Category Archives: Articles

Red Sox Make Victorino Deal Official

While we wait to hear what's going on with the Mike Napoli deal is, the Boston Red Sox finalized their three-year deal with Shane Victorino on Thursday.

Here's the release from the Red Sox:

The Boston Red Sox today signed two-time All-Star and three-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner Shane Victorino to a three-year contract through the 2015 season.  The outfielder has been in postseason play five times in his nine-year career, including back to back pennants with Philadelphia in 2008 and 2009 and the World Series Championship against Tampa Bay in 2008.

Boston Red SoxThe former Phillies star, 32, set a career high with 39 stolen bases in 154 games with the Phillies and Dodgers in 2012, his fourth season with least at least 30 steals.  His 39 stolen bases and 86.7 percent success rate (45 attempts) both placed fourth in the National League last year.

After playing 7 ½ seasons with Philadelphia, he was acquired by the Dodgers on July 31 last year and led Los Angeles in stolen bases (15) and tied for the team lead in walks (18) starting August 1.  He hit a combined .255 (152-for-595) with 29 doubles, seven triples, 11 home runs, 55 RBI, 72 runs, and 53 walks in 154 games last year, and was the 10th-hardest hitter in the NL to strike out (8.33 plate appearances per strikeout).

The switch-hitter is the only Major Leaguer to record double digits in double, triples, home runs, and stolen bases three times since 2009.  Since 2007, only eight other Major Leaguers have tallied a least four 30-steal campaigns.

Victorino has twice led the majors in triples, in 2009 (13) and 2011 (tied, 16).  He ranks second among big leaguers with 46 triples starting in 2009, trailing only Dexter Fowler (50), and is tied for 12th among active players with 65 career three-baggers.

A native of Wailuku, Hawaii, he became the first position player and fourth Hawaiian-born player overall to become an All-Star when he was selected in 2009.  He earned the honor again in 2011, when he also won the Mike Schmidt Player of the Year Award from the Philadelphia chapter of the BBWAA. 

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Victorino earned Rawlings Gold Gloves three straight seasons, 2008-10.  He has primarily played center field in his big league career (762 games), but also has played right (147) and left (111) fields. 

He has committed just 10 errors in 2,226 total chances and leads all active outfielders with a .996 fielding percentage.  He has recorded double digits in assists three times, tying for the NL lead with 11 in 2010.  His 59 career assists rank seventh among NL outfielders over the last 10 seasons while his 18 double plays are third and his .881 zone rating is ninth.

In his career, Victorino has hit .275 (1,060-for-3,852) with 195 doubles, 90 home runs, 409 RBI, 616 runs, 334 walks and 201 stolen bases in 1,076 games with the Padres (2003), Phillies (2005-12) and Dodgers (2012).

Originally selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 1999 June Draft, Victorino was twice taken in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, by San Diego in 2002 and Philadelphia in 2004. 

Victorino’s 30 career postseason RBI are second-most in Phillies history and his 13 RBI during Philadelphia’s 2008 World Series Championship run set a then-club record for a single postseason.  He clubbed the first grand slam in Phillies postseason history in Game 2 of the 2008 NLDS vs. Milwaukee off CC Sabathia.  He hit .293 (17-for-58) with nine RBI during the 2009 postseason, when the Phillies lost the Fall Classic to the New York Yankees, four games to two.

The Phillies’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010, he launched The Shane Victorino Foundation that year with his wife, Melissa.  The foundation promotes opportunities for underserved youth and provides children in need with educational, recreational, and wellness programs.  He has hosted an annual All-Star Celebrity Fashion Show in Philadelphia and Celebrity Dinner and Golf Classic in Hawaii to benefit the foundation, and treated nearly 500 children to Phillies games through his Flyin’ Hawaiian All-Stars ticket program.

Victorino was recognized nationally for his philanthropy in 2011 with the Branch Rickey Award, which honors humanitarians in Major League Baseball who personify “service above self.”  He also received the Phillies Community Service Award in 2010.

Victorino will wear No. 18.  With the signing, the Red Sox 40-man roster is now at 39.

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/13

Paw Prints The 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.

