Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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July 3

Boston Herald

"It was one of the coolest non-boxscore moments of the Red Sox' recently completed nine-game road trip. As players were assembling in front of the third base dugout at Camden Yards Wednesday morning for their pregame stretching regimen, rookie right-hander Daniel Bard was approached by a tall, well-dressed man with a dark tan and neatly combed hair. That man was Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, the greatest of all those great Orioles pitchers who took the mound during the Earl Weaver years. Bard later tried to downplay the meeting, explaining that Palmer is an Orioles television analyst and that "it's part of his job to get to know the guys he's talking about." Well, there's that. But the ..."

Dice-K off to Florida

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July 3

Boston Herald

"The Red Sox sat down with pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka yesterday to map out a program they hope will have the pitcher returning to their rotation later this summer. Matsuzaka will travel to the team's spring training complex in Fort Myers today and began a conditioning and shoulder-strengthening program. Matsuzaka will begin light throwing soon, but the emphasis will be on getting him in better shape while building up the area around his shoulder. While in Florida, he'll be under the supervision of Goose Gregson, who doubles as the pitching coach for the Red Sox' Gulf Coast League affiliate. The Sox will treat this stint almost like Matsuzaka is beginning spring training. He did not report to ..."

Tim Wakefield pitching for AL nod

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July 3

Boston Herald

"Beyond attempting to get the Red Sox' last homestand of the first half off to a winning start, Tim Wakefield will have some additional motivation against the Seattle Mariners tonight. Wakefield's outing will be his final one before Major League Baseball announces the rosters Sunday afternoon for the 80th annual All-Star Game in St. Louis on July 14. At 10-3 with an ERA of 4.18, Wakefield, for now, is a proverbial bubble candidate. Another win, however, could tie him for the league lead in victories. And if Wakefield could manage to get his ERA under 4.00, his case would be even more compelling. If Wakefield, 42, is chosen by AL manager Joe Maddon and league executives, he would become the ..."

Bay to add U.S. citizenship

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July 2

MLB.com

"Jason Bay can now call himself an American. The Red Sox's left fielder, a native of Canada, will officially become a United States citizen on Thursday afternoon in a ceremony at Boston's historic Faneuil Hall, according to The Associated Press. Bay, from British Columbia, is the first Red Sox player to be naturalized since Dominican-born David Ortiz was sworn in last summer in Fenway Park. The 30-year-old is expected to have dual citizenship with the U.S. and Canada."

Pap becomes Sox's all-time saves leader

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July 2

MLB.com

"Jonathan Papelbon stood in front of his locker after Wednesday's game, getting ready for the trip back home after the Red Sox rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Orioles in 11 innings. The assembled media then saw the two baseballs the Boston closer had in his possession and asked where they were going."They're in my bag right here," Papelbon said with a smile. "They're going on the plane with me."Those baseballs are special to Papelbon, because they represent the final outs of the games on Monday and Wednesday. The Monday ball was the save that tied Bob Stanley's record for career saves, and the ball from Wednesday's win represented the save that made Papelbon tops in franchise history in ..."

Simulated game Bedard's next step

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July 2

MLB.com

"It appears that injured left-hander Erik Bedard will pitch at Fenway Park -- against the Mariners. Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu unveiled an updated work schedule for the lefty during his pregame media session on Wednesday, saying that Bedard would pitch a simulated game on Friday in Boston and -- if all goes well -- start against the Orioles next Tuesday night at Safeco Field, as well as the following Sunday -- July 12 -- against the Rangers. Bedard, sidelined since June 7 with discomfort in his left shoulder, threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. "He threw 40-some pitches and said he felt great," Wakamatsu said. "He is feeling better than he has in a long time. It was a ..."

Sox sign first-round Draft pick Fuentes

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July 2

MLB.com

"The Red Sox announced on Wednesday the signing of outfielder Reymond Fuentes, their top pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. Fuentes comes from Fernando Callejo High School in Puerto Rico and has been assigned to the Rookie League Gulf Coast Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla. He's the first player Boston has picked from Puerto Rico in the first round.In addition, he's the cousin of Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran. Baseball America rated the 18-year-old Fuentes as the third-fastest runner among high school players eligible for the Draft, being clocked at 6.3 seconds in the 60-yard dash at Puerto Rico's annual Excellence Tournament in May."

