Category Archives: Articles

Enter To Win The 2013 Boston Red Sox World Series Collector’s Edition 8-DVD Set

Spring training is underway and soon the Boston Red Sox will begin their quest to defend their 2013 World Series Championship.

Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series Collector's Edition 8-DVD SetAnd what better way to relive it with your very own Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series Collector's Edition 8 DVD set.

Included in the 8 DVD set are:

– All six games from the 2013 World Series

– The Complete ALCS Game 6

 – Bonus disc which includes highlights from all 11 regular season walk-off wins, team and player milestones, AL East clinching celebration, postseason highlights and more.

Enter below to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

 

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/20

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

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. 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.

It's game day for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team as they are in the City of Brotherly Love for a matchup with the Temple Owls. Tip is scheduled for 9 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN2. You can also watch the game online at WatchESPN. If you live locally and can't watch the game, you can always listen to Joe D. and Wayne Norman on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network.

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

UConn Men's Basketball links

c

UConn Eyes Owls; NBA Scouts Eye Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright, DeAndre Daniels [david borges – new haven register]

Two years later: How stacked was that 2011-12 team? [kevin duffy – ct post]

Calhoun ready to play, but can he play well? [john silver – snyuconn.com]

No. 21 UConn Travels To Philadelphia To Meet Temple On Thursday [uconnhuskies.com]

Temple endures tough season as it awaits UConn [ct post]

No. 21 UConn Men Face Improved Temple In Philadelphia [hartford courant]

UConn men can't look past Temple [new haven register]

UConn's Boatright looks to get untracked tonight [the day]

Arizona, Florida Among Those Recruiting Slovakian 7-Footer [zagsblog.com]

UConn Women's Basketball links

c

Stewart, Hartley hit milestones as UConn rolls [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

For Geno Auriemma, It All Began In New Rochelle [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Auriemma Business Associate Dies In Freak Accident [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Notes From UConn’s 83-35 Win [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Tentative? Chong? Not On Wednesday [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Debbie Baer-Fiske And The Supportive Approach [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Stewart Is Fifth UConn Sophomore To Reach 1,000 [rich elliott – ct post]

Jefferson Received Some Much Needed Rest Vs. UCF [rich elliott – ct post]

Positives abound for UConn after UCF win [jim fuller – new haven register]

Game report: Stewart, UConn women thump Central Florida [ct post]

Hartley has risen to elite company with UConn [ct post]

UConn Breezes Past Central Florida, 83-35 [hartford courant]

In AAC, Plane Travel Is The Name Of The Game [hartford courant]

No. 1 UConn crushes Central Florida [new haven register]

Geno Overtime: On Louisville coach Jeff Walz [snyuconn.com]

Huskies stay hot [the day]

The UConn Women & The Numbers Game [cbs connecticut]

UConn Football links

What’s Going On With UConn Football, Spring Ball Less Than A Month Away [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Following Up With UConn Coach Bob Diaco On Recruiting, Philosophy [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Diaco Optimistic, Says UConn Football Team Taking Shape [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

W. Ice Hockey. UConn's Jessica Lutz Leads Switzerland To Bronze In Sochi [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Tennis. Huskies Fall at Boston University, 7-0 [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Swimming. Huskies Set Two School Records In Opening Day Of Conference Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Swimming. UConn Diver Taryn Urbanus Wins The 3-Meter In Day One Of Conference Championships [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn Club. Annual UConn Club Auction – Saturday, March 1, 2014 [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Huskies Faces Army in AHA Series; Senior Night Set for Friday at Freitas [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. UConn Heads South For Baseball At The Beach Tournament [uconnhuskies.com]

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

UConn’s Shabazz Napier On List Of 23 For Cousy Award

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn senior guard Shabazz Napier (Roxbury, Mass.) has been named one of 23 watch list finalists for the 2014 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to honor the top point guard in college basketball. 

Bob Cousy AwardNapier has also been named to the final watch lists for the John R. Wooden Award, the Senior CLASS Award, the Oscar Robertson Trophy, and the Naismith Award. The senior guard leads the 20-5 Huskies in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and minutes played. He was a unanimous choice to the American Athletic Conference Preseason First Team and has been named the AAC Player of the Week four times this season and to the league's weekly Honor Roll seven times. He is an All-American candidate and a candidate for AAC Player of the Year. 

