Peace Lynch and Jackson

The Patriots announced today that they would be parting ways with safety John Lynch and WR Chad Jackson. Lynch isn't a total shock; any time you bring in a player who is going on 37 years old, there's a good chance he won't make the team. Jackson on the other hand is a pretty big surprise.

A lot of people had Jackson as the fourth WR on the Patriots depth chart in 2008. He was always gifted with exceptional physical tools, but he could never stay healthy and never seemed to be in the right place at the right time. With his failures and former Patriot Bethel Johnson, perhaps we have all learned that while you can't teach speed, you also can't make it in the NFL if that's all you have.

For all those people saying Usain Bolt should get a shot in the NFL, see exhibits A (Johnson) and B (Jackson).

Big Papi said he will retire

The reason: Dustin Pedroia is hitting behind him in the cleanup slot tonight.

The slugger was obviously joking according to boston.com's Nick Cafardo, who reported the lineup, but it is definitely a bad sign for the Red Sox tonight. When I wrote about who would protect Ortiz in the lineup, I never thought Dustin Pedroia's name would ever come into the picture.

Regardless of how much I love Pedroia, Michael Bowden has his hands full in his first major league start tonight. Either way, it should be fun to watch the young gun pitch. Not long ago he was considered a better prospect than Justin Masterson.

New Bloggers

As you can see, we have some new additions to the staff here at The Lineup Card. Please welcome Pat Fitzgerald to the card. Eventually he'll smarten up and come up with a rational opinion. I hope.

Also, Nick Zaccardi will be joining us as the resident referee/umpire. He will be giving his thoughts on the officials in sports, but he may have to step in and referee a few arguments here too. He's one of the few people that knows the penalty for throwing your glove at a ball in baseball, which always comes in handy.

AL Cy Young

As the season winds down, a number of American League Cy Young candidates seem to have separated themselves from the pack. In my mind there are five pitchers worthy of serious consideration. Those are:

1. Francisco Rodriguez - LAA - 2-2 with 51 Saves, 56.1 IP, 63 SO, and a 2.56 ERA.

2. Cliff Lee - CLE - 19-2, 185.1 IP, 145 SO, and a 2.43 ERA.

3. Daisuke Matsuzaka - BOS - 16-2, 140.2 IP, 124 SO, and a 2.82 ERA.

4. Ervin Santana - LAA - 13-5, 179.2 IP, 179 SO, and a 3.36 ERA.

5. A.J. Burnett - TOR - 16-10, 186.2, 193 SO, and a 4.48 ERA.

Honorable Mention (because he's awesome):

Jon Lester - BOS - 12-5, 176.2 IP, 124 SO, and a 3.41 ERA. Not to mention a no-hitter... all this coming from a guy who just came back from cancer. Wow.

Personally, as a Red Sox fan, I'm partial to Daisuke winning the award, especially since he's been such a stud for us this year, when we so desperately needed him to be.

Regardless of how you feel about closers, closers winning the Cy Young, and Rodriguez himself, I really believe that if he breaks the saves record (Bobby Thigpen's record of 57), especially with how well the Angels have played this year (and the impact he's had on that success), there's no way he isn't awarded the Cy Young.

On the flip side of that is Cliff Lee. While he is on a bad team, that will not make the playoffs, he is having a phenomenal year. As a starting pitcher, he is also a more traditional Cy Young candidate. Will the fact that he pitches for a crappy team derail his chances of winning the award?

What say you loyal readers of The Lineup Card?

Dr. Death - Part II

While Tahmosh, our fearless leader, is not entirely wrong to refer to Dr. James Andrews as "Dr. Death", in this one particular incident, we Red Sox fans may have dodged a bullet.

As I said, Tahmosh is right, usually, when one of your team's players has to go see DJA, your team is usually more than a little screwed. Dr. Andrews is the ortopedic surgeon who puts athletes back together who otherwise would never play again (or, in some instances, walk again).

This time, it appears that Josh Beckett is not as badly hurt as we all feared. According to a story on MLB.com (that cool little link on the right) the Red Sox have placed Beckett on the 15-day DL with a strained right elbow. While it's never a good thing for one of your star players, much less a staff workhourse like Beckett, to be out for ANY stretch of time, especially in the middle of a playoff hunt, all things considered, it could have been much, MUCH worse.

When asked to sum up in one word how the visit to Dr. Andrews went, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said:

"Awesome," Francona said with a smile. "I guess from our standpoint. I don't
know if [Dr. Andrews] used that word."

So, Red Sox Nation, I give you permission - take a breath. The sky doesn't appear to be falling. At least not yet...

Dr. Death

What a bad day. For one second, all looked well for the Red Sox. They were on the verge of sweeping the final series between them and their archrival at Yankee Stadium and virtually knock them out of the playoffs.

One second later, the sweep was gone, and the Red Sox ace is scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews.

