Tidbits

1. Greg Dobbs cleared waivers and will report to AAA on Friday. I'm sure we'll see him up in the majors again before the year is over. Paul Hagen muses that the Phillies may make other unexpected roster moves to shake things up and get this team going.

2. Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland, who underwent brain surgery earlier this year, seems to be recovering well. Who knows if he'll play baseball again, but it's good to hear that he's doing better.

3. Darren Daulton will be enshrined on the Phillies Wall of Fame in August. Like many other women in the Delaware Valley, my mom had such a crush on him in 1993. Greg and I had a Phillies TV program on over at her house a few weeks ago, and she couldn't believe what he looks like now. (Side note: I can't believe that the 1993 season was 17 years ago. I'm old.)

4. Mike Lowell doesn't seem to be long for the Red Sox, and the Sox roster seems to be in flux.

5. It's pretty much a lock that, for the first time in a long time, no Red Sox position player will be starting in the All-Star game. Chase Utley will start from the Phillies, but Placido Polanco's spot is in danger. I was so disappointed on Saturday to find out that the paper ballots are no longer available at the ballpark - voting is online only at this point of the process.

6. The Phillies stink. More specifically, Kyle Kendrick stinks, especially at home. How bad does he stink? Shin-Soo Choo has two home runs tonight. (Another tangent: When we did vote for All-Stars earlier this season, I kept voting for Choo. If he has to go back to South Korea for military service after this season, I thought that an All-Star appearance would be a nice going-away present.) In the 7th, Indians 5, Phillies 4.

7. Red Sox lost to the Rockies 2-1 last night. Tonight, they face Ubaldo Jimenez. Not fun. In the 3rd, Rockies 2, Red Sox 0.

8. The Phillies have a day game tomorrow. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Boo to the businessperson's special. All they do is screw over the workers who can't watch the game on the job.

9. I didn't have time to write about it tonight, but I'll tell you soon about our six degrees of separation with Major League Baseball.

J-Roll and Fattie whack Dobbs

The other day, when we wrote about the surprise recall of Scott Mathieson, whose return to the big leagues lasted one game, we remembered to check on the progress of Mike Zagurski, who we affectionately call Fattie. "He's pitching well in AAA, so maybe we'll see him join Mathieson again," I wrote last week. I was half right. Fattie's in the bigs, but Mathieson is back in AAA.

Also making his return to the Phillies is a forgotten infielder, Jimmy Rollins. To make room for them, the Phillies DL'd Carlos Ruiz - not a surprise because he was hit in the head by a broken bat on Friday - and designated Greg Dobbs for assignment. That's a bit of a surprise because he was so good as a pinch-hitter in 2008, but hasn't done squat since. Ruben Amaro didn't make the move lightly:

"Dobber has been a very, very productive player for us over the last several years," Amaro said. "He helped us win a World Series and he helped us get back to the World Series and it's hard. That role is not an easy role and it's a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I've lived it myself, so I have some empathy about how difficult that job is."

For the record, in 128 games in 2008, Dobbs hit .301/.333/.491, and in 139 games in 2009 and 2010, he hit .218/.274/.341. Does anyone need a crappy pinch-hitter, or is Dobbs going to be an IronPig?

Tonight's games: Jamie Moyer had another good start and has just about supplanted Roy Halladay as the Phillies' ace. Tonight, the old man went eight innings, giving up a run on just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Unfortunately, he needed 107 pitches (his season high is 111), so he had to yield to the bullpen.

J.C. Romero started the 9th (platoon splits) and got one out, but then put two men on, creating an awkward save situation for Brad Lidge, who hasn't been lights out lately. But he was tonight, striking out two to earn the save in a 2-1 win over the Indians. That's win No. 266 for J-Moy.

The Red Sox returned to the scene of their last World Series victory. Jon Lester pitched the 2007 clincher in Colorado, and he's opening tonight's series against the Rockies. So far, it's 0-0 in the 3rd.

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]

Just chillin'

With the Red Sox battling the Angels on ESPN (in a matchup that will likely be repeated in the playoffs for the fourth time since 2004) and the Phillies trying to beat the Nationals and gain ground on the Dodgers in the chase for home-field advantage, Christine and I took advantage of our home's split levels and multiple TVs.

There hasn't been much news today: Greg Dobbs is back, J.A. Happ probably will be and Tim Wakefield may soon follow. And unlike Joba Chamberlain, no more training wheels for Clay Buchholz.

Downstairs: Paul Byrd pitched decently for a guy who should be retired - three runs in 5 1/3. The game had a playoff feel when the Red Sox rallied and took the lead with five runs in the 6th. But Takashi Saito and Ramon Ramirez coughed it up, giving up four runs in the 7th. The Angels, up 7-5, are rallying again in the 8th.

Upstairs: Rebounding from his worst start of the season, Joe Blanton tossed six scoreless innings, giving up five hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in the 6-1 win over the Nationals.

The Phillies took the lead in the 1st when Ryan Howard stole second base, allowing Chase Utley to steal home. The dynamic duo extended their career-high stolen base totals: seven for the big guy, 20 for Utley. The double steal also gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead over the Red Sox in steals of home this year.

Jayson Werth iced the game with a grand slam in the 7th, right after they showed he has hit .231 in his career with the bases loaded. "Wow, Jayson Werth is the one guy on the team who stinks with the bases loaded," I said before the blast.

Late in the game, Christine asked me to look up the last time the Phillies had three straight shutouts. I'm glad I didn't try when her guy, Tyler Walker, gave up a run in the 9th, ending a scoreless streak that began in the first game on Sunday. Chris Wheeler said the last time the Phillies had three shutouts in a row was 1969.

Sox strike first

For 12 innings, our teams played like two evenly matched champions. In the 13th, Kyle Kendrick - just called up to replace the injured Scott Eyre - reminded us why he hasn't been in the majors yet this year. He imploded, giving up three and spoiling what was a great pitching performance from both sides.

Jon Lester and Joe Blanton were terrific. Each went seven innings. Lester struck out 11, Blanton seven. They left a 2-1 game to the bullpens. Ramon Ramirez got the ball in the 9th - Jonathan Papelbon looked quite pissy about his night off, especially after Ryan Howard tattooed one off his surrogate.

Christine is upset that a ball Greg Dobbs hit in the 11th was called foul instead of a home run. Initially, she agreed it was foul, but then started to change her mind. Once the Sox scored three runs, she was convinced it was fair and is protesting the final tally.

Finally got to see Daniel Bard. He has some control issues - he walked a batter and hit Raul Ibanez - but struck out three in his first major league save. His stuff is filthy - my arm is sore from Christine elbowing me every time I reacted to one of his pitches. I hope Papelbon noticed his future replacement before he spouts off to Terry Francona too much tonight.

Pitchers' Civil War may be ending

This morning I read a note in David Murphy's blog about how well the Phillies starters have been doing since Chan Ho Park has been banished to the bullpen:

Don't look now, but Phillies starters have recorded a victory in each of these six straight wins. Since a win over Washington on May 18th when Chan Ho Park allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings and lost his spot in the rotation, Phillies starters have an ERA just over 4.00, which is nearly two and a half runs better than the 6.35 ERA they posted in the first 36 games of the season.

Actually, that start was May 17. The next day, I took a look at how much better both of our teams' bullpens were than the starting rotations. Things have improved since then:

BOS starters
May 18: 5.76 (28th)
Today: 5.05 (26th)

PHI starters
May 18: 6.35 (30th)
Today: 5.58 (29th)

BOS relievers
May 18: 3.02 (3rd)
Today: 2.86 (1st)

PHI relievers
May 18: 3.97 (12th)
Today: 3.72 (9th)

BOS total
May 18: 4.77 (21st)
Today: 3.31 (14th)

PHI total
May 18: 5.59 (27th)
Today: 4.88 (27th)

Although both teams' starting staffs still have poor overall numbers, things are moving in the right direction - enough so that the members of both teams vaunted bullpen can put their muskets down for the time being.

Speaking of pitching, interesting report the other day on Junichi Tazawa, who seems to be the anti-Daisuke Matsuzaka in that he is pitching well - and efficiently. The Red Sox put their AA pitchers on 85-pitch limits. That would barely get Dice-K through the lineup once. Tazawa pitched into the 7th inning last time out on that limit.

Phillies: J.A. Happ finished off the sweep of the Padres last night, pitching seven scoreless innings in the 5-1 win. J.C. Romero gave up an unearned run in 1 1/3 innings - his 2009 debut. Ryan Howard hit another home run, but much of the ink went to Greg Dobbs, who got a rare start in right field, because of a running catch he made to end the 2nd inning with the bases loaded. It was a win-win for me because it was a solid drive by Padres pitcher Chris Young, right after Chris Wheeler said he looked futile at the plate. So, Wheels looked dumb without the Phillies getting hurt.

The Phils return to Los Angeles tonight for the first time since beating the Dodgers in the NLCS.

Red Sox: They also completed a sweep when Tim Wakefield got his seventh win this afternoon against the Tigers, 6-3. For the second straight game, Kevin Youkilis was removed with injury. David Ortiz did not make an out today. He was riding the pine. But he made news by saying he's going to try to end his slump with an eye exam - or maybe just being happier. I hope something works.

Papi homered - cancel the gold watch and rocking chair

Mike Schmidt topped a recent David Ortiz-inspired list of great ball players who suddenly lost it. Christine and I were discussing this yesterday, wondering whether Big Papi could follow Michael Jack's path and abruptly retire amid early season struggles.

I don't know if retirement ever entered his thoughts, but Ortiz has considered drastic steps:

"I was about to hit righthanded," he admitted.

But last night he hit his first home run of 2009 as part of a 2-4 night that increased his OPS to a whopping .645.

"I feel like I got my confidence back," Ortiz said after the game. "I feel like a real hitter, not like the punch and judy hitter I've been the first 40 games ... swing like a man."

I hope so. The Greatest Clutch Hitter in Red Sox history, a very proud and amicable man, deserves to leave the game on his own terms (provided he has been clean).

Interestingly, this marks the 20th anniversary of Mike Schmidt's retirement. The Daily News has marked the occasion with the 1989 retirement story, a Rich Ashburn column led off by a Harry Kalas home run call and an interesting look back.

As a 12-year-old in North Jersey, I was surprised by the announcement, but I never knew the move surprised everyone, perhaps even Schmidt:

Mike Schmidt was 39 years old, in a slump, playing for a Phillies team destined for another last-place finish.

Nobody had a clue that within a week he would stun even those closest to him by abruptly announcing his retirement.

Six days later, standing near third base at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, he was about to make one of the biggest decisions of his baseball life. It was a sun-splashed Memorial Day weekend Sunday. All he needed was an omen.

[...]

Then, just like in the movies, it happened.

The score was tied at three in the bottom of the fourth. The Giants had runners on first and second with two outs when Robby Thompson hit a grounder right at third, the kind of play Schmidt had made countless times on his way to winning 10 Gold Gloves.

Except this time, the ball went through his legs for an error to load the bases. Mike Maddux relieved starter Ken Howell. And the next batter, Will Clark, hit a grand slam.

"And I'm thinking, 'I'm really getting nothing out of this. We're not a very good team. I'm not playing near to the level that I'm comfortable with. What do I do now?'" Schmidt said.

Hopefully last night signaled a better omen for Big Papi.

Catching up: Papi's home run and two by Jason Varitek helped Brad Penny beat the Jays 8-3, setting up a chance for a sweep tonight. (Behind Jon Lester, they're up 4-0 in the 4th.) Phillies couldn't come back last night, losing 5-1 to the Reds. They finished the series this afternoon with a 12-5 win. The top of the order - Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez - went 9-15. Utley, Ibanez, Ryan Howard and Greg Dobbs homered. Joe Blanton pitched well until the 5th, when he gave up all five runs the Reds scored; Chan Ho Park walked two in a scoreless inning, his first appearance as a Phillies reliever.

[Photo credit: Philadelphia Inquirer or Daily News file photo]

Losing to the rivals

Both our teams lost to their rivals tonight.

Chan Ho Park was the big goat for the Phillies in their 7-4 loss against the Mets.

Christine: How long are we going to be stuck with Chan Ho Park in the rotation?

Me: Judging by Adam Eaton, a year and a half.

He was pretty darn bad tonight: seven runs on six walks and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. I've said since spring training he shouldn't be a starter - now I no longer have faith that he would be serviceable in the bullpen. Christine thinks he'd be fine switching spots with J.A. Happ.

In the 6th I was starting to believe in mystique and aura when the Mets over threw third base. I believed for all of two seconds until Greg Dobbs ran past second on his way to third, forcing Chris Coste to try to score when he had no chance.

Ryan Howard struck out to end the game with a poor swing at a bad pitch. "What the (insert Chase Utley's favorite word here) was that?" Christine said.

Red Sox: All I know about this 6-2 loss to the Rays is this: When flipping to MLB Network to try to find a mid-game update, they were talking about where Evan Longoria ranks among third basemen. They mentioned he hit a grand slam tonight. Ugh.

Justin Masterson pitched almost as poorly as Chan Ho Park, but Manny Delcarmen and Ramon Ramirez each pitched a scoreless inning, preserving their 0.00 ERAs.

Tomorrow: We're going to our first game. A colleague mentioned the rainy forecast. "No biggie," I said. "It won't be any worse than the last game we went to."

Signings and non-signings

On a bitterly cold day, the big signing is PH extraordinaire Greg Dobbs getting a two-year $2.5 million deal. Scott Boras minion Ryan Madson didn't bite on a three-year $12 million offer. So the Phillies can cross one arbitration eligible off their list - only about two dozen more to go.

"That team is about to walk through a mine field," an AL Scout told Jayson Stark, who previewed the arbitration dealings. The column isn't fun reading for SoxandPhils fans. It could get ugly with Ryan Howard, Jonathan Papelbon, Cole Hamels and a whole bunch of other Phillies.

And it looks like Jason Varitek is ready to come crawling back to the Sox, which is good because we haven't been able to land another starting catcher. He can't hit anymore, but he's better than having nobody crouching between Josh Beckett and the umpire.

One final word: Brrrr. It looks like the Weather Channel made a mistake when it says it will be 9 degrees tomorrow morning.

Christine's secret

After the Phillies finished off the Braves 6-2 tonight in their typical late-season thrilling fashion, I asked Christine if she would finally be comfortable with the likely 2.5-game lead over the Mets. After some pressing, she finally wiggled four fingers at me. It took me a minute to figure out she was indicating the magic number. Evidently, she's been keeping track for days - back when the Phillies were in second place and needed a combination of 14 Phillies wins and Mets losses to repeat as division champs. I was stunned that she was able to keep that from me for this long. She didn't want to jinx it. {I still don't want to jinx it. I'm blaming Greg if they blow it.}

Greg Golson has played in three games, but tonight will be considered his debut in Phillies lore. Thanks to another strong outing by J.A. Happ, the score was tied at 2 when Greg Dobbs pinch hit a single to open the 8th. Golson came in to run. After a botched pickoff, Golson motored to third. Then, when Jayson Werth grounded to third, Golson scampered home and had a great slide under the tag.

Pat Burrell put it away with a three-run homer.

In the 9th, Charlie Manuel stood by his word that he wouldn't go to Brad Lidge, so Ryan Madson took his role of making things interesting. After Chipper Jones singled, Brian McCann appeared to hit a homer and Cholly came with the hook for Madson. But then the umpires reversed their call, ruling it a ground-rule double. Madson stranded both runners to end the game.

If you need a downside to the night for the Phillies, the Cubs win over the Mets clinched the top playoff seed for Chicago. Guess the Phils will have to settle for No. 2.

Red Sox: I have a feeling that the Phillies may clinch a playoff spot before the Red Sox. I know they're playing well, it just seems very protracted for a spot they had seemingly wrapped up weeks ago. They lost to the Indians, 4-3, postponing the celebration.

Josh Beckett couldn't get it done - four runs in six innings. Let's hope that's his last clunker of the year and that we soon see playoff Josh. We're now 2.5 behind the Rays, six up on the idling Yankees.

[Photo credit: Associated Press]

Old guys come through

With time running out on the season, two old starting pitchers - neither of whom have been to a World Series - came up big for the SoxandPhils. Younger Cole Hamels could learn something about playoff intensity from Paul Byrd and Jamie Moyer.

Red Sox: I guess I owe Theo Epstein an apology for picking up another druggie. The Red Sox beat the Rangers 7-2, and Paul Byrd is now 4-1 since coming to Boston. Byrd pitched well - no runs with just three hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings. He was backed up with a rare homer by David Ortiz and one by Jason Bay. MVP-to-be Dustin Pedroia went a ho-hum (for him) 1-4 with a walk and an RBI.

The Rays lost, so the Red Sox's footsteps must be getting louder - they're 1.5 games out of first, which is the closest they've been since July 28. Oh yeah, if you can strain your eyes that far down the standings, the Yankees are in fourth. The Orioles are 12 games behind them, so the Empire doesn't have to worry about coming in last.

Phillies game 1: Jamie Moyer pitched even better than the Sox cagey veteran, dominating the Mets to a tune of no runs on two hits and three walks. Phillies 6, Mets 2. He was backed by Greg Dobbs who went 2-4 with a double, home run, two runs and three RBI. Pedro who? (That can be for either Feliz or Martinez, who ate the loss today.)

Phillies game 2: J-Moy's win meant the big Cole Hamels-Johan Santana match-up would determine whether the Phils would leave New York trailing by two games or tied for first.

The latter scenario doesn't look likely after young Cole was shelled for five runs in five innings. Christine predicts he will blame his adjusted schedule, even though he pitched on his normal rest. The Phils trail just 5-2 in the 8th, but you have the feeling they were never in it since the first inning, when they had Johan on the ropes but scored only once.

And guess who did most of the damage for the Mets? Another old guy lacking World Series experience. Carlos Delgado had playoff fever tonight, going 3-4 with two runs, four RBI and two homers through seven innings. The ESPN announcers blatantly rooting for him were very pleased.

One down

Phillies 3, Mets 0.

Brett Myers pitched an outstanding game tonight. He shut out the Mets over eight innings and had 10 strikeouts. Brad Lidge had a shaky 9th, but managed to pitch out of a first-and-third with only one out. Shane Victorino scored in the 1st, and Greg Dobbs added a two-run homer in the 7th.

The Phils have narrowed the gap and are now two games out of first place.

I'm pretty sure that tomorrow afternoon's game will be a washout, which would probably mean a day-night doubleheader on Sunday because the two teams don't share any off days for the rest of the season.

Oh, and how could I forget the biggest news of the day: Tadahito Iguchi has rejoined the Phillies.

Red Sox: They beat the Rangers 8-1. Josh Beckett pitched five innings in his return and had seven strikeouts. The Rays lost to the Blue Jays, leaving the Sox 2.5 games out of first.

Greg: He has returned safely from his travels. I'm sure he'll be making an appearance here tomorrow.

Wave that white Hank-y

Less than two weeks after the Yankees' brass popped open champagne to celebrate Manny Ramirez being shipped off to Los Angeles, Hank Steinbrenner is already saying wait 'till next year.

We're going to win it next year. If we need to add a top veteran pitcher, we'll do that. We'll do whatever we need to do. Next year we'll be extremely dangerous.

He said that Tuesday when the Empire was five games behind the Red Sox for the wild card with about a quarter of the season left to play. Hank says it's because the 2008 Yankees have been decimated by injuries more than any other squad in history. I really feel sorry for the $200 million men, especially when the low-budget, first-place Rays have lost Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford to injuries this week.

I have complimented the Yankees for making Joba Chamberlain a starter, but can we see him pitch, I don't know, maybe one full season before proclaiming him the most dominating starter in baseball? What an idiot. (Hank, not Joba.)

Red Sox: They were on ESPN tonight, but we didn't notice until the top of the 9th. I missed out on watching Jon Lester give up three earned on seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. Lester improved to 11-4 as the Red Sox beat the Rangers 8-4.

Mike Lowell was placed on the DL again. The Rays are waiting for a phone call from John Henry to concede the division.

Competitors: The Twins beat the Yankees (although according to Hank, the Twins' opponent tonight is irrelevant), and the Rays and White Sox are winning.

NL: The Phillies lead the Dodgers 6-1 in the 2nd. Ryan Howard, Greg Dobbs (not pinch-hitting) and Jayson Werth have each hit two-run homers. Mets won; Marlins lost.

Shrewd acquisitions

For the second straight night, mid-season pickups starred for the SoxandPhils.

Country Joe Blanton picked up his first National League win with his first solid start in three outings for the Phillies. And Jason Bay continued to slug in his new digs. He is quickly earning the type of appreciation that makes you understand why Manny Ramirez reportedly wanted to stay.

Since I've been accused of ignoring the Phils, we'll start in the senior circuit. Blanton pitched well - four hits, two walks, one earned with five strikeouts over seven innings. He got his NL ERA under five (4.80). It didn't matter that the Phillies offense no-showed tonight; solo homers by Greg Dobbs and Ryan Howard were enough for the 2-1 win over the Cardinals.

The Marlins won but the Mets lost, so the Phillies lead the now-in-second-place Marlins by 1.5 and the third-place Mets by two.

Red Sox: Jon Lester won his 10th as the Sox blew out the A's 12-2. Bay gave the Sox the lead in the 1st with a three-run homer. He scored another run on a walk. All starters had a hit. Addition by subtraction.

The Rays and Yankees won; Twins lost. We still trail the little doodles (my affectionate nickname for small-market teams trying to defy the odds) by three. We lead the Twins for the Wild Card by a half game and the Yankees by 4.5.

Seems like old times

We missed the drama today to visit with some friends (thanks for the good eats and nice afternoon, Brian and Liza). The Phillies had an old-fashioned comeback, and the Red Sox are having a really old-fashioned, embarrassing series against the Yankees.

When we first checked on the score, it was 9-3 Braves. Cole Hamels had just given up nine runs in the 4th inning. We joked that young Cole was tired of having his teammates cost him wins, so he was taking matters into his own hands. But the Phils came back with seven runs in the 5th, capped by a three-run, pinch-hit home run by Greg Dobbs to take a 10-9 lead, making reliever Adam Eaton a victor once Brad Lidge nailed down the save, redeeming himself after last night's debacle. I'd like to say that I hope this is the start of something good, but I'm getting tired of saying that - especially when they couldn't capitalize on Tuesday's comeback against the Mets.

I do hope that Joe Blanton has an impressive home debut tomorrow and that we can see a win and be in our car before the thunderstorms arrive.

Red Sox: Things are starting to look bleak. (I know, no complaining for five years after winning a championship). A truly awful performance by Tim Wakefield and the bullpen in a 10-3 loss to the Empire, which is now just one game behind us. Manny Ramirez played. He's not suspended. He's not traded. I don't care. I just want resolution.

Reminder: Watch the Orioles tomorrow. I can't decide if I'm rooting for or against them. ... Jimmy Rollins' MTV Cribs episode debuts tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.