News Flash: The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Phoenix Suns, 99-98 in overtime, to take a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series. In the game, Kobe Bryant hits a runner to send the game to the extra session…then drains a pull-up jumper at the buzzer to win it.

Teddy’s Take: The greatest image turnaround since Stone Cold Steve Austin morphed into a good guy is now complete!

What had to make it even sweeter for Bryant is the fact both plays resulted from Steve Nash turning the ball over and getting tied up for a jump ball, respectively. The two all-stars have been going at each other hard all series, with some shoving and finger pointing even taking place, no doubt spurred by the leaked news that the Suns point guard had won his 2nd consecutive MVP award.

Hey, Nash is a great player and a difference maker. Don't get me wrong. He deserved the MVP last year and I was rooting for him to get it. He may have had an even better year this time around. But I’m sorry, that award belongs to Bryant. He is the best and most valuable player in the league…by far! I’ll even argue that LeBron James should have finished ahead of Nash. Both Kobe and LeBron carried lousy teams to the post-season. But until King James starts doing it on “D�, Kobe is the man.

That crunch time performance in Game-4 was as good as anything Michael, Larry and Magic ever pulled off in the clutch. It was amazing theater, even for a guy like me who absolutely detests the Lakers. But I will admit to feeling a tad bit vindicated about Kobe, and in a strange way, rooting for him.

From the moment he and Shaq had their very public divorce, I’ve been saying that Bryant was as responsible, if not more responsible, for those 3 championship rings than the big fella and that the Lakers chose to keep the right player. I also told anyone of my friends and family who’d listen that Kobe will win another NBA title before Shaq does. (And now, I’ve told all of you!) Watching O’Neal deteriorate right before our very eyes, that statement doesn’t sound so far-fetched anymore, does it?

What are your thoughts on the NBA MVP? Nash, Kobe or LeBron?

Final Score
Red Sox 4
Rays 5

Food for Thought: So much for momentum from Saturday's stirring comeback!

A disappointing road trip ends with another loss in Tampa. The Sox have now dropped 7-of-10 and are tied with the Evil Empire atop the American League East.

Though it’s a long season and most of the specifics from this trip will be long forgotten come August and September, it’s interesting to note how one seemingly meaningless decision 5-days ago could have made the difference in Sunday’s loss.

Remember how Terry Francona brought Curt Schilling out to pitch the 7th inning against the Indians Tuesday, despite the fact the 39-year old righty had already thrown 111-pitches? (If you read this blog you surely remember, because I’m such a nitpicker and pain in the butt I’ll never let you forget!) Well, Schilling went on to throw 133-pitches that night, and the extra tosses didn’t help the Sox cause or the ace’s.

Fast forward to Sunday, when Francona removed Schilling after 6-innings and 98-pitches. “Tee-ball� Rudy Seanez proceeds to surrender a 2-run homer to Carl Crawford (his first of the year, mind you) which turned out to be the difference in the game. Now, I wasn’t privy to the manager’s post-game comments, but I’ll betcha the fact Schilling had thrown 133-pitches last time out led to his early withdrawal. (God, I hate when I’m right!)

Bring on the Yankees: Time to put these games behind us and focus on what shapes up as a fun week ahead at Fenway. First up…the Yankees and Johnny Damon’s return to Beantown. We Red Sox fans like to think of ourselves as the best and smartest in the country. If so, I hope Damon gets the standing ovation he deserves for busting his hump for 4-years, playing great, playing hurt, and helping deliver that World Series we had been dying for.

I know a lot of you are angry and feel jilted because he left town and took the riches in New York. Get over it! This is a business on both sides, and Damon was nothing but gracious to the team, media and fans alike. I’ll assume there will be a few idiots who boo, but if they’re not quickly drowned out by 35,000+ rising to their feet and saying thanks for the great memories, I will be very disappointed in Red Sox nation.

So what will it be gang…boos or cheers for Johnny Damon?

Final Score
Red Sox 9
Rays 6

A Win to Build On: Tough to say an early season victory in Tampa is big, but this one’s as close as you can get. The Sox had lost 3 in a row, had Lenny DiNardo on the mound, and were staring at a 4-0 deficit after 3-innings. Number-4 was well within sight.

But just like that, the Sox bats woke up…they battled back not once, not twice, but 3-times. It’s the kind of win Boston’s Boys of Summer haven’t really gotten yet this year, so it will be interesting to see if they can build on it and get a little momentum to close out an otherwise miserable road trip.

Curt Schilling takes the mound Sunday in what should be an interesting match up against Scott Kazmir. After that, the First World War of 2006 begins as the dreaded Yankees invade Fenway Park Monday.

News Flash: The Patriots select Laurence Maroney with their 1st round pick (#21). The 5’11�, 217-pound running back rushed for nearly 4,000-yards in 3-seasons at the University of Minnesota. He is considered by many to be the 2nd best back in the draft behind Reggie Bush.

Draft Update: Hanging Chad: The Patriots trade a 2nd and a 3rd round pick to Green Bay to move up in the 2nd round and select Wide Receiver, Chad Jackson out of the University of Florida. Jackson was expected to be taken in the first round, and many prognosticators had the Pats taking him with their first selection

Teddy’s Take: Love the picks! Absolutely love them!

Once again, Bill Belichick surprised everyone, going offense with his first 2-picks. Maroney was a natural fit for the Pats, so much so that hardly anyone expected him to be the pick. He fills a big need as Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk and Patrick Pass are all getting a bit long in the tooth. At worst he’s an insurance policy should Dillon not be able to rebound from an off year. At best, he’ll be the workhorse running back Tom Brady can count on for years to come. One bonus; Maroney was someone the Colts were thought to be very interested in.

Jackson is a steal where he was chosen. Like Maroney, he helps fill an obvious need with the departure of David Givens. Coming from Florida, he’s well versed in offensive football and has blazing speed, running a 4.35 in the 30.

Belichick and Scott Pioli still have some work to do to plug the holes left by free agency and the team still isn’t as good as the one that limped off the field in Denver. However, the rebuilding process is far from complete, with 8-more draft picks on the board and some decent free agents still roaming the market. Expect linebacker to be the next position the Pats focus on.

If nothing else, today’s moves assure Brady some weapons to work with for the foreseeable future and make the Pats offense young and dangerous again. There will be a lot of fresh young faces at training camp, and even if youth isn’t served in 2006, the Patriots are well-positioned to compete in 2007 and beyond.

Give New England an A+ for day one of the NFL draft.

What’s your take on the Patriots draft? Were you surprised the defensive-minded Belichick went offense with his first two selections? Is there someone else you’d rather they’d taken?

You ever wonder how it is that some teams stink year, after year, after year? Every sport has them, those franchises that end up with top tier picks in every draft, yet are never able to break that vicious cycle of losing. Well, there’s a reason for that.

BECAUSE THEY MAKE STUPID DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE DRAFT PICKS!

Take the Houston Texans, who decided to pass on the most talented player to enter the NFL in ages, Reggie Bush, to take defensive end Mario Williams. That’s the same Mario Williams whose college career consisted mostly of disappearing acts against quality opposition and about whom scouts often say “could work harder than he does.� There’s a ringing endorsement!

