Whats the DL?

Curt Schilling goes on the DL with more ankle trouble, and this time it could be for a while. Tuesday Wells went on the DL for what might be 6 weeks or more. When a player goes on the DL you want to have that player back as soon as possible, so most teams place their star players on the DL retroactive back to the furthest point possible so the player can rejoin the team as soon as possible. That would mean the Sox would have put Schilling on the DL retroactive back to Saturday the 23, enabling him to come off the DL on May 8th. However the Sox decided to put Curt on the DL after today's game (April 27) making Curt's earliest return May 12. Suggesting that there is a good chance he won't be ready to go on that date, otherwise they wouldn't have picked today's date.

Curt is this something you felt during games?

Yeah, just in the last start. I knew on the pitch when I did it.

I have not had the feel in my legs and my arm I rely on to big consistent. When I warmed up the other day I was as bad felt in a long long time. I went out there I was going to have to move the ball and have to locate at what ever velocity I had, I couldn't keep doing that after the first two innings and I wasn't sure really why. So this answered some questions for me.

Will you stay here in Boston?

No I will go with the team.

Note the Everquest II hat, look out Norath here comes the big Curt.

Foulked Over Once Again

During a season where I have convinced myself that there can be no devastating losses, this one comes about as close to devastating as possible during my honeymoon year of fanhood.

Boston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Clement	4.2	12	7	7	1	1	0	3.90
Embree	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	4.35
Timlin (H, 3)	2.0	1	0	0	2	3	0	1.80
Foulke (BS, 1)(L, 1-3)	1.0	4	4	4	0	0	2	7.20

A 6 run lead was pissed away by Clement and Foulke. Combined they continue to disappoint on a semi regular basis. Foulke has lost his closer job before, will it happen again?

Wells Hospitalized with a foot sprain

Francona was questioned if Wells told Francona prior to the game if he didn't have his best stuff.

He didn't tell me that he was going to pitch shitty"

but that is exactly what Wells should have told him. Francona said that Wells was getting a battery of tests at Beth Israel Hospital for a foot sprain he apparently suffered in fourth inning.
6 Earned runs in 3.2 innings!
With any luck this injury will prevent Wells from ever pitching like this again.

What are the chances the Sox will get swept..

... by the d-rays? Bet the farm the sox win today.

American League Baseball Odds

One Pitch Wonder

Embree who leads the league in appearances now leads the bull pen in crapiness. The Sox made a very nice comeback to tie the game at 4 in the 9th inning. Embree came in threw one pitch, lost the game, and walked off the mound the loser.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2		4	8	2
Tampa Bay	0	0	2	0	1	1	0	0	1		5	10	1

Sox Knock off Birds and Move into Top Perch

For the first time this season the Sox are in sole possession of first place, and that move came at the hands of Clement. Last year Clement was dogged all season by a lack of run support, last night was no different. The Sox manufactured just one run for Clement as he pitched through the 8th inning holding the birds to bagels. Foulke didn't foulke up a thing in the ninth and an otherwise boring game became a great tell tail sign of what Clement can bring to the table.

You don't get to pitch in a 1-0 game very often, and to win one is rarer...I have been on the other end of a couple of them last year, so it was nice tonight." Clement Said

Yankees Sign Another Highest Paid Player

Apparently the slow start was all George Steinbrenner could handle and he is set out to solve this problem the same way he solves all of his problems, with his checkbook. Having the highest paid player in baseball was not enough. According to sources the New York Yankees have one uped themselves signing a player to a record 30 million dollars this year. Not much is known about the Yankees latest signing, only his name is officaly listed on their books as Mr. Tax, Luxury. It is not known what position Mr Tax will play, but it is speculated that he is a top New Zealand criket bowler.

	Luxury Tax #00 | Starting Pitcher | New York Yankees
	Height: ? Weight: ? Bats: ?Throws: ? Salary: $30,637,531 College: NA Draft: NA	W-L ERA K Walks WHIP 0-0 0.00 0 0 0.00

The list gets longer...

