After taking three-of-four from the Kansas City Royals, the Boston Red Sox embark on a nine-game west coast road trip. Tonight, they’ll kick it off with the first game of a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Royals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports West. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Clay Buchholz makes his 23rd start of 2012 for the new look Red Sox. In his previous 22 starts, Buchholz is 11-4 with a 4.47 ERA. His lone start against the Angels came his last time out when he took the loss after allowing seven earned runs in 5.1 innings. Overall in his career, Buchholz has made eight starts against the Halos and is 5-3 with a 4.81 ERA. Two of the those starts have come at Angel Stadium where he is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA (5 ER/11.2 IP).

Jered Weaver makes his 24th start of 2012 for the Angels. In his previous 23 starts, Weaver is 16-3 with a 2.74 ERA. He was matched up with Buchholz his last time out and he picked up the win after allowing two runs in seven innings of work. He’s made 12 career starts against the Red Sox and is 3-5 with a 4.23 ERA. Five of those starts have come at Angel Stadium where he is 2-2 with a 1.65 ERA.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.8

Here are today’s lineups:

62-67		66-62
1. Scott Podsednik	LF	1. Mike Trout	CF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Torii Hunter	RF
3. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	3. Albert Pujols	DH
4. Ryan Lavarnway	C	4. Kendrys Morales	1B
5. James Loney	1B	5. Mark Trumbo	LF
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	DH	6. Howie Kendrick	2B
7. Ryan Kalish	RF	7. Maicer Izturis	3B
8. Jose Iglesias	SS	8. Erick Aybar	SS
9. Pedro Ciriaco	3B	9. Chris Iannetta	C
Clay Buchholz	SP	Jered Weaver	SP

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

NOTES: Zach Stewart will be called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the start tomorrow night. Franklin Morales has been placed on the 15-day DL. Alfredo Aceves was activated from his three-game suspension.

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

Sox, Ellsbury have decisions to make [boston herald]

Report: Red Sox place Daisuke Matsuzaka on revocable waivers [clubhouse insider]

Alfredo Aceves rejoins Red Sox, offers no public apology for tantrum [clubhouse insider]

State of the Red Sox Notebook: August 28 [csn new england]

SRO Exclusive: Fenway Sellout Streak [csn new england]

Gomez named International League MVP [csn new england]

First pitch: More of the same from Beckett in Dodgers debut [csn new england]

Bailey looks to finish strong, make his mark next season [csn new england]

Aceves back with Sox after three-game suspension [csn new england]

Stewart to make Red Sox debut on Wednesday vs. Angels [csn new england]

Bill Simmons on Sox hitting reset button [espn boston]

Spitballing a Farrell-for-Bard swap [espn boston]

Sox start road trip in Anaheim [espn boston]

Union does not appeal Aceves’ suspension [espn boston]

Morales goes on DL with ‘tired’ shoulder [espn boston]

Wrong turn for the Red Sox and Angels [extra bases]

Podcast: The trade [extra bases]

Stewart gets the start on Wednesday [extra bases]

Webster makes organizational debut [extra bases]

Will the Red Sox Finish This Season Above or Below .500? [nesn.com]

Mauro Gomez Should Be Seeing At-Bats Over James Loney as Red Sox Evaluate Players for 2013 [nesn.com]

Josh Beckett May Not Have Ever ‘Got It’ During Time in Boston but Pitcher’s Contributions Impossible to Forget [don orsillo – nesn.com]

Former Sox prospect Casey Kelly shines in MLB debut [projo sox blog]

Mauro Gomez named International League MVP [projo sox blog]

Aceves set to return, but who closes? [projo sox blog]

Franklin Morales lands on DL [projo sox blog]

Iglesias in lineup for first time since call-up [projo sox blog]

Red Sox kick off West Coast trip in Anaheim [redsox.com]

Aceves on conduct: ‘The past is the past’ [alex speier – weei.com]

A reasonable so-long to Josh Beckett [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

We all know the playoffs are probably a lost cause for our team, the 2012 Boston Red Sox. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still baseball games to play.

For some of the younger guys, it means getting a chance to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot in 2013 or at least a chance of making the team in 2013.

For the free agents to be, it means two things.

