Category Archives: Articles

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 4/2

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.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

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UConn Women’s Basketball links

Five UConn Women’s Starters, Five AP All-Americans [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn Women Are Heading To Nashville [sox & dawgs]

Sore left knee no concern for Hartley [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Geno Thrilled For Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Stokes Made Sizable Contribution Vs. Texas A&M [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn to play in second semifinal on Sunday [jim fuller – new haven register]

W. Basketball. Women’s Final Four Tickets Sold Out [uconnhuskies.com]

Cherish The Moment, Connecticut: Something’s Happening Here [hartford courant]

UConn Women Have Company On Top Of Basketball World [hartford courant]

UConn women have eyes on cutting down Nashville nets [new haven register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Video: UConn Men Arrive in Dallas [sox & dawgs]

Caron Butler To Huskies: ‘U-Conn Do It’ [dom amore – hartford courant]

Next Stop, Arlington: Notes, Quotes and Thoughts From Gampel [dom amore – hartford courant]

Ollie talks Final Four, his Dallas homecoming, etc. (video) [gavin keefe – the day]

UConn notebook: Huskies off to Dallas; Ollie swarmed with ticket requests [william paxton – ct post]

10 reasons why UConn can win the national championship [william paxton – ct post]

Eric Frede, Donny Marshall, Swin Cash To Call UConn-Florida On truTV [awful announcing]

UConn vet Olander finds role as mentor rewarding [ct post]

UConn Men Set For Return Trip To Texas, Return Game With Florida [hartford courant]

UConn Men Embrace Dance Move, The Three-Sweep [hartford courant]

Look Who’s Talking: Ollie Tells Daniels To Be More Vocal [hartford courant]

Huskies Hope Final Four Experience Helps Them Settle Down [hartford courant]

Cherish The Moment, Connecticut: Something’s Happening Here [hartford courant]

UConn recruits enjoying Huskies’ run to Final Four [new haven register]

It’s back to Texas for UConn men [the day]

Lucky Number Seven [sports on earth]

Sagemont’s Prince Ali enjoying UConn’s Final Four run [miami herald]

What prospects should OKC fans keep an eye on during the Final Four? [newok.com]

Pistons pair still backing the UConn Huskies [detroit news]

UConn Football links

UConn Football: “Dog House Party” Set To Jump Off For Students Wednesday [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

Softball. Tuesday Softball Game Postponed [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Brant Harris Signs with AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Golf. Annual Giannelli Classic & Golf Team Reunion Set For May 9 [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. UConn Topped At Boston College, 2-1 [uconnhuskies.com]

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Five UConn Women’s Starters, Five AP All-Americans

STORRS, Conn. – For the first time since the 2001-02 season and the second time in program history, five Huskies have earned All-American recognition from the Associated Press as announced by the organization Tuesday morning. Sophomore standout Breanna Stewart (Syracuse, N.Y.) headlined the squad as a unanimous First Team All-American selection. The senior duo of Bria Hartley (North Babylon, N.Y.) and Stefanie Dolson (Port Jervis, N.Y.) both earned Second Team choices. Sophomore Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, Texas) and junior Pre-Season All-American Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) were recognized with Honorable Mention laurels.

The feat marks the second time in program history that five Connecticut players have received AP recognition. In 2001-02, the combination of Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Diana Taurasi, Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams collected five AP All-American accolades en route to winning the first of what would be three consecutive National Championships.

Breanna Stewart becomes the first Husky to earn AP First Team All-American accolades since Maya Moore in the 2010-11 season and collects UConn’s 17^th First Team nod in program history. A Preseason All-American, Stewart leads the Huskies with an average 19.4 points per game and ranks second on the UConn roster in rebounding with 8.1 boards per contest. Stewart not only delivers on the offensive end, but the 6-4 forward leads the squad with 106 blocks on the season, helping UConn set a new NCAA single-season record for rejections with 313.

Among her numerous career numbers this season, Stewart registered a career-high in points after she netted 37 against Temple in January, representing the eighth-highest total by a Husky in program history. She has logged 11 double-doubles this season and scored more than 20 points on 20 occasions. Opponents have held Stewart to fewer than 10 points in just two games this season. The American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, Stewart went on to lock up the league’s Player of the Year award before earning Most Outstanding Player in the American Tournament by averaging 21.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in UConn’s run to the inaugural championship. The Syracuse native was named a USBWA All-American earlier this week along with fellow New Yorkers Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley. Stewart is also a finalist for the Wade Trophy, the Wooden Award, and the Naismith Trophy. EspnW.com also chose Stewart as their Player of the Year recipient.

