I spoke about this once before on here, ( The Spygate Specter) and now I’m forced to talk about the stupid saga again. Much like Senator Arlen Specter, I’m “incensed.” But not at how the National Football League handled Spygate. I’m “incensed” at the fact that once again Specter has taken time out of his obviously wide open schedule to address a “national” issue like Spygate. Who knows? Maybe how the NFL handled Spygate will somehow influence the United States economy or even the presidential race. I mean, if it takes time out of Capitol Hill’s busy docket, it has to have some impact on the state of our beautiful nation.

Now, the Pennsylvania Republican is calling for an independent investigation in order to get to the bottom of the inadequate way that the NFL handled the dubious scandal that revolved around scouting tapes.

“What is necessary is an objective investigation. And this one has not been objective,” Specter stated at a news conference in the Capitol.

To me, some of the comments aimed at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell resemble a slight form of slander. For instance, Specter said that Goodell made “ridiculous” assumptions that wouldn’t fly “in kindergarten,” which is obviously a blatant attack on his level of intellect.

Listen, I’m totally lost for words. Actually, I could say a few things, but being reprimanded would be the inevitable conclusion. So, I choose to look the way of the pink hats and think everything is fine and dandy.

One thing I have to say is that the Boston Red Sox should buy space on the front and back pages of every newspaper in this city and issue a thank you to the individuals in charge of the Spygate “probe” trash. Because if Spygate wasn’t the main topic these days, the Sox would be getting lambasted by every media outlet in New England, thought I’d drop a hint.

We all know the Sox dropped both games in their pressure packed two-game series with the Orioles, so I thought I’d make this short and sweet, just like the breathing room the Sox will have once the C’s and Spygate drop from the headlines. Viva la Lowrie!

In 36 innings against the Minnesota Twins, the Sox conceded 25 runs to their power-laden bats. Yeah ok! This time around, the losses can be solely attributed to the horrendous pitching performances by starting pitchers Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz. In a total of 12 1/3 innings of work between the three, they notched a combined ERA of 11.68! Are you kidding? Not to mention, closer Jonathan Papelbon blew a save. The only positive to speak of was how lively Boston’s bats were.

Third baseman Mike Lowell went 6-for-17 (.353) with one home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. He has hit safely in six consecutive contests and looks fully recovered from the thumb injury that landed him on the disabled list.

First baseman Kevin Youkilis continued his breakout year. He went 6-for-15 (.400) in three games with one home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. He continues to maintain a fluid stroke that screams keen batting prowess. In my mind, Youkilis has morphed into one of the best hitters in the game and is as valuable at the plate as outfielder Manny Ramirez and designated hitter David Ortiz.

Baseball has had its mind-boggling issues in the past with drugs, steroids and bench-clearing brawls. But their latest opponent is a manifestation of their own skeptical brilliance. What would you say if someday soon someone were to get hit over the head with a bat, or even impaled by one? Back in the day, you would probably say I’m full of a certain substance and to aim my critique elsewhere. But there is no denying that the use of maple bats to promote home runs is a very dangerous endeavor and should be banned immediately. I mean, the bat snaps and spews shrapnel like a fragmentation grenade across the infield, and this even happens when a player makes contact with the sweet spot. It’s an unneeded spectacle that shouldn’t be happening. The league must go back to the safer bats that are made of ash, because they can’t afford a tragedy due to a love affair with the long ball. It’s not safe, it’s not right and most of all it’s just a game. Wake up Major League Baseball!

Sorry for my rant folks, but after watching games all weekend and seeing a virtual fireworks display of kindling in every contest, I had to say something.

Wow! Did the Sox look good or what in their four-game set with the Detroit Tigers? I mean, they outscored the cats 25-14 and were a Julio Lugo error away from taking out the brooms and sweeping the kitty litter under the tarp.

So yeah, our nice overpaid backup, I mean starting shortstop Julio Lugo stinks like a college student’s shower towel. This is the same guy that’s taking playing time away from Jed Lowrie, the same guy that has 10 errors as of May 9 and the same chap that needs to be demoted to Pawtucket’s equipment room.

Does anyone reading this agree that the signings of outfielder J.D. Drew and Lugo were two of the worst free-agent acquisitions that you can remember on this team? I know we win, I know that the front office knows how to construct a team through the draft, but they have no clue how to sign guys. I mean, Matt Clement anyone? We still could have starting pitcher Derek Lowe for that money. Oh, just so you know, over his three full seasons with the Dodgers, Lowe has recorded a combined 3.70 ERA in 639 1/3 innings of work.

Someone has to stop playing the sleepy lullaby music in the clubhouse, because scoring four runs in their last five contests is totally unacceptable. It’s total blasphemy, an achievement that teeters on the ledge of citywide insanity.

