Out of hibernation

Wow, I can't believe I've gone nearly a month without posting, but time flies with Trent, especially when all of us have been fighting an assortment of ailments, including routine colds, sinus/ear infections and other not-so-pleasant bugs. Not to mention a weekly blizzard that rolls through the area.

We're finally getting back to normal, preparing to celebrate Christine's birthday, as well as the first for one of Trent's little buddies.

Christine is getting ready for pitchers and catchers. I guess I am too; not so much for the baseball, but because it means this wretched snow and ice may end.

I did have my baseball juices flowing the other day when I saw MLB Network's countdown of the greatest games. It should have been ranked higher, but I enjoyed reliving Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. I'm not a big Kevin Millar fan, especially as a studio analyst, but I liked listening to his perspective on the game that changed Red Sox history forever.

Trent needs new PJs

The baseball jammies didn't work. Yesterday's game couldn't have ended any worse - a walkoff win off of Roy Oswalt, who is scheduled to pitch Game 6* on Saturday.

Trent is back to his elephant PJs tonight as the Phillies attempt to join the 1986, 2004 and 2007 Red Sox on the short list of teams that came back from a 1-3 deficit in an LCS. (I have to remind readers that the 2004 Red Sox came back from an 0-3 deficit against the Yankees.)

Being keenly aware of two of those comebacks (and nearly another one in 2008), I feel comfortable with the Phillies' chances. Roy Halladay came to the Phillies for a situation exactly like tonight's game (he's leading 3-2 in the 6th), and then the series will swing back to Philly. I'm a bit concerned about Oswalt in Game 6 because he threw a side session before pitching in relief last night. But if the Phillies can survive that, there's no way Cole Hamels, and the vocal Phillies fans, will allow the Giants to win on Sunday.*

*if necessary

2004 - Trent hardly knew ye

I made a difficult decision today. My officially licensed 2004 World Championship T-shirt, like many others from my past, is too large to wear anymore.

I wore it today, but decided it should now go in the Goodwill donation pile.

I told Trent about my decision and used the opportunity to tell him the story of the 2004 Red Sox and how you can never give up hope.

Actually, he knows the story. Someone had given me a copy of Dan Shaughnessy's The Legend of the Curse of the Bambino years ago and it's a mainstay of Trent's library. I enjoy it too, even if I don't like the way Shaughnessy has marketed the curse.

Anyway, Trent will be well-versed in Red Sox history. Tomorrow, he'll meet the guy who kept my spirits up when the Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the 2004 ALCS, which is when I promised myself I would never give up hope.

You can never give up hope (1): After years of trying, the Red Sox finally acquired catcher Jarrod Saltamalacchia. He's had trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher, but you can't give up on him fixing this problem.

You can never give up hope (2): The Red Sox trailed the Tigers 4-2 in the 9th, but after the Tigers intentionally walked Kevin Youkilis to load the bases, David Ortiz hit a double to win the game 5-4, as if it were 2004 all over again.

You can never give up hope (3): The Phillies kept chipping away and finally took the lead in the 9th against the Nationals. But then Brad Lidge came in. Nats 7, Phils 5.

There are some times, such as any time Lidge steps on the mound, when you should at least temper your hope.

Snow day

I'm glad that Roy Halladay isn't loafing now that he has made it onto a contending team, but do we really need to hear what a hard worker he is when most of his fan base will spend hours today digging out from yet another horrendous snowstorm?

The Boston Herald also profiled the local team's ace - not John Lackey, not Josh Beckett, but Jon Lester, who was proclaimed by the Globe's Peter Abraham as the second-most important guy in the Red Sox organization. Hard to quibble with that, although I might have put Kevin Youkilis (No. 3) a little lower and Theo Epstein (No. 5) a little higher.

This morning, Christine and I cleared out the snow and slush that fell over night and are now watching the snow quickly re-cover all the exposed pavement. It's falling so quickly, you might think that hell is freezing over. It might be freezing over because Bill Conlin had a column that could be construed as agreeing with the prospects point I made yesterday. I think it had a similar message - but I'm not entirely sure of his point even after attempting to read it five times.

Finally, the Herald's Michael Silverman reminds us that it's been two seasons since the Red Sox won the World Series - the same gap between the last two World Championships. That means they're due. Speaking of the great 2004, MLB Network's Baseball's Seasons 2004 debuts tonight. Hopefully, I'm done with the snow by then, but probably not.

Some more deja vu

When the Red Sox trailed the 2004 ALCS 0-3, there was a feeling that the Yankees should finish off the sweep because once the Red Sox started winning, they would not stop.

Anybody getting a similar vibe from the Phillies after they held on to an 8-6 win last night to stave off elimination and send the series back to New York?

Yesterday, I heard Jayson Stark comparing these Phillies to the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox, which are two of 11 teams, according to David Murphy, to overcome 3-1 deficits in the playoffs.

