Sox Nearly No-No'd By Cubs' Arrieta; Lose, 2-0

Arrieta Starts The 8th (FenwayNation Photo)

For those of us who were there tonight at America's Most Cramped Ballpark (even more cramped when it's 89 degrees at game time), it seemed like it was destined to happen. "It" was a no-hitter by Chicago's slick starter Jake Arrieta (do you think the Orioles would like him back?). Then, the unlikeliest of protagonists—Stephen "Sub-Mendoza Line" Drew—laced a line shot to right with two outs in the eight inning. Of course, Jake Peavy was dealing his most effective start since late April—to no avail. Boston managed just one more hit (a pinch hit ninth-inning single by A.J. Pierzynski) on the way to an ignominious 2-0 loss at the hands of the woeful Cubbies. 'Nuf Ced.

Can Mookie Betts Be Another Roberto Alomar?

The much-anticipated arrival of Mookie Betts to the big leagues has sparked a flood of speculation as to what type of player he will ultimately become. Among the more reasoned assessments comes from the great FanGraphs website. In an article on Betts' potential, Dave Cameron sifts through a mountain of data on past and present similar players and comes to the conclusion that Betts could end to be either a Roberto Alomar/Dustin Pedroia type or (perhaps more likely) a player like Brett Gardner. Cameron cites the already well-honed plate discipline skills of Betts—developed at the tender age of 21. He then postulates that this skill might put Betts on the higher end of the spectrum—unlike Coco Crisp, another similar player whose plate discipline developed later in his career. All in all, if Betts can deliver a career along the lines of Alomar, Pedroia, Crisp or Gardner, we'd be very pleased.

Secure A Good Parking Spot On The Homestand

As The Olde Towne Team returns home from a big series win in Baghdad-By-The-Hudson, make sure you have a secure and affordable parking spot for the homestand. Tonight, The Carmine Hose take on Theo Epstein's Cubbies—so spots will be in short supply. Click HERE to get a great spot from our partners at ParkWhiz—and avoid the Parking Red Guards in The People's Republic Of Brookline.

Jon Lester: Conversations Continue On Contract

(Getty Images)

After media reports suggested that contract talks between Jon Lester and the Red Sox were "re-engaged", the lefty addressed the issue after last night's 8-5 win over The Evil Ones. Said Lester, "I mean, I don't think they've started anything. I know the conversation has been there throughout the season on different topics. Like I said from the beginning of the season, everything is amicable. Conversations continue, but nothing as far as contract or numbers or anything like that...This is the last thing we need to be talking about right now." We definitely agree with that last comment.

Dalton Jones Industrial Average June Reading

Once again this month, all of our readers can "weigh in" on the State Of The Carmine Hose through our exclusive Dalton Jones Industrial Average Index. The DJIA (honoring the Red Sox all-time pinch-hit leader) gathers four key metrics each month using a simple "0" to "10" confidence scale on: starting pitching, relief pitching, overall offense and overall defense. Each month, FN readers—through a simple one-page survey tool—can assess the fortunes of the team. FenwayNation will publish the DJIA Index Score each month during the season. We invite all of our readers to complete the quick survey, then simply hit "done", which automatically (and anonymously) sends the form to FenwayNation. Here is the survey link for June: DJIA SURVEY LINK (Please complete and send by the end of the day, Monday, June 30th).

Peavy's Spot In Rotation Could Be On The Line

(AP Photo)

Tonight's match-up between the Red Sox and Theo Epstein's Chicago Cubs could be more than just your typical 'prodigal son' stuff. Jake Peavy will take the hill for The Carmine Hose tonight, in search of his first victory since April 25th. That's back when soccer players all over the world were just practicing fake injury dives in anticipation of the World Cup. Peavy has registered a 6.38 ERA over his last nine outings. This has raised speculation that the right-hander could be pitching for his spot in the rotation tonight. With the emergence of Brandon Workman and Rubby De La Rosa, the Red Sox rotation may quickly start to turn on merit and not seniority. Stay tuned.

