Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 11/21

Will he stay or will he go?

All is quiet right now on the free agency front as there was no real news coming out of the Boston Red Sox offices on Yawkey Way other than the announcement of placing 3 players on the 40-man roster.

Curt Schilling had his annual thank you reception for those who supported “Curt’s Pitch For ALS” in 2008 and talked about many different things with the media. He also said that he had talked with Jason Varitek and here’s what the Big Schill had to say about Tek.

“I get the fact that you have so much slotted into that position, and how much do you want to pay the guy?” Schilling said. “I talked to ‘Tek very briefly over the last couple of days, and I think that he understands he’s at that point of his career where he’s not going to catch 135 games. I’m not sure he’s mad about that. It’s a great situation, if you can work it out, where he spends the next two years here at a minimum and brings along the kid you want to fill that role. I think they’re out trying to find that kid right now. They’re kind of running parallel, talking to ‘Tek and trying to make that move. I don’t know that, but that’s what I would guess.”

No one wants to see Varitek leave and I hope Schilling is right that Tek’s here for another 2-3 years. He is the heart and soul of the Red Sox. But look, I understand baseball is a business and that he could be gone. We’re just hoping he isn’t.

The Red Sox will be facing some stiff competition for the services of Mark Teixeira.

The Red Sox offseason puzzle is starting to take shape according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com.

Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland will be out 4-6 months after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Microsoft employees in the Northeast are active with the Red Sox charities.

If selected, Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to help Japan defend it’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) title in March.

Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 11/21

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

The UConn Huskies football news will be coming up shortly in the game preview.

It’s game night for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team as they will take on the LaSalle Explorers in the first round of the Paradise Jam at 6 PM. The game will be broadcast here in Connecticut on My-TV9.

The Huskies will have a height advantage over the Explorers.

The UConn  men will look to push the pace during the game tonight.

The Huskies are ready for LaSalle tonight.

This weekend’s Paradise Jam will be a big test for the Huskies.

Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant has some notes from yesterday’s men’s basketball practice here, here and here.

Kalana Greene is making her time on the court count.

Geno Auriemma is concerned about the Huskies committing 33 turnovers in two games.

John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant has a look at the numbers from last night’s win.

The UConn women found their rhythm in last night’s win.

Roger Cleaveland of the Republican-American has his UConn women’s notebook.

Geno Auriemma sees Meghan Gardler and Tahirah Williams as one player.

Jim Fuller of the New Haven Register has a look at the wild start in women’s basketball.

The UConn volleyball team starts it’s quest for a Big East Tournament title tonight.

Annie Luhrsen was named the Big East Women’s Volleyball Freshman of the Year.

The UConn women’s hockey team fell 4-0 to Boston College.

UConn women’s soccer goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe has been nominated for Women’s Soccer Net Player of the Year Award.

Steve passed this along to me last night since it was something I hadn’t seen. Former UConn Husky Tyvon Branch was placed on injured reserve by the Oakland Raiders back on November 5th.

In The Red Zone – Patriots (6-4) at Dolphins (6-4) Preview – Week 12

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This Week

Patriots at Dolphins - Week 12

The New England Patriots visit the Miami Dolphins at Dolphins Stadium in Miami FL on Sunday at 1 p .m.

The Patriots are 2-2 on the road, 2-2 in the division and 4-4 against the AFC. The Dolphins are 4-2 at home, 2-1 in the division and 5-3 against the AFC.  The teams are tied for 2nd in the AFC East.

The Dolphins beat the Patriots 35-14 in week 3 at Gillette Stadium.

Here are the rosters for the Patriots and Dolphins.

Here are the projected starting lineups for the game.

The Line/Prediction

As of Thursday the line on the game from Yahoo! Sports is Patriots +1. The over/under is 42.

My prediction is Patriots 27, Dolphins, 20. Take the points (Patriots) and take the over. I am 4-5-1 against the spread and 5 of 10 on calling the over/under in 2008.

Tickets

Tickets to the game, if available, may be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.    

Getting To The Game

If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in the Miami make sure you check out the links.

Here is the up to date weather forecast for the game from weather.com.

Click for stadium directions, parking and stadium informationparking map and a Dolphins Stadium seating chart

Tailgating

Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgaiting America. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good and for good measure here is one of my own.

And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or by theme.

Whether it’s at the game, a bar or someone’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television

CBS is televising the game regionally and Greg Gumbel will do the play-by-play while Dan Dierdorf will handle the game analysis. You can see if you are getting the game and look for your local CBS Station.