J-Roll used an interesting analogy in this separate piece by Stark:

Maybe 24 hours from now, in a stadium up the Turnpike, the Yankees will find a way to kill this team off. But if we learned anything from Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, it won't be easy. Just ask the leadoff man.

"How hard is it to kill this team? Hopefully it's like trying to run over an armadillo," said Jimmy Rollins, after his team had lived to play another ballgame. "Just roll up and put our shells on. And after the car goes over us, we unfold and walk away."

Yesterday, everything seemed so bleak for those of us rooting for the Phillies, against the Yankees or both. I didn't concede, but struggled to remain positive even though the Red Sox have mounted similar comebacks from 1-3 holes three times in the last six postseasons, hence the feeling that I've been here before.

In 2004, I conceded after the Game 3 drubbing, but my friend talked me off the ledge by pointing out the pitching was lined up (Derek Lowe, Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling) to force a Game 7, which is basically a coin toss.

I was more confident in 2007, especially because we had a dominant Josh Beckett going in Game 5 and then home field advantage for Games 6 and 7.

Last year, I was nervous until we won Game 6. I thought there was no way the Red Sox would come back and force a Game 7 just to lose it - especially given their recent comebacks, Jon Lester was starting, and the Phillies were waiting for their blogmates in the World Series.

I was wrong.

Despite last year's example, I'm using similar logic for the Phillies. If Pedro Martinez can work his magic and the Phillies bats remember they're an elite offense against an old roider on short rest, there's no reason this series doesn't go seven games. If there is a Game 7, it will be all hands on deck and basically even odds whether good or evil prevails. But in this scenario, evil has a track record of choking, so there may be some intangible advantage for the champs.

Unless Cole Hamels really has quit.

Speaking of quitting: There's no quit-orino in Shane Victorino. He says he's playing tomorrow. I don't doubt it, especially given his reaction to being removed in the 8th inning last night - a truly funny moment. Great line about Shane by Mitch Williams today: "He won't build you a rocket, but he'll be the first one on it. He just wants to play."

Phinally: Johnny Damon is a jackass. I heard him say that this World Series is the highlight of his career. Good, value blowing a 3-1 lead more than being part of one of the most notable championships ever. I only mention to contrast what a class act Pedro Martinez is. He's a true SoxandPhil ... and 'Spo:

On whether it would surprise him to know Red Sox fans are pulling for him to beat the Yankees: "No, it wouldn't. It wouldn't surprise me at all. I know that they don't like the Yankees to win, not even in Nintendo games. And knowing that I am part of Boston, I consider myself a Bostonian, as well, too, I've been a Montrealer, a Bostonian, and now a New Yorker, and somehow, I might become a Philadelphian now. But I've only been there for a short period. It's something that's a work in progress. I'm pretty sure that every Boston fan out there can feel proud that I'm going to try to beat the Yankees, and I'm going to give just the same effort I always did for them. They're special fans, and they will always have my respect."

Thank you Pedro. Give 'em hell tomorrow.

[Photo credit: wlarmadillo.com]

Will Jimmy be right?

Although it's not exactly Troy Tulowitzki predicting the Rockies would return to Fenway for the World Series in 2007, Jimmy Rollins called a PhilsandYanks World Series in an offseason interview with Playboy.

The night after J-Roll and the Phils clinched their World Series berth, the Angels will try to thwart his prediction. Although the shortstop has backed up many of his predictions, he has been wrong before. He predicted he would hit .400 for an entire month this year - the closest he came was .313 in July.

OK, enough silliness.

We're still trying to put last night's win in perspective. For me, 2004 was great. It was a liberating moment that made my decision to be a Red Sox fan worthwhile. The 2007 championship, wasn't as fun, but it validated 2004, making it clear that the Red Sox were now a premier team - a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

I think that's what's going on right now with the Phillies and why Christine, even though she was expecting a win, dropped her jaw for a few moments after the game ended. The team of her youth, which never made the playoffs except for the fluke of 1993, has become an elite team. Four more wins and there will be no argument that the Phillies are the class of baseball. After growing up rooting for a crappy team, that's pretty heady stuff.

Jayson Stark has a good piece on the Phillies rise from the team of 10,000 losses to consecutive National League pennants:

Just 12 months after winning one World Series, they are heading for another World Series. No Phillies team before them had ever done that. Not a one.

Not the Phillies of Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts. Not the Phillies of Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton. Not the Phillies of Curt Schilling and Lenny Dykstra. And, it goes without saying, sure as heck not the Phillies of Jerry Spradlin or Juan Bell.

This team has separated itself from all of them now. It guaranteed that much with a 10-4 thumping of the Dodgers on Wednesday that finished off the National League Championship Series in five games.

