Red Sox
RF Drew
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
DH Youkilis
3B Lowrie
SS Scutaro
LF Crawford
C Varitek
CF Ellsbury
Athletics
CF Crisp
1B Barton
RF DeJesus
DH Matsui
LF Sweeney
2B Ellis
C Powell
3B Kouzmanoff
SS Pennington
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Red Sox Line Up Against A's 4/20/2011
The Red Sox continued to lose on the road last night in Oakland. The Red Sox play a second game in the series Clay Buccholz will continue to look for his first win. Oakland has Gio Gonzalez on the mound he is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA with 14 strike outs.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Red Sox Are Going Streaking!!!
Well the Red Sox are finally on a streak winning their past three in a row. Today was the annual Patroits Day game for the Sox and it was a big one as they went on to defeats the Blue Jays 9-1.
The heroes of the day were Daisuke Matsuzaka and Superman Jed Lowrie. Dice-K pitched a gem tossing seven innings of shutout baseball only allowing one hit and one walk. While Lowrie continues his hot streak going 4-for-5 today with four RBI and a homerun. Lowrie is considered the hottest hitter in the MLB with a .516 average.
"I understand [how hot I am]," said the hot Jed Lowrie. "Who cares? It's April 18, long season. I'm just going to keep my head down and keep grinding."
There were several other great performances from guys who needed a lot of confidence. Kevin Youkilis who came in batting less than .200 had a big day at the plate. Youkilis knocked a double off the bullpen fence that if it was a half inch farther would have been a home run and came up again later in the game and actually hit a home run. On the day Youkilis went 2-for-5 with a strike out. Carl Crawford also had something to be proud of as he got a double off the monster. This was the first hit he had received in over a week so hopefully this will get things going for the sox.
"At this point, I didn't feel [any] hits coming," Crawford said. "I definitely felt better about my at-bat."
"Everybody in the dugout [was thrilled]," said Terry Francona. "I was happy to see the ball he hit before, because it's a good approach, but then you certainly want to see somebody rewarded for it."
Jacoby Ellsbury also had a good day hitting his second home run in two days. Ellsbury leads the team in home runs which is a surprise because coming into the season the Red Sox expected him to be the leadoff man. Looks like that could be part of Ellsbury struggles this season with a .200 batting average. I’m starting to think he is Willie Mays Hayes in the Major Leagues because he isn’t supposed to be swinging for the fences.
Speaking of leadoff men, I believe the Red Sox may have found their guy. Francona put J.D. Drew in the leadoff spot today trying to give Carl Crawford some help. This may have been the best decision of the game. Drew went 5-for-2 with a walk and scored a run in the first inning. This is something I never thought of but Drew makes perfect since as he has such a high career OBS and OPS which is perfect for the lead off. If the Red Sox continue winning I can see Drew in the leadoff spot for games to come.
Today results from today is what many Red Sox fans was expecting out of them since the signing of Crawford and trade for Adrain Gonzalez. If the Red Sox offence continues to play this way they could save the pitching staff several games. The Red Sox are streaking now so watch out because here we come.
Red Sox Line UP Against Blue Jays 4/18/2011
It's Patriots Day in Boston, which means they are running the Boston Marathon. It also means an extremely early start with more people outside of Fenway then normal. The Red Sox have won two straight and looking to keep the streak going but Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the mound for the Red Sox. Dice-K is off to an awful 0-2 start only lasting two innings in his last start against the rays giving up seven runs and making his ERA 12.86 on the year. They are hoping today will be a bounce back day as they have Jason Varitek catching him hoping to get him back in rythem after he got shell shocked. His counter part for the Blue Jays is Ricky Romero who has a record of 1-1 in
three starts with a 1.66 ERA in 21.2 innings of work.
Red Sox
RF Drew
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
SS Lowrie
LF Crawford
C Varitek
CF Ellsbury
Blue Jays
SS Escobar
CF Patterson
RF Bautista
1B Lind
C Arencibia
LF Snider
DH Encaracion
3B Nix
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Red Sox Line UP Against Blue Jays 4/17/2011
Jon Lester is on the mound looking for his first win of the season and hoping to get the teams first back to back win of the year. Lester will being up against Jesse Litsch who is 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA.
Lines ups
Red Sox (3-10)
LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
SS Lowrie
RF Drew
C Saltalamacchia
CF Ellsbury
Blue Jays (7-7)
SS Escobar
CF Patterson
RF Bautista
1B Lind
2B Hill
C Arencibia
DH Snider
LF Rivera
3B Nix
3B Nix
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Lowrie Walks Around Like He's Got an S On His Chest
Box
For anyone who was wondering if Josh Beckett is back, today he proved he is back for sure. He didn’t have a 10 strike out game like last week but if you recall from my line up post all I wanted was a win. He did pitch damn close to his performance against the Yankees. Beckett lead the Red Sox to a 4-1 win.
Beckett went seven innings allowing one run in the second inning and gave up five hits while striking out nine. See I told you it was close to Sunday. He was mixing his pitches similar to last Sunday and is pitching like we got our ace back for 2011.
With Carl Crawford struggling so bad in the leadoff role Tito gave him the day off and had Superman Jed Lowrie the go. Lowrie played the super hero role today went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a homerun. Lowrie was the spark that the team needed to get the win today.
The Red Sox are still struggling hitting with men on base even leaving the bases full at one point in the game.
