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Smoltz has struggled this season; he allowed nine hits and eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings of a 13-6 loss to the Yankees on Thursday night. He has an ERA or 8.33.

So if I do not supply you with news, then what do I provide?  I will link you to interesting stories that are not getting the star treatment on the major websites and will also write analysis that goes beyond the mere facts of an event.  While the Internet–and blogging in particular–has enabled much quicker access to information than previously allowed by print media, I believe that it has had the counter-effect of watering down the analysis.  An AP article can tell you that a team made a move or that a player did something but it generally will stop short of saying what that occurrence actually means.

Today I received a comment, which I interpreted as a sarcastic swipe (if it was not, my apologies), thanking me for the “mindless” sports info because it was just what he “needed.”  For starters, if a person actually needed sports information, which likely is information about the teams and athletes he or she follows, he or she likely would go about finding it on his or her own.  Secondly, I do not know what readers “need.”  What I can do, is write and reccommend material I think sports fans would find interesting.  Last Friday’s post was a collection of links.  One link was an article on SI.com about BC linebacker Mark Herzlich and the support he has received in his battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma.  While it did not concern an outcome or player transaction, it was a heartwarming, well-written article that I believe conveys the true spirt of sportsmanship.  Whether you are a BC fan or not, it is worth every sports fan’s time to read.  National sports media however are sometimes so busy reporting on Michael Vick, Brett Favre and steroids that some good articles and writers slip through the cracks.  The lines about the Red Sox being engaged in discussions with the Indians about Victor Martinez (who is now in the everyday starting lineup) as well as the Pirates not making a move that day were relevant to the Major League trade deadline.

David Ortiz’s June performances and comparisons to other teams’ sluggers is another example of an observation that isn’t worthy of a news article but still insightful.  Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain do not play for the Red Sox or Yankees but their performances warrant attention from all baseball fans.

Blogging breaks down the barriers between writers and readers.  Commenting allows readers to share information or post criticism.  An unfortunate side effect is that commenters–at least from what I have seen on this blog–also leave their politeness and courtesy offline.   Suggestions and questions are highly welcome and will be considered.  Jabs that insult my writing or deride a post with no valid suggestion or information are just a waste of your time.  Saying that you would like to see more non-Boston material is a valid comment and one that I have considered.  Asking my thoughts on a team, player, transaction or any other sports issue is a good comment.  Responding to a post or another comment with your own thoughts is also a good comment and stimulates discussion which is something blogs should do more often.  So is sharing related stories and information.  I will respond to those comments and encourage you all to do the same.  Corrections, especially when it comes to statistics, are also welcome.  I previously worked as a newspaper sports writer and received my fair share of criticism.  If you have a complaint, I ask that you back it up.

With sports and sports media focusing on subjects such as performance-enhancing drugs, NFL quarterbacks’ retirement or reinstatements, college recruiting scandals and hotel voyeurism, a lot of the good in sports is often overlooked.  In this excellent article for SI.com, Kevin Armstrong chronicles the support Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich has received in his battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer with which he was diagnosed in the spring.  As exemplified by Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis and the Clemson team and university community, who would consider Mark and the Eagles far from friends on the gridiron, athletes and coaches do not need to wear the same uniform to all be fighting for the same victory.

It’s college basketball time all the time in North Carolina.  The Charlotte Observer says the 2010 ACC basketball season will be close and that BC is among the teams that can emerge as a “dark horse” to win the conference.  The Triangle-based News and Observer also provides a summer basketball preview and has BC at the top with UNC and Florida State.   In addition he News and Observe has ACC football previews.  The Boston Herald has good coverage of BC and the ACC.  The Boston Globe will likely run original material for the Eagles’ basketball games against UNC and Duke and a couple football games.

The Pirates did not make any trades on Thursday but still has until 4pm EST Friday to make a non-waiver deal.  That is if there are players left at the Major League level of the Pirates system.  The Dodgers acquired Baltimore Orioles reliever George Sherill for two minor league players.

Foxsports.com columnist Kevin Hench writes a letter of thanks to Brett Favre.

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi says that trade talks for Halladay are all but dead.  The Red Sox and Indians are reportedly discussing a deal that would send Cleveland first baseman/catcher Victor Martinez to the Red Sox.  A third team will likely get involved.