Mass. Native Ahmed Makes MLB Debut for AZ

(Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports)

Sunday was a big day for MLB debuts. The Red Sox initiated Mookie Betts, and East Longmeadow, Mass. native Nick Ahmed did the same for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ahmed—out of UConn—started at shortstop for Arizona and got his first major league hit in a 2-1 loss to the Padres. Ahmed was acquired from the Braves in the Justin Upton deal. When starting Arizona shortstop Chris Owings went on the DL, Ahmed was called up to fill the void. Best of luck to Nick!

Heart Of Lineup Comes Through; Sox Win, 8-5

(Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images)

David Ortiz hit his 450th career HR (a three-run shot) and Dustin Pedroia had three hits and three RBIs to propel the Red Sox to an 8-5 win over The Bronx Embalmers at The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street. John Lackey was off with his location but got his ninth win nevertheless in five difficult innings. Mookie Betts made his MLB debut—going 1-3 with a walk and a run scored. Both Pedroia and Jackie Bradley, Jr. made stellar defensive plays—the latter throwing out Carlos Beltran at the plate. Boston returns home for a three-game set with Theo Epstein's Chicago Cubs.

Napoli On Tanaka Pitch Selection: What An Idiot

Mike Napoli took a two-strike, two-out fastball from Masahiro Tanaka into the right-field seats at The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street. It ended up winning the game. Tanaka had struck out Napoli twice earlier on spilt-fingers in the dirt. Even if he walked Napoli, the 'immortal' Stephen Drew was waiting on deck. So, how did Napoli assess Tanaka's pitching intelligence? "What an idiot", the big first-baseman was overheard calling the Yankee rookie as he entered the Sox dugout. Napoli later qualified the comment, but can you really argue with his view?

The Mookie Era Begins Tonight In The Bronx

Where else, right? Mookie Betts—the newest Red Sox phenom—will make his MLB debut tonight against The Evil Ones on national television. No pressure, kid—just strap it on and have fun. Betts will likely play right field, but it's unclear where exactly he'll hit in the order. Manager John Farrell seems to be putting it all in perspective for the 21-year old, "He isn't looked upon as the savior for the Red Sox. He's looked upon as a talented and exciting young player, and we're looking forward to him taking the field for us and confident that he'll be able to contribute." As for Mookie, he's clearly confident, "I think I'm as ready as I'm going to get. Only time will tell, getting out there and playing and learning more will tell if I was ready or not. But the front office felt I was ready; I have to feel like I'm ready as well." It begins tonight.

Napoli, Lester & Ross Combine To Bury Empire

(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

At the half-way mark of the 2014 season, your Carmine Hose are under .500 for the first time since 1997—you know, during the Clinton Administration. Nevertheless, tonight they combined timely home run hitting with great starting pitching to smite The Evil Ones at The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street, 2-1. Mike Napoli sliced an opposite-field HR to right with two outs in the ninth off supposedly un-hittable Masahiro Tanaka. Earlier, in the third, David Ross also clouted a solo HR off the rookie Empire starter. Jon Lester gave up just one unearned run (thanks to a Stephen Drew error) in eight brilliant innings. The lefty gave up just five hits and struck out six for his ninth win of the year.

Mookie To The Rescue! Red Sox Promote Betts

(USA TODAY Sports Images)

You knew it was coming. The Red Sox today promoted newly-anointed uber-prospect Mookie Betts to the major league roster. He will be in uniform today at The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street. Betts has spent most of his career at second base, but has played multiple spots (including center field) on his recent rise up the organizational ladder. Boston clearly needs a boost to their offense, and Betts might just be the spark they need. He hits for average, a little bit of power and he has speed (29 stolen bases this year). Let The Mookie Era begin!!!!

Punchless Sox Fall To No-Name Empire Starter

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

It doesn't get much worse than this. The completely offense-free 2014 Red Sox couldn't get more than three hits off one of the worst starters in the American League (a stiff named Vidal "Sassoon' Nuno) in a 6-0 shellacking in the Bronx. Nuno's impressive recent resume included giving up a total of 13 runs in 9 1/3 innings to Oakland and Baltimore. Brandon Workman was way too rusty coming off his six-game suspension—going seven innings and giving up four earned runs (including two HRs). This was yet another stinker in a long line of stinkers this year.