Direct TV NFL Sunday Ticket has the game on Channel 706.

For those of you overseas here is some general information on NFL Broadcasts for the 2008 season.

Patriots All-Access airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on WCVB TV 5 in Boston. It will also be simulcast on the team website at the same time. Make sure you check out the Patriots Football Network for information on when you can see Patriots All-Access in your market.

Radio

The Patriots Rock Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBCN-FM 104.1 in Boston. Gil Santos handles the play-by-play and former Patriot Gino Cappelletti does the color.

It all starts with Gary Tanguay, Scott Zolak and Andy Gresh and the pregame show at 10 a.m. along the network.

The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours.

If you are outside of the broadcast area of the stations on the Patriots Rock Radio Network you can purchase NFL Field Pass which allows you to listen to any NFL game live. You can also pick which teams broadcasters you want to listen to.

All NFL games are also available on Sirius Satellite Radio. The Patriots Rock Radio Network call is available on Channel 157, the Dolphins Radio Network has a trio of former Dolphins calling the game including former WR Jimmy Cefalo doing play-by-play and fomer Dolphin TE’s Jim Mandich and Joe Rose with analysis. Their call is available on Channel 121.

Since the satellite merger XM Satellite Radio also carries all the NFL games and in most cases has just the radio call of the home team.  This game can be heard on XM Channel 108.

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Celtics Rip Pistons With Team Effort 98-80

Kevin Garnett gets ready to play the Pistons.  Getty Photo.

What has happened to the Detroit Pistons?  They traded away Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson and they are not the same team that’s for sure, I’m not even sure they’re a better team.  Even though they had won four of the last five coming into Thursday night’s matchup they look really disjointed and lackluster at times and it translated into a 98-80 pasting by the Boston Celtics at the TD Banknorth Garden.

After a first quarter that saw the clubs tied at 21-21 after the first 12 minutes, the Celtics pulled away in the second quarter jumping out to a 49-40 lead at the half.  The third quarter saw the Green pull away even further taking a 20 point lead, 77-57 into the final quarter.

Iverson and Rondo collide whle chasing the ball.  AP Photo.  It was an all round team effort for Boston (11-2) in the win as five players scored in double figures led by Rajon Rondo’s 18 points.  Kevin Garnett, who returned from a one game suspension, had 15 points, Tony Allen had 13, Ray Allen had 12 and Eddie House chipped in with 11 points while Kendrick Perkins had 10 rebounds.

Detroit (8-4) was led by Iverson who had 16 points, Rasheed Wallace had 13 points and Richard Hamilton added 12 in the loss for the passionless Pistons.

Boston is back at it Friday night as Kevin Garnett gets to play in Minnesota for the first time since his trade to Boston prior to last season.  When the Celtics played in Minny last year Garnett was injured and missed the game.  He was introduced to the crowd to a raucous ovation by the Timberwolves fans.  It will be intersting to see what type of reaction KG gets tomorrow night.

UConn Huskies Take Care Of Business In 99-55 Win

UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma wanted to see a better effort out of his team tonight. I’m pretty sure he’ll be happy with the fact his No. 1 Huskies shot 64.1% in their 99-55 win over the San Diego State Aztecs in front of 10,313 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

UConn's Maya Moore goes up for a shot as San Diego State's Quenese Davis tries to defend her during the first half. - AP PhotoMaya Moore once again led the way for the Huskies (2-0) with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Despite being in foul trouble tonight, Tina Charles added 17 points and 5 rebounds while Kalana Greene and Renee Montgomery both chipped in with 13 points. Freshman Tiffany Hayes rounded out the Huskies in double-figures with 11 points. The only Husky not to score tonight was Cassie Kerns.

Jene Morris paced the Aztecs (2-1) with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Paris Johnson added 9 points and Lasandra Dixon came off the bench to score 8 points.

The Huskies started quick out of the gates as they got out to a quick 7-0 lead. They increased their lead to 20-8 before the first media time out of the night and it kept growing throughout the half as the Huskies took a 56-27 lead into the locker room.

It was more of the same for the Huskies in the second half as their lead swelled as high as 52 points late in the 2nd half before the Aztecs closed out the game on a 12-4 run over the final 6:16 of the game.

The Huskies definitely put forth a better effort tonight then they did against Georgia Tech on Sunday afternoon. Charles’ foul trouble tonight also gave Geno Auriemma a chance to experiment a little with a few different lineups as well as getting some more playing time for his bench.

