Reports Of Clemens Affair With County Star Surface

Roger Clemens may have more problems on his hands these days. The New York Daily News reports that Clemens has had a 10-year romance with country singer Mindy McCready. What could cause Clemens problems here is that the Daily News says the romance began when Clemens was 28, that would be way back in 1990. A quick look of McCreadys bio will then show she was just 15 in 1990. Clemens' lawyer Rusty Hardin confirms the relationship but denies it was of a sexual nature. "He flatly denies having had any kind of an inappropriate relationship with her," Hardin said. "He's considered her a close family friend. ... He has never had a sexual relationship with her." McCready's lawyer, Lee Ofman, said he did not have any comment on the Daily News story. The Daily News says during the long relationship Clemens would send McCready large sums of money and allow her and her brothers to use of a private plane. She attended a game at Yankee Stadium on one occasion and the pair have traveled together. On February 13 of this year while appearing before Congress, Clemens told members his family has been vital to him during his career. "Anyone who has spent time around me knows that my family is and has always been my top priority," it said in a portion of the opening statement he delivered. "My wife, Debbie, and my sons -- Koby, Kory, Kacy and Kody -- mean more to me than anything in the world."

Post Draft Free Agent Signings

Each year in the hours following the NFL draft teams sign those players who were not drafted. I will update this post with those players who have signed with the New England Patriots. Vincent Redd, LB, Liberty Chris Norwell, DE, Illinois Casey Tyler, DT, Portland State Josh Coffman, OT, East Carolina Keith Saunders, DE, Alabama Jonathan Stupar, TE, Virginia Mike Dragosavich, P, North Dakota State Ryan Wendell, C, Fresno State I'm also hearing conflicting reports on Mike Dragosavich, he's a punter from North Dakota State. Some say he has signed with the Patriots while another source has said he decided to sleep on several offers. If the Patriots do sign him he will have a great shot at making the team with his strong leg. Update: Dragosavich has mulled his offers and decided to join the Patriots. As I stated above, he will have a great chance of making the team this summer.

Players Of The Week

Player of the Week - Jacoby Ellsbury rebounded from his slow start at the plate this week with 10 hits in 32 at bats to bring his average over .300 for most of the week. He scored six runs and knocked in five in a week that saw the offense slow to a crawl in the weekend Tampa Bay series. Two of his hits were solo home runs in the opening game of the Los Angeles Angels series at the beginning of the week. Ellsbury added a couple stolen bases. This week Ellsbury played all three outfield positions for the Red Sox and added a couple nice catches. With Coco Crisp back Ellsbury may see more time off, but if he keeps up the effective hitting he will find his name on the lineup card most days. Prospect of the Week - For the second week in a row the prospect of the week award was won while contributing in Boston. Last week Jed Lowrie provided a spark for the Boston offense and this week it was Justin Masterson providing a spark to the pitching staff, too bad it didn't rub off onto the bullpen. In his major league debut Masterson went six innings allowing just two hits and one run. He struck out four batters but also walked four. Unfortunately, within moments of Masterson being taken out of the game the bullpen proceeded to allow four runs before recording an out in the seventh inning. Los Angeles went on to win the game and spoil what would have been Masterson's first major league win. This is the second time Masterson has been named prospect of the week. Pitcher of the Week - Clay Buchholz showed this week that Boston has three number one caliber pitchers on the roster. Over two starts he scattered eight hits and four walks while striking out 15 batters. He pitched Boston's first complete game of the season Saturday in Tampa. While he took the loss in that game he was on top of his game all night. Going into the eighth inning he had allowed just one hit, a grounder past Jed Lowrie that may have been grabbed by Mike Lowell. After getting the first two outs in the eighth he had what appeared to be strike three that wasn't called, the batter then singled to right and scored on a two-run homer by Akinori Iwamura and Boston lost the game 2-1. Buchholz has been great this season. Taking the game in New York out of the equation for a moment, Buchholz has a 2.16 ERA in 25 innings allowing six runs and striking out 25.

#197: Bo Ruud, LB, Nebraska

Linebacker Bo Ruud finished an outstanding Nebraska career during the 2007 season, his third consecutive year as a starter. Ruud developed a knack for being around the football throughout his career and by the end of 2007 he joined his older brother, Barrett, and father, Tom, among the top 30 tacklers in Nebraska school history. Ruud’s 216 career tackles rank 22nd on the Nebraska career chart, and he had 10 games with eight or more tackles. He finished with six career fumbles caused, four fumble recoveries and five interceptions. He returned three of his five interceptions for touchdowns, including two memorable touchdowns in back-to-back weeks in 2007. A four-year letterman, Ruud lined up as the WILL linebacker for his first three years, before switching to the SAM spot as a senior. He played in and started 10 games, missing the Texas and Kansas games because of injury. He finished the year tied for fifth on the team with 54 tackles, including 28 solo stops. He also added four tackles for loss and caused a pair of fumbles. Ruud had a tackle for loss in each of NU’s first three games, then made six tackles, and returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown to ignite the comeback win over Ball State. A week later, Ruud made 14 tackles in the win over Iowa State and gave Nebraska a comfortable lead with a 93-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter. The return was the third-longest in school history and the longest ever by a Husker linebacker. The Lincoln native suffered a knee injury early in the game against Texas A&M, which also forced him to the sideline for the next two games. He returned for the season’s final two games and capped his career with eight tackles at Colorado. Despite missing most of three games, Ruud was an honorable-mention All-Big 12 choice. Ruud was also the recipient of Nebraska's Guy Chamberlin Trophy at the conclusion of the season, which is presented to the Husker senior who has shown by the play and contributions to the betterment of the University of Nebraska football squad that he has the qualities and dedication of Guy Chamberlin to the Cornhusker tradition. Bo's older brother, Barrett, also won the team award in 2004, while their uncle, Bob Martin, claimed the honor in 1975. Ruud started 13 games at WILL linebacker in 2006, and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors from the league coaches. He tied for fourth on the team with 65 tackles and made seven tackles for loss helping Nebraska rank among the Big 12 leaders in scoring defense and rushing defense. Ruud also had two sacks, two interceptions, a team-high three forced fumbles and also recovered a pair of fumbles. Ruud stepped into a starting role in week two of his sophomore season and went on to earn honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors. He made 80 tackles and tied for third on the team with 14 tackles for loss. A business administration major, Ruud was a two-time second-team academic All-Big 12 selection and a four-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. He was one of 20 Huskers to graduate in December of 2007. From Huskers.com

