July 12-18, The All Star break and beyond

The next three days are like the dead zo0ne of sport, The All Star game sandwiched by nothing on each side.
The first half is done and 51 and 37 is a mighty fine record. Unfortunately in the AL East it means third place and no playoffs. This is the first time since 2000 that the Red Sox have been in third place or lower at the break. A very nice run indeed.
They certainly showed a few cracks in the armor the last 10 days and I hope that they can get some bodies back sooner rather than later. This has been a great job by the manager a man many mocked as Fran-Coma not too long ago. To keep this team together and winning as player after player went down has been a near miracle.
So the question I see for the second half.
Will Beckett come back and be effective? He seems to be very good after some rest, they could really use him in the second half. How about Lackey who has looked good at pointes and then tosses a game like his last start? Can he find some consistency? I have really given up hope the Dice K can be anything other than a trick or treat guy. He is heading into Wake territory for me. Lester and Buchholz have been great and I hope they can both keep it going.
Can Martinez and Pedrioa make it back and resume their form sooner rather than later. These two are the key injuries for the Sox as they head to the second half. I hope that Youk enjoys some time off and heals up, same for Beltre.
I hope that Theo plans some more bullpen help than Bowden and Dubront. Bard’s arm may fall off by September.
Congratulations to Jacoby Ellsbury who has won an all expense paid trip out of town. Jacoby perhaps will realize that appearances matter. Seeing Pedrioa and Varitek in the dugout on crutches and you are hanging out in Arizona does not look good to the fans and especially your teammates.
So we have the new South Beach Showtime down in Miami. I am just curious as to who will be guarding Dwight Howard come October?
I have written before that I think LeBron has a lot of punk in him. Maybe this whole Decision was good for ESPN and the NBA but it was also shameful. LeBron plays basketball he does not lead the free world or cure disease. I personally will be rooting hard for the Heat to fail and fail miserably. As they have proven once again that you cannot buy class.
RIP Bob Sheppard, I guess now everyone can get a great into when they get to heaven

Bob, no praise for a the fill-ins keeping the Red Sox afloat? Credit only goes to Francona?

You've been reading too much Freddy

This was on redsarmy.com this morning but I gotta post it here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGuWgCps4Kw...player_embedded

Hey TN, how bout CC? What a horse.

I won't miss Tony Allen the dribbler, jump shooter or layup taker. I'll miss Tony Allen the defender (when he stays on his feet). Net net, I'm glad he's moving on.

Check out the fantasy section of this. I love being excited about a 3rd round guy who missed most of the OTAs because his school graduated late.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8191...-camps-approach

I'll buy it, since Lombardi and Belichick have a good relationship.

Francona deserves a lot of credit. If you want to break out the credit pie, Francona probably gets 45% of the credit, front office gets 15 % and the players collectively get 40%. I bse that on the reports I have heard how it is a very loose clubhouse The starts with the manager.

CC is everything the Yankees hoped he would be. I think he's the best ace of the staff in a long time. He's a big man who doesn't carry a big stick, just goes out and does his job. Good guy for the foxhole.

Now we know why Big Papi was in the HR derby, contact extension..
The Boss , not Springsteen taken to hospital.
Could be a bad week for Yankee legends
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5375561

RIP King George.

Would be nice if there's a calzone waiting for him up there

Would be nice if there's a calzone waiting for him up there

Up there?
That is really optimistic !!!

The Boss is dead long live the Boss!

Flags at Tyson Chicken and in Cuba will be flown at half mast today.