While the Boston Red Sox were enjoying a day off in the cold New England weather on Monday, the baseball operations people were busy trying to restock the minor league system.

The Red Sox held three picks on the first night of the 2012 MLB Draft and used them to draft three college players. They used their first pick to draft SS Deven Marrero, then took LHP Brian Johnson with their next pick. Their final pick of the night was RHP Pat Light. You can read more about them by clicking the link above.

The Red Sox will enter tonight’s three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles trailing them by two games for second place in the AL East. The Orioles are just a game back of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place. The local nine is tied in last place with the Toronto Blue Jays and both are 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees.

As you can see the AL East is up for grabs right now.

Right now, the Red Sox need to continue to get great starting pitching as well as the help the bullpen has been providing. For the most part lately, the offense has been outstanding and if that continues, the Red Sox will be in good shape.

Obviously something needs to be done with Daniel Bard after his sucktastic performance on Sunday. Whether it be banishment back to the bullpen, a start skipped or a trip to the minor leagues to work on his mechanics, they need to figure things out quickly with Bard.

A trip to the minors might not happen right away with their being really no one to replace him in the rotation.

Daisuke Matsuzaka isn’t quite ready yet in his second rehab assignment and the minor league pitching depth took a hit yesterday when Ross Ohlendorf was signed by the San Diego Padres to a major league contract. Ohlendorf had been 4-3 with a 4.61 ERA in 10 starts for the PawSox.

The Red Sox will also have to deal with interleague play starting up on Friday night. After these three games with the O’s, the next 15 games they’ll play will be against the NL. Fortunately, only six of those 15 games will be in NL parks meaning that Bobby Valentine will only have to figure out what to do with David Ortiz for six games.

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.

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Stepping up behind the plate [Boston Globe]

Shortstop Marrero top pick [Boston Globe]

Charles Steinberg is the maestro of Red Sox magic [Boston Globe]

Bard no big deal [Boston Herald]

Sox pick another Arizona State shortstop [Boston Herald]

Two styles of skippers [Boston Herald]

DL decision due for Sox [Boston Herald]

Source: Pedroia will return to lineup Tuesday [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Red Sox happy with first three picks in MLB Draft [CSN New England]

Assessing first three draft picks by Sox [ESPN Boston]

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington, scouting director Amiel Sawdaye break down draftees [Full Count]

Bobby Valentine Knows Importance of Breaking Bad Habits Early [NESN.com]

A year later, Barnes proving Sox right [RedSox.com]

Papelbon compensation nets two pitchers [RedSox.com]

‘Devils up the middle’ : Sox first-rounder Deven Marrero hopes for fast track to play with Dustin Pedroia [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

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

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

photo credit: Reuters Pictures

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.

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UConn Football links

Props To UConn Sticking To Its Guns Regarding Michigan [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

More bus trips to Maryland [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

Big East football: Ranking the non-conference schedules [The Oklahoman]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Dream Sign Jess Moore; Waive Courtney Paris [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

CPTV [And CPTVSports] Working To Rebound [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Johnson Introduced At Wisconsin [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Geno Auriemma, Chris Dailey to play in Travelers Pro-Am [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Florida Gulf Coast completes Paradise Jam field [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Recruit Courtney Ekmark Pays Visit East, Talks About Committing To UConn [Hartford Courant]

Maya Moore Owed Money [Seattle Times]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Recruiting Spotlight: Ahmed Hill [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

Jeremy Lamb Interview at Hornets Workout [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

You thought Syracuse’s underwear was cool? Well here’s your official UConn Huskies thong [The UConn Blog]

M. Track. Jake Waruch Set For 2012 Outdoor NCAA Championships [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Track. Flowers & Wilson Head To 2012 Outdoor NCAA Championships [UConnHuskies.com]

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The Boston Red Sox had three selections on the first night of the 2012 MLB Draft and used them to take three college players. Two of the picks they had (No. 31 and No. 37) came as compensation for the Philadelphia Phillies signing the local nine’s former closer Jonathan Papelbon. The No. 24 pick was their own.

With their first pick, No. 24 overall, the Red Sox took Arizona State Sun Devils shortstop Deven Marrero. With the final pick of the first round, No. 31 overall, the Red Sox took Florida Gators left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson. And with their last pick of the first round compensatory picks (No. 37 overall), the Red Sox took Monmouth Hawks right-handed pitcher Pat Light.

