Projo Sox Blog

This sort of thing is right up old friend Jayson Stark's alley, and his comprehensive postgame account lists all the various records that fell over the course of these 4 hours and 50 minutes. (espn.com) Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown says it was a fitting way to say goodbye to Yankee Stadium ("Nine innings clearly wasn't enough"), but Yahoo! colleague Jeff Passan points out that the All-Star Game's over-the-years transformation into a "big-boy [version] of Little League, where everyone's got to play" led to some strange, and potentially dangerous, situations as the game snaked along because the rosters had been gutted. In the end, SI.com's John Donovan probably had the best summation: "[One] of the most remarkable, frustrating, thrilling, patience-shattering exhibition games in the long history of the sport."

Amen.

'THAT'S NOT WHAT THE [EXPLETIVE] WAS SAID': You'd have to be blind not to have seen this one coming.

So it's no surprise that Jonathan Papelbon (left, pitching in the eighth inning last night) has picked up where Pedro Martinez left off in the hearts of the Bronx hordes, not after the New York media, the New York Daily News in particular, all but pasted a Public Enemy Number One sign on his back. Being booed at the park is one thing, but Papelbon was livid that he and his wife were verbally abused during the red-carpet parade yesterday afternoon, to the point that "she doesn't feel safe." (Boston Herald) He certainly didn't have many kind words for the Daily News, which prompted John Harper to respond: "[Papelbon] can be mad at this newspaper, but he has nobody but himself to blame for the Bronx treatment he received from the fans last night." And why? Because, as Allan Wood of Joy of Sox points out, Papelbon had the audacity to say exactly the same thing about the prospect of closing out the game as Mariano Rivera said. What nerve.

However, they do have a point. The game was at Yankee Stadium, and the tradition is that the host team gets the perks . . . such as allowing its Hall of Fame closer to finish out the game. Joe Torre certainly was gracious when he managed the A.L. All-Stars at Fenway Park in 1999, and Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog reports that Terry Francona and all the Red Sox ("[with] the exception of Papelbon") "have been nothing but respectful to the Yankees all week." Abraham also pointed out in a separate post that "whether Yankee fans want to hear it or not, Francona deserves [their] acclaim" for being as "respectful as he could be to the tradition and history of the Yankees . . . [and helping to] make the game what it was for the home team."

I understand Papelbon was just answering questions honestly Monday, but there are times when answering questions honestly simply doesn't do anybody any good. Just sing Rivera's praises (which Papelbon has constantly done anyway) and leave it at that. Instead, a ridiculous controversy arises, Goose Gossage gets yet another chance to mouth off (LoHud Yankees Blog) and the rivalry now has some new fuel for its fire. (New York Post)

Thankfully, though, I can't imagine Papelbon ever saying he'll just tip his hat to the Yankees and call them his daddy.

NEW YORK HOSPITALITY: Someone had a video camera on Sixth Avenue yesterday, so we get to see a little of what so infuriated Papelbon:

HA HA: The New York Post's Joel Sherman crowed about Rivera pitching shutout ball while both Papelbon and the Mets' Billy Wagner allowed runs

'IT'S WHAT WE EXPECTED': None of the Red Sox were treated kindly by the Yankee Stadium rabble, but, as Dustin Pedroia pointed out, that wasn't particularly surprising. Said Francona: "I learned two things. They want Rivera to pitch, and I [stink]." (Boston Globe)

MVP: It must have killed them, then, to have to hold their nose and cheer for J.D. Drew (left, hitting his seventh-inning home run), who was named the game's Most Valuable Player. (espn.com) And had the game gone any longer, reports the Herald's Steve Buckley, he might have pitched, too.

