As we learned early yesterday evening, UConn Huskies head men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun has decided to retire.

He will remain on board as a special assistant to AD Warde Manuel and upon his full retirement, he will become Head Coach Emeritus. He’s been replaced by Kevin Ollie.

Here’s the release from UConn on Calhoun’s retirement:

STORRS, Conn. (Sept. 13, 2012) — Jim Calhoun, who took over a regional program at the University of Connecticut 26 years ago and built it into a three-time NCAA champion and a perennial national power, has announced his retirement as the UConn men’s basketball coach.

“I always said that I would know when it was time, whenever that might be,” said Calhoun, who made the official announcement Thursday afternoon at a news conference at Gampel Pavilion on UConn’s Storrs campus. “The hip injury really didn’t enter into the decision, except that it gave me more time to think about it and the more I thought about it, the more I became convinced that this was the right time to move on to the next phase of my life.”

Under a transition agreement that runs through next spring, Calhoun, 70, will continue his association with the university as a Special Assistant to Athletic Director Warde Manuel, providing services to the university in support of men’s basketball, the Division of Athletics, the UConn Health Center, and the university at large.

“The agreement runs until March 21, 2013,” Calhoun said. “Then we’ll look at everything and go from there.”

Upon his full retirement from the university, Calhoun will become Head Coach Emeritus.

“Jim has given 26 years of 100 percent effort into making UConn, and UConn basketball, and so many student-athletes into the best they could be,” Manuel said. “I am proud to have worked with him, if only for a brief period of time, and I look forward to his association with us for years to come.”

Manuel said that although his own tenure at UConn hasn’t been very long, he has quickly learned how much Calhoun means to the university community.

“Jim is a pillar of the Division of Athletics and this university,” Manuel said. “I know from experience that it is never easy when a Hall of Fame coach and a person who has built a program to greatness retires.

“We will miss him, but I wish him nothing but the best in his new role without a whistle.”

One of the best-known college coaches in the country, Calhoun leaves behind a legacy as a program-builder that is virtually unequaled in the history of college athletics.

In May 1986, following four consecutive losing seasons, UConn hired Calhoun, who had won 248 games and made five NCAA Tournament appearances in 14 years at mid-major Northeastern. After a nine-win campaign in his first year with the Huskies, Calhoun has put together 25-straight winning seasons and made UConn one of the nation’s elite college basketball programs.

To continue reading, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

His phenomenal success story at UConn includes three NCAA championships (1999, 2004, 2011), one of just five coaches in history with three or more titles. Under Calhoun, the Huskies have also made four appearances in the Final Four (2009), nine trips to the Elite Eight and captured 13 berths in the Sweet 16 among 18 trips to the NCAA Tournament. He has also taken UConn to the NIT six times, winning the NIT championship in 1988, in just his second season at the helm.

In the BIG EAST Conference, Calhoun took the UConn program from mediocrity to dominance. The Huskies have won a record seven BIG EAST Tournament championships and 10 regular-season league titles. UConn is the only league team to ever sweep the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament crowns in back-to-back seasons (1997-98, 1998-99).

“Am I going to miss coaching basketball? Of course,” Calhoun said. “But I’m making sure I get my fix by watching the workouts. I have no doubt that Kevin (new Head Coach Ollie) and the staff will do a great job.”

Calhoun’s accomplishments brought him basketball’s ultimate honor when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. The following year, he was named as a member of the Founding Class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

His numerous awards include the prestigious John R. Wooden “Legends of Coaching” Award in 2005, and he was the first BIG EAST coach to win the conference’s Coach of the Year award four times (1989-90, `93-`94,’ 95-`96, and `97-`98).

Calhoun’s final record in 40 years as a head coach stands at 873-380, which ranks sixth on the all-time wins list, while his 1,253 games coached is third all-time. He is 625-243 at UConn, by far the school’s winningest coach. Calhoun is 311-183 in BIG EAST competition, second in all-time wins, and his 35-19 record in the BIG EAST tourney also ranks second all-time.

Nationally, the Huskies’ coach has eight 30-win seasons, third all-time, and he ranks sixth all-time with 25 20-win seasons. Calhoun is fourth all-time with 49 NCAA Tournament wins (49-18). His overall national postseason record is 62-20 with four championships (3 NCAA, 1 NIT).

