More Heyman hogwash.

7.5.04: Apparently New York Newsday has become the Weekly World News overnight because John Heyman continues to embarrass himself with another nutty piece published on July 4th:

"When the Red Sox should have been obsessed with the Yankees, they instead were obsessing over a tidbit in Newsday about Jason Varitek chiding Curt Schilling over missing the pre-series pitchers' meeting.

And that's what it was, a tidbit. Until they made it into a full-blown controversy by complaining loudly, then concocting a cover story.

Maybe the Red Sox need to re-focus.

As for the tidbit, now that Varitek, Schilling and Terry Francona have vociferously denied the dugout confrontation, I regret 1) burying the information two-thirds into a column and 2) suggesting Varitek was "half-serious" in sending his message.

Further investigation found Varitek was deadly serious.

They're all now publicly claiming Varitek was "kidding" by confronting Schilling. But there was nothing funny about it. Just to be sure, I asked around. Word is, Varitek was just getting started. Word is, Varitek "undressed" Schilling later in the clubhouse.

Varitek didn't accept Schilling's continuing whine that "no one told me." Back in the clubhouse, Varitek let Schilling have it, telling him, "You want a caddie, go to the golf course. You talk about commitment, then what do you do? What example do you set?"

Varitek stayed on Schilling. "You're our No. 1 pitcher and you can't go to the meeting? If a rookie said, 'No one told me,' you'd tell him, 'Welcome to the big leagues, kid.' You talk it, you've got to walk it."

Publicly, Francona is saying it's fine to blow off the meeting - no surprise because Francona's a kept man, owing his job to Schilling's referral. But Schilling's held Gary Sheffield to 11-for-55; couldn't teammates have benefited from his counsel? Sheffield contributed key hits in Games 1 and 2 last week. Mike Timlin (who also chided Schilling) threw an ill-advised down-in-the-zone fastball in Game 2 that Sheffield hit for a go-ahead double down the line.

Perhaps Schilling revealed his rationale for denying the confrontation when he proclaimed, "What's said in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse." The reason for that thinking is obvious - what's said in the clubhouse is sometimes embarrassing. And occasionally idiotic. Such as when Schilling denigrated Scott Williamson for removing himself (Williamson is now on the DL with elbow trouble).

Poor Francona. He doesn't know whether to play puppet for the controlling front office or for the prima donna players. (He's still claiming publicly it was his decision to sit Nomar Garciaparra when he told insiders the opposite, that Garciaparra showed no interest in playing.)

There's no denying this: Boston's a mess.

...Schilling called me a "hack" on the radio and blamed the perception that Randy Johnson disliked him on "hacks" - Arizona hacks.

Going by his track record, I'm confident Johnson despised him. And maybe that means Johnson would prefer the Yankees to the Red Sox. Folks have suggested Johnson doesn't want to go anywhere. But while some say he got annoyed a few winters ago by a lone Yankees phone call he now believes was made to gain leverage against David Cone, maybe that's superseded by the chance for another ring. Arizona's top scout, Brian Lambe, was in Columbus yesterday, raising Yankee hopes."  -- Newsday nonsense

As you may recall in "Heyman was had", poor John was the victim of a spontaneous sting put on by Schill and Tek. Earlier the same day, Curt busted his ass to get in TV appearances for the "Top Good Guy" award, raising more money for ALS/SHADE, in one day. He came back and went right to the gym in the Stadium. He didn't know about the pitcher's meeting going on. Tek saw him when the meeting broke and started busting him for missing the meeting in front of a few members of the NY media. Schill yelled back. All a put on.

Almost 100% of the column was complete fabrication, including the perceived poor relationship between Schilling and Randy Johnson. Heyman is indeed a hack's hack. Tek and Schilling never, ever had a disagreement, nor argued. In fact what Heyman wrote might be the complete opposite of what actually happened. Seeing as Tek and Schill met soon after he supposedly heard them arguing and went over pretty much the whole Yankee lineup. Schilling doesn't blow off meetings, he never has in 15 years.

Steve Buckley also said that Heyman was absent from the clubhouse for the remainder of the series in New York, a typical sign that the reporter was doing some serious cya. But instead of trying to apologize or trying to make the story go away, John Got it Wrong decides to go full boat on the offensive with a fabrication of made up dialogue and no known sources. Interesting strategy but the bottom line is he lied.

Regarding Williamson, Schilling did not have words with him regarding the condition of his injury. Anyone reporting that would be incorrect.

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Model citizens.

