Promo-psycho

I have to say this season I really haven’t been able to actually sit down and watch a complete Red Sox game from start to finish with the volume up. But tonight, I started to notice something very strange and rather annoying.

What is up with all of the promotions that NESN announcers Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy have to say throughout the game?

I mean, I’m used to hearing about the Dunkin’ Dugout and CVS Pharmacy donating $500 for every save or game that goes into extra innings, but what the hell is all of this?

• Acura Key matchup
• Ford’s Call to the bullpen
• New York Life
• Home Depot: Doing More on Defense
• Coors Light Freeze
• Cam Jordan’s Furniture, blah, blah, blah
• Cumberland Farms Chill Zone
• Amica Pitch Zone
• Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea: Twisted but true
• NESN.com Question of the Day powered by kgb
• I know I’m missing at least 5 more…
• Wait does Scotts have a promo?
• Holy, Taco Bell…???

What the frick. Taco Bell? Since when is Taco Bell connected with the Sox? The closest one in the Fenway Park radius is on Commonwealth Avenue.

And I know this is three months late, but what happened to the Aflac Trivia Question? Now all of a sudden it’s AT&T with a blackberry texting graphic.

It seems like every other play Orsillo or Remy have to say one of these. How annoying that must be for them. There was none is this 10 years ago, except for maybe the trivia question alone by why so much in 2010?

Is this pure greed? These companies obviously have to pay for the spots and are shelling out a lot money. So who’s exactly profiting from this? NESN? The Red Sox? I can understand if they are raising money for charity or just a worthy cause like the Dunkin’ Dugout, but that’s not the case with Jordan’s Furniture.

Replay making umpires less confident?

A home run or not a home run? That was the six + minute question during tonight’s Red Sox/Orioles game. In the top of the ninth inning with two outs, Jake Fox took Robert Manuel (what an awful mugshot) deep off the Green Monster, but the umpires weren’t sure if the baseball hit over the yellow line before falling back on the field.

First it appeared they were only going to give Fox the double, but with the new replay rule for home runs, they went to review it.

Remy knew right off the bat it was a homer. The first angle they showed wasn’t a great look, but the ricochet couldn’t have said it better.

So after trying to kill on air time, the umpires walked back out, delayed for a second, then signaled the home run. And what if there wasn’t replay? Well, Orioles manager Juan Samuel already got ejected. So maybe the entire coaching staff would have initiated a massive argument and perhaps a bench clearing brawl?

Yeah that’s a little bit too far, but it seems that umpires might be relying more on replay for home run calls. Even for calls that it’s clear it’s out, it hit above the yellow line, but we just want to triple check it’s the right call. And people want to have more instant replay?

Nope. Not happening.

Amanda Bruno is a freelance sportswriter for The Springfield Republican and also writes weekly features for the Plus Papers on Wednesdays. She also writes over at Batter-up with Bruno where she shares her thoughts about the Boston Red Sox and the Boston sports media. You can follow her on Twitter @batterupbruno and can reach Amanda through email at brunosportshawk[at]gmail.com.

8-mazing pitching performance

It’s another big blow to a team that’s already hurting. The All-Star Break can’t come soon enough.

Amanda Bruno is a freelance sportswriter for The Springfield Republican. She also writes over at Batter-up with Bruno where she shares her thoughts about the Boston Red Sox and the Boston sports media. You can follow her on Twitter @batterupbruno and can reach Amanda through email at brunosportshawk[at]gmail.com.

Up, up, and Ellsway!?

Now let me get this straight. There’s ‘talk’ that the Boston Red Sox want to trade away Jacoby Ellsbury this offseason?

And I write ‘talk’ because this isn’t exactly a rumor being concocted. Actually, it’s more of a prediction, literally.

This past week, all ignited by The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, Ellsbury’s name has been swirling around, along with Jonathan Papelbon, in what appears to be some sort of scare tactic by Red Sox management.

Some people are claiming that Boston’s center fielder (sorry Mike Cameron, you are not Boston’s true center fielder) isn’t as achy as he says to be, which is posing some problems.

Let’s see. Cracked ribs?

Now I have no experience whatsoever with cracked ribs, let alone a broken bone (knock on wood), but can we cut the kid some slack?

Yes, it was a blow when he finally came back off the disabled list on May 25, then five games later was put back on it. But to throw out there, trade Ellsbury away to send him a message is asinine.

He is what the Boston organization has been dreaming of in a long time. Speed (70 steals in 2009), defense, and small ball seems to be a rare find in Beantown and you want to oust him? What seems to be the issue lately with Red Sox management and their players? Is this the second coming of George Steinbrenner?

Pre-Madonna Red Sox or messed up management?

Unless you’ve been living underneath a rock, there have been no question, a lot of issues this season. The Ellsbury deal is now the sixth.

It all started with Mike Lowell trying to be traded away and we all know how that turned out.

The Texas Rangers wanted him to have his physical and it turned out Lowell had a broken thumb. So Lowell returns to the Sox and ends up on the 25-man roster on Opening Day.

Next was who to play more in the designated hitter role, Lowell or David Ortiz?

Apparently Lowell doesn’t like to DH very much, he’d rather play in the field, then of course you get Ortiz who literally had hissy fits when he wasn’t getting enough of at-bats. Then all of a sudden Papi started popping home runs left and right leaving Mikey in a predicament.

If that wasn’t enough, when Daisuke Matsuzaka returned after being placed on the 15-day DL to start the season, someone has to be kicked into the bullpen.

Well hello Tim Wakefield.

