Frankly, we'd like to know what Daisuke Matsuzaka did to alienate his teammates. Does he play "Gyroball" constantly in the clubhouse? Mix wasabi in with the Ben Gay as a lockerroom prank? There must be some reason why his lineup consistently fails to give him any run support, making him 1-3 against the Devil Rays to his 12-7 record against the rest of the league.

Don Orsillo put it best late in the game last night: "The Red Sox have left a village on base tonight." And like M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, you could see the ending to this one coming a mile away. When you strand 14 runners, you don't win. It's that simple. When you strand 14 runners, your pitcher only has to make one mistake - in this case, a meatball that B.J. Upton blasted to right field - and you go home sad and defeated.

As much as we hate to point the finger at one of our favorites, Jason Varitek in particular owes Daisuke an apology. He grounded out to end the third with two men on. He struck out with two men on to end the fifth. He struck out with two men on to end the seventh. And he flied out to end the ballgame with two men on. Good thing 'Tek has built a ten-year reservoir of goodwill around these parts.

Now it's on to Chicago, where Beckett gets the start against the White Sox. If you have an urge to go out to Chicago this weekend, you're far from alone; USA Today has a long story today about the travelin' jones shared by so many Sox fans. Some good quotes from traveling secretary Jack McCormick, as well as from security directors at hotels in AL cities and Terry Francona. We remember just a few years ago, going on a Sox road trip (to Philly) and being excited to see just one other "B" cap in the crowd.

The Yankees won, and are back to five out. They'll spend the weekend in Detroit. But the big baseball news yesterday was Game One of the Texas-Baltimore doubleheader. Old friend Kason Gabbard got the run support Daisuke could have used, plus run support enough to carry the Red Sox through the whole weekend at Comiskey. And a few insurance runs. 30-3 was the final score. The Rangers' 8th and 9th hitters had seven RBIs apiece. The only Ranger in the starting lineup without an RBI (Michael Young), got lifted for a rookie defensive replacement, who then hit a grand slam. And Wes Littleton pitched three innings for the easiest save in major league history.

Maybe the Rangers can inspire the Red Sox' bats.

Soul Asylum CD cover from Wikipedia. The '90s are back!