Here’s what MLB.com had to say about Marrero:

Coming from high school powerhouse American Heritage High School in Florida (alma mater of Eric Hosmer, among others) and the younger brother of Nationals’ first-rounder Chris, Marrero has been on radars for quite some time. Three years at ASU certainly has done nothing to hurt his prospect status as he might be the top position player selected in June. Marrero’s defensive abilities are what jump out first as there is no question he will be a shortstop at the next level. He’ll be plus on that side of the ball — arm, hands and range — and it plays up even more because of his baseball instincts. He’s not glove only, though, and he’s improved since coming out of high school when his bat was somewhat in question. Marrero is a line-drive gap hitter, with the potential to develop some power in the future. While he’s only an average runner, those instincts help him be an excellent baserunner.While his swing has been long in the past and his pitch selection isn’t always top notch, it’s not too much of a cause for concern. He has the chance to be a very good every-day shortstop. If the bat develops even more, he could be an impact player in the big leagues.

Here’s what MLB.com had to say about Johnson:

Johnson has gotten looks as both a hitter and a pitcher with Florida and while he can hit a little, most feel he’ll pitch at the next level.The left-hander has four pitches he can throw for strikes. His fastball sits mostly in the average range, though he can run it up to 92 mph, with pretty good sink to the arm side. His slider is his out pitch and should be an above-average offering in the big leagues. His changeup, which he doesn’t always use, has the chance to be at least above-average.Johnson gets high marks for his mound presence and willingness to go right after hitters. College lefties are always a hot commodity and Johnson could be the first in this class to go off the board.

Here’s what MLB.com had to say about Light:

It’s been a while since the New Jersey college scene provided any top-notch Draft talent, but that will change in 2012, thanks to this big right-handed pitcher. The Monmouth product looks the part, with a long, lean frame, an ideal pitcher’s body. He has the stuff to match the frame, too. Light’s fastball sits in the 92-93 mph range, but he can reach back for a 95-96 mph when he needs to. The heater has pretty good movement, and with his downhill plane and arm angle, there’s the potential for him to sink the ball more in the future. His breaking ball is a little slurvy and will need to be tightened up a bit, but it has the potential to be at least a solid average pitch. He uses a split grip for his changeup, and it lags behind. While Light’s overall command right now isn’t great, it shouldn’t be an issue going forward, and he’s fearless on the mound. If he can improve those secondary offerings, Light has the chance to be an excellent starting pitching prospect. If not, he has the stuff and mentality to succeed in a bullpen as well.

Rounds 2-15 of the 2012 MLB Draft will continue on Tuesday at noon with rounds 16-40 starting Wednesday at noon.

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

Mom, make some room in the basement because we’re moving back in, temporarily we hope.

With Daniel Bard unable to hit the broadside of a barn on Sunday afternoon and his Boston Red Sox offense unable to do much against rookie Drew Hutchison, the Toronto Blue Jays were able to win 5-1. The win by the Blue Jays moves them back into a tie for last in the AL East.

Bard’s progression as a starter took a major blow yesterday.

In previous starts, he’s had trouble with his mechanics, mostly with his fastball. His control was so bad that he could have really hurt someone. He hit two Blue Jays batters and even though he wasn’t trying to hit them, he put his own hitters in a precarious position.

The one hitter who bore the brunt of it was Kevin Youkilis who got hit by Drew Hutchison in the shoulder. Youk had no problem with getting hit because of what happened with Bard’s wildness but he did take exception to being hit in the shoulder. He yelled out to Hutchison and Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia to hit him in the butt.

When Bard would come out of the bullpen, if he was having mechanical problems, he could work his way through them since it was likely he’d be out there for an inning. But as a starter he hasn’t had that luxury. A few starts back when he had the same problem, he decided that he’d pitch out of the stretch but that was only a temporary solution to a bigger problem.

Bard does have an upside as a starter. He has shown it at times. But with these mechanical problems, it can also become a mental thing. And that will make the battle all the much harder.

Now, Bard could find himself back in the bullpen or in Triple-A to figure things out. Something has to be done as they can’t really allow Bard to go back out there and pitch until he has things figured out. The day off today could also allow Bobby Valentine to skip a start for Bard and keep the rotation in order for now.

The bullpen picked up Bard, who only lasted 1.2 innings.

Franklin Morales went 4.1 innings, allowing two hits while striking out four. Scott Atchison went an inning giving up a hit with one strikeout. Rich Hill also went an inning allowing two hits while striking out one.

The offense wasn’t able to do much of anything against Jays starter Hutchison. The only run they would get would come off the bat of Kelly Shoppach who hit a solo home run. Mike Aviles did have two of the six hits the Sox had on the afternoon.

