Halos Sweep Away Wally and the Sox

HISTORY WAS MADE last Sunday when the Angels finally defeated the Red Sox for the first time in their playoff history after having previously lost all four series. So while I'm super late on this sketch, it's better late than never!

A Fenway Bash

John Smoltz Looking for a Ride

Luis Tiant: A True Baseball Legend

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF LUIS TIANT was when I was a youngster collecting baseball cards. I thought he was just one of those ballplayers with scraggily facial hair, overweight and an average pitcher. Oh, and he had that funny windup. I just didn't know enough about life at that age to have had a decent perspective.

After having watched The Lost Son of Havana the other day, I came away with as great a respect as one could have for a big-league pitcher. Tiant has aged quite a bit over the years, but the mustache remains, albeit much more white. I never realized how good a pitcher he was when he first started out in the big leagues. But even more impressive was the way he reinvented himself as a pitcher after suffering a career-threatening injury midway thru his career. The slow motion film of him slinging the ball sidearm and finishing the delivery with a punch is etched in my mind. The Lost Son of Havana is easily one of the best baseball documentaries I've ever seen.

Big Papi Squashes the Doubts

BIG PAPI SQUASHED A LOT OF DOUBTS YESTERDAY, when he came across convincingly to many as not only NOT having used steroids, but also as the victim of reckless media allegations. Furthermore, both the Players Union and the Boston Red Sox defended his case, if not to limit damage to the public perception of their own organizations. And I've got to admit, I tend to believe him with his open and honest approach with the media. The irony is incredible.

Daisuke Matsuzaka Dialing It Down?

DAISUKE'S RECENT FACE OFF with Red Sox management might be one of the pivotal baseball stories of the year, particularly how it potentially impacts future pitchers from Japan. With Matsuzaka's firm belief that MLB's dialed down approach to pitcher workouts on off days is the reason for the quick decline of Japanese pitchers in the league and the Red Sox firmly entrenched in the belief that such training is a recipe for injury, this debate extends beyond the realm of mere selfishness as a player. Conventional wisdom says that Matsuzaka ought to fall in line with his employer's decision at the risk of continued poor performance. But what if Matsuzaka is in fact right? Would MLB be doing a disservice to Japanese pitchers?

Matsuzaka's argument holds some weight if you examine the records of Hideo Nomo (whose ERA inflated also in his third MLB season) and Shingo Takatsu (whose ERA doubled in his second season).

Rock, Paper, Beckett!

SATURDAY'S MATCHUP AT FENWAY PARK featured Boston's 2004 world champion ace Derek Lowe against the 2007 world champion ace Josh Beckett that lived up to its billing. Beckett delivered an efficient 3-0 shutout of the hapless Braves, while Lowe received a standing ovation after departing the game having pitched a quality start.

Big Papi's Prescription: Play the Bronx Bombers

WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, you just sit back in wonder, that is, Big Papi emerging from his season-long slump by hitting a 2-run bomb against the Bronx Bombers. In six games against New York this year, Big Papi is slugging a hefty .609 with 7 RBI. Apparently the best prescription anyone could have given him is a spot in the lineup against the Yankees. Or was it really the eyedrops?

Hey, Who Turned Off Big Papi?

IT WAS AN UGLY DAY AT THE PLATE for Big Papi, an 0 for 7 with 12 men left on base. The Red Sox lost 5-4 in extra innings to the Angels on thursday, and somebody must have turned off Big Papi just prior to the game, or, actually since the season began. Is David Ortiz washed up at the young age of 33? Not yet washed up, but his best days are behind him.

Dom DiMaggio: 1917-2009

Carl Crawford Steals the Pants off Varitek

SO IMPRESSIVE, YET NOT AT ALL SURPRISING that speedster Carl Crawford ripped off six bags in a single game yesterday, tying a record that had only been reached four other times in major league history—and he didn't even know of it until being interviewed after the game. The Rays actually stole a total of eight bags off of Red Sox captain Jason Varitek with nobody getting caught. Man, what a rough day behind the plate for Varitek who isn't the best at throwing out runners. In one day, Varitek's percentage of throwing out runners dropped from 28% to 21%. In other words, he had the pants stolen off him!

Jacoby Ellsbury's Bullseye

SO AFTER GETTING SHIN'S COMMENTS about the Ellsbury steal, I thought, what the heck. I mean, it was a clean steal, not a back end of a double steal. It pumped up Fenway and ultimately led to more scoring and a win. It came off pick-off artist extraordinaire Andy Petitte. Plus, Ellsbury is extremely talented and worth watching. In fact, you can bet on all opposing catchers having him as a marked man for the rest of the season. I probably won't be doing a sketch everytime someone steals home, just that this one was a pretty good one all things considered. Shin, this one's for you and thanks for being a faithful reader.

Mike Lowell's Six New York Cut Steaks

IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE whether the legend of Mike Lowell began as a result of what he brought to the plate in Boston or what the media did to create that image. Either way, playing hard, playing hurt, playing great defense and slugging well at Fenway is what wins over the fans of Beantown, or anywhere for that matter. And then this past saturday in a power-packed 16-11 win over the New York Yankees, Lowell gets six steaks, a 3-run bomb over the Green Monster as well as a 3-run double. Speaking of legends, ESPN reported it to be the most RBIs against the Yanks by a BoSox player since Carlton Fisk in '73.

Curt Schilling Was Money

RATHER THAN WAIT 'TIL MIDSEASON to entertain an offer, Curt Schilling chose to hang 'em up yesterday after a 20-year career. Schilling will always be remembered first and foremost as a big game pitcher ala John Smoltz, Jack Morris, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, etc. He was pretty much money during the postseason, winning some harrowing, high-stakes AL Championship and World Series games with the Red Sox and Diamondbacks. From the notorious bloody sock game against the Yankees in '04 to Game 7 of the '01 World Series, Schilling was nails. MLB was lucky to have him.

Papelbon Doing the Manny Polka

A LOT OF REPORTERS CRITICIZED Jonathan Papelbon for calling out Manny this late for his final acts in Boston last year, but failed to note that his interview in Esquire's April issue happened last December shortly after the season ended when feelings are still somewhat fresh, not this Spring. And after reading his comments, I thought Papelbon really didn't say much that wasn't already noted about the situation. In other words, it wasn't really news at all, just another one of Pap's loud polkas.