Before the first game of Wednesday night’s Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first game of their ALDS, MLB and TBS announced the game times for Games 3, 4 and 5.

Sunday’s Game 3 in Boston at Fenway Park will get underway at 12:07 p.m. on TBS. If needed, Game 4 will start at 8:37 p.m. on Monday night unless the Yankees have finished off the Twins. If that is the case, then it would be at 7:37 p.m.

If Game 5 is needed, then the game would begin at 9:37 p.m. EDT unless it’s the only game of the night. If that happens, then the game would start at 8:07 p.m.

MLB: Twins and Yankees Series Preview

The New York Yankees went on an unparalleled spending spree last season and it ended up helping them have the best record in baseball at 103-59. Everyone knows that is fine and dandy, however, how New York plays in October will determine if it was money well spent. They’ll start the playoffs as the league favorite at +160 to win the World Series according to Sportsbook.com. They are also a heavy divisional series favorite over the Twins. See all the exciting game, series, and prop options available on the LIVE ODDS page.

The Yankees haven’t played in the World Series since 2001 and haven’t won the Fall Classic since taking home the big trophy in years 1998-2000. Mr. Yankee, Derek Jeter, understands better than anybody why this team could be different.

“We have much better pitching, and this lineup allows everyone to be more aggressive because we have good hitters 1-9.”

New York’s dominance pops up in a couple of different ways. In games decided by two or more runs, they were 62-43. At the new Yankee Stadium they built a 57-24 record and if Minnesota or anyone dares to start a left-hander against them, good luck, with the Bronx Bombers 36-18.

Minnesota will make the unlikely journey to New York riding high. The Twins won what might be the best baseball game anyone will see the rest of the season Tuesday night, taking down Detroit 6-5 in 12 sensational innings.

The Twins are the hottest team remaining, winning 17 of their last 22, including the all important last five in a row. Minnesota will have their work cut out for them since they lost all seven games to the Yankees this season and they have one victory in last 11 tries playing in the Bronx.

The Yankees are easily the biggest favorite to win the four divisional series at -400 and are the odds on favorite at Sportsbook.com to be champions yet again at +160 odds. Let’s see what the Yankees do.

Offensive – American League

Runs scored – Minnesota 4th, New York 1st

Home Runs – Minnesota 9th, New York 1st

Slugging Pct. – Minnesota 7th, New York 1st

Walks – Minnesota 4th, New York 1st

On base Pct. – Minnesota 5th, New York 1st

Pitching & Defense

ERA – Minnesota 11th, New York 4th

Strikeouts  – Minnesota 10th, New York 1st

Walks – Minnesota 1st, New York 11th

On base Pct. – Minnesota 7th, New York 4th

Putouts –  Minnesota 6th,  New York 3rd

Errors – Minnesota T-1st, New York 5th

Continue reading →

It feels weird coming back and not talking entirely about the Boston Red Sox and UConn Huskies but with the MLB Postseason getting underway this afternoon, it’s time to make predictions.

Steve has emailed me his predictions and I’ll offer mine up below as well. So now on to the fun.

Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels

• Steve – Red Sox in 4
• Ian – Red Sox in 5

Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees

• Steve – Yankees in 3
• Ian – Yankees in 4

Colorado Rockies vs Philadelphia Phillies

• Steve – Phillies in 5
• Ian – Rockies in 5

St. Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Dodgers

• Steve – Cardinals in 4
• Ian – Cardinals in 4

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Here is a press release from the Boston Red Sox concerning tickets for the American League Division Series:

Fans will have chance to purchase tickets for possible postseason games at Fenway Park through random drawing.

Registration for a random drawing for the opportunity to purchase tickets for any 2009 Red Sox postseason games that may be played at Fenway Park begins tomorrow, Tuesday, September 15, at 12 noon EDT. Fans may register for the drawing online at www.redsox.com.

The random drawing for tickets to any American League Division Series games that may be played at Fenway Park will take place on Monday, September 21. Fans that are selected for the opportunity to purchase tickets for ALDS games will be notified via e-mail on or about Tuesday, September 22. The e-mail will provide winners with instructions on how to purchase online between 12 noon and 9 p.m. on Friday, September 25.

