MLB

Ten days ago the Red Sox suffered a crushing loss to their arch (and division rival), the New York Yankees.  Losses happen, but this one stung more than most because Jonanthan Papelbon, the team's surefire closer over the last five seasons hardly looked like a guy who had been to All-Star games and enjoyed playoff success.

He gave up an astounding four runs in just two thirds of an inning.  For the first time in his career as a reliever he gave up two home runs in one inning and left Red Sox fans wondering if 2010 just wasn't their year.

Just under 50 games in to the 2010 season, the first word of potential trade brewings has surfaced for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to the Dodgers' website, the team has inquired about pitchers Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros and Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners. Although both teams responded with a "No, for now" it doesn't necessarily mean the door can't be opened later.

But which pitcher would make a better fit in Tinsel Town? Perhaps the pitcher with the ability to eat up innings or simply keep the Dodgers in the game long enough for the offense to solidify a victory.

How unpredictable is the NL East right now? So much that every team has a winning record. The Mets, along with the Marlins and Nationals, are 24-23, good for a three-way tie for third place in the division.

The Braves are sandwiched in between those three teams and the first-place Phillies, whom the Mets will try and sweep tonight.

The Mets have been as shocking as it gets all season long. What they have done in the first two games of this series with the Phillies is bordering on impossible.

Pure acts of kindness in this world are hard to believe.

So was it just a friendly gesture by the Chicago Cubs when they agreed to give up their radio slot to air the Chicago Blackhawks’ finals?

The Chicago Tribune reported that the Cubs agreed to let WGN-AM 720 air all of the Hawks’ Stanley Cup finals series . That includes three of the series games that overlap with scheduled Cubs games.

Caption: 3B Adrian Beltre hit a solo home run to get things started in the Red Sox 11-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays tonight at Tropicana Field.

Maybe I should head back out of town.

During my recent sojourn to southern-most Canada (Ontario) and Chicago, the Red Sox have shaken off the doldrums that afflicted them over the first six weeks of the season. As a superstitious fan, I am nervous my return to New England will disturb whatever karma has suddenly ignited their play.

There are times when a Major League Baseball team can’t seem to catch a break, and the reasons are not so obvious.  Good news, Philadelphia Phillies fans: this is not one of those situations.

In losing Wednesday night to the New York Mets, the Phillies struggled with the same two problems that have killed them during the current eight game streak in which they are 2-6 against four inferior baseball teams.

The brooms were out in St. Petersburg tonight as the Boston Red Sox rocked the Rays 11-3. This was an impressive series as the Red Sox completed the first sweep of the Rays at Tropicana Field since 2002.

Completing the sweep was important and all, but now the Red Sox have climbed back into the AL East, sitting only 5.5 games behind the Rays and now six games over .500. 

Throughout the series the themes were run prevention and solid, quality pitching, the two themes this ball club is built on.

Tony Jackson’s report on ESPNLosAngeles.com Wednesday reported that the Dodgers are not discussing bringing Roy Oswalt. Too bad too, because that would have been the most perfect marriage since Bobby and Whitney’s.

Perfect may need rephrasing. But it’s still ideal.

Admit it: you don't know if J.A. Happ's name is "Jay" or "J.A." Despite the fact that his name is clearly listed in every scorecard, box score, and recap as "J.A.', announcers uniformly refer to him as "Jay Happ."

Happ is hardly the first baseball player in major league history to have a name that befuddles fans and sportscasters alike.