It’s that time of year again folks. College football is right around the corner. And with that, UConn Huskies head football coach Paul Pasqualoni has released his first depth chart of the 2012 season for the Thursday night’s game against the UMass Minutemen.

There’s not much to compare it to right now but there are a few things that stick out.

We had learned that Chandler Whitmer had been named QB1 earlier this month. Johnny McEntee is listed as his backup. There’s no Scott McCummings on the depth chart but I wouldn’t rule out seeing him in some wildcat situations on Thursday night.

Also, John Delahunt is listed as the starter at tight end with Ryan Griffin as his backup. It was expected that Griffin would be the starter.

The only true freshman listed on the two deep is Kyle Bockeloh who is listed as the backup to Alex Mateas at center. There’s also one redshirt freshman listed as a starter. Julian Campenni is listed as the starter at one of the defensive tackle positions.

Other redshirt freshman in the two deep are Jefferson Ashiru, who is backing up Sio Moore at linebacker and Marquise Vann, who is backing up Yawin Smallwood at linebacker. Others include David Stevenson at cornerback, Andrew Adams at safety, Xavier Hemingway at right tackle and Dominick Manco at long snapper.

For a full look at the UConn Huskies depth chart for the UMass Minutemen game, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

OFFENSE

LT: 72 Jimmy Bennett (RSr., 6-9, 309)

LG 69 Steve Greene (RJr., 6-5, 309)
50 Tyler Bullock (RJr., 6-4, 302)

C: 73 A Alex Mateas (RSo., 6-3, 293)
70 Kyle Bockeloh (Fr., 6-3, 284)

RG: 63 A Adam Masters (RSr., 6-4, 298)
65 Gus Cruz (RSo., 6-2, 306)

RT: 77 Kevin Friend (RJr., 6-6, 295)
75 Xavier Hemingway (RFr., 6-4, 262)

TE: 89 John Delahunt (RSr., 6-3, 243)
94 Ryan Griffin (RSr., 6-6, 247)

WR: 6 Michael Smith (Sr., 6-0, 201) OR
31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
84 Tebucky Jones (RSo., 6-0, 185)

FB: 47 R Reuben Frank (RSo., 6-3, 239)
36 Michael Osiecki (RSo., 6-2, 228)

QB: 10 C Chandler Whitmer (RSo., 6-1, 191)
18 Johnny McEntee (RSr., 6-3, 208)

TB: 43 L Lyle McCombs (RSo., 5-8, 166)
25 Martin Hyppolite (RJr., 6-0, 214)

WR: 8 Shakim Phillips (RSo., 6-1, 200)
85 Geremy Davis (RSo., 6-1, 214)

DEFENSE

DE: 48 Trevardo Williams (Sr., 6-2, 233)
51 Tim Willman (RJr., 6-4, 270)

DT: 53 R Ryan Wirth (RSr., 6-3, 271)
97 B.J. McBryde (RSo., 6-5, 301)

DT: 90 Julian Campenni (RF r., 5-11, 281)
56 Angelo Pruitt (RSo., 6-3, 296)

DE: 91 Jesse Joseph (Sr., 6-3, 259)
98 Ted Jennings (RSr., 6-6, 254)

OLB: 3 Sio Moore (RSr., 6-2, 229)
32 Jefferson Ashiru (RFr., 6-1, 227)

ILB: 33 Yawin Smallwood (Rso., 6-3, 235)
46 Marquise Vann (RFr., 6-0, 224)

ILB: 28 Jory Johnson (RSr., 6-1, 227)
52 Ryan Donohue (Sr., 6-0, 242)

CB: 5 Blidi Wreh-Wilson (RSr., 6-2, 190)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

S: 16 Byron Jones (RSo., 6-1, 192)
2 Gilbert Stlouis (Jr., 5-11, 181)

S: 15 Ty-Meer Brown (RSo., 6-0, 193)
22 Andrew Adams (RFr., 6-0, 186)

CB: 7 Dwayne Gratz (RSr., 6-0, 198)
12 David Stevenson (RFr., 5-8, 173)

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: 13 C Chad Christen (RJr., 6-1, 202)
17 Bobby Puyol (Fr., 6-0, 170)

P: 86 C Cole Wagner (RJr., 6-2, 211)
13 Chad Christen (RJr., 6-1, 202)

HL: 86 C Cole Wagner (RJr., 6-2, 211)
17 Blaise Driscoll (Sr., 6-1, 189)

KR: 31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

PR: 31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

LS: 67 A Adam Mueller (Jr., 6-1, 225)
66 Dominick Manco (RFr., 6-0, 239)

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After blowing a big lead and falling 10-9 in 12 innings, the new look Boston Red Sox look to get back on track in the third game 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.