For fans who do not have internet access, or those not selected in the online random drawing, a limited number of tickets will be set aside for purchase by telephone (while supplies last) beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 25 at (888) RED-SOX6. No tickets will be available at the Fenway Park ticket office.

Fans with disabilities may call (877) RED-SOX9 beginning at noon on Friday, September 25 to purchase accessible seating (while supplies last). Hearing impaired patrons may call the TTY line at (617) 226-6644.

There will be a one-game, two-ticket purchase limit for each winner selected. Ticket prices for the ALDS are $130 for Field Box Seats and Loge Box Seats, $100 for Pavilion Box Seats and Right Field Box Seats, $55 for Grandstand Seats, $35 for Bleacher Seats and $30 for standing room. All orders for the American League Division Series will be subject to a $6 per-ticket convenience fee and a $15 per-order processing fee.

Registrants not selected in the ALDS drawing or those who register after 12 noon EDT on Monday, September 21 will still be eligible for the American League Championship Series and World Series drawings provided that they have selected to be included in the ticket opportunities for each respective series.

Please see the schedule below:

• POSTSEASON REGISTRATION PERIOD BEGINS: 12:00 noon EDT, Tuesday, 09/15/2009
• ALDS REGISTRATION PERIOD ENDS: 12:00 noon EDT, Monday, 09/21/2009
• ALDS RANDOM DRAWING: Monday, 09/21/2009
• ALDS WINNERS NOTIFIED VIA E-MAIL: on or about Tuesday, 09/22/2009
• ALDS SALE FOR WINNERS: 12:00 noon – 9:00 p.m. EDT, Friday, 09/25/2009
• ALCS REGISTRATION PERIOD ENDS: 12:00 noon EDT, Friday, 10/2/2009
• ALCS RANDOM DRAWING: TBD
• ALCS WINNERS NOTIFIED VIA E-MAIL: TBD
• ALCS SALE FOR WINNERS: TBD
• WS REGISTRATION PERIOD ENDS: 12:00 noon EDT, Friday, 10/9/2009
• WS RANDOM DRAWING: TBD
• WS WINNERS NOTIFIED VIA E-MAIL: TBD
• WS SALE FOR WINNERS: TBD

Sale dates for potential 2009 American League Championship Series and 2009 World Series games played at Fenway Park will be announced at a later date. Such winners will be selected from the pool of registrants for each subsequent drawing and notified via email with instructions on the ticket purchase process including dates and times for these sales.

The game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Friday, September 11, 2009 was postponed due to the rain in the area. The game will be made up on Sunday at noon.

The regularly scheduled game on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.  will be played at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday as well. If you had tickets for Friday night’s game, they are good for the first game on Sunday. Ticket holders for the 1:35 PM game on Sunday can use those for admission to the 5 p.m. game on Sunday.

Josh Beckett will start on Saturday with Clay Buchholz going in the first game on Sunday. Jon Lester will toe the rubber in the second game of the doubleheader on Sunday.

There’s one thing about Chicago White Sox Ozzie Guillen that makes people in baseball respect him. He’s very outspoken. He also wears his heart on his sleeve and is one of, if not, the most passionate managers in the game today.

Remember he’s the manager who called into a Chicago radio show back in 2007 to protect his players and attack the show’s host about his comments about Guillen’s lineup on a particular night.

He respects the game, he loves his own players like family and he’ll give credit or respect when it’s due.

Case in point what he had to say about reigning AL MVP Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

“When I talk about Pedroia, I’ll be honest, I’d never thought I would walk him to get to Big Papi,” said Guillen. “We did it last week and I said, ‘I walked a midget to get to Big Papi.’ This kid is special. A lot of kids look up to that kid. A lot of people all over the place look up to that kid because he plays with heart. He won the MVP last year and he stayed the same way, he hasn’t changed. He busts his [butt] and does what he’s supposed to do.”

And when give respect, you get in back as evidenced by Dustin Pedroia’s comments.

“He’s great,” Pedroia said Guillen “I love the things he says and the way he goes about everything is great for baseball. People enjoy reading what he says. It’s funny and he means what he says. It’s awesome.”

“It’s the highest compliment when an opposing manager talks about you like that,” said Pedroia. “I hope it’s just not him who thinks that way. Playing hard every day is one of the things I take pride in. I don’t look at numbers or anything like that. I just look at wins and losses. Hopefully a lot of guys see that, I know my teammates do.”

