Friday, May 9, 2008

Celtics - Getting Inside

As the playoffs roll on, the biggest Celtic concern seems to be a problem that is coming from within. Often when faced with a tight situation, the Celtics have shown a tendency to veer away from their offense into an individualistic game.

Doc Rivers generally chalks it up to players wanting very badly to win, but there’s no question it’s become a problem.

“It’s part of growth,” said the Celtics’ coach, who has chastised the team for this issue. “It’s part of growth and trust, and we didn’t have those tests during the regular season. Even in the tight games, it wasn’t the same pressure situation.

“I was most upset about it in Game 6 against Atlanta. We did it perfectly in Game 5, then we went away from it. We talked about it at halftime, and then we went out and did the same (thing). It was because everybody wanted to win, so they started trying to do more. I thought it started on defense and it carried over.”

Logically, it seems the Celtics would fall back on their support when things get tough, but that hasn’t always been the case.

“They know better, but they can’t help themselves sometimes,” said Rivers. “You know better, but you’re a good player and you get the ball and you want to make a play for your team. So instead of making the simple play, you break the offense and try to do something. But every team goes through it. I just heard Pop (Gregg Popovich) complaining about it the other night, and the Spurs have been together for eight or 10 years. It happens.”

Celtics 89, Cavaliers 73: The Celtics got the rest of their “Big Three” in gear Thursday, and once again they held LeBron James down. That added up to an easy win that gives the Celtics a 2-0 lead in this conference semifinal series.

After scoring four points in the opener, Paul Pierce went for a team-high 19. Ray Allen, scoreless in Game 1—and in the first half Thursday—went for 16 after the break. Eleven of them came in the third quarter when the Celtics were turning a 44-36 halftime lead into a 19-point advantage after three quarters.

James had 21 points, but after going two for 18 from the floor in the opener, he made just six of his 24 field goal attempts in Game 2.

“Just a better overall effort,” said Doc Rivers, comparing this to the 76-72 nail-biter. “I thought the defense was pretty much the same, pretty solid. I thought the offense was terrific in spurts.”

The first big spurt came in the second quarter when a largely bench-filled lineup went on a 10-0 run to give the Celts their first lead of the night.

The run then grew to 34-9, and it was all but over.

Notes, Quotes

• Doc Rivers has always spoken glowingly of LeBron James, and he said he got a new appreciation when coaching him in this year’s All-Star Game.

“The thing that impressed me was his focus in the huddle,” said Rivers. “He was standing on the outside of the huddle, but it was like he was directing a beam at me. I drew up a play, and he ran it as if he had been running it his whole life.”

• Kevin Garnett wasn’t upset at all about losing out on the Most Valuable Player award to Kobe Bryant. Garnett finished third behind Chris Paul, as well.

“It’s great,” Garnett said. “I’m happy for (Bryant). Lord knows that he’s worthy. This probably won’t be his last. Congratulations to him and he’s definitely worthy of it.”

Speaking of the MVP voting, Rivers said, “I don’t think anyone in our locker room cares. You don’t hear anyone ever talk about them, which is interesting. You usually hear teams talking about awards. No one has talked about them.”

Garnett did win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Quote To Note: “I think Doc said it from Day One. If we’re going to be a good team, we’ve got to establish home court.”—Paul Pierce, after moving to 6-0 at home in the playoffs.

Roster Report

Rotation: Point guard Rajon Rondo, Shooting guard Ray Allen, Small forward Paul Pierce, Power forward Kevin Garnett, Center Kendrick Perkins. Bench—Guard Eddie House, Forward James Posey, Guard Tony Allen, Guard Sam Cassell, Forward Leon Powe, Forward Glen Davis, Forward P.J. Brown, Forward Brian Scalabrine, Guard Gabe Pruitt.

Player Notes:

• G Rajon Rondo had just seven points, all from the line and all in a 1:19 span at the end of the third quarter.

• F Kevin Garnett was voted to the All-NBA first team. He received the third-most votes overall.

• F Paul Pierce was voted to the All-NBA third team. He received two first-team votes.

• G Sam Cassell actually got more playing time than Rondo at the point, 26 minutes to 23. He made his first three shots and had nine points.

Bruins - Inside Shots

The Bruins have to be happy with much of what they were able to accomplish this past season, returning to the playoffs after a two-year absence and coming back from a 3-1 game deficit to force a Game 7 with Montreal. But that can’t hide the fact there’s work to be done.

And, every time people talk about next season—about building on whatever gains were made in the crowded and wildly successful Boston sports scene—the same name seems to surface.

Marian Hossa.

The unrestricted free agent-to-be, never known as being a goal scorer in big games, scored two in a Game 5 elimination of the Rangers, giving him five (and 10 points) in nine playoff games as the Penguins headed into the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia.

The Penguins, who acquired Hossa from Atlanta for the stretch run, would appear to already have too much in the way of big-name players and money, which could make Hossa a true rent-a-player. It could also make him highly desirable to several teams, including the Bruins.

“It’s always nice when you can do that if you have the room to do it, but in the same sense we proved that this year we (already) have guys that can do it,” said Bruins center Marc Savard, Hossa’s teammate in Atlanta, on the day the Bruins packed up and went home. “But any time you can make your team better, that’s always a positive and if that happens, that’d be great—but if not, we know what we have in here and we’re capable of doing good things.”

The Boston Globe reported May 4 that Dallas and Los Angeles could go heavily after Hossa, but you have to wonder if the Rangers, who will have money to spend, might be in the mix, too.

For his part, Hossa told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “I’m not a pure goal scorer. I’m not like (Alexander) Ovechkin or (Ilya) Kovalchuk. I’m not in that category. I’m more of a two-way guy.”

A “two-way guy” who, at age 28, has 299 goals and 648 NHL points in a 701-game (regular season) career that’s seen him amass a plus-85 rating. Sounds like all the things the Bruins are looking for.

Season Highlight: When you haven’t made the playoffs the last two seasons, the highlight is the night you made the playoffs, and the Bruins did that with a 2-1 win at Ottawa in Game 81 of the 82-game season.

Turning Point: This was a battle throughout, but Bruins’ folks point to a weekend home-and-home series with the New York Rangers, Jan. 19-20. The Bruins won at home, 4-3 in a shootout, Saturday and then went down to New York and won 3-1 the next day. It started a streak of five wins in six games.

Notes, Quotes

• Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli had to be looking at some potential buyouts as the team looks toward next season. Veterans Glen Murray and P.J. Axelsson would seem to be most at risk, with Murray almost a sure thing. He’s due $4.15 million next year and the buyout would hit the Bruins’ cap for $1.4 million for each of the next two years. He could also be sent to Providence, where he would earn the entire $4.15 million and not count against the NHL cap, but that’s not likely.

Chiarelli, seated next to coach Claude Julien at the team’s post-season news conference, confirmed Julien was working under the terms of a long-term deal. “Wish it was longer,” said a smiling Julien, who just completed a successful first year as Boston’s coach.

• Former Bruins coach Pat Burns, who has battled cancer for the past four years, was working as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the World Championships and his name continues to surface for NHL job openings.

Quote To Note: “All you can hope now is that you can carry that into next year.”—Bruins coach Claude Julien, on his team’s late-season charge to the playoffs and a seven-game series with Montreal.

Roster Report

Most Valuable Player: G Tim Thomas came into the season fighting for playing time. Manny Fernandez was brought in to be the likely No. 1 and Tuukka Rask was the goalie of the future. So, all Thomas did was go out and become an All-Star, often acting as a one-man gang in keeping his offensively challenged team in hockey games.

Most Disappointing Player: LW Peter Schaefer was brought in to add grit and offense to the front line and really added neither until the final games of the playoffs. What he showed in the last few games is what the Bruins need him to show next season.

Free Agent Focus: The Bruins need a forward who can score, at least one, and Marian Hossa’s name keeps popping up.

RW Chuck Kobasew, who had a strong year before suffering a broken leg, could be out of the picture as a restricted free agent as the Bruins have to decide whether to match a money figure from outside.

D Dennis Wideman is another RFA who could command some money from outside.

The Bruins quickly extended offers to potential UFA’s Aaron Ward and Glen Metropolit. “We figured Glen would be a depth guy for us but he turned out to be more than that,” said Chiarelli, talking to the Boston Globe, of C Metropolit, a $500,000 walk-on last year. “Going forward, we’d see him more in third- and fourth-line roles, help with the (penalty killing).” On Ward, the veteran defenseman, the GM said, “The latter part of the year, he did a lot of good things for us. Philosophically, he’s a really good fit for us. And monetarily… decent.” The Globe said Carolina, one of Ward’s old teams (he won the Cup there), wants him back.

Player Notes:

• G Tim Thomas was sent home by Team USA from the World Championships after suffering what appeared to be a minor knee injury.

• D Dennis Wideman was to have hernia surgery in the off-season.

• LW Milan Lucic will be working on his speed over the summer. “I definitely want to get faster,” he said. “And I don’t think I need to get any heavier.” Lucic on the end of the season: “Hey, a couple of bounces and we could be in Pittsburgh right now. When it came to an end, it was a bitter pill to swallow, shaking all (the Canadiens’) hands.”

• Lucic was second among NHL rookies in hits, with 181. He and C David Krejci tied for 13th among rookies in points, with 27.

• Krejci was proudly skating for the Czech Republic at the World Championships. “It’s a huge honor. This is something special,” he said. “When I was young, I would dream about this, about playing for the National team in the World Championships, and I got the opportunity to do that this year.” He says the Worlds are bigger than the Stanley Cup back home. “In (my country), this means much more to the Czech people—more than anything else,” he said.

• RW Phil Kessel continued his playoff surge with a hat trick for Team USA May 4.