The New York Post chimes in with an embellished report from Page Six on July Fourth:

"Red Soxers Kevin Millar, Alan Embree and Scott Williamson comforted themselves after their 11-3 Tuesday night trouncing by the Yankees with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue models Petra Nemcova and Mini Anden, who danced on banquettes at Suede and downed Turi vodka. Maybe they should have gone back to the hotel instead: They lost on Wednesday night, too." -- Elisa Lipsky-Karasz

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Gammons this week.

Gammons on Red Sox Baseball This Week on WEEI: Pete continues to hammer home the idea that Nomar was upset with the Red Sox initial diagnosis of his Achilles' injury. Is he full of sheath? He also said Big Schill should be the starter vs. Clemens at the All-Star game for what he's meant to the Red Sox season. Long shot at best. And he says we need to lose the Yankees Suck and all the Yankees hatred once and for all. Mentioned Angels as possible trading partner for Nomar with first baseman Kasey Kotchman as part of the package, but the trade market was going to be very thin in general.

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South Florida getting warmer?

The latest Nomar trade rumor (already shot down across the board) is speculated below by Sun Sentinel lead baseball writer Mike Beradino:

"According to major league sources, the Marlins are weighing the merits of renting the superstar shortstop. Having received maximum production last season out of a pending free agent (Pudge Rodriguez) at a premium position (catcher), the Marlins could try the same approach with Garciaparra.

As their offensive woes deepen -- just two major league teams are batting worse with runners in scoring position (.237) -- the Marlins are telling other teams they need another bat at least as much as they need bullpen help.

The most likely trade bait would be shortstop Alex Gonzalez, a longtime favorite of Boston owner John Henry. If the Marlins thought Garciaparra could (or would) move to first base, they might be willing to part with Hee Seop Choi instead.

Because the Red Sox have Pokey Reese, they wouldn't necessarily need a shortstop in return. Starting pitching would be more apt to catch their eye.

The Red Sox have asked about right-hander Brad Penny in the past, and Carl Pavano, named Sunday to his first All-Star team, began his career in the Boston organization. Red Sox scouts Bill Lajoie and Murray Cook were at Pro Player Stadium for the recent series against Atlanta, when Penny and Pavano started on consecutive days."

Imagine, an old goat like Carl Pavano being named to the All-Star team.

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Adding insult to perjury.

In the latest spin on Nomar's missing the critical Yankee sweepstakes, Red Sox owner John Henry now admits that Nomar accidentally sat in some super-glue on the visitor's bench before Thursday's game. He was waiting for the NYFD to arrive and free him from the bench. That's what Tito meant when he said Nomar was "trying to get loose" all night, and explains why he couldn't hop three feet to join his mates on the dugout rail during the most important rally of the season. If you're keeping track at home, the glue story supersedes Theo's "no medical clearance" story, Jim Kaat's "Nomar asked out" story from Tito, Tito's "I forgot that he needs a day off every now and then story" and Nomar's "I was trying to find the right situation over 13 innings story." Just awful. Let's move on. I'm sure Tito will explain it all straight up with Dale & Neumy on Wednesday.

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New York hospitality.

A young couple from Boston, seated three rows behind home plate last Thursday night, was thrown out of Yankee Stadium simply for cheering for Mike Timlin in the 10th inning of the then tied game.

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Fargo away.

Email: Hey, Millar's dye-job reminds me of Steve Buscemi's partner in the movie "Fargo." Remember the hookers telling the detective (Francis MacDormand), "One guy was funny looking, and the other guy looked like the Marlboro Man." - Ted

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Kentucky fried benching.

Email: Hey There Big Dog,

I just got back from vacation in upstate NY (the finger lakes) where I had to spend the last few days listening to the Red Sox outside in my car.

Bad enough that the Yanks were not on broadcast TV and the cottage we stayed at had no radio, but they lost in a big way

Anyway, enough of my bitchin. I am submitting to you a potential head line for a future BDD.com.
BOYCOTT KFC until Millar is Benched!!

If I see this guy starting again, I am going to throw up!

In the last 12 at bats he has 2 more hits than I do and I didn’t even play!!

Anyway, keep up the good work. Let’s hope we all make it through this before the Celtics mini-camp!

-Bill Rubino (um, Bill, you forgot about the old Super Bowl champs down the road.)

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Mr. Rodgers new neighborhood.

6.30.04: Old friend Bob Rodgers popped up on FSNE today. He confirmed what most have known about Nomar, namely that the Red Sox brass remains angry with him, many players in the clubhouse don't like him (does his own thing, not involved in Cowboy Up last season), and he won't play Moneyball with them (on or off the field). Bob predicts Nomar is gone by the trading deadline.

