The Red Sox showed a little fire yesterday in the Bronx, but none of it with their bats, as they were swept by the New York Yankees in the finale of a three game series, 5-0, which dropped their AL East lead back to five games.

As evidence of how anemic the Red Sox offense was, Amalie Benjamin points out that it was the first time in 40 years that a team has been no-hit for more than the first five innings in two straight games. Michael Silverman says that this sweep was certainly not a crushing blow to the Red Sox postseason hopes, but it is certainly a disappointment. Sean McAdam has the Red Sox getting dusted in the finale of the three game series. Jeff Goldberg has things getting riled and wild in the Bronx yesterday. Bill Ballou says that it was just another three awful days in the Bronx for the Red Sox.

Dan Shaughnessy says there are always more than merely baseball games going on when the Red Sox and Yankees play. He assures us though, that there will be October baseball in Boston. Tony Massarotti says that it is clear that J.D. Drew is a $70 million bust. Lenny Megliola looks at things turning quickly in the AL East this week. Ron Chimelis says that regardless of the standings, the Yankees appear to match up very well with the Red Sox. Bill Burt tries his hand at the “10 Things We Learned” format with a list from the Red Sox/Yankees series.

Rob Bradford looks at how Chien-Ming Wang seems to have mastered the Red Sox lineup. Alex Speier says that a promising road trip turned out to be one of missed opportunity. Steve Buckley has the MLB fashion police doing Terry Francona a disservice by hassling him while the game was going on. Jon Couture has three pretty close games, but all losses for the Sox. Mike Marzelli identifies four key areas that the Red Sox must shore up.

Massarotti has Joba Chamberlain getting the Red Sox attention with two pitches at Kevin Youkilis’ head in the ninth inning. Nick Cafardo has Chamberlain pleading his innocence after the game. Paul Doyle has more on the Chamberlain/Youkilis incident, which Chamberlain insisting that both pitches “slipped.”

Buckley has Curt Schilling saying that he lost and got outpitched in yesterday’s game. Joe Haggerty looks at the huge void that the Red Sox have in their lineup when Manny Ramirez is out. Bradford has Derek Jeter and the Yankees saying all the right things after the game.

Silverman’s notebook has a look at the play in which Francona got himself ejected from the game. Benjamin’s notebook has Francona “uniformly upset” over the attention that MLB payed to his attire this week. McAdam’s notebook has the umpire justifying the ejection of Chamberlain in the ninth inning. Goldberg’s notebook has more on Francona’s ire over the checkup from the MLB official. Ballou’s notebook has more on Francona’s dustup with the “fashion police.” Couture’s notebook also examines that angle.

Jeff Horrigan has a minor league notebook in which he looks at some candidates for a September callup. IN Benjamin’s minor league notebook, she looks at Lowell shortstop Oscar Tejeda, who is all of 17 years old.

You can check coverage of both Red Sox/Yankees and Patriots/Giants on the New York Sports Pages.

Patriots
Scott has the Game Day Rear View of last night’s Patriots pre-season finale, a 27-20 win over the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium. He notes that the game ended with Matt “Gutierrez covering kicks, which was probably indication it was time, mercifully, to end the pre-season and complete the construction of New England’s final roster. ”

Christopher L. Gasper has the Patriots holding a 60 minute job fair last night in their final pre-season game. Karen Guregian says that audition time is officially over and it is time to look ahead to the Jets. Shalize Manza Young has the Patriots going almost solely with backups in last night’s win over the Giants, and notes some of those backups did distinguish themselves. Albert Breer says that the Patriots are ready to rumble for real. Mark Farinella says that the game wasn’t an artistic success, but did break a three-year losing streak in pre-season finales. Dan Pires says that for all involved, the real games can’t begin soon enough. Michael Parente also has the Patriots ready to get the season started. Chris Kennedy wraps up the pre-season finale.

Bob Ryan has a look at Matt Cassel, heading into another season of playing backup rather than getting on the field himself. Christopher Price has his 10 Things We Learned Last Night. John Tomase says that with the pre-season over, all appears well in Patriots land. Jim Donaldson examines the battle of the backups at Gillette last night, but has no doubt the real players will be ready to go next Sunday against the Jets. Ian M. Clark has the Patriots bench getting one last test to prove themselves last night. Jennifer Toland has rookie Oscar Lua getting injured in last night’s game.

