Do You Believe In Miracles

Millar Goes Deep ....TWICE?!!???!!!

He's part of us. ... This is 'we,' and it always will be, we don't just try to get the flavor of the day. We try to do what we think is right for the long haul." -- Terry Francona

Bellhorn Joins the Darkside

Mark Bellhorn, one of the heroes of the Red Sox's 2004 postseason run, will join the rival Yankees once he clears waivers at 1 p.m. Tuesday, FOXSports.com has learned..

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Motored Over

Sox Pitching Breaks Down

We'd better fix it come September, or we're not going to see October. We need to fix it as soon as possible. We know we're going to get some help soon."-- Johnny Damon

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Bronson Arroyo	5.1	8	7	7	1	1	1	4.44
Jonathan Papelbon (BS,1; L,0-1)	1	4	2	2	2	2	0	3.32
Jeremi Gonzalez	1	2	3	3	0	1	0	5.89

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Detroit <	0	0	0	5	0	3	1	3	0	12	17	0
Boston	0	0	6	1	0	0	1	0	0	8	13	1

The End is Near

Welcome back wild card standings as the Sox lead drops to 1.5 games.

MISSING

Ace in the Hole?

W-L	ERA	K	Walks	WHIP
5-5	6.43	47	9	1.50

Schilling walks to the mound tonight as the Ace of the Red Sox staff, the only problem is that his stats make him out to be more of a staff infection than ace.

Probable Starters
Curt Schilling, RHP	2005 stats 42.0 Innings Pitched 135.0 5-5 Wins-Losses 4-12 6.43 Earned Run Average 6.47 9 Walks 51 47 Strikeouts 68 Career vs. opponent 25.0 Innings Pitched 30.1 3-0 Wins-Losses 1-3 1.80 Earned Run Average 7.42	Jose Lima,

Banned

Red Sox officials have quietly banned "Yankees Suck" T-shirts from the ballpark, forcing wearers to turn them inside-out....

'Yankees Suck' chants are not prohibited"--Charles Steinberg Red Sox executive vice president of public affairs

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The Rent Was Due

Sunday Renteria hit his first home in 48 games, on Tuesday the hits kept on coming. He went 3-5 and for the first time this season, no one is hotter on the Red Sox than the Renteria. Did I just write that? That can't be true, I need statistics to believe it. In the past seven days Renteria lead his mates, or was tied for the lead, in virtually every offensive statistic... at bats, runs, hits, doubles, homeruns, RBI, average, etc.

No.	Player	P	GP	GS	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	AVG	TB	SLG
3	Edgar Renteria	SS	6	6	27	5	10	5	0	1	7	.370	18	.667

People can come up with statistics to prove anything. 14% of people know that."-- Homer Simpson

• Nixon Returns and Knocks in a Run
• Timlin pulls a Foulke... err Schilling... Gives Up 2 Runs in Ninth
• Wells Gives up No Runs, Gets Win
• Clement vs Carrasco Wednesday 8pm
  

Sox Sell Grass for $150 a square foot

After the 2004 Red Sox championship season, the entire field was replaced and the infield was preserved. Under the watchful eye of MLB authenticators, portions of the field were removed, transported and transplanted on a turf farm in Rhode Island.

A limited amount of Fenway Championship Sod is now available to become a part of Red Sox fans' lawns and gardens

$150 a square foot too expensive for your taste, you could always buy non-Fenway grass for 37 cents a square foot.
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This is how we roll in The OC Bitch

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston <	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	5	9	0
L.A. Angels	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	8	0

Terri Hatcher Drinking Beer at the Sox Game

It is hard to sell a post more than the title of this post. Ms Hatcher attended an Angels day game Sunday August 21st with her daughter all the while enjoying while enjoying a dark beer.

God Bless Her.

Hatcher also checked out Bronson Arroyo's show in LA on Saturday.
Maybe she is a Red Sox Fan.

Slumping Ortiz?

It is hard to even suggest with a straight face, the same hot hitter who hit 2 homeruns on Tuesday, raised his season average to .304, and was all things to all people. Since Tuesday he has gone 2 for 16, been tossed out of a game for arguing balls and strikes, struck out 6 times, and lowered his average to .297. An over reaction, sure as hell it is but with Manny knocking in just 2 runs in the past week, it is hard not to ask 'where has all the Red Sox offense gone of late?'