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UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn Readies For The Main Course To Come [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Maya Moore leaving mark on Chinese basketball [norwich bulletin]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Final Exam Week: UConn frontcourt by the numbers [kevin duffy – ct post]

UConn Football links

DC answered a question in his mailbag [desmond conner – hartford courant]

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/12

Paw Prints The 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.

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UConn Women's Basketball links

Breanna Stewart part of ESPN's generation next poll [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Recruiting roundup: UConn offers Amida Brimah, Kameron Rooks [kevin duffy – ct post]

NCAA Recognizes UConn in March Madness Celebration [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn Well-Represented As NCAA Tourney Celebrates 75 Years [hartford courant]

UConn Football links

Season review: Running backs [john silver – sny.com]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer. Carlos Alvarez To Attend MLS Combine Jan. 11-15 [uconnhuskies.com]

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To Boo Or Youuuuk?

To boo or Youuuuk? That is now the question upon us.

Kevin YoukilisOn the one hand, if you Youuuuk, it's going to sound like you're booing anyways. On the other hand, is it warranted?

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the New York Yankees and Kevin Youkilis have agreed to a one-year deal worth $12 million.

The Yanks had a need for Youk at third base with Alex Rodriguez out for 4-6 months with a hip injury.

But that leads to us the question, do we boo Youk when the Yankees make their first visit to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox on July 19, 2013?

When Wade Boggs left for the Yankees, he was booed. Same with Roger Clemens even though he was forced out of Boston. Even Johnny Damon after winning the 2004 World Series with the Red Sox was booed by the Fenway faithful.

So with Youk willingly signing with the Yankees, based on past precedent, he should be booed.

But given how much he's done for the Red Sox in his career, should we boo?

That's the question I'll leave you with to answer.

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UConn Football’s 2013 Big East Opponents Announced

For those of you UConn Huskies football fans hoping to travel to the blue turf field in Boise, ID or have the Boise State Broncos come to the Rent next year, well you're out of luck.

UConn Huskies footballThe Big East announced the home and away opponents for the 2013 football season and this is how it breaks down for UConn.

Home – Louisville, Rutgers, San Diego State, South Florida

Away – Central Florida, Cincinnati, Temple, SMU

As long as Michigan honors its contract with UConn, the home schedule is quite impressive.

Along with the four Big East games and Michigan, that former head coach's team the Maryland Terrapins and Towson State will come to Rentschler Field next year.

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Here's the full release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut football team will play a highly-attractive seven-game home schedule in 2013, which was finalized on Tuesday as the BIG EAST Conference announced its schedule breakdown for next season.

UConn will play home BIG EAST Conference games against Louisville, Rutgers, San Diego State and USF. The Huskies’ non-league home games will be Maryland (Sept. 14), Michigan (Sept. 21) and Towson State (Aug. 29). The exact dates for BIG EAST games will be announced in early 2013.

“I am very excited for the home schedule that our football team will play in 2013 and I think our fans should be too,” said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. “As I continue to say, it is important for UConn to have the Rentschler Field full for every game. Our football team will be working hard to prepare for the 2013 season and we need the support from our loyal Husky followers more than ever.”

Road conference games for the Huskies in 2013 will be Central Florida, Cincinnati, SMU and Temple. UConn’s lone non-conference road game will be at Buffalo (Sept. 28).

UConn’s home schedule features four teams that will play in bowl games this year, including: Louisville in the Allstate Sugar Bowl vs. Florida on Jan. 1; Michigan in the Outback Bowl vs. South Carolina on Jan. 1; Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl vs. Virginia Tech on Dec. 28; and San Diego State in S.D. County Credit Union vs. BYU on Dec. 20.

The Huskies also play road games against three bowl teams: Central Florida in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl vs. Ball State on Dec. 21; Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl vs. Duke on Dec. 27; and SMU vs. Fresno State in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24.

The BIG EAST Conference will have 12 football playing schools in 2013 split into two divisions. Each team plays eight conference games and face each team in their division (five games) and three teams in the other division for a total of eight league games.

The East Division in 2013 is comprised of: Central Florida, Cincinnati, UConn, Louisville, Rutgers and USF. The West Division in 2013 is comprised of: Boise State, Houston, Memphis, San Diego State, SMU and Temple.

