Boston Red Sox defeat Tampa Bay Rays, 7-3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- As a recently diagnosed diabetic, Lou Piniella was advised to quit smoking. He says he's been off the butts for four months, and is this close to kicking the habit. "Once in a while when we come in after we got beat," he said, "I feel like chewing one."

The Devil Rays were supposed to be better this year. How many Chamber of Commerce breakfasts and how many Rotary luncheons and how many country club cocktail crowds heard Piniella make that pledge...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- So what did Tim Wakefield name his first son?

"How about Phil [Niekro Wakefield]?" Pedro Martinez suggested, referring to the Hall of Fame knuckleballer who once mentored Wakefield.

Not quite. Wakefield seems to have done enough for the pantheon of knuckleballers by continuing the craft and wearing No. 49 to keep faith with masters such as Charlie Hough, Tom Candiotti, and Hoyt Wilhelm. Wakefield and his wife, Stacy, opted instead to name thei...