Red Sox turn tables on O's

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July 2

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The momentum from Tuesday's improbable Baltimore Orioles comeback undoubtedly had legs for most of Wednesday afternoon. Key hits were falling in, Boston's ace was falling apart and Orioles rookie pitching sensation Brad Bergesen was mowing down Red Sox hitters. But just when it was reasonable to believe the plucky Orioles had stolen two of three from the mighty Red Sox, the home team re-gifted Tuesday's historic victory, presenting it back to Boston in the form of a four-run ninth inning collapse and a 6-5 Red Sox victory in 11 innings. "We had them on the ropes," said Baltimore reliever Jim Johnson, who gave up a two-run homer to Kevin Youkilis to ignite Boston's ninth-inning rally. "The ..."

Bay bloodied (a cut) and battered (5 whiffs)

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July 2

Boston Globe

"Jason Bay took his hand from the side of his face and his fingers were covered in blood. He looked, confused for a second, then located a cut in his left ear. No, it wasn't the five strikeouts that left him battered and bloody, but it certainly didn't help. "I strike out a lot,'' said Bay, who has a team-high 76 this season. "Five times in a game is a first for me, but a win's a win. "Every time you open up the paper and have the box scores from the day before, every time you see one of those, I usually feel the guy's pain. This one's for myself.'' Bay has watched his slump deepen by the day. Bay was 0 for 15 in the Baltimore series and is now 2 for 30 over the last seven games with 14 ..."

Papelbon adds to savings account

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July 2

Boston Globe

"Jonathan Papelbon, off the top of his head, doesn't know the precise contents of the trophy case he keeps at home. The case displays the baseballs he used to notch milestones, the tokens of his increasingly historic career. He does not know how many. "I got a bunch of them, man,'' Papelbon said. Papelbon tossed two more balls into his suitcase, the one he carries on to the Red Sox team charter, because he wanted to make certain they arrive safely in Boston. The balls will move into his case alongside the others, the most recent earned yesterday in a thrilling 6-5 win. With a perfect 11th inning, Papelbon redeemed his second blown save of the season Tuesday and, two games after tying him, ..."

Charity begins at home plate

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July 2

Boston Globe

columnist Dan Shaughnessy

"Going to Fenway Park for Red Sox-Mariners Saturday? Bring a box of tissue. Bring your checkbook, too. Boston's ancient baseball theater will be one of 15 major league parks honoring the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell speech ("I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth'') and raising funds to support ALS research. It's called "4ALS Awareness'' Nice going, MLB. In 1939, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis took Gehrig off the field after 2,130 consecutive games and now baseball is joining the fight against the deadly disease. "We're involved with a whole series of charities,'' explained commissioner Bud Selig. "We get asked a lot. But I've had inquiries about ALS from a ..."

Cruel twist

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July 2

Boston Globe

"The word came up again and again: character. Jason Varitek and Josh Beckett both used it, describing the way the Red Sox had come back yesterday, the way they had not given up, the way working a walk had led to a home run, and the way it had spiraled from there. Like the night before, only this time spiraling the Sox' way, yet in a way they couldn't have expected. "That was a good character win for us,'' Beckett said. "I wish I could say I had a lot to do with it.'' "It was a big character win for us,'' Varitek echoed. Beckett had a lot to do with putting the Sox in the position they found themselves heading into the ninth inning. One day after the team had left shards of dignity on the ..."

Julio Lugo accepts cold truth

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July 2

Boston Herald

"Even when he was playing for the old Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Julio Lugo thought about how cool it would be to be a member of the Red Sox. He'd stand in the Fenway Park infield, listening to Red Sox stars of the moment being serenaded by the fans, and he wanted in. Now it would be wrong to view Lugo as an example of how you should be careful what you wish for. After all, he signed a four-year, $36 million contract to play for the Red Sox. So no matter how it all turns out, Lugo is considerably wealthier than he was before he came to Boston. Once you get past the money, though, the reality is that Lugo's tenure with the Red Sox just hasn't worked out. Management certainly knows it. So, too, do ..."

