The Sox have decided all runs this year will be scored in bunches and only in one inning per game, and as long as Dice-K and Lester pitch the way they have thats fine. A nine run second inning, which until Tuesday's 19-17 run fest would make you feel pretty safe. But no worries with Dice-K, doing his high wire act again. Strike out five, walk five, but don't give up a run. I've joked about Dice-K's ablity to get in and out of trouble, but the guy is now 14-2, with an ERA of 2.74, with opponents batting around .200 against him, so whatever he's doing, the numbers show its working. If Beckett hits his typical post season form, then you're looking at Beckett/Lester/Dice-K playoff rotation with supporting work by Byrd, not bad..................as long as the bullpen holds. Papi is back if no one had noticed, tearing the cover of fthe ball and ruining the dreams of Texas pitchers.

And of course the Rays won in extras. Just ignore the Rays, concentrate on winning or splitting series from here on out. But, have you seen the schedule? Lots of late season Yankees/Rays apperances thrown in there, could be .....scratch that will be very interesting.

So, I'm at work checking in on the game online and see a not one, but two three run homers by Papi, IN THE FIRST INNING!! And its 10-0 at the end of the first. This Zink kid making his major leauge debut is in the bag! Way to support the guy! I check back an inning or so later, 10-2, no big deal. I take my dinner break, and upon watching the Reds-Pirates game (the only game on) the annoucer noted the game in Boston was now 12-10 Sox. Wait, what?  I check back online.................Zink, noooooooooooooooo! Between the young knukleballer and the middle relief, the Texas Bomb Squad has an eight run fifth inning, the Sox answering back with two to keep the lead.

Interjection: If the Rangers and/or MLB use the term "Texas Bomb Squad" I expect compensation.

Texas follows up with five more runs in the sixth, eventually going ahead 16-13 until the eighth when Youk put the team ahead with his second homer of the night. Yet it still wasn't over, The Rangers managed one more in the ninth, before Paps settled down and closed it out.

19 to 17? I feel for the MLB peeps putting together the box score for this one. I only hope I set the DVR to recored Baseball Tonight so I can hear Tim Kurkjian's voice crack as he shoots off stats that no one has ever thought and/or cared about.

"The last time a player whose name ended in "D" that played for a team with a "T" in there name went 4-4 with a homer was blah, blah, blah..................." I kid, I love the crackaly voiced Kurkjian, yes I had to Google him to spell his name.

Paul Byrd has cleared waivers and left the hapless Indians the fill the roatation void left by Wakefield's DL stint and Clay's demotion. I feel bad for Clay, I'm sure with a little more time under his belt, He'll be ok. I remember when Jon Lester was "never gonna strike out more than he walks and never pitch more than five innings." And how's that guy now?

I was all prepared to write a nice post about ChiSox pitcher John Danks and his perfect game. Then he hits Elsburry. OK, how about a nice post about the no-hitter, can't hate on an opponent when they pitch a no-no against you after all, handshakes all around. And a bloop and a blast (Ok a double) later, the Sox are on their way from being no hit to winning 5-1 and Josh Beckett, not John Danks is the pitcher of the day with his 7 hits, ZERO walks, and 8 K's. I'd feel sorry for Chicago, but I do dislike Ozzie Guillen, so it all works out in the end. For me, not him.

And, the Red Sox pick up a game on Tampa Bay! Because, well, because Tampa Bay didn't play today, but still its a 1/2 game. Seems like maybe, just maybe, Tampa Bay may be feeling the strain. First Crawford, and now Evan Longoria is on the DL. Great for my AL East hopes, bad for my fantasy team, but I'll take it. Of course David Price looms in the darkness for the Rays, ready to hit the mound, probably out of the bullpen.

And the Yankees are fading fast, even in the wild card race. I won't write them off this early, but its getting late in the season,so let the stress, joy, smiles, tears and near heart attacks commence. Its getting far into August, and all but one race is up for grabs. Seriously, never give up on your team, unless your team is in the AL West and does not use a Rally Monkey to create "mojo", then you can give up.