Now to be fair, it's not Andrews' fault that Beckett may have a bum arm. He's just the messenger so to speak. So why do I want to shoot him?

Just the mention of his name sends chills down any sports fans' spine. Honestly, if you told me Beckett was seeing Dr. Kevorkian I don't think I would be this worried.

So here's what I propose: we stop calling DJA by name. Beckett's going to see old uncle Jimmy in Alabama, that's all. Hey, it might not really change things, but I might actually get some sleep tonight...or not.

The Lineup

Red Sox/Yankees, NFL starting up, replay in baseball and discrimination (in the LPGA??). It's sure to be a fun week, so let's run down the lineup.

1. Kotsay in town - What a quiet but good move for the Sox getting this veteran. It reminds me a little of the Bobby Kielty deal from last season, which was also low risk and extremely high reward when Kielty hit the game winning home run in the World Series.

2. Big time Brady - Yeah, he hasn't played a preseason game yet, but he did find time to buy a $11 million home on the same street as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Wait, he didn't even get a house for $11 mil? Just land? Looks like we can't talk about how Brady doesn't get paid enough anymore.

3. The goat - Think you had a bad day? Not as bad as A-Rod. For your reading pleasure:George King, Joel Sherman, Tyler Kepner, Mark Feisand and Mike Lupica break down the man, the myth, the scapegoat for any Yankees failure.

4. QB battle in NE - No, it doesn't involve Brady or his ridiculously priced home...er...land. Matt Cassel will be fighting for just a roster spot against Matt Gutierrez this week. I'm putting my money on Matty Gutz.

5. Instant replay - Believe it or not, I don't mind it. Even the umpires have admitted that the new ballparks and features (Monster Seats) have made it almost impossible to call home runs. If it expands, I will regret these words, but for now I think it's a good idea.

6. Merriman to play - Wow, doctors told him to opt for surgery. Without it, he could get a career-ending injury or maybe never be able to walk without a cane. Hey, it's nothing a good steroid, I mean B-12 shot, couldn't fix.

7. Language barrier - So the LPGA is forcing its members to speak English now. Could be about marketing, or it could be about keeping the Korean players from continuing to dominate the sport. Either way, it sounds pretty discriminatory.

8. Good luck Eckel - The Pats waived the U.S. Naval Academy grad yesterday, and it wasn't much of a surprise. The backfield was simply too crowded, but I know Belichick expressed multiple times how much he respected Eckel (Belichick's father coached at Navy). He was a hard-nosed player for the Pats whose value on special teams was never recognized enough by the fans or media. He'll catch on somewhere for sure.

9. Darius Miles signs with Celtics - Why the hell not? At least maybe he can get us all free tickets to see Perfect Score 2.

Pats in trouble

I'm gonna say it. I don't think it's all over for the defending AFC champs, but I'm really worried. Today the Pats put Ryan O'Callaghan on inured reserve, placed Stephen Neal on the PUP list and released Jason Webster and Kyle Eckel.

The O'Callaghan and Neal moves are extremely troubling. The O-line, which is the main reason the Patriots are not defending Super Bowl champions, is suspect. Dan Koppen and Logan Mankins are rocks, but I'm not sold on the other three. 

Matt Light may be the most overrated player in the league - at any position. He plays well against mediocre competition, but gets taken to school whenever he's matched up with any of the top DEs in the game (see Aaron Schobel, Jason Taylor, Osi Umenyiora, etc.).

The right side is filled with question marks now. You have Nick Kaczur, who is coming back from offseason drug issues. Then you have your choice between Billy Yates and Wesley Britt, two guys with limited playing time in the NFL.

On top of all this, the defense has looked awful in the preseason. I rarely put any stock into preseason performances, but eventually a veteran team has to try to stop the other team from gaining 10 yards per play if only for personal pride. 

Webster was supposed to be a piece to replace Asante Samuel; now he has effectively replaced Duane Starks. 

It's not over by any means, but it's time for some rookies to step up. Britt and Yates have a chance on the O-line, and Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite must make plays at corner. Jerod Mayo is also being asked to step in right away and play linebacker in one of the toughest systems in the world. 

If those players step up the Pats will be fine, but it will not be an easy walk to the Super Bowl in 2008.

Farewell to The Stadium

Well, this looks like it will be it for the Red Sox and Yankees at The Stadium. I'm not saying either of them is out of the playoff picture, but it remains extremely unlikely that both teams will jump Tampa Bay before the end of the season.

It's been a tremendous rivalry in a tremendous venue. From Babe Ruth christening the stadium, to Roger Marris' 61st and Craig Nettles taking a cheap shot on Bill Lee, there have been some great moments. But I'm only 22, so I want to take you through some of MY greatest Red Sox/Yankees memories in the house that Ruth built.

5. Sept. 10, 1999 - Pedro Martinez gives up a home run, but faces just one over the minimum in a complete game one-hitter. He also struck out 17 in what was the exclamation point in what should have been an MVP season.

