Author Archives: ianbethune

Red Sox Snag Porcello From Tigers For Cespedes

Rick Porcello #21 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates a two-run home run by Nick Castellanos #9 in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 8, 2014 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Boston Red Sox GM Ben Cherington had said throughout the early part of this offseason that OF Yoenis Cespedes fit into the teams’ plans for 2015. It’s obvious he was blowing smoke up our you know what.

With a need for starting pitching, Cherington dangled Cespedes out there and ended up finding a trade partner in the Detroit Tigers.

On Thursday, the Red Sox acquired Rick Porcello for Cespedes, RP Alex Wilson and minor leaguer Gabe Speier.

Cespedes is in the final year of his contract ($10.5 million) and Porcello is set for his final go around of salary arbitration. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Porcello is projected to get $12.2 million.

It seems like the Red Sox gave up an awful lot for Porcello. Remember, Cespedes was acquired for Jon Lester at the trade deadline in 2014.

Full release from the Red Sox:

The Boston Red Sox today acquired right-handed pitcher Rick Porcello from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, right-handed pitcher Alex Wilson, and minor league left-handed pitcher Gabe Speier. Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Porcello, 25, went 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 204.2 innings over 32 appearances for the Tigers last season, including 31 starts. Along with leading the American League with three shutouts, he also placed among AL leaders while setting career bests in wins (T-8th), ERA (17th), innings (13th), and road ERA (6th, 2.66). He held both right-handed and left-handed batters to a .268 batting average, ranked second in the majors with 30 opponent ground into double plays, and had the eighth-highest ground ball-to-fly ball ratio in the AL.

The native of Morristown, NJ issued a career-low 1.8 walks per nine innings in 2014, the eighth-best mark in the AL and his third season among the league’s top 10 in that category. His 2.21 career walks per nine innings ratio ranks fifth among active big leaguers with at least 1,000 innings, trailing only Dan Haren (1.86), Cliff Lee (1.94), Mark Buehrle (2.05), and Ricky Nolasco (2.10). He joins Felix Hernandez and James Shields as the only three AL qualifiers to average fewer than 3.0 walks per nine innings pitched over each of the last six seasons.

In his final 18 outings (17 starts) of 2014 beginning on July 26, he posted a 3.18 ERA, the 12th-best mark among AL pitchers with at least 100.0 innings. That stretch began with back-to-back complete game, 9.0-inning shutouts on June 26 at Texas and July 1 against Oakland, respectively.

Signed by the Tigers as the 27th selection in the first round of the 2007 June Draft, Porcello has made at least 27 starts and pitched at least 162.2 innings in all six big league seasons since his 2009 debut.

He placed third among AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2009 after going 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 31 starts for the Tigers. That year, the 20-year-old was the youngest player in the AL. His 14 wins in 2009 remain the most for any pitcher in a season before turning 21 since the Mets’ Dwight Gooden won 24 games in 1985. In the live ball era (since 1920), no other AL pitcher has won as many games in his first major league season as a 20-year-old or younger.

Porcello has reached double-digits in wins in every season of his big league career, just the third pitcher in modern major league history (since 1900) to record at least 10 wins in each of his first six seasons before turning 26 years old, along with Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley and Bert Blyleven. No other modern major league pitcher has made more than 25 starts in each of his first six big league seasons, all before turning 26.

Porcello appeared with the Tigers in the postseason in three consecutive seasons from 2011-13, going 0-2 with a 4.41 ERA in eight outings (2 starts), including four scoreless relief appearances in the 2012 and 2013 postseasons.