Hey remember when we all loved Clay Bucholz? That whole "no hitter, future star thing"? Remember when we waited out that first year with Jon lester until he matured? Yeah, well Clay is in that year now. The poor guy didn't have a fastball to speak of and when Jim Thome knows a breaking ball is coming, well lets just say it leaves rather quickly.  Credit the bullpen,no seriously, they held it together long enogh for the Sox to get within a run, but they couldn't close the deal. The Yankees lost, and well, the Rays are now the Brandon Webb of AL teams, seemingly they are never going to lose again.

The following is my last "Manny" post of the season.................(maybe).

I had tried to hide the Manny trade from our four year old, until he noticed Jason Bay a week ago on Baseball Tonight, "Whose that guy?" That's right, my four year old recongnizes a new guy in the line up. I explained that Jason Bay would be playing with the Sox now, because Manny wanted to go play somewhere else. Now, my son loooooooooooooveeeeeeees Manny and Papi. Sure he loves pretty much all catchers, he likes watching Griffey Jr, but he adores Manny and Papi. I expected waterworks, like when he found out the "wee-ball" team he was on was called the Braves and not, as he assumed it would be, the Red Sox. That was at least ten minutes of crying and near hysterics. I have created a baseball monster

"Why?" hich if you have a child under five, you hear at least 4,000 times a day. I tried to explain as simply as I could that Manny wanted to go play with the Dodgers, leaving out the ugly details."Jackie Robinson's team?" yes the team Jackie used to play for. A long pause, and then without tears, but with some hurt in his eyes he asked me a question I will remember forever:

"Daddy, do you think Papi's a little upset?"

I almost cried myself. "Yeah, buddy, probably." He then left to explain to my wife that Manny was a Dodger now. We also had to explain that Griffey Jr wasn't on the Reds, my son identifies anything with a Reds logo as "Griffey Jr's team", and that one of Daddy and his favorites, Pudge, was now, yes, a Yankee. "Why does Pudge want to be a stinky Yankee?" We explained we can still like Pudge, just not his team.And yes, my son refers to them as "the Stinky Yankees".

I don't know what I'm gonna do if Manny is a Yankee next season.

I never thought being a parent would change how I approached the looming trade deadline from now on, but it has. I don't moan about the "good old days" when it seemed players stayed in one uniform forever. I think any player, like anyone with a job, should make the choice that's best for him and his family. These guys just don't move for more money. They move be near family, near schools, maybe to a team thats closer to where they grew up. They move to secure a financial future for them, their kids, and sometimes their children's children.

Now, I don't think Manny's motives were as pure as all that. I think MLB should look into colusion between him and Boras, trying to weasel their way out of his option years by dogging it, not playing everyday etc. I just don't want to have to explain that next...........  

So Ellsbury's hitting again, the rest of the offense is clicking right along, Wakefield gets ANOTHER quality start, oh and since the Jason Bay and You-Know-Who trade the Red Sox are 5 and 1. And all I can think about is the minor leauge game I went to last night.

The Tennessee Smokies hosted a "Negro Leauge Tribute Night" last night. My baseball obssessed four year old and I got to meet: Reverand Bill Greason (that's exactly how he signed the baseball too), Larry Legrande (started catching in the Negro Leauge's at 14, was Satchiel Paige's last catcher), Clinton "Butch" McCord, Eugene Williams, and Jim Zapp.

Mr Greason and Mr Zapp played primarily with the Birmingham Black Barons and alongside a young outfielder you may have heard of named Willie Mays. All of them were extremley nice and willing to talk, and all graciously signed a Southern Leauge ball for us. That's right, in my home now resides a ball signed by five men who know more about baseball, history and life than most of us ever will. There were a couple of tables with displays, photos, scorecards etc. from the Negro Leauge Hall of Fame and Museum.

After autos and conversations on the concourse, they retired to the ballpark restaraunt for a Q & A session. Among the highlights for me :

"Bud Selig has everyone fooled. There are less than thirty one living Negro Leaugers getting a pension from MLB, the rest are not."

"These guys pitch five innings and think they've done something. What's with this it takes four or five guys to pitch a game?"

"Why can't Major Leauger's ever hit the cut off men? Its simple, you're in the outfield, hit the cut off man. You don't and the batter winds up in scoring position!"

