We may only have another day to enjoy this, Sox fans, since Josh Beckett and his craptastic oblique will be taking the mound for Boston tomorrow and who knows what will happen. To get the maximum enjoyment out of this moment—and I am still doing secret little cha-cha moves up and down the corridors at work when I think no one can see me—here’s a roundup of links:

Yahoo’s Jeff Passan goes for goosebumps and raises the specter of Aaron Bleepin’ Boone.

Sox&Dawgs never gave up. No, really! (I sort of gave up, but gave up while still firmly believing that if they only put their freakin’ minds to it, they could come back. If that makes sense.)

Center Field is glad the Sox stuck it to the TBS broadcast crew, who did indeed start talking about the Rays-Phillies World Series before the game was truly ovah. (Thanks, announcerboys! A little reverse-jinx action never hurts.) And as we know, it ain’t ovah ’til the Big Papi swings.

Kevin McNamara homes in on the Crisp at-bat.

Fenway West has the wooooo-creepy numerology take.

Red Sox Monster highlights Curt Schilling’s (really awful) first pitch — the only pitch he threw from the mound in Fenway all year. Which, yes, means it cost 8 million dollars. But clearly it was worth it for a little bit o’ that bloody sock karma, right?

Joy of Sox notes that after falling behind 7-0 and intentionally walking Carlos Pena, the Red Sox only had a 0.6 chance of winning. If you turn the chart upside down, it looks sort of like the Dow.

As a bonus to her great recap, Amalie Benjamin has a video detailing the superstitious behavior of some Sox players during the final innings.

King Kaufman assails the fans who left early. Shame!

Tony Massarotti says “Wow.” And has a kind of creepy quote from Beckett: “Tomorrow. Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.” But before you get all Macbethian like I did, he’s just clarifying when he’ll talk to reporters.

Alex Speier reports that even with the hot, swampy breath of defeat steaming the backs of their grimy necks, the Red Sox dugout thrummed not with doubts, but with the steely resolve of a determined and indefatigable mantra: “Let’s win every pitch.”

Joe Posnanski calls it something out of a kid’s dream. Yes: yes. A wild, improbable, ridiculous dream! Why did we become prematurely middle-aged cynical farts who fret about the stock market and pop Prilosec before eating pizza? NO! Today my hair is shiny. My abs are like my college abs. I could eat a barrelful of chili-cheese fries smothered in jalepenos and buffalo sauce and wash it down with cheap tequila and not feel even the slightest singe along my esophagus. When I woke up this morning, I didn’t even need coffee! i just bounded out of bed, tingling with La  Belle Victoire. (But i did have some coffee anyway, just in case.) Maybe October comebacks are what Ponce de Leon was looking for!

The Boston Herald is reporting that Manny will get his haircut “some time this week” at a place called Fantastic Sam’s, in a promotional stunt that will benefit some Dodgers charities. But that won’t stop the Dodgers from selling “Manny bandannas,” replicas of the blue skullcap he wears under his baseball cap - with fake dreadlocks attached. “Maybe after he gets his hair cut,” Torre said, “He can wear one of those.”

It’s time to stop running. LoHud Yankees Blog points out that Bobby Abreu has been caught stealing eight times in 22 attempts.

Freakonomics tells us about a new study that finds that athletes often perform unexpectedly worse in front of supportive audiences than they do in front of neutral ones and that the higher audience expectations get, the worse their performers do. So stay dispassionate, Marlins fans. The team will be better off.

Larry Bowa has been vocal in his opposition to the new rule requiring base coaches to wear helmets. During a recent chat on Dodgers.com, he said helmets aren’t necessary and “if you position your body in the right way and take the blow in the back, you can recover from that.”

Joe Posnanski, who will return to Kansas City from China this weekend, struggles with whether or not he should head straight from the airport to the Bruce Springsteen concert:

Anyway, I saw an interview (Springsteen) did with the New York Post where he explained why will not retire and stop touring. He said it was because he had a big ego and that his son called him an ”attention whore.“ But here was my favorite quote:

“When it comes down to it, I like the way it makes me feel. And the way that I can make you feel when I do it … It thrills me, it excites me, it gives me meaning, it gives me purpose.”

See, that’s how Springsteen goes on living. He stays on tour. He performs. He likes the way he makes us feel.

I can’t miss Springsteen in Kansas City, can I?

