Short Hops: And in a related story

AND IN A RELATED (?) STORY

In pregame activities Tuesday night, the Red Sox staged a celebration of their two most recent world championship teams. Among the invited guests was Bill Buckner, who set foot in Fenway Park for the first time in 11 years. Three innings into the game, Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco’s major league-record errorless streaks of 186 games and 911 chances came to an end.

RUN-OFF HOMER

Robert Andino has been up and down with the Marlins each of the last four seasons. Mostly down. He was 16-for-81 (.198) in his career when 2008 opened, but made the roster as a utility infielder. In Florida’s second game, Andino nailed the first home run of his career — a two-out, 10th-inning game-ender, no less, against the Mets. Afterwards, the 23-year-old hero was nowhere to be found by media members craving an interview. No explanation was offered for his absence until the next day, when it was learned that Andino had rushed out of the park after receiving text messages from his wife, saying that an intruder was trying to break into their home. That was, in fact, true, but police arrived at the scene and little harm was done.

WORD OF MOUTH

The latest fad in some spring camps was a product called Pure Power Mouthguards, which are supposed to improve jaw alignment and thereby improve balance and even upper-body strength. Or so says the manufacturer, which bases its claims on the “concepts of neuromuscular dentistry.” Some of the Oakland A’s who swear by them are Eric Chavez, Travis Buck and Huston Street. But before you run out to your local Dick’s looking for a quick fix of your own, know that PPMs must be custom-fitted by a qualified dentist. Also know that Chavez has reinjured his chronically painful back; Buck started the season 0-for-22; and Street’s ERA is 9.64.

HIT AND RUN

Short Hops’ recurring installment of slapdash observation and imprudent opinion:

When rookie Chin-Lung Hu comes to the plate, the Dodgers crank up the PA with — what else? — The Who’s “Who Are You?”

Speaking of baseball tuneage, it’s the 100th anniversary of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” There’s a new book out, entitled “Baseball’s Greatest Hit, ”about the history and tradition of the song.

Over the last four years, the Rays have a record of 14-17 at Yankee Stadium. If you’re not impressed, consider that the Red Sox are 13-15.

Including the postseason, C.C. Sabathia has given up 24 earned runs in his last 26 innings. And the Cy Young Award winner who set an AL record for lefties with a 5.65 SO-to-BB ratio last year has walked 20 in those five starts. Are we worried yet?

QUOTABLE

“When you get the [bleeping] ball, pitch good.” — Jim Leyland, asked how he defines his pitchers’ roles.