Sox Will Face Jeter Tonight For The 273rd Time

Tonight will be Derek Jeter's 273rd game against the Boston Red Sox. As usual, we will see several instances of the shortstop leaning over and taking a borderline outside pitch—for a ball, of course (it's the law). Then, at some point, in a key spot, Jeter with shoot a cheap flare single to right. It's his signature hit. But it doesn't make it any less annoying. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer is clearly a great player—and he plays the game the right way. But that doesn't mean we have to like him. Anyway, here is the Red Sox line-up for tonight's opener at The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street: Brock Holt RF; Dustin Pedroia 2B; David Ortiz DH; Mike Napoli 1B; Jonny Gomes LF; A.J. Pierzynski C; Xander Bogaerts 3B; Stephen Drew SS; Jackie Bradley Jr. CF. Boston will send Brandon Workman to the hill to face the third-place Bronx Embalmers.

Happy Birthday To Sox Legend Rico Petrocelli

Red Sox great Rico Petrocelli turns 71 years old today. For those of us who recall the miracle year of 1967, the iconic image of Rico with his arms stretched over his head in victory is burned forever in our memory. Rico spent all 13 years of his great career in Carmine Hose—with probably his best year coming in 1969. In that campaign, Rico hit .297 with 40 HRs and 97 RBIs. His on-base percentage (under appreciated in those days) was .403. And his OPS was a stellar .992. Rico was also a two-time All-Star (1967, 1969), and famously hit two HRs in Game 6 of the 1967 World Series. Even late in his career he was a clutch performer—hitting .308 in the 1975 World Series. You can follow Rico's current activities through his website (petrocellisports.com). He also appears on Sirius/XM's MLB Network Radio every Saturday morning (8-10 AM). Happy birthday, Rico!

Gary Striewski Named Jenny Dell Replacement

Striewski, Dell, Erdahl

Our long National Nightmare is over. NESN (America's Most Over-Rated Regional Sports Network) has announced that they have finally named a replacement for the departed Jenny Dell. And the winner is: Gary Striewski! HUH???? The guy is a more than adequate sideline reporter, but we have to admit we are disappointed. We think Jamie Erdahl would have been a much better choice—although it seems she wasn't really given a decent shot at the job. Add this decision to a slew of bad choices made by NESN over the last several years—not the least of which is the lack of Super Slow-Mo capability on their baseball broadcasts (which every other regional baseball network has). Bad NESN, no biscuit!

A. J. Pierzynski's All-Time Classic Umpire Insult

In the midst of an article that shows 2014 ejections up almost 30% over last year, we find a great little vignette about Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Earlier in June, A.J. was upset with the strike-calling ability of young umpire Quinn Wolcott. After Brandon Workman issued a walk, Pierzynski turned and laid this beauty on Wolcott: "Give me a new ball. One you can see." Pierzynski was quickly tossed from the contest. A.J. has gotten a lot of criticism this year (although we think he's gotten a ton of clutch hits), but how can you not love this story?

David Ortiz Goes All 'Babe Ruth' For Kids

(Ortiz And Ne-Yo)

When Hollywood someday makes The David Ortiz Story (with Ne-Yo in the title role), this incident will be front and center. According to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, before yesterday's game, David Ortiz told a group of kids that he would hit a home run for them. In his first at-bat, he did just that. The kids, who were touring the Red Sox visiting clubhouse at SAFECO, are from Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Rehabbing Mike Carp was playing host to the group, when he asked Big Papi if he'd say "hi". According to Carp, Ortiz said, "I'm going to hit a home run for you guys today. I'm going to the moon!" Come to think of it, maybe he was actually going all 'Ralph Cramden'. Said Carp, "It was Babe Ruth-style. Legendary. It's one thing to tell your teammates, 'Hey, I feel good today, I'm going to hit a home run' You tell little kids, 5 or 6 years old, that you're going to hit a home run, they believe you. Then the very first swing you take is off the glass, you have to be kidding me." Indeed.

Mookie Fever: Catch It!

(Louriann Mardo-Zayat photo)

On Wednesday, Mookie Betts turned up the heat a little more on Red Sox GM Ben Cherington. In his 21st game at AAA Pawtucket the CF/2B/DH went 3-5 with a walk. So far this year for the PawSox, Betts is hitting .337 with a .418 on-base percentage. Overall this year (AA, AAA) he's hitting .350 with 8 HRs and 48 RBIs. Oh, did we mention the 28 stolen bases? Sooner or later (likely sooner) Cherington will be forced to bring this kid to the bigs to infuse some energy into the Boston outfield. Putting Betts in center (where he's already played 15 games at AAA), moving Jackie Bradley, Jr. to left and leaving Brock "Babe" Holt in right would be an intriguing alignment.