• Forwards Petteri Nokalainen and Vladimir Sobotka were contributing for the Providence Bruins in the AHL playoffs.

• F Jeff Hoggan was out after wrist surgery.

• C Marc Savard on his first playoff appearance: “There is another level there and it’s amazing to see that. That was especially so after missing (the last) seven games (with a back injury) and then coming back for Game 1. Stepping in, after not being able to practice… it was the quickest hockey I have ever seen.”

• C Carl Soderberg, acquired from St. Louis in the trade for Hannu Toivonen, is still playing in Sweden and the Bruins hope to have him in North America next season.

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

Kevin Youkilis has taken enormous steps in each of his three full seasons.

He has made such quantum leaps in every facet of his game that American League All-Star recognition doesn’t seem like such a stretch considering his efforts over the first month of this season. It’s also no monumental stretch to say that the bearded infielder has carried the Sox through the first quarter of the season.

With that in mind, it seems only appropriate that this season marks his first appearance on the All-Star ballot, as a first baseman.

The Gold Glover has—because of injuries—shifted seamlessly between first base and third base this season while playing spectacular, mistake-free defense at both corner infield spots.

“He wins a Gold Glove at first, he goes to third and he plays a major league-caliber third base,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “You can hit him anywhere in the lineup. He works the count. He really has turned into a very good major league player.

“It is appreciated. And you don’t have to run and check with him every day. You just kind of throw his name in and he handles it. He just goes about his business.”

Youkilis is hitting .313 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs through his first 35 games of the season.

Youkilis has consistently kept his batting average above .300 this season, and he has already hit in five different spots up and down the batting order.

What bodes even better for both Youkilis and his Sox teammates is that the baseball calendar has turned to the month of May. He hit .402 for the entire month of May last season to go along with six home runs and 22 RBIs.

“He’s a solid bat,” Sox third baseman Mike Lowell said. “I don’t think he’s ever going to change his approach whether he’s hitting first, second, third or fifth. He gives us a good at-bat every time.”

Red Sox 5, Tigers 1: Josh Beckett allowed a single run over seven innings for his fourth win of the season, and he also notched his 1,000th career strikeout. Kevin Youkilis smashed his third home run in the last two days, and Coco Crisp collected three hits to help lead the victory.

Notes, Quotes

• RHP Josh Beckett had the 1,000th strikeout of his career during his start against the Tigers. The Sox’s ace is starting to round into form. He has gone at least seven innings in each of his last four starts. Beckett is 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA in his last four starts.

• 1B Kevin Youkilis ranks among the American League top 10 in just about every offensive category, including batting average, RBIs, walks, slugging percentage, home runs, runs, on-base percentage and on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Youkilis hit in the third spot in the Sox batting order in place of Manny Ramirez on Thursday night as the slugging left fielder received the night off. The Sox first baseman has continually put out an All-Star level performance during the early portion of the 2008 season.

• 1B Sean Casey and SS Alex Cora both collected hits Thursday during rehab starts with Class AAA Pawtucket. Casey was the team’s designated hitter and collected a pair of hits, while Cora went 1-for-4 in his second minor league rehab appearance. Cora (sprained right elbow) and Casey (right hip strain) have come through healthy thus far, and they are expected to be activated for the upcoming series against Minnesota.

• RHP Bartolo Colon reported back to the team on Tuesday after pitching two innings in an extended spring training game in Florida on Monday afternoon, and he reported the normal soreness experienced after some mound work. Colon was checked out by the Sox medical staff, and he is scheduled for an appearance with Class AAA Pawtucket on Saturday. Manager Terry Francona also added that there’s no chance Colon will be used out of the bullpen if and when he makes the major league roster.

• RHP Curt Schilling threw a second side session of 25 throws from 60 feet with pitching coach John Farrell on flat ground before Thursday night’s game. Schilling reported no setbacks with his weakened right shoulder after the two throwing sessions and will repeat the side session during the four-game series at Minnesota this weekend.

By The Numbers: 84.4—Stolen-base success rate percentage of OF Coco Crisp during his career with the Red Sox, which ranks highest in club history of any player with at least 50 steal attempts.

Quote To Note: “I told Manny, ‘You’re the closest thing to Yogi Berra in the modern era that we have.’ Manny looked at me and said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘When I hear you talk, every player knows exactly what you mean, but you say it in a manner that’s unique to you.”—Player agent Scott Boras, talking to the Boston Globe about a conversation between himself and OF Manny Ramirez.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

OF Brandon Moss (appendectomy) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 3 after emergency surgery. If all goes well, he could begin a rehab stint May 15.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Pawtucket on May 8, and he could be activated as soon as May 10.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. He began throwing in early May but said he had a long way to go before he’d be ready to return to action.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Pawtucket on May 7, and he could return to the Red Sox during the weekend of May 9-11.

RHP Bartolo Colon (right oblique strain) is scheduled to pitch for Class AAA Pawtucket on May 10.

Patriots - Inside Slant

The Patriots got their first look at their rookie crop, which included draft picks, undrafted free agents and tryout players.

One of the more intriguing undrafted rookie free agent prospects on hand was Liberty outside linebacker Vince Redd (6-6, 260). Redd began his college career playing for Al Groh at Virginia. But he was suspended for one game for violating team policy in 2005 and was then reportedly dismissed from the squad along with fellow Cavaliers defender Ahmad Brooks for another violation of team policy in March 2006.

Redd transferred to Liberty where after sitting out 2006 he had a very productive 2007 campaign playing for former Groh assistant Danny Rocco’s Flames. Rocco was an associate head coach with Virginia and linebackers coach for five seasons who also worked under Groh with the Jets in 2000.

Last fall, Redd started 10 games for Liberty, registering 67 tackles and a league-high 6.5 sacks. He’s an impressive physical athlete having also played basketball for a short time at Virginia in 2003. He’s been timed a 4.56 in the 40 and brings an impressive 39-inch vertical to the field.

The defense Redd played at both UVA and Liberty has many similarities to the Patriots’ 3-4. He’s aware that he likely earned a free agent look with the Patriots thanks to his connection to Bill Belichick via Groh. Rocco is hoping to make the best of the opportunity.

“Them knowing each other, they can speak to each other and see how I play and my character and stuff like that and how I actually work,” Redd said before acknowledging that his familiarity with the scheme should help him in the early going. “It’s good for me, but I still have to come in here and make my own spot on the team.”

Among tryout players who seemed to make a good impression, North Dakota State punter Mike Dragosavich was signed to a contract shortly after camp ended. The lanky, 6-6, 212-pounder showed great technique while booming several punts that hit the ceiling of the Patriots practice bubble before they hit the ground.

“Mike’s pretty athletic,” Belichick observed. “He’s a tall guy, he can generate some leg speed there.”

Belichick was asked if it more or less difficult to evaluate a punter indoors versus outside in inclement weather. The coach said he was fine with watching kicks indoors, even if they hit the ceiling.

“Even though you don’t get the full punt, you can see when they’re hitting the ball well and when they’re not. You can watch the way the punter drops the ball and the way it contacts his foot. You can get a pretty good idea of what you need to work on, and how much work you have to do.”

Notes, Quotes

• Former Patriots employee Matt Walsh has certified in writing that he turned over all relevant videotapes in his possession to the NFL—the St. Louis Rams walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI is not among them. Walsh certified in writing that he’s turning over eight stolen tapes, from 2000-2002. The tapes are reportedly of the opposing team’s defensive signals, a violation the Patriots and Bill Belichick confessed to Commissioner Roger Goodell last year.

• Third-round draft choice Shawn Crable, a 6-5, 243-pound linebacker from Michigan, was asked for his first impression of the New England Patriots. “I look at the Patriot logo, and there’s a lot of history there. I’m just trying to be a part of it,” he answered.

Perhaps he already feels at home, thanks to fellow Michigan alumnus Tom Brady, who’s back at Gillette Stadium working out.

“I talked to Tom yesterday and today,” Crable revealed. “Obviously, I’m from Michigan, so he talked to me and joked around a little. He’s a good guy. He was in the training room, just got done working out. He just gave me some advice about what to expect [here in New England] and how to handle myself, take care of my body when I get aches and pains, and other things he’s learned in his years in the NFL.”

Crable also voiced excitement in anticipation of meeting and working with such Pats veteran linebackers as Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas.

• LB Gary Guyton, a 6-3, 242-pound free agent out of Georgia Tech, played both the inside and outside linebacker spots on defense during camp. Like the other rookies, Guyton said afterward that he’s just going to play “wherever the coaches say.” Guyton, by the way, is a distant cousin of former Patriots safety Myron Guyton.

• Patriots special assistant/secondary coach Dom Capers made his New England debut at minicamp, spending much of his time working with impressive second-round pick Terrence Wheatley.

“It’s good to have him,” coach Bill Belichick said of Capers. “I think Dom is a good fundamental coach and this is kind of a fundamental weekend. I think that’s certainly coming out. He’s got a lot of great experience. Just watching him coach, fundamentally, it’s good. It’s good to have him. It’s a good addition.”

• Two players the Patriots had in for tryouts—punter Mike Dragosavich and tight end Tyson DeVree - were signed by the team to undisclosed contracts.

• The Patriots signed second-year nose tackle Steve Fifita and waived rookie offensive tackle Josh Coffman and rookie defensive lineman Carlos Feliciano.

Quote To Note: “One of the things we try to do this weekend (at rookie mini-camp), and would highly recommend it to you and your programs based on my own personal experiences, we just really try to lay it out in terms of what we expect from the player.”—Coach Bill Belichick on what he expects from his players at rookie minicamp.

Strategy And Personnel

Franchise Player: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• WR Troy Brown played just one game in his 15th season after starting the year on PUP. He may retire, but if he doesn’t the team told him that he’s not in its plans moving forward.

