Francona discusses his, Ortiz’ ailments

Posted by Extra Bases July 16, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Red Sox manager Terry Francona confirmed a report by the Globe's Gordon Edes today that said he would have an injection to alleviate numbness and pain on his left side today at Massachusetts General Hospital. Francona told WEEI's Dale and Holley show that the procedure is connected to an old back injury, and that today's day off is, "the only time I could do it."

"My body is falling apart at times," added Francona. "I've had a ton of numbness and weakness in my left arm. I've got to get it taken care of, because we've got a lot of baseball left to play." The Sox resume play Friday night in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels.

In other injury-related news, Francona said David Ortiz will play tomorrow in Pawtucket and will play for the PawSox until Sunday's game against the Toledo Mud Hens.

Ortiz showed flashes of his pre-injury self during batting practice before the All-Star game. "He was hitting some balls pretty deep up into that second deck, which is pretty good news for Red Sox fans," said Francona.

Pap’s Got a Beef

Posted by Mike Giardi July 15, 2008 at 6:05 pm

So one of the New York tabloids tries to stir up a little something something with regards to Jon Papelbon’s thoughts a couple of days ago that he should close the All-Star game. When I read the quotes, I thought, “no big deal.” But considering the headline “Papelbum” and the obvious discomfort those comments may have caused Mariano Rivera, the story got a life of its own.

Today, the Sox’s closer fired back. You gotta read our friend Rob Bradford’s account. Hey, there’s a reason why I surround myself with people like Bradford. He’s damn good, and he got Paps in an extremely truthful mood. And you know what? I completely agree with Paps. The media screwed him on this one, and he should be mad. Besides, the thing that comes through in the piece that started this whole tete-a-tete is the man’s confidence in his own abilities. That is precisely why Pap has excelled in that role, to go along with his obvious physical gifts.

Don’t change kid. Keep doing what you do, and keep slamming the door on the opposition. You can close for my team any time, and I’m sure that’s what Terry Francona’s told him.

Dressed Up and Playing Her Tune

Posted by Bob Ekstrom July 1, 2008 at 8:57 am

Welcome to July, the summer queen who is supposed to separate baseball’s cream from its crop, right? Well, our beloved Red Sox begin the month a game and a-half behind the Tampa Bay Rays, courtesy of last night’s 5-4 loss at Tropicana Field. It’s not the old Trop anymore says Jeff Horrigan, who has Justin Masterson (4-2) struggling with his command for the first time this season. Jeff Goldberg says the Sox start this series in a very different state than the Rays, which was evident from literally the first pitch, a B.J. Upton homer. Sean McAdam says the Rays were opportunistic in building their AL East lead last night. Bill Ballou reminds us it’s been all downhill since Boston’s high-water mark on Saturday night, when the Sox sat mightily atop the division. Gordon Edes can’t remember the last time the Rays’ crowd outnumbered Sox supporters at the Trop. Tampa has undoubtedly been reignited from the Tribune’s tips for fans , where Marc Lancaster reminds everyone the Sox are the new Evil Empire. Rob Bradford says there’s a different feel to the Trop this year, as the surreal setting last night illustrates.

In the wake of Saturday’s shoving incident, Bradford’s Red Sox Beat has the New Manny image already in the shop for repairs. McAdam has both Manny and skipper Terry Francona in damage control mode, trying to downplay the incident. Dan Shaughnessy calls out the Sox organization as “spineless” and labels them Manny enablers after this latest chapter.

Edes’ Red Sox Notebook has last night’s security beefed up in the wake of threats directed toward Manny and Coco Crisp, although they aren’t related to last month’s brawl with the Rays in Boston. Horrigan also has an account of the stepped-up security measures. Horrigan’s Red Sox Notebook has Big Papi on a slow recovery and officially out of this year’s All-Star Game. In his Red Sox Notes, Ballou has Ortiz reporting he won’t need surgery.

The C’s

With every title in Title Town comes the hangover and, as James Posey’s declaration for free agency yesterday attests, the Celtics are not exempt. Mark Murphy says that tight cap space around the NBA, coupled with Posey’s midlevel salary expectations, will make him hot this summer. Marc J. Spears says Posey will be the top offseason target for the C’s, who also failed to make Tony Allen a qualifying offer yesterday.

Pats

Karen Guregian features Randy Moss’s weekend work with youth, culminating with his golf tournament to raise funds for providing learning centers in West Virginia. With the good, comes some bad. Christopher L. Gasper has the details on Willie Andrews’ busy offseason, capped by his second arrest yesterday.

Odds & Sods

Tom King has former Sox infielder Brian Daubach returning to the area as hitting coach for the Nashua Pride. As the Sox tangle with the Rays in Tampa this week, Dan Duggan recalls Daubach’s involvement in an infamous Tropicana melee eight years ago.

