Sports Redux: Death, Taxes, and Wake at Tropicana Field

If the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were smart (and we're not for a moment suggesting that's the case), they'd look seriously into Tim Wakefield's "rolling" contract extension with the Red Sox, and try to figure out how much money it would take to lure Wake down to St. Petersburg full-time.

Because it's possible that Tim's 19-2 lifetime record against the Devil Rays, and 9-0 lifetime record at Tropicana Field, are solely a result of the Devil Rays' incompetence. More than possible, actually. But it's also possible that pitching in Tropicana Field gives him superpowers (we're sorry we couldn't find a spot for him in the Justice League), and he could turn the Devil Rays from chumps to contenders. At the very least, it would prevent the Rays from having to face him five times a year.

Not that we want to lose Wake, mind you. Ever. Ever ever ever. Knuckleballers can pitch into their sixties, right? Didn't Niekro?

Tim, pitching without his injured sidekick Doug Mirabelli, made things lively for young catcher Kevin Cash in the first inning, bouncing a few knucklers here and there. But Cash settled down, and helped Wakefield cruise the rest of the night, giving up just four hits and one walk, with five strikeouts, in seven innings.

The offense was able to rally around the shutout performance, giving Wake a nice early cushion. Mike Lowell doubled in two in the first, then homered in the fifth. And the second inning was fun too, as three runs scored on RBI singles by Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez.

So good times all around. We're going to accentuate the positive, and not think at all about Eric Gagne or J.D. Drew (who ended three rallies last night and is extremely high on our Colbertesque "On Notice" board) this morning. The Sox and Jon Lester get another crack at Andy Sonnanstine, who beat them last week.

Meanwhile, the Yankees were getting a dose of Angel baseball out in whatever city the Angels play in. Despite A-Rod's 40th home run, the Angels won in the tenth inning when Ryan Budde dropped a double in between two lunging outfielders. The lead is back up to five. Everyone take a step back from the railing.

If you missed this yesterday, David Ortiz is tired of his Mercedes and is eBaying it off. Sam at Loaded Gun has the details; Papi bought the snazzy 2005 Mercedes Benz SL-Class as a World Series gift to himself, and will personally deliver car, keys and title to the winning bidder. $169,000 gets you in the game.

Movie poster from Wikipedia.