Red Sox come back to life

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July 2

Boston Herald

"Turnabout being fair play and all, it was the Red Sox' time to bask in the glory of a comeback win Wednesday, staged less than 18 hours after a soul-crushing loss in which they spit up a nine-run lead with nine outs to go. "Obviously, we thought we should have won (Tuesday) night's game," said Rocco Baldelli, who helped key the 6-5 comeback victory against the Baltimore Orioles in 11 innings with a two-out, two-run, game-tying, pinch-hit single in the ninth. "They obviously are in their clubhouse thinking they should have won this game. It was nice to come back and get that one." Said manager Terry Francona: "I guess, at the end of the year, they sort of seem like they even out - and they ..."

HBO take on Ted Williams simply Splendid

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July 2

Boston Herald

columnist Ron Broges

"The Kid came back to life last night at Fenway Park the way kids always do when they haven't been kids for a long time. He came back in fading memories and grainy, black-and-white images. It will be seven years this Sunday since Ted Williams passed away, but if you ever saw him swing a bat, he's still alive because that was something you never could forget. It was like the first time you saw a lion. You didn't know quite what to make of it, but you knew it was to be respected. Certainly that's how it felt for a young boy falling in love with baseball and a team that, in those days, never won a thing. It was a team whose only asset all too often was that four times a game you'd get to see - ..."

Jason Bay hits slump

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July 2

Boston Herald

"A month shy of the one-year anniversary of his arrival in Boston, Jason Bay finds himself in the midst of his first actual slump as a member of the Red Sox. Bay set a career high with five strikeouts yesterday, leaving him 0-for-15 with nine strikeouts for the series and capping a forgettable three-city road trip that saw him go 6-for-36, dropping his average to .262 - the lowest since the fourth game of the season, when he was at .250. "It's not that I'm getting pitched any different or any tougher," said Bay. "I'm completely getting myself out now. Timing-wise, I'm kind of in between - I can't hit the fastball, can't hit the breaking ball. It's just one of those situations where ..."

Papelbon packs away franchise record

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July 2

Boston Herald

"Jonathan Papelbon dropped down to one knee and unzipped the overnight bag laid out in front of his locker. Shifting some items aside, he spotted the faded, game-used baseball in the front, left-hand corner. Smiling, he now placed yet another faded, game-used baseball next to the first one, and then he closed the case. Papelbon apparently lost the baseball he used to strike out the Colorado Rockies' Seth Smith for the final out of the 2007 World Series. The Red Sox closer's story, and he's sticking to it, is that the family pet ate the historic baseball. It won't happen again. The first baseball in the suitcase was from the Red Sox' 4-0 victory over the Orioles Monday night, in which ..."

O's come from 9 down to beat Boston

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July 2

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Nick Markakis hit a two-run double off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon to complete the biggest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history in an 11-10 win last night before a mix of delirious hometown fans and stunned Red Sox backers. Baltimore trailed, 10-1, before scoring five runs in the seventh inning and five more in the eighth. Boston had defeated the Orioles eight straight times, including five this season. Up by nine runs in the seventh, the Red Sox probably figured the only lamentable aspect of the night was that John Smoltz would not get his long-awaited"

Old bawl game

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July 1

Boston Globe

"By the time Jonathan Papelbon jogged in from the bullpen, the Red Sox celebratory mood had withered. Where once they were mocking each other for leaving the field with just two outs on the scoreboard, now there was tension on the field and in the dugout. The rain had ruined everything. John Smoltz had been proving himself worthy of a spot in the rotation, a bounce-back from his nerve-filled return to baseball. But 1 hour and 11 minutes of precipitation had forced him out of the game, replaced by a series of arms that could do no right. Justin Masterson tried. Manny Delcarmen tried. Hideki Okajima tried. Takashi Saito tried. And so, with five outs to go in a game that had once had a ..."

