From UConn:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — For the third time this season, UConn freshman Daniel Hamilton (Los Angeles, Calif.) has been named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, the conference announced today.

Hamilton, a 6-7 swingman, had a stellar week as the Huskies went 1-1 with a win over Tulane following a loss at Memphis. Hamilton averaged 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game in the two contests. In the loss at Memphis, he scored a career-high 25 points, to go with 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Against Tulane, he again filled the box score with 7 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks and 3 steals.

Hamilton was also named Rookie of the Week on Nov. 24 and Jan. 26 and was selected the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 15.

In addition, UConn sophomore center Amida Brimah (Accra, Ghana) was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll after his performances in the 1-1 week. Brimah averaged 19.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and was 13-of-14 from the floor for the Huskies. Against Tulane, the 6-11 center was a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor. Brimah was the AAC Player of the Week on Dec. 15.

photo credit: ©2015 ian bethune

UConn PG Moriah Jefferson (4) blows past South Carolina G Tina Roy (23) for a layup in the first half at Gampel Pavilion on February 9, 2015.

From UConn:

ST. LOUIS – After earning both the American Athletic Conference and espnW Player of the Week accolades on Monday, University of Connecticut junior guard Moriah Jefferson picked up another national honor when she was selected as the Ann Meyers Drysdale Women’s National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association on Tuesday.

As The American’s Player of the Week, Jefferson was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for women’s basketball, from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Jefferson, who is averaging 11.7 points in 26.8 minutes per game this season, has been one of the Huskies’ most consistent scoring options in In total, she ranks first on the team in assists (115) and steals (61) and is one of seven Huskies shooting over 50.0 percent from the floor (56.2). She provided a spark in UConn’s 87-62 victory over No. 1 South Carolina on Feb. 9, notching 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with a game-high six assists.

Jefferson’s 4.6 assists and 2.4 steals game averages are top in the American Athletic Conference.

Last week, she was selected to the Wooden Award Late Season Top-20 List as well as the Naismith Trophy Midseason Top-30 list. Additionally, the guard is among 31 candidates on the 2015 Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List.

Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the Women’s NCAA Final Four in Denver, 2012, the organization announced going forward that the national and weekly player award has been named for Hall of Famer and former UCLA All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2015 Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA’s annual awards event in Tampa, site of the 2015 NCAA Women’s Final Four.

photo credit: ©2015 Ian Bethune

UConn CB Byron Jones (16) just misses blocking a Boise State field goal kicked by Dan Goodale (41) in the third quarter at Rentschler Field on September 13, 2014.

The NFL Combine gets underway on Tuesday and as we know, two members of the UConn Football team are in attendance, WR Geremy Davis and CB Byron Jones.

It’s also the time where the various pundits put out their top ten players at each position or mock drafts.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper put out his top ten list at all positions (ESPN Insider) and when you look at the top ten cornerbacks, you’ll see a familiar name from the UConn Huskies in Jones who comes in at No. 10.

Right now, Jones projects out to be drafted in the 7th round. This is most likely due to the fact that he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury which he had repaired immediately afterwards.

His physical will NFL scouts if he’s healed from that injury. If he is, Jones will have the chance to prove himself and hopefully improve his draft stock.

photo credit: ©2015 Ian Bethune

From UConn:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – After helping lead the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to wins over No. 1 South Carolina and conference foe Tulane over the past week, junior guard Moriah Jefferson was honored as both the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week and the espnW National Player of the week, as announced on Monday morning.

The Husky point guard averaged 16.0 points on 68.4 percent shooting in the Huskies’ 2-0 week, dishing out 11 assists against only one turnover. The Glenn Heights, Texas native was nearly unstoppable from beyond the arc, converting on 71.4 percent from three-point range.