Mike Reiss looks at first round pick Brandon Meriweather playing mostly at safety last night and looking very comfortable doing it. Rich Garven has the stars hiding last night, with Meriweather the biggest name on the field for the Patriots. Tomase has a look at how the Patriots like Willie Andrews and his ability to contribute in all three phases of the game. David Heuschkel has the backup quarterbacks getting Belichick’s approval with their performance last night. Breer has veteran linebacker Chad Brown fighting until the last snap of the game in his effort to land a spot on the team. Price notes that several players will come to fear the reaper as cuts are made by tomorrow.

The Globe notebook has a look at Oscar Lua’s injury, which seemingly could land the rookie on IR. Guregian’s notebook has the agent for Asante Samuel saying that the cornerback would like to stay with the Patriots beyond this season. Young’s notebook has the Patriots making a change at punter, waiving Danny Baugher and signing veteran Chris Hanson. Farinella’s notebook has more on Lua. Parente’s notebook also looks at Lua, but seemingly before the injury, as it talks about his chances to stick with the team, which is stocked with older linebackers. Garven’s notebook has punter Baugher getting the boot yesterday. Kennedy’s notebook has more on the Patriots bringing in Hanson.

David Scott wraps up his experience at the ESPN Media Workshop yesterday. Susan Bickelhaupt checks in with Tommy Roy of NBC sports, who has been nominated for more Emmys than anyone in the history of sports television.

This is a quick overview of Boston Sports Review for September, 2007.

This is the 2nd annual “Power Broker” issue, listing out the 50 most powerful people in Boston sports.

David Scott has the cover story with the list. Somehow, I didn’t make the top 50. (A point that will be addressed in your annual review, Dave.)

Here’s the top 10:

1.) Tom Werner and John Henry
2.) Jonathan and Robert Kraft
3.) Mike Dee
4.) Larry Lucchino
5.) Glenn Ordway
6.) Jeremy Jacobs and Charlie Jacobs
7.) Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca
8.) Theo Epstein
9.) Bob Ryan
10.) Rich Gotham

Other notables include Tom Brady (11) Kevin Garnett (26) Brad Blank (28) Bill Simmons (34) Jason Wolfe (37) and Joe Sullivan (45).

Eleswhere in the magazine: In Media Monitor, Jim Baker looks at NESN’s “curious” decision to part ways with Dale Arnold on the Bruins telecasts this season. John Molori talks to NBC Sports’ Tom Curran.

Lenny Megliola has a profile of Red Sox executive vice president/public affairs Dr. Charles Steinberg, who was mysteriously missing from the top 50 list above.

Alex Speier has a look at Red Sox rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who has shown all that he is the real deal. Speier also has a sidebar discussing fellow Red Sox rookies Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima and whether they should factor into the Rookie of the Year voting. Ian Browne profiles Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan. Mike Scandura looks at Pawtucket pitcher Craig Hansen and what his future looks like. David Laurila has a Q&A with Lowell catcher Dan Milano, who played collegiately for Northeastern. Scandura also has a sidebar on the 25th anniversary of the Mark Fidrych/Dave Righetti game in Pawtucket.

Albert Breer in the Patriots Preview says that the team made a lot of noise in free agency this offseason, but notes that the team is really built through the draft. He also lists out 10 items in his game plan for success on the road to the Super Bowl for New England. He also has thumbnails on the Broncos, Chargers, Colts and Ravens as the top competition in the AFC. Bob Halloran doesn’t play the contrarian for once, and says that the Patriots are the most talented team in the league and have built their roster for Super Bowl success.

Lenny Megliola has a preview for each of the major college leagues in New England.

Scott looks at the Celtics’ busy offseason in his Big Ticket to paradise article. He has a sidebar that looks at Kevin Garnett and Randy Moss being reunited in New England, and Megliola has a look at how Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are charged with rebuilding the Celtics tattered and torn reputation. Scott Souza looks at how Celtics rookie free agent Brandon Wallace was worth the gamble that the Celtics have taken on him.

