Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“Anytime the Yankees pursue somebody, it’s pretty much a done deal,” said Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald. “But he’s not in a bad spot in Philly. He’s on a great team with a lot of great fan support. Obviously, he wanted to wear the red pinstripes.”
Last night offered the Red Sox a reminder of what a nightmare it would have been to face Lee four or five times a year. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and dominated his ballyhooed matchup with Josh Beckett [stats] to the final pitch in a 5-0 shutout.
“That’s an unbelievable offense over there, even with Crawford and Ortiz out,” Lee said. “It’s still threats from start to finish. I wasn’t expecting us to get five runs off Beckett, the way he’s been pitching. I was anticipating it being a closer game from start to finish.”
Herald | Thankful-Lee, he went to Philly
Word.
Can you imagine having to see this guy a bunch of times a year? Can you imagine Yankees' fans talking excitedly about him? They'd be worse than me and Adrian Gonzalez.
Lee was great, Beckett struggled. Ben mentioned how awesome Lee has been lately (and as his fantasy owner, this is something I'm well aware of), so it looks like he's just in a groove. Beckett is something to watch. He is notoriously streaky and injuries have been known to set him back; will sickness be the same?
Hopefully not, because we can't afford it. We're going through a tough period with injuries right now, and we're a game and a half back of the Yankees, who every year seem to not realize that they're old and should be terrible. Meanwhile, the Rays are just a game behind us -- so we really can't let up.
One piece of good news will be Clay Buchholz returning from back problems...but on page 2, that return is delayed.
The Sox had tentatively expected Clay Buchholz to return to the mound Monday when the team returns home from its nine-game interleague road trip, but that's not going to happen.
"We'll see where he's at," said Francona. "He threw a side (Monday) and he's improving. But getting into a game and having the endurance where it starts grabbing him. We don't want him to make a start or two and have him go back to where he was."
CSNNE | Buchholz (back) return will be delayed
It doesn't sound too bad, but any setback with a pitcher is a concern.
Later in that piece, McAdam suggests they might just hold him out through the All-Star break, which wouldn't surprise me. That's common behavior around baseball -- better safe than sorry.
Meanwhile, Bobby Jenks is returning, along with Franklin Morales. Scott Atchison and Tommy Hottovy are on a bus to Rhode Island to free up roster space.
Herald | Cliff Lee cruises past rusty Josh Beckett, Sox | Ortiz set to grab glove | Jenks eyes fresh start | Globe | Blank stares | Beckett struggles against Phillies | Ortiz to play 1B tonight, Gonzalez in right | CSNNE | Game Story: Lee shuts out Red Sox, 5-0 | Ortiz in, Gonzalez to play RF Wednesday | Beckett done in by a couple of pitches | Hottovy sent down but hungry to taste MLB again | ESPNBoston | Edes: Theo will stay course | Lee stuffs Sox | Ortiz says he'll play 1st; will Gonzalez follow to RF? | Beckett sick of dealing with flu | Jenks off DL; Buchholz, Crawford not ready yet | Ellsbury closes in on Hamilton in All-Star voting
(Photo: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
