But Andrews has done so much more.

After retiring from baseball and starting his career in the insurance industry, Andrews was coaxed by former Red Sox commentator Ken Coleman to help out at the Jimmy Fund in 1979. Andrews remembered visiting Dana-Farber patients for the program during his playing days, volunteering his time occasionally, so he said he wouldn’t mind helping out a bit.

What started as a part-time project, however, turned into Andrews’ life work.

"To pick a specific reason would be impossible," Andrews said of why he stayed. "When I first went to work with Ken, it was understanding that it would be on a part-time basis because of my insurance business. After a few months working with Ken, I realized for many reasons that this is what I really wanted to do."

And because of Andrews, the Jimmy Fund transformed into the prominent charity it is today. The first year, Andrews and Coleman teamed up to raise $1 million for cancer research. In 2009 alone, the Jimmy Fund raised $64 million.

Efforts like the Boston Marathon Walk, the NESN/WEEI telethon and various golf tournaments — large-scale fundraisers hatched by Andrews — significantly increased not only donations but also awareness, putting the Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund at the forefront of cancer charities in Massachusetts.

"All of them are important. Not all have been successful, but the ones that are, are doing so much today," said Andrews, who was Chairman for 30 years before stepping down in 2009. "The one at the top of the list is the Radio Telethon. We tried to raise money from radio stations across New England, and it took a lot of time to know what NESN and WEEI have done for it, and it is now one of the most successful events in all of New England. The golf tournament has really gone from 20 isolated golf tournaments to 150 is really a special thing. It goes on and on."

Planning these projects certainly kept Andrews busy, but what kept him inspired for 30 years was his daily interaction with both Dana-Farber patients and staff. Though there was not one specific story that kept him motivated for all those years. Instead,  Andrews said the knowledge that he was able to help so many families all the time was enough for him.

"There are so many stories over that period of time, so many relationships you develop, so many kids and adults we lost, so many that were saved and are living a wonderful life now, that it would be impossible to try to pick ones that were more important or more significant than others," Andrews said.

"Then you get involved with the families and volunteers who give so much time and inspire you, and many of them are parents of kids who will take the most tragic thing in their lives and go out to help the cause," he added. "Plus you get to know the staff at the Dana-Farber, and when you look at everyone there, it is just an amazing place that is all about trying to cure cancer. It isn’t about money, it’s about really, as a family, trying to make a difference and try to beat this disease. When you look at what they put into it, it inspires you on a daily basis."

Andrews first got a taste of this inspiration when he was a player, volunteering for the Jimmy Fund, which was started by the Yawkey family, the former owners of the Red Sox. That was what drew him back in when Coleman came calling, and that is why Andrews wishes more Red Sox players would come share in the opportunity to volunteer their time — though he is extremely appreciative of guys such as Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield, who already do.

"I have said to players they may not realize the impact they have, but the stories I have heard and seen personally by them being there are amazing," Andrews said. "I always try to tell them that you just don’t know the kind of impact you can have. Once you’re gone and you’re not a Red Sox player again, you will never have the impact you can have now.

"By sharing a little time with them can sometimes do more than medicine can do. Guys like Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield and countless others do realize that."

It’s tough to realize just how big an impact Andrews has made and how many lives he’s touched. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute tried, however, by creating the No. 2 Fund in his honor, which will aid pediatric cancer research at Dana-Farber in perpetuity.

"That was the by far the most meaningful gift they could give me," Andrews said. "I was very moved by that, and it was the perfect thing they could have done for me."

Mike Andrews had a great baseball career, packed with memories that will last a lifetime. But none of them, he said, come close to what he’s been able to do with the Jimmy Fund.

"I have really fond memories of baseball, but they don’t even come close, not even in the ballpark with what I’ve done with the Jimmy Fund," he said. "That’s a game, and you can’t compare with saving lives for 31 years."

The contentious and portly head coach of the Jets has elected to play all of his starters into the second quarter, including quarterback Mark Sanchez. While most head coaches opt for the starters — especially the quarterback — to play in only two or three series in the opening preseason game, Ryan is, once again, taking an unconventional approach.

Ryan says he wants to give his first-teamers a chance to play after such a long offseason. How generous.

There’s nothing wrong with building chemistry, especially when that comes when players don’t have to tackle members of their own team. However, the two-games-too-long exhibition season allows for starters to ease into the game again. Opting to leave his starters in there for about twice as long as most, Ryan is inviting the injury bug to bite a key contributor.

The Jets are talking Super Bowl, and it would be a real shame if, toward the end of the first quarter, Sanchez, left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, wide receiver Braylon Edwards, cornerback Antonio Cromartie or any other starter goes down.

Playing the Giants or not, the preseason means absolutely nothing to the Jets’ playoff hopes. Why Ryan is increasing the chance he loses a player for more playing time in a glorified scrimmage makes little sense.

In theory, it does make sense, but given the Rays’ situation, Maddon should think long and hard before doing that.

Tampa Bay has been without starters Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis for a week, both heading to the 15-day disabled list with shoulder problems. The Rays’ starters have thrown 732 innings this year, tied for sixth in the majors, and Davis specifically has tossed 121 1/3 frames in his first full season on the mound. Their arms are tired.

August is not the time to have this problem. Arms need to be fresh to leg out the final 40 or so games, especially when the team likely must win 60 percent of them to punch its ticket for the postseason. The Rays, clinging to a four-game lead in the wild card, have gotten by on their stellar pitching all year, and they will need that to continue to be the case.

But that’s where things start to get dicey for Maddon’s club. Niemann will be fine, as his 3.12 ERA and only two starts allowing more than four runs illustrates. He can step back in Aug. 23 and allow Andy Sonnanstine to return to his long-relief role.

What should be rethought, however, is immediately putting Hellickson in the bullpen when Davis is ready, which should also be around Aug. 23. Davis is essentially a rookie, pitching in only six games last season, and the Rays have been riding him hard — with mixed results. He is 9-9 with a 4.45 ERA, a .263 opponents’ batting average and just 77 strikeouts to 48 walks. He can have months like July, when he went 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA in five starts, or he can have months like June, when he finished 0-5 with a 6.00 ERA.