Major moves.

Gammo on Baseball Tonight on ESPN says if Sox continue to flounder "the Red Sox will make a major move or two to shake up the team after the All-Star break."

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Heyman was had.

John Heyman got grifted when he reported on the Schilling-Varitek "flare up" yesterday. There was no beef between Varitek and Schilling on any pitcher's meeting, they just put on a sting for the NY media gossip monger. But Tito was absolutely full of it when he told Red Sox Nation on Mr. Credibility and Neumy that it was "Dave Wallace and Schilling" on the bus call yesterday.
Know this folks, Terry Francona will never be totally truthful publicly, it's all about covering for the team on any issue, any time, which is fine. Just remember that BoSox Lady :-)

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Gammo goes after Sox, fans.

6.29.04: ESPN's Peter Gammons on with WFAN's Mike and the Mad Dog today (listen on the interview here: Click on "June 29-Mike & Chris talk everything baseball w/Peter Gammons of ESPN". Summary highlights (you don't hear this in Boston on the Ira Toyota WEEI weekly):

"Since the Red Sox left Yankee Stadium on April 25th, they've fallen 10 games behind the Yankees, and I don't even think the Yankees have played that well, they've beat up people, but the starting pitching has not been as good as it can be, but I think they can be better...

The thing that's disturbing about the Red Sox. The starting pitching's actually has been pretty good, Schilling, Martinez, 11 quality starts, Lowe's pitched well the last three times. The starting pitching's been pretty good. But it's the baseball they play. This is incredible to me. They've gone eight consecutive games without turning a double play. That's incomprehensible. They are so dysfunctional defensively. They lead the major leagues in unearned runs allowed. It's really disturbing. And I know it really disturbs management that they're just playing blasé baseball and everybody goes "well they don’t have to worry, because they're going to make the playoffs." They're in a pretty tough stretch right now, it's not that simple and you can see Anaheim or Oakland going right down the stretch the last six weeks winning a ton. If you’re sort of coasting and saying well is Schilling lined up to pitch game one, or is Pedro lined up to pitch game one, all of a sudden, it got away from you.

Mike Francesa: One thing that seems to be missing from this year, and I don't know what their view is, talking about the manager, obviously they made their move (with Francoma), they have to live with it no matter what the situation is, that Schilling, which is not surprising, we like Schilling for his outspokenness, has stepped on some toes. One thing someone relayed to me that he was saying is that Schilling was making a statement that "the team needs to stay together," making statements about players taking less money to stay together, and they said "hey this is my chance to make a big payday, you already made yours, I got a chance to walk, who is he to be telling us to take less money?"

Gammons: I think a couple of people were disturbed by that… although Schilling is making 12-1/2, he's not making Mussina money, he's not making Pedro Martinez or Randy Johnson money, he’s pretty much backed it up. He didn't go and say "I'm going to go out in free agency and get the biggest score I can get," he said "I'm gonna go where I want to play. So in that way I think he's genuine about it. But it did ruffle some feathers.

The team is not as wild and fun loving as last year. I don’t thing its bad (chemistry). It's strange because they've sort of waited for Nixon and Garciaparra to come back. The biggest thing is the way they play. You can’t fail to turn double plays and give away unearned runs. They don’t bother to get the guy on second over. If you play that style, you better play good defense and they haven't done it.

If they get right and Garciaparra starts playing well, they can be a dangerous team in October. Bullpen is OK if Foulke is fine like he should be. Pretty good pitchers 1-through-8. No Tom Gordons, but Schilling, Martinez, Lowe, and Wakefield have won in October.

Francesa: How do you rate Francona? Why are they having trouble playing when it's not the Yankees?

Gammons: I put a little bit (of the blame) on him. He’s very well respected by the players because he doesn’t give them up. And that's important in Boston and New York. But there never seems to be a sense of urgency. And that's something the team has lacked. He did call a team meeting the other day but it's always fine and "oh I did it." Sometimes you have to get a little gruff. Don't want to sound like I'm a member of the Joe Torre fan club, but Joe knows exactly when to put the foot down, and when to let up.

I think that’s something Terry’s learning. Now Boston is more intense, it’s more difficult than New York. It should be more about loving the Red Sox and not this Yankees bleep stuff.

There were fans were down there (at Fenway) screaming obscenities at Mia Hamm (after Nomar's error against Twins in 10th). It's insane! I had to have people removed for what they were yelling at Derek Jeter.

Tremendous expectations built up this year. This obsession over the Yankees by this ownership is a dangerous thing... their marketing strategy for this year built up expectations beyond what they should have been.

