get away day

1. in case anyone was wondering, the talk-around-my-desk-when-the-Sox-are-on phenomenon is alive & well. between all the loud incessant chatter & the fact that i had to work while i listened to the game, my commentary will be limited.

2. happy birthday (yesterday), Wakey! 41 years old & still floating in that knuckler to confound the hitters.

3. you know it's a good day when your 8 & 9 hitters go yard back-to-back -- and combine to score 3 of Boston's 7 runs. Dougie's homer was actually part of him going 3-for-3 and a walk yesterday. i believe this must have been his birthday gift for the pitching half of the Wakabelli Show.

4. i really feel like Wakefield takes a lot of unnecessary criticism. he's too old. the knuckleball is too unreliable. he's just a sideshow when we should be filling his slot in the rotation with a "real pitcher." to those of you who think that way, i have this to say: Tim Wakefield has 13 wins as of August 2. that ties him with the likes of: Josh Beckett, CC Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, Don Haren, John Lackey, and Brad Penny. it makes him better than guys like: Johan Santana and Felix Hernandez. only Carlos Zambrano is better with 14 wins. so... does he qualify as a "real pitcher" now? carry on, Wake. keep 'em coming.

5. Gagne made his Boston debut. what a roar from the crowd. i hope he continues to do things that produce that kind of reaction from RSN. not like Clemens, who was apparently booed off the mound in the Bronx yesterday.

off to the West Coast again. that means late games and probably minimal commentary, since i will probably end up dozing off before they end, especially the ones on work nights. but it's Friday & i am going to do my best to stay awake. tonight begins the experiment to see if we sent the right left-handed pitcher to Texas in exchange for Eric Gagane. come on, Lestaaaaaah!!