The Cousy Award, which UConn guard Kemba Walker won in 2011, had an original watch list of 80 players across the country. It was narrowed to 23 byh a nationally-based committee. 

"The 23 athletes on this list represent the most committed, determined and skillful point guards in college basketball," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "We are honored to be recognizing their strengths and are excited to move forward in the selection process." 

"The men on this list all have the athletic qualities of an exceptional true point guard in the game of college basketball, the same qualities that made Mr. Cousy an iconic player," said Ken Kaufman, Chair of the Bob Cousy Award and former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). "All of these young men are on this list because they deserve to be competing for this well-respected award." 

Beginning Tuesday (2/18) through March 10th, fans from around the country will have the chance to vote for the top point guard in college basketball – fan voting begins on  www.cousyaward.com at 10 a.m. The current listing of 23 finalists for the 2014 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed down to five players by early March. The final five players in contention for the award will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Hall of Fame committee is made up of top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Hall of Famers and Sports Information Directors.

The winner of the 2014 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the Hall of Fame's Class Announcement on Championship Monday in North Texas as part of NCAA Final Four weekend. In addition to UConn's Walker, previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award have included Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), Acie Law (Texas A & M), DJ Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), Kendall Marshall (North Carolina) and last year's recipient, Trey Burke (Michigan). 

For more information on the 2014 Bob Cousy Award, log onto www.CousyAward.com.

 2014 Bob Cousy Award Candidates

Jahii Carson Arizona State University

Kevin Pangos Gonzaga University

Siyani Chambers Harvard University

Yogi Ferrell Indiana University

DeAndre Kane Iowa State University

Jason Brickman LIU Brooklyn

Keith Appling Michigan State University

Aaron Craft Ohio State University

Marcus Smart Oklahoma State University

Xavier Thames San Diego State University

Tyler Ennis Syracuse University

T.J. McConnell University of Arizona

Justin Cobbs University of California, Berkeley

Kyle Anderson University of California, Los Angeles

Shabazz Napier University of Connecticut

Scottie Wilbekin University of Florida

Chaz Williams University of Massachusetts

Kendall Williams University of New Mexico

Marcus Paige University of North Carolina

Eric Atkins University of Notre Dame

James Robinson University of Pittsburgh

Juwan Staten West Virginia University

Fred Van Vleet Wichita State University

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

Shabazz Napier Named American Athletic Conference Player Of The Week

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Following a stellar week in which he led UConn to a pair of victories, including an overtime victory over No. 20 Memphis, senior guard Shabazz Napier (Roxbury, Mass.) has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the fourth time this season.

Napier is the only player in the conference to be given the accolade four times this season. The senior guard has also been named to the conference’s weekly Honor Roll on seven other separate occasions. UCF’s Justin McBride was named the Rookie of the Week

In wins over USF and Memphis, he averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 52.2 percent from the field.

Napier had a career-high 34 points with five rebounds in UConn’s 86-81 victory over Memphis on Saturday afternoon.

For the season, Napier leads UConn in scoring (18.0), rebounding (5.8), assists (5.5), steals (1.88), and minutes played (34.2).  

He was also named the conference Player of the week on Nov. 25 after wins over Boston College and Indiana, on Dec. 9 following victories against Florida and Maine, and on Jan. 27 after wins over Temple and Rutgers.

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

UConn Football Coach Ernest Jones Resigns

STORRS, Conn. (February 17, 2014) – University of Connecticut assistant football coach Ernest T. Jones has resigned his position at UConn effective immediately. The University or the Division of Athletics will have no further comment on the matter as it is personnel related.

According to Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant, Jones resigned for personal reasons and not because of the "Jesus in the Huddle" comments.

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

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/16

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

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. 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.

It's game day for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team as they are in sunny Tampa, FL for a matchup with the USF Bulls. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network. If you can't catch the game on television and are local to Connecticut, you can listen to Bob Joyce and Debbie Fiske on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network.

