This weekend's series versus Minnesota should prove to be a good one. The Twins are trying to stay competitive in the wild-card race since their division rivals, the Chicago White Sox, have run away with the Central title.

The Twins are a good team too. They have youth (only one everyday player is over 31 - newly acquired Brett Boone and only one starter, Brad Radke is over 30). They have speed (Torii Hunter has 23 stolen bases this year and three others will be in double digits before the end of the year: Mauer, Jones and Stewart). They have power (four players already are in double digits and three others will be). They have pitching, lead by 2004 Cy Young winner Johan Santana. And they have relief (Joe Nathan had 44 saves last year and has 28 so far in 2005). All in all a well-balanced team.

Add all that up and this team should be good for a few years to come. If they can stay together. They will put up a heck of a fight against the Sox.

The Sox are a little in disarray. It must be the trade winds blowing around Fenway Park.

First you have all the regular talk about Millar, Mueller and the pitching discussions. And according to ProJo.com, Theo is looking for trade opportunities.

And a story in today's Portland Press Herald confirms that Manny wants out.

You had to be expecting this. I mean, geez, the guy needs a little break around the All Star Game or the trading deadline. A reality check. I hate hearing from a malcontent - especially one making $200-million-dollars.

Manny, believe me, the Red Sox would trade you they could. But no team is going to pay $20 million a year. So you are stuck on the championship club.

This whole business about privacy is a joke. Yes, Manny you are a celebrity living in Boston - the Ritz no less - and as such will be noticed on the street. Get over it.

If you want more privacy, move the heck out of the city. Get yourself over to Lynnfield, Mass. with all the other celebs. They don't seem to be bothered in that region. Besides there are plenty of other gated communities you could go, where the riff-raff, err, your fans, will be shuffled off. Better yet, move way out to rural USA. You make enough money to chopper your butt to the park everyday.

Don't get me wrong, I like him, but only when he's just smiling.

It would all make more sense if you were a mere online producer working long hours in front of computer, bug-eyed, needing to pay the bills.

By the way, I wouldn't be too surprised if Minnesota and the Sox make a trade this weekend, while the Twins are in town. Anyone remember how/when Doug Mientkiewicz was acquired?

I can't get over the sight of Matt Clement holding his head on the mound last night after ball hit him flush against his right side. At first it looked like it hit his temple and I must confess I was sickened by the scene. It was reminescent of Bryce Florie's knock down in 1999.

My thoughts and prayers are with Clement, his family and of course the Red Sox.

Not to eulogize, but Clement has been the single most important pitcher in the rotation. Without him, where would the Sox be?

Of course he has struggled at times, and sometimes against the wrong team, but overall Clement has brought some stability to the starting five. Without question, he's been Boston's ace.

How long he will be out is anyone's guess. The Boston Herald reports that Clement's prognosis is good. We can only hope and pray.

The Red Sox are an unimpressive 0-1 in extra-inning games this year. That's right, until Monday's game, Boston had not played one. Can you believe it? It seems odd, but with the kind of offense the team has been able to display it is to be expected.

What is not expected is another loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays - arguably the worst team in baseball - although, personally, I believe they have lots of talent and are a better team than, say, Kansas City or Colorado. Regardless, the Red Sox should be able get a victory at Tropicana, despite the 1-3 record in that field.

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald suggests the team may be distracted by the trading deadline and player movement.

It's a Catch 22. Perhaps if they players were concentrating on their game, there would be no need for trades.

I have to give some credit to the D-Rays. They played their game. They used their speed (Lugo and Crawford) to develop some opportunities. They didn't always succeed but they threatened from the first inning on.

I'm having second thoughts about Curt Schilling in the closer's role, actually in any role. It seems to me that they need to once again shut him down. Whether or not Trot Nixon misplayed Aubrey Huff's 10th inning hit.

With that in mind, the Red Sox have only a couple of days here to fill all their needs - a closer, a starter and perhaps a little bump in the infield. Graffanino and Cora just aren't going to cut it on a daily basis.