Felix Doubront returns from the disabled list to make his 23rd start of 2012. In his previous 22 starts, Doubront is 10-6 with a 4.70 ERA. His lone career start against the Royals came earlier this season when he picked up the win after allowing three runs in 6.1 innings of work back on May 7th.

Rookie Will Smith makes his 11th start of 2012 for the Royals. In his previous 10 starts, Smith is 4-5 with a 5.40 ERA. This afternoon will mark his first career start against the Red Sox and at Fenway Park.

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:

56-69		60-67
1. Lorenzo Cain	CF	1. Pedro Ciriaco	3B
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. Jeff Francoeur	RF	6. Ryan Lavarnway	C
7. Johnny Giavotella	2B	7. Mauro Gomez	DH
8. Eric Hosmer	1B	8. Mike Aviles	SS
9. Tony Abreu	3B	9. Scott Podsednik	LF
Will Smith	SP	Felix Doubront	SP

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

NOTES: As you can see from the lineup, Loney has been activated after the trade. Pedro Beato has been called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. Che-Hsuan Lin has been optioned to the PawSox to make room for Beato.

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

New Sox same as old [boston herald]

Here’s how to finish what Sox got started [boston herald]

Anatomy of a megadeal [boston herald]

GM Ben Cherington labels his Sox [boston herald]

A new wind in their sales [boston herald]

Red Sox trade with Dodgers not just salary dump [boston herald]

One hundred chances to make this top 10 list [boston herald]

Bobby Valentine, Ben Cherington give players fond farewell [boston herald]

Players feel a big change in clubhouse [boston herald]

Fans cheer Sox shakeup, pick other players to boot [boston herald]

Decision on David Ortiz likely coming today [clubhouse insider]

New-look Red Sox fall in extras, 10-9 [csn new england]

Red Sox clubhouse “weird” after blockbuster [csn new england]

Ortiz may sit out remainder of season [csn new england]

Beckett, Gonzalez comment on Red Sox departure [csn new england]

Ortiz (Achilles) to sit for second straight game [csn new england]

RHP Beato called up from Pawtucket [csn new england]

Shorthanded Sox look to bounce back vs. Royals [csn new england]

Video: Schilling weighs in on the Big Deal [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Royals 10, Red Sox 9 [espn boston]

Searching for positives on L.A.’s big day [espn boston]

Ailing Ortiz meets with GM Ben, Bobby V [espn boston]

Gonzalez, Beckett discuss Boston exit [espn boston]

Q-and-A with Beckett, Gonzalez [espn boston]

Starters Doubront, Dice-K set [espn boston]

Adrian Gonzalez is gone, but Boston Red Sox still have lingering questions [espn boston]

Source — Boston Red Sox want Cody Ross, David Ortiz back in 2013 [espn boston]

Ortiz out again, may shut it down [espn boston]

Beato called up to bolster bullpen [espn boston]

Ortiz out for second day in a row, trip back to DL looms [extra bases]

Ben Cherington: Blockbuster ‘was not a trade to fix a cultural problem’ [full count]

Ben Cherington Pulled Trigger Because Red Sox Needed ‘Bold Move’ Not ‘Cosmetic Changes’ [nesn.com]

Josh Beckett’s Legacy Will Be Remembered as Poster Boy for Great Success, Great Failures [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Could Be Shut Down for Season, Bobby Valentine Admits [nesn.com]

Alfredo Aceves Suspended After Slamming Bobby Valentine’s Office Door [nesn.com]

Mauro Gomez Determined to Show Off Bat, Audition for First Base Opening With Adrian Gonzalez Gone [nesn.com]