PLAYER	SALARY (US$)
1. Alex Rodriguez	25,705,118
2. Derek Jeter	19,600,000
3. Mike Mussina	19,000,000
4. Kevin Brown	15,714,286
5. Randy Johnson	15,419,815
6. Jason Giambi	13,428,571
7. Bernie Williams	12,357,143
8. Gary Sheffield	11,496,689
9. Jorge Posada	11,000,000
10. Mariano Rivera	10,500,000

Garciaparra Obtains New Title

You can now call Nomar Garciaparra "Oft-injured". Its official Nomar is now one of those players, the players where their talent is only exceeded by their propensity to be sidelined by an injury. The chief reason he was not kept with the Sox last year was his always acting up aching Achilles was keeping him from playing every day. Prior to that it was a wrist injury which essentially took him out for a full season, and now it is a groin injury that might do just the very same thing.

That's my fear...I've strained my groin before [on the right side last year] but never felt anything like this. I'll know more [today]. I haven't had any tests done other than preliminary feeling around. But I don't like to get carried off the field first of all. That kind of drives me crazy." Garciaparra said

He turned down a 4-year deal with the Sox only to be offered a 1-year deal by the Cubs. A one-year deal to prove to the Cubs or other potential MLB suitors that he could stay healthy and play every day for an entire season. Proof positive.

WHAT?

LIKE YOU DON'T SPIT ON YOUR HANDS PRIOR TO RUBBING YOUR BALLS?

Widescreen Wednesday

WEDNESDAY!

NESN ROLLS OUT ITS SECOND WIDESCREEN GAME OF THE SEASON FOR THE REST OF US NON-HD HAVING ASSES.

A great idea for all fans with a TV set bigger than their last steak sandwich. They call it widescreen Wednesday, learn it, love it, and live it. I wish every game was broadcast this way. It is a thing of beauty unlike the pitching match up tonight Hang em' and Band em' Wells, vs. Bruce "we hardly knew you" Chen. Chen has pitched well so for, Wells has not (games against Tampa don't count). Even Vegas is discussed with it not knowing who is the lesser of two evils.

Wells vs Chen Odds

The Blows Brothers

The Sox pen unites to disappoint

Boston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Arroyo	7.0	8	1	1	1	3	1	3.86
Embree (BS, 1)	1.0	3	2	2	0	0	1	4.15
Foulke (L, 1-2)	1.0	2	1	1	1	0	0	4.50

Not in Our House. Sheffield Fan Tickets Revoked

Christopher House, Red Sox season ticket holder, was heavily punished Monday afternoon by the Red Sox organization by making him become a former Red Sox season ticket holder. It is not know exactly what House did on Thursday night in Fenway. Was he going after the ball? Sheff's hat, face, jaw, doing the windmill thing? Take your pick, but what is known is that House has instantly become a far less popular person without his primo season tickets.

The club will consider reinstatement thereafter. (He will receive full reimbursement upon returning the tickets.)"

Wait till next year Chris.

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Schilling Goes the Distance...

... all the way through the fifth inning to earn a Win!
Schilling was handed a 9-1 lead as he entered the fourth inning but that didn't make it any easier for Curt, as he registered 95 pitches by the time he left the fourth. He called it a day after pitching 5 innings, giving up 10 hits and 3 earned runs, he also struckout 10.

Manny Hits Them In Bunches

Manny knocks out 2 more long balls, in Monday's 12-7 victory, for the second time in two days.

Schilling vs Timlin

Mrs Schilling (Bib#21278) vs Mrs Timlin (Bib# 18194)as they run the Boston Marathon on Patriots day. Click on their names and track how they do as the run to raise money for the favorite charities.

Wells Gets Gift Win

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

David Wells, here is your first win of the season. Friday Night against the Devil Dogs, Wells was given an eight run lead by the third inning. If Wells can not convert this into a win he needs to retire prior to the ninth inning. He can thank his first Red Sox win in part to David Ortiz's grandslam in the third inning, or in part to Hideo Nomo for some how sucking more than Wells. Nomo walked 5, gave up 5 hits, and earned 8 runs along the way.

Sheffield Gate: NY Press has shef FIELD DAY

good job boys

Sheffield Gate: Sheffield's Take

I just felt something hit me in the mouth, it felt like a hand hit me in the mouth, so you will have to look at the tape. [Do you feel like he punched you?]I don't know if he punched me or not, it felt like it. I thought my lip was busted and I was trying to continue with the play, and I thought, well he hit me, and then I thought about, don't react."

Gary Sheffield




You stay classy Sheffield

Sheffield Gate: TC, Eckersley The Voice of Reason

If you see the play the guy was not trying to take a cheap shot, I really believe the guy was not trying to cheap shot."

