Quote of the Day

The guys asked Francona his memories about the 2004 ALCS. On Kevin Millar, Francona said, "You've always heard me say you've got to be true to yourself and everyone's different. That's how he was. He was like that every day, it just wasn't always on camera. You can't pull that act off if it's not legit, but he was. He was just dumb enough to think we could do it and guys followed him. We wouldn't have won without him, I guarantee that."

Millar Back With The Red Sox

Well kind of... Kevin Millar will join NESN as an analyst. This is funny because Millar really never wanted to leave. He knows the only reason he is popular is because of Boston, and why not return to the city that loves you. I was a big Millar fan, and I know a lot of people hate him, but he could be a good guy to have on NESN. He could be their "Charles Barkley" or something, and just make bold claims. Anyways, I think it is fucking awesome, and it makes my Kevin Millar jersey just that much more awesome.

How Do You Keep Getting Work?

I guess Kevin Millar just got a minor league contract with the Cubs, which makes me ask, how does Kevin Millar keep getting work?

He sucks, he has always kind of sucked, and I will never forgive him for inventing the "Cowboy Up." He is such a novelty item now, and should just go away. He isn't a good ball player and really has nothing more to accomplish other than making his career more of a joke.

The thing that pains me is that he has this way of ruining my day whenever he is in Boston around baseball season. He finds a way in the booth, or around our clubhouse, when he has zero affiliation now. He is most likely going to be involved in the Sox organization once he calls it quits and I will fucking shoot my brains out. Fuck you Kevin Millar, Die.

Red Sox Beat Orioles 7-4

Paul Byrd had another "Paul Byrd" outing, and the Sox beat Baltimore 7-4. In case you don't know a "Paul Byrd" outing is about 6-7 innings allowing 3-4 runs, and that's just what he did tonight going 7 innings allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 4 Ks. The night did not start well for Byrd as he let up a solo HR to Adam Jones (just activated from the DL) in the 1st, but the Sox were able to battle back with 2 solo HRs (Varitek/Bailey). The Sox have to be happy that they are getting some offense from someone else other then Pedrioa (oh but he is still hitting). The lead wouldn't hold as Byrd let up another bomb and the Orioles tied it up 3-3 in the 3rd, and then eventually took the lead in the 6th off an Markakis RBI single. At that point it looked like the Orioles were going to take over the game, as very few fans have faith in this bullpen, but boy did they prove people wrong. The bullpen shutout Baltimore for the final 2 innings (Byrd let up his 3rd HR of the game in the 7th to my boy Kevin Millar), and the Sox lineup heated up scoring 4 runs in the bottom on the 6th. Pedrioa knocked 2 on the runs in with a 2 run single, and the Sox went of to win 7-4, which puts them 5 games behind Tampa Bay for the AL East lead, and 3 games in front of Minnesota for the Wild Card spot.

Paul Byrd got the win, and Papelbon collected his 35th save of the season.

-BMack

No Love for Baltimore

The Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays are the talk of baseball. And while their turn-around has been remarkable, another team has been overlooked and practically ignored.

The Orioles will probably finish 4th in the AL East, which has been their home for 9 of the last 10 seasons. But they might do something they haven't done since 1997: finish above .500. They're 44-45 coming into this weekend's series at Fenway.

Baltimore wasn't supposed to be this good. They were supposed to finish 5th in the division, and contend for the worst record in baseball. And although their pitching has been true to that prediction (12th best ERA in the AL), their offense has some teeth. They're 6th in runs scored, and 4th in homeruns. Former Ray Aubrey Huff has 18 homers. Nick Markakis has a .397 OBP and 14 dingers. Former Astro Luke Scott also has 14. Kevin Millar has decided to go back to being a baseball player, and has 12 HRs.



The Red Sox are only 5-4 against Baltimore this season. They were 12-6 against the O's in '07, and 15-3 against them in '06. But they're not that easy to beat anymore.

The Orioles won't be directly involved in the AL East race. But they will be a factor. Tampa Bay is 8-3 against Baltimore. The Sox are 2 games behind that record, and also 2 games behind the Rays for first place. Weird coincidence.

-The Commodore