Jim Baker talks with exiled Bruins PR executive Nate Greenberg, who found himself out of a job this year after 34 years with the franchise.

Scott also has a look at the Deutsche Bank Championship with his piece Tiger tale at TPC.

Sam Bernstein looks back 60 years ago, when Ted Williams won the Triple Crown, but not the MVP.

Scott wraps up the magazine, with his Closers column, which looks at “Power Jokers” – those who didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory over the past year. Those include Ron Borges, Charlie Moore, Peter Chiarelli, Asante Samuel and Jason Wolfe.

The Red Sox offense was once again held in check last night, as Boston could only manage four hits on the night – just two against 45-year-old Roger Clemens, who got the win in the 4-3 Yankees victory.

Tony Massarotti says that without Manny Ramirez, the Red Sox offense can be shut down and makes them vulnerable. Jeff Jacobs looks at Roger Clemens – still a force at 45. Those two articles kind of sum things up. The weak Red Sox offense, combined with a still solid Clemens.

Get the rest of the stories from last night on RedSoxLinks.com and the New York Sports Pages.

The Patriots play their final preseason game tonight against the New York Giants at Gillette. Is it consumer fraud time again? Over in the Metro, I say it’s not consumer fraud, it’s a public service…

Over on Patriots Daily, Greg Doyle looks at the start of the college football season, with the angle of looking at how top college players might fit in with the Patriots, in the debut of his new column, College Scout.

Get the rest of your Patriots news over on PatriotsLinks.com.

David Scott has a Dennis and Callahan update, as the duo tries to put it out there that they still have competitors for their services. He also has more on Albert Breer leaving for the Dallas Morning News.

Bill Doyle has a look at Worcester Sharks announcer Eric Lindquist, who has a Showcase Showdown victory on The Price is Right under his belt.

David Scott reports that Albert Breer has accepted a job covering the Dallas Cowboys, on a shared beat, for the Dallas Morning News.

We just knew we had it just a bit too good on the Patriots beat there recently, didn’t we?

With the Gatehouse Media sharing agreement with the Boston Herald expiring soon, Breer’s work wasn’t going to be appearing there much longer. The next question is whether the MetroWest Daily News will replace Breer, or turn to another Gatehouse Media-employed writer such as The Patriot Ledger’s Eric McHugh to provide content for the paper and perhaps a Patriots blog.

Speaking of the Patriots beat, John Tomase stepped up today and ate a little crow for his column yesterday in which he stated that Asante Samuel’s holdout was fruitless. A good move by Tomase, as it’s OK to be off once in a while, especially if you admit it.

This is very different from someone like Ron Borges, who gets suspended for plagiarism, is allowed to retire his position, and then goes on the radio proclaiming that he was the victim and was “screwed.”

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Another busy day at Patriots Daily, as John Hannah (or someone doing a reasonable impression of him based on email and IP address) weighs in with a comment on the Direct Snapp column from today.

Bill Simmons has a look at life in the “new” Red Sox Nation, including a photo album from a weekend in Tampa Bay.

Former Red Sox fan Jim Caple says that the team has the most obnoxious fans of all of sports.

Howard Bryant has a look at David Ortiz, who has been in pain almost all season, has heard criticism about his play, yet keeps carrying on.

Bryant also looks at how the Red Sox have gone retro, with manager Terry Francona becoming the public face of the front office.

Mike Miliard in The Phoenix, examines whether Sox Appeal has any appeal to Sox fans.

Eric Wilbur looks at the Red Sox facing Roger Clemens for the first time in nearly four years.

Sean Deveney says that the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry is always relevant, regardless of the standings.

The Media Circus examines MickVickMania, which has seemingly overtaken all sports shows.

Peter King ranks the top 500 players in the NFL. Tom Brady comes in at number 2.

Tom Curran has a collection of interesting quotes from around the NFL.

Elizabeth Merrill looks at what is involved for an NFL player in learning the playbook.

Vic Carucci weighs in with some observations from week three of the NFL preseason.