No.	Player	P	GP	GS	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	AVG	TB	SLG
11	Bill Mueller	3B	6	5	21	4	9	2	0	1	4	.429	14	.667
3	Edgar Renteria	SS	6	6	28	3	8	3	0	0	3	.286	11	.393
18	Johnny Damon	CF	6	6	27	3	8	1	0	0	2	.296	9	.333
34	David Ortiz	DH	6	6	26	3	6	2	0	3	8	.231	17	.654

Sox Hug it out in the Tenth

Manny's Clutch Stops Slipping with Winning RBI in Tenth

The Sox who had last three of the last four keep pace with Yankees to hold four game lead in AL East.

We knew what happened in the Yankee game, We knew we had to win. We battled." -- Johnny Damon

Damon went 4-4 and raised his league leading average from .331 to .335
Clement (11-3) strong for seven innings with one earned run
Shilling gets the win (5-5) after sitting down six in a row

The Bellhorn Stops Ringing

Sox let Bellhorn go on Friday when the club designated him for assignment. Any team now can pick up Bellhorn, or if no team has interest he can become a permanent minor leaguer until the rosters expand September 1. Epstein wants to do what is best for Bellhorn...

He's a Major League player, If there's an opportunity with another
Major League team, that might be what's best for him. We'll see." --Theo
Epstein

Sometimes Writing About the Red Sox is Boring

So today I will write about the White Sox. More accurately why I find Ozzie Guillen as a humorous choice for a major league manager. Humorous you ask? Tell me Guillen's latest antics are not entertaining. What Ozzie yelled to an old friend in front of throngs of New York Media recently...

Hey, everybody. This guy's a homosexual! This guy's a child molester!"

I live for this!

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	1	5	13	1
Detroit <	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	6	14	0

7 Mile

Sox Post 7 Runs in the Tenth Inning

Final10th	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Boston <	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	10	10	1
Detroit	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	4	7	9	1

Youkilis started at third, giving him his first major league at-bats since July 9.
Seconds after the game was over the Sox Optioned Youkilis back to Pawtucket.

Big Papi and Tek go yard twice.

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Johnny Damon, CF	5	1	1	1	0	1	0	.333
Edgar Renteria, SS	5	1	2	0	0	0	0	.282
David Ortiz, DH	5	2	2	4	0	1	1	.302
Manny Ramirez, LF	4	2	1	0	1	0	0	.287
Jason Varitek, C	5	2	2	4	0	0	0	.305
Kevin Millar, 1B	4	0	0	0	1	1	0	.270
Tony Graffanino, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	1	2	.314
Kevin Youkilis, 3B	3	1	1	0	1	0	0	.288
Gabe Kapler, OF	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.302
a-Bill Mueller, PH-3B	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	.291
Totals	39	10	10	10	3	5	5

More of the Same

Sox Drop Another First Game in Road Series.
Sunday's 5 Game Lead in AL East is now 3.5.
Time for Timlin to Take Over.
Schilling has Given up 7 Earned Runs in Past 3 Innings.

Schilling Post Game Sound
Friday's Schilling Story

Things that never happened

Matt never gave up earned 5 runs Sunday.
Matt didn't raise his ERA from 4.53 to 4.74.
Adam Stern never made an amazing diving catch to record the second out of the first inning.
Jermaine Dye didn't hit his 23 homer Sunday.
Carl Everett never went 2-2, nor did he get his 68 RBI.
Damon never had a day off.
Stern, Cora, Graffanino, and Petagine never all started the same game.
Pedro never pitched a no hitter.

More Proof the Yankees do in Fact Suck

The New York Times of all places has chronicled the most recent tail of Yankee suckage. I love 2005.

Last week, the sports publisher Street & Smith's released its ranking of professional sports Web sites, and in the baseball category the Red Sox led the major leagues while the Yankees were near the cellar - in 27th place among 30 teams.

