2 Out of 3 Ain't Bad

(Boston Globe Staff Photos / Barry Chin, John Bohn )

White Sox Aren't Scaring Anyone Again
While Pedroia Strikes Fear into Everyone

Friday Night Box: Boston 8, Chicago 0
Nice-K Matsuzaka Turns in a Big Money Performance
Speedy Pedey: 2 Steals for Dusty, Plus a Perfect 4-for-4, Another Double
Bad News Dept. Beckett to 'Bama, Goes on the DL
Saturday Night Box: Boston 8, Chicago 2
Pedro Goes 4-for-4 Again and Adds More Hustle and D
Ellsbury, Kotsay Chip in with 3 Hits Each
Bowden's Just Another Young, Poised Pitcher Courtesy of Theo & Co.
Bang the Drums for the Bullpen Band and Their 4 Clean Innings
Sunday Box: Chicago 4, Boston 2
An Off Day for the Offense, Except for Ells
Wake Up Call: Thome Tags Tim Early
Even Pedey Can't Save the Day Game

"I never thought I would walk a jockey." -- 8.30.08 Ozzie Guillen on Boston's little big horse

Stadium Spoiler

(AP Photo)

Giambino Saves Yankees Season ... For Now

Thursday Night Box New York 3, Boston 2
Recap: Sweep Slips Away from Sox
Giambi's seventh-inning homer and ninth-inning RBI
Prevent Red Sox Sweep in Their Last Series at The Stadium
Holy Chokajima, Hideki Wasn't Hiding Anything with That Pitch
More Bad News: Beckett Scratched from Friday Start

Two Down

(Reuters Photo)

Pedey's Slam Adds Insult to Injury

Wednesday Night Box: Boston 11, New York 3
Recap: House party at Yankee Stadium
Red Sox improve to 6-2 on decisive road trip
Yankees, meanwhile, will be out of it by Labor Day
Shaughnessy: It's tempting to feel sorry for the Yankees

"That's the nail in the coffin." -- 08.27.08, Jonathan Papelbon, after Dustin Pedroia's seventh-inning grand slam

(BDD Photo Illustration / Jeff Howe)

(BDD Photo Illustration / Pete Hurren)

Thanks, Alex

(AP Photo)

Double Play-Rod* helps Sox take down Yankees

Box score: Red Sox 7, Yankees 3
Recap: A nice turn by Masterson, Red Sox
Young reliever forces Rodriguez into key double play
A-Rod's night: 2 DPs, 2 strikeouts, 1 error, and 55,058 boos
Red Sox now 6 games ahead of Yankees
With Drew on DL, Red Sox in talks for Braves OF Kotsay

"It was an awful night. For me, personally, it was a long night. I pretty much screwed it up any way you can screw it up." -- 08.26.08, Alex Rodriguez

* - Headline gem courtesy of New York Daily News

Pedal to the Metal

(BDD Photo Illustration)

Time to Leave the Yankees, and The Stadium, in the Dust

Globe: A 'Bye' Week in the Bronx
Top 10 Sox-Yankees Games at The Stadium
Extra Bases: The Latest from N.Y.

Crossing the Manny Line

8.25.08, Bob Eckstrom, BDD contributor: By most accounts, it’s been a good month in the Bronx. The Yankees got a mulligan from the New Boss, who says $207 million doesn’t buy enough depth to withstand injuries. That means Empire subjects get a reprieve from defending their underachieving heroes, even with the $16 million stopgap additions of Pudge Rodriguez and Xavier Nady. Shortly after, Yankee-killing Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo departed the New York airwaves, taking his Tampa Bay cap and decidedly anti-partisan sentiment with him.

That’s all well and good, but nothing stokes The Empire’s misplaced euphoria quite like Manny Ramirez’s trade. For nearly a month now, Yankee Fan has driven up and down the Cross-Bronx Expressway wearing a faded ‘2000 World Series Champs’ tee and that sinister smile reminiscent of the Grinch when Max’s snowy snout inspired him how to stop Whoville’s Christmas from coming.

There’s even a prognosis offered for Manny’s departure: Yankee addition by Red Sox subtraction.

And for good reason. Ramirez destroys the Yankees. As a Red Sox, he hit .341 with 38 homers and 105 RBI against New York in 137 games, including 14 in the postseason. His splits are even more eye-popping in the 58 games he played since the 2004 ALCS comeback - .409 with 20 HR, 57 RBI, and an OBP of .512. He hit safely in 43 of those 58 games, helping Boston to a 24-19 record. By contrast, the Sox were 3-12 when Manny went hitless.

So tonight, Jason Bay and the Red Sox open the swansong series between these rivals at Old Yankee Stadium and Manny will be hitless. The Empire is chomping for the first returns on its newfound fortune, some of that old Yankee Addition. But if past performance has any say, the wait could last until next winter’s thaw. Neither this week’s series nor the season finale in Boston will be affected by Manny’s absence, because he wouldn’t have played against New York so late in the regular season in the first place.

We’ve crossed the Manny Line, that vertical obstruction on the calendar beyond which the former Sox left fielder comes down with Blue Flu. In his Boston tenure, Manny missed only 20 Yankee games, seven from a broken finger incurred in his 2002 headfirst slide into home plate. Of his remaining 13 DNPs, 12 came after August 21 and were shrouded by ailments that still can’t be found on WebMD. In just the last two seasons, Manny missed nine of the ten Yankee games played after August 21.

Given the effort needed to get him on the field during two Yankees series last month, the Manny Line would seem to have settled in a bit early this year. Not even the absence of hard-throwing Joba Chamberlain was likely to stir him into duty this week.

