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Paw Prints: The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 12/27/14

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.

It’s game day for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they’ll kickoff American Athletic Conference play against the SMU Mustangs at the XL Center. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be televised locally on SNY. If you live outside of the SNY footprint, you can catch the game online at WatchESPN. If you can’t watch the game, you can always listen to Bob Joyce and Debbie Fiske on the UConn IMG Radio Network.

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UConn Women’s Basketball links

No. 2 UConn Opens Conference Play on Saturday against SMU [uconn huskies]

UConn women return to court in AAC opener [ct post]

UConn Women’s Basketball Team Preps For AAC Schedule; First Up Is Southern Methodist [hartford courant]

Tennessee-UConn? Auriemma Says Forget It [hartford courant]

UConn freshman Gabby Williams works to get better [new haven register]

Auriemma not interested in playing Tennessee [sny uconn]

Freshman Williams settling into post position [sny uconn]

It’s another milestone for Auriemma should UConn win [the day]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Huskies Play Host To In-State Foe CCSU On Sunday [uconn huskies]

Ollie Brings Court Vision To ‘Jonathan’s Dream Reimagined’ Project [hartford courant]

UConn Men’s Insider: AAC Showing Some Signs Of Life Lately; Now Will Huskies? [hartford courant]

Central’s Dickenman Looks For Positives In Difficult Season [hartford courant]

Ollie to help fund wheelchair basketball court [sny uconn]

Other UConn related links

M. Ice Hockey. Huskies Get Back In Action at Frozen Holiday Classic [uconn huskies]

M. Ice Hockey. UConn Men’s Hockey Team Readies For Second Half Of Season [hartford courant]

M. Ice Hockey. UConn hockey making its play for winter interest [the hour]

M. Ice. Hockey. UConn looks to bank in Bridgeport again [along the boards]

Red Sox Trade Middlebrooks To Padres For Hanigan

Will Middlebrooks #16 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he is called out in the second inning after trying to steal second base against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland.

When the Boston Red Sox signed Pablo Sandoval to play third base, Will Middlebrooks said himself there was no where for him to play.

A move to the outfield was out of the question with the signing of Hanley Ramirez plus Rusney Castillo, Shane Victorino and a cast of others out there. Playing first base wasn’t an option with Mike Napoli locked in over there.

So Red Sox GM Ben Cherington found him a new home and in the process they got a solid backup catcher from the San Diego Padres in Ryan Hanigan for Middlebrooks.

Hanigan was acquired by the Padres earlier on Friday from the Rays as part of a three-team deal. He will backup Christian Vazquez who emerged at catcher during the dismal 2014 for the local nine.

Full release from the Red Sox:

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox today acquired catcher Ryan Hanigan from the San Diego Padres in exchange for third baseman Will Middlebrooks.

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

Hanigan, 34, was traded to the Padres from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier today. A veteran of parts of eight major league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2007-13) and Rays (2014), the right-handed batter owns a .256 batting average with 57 doubles, a triple, 25 home runs, and 172 RBI in 558 career games. He has a lifetime .353 on-base percentage and has struck out fewer times (198) than he has walked (220).

Hanigan led the major leagues in caught stealing rate (min. 50 games) in back-to-back seasons in 2012 (49%) and 2013 (46%). Among active players with at least 500 games behind the plate, he ranks third in career catcher caught stealing percentage (34%, 96 of 284) behind only Yadier Molina (41%) and David Ross (34%). He also leads that group with both a 3.61 catcher’s ERA and a .996 fielding percentage in his career, committing only two errors in 1,145 chances over the last two seasons (.998).

With Tampa Bay last season, Hanigan appeared in 84 games and hit .218 with nine doubles, five home runs, 31 walks, and 34 RBI. He missed time with two trips to the disabled list due to right hamstring tightness and a left oblique strain, and totaled six games over a pair of rehabilitation stints with High-A Charlotte.

In 66 major league starts last year he caught 11 shutouts (17%). Including regular and postseason, he has been behind the plate for 22 shutouts in his last 141 starts (16%) dating back to Homer Bailey‘s no-hitter on September 28, 2012.

Born in Washington, DC, Hanigan grew up in Andover, MA, where he graduated from Andover High School. He was signed by the Reds as an undrafted free agent in 2002 and has played in seven postseason games, all with Cincinnati in 2010, 2012, and 2013.

