Red Sox Tiger Rebel Truth

How Quickly Things Changed

2011-11-22T19:35:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that for all intents our season at Ole Miss is over. It's also difficult to comprehend the complete collapse of the Rebel football program at the hands of Houston Nutt. After Nutt achieved significant success at Arkansas, most Ole Miss fans, including Yours truly, were thrilled when he signed with the University of Mississippi. When the Rebs went 9-3 in his first two seasons, including wins over LSU, Florida and Tennessee and 2 wins in the Cotton Bowl, Oxford elation was unbounded. But these results, many suggested, came with Orgeron recruited players. Although we agree Orgeron is not a head coach, he is a recruiter par excellence . But Nutt was unable to maintain that level of intensity, and the performance on the field reflected the lack of talented young players.
Part of the problem is the old saw of having to compete with 2 other major colleges in a small state, something Nutt had to contend with at Arkansas. Both Southern Miss and MSU had young and enthusiastic new coaches who were consistently able to out recruit Ole MIss, thus making the past two seasons the most dismal in our history.
The football was woeful, but the partying on the Grove was also disappointing. With the Rebels playing poorly, many of our friends just did no show up. But they were there in force this weekend for the LSU game, a contest that Ole Miss fans still consider a bitter rivalry although to LSU the rivalry has lost much of its luster. The stands were filled with lusty Rebel fans, too. The team seemd poissed of a noble effort at upset. However, when the Ole Miss QB threw an intercepetion which was returned for a TD, the crowd could sense the wind going out of the Rebel sails. After a long losing season, the red and blue no longer had their hearts in it. The final score 59-3 was no indication of the difference between these two teams and How far the Ole Miss program needs go to just be competetive again.
Although I hate to see it, it is time for Nutt to go. But a clean house also needs to take place. The coaching staff that was not able to recruit should be let go. Ole Miss needs coaches who can attract talent, locally and nationally.
Many cry for the firing of Pete Boone, putting him in the middle of the team's woeful performance. That may be true, but I can't see how an athletic director can be responsible for the performance of a football team. He hired Nutt, but at the time we were all thrilled. Were we all wrong? I don't think so.
I have my own favorties for the job, but I'll discuss that in my next bleg.

Ole Miss LSU Game

2009-12-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

Here is a video of our tailgating experience at the LSU Ole MIss Game:

Red Sox Star Dominick Dimaggio Dies at 92

2009-05-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Former Boston Red Sox great Dom DiMaggio died Friday morning. He was 92 years old.

The Red Sox said DiMaggio, known as the "Little Professor" because of his eye glasses and 5-foot-9 frame, died at his Massachusetts home due to complications from a recent bout with pneumonia.

"Dom DiMaggio was a beloved member of the Red Sox organization for almost 70 years," said Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry in a statement. "Even after his playing days, Dom's presence at Fenway Park together with his teammates Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr and Johnny Pesky on numerous occasions reminded us all of a glorious Red Sox era of years past. He was a great teammate and an even better human being. His loss saddens us all but his contributions to the glory and tradition of our ballclub will forever be etched in the annals of Red Sox history."

DiMaggio was a seven-time All-Star center fielder in an 11-year career with the Red Sox from 1940 through 1953 -- with three years lost to military service. He still owns the club record for the longest hitting streak -- 34 consecutive games in 1949.

His streak was broken when brother Joe caught a sinking liner in the eighth inning of a 6-3 Red Sox victory over the New York Yankees on August 9.

"Dom and I played together for 10 years and he certainly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame," said Red Sox legend and former teammate Johnny Pesky. "He was a great player and, most of all, a great friend. I will miss him terribly."

Dom DiMaggio was the youngest of three brothers that played Major League Baseball. Joe had a Hall of Fame career with the Yankees from 1936-51, while Vince played for five National League teams from 1937-46.

In 1,399 games, Dom DiMaggio batted .298 with 87 homers and 618 runs batted in. He helped the Red Sox to the 1946 World Series, which they lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.

DiMaggio is survived by his wife of 61 years, Emily, three children and six grandchildren.

Pair of doubles help Red Sox complete the triple

2009-05-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

With David Ortiz on second base, his Wall double just having landed, the scoreboard in center field played highlights from the other Boston teams' games. There was Glen Davis's shot. There were the Bruins winning. And there was Ortiz standing on second, clapping - whether for his frustration-breaking double or the Celtics, it was unclear.

There was - again - Jason Bay at home plate, mashing his own double to the Wall to score Ortiz with the winning run and complete the Boston sports trifecta as the hour grew late at Fenway Park last night.

"I think it was already pre-scripted," said Bay after the heart-stopping ninth inning had ended with the Red Sox still on top of the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3. "Someone said, upstairs, the way Boston sports had gone the first two games, it was a foregone conclusion."

But earlier, Ortiz had looked defeated, his helmet in hand, as he walked back to the dugout after popping up to end the fifth inning. He sat down, looking depressed and frustrated. Those feelings were gone by the eighth.

Against Tampa lefthander Brian Shouse, against whom he was hitting .400 (6 for 15), Ortiz smashed a pitch that hit off the scoreboard in left. It wasn't that first home run that he's been seeking. But it put him on second base, representing the run that would break a 3-3 tie. Ortiz took third on a wild pitch by replacement pitcher Dan Wheeler, and Bay then did what he has so often done these past weeks.

"They all still feel pretty good," Bay said. "There's hitting and then there's hitting when it counts. Like I keep saying, I don't expect to do it every time. But in those situations, you want to come through. Wanting and doing are two different things."

The Sox were up by a run and had their closer coming in for the ninth. But the euphoria over Ortiz and Bay nearly ended with Jonathan Papelbon.

Papelbon started the ninth with a called strike. Things went downhill from there. Four straight balls to Akinori Iwamura ensued, the walk putting the Rays second baseman on first. Papelbon then put Iwamura on second, his throw over to first skipping away from Jeff Bailey. Jason Bartlett lined a single into center, putting men on first and third with no outs.

But he struck out Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton, and Carl Crawford, all swinging, to end the game.

"That's just Papelbon's thing, his deception in his pitches," Upton said. "They look good, but they aren't strikes. We'll put it in the back of our heads, and then next time we see him, it will definitely be something we think about."

Pat Burrell put it succinctly: "Frustrating loss."

For Papelbon, though, it was vintage. He found an extra gear in a situation that left no room for error.

"I basically put myself in a situation where I had to go into punchout mode," Papelbon said. "That's not always the situation I want to be putting myself in, but it is what it is."

"Pap really turned into Pap," manager Terry Francona said. "He kept his composure, he didn't get frustrated, he attacked with what he wanted to do, he elevated with really, really good finish on his fastball."

The Sox had taken a two-run lead in the fourth, but the Rays tied it with runs in the fifth and sixth. In that sixth, though, they had the bases loaded with one out and could score only once.

And a blow had already been struck to the Sox, with Dustin Pedroia joining the ranks of the injured when he aggravated his right groin on a swing in the third inning. It had been bothering him since he hurt himself getting out of the way of a pitch last week.

But the Sox looked all right in the fourth. After two strikeouts to start the inning, Bailey rifled a pitch off the wall in center for a double. Jason Varitek then doubled to left, scoring Bailey, and a ball off the bat of Nick Green dropped behind Iwamura and in front of Ben Zobrist. It was initially ruled an error on Iwamura, then reversed, giving Green an RBI single.

The first Sox run came on a second-inning double by Bay and a fielder's choice by J.D. Drew. The Rays had started the scoring in the first with an infield single by Crawford that turned into a run after a Wall single by Burrell, as Crawford covered the full 270 feet from first.

Though the Sox were able to get something going against Matt Garza - who had one-hit them over 7 2/3 innings the last time - it still came down to the bullpens. Ortiz came through in a late-inning spot, a bit of the old Ortiz coming out.

But then, a bit of the old Papelbon came out as well. With a flight to California looming, there were appreciative teammates in the clubhouse once the game finally ended.

"I'm sure there's a lot of guys in here that will give him a little pat on the back," said Bay. "I'll definitely be one of them."

Jason Bay homer sends Boston Red Sox past Cleveland Indians

2009-04-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

Jason Bay watched Kerry Wood's first fastball, a stitched, spinning blur, whiz past without taking a swing.

He watched the next one, too.

All the way into the bleachers.

Detroit's Curtis Granderson beats the throw from New York pitcher CC Sabathia to first baseman Mark Teixeira during the sixth inning Monday. The Central Division-leading Tigers won, 4-2, for their third straight victory.
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Bay took another star closer deep, hitting a three-run homer in the ninth inning off Wood as the Red Sox won their 11th straight, 3-1 over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

Down one strike, Bay pulled a 99-mph heater from Wood (0-1) into the left-field seats as Boston extended its longest winning streak since a 12-gamer in 2006.

"The guy throws like 100 miles an hour," Bay said. "You have to put it your mind to try and hit a mistake. I got a fastball up over the plate, and I didn't miss it."

Bay's third hit sent the Red Sox to another drama-filled win. They were coming off an emotional three-game sweep at Fenway Park over the rival New York Yankees, a series that began with Bay connecting for a two-run, two-out homer in the ninth off Mariano Rivera.

First Rivera. Now Wood. Bay's afraid he's going to end up on someone's hit list.

"There's going to be a bounty out on me," he said with a laugh.

In his last four games, Bay has nine hits with two homers and nine RBIs.

Wood replaced starter Cliff Lee, who shut out the Red Sox for eight innings, to start the ninth.

He walked Dustin Pedroia to open the ninth and gave up David Ortiz's bloop single to center before Bay pounced on a pitch Wood wishes he could have back.

"It was a matter of missing my spot," Wood said.

"Good hitters hit those pitches, bad hitters hit those pitches. Cliff shuts them down for 106 pitches, then I throw 12, and we're down 3-0. It's not good to waste a great performance by your ace pitcher.

"I didn't do my job."

Lee and Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield matched strikes and zeros for seven innings.

Lee went 22-3 last season with the last loss in Boston on Sept. 23. The left-hander, though, was in award-winning form, allowing five hits in eight innings. He walked none and struck out five.

"That was the Cy Young guy from last year," Bay said. "He was around the plate and getting outs with that fastball. The radar gun says 92-93, but he's got some life on it, and it plays a little bit harder than that."

The Indians have dropped six of eight.

2009-04-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend to be a New Orleanean! What with the Jazz Fest, Zurich classic and the Hornets playoff game as well as all of the other choice events that regularly populate the Crescent City calendar. Thursday night was the regular meeting of the Round Table Club where my friend Sam Cashio expounded on the history of Thoroughbred breeding. And of course in addition to the Hornets victory over Denver, the Ole Miss Rebels took two out of three from #1 ranked Georgia, LSU beat Auburn 3 straight, and the Red Sox swept the hated Yankees in three thrilling ball games. How could it get any better?

Sox win 10th straight, sweeping Yanks

2009-04-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

It was a rivalry weekend in which the Red Sox provided countless forms of excitement for their fans.

There was a walk-off win on Friday night despite a two-run deficit with two outs in the ninth, a slugfest victory on Saturday to overcome a six-run deficit and finally a 4-1 triumph on Sunday that included an electrifying straight steal of home by Jacoby Ellsbury.

Just like that, the red-hot Red Sox swept the Yankees in this three-game set to run their winning streak to 10 games.

"It was not the most direct route to win those games, but ultimately it came against a huge rival in the division," said Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay. "We came in with the same record [as the Yankees]. There's a lot of positives, not just because it's the Yankees -- which is a big plus -- but we want to keep playing well."

The Red Sox's first double-digit winning streak since they went on a 12-game run from June 16-29, 2006, has come on the heels of a 2-6 start.

Having completed a 9-0 homestand, the Red Sox will open a nine-game road trip in Cleveland on Monday night.

"We've played great," said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "We've hit, we've pitched -- we've won a lot of different ways. When you're doing a lot of good things, you're going to win."

Sometimes it's not just good things, but extraordinary things.

Ellsbury's steal of home with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning came against Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte. It was the first steal of home by a Red Sox player since Jose Offerman on Aug. 30, 1999. Ellsbury became the first Boston player to register a straight steal of home since Billy Hatcher on April 22, 1994.

"What we have is a really fast player with some guts," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

With left-handed-hitting outfielder J.D. Drew at the plate and the count at 1-1, Ellsbury got a big lead and bolted just as Pettitte went into his windup. The center fielder went in headfirst to beat Jorge Posada's tag. The pitch was a called strike.

"On the previous pitch, I saw Andy go into his windup," Ellsbury said. "I was joking around with [third-base coach] DeMarlo [Hale] that I could steal home, and it was just one of those situations where it was bases loaded and J.D. up. If I go, I have to make it. But I took the chance, and fortunately I made it."

There were no signs relayed from the dugout to Hale. Ellsbury went on his own.

When Ellsbury crossed home, the Red Sox had a 3-1 lead. Drew promptly drilled a ground-rule double into the corner in right to make it a three-run lead.

"Like I said, it was a huge pick-me-up," said Bay. "It's better than a base hit or a home run. It's something that -- baseball is a game that's hard to play on emotion. But that right there was kind of like a huge infusion of energy. It was one of those times in the game where momentum shifts, and that was a pretty obvious one."

Swing man Justin Masterson, making his second start in place of injured right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, turned in another strong performance. Masterson went 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and one run, walking one and striking out four while throwing 99 pitches.

"He was terrific," said Francona. "He attacked the strike zone, he changed speeds -- I thought he had good depth to his slider. He threw a couple of changeups and got his fastball by a couple of guys."

Their bullpen spent after the chaos of the previous two games, the Red Sox went to some new faces but got good results. Left-hander Hunter Jones recorded the final two outs of the sixth inning in his second Major League appearance.

Michael Bowden, also pitching his second Major League game after being activated just for Sunday's game, gave the Red Sox a big lift with two shutout innings.

"Tonight was particularly satisfying," Francona said. "We went to Hunter Jones, and he got big outs. Michael Bowden comes in and gets outs. We didn't have a whole lot of different guys to go to, but it was very satisfying. We did enough to win tonight, and that's what we wanted to do."

With closer Jonathan Papelbon unavailable because of his recent workload, Takashi Saito came on for his second save, completing the sweep.

"It's nice to sweep anybody," said Pedroia. "But we know they're going to be there in the end. We've just got to keep playing good baseball."

Hornets must Get Physical to Battle Denver Tonight

2009-04-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

A few things to watch for in Game 4, as the Hornets attempt to even the series prior to their Tuesday’s flight to Denver for Wednesday’s Game 5 at the Pepsi Center:
1) Can the Hornets maintain their level of offensive aggressiveness from Game 3?
An interesting stat from Hornets radio host Joe Block: Over the past two seasons, New Orleans has never attempted 30-plus free throws in consecutive games. The Hornets were 28-for-35 at the foul line on Saturday, after finishing 28th out of NBA 30 teams during the regular season in total free-throw attempts. New Orleans is more reliant on jump-shooting than most NBA clubs, which partly explains its relative lack of trips to the charity stripe. But when the outside shots aren’t falling for the Hornets, they become infinitely more beatable when they’re not trying to drive to the basket. In this series, not settling for perimeter shots has been even more imperative, because Denver’s fast-break attack can be fueled by long rebounds three-point misses that give the Nuggets’ transition game a head start.
2) How will physical play affect Game 4?
Although there has been more drama in a few other 2009 first-round series (especially in Celtics-Bulls, which is shaping up as a classic so far), Nuggets-Hornets has arguably featured more hard fouls and testy moments than any of the eight matchups. There were three flagrant fouls during the second half of Game 3, along with two technical fouls. The atmosphere inside the New Orleans Arena on Saturday was about as intense as you can imagine, with a sellout crowd producing a decibel level that Hornets reserve big man Sean Marks described as “the loudest gym I’ve ever been in.” Players from both teams have said that they understand there has been nothing personal to some of the hard fouls, and that the contact is just part of the territory in the playoffs. So far the Nuggets and Hornets have done a commendable job of staying composed despite a few cases of extraneous jawing and posturing on the floor.
3) How will the Hornets’ frontcourt respond to a subpar Game 3?
Much of the talk from Denver after Game 3 was that it was an encouraging day despite the loss, because the Nuggets played poorly yet still had a chance to win on Carmelo Anthony’s mid-range jumper in the final seconds. From a Hornets standpoint, however, they can point to winning a game despite one of the poorest combined showings of the season from their starting frontcourt of Peja Stojakovic, David West and Tyson Chandler. Stojakovic was 1-for-9 shooting and missed all of its jump shots; West had a miserable time around the basket, missing countless chippies; Chandler’s outing was limited to just 18 minutes due to constant foul trouble. West did end up with decent numbers of 19 points and nine rebounds before fouling out, but New Orleans essentially received no production from its small forward and center. If both Stojakovic and Chandler can make a larger impact tonight, the Hornets’ chances of equaling the series improve drastically.
Other notes from Hornets shootaround this morning in the Arena:
• It’s uncertain how much James Posey will be affected, if at all, by the sprained knee he sustained in Game 3. “He’s going to give it everything he’s got, but I have no idea what to expect tonight,” Byron Scott said. Scott added that if Posey’s minutes need to be reduced, Julian Wright, Devin Brown or Morris Peterson will likely move into the rotation.
• Chris Paul said the knee injury that resulted from his fast-break collision with J.R. Smith in Game 3 will not impact his play tonight. “I’m good to go,” Paul said.
• Tyson Chandler mentioned that after Game 2’s defeat, Posey entered the Hornets’ locker room and told his teammates to “keep fighting” and not think that the series is over. Posey was part of the 2006 NBA champion Miami Heat, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Dallas. Based on the physicality of Nuggets-Hornets so far, a reporter jokingly asked Chandler if the “keep fighting” suggestion by Posey was meant to be taken literally. A grinning Chandler responded, “No, not at all. I can’t afford (the fines). I’ve got to be able to send my kids to school.”
• Chandler said he heard Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups visited Jazz Fest on Sunday, but did not receive a warm welcome from New Orleanians. Stressing that there is nothing personal to this series, Chandler smiled and said that if he’d been standing near Billups during Jazz Fest, Chandler would’ve “tried to help him out a little bit” in dealing with the crowd.

Tigers Sweep Auburn at the Box

2009-04-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

LSU third baseman Tyler Hanover delivered a three-run homer, and right fielder Jared Mitchell collected three hits to lead the sixth-ranked Tigers to a 7-6 victory and SEC series sweep of Auburn Sunday afternoon in Alex Box Stadium.

LSU (33-12, 14-7 SEC) moved into a first-place tie with Georgia in the SEC overall standings following the Bulldogs’ loss to Ole Miss Sunday. Auburn fell to 25-19 overall and 8-13 in the conference despite a five-hit performance from shortstop Casey McElroy.

Hanover’s dinger, which came with two outs and runners in scoring position, was his fourth on the year. The freshman is now batting a robust .522 with two outs and runners in scoring position this season.

In addition, second baseman DJ LeMahieu and center fielder Mikie Mahtook each finished with two hits, and catcher Micah Gibbs and first baseman Buzzy Haydel drove in one run apiece on RBI doubles.

Right-hander Daniel Bradshaw (3-0) recorded his third win of the season, hurling 2.1 innings out of the bullpen and giving up two earned runs. Freshman Matty Ott tallied his 10th save on the year as the freshman surrendered only one hit and gave up no runs in 1.1 innings.

The Tigers also received a big spark from sophomore Chad Jones, who made his collegiate pitching debut out of the bullpen. The southpaw entered at a critical juncture in the eighth inning, and after giving up a single, he fanned two lefties with the bases loaded.

“Tyler Hanover gave us the big hit of the game when we were down 4-2,” LSU head coach Paul Mainieri said. “He hit the three-run homer to give us the lead. Daniel Bradshaw did a pretty good job for a couple of innings there, but he kind of lost it in the eighth inning, so I pulled out the secret weapon (Jones).

“Once Chad started showing that he could throw strikes with his fastball, I felt really confident he could do the job. If he could get to an advantage count, I knew he could throw that slider, which can be a wicked pitch to left-handed hitters, and he just did a tremendous job.”

LSU notched two runs in the second to take an early 2-0 lead. Following a single by Mahtook and a walk to Gibbs, Haydel lined a double down the third base line to drive in a run. Left fielder Ryan Schimpf drove in another two batters later on a grounder to second.

Auburn struck back in the third with two runs to tie it at 2-2. First baseman Hunter Morris launched a two-run homer over the right field wall.

The Plainsmen scored two runs in the fifth to go up, 4-2 when LSU right-hander Paul Bertuccini hit left fielder Brian Fletcher with the bases loaded, and third baseman Wes Gilmer drew a walk in the next plate appearance.

However, Hanover put the Tigers back on top, 5-4, in the bottom of the frame with a three-run dinger to left. Mahtook followed with an infield single, and Gibbs drove him in with a double off the wall in right center to give the Tigers a two-run lead.

Auburn strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases with one out in the sixth, but LSU reliever Daniel Bradshaw retired the next two batters to pitch his way out of the jam and preserve the 6-4 advantage.

The Tigers added a run in the sixth as LeMahieu came through with a clutch, RBI single with two outs to bring home Mitchell.

After Jones’ back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded in the eighth, Auburn was able to close the gap with a two-run single by Fletcher off of Ott to cut the lead to 7-6, but Ott kept the Plainsmen off the scoreboard in the ninth to preserve the victory.

Ott forced second baseman Justin Hargett to ground into a 4-6-3 double play with one out and runners on first and second to end the game.

LSU returns to action Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) with a home game against in-state rival Tulane. The contest will be broadcast by Cox Sports Television and can be heard on the LSU Sports Radio Network (98.1 FM). In addition, live video, audio and stats will be available in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.

LSU 7, Auburn 6 (Apr 26, 2009 at Baton Rouge, La.)

Auburn.............. 002 020 020 - 6 11 0 (25-19, 8-13 SEC)
LSU.................... 020 041 00X - 7 11 0 (33-12, 14-7 SEC)

Rebels Take Series From No. 1 Georgia With 6-1 Win

2009-04-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Scott Bittle continued to perform masterfully on the mound while the Rebel offense out-hit the Bulldogs to a tune of 10-5 as No. 11 Ole Miss (32-12, 13-8 SEC) defeated No. 1 Georgia (33-11, 14-7 SEC) by a score of 6-1 to claim the weekend series.
Sunday’s crowd reached 8,219 fans to push the three-day total to 26,929 fans in attendance for the weekend series. It’s the largest three-game series attendance for the Rebels in school history.

Bittle (5-2) picked up the win as he worked 7.0 innings and held the Bulldogs to one run on five hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. The senior did not allow a hit from Georgia after the first batter of the third inning as the pitching staff combined to hold the Bulldogs hitless from that point on. Only one Georgia batter reached base in the final 7.0 innings.

Georgia starter Justin Grimm (2-3) suffered the loss as he allowed five runs - four earned - on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.

“It was a great baseball game today that topped off a great weekend,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “That was a tremendous effort by Scott Bittle - to do what he did with the three hits in the first before hanging in there and really holding them off. I thought Justin Grimm did a great job, but we were able to squeak out a few runs against him.

“The crowd really took over when we loaded the bases (in the sixth). It’s not often you see that in a college baseball game, but I think that certainly happened today.”

Georgia got on the board in the first inning for the third time on the weekend with a single run to open the game. Colby May came up with a single before moving to second on a single from Rich Poythress and then scoring on a single from Joey Lewis.

Ole Miss answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Jordan Henry singled before stealing second and then moved to third on a sac bunt from Logan Power. He then scored on a single from Matt Snyder. Snyder then scored two batters later on a fielding error in right field on a high fly ball from Kyle Henson that was dropped, allowing the freshman to score from first and give the Rebels the 2-1 lead.

Ole Miss never trailed again.

The Rebels got a surprising run in the fourth inning when Michael Hubbard hit an inside-the-park home run to push the lead out to 3-1. Hubbard hit the ball deep to left center where it bounced off the wall. Hubbard then beat the relay in for the score.

Ole Miss added three runs in the sixth for the final margin of victory at 6-1. Henson opened the inning with a single before taking second on a wild pitch. Zach MillerTaylor Hashman to load the bases with no outs. then drew a walk before a passed ball advanced both runners to scoring position. Georgia then went to its bullpen for Justin Earls, who walked pinch-hitter

Georgia again went to its bullpen for Jeff Walters who struck out Kevin Mort, but saw Evan Button lay down a bunt single that scored Henson and gave Ole Miss the 4-1 lead as all runners advanced safely, keeping the bases loaded. Henry then came up with a two-RBI single up the middle to score Miller and Hashman and give the Rebels the 6-1 lead.

Bittle then held the Bulldogs off the board in the seventh, while David Goforth and Jake Morgan closed out the eighth and ninth, respectively, to secure the win.

Ole Miss will return to action on Tuesday night when the Rebels will face Southern Miss at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

Rebels Rally To Down #1 Georgia 10-8, Pull Even In Series

2009-04-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

A day after watching Georgia come up with a big hit in a critical situation, the Rebels pulled off a little magic of their own as No. 11 Ole Miss (31-12, 12-8 SEC) rallied in the eighth to defeat No. 1 Georgia (33-10, 14-6 SEC) by a score of 10-8 on Saturday.

With 9,478 fans on their feet in the eighth inning and the game tied at eight, Logan Power came up with a two-RBI double to right field to score Evan Button and Zach Miller and push the Rebels to a 10-8 lead. The attendance was the second largest ever at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

The Rebels scored three runs in the inning, sparked by a Kevin Mort single to open the frame. With a runner on, Georgia went to the bullpen to for Justin Earls. A wild pitch moved Mort to second before Evan Button came up with an RBI single to tie the game at eight.

Jordan Henry then flew out for the second out of the inning before Button then moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on a passed ball. A walk of Zach Miller put two men on before Power came up with the big hit that drove in both runs and gave the Rebels the lead.

Jake Morgan then entered the game and closed out the ninth, retiring all three batters in order to pick up his sixth save of the season and clinch the win. Brett Bukvich (6-1) picked up the win in relief as he worked 0.1 innings and struck out the final out of the eighth inning before the Rebels would rally in the bottom half of the inning.

Earls (0-1) suffered the loss for the Bulldogs as he gave up two runs on two hits with a walk and a strikeout after entering the game with the Rebels trailing by one and a runner at first.

“There were lots of heroes today,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “Phillip Irwin had a tough game without his best stuff, but he gutted it out and gave us a lot of innings. Offensively we were able to get some big hits with runners in scoring position, which we weren’t able to do Friday night. We got the crowd into it. It was very loud on the field. We got some runners on , did some things offensively and got them into the game.”

Georgia scored two runs in the first inning for the second straight day as Bryce Massanari hit a two-run shot that scored Matt Cerione and gave Georgia the 2-0 lead. Cerione reached on a walk to open the game.

Ole Miss answered in the bottom of the first as Miller drew a walk then scored from first on a double to right field from Matt Smith.

The Bulldogs answered in the third as back-to-back singles put runners on and a fielding error at second pushed one run across and left runners at the corners. A sac fly from Poythress scored Cerione for the second run of the inning before back-to-back doubles from Massanari and Johnathan Taylor notched a third run and gave Georgia a 5-1 lead.

Ole Miss again answered, pushing two runs across the plate in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 5-3. Tim Ferguson opened the inning with a home run before a Henry walk and a Miller double scored the second run of the inning and cut the lead to two.

The Rebels then claimed the lead in the fourth with a three run inning that saw Ole Miss jump out to a 6-5 lead.

Georgia again had an answer, as Massanari came up with his second home run of the day to knot the game at six in the fifth inning.

The Bulldogs moved out to an 8-6 lead in the seventh when Poythress reached on a single, only to see Massanari come up with his third home run of the day to plate two more runs for the Bulldogs.

The Rebels then pushed a run across in the seventh to cut the lead to one when Smith came up with a two-out double and scored a batter later on a single to left field from Kyle Henson. The run pulled the score to 8-7 in favor of the visiting team.

That’s when Ole Miss dug down and came up with its rally, using three hits to push three runs across the plate and take the lead for good.

Ole Miss and Georgia will face-off again at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in the rubber-match as each team fights to claim the weekend series.

Sox Bats Prevail Over Yanks

2009-04-25T19:36:00.001-07:00

There were more dizzying dramatics for the Red Sox against their rivals on Saturday, when the truest form of a slugfest unfolded.

Even after sustaining an early 6-0 deficit, the Red Sox found a way to outbash the Yankees, 16-11, in a wild contest at Fenway Park.

Red Sox-Yankees
Sat.: BOS 16, NYY 11
• Sox outslug Yanks
• Smoltz, Dice-K better
• Yanks restock roster
• A-Rod's next step
• Batboy enjoys series
Fri.: BOS 5, NYY 4
• Youk wins it for Sox
• Papi: No ill will
• Van Every fills void
• Lugo eyes Monday
• A-Rod improving
• Wang to DL
• Tex on the scene
• Ransom to DL
• Bruney examined

In a game billed as a pitchers' duel between Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett -- two right-handers who were phenoms on the same Marlins staff a few seasons ago -- neither power pitcher had much of anything.

This was a game dominated by the bats, as the American League East heavyweights traded haymakers all afternoon and into the early evening.

Mike Lowell's three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning was the one hit that stood up, giving the Red Sox their ninth straight win -- a franchise record for April -- and a chance to sweep the Yankees in this three-game series on Sunday night. The homer from Lowell, who finished with six RBIs, came against right-hander Jonathan Albaladejo.

Making the loss more painful for the Yankees was the fact they held a two-run lead with two outs in the ninth inning on Friday night, only to lose that game in 11 innings.

Aside from Lowell's game-winner, perhaps Boston's most clutch hit of the day came from Jason Varitek. The captain turned on Burnett's 96-mph heater and launched it into the visitors' bullpen with two outs in the fourth inning to cut New York's lead to a mere run at 6-5.

Burnett didn't settle down in the sixth, as the Red Sox went right back at him. Jacoby Ellsbury opened the inning with a game-tying homer, again into the Yankees' bullpen. Dustin Pedroia (single), David Ortiz (double) and Kevin Youkilis (hit by pitch) then combined to load the bases with nobody out. Though Burnett got a brief reprieve when J.D. Drew hit into a 3-2-3 double play, Bay lofted a two-run double off the Green Monster to give the Red Sox their first lead of the day, 8-6.

Improbably, Beckett had a chance to get the win. But the right-hander's misery continued when the Yankees jumped right back on him, getting a Derek Jeter walk and a two-run homer by Johnny Damon that tied the game.

Back and forth it went. In the bottom of the sixth, the Red Sox took the lead again on a sacrifice fly to right by Ortiz. The bad news of that go-ahead run was that Pedroia strangely tried to tag and go to second and was thrown out to end the inning.

That was just the first unfortunate event for Pedroia, who uncharacteristically let a routine grounder from Damon with two outs go through his legs in the top of the seventh for a two-run error that put the Yankees back ahead, 10-9.

Again, though, the Red Sox would have an answer.

Sox Primed For Yankee Invasionthis Weekend

2009-04-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

With the Yankees coming to town for the first time, the stars happen to be aligned just right for the Red Sox. No, not the stars that hover above, but rather the ones that fill out Boston manager Terry Francona's lineup.

The renewal of the rivalry -- which takes place Friday night at Fenway --- couldn't come at a better time for the Red Sox, who look more like the Red Socks these days.

In case you haven't noticed, the Red Sox bring a seven-game winning streak into this series, and the catalyst has been an offense that has gone from an early-season funk to a steady display of mashing.

There will be no better test for Boston's surging sticks than the Yankees' starting pitchers, which will consist of Joba Chamberlain, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte in this series.

What has gotten into an offense that combined to hit .213 over the first seven games, only to bring its overall average up to .275 just eight games later?

A big part of it is venue. When the Red Sox were at their worst at the plate, they were on a six-game West Coast swing. The revival has come at Fenway, where even when the weather is cold, the ever-inviting Green Monster hovers just 310 feet from home plate.

"We play good at home," said Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. "Everybody is in a good mood. Everybody is locked in right now."

That includes Ortiz. Though he has yet to go deep, the big man has been wearing out the Monster of late. Typically when Ortiz starts going to the opposite field, it is a sign that he is primed for a breakout.

"I'm swinging hard -- just in case I hit it," quipped Ortiz.

There is a significant list of teammates who are also shredding the ball.

The one guy who has been mashing since, seemingly, the national anthem on Opening Day, is Kevin Youkilis. The first baseman is hitting .429 with 14 runs scored, six doubles, four homers, 12 RBIs, a .522 on base percentage and a .750 slugging percentage.

"He always puts together consistent at-bats," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. "This is a streak that's ridiculous. He knows the count, knows what he's looking for, and when he gets his pitch, he doesn't miss it."

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"If you're scoring a lot of runs, it means you're winning. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going and maintain this hot streak we're on right now. There's a lot of guys in this lineup that are really hot right now."
-- Tim Wakefield

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Then there is Lowell. Offseason hip surgery was going to hinder his production? It doesn't appear so. The gritty third baseman is back in that 2007 mode where he can smell RBIs. Lowell has driven in 16 runs to lead the team, this to go along with three homers and a .315 average.

Not bad for a No. 7 hitter. That placement alone is indicative of the depth of Boston's lineup.

"I know, man. No [kidding]. They should move him to third," quipped Ortiz, who occupies the three-hole for the Sox. "We got him back there just to fool people."

But very few Red Sox hitters are getting fooled these days. And as much as both rivals talk about the importance of pitching, Lowell notes that it could be the most locked-in offense that prevails in this initial series.