One, it’s a chance to show the Red Sox they can be a valuable part of the new look for next year. Two, it’s a chance to prove to all of MLB that they could help their team out next year and for years to come.

One of those free agents to be, Daisuke Matsuzaka, got that chance yesterday.

Now we all know Dice-K’s time here in Boston has been a disappointment. Sure there’s been some highs but the lows outnumber them 2-1. And right now, he’s pitching for his next contract whether it be with the Red Sox or any of the other 29 teams.

Yesterday, we saw a different Dice-K. We saw one who had a good tempo going. He got the ball, threw it, got it back and didn’t waste any time throwing it again.

He didn’t waste any pitches like he normally would trying to tinker around the strike zone. He just threw his pitches like he proabably did in Japan.

And when all was said and done, he picked up his first win since 2011 and the 50th of his career as the Red Sox beat the Royals 5-1. He allowed one unearned run over seven innings of work. He scattered five hits while walking two and he struck out six batters.

Now if he can pitch like this over his final starts of the season, there’s a chance he could be back in Boston next year. If not, at the very least, earned himself a job with another club in 2013.

Cody Ross is another one of those guys playing for a job in 2013.

He’s been told the Red Sox want him back next year and Ross has said he wants to stay in Boston. While no contract extension talks have happened as of yet, they could happen soon, if not immediately after the season ends if he is in fact in the plans for 2013.

Ross was a big reason why the Red Sox won yesterday as he was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. His single in the 3rd scored two runs and his double in the 6th scored Jacoby Ellsbury who had doubled earlier in the inning.

Even the newcomer James Loney contributed as he drove in Ross in the 6th. He’s another one playing for his next contract and to see whether or not he fits into the plans for the Red Sox for next year as well as the future.

Sure it’s not going to be fun at times watching this team but as fans we shouldn’t give up on them. Yes this is something to new to us. Something we haven’t seen probably since 2006.

But it’s part of baseball. It’s just how the game goes sometimes.

The Red Sox are on the west coast for the next nine days as they’ll make stops in Anaheim, Oakland and Seattle. So you know what that means. Late night baseball for the next nine days.

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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

Arm strong [boston globe]

Ortiz to have PRP injection [boston globe]

Ross hasn’t let up with production [boston globe]

Dice turns back clock for Sox [boston herald]

Sox sellout streak goes on despite plenty of empty seats [boston herald]

Plagued by Achilles, Ortiz wants to stay [boston herald]

Careful on signing Papi [boston herald]

School of hard Sox [boston herald]

Bridge over Theo waters [boston herald]

Eastern Bank will miss partnership with ‘incredibly generous’ Gonzalez [boston herald]

Twenty-four hours that turned the Red Sox inside-out [rob bradford – weei.com]

Matsuzaka strong in return as Sox beat Royals, 5-1 [csn new england]

Mattingly welcomes change, challenge in late-season Sox acquisitions [csn new england]

Unfazed Gonzalez goes about business after trade to L.A. [csn new england]

The other guy: Punto surprised, disappointed by trade [csn new england]

Ross doing all he can to prove he belongs in Boston [csn new england]

Ellsbury powering up as health increases [csn new england]

Matsuzaka earns 50th career win in second return from DL [csn new england]

Valentine ‘very encouraged’ by Matsuzaka’s start [csn new england]

Aceves will not fly with team to California Monday [csn new england]

Aceves will fly separately to West Coast [espn boston]

Aceves will fly separately to West Coast [espn boston]

A sharp Dice-K opens new possibilities [espn boston]

Ellsbury, Ross provide three-four punch [espn boston]

David Ortiz wants to be back, not worried about injury’s impact on free agency [full count]

Closing Time: Daisuke Matsuzaka finally gets to 50 as Red Sox beat Royals [full count]

Daisuke Matsuzaka eyes a strong future, but isn’t contemplating free agency [full count]

Script has been flipped for Andre Ethier and Dustin Pedroia [full count]

After losing to Rockies, Josh Beckett takes on LA Times columnist T.J. Simers [full count]

Red Sox Nation Hits the Reset Button [grantland]

Alfredo Aceves Could Lose Closer’s Role After Being Suspended by Team [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Opts for PRP Treatment Over Surgery in Hopes of Returning This Season [nesn.com]

Red Sox’ Blockbuster May Mean Bobby Valentine Stays and Other Thoughts From the Week in Baseball [nesn.com]