Red Sox leveled by Orioles' rally

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July 1

Boston Herald

"The first clue that things were about to go horribly wrong for the Red Sox last night came at the end of the sixth inning, as the entire infield trotted back to the third-base dugout after Felix Pie grounded out. Small problem: There were only two out. But second baseman Dustin Pedroia led the charge to the dugout, and everyone else followed, and an instant YouTube classic was born. It was one of those plays that, on another night, in a different situation, might have made for wonderful postgame banter. But in dropping an 11-10 decision to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, the Red Sox suffered what may well be the worst loss of the Terry Francona era. There they were, leading 10-1, ..."

Red Sox roster withstands injuries

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July 1

Boston Herald

""There was a time," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterday, "when I was worried about our depth." The season was barely into its third week. Outfielder Rocco Baldelli went on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Mark Kotsay, who can play center field and first base, still was on the disabled list, recovering from off-season back surgery. Don't forget about shortstop. Julio Lugo opened the season on the disabled list as he continued his comeback from knee surgery, and within a couple of weeks Jed Lowrie was getting an operation on his left wrist. Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was disabled for what at the time was described as a mild shoulder strain. And then in early ..."

Red Sox 'pen explodes

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July 1

Boston Herald

"First came the rain. Then came the deluge - one Baltimore runner crossing home plate after another. And when it was over, the Red Sox had suffered their most demoralizing loss of the season. Leading by nine with nine outs to go, the Sox gave up 10 runs on 13 hits in the seventh and eighth innings and dropped an 11-10 decision to the Orioles. "We pretty much imploded," said Jonathan Papelbon [stats], who yielded the game-winning, two-run double to Nick Markakis in the eighth that gave the O's their first lead of the night and their first win in six tries against the Sox this season. "I can't think of any better word to use; it's just what happened." "We just had no answer," manager Terry ..."

Orioles' Historic Rally Stuns Red Sox

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July 1

Washington Post

"Nick Markakis hit a two-run double off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon to complete the biggest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history, an 11-10 win Tuesday night before a mixture of delirious hometown fans and stunned Red Sox backers. Baltimore trailed 10-1 before scoring five runs in the seventh inning and five more in the eighth. The rally was even more shocking because it came against a Boston team that had defeated the Orioles eight straight times, including five this season. Up by nine runs in the seventh, the Red Sox figured the only lamentable aspect of the night was that John Smoltz wouldn't get his long-awaited 211th victory because of a lengthy rain delay. Boston had no idea ..."

Optimistic Mike Lowell takes break on DL

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July 1

Boston Herald

"Mike Lowell felt well enough yesterday that he thought he could return to the lineup as soon as Friday. After being placed on the disabled list, however, Lowell won't play until two weeks from then. The Red Sox made the decision more as a precautionary measure as much as anything else. Lowell, who underwent right hip surgery last October, had been bothered by stiffness in the area for the past two weeks. He received an injection of Synvisc - a lubricant that coats an irritated joint - and had 15 ccs (or milliliters) of fluid drained from the area Monday. "He showed up today and felt great - great to the point where he was thinking he could play in a few days, which we were excited about," ..."

Red Sox place Lowell on disabled list

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June 30

MLB.com

"Mike Lowell was placed Tuesday on the 15-day disabled list by the Red Sox, who have been without the third baseman hobbled by a strained right hip since Thursday. Lowell's spot on the roster was taken by first baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey, who was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket. The decision to disable Lowell, who underwent offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, was made the day after he'd had 15 CCs of fluid removed from that joint. Lowell had also received an injection of Synvisc on Monday. The 35-year-old veteran had started only two of the Red Sox's past nine games and returned to Boston for treatment following Sunday's game in Atlanta."

Red Sox duo locked in close All-Star votes

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June 30

MLB.com

"On his march to the Major Leagues, the little guy who plays second base for the Boston Red Sox has heard over and over again that he can't, but then he laces up his spikes, throws on his glove and proves everyone wrong. Now Dustin Pedroia is trying to do it again. Trailing Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers for weeks in American League All-Star voting, the reigning AL Most Valuable Player moved within a relative hair of the leader with a little more than two days remaining before voting closes for the 80th Midsummer Classic, which will be played July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. It's been a steady climb toward the top for Pedroia, who trailed Kinsler by fewer than 59,000 votes in last ..."

