Curt Schilling (R-Mass./Ariz.) has to learn collegiality if he, as some presume, decides to pursue a career as a United States Senator someday.

Before this morning's game, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) presented Army PFC Sean Bannon of Somerville, Mass. with the Purple Heart. Bannon tossed out the ceremonial first pitch to Schilling.

Schilling joined Kerry and Bannon in front of the mound for the medal presentation and shook Bannon's hand, then ignored Kerry's outstretched hand, leaving the senator to pat Schilling on the arm.

After the pitch, Schilling shook hands again with Bannon and gave Kerry a perfunctory handshake before scurrying back into the dugout and his spot on the 60-day disabled list.

 - Alan Greenwood

He may have had a short day Sunday, thanks to his second-inning ejection, but Manny Ramirez will still get his scheduled day off today. 

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By definition, Jon Lester had a quality start on Saturday night against the Rangers - he worked 6-1/3 innings and was charged with just three earned runs. which gives him one-third of an inning more than is needed. 

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Mike Lowell is hitting balls off a batting tee and, unless there are unforeseen problems, could be playing in a rehab game or by the end of next week.

 

 

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They will best be remembered as principals in one of the more dubious trades in Red Sox history, but OF David Murphy and LHP Kason Gabbard now own 2007 World Series championship rings. 

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OK, mea culpa. How silly of me to suggest the other day that maybe perspective is rearing its level head at the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. 

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In a rare show of unity, both the Red Sox and Yankees are appealing the official scorer's ruling Friday night on Dustin Pedroia's ground ball hit to Alex Rodriguez with one out in the fourth. Rodriguez made a backhand stop, bobbled the ball slightly and threw high to first; official scorer Chaz Scoggins ruled it an error.

The Red Sox immediately asked Scoggins to review the play between innings in the TV booth, which he did, but Scoggins stuck with his call.

For a time it seemed that call might loom large as it would have been the Red Sox' first hit. That issue disappeared when J.D. Drew homered to right field (on a ball that deflected off Bobby Abreu's glove into the bullpen an inning later.

That remained the Red Sox' only hit until Coco Crisp reached on a bunt with two outs in the ninth. Had Crisp not bunted safely and Chien-Ming Wang maintained a one-hitter, it's a safe bet the Yankees wouldn't be appealing Scoggins' call on Pedroia's ball.

MLB officials will review the play and rule without giving Scoggins' any input. Since hits make two men happy (batter and fielder) and errors only make one man mad (the pitcher), bet on Wang's two-hitter becoming a three-hitter sometime in the next few days.

 - Alan Greenwood

The tarp is off the field, after staying on for two hours, the Red Sox and Yankees are ready to begin their first of 19 meetings, but the rain continues falling at Fenway Park.

Derek Jeter remains out with a strained quad muscle, with rookie Alberto Gonzalez starting at shortstop for New York. Kevin Youkilis is back at third for the Red Sox, replacing Mike Lowell (DL, sprained thumb) with Sean Casey at first base.

Jed Lowrie is on the bench for the Red Sox and Mike Timlin is back in the bullpen, with RHP Bryan Corey designated for assignment.

- Alan Greenwood

After getting the results of an MRI exam, the Red Sox decided to place Mike Lowell on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb.

Lowell injured the thumb Wednesday night diving for a ball hit by Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez in the first inning.

Infielder Jed Lowrie was brought up from Pawtucket to replace Lowell on the roster.

For those thinking about the Yankees series this weekend at Fenway, New York has a couple of players banged up, too. SS Derek Jeter's strained quad is bad enough that New York called up SS Alberto Rodriguez on Wednesday. C Jorge Posada has been hindered with a sore right arm.

- ALAN GREENWOOD

Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, who suffered a sprained left thumb diving for a ball during Wednesday night's game against the Tigers, had an MRI performed Thursday afternoon. 

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Call it the final exorcism of Red Sox demons. Bill Buckner, who should need no further introduction to any Red Sox fans old enough to remember pre-2004 angst, went from the stretch and fired a strike to Dwight Evans, extending a standing ovation that began as he walked in from in front of The Wall.

The first pitch ceremony before Tuesday afternoon's Fenway Park opener capped an emotional hour that included appearances by Bobby Orr, Bill Russell, Tedy Bruschi, and players from past Boston championship teams, carrying in the 2007 World Series rings.

The rings themselves are cast in white gold, with 28 brilliant cut diamonds set around the bottom of the bezel. On top of the bezel, recessed in black letters, are the words "WORLD CHAMPIONS." The Red Sox logo, cast in white gold with four rubies mounted on a diamond base, are atop the rings.