Cespedes, 29, combined to hit .260 (156-for-600) with 36 doubles, six triples, 22 home runs, and 100 RBI in 152 games between the Oakland Athletics and Red Sox last season. A first-time All-Star in 2014, he set career highs in several offensive categories, including games, runs (89), at-bats, RBI, triples, and total bases (270). Among all American League qualifiers last season, Cespedes finished within the top 10 in extra-base hits (8th, 64), RBI (9th), and doubles (9th). Since joining the Red Sox on August 1 of last year, he led the club with 33 RBI in 51 games. Defensively, he set a career high with a major league-leading 16 outfield assists, four of which came with the Red Sox. Following the season, he was named a finalist for the AL Gold Glove Award in left field. Boston acquired Cespedes along with a 2015 Competitive Balance draft pick in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jon Lester, outfielder Jonny Gomes, and cash considerations on July 31, 2014. Cespedes, originally an international free agent from Cuba signed by Oakland on March 3, 2012, has hit .263 (425-for-1,616) with 82 doubles, 15 triples, 71 home runs, and 262 RBI in 416 major league games between the A’s (2012-14), and Red Sox (2014).

Wilson, 27, went 1-0 and posted a career-low 1.91 ERA (6 ER/28.1 IP) with five walks and 19 strikeouts in 18 relief appearances for the Red Sox in 2014. Used exclusively as a reliever over the last two full seasons, Wilson allowed only three home runs over his 56.0 innings of work in the majors in that span. When he made his major league debut with Boston in 2013, Wilson became the first Saudi Arabian-born pitcher to appear in a big league game. For his major league career, which has spanned the last two years with the Red Sox (2013-14), he has gone 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA (21 ER/56.0 IP), 19 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 44 appearances, all in relief. The Red Sox’ 2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Wilson was originally a second-round selection (77th overall) by Boston in the 2009 June Draft.

Speier, 19, spent this past season, his second in professional baseball, with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox. In his nine games (six starts) for the Gulf Coast League champions, he went 3-0 with a 1.55 ERA (5 ER/29.0 IP), one walk, and 26 strikeouts. He held opponents to two runs or fewer in all nine of his appearances in 2014, and allowed only six extra-base hits on the season (5 doubles, 1 triple), none of which were home runs. The nephew of former major league veteran Chris Speier, Gabe was a 19th-round selection by the Red Sox in the 2013 June Draft. Over his professional career, Speier has gone 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA (6 ER/33.0 IP), two walks, and 32 strikeouts in 12 games (8 starts).

With this transaction, Boston’s 40-man roster is now at 38.

photo credit: getty images

Report: Red Sox Acquire Wade Miley From Diamondbacks

Starting pitcher Wade Miley #36 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch against the St Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a MLB game at Chase Field on September 27, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Less than 24 hours after losing out on one lefty in Jon Lester, the Boston Red Sox have made a move to get a different one.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com, the Red Sox have agreed to trade Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and another minor leaguer to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Wade Miley.

Miley, who enters arbitration for the first time this season, made $523,000 last year. He made his debut for the DBacks in 2011 and has been a member of their rotation for the past three seasons.

He went 8-12 with a 4.34 ERA in 2014. Miley was an All-Star in his rookie season of 2012 when he went 16-11 with a 3.33 ERA and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting to Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals.

De La Rosa and Webster were obtained by the Red Sox in the blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford among others.

De La Rosa made 19 appearances (18 starts) for the local nine in 2014 and was 4-8 with a 4.43 ERA. In two years with the Red Sox, Webster was 6-5 with a 6.25 ERA in 19 appearances (18 starts).

I’m not surprised about the Red Sox giving up on Webster as he’s struggled in the big leagues. De La Rosa has shown a lot of promise and I thought that he might be a weapon in the bullpen.

But given the current state of the Red Sox rotation, they weren’t giving up too much and you have to figure that neither one figured too predominately into the plans for 2015.

photo credit: getty images

American Athletic Conference 2014 Postseason Football Award Winners

This just sums up the 2014 season for the UConn Huskies football team.

They did not have one player recognized by the American Athletic Conference in its 2014 Postseason Football Awards. They were the only team in the league not represented.

To be fair, all but a few players on the team deserved to be on there. For me, the biggest snub for UConn is Andrew Adams.

He finished second on the team with 96 tackles and led the team in interceptions with four. He also had a fumble return for a touchdown along with four pass breakups and eight passes defended.