Sox Can Still Contend If They Regain 2013 Pace

Rosy Scenario

Your 2014 Carmine Hose have 83 games left to play—42 of which (51%) will be at America's Most Cramped Ballpark. "So what?", we hear you all saying, they're lousy wherever they play! Wrong, watered-down-six-dollar-beer-breath! Boston is one of only two AL East teams with a winning record at home. Let's say they run the table at Fenway with the same home winning percentage as they had in 2013 (.654). That means they will pull in 27 or 28 wins—let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say 28. Now, assume they will rise to their 2013 road pace for the balance of the season (.543). That would give them 22 more wins. Add those two together and it gives you a whopping 50 more wins—giving them a grand total of 86 victories on the year. In this year's lackluster American League, that might be enough to allow them to squeak into a Second Wild Card spot. After all, the two current Wild Card leaders are on pace for 92 wins (Angels) and—wait for it—86 wins (Mariners)! So, while this is clearly a best case scenario for The Olde Towne Team—it is not a wildly absurd one either.

Buchholz And Ortiz Help Avoid Another Sweep

Last night, Clay Buchholz returned from over a month on the DL with a more than credible performance in Boston's 5-4 win over Seattle. The tall righty went 7 1/3 innings giving up four earned runs—on a paltry 76 pitches. That efficiency was fueled by throwing all four pitches in his repertoire and working fast. The offense was provided primarily by David Ortiz (3 RBIs, including his 449th career HR). Daniel Nava also went 3-4 with an RBI. A healthy and effective Buchholz could go a long way toward making upcoming trade decisions a little easier. If Ben Cherington and John Farrell can count on Jon Lester, Buchholz, John Lackey, Brandon Workman and Rubby De La Rosa, there are obvious expendable starters. After a day off, the Red Sox head to The Concrete Bunker On 161st Street for the final three games of this dismal road trip.

Manny Being Mentor: Promoted To AAA Iowa

The Cubs announced today that former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez has been promoted to AAA Iowa. Ramirez was signed by Chicago in May to serve as a part-time player and coach for minor leaguers in their system. Just Manny being mentor.

Curt Schilling Says His Cancer Is In Remission

(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Great news was TWEETED out today by Red Sox legend Curt Schilling: "As of yesterday I am in remission. Start the 5 year clock!" Schilling had two different surgeries earlier this year to combat an undisclosed type of cancer and followed that up with chemotherapy and radiation treatments. We wish Curt continued good health and a quick return to the booth for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

Phillies Sign Grady Sizemore To Minors Deal

Headed To City Of Brotherly Love—And Crazy Fans

As was suggested here five days ago, the Phillies have signed former Red Sox outfielder Grady Sizemore to a minor league contract. Sizemore will join up with the elegantly-named Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs—the AAA affiliate of The Fightins. Reportedly, Sizemore has an opt-out he can exercise if Philadelphia doesn't put him on the major league roaster by the All-Star Break. Despite the 31-year old's amazing Spring Training, he never was able to translate that performance into the regular season after a long two-year-plus layoff. Said Philly GM Ruben Amaro Jr., "I know Boston gave him the opportunity to play, and he had some level of success, and then he did struggle at times. But we'll see what he's got in the tank. We believe in the athlete. We'll see what he's got left. Does he run as well as he used to? No. But he's still very athletic. And our scouts kind of liked some of the things that he did. I mean, really, this is kind of a no-risk, high-reward situation, as far as I'm concerned. We'd like to have more production in the outfield. It's pretty simple." We wish Grady the best of luck in Philly.

Mighty Mariners Pummel Sinking Sox Ship, 8-2

The Babe (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

When the 2014 Red Sox get elite starting pitching, they have a chance to win games. When they get performances like John Lackey's on Monday and Jake Peavy's last night, they have no shot. Peavy gave up seven earned runs in five innings during a listless 8-2 defeat at the hands of the Mighty M's on Tuesday. Our offense, once again, came almost exclusively from Brock 'Babe' Holt—who launched his second HR of the year to account for all of Boston's runs. We are getting perilously close to 'Fire Sale' time on Yawkey Way. Look out Jon Lester, Felix Doubront, and Koji Uehara.