Papelbon is Boston's saving grace

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June 30

USA Today

"Jon Lester did the grunt work for the Red Sox Monday night, blanking the Orioles with seven innings of five-hit, eight-strikeout, no-walk ball. But closer Jonathan Papelbon faced one batter and, with an assist to Jason Bay, grabbed a share of the headlines in Boston. Papelbon's 19th save in 20 chances this season, tied him with Bob Stanley atop Boston's career saves list with 132. All of Papelbon's saves have come in the last four seasons. Stanley recorded saves in 11 of his 13 seasons with the Red Sox but also posted 30 of his 115 career victories as a starter. "When Bob pitched it was such a different game," observed Papelbon, prior to Monday's game. "Now it's so specialized. You have ..."

Papelbon ties Red Sox's saves record

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June 30

MLB.com

"Closer Jonathan Papelbon tied the Red Sox's club record for saves, set by Bob Stanley, with career save No. 132, notched in a 4-0 victory against the Orioles on Monday night. With two men on and two outs in the ninth, setting up the save situation with the tying run on deck, Papelbon took the mound to face Orioles rookie Matt Wieters. After falling behind quickly at 0-2, Wieters lofted a fly into shallow left field. But an all-out diving catch by Jason Bay ended the game and gave Papelbon the first of what could be many career milestones. Stanley had set the record over the course of a 13-year career with the Red Sox, from 1977-89, during which he pitched in many roles. He only topped the ..."

Orioles Still Can't Solve The Mystery of Lester

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June 30

Washington Post

"The frustration set in long before the bottom of the sixth inning on Monday when both Manager Dave Trembley and second baseman Brian Roberts took turns yelling at home plate umpire Jerry Layne from the top step of the Baltimore Orioles' dugout. The outbursts were likely triggered by far more than just Layne's called third strike on Roberts that ended the fifth inning and the Orioles' lone threat against Boston Red Sox starter Jon Lester. There was the 14 Red Sox base runners through six innings, each one loudly cheered in the Orioles' home ballpark. There was Boston right fielder J.D. Drew's bid at the cycle, which came up just a double short on the two-year anniversary of Aubrey Huff ..."

Lefty shows he's no slow starter

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June 30

Boston Globe

"Jon Lester still can't figure out why, exactly, he started this season as a mediocre pitcher. He threw great in spring training. His preparation never changed. He didn't tinker with his mechanics. "I don't know what to do different,'' Lester said. That, after Lester's performance in a 4-0 Red Sox victory last night at Camden Yards, is a problem for another day. Why bother dissecting the past when you can savor the present? Lester finished up a sterling June with seven shutout innings and eight strikeouts, further extricating himself from his slow start and further validating himself as one of baseball's best pitchers. "I've always kind of been in my career a slow starter,'' Lester said. ..."

A tie that binds Papelbon and Stanley

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June 30

Boston Globe

"Before the ball landed in Jason Bay's glove, a sliding snow cone grab, Jonathan Papelbon had already considered it a hit for Matt Wieters. "I was pretty much thinking, 'What's my first pitch going to be to Luke Scott?' '' Papelbon said of the batter in the on-deck circle. "Pretty exciting.'' Bay finished off last night's 4-0 win over the Orioles, giving Papelbon his 132d career save for the Red Sox on just three pitches. That tied Bob Stanley for the franchise's all-time record, with Papelbon reaching the milestone in just four years. And he did it in a four-run game, entering with men on first and second and two down. "It's an exciting feeling, but at the same time I just want to keep ..."

Everything is in good order for Red Sox

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June 30

Boston Globe

"When J.D. Drew stepped to the plate in the eighth inning, with Jason Varitek standing on second base and the day yielding to darkness, a feat lay before him, in the gaps and down the lines. Despite his best intentions - and you better believe he was trying to hit a double to complete his first career cycle - Drew bounced a changeup to Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. Drew had already collected a triple, home run, and single. As he faced reliever Brian Bass, that double was on his mind. Why wouldn't it be? "Absolutely,'' Drew said, his dry sense of humor awakened. "Not a player alive wouldn't know that he was ready to hit a double in that situation. Had a ball down and away, swung ..."

