I, like so many other Chickball writers before me, did indeed succumb to the crushing heartbreak of the Red Sox total collapse and had to take a little bitty break from baseball. It's cool, though, I suppose it's better they collapse in August then make it to the playoffs and then show how incredibly weak (from injuries or what have you) our team is this year. For now, let's focus on the positives:

Congratulations Anibal Sanchez on your no-hitter! Oh, PS, would you maybe be interested in coming back to Boston anytime soon?

Roberto Clemente nominations have come out- it's wonderful to see the variety of names, from rookies to OldLOL Clemens, some relative nobodies and even Big Papi. I think it's important that these guys with their huge salaries show that it's important to try and do for others, hopefully it will encourage even more players (and regular folks as well).

And of course, we all want to send our hopes and prayers out to Jon Lester, who is not much older than all of us here, and is having to deal with one of the hardest challenges life can throw at you. Luckily, being here in Boston, he does have the resources of DanaFarber backing him, and again all the fans are pulling for you, Jon.