Jefferson, who is averaging 11.7 points in 26.8 minutes per game this season, has been one of the Huskies’ most consistent scoring options in In total, she ranks first on the team in assists (115) and steals (61) and is one of seven Huskies shooting over 50.0 percent from the floor (56.2). She provided a spark in UConn’s 87-62 victory over No. 1 South Carolina on Feb. 9, notching 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with a game-high six assists.

Jefferson’s 4.6 assists and 2.4 steals game averages are top in the American Athletic Conference.

Last week, she was selected to the Wooden Award Late Season Top-20 List as well as the Naismith Trophy Midseason Top-30 list. Additionally, the guard is among 31 candidates on the 2015 Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List.

In total, UConn has earned five conference Player of the Week accolades and five Freshman of the Week nods.

Jefferson and the Huskies return to the court on Tuesday, Feb. 1  when they host Houston at the XL Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on SNY.

From UConn:

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.- In the midst of her finest season in a UConn uniform, senior center Kiah Stokes (Marion, Iowa) was selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2014-15 Senior CLASS Award in women’s basketball, as announced on Thursday.

To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be classified as NCAA Division I seniors and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

Three former Husky greats, Sue Bird in 2002 and Maya Moore in 2011, and Stefanie Dolson in 2014, have been honored as the Senior CLASS Award winner.

A 2013-14 American Athletic Conference Second Team member, Stokes has enjoyed a stellar senior campaign, ranking third in the nation in blocks per game (4.5). On the offensive end of the court, she is one of seven Huskies shooting over 50.0 percent from the field (53.2) and averages a team-best 7.5 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game. On Jan. 28, Stokes recorded UConn’s fourth-ever triple-double, notching 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks in the Huskies’ 87-32 victory over East Carolina.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their athletic platforms to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

The finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 men’s candidates and 30 women’s candidates announced in October. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through March 23. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award recipients will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Men’s Final Four^® and NCAA Women’s Final Four^®.

For more information on each of the finalists, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.

Women’s Basketball Finalists

photo credit:  ©2015 Ian Bethune

If the Connecticut Huskies want a chance to defend their 2014 NCAA tournament championship, they’re going to have to put a run together in the second half of AAC conference play. After losing back-to-back games to Cincinnati and Houston, the Huskies won consecutive games vs East Carolina and Tulane and are currently sixth in the conference with a 6-4 record, three and a half games behind conference leading Tulsa.

There are over 100 UConn Huskies vs. SMU Mustangs tickets remaining, with an average ticket price of $149.30 and a get-in price of $67. Connecticut fans looking to get out of the snow in Storrs, CT can use Hipmunk.com to support their team at Moody Coliseum. Dallas flights are easily accessible from Bradley International Airport and for those wanting to spend the weekend in the Dallas, TX area, Dallas hotels can be arranged as well for as little as $78.

Connecticut can make up ground rather quickly, as they take on the top two teams in the conference in a three day span. After taking on Tulsa on February 12th, the Huskies travel to Dallas, Texas to face the possible first place SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum.

After winning eight consecutive conference games, SMU lost to Cincinnati on February 5th but rebounded right away, defeating Tulsa on the road 68-57, putting themselves a half game behind the Golden Hurricane in the standings.

The Valentine’s Day matchup between the Huskies and the Mustangs will feature two of the conference’s best guards in Ryan Boatright and Nic Moore. When Boatright, who is averaging 17.8 points per game with 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists, shoots under 40% from the field, the Huskies usually find themselves in trouble. Aside from their two losses against Duke and West Virginia, the Huskies have lost seven of their nine games when Boatright is under 40% from the field.

Moore has the knack of realizing when he has to be a distributor or when he has to be more scoring oriented. In their last four wins, Moore has had two games scoring over 20 points and two games scoring single digits.

Connecticut will have to reverse their fortunes on the road if they want to vault up the AAC standings. They’ve dropped their last three conference road games to Houston, Cincinnati and Tulsa, with a road loss to Stanford mixed in between.