"Josh Gibson hit AT LEAST 1,000 homers."

Best player they'd ever seen: almost across the board Willie Mays.

Favorite players now: Only two answered: Alfonsio Soriano and Yunel Escobar.

During the Q & A the players on the field warming up were watching on the scoreboard video monitor, and during the game? Each outfielder hit his cut off man :)

My thanks to Carolina Pitcher William Glen for tossing us a batting practice ball.

Oh, and Camreon Maybin? Prospect from Detroit that went to the Marlins in the Cabrera/Willis trade? Yeah, scary good. Like playing at a level above everyone else on the field good. Like a base running machine and 430 foot home run hitting good. Expect a call up in September.......

So Tampa Bay loses, the Yankees lose, and the Sox winning streak is thwarted by..................the Royals? Gil Mech pulled a Dice-K and struck out whoever he didn't walk and Clay Bucholz can't buy a win. There was a late inning rally that fell a run short and Jason Bay still hasn't embarassed himself.

Oh, and Joba's hurt. I never wish for anyone to get seriously injured, but I'm all for anything that keeps the Yankees in  the rearview mirror. I think Joba can blame Giambi for shaving the 'stache. Jinx! Somehow, the Giambi shave merits its own story on MLB.com

A few things:

Can ESPN please stop using the phrase "Mannywood"? Its worse than "That's hot"

Manny Parra got into a shoving match with Prince Fielder in the Brewer's dugout. I would advise Manny to pick his fights more carefully, Prince is not a small man. Now a C.C. vs Prince fight? That I can get into.

Kerry Wood is to return from the DL. Anyone have odds on him being injured either on his way to the ballpark and/or the walk to the mound? Somewhere in California, Mark Prior laughs....

And a thank you to Carolina Mudcats (Marlins AA) player #31, there is no listing for him on their roster so I don't know a name, for tossing my son and I a batting practice ball before their game against the Tennessee Smokies this past Saturday night

Jason Bay's press confrence was a little more subdued than Manny's out west, but it was Bay who delivered the big knocks, scoring both Red Sox runs in a 2-1 win over Oakland. I thought he had a walk-off there in extras, but he just missed it. But he was able to get all the way to third, 90 feet from being the winning run.

Even though Bay's Canadian home is as far from New England as you can get, Bay's dad is a diehard Sox Fan, dressing Baby Bay in a Sox onesie. His dad still has a Yaz and a Jim Rice poster in the basement. Right along side a Jason Bay poster. Bay was relaxed in the press confrence, but looked maybe just a little overwhelmed during warm ups. Of course at PNC park he probably never got a standing ovation during warm ups. Another one came during his first AB. There were Jason Bay signs of all kinds, along with some "We'll miss Manny" ones, but no one held Manny's exit against Bay, and it was nice to see Fenway fans let him know that by making him feel so welcome. Add in a sliding, run saving catch in the fifth and Bay's not doing so bad for himself his first day in Boston.

More importantly the Sox won. Not just won, but won a one run, extra inning game on a walk off by a rookie with the new guy being the winning run. Maybe a new feeling will make its way into the clubhouse and a nice winning streak will start. The Rays won too though, but the Yankees ran into the "perfect storm" the Angels have become, so they fall a game back.

And something was going on out in LA, not sure what it was though..................

So to recap: Future HOFer Pudge Rodriugez is worth Kyle Farnsworth, Future HOFer Ken Griffey Jr is worth two minor leauge players and Future HOFer Manny Ramierez is worth Jason Bay and four young prospects. At these rates, I expect A-Rod to be traded for a twelve pack just like Kate Hudson in "Almost Famous"

Basically the Sox traded a run producing machine, Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss in order to get Jason Bay, who is not the machine Manny is, but is a very good hitter, unknown outside of Pittsburg it seems, and a definite defensive upgrade. Oh, and the clubhouse gets to become sane again and they can focus on playing.