Here’s the full release from the American:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden was chosen as the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, while UCF cornerback Jacoby Glenn and Memphis linebacker Tank Jakes have been named the conference’s Defensive Players of the Year by the league’s 11 head coaches.

Memphis kicker Jake Elliott was chosen as The American’s Special Teams Players of the Year. USF running back Marlon Mack was the choice as Rookie of the Year.

Memphis coach Justin Fuente, who led the Tigers to their first conference championship in 43 years, was the unanimous selection as Coach of the Year.

Carden was chosen as the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year after he finished the regular season as the American Athletic Conference leader in passing yards (359.1 yards per game). He threw for a conference-record 4,309 yards with 28 touchdowns against eight interceptions and completed 65 percent of his passes (358 of 551). He threw for at least 300 yards nine times in 12 games and had five games with at least 400 passing yards. Carden was a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and enters the postseason as East Carolina’s career leader in passing yards (10,829), attempts (1,424), completions (954), touchdown passes (77) and total offense (11,098 yards).

Glenn was named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year for his performance on one of the nation’s most effective defenses. He leads The American with seven interceptions and 18 passes defended through the regular season. He ranks third nationally in interceptions (0.6 per game) and fourth in passes defended (1.5 per game) and keys UCF’s unit which ranks third among FBS programs in total defense (282.8 yards per game), sixth in pass efficiency defense (103.24) and ninth in scoring defense (17.9 points per game). He was chosen to the American Athletic Conference First Team for the second straight season.

Jakes was an impact player on a Memphis defense that allowed just one opponent (then-No. 11 UCLA) to score more than 28 points against the Tigers in the 2014 regular season. Jakes led the Tigers in tackles (85), sacks (six), tackles for loss (15.5) and forced fumbles. He also had an interception, a fumble recovery and safety. He finished the regular season as the American Athletic Conference leader in tackles for loss (1.29 per game) and was ninth in the conference in sacks (0.5 per game).

Elliott becomes the second Memphis player to earn American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year honors as he joins 2013 winner Tom Hornsey. Elliott was the leading scorer in the conference during the regular season, averaging 8.9 points per game, and led the conference with 19 field goals, averaging 1.58 per game. Elliott went 14-of-15 on field goals from inside 40 yards and has converted all 50 of his PAT attempts this season.

Mack was chosen as The American’s Rookie of the Year on the heels of a freshman season in which he led the conference in rushing (86.8 yards per game) and became the first USF freshman to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Mack rushed for an American Athletic Conference-record 275 yards with four touchdowns against Western Carolina in his collegiate debut and he finished the season with 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns on 202 carries. Mack averaged 5.2 yards per carry and had four 100-yard games in 2014.

Fuente earned American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors from his counterparts after he led Memphis to a 9-3 regular season and a 7-1 mark in conference play, giving the Tigers a share of the conference title – Memphis’ first conference crown since 1971. Memphis, which was picked seventh in The American’s preseason media poll, takes a six-game winning streak into the postseason – the Tigers’ longest winning streak since 1969. Memphis is ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (17.1 points per game), while the Tigers are first nationally in red zone offense (94.3 percent).

In addition to the major award-winners, The American also named its first and second all-conference teams. UCF and Memphis had 10 players named to the all-conference teams, while UCF had nine players chosen. East Carolina wide receiver Justin Hardy – the NCAA’s career receptions leader – was the only unanimous selection to the all-conference team.

Six players were repeat selections to the all-conference first team. Glenn and Elliott were chosen for the second straight year, along with UCF linebacker Terrance Plummer, Cincinnati offensive tackle Eric Lefeld, Memphis defensive end Martin Ifedi and Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich.

2014 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDS

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Shane Carden, QB, East Carolina (Sr., Houston, Texas)

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Jacoby Glenn, CB, UCF (So., Prichard, Ala.)

Tank Jakes, LB, Memphis (Sr., Phenix City, Ala.)

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jake Elliott, K, Memphis (So., Western Spring, Ill.)

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Marlon Mack, RB, USF (Fr., Sarasota, Fla.)

