Video: Kevin Youkilis Interviewed By Seinfeld Producer/Writer

With the Red Sox off Monday, here’s a quick Kevin Youkilis fix to get you through…for at least three minutes anyway.

The Boston first baseman was interviewed by longtime Seinfeld producer/writer Peter Mehlman as part of Mehlman’s comedy web series, “Peter Mehlman’s Narrow World of Sports.”

Youkilis does a surprisingly good job at playing the straight man for Mehlman’s brand of humor which is less Kenmore Square and more Upper East Side of Manhattan. If you’re a Seinfeld/Larry David fan though, you’ll probably like it.

Interestingly enough, Mehlman was a sportswriter from the Washington Post and several magazines for a number of years, so he’s got some background in sports. Having never written a formal script before, co-creator David offered him the chance to write one for Seinfeld and after submitting a short column he had written for the New York Times Magazine, Seinfeld himself brought him on board and the rest is history.

Some of the episodes he’s written or co-wrote? The Hamptons, The Sponge, The Visa and The Yada Yada stand out among a slew of memorable episodes.

So yes, kids: sportswriting can lead to a job writing award-winning and historically significant TV. Keep on plugging away, Bill Simmons. Someday, it’ll happen.

Josh Nason is the main writer and publisher of Small White Ball, a New England-based sports and media blog on the MVN Network. Reach him at josh [at] smallwhiteball.com or on Twitter.

Red Sox have quiet night at 2009 All-Star Game

Despite having six players in the 2009 All-Star Game, the Boston Red Sox contingent was mainly quiet Tuesday night – save for AL East rival Carl Crawford robbing a would-be home run given up by eventual winning pitcher Jonathan Papelbon.

Papelbon came in for the seventh inning and threw 10 pitches to three batters, but the one that stood out was a blast by Colorado’s Brad Hawpe to lead off the inning.

Crawford – named the game’s MVP – made a leaping catch up the eight-foot wall and snared the shot, preserving a 3-3 tie.

Papelbon gave up another long fly ball out to Miguel Tejada and then struck out Jayson Werth to end the inning.

Sadly, first-time All-Star Tim Wakefield – the oldest first-time All-Star since Satchel Paige in 1952 – did not appear in the game as he was held back for a potential extra innings situation. Josh Beckett did not pitch, not a surprise since he was coming off a complete game victory on Sunday. 

Left fielder Jason Bay started and batted fifth, going 1-2 with a single. Kevin Youkilis would pinch-hit in the 8th, stroking a single. Fan-voted starter Dustin Pedroia did not make the trip due to an ongoing family medical situation.

All-Star Notes

– The American League won the game 4-3 in just two hours and 31 minutes, the quickest game since 1988.

– The AL is now 12-0-1 since 1997, the longest unbeaten streak in the game’s history. In those games, the AL have outscored the NL 76-48 and out-homered them 21-10

– The AL’s four straight one-run wins tied an All-Star record.

– The game was the first without a home run since the 1999 affair at Boston’s Fenway Park.

Boston Sports Wrap: Red Sox in WBC, Pierce's climb through history, Peavy news, more

You’re all up to speed on Jon Lester’s 5-year, $30 million extension, right? Good. Great deal for Boston at very low-risk money for a man that could be a dominant left-hander for years….at least, that’s what GM Theo Epstein is banking on.

– Six players are representing the Olde Towne Team in the World Baseball Classic. Here are some updates in case you’re not keeping score at home…which you shouldn’t be doing anyway because that’s nerdy.

Team USA: Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia are manning the left-hand side of the infield for the star-studded red, white and blue. Youkilis is tearing it up at a .375 clip with two homers, seven runs scored and a .500 OBP, while the reigning American League MVP is hitting just .182 with two RBI thus far. Pedroia is a slow starter, so hopefully this is all getting out of his system prior to the start of the regular season.

What more can be said about Youk at this point? One of the best hitters the Sox have also seems to be the most disrespected. More on this another time…

Team Canada: The deposed Canucks got only four at-bats out of Jason Bay, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and five walks.

Team Dominican Republic: The man who has a lot of eyes on him this season – David Ortiz – hasn’t made much of an impression thus far, getting just one hit and an RBI in four at-bats.

Team Japan: Daisuke Matsusaka is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA with two walks and a strikeout in just four innings of work.

Team Puerto Rico: I’ve gotta be honest…I have never heard of Fernando Cabrera, but apparently he’s in the Sox system. Ok then. He has tossed just 2/3 of an inning with one strikeout. Hooray.

– An overlooked fact among the Celtics’ loss to the Orlando Magic Sunday was Paul Pierce climbing to No. 3 on Boston’s all-time scoring list behind two kinda important guys named John Havlicek (26,395) and Larry Bird (21,791). Pierce’s 16 points put him past the “Big Chief” Robert Parish with 18,248.

With 3500 left to go to catch Bird, it’s nearly a lock that Pierce will be No. 2 before his career in green is finished. So when does he start getting the same respect as Larry Legend? Ever?

– Here’s an interesting news note that crossed the wire. Apparently San Diego ace Jake Peavy didn’t say no to Boston as one of his possible trade destinations after all. While it probably would have/will take a lot of prospects to get Peavy (seen left swilling some fine booze), I thought this line really stuck out: “Boston was a place I told the Padres I would be interested in playing at. Set that straight for sure.”

– Glen Davis and Rajon Rondo will be out for Wednesday’s game against Miami when the Celtics expect to field a team of 10. Kevin Garnett, Rondo, Davis, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine…who’s next? I’d love for Leon Powe to simply DOMINATE this week. He’s been due for a breakout stretch and this could be it.

But if you need a funny clip to put a smile on your face during this trying time for the Celtics, here is Pierce completely ignoring a kid in a Lebron James’ jersey during Friday’s big win over the Cavaliers. Life lesson kid…if you’re going to wear the colors, don’t expect celebrations when you attempt to jump ship.

Josh Nason is the publisher and main writer on New England sports
and media blog Small White Ball. He can be reached at joshnason [at] smallwhiteball [dot-com].