Since WM hasn't posted this yet, chowdah's got your weekly update!

I think I managed to do that without screwing up the formatting too bad. Yay me!

I went to the Red Sox game today, and have some notes to share about things that aren't seen in the box score. After all, there are plenty of other recaps out there.

And Now, an Assorted Chocolate Box of Game Notes (Wait, what?):

• I had seats behind home plate. They were in the 5th highest row in the park, but still behind home plate. (Actually, high up seats have a pretty good view)
• It was "Youth Sports Day" at Camden Yards. A kid had been randomly selected to throw out the first pitch. He was a member of the Columbia Clippers, who I swam for in the '07-'08 season. The pitch appeared to be right down the middle (well, close enough for a first pitch. It was better than most.)
• The weather was sunny and comfortable, and the game started pretty much right on time.
• The woman who sang the National Anthem and God Bless America was an opera singer. (Just wondering- why are only guys asked to take off their hats for the anthem?)
• There were LOTS of Sox fans, a decent number of O's fans, and some fans of various other teams, but there were some nearly empty sections in the stands (mostly the upper deck near the outfield).
• I overheard people near me talking about which cities didn't know much about baseball. One of them had once been keeping score when a fan of another team asked her what she was doing. She answered "Keeping score" , to which the other fan replied "You can do that?!?" They had just mentioned Seattle not being baseball-knowledgable, so I think the story is probably about Mariners fans.
• Seen in the stands: a Dave Trembley jersey, a sign reading "Bird's the Word", and a beachball being played with in the seats down near the RF line.
• There was a stand outside the stadium selling Sox and O's stuff. It was relatively reasonably priced, and my mom bought me a two-piece Sox swimsuit. Seriously.
•  I had a pit beef sandwich from Boog's BBQ. It came with a side of Boston baked beans.
• After Tek K'd to end the top of the 9th, some little kid shouted "Yay, we won" , though I'm not sure what team the kid was rooting for.
• After giving up the HR to Luke Scott, Dice-K went behind the mound and appeared to be playing with the infield grass or something, and there was some delay. Was he just stretching during a commercial break (like a goalie)?
• Relish won the hot dog race. If you've been to Camden Yards in the past few years you should know what that means.
• Ya know how people sometimes try too hard to pronounce Spanish words and names (they say it with a fake accent, basically)? The O's PA announcer was doing that.
• In today's edition of "This or That" (again, a video played on the scoreboard during commercials), more Orioles voted for James Bond than Austin Powers.
• Lastly, I bought a 16 month Orioles calendar to benefit the Maryland SPCA. It has adorable pictures of O's players (and Aubrey Huff) posing with dogs and cats. 
  

GO SOX! We probably won't win the division, but we're hot right now and the Yanks (whom we play after going to Kansas City) are cooling off. Let's keep it going!

(First off, I suggest reading this article if you don't already have a reasonably strong understanding of how MLB September call-ups work. It's a few years old and is against roster expansion, but does a good job of explaining the process.) 

I'm just curious as to if the NHL would ever try something like MLB's September roster expansion. There are many complications to this idea, but something could possibly be worked out. A major obstacle is that minor league hockey seasons don't end before the NHL's season. Also, there's the basic fact that baseball and hockey are very different sports and have different roster rules. But (yes, I love to start sentences with but/and) it still seems remotely plausible (insert Bettman joke here). Thoughts?

For those who haven't already heard, USG couldn't access the internet over the weekend. I saw this as my chance to attempt to do the Minor Lines, something I'd wanted to try. I admit that I'm not an expert on the minors, but I'll do my best.

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Yep- it's an off-day Gamethread. It's an experimental idea.

While the Sox have a day off before they continue their playoff hunt in Toronto, some of the teams that affect them are in action tonight. If the Rangers lose to the Twins tonight, Texas is tied with us in the Wild Card. If the Yankees lose to the Athletics, we're only seven games back in the East. Since these games give us a chance to gain ground while remaining idle, this is a thread for scoreboard watching and discussing the Sox (and it may possibly include some randomness as well). Essentially, it's a normal Gamethread, except that Boston isn't playing a game.

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After losing to the Tigers, the Red Sox are 65-49. They're a half game ahead of the Rangers in the Wild Card, but are tied in the loss column. They trail the Yankees by six games (pending the outcome of tonight's game) for the division, and are up four games on the third-place Rays. 

