Long day

It started with Trent's first batch of shots. It was a big batch - lots of pricking for such a little pin cushion. But he took them like a champ.

Then, I left Christine and Grandmom to deal with some of the vaccines' side effects while I learned that a 50-mile bike ride isn't as easy as it was a month ago. Go figure.

When I returned, the Red Sox seemed ready to cruise to a victory against the Yankees, but John Lackey lost it in the 5th and CC Sabathia shut down the Sox after they got an early two-run lead in the 2nd inning. Yankees 5, Red Sox 2. Funny - when this series started, everyone thought the Red Sox had the edge in pitching matchups in every game except this one. I thought that meant we would wind up losing three of four with today's mismatch the exception.

This evening, Johan Santana and Cole Hamels. Cole was a tad better - six hits and 11 strikeouts in seven innings compared with Johan's five hits, three walks and six strikeouts. The difference? One of the hits Hamels gave up was a home run, and Johan didn't give up any runs. It seemed like a game destined for Trent's comeback magic, especially when the Phillies knocked out Santana in the 8th and loaded the bases against Francisco Rodriguez. But the little guy's still not completely over the shots. Mets 1, Phillies 0.

The Red Sox signed Carlos Delgado. Thrilling.

Weekend wrap-up

Yesterday ended really ugly for the Phillies, but if they can polish off the Mets tonight - which would officially eliminate the Mets from playoff contention about three weeks earlier than usual - then it would be a pretty good weekend capped off with a pair of SoxandPhils doubleheader sweeps.

Saturday: We ventured into Yankees and Mets territory to visit the family. We saw the Mets take a 4-0 lead on Jamie Moyer, yet Christine remained calm, even as my 9-year-old niece needled her. We were out to dinner for most of the game, but heard on the car ride back from the restaurant that the Phillies were threatening to score more in the 8th. We got inside to see Ryan Howard strike out with the bases load.

Then, Ryan Madson came in to close it out after Brett Myers had given up three runs in 1/3 of an inning. Mad Dog was no better, doing his best Brad Lidge impression by giving up a two-run home run to David Wright. Game over, after we endured Francisco Rodriguez strutting around after getting the save. Mets 10, Phillies 9.

Christine kept grumbling the whole ride down the Turnpike.

The Red Sox won a five-inning rain-shortened game 9-1 against the Rays. Josh Beckett had a 78-pitch complete game.

Today (Red Sox): In the afternoon game, Clay Buchholz pitched well again - one run in seven innings - but did not get the win because the Red Sox couldn't score the go-ahead run in the 3-1 game until the 8th when Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run.

In the nightcap, Jon Lester, who game up three hits in 1/3 of an inning in Friday's start that was washed out, gave up just two hits and three walks in eight innings, pitching on short rest. I love this guy.

Today (Phillies): They won the opener 5-4 behind a pair of pitchers looking to redeem themselves. Kyle Kendrick was quite a surprise: two runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. Even more of a surprise was Brad Lidge getting the ball in the 9th. It was nerve-wracking as he pitched as poorly as he could without blowing another one. He let the Mets chip away and score two runs on three hits before freezing Angel Pagan with his second strikeout of the inning.

Question: Has a reigning World Champion with a decent chance to repeat ever gone to the season's last three weeks looking for its closer?

Tonight: Pedro Martinez is trying for the fourth SoxandPhils win today. He's up 1-0 in the 5th against his former team.

Spring surprises

There were mild surprises from each camp yesterday - not that they were unexpected given the histories of the players involved, but surprising in that they happened so quickly.

J.D. Drew's back is hurting, and Kyle Kendrick is the front-runner to be the Phillies fifth starter.

Drew, a hero of the 2007 ALCS and last year's All-Star game, which made it possible for Christine and me to attend the World Series clincher {J.D. Drew is not a hero, I don't care what he did in any All-Star game}, says his stiff back will be fine:

"I'm not concerned that I won't be at full capacity to play," Drew said. "If we had to go out there and play a game today I could do that. It wouldn't be a problem. That being said, I have battled with this the entire offseason, just as far as stiffness goes. Not really mobility as much. You wake up ... you move around, you do a few things, you sit down for a while, you get stiff."

Let's hope so. I like Rocco Baldelli, but given his health concerns, I'm not prepared to pencil him in for 140 starts in right field.

Kyle Kendrick has no health issues, but he struggled toward the end of last season and was regulated to the bottom of the pitching depth chart and eventually to cheerleader during the Phillies playoff run. Despite that, pitching coach Rich Dubee said he has an edge over J.A. Happ, Carlos Carrasco and Chan Ho Park to be the Phillies fifth starter.

"I can't walk away from 21 wins," Dubee said, referring to Kendrick's 21-13 record over the past two seasons. "To me, he's the leading candidate going in as the fifth starter because of what he's done."

Trashy last word: Everyone is making a big deal of Francisco Rodriguez proclaiming the Mets the team to beat. Yawn. Jimmy Rollins did this in 2007. Carlos Beltran did this in 2008. And even K-Rod already did this two months ago.

The Mets can't top the Phillies on, or off, the field. Phil Sheridan easily dismisses this latest volley:

It was fun while it lasted, but the war of words between the Phillies and Mets won't have quite the same spirit this year. The Phillies' World Series championship kind of makes boasts like Rodriguez's sound even more hollow than usual.

Belated rebuttal

Two days after Cole Hamels stated the obvious - the Mets have choked away the last two seasons - New York's official rebuttal came today from recent signing Francisco Rodriguez, who backed into proclaiming his new team the one to beat in the NL East.

"Of course, we're going to try to win the division. Of course, we're going to be the front-runner. Of course, we're going to be the team to beat," he said Saturday ... "I don't want there to be a controversy or the other ballclubs in that division to take it personally or take it in a bad way," he said. "If they ask me, 'Oh, which ballclub is going to win the National League East?' It's going to be the Mets. Easy question."

Like his teammate Carlos Beltran did early in 2008, F-Rod ripped off Jimmy Rollins' 2007 move. Again, there are some differences:

1. Not original. There should be at least a 10-year moratorium on proclaiming your team the one to beat in the NL East.
2. The team with the highest payroll should be the favorite.
3. The team with the highest payroll in this case has choked away the division the last two years in monumental fashion.
4. Until/unless they're eliminated from the playoffs, the Phillies remain the team to beat by virtue of their 2008 World Championship.

Otherwise, not much doing in SoxandPhils land. Personally, though, we had a very nice day and did a couple things I hope become part of our Christmas tradition.

Congrats to New York

Once again, it looks like New York will win the hot stove league, with the Yankees getting CC Sabathia and the Mets getting Francisco Rodriguez.

We at SoxandPhils quake in our cleats.

Fact is, the Red Sox and Phillies have supposedly been bested by their New York competition in most recent offseasons - Johan Santana, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Billy Wagner. How many rings do those guys have? One. Johnny Damon for the 2004 Red Sox.

So let the New Yorkers enjoy their early Christmas presents. We at the home of the World Series Champions know that Phanta Claus delivers the real goodies in October.

Before I get to the teams that matter, one more CC point. I bet the guy most thrilled to have him on the team is Alex Rodriguez, so he's not the only nine-figure playoff choker in the Bronx.

Phillies: Not a good day. I didn't check the clips before heading out for an oil change, so I was surprise to overhear - while enjoying some pumpkin pancakes - that Jaime Moyer was demanding a two-year $20 million deal. And I thought Charlie Manuel was the one who was going to dampen the World Series afterglow with contract negotiations?

And I know we've been resigned that Pat Burrell's a goner, but it was sad hearing his agent put some finality to it.

Red Sox: Most of the news is status quo ... ripping the Sabathia deal and insistent reports that they're legitimately in on Mark Teixeira. But now there are some John Smoltz murmurs. I always like Smoltz and thought he could be a Red Sox, but he is 42 years old now.

This just in: The Phillies made their big trade. Yea! Minor league catcher Jason Jaramillo for backup catcher Ronny Paulino. Scott Lauber says this must mean Chris Coste's days are numbered.

J.D. unfazed by rally monkey and K-Rod

There are few things as uplifting as a close win in playoff baseball and few things as crushing as a close loss.

Last night the difference between the two was razor thin until J.D. Drew - who has been hurt and homerless since July 26 - homered in the 9th off Francisco Rodriguez, who some think is the best closer in baseball based on his record saves total this year. Red Sox 7, Angels 5.

He's good, but he's a notch below Jonathan Papelbon, who got the win on only 21 pitches in two innings of perfect baseball. He did allow an inherited runner to score, but you can't expect Chone Figgins to be stranded when he leads off with a triple. Christine thinks K-Rod, who wants $75 million on the market this winter, will fit in nicely in the Mets bullpen.

I predicted a strong outing from Daisuke Matsuzaka. I was wrong. He needed 108 pitches to muddle through five innings, giving up three runs, eight hits and three walks. Thankfully, there's an off day for Papelbon to rest up to close it out for Josh Beckett on Sunday night.

Do you think Jason Bay is happy to be out of Pittsburgh? A big three-run homer in the first and a 3-5 night for the man who we're often reminded is no Manny Ramirez. Drew also had a three-hit night.

So after two games, the Red Sox and Phillies each stand five wins away from the World Series I both crave and dread. Each team has to finish off business in Round 1 and then get by a pair of tough opponents, likely the Rays and Dodgers, who are attempting to sweep their series as well. It could be the first time all four divisional series end 3-0.

Of the four, the Phillies have the first crack at ending their series against the Brewers at 6:37 tonight. We'll check in afterward.

A good sign?: I had a dream that I turned on the Phillies game in the first inning tonight and they were winning 1-0. I turned away for a minute and suddenly it was 8-0. I'm not sure if I've ever had a dream about a game before, especially one so specific about the score, the inning and what I was doing.

And I've had this scene from Wayne's World stuck in my head for the past two days. I keep hearing Alice Cooper's pronunciation of "mill-e-wah-que."

Wayne Campbell: So, do you come to Milwaukee often?
Alice Cooper: Well, I'm a regular visitor here, but Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. The French missionaries and explorers began visiting here in the late 16th century.
Pete: Hey, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name?
Alice Cooper: Yes, Pete, it is. In fact , it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for "the good land."
Wayne Campbell: I was not aware of that.

I hope the Phillies visit to "mill-e-wah-que" is short and sweet.

[Photo credit: Associated Press]

Uninspired

Daisuke Matsuzaka threw a clunker, and despite several rallies late in the game, the best the Red Sox could do was make it close enough for Francisco Rodriguez to notch another save in his quest to make Bobby Thigpen's career irrelevant.

After coming in from a walk, I thought the game was in hand as Dice had a 2-1 lead in the 6th. But of course he couldn't get another out and gave up five more runs before yielding to Justin Masterson, who allowed one in two innings.

The hitters kept trying to climb back into it but couldn't get over the hump against Angels relievers Jose Arredondo, Scott Shields and K-Rod. The AL-leading Angels 7, the Wild Card-leading Red Sox 5. At least the Rays and Yankees also lost, keeping our division deficit at one and Wild Card lead at two.

Manny Ramirez kept up his contract drive, going 2-3 with a run and three RBIs. He hit a meaningless homer off Rodriguez in the 9th. Oh, and Pat Gillick said no way to a Manny for Pat Burrell swap. Wonder if Charlie Manuel nixed that idea because Jimmy Rollins has been enough distraction for the Phillies.

Best news of the day: Now pitching for your hometown IronPigs, Adam Eaton. OK, they haven't announced for sure that he's worthy of pitching in AAA, but fans in Philly won't be chanting "You suck Eaton" for a while.

The Marlins beat the Mets, so with an off-day, the Phils are a half game behind the Mets and a half game ahead of the Fish.

[Photo credit: Associated Press]

A night to miss

We had a party to attend this evening, so we missed the Red Sox playing the Cardinals on Fox. We didn't miss much. Daisuke Matsuzaka, returning from the DL, lost for the first time this year, 9-3. He didn't make it out of the 2nd, giving up seven runs in 1+ inning.

The lead over the Rays is now a half game, which is amazing because the Sox have been on a tear despite a rash of injuries. Today's loss snaps a streak in which the Sox have won six straight series - in the last four, they've lost the first game and then won the next two. Also making a move is the Yankees - just 4.5 games behind the Rays for the Wild Card.

The slumping Phillies (three wins in their last 11 games and four straight series losses) still lead the division by one game. Although the disastrous Mets, who I'm sure would love revenge for last year, lurk only four games out.

So in case you couldn't guess it already, the Phils lost again. Brett Myers wasn't awful, but why send a pitcher struggling with his psyche out in the 8th inning of a tie game? Did you expect different results?

After the 8th inning ended, I was hoping the Phillies would make a comeback in the 9th against Francisco Rodriguez, which would be a double treat for us. First, a Phillies win. Second, good news for my suddenly beleaguered fantasy team, which is playing a team with K-Rod on it. But So Taguichi blew it with an error in the top of the inning, and the Angels took a 6-2 lead. After the Phillies pretended to pose a threat against Jose Arredondo, K-Rod came in and ended the game on four pitches.

Cole Hamels goes tomorrow. We're confident they'll win, but the next four...