Projo Sox Blog

Which is one of the reasons people hereabouts aren't very excited about the Red Sox' postseason chances anymore. They may not know the specifics, but they know they haven't won a game in Tampa all year. They know they haven't won a game in Anaheim. They know their overall road record (28-35) is well under .500 (though it's a not-quite-as-bad 22-19 against non-contenders). Winning it all means being able to win anywhere, against anybody, and these Sox haven't been able to do that this year.

Yet.

But the embers of excitement may be glowing again after these four games in Chicago. Yes, they only won two of them. Yes, Clay Buchholz -- once again -- looked not ready for prime time in a dismal showing Sunday. And, yes, the starting rotation has been given a blow with the news that Tim Wakefield's shoulder hurts again. (All stories projo.com)

Last night, though . . .

Last night was the sort of game that has people dreaming October dreams. We raved last week about the resurrection of Josh Beckett, and he looked more like an ace than ever as he matched the overpowering John Danks almost pitch-for-pitch while Danks was a) retiring the first 17 batters he faced and b) holding the Red Sox without a hit for 6 1/3 innings. (Boston Herald) The Sox' hitters kept their focus and finally broke through in the seventh, taking the lead, and then added three break-it-open runs in the ninth (which had them celebrating in the dugout, above).

It all added up to a 5-1 win, recounted here by Sean McAdam, that gave them a split of the weekend series in Chicago -- against a team that's in the heart of the postseason races and is 39-19 at home, to boot -- and their first winning road trip against American League teams since May. The series had begun with a 5-3 loss Friday night in which a late rally came just a bit too late, and was followed by a 6-2 victory Saturday night. Buchholz' disaster was next, but even that was a game they could have won; they had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh inning, trailing by only a run, before Mike Lowell ended their final rally by grounding into a double play.

Even the auxiliary news last night was good. McAdam reports Wakefield may not be hurt very badly and that Terry Francona still thinks Buchholz will turn things around soon. About the only downer: Dustin Pedroia's 29-game road hitting streak came to an end.

They're still four games behind Tampa Bay (five in the loss column) in the A.L. East, and they only lead the White Sox by a game in the loss column for the wild card. (projostats.com) But there are nights when it looks good and nights when it looks bad, and last night it looked good. Very good.

MAYBE YOU'RE NOT LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACES: Of course, having David Ortiz on the bench because of tenderness and stiffness in his wrist can unbeautify any picture. (projo.com) The Sox, however, say it's nothing.

COME ON UP: One of the feel-good stories of the year will unfold tonight, when 28-year-old knuckleballer Charlie Zink (right) -- he of the 13-4, 2.89 record in Pawtucket -- will make his major-league debut as Wakefield's replacement against the Rangers at Fenway. Joe McDonald -- his old batterymate -- talked to him in Pawtucket yesterday and found him to be appropriately excited/dazed/thrilled.

END OF THE LINE? SI.com's Jon Heyman is hearing that the ruptured Larry Lucchino/Theo Epstein (above) relationship may finally be coming to an end, but that it will be Lucchino -- and not Epstein -- leaving town. Rumored destination? Los Angeles, with the Dodgers. Old friend Tim Daloisio of Fire Brand of the American League says there's no queston Epstein is the favorite of both the fans and John Henry, so if one of them has to go, most people would be happier if it was Lucchino.

MY SPOT: Joe Haggerty talked to Jed Lowrie for his Hacks With Haggs blog and reports Lowrie thinks he can best help the Sox as a shortstop.

WHAT'S WITH THIS NEW ACT? Jim Rice doesn't remember Ozzie Guillen being all that feisty as a player. The reason? "There were too many giants out there for him to start fights."

RANGERS NATION: Forbes.com has calculated the most loyal and least loyal baseball fans, and Red Sox fans come in as the second-most loyal . . . behind the Texas Rangers' fans. Confused? Click the links to find out why. (Much of it has to do with continued support in spite of variations in the won-loss record, along with ticket and food pricing.) As for the least loyal, our friends down south won't be happy to hear Forbes has Yankee Universe as the sixth least-loyal fan base. The Mets also make that particular top 10.

