Wheeze, Rattle, Shudder, Hisssss

Games 85 through 87 - Red Sox

Red Sox 7, Orioles 2
Orioles 9, Red Sox 1
Orioles 4, Red Sox 1
Record: 49-38

The Sox sputtered into the All-Star break, hacking and gasping like David Wells trying to run the bases. Two days ago, I was mildly disgusted. Today, thanks to the twin balms of time and alcohol, I'm a glass-half-full kinda guy. Yeah, the Sox blew a chance to seriously wound the Orioles and keep the Yankees a more comfortable distance in the rear-view. But, frankly, the Sox are in first place in the AL East - and they haven't really played all that well.

Outside of the recent 12-1 run, the Sox have played exactly .500 baseball this season. And they're still in first. The Sox' bullpen has been absymal by any standard. And they're still in first place. Curt Schilling's done nothing, Wade Miller's been below average, Kevin Millar's corpse is rotting in front of our eyes, Mark Bellhorn just went on a 4-32 stretch with 16 Ks...and the Sox are in first place.

As I watch the All-Star Game (This Year, It Counts!) out of the corner of my eye, I note with interest that the Boston Globe is beginning to include Sox blogger content in its new 'Sidekick' edition. Here's the break we've been waiting for, Whit. Today, humble scribes churning out content every (third) day (give or take) for an audience of 45 or so. Tomorrow, the darlings of the literati, feted at award shows and salons alike. Our only problem is that mainstream media already has a glut of under-reported, poorly-sourced rantings and biased screeds - so we need a new schtick.

4 games with the Yankees to start the 2nd half of the season. If it weren't for the fact that Lance Armstrong's in the middle of his final ascent of the Pyrenees, I'd be bracing for another round of Armageddeon-style media coverage. This time, though, a little bit of sensationalism might be warranted. The Yankees can really kick their season into gear by taking more than 2 from the Sox. On the other hand, the Sox can ratchet Big Stein to Defcon 5 by winning the series. 2 teams with spectacular lineups and mediocre pitching staffs might make for a slo-pitch style scoring run.

Word on the street is that Gabe Kapler is heading back to Boston after he gets released from his Japanese club after batting .153 in the Land of the Rising Sun. Of note, the addition of Kapler would give the Sox 3 Sons of David on the 25-man roster (in addition to Adam Stern and Kevin Youkilis). Chosen people, indeed. The Sox are trying to corner a controlling interest in global economic markets in addition to winning a World Series. Zion train is coming our way.

And on that note - and Manny's inning-ending double play - more to come sometime in the next several days, if I get my head out of my Klaven.