Bria Hartley collects her first All-American honor from the Associated Press after being named a State Farm First Team All-American in 2011-12. The senior has been exceptional in her final season at Connecticut, averaging 16.3 points per game and dishing out 166 assists. On Feb. 19, Hartley earned membership to an elite UConn club when she grabbed her 500^th rebound to join Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi as the only trio to amass 1,500 points/500 assists/500 rebounds. The senior currently owns 1,968 career points, needing 32 to become just the eighth Husky to reach 2,000 career points. Her 255 3-point field goals ranks fifth all-time at Connecticut. Hartley is a finalist for the Wade and Wooden Awards and was named a USBWA All-American.

Stefanie Dolson, the 2013-14 American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Sportsmanship Award winner, enters the Final Four averaging 12.4 points per game and leading the team in rebounding with 9.2 boards per contest. The senior ranks 11^th all-time in program scoring with 1,770 career points and joins the elite company of Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Rebecca Lobo, and Jamelle Elliott to register at least 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Dolson also boasts the distinction of joining Kara Wolters as the only two Huskies to four-peat as conference All-Tournament selections. To top the list, the senior recorded just the program’s second triple-double against Oregon on Nov. 20 before Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis posted the third. Dolson is also a finalist for the Wade and Wooden Awards and joined Hartley and Stewart with her second consecutive USBWA All-American laurels.

Moriah Jefferson, the spark plug of the UConn starting lineup, has been exceptional in her sophomore season. Her 99 steals and 184 assists lead the team and represent the second-highest totals by a sophomore in program history. Her assists-to-turnover ratio of 2.9 ranks 12^th in Division I and is on pace to shatter numbers posted by some of UConn’s most accomplished point guards in their respective sophomore seasons, including Diana Taurasi (2.51 in 2001-02), Sue Bird (2.00 in 1999-2000), and Renee Montgomery (1.72 in 2006-07). Jefferson also averages 10.2 points per game and leads the team with a 58.2 field goal percentage on the season. In her last seven games she has been exceptional, shooting 68.1 percent from the floor and 66.6 from behind the 3-point arc in that span. A 2013-14 American All-Conference First Team Selection, Jefferson is one of five finalists for the 2014 Nancy Lieberman Award, awarded to the nation’s top point guard.

Despite an injury-plagued junior season, perhaps no player has been more clutch down the stretch than Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. The junior averages 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game but has been exceptional in UConn’s four NCAA Tournament games thus far. The California native is averaging 17.2 point and 9.5 rebounds in Tournament play, including UConn’s third-ever triple-double performance against Saint Joseph’s in the Second Round and a follow-up double-double against BYU in the Regional Semifinals. The AP Preseason All-American was named to the American All-Conference Second Team and earned a spot on the league’s All-Tournament Team. In recognition of her dominant performance in Nebraska this past weekend the junior forward was named Most Outstanding Player of the Lincoln Region.

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 4/1

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

Video: UConn Women Advance To Final Four With Win Over Texas A&M [sox & dawgs]

UConn Huskies Women’s Basketball Final Four Apparel [sox & dawgs]

UConn’s Dolson, Hartley and Stewart Honored as All-Americans by the USBWA [sox & dawgs]

Huskies advance to 7th straight Final Four [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

KML proves again she’s a prime-time player [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

UConn Makes The Final Four Again [john altavilla – hartford courant]

UConn Basketball: The Center Of The Universe Again [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Mosqueda-Lewis Named Regional MOP [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn doubling their Final Four pleasure [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn headed back to Final Four [jim fuller – new haven register]

Last season’s UConn/Texas A&M viewed as ancient history [jim fuller – new haven register]

Ticket and Travel Information for Nashville [uconnhuskies.com]

KML, UConn advance to Final 4 for 7th straight season [ct post]

UConn Women Defeat Texas A&M, Join The Men In Final Four [hartford courant]

Texas A&M’s Blair: UConn’s Football Program Holding It Back [hartford courant]

Numbers Don’t Lie; Huskies Dominate The Game [hartford courant]

UConn women earn seventh straight trip to Final Four [new haven register]

For UConn, that makes it seven in a row [the day]