UConn Huskies captains #73 Alex Mateas, #85 Geremy Davis, #46 Marquise Vann and #16 Byron Jones make their way onto the field for the coin toss at Rentschler Field on September 13, 2014.

From UConn:

INDIANAPOLIS – Geremy Davis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Byron Jones (New Britain, Conn.), who both served as senior captains for the 2014 season, will be among the NFL prospects working out for scouts, coaches and executives from Feb. 17-23 at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

The former Huskies will seek to improve their draft stock with interviews, individual workouts and position drills during their time in Indianapolis.

Davis concluded his career in 2014 as the most prolific receiver of UConn’s FBS era. In 46 games from 2011-14, the 6-3 wideout recorded 165 receptions and 2,292 receiving yards, both the most for any player at Connecticut since the Huskies moved to the FBS in 2002. Davis also posted at least one reception in the final 36 games of his career, tying a program record.

Overall in UConn history, he is in the top-six in receiving yards and receptions. In the 2013 season, Davis became the first player in UConn’s FBS era to post a 1,000-yard season, hauling in 71 passes for 1,085 yards. No performance was more impressive than a 15-catch, 207-yard day on Dec. 7. 2013 against Memphis, a contest that saw Davis set the UConn single-game record for receptions and record the fifth-highest single-game receiving yardage performance. He was named a captain prior to the 2014 season and finished his career with seven touchdown receptions and six 100-yard receiving games.

Also a team captain in 2014, Jones concluded his career in ’14 after starting 37 games in 43 career games in the secondary over the last four seasons. Playing at safety and cornerback during his time in Storrs, Jones finished with 223 tackles, 18 passes defended and eight interceptions in four years. He posted a career-high 88 tackles while playing at safety during the 2012 season, then set new career-bests with eight pass breakups and three interceptions in 2013 after converting to cornerback.

Despite an injury limiting his 2014 season to seven games, the 6-1 defensive back made history on Oct. 12, 2014 at USF. Jones returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the contest, becoming the third player in program history with a fumble return and interception return for a score in his career. The fumble recovery for a score also came against South Florida, on Oct. 15, 2011.

Stay tuned to UConnHuskies.com and follow @UConnFootball on twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on Davis and Jones during their time at the combine, as well as leading up to and including the 2015 NFL Draft.

UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco has filled out his coaching staff for what he hopes is a promising 2015 with Frank Verducci who spent the 2014 season FCS Northern Iowa.

Here’s the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – Frank Verducci, a 31-year veteran of the coaching profession with experience in both college football and the NFL, has been named the offensive coordinator at the University of Connecticut and will have position responsibility with the running backs.

During the 2011 season, Verducci was the run game coordinator and offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Florida and helped lead the Gators to a 24-17 win over Ohio State in the Gator Bowl.

Verducci was the offensive line and run game coordinator at Notre Dame during the 2009 season as the Irish ranked eighth in the country in total offense at 451.75 yards per game. He coached six offensive linemen that were later selected in the NFL Draft.

From 1999-2008, he spent ten years coaching in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals (1999-2001), Dallas Cowboys (2002), Buffalo Bills (2004-05) and the Cleveland Browns (2007-08).

“Frank brings 31 years of coaching experience on the offensive side of the ball to our UConn football program with a laundry list of personal and team accolades that are very special,” said UConn head coach Bob Diaco. “Another aspect of Frank that separated him from others is his experience on coaching the offensive front. I now have great balance on my offensive staff with three experts in the passing game and two experts in how to attack a defensive front. I thought it was important to have that balance rather than adding someone who specifically knows wide receivers or quarterbacks.

“Frank and I have a long-standing relationship because of the type of person he is. We come from the same coaching tree and we have the same philosophies on the development of young men.”

While with the Cowboys, Verducci’s offensive line helped pave the way for Emmitt Smith to break the all-time NFL career rushing record and he was also on the Bengals’ staff when Corey Dillon set the NFL’s single-game rushing record with 278 yards against the Denver Broncos in 2000.