"I think the key is going to be which offense is going to be able to take advantage of mistakes," Lowell said.

While Lowell, Youkilis and Ortiz have been getting a lot of accolades the last few days, the reigning American League's Most Valuable Player is also catching fire. Dustin Pedroia, who was hitting .179 on April 15, is up to .286.

"It's just a matter of getting more at-bats," Pedroia said. "There was a small sample of at-bats early and guys want to do so well. Once you get to the grind of the season, you start having better at-bats and the numbers to show for it."

While media and fans will dissect the fluctuations of the offense all year long, there is a simple fact that hits home to Ortiz to demonstrate the recent hot streak.

"We've got good hitters. Good hitters are always going to hit, no matter what," Ortiz said. "I don't care what anybody has to say. Good hitters are always going to hit. You could have a whole bad month and then you have a good month -- not even a good month, you have two good weeks, and that bad month is in the past because everybody knows that you're hitting. That's how the game goes -- period."

And when the Red Sox are hitting, an attitude develops in the clubhouse.

"If you're scoring a lot of runs, it means you're winning," said Red Sox right-hander Tim Wakefield. "Hopefully we can keep the momentum going and maintain this hot streak we're on right now. There's a lot of guys in this lineup that are really hot right now."

Now the Red Sox just hope the Yankees get to experience just how hot.

Button's Offense Leads Rebels Over Eagles

2009-04-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

Evan Button had a big night for the Rebels, going 5-for-5 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored to help the offense lead No. 11 Ole Miss (30-11) to a win over Southern Miss (25-15) by a score of 8-4 on Wednesday at Pete Taylor Park.

It marks the first win in Hattiesburg for the Rebels since the 2001 season.

Button led the Rebels, who had 17 hits on the night. Six Ole Miss players posted multiple hits, including a 3-for-4 performance from Kyle Henson and a 2-for-3 performance from Kevin Mort. The bottom of the order came up with 10 hits, four RBI and five runs.

Rory McKean (5-1) picked up the win in relief for the Rebels as the junior entered in the fifth and worked 2.0 innings as he held Southern Miss to two runs - one earned - on four hits with a walk and a strikeout. David Goforth picked up his third save of the season as he worked the final 3 innings and held the Golden Eagles hitless while walking one and striking out five.

Seth Hester (2-2) suffered the loss for the Golden Eagles as he worked 2.0 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Southern Miss would go on to use six pitchers in the game.

“The bottom of the order did great for us tonight,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “Evan Button had a great night and it was nice to see that out of him. Kevin Mort continued to be Mr. Consistency and Kyle Henson had a great night as well.

“Our pitchers did a good job tonight as well, and David Goforth was tremendous at the end. He is super talented and just so athletic.”

Ole Miss got on the board in the second when Kyle Henson came up with an RBI double down the left field line to score Zach Miller. Miller singled before stealing second to get into scoring position for the Henson hit. Mort then singled to short, allowing Henson to move to third before Evan Button came up with an RBI single to score Henson and give the Rebels a 2-0 lead.

The Rebels added to the lead in the third inning when Matt Smith singled up the middle and drove in two more runs as Logan Power and Matt Snyder scored on the play. Power walked before moving to third on a double from Snyder.

Southern Miss rallied in the fifth as the Golden Eagles finally got to Bukvich and broke up the no-hitter. James Ewing drew a walk before moving to second on a single from Josh Fields. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before scoring on a double to right center from Corey Stevens. A single from Joey Archer put runners at second and third and sent the Rebels to the bullpen for Rory McKean.

McKean walked B.A. Vollmuth to load the bases before getting Travis Graves to ground into a double play at third as the Rebels got the lead runner at home and Graves at first. Taylor W.lker then flew out to right field to end the inning with Ole Miss up 5-2.

Ole Miss extended the lead again in the seventh when Smith scored from first on a double to the wall in centerfield from Miller. Smith singled to open the inning and get on base for Miller’s hit. Two batters later, Henson singled then scored from first on a double to left center from Kevin Mort to give the Rebels a 7-2 lead and send Southern Miss to the bullpen for Collin Cargill.

Evan Button then tripled off the wall in left to score Mort as Ole Miss took an 8-2 lead.

Southern Miss answered in the bottom of the frame as three straight singles pushed a run across and left runners at second and third with no outs on the board. The Rebels then turned to the bullpen for David Goforth. Goforth got the next three batters out with a strikeout, groundout and fly out - but a run scored on the groundout as Southern Miss cut the lead to 8-4.

The Golden Eagles would get no closer as Goforth held the home team in check down the stretch to preserve the win for the Rebels.

Ole Miss will return to action this weekend as the Rebels host No. 1 Georgia in a three-game series at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. First pitch on Friday night is set for 6:30 p.m. as Ole Miss will kick off a celebration of the newly renovated stadium and host a fireworks show immediately following the game.

Bittle Named Finalist For 2009 Lowe's Senior Class Award

2009-04-21T06:28:00.000-07:00

Right-hander Scott Bittle was named one of 10 finalists for the 2009 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award which honors senior who have committed four years of excellence both on and off the playing field, Lowes and the NCAA announced recently.

The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award – which is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School – is an award which has developed into one of the nation’s premier tributes to college seniors. The award, which began with basketball in 2001, is now in its third year with baseball.

The finalists were chosen by a media committee from a list of 30 candidates based on qualities that define a complete student-athlete. These four primary areas of criteria include: classroom, community, character and competition.

Nationwide balloting begins immediately to determine the third annual winner, who will receive the award from Lowe’s during the NCAA Men’s College World Series this June in Omaha, Nebraska. The nationwide voting concludes on May 31. Fan balloting is available on the award’s official website and will be combined with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award.

Fans can go vote at www.SeniorClassAward.com.

“It’s very flattering for Scott to be named as a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “But it’s also an honor for which he is certainly very deserving. He is having another tremendous season and once again, we would not be having the season we are having without him.”

Bittle has been the epitome of the traits put forth by candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. After battling through his sophomore season, Bittle returned for his junior year and helped lead his team to the program’s sixth straight NCAA Regional as he led the nation in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched and led the Southeastern Conference in strikeouts with 130. He also posted a 7-1 record with eight saves as he earned First Team All-America honors.

After being drafted by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2008 MLB Draft, Bittle opted to return to Ole Miss for his senior season. He began the season as a closer, but has since transitioned into the role of weekend starter to help anchor the weekend rotation.

Since moving into Sunday starter role, Bittle has posted a 3-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and has posted 38 strikeouts while allowing on four runs in 28.0 innings of work. He pitched a complete-game shutout of Kentucky with a career-high 13 strikeouts and was named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week for his efforts. He also turned in a streak of 21.1 scoreless innings pitched in the first three weekends as a starter covering games against LSU, Kentucky and South Carolina.

Papi & Red Sox on a Roll

2009-04-21T06:20:00.000-07:00

Batting just .170 with no home runs and 4 RBIs on the season, Ortiz was a mess. But Francona saw something, and said before the game, "I actually think it will be good for him" to face 6-foot-9-inch Baltimore lefthander Mark Hendrickson. " 'Cause it will force him to really stay on the ball. You hear lefties say it all the time: If you cheat a little bit, you don't just make an out, but they can embarrass you."

There was no embarrassment. There were no timid ground outs to the right side. Sure, there was one strikeout swinging on an 86-mile-per-hour fastball, but Ortiz also bashed a Wall double and a triple, driving in two runs, as the Red Sox thumped the Orioles, 12-1, with marathoners racing by. That made the Red Sox proud owners of a four-game series sweep and pushed themselves a notch ahead of the sorry O's.

While many in a crowd of 37,865 were downing beer at an early hour - that 11 a.m. start - Ortiz was attempting to prove to himself and to his semi-faithful that he was not done. Not at 33 years old, after his swing looked particularly slow against the fastballs of Koji Uehara Sunday.

"If you as a hitter slow down with 88 miles an hour [fastballs], that means you've got to go," Ortiz said. "But it's crazy how you can come after you get beat by 88, and come and hit 94. That means that it's not that you've got to go, it means that you've got to pull yourself together to keep working. This is a long season.

"I was late. It doesn't matter how hard the pitch was thrown. If you're late, you're late."

But while Ortiz proved that he can have an Ortiz game, he has not yet proven who he is now. It could be this way all year - beacons of hope in an otherwise steady downturn. Or he could start rolling, the bat speed picking up as the weather turns warmer. He said he "hasn't felt like this in years" physically.

"I've been working with my mechanics, man," Ortiz said. "I've been late, a little late with pitches, which is something that I normally don't do, and pitchers are taking advantage of it.

"It's got a little bit out of hand. But at this point you don't want to get frustrated. It just makes it worse. You want to make sure you get to the point where you like to be and where you need to be. It's the beginning of the season and you don't want to give up.

"I would like to swing like [Dustin] Pedroia - you don't have to worry about mechanics."

Pedroia, too, continued to break out of whatever funk he was in. And Jacoby Ellsbury. And Jason Varitek. All together, the Sox threw out 15 hits against a sad-sack Orioles pitching staff that must be glad to head back to Camden Yards. Fenway was not hospitable, the Orioles' fifth consecutive loss matching the fifth consecutive win for the Sox.

It was good, all the runs and the hits and a holiday crowd looking for amusement. But even as Justin Masterson was putting Daisuke Matsuzaka's shoulder injury out of the minds of the revelers, there were more injury concerns to contemplate. Rocco Baldelli left the game after the third inning with a mild left hamstring strain. Word came after the game that Jed Lowrie could be in for surgery in the next day or two, likely costing him half of a season.

Masterson's only blemish on his 5 1/3 innings and 84 pitches came in the third inning. Ryan Freel led off with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Felix Pie. After the pitcher knocked Freel out of the game with a pickoff attempt that hit him in the head, pinch runner Robert Andino scored on a two-out infield single by Cesar Izturis.

Six days after he saved the bullpen with four innings, Masterson showed off his fastball, getting up to 96 miles per hour, a velocity he had reached as a reliever but not as a starter.

"It's probably not fair to expect that," Francona said of Masterson's flexibility. "He was sharp from the very beginning. He maintained the velocity on his fastball, the life on his fastball, the depth on his breaking ball. Eleven o'clock in the morning start, there are a lot of things that he just went out and did. We're fortunate, we know that."

Fortunate, also, that the offense appears to be leaving those Mendoza Line batting averages behind.

The Sox got all they needed in the first inning, with a double by Ellsbury and a single by Pedroia, followed by that opposite-field double by Ortiz. Another run came in the second, when Varitek hit his third home run of the season, his first righthanded, as his batting average sits at an acceptable .250. (He declined, once again, to discuss his offense, as he has since spring training.)

Then came three runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Ortiz's two-run triple. And 12 batters came to the plate in the seventh, when the Sox scored six more runs to truly put the game away.

That's the offense they have had in the past, jumping on bad pitching. Whether they - and Ortiz - can do the same against a higher caliber of pitching remains to be seen. The bat belonging to the designated hitter might be speeding up. Or it might be continuing a precipitous decline.

"He swung the bat good today," Pedroia said. "He's got to build on that and keep moving forward. It's a long year. He's got 600 more at-bats left. The season's not 50 at-bats."

Tigers Lose Weekend Series to Vols

2009-04-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Exactly a year ago -- April 20, 2008 -- Paul Mainieri and the LSU Tigers left Alex Box Stadium after losing a home SEC series they felt they should have won.

Then they went out and won the final 16 games of the regular season to launch a magic carpet ride that didn't stop until the College World Series.

Flash forward 364 days to a new season, a new Alex Box Stadium, a different home SEC series and similarly frustrating results. Mainieri looked to the past for inspiration before leaving the ballpark Sunday night and heading out toward the future: a future with 16 regular-season games remaining.

"This is when we started our winning streak last year," Mainieri said. "This is when we caught fire last year, so maybe that will happen now starting Tuesday."

The situations are not perfect parallels. A year ago LSU lost the first two games of the Georgia series, then tied with the Bulldogs in the final game. That left the Tigers at 6-11-1 in the SEC, fifth place in the Western Division and 11th place overall.

This LSU team entered the weekend ranked No. 1 nationally and, for a time, was in sole possession of first place in the SEC West. The Tigers are tied with Ole Miss for second now (at 11-7), and they'll lose their No. 1 ranking when the polls update today, but they're still in much better position than a year ago.

"The first goal is to make the SEC tournament, and we're in a good position if we can have some success here," Mainieri said Sunday evening. "We want to win the SEC West, and we're right there in the midst of that. Georgia's two games ahead of us for the SEC championship, and they've got tough games ahead too.

"I think we're in good shape probably to earn a (regional) bid, and we're within striking distance of being a national seed."

None of those things seemed likely on April 20, 2008. Then, LSU started winning. The Tigers won the stay out of last place. Then they won to win the SEC West. Then they won for a shot at winning the regular-season championship, and failing that, they still became the No. 2 seed for the SEC tournament. They won to strengthen their case for a home regional one last time at the old Alex Box Stadium, and they won to make sure they could be ranked high enough to be at home for a super regional if they advanced. They won to go to Omaha.

They won 23 consecutive games, rewriting record books and wearing out the managers who kept washing the sunflower-gold jerseys the Tigers began wearing every day as good luck charms.

This team is hardly sitting in a precarious position. Unlike the 2008 team, this group is not hoping to rally to avoid an embarrassing lower-division finish. This club is a top-10 team that just lost an SEC series for the first time together.

"Everything's right out there in front of us," Mainieri said. "We just have to play well."

Another major difference between the 2008 and 2009 teams is all about expectations. Many had to recalibrate theirs for LSU baseball following a 2006 season without NCAA postseason play and a 2007 season without an appearance in either the SEC or NCAA tournaments.

When the Tigers languished in 11th place in the conference a year ago, it seemed it would take some time for Mainieri and his staff and recruits to bring LSU back to what it considers its rightful place in the college baseball landscape. As the winning streak grew, it exceeded expectations, and it was fun.

Going 1-for-3 in Omaha left some of the Tigers hungry for more. One of them was pitcher Louis Coleman, who chose to return for his senior season largely because he wanted one more change to help LSU win a national championship.

That amazing 23-game winning streak reignited high expectations in Baton Rouge. Preseason No. 1 rankings stoked passions. Suddenly, LSU baseball had something to try to live up to again, and the Tigers entered 2009 with a much different point of view than the one that welcomed the 2008 team to Opening Night.

When all of a sudden you're expected to do it, it has a way of releasing all kinds of sports-confidence equivalents of free radicals, the kinds of adrenaline-inspired demons and doubts and pressures and what-not. It happens when a Freshman All-America player gets to his sophomore season and finds he cannot carry a team as everyone expects. It happens when an unsung hero has songs written about him.

Consider LSU relief pitcher Nolan Cain. His was a career outing Sunday in the 9-4 loss to Tennessee. He came within one out of pitching the last five innings, and he shut out the Vols on two hits and two walks. He struck out seven, and he kept Tennessee hitters off balance while his teammates tried to rally the offense. The early 9-0 deficit was too great.

It also took all of the pressure off Cain. If he blew it and gave up a bunch of runs, who was going to remember? He inherited a nine-run deficit. No worries. Just go out there and pitch. Pitch he did.

Now, if Cain throws his next pitch with an SEC game on the line, will he look as sharp, as in command? If so, then he's probably turned a corner. If not, you could perhaps attribute part of his success Sunday to the lack of any real expectations.

That's not to say he didn't perform admirably. He did.

"He was very inspiring, and as happy as I was for our team because he kept us in the game, I was more happy for him," Mainieri said. "It was a good moment for him. I know right now he'd be very humble about it because we lost, and he would tell you that it doesn't matter, but to me it did matter. I was just happy for the kid to have a moment like that."

Mainieri continued.

"He's such a wonderful kid. He bleeds purple and gold. He loves this team. It was frustrating to him when he was hurt at the beginning of the year after we had thought we were really going to count on him at the beginning of the year.

"He was really competing for a starter's role, and he'd never really had that here. He had a really freaky arm, and nobody could figure out what the problem was. Then it got better, and he showed some glimpses of throwing well, and he's been a little inconsistent, but today he was outstanding."

His teammates, mostly, were not. Jared Mitchell, retired by an amazing P.J. Polk catch of a foul ball in the first inning, came to bat three more times and struck out each time. Mitchell struck out seven times in the three-game series, three times on called third strikes. The team's leadoff hitter leads the team in strikeouts with 40.

Speaking of leadoff hitters, Tennessee -- the worst team in the SEC -- retired six of nine LSU leadoff men Saturday and six of nine Sunday. The first man up each inning doesn't need to get on base for a team to win, but it doesn't hurt. The Vols put the leadoff man on base in each of the first four innings Sunday, and three of those scored as Tennessee built a 9-0 lead during that span.

In the Vols' 7-5 victory Saturday, Tennessee's leadoff men were 1-for-9 (with one reaching on an error), but LSU's season-high five errors more than offset that.

So, after a weekend that began with an impressive 18-3 victory against the Vols, LSU finds itself looking to take steps forward in a lot of areas.

"I'd like to see us solidify things defensively in the infield, and I'd like to see us swing the bats better and continue to see some good pitching," Mainieri said. "We just need to keep getting better in every phase. There's a lot of room for improvement."

Mitchell struck out in five consecutive at-bats at Alabama the weekend before the Tennessee series. He looks lost at the plate, especially against left-handed pitchers. Leadoff hitters should get on base, but more than that they should make contact. Even more than that, they should not let as many good pitches go by as Mitchell has done lately.

It's time Mainieri put someone else at the top of the batting order, but whom? It's not an easy choice, and not because there are so many worthy candidates. This team has yet to reveal any true leadoff men. Ryan Schimpf has had modest success in the role and was first in the batting order in 40 games last year. The early-season Leon Landry would be a strong candidate, but his slump is too recent for Mainieri to consider him the answer for the homestretch.

If Mainieri knew the answer Sunday night, he kept it to himself.

"I haven't put that kind of thought to it yet," he said. "Obviously something needs to be done. I don't know yet what I'm going to do. I'm going to sleep on it for the next day or two and come up with a plan."

He planned to discuss it today with his staff.

"He's hit well hitting leadoff too," Mainieri said. "There's been a couple of times I haven't hit him leadoff and I wished I had."

Mainieri said he's considering changing things up to take the pressure off Mitchell, but he said he's not going to give up on Mitchell.

"It seems like he's been 0-2 every at-bat, and when you're struggling that's what happens," Mainieri said. "It seems like you get in the hole 0-2 every time, and pitchers are making great pitches, and when you think they're balls, the umpires are calling them strikes.

"He'll come out of it. I don't have any doubt about that."

Don't be surprised to see a shakeup of the lineup as a whole, just to see what shakes loose. Mainieri hinted there would be more changes this week, but he wasn't specific.

This team is talented. Louis Coleman is Jared Bradford, the 2007 version, and Blake Dean is, once again, Blake Dean. Freshmen Mikie Mahtook and Tyler Hanover asserted themselves and inserted themselves into the lineup. There is no Matt Clark, but there are more potential Ryan Schimpfs, the 2008 on-a-tear edition. There is more overall pop if no home run champion.

Pitching has some issues. You saw that during the weekend, and you saw it before the weekend.

"Today we didn't win because we pitched very poorly through the first four innings of the game," Mainieri said Sunday. "To have a team that wins consistently, you have to pitch great every day. Of course, when you pitch great, there's no guarantee you're going to win. If you don't pitch great, there's a pretty good chance you're not going to win.

"So to have a very consistent team you have to have a deep pitching staff that has three or four solid starting pitchers and quality middle relief and a quality closer. Our pitching is OK in some areas, but in other areas we need improvement."

There is, every weekend in college baseball, the tendency to overreact. Win a series? Great. Lose a series? Horrible. The difference? Often, a razor-thin margin, such as a bloop single or a throwing error after an outstanding fielding play.

LSU is seemingly on an endless parade of weekend chances in which the Tigers go into Sunday with the chance to win or lose a series. Here they are, on April 20, 2009, in the mix for SEC divisional and regular-season championships.

It's a lot better place than LSU occupied on April 20, 2008. You and I both know what's different this time.

We all expected the Tigers to be at this place or better. They inherited that expectation from the 2008 version of themselves.

Diamond Rebels Down No. 20 Florida 5-3 To Claim Series

2009-04-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In a wild day at McKethan Stadium on Sunday, the Rebels came up with the key plays when they needed them as No. 16 Ole Miss (28-11, 11-7 SEC) defeated No. 20 Florida (26-14, 10-8 SEC) by a score of 5-3 in a game shortened by travel curfew.

The Rebels picked up the win in eight innings behind the pitching of Scott Bittle and Jake Morgan and some key at bats.

Bittle (4-2) picked up the win as he worked 6.0 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with six walks and eight strikeouts, while Morgan picked up his fifth save of the season. Morgan worked the final 2.0 innings and held the Gators to two hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Florida starter James Panteliodis (3-5) suffered the loss as he allowed three runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts. The Gators used four pitchers in the game.

Kyle Henson was big for the Rebels at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI as he came up with a two-run home run in the third inning to tie the game. Jordan Henry went 1-for-1 at the plate, but drew four walks on the afternoon and scored two runs. Henry also stole three bases on the afternoon as the Rebels stole six bases.

“We just ground it out today,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “Bittle struggled a bit early but he was close on his pitches. Then he settled in and really took control of the game. We got some key hits from there. Kyle (Henson) was tremendous and came up with the key home run and the hit to extend the lead. And then you look at Jordan Henry with all his walks and stolen bases today."

Florida struck first, scoring in the bottom of the first inning on a single through the left side from Adams that drove in Daniel Pigott from second. Pigott walked and then moved to second on a walk of Avery Barnes. A walk then loaded the bases before another walk pushed a second run across the plate for the Gators as Florida took a 2-0 lead on the Rebels. Bittle then got Hampton Tignor to fly out to end the inning with the home team leading by two runs.

Ole Miss tied things in the third when Kyle Henson hit a two-run home run to left center to tie the game. Jordan Henry walked in the previous at bat to get on base for the Henson hit that evened he score at two.

The Rebels took the lead in the fifth when Henry scored on a wild pitch from reliever Greg Larson. Henry walked to reach base - his third walk of the game - before stealing second. He then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Henson before scoring on the wild pitch. Logan Power, who was intentionally walked, moved to second on the wild pitch and then scored a batter later on a single from Zach Miller that escaped the grasp of a sprinting Josh Adams at second as Ole Miss took a 4-2 lead.

Florida rallied in the bottom half of the inning with two outs on the board. With men at first and second, Adams came up with his third hit of the day to push a run across and leave men at the corners with two outs and the Rebels holding to a 4-3 lead. Bittle struck out Brandon McArthur in the next at bat, however, to end the rally and keep Ole Miss in the lead.

The Rebels got the run back in the sixth when Tim Ferguson scored on an single to left from Henson. Ferguson singled and then stole second before Henry drew his fourth walk of the afternoon to bring Henson to the plate. Henson then came up with the RBI single to give the Rebels the 5-3 lead which would prove to be the final margin of victory.

Morgan then held the Gators off the board in the seventh and eighth as the Rebels claimed the win.

Ole Miss will return to action on Tuesday when the Rebels host UALR at 6:30 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

Lester Shots Down Orioles for 7 Innings as Sox win again 2-1

2009-04-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

The video surprised the Baltimore Orioles earlier this week while they prepared for yesterday's opponent. They watched Jon Lester's start April 13 in Oakland, Calif., and saw a different pitcher than they expected. His top velocity, they said, barely reached 90 miles per hour. "I said, 'Man, he lost something on his fastball or something,' " first baseman Aubrey Huff said.

Yesterday afternoon, Lester strode to Fenway Park's sun-splashed mound and fired a 96-m.p.h. fastball past Brian Roberts with the game's first pitch. He announced that he had lost nothing.

Lester shut out the Orioles over seven innings in a 2-1 victory yesterday before 37,869, vaulting the Red Sox to .500 and into a third-place tie with Baltimore. Cameo closer Takashi Saito added unwanted intrigue by allowing one run and moving the tying run into scoring position in the ninth, but he squirmed loose and the Red Sox won their fourth straight. Saito's strikeout of pinch hitter Gregg Zaun preserved Lester's jewel, which proved the 25-year-old ace's rocky start an aberration.

"He was back to his old self," Huff said. "It kind of caught you by surprise a little. I think he might have been a little [ticked] off at the 0-2 start. I've seen him some times, I don't know how many at-bats I have off him, but today is as good as I've seen him throw against us."

Lester insisted he had been pitching well, even while the results of his first two starts and what the Orioles saw on video suggested otherwise. He recorded an out past the sixth inning in neither start, both losses, and his ERA skyrocketed to 9.00. The A's roped 10 hits and scored six runs in six innings against him.

Between that start and yesterday, Lester changed nothing. "We really didn't think anything was wrong to fix," Lester said. "There was nothing to worry about, to fret on." He knew himself well.

Lester dominated the Orioles so thoroughly they never sniffed a run. Lester struck out nine, one shy of his career best. He surrendered four hits, all singles. Aside from those four singles, two balls left the infield. Two runners reached second base, and none reached third.

"It just reiterates in the back of your mind that, 'OK, nothing is wrong, I'm still OK,' " Lester said. "It was nice today to go out and throw the ball well again and get the results I wanted to."

His success, Lester said, stemmed from making in-game adjustments. Lester struggled to command his curveball early but he worried about the feel for the pitch, not the early returns. He gained confidence with his curve, and it became a weapon.

Lester struck out Ryan Freel swinging over a 79-mile per hour curveball to lead off the third inning. Stuck in one of the only jams he confronted, two men on with one out in the fifth, Lester faced Nick Markakis, the majors' RBI leader. Lester threw a curve with two strikes. Markakis watched it hook into the strike zone for strike three.

This spring, Lester honed his changeup, a pitch he rarely used last season. He threw the pitch without hesitation yesterday. The changeup forces batters to respect his fastball, and because it darts to the left side of the plate, it perfectly complements his cutter, which bites to the right.

"The big thing is when it's called or when I want to go to it, I have the confidence to throw it," Lester said. "Whereas last year, it was, 'Where is this pitch going to go?' I had no idea what it was going to do, if it was going to cut, if I was going to bounce it, if I was going to throw it off the backstop. I didn't know. This year I have an idea of the area it's going to be in. That helps me free up and throw it a little easier."

Limping into the series with a 3-6 record, one starting pitcher suspended, and another on the disabled list, the Sox received the perfect salve in their opponent. The Sox, after thumping them three straight, are 26-6 against the Orioles at Fenway Park in their past 32 games, the best record against any team at home since September 2005.

After scoring 24 runs in three games, the Boston offense stagnated on a day designed for pitching, chilly with a significant wind blowing in from center. Japanese rookie Koji Uehara deftly mixed offspeed pitches and a "sneaky" fastball, Jason Bay said, but the Sox produced two well-timed hits. Kevin Youkilis doubled and scored on Mike Lowell's bloop single in the second inning, and Dustin Pedroia drove in Nick Green, who had doubled, with a two-out single in the fifth.

Lester needed no more. From his first pitch to his 108th, which Chad Moeller weakly skied to shallow center, Lester brushed off the two losses he never worried about. In his mind, he was back. He had never left.

"It felt like a normal day," Lester said. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

April Is A Sporting Time Of Year

2009-04-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

So where are we at this time of the sports year, when every event seems larger that life, The Masters, the Kentucky Derby, The Final Four, Opening day for baseball season, The NBA Playoffs, The NFL draft and perhaps most important of all, SPRING FOOTBALL.
Of all of our teams, the ones which charm us most are the Tiger and Rebel football teams. Maybe that’s because they have yet to play anyone, and in April, more than any other time of the year, hope springs eternal. Coming off of impressive bowl victories and highly rated recruiting classes both teams seem poised to achieve the pinnacle of success. But they still will have to play the games in the fall.
Last night under the lights in Tiger Stadium, 20,000 rabid fans gathered to watch LSU’s spring game, a suped-up scrimmage with restrictions on hitting in an effort to avoid unnecessary injuries. The defense held sway as is the case in most of these events. And of course, that’s what every one wanted to see, for it was the defense that was a big disappointment last year. As was QB. However last night all 3 QB’s played well, even beleaguered red shirt sophomore Jarrett Lee. Running backs Scott & Murphy also played well. So Tiger fan’s can put this moment under their pillows to dream on until early August.
In Oxford, Jevon Sneed led the first team offense to a victory over the reds. Snead directed six consecutive touchdown drives and threw for 254 yards as the Blue team defeated the Red 55-28 in the "Grove Bowl". Snead finished 11-of-15 with touchdown strikes of 12, 20 and 70 yards to Shay Hodge, Dexter McClusker and Markeith Summers, respectively. Rebel hopes for an SEC championship are riding high. Of course this was against the second team defense, but who cares, it looked like football.
Our Hornets, that’s another story. On the diamond, although not achieving the exalted ranking of LSU, Ole Miss appears to have rearranged their pitching staff to the point that they have an effective rotation and are ready to make another run for the SEC championship in Hoover, Alabama, A regional in Oxford, and the elusive College World Series. LSU on the other hand has kept on track as their #1 ranking will attest. That actually means nothing except that the LSU baseball is very good. They beat Tennessee squad by an 18-4 score Friday night but lost yesterday because they could not overcome errors and unearned runs. They play again today to keep LSU’s run of successive conference series victories alive.
The Hornets, now that’s another story A team that was one game away from playing for the conference finals last year. But now they are a shell of last year’s team. Injuries have hurt. But the departure of Jeremy Pargo for Russia was a devastating blow that can only be appreciated now that there is no backup for Chris Paul. The bench is woeful. It seems that Chris Paul and David West will not be able to carry this team past the first round of the playoffs. First game tonight.
The Red Sox may be coming around. The early schedule was stacked up against them with an opening series against AL Champion Tampa Bay, then a trip to the west coast where the Sox seldom do well, and they didn’t. But the last game against Oaklnd they got a quality start and complete game victory by rubber armed knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield. The bats have come alive in the past 3 games and today Jon Lester won a 2-1 decision. The Bull pen has been stellar, and Kevin Youkalis has warmed to the cleanup spot as though he were born for it.
So our teams are doing well, some better than others. But right now there is a lot to cheer about.

2009-02-08T20:35:00.000-08:00

Barkavius Mingo commits to LSU

2009-02-03T14:00:00.001-08:00

West Monroe linebacker Barkevious Mingo has made his choice to become an LSU Tiger and will make the announcement public on Wednesday in front of his family and peers at 8:30 a.m. in the West Monroe fieldhouse.

“I’ve been knowing for a while,” Mingo told The News-Star in an exclusive interview. “I’ve been down there a pretty good bit and have gotten to know the coaches. I feel like they’ll take care of me.”

The 6-5, 206 pound all-state defensive player of the year in Class 5A is ranked the No. 9 linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com. Mingo finished his senior year with 59 total tackles, four for a loss, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, eight pass break ups and two kicks blocked.

Under Construction

2009-02-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

Like the subcontractors who replaced 20,000 square feet of infield sod at Fenway Park this winter, Red Sox management was busy making roster upgrades as they try to remain a contender in the American League East. With the Jason Varitek deal seemingly signaling the end of their offseason moves, we look back at the making of the 2009 Red Sox, in chronological order.

Ramon Ramirez, RHP
On Nov. 19, the Sox traded popular outfielder Coco Crisp to Kansas City in exchange for the 27-year-old reliever. Ramirez, who went 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA as the Royals set-up man in 2008, projects to be part of the bridge to Jonathan Papelbon in the Boston bullpen.

Junichi Tazawa, RHP
On Dec. 4, Boston signed the Japanese reliever to a three-year deal worth $3 million. We don't know much about Tazawa, other than the fact he throws in the low-90s and idolizes Daisuke Matsuzaka. He should start his American baseball career in the Sox' system.

Josh Bard, C
The Sox re-acquired the free agent on Jan. 2, signing the former Padres backstop to a one-year deal with an option for 2010. Bard, who hit .278 in seven games with Boston in 2006, is mostly remembered for an inability to catch Tim Wakefield's knuckler. His role on this team is yet to be determined, as he is currently the only catcher with major league experience on the roster.

Rocco Baldelli, OF
A new Fenway favorite was born on Jan. 8, when the Sox signed the Cumberland, R.I. native to a one-year, $5 million deal. Baldelli, 27, was the fifth overall pick in the 2000 draft and played all of his five seasons with the Rays. He will be a backup outfielder in Boston.

Brad Penny, RHP
The following day, the Sox officially inked the former Dodgers ace to a one-year deal that could be worth up to $8 million with bonuses. Penny, 30, was an All-Star in 2006 and '07, but had his worst season last year with the Dodgers thanks of a right shoulder injury. He went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 19 games (17 starts) while striking out 51 and walked 42 over a career-low 94.2 innings. The Sox hope he can anchor the back of the rotation. If he's healthy, he could be a major steal.

Takashi Saito, RHP
On Jan. 10, the former Dodgers closer signed a one-year deal worth between $1.5 and $2.5 million, with a club option for 2010. The deal could pay him more than $7 million in incentives. Saito, who will turn 39 in February, missed much of last year because of elbow trouble. He saved 39 games for Los Angeles in 2007.

Mark Kotsay, OF/1B
Though it isn't yet official, the Sox are bringing back the 33-year-old on a one-year deal, according to the Globe. Kotsay, shown here scoring the tying run in Boston's comeback win in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Rays, batted .226 with 12 RBIs in 22 regular-season games with the Sox after coming over in a trade with the Braves Aug. 27. He'll play the backup first-baseman/outfielder role.