Two for the Show [the day]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Video: Shabazz Napier – College Basketball’s Best Player [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn Huskies vs Florida Gators Final Four Preview [sox & dawgs]

UConn’s Shabazz Napier Named To Wooden All-American Team [sox & dawgs]

UConn’s Shabazz Napier Named AP First Team All-American [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn Men Are Heading to the Final Four [sox & dawgs]

UConn In Final Four: Window Shopping The Secondary Ticket Market [dom amore – hartford courant]

Huskies-Gators II: Billy Donovan on UConn, Kevin Ollie, Shabazz Napier [dom amore – hartford courant]

Billy Donovan, Kevin Ollie Talk About Upcoming Final Four Matchup [david borges – new haven register]

Final Four: UConn, Florida ready for rematch [john silver – snyuconn.com]

UConn, Florida familiar foes [ct post]

Can UConn Beat Florida In The Final Four? Go To The Tape [hartford courant]

Ollie Proud To Be Role Model For African American Coaches [hartford courant]

UConn hoping for more ‘luck’ vs. Gators [new haven register]

Win against Florida worth playing again [the day]

Shabazz is Shabazz, Kemba is Kemba, Let’s Stop Comparing Them [zagsblog.com]

Despite Jim Calhoun’s presence, Kevin Ollie insists this is his UConn team [ny daily news]

UConn’s star guards carry Huskies into Final Four [usa today sports]

Four questions about each Final Four team: UConn, Florida, Kentucky and Wisconsin [si.com]

UConn Football links

Texas A&M’s Blair: UConn’s Football Program Holding It Back [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. UConn Baseball Set For Midweek Action [uconnhuskies.com]

Softball. Softball Visits Boston University For Tuesday Showdown [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Tennis. Huskies Come Up Short in 4-3 Loss to Temple [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Tennis. Huskies Drop AAC Match to Temple, 5-1 [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Rowing. Rowing Competes At Murphy Cup [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Rowing. Rowing Competes At Miami To End Spring Training [uconnhuskies.com]

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

UConn Huskies Women’s Basketball Final Four Apparel

Be sure to get your UConn Huskies women’s basketball Lincoln Region Championship t-shirt and other apparel to support UConn as they go for their ninth national championship next weekend.

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

UConn’s Shabazz Napier Named AP First Team All-American

STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut senior guard Shabazz Napier (Roxbury, Mass.) was named a first team All-American by the Associated Press on Monday.

Today’s announcement marked the third time Napier has earned First Team All-America honors this season. He was named a first team All-American by both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association earlier this month after leading the Huskies to a 24-7 regular season record and a berth in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

The UConn guard has led Connecticut in points (18.1), rebounds (5.9) assists (4.9) and steals (1.7) this season, and he was named the East Regional’s Most Outstanding Player this weekend after tallying 93 points through four games of NCAA Tournament, good for the second highest total among all players. Napier and the Huskies will face top-seeded Florida in the Final Four on Saturday after UConn knocked off fourth-seeded Michigan State, 60-54, on Sunday behind 25 points from the senior guard. Connecticut was the last team to beat Florida this season, defeating the Gators, 65-64, at Gampel Pavilion on a Napier buzzer-beater.

Napier was joined on the first team by Creighton senior forward Doug McDermott, Louisville senior guard Russ Smith, Cincinnati senior guard Sean Kilpatrick and Duke freshman forward Jabari Parker. Napier beat out Smith and Kilpatrick for Player of the Year honors in the American Athletic Conference, which became the first league to have three players be named AP first team All-Americans since the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2001-02.

Connecticut’s game against Florida is set to tip off in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 6:09 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised on TBS and it can be heard on the UConn IMG Radio Network.

2014 AP All-American First Team

Doug McDermott, Creighton, 6-8, 225, Senior, Forward, Ames, Iowa
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, 6-1, 180, Senior, Guard, Roxbury, Mass.
Jabari Parker, Duke, 6-8, 235, Freshman, Forward, Chicago, Ill.
Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati, 6-4, 210, Senior, Guard, Yonkers, N.Y.
Russ Smith, Louisville, 6-0, 165, Senior, Guard, Brooklyn, N.Y.

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photo credit: brad horrigan – hartford courant

UConn’s Shabazz Napier Named To Wooden All-American Team

Los Angeles (March 31, 2014)— The 10-player John R. Wooden Award All American Team was released today by The Los Angeles Athletic Club and announced on the ESPNU show “Katz Korner.” The 10 players were selected by a voting base of nearly 1,000 college basketball experts throughout the nation and by fans through the Fan Voting site woodenawardvote.com.