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Tonight
7:00pm, NESN – Red Sox @ Yankees (ESPN2 Nationally)

Daisuke Matsuzaka battled Andy Pettitte to a 3-3 tie into the seventh inning last night, but Johnny Damon stuck it to his old team with a two run homer off Dice-K in the seventh to give the Yankees a 5-3 win over the Red Sox in New York.

Michael Silverman says that losing Manny Ramirez and Bobby Kielty to back injuries during this one caused “enough M. Night Shyamalan-type signs hovering over the Bronx to give Red Sox followers a minor case of the heebie-jeebies” – whatever that means. Gordon Edes says that after hitting the game winner, Damon “deflected every invitation to send a verbal tweak toward the team that let him go” – whatever that means. Who was doing the inviting? Boston writers or New York? Bill Ballou says that Matsuzaka is a strong candidate for Disappointment of the Year – whatever that means. Jeff Goldberg says that Damon’s home run went to the same spot that his 2004 ALCS Game 7 grand slam went, and “the Yankees hope it sparks some comeback payback.” Whatever that means. Sean McAdam doesn’t say anything silly in his game recap.

Despite declaring the AL East race over a couple of days ago, Tony Massarotti says that the Red Sox would be well served to take the next two games and put a dent in the Yankees playoff plans. Dan Shaughnessy says that the AL East might be over, but the Yankees could still do some damage in the post season and meet up with the Red Sox again. Shaughnessy does manage to fit in some jabs at Curt Schilling, which is always fun. Steve Buckley says that Damon might’ve been miserable earlier this season in New York, but he’s happy (and healthier) now. Nick Cafardo gushes over Damon.

Rob Bradford has Matsuzaka once again failing to get his 14th win, and sporting a 6.91 ERA against the Yankees this season. Jon Couture has the Yankees, like the Red Sox, using more youngsters this season. Chad Finn goes nine innings on Red Sox/Yankees. As usual, Finn hits the nail on the head:

I've been reluctant to declare American League East race ovah, for two reasons: First, there is a tendency among certain media members to race to become the first to pronounce the Yankees dead . . . and then, when they inevitably crawl out of the crypt, history is somehow revised and spun so that it was really the numbskull fans who were the ones claiming matters were settled when there were 60 games remaining. The habit is as transparent as it is annoying, and I don't want to be one to fall into that trap.

Here’s looking at you, Tony Massarotti. And Dan Shaughnessy.

Buckley has J.D. Drew hoping he can contribute to the team the rest of the season and into the playoffs. Sarah Green reflects on Tim Wakefield’s career. Bradford also has Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell saying that video work has revealed that Eric Gagne could’ve been tipping his pitches, and that may have been the cause of his early struggles with the Red Sox. Joe Haggerty has Gagne hoping for a chance to face the Yankees in this series. Bradford also has Dustin Pedroia looking forward to facing Roger Clemens tonight.

Get the view from NYC in the New York Sports Pages. Cafardo examines Joba Chamberlain in his first appearance against the Red Sox. Dom Amore has Andy Pettitte making a strong impression last night. Amore also says that the Yankees need to work on finishing out games strong.

Silverman’s notebook has more on the back injuries for Ramirez and Kielty which will likely keep them out of tonight’s game. Edes’s notebook has more on the back injuries to the outfield duo. McAdam’s notebook says that tonight’s Josh Beckett/Roger Clemens matchup holds plenty of interest. Goldberg’s notebook has more on the Red Sox back woes. Ballou’s notebook also focuses on Manny’s back. Couture’s notebook has Manny adding another Yankee Stadium home run to his total before leaving the game.

Patriots
Dan Snapp has another edition of Direct Snapp on Patriots Daily, where he makes the case that the road to the Super Bowl is best traveled by ground, and not by air, despite all the new wide receivers in camp.

Christopher L. Gasper and Mike Reiss report that Asante Samuel did gain a concession in his contract that can prevent him from being franchised next season. Albert Breer isn’t so sure that the franchise provision was included in the final deal. Shalise Manza Young has Samuel saying that both sides are happy with the new deal. David Heuschkel has Samuel with no regrets over his holdout or new one year contract. Dan Pires says that Samuel’s holdout was fruitless. Rich Garven and Mark Farinella have more on Samuel putting the contract issue behind him and getting ready for the season.

