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.
"When you are not playing well that stuff happens," Ross said after the Red Sox lost their fifth straight, 7-1, to the A's. "It would be worse if stuff didn't happen, if we were just sitting back and letting it. When you aren't playing well, guys get upset and it happens."
What happened exactly? That was difficult to ascertain because Aceves and Pedroia both chose to say little about it, and manager Bobby Valentine didn't share much more.
"I'm not sure it was a big flare-up," Valentine said. "It was about positioning. Dustin said when he gets the sign he moves and Alfredo wanted to move him on his own. It's Alfredo being Alfredo and Dustin being a baseball player."
After Aceves pitched the fourth inning, he and Pedroia were caught on camera in a heated discussion, one that required the intervention of third-base coach Jerry Royster. Valentine tried to intercede but Aceves waved him away.
Aceves had made a few pickoff throws to second, and they seemed to catch Pedroia off guard, because he was not on the bag when the throws came.
In the clubhouse after the game, Pedroia was tight-lipped about the incident when reporters questioned him.
"That's none of your guys' business," he said. "It's between teammates."
ESPN Boston: Pedroia, Aceves downplay dugout dispute
In case you missed it, the Sox lost again, Pedey and Aceves had a little verbal argument in the dugout because of a few unnecessary pick-off attempts at second. And it is none of our business! I don't care.
The bigger story is the Sox lost again and the train wreck continues to burn. The team has such a terrible vibe surrounding them that the disputes among the players may become more common.
If you like to watch the young prospects get some playing time, the final month of the season will be for you. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is also 4 homers away from breaking Carlton Fisk's Red Sox record for home runs by a catcher (26). He'll probably strikeout 20 times before he breaks the record, but he'll get there.
Related: Herald: Latest loss features dugout spat | CSNNE: Sox show fight - among themselves | Globe: Another loss for the bickering Red Sox
On Page 2, Bobby Valentine is very optimistic about September.
The Sox are on a pace to lose 86 games, which hasn’t happened since 1992. Bobby Valentine was asked what his expectations were for the final month of the season.“Good play,” he said. “Hoping for guys to keep building the individual statistics and hope that they collectively build the team statistics. I think we’re going to win a lot of games this last month.”
Valentine was asked why he believes that, given the way the team has played to date.
“Why shouldn’t I think that?” he said. “I’m the manager of the team and we get paid to play and win and we’re going to win.”
Globe: Bobby Valentine: 'We're going to win a lot of games this last month'
I'll tell you why you shouldn't think that, this team sucks! Pitching sucks, the offense has taken a hit since the departure of Adrian Gonzalez and Ortiz's trip to the DL. The Sox do not have the makeup of a team that will make a big run in the final month.
It would be nice to see this team finish at or above .500.
The rest of the links:
Herald: Reasons to watch | Papi won't risk achilles injury | Sox and/or Ellsbury will cash in | Better not lose Pedey | A's roll past Red Sox in 8th straight win | ESPN Boston: Bobby Won't count Papi out, Hill activated | Rapid Reaction Athletics 7, Red Sox 1 | Globe: Red Sox fall 7-1 at Oakland for 5th straight loss | CSNNE: Crash and burn | Salty approaching Fisk's record | McAdam: Premature to say Ortiz is done