Look…Williams could turn out to be a good pro, but until he turned in impressive performances at the combine, no one considered the kid top pick material. And last I checked, football games are played on a gridiron, not in a weight room. I don’t care how many bench press reps he does. This is a player who never dominated on the field, and isn’t very likely to do so by stepping up to the highest level of competition.

On the other hand, Reggie Bush dominated college football games, and often did so when it counted most. Forget his recent troubles. (Troubles that should get the Heisman Trophy stripped from him and place USC on probation…sorry Lynn. Rules are rules!) For proof, check out ESPN classic next time they show USC-Notre Dame and study Bush’s performance against Charlie Weis’ crew last fall. This kid is the most electric college running back since Barry Sanders. You don’t pass on players like that for Mario Williams.

And that my friends, is why the Houston Texans have stunk, do stink, and will continue to stink in the foreseeable future.

Did Houston make the right move, passing on Reggie Bush? If so, should they have taken someone other than Mario Williams? You’re on the clock!!!

Final Score
Red Sox 2
Rays 5

Bats Go Silent: As much as the Red Sox starting pitching is struggling, the biggest concern right now might be the team’s inability to hit in the clutch.

Only 2-runs scored is bad enough, but leaving 14-runners stranded against the “immortal� Casey Fossum and a crew of very hittable Tampa relievers is not going to win you very many ballgames.

I’d like to be able to attribute this to Coco Crisp’s bat missing from the top of the lineup. I’m pretty sure once their leadoff hitter is back, the Sox will be able to muster enough offense to win a lot of games. (It doesn’t take much help for Big Papi and Manny to carry an offense) However, there has to be an uneasy feeling about the production from the bottom of the order right now. There are just too many easy outs.

We all hear how pitching wins championships, and that’s true when you add this qualifier…pitching AND clutch hitting. If pitching alone were enough, the Houston Astros would have won 2 World Series by now, and the 2002 Angels dynamic duo of Bartolo Colon and Jarred Washburn would have more empty space in the jewelry box.

And that’s assuming, of course, that the Red Sox pitching is good enough to get them to the post-season…a big IF right now.

Do the Sox have enough offense to get the job done this year? Will all be well when Coco returns? Am I just too negative right now?

Final Score
Red Sox 3
Indians 15

“Female Dog� Slapped: Well, that’s about as ugly as it gets!

No sense rehashing what happened. In the grand scheme of things, it’s no big deal and counts the same as if they’d lost 2-1 in extra innings. Plus, there’s nothing like a weekend trip to Tampa to help cure a sick team.

I would like to touch on Josh Beckett for a moment, though. Former Sun scribe Gerry Callahan made an interesting point this morning, talking about how elite pitchers don’t get pounded this badly, even on their worst nights. I thought about it and couldn’t really remember Schilling, Clemens, Pedro, Santana, Halladay, etc. looking so bad unless injured.

I’m not saying Beckett won’t ever get to that class…he is still very young. But you do have to stop and wonder why he hasn’t been able to put an entire season together. The injuries account for part of it, but I still can’t help feeling there’s something missing. The kid was unhittable up until he stupidly plunked a Toronto batter in the 8th inning last Friday. All of a sudden, he morphed into Lenny DiNardo, giving up more gopher balls than a Caddyshack groundskeeper.

Anyone else having doubts about Beckett’s ability to put it all together? Can Curt Schilling help get this guy’s head straightened out, much like Roger Clemens did for him a few years back?

Final Score
Red Sox 1
Indians 7

Failed Experiment: Can we finally put this Bard/Wakefield experiment out of its misery? 4 more passed balls last night, 10 in 5-starts on the season…haven’t seen a marriage produce results this bad since Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston!

If the Sox insist on someone other than Jason Varitek catching the knuckleballer, can they at least do whatever is necessary to get Doug Mirabelli back from the Padres. It’s not like they need him…he’s just sitting behind a washed up Mike Piazza. What do you say…David Wells for Mirabelli and Dave Roberts?

Catching Up: While on the subject of former Red Sox, I figured this might be a good time to check on how a few of last year’s fan favorites are doing in their new digs:

Johnny Damon: .286 AVG, .374 OBP, 1-HR, 10-RBI, 15-Runs, 5-SB
Doug Mirabelli: .167 AVG, .318 OBP, 1-Run, goose eggs everywhere else
Bill Mueller: .320 AVG, .435 OBP, 2-HR, 13-RBI, 9-Runs
Kevin Millar: .209 AVG, .264 OBP, 2-HR, 10-RBI, 11-Runs
Edgar Renteria: .365 AVG, .400 OBP, 2-HR, 11-RBI, 10-Runs, 1-SB

And the one that really hurts right now:

Bronson Arroyo: 4-0, 2.34 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 30-K’s in 34.2 Innings

OUCH!!!

Today's entry in our never-ending quest for humor leads us to a little fun at the expense of Red Sox Nation’s favorite target; Alex Rodriguez.

In the TV business, they always warn you to be careful what you do or say when a camera is pointing in your direction. You never know when that red light will go on and catch in the middle of a no-no.

Seems the Yankees 3rd baseman forgot the golden rule of television and the result is a humorous close-up captured live. In the old days, it would have ended there, seen only by Baltimore and New York baseball fans. But thanks to the wonders of modern day technology and one of my favorite sites, YouTube.com, it will be forever immortalized on the World Wide Web.

So with all due respect to the classic poem Casey at the Bat, here’s the link to A-Rod at the Bat.

Enjoy!

The main reason sports fans say they dislike the media is because they view reporters and sports personalities as having an “agenda.� While I’d like to defend the profession by saying most try their best to be unbiased and give both sides of a story, I have to admit that those who cover athletes often get too close to them to have any objectivity. This happens even with the best in the business.

Case in point; Peter King sounding foolish this morning trying to defend Brett Favre. And I like Peter King. I enjoy listening to and reading him because he’s well-connected and usually brings a fresh, outsider’s perspective to a Patriots fan base growing increasingly yahoo.

When discussing the ripping Favre is getting for waiting so long to announce his intentions for the upcoming season, King actually said something to the effect of; well, Packers management told him to take all the time he needed to make his decision. No one told him to decide before the draft.

No one told him to decide before the draft? Are you kidding me? How many hits to the helmet does it take before you forget that the team you play for, a team that’s rewarded you quite handsomely I might add, needs to know if its highest paid player at the most important position will actually retire before it goes into the biggest weekend of the off-season?

Now, I’m sure Brett Favre has given King plenty of good scoops through the years, but he loses a ton of credibility by defending his actions, especially with that lame excuse.

Frankly, I think Favre is the most overrated player in the history of the NFL. He’s 22-interceptions shy of breaking the all-time record, and his biggest moment in the last 10-years was a cameo in There’s Something About Mary. His recent behavior is incredibly selfish and an insult to the Packers and the most loyal and rabid football fans in the country.

