Boston, MA (April 5, 2012)- The Boston Globe will be hosting their Fenway 100 Magazine Launch Party on April 19^th at Game On! Boston. Less than 24 hours before the Red Sox take on the Yankees and celebrate Fenway Park’s official 100 year anniversary, Fenway faithful are invited to a night of celebrating the history of Fenway and a team that defines Boston’s sports culture.

The Fenway 100 Magazine Launch Party will be moderated by renowned Boston Globe sports writer, Dan Shaughnessy. The program will feature Dropkick Murphy front man Ken Casey, former Red Sox left-handed pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee, author of the book Fenway 100 John Powers, and Sports Museum curator Dick Johnson. Throughout the event, refreshments will be served and the Sports Museum will showcase priceless Red Sox memorabilia spanning Fenway Park’s 100 year history.

Tickets for the event at $40.00 and proceeds benefit The Sports Museum.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, April 19^th

Time: 6 – 9 p.m.

Location: Game On!, 82 Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA

Tickets: available for $40 at www.fenway100.eventbrite.com

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

The 2012 season started it off the way it ended in 2011 for the Boston Red Sox; with a walkoff loss. This time around it was the Detroit Tigers instead of the Baltimore Orioles.

I’m not going to fault anyone here for the loss yesterday. It was game one of the 162 and the Red Sox weren’t going to go through the season undefeated. Plus despite facing the reigning AL Cy Young and AL MVP, they didn’t give up and fought hard to the end.

As you might have expected, the heavyweight pitching matchup between Jon Lester and Justin Verlander lived up to its advance billing. Both pitchers were outstanding. If you had to give an edge to either one of them, a slight one would go to Verlander.

He looked as though as he was in midseason form, that’s not to say Lester wasn’t but Verlander had all of his pitches working for him. His curveball was downright filthy as sent a few Red Sox players back to the dugout shaking their heads.

I told my dad last night that I’d rather face the New York Yankees 18 times in a season rather than see Verlander three or four more times if the Red Sox were in the same division as him. He’s going to be a nightmare for other teams all season long.

As for Lester, he didn’t really have a good feel of his curveball or changeup. But his fastball and cutter were nasty and that helped him match zeroes with Verlander. If it weren’t for a Ryan Sweeney miscue, Lester may have not given up a run.

He ended up going seven innings, allowing one run on six hits and three walks. He did have four strikeouts. Vicente Padilla allowed a run on a hit and a walk in 1/3 of an inning while Franklin Morales was perfect in 2/3 of an inning.

Mark Melancon took the loss after allowing a run on two hits although it was Alfredo Aceves who allowed the game winning hit that drove in the winning run.

Offensively. the Red Sox managed just two hits off of Verlander, a David Ortiz double and a Sweeney single. They did manage to get to Jose Valverde in the 9th when Dustin Pedroia lead off with a double and went to third on an Adrian Gonzalez single. Pedey would come around to score on a Big Papi sac fly.

Sweeney would atone for his miscue in right when he tripled in pinch-runner Darnell McDonald to tie the game. But Valverde got Cody Ross to lineup setting up the Tigers heroics in the 9th.

This is going to be an interesting season for the Red Sox bullpen.

With Aceves as the closer, new guys are going to have to step up. For the most part last night that didn’t happen. But it leads to an interesting thought.

Last year in a tight game like the one yesterday, Aceves probably would have been brought in for the 8th inning. But with him as the closer, that eliminates that option, at least for now.