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR

Justin Fuente, Memphis *

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Pos.	Player	School	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/Last School
WR	Breshad Perriman	UCF	Jr.	6-3	214	Lithonia, Ga./Arabia Mountain
WR	Justin Hardy *	East Carolina	Sr.	6-0	188	Vanceboro, N.C./West Craven
OT	Eric Lefeld ¹	Cincinnati	Sr.	6-6	310	Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater
OT	Al Bond	Memphis	Sr.	6-4	305	Memphis, Tenn./Southwind
OG	Parker Ehinger	Cincinnati	Jr.	6-7	315	Rockford, Mich./Rockford
OG	Rowdy Harper	Houston	Sr.	6-5	295	Broken Arrow, Okla./Broken Arrow
C	Taylor Hudson	East Carolina	Sr.	6-5	285	Greenville, S.C./Mauldin
TE	Alan Cross	Memphis	Jr.	6-1	245	Millington, Tenn./Millington
QB	Shane Carden	East Carolina	Sr.	6-2	221	Houston, Texas/Episcopal
RB	William Stanback ²	UCF	So.	6-1	225	Hempstead, N.Y./Uniondale
RB	Marlon Mack	USF	Fr.	6-0	195	Sarasota, Fla./Booker
K	Jake Elliott ¹	Memphis	So.	5-10	165	Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township
RS	Deion Sanders Jr.	SMU	So.	5-7	183	Atlanta, Ga./Atlanta Sports Academy
DL	Terrell Hartsfield	Cincinnati	Sr.	6-3	246	Raleigh, N.C./Copiah-Lincoln CC
DL	Terry Williams	East Carolina	Sr.	6-1	353	Loganville, Ga./Grayson
DL	Joey Mbu	Houston	Sr.	6-3	310	Richmond, Texas/Foster
DL	Martin Ifedi ¹	Memphis	Sr.	6-3	275	Houston, Texas/Westside
LB	Terrance Plummer ¹	UCF	Sr.	6-1	236	Orange Park, Fla./Orange Park
LB	Jeff Luc	Cincinnati	Sr.	6-1	256	Port St. Lucie, Fla./Florida State
LB	Tank Jakes	Memphis	Sr.	5-11	227	Phenix City, Ala./Holmes CC
LB	Tyler Matakevich ¹	Temple	Jr.	6-1	235	Stratford, Conn./St. Joseph’s
CB	Jacoby Glenn ¹	UCF	So.	6-0	186	Prichard, Ala./Vigor
CB	Bobby McCain	Memphis	Sr.	5-11	195	Oxford, Ala./Oxford
S	Clayton Geathers	UCF	Sr.	6-2	208	Georgetown, S.C./Carver’s Bay
S	Adrian McDonald	Houston	Jr.	5-10	190	Lawton, Okla./Eisenhower
P	Mattias Ciabatti	USF	Jr.	6-0	189	Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough
* unanimous selection

