Day 1 Recap of Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon

Yesterday was an amazing day for the Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon which raised over a million dollars in the first day. This is a great milestone but I hope that this great cause is able to double this tomorrow I want them to reach the $3 million and I know it can be done.

If you have not had a chance to listen to the stories of the families here is a quick recap from WEEI of yesterday's telethon. You can not listen to the stories of these guys and not want to give. Remember every little bit counts in battling against cancer. You never know when it will strike and who it will strike. So lets work together with Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund and strike out cancer.

Watch this at WEEI

Remember the telethon starts back up at 6 am and you can donate by calling (877) 738-1234 or via text with a $10 dollar donation at 20222 text the word KCANCER. The nice thing about the text is AT&T will be matching your first five text donations. So if you give 10 your really giving 20.

What's New with the Sox?

A quick post to let you know that Clay Buchholz has began throwing today as he was medically allowed to begin. Buchholz tossed a ball around for about ten minutes. The goal is to get him back before the end of the season and to get him to come out of the bullpen to help the team in the poster season.

Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew will be making a rehab start tonight for Pawtucket in Rochester, NY. This is probably a sign that Drew will be returning the team's roster expand on Thursday and Youkilis is able to return on Friday when his DL stint is up.

Drew will be battling for his spot in the line up as Reddick has began to slump in recent times.

Happy Birthday Splinter!

93 years ago today one of the greatest baseball players was born.

Ted Williams was born today in 1918 which to some fans was a curse as that was the last time the Red Sox won a world series. (Oh wait we have won two more since then.) Williams is considered the greatest hitter of all time.One of only a few player to ever bat above .400 on the season.

Williams played 19 years for the beloved Red Sox though his career was shortened three season due to World War II. In 1942 Ted was drafted and would serve his country as a Marine pilot. Though during the time in the military he would continue playing baseball.

Williams career would equal a spot in the Hall of Fame , 19 All Star appearances and two MVPs.

So if you are thinking of a great way to celebrate the Splendid Splinter birthday you could give a donation to the Jimmy Fund a project in which Ted held strongly in his heart.

Red Sox Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon Begins Today!!!

The next two days are an important time for Red Sox fans and it isn't for the obvious reason. Everyone knows that the Yankees are coming into town but more important is the start of the 2011 Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon live from Fenway Park.

Now most Red Sox fans know about the Jimmy Fund but for the ones who don't it's a Fund that goes to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. All the funds raised goes for cancer research. The Jimmy Fund started in 1948 with a radio broadcast from the hospital bed of a young boy.

The Jimmy Fund has been the official charity of the Sox since 1953. The players and members of the staff has taken it as their own. Players such as the great Ted Williams have been involved in the fight against cancer. Most recently players such as Clay Buchholtz and Tim Wakefield are the faces of the organization acting as co-captains for the fund. Once you become a member of the Sox the Jimmy Fund because an extended part of the family. Players really get to know the patients on a personal level and visit them. They also through the help of the Jimmy Fund give kids the chance to go to games and road trips. Some thing with out the help of others may not be possible. The Jimmy Fund just gives them a chance to be a kid for a day and not worry about the pain and heart break of cancer which is important in the recovery process.

In the next two days if you tune into WEEI or NESN you will hear stories of the familes most touched by cancer. You will hear stories of sadness and triumph of how Dana-Farber has been involved in their lives. We have all been touched by cancer in some way if its a family member, friend, co-worker we have all been hurt by cancer.

I encourage and challenge all member of Red Sox Nation to give something if all you have to give is five dollars I challenge you to do that. Give what you feel comfortable giving knowing it will help the lives of others and help find a cure of cancer research. Hopefully one day we will be able to say there is no such thing as cancer. Until that day we need to all do our part.

The phone number to donate is (877) 738-1234. If you want to donate via text you can give a $10 donation if you text KCANCER to 20222.

For more information on the Jimmy Fund click the link on the right side of the screen it will take you to their website for more.

Red Sox Line Up Against Royals 8/19/2011

Coming off of last nights victory over Kansas City the Red Sox are sending lefty Andrew Miller to the mound to make the start. This will be Miller's first start for the Sox since July 31st when the Red Sox inserted Erik Bedard into the line after receiving him via trade. Miller has a 4-1 record over eight starts for the Sox with a 5.40 ERA. Miller is 0-2 against the Royals witha poor 11.08 ERA.

Opposite of Miller is Jeff Francis the lefty for Kansas City. This has not been a very good season for Francis who has a 4-13 in 25 starts with a 4.76 ERA. Francis has had a small sample size against the Sox only pitching five innings against them but has a win.