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

UConn Women's Basketball links

Jefferson dishing, swishing at record pace [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Geno Has Literally Felt Jose Fernandez’ Pain [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Geno’s 1,000th Game News [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Doug Bruno And The Seventh-Inning Stretch [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Banks Practices In Full, Ready To Go Sunday At South Florida [rich elliott – ct post]

Stokes Ready To Produce For Short-handed Huskies [rich elliott – ct post]

Banks eager to get back on court for UConn [jim fuller – new haven register]

As South Florida Prepares For UConn, Coach Battling Ailment [hartford courant]

UConn women hurting, but upcoming schedule is kind [new haven register]

Fernandez expected to coach Bulls today against UConn [tampa tribune]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Wrapping Things Up At XL … [dom amore – hartford courant]

Mike Aresco Addresses Some Concerns About American Athletic Conference [david borges – new haven register]

UConn-Memphis: We Could Get Used to This [david borges – new haven register]

Post-game breakdown, video: Memphis [gavin keefe – the day]

Naughty by Napier [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

AAC commish Arseco talks hoops, stipends and Cincy wanting to leave [william paxton – ct post]

Notebook: Chippy play, Nolan’s big board and the sixth man [william paxton – ct post]

Report card: Free throws, turnovers save the day for UConn [william paxton – ct post]

Napier, Boatright the best around [john silver – snyuconn.com]

UConn’s Napier Making One Last Run [john silver – zagsblog.com]

Clean Sweep [uconn huskies basketball]

Game report: UConn grinds out OT win over Memphis [ct post]

UConn's backcourt lands biggest blows on Memphis [ct post]

This is true AAC basketball, at least for now [ct post]

Huskies Win Grueling Battle In OT [hartford courant]

Boatright Hits 1,000-Point Mark [hartford courant]

UConn-Memphis Rivalry Is Just What AAC Needs [hartford courant]

The Bazz and Boat Show, featuring Phil Nolan [hartford courant]

Watch Andre Drummond's Moses Malone impression from NBA All-Star Weekend [new haven register]

UConn fights past Memphis [the day]

Battle of AAC haves rocks the XL Center [waterbury republican-american]

UConn Football links

Rest In Peace Joe…UConn Football Alum Joe McCormick Dies At 101 [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

Aresco: AAC will match Power 5 [john silver – snyuconn.com]

W. Lacrosse. UConn Falls To No. 12 UMass, 7-5, In Season Opener [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. UConn Offense Stymied In 3-0 Loss To Indiana State [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Ice Hockey. UConn Shut Out At Northeastern, 3-0 [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Track. UConn Caps Superb Showing at Scarlet and White Invitational [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Huskies Rebound for 5-0 Win at Holy Cross [uconnhuskies.com]

Mike Aresco promises AAC will run with the power five [new haven register]

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

Red Sox, Miller Agree To One-Year Deal

The streak continues for the Boston Red Sox avoiding arbitration as the team and LHP Andrew Miller agreed on a one-year deal worth $1.9 million.

Boston Red SoxMiller had asked for $2.15 million while the Red Sox offered $1.55 million.

Here's the official release:

BOSTON, MA-The Boston Red Sox today agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for the 2014 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration. Terms were not disclosed. 

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

Miller, 28, went 1-2 with a career-best 2.64 ERA for the Red Sox last season but was limited to 37 games due to a left foot injury that required season-ending Lis-Franc ligament repair surgery on July 15. Prior to the injury, he struck out 48 batters in 30.2 innings for a career-high 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings, the highest mark among American League relievers with at least 30.0 innings pitched.

A first-round selection by Detroit in the 2006 June Draft, Miller is 25-33 with a 5.33 ERA in 186 career major league games, including 66 starts, with the Tigers (2006-07), Marlins (2009-10), and Red Sox (2011-13). He has a 4.24 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 136.0 innings as a member of the Red Sox.

With today's agreement, the Red Sox have no remaining unsigned players eligible for salary arbitration.

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

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 2/15

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

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. 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.

It's game day for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team as they'll host the Memphis Tigers at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Tip is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. You can also watch the game online at WatchESPN. If you're local and can't watch the game, you can always listen to Joe. D and Wayne Norman on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network.