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Schilling: Worst Closer Ever

Pop quiz hot shot; how many closers have an ERA over 4? (Schilling as a closer is sporting an ERA of 4.26) Of the top 25 closers this season only some dude name Brazoban and Foulke are worse (6.46, and 6.23 respectively) but that doesn't mean having the third worst closer, in Schilling, is an improvement. The sad part is Schilling has a ERA over 6 as well, but 16 of those earnies are from his glory days as a starter (3 starts) earlier this season.

Basically this season Schilling sucks. That's all I can say. He sucked as a starter, and now sucks as a closer. Do I care? Yes, do I fault Schilling? No. It is hard not to argue that Schilling would suck less this year if he never sutured, sliced and diced his ankle tendons last post season. The day of game surgeries were the key to the World Series Championship so one should not complain, but what if that translates to Schilling sucking for the rest of his life? It probably will and I can live with that. How long will this closing experiment go on? How long will Schilling suck? No one knows but if it does go on much longer Schilling should pull a Mark McGwire and retire before his contract is up.

IP	W-L	SV	ERA	Ks	BB
36.2	4-4	9	6.14	40	8

The Return of the Corn Rows

For the second time this season Bronson Arroyo has decided to break a slump with his infamous corn rows. The first time they were short lived and didn't work, this time who knows? If Arroyo continues to pitch like he did on Wednesday night they will be keeping Bronson looking like Bo Derek for some time to come.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Bronson Arroyo (W,10-7)	7.1	7	4	4	1	4	0	4.28

The story of the night was 5.5. No not the alcohol content of Bud Ice, but lead the Red Sox have in the AL East over the Yankees. The only thing better than beating the Yankees in the ALCS is beating them straight up for the AL East pennant. This may be the year.

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	4	0	5	10	2
Boston <	0	0	0	5	0	0	2	9	x	16	15	0

The Sox scored more runs in the eight inning than any team in majors scored in nine innings Wednesday night, except for Florida which scored 10 runs in nine innings.

Look Who is Happy to be a Red Sox Now

The days of Boggs riding around Yankee Stadium on a police horse and then crying to reporters on how it felt so right to play for the Yankees and was all so wrong to play for the Red Sox are long over. On Wednesday Boggs threw out the first pitch to a Cubs Reds game wearing a Red Sox jersey??? I wonder if he bought it at the sports apparel shop across the street from Wrigley?

Kenny Rogers Comes Back Early

10 in a row at home as the Sox live large with a 4.5 game lead in the AL East.

Tuesday's nights game had to be the most anticlimactic walk off win I have ever watched. Once Damon was intentionally walked with one out and a pitcher on the mound that couldn't find the strike zone with google earth you knew that the walk off win was impending like a Cape Cod tide. It was only a matter of who would provide the walk off walk or walk off hit. Tuesday nights hero was Tuesday night's goat as well. Edgar Renteria, who went 0-5, made a suspect but costly error, until his game winning single in the tenth inning.

Final10th	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Texas	0	0	0	1	1	0	5	0	0	0	7	11	0
Boston <	0	0	1	1	5	0	0	0	0	1	8	11	1

Kenny Rogers was reinstated by an arbitrator after serving 13 games of his 20 game suspension. Dumb Ass Rogers will start Wednesday's game against Arroyo. Makes sense, if you get caught cheating with drugs and only have to sit out 10 games, why would you have to sit out longer than hall of fame banned cheaters.

No Limit Texas Holdem

For the second game in a row the Sox post an eleven spot on the Monsta.

What are the odds that Kelly the ball girl will say yes? Kevin "Pete Rose" Millar ponders the Vegas odds for the rest of the series.

It will be interesting to see what the odds are in Vegas. The over under, I don't know what they are going to make them, but you know what you have two great offensives here. --Kevin Millar 8-08

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas	3	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	6	16	2
Boston <	4	0	0	1	3	0	3	0	x	11	12	1

How to Describe the Twins Series in 3 Pictures or Less

Timlin in Rare Form

Throwing the Game Away

Timlin teabags himself as he throws the remains of a bunt into the outfield Saturday night. The throw proved to be error prone and cost the Red Sox the game. The Twins never had the lead in the game until it was over 4-3.