Dustin Pedroia continued his hitting at Fenway with another hit but he is most credited for his defense today also got some amazing defensive play from Adrain Gonazlez to show why both guys have won a Gold Glove in the past.
Bullpen help today was great as Daniel Bard pitched a scoreless eighth and Jonathan Papelbon got his second save on the season.
Now that the Red Sox finally have their third win the next step is to pick up the first back to back win of the season. Oh yeah, they also need to make Jed Lowrie a permant member of the line up in the leadoff spot seeing he is the only guy on the team hitting .500 on the team with 22 at bats under his belt on the season. I mean if it doesn’t work out its not different than the Crawford experiment that has been a failure. So if Tito is reading make you give it a try.
Red Sox Line UP Against Blue Jays 4/16/2011
After last night it looks as if the Red Sox are trying a new approach to the line up with a new person in the lead off spot and everything. Josh Beckett is on the mound today for the Red Sox and Jason Varitek will be catching him again. As we know from Sunday night when Varitek catches Beckett good things happen so hopefully we can get another outing simular to his most recent 10 strike out game. Now I'm not asking for 10 strike outs, I really just want a win no matter how it comes. Going against Beckett for the Blue Jays will be the lefty Jo-Jo Reyes. Reyes is appeared in two games this season with a 0-1 record and a 5.23 ERA in 10.1 innings of work with nine strike outs.
Line ups
Red Sox
SS Lowrie
2B Pedroia
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
RF Cameron
C Varitek
LF McDonald
CF Ellsbury
Blue Jays
SS Escobar
CF Patterson
RF Baustista
1B Lind
2B Hill
LF Snider
DH Nix
C Molina
3B McDonald
It Makes Me Physical Sick to Lose
I have been in the bed all day with a Migraine and after this most recent lose by the Sox I feel like everything is getting worse. So if I go to the doctors and he ask what is wrong I am going to tell him the Red Sox can't win a game and they are killing me.
Last night the Sox lost to the Blue Jays 7-6 in a game we could have won. Clay Buchholz had a 3-0 lead going into the top of fifth. Dustin Pedroia had just put a laser show on a knocked a solo home run into the stands at Fenway followed by a two-run homer for Kevin Youkilis. With one out Buchholz walks two start batters to bring Corey Patterson up to the plate with two on with men on second and third hits a bases clearing triple to get the ball rolling for the Jays.
After Buchholz had been roughed up in the fifth he gets the ok to back on the mound for a sixth well that was a poor idea. He gives up a lead off walk and a single before Tito says enough is enough. Brings Alfedo Aceves from the bullpen thinking he can control a win well he is unable to and allows Adam Lind to score giving another earned run to Buchholz.
With the game tied Bobby Jenks comes to the mound he has been a soild pitcher so far this season but just not last night. Jenks comes to the mound and gives up the lead off walk to Jason Nix than a single to Yunel Escobar. As if this wasn't enough to he gives up not one but two more hits each for an RBI to make the game 5-3. At this point you think the fish hook has to be coming well instead a mound visit its sweet of the pitching coach to make the long trip to the mound to do nothing because he left Jenks in long enough to give up not one but two more runs!
The Sox are down 7-3 in the bottom of the eighth when a ray of light comes to Fenway. I think I may have even saw some kid in the outfield waving his arms like an angel was there but that could have been the migraine. But the bottom half starts with a ground out by Gonzalez followed by a walk to Youkilis and a walk to David Ortiz. With J.D. Drew at the plate he stikes out swinging. Jed Lowrie comes up to the plate to pinch hit for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, which was the best move Tito made all night. Lowrie singles which scored Youkilis and puts Ortiz at third and starts the rally. Marco Scutaro hits a double down the left field line for a double scoring both Oritz and Lowrie. With a chance for the win Jacoby Ellsbury comes up to the plate and flies out to end the inning.
The Red Sox would not score again to give the game the final score of 7-6. This has been a rough season so far that has left several people sick including myself. Fans are physically, mentally and emotional sick of the Red Sox losing and it is hard for this blogger to be possitive in times like this. I love the Red Sox but to quote Fever Pitch "You love the Sox, but have they ever loved you back?" I know the Red Sox have loved me back in the past but this years group needs to show fans some love quick and start winning some games. They are currently the worst team in baseball and it breaks my heart.
Week Two American League Standings
It breaks my heart to do this but as a journalist I must present to you with the week 2 American League standings where the Red Sox are in the basement.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Red Sox Line Up Against Blue Jays 4/15/2011
Today is Jackie Robinson Day as I said in my previous blog and all players will be wearing the number 42 in honour of him. Today's match-up will be the Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays with Clay Buchholz making his third start of the year. Buchholz has yet to get a win yet with an 0-2 record and hopes to pick up his first today. He currently holds a 7.20 ERA in 10 innings pitched. He will go up against the lefty Brett Cecil who has similar numbers to Buchholz. This will be a great game and hopefully the Red Sox will be able to pick up win number 3.
Red Sox (2-9)
LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
RF Drew
C Saltalamacchia
SS Scutaro
CF Ellsbury
Jackie Robinson Day in the MLB
It’s April 15, 2011 Major League Baseball is honoring one of great hero in baseball, Jackie Robinson. Today is Jackie Robinson Day in the MLB. This is the eighth straight year that baseball has honored the man and it is also the only day that the number 42 is wore(With the expection of Mariano Rivera who is grandfathered in). The MLB also has also launched the IAM42.com which is an online campaign for the MLB going on all day.