It’s that inconsistency, plus his alarming 20 home runs allowed, that should make Joe Maddon stop and think. Hellickson, meanwhile, has breezed through his first two starts, lasting seven innings in each and allowing a combined six hits, two runs and one homer while striking out 13. In his most recent start, he baffled the Tigers, needing only 86 pitches — 61 of them strikes — to record 21 outs without allowing a run.

Hellickson is in the same boat as Davis in terms of innings pitched, as he is up to 131 2/3 if you include his season in Triple-A. Still, that’s about all that the two young hurlers share in common, as Hellickson recorded 123 strikeouts to 35 walks and allowed only five home runs in Durham.

As Tampa Bay showed when the Blue Jays went yard eight times against them, the Rays struggle with giving up home runs. The Rays have given up 100 this year, second-most in the MLB. It won’t get any easier, as Tampa Bay must play 19 of its remaining 45 against the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Yankees, who rank first, second and fourth, respectively, in the majors in home runs.

Why not swap a guy who has a tired shoulder and struggles to keep the baseball inside the ballpark for the phenom who has shown signs of neither? Sure, Hellickson has a fastball that would fit perfectly in the bullpen, but he is also able to keep the ball down or catch the batter swinging through it.

Hellickson has the hot hand, and Davis is barely treading water after pitching nearly a full season in the bigs for the first time. The Rays' hold on the wild card is slipping, so they no longer have the luxury of fully protecting their prized pitcher’s arm; Hellickson pitched 152 innings in 2008, the most of his career. But will four starts (by the time Davis is able to come off the DL) be enough to gauge if Hellickson is ready to help guide the team down the stretch?

It’s not an easy call. It’s one Joe Maddon actually has to think about.

The second baseman did more than that, finishing 1-for-3 with a single, run scored and walk on Saturday. It’s not a three-homer night, but it still had Pedroia excited.

"It felt good," Pedroia, who has been out with a broken foot for seven weeks, told MLB.com. "It's been a while since I played. Later in the game I was a little tired, but overall I felt fine. It's the most I've done since I got hurt, so I'm pretty excited about it."

Starting at second base, Pedroia also had four chances sent his way, and he handled them all without problem. Two ground balls and two pop ups came and went into the glove of Pedroia, who didn’t feel as if the game was moving too quickly.

"I felt like I was fine," he said. "I got into the rhythm of the game."

With his second and final rehab start in Pawtucket on Sunday as a designated hitter, Pedroia expects to be in Boston on Tuesday.

"Everything's on schedule," he said. "I'll DH tomorrow, and have a day off. Then I'll play on Tuesday."

Jacoby Ellsbury is back on the 15-day disabled list, and he may not be back with the Red Sox for the remainder of the season.

After colliding with Rangers pitcher Tommy Hunter at first base on Friday, Ellsbury tweaked his nagging rib injury and was re-evaluated. After a CT scan in Boston on Saturday showed some edema in the soft tissue, indicating potential further injury, Ellsbury was placed back on the DL.

"It was pretty obvious to me he was hurting," Francona told MLB.com after Friday night’s game. "He didn't want to come out. I'm glad I took him out now. Obviously he was hurt. If he had gotten hurt worse, I mean, that doesn't help anybody."

The center fielder missed 95 games between two separate DL stints so far, and he may miss the final 44 games, as well. Darnell McDonald, Eric Patterson and Ryan Kalish are all options to replace Ellsbury in center field for the time being.

Since also breaking his foot, Jason Varitek has been said to be seven to 10 days behind Dustin Pedroia. That still seems to be the case.

A week after Pedroia was running sprints for the training staff, Varitek was doing the same in the Texas heat on Friday for trainer Mike Reinold, the Boston Globe reports.

Varitek has been able to develop a good deal of speed, but he has trouble slowing down, which also ailed Pedroia. He remains 7-10 days behind the Red Sox second baseman, meaning Varitek should be back when the team travels to Tampa Bay.

Hideki Okajima, who was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday with a hamstring strain, will throw bullpen sessions on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, before being re-evaluated. The reliever has a 5.85 ERA in 40 games this season.

Mike Cameron’s status remains unknown. His most recent time on the DL will officially end on Tuesday, but his recurring abdominal strain has given him problems all season. Whether Francona decides to take him off the DL or chooses to let the 37-year-old center field to rehab more has yet to be announced.

Red Sox owner Theo Epstein, baseball journalist Peter Gammons and chefs Todd Winer and Jason Santos played for the crowd as part of the Hot Stove, Cool Music benefit. All proceeds were donated to Epstein’s charity, The Foundation to Be Named Later, a branch of the Red Sox Foundation.

After the amateurs took their seats, the heavy hitters grabbed the mic and entertained a star-studded Fenway crowd. Brian Scalabrine of the Celtics, Tuukka Rask and Mark Recchi of the Bruins as well as a group of other former Black and Gold members were all in attendance.

Also spotted were Donnie Wahlberg, Republican gubernatorial candidates Charlie Baker and Richard Tisei — both of whom weren’t too political to dance throughout the show — and John Henry and his wife, Linda.

Oh, right, and there was a concert, too. Check out the video below for a live listen to Aerosmith performing “Walk This Way.”

Ellsbury reinjured his problematic rib area, which had sidelined him twice before for a total of 95 games this season, after colliding with pitcher Tommy Hunter against the Rangers on Friday. He was placed on the 15-day DL.

The centerfielder flew to Boston on Saturday morning for a CT scan, and the results weren’t promising. Manager Terry Francona said there are indications of new trauma and perhaps even a fracture line, illustrating that the injury never fully healed.

Ellsbury was only 4-for-34 (.118) since returning, but did steal five bases and was beginning to grow comfortable in the batter’s box again.

"You just have to go on the symptoms and [Ellsbury] said it was worse than in Tampa [when he went on the DL for the second time], so we knew this was a DL [move]," Francona told MLB.com. "So now that's he on the DL, we'll try to find out, 'What do we do?'"

There’s also a question of what the Red Sox will do, now again without a steady center fielder or leadoff man. Marco Scutaro will likely hold down the top spot in the order for the remainder of the year. The veteran shortstop has hit leadoff in 99 games this season, logging a .276 average.