Calhoun’s greatest legacy, however, might well be the UConn players and coaches he has developed. He has had 27 players drafted by the NBA, including 18 first-round picks, and 13 of those have been lottery picks. Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler, and Cliff Robinson have been All-Star selections, while Allen, Hamilton, Scott Burrell, and Travis Knight own NBA championship rings.

Under Calhoun, UConn has had seven players named BIG EAST Player of the Year, six players named Most Outstanding Player of the BIG EAST Championship, seven players named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, five named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year. He has coached 20 BIG EAST first team all-stars, 20 second-team all-stars, 20 third team all-stars and three honorable mentions. Center Emeka Okafor was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and was named the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year.

Calhoun’s coaching tree currently includes five Division I head coaches: Howie Dickenman (Central Conn.), Mike Jarvis (Florida Atlantic), Tom Moore (Quinnipiac), Steve Pikiell (Stony Brook), and Ted Woodward (Maine). Former assistant Dave Leitao, and current UConn assistants Glen Miller and Karl Hobbs have also been successful head coaches at the Division I level.

“Coaching at UConn has just been phenomenal, there’s no other way to describe it,” Calhoun said. “I will always be grateful to the University of Connecticut. When I look back and see what we were able to accomplish here, I am extremely proud.”

Born May 10, 1942, in Braintree, Mass., Calhoun is a graduate of Braintree High School and American International College in Springfield (1968). He began his coaching career at Old Lyme (Conn.) High School and continued at Westport (Mass.) High and Dedham (Mass.) High before becoming the head coach at Northeastern University in 1972. After 14 years at Northeastern, he accepted the job at UConn in 1986.

Calhoun and his wife Pat were married in 1966 and live in Pomfret, Conn. They have two sons, James and Jeffrey. James and his wife Jennifer live in Massachusetts with daughters Emily (born 3/5/99) and Katie (born 12/29/00) and son Sam (born 6/8/03). Jeffrey and his wife Amy live in Connecticut with daughters Avery (born 1/26/02), Reese (born 4/7/03), and Peyton (born 3/26/05).

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photo credit: mark mirko – hartford courant

After falling last night, the Boston Red Sox look to finish up their six-game home stand with a series win tonight in the finale of a three-game set with the New York Yankees.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Yankees television market, you can catch the game on YES.  And if you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game (outside of Red Sox and Yankees television markets). If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Felix Doubront looks to bounce back from a poor few starts as of late in his 26th start of 2012. In his previous 25 starts, Doubront is 10-8 with a 5.21 ERA. He’s made three starts against the Yankees this season and is 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA (5 ER/18.2 IP). Doubront has made seven career appearances (three starts) against the Evil Empire and is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA. Four of those appearances (two starts) have come at the Fens where he is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA (6 ER/15 IP).

Phil Hughes looks to keep the Yanks atop the AL East in his 29th start of 2012. In his previous 28 starts, Hughes is 14-12 with a 4.13 ERA. He’s made three starts against the Red Sox this season and is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA (6 ER/19.1 IP). Hughes has made 19 career appearances (11 starts) against the local nine and is 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA. Nine of those appearances (five starts) have come at the Fens where he is 2-4 with an 8.26 ERA.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the overnight and day if you’re on the home page.

Here are today’s lineups:

80-62		64-79
1. Derek Jeter	DH	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Nick Swisher	RF	2. Scott Podsednik	DH
3. Alex Rodriguez	3B	3. James Loney	1B
4. Robinson Cano	2B	4. Cody Ross	RF
5. Russell Martin	C	5. Daniel Nava	LF
6. Andruw Jones	LF	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Curtis Granderson	CF	7. Mike Aviles	SS
8. Steve Pearce	1B	8. Pedro Ciriaco	3B
9. Eduardo Nunez	SS	9. Ivan De Jesus	2B
Phil Hughes	SP	Felix Doubront	SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

NOTES:

REFRESH OR CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MORE LINKS WILL BE ADDED BEFORE GAMETIME IF/WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND WILL BE BOLDED

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Bobby Valentine Doesn’t Think He’s Been Distraction, Hopes to Help Club ‘Get on the Right Highway’ [tom caron – nesn.com]

John Henry emphatically denies report about sale of Red Sox [clubhouse insider]

Henry goes on radio, speaks about not selling team, not deciding on Valentine plus more [clubhouse insider]

Valentine dishes on rumors, Ross, ejections and Aceves [clubhouse insider]