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

UConn Men's Basketball links

Tyler Olander Back, Omar Calhoun Probably Not; Notes, Quotes From UConn Practice [dom amore – hartford courant]

Pre-game preview: Memphis [gavin keefe – the day]

Huskies-Tigers, Take II [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

UConn notebook: Huskies hit the glass, Olander back, Giffey hates curling [william paxton – ct post]

Rebound turnaround [john silver – snyuconn.com]

No. 24 UConn Hosts Memphis In A Top-25 Battle On Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn looks to finish season sweep of No. 20 Memphis [ct post]

UConn Turns Focus To Rebounding In Pivotal Game Vs. Memphis [hartford courant]

UConn knows Memphis is seeking revenge [new haven register]

Holding serve at home a must for No. 24 UConn [the day]

Drummond leads Team Hill in Rising Stars Challenge win [nba.com]

UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn's  Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis to Miss 3-6 Weeks With Mono [sox & dawgs]

Short-handed Huskies still thinking big [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Top assist-to-turnover ratios at UConn [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Meghan Gardler And The Excitement Of Election Night [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Mosqueda-Lewis Thinking Positive Thoughts [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Mono Diagnosis A Surprise To Mosqueda-Lewis [rich elliott – ct post]

Dolson’s Jersey The Big Winner For Kay Yow Cancer Fund [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn's Auriemma reflects on death of the legendary Betty Jaynes [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn's Mosqueda-Lewis hoping to return to court soon [jim fuller – new haven register]

No. 1 UConn Takes On South Florida Sunday in Tampa [uconnhuskies.com]

2015 Women's Final Four Logo to be Unveiled During UConn-USF Game [the american]

UConn's Stewart stronger, tougher this season [ct post]

Loss of KML (mono) severely tests UConn's depth [ct post]

Uncertainty Is The Name Of All Games [hartford courant]

Assists maven  [journal inquirer]

UConn women lose Mosqueda-Lewis for 3-6 weeks [new haven register]

UConn Football links

Steelers And Former UConn Receiver Kashif Moore: “I Believe In Coach Diaco” [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

W. Ice Hockey. UConn Visits Northeastern With League Points On The Line [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Ice. Hockey. Knutson makes her decision, verbally commits to UConn [la crosse tribune]

W. Track. Women's Track & Field Participates In Scarlet & White Invitational On Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Lacrosse. Women's Lacrosse Opens Season Against No. 12 UMass Saturday [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Melley Homers In 8-2 Loss To Ohio State In Season Opener [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Huskies All-Access Debuts 'Extra Innings' [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. UConn Offense Struggles in 3-1 Loss to Holy Cross [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Track. Huskies Score Four First-Place Finishes at Lafayette/Rider Invitational [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Track & Field. Oghenakpobo Efekoro, former middle school chess champ now at Forest Hills HS, to throw shot put at University of Connecticut [ny daily news]

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

Red Sox Announce Non-Roster Invitees To 2014 Spring Training

On the eve of pitchers and catchers reporting for the Boston Red Sox, the team has officially announced the non-roster invitees to spring training.

Here's the release:

FORT MYERS, FL-The Boston Red Sox today announced that 17 players will attend the team's Major League Spring Training camp as non-roster invitees.

Boston Red SoxExecutive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Matt Barnes, RHP – Barnes, 23, spent most of 2013 with Double-A Portland before a late-August promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket, combining to go 6-10 with a 4.13 ERA in 25 starts, including a 2.55 ERA in his final 13 outings. His average of 11.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings was the best rate among pitchers with at least 100.0 innings at Double-A or above. Boston's first overall selection in the 2011 June Draft (19th overall), the right-hander has a 3.48 ERA with 275 strikeouts in 233.0 innings over two seasons in the Red Sox system.

Corey Brown, OF – Brown, 28, has played in 36 career major league games, all with the Nationals over the last three seasons, appearing at all three outfield positions. A supplemental first round selection of the Athletics in 2007, he has combined for 123 home runs and 82 stolen bases over seven minor league seasons between the Oakland (2007-10) and Washington (2011-13) systems. The left-handed batter has spent most of the last three seasons at Triple-A Syracuse, where he hit .254 with 26 doubles, a triple, 19 home runs, and 56 RBI in 107 games in 2013.

Miguel Celestino, RHP – Celestino, 24, spent the 2013 season, his first exclusively as a reliever, with Double-A Portland where he went 1-9 with a 6.13 ERA in a staff-leading 39 appearances. Originally acquired from the Seattle Mariners via trade in March 2010, the Dominican native has a career minor league record of 36-32 with a 4.07 ERA in 147 games (90 starts). Celestino was signed by the Mariners as an international free agent in 2006.

John Ely, RHP – Ely, 27, missed the majority of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in April. His only appearance of the 2013 season came for Triple-A Oklahoma City in the Houston Astros organization. The Dodgers and Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year in 2012, Ely has appeared in 25 games (19 starts) for his major league career, all with Los Angeles, going 4-13 with a 5.70 ERA. He was a third-round selection of the White Sox in the 2007 June Draft.