Derek Lowe Says Red Sox ‘Making a Statement,’ Preparing for Haul of Free Agents After Dodgers Trade [nesn.com]

Suspended Aceves tore off jersey [mike petraglia – weei.com]

Ortiz: Decision Sunday on rest of season [mike petraglia – weei.com]

Ortiz, Red Sox to make decision Sunday [projo sox blog]

Loney arrives in Boston [projo sox blog]

Doubront ready to get back on hill against KC [redsox.com]

Red Sox suspend Aceves for three games [redsox.com]

Valentine says clubhouse change was in order [redsox.com]

Players adjust to ‘weird’ new look in clubhouse [redsox.com]

Trade gives Red Sox players chances to play [redsox.com]

Sox to evaluate Papi’s status after setback [redsox.com]

For Sox, it will be a long trip across bridge [touching all the bases]

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photo credits: getty images, ap photo

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

Derek Chard among those cut by New York Jets [jim fuller – new haven register]

Make or break year for Pasqualoni, UConn football [ct post]

Senior-laden defense looks to carry Huskies [new haven register]

Connecticut: 3 school records that could fall in 2012 [cbssports.com]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn makes cut for Rathan Mayes, Clark [kevin duffy – ct post]

Other UConn related links

W. Volleyball. Volleyball Swept in Late-Night Opener on West Coast [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Volleyball. Huskies Split Day Two at LMU Invitational [uconnhuskies.com]

Field Hockey. No. 6 Huskies Down Bucknell in 2012 Season Opener [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Diouf PK Nets Huskies Season Opening Win at Sold Out Morrone Stadium [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. UConn’s Men’s Soccer Team Beats St. Francis, 1-0 [hartford courant]

M. Soccer. UConn men’s soccer wins opener [norwich bulletin]

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

We all had heard that Alfredo Aceves was not too happy when he was passed over for the save opportunity in the Boston Red Sox’s 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

Well apparently he had some sort of meltdown in the bullpen last night according to Jerry Remy of NESN and has now been suspended for three games by the team.

Here’s the official release:

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today suspended right-handed pitcher Alfredo Aceves for three games for conduct detrimental to the team.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington.

Aceves’ suspension began tonight with the Red Sox facing the Royals at Fenway Park

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photo credit: getty images

With the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers completing their big megadeal on Saturday afternoon, we need to look back at the 2012 Opening Day roster for the Red Sox.

Yes we know rosters change rather quickly during the season but when all is said and done, 12 of the 25 players on the Opening Day roster for the Red Sox are either on the DL, traded, in the minors or claimed on waivers by another team.

2012 Red Sox Opening Day Roster:

Pitchers:

• Alfredo Aceves – still here
• Matt Albers – traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
• Scott Atchison – disabled list
• Daniel Bard – in Triple-A with PawSox
• Josh Beckett – traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Michael Bowden – traded to the Chicago Cubs after being DFA
• Clay Buchholz – still here
• Felix Doubront – still here
• Jon Lester – still here
• Mark Melancon – still here
• Franklin Morales – still here
• Vicente Padilla – still here
• Justin Thomas – claimed off of waivers by New York Yankees. Currently pitching in Triple-A.

Catchers:

• Jarrod Saltalamacchia – still here
• Kelly Shoppach – traded to New York Mets

Infielders:

• Mike Aviles – still here
• Adrian Gonzalez – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers
• David Ortiz – still here
• Dustin Pedroia – still here
• Nick Punto – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers
• Kevin Youkilis – traded to Chicago White Sox

Outfielders:

• Jacoby Ellsbury – still here
• Darnell McDonald – claimed off waivers by New York Yankees. Currently playing in Triple-A
• Cody Ross – still here
• Ryan Sweeney – on disabled list

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After a whirlwind 24 hours, the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers have finally completed big deal we learned about yesterday.

They have traded Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto along with cash to the Dodgers for James Loney, Ivan De Jesus, Jr. and Allen Webster as well as two players to be named later. As we’ve learned those two players are Jerry Sands and Rubby De La Rosa.

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington said during his press conference that we shouldn’t expect the offical announcement of Sands and De La Rosa until after the 2012 season.