Nor should Yankee Fan have quivered when he was penciled in. Since signing Ramirez for the 2001 season, the Sox have an aggregated 25-44 (.362) record against New York after July 1. Manny’s hitting clinics have done little to mitigate the Yankee hex. Boston is 20-37 (.351) over those games with him in the lineup and 5-7 without. They’ve been swept in six of those series – five with Manny, including 2006’s Boston Massacre II. Seems there really isn’t much market share left for Steinbrenner & Son to gain with Manny’s departure.

There was a day when the Yankees didn’t concern themselves with who was in your lineup. They just motored through the A.L. East, and Yankee Fan took pride in a devout self-absorption. Goings-on beyond the Bronx were of little consequence to him in his tidy world of pennants and rings. Now, he spends his days preoccupied with Red Sox implants, resuscitating old curses, and fretting over starting left fielders - not of his own team but of one 200 miles away that has never seemed closer.

Next year, despite a plethora of pinstriped left fielders, he’ll covet Manny as his own. It would be one more ex-Red Sox trophy for the mantle. And he may well be rewarded because, in his house where Yankee Pride and Best Interests of the Game are now checked at the door, Manny will be more than welcome. If so, we in Boston can offer a prognosis for his arrival.

Yankee subtraction by Yankee addition.

Electric Stuff Again?

(BDD Photo Illustration / Meir Weinberg)

On Buchholz Bobblehead Night,
Clay Shows Some Power and Control

Pow Wow Lowrie!

(Reuters)

In the 11th Hour, Jed's Jolt Lifts Sox

Sunday Afternoon Box: Boston 6, Toronto 5
Globe: Hunting for Postseason, Red Sox Land Big Game
Rare Power: Coco Goes Deep at the Dish
Did You See That Catch J-Bay Made, Manny?
Who-lio Lugo, Take Your Time, Don't Rush and Risk Injury!
Another Big Homer: Pedey Giving Youk a Run for Sox MVP
Jacoby, Tell Me How That Wall Taste? Sincerely, Shaq>
Tip of the Cap to Blood-and-Guts Ellsbury
Stop the Presses: Papi Breaks 0-for-11 Skid
'Tek Could Be Hitting Over .230 Soon
He Can Two It: Pap Win Saves Sox
Manny Being Jonathan
8-K Matsuzaka

"I hit the wall pretty good. It didn't feel good, I can tell you that." -- 8.24.08, Jacoby's not on the fence about his running catch

Lesterrible

(AP)

Sox Blown Away By Blue Jays

Saturday Box: Toronto Turns It Up to 11, Boston 4... Hits, No Runs
Globe: Lester, Sox Out of Whack
Litsch Locks Offense Down, Jays Pens Bolts It Shut
More or Les? Is Dr. Dependable Now Mr. Unreliable?
Sox Highlight: Alex Cora Double; Timlin's 1,050th Appearance
Lowlight: Mr. Smith's 2 1/3 Innings
Vernon Wells Being the Old Vernon Wells

"Today he just seemed a little flat, up in the zone." -- 8.23.08, Tito on the Lester letdown

Jayback Time

(AP)

Sox Get off the Schneid Up North, Byrd Doesn't Fly South

Friday Night Box: Boston 8, Toronto 4
Globe: Sox Get Back at Blue Jays
Little Pedey Comes Up Big Again; Captain Too
Bottoms Up: 'Tek, Cora, and Coco Get Offense Going
J.D. Disk Acts Up Again
PANIC TIME: BECKETT PUSHED BACK AGAIN

"I didn't pitch my greatest. It was six innings of survival. It was like Boy Scouts, just making do with what I had." -- 8.22.08, Paul Byrd gets his first win for Sox

Just Another Manny Friday

(AP )

It Takes a Thief

Manny Stole Your Money, Our Summer, Maybe the Fall, and Now the Two-Faced Tendinitis Trotter Is Swiping Bases in LA

” 'We started out a little flat but Manny seemed to pick us up with that stolen base,' Torre said. 'It just seemed like we were waiting for something to happen. We got a lift (on the stolen base) but we also got a giggle out of it.'

It was Ramirez's first stolen base with the Dodgers. He also had one earlier this season in 100 games with the Red Sox.

'Juan Pierre told me to run if I wanted to,' Ramirez said."-- 8.21.08, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

(Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)

The West Coast Spin: Red Sox Nation Was Too Big,
And Boston Was Way Too Small for the Man
to Sit on a Couch After Having Sushi at Ginza

LA Times - T.J. Simers: ”He likes to be comfortable, and says he never really was in Boston. "I couldn't breathe there; it's a small city and all on top of you. Here it's spread out. I love it. I went out for sushi, sat back on a couch and no one cared. It's like there's 20 pounds less on my back here."

And yet, here he is carrying the Dodgers, an air of excitement in the stadium again, and while the bitter folks in Boston might consider it fool's gold, who are they kidding?" -- 8.21.08, T.J. Simers... thinks you're bitter

It's the 4-Year Contract, Stupid:
T.J. Simers Thinks Manny's Just Full of... Surprises

LA Ram Shows California Kids the Money ...

LA Times - T.J. Simers: ”He says he will donate $1,000 to Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA for every homer, $300 for every RBI, $100 for every single and while the bitter folks in Boston say he never makes good on his charitable pledges, he has the Dodgers take the donations directly out of his pay -- the first check already hitting the hospital.

He says he'd rather not make the donations known publicly, agreeing to do so only when told it might encourage others to help the kids.

He's nothing like the bitter folks describe him in Boston, the e-mail continuing to pour in, "just wait," they say -- the Red Sox apparently no longer as interesting to watch, so Boston fans needing to do something with their time." -- 8.21.08, T.J. Simers... thinks you're bitter

But Back in Boston, After 7 1/2 Years and $160M,
the Kids Waited for Something That Never Came...
The MR24 Foundation Promises...

”Manny's official foundation is amid the process of being established. Nevertheless, he has already begun to participate in charity events and has made donations in Florida, and once his foundation is up and running he has pledged to start helping organizations in New York City, as well as in Boston." -- MannyRamirez.com

But It's All Good, Because The Dodger Dreadlock Wigs Are Here
And Even Colorado Rockies Players Are Buying Them ...