Red Sox turnaround could come sooner than you think [csn new england]

PawSox on brink of Governor’s Cup title [csn new england]

Henry strongly denies Sox are for sale [csn new england]

Henry: Lucchino will be back in 2013 [csn new england]

Fox Business reporter unimpressed by Henry’s denials [csn new england]

Lackey to pitch in Florida Instructional League [csn new england]

Red Sox notes: No word on possible suspension for Ross [csn new england]

Henry, Lucchino: Sox aren’t for sale [espn boston]

Henry: Lucchino will be back for 2013 [espn boston]

Ross mum on possible discipline [espn boston]

What to do about Aceves, and other random thoughts on the Red Sox [extra bases]

No discipline announced for Alfredo Aceves [extra bases]

Potential Red Sox first-round 2013 draft pick: Indiana State’s Sean Manaea [full count]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia takes stock of a looming milestone [full count]

John Henry on M&M: Bobby Valentine picked his coaching staff [full count]

Derek Lowe Calls Boston ‘Small Town’ Where Fans ‘Live and Die Sports,’ Unsure Yet if Yankees Have Same Magic [nesn.com]

Valentine on Aceves: ‘He knows what he’s doing’ [projo sox blog]

Red Sox not expecting Ross suspension [projo sox blog]

Pedroia a father again [projo sox blog]

Facing Yanks, Doubront eyes return to win column [redsox.com]

Valentine: Aceves on roster on Thursday [alex speier – weei.com]

Heidi Watney not part of Lakers’ coverage team [touching all the bases]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credits: getty images, getty images

This week:

The UConn Huskies head out on the road for the first time this year as they head to College Park, MD to take on their former head coach Randy Edsall and his Maryland Terrapins squad at Capital One at Byrd Stadium.

Here are the rosters for the Huskies and the Terrapins.

The Line/Prediction:

According to Rivals.com odds, UConn is favored by 3 points. The over/under is 42.5 points.

My prediction is UConn 21 Maryland 17

Tickets:

According to the Maryland ticket site, there are still tickets available for the game.

Getting To The Game:

Here is link for the weather report for Capital One at Byrd Stadium. 

Here are directions to the stadium, a parking guide and seating chart for Capital One at Byrd Stadium. Here is the fan guide for Capital One at Byrd Stadium.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television:

Saturday’s game is being televised live by SNY through ACC Network. It will be seen live in Connecticut and regionally on SNY. Here is a list of stations across the USA that will be carrying the game.

Steve Martin is on play-by-play with Dave Archer on color, Mike Hogewood is the sideline reporter.

The game will also be replayed on SNY in a condensed mode on the “Husky Power Hour” on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 9 a.m., on Monday, Sept. 17 at 8 a.m. (Connecticut only) and Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 12:00 p.m. (Connecticut only). The game will be replayed it is entirety on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m., and on Monday, Sept. 17 at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 12:00 p.m. (Connecticut only).

Radio:

For the 21st consecutive season, WTIC 1080-AM in Hartford serves as the flagship station for the IMG/UConn Radio Network. WTIC is the state’s only 50,000 watt signal and can be heard in 23 states and parts of Canada.

Veteran UConn announcers Joe D’Ambrosio (play-by-play) and Wayne Norman (color commentary) return to call the action with Kevin Nathan on the sidelines.

UConn football on home Saturday dates gets going early with “Breakfast At The Rent” with Ray Dunaway and Scott Gray beginning at 6:00 a.m. The UConn Tailgate Show will air from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with Kevin Nathan and Bob Joyce. The pregame show begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by the game and then postgame “Husky Talk” with Kevin Nathan

UConn football games are also broadcast over the internet at WTIC.com. Here is a  full list of stations on the WTIC/UCONN radio network.

The UConn vs. Maryland game will also be available on satellite radio on Ch. 132 on Sirius and 191 on XM.

Maryland Radio:

Maryland football can be heard on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network – Johnny Holliday (pbp), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (color) have the call.

To continue reading the UConn Huskies @ Maryland Terrapins preview, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Last Week:

UConn fell to NC State 10-7 while Maryland beat Temple 36-27.

History:

Saturday’s game marks just the second meeting in football between the two schools as Maryland defeated UConn by a 34-0 score in College Park to open the 1942 UConn season.

Connections:

Maryland head coach Randy Edsall was the head coach at UConn from 1999-2010. Edsall is the first of two former Husky head coaches UConn will face this year as it takes on Skip Holtz (1994-98) and USF on Nov. 3.