4. May 28, 2000 - Pedro was on the mound again in this classic duel with Roger Clemens. Two of the greatest pitchers in their time delivered absolute gems in this game, with neither budging until young Trot Nixon broke the deadlock in the top of the 9th.

3. July 1, 2004 - Yeah the Sox lost this classic shootout in 13 innings, but wow, what a hell of a game it was. It had all the theatrics, Jeter in the stands, Nomar in the dugout (alone), Pokey Reese making an equally impressive (yet hardly recognized) catch as Jeter as he flew into the stands, a would-be game-winning homer by Manny and a walkoff hit by the Yankees. It was also a great Red Sox moment because it proved that Nomar had to go and the Sox needed to bond together. 

2. Game 7, 2003 ALCS - OK, they can't all be positive. This was our Bucky "f-ing" Dent moment. It happened though, and it was a legendary game that ended a legendary series. And it wasn't that bad in hindsight because...

1. Games 6 and 7, 2004 ALCS - The bloody sock, Mark Bellhorn's resurrection from the dead, Ortiz in the clutch again, Damon's 2 HRs, Keith Foulke sacrificing the rest of his career, the curse reversed. It's hard to beat this one.

Honorable mention

Sept. 18, 1993 - This one is personal for me because it's the moment when I realized I truly hated the Yankees (I was seven). Mike Stanley popped out to left for the final out of a Red Sox 3-1 win...but no! Turns out, a fan had run onto the field before the pitch was thrown and an umpire had called timeout. Stanley had a second chance, and the Yankees came back for a 4-3 win. The Yankees truly are the Devil.

Oh Canada

Apparently I'm Canadian ... that's news to me. Anyways I took a test to see which major leaguer I am, and I match up most with Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin. It's a little cheesy, but it's fun so if you have a few minutes to kill, it will be worth it. But don't buy MLB the Show on PSP even if they tell you to...The Lineup Card does not promote product placement (unless WE get paid for it).

Here are some more links that might make your day...

Oh Sergio, maybe you can't win a major because the golf gods are retaliating for this move.

Rick Reilly always tells it like it is, unlike the Chinese government.

Watch out Bob Costas. I know "Mark Phelps" must be thrilled that he got a shout out on this guy's show. "Go USA! Go USA!"

And here's a link that might make you cry...

Gotta applaud the effort, but this one still hurts.

Seriously Spain?

Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors on the photo of the Spanish team that has sparked controversy this week (see posts below): "We thought it was appropriate, and the idea was conceived as a friendly gesture; it was never offensive. We have a lot of respect for the Chinese people; actually, some of my best friends in Toronto are of Chinese background. Only a confused mind would want to turn this into a controversy."

I find that statement to be offensive to me, not because I'm Chinese (I am not), but because Jose Calderon assumed that I (and everyone else in the world) am dumb enough to believe that crap. I wish I could believe you Jose, but I have a brain, and that whole reasoning part of it keeps me from being able to buy your story.

Let's break it down piece by piece: 1. You thought the photo was appropriate - It was appropriate to make a gesture that perpetuates a stereotype of Asian people? Not so much.

2. The idea was conceived as a friendly gesture - Hey, when I see people mocking me I ask them to be my friend right away.

3. It was never offensive - (see above)

4. You have a lot of respect for the Chinese people - I can tell. Showing your knowledge of racist stereotypes just proves how much research you did before being a guest in China. How gracious of you.

5. Some of your best friends in Toronto are of Chinese background - Wow, pretty sure I've heard that one before, but usually it involves a stuck up white guy saying he's not racist. I wonder why I never believed that guy before?

6. Only a confused mind would want to turn this into a controversy - You're right here, no one wants to turn this into a controversy ... you guys on the Spanish basketball team made it into a controversy, and now you are trying to deflect blame by saying it was taken out of context.

You were wrong. Take the blame for it and move on, but stop patronizing us all by making terrible excuses. We're all smarter than that (I hope).

Equestrians

How the hell is this an Olympic sport? The horse does all the physical work, it's just up to the person to ride it and tell it what to do. Michael Phelps' coach did the same thing for him, getting on him to keep his training up and giving him a plan for the Olympics, but he doesn't get a medal. If you can wear a fancy coat while competing in your "sport," then you cannot call yourself an athlete. 

Which brings me to my next point ... how the hell is golf NOT an Olympic sport. You can't argue that golfers aren't athletes when they are compared to equestrians, archers and pistol shooters. They definitely put in as much physical effort as all those so-called athletes. And golf is a truly international sport. Just look at the major champions since 2004: there have been winners from the U.S. (Tiger and Co.), Europe (Padraig Harrington), Africa (Trevor Immelman and Retief Goosen), Australia/New Zealand (Michael Campbell and Geoff Ogilvy), South America (Angel Cabrera) and Asia (Vijay Singh).

