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July 5, 2007
MAKING HIS PITCH: Sometimes things happen in a game that have meaning far beyond their impact in the game itself, and the Sox may have had one of those moments yesterday. Manny Delcarmen (above, Journal file photo by Bob Breidenbach) had another solid outing in the 7-5 win over the Devil Rays and Sean McAdam notes the Red Sox may have found the power arm for the bullpen they thought they'd have to seek in the trade market. ''Since being recalled from Pawtucket on June 17,'' Sean writes, ''Delcarmen has allowed only two runs in 7 1/3 innings over seven appearances. His velocity has improved to the point where his fastball consistently registers from 95-97 mph, and critically, Delcarmen is consistently locating it in the strike zone.'' Yesterday's performance wasn't as dramatic as his strikeout of Sammy Sosa in a crucial spot last Friday night, but it was crucial for the Sox, who managed to subdue Tampa Bay without their 'A' lineup. A couple of other key moments, as related by Steven Krasner in his Inside The Game feature: A nice catch by J.D. Drew and a perfectly executed safety squeeze by Alex Cora. (All stories projo.com)
ON THE SHELF: The Sox said it wasn't that serious when they first put him on the disabled list, but now they're saying Curt Schilling probably won't pitch again until at least Aug. 1. (projo.com) The Sons of Sam Horn bulletin board has a thread in which Schilling's Wednesday appearance on WEEI is discussed, where he said he hasn't felt right all year, is frustrated and disappointed, and has no timetable for his return. That being the case -- and especially in light of Delcarmen's rise, which lessens the need to acquire relief help -- you wonder if they'll make starting pitching a priority as the trade deadline approaches.
YES, BUT . . . FoxSport's Ken Rosenthal says Todd Helton is no longer an impact hitter -- he notes Helton has a lower slugging percentage than Brandon Phillips -- and says the Red Sox ''were better off sticking with Kevin Youkilis than making a deal for Helton.'' Using the Runs Created formula, Youkilis has, indeed, been a more productive hitter; he's created 64.7 runs to Helton's 61.5. But the Sox would have kept Youkilis had they traded for Helton; they would have moved him to third base and traded Mike Lowell. And Helton has been more productive than Lowell, who has created only 47.2 runs. Which is not to say the Sox should have sent Colorado the boatload of talent it would have taken to acquire Helton -- Manny Delcarmen would have been on that boat -- but just that Youkilis would have stayed had they gotten him.
FURTHER PROOF: If you didn't live through 1967 and are sick of hearing geezers like me rave about it, listen to Joe Posnanski -- who's not as old and who doesn't even come from New England -- as he goes through the incredible stretch run of Carl Yastrzemski in that magical season.
HONOR ROLL: Chad Finn hands out a sterling midseason report card to the Sox on his Touching All The Bases blog.
YOUR EYES AREN'T DECEIVING YOU: Yes, the Red Sox batboy is a little older than you'd expect. (Boston Herald)
PARTNERS: The Red Sox announced yesterday they've signed a working agreement with the Chiba Lotte Marines to aid in scouting information, statistical analysis and player evaluation of players in the Pacific Rim. (projo.com)
I CHOOSE . . . The Red Sox are pulling out the stops to get Hideki Okajima on the All-Star team, but Rob Neyer's vote is going to Pat Neshek. (ESPN.com, Insider only) On his blog, Neshek has a campaign blitz going that would do a professional politician proud (eteamz.active.com/PatNeshek)
OUT OF THE SHADOWS: George Mitchell gives a rare interview to the Boston Globe, in which he says no players will go to jail as part of his investigation of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, and that cheating will always be a part of the game.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick says Mike Lowell has helped his free-agent chances and Andruw Jones has almost destroyed his in his examination of players in their walk years.
EXAMPLE NUMBER TWO: Remember two months ago when Cleveland sports writer Sheldon Ocker expressed disgust at ''the sense of entitlement that prevails in New York''? (He was talking about widespread speculation in the New York media that the Yanks could swoop in and obtain C.C. Sabathia from the Indians because Sabathia with the Yanks, Ocker sneered sarcastically, ''of course . . . would be of more value to the nation".) Well, Johan Santana beat the Yankees yesterday and the New York Daily News' John Harper immediately wrote ''How does a [Yankee] rotation [in 2009] with Santana, Phil Hughes and Chien-Ming Wang sound?''
GOTTA LOOK TO THE FUTURE, 'CAUSE THE PRESENT'S PRETTY UGLY: FoxSports.com's Mark Kriegel thinks ''the 2007 Yankees could well be remembered as the worst team money could buy.''
'THE TAO OF STEINBRENNER': ESPN.com's Mike Philbrick, on the occasion of George Steinbrenner's 77th birthday, looks at some of the lessons The Boss has taught us over the years. Two of my favorites: His warning that a May series with the Blue Jays in 1988 ''is the whole season right here,'' and his (right on) declaration that ''I will never have a heart attack. I give them.''
DEJA VU: The Mets suffered the same fate in Colorado as the Yankees. (New York Daily News)
SETTING THE BAR: Rosenthal reports that Mark Buehrle's agent says his client won't sign a four-year, $56 million contract extension with the White Sox unless it includes a no-trade clause, which Chicago has thus far refused to do, and won't sign an extension with anyone if he's traded but will instead opt for free agency. This has the double effect of a) almost forcing the White Sox to trade him and b) greatly reducing his value on the open market (since no one will surrender much if they won't get an opportunity to sign him prior to free agency).
BUT AS FOR ME . . . Tadahito Iguchi says he wants to stay with the White Sox. (Chicago Sun-Times)
DIDN'T HAPPEN: The Cubs denied a national report that commissioner Bud Selig nixed the trade of Jacque Jones to Florida. (The Daily Herald)
FINISHED: Jon Lieber's career with the Phillies is over, as the veteran pitcher, in the final season of the three-year contract he signed in 2005, will undergo surgery for a ruptured tendon in his foot and won't return this year. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
NOT QUITE FINISHED: John Smoltz will miss his next start, and the All-Star Game, but doesn't think he'll have to go on the disabled list because of his sore shoulder. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
NOT FINISHED, BUT DELAYED: Alex Rodriguez thinks he may have to go on the DL (New York Daily News) . . . The Royals' Mike Sweeney will undergo knee surgery and be sidelined for two to six weeks (Kansas City Star).
WHISPERS: The Padres don't sound like they're interested in Adam Dunn (San Diego Union-Tribune) . . . Odalis Perez, Octavio Dotel and Emil Brown are among the Royals who may soon be put on the trading block by general manager David Moore (Kansas City Star) . . . In his ESPN.com blog (available to Insiders only), Peter Gammons says (among other things) that ''The Marlins continue to tell inquiring teams that they are not trading Miguel Cabrera or Dontrelle Willis this season. Period.'' . . . A scout thinks the Yankees will be able to dump Kyle Farnsworth if they eat a portion of his contract (New York Post) . . . Bob Brenly would love a shot at the Reds' managerial job, but says he hasn't heard from Cincinnati (Chicago Sun-Times).
OLD FRIENDS: Orlando Cabrera can't understand why he's not on the All-Star team. (Los Angeles Daily News). Me, too, O-Cab . . . Scott Williamson was designated for assignment by the Orioles, but the Baltimore Sun's Roch Kubato will remember him fondly . . . The Cardinals released Tomo Ohka (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), but rotoworld.com thinks he's Philadelphia-bound . . . Newsday speculates that Pedro Martinez could be back in the Mets' rotation by Aug. 12.
-- ART MARTONE
Posted by Art Martone 
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