If this team continues to struggle through July, things could get very ugly in Boston."

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New York minute.

Yankee fan rubs it in with:

a) Manny Ramirez hits a fly to center and barely leaves the batter's box. Had Lofton dropped it (like he did against the Mets), Manny could've even been tossed out at first - and this is a close game at the time.

b) Derek Jeter beats out the throw from Garciaparra on an error. If Jeter doesn't hustle, Sheffield never hits the 3 run HR to put the game out of reach.

If Manny ever played under Torre and pulled this kind of thing, he'd find himself on the bench PDQ. One thing Torre does not allow at any time is loafing (and mouthing off, but that's another kettle o'fish.)

I find it hard to fault Nomar on those errors, by the way. Those throws are very catchable - Millar nearly fell down on the first throw. If you notice, Rodriguez and Heredia nearly threw balls away, but Tony Clark snagged both of them (chiefly because he's 6'6"). But a first baseman should be able to scoop those throws by Nomar. They were very catchable.

Johnny Damon is the first Red Sox centerfielder EVER to hit two HRs at Yankee Stadium.

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Sox are shopping the shortstop.

6.29.04 update: Multiple sources now confirm that the Boston Red Sox are shopping Nomar Garciaparra. The Red Sox remain upset with how Nomar has handled himself this season, and while there are no immediate trading partners/players who match up at this time, Nomar will remain available to interested teams for the foreseeable future.

6.26.04: Gordon Edes wrote in his mailbag last week: "Well, Beltran appeared to be the only real high-impact position player available at this time, unless Theo Epstein wants to shock the world and move Nomar Garciaparra, who like Beltran is in his walk year. There was a rumor to that effect circulating at Fenway Park this week, but I didn't find sufficient grounds to publish it -- and still haven't."

For what it's worth, a source indicated to us that Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams revealed that Nomar was being shopped before today's game with the Cubs.

Gerry Callahan says today that moving Nomar makes some sense.

Yee Huh?

6.29.04: It's been a horrible season for Kevin Millar at the plate and in the field, be it at first, left, or right. No surprise, his second half of 2003 was pathetic as well. But Kevin scored some sweetheart endorsements this year. No doubt you've seen him knee-deep in buckets of fried chicken between errors. Or picking up the phone for Nextel. Or going for an extra scoop of Friendly's ice cream.

Despite all the commercial gigs, dye jobs, country concerts, and pep talks, Millar remains mired in a horrible slump with RBIs coming as infrequently as a Ramiro Mendoza solid effort.

So has Millar been spending all his extra time in the batting cage with Papa Jack to find the cure? Or has he been seen on the grass with Johnny Pesky taking extra fielding drills? Running 5 miles around the Charles? Nope. He's been working on the next great Red Sox rally cry... "Yee-yah."

Huh? Didn't he get the message in camp that the Cowboy died in the Bronx last October? He was lucky to ram it down our throats the first time around. YOU LIVE IN BOSTON NOW KEVIN. THIS ISN'T BEAUMONT TEXAS!

And you can't just say "Yee-yah!" You have to extend your arms while pointing your index fingers, pull back hard with your elbows, and yell, "Yee-yah!" Whatever it is, just keep it in house this time.

Hey Kevin, we’re not cowboys in New England. Dauber is a heartbeat away from taking your spot and really rallying this team. Get your ass in a cage or grab a glove. Maybe Atkins can help.

Bronx Spelling Beez

Did you see the film clip Saturday from Yankee Stadium with the fans holding up a 3' x 4' sign that read "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JETTER"? Priceless.

You don't live in Philadelphia!

As Sam Wyche would say. Red Sox manager Lou Piñata has been taking a beating on air, online, in polls, and by the ubiquitous water cooler this week. So Tito Bandito had a Little meeting. And the team responded.

Bottom line is Terry Cloth better absorb these initial blows from the fans as the Nation is getting increasingly restless with the convenient excuses, waiting around for weather changes, lackluster effort night in and night out, disinterested defense, etc. He knows the fish rots from the head. And if something's rotten in Denmark, X marks the spot on his bald head first.

It's not like he didn't take a few body blows from the Rocky Balblowhards in Philadelphia. Schilling's favorite Inquirer scribe (not) Jim Salisbury tells us that Tito's wheels were vandalized in Philly. Yikes. The worst thing that will happen in Boston is that we'll come up with goofy nicknames for Francoma while we hope he realizes the real sense of urgency when you're six games out in the loss column in the AL East and knee deep in very late June swoon.