IAM42 is a way to allow younger fans who may not know the legacy of Jackie Robinson or may want a more personal feel to what he did for baseball. It is the 64th anniversary of the day that Jackie broke the color barrier in baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. If it was not for Jackie and his efforts today we would not have many of the great players we have today. The campaign is also being used to keep the legacy of Jackie alive as they have joined in with Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI).
The Red Sox as well as all other organizations will be honoring Jackie by wearing his number on their back today including coaches, players and even the umpires for this special day.
The number 42 was retired by all of baseball on April 15, 1997, which was the 50th anniversary of Jackie’s first game they did it at Shea Stadium which is the closest National League team in New York to Brooklyn since there is no longer a team in Brooklyn.
Say It Ain't So: Gonzalez Deal is Done
Who would have known? I hope you know I’m being sarcastic at this point but the Adrian Gonzalez deal is finally done. After waiting since December after all the, is he coming is he not coming mess. According to CSNNE, the Red Sox have reached an agreement on a seven year, $154 million dollar contract extension. The Red Sox expected to announce the deal later today.
As we all know Gonzalez come to the Red Sox via trade from San Diego and now he is going to sign the biggest deal for this current ownership group.
Most people who aren’t regular blog readers may ask, what took so long for the deal to get done? There are two reasons why. The first being Gonzalez did just have surgery on his right shoulder that only happen a little over a month and a half prior to the trade. They wanted to evaluate his recover and ability to play following the surgery. This is the reason the Red Sox will tell you.
But everyone knows the real reason is to get around paying to luxury tax on Gonzalez for at least one year. The Red Sox have Gonzalez this year for a bargain price of $6.5 Million for 2011, had they signed an extension prior to opening day his luxury tax value would be $20 Million even though he doesn’t make that much in 2011. You would have to pay a lot more than his value all because you signed on the dotted line to soon. If you recall the Red Sox did the same thing with Josh Beckett’s deal last season.
Most Red Sox fans like me believe that the deal was sign seal and postdated in December seeing they gave up four of their top prospects to get him. If they did not know that they would sign him long term do you really think they would have bet the farm on him? The Red Sox are the smartest team when it comes to using their prospects and they don’t just give them away for nothing.
With Gonzalez signed long term the Red Sox may have to repair the Green Monster because he is going to be hitting bombs off the wall for years to come.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
In Case You Missed It: E:60 on Ryan Westmoreland
For those who don't know Ryan Westmoreland is a former top outfield prospect that last year had brain surgery. ESPN E:60 did a feature on him last night here is a small sample in case you missed it.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Red Sox Lineup Against Rays 4/11/2011
Tonight the Red Sox continue their home stand with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Sox will have Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound for the Sox. Dice-K has made one start this season and it didn't go so hot. He went five innings giving up six hits and three runs. Dice-K is known to be a pitcher who gives up walks so his three walks wasn't that surprising and he did strike out two batters. He will go up against Jeremy Hellickson for the Rays. Hellickson has a 0-1 record with a 4.76 ERA in 5.2 innings pitched. Both the Red Sox and the Rays have had a slow start but this could be just what the Red Sox need to get this season going
Lineups
Red Sox
LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
2B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
RF Drew
C Saltalamacchia
CF Ellsbury
SS Scutaro
BecKKKKKKKKKKett is back!!!!
Wow! That is all I have to say about Josh Beckett’s performance last night against the Yankees. That is the best pitching I have saw out of Beckett in at least the last two seasons to lead the Red Sox to a 4-0 win.
Coming into this game people was doubting him and wondering if he would ever be worth his $68 Million dollar contract. But Beckett come out mixing his pitches better than I have saw him do ever and was throwing the flame as he fanned 10 batters and only allowed two men on base and those only came in the first three innings of the game. His two strongest pitches of the night was his two-seamer that had great movement and he was throwing his curveball perfect as well as for strike. It was just amazing to witness.
The one thing that is different between this start and Beckett’s last? Jason Varitek. Varitek has a special bond with Beckett as he can call an amazing game for him. Varitek is the genius catcher that has caught four no-hitters he knows how to call a game. I believe after this start he will be Beckett’s full time catcher from here on out.
While Beckett was pitching amazing he had some help from Dustin Pedroia’s defense. Pedroia showed why he is one of the top defensive second basemen in the game. Throwing guys out on plays most couldn’t get to. He brought his bat to this series as well. Pedroia went 9-for-13 and 3-for-4 last night against the Yankees. It showed all Pedroia needed was to get back to Fenway in front of the home town crowd to get it going on the season.
The was some bad last night though for offense the bats was moving for singles but it was like no one could hit once men was on base. Last night the guys went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. There were only two guys to hit for double all game and that was David Ortiz and Marco Scutaro. Scutaro’s second double of the game come at the perfect time with bases loaded to give the Sox a 3-0 lead.
Another great was Jonathan Papelbon, though he came in the ninth it wasn’t for a save but he sure pitched like it was. Papelbon struck out a hot Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira and forced Derek Jeter to ground out to Pedroia.
This was an important win for the Red Sox with a struggling Tampa Bay team coming in today and this could be the confidence they need to get this season off and running.
Yankees 0|2|0
Red Sox 4|12|0
The Buch Rolls In: Clay Buchholz Gets 4 Year Deal
Well after Clay Buchholz pitching performance against the Yankees on Saturday good news was needed. Well the news is here Buchholz and the Red Sox agreed on a contract extension that will leave Buchholz in a Red Sox uniform for four more years.
