7/4: Independence Day

Toronto Blue Jays (41-44) @ Boston Red Sox (49-34) Brandon Morrow (4-4, 4.56) @ John Lackey (5-7, 6.81) 1:35PM EDT…

Coast to Coast Tickets 6/9: The Red Sox go for a double Bronx sweep against the Yankees

Boston Red Sox (35-26) @ New York Yankees (33-26) Josh Beckett (4-2, 2.01) @ CC Sabathia (7-3, 2.80) 7:05 PM…

6/3: How many times can Don and Jerry say “Tommy John surgery” in one game?

Oakland Athletics (27-30) @ Boston Red Sox (30-26) Josh Outman (1-0, 2.08) @ Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.41) 7:10 PM EDT…

Numbers

For whatever reason, I've been having a large number of conversations about retired numbers lately. From students trying to get me on a tangent by asking who they all are to discussions about whether Pedro Martinez' return on Opening Day was a play to get 45 on the facade, the frequency of the topic has gotten me thinking about what the next number retired would be. So, instead of the usual recriminations or wishful thoughts on the 2010 campaign, I wanted to run down the top 5 candidates in order of what I think is their likelihood of retirement. I don't expect everyone to agree, but it should spark some interesting conversation.

The current list stands at 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14, and 27 (along with Jackie Robinson's 42). Bobby Doerr, Joe Cronin, Johnny Pesky, Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, Jim Rice and Carlton Fisk -- as good a rundown of Red Sox greats as you can get. Hall of Famers all, aside from Pesky, who represents a special case. The restrictions on retirement have been eased by current ownership, and the rules are now a bit fuzzy; it used to be that a player had to begin and finish a Hall of Fame career with the Sox. That seems to no longer be the case, despite a few acrobatic moves to get Fisk there. So, with that in mind, here is my list of five, along with their numbers, chances and qualifications.

Scutaro impressing with contact

I wanted to avoid writing about the pitching staff today, but the lack of strikeouts by our team is starting to get concerning. It's not just a few pitchers, it is all of them. Anyway one thing I found today that I thought shouldn't go unnoticed was Marco Scutaro's start and excellent approach at the plate. Before his at bat in the top of the eighth yesterday he had gone 24 at bats with a strike out. That is very good start although 7 games is nothing when you learn that the record is 84 posted by Ted Williams in 1949. Last year Scutaro had two streaks longer as well. He had one streak of eight games and another of nine.

Pesky

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