(Image via Deadspin - Get 'Em While They Last)

But Is Manny's Leaving All Boston's Fault?
Is The Red Sox Nation Monster Eating Its Own?

Grounded for Life?

(Reuters)

Buch Stopped in Baltimore, Headed for Portland
Will He Ever Make It Back to Boston?

Wednesday Night Box: Baltimore 11, Boston 6
Globe: Buchholz Pummeled Again, Then Demoted
Make It a Double-A: Another Confidence Builder for Buchholz
And It's a Crisp 202-Pitch Effort for the Staggering Sox Pitching Staff
10th Player Award: That's Just the Oriole Ballgirl Being a Sox Fan at Fenway
He's Not a Third-Inning Guy: David Gets Hit Haardsma
With Game Well Out Out of Reach, Oki Comes Through
The Cooler Strikes Again: Tito Sits Red Hot 'Tek
Note to Tito: Can't Trust Lopez Going Forward
Mora the Same as Melvin Owns Boston
Sure, Give Cora a Relief Shot, Why Not?
Lowrie Bumbles on the Basepaths
J-Bay Loves Baltimore
Photos: Scars of Clay

"People have tough games. I've had a tough season. Down there is where you develop. Up here it's a pennant race. ... If you ask if the decision was right, I'd say it was."
-- 8.20.08, Clay saying his goodbyes

Fenway Southern Hospitality

(Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

That's Just PinkHats Being PinkHats at Fenway South

The Escape Artist

(Reuters )

Dicey Matsuzaka Gets In and Out of Trouble Again,
But 15 Wins Is 15 Wins

Tuesday Night Box: Boston 7, Baltimore 2
Globe: Matsuzaka Walks Away with a Win
He's Not Toast in a Jam: Hitters 0-for-14 with Bases Full on Dice-K
The Bullpen Tax Man: Matsuzaka Tosses 105... But Only Gets Through 5
He's Swinging Single: 'Tek's Got the Old Stroke Back
The Youk, Now Hitting Like Old No. 24, Hits HR No. 24
Ells: He Hits, He Steals, He Scores... He's Acting Like a Leadoff Hitter
A Little Chill Pill for Pedroia? A Needless Dust Up with the Ump for Pedey
Give Masterson a Piece of That Win

"I think I'd like to reach 15 wins every year, if possible." -- 8.19.08, Matsuzaka possibly not realizing he's expected to win 20 for his money

A Call for Arms?

(AP)

Beckett's Start Pushed Back Due to Arm Problems
Theo Needs to Find Someone Else Who Can Pitch In

Bullpen Troubles Now Overshadowed By Banged-Up Rotation:
The New Beckett List: 1. Numbness. 2. Lingering. 3. Tingling. 4. Tommy John?
Beckett Won't Get Hammered Again by Toronto, but Will He Be Ready for New York?
Buchholz Has the Start of His Major League Life Tonight
Wakefield Remains a Disabled List Question Mark
Byrd Could Go South On His Next Pitch
Dice-K Gives You a Shaky 5 Every 5 Days
And Colon's Just Throwing Up in Pawtucket

"This is a big deal for the organization and for Beckett,” Dr. Robert Shalvoy of University Orthopedics in Providence said. “He won’t get better by missing a start.” Shalvoy, who has preformed ulnar collateral ligament surgeries, described Beckett’s issue as 'prime symptoms' for any pitcher who will eventually need Tommy John surgery to repair the damage." -- 8.20.08, Providence Journal

Dave Matthews Band Saxophonist LeRoi Moore Dies

Get Well Soon, Captain

(April 10, 2007 | Barry Chin / Globe Staff)

Yaz Undergoes Triple Bypass
Shaughnessy Archive: Fans Still Love Yaz
Photos: Yaz Through the Years

Way Back Bay

(Greg Fiume / Getty Images)

J-Bay Bangs Out Two, Even 'Tek Hits One
And Lester Keeps Getting It Done

Monday Night Box: Boston 6, Baltimore 3
Globe: Sox Feel Right at Home in Baltimore
Lester Stops the Bleeding, Steps In as Staff Ace Again
Manny Delwalkman Keeps Making Us Nervous
Breaking News: Varitek Finds Some Bat Speed from the Left Side
Jacoby Just Doesn't Jump Start the Offense

"I don't think my mind-set has changed any since April. More consistent, pound the zone. If you can show guys you're ahead in the zone, they're going to swing at pitches early in the count that aren't necessarily good pitches to hit. I was able to do that tonight." -- 8.18.08, Jon Lester

Red Sox Reality Check: Soul Survivor: Where Do We Stand?

The Beckett List

(Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

1. Stink. 2. Stank. 3. Stunk

Sunday Afternoon Slaughterbox: Toronto 15, Boston 4
Globe: Weak Arms Again Have Sox on Limb
So What's Really Eating Josh Beckett This Year?
Sox Getting Beat By Guys Named Lind and McDonald
The Boston Red Sox are 21-23 vs. the AL East
Wildcard Race Here We Come!
Stark: Paying Manny $100M a Dangerous Precedent for the Game

”Whew. That was a bad day." -- 8.17.08, Tito on Sunday bloody Sunday

On a Wing and
a Prayer

(Barry Chin / Boston Globe Staff)

Byrd Lends a Hand, Sox Can't Fly Past Halladay and the Jays

Saturday Night Box: Toronto 4, Boston 1
Halladay Puts Sox on Ice
Ellsbury Bottoms Out at the Top Again
Byrd: No Walks, No Strikeouts, and No Win at Fenway
Can We Get Texas Back in Town?