I know more people would watch a match play event between Tiger and Paddy Harrington for the gold than would watch people in funny suits riding horses.

The Greatest

I don't have much more to add about Michael Phelps. I've gushed over him just like everyone else all week. But it's official now. He is the greatest swimmer of all time. He is the greatest Olympian of all time. He may be the greatest athlete of all time.

The thing that stands out to me is that Phelps was able to do this in an era where the competition has gotten so much more difficult. There are far more specialists now than in 1972, and Phelps was able to win in so many disciplines. Oh, and he's a great teammate too, cheering on the other guys on the USA relay team in every race. 

He's done it all, and don't forget he's only 23. He's not done yet.

Guess who's back

It's been easy to overlook Dwyane Wade over the past two seasons. After winning the Finals MVP in 2006, he hasn't played in more than 50 games in a season, and that status that he had just claimed as an elite player was seemingly fading away.

But don't sleep on Wade now; he's showing us in Beijing what he's still capable. Wade finally looks healthy and he looks like, well, 2005-06 Dwyane Wade. He came into today's game second in the Olympics with 18 points per game (trailing just Manu Ginobli). And all he did today was go 8-12 from the field for 16 points and 6 rebounds.

He's also making plays on the defensive end, creating a steal that led to a breakaway dunk. Oh yeah, and he flushed a monster jam in the first half that showed just how much more talented the U.S. players are than the rest of the players in the world. 

But really, Wade's production has never faltered. He's averaged at least 24 points in each of the last four seasons. So if he's healthy, which he finally seems to be, look for Dwyane Wade to be one of the top players in the NBA again this season.

Class

Head of the class: Michael Phelps

It's not surprising that Phelps won his seventh gold on Saturday morning in Beijing, but that he did it in such a dramatic fashion. Nothing involving this dolphin...I mean man has been dramatic (except the 4X100 when Jason Lezak was the one involved in the dramatics). He has been blowing away the field and the record books at the same time. But this race showed he's more than just a great swimmer; he's a great competitor too. It's cliche, but the greats always find a way to win. And tonight, Phelps wasn't the fastest swimmer for 99.99999m, but all he needed was that last .01 second to win, and that's why he's the greatest individual champion of all time.

Class act: Mark Spitz

He hasn't always said the right things, but Spitz gave credit where it was due today. He didn't pull a Mercury Morris and say that Phelps will only be number two unless he wins eight. 

""It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he's maybe the greatest athlete of all time. He's the greatest racer who ever walked the planet."

Those are some serious compliments coming from a guy who set seven world records in winning seven golds in 1972. 

Class clowns: the Spanish basketball team

In case you haven't seen it, here's the controversial photo everyone is talking about...

That's right, they're pulling back their eyes so they will appear like the stereotypical Chinese person. 

Said Pau Gasol about the photo:

"It was never intended to be offensive or racist against anybody."

Really? What was it supposed to be then? How could it possibly not be offensive or racist against a billion plus people?

I'm so sick and tired of people who screw up and say they didn't mean to offend anyone. You were poking fun at an entire race of people. You meant to offend people, you just didn't want to be scolded for it.

Not to beat a dead horse...

But seriously, Jed Lowrie is on fire. I'm not sure people realize how good this kid is becoming right in front of our eyes. Lowrie added a double and two RBI to his resume today, bringing his average up to .295 and his RBI total to 28 on the season.

He's gotten better in August two (EDITOR's NOTE: THIS ISN'T THE NY TIMES AND THERE WILL BE OCCASIONAL LAPSES IN GRAMMAR. GET USED TO IT), hitting .317 this month with 15 RBI in 12 games. It took Lugo 63 games to drive in his 15th run of the season. Still no errors in 43 games for Lowrie too.

If Mike Lowell is out for an extended period of time, the Sox will lean on Lowrie in that six hole, and may need him to play some 3rd base along the way. It sounds like a tough task for a rookie, but he looks more and more comfortable every game. And I don't know about you, but I'm getting more and more comfortable watching Lowrie in the starting lineup on an everyday basis.

The "Greek" God

It's not that I like sending my many loyal readers to the competition, but sometimes you have to give credit where it's due. Chad Finn put up a great blog entry about Kevin Youkilis developing into a star on Touching all the Bases. 

Here are some of the numbers from Finn's entry that make your jaw drop with Youkilis:

Youkilis is now batting .316, with 22 homers (a career high), 82 RBIs (one shy of his career high set last season), and a 140 OPS+. He has a team-leading 234 total bases, which is 10 fewer than the personal best set two seasons ago, and he also leads the club with a .564 slugging percentage, which is up 111 points from '07.

The only thing I would say that doesn't agree with Finn here is that he thinks Youkilis has the potential to fade at the end of the year. Yes, history tells us Youk has done worse in the second half, but after the all-star break this year, he is batting .322 with 7 HRs and 18 RBI in 87 ABs. The addition of Sean Casey to give him some rest should pay dividends with Youkilis at the end of the season, because he will be much fresher in September.