Lineups:

CF Ellsbury

SS Aviles

1B Gonzalez

2B Pedroia

3B Lowrie

DH Lavarnway

LF Crawford

C Saltalamacchia

RF McDonald

Pedroia to Clean Up Kansas City

With Kevin Youkilis out that only means one thing, Dustin Pedroia gets to shine in the clean up spot and boy did he ever. Pedroia lead the Red Sox to a 4-3 win in Kansas City.

The offence has been struggling the past couple of game with the lose of Youkilis and David Ortiz and Pedroia was the needed spark as he went 3-for-4 with three RBI. He knocked in two runs in the top of third to put the Sox up 3-1 on a single. Pedroia's thrid RBI came in the top of fifth inning on a single to score Jed Lowrie, he attempted to get to second base and was picked off. Pedroia ended his batting with a double in the top of the eighth.

Pedroia has been electric in the clean up spot with a .491 (27-for-55)batting average as the clean up man. Not only is his batting average so high in the spot but he has five homers and 15 RBI.

The game was a Pedroia show but Josh Beckett was on the mound looking for his tenth win of the season and he finally got it. By no means was this the best start of the season but it was good enough for the win. Beckett only struck out four batters while giving up seven hits and three runs all earned and one home run.

Beckett went out of the game after pitching seven and handed the ball to his rear unstoppable duo of Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon. Both guys reached milestones as Daniel Bard after pitching a scoreless eighth got his 29th hold of the season. This is the most by any reliever to wear the Red Sox uniform in 123 games.

Papelbon came into the game in the ninth a was unstoppable with two strikeouts to get his 29th save of the season and his 24th consecutive. The 24 straight is a career high for Papelbon but it is also the second longest streak in the American League.

It was also the Major League Debut of Ryan Lavarnway who went 0-for-4 on the night.

Red Sox Line Up Against Royals 8/18/2011

Coming off a rough series with the Rays the Red Sox are looking to turn their fortunes around in Kansas City. Tonight on the mound for the Red Sox is Josh Beckett who is coming off a rough start in Seattle when he only went five innings and gave up five runs to go with that. Though this has been an amazing season for Beckett who seats with a 9-5 record hoping for win number 10 tonight. Beckett is 6-1 against the Royals with a 2.44 ERA.

On the Bump for the Royals is right hander Luke Hochevar who holds an 8-9 record this season with a 4.89 ERA. He has a 2-3 record against the Sox with a 6.67 ERA. His last three starts he is 1-1 with a 3.10 ERA and striking out 18 batters.

This should be an interesting match up for the Red Sox.

Lineups

CF Ellsbury
3B Lowrie
1B Gonzalez
2B Pedroia
RF Reddick
LF Crawford
DH Lavarnway
C Varitek
SS Aviles

Injury sends Youkilis to DL and Lavarnway get's his shot at the Bigs

Say it ain't so! It looks like injury bug has bit the Red Sox again. The Red Sox have placed Kevin Youkilis on the disabled list with a sore back that has been nagging him off and on for weeks. Also Red Sox DH David Ortiz has injury as well coming before the double header this past Tuesday with a bursitis on his right heel that has him sidelined for up to a week. So with the Sox down two bats in the line up they have went to their minor leagues and pulled up a slugger by the name of Ryan Lavarnway.

Many people had wondered what kind of shot Lavarnway would get being a catcher and with us being set at the position. But as Tito always says a position will open and the way he has been swinging the bat it has. Lavarnway has been called up to play the DH spot for the Sox

A little back story on Lavarnway he was the 2010 Offensive Co-Player of the Year and this season he has just went off. He started the season in double A Portland and was called up to Pawtucket in a hurry playing a combined 55 games for both clubs. During that time he hit .293 with 30 home runs and 85 RBI.

This is Lavarnway's big shot at the majors because if Ortiz injury continues he will be taking the bulk of the at bats for him until his return to the line up. This is also his audition for next year with both Ortiz and Jason Varitek becoming free agents at the end of the season. If something happens with one of these guys and the Sox can't sign them Lavarnway could be an option to feel their shoes.

This is first shot at the big leagues so lets give him a welcome and see how he fits with our program while the injury bug runs its course.

Happy Birthday to the Muddy Chicken!

With my first blog back since my laptop went down I thought I would go ahead a take time to wish Dustin Pedroia a happy 28th birthday. Pedroia is a former gold glover, 3-time All Star, former rookie of the year and MVP. Pedroia is having a MVP type season this year as well. Happy Birthday to the Muddy Chicken, give us a Laser Show today on your birthday!!!