I’ve seen the boss in concert twice. During this most recent tour, I’ve waited and waited for him to announce that he was coming to Phoenix, but the closest he got was L.A. He’s seemingly played every other city in America, including Hershey, Penn., Hartford, Conn., and Charlottesville, Va. What’s the deal, Bruce? No love for the Grand Canyon State?

Finally, there’s chaos in San Diego! Chaos! Shoot to kill!

(Via Big League Stew)

Hot dag, yo, are we the only sports blog not banned in China? Or are we in fact banned in China and we just don’t know it?

That is one looong cup of coffee: it had been 21years in between minor league starts for Tom Glavine when he took the hill for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Sitting Andre Ethier in favor of Juan Pierre: not necessarily the worst decision ever.

If you could be pals with an athlete, would you pick Ryan Spilborghs? I would pick Tim Wakefield, so we could all go bowhunting together.

CJ Wilson’s not making any new friends.

Boston’s playoff odds are a little bit longer, post-deadline. But they get a little bit shorter if Joba keeps hurting.

The Tigers: Now Open 24 Hours. (Because they never close.)

Step right up, get your Saturday afternoon reading right here!

First, Baseball Prospectus Unfiltered has a must-read interview with Chili Davis on being the only Yankee to get a hit—and a home run, at that—in Pedro Martinez’s famous, 17-strikeout game in Yankee stadium from 1999.

Home Run Derby has the sad-hilarious (sadlarious?) pictures of some of the worst seats in America’s major league ballparks.

Squawking Baseball takes Buzz Bissinger to task for some inopportune words about baseball salaries.

Speaking of money, the Biz of Baseball links to a report that Harold Reynolds and Hazel Mae, formerly of NESN, will be joining the new MLB Network. I have to wonder if he will inappropriately hug her.

Joe Posnanski has a nice, long, director’s cut of a story he wrote about A’s reliever Brad Ziegler.

Sox Addict has ESPN leaving single, red socks in LA laundromats.

FireNedCollettiNow is discouraged by Manny’s inaugural GDIP. Given the name of the blog, I’m shocked, shocked.

And last week, while in North Carolina, I penned my weekly column for the Boston Metro about the Angels and their deceptively craptastic offense. Of course, later that same day, they acquired Mark Teixeira. Oops.

So the X-Files movie comes out on Friday, and I can’t help but wonder: will Mulder and Scully be looking for aliens, or that even more elusive creature…..the Last Eric Gagne Fan?

Here’s an item that should especially interest those of you who are now just waiting for next year: a mid-season update of baseball’s top 100 prospects. And if that’s not enough, here’s a look at the Triple A leaderboards.

Melky Cabrera waves to the fans mid-play and promptly commits an error. Just Melky being Melky?

I only wish I knew where Wendell “Send ‘em in” Kim would’ve ranked on this list.

A writerly look at Big Papi’s rehab stint in the minors.

A useful primer on the incredibly tangled web that is free agent compensation; good stuff to think about as the trade deadline approaches. Here’s the list of players who’ll be free agents after the season.

And finally, a Metro column in which I apparently begin to hallucinate.

What else should I be reading? Send me tips.

Did you actually stay up and watch all of that? I confess: I didn’t. But at least I can read about it on the ol’ series of tubes, eh?

Babes Love Baseball has your recap, by the numbers.

Walkoff Walk was there, and has a recap by the feelings.

The ‘Ropolitans says it was tedious.

Thanks to Jeff Passan, we now know why Ichiro just had to be at the All-Star Game this year.

Wax Heaven discusses Dan Uggla’s “uggly” night and gives it a BFD.

Leave it to ShysterBall to come up with the line of the night: “Danny Haren (neck beard) v. Kevin Youkilis (dead badger on chin) has to be the worst facial hair matchup in an All-Star Game since at least the 70s.”

Personally, I found the coverage of the the Josh Hamilton Love-In—aka the Home Run Derby—a little odd. And I’m starting to feel like all that love should maybe, you know, be shared a little?

And I also felt the need to comment on all the roster angst.

From the Hartford Courant via Center Field, the breakdown of whose lockers the Boston’s All Stars were using in the Yankee clubhouse. Of particular note: Manny was borrowing the locker last used by Carl Pavano. GET AWAY FROM THERE, MANNY! UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN!!!!

Jonathan Papelbon said something stupid? No WAY!!!! Get right outta town. (Yanksfan v. Soxfan)

Pap got booed. Mrs. Pap may have been threatened. Bleacher Report says Poor Pap. WasWatching says puhleeeeease.

Of course, Red Sox players aren’t the only ones to get booed in New York. Philly’s Chase Utley got it from the crowd, too—only he gave it right back. The 700 Level has video.