With the Red Sox’s comeback win over the A’s Thursday afternoon and a Yankees ninth-inning loss to the White Sox that night, the Sox trail in the AL East by 2.5 games.

Julio Lugo is tearing it up as a second baseman and shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals.  Since he was given to the Cards by the Red Sox last week, Lugo is 10 for 25 with a homerun and stolen base.  His fielding hasn’t been bad either.

Until the Dallas Stars Ice Girls make their 2009 Lake Day video, we’re stuck with the 2008 edition.  And 2007, in which you learn about the squad.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is pitching Air Tran.

The new United Football League plans to bring pro football to Hartford in 2009.  The league has not yet announced team names.  Michael Vick says he’s talking to pro teams, but did not specify that they are NFL teams.  Franchise QB for the New Whalers?

• Theo Epstein will make a significant move before Friday’s 4pm non-waiver trade deadline.  While the team is just behind the Yankees in the AL East and leading the Wild Card standings, the post All-Star break swoon looks more like a tailspin every day.  Looking beyond the obvious 4-8 “second-half” record, the Sox have two pitchers on the DL–Tim Wakefield will be back whereas Daisuke Matsuzaka is setting the stage for an acrimonious free agent departure which can’t come soon enough, a banged-up catcher who tends to fade in the second-half of seasons (to Varitek’s credit, most catchers do), shortstop issues and slumps by Jason Bay and J.D. Drew.  Like the 2004 squad, this year’s team is highly talented but flawed to the point where postseason dreams can be derailed.  Victor Martinez and Roy Halladay look like the top two choices since Indians lefty Cliff Lee, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, was traded to the Phillies earlier today.  Cleveland will likely want to further stockpile prospects and, more importantly, replace the recent loss in pitching with young arms.  As we all know, the Red Sox have pitching prospects.  It must be noted that Sox GM Theo Epstein has worked multi-team deals in the past (Nomar in 2004 involved the Cubs, Twins and Expos; Manny-Bay involved the Pirates and Dodgers).  You would have to think that the arrival of Victor Martinez would coincide with the departure of newcomer Adam LaRoche.
• The Pirates continued to throw everything off their sinking ship today, trading infielder Freddy Sanchez to the Giants and shortstop Jack Wilson and Ian Snell to the Mariners.  It appears that these are actually good trades that dumped the salaries of veterans the Bucs would not resign in exchange for Major League-ready prospects.  San Francisco sent over right-handed pitcher Tim Alderson who is currently in AA but a top pitching prospect.  The Mariners sent shortstop Ronny Cedeno, who is really just an expiring contract, and catcher/first baseman Jeff Clement who has 20-homerun potential at the Major League level.  Maybe Pirates GM Neal Huntington really does have a plan.  Hopefully by this time in a year or two, when Huntington talks to his colleagues around the league, it will be as a buyer.
• Before today’s deal for Sanchez, the Giants acquired first baseman Ryan Garko from the Indians.  The club may not be done dealing as pitcher Randy Johnson went on the DL today.
• In football news, Boston College was again picked to finish last in the ACC Atlantic Division.  The Eagles are used to not receiving any respect from the media but there are quite a few question marks this season: another coaching change (former defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani is now head coach after Jeff Jagodzinski left over the winter), another quarterback change (redshirt freshman Justin Tuggle vs. old freshman Dave Shinskie in a “Necessary Roughness” impression vs. juco transfer Codi Boek), major defensive losses (linemen Ron Brace and B.J. Raji went to the NFL; linebacker Mark Herzlich is being treated for the cancer Ewing’s Sarcoma) and the same kicking game which is always a question.  Still, BC returns 13 starters from last season’s division-winning team, including four of five offensive lineman and star sophomore runningbacks Montel Harris and Josh Haden.  The losses of Brace, Raji and Herzlich will be big but the Eagles were one of the top defenses in the country last year and still possess a deep linebacker corps.  Far from the floor of the Atlantic, BC will again contend for a trip to the ACC title game and finish the season with eight wins.
• Some washed-up NFL quarterback decided against a run at another last hurrah this season.  That does not however rule out the chance of a Roger Clemens dating show-like midseason return.
• I do not normally watch The Real World or any “reality” TV due to my involvement with the original reality TV–sports.  While up late one night, I attempted to see whether anything could be watchable in HD and put on a Real World Cancun episode from OnDemand.  Not only was I struck by how MTV cast four ok-at-best looking women including one with bad teeth and a self-mutilation problem, but how easily any of these people can get some action.  I would be more intrigued to see an entire show based on how they pick up their conquests which I bet involves something along the lines of “Hey, I’m on the Real World.  There are the cameras.  Come home with me and you could be on TV.”