REPORT: Doubront Could Be On Trade Block

(Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

According to a report by Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe (AKA John Henry's Journalistic Plaything), Red Sox left-hander Felix Doubront might be on the trading block. The rationale postulated by Cafardo cites the recent excellent performances by both Brandon Workman and Rubby Del La Rosa—making Doubront somewhat expendable. One AL GM is quoted in Cafardo's column thusly, "He’s attractive because the price is right, he’s a proven major league lefthanded pitcher, and he’s got very good stuff. The Red Sox are in one of those unique situations where they have extra pitching." The article goes on to speculate that the St. Louis Cardinals—who put two starters on the DL this week—are a likely landing spot for Doubront.

Offerman Not Replacing In-Court Capabilities

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Jose Offerman has repeadetly failed to show up for court depositions—according to an ex-minor-league player suing the former Red Sox infielder. Attorneys for former Bridgeport Bluefish catcher John Nathans say a default ruling against Offerman should not be lifted. Offerman's attorneys claim his residency in the Dominican Republic makes it difficult for him to make the depositions. The suit stems from a 2007 incident in which Offerman allegedly wielded a baseball bat against Nathans during a minor league game. Dan Duquette could not be reached for comment.

Red Sox Are Road 'Weary-Ers' So Far In 2014

Amazingly, your 2014 Carmine Hose are not yet out of it. Despite a horrifically inept offense, they sit "just" 7.5 games off the lead in the moribund AL East. However, a big part of Boston's problem is their record on the road. While their 20-19 mark at Fenway is nothing to write home about (pun definitely  intended), it's the 15-23 road tally that really kills them. The old adage is to kick butt at home and play .500 on the road. If the Red Sox had just broken even on the road, they'd be at 39-38 overall—right on the heels of The Bronx Embalmers (39-36). To give you a sense of how wacky the division is this year, Boston has the second highest number of wins at home (20) to Toronto's 21. Three of the five teams in the division have losing records at home. Starting off this road trip at 1-4 clearly doesn't help Boston's non-Fenway equation. But taking the remaining five (in Seattle and Baghdad-on-the Hudson) would be a big boost to their chances going forward.

M's Lay A 'Grande Stink-A-Chino' On Sox, 12-3

(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Come on, does King Felix Hernandez really need 12 runs worth of support? The Mariners beat up on John Lackey and the Red Sox last night in an ugly 12-3 loss in Starbucks City. Lackey (who gave up seven earned runs) did not make it out of the fourth inning—compounding issues by not covering first base on a possible double play that lead to a key early run. Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Mike Napoli each had two hits, but the Red Sox looked like one of those flying dead salmons at Pike Place Market.

Nelson Cruz Widens Lead On Papi In ASG Vote

Baltimore DH Nelson Cruz now has a commanding 800,000+ vote lead over second-place David Ortiz in All-Star Game balloting. Cruz now has 2,457,349 votes to Big Papi's 1,652,470. Only two other Red Sox players are in contention for the Mid-Summer Classic. Dustin Pedroia is in third place among second baseman—trailing leader Robinson Cano by 812,000 votes. A.J. Pierzynski is in fifth place among catchers—trailing injured leader Matt Wieters by over a million votes. The All-Star Game will take place on Tuesday, July 15 at 8:00 PM Eastern on FOX from Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Damon HBP At Evil Ones' Old-Timers' Game

WEEI: No Pending Red Sox Deal For Matt Kemp

(Harry How/Getty Images)

According to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, there is "nothing going on" between the Red Sox and Dodgers regarding a deal for outfielder Matt Kemp. Boston clearly has a need for more offensive production from the outfield, but apparently management is put off by Kemp's hefty contract obligations (5 years, $107 million after this year). This weekend, multiple rumors were floated about Boston "scouting" the Dodgers. According to Bradford, there is also no interest in another of LA's excess outfielders—Dustin Pedroia's good buddy Andre Ethier. 

