Shin-Soo Choo had a walk off hit in the 10th inning last night—a hit that outfielder Coco Crisp could not field because the ball bounced off a bird who had parked himself in shallow left-center with the rest of his bird buddies. The birds have been wandering the ProgressiveJacobs Field grass a lot lately, probably because of the steady supply of midges that also love to call the stadium home ... and occasionally help the Indians win games.

It's all a product of Wedge's Tarzan-like "call of the wild" strategy, where he summons the animal spirits do his bidding and vanquish the enemies of Chief Wahoo. But will it come back to haunt him? First, the midges start deciding games, but then you need seagulls to control the midges ... and soon the seagulls are calling the shots. So what's the seagull's natural predator? Alligators? Orcas? If the Indians sign a grizzly bear to play left field, don't say I didn't warn you.

For the birds: Gull struck by winning hit [MLB]

The first rule about Baseball Fight Club is that you don't throw any actual punches in Baseball Fight Club, but the Red Sox and Rays are not about the rules this season. In this, the battle for the very soul of the AL East, standard conduct apparently does not apply. I'll leave you to sort out the details of the fight itself, but here's what strikes me: Now we know that the Rays are legit. Who would have bothered to throw actual punches at them before? This ongoing retailiation stuff is what real baseball rivalries are all about, and up til now the Rays have not been allowed in that club. So welcome, Dioner Navarro and your Running Tackle of Doom. It's going to be a fun summer. Here's some tasty post-game reaction over at Sox & Dawgs.

Oh, and just to confirm that the Red Sox are challenging the Oakland Athletics of the early 1970s as the most dysfunctional baseball family of all time, they also brawled within their own dugout on Thursday. Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis went at it for some reason, and had to be separated by teammates. Oh, and there was a game. Ramirez hit his 503rd homer and had five RBI as the Red Sox won, 7-1. Boston moved a game-and-a-half ahead of second-place Tampa in the division.

• The 400. I have yet to figure out why Chipper Jones is such a polarizing figure among fans; he doesn't seem any better or worse, as a person, that a lot of other players. But them I may be missing something. Jones hit his 400th career homer Thursday; one of four hits that raised his average to .418. The Braves beat the Marlins 7-5.

• Oh Snap. The time has come for a new blog: Walkoff Hit-By-Pitch, anyone? Scott Schoeneweis hit Paul McAnulty with the bases loaded in the ninth, giving San Diego a 2-1 win over the Mets.

• Wizard Cat Defensive Player Of The Day. Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins. The diving stop was great, but the shovel to second sells it. Double play. Wizard Cat gives this play: Four wands. But frankly it's hard to get excited about this, because we've just been informed that there is unauthorized Wizard Cat merchandise on the market! These cheap trinkets are in no way endorsed by Wizard Cat, who is considering legal action. Or perhaps he'll just find this person and crap in their mailbox.

With that bit of unpleasantness behind us, we give you the best of Wizard Cat's mailbag!

• Wizard Cat, I'm appalled at the lack of morality you have in supporting the anal fissure that is Kaz Matsui. I thought for sure you were a conservative. You've lost my support. — Russian Experiment

• Wizard Cat, Is there a Mrs. Wizard cat? Or do you just have a lineup of eager hooters waitresses at your disposal? — Laser Guided

• Wizard Cat: Would you be kind enough to explain what was going on in John From Cincinnati, episodes 1 through 10? Thanks. — Ed French

• Dear Wizard Cat, could you replace Chipper's tongue with his cock, so he could go blow himself? I would be in your debt, oh great one. And if it's not too much to ask, please send a pr0FF3ss0r_j3rkwh3at puppy? Thanks! — Philas

• The Wizard Cat Play of the Day should have been the streaker at the Sox game who ran from right field to the third base stands, evading 2 security guards and losing his wig in the process. He tried to leap into the stands and faceplanted 5 rows in front of me. — Chilltown

Contact Wizard Cat at Wizardcat@live.com

• 1. We're Koo-Koo For Coco Crisp. It just may be remembered as one of the great all-time major league catches. David Wright's potential double to the gap was snagged by a leaping Coco Crisp in the eighth, saving a run in Boston's eventual 4-2 win over the Mets; the Red Stockings' 12th straight win and New York's third consecutive loss. Crisp also had a bunt single, Curt Schilling got his 10th win, David Ortiz homered and Jonathan Papelbon got his 24th save in 26 chances. But Mets fans shouldn't fret; your team is still 11 games up in the NL East.

• 2. Junior Achievement. Ken Griffey Jr. has worked out his schedule for the rest of the summer. Just so you know, he plans to hit one home run each weekday, and take very other weekend off. Also on Mondays he will provide snacks. Junior hit career homer No. 552 — his fourth in four days — as the Reds beat the Royals 6-5.

• 3. We're Not the Worst! We're Not The Worst! The Pirates had already set the club record for consecutive losses, so the pressure was off. Freddy Sanchez's walkoff homer in the ninth provided a 7-6 win over the White Sox, as Pittsburgh avoided its 14th straight loss and moved a game ahead of (behind?) the Royals in the race for the worst record in baseball.

• 4. Cubs' Dry Spell Continues. Milwaukee's Geremi Gonzalez returned to face his former team — when, we swear, we remember his name as then being Jeremy Gonzalez — and pitched well as the Brewers downed the hapless Cubs 5-4. Meanwhile, a woman charged with stalking Brewers' announcer Bob Uecker was ordered by a judge to have no contact with Uecker and to avoid any ballpark where the Milwaukee Brewers play. Of which we say about the latter, you consider that a punishment? (Sorry. We know they're playing well.)

• 5. G'Night, Folks! You can tell a team is in trouble when its manager spends more time in the clubhouse whirlpool than in the dugout. Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin was ejected for arguing a home run call in the ninth; his third ejection in the past eight games. Arizona has lost 20 of its past 23 games

The biggest piece that Cleveland gets back is Andy Marte, a stud third-baseman prospect. Indians fans, at least the ones here, seem to be as positively giddy as the smile on their terribly offensive mascot would indicate.

The Indians have found their next Jhonny Peralta. Their next Grady Sizemore. Their next C.C. Sabathia. A cornerstone player, under the age of 25, playing a premium position, equipped with tools off the charts. Not only does Marte come with all the hype, but his production speaks for itself.

And this particular Sox fan seems to be happy, though not quite as peppy as the Indians fans above.

Crisp will become a favorite here in Boston VERY quickly. He is intense. He is self-assured. He wants to win. He is cut from the cloth of Jason Varitek and Trot Nixon although with a bit more swagger.

And on a day where I get to mention a guy named "Coco" and a guy nicknamed "The Birdman," there is no way that I'm not posting a picture of Koko B. Ware.

Coco Crisp Traded To Boston [Indians Tribe Report]

A Look Inside the Numbers: Coco Crisp [sox1fan.com]