”Man, he should make a pitching video." -- 8.16.08, Dustin Pedroia (HR) on Halladay

Little Pedey, Big Papi, and a Texas-Sized Win

(Reuters)

Sox Bring It Home on the Rangers Again

Thursday Night Box: Boston a Perfect 10, Texas Blanked
Globe: In Second, Sox Take First Step to Victory
A Man Named Jed Won't Ever Sit on the Bench Again

”When he settles in, when there are runners on base he executes pitches. He gets comfortable, gets in his delivery and gets in the flow of the game and really pitches well." -- 8.14.08, Terry Francona on the enigma that is Daisuke Matsuzaka

WORST. HAIRCUT. EVER.

(FSN screen image courtesy of Al Belcuore)

LA Local Barber Butchers Manny's Dreads.
And L'Montro Loses a Client.

”One inch, half-an-inch. It's still long. If I come back next year, it will be shorter."
-- 8.14.08, Manny Being Tricky

(BDD Photo Illustration / www.mikebriggz.com)

More and Les

(John Bohn / Boston Globe Staff)

8 is More Than Enough; Jon Had His Good Stuff

Wednesday Night Box: Boston 8, Texas 4
Globe: Sox Hitters Again Find the Range Against Texas
Les is Best: The True No. 1 Starter Improves to 11-4
Mr. Cleanup: The Youk, The Youk, The Youk is On Fire
Jeddy Ballgame Bangs Out Another Double; Bay Drives in Two
Now Comes Timlin Time, a.k.a. Cryin' Time Again
The Single Life: Coco's Still Got His Speed

”He comes to play hard. He comes up with big hits. The energy he brings, you can't measure it." -- 8.13.08, Sox first baseman Sean Casey on third baseman Kevin Youkilis

Oh Captain, Bye Captain?

(BDD Photo Illustration / Meir Weinberg)

Time to Find a New Catcher in '09?
The Mind Numbing Numbers: .194 in August; 93 K's on the Year

'Youk.S.A!'
'Youk.S.A!'

(Boston Globe Staff Photo / John Bohn)

The Cheers Can Be Heard Halfway Around the World

Tuesday's Texas Mess Box: Boston 19, Texas 17
Globe: Sox Pull It Out as Things Run Amok at Fenway
It's a Good Old Fashioned Hitter's Duel at Fenway
After a Worst First, Youk Hammers Texas and Brings the Swagger
In the Big Inning: Papi Strikes Deep in the Heart of Texas
Fenway Security Wakes Up and Tosses Fans for Interfering with Balls in Play
He Hits at Home, Too: High 5 for Pedey, the Ideal No. 2 Hitter
Byrd is the Word for Texas, Too: Marlon Bangs Out 5 Hits Himself
Aardsma, Delcarmen in '08: Not Exactly a Winning Ticket
Bad News: Banged Up Lowell May Have to Sit
Coco Can't Catch a Break from Ump
Sorry Charlie: The Zinkerball Era Was Short Lived

"At some point, you're thinking about going for a field goal." -- 8.12.08, Tito on the Texas mess

(BDD / Mike Briggz Illustration, www.mikebriggz.com)

Now It Can Be Told: Booing Brings Out the Best in Youkilis

"I also felt the emotion of the boos today. So the roller coaster ride in Boston's always fun. Luckily, we got the cheers at the end." -- 8.12.08, Kevin the Hot Head is Back Youkilis, booed after two first inning strikeouts, is finally getting how it works in Boston

Touching All the Bases: Youuuuuuuuukkk!!!!
Peter Gammons: Some Q&A on the Sox, Manny, and More
Gordon Edes: Red Sox Take a Flyer on Byrd
Kevin Hench: A Motivated Manny's Coming Up Big

Sox Give Fans
The Byrd

(AP)

A Byrd in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush League

While Buchholz Struggles and Bartolo Is Slow to Recover,
Byrd Flies to Boston as Sox Will Wing It in the Rotation
Is Byrd Still Getting HGH from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center
via Prescriptions Signed by a Florida Dentist?
And Can Pop-less Papi Have Some?
SF Chronicle: Byrd Spent Thousands on HGH
ESPN: Paul Byrd's Struggle to Walk with God
Free Byrd Ready to Read

The Red Sox today acquired righthander Paul Byrd from Cleveland in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.

Manny Being Tardy

...And Torre's Not Exactly Happy with LA Ram's Hair

Newsday today: "We'll see," Manny said in the Dodgers' clubhouse before Monday night's game against the Phillies when asked if he was going to cut his hair. "We're talking about it."

"I'm not negotiating anything," Torre said, not laughing, when the conversation was recounted to him a few minutes later in the Dodgers' dugout. "He'll do it. He told me he'll do it. When he first got here, I asked him, 'How important is the hair to you?' And he asked me, 'Do you want me to cut it?' So I said, 'I want you to clean it up a little."'

And therein lies the rub." -- 8.12.08, Wallace Matthews, Newsday

It's a Start

(BDD / Chris Speakman Illustration / www.sportspropaganda.com)

That's the Beckett The Sox Traded Hanley Ramirez For

Monday Night Box: Boston 5, Chicago 1
Globe: Beckett the Ace Trumps White Sox' Danks
Did He Leave It in Cleveland? So When Is Coco Crisp Going to Become
The .300 Indians' Hitter Who Had Some Pop?
4-Year Deal Going Down the Drain: 'Tek Now Batting an EmBorassing .216
Clap, Clap, Clap: Dusty Gave It a Nice Run on the Road
He Probably Wants a Bonus: Papelbon Passes the 50 Inning Mark
Wrist Watch: Papi Takes a Seat
J-Bay, 2 K's; J.D. Comes Through

"He looks like he's primed to go ahead and be the guy that we need." -- 8.12.08, Terry Francona on Josh Beckett looking like Josh Beckett finally

Clay It Ain't So

(AP)

Sox Drop 2 Out of 3 in Chicago; Buchholz Banged Around Again

Sunday Afternoon Box: Chicago 6, Boston 5
Globe: New Bump for Buchholz
It Is What It Is: Clay Drops to 0-6 with an 8.19 ERA in Last 7 Starts
It's a Home Run Parade for ChiSox on South Side
Error, Error: Lowell Crushes Late Rally in 7th
'Get Masterson Back in the Rotation!'
More Bad News: Wake Out; Youk Scratched
Bright Side: Pedey Streak at 29

"Today was actually a confidence booster; I threw quality pitches and got hit. … But I feel like I’m getting better and better." -- 8.10.08, Clay Buchholz... umm, nevermind...