Dennis Eckersley

Mainly because he is looking back towards home plate he is not looking at Sheffield."

Tom Caron

Yeah, Any time you are going to get hit like that you are going to think somebody is doing something.
"

Eck

Sheffield Gate: Remy's Overreaction

Yeah the guy with a B on his hat took a swipe and then Sheffield goes right back at him. Watch the hand come down and scrape Sheffield right across the face... this guy was a little high and catches Sheffield right in the face... One more look as Sheffield gets hit there. He looks, pushes, then throws the ball back in, and heads back. The other fans were going down you can see they were trying to reach for the baseball, but this guy was up a lot higher and he just kinda took a swipe and hit Sheffield right in the face."

Jerry Remy

Sheffield Gate: Damon's Take

Do you even scratch you heads in the dug out and wonder what you guys are going to see tonight?

We have to give Sheffield a lot of credit because we are not exactly sure what the fan was doing, if he was going for the ball or going for Sheff, for him to restrain himself like he did, that took a lot of class."

Johnny Damon

Sheffield Gate: Tito's Take

What did you think of Gary Sheffield going after the fan?

I watched it, and watched it, and watched it, I don't know. I am telling you, I dissected it with everyone else, I don't know. I mean I don' think... I don't think the fan was being at all malicious. I understand Sheff he doesn't have time to be thinking... I just don't know."

Terry Francona

Sheffield Gate: Torre's Take

Well, someone came out of the stands and whacked him. That's basically what happened. These people shouldn't be allowed to walk the streets, much less come to a ball game. The sad part about it, it's a hand full of people that screw it up for the people that just come to watch a ball game. [What about Gary's retaliation?] He wanted to get at him, no competitive person wants to get hit and then have somebody run away. [Did Gary say what happened?] He just said he got hit in the jaw."

Joe Torre

Lowe Red Sox Jersey Keeps People Talking

Just the facts: Derek Lowe and Dave Roberts run out onto the field to claim his World Series ring on Monday while wearing a Red Sox uniform jersey top. It is not every day that you see a big leaguer hanging with another team then their current one, and it is even rarer that you see pro players wearing a jersey of one of his former teams. But those facts do not make it unacceptable to do just that in the right situation. The Red Sox have never won a World Series in my life or yours so there is no precedent to base any judgment on what is right or wrong. That was Monday afternoon, then late that night on some ESPN programming block you have never heard of "Trifecta" the boys (Harold Reynolds, John Kruk) at Baseball Tonight decided to say that Lowe was out of line wearing a Red Sox jersey. The never bothered to say anything about Dave Roberts, but they did say that in their time "the old school" (1983 - 1994, and 1986 - 1995 respectively) this would have never have happened. Tuesday rolls around and not much is in the papers or on sports talk radio until people get off their asses and get around to watching some of the replays of Baseball Tonight. Surprised by the negative comments Lowe offered a simple statement Tuesday night.

The jersey was made for that ceremony,"

Insinuating that he was asked to wear it and it would have been disrespectful if he chose not to wear it. Wednesday night on NESN's pregame show Dennis Eckersley (1975-98) and Gordon Edes (Red Sox beat writer)decided to make some friends in Bristol.

He isn't catching any heat back in California; you don't hear Jim Tracy complain about it, you don't hear any guys in the Dodgers club house complain about it. Talk about your media driven controversy, the only reason we are talking about this is John Kruk, and Harold Reynolds talking about this on ESPN and said that Derek Lowe showed bad judgment wearing a Red Sox jersey. Eck your old school, those guys are old school, they are claiming 'we are old school we would never do that'". Edes

They are old school? Did John Kruk ever win anything? No, no, they lost, and Harold Reynolds won nothing in Seattle so spare me, what do they got to talk about?" Eck

The Pedro Files: Part 1, Pedro and Nelson

Today's Pedro File comes from the good people at the New York Post's "Tempo" Latin magazine.


What ever happened to Nelson de la Rosa?

Nelson needs help. He is a special human being. I haven't seen him in a while." Pedro Martinez

Sounds about right.

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The Schill is Back...

and apparently out of the closest, as he embraces Tedy Bruschi with a good heaping of man love.

Wright 0-1, 13.50

@

Schilling 0-0, -.--

Game Preview | Full Schedule

I feel like I did what I needed to do work-wise and I'm ready to go," Schilling said.

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Who was Cheered the Loudest Opening Day?