Even though you’ve been pitching great we really got no choice. I mean we can’t demote Josh Beckett to the pen who we just signed to a four-year, $68 million contract extension. And Clay Buchholz is finally becoming the pitcher we all thought of him to be in 2007 when he dished that no-hitter to the Baltimore Orioles.

And what’s up with Jonathan Papelbon?

The base of Cafardo’s Sunday notebook was about Daniel Bard being the next Red Sox closer.

Well, we all heard that before…last season…spring training…now. What’s the difference?

And it’s Nava here!

At least there is some happy news to report about.

His name?

Daniel Nava.

You weren’t alone being mind boggled on Saturday. ‘Who the hell is Daniel Nava?’

Ron Chimelis of The Springfield Republican has the background story on this 27-year-old who didn’t even make his college team as a walk-on and had to settle being the equipment manager at Santa Clara.

Nava joined Bill Duggleby Jeremy Hermida, and Kevin Kouzmanoff as the only other players in the big league to smash a grand slam in their first career at-bat. Nava is the second to do it on the first pitch as Kouzmanoff did it in 2006 for the Cleveland Indians.

That makes two great stories for rookies this season for the Sox. First it was Darnell McDonald and now Nava.

Hhhmmm, I guess the Ellsbury and Cameron injuries have been blessings in disguise after all.

Amanda Bruno is a freelance sportswriter for The Springfield Republican. She also writes over at Batter-up with Bruno where she shares her thoughts about the Boston Red Sox and the Boston sports media. You can follow her on Twitter @batterupbruno and can reach Amanda through email at brunosportshawk[at]gmail.com.

With three days until the July 31 MLB trade deadline, there’s been a lot of rumors afloat involving the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, and recently the San Diego Padres.

First the buzz was all about 2003 Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay (he finished second in voting in 2008), but general manager J.P. Ricciardi has said he didn’t want to trade him within the American League East.

Next there’s been talk about Boston unleashing a blockbuster trade to acquire both left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee and catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez from the Indians.

Now the rumor mill has headed all of the way out to California involving first baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres.

Trading away Gonzalez would not make Padres fans too happy, since he is the face of the franchise, but at this point, management probably doesn’t care. San Diego is sitting in dead last, 24.5 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West.

This is probably the most far fetched and more likely will not happen.

The blockbuster trade for Lee and Martinez? Say good-bye to the entire Red Sox farm system/emerging stars of Lars Anderson, Michael Bowden, Daniel Bard, Justin Masterson, and Clay Buchholz.

But what about Halladay besides not trading with the East? It’s been reported on The Boston Globe’s Extra Bases Blog that Boston has offered Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, and Ryan Westmoreland (that’s quite a last name) for the 32-year-old.

Sounds like Boston is still in it.

Bottom line, whatever happens Sox general manager Theo Epstein should not part with Masterson or Bard.

Masterson has also proven himself clutch worthy in the post-season at a very young age and that is hard to find these days. In the American League Division and Championship Series against the Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays, Masterson allowed one earned run per series, had nine strikeouts total, and picked up a win. His playoff ERA is 1.86 and he is only 24-years-old.

Bard is a rising star that may be the future closer is Jonathan Papelbon decided to sign somewhere else. The kid can throw heat, clocking triple digits. Can anyone name another Boston pitcher who threw 100 mph?

If Buchholz must be traded, Boston must get Halladay or the Lee/Martinez package in return or it will be a mistake.

Let the buzz continue.

Amanda Bruno is a freelance sportswriter for The Springfield Republican and also writes weekly features for the Plus Papers on Wednesdays. She also writes over at Batter-up with Bruno where she shares her thoughts about the Boston Red Sox and the Boston sports media. You can follow her on Twitter @batterupbruno and can reach Amanda through email at brunosportshawk[at]gmail.com.

Believe it or not, it’s been five years since Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein shocked the baseball world by trading away fan favorite and five-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra on the July 31 deadline in 2004.

I specifically remember that dreadful day (at the time). I was at work all day with no access to a computer or blackberry and by the time I had gotten home my friend left me a voice message on my cell phone. At the same time I turned on the television, but ended up hearing the horrific news first on my phone then glanced at the TV screen stunned, shocked, and broke out into tears.

Garciaparra was traded as part of a blockbuster four-team deal involving the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, and Minnesota Twins.

Boston sent him along with Single A outfield prospect Matt Murton to the Cubs and received Expos shortstop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins.

My friend thought I already knew about it because I’m always on top of breaking Sox news, but for some reason I wasn’t that day. July 31, 2004 was easily one of the worst days being a Red Sox fan in my young life. Nomar was and still is my favorite Red Sox of all time (keep in mind I’m 23 years-old so I’m too young to have seen Carl Yastrzemski or Ted Williams play).

I did not understand it. I eventually excepted it. And even till this day if it had to be done all over again, I would have agreed with Epstein’s decision. Let’s face it Red Sox Nation, if Epstein didn’t make the trade, the Sox would not have won the World Series in 2004.

Since then, Garciaparra has not come back to face the Red Sox because he’s been on two National League clubs, the Cubs and then the Los Angeles Dodgers. Earlier this season, Boston made the trip up to Oakland, Garciaparra’s new home team.

Tonight Nomar (as Sox fans always tended to use his first name rather than his last) returns to the Fenway Faithful as a member of the Athletics for the first time in five years.

I expect to see countless Garciaparra jerseys in the stands and I also expect him to receive a massive standing ovation, in which he rightfully deserves. Despite being on the Sox for just about nine seasons, he very well goes down on the list as one of the best team players of all-time. And to back up my statement I give you his resume.

Continue reading for Nomar’s resume.

Continue reading →