Projo Sox Blog

The Sox, writes the Globe's Gordon Edes, did a marvelous job holding serve in the nearly two months Ortiz was sidelined. Their record without Ortiz (26-19) wasn't all that much worse than it was with him (34-24), and their offense actually was a little better. They even gained ground in the standings, moving from a game behind Tampa Bay on May 31, when Ortiz was injured, to a virtual tie today.

Now he's back. So are the Sox. Let the real second half begin.

BIGGER VICTORY: Before tonight's game, ALS victim Jeanne Bouley of Woonsocket and her family will present a $4.4-million check for amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, money Bouley -- a former CVS employee -- helped raise via nationwide fund-raising in CVS stories throughout 35 states. Paul Kenyon tells us the story.

THE REAL TEST: The New York Post's George King says the Yankees' six straight wins prior to this weekend have a "so-what?" feel to them since "[the] A's can't hit and the Twins' bowels lock every time they enter Yankee Stadium." Still, the New York Daily News' Anthony McCarron thinks the Yanks are "perhaps playing better than any team in baseball" as they hit Boston. And this, thinks the Post's Mike Vaccaro, is the time for them to regain the control of the rivalry, control they lost in 2004.

'NOT BE THE FIRST ONE TO BREAK': That's Joba Chamberlain's goal as he faces Josh Beckett tonight. (New York Post)

FAIR AND BALANCED: The New York Daily News' Bob Raissman calls the YES Network "Al-Yankzeera." Why? Well, on the one hand you have Fox' Tim McCarver calling Jonathan Papelbon's comments on Mariano Rivera "innocuous. By him saying that Mariano was the godfather of relievers was totally respectful. Knowing Papelbon, he wouldn't make a comment [disrespectful of Rivera]." (Boston Globe) Those same quotes were interpreted thusly by YES commentator Al Leiter: "You're in Yankee Stadium, and to insult Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in the history of the sport, is not smart." (New York Post)

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER: Paul Sullivan -- whom you may remember from Curse of the Bambino and its sequel, Reverse The Curse (or whatever it was called) -- says Red Sox and Yankee fans have more in common than you think and should actually be friends. But Bugs & Cranks' David Chalk's opinion of Yankee fans, and the team they root for, may give you second thoughts about that.

NO DEAL: That sigh of relief you heard at about 8:23 p.m. last night came from the denizens of Red Sox Nation upon hearing the Globe's Nick Cafardo's report that the Sox have stopped pursuing White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe.

BUT WE'RE STILL IN THERE TRYING: Larry Lucchino tells Mike Lupica of the Daily News that the Red Sox "are currently burning up the phone lines trying to see if there is a way we can improve our ballclub without making a foolish deal that squanders our future."

NO MEDALS FOR TRYING: Peter Gammons, however, told ESPN Radio in his weekly interview that he doesn't "think they'll do anything significant" between now and July 31. (Hacks With Haggs blog)

THROWING THEM A CURVE: Hideki Okajima says he knows hitters are now sitting on his splitter, so he's turned to the curveball as his out pitch. And, writes the Herald's Michael Silverman, it's working.

SECOND CITY: The Red Sox are No. 2 in SI.com's latest Power Rankings, which call the No. 1 Angels "the most well-rounded team in baseball."

IT'S 'GOT LEGS': The Newark Star-Ledger talks to someone "familiar with the Seattle Mariners' plans" who thinks Jarrod Washburn-to-the-Yankees "will happen."

JUST SAY NO: If Washburn does get to the Bronx, it doesn't look like Barry Bonds will be one of his teammates. (New York Daily News)

ALLOW ME TO MAKE THE CASE FOR . . . George Steinbrenner to the Hall of Fame. That's the Post's Kevin Kernan's position, and he tells us why.

CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR: A two-out error in the final inning extended the game, and Ian Kennedy -- now pitching for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre -- then lost his bid for a no-hitter as the next batter doubled. (LoHud Yankees Blog) To make it worse, Kennedy gave up another hit that tied the score, was lifted, and didn't get the 'W' when SWB pulled it out in the bottom of the inning. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader)

MEANWHILE, BACK IN FIRST PLACE . . . All this Red Sox-Yankee talk may obscure the fact that the Rays still lead the A.L. East. But now it's only by a percentage point after last night's 4-2 loss in Kansas City (Tampa Tribune), which drops them to 4-10 in their last 14 games.