I threw it away, There's no excuse -- no bad grip, no foot slippage , I lost the game,"-- Timlin

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	3	10	2
Minnesota *	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	4	9	1

Eight Is Enough

Arroyo Blows

The Sox win streak comes to an end in an UGLY fashion. Boston was shut out, for the third time this year, and game up 12 runs to the Twinkies Friday night.

Arroyo gave up four in the first, and then it was a laugher.

Today he was the worst I have ever seen him, because he was missing his spots by more than the whole plate. Tek was setting up inside and he was throwing
totally to the other side."-- Sam Horn on Arroy0 8-5-05

After being up by five games in the AL East on Thursday afternoon the Sox now lead the Yankees by a mere 3.5 games one day later.

Lowe: Likes the Booze and the Ladies

More less than flattering tails of D Lowe appeared in Friday's Inside Track.

He has a drinking problem, and a lot of his problems come when he drinks. And he wouldn't deal with it and that's why the Red Sox wouldn't re-sign him."--Inside Track's inside source

Read more tails of Lowe showing up to Red Sox functions with his girl friends in the Herald.
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I Can Live With This

A five game lead in the AL East on August 5.

Update:
OK the Yankees pulled out a win, I can still live with a 4.5 game lead on August 5. The math I studied told me to always round up once you reach .5 so according to The Boston Blogger's math the Sox are still ahead by 5 games.

Friday's action

Bronson Arroyo, RHP (9-6, 4.22) Red Sox (62-45)

@

Brad Radke, RHP (6-10, 3.88) Twins (55-53)

Aaron Small, RHP (2-0, 4.05) Yankees (57-49)

@

Gustavo Chacin, LHP (11-5, 3.28) Blue Jays (55-52)

Manny Being Injured

After hitting a 3 run shot in the first, Manny left the game in the second inning after running into Edgar Renteria. Manny was cold clocked by Renteria with a flailing arm that ended up smacking him in the nose and eye. Manny went to Mass General and is day to day.

I think everything's fine with Manny, but we'll need to check on him in the
morning,"--Terry Francona

Everyone in the lineup Wednesday night got a hit, Manny had to get his in the first.

If that's what we get, one at bat, that's the way to do it."-- Johnny Damon

Lowe pulls a Lance Armstrong

Derek and Trinka Lowe 6-27-04

After winning the World Series and getting paid Lowe has decided to leave his wife and kids to sleep with a minor celebrity. Carolyn Hughes, a Fox Sport Net West TV anchor, and Derek Lowe now live together according to the Boston Heralds' Inside Track. Trinka Lowe apparently told Inside Track "reporters" about the story and she is very upset with it.

This is definitely the worst time of my life, I don't even know how to describe it. I still love him. He's still the father of our children." --Trinka Lowe

Lowe if you are going to cheat on your wife in front of the nation you at least have to go national. Come on? A local Fox Sports Net reporter?

Hughes who has been rumored to be in the very least be flirtatious with other Dodgers and was said to be pursuing Lowe from the beginning of spring training. Hughes' husband, Tom Saboni, left her this spring after he saw his free loving wife and Lowe together. There are unconfirmed reports that Lowe instructed the HR people in the Dodger organization to stop depositing his paychecks into a joint account with his wife Trinka. Trinka has since moved back to their off season home in Ft Myers Florida.

Lowe and Hughes 2005

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Manny Likes Manny Being Manny

Immediately prior to the start of Tuesday's night game Manny came out of the left field wall sporting a home made "Manny Being Manny" sign. The lesson here, Manny likes home made signs.

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	8	1
Boston *	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	0	0	6	10	1

MANNY BEING MANNY MAN?

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Manny Ramirez, LF	4	1	2	4	0	1	1	.277

More Rest for the Manny

The Red Sox basically play ball every night except during the all star break and right now. One of the few times all year the Sox had Thursday night off followed up four days later with another day off. A day off every week is considered great, two days off in seven days could be too much, unless you are Manny when you have about 5 days off in the last week. Manny was right...

I'm just here to play and win. I'm a gangster..."

...last I checked gangsters take money they don't earn and only work when they want.

Sounds about right Manny.