All Clear

(AP)

Papi Produces Without You-Know-Who
and Pays Homage to the Long-Haired Man

Saturday Night Box: Boston 6, Chicago 2
Globe: Ortiz's Double Gives the White Sox Plenty of Trouble
Papi Stands and Delivers: David Watches His Two-Bagger, But 3 Score
Lucky 13: Dice-K Knows How to Rack Up Wins
Lowell Bounces Back with 2 Hits
Jacoby Jacks One Out; Ready to Lead?

"Oh, yeah. Papi knows when the ball is gone. I guess Mother Nature doesn't want me to hit it out tonight." -- 8.09.08, David the Admirer, just like the old left fielder

Too Little, Too Late

(AP)

Pedey Steps Up and Socks One in the 8th,
But Buehrle Buried Sox for Seven

Friday Night Box: Chicago 5, Boston 3
Globe: Red Sox Find No Holes in White Sox
Lowrie Gets It Wrong on Pierzynski Play
Manny Being Manny: Delcarmen Hangs One Out to Fly for Mike 0-for Lowell's Free Ride in Boston Is About to Expire
Lester's Luck Runs Out

"There's no consistency. I'm searching for it. I'll go back at it tomorrow, see what we can do. Trust me, I want it a lot more than you." -- 8.8.08, Lowell, 15 straight at-bats without a hit and counting

LA Times Update: Manny Trade Is Being Reviewed, Matter Not Resolved
San Fran Joins the Movement:
'Manny Sucks' Chants Break Out in the Bleachers
Oh and Mr. Generosity is Getting the Hairs Cut Finally
Commish Tries to Put the Kibosh on Mannygate Follow-up;
After All, There's a Whole Lot of Dreadcaps to Sell
in the Cleveland of California
Does LA Ram Want to Join the Yankees?

MANNYGATE

(Selig: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Let the Investigation Begin

Was Major League Baseball Blindsided by a Scott Boras
Sting Operation to Get Manny's Options Dropped?

Globe Source: MLB Investigating Manny's Departure
Dan Shaughnessy: Manny Mania Takes Over LA
Is Independent Investigator and Sox Partner George Mitchell Available
to Write Up Another Report on This Shame to the Game?

Shaughnessy: "Feeling a little duped, Red Sox Nation? Still wondering if this whole thing was on the level?

"You are not alone. The commissioner's office is investigating the circumstances of Manny's final hours with the Red Sox. The Globe has learned (from a source with direct knowledge of the inquiry) that Bud Selig directed Major League Baseball executive vice president Rob Manfred to contact all parties for an explanation of how things unfolded around last week's trading deadline. According to the source, Manfred has yet to report back to the commissioner.

"Here's why Selig's office is looking into the matter:

"The Red Sox had an option to retain Ramírez in 2009 for $20 million. They had the same option for 2010. Ramírez, who will turn 37 next season, wanted to be a free agent at the end of this season. His agent wanted the same thing. Boras inherited Ramírez's old contract and stood to earn nothing until Manny signed a new one. It was in the interest of the player and the agent to have the options dropped.

"Manny's only leverage was withholding services and playing at half speed. So that's what he did. Sitting out games against Seattle and the Yankees, jogging down the first base line (and maybe even looking at those three strikes against Mariano Rivera), he sent the message that he wanted out. He made sure the Sox knew he could not be trusted to play hard if they kept him until the end of the season with the options intact." -- 8.8.08, Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe

Red Sox Nation In an Uproar Over Getting Ripped Off

"If this is a colusion job by Manny and Boras then, then Selig needs to ban Ramirez for life just like Pete Rose was. Boras should lose his license and be very heavily fined. The whole thing is sounds very fishy to me." -- 8.7.08, Bruce via Extra Bases comments

Ramirez Is Ripping Around the Bases in Blue

(AP)

The Former Tendinitis Trotter Suddenly Recovered and Found His Wheels

But He Was Loafing Up the Line in Boston

(Jim Davis / Boston Globe Staff)

"He'll do that a lot." -- 7.29.08, Tito on Manny's "effort" up the line

Edes: Boras's Post-Trade Call Back to Boston Was an
'Ah-Ha' Moment for Sox Brass, You Too Bud?
Cafardo: Manny Wanted to Go on the DL
Silverman: So Which Knee is Really Bothering Manny?
Schill Knew Manny Caused a Problem Once He Didn't Get a New Deal

"We had a conversation a little while back, talking about what he should do and how things are gonna go and there's just really not a reason from a business standpoint for the Red Sox to do anything right now. There really wouldn't... Why would they? Given your age and the contract situations. Why would they not just kind of wait and see how things played out. I think there was, maybe there's some feeling on his part that if he did what he did last winter and he came out and had a monster first couple of months that they'd sit down and say 'OK we want to keep you here the next four years, let's get something done,' and it felt like to me that the second he realized that that was not an option, this just went straight downhill." ...

