Game time: 7:05 pm

Scheduled starters: Paul Byrd (10-9, 3.97) v. Matt Clement (13-3, 4.17)


The game will be on NESN


Boston weather: 3 pm observation at BOS: Few clouds at 6,000 feet, visibility 10 miles, temperature 84F, DP 57F, wind out of the southwest at 12 mph


Forecast: Almost heavenly! It'll be in the low 70's by game time, with a west to southwest wind at less than 15 mph. West wind blows out, and southwest wind blows out toward left. NWS has slight chance of showers after 9 pm in the forecast, associated with weak front that's in northeast NY now. Right now, however, it looks like that activity won't get here... I think the rain will stay in New Hampshire, and it'll be dry until the game's over.

Anni

This might be the least watched and least Monday-Morning-Quarterbacked Sox game in recent memory..... with everyone watching the US Open and all tonight

Not too much to say about Paul Byrd. He's only pitched against the Sox 3 times starting all 3 games. 2 of those were at Fenway Park - he gave up a total of 4 HRs in those 2 starts.

Hasn't faced our hitters too much:

Tek 3/9 - 1 HR
Millar 1/7
Olerud 10/32 - 1 HR, 4 2B
Renteria 7/21 - 1 HR, 3 2B
Manny 0/6
Ortiz 5/16 - 1 HR
Nixon 3/6 - 1 2B
Mueller 7/13 - 2 2B
Graff 4/9 - 1 2B
Damon 2/10

Presumably Olerud will get the start against the righty.

Something about a football game, maybe?

EEI reporting Manny is not in the starting line-up

With any luck it will be 10- 0 good guys around 9 pm tonight with 2 innings to play.

Manny not playing is probably for the best. He's had no success vs. Byrd in limited appearances, but he's been slumping in general - a day off can't hurt. He can always come off the bench to pinch hit.

He must've gotten Pats tickets.

This Thursday ritual of his is getting old with this Dutchman.

Gee whiz-play ball!

Don't you mean Phillie Blunt??

**MOJO** - Breakfast Cereals Day 5

While going for the clean sweep of the California Angels (it's just easier that way), the Sox will be looking to make some noise. After all, it was a sweep of these very same Angels at the start of September last year that helped catapult Boston to the World Series, and a sweep here would do much to calm the nervous nellys of Red Sox Nation. And when you are looking for a little noise from your breakfast, there is really only one cereal for you.



Rice Krispies pack that Snap, Crackle and Pop to start your day off right. And it is those very same elves that the Red Sox will need to draw mojo from if they want to win today.

Snap: For Matt Clement, so he might snap off his breaking pitches effectively and shut down a potent Angels lineup. Maybe snapping a few bats in two wouldn't hurt either.

Crackle: Crackle is the more overlooked of the three sounds, with snap and pop getting your attention, you might miss the persistent crackle that permeates the air. That's why crackle is for heads up play in the field. With the Angels aggressive style, it is nearly a guarantee that at least a few plays a game that the difference between getting an out and allowing a run is going to be a sharp play. Crackle is for being aware of the play and getting yourself in position to make it.

Pop: It's pretty clear what Pop likes: power. A little pop in the Sox bats would be nice, and with Paul Bryd on the mound (who's given up 4 HRs in 2 Fenway starts), there should be the opportunity.

Time to go complete the sweep, and for the player of the game today: all the Rice Krispie Treats you can eat!

Today's drink is not only tasty but contains the calcium one needs to develop strong bones and avoid osteoporosis. I'm talking about Chocolate Milk. A favorite of youths everywhere, may the Red Sox inherit that youthful spirit tonight as they take on the Angels. As I said before chocolate milk helps you develop strong bones, and can prevent you from much harm if, say, a liner comes to your head...just like Matty C. Though, I don't wish that on anybody on the mound, no matter who. May the Red Sox' strong bones help catapult them to victory. So drink up, boys...we'll need it!

Hey coach, I got tickets to some game down the street! The cool thing is that they're champions like us. Finally I feel like I can relate to someone.

Is Manny hurting or is this another routine day off?

(Routine. Jeez, when was the last time Renteria had off? How many days in the last two months has Mueller sat? Why is it Manny needs them twice a week when most of the other players need them twice a month? Ignore me, I'm just frustrated about other stuff.)

You know, if we're going to rest Manny, the least LA could do is rest Vlad.


On a sidenote, watching the pregame on NFL networks.......Jessica Simpson might be the worst performer (on a stage ) that I've ever seen in my life. I'm going back to see what's on the news......

Manny's looked off at the plate for about a week, and the day off could help him regroup. This also enables Millar and Olerud, both of whom are hitting the cover off the ball right now, to get into the lineup.

Francona is of the opinion that Manny shouldn't play tonight, and I agree with him. Let him get ready for the Yankee series, and let Millar get one more night to hit in Fenway.

