If the Boston Red Sox were hoping that shortstop Alex Gonzalez would take a reduced contract to come back with them, they were sadly mistaken.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and later confirmed by Joe Haggerty of CSN New England, Gonzalez has signed a one year deal with an option with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Red Sox held a $6 million option on Gonzo but declined it making him a free agent.

Instead, he’ll get $2.75 million in 2010 with the Jays holding an option of $2.5 million in 2011.

With Gonzo off the market now, there’s not really much out there for shortstops. The big names available are Miguel Tejada, Orlando Cabrera and Marco Scutaro. All three of them would cost the Red Sox their first round draft pick since they’re all Type A free agents.

Of the three, I would expect to see the Red Sox go after Scutaro with possibly a 2-year deal, giving Jose Iglesias some time to develop in the minor leagues.

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Tiger Beat [David Borges – New Haven Register]

It’s UConn vs. Duke [Gavin Keefe – The Day]

UConn 81, LSU 55 [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

UConn-Duke, Part 9 [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Huskies take a big step forward [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

The Doctor is in [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn rocks LSU in NIT Season Tip-Off semifinal [Connecticut Post]

UConn Men Beat LSU, 81-55; Duke Next [Hartford Courant]

Once Again, It’s UConn-Duke [Hartford Courant]

Rebounding Debut On N.Y. Stage [Hartford Courant]

UConn parades past LSU in New York [New Haven Register]

Calhoun gives back: UConn coach consoles Terzi family [New Haven Register]

Robinson fuels UConn’s fire [The Day]

UConn: Ya gotta believe [The Day]

Huskies play up to expectations vs. LSU [The Republican-American]

Huskies’ Robinson hears the call to be more productive on boards [The Republican-American]

NIT Season Tip-Off Preview: UConn Huskies [Blue Devil Nation]

Continue reading →

The time around Thanksgiving usually finds the Boston Red Sox busy trying to acquire a big name pitcher in trade, not an utility infielder.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox traded for Kansas City Royals utility infielder Tug Hullet in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Hullet, who will compete for the utility infielder job with the Red Sox, can play all over the field. He’s spent parts of the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Royals.

In 15 games with the Royals in 2009, Hulett hit just .111 with an RBI. In 45 big league games, he is hitting .194 with one home run and three RBIs.

MUZE CLOTHING PARTNERS WITH CELTICS STAR RAY ALLEN AND RED SOX PITCHER JOSH BECKETT FOR EXCLUSIVE CHARITY T-SHIRT DESIGNS

Fans can go to www.muzeclothing.com to purchase charitable tees and other apparel that fuse cutting edge designs and classic movie lines

Phoenix, AZ (November 19, 2009) – Further showcasing their connection to the worlds of sport and entertainment, Muze Clothing is proud to launch a charity t-shirt initiative with new designs in partnership with Boston Celtics star Ray Allen and Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Josh Beckett Foundation, respectively. Leveraging the company’s deep entertainment knowledge and the design team’s creative firepower, each charity shirt combines a compelling graphic coupled with a familiar pop culture quote and contributes proceeds to a worthwhile organization.

“Muze Clothing has a social conscience, and some of our best shirts are specifically designed to assist those less fortunate,” said CEO Bill Deacon. “Having grown up in New England, I jumped at the opportunity to create shirts with special meaning for Ray Allen and Josh Beckett ?? two sports icons who have not only brought championships to Boston, but are also extremely committed to tremendous causes.”

Starting today, fans can go to www.muzeclothing.com to preview and purchase the new shirt from Ray Allen titled “What Would Jesus Shuttleworth Do?” from the popular movie He Got Game. This design takes a symbolic approach to Allen’s career journey by tracing the contours of a basketball’s seams from the beginning of his career up to present day. A paper plane, paying homage to his childhood growing up on a US Air Force base, travels across the design starting at Lincoln High School and passing through the University of Connecticut, Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston and into the unknown. The back of the shirt sports Ray’s personal signature along with a favorite quote from the movie Coming To America, “No journey is too great when one finds what he seeks.”

In addition, Josh Beckett and Muze have created a shirt to benefit the Josh Beckett Foundation, an organization that strives to improve the health and well being of disadvantaged children. Both Josh’s Texas roots and his intensity on the field serve as inspiration for Muze’s latest offering. There are times when a pitcher can feel like he’s all alone on the mound, and must summon the strength and will to get out of a jam on his own merit. Josh has always admired John Wayne and his iconic screen image, and asked the Muze team to create a shirt featuring The Duke’s famous quote, “Out here, a man settles his own problems” from the classic Western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. This imagery was also chosen because Josh does most of his charitable work out of the spotlight or behind a mask, so to speak. Available on www.muzeclothing.com in mid-December, these limited edition unique Muze shirts will help settle a less fortunate child’s problems, and will have a direct and permanent impact on the lives of children throughout New England and in his hometown of Spring, Texas.