Perhaps that’s why in a recent poll cited by King, a Wisconsin newspaper poll with about 11,000 respondents, 81% said the Packers should trade Brett Favre. King, no doubt, was part of the 19%.

What are your thoughts on Favre? Should he have made his intentions known sooner? Should he retire and spare himself the indignity of breaking the dubious record? Would Cameron Diaz even give him a second look after his pathetic performance last year?

And what about those of us in the media? What drives you nuts about the way we go about our jobs? Who are the worst offenders? Who are the ones you like?

Final Score
Red Sox 8
Indians 6

Positively Negative: A big win for Boston’s Boys of Summer, with lots of positives to talk about. A win on the road against a good opponent…Curt Schilling keeps his team in the game against a tough offense…Manny and Papi prove they can carry this team offensively when they’re both going good…and the bullpen’s Big-3 close the door once more.

So naturally, I’m going to nit-pick. Sorry! Can’t help myself…I’m a Sox fan!

I really like Terry Francona as a manger. I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again. I think he’s the perfect guy for this team, in this market. I rarely disagree with his moves because I think he has very logical reasons for almost everything he does. The numbers generally back him up.

So why then does he insist on leaving Curt Schilling in games longer than is necessary and statistically smart? I know he’s a horse. I know he loves to get the ball and finish what he started. But sending him out to start the 7th inning when he’s already thrown 111 pitches in tough conditions makes absolutely no sense at all. Especially when you consider the Sox were playing after an off day and the bullpen was rested.

For a guy who relies on numbers so much, he ignores the most important one when it comes to Schilling; after 105 pitches, the big righty becomes a glorified batting practice pitcher. Schilling himself admitted on WEEI this morning that his stats are awful after that magic mark. He has no explanation for it, but even this incredibly proud man knows it’s true. It’s true of every major league pitcher.

If he knows it, you know it and I know it, I’m sure the manager knows it. So why was he brought out to start the 7th Tuesday night? Why does Schilling always seem to be left in the game an inning too long? Anyone?

I couldn’t let this story go by;

News Flash: Ricky Manning Jr. was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Manning reportedly was part of a group that beat up a man at a Los Angeles Denny’s. The former Panthers defensive back had just signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Bears last Friday.

Teddy’s Take: Who says blogging isn’t dangerous business!

The assault allegedly occurred because the victim was working on his laptop in the restaurant and Manning and his acquaintances began calling him a geek. When the man asked a Denny’s manager to intervene, Manning punched him in the face and friends joined in for a good old fashioned beat down, knocking the geek...I mean man...unconscious.

A couple of thoughts here; First…you’ve just signed a $21-million contract and you’re still reduced to beating up Denny’s customers at 3am? Time to re-evaluate your life! Second…how dare you call a guy working on a laptop a geek?

And here I thought all these people laughing at me were calling me a “Greek!�

In our never-ending quest to bring you the most "ass"-inine sports news out there, I think we've finally hit rock "bottom"...literally.

It's hard to feel sorry for they guy, especially since I have him on one of my fantasy team. (Hey...the walks alone make him a steal in the 8th round) He's one of the biggest jerks in the history of sports.

That said, dealing with this kind of stuff must get annoying after a while. Realize that this idiot is sitting in some pretty expensive seats, so you can imagine what's going on in the bleachers. And check out the guy laughing next to him. How great is that?

I'm not sure how much longer Barry Bonds has left in this game, but things like this are likely to speed up his departure. Just imagine what it would be like at Fenway!

So what do you think? Shall we start a pool on when Bonds heads for the disabled list, never to return?

O.K. all you Mel Kiper wannabes…here’s your chance to put your prognosticating skills to the test…and you don’t even have to make a fool of yourself on national TV in the process!

Tell us who you think the Patriots will select with their first pick in the upcoming NFL draft. The person, or people, who correctly guess the name will receive 2 Tickets to a Lowell Lock Monsters hockey game next year. Don’t worry…we will still honor the contest even if they’re not known as the Lock Monsters anymore!

To enter, send an email with your name (the real one), a valid email address, and the player you think the Patriots will select first to tpanos@lowellsun.com by noon (est.) Saturday, April 29, 2006. To avoid any confusion, make sure to list the player’s first and last name, as well as the school he attended. (Throw in the player’s position as well, if you really want to show off!)

You are also encouraged to enter your guess on this post, though you don’t have to give your real name if you don’t want to…a screen name will do just fine. That way, we can all laugh at you when you’re wrong!

Remember, only one entry per person and you must send an email with your contact info so I can get you the tickets if you win. No other disclaimers apply. Employees of the Lowell Sun, friends and family, convicted felons, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, anyone, anyone at all…may enter!

For you beginners out there, here's a little draft helper courtesy of the AP and LowellSun.com.

Good luck and may the force be with you!

Something’s missing.

The calendar says late April, like it always does. The weather is alternately warm and wet, like it always is. The Red Sox season is well underway. And the Patriots are busy gearing up for this weekend’s NFL draft. Everything seems normal.

Still, something’s missing.

The youngsters out there might not realize it, but if you came to sports consciousness in the 70’s and 80’s, you know what I’m talking about. This was always a two team town in Spring. Only those teams used to be the Bruins and Celtics, not the Patriots and Red Sox.

This might come as a shock to those who think Fenway Park was always packed to capacity with zealots willing to tolerate ridiculous ticket prices and criminal parking costs. It used to be you had to go to Duke Lacrosse parties to get violated like that.

There was also a time when the Pas draft choice was relegated to a 30-second television news snippet and a mention in next day’s paper. Now, we watch breathlessly as ESPN provides wall-to-wall coverage on a screen that’s 15% video and 85% graphics and scrolling letters. Only in such an environment can Mel Kiper go from “Eddie Munster all grown up� to a “guru.�

Maybe I’m just getting old, but I miss the old days. April, May and early June are supposed to be about the playoffs. Greek Easter Sunday used to be a delicate balancing act between going to church, working the restaurant, devouring a lamb feast, and watching Larry Bird chew up and spit out some poor, helpless Bucks or Hawks. I’m sorry, but a David Ortiz bunt single in an early season contest doesn’t create quite the same stir as Larry Legend’s classic shootout against Dominique Wilkins in Game 7.

The Bruins were an even bigger thrill back in the day. Because my mom wouldn’t let me watch TV on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, I remember having to sneak to the television to watch the Black and Gold turn opponents Black and Blue. One of my biggest thrills was as a 6-year old when my dad woke me up on a school night so I could watch Bobby Orr parade the Stanley Cup around Madison Square Garden. Now I fall asleep watching the parade of losers skating around the new Boston Garden.

The reasons for this dramatic shift in the area’s sports climate are many. We discuss them, along with other topics, daily on The Sun Blog. If you haven’t visited and chimed in yet, well, what are you waiting for?

Perhaps that’s part of the problem. Whereas every Red Sox and Patriots move is the subject of endless debate, mention of the Bruins and Celtics generates less excitement than an 84-year old at a nudist colony. It’s sad, but it’s true.

