Swisher Changes Tribes

For most of the period (2009-2012) that Nick Swisher was in New York, the flamboyant outfielder was extremely popular with fans. His regular season numbers helped the Yankees to the post-season in each of his four seasons and as a right fielder he bonded with the Bleacher Creatures.  But Swisher struggled each post-season, including this last post-season, when many of the fans took out their frustration on Swisher and others. It will be interesting to see the reaction (likely positive) when Swisher returns in 2013 as a member of the Cleveland Indians.

The nine year veteran agreed to a four-year, $56MM deal on Sunday to play the outfield for the Indians through 2016. For Swisher, it's a homecoming of sorts, since he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in college. He'll replace Shin-Soo Choo who was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds earlier this month.

Swisher will play for manager Terry Francona, who was named to replaced Manny Acta, after one year of working in the ESPN Sunday night baseball broadcast booth. Swisher averaged 26 HRs and 87 RBI in his four seasons in New York and was excellent at working the count. He topped 90 walks twice and compiled an .850 OPS. But Swisher hit just .161 in 36 career post-season games, with four home runs and eight RBI.

Down 9, Swish & Tex Deep Six Red Sox

When Bobby Valentine was introduced as Boston's new manager in December there was skepticism, but overall Red Sox (third world) Nation was happy. Especially when Valentine took shots at the Yankees. Then the season started and the Red Sox were swept in a three game series by the Detroit Tigers.

Entering Saturday's play, Boston was in the midst of a four game losing streak that included a 6-2 defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals on the day they celebrated Fenway Park's 100th anniversary. Valentine had to be stung, who wouldn't be, by the tremendous ovation former manager Terry Francona, who was at the helm of the Red Sox first title in 86 years in 2004 and another in 2007, received when introduced on Friday. But Saturday was to change all that.

The Red Sox pummeled Yankees starter Freddy Garcia (1.2 IP) and continued against the Yankees bullpen to build a 9-0 lead after five innings. This could be the game that could turn everything around in 2012. Tonight, most Red Sox fans are hoping the Mayans are right. The Yankees scored 15 runs combined in the 6th through 8th innings to come away with a 15-9 victory.

Things started out harmless enough- Sox starter Felix Doubront had scattered three hits over the first five innings before he surrendered a solo home run to Mark Teixeira with two out in the 6th inning.. His day ended when Curtis Granderson popped up pitch number 100 to end the inning. And then the fun began.

The Red Sox bullpen has been a mangled, tangled mess so far this season. Boston had acquired closer Andrew Bailey from Oakland during the off-season, but then lost him to thumb surgery. Another trade pick up, Mark Melancon, had saved 20 games for Houston last season, but was sent to the minors after he compiled a 63.00 ERA. The closer role fell to Al Aceves, whom the Red Sox would rather have as a 2-3 inning reliever. So when Dubront left the game, the Yankees had to be happy.

Vincente Padilla was the first victim in the 7th. He loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk before he surrendered an opposite field grand slam to Nick Swisher. 9-5, still not so horrible. Robinson Cano's double sent Padilla to the showers and Matt Albers stepped into the punching bag role. He didn't get any help either when shorststop Mike Aviles booted Alex Rodriguez's routine grounder. Teixeira then did something he hadn't done all of last year, belt an opposite field home run. 9-8, the Fenway faithful were in full panic.

Lefty Franklin Morales gave up a single to Curtis Granderson, but then retired the next two hitters to preserve the Boston lead. Rafael Soriano kept the score where it was after he gave up a lead off double in the bottom of the 7th and then it was the Yankees turn to bat and batter the Red Sox bullpen.

Eduardo Nunez led off the 8th with a single, which prompted Valentine to send for his closer, Aceves. The former Yankee walked Derek Jeter, before Swisher tattooed the left field wall for a go ahead 2-run double and his 5th and 6th RBI of the day. With no one out, Valentine inexplicably intentionally walked Cano, only to have Aceves unintentionally walk A-Rod.

With the bags loaded, Teixeira matched Swisher's RBI total  with a rope to right that bounced into the seats for a ground rule double and two more runs. Justin Thomas would come in and give up a 2-run double to Russell Martin (both charged to Aceves) and Junichi Tazawa was touched for an RBI single by Jeter (charged to Thomas).

