And the most honest- Julian Tavarez.

You’ve got to like this guy, a lot. He is overachieving and if you can ever call a major league player underpaid (Ok realistically-you can’t), he is. He is the lowest paid of the team’s starters (but at over $3M he certainly won’t go hungry).

In these days of Athletes trying to be so PC (boring), Tavarez is the exception. On the field he displays true emotion and not just at his own strikeouts. And when asked a question-he actually responds honestly. Now that emotion has gotten him into trouble before and may yet again, but while he behaves himself he is refreshing.

Julian Tavarez, who has been in the Majors 14 years is on pace to set career highs in starts and wins, as well as fist pumps and pointing and his performance is a major reason the Red Sox have enjoyed a double digit lead over the Yankees

Shut Schilling Down

June is not the time for heroes, October is. No one knows that better than Curt Schilling so shut it down Curt, especially if Theo Epstein will not stand up to you and tell you to shut it down.

I don't care if there is no structural damage in your shoulder; tendonitis means its sore so rest it -Now. Your team and their healthy 9 game lead will not fall apart without you plus let's reward Jon Lester for his patience and success at triple A. Lester can come up and make a couple of starts and then when Schilling is well rested Francona can have the luxury of having 6 starters to juggle.

Oh yah Curt, one more reminder- you're 40 and pitching for a new contract. No one is going to pay big bucks for a 41 year old pitcher with a questionable shoulder.

That final message should convince the Big $chill to shut it down for awhile.

June 15 has finally arrived and the controversial Barry Bonds will be at Fenway tonight. I suspect many Red Sox fans will be gargling and resting their vocal chords all day so they can do what many do best – boo. Each time Bonds steps on the field (if he plays he most likely will DH) or his name is announced there will be a cacophony of boos. Why waste your energy? True, he is a loathsome character who has his own PR man, his own section of the locker room with his own flatscreen TV that only he can see. So why boo the man? Yes he is suspected of using steroids but until now he has never tested positive and the only abuse he admits is using flaxseed oil and crème to treat arthritis. Bonds thrives on booing, it drives him, motivates him and fuels him. Want to drive him crazy tonight? Ignore him, don’t utter a sound, and turn your back on him. Don’t waste the energy booing Barry Bonds. He could care less, but if you show you could care less with your apathy, he might just get rattled.

Did you catch the full page spread in Sunday’s Globe sports section? It was a salute to one of the most valuable Bruins over the past three decades. It wasn’t a player or a coach; it was Nate Greenberg former Public Relations Chief and Special Assistant to the President. Nate worked his last day for the Bruins last Friday; later that evening there was a gathering of close friends and workers who celebrated his friendship. If it was an open house, the party would have had to have been held in the Garden. As one well wisher stated, “When Nate spoke to you, you felt like the most important person in the world.” That’s how Nate made all of us in the media feel and that’s how he wanted every Bruins fan to feel. Nate loved and promoted the Bruins every day for the past 34 years. It’s too bad the Bruins administration didn’t notice this. They let one of the best skate away.

The NBA Finals could be over by the end of the week and by the ratings for the first two games not many folks are going to miss this series. It’s too bad because the San Antonio Spurs are one of the more interesting teams to watch in recent years. They actually pass the ball, they moved without the ball, they set picks, they rebound and they play defense. Celtics fans still drool every time they watch Tim Duncan and wonder what might have been, but his supporting cast is dazzling. Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker may be the most potent 1-2 punch in years. Neither played college basketball, Ginobli speaks three languages, Parker speaks two. Both have been eating up opponents throughout the playoffs and will be happy to applaud unselfishly when Tim Duncan walks off with the Finals MVP award. As for the Cavs, it has been a great run for LeBron who has matured beyond anyone’s expectations in his four years. He is fun to watch and each time he steps behind a microphone I am quite impressed. Quality basketball with quality players. Will anyone notice before it’s over?

On Wednesday Kobe Bryant declared that he wanted to be traded. By Wednesday evening he had changed his mind after a conversation with his coach Phil Jackson. Even though Kobe retracted his trade wishes, every hungry team in the NBA should be burning the phone lines to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, including the Celtics. YES, you heard me correctly, the Celtics. If there is one sport where one person can make an immediate impact it is basketball and Kobe is one of those players. Would the Celtics package their #5 pick and Paul Pierce for Kobe? I don’t know how tempting it is for Danny Ainge but I would bite. Kobe is a scoring machine who can take over a game. He is 29 years old and once scored 81 points in a game. Prior to the NBA draft lottery there was renewed interest in the future and, more importantly, hope. All that fizzled with the words “ the fifth pick in the 2007 NBA draft goes to The Boston Celtics.” The thought of Kobe wearing green is enticing and tempting. Will the Celtics pick up the phone?