An entire generation has grown up without experiencing the passion that drove cities throughout Massachusetts to build ice rinks because of the Orr-led hockey boom. Go to any outdoor basketball court and you’ll see more kids wearing LeBron and Shaq jerseys than green number-34.

I hope the Red Sox and Patriots are paying attention. Despite recent success, there are signs they, too, are starting to take you for granted. You may not see it now, but there was a time when Bruins fans were also o.k. with losing the team’s best players and replacing them with unproven ones.

I’d hate to sit here 30-years from now, with the B’s and C’s in the midst of a playoff run, still thinking; something’s missing.

Final Score
Red Sox 6
Blue Jays 3

“Little� Papi Comes Up Big: David Ortiz continues to pound Toronto pitching and he’s even added a little “small ball� to the repertoire.

After belting another one yesterday, Big Papi now has 10-home runs in his last 13-games against the Jays. Perhaps more importantly, he added a bunt single against the shift teams have been deploying against him. “You gotta do what you gotta do� said the Sox DH. It says here if he keeps doing it, his power numbers may go down, but he’ll end up with a career high batting average and help the team more in the long run.

Far From D-O-N-E: A quick note here to reader Christo; I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong. Are you ready to take back your “Keith Foulke is done� argument? Seems to me the Red Sox now have the best of both worlds. A rock solid closer in Papelbon and a pretty good set up guy in Foulke.

How about the rest of you Foulke bashers? You have a different opinion now? And what about Big Papi? Should he bunt a few more times against the shift to try to draw teams out of it? Or should he just slug away and "hit it where they ain't"...over the fences?

He’s not in New England anymore, but Charlie Weis has got himself another quarterback with a golden arm...at least as far as high school players go.

This weekend Jimmy Clausen decided the former Patriots assistant coach was the guy for him, committing to Notre Dame and leaving the former Patriots head coach, Pete Carroll of USC, high and dry.

Clausen, the brother of former Tennessee University quarterback Casey Clausen, is ranked by many as the top high school prospect in the nation for the class of 2007. The California native weighs in at 6’3� and 200 pounds.

Last season Fighting Irish quarterback Brady Quinn set school records for passing yards in a season with 3,633 and touchdowns with 32.

By the time Clausen arrives, Quinn will have graduated, paving the way for the four years of Weis and Clausen.

Which happens next, the Patriots winning another Super Bowl, Notre Dame winning another national championship in football, or USC bouncing back for another national title?

Final Score
Red Sox 1
Blue Jays 8

“Woe� Canada: What is it about the Canadian national anthem that makes the Red Sox play such lousy baseball?

Boston’s Boys of Summer dropped their 4th game in 5-tries against their neighbors from the Great White North. With Lenny DiNardo facing Roy Halladay on the hill, this one looked like a mismatch from the get-go and it quickly turned into one. The Jays poured home 4-runs in the 1st inning and never looked back.

Me thinks the Sox have the wrong Wells. Vernon continued to pound Boston pitching, going 3-4 on the day, with 2-runs batted in. On the young season, he’s 10-24 with 4-HR’s and 11-RBI’s in 6-games.

Meanwhile, our own Mister Wells may be nearing the end. The Sox lefty sat down for a 1-on-1 interview that will air on Channel 7’s “Sports Xtra� program Sunday night at 11. From what I’m told, the 43-year old sounds an awful lot like a man who’s reached the end of the line and knows it.

If this is indeed the case and Wells can’t return to the form that allowed him to at least be an innings-eating workhorse, the Sox might be in the market for a starting pitcher sooner, rather than later. Unless, of course, you think DiNardo as a 5th starter is good enough for a team with World Series plans.

What’s the verdict out there? Is David Wells done? Should the Sox start giving Vernon Wells the “Bonds� treatment and walk him every time up? Are the Blue Jays a legitimate threat in the AL East?

Final Score
Red Sox 6
Blue Jays 7

Revenge Isn’t Sweet: Well, chalk this one up as a wasted opportunity. The Sox had Toronto dead to rights, 6-2 in the 8th and Josh Beckett working his magic on the mound. And then Boston’s new ace suffered a major league brain cramp.

With men on first and second in the top of the 8th, Blue Jays pitcher Jason Frasor hit Alex Gonzalez with a breaking pitch. Anyone who knows the game knows you don’t hit a banjo hitting shortstop with a breaking pitch with 2 runners on. Perhaps now we have better insight into why a kid with so much talent hasn’t been able to put it all together yet.

So Beckett decides to do the macho thing, drilling Aaron Hill right in the back with the first pitch in the bottom half of the inning. Next thing you know, Russ Adams and Vernon Wells go yard, Troy Glaus slaps a Mike Timlin offering over the wall, we go off to extra innings, and the Jays have a 7-6 victory.

Now I know baseball has its unwritten codes and this was only one game. The problem is, the Blue Jays now have the kind of victory you can build on. Here was this team that thought they were ready to take the next step and challenge Boston and New York. Rather than put them back in their place, the Sox have lost 3-of-4 to them and now throw Lenny DiNardo against Roy Halladay. Think the Jays are feeling good about themselves right about now? Is this a team Boston’s Boys of Summer will be able to scare anymore?

Perhaps next time, Beckett will remember that revenge is a dish best served cold!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Former Florida Marlins pitchers Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett duel tonight as the Red Sox travel north of the border.

Last year Burnett’s name was rumored to be involved with possible trade talks involving Boston and Florida. Some reports were that the Marlins wanted to make him part of a package deal including new Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. In the off-season he became a free agent acquisition of the Blue Jays.

When asked last night what he could tell his teammates Burnett would bring to the mound tonight, Lowell said, “Heat. He throws hard. I mean he’s a guy who’s going to come after you. When he’s got his stuff it’s going to be tough, but we still a good team. One day of when we didn’t swing the bats too well doesn’t mean we’re not going to swing them well tomorrow. So, we got Josh throwing, hopefully he keeps doing what he’s doing. We should be fine.�

Burnett had an injury that forced him to miss some time, tonight will be his second start of the season. He got the loss in his first start after pitching seven innings, giving up four runs, and striking out five.

Wakefield a Bard-luck loser...

Rookie catcher Josh Bard’s passed ball last night gave him a total of six in four games catching for Tim Wakefield, equaling the number of passed balls Doug Mirabeli had in 33 games catching the knuckler last season.

“Obviously, I‘m very frustrated, very disappointed that I dropped the ball, but I felt like I stuck with my fundamentals you know, so I‘m disappointed.“ Bard said after last night’s game.

Last night’s passed ball led to the Devil Rays second run on a night when the Red Sox only put up one run.

Sox captain Jason Varitek said the passed balls aren’t as big an issue as the lack of hitting from the team when Wakefield’s on the mound. Tuesday night and Wednesday night Boston exploded all over Devil Rays pitching, but somehow Wakefield has ended up with the short end of the stick, getting 5 runs to work in his four starts.

“We haven’t scored runs for Wake, that’s the bigger issue,� Varitek said.

On the Pawtucket shuttle…

Following Wednesday night’s game, the Red Sox optioned Red Sox outfielder Adam Stern to Triple-A Pawtucket and purchased the contract of Willie Harris from Pawtucket.