I've had to come to the hurtful realization that I had to stop defending Manny. In 2006, he decided to stop playing with two months left to go, even though David Ortiz went to him and asked him to play hard, as Papi felt that: A) They weren't quite out of it and B)If they were out of it, the rest of the team was on Papi's bandwagon to make sure he got to 50 homers, which with Manny hitting behind him he could do easily. Manny refused and dogged it the rest of the way. Which is what he made clear he would do if not traded, pennent race or not. He was gonna phone it in the rest of the way. The Red Sox could not afford to let him, so now the Dodgers get a guy who WILL play hard, as he'll be a free agent and Scott Boras has season tickets. Its a shame, Manny is as big a part of the revivel of the Sox as Champs as anyone else, and he tried to ruin that reputation in the last two months. I am embarrassed for him. You make $20 million a year, and you whined your way out of town, congratulations. I' will not forget what he meant to this team, but I am hurt by his recent behavior. I wish him luck in finding whatever it is he's looking for.

And I welcome Jason Bay to the storm. Anytime I've seen Bay, he plays hard, seems nice, and is young and seems to have a high power hitting ceiling. Bay's been an All Star, but still having been stuck in last place your whole four or so major leauge years has to hurt. Hopefully he's excited about being brought to the best divison in baseball. Good luck Jason, we'll be rooting for you! untitled.bmp

The Sox look horrible, the Angels have had there revenge for the 2004 and 2007 playoffs, Beckett gives up more runs than he has since 2006. and all anyone can talk about is Manny. Which, is probably how he likes it. I know that they're professionals, trad talk happens every year, we all have to deal with it, blah, blah, blah. But I think the trad edeadline can't pass soon enough and everyone in that clubhouse can move on. If Manny goes, fine. Loss of run production for sure, but out go the distractions, the questions etc. If he stays? Distracting? Maybe, but Manny's more apt to go with a "Its over, it didn't happen, that's all." approach and go back to his normal media blackout. He shouldn't try to tank the rest of the season because he's trying to become a well paid free agent next year, fine, done.

I miss Media Blackout Manny. Used to be he'd do like one, maybe two interviews a year and answer every other question, no matter what it was with: "I'm just here to play baseball and have fun." or "I'm here to play, I'll talk when I'm retired." I wish more players would say that instead of giving the standard answers. If you don't know what those standardized answers, watch "Bull Durham".

The newest rumor is a down to the wire "Nomar Like" trade involving the Marlins and the Pirates. Manny would go Florida way, not far from his off season home, plus he'd still be in a playoff race in the NL East. The Sox would recieve, oh something involving outfielders and some pitching, which part of would then be flipped to Pittsburgh for at least Jason Bay. Got all that?

Of course this requires all of this to be done by 4pm tomorrow, with the Marlins aggreeing not to pick up the option on Manny, letting him be a free agent in '09, the Sox and Pirates aggreeing on who'll be involved, and Manny signing off on whatever in a timely fashion. But they did get that Nomar thing done...................

So what kind of night is it when John Lackey of the Angels gets a round of applause as he's leaving the field at Fenway and Manny gets booed? Give credit to Lackey who has been the only Angel pitcher to NOT own the Red Sox this year, he had a no hitter through nine with two outs to go spoiled by a Pedroia single and a Youkalis homer. He had nothing but good stuff and the fans knew it, Boston may have lost, but they knew they saw an ace pitching performance and they let Lackey know it.

Manny of course wasn't running everything out, does he ever, but in the midst of a no-no the fans booed when the Angels barley got him out on a hard shot up the third base line that pulled the Angel's firstbaseman (soon to be named Mark T) off the bag. But its our fault. You can pick numerous times Manny hasn't run out everything, and no one ever complained, well complained much anyway.

Look,  the Indians put up with it, the Red Sox put up, and whever Manny goes, they will put up with it to get the 40 or so homers and the 100+ RBI's. During last night's game on ESPN, Steve Phillips and Orel Hershiser, two worse "color" men there may never be when put together, both talked about the distractions, etc., then both stated they'd take him on their team in a heart beat to get the guaranteed production. And that's why the soap opera will continue, team player or not, crazy? Maybe. But that kind of clockwork like production is few and far between. Just bet on another team putting up with it next year. And, hold onto something, it may just be a pinstriped team in a "new" stadium. Imagine all the "Should we boo him or not" articles if Manny as a Yankee ever happened.