Where are they to look? Well one has to hope the Phillies falter over the next few days, so perhaps lefty closer Billy Wagner becomes available. Keith Foulke when he returns will become a really nice set-up man, by the way. They have to hope that everyone else gets scared of A.J. Burnett's contract. We also have to wish that Kevin Youkilis is an acceptible third baseman for the Twins so we may acquire the lefty reliever from them as well.

I don't like how quiet it is. I just keep waiting for ESPN's crawler, the AP wire or the Red Sox site to make mention of a big trade. I know it's coming.

But the deadline is Friday and timing will be essential. I'm sure Theo Epstein will do the right thing but I'm running crazy speculating.

This week Epstein will be sleep-deprived for sure, as will I.

Oh, I'd hate to be Joe Crede today. The Chicago third baseman turned from hero to scapegoat in a half inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning he hit a double off right-handed reliever Curt Schilling (I love saying that), driving in Aaron Rowland that tied the game 5-5.

But shortly after that important double, he made an error that helped the Red Sox widen the gap in the East.

Manny's pop-up flew high into the night sky and dropped down above Crede who was in position for the can of corn. Instead, Crede couldn't handle it and Manny got a second chance. In an article by Boston Globe's Gordon Edes Crede says that after the mishap he was thinking, "Oh, man, I hope he doesn't hit a home run."

Crede's hopes were dashed on the very next pitch, when Manny knocked a solo shot into the left field stands, the game winner as it turned out.

You just can not give Manny second chances. After hitting the foul ball, Manny adjusted his stance - moving back a couple of inches in the box - and turned the foul ball into a home run.

While the White Sox fans may not think too highly of him today, in Boston Crede is king.

The Boston Red Sox are back in first place after their victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tuesday.

Curt Schilling recorded his first save in 13 years. The Boston Herald's Steve Buckley says Curt answered the call. It came about five games too late but who's counting.

He looked good, unafraid. He came up firing, too. His last pitch hit 100 on the radar gun, but I'm not sure when that trigger went off. May have been when the batter connected with the pitch.

Let's also give some credit to Bronson Arroyo who pitched almost flawlessly.

The Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessey says last night the Sox could have beaten the Devil Rays with eight guys and apparently almost did.

Let's remind ourselves it was one game against the Devil Rays.

This is the way its supposed to be, right? Is everyone happy now?

Okay so not everyone is happy. I'm sure Alan Embree has a frown on his face today.

He was designated for assignment, finally, a move that I have been waiting for for more than a year. The Boston Herald reports Embree has reached the end of the road.

I have nothing against Embree personally and I understand that the Red Sox would not have that ring with out his assistance. But it is a new year. And he doesn't have anything but a straight, flat fastball, that has lost its velocity. I want something more from a situational lefty.

The Sox also acquired Tony Graffanino from K.C. and got Adam Hyzdu back from San Diego.

Curious, indeed.

Ouch! That wasn't much fun and certainly not what I expected from the first-place Sox. However, even after losing three of four, Boston has remained on top.

Who would have guessed that Al Leiter would have displayed that kind of performance?

Not I. I thought there was a fork sticking from his back. In fact, when I heard the news that the Yankees acquired him, my mouth began to water. Surely, Boston's offense would feast in his first start for New York. I expected another 17-1 victory, like Tim Redding dished up Friday night.

Instead, Leiter delivered the goods.

I don't know why I listen to morning sports talk radio. All it does is upset me. Sometimes the fans have too much knowledge for their own good.

The blame for Thursday's loss should fall directly on Terry Francona and Theo Epstein's shoulders.

The race is on.
I'm looking for the Sox to knock the resurging Yankees down a couple of pegs this weekend. They'll win three of the four. Schilling will record his first save and Timlin his third.

The New York Daily News says David Ortiz is a tough out for the Yankees. Lucky us. The newspaper site reports that at some point Joe Torre will go to his pen for a left-handed specialist to try an record that out. Good luck, Ortiz is batting .327 against lefties this year.