The Globe notebook has Troy Brown landing on the PUP list to start his 15th season. Which reminds me of the horrible joke Glenn Ordway had on the big show yesterday when he wondered if the Falcons were going to place Michael Vick on the “Pup” list. Breer’s notebook has more on Brown starting the season on the sidelines. Young’s notebook has Chad and Eddie Jackson joining Brown on the PUP list. Garven’s notebook wonders if Randy Moss could be getting closer to making it out onto the field for the Patriots. Pires’ notebook has Laurence Maroney saying that the Facebook profile that has become fodder for bloggers is a fake. Farinella’s notebook has Kyle Brady trying to get to know Tom Brady a little better.

Farinella also sounds off on a number of topics in another edition of Ask Fearless.

Mike Martin on the BSMW Full Court Press offers a chill pill for the kingmakers and naysayers alike.

David Scott leads off with another look at Ron Borges’ comments about “getting screwed” by the Globe in the plagiarism case this spring.

Borges, it seems, just won’t go quietly.

Over on Patriots Daily, Christopher Price has his weekly Inside Gillette column, where he takes a look at rookie linebacker Oscar Lua’s efforts to make the club, gives us five things to look for Thursday night against the Giants and has a stat and quote of the week from Gillette.

Asante Samuel returned to the fold yesterday, but as John Tomase points out, he gained nothing by his holdout. Christopher L. Gasper writes that Samuel’s return will cause some shifting around in the defensive secondary. Shalise Manza Young reports that while Samuel showed up yesterday, he did not yet sign the one-year franchise tender. Albert Breer says that the final piece to the Patriots puzzle fell into place when Samuel reported yesterday. David Heuschkel says that Samuel’s return appeared to have been met with a collective ho-hum at Gillette.

Tomase has Samuel’s teammates happy that he is back, but saying that now is the time for him to get to work in preparation for the season. Mark Farinella has more on Samuel finally being in the house for the Patriots. Jennifer Toland has more on Samuel’s teammates reacting to his return to the fold.

Robert Lee has Kelley Washington trying to stick at a crowded wide receiver position for the Patriots. Mark Farinella has more on the 28-year-old Washington, who brings some impressive physical gifts to the field. Eric McHugh looks at another receiver, Randy Moss, who has his fair share of vocal critics, as well as supporters. Breer reports that it appears that Nick Kaczur has won the right tackle job to start the season. Jeff Howe has rookie Kareem Brown hoping to steal some playing time from the veterans, in addition to stealing their moves.

Gasper’s notebook has coach Bill Belichick praising Willie Andrews, who could see some time at safety if Eugene Wilson is out for an extended period of time. Tomase’s notebook has owner Robert Kraft cautiously optimistic about the team’s chances this year. Paul Kenyon’s notebook has Marcellus Rivers to trying make a roster sport for himself as a blocking tight end. Toland’s notebook discusses the cuts that must be made by 4:00pm today. Six players will need to be cut from the roster by that time.

Red Sox
Rob Bradford has an interview with Red Sox owner John Henry about what his club has done over the last few years to try and compete with the Yankees. Nick Cafardo also has a look at the Red Sox and Yankees, with New York having been unable thus far to catch the Red Sox in the division. Sean McAdam says that this Red Sox/Yankees series feels more like an afterthought than a showdown. Bill Ballou however, says that Red Sox fans must feel like Titanic survivors as they head into the series with the Yankees. Terry Nau says that the difference between the Red Sox and Yankees this season is money well-spent. Jon Couture has the Red Sox and Yankees ready to rumble once more, as does Joe Haggerty.

Lenny Megliola looks at who has overachieved, underachieved, or landed somewhere in the middle this season for the Red Sox. Gordon Edes looks at Mike Timlin, who is closing in on his 1000th career big league appearance. Jeff Goldberg says that last Friday will be remembered as the turning point in this season for both the Red Sox and Yankees.

Edes notebook has Mike Lowell and David Ortiz being named Co-Players of the Week in the American League. Bradford’s notebook looks at the magic number for the AL East finally coming into play.

