I've heard just about enough from the media on the so-called "fight" between Gary Sheffield and a Boston Red Sox fan during the eighth inning of Thursday's game. Regardless of whether the fan hit Sheffield or not is immaterial.
The media frenzy surrounding the incident has been ridiculous.

The Boston Globe reports "Sheffield says he wss hit in face." The Portland Press Herald's Kevin Thomas writes Sheffield showed restraint, but not a whole lot of sense." The New York Times says Red Sox, and fans, batter Yankees. The New York Posted simply wrote "Soxed" on its headline this morning. And the New York Daily News calls Boston fans a bunch of "bozos."

May I remind everyone that there was more to this game than the right field incident.

The Red Sox hit three home runs off lefty Randy Johnson. Perhaps we are starting to see some life out of Boston's new aquisitions. Edgar Renteria and Jay Payton each hit their first home runs of the season. Both were two-run shots. MLB.com reports that Renteria has his breakout with Sox.

I'm not sure it is adjusting to a new league, park and/or team, but Renteria hasn't looked like his brilliant self. He seems a bit slow-footed. I like him, I truly do, but I want to see the former-Sea Dog return to greatness.

The other home run came from team captain, Jason Varitek. Fitting. Varitek seems to really show up for these Yankee games, whether its brawling with A-Rod or showing his leadership with on-field heroics.

It seems as though everyone was waiting for something to happen in this game. Randy Johnson may have started it all arguing with the umpire over the strike zone. Why he wasn't ejected after the confrontation is beyond me. However, when Terry Francona discusses a case he's ejected. It's beyond me.

I was unimpressed with the officials in this one. The strike zone was quite small and inconsistent. I'll admit on occasion, the Red Sox were benefactors, but I remain baffled.

Perhaps it doesn't matter. The New Hampshire Union Leader warns "don't read too much into early games".
But I can't help keeping a mental scorecard. In this 19-round bout
each team has won three rounds. It should make for an interesting summer.

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