Tonight’s a big game in the “Statement Series.” The Red Sox can put a huge cloud over New York as Curt Schilling takes to the mound. A big question lies in will there be any retaliation for what AROD did to Pedroia. I hope someone plunks him.

Here is a look at your lineups tonight courtesy of Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal.

RED SOX

1. Julio Lugo ss
2. Coco Crisp cf
3. David Ortiz dh
4. Manny Ramirez lf
5. Kevin Youkilis 1b
6. Mike Lowell 3b
7. Jason Varitek c
8. Wily Mo Pena rf
9. Dustin Pedroia 2b

—
Curt Schilling p

YANKEES
————–

1. Johnny Damon cf
2. Derek Jeter ss
3. Hideki Matsui lf
4. Alex Rodriguez 3b
5. Jorge Posada c
6. Bobby Abreu rf
7. Jason Giambi dh
8. Robinson Cano 2b
9. Doug Mientkiewicz 1b

—
Andy Pettitte p

Mike McDermott of the Providence Journal provides you with how each team has done against the opposing starting pitcher.

Red Sox vs. Andy Pettitte
-Kevin Youkilis, 3 for 4 (.750), 1 HR
-J.D. Drew, 6 for 14 (.429), 2 HR
-Manny Ramirez, 26 for 64 (.406), 3 HR
-Julio Lugo, 5 for 13 (.385)
-Wily Mo Pena, 3 for 8 (.375)
-Jason Varitek, 15 for 41 (.366), 1 HR
-David Ortiz, 10 for 28 (.357), 1 HR
-Coco Crisp, 2 for 9 (.222)
-Mike Lowell, 1 for 6 (.167)
-Eric Hinske, 1 for 7 (.143)
-Dustin Pedroia, 0 for 4
-Alex Cora, 0 for 2

Yankees vs. Curt Schilling
-Bobby Abreu, 11 for 31 (.355)
-Jorge Posada, 11 for 31 (.355), 1 HR
-Robinson Cano, 7 for 20 (.350), 1 HR
-Hideki Matsui, 7 for 21 (.333)
-Josh Phelps, 4 for 14 (.286)
-Jason Giambi, 8 for 30 (.267), 4 HR
-Derek Jeter, 10 for 42 (.238), 1 HR
-Alex Rodriguez, 8 for 34 (.235), 4 HR
-Johnny Damon, 5 for 22 (.227), 1 HR
-Melky Cabrera, 2 for 13 (.154)
-Doug Mientkiewicz, 0 for 5

Technorati: Boston Red Sox, NY Yankees

Because the 2007 MLB All-Star game is being held in San Francisco this year, there is no DH spot on the ballot. With this happening, David Ortiz is listed as the Red Sox representative at first base despite really not playing there at all. He usually plays there during interleague play.

With Kevin Youkilis playing first base primarily for the Red Sox, but the balloting only allowing one person per team at each position, Youk has been left off the ballot. Youk just happens to be one of the Red Sox hottest hitters right now and in all of Major League Baseball. He is deserving of being on the ballot and now it’s time to do our part.

So Red Sox Nation, when you are voting all of our Red Sox players onto the 2007 AL All-Star team, don’t forget to use the write-in feature on the ballot and Kevin Youkilis.

You can get to the voting by clicking here.

Make Youk proud Red Sox Nation!!!

Technorati: Boston Red Sox, Kevin Youkilis, MLB, 2007 MLB All-Star Game

Like we didn’t see this one coming. Of course we all thought he would get busted for steroids. According to a New York Daily News published report, Jason Giambi tested positive for amphetamines in a drug test given to him from MLB.

This comes on the heels of him basically admitting that he took steroids or performance enhancing drugs. It also explains why he is tested more than any other player. When a MLB player tests positive for amphetamines, he is subject to six additional tests during the season. Normally, positive tests for the “greenies” are not made public unless a player has failed a test a second time. Only when a player has tested positive for steroids, the test results are made public knowledge.

When Giambi was asked about the test results, he had this to say,

“I can’t really talk about anything.”

Arn Tellen, Giambi’s agent also has no comments about the situation.

This positive result presents an interesting situation for the Yankees and the Giambino’s contract status. After he made the comments last week, the Yankees were exploring ways to see if they could void his contract. You can bet your bottom dollar that the Yankees will now probably use this failed test as a way to terminate his contract.

All this comes on a day where the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim expressed an interest in Giambi. Giambi wants to stay and finish his career in New York.

For those of you who don’t know what amphetamines are, this below will explain:

An amphetamine is technically a specific kind of stimulant, but the term is used in anti-doping circles as a catch-all for any banned stimulants, including drugs that are illegal without a prescription, as well as some over-the-counter drugs that are considered performance-enhancers.