Celtics
Scott Souza has a look at the newest Celtic, forward James Posey, who looks forward to making another title run. Steve Bulpett has Posey saying that the Celtics offered the best opportunity to win a championship. Jessica Camerato has more from Posey. Daniel Malloy has more on Posey’s introduction at the Garden.

Mike Biglin has the Revolution doing some fine tuning in their time off.

https://bostonsportsmedia.com/2007/08/28/2551/

The WEEI morning show today featured former Globe writer Ron Borges alongside Greg Dickerson.

It was largely a forgettable morning, dominated by Jon Meterparel, who increasingly has become the third co-host on the program and not just the flashboy. This isn’t a positive development.

One segment, shortly after 7:20 this morning, was noteworthy however. Dickerson teased Borges about the suspension issue at the Globe, and then said that Borges “got screwed” in the whole incident. Borges agreed.

They were talking about Asante Samuel returning to the Patriots as the Franchise tagged player after sitting out the first month of camp. Here’s the transcript:

Borges: Hey Walter Jones did this three years in a row, it didn’t seem to bother him one bit, he kept going to the Pro Bowl

Meterparel: It’s always back to Seattle for you, isn’t it?

(laughter)

Dickerson: it’s funny you say that Ron, I remember listening to a sports radio show out on K…KIRO radio in Seattle and I heard Mike Sando say the exact same thing.

Borges: Did you really…

Dickerson: I’m sorry…

Borges: Who’s he?

Meterparel: Ron, you’re never going to live that one down, admit it.

Dickerson: I’m sorry…

Meterparel: Some of us all have..

Dickerson: I hate to admit this, because I like you, actually because I don’t like you…but you got screwed…but I’ll leave it…

Borges: I did get screwed.

Meterparel: Railroaded.

Dickerson: I’m still going to make fun of you, because…that’s what we do on this radio station.

Borges: That’s all right – you can laugh at it, because you know, when you know the truth, you can laugh at it.

So there you have it. Ron Borges got screwed. He didn’t plagiarize – he is the victim. There’s got to be an upcoming lawsuit against the Globe, right?

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The NFL Network announced two new shows that will air Tuesday through Friday on the network beginning on September 4th. These shows will lead into the flagship offering by the network, NFL Total Access:

6:00 PM ET
College Football Now – Host Paul Burmeister; Analysts Mike Mayock, Charles Davis, and Terry Donahue

CFN is a studio-based information show providing viewers with up-to-the-minute news, match-up analysis and discussion of all the hot topics in college football including the latest Top 25 and BCS rankings.

Using expert college football analysts Mike Mayock and Charles Davis and former college coach Terry Donahue, College Football Now gives fans credible and independent insight from people who have played the game and follow the sport year-round. CFN will also include on-air appearances by the editors of websites which cover college football teams on a daily basis.

6:30 PM ET
Put Up Your Dukes – Host Jamie Dukes

Put Up Your Dukes is a 30-minute show starring former NFL offensive lineman Jamie Dukes tackling the headlines of the day in football. The show promises to inform and entertain and use Dukes’ engaging personality to bring the viewer inside the National Football League to share opinions and debate the issues people are talking about.

Each show will feature “10 Rounds” of discussion highlighting the players, plays and key topics of the day. An interactive component through NFL.com will allow viewers to submit questions for Dukes, who will answer some of them on air.

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Rob Bradford has three items on the Red Sox as they prepare to take on the Yankees starting tomorrow night in New York.

Joe Haggerty talks to Arizona State University baseball coach Pat Murphy about his former pupil, Red Sox rookie of the year candidate Dustin Pedroia.

Eric Gillin editor in chief of Esquire.com has a Patriots season preview for Deadspin.com.

Michael Silver has Edgerrin James back with a vengeance in his Morning Rush column. (A worthy competitor to MMQB)

Speaking of which, Peter King offers up three ways to fix the preseason in his Monday Morning Quarterback column.

Len Pasquarelli notes that the Patriots will be counting on Laurence Maroney to carry a huge load this season.

Hub Arkush reflects on how the NFL has changed in the 40 years that Pro Football Weekly has been in business.

Alex Belth says there will be no repeat of 1978 for the Red Sox.