Middlebrooks, 26, hit .191 for the Red Sox last season with 10 doubles, two home runs, and 19 RBI, and was limited to 63 games due to two stints on the disabled list. Defensively, he led the club in games played (62) and starts (57) at third base, and his .972 fielding percentage at the position ranked third in the American League (min. 500 innings).

The right-handed batter has played in the big leagues in each of the last three seasons beginning with his debut in 2012, all with Boston. He is a career .237 hitter with 42 doubles, 34 home runs, and 122 RBI over 232 major league games. He was named the 2012 Red Sox Rookie of the Year by the Boston Baseball Writers and played in 10 games during Boston’s postseason run to the 2013 World Series Championship. The native of Texarkana, TX, was originally a fifth-round selection by the Red Sox in the 2007 June Draft.

photo credit: getty images

Paw Prints: The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 12/18/14

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 New Jersey for a matchup with the Duke Blue Devils at the IZOD Center. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and can also be seen online at WatchESPN. If you can’t watch the game, you can catch Joe D. and Wayne Norman on the UConn IMG Radio Network.

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UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn men: Okafor, Brimah in the spotlight [john silver – sny uconn]

UConn, Duke to build on illustrious history [ct post]

UConn Men’s Insider: Jim Abromaitis, Mike Gminski, And The 1976 Game [hartford courant]

UConn-Duke: A Storied Nine-Game History [hartford courant]

Duke’s Jahlil Okafor Poses A Huge Problem For UConn [hartford courant]

Can’t-Miss Field Goals? Brimah Streak On Line Vs. Duke [hartford courant]

UConn’s Brimah vs. Duke’s Okafor an old-fashioned battle of big men [new haven register]

For Huskies, a daunting challenge vs. No. 2 Duke [the day]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Video: UConn Women’s Basketball is Back on the Home Court Friday Night [sox & dawgs]

UConn schedules visit to giant-killer Chattanooga [carl adamec – sny uconn]

No. 2 UConn Resumes Play Against DePaul on Friday at Webster Bank Arena [uconn huskies]

Still No Word From Edwards, But Huskies Not Surprised By Exit [hartford courant]

Georgetown transfer Natalie Butler will serve UConn well [new haven register]

UConn Football links

Former UConn star on PFF All-Pro team [jim fuller – new haven register]

Diaco Spends The Day At ESPN [uconn huskies]

Other UConn related links

W. Soccer. Houle and Charno Named NSCAA Scholar All-Americans [uconn huskies]

Red Sox Acquire RHP Anthony Varvaro from Atlanta

Looking to bolster their bullpen, the Boston Red Sox made a trade with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

From the Red Sox:

The Boston Red Sox today acquired right-handed pitcher Anthony Varvaro from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Aaron Kurcz and cash considerations.

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

Varvaro, 30, spent last season, his fifth in the major leagues, with the Braves and posted a 3-3 record with a 2.63 ERA (16 ER/54.2 IP), only 13 walks, and a career-high 50 strikeouts in 61 relief appearances. He also posted career bests in walks per nine innings (2.1), and hits per nine innings (7.6). Opponents batted just .228 (46-for-202) against Varvaro in 2014, and of his 46 hits allowed, only 16 went for extra bases.

Over the last two seasons with Atlanta, Varvaro is 6-4 with a 2.74 ERA (39 ER/128.0 IP) and just 114 hits allowed. He is one of only 18 major league relievers with at least 50.0 innings pitched and an ERA of 2.85 or better in each of the last two seasons, and ranks 12^th among National League relievers with 14 opponent ground into double plays during that stretch. Varvaro, who was designated for assignment on Monday, previously underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in June of 2005.

A native of Staten Island, NY, Varvaro was originally a 12^th-round selection of the Seattle Mariners in the 2005 June Draft. For his major league career, he has gone 7-8 with one save, a 3.18 ERA (61 ER/172.2 IP), 64 walks, and 142 strikeouts in 157 games between the Mariners (2010) and Braves (2011-14). The right-handed pitcher has allowed only a .196/.275/.322 line to left-handed batters, with a .523 OPS against left-handed batters in the last two years.

Kurcz, 24, spent this past season with Double-A Portland where he was 3-2 with three saves, a 2.14 ERA (10 ER/42.0 IP) with 22 walks, and 54 strikeouts in 34 games. He allowed only six extra-base hits on the year, all of which were doubles. Following the season, he pitched for Surprise in the Arizona Fall League, going 1-0 with one save, a 3.86 ERA (6 ER/14.0 IP), and 15 strikeouts in 10 appearances.