John Powers, Boston.com - Manny gets a night off; Struggling outfielder will work in the batting cage


Manny Ramirez has been given tonight off by manager Terry Francona, who indicated that Ramirez has been struggling at the plate and decided to give him the night to take some swings in the batting cage.

...


He's lost his base," added the manager, regarding Ramirez's footing in the batter's box. "It's a good night to give him. (Kevin) Millar's been hitting well, (Matt) Clement's on the mound. It's a wise decision but made easier when you can do that. If we didn't have (John) Olerud it would be harder to do this."

Francona did not rule out using Ramirez as a pinch hitter. "If he (Angels manager Mike Scioscia) wants to bring in a lefthander at some point, I'm sure he'll be a little hesitant," Francona said.

Any thoughts on Tito going lefty-lefty-lefty with Ortiz, Olerud, and Nixon?

Angels bullpen isn't exactly rich with lefties.

Oddly enough, Olerud is slightly better against lefties than righties this season, while Millar has been much better against righties than lefties -- so the splits defy conventional wisdom.

So none of it is quite as illogical as it looks on the lineup card.

But it does look strange, anyway. Wonder if it will change the way Scioscia manages at all. I assume he'll still be flashing the "Scioscia face" at least a half dozen times -- but will everything else be the same, too?

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Wow. I guess so.

At this point, I'm thinking Perfecto.

The OC starts tonight. So, you know. Everyone is prepping for that.

Scoscia face!

Though that really was an awful call.

He who leaves early does not get fruit cup.

damn is he ejected again ? ( back to back games ) ???

I guess Socicia (sp.) had tickets to see the Pat's tonight, too.

How much did we pay that ump?

Thats a bad call, but I'll take it.

Wow - the replays show that to be a terrible call. What was Larry Young thinking?

maybe his foot wasn't on the bag?

For those of us who arent watching what happened?

MFY alert:
Bad News-Wang is back, and pitching decently
Good News: D-Rays up 2-0 top of the 5th

Cabrera on 2nd, Trot catches fly ball near the pole, Cabrera tags up, goes to 3rd. Sox appeal, Cabrera called out for leaving too soon. NESN replays show he didn't, it wasn't even close. The quality of umpiring has been brutal this year.

I can't say I've ever watched Jessica Simpson to listen to her performance.

I have had it with Trupiano. I have been Truped for the last time; I'm listening to the Angels broadcast until 9:00.

To add to that for those who weren't watching, Scoscia immediately came out to argue the call, but he eventually returned to the dugout. After the top of the inning, though, some Angels person (a coach?) charged out of the dugout and went after the ump, and he had to be restrained. He and Scoscia were both ejected at that point.

Don't do it! Angels TV guys=brutal. Angels radio guys=nap time. It is a lose-lose situation. Unless you speak Spanish. Jose Mota is pretty solid when he makes guest spots on Angels broadcasts in English, so I'm guessing that he's good in Spanish.

Meanwhile, Portland leads the Trenton Yankees 4-2 in the 8th on a 2-run homer by last night's hero, Chad Spann.

Paul Byrd is pitching a complete game shutout. Complete as in "complete domination of the Red Sox batters." Game as in "the Red Sox put up a game effort, but they could not overcome Byrd's mastery." Shutout as in, well, shutout.

Good thing the Patriots are on tonight, because there is no way that Byrd is going to give up runs tonight. Especially not a lot of them. Starting next inning. Please.

You sure you don't mean her sister, Ashley, who basically just screamed for 3 and a half minutes last winter during one of these halftime shows (It may have even been Super Bowl or one of the conference championship games)?

Not a fan of either's music, but at least Jessica sounds decent and definitely looks good doing it. Seen the Dukes of Hazzard music video? Yowwwzaaah!!!

If we've not learned anything this week, we've at least learned that the Sox will always come back and make it dramatic. (And the Angels will cough it up)

Top of the order will deliver.

Yes, but sooner beats the heck out of later for those who would like to watch the other local champs take on the L.A. Raiders of Oakland.

AHH WORK THE COUNT!!!

wow. seven pitches. SEVEN!!

damn both of starters has the same PC ( 77 )

In that case, you should be delighted with how speedily this game is moving along. It should be over by 9:30 p.m. at this pace. What could you miss in just a half hour (really 15 minutes by the time they finally kick the ball off)?

Randy Moss smoke a blunt?

Kerry Collins throw 3 INT?

Rodney Harrison decapitate somebody?

nice job rays! 6-0 DRays!

Devil Ray Hendrickson (after getting a DP off the bat of Corpse Williams) has a two-hit shutout of the Yankees through 6.

6-0... Triple AAA's lead in Stade Fasciste.

ok. this is enough. Clement is pitching well enough to win!! this is insane.