Series Preview: CLE @ Sox--Trot back to Boston

Cleveland Indians (34-15)
AL CENT: Up 2.5 gms
STRK: W-4 LST 10: 7-3
AVG: .272 (t5) ERA: 4.41 (7)
HRS:59 (3) RUNS: 271 (1)

Probable Pitching Matchups:

GM1: Lee (2-1, 5.93) vs. Schilling (4-2, 3.94)
Schill will be looking to redeem himself after that horrid last outing (12H, 5ER in 6inn @ NY); Lee started the season on the DL with an abdominal strain and was activated May 3. In this first matchup between the two best teams in the AL, I'll take a hungry & motivated Schill over a recovering Lee.
MY PICK: Sox

GM2: Sowers (1-4, 6.29) vs. Beckett (7-0, 2.66)
The return of Josh Beckett from the 15-day DL could be more widely covered than the debut of Dice-K. Okay, so that may be an exaggeration, but the skin on Beckett's middle finger will warrant major scrutiny, as the hopes of Boston's postseason rests on that slim digit. BTW, he's going up against a stiff named Sowers
MY PICK: SOX & Beckett (fingers crossed)

GM3: Byrd (5-1, 3.81) vs. Matszaka (7-2, 4.43)
The Tribe's best hurler will take on the Sox hottest one in the game that promises to be the best pitching matchup of the series. Byrd, the 11-year vet, has gotten off to a great start and has reeled off wins in three consecutive starts. Dice-K can do better, though, as he's won six straight decisions to reach 7 wins, tied with Beckett and John lackey for tops in the league.

If the tribe are going to get a game here, this is the one, because although Dice has been winning, he hasn't been awesome, nausea or not.
MY PICK: Tribe

KEY PLAYERS:

• Travis Hafner: .267/9/33--mammoth masher hasn't heated up-yet
• Ryan Garko: .336/7/20--surprising soph 1B is 6th in AL in batting
• Jhonny Peralta: .284/10/33--slugging SS leads Tribe in HRs
• Grady Sizemore: .276/8/24--tied for 2nd in AL in steals (16) & runs (40)
• Victor Martinez: .311/8/39--catcher is 5th in AL in ribbies
• Joe Borowski: 17 saves, 6.75 ERA--leads AL in saves despite bloated ERA

OLD SOX:

• Trot Nixon: .281/2/20--one of the original Dirt Dogs returns to his roots
• Kelly Shoppach: .326 (15-46) in 29 gms--Sox prospect was dealt for Coc in '05
• Andy Marte: .180 (9-50) in 15 gms--1st base prodigy came from Atlanta in the Rentanerror deal, then was flipped to CLE in the Coco trade; hurt most of this year
• Eric Wedge: 350-347 in 4+ yrs--the former Sox catching prospect had a brief major league career but has become one of the best young managers in the game

Season Series: 1st meeting of '07

NOTES:
Heeeee's baaaaccckk!

Christopher Trotman Nixon makes his return to Fenway Park tonight after leaving as a free agent in the off season when the Sox take on the red hot Tribe at 7:00 PM.

A mainstay of the Boston lineup for a decade from 1996-2006, the man called Trot was one of the most beloved members of the team from this or any generation. Never afraid to get his uniform dirty-in fact he preferred it that way-Trot embodied what blue-collar New England was all about: hard work, passion, and a desire to succeed above all else.

He was truly the origin for the phrase that has become a New wave New England religion: Dirt Dog

When healthy Trot was one of the most feared right fielders in the game; from 2001-03, he cranked out an average of 26 homers and 93 RBIs, and he always played the tricky right field corner at Fenway better than any man since Dewey. Known as a clutch hitter, one of his most memorable highlights in a Boston uniform came when he belted a pinch hit 2-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Sox defeated Oakland 3-1 in GM 3 of the 2003 ALDS.

Although he played like a man who would never call in sick, unfortunately a myriad of injuries towards the end of his run in Beantown made it hard for the Sox brass to rationalize keeping him. Back, quad, thigh and wrist problems plagued his final few years, and when it came time to resign him or let him walk, the Sox decided to hand J.D. Drew $70 million rather than pay an ageing & ailing Nixon; he ended up inking a 1-year, $3 million deal with Cleveland to bring his leadership and attitude to a young but talented Indians squad.

And tonight, on a day when America remembers its war heroes, Boston will welcome back one of its most loved, honored and respected former players, a man who was always known for his pine tar-laced hat, dirt-stained uniform, and unwavering desire to do his job right.

Welcome back, Trot.

The Nation misses you.