Mariano	Rivera		Very Loud Cheers	24 seconds
Curt	Schilling		Loud Cheers	8 seconds
Jason	Varitek		Loud Cheers	5 seconds
Bronson	Arroyo		Cheers	4 seconds
Terry	Francona		Loud Cheers	4 seconds
Tim	Wakefield		Loud Cheers	4 seconds
Joe	Torre		Cheers	3 seconds
David	Wells		Cheers	3 seconds
Keith	Foulke		Loud Cheers	3 seconds
Johnny	Damon		Cheers	3 seconds
Kevin	Millar		Cheers	3 seconds
Tom	Gordon		Cheers and Boos	2.5 seconds
Jason	Giambi		Cheers and Boos	2.5 seconds
Randy	Johnson		Loud Boos	2 seconds
Derek	Jeter		Boos	2 seconds
Alex	Rodrigez		Boos	2 seconds
Gary	Sheffield		Boos	2 seconds
Jorge	Posada		Boos	2 seconds
Mike	Mussina		Boos	2 seconds
Matt	Clement		Cheers	2 seconds
Jay	Payton		Cheers	2 seconds
Carl	Pavano		Boos	1 second
Tino	Martinez		Nothing	1 second
Bernie	Williams		Nothing	1 second

Mo got a kick out of it and tiped his cap.

They Came, They Saw...

They didn't leave happy

After much ado about nothing the Yankees did in fact watch the Red Sox get their rings, and then watched themselves get handed a 8-1 loss. Today was about the Red Sox, not the Yankees, and as days go for the Red Sox, and Red Sox fans, they don't get much better than April 11 2005.

If they don't see the ring, it could only mean one thing

We've never watched anyone get their World Series rings," Posada said. "I don't want to see that."

Torre decided that what if the players do not want to watch the Red Sox get their rings they don't have to, and came out in a preemptive strike yesterday talking to the media about it in hopes it would stop people from writing negative stories about his players ditching the ceremony. I think it worked.

It's certainly not our intention to find a reason not to be there ... We don't want to do that. I'd hate to think people are consumed with what we're doing when it's such a great day for them," Torre said.

According to Jack Curry of the New York Times Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Gary Sheffield and Jorge Posada all made it known to Torre or Management they wanted nothing to do with the Red Sox World Series Champion ring ceremonies, and can you blame them? Who would want to be reminded of the greatest choking in professional sports history? A choking that in fact was so great it probably exceeds in cumulative value all of the Bill Buckner, pitching a gofer ball to Bucky Dent chokes which preceded it. I too would hide in the club house on Monday ... if I was a homo!


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Wells has to go

It is too early in the season to make any snap judgments but this is what we know:
The Red Sox were the only team in baseball willing to offer David Wells a job this year, he had a horrible spring training, and he has looked even worse in his first two starts. Bronson Arroyo is the only Sox starter with a win, and by the way Wells is throwing the ball recently he may never even register a win all season long in a Red Sox uniform. Theo took a gamble on Wells knowing that he threw strikes. It turns out that Theo was only half right. Wells does in fact still throw strikes, they just happen to be strikes that get hit all over the park all day long. In my 20 plus years as Sox fan I have never seen a Red Sox pitcher give up three consecutive home run balls to three consecutive batters. I would be a happy man if I went another 20 years before I saw that again. David, please retire.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	Season ERA
D. Wells (L, 0-2)	6.1	9	6	6	0	4	3	8.44

Millar Plays Grab-Ass with the Captain

A picture is worth a 1,000 words, this one is worth at least 1,000 dollar of hush money. Is Kevin Millar the gay baseball player that SI article was talking about a couple years ago????

D Lowe and D Roberts Come Back to the Sox

Apparently Derek Lowe and Dave Roberts will be allowed by their new teams (Dodgers and Padres) to attend opening day at Fenway, and stand along side their former team mates as the get their championship hardware during the ring ceremony Monday April 11. Pedro told the Herald on Monday that if the Sox wanted to keep his ring they could. Why would the Sox want to keep your ring Pedro? What are you stupid? What are they going to do with it, sell it on eBay? I guess Pedro probably will not be showing up like a more mature teammate Lowe and Roberts to get his ring. Pedro is scheduled to pitch Sunday, day in Atlanta and could very easily make the ceremony the next day.