Despite the offense and somewhat shallow starting pitching depth, the Giants can be a nasty draw in a play-off series, especially one in which Cain and/or Lincecum can start twice.  All they need to do is get there.  Thus, while the usual suspects are in the talks for the big trades, don’t count out the Giants who are either a bat or another arm away from the play-offs and a bat and arm away from winning in the play-offs.  The Giants have not won a World Series in their time in California.  While overtaking the Dodgers in the division would require a stretch run reminiscent of the late summer and fall of 1951 that culminated in the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” these Giants can make some waves by the bay this season.

Note: the title of this post in an allusion to a legendary mantra for that other Boston baseball club in 1948.

As important as the hitting and Josh Beckett’s pitching (7 IP, 3 ER, 10 K, 1 BB, 8 H), the bullpen continued its stellar performance by continuing its scoreless streak–now at 24 innings–since the All-Star break.  Central to the bullpen is rookie reliever Daniel Bard.

In 27.2 innings, Bard is rocking a 1.01 WHIP, 2.28 ERA and .184 batting average against on top of 34 strikeouts.  Most impressive is the distribution of Bard’s runs: in his 23 relief appearances since arriving at the big club from Pawtucket, Bard has only allowed earned runs in three of them.  The last time one of Bard’s runners scored was on June 25–eight appearances ago.

Francona said that he has been speaking with general manager Theo Epstein regarding trade negotiations before Friday’s deadline but the names that have been discussed aren’t the usual suspects.

“I listen to the talks. I don’t listen to the radio, but I talk to Theo,” Francona said. “Some of the people I hear talked about on the radio — you guys have no idea. I talk to Theo a lot. I know what’s going on, but I also know what’s not going on.”

Francona didn’t talk about any moves, either hypothetically or realistically, but said that they team may be active close to the deadline like it has in years past.

“We were players sometimes in the past and we may be players in the future,” said Francona. “Boston, as a city, seems to be a player in everything. We’re not the biggest city in the country, but we are one of the biggest markets in baseball.”

Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated reported in the Daily Scoop that the Sox are actively pursuing big deals. Rumors have them interested in Victor Martinez and Adrian Gonzalez to add depth offensively to the infield – but they’re two of the usual suspects tossed around all the time.

We’ll see by Friday.

He cannot participate in regular-season games until Week 6 (Oct. 18-19), but he can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games. A number of teams have already said they would not Vick and no teams have come forward to announce that they would. Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement in October.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League,” Vick said in a statement released by his agent, Joel Segal. “I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given.”

At the very least, it appears the Sox’s bullpen is back on track.

According to Yahoo! (formerly of the Boston Globe and recently a sub in the NESN booth) writer Gordon Edes on Saturday:

“The Red Sox continue to track Cleveland’s Victor Martinez(notes), the switch-hitting catcher and first baseman who would give the team’s dormant offense an immediate lift while giving GM Theo Epstein a valuable piece for the future. The Adam LaRoche(notes) deal has no impact on the Red Sox’s interest in Martinez, but so far Boston reportedly is unwilling to give up Clay Buchholz(notes). This trade makes too much sense for the Red Sox for it not to happen. The All-Star Martinez will wear out the Green Monster, he could be the team’s first baseman (and less likely, their catcher) for years to come, and he’s terrific in the clubhouse, especially with Latin players and young players. GM Mark Shapiro will extract a high price, but there’s a match to be made here.”

I was unsold on Martinez until I read and heard more about his clubhouse character.  I like guys like that on teams and feel they’re sometimes necessary to get other players to play well.  That and he is a switch-hitter who plays multiple positions, far more valuable than Adam LaRoche.  Plus, Francona likes carrying three catchers in the play-offs and Martinez gives the team that without sacrificing offense or another position.