Phelps watch (updated)

It's hard to assume an athlete will do something no one has ever done before, but Michael Phelps is making it harder to assume he won't win eight gold medals in Beijing. 

Phelps won his fourth straight gold of these Olympics (his record 10th in his career) by touching first in the 200m butterfly in world record time. If you're keeping score at home, that's four races, four golds and four world records in four days. 

The real question might be whether or not Phelps will break eight world records in winning his eight gold medals in these games.

***Update***

Phelps and the rest of the U.S. 4x200m relay team SMASHED the rest of the world tonight to take gold and set a world record by five seconds. That makes 5/5 with five world records now for Phelps.

What a game

A blowout, turned embarrassing failure, turned heroic victory all in four crazy hours at Fenway. After jumping out to a 10-0 advantage in the first, it looked like the Red Sox would coast to victory, but the Rangers fought back, eventually taking a 16-15 lead in the seventh.

The Rangers could have rolled over and died. No one would blame them for giving up down by 10 runs in the first. They showed some spirit today.

But the Red Sox showed just as much spirit in this game. They blew a massive lead, which could have led to an extremely humiliating defeat. They could have gotten frustrated with themselves and gone in the tank. But instead, they battled back and pulled out the win.

When Youkilis' eighth inning home run put Boston up by three, the atmosphere in the stands and in the dugout made it seem like the game was in October instead of August. Maybe this blown lead will be a blessing if the Red Sox can carry this momentum through the end of the season.

Sucking out all the fun

No, I'm not talking about last night when he didn't come out to left field in the 9th inning (even though that was classic Manny). I'm talking about Manny's dreadlocks, and his refusal to give them up in L.A.

Joe Torre wants Ramirez to "clean up" his hair, and Ramirez has yet to make good on his promise to do just that. This whole thing makes me wonder what Torre's obsession is with the hair (dating back to his short-hair/clean-shaven teams in the Bronx).

To me, baseball is a game, not a business. I know many say that with all the money at stake, teams are nothing more than corporations, but I still see grown men playing a kids game. Fans don't go to the ballparks to see people that look like they should be heading to the office. They could do that every Monday-Friday.

Isn't that the fun part about sports? You get to escape your boring 9-5 life for a few hours and dream about how great it would be to have these athletes' lives. 

I have to shave and get a haircut for my job, but no one would pay to watch me at work. Why should ballplayers' lives be as boring as mine? We should let them have fun on the field or with their hair or with anything else, because when live through them for those three hours, our lives will be a little more fun.

A to Zink

It's about time Charlie Zink gets a little love. The Red Sox will call him up to start in Tim Wakefield's place in the rotation on Tuesday, an appropriate place for another knuckleballer.

Zink is 13-4 for the PawSox this season, posting a 2.89 ERA, after putting up a 9-3 record and 3.98 ERA in 2007. He's always been so solid in the minor leagues, but at 28 he has never been considered a great prospect. 

The fact is, teams are afraid to use knuckleballers, and since there are so few successful ones like Wakefield, that's not much of a surprise. But I've seen Zink in person at Pawtucket, and the kid has good stuff. He can be unhittable at times like Wakefield, so it's at least worth giving the guy a shot.

Are strikeouts overrated?

With Adam Dunn moving to the Diamondbacks today for a couple minor leaguers, it's time to think about whether or not strikeouts are overrated as a hitting statistic.

Dunn has struck out 120 times this season, fifth most in the national league. That makes him undesirable as a big-time hitter despite his 32 HRs and 74 RBI. But consider this: of the top five strikeout leaders, four have at least 24 HR and 70 RBI. It makes you wonder if these players make up for their strikeouts by knocking the hell out of the ball when they make contact. 

Ryan Howard surely is valuable for the Phillies even though he's struck out 149 times this year. So is Dan Uggla and his 121 strikeouts. But Dunn can't get any love even though he has a better OBP than both and ties Howard for the league lead with 32 dingers. 

And the thing is, isn't an out an out? Sure, there are such things as productive outs, but a pop up with a runner on third with less than two outs is no better than a strikeout. 

Which leads us to our random stat of the day: A.J. Burnett of the Blue Jays leads the A.L. with 159 Ks this year, but he is also second in the league with 68 walks issued.

Mr. Clutch

A lot of people missed Padraig Harrington becoming the next big thing in golf today (with no Tiger in the field and Olympics on NBC). The Irishman has now won two consecutive majors and three of the last six. He also did it with some clutch shots today, just like he did at Royal Birkdale last month.

Harrington buried clutch putts down the stretch on 16, 17 and 18 to put poor Sergio Garcia away. I don't even think Sergio choked this time, Harrington just snatched it from him at the end. That putt on 18 was oddly reminiscent of one Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open this year. 