Harris entered last night’s game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and replaced Dustan Mohr in center field. Mohr hit his second homer of the season last night to give the Sox their lone run. Harris also had a single in the ninth inning.

Folks in Pawtucket will get to see Andy Marte pay a visit. The third base prospect, now with the Indians system, was part of the deal that sent Edgar Renteria to Atlanta as well as the deal that brought Coco Crisp to Boston.

PawSox pitchers have been mowing down batters so far this season. Manny Delcarmen and Cla Merideth haven’t let up a run so far this season, and lefty Abe Alvarez has gone 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA.

In Double-A Portland Craig Hansen has yet to give up an earned run in four appearances out of the bullpen.

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the state of the Red Sox after the first 16 games.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Scott Kazmir didn’t need to shoot off his mouth to answer Curt Schilling’s comments about young pitchers with control issues, specifically Kazmir, causing some of the bad blood between the Red Sox and Devil Rays. Instead, he answered it on the mound by leaving the Red Sox hitters guessing all night as Tampa Bay took tonight’s meeting, 5-1.

The 22-year-old hurled 5.2 innings, allowing four hits, and issuing one walk, while striking out seven. His fastball was still registering 93 miles per hour in the sixth inning. He was taken out after 101 pitches with two outs and a 2-2 count to Mike Lowell because of muscle cramps in his thumb and wrist on his throwing hand. Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz combined to go 0-for-5 with a walk.

Mike Lowell on Kazmir: “The report is he throws so hard and he was actually mixing up his pitches real well and baring down when he had to. So, he did a good job today.�

“The last couple of games we’ve swung the bat well as a team, but sometimes you run into a guy who’s got his A-game.“

Dustan Mohr on Kazmir: “We put together good at-bats, we just didn’t have anything to show for it. You know, sometimes that happens. You get a guy like Kazmir throwing tonight and it makes it tough on us, especially when they take a 2-1 lead and he’s throwing that way.�

Tim Wakefield again got little in the way of run support from the BoSox. Last Saturday he got 0 runs in a 3-0 loss.

The Red Sox are now off to Toronto where they’ll face the newest arm on the Blue Jays staff, A.J. Burnett.

Let's hear Red Sox Nation sound off on tonight's ball game. I know Red Sox fans aren't shy. What's your take?

Final Score
Rays 1
Red Sox 9

Top of their Game: 15-games into the season and the Red Sox sit atop the baseball world with a league best 11-4 record. In today’s Lowell Sun, Chaz Scoggins recaps last night’s 9-1 rout of the Rays in which Kevin Youkilis was the offensive hero and Curt Schilling kept the Tampa bats in check for 6-innings.

Now I know its early GeorgeHR, and I know we haven’t exactly played any playoff contenders except for the Blue Jays, but Red Sox Nation has to be quite pleased with the results. The pitching has been good, the defense even better, and the offense is doing what’s necessary to win. Considering they’ve gone a week and half without one of their key components, Coco Crisp, the start is all the more impressive.

A quick note here about Schilling; never before has the big righty started a season 4-0. I think that’s more an indictment of the lousy teams he’s played on, but still it’s a surprising stat when you consider how good he’s been over the last decade or so. The thing I find even more impressive is that Schilling says he’s still not clicking on all cylinders.

Isn’t that a scary thought?

Posted By LYNN WORTHY, Sun Staff

It’s officially draft time. With a final record of 33-49 (identical to that of Minnesota and old pals Ricky Davis and Mark Blount), the only teams with a better lottery status will be Toronto, New York, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Portland.

The final record is a full 12 games worse than last year’s (45-37) and Beantown will not see even one playoff series in the Garden, but the Celtics come away from this season with optimism as well as a couple distinct areas of concentration for next year.

The good, the bad, the young

First, second, and third, among those areas of concentration will improving on the matador defense and the 99.5 points per game opponents tossed in this year. In the Celtics defense, it’s by no means a surprise that team defense was lacking in a group where half the guys aren’t old enough to rent a car yet. If NBA defense was on an even level with that of high school and college defenses, well, Kobe Bryant would score 80 points at least twice a week. Of course, Kobe would probably take 50-60 shots per game to do it.

Another area that has been painfully obvious all season long is that the Celtics can cough up the ball better than almost anyone in the NBA, literally. The 16.6 turnovers per game given away was the second worst team total this season behind only the junior varsity team known as the New York Knicks. For clarification, being in the same breath with the Knicks, in just about any category this year, means make changes or get out of the game of basketball.

Still, there were bright spots

Paul Pierce elevated his game this year, playing better defensively, stepping up late in games, taking the leadership position on this young squad, and raising his offensive game to the point where he finished as the sixth-leading scorer in the association just ahead of Dallas’s Dirk Nowitzki.

Unlike Boston’s other winter sports team, the Celtics actually benefited from their in-season trade. Shipping out Ricky Davis and Mark Blount’s ridiculous contract helped open the door for guys like Kendrick Perkins and Ryan Gomes to get more playing time as well as Gerald Green to get quality minutes later in the season. In the final 10 games Gomes averaged 12.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game, while Green put up 12.7 points per game and shot 48 percent from the field in 25.7 minutes per game during that same span.

The Doc is in


“It’s great to have potential, but it’s better to have it realized,� Rivers said in his post-game press conference last night. He acknowledged, as he has all year, that there have been several signs of development over the course of the season, but he stressed that the season was not what the organization had hoped, pointing out that there is a difference between some guys having had “success� and the team being “successful.�

“The key for us is our young guys can't believe that they've already achieved anything; they haven't," Rivers said. "We're not going to the playoffs. We didn't have a very good year. And most of them, even though they showed signs of being good players, were not consistent.�

Yesterday on Boston sports radio station WEEI, Danny Ainge discussed the season and said he does believe Doc Rivers is the guy to guide the Celtics in their next stage of development, and he expects Doc to be back next year despite some rumors that he may be looking to get closer to his family still living in Florida.

Ainge also added that he was especially happy with the way Delonte West progressed this year, saying point guard isn’t necessarily a primary concern for next year, but he also touted West’s versatility and ability to play the two spot along with another point guard.

What are you thoughts about the Celtics season and future?

Bill Belichick held his annual pre-draft press conference this morning, and boy was he enlightening.

The Patriots normally secretive coach openly discussed draft strategy, broke down the strength’s and weaknesses of specific players and ran down a list of trades available to the team should they decide to move up or down a few spots.

In case my sarcasm didn’t give it away, this is one yearly Patriots tradition I don’t mind skipping out on. Reporters poke and prod, looking for the slightest hint about who the Pats will select in the first round, questions which the Pats coach dodges more artfully than a Charles Dickens character. Belichick and Scott Pioli then pull a Logan Mankins, Ben Watson or Daniel Graham out of the hat, leaving every New England draft watcher wondering; who dat?