Rich Hill, LHP – Hill, 33, is in his second stint with the Red Sox in 2014 after having played for the club from 2010-12. Last season, the Milton, MA native pitched for the Cleveland Indians, going 1-2 with a 6.28 ERA in a career-high 63 relief appearances. A fourth-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in the 2002 June Draft, Hill is 24-22 with a 4.74 ERA in 181 major league games (70 starts) for the Cubs (2005-08), Baltimore Orioles (2009), Red Sox (2010-12), and Indians (2013).

Dalier Hinojosa, RHP – Signed by the Red Sox as a free agent in October, the 28-year-old is entering his first professional season in the United States after nine campaigns in Cuba's Major League Serie Nacional for the Guantanamo Indios. He began his pro career in Cuba during the 2004-05 season as an 18-year-old, and in his final year went 9-7 with a 3.40 ERA, 115 strikeouts, and 35 walks in 19 games, including 18 starts. The right-hander also participated in many international tournaments for the Cuban National Baseball Team.

Tommy Layne, LHP – Layne, 29, split 2013 between Triple-A Tucson and San Diego, posting a 2.08 ERA in 14 appearances for the Padres. He has a career record of 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 40 games in the majors, all for San Diego (2012-13). Layne was originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a 26th-round pick in the 2007 June Draft.

Deven Marrero, SS – In his first full professional season last year, the 23-year-old Marrero was named Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Year after stealing 27 bases in 29 attempts (93.1%) between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland, the best rate among all minor leaguers with at least 25 thefts. The right-handed batter combined to hit .252 with 20 doubles, two homers, and 26 RBI in 104 games, all at shortstop, and made just six errors for a .988 fielding percentage. He was Boston's first selection in the 2012 June Draft (24th overall).

Mike McCoy, INF/OF – McCoy, 33, enters his first season in the Red Sox system. He has played in 170 career major league games with Colorado (2009) and Toronto (2010-12) and is one of four active major leaguers with experience at every defensive position other than first base and catcher. He spent the entire 2013 season with the Blue Jays' Triple-A club in Buffalo, playing at second base (34 games), shortstop (31), third base (16), and the outfield (29). A right-handed batter, he hit .245 with 15 doubles, a triple, four homers, and 22 RBI while leading Bisons batters with 59 walks and 29 stolen bases.

Heiker Meneses, INF – Meneses is entering his seventh season in the Red Sox farm system and his first in major league camp. The 22-year-old spent the majority of 2013 with Double-A Portland before making his Triple-A debut with Pawtucket in August, and combined for a .253 average in a career-high 110 games while splitting time between shortstop (55 games) and second base (54). Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2007, he has hit above .300 against lefties in all three full minor league seasons, including a .312 clip against southpaws last year.

Jose Mijares, LHP – Mijares, 29, made 60 relief appearances for the San Francisco Giants last season, going 0-3 with a 4.22 ERA. For his major league career, the Venezuelan native is 6-11 with a 3.23 ERA in 324 games between the Minnesota Twins (2008-11), Kansas City Royals (2012), and Giants (2012-13). Signed by the Twins as an international free agent in 2002, Mijares pitched out of the bullpen for San Francisco on their run to the 2012 World Series title.

Henry Owens, LHP – Owens split last season between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland and led all full-season minor league qualifiers with a .177 opponent average while finishing second in the minor leagues with 169 strikeouts. The left-hander paced Boston's full-season farmhands with a 2.67 ERA and tied for the most wins in the system (11) en route to Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors. A Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star, the 21-year-old threw 19.1 hitless innings from July 11-28. He was a supplemental round selection by Boston with the 36th pick in the 2011 June Draft.

Noe Ramirez, RHP – In two seasons in the Red Sox system, the 24-year-old Ramirez has fanned 157 batters in 160.1 innings, including 75 strikeouts in 75.2 frames between High-A Salem (21 games) and Double-A Portland (15 games) in 2013, his first action out of the bullpen. The fourth-round selection in the 2011 June Draft combined for a 2.38 ERA and held opponents to a .236 average, including a .217 AVG/.271 OBP/.283 SLG line against right-handed hitters. He also helped the Surprise Seguaros to the Arizona Fall League Championship, ranking among AFL leaders in ERA (8th, 1.93) and WHIP (4th, 0.86).