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Pos.	Player	School	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/Last School
WR	Deontay Greenberry ¹	Houston	Jr.	6-3	200	Fresno, Calif./Washington Union
WR	Keevan Lucas	Tulsa	So.	5-10	198	Abilene, Texas/Abilene
OT	Torrian Wilson	UCF	Sr.	6-3	305	Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern
OT	Ike Harris	East Carolina	Jr.	6-7	304	Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork
OG	J.T. Boyd	East Carolina	So.	6-4	302	Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford
C	Kyle Friend	Temple	Jr.	6-2	305	Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley
TE	Bryce Williams	East Carolina	Jr.	6-6	250	Winston-Salem, N.C./Marshall
QB	Paxton Lynch	Memphis	So.	6-7	230	Deltona, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy
RB	Kenneth Farrow	Houston	Jr.	5-10	218	Hurst, Texas/L.D. Bell
RB	Brandon Hayes	Memphis	Sr.	5-8	198	Chicago, Ill./Scottsdale CC
K	Andrew Gantz	Cincinnati	Fr.	5-9	158	Dayton, Ohio/Centerville
RS	Keiwone Malone	Memphis	Sr.	5-11	155	Memphis, Tenn./Alabama
DL	Jaryl Mamea	UCF	Sr.	6-1	283	Fagasa, American Samoa/Chabot College
DL	Thomas Niles	UCF	Jr.	6-2	270	Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville
DL	Matt Ioaniddis	Temple	Jr.	6-4	285	Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central
DL	Praise Martin-Oguike	Temple	Jr.	6-2	250	Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge
DL	Derrick Alexander	Tulsa	Jr.	6-2	270	Tulsa, Okla./Booker T. Washington
LB	Zeek Bigger	East Carolina	Jr.	6-2	228	Gastonia, N.C./Ashbrook
LB	Brandon Williams	East Carolina	Sr.	6-1	230	Rock Hill, S.C./Hargrave Military
LB	Efrem Oliphant	Houston	Sr.	6-`1	220	Houston, Texas/Langham Creek
CB	William Jackson	Houston	Jr.	6-1	185	Houston, Texas/Trinity Valley CC
CB	Lorenzo Doss	Tulane	Jr.	5-11	187	New Orleans, La./St. Augustine
S	Brandon Alexander	UCF	Sr.	6-2	195	Orlando, Fla./Evans
S	Sam Scofield	Tulane	Sr.	6-1	186	Lafayette, La./St. Thomas More
P	Spencer Smith	Memphis	Fr.	6-1	175	Newnan, Ga./East Coweta

ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
Pos.	Player	School	Cl.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/Last School
QB	Gunner Kiel	Cincinnati	So.	6-4	208	Columbus, Ind./Notre Dame
LB	Nick Temple	Cincinnati	Sr.	5-10	224	Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central
WR	Andre Davis	USF	Sr.	6-1	205	Tampa, Fla./Jefferson
C	Austin Reiter	USF	Sr.	6-3	296	Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch
CB	Tavon Young	Temple	Jr.	5-10	174	Oxon Hill, Md./Potomac
LB	Nico Marley	Tulane	So.	5-9	200	Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay
CB	Parry Nickerson	Tulane	Fr.	5-11	179	Terrytown, La./West Jefferson
P	Dalton Parks	Tulsa	So.	6-3	202	Kansas City, Mo./Staley

¹ American Athletic Conference First Team selection in 2013

² American Athletic Conference Second Team selection in 2013

Three Huskies Named to Naismith Trophy Women’s 50 Watch List

UConn G Moriah Jefferson (4) avoids the arm of Creighton F Brianna Rollerson (50) for a layup at Gampel Pavilion on November 23, 2014.

From UConn and the Atlanta Tipoff Club:

ATLANTA – After helping the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to six wins in its first seven games a trio of Huskies, Breanna Stewart (Syracuse, N.Y.), Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, Texas) and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) have been named to the Naismith Trophy Women’s 50 Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Wednesday morning.

In the history of the Naismith Trophy, six Huskies have earned the award in eight different seasons. Rebecca Lobo first took home the honors for Connecticut in the 1995 season after winning the program’s first National Championship. In 2002, the Naismith Award was bestowed on Sue Bird after UConn’s first of three consecutive National Titles. Diana Taurasi followed on Bird’s heels as a back-to-back recipient in 2003 and 2004. Tina Charles earned the honors in 2010, in between Maya Moore’s two seasons as the Naismith Award winner in 2009 and 2011. Last season, Stewart was selected as the winner of the prestigious award, becoming just the seventh player to win the Naismith Trophy in both high school and college.

Earlier this season, the trio was named to the Wooden Award Preseason Top-30 list.

Stewart has put together a solid junior campaign, averaging 16.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The Syracuse, N.Y. native was tabbed as the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 24 after shooting an incredible 10-for-10 from the field in UConn’s win over Creighton. She is shooting 51.2 (43-of-84) percent from the floor this season and is one of three Huskies with double-digit made three-pointers.