2008 NFL Draft: Patriots

This post will be updated through the entire draft with information on trades and selections by the New England Patriots. The Patriots will start Saturday with two selections on the day, that could change as the early picks of the first round unfold. There are scenerios in which the Patriots could find themselves trading out of the #7 pick and adding more picks either on day one, day two or future years. The Patriots are expected to make their first selection around 3:50 PM. Current Patriots selections: Rd...Pck....Selection .1.....7....Traded to New Orleans .1....10....(via NO) Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee .2....62....Terrence Wheatley, CB, Colorado .3....69....Traded to San Diego .3....78....(via NO) Shawn Crable, LB, Michigan .3....94....Kevin O'Connell, QB, San Diego State .4...129....Jonathan Wilhite, CB, Auburn .5...153....(via TB) Matt Slater, WR, UCLA .5...160....(via SD) Traded to Tampa Bay .5...164....Traded to New Orleans .6...197....Bo Ruud, LB, Nebraska .7...238....Traded to Tampa Bay Saturday updates: 3:43 PM: Patriots just went on the clock to a chorus of boos from the crowd. 4:01 PM: The Patriots traded the #7 pick and #164 pick to New Orleans. The Patriots get the #10 overall and #78 overall. 4:08 PM: Patriots back on the clock and could make another deal here to move down further. 4:15 PM: Patriots have selected Jerod Mayo from Tennessee. Sunday updates: 11:24 AM: The Patriots made another trade sending the 69th overall pick to San Diego for the 160th overall pick and a 2009 second round pick. The Patriots then drafted LB Shawn Crable from Michigan with the 78th overall pick. The Patriots have one remaining third round selection at #94 overall. 11:37 AM: This one kind of surprised me, the Patriots just took QB Kevin O'Connell from San Diego State with the #94 overall pick. 1:23 PM: The Patriots add a second CB with Auburn's Jonathan Wilhite. The Patriots currently have 3 picks remaining in the draft, one in each remaining round. 2:53 PM: The Patriots traded the #160 and #238 picks to Tampa Bay for the #153 pick, with the pick the Patriots selected Matt Slater a versatile player from UCLA, he can play both WR and CB. 4:28 PM: New England uses it final pick in the 2008 draft to take Bo Ruud a LB from Nebraska. Unless the Patriots make a deal their day is done.

#153: Matt Slater, WR, UCLA

LOS ANGELES - There were times when Matthew Slater wasn't sure if this would ever happen. From the time Slater entered UCLA, his career had been marked by setbacks. First, the numerous injuries that never seemed to end. Then the position changes. Blessed with superstar speed, Slater began his time in Westwood as a wide receiver. Then he was a cornerback. Then he was a safety. Through all of this, all Slater ever wanted was to be able to contribute to the team and find a role he could thrive in. Finally, Slater has found that opportunity. A senior who is now a backup safety, Slater has emerged as a force on special teams as a kick returner for the 11th-ranked Bruins (2-0), who will face Utah (0-2) today in a non-conference game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. "I've finally found my niche," said Slater, one of the most respected locker room presences on the team. "In my mind, special teams is about relentless effort. I thought about all the hard times I've been through here, and said, 'Now I have a chance, let me make the most of it.' "These last few years, I felt like I've had an opportunity to leave my mark on the program, and that's in the form of being a great special teams player. But I'll take it how I can get it." But for Slater, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater, getting to a point in his career where he could contribute seemed like a process that would not yield these results. Slater finished second in the state 100 meters his senior season at Anaheim Servite High. He arrived at UCLA as a wide receiver and almost immediately found himself injured with turf toe. He was redshirted in 2003. In 2005, he sustained a stress reaction in his left leg and missed the early part of the season. In 2006, with the Bruins desperately needing secondary depth, Slater moved to cornerback but was limited by a shoulder injury and briefly considered giving up football to run track. "He was so desperate to get on the field and do anything to contribute to the team," Jackie Slater, a longtime Rams star, said by phone. "He wanted to do it with his God-given ability, which is his speed and his tenacity. "As a guy that has played a lot of football, the thing that impresses me the most is his commitment to UCLA. It's one he stood by through hell or high water, and it's hard to stay that way when you're met with so many disappointments along the way ... he's been the ultimate teammate." This season, Matthew Slater switched to safety. But with standouts Dennis Keyes and Chris Horton starting, Slater knew he might not be able to contribute there. So in the offseason, he approached special teams coordinator Gary DeLoach with an idea. Slater, who began making people take notice of his special teams tackles last season, wanted a chance to return kickoffs, feeling it was one thing he could do to help the program. From the Press-Enterprise

#129: Jonathan Wilhite, CB, Auburn

Wilhite is an undersized pass defender with excellent foot quickness and speed to cover receivers on deep routes. Even though he gives up considerable height to bigger opponents, he has the leaping ability and body control to compete for the jump balls. In his three seasons at Auburn, he has broken up 14 passes and intercepted three others. He joined the program in 2005, as the Tigers won a recruiting battle for a player that College Football News rated the best junior college cornerback in the country during his freshman campaign at Butler County College. Wilhite was an All-Northeast Louisiana first-team and All-District second-team selection during his career at Ouachita High School. He spent three seasons competing as a wide receiver and running back for head coach John Causey. Upon graduation, he enrolled at Butler County (Kan.) Community College. He red-shirted in 2003, taking over right cornerback chores the following season. In 10 regular season games, he posted 44 tackles (23 solos) with seven pass deflections and ranked among the nation's leaders with a Kansas Jayhawk Football Conference-leading five interceptions. He earned National Junior College All-American team and All-Conference first-team accolades that season. Wilhite transferred to Auburn in 2005. He took over right cornerback chores for the final seven games of the season, coming up with a career-high 47 tackles (35 solos). He also broke up seven passes and intercepted another. He missed three games in 2006, but started the 10 that he played in, finishing with 24 tackles (20 solos), five pass break-ups and a forced fumble. But, he was hampered by a nagging right hamstring pull and later missed the Cotton Bowl with a right knee meniscus tear. A left shoulder injury limited Wilhite during 2007 spring camp and lingering hamstring issues limited him to six starting assignments -- two at right cornerback and four at nickel back. He still posted 30 tackles (22 solos) with a sack and a fumble recovery. He also knocked down two passes and intercepted two others. In 34 games at Auburn, Wilhite started 23 contests. He registered 101 tackles (77 solos) with a 9-yard sack and a quarterback pressure. He recovered and caused one fumble, adding fourteen pass deflections and three interceptions. From nfl.com