Still, there were a couple of interesting thoughts about this particular draft class. For one, Belichick thinks the players at the top of the board are less accomplished or have had less opportunity to prove themselves than guys from years past. This is surprising when you consider big names like Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Vince Young are atop most boards. I doubt he's talking about them, so I think this shows how much BB thinks of the non-skill position players available.

He does think this class of linebackers is pretty deep for the type of player the Pats require in their system. He also doesn’t think an injury like the one LenDale White is battling affects where he’s taken, provided it’s not a Willis McGahee type injury that forces one to miss a significant amount of time. And when asked about his preference for “big� running backs, BB said; “I wouldn’t rule out anybody. Reggie Bush, I think he could play for us.�

So with all that valuable info now available to you Mel Kiper wannabes, what do you think the Patriots should do with their first round pick? Trade up? Down? Out? Stay where they are? Any specific players you’d like to see?

Final Score
Rays 4
Red Sox 7

Hero of the Night: As is the case with most successful teams, the Red Sox are getting key contributions from different people every game. Mark Loretta played hero Monday. Tuesday, it was a tag-team effort from Kevin Youkilis and Adam Stern. Make sure to check out Chaz Scoggins' game story in today's Sun.

The Greek God of Walks provided the lumber with a clutch, 2-out, 2-run double in the bottom of the 8th. He came around to score on a Loretta single, accounting for the 7-4 final. For the year, Youk is batting .318 with a stellar .426 on base percentage. He’s yet to homer, but he’s a nice upgrade over Kevin Millar defensively at first base. He’s big enough where I’m guessing the power numbers will eventually come.

Stern, who hasn’t hit a lick since a big day in Baltimore, saved the game with a spectacular diving catch for the final out in the 9th. Jonathan Papelbon had loaded the bases as he struggled for the first time this year. Enter the speedy center fielder who dove to rob Damon Hollins of a hit. Had that ball gone past Stern, all three runs would likely have scored to tie the game.

I’m not sure the plan when Coco Crisp returns, but I’d much rather see Stern on the roster than Dustan Mohr when that time comes. I think Dave Roberts pretty much demonstrated the value of a role player who can come in and play good defense while also being a late-inning threat on the base paths.

The Sox record is now 10-4…the Yankees are in last place…the Orioles stink, no matter what they're record says…Tampa is improved…and the Blue Jays appear to be legit. Is it too early to make any determinations? Will this be the year the Bronx Bombers don’t recover from their slow start?

Final Score
Mariners 6
Red Sox 7

Making his Mark: The Fenway faithful got their first taste of what Mark Loretta can do Monday. The 2nd baseman came to town with a reputation as a productive and pesky hitter who would score a ton of runs from the top of this batting order, but has struggled to get on base thus far.

He only got one hit yesterday, but boy did he make it count. Loretta’s first home run of the year was the game-winner in a come-from behind 7-6 victory over Seattle. He also helped out with the glove, making a diving play in the top of the 9th that helped hold the Mariners to just one run in the inning. Let’s hope this is the start of a nice little run for the newcomer.

Nixon for President: I’ve never been a huge Trot Nixon backer, but after his latest absence I might just become President of his fan club. He never became the superstar Lou Gorman led us to believe he’d be, but he’s an above average bat and glove and better than any alternatives the Sox have right now.

The batting order just looks a lot more potent with him in the 5-hole and the outfield is much more secure with him roaming right field instead of Wily Mo Pena. I know Pena is young and can hammer left-handed pitching, but he is such a liability defensively, Terry Francona might be better off letting Trot face southpaws at home and saving Wily Mo for less treacherous ballparks than Fenway.

Overall, 9-4 is a great start considering the Crisp and Nixon injuries. Can the Sox keep up this pace? Or will their weaknesses be exposed once they get into the iron of their schedule?

I love my job. Whether it’s been as a behind the scenes producer, on-air “talent,� or “king of the keyboard,� I’ve been blessed to cover sports for 14-years. In one way or another, I’ve enjoyed every single event I covered.

That is, all except one…the Boston Marathon.

Each year, as they did Monday, thousands of runners from around the world gather in the tiny town of Hopkinton, Mass to begin the 26-mile trek to the Hancock building. And each year, as I did Monday, I sit back and wonder what on earth they’re thinking.

I know why the elite runners do it. In Kenya, the average yearly salary is $1,000. This year’s winner, Robert Cheruiyot made 100-times that, all for running a distance he used to cover 5-days a week going to school.

I also understand why people run for charity. There’s something noble about the Shonda Schillings, the Micky Wards and the thousands of anonymous runners suffering for a good cause. If not, Mother Theresa sure did waste 87-good years.

And the one time even a miserable jerk like me cheers is when Dick and Rick Hoyt cross the finish line. That Dick does it in better time than most who carry less weight on their bodies than he pushes up and down Heartbreak Hill might just be the athletic story of our lifetime.

It’s the rest of the pack I worry about. What’s wrong with you people? Remember laughing at Forrest Gump running just for the sake of running? What? You think the idea of torturing your body for 26-miles is any less ridiculous? Dressing like Superman, Wonder Woman or Father Guido Sarducci doesn’t help your cause, either.

Look, if I’m going to travel to the Hancock building, you can be damn sure I’m going to check on my investments. And believe me, I’m taking my car. If you see me running, that means the meal I just had doesn’t agree with my stomach.

Which brings me to another reason I don’t like the Boston Marathon; it completely killed my crush on Uta Pippig. You remember her, the cute little German who ran the course with that big, infectious smile and finished first 3-consecutive times? Yeah, that’s the same Pippig who crossed the finish line covered in her own waste when she won in 1996. Up till that point, it never once crossed my mind that two and a half hours is a long time between pit stops, if you know what I mean.

Face it, running long distances just isn’t much fun. I don’t care what runners say about the thrill. Their faces tell a different story. Don’t believe me? Next time you’re out on a nice ride with your music blaring and your air conditioning on full blast, take a good look at the faces of the joggers you see. That tortured look on their faces sure makes me want to hop out and join in the fun.

Please don’t lecture me about the health benefits. Jim Fixx wrote the book that started the jogging craze in the 70’s and he died of a heart attack at the age of 52. Know what he was doing when he died? Jogging!

Not me. If I’m going down, I’m going down happy. I can almost visualize it right now; stretched out on the couch…an empty plate that used to be a juicy steak dinner on the table…the laptop displaying my fantasy baseball team’s exploits right in front of me…the remote control firmly in my grasp as I watch a sporting event.

Any sporting event….except the Boston Marathon!

That's my take on the Boston Marathon and running in general...what's yours? Any of you out there ever run a marathon? Can you tell me why you do it?

In case you didn’t notice, the Bruins season ended this past Saturday. As someone who came to love sports in the golden days of Orr, Espo and the Big Bad Bruins, I’m disgusted at how much apathy exists. Even the diehard “Hockey Krishnas� seem to have abandoned ship.

Well, for those of you who believe hockey begins and ends with the black and gold, let me suggest a new team to root for…San Jose! Thanks to the acquisition of Joe Thornton, the Sharks swam from 11th to 5th place in the Western Conference. With one game remaining, Jumbo Joe leads the NHL in scoring with 125-points. His 96-assists are 26 more than Jason Spezza in 2nd place.

