The Manny Ramirez sycophants are still chirping, but whether they like it or not, the Jason Bay era has begun. Bay arrived in Boston and although, he didn’t get the police escort that Doug Mirabelli got when he returned back to Boston; he did receive a hero’s welcome. Not bad for a guy who’s been playing for a team that no one cares about. Last night, Bay and the Sox beat the Oakland A’s 2-1.

A little before 4 o’clock yesterday, Terry Francona and Theo Epstein spoke to the media. They didn’t bash Manny, they praised him for the work he had did for the Sox in the past and just said, it’s time to turn the page and move on. Epstein told the media this was the first time in a while, the team felt like a team and also said that Manny’s antics during last weeks Yankee’s series wasn’t the main reason he was traded, it was just one out of many chapters of the Manny Ramirez series.

Jason Bay spoke to the media next and this guy seems to be too good to be true. We can’t help but wonder when Shaughnessy and the rest of the Boston media turn him into a goat and start hating him. Bay spoke of his father being a die-hard Sox fan, Bay grew up with posters of Yaz and Jim Rice on his walls and still he still has the Red Sox onesie he wore as a baby.

When he was asked how he’s going to deal with the pressure with playing Boston, Bay replied, “I’m not the first person to ever be traded here, I’m not the first person to ever play here. Everyone else seems to adjust to it and do just fine. I’m sure it’ll be an adjustment period, but I’ll be fine.” And he had his chance to show the nation that last night.

Bay walked his first time at bat. After a trip around the bases to third thanks to a double courtesy of JD Drew, Jason Bay scores on a sac fly from Jed Lowrie. Jason Bay went 1-3 last night, walked twice and struck out twice. He also scored the first running and the winning second run, thanks to Jed Lowrie on a game winning single. Lowrie went 2 for 4 last night.

Tim Wakefield, threw for six innings, but was tagged with a no decision due to lack of run support. Wakefield struck out 4, walked 3 and gave up 4 hits. A’s pitcher, Justin Duchschere, gave up the first run and the game winning run was thanks to former Red Sox pitcher, Alan Embree. Not a bad way to start over.

For those of you wondering how Manny faired in Los Angeles, he went 2 for 4 and knocked into a double play in the 9th. The Dodgers lost 2-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Pats training camp is up again today, after having Friday off. If you’re looking to watch the Pat play this weekend, today’s practice isn’t open to the public due to the Bruce Springsteen concert at Gillette tonight.

With the Olympics six days away, USA men’s basketball team rolled past Lithuania and won 120 – 84. For those of you wonder how Dwayne Wade is doing after having season ending surgery, the man scored a team high of 19 points and is looking better than ever. If you remember, in 2004 USA had to play Lithuania for the bronze and the gold medal in basketball went to Argentina.