Mark Melancon Buoyed by First Save of Season After Rocky Start With Red Sox [nesn.com]

Ryan Lavarnway, Craig Breslow Leave Door Open to Following Up on Ivy League Educations After Baseball [nesn.com]

Daisuke Matsuzaka Shows Signs of Confidence, Improved Health With Lights Out Return [nesn.com]

Cody Ross’ Uppercut Swing a Natural Fit for Fenway Park as Veteran Holds Lineup Together [nesn.com]

Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox Have No Reason to Show Ill Will Toward Each Other After Trade [nesn.com]

Clayton Mortensen, Vicente Padilla Rely on Light Work Outs To Adjust To Time Zone Changes [nesn.com]

Red Sox Free Up Money in Mega Deal, But Prospects Gained May Be Key to Blockbuster Trade [nesn.com]

Legacies altered forever following blockbuster deal [redsox.com]

Sox not sure who’ll get promoted in September [nesn.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, be sure to head over to the Kansas City Star and Topeka Capital-Journal websites.

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

photo credit: getty images

This week:

The UConn Huskies football team kicks off its 2012 schedule on Thursday night as they’ll host the UMass Minutemen at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.

Here are the rosters for the Huskies and the Minutemen.

The Line/Prediction:

According to Rivals.com odds, UConn is favored by 24.5 points.

My prediction is UConn 45 UMass 17.

Tickets:

According to Ticketmaster.com, there are still some tickets available for the game.

Getting To The Game:

Here is link for the weather report. Here is all the parking info you will need for the game, this link includes directions to Rentschler Field. Here is a Rentschler Field seating chart and here is some general information for Rentschler Field.

The parking lots will open up 4 hours before kickoff. Here is a list of the tailgating rules at the Rent.

At UConn home games, FanFest takes place starting four hours before kickoff up until 30 minutes before the game. It takes place between Gates A and B outside the stadium gates.

The offerings change each game, but activities typically include inflatable games for children, live bands, promotional vehicles and UConn student-athletes from various teams signing autographs.

The “Husky Walk” is a chance for fans to welcome the UConn team as they get off the team buses and head to the stadium. That takes place approximately two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff between Gates A and B.

Once again this season at the end of home games, the UConn team will sing the “UConn Husky” fight song in front of the student section at Rentschler Field.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television:

Thursday night’s game is being televised live by SNY and ESPN Regional Television. Bob Picozzi is on play-by-play with former NFL offensive lineman David Diaz-Infante on color.

The game will also be replayed on SNY in a condensed mode on the “Husky Power Hour” on Friday, August 31 at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and Saturday, September 1 at noon. The game will be replayed it is entirety on Saturday, September 1 at 3:30 p.m. and on Sunday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m.

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.

For Thursday’s opening game, WTIC will begin its programming at Rentschler Field with former Connecticut Governor John Rowland from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The UConn Tailgate Show will air from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Kevin Nathan and Bob Joyce. The pregame shows begins at 6:00 p.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 game will also be available on SIRIUS 137.

UMass Minutemen Radio:

All University of Massachusetts football games can be heard live on the UMass Sports Network, with WEEI 105.5 FM (Springfield/Western Massachusetts) serving as the flagship station.

Josh Maurer is in his fifth season as the play-by-play announcer. He is joined by veteran color commentator Matt Goldstein, now in his 10th season calling games at UMass.

Here is the list of this year’s affiliates on the UMass Sports Network:
• WEEI FM 105.5 FM (Springfield/Western Mass.)
• WVEI 1440 AM (Worcester)
• WATD 95.9 FM (Marshfield/Boston)
• All games will be streamed with live audio on UMassAthletics.com.
• In addition, WMUA 91.1 FM, the UMass student station, will carry most Minuteman football games during the season.

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

Last Week:

This is the first game of the season for both teams. UConn went 5-7 last season while UMass was 5-6.

History:

The UConn vs. UMass series is the second-oldest intercollegiate series in the history of the Huskies. UConn and UMass have met 71 previous times and the Minutemen lead the series by a 36-33-2 count. They last met in 1999 which was UConn’s last game as a FCS team.