When the bloodbath was over, Boston relievers had allowed 14 runs, 12 hits, and five walks in three innings.  It got so bad that Valentine was booed with all of the frustration felt in the park. All he could do was tip his cap and hope no one threw anything at him.

Notes


Not all the news was good from the Yankees. Michael Pineda suffered a setback in his throwing program (weakness in his shoulder) and will go for an MRI with contrast.

Freddy Garcia better be sleeping with one eye open. Andy Pettitte makes his next start for Double-A Trenton on Wednesday.

Happy Yankeeversary

It was a big day in Boston on Friday afternoon, the Old Town Team was celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. A veritable plethora of Boston Red Sox alumni was introduced prior to the game with the Yankees. From 91 year old Bobby Doerr to Carl Yastrzemski to Jim Rice to Johnny Pesky to Rico Petrocelli to recently fired manager Terry Francona. On and on it went. Then the teams got down to business and the Red Sox continued to struggle.

The teams wore throw back uniforms circa 1912, which contained no numbers on the back. But like most Yankees-Red Sox contests over the years, the Yankees got the better of Boston. This time the Yankees crashed the Red Sox party with five solo home runs, including a pair of Eric Chavez blasts, and came away with a 6-2 victory. Ivan Nova was very good for six innings and won his third game of the season. He allowed two runs, seven hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out five. David Ortiz's solo home run in the 2nd inning was one of the few mistake pitches Nova made on the day.

Meanwhile the Yankees took advantage of a shaky Clay Buchholz. The right-hander missed most of last season with a back injury and hasn't looked good so far this season. The Yankees led 1-0 in the 2nd when Nick Swisher hit an opposite field blast for third home run and 14th RBI of the season. Two batters later Chavez hit his first long ball of the season.

Chavez struck again in the 4th with a long blast to deep centerfield for his first multi-home run game in six years. One inning later, Alex Rodriguez, who also had an RBI single in the 1st, took Buchholz deep for his second round tripper of the year.

The Red Sox got a run back in the home half of the 5th on Mike Aviles' RBI double, but that was the last run the Red Sox would score against the Yankees pitching. Cory Wade, David Robertson, Cody Eppley (in his Yankees debut), and Mariano Rivera scattered three hits over the final three innings to seal the win. The Yankees weren't done scoring though- Russell Martin added one more home run when he finished Buchholz's scoring line with a solo blast in the 6th.

FullCountPitch - Ellsbury The Front-Runner For Comeback POY

This time last year Jacoby Ellsbury was absolutely miserable. He couldn’t stay healthy, the media speculated that the team was upset with him for not playing through pain, and Ellsbury openly questioned the diagnosis made by the Boston Red Sox team doctors. There was also widespread speculation by the media that Ellsbury wouldn’t be back with the Red Sox for the 2011 season. Not only is Ellsbury back, but he’s back with a vengeance.

The Red Sox leadoff man and center fielder entered Sunday night’s play in the top ten in batting (.312), hits (89), doubles (22), runs (51) and total bases (135). In addition, he led the American League with 24 stolen bases and had an .844 OPS. Though overshadowed by new teammate Adrian Gonzalez, Ellsbury has established himself as a legitimate Most Valuable Player candidate this season.

Ellsbury finished up Spring Training in 2010 in fairly good shape, with just four games missed due to a sore arm. All that changed though on April 11 when the Red Sox were two outs away from a road win against the Kansas City Royals. Mitch Maier hit a pop up towards the left field line. Ellsbury, then the left fielder, came charging hard towards the line. The only problem was third baseman Adrian Beltre, head down, was charging towards the ball too.

Read the rest of this free article at fullcountpitch.com

BD Hot Stove: AL Managers | Baseball Digest

BD Hot Stove: AL Managers | Baseball Digest

Only 14 of 30 managers have the same position they held when I last took a lot at the major league skippers back in March, 2009. Some were fired (and some were then rehired elsewhere), and others have retired. With spring training a couple of weeks away it’s time once again to see who should make the cut for a full season, who’s walking the tightrope, and who is on the thinnest of ice. The hot stove starts the two part series by looking at the American League.

AL East

This is one of the most secure divisions for a manager to lead in baseball with four, and possibly all five, managers sitting as comfy as an old man on a porch swing. Joe Girardi (2009), Terry Francona (2007), and Joe Maddon (2008) have all made it to the World Series in the last four seasons. Francona had the toughest task of the three last season and arguably did the best job in all of baseball. With injuries to players like Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Josh Beckett, Francona kept his team in contention for a playoff spot until the final weeks of the season.

