Random Thoughts (July 26, 2007)

Even in a losing effort last night, Josh Beckett may have turned in the finest pitching performance of his Red Sox career. Beckett tossed a complete game, allowing just one run (a solo homerun by Franklin Gutierrez) on four hits while striking out seven and walking none. The Sox couldn't produce even a single run for Beckett and were hurt by some bad base running. Coco Crisp was thrown out at home in the sixth trying to score from second base on a David Ortiz single. Crisp briefly slowed up on his sprint for the plate and received no help from Manny Ramirez who was on-deck. In the eighth, Alex Cora missed a sign for a hit-and-run which ended up with Jason Varitek being thrown out trying to steal second base. There are many in Red Sox Nation (check out Dirt Dogs or turn on WEEI) today who want to hang Crisp, Ramirez and Cora for the loss but in the long run, a team as good as the Red Sox shouldn't be derailed by one tough loss... The Yankees continued to assault bad pitching last night, crushing the Royals by a score of 7-1 to pull within 6.5 games of the Red Sox in the AL East. After taking today off (I mean, playing the Royals), the upcoming schedule for the Yanks to close July and through August includes the Orioles (four in Baltimore, three in New York), White Sox (three in New York), Royals (three in New York) Blue Jays (three in Toronto), Indians (three in Cleveland), Tigers (four in New York, four in Detroit) and Angels (three in Los Angeles of Anaheim somewhere in Orange County) before a hosting Boston for three from August 28-30. If the Yankees are for real (which they are not), then they will have to be very, very good over the next 34 games... In that same July-August window, the Red Sox have the Indians in Cleveland tonight and then the Devil Rays (six in Tampa Bay, three in Boston), Orioles (three in Boston, three in Baltimore), Mariners (three in Seattle), Angels (three in Southern California north of Mexico, four in Boston), White Sox (four in Chicago) before going to New York for three with the Yankees. If the Sox want the AL East, beating up on the Devil Rays and Orioles will be key before sweeping the Yanks in New York... Al Jefferson will have a great opportunity to showcase to Celtics fans how he spent his summer in August. Jefferson is expected to be on a team of young NBA stars who will scrimmage against Team USA in Las Vegas as they prepare for the upcoming Olympic qualifier... Big day for some almost milestones in MLB last night. Tom Glavine earned career win No. 299 and Alex Rodriguez hit career homerun No. 499. Rodriguez may actually already have hit No. 500. A-Rod homered in the team's June 28 game against Baltimore that was postponed due to rain. The teams will makeup the game on Friday afternoon and when it is completed, the stats for the game will become official and A-Rod will have his 500th homerun... As I mentioned in my Pats post, the Bears agreed to terms on a one-year tender with their "franchise" player, linebacker Lance Briggs. Briggs wanted a long term deal and was adament he wouldn't return to the team under those conditions but when the Bears didn't trade him, he realized that sitting out would cost him $7.2 million. This line of thinking makes me believe that Asante Samuel will be with the Pats, if not when camp opens tomorrow than sometime soon. I can't see Belichick trading his best cornerback away with the team built to win the Super Bowl and I can't see Samuel turning his back on $7.79 million...