Maryland outside linebackers coach Lyndon Johnson is a 1992 UConn graduate and was on the Husky coaching staff from 1999-2010.

Other Maryland support staff who worked at UConn are: Director of Strength and Conditioning Drew Wilson, Video Coordinator Will Brown and Executive Assistant to the Head Coach Annie Peppard.

UConn defensive coordinator Don Brown has the same position at Maryland from 2009-10.

Current UConn assistant coaches Hank Hughes, Matt Cersosimo, Mike Foley, Darrell Perkins and Jon Wholley were on all Edsall’s staff at UConn.

Pasqualoni and Edsall have coached against each other one other time – a 42-30 win by Syracuse and Pasqualoni over Connecticut and Edsall on October 30, 2003 in the Carrier Dome.

Pasqualoni and Edsall were on the Syracuse staff together for four years – 1987-90. Pasqualoni was the linebackers coach at the time and Edsall was the defensive backs coach.

There are five Maryland natives on the UConn squad – freshman safety Jordan Floyd (Bel Air), junior cornerback Alex Kantor (Potomac), redshirt senior offensive tackle Adam Masters (Bethesda), freshman defensive end Elijah Norris (Upper Marlboro) and redshirt junior defensive tackle Tim Willman (Fulton).

There are not Connecticut natives on the Maryland squad.

Other UConn News:

Here are the quotes from UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni’s press conference as well quotes from some of the players.

Pasqualoni is the all-time winningest coach in BIG EAST Conference league wins with 65 and overall wins with 113. He is just one of two league coaches in history to win four BIG EAST Championships. His overall college coaching record stands at 147-84-1 (34-17 at WCSU, 107-59-1 at Syracuse and 6-8 at UConn).

Here is UConn’s depth chart for the game.

Four members of the University of Connecticut football team were named to seven major award watch lists over the course of the 2012 preseason.

Senior Tight End Ryan Griffin

• John Mackey Award Watch List
• Lombardi Award Watch List

Sophomore Running Back Lyle McCombs

• Doak Walker Award Watch List
• Maxwell Award Watch List

Senior Linebacker Sio Moore

• Butkus Award Watch List
• Lombardi Award Watch List

Senior Defensive End Trevardo Williams

• Bednarik Award Watch List
• Lombardi Award Watch List
• Nagursky Trophy Watch List

Connecticut faces a former UConn head coach (Randy Edsall) for the first of two games this year – vs. USF and Skip Holtz on Nov. 3.

UConn is 4-11 against active ACC members all-time entering Saturday afternoon’s showdown with Maryland after falling to N.C. State last Saturday. The Huskies are 2-0 against Duke (2004 and 2007), 0-3 against Georgia Tech (2002, 2004-05), 0-3 vs. North Carolina (1990, 2008, 2009), 0-2 vs. NC State (2003, 2012), 1-2 vs. Wake Forest (2003, 2006, 2007) and 1 1 vs. Virginia (2007 and 2008).

The Huskies have put together a 22-32 road record since 2002. In non-conference road affairs over that same span, Connecticut has posted a mark of 17-11 and has won nine of its last 13 such games.

Connecticut now boasts a 43-21 record against non-conference opponents in the regular season since making the move to the FBS in 2002.

The following four Huskies were named team captains for the season in the week prior to the season opener vs. UMass – redshirt senior outside linebacker Jory Johnson (Mobile, Ala.), redshirt senior offensive tackle Adam Masters (Bethesda, Md.), senior wide receiver Nick Williams (East Windsor, N.J.) and redshirt senior cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson (Edinboro, Pa.).

UConn And NCAA Leaders
Here is where UConn stands in the lastest NCAA statistics:

• Total Defense – 3rd at 158.50 yards per game
• Rushing Defense – 1st at 28.50 yards per game
• Passing Defense – 9th at 130.00 yards per game
• Scoring Defense – 3rd at 5.00 points per game
• Sacks – t7th at 4.00 per game
• Tackles For Loss – t3rd at 10.50 per game
• Total Offense – 104th at 305.00 yards per game
• Rushing Offense – 105th at 91.00 yards per game
• Passing Offense – 72nd at 214.50 yards per game
• Scoring Offense – 93rd at 22.00 points per game

Notes from this week’s opponent Maryland:

Here are the quotes from Maryland head coach traitor Randy Edsall’s press conference as well as some of his players. If you want to watch Edsall’s press conference feel free to do so.