"Francona got his lesson in Red Sox mania after the home opener in April. He and his wife, Jacque, pulled out of the parking lot at Fenway Park and a group of young fans chased the car.

They chased.

And chased.

You couldn't blame Francona for getting a little worried. After all, the Red Sox had lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, and Francona, fans and cars haven't always been a great mix. (Remember the time his tires were slashed at the Vet?)

Eventually, Francona made a clean getaway. The Sox won the next two days. The kids still chased his car, but he didn't worry so much about his safety.

"They're fanatical about this team," Francona said yesterday. "A lot of it is good. Some of it is over the top. But it's never dull. I love it." - 6.25: Philly Inquirer

Theoretically Speaking

"Bill Mueller plays tonight in Pawtucket. We can't slow him down. He's ready to play games. He might be a quick mover. We might see him sometime on this road trip.

Pokey took ground balls and BP. He'll be available today to pinch run. He's going to work a tape job when he's hitting and have a semi-splint in his globe.

Abe Alvarez threw 6 innings of 2 hit ball up in New Hampshire last night. He struck out six. He's been effective on both sides of the plate. We thought he'd be a quick mover and he's proven that. He's well beyond his years in his knowledge of how to get hitters out." - Theo pre-game show on the Red Sox baseball radio network

Surviving Rob

The oh-so-pleased-with-himself Survivor Rob shows up at Fenway Friday night with the ugly version of last year's Cowboy Up shirt (nice call Hollywood) and calls Boston "Beantown" (are you even from here?). No wonder Amber wasn't with him.

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"If you ever hit me again, I’m going to kill you."

6.24.04: "When Scott Rolen in his rookie year when we were with the Phillies, Nomo hit him four times his rookie year. Scotty didn’t say anything, he ran down to first base. Next year, first game, first at bat Nomo hits him again, Scotty looks at him, runs down to first base, and Scotty hit him well too. Scotty hit a home run off him later on. After the game Scotty says hey I need you come with me real quick. He walks over to the clubhouse, he waits two hours, for Nomo to come out of the clubhouse. I’m standing there. My wife’s pissed. Nomo walks out, Scotty walks up to him, looks at him and says "if you ever hit me again, I’m going to kill you." Walks away. Nomo has never come close to him since. Scotty has raked him ever since too. That’s the way you need to handle things sometimes. You don’t cost your team anything." - Curt Schilling on 105.7-FM with Loren and Wally.

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Mr. Ed has a horse problem.

6.22.04: Ed Berliner is the host of CN8's Sports Pulse. He's had us on his show (yes, you were the first Ed). Like other RCN customers, I don't get CN8. But here's a transcript of last week's opening segment regarding the Sox, Schilling, and the changing media landscape.

Ed led off the program with his take on the recent flap involving Sox ace Curt Schilling and some in the local media:

"There is a disturbing trend growing around Red Sox Nation, and the time has come for someone to fear not the repercussions, and certainly not fear doing the job we are expected to perform.

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is the hero incarnate, willing to do whatever it takes to end the years of generational suffering inflected on the Red Sox Nation's masses. Schilling, however, has taken on the persona of a petulant child, one who apparently believe pouting works better than style and grace.

In a story published this weekend in the Boston Herald, Schilling complained about the New England media having too much access to the players sacrosanct locker room area, noting it’s different in Boston than anyplace else. There is no respect for this inner sanctum. And some of the media would rather loaf on players couches than do their jobs.

Was this not the player, who, upon arriving in Boston, promised to be completely accessible to the media? Was this not the star pitcher who promised his availability when asked, but has since become the Claude Rains of the locker room? Schilling’s comments are, at best, an obfuscation, self-serving and just wrong. Media access to locker rooms is controlled by major league baseball, and is the same everywhere. The New England media corps does not loaf on couches, but waits patiently for interviews — and Red Sox players are some of the most accessible and congenial players I have ever met.

While Schilling’s comments are disturbing, they pale in comparison to some veteran members of the Boston media who publicly feel sorry and somewhat ashamed when they use or even think about using Schilling’s comments from a certain web site.

As reporters, our job is to report what we see, what we read and what we hear, without failure or favor. Doing anything less is a disservice to the fans, and risks falling into the dangerous and bottomless pit of becoming nothing more than a shill, an unrepentant homer and someone who cannot be trusted to tell the truth."

Screen shot/voiceover of Schilling quotes: "I understand you guys have a job to do and I don't have a problem with that as long as it doesn't get in the way of the job I have to do and me doing that."