Basically, amphetamines give you increased stamina. One of the side effects is increased sweating. Now if you have ever watched a Yankees game, you have probably seen the Giambino sweating buckets, looking like he just came out of the shower.

I’ll be honest with you. I have used amphetamines before. But they were prescribed to me by a doctor. When I hurt my back, I was given percocets for the pain. If you have ever taken percs before, they make you really tired. I told the doctor I was having trouble staying awake in the morning, so he gave me some samples of Provigil. They actually ended up making me too hyper and increased my heart-rate, so I stopped taking them.

What is Giambi thinking? Have the steroids messed up his brain too? I guess he is looking for any edge he can get these days. The biggest question I have is, why is he taking all this stuff?

I think it’s only a matter of time before Giambi is no longer a member of the New York Yankees and probably totally out of baseball. Although, I am sure some team will take a chance on him. That is if he isn’t suspended for failing another test. Just watch a Yankees game to watch him sweating like he was just getting out of a pool. As a matter of fact, just watch the Red Sox kick the Yankees butts again tonight on ESPN. You will see what I am talking about.

Technorati: Jason Giambi, MLB, NY Yankees, amphetamines, steroids

The NBA Draft Lottery was held tonight in of all places, Seacacus, NJ. 14 teams all had their hopes resting on the bounces of 1,000 ping pong balls. The Boston Celtics had the second best odds of getting either the first or second pick in the upcoming draft. Why is this noteworthy you ask? Well because with either of those picks, you were guaranteed either Ohio State big man Greg Oden or University of Texas scoring star Kevin Durant.

As I said the Celt’s had the second best odds, the Memphis Grizzlies by benefit of the league’s worst record had the best odds at one of those picks. Those teams ended up getting the fourth (Memphis) and fifth (Celtics) picks. The Portland Trail Blazers, who already have this years Rookie of the Year, Brandon Roy got the first pick and almost assuredly will add Oden to their fine stable of young talent.

The Seattle Super Sonics, who are on their way out of Seattle, got the second pick and will most likely play Durant along side former UConn stand out Ray Allen. The Atlanta Hawks were third, (they also have the 11th pick) followed by Memphis and Boston. When the Celtics were announced as getting the fifth pick, you could hear Red Auerbach spinning in his grave at my house in Connecticut. I kept waiting for Tommy Heinsohn, who was the Celtics rep, to start screaming like he does during the FSN broadcasts. “Are you kidding me?!?!?!?! You’re kidding right?!?!?!? What kind of a joke is this??!?!?!? We’re the greatest franchise in the history of the NBA and you treat us like this?!?!?!? But Tommy practically slammed his head off the table in front of him. Coach Doc Rivers looked stunned and all Danny Ainge could muster up was a “wow’.

The Celtics really needed one of those two picks to be relevant again.

Now unless the fifth pick turns out to be an Amare Stoudemire or a Dirk Nowitzki it maybe a long time before they are. Some of the players projected as the possible fifth pick include Florida C/F Al Horford, Egg Fu Young, (actually Yi Jianlian) a Chinese guy who is 7 foot tall, Georgetown C Roy Hibbert and OSU point guard Mike Conley, Jr.

The rest of the draft order is:

6. Milwaukee
7. Minnesota
8. Charlotte
9. Chicago
10. Sacramento
11. Atlanta
12. Philadelphia
13. New Orleans
14. LA Clippers

Technorati: Boston Celtics, NBA Draft

In an effort to get the nickname of “Darkman” for Hideki Okajima to stick, Peter from Peter’s Red Sox Forever had asked me a while back to help spread the word of the “Darkman” nick that he coined. It’s time to take it to another level. I have been doing my part and now Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald has asked for emails suggesting nicknames. So let’s help Peter out folks.This excerpt is taken from Peter’s blog.

“Sorry, Darkman”

Posted by Michael Silverman at 7:42 pm. Tuesday May 21, 2007

NEW YORK — “This giving Hideki Okajima a nickname business is getting interesting. I’ve gotten some great responses so far — they will be revealed later – but first a clarification.
It was Peter, not Ian, who came up with the Darkman nickname. Click on his link (http://peteronall.blogspot.com/) to find some passionate feelings about Darkman. Maybe I could be persuaded someday but for now I’m going to stick to my guns for variations on “Mr. Sorry.’’
This is important stuff, so let’s not stop discussing it.”
*****************************************************
Peter here, and let’s PERSUADE HIM! Mr. Sorry? Wimp-like. Hideki doesn’t have to apologise to anyone for striking them out or at least making them look foolish. The Darkman? Much better. This is Peter, and let’s not stop. Let’s keep sending Michael emails at his Boston Herald web address. The more the better. And you don’t need MY link, because you’re already here! I’ve received emails from so many Red Sox fans in Japan who tell me that already our Hideki Okajima is known as the Darkman, even in the newspapers! So please, use the following addy and just let Michael Silverman know that the Darkman is so perfect a nickname for our “hero of the dark,” the best lefthanded reliever in baseball, our very own Hideki Okajima. The enemy of our enemies for many years to come. He’s helped to make our bullpen the best in all of baseball. Here is Mr. Silverman’s email address……please spread the DARKMAN’S new nickname…….OUR lefthanded bullpen “the best one there is” pitcher….in MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!!

