Projo Sox Blog

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

DEEP SIXTHED: It was a promising start, but Daisuke Matsuzaka turned a leadoff walk in the sixth inning into a full-blown meltdown, surrendering home runs to Casey Kotchman and Torii Hunter, and the Angels were on their way to a 7-5 victory at Fenway Park last night. (projo) Time will tell if the Angels are really the best team in the American League, but you won't get any argument on that point from the Red Sox, who are 1-6 against Los Angeles this year. Dan Shaughnessy of the Globe, who was dismissive of the Angels just a couple of weeks ago, is ready to reconsider.

HOT AND COLD: David Ortiz had another multihit game, while Jacoby Ellsbury's batting woes are affecting his base-stealing ability. (Both projo)

NO MATTER: The loss doesn't have much consequence for the Sox, because Mike Mussina was roughed up by the Orioles in the Bronx (N.Y. Post), while the Tampa Bay offense continued to struggle in a loss at Toronto. (Tampa Tribune)

DON'T LOSE FAITH: Tonight's Red Sox starter, Clay Buchholz, is feeling healthy and confident despite his mediocre results since coming off the disabled list. (Boston Herald)

RUMOR CENTRAL: Sean McAdam looks at the respective trade needs of the Red Sox, the Rays and the Yankees, and what each of those teams has to offer as it tries to gain control of the nip-and-tuck American League East. HIs report includes the Sox and Astros shooting down rumors of a deal involving Miguel Tejada. McAdam does discuss the possibility of the Red Sox going after relief pitchers Ron Mahay (Royals) and Scott Eyre (Cubs), as well as possibly catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Rangers). The Globe's Nick Cafardo suggests the Sox are looking at 41-year-old reliever Doug Brocail. But Houston is generally looking more like a buyer than a seller these days, despite the club's 49-56 record.

ON THE WAY BACK: That free-swinging slugger Bartolo Colon is making progress and could be ready to begin a rehab assignment this week. (projo)

LIKE THE END OF A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME: What a way for the PawSox to end their four-game series in Toledo, with a 12-inning loss decided by Lincoln Holdzkom's strikeout and wild pitch, which allowed a runner to score from third. Amazingly, it was the PawSox' 17th strikeout of the game, and the second time this season that Pawtucket has lost on a wild pitch by Holdzkom.

ONE THING WE KNOW IS THAT MANNY WILL GET PAID: In the Herald, Rob Bradford breaks down the conflicting interests of Manny Ramirez's current agent, Scott Boras, and his former representation, the Legacy Sports Group. If the Sox pick up Ramirez's option for next season, Legacy gets 5 percent -- or $1 million -- and Boras has been working for free. If Ramirez becomes a free agent and gets a big payday, then Boras collects. Bradford also reports that Manny has told "some of his confidants" that he probably has tendinitis in his right knee, although neither the player nor the Red Sox has made any public statement to that effect.

STAYING IN BOSTON? In his Bats blog, New York Times writer Jack Curry says the Phillies are not interested in acquiring Manny Ramirez: "At this point, there's no interest on our part," Phillies GM Pat Gillick told Curry in a telephone interview. "We have no place to play the guy." The entry doesn't directly mention the possibility of a left fielder-for-left fielder swap of Manny for Pat Burrell. Gordon Edes writes in the Globe's Extra Bases blog that the Dodgers are also not interested, unless the Sox are willing to take colossal bust Andruw Jones off L.A.'s hands. The Mets don't look to be a real possibility, either. (MLB.com)

A FOND FAREWELL: The Globe's Marvin Pave has the obit for Fall River's own Russ Gibson, catcher on the 1967 Impossible Dream Sox.

GOODNIGHT JORGE: Jorge Posada has read the writing on the wall, and has decided to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. (N.Y. Daily News) Making it back for the start of next season is no guarantee, either. (Newsday)

ANYONE BUT HIM: Subway Squawker Lisa Swan saw Sidney Ponson get knocked around by the Red Sox on Sunday night, but she remains convinced: Sir Sid is better than Jarrod Washburn.

HELP BEHIND THE PLATE: Ken Rosenthal lists the Yankees as one of several teams interested in Rangers catcher Gerald Laird. (FoxSports)

NOW THAT WOULD BE A STRANGE DUO: The Rays are looking for some help, and two names that have surfaced are relief pitcher Will Ohman (of Atlanta, who along with Edwin Jackson would give the Rays two German-born pitchers), and Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre (MLB.com). Rays fans also haven't given up hope of getting Mark Teixeira from Atlanta.

TEIXEIRA HERE, TEIXEIRA THERE: According to one report, the Diamondbacks are no longer interested in Teixeira. Not in Manny, either. (East Valley Tribune) But numerous other outlets have Arizona as the most likely landing spot for the slugging first baseman. SI.com's Jon Heyman lists the Red Sox as a possible destination, too, while MLB.com's Mark Bowman has the Yankees as a solid contender.

HANDS OFF A.J.: Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said before yesterday's game that starting pitcher A.J. Burnett will not be traded before the deadline. (MLB.com)

LOST SEASON JUST GOT LOST-ER: Tim Hudson's season may be over because of a "potentially severe elbow injury," the latest indication that the Braves are done. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

SAME OLD STORY: Nomar Garciaparra has a sprained MCL in his left knee and will be out for a few days. (L.A. Times)

POLICE BLOTTER: And in the world of appaling, stupid fan behavior, three Chicago Cubs fans face felony battery charges after allegedly beating a White Sox fan so badly that he lotst his right eye -- and the atrocity allegedly happened during a 2-yeaer-old girl's birthday party. (Chicago Tribune)

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