And while this team hasn't finished the mission, hasn't defended yet or repeated yet or ridden the parade floats yet, these Phillies have already accomplished something almost as important:

The metamorphosis of an entire franchise.

{I'll believe there's a metamorphosis when we get a decent game time for next year's NLDS. And I don't think 2008 and 2009 are comparable. 2008 was different just because there was so much riding on it. 2009 was not less fun in any way, just different because everyone now expects this team to win.}

Red Sox news: Tim Wakefield spoke after his surgery and said he wants to win 25 more games to give him at least 200 in his career:

"Past that, I really can't tell you," Wakefield said. "I'm not planning on getting to that point and retiring, if that's the question you're asking. I still feel like I can contribute. I still feel like I can compete at the highest level, and I'm going to continue to play as long as my body allows me and as long as the Red Sox want me around.

"I do have those goals in mind, and it's something that that's not the only reason why I'm playing. I'm playing because I feel like I can still contribute to us winning a championship."

Wakefield vs. Jamie Moyer in Game 4 of the 2010 World Series?

A cookie for J-Roll

Entering the 9th inning last night, the Phillies trailed the Dodgers 4-3 and Christine was getting cranky at the prospect that the Phillies might actually be tested in a playoff series.

She kept flashing her fingers, trying to illustrate to me the difference between being up 3-1 and tied at 2 in a seven-game set. As if I didn't live through the Red Sox coming back from 0-3 against the Yankees in 2004.

After Raul Ibanez grounded out, the announcers said pinch-hitter Matt Stairs had one thing on his mind.

"Cheese," I said. "A big wheel of cheddar."

After he walked, and Carlos Ruiz got hit by a pitch, Christine and I started "bribing" Phillies with treats if they'd come through.

We tempted pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs with a cheesecake - we once read a gossip item about him being spotted at our local Cheesecake Factory. But he lined out.

When Jimmy Rollins stepped up, Christine offered a chocolate chip cookie. With nuts. For no particular reason.

"I just think J-Roll would like chocolate chip cookies," she said.

We all know he earned his treat with a game-winning double, putting the Phillies in position to clinch their second straight National League Championship tomorrow night. (If Cole Hamels comes through, there is a cupcake in it for him.)

Phil Sheridan also invoked snack treats when describing the improbable comeback:

The Phillies were down to their last out, their last two strikes, last night. Broxton, who looks like Paul Bunyan's great-grandson, only meaner, was throwing 100-mile-an-hour heat. Rollins, who is about the size of a midnight snack for Broxton, wagged his bat as if daring the big guy to bring it on.

Well, we bought a chocolate chip cookie tonight for J-Roll, but Christine decided it would probably cause awkwardness, if not involve police, if we showed up at the shortstop's house bearing a solitary cookie, so she ate it in his honor. Tasty.

I had a slice of cheesecake - symbolizing the piece Dobbs didn't get because he didn't deliver.

Look back at 2008: Nothing much happened on this date, so we'll look back to 2004 because today is the fifth anniversary of us toppling the Empire:

Red Sox fans will forever remember it as their day of redemption, the victory that made the deep, personal investment of time and emotion through so many
seasons worthwhile at last.

Pedro Martinez doesn't know whether the 2009 Phillies or 2004 Red Sox are the better team:

This team maybe has a little bit of an edge on that team because there's more talent, probably, overall. When you combine everything that we have — the pitching, the relieving, all that — it seems to be more of a package. But I don't know. This team is a little bit quieter than in '04. In '04, we were a whole bunch of characters that were really loud. There was a lot of noise in that clubhouse.

[Photo credits: cookie - upontop.org, cheesecake - davidscookies.com]

SoxandPhils stories

I did a double take this morning when I saw this picture. It is a fairly unremarkable picture from a dominant 11-0 win that gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead over the Dodgers in the NLCS.

What made me pause is that it was not from a Philadelphia Web site. It was from the Boston Globe's lead baseball story. I like the Phillies, but kind of depressing that they're getting top billing in Boston.

It wasn't the only story in the news with SoxandPhils connections.

The Jayson Werth castoff to All-Star story is well-known. The Los Angeles Times has a story that illustrates how far he had to come, or just how stupid former Red Sox and Dodger manager Grady Little was:

Grady Little understood the question.

He just didn't recognize the name.

"Who?" asked Little, then the Dodgers manager, in August 2006 after a reporter inquired about the status of Jayson Werth.

It was a clear indication of how the outfielder -- sidelined for the entire season by a nagging wrist injury -- figured into the Dodgers' long-term plans.

That is to say, he didn't.

Ah, it's been fun this week remembering the Grady Little era. No, it hasn't.

Speaking of Grady Gump, his moment of infamy (yes, I'm still bitter) was replayed on MLB Network this week. Joe Torre kept it on in the Dodgers clubhouse, but ball-stealing Doug Mientkiewicz represented the next day when the network aired the 2004 ALCS:

"Turnabout is fair play," Torre said with a laugh. Torre was asked if he watched replays of games he managed in previous years. "I do when I know the result is good," he said. "Do you think I'm crazy?"