This deal is set up similar to the contract extensions pitcher Jon Lester that the team got done last year. Buchholz contract is said to be worth around $30 million dollars, which is what Lester is making on a five year deal with a club option. Buchholz deal is only four years with two club option years.
For those of you who do not know the policy of Red Sox of signing players under contract to long term deals who are already under their control like Buchholz is currently. The player must give up their first year a free agency and must have their arbitration years bought out and have to agree to a club option for at least one year. Buchholz had three arbitration years left under his current deal but no longer has those.
"I owe a lot, just about everything, to the Red Sox," Buchholz said. "They drafted me. They gave me an opportunity to come up in Boston and pitch even though the couple of down years. There are always going to be doubts. This game's not near as easy as some of the guys make it seem sometimes. But I definitely got to the highest point of the highs in this game, and then it took its toll on me and I thought I was better than I was at the time.”
So the Red Sox have their one through four starters locked down until at least 2014. The Red Sox hope that this contract is a deal for his pitching as most believe the Lester deal has been for the team so far. Red Sox fans hope the next deal we hear about is Adrian Gonzalez...
Sunday, April 10, 2011
UPDATED! Red Sox Line Up Against Yankees 4/10/2011
Beckett finally gets his binky in today's game against the Yankees. Jason Varitek will be catching for Josh Beckett today. Beckett's last start was in Cleveland when he got the loss with a 5.40 ERA. Becket went five innings while giving up three runs on five hits with four walks and fanning four. Beckett hopes to have a better start today against the Yankees. He will be going up against the Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia who holds a 1.38 ERA in his first start.
The Lineups
Red Sox (1-7)
LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
CF Cameron
RF Drew
C Varitek
SS Scutaro
Yankees (5-3)
LF Garner
SS Jeter
1B Teixeira
2B Cano
CF Granderson
RF Swisher
DH Posada
3B Chavez
C Martin
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Red Sox Line Up Against Yankees 4/9/2011
The Red Sox are hoping to start a win streak with Clay Buchholtz on the mound. His last start wasn't a pretty one he got took yard 5 times for the first time in his career. Buchholtz will go up against Yankee newcomer Ivan Nova. Nova holds a record of 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA.
Todays Lineups Against the Yankees:
Red Sox
LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
RF Drew
SS Lowrie
C Saltalamacchia
CF Ellsbury
Yankees
LF Gardner
SS Jeter
1B Teixeira
3B Rodriguez
2B Cano
RF Swisher
CF Granderson
DH Chavez
C Martin
Home is Where the Red Sox Heart is: Red Sox Get First Win
Today was opening day at Fenway Park and the Evil Empire New York Yankees are in town. With their rival in town what better time to pick up the first win of the year. Well it happened the Red Sox defeated the Yankees 9-6.
Coming into the game today fans was restless and some even starting to panic wondering when the first win would happen. I think the management even was thinking like that to because GM Theo Epstein held a closed-door meet with the team ready to play and it worked. Red Sox set up man Daniel Bard “On a scale of 1 to awesome, it was awesome. It was like Rudy, except there was no prayer at the end.” If it takes pep talks like this all season I say get in their everyday Theo and do work.
Today’s game was like a boxing match that was split up into nine rounds because both teams came out swinging early. The first inning the Yankees put up two runs in the first inning thanks to Robinson Cano knocking in a pair of runs in. The Red Sox could not allow them to steal the show at the home opener so Dustin Pedroia gets up to bat and starts his 2011 Laser Show by knocking a home run into the monster seats.
The top of the second Brett Gardner hit a double to score a run making it 3-1 at the middle of the second. This is when the Red Sox bats decided to go nuts as they would score 5 runs off of Yankee right hander Phil Hughes. All nine Red Sox batters saw action in this inning as Hughes gave up six hits, a fielder’s choice and a walk. After all that action it would be the end of Hughes day.
So with the offense being in full sync you would assume pitching would be as well. Well you know what happens when you assume it makes an ass out of you and me. Most people would think after Jon Lester went seven innings of shut-out ball Thursday that John Lackey would follow with a similar performance not at all. Lackey pitched so poorly that he gave up at least one run in all five innings of work. Lackey was charged with six runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out a pair and giving up a home run to A-Rod.
Following the Lackey disaster Jarrod Saltalamacchia gets an RBI to give the sox a 7-6 lead and gives Lackey the undeserved win. The seventh inning was another big one for the Sox as they put two more runs on the board. The Seventh started with Adrian Gonzalez hitting a leadoff single followed by Big Papi hitting a green monster double for his third hit of the day. J.D. Drew comes up to the plate and blast a base hit that would allow both Gonzalez and Ortiz to score.
The Red Sox bullpen looked amazing today with the newly addition Alfredo Aceves pitching the sixth, Bobby Jenks in the seventh, Daniel Bard in the eighth and Jonathon Papelbon getting the Save. The four of these guys combined for one hit and five strike outs and most important no runs.
The Red Sox are finally getting in gear for the season getting their bats going, now if pitching can get in gear the Sox are going to be a force to be recon with. Getting home was just what the doctors ordered.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Manny Being Manny For the Last Time: Manny Retires
Looks like its official Manny Ramirez has retired from the MLB. The news about this retirement comes in the middle of today’s Red Sox game via MLB Twitter page. Ramirez is set to retire after news come out that he failed a drug test during spring training this season.