To put this all into perspective - Harrington now has as many Major championships as such greats as Hale Irwin, Payne Stewart, Nick Price, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickleson. He has one more win than Ben Crenshaw and Greg Norman.

Hey Hawk Harrelson

****Rant Alert (Seek shelter)****

Seriously Hawk, you don't play baseball anymore. Ozzie Guillen isn't going to put you in as a pinch hitter this season, so stop referring to the White Sox as "we" and "us."

For those of us outside the Boston area, this weekend was about as pleasant as watching the Bruins in a playoff series, because it meant three days of the Hawk on MLB.tv. This guy wraps up every inning by telling the viewers how many runs "we" scored and tells the score in terms of "the good guys" vs. "the bad guys."

That's not even the worst part; every White Sox strikeout is followed by the Hawk yelling out "he gone" in his southern/midwest twang. Gotta love the impartiality.

Now I know most broadcasters employed by teams have a tendency to lean towards the home club. But there's always some type of impartiality. For example, even Michael Kay - who I am not a big fan of - does his signature "see ya" for both teams when they hit a home run. The Hawk acted like the White Sox had won the world series when they recorded the final out on Sunday.

I'm just saying, don't act like you're best friends with all the players (Harrelson refers to every White Sox player by their first names on every play), don't pretend to be a member of the team and don't openly root for or against another team. 

To sum it up: act like a professional.

Phelps' pursuit underway

Michael Phelps is phenomenal. I know I'm not breaking any news here, but the part human/part dolphin Phelps just beat the hell out of his competition and the record books in the 400 M individual medley. 

I don't know a ton about swimming, but the analysts were saying the breaststroke was Phelps' weakness, and he actually used it to pull away from the other swimmers during that portion of the race. That just shows how hard this kid works, making his worst stroke a strength for him coming into the Olympics. He really could go after Mark Spitz' record this year.

Just another side note about Phelps: It is really something special to see these athletes getting emotional on the podium. Phelps has now stood up there seven times as a gold medalist, and nine times overall, but he still got choked up when they played the national anthem. It really shows you how much these athletes care about what they do, and that they are real people just like you and me.

(OK as I was typing that last part the national anthem was cut short at somewhere around "the land of the free." Maybe the Chinese had a problem with that part.)

Bonus quote

"I'll let Bill decide that. He prefers. He does all the preferring here."

-Adalius Thomas about what position he prefers to play

Read the whole story from the Boston Globe

The People's "Republic"

President Bush was in attendance at the opening ceremonies in Beijing today. 

I don't think anyone understands the significance of that last sentence. See, no American president has EVER attended the opening ceremonies of an Olympics on foreign soil. EVER.

So why is it that this monumental occasion happens to occur in a country run by a communist dictator? 

I don't have a good answer for you, but it's troubling to say the least. And if you think China has taken strides towards freedom, check out this blog posting and scroll down to the entry about running to a protest. Gotta love the People's "Republic."

Red Sox underachieving

Yeah, I know that's pointing out the obvious, when they trail the Tampa Bay "you'll always be the Devil Rays to me" in the standings in August. But take a look at their run differential, and it appears the Sox should be the runaway class of the AL.

Boston has outscored its opponents by a whopping 107 runs in 2008, by far the largest run differential in the American League and trailing just the Cubs in all of the Majors (144). In contrast, the Angels have only beaten opponents by 49 and the Rays have won by 54 (same as the Yankees).

What does it all mean? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. It indicates that the Red Sox have blown some teams out and struggled in the close games.

Here are some numbers to back that up - The Sox are 15-18 in one-run games, a worse record than TB (20-12), NYY (20-13), LAA (22-13), Tex (23-12) and Minn (21-18) just to name a few contenders. 

What's the cause? The Red Sox' struggles in the bullpen may be a big reason for the failures in close games. Or maybe it's just a coincidence. Correlation doesn't always mean causation, but this is something to keep in mind as the season heads down the home stretch.

The Lineup Card

Pennant races are heating up as we head into August, but it's time to change courses here at the lineup card. Since the Sox aren't playing, the Patriots are launching their always-exciting preseason (Matt Cassel showcase) and the Olympics are about to begin, this edition of the lineup card will be baseball free.

So here it is, without further delay, the lineup for August 7:

1. Who will play for the National Championship in college football this year?

We'll start things off with a little college football talk - it's really been too long. The sexy picks are USC and Georgia this season, but I'm going down a different path. Chase Daniel is a small QB, but he will lead Missouri through a relatively easy Big XII schedule to the title game, and in the process take home the Heisman. There, the Tigers will meet the Ohio State Buckeyes, who will finally be able to ... lose their third consecutive national title game. Georgia is already falling apart off the field, and the Bulldogs face a ridiculous SEC schedule. USC is overrated like always, and its schedule is also too rough. 