This month (August) is considered the make it or break it month for the Red Sox, with most games being against teams in strong contention. The Sox started off the month by winning a couple of games from the Orioles, but things quickly turned bad with a six game losing streak against division rivals Tampa and New York. But thanks to taking three of four from the Central leading Tigers, the Sox would be in the playoffs if the season ended today, and they have some confidence back. The losing streak served as a wake-up call, and the brawl fired them up.

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First off, congrats to the AL for winning Series home-field advantage (again). Of course, I don't particularly like how the All-Star game determines home field, but that's not what this post is about. (Personally, I'd prefer if I could just root for an entertaining game instead of having it really matter who wins, but again, that's not the topic at hand)

Basically, I'm bringing up some points about the Red Sox roster. Here's our active roster as of now (via redsox.com):

What's clear is that Aaron Bates will be sent down soon for someone. We also know that Buchholz is most likely going to make a start and that Lowrie and Lowell are coming back soon. So, barring injury, I'm assuming that Buch will just make one start and go back to Pawtucket. I'd been wondering if Beckett and Wakefield not pitching in the all-star game would have an effect on if he starts, but it looks like his start will still happen. (More insight into all of this here).

Another issue is who will make room for Lowrie and Lowell when they come back, which may be this weekend. My guess is that Buchholz will make his start and then be sent down to make room for Lowrie or Lowell (this is my assumption because I don't think all 3 would be on the roster at the same time). Essentially, I'm saying that Bates will be sent down, Buch and maybe one of Low/Low get called up, and then Buch gets sent down for Lowrie or Lowell, depending on how their recoveries are going. So ultimately, Lowell will most likely be in Bates' roster spot and Lowrie will replace a shortstop. According to Rotoworld, Green will probably be sent down unless Boston gets rid of Lugo somehow.

One last thing- I just don't see the Red Sox winding up with Roy Halladay. Despite the Yanks' interest in Halladay, the Red Sox aren't desperate for a starter, so I don't think he would solve any major problems or fill any holes, even if getting him would keep him away from New York.

It's the 4th inning and I don't see a thread so I'm making one. Lester needs to be a stopper (again) tonight. Hopefully, both our offense and pitching will be good tonight. Luckily, Lester's great and our offense was good enough to win (*cough* bullpen *cough*) last night. So far, it's scoreless after 3. Obviously, we need to win or we might wind up in 2nd. If there's anyone actually here on a Friday night, the reason I'm including pointless stuff is because there's a 75-word minimum. Go Sox!

In my spare time, I'm working on a song about Fenway Park. I have a tune in mind, but I don't have a way to show it on the internet. The song is about a minute and a half, plus whatever instrumentals I add. I might make some small changes down the road, but enough with the technicallities- here are the lyrics!

And the Faithful, the Faithful
And the Faithful, the Faithful
And the Faithful, the Faithful
And the Faithful, the Faithful

And the Faithful stand as one
Because the fun has just begun
What happens (t)here, is felt everywhere
Across the Nation

The Fenway Faithful stand together
United by traditions and love
Breathing in the history
That lives all around

True fans gather together
Hoping to witness something special
Heroes of the past and present
Keep these traditions alive

And the Faithful stand as one
Because the fun has just begun
What happens (t)here, is felt everywhere
Across the Nation

They come from all around
To be at this hallowed ground
Where memories are born
And Red Sox fans are bred

And the Monster, the scoreboard
And the Triangle, '04
And the Fisk Pole, the Pesky Pole
.406, and more

And the Faithful stand as one

Nick Green has been great at shortstop for the Red Sox this season. He's been reliable with Jed Lowrie on the DL and Julio Lugo being sucky inconsistent. Nicky's prevented us from needing to aquire anyone, and is having a great year in general. But we Red Sox fans already knew that, right? :)

The topic I wanted to discuss is what nickname we should have for him. It should be something fun and creative that isn't just Greenie or Nicky. I have a couple of ideas, but I'd like to know what my fellow OTMers think.

My first idea occured to me after his walkoff homer against the Braves- Nick "Game Over" Green. It's a ripoff creative adaptation of Caps' defenseman Mike Green's nickname (Yes, I'm a Caps fan).

Another idea is just something random I thought of (I can be that way sometimes). Nick plays the same position and has the same initials as Nomar. Nomar is Ramon spelled backwards. Nick spelled backwards is "Kcin", which looks kinda like Kickin' or Kitchen. So things along the lines of "kickin' ass" , "something's cooking", and "hot" would follow. Any other thoughts?

Have a great 4th of July!