Sports Redux: Trouble Up North

Let's just tear off the Band-Aid and get to it: the Sox lost with Dice-K on the mound for the second time in a row, this time in a tough 2-1 loss in Toronto. We're sure that the WEEI phone banks will be full with callers today wondering what the heck's going on with our millionaire import, especially considering that Daisuke Matsuzaka forced in the game-winning run with a walk in the fourth (this is known in pitching circles as "the worst thing EVER").

Fourth inning aside, Dice-K was otherwise pretty awesome during his third MLB start, retiring the first eight batters, walking only three and giving up three hits. He is the first pitcher in 26 years to record 10 strikeouts twice during his first three major league starts (trivia buffs: last guy to do it was Dodger Fernando Valenzuela in 1981).

Had the Sox generated some offense, it could have been a completely different outcome. The only Boston run came from Wily Mo Pena's first hit of the season - a third-inning blast to center field. Blue Jay pitcher Gustavo Chacin otherwise neatly handled the visiting lineup (6 2/3 innings, six hits, one run). Boston will try to bounce back tonight behind Tim Wakefield, who is slated to face off against Toronto's Tomo Ohka.

-- Perhaps Boston will benefit from the good vibes radiating from the small (heehee) army of toddler Sox fans Ben Affleck's recruiting. It seems that raising baby girl Violet right wasn't enough for Affleck - the guy is now teaching the kiddies that the Sox are good (and, we assume, that Yankees suck) with "Red Sox Baby: Raising Tomorrow’s Boston Red Sox Fan Today." Released Tuesday and featuring Affleck as narrator, the DVD includes songs "Let’s Go to a Red Sox Game” and “I Love the Boston Red Sox."

Seriously. We couldn't make this stuff up. But don't worry -- it's educational! With lessons on spelling and counting, we expect that baseball-loving four-year-olds will be able to spell Dice-K's full name AND calculate his ERA by May.

-- The Celtics wrap up their season - finally - tonight at the Garden when they face down Detroit. Can they extend their winning ways to two whole games? Does it matter when we're all just crossing our fingers for the first or second draft pick? Will ticketholders cheer the Celts into the off-season or just show up to catch Augustana's post-show concert? We'll see. In the meantime, we'll just be chanting "Oden" over and over again.

-- Mike Reiss is reporting that Cincinnati cornerback Tory James will be heading New England's way this season. The burly James has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract "in principle" with New England. If he does join the Pats roster, it would be a strong addition, especially since Asante Samuel has yet to officially sign back on.

In other Pats news, Darryl Stingley was remembered during funeral services Tuesday in Illinois. Former New England coach Chuck Fairbanks said the former receiver was someone determined to overcome the 1978 game hit that left him paralyzed, who "made up his mind that he was going to try to live a new life and to give things to other young kids, particularly the inner city kids, that maybe he could help somebody and show them that you could overcome adversity."

Photo of a fan likely to benefit from Affleck's new project from flickr user Peter Kovacs.