The Bruins meanwhile, finished above only Washington and Pittsburgh in the East. Seeing as how the Capitals and Penguins at least have super rookies Alex Ovechkin and Sydney Crosby to build around, I’d say the B’s are the most pathetic team in the conference. I can’t think of better punishment for Jacobs, Sinden, O’Connell and the rest of the clowns running that once proud operation than to watch Thornton skating around the rink with Lord Stanley’s Cup.

So how about it…will you join me on the San Jose bandwagon? Or have the B’s ruined your love of hockey for good?

Final Score
Mariners 2
Red Sox 3

Dueling Aces: It appears Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett have a nice little competition going here. Beckett improved to 3-0 with yesterday’s victory over Seattle, matching Schilling’s perfect start.

Boston's pair of aces and the rest of the Sox starters are reminding me of some famous baseball sayings. When Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain pitched the 1948 Boston Braves to the pennant without much help from the rest of the staff, Gerald Hern of the Boston Post penned a poem that eventually evolved to; “Spahn and Sain and pray for rain. When young Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana (before his junk ball days) toiled for the otherwise pathetic California Angels, the saying became; “Tanana and Ryan and 3 days of cryin’.�

With the Sox aces 6-0 and the rest of the team only 2-4, the Sox may require their own version of the saying; “Beckett and Schilling and if the lord’s willing.�

That's the best I can come up with...you have any other suggestions?

Final Score
Mariners 3
Red Sox 0

First for Francona: The intent of this “Noise from the Nation� feature was to give Red Sox fans a chance to do what they do best...second guess and debate every move no matter how meaningful or meaningless it may be in the long run. Hey, WEEI’s made a living off that strategy all these years. Usually, it’s the manager on the hot seat. I guess it’s a testament to how good a job I think Terry Francona does that I waited till the 11th game to really question one of his moves.

My problem with yesterday was the lineup. Do me a favor; check out that box score and count for me the easy outs in that batting order. There were just far too many of them for a team that considers itself a World Series contender.

Now I understand there are some decent reasons for what we saw Saturday at Fenway. The Coco Crisp and Trot Nixon injuries have taken two good weapons out of the manager’s arsenal. I also understand the need to give guys time off here and there, especially with the Mariners tossing a righty in between two southpaws. And of course, there’s this silly (I think) rule that Tim Wakefield must have his personal catcher and that it can’t be the best defensive catcher on the team (Varitek).

But is it necessary to have Adam Stern, Joey Cora, Josh Bard, J.T. Snow and Alex Gonzalez all in the lineup the same day? That’s just far too many weak or unproven hitters for one day, especially a day when the unpredictable Wakefield is on the mound and Manny Ramirez is still swinging the lumber like Fanny Ramirez. (apologies to my female readers!)

Case in point: Scoreless game in the 2nd…the Sox load the bases with no outs. The next three batters are Gonzalez, Stern and Cora. You see what I’m saying here? Next thing you know; strikeout, strikeout, ground out…end of inning. Somehow you just knew with that lineup there wouldn’t be too many more scoring chances on the day. There weren’t!

So that’s my beef with the manager. Do you have any? Or is everyone out there pretty happy with a 7-4 start?

Final Score
Mariners 1
Red Sox 2

“Ace�-ing His Test: I told you when I first started this blog I wouldn’t be afraid to take controversial stands. I also said I wouldn’t be afraid to admit when I was wrong. Well…I was wrong about Curt Schilling. Dead wrong!

I doubted whether a 39-year old could return to form after major ankle surgery. Stupid me! Not only has Schilling come back, but he’s better than he’s ever been in a Red Sox uniform. Even the big righty himself admits he pitched most of 2004 with a bad wheel, and he still won 21-games. He’s even better so far this year.

The numbers don’t lie; 3-0…1.64 ERA…0.64 WHIP. That last stat, my friends, translates to “unhittable.� Last night’s performance against Seattle was the best yet. “Curt on the Car Phone� dialed up only 104-pitches to make it through 8-innings, giving up a run, 3-hits, and ringing up 7-K’s along the way.

Now I’m guessing this level of complete dominance won’t continue. He’s bound to suffer a few bumps along the road, and who knows, perhaps that near 40-year old body will wear down come the dog days of August. But for now, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy watching one of the best at his craft working for the home team. And I’ll be glad I was wrong.

In “Kneed� of More Rest: On the other hand, I fear I’m being proven correct about David Wells..

For the second time in the young season, Wells is headed back to the disabled list because of a bum knee. The team called up Jermaine Van Buren from Pawtucket to replace the lefty on the roster, though there’s no word yet on who will take Wells’ spot in the rotation. Van Buren has tossed 4-scoreless innings of relief for the PawSox.

What I want to know from you is; who should start in place of Wells…DiNardo? Someone else from Pawtucket? Or better yet, is it time to do what they should have done right out of spring training and inserted Jonathan Papelbon into the rotation and cut their losses with Wells forever?

A bit of clarification here for loyal reader and poster T2 who writes:

"Come on Teddy, how do you define depth? Starters 3 thru 5 consists of Wakefield, Clement and Wells. 2 of 3 of which have winning lifetime records. And a bullpen that consists of not only Foulke, Timlin and Papelbon, but also Riske, Tavarez, Dinardo with Craig Hansen waiting in the wings. I'd say that's pretty deep."

Depth is difficult to define because it’s so subjective. (What isn’t in sports?) I guess the best way to put it is to borrow from former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart who famously said of pornography; “I know it when I see it.� So pardon me while I make like Edward Scissorhands and cut up the argument.

The Yankees had depth with Pettitte, Clemens, Wells, El Duque, Mussina and the rest of the 90’s dynasty crew. The Braves had it with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Avery. The White Sox had it (temporarily) with last year’s Buehrle, Contreras, Garcia and Garland collection. The 2006 Red Sox do not.

Let’s leave aside middle relief for a minute, because I can’t believe you have any faith in a crew consisting of DiNardo, Riske, Seanez and Tavarez. I'll worry about depth in the minor leagues when it gets to the majors...too many Brian Roses and Bobby Sprowls have passed before my eyes to get excited about the future...I live in the present.

Now let’s focus on the three starters mentioned. Wakefield, while incredibly valuable as an innings eater, has a career record of 145-124 with a 4.29 ERA while pitching for mostly good or very good Red Sox teams. I’d consider that average.

I looked up the definition of mediocre in the dictionary and it had Matt Clement’s picture next to it. Clement’s career record is 83-82 with a 4.41 ERA…almost perfectly mediocre! Next to his picture, the dictionary said; also see choker.

Clement’s ERA before the all-star game last year; 3.85…after the break; 5.72. I know it’s popular to blame the line drive he took to the head for the decline, so I looked at the year before. Clement’s 2004 ERA pre-all-star game; 2.91…after; 5.09. See a pattern? Think the Cubs knew something when they yanked him from the rotation in September of ‘04? And I’ll spare us the horror show of his “mound meltdown� in Game-1 against Chicago last year.