Mike Napoli's Amazing Dash To Home Plate

Alex Torres First Pitcher To Don Protective Hat

(Getty Images)

History was made over the weekend. On Saturday, San Diego Padres reliever Alex Torres became the first MLB pitcher to wear new protective headgear on the mound. While the hat looks odd and unwieldy, Torres insists it isn't a distraction, "The difference between how this hat and the regular hat feels isn't much. I tried it before using it in the game, playing catch. It doesn't feel really bad. It doesn't feel like how it looks on my head." Hopefully, more hurlers will wear the hat and lead MLB to streamline and perfect the gear in the near future. Anyone who has personally witnessed a pitcher—at any level of baseball—being struck in the head will certainly agree.

One Former Red Sox Exec Fires Another In SD

Josh And Theo: Together Again?

Mike Dee came to the Red Sox from the Padres as a sort of package deal with Larry Lucchino. As Chief Operating Officer of The Carmine Hose from 2002-2009, he watched record crowds stream into Fenway for two World Series Championships. Dee is now back in San Diego as CEO of the Padres, who yesterday fired another former Red Sox executive: GM Josh Byrnes. Byrnes was Sox Assistant GM under Theo Epstein until October 2005, when he was hired as Arizona's GM. Look for Theo to scoop up his old buddy and re-unite him with current Cubbie GM Jed Hoyer. Looks like the 'Ivy League Mafia' might be re-grouping.

Red Sox Video Manager And Girlfriend Killed

Tragedy befell the Red Sox organization on Saturday night, as the team's video control room manager and his girlfriend were killed while walking along Beacon Street. Jack Lanzillotti and Jessica Campbell, both in their late 20s, were killed when they were hit by a car that collided with another, rolled over and hit the couple. Lanzillotti had worked for the Red Sox since 2007—starting as an intern from Boston University and working his way to his current position. Campbell, a graduate of Northeastern University, worked for Kantar Retail. Red Sox Executive Vice President Dr. Charles Steinberg said, "He worked his way up, earning the respect of everybody, to becoming the manager of the control room. So when you came to Fenway, those were many of his video vignettes that you enjoyed. He was artistic, conscientious, and dedicated as could be. He just loved the Red Sox organization and we all are really suffering today."

Papi Blast Saves Series; Red Sox Win In 10, 7-6

(AP Photo/George Nikitin)

It was starting to look like another inevitable 2014 loss. Leading 6-1 late in the game, Boston allowed The Amazin' A's to claw back to a 6-6 tie in the 9th—partly off Koji Uehara. Then, in the 10th, David Ortiz put on the red cape. He launched the game-winning HR to deep left-center and gave Uehara the 7-6 vulture win. Mike Napoli and David Ross also homered, while Jonny Gomes went 3-4 with two RBIs. So, the Red Sox salvaged one game in Oakland and head to Seattle—where the Mariners are actually above .500.

Theo: Manny Already Having A Positive Impact

Manny Being Mentor

We believe Theo Epstein. Do you? The former Red Sox—and current Cub—executive says Manny Ramirez is already having a positive "impact" on young players in the Chicago organization. Despite the fact that Manny doesn't report to AAA Iowa (as a player/coach) until next week, Manny is apparently spreading the goodwill during his tune-up in Mesa. Said Theo, "Probably sometime next week that he’s ready to go to Iowa, but we’re not in a rush because he’s making an impact with the young kids." Maybe he has found religion—we're not sure which religion, but maybe.

Brad Mills (No, Not That One) Starts Against Sox

When we heard that Brad Mills was taking the hill to face the Red Sox tonight, our first thought was: 'Geez, Brad, don't take it that personally'. Then we realized it wasn't the former Red Sox—and current Indians—coach, but a 29-year cast-off from the Brewers organization. In fact, the inimitable Billy Beane purchased Mills' AAA contract for $1—that's right one lousy semolian. Mills has a career 7.76 ERA in The Show, but he was much better in AAA this year. Hey, what else can you get for a buck?

Phillies Have 'Reached Out' To Grady Sizemore

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Philadelphia Phillies have shown interest in Grady Sizemore. Heyman claims that there are 'other' teams in on Sizemore as well. The outfielder was let go by the Red Sox this week after hitting just .216 for The Carmine Hose. Boston had signed Sizemore to a $750,000 contract. It's likely someone will give him—at best—a minor league deal.

