So Much For My Idea!--Peter

Well, when I, tongue firmly inserted into my cheek, suggested after yesterday's game that solely in the case of games against the Orioles, Papelbon's setup man should be Timlin rather than Okajima, based on Oki's problems this year only with the O's, I never in my wildest dreams thought that the Sox would take me seriously.

Then, suddenly, here we were the very next game. Sox up 6-1 and it's top of the 9th at the Fens. So, OK--they weren't actually setting up a close by Laserman. They just intended to have Timlin pitch the last inning to finish a nice win with a healthy margin--what I have always referred to as a tie-proof margin. For the uninitiate, that means that even in the worst of cases, you can't be tied on a single swing of the bat.

Timlin comes in after Colon had pitched six solid innings of his 2005 version of himself, striking out seven; after the Sox bullpen in the form of Aardsma and Lopez provides two innings of shutout, one hit ball. Timlin comes in and gives up three hits and a pair of runs while somehow managing to only get back two outs in return. The chief blow in this sudden assault is from 2004 World Series championship teammate Kevin Millar, now firmly ensconced as the O's first sacker. He drives a run scoring two bagger to the far reaches of Fenway's outfield, later scoring himself on an error by the usually surehanded Dusty.

All of a sudden the tieproof lead is no more and the Sox are looking dangerously similar to last night's version. Tito's seen all he needs to. Texting his secretary to let Richmond know to mind his own business and keep his ideas to himself regarding setting up with Timlin (hell of an imagination I've got, don't you think?), he yanks Timlin and puts in The Saver.

Not what he planned, but Laser doesn't disappoint. Five pitches, only one of them a ball and the game is over, Sox, 6-3.

Aside from all of this, highlights of the game included homers by Tek and Lowell, the former finishing out a five run first for the Sox. There was also another stolen base by Jake, who, having made second so easily just kicked it up a gear when the throw intended to nail him went into the outfield and motored onto third; and Manny extended his Sox season high hitting streak to 15 games. Let's see--another 41 and he'll tie DiMag. I'll really get excited if I wake up one morning, say 30 games from now, and find the streak still intact.

Off the field, at least as far as this game was concerned, the Diceman threw 50 pitches from a mound and is looking more and more like he's ready to come back off the DL. Hope so.