If you are looking to laugh, have a good time and help out a great cause at the same time there are two events this week that will satisfy those requirements and both support the Joey Fund. Tonight at the Comedy Connection in Faneuil Hall Eddie Andleman will host the first annual Comedy Extravaganza. Funny man Steve Sweeney and five other comedians will be busting your guts from 7pm – midnight. There will be a number of sports celebrities, a live auction and of course – all the hot dogs you can eat. If you can’t make it tonight, then head over to Suffolk Downs Sunday for the 18^th annual Hot Dog Safari. For a $10 donation you can play games, eat hot dogs, meet sports celebrities and help families with Cystic Fibrosis. Joey O’Donnell was one of my heroes; he died of CF more than 20 years ago but his feisty spirit flourishes thanks to the relentless efforts of his mother Kathy and his father Joe. So when you are looking for something to do tonight or Sunday, do something for Joey. You won’t regret it.

I am not worried about the Red Sox. I am not even really worried about Curt Schilling, but C'mon Curt- you are supposed to be the man!

I know it's only May, but it was the Yankees and you looked like you were throwing BP (batting practice). I mean even Doug Mientkiewicz took you deep. That's Doug .231 Mientkiewicz.

Curt, you can look mediocre against  Baltimore, which you did 12 days ago, and even against Detroit, like you did 7 days ago, but these are the Yankees. I don't care if they were 10 1/2 games out. Put them out of their misery. End their season. You had the chance to do that and you laid an egg-giving up 6 runs in 6 innings. Lay an egg against Tampa not the Yankees. You'd better hope that lackluster performance doesn't come back to bite the team in September. 

took you deep

Fenway Park has had some unusual event this season. Four consecutive home runs against the Yankees, some of the largest crowds of all time and on Monday night, the first complete game this season by a Red Sox pitcher. As a matter of fact the nine innings pitched by Dice K was only the 20^th complete game pitched in the entire major leagues this season. Somewhere pitchers of yesterday are chuckling. For instance former Sox hurler Cy Young tossed 41 complete games in 1902. The Bambino, Babe Ruth, threw 35 complete games for the Sox in 1917. Mel Parnell had 27 of them in 1949, Jim Lonborg had 18 in 1967, Luis Tiant was on the hill for 25 complete games in 1974. The Rocket, Roger Clemens had 18 complete games in 1987 and Pedro Martinez started and finished 7 games in 2000. Since that year there have not been more than 3 complete games thrown by any Sox pitcher. So when you marvel at Dice K’s night, tip you cap to those who spent far more time soaking their arm in a tub of ice after a game.

This week should be a decent test for the Red Sox. After winning fourteen of nineteen against the weak American League East, the Sox will get some of the iron over the next seven days. The defending American League champion Detroit Tigers are in town until Thursday night followed by the perennial National League East champion Atlanta Braves. The Tigers began the week in first place in the AL Central division even though they are without 17 game winner Kenny Rogers who is recovering from a blood clot. The Tigers have added some punch to their lineup this year with the addition of the ever dangerous, Gary Sheffield. And as a bonus the Sox have four days to audition in front of this years All Star manager Jim Leyland. On the weekend the Braves come to town. The Braves don’t have their usual quality pitching but they still have some guys who can mash, especially Andruw Jones and don’t forget former Red Sox shortstop Edgar Renteria, who ran up an eighteen game hit streak this season. Quality baseball, all week long at Fenway.

How was that for a Mother’s Day gift? Over 36,000 at Fenway had more than one reason to celebrate yesterday. As mom’s throughout the region were feted with brunch, flowers and gifts there were a number of mother’s treated to the Red Sox - Orioles game. A brilliant sun bathed the ballpark as mothers were promised they could come down to the field and run the bases after the game with their children. The end of the game couldn’t come soon enough as the Sox were being handcuffed by Baltimore pitcher Jeremy Guthrie who was inexplicably removed in the bottom of the ninth when the mother of all comebacks began. Down 5-0, with little hope, the sox roared all the way back with 6 runs to give all of the moms a gift that is impossible to wrap. Great stuff for mom, who always deserves the best!

There are some major league rookies, 2nd year players (like Jonathon Papelbon for instance-$425,000 salary) and 3rd year players (The Phillies Ryan Howard-$900,000.) who are baseball bargains. But it would be tough to find many better deals in baseball right now than Tim Wakefield.

Last year Wakefield signed a contract extension/life time contract with the red sox guaranteeing that he would finish his career in a red sox uniform, and doing so at a reasonable salary (these days) for major league pitchers at 4 Million per year. But right now that salary is a bargain.

Wakefield is the 12th highest paid player on the Red Sox (getting less than half od what matt Clement is getting) but after last night's 7 shutout innings against the Blue Jays, Wakefield is #1 in the American league in Earned Run Average at 1.79.

Wakefield will not get the national recognition because win-loss record is the sexy statistic and Wakefield's teammate Josh Becket has grabbed the national spotlight with his is 7-0 record compared to Wakefield's 4-3. What the national media doesn't realize is that Beckett is being supported by an average of 8 runs a game while Wakefield is getting half that amount.