Ed Berliner: We have a job to do as well, I'm sure he'll understand... Steve promises us that going corporate on boston.com will not not change the website. Curt Schilling comes up now as a rather interesting story, this is a guy when he made that statement very happy to be a member of the media core, to be accessible to the media, now he's complaining about the media in the clubhouse, now he's complaining about media access, and now he's basically making statements which are not true in a lot of ways. What's going on with Curt Schilling? Why this change of heart where he doesn't seem to be as accessible as he was?

Big Dog: Oh he's accessible (Ed: when he wants to be) He calls in to radio stations randomly the past couple of weekends. He emails people. He posts on a couple of different websites. He's available before every game. The only time he's not available I think is on the days on which he starts.

EB: Which is normal, exceptionally normal. And his comments in the Boston Herald were rather interesting where he was talking about the media and "it's much harder here than any place I've ever been because of the access Sox management allows." Which is interesting because the standpoint of the Red Sox, you then saw a statement from Glen Geffner, who's the PR director, who accurately pointed out "he wait a minute, baseball tells us, we do things exactly as baseball tells us to do. It seems as if Curt is trying to exercise a little Curt Schilling control here, what do you think?

BD: I think his concern is just that maybe they're bending the rules a little bit. What he wants is that when the game ends, the players need a little space, a little time to blow off steam, to be themselves. The clubhouse is like their home, it's like their living room. And they know the reporters are going to be in there but you gotta think, it's the smallest clubhouse in the major leagues, and the most intense media in the major leagues, so those two things don't mesh. I think he just wants 10 minutes to be able to come in after the game, be able to swear, throw something across the locker room, maybe a guy wants to take a shower and slip out the back door. And I think he feels that the media is always there. They're waiting for them before they even get off the field.

EB: No but he gets that, he gets that though. Speaking as a member of the media standpoint, you can't go into the locker room until there is a cooling off period. Baseball does say that. It just seems as if this whole instance now with Curt, and he's on a website, and he gets on a private site, and he doesn't allow his words on a website to be used by the media, that seems to kind of smack against trying to run the media and telling them "here's what I want you to do, and here's how you will do things."

BD: Well I think it stems from his past. He came from Philadelphia then went over to Arizona. In both those cities he was involved with websites on a much smaller level. He's used to talking to a much smaller group, maybe 100 people in an email discussion group, I don't think he was quite prepared for the media onslaught in Boston, even on the internet side, and he started to post publicly at the beginning, and then a few things happened where things were taken out of context. And it's one thing to be having a discussion on a website, but then a couple of things got picked up by some television stations, a couple of things got picked up on the radio, and they blew into big stories. So the reason for that is that he said "you know what, I like this discussion on the internet, but I don't want to be leading off the six o'clock news every time I say something off the top of my head."

EB: We'll the unfortunate thing is that when you're a member of Red Sox Nation, that's going to happen. Because it's the way baseball is bred here in New England. People love this team. It's funny how his ankle injury is the thing that wound up in cyberspace too. He talked about it there, wouldn't talk about it with anybody else. So it does kind of smack of a little running the media here.

One guy who does not run the media, but sometimes decides he doesn't want to talk to the media is Pedro Martinez. But he's been a little different this year. From the perspective of the Boston Dirt Dogs, is Pedro worth all this discussion, and worth money, and worth going after, and worth keeping, and worth making sure he's happy? Where does it all stand from your perspective?

BD: Putting on my Theo Epstein hat: at the right price. It's all about the value, a good value for the team. Yeah, I'd love to have Pedro Martinez around but I don't want to pay him $17 million over three more years, I'd like to pay him $11 million over two years.

EB: You think he's gone?

BD: No I think Pedro really likes it here. I don't think he wants to move to another stage. That's just my gut feeling on it. I think he's one of the ones that's going to stay.

EB: And finally, Trot Nixon is due to come back this week. You said something very funny on the break,  you said "everybody was talking about Nomar, and Trot just kind of slipped by" nobody noticed did they?

BD: Well, you know, Trot's reputation is well known. The whole dirt dog grinder. If you know Trot Nixon, you know that there's not a guy on the planet who wants to get out there and play more and do more. He had that unfortunate injury with the back, and he got through that, and suddenly he got a quad injury, and you want to mad about it "what do you... how'd that happen?!? Why do you have a quad injury?!?" but what are you gonna do? The guy can't play, he can't play, but he's coming back Wednesday.

EB: You hear everything's fine as far as the Boston Dirt Dog's sources and embedded moles will tell you that he's in good shape?

BD: Nixon is, yes.

