Day one of the post-Kevin Youkilis era (the only time I’ll say this by the way) didn’t go so well for the Boston Red Sox.

Felix Doubront got in some early trouble in which the Toronto Blue Jays got to him for four runs early. But despite the best efforts from the offense, Doubront couldn’t keep the game tied as the Red Sox would eventually fall 9-6 in game that finished up just after midnight after a one hour 56 minute rain delay.

With the win, the Blue Jays moved into a tie for fourth place in the AL East with the Red Sox. Both teams are 38-35 and are two games behind the third place Tampa Bay Rays.

It was obvious from the start that Doubront didn’t have the same stuff that had helped him to eight wins on the season. He allowed the first four batters of the game to reach although one was on Will Middlebrooks error. But three of those four scored with Edwin Encarnacion, the man who drove in the third run of the game after Colby Rasmus had homered two batters before him, came around to score later in the 1st.

Doubront gave up another run in the 2nd inning when Rasmus drove in his third run of the game with a single. After getting Jose Bautista to ground into an inning-ending double play that inning, Doubront settled down allowing two hits and a walk until the 6th. In that inning, he had gotten the first two outs before Ben Francisco doubled for the second time in the game. J.P. Arencibia followed that with a two-run moon shot that put the Jays out front for good at 7-5.

Certainly not the best effort from Doubront on the night but given how he’s pitched this season, I’m sure this was just an aberration. He’s been probably the most consistent starter up to this point for the Red Sox this season. I’d expect him to make the adjustments from this start and be much better the next time on the bump.

Doubront should thank the offense for keeping the game close.

After he had given up those four runs in the 1st, David Ortiz got two of them back with a long two-run homer over the Red Sox bullpen that brought in Dustin Pedroia who had tripled. They then put together a two-out rally in the 3rd that narrowed the gap to 5-4.

The Red Sox wasted no time in the 4th inning tying the game up as Cody Ross led off with a double and came in to score on a Ryan Kalish single. But that would the last time the Red Sox would score until Big Papi’s second homer of the game in the 8th.

Whether or not this was just a hangover effect from Sunday’s events remains to be seen. Hopefully it was just one of those nights and the Red Sox continue this good stretch of baseball that pulled them back over the .500 mark. They still have two more games against the Jays before making a trip to the left coast.

Two wins would go a long way right given how competitive this AL East is and probably will be for the rest of the season.

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 belted by Jays [boston globe]

Certainly Youk was unique [boston globe]

The hot corner is now all his [boston globe]

Ortiz now the last link left [boston globe]

Sox can’t recover [boston herald]

Brent Lillibridge game to play anywhere [boston herald]

No end in sight to David Ortiz’ power surge [boston herald]

A need for right blend [boston herald]

David Ortiz deals with reality [boston herald]

Kevin Youkilis has answers [boston herald]

Doubront, Sox tagged by Jays in rain-soaked Fenway, 9-6 [csn new england]

Farrell: Short, frequent stints allowed Bard to succeed [csn new england]

Obama thanks Boston for trading Youkilis to White Sox [csn new england]

Doubront looks to move forward after disappointing start [csn new england]

Youk: ‘Seems like I can’t escape the Red Sox’ [csn new england]

State of the Sox: Our weekly Red Sox notebook [csn new england]

Youk: I can’t thank Boston fans enough [espn boston]

Ortiz has 20 HRs, on rare pace for his age [espn boston]

Rapid Reaction: Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 6 [espn boston]

Will Middlebrooks now in clear at third for Boston Red Sox [espn boston]

SOSH charity fundraiser under way [extra bases]

Closing Time: Felix Doubront shelled as Red Sox fall to Blue Jays [full count]

Kevin Youkilis on trade uncertainty: ‘It was not an easy time for me’ [full count]

Will Middlebrooks Now Has Peace of Mind With Consistent Playing Time At Third Base [nesn.com]

Jackie Bradley Jr. Quickly Becoming One of the Most Dynamic Prospects in Baseball (Video) [nesn.com]

David Ortiz to Release New Brand of Health-Conscious Big Papi’s Kitchen Salsa (Photo) [nesn.com]

Bobby Valentine Says Adrian Gonzalez Will Play Outfield Again in World Series [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Continues to Set Pace for Red Sox, Team Must Follow Slugger’s Example to Catch Fire [nesn.com]

Josh Beckett Nears Return From Disabled List, Could Pitch For Red Sox On Friday [nesn.com]

Felix Doubront Learning to Adapt to Increased Workload Through June Struggles [nesn.com]

Adrian Gonzalez Must Regain Power Stroke to Form Two-Headed Monster With David Ortiz [nesn.com]

Cody Ross Makes Sure to Keep Active Even When Sidelined With Foot Injury [nesn.com]

Buchholz still ailing, but Beckett nears return [redsox.com]

Lillibridge turns page, eager to contribute in Boston [redsox.com]

As he defies age and history, can David Ortiz hit 500 homers? [alex speier – weei.com]

Kevin Youkilis: One of the 25, one of a kind [touching all the bases]

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

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun websites.