2. What coaches will get canned in college football this year?

OK in the interest of full disclosure, I have a personal agenda when it comes to this topic. Syracuse's Greg Robinson has posted a 7-28 record in three seasons, and he has succeeded in just one thing: destroying the present and future of Orange football. It's time for him to go, and there are some people in the media who are finally starting to agree. Check it out - Here, here and here. I could go on, but I might cry.

3. Why even watch the Olympics with all the athletes that have been caught doping?

The games have definitely lost their luster with all the doping accusations, but there's always a great story that comes out of the Olympics. The thing that scares me more than cheating is the fear of an international incident involving a reporter that isn't used to be censored by foreign press. (Here's a sport that apparently hasn't been ruined by drugs. It might surprise you.)

4. Will the Jets regret trading for Brett Farve?

Yes. Not only did it cost them a draft pick, it also cost them a reliable quarterback who wasn't going to win a lot of games, but also wouldn't lose a lot of games for you (Pennington) and the supposed quarterback of the future (Clemens) who will now lose confidence and have his progression stunted. They better win the Super Bowl, or they will regret this trade for years after Favre retires (four or five more times).

5. Is anyone else upset that the NBA allowed an owner to rob a city of a franchise?

Apparently only people in Seattle and Bill Simmons care. If there's something funny that comes out of this though it's the vindictive uniform designs on uni-watch. In fact, this whole article is hysterical, so check it out.

6. How will the Patriots' O-Line fill all the holes?

I'm not talking about the holes the Giants tore in the line during the Super Bowl. The Pats O-Line has been decimated, with Matt Light, Steven Neal and Ryan O'Callahagn all out. This is not a position you want to have a weakness at, but Belichick has been fantastic at developing O-linemen from within the organization. Look for Billy Yates to take big steps this season.

7. How good will the Celtics be on banner night (Oct. 28)?

Losing James Posey hurts, and probably makes the Hornets a championship contender, but the Celtics return the core of a great team next year. They're asking Tony Allen to step up and fill Posey's role, which sounds like a serious risk, but he has the skills if he puts it all together.

8. When will the NHL be relevant again?

No time soon. Once again, the NHL geniuses have decided to make their league's season-opener compete with the MLB playoffs and both college and NFL football. Good luck getting any viewers on Oct. 4 and 5. 

9. Will USA Basketball return to the pinnacle of the sport?

I want to say yes, but I think they will fall a little short. This is the best USA team in a long time, but the rest of the world has improved so much in the last decade. The other teams no the international rules better and configure their teams and strategies accordingly. The days of the American all-stars having their way in the Olympics are over. My prediction is another disappointing bronze.

A note on Jed Lowrie

Lowrie knocked in RBI numbers 21 and 22 on the season with his 5th inning double tonight. That ties him with Julio Lugo for RBIs this season. The important part is that Lowrie accomplished this feat in just 35 games and is now at just more than 100 at bats. Lugo has played 82 games this season and racked up 261 ABs.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Lowrie also hasn't committed an error in 253 innings at 2B, 3B or SS this season, while Lugo has made 16. 

Still think Jed Lowrie can't be the everyday SS for the Boston Red Sox?

The closer debate

So, I found out today that ESPN actually covers more stories than Brett Favre and Spygate.

Today, the worldwide leader provided us with this gem on its Web site: Jim Caple's argument over the value of the closer. It's an interesting piece that got me rethinking the way I view the closer in todays game. Caple says the closer is the most overrated position in sports, arguing that the most important outs come earlier in the game most of the time (I remember a wise man saying that about five years ago).

Now, being a Red Sox fan, I have experienced every type of closer possible. I've seen a knuckleballer closer (Tim Wakefield), a starter turned closer turned starter (Derek Lowe), closer by committee (a miserable failure), the high-priced success (Keith Foulke '04) and high-priced failure (Foulke '05) and the young power arm (Mr. Redneck AKA Jonathan Papelbon).

So, as a Red Sox fan, I might as well be a closing scientist ... As a scientist, I think Caple's argument has some merit. I agree with a lot of his points, but I believe he oversimplified things a little bit.

See, there are three types of closers in baseball today: the bad ones, the good ones and the great ones (and I said Caple oversimplified things). 

The bad ones are obvious. They'll scare the living hell out of you if they're on your team. No lead is safe. Think BK Kim in the postseason. 2008 example - Eric Gagne.

The good ones are a much bigger group. This is the group Caple spends much of his argument focussing on. They get the job done about 90 percent of the time, and they can be relied upon in most clutch situations. The game isn't quite over when they step on the mound, but it's pretty unlikely they will blow the lead. 2008 example - Billy Wagner, George Sherril

Now the great group is a select few pitchers in the league. I'm talking really select here. Think three guys select: Mariano Rivera, Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon. The opposing teams are demoralized when they enter the game. Joakim Soria could end up in this group with the numbers he's putting up this year, but remember what J.J. Putz did the last few years before you give him the crown at 24.