Not bad for a guy who will be 41 on Aug 2nd

Is Curt Schilling the greatest? Of course he is, just ask him.  But I want you to know about Keith Gill, because unlike Schilling- he won't tell you.

Gill was cut from his HS baseball team and told to try something else. He decided on track and ran all the way to all-scholastic honors and Stonehill College.

Gill’s Cross country season his freshman year was ended on it’s 3^rd day due to an injury. His sophomore year a mysterious setback plagued him for 5 months nearly ending his running career. After finding out it was Mono and anemia he began running again.

Last spring, in outdoor track, Gill attained All-America honors. In the fall, in cross country, Gill did it again-achieving All-America status. And then in the winter, in indoor track, Gill became Stonehill's 1st ever 3 sport All-America.

Haven’t heard of him? Probably because he doesn't have his own blog to tell you how great he really is.

With the Celtics not in the playoffs you usually try to find a team to pull for. Phoenix?-maybe, Detroit?-No way! Utah?- YES.

Old school coach Jerry Sloan has his Utah Jazz playing basketball the way it's supposed to be-unselfishly, hard and usually without the whining that is so prevalent in today’s game.

It is not a team of all-stars, -officially only Carlos Boozer has been named (once), but he may now be the most valuable/outstanding player in the entire playoffs. (How good would he look in Celtics Green, something Danny Ainge tried very hard to do last off-season)?

Andrei Kirilenko is their thin 6-9 forward whose scoring average has gone from 16 to 8 to allow Boozer and rookie point guard Deron Williams to get more shots- Kirilenko doesn't care- he just goes out and blocks more shots. An attitude, a team attitude that is worth cheering for.

There will be two major sporting events this weekend and neither of them have anything to do with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL or the PGA. On Saturday afternoon Churchill Downs hosts the 133^rd Kentucky Derby while later that evening Las Vegas hosts the WBC Junior Middleweight title fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Both sports have seen better and more popular days. When was the last time anyone asked you “who do you think will win the fight tonight?” There is more interest in a Red Sox – Yankees bench clearing brawl than a world title fight. Too bad because nothing beats fight night. For arena electricity, it rivals a seventh game in basketball or hockey. As for horse racing, it suffers from the same lack of interest as boxing which is a shame because the sport is filled with “lifers” who grab the public’s attention only a handful of days per year. For the record Oscar De La Hoya has been a great champ but he will lose to the loud mouthed Mayweather. In the Derby, I’m placing my two bucks on “Any Given Saturday”. Makes the most sense to me.

Spent some time in Foxboro this week talking to various people about the NFL draft which has turned into a major spectator event over the years. Had a chat with Robert Kraft who said that he met with Randy Moss, pulled him aside, looked him in the eye and told him what he expected of him as a New England Patriot. Robert told me that after that face to face conversation he was comfortable making the deal, although he did admit there was a spirited discussion within the Patriots hierarchy. Bill Belichick told me the whole deal began late Saturday night with phone calls, travel arrangements and a physical that all had to be completed by Sunday morning when the draft resumed. Belichick conferred with a number of his peers who had been around Moss and they gave him the green light to pursue Moss. You can catch all of these interviews on our draft edition of Patriots All Access Saturday night at 7PM on WCVB TV CH 5!

For the first time in his career Randy Moss is not the one holding the hammer. When he was drafted by the Vikings in 1998 he was to be the club’s savior, he was “the man” of the Vikings. With New England, for the first time in his career, he is just “another man.” Moss has no leverage with the Patriots who will only pay him $3 million as opposed to the $9.75 he was due to receive and the contract is not guaranteed. With the Vikings and Raiders Moss had a long leash, here in New England Moss will be under the microcope 24/7, on and off the field. There won’t be any discussions with any transgressions, he’ll simply be out of work. Fear can be a great motivator and so can winning. The Pats are banking on the latter.

So the recalcitrant Randy Moss is now a New England Patriot. After nine seasons in the NFL, Moss is finally with a perennial winner and it’s that word “winner” that will keep Randy Moss in check. Keep in mind that there is a solid core of veteran leaders on the Patriots – Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Troy Brown, Tom Brady and Rodney Harrison- none of these guys will put up with any nonsense from Moss and he knows it. It’s the fourth quarter of his career and Randy Moss just received a new set of downs. This deal is a winner!

Mike Lynch

1st off- I am not a Curt Schilling basher, never will be. I don't think he's a bad guy- a bit eogtistical,but That is propbably part of what makes him a pretty good pitchetr. Probably the best way to describe my attitude towards Schilling is he amuses me. He takes himself way too seriously but he is amusing.