Francona will likely plug in whomever he can in center field, rotating Darnell McDonald, Bill Hall and the still-injured Mike Cameron at the position.

The Jets star receiver has been tweeting about his facial hair, but nothing compares to actually seeing what Edwards has on his face.

Rich Eisen of NFL Network jokingly introduced him as Isaac Hayes during a video interview, though Edwards’ beard is much more impressive than the late musician’s ever was. Luckily, the receiver is used to the wisecracks and has started poking fun at himself.

“Darrelle Revis has been holding out in the beard,” Edwards confirmed. “He’s been here the whole time, and I’m kind of the go-to guy between Darrelle and the team.”

The real question is what will cave first — Revis’ holdout or Edwards’ refusal to shave. The former No. 3 overall pick has not shaved since mid-March, right before the offseason training began. Yet, he isn’t growing it for any reason or with any goal in mind, and may just let it keep growing

“In terms of shaving, I don’t know because it’s kind of taken on a life of its own,” Edwards admitted. “It just got started just because. I was working out with the team, grinding every day, trying to dedicate myself to the offseason and getting better this year, and it get kind of got lost in the shuffle. Along came asalamalakum.”

“Asalamalakum,” the common Muslim greeting meaning “peace be upon you,” seemed natural coming from the heavily bearded Edwards. It may be a little weird at first, but give Edwards some credit: five months without shaving takes some serious dedication.

Now, if he dedicates that much time and effort to holding on to Mark Sanchez’s passes, Edwards won’t drop a ball all year.

That’s exactly what Jaguars quarterback Luke McCown did in Friday’s opening exhibition game against the Eagles. After starter David Garrard sputtered through a scoreless quarter and a half, McCown stepped in and did everything Garrard couldn’t.

The seventh-year man from Louisiana Tech displayed a big arm and accurate deep ball on touchdown passes of 73, 30 and 55 yards while remaining efficient throughout, finishing his time with 11-of-15 passing. Garrard, meanwhile, was just 5-of-10 for 35 yards.

Of course, Garrard was up against the Eagles No. 1 defense and McCown saw mostly backups, but at the same time, McCown was throwing to and was being protected by the Jaguars backups. McCown – the younger brother of former Cardinals/Lions/Raiders quarterback Josh McCown — showcased all the tools head coach Jack Del Rio desperately needs from Garrard. It’s highly unlikely McCown will unseat Garrard for the starting job by September, but should the four-year starter falter, McCown will be waiting close behind for a shot.

And why shouldn’t he? His only true shot was a five-game audition in Tampa Bay in 2007, and the results were fixed anyway, as veteran Jeff Garcia was guaranteed his job back. McCown, starting only three of those games, finished his limited opportunity with 94-for-139 passing (67.6 percent), 1,009 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Plus, he showed that he could scramble when the pocket broke down, picking up 117 yards on 12 rushes. Prorate that over 16 games, and McCown finishes the year with 3,228 yards, 16 touchdowns, nine interceptions and 375 rushing yards.

Those stats look pretty similar to those of Garrard’s averaged stats of the last two years — 3,608 yards, 15 touchdowns, 11 interceptions — and even may be a bit better. Garrard has always struggled with tossing the ball downfield, but snatched the starting spot from Byron Leftwich back in 2006 after the Marshall grad with the big arm couldn’t cut it. Garrard impressed with a 5-5 record to finish out the year and a 9-4 record the following year, but recently hasn’t been the manage-and-win-the-game quarterback the Jaguars can employ thanks to Maurice Jones-Drew. Garrard is 12-20 in the last two seasons.

McCown has never received a fair shake, and he hasn’t started a game since those three in 2007. The big arm he showed he has would keep defenses a little more honest, giving Jones-Drew slightly more breathing room and potentially opening up the playbook for Jacksonville.

The Jaguars open their season against Denver, at San Diego and at home against Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Should they stumble to 1-3 or 0-4 to start 2010, don’t be surprised if the team desperate to fill its stadium and generate some excitement sits the boring vet for a fresh start.

Preseason games still don’t mean anything, but if McCown’s preseason performance is any indication, it could end up meaning a whole lot for his career.

After passing his physical on Wednesday, Pedroia was given the green light for actual playing time, starting with the Triple-A PawSox. He is scheduled to play second base on Saturday and move to designated hitter on Sunday.

Pedroia, who has been on the disabled list since June 26 after fouling a ball off his foot, was on a tear before the injury. The 2008 AL MVP was hitting .292 with 12 homers and 41 RBIs, but was also tied for first in the AL with 24 doubles and tied for fourth with 52 runs scored.

That’s because the 26-year-old sophomore quarterback actually competed in the March Spring Game and received an entire offseason to train, study the playbook and learn to be a football player again.

"I was more a baseball player last year," Shinskie admitted. "Over the summer, I worked hard with the receivers and with the line, and I’m feeling more comfortable this year."

The former minor league baseball player enrolled at Boston College in late July last year and was immediately thrown into a four-man competition for the starting job. After splitting time with Justin Tuggle during the first three contests, Shinskie won the job outright and was given the reins to the BC offense.

After doing his best not to cost the Eagles any games in 2009 – BC finished the regular season 8-4 – Shinskie is looking to do more than last’s years 2,049 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. After being named the starter going into camp, he knows it starts with the fundamental progression of a young quarterback.

"Cut down on the interceptions, pre-read coverage and just work on my check downs a little more," Shinskie said of what he is working on. "It comes with learning the playbook, learning where your check downs are, learning what coverages go with what routes. It comes with time."

Time may be up for Shinskie’s learning curve. With a strong defense and fantastic running game, the Eagles are expecting an improvement from last year’s overachieving finish, and it starts at the quarterback position. But the gunslinger is just as excited as the rest of the team.

"We have a lot of veteran guys who know what we’re doing, and I can’t wait to show what we can do," Shinskie said. "We have a long way to go. We’re starting out pretty good, but we have a long way to go. I’m excited for this year."

The guys catching Shinskie’s passes agree.

"It takes some time to adjust, but he’s doing a better job already," said sophomore tight end Chris Pantale. "Certainly in a leadership role and I think this year he’ll have a breakout year."