“I think absolutely he’s absolutely had a hand in this … I think he absolutely has a piece of this. Scott Boras stands to make zero dollars if the Red Sox pick up Manny’s options the next two years. Manny’s not 1- years from retirement, he’s maybe four obviously, that’s where he’s at. So does Scott Boras want to get a two year-deal for Manny or a four-year deal for Manny?" -- 7.31.08, Curt Schilling on WEEI

LA Ram Shot His Way to Free Agency with a Phone Call to ESPNdesportes

"The Red Sox don't deserve a player like me. During my years here, I've seen how they [the Red Sox] have mistreated other great players when they didn't want them to try to turn the fans against them." -- 7.30.08, Manny Ramirez to ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas on the phone from Fenway Park

Bud Will See If Boras Was Pulling the Strings from Behind
the Scenes to Get Manny Shipped Out of Boston

Scott Certainly Wasn't Talking About How Much Manny
Wanted to Be in the Cleveland of California Before the Deadline

"... I think when you have great players and you have a team that's a great team, those decisions become all the more difficult mainly because the fact that you have two interests at hand, one being a player who has rights and a club who has a strong interest in being very successful in the postseason and during the season so, the fact of finding a fit and putting things together is more difficult in that situation." -- 7.30.08, Scott Boras playing it close to the vest... and keeping quiet about future commissions...

Don't Forget The Friday Night Fenway On-Strike-Sit-Out

"So, after the game, Ortiz left without a word from a clubhouse - and a front office - roiled by Ramírez's decision to cite a sore right knee as a reason not to play, just as he had done for the last game in Seattle Wednesday. One player privately called it a disgrace and said he would not be surprised if the team tried to trade Ramírez. The team captain, Jason Varitek, begged off from answering questions." -- 7.26.08, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

And the Self-Proclaimed Sore Knee in Seattle
That Took the Medical Staff by Surprise

First HeWasn't Going to Get on the Team Bus to Go to Seattle,
Then Ramirez Was An Unexpected Scratch Out West

"He showed up this morning, I wasn't ready for that,'' Francona said. "He said his right knee hurts.'' Francona then joked, "The (expletive) jaywalking, if you do it right, you won't hurt your knee.'' Ramirez told reporters his knee has been bothering him for about a week. "I've just been trying to play it out," he said, while jokingly singing for tips at his locker in the clubhouse, with his I-Pod docked to a speaker and a cup out seeking donations from teammates. "I decided it was time to give it a rest." Asked if he would be ready for the Yankees series, which begins Friday, Ramirez said, "I don't know. I'm day-to-day at this point." -- 7.23.08, Boston.com, Extra Bases

And Lobie Let Us Know Manny Got Caught Looking

"The thing that most people are forgetting and haven't talked about is the strikeout in Yankee Stadium," Lobel said. "The bat on the shoulder for the three pitches from Mariano Rivera. That was a big [expletive] to the Red Sox after the fine. I'm just telling you ... there are things in the front office that are perceived ... I'm saying that there is a strong feeling that that [three-pitch strikeout] was the message to the Red Sox and it's a strong feeling that that's unacceptable ... there's a feeling that he didn't give it his all, let's put it that way ... I'm just saying the front office has not forgotten that moment. It's akin to Nomar sitting on the bench [in a game in which Derek Jeter dove into the stands at Yankee Stadium in 2004]. It's the same thing. It's an at-bat that resonated very strongly in the front office."-- 7.18.08, Bob Lobel on WEEI

The Beginning of the End: Adding Insult to Fake Injuries,
Manny Stole a Page from Pedro's Exit Plan

“I want no more (expletive) where they tell you one thing and behind your back they do another thing. I think I’ve earned that respect, for a team to sit down with me and tell me this is what we want, this is what we want to do.” -- 7.16.08, Manny Ramirez to the Boston Herald

Jacoby-All and End-All

(AP)

Ellsbury Buries Royals; Wake Picks Up a W

Wednesday Night Box: Boston 8, kAAAnsas City 2
Globe: Sox Clout Royals
It's About Tim: Sox Finally Swing the Bats with Wakefield on the Mound
If We Had a Nickel for Every Perfect Knuckle Wake Threw, We'd Be Rich
Jed Pow-rie: The Kid Stays in the Picture When Yugo Returns
No Clicking, No Whining, Just a 1-for-5 for .252 Ortiz
Bay Watch: 2-for-5 Is Just J-Bay Being J-Bay
The Sun Comes Up, The Sun Goes Down, and Youk Gets Nailed Up High
Nice Catch for Owater Boy

"It was welcome support, that's for sure." -- 8.6.08, Wake gets what he deserves

Man on Fire

(AP)

LA Ram Hammers One Out Again

We're Paying His Salary, So We Have Stock in the Dividends
Oh Theo: Manny is Now 12-for-20 Since Being Shipped Out of Boston
Seems Like Old Times: D-Lowe Gets Hammered on the Road Again
Mr. Jones's Best Buddy: 'Every Day I'm Still Nervous'
Tito Never Said This... Torre: 'It Seems Like He's Elevated the Mood'
Tip of the Cap to Cards' Fans: Manny Gets Booed Again in St. Louis
Gehrig38 Has a Few More Parting Shots to Fire at Manny
Dan Duquette Takes Time Out from 'Busy Schedule' to Talk Manny

"Duquette recalled that Boston wanted to sign Ramirez to a seven-year contract but the agent and the player wanted eight years. 'We went to eight and were able to gain the two option years,' said Duquette. ...

"And so the Red Sox last week were willing to drop the option years to get Ramirez to waive his right to block a deal." -- 8.6.08, Fred Claire, former Dodger GM, MLB.com

You Gotta Bay-lieve!

