Gloucester Daily Times
---- — Guard Problems
It turns out Robert Gallery’s stint with the New England Patriots was a short one. The veteran offensive guard announced his retirement Saturday before he played a single game with his new team.
Gallery’s retirement leaves the Patriots with a gaping hole at the guard position. Pro Bowler Brian Waters has not reported to camp and is also contemplating retirement.
While Logan Mankins will continue to be his All Pro self at one guard spot when he takes the field, he is also an uncertainty as he is recovering from ACL surgery.
That leaves the Patriots with Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell and Donald Thomas as the team’s top three healthy guards. Connolly has proved he can be a serviceable replacement but the others are unknown.
Beckett’s Back
It really doesn’t matter at this point but Josh Beckett says he will be returning to the hill on Wednesday. The good news is the Sox get a pitcher back in the lineup, the bad news is his start comes against the Texas Rangers and he will probably get shelled again.
Beckett’s return comes with little fan fare as the Sox are reeling at the moment struggling against the abysmal Minnesota Twins.
ITL Playoffs
The Manchester Essex Mariners have finished atop the Intertown Twilight Baseball League again and they will meet defending champion Rowley in the first round of the playoffs.
Game 1 was played on Sunday in Essex and game two will be played tonight in Rowley (5:45 p.m.).
-Compiled by Nick Curcuru