Victory restores order

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June 30

Boston Herald

"Mark Kotsay, lounging on a couch in the Oriole Park visiting clubhouse last night after the Red Sox' 4-0 shutout of Baltimore, couldn't resist the chance to tweak Terry Francona. "What's so hard about being a manager?" he wondered aloud, a sly smile across his face. Indeed, last night the Red Sox made the job look easy. After Francona reshuffled the top of the lineup - installing J.D. Drew in the leadoff spot and dropping Dustin Pedroia back down to his customary No. 2 spot - the offense responded quickly. Drew tripled to lead off the game and scored on Pedroia's RBI single to center for the first run of the night. Three innings later, Drew blasted a two-run homer en route to a three-hit ..."

J.D. Drew's game top-notch

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June 30

Boston Herald

"After J.D. Drew had completed a round of batting practice yesterday at Oriole Park, he was approached by Red Sox third base coach DeMarlo Hale. "Hey, you swing the bat like a leadoff hitter in BP," Hale said. It wasn't just a compliment. It was a clue. "That's when I found out I was batting leadoff," said Drew, who was inserted in the top spot in the order for last night's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. The move paid off, as Drew went 3-for-5 in a 4-0 Sox victory. Following a triple in the first inning, a home run in the fourth and a single in the sixth, Drew came to bat in the eighth needing a double to become the first Red Sox player since John Valentin in 1996 to hit for ..."

Paps takes in Mo-ment

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June 30

Boston Herald

"For the past few days, as the Yankees' Mariano Rivera closed in on his 500th career save, Jonathan Papelbon did everything but keep a scrapbook. Before the Red Sox series finale in Atlanta on Sunday, Papelbon approached a couple of sportswriters and asked them if Rivera had reached the mark. No, not yet, he was told. Late that night, when the Sox arrived in Baltimore and checked into their hotel, Papelbon walked past second baseman Dustin Pedroia's room. Pedroia, watching the Yankees-Mets game on ESPN, caught a glimpse of his teammate going by and gave him the news. Now stop right here for a moment. Jonathan Papelbon is 28 years old and in his fifth big league season. He has been named to ..."

Mike Lowell's status in limbo

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June 30

Boston Herald

"In the midst of injecting Mike Lowell with Synvisc to coat the joint in his surgically repaired hip yesterday, the Red Sox medical staff also drained 15 ccs of fluid from the area. The build-up of fluid likely was responsible for the stiffness Lowell complained about in recent weeks. With the fluid and inflammation gone, Lowell could return to the lineup as soon as Friday when the Sox open a 10-game homestand against Seattle. Lowell had the procedure done yesterday morning and will not rejoin the team in Baltimore for the series. The plan calls for him to do some work today with rehab coordinator Scott Waugh in Boston and then be re-examined by the team's medical staff. "The worst-case ..."

Losing out on DeRosa has Reds looking elsewhere

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June 29

Foxsports.com

"Cubs fans aren't done lamenting the fact that onetime North Side favorite Mark DeRosa was traded from Cleveland to rival St. Louis on Saturday night. Here's my advice to them: Drop it. Another team in the National League Central had an even greater need for DeRosa — and I'm not talking about the Cardinals. The most disappointed team after the deal was probably in the visiting clubhouse during this weekend's Buckeye Series at Progressive Field. Yes, the Cincinnati Reds wanted Mark DeRosa in the worst way. And on Sunday, two industry sources said the Reds are still very much engaged in their search for right-handed hitting. The Reds have left-handed power, with young sluggers Joey Votto and ..."

End game vexes Red Sox again

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June 29

Boston Globe

"It's the last one that's the rub. The final game of the series, the inability to close out a sweep. Not that the Red Sox are getting that greedy, mind you. They'll take the series wins, which they've gotten in each of their last six tries. But it's that final game, after winning the first two, that they've lost in four of their last five series. And yesterday it happened again. As the Sox bid adieu to interleague play - telling David Ortiz to pack up that first baseman's glove until a possible postseason reappearance - they couldn't close out the final game in the final National League series. Not that they're disappointed, even with a 2-1 loss to the Braves before 41,463 at Turner Field ..."