John Smoltz, RHP
On Tuesday, the Red Sox announced the signing of Smoltz, who spent all of his 20-year career with the Atlanta Braves. Smoltz's one-year deal will pay him $5 million, with bonuses that could bring the total up to $10 million. The 41-year-old missed most of last year due to elbow surgery. He is the only pitcher in baseball history to record 200 wins and 150 saves.

Jason Varitek
The prolonged negotiations between Jason Varitek and the Red Sox were resolved Friday, two weeks before pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report to spring training. Varitek agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2010. He will earn $5m in 2009, with the club holding a $5moption for 2010. If the Red Sox do not pick up that option, Varitek has the choice of remaining with the club on a $3m deal. In '10, he can earn another $2m in incentives based on playing time. The incentives apply to the player option only. The catcher agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with a mutual option for 2010 that includes a potential sweetener.

Veritek & Sox Agree

2009-01-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

Jason Varitek and the Red Sox have agreed to a one-year deal with an option for a second season, a baseball source told the Globe

Whippin’ Wildcats: Rebels hang on to upset No. 24 Kentucky at home

2009-01-28T13:00:00.000-08:00

You can’t stop Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks, you can only hope to contain him.

If the Rebels wanted a chance to defeat the No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats they were going to have to do just that, contain the Southeastern Conference’s leading scorer.

Tuesday the Rebels (11-9 overall, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) did just that in their 85-80 upset victory over No. 24 Kentucky (16-5, 5-1) at C.M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum.

Entering the game, Kentucky’s junior had been averaging 26.1 points per game and had only been held to 22 points or less in a game eight times.

Thanks to a slew of defensive strategies and pressure defense, Meeks was just 4-for-15 from the field for 21 points (six points came in the waning moments of the game with Ole Miss’ reserves on the court).

The man in charge of defending Meeks, Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy’s pick for National Player of the Year, was sophomore Zach Graham.

“I thought (Graham) was tremendous. The game plan was we were really going to team-defend and he was going to chase (Jodie) Meeks. We were going to try to sag. We weren’t going to chase the other bigs away from the perimeter,” Kennedy said. “I thought our guys carried the game plan out as to not giving him easy touches, and then when he dribbled it we were going to have two guys at the ball.”

“They played a lot of zone, they played a little 2-3 zone and little box-and-one, but mostly man-to-man,” Kentucky coach Billy Gillespie said. “That’s when they played their best, when they played us man-to-man.”

Ole Miss’ players and coaches made no attempt to hide the fact that stopping Meeks was the focus of their practices.

“He’s a great player and all week we’ve been practicing how to guard Jodie,” Graham said. “We’ve had sections of our practice, 30 minutes, just on how to guard Jodie.

“Just me working on face-guarding him and everybody else making sure they help off screens.”

Ole Miss also focused on limiting Meeks’ touches, which seemed to be working in the first half. Meeks was 0-for-6 from the field, with six points coming from free throws.

“I think the more touches Jodie has, the more opportunities he’s going to have to hurt you,” Graham said. “We limited those touches so it helped us in the long-run.”

Although Meeks didn’t play against the Rebels a year ago, Graham was familiar with Meeks dating back to his high school days in Suwanee, Ga. at Peachtree Ridge High, where he said he faced Meeks’s Norcross High team six times from his freshman to junior year. Graham also said the two standout prep players played on the Georgia Hurricanes AAU team together and that he was surprised there wasn’t more yapping between the two Georgians on Tuesday.

“There wasn’t a lot of talking going on,” Graham said. “I thought we were going to talk more, but it was strictly business tonight.”

Asking around the locker room, it’s unclear whether players were more surprised Meeks was held to under 40 points or that Ole Miss was able to pull out the victory.
“Yeah, it was pretty scary. The whole team was saying, ‘Meeks, he’s going to get 40 tonight,”’ Ole Miss’ Terrico White said jokingly about the Rebels’ predictions prior to the game.

Huertas comes on strong

Ole Miss led early, but an 8-2 run by Kentucky to close the half gave the Wildcats a 39-37 lead at the break.

Ole Miss’ David Huertas struggled in the first half, shooting 0-for-3 from the field with two made free throws. Due to two quick fouls, Huertas was limited to just six minutes in the first half.

The junior’s luck quickly changed in the second half when he drained a 3-pointer to put Ole Miss ahead 40-39. As the game heated up, so did Huertas, who finished the game shooting 5-for-15 for 21 points.

Kennedy said Huertas rebounding was pivotal for Ole Miss’ success.

“I know without David (Huertas) being productive it’s very difficult for this team,” Kennedy said. “But what a second half he had by making huge shot after huge shot.”

Gillespie echoed Kennedy’s sentiments.

“It’s hard to score from the bench,” Gillespie said. “He got two quick fouls and he came right out at halftime and they had the first possession and we didn’t guard him well enough. He made that 3, probably got a little confidence, and he just continued on. He made extremely hard cuts.”

Malcolm stands out

Malcolm White came to Ole Miss with big-time hype.

Tuesday night the sophomore center cashed in on his potential, registering a career-high 20 points, while also collecting six rebounds and making one block.

“Where’s that guy been? He was the guy we needed him to be tonight,” Kennedy said. “As a coach you want to infuse confidence in the players, but it doesn’t work that way. Sometimes they have to feel good about their performance. I know Malcolm was tremendous tonight.

“He played 36 minutes, stayed out of foul trouble, and was flying all over. Hopefully this is the impetus that he needs to be the player that we need him to be.”

Ahead 62-57, White scored on a putback of a Terrico White missed 3-point attempt. On the ensuing Kentucky possession Malcolm White made a big block on DeAndre Liggins out of bounds.

On Ole Miss’ next trip down the court, Malcolm White made two free throws to extend Ole Miss’ lead to 66-57.

In addition to Malcom White’s 20 points and Huertas’ 21, Terrico White also contributed 21 points on seven of 15 shooting from the field.

Kentucky’s big-man, Patrick Patterson, finished with a game-high 24 points on eight of 12 shooting from the field. He also grabbed seven rebounds.

Tuesday’s victory was the Rebels’ first win against Kentucky since Ole Miss won 65-55 in Oxford in 2001. The win also snapped a three-game skid for the Rebels that included losses at South Carolina and Alabama, and at home against LSU.

Ole Miss returns to action Saturday when it travels to Starkville to face Mississippi State at noon. The game is scheduled to be televised on Raycom.

Rebs Upset Kentucky at the Tad Pad

2009-01-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

Terrico White and David Huertas each scored 21 points and Ole Miss upset No. 24 Kentucky 85-80 on Tuesday, snapping the Wildcats' five-game win streak a day after they entered the Top 25 for the first time this season.
Neither Kentucky's Jodie Meeks nor Huertas - the Southeastern Conference's Nos. 1 and 3 scorers - managed a field goal in the first half. But Huertas hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds gone in the second half and the injury-ravaged Rebels (11-9, 2-4 SEC) managed to overcome 24 points from Patrick Patterson for a rare win over the Wildcats (16-5, 5-1).

The win snapped Ole Miss' current three-game losing streak and its nine-game slide to Kentucky, which had won 11 of 12 overall coming into the game. It was just the 12th win for the Rebels in 107 games against the Wildcats.

The Rebels, without three of their best players due to season-ending knee injuries, managed one of their best defensive games of the season.

The Wildcats were fourth in the nation with a shooting percentage of 50.2 percent per game, but struggled against Ole Miss' 2-3 zone and shot 34.3 percent (25-of-65). It was an especially difficult night for Meeks, the nation's No. 3 scorer coming in with 26.1 points per game.

The Rebels held him without a field goal for the first 28:04 and he finished 4-for-15 fro the florr with 21 points. He had eight in the first half, all on free throws, after scoring in double figures in the first 20 minutes of nine of the Wildcats' last 10 games and 14 of 20.

Huertas quickly got open on the left wing on the opening possession of the second half and buried a 3. That spurred Ole Miss to a 16-4 run to open the half that featured four 3-pointers. Graham's second 3 of the run put the Rebels up 53-43 and Kentucky never crept closer than three points after Meeks hit his first two field goals of the game to make it 58-55 with 11:18 left.

Malcolm White scored five points and Huertas hit another 3 during a quick 8-2 run to put the game out of reach.

Ole Miss hit 10 of 26 3s in the game and outrebounded Kentucky 45-40. The Wildcats were just 7-of-28 from the 3-point line.

Terrico White had an especially big game for the Rebels. The freshman finished a point shy of his career high, set one with seven assists and had five rebounds in 37 minutes despite being a game-time decision due to a bruised knee.

Ole Miss led much of the first half, only succumbing to a quick 7-2 run by Kentucky to end the half with a 39-37 lead.

Sox Set Saturday as Deadline for Veritek Signing

2009-01-27T08:05:00.000-08:00

The Red Sox should know by the end of the week if Jason Varitek, their primary catcher since 1999, will be part of their 2009 squad.
The Boston Herald -- citing a "source close to the negotiations" -- reported that the Red Sox have given Varitek a deadline of Saturday to either accept or decline their formal offer that was made last week.

If Varitek doesn't accept the offer by Saturday, the Red Sox are likely to proceed with alternate catching plans.

One possibility is that the Red Sox will ratchet up trade talks with the Diamondbacks for Miguel Montero and with the Rangers for Taylor Teagarden or Jarrod Saltamacchia.

As a matter of fact, even if Varitek does return to the fold, general manager Theo Epstein is still likely to continue his pursuit of a talented young catcher of the future. Under that scenario, part of Varitek's role going forward would be to mentor that prospect.

The Red Sox did sign catcher Josh Bard to a contract in late December, though he is viewed more as a backup. Dusty Brown and George Kottaras are both coming off solid years at Triple-A Pawtucket, but only time will tell if either player is ready for the Major Leagues.

Varitek, who will be 37 in April, is coming off the worst offensive season (.220, 13 homers, 43 RBIs) of his career. However, even through those struggles, he remained a glue for the pitching staff and a respected leader in the clubhouse. Varitek has been Boston's captain since 2005.

The market for Varitek hit a snag on Dec. 7, when the catcher declined Boston's offer of salary arbitration. Had Varitek accepted that, it would have solidified his return to Boston for 2009 at an approximate salary of $10-12 million.

However, Varitek was looking for a multi-year offer and also might have been leery of the fact that salaries awarded in arbitration are non-guaranteed.

The arbitration offer made by the Red Sox hurt Varitek's market, as prospective suitors were reluctant to sign the Type A free agent because they didn't want to give up the compensatory draft pick.

On Jan. 16, Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry flew to Atlanta to meet directly with Varitek. The meeting was requested by Varitek, and did not include agent Scott Boras.

With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to Fort Myers, Fla., on Feb. 12, the Red Sox are eager to get the Varitek situation resolved one way or the other.

By Saturday, they should have a far better read on what their catching situation will look like for 2009.

Varitek, a three-time All-Star, has played 1,330 games, all with the Red Sox. He is a career .263 hitter with 161 homers and 654 RBIs.

Khayat to Retire

2009-01-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

“Having reached the ripe old age of 70-plus, it is time for me to retire,” Khayat said in a news release. “I do so with a heart filled with gratitude to the thousands of people who support our university. I leave with an abiding affection for the people and the school, and with confidence that this university will continue to provide the quality programs so vital to our state and region.”

University employees said this morning that Khayat has “a full schedule today” and would not be taking interviews from the media.

The former pro-football player and law school professor has led Ole Miss since summer 1995.

“Robert Khayat is one of the most effective university leaders I have ever known,” said interim Commissioner of Higher Education Aubrey Lucas. “He has made a transforming difference at his alma mater. We wish him much happiness in his well deserved retirement.”

During his formal announcement meeting this morning, Khayat only touched on his successor by saying he trusts the state College Board to make the right decision for the university.

The board is expected to accept Khayat’s retirement request and discuss the institutional transition during a meeting next week.

“Dr. Khayat has served the University of Mississippi and the state of Mississippi with distinction,” said College Board president Amy Whitten, an Ole Miss alumnae. “His accomplishments during his tenure have been exceptional, and he will be truly missed.”

Khayat has led the school though rapid growth and several changes through the years.

Since 1995, Ole Miss’ enrollment has swelled from 12,254 students to 17,601. The growth included a more than 75 percent surge in minority enrollment, and a 740 percent increase in financial aid dollars.

The Honors College has grown from 229 students in 1995 to more than 750 today, and Ole Miss has more than double the number of National Merit Finalists enrolled today as it did in 1995.

“It’s been amazing working with (Khayat) for the past decade,” his speech writer Linda Peal said. “The university has greatly changed. ... It is a sad day for me.”

This year alone, Khayat has seen his alma mater through a U.S. presidential debate and a Cotton Bowl win, in addition to its 25th Rhodes Scholar and first black Alumni Association president.

“This was a big year (for Ole Miss),” said Andy Mullins, executive assistant to the chancellor.

Walker Agnew, a senior from Houston and the only student who attended the formal announcement this morning, said Khayat stressed how the vice chancellors, faculty and students are the ones who will carry on his goals for Ole Miss.

“Chancellor Khayat got a little emotional when he first started talking,” Agnew said. “He discussed many of his accomplishments, then said he and his wife talked and the time felt right.”

Senate Universities and Colleges committee chair Doug Davis, R-Hernando, said he appreciated Khayat’s dedication to making the college experience the best for Ole Miss students.

“His mission was always to make the university better than when he found it, and he has certainly done that,” Davis said. “Ole Miss and the state of Mississippi will certainly miss his leadership. I appreciate his friendship and wish him only the best.”

Les Miles lining up stellar 2009 Recruiting Class

2009-01-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

Les Miles and the LSU Football program is tearing it up on the recruiting trail, having already received verbal commitments from these players:
1. Michael Ford, RB Leesville, LA
2. Josh Downs, DT Bastrop, LA
3. Michael Brockers, DE Houston, TX
4. Janzen Jackson, CB Lake Charles, LA
5. Drayton Calhoun, ATH, Tucker, GA
6. Russell Shepard, QB, Houston, TX
7. Chris Garrett, QB, Tupelo, MS
8. Dexter Pratt, RB, Navasota, TX
9. Kevin Minter, LB, Suwanee, GA
10. Chris Faulk, OT, Slidell, LA
11. Carneal Ainsworth, OG, Baton Rouge, LA
12. Stavion Lowe, OT, Brownwood, Texas
13. Josh Williford, OT, Dothan, AL
14. Chris Davenport, DT, Mansfield, LA
15. Derek Helton, P, Fort Scott, KS
16. Kenny Bell, WR, Rayville, LA
17. Akiem Hicks, DT, Sacramento, CA (JUCO)
18. Morris Claiborne, DB, Shreveport, LA
19. Dominque Allen, FB, Paris, TN
20. Lamin Barrow, LB, Marrero, LA
21. Craig Loston, S, Aldine, Texas

Catcher Remains Sox's biggest Void

2009-01-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

For any true baseball fan, the dawn of the New Year is more than just a time to make resolutions. More than anything, it's the time that the countdown officially starts until pitchers and catchers report under the warm sun of Spring Training.
While Red Sox followers gear up for that date -- which is Feb. 12, by the way -- Boston general manager Theo Epstein is still working hard at putting the finishing touches on the 2009 roster.

Mark Teixeira won't be climbing on board after all, but that means that widely respected third baseman Mike Lowell won't have to look over his shoulder worrying about a trade. Instead, Lowell can continue to focus exclusively on rehabbing his right hip with an eye toward being in the lineup on Opening Day.

While the Yankees have invested more than $400 million on Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, this won't be a winter of big spending for the Red Sox.

Epstein recently made a couple of modest investments in starting pitcher Brad Penny ($5 million guaranteed) and catcher Josh Bard ($1.7 million). And earlier in the winter, a big piece of the future was secured, with American League Most Valuable Player Dustin Pedroia signing at six years for $40.5 million.

As for unfinished business, the catching situation remains of utmost importance. Sure, Bard is a good start, with his switch-hitting bat and solid work ethic. But he doesn't figure to be the primary man behind the plate.

Things continue to be strangely silent when it comes to Jason Varitek, who is a free agent after being a member of the Red Sox since July 31, 1997.

It's hard to picture Varitek without the Red Sox, and vice versa, but can Epstein and agent Scott Boras reach common ground?

If not Varitek, then who?

The Red Sox could still go out and get a catcher-of-the-future type, someone who would conceivably work in tandem with Bard.

Miguel Montero of the Diamondbacks, and the Texas duo of Taylor Teagarden and Jarrod Saltalamacchia have been the names most frequently bandied about.

But the Red Sox might have to give up a pitching prospect, such as Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden, to make such a deal a reality, and Epstein has thus far been reluctant to do so.

If all else fails, Dusty Brown and/or George Kottaras -- who filled out a solid platoon for Triple-A Pawtucket last year -- could be given a shot.

Beyond that, Boston's most obvious need is a fourth outfielder. Rocco Baldelli, given his New England roots, right-handed bat and talented skill-set, remains an intriguing possibility. Baldelli recently got a positive report on his health, which indicated the excessive fatigue he experienced in 2008 can be treated.

Beyond those issues, the Red Sox can take heart in having one of the most talented rosters in the game heading into 2009, despite the lack of blockbuster moves in the Hot Stove season.

Between now and Spring Training, the Red Sox will contemplate how best to utilize Justin Masterson, with a return to the bullpen now appearing to be the logical choice. Boston, by the way, could have a dominant bullpen in 2009, with Masterson, Ramon Ramirez, Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima setting up Jonathan Papelbon.

There is also the shortstop dilemma. Did Jed Lowrie establish himself as a starter or will Julio Lugo- - remember him? -- be given the chance to win his old job back?

And once workouts begin in Fort Myers, Fla., the Red Sox can see for themselves if David Ortiz, Josh Beckett and Lowell have sufficiently recovered from the injuries that limited them late in 2008.

Pedroia signs extension

2008-12-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

The 2008 American League Most Valuable Player is now under contract with the Boston Red Sox for years to come.

Dustin Pedroia, the team's popular and remarkably productive second baseman, signed a six-year extension with the Red Sox today for $40.5 million, with a club option for a seventh year, the Globe's Amalie Benjamin and Tony Massarotti have confirmed. ESPN's Peter Gammons first reported the deal this afternoon.

The club will formally announce the news at a 3 p.m. press conference at Fenway Park, with Pedroia and general manager Theo Epstein in attendance.

Pedroia, 25, had a truly outstanding sophomore season with the Red Sox, batting .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs while 20 bases en route to winning the AL MVP. He led the AL in hits (213), runs (118) and doubles (54), and also won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, becoming just the eighth player in league history to take all three honors in one season.

A club source told Benjamin that the Pedroia's representatives have been working on the deal since mid-August. Massarotti reports that Pedroia will receive a $1.5 million signing bonus and a $1.5 million salary in 2009. He will be paid $3.5 million in 2010, $5.5 million in '11, $8 million in '12, and $10 million in both 2013 and '14. The club option for '15 is for $11 million, or the Sox can buy him out for $500,000.

For the Red Sox, the significant point here is that they bought at least two of Pedroia's free agent years for $10 million per season. If the club exercises the '15 option, they will effectively have signed Pedroia, who is eligible for free agency in '12, to a three-year deal worth $31 million.

The benefit to Pedroia is that he guarantees himself a good deal of money now and gains a great measure of long-term security.

If the Red Sox exercise the option, Pedroia's contract will be worth $51 million over seven years, an average of just under $7.3 million per season. Without the option, the deal is worth an average of $6.75 million, which becomes Pedroia's average annual salary from 2009 to 2014. That $6.75 million is the number which will be used in the formula to determine the Sox' payroll for luxury tax purposes.

The option will increase to $13 million if Pedroia wins another MVP at any point over the next six years. Anytime he finishes in the top three of the voting, his option would increase by $1 million each time, capping at $13 million. At most, barring award incentives, the deal could be worth $53 million over seven years.

Just two years into his career, Pedroia has already achieved staggering success. His MVP award is the 10th in Red Sox history and the first by an AL econd baseman since Chicago’s Nellie Fox in 1959. He also joined Ryan Howard (2005-06) and Cal Ripken Jr. (1982-83) as the only players ever to capture the league MVP one season after being named Rookie of the Year, a distinction Pedroia earned in 2007.

This season, the Woodland, Calif. native established single-season Red Sox records by a second baseman for runs, hits, doubles, batting average, total bases and extra-base hits. He finished second among qualifying major league second basemen with a .992 fielding percentage.

He has a .313 batting average with 27 home runs and 140 RBI in 327 games with the Red Sox.

Crisp dealt to Royals for Ramirez

2008-11-19T13:48:00.000-08:00

Ramon Ramirez, the righthanded relief pitcher the Red Sox acquired from the Kansas City Royals this morning for center fielder Coco Crisp, might be a mystery to Boston fans right now. But if general manager Theo Epstein proves correct, the unheralded but remarkably effective 27-year-old will make a name for himself here soon enough.

"In Ramirez, we believe we've acquired a young, controllable reliever that can really help our bullpen," Epstein said during a conference call this afternoon to discuss the deal.

"He has a plus fastball, 92 to 95 miles per hour, and an outstanding power changeup. A lot of people think it's a split, it's actually a changeup, 87 to 88. That's a swing-and-miss pitch for him against lefthanded and righthanded hitters, and a pretty good slider. He's very quietly had a tremendous amount of success in the major leagues over the last two seasons. We were looking for that type of upgrade to add to our bullpen."

Ramirez (pictured) is coming off a quietly excellent 2008 season, having posted a 2.64 ERA in 71.2 innings while striking out 70. He allowed just two home runs, and held righthanders to a .153 average in 137 at-bats, the lowest in the AL and third in majors among pitchers with at least 50 games. Only the Cubs’ Carlos Marmol (.103) and Philadelphia’s Brad Lidge (.105) ranked higher. In his career, Ramirez has held righties to a .198 clip with an OPS of .586. He was particularly effective in September, allowing just one earned run and four hits in 9.2 innings (0.93 ERA).

Ramirez, who has little more than a year of service time and is not yet arbitration eligible, made $397,000 last season, a bargain given his production. Should he pitch as well with the Red Sox, his arrival will have another benefit -- allowing the club to use versatile Justin Masterson as a starter if it so chooses.

"[Ramirez] does give us the flexibility to start Masterson if that does end up being what we feel is in the best interests of the ball club," Epstein said. "[Both dominate righties], in that way Ramirez could potentially replace Masterson in the 'pen. It's not easy to find a [cost-controlled] reliever with a good track record and plus stuff."

Ramirez, who originally signed with the Texas Rangers as an outfielder at age 15 in 1996, debuted in the majors in 2006 with the Colorado Rockies after he was acquired from the Yankees for pitcher Shaun Chacon. He posted a 3.46 ERA in 67.2 innings over 61 appearances as a Rockies rookie, and did not allow a run in his first 15.1 innings.

He struggled with an elbow injury in '07, going 2-2 with an 8.31 ERA in 22 games. He was not on the Rockies' World Series roster against the Red Sox, but said this afternoon that he is looking forward to coming to Boston now.
"I feel fine about it because I realize baseball is a business and every team tries to do the best for their organization," Ramirez told RedSox.com's Ian Browne through an interpreter on a telephone call. "If I'm going to Boston, I'm going happily and I will work as hard as I worked for Kansas City."

For Crisp, 29, it was the end of a three-year run with the Red Sox, one that didn't quite live up to expectations after he was acquired in a deal that sent catcher Kelly Shoppach, among others, to the Cleveland Indians after the 2005 season.

"I think when we acquired Coco, he was coming of an age 25 season in which he posted impressive numbers," Epstein said, while emphasizing how impressive Crisp's defense became in 2007. "For whatever reasons, those trend lines didn't continue with us. Injuries played a factor and the ballpark played a factor. Right field took a lot of home runs away from Coco [at Fenway]. He didn't necessarily make all the [offensive] strikes that we had hoped for."

Crisp did have arguably his best season in Boston in 2008, batting .283 -- .315 in the second half -- with seven homers, 41 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 361 at-bats. He shared the job in center field with rookie Jacoby Ellsbury during the regular season, starting 98 games. Crisp started five games in the American League Championship Series loss to the Rays, batting .450 and delivering a memorable game-tying hit in Game 5 as the Red Sox rallied from a 7-0 deficit.

Trading Crisp clears roughly $6 million in payroll this season, according to Epstein. The outfielder will earn $5.7 million in 2009, with a club option for 2010 for $8 million or a $500,000 buyout.

It's likely that the Red Sox will now be looking outside the organization for a righthanded-hitting fourth outfielder. Rocco Baldelli, the Rhode Island native and former Tampa Bay Ray, might be one possibility.

The deal was first reported this morning on Kansas City sports radio station WHB 810 by Brian McRae, a former Royals outfielder who is a part owner of the station.

LSU-Ole Miss Winner to Take Home 'Magnolia Bowl' Trophy

2008-11-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

LSU will host the first “Magnolia Bowl” rivalry game with Ole Miss on Saturday in Tiger Stadium, a name determined by the student bodies from both schools.

The student body of each school started discussing the idea of an official rivalry game about a year ago. The two student bodies held a “Name that Rivalry” campaign for students to provide input on the name via text messaging. The Ole Miss and LSU student governments then voted in their respective Student Senates to name the rivalry the “Magnolia Bowl.” The two student bodies have since worked together to create a “Magnolia Bowl” trophy and logo.

The trophy was designed by LSU senior sculpture major Evan Trapp with input from the leaders of the two student bodies. The trophy is carved from bass wood with a stained finish. The game’s logo will be emblazoned on the base, as will all of the scores following the Nov. 22 game. The top of the base will have four wood-carved leaves cradling a bronze-cast magnolia flower.

The logo was designed by Cultigraphic Creative located in Mississippi. The student body leaders of Ole Miss played a major role in its development and finalization. The logo contains the LSU, Ole Miss, and SEC logos as well as the magnolia flower. The two schools will use this logo as the official Magnolia Bowl Logo.

The trophy and all parties involved will be introduced on the field before the game. The student body president of the winning school will then present the trophy to their team following the game.

Major parties involved on the LSU side include past student body vice-president Josh King, past executive staff member Corey Weber, Sculptor Evan Trapp, Student Body President Colorado Robertson and Student Government Athletic Director Andrew Remson.

Pedroia in Contention for MVP

2008-11-18T06:36:00.000-08:00

In the course of just two seasons, Dustin Pedroia has built himself an impressive portfolio of big hits, dazzling defensive grabs and, yes, awards for his accomplishments.
But on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET, when the results of the American League Most Valuable Player Award are announced, the second baseman of the Boston Red Sox might get what would qualify as his crowning achievement.

In 2007, Pedroia was named the AL Rookie of the Year just weeks after celebrating a World Series championship. Following an even stronger 2008, Pedroia won the Gold Glove Award and earned a spot on the AL Silver Slugger team.

Now, it's on to the race for MVP, an award no Red Sox player has won since Mo Vaughn in 1995.

Pedroia, 25, is considered a top candidate in what is expected to be a tight race.

Others who are in the running? First baseman Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer, the dynamic duo from the Twins, are contenders. So is Josh Hamilton, the feel-good story of the season and highly productive outfielder for the Rangers. Francisco Rodriguez, the closer who saved a record 62 games this season for the Angels, is another who could do well in the balloting.

And, of course, don't forget about Pedroia's friend and teammate, Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis. The right-handed hitter had breakout numbers (.312 average, 29 homers, 115 RBIs).

For the Red Sox, who lost production in different ways (David Ortiz's seven-week injury, Mike Lowell's multiple injuries, Jason Varitek's decline, the trade of Manny Ramirez), Pedroia and Youkilis were the hard-hitting constants for a team that won 95 games and reached the postseason for the fifth time in six years.

The one thing that will probably help Pedroia most in the MVP race is the way he lit up the leader board.

With 213 hits, Pedroia tied Ichiro Suzuki for the Major League lead. His 54 doubles led the Majors. He led the American League in runs (118) and multihit games (61).

Backed by a .326 average, Pedroia lost the batting title by just four points to Mauer. He finished fourth in total bases and seventh in extra-base hits.

Pedroia isn't much for talking about his candidacy for awards.

"Obviously it was a great season, but personal goals, I'm not big into those," Pedroia said earlier this month. "I'd rather have the feeling after '07 than after '08. The biggest thing for me right now is to focus on 2009 and get my body back together and ready for that long season."

While Pedroia is an elite table-setter, he also demonstrated unexpected thump, belting 17 homers and collecting 82 RBIs. He was a presence on the bases as well, stealing 20 bases.

2008 AL MVP Race
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• AL MVP preview 800K
• Past Most Valuable Players
Complete Awards coverage

In short, there basically wasn't anything Pedroia didn't do for the Red Sox.

"The guy carried this team for, I would say, since Day 1 all the way to the end," Ortiz recently said of Pedroia.

Though attitude can't be quantified, Pedroia established himself as an infectious leader in the clubhouse, mixing in humor and intensity.

"He's the team's leader right now," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of Pedroia in August. "People take him for granted. He's cocky, got toughness and got everything going for him."

By Tuesday afternoon, Pedroia could have even more going for him. All he'll need to do is clear a spot in his trophy case.

Varitek tops Red Sox's offseason list

2008-11-16T06:53:00.000-08:00

The two weeks of exclusivity the Red Sox had with Jason Varitek, their catcher of the last decade-plus, has passed. Varitek, just like every other free agent in Major League Baseball, is now eligible to sign with all 30 teams.
As the clock struck midnight ET and Thursday turned to Friday, free agency officially began.

Varitek is clearly a front-burner issue for the Red Sox. Catching depth is not strong throughout Major League Baseball. Complicating the situation is that Varitek, who will be 37 in April, is coming off what is easily the worst offensive season of his career.

"He's an important part of the organization -- there's no doubt about that," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said recently. "Obviously, he's coming off a year that wasn't his best, but he's important nonetheless. Now he's a free agent and we'll be talking to him. We have an obligation to explore all our options. We do that with every position."

Catching just happens to be a difficult one to fill.

"There's not a lot of elite catching out there," Epstein said. "But at the same time, that changes the standards for what you're looking for. What we like to do is be league average at every position and then be way above league average at as many positions as we can. We try to have no weak links and be at least league average at every position. So with the state of catching, what is league average? It's well documented that there's not a lot of elite catching out there, but we'll figure it out."

Epstein did have some initial meetings at the General Managers Meetings with Scott Boras, who represents Varitek. It isn't known if offers were exchanged.

One sticking point could be length, with the Red Sox preferring a shorter-term deal than Varitek might be willing to accept.

The other free agents from the Red Sox are Mike Timlin, Curt Schilling, Bartolo Colon, Sean Casey, Alex Cora, Mark Kotsay, Paul Byrd and David Ross.

Aside from Varitek, the Red Sox might have interest in bringing back Casey and Cora, two veteran bench players.

Timlin doesn't figure into the team's plans for next season and Schilling will either retire or pitch a partial season. Kotsay and Byrd are likely to explore opportunities to play more vital roles for other teams.

Epstein will also spend plenty of time in the next few weeks exploring free agents from outside the organization. Starting pitching could be of particular interest to the Red Sox, and there is a lot of it on the market.

Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett and Ben Sheets are just some of the names that could make a significant impact on a rotation.

Other than that, it's unclear which areas Boston will pursue when it comes to free agency. The Red Sox are in a luxurious spot in that they have starting players under contract at every position and in some cases -- shortstop and center field -- they have two potential starters.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz recently expressed the desire for his team to add another big bat. The most intriguing free agent in that regard is first baseman Mark Teixeira. But it's unclear if he is a fit for the Red Sox, given that Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell currently man the corners.

Hornets Lose to Rockets in Houston

2008-11-16T06:51:00.000-08:00

During the Hornets’ 3-0 start to the season, they racked up a league-best average of 107 points per game, while defeating Golden State, Phoenix and Cleveland. Six games later, the NBA’s premier offensive attack of Week 1 of the regular season has become a major weakness.
The Hornets were held under 90 points for the fifth time in their last sixth games, resulting in a wire-to-wire Rockets victory. Houston (6-4) moved a half game ahead of New Orleans (5-4), into first place in the Southwest Division.
Why have the Hornets experienced such a drastic downturn in their offensive production? The player and ball movement have stagnated at times, but simply put, we're also seeing several Hornets shoot poorly and miss open shots that they normally make. New Orleans will have three days of practice to try to make adjustments prior to Wednesday's home game vs. Sacramento. In the meantime, let's take a look at how individual Hornets have fared in the shooting department through the first nine games:
STARTERS
Chris Paul: He’s shooting exactly 50 percent from the field (61-for-122) after his 2-for-10 outing at Houston. Fifty percent is obviously outstanding for any guard, but especially a point guard. The only PGs who consistently shoot this well are Steve Nash, Deron Williams and Jose Calderon.
Morris Peterson: He’s not taking as big of a chunk of his attempts from three-point range in comparison to last season. Overall, he’s shooting 42 percent from the field, and 30 percent from three-point range. He’s a 37 percent career three-point shooter.
Peja Stojakovic: His 1-for-5 in Houston continued a recent shooting slump. For the season, he’s at 37 percent, almost 10 percent below his career number.
David West: A bit below his norm, shooting 46 percent thus far. His jumper has been somewhat inconsistent. West shot 51, 48 and 48 percent over the past three full seasons, respectively.
Tyson Chandler: Hornets TV analyst Gil McGregor noted Saturday that opponents seem to be focusing more on preventing the “Crescent City Connection” alley oop, a play that resulted in countless dunks for Chandler last season. It was back in Houston, though, three times. Chandler is always going to shoot a high percentage based on the close-range nature of his attempts, and is at 62.5 percent right now.
RESERVES
James Posey: The team’s overall dip in shooting hasn’t affected the free-agent pickup. He’s made numerous big shots in the fourth quarter. He’s been the team’s best three-point shooter, just under 50 percent.
Rasual Butler: Saturday’s 1-for-7 was a rarity for Butler, who has been an excellent marksman off the bench and in fourth quarters. He’s 10-for-23 from three-point range (43 percent).
Hilton Armstrong: He’s 12-for-28 (43 percent). Shot 54 percent as a rookie and 45 percent last season.
Devin Brown: Went 5-for-10 in Houston and played a second straight solid game at backup point guard. He was 5-for-20 from the field prior to Saturday, though, so his season rate is still low (33 percent).
Julian Wright: Played double-digit minutes again Saturday, this time logging 17. He’s 5-for-14 overall in five appearances.
Mike James: Was 8-for-25 (32 percent) from field prior to being bumped out of rotation by Brown on Friday vs. Portland.
Melvin Ely: Has only played in two games and is 4-for-9.

