The Sawxophile

   As if Steinbrenner needs any more reason to kick himself...

   While the Orioles beat the Yankees five out of six, the Sawx walked into Camden Yards and stoned Baltimore over 18 innings. And the sweetest part - it came with two guys NOT named Schilling. David Wells brings the curveball and shuts down the vaunted O offense for eight innings, and then Matt Clement decided to stop nibbling and let his stuff fly, with the same results.

   We've come a long way for 48 hours ago, when some of the finest baseball brains in the world were speculating how long Terry Francona would remain manager after Alan Embree and Keith Foulke couldn't hold a 3-1 lead after seven innings against Toronto. Francona pulling Manny Ramirez from left and Kevin Millar from first for defensive replacements after Big Papi's homer gave Boston the lead became the 21st-century equivalent of Bill Buckner being left at first for the bottom of the tenth inning 19 years ago.

   Oh, those radio guys, giving us a little paranoia for old time's sake. How many times did Francona make that move last year (isn't that why the Sox traded for Doug Mientkiewicz?). And with Manny having tweaked his occasionally troublesome quadricep after making a running catch in the gap and blasting a tape-measure job that nearly caused a 40-car pileup on the Mass Pike...never mind. 

   A few leftovers from this current warm streak:

   * Sure, Schilling may have to adjust to this trend of opposing teams trying to turn every at-bat into Reggie Jackson-Bob Welch in Game 2 of the '78 Series, but who else could throw 40 pitches in an inning without giving up a run?

   * It's a good thing Shonda S. probably walked some of the Boston Marathon (or needed a half-hour to cross the starting line from the back of the sweating masses in Hopkinton) on her way to a finish in just over five hours. Curt probably got out of the ballpark just in time to cheer her on through Kenmore Square after that nearly four-hour comedy of foul balls and foul fielding Monday.

   * Okay, who draws the short straw and tells Bronson Arroyo he's out of the rotation when Wade Miller comes back? Wade's probably two decent starts from reaching Boston as the Minor League Rehab Option Tour '05 takes him through Portland and Pawtucket.

   * Who goes when Miller comes back, since the roster includes 12 pitchers? Being a lefty probably gives John Halama the edge over Blaine Neal (although Pawtucket is loaded with lefty relief trade bait right now).

   * Sox radio announcer Jerry Trupiano on Toronto reliever Vinnie Chulk Monday: "Chulk chews his chaw as he checks the runner on first. Is he named Chuck?" 

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