If that’s true, then the Red Sox aren’t going anywhere.
Boston has dropped four straight games to its two biggest division rivals. The boys of summer clearly aren’t as tough as we all expected. This calls for a rallying cry, a rallying cry they can call their own.
Recent history has taught us one thing — when the Red Sox start losing, Curt Schilling can be counted upon to offer up bombastically irrelevant sound bites to help us all put things in perspective. (And now that his temporary sound bite replacement John Smoltz has fallen by the wayside, we need Big Schill more than ever.)
On the docket this week? The List. What does Schilling think about the fact that his former teammates are on it? He has no shortage of opinions (shocker!).
Here’s the CliffsNotes version, with a little bit of perspective from Johnny Damon and Pedro Martinez thrown in for good measure.
“Is this more shocking than any other revelation? Given David’s public statements about the need to show that people can succeed ‘the right way’ in ‘06, and his calls for punishment this spring, is this more surprising than other sluggers who have been caught?
“I am not sure about anyone else. Personally, I am in no way shocked anymore. David’s statements make me think that the guys that did test positive do not know or have not been told — until these leaks come out.
“Our stinking president had sex with a woman half his age in the Oval Office and looked straight into the camera in his best Rafael Palmeiro impersonation and said, ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman.’ No, his comments don’t make it more surprising.”
–Curt Schilling, on WEEI.com, on whether he is surprised by steroid allegations against former teammate David Ortiz
"[My name] better not be on it, or there’s going to be lawsuits. … When and if that list comes out, I’ll be able to determine what that [2004 Red Sox World Series] championship means to me.”
–Johnny Damon, in the Boston Globe, on the list of 104 players who tested positive for PEDs in 2003
"There's no crying in baseball. We won in 2004. That's it. Are you going to tell me that the other guys who used it on other teams are now whining? They used it, too. One thing that's really caught my attention is — why is it all Dominicans? What's going on? Why is it all Dominicans that all of a sudden come out positive? The last one standing might be me.”
–Pedro Martinez on MLB.com
"What do you want him to say? We were very honest. We need to let this process play out. There are things that I’m sure are happening that are way over my head, that Major League Baseball, the union, lawyers are taking care of. David said when he has answers, he’ll address it. We don’t have answers. I don’t know how much more explicit I can be."
–Red Sox manager Terry Francona, on WEEI.com, on David Ortiz’ reluctance to immediately speak to the media about alleged steroid use
"Nobody can tell me why I'm on the list. [I bought] legal supplements and legal vitamins over the counter, but I never bought steroids or used steroids."
— David Ortiz on the New York Times report alleging he tested positive for PEDs
“We don’t feel as though we broke up the 1927 Yankees.”
–Pirates general manager Neal Huntington, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, responding to fan criticism over recent trades
“He would give me a hug, and I would feel good about myself.’’
–Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen, in the Globe, on recently traded friend Justin Masterson
"It’s never easy. I think we just felt like we had to try something different. It’s never easy to tell someone they’re designated for assignment, especially a Hall of Fame pitcher like that. It was certainly time to try something different. John understood. We asked him to go home for a few days, think about what he wants to do, think about if he can still help.”
–Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, on Boston.com, on designating John Smoltz for assignment on Friday. The team has 10 days to trade him, reassign him to the minors or release him.
“It’s one of those games where nobody deserves to lose. It seems like whoever makes the first mistake ends up taking a bump.’’
–Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, in the Globe, on Boston’s 13-inning loss at Tampa Bay on Tuesday
“It felt pretty cool when I stuck the glove up in there and snow-coned it. The instinct was just to turn around and throw the ball back in. I didn’t know whether those guys were tagging or running or what. Just one of those do-or-die plays.’’
–Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew, in the Boston Globe, on his then-game-saving catch in Boston’s 15-inning loss to New York on Friday
“That’s when I thought this game would never end. I don’t know how he made that play. It was a great catch.”
–Yankees captain Derek Jeter, on YahooSports.com, on Drew’s catch
"I signed a contract in 2006 with an option, and it would make no sense for me to sign that contract if I didn't keep my options open. I'll let you fill in the blanks."
–Cavaliers forward LeBron James, on ESPN.com, on his reluctance to sign an extension with Cleveland
"In Denver, we didn't have this many fans at all. We weren't even able to accommodate that many fans [at practice]. That's Chicago Bears fans for you. They're proud of their Bears. It's a lot [different]. Denver's like a 6, and Chicago's like a 9.”
–Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, on ESPN Radio, on the differences between Denver fans and Chicago fans
"I wld like to think [sic] all my new followers since I got fine I promise I wnt let u down ok look forward to sum grt stuff 2 come."
–Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie, via Twitter, commenting on his boost in popularity after incurring a fine for Tweeting that the food at Chargers training camp is “nasty”
"I don't feel I overreacted [to being thrown at], but I feel like my actions probably weren't the best. I know there are better ways of handling it. I've learned from it."
–Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, on charging the Dodgers’ locker room after being hit by a pitch in the ninth inning of a 17-4 loss
“Michael just wants fair market value. Michael is one of the best players in the draft, and he just wants to be paid like one of the best players.”
—David Wells (cousin of 49ers holdout Michael Crabtree), on YahooSports.com, on the No. 10 overall draft pick’s willingness to sit out the 2009 season if he doesn’t get the contract he desires