Girardi signed a new three year deal this off-season that will pay him $9M. You can bet he hopes for a bounce back season from A.J. Burnett, another year out of Andy Pettitte, and some good fortune out of the collection of Bartolo Colon, Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia and others for the back end of the rotation. Maddonhas his work cut out for him this year. The Rays won their second division in three years in 2010, but much of that team is now gone. Carl Crawford, Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Carlos Pena, Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Soriano, Grant Balfour, and Dan Wheeler are among the players who signed or were traded elsewhere. And now he gets to deal with the “Manny being Manny” show.

There are two new kids on the block, though one isn’t really new. Buck Showalter managed the last 57 games for Baltimore last season and had them 11 games over .500 (34-23). He, along with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, are trying to change perceptions and attitudes in Baltimore. A team that was powerful in the ’60s and ’70s and still competitive through the ’90s, has been awful in the new millenium. Showalter’s deal keeps him in black, orange, and white through 2013. Showalter has already helped turn teams around in NY, Texas, and Arizona. Crabtown hopes he can do the same for them.

The rookie manager of the division is Toronto’s John Farrell, who spent the last five seasons as the Red Sox pitching coach, and had been fielding managerial requests for the last few years. He’s taking the reins of a team that is in a rebuilding stage, having jettisoned veteran centerfielder Vernon Wells (and his enormous contract) and its best pitcher, Shaun Marcum. Farrell has said he wants the team to be much more aggressive on the basepaths this season, contradicting the moneyball vision previous GM J.P. Ricciardi had instilled.

AL Central

Our cover boy/man Jim Leyland is indeed in trouble as he enters his sixth season at the Detroit Tigers helm. For one thing, he has no contract beyond this season. But most important is success, and Leyland’s Tigers are just five games over .500 for the last three seasons combined. A slow start or a mid-season fade could spell the end for this fiery, “take no prisoners”-style skipper. Leyland isn’t worried about being a lame duck manager, and told mlb.com’s Jason Beck that he’s excited about this season. “Am I excited about our team? Yeah, I think we have a good team. I really do. I know we have a good team. I don’t think there’s any question about that. We have a good team.” Verlander, Porcello, Coke, Scherzer, Penny, etc. will be the key players to determine if Leyland is right.

Ron Gardenhire wins, plain and simple. Unfortunately for him and the Minnesota Twins’ fan base, he hasn’t been able to lead the team to a World Series. Gardenhire has a .656 winning pct. in his nine seasons in the Twin Cities and has captured AL Central titles. A 94 win campaign in 2010 led to the AL Manager of the Year award, but the team fell to the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. The Twins need a healthy Justin Morneau and someone to step up offensively for Gardenhire to finally heard his name over the PA during the World Series.

Manny Acta is in his second season of a three year contract (with an option for a fourth season) as the manager of the Cleveland Indians; a team that was this close to making the 2007 World Series, but it is now in a major rebuilding phase. Pending free agent aces CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee, as well as slugger Victor Martinez, were dealt away. Injuries have taken a major toll on the rising star of Grady Sizemore. All of this translated to this near-pennant winner going from 96 wins in 2007 to 65 two years later. The team improved only slightly last year under Acta, winning 69 games. The length of his contract shows the team is committed to Acta, who is still considered an “up and comer” as a manager. For Acta’s sake, the Indians farm system will have to get its act together soon.

Kansas City has not been the place to be for major league managers. Tony Muser, Tony Pena, Buddy Bell, Trey Hillman, and Ned Yost have been trying to make something out of nothing in KC for over a decade. Only Pena’s 2003 squad finished over .500. Yost gets his first spring training with the team after taking over for Hillman last year after 35 games. The Royals have young talent in the system led by the team’s best hitter, Billy Butler, and minor league prospects Mike Moustakkas and Kila Ka’aihue. But with Zack Greinke traded and the injured Gil Meche retired, Yost is still looking at guys like Kyle Davies and Bruce Chen to give him quality starts. Yost will be safe in 2011, but the team could go in another direction the following year.