Red Sox at Tampa Bay III

David Ortiz is not in the lineup again today, Manny Ramirez will DH with Jacoby Ellsbury in left. Josh Beckett gets the start. 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 3. J.D. Drew, RF 4. Manny Ramirez, DH 5. Kevin Youkilis, 1B 6. Coco Crisp, CF 7. Jason Varitek, C 8. Jed Lowrie, 3B 9. Julio Lugo, SS Josh Beckett, SP Red Sox vs James Shields How current Sox players have fared against Tampa Bay starter James Shields in the past. In his career Shields is 0-2 against Boston allowing 11 earned runs in 21.1 innings while striking out 24 against 6 walks. ...............AB...H...HR...RBI...BB...K S. Casey........3...1....0....0.....1...1 K. Cash.........-...-....-....-.....-...- C. Crisp........7...2....0....0.....0...1 J. Drew.........6...2....0....1.....0...1 J. Ellsbury.....-...-....-....-.....-...- J. Lowrie.......-...-....-....-.....-...- J. Lugo.........5...2....0....1.....1...2 D. Ortiz.......11...4....2....4.....1...2 D. Pedroia......-...-....-....-.....-...- M. Ramirez.....10...1....1....2.....2...5 J. Varitek......2...1....0....1.....0...1 K. Youkilis....10...0....0....0.....0...4

#94: Kevin O'Connell, QB, San Diego State

Kevin O'Connell literally put himself on the map as a senior. Of all quarterbacks invited to the NFL Combine, he was the only one not listed as a potential pro prospect in preseason evaluations. After working under the tutelage of former NFL quarterback and present Aztecs head coach, Chuck Long, teams now view O'Connell as one of the finer athletes at his position eligible for the 2008 draft. O'Connell is a rarity in college sports, having served as team captain in each of his four seasons with the Aztecs. He is the first player in school history to lead the team in both passing and rushing in the same season (2007). He holds the school career record for yards rushing (1,312) and touchdowns rushing (19) by a quarterback. A dual threat, O'Connell also showed off his strong arm for the Aztecs. He finished his career second in school history by completing 664-of-1,151 passes (57.69%) and gaining 9,001 yards in total offense. His 7,689 yards passing placed him third on the SDSU all-time record chart, while his 46 touchdown tosses rank fourth in Aztec annals. O'Connell was a standout in both football and basketball at La Costa Canyon High School. After missing a good portion of his junior year with injury, O'Connell was named All-Region by Super Prep and honorable mention All-Region by Prep Star. He added All-League, All-North County and All-San Diego accolades. In his final season, O'Connell passed for 1,950 yards and 19 touchdowns for the 7-4 Mavericks. He also ran for 310 yards. During his injury-shortened junior campaign, he threw for 980 yards and seven scores on 56 completions. During his prep career, he earned three letters in football and two more in basketball. O'Connell turned down a scholarship offer from Colorado, spending his 2003 season redshirting at San Diego State. He was named team captain midway through the 2004 season, taking over at quarterback for the final five games while competing in nine contests. He ranked third on the team with 347 yards and a score on 73 carries (4.8-yard average). He connected on 115-of-236 tosses (48.7%) for 1,328 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, amassing 1,675 yards in total offense. As a sophomore, O'Connell started all 12 games. His 3,065 yards in total offense rank ninth on the school single-season list. He threw for 2,663 yards on 233-of-375 chances (62.1%), as he produced 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also proved to be a fearless runner, ranking second on the team with 402 yards (school season-record for a quarterback) and five touchdowns on 140 carries (2.9-yard average). However, in addition to his 12 interceptions, he turned the ball over five times on 12 fumbles. O'Connell's 2006 season was cut short by a right thumb ligament injury that required surgery. He was hurt in the season opener Texas-El Paso, missing the team's next six contests. He appeared in seven games, starting four. He hit on 59-of-101 attempts (58.4%) for 635 yards, including five interceptions and three touchdowns. He turned the ball over twice on three fumbles and rushed 48 times for 155 yards (3.2-yard average) with two scores. In 2007, O'Connell earned All-Mountain West Conference second-team honors, becoming the first Aztec quarterback to be named first or second team all-conference since Dan McGwire was a first team pick in 1990, when SDSU played in the Western Athletic Conference. He also became the first player to lead the Aztecs in both rushing and passing in the same season, as he ranked first in the MWC and 23rd nationally in total offense per game (289.2 yards per game) and was second in the league in passing average (255.2 ypg). Overall, O'Connell completed 257-of-439 passes (58.5%) for 3,063 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He paced the Aztecs with 135 carries for a school record (for quarterbacks, breaking his own 2005 mark with 408 yards (3.0-yard average), setting another SDSU quarterback record with 11 touchdowns on the ground. He even got in the receiving act, catching two passes for 44 yards. His 3,471 yards in total offense rank fourth on the school chart. In 40 games at San Diego State, the four-time team captain gained 7,689 yards on 664 of 1,151 passes (57.69%), 46 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. He totaled 1,312 yards on 396 carries (3.3-yard average) and 19 touchdowns. He added 44 yards on two receptions and a pair of solo tackles. He touched the ball 1,547 times for 9,001 yards in total offense, an average of 222.03 yards per game. From nfl.com

#78: Shawn Crable, LB, Michigan

Shawn Crable may lack a true position, but wherever he lines up, he is a difference maker for the Michigan defense. Crable is a truly remarkable athlete, possessing excellent speed for his size and extraordinary strength. He recorded 84 tackles and 7.5 sacks this season for the Wolverines. His school record 26.5 tackles for loss averaged out to 2.2 TFL per game this season. As a tri-captain for the Michigan football team, Crable finally started to show some of the talent and leadership that made him a sought after recruit in high school. Crable was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after their game with Northwestern on September 29th. He tallied 10 Tackles (5 for loss), a sack and a forced fumble against the Wildcats. Crable also had an excellent game against Ohio State, recording 10 tackles (2.5 for loss), and forcing a fumble. Crable played outside linebacker, defensive end, and occasionally defensive tackle for the Wolverines this season. That type of versatility will make him highly sought after during this year's draft. Crable projects best as a pass rushing OLB, particularly in a 3-4 defensive scheme. However, his coverage skills and experience at DE could lead a team to use him at DE on third downs. Crable has the potential to be an Adalius Thomas type defender in the NFL. From FFToolBox.com