WHAT?? Their respective fan bases would probably be livid if they realized how much the Red Sox and Yankee players respect each other. (New York Times)

RAYS OF LIGHT: Because the game went as long as it did, all three of Tampa Bay's All-Stars had a hand in the victory. (St. Petersburg Times) Scott Kazmir was the winning pitcher and it was the end of a wonderful day for him, as Mets fans -- still angry about the ridiculous trade that sent him from New York to the Rays in 2004 -- showered him with love during the parade. (St. Petersburg Times) It also was the finish to a special two days for Dioner Navarro. (Tampa Tribune)

USED TO BE THAT HE MADE PEOPLE CRY, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND: A frail George Steinbrenner (right) was, according to the Daily News' Mike Lupica, "the biggest guy in town" last night. The New York Post reports he "looked overcome with emotion as the fans cheered."

WELCOME BACK: Willie Randolph accepted Steinbrenner's invitation to be his guest last night. He didn't speak to the media, though, so we don't know what he thought of the invite. (New York Times)

UGG-LY: Anyone ever have a worse All-Star Game than Dan Uggla? (espn.com)

HURRY, PLEASE: Bud Selig says instant replay may arrive in time for the postseason. (New York Times)

MEANWHILE, BACK HOME . . . : Two members of the Red Sox (Brandon Moss and Jed Lowrie) and one member of the PawSox (Chad Spann) spent yesterday at Addieville East Farm in Mapleville, RI, enjoying a day of skeet shooting. (At left, Spann releases the clay and Moss aims at them; Journal photo by Steve Szydlowski) Joe McDonald was with them and tells us how it went. Click here for some video. (projo video)

LOOKING FOR A SIT-DOWN: Manny Ramirez says that when the season's over he'd like to meet with Red Sox ownership so they can tell him their plans for him, whatever they are. (Boston Herald)

EVER HOPEFUL: Butch Hobson hasn't been in the big leagues since his dismissal as Red Sox manager after the 1994 season, but he's still striving to get back. (Washington Post)

WHAT I REMEMBER: Jim Donaldson has memories of Yankee Stadium that date back to 1964.

THE NEW YORK VIEW: Bronx Banter's Alex Belth, writing for SI.com, has a clear-eyed look at Yankee Stadium. It is, he writes, "not for the faint of heart or for the aesthetic-minded," a "throwback to the rough old days of New York."

MAGIC MAN: The Post's Kevin Kernan says Alex Rodriguez will need to lead the way if the Yankees are to get back in the playoff hunt in the second half.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE E.R. . . . The Yankees have no idea when Johnny Damon will be able to return and Hideki Matsui could be gone for the season. (New York Post)

THE RUMBLING'S GETTING LOUDER: A week or so after the Arizona Diamondbacks wouldn't completely dismiss the notion of signing Barry Bonds -- although they would do so a few days later -- the Yankees became the second team to not categorically state they won't sign him (AP via projo.com), with Matsui's injury probably being the catalyst. FoxSports.com's Mark Kriegel hopes it's true, because he says baseball needs its bad guy back.

THE BEST TEAM NO ONE'S HEARD OF: Baseball Musings' David Pinto takes a closer look at the Angels, who, you may be surprised to realize, are tied with the Cubs for the best record in baseball.

OH, NO: Alyssa Milano, saying they're too childish, has sworn off dating baseball players. (contactmusic.com)

THE HOLE GETS DEEPER: Roger Clemens' claims that he never took performance-enhancing drugs received another body blow early this morning, when the Daily News posted on its Web site that confessed drug supplier Kirk Radomski has provided documentary evidence to the government showing that he shipped Human Growth Hormone to Clemens' home in Texas. It's the first time Clemens has been linked directly to Radomski and, if true, opens him to potential perjury charges in light of his Congressional testimony that he never used PEDs.

HERE AND THERE: Dodger catcher Russell Martin doesn't sound inclined to discuss a long-term deal with the club (Los Angeles Daily News) . . . Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar is day-to-day because of a rotator-cuff injury (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . The Dodgers will be without closer Takashi Saito for about six weeks because of a sprained elbow ligament. (sportsline/com)

AND FINALLY . . . Stat of the century:

There was another risque incident at the Rogers Centre last Saturday -- a topless woman in full view of the crowd in her hotel room entertaining at least seven men -- and the Ottawa Sun reports the Blue Jays are 2-3 all-time when hotel guests are publicly naked.

-- ART MARTONE