What have you been reading about the ASG? Leave links in the comments, or email me!

Man, this week feels long. How about some good ol’ fashioned midweek reading?

We already knew that Derek Jeter drinks wine coolers. Now, via Sox and Dawgs, we have the lowdown on A-Rod’s beverage of choice: a cold, fruity Sex on the Beach!

Also in the category of “The Pinstriped Epicure,” we have fresh intel on Yankee radioman John Sterling from the New York Post: he double dips!

Jeff Francoeur told the AJC he felt betrayed by the Braves when they sent him to the minors for a few days, but now his (relatively) harsh words have been removed from the paper’s website. Sabernomics wants to know: where did Frenchy’s quotes go?

Home Run Derby has noticed that Barry Zito’s Fathead poster is on clearance. A new low, indeed. At roughly 20 bucks a pop, Zito could now buy 900,000 of them this year.

UFH invades SportsCenter, notes Awful Announcing—apparently, Giambi’s occasional ’stache has now taken on a life of its own. IT’S ALIVE! IT’S ALIIIIIVE I TELL YOU!

From the Detroit Tigers Weblog, a kitten story. Because everyone likes a kitten story.

And finally, ladies and gentlemen, presenting your latest New York Times contributor: Milton Bradley! I’m staying tuned in case Arthur Sulzberger Jr. does something to provoke him.

Something else I should be reading? Meow at me!

Me and the boyfriend have been apartment-hunting, and are currently on a demoralizing 0-for-21 slide. That’s right, 21 apartments viewed so far and 0 leases to show for it. So, I’m doing what any good manager would do: benching us. Clearly, what is needed here is a day to clear the head. And how better to clear said head than with some good hardball linkage?

First, Baseball Reference’s Stat of the Day blog has a quick take on winning with no hits, as the Dodgers did last night.

SportsbyBrooks weighs in on the issue that wouldn’t die: the unkillable pink Red Sox hat debate.

Towel Drills has the Ozzie Guillen-Lou Piniella “rap” commercial, which I hadn’t seen yet. It’s horrifying, and it makes me grateful that Boston only has one baseball team.

Half Street Blues has the news of a rather interesting (read: desperate) marketing ploy from the offices of the Washington Nationals: today’s first 10,000 fans who bring in any non-Nats baseball merch and trade it for a free Nationals hat, the one with the curly little “W” that looks like a pig’s tail.

In this week’s Metro column, I assess Curt Schilling’s HOF chances.

River Ave. Blues and Blogging the Bombers are both chuckling over today’s oddball Yankee lineup. Oh, that Joey Girardi! He’s such a kidder!

Razzball has an “interview” with “Spike Lee.”

Balls, Sticks, & Stuff has some simple steps to “Phix the Phils.”

“Eyre placed on DL,” begins the headline of this MLB.com piece. Naturally, I supplied the rest in the blink of an eye: “Expected to be out at least six weeks with malnutrition, exposure to typhus, smoke inhalation, and a broken heart. Will return only when Mr. Rochester finally calls.”

Do you often hear ghostly voices crying your name over the lonely moors? Tell me about it!

I made an effort to watch all three White Sox - Cubs games this past weekend, thinking that we (ChiSox) would have a chance to keep those pesky Twins at bay – and of course, show our cross-town rivals a thing or two.

Like I said in the WTN for the Cubs, boy was I being prophetic. Nary a word of trash-talk comes out of my fingers and the Sox spiral into some kind of bizarre, home-run allowing, non-moving-RISP, dribbler-down-the-line-for-a-double-play-hitting team.

I hate to admit it, but series like these prove the White Sox are at the top because the other teams aren’t winning. Much like the Twins winning the division for a while early in the decade, Ozzie’s Sox have been good enough to stay on top, but that won’t be true for long, as those pesky Twins are inching ever-so closer. And don’t look now, but the Tigers might make a run for it in the AL Central.

During those annoying in-game interviews, Joe Morgan asked Ozzie for one wish; Ozzie’s response: My hitters to get hot.

The Sox offense sputtered all weekend, producing a couple of home runs and some run-scoring singles, but not enough to counter the slugfest that was the Cubs’ line up. Aramis Ramirez? Are you serious? In fact, the Sox had the lead in the first two games but the bullpen just couldn’t hold on. And last night, Ryan Dempster won his ninth home-game in a row.