#62: Terrence Wheatley, CB, Colorado

2008 NFL Draft Prospect - Scouting ReportAfter making an immediate impact as a freshman, registering 24 tackles, Wheatley stepped it up in his sophomore season, making 33 tackles and picking off four passes. Nagging wrist problems meant that the talented corner missed all of 2005, but he came back strong in 2006, making 57 tackles and five interceptions; which led to first-team All-Big 12 honors from the league's coaches. Wheatley followed up his excellent junior season with an impressive senior year, making 42 stops and five interceptions despite missing the final two games of the regular season due to a hairline fracture in his foot. He had a huge game against Texas Tech, picking off three passes in a 31-26 Buffaloes victory and he also had an interception return for a score against Arizona State. For the second year in a row, Wheatley was named first-team All-Big 12 by the coaches. Wheatley has excellent cover skills and a nose for the ball, and he can compensate for his lack of ideal size with his speed. However, if his size isn't a concern, then his myriad of injury problems throughout his college career, from the wrist problems that bothered him for a couple of years, to the broken foot this season, and groin and hamstring problems at other points as well. From FFToolBox.com

Roster Moves

Brandon Moss is in Tampa and a move is expected prior to the game to officially add him to the roster. Sean Casey will be placed on the disabled list. David Ortiz who was initially in the lineup tonight has been removed. JD Drew will DH tonight while Coco Crisp enters the lineup in the outfield. Jason Varitek returns to the lineup while Clay Buchholz gets the start. 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, RF 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 3. J. D. Drew, DH 4. Manny Ramirez, LF 5. Kevin Youkilis, 1B 6. Coco Crisp, CF 7. Jason Varitek, C 8. Jed Lowrie, 3B 9. Julio Lugo, SS -- Clay Buchholz, SP

#10: Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee

2008 NFL Draft Prospect - Scouting ReportBig things were expected of Mayo this season after he earned second-team All-American honors from Rivals.com in 2006 with 83 tackles (a total that would have been higher had he not suffered a knee injury late in the season). He showed that there were no lingering effects from the injury in 2007, as he put together a fantastic campaign. His 140 tackles -- 79 solo -- led the Southeastern Conference. He had 8.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries. He was named first-team All-SEC by the AP and league coaches. Mayo covers a lot of ground, as evidenced by his high number of tackles. He's explosive off the ball, which makes him an effective blitzer. He has decent speed -- 4.67 seconds in 40-yard dash. He's capable as a run stopper and in pass coverage. He has good instincts and is a hard hitter. He doesn't miss many opportunities to make tackles. Mayo needs to improve at the point of attack and become better at shedding blockers, a key to success in the NFL. That makes him project as an outside linebacker in the NFL. He also needs to improve at closing down running lanes. If he can get his speed in the 4.5s at the combine, it could greatly improve his draft stock. He is expected to be a second- to third-round selection. From FFToolBox

Red Sox vs Edwin Jackson

How current Sox players have fared against Tampa Bay starter Edwin Jackson in the past. In his career Jackson is 2-1 against Boston allowing 16 earned runs in 26.2 innings while striking out 23 against 17 walks. ...............AB...H...HR...RBI...BB...K S. Casey........7...1....0....0.....0...0 K. Cash.........-...-....-....-.....-...- C. Crisp.......13...4....0....1.....1...1 J. Drew.........9...4....0....2.....3...4 J. Ellsbury.....5...2....0....1.....1...0 J. Lowrie.......-...-....-....-.....-...- J. Lugo........11...2....0....0.....0...1 D. Ortiz........9...4....1....4.....4...5 D. Pedroia......3...2....0....0.....1...0 M. Ramirez......1...0....0....0.....0...0 J. Varitek......7...0....0....0.....0...4 K. Youkilis.....7...1....0....0.....1...3

Casey Maybe On Way To DL

The Red Sox may place Sean Casey on the DL Saturday and recall OF/1B Brandon Moss from Pawtucket to take his roster spot. Terry Francona and Theo Epstein are likely meeting at this hour to make a decision so that if they do make the move they can get Moss to Tampa by game time Saturday. Another option for Boston would be to activate Mike Lowell early. Stay tuned.

Lineups, We Got Lineups

With Tim Wakefield on the mound Kevin Cash gets another start. Jacoby Ellsbury and JD Drew also are in the lineup meaning Coco Crisp starts the game on the bench. Click here for batter history against tonight's Rays starter Matt Garza. Red Sox: 1. CF -- Jacoby Ellsbury 2. 2B -- Dustin Pedroia 3. DH -- David Ortiz 4. LF -- Manny Ramirez 5. 3B -- Kevin Youkilis 6. RF -- J.D. Drew 7. 1B -- Sean Casey 8. SS -- Julio Lugo 9. C -- Kevin Cash P -- Tim Wakefield Devil Rays: 1. 2B -- Akinori Iwamura 2. LF -- Carl Crawford 3. CF -- B.J. Upton 4. DH -- Jonny Gomes 5. 3B -- Evan Longoria 6. 1B -- Eric Hinske 7. C -- Dioner Navarro 8. RF -- Gabe Gross 9. SS -- Jason Bartlett P --Matt Garza

CNNSI Power Rankings

CNNSI has their latest Power Rankings out. The Red Sox remain second. 1. Arizona Diamondbacks - Yeah, everybody loves the Diamondbacks, and there's reason enough for that. But I wonder: Is having a leadoff guy who strikes out so much (28 times in 21 games) and totes around a .333 on-base percentage going to come back to bite the Snakes? Centerfielder Chris Young is a heck of a player. He'll probably become an even better one. But unless he gets on more, he's just never going to be an ideal leadoff hitter. 2. Boston Red Sox - The Sox spent the week digging under rocks for starters when Daisuke Matsuzaka was smothered by the flu and Josh Beckett's sore neck knocked him from a turn. Shows you how good Terry Francona and this team are at scrambling. Another example: Can't say enough about the fill-in job that Sean Casey (.346, .414 OBP) has done since Mike Lowell's injury scrambled the infield. What a pro. What a signing. 3. Chicago Cubs - If Young is miscast as a leadoff hitter in Arizona, what about Alfonso Soriano? Since he's been down with his hopping injury, the Cubs are 8-2, hitting .327 with a .415 OBP. Before then, with Soriano mostly at leadoff: 7-5, .249, .328. Look, I'm not saying that Reed Johnson or Mike Fontenot are better players than the free-swinging Soriano. I'm just saying they're a better choice to be leadoff men. That's all. 4. Los Angeles Angels - Vladimir Guerrero, who has always looked as if he's defending the plate from some kind of rogue baseball assault, has begun to tinker around with his stance a little. His early season stroke has been particularly violent this year. "It hurts me. I get stiff after seeing a few of those swings," hitting coach Mickey Hatcher told the L.A. Times. All of Vlad's numbers are down so far. You know what? I'm not going to tell him. 5. St. Louis Cardinals - I made a big deal out of a 17-pitch at-bat that erstwhile pitcher and now centerfielder Rick Ankiel had against the Brewers' Carlos Villanueva back on April 16. Since then, Ankiel has only three hits (in 25 at-bats), all singles, without an RBI. The Cardinals finally showed a little slippage, too. They lost their first series of the season. It was going to happen. But when it happens at the hands of the Giants, you have to wonder. 6. Milwaukee Brewers - The decision to carry 14 pitchers for a bit was kind of wacky -- really, when you have to use pitchers to pinch-hit, there has to be a better alternative, doesn't there? -- but the Brewers got away with it, as they have a lot of things so far. Really, this team is not playing nearly as well as it should -- hitting, especially -- but the Crew continues to win. This is setting up as a bizarro '07: Choppy at the start, hot at the end? 7. New York Yankees - I can't decide whether having another loudmouth Steinbrenner on hand is good news or not. There's certainly some entertainment value in watching everybody scramble when Boss Lite says something dumb, as he did about Joba Chamberlain. Then again, we've seen this before. And done better. Can't Hank come up with his own schtick? Either way, I guess, it deflects attention away from the awful right side of the infield. 8. Chicago White Sox - Ozzie Guillen has a big ol' man crush on Derek Jeter. He's "the perfect man," Oz told the TribunePaul Konerko is especially struggling, hitting .176 in his last nine games with just one walk to go with eight strikeouts. He's not alone. Maybe he's just lonely. How about a little man-love for your own guys, Oz? 9. Baltimore Orioles - When a team has been as far down as this one has, you don't need to look far for encouraging signs. The win-loss record, for one. And for another, check out Daniel Cabrera's pitching line from Thursday. Eight innings in Seattle. Five hits. Two runs. Five strikeouts. A win. And no walks. Excuse me, I said NO WALKS. If the heretofore wild Cabrera really begins to settle down, we're not going to know what to make of it. 10. Seattle Mariners - Closer J.J. Putz returned -- and, boy, was that a welcome sight -- but the murmuring around the Mariners last week was about their designated hitter position. Specifically, whether they should try to grab Frank Thomas off the heap to replace Jose Vidro. As it turned out, Thomas went back to the A's instead. And Vidro popped a tiebreaking two-run single against the O's on Tuesday. Just call him the Little Hurt. ESPN also has new rankings here, Boston rises from 8th to 4th.

Notes From Around Red Sox Nation

According to Boston.com via SoxProspects, 2007 draftee Nick Hagadone is facing Tommy John surgery. The Sox are awaiting a second opinion on Hagadone's arm. Hagadone currently has a 33 consecutive scoress innings. Also from Boston.com, Bobby Kielty is out 4 to 6 weeks after having surgery on his left hand. Many are suggesting now that this will turn Boston off the quest to trade Coco Crisp, but with Brandon Moss at AAA if the right deal comes along, Boston could still make a trade. Justin Masterson was optioned back to Portland and Bryan Corey will be added back onto the roster before tonight's game in Tampa. Red Sox Chick reminds us Mike Lowell begins his rehab assignment tonight in Pawtuckett. She also has concerns for the well being of Kyle Snyder with the flu flowing in Boston and multiple players heading towards surgey in Pawtucket, she wants her stud Kyle to be put in a bubble for a few weeks. Also we send our thoughts and prayers to Red Sox Chick and her family as they go through a tough time. Sox & Dawgs highlights the latest round of Red Sox wines from Charity Wines. They also have a press release from Comcast with big news about Jonathan Papelbon for the 2008 season. And as always they take a look back at the day that was for Red Sox minor leaguers. Red at Survivng Grady didn't even want to talk about yesterday's game so he spent the morning on other topics. Red Sox Monster talks about the whopping amount of money paid for the Ortiz jersey pulled from the concrete at the new Yankee Stadium. Curt Schilling had something to say about Kyle Farnsworth's toss behind Manny last week.

Red Sox vs Matt Garza

How current Sox players have fared against Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza in the past. In his career Garza is 2-0 against Boston allowing 3 earned runs in 10.2 innings while striking out 9 against 6 walks. ...............AB...H...HR...RBI...BB...K S. Casey........8...1....0....0.....1...1 K. Cash.........-...-....-....-.....-...- C. Crisp........4...0....0....0.....1...0 J. Drew.........-...-....-....-.....-...- J. Ellsbury.....2...1....0....0.....0...0 J. Lowrie.......-...-....-....-.....-...- J. Lugo.........2...1....0....0.....0...1 D. Ortiz........5...0....0....0.....1...4 D. Pedroia......3...1....0....0.....0...0 M. Ramirez......2...1....0....2.....1...0 J. Varitek......1...0....0....0.....1...0 K. Youkilis.....3...1....0....0.....0...1

Bullpen Gives Away Another Win

Justin Masterson was more then good in his major league debut today as for most of the day it looked like he would lead the Red Sox to a win. Masterson left after six innings having allowed one run on two hits. The Angels didn't waste any time in reversing the game as they took the lead before recording an out in the seventh inning. The Red Sox squandered scoring opportunities and managed to make the score closer on David Ortiz's ninth inning two-run homer. The Sox dropped two of three games in the series and head to Tampa Bay for a three game set. Here are the pitching matchups for the Tampa series. (from Sox & Dawgs) Friday, April 25th @ 7:10 PM Tim Wakefield, RHP (2-0, 3.96) vs Matt Garza, RHP (0-0, 9.00) TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio Saturday, April 26th @ 7:10 PM Clay Buchholz, RHP (1-1, 4.79) vs Edwin Jackson, RHP (2-2, 4.63) TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio Sunday, April 27th @ 1:40 PM Josh Beckett, RHP (2-1, 5.12) vs James Shields, RHP (2-1, 3.30) TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network, MLB Game Day Audio

Crisp Returns, Drew Gets Rest

The Red Sox have announced their lineup for today and as I hoped yesterday Drew gets a rest with Coco Crisp's return to the lineup. RF -- Jacoby Ellsbury 2B -- Dustin Pedroia DH -- David Ortiz LF -- Manny Ramirez 1B -- Kevin Youkilis 3B -- Jed Lowrie SS -- Julio Lugo CF -- Coco Crisp C -- Kevin Cash P -- Justin Masterson Still waiting to see what jersey number Masterson was assigned, nothing on the official Sox roster page.

Meet Justin Masterson

The top pitching prospect currently in the Sox farm system will make his major league debut today at Fenway Park. So lets take a few minutes to meet Justin Masterson. The 6-6 righty was a second round pick out of San Diego State in 2006. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica where his dad was dean of students at the Jamaican Theological Seminary. He moved to Indiana when he was two years old and his family eventually returned to their home in Ohio. Masterson will get a lot of ground balls and his fair share of strikeouts. He is compared to Derek Lowe by SoxProspects.com. So far in 2008 he has 77% of balls hit against him have been ground balls or infield pops, most of the balls out of the infield will go to left field. Click here for a chart of balls in play against Masterson. The SoxProspects scouting report on Masterson says: Big righty with an ideal pitcher's build. Dominated the Cape Cod League in 2005. Masterson has a three-quarter delivery with a slinging-type motion. His arsenal includes a sinker, a slider, and a change-up. Of those pitches, his best is a phenomenal plus-sinker with an excellent heavy drop -- he can vary its speed from 84-94 mph, catching many hitters off balance. Also mixes in a very good slider that sits in the low 80s, and an improving 77-81 mph four-seam circle change. Uses his sinker predominantly as his out-pitch, but also can make use of his secondary pitches to get out of jams. His mix of pitches results in a high groundball-to-flyball ratio, getting a lot of double plays. Very good command of the zone. Prepares well for every game and pitches with confidence on the mound. Strong character, Masterson is one of the most likable persons and teammates going. Could stand to mix in his changeup a bit more. Converted to a starter in 2007 after coming out of the pen for Lowell in 2006, may still project as a reliever at this point depending on how well his change-up progresses. Needs to work on keeping his delivery consistent deep into games. Ultimately, Masterson's ceiling is a #2 starter or a dominant set-up man. Game time is 1:35. Masterson makes his debut against the same team Clay Buchholz did last season, lets hope for similar results. Meantime, Red at Survivng Grady knows exactly what the Sox players suffering from the flu need to do: Meanwhile, to those Sox players who are currently battling the flu, understand that you can still make yourselves useful. You can start by hugging Gary Matthews.

NESN Hires New Reporter

NESN has found a replacement for Tina Cervasio, and it should make many guys around Red Sox Nation happy. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Miss California Heidi Watney. Red over at Surviving Grady is very happy with the choice: "Not that she'll erase Tina C from my memory banks. Because that just ain't gonna happen. But the sight of Ms. Watney trolling the Fenway green will almost certainly take the sting out of even the most horrific loss." Also in the news, Gordon Edes is reportedly leaving the Boston Globe. Edes will be joining Yahoo Sports as a national baseball writer. This saddens me a bit as I really enjoy Edes' writing, but I look forward to reading his articles from a national standpoint.

BREAKING: Masterson Heading To Boston

As speculated here earlier, Justin Masterson will start for Boston tomorrow afternoon. Masterson was supposed to start for the Sea Dogs Thursday, but found out at about 5:30 this afternoon that he was headed to Fenway. He'll arrive in Boston tonight. "I'm just real excited," Masterson said on the phone as he packed. "It's hard to put into words. "I just want to put together a quality performance tomorrow."

Destination Fenway For Masterson?

With back to back missed starts for Boston Red Sox starters, Boston sends Jon Lester to the mound tonight on just three days rest. They could do the same for the series finale Thursday with Tim Wakefield, more likely they will keep Wakefield on normal rest that allows him to start the series opener in Tampa where he has a great record in that dome. That leaves a question to who will start tomorrow for Boston. Josh Beckett will start the Sunday game and Clay Buchholz should start game two of the series Saturday with Daisuke Matsuzaka going next Tuesday after missing tonight's game with the flu. One name that i'm sure is being discussed right now at Fenway is Justin Masterson who is scheduled to start for Portland. Julian Tavarez will also be an option for the Sox. Most agree that at some point this season Masterson will be called up so adding him to the 40-man roster now isn't that big of an issue and the Red Sox do have a three spots open on the 40-man so no player would need to be designated to make room for him. A spot would need to be opened on the 25-man roster though. I still don't know for certain what Craig Hansen's status is, but he may still have options left so he could be sent back down after tonight's game. Aside from that David Aardsma could be a roster victim.

Fenway Needs A Flu Clinic

Guess what? It's Daisuke's turn. Daisuke Matsuzaka was scratched from his start tonight because he is the latest member of the Red Sox to battle the flu. Jon Lester will start in his place tonight. David Pauley was sent back to Pawtucket today and with Jason Varitek feeling better the Sox have called up Craig Hansen who has been great for Pawtucket thus far. Kevin Youkilis is out of the lineup tonight with a stiff back which means our prospect of the week Jed Lowrie will get another start for Boston. Josh Beckett will start Sunday in Tampa. Coco Crisp will return to the lineup Thursday, hopefully replacing JD Drew and not Jacoby Ellsbury. Tonight's lineups are 1. Ellsbury, CF 2. Pedroia, 2B 3. Ortiz, DH 4. Ramirez, LF 5. Drew, RF 6. Casey, 1B 7. Lugo, SS 8. Lowrie, 3B 9. Cash, C Angels 1. Figgins, 3B 2. Matthews, LF 3. Guerrero, RF 4. Anderson, DH 5. Hunter, CF 6. Kotchman, 1B 7. Izturis, 2B 8. Mathis, C 9. Aybar, SS Garland -- P

Patriots, Ty Law Close To Deal

The New England Patriots are reportedly close to signing former Patriot Ty Law. The 34-year-old Law was a long time player for the Patriots before leaving to play with the New York Jets, he also had a stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. Signing Law could help the Patriots after the loss of Asante Samuel this off season. Law has not missed a game the past three seasons since leaving New England. Yesterday in his weekly mailbag Mike Reiss said: The last time I spoke with Law, a few weeks ago, he was visiting with the Jets and made it sound as if his signing was imminent. That didn't turn out to be the case. He is still a free agent. What this tells me is that what teams such as the Jets and Patriots are offering is less than he is willing to play for. So he's content to wait things out, perhaps into training camp, to see if teams will sweeten their offer.