Travis Shaw, 1B – Last season, Shaw tied for third in the Red Sox farm system with 16 home runs while hitting .221 with 21 doubles, four triples, 50 RBI, and a team-leading 78 walks at Double-A Portland. The 23-year-old then helped the Surprise Saguaros to the Arizona Fall League championship and was named to the AFL's Top Prospect Team after ranking among league leaders in home run rate (1st, 12.2 AB/HR), average (6th, .361), on-base percentage (5th, .452), slugging (2nd, .705), and OPS (2nd, 1.157). Signed as a ninth-round selection in the 2011 June Draft, Shaw's 35 home runs over the last two seasons are one shy of the lead among Red Sox farmhands.

Brandon Snyder, INF – Snyder, 27, returns for a second season in the Red Sox organization after splitting time in 2013 between Triple-A Pawtucket (68 games) and Boston (27). With the Sox last year, he played at third base (17 games, 10 starts), first base (six games, one start), and left field (one game), and went 9-for-50 (.180) at the plate. He also hit .261 with 16 doubles, a triple, 10 homers, and 37 RBI at Triple-A last season. A first round selection by the Orioles in the 2005 June Draft, Snyder has played in the majors in each of the last four seasons with Baltimore (2010-11), Texas (2012), and Boston (2013).

Blake Swihart, C – Swihart, 21, spent all of 2013 with High-A Salem, where he hit .298 with 29 doubles, seven triples, two homers, and 42 RBI in 103 games and was named a Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star. The switch-hitter hit safely in 25 of his last 28 regular season games, leading the league with a .377 average in that stretch. He also earned Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year honors after pacing CL backstops in caught stealing percentage (41.5, 44 of 106). The 26th overall selection in the first round of the 2011 June Draft, Swihart has played three seasons in the Red Sox farm system. 

Brayan Villarreal, RHP – Acquired from the Detroit Tigers last July as a part of the trade that brought Jake Peavy to Boston, Villarreal, 26, posted a 1.25 ERA in nine appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket between the regular and postseason. For his major league career, between the Tigers (2011-13) and Red Sox (2013), he has gone 4-8 with a 4.56 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 75.0 innings over 74 appearances. Villarreal, a native of Venezuala, was signed by the Tigers as an international free agent in 2005.

Eight of the 17 invitees have major league experience, including Brown, Ely, Hill, Layne, McCoy, Mijares, Snyder, and Villarreal. Snyder and Villarreal saw action for the Red Sox in 2013.

Pitchers and catchers will participate in their first on-field workout at the Fenway South Player Development Complex in Lee County on Monday, February 17. The first full squad workout of the Red Sox spring training camp is on Thursday, February 20.

2014 NON-ROSTER INVITEES

Pitchers (10)

Catchers (1)

Infielders (5)

Outfielders (1)

RHP Matt Barnes

Blake Swihart

Deven Marrero

Corey Brown

RHP Miguel Celestino

Mike McCoy

RHP John Ely

Heiker Meneses

LHP Rich Hill

Travis Shaw

RHP Dalier Hinojosa

Brandon Snyder

LHP Tommy Layne

LHP Jose Mijares

LHP Henry Owens

RHP Noe Ramirez

RHP Brayan Villarreal

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

UConn’s Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis to Miss 3-6 Weeks With Mono

The already shorthanded UConn Huskies women's basketball team just saw their bench shrink a little more.

Here's the release:

STORRS, Conn. – Junior forward Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis will be forced out of action for the next 3-6 weeks after being diagnosed with mononucleosis.  The Anaheim Hills, Calif. native is averaging 12.2 points, and 4.6 rebounds per contest while shooting a team-best 42.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. 

Kaleena Mosqueda-LewisEarlier this season, Mosqueda-Lewis was forced to miss eight games after suffering a nerve contusion in her right elbow late in the first half of UConn’s 76-57 victory over No. 3 Stanford on November 11.  She had played in the top-ranked Huskies’ last 15 contests following her return from that injury. 

The 2012-13 State Farm/WBCA All-American, was rounding into form of late, averaging 15.5 points and shooting 43.5 percent from the floor in her last six games. 

UConn’s single-season 3-point field goals made record holder notched her first double-double of the season on February 4 against SMU and matched her career-high with seven assists against the Mustangs.

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

photo credit: richard messina – hartford courant