Here’s the complete release from Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today traded right-hander Josh Beckett, left fielder Carl Crawford, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, infielder Nick Punto, and cash considerations to the Los Angeles Dodgers for first baseman James Loney, infielder Ivan De Jesus, Jr., right hander Allen Webster, and two players to be named later.   Ben Cherington, Red Sox Executive Vice-President/General Manager, made the announcement.

A lifetime .284 hitter, Loney, 28, is batting .254 (85-for-334) with four home runs and 33 RBI, 32 runs, and 23 walks this year.  The left-handed hitter has hit .301 (22-for-73) in 20 starts since the All-Star break.  He is tied for the club lead with 114 games played this season and ranks second on the club with 18 doubles.  In his last six starts, he has hit .333 (7-for-21) with two home runs.

Loney ranks third among active players and 14th on baseball’s all-time list with a .349 postseason average (22-for-63) in 17 games (min. 65 plate appearances).

Defensively, he ranks third among qualifying National League first basemen with a .883 zone rating in 2012, while his .995 fielding percentage (22 E/4,701 TC) since 2009 places third best in the National League.

A first-round selection (19th overall) by the Dodgers in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .284 (872-for-3,070) with 173 doubles, 20 triples, 71 home runs, 451 RBI, 355 runs scored, 268 walks and 29 stolen bases in 896 career Major League games over seven seasons, all with Los Angeles.

Since the start of his first full Major League season in 2008, he leads the NL and ranks sixth in the majors with 752 games played, and is one of just four players to appear in at least 158 contests in each of the last four years.

De Jesus, who has been optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket, has appeared in 23 games for the Dodgers over two Major League stints this year, batting .273 (9-for-33) with three doubles, four RBI and five runs scored while appearing in the field at second base (7 games, 3 starts) and third base (5 games, 1 start).

With Triple-A Albuquerque, the right-handed batter has hit .295 (66-for-224) with 12 doubles, three triples and three homers in 60 games.  In 22 contests since the start of August the 25-year-old has hit .354 (29-for-82) with nine extra-base hits and 19 RBI.

For the Isotopes this season, he appeared at second base (43 games), shortstop (9), third base (6), left field (2) and right (1).

De Jesus, the Dodgers’ second-round pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, made his Major League debut with Los Angeles last year and owns a .231 average (15-for-65) in 40 major league games.  He has a career .297 average (809-for-2,721) with 131 doubles, 14 triples, 30 home runs, 333 RBI, 430 runs, 304 walks and 65 stolen bases in 722 minor league games since 2005, spending the majority of his last three campaigns in Triple-A.  He is the son of 15-year Major League veteran shortstop Ivan De Jesus, Sr.

Webster has pitched at Double-A Chattanooga this year, posting a 6-8 record with a  3.55 ERA (48 ER/121.2 IP) and 117 strikeouts compared to 57 walks allowed in 27 appearances, including 22 starts.

The 22-year-old right-hander is tied for fourth in the Southern League in strikeouts and ranks seventh in the circuit in ERA, the second-best mark among full-season Dodgers farmhands.

He has surrendered just one home run all season and since May 15 ranks fourth among Double-A qualifiers with a 2.05 ERA (20 ER/88.0 IP) and fifth with a .215 opponent average (68-for-317).  Overall this season he has given up three earned runs or less in all but three starts and has held opponents to one earned run or less in a start 10 times.  He entered the 2012 season ranked by Baseball America as the Dodgers second-best prospect and as having that system’s best changeup, and was also tabbed by the publication as the No. 95 prospect overall in baseball.  Selected in the 18th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, Webster is 34-24 with one save and a 3.34 ERA (180 ER/485.0 IP), 456 strikeouts, 456 hits allowed and 202 walks over five minor league seasons in the Los Angeles system.

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

Beckett, 32, has gone 5-11 with a 5.23 ERA (74 ER/127.1 IP) in 21 starts with the Red Sox in 2012, compiling 94 strikeouts compared to 38 walks.  Acquired by the Red Sox from the Marlins in November of 2005, the right-hander is 89-58 with a 4.17 ERA (574 ER/1,240.0 IP) in 194 starts with Boston.  He owns a 130-92 career record with a 3.93 ERA (808 ER/1,849.0 IP) and 1,715 strikeouts in 300 Major League games (297 starts) over parts of 12 Major League seasons with the Marlins (2001-05) and Red Sox (2006-12).  Beckett was selected as an American League All-Star in 2007, 2009 and 2011, was named as the Most Valuable Player of the 2003 World Series with Florida, and earned ALCS MVP honors with the Red Sox during their 2007 Championship run.