"Dave, going into his second year with a year under his belt, has game experience. That’s kind of rare," said receiver Colin Larmond Jr. "You can get the practice side, but to get the actual game experience doesn’t happen a lot. Now, we watch film together so we digest the film together, our timing’s down, the chemistry is there. He knows where I’m going to be, and I know where he is going to put the ball. It’s going to be an explosive year – not just Dave and I, but the entire offense."

Even head coach Frank Spaziani, who held very realistic expectations for his freshman quarterback, has seen marked improvement in the often inconsistent Shinskie.

"He has a better understanding of what we expect of him and a better understanding of what it takes to be a big league quarterback," Spaziani said. "He’s doing all the little things he needs to do to be accountable. He’s making progress."

Shinskie is a year older and a year wiser. He has had a full offseason to prepare. He even holds the job title of undisputed starting quarterback. Whether he can put it all together, however, remains to be seen. For what it’s worth, the man taking the snaps sure thinks he can.

"We worked hard over the summer, I competed over the summer and I’m competing now," Shinskie said. "Having the Spring Game under me, I don’t know why this offense can’t thrive on Saturdays."

No one else on the team seems to believe otherwise.

E-mail. Facebook. YouTube. There are Internet phenomena that forever change the world as we know it.

Shaquille O’Neal has entered that realm.

For those who struggle to estimate another person’s height, have a hard time gauging just what 5-foot-8 means, or can’t for the life of you understand how long a meter is, Shaq has come to the rescue once again.

Now, everything can be measured in a universal Shaqtion.

A Shaqtion takes the height and weight of Shaq — approximately 7-foot-1, 325 pounds — and sets that as the base measurement of 1. Everything is then measured in comparison to Shaq. There is no intangible 12 inches to one foot or 2.54 centimeters to one inch nonsense. Now, life can be interpreted in terms of Shaq.

The Big Diesel has been around long enough that everyone understands just how big the Celtics’ new center is. So, when a friend says, “This kid is big! He is at least 6-foot-3, 270 pounds,” don’t bother trying to comprehend that in inches. Instead, convert it to Shaqtions: That kid is big, but he’s only 0.84 Shaqs.

Thank goodness for Shaq, who, merely by existing, has positively affected society once more.

NESN.com will showcase one Moment of Shaq every day until the Celtics open the season against the Heat on Oct. 26 at the TD Garden.

Thursday, Aug. 12: Shaq brings‘Raw’ talent to Boston.

The battle for the Boston College football team’s open strong safety spot is being waged between junior Dominick LeGrande and sophomore Jim Noel. LeGrande, a recruited safety but a weakside linebacker in 2009, has a slight edge over Noel in the current two-deep, but nothing is set in stone at that position just yet.

"I think Dom is a natural football player," Davis said. "He took one for the team when he moved to linebacker, but he’s more of a safety. He’s come along pretty well."

The adjustment back to safety has kept the door open for Noel, an athletic defensive back who possesses great speed and a knack for finding the ball. That speed, however, can occasionally prevent him from being in the right position, something that remains a strong suit for LeGrande.

"They both have different qualities," Davis said. "I'm not going to say Jim is more rangy, but they both bring different stuff to the table. I think you will see them both on the field this year."

Whether the strong safety will be occupied by one or two players, the man playing next to Davis will need to help increase the number of turnovers the defense creates. Davis led the team in interceptions with four, and he admits that last year was "a step back."

"I think we always want to step our game up," Davis said. "The year before, we were up there in the nation in interceptions, but last year, to be honest, was a step back. The defense as a whole looks better this year."

What has yet to be decided is if LeGrande, Noel or a combination of both can make the team even better.

It had been a long and much-publicized fight with cancer, but Herzlich beat it and was on schedule to returning to the football field.

But on the first day of practice Monday, he stood on the sidelines. And he has done so for the entire week, missing the team’s first five practices.

The BC medical staff discovered a stress fracture in Herzlich’s right foot, which he suffered while training six weeks ago. Until that injury heals, Herzlich will remain unable to practice with his teammates, teased by the prospect of finally hitting someone for the first time in a year and a half.

"It’s frustrating, but I obviously have dealt with much worse than a foot fracture," Herzlich said. "Whatever it is, it’s sidelining me right now. I just need to try to get back. It’s another thing to hurdle."

The 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year may be ready to hurdle it sooner than most think. Initially ruled day to day, Herzlich said that X-rays and MRIs have shown "significant healing."

"Right now it’s kind of wait and see, see how it progresses," Herzlich continued. "There’s no jumping into it too soon, so we are going to be overly cautious with it and make sure it gets fully healed. The last thing we want to do is come back too soon and have it linger throughout the season.

"I’ll be back by the first game, but most likely much sooner."

Though Herzlich cannot physically practice, the senior linebacker is not absent. He has been a noticeable and helpful presence, offering advice where he can. This will be his fifth time through August camp, and his knowledge of the game is benefitting his teammates – and not only on defense.

"Mark is an emotional leader, and even though I’ve never seen him play, at practice, he has been away from the game but he knows everything that’s going on," said quarterback Dave Shinskie. "He’s right there. It’s going to be fun to watch him play."

What most are marveling over is the prospect of teaming Herzlich with sophomore linebacker Luke Kuechly, who finished second in the NCAA with 158 tackles. The public, however, isn’t the only one eager to see what that duo could produce.

"Yeah I’m really excited. I sent a text message to Luke last week and was like, 'I can’t wait to start playing with you.' And he felt the same way. It’s not about competition among each other. All of the linebackers together are working to make the best linebacking corps in the country.

"We have the possibility to be there. We have the talent and motivation, but we’re not refined enough. That will come over the next 20 or so practices."

There’s no question, though, that BC’s group of linebackers suffers a huge hit if Herzlich is unable to play as expected. Fair or not, Herzlich will be asked to be just as good as he was in 2008 – and he knows it. Yet Herzlich, who does not expect a starting position handed to him on a silver platter, understands that there are players who will supplant him if he is not up to the task.

That isn’t going to stop him from believing he still has what it takes.

"There’s no reason to go out there and expect to be terrible, because if I’m not good anymore, I’m not going to play," Herzlich said.

