Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon was talking smack Wednesday night and clearly indicated that the Red Sox don’t believe their differences with the Tampa Bay Rays are a thing of the past. I’m really not certain why Papelbon is running his mouth at this point in the season, especially when he’ll likely be facing the Ray’s offense several more times during the year. Perhaps Red Sox manager Terry Francona needs to carry a roll of duct tape for Papelbon and use it to keep him from instigating the Rays.

Tempers flared between the Rays and Red Sox last week after Boston outfielder Coco Crisp made a hard slide into second baseman Akinori Iwamura. The following night, Coco Crisp was hit in the right hip by pitcher James Shields in the second inning. Crisp rushed the mound to confront Shields, ducked a wild right by Shields and mayhem ensued.

Papelbon was quoted as saying, “In my opinion, it is a bunch of bull what they did,” in reference to the incedent between Crisp and Shields that turned into a brawl. All I got to say is what comes around goes around, man.”

Later in the show Papelbon added,, “In my opinion, and the way I feel right now, this thing isn’t all settled and done, we still got to play them a few more times and I know when we go into Tropicana things will be a little different than when went in there last time.”

Major League Baseball issued the Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays eight suspensions totaling 38 games for the incident. The video of Coco Crisp charging the mound and the ensuing melee that followed is shown below for those of you haven’t already seen it.

Manny Ramirez’s home run in the 6th inning was the stuff that sends chills down any baseball fan’s spine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a “called shot” in my lifetime. All the stories about Babe Ruth pointing his finger and unleashing the infamous home run are the stuff legends are made of, but tonight I got chills down my spine watching Manny pull that shot over the wall. You could tell Manny Ramirez was pissed about the 7 runs the Cleveland Indians scored in the bottom of the 5th and he was going to take matters into his own hands. Forget the fact he knew that a back to back to back combination would be the first ever in ALCS history, he was focused on taking his aggression out on that ball. The guy is a phenomenon. Screw A-Rod and the “one man wrecking crew. What good is A-Rod under pressure? Manny has the “real stuff”. As with all champions, it’s not if you win or lose it’s how you play the game. I love this picture..

Unfortunately for Sox fans the Indians are on the warpath and it doesn’t look good at the moment for the Boston Red Sox. Even though I’m an National League fan and my favorite team in the American League is the Indians because I was born in cleveland, I’d have to say the Red Sox are my second favorite team in the American League because the Sox play as a team. This series is a real treat for me. Regardless of the outcome, both teams have shown the true determination and sportsmanship that is the most important aspect of professional sports. No matter who wins and who advances to the World Series to face the red hot smoking Colorado Rockies, they’re all winners in my humble opinion. This is what baseball’s all about !!!

Feel free to discuss the “Called Shot” on our forum…
Red Sox lost Game#4 but Manny’s the MAN !!!

The 2007 MLB Playoff picture is starting to come into focus with the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Angels clinching their respective divisions in the AL and the Boston Red Sox securing a playoff spot as either division winner or the AL wildcard. The National League playoff picture is still a tight race in all three divisions with no team clinching a spot as of yet.

For the Cleveland Indians, this is their first AL Central division title since 2001, when ace hurler CC Sabathia was a rookie. This year Sabathia and Fausto Carmona have pitched their hearts out to get the team into the playoffs as the division champs. For the Los Angeles Angels, they clinched their third AL West title in four years Sunday, with pitcher John Lackey leading them to a 7-4 victory over Seattle. The race for the AL East is still open with the New York Yankees chasing the Boston Red Sox for the division. The winnerof that race will take the division and the loser will take the wildcard spot in the american League.

Over in the National League East, the slumping Mets have given up ground to the Philadelphia Phillies who have won 8 of their last 10 games and have overcome insurmountable odds to find themselves in the race at this point in the season. In the NL central, the Chicago Cubs are holding off the Milwaukee Brewers for the division title. The race in the NL West is even tighter between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres. The wildcard spot in the National League could include as many as eight teams depending on how the rest of the season goes.

Congratulations to the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels and the Boston Red Sox and all of their great fans who have supported their teams into the playoffs. Best of luck luck to everybody still in the race !!