The 31-year-old Crawford hit .282 (33-for-117) with 10 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 19 RBI, 23 runs and five stolen bases in 31 games for the Red Sox this year before undergoing a successful ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) on his left elbow on Thursday.  He began the season on the disabled list while recovering from left wrist surgery and missed the club’s first 89 games.  A four-time American League All-Star and 2010 Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award winner, Crawford leads all active players with 114 triples and is third with 432 stolen bases.  Signed by the Red Sox as a free agent in December of 2010, he owns a career .292 average (1,642-for-5,615) with 254 doubles, 118 homers, 667 RBI and 853 runs in 1,396 Major League games with Tampa Bay (2002-10) and Boston (2011-12).

Gonzalez, 30, has hit .300 (145-for-484) in 123 games for Boston this season, ranking among American League leaders in hits (T-5th), doubles (2nd, 37), extra-base hits (T-10th, 52; 15 home runs) and RBI (T-6th, 86).  Acquired by the Red Sox from San Diego in December of 2010, he was named an All-Star in each season from 2008-11 and has won three Gold Gloves at first base (2008-09, 2011).  Originally selected by the Marlins with the first overall pick in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, the left-handed batter has hit at a .294 clip (1,258-for-4,281) with 268 doubles, 11 triples, 210 home runs, 728 RBI, 659 runs and 520 walks in 1,140 career Major League games over parts of nine seasons with the Rangers (2004-05), Padres (2006-10) and Red Sox (2011-12).

Punto has played in 65 games with the Red Sox in 2012 after signing as a free agent in December.  The 34-year-old has appeared at all four infield positions while hitting .200 (25-for-125) with six doubles, one home run, 10 RBI, 14 runs and 19 walks.  A veteran of 12 Major League seasons, Punto has hit .247 (672-for-2,726) with 118 doubles, 25 triples, 15 home runs, 228 RBI, 360 runs and 322 walks in 952 career Major League games with the Phillies (2001-03), Twins (2004-10), Cardinals (2011) and Red Sox (2012).  He has played in 318 career games at third, 312 at second, 271 at short, five at first base, nine in center field, one in left field and one in right field.  He won a World Series title with the Cardinals last season.

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After rallying for a 4-3 win last night, the Boston Red Sox look for a second straight win in the second game of a four-game set with the Kansas City Royals 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 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.

With Josh Beckett being shipped off to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto, Aaron Cook steps in to make his 12th start of 2012. In his previous 11 starts, Cook is 3-7 with a 4.79 ERA. In his career, Cook has faced the Royals twice as a member of the Colorado Rockies and is 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA (7 ER/9.2 IP).

Jeremy Guthrie gets the ball for the Royals in his 22nd start (26th appearance) combined with his time in Colorado earlier this year. In his previous 25 appearances (21 starts), Guthrie is 5-12 with a 5.91 ERA. In six starts with the Royals since coming over in a trade, Guthrie is 2-3 with a 3.23 ERA. He has not faced the Red Sox this season and was 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA in four appearances (three starts) in 2011 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. Guthrie has made 19 career appearances (17 starts) against the local nine and is 3-8 with a 4.50 ERA. Nine of those appearances (eight starts) have come at the Fens where he is 1-4 with a 5.88 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:

55-69		60-66
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. Mauro Gomez	1B
6. Mike Moustakas	3B	6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
7. Jeff Francoeur	RF	7. Ryan Lavarnway	DH
8. Eric Hosmer	1B	8. Mike Aviles	SS
9. Tony Abreu	2B	9. Pedro Ciriaco	3B
Jeremy Guthrie	SP	Aaron Cook	SP

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

NOTES: Jose Iglesias, Che-Hsuan Lin and Junichi Tazawa have been added to roster from Triple-A Pawtucket to take the places of Punto and Gonzalez. Felix Doubront was activated from the DL to make the start tomorrow. Daniel Nava was placed on the 15-day DL with a sprained wrist.