Obviously nine games is an extremely small sample. Making sweeping judgments on anything through the equivalent of 10 percent of the season doesn't make sense. Still, if you go through the list, you can begin to see why the Hornets are not producing offensively the way they did in 2007-08, at least to this stage.
The good news is that veteran players tend to return to their career norms as the season progresses. For several New Orleans players, you have to believe they will begin to shoot the ball much better, based on their track records.

Rebs Crush UlaMo

2008-11-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

- Jevan Snead threw three touchdowns and added two rushing scores on Saturday as Ole Miss became bowl eligible for the first time since 2003 with a 59-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe. It was the Rebels' greatest margin of victory since a 69-7 win over Southern Miss in 1969.
Ole Miss (6-4) built a 38-0 halftime lead after scoring on six of seven possessions. The first half offensive outburst was the most productive since a 40-0 halftime lead against Memphis in 1980.

Snead was 6-of-12 for 170 yards and rushed three times for 11 yards to account for five touchdowns. Cordera Eason added 107 yards in 14 carries as the Rebels finished with 520 yards, 341 in the first half, in total offense.

ULM (3-8) managed to cross midfield only twice and was limited to 131 yards in total offense

Ole Miss covered 72, 54, 37, 31 and 94 yards on the first half touchdown series. Snead had scoring passes of 22 and 23 yards to Gerald Harris and Mike Wallace, between touchdown runs of 17 and 22 yards by Eason and Dexter McCluster.

Snead capped the first half with a 1-yard scoring run before connecting on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Davis and a 9-yard scoring run for a 52-0 lead with 5:54 left in the third period. Davis added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth period.

Defense, Lee Key Record Comeback by No. 19 LSU, 40-31

2008-11-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

Never before in LSU football history has a comeback of such magnitude been witnessed. What looked to be the lowest moment of the 2008 season turned into the highest, as LSU came from four touchdowns down to defeat upstart Troy, 40-31, on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

A miserable first-half performance by the Tigers on both sides of the ball allowed Troy (6-4) to take a 24-3 halftime lead. The Trojans then scored on their first drive of the second half and led 31-3 until the waning minutes of the third quarter.

LSU (7-3), coming off a heartbreaking defeat to No. 1 Alabama, was beaten in every aspect of the game in the opening 40-plus minutes.

Then, those who were left in Tiger Stadium witnessed the largest comeback in school history -- and a majority of those in attendance on the cool fall evening were at home on their couch when it happened. Though records were only available from the modern era of LSU football (since 1958), the previous record was 21 points most recently against Ole Miss in 1977 (trailed 21-0 in second quarter).

The Tigers scored 37 points in the game's final 16:26 to stun Troy.

LSU's maligned starting quarterback, redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee, shook off a dismal first half to lead his team to victory.

Without the efforts of the LSU defense – which held Troy without a first down for six-straight drives in the second half – Lee may have been held most accountable for an unexpected loss.

After allowing a 79-yard scoring drive to start the second half, LSU gave up only 46 yards on 30 plays for the duration.

Lee overcame another interception for a touchdown to complete 18-of-26 second-half passes for 205 yards and a touchdown. For the game, he was 20-of-34 passing for 216 yards.

Wide receiver Brandon LaFell had career-bests of 12 catches for 126 yards with a touchdown. Terrance Toliver added 54 yards on four catches.

Lee's backup, freshman Jordan Jefferson, saw spot duty and completed 1-of-6 passes in the first half. Jefferson also ran for LSU's first touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 3 late in the third quarter. He had seven runs for 17 yards.

Running back Charles Scott paved the way on the ground for LSU, running 24 times for 90 yards and the game-winning touchdown. He also eclipsed the 1,000-yard total for the season (1,071).

Troy quarterback Levi Brown threw the ball more than any player in Tiger Stadium history, completing 34-of-72 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns. His only interception deep in his own territory allowed the Tigers score a field goal and cut the lead to 31-27.

Wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan led Troy with 10 receptions for 63 yards, while Kennard Burton added 74 yards on five catches. Running back DuJuan Harris caught four passes out of the backfield including a touchdown. Harris led the Trojans with 65 yards on 14 carries.

Troy couldn't have asked for a better first half, forcing LSU to punt on the opening drive before scoring touchdowns on its first two possessions. The Trojans added a field goal and an interception for a touchdown to take a 24-3 halftime lead.

The Trojans marched 88 yards on 16 plays -- including 15 passes -- on their opening possession. Troy used mostly five-wide receiver formations to spread the Tigers defense, meeting little resistance along the way. A 10-yard catch by Jernigan on third-and-10 at the LSU 17 setup a 7-yard touchdown reception by Patrick Cherry.

LSU was able come away with its first points on the next drive, a career-long 52-yard field goal by Colt David which was setup by a 16-yard run by Scott into Troy territory.

The Tigers trailed 7-3 with 6:16 left in the first quarter.

Troy's continued its passing attack on its second drive, gashing the LSU defense for double-digit gains and moving to LSU's side of the field. Again, LSU had a chance to stop the Trojans on third-and-10 at the LSU 38, but Troy came up with a 35-yard catch by Austin Silvoy. An LSU substitution infraction moved the ball to the 1, allowing Kennard Burton to take an end-around for a touchdown.

Troy led 14-3 with 4:00 left in the first quarter.

After the teams traded punts on its next three possessions, Troy again began its offensive march from its 42. The Trojans converted three third downs on the drive but were unable to punch it into the Tigers endzone. A 22-yard field goal by Sam Glusman pushed the Troy lead to 17-3 with 10:08 left in the first half.

Lee's seventh interception for a touchdown gave Troy a 24-3 lead, as Terence Moore tipped a pass in the air and came down with it. He ran 22 yards untouched for a touchdown with 6:46 left in the half.

After failing to convert on fourth-and-8 from its 38 late in the half, LSU got a second chance at cutting into the lead when defensive tackle Drake Nevis forced and recovered a fumble in Troy territory.

However, the Tigers moved only nine yards in three plays, and were unable to attempt a 42-yard field goal when the snap was fumbled by punter Brady Dalfrey as time expired.

LSU trailed 24-3 at the half.

Troy's first drive of the second half was no different. An efficient 10-play, 79-yard drive was punctuated with an 8-yard touchdown catch by Harris out of the back field.

Troy led 31-3 with 11:13 left in the third quarter.

That's when things changed for the Tigers. Everything that had gone wrong for LSU went right and vise versa for Troy.

Though LSU's next drive ended on downs, the Tigers showed life on offense for the first time. Troy went three-and-out and punted, giving the Tigers possession at their 34.

Needing to pass to get back into the ballgame, Lee guided the Tigers on a 13-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a fourth-and-3 touchdown run by Jefferson.

With 1:26 left in the third quarter, the comeback was on. LSU trailed 31-10.

Another three-and-out by Troy gave LSU another chance to get its offense on the field. This time, the Tigers wasted no time getting back into the endzone. After a 9-yard completion to Byrd, Lee found Toliver for 33 yards to the Troy 33. Then came the big strike LSU needed, a 33-yard catch by LaFell who got behind the defense.

The lead was reduced to 14, 31-17, only 2:26 later with 14 minutes to play.

After a 38-yard kickoff return, Troy started at LSU's 49 and looked to regain momentum that was clearly lost. However, faced with a fourth-and-1 at the 40, the Trojans elected to go for the first down rather than punt and pin LSU deep.

The gamble failed and the Tigers offense returned for another scoring drive.

Lee again went to the air, finding Toliver for 9 yards and Dickson for 6. Dickson was taken down by his facemask, giving LSU 15 yards to the Troy 30. After consecutive completions of 6 and 15 yards to LaFell, the Tigers used their ground game to pound the final nine yards. Fullback Quinn Johnson scored from the 1 to cut the deficit to a touchdown, 31-24.

Troy continued its wide-open passing offense, giving LSU opportunities slow the game and stop the clock often.

An interception at the Troy 21-yard line by LSU nickel back Chad Jones gave the Tigers a perfect opportunity to tie the game. However, three plays yielded only four yards and the Tigers settled for a 27-yard field goal by David.

LSU still trailed, 31-27, with 7:51 to play.

With its defense rolling, LSU got the ball back quickly but three plays went for no yards. However, good fortune shined on the Tigers when Dalfrey's short punt hit Troy's Jorrick Calvin in the leg and was recovered by LSU safety Danny McCray at the Troy 20.

Four plays later, Scott scored from the 4-yard line to give LSU an improbable lead, 33-31. David's point after touchdown was missed to the right, bringing a moan from the chilled crowd.

LSU's defense stopped Troy without a first down for the sixth-straight drive, as the Trojans ' fourth-and-14 pass attempt fell incomplete with 3:35 to play.

Scott opened the drive with a 30-yard run to the Troy 4-yard line. Three plays later, Johnson scored his second touchdown from a yard out for the final margin.

The announced crowd was 92,103.

LSU returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 22, when Ole Miss comes to Baton Rouge for the Tigers’ final home game.

Hornets Take Season Opener Against Golden State

2008-10-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

After a 2007-08 season highlighted by numerous buzzer-beaters and dramatic late-game heroics, the Hornets picked up right where they left off in Game 1 at Golden State. Trailing by a point, Chris Paul dribbled past the Warriors' defense for a driving layup that gave New Orleans a 104-103 lead with 19 seconds left. Peja Stojakovic and Rasual Butler tacked on a pair of free throws apiece to account for the final five-point margin.
Paul had misfired on a pair of wide-open, mid-range jumpers earlier in the fourth quarter, so the 6-foot point guard decided to try to get closer to the rim on the go-ahead score.
“In the second half it was tough,” Paul related. “I started second-guessing myself (and hesitating to shoot). (Byron Scott) put the ball in my hands, and I saw an open lane. I couldn’t make a jump shot, so I figured I’d drive in for a layup.”
New Orleans fell behind by as many as 11 points in the first half, but rallied back within one by intermission. Golden State racked up 57 points in the opening half, partly by drilling five three-pointers.
“I give our guys a lot of credit for sticking with it,” Scott said. “We felt pretty good about the deficit at halftime (of only one point), because we didn’t feel like we were playing very well.”
Other developments from Wednesday’s opener:
BUTLER’S BACK
Rasual Butler was playing in a regular season game for the first time since March. He struggled in the opening half, but came through with seven fourth-quarter points, including a three-pointer and jumper early in the period. “He played well,” Scott assessed. “The first half he couldn’t make a shot, but in the second half he hit two big ones for us.”

POSEY DEBUT
In his first official game as a Hornet, James Posey canned several momentum-changing shots, finishing with 11 points, including 3-for-6 accuracy from three-point range. He also was responsible for a key defensive play with the game on the line. After Paul’s layup gave New Orleans a 104-103 lead, Golden State’s Stephen Jackson tried an inbounds pass to Corey Maggette – who was being defended closely by Posey – but the pass went out of bounds.

BIG WORKLOAD FOR CP3
Paul ended up playing the entire second half, after Scott was dissatisfied with how the reserves performed in the first half. Backup point guard Mike James knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter, but after logging a total of eight minutes in the opening half, James sat the rest of the way.
“He just didn’t run the offense as well,” Scott assessed. “He was too anxious and too much in a hurry. He didn’t get guys where they needed to be at the offensive end. And that really hurt us. I (also) thought on the defensive end we stopped guarding. I told Chris late in the third quarter, ‘You will (play) this whole half, so get ready for it.’ ”

ROTATION UPDATE
Julian Wright (ankle) was not ready to return to action and joined Sean Marks on the Hornets’ two-player inactive list. Melvin Ely and Ryan Bowen dressed but did not play. James, center Hilton Armstrong and guard Devin Brown received minutes but played primarily in the first half.

HORNETS POSTGAME QUOTES
Byron Scott
“Great finish. I just hope that all of them don’t start off this way. I thought we got off to a rocky start, opening night and they’re all jacked up. That is a great team over there, they got so many different lineups that can really confuse you and I give a lot of credit to our guys for sticking to it. Especially in the first half when we got down 11 points and we cut down the deficit by halftime.”

Tyson Chandler
“We battled it out. It was a game on the road. Any win on the road is a good one, so for us to stay together, it shows good signs for us to start the season. The Western Conference is so good, every game is going to be a battle, especially when you’re facing a back to back. It is great for us to start the season against contenders.”

Chris Paul
“It was an ugly win, but it was the first game of the season and we will take it. The Warriors have a really good team. they made a lot of good shots, and stuck to their game plan and played well. I think it shows a lot of credit for our team. We have a long, long way to go, but to win this game in the situation on the road showed we had a lot of fight.”

WARRIORS POSTGAME QUOTES
Don Nelson
(On tonight’s game) “They have two of the best players in the league (Chris Paul & David West) on the same team. We knew they would hurt us… not that we played error-free but we followed our game plan pretty well. I was pretty proud of the fellas. I told the subs that I’m not going to be able to play these guys this many minutes on this next road trip or for long periods of time. ... I thought it was a good game, I enjoyed the competition and they’re very good and we played at a very high level so I have no complaints.“
Posted by Hornets.com at 9:58 AM

Hornets Eak out Last Minute Preseason Win over the Pacers

2008-10-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

Based on the final few minutes, you never would’ve known it was only preseason. In a nip-and-tuck affair, Byron Scott subbed four of his starters and James Posey back into the game in the fourth quarter. Scott had vowed to use his first string for a larger portion vs. the Pacers and he wasn’t kidding – four starters logged 30-plus minutes.
The regulars teamed up to keep the Hornets (6-0) perfect in preseason, outplaying the Pacers in the late going to secure another victory.
With most of the 12,684 fans in attendance on their feet for the last few possessions, the atmosphere in the New Orleans Arena resembled a regular season contest. Hornets All-Stars Chris Paul (23 points, 15 assists, 36 minutes) and David West (26 points, 12-for-17 shooting) also put up statistics that looked like their lines after a game that counted in the standings.
“They look like they’re in midseason form already,” Scott described of Paul and West. “They played like All-Stars.”
New Orleans will try to cap a perfect exhibition slate on Thursday in Mobile, Ala., when it faces Miami. The Hornets are the only team in the league that has not lost a preseason game.
Other notes from Tuesday:
FOCUS ON THE BENCH
Scott emphasized that he wants to see his reserves mesh better as a group and be less concerned about how they fare offensively.
“I think most of them think that their playing time is predicated on how well they do offensively,” Scott said. “It’s not. It has nothing to do with their offense. You can still hustle, still defend, still communicate. Those are all things they have to do every single night. The talk (I’ll have) with that unit is to make sure they understand that I’m not looking for offense. I’m looking for you to be tenacious on the defensive end.
“I’m trying to get a second unit I can trust to go out there and do the things we want them to do.”
WATCHING THE MINUTES
Although Paul and West played more Tuesday than you’d expect in a preseason game, Scott says he wants both to average fewer minutes in the regular season, even if it’s only a minute or two less per game.
“I’m trying to knock a couple minutes off both of those guys’ (averages),” Scott said. “So that they’re fresher when the season’s over and we’re getting ready for the postseason. But the bottom line is we’re still trying to win games.
“You hope that your second unit can come in and take some of that pressure off, so that they don’t have to play big minutes. I have a lot of confidence that we’ll be able to do that this year.”

Hornets postgame quotes
Hornets Head Coach Byron Scott
On the game: “It was a good chance for us to have a tight game. It was good to see the way we reacted. It was a good game for us because Indiana is a tough team.
“We have come a long way in a short period of time, and we still have a long way to go. I think I’m ready for the season, I think they are ready for the season. I am very happy with the way preseason has gone thus far. ”

Forward Rasual Butler
On his play: “I played better tonight. I tried to do some positive things for us. I’m out there to be an offensive threat.”

Guard Chris Paul
On the game: “This is a game we definitely needed. Especially now, gearing up for the regular season. Whether it’s pre-season or not, we want to experience success. We want to get better as a team. We’re always going to play to win. We played this like a regular season game. I got to play the fourth quarter. We understand we have to get better defensively, but that’s what the pre-season is for.”

Just 1 game Shy of the Series

2008-10-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

It's never easy winning two successive World Series championships. Nobody has been able to perform the feat since the Yankees won the World Series three straight years, from 1998-2000.
When a team jumps as many hurdles as the Red Sox did in 2008, that task gets even tougher.

Truth be told, Boston didn't win 95 games in the regular season and force a Game 7 in the American League Championship Series the easy way. The Red Sox endured, clawed and battled their way to within one game of reaching another World Series on Sunday, then fell short with a 3-1 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.

"To say we were going to get to Game 7 of the ALCS with all the injuries we had and what we've been though as a team, it's a pretty good accomplishment," said Dustin Pedroia, who may end up winning the AL MVP Award in the offseason. "We still felt like we had a championship-caliber team. We just ran into a team that played a little bit better than us."

General manager Theo Epstein was proud of what the Sox accomplished this season.

"This was a year where we had to survive almost from Day One right to Game 7 of the ALCS," said Epstein, who noted Boston overcame a lot of obstacles. "These players grinded through everything. Along the way, great camaraderie and sense of team and a sense of purpose developed, including a lot of magic. These guys really pulled hard for one another. That's really what we tried to preach as an organization. These guys are the organization. They make us proud with what they do out there."

There were road struggles in the season's first half, the trade of future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez on July 31, and injuries that popped up again and again to prominent members from the team's 2007 World Series championship run.

But look no further than the team's performance in the ALCS as an indication of how tough the Red Sox were. Trailing, 7-0, in the seventh inning of Game 5 -- and behind, 3-1, in a best-of-seven series -- the Red Sox rallied for an 8-7 win, then took Game 6 in St. Petersburg to force their third ALCS Game 7 in five seasons -- all of which included Boston late-series rallies.

Yet another miracle comeback -- the same type the Sox became known for throughout the decade -- was there for the taking.

They just fell a little short.

There were obvious inconsistencies throughout -- compare the Red Sox's 21-29 road record at the All-Star break to their 36-11 home mark. Boston won 13 in a row at home from May 2-June 5 but lost 12 of 17 on the road in that same span. The Red Sox rallied to finish the season just four games under .500 on the road.

Despite not reaching the World Series, closer Jonathan Papelbon was proud of how his club performed this season.

"I said to myself, 'I'm proud of us,'" said Papelbon. "I'm proud of what we went through this year and how we overcame things. We put ourselves in a situation to get to Game 7. When you do that and you battle all the way back to a Game 7 and you try to put yourself in a position to win, which we very well did tonight, that's all you can ask for."

For every Red Sox setback, it seemed there was an answer that exceeded expectations.

It started early, with a right shoulder injury to Curt Schilling that prevented the 2001 World Series Most Valuable Player (while with the Diamondbacks), who was also a pivotal part of the Sox's title runs of '04 and '07, from throwing even one pitch in 2008.

The answer? Boston relied not only on the steady growth of Jon Lester, who went 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA and became the team's most consistent starter throughout the season, but the insertion of new starters into the rotation to fill voids. Justin Masterson, Bartolo Colon and Paul Byrd all found themselves winning games in the starting rotation.

That trio went 12-7 while starting in 2008.

On May 31, David Ortiz injured his left wrist and missed nearly two months. Instead of crumbling, the Red Sox's offense received a boost from J.D. Drew, who took Ortiz's No. 3 spot in the batting order and hit .337 with 12 homers in June.

"This team had a lot of heart," said Drew who won the AL Player of the Month Award in June. "We fought through it and dealt with injuries all year. To be in this position, you don't want to lose in this round of the playoffs. To get here through all we've been through is pretty impressive."

When the Red Sox's bullpen began sputtering in mid-July -- a period when the club looked to find a steady reliever who could consistently pitch the eighth inning and preserve a lead for Papelbon -- manager Terry Francona called on Masterson again.

Masterson was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket to be converted to a reliever, and it worked, as the 23-year-old went 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 27 relief appearances. He allowed just six earned runs in July and August combined.

By the non-waiver Trade Deadline, it was obvious that Ramirez's future was no longer with Boston. The team traded him to the Dodgers in a three-team swap that moved Jason Bay to the Red Sox as Ramirez's replacement.

Bay did his part, batting .293 with nine homers and 37 RBIs through the end of the regular season, and he was an upgrade defensively in left field.

Stints on the disabled list again set in. The Sox lost right-hander Josh Beckett for a period in August with a right elbow injury, then a right oblique injury. Drew spent a month nursing his lower back, and Triple-A prospect Jed Lowrie became the everyday shortstop when Julio Lugo was lost for the season. Mike Lowell, the 2007 World Series MVP, didn't play after Game 3 of the AL Division Series because of a right hip injury.

The Red Sox made the necessary adjustments.

Lowrie made all of the routine plays in the field and became a legitimate offensive threat in August, collecting 16 extra-base hits. Kevin Youkilis, an AL Gold Glove Award-winning first baseman, became the everyday third baseman in the playoffs during Lowell's absence.

A late-August deal for Mark Kotsay gave Boston a viable option for a backup outfielder and a first baseman. Kotsay filled in for Drew in right until Drew returned, then he took Youkilis' spot at first while Youkilis played third for Lowell.

For every setback, there was an answer.

"We had a lot come together this year," said Jason Varitek, who will be a free agent this offseason. "Our bullpen solidified itself. Our pitching took steps at becoming better. We were able to play a little different offensively and manufacture runs and added some speed in there. This team has a lot to be proud of."

It was enough to help the Red Sox earn an AL Wild Card berth in September, then knock off the Angels -- the Majors' only 100-win team -- in the ALDS. And down, 3-1, in the ALCS, the Red Sox battled to beat the Rays in Games 5 and 6, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 with a World Series trip on the line.

Other teams facing such difficulty might not have seen October at all. Boston took it all in stride, building character and growing together as the adversity mounted.

Every time it seemed there was no chance at another trip to the World Series, the Red Sox responded.

They came close. It was just one game short.

Sox Victory Forces Game Seven

2008-10-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

Two days after pulling out that astounding and historic comeback that earned them this ticket to Tropicana Field for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox had no desire for such stress-inflicted heroics. They just needed a workmanlike win to push this riveting series with the Tampa Bay Rays to the limit, and that's precisely what they got.
In Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Rays, the big hits were spread throughout the contest instead of being saved for the tense final moments. And this time, the pitching tone was also set early, thanks to a less-than-vintage Josh Beckett relying on grit to earn the win -- Boston's first by a starter since Daisuke Matsuzaka in Game 1.

Perhaps no hit was bigger than the solo homer by Jason Varitek, who snapped out of an 0-for-14 drought in the ALCS to break a 2-2 tie with two outs in the sixth. The Red Sox led for the rest of the night.

"We fought," said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "That's what our team does. We believe in each other. I think Josh's performance said it all. He's out there with everything he's got trying to keep us in that game, and he did an unbelievable job and set the tone for the game."

After falling behind, 3-1, in this ALCS, Boston has forced Game 7, just like it did in 2004 and '07. In the previous two occasions, the Red Sox were successful in moving on to the World Series. They hope the third attempt will be equally charmed.

"We have been in there before and we know what it takes to win games," said Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. "It's not easy. It's not like we like to be in this situation, but I guess that's the way our destiny has been the past few years that we've won the World Series. It's hard, man. It's not an easy thing to do. You don't want to be [trailing 3-1]."

But there's no more hole for the Red Sox to climb out of. Now the ALCS is even.

"We get to play [Sunday]," said Pedroia. "One of us is going on and the other one is going home."

Jon Lester, Mr. Consistency all year for Boston, will take the ball Sunday night hoping to avenge a rare shaky outing in Game 3. Matt Garza, who beat Lester in that matchup, will be Tampa Bay's Game 7 starter.

With a win Saturday vs. the Rays, the Red Sox are 8-0 in Game 6s when they are trailing 3-2 in a best-of-seven or best-of-nine postseason series.
To get to Lester, the Red Sox turned to Beckett, who was clearly pitching at less than 100 percent. Beckett, who injured his right oblique at the end of the regular season, gave Boston five innings, allowing four hits and two runs, walking one and striking out three.

The biggest clue that Beckett was hurting was the sight of Javier Lopez warming up in the bullpen throughout the fourth and Hideki Okajima following suit in the fifth.

"I thought he threw with a lot of guts," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "It's not vintage Josh Beckett, but he also proved who he is, and again, that was [big]. He gave us what we needed. I don't think it was real easy for him at times, but he pitched with a lot of composure and a lot of guts."

In Beckett's final inning, he surrendered a game-tying homer to left by No. 9 hitter Jason Bartlett, who went deep just once in the regular season. Though Beckett's velocity was down to 88-90 mph for much of the inning, he was able to reach back for a 93-mph fastball to get Akinori Iwamura on a groundout to end the inning. That was all for Beckett, who threw 78 pitches.

Beckett, who carried the Marlins throughout the 2003 postseason and the Red Sox last year, downplayed his Game 6 performance.

"I felt like I executed pitches when I needed to," Beckett said.

The bullpen took it from there, setting up the much-anticipated showdown on Sunday night. In particular, Okajima was big, firing two hitless innings. Justin Masterson, the unflappable rookie, pitched a perfect eighth. Jonathan Papelbon, who has a 0.00 ERA in 25 career postseason innings, fired a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the series.

The Red Sox are 9-1 in elimination games under manager Terry Francona.
"I think tonight was a battle," said Papelbon. "It was just another classic game where we had to grind out a win. That's pretty much what we've put ourselves into, is having to sit here and grind out wins. That's what we're doing. That's all we're trying to do."

Varitek is the epitome of a grinder. He got a 2-0 pitch from Shields that he liked -- an 89-mph fastball -- and deposited it over the fence in right-center.

"I say this all the time, but I can fortunately go 0-for-2,000 and put down the right fingers and get pitchers to do stuff and come away gratified," Varitek said. "You may not have that opportunity in other positions, and I enjoy that."

It was Varitek's first homer since Sept. 15, which also took place at Tropicana Field.

"It's awesome," said Beckett. "You know, he wears a 'C' on that jersey for a lot of different reasons, but none more important than how much respect everybody in that clubhouse -- including players, coaches [and] upper management -- has for him. We're always pulling for the guy. It was huge for him to do that."

The homer by the captain seemed to spark the Red Sox. The offense kept rallying in that sixth, aided a little by the Rays. Coco Crisp (3-for-4) belted a single off second baseman Iwamura and into short right. Pedroia hit a grounder to short that Bartlett made a poor throw to first on. The error set up runners at the corners for Ortiz, and the big designated hitter lofted an RBI single into right-center to make it a 4-2 game.

For the fifth straight game, the Rays struck with some quick offense. It was delivered off the bat of B.J. Upton, who crushed a Beckett fastball off the C-ring catwalk for a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the first.

The Red Sox didn't take long to respond. Kevin Youkilis opened the second by hammering a 89-mph fastball by Shields for a solo shot to left to tie the game.

Pedroia got a rally started in the third by drawing a one-out walk. Ortiz followed by ripping a double down the line in right. Youkilis, Boston's best RBI man all year, did his job, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead with a fielder's-choice grounder to short.

The game still had some momentum swings left, but in the end, the Red Sox were again left standing to improve to 9-1 in potential elimination games under Francona.

"You're battling every single pitch, and mentally, it's obviously draining," Pedroia said. "Once you hit the pillow at night, you go straight to sleep. But it's fun just being here. It's exciting to play. A couple of nights ago, down 7-0, we really didn't think this would come. We're here."

And with one more win, the Red Sox will be in the World Series with a chance to defend their title.

Defense Sparks LSU Win Over Gamecocks

2008-10-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

LSU came into the season with one of the top-rated defenses in the country, and lost its swagger and reputation in a lopsided loss at Florida. One week later, the Tigers allowed 42 yards in a second-half shutout to shutdown South Carolina and get back to its winning ways, 24-17.

LSU (5-1, 3-1 SEC) rebounded from the worst loss of the Les Miles era (51-21 at Florida). The Tigers will play host to Georgia on Oct. 25 at either 2:30 p.m. CDT or 6:45 p.m. CDT. Kickoff will be announced on Sunday.

South Carolina (5-3, 2-3 SEC), which had its four-game winning streak snapped, lost by seven points for the fifth time in 2008. The Gamecocks are on bye next weekend.

The Tigers defense recorded six sacks for minus-49 yards, helping LSU allow only 39 yards rushing on 31 carries. USC was 1-of-9 on third down.

Offensively, once the defense changed the field position with a forced fumble on the opening drive of the second half, the Tigers began to gain momentum and roll up yards against the highly ranked Gamecocks defense.

Starting LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee finished 16-of-26 for 189 yards passing with an interception that led a South Carolina touchdown just before the half.

Lee was spelled in certain situtions by backup Andrew Hatch, who was 2-for-3 passing for 10 yards including the game-tying 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Richard Dickson with 44 seconds to play in the third quarter.

Hatch also ran for 19 yards on five attempts.

LSU's two-headed running attack of Keiland Williams and Charles Scott provided a powerful punch. Williams had 72 yards on 15 carries, while Scott pounded in touchdown runs of 5 and 2 yards. The second was the game-winner with 4:16 to play in the second half.

Wide receiver Demetrius Byrd led the Tigers with 65 yards on three catches. Brandon LaFell had four receptions for 55 yards, while Dickson had two catches for 24 yards and the TD.

The LSU offense held the ball for 34:32 compared to South Carolina's 25:28.

South Carolina redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia was 14-of-26 passing for 215 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Kenny McKinley had a game-high 77 yards on four catches, while Jared Cook added 74 yards on five grabs. Weslye Saunders had a 26-yard touchdown catch that tied the game at 10-10.

Four double-figure gains by the Tigers led to their first score that ended the second drive of the game. A 10-yard scamper by Holliday moved the Tigers into Gamecocks territory with 9:16 to play in the first quarter.

After a 10-yard catch by Brandon LaFell, LSU forced a timeout with its no-huddle offense. However, a 7-yard loss on a bunch formation lateral from Hatch to Holliday stalled the drive. David hit a 48-yard field goal to give the Tigers an early 3-0 lead.

A knock-out hit by LSU safety Harry Coleman on USC tailback Eric Baker jarred the ball loose in LSU territory. Unable to cleanly grab the loose ball, Coleman regained his footing, picked up the ball and returned 17 yards to the Gamecocks 42.

On the ensuing drive, LaFell dropped a perfect third-and-10 pass from Lee at the USC 25 that would have put the Tigers inside the redzone. LSU's punt went into the endzone for a touchback.

Late in the first quarter, preseason All-SEC tight end Jared Cook got involved in the offense for South Carolina, coming across the formation to make a 31-yard catch-and-run to the LSU 47. Garcia then overcame a sack by Jackson by scrambling 17 yards to the 23. A pass interference call against LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins gave USC first-and-goal at the 8, but LSU defensive end Kirston Pittman's sack of Garcia was too much for the Gamecocks to overcome.

Ryan Succup's 21-yard field goal tied the game at 3-3 with 12:56 left in the first half.

A quick three-and-out by the Tigers led to a short punt and excellent field position for USC. This drive ended with a missed field goal by Succup from 39 yards, giving LSU another opportunity to get its offense on the field and throw a different look at the Gamecocks defense.

The Tigers alternated quarterbacks Hatch then Lee to drive into Gamecocks territory on a 19-yard catch by LaFell from Lee. On first-and-10 from the USC 20-yardline, Lee tossed a middle screen to Keiland Williams who used downfield blocks by left tackle Ciron Black and left guard Herman Johnson to advance to the 5. Two plays later, Scott scored from 5 yards out to give LSU a 10-3 lead.

South Carolina was able to answer the score on its next drive, as Garcia used another broken-down pocket to gain 41 yards on a completion to McKinley at the LSU 26. Two plays later, Garcia again came under pressure in the pocket. This time, he stayed in and found tight end Weslye Saunders wide open in the left flat for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:38 to play in the half.

The game was tied at 10-10.

LSU hoped to run its two-minute drill and add a score before the half. But, as he did at Auburn, Lee tossed an interception over the head of intended receiver Terrance Toliver and into the waiting hands of cornerback Carlos Thomas. Thomas had his sights on the endzone but stepped out of bounds at the 8.

On fourth-and-goal at the 1, Davis was able to get the nose of the football over the goalline to give South Carolina a 17-10 halftime advantage.

On the opening drive of the second half, LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith hit Garcia and forced a fumble that was picked up by fellow linebacker Perry Riley at the LSU 47-yardline.