The Red Sox are off today and return to the diamond on Saturday afternoon against the Tigers. So 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

Eckersley mum on this subject [Boston Globe]

Close, but no [Boston Globe]

For starter Lester, it was back to the grind [Boston Globe]

Valued moment from Verlander, Ellsbury [Boston Globe]

Sweeney’s debut a little hit and miss [Boston Globe]

On Day 1, a 2011 echo [Boston Globe]

Skipper able to manage his emotions [Boston Globe]

Justin Verlander comes with the right stuff on opening day [Boston Herald]

Jon Lester start all for nothing [Boston Herald]

‘Pen in an Opening Daze [Boston Herald]

Red Sox open same way they close [Boston Herald]

New year, same fate [Boston Herald]

Ryan Sweeney’s Red Sox debut is real three-for-all [Boston Herald]

Mark Melancon accepts a quick exit [Boston Herald]

Sox lost, but they’re not hopeless [Boston Herald]

Dustin Pedroia still tops for Sox jersey sales [Boston Herald]

Life without Jonathan Papelbon a work in progress for Red Sox [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Sweeney busy in Red Sox debut [CSN New England]

Lester does ‘terrific’ job against Tigers [CSN New England]

Rapid Reaction: Tigers 3, Red Sox 2 [ESPN Boston]

Cook getting work in at Pawtucket [ESPN Boston]

Middlebrooks off to strong start [ESPN Boston]

Lester gets no-decision vs. MVP Verlander [ESPN Boston]

Wall space wasn’t reserved for Sweeney [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox face closing controversy on Opening Day? [ESPN Boston]

Closing Time: Bullpen does in Sox in 3-2 Opening Day loss to Tigers [Full Count]

A loss with character? Red Sox take some solace in Opening Day defeat [Full Count]

This time, Jon Lester found his opening [Full Count]

Alfredo Aceves Plans to Draw Lessons From Hero Dennis Rodman As He Inherits Closing Duties [NESN.com]

Bullpen falters in loss to Tigers [Providence Journal]

Lester’s stellar outing undone by one mistake [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Verlander picks up where he left [Providence Journal]

Bobby V. relishes being back in dugout [RedSox.com]

Ellsbury returns to familiar role in lineup [RedSox.com]

In Opening Day defeat, Sox put up good fight [RedSox.com]

New man in charge: Breaking down Bobby Valentine’s first game as Red Sox manager [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Familiar opening scene for Red Sox [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.

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 some of the other sports. 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 Women’s Basketball links

Breanna Stewart Throws Out First Pitch at Chiefs Home Opener [Syracuse Post-Standard]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

What They’re Saying About The NCAA’s Latest Decision On UConn [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

NCAA committee denies UConn men’s appeal [CT Post]

NCAA Denies UConn’s 2nd Appeal On Postseason Ban [Hartford Courant]

When It’s Added Up, UConn Isn’t Getting A Fair Deal [Hartford Courant]

NCAA upholds ban on 2013 postseason [New Haven Register]

UConn’s postseason hopes fading after NCAA rejects appeal [The Day]

Difficult season awaits UConn, Jim Calhoun [Andy Katz – ESPN.com]

UConn Football links

UConn Football Team Midway Through Spring Practice [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

M. Track. The Huskies Ready For The Battle On The Bayou [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Track. Huskies Host UConn All-Region Meet Saturday [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Catching Up With UConn Baseball [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Huskies Best Pittsburgh, 8-2, in Series Opener [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Rowing. Rowing Plays Host To Home Meet On Friday [UConnHuskies.com]

Softball. Huskies Host BIG EAST Home Opener On Friday [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Tennis. Huskies Edge By St. John’s, 4-3 [UConnHuskies.com]

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

Unless the NCAA changes its APR guidelines for postseason play, the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team will not find itself in the 2013 NCAA Tournament or the 2013 Big East Tournament as the NCAA denied their final appeal on Thursday.

Here’s the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut has been informed by the NCAA’s Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) that it has denied the school’s final appeal of a postseason ban on its men’s basketball team for the 2012-13 season because of the team’s past cumulative Academic Performance Rate (APR) scores.

“I want to be clear that everyone at UConn is and will always be committed to academic excellence for all of our student-athletes and in particular our men’s basketball players,” said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel, a past member of the NCAA’s Academic Cabinet and Academic Eligibility and Compliance Committee. “Before we even began this appeal process, the University and its Division of Athletics began to implement changes that were designed to positively impact the academic performance of our men’s basketball student-athletes. We have and will continue to make adjustments designed to help these young men succeed.”