The Top 5 vote-getters have been invited to Los Angeles for the Wooden Award Gala presented by Wendy’s on April 11 and were highlighted on the show. In alphabetical order, the invited players are Wichita State’s Cleanthony Early, Arizona’s Nick Johnson, Creighton’s Doug McDermott, Duke’s Jabari Parker, and Louisville’s Russ Smith.

The All American Team is made up of the 10 student-athletes who received the most votes, with voters ranking the balloted players from 1 to 10. All players have proven to their universities that they are making progress toward graduation and are maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA, an important component of the Award insisted upon by Coach Wooden. Voters could consider performance during the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Women’s All American team will be released Wednesday.

Rounding out the All American Team, also in alphabetical order, are Sean Kilpatrick of Cincinnati, Shabazz Napier of Connecticut, Casey Prather of Florida, Nik Stauskas of Michigan and Andrew Wiggins of Kansas. The John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s Men’s Player of the Year will be announced on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Friday, April 4 in Dallas, Texas. The 38th Annual Wooden Award Gala presented by Wendy’s will honor the male and female Wooden Award winners, and will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, this year given to Stanford Head Women’s Basketball Coach Tara VanDerveer. The Gala will take place April 11, 2014 at The Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Creighton senior forward Doug McDermott, a Wooden Award All American in 2012 and 2013, is the only returner to the team and is the first three-time selection on the men’s side since North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough (2007-09). McDermott is the nation’s leading scorer at 26.7 points per game, and his 3,150 career points puts him No. 5 on the NCAA all-time scoring list. He led the Bluejays to the last three NCAA Tournaments.

Early of Wichita State led the Shockers to an amazing 34-0 regular season record, averaging 16.4 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 84% from the free throw line. Johnson of Arizona did it all for the Wildcats, pouring in 16.3 points and adding 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists while taking his team to the Elite Eight. Parker was one of two freshmen chosen to the All American team; he averaged 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds for Duke. Smith led Louisville to the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles, averaging 18.2 points and 4.6 assists.

The American Athletic Conference placed the most players on the John R. Wooden Award All American Team with three. The Pac-12, Big 12, SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Missouri Valley and Big East each had one selection.

2013-14 John R. Wooden Award^®
Presented by Wendy’s^®
2013-14 All American Team

Name	Ht.	Yr.	Pos.	School	Conference
Cleanthony Early	6-8	Sr.	F	Wichita State	Missouri Valley
Nick Johnson	6-3	Jr.	G	Arizona	Pac-12
Sean Kilpatrick	6-4	Sr.	G	Cincinnati	The American
Doug McDermott*#	6-8	Sr.	F	Creighton	Big East
Shabazz Napier	6-1	Sr.	G	Connecticut	The American
Jabari Parker	6-8	Fr.	F	Duke	ACC
Casey Prather	6-6	Sr.	F	Florida	SEC
Russ Smith	6-0	Sr.	G	Louisville	The American
Nik Stauskas	6-6	So.	G	Michigan	Big Ten
Andrew Wiggins	6-8	Fr.	G	Kansas	Big 12

Players listed alphabetically

* indicates player chosen to the 2013 Wooden All American Team

# indicates player chosen to the 2012 Wooden All American Team

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UConn’s Dolson, Hartley and Stewart Honored as All-Americans by the USBWA

LINCOLN, Neb. – Senior center Stefanie Dolson, senior guard Bria Hartley and sophomore forward Breanna Stewart have earned a spot on the United States Basketball Writers Association All-America Team as announced by the USBWA on Monday, March 31.

The USBWA Women’s All-America Team is the nation’s best ten players, regardless of position, as selected by the USBWA membership based on regular-season performance. These ten standouts are finalists for the USBWA’s Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as the national player of the year, which will be announced Sunday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., at 3:30 p.m. ET prior to the start of the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Dolson earns her second-straight USBWA All-America Team selection while Hartley and Stewart earn the honor for the first time. The Huskies have had at least one selection on the 10-member team in six of the last seven seasons. Dolson is the fifh Husky to earn multiple selections to the team, which began in 1996, joining Nykesha Sales, Svetlana Abrosimova, Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore.