Though LSU's next drive ended in a punt, the play changed field position and ultimately led to the Tigers' next score after four-straight punts.

Starting at his 47-yard line, Lee connected with tight end Richard Dickson for the first time for a 17-yard gain to the USC 33-yard line.

Faced with third-and-11, Lee then found Toliver over the middle for a 13-yard reception to the 21. After a 9-yard pass to Williams, Scott gained the first down at the 7-yard line with a 5-yard run. Hatch entered in place of Lee and started the play to the right, before changing direction to find a wide-open Dickson in the left side of the endzone. The point after tied the game at 17-17 with 0:44 left in the third quarter.

The LSU defense continued to give the Gamecocks fits in the second half, recording their fifth and sixth sacks of the night by Rahim Alem and Curtis Taylor, respectively.

LSU returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 25, when the Tigers play host to Georgia. Kickoff time will be announced on Sunday by the SEC (either 2:30 p.m. on CBS or 6:45 p.m. on ESPN).

Rebs Fall Short at Bama

2008-10-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

After seeing Alabama reel off 24 straight points in the first half, Ole Miss responded with 17 unanswered points in the second half, but the Rebel drive in the final minutes stalled in UA territory as the second-ranked Crimson Tide escaped 24-20.

John Parker Wilson threw for a season-high 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and the Crimson Tide (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) stopped the Rebels (3-4, 1-3) on fourth-and-5 from its 43-yard line in the final minute, when Jevan Snead's pass to Dexter McCluster fell incomplete.

Ole Miss closed to within 24-20 on Joshua Shene's 35-yard field goal with 6:09 left. The Tide pushed the ball across midfield on its next possession aiming to put the game away but the drive stalled. P.J. Fitzgerald's short punt gave Ole Miss the ball at its own 24 with 3:03 left.

Snead ran it on the first three plays, including one 5-yard gain on a pass that was batted right back into his arms by Bobby Greenwood. Brandon Deaderick then had a sack, Snead threw an incompletion and hit McCluster for a 10-yard gain to set up fourth down.

The Tide has won its past two games by a total of seven points since rising to No. 2 with a series of easy victories. It was also another in a series of close calls with Ole Miss. The Alabama had won each of the past three meetings by a field goal, but holds a commanding 23-1 advantage in Tuscaloosa.

The Rebels were going for their second road upset of a top-five team after beating Florida three weeks earlier.

Houston Nutt's team cashed in on two big gambles on the opening drive of the second half to make it 24-10. Snead ran up the middle for 17 yards on fourth-and-4. Then, Ole Miss faked a field goal, with blocking back Jason Cook taking a shovel pass from holder Rob Park for a 9-yard touchdown.

A later fourth-down try in Alabama territory didn't pay off, when Don'ta Hightower stuffed Davis on fourth-and-inches late in the third. Ole Miss got more chances, though.

After the teams exchanged fumbles in the fourth quarter, Snead hit Shay Hodge for a 17-yard touchdown with 9:27 left. Snead had fumbled at the end of a long run on the previous drive.

Alabama went three-and-out to give Ole Miss the ball back near midfield. Snead kept the drive alive with a 31-yard pass to Lionel Breaux on third-and-11. His next two passes fell incomplete, forcing the Rebels to settle for Shene's kick.

Wilson was 16-of-25 passing and was intercepted once. Mark Ingram ran for 73 yards and Glen Coffee was held to 52 yards on 13 carries and lost a fumble.

Enrique Davis gained 70 yards on 11 carries for Ole Miss, most of that coming on a 62-yarder that set up Shene's first field goal. It was the longest play from scrimmage yielded by Alabama this season.

The Tide had outscored opponents 88-0 in the first quarter before that.

Snead was 16-for-31 for 192 yards.

Alabama got rolling quickly after the early deficit with 24 consecutive points before halftime.

Wilson hit Marquis Maze on a perfectly thrown fade route for a 26-yard touchdown to start it. The Tide then ran the ball on the final six plays of its next scoring drive, capped by Ingram's 2-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter. Terrence Cody, a 365-pound noseguard, played his first snap on offense as a lead blocker on the play.

The key cog in Alabama's run defense, Cody was carted off the field with an apparent right leg injury in the third quarter, and his status wasn't immediately known.

Justin Woodall and Rashad Johnson each picked off two passes in a 3-minute span and returned them well into Ole Miss territory - one thrown by Snead and another by McCluster on the ``Wild Rebel'' play where he lines up at quarterback. The Tide scored on Leigh Tiffin's 41-yard field goal and Wilson's 30-yard pass to Mike McCoy, splitting two defenders after a handoff and pitch-back from Glen Coffee.

Lester, Sox get jump on LA

2008-10-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Jon Lester, at 24, had assumed titles unbefitting a man his age, already a no-hit phenom, a World Series clincher, a cancer survivor.

Now add one more. Lester is an ace, pure and simple, every bit as much as Josh Beckett, the man he replaced last night in the Red Sox' 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. Lester twirled seven brilliant innings, giving the Sox their 10th straight postseason victory over the Angels. He allowed six hits and one unearned run, striking out seven and staking his claim as one the sport's elite.

"He's an ace," Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "We've got Josh and Dice [Daisuke Matsuzaka]. But Jon is a guy we want out there. He's been great all year. I wasn't surprised at all."

Los Angeles beat Boston eight of nine games during the regular season, but Jason Bay took part in none of them. Bay, the left fielder who came from the hapless Pittsburgh Pirates July 31 to replace Manny Ramírez, bashed the decisive hit in his first career playoff game, a two-run homer in the sixth inning off John Lackey.

Justin Masterson and Jonathan Papelbon owned the eighth and ninth. Jacoby Ellsbury added three hits, an insurance RBI in the ninth, and a jaw-on-the-dirt diving catch in shallow center in the eighth.

But it was Lester who carried the Sox, from the first inning - when he escaped a bases-loaded jam - to his 117th and final pitch. Everyone who fretted the Red Sox would miss Beckett forgot Lester became their most consistent and durable pitcher all season. He amassed a 3.21 ERA and 16-6 record. In the past 130 years, no pitcher with at least 59 career starts (Lester's total) had a better winning percentage than Lester's .771.

Manager Terry Francona this week, when he discussed Lester overtaking the task reserved for Beckett, smiled like a man who knows a secret and isn't telling. He never worried, and everyone else discovered why last night.

"I believe that we don't put too much on any one of our pitchers' shoulders," catcher Jason Varitek said. "There's a reason we have a full staff. Jon's just a part of it. And he's a big part of it. Nobody can bear the weight for somebody else. Just go out there and pitch the games you can pitch."

Vladimir Guerrero helped Masterson in the eighth with a base-running mistake, a gaffe bound for Angels infamy.

After Ellsbury made his diving catch on Mark Teixeira to lead off the inning, Guerrero singled. Torii Hunter followed with a bloop to shallow right, just out of Kevin Youkilis's grasp.
Guerrero, waiting by second base to see if the ball would land safely, scampered to third as Youkilis gathered the ball. "Throw!" Masterson thought. Youkilis fired across the diamond to Mike Lowell, who snared the throw on a hop and easily tagged out Guerrero, desperately diving head first, for the second out.

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Hideki Okajima warmed in the bullpen in the seventh; Lester kept him there. Erick Aybar popped a fastball to short. Chone Figgins watched a low fastball for strike three. Garret Anderson, two singles under his belt, went to two strikes. He dribbled a pitch foul. Lester threw him a 95-mile-per-hour fastball, his hardest of the night. Another foul. Anderson weakly flared the seventh pitch he saw to Pedroia at second base.

Lester strode slowly toward the dugout, holding his glove in his left hand, head down. Francona met him at the top step, offering his palm. Francona shook his hand and tapped Lester on the back of the head.

"A little bit of everything," Lester said. "Seems like some innings I had good stuff, command of everything. It seemed like once the game started flowing, I got better command."

Lackey fired lightning bolts through the thick, clear California air for five innings. He was never quite dominant, but he threw his best pitches at the most critical moments and kept the Sox scoreless. Youkilis drew a walk with one out in the sixth, which it seemed Lackey would negate when he struck out J.D. Drew.

Bay walked toward the plate, a welcome sight for Lackey. Bay had never faced Lackey before last night, and Lackey overmatched him in his first two at-bats. He swung through a fastball in his first at-bat, and swung over a curve in the dirt in his second.

Lackey started Bay with another strike in the sixth. He fired an 0-1 fastball. All night long, his pitches darted into the lower half of the strike zone. This one sailed over the outside of the plate, chest high.

Bay unleashed his quick swing, hips flying open, wrists rolling. There was no doubt. The ball sailed high into the air to left. It landed in the back of the Sox' bullpen, some 400 feet from home plate. The Red Sox led, 2-1, and the frenzied crowd hushed.

"That was a huge hit for us, to get us breathing," Pedroia said. "He's not trying to be Manny Ramírez. He's trying to be Jason Bay."

Equipped with a lead after Bay's home run, Lester strengthened. He struck out Howie Kendrick. Mike Napoli ran the count full, then flailed at strike three. Gary Matthews Jr. battled to another full count, then fouled of a pitch. Lester's seventh pitch, a fastball at the knees, froze Matthews and sent him back to the bench. His pitch count hit 100 exactly.

Anderson singled to left with one out in the fourth, and Lester kept him there by striking out Teixeira. When Guerrero rolled a fastball to Jed Lowrie, Lester, surely, had escaped.

Lowrie had handled each ball hit his way as a shortstop - all 155 plays - without an error, a rookie record. The first chance he had in the playoffs forced him to his left. Lowrie shuffled toward second and leaned over. The ball bounced struck the heel of his glove and skittered away.

Hunter ensured Lowrie would be punished. Hunter flared the fifth pitch of his at-bat, a 1-2 fastball, to left field. Bay, playing deep, charged forward but the ball thudded in front of him. Anderson chugged from second and slid home for the game's first run, the only run, as it turned out, the Angels would score.

"A lot was being made of Josh not pitching in that game," Bay said. "I'm glad everyone got to see that Jon Lester has been doing it all year."

Red Sox beat Lee to punch playoff ticket

2008-09-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

With the thirst for postseason champagne lingering around the Red Sox for a second straight night, not even overwhelming American League Cy Young Award favorite Cliff Lee was going to prevent the corks from popping.
The Red Sox truly earned their 5-4 victory in this Tuesday night clinch contest against the Indians, getting to the normally dominant Lee for two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

Now that they've solidified their fifth postseason berth in the past six years, the Red Sox can go about the business of trying to become Major League Baseball's first repeat World Series champions since the 2000 Yankees.

Though the Red Sox are still in contention for the American League East title, their most likely entry into the playoffs will be as the Wild Card winner, which would earn them a AL Division Series matchup with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a best-of-five set that would start in Anaheim on Oct. 1 or 2.

Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, the only player to be on Boston's past eight postseason entries dating back to 1995, earned the win, allowing six hits and four runs (all of which were scored in the fifth inning) over six innings. Wakefield walked one and struck out six.

Fittingly, Kevin Youkilis (two-run homer in the fourth) and Dustin Pedroia (two-run double in the fifth) provided two of the biggest hits of the night. They've been Boston's most consistent offensive players all season.

And it was equally appropriate that Jason Bay, who has been so productive since coming over in the trade for Manny Ramirez on July 31, drove in the go-ahead run, a two-out RBI single up the middle in the fifth.

Clinging to a 5-4 lead after reliever Manny Declarmen loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, Red Sox manager Terry Francona went to lefty Hideki Okajima to face Victor Martinez. And Okajima, amid a tense, eight-pitch at-bat, got Martinez to pop a 3-2 pitch to Youkilis to end the threat.

Jonathan Papelbon came on to escape a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the eighth. He then navigated the ninth for save No. 41, giving the Fenway faithful good reason to erupt.

The Red Sox have five games left in the regular season.

Hornets Picked to Tie for First in West

2008-09-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

As part of Hornets.com’s preview of the 2008-09 season, we continue our look at what several of the major preseason publications are writing about the team. Today we review Lindy’s projections and opinions.
The preseason preview from Lindy’s uses a mathematical formula to project the finishes of each NBA division. As unlikely as this sounds - and it’s even more far-fetched that it would actually happen - Lindy’s predicts a four-way tie in the Southwest Division between Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio. Here is more from the magazine on the 2008-09 Hornets:

LINDY’S
On the Hornets’ overall outlook:
“The New Orleans Hornets were accused of sneaking up on everybody, but what they did last season wasn’t a surprise to them. They knew if they were healthy, they wouldn’t just make the playoffs, they would bust through the door. Now making the playoffs is no longer enough for the Hornets. Never mind the p-word, the c-word is now part of the Hornets’ venacular - as in championship.
“ ‘It’s not something we run away from,’ said general manager Jeff Bower, who has done a masterful job in building one of the most exciting and talented teams in the league. ‘I think that’s the next step for us as players and an organization.'
“Last season, the Hornets were a smash hit throughout the NBA, but especially back home in New Orleans. The fans embraced the Hornets and their style of play, which was easy to do.
“The Hornets tasted victory and bitter defeat all in one magical season. Getting the bitter taste out of their mouths should push this young group. Having James Posey around to show them what it takes to win in the postseason should be invaluable.”

On Byron Scott:
“Scott finally won the Coach of the Year award that escaped him when he guided the Nets to a franchise-best 52 wins during the 2001-02 season. Scott obviously is doing something right to have led two teams to their best records ever. Everything fell into place for Scott last year. His team was healthy and it played his style of exciting offensive basketball while also being one of the best defensive teams in the league.”

On David West:
“David West proved last season he should be considered among the game’s best power forwards. He earned the first of what should be many All-Star berths. For the fifth straight year, West increased his scoring and rebounding numbers. He averaged 20.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. If he can average 20 and 10, West truly will be an elite power forward. No one doubts he can or is willing to work to put up those numbers and be in that class.”

On James Posey:
“The Hornets learned a valuable lesson at home (in Game 7) against the (Spurs). Then two months later, the Hornets signed someone who could help them if they’re in that situation again and could teach them something about winning big games, having won so many. (Posey) could be the missing piece to the puzzle for this young group, many of whom enjoyed success for the first time as pros last season.
“Posey is a good three-point shooter, but his strength is defending multiple positions and being able to make big plays.
“ ‘We hit a home run (by signing) Mr. Posey,” Byron Scott said. “It obviously puts us a step closer to our ultimate goal, which is winning a championship, and that is what he wants to do. He’s done it with two different organizations, and hopefully we can get the trifecta.”
Posted by Hornets.com at 10:29 AM 0 comments
Monday, September 15, 2008
Hornets second in ESPN.com NBA 2009 title poll
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
ESPN.com recently asked 25 of its experts to predict which team will win the 2009 NBA championship. The leading selection, the Los Angeles Lakers, was relatively expected, collecting 12 votes. The Hornets (6 votes) were a surprise runner-up in the poll, however, earning more mentions than even the defending champion Boston Celtics (4 votes).
“The top challenger in our voting will surprise some: the up-and-coming New Orleans Hornets, not the Boston Celtics,” wrote ESPN.com. Later in the article, the website said the Hornets have a shot to win it all if these three things occur:
• "Newly acquired James Posey plays tight D and hits clutch 3s like he did in Miami and Boston."
• "Chris Paul improves on his MVP-worthy season from a year ago."
• "The young squad learned some valuable lessons during its impressive postseason run."
Posted by Hornets.com at 4:16 PM 1 comments
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Ask Chris Paul continues with Offseason: Part 2
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
When I came up with the idea during the summer of 2006 to begin our “Ask Chris Paul” feature on Hornets.com, the 6-foot guard had just wrapped up his 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year campaign. He was a relatively popular and well-known player at that point, but he had not yet achieved household-name status. When the Hornets' PR staff approached Chris and his agent about the idea, they immediately agreed to do it.
Two years later, he’s been an NBA All-Star, a runner-up in the league’s MVP voting and an Olympic gold medalist. His jersey is in the top 10 of uniform sales among all NBA players.
The most recent edition of “Ask Chris Paul” is now on the site (part 1 of this offseason appeared recently; there will be a part 3 coming soon). He has thoroughly enjoyed getting a chance to interact with fans and field questions from visitors to Hornets.com.
Multiple people have asked me recently about the feature, so I wanted to provide a few brief pieces of information that might help you get the question(s) you submit chosen by Hornets.com. We receive a large number of questions to jime@hornets.com on a weekly basis – including a huge upswing in queries from citizens of China after Chris and the Redeem Team’s visit there – so to stand out, try to be as creative as possible. Generally speaking, the more unique your question, the better chance it will be selected and not duplicated by another fan.
One aspect of getting to see the questions that has been interesting to me is how many come from shorter-stature high school basketball players. Many kids want to know what tips and secrets CP3 might have to excel on the court, despite being a smaller player. We’ve included several of those lately, but also excluded many others simply because they were redundant to what someone else had already asked.
We’ll soon be sorting through the hundreds of e-mails that have been sent over the past few weeks. We’ll try to catch up with Chris for interviews during training camp and get several more editions of “Ask Chris Paul” on the site after the regular season tips off on Oct. 29.
To ask Chris Paul a question, send an e-mail to jime@hornets.com. Please include your full name and hometown. Also please include "Ask Chris Paul" in the subject of your e-mail.
Posted by Hornets.com at 1:17 PM 0 comments
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2008-09-22T07:28:00.001-07:00

Multitaskers. That's what the defending World Series Red Sox are forced to be in this final week of the regular season.
Though they are still one win or Yankees' loss from officially qualifying for the postseason, the Red Sox will get there -- that much is certain.

Sure, the Red Sox will take some time to celebrate their berth into October once they officially secure it on Monday night against the Indians, or perhaps later in the week.

But there is also the task of winning the American League East.

That goal is still within reach, as the Red Sox -- with seven games left, all at home -- are 1 1/2 games behind the Rays.

If Boston can win the division, it would open the postseason at home against the champion of the American League Central. As the Wild Card, the Red Sox would have to start at Anaheim against an Angels' team that, at least on paper, might be the best in the game.

"Absolutely," said Jason Varitek when asked if finishing first remains a priority. "We really had to win [Sunday] to put ourselves in the right spot for the rest of the week. We've got a lot of fun baseball ahead of us."

What will the Red Sox have to do in order to win the division against a Tampa Bay team that will beat them out in any tiebreaker?

If the Red Sox run the table over the last seven games, Tampa Bay would have to go 5-3 in their last eight games. If Boston goes 6-1, the Rays would have to go 4-4. A 5-2 finish by the Sox means that Tampa Bay would have to lose five out of eight. Tampa Bay has four games at Baltimore and four more at Detroit to finish its season.

You get the picture. It won't be easy for the Red Sox to win the East.

That's why the Red Sox will remain mindful of their other goal, which is to get to the postseason in one piece.

Red Sox Pitching Probables
MONDAY

vs. Indians, 7:05 p.m. ET

Josh Beckett (12-9, 3.96) vs. Zach Jackson (0-3, 6.35)

TUESDAY

vs. Indians, 7:05 p.m. ET

Tim Wakefield (9-11, 4.18) vs. Cliff Lee (22-2, 2.41)

WEDNESDAY

vs. Indians, 7:05 p.m. ET

Paul Byrd (11-12, 4.53) vs. Fausto Carmona (8-7, 5.19)

THURSDAY

vs. Indians, 7:05 p.m. ET

Jon Lester (15-6, 3.26) vs. Jeremy Sowers (4-8, 5.48)

FRIDAY

vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET

Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2, 2.80) vs. Andy Pettitte (14-14, 4.54)

SATURDAY

vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET

Josh Beckett (12-9, 3.96) vs. TBA

SUNDAY

vs. Yankees, 1:35 p.m. ET

Tim Wakefield (9-11, 4.18) vs. Mike Mussina (18-9, 3.57)

Third baseman Mike Lowell has been hindered badly of late with a partial tear of the labrum in his right hip. Right fielder J.D. Drew hasn't played since Aug. 17 because of ongoing back woes.

So aside from winning baseball games, the Red Sox would love to get both of those players healthy enough to contribute in the playoffs.

"I think it will be a real interesting week," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "As far as health goes, I think we'll do what we need to do to make sure guys are healthy. Again, just try to mix in the production part along with it. We'll just do the best we can."

The final homestand of the season starts with four games against the Cleveland Indians and finishes with three against the Yankees.

Perhaps the biggest challenge the Red Sox will have in any of those games will come Tuesday night, when overwhelming Cy Young Award favorite Cliff Lee takes the mound. All Lee has done in his 30 starts this season is go 22-2 with a 2.41 ERA.

As far as Boston's pitching goes, Francona has things lined up exactly how he wants them. When Francona and pitching coach John Farrell plotted the alignment a few weeks back, they did it with the idea that they could be prepping for the playoffs and trying to win the division at the same time.

Ace Josh Beckett will kick things off on Monday against the Indians, followed by Tim Wakefield on Tuesday, Paul Byrd on Wednesday and Jon Lester on Thursday. Daisuke Matsuzaka will go after his 19th win on Friday, followed by Beckett on Saturday and Wakefield in Sunday's regular-season finale.

"We have it set up how we have it set up for a reason," Francona said. "I guess we reserve the right to make changes if we want to. I don't anticipate doing that unless, again, a health issue. There's a reason we did it like we did it and I think we're comfortable. We're more apt to maybe short a guy than change the days. But, if we decide to make a change, we can always do that, but I don't think so."

Instead of thinking too deeply about what is at stake, Francona merely wants his team to keep the same tunnel vision they've had for the last few weeks.

"As a team, we all work hard and we're all here for the same goal -- to win," said Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. "When you have guys all on the same page that want to win, you're going to have a pretty successful team."

Hamilton leads Vanderbilt to 4-0 with 23-17 win

2008-09-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

Ryan Hamilton tied a school record with three interceptions, scored a touchdown on an interception return and saved a score with a goal-line tackle to help Vanderbilt beat Mississippi 23-17 on Saturday.

The Commodores intercepted four of Jevan Snead's passes to put themselves in position to be ranked for the first time since 1984 by surviving an early and odd Rebels scoring flurry. Vanderbilt was one spot out of the Top 25 entering the week and is 4-0 for just the fourth time since World War II.

But the Commodores (2-0 Southeastern Conference) needed a pair of goal-line stands and a final interception as time expired to win.

The Rebels (2-2, 0-1) appeared as if they might run away early after forcing a fumble deep in Vanderbilt territory with a 10-0 lead. But Hamilton stepped in front of Snead's pass and returned it 79 yards for a score.

His second interception of Snead and 23-yard return helped set up a field goal that rallied Vanderbilt to a 17-17 halftime tie. The Commodores could only manage two more Bryant Hahnfeldt field goals in the second half, but Hamilton and the defense made it stand up.

Hamilton made a crucial tackle on Ole Miss' first series of the second half, when he caught running back Cordera Eason from behind on fourth-and-inches at the goal line. Hamilton later recovered a fumble on a punt return to negate another Ole Miss drive and finished the game off with a pick on Snead's pass around the Vanderbilt 10.

Hamilton also recovered a fumble, but wasn't the only playmaker on the Commodores defense. Reshard Langford killed another drive with a bobbling interception of Snead at midfield, then Chris Marve finished off another Rebels' goal-line chance for a rally when he forced Dexter McCluster to fumble into the end zone. D.J. Moore fell on the loose ball with 2:40 left.

If ranked Sunday, the Commodores will be the sixth SEC team in the poll and the eighth to be ranked at some point this season. Vanderbilt was ranked as high as 19th in 1984 after starting 4-0.

Ole Miss had plenty of chances to pick up the program's 600th victory after an early fumble return by Peria Jerry and a kickoff return by Mike Wallace put the Rebels up 17-7. But six turnovers, poor play from an out-of-sync Snead, who finished 12-of-25 for 184 yards in his first bad game, and seven penalties for 82 yards sent them to their ninth straight SEC loss and 13th in the last 14 games.

Hahnfeldt tied a career high with three field goals, hitting from 34, 31 and 40 yards.

Lafell Catch Seals LSU Victory over Auburn

2008-09-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

LSU made the final big play, and as usual that's what settled the annual down-to-the-wire clash with Auburn.

This time the winning connection wasn't Flynn-to-Byrd, but Lee-to-LaFell.

Jarrett Lee and Brandon LaFell hooked up on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 1:03 left to lift No. 6 LSU to yet another dramatic comeback win over No. 10 Auburn, 26-21 Saturday in an SEC West showdown that once again produced a fantastic finish and wild momentum swings.

The last five meetings have been decided by a collective 19 points in a rivalry that has produced more than drama. The winner has gone to the SEC championship game in six of the last eight seasons.

And last year Matt Flynn's last-second TD pass to Demetrius Byrd helped propel LSU to a national title.

"We expected such a battle when we came here," LSU coach Les Miles said. "I thought they showed great poise. To be tested away and be tested by a very, very capable opponent and answering that test is just what this team needed."

The only major difference in this one was the road team came out on top. The last eight games in the series had gone to the home team. LSU (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) also snapped Auburn's streak of six consecutive victories at Jordan-Hare Stadium against Top 10 teams.

Lee took over for an injured Andrew Hatch in the third quarter and produced a series of big plays to make up for a lousy start for LSU. Lee missed his first five throws, with an interception returned by defensive end Gabe McKenzie for a touchdown.

Auburn (3-1, 1-1) moved to LSU's 47 on the final drive, with help from Rahim Alem's roughing the passer penalty. Alem atoned with a sack of Chris Todd to recoup the 15-yard loss.

Todd's desperation fourth-and-25 pass to Rod Smith came up short of the first down.

Byrd came up big again for LSU. He pulled in a 22-yard halfback pass from Keiland Williams on the final play of the third quarter for a 17-14 lead. Miles said the coaches installed that play in practice this week.

"It just happened to be the right time for that play," said Miles, who also had successfully converted an onside kick after LSU's first TD. "We needed a fast score."

Colt David added a 32-yard field goal with 8:27 left and set LSU's career record for points scored by a kicker.

Todd and Auburn's offense kept the team alive. He hit Robert Dunn for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 6:40 left on third-and-9 to give Auburn a 21-20 lead. It was set up by a 58-yard heave to Tim Hawthorne when Todd rolled left, turned around and saw Hawthorne running free near the right sideline.

Lee, who had been platooning with Hatch, was 4-for-4 on the winning drive for 43 yards.

"We had the ballgame," Tuberville said. "We had the lead, we lost it; we had the lead again, we lost it. We've got a disappointed bunch of guys in the locker room. We felt like the way we played at times, we should have won it. They made a few more plays than we did."

It was the first major test for the defending national champions, who opened with wins over Appalachian State and North Texas.

Once again, LSU passed. And ran, too.

Charles Scott rushed for 132 tackle-breaking yards against an Auburn defense that was virtually untouchable in a 3-2 win at Mississippi State last weekend but appeared to weaken under the 233-pounder's barrage.

LSU had never had a 100-yard rusher at Jordan-Hare.

Lee was 11-for-22 for 182 yards and two touchdowns, including a 39-yarder to Chris Mitchell in the third. LSU gained 284 of its 389 yards in the second half.

"In the first half, receivers were getting open and the offensive line was blocking," Lee said. "I was just making poor decisions. I knew I would get back in and I knew when the opportunity came back, I had to make the right decisions.

"I just felt comfortable out there."

Scott said LSU players at halftime felt they would pull it out.

"I know we had no doubt," he said. "We knew it would be like this, we knew it would be a four-quarter game and we were ready to play."

Todd had his most productive game as Auburn's starter, going 17-for-32 for 250 yards. The junior college transfer was intercepted twice by Chris Hawkins.

"It was real exciting. There's nothing like it," Todd said. "The adrenaline rush, playing on that stage was awesome. You'd like to win, but it came down to the end, and those are the type of games you like to play in."

Auburn's Ben Tate was held to 45 yards on 19 carries. Fellow tailback Brad Lester left with a right leg injury in the third quarter, but Tuberville said he could have returned.

McKenzie had returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead.

Hatch was only 2-for-6 for 16 yards for LSU, but ran for 51 yards. He looked wobbly after his final run and was helped off the field after going to the ground while trying to walk to LSU's sideline.

"We think he'll be fine," Miles said. "He had his neck yanked and it kind of stung."

Post Gustav Notes

2008-09-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that the Boston Red Sox are still in the lead for the AL wild card spot and only 3 1/2 games behind the Rays in the AL east, considering the injuries they have sustained. Wednesday night there was only one starter left in the infield and JD Drew has been missing from the outfield for 2 weeks. The pitching staff has been decimated. Josh Beckett, who will take the mound tonight after missing 3 starts Tim Wakefield has also missed significant time. Clay Bucholtz has been a failure and has been reassigned to triple A. Daisuke Matsuzaka has missed time on the DL. The only steady performer has been Jon Lester. Thank goodness for the trade for Paul Byrd who is 3-1 since coming over from Cleveland.
With Beckett returning tonight, it looks like The Sox have a complete rotation for the first time since God knows when. Youk may be back in the lineup either at first or third.
On the positive side of the injury report is that Boston has unearthed Jed Lowrey who has replaced the injured Julio Lugo. Lowrey is much more effective on defense than Lugo and actually an offensive asset, whereas Lugo was a liability. I don't know about Terry Francona, but I've found my Shortstop of the future.
I haven't heard any predictions about when Mike Lowell will return, but with a healthy pitching staff and a resurgent Jason Bay replacing a dormant Manny Ramirez in left, I think the Bosox are poised for a run at a playoff spot.

LSU looked splendid in their opener against Division I-AA national champion Appalachian State last week in Tiger stadium. Looked like they did whatever they wanted to do both offensively and defensively. The only chink in their armor was the punting which was inconsistent at best.
The game this week has been postponed because of the ravages of Hurricane Gustav on Tiger Stadium and Baton Rouge. This will give the players time to return home and help their families with post-hurricane repairs.

Ole Miss looked like a team on a mission last Saturday in Vaught- Hemingway stadium. The Rebels had struggled against Memphis in the past few years and had actually lost a few times. But that was not the case in this game as they gave the Tigers a shellacking 41-24. Although deficient in talent compared with most SEC teams, Ole Miss looked disciplined and well coached and all-in-all, much better in every aspect of the game than last year. They looked well coached and were fun to watch. After the game, it was the opinion of everyone at the Pontotoc tent, that we were once again proud of our team. They played hard throughout the game even when they began to fade in the 4th quarter. It'll be a good year for the Rebels, one in which they will surprise a few people.
They'll play Wake Forest in Winston Salem this Saturday afternoon on CBS where not only will they have to contend with the Deacon's spread offense but the winds and rain of Hurricane Hannah.

Hornets sign Devin Brown

2008-08-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

New Orleans announced the official signing of guard/forward Devin Brown today. Brown returns to the team after spending 2006-07 with the Hornets. He was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. A few other facts on the six-year NBA veteran:
• Brown has career NBA averages of 7.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 352 games.
• He appeared in 78 games (20 starts) and played in 22.6 minutes during the 2007-08 season, averaging 7.5 points along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
• Brown had his best season as a pro with the Hornets during the 2006-07 season, averaging a career-high 11.6 points in 58 games (49 starts). He also had career-highs in minutes per game (28.7), rebounds (4.3) and assists (2.6).
• Brown was a member of the 2004-05 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs and has appeared in 29 career playoff games with Cleveland and San Antonio.
• He is from San Antonio, Texas, and was undrafted out of the University of Texas-San Antonio.

Hatch Opening

2008-08-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

Give Les Miles credit.

If an approaching football season were Christmas and Miles its CEO, he’d find a way to create at least a hint of uncertainty as to whether it would be Santa Claus or someone else coming down the chimney this time to deliver the goods.

LSU’s season opener is at 4 p.m. Saturday against Appalachian State in Tiger Stadium, and all indications are sophomore Andrew Hatch will take the first LSU snap at quarterback. That doesn’t mean Miles has publicly ruled out redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee or fully explained freshman Jordan Jefferson’s role.

“You’ll see how we play them when we show up in the stadium,” Miles said last week.

Lee missed three preseason practices because of an ankle injury and missed the bulk of practice time last week because of back spasms.

With Jefferson still learning the offense, that would seem to all but give the starting job to Hatch by default.

If Hatch has any idea he’s the clear-cut No. 1 or will be by Saturday, he’s not telling.

“I’ve just been focusing on running the offense, being out there with the team and getting comfortable, getting ready to go,” Hatch said.
After a practice last week, Miles said Hatch was more ready to play than a week or two earlier, but he passed up every opportunity to rave about Hatch if he were so inclined.

“I like Hatch,” Miles said.

And, “We’re just improving. That’s all.”

Nobody should be surprised Miles hasn’t posted a depth chart on the side of the LSU football operations facility. He still hasn’t really named a starter for the 2005 season opener, for his first game at LSU.

During preseason camp three years ago, Miles said he would identify and reveal his starting quarterback the Thursday before the first game.

Before that Thursday arrived, Hurricane Katrina led to the postponement of the North Texas-LSU season opener.

The scheduled second game, against Arizona State, was moved to Tempe, Ariz., and Miles stayed mum about the pecking order at quarterback.

Finally, after ESPN received the necessary information from LSU for the on-screen graphics for the telecast of the game, the rest of us learned for sure JaMarcus Russell would take the first snap.

That in itself wasn’t the upset of the century, but Miles played his preseason cards close to the vest, insisting Matt Flynn was right there with Russell in the hunt for the job.

Last week Miles made it clear he wants the competition at every position, including quarterback, to continue right up to game day. It’s more apparent than ever Miles sees that as a necessary component of making a team better.