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

photo credit: 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

Nick Williams makes CFPA Watch List [chip malafronte – new haven register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Omar Calhoun: ‘I Was With UConn at Beginning, I’m Going to End Up With Them, Too’ (w/video) [david borges – new haven register]

Andre Drummond on Kings Workout [uconn huskies basketball]

Mock NBA Drafts Have Drummond, Lamb Going Early [hartford courant]

NBA Draft: UConn’s Jeremy Lamb Projected To Go In Top 15 [hartford courant]

Recruit Omar Calhoun already feels part of Huskies’ family [new haven register]

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

If Marlon Byrd wants to play in the big leagues again this year, he’ll now have to wait until August 20th to do. The reason why is that MLB has announced that Byrd was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance.

That banned substance is reportedly Tamoxifen.

According to the National Cancer Institute, Tamoxifen is used to block the production of estrogen in breast cancer patients. It can also be used during cycles of steroids, hence why it’s banned by MLB.

Byrd, who was designated for assignment by the Red Sox earlier this month, is currently a free agent. Since no one picked him up during waivers, the Red Sox are currently paying the remaining $6.5 million on his contract. But with the suspension for 50 games, the Red Sox will save a little money.

He was acquired from the Chicago Cubs on April 21st for Michael Bowden and a player to be named later who turned out to be Hunter Cervenka.

After starting out the season 3-for-43 with the Cubbies, Byrd hit .270 (27-for-100) with one home run and seven RBIs in 34 games for the local nine.

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

In essentially what amounted to his first full-time week in the big leagues, Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks was named the American League Player of the Week for the week ending June 24th.

Here’s the release from MLB:

Boston Red Sox rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending June 24th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Middlebrooks batted .625 (10-for-16) with three doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and six runs scored in six games. Among A.L. leaders, the 23-year-old finished tops in batting average, slugging percentage (1.375), on-base percentage (.632) and total bases (22), tied for second in doubles and extra-base hits (6) and tied for fourth in hits and homers.

In an Interleague matchup with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, the rookie from Greenville, Texas singled, scored a run and provided the Red Sox with an insurance run with an RBI-double in the sixth inning in Boston’s 7-5 win. After launching a two-run homer in his only plate appearance off the bench in a 15-5 Boston victory on Wednesday, Middlebrooks provided plenty of heroics on Thursday with a two-run blast to spark a three-run eighth inning as Boston stormed back to defeat Miami, 6-5, for their fifth straight win overall. Middlebrooks finished 3-for-4 on the night, which included a pair of run-scoring singles earlier in the contest. Thursday’s three-game sweep at home gave Boston their first sweep of that length or more at Fenway since July 22-24, 2011. On Saturday, Boston’s fifth-round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Liberty-Eylau High School in Texarkana, Texas went 3-for-4 with a single, double, home run and two RBI for his fourth three-hit game of the season as the Red Sox doubled up the Atlanta Braves, 8-4. After finishing a triple shy of the cycle, Middlebrooks boosted his season average to .331 with nine homers and 33 RBI and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, became just the fifth player since 1920 (when Baseball began tracking RBI as an official statistic) – and the first since Albert Pujols in 2001 – to reach those minimums in his first 40 career games. Since making his Major League debut on May 2nd, Middlebrooks is batting .326 (47-for-144) with 10 doubles, nine home runs, 34 RBI and 23 runs scored in 41 games. He leads all A.L. rookies in homers and RBI, and he is third in the league in hits, runs and doubles.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Middlebrooks’ Red Sox teammate Daniel Nava (.500, 11 H, 3 2B); New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano (.286, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R); Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Mike Trout (.440, 11 H, 8 R, 5 SB); and Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson (CG, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 K vs. CIN on June 20th).

In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Will Middlebrooks will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

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

photo credit: getty images

The final update for the 2012 MLB AL All-Star balloting came out on Monday and unless a major miracle happens before voting ends on Thursday night at 11:59 p.m., the only member of the Boston Red Sox that will start the All-Star Game is David Ortiz at DH.