I won't answer that.

Uh-oh: Forget the Steve Sax stuff - Mitch Williams says Chase Utley is injured.

Today's games: And never mind the Empire rising stuff. Angels aren't done yet, winning 5-4 in 11 innings.

Ryan Howard belted a two-run homer in the 1st right after TBS noted that Randy Wolf gave up only one home run to a lefty all year. Joe Blanton started out well, but the Dodgers rallied. The Phillies are trying to mount a comeback, but still trail 4-3 in the 7th.

I could have sworn in the 6th inning I saw someone in the crowd wearing a "Henderson 31" jersey. Ramon Henderson, really?

Look back at 2008: We're skipping this feature tonight on account that I posted what should have been today's recap yesterday. Oops. And, as Christine noted, I missed out on posting the Red Sox win to force Game 7. Oh well.

[Photo Credit: Associated Press]

LCS, past and present

The Yankees are breezing through the playoffs - but they haven't yet faced the Phillies - and have reminded me of the awful times before 2001 when the Evil Empire would win store-bought title after store-bought title.

I thought those days were long gone after Curt Schilling and Luis Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Curt again dealt them stunning defeats - not to mention the little blows by the Angels in 2002 and 2005, Tigers in 2006, Indians (with a pre-sellout CC Sabathia) in 2007, and Rays and Red Sox in 2008.

I thought the Yankees were dead and buried, but they seem to be rising up like Michael Myers - the vengeful sociopath, not the lefty pitcher.

After seeing the Yankees sweep the Twins and then take the first two games against the Angels, I fear the Yankees have rediscovered their championship-buying ability. Hopefully, Alex Rodriguez remembers he's a choker; Derek Jeter remembers he's overrated; and Mark Teixeira remembers that he was too wussy to play in Boston.

Hopefully, the Angels come back and the Phillies take care of business so I don't have to root for Joe Torre. I feel dirty just thinking about it.

All of this reminds me that today is the fifth anniversary of Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS. They showed it on MLB Network today, and it was fun watching David Ortiz end the game in the 14th to send the series back to New York and set up the bloody sock game.

I don't think I have to tell you know how that ended up, but Ellis Burks will in his as-told to Nick Cafardo account of the thrilling 2004 ALCS, appropriately titled "Not this time." I know I'm a Red Sox mark, but this had some great insight, including how the grizzled veteran motivated several players when hope was all but gone and how he jawed back at the stupid New York fans who thought it was their birthright to win the series.

Look back at 2008: The Red Sox were three runs away from a SoxandPhils World Series, but Big Papi and his mates couldn't reprise their 2004 mojo. I also made my first incorrect prediction of a 2009 SoxandPhils series.

Live for the moment: All right, Christine is reminding me that I'm wasting way too much time in cyberspace remembering the past when there is a game going on. So far, so good. The Phillies lead 8-0 in the 7th. Cliff Lee has given up three hits with six strikeouts. Ryan Howard helped his case for LCS MVP with three more RBIs. But no matter what he does, Christine prefers Carlos Ruiz, who is hitting .625 in the LCS.

The day after

I may be the more rational fan (except for my hatred of the Yankees), but Christine is the better baseball fan.

Case in point: Finishing dinner tonight, less than 24 hours after her team finished an exhilarating comeback win to finish off a playoff series, she looked sad and said, "I know they can't start the series tonight, but couldn't they play an exhibition or something?"

I told her to pop in a DVD of the 2008 NLCS to get her psyched up for Dodgers-Phillies II. The grudge match. Hell in a cell. This time it's personal. I'll let you pick your own tagline for the series.

Meanwhile, here's a list of some of the annoying story lines that will be shoved down our throats:

1) Joe Torre is hoping to return to the World Series against his former team.

2) Possible showdown between teams inspired by the memories of Harry Kalas and Nick Adenhart.

3) Possible all Los Angeles series, or all I-95 series should the Phillies face the Empire.

4) Jim Thome, once the man in Philly, is now a pinch hitter for the Dodgers. Other former Phils in the series include Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla.

5) Dodgers castoffs Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth and Pedro Martinez phlourish for the Phils.

6) Former Charlie Manuel pupil Manny Ramirez will try again to beat him in the NLCS.

*One story line Christine won't get tired of is: Mets fans' heads explode as World Series could feature their two favorite teams.

More agita for Mets fans: There's been some talk about a Phillies dynasty. This tidbit from Jayson Stark suggests they may already be one:

Of all the National League teams that have won a World Series over the past century-plus, these Phillies are only the fifth, believe it or not, to come back and win a postseason series the following year.

