Shirtgate!

Boston Globe photo.

Is this whole thing so ridiculous or what?? MLB exec Bob Watson is actually checking the attire of managers. We all know that Terry Francona has health problems, including poor circulation. The guy takes all kinds of medications, including the blood thinner Cumadin. As a result, he's cold - to the point that he wears extra clothing even in the dog days of August. Apparently, MLB is cracking down on the attire of managers - saying they need to wear their uniform tops. (Which I think is kinda nuts in the first place - what other sports have the team managers in full unis?) They apparently have warned Tito about his sweatshirt. Well, Bob Watson showed up the dugout at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night before the game to check that Terry had his shirt on. Bad enough - but then he sent a security guard to the dugout during the 2nd inning to make sure Terry hadn't taken it off! With Jeter on 2nd and threatening to steal, the security guy called Francona into the tunnel to check his attire. Good heavens...

I work in a school with a dress code, and this reminds me of some of the tactics we have to use with 9th graders. Please - Terry is a grown man, with issues. And it's not like MLB doesn't have other, more pressing issues to deal with. Maybe they should be checking Bonds for illegal substances rather than checking Francona for undergarments.

Hot in Oakland

AP Photo by Ben Margot

Well, about the only thing fun about the game last night was Tito getting ejected in the 8th. It was the end of a long frustrating night - well, really, three frustrating nights. Our offense is MIA; I'm beginning to think we should just make "Double Play Again" our motto. Way too many GIDPs. This must stop, boys!

Wake pitched okay - a little better outing than his previous ones. But with no offense to offset the knuckleball, it added up to another loss, 3-2 - our fourth loss in a row.

We always fall victim to some kind of slump - it's the nature of baseball. You can't win all the time - as much as we fans wish it. It seems to me the best time for the "June Swoon" is now, when we have a big leading in the AL East and have piled up a bunch of wins. We've got a little cushion to work with. But that cushion is getting smaller. So we need to pick it up tonight - er, rather, this afternoon, as the game starts at 3:35 Eastern. I can actually watch the game and stay awake for it. I hope!

Schilling will rescue us, I hope

Random Wednesday Thoughts

Globe Photo by Jim Davis
1) Last night's game against the A's was a slight return to reality after the Yankee series. We actually led 4-0 at one point - but ended up losing in ten innings, 5-4. Jonathan Papelbon had his first blown save of the year. Yes, he's not perfect - which seems to have taken some people by surprise. He was perfect in April - and I guess we thought it would continue. Totally unrealistic, I know. And maybe it'll do him - and us - a world of good to have him fail. And happening this early in the season isn't going to hurt us. That which does not kill us makes us stronger!

2) Mike Lowell is using a new glove. He seems to be punishing his regular game glove for causing him to make errors!

3) One of the sickening parts of last night was seeing Schilling waste a decent outing. He's looking more and more like the Schill of 2004 - which is a fantastic sign.

4) Nick Cafardo has a great article about Terry Francona in today's Globe. His premise is:

But even the skeptical minority would have to say Terry Francona is managing this year about as well as any manager in the history of the franchise.

Hmm.. I agree he's doing a great job managing his players right now. And he's certainly built an impressive track record in the past three years. But I'm going to wait a little bit longer to call him the greatest.

5) When he pitched against us in the 2004 World Series, I knew Julian Tavarez was a little loopy. Punching a wall with your pitching hand as your team is heading into the post-season is NOT a wise or sane decision. And one of the first times we saw him in a Red Sox uniform, he was taking a swing at Joey Gathright. But he continues to endear himself to me. He could be this year's Millar - lightening up the locker room, always with the great quote. Like in today's Herald:

As for his own status, Tavarez is content. “I’m just taking one day at a time and I’m ready for anything. I’ll do anything. If they say clean the office I’ll go clean the office. As long as I have my uniform I’m a member of the Red Sox.”

Aww.

6) Trying not to revel in the Yankees' problems. But I have to admit to feeling a little sorry for their pitchers. They all seem to be wearing a target on their backs. After we broke their started Karstens on Saturday, now their hot prospect Hughes has gone down with a pulled hamstring. Sad too because he was pitching a no-hitter into the 7th. At the time of his call-up, I worried that they were pushing him too soon - that's basically what happened with Hansen last year. But they really had no choice - they have few other options for starting pitching. This will certainly make the Clemens chase interesting.