No more interruptions

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June 29

Boston Herald

"And so ends another interleague festival for the Red Sox. With their 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves yesterday at Turner Field, the Sox headed to Baltimore to begin a three-game series against the Orioles tonight, closing out their 2009 interleague schedule with an 11-7 record. Terry Francona couldn't be happier. The manager always supplies delicate and diplomatic answers when quizzed by the media about the annual slate of interleague games, though it is clear he'd just as soon be able to use his players in the roles for which they were acquired in the first place. "I would assume (interleague play) is financially (viable), or we wouldn't be doing it," Francona said. "And there's nothing ..."

Brad Penny has a lost art

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June 29

Boston Herald

"It used to be Tim Wakefield who played the role of the Tough Luck Kid on the Red Sox [team stats]. He'd flutter an evening's worth of quality knuckleballs at the opposition and place himself on the precipice of victory . . . only to come away with a no-decision or a loss because either his offense or his bullpen didn't deliver the goods. And now, playing the role of Tim Wakefield . . . Brad Penny. Amazing. Earlier this season, Penny had some bowwow outings and somehow avoided getting clubbed with the "L" next to his name. Now, he's pitching fine but isn't getting the "W's." To use an old line that has been around baseball since the days of flannel uniforms and sleeper cars, Brad Penny ..."

Red Sox' sweep deprivation

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June 29

Boston Herald

"In all three of their interleague road series this season, the Red Sox [team stats] won the first two games, but when it came time to go for the sweep, couldn't apply the knockout blow. It happened in Philadelphia two weeks ago, earlier this week in Washington against the hapless Nationals, and yesterday, against the Atlanta Braves, too. A combination of the searing heat and rookie pitcher Tommy Hanson silenced the Red Sox, 2-1. "As long as we keep winning series, that's a good thing," said Dustin Pedroia [stats]. "You want to sweep teams, but it's tough. Everyone's got good players and it's tough to sweep a major league-caliber team." Manager Terry Francona offered the theory that the Sox ..."

Mike Lowell's ailing hip gets gel

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June 29

Boston Herald

"This morning, Mike Lowell will get an injection of Synvisc for his ailing right hip. How well it will work is anybody's guess. "For some people, it's like a miracle," said manager Terry Francona. "For other people, it's not. I've had it done and it didn't do a thing for me. (Brad Mills) had the same shot, and two hours later, he felt like he was brand new. "The good news is if it doesn't work, (it won't be a setback). It's just a gel that can really coat that joint. We'll get that done (today) and see how he responds to that. He'll probably need a day after that before we can evaluate, but then we'll see. If he's good, that's good. If not, then we have to talk about the next step." The ..."

Hanson makes start, stops Braves' skid

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June 29

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Tommy Hanson pitched six scoreless innings of two-hit ball in a 2-1 win against Boston on Sunday, and this was the stuff of which young legends are made. Understand, when Braves manager Bobby Cox left the ballpark Saturday, a team trainer told him it would "take a miracle" for the rookie Hanson to shake off flu symptoms and be ready to make his scheduled start Sunday afternoon. When Hanson drove to Turner Field Sunday morning with roommate Kris Medlen, the designated emergency starter, Hanson told Medlen to be ready because Hanson didn't think he was going to make it to the mound. Six hours later, after Hanson (4-0) blanked the power-laden Sox to run his scoreless innings streak to 20, ..."

Sox hoping Lowell responds well to shot

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June 28

MLB.com

"The earliest that Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell will be back in the starting lineup would probably be Wednesday afternoon at Camden Yards against the Orioles.However, both Lowell and the club know that the Synvisc shot Lowell will receive Monday in Boston for his troublesome right hip isn't guaranteed to be an instant cure. "It's kind of like a gel-type thing," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "For some people, it's like a miracle. For other people, it's not. I've had it done, it didn't do a thing for me. [Bench coach Brad Mills] had the same shot, and two hours later, he felt like he was brand new. "The good news is if it doesn't work, [it won't be a setback]. It's just a gel that ..."