This whole sock thing is a joke. Orioles broadcaster Gary Thorne spoke way out of hand with nothing to really back it up, and 2 years later??? C'mon. The Sock was bloodied and not painted

My only problem with Schilling in this matter is that he loves to lump all of us "journalists" with one another and that "none of us are accountable" etc, etc. That is not true, at least in my case-I am accountable to a number of bosses here at the station and, just as importantly, to you the viewer, to hundreds of thousands of viewers. If you don't like us, or don't think we are being accurate and fair- you won't watch us and eventually we'll probably be looking for work elsewhere

How would Schilling like to be lumped in with Barry Bonds and Albert Belle and some of the many professional athletes who are real jerks, and believe me-there are MANY.

Like a Said before I have nothing against Schilling. I think he is a very good pitcher, probably a pretty good Dad and husband and very entertaining. He is amusing and we'll all miss him when he retires, or leaves whichever comes first.  

    He is still hitting just .200, but with Manny's 1st homer of the year in yesterdays 14th game of the year, he IS ahead of last years pace when he didn't hit his 1st home Run until game #17 and ended up with 35, so can we expect manny to hit 40 HRs this year. (while I was wondering yesterday if Manny and his .176 average needed a day off, I did predict in an earlier blog a week or so ago that Manny would hit his 1st homer of the year in Toronto -just didn't realize that it would come down to his final at bat of the 3 game series. Manny, thanks for making me look like I kind of know what I'm talking about)

    Your suggestions that he show up earlier for spring training might help him get warmed up earlier cannot be discounted.

    And what is with Alex Rodriguez? I'll tell you what- it is a contract year. A-Rod can opt out of his contract after this season, so if he hits 60 home runs (his simply ridiculous start has him on a pace to hit 115 HRs this year !). 2 walk-offs already? Let's see what he does this weekend.

    Let's also see what the Red Sox big 3 does this weekend-I'm talking Schilling, Beckett, & Daisuke. I don't think that is what this series will come down to because the Yankees are going to hit- their offensive lineup, lioke them or hate them, is awesome. Let's see if Varitek can regain some of his hot hitting against the yankees. The Red Sox are going to need it.

    Cheers for Coco, hey if you can't get a normal hit- help the team with what you did yesterday -some bunt singles. And poor Dustin Pedroia- this kid needs a break, he is not this bad but how can you keep Cora out of the line-up after what he did yesterday? You can't.

    I like the Sox to win 2 out of 3, but I'm still not sure which of the 1st 2 they win. Daisuke definitely wins Sunday night.

So how long before we give Manny a day off? He went 0-3 last night with a walk and 3 relatively ground outs- 2 to the opposite side so he's not even getting around on ground balls. For those of you keeping track-Doug Mirabelli has 2 more HRs than Manny. Ouch.

Manny's day off is not going to come in the Yankee series so do we keep him in the line-up today hoping that he will snap out of it going into this weekends series? In 13 games he has 9 hits. Last year in a very slow start he was hitting .239 after 13 games, with no HRs- his 1st HR came in game 17.

And let's not even talk about Coco .136 Crisp who also went hitless again last night.

On a much more positive note- you've got to love Tim Wakefield. 7 innings-1 run. An ERA of 1.35, and yes he'll be 41 in a few months.

If Daisuke had the attitude of Pedro Martinez he would be demanding a trade for Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Sazuki because Daisuke is not getting any support from his present teammates. 1 run in the last 2 games?? Are you kidding? with this 145 million dollar payroll? Get some hits.

Manny wake up-.205?? Hey Francona, why don't you give Manny a day off like you have JD Drew and Kevin Youkilis who have 2 of your teams 5 highest batting averages. Manny is hitting less than Mirabelli. Less than Mirabelli!! and Eric Hinske is hitting .800. Hey Francona-get him in the lineup!!

Daisuke is going to be just fine, in fact alot better than just fine- ALOT! Wakefield tonight- you might want to wake up manny on your way out to the mound and tell him that the regular season started 2 1/2 weeks ago. 

Not that Daisuke was bad in his 2nd start, in fact he pitched well enough to win, especially with this line-up. (check out Josh Beckett's run support-9 runs per game!)but tonight Daisuke will be pitching in conditions that will be familiar and much more to his liking as he pitches in Toronto's Dome, the Rogers centre.

My Prediction?-With a somewhat depleted line-up, 3rd baseman Troy Glaus and outfielder Reed Johnson are both out, I expect Daisuke will look dominate. Put the W in the win column. I also predicted that Manny would hit his 1st home run of the year in this series- I will go with tonight and it won't be a cheap one.

BTW, did you see the flying pizza yesterday hit that fan down the lefty field line. That was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Unusual-certainly. Who in the world stands up when a foul ball gets hit their way and thinks to throw a piece of pizza at someone else? Probably Only someone who has been drinking since 10 in the morning. I certainly do not condone this type of behaviour and Mr Pizza Special Delivery man was thrown out of Fenway while the victim was cleaned off, tho I think that he was not feeling any kind of pain if you know what I mean. I interviewed him and that fact was confirmed by his speech was slightly slurred.

