Projo Sox Blog

THE MYSTERY: 38pitches.com is silent at the moment, its lead item still a rehash of last week's loss to Colorado. So, as I write this, Curt Schilling (AP Photo, right) hasn't yet used his blog to address the question -- what's wrong? -- that's on the lips of virtually everyone in Red Sox Nation this morning. The ominous undercurrent, hinted at but not provable, is that there's a physical problem. Sean McAdam writes that Schilling avoided giving a direct answer when specifically asked if he was hurting after his 4 1/3-inning/10-hit/6-run performance in last night's loss to the Braves. (projo.com)

The Globe's Gordon Edes wrote that both the Braves' Chipper Jones and an unnamed scout were stunned at how poorly Schilling threw -- he only hit 90 on the radar gun once, only hit 88 three times, and failed to record a strikeout for the first time in 14 years, spanning back 348 starts -- and Jones observed, ''Schill always had that innate ability to catch another gear when he needs it, and for me to only see 89 miles an hour tells me, you know, he might be hurt. I don't know.'' The Herald's Rob Bradford downplayed the injury angle but puts Schilling's struggles into the historical context of his career.

On the Sons of Sam Horn board, poster MidnightC details all of Schilling's starts since May 1; these are his numbers in the eight starts since May 12:

47.2 IP
64 H
27 ER
7 HR
10 BB
34 K
5.10 ERA

And that includes both the one-hitter against Oakland and a seven-inning/one-run start against Cleveland.

It's not likely Schilling will provide many new insights when he does update his blog -- chances are it'll be a more detailed version of what he told reporters last night, which basically was that it's a breakdown of many elements and not just one thing -- but, if you have access to a radio, it might be worth a listen to his weekly appearance on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan this morning, which usually happens sometime after 9 a.m. We'll have an update on the blog after he talks.

FAILED INVASION: Red Sox Nation took over Turner Field last night, and some of the Braves think it helped spark both them and their normally placid supporters. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) ''I didn't know there were that many Bostonians in Atlanta,'' said Braves manager Bobby Cox. ''But our fans outdid them, I think."

COMMON GROUND: In that same story, Chipper Jones said Sox fans and Braves fans seemed to agree on one thing. ''I heard a 'Yankees suck' chant,'' he said, ''and everybody was chiming in.''

THE REAL RECORD CHASE: Forget Barry Bonds. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says Bobby Cox is on the verge of breaking a record that will probably never be broken: Most ejections from a major-league game. He has 130 and is one away from tying John McGraw, who's held the mark for 74 years with 131. (To put in perspective: The active manager with second-most ejections is Tony La Russa, and he only has 73.) Stark, with the help of David Vincent and the late Doug Pappas of SABR, has a list of all the times Cox has been tossed.

THE QUIET MAN: The Sox had hoped Coco Crisp (AP Photo, left), who seemed so naturally ebullient and bubbly with a ready smile when they acquired him, would become one of the faces of the franchise. But his two-year struggles have soured him -- reporters privately describe him as one of the moodiest of all Red Sox players -- and last night, when he finally had the game (4-for-4, two home runs) people have been hoping for since the beginning of 2006, he wouldn't talk about it. (Boston Herald)

THE TALKATIVE MAN: Edgar Renteria, who wouldn't meet with the media when the Braves were in Boston last month, spoke yesterday. (Boston Herald) His belief: That he'd have played as well for the Red Sox as he's playing now for the Braves if the team had just been patient.

NO TAKERS: The Sox couldn't make a deal for J.C. Romero after they designated him for assignment, so they're cutting him loose. (projo.com) The state of pitching being what it is, he shouldn't be unemployed very long.

CALM DOWN: Terry Francona says stop worrying, he won't burn out Hideki Okajima. (Boston Herald)

SAME SAME: Remember how bad Anduw Jones looked when the Braves were in Boston? It's a month later, and he's not any better. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

PERSPECTIVE: FoxSports' Dayn Perry handicaps each team's playoff chances as we approach the midway point of the season and says the only question about the Red Sox is whether or not they'll win 100 games.

DANGER -- CHANCE OF EXPLOSION: Take the Yankees' nuclear offense and drop it in Coors Field for three games, and . . . well, who knows what to expect? (New York Daily News)

DOG BITES MAN: We'd been expecting it since their Mother's Day meltdown in Boston, and yesterday it finally happened: Sam Perlozzo was fired as manager of the Orioles. The Baltimore Sun reports the team would like to hire former Twins and Cubs executive Andy MacPhail as chief operating officer, and that Joe Girardi is their choice to replace Perlozzo. ESPN.com's Tim Kurkjian takes a detailed look at the Orioles' many problems.

THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT . . . SI.com's John Donovan says owner Peter Angelos is at the root of the Orioles' troubles. FoxSport's Ken Rosenthal agrees.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? It appears Jason Giambi will talk to the Mitchell investigation on doping in baseball. (New York Daily News)

FOR SALE -- ONE HOME-RUN CHAMP: It looks as if the Giants may actually put Barry Bonds on the trading block. (Costa Contra Times) Bruce Jenkins handicaps the potential trade field. (sfgate.com)

I LIKE IT HERE: Ken Griffey Jr. is desperate to win a World Series ring, but in spite of that he's not going to ask the Reds to trade him to a contender. (Cincinnati Enquirer)

MAYBE YOU DO, BUT . . . MLB Trade Rumors says there's a persistent Griffey-to-the-Cubs report circulating.

OTHER WHISPERS: The White Sox sound like they're ready to back up the truck (Chicago Sun-Times) . . . The Denver Post resurrects the Todd Helton-to-the-Yankees rumor . . . Gotham Baseball says a more likely first-base target for the Yanks is Carlos Pena.

I GOT YOUR CY YOUNG RIGHT HERE: Looking for a Cy Young candidate? Old friend Chad Finn says look no further than the Seattle bullpen, where J.J. Putz is having a year for the ages. (foxsports.com)

SHAPE UP! White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen minces no words -- not that he ever does -- in telling the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera to lose some weight. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

MORE WOES: Toronto's injury-ravaged season continues, as A.J. Burnett heads to the disabled list. (Toronto Sun)

GO FIGURE: The Indians' Joe Borowski still doesn't know why the Phillies, who certainly need relief help, backed out of their two-year, $9 million agreement last winter. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

LOCALLY: Rocco Baldelli reinjured his hamstring, making it doubtful he'll come off the disabled list Friday. (Tampa Tribune).

OLD FRIENDS: Rotoworld.com reports Kelly Shoppach is 16-for-29 with two homers, five doubles and 10 RBI in the eight games in which he's played since May 15 and notes ''To be that productive while playing so irregularly is very impressive.'' . . . Freddy Sanchez is feeling better after a bout with the flu (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) . . . Mark Loretta had a 4-for-5, 3-RBI night for the Astros in their 10-9 loss to the Angels (Houston Chronicle).

-- ART MARTONE

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