The problem is, Herzlich isn’t playing now, either. But the idea of having him standing on the practice field, only awaiting clearance from a nagging foot injury and not Ewing’s Sarcoma, feels like a dream. The Eagles star linebacker, however, isn’t looking at it that way. In fact, he is right where he expected to be.

"It’s not surreal because it’s something I planned on the whole time," Herzlich said. “From the outside, it probably looks surreal, but to me, that was the plan the whole time. I’m just on course with what I want."

 Photo courtesy of Alex Trautwig / The Heights

Jon Lester shut down the Yankees in the final game of the four-game set, Daisuke Matsuzaka did enough in 5 2/3 innings to give Boston another win in Toronto and John Lackey deserved a win before a ninth-inning collapse against the Blue Jays in the series finale.

Clay Buchholz, however, continues to pitch like a No. 1 starter, in spite of his place as the Red Sox’ No. 3 arm behind Josh Beckett and Lester. That is why Buchholz has earned this week’s Amica Pitcher of the Week honors.

The right-hander went another eight innings on Wednesday — the second time in three starts — to pick up his 13th win of the year and second time in Toronto. Throwing eight innings of five-hit ball, Buchholz allowed only one run and struck out four in Boston’s 10-1 thrashing of the Blue Jays.

The start eerily mirrors the All-Star’s only other start in Toronto this season on April 27. In that start, his fourth of the season, Buccholz shut down the Blue Jays over eight innings, allowing seven hits, one run and striking out four. It seems as if the righty has their number.

Buchholz is now 13-5 with a 2.49 ERA, both tops on the team. He also has rebounded nicely since his first rough outing back from injury when he lasted just four innings in Oakland on July 21. In his four starts since, Buchholz is 3-0 with a 1.48 ERA, and the Red Sox haven’t lost in any of them.

Now six games behind the division-leading Yankees and just four behind the wild card-holding Rays, the Red Sox will need all of their starters to pitch like staff aces for the remainder of the season.

Clay Buchholz already has them covered.

Quarterbacks
After a summer-long, four-man quarterback battle last year, the Eagles are enjoying some stability, with 26-year-old sophomore Dave Shinskie entering camp as the named starter. He split time with Justin Tuggle, who transferred after the season ended, in the first three games before receiving the starting nod after a brutal loss at Clemson. The former minor league baseball player led BC to a surprising 8-4 record and Emerald Bowl berth behind 2,049 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Lurking immediately behind Shinskie on the depth chart is true sophomore Mike Marscovetra, a quarterback with prototypical size and improving arm. He outplayed Shinskie in the spring game, but remains entrenched as the backup. True freshmen Chase Rettig and Josh Bordner likely will redshirt this year, as is BC’s custom with quarterbacks when they aren’t the only option.

Running Backs
The BC offense lives and dies with junior running back Montel Harris, who finished second in school history with 308 carries last season, amassing 1,457 yards and 14 touchdowns. Harris also set a BC record with 264 rushing yards in a game against NC State last season. Harris’ refusal to go down on the first tackle and tireless endurance carried the Eagles’ offense last year, and will again in 2010.

The running back corps took a blow when backup Rolandan Finch suffered a torn ACL in the spring, opening the door for Sterlin Phifer to serve as Harris’ primary backup. Phifer redshirted last season. Outside of Phifer is fullback and captain James McCluskey, who will carry the ball in goal-line situations and occasionally lead block if the Eagles run out of the I-formation.

Wide Receivers
This group has a lot of questions to answer. Leading receiver Rich Gunnell and steady backup Justin Jarvis both graduated, leaving only junior Colin Larmond Jr. with real game experience. The tall, speedy wideout stretched the field with 29 catches for 596 yards and five touchdowns. He will be expected to step up and carry a young receiving corps. Redshirt freshman Johnathan Coleman is one of those young receivers, and he has impressed during the spring same and camp so far. He has a shot at grabbing a starting spot away from senior Billy Flutie, Doug’s nephew. Speedy sophomore Clyde Lee and true freshman Shakim Philips also are in the mix.

Tight Ends
Sophomore Chris Pantale quietly emerged as a solid pass catcher during his freshman campaign, hauling in 25 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown. Expect him to break out as a safety blanket for Shinskie. Senior Lars Anderson has never lived up to his potential, but remains a decent receiver and better blocker.

Offensive Line
BC has earned the nickname “O-Line U,” and this group will absolutely show why. Anthony Costanzo, starting for a fourth straight year, protects Shinskie’s blind side at left tackle. Massive senior Rich Lapham bookends the line at right tackle. Three-year starter Thomas Claiborne bulldozes the run game from the right guard spot, and Emmett Cleary will get the nod at left guard after fighting off Nate Richman last year. Richman, meanwhile, will replace steady Matt Tennant, who was lost to graduation, at center. This fivesome will be expected to pave the way for another strong season on the ground and give Shinskie, who is still improving, enough time in the pocket.

Defensive Line
Senior captain Alex Albright and redshirt sophomore Max Holloway, whom many are touting for a breakout season, will rush the passer from the defensive end spot. Albright’s eight tackles for a loss last year ranked second on the team, and he will need to avoid injuries, which have plagued him in the past. Steady senior Brad Newman and wide-receiver-turned-end Ifeyani Momah will provide depth off the edge.

The tackles situation is a bit murkier, with leader Damik Scafe still recovering from back surgery. He battled through injuries last season and likely will do it again, but his status for the season opener is still unclear. Three big men will compete during camp for the right to start — Conor O’Neal, Dillon Quinn and Bryan Murray. All three provide the girth the Eagles need to allow their linebackers to roam, and though early reports say O’Neal holds a slight advantage, this battle will be one to watch closely.

Linebackers
The feel-good story of college football will play out in Alumni Stadium, as senior linebacker Mark Herzlich makes his improbable return from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Doctors weren’t sure if he would survive, and playing football again was practically ruled out. Herzlich, however, has battled back and beat the cancer and is now on the finishing stages of his physical rehab to get back into football shape. The 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year remains sidelined with a foot fracture, but time off the practice field also will help improve his leg strength and flexibility.