They're the first since the 1995-96 Braves. Before them came the 1975-76 Reds. And before those two, you have to travel back to the baseball stone age -- to the 1921-22 Giants and the 1907-08 Cubs.

And that's all, friends. So when people talk about how hard it is to repeat, you can stop them right there. Repeat? It's hard enough to win one stinking series the next time around.

Red Sox: They won the World Series today as Josh Beckett dominated the Diamondbacks in Game 5. Yep, for me, all I've got left is Baseball Mogul. I did a better job today than Theo Epstein, who is faced with another challenging off-season. It may include saying goodbye to some of the soldiers of 2004. There are only four of them left, and there's speculation that any or all of Tim Wakefield, David Ortiz and Jason Varitek could be gone next year, leaving only Kevin Youkilis.

Reading this, I had a strange feeling that Youk may be gone too. Theo loves him, but I could see some bold trade centered around the Greek God of Walks. I dunno, just have a strange feeling.

Shattered

I got an e-mail today with the subject: "I knew the Red Sox were too good to be true."

Once I opened it, instantly the best baseball year of my life was ruined. What I long suspected, but hoped would not be true, was confirmed: The 2004 Boston Red Sox were tainted by drugs. David Ortiz, like his cohort Manny Ramirez, tested positive in 2003. I'm a hypocrite, and the Red Sox first championship in 86 years is no more pure than any that the Yankees have won.

Fun day.

I didn't even care when I heard Papi hit a big home run to win today's game, 8-5 over the A's. The myth of Big Papi has been shattered. Ortiz, who had previously advocated a full-year suspension for roiders, claimed ignorance until after the game:

He said he was "blindsided" when a Times reporter asked him about the allegation before the game, and said he responded at the time with a "no comment" because he "wanted to get to the bottom of this." He added:

Based on the way I have lived my life, I am surprised to learn I tested positive. ... I will find out what I tested positive for [and] based on whatever I learn, I will share this information with my club and the public. You know me -- I will not hide and I will not make excuses.

Speaking to reporters in the clubhouse after the game, Ortiz elaborated on his statement. "I found out like an hour before the game about the situation. You guys know I'm a guy that never turns my back on you guys, always been true with you guys. And, honestly, right now I don't have information about it. I'm going to get more input about the situation and I'm going to honestly tell you guys what's up. But right now, I don't have answers. I've got no information."

At least Curt Schilling, the real hero of 2004, remains taint-free. I know, I shouldn't make such statements about any player of the last quarter decade.

Before this stunner, I had prewritten the following post. It encapsulates what I felt about Papi before this afternoon. I will post it as a final reminder to myself of the hypocrisy. I apologize to Jimmy Rollins for the roider ruining it for him:

It was nice to see Jimmy Rollins listed as one of Bubba Burgers "Who's Hot?" players on Sunday.

It got me thinking of all the crap J-Roll and David Ortiz took at the beginning of the year. These are two clutch players who willed their teams to overcome desperate odds to win improbable championships - Phillies over the Mets in 2007 and Red Sox over the Yankees in 2004.

Yet when they scuffled a bit this year, the fans who benefited greatly from their past performances wanted to run them out of town.

I admit I got impatient and frustrated with both of them, but it was more a feeling of "I don't want to see such a proud and capable player who has meant so much to my team struggle."

It wasn't the usual sports-talk drivel of, "He's done. Ship his ass out of here."

Since J-Roll bottomed out on July 1, he has increased his line from .205/.250/.319 to .236/.288/.381. Papi has improved from .186/.282/.284 on June 2 to .224/.311/.409 today.

I'm sure neither player is happy with his line, but I'm just glad they're back to playing at superior levels - not for what it means to their teams, but for what it means to their pride.

Maybe they'll carry their hot streaks through the World Series and battle not only for the big trophy but for World Series MVP as well.

Phillies: They lost 4-0 to the Diamondbacks last night. Hmm, maybe they should have traded losing pitcher J.A. Happ for Roy Halladay. They play even later tonight, opening a series against the Giants.

A baseball god in '04, a bear in '09

I've been meaning to compare Brad Lidge's struggles to those experienced by Keith Foulke a few years ago.

In 2004, Keith Foulke had a pretty good first season for the Red Sox before taking it up a notch in the playoffs. He probably sacrificed his career with the heavy workload during the playoffs - 14 innings in 11 out of 14 games the Red Sox played. He should have been the World Series MVP - yes, I said that even when I still loved Manny Ramirez.

In 2008, Brad Lidge had an unprecedented regular season. He wasn't needed as much during the Phillies' championship run as Foulke was needed for the Red Sox, but some argued that he was the MVP for the Phillies during the regular season.

The year after was different for each pitcher. Keith Foulke's 2005 began with a loss against the Yankees and went downhill from there. He finished with a 5.91 ERA in 43 games. The next year, he was supplanted by Jonathan Papelbon and out of baseball in 2007.