Varitek Unavailable Tonight

Catcher Jason Varitek will miss another game tonight and with both of Boston's emergency catchers on the DL (Alex Cora and Mike Lowell) if something happens to Kevin Cash tonight, Dustin Pedroia will head behind the plate. Varitek is at the park now, but will be heading home before the game.

Beckett Scratched From Start

Josh Beckett has been scratched from his start tonight with a stiff neck. David Pauley was called up to make the start with Joe Thurston being designated for assignment to make room for Pauley.

Yahoo Power Rankings

Yahoo has it's newest power rankings out and the Red Sox top the list. 1. Boston Red Sox. Hard to believe that, five years ago, Manny Ramirez was put on waivers. Now, it looks like the Red Sox will trip over themselves to pick up his $20 million option for next season. 2. Arizona Diamondbacks. The sudden thumpin’ by the offense is impressive, but how about that staff ERA? I’ll spare you from looking it up: It’s 2.98. 3. Los Angeles Angels. What’s most encouraging about Ervin Santana’s fast start is that when he has pitched on the road, he hasn’t crumbled like a bad onion ring. He’s 2-0, 3.46 ERA away from Angel Stadium. 4. New York Mets. Nice bit of news for the Mets’ near future: Moises Alou is hitting .500 (6-for-12) in his minor league rehab stint. 5. Chicago Cubs. There have been complaints about racist T-shirts celebrating Kosuke Fukudome around Wrigley Field. It is demeaning, uncalled for and pretty bad, but it’s not John-Wayne-in-The-Fighting-Seabees bad. 6. Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee can’t keep pretending that maybe this is the year Ben Sheets gives them 35 starts. He won’t. But they should be tough enough to contend without him. 7. St. Louis Cardinals. Perhaps this is payback for Tony LaRussa’s suggestion that the Cards would sign Barry Bonds: St. Loo is 3-4 vs. San Francisco, 9-3 vs. everyone else. 8. Chicago White Sox. Just about all of Bobby Jenks’ numbers check out. He’s six-for-seven on save attempts. His ERA is 2.25. But how do we explain a measly four strikeouts in 8.0 innings? 9. Oakland Athletics. Don’t get me wrong, Emil Brown has bounced back nicely over the last few years. But if he’s your No. 3 hitter, then your flirtation with first place is doomed. 10. Toronto Blue Jays. If Roy Halladay complains that the postgame meatloaf is a bit cold, are the Blue Jays going to kick his rump to the curb the way they did after Frank Thomas whined? Coming in a little bit will be the new players of the week and a recap of the Texas series.

Flu To Keep Buchholz Out Monday?

Sox & Dawgs is speculating David Pauley was kept out of his start at Pawtucket Sunday because Clay Buchholz is suffering from the flu and may not be able to pitch Monday morning. If that is the case, Boston will have to make a roster move, the move would likely be Joe Thurston.

Celtics Journey Begins

The Celtics journey for #17 begins tonight. Here's a video from ESPN with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

The Comeback Kids

Another day and another comeback win for the Boston Red Sox. Manny Ramirez followed up a double by Dustin Pedroia and a scorching single by David Ortiz with an absolute bomb of a home run. This afternoon the Sox will look to move to 3-0 in the four game series, they will face Kevin Millwood. • Dustin Pedroia gets the day off and is replaced at second base and in the two spot of the lineup by Jed Lowrie. • Ramirez will get Monday off if Coco Crisp is ready to go. • Ramirez is tied for the league lead in home runs at 6, leads in RBI with 20 and has the seventh best batting average. He really is living up to the monster season predictions.

The Offensive Red Sox

A common analysis of the Red Sox this spring before the season started was that it may have the best roster in baseball history. This of course shouldn't be confused with best lineup of all time. The analysis could be right on target. The Red Sox through the first 18 games of the season are tops in the American League in runs scored, second in all of baseball. This comes with Mike Lowell missing significant time, David Ortiz off to a slow start and Jacoby Ellsbury unable to get into a hitting groove while sharing time with Coco Crisp. Yet here we are, the top offensive team in the American League. Why? Because of that roster that was labeled the best in baseball history. There are teams in baseball that could use Sean Casey, Alex Cora and Jed Lowrie along with either Crisp or Ellsbury in their starting lineups let alone on the bench. The offense of course is only half the equation of the roster, there too is the pitching staff. The pitching has gotten mixed results so far. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima have gotten off to solid starts. Clay Buchholz has been decent, his stats don't really show that but he was solid in his debut in Toronto, great in his first start against the Yankees and then in the rematch he gave up two first inning bombs to Bobby Abreau and Alex Rodriguez but still managed to pitch effectively retiring eight straight until the fourth inning when he got unlucky with several softly hit balls that found spots to drop in. Jon Lester has had mixed reviews as well, he looks good as long as he's not walking batters. He was brilliant in his second start against Oakland. If he can learn to control his pitches, he certainly can become a 20-game winner. The Red Sox have two young arms who are poised to contribute before seasons end, perhaps as soon as mid season. Justin Masterson was again solid today striking out 10 batters in five innings for Portland. Craig Hansen has been lights out for Pawtucket.

John Marzano 1963-2008

Red Sox Nation has lost a former member. John Marzano who was a catcher for Boston from 1987 until 1992 died Saturday from an apparent heart attack. Marzano was in his first year of work with Major League Baseball's BaseballChannel.tv where he was a co-host of Leading Off with Vinny Micucci. Prior to that he had been a regular guest of Phillies Post Game Live on Comcast Sports Net, Marzano played college ball at Temple in Philadelphia. Marzano was a favorite catcher of Roger Clemens (pictured together) and a close friend of Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Marzano is survived by his wife, two daughters and two grand-daughters.