In `07 with the Browns, Verducci helped the team to its best season in years as the Browns amassed 10 wins, the most since 1994, and finished eighth in the league in total offense – the team’s best since 1981. Verducci assisted with an offense that sent four players to the Pro Bowl, including tackle Joe Thomas, who became the first Browns offensive lineman ever named to the Pro Bowl.

Before his tenure in the NFL, Verducci was an assistant coach at Iowa from 1989-98, working with the offensive line and serving as run game coordinator from 1995-98. Iowa’s career, single-season and single-game rushing records were all broken under Verducci’s watch, along with the Hawkeye record for fewest sacks allowed (10 in 1994). He coached in eight bowl games, including two Rose Bowls during his time at Iowa.

During the 1997 season, Iowa led the Big Ten in scoring at 36.7 points per game (ninth nationally) and rushing offense at 235.0 yard per game, which was also eighth nationally.

Most recently, Verducci was the tight ends and offensive tackles coach for Northern Iowa in 2014. Northern Iowa led the FCS in red zone offense last year with a 98.0 scoring percentage.

Verducci, a 1980 graduate of Seton Hall University, was with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League in 2013. He served as the offensive line coach for the Alouettes, helping the team to the Eastern Division Semi-Finals and a No. 1 ranking in pass protection in the CFL.

He returned to the NFL in 2010 as a personnel/advance scout for the St. Louis Rams, working directly with the general manager to evaluate NFL personnel and scout upcoming opponents.

His first job out of college was at Northern Illinois University where he was named the running backs coach and oversaw the strength and conditioning program.

Verducci and his wife, Noel, have two children, Jack, who just completed a successful collegiate football career at Princeton this past fall, and Cammy, a standout high school basketball player

UConn F Gabby Williams (15) goes strong to the basket as she’s defended by Cincinnati F Marley Hill (35) in the first half at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

From UConn:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For the third time this season, University of Connecticut freshman Gabby Williams (Sparks, Nev.) has been named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday.

Williams averaged 17.0 points and 13.5 rebounds off the bench in a 2-0 week for the Huskies. She opened the week with a career-high 18 points to go along with 14 rebounds in the Huskies’ 96-36 victory over Cincinnati on Feb. 3 before dropping 16 points and pulling down 13 boards against Memphis on Feb. 7. Her performances marked the first time a Husky freshmen has recorded back-to-back double-doubles since Maya Moore in 2007-08.

Over her last six games, she is averaging 12.8 points on 68.0 percent shooting and 8.0 rebounds. Williams, who is one of seven Huskies shooting over 50.0 percent from the floor, boasts the squad’s top shooting percentage at .624.

Williams received her first Freshman of the Week accolade on Dec. 22 and followed up with a second on Jan. 12. In total, UConn has received  five Freshman of the Week and four Player of the Week nods in the 2014-15 campaign.

Williams and the Huskies return to action on Monday, Feb. 9 when they host the nation’s top-ranked team South Carolina at Gampel Pavilion at 8 p.m.

BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox slaps high fives with teamate after beating the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on September 24, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox won the game 11-3. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

As we prepare for spring training and the impending 2015 baseball season we all have our hopes set upon having a competitive team who contends for a playoff spot and beyond. In baseball parlance, 2014 was just a disaster of a season for the Boston Red Sox but it never had the feel of utter futility like the season of Valentine (2012) did. We want more of the joy from 2013 to return than the gut punch feeling of last year.

The Red Sox not unlike any other team will have some decision to make in shaping their final 25-man roster for the 2015 season which opens in Philadelphia facing the Phillies on April 6th.