Still, he has no trouble delivering head-scratchers in interviews, explaining himself with sentences that could take hours to diagram and interpret, as he explains the merits of competition for playing time.

It almost seems like part of the design, his obfuscation.

“At the places that guys are playing, both guys are playing,” Miles said, “they’ve earned that right and shown that they’re as capable or more capable than others, and so they’re going to have the opportunity to get on the field and continue to compete, and with performance.”

Right.

Translation? Probably that the competition will continue beyond the season opener, that performance in early-season games will be a measuring stick for each player.

That’s why it’s easy to imagine a different starting quarterback for the Southeastern Conference opener Sept. 20 at Auburn than for the Appalachian State game Saturday.

There is a lot of Les Miles in his team. Ask a player about Andrew Hatch, and you’ll get an answer about all three quarterbacks — with emphasis on two of them.

“They’re both doing great,” LSU backup center Ryan Miller said. “He and Jarrett have had a great camp, and even Jordan. With the young guys, they’re just doing a phenomenal job. They’re both getting in there and getting after it. They both want it. They always want it.
“You always love to see that as an offensive lineman, somebody that cares that much, that’s real dedicated all the time to helping this team out.”

The subject goes from one quarterback to two quarterbacks to three quarterbacks, then back to two quarterbacks — and that’s probably the way Miles wants it.

Yet, the closer we get to Saturday in Tiger Stadium, the more it appears Hatch is the player who will first enter the fishbowl of scrutiny as LSU’s starting quarterback.

“I’m ready for that,” Hatch said. “I’m prepared. I’ve been working hard. I’m excited to play. I’m a competitor. I’m going to just be ready to go, and I think that’s how the whole team really looks at it.”

LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton agreed with Hatch’s self-analysis, especially about his drive to succeed and win at everything.

“He’ll race you to the drinking fountain, as one of our trainers has told us,” Crowton said. “He’s just so competitive to the little details of things.”

A recurring theme in preseason is Crowton’s eagerness to see the quarterbacks in game conditions.

Not only does that include how they handle their mistakes, but the more team-oriented dynamic of how they deal with their teammates’ errors.

Junior and senior quarterbacks have seen it all, Crowton said. They’ve seen the starting quarterback trip up and get ripped by the coach, the media and fans.

They know they’re walking into a situation where a receiver might run the wrong route, but the quarterback will be blamed for the incompletion or interception.

It’s all put at the feet of the trigger man, and that’s not easy for a younger player.

“It’s kind of a shock,” Crowton said. “It’s like, ‘Oh my God, I’m accountable for everybody? I didn’t drop that ball or tip that ball or turn the wrong way or miss the block that led to a sack.’ Everything more or less falls on those guys.”

Crowton said he thinks he knows how Hatch and Lee will react, but he’s never quite sure until two or three games into a season.

“I’ve seen guys get their feelings hurt so bad that they get too conservative,” Crowton said. “At the same time, I’ve seen guys that throw six picks one week and come back and throw for 400 yards the next.”

The best quarterbacks see their mistakes and resolve to do something about them.

“They just keep playing,” Crowton said. “They just bounce back.”

Everybody feels criticism, and it hurts everybody, Crowton said. No one is immune.

“It’s how you respond to it that makes you tough,” he said.

Crowton said the right leader of an offense will take the right critiques to heart and learn how to get better at the specifics of his position.

“Those are the guys that end up being outstanding,” he said.

The Big Reveal won’t come in the form of an announcement from Miles, but rather from the way Hatch, Lee and Jefferson develop during the season.

It’s on the field where the right stuff shows up and tells the coaching staff who can do the job.

“That’s what you won’t see until the game day,” Crowton said. “I can see it in practice to a certain extent, but the game day — when 92,000 are out there and the TV cameras are on you — that’s when it’s fun, when you can see that a guy has it.”

Every serious football fan has seen quarterbacks pointing fingers and yelling at receivers after something goes wrong. The timing and geography of pass routes must be precise, and there’s a rhythm to the drop back and physical dance of pass protection.

It all must work together, or there will be problems. The signal caller who throws his teammates under the bus, so to speak, might find it difficult to throw anything after that.

“How the quarterback treats those players around him can give those other guys confidence in believing in the guy behind them,” Crowton said. “There’s importance in that.”

In January when Miles raised the crystal football that symbolizes the BCS national championship trophy, the assumption was that Ryan Perrilloux would be LSU’s quarterback this season. His dismissal in May changed everything.

Because Perrilloux was suspended during spring practice, Hatch and Lee got more repetitions. They entered August camp as the two main candidates for the job.

Hatch said he thinks he’s come a long way, but even he can’t help but steer the conversation elsewhere when the question’s about him.

“I think coach Crowton has done a great job of working individually with us quarterbacks, really each day, correcting anything we need to correct, improving on everything,” Hatch said.

“Coach Miles always gets us ready to play — every little thing. He pays great attention to detail out there and really helps us be the best we can be so we can help our team.”

Hatch said he and Lee get along well.

“I think we push each other each day,” Hatch said. “We help each other too. If you have a question or need to check on something, you can check with each other and just help the team get better that way.”

Hatch said he loved LSU from the moment he set foot on campus. He said the 2007 dream season consistently reaffirmed that for him.

“It was the whole year, from the preseason on,” Hatch said, trying to identify one moment when he knew he was in the right place.

Each game was so exciting, the preparation, the support, the hype and everything. I just really got a feel for that.

“The Florida game may have been, if you want to pick one, kind of the big one, but it’s really hard to pick just one moment.”

A more defining moment for Hatch may be less than a week away, or this chapter might unfold throughout the course of the season.

Time will probably tell sooner than a winking Les Miles will.

UM players, coaches excited about opener

2008-08-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

With the Memphis game creeping closer and closer, fans aren’t the only ones anxious to see the new-look Ole Miss Rebels.

New offensive coordinator Kent Austin said his quarterback is acting like he’d expect him to act leading up to his debut as a Rebel.

“He’s going to be excited and anxious all wrapped into one,” Austin said of Jevan Snead. “I’d be a little nervous if our quarterback wasn’t a little anxious. Jevan has that naturally. That’s the competitive side of him, and that’s a good thing.”

Since the spring, when Snead was handed yet another offensive scheme to learn, Austin said he’s seen Snead transform into a totally different quarterback.

“I think he has good command of the huddle,” Austin said. “I think he’s still thinking a little bit, but he’s come a long, long way since the spring. He’s a different guy than he was in the spring.”

Austin said both Billy Tapp and Nathan Stanley, Snead’s backups, have also progressed well.

“Billy is doing really well,” Austin said. “Billy is throwing the ball well right now, he’s accurate and he’s making great decisions.

“Nathan has the physical tools, but he doesn’t have the command of the offense from the understanding standpoint that Billy has.”

With the 2008 season right around the corner, Snead isn’t the only newcomer to the Ole Miss gridiron that’s getting excited.

New head coach Houston Nutt said he’s ready to get the season going.

“I’m looking forward to (the Memphis game), getting excited about it. You know it’s getting close and you want to make sure you’re hitting all the bases,” Nutt said. “I’m more excited. Since really about 1980, you get that feeling. The first alarm goes off in July when you know it’s getting close for two-a-days, then two-a-days get here, and then here comes another alarm, ‘hey, it’s game time. It’s time to start going to war.’”

Big things expected for TEs

When the 2007 season, if you had looked at the Rebels’ roster, you wouldn’t have seen any true tight ends. But through recruiting and changing positions, Nutt said he expects big things from his crop of tight ends.

“I’ve been really proud of Gerald Harris, David Traxler, and the two freshmen are going to be excellent,” Nutt said. “Ferbia Allen and E.J. Epperson are going to be very good. Reggie Hicks is really coming along. There’s a role for him. Hopefully they all stay healthy, we need them all.”

Trahan impresses again

When former Auburn-commit Patrick Trahan stepped onto the practice field for the first time at Ole Miss, he was noticeably out of shape and out of sync. Since then, however, he has made noticeable strides.

“(Trahan’s) another guy we’re expecting a great deal from,” Nutt said. “He’s come on, for not being here all summer, I’ve been really proud of his progress.

“Coach (Tyrone) Nix has really brought him a long way. Hopefully he’ll be ready to roll. He looks good.”

Injury update

Starting linebacker Jonathan Cornell, who was injured Wednesday during practice, is expected to be back out at practice today. Nutt said the California native had a strained calf.

J.D. Drew Gets Bad News About His Back

2008-08-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

There's a shortage of good news in Boston today, and I'm not just talking about how the Blue Jays hammered the Red Sox for an 11-0 beating this afternoon.

J.D. Drew has been hobbling all week with a stiff back, but he seemed to be making progress until the injury regressed yesterday. That's when the team sent him to the hospital to be examined. He's still awaiting the results of an MRI, but the early prognosis is that he's suffered a herniated disc. From Jeff Horrigan of the Boston Herald:

"I don't want to miss any more time, but it could be ready (today) or (tomorrow)," the right fielder said. "When I had it in Japan (in late March), it hurt for a couple of days, the spasm went away and I felt better. I thought I was heading in the right direction (Thursday) because it felt better, but now it's really stiff. We'll try to get it calmed down and back to baseball activities."

Drew is hoping to avoid a trip to the DL, and considering the unpredictability of his recovery (as well as the fact that roster expansion is just a week away), he'll likely be granted his wish. That said, the Red Sox sorely miss his presence in the lineup. His spot has been filled by Coco Crisp, who's hit .227 with exactly two extra-base hits since the All-Star break.

In other scuttlebutt from the trainer's room, Terry Francona revealed a bit more about Josh Beckett's status, admitting for the first time that Beckett has inflammation as well as numbness and tingling in his right elbow. When the team decided earlier in the week that he'd skip his scheduled start on Saturday, the hope was that he'd return to the mound on Tuesday. Now, the plan is for him to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and make his next start on Friday.

Weak arms again have Red Sox out on a limb

2008-08-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

Weak arms again have Red Sox out on a limb

Josh Beckett likely didn't want to hear Terry Francona's words of encouragement after the Sox starter was pulled from the game. (Reuters Photo)

It was Superman-esque, as Josh Beckett ripped off his uniform top in the dugout, then stalked over to the steps that lead to the tunnel to the clubhouse. Except there was no saving to be done. Beckett, in fact, had left his team with a very messy situation, and himself with a very early shower.

He hasn't been himself - at least the 2007 version - all year, but yesterday's game took matters to extremes. Beckett lasted just 2 1/3 innings before Terry Francona emerged from the dugout and headed in his direction. The manager reached the mound in time to have a particularly lengthy conversation, one that ended with Beckett walking off the field, headed for a seat on the bench with an expression of frustration.

But Beckett was not alone. For the second time in this abbreviated five-game homestand the bullpen fell apart. And, unlike last Tuesday night, the Red Sox' offense was unable to rescue its pitching staff with an outburst of its own. Instead the Sox fell, 15-4, swept in two games by the Blue Jays, against whom the Sox are 2-6 this season. Not exactly the way Boston wanted to head out on a nine-game road trip.

"Whew. That was a bad day," Francona said, referring to Beckett. He could have been referring to the entire team, including a bullpen that allowed 17 runs on the homestand. That's not usually a way to win games, but the Sox managed to sweep the pitching-poor Rangers on their way to a 3-2 record between road trips.

The Sox weren't doing much against a laboring Shaun Marcum, who lasted just five innings even having been given an 8-0 lead after three. And, as the runs mounted for the Blue Jays, and the Sox continued turning off to the dugout before reaching first base, the crowd of 37,415 began dispersing. The Sox had their chances, but didn't do enough damage. Even a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the fourth didn't help, as Jason Varitek grounded into a double play.

"It's very tough, you're kind of just trying to finish it out, trying to get a couple guys on, stay within yourself," Jason Bay said about getting through a game that spirals out of control early. "But easier said than done without that atmosphere, without that little extra edge. But that's part of being a professional baseball player, trying to maintain and do that through the good and the bad times."

Still, it was Beckett on whom the Sox' hopes were pinned, the team's nominal ace having shown glimpses of his greatness in his last two outings, a 6 2/3-inning win over the Royals Aug. 5, and an 8-inning, one-run mastery of the White Sox last Monday.

"Especially after his last outing, very [surprising]," Varitek said. "He was really good his last outing. Just one of those days. Those guys sometimes looked in the right spot, sometimes looked at the right pitch, and got just the good enough one to hit at the right times. It was one of those days. Josh hasn't had one of those days.

"Is this going to ruin Josh for the year? No."

It was his shortest outing since a 1 1/3-inning blasting at Yankee Stadium June 5, 2006, in which he allowed seven earned runs. But there clearly has been something off about Beckett all season. While last year he contended for a Cy Young award, allowing just 73 earned runs in 200 2/3 innings, he already has given up 72 earned runs in 149 1/3 innings this season.

Once Beckett got the first out of the game, a strikeout swinging of Joe Inglett on a 96 mile per hour fastball, the next six batters reached base on four hits, one walk, and one hit batter. And that should have been it. He should have been out of the inning on a grounder to first by Brad Wilkerson, which would have left Beckett just four runs in the hole, but Kevin Youkilis bobbled it and got just one out. That was followed by a two-run double by John McDonald in a 36-pitch first inning.

Two more came in the third, on a home run by Adam Lind, and a triple by Wilkerson, though that was given up by David Aardsma. While Beckett had been throwing breaking balls that weren't breaking and fastballs without movement (except in the opposite direction), the bullpen was no better. It allowed seven more runs, with the Blue Jays tagging five of the six relievers sent out. It was a corps that included one unexpected name, as Clay Buchholz joined the parade, today's bullpen session turned into an inning (one run allowed) in yesterday's game.

"Guys start playing games, they start guessing, and then they're guessing right," Varitek said. "Or they don't and you misfire, you make the wrong pitch. When a lot of success has gone on offensively it allows you to play the game a little. Be patient, be smart. Do those things. We made some mistakes and we made some good pitches, and they did some good hitting."

So the Sox head out on the road with an inconsistent bullpen and an up-and-down ace. It is the team's final lengthy trip of the season (three cities, nine games), one that heads through three division opponents, starting in Baltimore, heading to Toronto, and then to New York. For a team attempting to close the gap with the Rays in the East, and one with a 28-35 road record, that is no small undertaking.

"It's going to say a lot," Bay said. "It's going to be a big test, especially with the road record. We've got to find a way to win games that aren't here at Fenway. You have to do that. You can't just keeping winning games at home. You've got to find a way to win them on the road."

Lee Sidelined with Minor injury

2008-08-12T12:09:00.001-07:00

LSU football coach Les Miles said an “injury of soft tissue” to one of redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee’s legs isn’t serious and shouldn’t significantly affect the preseason competition for the role of starting quarterback.

The injury, which Miles said happened Saturday afternoon, kept Lee from participating in both practices Monday. After the second practice Miles said he didn’t know how long Lee would be off the field.

“It’s not serious, it is not surgical — it is a rest issue,” Miles said, “and it’s in his leg.”

Miles didn’t specify which leg. He described the injury as happening in an unusual way.

“Somebody fell into the guy,” Miles said.

Lee was wearing a green jersey, which LSU quarterbacks wear to remind their teammates they are not to be hit. Players who are injured but able to practice also wear green to note they are limited to noncontact participation.

“The guy’s wearing a green shirt,” Miles said of Lee. “I’d say that that would be unusual at best, but those things happen.”

Miles stressed the injury isn’t serious.

“It is not a severe anything, so we feel like we’ll have him back in really short order,” Miles said. “Don’t know exactly what length of time short order is.”

True freshman Jordan Jefferson took more snaps in Lee’s absence, alternating with sophomore Andrew Hatch, but Miles said he didn’t expect Lee’s injury to keep Lee from challenging for the starting job.

“Only if it slows his progress,” Miles said. “He was having a great day on Saturday, so I don’t know. I would not suppose that it would hinder him in pursuing the job.”

Given a second chance to speculate on a timetable for Lee’s return to the practice field, Miles said LSU’s medical staff has been giving him optimistic reports about the tissue.

“Honestly, they keep upgrading it,” Miles said. “There’s little swelling. Everything feels pretty good. It’s really precautionary.”

Movin’ on up

At least while Lee is out, Jefferson will be LSU’s second quarterback.

“He’s getting a lot more snaps just because Jarrett’s watching,” Miles said.

“He made a nice little scramble in this ‘go’ that we just had, probably for about 30 yards and a score,” Miles said after the afternoon practice. “Nice play.”

Jefferson isn’t a legitimate contender to be the starter for the Aug. 30 season opener vs. Appalachian State, Miles confirmed. That race continues to be between Hatch and Lee, both of whom have been in the program a full year longer than Jefferson.

“I would think that the guys that have been in the offense a little longer certainly have an advantage, so that advantage is kind of what you’re seeing,” Miles said, “and yet if he continues to make exceptional plays and can grow in his learning, then …

“The opportunity for him to start in the first game? Not likely, OK? The opportunity for him to be ready somewhere down the road? It’s not unforeseen.”

Miles hinted there are ways Jefferson could help the offense early in the season, and LSU has to plan and prepare him for a number of possibilities. As he matures his opportunities for playing time should increase, the coach said.

Other health issues

Two seniors, center Brett Helms and defensive tackle Charles Alexander, again missed practice with what Miles has described as minor injuries.

“I think they’ll be back maybe in a couple days,” Miles said. “I don’t know exactly how long for Helms, but I know he’s chomping at the bit, running around here. One thing we want to do, especially when we have time: We want to get them healthy.

“I think it’s precautionary. I think probably both could play if we were playing a game today.”

Francois disciplined

Miles said redshirt freshman safety Stefoin Francois’ absence wasn’t health-related.

“Stefoin Francois is facing some disciplinary problems with team,” Miles said without specifying what team rules Francois may have broken.

“Currently, he’s not practicing, and we’ll have to look into how we’ll go from here.”

Miles stopped short of calling it a suspension.

“I’m not ready to say that just yet,” Miles said. “I’m looking at what I have there.”

Odds and ends

Miles said Brady Dalfrey and Josh Jasper could take turns punting this season. Miles said he might pick Dalfrey if he had to pick a leader Monday. … The defense is “a little ahead” of the offense, Miles said, but the offense is improving. … He said LSU will run about 20 plays per team in a mini-scrimmage today that will feature live tackling.

Celebration penalty?

Miles said he was glad to see highlights that included at least one of Jacob Hester’s first two touchdowns for the San Diego Chargers, but Miles was slow to believe reporters who told him the former LSU running back spiked the ball after his first score.

“I’m going to write his mother,” Miles deadpanned. “That’s not right.”

Miles acted as if those reports had to be false.

“He didn’t do that,” he said as if trying to reassure himself.

“He did this too?” Miles asked, waving a hand in front of his face in the “you can’t see me” manner popularized by his players last season.

Ole Miss DE to miss time because of Fractured foot

2008-08-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Ole Miss’ depth along the defensive line took another hit Monday when junior standout end Greg Hardy was lost to foot surgery. Hardy, who was named to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference First Team earlier this summer, could miss up to eight weeks of action after team doctor Ed Field inserted a screw into Hardy’s right foot.

According to Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, the surgery to repair a stress fracture in Hardy’s fifth metatarsal was successful and the prognosis for a full recovery looked good. There was no definite timetable set as to when Hardy could return to practice, but even the most optimistic return date would be in the Rebels’ second game against Wake Forest.

“(Hardy) was out here running looking like a million dollars the first five or six days. Then one day before we put on the pads, (injured foot) just flared up on him. We thought it was just a bruised side of his foot. Then when you do an X-ray, it showed a little bitty crack in there,” Nutt said of Hardy, who had 10 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2007. “He’s had a crack in that other (foot) where he’s snapped it. So it’s maybe not that severe right now, hopefully. Dr. Field said (surgery) went well and I’m really excited about what he had to say after surgery. You just don’t know when he’ll get back because everybody heals different. We do have about 18 days and we’ll see what happens after that.”

Nutt may have some time to decide when Hardy sees the field again, but he doesn’t have any more healthy bodies to add to a defensive line rotation that is already without the services of tackles Peria Jerry and Ted Laurent.

“The defensive line has got a bad bug. We’ve got to change that karma, we’ve got to change that feeling,” Nutt said about the injured players.

Until Hardy gets back into the swing of things, Nutt is looking for other ends like Kentrell Lockett, Chris Bowers, LaDerrick Vaughn, Emmanuel Stephens and converted basketball player Jermey Parnell to get more reps in practice. Junior Marcus Tillman, who has played both end and tackle during his career, is still expected to practice in the middle of the line with Jerry and Laurent out.

“Right now we’re going to keep Marcus inside,” Nutt said. “Hopefully Stephens, Bowers, LaDerrick Vaughn, Jeremy Parnell and Kentrell Lockett will keep coming.

“(Parnell) is getting reps right now, but he’s just so far behind. You wish you had him a couple of years ago where you could have developed those fundamentals. It’s just a long process, but boy, he does some things that just catches your eye,” Nutt said about what Parnell brings to the end position. “It’s like teaching a first-grader how to write. It’s not easy, but again because of his body, because of his size and because of quickness, there are some things he does very naturally. We still have time and there may be a package for him.”

Injured players return

There was some good news to report on the injury front for the Rebels as safeties Johnny Brown and Kendrick Lewis both returned to practice Monday after missing some time last week.

Linebacker Allen Walker, who also missed time last week, is getting closer to returning to practice, while Nutt said wide receiver Mike Wallace was still suffering from a strained hamstring. Wallace caught a touchdown pass in the Rebels’ first scrimmage Saturday but left practice immediately after the score, which took Nutt by surprise.

“I told him ‘you catch a touchdown pass and you go to the training room.’ I don’t understand that,” Nutt said. “I’ve been kidding with him that maybe he’s not used to getting into that end zone enough. You shouldn’t be hurt after a big play.”

Scrimmage review

Saturday’s scrimmage was reviewed on tape by Nutt and his assistant coaches over the weekend and the results seemed to be positive considering it was the first one of the preseason.

“The first thing we did was grade them on technique and effort. Do they know what to do? How hard did they play? And then how hard they did their technique,” Nutt said. “For the first scrimmage, it wasn’t too bad, but we still have to get better. A lot of the freshman’s heads are still spinning, but I like the way they’re listening and trying to get better.”

Freshman to get more reps

A position that is expected to utilize some freshmen during the season will be at running back and Nutt said that players such as Enrique Davis, Brandon Bolden and Devin Thomas will get more practice time over the next few days because junior running back Cordera Eason will miss time due to a dental procedure on Wednesday morning.

“Cordera is going to have a tooth taken out, so those freshman will just keep getting more and more reps. We’re going to put a little pressure on them to see how they respond,” Nutt said. “A couple of them had too many fumbles today. That happens at the end (of practice), but you just can’t do it. So I’m excited to see how they respond over the next two or three days because we’re going to put more on them.”

Monday’s practice

The early tempo at Monday evening’s practice pleased Nutt, but he said the team didn’t do a good job of finishing the workout strong.

“We had about nine, 10, 11 good periods and then we went into that sluggish mode. We’ve got to get a little bit tougher, we’ve got to finish, we’ve got to play for four quarters,” Nutt said. “People were executing. They were crisp and coming off the ball and blocking who they were supposed to block. The defense was chasing the ball. Everyone was throwing and catching. And then it just fell off.

“You can’t have seven or eight play on offense. You’ve got to have 11 and it

Beckett Silences White Sox Bats

2008-08-12T11:23:00.001-07:00

Just as parts of the rotation are crumbling - health for Tim Wakefield, ineffectiveness for Clay Buchholz - Josh Beckett has chosen this point in the season to reassert himself. He hadn't been struggling, exactly. No, he has "just been off just a click," as Jason Varitek put it.

He hasn't been the Beckett of last season, when he almost won the Cy Young Award, or the Beckett of the postseason, when he was better than any pitcher had any right to be.

So his timing is perfect now. More than any other time this season, as the August doldrums set in, Beckett the ace is needed.

"You can't predict turning the corner, but I think he's got a lot left in the tank for whatever we have left," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He looks strong. He's locating. And we will need him to do that."

But as good as he was last night, he needed some help from the offense. Against the White Sox' John Danks (7 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, career-high-tying 9 strikeouts), that wasn't exactly easy. Not until the sixth inning did Boston get a baserunner, and it wasn't until the seventh that the team got its first hit. It was in that inning, though, that the Red Sox scored two, propelling Beckett to a 5-1 win in front of 32,634 at U.S. Cellular Field for a split of this four-game series.

"The way Danks was throwing, you don't want them to spread out or get an extra run, because his stuff was so good," Francona said. "Everything was working. He was throwing changeup, he was throwing fastball, cutter, curveball, he had everything working. But Beckett kept him to 1. Gave us a chance."

Francona called Danks "the best we've seen" - a high compliment considering the scintillating performances of Justin Duchscherer and John Lackey this season - and it looked as though he might finally be the guy to put together a no-hitter against the Red Sox. It wasn't until Jacoby Ellsbury was hit by a fastball in the rear end with two outs in the sixth inning that someone reached base. And he didn't make it to second, as Coco Crisp grounded out to end the inning.

Then Kevin Youkilis, sore shoulder and all, came up with one out in the seventh. On a 95-mile-per-hour fastball, Youkilis sawed his bat off at the hands, leaving him with just a nub in his grasp - and a single to center field. Danks stood on the mound and rubbed his sweaty forehead in frustration, knowing exactly what that single meant.

"I knew it when I hit it," Youkilis said. "When it came off the bat, I knew I had a hit out of it. Just the way it came off, just kind of stayed through it, kind of floated over into center field. It probably helped me. If I had hit it harder, might have gone to the center fielder."

It meant even more than the breakup of the no-hitter when J.D. Drew blasted a double to left-center, sending home both Youkilis and Mike Lowell (who had walked after the single) to put the Red Sox up, 2-1.

It happened so fast. They had nothing, then they had a runner, then they had a hit. And a walk, and a double, and the lead.

"Game's hard to figure out sometimes," Francona said. "The good part of it was it was a 1-0 lead. You always feel like you're a hit or a walk [away]."

And once the Red Sox scored, once they broke up Danks's chance at history, Beckett pushed back at the White Sox even harder. He allowed one runner in the seventh and one more in the eighth, both coming with two outs.

Beckett's only miscue came in the third, as Nick Swisher led off with a single to left field, followed by a single by Juan Uribe. Two fly outs to center field - the first moving Swisher to third, the second sending him home - marred the evening for Beckett. It was his second straight dominant outing, the other coming in a win over the Royals last Tuesday.

"Tonight it was just staying pitch to pitch, not getting too far ahead," Beckett said. "I wasn't thinking about the 0-and-2 pitch when I was 0-and-0. Sometimes it's easy to do that, you start thinking about the result. Maybe that corrupts the process. I think I'm staying good with staying with the process."

And it was the third time in four outings that Beckett has come close to being himself. Other than a disaster of a start against the Angels - eight runs (seven earned) in 5 1/3 innings - Beckett has given up just four runs in 21 2/3 innings in those other three.

"To turn things around here, we need to start with pitching," Varitek said. "He was clean today with his delivery. Balls were going where he wanted them to. He's had to fight that quite a bit throughout different parts of the year. No better time than now to figure it out."

Rebels Don Pads for First Time

2008-08-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

With the temperature only reaching close to 90 degrees and winds shifting out of the north, it felt more like springtime than the dog days of summer Friday, but on the practice fields adjacent to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium the action heated up as the Ole Miss football team put on pads for the first time in preseason camp.

“We got a break in the weather, and had a really good practice,” said first-year head coach Houston Nutt. “I was hoping for a little hotter weather, but I am sure we’ll get it. The guys bounced around and moved around good. We had a good practice overall. I am looking forward to tomorrow. We’ll have about a 30 or 40 minute practice and then we’ll go inside the stadium for a 100-play scrimmage.”

With a couple of players out on the defensive line, freshman Justin Smith of Alpharetta, Ga., got a chance to show the coaches what he can do, and Nutt was pleased.

“Justin is really coming on,” Nutt said. “I like what he is doing. He’s intelligent, he’s committed and he runs to the ball. He may go the wrong way or line up wrong sometimes, but not very often. He’s physical for a freshman, and he’s not afraid to mix it up with the big linemen. I’ve been really proud of him.”

Nutt also praised the other side of the ball, talking about the improvement of the offensive line and the running game as well as first-year quarterback Jevan Snead.

“That group has stepped forward.” he noted. John Jerry had a good day, Michael Oher probably had his best day and then you have Daverin (Geralds) and Maurice Miller. Darryl Harris has probably been our best guy, if you had to pick one.

“Jevan had his best day today. He was on target today. He had good protection, and the receivers caught some good balls.

Saturday, the Rebels will scrimmage for the first time this season. Practice will start at 11 a.m. on the practice fields, before moving inside the stadium for the scrimmage. Nutt talked about what they hope to see from the team in their first scrimmage.

“I want to see a very physical team,” he said. “I want to see our secondary tackle and play the ball. I want to see some of our guards and tackles (especially in the second group), what they do offensively.

“We have young running backs. I want to see what they do with the helmets coming after them, because they’ve looked real good in shorts when they know they’re not being tackled. We’ve got three talented running backs. They are very good. They raise the level of play in Cordera (Eason) and Derrick (Davis). You’re not afraid to hand them the ball. They can handle it. It’s going to be interesting.”
Afternoon showers forced the Rebel football team indoors for Thursday’s practice, but the weather didn’t dampen the players’ morale.

Following their stretching routine, the players huddled at mid-field and formed a ring around coach Houston Nutt. Through the crowd of Rebels, fans could only see a wide-brim hat sticking up from the middle of the huddle as, one-by-one, a defensive and offensive player were called to the center. When Nutt blew the whistle, their shoulder pads violently collided. Players and coaches yelled and jumped up and down with excitement, slapping the helmet of whichever player won the battle.

Then practice started.

As players went through individual position drills, seven-on-seven passing drills, offensive line/defensive line battles and eventually 11-on-11 plays, Nutt prowled the field with a watchful eye.

“We had a good practice today. We really got better,” Nutt said. “I thought our offense really responded from yesterday, really picked up some things. Jevan (Snead) threw the ball well today. Receivers ran some good routes, and the offensive line did a much better job.

“Tomorrow is the first day of full pads, so now here comes the grind. Here comes the physical part of it.”

Offensive line solid

With Reid Neely out with a strained Achilles tendon, Darryl Harris stepped in to fill the left guard position, and John Jerry is now working at right tackle. Currently, the starting offensive line from left to right is Michael Oher, Harris, Daverin Geralds, Maurice Miller and Jerry.

“That’s a pretty good five,” Nutt said. “I know Reid doesn’t like being out when he sees those guys practice like that. That was a good group today. We’ll see if they can come back and do it again tomorrow.”

On the other side of the ball, defensive end Greg Hardy was forced to watch his teammates, who continue to impress Nutt, from the stationary bike due to a bruised foot.

“The defensive line was very good,” Nutt said. “When they got their motor running and their pad level where it’s supposed to be they’re hard to stop now.”

McCluster, Wallace impress

Wide receiver and everything-man Dexter McCluster continued to be one of the main targets on offense, catching most everything thrown his way. He took a couple snaps behind center in the “Wild Rebel” package and one in the halfback position. Wherever he went, he was elusive.

Speedy outside receiver Mike Wallace had several good grabs, and not just on deep balls. Nutt said he expects the SEC’s leader in yards-per-catch from a year ago to be more than just a deep threat this year.

“He’ll catch the ball. Possession routes, quick game, quick screens, he’ll do it,” Nutt said.

Tight ends inexperienced

One concern on offense has to be the fact that none of the tight ends on the depth chart has caught a pass as a Rebel.

So far, David Traxler and junior college transfer Gerald Harris have been getting most of the reps.

Nutt said he has confidence in both of them catching the football but would like to see a little more consistency in that area. He applauded their blocking and physicality.

Stanley getting noticed

Freshman quarterback Nathan Stanley, who is currently third string to Billy Tapp and Snead, has made quite an impression on his head coach.

“He’s really good,” Nutt said. “I’ve been proud of him because we’ve been putting him in some situations where (he’s) going against a Greg Hardy, going against an Emmanuel Stephens – pass rushers.

“And he doesn’t flinch. He hangs in there and makes his decision. He has good presence in the pocket. He throws the ball well, too.”

Competition fuels Eason

Running back Cordera Eason made a couple of huge plays Thursday, sending a message to the freshman trio competing for his spot that he doesn’t plan on going anywhere.

In a situation where the offense was backed up to its own goal line, Eason took the hand off, counter-stepped, made a few moves and went untouched for close to 50 yards.

Later, from around the offense’s 25-yard-line, Snead rolled out to the right, planted, and threw a strike back across to his left where Eason had snuck up the sideline. The Meridian native caught the ball in stride and took it to the end zone.

Walker makes big play on D

The play of the day on defense came early in the scrimmage portion of practice when linebacker Allen Walker read Snead’s eyes and took off to cover the slanting receiver on his left. The ball was thrown off target, but Walker, running full speed the opposite direction, stuck his right hand up just in time to snatch the ball out of the air and come down with a circus catch for the interception.

Practice resumes today at 5:30 p.m. at the Ole Miss practice fields. It is open to the public.

Saturday will mark the final practice which will be open to the public. Starting Sunday, all practices will be closed.