Sox may not wait long on Bay

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June 28

Boston Globe

"Although Jason Bay has reached the stage where he no longer sees a reason to discuss his contract status, the Red Sox have every intention of revisiting talks with the outfielder before the end of the season, a baseball source has confirmed. Prior to yesterday's game, Bay said he has "gotten to the point where I'm just not going to talk about it'' when asked about impending free agency. But with the All-Star break approaching, the Red Sox could very well use that opportunity to try to strike a long-term deal. The Sox have negotiated contracts during the season with other players, most notably Josh Beckett and David Ortiz. The All-Star break typically provides a good opportunity for such ..."

Lugo's time remaining may be short

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June 28

Boston Globe

"There is resignation on the part of Julio Lugo. There is clear unhappiness - though rarely seen - at a situation that has spiraled downward since the signing of a four-year, $36 million contract before the 2007 season, a high point in a relationship between player and team that has been mismatched at best. But there also appears to be detente on the horizon. Jed Lowrie will return, though it could take until the All-Star break, and at that point a decision will be made. That certainly could be the end of the Lugo era in Boston, and the shortstop would be foolish not to prepare for the possibility of being released. The Sox would be on the hook for his salary, and he could be signed by any ..."

Wakefield on top of it all in beating Braves

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June 28

Boston Globe

"When they have needed him - the day after Daisuke Matsuzaka's disastrous start in Oakland, in a duel against Cliff Lee in Cleveland - Tim Wakefield has been there for the Red Sox. And it was no different yesterday, an oven-like heat bearing down on him in Atlanta, as the Sox needed every one of his 88 pitches. It has been this way for years, though there have been bad games and missteps and injuries along the way, of course. For so long that, after 15 years with the Red Sox, the slow knucklers have caught up to the rockets of the Rocket. Wakefield, with the 382d start of his Sox career, tied Roger Clemens for the most starts in club history, a mark of not just longevity but excellence. ..."

Tim Wakefield, Red Sox 'pen combine on shutout

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June 28

Boston Herald

"Since May 30, the Red Sox have won 18-of-25 games, a hot streak that has seen them seize control of the AL East. Not coincidentally, since that same day, Red Sox starting pitchers have fashioned an ERA of 3.38, which, as much as anything, explains the surge. It was no different yesterday. Tim Wakefield blanked the Atlanta Braves for six innings, then placed the game into the capable hands of the bullpen, which chipped in with three scoreless innings, resulting in a 1-0 Red Sox win. "This," said pitching coach John Farrell following his charges' second shutout in the last week, "is more indicative of what we expected when the staff was constructed in the offseason and at the start of the ..."

Lowell may get injection for hip pain

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June 27

Boston Globe

"Asked if he might go on the disabled list with tightness in his hip, Mike Lowell considered the question and said, "I don't know. I hope not.'' Lowell is likely to have an injection of Synvisc, a lubricant that is supposed to ease pain. Lowell might get the injection Monday in Boston. It would result in him being out about 24 hours post-injection. As for Lowell sitting all three games in Atlanta, manager Terry Francona said, "I really don't know, we'll see.'' That would make sense with the logjam the Red Sox have playing in a National League park. Lowell did not play last night. "We had talked about [the injection] briefly before, doing it on the offday,'' Lowell said. "But I think it was ..."

Ortiz is springing to life after fall

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June 27

Boston Globe

columnist Tony Massarotti

"Plopped in a love seat, wearing a white polo shirt and jeans with his hair closely cropped, a relaxed David Ortiz suddenly looks like the picture of summer. And as the Red Sox methodically march through the soft middle of their schedule, maybe it is more than a coincidence that some thump has returned to the heart of their lineup. "It all depends on how Papi is swinging,'' Ortiz said last night when asked about a solo home run that opened the scoring in a 4-1 Sox win over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. A pitch he had trouble with early in the season, perhaps? "Everything was tough to hit early in the year,'' Ortiz cracked. But here we are, in the final days of June, and a funny thing ..."

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