"Rather than continue with the process under the program, Ramirez has informed MLB that he is retiring as an active player," a statement from MLB said. "If Ramirez seeks reinstatement in the future, the process under the Drug Program will be completed. MLB will not have any further comment on this matter."
Manny has put up great numbers especially has a member of the Red Sox that could put him in the Hall of Fame but that day will never come because this is his second failed PED test since the new drug policy has been put in place. Not only that Manny has been trouble in other places in the dugout, on the field you name it Manny has done it. To the point the phrase “Manny being Manny” was created.
While on the Red Sox David Ortiz was his closest teammate, this is what he had to say about Manny. "It's sad, man, to see a player with that much talent and with an unbelievable career get him out of the game," said David Ortiz . "He got his issues like a lot of people know, but, as a player, I think he did what he was supposed to."
This news comes as a surprise to his new team the Tampa Bay Rays as they have said that Manny has been a good teammate and not done anything out of the way.
"We are obviously surprised and disappointed by the news," in the statement put out by the Rays. "We will have no further comment on this matter, and our fans and organization will carry on."
This could be a good thing for the Rays is they will not have to pay the majority of the $2 million contract. It’s a sad day that the game will lose a play as good as Manny. I know that he did use but the ablity that he had he could have been a great player even without the PEDs.
Red Sox Line Up Against Yankees 4/8/2011
John Lackey will be on the mound today for the home opener at Fenway against the Yankees. After his last start of with a 22.09 ERA and giving up nine runs. The Red Sox hope to get more out of Lackey and that 2:05 at Fenway Park is Awesome O'Clock at least we can only hope. Lackey will be matched on the mound by Phil Hughes who also has had a rough start to the season with a 11.25 ERA.
Red Sox Lineup
LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzales
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
RF Drew
C Saltalamacchia
CF Ellsbury
SS Scutaro
Yankees Lineup
LF Gardner
SS Jeter
1B Teixeira
3B Rodriguez
2B Cano
RF Swisher
DH Posada
CF Granderson
C Martin
Carl Yastrzemski to throw out ceremonial first pitch.
Red Sox DFA Dennys Reyes But With That Mask There is Always Pro-Wrestling
It looks like more changes to the Red Sox bullpen came late last night. Most Red Sox fans wondered after Matt Albers was sent to the DL when and why the Red Sox didn’t do something about Dennys Reyes.
Well it looks like Sox fans got their wish as Joel Sherman of the New York Times tweeted to the world that Reyes was designated for assignment and since he has no options means cut from the team.
Though Reyes has not given up a run in his first three appearances in 2011, he hasn’t got the option to either. In every performance this season walking batters, his last appearance for the Sox Reyes got three earned runs after walking one and hitting two. His performance could be ruled ok up until this happened but this mishap has him off the team.
Coming up from AAA Pawtucket to take his place on the team will be Felix Doubront to take the lefty job in the pen for Tito.
Some discussed Albers and Reyes getting the job over others coming out of spring training and how this could be bad for the Sox. Well as we know it is a young season and things will change. Players will get injuried, while others will just not do their job and be DFA’d. That is the reason we have a Minor League system and we get great use out of it.
Hockey Back at Fenway?
It looks as if the Red Sox want to play hockey at Fenway again. I know this sound like a joke after the start of the season but seriously it looks like the owners are looking to use Fenway Park to play hockey in the winter.
In 2010, Fenway Park played home to NHL’s Winter Classic which was played between the Bruins and the Flyers. They used the ice rink for several other things while it at Fenway. It was used for college hockey and local ice skating. They played host to Frozen Fenway which sold out and brought in a lot of revenue for the city and the Red Sox. Tom Menino, the Mayor of Boston even talked to the ownership group into holding youth hockey as well.
It isn’t likely the Winter Classic will be back, but Frozen Fenway could be back. Red Sox COO Sam Kennedy told Menino earlier this week that he would to host the event again. Having the college teams match up gives them a chance to play outdoors and gives them a chance to experience Fenway in a new way. The Mayor seemed excited about bringing hockey back to Fenway.
It looks like the Sox also want to hop on the football bandwagon. I guess they saw the success of Yankee Stadium hosting a bowl game and the not so successful game at Wrigley Field even though it brought in a lot of money for the Cubs. The Red Sox are looking at the possibility of bringing in a college football game to Fenway. Fenway has played the home to college football in the past and played home to the Patriots from 1963-68.
This would be an amazing opportunity to make money for the Red Sox that would not have to be involved in the revenue sharing and could use all the tax breaks possible.
LeBron James and Red Sox Join Together to Play Soccer
Red Sox and LeBron James have come to a partnership. No, LeBron will not be playing for the Sox or in Boston for that matter.
LeBron has joined in a partnership with the Red Sox ownership group with the Fenway Sports Management, as a minority owner of the Liverpool Football Club in the English Premier League. LeBron will have no controlling interest and for that matter gets to make no decisions on the team. What will he make? Money! Liverpool is considered to be one of the most profitable sports franchise in the world.
Everyone knows that LeBron is a huge New York Yankee fan, so how did this union happen? Well Sam Kennedy FSM, president and COO of the Red Sox said James and Henry & Warner at Warren Buffett’s company. James and Henry talked and liked each other wanted to be partners.
“He’s definitely a soccer fan,’’ said Maverick Carter, James’s business partner. “He loves sports and he took a good look at what John and Tom have done with their sports entities and the history associated with the Liverpool franchise, and he decided that it was something he wanted to be involved with.’’