The following is the complete 2013 BIG EAST football schedule breakdown:

EAST DIVISION
UCF
Home: Connecticut, Houston, Rutgers, USF
Away: Cincinnati, Louisville, SMU, Temple             

Cincinnati
Home: Boise State, UCF, Connecticut, Louisville
Away: Memphis, Rutgers, San Diego State, USF

Connecticut
Home: Louisville, Rutgers, San Diego State, USF
Away: UCF, Cincinnati, SMU, Temple

Louisville
Home: UCF, Memphis, Rutgers, San Diego State
Away: Boise State, Cincinnati, Connecticut, USF

Rutgers
Home: Cincinnati, Houston, USF, Temple
Away: Boise State, UCF, Connecticut, Louisville

USF
Home: Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, SMU
Away: UCF, Connecticut, Houston, Rutgers

WEST DIVISION
Boise State
Home: Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers
Away: Cincinnati, San Diego State, SMU, Temple

Houston
Home: Memphis, San Diego State, SMU, USF
Away: Boise State, UCF, Rutgers, Temple

Memphis
Home: Cincinnati, San Diego State, SMU, Temple
Away: Boise State, Houston, Louisville, USF

San Diego State
Home: Boise State, Cincinnati, SMU, Temple
Away: Connecticut, Houston, Louisville, Memphis

SMU
Home: Boise State, UCF, Connecticut, Temple
Away: Houston, Memphis, San Diego State, USF

Temple
Home: Boise State, Houston, UCF, Connecticut
Away: Memphis, Rutgers, San Diego State, SMU

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/11

Paw Prints The 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.

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UConn Men's Basketball links

Kentan Facey Impressive as Senior Season Begins [dom amore – hartford courant]

Lamb recalled to Thunder [kevin duffy – ct post]

UConn Football links

Season review: Quarterbacks [john silver – journal inquirer]

Other UConn related links

Tennis Programs Spend The Afternoon At Local Elementary Schools [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Alvarez, Blake and Diouf Named College Soccer News All-Americans [uconnhuskies.com]

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UConn Football Announces 2012 End of Year Awards

Here's the release from UConn announcing the end of the season awards for the 2012 UConn Huskies football team.

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut football team held its annual awards ceremony Sunday evening at The Burton Family Football Complex, honoring 10 senior student-athletes.

UConn Huskies footballCornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson (Edinboro, Pa.) was named the Team Most Valuable Player.  A second team All-BIG EAST selection, Wreh-Wilson provided a steady presence in the UConn secondary as a four-year starter.  He started 11 games in his final season and produced one crucial interception in overtime to set up an eventual game-winning field goal at No. 18 Louisville on November 24.  For his career, Wreh-Wilson collected eight interceptions, totaling 171 return yards and ran back a pair for scores in 2010.

Tight end Ryan Griffin (Londonderry, N.H.), who earned his second-straight second team honor from the BIG EAST and was on the Mackey Award Watch List to start the year, was honored as the Huskies’ Offensive Player of the Year.  Griffin assaulted the UConn record book for receptions by a tight end throughout his career and after catching 29 passes; six for touchdowns and 484 yards in 2012, his 10 career and 116 receptions are both second all-time by a tight end.

Defensive end Trevardo Williams (Bridgeport, Conn.) was honored with the Defensive Player of the Year award after being named a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection last week.  He leaves Connecticut as the all-time sacks leaders with 30.5 as he led the BIG EAST with 0.96 sacks per game as a senior.

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Wide receiver and kick returner Nick Williams (Windsor, N.J.) took home the honor of Special Teams Player of the Year.  A second team selection, Williams was twice named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week in 2012.  He ran back punts for touchdowns of 58 yards at Maryland (Sept. 15) and 80 yards against Pittsburgh (Nov. 9).

The Jasper T. Howard Award, given to a strong team player who best exemplifies a “battle to the end” spirit, was awarded to defensive tackle Ryan Wirth (Medford, N.J.).  The award is named in honor of former Husky Jasper Howard, who passed away in October 2009.  Wirth, who played primarily on special teams in his first three seasons, started all 12 games for the Huskies this year.  He totaled 51 tackles, 3.5 sacks and was fourth on the team in tackles for a loss with 10 after earning the starting job and filling the spot of 2012 NFL second round draft pick Kendall Reyes.

