Reports: Youkilis, Red Sox Agree To A Four Year Deal

Kevin Youkilis

According to Peter Gammons of ESPN.com, the Boston Red Sox and Kevin Youkilis have agreed to a 4-year, $40 million deal with an option for a 5th year. However, Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe is reporting that the two sides are “close” to a deal.

Either way, it’s like Youkilis will be around for the forseeable future with the Red Sox.

Youkilis hit .312 with 29 home runs and 115 RBIs and finished third in the AL MVP voting last season while playing both first and third base for the Red Sox.

This also keeps Theo Epstein’s streak of avoiding arbitration alive as he’s never had to go that far in his time as the Red Sox GM.

Update 6:15 PM: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe reports that the deal has been agreed to in principle. It’s a 4-year, $40 million deal with a $13 million club option for 2013.

Red Sox Road Trip To Distribute Ticket Vouchers

Boston Red SoxRed Sox Road Trip to distribute ticket vouchers

2009 Regular Season General Ticket On-Sale to Begin January 24

BOSTON, MA – As the Boston Red Sox prepare to launch the 2009 regular season general ticket on-sale, the team will host the 2009 Red Sox Road Trip presented by Coca-Cola with stops in all six New England states over the January 17-19 holiday weekend. For the first time ever, as part of a road trip, the team will distribute vouchers valid for the guaranteed purchase of two Red Sox 2009 Regular Season tickets. A total of 6500 vouchers good for tickets will be given out – 1000 vouchers in each state over the weekend and an additional 500 vouchers in the Greater Boston area on Thursday, January 22. In addition, one lucky fan from each state, who visits a Red Sox Road Trip tour stop, will be selected as a Grand Prize Winner for the Red Sox Road Trip Opening Day VIP Experience (includes pre game VIP tour, watch batting practice on the field, and 4 tickets to Opening Day game versus the AL Champion Rays). Fans can register at each tour stop and the winner will be randomly selected from all names. The winner will be notified by email.

Vouchers will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis to fans that come to the Road Trip stops. Coupon holders will have a chance to purchase tickets in advance of the general on-sale, which begins on Saturday, January 24, 2009.

“The Red Sox have the most incredible fans in all of sports and this Road Trip will give us a chance to pay many of them a visit in their towns and say a special thank you,” said Red Sox EVP/Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Sam Kennedy. “We hope to bring them the warmth of baseball and thoughts of spring during these cold winter days. We also look forward to delivering vouchers to thousands of fans throughout New England and giving them the chance to join us at Fenway Park for what is certain to be an exciting 2009 season.”

The group making stops on the Red Sox Road Trip will include Wally the Green Monster, either the 2004 or 2007 Red Sox World Series Trophy, and Fenway Ambassadors. The Ambassadors will give away pocket schedules and other collectibles and souvenirs at each stop. Fans will also have the opportunity to sign up for Red Sox Nation, the official fan club of the Boston Red Sox.

All distributed vouchers, which will be valid for two 2009 Red Sox Regular Season Pre-Sale tickets, must be redeemed online at www.redsox.com between noon on Tuesday, January 20 and noon on Friday, January 23. Fans holding vouchers who do not have internet access or who require ADA accessible seating may also call 1-877-REDSOX9. Hearing impaired fans may call the Red Sox TTY line at (617) 226-6644.

Continue reading →

Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez Meets With NHL

Wants To Let Them Know Hartford Is Interested In An NHL Team: Hartford, CT mayor Eddie Perez met with NHL commish Gary Bettman yesterday to talk about a team coming back to Hartford if the city can build a new arena. The former Hartford Civic Center, now known as the XL Center, had been the home of the Hartford Whalers before they moved to North Carolina. Don’t get too excited though as all of this is just preliminary talks and Perez wanted to let the NHL know that Hartford would be interested in bringing a team back. [NHL Fanhouse]

O’Brian White Taken 4th In MLS Superdraft, Priestley Taken In 4th Rd

Toronto FC LogoUConn Huskies men’s soccer player O’Brian White was taken 4th overall in today’s Major League Soccer Superdraft by the Toronto FC. White grew up in the Scarborough section of Toronto.

White was a two-time All-American while at UConn and won the 2007 M.A.C  Hermann Trophy. He was also a two-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year during a career that saw him score 46 goals and record 23 assists for 115 points.

He is the 7th UConn soccer player to be taken in the 1st round of the MLS draft and the 18th to join the MLS.

Update 5:40 PM: Another UConn men’s soccer player, Akeem Priestley, was taken in the 4th round (50th overall) by the Kansas City Wizards

Saito Won’t Pitch In WBC

Japanese manager Tatsunori Hara Upset With Decision: The newest member of the Boston Red Sox bullpen Takashi Saito has decided to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic. “I’ve been preparing with the goal of making the team since I was named as a candidate. Recently, however, I’ve formally joined a new team [the Boston Red Sox] and after discussing it with the club and much consideration, I’ve decided to withdraw.” Daisuke Matsuzaka will be the lone Red Sox representative on the Japanese team now. [SI.com, The Daily Yomiuri]

New Red Sox Spring Training Complex Could Cost $60 Million

Greetings From Spring trainingThings have been rather hectic the past few days in Lee County, FL as Boston Red Sox and Lee County officials have been meeting to determine who will build and design the new Red Sox spring training complex there.