It was thought that Ozzie Guillen’s job could be in jeopardy as he entered the final year of his contract. But after GM Kenny Williams brought in Adam Dunn and Jesse Crain and re-signed Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynksi, the team committed to Guillen by picking up his option for 2012. The outspoken, fiery Guillen should be fine unless the team plays well below ownership’s expectations. If that were to happen, someone else would definitely be steering the White Sox in the second half.

AL West

Ron Washington may not always do things by the book, but he found tremendous success last year, leading Texas to their first World Series. Now he has to try to repeat the feat without Cliff Lee. Washington’s stock rose exponentially and the victory rewarded team president Nolan Ryan’s faith in him after the manager admitted to snorting cocaine in 2009. Ryan paid him back with a new two-year contract that will keep Washington in Arlington through 2012. But reading between the lines, you could say “just” a two year contract. Washington has a chance to lead the team to back-to-back division titles for the first time since 1998-1999, but the real test may be surviving beyond this season.

Mike Scioscia is arguably the best manager in baseball. Entering his 12th season with the Los Angeles Angels, Sciosia has had his team above .500 in eight of eleven seasons, and he’s won five division titles and one World Series championship. The team fell on hard times last year after a combo of injuries, tragedy, and free agent departures weakened the squad. Thanks in large part to Scioscia, the team still finished just two games under .500. The former Dodger is getting to be like his old manager Tommy Lasorda, who served as skipper in Chavez Ravine for 21 seasons. Sciosia signed a 10 year extension prior to the 2009 season that would have him managing for the Halos through 2018 (He can opt out after 2015).

Seattle’s Eric Wedge returns to managing for the first time since he was let go by the Indians after the 2009 season and seven years in Cleveland. Things are not promising for Seattle, which won 61 games in two of the last three seasons. Outside of Felix Hernandez, Ichiro Suzuki, and Franklin Gutierrez, there’s not much on the 25 man roster to get excited about. Wedge received a three-year deal, which will give youngsters like Dustin Ackley and Michael Pindea time to develop.

Bob Geren is in the final year of his current contract with the Oakland A’s. Geren led the team to its first .500 season since he took over for Ken Macha’s 93 game winner in 2006. With a limited budget, Geren has to do more with less; not an easy task when managing under GM Billy Beane, who got rid of both Macha and Art Howe in the off-season following division titles. With no future contract, Geren’s job is very tenuous.

Rumors, News, and Transactions

It may not be a sign for the future, but mlb.com’s Bryan Hoch reported that Andy Pettitte has an autograph session set up in New York for February 15. That’s after pitchers and catchers are set to report to Tampa for spring training.

The Rays have signed 1st baseman Casey Kotchman to a minor league deal. With Dan Johnson pencilled in at 1st base, Kotchman should have a good shot at winning a job.

The Spanish language newspaper El Nuevo Herald reports that the White Sox have signed shortstopAlexei Ramirez to a four year extension worth $32.5M.

Rays Sacrifice to Stay Alive

It's difficult to say a team has their backs to the wall after the first game of a seven game playoff series, but that was really the case for the Tampa Rays last evening. Going back to Boston down two games to none, would have created a nearly impossible feat even for an experienced playoff team. But the Rays won't have to worry about that situation. Last night they pulled out a see-saw battle with the Red Sox on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning.

If Terry Francona has made a mistake in this playoff, it's keeping Mike Timlin on the post-season roster. While the thinking was probably not use Timlin in a big situation, Francona had no choice last night after having used five relievers, including his closer Jon Papelbon for 1.1 innings.

Timlin walked Dioner Navarro and light hitting Ben Zobrist to start the inning. Jason Bartlett's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base, forcing the Red Sox to intentionally walk Aki Iwamura to load the bases. That brought up B.J. Upton, who hit a fly to shallow right. The Rays gambled that J.D. Drew, running hard on the play, would not be able to set himself for an accurate throw home. The gamble paid off when speedy pinch-runner Fernando Perez slid home with the winning run ahead of an off the target throw by Drew.

The Rays would not have been in position to win if not for the relief work of veteran Dan Wheeler and rookie David Price. Wheeler had to bounce back after his wild pitch allowed the Red Sox to tie the game in the eighth inning. But he tossed a scoreless ninth and tenth before leaving with one man out in the 11th and runner on a first. Price, the number one overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, walked Drew, but struck out Mark Kotsay looking and got Coco Crisp to bounce into an inning ending ground out.