In 2013-14, she recorded double-digit points in 38 of UConn’s 40 games on her way to being selected as the 2013-14 National Player of the Year by the Associated Press, the Atlanta Tip-Off Club (Naismith Trophy), the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Honda Sports Award.

Jefferson earns a spot on the list after earning the starting nod in each of UConn’s seven contests, averaging 9.6 points and a team-best 4.7 assists per game. She set a career-high with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting against Green Bay on Nov. 30 and has reached double-digit points in four games.

Last season, Jefferson enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, starting all 40 games and averaging 10.0 points per contest. The Texas native led The American in assists per game (4.9) and shooting percentage (57.5) en route to an all-conference First Team selection. She dished out 25 assists compared to only seven turnovers during the Huskies’ six-game run through the NCAA Tournament. Her 195 total assists marked the fifth-highest single-season total for a Husky player.

Mosqueda-Lewis rounds out the Husky portion of the list, earning a nod after leading the team with 17.0 points per game and 26 made-three point field goals. The senior deep-threat set a career-high with 10 made three-pointers en route to her second career 30-point game in the Huskies’ season-opening win over UC Davis on Nov. 14.

Despite being limited by injury in the 2013-14 campaign, the forward earned 26 starts and notched 19 double-figure scoring games. She posted the program’s third-ever triple-double in the Huskies’ NCAA Second Round victory over Saint Joseph’s on March 25. The three-point sharpshooter saved her best for the postseason, earning a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team after posting 14.7 points and shooting 47.4 from beyond the arc. In addition, Mosqueda-Lewis was tabbed as the Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 51.0 percent in the Huskies first four NCAA Tournament victories.

photo credit: ©2014 Ian Bethune

Paw Prints: The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 12/10/14

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.

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

Former UConn star Williams added to Redskins roster [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn progress report by the numbers [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Morgan Tuck Named Ann Meyers Drysdale Women’s National Player of the Week [sox & dawgs]

Sadie Edwards Opts To Leave UConn Women’s Basketball Team [sox & dawgs]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn Men’s Insider: Basketball Life Moves Fast For Huskies Recruit Steve Enoch [hartford courant]

Wolf Pack Recall Forward Vinny Saponari from Greenville

HARTFORD, December 9, 2014: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Wolf Pack has recalled forward Vinny Saponari from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Saponari, who was signed to an AHL contract by the Wolf Pack July 25, 2014, leads the Greenville club in points and plus/minus, and is second in goals and assists, with totals of 7-10-17, and a +13, in 21 games. The 6-1, 196-pound Powder Springs, GA native split last season between the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals and the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, notching 15 goals with the Admirals, tied for fourth-best on the team, and adding 18 assists for 33 points, in 58 games. In 14 contests with Cincinnati, Saponari posted totals of 1-10-11.

Prior to turning pro, Saponari played four seasons of Hockey East Action, two at Northeastern and two with Boston University. In 150 career college games, he rang up 34 goals and 65 assists for 99 points, along with 109 PIM, and won an NCAA title with B.U. in 2008-09, his freshman year. Between his B.U. and Northeastern tenures, Saponari spent the 2010-11 campaign in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, notching 18-46-64 in 56 games and helping Dubuque to a league championship.

Saponari was a fourth-round selection (94th overall) by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2008 NHL Draft, from the U.S. National Under-18 Team.

The Wolf Pack’s next action is a home game this this Thursday night, December 11, a 7:00 PM contest against the Albany Devils. That is “Throwback Thursday”, as the Wolf Pack throws back prices on a number of popular concession items. Hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and soda are all on sale Thursday for only $2 each. Also, Thursday is the next opportunity for fans to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Packs”, which include two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35.

Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Sadie Edwards Opts To Leave UConn Women’s Basketball Team

UConn G Sadie Edwards tries to get open in an exhibition game against Post University at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on November 9, 2014.

UConn G Sadie Edwards (14) tries to get open in an exhibition game against Post University at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on November 9, 2014.

From UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – Freshman guard Sadie Edwards has decided to transfer from the University of Connecticut women’s basketball program, as announced by head coach Geno Auriemma on Tuesday.