Similarly, Brad Lidge has pitched poorly the year after a stellar 2008. He has pitched a bit better lately, but even though he has stopped hemorrhaging runs, his saves are still nerve-wracking. His ERA is 7.85 - the lowest mark in two weeks. Both pitchers had knee injuries, and although Lidge's numbers are uglier than Foulke's in 2005, there's a feeling that it won't be permanent.

I decided to write this today because the Globe has an update on Foulke. He's actually pitching in New Jersey. He had a nice comeback year for the A's in 2008, but couldn't get a major league job this year. I don't think Lidge will wind up on the Camden Riversharks by 2013, but it does show you how quickly someone can go from a World Series hero to a Newark Bear.

Here are the highlights of the piece:

• "Do I think I should have been MVP?" says Foulke. "Absolutely. I mean, 'cause I did everything humanly possible that I could've done."


• Interviewing Foulke is difficult. By his own description, he's "a wise-ass." He says, "I don't care," a lot. At best, he's candid. At worst, getting the truth out of him is tedious.


• Foulke says his initial reception from the fans did not go well.
  "It was pretty bad," he says. "One guy of our seven people here said, 'Red Sox suck.' I don't care."


• Foulke made more than $33 million in an 11-year career that included stops in San Francisco, Chicago, Oakland (twice), and Boston. Now he's making $3,000 a month.
  "I'm losing money here," he says.
  Asked whether he needs the money, Foulke smiles. If worse comes to worst, he says, he can sell his game-used World Series memorabilia.


• "That's one thing that wore on me really bad," he says. "You're a Red Sox 24-7. I'm in a restaurant and everybody comes up and says, 'I hate to bother you, but ...' Being classic me, I'd say, 'I hate that you're bothering me, too.' I'm like, 'You hate it and I hate it, so why are we doing it?' "


• Foulke says he doesn't want to compare himself with Curt Schilling, who accepted $8 million from the Sox last year and never pitched an inning because of shoulder problems.
  "He's got to wake up and look himself in the mirror every day," says Foulke.

Last night's games: Good job by Tim Wakefield in the 2-1 win. Cole Hamels started out like gangbusters before struggling a bit as the Phillies held on to the 4-3 win.

Tonight's games: The Red Sox lead the Blue Jays 3-0 in the 5th on two home runs by Jason Varitek and a double by Dustin Pedroia. The Phillies and the struggling Jamie Moyer are losing to the Reds 3-1 in the 5th.

[Photo credit: Boston Globe]

SoxandPhils swap

Aside from the fact MLB Network is broadcasting a Red Sox and Yankees spring training game, there's not much going on.

If Curt Schilling hadn't made his big announcement, yesterday's post probably would have been about this nugget in a Boston Globe story on our new backup catcher George Kottaras:

The Phillies have been talking to the Sox about prospect Lou Marson, but the price tag seems to be Buchholz or Daniel Bard and the Sox aren't going there.

It would be an interesting swap of prospects from a SoxandPhils perspective, but I don't think the Red Sox would give up either pitcher for Marson since they wouldn't deal either for Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden.

The last time our teams traded a player was Ed Yarnell in 2004 who was sent to the Phillies in a "conditional deal," according to Baseball Reference. I don't know what that is. The last real trade was Josh Hancock for Jeremy Giambi in 2002. Then we have to go back to 1996 for the last blockbuster: Heathcliff Slocumb, Larry Wimbley and Rick Holyfield from the Phillies for Glenn Murray, Lee Tinsley and a certain lad named Ken Ryan. I highly recommend clicking on his page.

Back to TV broadcasts: Last night, Christine thought I knew ESPN Classic was showing the bloody sock game. I didn't. By the time I tuned in, Curt had already left the game. Bronson Arroyo was pitching. I turned it on just in time to see Alex Rodriguez earn his slappy nickname.

Thanks, big guy

It has been more than a year since I resigned myself to the fact that Curt Schilling's career was probably over.

Although, knowing his ego, I thought he'd make a comeback.

He did not.

The cartoon to the left pretty much sums up my feelings. He rode into Boston, welcomed all the pressure of the so-called curse and got the job done. Twice.

He probably had the most significant career from a Sox and Phils perspective of any player who was a member of both our teams. And, according to Rob Neyer, he should be a Hall of Famer.

In the afterglow of 2004, I e-mailed Curt to thank him for his efforts and to let him know the Red Sox championship helped me get through a rough obstacle in my life. I figured I was one of countless fans who e-mailed their stories to him. I didn't think he would even read it. But the next spring, Curt wrote to ask how I was doing.

I know he grates on people. I know he's a bit self-righteous and overblown. But his bond with the fans is rare in this age of self-absorbed athletes.

I'll always remember that little note he sent; it's tucked away with my memories of Curt's heroic 2004 and his tip of the cap in 2007.

