Hey, hey to my Red Sox readers. If I sound a little jolly in my writing, it‘s because I am. The Sox are rolling, school is almost out, and my sixteenth birthday is Tuesday. Yippy!! I have received from the owner of the site the statistics of how many hits I receive and I would like to thank all of you who visit the site and read my columns. It‘s because of you that drive me to write my columns every week.

Now to our boys of summer, WOW! The Sox are playing extraordinary baseball. Great pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting is what has put us on top of the American League East. The key to the Sox success, I believe, is getting 6-7 solid innings from our starters and then turning it over to one of the best bullpens in the American League. That exactly what the Sox have been doing. It all starts off with Pedro on top and well everyone knows what Pedro does every time he goes on the mound. Nomo, the most impressive pitcher coming out of spring training, has only allowed eleven hits in five starts and with his near no-hitter last week against the Twins improves his record to 3-1. In the middle of the rotation is Castillo, who has been Mr. Consistent the last two years with Toronto and has carried that title into Fenway this year. With another solid outing against the Royals Friday night, Castillo picked up his win-loss total to 3-1. Finishing out the rotation are two youngsters, Tomo Ohka and Paxton Crawford. Ohka, who pitched a perfect game last year in AAA for Pawtucket, has struggled in the early innings of ballgames, but has finished strong in the middle innings to allow the Sox to win games. Crawford, who last year at this time was pitching at the AA level, has just been remarkable and the perfect man we need to finish up the rotation. It a rotation that has experience and also one with inexperience. In the end, it all evens out and we ‘re left with a pretty solid pitching staff.

Let me set something straight about the John Valentin situation. Despite what the rumors are saying, he won ‘t be playing shortstop when he returns. This after sources from the AAA level have been reporting that he has been playing shortstop for Pawtucket the last few games. Valentin sat down with Jimy Williams last week and discussed the possibility of him playing short till Nomar returns in mid- July. Valentin says he doesn‘t want to play short and let get real folks, Johnny boy can ‘t play short. The man is coming off of knee surgery and now the Sox want to try him at shortstop, one of the most versatile positions in the game? The reason for why John was playing short was so he could get at-bats, while the regular third baseman for the Pawsox played third. My problem is why are the Sox looking for someone else to play shortstop anyways? For some reason last week, they decided to pick up the option of Lou Merloni and send him back down to Pawtucket. Lou was batting was .438 this season for the Sox before being demoted. Let me take this time to remind the Sox of the guy they kept instead of Merloni, a thirty-five year veteran who is batting .063. That right fans; Grebeck is hitting .063 for the season. Less than one percent!! But of course it logical to keep Grebeck instead of Lou, right Jimy? Go figure.

I talked about him last week and I ‘m going to again this week. Jason Varitek is the most underrated player in Bean town, probably the most in the league. Night in and night out, he goes to the ballpark with a winning attitude and that influence is contagious throughout the clubhouse. He works with pitchers better than anyone in the game. He the big reason why the Sox had the best ERA in the majors last year and are number one again this year. Defensively, he a rock, stopping anything that hits the ground. Did anyone see the game last week when Nomo was pitching against the Twins? Nomo, with his splitter, must have threw 10-15 balls in the dirt and Varitek made spectacular stops again and again, keeping base runners from moving up a base. Without Varitek, I guarantee the team will go down south because the pitching staff won ‘t be the same without him.

Last weekend series with the Yankees in the Bronx was an absolute disgrace. In particular, Sunday when the Sox had the lead but Lowe gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the tenth to lose the game. I ‘m not blaming Lowe, I like Lowe. He has good stuff and command and mixes his pitches up well. I have come up with a conclusion of why Derek has struggled so far in the young season. It not Lowe, but my good old buddy Jimy. If you watch carefully in the late innings of close games, Varitek looks into the dugout at Williams every pitch to see what Williams wants to throw next. That what happened last weekend against the Yankees in the tenth inning on Sunday afternoon. Lowe was facing O ‘Neil and Tek looked in at Jimy for the call. Varitek gives the sign and Lowe delivers: strike one, curve ball down the middle. Varitek looks in: Tek gives the sign and Lowe delivers: BANG, homerun by O ‘Neil and the game is tied at four. The pitch was another curve ball down the middle. Now, you don ‘t throw two straight curve balls to the same hitter in the same at-bat and expect to get him out, especially to a veteran like Paul O ‘Neil. I don ‘t know what Jimy is thinking early in the season, but he better start making better calls and decisions. Don ‘t get me wrong, I like Jimy. I just hope he gets his act together.

I recommend every person who calls him/herself a Red Sox fan to read the book I ‘m reading right now. The book is Red Sox Century by Glen Stouts and Ben Johnson. The book is fascinating. It takes you through all 100 years of Red Sox baseball. I am currently at the year 1912; the Sox are a young club and have just built Fenway Park. It a great book and I want as many people to read it. The most interesting thing I have read so far is about a man I never knew about, John I. Taylor. What he did to the franchise is disgusting and inexcusable. He literally dismantled the 1903 World Series squad, making some of the stupidest trades in history, getting rid of Jimmy Collins and Cy Young. Do yourselves all a favor and go to the store or library and get yourself a copy. I ‘m telling you, it worth it.

For you fantasy players, I recommend you to get Hillenbrand or Pujols of St. Louis for third base and Mark Quinn of Kansas City. Pujols is playing extraordinary for the Cardinals replacing Fernando Tatis, who was traded to the Expos. Pitching, well just stock up with relievers and closers, that a way you will be close to guarantee some points every night from your pitchers. That it for the Fantasy Beat.

And now I like to add a new feature to my column: Do You Know? Every week I will ask a question about the Sox and you can email me at my address if you think you know the answer. If you can get two questions right, I will send you $1 as your winnings. Goodluck.

Question: Who hit the first homerun in Red Sox baseball history? (Hint: not Babe Ruth)

Till next time, take care of yourself and watch those Sox.

MJS4163@aol.com