No real surprises, but [TechHive](http://techhive.com) sums them up nicely.
Category: Sports
Categories
New Website from Joe Posnanski
You can follow his Olympics blog until then.
Categories
DT Pagano Commits to Clemson
He chose Clemson over Florida, Alabama, and LSU. Dabo is working some magic this year. I hope these guys all stay.
Why? The players kept forgetting to charge them.
Categories
Top Five in Fangraphs No Trade Rankings
Harper and Trout at the top. Not a big surprise.
Categories
Gonzo is AL Player of the Week
Small consolation.
Categories
Valentine Believes in Lester
> “I believe in him,” [Valentine] said. “I know nobody else in this room does, but I do. That’s a good start. Maybe if he’s sitting in here, it’ll be two of us by the time he leaves.”
I hope he’s right.
I’ve avoided posting too much about this weekend for the Red Sox, mostly because it was brutal to watch. As always, the Providence Journal’s Red Sox blog has breakdowns of some of the major issues:
* [The Red Sox and Poor First Innings](http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/07/offense-put-in-early-hole—-again.html)
* [How does Jon Lester Bounce Back after another horrible start](http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/07/where-does-lester-go-from-here.html)
Categories
Els Wins the British
I honestly did not think I’d ever see Ernie win another tournament, let alone another major. Congratulations to him.
> To be sure, this is a situation that by itself has broken the college sports scandal mold. We’ve never had a story this sickening. We’ve never had an NCAA case involving a sexual predator and a school that simply shrugged at his horrifying behavior. We’re in new, stomach-turning territory.
I particularly like Pat Forde’s point that NCAA should not be involved in this at all:
> Fact is, I don’t trust Emmert or anyone else at the NCAA to deliver a punishment that fits the crimes of Jerry Sandusky and those who enabled him. As I’ve stated repeatedly, this is no place for the NCAA and its manual. This is for the criminal and civil courts to decide – and, if Penn State has the leadership and the courage, the school itself.
They won’t receive the death penalty but:
> The penalties, however, are considered to be so harsh that the death penalty may have been preferable
Press conference tomorrow at 9 am.
Categories
Daniel Bard Update
> “Right now, he’s not consistent,” said Pawtucket Red Sox pitching coach Rich Sauveur of the 26-year-old right-hander who Boston tried to convert from a late-inning reliever to a starter. “But I’m seeing signs of what we’re looking for. He just needs to bring that from the bullpen to the mound and have that conviction on the first hitter he faces.
I really hope this whole starter experiment did not end the career of such a promising young pitcher.[^friend]
[^friend]: Full disclosure: One of my good friends went to school with Daniel Bard.
Categories
Dabo’s All-In Cookout
I have to give it to Dabo, he’s been pretty great on the recruiting trail. Since the All-In Cookout, there have been annnounced commitments from a couple of 4-star recuirts: [RB Tyshon Dye](http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/jul/21/size-power-speed-4-star-running-back-tyshon-dye-co/) and [WR Dearcus Robinson](http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/jul/20/four-star-wide-receiver-demarcus-robinson-commits/?partner=RSS)
Categories
Buchholz feeling like he did in 2010
> The last couple of times out, my two-seam fastball has been a pitch like it was a couple of years ago for me, being able to throw it to both sides of the plate,” he said. “My four-seam seems to be there whenever I have a good two-seam working. I was able to throw some changeups for strikes and get some swings and misses on it. My curveball has been my best pitch all year, so that was working for me when I gave it a chance tonight, also.
Music to my ears.
There must be a lot of cell phones at Royal Lytham.
Categories
Cody Ross – King for a Day
> “There’s no better feeling.”
Cody Ross
If you’re looking for a way to cheer yourself up, take a peak at all of the stories on Cody Ross’ game winner from last night:
* [Over the Monster](http://www.overthemonster.com/2012/7/20/3171708/cody-ross-walk-off-boston-red-sox-chicago-white-sox)(with video of the HR)
* [Over the Monster Game Recap](http://www.overthemonster.com/2012/7/20/3171144/cody-ross-walkoff-homer-red-sox-white-sox)
* [Fenway West](http://www.fenwaywest.com/2012-articles/july/cody-ross-does-it-again.html)
* [The Providence Journal’s Red Sox Blog](http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/red-sox/2012/07/ross-delivers-the-walk-off-home-run-theres-no-better-feeling.html)
Categories
Jon Lester sits down with Gordon Edes
> “You think I’m happy right now?” Lester said. “You think I like coming to the park with almost a 5 ERA (4.80) next to my name, with a 5-7 record? I mean, who would be happy?
> …
> “It’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing for my wife to be sitting in the stands to hear that. I’m embarrassed for her. I’m embarrassed what she has to hear in the stands. It’s not fun.
> “That’s not what I want to do. I don’t want to show up at the park and go, ‘[Expletive], I’m going to give up seven runs in four innings and call it a day, then go home and count my money because that’s all that matters.”‘
The rest of the interview is just as strong. I have never thought the Sox should try to trade Lester, and this interview makes me feel even more confident in that position.
Categories
One of my new Favorite Olympic Athletes
That’s an impressive warm-up routine.[^felix]
[^felix]: My favorite for this year’s Olympics is probably Allyson Felix, or my fiancé’s former sailing buddy, paige Railey.
Categories
Gonzo Starting to Mash
> It’s probably not coincidence. His hot streak — including a stretch in which he’s hit in 21 straight games he’s had more than one at-bat — coincides precisely with the end of his days bouncing back and forth between first base and right field.
Really? I would have never thought playing completely out of position would have negatively impacted his hitting. Ugh.
> The Boston Red Sox are contacting teams to gauge their trade interest in Crawford, according to major-league sources.
> No trade appears close. Such a deal would be difficult to accomplish, given the size of Crawford’s contract and his lingering elbow problems. But the first lesson of the July 31 non-waiver deadline is that nothing is impossible.
Ugh. The last thing this team needs is another distraction.