What in the H-E-double hockey sticks? It's like the Red Sox never left Canada. Every major Web site in Florida is writing about hockey. The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and all the Web sites are scrambling to post the latest hockey news.

I don't get it - baseball in the frozen north, hockey in the humid south. I enjoy a good hockey game in February - not in May or June. I also do not like hockey in any place that doesn't regularly receive snow.

It's hard to find news about baseball.

I can understand why people on the Gulf Coast are jumping on the Canadian bandwagon - the Devil Rays really have been struggling. They have only one win in the last 11 games. Tampa Bay Online is asking if it can get any worse? Yes, I believe it can. Apparently so do the Devil Rays. TBO.com also writes that starting pitcher Victor Zambrano is trying hard to end slump. Are they already planning on losing the first two games of the series? My records show that Zambrano isn't scheduled to pitch until Thursday.

Want to learn more about pitching? The Tampa Tribune has a neat interactive feature "The Art of Pitching" which gives instructions on how to throw six major league pitches. Very cool.

Since we are on the subject of pitching. Should the Red Sox keep Pedro? This has been an ongoing debate between my friends and I. Some say if they let Pedro and Derek Lowe go, they could sign Nomar, Varitek and perhaps one of the Oakland soon-to-be free agent pitchers for next season. I believe Pedro to be the one the Sox should re-sign. Sports Illustrated's John Donovan writes why the Red Sox should keep Pedro Martinez. I hope ownership and my friends listen to these wise words.

ESPN's Peter Gammons has written about the possible trades involving Johnny Damon. See the message board in his chat room for details. Doesn't look like it is going to happen. The Sporting News' Ken Rosenthal writes about the trade rumor. He also says Boston has some interest in Aaron Boone. Not sure if that is true or not, but I do not want to see him in a Sox uniform. Kevin Youkilis has proven he can play the corner in case of an emergency. Is Aaron Boone better than Reese at second? Well, I give Reese the edge here. And if the edge goes to Reese why would the Red Sox acquire Boone?

The Devil Rays will continue their losing streak tonight. Tim Wakefield takes the mound for the Sox and Mark Hendrickson pitches for Tampa Bay. Go Sox!

E-mail this entry to a friend