Projo Sox Blog

The hype machine was set to overload for "Rally Monday" at Fenway Park, but the news-generation needle was barely moving. Carolyn Thornton reports the Red Sox had nothing new to say about Josh Beckett, and Beckett had nothing to say at all. So the plans announced Sunday night -- Beckett will play catch today, throw a bullpen session Friday and pitch in Game Three on Sunday -- are still a go, at least until something happens to change them. It would have to be something bad, of course, since the only change could be that Beckett can't pitch Sunday. And if that's the case . . . well, Tony Massarotti doesn't want to think about it.

The Sox left for California immediately after yesterday's pep rally -- Jonathan Papelbon (above) heads to the bus that took the team to the airport -- and we'll see what happens after today's workout in Anaheim. Check back here, because Kevin McNamara and Jim Donaldson are with the team on the West Coast and will be providing constant updates.

SECOND THOUGHTS: It all makes me wonder if the Angels now regret picking the eight-day series.

PAYING THE PRICE? And it makes Joe Haggerty wonder if Beckett's niggling injuries this year and subpar (for him) season is the bill coming due for his 2007 playoff brilliance. (Hacks With Haggs) A conversation Joe had with White Sox GM Kenny Williams lends credence to the theory.

LOOKING ELSEWHERE: Beckett's problems intensify the spotlight on the remaining two aces in Boston's pitching deck: Jon Lester (projo.com) and Daisuke Matsuzaka. (Boston Globe)

WHADDYA WORRIED ABOUT? Jason Varitek, for one, has confidence in the Red Sox' pitching, with or without Beckett. (Boston Herald) (Incidentally, the Los Angeles Times reports Angels manager Mike Scioscia agrees with Varitek.) Among the pitchers who has his faith: Justin Masterson. (Boston Globe)

NO PRESSURE: Besides, says Bill Reynolds, the 2008 Red Sox are playing with the house's money.

BLUE SKIES . . . SO FAR: As for the rest of Boston's walking wounded, Robert Lee reports the news is good -- today -- on Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew.

DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING FROM ME: That's what David Ortiz is telling WEEI.com's Rob Bradford because he doesn't expect the Angels to pitch to him.

MAN OF RESPECT: The Sox have a ton of it -- respect, that is -- for the Angels' Game One starter, John Lackey. (projo.com)

SCOUTING REPORT: Our own Joe McDonald talks to a big-league scout and provides one on the Angels.

DELIGHTED! He may or may not make the active roster -- it doesn't have to be submitted until tomorrow morning (projo.com) -- but Thornton reports Jonathan Van Every is traveling with the team to Anaheim and is thrilled to be in the mix.

NOT SO DELIGHTED: The Angels won 100 games and are the favorites to emerge from the American League playoffs. But, as you probably know, they're 0-3 in playoff series against the Red Sox -- and have lost the last 9 postseason games between the teams, dating back to 1986 -- and they really didn't want to play Boston again. (Los Angeles Times)

THE FAVORITES: Even so, 6 of ESPN's 10 experts are picking the Angels to win the series. Kevin Youkilis, for one, is insulted. (projo.com)

CAN'T QUITE PUT MY FINGER ON IT . . . but Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan says the Red Sox are missing something -- "Possibly Beckett. Definitely Manny. And maybe a little of the aura that surrounded them" -- as the playoffs begin.

THE FINAL STRAW: News of Beckett's injury was the deciding factor for Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal: He's picking the Angels.

ON THE LIST: The Red Sox are the subjects of two of Foxsports.com's 11 burning questions for October.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY: Unlike last year, when he was assigned to National League games, Don Orsillo's assignment in this season's Division Series television broadcasts will be in the American League. He, Harold Reynolds and Marc Fein will handle the other ALDS series, between Tampa Bay and the A.L. Central winner, for TBS. (sportsmedianews.com) The Red Sox-Angels broadcasters -- at least for the games in Anaheim, anyway -- will be Chip Carey, Buck Martinez and Craig Sager.

THE VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION: ShysterBall's Craig Calcaterra says he went to the wrong school. I clicked the link and discovered I did, too.

WHO?? After all the kvetching about who'd throw out the first ball prior to the Rays' inaugural postseason game, the team chose someone I guarantee wasn't mentioned by anyone: John Higgins. (Tampa Tribune) Click the link to find out who he is and why the Rays picked him.