During the season that the UConn men’s basketball team won the NCAA national championship, the squad had a nearly-perfect 978 APR score in 2010-11. During the fall 2011 semester, the team had a perfect APR score. Connecticut’s other 23 athletic teams all have four-year APR scores that are above 945.

“While we as a University and coaching staff clearly should have done a better job academically with our men’s basketball student-athletes in the past, the changes we have implemented have already had a significant impact and have helped us achieve the success we expect in the classroom,” said men’s basketball Coach Jim Calhoun. “We will continue to strive to maintain that success as we move forward.”

The postseason ban that Connecticut faces in the 2012-13 season is the result of APR scores calculated over both a four-year and two-year period. For purposes of this ruling, the NCAA used the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years. At this point, the NCAA has decided to not use scores from the current 2011-12 academic year while considering postseason bans for 2012-13.

“When this change in legislation was adopted by the NCAA Board in October 2011 and made effective for the 2012-13 academic year, it gave the illusion that institutions had time to adjust to the legislation. Yet the data had already been submitted under a different penalty structure, one that would not have excluded our men’s basketball team from participating in the post-season,” said Manuel. “The approach to APR marks the first time in the history of the NCAA that it has ever implemented an academic rule significantly impacting current student-athletes without allowing the members time to adjust to the adoption of the legislation.

“In recent months, CAP chairperson and University of Hartford President Walter Harrison has been quoted as saying that CAP wanted to provide institutions with `a chance to adjust’. In actuality, these changes were a retroactive application of the rules. It remains the belief of the University of Connecticut that CAP and the Board of Directors should consider delaying the effective date of the implementation for all institutions to 2013-14, and/or use the APR scores from the 2011-12 academic year to determine postseason eligibility for the 2012-13 year.”

“I am very proud of our current men’s basketball student-athletes, who have worked hard in the classroom and enjoyed academic success,” said UConn President Susan Herbst. “It is disturbing that our current players must pay a penalty for the academic performance of students no longer enrolled. As I have said repeatedly, no educator or parent purposefully punishes young people for the failings of others.

“UConn is a top 20 public research university and our current men’s basketball team meets the standards we have for our students. We will continue to support athletes the right way, and they will step up to the high level of performance demanded by our faculty.”

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

The Boston Red Sox will open up the 2012 season this afternoon with the first game of a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI.

First pitch is scheduled for roughly 1:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Tigers broadcast area, you can watch the game on Fox Sports Detroit. If you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as ESPN2 will have national coverage (excluding Red Sox & Tigers television markets) of the game. The game is also availble on ESPN3.com. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.

Jon Lester will make his second straight opening day start, this one for new skipper Bobby Valentine. Lester made 31 starts last year and was 15-9 with a 3.47 ERA. He did not face the Tigers in 2011. Lester has made three career starts against the Tigers and is 0-2 with a 5.89 ERA. His lone start at Comerica Park came on July 30, 2010 when he took the loss after allowing four runs in six innings of work.

The reigning AL Cy Young and AL MVP, Justin Verlander, makes his fifth straight opening day start for Jim Leyland. Verlander made 34 starts last year and was 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA. He made two starts against the Red Sox in 2011 and was 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA (3 ER/15.2 IP). Overall in his career, Verlander has made seven career starts against the Red Sox and is 3-2 with a 3.22 ERA.

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:

0-0		0-0
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Austin Jackson	CF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Brennan Boesch	RF
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Miguel Cabrera	3B
4. David Ortiz	DH	4. Prince Fielder	1B
5. Kevin Youkilis	3B	5. Delmon Young	LF
6. Ryan Sweeney	RF	6. Ryan Raburn	DH
7. Cody Ross	LF	7. Jhonny Peralta	SS
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	8. Alex Avila	C
9. Mike Aviles	SS	9. Ramon Santiago	2B
Jon Lester	SP	Justin Verlander	SP

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

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

Closing argument made for Padilla [Boston Globe]

Beckett doesn’t expect to be limited [Boston Globe]

Choice words [Boston Globe]

Sox fans hope for a team they can love [Boston Globe]