As you can see, the writers in Japan are already using it, so why can’t the Boston media catch on and join the “team”.

So what are we (Peter and myself) asking, to please send an email to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, telling him you want the Darkman nickname. His email address is msilverman@bostonherald.com

As the Nike slogan goes, “Just Do It!!!”

Technorati: Boston Red Sox, Hideki Okajima, Darkman

You win some, you lose some. Of course, Red Sox Nation wishes the Sox would win every game.

The Yankees used a strong outing from Chien Ming-Wang and got homeruns from AROD and the Giambino as they went on to beat the Red Sox 6-2 at Yankee Stadium. Robinson Cano chipped in as well with 2 hits for the Imperio Malo.

It wasn’t the best of nights for Tim Wakefield. The knuckleball wasn’t as effective as it normally is. Plus it doesn’t help when your team leaves the bases loaded two times.

The Yanks got on the board in the 1st inning on an AROD homer. Johnny Demon led off with a single. Wake got Derek Jeter to fly out to Coco Crisp in center. With Hideki Matsui at the plate, Damon stole second. Matsui proceeded to strike out on a nasty knuckler. While AROD was at the plate, Damon drew a lot of attention from the crafty veteran, Wakefield, and took Wake’s attention away from AROD at the plate. Wake threw a knuckler that didn’t do much and AROD promptly said thank you very little and planted it in the stands. This made it 2-0 bad guys. Wake then got Jorge Posada, the AL batting avg. leader to fly out to Coco to end the inning.

Wang had to work a little in the second inning as the Sox left the sacks loaded. Wang retired the first two batters of the inning, Mike Lowell and Coco on a strikeout and a foul out to Mientkiewicz at first respectively. The light hitting personal battery mate for Wakefield, Dough Mirabelli got on base with a single. Alex “Don’t Call Me Joey” Cora got a single of his own, advancing Mirabelli to second. Wang then got Julio Lugo to ground to Jeter at short but he bobbled it allowing Lugo to reach, loading up the bases for the Red Sox hottest hitter, Kevin Youkilis. With the heart of Red Sox Nation on his sleeve, Youk struck out, ending the threat.

The Yanks added another two more runs in the 3rd inning when the Giambino planted a Wake offering into the third deck of Yankee Stadium. Cano followed that with a double of his own. Damon then reached base with infield single. With Jeter at the plate, Damon once again took Wake’s attention away from the batter and left a knuckler up in the zone that Mariah Carey Jeter hit to Manny in left. Manny came up throwing and probably would have gotten Damon advancing to third if not for Lugo cutting it off. While pitching coach John Farrell (a man who rarely gets mentioned), was at the mound visiting his pitcher, you could see Manny was not happy at all. Wake got out of the inning but the Sox were trailing 4-0.

Meanwhile, Wang Chung cruised through the third and fourth innings, only allowing a Coco walk. The Sox finally got on the board in the 5th inning. Lugo led off with a ground out to Gayrod at third. Then Youk hit a double to the cavernous center field and came around to score when Big Papi doubled to deep right, making the score 4-1.

The Yanks got two runs back in the 5th inning with two outs. AROD walked to lead off. Then Hip Hip Jorge hit into a double play. Bobby Abreu got on base with a single and stole second before the Giambino walked. Cano cleared the bases with a triple making the score 6-1 and the Yanks never looked back from here. The 5th inning was the last inning for Wake.

Wake went 5 innings, allowed 9 hits, 6 runs (all earned), walked 5 and struck out only 2.

The Sox managed to get one run back in the 7th. Wang retired Cora to lead off the inning, but then walked Lugo. Youk got him over to third on a double and chased Wang from the game. Joe Torre brought in Mike Myers to face Big Papi. Big Papi hit a sacrifice fly that brought Lugo in. Torre then summoned Brian Bruney from the pen and he got Manny to watch a called strike three.

Boston managed to load the bases up in the 8th but couldn’t do any damage. Bruney got Drew and Lowell out to start the inning. He then walked Coco and allowed Mirabelli to reach on his own throwing error. Scott “Don’t Call Me a Proctologist” Proctor came in and promptly hit Cora with a pitch but then got Lugo to end the inning on a fielder’s choice. This ended the Sox hopes and dreams for a 11.5 game lead.