This could be an interesting deal and will be able to branch out more business adventures for the Red Sox ownership group and will open more doors with LeBron James on board. James is the most hated and most loved athlete in sports today which is a win/win for everyone in this deal.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
A Day on the Red Sox Farm
Today was Opening Day for the Minor League system for the Red Sox. It was a successful day for the farm system as they all won a game something the Red Sox have yet to do.AAA Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket 2
Rochester 1
Winning Pitcher:Rich Hill
Losing Pitcher: Yorman Bazardo
Save: Micheal Bowden
AA Portland Sea Dogs
Portland 4
Reading 3
Winning Pitcher: Alex Wilson
Losing Pitcher: Josh Zeid
Save: Blake Maxwell
A Greenville Drive
Greenville 12
Augusta 6
Winning Pitcher: Manuel Rivera
Losing Pitcher: Justin Schumer
PawSox Game Highlights
The Carousel Begins to Turn in Boston: Albers to DL, Aceves Called UP
After being swept for the second series in a row and the Red Sox still unable to get a win they are doing what they can to improve the team. According to Boston.com’s Extra Bases the Red Sox have sent right-handed reliever Matt Albers to the disabled list and have called up right hander Alfredo Aceves.
This is comes as somewhat of a surprise to me reason being Albers last appearance for the Red Sox was a good one. In his last two appearances he hasn’t given up a run or a hit and on Tuesday struck out the side. It looks as if Albers is suffering from “sore late muscle behind his shoulder,” that has landed him on the DL.
The Red Sox calling up Aceves was ever more surprising since he had the nod to start tonight’s opening night game in Pawtucket. That didn’t happen and Scott Atchison got the start and got passed up. Atchison who most believed to the first call up on the roster was passed over for Aceves which has to be discouraging after his pitching performance last season for the Sox.
Aceves appeared in five games this spring for the Red Sox with two being in the starter role. He went 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA and an impressive four strike outs in 13.1 innings of work.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Red Sox Line Up Against Indians 4/6/2011
Today is game two of the Red Sox vs. Indians series and is the first start of the season for Daisuke Matsuzaka. Dice-K had a poor season last season as he went 9-6 in 25 starts but he hopes for this be a bounce back year similar to his 2008 year. In 2008 Dice-K went 18-3 and that was his best year since coming to the United States to play. Dice-K holds a 4-1 record over the Indians so hopefully he will lead the Sox to the first win of the season. Dice-K will be matched up against Mitch Talbot.
The lineups against Indians:
Red Sox
CF Ellsbury
LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
RF Drew
C Varitek
SS Scutaro
Sox 0-4 Fans Need to Relax it's Only April
After yet another lose last night making them 0-4. Red Sox fans all over are going to record books, cussing players and some thinking of jumping off a building. But don’t do it there are still 158 more games to play and it just April and at the first week of the season.
Last night’s game against the Indians was not a great one as the bats wasn’t popping and Beckett wasn’t pitching. Though Josh Beckett did not pitch well enough to get the win, he did bring the best performance of the season. He started out strong early in the game but had a rocky fourth inning and after that wasn’t good for anything. Beckett gave up five hits and three runs all earned but were able to find the zone. He struck out four batters and issued 65 strikes out of a 106 pitches in the game in five innings of work.
There was one thing that was great last night and that was the bullpen. The Red Sox had three complete innings of no hit baseball out of the pen. Matt Albers came in the sixth innings after Beckett gave up his third run in the game. Albers pitching was amazing as he issued three strike outs while walking one batter. He thought 22 pitches and 11 of them were in for strike. The seventh brought Bobby Jenks who also faced four batters while striking out three and a walk. The eighth has Daniel Bard going three up and three down. This is the kind of pitching we need from the bullpen if our starts aren’t going to be able to go the extra innings to win the game.
Though pitching was good the offense was non-existent again for the fourth straight game. The team only had four hits in this game and two of them were from Dustin Pedroia as he attempts to fuel the offense. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia finally got his first hit of the season which resulted in an RBI as David Ortiz scored the only run of the game.
The Red Sox weakness came in the leadoff roles as Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford went 0-8 together in the top of the order.
As I said earlier the Red Sox are off to a poor start but it is still early in the season and there is plenty of baseball left. Everyone is freaking out about this but historically our pitching staff has bad Aprils and Carl Crawford who everyone is freaking out over always gets off to a bad start, just ask the dozen Rays fans out there. Things will turn around and the Red Sox will be the team everyone predicted them to be at the start of the season. So just relax, grab a brew and wait for the lasor show that is the Red Sox to get started.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Papelbon Fifth Anniversary as a Closer is Here
Can you believe that today is the fifth anniversary of Jonathan Papelbon becoming the closer of the Red Sox?
Coming into the 2006 season the Red Sox had put their faith in Keith Foulke who was a key player in the 2004 post season leading the Sox to their first World Series victory in 86 years. Foulke was coming off a 2005 injury plagued season and a poor spring training. Foulke is called into the game on Opening Day 2006 in Texas. He gave a run and two hits in what was a long inning of work. While the Sox did win the game they knew that they were in trouble and thus the Jonathan Papelbon era would begin.
On April 5, 2006 before the game Terry Francona if there was a chance for a save situation that the rookie Papelbon would get his chance as the closer of the Sox. Papelbon had just came off a 2005 season where he had a 2.65 ERA and issued at least one strike out an inning as a mid-season call up. Francona knew that Papelbon had what it had to take to be the closer as they used him primarily as a setup man, though in the minors he was used a starter.
