Stopping to smell the hibiscus

There are only so many ways I can say Brad Lidge blew another one, so I'm going to write about a happier topic.

Six years ago on a belated honeymoon to Hawaii, we bought a little souvenir - a hibiscus root in a little baggie. We planted it in an inside pot and it grew ... and grew ... and grew.

But it never bloomed.

When we moved across town four years ago, we had to drive it in my pickup during heavy rain and wind. Its leaves remained tattered for quite a while, but it kept growing taller. So much that despite our 11-foot arched ceiling, we had to lop off some of it.

But it never bloomed.

This spring, it started listing really bad. We decided it was time to plant it outside. If it lived, great. If not, there was only so much we could do to save our plant we affectionately call Hawaii, even though we were never convinced it was not just a glorified weed from paradise.

Last month, after a storm, it toppled over. The wooden stick that kept it upright had rotted away. We decided to cut it down in size and give it one more chance.

Today, after an evening walk around the neighborhood, we took a close look at Hawaii and noticed ... a bud. Several of them, in fact.

Like the Red Sox winning in 2004, faith has been rewarded. (Christine wondered how I would tie this to baseball.) And, perhaps, at the end of the year, Charlie Manuel's patience in Brad Lidge will yield a bloom.

If not, Lidge still gets a pass because of last season.

Oh, and two more baseball references to Hawaii. The first, obviously, is the Hawaiian connection with Shane Victorino. The other is a little more Rorschach. I think the stigma of the flower (the thing that stick out of the middle) remind me of the Phanatic's tongue and nozzle.

I know, I need help.

Tonight's games: Sorely missed Tim Wakefield returned from the DL, making his first start since July 8. On that date, the Red Sox were 18 games above .500 and had a one game lead over the Yankees for the division and a 4.5 game lead over the Angels for any playoff slot.

Since then, the Red Sox have gone 21-20 and now trail the Yankees by 6 games.

Tonight, Wake has been strong: one run on three hits and a walk through five. The Red Sox haven't done much against former Phil Gavin Floyd and are tied with the White Sox 1-1 in the 6th.

Cole Hamels might be returning from ... mediocrity. He hasn't allowed a run in his first five innings. The Phillies lead the Pirates 1-0 in the 6th.