On-field news: As expected, Kyle Kendrick was sent to the minors. But it happened today, much earlier than anyone thought it would happen. He took responsibility:

I'm not going to lie. I knew they [J.A. Happ and Chan Ho Park] were pitching good, and I had a couple games where I didn't pitch good. I knew what I needed to do, and I didn't do well, obviously. Those guys pitched good. But I know what it's going to take to get me back here. I thought about my options, what could happen. All the options kind of crossed my mind.

[Photo credit: Frank Galasso via Boston Dirt Dogs]

History?

In 2004, four years ago on this date, I was working a late shift the night the Red Sox clinched. I raced through the two-lane highways of the Pinelands to get home to watch the final inning by myself.

In 2007, the final game droned on and Christine had to go to bed, so I watched the clincher in the basement by myself.

If the Phillies clinch tonight, I'll be among 45,000+ who will be going berserk. The one for whom I most want the Phillies to win will be standing next to me waving her rally towel and snapping pictures for the blog.

I hope she comes home happy.

Obviously, we do not expect to be home at a reasonable time for a post-game blogging. We'll catch y'all on Tuesday.

Mixed emotions

Last year, when the Red Sox were down 3-1 to the Indians, I wasn't confident of victory, but I knew they could do it.

This year, however, they don't look like they belong on the field with the Rays. Imagine that - the little doodles are on the verge of going to the World Series.

The feeling is not as bad as when I conceded the 2004 American League Championship Series when they were down 3-0 to the Yankees. I'm not conceding to the Rays yet, but there is a similar numb feeling.

The Rays appear younger, healthier, hungrier and better. But the Red Sox still have the heart of a champion, so the Rays would be best served to finish off the job on Thursday because we have Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester ready to go. Yeah, I know, not exactly Derek Lowe, Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez of '04 or Beckett, Curt and Dice-K last year.

If you don't know the gory details by now, the Red Sox lost 13-4 tonight and trail the Rays 3-1. Tim Wakefield and Manny Delcarmen each gave up five runs - Wake lasted two and two-thirds of an inning, Delcarmen just one-third.

What the F???: What's worse, that Sweet Caroline would still be played with the Red Sox trailing by 11 runs in an absolutely critical playoff game or that the fans would still be singing along? I think the latter. What the hell ever happened to the spirited Red Sox fans I fell in love with in the 1980s? The die-hard Fenway Faithful have been a disgrace - booing the team, leaving early and now singing Neil Diamond as the Red Sox dig themselves deeper and deeper.

The faltering Red Sox took away some of the high I've been on after the Phillies dramatic Game 4 win on Monday, taking a 3-1 lead over the Dodgers.

When it felt like the Dodgers were going to win it and tie the series, Christine couldn't watch. She missed seeing Chase Utley's great double play, Shane Victorino's clutch home run to tie it in the 8th, followed shortly by Matt Stairs' two-run pinch-hit home run that will go down in Philly lore because of its significance and his post-game comment.

She started watching again to see Brad Lidge's first more than three-out save of the year. Of course, in Philly fashion, Carlos Ruiz had to let a third strike get by him in the 8th to prolong the drama of that inning.

This town is abuzz. It's like everyone suddenly woke up and realized there's a baseball team and that the .500 Eagles are not the only game in town. It should be interesting to see what happens should the Phillies advance to the World Series.

I've already cautioned Christine that should the Phillies and Rays meet in the next round, it will be more of a series than she's seen so far. Meantime, I'm still rooting for Cole Hamels to wrap it up tomorrow to give the Phillies the edge over a surely exhausted Red Sox team who just had a dramatic three-game comeback against the Rays.

[Photo credits: Boston Globe (Wakefield), Associated Press (Victorino)]

Got 'em right where we want 'em

I was about to go with the "I'm never going on a road trip again during the playoffs because the Red Sox are losing the American League Championship Series" theme for tonight's entry, but then I remembered something. Two things, actually.

This team was down 0-3 in the 2004 ALCS and 1-3 in last year's league championship round.

Never mind today's 9-1 trouncing by the Rays, who won the last two games and lead the series 2-1. These Red Sox, of the champion era, play best when they're down and given their last rites.

Or, perhaps, the Rays are just a better team this year. If so, I'll tip my hat and wish them luck and a loss against the Phillies, or luck and a win against the Dodgers. But until then, this series isn't over.

Although it was a bit frustrating to see Jon Lester get knocked around, David Ortiz continue to struggle and the entire offense make Matt Garza look the pre-2008 playoff version of Josh Beckett.

Tim Wakefield, who hasn't pitched in three weeks, will try to even the series up tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Phillies have the late game tonight. They had tied it 3-3 in the 6th when Ryan Howard scored on a wild pitch, but Chad Durbin, who has been in Christine's doghouse lately, allowed a leadoff home run to Casey Blake in the bottom of the inning. Scott Eyre relieved him, but Howard threw the ball away on a Rafael Furcal bunt, allowing another run to score. The Dodgers are up 5-3, and they're still threatening to add more. The Phillies still pain my wife, who wants me to finish this entry before L.A. scores again.