In addition, the knee problems that designated hitter David Ortiz has been suffering from and the beleaguered legs of Red Sox outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew only add to the overplayed soap opera of misfortune now showing at Fenway Park.

I mean, the only thing changing these days is their spring training venue. The Sox will reportedly move their spring operations to Sarasota. The move is mainly due to the fact that the Cincinnati Reds will join Arizona’s Cactus League.

The ninth-inning heroics April 29 were splendid. The smile on Youkilis’ face when he spanked the ball up the middle into center field was priceless. It was even more amazing to see David Ortiz round third and head home to score the winning run! But the true bright spot in the game was Jon Lester. He threw eight scoreless innings while allowing one hit, walking four and striking out six. He was finally hitting the outside corners against right-handed bats and had a bit more velocity on his pitches. Might he be turning the corner? We shall see.

I know OPS isn’t a fantasy relevant statistic, but to me, it truly measures the overall hitting prowess of a player in monumental ways. Take a look.

One guy that has burst onto the scene this year is Chicago White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin. The 25-year-old lauded slugger is hitting .298 with seven dingers, 21 RBIs, 21 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 1.052 OPS in 84 at-bats this season. Over his last 10 games, Quentin has hit .394 with three long balls, six RBIs, seven runs scored and two stolen bases in 33 at-bats. He is mashing at a .328 clip against right-handed hurlers and has performed admirably inside the home confines of U.S. Cellular Field while raking at a .326 clip. On the flip side, he sports a lackluster .176 average against southpaws and has hit a subpar .263 on the road. However, Quentin showed plenty of promise when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks, especially in their minor league system where he posted a .955 OPS in a total of 1,337 at-bats. But with the influx of young and talented outfielders in the desert, Quentin surprisingly became the fourth wheel. Good for Chicago! He encompasses a powerful and fluid stroke that is only enhanced by his new surroundings. If Quentin is somehow still available, grab him quick. Plus, if his owner has doubts, make sure you offer your support and volunteer to take the Stanford alum off of his or her hands. 

A three-game sweep at the gloves of the Tampa Bay Rays was the last thing that I was expecting to happen down in Tampa. The Sox scored a paltry five runs in the 29 innings they played against the Rays (Game 1 was an 11-inning affair). Do you see anything wrong with this distorted and grotesque stat line? I sure do, their freaking bats hibernated, the pitching was woeful and the clubhouse is flu-stricken. Oh, and to add a little more hot sauce to the salsa, designated hitter David Ortiz is sidelined with a bruised knee! He should be back tonight.

The Sox currently resemble a small snowball rapidly roaring down a hill getting bigger with every rotation. They are on a five-game losing streak, and they are visually beaten down while the rest of the American League is just beginning to hit their stride. The sad thing about this whole ordeal is that it’s only the month of April.

Game 1: Red Sox 7 Angels 6
Game 2: Angels 6 Red Sox 4
Game 3: Angels 7 Red Sox 5

It’s tough for me to actually sit here and commend shortstop Julio Lugo on the .364 clip he hit against the Angels. But I have to, just continue it man, you’ve got a lot to prove.

The flu virus demolished a once poised and confident clubhouse, I’m not saying that the morale is diminished in any way, but the fact that catcher Jason Varitek, starting pitcher Josh Beckett and starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka were all out in the series, is a cause for concern. I did hear that the Sox took care of the problem, they supposedly sprayed down the clubhouse, we’ll see if their feeble attempt stifles the bug.

Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury flashed the brilliance that kept him in town during the Johan Santana trade talks. He hit .333 (5-for-15) with two long balls and four runs scored in the series. I was at the game on Tuesday night, and what he did on Dustin Pedroia’s tiebreaking double was unreal. To me, he is easily one of the most exciting individuals in the game of baseball; the future is bright for the flashy centerfielder. He is a leadoff hitter with a .423 OBP, now that’s production.

Between the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots, the great City of Boston owns Texas-based professional sports teams. A combined 11-0 comes to mind. I thought I’d mention it, because it feels great.

Bring out the brooms Sox fans, because our boys just crushed the Texas Rangers in a four-game sweep that resembled the power of one of our great city’s roadside street cleaners.

Let me start off by saying that the Red Sox combined to outscore the Rangers 30-14 over the four-game set.

In Game 1, the Sox won 11-3 in a contest that was highlighted by designated hitter David Ortiz crushing a simply marvelous grand slam; it was the eighth slam of his career. Good old “Dice-K” netted his fourth victory of the year while surrendering five hits and notching four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia mashed his first home run of the season with a sweet two-run bomb. I just don’t know how his 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame packs so much punch.