A lot can happen over the next three and a half days but unless Michael Young of the Texas Rangers can make up over 600,000 votes, Big Papi will get the start.

The only other member of the Red Sox in the top five of the voting totals at their position is Dustin Pedroia who is behind the second base leader Robinson Cano by 1.9 million votes. So it’s safe to say, Pedroia won’t catch him.

Jacoby Ellsbury, despite missing most of the season, is 15th in the outfield voting totals, two million votes behind third place in Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays.

So while we might not be able to get anyone else into the AL starting lineup, let’s make sure Big Papi starts in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game.

To see the full results for the American League, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR VOTING TOTALS

FIRST BASE

• Prince Fielder, Tigers: 2,825,532
• Paul Konerko, White Sox: 2,261,388
• Mark Teixeira, Yankees: 1,863,873
• Mitch Moreland, Rangers: 1,711,659
• Albert Pujols, Angels: 1,429,154

SECOND BASE

• Robinson Cano, Yankees: 3,559,290
• Ian Kinsler, Rangers: 3,462,367
• Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: 1,666,282
• Jason Kipnis, Indians: 852,325
• Robert Andino, Orioles: 714,560

THIRD BASE

• Adrian Beltre, Rangers: 3,073,541
• Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: 2,692,047
• Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: 1,748,534
• Evan Longoria, Rays: 1,688,509
• Mike Moustakas, Royals: 968,068

SHORTSTOP

• Derek Jeter, Yankees: 4,407,982
• Elvis Andrus, Rangers: 2,764,888
• J.J. Hardy, Orioles: 1,331,927
• Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians: 1,063,137
• Alcides Escobar, Royals: 880,111

CATCHER

• Mike Napoli, Rangers: 3,008,228
• Joe Mauer, Twins: 1,772,228
• Matt Wieters, Orioles: 1,623,459
• A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox: 1,416,594
• Russell Martin, Yankees: 1,156,820

DESIGNATED HITTER

• David Ortiz, Red Sox: 3,128,711
• Michael Young, Rangers: 2,564,572
• Adam Dunn, White Sox: 1,436,643
• Raul Ibañez, Yankees: 1,429,894
• Billy Butler, Royals: 1,105,870

OUTFIELD

• Josh Hamilton, Rangers: 7,310,824
• Curtis Granderson, Yankees: 3,812,339
• Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 2,773,442
• Nelson Cruz, Rangers: 2,681,019
• Adam Jones, Orioles: 2,633,259
• David Murphy, Rangers: 1,738,805
• Nick Swisher, Yankees: 1,529,349
• Austin Jackson, Tigers: 1,212,881
• Jeff Francoeur, Royals: 1,183,817
• Brett Gardner, Yankees: 1,031,382
• Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners: 1,015,482
• Alex Gordon, Royals: 901,595
• Nick Markakis, Orioles: 888,183
• B.J. Upton, Rays: 881,785
• Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox: 775,261

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

After taking two-of-three from the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox will finish up their nine-game homestand tonight. They’ll begin with the first of a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays at historic Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Rogers SportsNet or TVA Sports (French language).  If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Felix Doubront toes the rubber for the 15th time this season as he looks to keep the Red Sox from going back into the basement of the AL East. In his previous 14 starts, Doubront is 8-3 with a 4.31 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Blue Jays this season and is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA (4 ER/11.1 IP). Overall in his career, he’s made seven appearances (two starts) and is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA. Three of those appearances have come at the Fens where he has no record and a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/3.1 IP).

Henderson Alvarez is also making his 15th start of the 2012 season. In his previous 14 starts, Alvarez is 3-6 with a 4.30 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Red Sox this season and is 0-1 with a 3.65 ERA (5 ER/12.1 IP). Overall in his career, he’s made three starts against the Red Sox and is 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA (5 ER/18.1 IP). Tonight marks his first career start at the Fens.