Tim O’Sullivan thanks Reggie Miller for remembering that he is old and turning the Celtics down.

Marty Burns gives the Celtics an A+ for their offseason moves, but notes that they weren’t the only Atlantic division team to improve this offseason.

Bill Simmons talks to Suns GM Steve Kerr in his latest podcast.

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Tonight
7:00pm, NESN – Thunder @ Seadogs
7:00pm, USA – US Open Tennis
7:00pm, ESPN2 – Yankees @ Tigers
8:00pm, ESPN – NFL Preseason – Bengals @ Falcons
11:00pm, FSN – Basketball – USA vs. Mexico

The Red Sox finished off a four game sweep of the White Sox in Chicago with an 11-1 pasting yesterday afternoon. The Red Sox offense was dominant in this series, scoring in double figures in all four games.

Rob Bradford has the Red Sox bats waking up just in time for this week’s series with the Yankees. Gordon Edes notes that Boston “outscored the White Sox in the series, 46-7, almost matching the 46-10 beating the Bears laid on the Patriots in Super Bowl XX.” Sean McAdam notes that the hit parade marched on in Chicago for the Red Sox yesterday. Jeff Goldberg notes that it was appropriate that the White Sox handed out white towels to the fans as a promotion yesterday.

Tony Massarotti proclaims what I thought most experts had already proclaimed in June; The AL East race is over. Bill Ballou also declares the race over. I’ll never understand why media members feel the need to make these type of proclamations. Kevin McNamara observes that the Red Sox are the baseball version of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Lenny Megliola says that good times are ahead for Boston sports fans. Bob Halloran says that the 2007 Red Sox are the 2003 Patriots.

Amalie Benjamin has a piece on Bobby Kielty, who had a big day yesterday, getting on base three times and hitting a home run. Massarotti also observes that Bobby Kielty has already had a big impact on the Red Sox…perhaps already more than Wily Mo Pena ever did. Bradford notes that Big Papi might’ve figured out that the first pitch he sees in an at-bat might be the best one he is going to get. Maureen Mullen has Red Sox coaches talking about the dangers of standing on the field while coaching first or third base.

Bradford’s notebook has J.D. Drew glad to finally snap his homerless drought. Edes’ notebook has more on Drew, and has Julian Tavarez hoping for another chance to pitch in a World Series. McAdam’s notebook says that this weekend’s sweep was one for the ages. Goldberg’s notebook has a look at Tavarez and how his rubber arm has served the Red Sox well. Ballou’s notebook has Kielty making the most of his time in the lineup.

Patriots
Shalise Manza Young reports that Asante Samuel will sign his franchise tender and report to Patriots training camp this morning.

John Molori’s Media Blitz is back and this week he talks to Cris Carter about his former teammate Randy Moss and how he thinks Moss will do here in New England under Bill Belichick.

Mike Reiss looks at Heath Evans, whose willingness to do whatever is asked of him makes him asset for the Patriots. John Tomase says that there are only a few spots on the roster that are up for grabs. Robert Lee notes that wide receiver is one area of competition where slots are up for grabs. Christopher Price examines what a huge weapon Laurence Maroney can be for the Patriots. Mark Farinella has a piece on Le Kevin Smith and how he might surprise you with his athleticism and creative interests.

Christopher L. Gasper’s notebook looks at Maroney getting his feet wet against the Panthers on Friday night.

Scott over at Patriots Daily also weighs in on today’s Patriots news.

Misc
Steve Buckley writes about Junior Seau, Michael Holley’s next book, and Tony Conigliaro among other topics.

John Connolly looks at the first place New England Revolution getting a nice break, Frank Dell’Apa says that the break comes at a good time for the Revs, who have not been as sharp recently.

Mark Blaudschun has the Boston College football team ready and eager to get out and play a real game this coming Saturday.

Craig N. Liadis reports on WEEI expanding into NH with their recent deal with Nassau Broadcasting which will put their programming on stations in the Concord and Lebanon markets

A new server was installed for the BSMW messageboard this weekend. As many of you have noted there have been a lot of problems with the forum over the last several weeks and months. We’re hoping that the new server will be able to keep up with the demands of all those who enjoy reading and participating on the board.