(G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)

J-Bay Brings His Bat; Beckett Brings His A-Game

Tuesday Night Box: Boston 8, Kansas City 2
Globe: Sox Come Up Aces vs. Royals
The Beckett of Old Almost Goes 7, Whiffs 7, Improves to 10-8
J-Bay Got 4 Hits Last Night, Just 2 for LA Ram: Advantage Theo
Will He Leave Tris Speaker in the Dust? Pedro Hits in 26th Straight Road Game
In the Beginning, Ortiz Gets Sox Clicking, Offense Keeps on Ticking
The Track Star Gets Back on Track with 2 Hits, 2 Steals
Iron Mike Lowell Plays Through the Pain, Sincerely Manny Ramirez
Chris Smith Makes It Look Easy, Sincerely Jon Papelbon
Pied Papi Pops J-Bay

"He's a good hitter, bro. We needed that." -- 8.5.08, David Ortiz... coming to grips with the loss of Manny

Bay (Kansas) City Roller

(FSN screen image)

It's Another Rolling Rally for Boston

"The center fielder almost caught it, so we'll take what we can get," Bay said. "I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. That's one of the most interesting plays I think you'll ever see." -- 8.5.08, Jason Bay on the rolling double

Has Joe Torre Lost His Juice?

(AP)

LA Ram Is Apparently In No Rush to Get His Hair Cut
Get Used To Getting Kicked in the Teeth Joe
That's Just Manny Being Manny

More Manny Coverage Because You Know You Want It:
LA Ram is 10-for-16 Since Joining Dodgers, But He Gets Booed in St. Louis
L'Montro Has Not Been Given Green Light to Break Out the Scissors
LA Times: Is Manny Lighting a Fire Under Andruw Jones Now?
Long Beach Press Telegram: Manny's Injury Just Part of the Script
Edes: Just to Be Clear, 3 Sources Said Boras Called to Stop the Trade After Deadline
LA Times: Dodger Fans Spend Big on No. 99 Jerseys
Schilling Details Run-In with Manny First Reported in July 2005
Jon Heyman: How the Manny Trade to the Dodgers Went Down
Kevin Hench: Better Version of How the Sox-Dodgers-Pirates Call Went Down

"My understanding is he [Manny] didn't want the trade. He eventually wanted to stay in Boston. He's making a promise that he'd play hard, he'd do this and that, and that all sounds good, but the fact is we've been down this road before with him..."

"You can't take his word that 'yes I'm going to be great the rest of the year,' because we've seen in the past as a track record, even though it's a contract year, that something's going to flip him the wrong way and he's liable to say my knee hurts, my hamstring hurts, and all of a sudden he's on the DL for 15 days. That was probably the biggest thing they had to discuss in the front office before making this deal Can we trust him to be that way or is he going to be Manny of the past..."

"That's exactly what I heard [Edes report that Boras wanted to stop the trade]. I think when push came to shove I don't think Manny thought the Red Sox were going to trade him. Then when all of a sudden when a trade came down, Manny decided, who's kind of a creature of habit, 'I don't want to go anywhere, I'm gonna stay here and I'll be a good boy,' well it was too late by that point." -- 8.6.08, NESN analyst Jerry Remy on WEEI

Now It Can Be Told ...

(Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration / Meir Weinberg)

Boras Wasn't Behind Manny's Boorish Behavior After All
Ramirez Learned from the Best in the Business

Can't-sas City

(AP Photo)

Offense Isn't Clicking, but Papi's Wrist Is

Monday Night Box: Boston 4, Kansas City 3
Globe: Sox Burned in KC, Buchholz Continues to Struggle
Clay Can Wear As Many Pieces of Flair Around His Neck He Wants in Pawtucket
Not Leading Off: If Only Jacoby Could Get On Base Half as Much
as We Hear Him Pitching Flavored Water in Radio Spots
Wonder if Scott Boras is Pulling the Strings Behind Our Catcher's Critical K's Too?
J-Bay Keeps the Game Alive, but He's Not the Game Breaker You-Know-Who Was
Ron Mahay Gets His Revenge on Sox for Putting Him on Waivers Last Century
Lowrie Comes Back to Earth, Plays One Like Lugo
The Mighty Casey Just Flied Out

"My last at-bat, it kind of pulled back a little bit. You feel that click and you get a little concerned about it." -- 6.4.08, David Ortiz, Boston Herald

A Mann-imated Tribute

... And a Wrap of All Things Manny from the Weekend

Sox Get a Manny-cure

(Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

Plenty of Broom for Improvement as Pathetic Athletics Are
Just What the Doctor Ordered to Get Sox Back on Track

Sunday Afternoon Box: Boston 5, Oakland 2
Globe: Sox Feeling Neat After Sweep of A's
Daisuke Matsuzaka (12-2), the Six-Inning Win Machine
Jed Wowrie: Red-Hot Shortstop Drives a Triple to the Triangle
Bay Watch: He's No Ram, But J-Bay Has Two Hits, Two Runs, and a Fires His Gun
Manny Trade Makes Okajima, Delcarmen, and Paps Pitch Better Too
At the End of a Manny-Less Weekend, Bay and Sox 3 Games Behind Rays

"He's giving us a lot of production. In limited at-bats he's gotten some big hits, some timely hits, but he's played the game and blended in like our young guys do. Mixed in with some veterans, he's helping us win games." -- 8.3.08, Terry Francona of starting shortstop Jed Lowrie

Manny's Having a Monster Start Out West

(AP Photo)

LA Ram Rakes Against Snakes

LA Times: Manny Powers Dodgers to Another Win
T.J. Simers: Torre Should Dread Day Manny Cuts His Hair
Blue Notes: Manny Brings Energy, Enthusiasm to Deadbeat Dodgers
More Curtain Calls at Chavez Ravine as Manny Homers Again in 4-for-5 Effort
LA Ram Career with Dodgers: 8-for-13, 2 HR, 5 RBIs in 3 Games

"WOW!! I went to the game on Friday and Sunday, and unless you're there, it's hard to describe the engery in the ballbark with Manny there. Lots of fans stand up and give him a standing ovation before he comes to the plate, or runs off the field...pretty amazing! I think the fans (me included) are showing their appreciation for a guy who can deliver with runners on base.