Leave it to the Yankees to catch the A’s right when they traded Matt Holliday.  Luckily the Red Sox get the A’s for four days starting tonight.

Coinciding almost annually with the Hall of Fame inductions is chatter about Pete Rose being taken off the permanent ineligibility list so he can be on the Hall of Fame ballot or considered by the Veterans Committee.  I for one believe that Rose should never be enshrined in Cooperstown.  Few people seem to remember or realize that Rose became permanently ineligible as part of a deal he struck with Major League Baseball in which he admitted there was factual basis to the ban and MLB would not make a formal finding about his gambling.  In addition, Rose initially denied he gambled as manager of the Reds before admitting in 2004 that he did gamble on games he managed but never against his own team.  A manager who bet on games he managed–who involved himself with gamblers and had control of the outcome of those games–should be treated the same as players who took dives for money.  Rose might say he never bet against his own team and maybe he didn’t, but why believe him now?

For the Sox, LaRoche gives skipper Terry Francona a fierce port-siding plank out of the cabin to spell first-matey Kevin Youkilis or third-matey Mike Lowell (with Youk manning that port) to hammer cannonballs coming from the starboard.  This barter the most recent in a week of ship shaking with the albatross Julio Lugo buried at sea last Fri., Tim Wakefield in sick bay and the impressment of Jed Lowrie and Clay Buchholz in the last days past.  General Theo Epstein is in the crow’s nest with his spy-glass on the lookout for what may be acquired or plundered from other ships.

Captain Jason Varitek has not been ahoyed for comment.

Tribune Co. spokesman Gary Weitman declined to comment.

The company has reached an agreement to sell the Cubs, their home park of Wrigley Field and a stake in a regional sports cable network for slightly less than $900 million to the Ricketts family, Reuters previously reported. The company is also in talks with a second group of potential owners.

Tribune Company filed for bankruptcy in December and put the Cubs, Wrigley Field and a 25 percent stake in a local sports TV network on the block in April 2007.

The company would only hope to keep the team in chapter 11 for a short amount of time to ensure the Cubs and related assets are free of liabilities so as to speed a sale, a Reuters source said.

For those thinking small on homer day…  Great note from Joe Castiglione in the WRKO Red Sox Radio broadcast (as heard on Hartford affiliate WTIC 1080 AM) of Friday night’s 1-0 win over the Royals: Nick Green’s eigth-inning bunt was the first sacrifice bunt for a Red Sox position player this year.  The team has seven total sac bunts on the season; six of which were by pitchers in interleague play.  More importantly, Green’s bunt moved Jacoby Ellsbury to second and Ellsbury scored on a hit by Dustin Pedroia, making the bunt a complete success.  This is a great example of Francona’s management style and modern baseball: while bunting on a regular basis is for the most part stupid because a runner on first with no outs scores more often than a runner on second with one out, there is a time and place for it–when you know there will be an out anyway–such as when a hitter (or pitcher) is not hitting well or you’re just facing a lights-out pitcher.  It’s somewhat ironic that the bunt and scored run came against Royals starter Brian Bannister who himself is a follower of statistical analysis and smart baseball.

The Red Sox own a three-game lead in the AL East at the mid-summer siesta as they won three straight games against the Royals and the Yankees lost three straight in comical fashion to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, United States of America.  Nota bene that the Sox won two games against Kansas City by shutout, Lester going eight innings on Friday and Beckett going the distance on Sunday, while the Yankees had to pitchers not make it out of the fifth inning and C.C. Sabathia pitched less than stellar against an Angels team missing Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter.  Further note that the Sox are done with the west coast this season and the Yankees still have two trips out there.  Don’t however, forget about the Rays, because they are absolutely menacing head-to-head against the Red Sox and Yankees.

Apparently (and apparitiously) the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee is not favored by some ballplayers visiting the Brewers. Players from the Twins and Marlins have reported some supernatural events.   I’m starting a screenplay for a more adult version of Angels in the Outfield in which teams embrace the ghosts of their visiting teams’ hotels and clubhouses.  There should be a show on NESN–hosted by Heidi Watney of course–that follows players’ superstitions and takes viewers to haunted locations on team road trips.  With players as superstitious as they are, can this be explolited?  Imagine Dustin Pedroia hiding a walkie-talkie in an opposing pitcher’s room’s closet, or Kevin Millar personally hiding in a closet or under a bed.  It will be difficult hiding anything in A-Rod’s closet as it is already filled with skeletons…

Enjoy the rest of Blast and tonight’s blasts from St. Louis.  I’m picking Adrian Gonzalez to tee-off.