Kevin Provencher has New Hampshire Motor Speedway GM Jerry Gappens dog tired after his first NASCAR Sprint Cup event last weekend, the 27th consecutive sellout in Loudon.

The Telegram updates us about Derek Jeter’s bat woes - not only in swinging them, but in holding them as well. Kind of a slow sports day.

Bruce will be taking some time off this week, so we guest bloggers will try to fill his shoes. Join us each day throughout the week and, as always, send me your comments at bob02878@yahoo.com. Thanks.

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Of Santana, Manny and His Moments

Posted by Mike Giardi June 1, 2008 at 8:34 pm

Our music-crazy weather guy, Joe Joyce, just alerted me to Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.” There are so many things wrong with this piece, that I almost didn’t make it through. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction. But, I couldn’t help myself. I won’t bore you with all the details of my disgust, but I will say Van Halen’s “Eruption” is too low, Zeppelin’s “Stairway…” is too high and no way do the White Stripes - who I like - even belong in the Top 50. Oh, and one more thing. Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” can not be 39th. The guy can pick it like a Gold Glove firstbaseman. Jump him up at least 20 spots. There! I feel better.

On to sports…which I believe is what they pay me for. You just knew that once Manny got to 500, he’d loosen up. His quote following the momentous occasion was priceless Manny. “I’m very proud of myself.” Dude, you should be. 500 (now 501) is just a sick number, steroid-era or not.

Its hard to believe just 8 years ago we were debating whether the Sox should pursue Manny or Mike Mussina. I mean, that was a tough, tough call at the time. The Sox had always been short on pitching, and with Moose and Pedro at the head of the rotation, who knows what would have happened? Would the Sox have won the title in 2003 (remember what Mussina did in relief of Clemens ALCS Game 7? Yeah, too painful. Sorry)? Would the Sox have won in ‘04 and ‘07? Who knows. Maybe that’s a job for “Whatifsports.com”

For all the criticism about Mussina, he has won 111 games in these last 7-plus seasons (a sneaky 8-4 this year with a 4.26 ERA), and racked up 52 of those “W’s” in the first three years of that mega-deal. That’s awfully impressive. But what Manny has done, statistically, is freakish. 

265 homers. 838 RBI. He won a batting title in 2002 and missed by a fraction of a point in 2003 to Billy Mueller. He’s led MLB in on base percentage in three seasons with the club. His OPS is off the charts. Yes, we have been fortunate to watch not just the best righthanded hitter of his generation (just trumping ARod, for now), but one of the greatest of all time. And quite honestly, when he smiles that big, goofy smile…it reminds me that - despite all the money and the business of sport - this is just a kid playing a game we all played at one time or another, and loved.

Oh sure, its hard for detractors to overlook his mental lapses. They drove me nuts. And truthfully, if he pulled that garbage again, I’d get irritated again. I don’t like the explanation that its just part of his personality, part of the package, of “Manny being Manny (I hate that phrase).” But the episodes have become much more infrequent, a credit to Manny, to his teammates, and to manager Terry Francona. And I think its no surprise that the Sox have become a beast. Manny may not be the straw that stirs the drink - to draw on a cliche - but he’s a primary ingredient and, in the long run, the right choice made by former GM Dan Duquette (hey, we give credit when credit is due).

No. Hits. For You.

Posted by Ted McEnroe May 19, 2008 at 10:05 pm

Well, I am sure that the guys in the sports department are running around. So, I’ll jump in. What can you say? If there’s a better story than the rookie Clay Buchholz throwing a no-hitter in his second start, it’s having a guy beat cancer in 2006, win the World Series clincher in 2007, and then a no-hitter in 2008.

There was one hit-saving catch by Jacoby Ellsbury in the fourth, but otherwise, it was cruise control for Jon Lester for most of the night. And one character moment. It could have been easy for Lester to get rattled after he walked Esteban German to start the ninth. But he didn’t. He bore down and got the job done. (Of course, compared to cancer… it was the Kansas City Royals.)

And listening to Terry Francona in the post-game press conference, sounding like a proud dad, you have to just enjoy the moment that much more.

So there you have it. First no-hitter by a Red Sox lefty in 52 years, and a record for Jason Varitek, as the first catcher in history to catch four no-hitters in his career (Nomo, Lowe, Buchholz and now Lester).

No Tito in Baltimore

Posted by Ted McEnroe May 13, 2008 at 2:38 pm

The Boston Red Sox will play their two-game series in Baltimore without their manager. Sox skipper Terry Francona will miss the series to attend a family funeral in Arizona.

Mary Ann Lang, the mother of his wife, Jacque, passed away on Monday night in Tucson, Arizona. Francona and his family flew to Tucson today.

Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills will manage the club during the Orioles series.

Our condolences to the family.

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