Offensive Guard Adam Masters (Bethesda, Md.) was honored with the Football Alumni Award.  Masters earned a nod to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, despite playing just seven games this season; all starts at right guard.  He started 30 games over the course of his career, playing in 37 overall.

The Kendall Madison Award, given to a strong player whose dedication, hard work and outstanding citizenship best exemplify the strong spirit of the UConn Huskies, was awarded to linebacker Sio Moore (Apex, N.C.).  The award is named for the former Husky who passed away in the mid-1990s.  Moore, who earlier was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, finished second on the team with eight sacks and second in the league at 0.67 per game.  At outside linebacker, he was second on the team with 15.5 TFLs and second in the league with a 1.29 average.

The Joseph M. Gianelli Unsung Hero Award, named in honor of the former UConn assistant football coach, head golf coach and athletic administrator, went to tight end John Delahunt (Ottawa, Ont.).  Delahunt started 23 games in his career and had a career year offensively as a senior with 18 receptions for 223 yards and a touchdown.

Linebacker Jory Johnson (Mobile, Ala.) was named the winner of the John L. Toner Scholar Athlete Award.  The award is named in honor of the former NCAA President, UConn athletic director and head football coach.  In his final season at Connecticut, Johnson played opposite Moore at linebacker and finished second on the team with 95 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss.

The Brian Kozlowski Award, given to the player that is the most courageous, hard-working and productive, was awarded to cornerback Dwayne Gratz (Piscataway, N.J.).  Playing opposite of Wreh-Wilson, Gratz had a superb senior season, leading the UConn defense with three picks, including a 37-yard run back for a score in the season-opener against Massachusetts (Aug. 30).  In 41 career starts, he totaled eight interceptions for 152 return yards, including a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown against Oklahoma in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/10

Paw Prints The 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.

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UConn Women's Basketball links

Grading the Huskies at the season's trimester mark [the hour]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Grading the Huskies at the season's trimester mark [the hour]

D-League: Lamb Making The Most Of His Time [hoopsworld.com]

UConn Football links

ESPN.com All-Big East team [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Other UConn related links

UConn Remembers WTIC's Arnold Dean [uconnhuskies.com]

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/9

Paw Prints The 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.

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UConn Women's Basketball links

Notebook: Huskies hitting the books [carl adamec – sny.com]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Q&A: Who will be the better pro — A.J. Price or Shabazz Napier? [kevin duffy – ct post]

Daniels Shows He Can Be Threat Huskies Need [hartford courant]

Three Points from Friday's win over Harvard [new haven register]

UConn Football links

Matt Walsh caps his high school career in style [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn football program, fighting recent losing trend, sets sights on higher level [ct post]

UConn football program enjoyed immediate D-I success [ct post]

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/8

Paw Prints The 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.

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UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn Foursome Finishes Second In Decorating Contest [rich elliott – ct post]

Auriemma Not Concerned With Hartley’s Slow Start [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn Women Can Expect To See More Physical Teams Like Penn State [hartford courant]

Three points from the Penn State win [new haven register]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Wrapping Things Up From Gampel [dom amore – hartford courant]

DeAndre Daniels Does His Dr. J Impression, UConn Beats Harvard [david borges – new haven register]

UConn 57, Harvard 49 [kevin duffy – ct post]

Notes/Quotes from Harvard: “DeAndre is a player” [kevin duffy – ct post]

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

Daniels is suddenly dominant [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

Daniels breaks out [john silver – sny.com]

Possessions [uconn huskies basketball]

Daniels leads UConn men past Harvard [ct post]

Napier now the catalyst [ct post]

UConn Beats Harvard, 57-49 [hartford courant]

Wolf Gets His First Start [hartford courant]

DeAndre Daniels lifts Huskies past Harvard [new haven register]

UConn gets a lift from Daniels [the day]

UConn Football links

UConn Never Really Had A Chance Vs. Louisville For ACC Berth [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

M. Ice Hockey. UConn Ties Army 2-2 In Final Game Before Break [uconnhuskies.com]

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