The UConn trio were recently selected as 10 finalists for the 2014 Wade Trophy. The USBWA All-America Team included three members from the same team for only the second time. Tennessee earned three selections during the 1998-99 season.

Dolson, the 2013-14 American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Sportsmanship Award winner, is enjoying a stellar senior campaign, averaging 12.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. The senior ranks 12th on UConn’s all-time scoring list with 1,747 career points and became only the fifth Husky all-time, along with Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Rebecca Lobo, and Jamelle Elliott, to register at least 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

Hartley, an American Athletic Conference First Team member, ranks second on the team with16.5 points per game and now sits in ninth place in UConn scoring history with 1,942 points, including 20 points in the Huskies’ second round win over Saint Joseph’s on Tuesday. The guard became just the third Husky, joining Moore and Diana Taurasi, to register 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. Earlier this month, Hartley was selected as one of 19 nominees for the James E. Sullivan Award, which honors the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete.

Stewart has been one of the nation’s most prolific players in the 2013-14 season, earning both American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and espnW Player of the Year accolades. The sophomore is averaging a team-high 19.7 points per game and has reached double digits in 27 straight games. Stewart was recently chosen as one of four finalists for the 2014 Naismith Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s top collegiate basketball player.

Following is the complete 2013-14 USBWA Women’s All-America Team:

2013-14 USBWA WOMEN’S ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Player, School	Pos.	Ht.	Cl.	Hometown
Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut	C	6-5	Sr.	Port Jervis, N.Y.
Bria Hartley, Connecticut	G	5-8	Sr.	North Babylon, N.Y.
Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame	G	5-10	So.	Lincolnwood, Ill.
Maggie Lucas, Penn State	G	5-10	Sr.	Narberth, Pa.
Kayla McBride, Notre Dame	G	5-11	Sr.	Erie, Pa.
Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford	F	6-4	Sr.	Cypress, Texas
Shoni Schimmel, Louisville	G	5-9	Sr.	Mission, Ore.
Odyssey Sims, Baylor	G	5-8	Sr.	Irving, Texas
Breanna Stewart, Connecticut	F	6-4	So.	Syracuse, N.Y.
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland	F	6-2	Sr.	Harrisburg, Pa.
By conference: American Athletic (4); ACC (3); Big Ten (1); Big 12 (1); Pac-12 (1).
By class: Seniors (8); Sophomores (2).

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Red Sox 2014 Opening Day Delight

The Boston Red Sox look to defend their 2013 World Series Championship as they open up the season. They’ll begin their quest for two straight with the first game of a three-game set this afternoon with the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Orioles market, you can catch the game on MASN. If you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as ESPN2 will have coverage of the game. You can also catch the game online at WatchESPN. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jon Lester makes his fourth straight Opening Day start for the Red Sox. He made 33 starts in 2013 and was 15-8 with a 3.75 ERA. Four of those starts came against the Birds in which he went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA. He’s made 25 career starts against the O’s and is 15-3 with a 2.94 ERA. 13 of those starts have come at Camden Yards where he is 8-1 with a 2.99 ERA.

Chris Tillman makes his first career Opening Day start for the Orioles. He made 33 starts in 2013 and was 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA. Six of those starts came against the Red Sox where he went 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA. He’s made 11 career starts against the Red Sox and is 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA. Six of those starts have come at Camden Yards where he is 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA.

0-0		0-0
1. Daniel Nava	RF	1. Nick Markakis	RF
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. J.J. Hardy	SS
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Adam Jones	CF
4. Mike Napoli	1B	4. Chris Davis	1B
5. Mike Carp	LF	5. Nelson Cruz	LF
6. Grady Sizemore	CF	6. Matt Wieters	C
7. Xander Bogaerts	SS	7. Delmon Young	DH
8. A.J. Pierzynski	C	8. Ryan Flaherty	3B
9. Will Middlebrooks	3B	9. Jonathan Schoop	2B
Jon Lester	SP	Chris Tillman	SP

NOTES:

The Red Sox placed Shane Victorino on the 15-day DL before the game. To take his place on the 25-man roster, Jackie Bradley Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

More links will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

How great is David Ortiz? [sox & dawgs]

Bradley Jr. May Have Needed to Be Optioned to Pawtucket Even if Sizemore Wasn’t Involved [sox & dawgs]

2014 Red Sox Preview [boston globe]

Check out our 2014 Red Sox preview section [boston herald]

The curious case of Shane Victorino: A reminder to expect the unexpected [rob bradford – weei.com]