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

Here are today’s lineups:

37-35		38-34
1. Brett Lawrie	3B	1. Daniel Nava	LF
2. Colby Rasmus	CF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Jose Bautista	RF	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Edwin Encarnacion	1B	4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
5. Kelly Johnson	2B	5. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
6. Yunel Escobar	SS	6. Will Middlebrooks	3B
7. Rajai Davis	LF	7. Cody Ross	RF
8. Ben Francisco	DH	8. Ryan Kalish	CF
9. J.P. Arencibia	C	9. Nick Punto	SS
Henderson Alvarez	SP	Felix Doubront	SP

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

NOTES:

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

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

Cody Ross Diary: Back in the swing [cody ross – espn boston]

Examining what the Red Sox acquired in the Kevin Youkilis trade [clubhouse insider]

Josh Beckett nearing a return [clubhouse insider]

Bobby V: Clay Buchholz remains hospitalized with stomach illness [clubhouse insider]

Youkilis defined by sweat he gave [csn new england]

Youkilis’s brother slams Boston on Twitter [csn new england]

Byrd suspended 50 games; apologizes for positive PED test [csn new england]

The Middlebrooks Era begins at Fenway [csn new england]

Lillibridge getting settled in his No. 23 Red Sox jersey [csn new england]

Middlebrooks: ‘Honor’ to learn from Youk [espn boston]

Power Rankings: Red Sox jump to 10th [espn boston]

Lillibridge surprised but excited to be here [espn boston]

Cherington: Sox knew nothing of Byrd test [espn boston]

Buchholz stable, but still in hospital [espn boston]

Youk passes on Bobby V: ‘We’re past that’ [espn boston]

Youkilis takes on the Yankees this weekend [extra bases]

Pregame Red Sox-Blue Jays notes from Fenway Park [extra bases]

Ben Cherington on D&C: Kevin Youkilis trade ‘best for everyone’ [full count]

Reaction from Chicago on acquistion of Kevin Youkilis [full count]

Red Sox pregame notes: Josh Beckett getting closer; Clay Buchholz still seeking diagnosis; Brent Lillibridge welcomed by his sisters [full count]

Red Sox nation says good-bye to Kevin Youkilis [grantland]

Youkilis move a good first step [tony massarotti – boston globe]

Kevin Youkilis’ Final At-Bat Embodies His Unconventional Legacy, Success in Boston [nesn.com]

Young White Sox Fan Cries, Goes Viral Upon Hearing Brent Lillibridge Was Traded for Kevin Youkilis (Video) [nesn.com]

Vote: Will Kevin Youkilis or Will Middlebrooks Have the Better MLB Career? [nesn.com]

Ben Cherington Says Trading Kevin Youkilis to White Sox Was ‘Best for Everyone’ [nesn.com]

Will Kevin Youkilis and the Chicago White Sox Win the AL Central Division? [nesn.com]

Will Middlebrooks Similar to Dean Palmer, According to Bobby Valentine [nesn.com]

Marlon Byrd’s Suspension Puts Outfielder’s Baseball Career Very Much in Jeopardy [nesn.com]

Brent Lillibridge Brings Versatile Style to Boston After Playing Every Position Except Pitcher, Catcher [nesn.com]

Red Sox’ Fortunes Will Continue to Improve Once Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury Come off Disabled List [don orsillo – nesn.com]

Buchholz ‘hopefully will be going home soon’ from hospital [projo sox blog]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Blue Jays and Moving On [projo sox blog]

Youkilis passing reins to Middlebrooks part of baseball circle of life [projo sox blog]

Beckett throws bullpen, could be activated this week [projo sox blog]

Big moments punctuated Youk’s time in Boston [redsox.com]

Red Sox eye onslaught for Doubront vs. Jays [redsox.com]

Will Middlebrooks Named AL Player of the Week [sox & dawgs]

Marlon Byrd Suspended 50 Games For PED’s [sox & dawgs]

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

photo credits: getty images, getty images

On a day where Cody Ross hit two home runs to help the Boston Red Sox to a 9-4 win over the Atlanta Braves, you would think that was the biggest story of the day. Or that Aaron Cook had a serviceable outing and the bullpen picked him up with four solid innings.

Nope, the big story of the day was the fact it was the last game that Kevin Youkilis played in a Red Sox uniform.

With his playing time limited due to the emergence of Will Middlebrooks and the outfield getting healthy again, something had to be done by the front office. While we had all thought something was going to happen, I don’t think any of us wanted to believe it.

Youk’s been a mainstay in the Red Sox lineup since 2006 but spent 2004 and 2005 with the Red Sox as well. While he didn’t play in the 2004 World Series, he did play in the ALDS that year. When the Red Sox acquired Mike Lowell before the 2006 season, Youk moved from third base to first. In his second year at first base, he won the Gold Glove while helping the Red Sox to their second World Series title just three seasons after winning their first in 2004.

He made the All-Star team three times during his tenure in Boston, 2008, 2009 and last year in 2011.

But with his declining health and Middlebrooks coming along a year earlier than most projected, Youk’s time was up in a Red Sox uniform. When this weekend series with the Braves started, it wasn’t if he was going to be traded, it was when would he be.