Sox Open Series With Rangers

The Texas Rangers are in town this weekend with a couple players they stole from us last July for that worthless heap Eric Gagne. David Murphy and Kason Gabbard are off to decent starts in 2008. Tonight Julio Lugo, another worthless heap gets the night off, taking his place will be his successor at short next season, if not sooner Jed Lowrie. Daisuke Matsuzaka takes the mound for the Sox looking to go to 4-0. At some point during last nights game we officially hit the 10% mark of the season. Manny is on pace for 50 home runs and 180 RBI, certainly living up to the predictions of a huge season a lot of people made. ESPNs projections are officially at 48 homers and 172 RBI through yesterdays game.

Sox Look For Rebound

Last night the Red Sox were engaged in a shootout in the Bronx and came up short 15-9. Kevin Youkilis will be in the lineup tonight after fouling a ball off his leg in the late stages of the game. Amalie Benjamin from Boston.com said Youk let Terry Francona know that he would be a pain in the neck if he wasn't in the lineup. Josh Beckett takes the mound for Boston against Mike Mussina. Maybe tonight will be the big breakout for David Ortiz. One last thing, is anyone else beginning to think the end is near for Mike Timlin? Craig Hansen maybe ready to finally step in, though the information I can locate makes it unclear if he has options remaining which could impact any decision to call him up until they are sure he's ready. MLB rules state a play has options until his fourth season on the 40-man roster. Hansen was added to the 40-man in 2005, he was called up to Boston on September 19, 2005. The call up happened during expanded rosters which means the time but he had to be on the 40-man to be up. If he is indeed out of options Boston would have to keep him on the 25 man roster or designate him for assignment, it's unlikely he would clear waivers.

Lowrie, Varitek Lead Sox To Dramatic Win

The Boston Red Sox rallied for a win against Cleveland for the second consecutive night as the Sox regain the lead in the American League East. Rookie Jed Lowrie, making his major league debut led the offense driving in three runs including two on a seventh inning single, his first major league hit. Cleveland tied the game in the bottom half of the seventh, however team captain Jason Varitek connected on his third career pinch-hit home run and Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia followed with hits. After David Ortiz popped out, Cleveland walked Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis followed with a run-scoring single, Dustin Pedroia was thrown out at the plate trying to add a second run. Apparently saving Jonathan Papelbon for the Yankees series, the Red Sox brought in Hideki Okajima for the save, he struck out Travis Hafner looking and Victor Martinez swinging before Jacoby Ellsbury made a spectacular catch reaching into the right field seats. Notes: Lowrie went 1-4 in his debut with three RBI. Pedroia collected his league leading eight multi-hit game of the season with his 3-5 performance. David Aardsma collected his first win with Boston. Ellsbury had a hit and two walks and scored two runs. Julio Lugo collected three hits, but also got charged with his fifth error of the season.

Jed Lowrie To Debut Tuesday

Red Sox rookie Jed Lowrie will become the fourth first rounder from the 2005 Red Sox draft class to make his major league debut when he is inserted into the lineup on Tuesday in Cleveland. Lowrie, a sandwich pick in the first round joins Clay Buchholz, another sandwich and Jacoby Ellsbury and Craig Hansen as the 2005 first rounders to debut. Michael Bowden is the last first rounder from 2005 not to debut in the majors. Lowrie will either play third base or shortstop tomorrow as Terry Francona will give Sean Casey the day off.

Snyder Remains With Sox

Kyle Snyder cleared waivers and accepted a minor league assignment with Boston.

Holy Curses

Construction worker entombs Red Sox shirt at new Yankees Stadium! A construction worker who is part of the crew building the new Yankee Stadium is a die hard Red Sox fan, and he may have locked the new stadium into a lifetime curse when he entombed a Red Sox shirt into the concrete in the visitors clubhouse last August. How serious is this? It was front page news in New York City Friday morning as the New York Post headline screamed "CURSES!" The Post story didn't name the construction employees who tipped them off because the employees were not authorized to speak to the media. The Workers say they fear that they unwittingly helped hex their beloved Bronx Bombers. ESPN, CNNSI, FoxSports and Yahoo Sports are all running the story on their websites.

Sox Make Some Roster Moves

The Boston Red Sox have placed Mike Lowell on the 15-day disabled list and purchased the contract of Jed Lowrie from Pawtucket. Lowrie will be at Fenway at game time tonight and will be wearing #12. He will not start. The Red Sox will likely go with Kevin Youkilis at third base and Sean Casey at first for the most part, Lowrie and Alex Cora would be the reserves for third base. Cora's availability may be in question however as he was being examined by team doctors after feeling a twinge during warm ups this afternoon. Should Cora head to the disabled list as well, that would likely open the door for Brandon Moss or Chris Carter, both of whom play some first base.

Ringing In A New Fenway Season

The Boston Red Sox kicked off their 2008 home season with a tremendous ceremony honoring the 2007 World Series Champions. All four major sports trophies were in the house Tuesday as all time greats of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins joined members of the current New England Patriots and members of the 2004 World Champion Red Sox team to bring the rings out to the field, they also brought with them trophies from their sport. The Celtics players brought the NBA trophy, one they hope to win again this season. The Red Sox guys carried out the '04 trophy, the Patriots players had one of their Lombardi trophies and the Bruins players carried the Stanley Cup. When the World Series banners were dropped down from the Green Monster like in 2005, they dropped a wall sized 2004 banner and then dropped a 2007 one over it, the wind started blowing the 2007 banner up to keep the '04 one showing. The Boston Pops were once again there to perform throughout the ceremony. The rings were presented in groups, led my the manager and coaches, then trainers and staff, the catchers, infielders and so on. Johnny Pesky again got a big ovation. Eight players had slightly different rings. On the side with the name of the player was a Boston "B" logo and a World Series trophy, the eight members of both championship teams had trophies on either side of the "B". No idea if coaches from both teams or Pesky's were also like that with double trophies. David Ortiz was the last to receive his ring and then led the team to center field to raise the 2007 Championship flag, Pesky and Ortiz raised it up the flag poll. Bill Buckner was on hand to toss out the first pitch and received a long standing ovation. He tossed a strike to Dwight Evans. In the game, Daisuke Matsuzaka had another strong outing as Boston beat Detroit 5-0 behind Kevin Youkilis' 4-4 afternoon. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performed God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch. A video was also unveiled with Neil Diamond wearing a Sox jacket leading Fenway in the singing of Sweet Caroline, the video played on the center field video screen and at the end Diamond shouted out "GO RED SOX". I have searched and searched and this is the best video I could find of it. I hope the video becomes an everyday thing at Fenway instead of just the audio track. The Red Sox should also release the video that was played on the screen on its official website so those not in attendance can actually see it.