Foulke: I want to start

I would like to start. Keith Foulke

Foulke told Dale & Holly on WEEI Friday that he still has desires to become a starting pitcher, in responce to a question about what goals his still has as a proven closer. When asked if he management came to him today and asked him if they could stretch him out to become a starter would he accept the assignment, Foulke replied with an emphatic yes.

Hazel Mae Have Some Nice Cleavage

Everybody's favorite NESN SportsDesk host, Hazel Mae, sports a nice look as she interviews Larry Lucchino Wednesday night after the Red Sox registered their first win of the season against the Yankees during the Fever Pitch Premier at Fenway Park.

Johhny Damon's Wife

Michelle Damon's Backside

Mo Blows: End of an Era

#42 Mariano Rivera got booed as he left the mound Wednesday... for the first time ever! Mariano Rivera's reign as the top AL closer is officially over Wednesday April 6th 2005. Today marked the first day in history that any Yankee fan, drunk or sober, has called for Mo's retirement.

That has probably been the least effective outing I have ever seen. Jim Kaat

6 of the last 11 save opportunities Mariano Rivera has had against the Red Sox he has blown, four in a row against the Sox. I have never written a more enjoyable sentence in my life.

Francona Hospitalized

Terry Francano was rushed to Cornell Hospital in New York at about 9:30 AM Wednesday morning. The Red Sox are set to play the last game of a 3 game series against the Yankees in the Bronx. Tito arrived at the stadium at approximately at eight AM and felt stiffness in his chest according to Theo Epstein.

"He was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests," Epstein said. "He had all his faculties about him, he was just going for tests."

Theo and Brad Mills, Tito's bench coach, emphasized that the trip to the hospital was strictly precautionary and the Yankees were kind enough to expedite the trip with use of their ambulance.
Brad Mills with take over the roll of manager while Francano is out. Bill Hasselman will move out of the bull pen and assit Mills as the bench coach.
Francona has a medical history and was hospitalized for months one time with blod clots in his legs and chest, and staff infection in his knees.
Gordon Edes told The Boston Globe Pregame Report that Francano

he is doing ok.

Edes said that he would not be surprized if Tito stayed in the hospital overnight for observation.
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AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

Pedro and Theo at it Again

You have to always be prepared to move on, you can't get tied too much to any one player. The second you say we have to retain this player is the second you know you are in trouble. In the end the best thing for him and his family was to get 4 guaranteed years from the New York Mets, and the best thing for us was to move on, take that money, and spread it around a little bit.

That is what Theo Epstein had to say about not resigning Pedro Martinez during an interview that was featured in ESPN's The Off Season: Boston's Winter of Bliss. The way the show was edited a few seconds later Theo said this about resigning Jason Varitek.

Varitek really embodies everything we want our players to be.

They seemed like pretty benign matter of fact comments to this viewer. Karen Guregian wrote in Wednesday's Boston Herald about Pedro's reaction to Theo's harmless comments and a whole gamete of other things. Apparently Petey didn't think Theo's words were too kind, but it seems that what pissed off Petey is not what he said about Petey but what he said about Varitek.

I wanted to stay in Boston. Hearing Theo talk today on ESPN, saying they wanted to spread my money around, and keep Jason, that's a smart thing to do. He could afford to get rid of all of us, except Jason. I can appreciate that, but there was no need to mistreat my name . I can understand the business part of it. I can understand, I can live with the business part of it, not being able to afford me, or thinking I'm not that good, but I cannot understand the part where you mistreat my name, or mistreat what I did for the city of Boston because they have to build another image of me.
"If they want to keep the (World Series) ring, that's fine... "I just know I contributed to that team to win, and I'm proud of it. They can never erase what I did in Boston."

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Who Died and Made Gary DiSarcina a NESN host?

Born: November 19, 1967, Malden, MA
Full Name: Gary Thomas DiSarcina
College: UMass
Experience: 12 years
What is the deal with Gary DiSarcina being an analyst on NESN's Extra Innings? He never played for the Sox. He never hit for power, he never hit for average, he never stole bases, and never really hit much of any thing. In fact, he never was really any good for that matter. So Jim Corsi is long gone, Sam Horn is no more? Jim Rice was a nice change of pace since he was so damn good at baseball, but not really good at TV. Was DiSarcina still under contract by the Sox some how? Regardless, bring Jim Corsi back and never have another analyst that was not a recent Sox player. What is Lou Merloni doing these days?