Connections:

UConn defensive coordinator Don Brown was the head coach at UMass from 2004-08 as the team advanced to the NCAA championship game in 2006 and also played in the I-AA tournament in 2007. Brown was the defensive coordinator at UMass in the national championship year of 1998 and also 1999.

The UConn roster has nine Massachusetts players on it: freshman DE Brendan Battles-Santos (Eastham), redshirt freshman WR Dalton Gifford (Fairhaven), redshirt junior RB Martin Hyppolite (Wakefield), redshirt sophomore DE Jonathan Louis (Brockton), redshirt sophomore QB Scott McCummings (Natick), freshman S Obi Melifonwu (South Grafton), redshirt freshman OT Paul Nwokeji (Randolph), freshman LS William Oldach (Hopkinton) and redshirt sophomore LB Yawin Smallwood (Worcester).

The UMass roster has three Connecticut players on it: sophomore WR Shawn Campbell (Woodstock), sophomore LB Ryan Delaire (Windsor) and junior defensive lineman Tyler Major (New London).

Other UConn News:

Here is the video of UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni’s press conference. If you don’t have time to watch, here are the quotes from Pasqualoni’s press conference as well quotes from some of the players.

You can also check out what Pasqualoni had to say on the Big East Coaches teleconference yesterday.

Here is UConn’s depth chart for the game.

Pasqualoni is the all-time winningest coach in BIG EAST Conference league wins with 65 and overall wins with 112.

Connecticut enters Thursday’s meeting vs. Massachusetts with a 17-3 record against opponents from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) since making the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2002. The losses include a 30-16 defeat at Temple in 2010 and a 38-31 loss to Western Michigan last year.

The UConn football team has been bowl eligible for four times in the past five years and in sixth of the past nine. The 2010 UConn football team won the BIG EAST Championship and advanced to play in the school’s first-ever BCS game — the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

UConn is 8-2 in season openers since making the jump to then-Division I-A in 2002.

Connecticut boasts a 42-20 record against non-conference opponents in the regular season since making the move to the FBS in 2002.

UConn finished 4-3 at Rentschler Field in 2011.

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 boasts a 42-20 record against non-conference opponents in the regular season since making the move to the FBS in 2002.

Notes from this week’s opponent UMass:

Here is the UMass depth chart for the game.

This is the first FBS game for UMass.

UMass will become eligible for the MAC Championship and will be Bowl-Eligible in 2013.

UMass joins UConn (Big East) and Boston College (ACC) as the only New England FBS schools.

UMass will play off all its home games at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.

Tuesday UConn Football Links:

Big East bowl projections: Week 1 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Big East preseason predictions [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Big East power rankings: Week 1 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Kashif Moore Talks About Being Waived Today By Bengals [desmond conner – hartford courant]

New Haven Gridiron Club to honor former UConn star [jim fuller – new haven register]

Football. Four Seniors Named Football Captains [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn’s McCombs goes from spectator to dominant force [ct post]

Big East Football Coaches Call: Several Teams, Including UConn, Meet Unfamiliar Foes [hartford courant]

New kid to block [journal inquirer]

Syracuse Orange Semi-Too Early Preview: Connecticut Huskies [Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician]

Next Week:

The Huskies stay at Rentschler Field next Saturday (Sept. 8) as they’ll host the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 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 football links can be found in the Tuesday links section of the UMass vs UConn game preview. Also, the game previews will run two days before the game instead of one as in previous years.

UConn Women’s Basketball links

W. Basketball. Hartley and Strother Lead USA to 3×3 World Championship [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jim Calhoun Addresses Huskies: ‘Full of Drive, Determination and Direction’ [dom amore – hartford courant]

UConn’s Jim Calhoun Meets Team In Traditional ‘Start Of School’ Talk [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

Field Hockey. Alicia Angelini Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week [uconnhuskies.com]

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

After winning 8-6 yesterday, the Boston Red Sox look to finish up the homestand with a series win this afternoon in the finale of a four-game set with the Kansas City Royals at historic Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Royals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Kansas City. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Daisuke Matsuzaka returns from the disabled list to make his 6th start of the 2012 season. In his previous five starts, Matsuzaka is 0-3 with a 6.65 ERA. He last faced the Royals in 2010 when he took the loss after allowing three runs in 4.2 innings of work. Dice-K has made three career starts against the Royals and is 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA (7 ER/17.1 IP). Two of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA (6 ER/10.1 IP).