I hated the Octavio Dotel signing before the season began, and I hate it even more now. He gave up two consecutive home runs on Friday that got the Cubs back in the game. With his two blown saves, 3.31 ERA (second-highest in the Sox pen), and three losses, it’s plenty to skew perception towards the negative.

It’s still early, and the Cubbies still have to play three more in the South Side next weekend, so we’ll just save the condolences for then.

Now for the linkage:

[Baseball Musings] The let-down in stats: The White Sox had allowed 54 home runs before the seires. They allowed nine during those three games.

[Baseball Think Factory] Asking your top RBI producer to bunt with two runners on and nobody out? Well that or hit into a double play.

[Newsday's Baseball Insider] Kevin Davidoff’s sticking to his preseason prediction and thinks the Mets are more likely than the Yankees to make the playoffs.

[The LoHud Yankees Blog] “Prepare yourself for the return of Sir Sidney Ponson.”

[Palm Beach Post] M.C. Hammer may have gotten Jack McKeon fired.

Last night, I did not watch the Sox game on television. My better half is graduating from business school today, and last night was the pre-graduation fete at the Skywalk Observatory in Boston’s Prudential tower, with a 360-degree view of Boston. (There was tons of free food and—score!—an open bar, staffed by bartenders who appeared to be getting paid by how many empties they turned in, judging by the strength of their pours. However, as the boyfriend, now the proud owner of several large student loans put it, “This is the most expensive party I have ever been to.”) Yet although I did not get to watch the game on television, I did get to watch part of the game: conveniently, you can see into Fenway Park from the top of the Pru. I was waiting in line for another plate of tuna tartare when a susurration rippled through the throng of merrymakers—a fight had broken out in Fenway Park! Partygoers could see tiny white dots beetling in to the center of the diamond, but of course, we had no idea what occasioned the melee. (Until the crowd of newly minted MBAs whipped out their iPhones, Blackberries, and Treos, of course.)

Because I missed the fireworks, I feel unqualified to opine on the fisticuffs. So let’s get some reax from Rays and Red Sox blogs. First, the Rays:

DRays Bay calls it “the lowest moment of the season” for the Rays, but Rays Index is proud of their devilish ballclub, and notes that Sox hurler Jon Lester didn’t even get a warning.

MVN has a point-counterpoint take from the perspective of two Rays fans, one of whom wishes that Shields “had landed that haymaker…That clip would have been played over and over until the end of time. “

Rays of Light calls the team “scrappy” and wants your suggestions for a team theme song.

The Heater has a timeline of the Rays-Red Sox rivalry.

Now for the Red Sox blogs (either there are a lot more Red Sox blogs out there, or I just know about more of them…no intentional snubbing of other Rays blogs, my friends! If there’s a good Rays blog I missed, please email me):

Center Field has a rundown (with video) of the main event, plus the bizarre sideshow between Manny and Youkilis in the dugout. The team isn’t talking about it publicly, but our best guess is that Youk said something to Manny about lollygagging out of the dugout on his way to the fray and that Manny didn’t take kindly to it. (Personally, I’m on Manny’s side. Can you imagine the uproar if Ramirez had gotten hurt in a dustup with Ortiz possibly out for the season? Manny did eventually leave the game with a “hamstring problem” but I think his hammy was just angry—and as we know, in those situations, you have to react.)

Sox Addict recaps the Wednesday night shenanigans at second base that led directly to last night’s rumble and takes Coco’s side. Beantown West says Coco was in the wrong.

Soxaholix rebukes Youk for expecting more ass-kicking out of Manny and wonders what else would have gone down if Julian “Batshit” Tavarez were still with the team.

Surviving Grady misses another former Red Sox player known to enjoy a good fight: Trot “the original dirt dog” Nixon. “Seeing someone [JD Drew] wearing the number 7 just standing on the periphery of a brawl,” they muse. “That’s how you know Trot Nixon has left the building.”

Basegirl isn’t worried about the clubhouse chemistry of the warring Red Sox. “After all, we have Sean Casey: Peacemaker. He’ll appease all parties and get them separate coloring books and Tek will give everyone Dad Face and everything will be fine. Problem solved.”

And count on Sox and Dawgs to point out the actual baseball implications of last night’s game: Jon Lester pitched his first outing without a walk, a major accomplishment for a young pitcher who has heretofore struggled in that department and a big deal for a team that has walked way too many people so far this year.

First the Rays fought with the Yankees during spring training. Now they’re battling with the Red Sox for first place—literally. Maybe it’s not so easy to take the “devil” out of Devil Rays after all…