Red Sox journal: Guillen sings praises of Youkilis, Pedroia [Providence Journal]

Ozzie Guillen’s Mouth – take a listen [Home Run Derby]

Could former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling be the next Senator from the state of Massachusetts?

It is something that Schilling is entertaining after being approached about possibly running for the open seat after the passing of Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy last week. Schilling left these comments on his blog at 38 Pitches.

While my family is obviously the priority, and 38 Studios is a priority, I do have some interest in the possibility. That being said, to get to there from where I am today, many many things would have to align themselves for that to truly happen. I am not going to comment further on the matter since at this point it would be speculation on top of speculation.

My hope is that whatever happens, and whomever it happens to, this state makes the decision and chooses the best person, regardless of sex, race, religion or political affiliation, to help get this state back to the place it deserves to be.

A special election will be held on January 19, 2010 to fill the vacancy. In the meantime, the seat will be left vacant unless the Massachusetts legislature passes a bill that allows Mass. Governor Deval Patrick to appoint someone on an interim basis.

Schilling is a registered independent but did support Republican Senator John McCain’s failed bid for the presidency won by now President Barack Obama.

After Brad Penny asked for and received his release from the Boston Red Sox last Thursday, he had to clear release waivers. During that time, there was speculation that he could end up with Boston’s hated rivals to the south, the New York Yankees.

There were also thoughts he would return to the National League with the San Francisco Giants or one of his former clubs in the Florida Marlins. Any deal Penny was going to sign needed to be done by Monday night so that he could be post-season eligible.

Well according to Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine, Penny has decided to head back to the NL West with the Giants as he agreed to a minor league deal with them on Monday. This will be the third team in the NL West he has played for. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks are the others.

Coming into Monday night’s games, the Giants were six games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and were tied with the Colorado Rockies for the wild card.

Penny’s first start should come on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Philles and then he is lined up to face the Dodgers.

Penny signed a 1-year, $5 million deal with the Red Sox before the season and made 24 starts for them. He was 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA and had won just once in his last eleven starts in a Red Sox uniform.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Boston Red Sox have put in a waiver claim on Washington Nationals shortstop  Cristian Guzman.

Major League sources indicate that the Red Sox have put in a claim on Washington Nationals switch-hitting shortstop Christian Guzman, who is hitting .315 after hitting .316 last season.

If the Red Sox have been awarded the claim – which has not been confirmed – the Red Sox would have 48 hours to work out a deal with the Nationals. The Nationals could also just award Guzman to the Red Sox or they could pull him back. Guzman is a free-swinging hitter (he has only 13 walks and a .333 on base percentage) who has made two All-Star teams. He’s hit mostly leadoff and second for the Nationals. Defensively he’s also committed 13 errors.

During this trade waiver period teams can put in claims on players as they pass through waivers. The team awarded the claim on any player would have to have the worst record of any team who placed the claim. In Guzman’s case, he would have to be passed on by every team in the National League first before an American League team would have a chance.

As Cafardo points out, Guzman is making $8 million this season and $8 million for next season. But with Lowrie on the DL and Nick Green having his struggles at the plate and occasionally on the field, Guzman could help solidify the position a little bit all though Guzman’s 13 errors are cause for concern.

It wouldn’t be a bad move for the Red Sox given that there’s no shortstop in the farm system that’s even being close to being ready at this point. Plus with Lowrie’s injury, there’s no timetable for his return. It’s not like he’s helping out at the plate at all.

Major League Baseball issued the following regarding the statement made today by the Major League Baseball Players Association:

“Major League Baseball does not possess the list of names and is unable to assess the accuracy of leaks relating to individual names. The continued leaks related to the 2003 survey test results are in direct violation of court orders.

“However, it should be pointed out that the names on the list, which was prepared by the federal government and not by anyone associated with our Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, are subject to uncertainties with regard to the test results. There are more names on the government list (104) than the maximum number of positives that were recorded under the 2003 program (96). And, as the Mitchell Report made clear, some of the 96 positives were contested by the union.

“Given the uncertainties inherent in the list, we urge the press and the public to use caution in reaching conclusions based on leaks of names, particularly from sources whose identities are not revealed.”