"And you can just tell by reading the body language of the other players that they are also engergized and it looks like they are having fun too!!...maybe Manny is reminding these guys that baseball is a pretty simple game, you see the ball and hit the ball, so have fun playing ball!" -- 8.3.08, Adrian, Blue Notes comments

At the End of the Day ...

(BDD / Mike Briggs Illustration)

Good Old Fashioned A's Kickin'

(AP Photo)

Youk Bangs Two, Bay Bashes One, Oakland Comes Undone

Saturday Night Box: Boston 12, Oakland 2
Globe: Bay Helps Show the Way as Sox Crush A's
In Tonight's Performance Kevin Youkilis Will Be Playing the Role of Manny Ramirez
Should Kevin Be the New Captain of the Bay Era Red Sox?
Now That's a Bay Statement: 3-Run Homer Something to Watch
A Man Named Jed: 2-for-3, and 3 RBIs for Lowrie... Lugo Resting Not-So-Easy
Iron Mike Lowell Plays Through the Pain
Easy Night for the Ace: Lester Improves to 10-3
Committee Redux: Masterson in the 8th, Smith in the Ninth

"I don't think two games and two wins makes a career, but it's two wins and I'm happy to be a part of it." -- 8.2.08, J-Bay, so far, so good

Manny Goes Deep ...

(BDD Photo Illustration)

... And Offers Up Some Deep Thoughts to the Media:
Manny Wants to Finish His Career in LA, and Other Nonsense

"I've already made $160 million. I like it here. I'm looking for peace. I want to stay here. At the end of the season, if the Dodgers want me to end my career here, we'll sit down and talk." -- 8.2.08, Manny It's-Not-About-the-Money Ramirez

Boras Could Have Stopped Manny From Acting Out If the Sox Had Just Given In

(BDD / Jonathan Blazon Illustration)

Globe: Manny Lobbied to Stay After Trade

"If the Sox dropped the option years on his contract - which they had agreed to do if they traded him - Boras said Ramírez would not be a problem the rest of the season. ...

For the Sox, the source said, Ramírez's pledge of good behavior only served as a tacit admission that his disruptive conduct of the last couple of weeks had been calculated, and they had had good cause to suspect more was in the offing if they did not trade him. The Sox told him thanks but no thanks, what was done was done, and pack plenty of sunscreen." -- 8.2.08, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

Oh Bay-by!

(Boston Globe Staff Photo / Barry Chin)

What a Difference a Bay Makes
It's a Walkoff Win as J-Bay is Right at Home at Fenway

Friday Night Box: BaySox 2, Oakland 1, in 12
Bay Statement: New Guy a Big Hit in Sox Debut
Offense Still Anemic With or Without Manny
There's No Point Denying It, Fenway Feels Different Without Manny
Bay Area Defense: J-Bay Has Range and a Better Glove Than You-Know-Who
Long Stop at Short: Lowrie Comes Through and Drives in Two, One Is the Winner
Wake Starts Strong and Pen's Impressive Close and Late
Three K's for Youk and Three Hits, Too
Dustin Getting It Done Up Top
Timlin the Win

"Having met these guys eight hours ago, everybody's been extremely positive, You jump around with those guys, I felt like I'd been here all year. We were like little kids." -- 5.1.08, Jason Bay on being in Boston

It's Manny's Dodger Blue Debut

(AP Photo )

It's Like Seeing Your Ex Walking Down the Street with
Her New Boyfriend for the First Time

That's Just Manny Meeting Tommy
99 Luft Buffoon: Manny Winds Up with The Great One's Number
'Twas the Night After Manny, and All Through The Nation ...
WBZ-TV Video: No Love from Manny On His Way Out of Town
Lots of Manny Bashing: Media Roundup of Ramirez Trade Talk
Shaughnessy: Ramirez Still in La-La Land

"I got to cut it [hair], guys, I'm going to look like a baby now...They got some rules here. I don't want them to treat me different than the other guys." -- 8.1.08, LA Ram... who now wants to play by the rules and be one of the guys

It's a Manny Miracle ...Tendinitis Cured!

(Reuters Photo)

Bud Selig Should Look Into Manny's Sudden Recovery

Dodger Blues: It's a Ground Ball Double-Play with Game on the Line for No. 99
For Those Scoring at Home: J-Bay 1, Manny 0

Bay Pride
Weekend Begins

(Barry Chin / Boston Globe Staff Photo)

Manny's in Hollywood But We've Got a Honeymoon:
Theo, Tito Celebrate Bay Marriage in Massachusetts

Bay Banks on the Sox But Theo Sheds No Light on What Went Down with Manny
Like After 8 Years, It's Just That Easy to Forget About Him and Move On
Maybe We Should Call a Duquette Press Conference for Some Info on LA Ram
No. 44 Meets the Big, Bad, Boston Media

"There was an environment that was not conducive to winning around this club." -- 8.1.08, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein... not necessarily talking about Manny Ramirez... [cough]...

Meanwhile, Get Ready for This in LA Later ...

(BDD Photo Illustration / Xpurgation -- TheWeeklyDonut.com)

And Where's Our 'Thank You Boston' Full Page Ad Manny?

J-Bay Being Manny?

(BDD Photo Illustration / Mark Cuoto)

Things You Won't Be Seeing at Fenway Anytime Soon

Bay Watch: Spotlight on the Newcomer | Bay State: 30+ Things About the New LF

"I'm not trying to replace anybody, which I think is [how] a lot of people are going to look at it. I'm not trying to be Manny Ramírez. Let's be honest, he's one of the best players in the game. I'm not going to hit 50 homers. I like to say I do a handful of things that are going to stand out. I try to be solid. First and foremost, I'm just trying to be me." --Jason Bay, Boston Globe, 8.1.08

Sorry Kids, There's No Getting Around It ...

(BDD Photo Illustration / Tom Surette)

Danny Picard: Gone Manny Gone