It was a rough day all around but hopefully just a bump in the road for the Red Sox.

They are off today so we’ll be back in a short while with the pitching matchups for the series with the Baltimore Orioles. 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.

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Bard just can’t locate control in loss to Jays [Boston Globe]

Morales earns a bullpen ‘save’ [Boston Globe]

Missing the target [Boston Globe]

Daniel Bard’s not a relief [Boston Herald]

New rules to cost sox draft leverage [Boston Herald]

Scott Podsednik worthy of long term [Boston Herald]

Save goes to Franklin Morales [Boston Herald]

Sitting down Daniel Bard not a wild idea [Boston Herald]

Why the Red Sox are still on the hunt for starting pitching [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Bard implosion leads to Red Sox loss to Jays, 5-1 [CSN New England]

Red Sox to use off-day to mull roster decisions [CSN New England]

Morales saves Red Sox bullpen with long outing [CSN New England]

Bard performance resurrects old bullpen debate [CSN New England]

Rapid reaction: Blue Jays 5, Sox 1 [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox starter Daniel Bard is desperate for answers [ESPN Boston]

This year’s Daniel Bard wishes he could find last year’s Daniel Bard [Full Count]

Report: Kevin Youkilis Likely to Land With Phillies, Dodgers or Diamondbacks If Traded [NESN.com]

Daniel Bard’s Control Issues Could Signal End of Starting Experiment, Open Rotation Spot for Daisuke Matsuzaka [NESN.com]

Ben Cherington, Amiel Sawdaye ‘Encouraged’ By Development of 2011 Draftees Matt Barnes, Jackie Bradley [NESN.com]

Daniel Bard Watches Tape Immediately After Rough Start Versus Blue Jays (Video) [NESN.com]

Dustin Pedroia Taking Risk By Trying Play With Torn Adductor in Thumb, But Has Proven to Have High Pain Threshold [NESN.com]

Bobby Valentine Downplays Daniel Bard’s Struggles as Fans Look to Return of Daisuke Matsuzaka [NESN.com]

Pedroia expects to be back in lineup Tuesday [RedSox.com]

Valentine keeps Nava in lineup for finale [RedSox.com]

Roster decisions looming for Red Sox [RedSox.com]

Candid interview with Middlebrooks [RedSox.com]

Bard takes a step back in loss to Blue Jays [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, 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

Other UConn related links

The ten most embarrassing things you can buy in UConn’s online store [The UConn Blog]

Baseball. Springer’s progression in minor leagues is care-free [Houston Chronicle]

PSAL track & field outdoor championship notebook: UConn-commit Rhodes bests Livingston, Cougars’ Baird completes sprint triple [NY Post]

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

Mom, pack up our stuff from the basement. We’re moving out, hopefully for good on our way to a higher place in the brick house that is called the AL East.

That’s right folks, after beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 on Saturday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox are no longer in place. That belongs to the Jays now. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are just a half game out of third and just two games out of first.

So how did the Red Sox get out of the basement on Saturday afternoon? They did it behind the bat of oft-used Nick Punto and their most consistent starter all season, Felix Doubront.

Punto has rarely seen the field for the Red Sox this season but with Dustin Pedroia still out with the thumb injury, Punto has been playing second base. While his defense has been good, his bat hasn’t helped out at all. But on Saturday afternoon north of the border, his bat got the job done.

His first at-bat of the afternoon was good for an RBI double that brought in the second run of the game for the Red Sox. He singled in the 7th and his third hit of the game was a solo home run that gave the visiting nine a little breathing room.

Daniel Nava also contributed offensively as he had two-run single in 2nd gave the Red Sox a 4-0 lead. Will Middlebrooks had made it 1-0 with an RBI single earlier in the inning.

Honestly Doubront wasn’t at his best on Saturday afternoon but made adjustments that allowed him to attack the Jays hitters. He did give up solo home runs to Jeff Mathis and Jose Bautista.

He was able to work out of jams when he needed to. He tied his season long high of 6.1 innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven. With the win, he improves to 6-2 on the season and is 5-1 over his last six starts.

Given that Doubront wasn’t on the radar until a start against the Yankees during Grapefruit League action, you probably wouldn’t expect this from him. But he’s exceeded the expectations of everyone. As long as he goes out and pitches like he did on Saturday, good things will be ahead for him and the Red Sox.

Now all the eyes of Red Sox Nation will be on Daniel Bard as he looks to keep the Red Sox from having to move back into the basement.

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.