Sorry for the lateness of the post today. I had some things to take care of in preparation of tomorrow. Funny quick story about that.

My parents are away in Hawaii enjoying Thanksgiving with my brother and some family members. My mom ordered me a turkey dinner for myself from Shaw’s. Now I thought I was getting a turkey breast and the side dishes that all I had to do was heat up.

Well I did get the food to heat up but I actually got a 10 lb turkey that was precooked. Not a breast but a whole dang turkey. Guess I’ll be learning how to carve one tomorrow.

Anyways, it’s game day for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team as they are at Madison Square Garden to take on the LSU Tigers in the semifinals of the NIT Preseason Tip-Off. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can listen to the game on the WTIC/UConn Radio Network.

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Speedy UConn sophomore Kemba Walker emerging as natural leader [SI.com]

Lineup Change. Maybe. Again. [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Armor All [David Borges – New Haven Register]

UConn arrives in New York [Gavin Keefe – The Day]

Driving With Stanley Robinson [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Kemba Walker Through Three [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Calhoun-Johnson Connection [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

18 Three-pointers [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Ater Majok and Alex Oriakhi [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

UConn Can’t Afford To Look Past LSU [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

A Technical Foul For Christmas [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

UConn Coach Jim Calhoun, Opening Remarks at NIT Press Conference [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Back to basketball [TheUConnBlog.com]

Alumni Profile: Rudy Gay [UConn Huskies Basketball]

NIT Season Tip-Off Ends at a Special Place [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn recognizes opportunity to step forward [Connecticut Post]

UConn men’s game day: Wednesday vs. LSU [Connecticut Post]

Games At MSG May Hint At Flavor Of Season [Hartford Courant]

UConn Men Vs. LSU: A Quick Look [Hartford Courant]

Battle on the boards looms large [New Haven Register]

Calhoun will learn a lot about his team tonight [The Day]

UConn men in need of ‘good’ win [Waterbury Republican-American]

3-0 Tigers battle No. 13 Huskies [The Advocate]

Tigers to play UConn at the Garden [The Daily Reveille]

Four undefeated teams float into NYC [ESPN.com]

UConn’s Kemba Walker retraces steps to Manhattan’s Rice High School [New York Daily News]

Continue reading →

Here is a press release from the Boston Red Sox concerning the 2010 Spring Training schedule and ticket information.

Red Sox announce 2010 Spring Training schedule; Tickets go on sale Saturday, December 5
2010 marks fourth time in five years that prices remain unchanged

BOSTON, MA-The Boston Red Sox today announced that tickets for all 2010 spring training home games at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida will go on sale on Saturday, December 5. The club also released its 33-game spring schedule, which includes 17 games at City of Palms Park.

Tickets will also be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 5 at the City of Palms Park box office, on www.redsox.com, or by calling 888-REDSOX6. Handicap accessible seating is also available by calling 877-REDSOX9. Hearing impaired patrons may call the TTY line at 617-226-6644.

Boston will open the spring schedule with two college exhibition games on Wednesday, March 3, facing the Northeastern Huskies at 1:05 p.m. followed by the Boston College Eagles in the nightcap beginning at 6:05 p.m.

The Red Sox will kick off the 2010 Grapefruit League season on Thursday, March 4 when they host the Mayor’s Cup rival Minnesota Twins at City of Palms Park at 7:05 p.m., the first of seven matchups against the cross-town foe. Boston will meet the Baltimore Orioles five times this spring, including three contests at the O’s new home in Sarasota. The 30-game Grapefruit League schedule will feature 10 matchups with National League opponents including a St. Patrick’s Day matinee vs. the New York Mets at City of Palms Park.

Additionally, the Red Sox will face the Washington Nationals for two exhibition games. The club will close out its Grapefruit League schedule on Friday, April 2 at City of Palms Park beginning at 1:05 p.m. before traveling to Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. for a game on Saturday, April 3. The start time for Saturday’s contest will be announced at a later date.

2010 tickets will remain at the 2009 prices. This will mark the fourth time in five years that ticket prices for games at City of Palms Park have remained unchanged.

Tickets for the Northeastern University and Boston College games will be half price.

