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Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Red-hot Manny; Lester vs. Gabbard »
July 27, 2007
AP photo / Mark Duncan
A GOOD NIGHT ALL AROUND: The pitches were looking fat last night, and Red Sox hitters feasted on them, scoring early and often en route to a 14-9 rout of the Cleveland Indians. Manny Ramirez hit what is believed to be the third-longest home run ever at Jacobs Field, Wily Mo Pena had a good audition for potential trade suitors, and Kason Gabbard may have helped Jon Lester's chances of remaining in the rotation.
AND ANOTHER REASON: Meanwhile, in Toledo, Ohio, Curt Schilling was looking like his vintage self, albeit against lesser competition. Schilling will make one more rehab start before hopefully returning to Boston (both projo). Here's some of what Schilling has to say about his outing: "Two things I took away, above all else, were the fact that I felt I threw my best fastballs in my last inning, and that my split, even the ones that got taken, was better than it’s been in years." (38 Pitches)
GAINING ONE BACK: And so the Red Sox' divisional lead goes back to seven and a half games, after Kansas City's unlikely shutout of the Yankees last night at Kauffman Stadium (N.Y. Post). The loss ends an offensive streak of historic proportions, in which New York scored 70 runs while winning six straight games. Alex Rodriguez did not get his 500th homer off Jorge De La Rosa (the guy who gave up number 400), and Kei Igawa did nothing to help the cause.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS: Peter Abraham writes that the Yankees are now considering what to do the next time Igawa's spot in the rotation comes up. Phil Hughes is not far from being ready, Joba Chamberlain is an option, or, perhaps most likely, they could just stick with a four-man rotation for now (Yankees LoHud Blog).
THAT HALF WILL VANISH: Whatever happens tonight, the size of the lead will change. The Yanks travel to Baltimore, and before playing tonight's regularly scheduled game, they'll complete the suspended game of June 28. It will be 8-6 Yankees in the eighth inning when play resumes. Baltimore, by the way, is 4-1 against New York so far this year.
INTEREST IN TAVAREZ: The Boston Globe reports that several clubs -- including the Dodgers, the Phillies and Rockies -- are interested in trading for Julian Tavarez. Meanwhile, The Globe says that Tampa Bay is asking too much for Ty Wigginton (perhaps Manny Delcarmen and/or Justin Masterson), while there are questions about how good a fit Wigginton would be with the Sox (projo).
UGLY NUMBERS: Chad Finn is a big Jerry Remy fan, but he wouldn't want him batting in his lineup (touchingallthebases): "Remy might be built more like Dustin Pedroia, but he knows Pedroia has more pure hitting ability than he ever did. He sees his reflection as a player in [Alex] Cora."
TEIXEIRA: FoxSports says the Braves -- still the front-runner in the race to acquire the slugging first-baseman, are offering prized prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia and two other players for Teixeira alone. The Globe says the Rangers are still looking for Clay Buccholz and Jacoby Ellsbury in exchange for Mark Teixeira, something the Sox would presumably never do.
ON THE OUTS? Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said after last night's game that he has not decided whether Cliff Lee will remain in the starting rotation after last night's debacle. If he is bumped, one guy who could take his place is Jeremy Sowers, the promising youngster who was demoted to Triple-A earlier this season (both Akron Beacon Journal).
GOOD NEWS AND BAD: The Orioles are streaking under interim manager Dave Tremblay, and take a four-game winning streak into the New York series. But the Orioles will have to play at least the next five weeks without closer Chris Ray, out with a sprained ligament in his elbow (Washington Post).
SUDDENLY, THE END: One moment, outfielder Ryan Kalish was tearing it up at Single-A Lowell, on a 12-for-15 stretch at the plate. The next, Kalish was out for the season, with a broken hamate bone (Boston Globe).
NOT GIVING UP ON HIM: Jose Contreras may have the worst E.R.A. among American League qualifiers, but Ozzie Guillen says that Contreras still has trade value (Chicago Tribune).
LOCAL INTEREST: The Rockies are reportedly interested in Warwick's Dan Wheeler (FoxSports).
DODGER BLUES: Derek Lowe believes he will be able to make his next start for the Dodgers. But last night another L.A. pitcher hurt himself running the bases. This time it was Brad Penny (L.A. Times).
Posted by Mike McDermott 
at 9:15 AM | Permalink
