilis (who grew up there) are looking forward to visiting Cincinnati. (Boston Herald) The Reds are eagerly anticipating the Sox' arrival, too -- probably more for the crowds they'll attract than anything else -- and they warmed up for the series with a 6-2 win over the Cardinals that features that rarities of rarities: A Bronson Arroyo home run. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

REMEMBER WHEN? When the Red Sox last were in Cincinnati, Reggie Cleveland was their starting pitching, Juan Beniquez was in left field batting leadoff and Carlton Fisk was hitting cleanup. (baseball-reference.com) It was Game Five of the classic 1975 World Series, and the 6-2 Reds victory gave Cincinnati a 3-2 series lead. The Enquirer's Bill Koch remembers '75 from a Reds perspective; co-worker Joe Fenton, a New Englander, looks at it from our point of view.

THE BIGGEST VICTORY: Bernie Carbo played for both the Reds and Red Sox, and the teams' matchup gives him another chance to talk about how he overcame his drug and alcohol addiction. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

GET READY FOR ROUND TWO: Jonathan Papelbon -- saying "it is a bunch of bull what [the Rays] did" -- warns that "this thing isn’t all settled and done" between Boston and Tampa Bay, adding that "what comes around goes around." (projo.com)

DOWN ON THE FARM . . . Jed Lowrie is alive and well and riding a 14-game hitting streak for the PawSox. Mike Szostak has the details.

GRAND FINALE: The Yankees closed out their series in Oakland with a 4-1 win highlighted by birthday boy Hideki Matsui's grand slam. (New York Daily News) They play tonight in Houston and Joba Chamberlain will have a longer leash than he did in his first two starts. (New York Post)

LET'S MAKE A DEAL: The LoHud Yankees Blog's Peter Abraham wonders if the Yankees will make a run at C.C. Sabathia, even though he'll be a free agent at the end of the season. The New York Times says it could happen.

OUT FOR THE YEAR: The Yankees will be without rookie reliever Jonathan Albaladejo until 2008; he has a stress fracture in his right elbow. (New York Daily News)

THEY'RE HEARTBROKEN ABOUT THE PAST, UNENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PRESENT . . . and now Michael Salfino talks to a scout who examines their team's draft and concludes Mets fans have nothing to look forward to in the future, either. (web.sny.tv)

ANOTHER TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: Red Sox-Reds isn't this weekend's only World Series rematch. The Orioles and Pirates will meet in Baltimore for the first time since the 1979 Series. (Baltimore Sun)

NOT SO FAST: Shysterball's Craig Calcaterra isn't so sure the wave of talent that will eventually flow out of Cuba will be as robust as some people think.

THE LONG ROAD TO NOWHERE: Wondering how the Mariners got to be so horrible? David Cameron of Baseball Analysts says "the foundations for this failure were laid years ago" and goes over all the bad decisions that landed them where they are today.

POWER OF THE PEN: One day after ESPN publicized the job-seeking letter he sent to all 30 major-league teams, Jay Gibbons says he expects to sign with an Atlantic League team. (Baltimore Sun)

NOW THERE'S A REASON TO CHANGE YOUR REPRESENTATION: The blog It Is About The Money, Stupid talks to player agent Matt Sosnick, who says he was dropped by Josh Hamilton -- just as Hamilton appears to be on the verge of a huge payday -- because Hamilton said Jesus told him to switch agents. I can only wonder how this guy would have reacted if Vincent Chase told him the same thing . . .

YOU'RE IN THE NAVY NOW: And, so, a Cardinals draftee is going to have to pass up a baseball career. (AP via nbcsports.com)

MY GUYS: Regis Philbin has adopted the Marlins. (mlb.com)

IT'S THE WOOD, STUPID: The president of a company that makes maple bats -- the kind that are constantly shattering; the kind that MLB will discuss at a June 24 meeting with the union -- says maple is a safe ingredient for bats. He thinks companies trying to capitalize on the craze are using inferior grades of maple and that, not the maple itself, is what's causing the problem. (New York Times)

'GET TO KNOW ME': Milton Bradley says he wouldn't have fought Ryan Lefebvre had he gotten to the Royals broadcast booth the other night. He said he only wanted "to give the two TV announcers a chance to meet the person who was referred to on the air as someone who 'clearly has no control over himself.' " (Dallas Morning News)

HERE AND THERE: The Phillies have released Steve Kline (mlb.com), which may mean the veteran left-hander's big-league career is over . . . The Brewers informed Jeff Weaver they wouldn't be recalling him from New Orleans, so he asked for and received his release (mlb.com) . . . Jason Isringhausen will return to the Cardinals today and could be activated this weekend (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) . . . The Indians have placed Victor Martinez and Josh Barfield on the disabled list. (Cleveland Plain Dealer) Martinez needs elbow surgery and will be out six to eight weeks (mlb.com) . . . This may be Ray Durham's last year (San Francisco Chronicle) . . . Moises Alou should just take up permanent residence on the DL (New York Daily News) . . . The Cubs may be interested in Scott Podsednik (Denver Post). . . The Royals have cut loose Brett Tomko. (mlb.com)

OLD FRIENDS: Kevin Millar's x-rays were negative and he's listed as day-to-day after having to leave last night's game against the Red Sox because he fouled a ball off his knee. (Baltimore Sun) There's talk the Mets may be interested in Millar, but Matthew Cerrone's Mets Blog isn't so sure . . . Freddy Sanchez is hitting .239, which is bad news since rotoworld.com says he's "entirely without value when he's not hitting for average" . . . Kason Gabbard is back in the major leagues with the Rangers and will start on Saturday night (mlb.com) . . . Chris Coste is slowly wresting the Phillies' catching job away from Carlos Ruiz. (Philadephia Inquirer)

AND FINALLY . . . We haven't linked to Chad Finn much recently because he's been focusing on the Celtics. And, boy, did he ever have something to focus on last night. (www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases)

WELL, ALL RIGHT, ONE MORE: At the end of a long post in which he tried to identify The Greatest Play Ever, Joe Posnanski writes of getting completely caught up in the emotion of last night's Celtics-Lakers game and having "no idea why I’m so happy" about the Celts' win, especially since "I have despised the Celtics my whole life, going back to ‘76, when they beat the Cavaliers in the playoffs."

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:30 AM | Permalink