For his minor league career, Kurcz has gone 13-11 with 16 saves, a 2.81 ERA (63 ER/202.0 IP), 94 walks, and 265 strikeouts in 121 games (12 starts). He was acquired from the Chicago Cubs as the player to be named later on March 25, 2012 as compensation for Theo Epstein. Kurcz was originally selected by the Cubs in the 10^th round of the 2010 June Draft.

With the acquisition of Varvaro, Boston’s 40-man roster is now at 40.

Paw Prints: The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 12-17-14

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

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UConn Women’s Basketball links

UConn Women’s Insider: Auriemma Turns To WNBA For Olympic Staff Member [hartford courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn Set To Battle No. 2 Duke In New Jersey On Thursday [uconn huskies]

Ollie, Huskies Spread Christmas Cheer [uconn huskies]

UConn’s Purvis no stranger to playing against Duke [ct post]

UConn-Duke Men’s Hoop: The Numbers Seem To Favor Duke [hartford courant]

UConn Meets No. 2 Duke; Huskies In Search Of Signature Win [hartford courant]

UConn-Duke men’s basketball: How much of a rivalry is it? [new haven register]

History still follows ex-Husky Sellers [the day]

UConn Football links

UConn loses a recruit [jim fuller – new haven register]

LB Sio Moore on Reserve/Injured List [oakland raiders]

Other UConn related links

UConn Club. Impacting Champions: December [uconn huskies]

Paw Prints: The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 12/16/14

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

Auriemma, USA Women’s Basketball Share USA Basketball’s 2014 Team Of The Year Honor [uconn huskies]

12 Plays of Christmas Day 5: UConn WBB [the american]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Amida Brimah Named AAC Player of the Week [sox & dawgs]

At Calhoun’s Food Drive, Talk Shifts To UConn Rivalry Vs. Duke [hartford courant]

UConn Football links

Commit No. 21: OL Nolan Ulizio, West Chester, Ohio [john silver – sny uconn]

Commit No. 22: LB Dallas Parker, Ponte Verda, Fla. [john silver – sny uconn]

Other UConn related links

M. Track. Walsh, Maxwell Named 2015 Men’s Track Indoor Captains [uconn huskies]

Red Sox Get Marco Hernandez To Complete Doubront Trade With Cubs

From Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA-The Boston Red Sox today acquired minor league shortstop Marco Hernandez from the Chicago Cubs to complete the July 30 trade of left-handed pitcher Felix Doubront. Hernandez has been assigned to Double-A Portland.

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

Hernandez, 22, spent the 2014 season with High-A Daytona in the Cubs’ system, where he was named to the Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star Team. The left-handed batter led the team with seven triples and 22 stolen bases, hitting .270 (119-for-441) with 13 doubles, three home runs, 55 RBI in 122 games, all at shortstop. A native of the Dominican Republic, he batted at least .300 in April (.321), June (.303), and July (.318) of this past season.

For his professional career, Hernandez has hit .273 (478-for-1,749) with 81 doubles, 23 triples, 17 home runs, and 202 RBI in 463 career games. Defensively, he has appeared primarily at shortstop over his minor league career (414 games), but has also played second base (27 games), and third base (five games). He was originally signed by the Cubs as an international free agent on July 17, 2009.

Amida Brimah Named AAC Player of the Week

This should come as no surprise after his 40 point performance against Coppin State on Sunday.

From UConn:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A record-setting performance by sophomore center Amida Brimah (Accra, Ghana) has earned him Player of the Week honors from the American Athletic Conference, the league announced today.

Brimah went 13-of-13 from the floor, the most field goals ever in a game by a UConn player without a miss, which is an American Athletic Conference record as well. He also added a 14-of-16 night from the foul line to finish with 40 points in Sunday’s 106-85 victory over Coppin State. It was the 17^th time in UConn history that a player scored 40 or more points in a game. The 7-foot sophomore also grabbed 12 rebounds to complete his first career double-double and he added three blocked shots and a steal as well.

It is the first such honor for Brimah, who was named the league’s Rookie of the Week once last season.

Also earning league recognition this week are UConn freshman Daniel Hamilton (Los Angeles, Calif.) and senior Ryan Boatright (Aurora, Ill.), both named to the league’s weekly Honor Roll. Hamilton also posted his first career double-double against Coppin State with 11 points and 11 assists, as well as five rebounds and four steals, while Boatright contributed 22 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals to the win.

