Staying power?

Maybe Kevin Youkilis should lay off Don Orsillo in those wacky NESN ads and start busting into Terry Francona’s office while the Sox skipper is writing out the lineup card. “That’s Y-O-U-K-I-L-I-S.”

Apparently he could use the reminder.

Shuttle boy Kevin Youkilis, rekindling memories of Lou Merloni, was brought up to Boston yesterday yet again by the Red Sox, who sent Jose Cruz Jr. on his merry way. No word yet on whether the Red Sox are making a mockery of Youkilis’ career as Merloni claimed they were doing a few years back to his with their constant yo-yo calls. (Et tu, Ben Affleck?)

Ah, Jose, we hardly knew thee. Cruz (remember when he was tabbed the next, great thing in the game?) was an odd pickup to begin with, particularly with Gabe Kapler coming back into the fold right around the same time. He was 3 for 12 in his short stint in Boston, and played a right field at Fenway that wouldn’t exactly make anyone remember Dwight Evans. (Angles, Jose. Angles.)

So Youkilis is back, and already his fans are wondering when he’ll be demoted again. This is Youkilis’ fourth return to the big club this season alone, but we’re warning the club now: there had better not be yet another trip back down 95 in his future. If there is, we’re forming a Youk support group. Meeting Tuesdays at 7 at a coffee house to be determined.

Youkilis has proven himself not only to be a big league hitter, but an extremely intelligent hitter in the way he approaches his at-bats. In all probability, he is the third baseman of the future, barring Theo Epstein has a desire to bring back Bill Mueller at more dollars than it’s going to cost to have Youkilis play full time. Don’t count it out either, based on Mueller’s respect in the clubhouse. And if that happens, it’s either first base or trade for Youkilis come offseason.

Last night, arriving only a half-hour before game time, it’s understandable why Youkilis didn’t get the call to start, but still Francona’s refusal to use him at times is maddening and confusing. In his on and off stints in Boston, Youkilis (batting .286) has just 63 at bats. That’s just 20 more than relative newcomer Alex Cora, a utility player by trade, batting .216…

Maybe it’s just me, but you see Roberto Petagine, I see Morgan Burkhardt. Good grief, Edward Scissorhands would be a better option defensively at first…

Interesting situation percolating in Baltimore, where Rafael Palmeiro is due to be reinstated later this week, but there is some talk within the Orioles organization that wishes he would stay away. Baltimore is in freefall anyway, and doesn’t need the extra negative attention Palmeiro and his steroid suspension are sure to bring. “I don’t see how he can be that dumb to return,” one source close to the Orioles told the Washington Post.

Well, to be fair he was dumb enough to wag his finger at Congress and then get busted anyway, so expect anything…

Thank goodness Ty Law finally signed with the Jets. I was getting concerned about his family’s ability to eat this fall…

Todd Bertuzzi’s reinstatement by the NHL is a disgrace, but even more mind-boggling is the Avalanche signing Brady May, Bertuzzi’s former teammate who put the bounty on Steve Moore for a hit he placed on Markus Naslund. This, three weeks before Bertuzzi broke the Colorado winger’s neck. Could this be any weirder? Well, yes, perhaps. Rocky Mountain News columnist Dave Krieger asks, “What’s next, a trade for Bertuzzi? At least that would make May and Bertuzzi conveniently accessible for Denver District Court proceedings in Moore’s civil suit, which names both of them as defendants.” Which will all make for an even more interesting situation if Moore is healthy enough to return this season…

I had heard that The Muppets would be opening last night’s broadcast of “Monday Night Football,” but nobody told me they’d also have a life-size version of John Madden in the booth too…

Caught my first-ever Cape League game, Wareham at Cotuit, over the weekend, which was indeed a treat. Playoffs begin today at 3 p.m. when Cotuit plays at Bourne…

Right outside this lazy summer home
You ain’t got time to call your soul a critic no.
Right outside the lazy gate of winter’s summer home,
Wond’rin’ where the nut-thatch winters,
Wings a mile long just carried the bird away.