Kristin reports that you'll be able to battle an evil Curt Schilling in Everquest when the Sox play the Yankees (urgh!) June 5-7.
It's for a good cause - beat Evil Curt and Sony will donate money to the ALS Foundation - but what's the deal with his character wielding a (granted, evil looking) bat, instead of throwing, oh, flaming balls of death?
The Couch Potato asks and answers:
With the Yankees in such sad shape, is it really proper to gloat over a win? Um... YES!!!
Imagine being an Orioles or Phillies or (fill in the blank) fan watching your stadium overrun by loud, boisterous Red Sox fans. Down in Philadelphia, Daniel Rubin describes the scene, but shows that Phillies fans can have a sense of fair play - some actually stood up for a Sox fan about to be ejected from Friday's game. Now if it had been the Bronx?
On Surviving Grady, Red explains why interleague play is killing him:
... Because every time I see a ground ball hit toward Ortiz at first, I keep visualizing that giant body lurching awkwardly, spinning magnificently, and then dropping to the ground like a collapsed building. One pulled muscle could make this the longest summer ever. ...
He also wishes Hazel Mae would stop with the annoying hand wave thing already.
Just in case you've ever been tempted to get bleacher tickets at Yankee Stadium, watch this video by a Sox fan first. Probably not work safe without headphones (via Surviving Grady).
The Couch Potato doesn't like it, but is not surprised:
... All gloating, trash-talking, and general idiocy aside, we knew that these two teams would spend 19 games this season (at least) beating the crap out of each other to the alternate delight & despair of their respective fans.
Jody: Is there anything better than a Sox blowout of the Evil Empire?
No there is not. Well, maybe a blowout with A-Rod making a couple of errors. ...
Denton provides the game summary:
Poise. Composure. Josh Beckett had it, the Big Unit lost it. ...
Beth explains why one UPS Store worker would just as soon never see Mr. Timlin again.
Dan Kennedy cannot believe the sloppy wet kiss the Globe and boston.com gave the Sox today with wall-to-wall coverage of deluxe travel packages the Sox now offer to people with more money than they know what to do with.
Like the Globe, I, too, have my very own disclosure to make.
The Library of Congress's Bain Collection has tons of news photos from the early 20th century. Type in "Boston" and you'll get numerous views of both Fenway Park and Braves Field, a couple of photos from a 1915 trolley carmen's strike and one of "Mrs. Jack Gardner's Venetian Palace," among other things. Oh, and this guy in a Sox uniform, sitting in this undated photo with pitcher Ernie Shore (who also wound up on the Yankees, but with far less success):
The Optimistic Patriot tells Red Sox Nation to wipe the spittle off its chin:
... Sox Nation forfeited the right to boo Damon when the Red Sox traded away Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo played the sucker, signed for a hometown discount because he wanted to stay in Boston, and the Sox immediately traded him. I guess loyalty is a one-way street because I missed the booing for Henry, Warner, Epstein, etc. for taking advantage of Arroyo. ...
And just in time to catch Wakefield tonight.
Bruce has some details. Sounds like a fair trade: Bard, cash and a couple of people you've never heard of. Now if only the Sox can actually score for Wakefield.
Amy on Pasquinade: God, Shiva, Puppies, Cute Babies and all that is good in this world unite in a chorus of thanks
Evan Brunelle, though, calls the deal a panic move by Theo:
Red lists things he's telling himself to avoid punching a nun, including:
... The law of averages dictates that Wily Mo Pena is, at some point this season, going to stop unleashing pure, unadulterated suck by the barrel. You heard it here first, folks: It's gonna happen. ...
Beth recounts the nail-biting moments in last night's Sox game, the ones involving Schilling, Foulke and Timlin - and beer cans aimed at the televised head of Terry Francona:
... Here came Sizemore again. He worked the count full, and then more beer cans were lifting off around the region - some of them, this time, probably full.
With no actual game to show last night, NESN replayed Roger Clemens' 20-strikeout game from 1986.
Red watches the replay of the game, which he recalls as a defining moment for him:
Kristen tells the Sox it's time to step up to the plate and score some damn runs for the guy already:
... How many times have you heard the phrase, "He was such a nice, quiet guy. Kept to himself. Didn't cause any trouble," about the recently discovered serial killer with fifteen severed heads in his freezer? I'm just sayin', Postal Workers were nice too before they started getting all "disgruntled." ...
Beth's first reaction to the end of last night's game:
OMG ADAM STERN I AM OFFICIALLY NAMING MY FIRSTBORN CHILD AFTER YOU EVEN IF IT'S A GIRL.
Her second reaction: Ponder the Papelbon situation - what happens when he finally gives up a run, or a game?
Red: We're 14 games deep and I've already had three near-heart attacks.
Daryl, our Singapore Sox fan, analyzes last night's game (PAPELBON! And Schilling!) and adds:
... [S]eeing Varitek come to bat against the Mariners makes me think, "Yo no soy marinero. Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan."
Red on Surviving Grady analyzes the weird performance of the Sox to date (Pitching: Great or sucks; Manny, Wily Mo, where are you?):
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