In the off season they either dealth away, lost to free agency or retirement the following players. RP Burke Badenhop (FA/Reds), C David Ross (FA/Cubs), C Ryan Lavarnway (DFA/Dodgers), RP Alex Wilson (Traded/Tigers), LF Yoenis Cespedes (Traded/Tigers), SP Allen Webster (Traded/Diamondbacks), SP Rubby De La Rosa (Traded/Diamondbacks), 3B Will Middlebrooks (Trade/Padres), C Dan Butler (Traded/Nationals), SP Anthony Ranaudo (Traded/Rangers) and RP Drake Britton (DFA/Cubs).

In return they have brought in 3B Pablo Sandoval (FA/Giants), LF Hanley Ramirez (FA/Dodgers), SP Justin Masterson (FA/Cardinals), SP Rick Porcello (Trade/Tigers), SP Wade Miley (Trade/Diamonbacks), C Ryan Hanigan (Trade/Padres), RP Robbie Ross (Trade/Rangers), RP Alexi Ogando (FA/Rangers) and RP Anthony Varvaro (Trade/Braves). In addition they resigned Closer Koji Uehara, RP Craig Breslow, OF Daniel Nava (arb eligible), RP Junichi Tazawa (arb eligible) and Porcello (arb eligible). They also signed Miley to a new 3-year contract ($19 M) with a team option in 2018.

So let’s look at the potential final 25-man roster that Manager John Farrell and his staff could carry out Fort Myers into the 2015 season.

Starting Pitchers

In my mind whether I like it or not I truly feel that Farrell and pitching coach Juan Nieves view Clay “Bill The Cat” Buchholz as the team’s number one starter. I see why they would because when, and I must stress when, Buchholz is right and there’s no injury physically or mentally, he can be and has been lights out. Just look at the first half of 2013.

So if Buchholz is the opening day guy I see them going with newly acquired Rick Porcello in the two hole. Porcello is young, but like Buchholz has a lot of major league experience and has spent his career hanging around with guys like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and David Price so that can’t hurt.

That should then put left starter Wade Miley in the third slot in the rotation. Miley, who just got a nice new contract, is a bit of a wild card. If he pitches to the top of his talent level there is a solid 3 guy and his former pitching coach said he will have no issues handling the glare of Boston as compared to Arizona.

That means rounding out the back of the rotation is some combination of Joe Kelly and Justin Masterson to start out. Kelly is young and athletic and gets it up into the upper 90’s, while Masterson is built more like Roger Clemens with a heavy sinker.

Interesting to note only Buchholz is considered a fly ball guy while the other four are known more for getting ground balls and I’m not sure there’s a true strike out artist in the group even though most if not all five can get one when they need it.

Relief Pitchers

In the Boston bullpen it all starts and ends with Koji Uehara, the 40-year closer, who struggled a bit at the end of 2014 after two years of heavy use. When he is dialed in he is unhittable. He is sneaky fast, very deceptive in his delivery and has pinpoint control.

Farrell and Nieves have three guys they can go to in order to bridge the game the Koji. Edward Mujica, Tazawa and Breslow, who in addition to being a bridge may also be used at times as a situational lefty. Look for the newly acquired Ross to the situational lefty, with his former teammate Ogando and Varvaro to fill the other roles in the pen.

I’m going with Varvaro over Brandon Workman to start the season because Varvaro is out of options and would have to clear waivers to be sent down, where Workman still has options left.

Infielders

Let’s start behind the dish the team basically came out at the end of the season and said they are very comfortable with Christian Vazquez as the starter. Vazquez will not hit for much early on in his career but they expect that like Yadi Molina and Carlos ruiz that will come along as he gets older. What they like is his catching presence, defensively there is not much the kid from Puerto Rico doesn’t do well. The team also added C Ryan Hannigan in a deal with San Diego via Tampa Bay to be the back up. I see Hannigan playing about 50 games with a healthy Vazquez getting the other 110 or so.

Catching prospect Blake Swihart will be at Triple A Pawtucket this season and it’s a big year for Vazquez who will not doubt have Swihart pushing him in 2016. One of them could end up being a trade chip for something big at some point there’s alos the smaller chance the team keeps both a while as a catching tandem, but that’s unlikely to last long if at all.