Neither starter pitched well, with Boston's Josh Beckett fighting a strained oblique and Tampa's Scott Kazmir continuing his '08 struggles against the Red Sox. Boston struck first against Kazmir, who was 0-2, 9.00 in four starts against the Sox this season. Kazmir's control problems came up to bite him in the first inning when he issued a two out walk to David Ortiz. Kevin Youkilis followed with a single and Jason Bay brought them both home with a double. Kazmir walked Jed Lowrie, but struck out Jason Varitek to escape further trouble.

The Rays came right back though when Evan Longoria smacked a 2-run home run, his third of the post-season, in the bottom half of the first. The tie only lasted until the third when Dustin Pedroia smashed a solo home run to left. That lead would last an even shorter amount of time when Upton crushed a 424-ft solo shot in the bottom of the third. Longoria stroked a one out double and came home on Carl Crawford's single for a 4-3 Rays lead.

Tampa extended their advantage to 5-3 when Cliff Floyd led off with a solo home run to straight away center field. But Kazmir wouldn't stick around to try to get the win. Pedroia's second solo shot of the game and Youkilis' own solo blast one batter later knocked Kazmir from the box and tied the game at 5-5. Bay greeted Grant Balfour with another solo home run to put the Red Sox ahead 6-5. Balfour then walked Lowrie and Varitek before J.P. Howell came on to work out of the jam.

Upton led off the fifth with a walk and promptly stole second base. Carlos Pena singled off of Beckett to tie the game and came home on Longoria's second double, and third extra base hit, of the ball game. Fracona finally yanked Beckett from the game, but Crawford laced reliever Javier Lopez's delivery to right for an RBI single and an 8-6 Rays lead. Manny DelCarmen was next out of the Boston pen and he finally quelled the fire.

Pedroia drew a one out walk in the sixth, but Howell struck out Ortiz looking. Joe Maddon went to the pen again for right-hander Chad Bradford, but Bradford gave up back to back singles to Youkilis and Bay to cut the Rays lead to 8-7.

After a scoreless seventh, only the second scoreless inning of the game, Pedroia singled off of Bradford to start the eighth. Maddon sent for lefty Trevor Miller to face Ortiz, but Big Papi drew a walk as well. Wheeler came on and got a big double play grounder from Youkilis, but then threw a fastball a mile over Navarro's head to allow Pedroia to score the tying run.

Box Score

Rays Sacrifice to Stay Alive

It's difficult to say a team has their backs to the wall after the first game of a seven game playoff series, but that was really the case for the Tampa Rays last evening. Going back to Boston down two games to none, would have created a nearly impossible feat even for an experienced playoff team. But the Rays won't have to worry about that situation. Last night they pulled out a see-saw battle with the Red Sox on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning.

If Terry Francona has made a mistake in this playoff, it's keeping Mike Timlin on the post-season roster. While the thinking was probably not use Timlin in a big situation, Francona had no choice last night after having used five relievers, including his closer Jon Papelbon for 1.1 innings.

Timlin walked Dioner Navarro and light hitting Ben Zobrist to start the inning. Jason Bartlett's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base, forcing the Red Sox to intentionally walk Aki Iwamura to load the bases. That brought up B.J. Upton, who hit a fly to shallow right. The Rays gambled that J.D. Drew, running hard on the play, would not be able to set himself for an accurate throw home. The gamble paid off when speedy pinch-runner Fernando Perez slid home with the winning run ahead of an off the target throw by Drew.

The Rays would not have been in position to win if not for the relief work of veteran Dan Wheeler and rookie David Price. Wheeler had to bounce back after his wild pitch allowed the Red Sox to tie the game in the eighth inning. But he tossed a scoreless ninth and tenth before leaving with one man out in the 11th and runner on a first. Price, the number one overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, walked Drew, but struck out Mark Kotsay looking and got Coco Crisp to bounce into an inning ending ground out.

Neither starter pitched well, with Boston's Josh Beckett fighting a strained oblique and Tampa's Scott Kazmir continuing his '08 struggles against the Red Sox. Boston struck first against Kazmir, who was 0-2, 9.00 in four starts against the Sox this season. Kazmir's control problems came up to bite him in the first inning when he issued a two out walk to David Ortiz. Kevin Youkilis followed with a single and Jason Bay brought them both home with a double. Kazmir walked Jed Lowrie, but struck out Jason Varitek to escape further trouble.