The Interesting Life Of Ex-Sox 3B Billy Werber

Werber (left) With Joe Cronin

We like to think we know a lot about the Boston Red Sox. After all, some of us have been attending games at Fenway since the mid-1950s. But once in a while, we run across a player we don't know much about. One of those is Billy Werber—who would have turned 105 years old today. Werber played third base for The Carmine Hose from 1933-1936—purchased from the Yankees for $100,000 (does that ring a bell?). The conventional wisdom is that the Red Sox have never been a team that values "speed". Believe it or not, while with Boston, Werber led the American League is stolen bases in both 1934 and 1935. Who knew? Batting lead-off in 1934, he hit .321—collecting 200 hits in 714 plate appearances (the latter leading the league). He even clouted 38 HRs in his four years here. But the really interesting stuff about Werber is the trivia. For instance, while with the Reds, he became the first player ever to bat in a televised game (August 26, 1939). For Cincinnati in the 1940 World Series, he led his team to victory—batting .370. And, he is still the only player to hit four consecutive doubles in both leagues (with the Red Sox and Reds). In another Red Sox connection, he stopped watching baseball at age 96—mostly because of Johnny Damon. Said Werber, "I don't like the appearance of a lot of the players. The hair's too long. Their beards are too evident. They're a grubby-looking bunch of caterwaulers." But perhaps best of all, before he passed away at the age of 100 in 2009, he was the last surviving teammate of Babe Ruth. What a life!

Rangers Release Former Red Sox Reliever Bard

(Texas Rangers Photo)

The sad case of Daniel Bard gets even sadder. The Texas Rangers have announced that they've released the former Sox set-up man—effectively admitting that they can't figure out what's wrong with him, either. The now 28-year old Bard was dominant as the eight-inning 'appetizer' to Jonathan Papelbon's 'main course'—routinely hitting 100-MPH. Then, he was mishandled in his attempt to become a starter and never regained the confidence that made him so effective. Bard faced just 18 batters for Class A Hickory—walking nine, hitting seven and retiring just two. Hopefully, somebody will give Bard another shot.

Felix Doubront Returns To The Rotation Tonight

(Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports)

Felix Doubront (who went on the DL May 21st) returns to action tonight in Oakland—but his appearance in the rotation may be short-lived. The lefty is taking the spot of Brandon Workman, who was suspended six games for his phantom plunking of Evan Longoria. Workman (and Rubby De La Rosa for that matter) have been so effective as starters that Doubront may need to head to the bullpen after tonight. Reportedly, Clay Buchholz will be back sometime soon as well—which creates yet another conundrum for Boston.

Kazmir Sends Up Sox Like A Led Zeppelin, 4-2

(Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Scott Kazmir? Isn't this the same guy who's been washed up more times than Harold Stassen (Editor's Note: readers under 40, please type "Stassen" into GOOGLE)? The zombie-like Kazmir has resurrected his career in Oakland this year, and showed why last night against Boston. Except for a two-run HR by The Muddy Chicken, Kazmir pretty much had his way with The Carmine Hose all night in the 4-2 loss. Jake Peavy fell behind early and went on to hurl 6 1/3 innings giving up three earned runs. So, the 'Titantic Ten' roadtrip hit an iceberg on Night One. Are there enough lifeboats to salvage the rest of the trip? We'll see.

Place Your 'Betts', Mookie To See Fenway Soon

Mookie Betts—the number five ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization—didn't do anything yesterday to hurt his chances of seeing The Show in 2014. In the AAA PawSox double-header sweep, Betts went 4-10 with a double and four RBIs. He also scored a run and had two stolen bases. Since being moved up from AA Portland, the 21-year old has reached base in all 15 games for the PawSox—hitting .310 with two HRs and four stolen bases over that span. Significantly, Betts played center field in both games on Wednesday. Coming to Fenway soon? You decide.

Will 'Titanic Ten' Roadtrip Decide Sox Season?