Sensing it might be the last time Youk played for the Red Sox, the Fenway Park faithful rewarded his years of service and hard work with a standing ovation in his first plate appearance in the 2nd inning. He would end up reaching on an infield single off the leg of Braves starter Mike Minor.

His final at-bat in a Red Sox uniform probably won’t be remembered entirely for hitting an RBI triple. It will be remembered for the ovation he received from that same faithful crowd who had chanted “YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUK” nine seasons.

He was greeted by his teammates who each took a turn hugging him. And the antagonist of this situation, the man who didn’t play him for the past three games before yesterday, Bobby Valentine, was the one who prodded him to come back out of the dugout for a curtain call.

It was a classy move by Valentine, a baseball man who gets how people felt about Youk here in Red Sox Nation.

It’s hard to say good bye to someone who has meant so much to this group of fans. What do you say?

The only thing I can think of is, thanks Youk for everything you have done. You were a class act the whole way and played the game the way it was meant to be played. And that’s hard and with integrity.

It’s going to be weird seeing him play for another team. It’ll be even stranger seeing him play at Fenway Park in another uniform. But the topper of it all is the fact that we won’t have to wait until next season for that to happen.

That moment will come when the Red Sox return from the All-Star break to host the Chicago White Sox, Youk’s new team, for four games. You can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll be hearing “YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUK” chants all night long.

And if I were you, I’d have a tissue handy for the first time he comes to the plate during the series. Because you know it’s going to be a special moment.

So I’ll leave with you this.

It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later Youk. We’ll miss you and be easy on us when we play you. But we wish you the best of luck with the White Sox.

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

Sox take care of business [boston globe]

He had critics, but many will miss ‘Youk’ [boston globe]

It’s a nice sendoff for Youkilis [boston globe]

Buchholz latest to join DL [boston globe]

Cody Ross two good in Red Sox win over Braves [boston herald]

Kevin Youkilis changes Sox [boston herald]

Kevin Youkilis trade makes sense for everyone [boston herald]

Will Middlebrooks takes torch at 3rd [boston herald]

Clay Buchholz to DL [boston herald]

David Ortiz takes cut at new fresh salsa [boston herald]

What we learned on Kevin Youkilis’ last day as a Red Sox [rob bradford -weei.com]

Ross, Cook power Red Sox past Braves in Youkilis’ send-off, 9-4 [csn new england]

Ross swinging hot bat after two homers on Sunday [csn new england]

Cook uses right ingredients in second start for Sox [csn new england]

CSN Chicago: What a steal . . . for the White Sox [csn new england]

Punto, Red Sox react to Youkilis trade [csn new england]

Youk leaves a winning legacy [csn new england]

Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 9, Braves 4 [espn boston]

GM: Middlebrooks needs to be in lineup [espn boston]

Fans, teammates embrace Youkilis [espn boston]

Valentine: Cook ‘more than I was hoping for’ [espn boston]

Video: Youkilis changes Sox [espn boston]

Kevin Youkilis’ time with Boston Red Sox simply had run out [espn boston]

What the Red Sox got for Youk: A look at Zach Stewart and Brent Lillibridge [full count]

Kevin Youkilis Leaves Red Sox in Trade to Chicago White Sox [nesn.com]

Dustin Pedroia, Cody Ross Saddened by the Departure of Kevin Youkilis to Chicago [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis’ Final At-Bat Embodies His Unconventional Legacy, Success in Boston [nesn.com]

Dustin Pedroia Tells Kevin Youkilis He Loves Him, Man (Video) [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis Given His Due by Ben Cherington After Trade to White Sox (Video) [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis’ Hard-Nosed Play Emblamatic of Much More Beyond Baseball [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis Trade Ultimately Improves Red Sox Lineup, Defines Roles for Starters [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis’ Departure Leaves David Ortiz as Lone Member of 2004 World Series Team [nesn.com]

Kevin Youkilis Will Have to Make Some Changes as He Heads to Chicago White Sox [nesn.com]

McClure returns, resumes pitching coach duties [redsox.com]

Youkilis trade works for all involved parties [redsox.com]

Red Sox players say Youkilis will be missed [redsox.com]

Hot corner heir: Middlebrooks handed reins [redsox.com]

In Youk’s swan song, Ross powers Red Sox [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 Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Macon Telegraph websites. Also be sure to check out our Bloguin brother Chop-N-Change for all of your Braves needs.

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

photo credit: Getty Images