Ole Miss will open the 2008 campaign Aug. 30 when the Memphis Tigers travel to Oxford. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

LSU Media Day

2008-08-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

The LSU football team had a busy day on Friday as the Tigers held their first practice as an entire unit with a morning workout followed by the school’s annual Media Day during the afternoon.

Friday’s only practice session had the Tigers going in full pads for the first time. It was also the first time the team practiced as an entire group since the beginning of camp.

“We had a nice long go,” LSU coach Les Miles said of the Tigers’ first full squad workout. “We were very physical; it was a lot of full line. We installed short yardage today, and at the end of the practice in the heat of the day we ran, and we ran hard.

“The defense thrived in the heat, and in my opinion had a great day. They also thrived in the run (defense), and the offense fought through it, which is what they're supposed to do. We're not ready to play a game, there is no way we're ready to play a game, but if we work like we did today, we will be ready to play and certainly have the opportunity to play well as the season goes forward.”

Following an afternoon of meetings, the Tigers, along with Miles, co-defensive coordinators Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Peveto, and offensive coordinator Gary Crowton met with members of the media.

Among the biggest attractions of LSU’s annual media event, which attracted close to 150 members of the media, were quarterbacks Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch, all-America defensive end Tyson Jackson and preseason all-America offensive guard Herman Johnson.

Other highlights of the media session were posed pictures of the biggest and smallest scholarship players on the team in Herman Johnson (6-foot-7, 375 pounds) and running back/return specialist Trindon Holliday (5-5, 164); a group picture of LSU’s two-sport athletes (Holliday – football/track, Chad Jones – football/baseball, Ricky Jean-Francois – football/track, and Jared Mitchell – football/baseball); and group pictures of the siblings on the squad (Chad Jones and Rahim Alem; Brett and Trey Helms, and the Taylor trio – Curtis, Brandon and Jhyryn.

Saturday will be another full day of work for the Tigers as LSU will have two practices starting with workout in full pads at 8:30 a.m. The Tigers will practice in shells (shorts and shoulder pads) during the afternoon.

The Tigers will cap their first full week in camp with a stretch-and-stride session on Sunday morning followed by Fan Day at the River Center in downtown Baton Rouge during the afternoon. Doors to the River Center open at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday with autographs with the football team going from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Chisox top Bosox

2008-08-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

Not only did Mark Buehrle have an unspectacular stat line (8-10, 4.07 ERA) coming into Friday night's start against the Red Sox, but he had also been belted around for 22 hits and 13 runs in his past two starts.
But the Boston bats never saw that Buehrle. Instead, they saw the guy who has long been regarded as one of the best left-handers in the American League.

Buehrle carved up the Red Sox through most of Friday's 5-3 victory.

The Red Sox only wished they had seen the supposedly slumping Buehrle.

"He didn't struggle tonight," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He worked quick and he used every pitch and he changed speeds. That was pitching -- in, out, up and down."

It all added up to Jon Lester suffering a loss for the first time since May 25, snapping an 11-game unbeaten streak for Boston's solid left-hander.

Over seven innings, Lester (10-4, 3.23 ERA) gave up six hits and four runs, walking three and striking out two.

"I really just got outpitched," said Lester. "There's nothing more to say. I executed the pitches I wanted to execute. With the exception of the loss, I'm pretty happy with how I threw the ball."

What Lester did was keep the Red Sox close enough to where they could mount a comeback. And they almost did.

Entering the eighth inning, Buehrle had a three-hit shutout. Perhaps the first break Boston received all night was when Jason Varitek led off that eighth with a single, prompting White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen to remove Buehrle (110 pitches) from the game.

Octavio Dotel came on, and the Red Sox rallied. J.D. Drew worked a one-out walk and Dustin Pedroia belted a 350-foot, three-run homer to left to bring Boston within one.

"I was just trying to get on base to be honest with you, to get David [Ortiz] up with a chance to tie the game," Pedroia said. "I ended up getting a good pitch to hit and hit it. That was basically it."

Ortiz then fell to 2-for-18 on the road trip by grounding out to first. With D.J. Carrasco on for the White Sox, Kevin Youkilis temporarily kept hope alive with a walk. But Mike Lowell extended his drought to 0-for-15 by fouling out to the catcher.

The Red Sox at least gave themselves a chance in that eighth.

"That's why you talk about working counts and trying to get to the bullpen," Francona said. "Again, that's what happens sometimes. You run into a problem. Petey took a great swing, and all of a sudden, the whole game changed. It just didn't change enough."

An ill-fated rundown in the bottom of the seventh proved to be costly for the Red Sox at the time. Orlando Cabrera was at first with two outs when A.J. Pierzynski drove one to right field.

Cabrera was held up at third, and the Red Sox had Pierzynski caught in a rundown between first and second. So while they pursued that, Cabrera snuck in to score. The Red Sox finally completed the rundown 9-4-6-3-6-4, but it was too late.

Rookie shortstop Jed Lowrie said he was at fault.

"My initial reaction right when Petey threw it to me was to go get him and try to tag him before Cabrera scored, and he was further away than I thought," Lowrie said. "I didn't even think to look home, because I thought I was going to get him on the tag. It was just a play that I made a bad read on and I cost us a run."

Holding the 4-0 edge wound up being huge for the White Sox in light of Pedroia's three-run shot.

From there, the momentum stayed with the White Sox. Carlos Quentin unloaded for a solo shot against reliever Manny Delcarmen to make it 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth.

Early on, Buehrle gave Lester no margin for error. Pierzynski gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the third.

In the fifth, things got a little ugly. After a walk to Nick Swisher, Alexei Ramirez blooped one into short left that fell between Lowrie and Jason Bay. Up stepped Cabrera, who ripped a two-run double to right.

"I think the big hit was Cabrera," Lester said. "It was a good pitch to him, and he's a good hitter. It goes down the line. Nothing you can really do about it. You've got to tip your hat to him."

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, there was a lot of hat-tipping in this one, most of it in the direction of Buehrle.

"He pretty much shut us down," said Pedroia. "We had nothing going. The innings he was working, he was working fast and getting their guys on offense."

LSU-Appalachian St. Trailer

2008-08-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

It's not often that you get the reigning national champs playing against each other in the opening game of the next season. John Kokemore forwarded this trailer to me for the Tiger's home opener against Appalachian St. It'll definately get you pumped up.

http://www.nascarmediagroup.com/clients/app_state/trailer/app_state_trailer.wmv

HORNETS TO APPEAR ON NATIONAL TV A RECORD 13 TIMES

2008-08-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

The New Orleans Hornets will open the 2008-09 regular season on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 29, when they take on the Golden State Warriors. The Hornets will battle Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns on the road the following night on Thursday, Oct. 30 in a nationally televised game on TNT. The Hornets first home game comes on Saturday, Nov. 1 against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“From the players to the coaches to the front office staff, our entire organization has set our sights on being a champion this season” said Owner George Shinn. “We are eager for the 2008-09 season to get underway and for our wonderful fans in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana to experience the thrilling, non-stop excitement of Hornets basketball in person at the New Orleans Arena”

After starting the season on a two-game road trip, the Hornets will play five of their next six games at home. Included in those matchups are games against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat on Saturday, Nov. 8 and MVP Kobe Bryant and the Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

“The schedule coming out creates a whole new excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season,” said Head Coach Byron Scott. “We look forward to carrying the momentum that began last season into the beginning of this season. The high hopes for this season will bring a wave of excitement and passion that even exceeds last year’s run.”

The Hornets will appear on national television a record 13 times this season, including a Thanksgiving night game on the road against Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 27 on TNT and a Christmas day battle on the road against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic on ESPN. Other national TV highlights include the Hornets first return back to Oklahoma City on Friday, Nov. 21 on ESPN, a road game against Kevin Garnett and the World Champion Boston Celtics on Friday, Dec. 12 on ESPN and a home game against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks on ABC on Sunday, Apr. 12. Overall, the Hornets will appear on ESPN nine times, TNT three times and ABC once. The television schedule for NBATV will be announced at a later date.

The Hornets will play 18 of their 41 home games on Friday (7), Saturday (6) or Sunday (5) night. Their most frequent game night will be Wednesday (15).

All home games will tip off at 7:00 p.m. with the following exceptions: Wednesday, Dec. 17 vs. San Antonio; Monday, Jan. 19 vs. Indiana; Sunday, Jan. 30 vs. Golden State, Sunday, Feb. 8 vs. Minnesota, Friday, Feb. 27 vs. Milwaukee, Sunday, Mar. 22 vs. Golden State, Sunday, Apr. 5 vs. Utah and Sunday, Apr. 12 vs. Dallas. The Spurs and first Warriors game will tip off at 8:30 p.m., while the Timberwolves, Bucks, Warriors and Jazz games will tip off at 6:00 p.m. The Pacers will tip off at 2:30 p.m. in honor of Martin Luther King Day and the Mavericks game will tip off at 12:00 p.m.

The Hornets’ longest road trip will be two four-game swings, while the longest homestand is five games. The five-game homestand takes place Mar. 16-Mar. 25 (with games against Houston, Minnesota, Memphis, Golden State and Denver).

The Hornets will play Southwest Division rivals (Dallas, Houston, Memphis and San Antonio) four times each (twice at home/twice on the road). The same holds true for Pacific and Northwest Division teams, with the exception of LA Clippers (one home game on Jan. 9), Minnesota (one road game on Jan. 23), Phoenix (one road game on Oct. 30) and Utah (one home game on Apr. 5).

Season tickets are available by calling (504) 525-HOOP or by logging on to Hornets.com. The team’s preseason schedule, on-sale dates for individual game tickets for both preseason and regular season games and the Hornets’ local television schedule will be released at a later date.

Rebel Update from Fall Practice

2008-08-06T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Ole Miss receivers, led by veterans Michael Wallace, Shay Hodge and Dexter McCluster, are supposed to be one of the Rebels' main strengths this season.

But during Monday's first day of practice, that didn't appear to be the case. Easy catches bounced off hands and routes weren't crisp.

After that practice, the team had a film session and coach Houston Nutt said he jumped all over the receivers.

"We talked ugly to them last night," Nutt said. "The film just doesn't lie."

But on Tuesday, the receivers responded.

Hodge and sophomores Markeith Summers and Lionel Breaux made nice catches as the offense looked markedly improved during the second day of camp.

While the receivers were improved, Nutt said better offensive line production helped.

"(The defense) jumped all over us yesterday," Nutt said. "But today we didn't have that."

Punting problems
Ole Miss ranked close to the bottom of the Southeastern Conference in punting last season, and through two practices, not a whole lot appears to have changed.

Senior Rob Park, junior Justin Sparks and sophomore Bryan Powers are locked in a battle for the position. All had decent moments on Tuesday, but nobody in the trio has showed much consistency.

Sparks held the position for much of last season, averaging 39.7 yards per punt.

"They responded better today," Nutt said. "But they need to be quicker getting the ball off and more consistent."

Odds and ends
Safety Johnny Brown (hamstring) was able to go through some individual drills, but sat out large chunks of practice...

The Rebels will practice today at 5:20 p.m. on campus. The team will put on shoulder pads after going with just helmets the past two days.

LSU's Jones Focusing on Football

2008-08-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

It was as if someone had recorded over Chad Jones' highlight of the 2007 football season.

It was Jones who blitzed and sacked Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson to force a fumble that LSU recovered deep in Alabama territory late in the fourth quarter last season. This set up the go-ahead touchdown with 1:26 to play for the Tigers' 41-34 victory in Tuscaloosa.

But when Jones, a sophomore safety this season, sat down to watch the LSU baseball team play Rice in the College World Series last June, his highlight sort of got trumped.

Blake Dean hit a bases-loaded triple in the ninth inning to beat the Owls 6-5 for LSU's first victory in Omaha, Neb., since 2000. Left fielder/wide receiver Jared Mitchell scored the winning run from first after nearly lapping Michael Hollander on the way home. For an instant, Sean Ochinko, Michael Hollander and Mitchell were all running between third and home in a play right out of the "Major League" movie.

"That was such a great play," Jones said. "What a way to win a game."

Jones cheered wildly, but it was somewhat bittersweet. He possibly could have been there between third and home and playing for a national championship in baseball after winning one in football last season.

A 13th round selection of the Houston Astros in the summer of 2007, Jones came to LSU with plans to play football and baseball. After struggling early last season in baseball and in academics while also participating in spring football, Jones felt like he was under an all-out blitz.

"It was just that everything at one time hit me hard," he said. "And it was hard for me to get out of the hole."

His grades suffered, and he gave up baseball for the season to focus more on academics.. He then spent late spring and summer with more free time than ever. He watched LSU in Omaha.

"It was my first summer since I can remember not playing baseball," he said after football practice this week. "I was probably 6 years old the last time I didn't play baseball. It was different. I kind of enjoyed the free time. I was just sitting back and relaxing, but then I see my team and I'm supposed to be out there playing with them. So it goes both ways. All I could do was cheer my teammates on. I'd call them after the game — Leon and Jared. I called them and wished them good luck. I watched every game."

Jones had impressed LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri so much in pre-season practice that he saw the dual-sport star as a possible starter in the outfield. But Landry, a freshman like Jones, was more impressive and won center field. Mitchell, who played center in 2006, moved to left field. Jones tried right field, but he didn't expect the wealth of talent next to him.

"They had four other people in right field," he said. "I was just thinking of how it used to be in high school (at St. Augustine in New Orleans and then Southern Lab in Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina), because I just know this is my spot. This is my spot easy. But I get out there, and I'm like, 'All right, he can throw pretty good. Oh, he can hit, too. Oh, he can hit, too.' So it was just battling it out for the position. That's why LSU is pretty high up there."

The other right fielders at the time were Dean himself, Landry, Nicholas Pontiff and Johnny Dishon. In limited playing time in between spring football practices, Jones went 2-for-13 for a .154 batting average in five games.

"He didn't handle it particularly well," Mainieri said. "It wasn't so much the football and baseball. It was the school part. If you don't do any one of those three well, it knocks everything out of the water. He just didn't apply himself in school. I think the kid is an excellent talent, but it's tough. Hopefully, he'll be able to do better academically and balance things and help us next season."

That's Jones' plan.

"I definitely want to play baseball at LSU," he said. "The only thing I'd do different is step it up in the beginning because doing two sports at one time is very time consuming. I had to cut baseball out so I could catch up. I should be able to do it next year."

Baseball was always a clear No. 1 until last season.

"I was straight baseball," Jones said. "Football was secondary, but now after playing in a great stadium in front of fans like that, things get balanced out."

Beckett & Bay in Good Form

2008-08-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

By the time the ball rolled along the outfield wall, from center fielder Mitch Maier to left fielder Ross Gload, Jason Bay had gone from a chance at a fly out to a chance at a home run to a sure double. As he turned into second base, watching the play all the way, Bay didn't have time to register the might-have-beens, only the what-weres. He had a double, on his way to a career-high-tying four-hit game and a shaving-cream pie in the face, and his team was on its way to one of those rare road wins.

Not that Bay carried the entire load, the Red Sox bolstered too by the reappearances of a 2007 vintage Josh Beckett and a 2008 early-season vintage Jacoby Ellsbury. With a crushing offense (13 hits) and a crushing performance by Beckett (6 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 7 Ks), the Sox captured an 8-2 win over the Royals in front of 22,069 at Kauffman Stadium.

"It keeps us where we want to be," Beckett said. "We've got to keep winning games. We don't have that big cushion where we can go out, oh, well, we lost this game. We've got to keep pace. That's something new for a lot of these guys in here, myself included."

They did that last night, on a night that the Rays kept rolling and the Yankees got nothing but bad news between their loss to Texas and Joba Chamberlain's visit to Dr. James Andrews. For the Sox, it was good news, for Beckett and for the offense.

After a start last week that the Sox hope was his nadir - 8 runs (7 earned) on 11 hits in getting his third straight loss - Beckett recorded his first win in nearly a month, the last coming over Minnesota July 9. After the first inning, in which the Royals had two hits and scored a run, Beckett allowed only two base runners over the next five innings. He slipped a bit in the seventh, giving up a double to Alex Gordon and walking Gload on four pitches.

He was removed after 90 pitches, with manager Terry Francona saying, "He looked like he was starting to feel it. He was up four straight pitches. That, to me, is when guys will feel it their next outing, more than just the pitch count."

Mike Timlin came in, allowed Gordon to score, but that was it for Kansas City.

"He looked great," Jose Guillen said of Beckett. "His ball moved all over the place. Inside and out. He looked like the playoff Beckett."

A high compliment, and not always a given for Beckett (10-8, 4.08 ERA) this season. But locating his fastball, as he did last night, certainly helps.

So too does a burst from Ellsbury, whose 39-game slide (.217) and lack of stolen bases have dropped him to No. 9 in the order. But two hits, including an infield single off the pitcher, were a precursor to two steals, his first since July 1.

"Like with hitters, you get a ball to fall and you feel better about yourself," Francona said. "The one thing he hasn't done is get frustrated and run into more outs. He's been an intelligent base runner. He got into situations tonight where he could steal it and he did."

And that helped with the buoyant feeling on the field and in the clubhouse, a feeling that has helped Bay settle in nicely with his new team.

"You kind of look around and no one's counting on you to be that guy," Bay said. "You're just a complementary piece to that puzzle. I think there was a little bit of relaxation that goes with that. I mean, since I've been here, I've got two guys on base every second or third time I get up there."

Though Bay managed to evade the pie on NESN cameras, as delivered by the less mobile David Ortiz, he has certainly made fans among his new teammates. Ortiz, searching for a bat to replace that of Manny Ramírez, had a big grin after the game when discussing Bay.

"He's a good hitter, bro," Ortiz said. "We needed that."

And the Sox needed the offense. Though they started slowly, with single runs - and missed chances - in the first, fourth, and fifth, the offense came together in the sixth and seventh. Starting with a Bay single in the sixth, the Sox got a run on Ellsbury's second hit of the game, another on a Gordon error, and narrowly missed a third when Ellsbury was tagged out at the plate.

Then came the seventh, and that bizarre play on Bay's hit, one that mirrored in some ways an equally weird play in Yankee Stadium in July. That time, the ball sat on top of the fence in left for a few beats before falling onto the field. This one? Just as surprising.

"Now's probably the time to get a lottery ticket," Francona said.

So was Bay disappointed that he missed out on a home run on his big night?

"Depends on the way you look at it, because the center fielder almost caught it," Bay said. "We'll take what we can get. That was one of the more interesting plays you'll ever see. I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth."

Fantastic freshmen catch Nutt's eye in 1st practice

2008-08-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

An optimistic Houston Nutt left his first Ole Miss preseason practice with a high opinion of his roster - especially the freshman class.

"I'll tell you what - they don't look like little freshmen," said Nutt, the first-year Rebels coach. "They're physically ahead of the game for their age, and I'm proud of that."

Nutt mentioned several of the newcomers by name, including the running back trio of Enrique Davis, Brandon Bolden and Devin Thomas.

All three are competing with junior Cordera Eason for the starting spot. Davis comes in with the most hype as the No. 1 prep school recruit in the country, but Bolden and Thomas have received considerable accolades as well.

And at least for the first day - the three left an impression worthy of their reputation.

"Everything you've heard about them," Nutt said, "I agree with."

The Rebels took the field at about 5:20 p.m. and went through a practice that lasted about 2 1/2 hours. Temperatures were hot, but not nearly as bad as the 100-degree predictions forecasted over the weekend. Players wore helmets, but did not wear pads as the team goes through the NCAA's required acclimation period.

Only a few players had to drop out of practice, which senior fullback Jason Cook said was an indication of how hard the team had worked over the summer.

"It's been a tremendous difference," Cook said. "The time of the practice helped, but (strength coach Don Decker) has got us so strong and so conditioned that it's unbelievable. I haven't been able to go through a practice like this since I was a freshman."

Nutt admitted that, as with any first day practice, mistakes were common. But he also saw numerous positives, especially at the quarterback spot.

Nutt praised Jevan Snead's first day, even though the sophomore and almost certain starter threw a few interceptions during drills.

"Some of those weren't his fault," Nutt said. "He threw the ball well, especially early."

The receivers dropped a few easy catches on hot routes that would have helped Snead's day. But the coach was pleased that his quarterback didn't hold a grudge.

"He's got a short memory and that's what you need back there," Nutt said.

One thing the Rebels sorely lack is quality depth at quarterback. But Nathan Stanley, a true freshman, showed a quick and accurate arm during drills, routinely hitting his receivers in stride.

When Nutt talks about the 6-foot-5, 195-pounder, his speech becomes even more excited than usual.

"We got us one there," he said.

Nutt was especially pleased when the coaches threw Stanley into a drill on a third-and-8 play. He connected with a receiver for the first down.

"He didn't even flinch," Nutt said.

Also of interest for many of the 200-some fans in attendance was how defensive lineman Jerrell Powe looked on the field. At 6-foot-2 and 340 pounds, Powe appeared a little out of shape, but did not have to leave practice.

Powe played mostly with the third team at nose tackle.

"It was good," Nutt said. "He was carrying around 340 pounds, (but) I was proud of him."

The Rebels will practice each day this week at 5:20 p.m. with the first scrimmage scheduled for Saturday. Practices are open to the public for the rest of the week.

2008-08-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

Inclement weather from Tropical Storm Edouard did not dampen the spirits of the LSU football team as the Tigers opened fall camp with split-squad workouts on Monday under fourth-year head coach Les Miles.

The veteran players benefited from a strong breeze in Monday morning’s practice despite 90 degree temperatures. However, freshmen and selected veterans were forced indoors when a heavy downpour blanketed the practice field 30 minutes into the afternoon session. Both practices lasted just over two hours.

“In the morning practice were the veterans,” Miles said. “They know what’s going on, and the pace of practice was good. In the afternoon practice, I think this freshmen class is going to be a really good class. A number of guys stood out -- receivers, corners, offensive linemen and defensive linemen. I really enjoyed the practice. We went inside (because of rain), but it didn’t seem to stop the enthusiasm.”

LSU’s 105 invitees will go through the same routine the first four days before merging for the first full squad practice on Friday morning. The Tigers were in shorts and helmets on Monday and will do so again on Tuesday before practicing in helmets and shoulder pads on Wednesday and Thursday. LSU holds its first full pads workout on Friday morning.

Sophomore Andrew Hatch and redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee shared snaps at quarterback in the morning session, while true freshman Jordan Jefferson commanded the offense in the afternoon workout. Miles said all three quarterbacks were ahead of the learning curve.

“I liked them,” Miles said. “They had a good command for the offense and understood what was going on. We didn’t miss a beat. We put so much more in for our first practice than we did a year ago. We are really ahead.”

“I liked the way Jordan Jefferson, the freshman quarterback, learns. He picks it up pretty quickly. I was surprised with how well he handled everything.”

Miles was equally impressed with the rookie wide receivers, who took the practice field for the first time.

“Our receiving crew looked really good,” Miles said. “Tim Molton made a nice adjustment on a deep ball. DeAngelo Peterson was big, strong and physical, and he used his hands well. I liked Chris Tolliver. There were a number of quality guys.”

Monday marked the return of senior defensive tackle Charles Alexander to the practice field for the first time since last September. Alexander missed most of the 2007 season due to a right knee injury he sustained during the week of the South Carolina game.

“He practiced well,” Miles said. “His weight is up and his body fat is down. I expect he is in pretty good shape.”

LSU begins defense of its BCS national championship on Aug. 30 when the Tigers play host to Appalachian State in a nationally televised contest on ESPN.

Rebels begin Preseason Practice

2008-08-05T13:12:00.001-07:00

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt got his first look at the 2008 squad, as the Rebels opened fall camp on the practice fields adjacent to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Monday afternoon.

“There is nothing like getting out on the field,” said the Rebels’ first-year mentor. “I was really excited about their effort and their listening skills. We threw a lot at them today. There was a lot of great carry-over from the spring. Our freshmen and newcomers were impressive. They don’t look like little freshmen. They are physically ahead of the game. I was really proud of our first day. We have a long way to go, but there is nothing like it.”

Nutt was impressed with the play of sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead, who sat out last season after transferring from Texas.

“He had a couple of interceptions, but not all of them were his fault. He threw the ball well, especially early. His release is so quick. He is a real winner. We just have to help him and all get on the same page. He has a short memory and that’s what you have to have to play quarterback.”

Nutt also announced on Monday that freshman signee Kermit Tyler would not be able to continue his football career due to a medical condition, but would remain in school and assist with the football staff.

“It is really a shame, because he worked so hard this summer. You hate to lose a lineman like that, but we may have saved his life. Pete Boone did a good thing by honoring his education and his parents are very relieved and they will be ambassadors for Ole Miss for life.”

Marshay Green, who moved to cornerback in the spring, continued to impress Nutt, as did rest of the cornerbacks.

“We had great competition and that’s what Marshay brings to the table. Dustin Mouzon has a lot of experience and Cassius Vaughn as well. The young guys like Brandon Sanders, Marcus Temple and Derrick Herman are really competitors. You also have to love the height and length that Demareo Marr has.”

Nutt also praised the off-season work of linebacker Jonathan Cornell.

“He is smart. He watched a lot of film this summer. It seemed like every time I came in he was watching film. He has been a good leader for us. I’m really proud of him.”

Nutt was also pleased with the accuracy and poise of freshman quarterback Nathan Stanley.

“We got us one there. He looked very, very good. He has a quick release, he is accurate with the deep ball and he is tall and athletic. He was spinning that ball today. What I loved was we put him in on a third-and-eight situation and he didn’t flinch. That’s when you find out about a true freshman.”

The Rebels will hold their annual media day tomorrow at the IPF on the Ole Miss campus. Nutt will start the day with a 9:30 a.m. press conference, while players and assistant coaches will meet with the media at 10 a.m. Fans can watch Nutt’s press conference free on RebelVision.

Ole Miss will hold its second practice of the fall on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. on the practice fields adjacent to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Practice is open to the public through the remainder of the week. The Rebels kick off the 2008 season against the Memphis Tigers on August 30th at 6 p.m. in Oxford.

Sox Burned By KC

2008-08-05T07:27:00.001-07:00

For a kid who grew up near Beaumont, Texas, not far from the Louisiana line, the heat beating down on Clay Buchholz last night was likely more due to pressure than the 96 degrees that scorched him - and the rest of the Red Sox and Royals - at game time. With Buchholz struggling, and Bartolo Colon starting tonight for Pawtucket, the golden kid might just be feeling the burn.

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Buchholz's starts since returning to the major leagues (and well before that) have not exactly been stellar. He has lost four of his five starts since his call-up, gotten a no-decision in the other, and has lost five straight overall. His last win came back on May 2 against Tampa, also the last time he left a game with his team in the lead.

So while his teammates were sweating under the brutal heat, Buchholz was also wilting, done in by a third inning in which nine Royals batted. Nor did it ultimately work out for the Red Sox, despite a ninth-inning rally, the team falling to the Royals, 4-3, in front of 24,378 at Kauffman Stadium last night.

"I'm just not catching any breaks at all," Buchholz said. "The great players that play this game, they make their breaks. That's the little challenge for me, to make a break. It feels like when I do make a pitch, it's right out of reach of somebody."

Insisting that he's not feeling pressured, Buchholz added, "The only time you've got to prove something to somebody is when you're in the minor leagues trying to make it up there. I told myself, 'I'm here, go out and throw.' "

But even with Buchholz's struggles, the Sox still had a chance. After stranding two runners in the eighth, they broke through in the ninth. After Coco Crisp led off the inning with a single, J.D. Drew struck out, but Dustin Pedroia singled for his third hit, and David Ortiz strode to the plate. It was strength against strength, Ortiz against All-Star closer Joakim Soria.

Soria won. Ortiz tapped a grounder to first base, moving the runners over.

The Royals followed that by intentionally walking Kevin Youkilis, the go-ahead run, to pitch to new acquisition Jason Bay. Bay converted, with Alex Gordon and Tony Pena colliding on his grounder to the left side. Bay was credited with a single, a run scored, and the bases were loaded again.

But Sean Casey couldn't come through, lining to right field to finish off the game.

"Probably should have maybe squeaked that one out of there," Casey said. "I hit an 0-and-2 curveball. I really thought I got it in the corner. I don't know if he had it shaded over there. I thought I got it in the corner, but he was there."

So was Ron Mahay, in the eighth. With Casey on third and Jed Lowrie on first, Kansas City brought in Mahay to turn Jason Varitek around to the right side. It took nine pitches, but Varitek struck out swinging, prompting a major fist pump from catcher John Buck and preserving the Royals' 4-2 lead.

"We're close friends off the field, so I'm sure I'll be hearing about that when we get together tonight," Mahay said of Varitek, who was 2 for 4 with a homer and two walks off him lifetime. "He's always got the best of me. Tonight I got him."

Buchholz was done in by a rocky third inning in which the Royals not only scored three runs but left the bases full. After Kansas City had grabbed its first run on a 402-foot home run by Gordon in the second, it came back to take the lead as Buchholz was unable to protect the 2-0 lead he was given in the first.

After Mitch Maier struck out to start the third, the next three Royals singled, followed by a walk to Jose Guillen. Billy Butler hit a sacrifice fly to score the second run of the inning, Gordon walked to reload the bases, and Buck was hit by a pitch to force home Mark Teahen. It got better for Buchholz after that, but it was too late.

"He was pitching with such confidence, his body language, he was working quicker, he was coming off the mound with some aggression," manager Terry Francona said of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. "But we got into that bind in that one inning. There were a lot of baserunners, and he was trying to be perfect. Just need to limit the damage. He's growing.

"We talked about when he came back that it's still a work in progress, and we acknowledged that. But I do like the way he went back out and handled himself and stayed out and pitched, because that's the kid we think can really compete in this league."

Though Buchholz has been a passable 2-2 with a 3.45 ERA at home, he has continued to have trouble on the road, coming into last night with an ugly 0-4 record and 7.97 ERA. He echoed Francona, calling his pitching right now "a work in progress," as he attempts to figure out just what is going wrong, what has led to his 0-5 record and 8.07 ERA over his last seven starts.

There was a moment, though, when it seemed it might all be righted before it fell apart. With one out in the third, Esteban German lashed a ball toward Jed Lowrie. But the normally surehanded shortstop couldn't make the play, and instead of a double play to erase Mike Aviles, German had a single, and the Royals were on their way to the win.

"Need to make a pitch, get a ground ball, and just the ground ball tonight was hit 150 miles an hour at Jed," Buchholz said. "Can't fault anybody for that. It feels like it's an inch away."

Miles Welcomes 105 Tigers to Fall Camp

2008-08-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

Les Miles and the LSU coaching staff will welcome 105 players to campus on Sunday as the reigning national champion Tigers open fall camp in preparation for the 2008 season.

LSU, which is ranked No. 6 in the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll, returns 13 starters and 42 letterwinners from last year’s team that posted a 12-2 record and claimed the BCS National Championship with a 38-24 win over Ohio State.

LSU will use Sunday as a day of orientation as the team will check-in to West Campus Apartments in the morning, while the afternoon will be used for football-related activities. The players will undergo physicals with the training staff and team doctors during the afternoon as well as getting fitted for equipment.

LSU will hold its first practice on Monday morning as the veterans will workout at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility. The freshmen, along with selected veterans, will practice on Monday afternoon. The first two days of practice will have the team working out in shorts and helmets.

The team will add shoulder pads in days three and four before dressing out in full pads for the first time on Friday, Aug. 8. After four days of split squad practices, the Tigers will workout as a full unit for the first time on Aug. 8.

The Tigers open their fourth season under Miles on Aug. 30 when LSU hosts Appalachian State at 4 p.m. in Tiger Stadium. The LSU-Appalachian State game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

2008-08-04T08:04:00.001-07:00

A day after the Rebel newcomers arrived in Oxford, the Ole Miss returnees reported to campus on Sunday as the team prepares to begin fall training camp with the first practice slated for Monday.

“Everyone is here and ready to go,” said head coach Houston Nutt. “We’re trying to get everyone situated with the physicals, compliance and all the paperwork. We’ll have our first meal together (Sunday night), and then we’ll have our first team meeting.”

Nutt emphasized his club’s productive offseason and the players’ outstanding effort in academics, conditioning and overall preparation for the upcoming season.

“I really feel like we won the summer, if you look at their attitude, how much they’ve given and how much they’ve encouraged one another,” he said. “They’ve shown up for voluntary workouts and looked forward to coming to work each day.”

The first-year Rebel coach spent his summer speaking to local clubs throughout the Southeast, and said that the fans’ support has provided some additional energy for the team.

“If you look at the last few quarterback club meetings we’ve attended, the fans can’t wait for football,” Nutt said. “That gives us a little bit more motivation, and we’re very appreciative of that.”

Nutt also announced that senior defensive end Antonio Turner has returned to the team roster, while receiver Michael Hicks and defensive back Colby Arceneaux have transfered. In addition, linebacker Brandon Thomas has completed his undergraduate degree and will forgo his final year of eligibility.

On Monday, the team will meet following breakfast and then hold their first walk-through. The first full-scale practice will take place at 5:30 p.m. All evening practices during the first week of preseason will be open to the public, concluding with Saturday’s workout.

Check OleMissSports.com for daily practice reports and a schedule of practice times and locations.

2008-08-04T07:56:00.001-07:00

The captain of the Red Sox now believes the team is climbing toward the mountaintop.

Whatever happens from here on out, Jason Varitek believes the wins of the past three days are precisely what they were hoping for after a team meeting in the aftermath of Thursday's Manny Ramírez deal.

The negative energy of the past few weeks is gone. The Sox defeated the Oakland A's, 5-2, yesterday at Fenway Park to complete a three-game sweep, and they have created momentum they hope will make them better.