I am of the mind that Halladay will not be traded to a team in the AL East.  Note that the Blue Jays, while fourth in the division standings, are still 43-42 — eight games behind the Red Sox and seven behind the Yankees.  With seven teams ahead of them in the AL Wild Card standings, the Jays are still just seven games back.  On July 8.  They are not entirely out of the race but a trade to one of the division (who would also be a Wild Card leader) leaders would almost certainly knock them out of the hunt.  Halladay is also signed through 2010 so unless Ricciardi is not planning on contending for a  play-off spot until 2011, his presence with the Red Sox or Yankees would increase the likelihood of the Jays staying home for another October.

Working in favor of the Red Sox is that the club has both the prospects and ability to take on money to be a formidable trading partner.  The Yankees have no prospects (remember the prospects they didn’t trade for Santana–Hughes, Kennedy, Joba?) but can pick up another bad contract (Vernon Wells’ name has been swirling).  The Blue Jays would only make a trade if it could make their team better which is a concept many people in the blogosphere and talk radio do not understand.

I do not think the chance of Halladay being traded is as high as the hype.  Ricciardi is likely just hoping for an offer he can’t refuse.  If one comes his way, I would expect it to be from one of the NL leaders: either the Phillies or Cardinals hoping to distance themselves from close division opponents, or the Dodgers looking to lock up a pennant.

Wakefield, a 17-year veteran, is 10-3 so far this season with a 4.30 ERA. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday night against the Athletics.

Wakefield will be joined by teammates Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon on the pitching roster, both selected by their fellow players, while second baseman Dustin Pedroia and outfielder Jason Bay were named All-Star starters by the fans. First baseman Kevin Youkilis was named a reserve by the managers’ vote.

McNair, a three-time Pro Bowler, led the Titans within a yard of forcing overtime in the 2000 Super Bowl, which they lost 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams. He retired in April 2008 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

“If you were going to draw a football player, the physical part, the mental part, everything about being a professional, he is your guy,” former Ravens and Titans teammate Samari Rolle said. “I can’t even wrap my arms around it. It is a sad, sad day. The world lost a great man.”

McNair began his career in 1995 with the Houston Oilers, who eventually became the Titans, and finished with 31,304 yards passing and 174 touchdowns. He was forced to retire last year due to injuries.

“On the field, there isn’t player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position,” the Ravens’ Derrick Mason said. “What I have seen him play through on the field, and what he dealt with during the week to get ready for a game, I have never known a better teammate.”

In 18 games this month, Ortiz is batting .327 with six homers, eight walks, 15 runs batted in; reaching base at  a clip of .413.  Knock out the games between his first and second homeruns, Big Papi is batting a robust .357 and reaching base at .460.

In comparison, Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira cooled slightly from his May– .330, 13 hr, 34 rbi, .391 obp  –to put up June numbers of .297, 4, 13, .409.  Alex Rodriquez is hitting .152 with 2 h and 13 rbi yet is getting on base at .317.  Just call him Mr. Je-June.  It must be noted that A-Rod is playing with a temporarily-fixed torn hip labrum.  Red Sox 3B Mike Lowell attempted to play with a torn hip labrum during the 2008 ALDS against the Angels to painful results.  Cardinals 1B and Sports Illustrated posterboy  Albert Pujols (Pujols is to SI as Springsteen is to Rolling Stone) has smashed 10 homers and 28 rbi in June to go along with a .295 average and .398 obp.  Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez has also cooled from his early season smashing to June bat .238, 4, 7, .467 (walks…the folly of being the lone slugger in an NL lineup).  Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera is .274, 5, 9, .346 for June.  Rays 1B (and Havermill, MA; Northeastern alum–catch that, John?; former member of the Red Sox and Yankees; current AL homerun leader) Carlos Pena is .250, 5, 11, .381 for the month.  Add Red Sox leftfielder Jason Bay to the list of players whose June is not as hot as May as he is hitting .266, 4, 20, .341 on the month but still driving in runs.  Former Red Sox and current Dodgers leftfielder Manny Ramirez is .000, 0, 0, .000 for June so Bay is a definite upgrade there…

Is Big Papi back?  Maybe; there is still a lot of season to go.  He is however in high gear and cruising.  At the very least, he can rival teammate J.D. Drew for the title of Mr. June, as Drew’s .292 average and 48 total June homers in his career are the best of any other month of the year for him.