“Sadie is a great kid who will be missed by the coaching staff and her teammates,” Auriemma said. “Getting to know Sadie and her family has been a pleasure but she has voiced her desire to play more and we have come to the mutual agreement that this can best be accomplished at a different school. I wish Sadie nothing but the best in the future.”

Edwards will complete her final exams this week prior to finalizing her transfer.

The Meriden, Conn. native played in six games, averaging 4.8 minutes per contest.

Morgan Tuck Named Ann Meyers Drysdale Women’s National Player of the Week

UConn F Morgan Tuck (3) powers through two Creighton players for a basket at Gampel Pavilion on November 23, 2014.

From the USBWA:

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) –The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Connecticut forward Morgan Tuck as its Ann Meyers Drysdale Women’s National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 7. The USBWA’s weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 17 this season.

As the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, Tuck was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for women’s basketball, from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Tuck, a 6-2 redshirt sophomore from Boling Brook, Ill., scored 25 points, shooting 12-for-19 from the field in her one game for the Huskies in being the key reason for the win at Notre Dame in the annual Jimmy V women’s game. She also dealt three assists, blocked two shots, and grabbed two steals in having a career effort.

Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the Women’s NCAA Final Four in Denver, 2012, the organization announced going forward that the national and weekly player award has been named for Hall of Famer and former UCLA All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2015 Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA’s annual awards event in Tampa, site of the 2015 NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Several other women’s awards are also to be announced later this season associated with more famous names in women’s basketball history. Also in 2012 in Denver, it was also announced that former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who was the female recipient of the Most Courageous Award for her battle against early onset dementia, Alzheimer type, would have that award named in her honor.

Paw Prints: The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 12/9/14

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UConn Football links

JOE D’S NOTEBOOK: UConn Football’s Transition Season Is Over [joe d – cbs local]

After disappointing 2014 season at UConn, time to look ahead [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn in NFL: Week 14 report [jim fuller – new haven register]

Football. Huskies Looking Forward To Growing And Getting Better [uconn huskies]

Report Card For 2-10 UConn Season Not Worth Hanging On Fridge [hartford courant]

Norwalk’s Noel Thomas a bright spot from UConn’s lost 2014 football season [the hour]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Morgan Tuck Honored as American Athletic Conference Player of the Week [sox & dawgs]

UConn heads into break in a good spot [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn goes big to post impressive win [jim fuller – new haven register]

Tuck’s Leadership Role At UConn Apparent In Win Vs. Irish [hartford courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn Men to Play Maryland In 2015 Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic [sox & dawgs]

After break for exams, UConn men will need to find answers [ct post]

Peek At Future: UConn Recruit Jalen Adams Looks Impressive [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer. Ray Reid Named 2014 NSCAA East Regional Coach Of The Year [uconn huskies]

UConn Club. From The Crowd: Football vs. SMU [uconn huskies]

Wolf Pack Recall G Jeff Malcolm From Greenville

HARTFORD, December 8, 2014: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Wolf Pack has recalled goaltender Jeff Malcolm from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Malcolm, a second-year pro out of Yale University, is currently tied for the ECHL lead in wins, with a mark of 11-4-0 in 15 appearances. The 6-2, 185-pound Lethbridge, Alta. has a 2.13 goals-against average, second-best in the ECHL, and his 92.9% save percentage ranks third among league netminders. Malcolm also has one shutout.

As a rookie last season, Malcolm, 25, saw action in six games for the Wolf Pack, going 1-3-0 with a 2,85 GAA and an 88.8% save percentage. In 27 contests with the Road Warriors, he was 13-9-0, with a 2.90 GAA and a 91.2% save percentage mark.

Signed to an AHL contract by the Wolf Pack July 17, 2013, Malcolm was 36-21-4 in 67 games in his four-year career at Yale, with a 2.60 GAA, a 90.7% save percentage and six shutouts. He backstopped the Elis to the program’s first-ever NCAA title in his Senior year of 2012-13.