"This is our team now," said Varitek after the victory and before the Sox embarked on a seven-game swing to Kansas City and Chicago. "The guys we have in this room are the guys we're going to be playing with from here on out. We feel good about that. We have to continue to compete. Get quality at-bats. Pitch quality games. I think everyone in here likes where we're heading."

The Sox held the A's to five hits as Daisuke Matsuzaka earned his 12th win with a six-inning performance (2 earned runs, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks). Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, and Jonathan Papelbon pitched three shutout innings - the bullpen allowed just one run in 10 2/3 innings in the series. The bats were again timely with young shortstop Jed Lowrie contributing a two-run triple to the triangle in the fourth, Coco Crisp a pair of sacrifice flies, and Kevin Youkilis a first-inning RBI single.

The Sox are in second place in the American League East, three games behind the Rays. "Where we are at the present means that we're good," said Varitek. "To go where we need to go, and where we want to go, we have to pitch like we did the last three games."

Boston has a chance to continue the upward trend with three games in Kansas City, another team down on its luck. The White Sox are a different story, but all the Sox really care about is playing consistently on the road.

Varitek pointed out, "We won our last three road games [at Seattle]. That's what we have to dwell on, not what we did before that on the road. We have to take the same mind-set that we have at home to the road. If we do that, we'll continue to win games."

This series was the perfect scenario for the Sox. They made a controversial deal, swept the A's to regain their confidence, and headed out on the road. They were able to not lose ground to the Rays, who just won't fade away, and keep ahead of the Yankees, who split their series with the Angels. It seems the entire team was on board with getting Ramírez out of town, and newly acquired Jason Bay had a very good start to his Red Sox career, which made players and fans feel much better about the trade of Manny.

"One of the things we talked about was not looking back or looking forward and just attacking what's at hand," said manager Terry Francona. "We did that very well. Daisuke came out and threw his fastball, stayed in his delivery, and the ball came out of his hand real well. He looked like he was pitching with confidence. We played with energy. It was a good day."

Before the series, it seemed the Sox had lost that energy. Was it the losing? Was it the constant antics of Ramírez?

"The momentum will carry over tomorrow if [Clay] Buchholz takes it and goes deep," said Francona. "That's always the case in this game. The momentum goes as far as our starting pitcher allows."

Matsuzaka, 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA with 38 strikeouts in seven starts since June 27, threw 105 pitches in his six innings. It was the 14th time he had limited opponents to two or fewer runs in his 19 starts this season. When there was a 37-minute rain delay in the bottom of the sixth, Matsuzaka's day was over, though Francona indicated he wouldn't have sent him out for the seventh.

The pitcher's finest moment was in the second inning. After surrendering a leadoff triple to the triangle to Carlos Gonzalez, he struck out Jack Hannahan and Bobby Crosby and got Daric Barton to fly to center. He struck out the side in the fourth - Jack Cust, Frank Thomas, and Gonzalez.

The Sox had a steady-enough offense. Dustin Pedroia doubled to lead off the first and was driven home by Youkilis's single. In the fourth, after Mike Lowell's double and Bay's single put runners at the corners, Lowrie really sent the ball for ride into the triangle. His first major league triple bolstered his bid to keep the starting shortstop job even when Julio Logo returns from his quad injury (which may not be for another month).

"He's giving us a lot of production," said Francona of Lowrie. "In limited at-bats he's gotten some big hits, some timely hits, but he's played the game and blended in like our young guys do. Mixed in with some veterans, he's helping us win games."

The Sox added a third run in the fourth when Crisp got Lowrie home on a sacrifice fly after Varitek walked. In the sixth, after the rain delay, Crisp was able to get Bay home with another sac fly.

And really, that's all that was necessary, as the bullpen allowed only three runners over its three innings. Okajima, always the adventure, allowed a walk and a hit in the seventh but escaped. Delcarmen walked a batter in the eighth but got a key out when his nemesis, Thomas, hit a ball hard only to have it run down in right-center by Jacoby Ellsbury. And Papelbon earned his 31st save with a flawless ninth.

The A's are nowhere near the team they were earlier this season when they had Rich Harden and Joe Blanton and were actually contending. Now they're rebuilding again and they're easy for a good team to dispose of.

"We're going on this trip in a good frame of mind," said Lowell. "We've created a better feeling for ourselves. We know what we have to do and we feel we have the players that we can do it with.

"I think everyone is on the same page. I think it's going to be a fun couple of months ahead."

Boston walks off in Bay's Sox debut

2008-08-02T04:58:00.000-07:00

The energy returned to Fenway Park on Friday night, roaming from the stands to the dugout to the clubhouse. This after a draining few days in which a superstar essentially begged his way out of town and had his wish granted.
Gone was Manny Ramirez, a hitting legend in these parts for the past 7 1/2 years. But back was the type of late-inning drama the Red Sox have so lacked in recent weeks. In the first game A.M. -- after Manny -- rookie Jed Lowrie produced a two-out, walk-off infield single over the mound that shortstop Bobby Crosby couldn't make a play on.

Just like that, the Red Sox had themselves a 2-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics in 12 innings.

"It's a huge win for us," said veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. "We haven't been playing very well."

Almost as if it was scripted, Jason Bay -- the newest member of the Red Sox -- came racing home with the winning run. As he ran back toward the dugout, teammate Sean Casey -- who played with Bay in Pittsburgh in 2006 -- was the first to grab him. Then Kevin Youkilis joined in with a hearty pat to the head, along with Dustin Pedroia and several others.

"I think he had a pretty good heartbeat going anyway," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "This place continues to amaze me. The way the fans welcomed him, you only see that here. That's pretty special."

Finally, something to smile about for the Red Sox, who won for just the second time in seven games on this homestand.

"We're all pumped," said Red Sox catcher Kevin Cash. "Everyone is excited. Manny is an outstanding player, and was for the Red Sox, but Jason came in."

Bay set the winning rally in motion with a towering fly ball to left-center against A's lefty Alan Embree that took one of those friendly Fenway caroms, turning what would normally be a double into a triple. It was Bay's first hit as a member of the Red Sox, but the fourth time on the night he reached base. He added a terrific sliding catch against Ryan Sweeney to end the top of the fifth.

Could Bay's first Fenway night have turned out any better?

"If that ball could have snuck out for me," quipped Bay. "I don't think so. I would have liked to do it in nine innings. It's been a long day. But it definitely ranks up there with one of the best moments I've had."

The same goes for Lowrie, if only because this was just his 30th Major League game.

Lowrie had a chance to win it in the 10th, coming to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs and squaring a liner to center. However, it didn't fall.

"They always say that the hits even out," Lowrie said. "The one before that, I hit it hard, right at the guy. I got the cheap one, so to speak, in the 12th."

Forgive Lowrie if he didn't get much of a view of it.

"That's one of those balls where you're running out of the box," Lowrie said. "You've just got to run hard, because you never know what's going to happen. It was one of those ones off the end of the bat; it's got a funny spin on it. If Bobby is going to be able to pick it up cleanly, he could have a play, so you just put your head down and run."

Crosby never did get much of a grip on it, allowing the Red Sox to savor the moment.

"We won a game that we desperately tried to win," Francona said. "Everybody gave everything they had."

Third baseman Mike Lowell, who was inserted into the cleanup role vacated by Ramirez, had to leave the game in the bottom of the 10th with a right hip strain.

The night started with a major change -- Bay officially replacing Ramirez in left field. But for a while, it evolved into a storyline that had the familiar comfort of a summer breeze.

Wakefield twirled his knuckleball for 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits while walking three and striking out four.

But Wakefield's string of being unable to win despite quality performances continued. With two outs in the eighth, Jack Cust hit a game-tying solo shot against lefty Hideki Okajima that just cleared the Green Monster. In fact, it was originally ruled as a triple. But after the umpires conferred, they correctly ruled it as topping the wall for a home run.

It was the sixth time this season he has left a game with a lead but hasn't had a win to show for it. On the eve of his 42nd birthday, Wakefield's record stayed at 6-8 as his ERA dropped to 3.77.

"I have no control over outcomes; I've just got to pitch the best I can and see what happens," said Wakefield.

The ultimate teammate, Wakefield was just happy to see a successful debut for the team's newest member.

"It's nice to have Jason Bay on the team," Wakefield said. "He got a great ovation. He's an unbelievable player and for him to score the winning run, it's great stuff."

Finally, the Red Sox can just focus on baseball again.

"Just the buildup the last couple of days and watching SportsCenter and NESN and the reporting that was going on, now that it's past us, we know what we are with this team going forward for the next two months," said Cash. "Hopefully, we can get on a roll."

Where Goes the Nation?

2008-08-02T04:55:00.001-07:00

So what is the “State of the Nation” now? I’ve watched the Manny fiasco ad nauseum over the past 48 hours and I’ve reached a conclusion. The word from the hierarchy was that Manny’s behavior had become intolerable. Owner John Henry is one of the best from the perspective of the players and the fans. He has been fair and generous. I think that once Manny began to berate the ownership, Henry had had enough. It was time for Manny to go. Enough said!

But where does this leave the Red Sox? Prior to the trade, they were a dysfunctional team. The bottom third of their lineup has been woefully lacking. Although the Sox have the second best batting average in the AL, all to often they leave runners stranded as they did last night, leaving 15 on in a 12 inning 2-1 victory against Oakland. Papi has never regained mid-season form., leaving a big gap in the middle of the order ( the nickname Papi has come to mean pop-out). The shortstop position may have been strengthened with the addition of Jed Lowrie after Julio Lugo went down with a hamstring strain, both offensively and defensively. The trade for Jason Bay is intriguing. He certainly offers better defense, once he learns the peculiarities of left field at Fenway. And as evidenced in last night’s game, the hustle factor will certainly be an improvement, but with the team struggling offensively, how will this all shake out? Last night Bay’s hustle in the 12th resulted in a triple which ultimately ended the game when Lowrie grounded up the middle. Had Manny been at the plate, it would have been a single or at most a double, and a run doesn’t score.

The pitching has been good but not great. The starting rotation has by and large been intact but with Okajima’s inconsistencies, the pen is not as nearly as dependable as it was last year. It has seemed that when the Sox score runs, the pitching fails; and when the pitching is there, as it was last night, Boston can’t score runs.

So the agony is over but there is still much baseball to play. The Sox are definitely in a pennant race, but the have several big series left, including home and home against the Chisox and of course the Rays and the Yankees. I guess the best we can say is, “Let’s enjoy the action and have a good time for the rest of the season. And if the Sox can’t pull it all together for the rest of the season, well, that’s why football follows baseball.

Manny to LA, Bay to Boston

2008-07-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

Manny Ramirez is going to the Dodgers.
The Red Sox, Dodgers and Pirates agreed to a deal on Thursday, according to sources, in which Ramirez will go to Los Angeles, outfielder Jason Bay will go from Pittsburgh to Boston and the Pirates will receive outfielder Brandon Moss and pitcher Craig Hansen from the Red Sox and third baseman Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris from the Dodgers.

The Pirates have called a 5:30 p.m. ET news conference. The Dodgers were expected to announce the trade following a World Baseball Classic news conference being held Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Ramirez, the mercurial slugger who recently feuded with Red Sox management, signed a contract with Boston as a free agent during the 2000-01 offseason. He has club options in 2009 and 2010 at $20 million each. He received a $1 million relocation bonus for the trade. The Red Sox will reportedly pay the $7 million remaining on Ramirez's $20 million salary for this year.

"He's one of the best four or five hitters in baseball," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said on Wednesday. "I like him, yet he marches to his own drummer. I had him in the All-Star Game. It doesn't make sense to me [that he would be available]."

The blockbuster move, which is reportedly pending approval from the Commissioner's Office because of the exchange of money, literally came down to the buzzer, just like it did in 2004 when the Sox traded Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs.

Manny Trade is Dead

2008-07-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Just when it seemed disenchanted Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez was on the verge of being dealt to the Florida Marlins, early afternoon reports on ESPN.com and Foxsports.com surfaced just hours before today's 4 p.m. ET Trade deadline that the proposed three-way deal which also involved the Pittsburgh Pirates was nearly dead.

A fixture in the middle of the Red Sox's batting order since 2001 and a core member of two World Series championship teams, Ramirez was the centerpiece of a proposed, three-way deal between Boston, Pittsburgh and Florida that was discussed at length by the clubs on Wednesday before continuing into today, when stumbling blocks got in the way.

Reported disagreements over how much money the Marlins would receive from the Red Sox and which prospects would switch hands were said to have put a major dent into making the blockbuster transaction a reality.

The major portions of the deal would have Ramirez going to the Marlins, Jason Bay moving from Pittsburgh to Boston and 24-year-old outfielder Jeremy Hermida going to the Pirates.

Even if that deal didn't resuscitate as the deadline closed in, there was still the possibility the Red Sox could try to find another taker for Ramirez, who has become increasingly disenchanted in recent weeks. Similarly, the Pirates are reportedly still working with other teams on a possible deal for Bay, including one with the Tampa Bay Rays and perhaps the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Boston Herald, citing a baseball source on Thursday morning, said that the deal did pick up momentum overnight, but the chances of it being consummated were still "less than 50-50." The newspaper added that there were still some members of Red Sox's upper management who weren't convinced that trading Ramirez was the best move for the team.

Ramirez, as a 10-5 man (10 years in the Major Leagues, five with the same team), has the right to veto any trade. A few days ago, Ramirez told reporters he would approve any trade that would benefit both himself and the Red Sox.

According to SI.com, Ramirez did approve a trade to the Marlins, but that was before the teams had actually agreed on a trade.

If the deal for Bay indeed has fallen through, it's hard to imagine the Red Sox would be able to find a better bat to replace Ramirez.

Bay is hitting .282 with 22 homers, 64 RBIs and a .519 slugging percentage. Ramirez, who is having what is basically a par year by his standards, is hitting .299 with 20 homers and 68 RBIs.

The Red Sox, who have lost five of their last six games amid controversy over Ramirez, are eager to see the matter reach a resolution one way or the other.

Boston next takes the field on Friday night against Oakland, by which time Ramirez's fate for the rest of 2008 will finally be settled.

"If he's out there Friday, then Friday on, this is who we're going to be," said Red Sox shortstop Alex Cora. "If he's not, we'll see. We don't decide that. If he's here, we're going to pull for him the same way he pulls for us."

Despite the tense situation, there have been some light-hearted moments. Shortly before Wednesday's loss to the Angels, Ramirez was spotted on NESN holding a sign that said, "I'm going to Green Bay for Brett Favre straight up."

Ramirez is in the final season of an eight-year, $160 million contract. The Red Sox hold $20 million options on Ramirez for 2009 and 2010.

In some ways, going to the Marlins would have been the easiest short-term move for Ramirez. For several years, Ramirez has owned a home in South Florida.

"Oh yeah, Marlins. Tax-free. Stay at home," Ramirez playfully said in the clubhouse before Wednesday's game.

The only reporter to talk in depth with Ramirez over the last couple of days has been Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes.

"Nobody has called me from Boston, and neither has my agent [Scott Boras]," Ramírez told Rojas by phone on Thursday. "The only thing I know of a possible trade is what I've seen in ESPN."

All along, Boston's players were skeptical that Ramirez would actually get traded.

"Every year it's like this," said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "This is so out of our hands. Even this year, it's out of our hands. I just think that this team needs to take a step past that and focus on playing baseball."

While all was well between Ramirez and the Red Sox for the first couple of months of 2008, things have taken a sour turn in recent weeks.

As for the most recent rift between Ramirez and the Red Sox, it seemed to start on June 28 in Houston. That was the day Ramirez pushed traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the floor following a spat over tickets. Though the Red Sox never went public with their discipline, it's believed that Ramirez was issued a fine that went to charity.

At the All-Star Game, Ramirez, in an interview with the Boston Herald, criticized the Red Sox's ownership and front office, saying they haven't been straightforward with him regarding their future plans with his option. Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry said the next day that Ramirez's remarks were "personally offensive."

Another controversy started when Ramirez told the Red Sox he couldn't play against the Mariners on July 23, and again against the Yankees two days later, because of right knee soreness.

Before sending Ramirez out for an MRI on both knees -- which came back negative -- members of ownership and the front office, as well as manager Terry Francona, held a closed-door meeting with the seemingly disgruntled slugger.

Reportedly, the Red Sox were pondering disciplinary action if Ramirez again made himself unavailable in the second game of the series against the Yankees, but he returned to the lineup that day.

A few days later, Ramirez told NESN analyst and former Red Sox player Jerry Remy that he still hoped to be traded so that he could have some "peace."

What the Red Sox want more than peace is closure, and they will get by the time today's deadline expires.

Manny Trade Losing Steam

2008-07-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

After all the talks the Red Sox have had with the Marlins and Pirates the last two days, could it be that Manny Ramirez winds up starting in left field for the Red Sox Friday night?

The latest news from ESPN.com's Peter Gammons: "A source close to the three-way negotiations involving Manny Ramirez says the deal is close to dead. Florida has reportedly asked Boston for a cash outlay beyond the $7 million to cover Ramirez's contract, in addition to two prospects. That essentially would add up to the Red Sox trading Ramirez, $9 million and two prospects for Jason Bay."

The Pirates could deal Bay somewhere else -- Tampa Bay has been mentioned and Jayson Stark of ESPN.com is now citing the Blue Jays -- or just hang on to him.

Keep in mind that in recent years, the Red Sox have never been shy about pulling away from blockbuster deals when the price simply became too much. Most dramatically, the Sox had a Ramirez for Alex Rodriguez mega-swap lined up in December, 2003, and pulled out of that when their proposed restructuring of A-Rod's contract was turned down by the Players Association. More recently, Theo Epstein didn't trade for Johan Santana this winter because the asking price of talented young players was simply too much.

T-minus three hours.

Marlin Trade for Manny IN The Works

2008-07-31T10:59:00.001-07:00

The prospect of Manny Ramirez becoming a Marlin remains a real possibility.
A source on Thursday morning confirmed that talks continue for a possible three-team trade that would send Ramirez to the Marlins.

Under the scenario, Ramirez would become a Marlin for the final two months of the season. Florida outfielder Jeremy Hermida would head to the Pirates, and the Red Sox would acquire left fielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh.

The Marlins may also have to part with pitching prospect Ryan Tucker, and according to reports, 19-year-old outfield prospect Mike Stanton -- a second-round pick in 2007 with tremendous power -- may also be part of the package.

The heavy trade rumblings came on Wednesday, a day on which the Marlin beat the Mets, 7-5, to move within a game and a half of first place in the NL East.

Asked about the rumors after going 2-for-4 in what might have been Hermida's final game as a Marlin, the 24-year-old said: "It's out of my control. If something happens, there is nothing I can do about it."

The non-waiver Trade Deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Thursday. Speculation is strong that it's a matter of the Commissioner's Office approving the deal because of the amount of money that may change hands, as Boston has reportedly offered to pay the balance of Ramirez's salary this season.

Once those details are in place, the Red Sox are then expected to officially ask Ramirez if he will waive his no-trade clause.

If the deal is pulled off, the Marlins would be parting with Hermida, their first-round Draft pick in 2002, who broke into the big leagues in '05. The left-handed-hitting right fielder made history in his first at-bat, by connecting on a pinch-hit grand slam.

Making $395,000, Hermida is in his third season with the Marlins, and he is in line for arbitration after this year.

"I've come up in this organization. It's the only staff that I've known," Hermida said. "A lot of guys in this clubhouse I've known for a lot of years. Definitely, it would be tough to leave these guys who I've grown up with."

Should Ramirez become a Marlin, it would be as a two-month rental. According to sources, Florida has no intention of picking up Ramirez's $20 million option for 2009.

Because their payroll is $22 million, the fact the Marlins even pursued Ramirez is startling to many, considering their cost-cutting history. But the team is in the thick of the playoff race, and there is a push to get a new stadium built. Right now, the status of the new stadium is hung up in a lawsuit.

Ramirez brings star power to the Marlins, along with a powerful bat. However, he does have his share of baggage, as he seems to be on the verge of leaving Boston disgruntled with the organization with which he won two World Series titles.

Along with Hermida, Marlins left fielder Josh Willingham heard his name attached to the trade rumors involving Ramirez.

Willingham is the current left fielder, and it is unclear if he also may be part of a deal on Thursday.

"I hadn't heard anything about myself until today," Willingham said. "I'm sitting there and watching and you see yourself, and it's like, 'Whoa.' "

Reminded that the game is a business, Willingham added: "That's how you have to treat it. This is the only organization that I know. Until something happens, we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

Sox Continue Post-Allstar Slide

2008-07-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Word filtered through the ballpark about an hour before last night's game. Casey Kotchman, who had been in the lineup batting second for the Angels, was scratched. He was headed to Atlanta, with one of the biggest bats on the block (Mark Teixeira) heading to southern California.

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The Angels, the class of the American League and owners of a seven-game winning streak over the Red Sox, had just gotten much better.

They already have the pitching, made abundantly clear last night as John Lackey took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, broken up by Dustin Pedroia's one-out single to left. Still, it was a decisive 6-2 victory for the Angels.

And the Red Sox are not happy. Not happy about their performance last night. Not happy about their performance of late.

"It seems like we're not playing good baseball," Pedroia said. "I think it's time to start doing that. It's not like anybody in our division's going to lose consecutive games. Everyone's playing good. It seems like we're not.

"It's a lack of doing anything. Nobody brought any energy. Nobody did anything. They killed us. It felt like we weren't even in the game."

That could partly be attributed to Lackey, who gave up virtually nothing to the Red Sox for 8 1/3 innings before Pedroia turned on a low slider and rifled it by shortstop Maicer Izturis into left field, then Kevin Youkilis followed with a two-run home run to left. Though the Yankees fell to the Orioles, 7-6, last night, the Rays defeated the Blue Jays, 3-0. The Red Sox are 4-7 since the All-Star break and are two games behind the Rays in the AL East. Not exactly the surge the Sox were anticipating with the return of David Ortiz (0 for 4) and Clay Buchholz, now 0-3 in four starts since his recall from Pawtucket.

"We can't keep going into the third game of the series trying to not get swept," Mike Lowell said. "That's not really the recipe for staying with the pack, the leaders in the division."

Asked if the team's play the last two weeks has been worrisome, Lowell said, "If we continue this way, we won't have to worry at all, because we're not going to make the playoffs."

So what does this team have to do?

"Come out and play," Pedroia said. "We've got to start playing hard and winning games. We got beat in every aspect of the game. They whupped us."

Lackey certainly did. He had been baffling, just as the opposing starter, Buchholz, had been last Sept. 1 when he pitched a no-hitter against the Orioles.

"Can't say I feel sorry for him," said Buchholz, who gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits, three walks, and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings.

Nutt Paints Rosy Picture

2008-07-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

In a decade where the Southeastern Conference has won three of the last five national titles, it may be presumptuous on new Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt’s part to think that the Rebels can contend for the SEC crown in 2008.

Even when every national and regional media outlet believes that Florida, Georgia, LSU and Auburn are the most likely choices to win the SEC title and possibly compete for the BCS title, Nutt believes that there are nine or 10 teams in the league that can find themselves on top of the list and that his Rebels are one of them.

“I would put us in there. Again, I’m not saying that, boy, you can give us our bus ticket to Atlanta. But what I am saying, if you walked these athletes in from each of those nine or 10 teams that I’m talking about, you would see that there is a lot of athleticism, a lot of good athletes that can run, jump, hit you, block,” Nutt said during his address at the SEC’s Media Day event at the Wynfrey Hotel. “What I don’t know is who’s going to get hurt, who’s going to stay healthy, who’s going to get the ball that bounces just right. There are a lot of variables and factors involved.

“We’re trying to change the mindset of our program,” Nutt added. “We want to win. We want to win right now. I think it would be unfair to say, ‘OK, we’re going to rebuild, just kind of gradually.’ I think that’s unfair to our seniors. I can’t say we kind of got to start rebuilding a little bit now, we’re going to work our way up. We’re not built that way. Our staff is built to ‘let’s go, let’s go as hard as we can, and let’s go right now.’”

Energy evident

The energy Nutt displayed at Arkansas has been evident ever since he was hired to replace Ed Orgeron this past November. Nutt’s passion for the game, coupled with his vast experience in the SEC as a head coach, make his words that much more believable to the players that the Rebels can actually be in position for a bowl game.

“My goal is to win, and that’s what our team’s goal is too,” UM senior offensive tackle Michael Oher said Thursday. “Coach Nutt is a great guy. He’s a great coach and he’ll do a lot for us this year. He knows what to do and what to say, and what he says we do because we respect him.”

A change for the players has been good during the offseason according to Oher and defensive tackle Peria Jerry, who was also on hand to visit with the media Thursday. Nutt was asked about his new surroundings in Oxford and how the fresh start has been for him personally.

“From the moment (wife) Diana and I and (daughter) Haven walked into the (Gertrude) Ford Theater in Oxford and have 1,500 people there, I can’t tell you how we felt that day. That was a day full of goosebumps, it just reenergized us from that moment forward,” Nutt said. “Then you go into the meeting with the players, you see that hunger again, to see how they embraced our coaching staff, it excites you, it motivates you. It makes you want to please. It makes you want to work a little bit harder. I think it’s been an excellent transition.”

Arkansas game discussed

Of course, Nutt was asked if he ever thought about the meeting with his former team, Arkansas, which is slated for Oct. 25 this year.

“You can’t help but think about it. You grew up in Arkansas. You thought at one time you’d be there for life. I had 10 great years of experience there working with some great people,” Nutt said. “We won three titles. Two of the teams went to Atlanta (for SEC title game). We were very close against Florida in winning that (title) game. So we had some great days, great times there. You can’t but help but think what it’s gonna be like coming in from the visitor side. But quickly my mind goes back to Memphis.”

Nutt’s first game will be against the Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Aug. 30. Following that contest, the Rebels’ first road game under Nutt will be played at Wake Forest on Sept. 6. Ole Miss’ first SEC game comes at home against Vanderbilt Sept. 20.

2008-07-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

Glenn Dorsey walked up and shook hands with the man who'd just made him rich.

"I promise I'll work hard," said the big defensive tackle, towering over Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt.

"I know you will," Hunt said. "It's great to have you with us."

After a brief contract holdout that essentially cost him only one practice, Dorsey signed a five-year, $51 million deal Saturday morning that includes an option year and more than $22 million in guaranteed money. The 300-pound All-American from LSU, the fifth player taken overall last April, will be the cornerstone of a line that's being rebuilt to make up for the loss of Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen.

After getting word about 4:30 a.m. that a deal was agreed upon, Dorsey hopped a flight out of Baton Rouge, La., and arrived at the Chiefs' offices on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus just in time for meetings. Greeting him were a throng of media and Hunt, who stood in the back smiling as Dorsey and general manager Carl Peterson conducted a short news conference.

"He is going to be a very good player for us," Hunt said. "He's got all the tools."

The rebuilding Chiefs, who will be one of the youngest teams in the NFL this season, have agreed to terms with all but one of their 12 draft picks. They've opted to delay signing tight end Michael Merritt, a seventh-round selection out of Central Florida, until he recovers from injury.

"I'm just excited to be here, to stand before you all and get to work with my teammates and my coaches," Dorsey told the media. "My agent did a great job. The Chiefs did a great job. It was a great agreement."

Joel Segal, Dorsey's agent, said he was glad to get his client in camp almost on time. Since Friday's opening workouts were both forced indoors by rain, he really missed only one workout, on Saturday morning. He was expected to be on the field for Saturday's afternoon practice.

"Glenn is a very disciplined guy who loves football," Segal said. "He was anxious to get to camp. He indicated to me that he's excited now to help the Chiefs win."

Dorsey will be handed a starting job on the inside while Tamba Hali moves from left defensive end to right, replacing Allen. After leading the NFL with 15½ sacks, Allen became disgruntled and was traded to Minnesota.

The Chiefs, coming off a 4-12 year, will need an immediate impact from Dorsey to ease the loss of Allen.

The newcomer declined to make any predictions on what might happen his rookie season in the NFL.

"It's a totally different world now, playing against everybody who's one of the best at what they do," he said. "I can't really tell you right now. I have to go through camp and see how it goes.

"I'm just going to have fun. I like to have fun when I play."

The money, he said, wasn't anything he'd thought much about yet.

"That's down the line," he said. "That's going to be way down the line. It's time to get down to business. I look forward to taking care of my family. But now it's time to get down to business."

Lester in command as Sox avoid sweep by thumping Yankees

2008-07-28T07:10:00.001-07:00

Sanity, or what passes for it these days in Fenway Park, was restored last night on Yawkey Way.

related survey

Should the Red Sox trade Manny Ramirez?
Yes. His antics have crossed the line from funny to detrimental. If they're not going to pick up his option after the season (the team has not stated anything one way or the other), the Sox should at least get something in return.
No. You just can't replace that kind of a hitter. There's no trade out there that will give equal value in return, and the Sox need Manny's bat for a playoff push.

Manny Ramírez said before the game he wouldn't block a trade, then showed why the Red Sox will grin and bear him, doubling twice and hitting an RBI single in a 9-2 win over the Yankees that marked a revival of offense from the top to bottom of the order. The Sox avoided a three-game sweep, ended the Yankees' eight-game winning streak, and drew to within a game of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.

"He swung the bat great," manager Terry Francona said of Ramírez. "That's what we need, that shouldn't be a surprise. That part of it, that's why we want him out there."

It began, as it has so often in the last couple of months, with Dustin Pedroia, who from the leadoff spot singled to touch off a three-run Sox first, hit a sacrifice fly in the second, and doubled ahead of David Ortiz's fourth-inning home run, Big Papi finally putting a big bang in his return with his 14th home run to make it 7-0 after four innings.

The Sox had not scored in consecutive innings in their last nine games. They went 3, 1, 1, 2 in the first four innings last night after waiting out a 52-minute (no)rain delay, which gave Jon Lester plenty of breathing room to beat the Yankees for the second time in 24 days. This didn't look as effortless as the complete-game shutout he threw in Yankee Stadium - New York had nine hits in seven innings against Lester, and appeared to have him on the ropes in the fifth when they had two runs in and the bases loaded with no outs.

But Lester was equal to the challenge. Alex Rodriguez lined to third, Xavier Nady flied to shallow center, and Robinson Cano, the AL's hottest hitter since the All-Star break, tapped back to the mound. Lester walked just one and struck out eight in running his record to 9-3; Manny Delcarmen and Mike Timlin finished up.

"You just pitch your game, you can't worry about we lost two in a row, you can't worry about all the other distractions, you just go out and pitch," Lester said. "You hope you get some runs early.

"It was definitely a team effort. Guys swung the bats really well. It seemed like a different atmosphere in the dugout tonight. Guys were laughing, having fun, then going to the plate and putting together good at-bats."

Every player in the Sox lineup reached base - J.D. Drew didn't have a hit but walked twice - and Jacoby Ellsbury, dropped to the No. 9 spot, breathed life into a dormant bottom of the order with a double and two singles, as the Sox did a number on a familiar punching bag, Sidney Ponson. The Aruban righthander came in with a story line - and won-loss record (6-1) - that suggested that the Texas Rangers had made a mistake in releasing him earlier this season for the kind of off-field conduct that had made him a marked man with Baltimore, one of his previous employers.

But the Sox found him to be the same soft touch he has always been against them, racking up 10 hits and seven runs in four innings of a loss that dropped Ponson's record against Boston to 3-12 with a 6.92 ERA.

"Yeah, we're not too happy," said Yankee designated hitter Johnny Damon. "We knew we had a chance to tie them up in our division, gain a game on Tampa Bay, and we didn't quite do it. They were definitely better than us tonight. We came out ready to win this game, but unfortunately the first inning didn't work out the way we wanted to and a couple innings after that."

It won't show up in the box score, but Kevin Youkilis may have supplied the most energy with his aggressive play. Youkilis twice challenged the arms of outfielders successfully. He hustled from first to third on Ortiz's first-inning single, just beating a strong throw from right fielder Bobby Abreu.

"He went hard, he knew where the ball was, it was a good throw but that certainly helps set up the inning," Francona said. "It changes a lot of the dynamics of the inning."

In the sixth, after Ortiz's sacrifice fly had scored Ellsbury with Boston's eighth run of the night, Youkilis was still playing as if it was a one-run game, steaming home from second on base hit by Ramírez just ahead of a throw by left fielder Xavier Nady.

"That's how he plays," Francona said. "That's not lost on us. He gets down the line every single time."

Ellsbury, who has speed that Youkilis can only dream of, noticed.

"The big thing is, he makes good decisions on the bases," Ellsbury said. "You can have all the speed in the world and it means nothing if you don't make good decisions. Youks sees the situation, analyzes it very quickly, and makes a good decision."

Ramírez hit the ball hard in all five of his plate appearances. He doubled home Youkilis in the first, then ran through DeMarlo Hale's stop sign to score on Mike Lowell's two-run single. He doubled and scored on Jason Varitek's double in the third, flied to the triangle in center after Ortiz homered into the right-field seats, singled in a run in the sixth, and lined to right in the eighth.

The bottom three hitters in the Sox order - Varitek, Alex Cora, and Ellsbury -combined to go 6 for 12 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI.

"Have good at-bats, it's going to happen, the hits are going to come," said Ellsbury, who had been hitting .212 in his last 32 games. "Eventually you're going to reap the benefits.

"Tonight the crowd was great from pitch 1, when Jon struck out Damon. The atmosphere of the crowd was different tonight, and maybe we fed off that."