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas won the Vezina Trophy (top goaltender), defenseman Zdeno Chara was awarded the Norris Trophy (top defenseman), and Bruins coach Claude Julien was honored with the Jack Adams Award (top coach).

“It’s always a great feeling to prove people wrong,” Chara said. “I played basketball, tennis, soccer, and it was all just part of a kid having fun. I just never quit. I was close, but I never quit.’’

“We need to get him looked at physically,” said Francona. “He’s gonna get looked at by (Red Sox physician) Tom Gill. He’s going to get tests done. There’s a potential for MRIs. All of that information will be coming very soon.”

This season, Matsuzaka is 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA, and opponents are batting .378 against him. He hasn’t been able to pitch his way into the seventh inning yet this season, putting stress on the Sox bullpen.

John Smoltz will come off his rehabilitation to take Matsuzaka’s scheduled start on Thursday against the Washington Nationals.

“We don’t have to do something just to do something,” Francona said. “We wanted to take the time to make sure everyone understood that. Now we’re going to go slower and use proper judgment. When you take a guy out of the rotation, you take a guy out of the rotation to fix it.”

Finals MVP Kobe Bryant, who won his fourth NBA title, had 30 points in Game 5 and averaged 32.4 points in the series.

“It felt so good to be able to have this moment. We tried not to envision it too much because you just get too excited,” Bryant said. “You try not to think about it, just think about playing the game, and for this moment to be here and to reflect back on the season and everything that you’ve been through, it’s the top of the list.”

After winning his 10th career title, Lakers coach Phil Jackson broke a tie with legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach and set a new NBA record for championships by a coach.

“I’ll smoke a cigar tonight in memory of Red,” Jackson said.

David Ortiz homered twice during the series and has brought his average back up over the Mendoza Line.

“Man, it feels good,” Ortiz said.

We’re hoping the good feelings keep coming — Ortiz is scheduled to start at first base tonight in the first game of an interleague series against the Phillies.

Glavine threw six scoreless innings in a rehab start for Class-A Rome on Tuesday night and said he was “very surprised” that the team released him when it seemed he was recovering well. The team said Glavine wasn’t cut because of the economy of salary issues.

“This was not a business decision,” general manager Frank Wren said. “This was a performance decision. We’ve been evaluating him the last four weeks and everyone felt we had a better chance to win at the major league level with one of our younger pitchers.”

Wren said the team thought Glavine’s comeback was “not working” and didn’t view his return to baseball as a successful move.

Whether or not Glavine decides to speak with other teams about continuing his career is yet to be known, but either way it’s only a matter of time before he joins the Hall of Fame.

Burnett, who was expected to pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, will appeal the suspension. There’s no answer yet on how the Yankees rotation will be adjusted during his suspension or how it will affect the expected starters for next week’s series against the Red Sox.

Here are some excerpts from his ESPN Deportes interview on Wednesday.

“Everything I achieved, I did it thanks to my perseverance, which is why I never had any long, difficult moments [as a baseball player]. If you have a bad day in baseball, and start thinking about it, you will have 10 more. I will calmly wait for my induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Don’t I have the numbers to be inducted?

I always played with love and responsibility, and I assure you that I will not answer nor listen to rumors. If anything ugly comes up in the future, we will confront it immediately, but with all our strength, because I will not allow anybody to tarnish what I did in the field.

The scandal on steroids and all those suspensions will not overshadow the game. Currently, there are many Latino players performing well [offensively]. There’s [Albert] Pujols, Carlos Pena; Nelson Cruz has 15. Then what? There’s someone else that already has 22 home runs [Adrian Gonzalez] … we have hit and will continue to hit homers in the Major Leagues.”