Lester happy to start season with clean slate [Boston Globe]

Reasons aplenty to expect no title for Red Sox [Boston Globe]

Red Sox would have been better off going with Bard [Boston Globe]

Alfredo Aceves to close deal [Boston Herald]

Bobby Valentine plays down NY chats [Boston Herald]

Jon Lester eyes a fast start [Boston Herald]

Raising hell with Sox bats [Boston Herald]

Josh Beckett thumbs a ride [Boston Herald]

First-timer’s club [Boston Herald]

Why Daniel Bard won’t close … for now [Boston Herald]

Red Sox hope sun rises again [Boston Herald]

Cherington: We haven’t promised Bard anything [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

Mark Melancon: ‘I would’ve liked that (closer) role’ [Clubhouse Insider]

Video: As Red Sox open season, questions, injuries abound [Clubhouse Insider]

Bard: Red Sox ‘didn’t even talk about’ making him Bailey replacement [Clubhouse Insider]

Lamoriello here to watch Devils, root on Bobby V [Clubhouse Insider]

Beckett: I’m fine; thumb problem was overblown [CSN New England]

Red Sox decide to go with 13 pitchers [CSN New England]

Countdown to Opening Day: Scouts evaluate Sox [CSN New England]

A.L. is more competitive than ever [CSN New England]

Ortiz: Valentine ‘did a great job’ in spring training [CSN New England]

Sox season begins under much uncertainty [CSN New England]

Edes, McDonald preview Sox opener [ESPN Boston]

Valentine on doing NY radio: ‘There aren’t any Boston fans in NY?’ [ESPN Boston]

Cherington: Beckett ‘feeling really good’ [ESPN Boston]

Crawford taking live BP, ‘progressing’ [ESPN Boston]

Notes: Dice-K gets closer to rehab stint [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox’s Jon Lester aims for a fifth season of excellence [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox GM Ben Cherington set to ‘sit back and watch’ [ESPN Boston]

Some Opening notes, quotes and gloats [ESPN Boston]

Video: Tito says Lester needs fast start [ESPN Boston]

Valentine meets with Tito before Sox opener [ESPN Boston]

It seems there are slightly high hopes for Theo Epstein in Chicago [Extra Bases]

Pre-game notes from Comerica Park [Extra Bases]

Minor league rosters set [Extra Bases]

Josh Beckett: Though thumb eventually may require surgery, ‘dumbfounded’ by concern [Full Count]

Experience not required: Alfredo Aceves ready to close for first time [Full Count]

Bobby Valentine radio controversy an absolute joke [Full Count]

Red Sox minor league notes: Ranaudo, Workman held back; Stroup suffers major injury [Full Count]

Transcending The Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry [Hartford Courant]

Red Sox Can’t Afford Another Rocky Start to Season, But Loaded April Slate Will Provide Challenge [NESN.com]

Alfredo Aceves’ Turn at Closer Can Be Key to Solidifying Red Sox Bullpen, Rotation in One Fell Swoop [NESN.com]

How Many Games Will the Red Sox Win This Season? [NESN.com]

Aaron Cook Continues to Work Down In Pawtucket, Feels Good About Shoulder, Opprotunity to Return to Big Leagues [NESN.com]

Lars Anderson Starts to Take Reps as Outfielder, Hopes to Use New Tools to Join Red Sox [NESN.com]

Ryan Lavarnway Anticipates Next Shot at the Majors, Reflects on His Time With Red Sox Last Season [NESN.com]

Jose Iglesias Excited to Return to Pawtucket, Gets Ready to Work to Make His Way to Red Sox [NESN.com]

Ben Cherington Knows Jose Iglesias Is ‘Phone Call Away’ If Needed, Believes in Bobby Valentine’s Methods [NESN.com]

Curt Schilling on Bobby Valentine’s New York Radio Contract: ‘Titanic Now in Open Water at Full Speed!’ [NESN.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Tigers and Opening Day [Projo Sox Blog]

Bowden excited to finally make Opening Day roster [Projo Sox Blog]

Opening Day Dictionary! [Projo Sox Blog]

