Sports Redux: Slugfests

If there's anything this weekend has taught us, it's that there is a formula at play when the Red Sox and Yankees square off. As confirmed by the manner in which the Sox defeated the Yanks, 16-11, during a summer-like April Saturday, it goes like this:

1) Sox struggle early, the Yankees coast.
2) Sox spark a run and hit 17 (give or take a few) home runs, the Yankees implode.
3) Teams keep it neck and neck until the very last out is recorded.

Essentially, you can skip the first three or four innings, as long as you make sure to be with the game until the end.

How to sum up this game? Josh Beckett was shaky in his Saturday start, which would have been a problem had A.J. Burnett not encountered trouble of his own and had Mike Lowell not knocked in approximately 79 RBIs over the course of the game (OK, fine. Six RBIs, including a huge three-run blast in the seventh). Jason Varitek hit a grand slam - yes, Jason Varitek - and even Jacoby Ellsbury had a home run over the course of a game that came in at 4 hours 21 minutes.

Slugfest. Seriously. And with that, the Sox have won nine in a row. That said, we need to offer condolences in advance to all those who will be attending tonight's 8:05 p.m./ESPN-stravaganza game. Have extra cab fare on hand, 'cause it sure doesn't look like you'll be making the last T.

As all this was going on, Pats fans were busy waiting to see how things were going to unfold with Draft Day. It was all trading all the time on Saturday for the Pats, but overall, it breaks down to three gets: Oregon safety Patrick Chung, BC Eagle defensive tackle Ron Brace and Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler of Connecticut. For a full breakdown as to how it all unfolded, check this out.

In playoff news, the Celts will be continuing to battle the Bulls during the longest professional sports playoff series ever (or so it feels - this is getting absurd), which continues today at 1 p.m. in Chicago. In terms of where to watch the game, we just have to say that this sounds absolutely awesome.