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

Sox pull off blockbuster trade [boston herald]

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington explains the blockbuster trade [clubhouse insider]

Report: Sox preparing roster moves in anticipation of deal [csn new england]

Who are the Red Sox getting in return? [csn new england]

Gonzalez, Punto thank Red Sox fans via Twitter [csn new england]

Red Sox chairman Tom Werner is pretty high on James Loney [csn new england]

Red Sox will make culture change with blockbuster deal [csn new england]

Evaluators analyze prospects coming to Boston [csn new england]

Ortiz not in lineup [csn new england]

Werner shares his thoughts on blockbuster [espn boston]

Edes: ‘This was all about finances’ [espn boston]

Loney, Webster, De La Rosa [espn boston]

Bad contracts, sure, but not bad people [extra bases]

California, here they come [extra bases]

Top 10 big-name Red Sox trades of last half-century [full count]

Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett Trade From Red Sox to Dodgers Unrivaled in Unbelievability, Magnitude [nesn.com]

Dustin Pedroia, Pedro Ciriaco Heating Up as Red Sox Look to Keep Rolling Over Royals [nesn.com]

Adrian Gonzalez Trade Means Red Sox May Find Avoiding Big Contracts Is New Market Inefficiency [nesn.com]

Adrian Gonzalez Batting in the Cleanup Spot for Dodgers on Same Day He’s Traded From Red Sox [nesn.com]

Does James Loney Have a Future in Boston Beyond the 2012 Season? [nesn.com]

Bobby V: ‘Change was necessary’ [mike petraglia – weei.com]

Red Sox explain reasons for trade [projo sox blog]

Ortiz out of lineup, to be re-evaluated [projo sox blog]

Guthrie looks to continue string against Red Sox [redsox.com]

Red Sox get promising talent from Dodgers [redsox.com]

Cherington: ‘We are not who we want to be’ [alex speier – weei.com]

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

photo credits: getty images, getty images

On any given day, the return of David Ortiz to the Boston Red Sox and the fact they beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 would normally be the big news of the day. But of course we all know it’s not.

Earlier on Friday, we had learned the Los Angeles Dodgers had claimed Adrian Gonzalez off of trade waivers. All this meant was the Red Sox could let him go there for nothing, work out a trade with them or just pull him back and keep him. Then we hear that a mystery team, which also turned out to be the Dodgers, had claimed Josh Beckett off of waivers.

As speculation ran rampant, everyone thought the Red Sox would pull Gonzalez back and just let Beckett go to LA. The one caveat was that Beckett had 10-5 rights meaning he could veto any deal. So the rumors continued as everyone in Red Sox Nation focused their eyes on Twitter to watch what was going on.

Next thing you know, Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston is dropping a huge bombshell.

Blockbuster: red Sox, Dodgers working on deal that would send AGon, Crawford, Beckett and Punto to LA. Hurdles remain, but closing in

— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) August 24, 2012

As time went on before last night’s game, names began to emerge as to what the Red Sox would get back. Those names are 1B James Loney, 1B/OF Jerry Sands, IF Ivan De Jesus Jr, Rubby De La Rosa and the Dodgers No. 2 prospect Allen Webster. And as more time went on, we learned that De La Rosa would probably be the player to be named later since he didn’t clear waivers.

Basically, the Red Sox said if you want Gonzalez, you’re taking the others (Crawford and Beckett) too.

With game time approaching in Boston, we then learned that Loney was scratched but Gonzalez was still in the Red Sox lineup. Then as NESN took to the airwaves to broadcast the game, Gonzalez was scratched making everyone think the deal was done.

As the game went on, more rumors emerged. Beckett still needed to waive his 10/5 rights. After the game, we learned that one of the three teams on Crawford’s limited no-trade list was the Dodgers. So we all went to bed knowing that when we woke up there was the possibility that the 2012 Red Sox had been in fact blown up.

When I woke up, Beckett and Crawford had waived their no trade rights and the only thing that was holding up the deal was the medicals of Beckett. Then this from Ken Rosenthal.

