Extra Effort

The Red Sox squeak out another win at Fenway, steroid rumors run rampant across MLB and the Patriots continue training camp down in Foxboro. The Bruins have increased their offer to Jumbo Joe, and a local businessman retains control of his NBA club.

Ugly. But still in the “W” column. That probably best sums up last night’s 8-7 Red Sox win in 10 inning over the Rangers. At one point the Red Sox led 7-2, but the Rangers scored five runs in the seventh inning to tie to score. The game then went into extra innings, where Edgar Renteria atoned for a tough evening with the winning hit. Nick Cafardo looks at the late inning play of Renteria and Curt Schilling leading to victory for the Red Sox. Jeff Horrigan looks at Renteria saving his best for last in the win. Steven Krasner also focuses on the Red Sox shortstop being able to put errors and bat at-bats behind him and get the job done in the 10th. David Heuschkel’s extensive game story looks at the highs and lows of just another crazy night at Fenway. Lenny Megliola says that the end result is all that matters from last night.

Tony Massarotti examines the late inning weapon that Curt Schilling has developed into as he continues to get stronger. Ron Indrisano looks at Schilling taking control of the game for the two innings he was in there. Alex Speier looks at the Red Sox pitching being exposed as of late, a disturbing trend with the postseason on the horizon. Jon Couture says that the pitching carousel for the Red Sox continues to spin as the team brings guys in and out. Mike Remlinger showed up yesterday, and had a horrific debut for the Sox, not getting anyone out in the seventh inning. Carolyn Thornton looks at the lefty’s arrival and debut. In a column written before the game last night, Garry Brown says that Remlinger is ready to the help the Red Sox. Horrigan also examines the rough return for Remlinger.

Bob Ryan remembers Gene Mauch, the Captain Ahab of baseball. Dan Shaughnessy is just back from a family vacation in Italy, and laments that he could not get any sports news while overseas. Everything that he saw there, he connected with baseball. He gets a glimpse of a world without sports, an idea that wasn’t too agreeable with him. Rich Thompson and Kelsie Smith each report on Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers having his 20 game suspension reduced by an arbitrator to essentially to time served, and the lefty will start for the Rangers tonight against the Red Sox. Thompson also has a short report on last night’s starter for the Red Sox, Matt Clement, who was pretty solid, giving up only two runs in in six innings of work.

Howard Bryant (subscription only) looks at some of the rumors being talked about involving steroids in the baseball world. He mentions a TV executive who claims baseball has 12 positive tests that it is trying to figure out how to deal with. A player on the Royals told Bryant that one rumor had 58 players with positive tests, while a baseball executive said the rumor he heard was close to 50. Bryant says that teams are not happy with how baseball is handling the steroid issue. Allan Wolper in the Editor and Publisher looks at how some in the media are lamenting the way that they’ve covered the steroid issue and how it got pushed to the back burner in the late 90’s. Wolper targets the NY Times company as one of the guilty parties, wondering how newspapers without ties to baseball are breaking the steroid stories, while The Times and Boston Globe, with connections to the Red Sox has coverage on the topic that is “embarrassing”.

Horrigan’s notebook reports on Wade Miller going to the DL. Krasner’s notebook has more on Miller. David Borges’ notebook also reports on Miller. Cafardo’s notebook examines the tough debut for Remlinger, a topic that also leads Heuschkel’s notebook.

In between the jokes about NASCAR and Jehovah’s Witnesses, WEEI did have a sports guest yesterday afternoon as Scott Pioli was on the Big Show which was broadcast from Gillette Stadium. While many people might have been surprised that the two-time executive of the year hasn’t left for the challenge of building his own team elsewhere, Pioli spoke of the challenges facing him right here in New England, where the Patriots he said, are “on the cusp of something very special”. That speaks to the mindset of the organization. Let unsaid was that back-to-back Super Bowl championships has been done before. A three-peat has not happened in the Super Bowl era, and would indeed be “something very special”. He also spoke of being very comfortable here in New England and enjoying the people he works with. Quality of life is more important than being the number one guy elsewhere, a concept that some media types find hard to grasp. It was a good segment on the show, something you’d wish they’d do more of.

Pioli was asked about seventh round pick Matt Cassel, who has opened some eyes in camp. He’s been on their radar since he was a highly touted high school prospect and the team (which does all their own scouting, not relying on a service as many teams do) has been scouting him since his junior year. Adam Kilgore has a very good profile of Cassel in the Globe today, and you’re getting the picture of a textbook Patriots draft pick and player here. Chris Kennedy also has a look at the rookie quarterback and how he is looking in camp. Pioli spoke approvingly of the coaching that Cassel received at USC under head coach Pete Carroll and OC Norm Chow, who run a pro-style offense out there.

While Cassel has been opening eyes, incumbent backup Rohan Davey has been feeling the heat from Cassel and Doug Flutie. Tom E Curran says that Bill Belichick continues to see improvement in Davey, who doesn’t get much of a chance to really show his skills in games other than the preseason. Michael Parente says that Davey’s job security is in jeopardy during this camp. Michael Felger reports on Tom Brady reaching out to congratulate newly inducted Hall of Famers Steve Young and Dan Marino on Sunday. Jonathan Comey looks at the Patriots outstanding depth in the secondary, despite losing all their starters from their first Super Bowl win. Alan Greenberg looks at UConn product Ryan Krug, facing long odds at making the roster as a rookie free agent on the offensive line. Felger has a short bit on Panthers receiver Steve Smith still talking trash to Tyrone Poole over plays in the Super Bowl two season ago.

Kilgore’s notebook has more on Smith’s trash talk to Poole. Felger’s notebook looks at the pressure on Rohan Davey during this camp. Curran’s notebook reports on second year running back Cedric Cobbs and his improved grasp of the offense during this camp. Kennedy’s notebook looks at Willie McGinest returning to the practice field.

Steve Conroy reports that the Bruins have upped their offer to Joe Thornton to five years, $32.5 Million. For those of you counting on your fingers that is an annual average of $6.5 million per season. The max salary for the NHL under this cap is $7 Million.

Shira Springer reports on the court ruling that enables Boston businessman Steve Belkin to retain control of the Atlanta Hawks.

The Boss is steaming and has harsh words for Yankees manager Joe Torre. Get this story and all others from New York on the New York Sports Headlines page.

NESN has Red Sox/Rangers at 7:00. (ESPN nationally)ESPN2 has Angels/A’s at 10:00.