Mailing it in. 6.20.04 update: 'Cause we're off to the MassCap. Emails of note last week:

New addition: "This guy is killing us! EMBRY (sic) STAYS IN AGAINST THE RIGHT HANDER?? I thought Embry (sic) was a freaking specialist meant to pitch PRIMARILY against lefties!! Why the hell was he still in the game, especially after he tanked the night before??!! Where the hell was Williamson??!!

This Francona refuses to sacrifice bunt, he sits Nomar, Damon AND Nixon against the lefty Giant pitcher, but he leaves Embry in to face the righty? Am I hallucinating or is Terry Francona just about the most moronic freaking manager we've ever had?? How much longer is this crap going to go on?

Theo looked absolutely unhinged after the game, like he couldn't believe what instilled him to hire this idiot for a manager."

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"Boston Nation, Here we go again. Mr. Barry (Balco) Bonds opens up his mouth and spews out some good old slanderous accusations about the good people and town of Boston.

I know he hasn't had his day in court on the steroid issue, but to come out and disrespect the BoSox and their fans and town is tantamount to saying that all Giants fans are gay (um, not that there's anything wrong with that right Denn?). To me his comments are nothing more than the ravings of a man who is nothing more than a Prima Donna.

For one thing where does he get off with the arm protector. If I were a pitcher I would do like the Rocket did when he was a Yankee. I would plunk his big fat behind right on that piece of plastic. If not there then in his big fat behind. Well, that is all I have to say.

In closing "Go Sox" and "God Bless Boston and her fans."

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"hi DD, i'm a big fan of your site, keep the funny headlines coming. anyway, don't you think all this coverage lately of your OWN news, reactions to your OWN news, disagreements about your reports, etc... reeks a bit of what we always call the media on for making *themselves* part of the story?

I love your site, man, but myself and everyone i know who likes it reads it to hear about the red sox, not about what certain people do or do not think about your own reporting.

You take a lot of swings, you have some hits and some misses, and I'm willing to bet no actual fan of yours cares as long as you admit the mistakes and just keep movin on. But you might want to get your own internal news off the hot seat there, just to avoid the charges of hypocrisy.

Keep up the good work."

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"Mr. Big Dog: Who really cares about your news scoops??...you make a big deal out of them but we are really not interested.....you like to gossip and that sux....you like to get on Nomar and that's even worse. You will be proven wrong about Nomar and his dedication as the season develops....You started a good thing with your site...don't get too cocky or get caught up in yourself or the scoop.

Just the facts man....we really don't give a F@#& about the media inside game!"

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"...Hey, From the "you didn't hear it from me" department, Schilling will skip his next start regardless of the MRI results."

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"About Schill vs. Mazz, this has become a battle between player and the media. Luckily for Schill, he will win this battle, but Tony has definitely gotten his shots in. Because of the public's disdain for media types, Schill will get some sympathy, but at the same time, those who do not understand the Internet's power (i.e., Mazz) will deride those who take part in chat rooms and bulletin boards.

It's unfortunate that a private chat which should have stayed private became public knowledge. While Tony can be faulted for reporting this story, remember it was a SoSH member who violated the rules of the membership and ratted Curt out. When Schilling revealed his injury to SoSH members, a member or members decided to leak the chat. Perhaps new rules should be established so chats like Schill's remain private.

We are living in a whole new world here. Before sites like the Dirt Dogs, SoSH, BSMW and the Remy Report existed, it was just TV, Radio and newspapers. Now, the Internet is making an in-road giving athletes and fans ample opportunity to communicate without the middle man. Traditional media is fearful because their role is diminished.

Some reporters like Bob Lobel "get it" while others such as Sean McAdam and Mazz see their influence on the decline. This is similar to the 1950's when newspaper reporters like Dick Young would curse into radio and TV microphones rendering their tape and film useless.

To lash out at internet sites shows Tony Mazz' true character. He sounds like a whiny, smarmy person. He may not be, but from what I've seen and heard, I have no reason to think otherwise.

Steve, keep up the great work. Thanks for giving Red Sox fans a place to gather and giving us ACCURATE and up-to-date information."

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"You will never win anything with Terry Franconia as your manager"

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"I love some of the stuff on your site but your Nomar bashing is pathetic. Was there anything in his quote that was off base? Weren't you the one complaining when he played an extra day down in Pawtucket? It took your boyfriend Trot Nixon longer to come back and for some reason he's a hero, the original dirtdog, a gamer. Give me a break. You probably think its better that Nomar is gone next year. You're not a fan, you're an idiot."

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"...I was under the impression you'd gimme a shout on something like this." (Schilling sore about skipped start report). We're sorry already for not running it by you first Schill, yeesh.