Source: #RedSox–#Dodgers blockbuster “pretty much done.” Beckett, Crawford have waived no-trade rights, teams have signed off on medicals.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 25, 2012

I presume that the only thing now keeping this deal is the three hour time difference between Boston and Los Angeles.

For me, I’m okay with the deal, I think.

The one part of the deal that bothers me is losing Gonzo.

It’s going to be very hard to replace his glove as well as his offense. Obviously, he wasn’t having the kind of season he did last year and over the course of his career. But to me, he just never seemed really happy here.

I don’t think it had anything to do with the ballpark. My best guess is that it had to do with all the outside distractions from the media. And you can’t blame him. For one, he’s played in small markets so this type of media coverage is unprecedented for him. But the Boston media is a different kind of animal and it takes a special player to play here.

And after spending all that money to extend him as well as the prospects they traded for him, it doesn’t look like he was.

We all know the Red Sox were probably going to unload Beckett at some point. Whether it be through waivers or after the season over, it definitely had the feel that Beckett’s tenure in Boston was coming to a close.

He hasn’t been good for a few years now and has been consistently hurt over the past few seasons. It remains to be seen if going back to the NL will help him but I’m speculating that he’ll be much more happier in LA than he ever was here.

It also appears the Red Sox threw in Crawford to shed his contract as well. There’s no doubt that Crawford’s brief tenure in Boston has been a disappointment. He did show signs of the Crawford who played for the Tampa Bay Rays before ending his season by undergoing the Tommy John surgery on his balky elbow.

But in the end it appears the Red Sox have decided to go other ways and rebuild the team.

So now we have to sit back and here wonder if 2013 will be a rebuilding year or will the Red Sox try to find the right pieces to try and contend next year. Either way, it’ll be an interesting offseason here in Red Sox Nation.

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

Red Sox pull out of skid [boston globe]

Blockbuster would certainly signify end of an error [boston globe]

Possible departures loom over clubhouse [boston globe]

Ortiz returns from 35-game absence [boston globe]

Jon Lester leads charge [boston herald]

Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford LA-bound? [boston herald]

No Joshing: Give Beckett to Dodgers [boston herald]

Sox players taken aback by megadeal [boston herald]

Sox poised to blow it all up, start anew [boston herald]

Blockbuster complete [clubhouse insider]

Amid rumors, Sox rally past Royals, 4-3 [csn new england]

Red Sox players react to possibility of losing teammates [csn new england]

Valentine: Ortiz a “sight for sore eyes” [csn new england]

Blockbuster trade means fresh start for Sox, players involved [csn new england]

Number of ‘nitwits’ worse than Bobby V [csn new england]

Bobby on trades: Ben didn’t mention anything [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 4, Royals 3 [espn boston]

10 things to ponder about Sox blockbuster [espn boston]

Valentine, Ortiz et al react to trade rumors [espn boston]

Papi doesn’t miss a beat in return from DL [espn boston]

Lester’s leg OK; Bailey replacing Aceves? [espn boston]

Boston Red Sox’s potential blockbuster with Los Angeles Dodgers is more of a full reboot than a ‘bold’ move [espn boston]

How deal would change Red Sox payroll [full count]

Closing Time: More Pedro Ciriaco late heroics lift Red Sox to 4-3 win over Royals [full count]

Red Sox clubhouse reaction to potential blockbuster trade [full count]

Red Sox, Dodgers appear close to blockbuster sending Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to LA for prospects [full count]

David Ortiz puts on a show in return, but how long will it last? [full count]

Jon Lester is getting hot, wins third consecutive start [full count]

Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster Would Bring Youth, Talented Pitching Arms to the Red Sox [nesn.com]

Red Sox Contemplating Cleaning House to Focus on Farm System, Rid Themselves of Bad Contracts [nesn.com]

Deal With Dodgers May Save Red Sox Money, But Cost of Trading Away Key Pieces Will Hurt [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Complains About ‘Issues With My Foot’, Hopes to Keep Igniting Offense Through Pain [nesn.com]

Red Sox Trying to Grasp the Uncertainty Regarding Possible Blockbuster Trade With Dodgers [nesn.com]

Red Sox have rare chance to hit reset button [redsox.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