Luke Hochevar makes his 26th start of 2012 for the Royals this afternoon. In his previous 25 starts, Hochevar is 9-11 with a 4.95 ERA. He last faced the Red Sox last year when he was 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA (6 ER/13 IP). Hochevar has made six career starts against the Red Sox and is 2-4 with a 6.56 ERA.

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

Here are today’s lineups:

56-70		61-67
1. Jarrod Dyson	CF	1. Scott Podsednik	LF
2. Alcides Escobar	SS	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Alex Gordon	LF	3. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
4. Billy Butler	DH	4. Cody Ross	RF
5. Salvador Perez	C	5. James Loney	1B
6. Mike Moustakas	3B	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Lorenzo Cain	RF	7. Mauro Gomez	DH
8. Eric Hosmer	1B	8. Mike Aviles	SS
9. Johnny Giavotella	2B	9. Pedro Ciriaco	3B
Luke Hochevar	SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	SP

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

NOTES: As you can see from the lineup, Dice-K has been activated from the 15-day DL. Pedro Beato was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for Dice-K. David Ortiz was placed on the 15-day DL with his heel problem. Ryan Kalish was called up from Pawtucket to take Big Papi’s roster spot.

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

Ross diary: On megadeal, media, fantasy [Cody Ross – espn boston]

Newfound success [boston globe]

It’s a positive start for Loney [boston globe]

Ortiz to mull options with team Monday [boston globe]

Offering strategy on manager [boston globe]

New Dodgers reflective — and also a bit regretful [boston globe]

Unheralded Pedro Ciriaco, mates lead Sox past Royals [boston herald

Stand up for Bobby [boston herald]

DL likely David Ortiz’ next stop [boston herald]

Loney no longer blue following blockbuster [boston herald]

All the guy does is hit [boston herald]

Time to call it for David Ortiz [boston herald]

Sox players taken aback by megadeal [boston herald]

David Ortiz to the DL; injection scheduled in next couple of days [clubhouse insider]

Red Sox new faces beat Royals, 8-6 [csn new england]

Doubront feels ‘pretty good’ after return to mound [csn new england]

Valentine expects to be back next season [csn new england]

Ciriaco, Beato two unlikely August contributors for Red Sox [csn new england]

Loney excited about change of scenery [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 8, Royals 6 [espn boston]

Mix-and-match Sox come together [espn boston]

Boston Red Sox’s housecleaning just getting started [espn boston]

Olney: ‘Tremendous’ trade for Sox [espn boston]

Brady weighs in on Sox situation [espn boston]

W2W4: Red Sox-Royals, 1:35 p.m. [espn boston]

Will Sox pursue Hamilton? GM Ben hedges [espn boston]

Red Sox put Ortiz back on disabled list [espn boston]

Dice-K returns for matinee against Royals [espn boston]

David Ortiz to DL; Ryan Kalish rejoins Red Sox [extra bases]

Ortiz will get shot in Achilles’, hopes to be back this season [extra bases]

James Loney: ‘I know they’re always trying to build a championship team here’ [full count]

David Ortiz reminds fans: ‘I like to play no matter what the situation is’ [full count]

Closing Time: Red Sox hold on, beat Royals [full count]

John Lackey on Josh Beckett: ‘It had gone too far here for him’ [full count]

Tony La Russa has confidence in Bobby Valentine, Red Sox [full count]

Now, the Cherington era has truly begun [tony massarotti – boston globe]

James Loney Says Fenway Park, Change of Scenery Could Rejuvenate Hitting [nesn.com]

Jose Iglesias ‘Feeling Good’ About Development as Hitter, Consistency as Top Prospect [nesn.com]

Ben Cherington, Bobby Valentine Agree Change Was Needed Inside Clubhouse [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis Discussions Were Origin of Red Sox’ Mega-Deal With Dodgers, Ben Cherington Says [nesn.com]

Ben Cherington Trying to Avoid Bridge Year in 2013, Could Be Moving Toward Oakland Blueprint [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Likely to Return to Disabled List, Says He Still Wants to Play Despite Red Sox’ Spot in Standings [nesn.com]

Bobby Valentine’s Fifth-Inning Ejection Helps Spark Red Sox Over Royals [nesn.com]

Bobby Valentine Has Endured as Much as Anyone During Trying Season [nesn.com]

Adrian Gonzalez Says Boston Media Didn’t Like He Was ‘Calm Person,’ Blames Fenway for Power Outage [nesn.com]

Which Player That the Red Sox Received From the Dodgers Will Have the Best Major League Career? [nesn.com]

Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox Have No Reason to Show Ill Will Toward Each Other After Trade [nesn.com]

Pedro Ciriaco Getting Better and Better As Red Sox’ Season Goes On [nesn.com]

Lackey: Beckett was a ‘good influence’ [projo sox blog]

Dice-K set for return from DL in finale vs. Royals [redsox.com]

Mammoth trade involved input from highest levels [redsox.com]

In time of transition, Loney ‘excited’ to come to Sox [redsox.com]

Beato recalled to reinforce Boston’s bullpen [redsox.com]

Big Papi ‘likely’ headed back to disabled list [redsox.com]

Heated Valentine tossed for arguing call at first [redsox.com]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

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

UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni Talks UMass [desmond conner – hartford courant]

UConn Players Firing Up For Season Opener [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Don Brown downplaying UMass reunion [jim fuller – new haven register]

Chandler Whitmer’s dream about to be realized [jim fuller – new haven register]

Sunday (Tuesday) Presser [john silver – sny]

Paul Pasqualoni 1-on-1 – 8/26/12 [john silver – sny]

UConn LB Moore fired up to go out a winner [ct post]

Paul Pasqualoni Talks Up UConn’s Opener Vs. UMass [hartford courant]

UConn QB Chandler Whitmer Seeing A Childhood Dream Come True [hartford courant]

Huskies have been good fit for QB Chandler Whitmer [new haven register]

Christen is ready to start getting his kicks with the Huskies [the day]

Whitmer is pocket change that could pay off for Huskies [the hour]

Huskies defense looks to become one strong unit [the hour]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Hartley, Strother Win Gold At FIBA 3×3 World Championships [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Coaching Profile: Jim Calhoun [uconn huskies basketball]

Other UConn related links

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When the UConn Huskies kick off their 2012 football campaign on Thursday night against the UMass Minutemen, it will be the 21st straight year that Connecticut football will be broadcast on the WTIC/UConn Radio Network.

Anchoring the network will be WTIC AM-1080 in Hartford, the state’s only 50,000 watt AM station.

Joe D’Ambrosio, known as “Joe D” around these parts, will be broadcasting UConn football for his 20th consecutive season. He is an anchor at WVIT-TV (NBC 30) and is a host heard nationwide on ESPN Radio, hosting “Countdown to Kickoff” on Sunday mornings during the NFL while also hosting the Sunday Night Baseball Game of the Week pre and post game shows.

Joining Joe D in the booth is Wayne Norman who handles the color commentary for Huskies. He’s been the Huskies football analyst since 1981. Norman has been in radio for over 40 years having called over 1100 UConn sporting events since 1981. Norman is also the Sports Director/Program Director and morning host for WILI in Willimantic. The pair also partners up for the men’s basketball games as well.

Kevin Nathan will be providing in game updates from the sidelines and during games. This will be the 6th straight year that Nathan has done the sideline reporting. You can also catch Nathan on WVIT-TV (NBC 30).

The UConn pregame show begins 90 minutes prior to kickoff, while for home games, the UConn Tailgate Show will air two and a half hours prior to the game with Kevin Nathan and Bob Joyce. UConn football on home dates gets going early with “Breakfast At The Rent” with Ray Dunaway and Scott Gray beginning at 6:00 a.m.

Stations on the WTIC/UConn Football Network are:

• WTIC-AM 1080 in Hartford, CT
• WILI-AM 1400 in Willimantic, CT
• WAVZ-AM 1300 in New Haven, CT

UConn football games are also broadcast over the internet at WTIC.com.

For the 10th consecutive season, WTIC AM-1080 will air the “Coach’s Show w/ Paul Pasqualoni,” featuring UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni and broadcaster Joe D’Ambrosio.

The show will air on Thursday evenings of standard game weeks. Here’s a  full look at the 2012 UConn football schedule.

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

photo credits: kenneth best – uconn today