Sports Redux: Happy Thoughts Pay Off

Did the good vibrations work yesterday? Are the Red Sox going to start the second half with the take-no-prisoners attituted that got them through April and May?

Well, last night was a good start. With a good performance by Tim Wakefield (pause for palpable sigh of relief) and the Sox' big sluggers looking active again, the Sox cruised to a 7-4 win over Toronto.

Maybe "cruised" is overstating it a bit, since the Sox 5-1 lead was almost eradicated, thanks to back-to-back solo homers by Matt Stairs and Alex Rios. But the Sox put it away on RBI hits by David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez (nice to see you hitting again, guys), and Delcarmen, Okajima and Papelbon slammed the door shut to preserve the win.

Now all we have to worry about (for the moment) is Papi's health. He's got a sore knee, and didn't help matters by fouling a pitch off of it in the eighth. He says he feels OK and won't need surgery, but if you're a religious fella, you might want to keep the big guy in your prayers.

Even Julio Lugo is showing a pulse. He's back over .200 after a pair of singles, and his close play at first caused Jays' manager John Gibbons to argue himself into an ejection (as shown here in Jon Petitt's photo). Lugo: he may not hit much, but he stirs the drink.

Julian Tavarez goes against Toronto's Shaun Marcum tonight. Happy thoughts.

Our knowledge of sports video games gets hazy sometime right around Tecmo Super Bowl in 1993, but "All-Pro Football 2K8" looks intriguing. 2KSports, banned from using anything officially connected with the NFL, has gone to the history books, signing up ex-players to license their signature styles and moves. Want to send Ickey Woods up against Mike Ditka? Want to see O.J. Simpson trying to massacre get around William "The Refrigerator" Perry? Here's your chance.