Jason varitek, batting 7th- finally made the Red Sox 1st out of the game after 6 batters had reached, 5 of those scored.  It is now 6-1 Sox on the strength of 3 1st inning doubles by Lugo, Ortiz, & Lowell.

Josh Beckett hit Vladimir Guererro in the 1st on the hand knocking him out of the game. Warnings were issued to both benches so their would not be retaliation by the Angels, to which Angels manager Mike Scocia was ciruously upset about since now if his pitcher happens to hit anybody or even throw inside unintentially- he'll be thrown out.

The Tarp is off and opening line-ups have been announced and there cannot be more than a thousand people here. C'mon down and sit wherever you'd like. Ever sat right next to the dugout- too bad you're not here. It must still be raining alot of places because 35,000 of this sell out crowd is still not here.

By the way- is it too early to start talking about the Yankees series this coming weekend? I didn't think so. The Red Sox do go to Toronto for 3 games Tues-Thurs and then come back for the Yanks, who if you have not been paying attention, will be without both Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano who have both just been put on the 15 day disabled list, so the Red Sox 145 million dollar line-up should be able to score big, big runs this week-end.

The national anthem has been sung and the players have taken the field and their are still only a couple thousand people here.

More later

What's worse-striking out looking at a fastball right down the middle, or swailing away at a big curveball missing it by 2 feet (think Kevin Youkilis at the end of the Wednesday night's game) Well, yesterday the red sox did both without even playing a game.

waiting until 4:20 to cancel yesterdays game scheduled for 4 :00? in those horrible conditions? C'mon. Please don't insult Red Sox fans intelligence and pocketbooks by allowing them to come in and spend some money on concessions when it was a fait de compli. That is an insult.

And to add insult to injury- How about still going thru with the Red Auerbach tribute?- PLEASE! Paying tribute to the memory of the winningest person in the history of sports in a luxury suite in front of about 20 people. That WAS an insult!

The Red Sox usually always do things right- they whiffed big time on this one and looked bad doing it!

    If you have tickets to todays Sox-Seattle game, don't hurry to the park, this game will be delayed (that's not official, but then again that won't be official until about game time at 4:00).  Now I didn't say postponed as in to another date because the Red Sox will make every effort to get this one played sometime today considering that this is Seattle only trip to Boston this season.

Did you think that the the Red Sox (and JD Drew) were lucky to get that hit last night? Dive for that ball a little sooner and Felic Hernandez gets his no-hitter. That guy is for real and just turned 21-very impressive.

Manny- when does he get his 1st home run?- I'm saying next week in Toronto. Last year it was game 17 before he hit one out. The games in Toronto will be games 14,15 & 16 and inside in comfortable conditions. Hope somebody translates that to Daisuke. Wait a second -you can't even explain Manny in english

How about all of those people taking pictures of Daisuke's 1st pitch last night. From as far away from the field as all of them were-do you think you could actually tell it was Daisuke pitching?

Nothing quite like opening day, but don't worry about missing it- it is pretty cold- you'd be uncomfortable anyway.

I talked to Dustin Pedroia before the game who was a little nervous befrore his 1st home opener, but excited to get going and told me that he was going to try and take in all of the pre-game festivities

Opening Line-Ups and ovations?

-Big Papi with the biggest ovation until- you got it, Daisuke Matsuzaka who slapped 5 with all of his teammates except for Ortiz who he exchanged bows with.

-A nice ovation for Schilling (good thing he won on Sunday), Wakefield, and Jonathon Papelbon who received the 2nd biggest ovation next to Daisuke.

More coming up on the introductions of the 1967 team 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I went over to fenway today to check out the millions of dollars of improvemnts that they have made this off-season. I wasn't overly impressed tho I do know that many of them were "infrastructure" improvements. to get a batter look- watch our 5 and 6 O'clock news.

There was one nice improvement- old style aluminum bleacher seats in what they call Conigliaro Corner.

Let's give ourselves some credit here for maturity. I think there were alot less people climbing out on the ledge after this years opening day loss than , say, 3 years ago when the Red Sox lost on Opening day and then -I seem to remember, went on to.. well you know. Opening day loss?- fuhgetaboutit!

O-K It's time to cleanse your soul and confess- was there just a small part of you that saw alot of irony (ok even a slight laugh and an I told you so) in seeing Curt "Give me 13 more million for next year even tho I'll be 41" Schilling wet the bed on opening day? Was there? Was there?

I think Schilling will be just fine. I don't think he will win 20 (tho it would not chock me), but he'll get it straightened out- it's not like he has lost it over one overeating winter. He is very amusing and entertaining and most importantly for Red Sox fans-Competitive.

So Tonight the Red Sox give the ball to Josh Beckett to stop the bleeding...ok, to put a band aid on the slight cut. Has he smartened up since last years "throw it as hard as I can location is not that big of a deal" season? Or will that even matter against the Kansas City Royals who counter with the immortal Odalis Perez who last season had a run higher era than beckett at 6.22. Lok for the Red Sox Bats to come alive and -like last year-give Beckett 6 or 7 runs which will be enough to win 7-4.