“About 30 minutes before game time, Tito just called me into the office and said he thought long and hard about, starting the season off, who was going to close, and we decided on you,”Papelbon recalled. “We want to give you the chance to start shutting the door in the ninth. Just go out there and do the best you can.”
That was the conversation that started it all for the Sox. It’s Josh Beckett’s Red Sox debut on the third game of the season, the Rangers only scored one run in the game which come early in the first inning. Beckett is set for the win thanks to a couple of runs in the seventh. Mike Timlin comes in for a rocky eighth inning but survives not giving up any runs. The bottom of the ninth in Texas the bullpen doors open and there he is Mr. Papelbon himself. Papelbon comes running to the mound with adrenaline going wild.
"I remember it pretty vividly," Papelbon said. "I've gotten some good (adrenaline rushes)-Yankee Stadium, World Series, Fenway Park. But that first one is definitely, it was the same feel but yet different means. Same feel, same adrenaline, but different meaning."
"I remember thinking to myself, after it was said and done' Wow, for the first save opportunity in the big leagues, this was an intense as they come, pretty big one right out of the gate, day one' I remember thinking, 'Wow, pretty intense.' I enjoyed it."
Papelbon came out strong throwing high 90’s and got the save. Though he did get the save he was not named the permanent closer until later in the season while they thought about still trying to transition him into being the starter. Papelbon saved 35 games with 75 strike outs in 68 1/3 innings played in 2006.
In his fifth year of in this role of closer of the Red Sox, he has 188 saves hoping to get to 200 in this season. He has the most saves in Red Sox history and the most saves in the American League in a five year span.
This is Papelbon’s final year of his contract and how fitting is it that the start of another season as closer Josh Beckett is on the mound. If Beckett is able to keep the game close then Paplebon will be able to get a save the same way his first save was made.
Red Sox Line Up Against Indians 4/5/2011
With the Red Sox still looking for their first win of the season they will take on the Cleveland Indians tonight on the road. The Indians currently hold a 1-2 record. The Red Sox will put Josh Beckett on the mound for his first start of the season and he will go up against Josh Tomlin.
Lineups for todays game:
Red Sox Indians
CF Ellsbury CF Brantley
LF Crawford SS Cabrera,A
2B Pedroia RF Choo
1B Gonzalez C Santana
3B Youkilis DH Hafner
DH Oritz 2B Cabrera, O
RF Drew LF Kearns
C Saltalamacchia 1B LaPorta
SS Scutaro 3B Hannahan
PawSox to Honor Past Owner Ben Mondor
Tomorrow is opening day for the minor leagues and it is a special day for the Pawtucket Red Sox as this will be their first opening day since the passing of their late owner Ben Mondor. The PawSox plan to honor Mondor with a patch on their right arm for the 2011 season. Honoring the fallen has become a baseball tradition by bearing the players name or number on your jersey for a season. But the member of the Rhode Island state legislator feel this isn't enough. Yesterday the General Assembly presented the idea to name opening day "Ben Mondor Day" the idea will be brought up today and should go through with no problem.
Mondor purchased the PawSox in 1977 and is credited with saving the dieing franchise. Before he purchased the team they was on the verge of bankruptcy and turned it into the sucessful franchise it is today and gave it a blue collar feel that will live on for ages. Mondor passed away at age 85 in October but his presents will live on with the PawSox forever.
What does Charlie Sheen and Josh Beckett have in common?
Josh Beckett is trying to help the Red Sox start "winning" as Charlie Sheen also attempts "winning" in Cleveland tonight as the Red Sox attempt to pick up first win of season.
But the Red Sox are heading to Cleveland tonight and hoping to pick up the first win of the season. Josh Beckett is on the mound for the Red Sox and hopes to come back year after his 5-5 season. This year Beckett has been pushed to the four spot in the rotation in hopes to turn it around.
When ask his thoughts on 2011 he said, "I had some physical issues and there were time I couldn't pitch the way I normally do," said Beckett. "But that said, you still have to go out there and compete and I didn't do that often enough. I was terrible plenty of times. I can't defend that and I shouldn't. It happened and I can't change it."
Beckett hopes to do what no member of the Red Sox staff has been able to do this season, win. The Indians are 1-2 after playing the White Sox but even though they are having a poor start some how they were able to put a total of 20 runs up on the the board. Could this be a sign of more bad to come as the Red Sox pitching staff has already gave up 26 total runs this young season? I think not as they gave them up to the Rangers one of power hitting teams of the American League. This will be a good chance for the Red Sox to pick up the win and to give Beckett the confidence he needs for 2011.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Red Sox Line Up Against Rangers 4/2/2011
The Red Sox are looking for their first win of the season and hopes that comes today with John Lackey on the mound going up against Colby Lewis. Sine John Lackey is on the mound it only means one thing the game starts at Awesome O'Clock( see video at bottom)
Today's Lineup for the Red Sox
Pedroia 2B
Crawford LF
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Drew RF
Saltalamacchia C
Scutaro SS
PawSox Release Opening Day Roster
The Pawtucket Red Sox put out the opening day roster. Next Thursday is the PawSox open the season on Thursday against Rochester Red Wings.
Arnie Beyeler is the 2011 PawSox Manager this is first season with this position.