Alongside Herzlich will be sophomore Luke Kuechly, a freshman phenom who racked up 158 tackles, good for second in the NCAA, last year. With a year under his belt, the kid teammates call “Wonderboy” may actually get better. On the weakside will be either Mike Morrissey, a former walk-on who received plenty of time last season, or Will Thompson, the top defensive recruit from former head coach Jeff Jagodzinski’s 2011 class who has yet to make an impression.

Defensive Backs
Lacking a great pass rush, the Eagles’ defense received stellar contributions from their corners and safeties last season, which they will need once again. Senior DeLeon Gause and junior Donnie Fletcher — both of whom have started in the past — are battling it out for one spot, while redshirt sophomore Isaac Johnson has assumed the starting role on the other side. At the safety position, senior captain Wes Davis mans the free safety spot for a second straight year after leading the team with four interceptions in 2009. BC must replace hard-hitting Marcellus Bowman at strong safety, and it appears it will come down to converted linebacker Dominick LeGrande and athletic defensive back Jim Noel.

Specialists
Ryan Quigley took his lumps as a true freshman punter, but now a junior, the South Carolina native has blossomed into one of the ACC’s best. He set a BC record for punts in a season with 77 and finished second in the ACC with 23 punts inside the 20-yard line. In addition to booting kickoffs, he may also be asked to kick field goals. Redshirt freshman Nate Freese, a former two-star recruit, will get a long look, but Quigley may turn into Mr. Everything on special teams for the Eagles.

Photo courtesy of Alex Trautwig / The Heights

Much like the Red Sox, the Blue Jays are a strong squad wishing they didn’t have the two best teams in baseball both in their division. But Toronto is making due — or at least doing the best they can, which isn’t half bad.

Seven games over .500, the Blue Jays boast the most powerful lineup in the bigs, one that has accumulated 175 home runs this year, easily the most in the MLB; the Red Sox, second place on the list, are 28 home runs behind the Blue Jays’ pace. This is the same Toronto lineup that belted eight home runs in Saturday’s 17-11 romp over the Rays, setting the second-highest total in a game in franchise history. Led by Jose Bautista's major league-leading 34 blasts, Cito Gaston's crew can put the ball over the fence.

Toronto’s pitching staff has also remained strong, with second-year hurlers Ricky Romero and Brett Cecil blossoming into dominant arms. Both young pitchers, along with Shaun Marcum, own an ERA below 3.62. Plus, No. 4 pitcher Brandon Morrow got in on the act recently, tossing 8 2/3 hitless innings and striking out 17 Rays in Sunday’s 1-0 win.

Even J.P. Arencibia, the Blue Jays’ rookie catcher, caught on quickly with the slugging Jays, hitting a homer in his first at-bat and adding another later. He was the first player to record four hits, two of them home runs, in his MLB debut since 1900.

On paper, the Blue Jays have plenty to be excited about.

Yet, at 59-52 and nine games out of the wild card, not all of these sterling statistics have come to fruition in the win column. And beginning Tuesday, the scrappy Red Sox, who are 7-2 against Toronto this year, go to Rogers Centre.

But as Mat Germain of Jays Journal tells us, not all hope is lost in Toronto. In fact, the Blue Jays feel pretty good about their chances.

NESN.com: Did you expect Jose Bautista to have such a monster home run year? He had never hit more than 16, so what is he doing differently?
 
Mat Germain: Anyone who claims to have predicted Jose Bautista's monster season is either lying or extremely over-optimistic. However, someone who would have looked at how his bat took off after he began getting consistent playing time in late 2009 could have seen some improvement coming from Jose this season. When looking back at the Alex Rios transaction of 2009, when the White Sox were basically handed Rios and his massive contract, we can now see that it actually resulted in a trade of Rios for Bautista. What a trade-off for the Jays, as it's one that has reshaped the franchise as we head toward 2011.
 
The only difference Jose has made at the plate is that he begins his swing a little later than he had in the beginning of 2009, or when the pitcher takes the ball out of his glove instead of when he goes into motion. He claims that this has resulted in fewer "very long" fouled pitches due to being early or late depending on his reaction. So, his swing is smoother, more direct and has more time in the strike zone as a result.
 
NESN.com: The Blue Jays are far and away tops in the AL in homers, but 12th in team average. Are they being coached to swing for the fences, is the lineup stacked with all power hitters, or is something else going on?
 
MG: Whatever they're doing, it's only going to get better. With Adam Lind and Aaron Hill playing under their abilities, Travis Snider finally catching up to fastballs and being healthy, and the very best catcher-power hitter the Jays will ever see now up in Arencibia (who broke A-Rod's high school home run record in Miami and had over 30 long balls in Triple-A this season), the home run record may not be safe. If not this season, then maybe in 2011.

The Jays are young, have hitters two through nine who can feasibly hit over 20 homers and have been given a green light to swing at pitches they see. I expect this will catch on with other clubs who tend to micromanage pitch selections for their hitters. Gaston and the Jays have instituted the "you see a pitch you like or think you're guessing right on a certain count, swing away — but whatever you do, swing HARD!" Why this hasn't been used before is beyond me, but can you imagine how many blasts the Jays would have — and Bautista in particular — if they played in the bangbox that is Yankee Stadium? That's one scary thought.
 
I don't know if you've seen the commercials the Jays are running about their home run exploits, but trust me, everyone forgets about the averages when you get three to four guys who hit 30 or more. The only problem the Jays have had in 2010 is with getting guys on base, and general manager Alex Anthopoulos recognized it and fixed it some with the acquisitions of Fred Lewis and Yunel Escobar.
 
Even with all of Jose's homers, the 2010 Jays MVP is Anthopolous, the very best GM the Jays could have hired in this era.

NESN.com: How surprised are you with the success of second-year starters Ricky Romero (3.37 ERA) and Brett Cecil (3.77 ERA)?

MG: Not at all! I predicted the Jays would finish the season over .500 for that exact reason. Their young pitchers are among the best in the league, and when Marc Rzepczynski gets going, opposing teams will find out just how great the Jays are going to be over the next decade. Both Romero and Cecil have the one thing that Roy Halladay had with the Jays — movement on all pitches. Throw nothing straight and trust your stuff, that's pretty much been their mottos. They're learning to pitch from the likes of Jose Molina and John Buck, and are both cocky guys who will only be better in 2011 and beyond as they gain experience.
 
Look for Kyle Drabek to push Jesse Litsch out of the rotation in 2011, making this rotation a mean and young-gun powerhouse with depth the likes of which the Jays have never seen. Also, imagine if Halladay had stuck around for this season. The Jays didn't get any MLB players in return for Roy, so if you add him into the rotation the Jays have had in 2010, I would contend that the Jays would be tied with the Yankees and Rays. That says a lot about how well the Jays have played this season.
 
NESN.com: Toronto seems poised for another fourth-place finish, which would be their third straight. What needs to happen for the team to get over the hump and contend?

MG: Nothing. The Red Sox' injuries and the reinforcements the Jays have in Triple-A will allow the Jays to finish third in the AL East, ahead of the Red Sox. If it were not for the Sox' starting pitching, the Jays would already be ahead of them. I sympathize with the injuries, as the Sox seem to be this season's version of the 2009 Mets, but there's no way the Sox can survive without a healthy Kevin Youkilis or Dustin Pedroia. They're the heartbeats of that team.
 
Don't worry about the Jays' ranking. In 2011, the Yankees will be trying to replace a "hip-surgeried" A-Rod, will be forced to pay Derek Jeter a ton of cash and will be looking to replace lots of pitchers.

The Rays will be dumping salary and will fall back as a result. Therefore, I expect the Red Sox and Jays will battle it out for the AL East and wild card for that season, although that prediction is very early and doesn't include trades or free-agent pickups. When we consider that the Jays will be one of the biggest spenders on the FA market this offseason, however, I expect that to work into their favor.

The Jays could have up to $50 million to spend in free agency (minus $4 million going to Bautista's raise) if they want to return to 2008 levels of $97 million or so. That's a ton of help to bring in to join the young core they have, and a big reason Jose Bautista wants to stick around in Toronto. Halladay ($6 million), B.J. Ryan ($10 million) and Randy Ruiz ($400K) are all coming off the books, giving the Jays a ton of wiggle room. That doesn't mean Anthopolous will spend it all, but it does mean that if he sees a player he likes, chances are he'll get him (or them).
 
NESN.com: Though the Blue Jays are nine games back in the wild card (through Aug. 8), they do have 24 of their remaining 51 against the three teams atop the AL East, starting with this series against the Red Sox. Is there a legitimate shot at a late-season comeback?

MG: Why not? They are the masters of their own destiny, and although the Rays will be extremely tough to beat, the Yankees and Red Sox seem doable in my opinion. The Yankees are getting some shaky pitching from three of their five starters, the Red Sox have a ton of injuries and the Jays are confident and happy-healthy as can be. All expect to be back in 2011, except perhaps some of the relievers, John Buck and Lyle Overbay, and there is a chance that the Yankees slide back far enough for the Jays to catch them. I wouldn't hold my breath, but I think it is possible if the Jays can get a great streak going.
 
I would point out, however, that some of the Jays pitchers (Marcum and Litsch in particular) are young or coming off injury. Therefore, I do lean toward a slide if the replacements (Brad Mills, Zach Steward, Shawn Hill or Drabek) don't pitch well when they are called upon. I would say that the Jays will have a hard time getting any closer than three games back from the wild card.
 
NESN.com: This season, the Blue Jays are just 2-7 against the Sox. Why have they had so much trouble with them?

MG: Let's not get out of hand here. The Jays lost five of those games by one run, and they won one by one run, so I'd say that most of the games have been very competitive to say the least. I expect that to continue, but I'd say that part of the reason the Jays came on the losing end was due to the matchups being early in the season, before the Jays started believing they should win every game they play, instead of simply believing they "could." That's the difference with the Jays now, they expect to win every game. It's about time.

But with Josh Freeman entering his second season firmly anointed as the starter, things are looking up for Tampa Bay.

Not much went right for the Buccaneers in the first half of 2009, entering Week 9 without a win and 0-for-2 on starting quarterbacks. After Byron Leftwich was benched after three games, and the athletic Josh Johnson, a fifth-rounder from the 2008 draft, fared no better in the next handful, the team ran out of options. Tampa Bay wanted to let Freeman sit and learn for a year, but it had no choice.

The first-round pick from Kansas State surprised everyone. He orchestrated an 11-point fourth-quarter comeback over the Green Bay Packers and threw for 205 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Not a bad debut.

Though he finished the season with a 3-6 record, he helped the Bucs end the year on a high note, winning two of their last three. His final statistics don’t jump off the page — 158-for-290 passing, 1,855 yards, 10 touchdowns, 18 interceptions and two fumbles — but his poise in the pocket and leadership in the locker room did. He impressed his coaches and teammates so much that head coach Raheem Morris has not wavered from openly stating that Freeman is the Buccaneers’ starter.

Freeman wouldn’t have it any other way.

"If anything, it makes me feel better," Freeman told USA Today. "They tailored an offense around me, and it's playing to all my strong suits. That makes my odds (of success) even better. Stepping in and getting to run plays that [offensive coordinator Greg Olson] designed for me, that's ideal.

"He knows the things that I do well, and he knows the things that I need to work on, as well. I think it's awesome to have a team around me and coaches around me that are putting so much faith in the quarterback."

At 22 years old, Freeman obviously has a lot more to learn before he will be mentioned as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. But one major step has been taken in his progression, as his confidence is at an all-time high after hearing that the Buccaneers are his team. In fact, he’ll tell anyone who asks that they are.

"Yeah," he said definitively before pausing and back-tracking just a bit. "Well, I mean, it's hard to say it's my team, especially if you say it like, 'MY team, my team,' but yeah, man, I feel like I'm a leader on this team, but we have a lot of leaders on this team."

Freeman may think Tampa Bay has "a lot of leaders," but everyone will be looking to the 17th overall pick to not only improve individually but also better the team. Few, if any, are expecting the Buccaneers to challenge for the NFC South crown in 2010, but in another year or two, Freeman is expected to bring the team out of the division's basement.

As Freeman goes, the Buccaneers go. It’s a daunting notion, but one that Freeman seems more than willing to handle.

The Mets’ 35-year-old knuckleballer has had far and away the best season of his career, and he will be handsomely rewarded for it. Dickey leads the Mets’ rotation in ERA (2.36), WHIP (1.18), home runs allowed (five), walks issued (28) and opponents’ batting average (.294). By the way, this is the same staff with ace Johan Santana.