And then tomorrow Daisuke. Can this game, this appearnce be hyped enough? (Yes, it can and will be way way way overhyped- it's just one game). The entire country of Japan has set it's collective alarm clocks for 3am to wake up and watch the man representing their copuntry and now us- Red Sox fans. Hey, even K-C is hyped up about it as Kauffman stadium is already sold out.  And I will be there- do stand by

After the most active and expensive off season in recent memory the Red Sox will put that investment to the test today.  It is a glorious day here in Kansas City. Here is the Red Sox lineup as of this morning barring any last minute scratches.

SS Julio Lugo

1B Kevin Youkilis

DH David Ortiz

LF Manny Ramirez

RF J.D. Drew

3B Mike Lowell

C Jason Varitek

CF Coco Crisp

2B Dustin Pedrosia

P Curt Schilling

PS. Starting SS for Kansas City is Tony Pena Jr. son of former Red Sox catcher Tony Pena Sr. who now is the first base coach for the NY Yankees 

BC did what they have been doing since Al Skinner arrived at Chestnut Hill 10 years ago- run the same old offense and Bob Knight still couldn't figure it out.

When BC's 1st round tournament game against Texas Tech was on the line, the Eagles went to their bread and butter- screens and back cuts and Bob Knight's team just could not figure it out. Now give Skinner and his Eagles credit- they run it well, but Knight's Texas Tech team looked as lost as their coach did and is. At 66 years of age it is time for Knight to hang it up- the game has passed him by.

Todays post game press conference was almost sad for the aging Knight who had no explanation for his teams mediocre play. That didn't stop him from being somewhat beligerent. He was blatantly outcoached and outsmarted. Add to that BC's Matador defense in the 1st half which allowed Texas Tech to stay in the game and Texas Tech was finally exposed for the mediocre team that they are.

BC will not win another game in the tournament, unfortunately having to face national powerhouse Georgetown, but BC would have alot of trouble beating any of the top 20 teams in the country. Since they lost 6-10 center Sean Williams in January for not showing up to a mandatory class for the 3rd or 4th time, BC has been an above average team. They play hard and play to their potential, sometimes a little beyond- but their potential does not approach Georgetowns.

If you are a BC fan- enjoy this win, they may not have another NCAA tournament win for awhile. The departure of Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall-a school record 261 career starts combined- is going to leave nearly impossibly big shoes to fill. I really like Tyrese Rice but he had better start talking some of his buddies from Virgina to coming up to Boston to play for Skinner who does have a habit of finding recruiting diamonds in the rough. Coach Skinner is goinmg to have to really beat the bushes to get replacements for Williams, Dudley and Marshall- I hope he is on the phone right now touting this tournament win to potential recruits-he may not have this chance for awhile.

More from BC and their players coming up

Another beautiful day and another strenuous one for our beloved Boys of summer as the Red Sox must get up a little earlier today to be on the field by 9am (can you imagine?).

The Sox will practice for less than 2 hours and then be off to their annual Spring golf tournament.-C'mon how much can we expect of these guys?.

Manager Terry Francona is expected back from his short stint on the DL- he mised all of yesterdays practice with the flu.  and Curt Schilling is still unsigned for 2008, but after pitching live batting practice to a few minor leaguers (one who took him deep on the 1st swing of the spring against live pitching) Schilling is on schedule to pitch in the 1st exhibition game of the year next wednesday against the Minnesota Twins at City of Palms park.

He says it is not nearly as big of a deal as the media is going to make of it. That would be that there is no deal, at least to keep Curt Schilling in a Red Sox uniform thru 2008.

Schilling said that he and Theo met yesterday for about 3 minutes and basically Theo told him that the team is not yet ready to make that kind of a financial commitment ($13-14 Million). The financial parameters had been set but yesterday Theo said the Red Sox would rather wait.

That decision may have had something to do with the shape Schilling came into camp in- which was more out of shape, tho today he did finish the conditioning run, barely, about 5 days after the rest of the pitchers did.

Schilling was very matter of fact about the Red Sox decision saying that he was disappointed but realizes that it is a business decision and that it will not afffect his pitching this year- the Red Sox hope that it will inspire him to be even better and at least get in better shape sooner.

Theo Epstein also spoke today and very matter of factly about it saying that it would have been too much of a financial investment at this time and that the club will have to take their chances of signing Schilling after the season when he becomes a free agent.

So what will happen here?- I'll tell you exactly what will happen- look for the 2 sides to get together before the end of the season- I'd say sometime around the all-star break and work out a deal, that is if Schilling is stilll healthy and has about 8 or 9 wins.

You'll hear from schilling and Theo coming up on newscenter 5 at 5 &  6

Curt Schilling announced this morning on his weekly paid radio talk show appearance that he and the Red Sox have not been able to come to an agreement on a new contract for 2008 and so he will file for free Agency after this season. So why?- I'll tell you why.

1st off don't blame the Red Sox on this one. Schilling looks to be grossly overweight so why would you plop down an additional 14 million on a guy who cannot come into shape when 14 more million is on the line for the next season? Some media members thing that he actually looks bigger than he did in 2005 when he came into camp- by his own admission- out of shape and overweight.

I think that I would not be quick to invest another 14 million into a guy who comes into camp looking like he does now when so much is on the line. Schilling remains the only player in camp who has not completed, much less attempted, the conditioning run and for obvious reasons- he will not be able to pass it.

I am well aware that you do not have to be in peak physical shape to pitch in the majors, ala David Wells, but don't come in weighing substancially more than you did last year when you want your employer to give you 13-14 millon dollars more.

More from Schilling himself when he talks after this mornings workout at about 11;30. (yes, that would be a daily workout that lasts no more than 2 hours, and of which 30 minutes is strtetchin. ....why didn't I continue to play baseball??)

Upon arriving at Spring training today David Ortiz gave his annual state of the Red Sox address AND his annual State of Manny address, after barely surviving the Red Sox conditioning run, a run in all honesty, which was not exactly over strenuous.

The Conditioning run was a minute run back and forth thru the outfield-done twice, and then a sliding back and forth drill where they touch cones about 5 yards apart. That is it, but remember baseball players aren't exactly hockey players, or basketball players or even football players, in fact they are more along the line of golfers. Many of them are just not in very good shape like doug mirabelli who Barely finished his conditioning run and Curt Schilling who hasn't even done his yet (and probably will find a way to get out of it-I mean he is the big Schill).

Anyway after all of the everyday players completed their conditioning runs, by the way, Jd Drew is in excellent shape and looks good, Big papi delivered his state of the Sox/manny address.

Ortiz likes the improvements/new signings that the team has made such as Lugo and Drew and realizes that Manny will always be Manny-on and off the field. And Ortiz will take off the field manny to go along with the on the field Manny. Ortiz did say that he would still be Manny's babysitter , but he did say that in a freindly way. He does get along well with Manny.

Ortiz was greeted with a new truck from red Sox management- isn't 14 million a year enough? and a new dog for his wife names Mikie!?

Ortiz certainly lights up a room and today he lit up Red Sox spring training but did admit that it would be tough to top what he did last season when he hit a team record 54 HR's

Tomorrow we get a chance to see Ortiz hit, like only David Ortiz can

JD Drew has received alot of bad press for not caring enough about baseball but for whatever 1st impressions are worth, (and I pride myself on being a pretty good judge of character) I like this guy. But then again I am always for the underdog.

JD Drew just spent about 10 minutes answering all kinds of questions about his atttitude(which seems just fine-relax cycincs) and health (says that last year was a healing year for his shoulder) and everything else. Writers have been negative about this guy, but this 31 year old from Georgia sounds like he is from Georgia and seems respectful. Now will he be worth the nearly 70 million the Red Sox forked over for him over the next 5 years, well we'll see. You'll hear from Drew on our early newscasts.

We're supposed to hear from David Ortiz after the conditioning drills which will take place between 12:30 and 1:30- more later

He is a patient hitter and will now have amplke opprtunities for rbi's as he will bat in the 5th spot behind Ortiz and Manny

Manny Ramirez remains the only holdout/late show as David Ortiz has showed up for camp along with Alex Cora and JD Drew who showed up last night.

All of the other everyday players from Eric Hinske to Willie Mo Pena and new shortstop Julio Lugo have been here for at least 2 days. Coco Crisp showed up yesterday.

I should be able to talk to Big Papi early this afternooon and we will have that for you on our early newscast at 5pm, but I will give you a preview of that conversation right after it happens.

New Red Sox right fielder JD Drew has checked into camp- he actually checked in last night but David Ortiz has not yet been seen as of 9:30 this morning.

Physicals are taking place right now for the every day players and then most of the players will probably head out and take batting practice.afterwards

By the way- picture perfect conditions- clear blue sky and nearly 70 degree temperatures are greeting the players this morning. A surprisingly small crowd is on hand to watch the pitchers and catchers practice. I know it is not the most exciting workout to take in but previous years there have been alot more people on hand. That could change tomorrow when all of the everyday players, except of course for Manny will be on hand for their 1st workout

Another grueling day here in Fort Myers, at least for the players as most all of them are here for about 3 and half hours (maximum) and then they are gone to play golf, go swimming or do whatever it is they do for the rest of the day after about 1 o'clock. (OK the day is not alot tougher for us here, just alot longer)

All of the Red Sox players don't have to be on the practice field until thursday- but all are on hand except for Ortiz, Manny and J.D. Drew.

I talked to Coco Crisp, an interview you can see later today on chennale 5 and in it's entirety on this web site. He is ready and is already pushing to bat 2nd, tho he will probably end up batting 8th with pedroia 9th

We are still awaiting the arrival of David Ortiz and J.D. Drew which may not happen untiil tomorrow but Coco Crisp and Mike Lowell are on hand and ,need i say, look to be in the best shape of their lives, at least that is the old spring training saying made famous by former red Sox pitcher Bob Stanley, who said that every year.

Coco is always going to be in great shape and Mike Lowell, soon to be 33, knows he has better be in shape since this is the last year of his current contract.

It is a Chamber of Commerce type of day here in Fort Myers- already about 60 degrees, soon to be 74 without a cloud in the sky.

And so with the good weather comes the Red Sox ownership. You didn't think that they would show up when it was still cold for Southern Florida standards.

Manny is not here and not expected until March 1st, tho fellow countryman and new Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo is. Seems like a nice kid- has a little Orlando Cabrera in him but more pop in his bat. He is listed as 6-1, might be 5-11. Dustin Pedroia is lised at 5-9, might be 5-8.

David Ortiz expected soon, and supposed to be a bit more buffed than in recent years- we'll have picturers as soon as he arrives.

More later- the players are about to come out,

So says Red Sox relief pitcher Julian Tavarez, who claims he is closer to manny than a brother. Tavarez says that if Manny really wanted to be traded from Boston then Manny would have been gone a long time ago.

Tavarez, who held court after practice today for about 20 minutes also tried to tell us that Manny loves Boston. Actually Tavarez did tell us that, it's just a question of whether or not we believe him. Tavarez did admit that Manny feels like he is in a cage at times in response to my question about whether Manny feels like he has lost his privacy.

Tavarez also told us that he feels like he, Tavarez is very misunderstoood since he has lost his temper on the field a couple of times and hit batters intentionally. Tavarez says that he is , well, a good guy and that we shouldn't judge players too quickly and over one or 2 incidents.

You know what I say- shut up and successfully close some games, would you please?. No, Just kidding. This Tavarez does seem like a nice enough guy, he just happens to have a very short fuse and he relates to Manny because he feels like they arre both understood.

Nothing like Spring training. More later

The excuses have ranged from his new born twins (he never had twins, just one baby at a time) and a sick grandparent. This time it is a sick parent that is supposedly keeping manny away from Spring training for another week and half.....

And remember manny lives less than 2 hours away in the Miami area

Not that this should come as any big surprise but Manny Ramirez looks like he is going to show up late for srping training, again.

That is the word from Red Sox releif pitcher Julian Tavarez who at this stage appears to be the only person employed by the Red Sox who actually talks to Manny.

Red Sox management- Theo & Francona, have maintained that all is well with Manny and he will be here on time despite neither one of them talkibg with him for the past 2 months.

A March 1st date was thrown out by Tavarez which would put Manny here after the Sox 1st exhibition game.

The bottom line is that Manny will always march to the beat of his own drummer and there's nothing the Red Sox will ever really do as long as he Manny continues to hit 40 Hr's and knock in 120 runs.

More later including reaction from Francona

42 degrees and sunny skies welcomed the 36 Red Sox pitchers and catchers to The Fort Myers Spring training facility this morning.

Everyone on hand, including Daisuke and his band of 100 media members.

We'll get a closer look at all of the relief pitchers as they are all scheduled to pitch off the mound this morning in what may end up being a 2 to 3 month compeition for the only real question mark in camp this year- that of closer.

More coming soon.

Yes, there are other Red Sox pitchers besides Daisuke and all of the Red Sox starting pitchers threw off the mound today but it was Matsuzak-san who, of course, received the most attention.

Daisuke threw hard and Jason Varitek is about to come out and give us his impressions which I will relay to you in just a little while.

Curt Schilling also threw as did Joch Beckett, Tim Wakefield & Jonanthon Papelbon- all without incident.

There was a relatively light crowd- I'd say a couple of hundred- on hand for todays initial workout probably because of the windy cool conditions. In fact I would say that more than half the crowd was Japanese, coming from all over southern Florida. More on this later as well as on Newscenter 5 at 6.

The Red Sox pitchers and catchers took the field this morning at about 9:10 am for their 1st workout of the 2007 Spring Training and right near the front of the line was the most anticipated player in years- Daisuke Matsuzaka, and he was carrying the big bag of equipment, an assignement that is always handled by a rookie.

Daisuke's every move continues to be covered by nearly 150 media people- probably 100 of whom are Japanese media. He is being covered like Paris Hilton, Brittany Spears AND Lindsay Lohan combined.  It really does border on the absurd. So when does Curt Schilling become really jealous from not getting enough attention.

Daisuke is scheduled to throw this morning at 10:10 along with the rest of the Red Sox starting pitchers- I will update you later on this and other goings on here at the 1st day of workouts for Red Sox pitchers and catchers