Will the Red Sox give fans their money’s worth? [Projo Sox Blog]

Opening Day lineup not full of surprises [Projo Sox Blog]

Thomas pumped for hometown Opening Day debut [Projo Sox Blog]

Good start crucial to put nightmare of 2011 to bed [Providence Journal]

Sox can wipe slate clean [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Aceves elated to be stepping into closer role [Providence Journal]

System’s top prospects to take the field at McCoy [Providence Journal]

Aceves to close if needed in Red Sox’s opener [RedSox.com]

Valentine, Lester eager to get season started [RedSox.com]

Red Sox aim to wipe slate clean in Detroit [RedSox.com]

25 Red Sox, 25 Questions: Predicting the performances of the ’12 team [Alex Speier- WEEI.com]

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

Photo credits: Getty Images, AP Photo

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as some of the other sports. 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 Women’s Basketball links

Faris Led By Her Actions And Her Words This Season For Huskies [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Another performance worth checking out by Maya Moore [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Could Baylor make a run at UConn’s record winning streak? [Los Angeles Times]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Latest on Alex Oriakhi [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Dom also answered a question in his mailbag [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Alex Oriakhi Reportedly Visiting John Calipari Today [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Drummond taking time with decision [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

UConn Basketball Year in Review: The two kinds of disappointment in college basketball [The UConn Blog]

UConn Men’s Basketball: One Year Later [Hartford Courant]

NBA Draft Projections For Drummond And Lamb [Hartford Courant]

UConn Football links

WCG Pre Draft Interview with UConn WR Kashif Moore [Windy City Gridiron]

Other UConn related links

M. Tennis. Men’s Tennis Edged By Bryant, 5-2 [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Tennis. Huskies Fall At Rutgers, 7-0 [UConnHuskies.com]

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

Here is the press release from the Boston Red Sox announcing their 2012 Opening Day roster:

BOSTON, MA —The Boston Red Sox set their 2012 Opening Day 25-man roster by making the following roster moves:

– Placed pitchers Rich Hill (recovery from left elbow surgery), Daisuke Matsuzaka (recovery from right elbow surgery) and Andrew Miller (left hamstring strain), and outfielder Carl Crawford (recovery from left wrist surgery) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 26.

– Placed pitchers Andrew Bailey (recovery from right thumb surgery) and Chris Carpenter (recovery from right elbow surgery), and outfielder Ryan Kalish (recovery from left shoulder surgery) on the 60-day disabled list.

– Selected pitchers Scott Atchison, Vicente Padilla and Justin Thomas to the active Major League roster.

– Assigned infielders Pedro Ciriaco and Nate Spears and outfielder Jason Repko to Triple-A Pawtucket, and assigned catcher Daniel Butler to Double-A Portland.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcements.

The 2012 Opening Day roster includes 13 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and four outfielders.

The Red Sox open their 112^th season tomorrow on the road against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Ballpark beginning at 1:05 p.m.  Boston will start left-handed pitcher Jon Lester with right-hander Justin Verlander taking the mound for Detroit.

The Red Sox 2012 Opening Day Roster:

PITCHERS (13): Alfredo Aceves, Matt Albers, Scott Atchison, Daniel Bard, Josh Beckett, Michael Bowden, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront, Jon Lester, Mark Melancon, Franklin Morales, Vicente Padilla, Justin Thomas

CATCHERS (2): Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Kelly Shoppach

INFIELDERS (6): Mike Aviles, Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Nick Punto, Kevin Youkilis

OUTFIELDERS (4): Jacoby Ellsbury, Darnell McDonald, Cody Ross, Ryan Sweeney

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

With Andrew Bailey being out until at least sometime in July, new Boston Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine had a little bit of a conundrum. He had no closer.

Well now, he does.

After competing for a spot in the starting rotation only to be sent back to the bullpen, Alfredo Aceves will now play a more important role. He’ll be the closer for the Red Sox until Bailey returns. Mark Melancon had been considered as well but according to Valentine, Aceves’ American League experience earned him job.

