Lucchino mourns passing of friend Russert
CINCINNATI - Tim Russert loved the Buffalo Bills, but he was a baseball fan, too. A passionate one, according to Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, who knew the broadcast journalist for almost 20 years and was deeply saddened to learn of his death yesterday afternoon.
"I helped him get his first season tickets at Camden Yards way back when he was just a rising star in journalism, in his first year on 'Meet the Press,' " said Lucchino, who was then CEO of the Baltimore Orioles.
"He was a passionate baseball fan in general, and certainly developed a keen interest in the Red Sox. So many of his friends aided and abetted his transition from the Orioles to the Red Sox."
When Washington got its own team again, Russert became a Nationals season ticket-holder, but with his son, Luke, at Boston College, he had another reason to pay attention to the Sox. He sent a glowing e-mail to Lucchino when the Sox won the Series in 2004.
Russert also sat on the board of directors for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Lucchino last spoke with Russert a few weeks ago, when Lucchino was preparing to give the commencement address at Boston University.
"I knew Tim had given literally dozens of them," Lucchino said. "It was the middle of a very busy workday, but he still had time to talk to me about what was on my mind. He was very helpful in urging me to talk more about the lessons of baseball, and reciting his favorite Yogi Berra stories I should include."
Late last summer, Russert also served as moderator at the "presidential debates" for Red Sox Nation. "He'd just moderated the presidential debates in Dartmouth the same week," Lucchino said, "but he threw himself into [the Red Sox debates]. He'd done his typical intense preparation and was full of information and opinions."
The Sox released a statement expressing their condolences to Russert's wife, Maureen, and son. Lucchino said he plans to attend services for Russert next week.
"He had an appetite for people, a curiosity about life, and embraced life," Lucchino said.
Pigs on the menu
This was probably not part of the dream when Daisuke Matsuzaka imagined coming to the United States to play baseball: the chance to pitch in Allentown, Pa., against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
But on Monday night, that's where you're apt to find Matsuzaka, who is scheduled to face the IronPigs while on a rehabilitation assignment for Triple A Pawtucket. The IronPigs are the Triple A affiliate of the Phillies, whom the Sox will be facing the same night in Philadelphia.
"I'm not too worried about whether it is a major league team or a minor league team," Matsuzaka said through translator Masa Hoshino. "I will approach the game like any other game I start."
Manager Terry Francona made the announcement yesterday afternoon, before Matsuzaka was forced by bad weather to throw a bullpen session indoors. He threw 78 pitches, and if all goes according to plan, Matsuzaka, the only unbeaten starter in the majors (minimum five decisions) with an 8-0 record, will throw 75-80 pitches against the IronPigs. The plan is for him to rejoin the Sox' rotation a week from today at Fenway Park against St. Louis.
Matsuzaka has been on the disabled list since May 30 (retroactive to May 28) with what the team has called a mild rotator cuff strain.
"The biggest thing was to have the chance, at this time of year, to rest, not just my body, but my shoulder and elbow as well," Matsuzaka said.
Office visit
Francona downplayed it, but he met with closer Jonathan Papelbon in his office to address the potentially inflammatory remarks Papelbon had made about the Tampa Bay Rays in a weekly television appearance. Before meeting the manager, Papelbon was unrepentant about comments in which he derided the Rays' actions in brawling with the Sox June 5, and warning that there may be more to come when the teams next meet. "The main thing to me, they think it's all done, and it's not," he said. "[Expletive] like this carries over." . . . Rays manager Joe Maddon had this to say when asked about Papelbon's comments, which he made during a weekly TV appearance on
Milestone for 'Mayor'
Sean Casey's seventh-inning single was his 1,500th career hit. Casey, whose reputation as "The Mayor" was cemented in his eight seasons here, received a prolonged standing ovation from the crowd of 38,855 in the Great American Ball Park . . . With Jason Varitek missing the game, the Sox were left with Alex Cora as the emergency catcher. Kevin Cash started for the second straight night, and with Tim Wakefield scheduled to pitch this afternoon, Varitek could expect another day to recuperate . . . After still expressing reservations about his tender right hamstring Thursday night, Manny Ramírez came in yesterday and told Francona he could play. But he left the game after striking out in the seventh, complaining about the hamstring. Francona said he expected to sit Ramírez this afternoon anyway, then put him back in the lineup tomorrow. Francona alluded to better communication with his star slugger. "He wouldn't have done that a couple of years ago," Francona said. "He came and sat down and kind of talked it through." Ramírez came out after striking out in the seventh, Jacoby Ellsbury shifting to left field and Crisp entering to play center. Since the Sox were trailing, that suggests the hamstring was bothering Ramírez . . . Longtime Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman, upon walking into Francona's office yesterday: "When the ringmaster's a clown, that means the circus is in town." Brennaman and Francona, who played for the Reds in 1987, have been friends for years. "Before you leave," Francona said, "tell them how good a player I was." Brennaman: "You stunk." . . . Curt Schilling threw a side session. "It wasn't one of his better days," Francona said, underscoring the long odds Schilling faces in order to rejoin the rotation.
