Red Sox

Ben Buchanan acknowledges a Sox win is a Sox win, but isn't too happy with the catching situation.

Ted Grevelis notes the amazing stats of the starting pitches over the past seven days (1.80 ERA or better); wonders when the non-Pedroia, non-Lowrie parts of the lineup will start hitting better.

Ben Buchanan reports.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled Friday that Jordan's Furniture's annual Red Sox contest isn't a lottery because nobody pays money specifically to enter it.

For the past several years, the furniture chain has reimbursed people who buy furniture during a set period if the Red Sox do something in particular - at first, win the World Series, but more recently, hit a sign in the outfield.

A customer, Gisela Levin, sued over the 2008 version, claiming the giveaway was a private lottery, which is illegal in Massachusetts. But in its decision, the court noted that none of the purchase price of the furniture went toward the potential prize - which nobody won since the Red Sox failed to win the World Series that year.

• Complete ruling

Via Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Joanna: So this is what a winning streak feels like.

He can pitch every day, right?

Joanna notes:

Don Orsillo was attired in an academic tweed jacket accented by a professorial paisley tie. Appropriate, because the Red Sox were schooled by the Rays in a 16-5 blowout.

And Papelbon, too?

9-6, and over the Yankees, no less.

The Boston Licensing Board voted today to let the Red Sox begin sales of mixed drinks to the common people at Fenway Park, approving a plan under which five existing beer booths will be outfitted to serve dilute mixed drinks - with no more than an ounce of hard liquor on them.

The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, like the Boston Licensing Board a state agency, may also review the plan, which bars sales in bleacher stands and under which mixed-drink sales would stop two hours after a game starts or after the bottom of the seventh inning, whichever comes first.

What's going on in this photo? Your caption, please (official reason for the photo in the comments).

Walked into the West Roxbury Panera to discover they have a weekly singalong for the under-3 set every Thursday. For some reason, one of the songs the guitarist chose was "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," whose lyrics he modified slightly:

So it's root, root, root for the Red Sox
If they don't win it's a shame

Yes, we start 'em young here in RSN.

Meanwhile, Soxaholix reaches for the hemlock and reminds us about the 1988 Orioles.

The Red Sox today submitted plans to the Boston Licensing Board to sell what it said would be diluted mixed drinks at five locations inside the ballpark. In an effort to placate city officials, the team said it would not sell mixed drinks in the bleachers - although officials agreed bleacher fans could easily walk to one of the five other stands where the team does want to sell the liquor.

After meeting with Boston Police, the team also agreed to cut off liquor sales after two hours or the seventh inning, whichever comes first. Currently, the team cuts off beer sales after 2 1/2 hours or the seventh inning.

Bri9801 spotted this confused soul driving around Boston.

The New England Center for Investigative Reporting analyzes Sox ticket sales:

Ticket resellers play a double role. First, ticket brokers like Ace Tickets regularly resell season tickets and luxury perches controlled by companies or wealthy individuals, often for double or more their face value depending on interest in the game.

But the resellers even compete aggressively for the bleacher, grandstand and other seats that are some of the remaining havens for those fans without corporate connections or deep pockets.

Fans, however, may recall what happened toward the end of last year's season: Tickets began selling at below face value as desperate brokers sought to recoup some of their investment.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, your 1911 Red Sox. Those Sox finished fourth in their final year in the Huntington Avenue Grounds. Here, player-manager Jake Stahl (who would lead the Sox to their first Fenway World Series win the next year) and
Tris Speaker (who would end up in the Hall of Fame) get ready to play.

Baseball card images from the Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs Online Catalog.

Don Orsillo Catchphrase Bingo - ready for printing; even comes with appropriate markers.

The Globe reports city officials are opposing plans by the Sox to expand mixed-drink sales beyond the seats where rich people sit. The matter's now before the Boston Licensing Board, which plans a hearing next Wednesday.

Because otherwise, some Sox fans might be panicking.

Photo of the Day from FokNewsChannel. Also, an open thread to talk about the Red Sox or "whatever".

By Harvey Frommer with a foreward by Johnny Pesky. Remembering Fenway Park beautifully documents the stadium’s entire career through a decade-by-decade account, a priceless collection of historical photographs, and vivid, first-person reminiscences of the people to whom this great place has meant so much: journalists, players, and fans. No Red Sox fan—no baseball fan—will resist this incredible book.

NESN announced today a new slogan for its 2011 Red Sox coverage: "We're all in."

Just one problem, as Stephanie discovered:

And they announced it in December.

How are you celebrating?

Heyman is the Sports Illustrated writer who gave Red Sox Nation a collective heart attack with a single tweet saying the Adrian Gonzalez deal was dead. Only it wasn't. Through the lens of a Gorden Edes column on Gonzalez, Paul SF examines just how much Heyman sucks. Even after it became obvious his alleged source was wrong, Heyman never issued a retraction:

Think about this for a second: Jon Heyman uses a free service completely unconnected from the company that employs him to break news that does not link back to his actual work (which is illogically given away by his employers, but that's another discussion). In the meantime, the "news" he breaks can rocket around the world yet be obsolete within minutes, which obviously raises the question of how relevant this "news" was in the first place.

The Wall Street Journal reports they're fuming on the Mersey, worried all that money means nothing's left for their soccer team, now owned by the same people who own the Sox.

H/t Stephanie.

Say hello to Carl Crawford.

If you're on Twitter, drop him a tweet. If you're on Facebook, try to reassure the five Rays fans that we'll take good care of him.