• S Mel Mitchell played in 10 games and is a core special teams-type guy. He might choose to go elsewhere as New England only has room for so many one-dimensional special teamers.

• CB Chad Scott didn’t make it through training camp and has been hurt often. He’s a solid veteran backup and could be back with the team in the market for corner depth.

• LB Junior Seau was expected to get his first Super Bowl ring and retire. The Giants messed that little story up. He was healthy all year and made plays. If he doesn’t retire after his 18th season, the only place he’ll be playing is in New England.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

• LB Eric Alexander is a decent though injury prone special teamer although he’s yet to show anything on defense, other than of course his still inexplicable start in the 2006 AFC title loss in Indianapolis.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

• WR Sam Aiken: UFA Bills; $1.555M/2 yrs, $225,000 SB/$40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $757,500.

• CB Fernando Bryant: FA Lions; $776,000/1 yr, $20,000 SB/$20,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• LB Victor Hobson: UFA Jets; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $485,000.

• P Scott Player: FA; terms unknown.

• TE Marcus Pollard: UFA Seahawks; terms unknown.

• CB Lewis Sanders: FA Falcons; $770,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• CB Jason Webster: UFA Bills; $800,000/1 yr, $130,000 guaranteed/$70,000 WO.

• S Tank Williams: UFA Vikings; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

• T Wesley Britt: ERFA; terms unknown.

• LB Tedy Bruschi: Potential UFA; $4.1M/2 yrs, $1.2M SB; 2008 cap: $1.6M.

• WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA; $1.281M/1 yr, $500,000 SB/$75,000 WO.

• LB Larry Izzo: Potential UFA; $870,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: 485,000.

• WR Randy Moss: UFA; $27M/3 yrs, $12M SB/$3M base guarantee; 2008 cap: $6M.

• LS Lonie Paxton: UFA; $880,000/1 yr, $150,000 SB.

• S Ray Ventrone: ERFA; $370,000/1 yr.

• WR Kelley Washington: UFA; $1.855M/2 yrs, $450,000 SB; 2008: $830,000.

• LB Pierre Woods: ERFA; terms unknown.

• DL Mike Wright: RFA; terms unknown (tendered at $1.47M).

PLAYERS LOST

• TE Kyle Brady (released/failed physical).

• LB Rosevelt Colvin (released/failed physical).

• CB Randall Gay: UFA Saints; $12M/4 yrs, $3.75M SB.

• DL Rashad Moore: Not tendered as RFA/Falcons; terms unknown.

• CB Asante Samuel: UFA Eagles; $59.475M/6 yrs, $6M SB/$7M RB 08-09.

• WR Donte Stallworth: UFA Browns; $35M/7 yrs, $10M guaranteed.

• DB Eugene Wilson: UFA Buccaneers; $1.8M/1 yr, $500,000 guaranteed.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

After an All-World April that saw Jonathan Papelbon convert all nine of his save opportunities, the Red Sox closer is on pace for his best season yet and a career-best 48 saves.

The increased production on the mound doesn’t come without its own consequences, however, as Papelbon is also on pace to pitch in 71 games and total 76 innings—a pair of stats that would obliterate his career highs in both categories.

The Sox coaching staff seemed to incorporate a sort of “Pap Rules” when it came to their right-handed fireman last season, but -– through both a dire need and a conscious decision to take the wraps off a bit -– the 27-year-old seems to be free of all constraints this season.

Papelbon has regularly been asked to record more than three outs this season, but he has only pitched on back-to-back days once.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound smoke-thrower has a glittering 1.65 ERA through his first 15 games of 2008 to go along with 10 saves and 21 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings, and he feels strong enough to keep up with his increased workload.

“With the combination of the things I’ve learned the first three years, I’m starting to learn what it takes and what it doesn’t take—and how to throttle that gas pedal,” Papelbon said. “It’s been a huge difference-maker in my game, and it lets me be successful daily.”

There are two serious and realistic concerns with Papelbon’s workload, though -– no matter what level his throttle happens to be at on a particular day. The excess innings and stress could lead to an injury to Papelbon’s golden right arm, and there remain real worries that the Sox closer won’t be fresh in September unless another power arm can step up and lighten the burden on Mr. Riverdance.

As you might expect, Papelbon is full speed ahead without any noticeable worry.

“The inning and how much I’m throwing … I don’t let that dictate what I’m going to do. It all boils down to experience,” said Papelbon. “The eighth- and ninth-inning stints … it all boils down to experience and what you’re accustomed to doing.”

Red Sox 5, Tigers 0: Right-hander Tim Wakefield gave up only two hits through eight shutout innings, and David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez hit back-to-back home runs in Boston’s fifth consecutive win. Wakefield didn’t walk a batter, and he whiffed six Tigers in his best start of the season.

Notes, Quotes

• RHP Curt Schilling threw 25 pitches from 60 feet Tuesday in his first throwing session since January, and Red Sox manager Terry Francona reported that the veteran felt good after the short session on flat ground. Schilling will repeat the throwing session Thursday, and he described feeling as “if this is a climb of a mountain, I’m still at the base of that mountain” as he attempts to work his way back to the big leagues following a shoulder/biceps problem.

• RHP Mike Timlin made his 1,022nd major league appearance Tuesday night, which ties him with RHP Jose Mesa and RHP Lee Smith for ninth on the all-time list. The veteran pitched a scoreless ninth inning, which marks the sixth game in 11 appearances that Timlin hasn’t surrendered a run. Timlin also ranks second in Red Sox history in relief appearances (357), trailing only Bob Stanley (552).

• RHP Jonathan Papelbon focused on improving his command this spring, and the results have been spectacular over the first month-plus of the season. Papelbon has walked only one batter in 16 1/3 innings thus far in the 2008 season, and he has cut down on both his pitches per plate appearance and pitches per inning. The improved control has given Papelbon an amazing 21:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season, and it has allowed the 27-year-old to further minimize his workload during an appearance.

• OF Jacoby Ellsbury leads the Red Sox with 25 runs this season, and he is one of five Red Sox players who have scored at least 20 runs this season. Prior to Tuesday night’s game, no other American League team had more than two players with 20 runs scored on their team. The Sox lead the AL with 171 runs through their first 35 games this season.

• RHP Julian Tavarez hasn’t pitched in a game since April 24 and has been used very erratically out of the Sox bullpen since the start of the season. Tavarez has been mentioned several times in trade rumors with the Colorado Rockies over the past two seasons, and rumors are again cropping up that the Sox and Rox are talking about the spot starter/long reliever.

By The Numbers: 84.4—Stolen-base success rate percentage of OF Coco Crisp during his career with the Red Sox, which ranks highest in club history of any player with at least 50 steal attempts.

Quote To Note: “I told Manny, ‘You’re the closest thing to Yogi Berra in the modern era that we have.’ Manny looked at me and said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘When I hear you talk, every player knows exactly what you mean, but you say it in a manner that’s unique to you.”—Player agent Scott Boras, talking to the Boston Globe about a conversation between himself and OF Manny Ramirez.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

OF Brandon Moss (appendectomy) went on the disabled list retroactive to May 3 after emergency surgery. If all goes well, he could begin a rehab stint May 15.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. He began throwing in mid-May but said he had a long way to go before he’d be ready to return to action.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10.

Celtics - Getting Inside

The Celtics believe they can disrupt the Cavaliers’ attack by pressuring their guards, so look for more of that as the series goes along. Especially after getting 18 turnovers out of Cleveland in Game 1.

“That’s Rajon (Rondo)’s job every game,” said Paul Pierce, “so I expect us to definitely go ahead and do that against their ballhandlers, because I feel like we have an advantage there.

“To be able to pick up their guards and turn them, take them out of their offense—that’s going to be big for us. If we can get them out of their offense to where they have no choice but to just throw the ball to LeBron and everybody space out, hey …

“If we can keep then out of continuity where they’re moving the ball and finding their perimeter scorers, we give ourselves a great chance.”

Rondo is very much on board with the strategy.

“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “That was my goal in the first series against Atlanta—to pressure the ball and make Joe Johnson handle it. And that’ll be my goal in this series as well—to make LeBron bring the ball up the court and use the clock.”

Coach Doc Rivers noted that it won’t be a change for his club, but he might be underselling the emphasis on limiting Cleveland’s time in the frontcourt. Early physical defense could not only slow the James Gang but also produce some badly needed opportunity hoops for the Celts.

“We’re going to be who we are,” Rivers said. “We pressure guards up the floor on dead-ball situations, but we get back in transition first. And we’re going to do that. We’re not going to try to recreate anything, really. We’re just going to do what we’ve done and try to do it better—try to do it more like Game 7 (against Atlanta) than Game 6.”

Celtics 76, Cavaliers 72: The Celtics got 28 points from Kevin Garnett but not much else in a Game 1 victory Tuesday night in Boston.

Paul Pierce had just four points (2-of-14 shooting) and Ray Allen went scoreless (0-of-4 shooting), but Garnett came up big.

With the game even in the final minute, Garnett drove on Joe Smith and scored with 21 seconds left. LeBron James then finished off the worst shooting night of his career (2-for-18) by failing on a drive, and James Posey hit two free throws with 8.5 seconds left to essentially ice it.

“A lot of things didn’t go our way, and a lot of things didn’t go their way, either,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “We just found a way to win the game.”

The Celts shot just 42.6 percent from the floor, but the Cavs were held to 30.7 percent shooting.

Notes, Quotes

• The Celtics weren’t really fazed by having to start the new series so quickly.

“I don’t know,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Hell, I’ll take a week or I’ll take a day. The fact is that we’re playing the next round, and that’s what you want to do.

“Obviously, we would have taken winning Game 6, but in a strange way we get more rest because we don’t have to travel (back from Atlanta) and it’s not a 1 o’clock game. We would have played a 1 o’clock game on Sunday (against the Cavaliers), and this way we played an afternoon game and get the rest of that day off. We get all day (Monday) to prepare, and we have a night game the next day, so in some ways we do have more time to prepare for the first game than we would have.”

• Though Rivers spent a good deal of time yelling at him, the coach is still quite fond of Delonte West. Why?

“His competitiveness,” said the coach. “He’s as competitive a person as I’ve ever been around, and that’s what drives him. It sometimes got in his way, but he’s a competitive player and he’s always going to be a winner. He’s great for winning teams.”

Quote To Note: “I thought it was the Knicks-Heat series for about 20 minutes.”—Coach Doc Rivers

Roster Report

Rotation: Starters—Point guard Rajon Rondo; Shooting guard Ray Allen; Small forward Paul Pierce; Power forward Kevin Garnett; Center Kendrick Perkins. Bench—Guard Eddie House, Forward James Posey, Guard Tony Allen, Guard Sam Cassell, Forward Leon Powe, Forward Glen Davis, Forward P.J. Brown, Forward Brian Scalabrine, Guard Gabe Pruitt.

Player Notes:

• G Ray Allen went scoreless for just the second time in his career. It was his playoff low, undercutting the seven he scored in Game 7 against the Hawks on Sunday.

• G Sam Cassell scored 10 of his 13 points in the last quarter Tuesday.

• G Rajon Rondo once again won the point guard matchup. He had 15 points and six assists.

• F Kevin Garnett finished third in the MVP balloting. He received 15 first-place votes.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

Sox right-hander Manny Delcarmen was the toast of spring training after he dropped 10 pounds and appeared primed and ready for a prominent role in the Boston bullpen.

The added responsibility was to include possibly taking some reps at closer when Jonathan Papelbon needed a blow, but the early-season optimism and confident chatter has simmered down considerably for the Hyde Park native.

Location has long been the biggest bugaboo for Delcarmen on the mound and it seems to again be one of the culprits -– along with the flu bug and the insane April travel schedule that had Delcarmen promising he was never going back to Japan –- behind the bloated 7.30 ERA after his first 16 appearances.

For Delcarmen this season, his strikeout numbers are strikingly similar to season’s past, but his WHIP (1.70), batting average against (.314) and slugging percentage (.549) against are all much higher than his career norms and indicate his pitches are catching too much of the middle.

“It seems like every time he makes a mistake now, he doesn’t repeat a pitch and somebody puts a good swing on it,” said Sox manager Terry Francona, on the heels of another unsatisfying performance from the hard-throwing righty on Sunday. “We could pitch him in the fifth of a blowout game and leave him out there, which would probably be good for him.”

Whatever the case, the bullpen’s inability to find a right-handed setup solution has put undue stress on Hideki Okajima and Papelbon –- a situation that could have long-range ramifications if it isn’t addressed now.

The Sox aren’t likely to stop searching for a suitable arm to fill the setup slot, and 24-year-old righty Craig Hansen’s second call-up from Class AAA Pawtucket isn’t a coincidence. Hansen was impressive in racking up three strikeouts during a 1 2/3-inning stint against the Angels last month, but was roughed up for a pair of runs while earning a hold in Monday night’s victory.

“He’s a lot more compact with his release and his mechanics and that’s really allowed him to work down in the strike zone with his fastball and slider much more consistently,” said Sox director of player development Mike Hazen. “There’s a consistency and a command to that slider now, and he’s got two major-league weapons when it’s working with the fastball.”

Delcarmen and Hansen are leagues better than anything the Sox could possibly hope to find on baseball’s open market, so patience will be the word for both hurlers.

Red Sox 6, Tigers 3: First baseman Kevin Youkilis, designated hitter David Ortiz and third baseman Mike Lowell each cranked out home runs and powered the Sox to their fourth straight victory. The start was literally a wild one for right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, as he walked a career-high eight batters but allowed only a single run on two hits.

Notes, Quotes

• RHP Curt Schilling reported that his progress has moved faster than anticipated and he will attempt a throwing session on Tuesday afternoon. Schilling hasn’t picked up a baseball since January, but reported that his shoulder/biceps problem has subsided since receiving a cortisone shot in February. The Sox didn’t expect Schilling before the All-Star break -– at the earliest –- and the veteran big-game pitcher has vowed to pitch at some point this season.

• DH David Ortiz has what Sox manager Terry Francona termed a case of tendinitis in his surgically-repaired right knee, and it’s a situation the Sox will have to manage until the “spot” of pain dissipates from his joint. Francona opined that the warm weather will be a large help to Ortiz’s creaky knee, and the tendinitis hasn’t really affected “Big Papi” at the plate over the last three weeks. Ortiz is hitting .312 over his last 18 games with five home runs and 22 RBIs as he slowly emerges from his season-opening slump.

• 3B Mike Lowell finally collected his first home run and RBIs of the 2008 season on Monday night after setting a Sox record for third baseman with 120 RBIs last season. The Sox third baseman went through 15 games this season without collecting an RBI, which was the worst RBI drought of his distinguished 10-year big league career. After an early-season slump and a left thumb injury, Lowell looks like he is finally rounding into run-producing form.

• OF Jacoby Ellsbury continues to be the pace-setter for the Sox at the top of their lineup and ranks among the AL’s top 10 in runs scored (second with 25), stolen bases (third with 11) and on-base percentage (fourth with .415) this season. The Sox are also an amazing 12-2 when Ellsbury scores at least one run this season, and are also averaging a scant 2.13 runs per game when the speedy outfielder is missing from the lineup card.

• RHP Bartolo Colon threw two innings during an extended spring training start against an Orioles team in Sarasota on Monday afternoon. The 34-year-old Colon allowed a single hit and registered a strikeout during the two scoreless frames, and reported no health setbacks following his first mound appearance in nearly a month. Colon reported back to the rest of the Sox team in Detroit following the start, and could be ready for a start at Class AAA Pawtucket this weekend.

By The Numbers: 84.4—Stolen-base success rate percentage of OF Coco Crisp during his career with the Red Sox, which ranks highest in club history of any player with at least 50 steal attempts.

Quote To Note: “I told Manny, ‘You’re the closest thing to Yogi Berra in the modern era that we have.’ Manny looked at me and said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘When I hear you talk, every player knows exactly what you mean, but you say it in a manner that’s unique to you.”—Player agent Scott Boras, talking to the Boston Globe about a conversation between himself and OF Manny Ramirez.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

DH David Ortiz (sore right knee) was scratched from the lineup on May 4. Ortiz is day to day.

OF Brandon Moss (appendectomy) was placed on the disabled list on emergency surgery. If all goes well, he could begin a rehab stint on May 15.

OF J.D. Drew (tightness in left quadriceps) left the April 29 game. He missed three games but returned May 3.

OF Jacoby Ellsbury (sore groin) did not play May 1. He played on May 2 against the Rays.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, but will start throwing in mid-May.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Celtics - Getting Inside

The Celtics have won themselves a second-round date with the Cavaliers, and they’re hoping that playing against a more accomplished opponent will be good for them.

It was clear the Celtics took Atlanta lightly at times on the way to being pushed to seven games.

“They’re a group that’s the defending champs, and to do anything you’ve got to go through them and deal with that,” said Kevin Garnett, referring to Cleveland. “LeBron (James)’s playing at a high level right now. It’s good that we have home-court advantage, and overall I think it should be a good series. Obviously, they’re trying to figure out some things with their new group, but they’re playing really well and I’m sure they’re playing at a high level. And as we say in our locker room, our gas is high and our confidence is high, too, so it should be a good series.”

The Celtics certainly respect this opponent.

“Well, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the Eastern Conference champs from a year ago, the team that went to The Finals,” said Paul Pierce. “So we know it’s going to be a tough road, and you’ve got to go through the Eastern Conference champs—a team that has a lot of experience, a team that has been to The Finals and that knows what it takes.

“We’re still learning as a group, so this going to be the ultimate test. You have one of the top players in the league coming in, one of the top teams in the league coming in who’s been there and done that, so we’ve definitely got our work cut out for ourselves. We have to be ready, simple and plain.”

Celtics 99, Hawks 65: The Celtics removed any doubts early, taking an 11-point lead after one quarter and cruising to a Game 7 victory over the Hawks Sunday afternoon in Boston.

Taking their home-court advantage seriously, the Celts won their four games in Boston by an average just over 25 points.

Paul Pierce had a game-high 22 points, while Kevin Garnett added 18. Both were able to rest in the last quarter as the rout was completed.

“I just told them after the game that that was the Celtics,” said Doc Rivers. I thought obviously that we played terrific basketball. The defensive energy was off the charts, and the offense was great.”

The Celtics held the Hawks to 29.3 percent shooting from the floor.

Notes, Quotes

• After leading the Celtics to the win, Paul Pierce ended his self-imposed silence. He hadn’t spoken since after Game 4, the night he learned he’d been fined $25,000 for a menacing gesture in the previous game.

“Me and the stuff that was going on with myself, I just didn’t want to be a distraction to what we was trying to accomplish,” he said. “My whole focus was just (on), game in and game out, what we were trying to do.

“I just needed to take a step back to myself and not really be a distraction to others… I just didn’t want to bring that attention back on my team, so we could just focus on playing basketball.”

• Kevin Garnett said he didn’t sleep Saturday night, but Doc Rivers had no problem.

“I told (Garnett) I slept 10 hours,” Rivers said. “I took an Ambien and I was out like a rock. It was great… I told him that when I was a player, I didn’t sleep. It’s a little different.”

Quote To Note: “The performance tonight is very typical of what we have done all year.”—Ray Allen, after Game 7.

Roster Report

Rotation: Point guard Rajon Rondo, Shooting guard Ray Allen, Small forward Paul Pierce, Power forward Kevin Garnett, Center Kendrick Perkins. Bench—Guard Eddie House, Forward James Posey, Guard Tony Allen, Guard Sam Cassell, Forward Leon Powe, Forward Glen Davis, Forward P.J. Brown, Forward Brian Scalabrine, Guard Gabe Pruitt.

Player Notes:

• G Ray Allen made just two of 13 treys in the last two games of the series.

• F Kevin Garnett went to the basket a lot more in Game 7, hitting nine of 13 shots.

• F-C Leon Powe managed 12 points in 20 minutes, combining with Kendrick Perkins for 22 points in the pivot.

• G Rajon Rondo completed the series with 51 assists and just seven turnovers.

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

In a matchup of young left-handers, a visibly confident Jon Lester decisively won the mound battle over Sox-killer Scott Kazmir on Sunday afternoon.

The 24-year-old Lester, working with good tempo and effectively mixing all his pitches, shook aside temporary struggles during the first two innings in securing his second win of the season—and the third straight win for a Sox starting pitcher.

Lester dropped his ERA to 3.94 while limiting the Rays’ offense to four hits and a single earned run in six innings of work, and his only blemish came on a Carlos Pena solo homer.

The Red Sox southpaw was obviously feeling his way through the first two frames and moving at a glacial pace, but quickened things in the third inning and allowed only four baserunners after that point of clarity.

“(Lester) is taking steps,” said Sox catcher Jason Varitek. “He’s continuing to do that. We even added some stuff today to his repertoire and we’re really expanding what he can do.”

Red Sox 7, Rays 3: First baseman Kevin Youkilis collected his fifth three-hit game of the season and tied a career high with four RBIs in leading the Sox to a weekend sweep over the Rays. Right hander Manny Delcarmen ran into trouble in the eighth inning, but lefty Hideki Okajima and right-hander Jonathan Papelbon were able to finish out the last 2 2/3 innings and secured a victory for Jon Lester.

Notes, Quotes

• DH David Ortiz was a last-minute scratch from Sunday’s starting lineup after experiencing tightness in his surgically repaired right knee. Big Papi has been red hot as of late while hitting .301 over his last 17 games, and the lefty slugger collected a season-high three hits on Saturday. The three-hit performance pulled his batting average all the way up to .217, his first day spent over the Mendoza Line this season. Ortiz said after Sunday’s game he doesn’t expect to miss any additional games.

• OF Brandon Moss underwent an emergency appendectomy on Saturday night after complaining of abdominal pain that started during Friday night’s game. The rookie outfielder was out of the hospital on Sunday and resting comfortably at home following the surgery. Moss was placed on the 15-day disabled list and will be out roughly five-to-10 days before commencing a rehab stint in Ft Myers.

• OF Manny Ramirez is the proud owner of an impressive 496 career home runs, but has now gone through a 12-game homer-less drought on his march to 500 career home runs. Ramirez also broke an 11-game RBI drought—one game shy of the longest in his accomplished big league career—with a two-run single in the first inning on Saturday. Man-Ram has also whiffed an eye-opening 14 times during this most recent power outage.

• RHP Craig Hansen was called up from Class AAA Pawtucket to take the roster spot of OF Brandon Moss after he was placed on the disabled list. The 24-year-old power reliever impressed Sox officials with a solid 1 2/3-inning, three-strikeout stint during his last go-round with the Sox on April 23, and could help Boston’s bullpen in a setup role. Hansen put up a 1.62 ERA in 11 games as a setup man for Class AAA Pawtucket this season.

• C Jason Varitek has battled back from a flu that knocked him out of commission for nearly a week, and is hitting .368 during a five-game hitting streak for the Sox. ‘Tek had been 0-for-9 during his previous four games as he battled back from the after-effects of illness, but it seems that the 35-year-old catching Captain is finally back up to full speed.

By The Numbers: 84.4—Stolen-base success rate percentage of OF Coco Crisp during his career with the Red Sox, which ranks highest in club history of any player with at least 50 steal attempts.

Quote To Note: “I told Manny, ‘You’re the closest thing to Yogi Berra in the modern era that we have.’ Manny looked at me and said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘When I hear you talk, every player knows exactly what you mean, but you say it in a manner that’s unique to you.”—Player agent Scott Boras, talking to the Boston Globe about a conversation between himself and OF Manny Ramirez.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

DH David Ortiz (sore right knee) was scratched from the lineup on May 4. Ortiz is day to day.

OF Brandon Moss (appendectomy) was placed on the disabled list on emergency surgery. If all goes well, he could begin a rehab stint on May 15.

OF J.D. Drew (tightness in left quadriceps) left the April 29 game. He missed three games but returned May 3.

OF Jacoby Ellsbury (sore groin) did not play May 1. He played on May 2 against the Rays.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, but may start throwing in mid-May.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

The Big Schill is almost ready for the big comeback.

Curt Schilling is hoping that—after more than two months of shoulder strengthening and rehab work—he will begin a throwing program with the Red Sox in the next 7-10 days. The 41-year-old righty hasn’t thrown a ball since feeling shoulder and arm discomfort while working this winter, but also hasn’t felt any pain since taking a mid-February cortisone shot in his pitching arm.

“I’m closer to throwing. I don’t know. We’re getting close,” said Schilling. “I would argue that we’re close to throwing in the next week to 10 days probably. It’s a big day. I feel great. I feel strong. I feel everything I’m supposed to feel.”

Schilling has enjoyed watching a Sox starting rotation that has performed well over the first month of the season, and seemed particularly interested in the continued development of young hurlers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz.

Schilling’s possible role to play this season could very well be linked to the young hurlers on the Sox staff, who will—at some point this season—bump up against innings limits set in place by Boston’s player development staff.

Whatever Schilling’s role is, however, the bloody-socked Sox hero knows he’ll have to be effective to crack a starting rotation that’s put up a 3.82 team ERA thus far.

“I’m not just going to get the ball because I’m a starting pitcher. I’m going to have to be good,” said Schilling. “Last I looked, this rotation didn’t have a hole in it. There are a lot of different scenarios that might come about with an innings limit for guys—but I’ve got to come back and be good.

“I can’t just can’t get healthy and expect to come back and get a spot,” added Schilling. “That’s a challenge. If I didn’t believe, absolutely, that I would have the ball in a World Series game, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

Red Sox 7, Rays 3: Led by a Brandon Moss solo homer and a key, two-out Dustin Pedroia RBI double in the bottom of the third inning, the Sox exploded offensively and finally captured their first win of the season Friday against the pesky Rays. Clay Buchholz pitched in and out of trouble through his 5 1/3 innings of work, and allowed only a single run while collecting his second win of the season.

Notes, Quotes

• OF Coco Crisp is battling knee and hamstring soreness in his right leg and wasn’t healthy enough to crack Friday night’s starting lineup for the Sox. The 28-year-old outfielder has battled through a series of leg problems for the balance of the 2008 season, but had played in six out of seven games heading into Friday night’s game.

• RHP Bartolo Colon will not be making his first rehab appearance in Class AAA Pawtucket, but will instead pitch two innings in extended spring training on Monday against an Orioles team in Sarasota. Colon has been on the minor-league disabled list since April 6 with a right oblique strain, and is facing a recently-negotiated June 1 opt-out clause for his contract. Sox officials asked Colon to make the rehab appearance in Florida to avoid disrupting the PawSox pitching staff.

• OF Jacoby Ellsbury returned to the Sox lineup Friday night after missing three games with groin soreness. Sox Manager Terry Francona indicated before the game that the Sox took the injury as an opportunity to illustrate to Ellsbury the difference between playing hurt and playing injured. “It gives us a chance to talk to him and explain to him every game we play here is a big deal and that’s probably what’s different in the minor leagues, (that) they’re very protective, which they’re supposed to be,” Francona said. “We try to be protective but at the same time, we want guys to understand the responsibility that every game here is really a big deal.”

• OF Brandon Moss belted a home run and earned an assist after throwing a runner out at the plate on Friday night, making Moss the first rookie Sox outfielder to collect a home run and assist in the same game since former OF Trot Nixon turned the same trick in 1999. Moss has reached base safely in five of the six games he’s played this season and has amassed three runs and three RBIs during that span. “I think you can tell that we have no qualms about playing him,” said Sox Manager Terry Francona. “He does a good job, can hit a left-hander, can hit a fastball. Sometimes there’s not a place for a guy to play.”

• RHP Clay Buchholz improved his record to a perfect 4-0 at Fenway Park with a win in Boston on Friday night. The rookie right-hander has gone at least five innings in all five of his career starts at the Fens, and has put up a microscopic 1.39 ERA in 32 1/3 career innings at his home ballpark. It’s plainly apparent that the Sox hurler is the proud owner of a pair of plus-plus pitches in the changeup and curveball, and his big league apprenticeship is progressing nicely.

By The Numbers: 1,701—Total number of consecutive errorless defensive chances by 1B Kevin Youkilis, which broke the record for all defensive positions in the major leagues.

Quote To Note: “I just try to go out there and play the best that I can whenever they put me out there. I wish it were softball, but it’s not so we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, we all continue to play well and give them a tough decision on who to put out there on any given day.”—OF Coco Crisp, on his mind-set while playing the part of a fourth outfielder on the Sox this season.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

OF J.D. Drew (tightness in left quadriceps) left the April 29 game. He didn’t play April 30 or May 1-2 but might return May 3.

OF Jacoby Ellsbury (sore groin) did not play May 1. He played on May 2 against the Rays.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, but may start throwing in mid-May.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10.

Celtics - Getting Inside

The Celtics’ director of basketball operations isn’t too worried by his team’s trouble with the Hawks in the first round. Danny Ainge doesn’t think it’ll have an effect down the line.

“No,” he said, “it’s like the NCAA tournament. Sometimes the third seed can barely beat the 14th seed in the first round and then go all the way and win the championship or get to the Final Four.

“The biggest thing I worry about—and I think you saw a little of it with Detroit—is sometimes you just don’t play like yourself,” Ainge said. “You get a little tense. I think that we showed a little bit of that in Game 4 here.”

There is no real formula for dealing with the matter.

“I think sometimes you’ve just got to play through it,” Ainge said. “You know, that’s why the important thing is to just focus on the defense and don’t think about offense. When you struggle from the free throw line, the worst thing to do is to think about it and over-analyze it. Sometimes you’ve just got to get away from it and clear your mind.

“I didn’t think we played great in Game 1 and Game 2 offensively. I thought we played good defense. I thought in Game 3 we really didn’t take our opponent seriously … because we didn’t play well and we won in Boston easily. Then in Game 4, I thought we played hard but we didn’t play well. And their best players really played well and stepped up. Then in Game 5 we put it together. We played with effort AND we made shots.”

However, they couldn’t sustain that effort in Game 6, making a highly surprising Game 7 necessary.

Hawks 103, Celtics 100: The Celtics have taken themselves to the brink of first-round elimination.

Friday night in Atlanta they squandered a 12-point lead and fell to the Hawks for the third time on the road in the series.

The C’s were still leading by three in the last quarter when the Hawks scored 10 straight points. During that run, Paul Pierce fouled out and earned a technical on his way to the bench. That allowed Atlanta a three-point possession.

Mike Bibby made just one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds left, leaving the Celtics a chance to tie. But Rajon Rondo’s trey at the buzzer wasn’t close.

Kevin Garnett led the Celts with 22 points, while the Hawks had six players in double figures.

Coach Doc Rivers took aim at the 47-25 Atlanta lead in free throw attempts.

“I don’t know how many times we’ve scored 100 points and lost the game with our defense,” he said. “I didn’t think our defense was bad. I just thought they shot 47 free throws.”

Notes, Quotes

• Coach Doc Rivers thinks the confrontations between the players are being overblown. And he blames the players.

“Every time there is a guy that looks at one another, everyone is running in and grabbing each other,” Rivers said. “Sometimes it’s a joke. It really is. I just think we almost draw so much attention to it. One time I was like, nothing is happening … why is everyone going around grabbing each other?”

• Look for bigger things from Sam Cassell. At least that’s what Sam says.

“This is my time of year,” Cassell said. “I love playoff basketball, and I understand what it means. I understand what it takes to be successful this time of year, but I am just trying to get on the court. Rajon (Rondo) is having a hell of a series right now, so he is keeping me on the sideline.”

Quote To Note: “We just put ourselves in this position.”—Backup forward James Posey on being forced to a Game 7.

Roster Report

Rotation: Point guard Rajon Rondo, Shooting guard Ray Allen, Small forward Paul Pierce, Power forward Kevin Garnett, Center Kendrick Perkins. Bench—Guard Eddie House, Forward James Posey, Guard Tony Allen, Guard Sam Cassell, Forward Leon Powe, Forward Glen Davis, Forward P.J. Brown, Forward Brian Scalabrine, Guard Gabe Pruitt.

Player Notes:

• G Ray Allen hit one of eight free throws Friday after making five of eight from the distance in each of his previous two games.

• F Paul Pierce had 11 points in the first quarter and just six the rest of the game.

• G Rajon Rondo had five assists and three turnovers in Game 6. He had 40 assists and four turnovers over the first five games.

• C Kendrick Perkins went 5-for-5 from the floor on the way to 14 points. His scoring is usually a good sign, in that it comes when he gets free off ball movement.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

It’s no secret that David Ortiz is still having good days and bad days after undergoing arthroscopic right knee surgery in the offseason.

The questions concerning the overall health of his leg grew louder when the Sox’s designated hitter struggled out of the gate this season and hit .111 as of April 11. The knee hasn’t gotten any worse or better.

It’s probably somewhere in the middle for Ortiz: The knee is hurting as much as people think when the lefty swinger is struggling and it’s not pain-free even when he’s riding one of his patented power surges.

“He’s OK. I think he’s just sore. I know there’s nothing structural,” manager Terry Francona said. “I think he will (deal with pain). He had surgery, he’s a big guy and he’s not 22 years old.

“I think that’s just the way life is as you start to progress in your career. Sometimes we need to give a guy a day off, and he knows it.”

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Ortiz exacerbated the knee issues when he opted to go for a headfirst slide during a three-game series last weekend. He promptly missed a pair of games with a bruised right knee.

The knee is certainly still aching, and Ortiz is going to have to fight through the pain to try to raise his offensive numbers to his usual levels. Despite the .196 batting average, Ortiz is still among the American League’s leaders in home runs (five) and RBIs (21).

The reappearance of some power has allowed Red Sox fans to relax, but the 32-year-old Ortiz won’t ever be able to relax when it comes to the maintenance of his all-important knees.

“He has to get in on the elliptical and he can’t just come in and play the game,” Francona said. “He doesn’t have that freedom anymore. He knows that. He does a pretty good job with that, and he will continue to.”

Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0: The Boston offense managed only four hits and has scored a grand total of four runs in the last five games, including a pair of shutouts. Tim Wakefield soldiered through seven innings of work and allowed only three runs but couldn’t avoid his first defeat of the season.

Notes, Quotes

• OF Jacoby Ellsbury (sore groin) and OF J.D. Drew (quadriceps tightness) were both on the Fenway Park field prior to the game, testing out their injuries. Neither player appeared in Thursday’s game. Manager Terry Francona hoped that both players would be available for Friday’s opener against the Rays.

• DH David Ortiz ranks ninth on the Red Sox all-time home run list with 213. Hall-of-Famers Jimmie Foxx and Bobby Doerr are next with 222 and 223. Ortiz would move up to sixth place if he manages to hit 18 more homers this season.

• RHP Manny Delcarmen is tied for the American League lead with 14 appearances this season. It marks the second-most appearances for a Sox pitcher during April. Tom Gordon appeared in 15 April games in 1998, and Mike Stanton appeared in 14 April games in 1996. Delcarmen has been utilized frequently, but he has allowed runs in each of his last four outings, and his ERA has ballooned to 6.17.

• C Kevin Cash had a personal-best six-game hitting streak snapped when he went 0-for-1 with two walks Thursday. Cash has become the personal catcher for RHP Tim Wakefield this season, and is hitting .333 in the six games he’s caught the knuckleballer this season.

• The Red Sox are reportedly looking into moving their Florida spring training home from its current location in Fort Myers to Sarasota. The Sox moved to Fort Myers from Winter Haven in 1993 and have been in their current spot for the last 15 years. The club’s interest reportedly was piqued when they learned that the Cincinnati Reds were leaving Sarasota for Arizona’s Cactus League.

By The Numbers: 1,701—Total number of consecutive errorless defensive chances by 1B Kevin Youkilis, which broke the record for all defensive positions in the major leagues.

Quote To Note: “I just try to go out there and play the best that I can whenever they put me out there. I wish it were softball, but it’s not so we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, we all continue to play well and give them a tough decision on who to put out there on any given day.”—OF Coco Crisp, on his mind-set while playing the part of a fourth outfielder on the Sox this season.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

OF J.D. Drew (tightness in left quadriceps) left the April 29 game. He didn’t play April 30 or May 1 but might return May 2.

OF Jacoby Ellsbury (sore groin) did not play May 1. He may be available May 2 against the Rays.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10. He might start making throws across the diamond on May 2.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, and his legendary career might be over.

Patriots - Inside Slant

After working unsuccessfully to reach a long-term deal in New England, third-year Patriots wide receiver Jabar Gaffney re-signed a one-year pact on March 5. While disappointed that the sides couldn’t hammer out the long-term pact he’d hoped for when he was due to hit free agency this spring, the former second-round pick of the Texans was quite pleased that his football future will be in New England.

“I wanted to stick around,” Gaffney said after a recent team workout. “I knew I wanted to stay here, especially how last season ended. I wanted to come back and give it another run.”

Gaffney finished his second season in New England with 36 receptions for 449 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 16 games with seven starts. Down the stretch he became one of Tom Brady’s favored playmakers in key moments, including a game-winning touchdown against the Ravens during a stretch when he had four touchdowns in five games. He added another four receptions and touchdown in the postseason.

But it was actually Gaffney’s experiences before joining the Patriots as a street free agent in October 2006 that most influenced his desire to remain in New England. After four losing seasons in Houston, Gaffney signed with the Eagles after the 2005 season, but Philly cut the former second-round pick prior to the 2006 campaign.

“Having been at those places and being in Houston, we never had a winning record,” Gaffney said of the days before his career rebirth in New England. “Here I know we are going to be competitive and have a chance at the end.”

That chance at the end—the postseason and a Super Bowl goal—combined with the upside of playing with Brady can mean much more to players than money ever could.

“It’s matters a lot. You want a chance to win. When you are really competitive and just really love the game of football, that’s what it comes down to,” Gaffney said. “All the money stuff, all the other stuff, that’s all fine and dandy. But a real competitor wants to win.”

Gaffney and his teammates will use a devastating season-ending defeat as motivation to yet again push toward the ultimate goal. The team that ran out of gas two years ago in an AFC title loss in Indy used that pain to put together the NFL’s first 16-0 regular season.

“It’s pretty much the same,” Gaffney said of the similarities between this offseason and last. “We were there and left a little empty handed. We want to get back there and be on the other side of it. A lot of people this offseason have tried to be like, ‘You all were 18-0. You were the first team to go 16-0 and all.’ That’s all fine but we didn’t finish what we set out to do.”

While the team goal—another Lombardi Trophy—is simply stated, the carrot for a New England offense that set endless NFL records last season isn’t quite as easy to pinpoint. But Gaffney, for one, believes there is room for a unit that scored an historic 589 points last season to get better.

“We have pretty much everybody on the offense back, so we should,” Gaffney said with his usual quiet confidence. “And with everybody back, guys that were new last year they are going to be more comfortable in the offense. So we should only get better. It’s just going to take more work.”

A better New England offense in 2008? That may be a scary thought for the rest of the NFL, but it’s just the sort of utopia Gaffney couldn’t walk away from.

Notes, Quotes

• Dom Capers has yet to coach even a single practice in New England, but he clearly already has his supporters in the locker room. Free-agent addition Fernando Bryant has been open in his support for the guy he played under in his time with the Jaguars. Jabar Gaffney has voiced his support, too, having played for Capers with the Texans.

“He brings a great knowledge of the game and defense,” Gaffney said of Capers who will serve as New England’s special assistant/secondary coach this season. “He’s a tremendous mind and coach. He’s going to bring a lot of experience and then another guy that can kind of be like a mentor for players. He helps guys out. He’ll sit down with you one on one and all kinds of stuff.”

• The Patriots released a couple players from the bottom of the roster April 30, parting ways with linebacker T.J. Slaughter and CB Tim Mixon. Slaughter is a seven-year veteran who had joined the team as a free agent Feb. 12 after being out of football last season. Mixon spent the end of last season on New England’s practice squad. Both players became a bit more expendable when the Patriots selected three linebackers and a pair of cornerbacks on draft weekend.

• LB Shawn Crable, one of New England’s third-round picks on draft weekend, compares physically to another Patriots linebacker from the University of Michigan—third-year player Pierre Woods. Crable is 6-5, 243; Woods, who played mostly special teams in two pro seasons, is listed at 6-5, 250.

At least one member of the media tried to liken Crable to another linebacker Bill Belichick coached earlier in his career—Giants great Carl Banks.

“I made a comparison to Pierre Woods. He reminds me a lot more of Pierre Woods than he does Carl Banks,” Belichick said quickly lowering expectations for one of his newest defenders. “Are there some similarities to Carl Banks? I don’t know.”

• LB Junior Seau’s future with the Patriots remains in limbo, but according to a report in the New Bedford (Mass.) Standard Times, the 18-year veteran could be returning for another run in New England. The Times reports the Patriots are bringing Seau in for a physical to check on a surgically repaired shoulder.

• WR Randy Moss is in the process of trying to build a racing team, forming Moss Motorsports with the hopes putting together a group to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series.

“We don’t have all the details in place just yet, but I am very excited about Moss Motorsports becoming a part of NASCAR,” Moss said in a release.

The hope is to have the team in place for a schedule of racing for the 2009 season.

“There are a lot of NASCAR fans in the locker room,” Moss said. “We’ve seen a lot of football players get involved—guys like Dan Marino and Troy Aikman to name a couple. I think it’s a good fit and gives some of the companies I am already working with an additional outlet. It’s a smart move on the marketing side of things but on the personal side of things I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Quote To Note: “Who would have ever thought you would be covering a Bill Belichick draft with no offensive linemen, defensive linemen, or tight ends taken, right?”—Bill Belichick, assessing the Patriots’ draft.

Strategy And Personnel

Franchise Player: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• WR Troy Brown played just one game in his 15th season after starting the year on PUP. He may retire, but if he doesn’t the team told him that he’s not in its plans moving forward.

• S Mel Mitchell played in 10 games and is a core special teams-type guy. He might choose to go elsewhere as New England only has room for so many one-dimensional special teamers.

• CB Chad Scott didn’t make it through training camp and has been hurt often. He’s a solid veteran backup and could be back with the team in the market for corner depth.

• LB Junior Seau was expected to get his first Super Bowl ring and retire. The Giants messed that little story up. He was healthy all year and made plays. If he doesn’t retire after his 18th season, the only place he’ll be playing is in New England.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

• LB Eric Alexander is a decent though injury prone special teamer although he’s yet to show anything on defense, other than of course his still inexplicable start in the 2006 AFC title loss in Indianapolis.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

• WR Sam Aiken: UFA Bills; $1.555M/2 yrs, $225,000 SB/$40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $757,500.

• CB Fernando Bryant: FA Lions; $776,000/1 yr, $20,000 SB/$20,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• LB Victor Hobson: UFA Jets; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $485,000.

• P Scott Player: FA; terms unknown.

• TE Marcus Pollard: UFA Seahawks; terms unknown.

• CB Lewis Sanders: FA Falcons; $770,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• CB Jason Webster: UFA Bills; $800,000/1 yr, $130,000 guaranteed/$70,000 WO.

• S Tank Williams: UFA Vikings; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

• T Wesley Britt: ERFA; terms unknown.

• LB Tedy Bruschi: Potential UFA; $4.1M/2 yrs, $1.2M SB; 2008 cap: $1.6M.

• WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA; $1.281M/1 yr, $500,000 SB/$75,000 WO.

• LB Larry Izzo: Potential UFA; $870,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: 485,000.

• WR Randy Moss: UFA; $27M/3 yrs, $12M SB/$3M base guarantee; 2008 cap: $6M.

• LS Lonie Paxton: UFA; $880,000/1 yr, $150,000 SB.

• S Ray Ventrone: ERFA; $370,000/1 yr.

• WR Kelley Washington: UFA; $1.855M/2 yrs, $450,000 SB; 2008: $830,000.

• LB Pierre Woods: ERFA; terms unknown.

• DL Mike Wright: RFA; terms unknown (tendered at $1.47M).

PLAYERS LOST

• TE Kyle Brady (released/failed physical).

• LB Rosevelt Colvin (released/failed physical).

• CB Randall Gay: UFA Saints; $12M/4 yrs, $3.75M SB.

• DL Rashad Moore: Not tendered as RFA/Falcons; terms unknown.

• CB Asante Samuel: UFA Eagles; $59.475M/6 yrs, $6M SB/$7M RB 08-09.

• WR Donte Stallworth: UFA Browns; $35M/7 yrs, $10M guaranteed.

• DB Eugene Wilson: UFA Buccaneers; $1.8M/1 yr, $500,000 guaranteed.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Celtics - Getting Inside

Dominique Wilkins likes the way his Hawks battled back in their series against the Celtics. But Atlanta director of basketball also thinks the Celtics deserve some of the credit.

The Hawks trail the series, 3-2, with Game 6 Friday. But the Celtics have had trouble in Atlanta recently, and the Hawks hope they’re looking ahead to the second round.

“I think teams sometimes take other teams for granted,” Wilkins told the Boston Herald before Game 5 Wednesday. “You get an eighth-seed team that’s kind of limped into the playoffs, and you tend to let your guard down a little. You know, you win the first two games and all of a sudden you say, ‘OK, we’ll cruise through the rest of this.’

“And I think that’s what happened. But our young guys didn’t read the same newspaper about quitting. They came out and they just played hard. They played hard and they played together. The only thing I told them is they just have to win one game—the one they’re playing.”

The fact the Celtics won 66 games this season—29 more than the Hawks—would seem to be an issue.

“You know what? From a regular season standpoint, you’re absolutely right,” Wilkins said. “That’s a team that’s better record-wise, on paper and everything else. But the playoffs is a different animal. Anything can happen, and we’ve seen that over the years—especially last year with the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors, where (the Mavericks) took them for granted.

“I think the thing that Dallas did that was wrong was that they changed their game plan. They changed their game plan to matchup up to them instead of making them matchup to the Mavericks. You know, you can’t change what’s been working all year for you. You can’t do that.”

Celtics 110, Hawks 85: The Celtics continued to dominate at home in this series, although winning in Boston by an average of 22.3 points has given them just a 3-2 lead over the Hawks in the first round matchup.

Wednesday night at the Garden, the Celtics ran off six straight points after falling behind 8-7 and never looked back. Stumbling momentarily only in the third quarter, they blitzed the Hawks, shooting 53.6 percent from the floor and holding their guests to 40.6 percent marksmanship.

Paul Pierce has a game-high 22 points, while Kevin Garnett added 20 to go with five rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points.

“Well, obviously a better game,” said Doc Rivers. “The execution was as crisp and as sound as we’ve had in a month and the defense was terrific. We were trapping, smothering and we didn’t make a lot of adjustments. We just did what we should do and we did it well.”

Notes, Quotes

• After refusing to comment for two days, Paul Pierce finally issued a statement regarding the $25,000 fine he was assessed by the league for making a “menacing gesture” in Game 3. The league evidently interpreted his signal as being gang-related.

This is the text of Pierce’s statement:

“I don’t want to take the focus away from the playoffs. In sports, emotions run high. After playing for 10 years in Boston, I think the Celtics fans know that I am a passionate player.

“I—100 percent—do not in any way promote gang violence or anything close to it. I am sorry if it was misinterpreted that way in Saturday’s game.

“In fact, through my Truth Foundation, I am committed to giving back to youth groups and making sure young people have the opportunities to succeed in life. I am extremely proud of the work I have done through the foundation to provide positive influences and safe havens for inner-city kids.”

• Doc Rivers had a message for fans who were seeking out space on Boston-area bridges after his team lost two straight in Atlanta.

“Don’t jump,” he said. “Please don’t jump. I ain’t going to save you, but don’t jump. That’s what I would tell them.”

Rivers also told his players not to rely on homecourt advantage.