LOCAL BOYS: His continuing good health may make Rocco Baldelli the right-handed bat Tampa Bay's been seeking for the stretch run. (St. Petersburg Times)

NO HANGOVER: The Mets didn't let the aftershock of Tuesday night's meltdown affect them, as they won the final two games of their series with the Phillies and regained first place in the N.L. East. Yesterday's 3-1 victory made it 13 wins in 16 tries for the Amazins', and Carlos Delgado's resurgence has helped fuel the fire. (Both stories New York Daily News)

BUSINESS AS USUAL: Jose Reyes is fueling a different kind of fire, as his hot-dog antics continue to irritate the Phils. (Philadelphia Daily News)

NOT SO VALUABLE: Jimmy Rollins is the reigning National League MVP, but he's had trouble sticking to manager Charlie Manuel's two rules -- hustle, and be on time. So Manuel benched him yesterday, and the Philadelphia Inquirer's Ashley Fox thinks a real team leader would follow the rules "every day, instead of [just] when you feel like it."

BIG LEAGUE FIGHT: Fifteen players and both managers were ejected after a brawl broke out in a Midwest League game between Dayton and Peoria. (Chicago Tribune) The Dayton Daily News has video of the beginning of the fight.

THE BLOCKBUSTER WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR: The Newark Star-Ledger, saying the whispers about Roy Halladay's unhappiness in Toronto "just won't go away," reports the Blue Jays have approached some National League teams -- the Cardinals and Dodgers were mentioned specifically -- about their interest in the ace right-hander.

TRADE TALK: ESPN.com's Jayson Stark looks at four teams that have yet to decide whether they're buyers or sellers . . . The Mets are in the market for relief help (who isn't?), but Newsday reports the A's Huston Street has "dropped off [their] radar screen" . . . Still, the San Francisco Chronicle lists the Mets -- along with the Dodgers, Brewers, White Sox, Rays and Reds -- as being interested in Street . . . The Brewers say that, contrary to published reports, they're not pursuing Orioles closer George Sherrill (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) . . . One of those published reports was in the Baltimore Sun, which called the Cardinals and Brewers "the two most aggressive suitors" but also listed the Dodgers, Cubs, Reds, Phillies, Marlins and Tigers among the interested . . . Detroit's search for bullpen help may hinge on Freddy Dolsi's health. If he can pitch, they'll probably back out of the market (Detroit Free Press) . . . SI.com's Jon Heyman reports the Dodgers' trade efforts are being hampered by front-office infighting . . . The New York Post reports the Yankees aren't interested in the Dodgers' offer of Derek Lowe and Matt Kemp for Robinson Cano . . . The Cardinals had a scout at A.J. Burnett's last start. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

HERE AND THERE: The offseason is more than two months away but Nationals GM Jim Bowden fired the first salvo last night, saying his team will non-tender Chad Cordero. (mlb.com) The Nats' former closer had shoulder surgery two weeks ago . . . The Blue Jays' Aaron Hill is still suffering from dizziness after a May 29 collision with teammate David Eckstein and he may not play again this year (sportsnet.ca) . . . The Twins say they were impressed by Francisco Liriano's latest outing in Rochester but there's still no word as to whether they'll recall him (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) . . . The Cubs officially placed Kerry Wood on the disabled list (Chicago Tribune) . . . They're also unhappy with the $500,000 fine they were handed for violations regarding the amateur draft (Chicago Tribune) . . . Steve Kline hasn't officially announced his retirement, but he told the San Francisco Chronicle "I'm done" and may take an instructors' job with the Giants.

OLD FRIENDS: Don Zimmer says he's not proud of his role in the Pine Tar Game (St. Petersburg Times) . . . The last time Bronson Arroyo made a plea to stay somewhere -- in that case, Boston -- he found himself in Cincinnati. Now he's making another plea to stay with the Reds (Dayton Daily News) . . . Josh Bard has been activated by the Padres. (rotoworld.com)

AND FINALLY . . . My friend Repoz -- and all the rest of you -- will have to do without my Gregblosserorian chants for the next week; it's vacation time. The able Mike McDermott will handle Baseball Today in my absence, so please continue to check in daily. I'll see you all again on August 4.

-- ART MARTONE