[Photo credit: Associated Press]

It's easier rooting for someone else's team

My friend always likes to remind me that he had faith the Red Sox would come back from 0-3 against the Yankees in the great 2004 ALCS. I always counter that it's easy to be optimistic when it's not your team you're suffering with.

Simarly, last year Christine hoped the Phillies would clinch before the last game of the year so she wouldn't be too nervous in the stands during that game. I told her the night before the final game that it was the best possible scenario - odds were on ending the season in the tie, but I felt good about the Phils clinching outright, which they did.

I mention because I thought the Phillies were in good shape tonight, even when trailing 2-0 in the 7th against the Marlins. Christine disagreed, noting the Phillies kept hitting into double plays whenever they had a man on. Even though Clay Condrey and the Phils-debuting Les Walrond each gave up a run in the 7th, I still thought they'd come back when Shane Victorino hit a foul ball the umpires called a homer. But J.A. Happ, pitching for the first time in what seems like months, gave up four more. Marlins 8, Phillies 2.

Jamie Moyer took the loss, dropping his career record to 10-1 against the Marlins.

The Marlins cut the lead to 1.5 and the Mets, with new closer Aaron Heilman, held on to win and pull within two games of the Phils.

Red Sox: They're beating the Royals, but it looks like they won't gain ground on the Rays, who are also winning. The Yankees, at least, are losing. For the Wild Card, the White Sox are losing, but the Twins are winning.

Williams, Yaz, Rice, Manny ... Jason Bay?

I'm nervous.

I can remember watching the television in shock at the 2004 trading deadline and seeing that Nomar Garciaparra was traded - not for Matt Clement, as was rumored - but for Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz. I knew Nomar had to go, but I thought he'd fetch more than an inferior shortstop and a no-hit first baseman.

Last year, I thought the Sox cinched the World Series by getting Eric Gagne.

Point is, I'm not the best at judging deadline deals when they happen. Turns out a lot of professionals aren't either.

It's looking like a three-way trade is possible, if not already done, by some reports, that Manny will be a Marlin, and we'll have Jason Bay, the pride of Canada, playing left field in front of the Green Monster - a spot largely tended by Hall of Famers for the past half-century.

If this is it, I thank Manny. I'm upset at some of the grief he caused, but I can't forget that he was a vital cog to two World Championships - including MVP of the great 2004 World Series.

But I also can't forget that these championships were as much a result of the complete organization, not just the star players. The front office has done some unconventional moves (see: Nomar, July 2004), but they've brought respect and winning to an organization that was pretty much patronized until 2003. The Red Sox survived losing Nomar, Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon. It will survive without Manny.

Some fans would take this trade - coinciding with the worst stretch of the season - as time to say "wait till next year." Screw that. I've seen this team come back from 0-3 against the Yankees and 1-3 against the Indians in their last two ALCSs. They're still defending champions until/unless they're eliminated. I expect them to regroup, reload and come out swinging.

It would have been nice for Josh Beckett to start the charge tonight, but he was shelled and the Angels beat the Red Sox 9-2, completing the sweep. Hope they're not overconfident when we play them in October.

On the bright side: The Phillies, behind a typically sturdy Jamie Moyer start, beat the Nationals 8-5 to reclaim first place by a half game as the Marlins beat the Mets. Moyer had career win number 240.

We need excuses for Christine to leave the house

I'm on a Red Sox e-mail list. In the great '04, I forgot how it all started, but it was decided that one woman was the Red Sox good luck charm by watching syndicated episodes of Becker. It was an unspoken bond between between her and the Sox; they would win as long as she wouldn't watch them.

This week, there have been three instances where the Phillies scored big when Christine wasn't watching: On Wednesday, they scored seven runs when we went out for ice cream; yesterday, they beat the Astros 15-6 when the cable was out; and tonight, we took a half-hour walk and missed the bulk of the six-run 4th inning that ignited a 20-5 rout of the Colorado Rockies. (Jamie Moyer now has a win against all 30 teams.)

I guess we're going on many walks and trips for ice cream this summer.

Oh, and yesterday's cable outage? Turns out we did cut a wire. Don't know how or where.

RIP: Geremi, or Jeremi, Gonzalez died after being struck by lightning. He was one of the many pitchers the Red Sox used in 2005 to try to replace Bronson Arroyo who was traded because we had too much pitching. I wish I had a better memory of Gonzalez.

Win a friggin' road game: In the 5th, Red Sox are up 1-0 in Seattle, where Bartolo Colon is trying to end the Sox three-game losing streak and keep pace with the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.