Here is Maryland’s depth chart for the game.

Randy Edsall is in his second year as the head coach at Maryland and has a 4-10 record at the school. He was the head coach at Connecticut from 1999-2010 with a 74-70 record and set school records for most career games coached and victories. Edsall oversaw Connecticut transition from NCAA Division I-AA to the FBS. He led Connecticut to a pair of BIG EAST Championships in 2007 and 2011 and to its firstever BCS Bowl Appearance.

Maryland won its first two games despite committing more turnovers than its opponent in each contest. All eight of the Terrapins turnovers (three interceptions, five fumbles) have come from freshmen.

The five Maryland players who received 2011 postseason recognition returned to the squad this year – DL Keith Bowers (freshman All-ACC), LB Lorne Goree (freshman All-ACC), LB Demetrius Hartsfield (honorable mention All-ACC), DL Andre Monroe (freshman All-American) and DL Joe Vellano (second team All-American; first team All-ACC).

Maryland’s team captains for the 2012 season are junior QB C.J. Brown, senior WR Kevin Dorsey, senior LB Demetrius Hartsfield and senior DL Joe Vellano.

Six Terps have already received their undergraduate degrees. Kevin Dorsey (Economics), A.J. Francis (Government & Politics), Matt Furstenburg (Family Science), Demetrius Hartsfield (Criminal Justics & Criminology), Joe Vellano (Family Science) and Ryan Schlothauer (Business).

Maryland in August finished the installation of a brand new FieldTurf Revolution surface at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. The privately funded $3 million project resulted in the “coolest” synthetic turf field in the nation and was completed in time for preseason camp.

Here’s a look at Maryland’s stats through the first two games:

Thursday UConn Football Links:

Big East QB report card [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Big East predictions: Week 3 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

What to watch in the Big East: Week 3 [matt fortuna – espn.com]

Kashif Moore released from Colts’ practice squad [jim fuller – new haven register]

Connecticut Travels to College Park to Play Maryland Saturday [bigeast.org]

UConn QB Chandler Whitmer Stands In Pocket Despite Tough Start [hartford courant]

Next Week:

The Huskies stay on the road as they head to Kalamazoo, MI for a matchup with the Western Michigan Broncos. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Today’s UConn football links can be found in the Thursday links section of the UConn vs Maryland preview.

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jim Calhoun on Notre Dame’s Departure, And More … [dom amore – hartford courant]

Jim Calhoun: His best-of quotes [sean patrick bowley – ct post]

Tim Welsh, Scott Burrell on Jim Calhoun’s Retirement [david borges – new haven register]

Ryan Boatright: ‘Coach Had to Do What’s Best for Him’ [david borges – new haven register]

Some Memories of Jim Calhoun [david borges – new haven register]

Three Shining moments for Calhoun, UConn: Which is your favorite? [ben doody – ct post]

How state papers covered Jim Calhoun retirement news [ben doody – ct post]

A Closer Look: Kevin Ollie [kevin duffy – ct post]

What Twitter-sphere said about Calhoun [lee lewis – the republican-american]

Twitter reacts to Calhoun retirement [lee lewis – the republican-american]

GEICO SportsNite: Jim Calhoun [adam rotter – sny.com]

Jim Calhoun to Retire [uconn huskies basketball]

Men’s Basketball Press Conference To Be Held Thursday [uconnhuskies.com]

Comments on Head Coach Jim Calhoun’s Retirement [uconnhuskies.com]

Ollie, highly regarded for recruiting, to be named head coach [ct post]

What more was there for Calhoun to accomplish? [ct post]

Reaction to Calhoun’s retirement: Praise for coach, surprise [ct post]

Top 10 moments of the Jim Calhoun era [eamonn brennan – espn.com]

video: Jim Calhoun’s legacy [espn.com]

Calhoun’s turnaround legacy impressive [espn.com]

Competitiveness key to Calhoun’s success [fran fraschilla – espn.com]

Calhoun’s A Legend; Get A Legend To Replace Him [hartford courant]

Jim Calhoun Calling It A Hall Of Fame Career; Kevin Ollie To Be UConn Men’s Basketball Coach [hartford courant]

Ollie, A Player And Coach With A Powerful Work Ethic [hartford courant]