“(Aceves) loves competition,” Valentine said. “I think he’s one of the better competitors that I’ve seen. I could be wrong. I haven’t seen him up close and personal in battle, but I believe that he’s a very good competitor, to say nothing of a very good pitcher.”

“Everybody has to do something within the team, and he can’t do more than one thing, even though he was thinking about being a starter and now he’s a reliever and a closer,” Valentine said. “You’re probably talking about the 100 innings that you think you can get out of him if he was pitching in the middle of the game, and that’s obviously valuable. It’s been worth 24 wins to his respective teams in the couple years that he’s pitched that way, which is very valuable.”

Aceves was 10-2 last season with a 2.61 ERA and two saves in 55 games for the Red Sox last season. Overall in his career, he has four saves.

It also appears the 25-man roster is coming into shape as Valentine said the Red Sox will carry 13 pitchers early on in the season. Once the roster is released, it will be posted here.

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

The Shaw’s WEEI Red Sox Radio Network looks much the same as it has for the last few seasons as Dave O’Brien and Joe Castiglione return for their 6th season together in the booth as the primary announcers for Boston Red Sox baseball.  In the absence of either O’Brien or Castiglione you will hear from fill-in’s Dale Arnold and Jon Rish.  All the games will be broadcast from the team’s flagship station WEEI FM 93.7/AM 850 in Boston to it’s network affiliates through out New England, New York, Florida, Colorado and Wyoming.  As well as having all the home games carried along the XM Satellite Radio network.

Castiglione, a Hamden CT native, joined to Red Sox broadcasts in 1983 and has worked with such luminaries as Bob Starr, Ken Coleman and Jerry Trupiano in his this his 30th season.  Castiglione, who grew up a Yankees fan, has become well known in Red Sox lore for his call of the final out of the 2004 World Series which ended the team’s 86 year drought without a championship.  When he is not in the radio booth you can usually find Castiglione teaching sports broadcasting at Northeastern University.  Joe has also called games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers in his career.

O’Brien, a New Hampshire native who enters his 6th season in Shaw’s WEEI booth, is probably the most familiar amongst the Red Sox radio crew for the non-Red Sox or non-baseball fan in the crowd due to his heavy schedule with ESPN.  In addition to his Red Sox duties, Obie does the Wednesday night games for ESPN with former Red Sox shortstop and AL Batting Champion Nomar Garciaparra.  O’Brien prior to joining the Red Sox was the play-by-play announcer for the Florida Marlins radio network from 1993 to 2001 when he left to go to ESPN where in addition to baseball he has called World Cup Soccer, college basketball, NBA, MLS and the women’s college basketball Final Four.  He has also called games for the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and the University of Georgia.

Arnold, who for many years was the mid day voice of WEEI is now the main fill-in for Red Sox baseball.  In the absence of either O’Brien or Castiglione, Arnold will come in to pinch hit.  In the past Arnold has done play-by-play for the Boston Bruins, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, New England Revolution and Boston Red Sox.  He is the only person to have called games for all five pro Boston area franchises.  Arnold, a Maine native, got his start in sports calling Maine Mariners AHL Hockey games and then moved to the NHL calling games for two years for the New Jersey Devils before coming back to New England to do the Patriots games on the radio.

Rish is entering his 7th season hosting the Red Sox pre-game and post-game shows on the Red Sox Radio Network, he also handles “”Sox Talk”  the call in show that airs during rain delays in the game.  In addition, Rish is one of the fill ins for Sox games in the absence of O’Brien or Castiglione.  In addition to WEEI, Rish has worked at ESPN Radio in Bristol CT as a radio Sports Center anchor, and hosted studio programming for major league baseball and the bowl championship series.  He was also the play-by-play announcer for Boston College Eagle’s men’s hockey and women’s basketball.

Over the air the Red Sox Radio Network has nearly 80 stations in 10 states.