Starting Pitchers
RHP Alferedo Aceves
RHP Brandon Duckworth
RHP Matt Fox
LHP Andrew Miller
RHP Kyle Weiland
Relief Pitchers
RHP Scott Atchison
RHP Michael Bowden
LHP Rich Hill
LHP Hideki Okajima
RHP Jason Rice
RHP Clevelan Santeliz
LHP Randy Williams
Catchers
Luis Exposito
Mike McKenry
Infielders
1B Lars Anderson
SS Jose Iglesias
3B Yamaico Navarro
INF Nate Spears
INF Drew Sutton
INF Tony Thomas
Outfielders
Ryan Kalish
Juan Carlos Linares
Daniel Nava
Josh Reddick
Friday, April 1, 2011
Former Red Sox GM Lou Gorman passes at age 82
Red Sox Nation lost one of their very own early Friday morning. Former Red Sox General Manager, Lou Gorman past away at Massachusetts General Hospital at age 82.
Gorman was the GM of the Red Sox from 1984-93 and was the man who put together the 1986 American League Championship team that would fall to the Mets in the World Series and also hung up a total of three AL East flags up in Fenway.
Gorman was ill for over a year and according to his nephew had one goal which he made it to. “All he wanted to do was make it to Opening Day, and he made it,” Tom Dougherty said.
Gorman was always a fan of baseball and played 16 games for the Providence Grays in 1948, which was a Class B New England League. He recorded only one hit in 28 bats as a professional. After this his country called on a need for him and he spent eight years in the Navy. When he got out of the service he went back to his first love, baseball. Gorman spent time working in the minor league systems for the Giants, Orioles and Royales before becoming the assistant GM of the Kansas City Royals in 1976. He would go on to become the first GM of the Mariners in 1977 when the American League expanded. In 1980 he would serve as the vice president of player personnel for the Mets. In 1984 he joined the Red Sox as VP of baseball operations and would later become the GM. As the GM he would put together the 1986 team including players such as Dave Henderson and Spike Owen. He would be the GM until 1993 where Dan Duquette became his successor.
"Lou Gorman was a giant in our industry," said general manager Theo Epstein. "During half a century in the game, Lou impacted and helped so many people in countless ways. We'll dearly miss this good, humble man who leaves an unmistakable legacy on the Red Sox and Major League Baseball."
"Lou Gorman truly was a good man and a friend to all," Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said in a statement released by the club. "A proud son of Rhode Island, he returned to his native New England in the mid-1980s and chartered the Red Sox baseball operations department. Lou promptly led the club to the AL pennant and the 1986 World Series. But for those who had the good fortune to meet him, Lou will be remembered as much for his disposition and character as his baseball acumen. The Boston Red Sox and the rest of baseball will not be the same without Lou, but we are all better for having known him."
The Red Sox will miss Gorman as will all of Red Sox Nation who will remember the good times we had with him and the games that we have won. He touched the lives of several players and members of the baseball community as well his legacy will live on.
April Woes Continue for Lester as Red Sox Fall to Rangers 9-5
Box ScoreWell Opening day is over and the Red Sox fail short to the Texas Rangers 9-5. Everyone was so excited about today and Lester getting his first Opening Day start. But there is one thing Red Sox fans should know about Jon Lester and that is he is not an April pitcher. Every year since he has entered the big leagues April is his worst month of the season.
Today was no different as Lester went 5.1 innings and he gave up six hits and five runs while walking one. This was not the worst Lester gave up all five runs off of three home runs this is the first time in his career he has done that. He also didn’t issue a strike out throughout the game; the last time he went without issuing a strike out was in 2008 against Detroit. Lester’s career in April he holds a 3-6 record with a 4.96.
Another pitcher that is normally lights out but struggled in his 2011 debut is Daniel Bard. Bard came in the eighth inning with a 5-5 after David Ortiz had just knocked out a home run to tie it up. Normally Bard is a flame thrower that is consistent in getting three straight starts as some including myself believe he is the closer of the future. Today was different Bard did not make it through the eighth as he faced seven batters and gave up four runs and was only able to strike out one. It was a rough day for Bard and he was issued the loss.
But there were several good things that came out of this game. I’ll start with David Ortiz getting his first homerun of the season. Last season it took him late into May to get his first homer so this could be a sign of a good start for Papi. Jacoby Ellsbury surprised people who thought that his days at lead off was over as he went 4-for-2 with a walk and on base by error also scored two runs. The most impressive story of the day was the debut Adrian Gonzalez in a Red Sox uniform that went 4-for-2 with three RBI and a stolen base.
So as you see that there was several good things came out of today’s game against the Rangers and remember that it is only the first game of the season. Also a fun fact out there for all of you Red Sox fans, the Sox lost opening day in 2004 and 2007. We know what happened those years we won the World Series. 04+07=11?
Opening Day is Here!
Today is the day the Red Sox fans have been waiting for since October. It is the first time we get to see the boys of summer on the feild playing ball for real. The Red Sox Open up in about a half hour against the Texas Rangers. Today's game will be a pitching duel between Jon Lester and C.J. Wilson.
This is Lester's first opening day start of his career.
Today's line ups are:
Red Sox Rangers
Jacoby Ellsbury CF Kinsler 2B
Dustin Pedroia 2B Andrus SS
Carl Crawford LF Hamilton LF
Kevin Youkilis 3B Beltre 3B
Adrian Gonzalez 1B Young DH
David Ortiz DH Cruz RF
Mike Cameron RF Napli 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia C Torrealba C
Marco Scutaro SS Borbon CF
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