UConn had a very bad day, but there’s no reason to panic [new haven register]

Jim Calhoun to announce retirement Thursday [new haven register]

UConn’s Calhoun to call it a career [the day]

The players who made Calhoun a success [myron medcalf – espn.com]

Calhoun never fit in a convenient box [dana o’neil – espn.com]

A Reminder Of Home: Jim Calhoun, And Why He’ll Be Missed [sb nation]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Yet another White House trip for Maya Moore [jim fuller – new haven register]

Notre Dame’s McGraw expects UConn rivalry to continue [chicago tribune]

Frequency, familiarity fueled rivalry [graham hays – espnW]

Other UConn related links

W. Soccer. Schulmann Tabbed Soccer News Net National Player of the Week & ECAC Player of the Week [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Soccer. Huskies Open BIG EAST Play Tonight at Syracuse [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. No. 4 Men’s Soccer vs. St. John’s Is SOLD OUT! [uconnhuskies.com]

Field Hockey. Melissa Gonzalez & Rayell Heistand Set to Compete on Team USA [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Ahmed Named MVP of Carolina League Championship [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Cross Country. Huskies Open 2012 at UMass Invite [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

If the Boston Red Sox want to play spoiler over the final three weeks of the season, they’re going to need to stop throwing out mediocre pitchers at the New York Yankees and their other AL East brethren not named the Toronto Blue Jays.

Of course that’s pretty much what the Red Sox have in their starting rotation right now with the exception of Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester.

Once Aaron Cook lost his sinker last night, that was it for the Red Sox as the Yankees took advantage and went on to a 5-4 win over the local nine. It was a big win for the Yankees as it keep them even in the AL East race with the Baltimore Orioles who walked off with a win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

It wasn’t all that bad for Cook in the early part of his start. In the first two innings, he had retired five of the first six batters on ground balls with the other being a strikeout. In the 3rd inning, he worked around a leadoff double by Eric Chavez by getting a ground out, a fly out and a strikeout.

But the 4th inning was his undoing.

Curtis Granderson led off with the first of two home runs on the night. Alex Rodriguez followed with a single and came around to score on a Robinson Cano two-run homer. Three batters in, three sinkers up in the zone and just like that the Red Sox found themselves trailing 3-0.

The Sox managed to get a run back in the bottom half of the inning when James Loney singled in Dustin Pedroia who had reached on a 1-out double.

Alfredo Aceves was tagged with Granderson’s second home run of the game after he allowed Derek Jeter to reach on a lead off single. Once again the Red Sox battled back with two runs off of three different Yankees relievers in the 7th. But other than a Jarrod Saltalamacchia home run in the 9th, the Red Sox really couldn’t mount another challenge.

Pedroia had one of those “oh shi*” moments last night when he found out his wife had gone into labor at the end of the 6th inning. He had two hits in the game before having to leave.

I’m really at the point now where I’ve run out of good things to say except for this.

It was nice to see Cody Ross arguing with the umpire about a blown strike call late in the game. Bobby Valentine and Jerry Royster were also both ejected as well. I say this because of the following reason.

Sometimes we look at this team and think they’ve given up. I may not like Valentine and as embattled as he is, he’s out there sticking up for the players in a situation where they were probably right.

Now if only the whole entire roster could show that much fight, they might actually be able to spoil the dreams of at least one of those three AL East teams fighting for the playoffs.

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take a look at the overnight links from the media.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Sox fight back but fall short [boston herald]

Bobby Valentine can’t argue this mark [boston herald]

James Loney unsettles in [boston herald]

Finding cash value in Sox situation [boston herald]

Granderson leads Yankees over Red Sox, 5-4 [csn new england]

Valentine: Tazawa an integral part of Red Sox [csn new england]

Red Sox tempers flare in loss to Yankees [csn new england]

Valentine: Saltalamacchia ‘did a very good job tonight’ [csn new england]

Sox lose; Ross loses it; Aceves, Bobby V. downplay latest dustup [csn new england]

Dodgers’ Gonzalez struggling since trade [espn boston]

Pedroia exits game, with wife in labor [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Yankees 5, Red Sox 4 [espn boston]

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine: Don’t blame me for Kevin Youkilis’ struggles [espn boston]

Boston Red Sox still showing some fight, for better (Cody Ross) and worse (Alfredo Aceves) [espn boston]