First base belongs to Mike Napoli who returns from an injury plagued 2014 and post sleep apnea surgery. It’s the last season of Napoli’s contract so I expect big things from him.

Dustin Pedroia is full go once again post off season surgery and will once again to play every play of every game but as Pedroia starts to age a bit and these injuries take some sort of toll it may be wise for Farrell to hold him out more frequently or use him as a DH to give David Ortiz a break against a tough lefty.

Xander Bogaerts has survived it all in his short time in Boston, from a position change to severely struggling in the middle of the 2014 season but he is still here and working hard. Bogaerts needs to improve in the field there’s no doubt about that and I believe with coach Brian Butterfield that will happen, I mean look what Butter did for Derek Jeter as a young player. Hitting wise I feel Bogaerts will be fine if he can learn to make the necessary adjustments as staffs adjust to him.

No surprise that we now have a Panda manning the hot corner. Pablo Sandoval comes cross country and to a new league to try for his 4th World Series ring in 6 seasons. Huge upgrade over the position from last year plus he adds a left handed bat that was badly needed.

I’m also going to stick the previously mentioned Ortiz in here he may age but his desire to win, his attitude and infectous smile rarely, if never, change. He is starting his 13th season in Boston, he is a true living legend in Red Sox and Boston sports history and everytime he comes to bat he can change a game with one swing. Just ask Detroit, St. Louis, New York…

Outfielders

I’m going to say the starting outfield will be Ramirez in left, Rusney Castillo in center and Mookie Betts in RF. I feel Hanley and Castillo are obvious locks but it’s up to Mookie, face it the job is his to lose.

If Betts picks up where he was in 2014 Shane Victorino doesn’t get on the field and ends up as trade bait or a very valuable becnh piece who can play all three outfield postions and DH. If Betts falters in camp, he goes to Pawtucket, not as a punishment but so he can play everyday, get at bats and play in the outfield, which remember is a new position for him as late last season. Then he gets a chance with either injury, trade, poor play by someone on the big club or just being so damn good they can’t keep him in Pawtucket.

Bench

This is possibly the toughest to call. The one true given is Hanigan, as the back up catcher. After that there are some different looks. If Betts is the right fielder then Victorino goes to the bench and he either accepts this at the end of his career or he asks for a trade. Victorino on the bench may have more value to Boston then trading him to another team for a prospect or lower level major league player. As I stated in the outfielders section he can and has played all three outfield positions in his career, he has always been good defensively and could be the guy who spells Ortiz as a DH on occasion. He is also even more valuable if he continues to switch hit, which there are indications he will.

If that plays out were Betts is the starter and Victorino is on the bench, that leaves you Allen Craig who plays both corner outfield spots and first base and will also get some spring training work at third, a position he did play some in the past.

With the versatilty of Craig and Victorino, that leaves your extra infielder as Brock Holt who also plays the outfield and in the absence of Victorino on the bench would be Farrell’s only left handed bat option.

So where does this leave Daniel Nava? Good question and there are so many possibilities. If you use the above scenario of Ramirez, Castillo, Betts in the outfield with Craig, Victorino and Holt on the bench Nava is the odd man out and either goes to Pawtucket or gets moved.

Should Betts falter and goes to Pawtucket or there’s a trade involving Victorino or Craig you could see Nava on the bench as the 5th outfielder and back up first baseman.

The wild card could be Jackie Bradley Jr., who started last season as the starting center fielder only to struggle and return to Triple A for a spell and then he came off the bench at times towards the end of the season. If Bradley excells and out plays Nava or one of the veteran’s it could change the how complexion of the outfield or the bench. We know Bradley has great speed and is an incredible defensive oiutfielder and I’m sure there were calls on him this off season but the organziations see’s something in him and he has stuck around and before the season is out he could make a difference for this team more so than I think Nava could.

Here is my opening day roster projection for the 2015 Boston Red Sox: