
Red Sox News & Notes – 9/12

In a game that was as ugly as the weather all day Tuesday, the Red Sox outlasted the Devil Rays 16-10. The game featured 26 runs scored, 38 hits, and 13 pitches. The man pictured above, Dustin Pedroia, hit a home run to tie the game at 9 and and after that, the Sox never looked back. Jacoby Ellsbury gave himself a nice birthday present as he hit home run as well as Big Papi and J.D. Drew (homers that is). Tim Wakefield struggled again in his second outing back after missing a start and said it might be something mechanical. I didn’t know that you could have something mechanically wrong throwing a knuckleball. The good thing to come out of this game was th fact that no matter how many runs the Sox were down, they never quit. Jon Lester will step onto the hill for the Sox tonight and hopes to continue his recent good fortunes but before he does, let’s take a look at the headlines from the Boston and Tampa area media on this fall-like morning in New England.
It’s raining runs at Fenway bash [Boston Globe]
Devil Rays Unable To Seal Deal [Tampa Tribune]
No time to panic [Boston Herald]
Like old times, regrettably [St. Petersburg Times]
Super-Sized Comeback [Hartford Courant]
An offensive explosion [Pro Jo]
Rays To Be Cautious With Aces [Tampa Tribune]
Knuckleballer needs to straighten it out [Boston Globe]
Catcher arrives to relieve ailing duo [St. Petersburg Times]
Lugo has yen for Japan [Boston Herald]
Sox proving to be resilient down the stretch [Pro Jo]
Red Sox clued in to game of spy warfare [Boston Herald]
Catcher cashed in with bat [Boston Globe]
For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune websites.
Wednesday’s Half Marathon Around the NL

Rockies third-base prospect Ian Stewart is learning a new role in his callup, pinch-hitter.
Reds OF Josh Hamilton will get to face some lefties as the season comes to an end.
Bryan Bullington hopes to stick with the Pirates next year.
Phillies rookie Kyle Kendrick is starting to get noticed when he’s not in uniform.
There is no timetable for Milton Bradley’s return to the Padres lineup.
Jonathan Albaldejo is showing the Nationals he belongs in the big leagues.
Mets pitcher Tom Glavine isn’t sure if he wants to play in 2008.
The Marlins had as many home runs as the Yankees did beginning play last night.
The Giants are holding auditions for their closer position.
Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe got hurt in pregame warmups.
The Diamondbacks will skip Micah Owings next turn in the rotation.
Mark DeRosa returned to the Cubs lineup one day after being hit by a pitch.
Anthony Reyes will have a short leash in his start for the Cardinals tonight.
Billy Hall wants more playing time for the Brewers.
Braves 3B Chipper Jones is out with a strained oblique.
Astros skipper Cecil Cooper wants his hitters to relax with men on base.
In a Big Hole, The Sox Don’t Quit & Win The Battle
In a game that was a polar opposite of last night’s pitcher’s duel, the Red Sox battled back from deficits of 8-1 and 9-5 to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 16-10 on a dreary night at the Fens. Besides the 26 runs scored, the game featured 38 hits, 20 by the Red Sox and 18 by the D’Rays.
The only hitter on the Red Sox who didn’t have two hits was Kevin Cash while Mike Lowell added 4 hits. The only player who started the game for the Devil Rays without a hit was Carl Crawford. Pinch-hitter Greg Norton also didn’t record a hit. Neither starter lasted that long as Sox starter Tim Wakefield exited after 3+ innings and D’Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine went 3 1/3 innings. The two teams used 13 pitchers in all, 7 by the Sox.
The Devil Rays got the scoring going in the 2nd. After Wake got Delmon Young to strikeout, Brendan Harris planted a hanging knuckler into the Green Monstah seats for a 1-0 lead. Jonny Gomes followed that up with a single and he stole second base Dioner Navarro at the plate. Navarro brought in Gomes with a single for a 2-0 lead. Josh Wilson then doubled moving Navarro to third. Akinori Iwamura brought in the third run of the inning with a single scoring Navarro and moving Wilson to third. Crawford then hit a grounder that forced Iwamura at second as Crawford’s speed didn’t allow the Sox to turn the double play. Wilson scored on the fielder’s choice to make it 4-0 D’Rays. Wakefield finished off the inning by getting Carlos Peña on a comebacker to the mound.
The birthday boy Jacoby Ellsbury got the Sox on the board with a home run in the 3rd inning after Sonnanstine got a strikeout of Cash. Dustin Pedroia followed the homer with a single but was retired when David Ortiz grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Wakefield lasted just three batters in the 4th inning as the D’Rays broke the game open. Navarro led off with double and went to third on a Wilson single. Iwamura chased Wakefield with a double scoring Navarro making it 5-1. Kyle Synder came in and retired Crawford but then he gave up a three-run blast to Peña putting the D’Rays up comfortably 8-1 or so they thought. Synder settled down after the homer getting B.J. Upton and Young to strikeout.
The local nine battled their way back into this potential laugher in their half of the 4th. Lowell led off with a single and went to second on a J.D. Drew single. Sonnanstine retired Kevin Youkilis on a fly out for the first out of the inning. Crisp then singled to load up the sacks full of Sox for Julio Lugo. Lugo brought in Lowell with the Sox second run and left the bags full for Cash. Cash, who was 2 for 21 since being called up, delivered the knockout blow to Sonnanstine with a 2-run single, cutting the lead to 8-4 D’Rays. Scott Dohmann came in and walked Ellsbury. Pedroia delivered a sacrifice fly as Lugo beat the throw home and knocked over Navarro. The error allowed Crisp and Lugo to move up a base. It was all for naught though as Big Papi flew out on the first pitch to end the inning.
Synder started the 5th inning by getting the first two batters out he faced. He then had some control issues as he walked Navarro and Wilson. Terry Francona went to the bullpen for the lefty Javier Lopez to face Iwamura. Lopez gave up a single to him as Navarro scored putting the D’Rays up by four at 9-5. Lopez ended the 5th with a strikeout of Crawford.
In The Red Zone – The Shifty Camera Man Edition

According to sources NFL Security confiscated a video camera and tape used by a New England Patriots employee after Sunday’s game with the New York Jets because he was suspected of stealing signals from the Jets defensive coaches.
The NFL as well as the Jets and Patriots had no comment.
According to the source the camera and tape were placed in a sealed box and taken to NFL heaquarters for review. The incident is a violation of league regulations and if the Patriots were found by the NFL Competition Commitee to have stolen the Jets signals the league could strip them of a draft pick or picks.
This isn’t the first rodeo in these allegations for the Patriots either. Last season, the same employee was removed and escorted from the sideline in Green Bay in a game against the Packers by Green Bay security. The Packers had heard from others that the Patriots were inclined to try to steal signs and were watching for it. No disciplinary action ever stemmed from the incident.
“From what I can remember, he had quite a fit when we took him out,” Packers President Bob Harlan said on Monday.
If the Patriots did this they deserve whatever penalty they get but you also have to realize they just played the Jets and kicked their ass all over the field. The two teams are heated rivals and have been for nearly 50 years. There is also more than a little bit of drama between the two franchises. Former Patriots coach Bill Parcells resigned to coach the Jets and took pretty much the entire staff with him after Super Bowl XXXI. Then a few years later Bill Belichick resigned after one day as Jets head coach to take the Patriots job. Last year the Jets hired defensive coordinator Eric Mangini from the Patriots to be their head coach despite attempts by New England to keep him from taking the job. The two teams frequently battle over free agents as well and one or the other will always call in a recent cut to try to get information on their rival for the next game.
So is this a case of the videographer turned spy or the Jets trying to stick one to the Patriots?
UPDATE Tuesday, September 11 6:30 p.m.
According to sources within the league, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has determined that the Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella did indeed tape Jets coaches on Sunday in the Meadowlands breaking NFL rules. Goodell is expected to rule on the sanctions the Patriots will receive after hearing from the team. The sanctions could be known by Friday. Reports are Goodell will strip the team of mulitple draft choices.
The Patriots are also under fire for apparently using too many radio frequencies during Sundays game as well. According to sources the team did not have a satisfactory explanation when asked about possible irregularities in its communication setup during the game.
Tidbits From the College Gridiron