Bobby Valentine introduces Aceves-ology to Harvard curriculum [full count]

Pedro Ciriaco Credits Training With Robinson Cano for Yankee-Killing Reputation, Career Year [nesn.com]

Bobby Valentine Brings Fire to Red Sox Team That Couldn’t Ask for More Care, Fight From Manager [nesn.com]

Derek Lowe Says ‘I’ve Brought a Lot of Losing’ to Yankees, Agrees 2004 Red Sox Were Something Special [nesn.com]

Manny Ramirez ‘Sometimes’ Misses Baseball, But Now Has ‘Incredible Peace’ [nesn.com]

Alfredo Aceves’ Strange Exit, Cody Ross’ Displeasure With Umpire Highlight Feisty Night for Red Sox [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis, Bobby Valentine and the strange free-agent class of first basemen [alex speier – weei.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the ESPN New York, New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times and The Journal News websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, NYY Stadium Insider.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

MLB has released the full schedule for next year and in it we see the Boston Red Sox opening up their 2013 schedule in New York against the Yankees on April Fool’s Day. They’ll begin it with a six-game road trip in NYC and Toronto.

They’ll return home on April 8th when they kick off a seven-game home stand against the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.

With the Houston Astros moving to the American League next season, there’ll be interleague play every day during the 2013 season. The Red Sox will start their interleague play in May when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies.

During interleague play, the Red Sox will host the Phillies, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks. On the road, they’ll play the Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Rockies.

Full 2013 Boston Red Sox schedule

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Given everything that’s happened with him health wise over the summer, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that UConn Huskies men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun is going to announce his retirement.

According to a report on NBC Connecticut, Calhoun will announce his retirement on Thursday at Gampel Pavilion. In the report, it states that Calhoun wants to meet with his players before any official announcement.

“Don’t be surprised by anything, even this week,” Calhoun said.

It is a matter of Calhoun and his agent “dotting the ‘i’s’ and crossing the ‘t’s’,” according to the source.

A second source said Calhoun wants to meet with his players in person before any announcement is made.

We usually go through this each year with Calhoun but the bike accident may have forced his hand. One of the things Calhoun had wanted was to announce Kevin Ollie as the coach-in-waiting.

And by retiring one month before the 2012-13 lameduck season ends, Calhoun may have forced the hand of new AD Warde Manuel. It’ll be hard for Manuel to find a suitable replacement on short notice and Ollie seems to be ready.

He’s had a heavy hand in getting some of the better players in Storrs since he joined Calhoun’s staff. If he’s not going to be the coach, it could affect the decisions recruits have made.

UPDATE: It looks as though Ollie will be named as the successor to Calhoun.

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photo credit: hartford courant

After walking off with a win last night, the Boston Red Sox look to make it two in-a-row in the middle game of a three-game set with the New York Yankees at historic Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Yankees television market, you can catch the game on YES.  And if you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the ESPN will have coverage of the game (outside of Red Sox and Yankees television markets). The game will also be available online and for your mobile device (where available) on WatchESPN. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Aaron Cook looks to turn his dismal season around in his 15th start of 2012. In his previous 14 starts, Cook is 3-9 with a 5.17 ERA. He suffered the loss in his only start of 2012 against the Yanks after allowing six runs in four innings of work back on July 27th. He’s made just two career starts against the Yankees and is 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA (11 ER/9.2 IP). This will be the first time Cook has faced the Evil Empire at the Fens.

David Phelps makes his sixth start (28th appearance) for the Yankees tonight. In his previous 27 appearances (five starts), Phelps is 3-4 with a 3.55 ERA. His three career appearances (one start) against the Red Sox have come this season. In those, Phelps is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA (6 ER/12.2 IP). His lone Fenway appearance came on April 21st when he allowed three runs in four innings of work.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the overnight and day if you’re on the home page.

Here are today’s lineups:

79-62		64-78
1. Derek Jeter	SS	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Curtis Granderson	CF	2. Pedro Ciriaco	3B
3. Alex Rodriguez	DH	3. Dustin Pedroia	2B
4. Robinson Cano	2B	4. James Loney	1B
5. Nick Swisher	1B	5. Cody Ross	RF
6. Raul Ibanez	LF	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Eric Chavez	3B	7. Daniel Nava	LF
8. Ichiro Suzuki	RF	8. Scott Podsednik	DH
9. Chris Stewart	C	9. Jose Iglesias	SS
David Phelps	SP	Aaron Cook	SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

NOTES: Scott Atchison has been activated from the 15-day disabled list.