OK, I know what you're thinking: There's a big gap between the levels, but that's what I'm saying. 

The truly awful closers will cost you not only games, but mental stability. They will affect every aspect of your team in the worst ways by shattering their confidence. 

The truly dominant closers will help you win games. Opposing teams know they only have eight innings to come back from a deficit, and their managers will change their strategy accordingly. They are the game changers.

All the rest in between are really interchangeable. Todd Jones and his 5.05 ERA has blown the same amount of saves as Bobby Jenks and his 2.11 ERA. Maybe one closer from this group can get you a couple more wins over the course of the season than another in the group, but when it's crunch time, none of them are going to scare an opposing team more than another.

OK, so you're thinking one more thing. I left Francisco Rodriguez, the number one closer in the league this year, off my list of dominant closers. Yeah, I didn't forget. You can keep the guy who leads all relievers with 28 walks and hasn't stranded an inherited runner all season. I'll take Rivera (who hasn't blown a save all year), Nathan (who has a better ERA and conversion rate) and Papelbon (who hasn't allowed any of the 18 runners he's inherited to score).

Jonah Keri breaks down K-Rod's lack of value better here.

So, to make a really long blog entry short, Caple is right. Almost every closer in the league is overrated. They are pretty easily replaceable, whether it's by a converted starter, a promoted middle reliever or just another guy taken off the scrap heap.

But if you get one of those rare guys that you can build a bullpen around, you have to take their value seriously. Rivera is the model of that theory, and the Yankees have always understood what they had in him, which is why they built a dynasty around him as the anchor of that pitching staff. 

Mahay Madness

Well, wouldn't it be nice to have Ron Mahay in a Red Sox uniform right now? The left-handed setup man came in during the 8th inning tonight and got the Royals out of a tight jam. With runners at the corners and a two-run lead, Mahay got Jason Varitek swinging on a full count to end the inning.

I know everyone is smitten over Jason Bay right now. I can't say I blame them because he's doing all the little things right now and helping the Sox win. But the biggest reason why this trade hurts the Red Sox is because they had to give up Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss to get Bay.

Now I'm not saying either Hansen or Moss would have helped the team down the stretch. Both very likely could've ended up back in the minors before the end of the season.

But consider this: the Red Sox had a deal in place with the Kansas City Royals on deadline day involving Brandon Moss for Ron Mahay. That move would have drastically improved their beleaguered bullpen, and it would have given Boston a better chance at making and succeeding in the playoffs.

The Manny trade really hurt the Sox because it diverted efforts and players away from the deals that really needed to take place. They didn't improve their bullpen at all at the deadline, and it may cost them in September and October.

Hats off to Tippett

It's been a long time in the making, but one of pro football's most dominant defensive players of his era finally got the honor he deserved tonight. Andre Tippett, who didn't become a finalist for the Hall of Fame until 2007, was at long last inducted into the Hall 14 years after playing his last game with the New England Patriots.

Tippett amassed incredible statistics with a mostly terrible Patriots franchise. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett became the first, and only, linebacker in the history of the game to rack up 35 sacks in two seasons combined. His 18.5 sacks in '84 still stands as a team record, as do his 100 career sacks.

He was selected defensive player of the year in '85, and he earned positions on four consecutive pro bowls. 

Bill Belichick even said he showed his great Giants linebackers of the '80s film of Tippett to learn how to improve. Now that's praise coming from the man who coached some of the best players at all time at the position.

Tippett joins John Hannah as the only two Patriots to play their entire career with the team and be enshrined in the Hall. 

He was truly a dominant player, and he absolutely deserved the honor. The only problem was that it took too long.

Bay's introduction

It was almost a perfect day yesterday for Jason Bay. He made two impressive catches, hit a triple in the 12th inning and scored both runs for the Red Sox in a 2-1 12-inning victory. 

So far (and obviously this is as small as samples get), he's showed us everything that Manny lacked: hustle, athleticism and some speed.

Now, I still think the Red Sox got snookered in this deal. The Dodgers gave up two prospects and didn't pay a cent for Manny, and they are guaranteed two draft picks to replace those prospects when Ramirez leaves. So they are the big winners here.

But, in light of the fact his teammates approached Theo Epstein after the third loss in a row to Los Angeles Wednesday night, it appears the Red Sox had no choice but to deal the man. Like I said before, this was clearly the best deal they ever saw regarding Ramirez, so it makes sense they pulled the trigger.

Who knows? Maybe this deal will have the effect the Nomar deal had on the Red Sox. Cabrera was a solid player for the Sox (.294, 6 HR, 31 RBI) in his time in Boston, but the real impact was replacing Garciaparra's bad attitude with an upbeat player. This time, the Sox are moving a guy who didn't care about the team for a guy who apparently has the work ethic of a hockey player (understandable for a Canadian).