Red Sox Magic Number - 42

According to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - the number 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything. The number 42 also happens to be the current magic number for the Red Sox after Boston beat Baltimore 6-2 yesterday. Josh Beckett surely looked like an Ace other teams would be hard pressed to beat come playoff time.

The last Red Sox player to wear the number 42 for the Red Sox was Mo Vaughn. He will also be the last since MLB has retired the number to honor Jackie Robinson.

The number 42 also happens to be the number of teeth that both wolves and dogs have. The pessimists in Red Sox Nation are afraid that the wolves in the form of the red-hot Yankees are nipping at the Red Sox heels. Meanwhile the optimists believe that the Yankees will fall back to earth during their tough schedule stretch in the dog days of August.

I read recently that the Red Sox could have had Jermaine Dye for a package of pitchers Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen. My first reaction is to ask why the hell didn't the Red Sox make that trade? After some reflection I'm glad the Red Sox did not trade Manny Delcarmen. He's got an above average fastball and curveball and has averaged a strikeout per inning pitched this year. I'd hate would have hated to see Delcarmen turn into some Johan Santana-like starter for the White Sox (hey it could happen).