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS ALWAYS GET ME DOWN: Monday, writes the Tampa Tribune's Martin Fennelly, "was an off day for your first-place Rays. An extremely off day." Right on the heels of the news that Carl Crawford could be lost well into September because of a tendon problem in his right hand comes word that Rookie of the Year favorite Evan Longoria has a non-displaced fracture of his right wrist and will be out for about three weeks. (Tampa Tribune) The St. Petersburg Times' John Romano says Longoria is the one player Tampa Bay can least afford to lose. It's "not just that he is their best hitter and a Gold Glove-caliber infielder," writes Romano. "It's that the Rays do not have anyone close waiting in the wings [to replace him]."

STEPPING UP: The other Rays now need to pick up the slack and Scott Kazmir, who thinks he's found a mechanical glitch that's caused his recent problems, says he's ready to do his part. (St. Petersburg Times)

THE 'BLANKEES': That was the New York Post headline after last night's 4-0 Yankee loss in Minnesota, which dropped the Yanks nine games behind Tampa Bay in the A.L. East and five games behind the Red Sox in the wild-card race. Joe Girardi, as you'd expect, is beginning to catch some heat; last night it was for sitting Johnny Damon, the team's hottest hitter, because the Twins had a left-hander on the mound. (New York Daily News) Girardi said it was to give Damon some rest and hinted that the banged-up outfielder needed to take a day, but Damon told Peter Abraham of the Journal News that, physically, he had "[no] problems. I'm good." In any case, the Yanks are now 2-6 on their current road trip and, Abraham points out, closer to last place than first in the division.

GET OUT THE MICROSCOPE: Because, according to New York Magazine, you'll need one to find the Yankees' playoff chances. Indeed, Baseball Prospectus' Postseason Odds Chart lists the Yanks as only having a 5.96% probability of making the playoffs. Other A.L. East odds: The Rays are at 95.9% (63.9% to win the division, 32% to make it as the wild card) and the Red Sox are at 90.5% (35.3% to win the division, 55.2% to make it as the wild card).

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? Because Dayn Perry of Foxsports.com thinks this is the Angels' year.

I APOLOGIZE: Ian Kennedy raised the ire of Yankee Universe when he shrugged off Friday night's pounding in Anaheim -- allowing five runs in two-plus innings -- by saying he wasn't "too upset about it." He's been shipped back to the minors, though the Yanks say it had nothing to do with Friday's postgame interview, and he's talking more appropriately on his way out the door. (New York Post)

GOOD FRIDAY: Joba Chamberlain will resume throwing Friday as he attempts to come back from what the Yankees are calling rotator-cuff tendinitis. (New York Daily News) Chamberlain's problems have the dinosaurs roaring: Phil Pepe says the arm-protecting Joba Rules are what causes young pitchers to get hurt, since the only way to strengthen an arm is by using it. (yesnetwork.com)

TWIN STRENGTHS: Gerry Fraley of sportingnews.com likes the Twins, and tells us why.

SEEKING RELIEF: After another exasperating loss yesterday, this one to the Pirates, Jerry Manuel knows something has to be done about the Mets' bullpen. (New York Post) Problem is, he's not quite sure what.

JUST WAIT: Billy Wagner is due back within a week. (New York Post)

I'M DUNN: Paul Dougherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer applauds the Reds' trade of Adam Dunn to the Diamondbacks, saying Dunn "wanted too much money for what he provided." Arizona, however, is pleased to have him. (East Valley Tribune)

HERE AND THERE: Gary Sheffield and Jim Leyland are at odds (Detroit Free Press) . . . Shannon Stewart is disappointed he was cut loose by the Blue Jays (Windsor Star) . . . Chris Carpenter is headed to the doctor (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) . . . Brad Lidge, who warmed up six times in the All-Star Game, is blaming National League manager Clint Hurdle for his shoulder problems (Philadelphia Inquirer) . . . The Diamondbacks may be looking at the A's Mark Ellis as a replacement for the injured Orlando Hudson (San Francisco Chronicle) . . . All is well for Astros slugger Carlos Lee after season-ending finger surgery. (Houston Chronicle)

OLD FRIENDS: Nomar Garciaparra is about to be reactivated by the Dodgers. (Riverside Press-Enterprise)

AND FINALLY . . . The Dodgers had their first Manny Being Manny moment last night, as our old pal -- who had gone back into the clubhouse to, he said, "use the bathroom" -- didn't go out to left field for the top of the ninth until somebody went and fetched him. (Riverside Press-Enterprise) But nobody really cared, since he went 2-for-3 with two RBI and led L.A. to an 8-6 win over the Phillies. (Los Angeles Times)

-- ART MARTONE