As for my favorite whipping boy, David Wells need I remind people...he’s 43-freakin years old!!! His career record does us absolutely no good the older he gets. It's like saying Elizabeth Taylor was hot once. No kidding, but Hugh Hefner dropped her number from the speed dial years ago.

Those are my thoughts on the Sox depth. I don’t see it…case closed...unless T2 or someone else would like to re-open it!

Final Score
Blue Jays 8
Red Sox 6

Follow the Formula: The blueprint that worked so well week one (solid starting pitching, timely hitting and lights out relief) has been replaced by extended batting practice, too many men left on base and mop-up duty. The results, not surprisingly, haven’t been very good. Dave Pevear has last night’s game story in today’s Sun.

All I’ll add is that the Sox starting pitching isn’t as deep as some members of “The Nation� believe. Beckett and Schilling are great, but beyond that, mediocrity runs rampant until you get to Timlin, Foulke and Papelbon. Two great starters are enough in the playoffs, but you must get there first. Remember the year Pedro and D-Lowe both won 20 and the BoSox still didn’t make the post-season?

Clement, in particular, reminds me of the chick you pick up at closing time. She (he) may look o.k. in your drunken stupor, but when you take the beer goggles off in the morning (games that count) you realize she (he) isn’t as attractive as you were led to believe.

Manny being Manny: In 2005, Manny Ramirez didn't hit his first HR until April 16th, at which point he was batting just .211. Well, Manny is off to a slow start again, and it’s killing the offense right now. Perhaps it’s the delayed spring training arrival. Perhaps it’s unhappiness in Boston. Perhaps it’s the wrong hair style. Whatever is causing it, I hope it ends soon because as we found out last year, every single game counts in a pennant race…April or September.

Far From D-O-N-E: As for my friend Christo who keeps chiming in about Keith Foulke, I hope you watched last night. The guy is pitching very well since opening day and if it weren’t for a Wily Mo Pena misplay, he’d have four consecutive scoreless appearances. If you ask me, I’d rather see Foulke on the mound instead of that Yankee in Red Sox clothing (Wells) any day of the week!

So what’s the thought process now gang…are Boston’s Boys of Summer as good as they looked the first week, as bad as they looked the last two nights, or somewhere in between?

Posted By LYNN WORTHY, Sun Staff

Something is missing from the last class of high school entries into the NBA.

That something?

Numbers.

Apparently, the lack of eye-popping numbers from the latest crop of youngsters left the folks at USA Today with an empty feeling. On Thursday they drew attention to the less than gaudy averages of the eight rookies drafted straight out of high school this past year.

They even pointed out that five of the eight had spent time in the Developmental League. And they did include our own Gerald Green of the Boston Celtics and his 3.4 points per game and just 209 minutes in 27 games.

How short a memory we must have. It doesn’t take a lot to think back to Kobe Bryant’s first year with the Lakers or Jermaine O‘Neal‘s first two seasons with the Trailblazers.

Bryant scorched scoresheets with 7.6 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game in 1996-1997. O’Neal filled up stat columns to the tune of 4.1 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game in 1996-1997 and 4.5 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game in 1997-1998.

Wow, I see what they mean. The numbers guys like Green are putting up are completely unacceptable. Especially these:

• Apr. 7 against Philadelphia - 6 of 9 shooting for 17 points in 25 minutes



• Apr. 9 against New York - 6 of 13 shooting for 14 points in 35 minutes



• Apr. 12 against Indiana - 10 of 16 shooting for 22 points in 27 minutes

In other words, don't worry about the high school kids. The final bell hasn't sounded just yet.

Where do you fall when it comes to this year’s crop of high school draftees like Gerald Green? On the NBA’s new rule stopping high school kids from being drafted? On Gerald Green’s future in Celtic green?

Final Score
Blue Jays 8
Red Sox 4

Boomer Goes Bust: Guess David Wells isn’t ready to pitch to major leaguers after all. At least he was kind enough to throw extra batting practice for the Blue Jays. 7-runs and 10-hits in 4+ innings is a bad enough line, but it could have been a lot worse were it not for one outstanding play and two double plays started by Alex Gonzalez. Perhaps next time, Wells will listen when his manager tells him he should toss some rehab assignments. Until then, he should shut his mouth and be grateful any team is willing to pay $8-million a year to an old, overweight loudmouth whose best days are far behind him.

Lots of “Glove� for Alex: Speaking of Gonzalez, he is phenomenal in the field. He can’t hit a lick, but at least he’s not letting it affect his play. So far, the Fenway faithful have been appreciative, but I wonder how much longer he can hit under his weight before the masses turn on him. For now, I’m willing to just sit back and enjoy the glove work.

Which brings up an interesting debate…the Red Sox never really had good defensive shortstops while I grew up watching them. Even Nomar was very overrated as a fielder, in my opinion. But the last 3-years have brought us Pokey Reese, Orlando Cabrera and now Gonzalez. (Notice I didn’t include Rent-a-wrek on the list) Those three have finally taught us what outstanding shortstop play is all about.

So which one of the three do you think is the best defensively? In my mind, Cabrera was the better all-around player, Pokey the best fielder, though a few more games and I might give the nod to Gonzo.

What’s your take? And how about the charming Mr. Wells. Is he done? Or was last ngiht just a bump in the road?

News Flash: The Patriots and Richard Seymour reach agreement on a long-term contract extension. Details have not been released and the deal can’t officially be signed until August, but Seymour is expected to be among the highest paid defensive lineman in the league.

Teddy’s Take: The best news to come out of Foxboro this off-season! On a team that promotes the “system� above individual accomplishment, this is one guy, along with Tom Brady, the Patriots can ill afford to lose. As much as Seymour has accomplished already, it’s hard to believe he’s only 26-years old.

I’ve been a bit critical of Bill Belichick this off-season, but he hit paydirt with this move. There’s been lots of speculation that part of the reason the Pats were reluctant to hand out generous contracts to retain some of their free agents was because they were keeping money aside to sign Seymour and Deion Branch. Without knowing the exact figures, it’s safe to assume the 4-time Pro Bowler will eat up a good chunk of the $20-million or so New England is under the salary cap without crippling the team’s future financial flexibility.

A quick word about Seymour here; as big a terror as he is on the field, he’s been nothing but a model citizen off it. He’s a great representative for the franchise in the media and in public, and the way he handled his dissatisfaction with last year’s contract situation scored some major points with me. Seymour held out briefly, but kept his mouth shut and attended the ring ceremony at Robert Kraft’s house and never became a disruption. It’s good to have him here for the long-term!

So Pats fans, did you let out a collective sigh of relief? Or was there never any doubt about Seymour going anywhere else? Is Branch next in line for a big payday? Is this move enough, or does Belichick still have a ways to go to plug all the holes left by free agency?

Final Score
Blue Jays 3
Red Sox 5

Backing Beckett: The Fenway Faithful got their first up-close look at Josh Beckett, and they surely like what they see. Despite 1st inning struggles, the Sox new ace held Toronto to one run in 7-inning