Smoltzie. You lost. Ya big baby...

So, it seems that John Smoltz and the Cardinals are blaming his loss yesterday...not on his suck, but on the unrubbed balls he was given for the game.

I'll admit it...I openly am annoyed by John Smoltz and everything he does. I was SO excited when he signed with the team. On his first outing with the Red Sox...I jumped around proclaiming it John Smoltz Day. Since then, Smoltz has done nothing but disappoint me. He didn't pitch well with us...and seemingly was not ready for the challenge, especially in the AL East. He seemed arrogant in his post game interviews. Then, he left...went to the Cards and seemed to pitch "lights out." Maybe that shouldn't annoy me...but it does. If he was going to be pitching lights out, it should be for us.

But, I digress. So, last night...Smoltz walks an uncharacterist 5 people. He says it is because he was given "unrubbed balls." (Insert your own joke here...they write themselves!) Fine. It seems like classic not taking responsibility for your own suck, but fine. I can't see Joshie Beckett ever blaming one of his losses on something else. That's just not how he rolls...

The next part is what really annoys me. Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan goes on to say that the reason Bronson Arroyo didn't have that same hard time was because he was using pine tar that he had on his ball cap.

Duncan, who said the umpires told him the baseballs indeed were rubbed up, said Arroyo was able to deal with the issue because "I'm sure he had pine tar on his cap. He didn't have any problem getting a grip. Balls like that can generate a lot more movement than a slick ball that hasn't been rubbed up."

Asked if he had seen Arroyo go to his cap, Duncan said, "Just every pitch."

So, not only is Smoltzie not responsible for his loss, but Arroyo and the Reds are cheaters. Umm. No. Ridiculous. It's like that immature 7th grade response..."I lost, but it's because you all CHEATED." My response. Grow up.

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Where Are They Now: Wily Mo Pena

Wily Mo Pena has signed a minor league with the NY Mets. The Sox acquired Wily Mo in the trade that sent Bronson Arroyo to the Reds. In 2006, he hit .301 with a .489 SLG in 84 games. His BA sank like a rock in 2007 and the Sox traded him to the Nationals after 73 games and a .218 BA for prospect Chris Carter, who is now on the Sox roster.

You can't tell me Theo doesn't know what he's doing.

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Road Woes Continue

New league, same result. The Red Sox struggles on the road continued tonight with a loss to the Reds. Once again the offense disappeared when the road uniforms were donned; the Sox managed just 5 hits and one run in the game. Masterson gave up 3 runs on 4 hits (2 homers) in the game. He pitched well enough with 9 K's but a 2 run lead would prove to be insurmountable to the feeble Sox offense. Manny had the only RBI for Boston but had to leave the game early with the hamstring injury. Remy and Orsillo pointed out how troublesome this can be in inter-league play when Manny cannot DH.

Sox Lose 3-1 BOX SCORE

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