The Boston.com says Arms will decide this race. If the rumors about a deal for Marlins' A.J. Burnett are true, the Sox will quickly get off the block.

The addition of Chad Bradford (See A's, Red Sox swap players), formerly called Adam Bradford by this writer, should help the pen as well, but he is coming off an injury which leaves me to wonder...By the way Adam Bradford was an character in "Eight is Enough." Strange how the mind works.

The Sporting News' Ken Rosenthal says Gabe Kapler is likely to return to the Sox. He is likely to take Payton's spot as a reserve outfielder. It would be nice to see the fan favorite return, but I heard he struggles in Japan. Culture shock.

By the way...and I'm not looking to jinx here but Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News reminds us that the Yankees have only spent one night in first place this year - the first night. And I thought 2004 was a good year.

It's now time to get back to business. We all enjoyed the Red Sox players' performances in the "Mid-Summer Classic," but now the Yankees come to town.

I can think of no better way to start the second half. Boston.com's Gordon Edes has a few predictions for the remainder of the season.

A bonus: Curt Schilling was activated last night and will come out of the pen at some point during this series, you can be sure.

I'm torn on the issue. I think Schilling could be a great closer, but putting him in that role, almost certainly ends is starting career.

We all knew his courageous act, during the playoffs last year, may end his career. We knew of the sacrifice he was willing to make to get Boston that all- evasive World Series Championship. But we do not want to believe it.

When a starting pitcher becomes a closer it is most difficult to change in the first place let alone switch back. He is not Atlanta's John Smoltz who has returned to the starting rotation after a couple of years dominating the ninth inning.

His ankle isn't going to last seven innings a game any longer. We have to face the facts. The Red Sox and Schilling however realize that once again Schilling has to make yet another sacrifice for the good of the team.

I'm saddened by the news.

Is it any wonder that we lost Thursday night's game to second-place Baltimore?

Please do not blame it on the rain. Yes, it was a close game and it would have been nice to see all nine innings. David Wells pitched well enough - allowing three runs in six innings. And Baltimore's Daniel Cabrera didn't pitch as well but still managed a win although he walked five. Go figure.

You may want to blame Trot Nixon, who got caught in no man's land and was picked off second base with the bases loaded. That killed a sure rally.

But the blame should really go to Terry Francona.

Timing is everything, they say. And this bit of news could not have come at a better time.

With the question of who will be moved to the bullpen, when starter Curt Schilling returns, we finally have an answer - Curt Schilling.

Though his ankle is not completely healed, Curt Schilling will make one relief appearance in the minors before returning to the big leagues. (See the Boston Globe's story Closer Inspection) Then he will not join the rotation, instead pitch out of the pen. Now that Keith Foulke is on the DL with a problem knee or two, Schilling will take the closer's role.

Schilling in the pen is tantalizing. I can't imagine a better closer. He is obviously a strikeout pitcher, who can get the job done. I'm excited by this prospect. He should succeed. But for how long? He can't stay there until Foulke returns, can he?

In only his second year with the Sox, Schilling has already done three huge things: 1) Understanding the history of Boston, states his intention of bringing a World Series to Boston; 2.) He does so in dramatic fashion, perhaps ending his starting role with a result of the all-too-mentioned ankle injury; 3.) He steps up to the plate again - recognizing his capabilities and his flaws - to not only accept but volunteer for another new challenge in order to better his club's chances at a repeat title.

I could sit here and write about Keith Foulke, but it would be much the same as my last week. Boston.com will tell you about Foulke's losing effort.

Something has got to be done with Foulke. But what? A "D.L." stint? If nothing else his confidence needs fixing.

The good news: chances are good we won't see him tonight - close game or not.

Without Foulke Red Sox would have won Monday's game. 'Nuff said.

Let's move on to something a little more pleasant - the 76th All Star Game to be held Tuesday, July 12, 2005 in Detroit, Mich.