The City of Palms Park box office will be open Saturday, December 5 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 6 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Beginning Monday, December 7, the Fort Myers box office and the Red Sox Team Store at City of Palms Park will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays, with the exception of December 26 and January 2 when both will be closed.

The Red Sox have sold out every Grapefruit League game at City of Palms Park since March 16, 2003, including 15 dates in 2009, increasing the club’s Grapefruit League sellout streak to 88 home games.

The Red Sox have trained at Fort Myers since 1993.

Prior to the start of the exhibition season, Red Sox will hold workouts at the organization’s Player Development Complex, which is located at 4301 Edison Avenue in Fort Myers. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Thursday, February 18 and will work out for the first time on Saturday, February 20. Infielders and outfielders report on Monday, February 22 with the first full squad workout on Wednesday, February 24. All workouts are open to the public free of charge and shuttle buses are provided from City of Palms Park at $2.00 per person.

Ticket prices and schedule after the jump.

Continue reading →

UConn Football links

Well That Didn’t Take Long (New Husky Coming) [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Big East power rankings, Week 13 [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Win boosts UConn’s confidence, morale [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Big East mailbag, Part I [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Monday bowl thoughts [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

A little more from the league [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

UConn Over Notre Dame [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]

UConn’s Win at Notre Dame Teaches Lessons of Recruiting, Revenge and Hospitality [Rob Lunn – NESN.com]

UConn-Syracuse Single Tickets Still Available [UConnHuskies.com]

Big East notebook: ‘Perfect storm’ hits Rutgers [Connecticut Post]

Share Your Experiences From South Bend Here [Hartford Courant]

A quick nod to UConn, the rare team that deserves the sentiment [Dr. Saturday]

Introducing … UConn RB Jordan Todman [Sporting News]

UConn’s Huskies Steal ND’s Thunder [The New American]

UConn’s Edsall talks about huge win over Notre Dame [Dan Patrick – SI.com]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

16 TEAMS IN 16 DAYS: CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL [BigEast.org]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Hasheem Thabeet: Global NBA [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

Men’s Soccer:Soccer News Net Chooses Watson-Siriboe as the Nation’s Top Male Soccer Player Finalist [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Ice Hockey: Four UConn Women’s Ice Hockey Players Compete Among WHEA All-Stars on Sunday [UConnHuskies.com]

Field Hockey: Loren Sherer and Melissa Gonzalez named NFHCA First Team All-America [UConnHuskies.com]

I wonder if this is what Jimmy Clausen looked like after getting punched in the face on Saturday night?

What did Jimmy Clausen get after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish lost to the UConn Huskies on Saturday night? According to this report from David Kaplan of WGN 720 in Chicago, Clausen got two black eyes in a bar fight.

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was involved in a fight outside a South Bend bar early Sunday morning, according to a report Monday evening by WGN-AM’s David Kaplan.

According to Kaplan, Clausen has two black eyes from the altercation at around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. The incident comes on the heels of the Irish’s overtime loss to Connecticut, their fifth of the season, leaving Notre Dame at 6-5.

I can’t say I blame whomever did this to him but was it really necessary. After what happened with UConn cornerback Jasper Howard, you would think football players would be a little smarter about the situations they put themselves in.

Apparently Clausen misread the situation like he did with his receivers a few times on Saturday.

A few honors were bestowed on the UConn Huskies after their win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday by the Big East Conference on Monday.

Jordan Todman was honored as the Big East Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts on Saturday.

Todman had four returns for 156 yards including a 96 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also had 130 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Andre Dixon and Lawrence Wilson were also named to the Big East Honor Roll.

Dixon had 114 yards on 20 carries and had the game-winning touchdown in the second overtime.  Wilson had a game-high 16 tackles and also had a fumble recovery.

Here’s the video of Todman’s kickoff return:

[flash http://ianbethune.com/todmantd.flv w=510 h=340]

The Big East announced on Monday that UConn Huskies senior center Tina Charles was named Big East Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.

In the Huskies first three wins, Charles averaged 19.7 points and 11 rebounds a game while shooting 56.1% from the floor.

Charles opened up the season with a 26 point, 13 rebound effort in the Huskies 70 point win over Northeastern. In a nationally televised tilt against the Texas Longhorns, Charles had her second straight double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. She narrowly missed her third straight double-digit effort with 18 points and 9 rebounds in the win over Holy Cross.

The Huskies return to action on Friday when they’ll host the Hofstra Pride in the WBCA Classic at Gampel Pavilion.