During the meeting yesterday, they decided to choose Kraft Construction to build the facility and today recommended that HOK SPORT and Parker/Mudgett/Smith design the new facility.

Kraft estimates the cost of the planned 10,000-seat stadium could be between $43 and $49 million. The total cost of the project – which includes practice fields, locker rooms, weight rooms and other amenities – could be between $53 million and $60 million.

Next up in the process is the vote by the Lee County commission in the next few weeks to approve both choices and then a negotiation of a contract with the builder and designer.

HOK SPORT has designed 19 major league ballparks and 22 minor league facilities. They have also designed 13 spring training facilities. Kraft Construction helped build the new Dallas Cowboys stadium and Reliant Stadium in Houston.

One thing that Lee County wanted to do was to use local contractors in the building of the complex and they will get that with Kraft Construction.

Red Sox spring training project in Lee County could cost $60 million [news-press.com]

Designer recommended for new Lee County Red Sox spring training home [news-press.com]

Will Byrd Pitch In 2009?

Wants to spend more time with his family: Former Boston Red Sox pitcher and current free agent Paul Byrd has decided that he wants to spend more time with his family and won’t sign with anyone before spring training or the middle of the season. Said Byrd, “I can’t say the word ‘retirement’ because there’s a chance I’ll come back. But maybe try to transition and see what it’s like on the other side.” Byrd is a Type B free agent and would need to sign with another club before the June draft for the Red Sox to get a supplemental draft pick as compensation. [Boston Globe]

Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 1/15

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

It’s game day for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team as they head to the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, for a matchup with the St. John’s Red Storm. You can catch the game on ESPN at 7 PM.

Matt Stout of the Norwich Bulletin, Neill Ostrout of the Connecticut Post and David Borges of the New Haven Register all have notes from the UConn men’s practice yesterday.

The UConn men look to keep up their road success tonight.

The UConn men are halfway through and start the second half of their 30 game regular season schedule.

St. John’s is ready for the Huskies tonight.

Tonight will be a homecoming for Kemba Walker.

It should be a very physical game tonight down in the trenches.

Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant checks in with some UConn football recruiting news.

Rob Lunn gives us his awkward moment of the day over at Thoughts From a Fat White Guy.

Lunn also takes a look at Rick Reilly’s piece on beer pong over at Thoughts From a Fat White Guy.

Tiffany Hayes struggles with her shot have helped her refine her overall game.

Geno Auriemma isn’t too concerned with what’s going on with the teams below them in the polls.

Caroline Doty was happy to see Gampel Pavilion again on Tuesday night.

Matt Miller’s shorthanded goal in overtime gave the UConn men’s hockey team a 2-1 win over Bentley.

The UConn women’s hockey team is finding it’s groove right now.

Top Red Sox Prospects Get Ready For the Show

Boston Red SoxThe top prospects of the Boston Red Sox are in Boston preparing for the day they get the call up to the big leagues. There’s no truth to the rumor that they are there to learn the cliches that Crash Davis taught Elby Calvin LaLoosh in Bull Durham.

Crash Davis: It’s time to work on your interviews.
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: My interviews? What do I gotta do?
Crash Davis: You’re gonna have to learn your clichés. You’re gonna have to study them, you’re gonna have to know them. They’re your friends. Write this down:

  1. “We gotta play it one day at a time.”
  2. “I’m just happy to be here. Hope I can help the ballclub.”
  3. “I just want to give it my best shot, and the good Lord willing, things will work out.”

[flash http://ianbethune.com/soxprospects.flv w=384 h=288]
video courtesy of NESN

Meet Lars Anderson [NESN.com]

Daniel Bard Adjusts To Role [Boston Herald]

Red Sox catching prospect hopes to move ahead [Pro Jo]

Red Sox rookies offered advice from former Bruin [Pro Jo]

Celtics Rout Nets 118-86

The Boston Celtics look like they have put their recent 4-game losing streak in the past as they beat the New Jersey Nets 118-86 in front of a packed house at the T.D. BankNorth Garden.

The win for the Celtics is their third straight and raises their record to 32-9 which is good for third best in the Eastern Conference. The Nets fall to 19-20.

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (34) dunks past New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez (11) as Nets forwards Bobby Simmons (21) and Ryan Anderson (20) watch along with Celtics' Kevin Garnett (5) during the first quarter - AP PhotoPaul Pierce was on fire during the third quarter as he scored 18 points, on 5-5 shooting from 3-point land to finish with 22 points. Kevin Garnett added 20 points and 9 rebounds while both former UConn Husky Ray Allen and Glen “Big Baby’ Davis chipped in with 12 points. Mr Assist, Rajon Rondo, had 12 assists to go along with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Eddie House came off the bench to add 10 points for Doc Rivers squad.

The Nets were led Devin Harris who had 17 points. A trio of Nets, Ryan Anderson, Brook Lopez and Keyon Dooling added 13 points. Another former Husky, Josh Boone, had 3 points and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes for the Nets.

The Celtics had a 10 point lead at halftime but behind Pierce, they put up a 37-point third quarter to break the game open.

These same two teams will meet again on Saturday afternoon in New Jersey at 1 PM.

New Jersey Nets @ Boston Celtics 1.14.09 box score