To see the full list of affiliates, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Here is a list of all the affiliates for the Shaw’s WEEI Red Sox Radio Network in 2012:

Connecticut

• WQUN 1220AM  New Haven
• WTIC 1080AM  Hartford
• WILI 1400AM  Willimantic
• WINY 1350AM  Putnam
• WGCH 1490AM  Greenwich

Massachusetts

• WEEI 850AM Boston
• WEEI 93.7FM Boston
• WCRN 830AM  Worcester
• WVEI 1440AM  Worcester
• WSAR 1480 AM  Fall River
• WBEC 1420 AM  Pittsfield
• WHMP 1400AM  Northampton
• WHMQ 1240AM  Greenfield
• WNAW 1230AM  North Adams
• WVEI 105.5FM  Springfield
• WBSM 1420AM  New Bedford
• WPKZ 1280AM  Fitchburg
• WMRC 1490AM  Milford
• WXTK 95.1FM  West Yarmouth
• WBOQ 104.9FM  Beverly

Rhode Island

• WEEI 103.7FM  Providence

New Hampshire

• WEMJ 1490AM  Laconia
• WFTN 1240AM  Franklin
• WPNH 1300AM  Plymouth
• WQSO 96.7FM  Rochester
• WTSL 1400AM  Hanover
• WKBK 1290AM  Keene
• WASR 1420AM  Wolfeboro
• WTPL 107.7FM  Hillsboro
• WLTN 1400AM  Littleton
• WKNE 103.7FM  Keene
• WMOU 1230AM  Berlin
• WGAM 1250AM  Manchester
• WGHM 900AM  Nashua
• WCNL 1010AM  Newport
• WNTK 99.7FM  New London
• WCFR 1480AM  New London

Maine

• WRED 1440AM  Westbrook
• WLOB 1310AM  Portland
• WZON 620AM  Bangor
• WCME 96.7FM  Camden
• WRKD 1450AM  Rockland  
• WJJB 96.3FM  Gray
• WPEI 95.9FM  Saco
• WGEI 95.5FM  Topsham
• WDEA 1370AM  Ellsworth
• WHOU 100.1FM  Houlton
• WKTJ 99.3FM  Farmington
• WIGY 97.5FM  Madison
• WTBM 100.7FM  Norway
• WOXO 92.7FM  Norway
• WDME 103.1FM  Dover/Foxcroft
• WQDY 92.7FM  Calais
• WFAU 1280AM  Augusta
• WSYY 1240AM  Millinocket
• WALZ 95.3FM  Machias
• WEGP 1390AM  Presque Isle

Vermont

• WMXR 93.9FM  Woodstock
• WDEV 550AM  Waterbury
• WDEV 96.1FM  Waterbury
• WJOY 1230AM  Burlington
• WKVT 1490AM  Brattleboro
• WRSA 1420AM  St. Albans
• WFAD 1490AM  Middlebury
• WSTJ 1340AM  St. Johnsbury
• WSYB 1380AM  Rutland
• WIKE 1490AM  Newport
• WBTN 1370AM  Bennington
• WLVB 93.9FM  Morrisville
• WTSJ 1320AM Randolph

New York

• WTLA 1200AM/97.7FM Syracuse
• WSGO 1440AM/100.1FM Oswego
• WIZR 930AM Johnstown

Colorado

• KVRH 1340AM Salida

Florida

• WWCN 770AM Ft. Myers
• Seaview 960 AM Palm Beach Garden

Wyoming

• KJAX 93.3FM Jackson

Are you wondering if you’ll be able to see Josh Beckett make his first start of the season on Saturday afternoon for the Boston Red Sox against the Detroit Tigers?

Well here’s the breakdown courtesy of Fang’s Bites:

Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers – 43%
Announcers: Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal
MARKETS INCLUDE:  Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Tampa, Washington, West Palm Beach

St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers – 27%
Announcers: Thom Brennaman & Eric Karros
MARKETS INCLUDE: Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Tulsa

Kansas City Royals at Los Angles Angels – 17%
Announcers: Kenny Albert & Mark Gubicza
MARKETS INCLUDE:  Austin, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Antonio, Seattle

San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks – 12%
Announcers: Daron Sutton & Eric Byrnes
MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco

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