Boston College football fans can now hope on a charter plane to some away games courtesy of Eagle Destinations. Eagle Destinations is the new brainchild of Red Sox owner John Henry’s Fenway Sports Group. A 200-seat Boeing 757 will be chartered to bring B.C. Eagles fans to games against Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Clemson. Packages for 2 games start about $2,700 and a 1-game package is around $1,100.
Michigan suffered another devastating loss on Saturday as Oregon beat them 39-7. And the news doesn’t get any better for them. Quarterback Chad Henne suffered a leg injury and will miss this Saturday’s game versus Notre Dame. Both squads are 0-2 and will be looking for their first wins of the season.
Another big matchup on Saturday between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers is affected by injuries as well. Florida will be without one of it’s top receivers, Andre Caldwell. He is expected to be out at least two weeks with a knee injury. Tennesse will be without the services of one of their top defensive backs, Antonio Gaines. He will miss the game with an undisclosed injury.
Former University of New Hampshire backup quarterback Hank Hendricks pleaded not guilty in the murder of Hawaiian surfer in San Diego. Hendricks was suspended from the team last week when he was charged with murder, assault and other charges. Hendricks played a allegedly played a role in the beating of the surfer.
Despite being penalized for doing their pregame Maori war dance aptly named a “Haka”, Hawai’i football coach June Jones said his team will continue to do it.
“We were 75 yards removed from the field, doing what we do — something that’s special to Hawaii and special to our fans,” he said. “It was just an unfortunate situation I thought.”
While some people may find it offensive, I don’t see the problem with it. It’s a respected tradition for the team and they shouldn’t be penalized for it.
Harwell Withdraws Tiger Stadium Plan

Retired Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell has dropped his plan to save Tiger Stadium in order to join forces with a different group who offers a more scaled back version of saving the historic stadium.
Harwell has joined the board of the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy whose plan calls for about 3,000 seats being saved with the playing field. This plan is considered a more modest preservation plan for the 95 year old stadium. The group was designated by the city as having the first shot at raising cash to save the field and some of the stadium for public use. The city is eager for some development on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull.
The announcement removes one obstacle in Mayor Kwame Fitzpatrick’s effort to begin demolishing the aging structure.
Destination Red Sox Nation – 9/11
Red Sox News & Notes – 9/11

The Red Sox ran into a lefty last night that had their number in the way of 10 strikeouts. Scott Kazmir and Curt Schilling got into a good ol’ fashioned pitcher’s duel and it was the D’Rays who got the better end of the deal. Don’t get me wrong, Schilling didn’t pitch bad and he looks ready for the stretch run here and the postseason. Big Papi got the night off to rest his achy knee, Manny was back in the dugout but still not ready to play, and J.D. Drew got the night off. Tim Wakefield will get the special knuckleball tonight for the Sox but before he does, let’s take a look at the headlines and happenings from the Boston and Tampa area on this rainy morning along the shores of Long Island Sound.
Outpitched, but some great news anyway. [38 Pitches]
All for naught [Boston Globe]
Kazmir Shuts Down Boston [Tampa Tribune]
Sox dislike feel of Kazmir [Boston Herald]
Maddon gives ace a chance to step up [St. Petersburg Times]
Sox Can’t Touch Kazmir [Hartford Courant]
Schilling shines but Sox foiled [Pro Jo]
Baldelli Expected To Join Team This Week [Tampa Tribune]
With knee aching, Ortiz is given a break [Boston Globe]
Navarro plays through pain [St. Petersburg Times]
No party for Jacoby [Boston Herald]
Henry says report on ’08 Japan series opener are premature [Pro Jo]
Swing music [Boston Herald]
Kazmir was helped by walk [Boston Globe]
MLB Rules. Sorry Joba. [Extra Bases]
For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune websites.
Tuesday’s Half Marathon Around The AL

Red Sox skipper Terry Francona gave David Ortiz the night off on Monday to rest his troublesome knee.
Despite a few injuries this season, Chone Figgins is having a career year for the Angels.
The A’s finally called up highly touted prospect Daric Barton.
The Blue Jays will go with a closer-by-committee the rest of the season.
Jorge Valendia got the call to join the Devil Rays for the last part of the season.
Jensen Lewis was a fan of the Indians when he was growing up.
Mariners pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith will be given a shot to be in the rotation in 2008.
The Orioles hope to end the season on a positive note.
Will the Rangers move Hank Blalock to first base?
Odalis Perez probably won’t pitch again this year for the Royals.
Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman won’t need elbow surgery.
Alexi Casilla has been soaking in Twins manager Ron Gardenhire’s advice.
The White Sox left Nick Masset in the minors.
Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez was named AL Player of the Week for his efforts last week.