WHY NOT ELLIOT? The Tampa Tribune's Martin Fennelly identifies the moment the Rays "rose from the ooze to inform the world that the world had turned": When Elliot Johnson slammed into Yankee catcher Francisco Cervelli on March 8, breaking Cervelli's wrist and sparking a war with the Yanks that broke into an on-field skirmish during their next meeting.

IN ACTUALITY . . . the hiring of Joe Maddon as manager is what turned things around, says the St. Petersburg Times' John Romano.

I'M GOOD: Carl Crawford has declared himself ready for the playoffs. (Tampa Tribune)

NOBODY LIKES US, EVERYBODY HATES US: The blog DRaysBay rails against MLB giving Tampa Bay two non-prime TV slots for the first two games of the ALDS and concludes: "I really will enjoy wrecking your Chicago/Boston wetdream."

You? Exactly how will you wreck it?

UH OH: It appears as if Joba Chamberlain's shoulder was hurting again when he pitched Sunday in Boston. (New York Post)

FIRST DAY OF WINTER: That's what yesterday was for the playoff-less Yanks, but it was hardly a day of rest. The fate of general manager Brian Cashman is still up in the air (New York Post) -- though the New York Daily News' John Harper says Cashman should be brought back to finish what he started -- and manager Joe Girardi is already beginning the cry for more pitching. (New York Daily News) Mariano Rivera will undergo minor shoulder surgery (New York Daily News) -- he's expected to be recovered by spring training -- and Andy Pettitte says he doesn't know what the future holds for him. (New York Post) Lots of news for a team that isn't playing.

DIFFERENT SCENE: Unlike the Mets, most of whom were nowhere to be found after their second straight final-day elimination. (New York Daily News)

THE REALITY IS . . . even if the Mets made the playoffs, they weren't going far with their bullpen. Which is why SI.com's Jon Heyman reports they were disappointed but not despondent after being eliminated from contention on Sunday.

ONE FOR THE MONEY: There'll be a pre-playoff playoff in the American League tonight, as the White Sox and Twins meet to decide the Central Division championship. Chicago forced the game with an 8-2 makeup victory over the Tigers yesterday (celebrated at right by Orlando Cabrera and Alexei Ramirez, whose sixth-inning grand slam turned the game in the Chisox' favor), meaning they'll host Minnesota tonight in the one-game playoff. (Chicago Tribune) Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times says the September drama authored by the White Sox is all well and good, but none of it will mean anything if they don't win tonight. The Twins had gathered at the Metrodome, hoping to pop champagne after a Detroit victory, but before the game even ended they were on their way to the airport for the flight to Chicago. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) The Star-Tribune's Jim Souhan said it had to come to this: An all-or-nothing game against the team Twins fans love to hate.

A FIRST: Yahoo! Sports' Gordon Edes reports the White Sox are setting baseball history: Tonight will be their third elimination game in three days against three different opponents. To wit: They'd have missed the playoffs if they lost Sunday against Cleveland; they'd have missed them if they lost yesterday to Detroit, and they'll miss them if they lose tonight against Minnesota.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? Foxsports.com's Dayn Perry says no matter who wins tonight, the rigors of making the postseason in such a fashion will probably doom either team going forward.

EXAMINATION TIME: Baseball Musings' David Pinto does a detailed breakdown of the Brewers-Phillies series.

PLAYOFF TIDBITS: Ben Sheets (elbow) won't be on the Brewers' NLDS roster and says "it doesn't look good" as far as pitching at all this postseason is concerned (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) . . . Mark DeRosa, who's suffering from a calf strain, thinks he'll be ready for the Cubs' NLDS opener. (Chicago Sun-Times)

HERE AND THERE: Jose Contreras, who tore his Achilles tendon while pitching against the Red Sox in August, says a late-July/early-August return is the best-case scenario (Chicago Sun-Times) . . . The Denver Post reports the Rockies will place Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins and Yorvit Torrealba on the trade block this offseason . . . A's reliever Joey Devine finished the season with the best ERA ever for a pitcher with a minimum of 40 innings (0.59) (San Francisco Chronicle) . . . Bud Black will return as Padres' manager in 2009 (San Diego Union-Tribune) . . . The Cardinals signed Kyle Lohse for a four-year, $41 million contract (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) . . . Paul Godfrey is resigning as president and CEO of the Blue Jays. (Toronto Star)

OLD FRIENDS: Kelly Shoppach underwent knee surgery but is expected to be completely recovered by spring training (Akron Beacon-Journal) . . . The Tigers won't pick up Edgar Renteria's option for 2009 (Detroit Free Press), meaning the Red Sox will finally be out from under the onerous contract they gave him in 2005.

-- ART MARTONE