“I told our guys this,” Rivers said, “because I could hear them in the locker room, saying, ‘Hey, guys, don’t worry. We go back home. Everything will be OK.’ And I said, ‘Listen, you’ve got to go make it OK. Don’t just rely on going home. You’ve got to go make it OK.’

“And I think we will, but I don’t just want to rely on that.”

Quote To Note: “We showed him a different look here and there.”—James Posey, on defending Joe Johnson, who had gone for 35 points in Game 4 but made just six field goals Wednesday.

Roster Report

Rotation: Point guard Rajon Rondo, Shooting guard Ray Allen, Small forward Paul Pierce, Power forward Kevin Garnett, Center Kendrick Perkins. Bench—Guard Eddie House, Forward James Posey, Guard Tony Allen, Guard Sam Cassell, Forward Leon Powe, Forward Glen Davis, Forward P.J. Brown, Forward Brian Scalabrine, Guard Gabe Pruitt.

Player Notes:

• F Leon Powe was back in prime-time off the bench, going for 10 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes after Kendrick Perkins got in early foul trouble.

• G Sam Cassell made eight of 22 shots in the first four games, but he canned six of eight Wednesday on the way to 13 points.

• F James Posey did well in his defensive stints on Joe Johnson, and he made two of three treys.

• G Ray Allen hit just one of six shots from inside the arc, but he made five of his eight three-pointers Wednesday.

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

Red Sox manager Terry Francona has all the time in the world for young ballplayers who play the game the right way.

Infielder Jed Lowrie just happens to be one of those guys.

The 24-year-old is one of a group of fresh-faced ballplayers who have softened the blow of both illness and injury for the Sox over the first month of the season. In cases like Lowrie and outfielder Brandon Moss, players originally brought up as insurance policies have also shown promising signs to Boston’s coaching staff.

“With Lowrie, I think that we’re pleased with how he’s playing the game. That’s stating the obvious,” Francona said of a young ballplayer who has begun to draw comparisons to former batting champion Bill Mueller. “He’s a really mature young man. That doesn’t mean that they don’t have anything to learn, but he seems to be pretty hungry to learn on the job and help us win games.

“That makes it fun for the staff, and it’s a little easier when you have young guys around the club that want to learn and do things right. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

When a rash of injuries removed third baseman Mike Lowell, utility infielder Alex Cora and first baseman Sean Casey from the lineup, it was Lowrie’s turn to step into a catch-all utility role. Moss was ready to answer the bell Wednesday night when J.D. Drew left Tuesday night’s game with quadriceps tightness.

Lowrie was thrown out at the plate as a pinch runner in the ninth inning Wednesday night, but he nearly gave Moss a game-winning RBI on his single up the middle.

“There are a lot of guys that are going to contribute this year,” first baseman Kevin Youkilis said. “I think for us it’s going out and trying to win every day. The young guys have been filling in really nicely, and one thing we have on this team is a lot of depth.”

Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1: A Jason Varitek single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday scored a speeding, sliding Manny Ramirez from second base, giving the Red Sox their eighth walk-off win of the young season. David Ortiz crushed a solo homer in the seventh inning to give the Sox a 1-0 lead, but the Boston bullpen betrayed Daisuke Matsuzaka after the righty tossed seven shutout innings.

Notes, Quotes

• RHP Jonathan Papelbon executed the first successful regular-season pick-off throw of his big-league career during the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s game. Papelbon memorably picked off Rockies OF Matt Holiday during Game 2 of the 2007 World Series, and this time Papelbon’s victim was Toronto SS John McDonald. The closer has worked hard on controlling the running game after feeling that other teams were taking liberties on the basepaths against him.

• RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka has led the Red Sox to a perfect 8-0 record in his last eight outings, a stretch that dates back to Sept. 22. Matsuzaka boasts a perfect 4-0 record for this season, and he is sixth in the American League with a 2.52 ERA. In a season where the Sox needed a No. 2 starter to step up in their rotation, Matsuzaka made a statement with his mound work during the month of April.

• DH David Ortiz slugged a solo homer in the seventh inning Wednesday, the first extra-base hit for the Sox dating back to last Friday’s opening game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The home run ended a span of 39 consecutive innings and three complete games without an extra-base hit—a record that had put the scuffling Sox into a tie with similar Sox power outages in both 1956 and 1964.

• RHP Bartolo Colon threw 45 pitches in an extended side session Wednesday and looked good enough to advance to a third side session at Fenway Park on Friday. As long as the big right-hander gets through the third throwing session without incident, Colon will pitch in game action with Class AAA Pawtucket on May 5. While the Sox have been getting very good pitching out of their starters as of late, the arrival of Colon would bolster their rotation depth.

• OF J.D Drew sat out Wednesday night’s game with a tender quadriceps muscle, but Red Sox manager Terry Francona reported that the right fielder was neither better nor worse after the muscle tightened up on him Tuesday. The outfielder was receiving treatment Wednesday, but Francona wouldn’t hazard a guess as to when Drew would return to Boston’s lineup.

By The Numbers: 1,701—Total number of consecutive errorless defensive chances by 1B Kevin Youkilis, which broke the record for all defensive positions in the major leagues.

Quote To Note: “I just try to go out there and play the best that I can whenever they put me out there. I wish it were softball, but it’s not so we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, we all continue to play well and give them a tough decision on who to put out there on any given day.”—OF Coco Crisp, on his mind-set while playing the part of a fourth outfielder on the Sox this season.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

OF J.D. Drew (tightness in left quadriceps) left the April 29 game. He didn’t play April 30, and he is day-to-day.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10. He might start making throws across the diamond on May 2.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, and his legendary career might be over.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

Though he was saddled with a no-decision, Tuesday’s start was a leap in the right direction for 24-year-old Jon Lester.

After previously struggling to get through opposing batters during the second and third time through the order, the left-hander was able to effectively mix his cutter, fastball, curveball and changeup.

“We’ve seen stints of three or four innings where he’s been effective, but tonight he was relentless in the bottom portion of the zone all evening with strikes,” Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said. “We all want things to happen sooner than they might, but his work has been consistent, and he’s a young man that’s maturing.”

Entering Tuesday, Lester had limited hitters to a .261 batting average and surrendered four earned runs in his first trip through a lineup, but the numbers ballooned to a .316 batting average and 15 earned runs in successive trips through the lineup.

Lester seemed to change his pitching patterns Tuesday, however, as he liberally mixed in an improving changeup and utilized a sinking two-seam fastball to pile up groundball outs. Lester left after a career-high eight innings and allowed only one hit and four walks while registering six strikeouts.

“The thing that Jon did so well tonight, he threw a lot of first-pitch strikes,” manager Terry Francona said. “When he did walk somebody tonight, he came right back and got right back down in the bottom of the zone and got a double-play ball. He didn’t ever let it carry over to the next hitter.”

Red Sox 1, Blue Jays 0: Kevin Youkilis’ RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth broke open a scoreless game and gave the Red Sox their 11th come-from-behind win. Promising left-hander Jon Lester worked eight scoreless innings in his best start of the season, and Jonathan Papelbon came in for a scoreless ninth to earn his first win of the season.

Notes, Quotes

• RHP Bartolo Colon threw 35 pitches in a side session at Fenway Park on Monday, and he is on pace to throw another side session Wednesday. The burly right-hander has been slowed over the last few weeks by a sore right oblique muscle but is on schedule to appear in a game May 5. Colon had an opt-out in his minor league contract with a deadline of May 1, but the Sox have reached an understanding with Colon that will keep him in a Sox uniform.

• SS Alex Cora had his right elbow examined Monday and was given a clean bill of health by the Red Sox medical staff. The utility infielder will begin a throwing program, and manager Terry Francona estimated that he could air out his arm with throws across the diamond by Friday. SS Jed Lowrie has done a solid job of filling in at all infield positions during Cora’s absence.

• OF J.D. Drew left Tuesday’s game in the third inning with tightness in his left quadriceps and was replaced by rookie OF Brandon Moss. Drew felt the muscle twinge after attempting to leg out a groundball in the bottom of the second inning. The oft-injured Drew has played in 23 out of Boston’s 28 games this season but is in the middle of a hitting slump that’s dropped his average down to .269.

• 2B Dustin Pedroia has played in each of Boston’s 28 games this season but could miss a game or two after hurting his left shoulder Tuesday. Pedroia jammed the shoulder while making a spectacular diving stop of a Vernon Wells grounder in the top of the ninth inning—a sprawling stab that helped win the game.

• RHP Bryan Corey was designated for assignment for the second time in two weeks—this time to make room for 3B Mike Lowell on Boston’s 25-man roster. Corey had pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in his lone appearance since getting called up from Class AAA Pawtucket, and he is one of a major league-high 17 pitchers used by the Sox this season.

By The Numbers: 1,701—Total number of consecutive errorless defensive chances by 1B Kevin Youkilis, which broke the record for all defensive positions in the major leagues.

Quote To Note: “I just try to go out there and play the best that I can whenever they put me out there. I wish it were softball, but it’s not so we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, we all continue to play well and give them a tough decision on who to put out there on any given day.”—OF Coco Crisp, on his mind-set while playing the part of a fourth outfielder on the Sox this season.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

2B Dustin Pedroia (jammed left shoulder) left the April 29 game. He could miss a game or two.

OF J.D. Drew (tightness in left quadriceps) left the April 29 game.

3B Mike Lowell (sore left thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list April 10. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Pawtucket on April 25, and he was activated April 29.

DH David Ortiz (bruised right knee) sat out April 26-27. He returned to action April 29.

1B Sean Casey (strained right hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 26.

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (flu) missed his April 23 start. His next start was pushed back to April 30.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the disabled list retroactive to April 10. He might start making throws across the diamond on May 2.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, and his legendary career might be over.