It is the third time on the Honor Roll for Boatright, who was also the AAC Player of the Week on Nov. 24. Hamilton was selected as the Rookie of the Week on Nov. 24.

A Rotating Experiment

The Lester-less 2015 Red Sox Starting Rotation is comprised of the following: Question mark, Question mark, ¿Qué carajo?, ???, and Buchholz.

This is better than having a starting rotation of minor league prospects and Buchholz; essentially, what we witnessed at the end of 2014. The Red Sox can again use prospects as rotation depth instead of certainties. But an ace-less rotation isn’t screaming October to any knowledgeable Red Sox fan.

Oddly enough, though, Cherington’s Plan B after Lester could work.

With the advent of the second wild card, a third of the teams are guaranteed a playoff berth each year. So a team has to be pretty horrible not even be in the playoff hunt a week before the trade deadline on July 31. Given that a team’s regular season performance need not be spectacular to get to the playoffs, teams can experiment with different ways to get through the regular season.

The two best examples of teams achieving success through experimenting with non-typical rosters are the 2014 Giants and 2012 Orioles.

The Giants victory in the World Series is a recent memory of course, and we can quickly remember who was in their starting rotation: Bumgarner followed by a bunch of actual bums. Let’s remember that the Giants thought acquiring Jake Peavy before the trade deadline would improve their starting rotation – the same Jake Peavy who hadn’t won a game since April and had an ERA larger than Paula Deen’s collection of lard. And those Giants won the World Series.

The 2012 Orioles didn’t have as much success as the Giants, but they did make it to the playoffs with a rotation that, quite frankly, looked worse than what we can expect from the 2015 Red Sox. The Orioles’ rotation had only one starter with double-digit wins (12 wins), and none of their starters pitched 200 innings. In fact, only one starter pitched more than 140 innings. That team made it to the ALCS.

Personally, the baseline I use to predict playoff hopes is the probability a team has of winning 88 games. Let’s look at the 2015 Red Sox in this respect: Can they win 88 games?

They have a rotation starters who have MLB experience, but they are 3-5 starters at best. Porcello is the one starter who has the best chance of having a breakout season, and he becomes the proverbial “ace.” The rotation will have an average ERA of, let’s guess, 4.30.

That’s not great, but a starting lineup with 3. Papi, 4. Han-RAM, 5. Panda, and 6. Napoli is going to score a lot of runs – especially with Mookie Betts hitting leadoff, followed by a finally healthy Dustin Pedroia. With the rate that Betts and Pedroia can get on base, they’re poised to each have 100+ runs scored in 2015.

Hitting behind Napoli will be Xander Bogaerts, who has something to prove in 2015. Throw in Rusney Castillo, and we can forget about the fact that hitting production from the catcher’s spot in 2015 is a total unknown.

Can this lineup score enough runs to overcome a starting rotation with an ERA of 4.30 or a little more? Simply put: yes.

The 2015 Red Sox will be an interesting experiment. Before the experiment starts, it would appear that they can win 88 games next year and remain in the playoff hunt. But, by July, if it looks like the experiment may fail, then there’s always a blockbuster trade for Cliff Lee. That’s a hell of a back up plan which must have crossed Ben Cherington’s mind at some point last week.

Paw Prints: The Daily UConn Huskies Roundup – 12/13-14/14

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 look to end their three-game slide. They’ll take on the Coppin State Eagles at the XL Center in Hartford, CT this afternoon at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on SNY and the game will be available online at WatchESPN outside of the SNY television footprint. If you can’t watch the game, you can always listen on the UConn IMG Radio Network or Tunein.

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UConn Men’s Basketball links

Miami Heat assign Shabazz Napier to D-League [sox & dawgs]

A few words with Tremont Waters, Tyler Dorsey [david borges – new haven register]

Omar Calhoun practices, expected back soon with UConn [ct post]

Facing Coppin State, UConn men in desperate need of a win [ct post]

Huskies Still Short Of Players Heading Into Coppin State Game [hartford courant]

Missing His Shot: UConn Could Use Calhoun, But He’s Still Out [hartford courant]

Coppin State Offers Huskies A Chance For Healing, But Not Cure [hartford courant]

UConn men look to get back on track vs. Coppin State [new haven register]

Boatright, Purvis improved, Calhoun likely out [sny uconn]

UConn men get back to work [the day]