Time warp

Christine doesn't like it when I sing a Christmas carol too early (before Thanksgiving), so last night when she was watching a Christmas rerun episode of one of her favorite syndicated TV shows, I teased her, "Oh, it's OK for Buffy the Vampire Slayer to play Christmas music in July?"

Then I quickly remembered that we're not only out of July, but also August and just about halfway through September.

Where did the time go?

A baby has really messed with my internal clock. While running errands, the three hours between feedings can seem like five minutes, or the last 15 minutes before a feeding can feel like three hours if Trent's crying.

So I was a little surprised to see football on last night, even though I spent the last few days reading football previews in Sports Weekly, Sports Illustrated and ESPN magazines. I didn't mind it, but it was depressing today to see the Red Sox coverage focused on year-end individual success stories such as Darnell McDonald being a major leaguer for pretty much the whole year and Adrian Beltre's attempt to reach the 30 home run/100 RBI mark for the second time in his career.

Similarly, but on a better note, Phillies coverage focused on the health status of Brad Lidge and Jimmy Rollins as the Phillies head down the stretch run and probably the playoffs.

It seems like just yesterday Christine and I were deciding whether to plan a little getaway for a week off we had scheduled in July. Now, we're planning a run to the grocery store in between bottles while hoping we don't miss the start of the playoffs.

Today's games: The Phillies beat the Mets 8-4. The Red Sox are playing the A's late on the West Coast. They trail 5-0 in the 2nd - not that it matters anymore.

DFA

I forgot to mention the other day that the Red Sox early-season cult hero Darnell McDonald was designated for assignment. That's probably a good thing because it turns out that he wasn't designated after all. The Red Sox were planning on it, but then Jacoby Ellsbury had some discomfort in his ribs, so the Red Sox sent down Scott Atchison in case they needed an extra outfielder.

Funny story - McDonald was asleep in his hotel room when he was awoken by his cell phone vibrating:

"I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming," McDonald said. "[Monday] was a tough day for me. I knew what the circumstances were. Now I'm here."

While McDonald spent his time on waivers napping and watching movies in his hotel room, Wilson Valdez said he spent his time in exile listening to his iPod in his hotel room.

For the SoxandPhils, it's been a very insightful week about the waiver process. Paul Hoover cleared waivers today; I wonder if he also spent the week in his hotel room.

Today's games: John Lackey joined the pitching party that the Red Sox starters have been on. They're leading the Rays 6-2 in the 8th thanks to a two-run homer by scorching David Ortiz, who was bettered by Adrian Beltre who had a pair of two-run homers.

The Phillies? I don't think Christine wants to talk about them. She's convinced they will never score another run. In the 8th, Mets 5, Phillies ... see the last sentence.

Music to our ears

Christine and I were busy getting the house ready for our post-walk party on Sunday, so we missed the opportunity to sit down and enjoy the best Phillies game of the year. I can say that even if they blow their 8-3 lead over the Braves. It's the best game because Scott Franzke left Atlanta because his wife is having a baby, which means Chris Wheeler got bumped to radio (our sympathy to Larry Andersen), and we get nine innings of Gary Matthews on TV. Go Sarge!

The on-field action (so far) isn't bad either. Jamie Moyer escaped after six innings without his trademark lousy inning. He even froze Braves phenom Jason Heyward in a key spot in the 6th.

Red Sox: Clay Buchholz dominated six innings - no runs and nine strikeouts - but then lost it in the 7th, giving up three runs. Folk hero Darnell McDonald had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the 7th, but grounded out. In the 9th, Rangers 3, Red Sox 0.

It ain't over till it's over

Last night when we posted, the Red Sox trailed the Rangers 6-4 and seemed destined for another listless loss. The Phillies led the Braves 3-0 behind Kyle Kendrick, who, as Bob Brookover said, was painting a Rembrandt after producing sloppy finger painting in his first two starts.

But the Phillies bullpen imploded in the 9th and 10th innings, and the unknown minor league journeyman who I had never heard of hit a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the 8th and then sent everyone home with a hit off the Monster in the 9th.

Darnell McDonald's night, was, as Peter Abraham put it, a great example of why we love baseball. McDonald loved it too:

"I couldn't write a script any better than this," McDonald said. "A lot happened. A dream come true. That's why I signed over here to be able to play in this type of atmosphere."

Previously, McDonald's career highlight might have been losing a race to the famous thoroughbred Zippy Chippy. Funny, when McDonald first strolled to the plate, I had a feeling that he was going to be the 2010 version of Jeff Stone. I wasn't the only one.

Tonight, McDonald hit another home run (Christine says: Test him), and the possibly rejuvenated Red Sox lead the Rangers 7-4 in the 7th. Yes, I know there's plenty of baseball left to be played. Mike Lowell, who pinch hit for David Ortiz last night, is DH'ing and has a home run. J.D. Drew hit a grand slam.

Phillies: Roy Halladay is pitching a gem, and the Phillies lead the Braves 2-0 in the 9th. Let's hope that unlike last night Roy can finish the job and that both leads hold up.

Dropping like flies

The media has been burying the 2010 Red Sox for several days.

I agree, this hasn't been a pretty start to the season. As Theo Epstein said today:

"It's not the time for excuses or sugar-coating it. We've played bad baseball. It's a bad stretch of play and when you do that at the start of the season, it looks even worse. We haven't played well, there are no excuses for how we've played. We haven't played smart baseball; we haven't really played aggressive baseball."

But the GM is confident things will turn around:

"We'll get back to our level. As an organization we have a track record. We have a standard we need to live to up to. One way or another we're going to get there collectively."

I'm trying my best to keep a positive attitude. I was OK with the news that Mike Cameron could be gone for a while; I think Josh Reddick will play well. I'm a little concerned that our other center fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, joined his elder teammate on the DL. OK, I'm very concerned because I've never heard of his replacement - journeyman Darnell McDonald.

Tonight, they're still playing bad baseball after six innings. Tim Wakefield has given up six runs and Victor Martinez has allowed nine - NINE! - stolen bases. Yikes. Rangers 6, Red Sox 4.

Phillies: Kyle Kendrick, possibly pitching for his career, outpitched Tommy Hanson. In the 7th, Phillies 3, Braves 0.