New York’s most surprising star is also only making $600,000 this season, the final year of his contract. That figure will soon get much, much bigger.

A remarkable turnaround couldn’t have happened to a better player. Dickey bounced around the Rangers, Mariners and Twins organizations before landing in the Big Apple this year. What made it difficult to keep his ERA down and win total up was a missing piece — of ligament, that is. Texas medical staff found that he had no ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. There was just nothing there.

“For him to be able to throw at all is pretty phenomenal in itself,” Rick Griffin, the Mariners’ head athletic trainer, said in an interview with The New York Times in 2008. “But he’s doing it in the major leagues. People in sports amaze you physically, but this is something you’d never suspect. It’s like a running back in the NFL having no anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. It’s amazing.”

By anyone’s guess, Dickey’s career was over after 2008. He split time as a reliever and starter in Texas from 2003 to 2006, with mixed results. In his first two years, he went a combined 15-15 with a 5.35 ERA and 33 home runs allowed. By 2006, he was ready to try out being a knuckleball pitcher, and the Rangers gave him one last shot. In his first start, Dickey allowed six home runs, tying the major league record with the Red Sox’ Tim Wakefield. The Rangers had seen enough, and he was sent to the minors.

Stops in Seattle (5-8, 5.21 ERA with 14 starts, 15 homers allowed) and Minnesota (35 relief appearances, 4.62 ERA, 30 walks given in 64 1/3 innings) didn’t last more than a year. He was a knuckleball pitcher who couldn’t throw the knuckleball effectively.

Then, something clicked in 2010. Milling in the Mets’ minor league system, the Mets called him up for a start on May 19. After six innings, Dickey threw 98 pitches and yielded just five hits and two runs. Maybe he would stick around.

His performance on the mound, however, has been much more than sticking around.

He averages 6 2/3 innings per start, and has made it through the sixth inning in 14 of his 16 starts. His walks are down drastically — his 28 free passes in 99 innings is fewer than the 30 he issued in 64 1/3 innings last year, and he gives up hardly any homers. Dickey is the ace in the hole the Mets’ pitching staff needed after Mike Pelfrey’s struggles and John Maine crashed and burned once again.

If the Mets are smart, they will lock Dickey up before the calendar turns to October. Primo pitchers are in high demand, and contenders will always shell out big bucks for a reliable arm, let alone a dominant one.

"Doctors look at me and say I shouldn’t be able to turn a doorknob without feeling pain, and I shouldn’t be able to turn the key and start my car without feeling pain," Dickey said. "But I’m still here."

He’s here, all right. Here to stay. It’s just a matter of if he will be calling Citi Field home next season.

Dustin Pedroia

The second baseman began running on Friday, exactly six weeks after breaking his foot. The Boston training staff, however, is limiting how much Pedroia runs to avoid risking further injury, which would knock him out of the lineup for the rest of the season. The broken bone is not fully healed.

"He went out [Friday], and I thought he did great," manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. "Because he's not game ready, he was mad, which we understand. His intensity was really ramped up. Still decelerating, you can see he's thinking about it. But I thought he made a lot of improvement, which is great. It's still healing. For him to accept that is very difficult. But I thought he had a good day. For him, a good day is not going to be until he is in the lineup."

The good day could be coming in as little as a week. Yet, until the staff gives him the green light to run with no limitations, there is no exact timetable for his return.

Catcher Jason Varitek remains weeks behind Pedroia, but the Red Sox captain is also showing improvement. According to The Boston Globe, Varitek says his foot is “feeling better every day.” The veteran catcher has been without his crutches or medical boot for a week now, and also took some swings in batting practice before Thursday night’s game. 

Relief pitcher Hideki Okajima landed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday with a right hamstring strain.
"I had a problem with my hip and back for a while, but I felt something in my hamstring [Thursday] when I threw, so I feel that the problem with my hip and back came down into my hamstring," Okajima told MLB.com through his interpreter.

Felix Doubront was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Okajima in the bullpen. The lefty was struggling for Boston this season, posting a 5.85 ERA in 40 appearances this season. Opponents are also hitting .350 against him.

Okajima attributes this year’s struggles to nagging injuries.

"I've had injuries in the personal workout in the offseason, and in spring training, they [were] lingering as well, so it hasn't been a great year health-wise," Okajima said.

Waffling between returning to the dugout or remaining on the disabled list perhaps for the rest of the year, Mike Cameron delivered some good news on Sunday, saying his lower abdomen strain is feeling better, the Globe reports.

“I think he felt a little optimistic from talking to him [Saturday] night, which is good,’’ Francona told the Globe.

Shaq

Naturally, the most outspoken man in the NBA caught on with the latest Internet sensation.

Twitter, which has gained extreme popularity in the last year, allows users to capture their thoughts in 140 characters. Shaquille O’Neal maximizes those 140 like he does possessions in the paint.

The Celtics’ most recent signing tweeted four times between 5 and 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, though it’s possible O’Neal is on the West Coast, putting those life updates at a more reasonable 3 a.m.

First, he replied to Kim Kardashian, who tweeted, “Anyone watching the Perfect Skin infomercial? Anyone order it?” Shaq succinctly answered, “no I am not watching it and no I did not order it.” Shaq must have perfect skin.

He followed that up by talking at Draya Michele, magazine model and Chris Brown’s new girlfriend. “go to sleep Lil girl,” Big Diesel tweeted. Perhaps he should take his own advice.

Shaq was far from done, sending a non sequitur “shiver me timbers” to Hypno_T0ad and capping the night off with a reply to Lakers fan ISH026. The Shaq admirer sent out, “SO JIM ROME DONT WANT NONE OF THE ‘BIG DIESEL’?” Never one to ignore his fans, Shaq responded “he knows better.” That he does, Shaq, that he does.

It was just a typical day — on Twitter, at least — for Shaquille O’Neal.

NESN.com will showcase one Moment of Shaq every day until the Celtics open the season against the Heat on Oct. 26 at the TD Garden.

Saturday, Aug. 7: Free throws remain Shaq's only Kryptonite.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.