After winning sealing the series with a 7-4 win, the Boston Red Sox look for a sweep of the three-game series this afternoon against the the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 p.m. and the game 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 SportsNet. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Daniel Bard looks to keep the Red Sox out of the basement in his 11th appearance (10th start) of 2012. In his previous 10 appearances (nine starts), Bard is 5-5 with a 4.56 ERA. Bard took the loss in his only start against the Blue Jays this season after allowing five runs in five innings back on April 10th. Bard has made 22 career appearances (one start) against the Jays and is 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA. 12 of those appearances (one start) have come at Rogers Centre where he is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA.

Rookie Drew Hutchison makes his ninth start of 2012 for the Blue Jays. In his previous eight starts, Hutchison is 4-2 with a 4.84 ERA. This afternoon’s start marks his first career start and appearance against the Red Sox.

Here are today’s lineups:

28-25		27-26
1. Scott Podsednik	CF	1. Kelly Johnson	2B
2. Daniel Nava	LF	2. Yunel Escobar	SS
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Jose Bautista	RF
4. David Ortiz	DH	4. Edwin Encarnacion	DH
5. Kevin Youkilis	3B	5. David Cooper	1B
6. Ryan Sweeney	RF	6. Brett Lawrie	3B
7. Mike Aviles	SS	7. Colby Rasmus	CF
8. Nick Punto	2B	8. J.P. Arencibia	C
9. Kelly Shoppach	C	9. Rajai Davis	LF
Daniel Bard	SP	Drew Hutchison	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

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Felix Doubront helps Red Sox climb out of last place [Boston Globe]

As baseball trade deadline nears, buyers and sellers will be sorted out [Boston Globe]

Bobby Valentine excels at running of the bullpen with Red Sox [Boston Globe]

Dustin Pedroia may return Tuesday for Red Sox [Boston Globe]

For starters, Felix wins [Boston Herald]

Thumb’s up for Dustin Pedroia return to field [Boston Herald]

No 2nd guessing Nick Punto [Boston Herald]

Kevin Youkilis too good to give away [Boston Herald]

Valentine: No sense sitting Nava [Clubhouse Insider]

Punto, Red Sox beat Blue Jays 7-4 [CSN New England]

Aviles gives Sox a scare [CSN New England]

Extra works pays off for Punto [CSN New England]

Doubront remains most reliable starter [CSN New England]

Notes: Pedroia to receive treatment Monday [CSN New England]

Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 4 [ESPN Boston]

Sox answer Punto’s breakout with silence [ESPN Boston]

Doubront continues to exceed expectations [ESPN Boston]

Brett Lawrie of the Toronto Blue Jays sprints from mall after shots fired [ESPN Boston]

Pedroia still out but on standby [ESPN Boston]

Phillies, Diamondbacks watching Youkilis [Extra Bases]

Closing Time: Nick Punto’s bat, Felix Doubront’s arm carry Red Sox out of last-place [Full Count]

Félix Doubront Talks Pitching Mechanics, Mound Mindset After Win Over Blue Jays (Video) [NESN.com]

Red Sox Succeed While Turning to Back End of Roster, Don’t Sweat Lineup Card [NESN.com]

Daniel Nava Heats Up Against Blue Jays, Leads Red Sox After Call-Up [NESN.com]

Ben Cherington ‘Bets There’s A Big Leaguer’ in New England, Hopes to Snag Sleeper in MLB Draft [NESN.com]

Major League Baseball Draft Has New Rules, New Talent This Year [NESN.com]

They’re out of the woods, they’re out of the dark [Projo Sox Blog]

Prior trying to be latest feel-good story [RedSox.com]

Pedroia takes big step toward return to lineup [RedSox.com]

Red-hot Nava stays in, will rest on Sunday [RedSox.com]

Red Sox can sweep if Bard can solve Jays [RedSox.com]

Draft Special: Q&A with Gavin Cecchini [SoxProspects.com]

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

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

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

photo credits: Getty Images, AP Photo, 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

Some Memorable Moments In The History Of UConn’s Memorial Stadium [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Courtney Ekmark And The Dead Skunk [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Hectic summer for Breanna Stewart [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Courtney Ekmark Commits To UConn After Series Of Mishaps [Hartford Courant]

Sky’s the limit for Breanna Stewart [New Haven Register]

Maya Moore’s return home is anything but easy [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Recruiting Spotlight: Kahari Beaufort [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

NBA Teams Weigh Taking A Chance On Drummond [Hartford Courant]

UConn AD Warde Manuel: No Doubt Calhoun Coming Back [Hartford Courant]

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