REFRESH OR CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MORE LINKS WILL BE ADDED BEFORE GAMETIME IF/WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND WILL BE BOLDED

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

How David Ortiz wants to help fix the Red Sox [rob bradford – weei.com]

Red Sox look to make their misery contagious [csn new england]

Red Sox to celebrate Pesky’s life at Fenway Sept. 23 [csn new england]

Bobby V: I think I’ll be here in ’13 and beyond [espn boston]

Saltalamacchia returns to lineup [espn boston]

Pedro Ciriaco: Scourge of the Yankees [extra bases]

Valentine’s WEEI appearance more cordial this time around [extra bases]

Podcast: Spoilers allowed [extra bases]

Atchison returns to roster, Salty to the lineup [extra bases]

For big spenders, it’s money for nothing [tony massarotti – boston globe]

Jerry Remy ‘Wouldn’t Be Surprised’ If Bobby Valentine Returns Next Season [nesn.com]

Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia Batting for Red Sox’ Future After Picking Off Yankees With Timely Hits [nesn.com]

Dustin Pedroia’s Second Half Performance Has Been One of Few Bright Spots in Red Sox’ Tailspin [nesn.com]

Red Sox Can Repay Years of Yankees Misery, Redeem Poor Season With Well-Placed Wins [nesn.com]

Dustin Pedroia Leads Charge With Yankee-Killer Pedro Ciriaco Looking to Continue Spoiler Ways [nesn.com]

Pedro Ciriaco Credits Training With Robinson Cano for Yankee-Killing Reputation, Career Year [nesn.com]

Junichi Tazawa Has Evolved Into Reliable Reliever After Long Road From Tommy John Surgery [nesn.com]

Leiter: “Same cauldron” for ’12 Sox as ’02 Mets [projo sox blog]

Bryce Brentz could be on the Will Middlebrooks track [projo sox blog]

Valentine says he expects to be back in 2013 ‘and beyond’ [projo sox blog]

Saltalamacchia returns to Red Sox lineup [projo sox blog]

Atchison activated [projo sox blog]

Healthy and throwing hard, Tazawa justifying what teams saw in him in Japan [projo sox blog]

Ciriaco handling third without a problem [projo sox blog]

Five questions with Nomar Garciaparra [touching all the bases]

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photo credits: getty images, getty images

Well how about that. The Boston Red Sox actually won a game. And it was a game that mattered. Well for the New York Yankees it did.

They entered Tuesday night’s game with a one game lead over the Baltimore Orioles. And when they walked on to their team bus after the game, they were once again tied for first with the O’s.

And it was all thanks to the birthday boy Jacoby Ellsbury, who was celebrating his 29th birthday.

With David Robertson on the mound for the Yanks in the bottom of the 9th, Yankees killer Pedro Ciriaco reached on a one out single. Mike Aviles followed with an infield single setting the stage for Ellsbury’s walkoff single that set the real Fenway faithful into a frenzy. It was Ellsbury’s 4th hit of the night.

Like I said, it’s been a while since we’ve been able to feel this way. And what better time than against the biggest rivals the Red Sox have.

It almost wasn’t to be though.

Jon Lester had an un-Jon Lester like night.

He lasted just 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a career-high seven walks. He did strikeout five and those five strikeouts put him atop the Red Sox franchise lead for strikeouts by a lefty.

The walks are disconcerting though. It’s not like he wasn’t around the strikezone, because he was. There may have been one or two times where he got squeezed by the home plate umpire. And usually when he did, he lost his cool and that hurt him.

If Lester ever wants to be a true ace which he can be, he needs to harness his emotions. Sure it’s great to see it. But when it starts to affect his pitching then it becomes a problem.

After a close pitch in the 3rd inning to Robinson Cano was called a ball giving him his second walk to start the inning, Bobby Valentine came out and basically gave Lester the business. While Valentine did yell it loud enough for the home plate umpire to hear as well, his message was well received by Lester. He bounced back to strike out the next two batters and got Curtis Granderson to end the inning.

It was nice to see the Red Sox play spoiler last night. Let’s just hope they could keep doing it going for the final 20 games (17 of which are against teams in a playoff fight).

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day.

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the ESPN New York, New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times and The Journal News websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, NYY Stadium Insider.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.