The latest on Big Papi’s knee surgery today, from the Boston Globe….

Red Sox DH David Ortiz underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today, according to a statement released by the team. The surgery, performed by team physician Dr. Thomas Gill, was done to address a cartilage problem in the knee. The surgery went well, according to the statement, and Ortiz is expected to begin rehabilitation immediately.

Rod Beck (1968 – 2007)

Rest in Peace Rod Beck

An Ode to Rod Beck (2001)

He never quite looked
Like the other Red Sox
More like one of the Phillies
With his long, scraggly locks

But though not as clean-cut
As most cute Boston boys
With his pitching he brought us
Innumerable joys

When they called him to finish
What Pedro or Tim had begun
You could always have faith
Rod would get the job done

And I have to admit it—my eyes grew quite teary
At the thought of a Fenway with no Troy O’Leary!
How sad—no mo Nomo, Chris Stynes or Bichette!
John Valentin and Mike Lansing–we’ll never forget!

We thank you and we’ll miss you,
Dear Rod and all the rest
Whatever uniform you’re wearing,
Boston fans still love you best!

– Sincerely, Jessica Lynn Curtis, Sunnyside, N.Y.
My prayers are with his family and former teammates right now

Schill to have MRI

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling left the team and went back to Boston today to meet with team doctor Thomas Gill and have a precautionary MRI on his shoulder.

According to multiple reports, the Sox will be looking at his right (pitching) shoulder.

(Editor’s note — NESN’s Tom Caron provided the following additional information in his blog

A Red Sox official told us there were concerns over the lack of velocity in Schilling’s performance last night. According to the NESN radar gun, Schilling never hit 90 mph over his 81 pitches last night.

The Red Sox confirmed that he would be undergoing a precautionary MRI and there was no word yet on whether or not he would miss his next start, scheduled for Sunday against Jake Peavy and the San Diego Padres

Instead of making a trading deadline for a pitcher, it looks like the Red Sox will look within when it is time to bring along a new pitcher.  The word from Francona and company, is they would like to give Lester a little more time, allowing him to get a few more starts under his belt.  The consensus is that Lester will be taking Julian Tavarez spot in the rotation, however I would not be quick to assume that.  Tavarez has pittched very well of late, giving the Sox all you can ask for from a guy in the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation.  His e.r.a. has steadily decreased in each of his last four starts. Personally I believe the competion is between Tavarez and Wakefield for the 5th spot, with the fourth spot going to Lester.  If Wake continues his control problems, do not be suprised if that is the move the Sox make.

  Tonight Wakefield takes the hill against Aaron Cook and the Colorado Rockies.  In Cook, the Sox face a guy that has an e.r.a. in the mid-fours, and thats in the National League is well.  With the game tonight, the Sox open a six game homestand.  Hopefully the home cooking will be what helps the Sox and thier struggling offense, with Wake on the hill, I would not count on it.

Okay, like most of Red Sox Nation I was not all that jazzed about the arrival of J.D. Drew.  For a time it looked like the Sox thought so highly of Mr. Drew that they were going to trade Manny, and let Drew be Big Papi’s protection, I’m glad cooler heads prevailed on that thinking.  So here we are on month # 3 of the J.D. Drew experiment, and so far it has been very unpleasant to watch.  Drew started out okay, if you have a memory that can go back that far.  Lately, though he has been very consistant, on getting out, or getting on base via a fielders choice.  Most of my complaints about Drew come from watching him play, he plays very uninspired and passion-less baseball.  His defense is very suspect, his arm very Damon like, and his batting just keeps getting worse and worse.  To make matters worse, he now platoons games when a left hander is on the mound, something he was supposed to be above. So Theo pass on Damon for 50 million, but signed this career .283 hitter to a 70 million dollar deal, it only makes Yankee sense this kinda-off deal.

Once again Theo has shown that he has very little ability to find the right kind of player who fits in Boston.  This deal smells very similer to the Edgar Rent-a-Wreck situation, where Boston ended up paying a player to go elsewhere.  Even more troubling is why they kept Wily Mo, if you are going to sign and make that kind of commitment to a player like J.D. Drew. 

  Theo my door is always open, the thing to have done is the situation, was to sign Trot, and platoon him with the young and talented Wily Mo Pena.  If Wily Mo is the next Manny incarnate, and the only thing he is missing is time in the field and at bats, then why sign Drew to a five year deal.  There were many pundits who critiqued this deal from the start, and it looks like the sound and fury had this one right all along.

Welcome Back Trotter

Give Red Sox Nation and the Fenway Faithful credit, they did what was right as far as Trot Nixon was concerned.  Trot seemed to be touched by the crowds response to him as well.

PAWTUCKET, RI | May 25, 2007 — You’d think there’d be an exciting game at McCoy last night – Jon Lester is on the hill against the Syracuse Chiefs. The Boston media, enticed to The Farm thanks to Lester’s start and an off day for the Big Club, crowds the press box in eager anticipation. Hazel Mae makes an appearance: Farm Report’s heart goes pitter-patter.

But Lester, on a 70-75 pitch count, is so good it’s almost not newsworthy. After two innings he’s mowed down the Syracuse Chiefs in 17 pitches. His evening ends after the fifth, having thrown 65 pitches, 39 for strikes, and giving up one run for a no-decision in an eventual 3-2 victory for the home team.

Jon Lester is going to be back, and when he is, heaven help the rest of the American League.

How did Lester feel after the game?

“Good,” said Lester. “Everything came out well, and the forearm feels fine.”

Lester’s outing clearly positioned him a step or two closer to a return, but the young lefty is not yet circling a date on the calendar. “I don’t really know [when I’ll be back]…I felt good, my legs were under me through the whole five innings. It’s getting better – now I just need to get up to 90-100 pitches and see where we’re at then.”

Lester’s manager for the present, Ron Johnson, saw no downside to his performance.

“Jon’s got good stuff,” the PawSox manager said. “He’s got a good finish on his fastball, commanded pretty good in the upper half of the zone. I think as a hitter, you think you’re going to get to [the ball] and all of a sudden it gets a little giddyup and you get pop flies…he repeated deliveries, he was free and easy – he felt good.”

The only restriction Lester faced was on his cut fastball. His repertoire was restricted to three pitches: four-seam fastball, curve, and change-up. “They [the Sox front office] said we didn’t want to mess around with it,” said Lester. “They think it had an effect on some cramping and fatiguing in there, so they just want me to rely on other stuff right now.”

The one run that Lester surrendered over his five innings actually raised his ERA to 1.62. Over his four starts he’s struck out 13 and walked only five in 16 2/3 innings. At this point, if there were any lingering questions about “if,” they’ve been answered. It certainly seems like the more appropriate question is “when.”

“If it was up to me, I’d have been up there a long time ago,” said Lester. “They make the decisions, they set the schedule – I just pitch.” -

It looks like Josh Beckett will miss his scheduled start on Friday.  Terry Francona said that Beckett will instead throw a side session on Friday, and they will determine where the finger is at the time.  It is likely that the Sox will back-date him to the DL retro-active to last Sunday or Monday.  LHP Kason Gabbard or Devern Hansack look like the likely call-ups to fill Becketts spot in the rotation.

  In related injury news, Nancy Drew reported to Red Sox manager that his back was better than expected, and he could have played today if needed. I guess considering Drew’s injury prone history that counts as good news.

  Day/Night double header tommorrow, with a little thing I like to call night and day. Julian Taverez coming off his worst start of the year takes the hill for the day game, the night game will of course feature Curt Schilling.