Instead, they have to settle for a 9.5 game lead.

Technorati: Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees

I wanted to give everyone a heads up. The SOX & Dawgs website has it’s own domain now. Please bookmark the new site address and make changes to your RSS feed if you are subscribing via an RSS reader.

The randomthoughts.ianbethune.com address will redirect to the site all the time. If you are subscribed via a feed reader, please make the necessary changes. I appreciate your reading and look forward to writing for you for the long haul.

The new url: https://soxanddawgs.com

The new RSS feed: https://soxanddawgs.com/?feed=rss2

I apologize for the inconvenience. I felt it was time for SOX & Dawgs to breakaway from my own domain. No more changes will be made to the name of the blog or the site address. this move is permanent and I for one welcome the change.

Major League Baseball has announced it’s American League Player of the Week for May 14th to May 20th and it is none other than our very own Daisuke Matsuzaka. This is the first award he was in America and I am sure that it won’t be his last.He is the first Sox player to win it since Big Papi won his for the week of August 6th last season.

In his 2 starts last week, Dice-K was 2-0, threw 17 innings, allowed 4 runs, walked none and struck out 17 opposing hitters.

Congratulation to Matsuzaka-san. It is well deserved.

If you hadn’t heard, the Departed won 4 Oscars this year. I’d like to share with you one of my favorite clips from the movie. Due to some of the language in the clip, this video is NSFW!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5D6lz4118hs[/youtube]

After weathering a 2 1/2 hour rain delay, the Red Sox rode Kason Gabbard’s strong 5+ innings and Kevin Youkilis helped out with a home run, as the Red Sox beat the Braves 6-3 on Connecticut Day at Fenway Park.

Gabbard came up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the start for the Sox today and was immediately sent back down to Pawtucket after his outing. Gabbard was brilliant today. He was just what the Sox needed after 5 games in 3 days.

He cruised through the first 3 2/3 innings without allowing a hit. He retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced. The Sox hitters gave Gabbard a 4 run cushion to work with after the first inning.

Braves starter Tim Hudson retired Coco Crisp, then gave up a single to Youkilis and a double to David Ortiz. Manny Ramirez then ground into a fielder’s choice and Youk was thrown out at the plate trying to score. J.D. drew a walk, loading up the bases for Jason Varitek. Varitek woke up the Fenway Faithful with a triple that cleared the bases and gave the Sox a 3-0 lead. Varitek came around to score on a Eric Hinske single, making it 4-0.

Gabbard sent the Braves down in order in the 2nd inning, including the first of Andruw Jones 5 strikeouts on the day.

The bats gave Gabbard another run in the 2nd inning. Dustin Pedroia led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice from Coco. Youk drew a walk bringing Big Papi to the plate. Big Papi grounded into a fielder’s choice but Pedroia was able to score, giving Gabbard a 5 run cushion to work with.

After retiring 9 straight batters, Gabbard gave up a single to Jeff Francoeur. Matt Diaz followed that with a single. Gabbard then got Jones for the second time on a strikeout.

Gabbard’s pitch count was starting to get high and it showed in the 5th inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Brian McCann but retired he next two batters he faced. With 2 outs, Martin Prado, who was called up from Triple-A Richmond the night before, hit a single that advanced McCann to third. However, Gabbard got former Red Sox goat shortstop Edgar Renteria to ground out ending the threat.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Youk did his best Johnny Pesky impression by putting a ball just around the foul pole in right field to give the Sox a 6-0 lead. Hudson then got Big Papi and Manny out but was chased out of the game after giving up singles to J.D and ‘Tek. Micah Macay McBride got the Braves out of the inning by retiring Hinske on a pop fly to short.

Chipper led off the 6th with a single and advanced to third on a Francoeur ground rule double. Those two hits chased Gabbard from the game and Brendan Donnelly came in to relieve him. He promptly gave up a single to Matt Diaz that scored Chipper. Donnelly then got Jones, to what else, strikeout. With McCann at the plate, Diaz stole second base before McCann walked loading up the bases for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Saltalamacchia drew a walk bringing in the second run of the inning, cutting the Sox lead to 6-2. This closed the book on Gabbard. Javier Lopez came in for Donnelly and promptly got Thorman to hit into a rally killing inning ending double play.

Gabbard threw 100 pitches, gave up 6 hits, 2 runs, walked 1 and struck out 7.

Kyle Synder came into pitch the 7th inning and Hideki “Darkman” Okajima pitched the eighth inning. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the 9th inning in a non-save situation. He sandwiched strikeouts of Prado and Chipper around a Renteria single. Francoeur then hit a single to score Renteria, making it 6-3 Sox. He then allowed as single to Diaz before striking out Jones on the high cheese to end the game.

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