Behind ridiculously good pitching from key starters (John Lackey, Jon Lester, Rubby De La Rosa, Brandon Workman) and yeoman's service from the bullpen (Burke Badenhop, Edward Mujica, Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Craig Breslow, Andrew Miller), Boston was able to come away with five wins during the seven-game homestand. They need to sustain that level of pitching—and get some offense—over the next ten road games. Call it "The Titanic Ten" roadtrip—with the team's not-so-subtle ties to that benighted vessel clearly in mind. The Carmine Hose now face four games against the raging A's, three against the surging Mariners and three against The Evil Ones. The shape they're in when they come home May 30th may well define the rest of the 2014 season. This is the time they need to step up and decide whether they are worthy of defending the 2013 World Series championship.

'Back-To-Back Homers' Power Sox To 2-1 Win

It looked pretty dim this afternoon in the bottom of the 10th inning at Fenway Park. After John Lackey (nine scoreless) and Kyle Gibson (seven scoreless) had dueled in the sun, the Twinkies broke through on Koji Uehara with a semi-cheap HR to right. Advantage Twins—1-0. Then, in a miraculous bottom of the 10th, David Ortiz launched his 16th HR of the year down the right field line inside The Pesky Pole for a 1-1 tie. One batter later, Mike Napoli sent the game-winning, walk-off  HR to straightaway center field for the 2-1 victory. These were the second and third hits by The Carmine Hose all day. So, Boston scored a grand total of five runs in three games—and swept Minnesota in the process. That's some kind of efficient scoring! Now, on the road again.

Brock Holt's Incredible Catch In "CF"!

As Expected, Sizemore Era Comes To An End

(Gabe Souza/Portland Press-Herald)

The handwriting was on the wall for a while. The Musical Chairs Outfield needed one victim. Today, that victim was Grady Sizemore, who was designated for assignment by the Red Sox. In Spring Training, it seemed like Sizemore was The Signing Bargain Of The Century. Then, the reality of more than two years out of baseball began to set in. Grady hit just .216 in Carmine Hose and never regained the form that made him one of the best players in all of baseball. It was a good experiment, but, ultimately, it was flawed.

Holt Scores Two; Red Sox Beat Twinkies, 2-1

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Tonight, Brock Holt demonstrated the importance of the most underrated element of baseball: scoring runs. Holt 'pierced the pentagon' twice tonight and—son-of-a-gun—the Red Sox won, 2-1. Jon Lester fought off a terrible first inning to pitch six plus for his seventh win of the year. Holt—now hitting .338—had two hits, as did Dustin Pedroia (who also had one of the RBIs). Xander Bogaerts was 1-3 with the other RBI. Boston now has one more game with the Twinkies before heading West for a tough road-trip that starts in Oakland heads to Seattle and ends back East in Baghdad-by-the-Hudson.

Papi Trailing Cruz By Nearly Half-Million Votes

In the latest update from Major League Baseball, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz trails Baltimore's Nelson Cruz by nearly a half-million votes in All-Star Game balloting for DH. Cruz has collected 1,792,432 votes to 1,316,921 for Big Papi. Former Red Sox player Victor Martinez is a close third at 1,101,028. Cruz leads the American League in both HRs (21) and RBIs (56). He also leads the Junior Circuit in total bases (154). Oritz is hitting just .249, but boasts an OPS of .828 and has 15 HRs and 42 RBIs.

Rubby Monday! De La Rosa Tosses Gem #Two

(Getty Images)

'How 'ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm....?' Indeed! Both Rubby De la Rosa (who tossed a one-hitter tonight through seven innings) and Brandon Workman have got to present GM Ben Cherington with some interesting rotation choices. De La Rosa threw his second straight "gem"—giving up just one single in the third inning and lowering his ERA to 2.84 in the 1-0 win. Boston's feeble offense teased out one run on an sacrifice fly by A. J. Pierzynski (his 30th RBI).  Stephen Drew had two more hits, raising his average to .238. Of course, even with the win, The Carmine Hose are still a pathetic 9-15 in one-run games. But it's a start.

Red Sox Sign Indiana U. First Baseman Travis

The Red Sox signed Sam Travis—the 67th overall pick in the MLB Draft—to a contract worth $846,000. The right-hand-hitting first baseman hit .347 with 12 HRs for Indiana University this year. He reportedly has both power and plate discipline—a combo the Red Sox are currently in very short supply of at the major and minor league levels. Said Director Of Amateur Scouting Amiel Sawdaye said. "He's another guy that's really going to use the Monster well and then also put some balls onto Lansdowne Street." We can't wait!