Jon Lester on contract uncertainty: ‘If I use that for motivation, I’ve got problems’ [clubhouse insider]

Without Shane Victorino, Mike Carp makes start in left field — plus, American flag blazers at White House? [clubhouse insider]

How patriotic are Red Sox feeling for White House visit? [clubhouse insider]

Red Sox preview: Getting to know the 2014 Sox [csn new england]

Bogaerts ready for his first Opening Day [csn new england]

Ortiz (calf) says he’ll be ‘fine’ [csn new england]

Red Sox have rest scheduled for Sizemore [csn new england]

Lester still honored to start Opening Day [csn new england]

Middlebrooks hopes new contacts lead to more contact [csn new england]

Bradley Jr.: I’m ready whenever called upon [csn new england]

Breslow ‘shooting for’ Saturday to come off DL [csn new england]

Replay ‘will take getting used to’ says Farrell [csn new england]

Opening Day roster, with salaries [espn boston]

Lester trusts it’s not beginning of end [espn boston]

Boston Red Sox, John Farrell not worried about repeating as World Series champs [espn boston]

On deck? Star-spangled blazers [espn boston]

Opening notes: The Shesta files [espn boston]

Red Sox open 2014 season in Baltimore [espn boston]

Let the games begin: Red Sox ready to face Orioles on Opening Day [extra bases]

Jon Lester talks contract (again): ‘If I use that as motivation, I’ve got problems’ [full count]

Jonny Gomes on setting tone in opener: ‘We know the tone’ [full count]

Ken Rosenthal on D&C: Sox will have issue if Shane Victorino is banged up [full count]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Orioles and Opening Day [projo sox blog]

Red Sox have no players among baseball’s 30 highest-paid [providence journal]

Craig Breslow to rehab with PawSox, hopeful for a quick return [providence journal]

Calm Bogaerts eager for first Opening Day [redsox.com]

Victorino’s availability uncertain for Opening Day [redsox.com]

Cohesive as can be, Sox open title defense vs. O’s [redsox.com]

The vision thing: Why things are looking clearer for Will Middlebrooks after a monster spring [alex speier – weei.com]

As Xander Bogaerts moves from prospect to cornerstone, new challenges await [alex speier – weei.com]

Red Sox repeat might be improbable, but don’t we know that ‘anything is possible’? [touching all the bases]

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

photo credits: getty images, getty images

Red Sox Place Victorino on DL; Bradley, Jr. Recalled

When the Boston Red Sox released their 2014 Opening Day roster, OF Shane Victorino was on it even though he was sent home to get an MRI.

Unfortunately for Victorino, the MRI showed a strain of his right hamstring and he was placed on the 15-day DL. To take his place on the 25-man roster, the Red Sox recalled Jackie Bradley Jr. from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Here’s the release from the Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA – Prior to today’s season opener in Baltimore, the Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Shane Victorino on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to March 30) with a right hamstring strain. To fill his spot on the 25-man roster, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

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

Victorino, 33, suffered the injury while running the bases in Saturday’s Grapefruit League finale against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, FL. In 10 games this spring, he batted .250 (7-for-28) with three doubles, one RBI, and three runs scored.

Bradley, 23, went 9-for-57 (.158) with four doubles, one triple, five RBI, and two runs scored in 19 Grapefruit League games this spring, his second straight year in major league camp. He began the spring with 15 appearances in center field and played his last three games in right field.

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 3/31

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

It’s game day for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they’ll take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the Elite Eight at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, NE. Tip is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN. You can also catch the game online at WatchESPN.com. If you live locally in Connecticut and can’t watch the game, you can always listen to Bob Joyce and Debbie Fiske on the UConn IMG Radio Network.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women’s Basketball links

UConn Women’s Basketball Elite Eight Pregame Quotes [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn Women Prepare For Elite Eight [sox & dawgs]

Huskies make young fan feel welcome [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Jefferson, Jones meet with Final Four on line [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

UConn, Texas A&M 40 minutes from Final Four [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

The “New” Mosqueda-Lewis Looks Good Now – And Likely Later [john altavilla – hartford courant]

The Heat Is On For UConn – Monday Is Also Trivia Quiz Day [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Gary Blair’s Perspective On UConn Is Worth Hearing [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Competitors On Monday, Friends Forever [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Geno Aureimma Says Don’t Look Down [john altavilla – hartford courant]