Get out the map

Too busy to write; we're heading to the Galapagos Islands to make sure the Phillie Phanatic's mom makes it to Philly for Mother's Day.

Happy anniversary

The other day in the mall, Christine spotted a family - the father had a Chase Utley shirt on while his boys wore Red Sox hats. "They're just as screwed up as our family," she said.

"Nah," I replied. "They're just products of '04."

I smiled, thinking these two young boys were like the legions who became Bulls fans in the 1980s. My seminal Red Sox moment occurred 22 years ago today. Here's the story.

Although he's turned out to be the biggest ass in baseball, I can never forget that without Roger Clemens striking out 20 on my ninth birthday, I would be rooting for some other team like the Blue Jays, and then Christine and I would really have problems.

I know, I have to finish this series and induct the roider into my Hall of Fame of antiquated Red Sox garb, but it's hard to find the time and right mix of emotion.

Taking a day off

The Red Sox and Phillies are off today, so we're taking a day off, too.

Where's the O?

Today Josh Beckett struck out 13 in seven innings. He gave up two runs, but the Red Sox got shut down by James Shields and the Tampa Bay Rays. OK, baseball gods, you've proven that the Red Sox are not unstoppable - now give me back my offense.

Christine feels OK about her squad despite today's loss against the Pirates. The Phillies finished their road trip 5-2 and hopefully have turned a corner.

At least we did our part for charity today.

Administrative notes: Sorry for the brevity on the blog last week. It may be worse this week, but then we'll be back to normal. Hopefully the Sox are also back to normal by then.

Young Clay is growing up

We flipped the Red Sox game on the radio in between running some errands. The announcer noted in the third inning the Tampa Bay Rays were still looking for their first hit against the young right-hander.

I asked aloud if Clay Buchholz could do it again. He didn't, but I'll take eight innings, three hits and nine strikeouts. Too bad he gave up a two-run homer in the 8th for a complete game loss. And too bad the stinkin' offense couldn't score some runs for him, like the Phillies did for young Kyle Kendrick against the Pirates. Hey, Ryan Howard even chipped in with a home run.

Bumped, but not beaten

I wish continued luck in the playoffs to the Flyers and Sixers, who beat the Pistons again tonight, 95-75. But I won't be too upset when their seasons end. Once again, the Phillies were bumped to CN8, so I was stuck with just the radio broadcast.

The game started out great, and the Phils were ahead 5-0 when I went outside to help Greg finish off the shed. So I definitely was not expecting a 6-5 game when I checked on the score a while later. Then again, it wasn't completely shocking, considering that Adam Eaton was pitching. Todd Zolecki's description reminds us of Eaton's start on Sunday, when he also pitched well early in the game and then gave up multiple extra-base hits in one inning.

Luckily, the best bullpen in the National League pitched excellent for the rest of the game, and the Phils won the first game of the weekend series.

Not as much luck with the Red Sox bullpen tonight. Mike Timlin blew it for the Red Sox in the 11th, losing to the Rays, 5-4.

Too tired to care right now

Remember that shed we bought at the end of March? We came home from a funeral this afternoon and decided today was the day to tackle it. We figured it would take only a few hours. We were wrong, and we didn't hit a breaking point until 10:20 tonight.

We had the Phillies on the radio this afternoon as we worked, so we heard about another clutch hit from Pat Burrell and another dominating outing by the bullpen against the Brewers. The Red Sox used to have a dominating bullpen. I, along with the debuting Justin Masterson, wonder what happened to it.

OK, the Angels got some revenge for last year's ALDS, and I've been humbled. Now it's time to get back to dominating.