Sports Redux: How 'Bout That DiNardo Kid?

You can't help but kind of miss Lenny DiNardo. The guy, for all accounts, is a pretty young, affable, decent enough guy with an arm that wasn't Beckett standout, but still something to look out for. When the Red Sox let him go to clear room on the roster for J.D. Drew, we weren't heartbroken, but there was a moment of disappointment, too.

Of course, DiNardo looks even better when he's pitching scoreless ball - and the decision to let him go seems even more foolish when that ball is against your club and your big $70 million right field acquisition isn't in the lineup when your club is starting to slump a bit. DiNardo says there are no hurt feelings, but he still was able to get the last laugh Tuesday night, pitching Oakland to a 2-0 victory over his old teammates.

So what's going on with the Sox? A few things: lack of offense, double play balls and shaky starting pitching. Boston generated three hits Tuesday, all singles (Lugo, Ortiz, Lowell), but hit into five double plays - you can't score if you don't advance your runners. DiNardo (six innings, two hits, six walks) and four Oakland relievers capitalized on this, effectively shutting down the team that now leads in the AL East by nine games.

Boston's pitching, however, continued its recently-developed pattern of not being bad, but not necessarily being lights out good. This time, it was Daisuke Matsuzaka, who continued his personal streak of giving up the goods in the fourth inning. Matsuzaka left a ball high and hanging for recent Sox-killer Eric Chavez - Chavez cranked a shot to the opposite field. Oakland would go on to score again in the fifth while keeping Boston scoreless.

So we now have a single-digit lead in the standings - nine games up isn't a bad place to be. But the Sox have lost five of their last six, the Boston Herald has started a poll of the "Red Sox Problem of the Day" and we're getting tired of hearing Dice-K explain that he's disappointed with his performances.

Should we be worrying? Maybe not. Nine games is nine games. But we're Red Sox fans.

The Sox try to put the brakes on this losing streak tonight when they wrap things up in Oakland. It's Wakefield versus Joe Kennedy, 10:05 p.m. EST.

-- The Patriots reported for their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday - most of them, that is. Asante Sameuls didn't show, as he made sure to tell everyone he wouldn't, and says that he's not going to make an apperance until Week 10 (and doesn't believe he'll be returning to the team at all). Why? He doesn't feel appreciated. His teammates' take? Whatever.

Other training camp notes? Brandon Meriweather was not among the crew assembled Tuesday. Teddy Bruschi says his right wrist is healthy after off-season surgery and QB Tom Brady doesn't seem to understand that everyone knows he's a good quarterback on a good team, so they want to know about the baby and Bridget and Giselle already!

-- The Senators desperately need to win tonight's Game 5 in order to keep their Stanley Cup dreams alive. But, judging from the ratings news on NHL playoff action, it seems few people remember that hockey is still being played, so hey.

Photo of Lenny DiNardo from when he was OUR Lenny, playing OUR Paradise Rock Club at Hot Stove, Cool Music, by Victoria Welch