The Rays came right back though when Evan Longoria smacked a 2-run home run, his third of the post-season, in the bottom half of the first. The tie only lasted until the third when Dustin Pedroia smashed a solo home run to left. That lead would last an even shorter amount of time when Upton crushed a 424-ft solo shot in the bottom of the third. Longoria stroked a one out double and came home on Carl Crawford's single for a 4-3 Rays lead.

Tampa extended their advantage to 5-3 when Cliff Floyd led off with a solo home run to straight away center field. But Kazmir wouldn't stick around to try to get the win. Pedroia's second solo shot of the game and Youkilis' own solo blast one batter later knocked Kazmir from the box and tied the game at 5-5. Bay greeted Grant Balfour with another solo home run to put the Red Sox ahead 6-5. Balfour then walked Lowrie and Varitek before J.P. Howell came on to work out of the jam.

Upton led off the fifth with a walk and promptly stole second base. Carlos Pena singled off of Beckett to tie the game and came home on Longoria's second double, and third extra base hit, of the ball game. Fracona finally yanked Beckett from the game, but Crawford laced reliever Javier Lopez's delivery to right for an RBI single and an 8-6 Rays lead. Manny DelCarmen was next out of the Boston pen and he finally quelled the fire.

Pedroia drew a one out walk in the sixth, but Howell struck out Ortiz looking. Joe Maddon went to the pen again for right-hander Chad Bradford, but Bradford gave up back to back singles to Youkilis and Bay to cut the Rays lead to 8-7.

After a scoreless seventh, only the second scoreless inning of the game, Pedroia singled off of Bradford to start the eighth. Maddon sent for lefty Trevor Miller to face Ortiz, but Big Papi drew a walk as well. Wheeler came on and got a big double play grounder from Youkilis, but then threw a fastball a mile over Navarro's head to allow Pedroia to score the tying run.

Box Score

Terry Francona Gets it, Jon Papelbon Does Not

Props to Terry Francona, who is batting Derek Jeter in the 2nd spot tonight, despite the fact his own number 2 hitter, Dustin Pedroia, is in the lineup.

"A Derek Jeter deserves to hit at the top of the order -- in a place like this especially," said Francona, who chose Jeter for that spot over Dustin Pedroia, who hits second for Francona's Boston Red Sox. "This is Dustin's, in my opinion, not his last All-Star Game, but it's his first All-Star Game.

"Sometimes getting people in their proper place ... what they've done for the game also means something."

The same kind of class is obviously lost on the Red Sox goon-faced closer Jon Papelbon. He feels that he, and not Mariano Rivera, should close out tonight's All-Star game.

"If I was managing the team, I would close. ... But I'm not managing the team," Papelbon said yesterday.

Papelbon acknowledged Rivera's accomplishments, calling him the greatest closer in history. So what's his case?

"By winning the World Series and having our manager here," he said.

Though Francona wouldn't reveal his plans, Joe Girardi has a hunch what will happen.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who is on Francona's staff for the game, believes it will be Rivera in the ninth.

"Terry is a very classy guy and a very wise man," Girardi said. "I just have a feeling."

Some people get it and some people are self absorbed whiny bitches.

Terry Francona Gets it, Jon Papelbon Does Not

Props to Terry Francona, who is batting Derek Jeter in the 2nd spot tonight, despite the fact his own number 2 hitter, Dustin Pedroia, is in the lineup.

"A Derek Jeter deserves to hit at the top of the order -- in a place like this especially," said Francona, who chose Jeter for that spot over Dustin Pedroia, who hits second for Francona's Boston Red Sox. "This is Dustin's, in my opinion, not his last All-Star Game, but it's his first All-Star Game.

"Sometimes getting people in their proper place ... what they've done for the game also means something."

The same kind of class is obviously lost on the Red Sox goon-faced closer Jon Papelbon. He feels that he, and not Mariano Rivera, should close out tonight's All-Star game.

"If I was managing the team, I would close. ... But I'm not managing the team," Papelbon said yesterday.

Papelbon acknowledged Rivera's accomplishments, calling him the greatest closer in history. So what's his case?

"By winning the World Series and having our manager here," he said.