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"Subject: prescience

An all-star prediction for Carlos Beltran of the NYY? Freudian slip or a Carnac moment?
Great site, my daily addiction - don't let the Globe Grady it up. Staci Leonard"

(That Empire Statement email was sent in by a wishful thinking Yankee fan Staci.)

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"i think its kind of funny how this stuff has played out in recent days with maz and such. is it me or do the traditional media seem extra defensive about the "new media?" it is that bad to provide information in a non-stereotypical format? so i guess its a viable source when it directly benefits them? its the same thing with the record industry... web media is reality... they'd be better off embracing it. your "media" kicks ass. czz, worcester"

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"Hey douche..." ... "how does crow taste?

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"Good poke at Bruce Allen. It appears Bruce wants to be a star and hear his name on WEEI. Great site, love the headlines. Nice to see Vinnie P on your site. I was an intern for Vinnie back at Kiss 108 many moons ago. Remember he was a big Sox fan. Tell him “Chickenman” says hello. Best of luck and keep up the great work."

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"wow, whats up with you and bruce adams?" - Boston media member

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"Bruce now admits that Ordway said "THE" bostonsportsmedia website. I guess Bruce wanted him to say "dot com". Maybe Bruce wanted his name mentioned. He may have overreacted a bit. Did he need to get into namecalling on his front page ("short fat guy")? No!"

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"Big Dog:

I'm sure I'm not the only Sox fan who frequents this site who is sick and tired of reading about the endless battle between SoSH, WEEI, the Boston newspapers, and Curt Schilling. Your website has all of the information a Sox fan could possibly want, but the mindless banter and "he-said-she-said" B.S. that I've been reading on this site for several weeks now is getting on my nerves, and I know for a fact that I am not the only one. Please try to stick to Boston Red Sox baseball, not personal or professional rants against the myriad forms of media we are bombarded with everyday. The majority of readers of your site don't come to read about the endless conflicts between these different forms of media. Spare us the controversy! This is really getting sad.

Thanks, Rick Hirko"

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"What's up dude, love the site, Being a red sox fan and living in new york, your site is my first stop everyday before heading off to work, I just wanted to send you a little something that my buddy made for me, he makes custom figures, and I asked him to make this hulk figure for me. Everytime I look at it, It gets me pumped, I figured it might have the same effect on the rest of the Red Sox Nation. By the way his name is steve and this is his site decaygraphics.com. Thanks for the great site and keep up the good work, and most of all GO SOX!!!!!!

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"Hi Jerry,

I am assisting the Zoo in acquiring autographed items that could be used to raffle/auction for Zoo's Boo in the Zoo Event in October. The Zoo has been under funded due to the tough times. The Zoo is an excellent place for the inner city youth to go. Any autographed item that could be donated to help the zoo raise money would be greatly apreciated. Could you forward the person to contact for the Red Sox to see if they would donate an item. I see Ben Affleck on your NESN telecasts could you forward this e-mail to his contact if you know it. Any help would be greatly appreciated."

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"Rizzuto just said that in 1941 that Joe D and Ted Williams should have had co-MVPs (on Mike and the Mad Dog). Phil's also slowing down -- his mind is starting to slow. Still nice to hear stories about his being at Hubbell K'ing 6 straight, knowing Lazzeri, etc."

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"Hello fellow Red Sox fans,

My name is Joel Wilson and I live in Lockport, New York (a small town outside of Buffalo). A few months ago I saw the posting on the Boston Dirt Dogs web site for the rest of New York to get on board and show their pride with a sox vanity license plate. Well, a few days ago I got my best public display of Red Sox Pride besides my "Yankees Suck" (gulp, yuk) T-shirt. I also want to say that you guys run one hell of a site! It's always updated way before the game is even over. Thanks again and GO SOX!!!!!!

One voice from the nation,
Joel Wilson"

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How bizarre. 6.15.04: The following bizarre nasty rant appeared in an afternoon update on the Boston Sports Media Watch website yesterday:

"That sports radio station with the little fat guy and the baseball writer from the tabloid newspaper with the high pitched voice was talking about a certain paragraph on a sports media web site today. (And no I'm not talking about any filthy canines.)

The guy with the high pitched voice denied that he had ever suggested that if a certain pitcher with a local baseball team wouldn't cease and desist from engaging in Internet conversations with fans of said team that aforementioned high pitched voiced writer would refuse to promote charities of the pitcher. Writer was shown to be a liar when tape of writer saying exactly that was played by the esteemed producer of the radio show.

Seriously...what a bunch of bunk. Reading an entire paragraph off here, but can't mention the correct name of the site?"