The left side of the rings read "7th WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP." On the right, there are two versions, each with a maroon-enameled "B." Players who were with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007 have rings featuring two World Series trophies. Those who were only with the 2007 champs have one.

The parade of Boston sports legends ended as Curtis Leskanic, Dave McCarty and Brian Daubach hit the field, but the crowd saved its most emotional applause for the stars of last year's champs - Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Dustin Pedroia, Manny Ramirez, Jonathan Papelbon, Curt Schilling and David Ortiz, who led the entire team to the center field flag pole to raise the World Series banner.

The banner hung limp after Ortiz and Johnny Pesky raised it, unlike the giant 2007 World Series banner dropped from the top of The Wall, which caught a gust and slapped fans in the front row of the Wall seats.

The champions of yore - including Orr, Johnny Bucyk, Ken Hodge, Don Marcotte and Johnny McKenzie from the Bruins; Russell, K.C. Jones, John Havlicek, M.L. Carr and Danny Ainge from the Celtics; and Bruschi, Kevin Faulk, Larry Izzo and Lonnie Paxton of the Patriots - also carried in the Stanley Cup, an NBA championship trophy and the Lombardi Trophy. Leskanic, McCarty and Daubach brought in the 2004 championship trophy,

According to the Red Sox, it is the first time the four major sports trophies have appeared simultaneously at one venue.

- Alan Greenwood

It took the threat of a boycott - not just of the trip to Japan, but of an exhibition game Wednesday afternoon with nearly 8,000 paying customers in the park - for the Red Sox players to bring Major League Baseball to its senses.

For MLB is the real culprit in the fiasco that could have gutted its precious overseas season opener. Coaches and support personnel for the Red Sox and A's, Boston's opponent next Tuesday and Wednesday in Tokyo, were going to make the trip unpaid. The players, who will receive $40,000 apiece, saw the obvious injustice and stood up to it.

Leave it to Major League Baseball to risk scuttling this international marketing mission, foolish as it may seem, by planning to do something that may pass legal muster but falls far short of being the right thing to do.

- Alan Greenwood

Word came down Thursday afternoon that the Red Sox released backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, which begs the obvious question: What took so long?

Mike Lowell and the Red Sox have agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million contract, the Associated Press reported this afternoon.

 

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The Boston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America will hold its 69th Annual Awards Dinner on Jan. 17, 2008, at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in South Boston. 

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Since all can never be completely well for very long around here, Red Sox fans now have dual complaints going: Josh Beckett getting the shaft in voting for the American League Cy Young Award, and Mike Lowell having at least one foot out the door. 

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To the surprise of no one but, perhaps, Delmon Young's family and friends, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was a landslide winner in voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America for the American League Rookie of the Year award.

 

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First baseman Kevin Youkilis was announced Tuesday as an American League Gold Glove recipient for 2007. Also on Tuesday, as expected, arthroscopic surgery was performed on David Ortiz's right knee. 

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The Red Sox announced this afternoon that they have retained the services of Curt Schilling for 2008 for a reported $8 million. 

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Curt Schilling resumed his blog career at 38pitches.com and says the Red Sox remain his first choice for a 2008 employer. He also says he would entertain offers from Cleveland, Detroit, Anaheim, the Mets, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Diego, Arizona, the Cubs, St, Louis and Milwaukee.

 

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The first boo of the night from the Coors Field crowd came before a Red Sox player was announced. 

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Count Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba among those who really didn't expect the Rockies to be playing into October. 

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Earlier this week, Terry Francona responded "Yeah, sure" when asked if he could play David Ortiz in all three games at Coors Field this weekend. So why would anyone be surprised that Ortiz is playing first base tonight, with Mike Lowell at third and Kevin Youkilis the odd man out? 

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Terry Francona said Thursday that there may be circumstrances under which David Ortiz could see playing time in all three World Series games at Coors Field, where the Red Sox will have to go without the DH.  

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The Red Sox will revert to their more routine lineup for Game 2 of the World Series against Colorado right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. 

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Why are these October games scheduled for late starts and why do they routinely take four hours? Blame Major League Baseball's lack of self esteem. 

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Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, MVP of the 1967 AL champs, will toss out the ceremonial first pitch tonight before Game 1 of the World Series. 

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With his sore right shoulder failing to respond rapidly to treatment after his AlCS start, Tim Wakefield will not be on the Red Sox roster for the World Series. Jon Lester pitched four practice innings Tuesday and may end up as the Game 4 starter.

 

 

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Well, first the Rockies head to Boston for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, Wednesday and Thursday nights. 

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For Game 6, the Red Sox had Bill Mueller return to toss out the ceremonial first pitch. Tonight for Game 7, it's Kevin Millar. 

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