Though Francona wouldn't reveal his plans, Joe Girardi has a hunch what will happen.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who is on Francona's staff for the game, believes it will be Rivera in the ninth.

"Terry is a very classy guy and a very wise man," Girardi said. "I just have a feeling."

Some people get it and some people are self absorbed whiny bitches.

Manny Being Shawn

Is there something in the water in Houston? First the Astros Shawn Chacon put the smack down on GM Ed Wade. Now with the Red Sox in town to play the Astros, Manny Ramirez lost his cool and shoved traveling secretary Jake McCormick to the ground .

The incident stemmed from Ramirez wanting 16 tickets for Saturday's game at Minute Maid Park.

When McCormick cautioned Ramirez that he might not be able to fulfill his request, Ramirez responded by shouting: "Just do your job!"

An argument followed and the Man-child shoved McCormick, who fell to the ground. The two later met behind closed doors where Ramirez apologized to McCormick.

Asked on Sunday to comment on the altercation, Ramirez responded: "That's over. We're fine now."

"Sometimes things happen," said Terry Francona, "and when they do, we choose to handle them internally. I'm satisfied with how we handled this."

Added McCormick: "It was an unfortunate misunderstanding and it's over with as far as I'm concerned."

Though McCormick accepted the apology, it would be a disservice to him and anyone else who works behind the scenes if the Red Sox do not fine and/or suspend Ramirez for his actions. Then again when you let Manny be Manny all the time, you're going to have expect fall out.

Manny Being Shawn

Is there something in the water in Houston? First the Astros Shawn Chacon put the smack down on GM Ed Wade. Now with the Red Sox in town to play the Astros, Manny RamirezJake McCormick to the ground lost his cool and shoved traveling secretary .

The incident stemmed from Ramirez wanting 16 tickets for Saturday's game at Minute Maid Park.

When McCormick cautioned Ramirez that he might not be able to fulfill his request, Ramirez responded by shouting: "Just do your job!"

An argument followed and the Man-child shoved McCormick, who fell to the ground. The two later met behind closed doors where Ramirez apologized to McCormick.

Asked on Sunday to comment on the altercation, Ramirez responded: "That's over. We're fine now."

"Sometimes things happen," said Terry Francona, "and when they do, we choose to handle them internally. I'm satisfied with how we handled this."

Added McCormick: "It was an unfortunate misunderstanding and it's over with as far as I'm concerned."

Though McCormick accepted the apology, it would be a disservice to him and anyone else who works behind the scenes if the Red Sox do not fine and/or suspend Ramirez for his actions. Then again when you let Manny be Manny all the time, you're going to have expect fall out.

Lighten Up Francis

Back in early March a Yankees fan was attacked by a group of Red Sox fans in Cambridge, Mass. The Yankee fan was hospitalized after he made the mistake of wearing a Yankees hat into a Cambridge bar.

Now comes word that a Yankees fan living in New Hampshire has killed one Red Sox fan and injured another after hitting them with her car. Just as in the first case, alcohol played a factor.

Here's the thing...the Yankees and Red Sox do NOT hate each other. You seem them talking before games. There's no bad blood. Terry Francona had the utmost respect for Joe Torre and feels the same way towards Joe Girardi, and vice-versa.

It's bad enough when fights break out at the ball parks, but now fans are making this into the Bloods and Cripps. It's fine to hate, to curse, to boo the opponent and the other towns fans. But when you step it up and begin reacting violently it has nothing to do with baseball. Grow up people.

Lighten Up Francis

Back in early March a Yankees fan was attacked by a group of Red Sox fans in Cambridge, Mass. The Yankee fan was hospitalized after he made the mistake of wearing a Yankees hat into a Cambridge bar.

Now comes word that a Yankees fan living in New Hampshire has killed one Red Sox fan and injured another after hitting them with her car. Just as in the first case, alcohol played a factor.

Here's the thing...the Yankees and Red Sox do NOT hate each other. You seem them talking before games. There's no bad blood. Terry Francona had the utmost respect for Joe Torre and feels the same way towards Joe Girardi, and vice-versa.

It's bad enough when fights break out at the ball parks, but now fans are making this into the Bloods and Cripps. It's fine to hate, to curse, to boo the opponent and the other towns fans. But when you step it up and begin reacting violently it has nothing to do with baseball. Grow up people.