Next up for the Huskies is a date on Saturday afternoon against the Rhode Island Rams at the XL Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 PM and the game will be televised here in Connecticut on CPTV.

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Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 11/20

Boston Red SoxAs I reported here yesterday (last line of the post), the Red Sox have signed Paul McAnulty to a minor league contract. Other news outlets just caught wind of this today.

The Red Sox also announced that they have added 3 minor leaguers to the 40-man roster in anticipation of the December 11th Rule 5 draft to be held at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, NV. The Red Sox had until today to set their reserve lists.

LHP Hunter Jones (Triple-A Pawtucket), catcher Mark Wagner (Double-A Portland) and Felix Doubront (Single-A Salem) were all added to the roster. The Red Sox still have 3 spots on their 40-man roster.

Mussina Walks Away From Hall of Fame Career

Mussina tips his cap to Yankee fans after his last Yankee Stadium start on Sept. 18, 2008.  NY Times photo.

I’m going to do something that most fans of the Boston Red Sox would never do.  I’m going to wax poetic about the career of New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina who announced his retirement today after 18 seasons.

Mussina pitched the last 8 years in New York and his first ten seasons in Baltimore after graduating from Stanford.  He becomes the first pitcher to retire after a 20-win season since Sandy Koufax retired in 1967 after winning 20 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  It was the only 20 win season of Mussina’s fine career in which he won double digit games in all but his first season. 

Mussina, born in the cradle of Little League Baseball, Williamsport, PA, grew up and still lives in Montoursville, PA and serves on the Little League World Series Board of Directors.  From there he went on to Stanford where was drafted in the first round (20th overall) by Baltimore in the 1990 Draft. Mussina made his major league debut on August 4, 1991 against the White Sox in Chicago and lost 1-0 to Charlie Hough. He finished up the year for a bad Orioles team at 4-5 in 12 starts. 

He spent the next nine full seasons as the back bone of the Orioles staff going 122-81 in his ten seasons in Baltimore before leaving after the 2000 season as a free agent signing with the Yankees for 6 years and $87 million.

In his 8 seasons in New York, Mussina won another 148 games topping it with the 20 wins in his final year but was never able to win a World Series ring. 

Mussina finishes his career an amazing 117 games above .500 at 270-153 with a career ERA of 3.68 and a WHIP of 1.19.  He averaged 17 wins a season against 9 losses over his career and was 7-8 in the post season.  Mussina made five all-star teams and started the game twice, he earned 7 Gold Gloves, led the league once in wins and was one out away from a perfect game at Fenway Park in 2001.

In my book, Mike Mussina is a Hall of Fame pitcher. Every pitcher with a +100 in the won/loss column who is eligible is in the Hall of Fame and Mussina should be there too. He was an outstanding pitcher, a great competitor, you never heard his teammates bitch about him and he was never in the news for doing anything stupid.

Regardless of what uniform the man wore I tip my hat to him and a great career.

Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 11/20

Thanks for the memories Coco

The big news for the Boston Red Sox yesterday was not the signing of a free agent such as Jason Varitek or A.J. Burnett but rather the trade of center fielder Covelli “Coco” Crisp.

In an effort to shore up their bullpen for the 2009 season, the Red Sox traded Coco to the Kansas City Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez. It’s a good move for the Red Sox as it now gives them some flexibility in the bullpen. It gives them the choice of moving Justin Masterson back into the starting rotation if they so choose or quite possibly allows them to trade Manny Delcarmen.

If the Red Sox were able to acquire a starting pitcher in free agency, Delcarmen could become expendable in the bullpen and be used along with another pitcher (Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden) in a trade with the Texas Rangers for one of their catchers.

One thing’s for certain now, with the Red Sox trading their 4th outfielder they will need to be active on the free agent market for another 4th outfielder. It’s quite conceivable that the Red Sox will go after Gabe Kapler or Rocco Baldelli to fill that role. I really don’t see any of the other outfield free agents as players who fit what the Red Sox are looking for.

Expect the competition for the services of A.J. Burnett to be an AL East affair.

I leave you with these two videos of Coco Crisp.

[flash http://ianbethune.com/cocofight.FLV w=425 h=300]

[flash http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/896cd8d27ef134da32a0408435c89c64]
video courtesy of NESN

The Rays fight like girls, scratching and pulling hair.

Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 11/20

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

It’s game night for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as the San Diego State Aztecs come to the XL Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM and the game will be broadcast live on CPTV here in Connecticut.

Geno Auriemma needs his bench to perform tonight.

Rich Elliot of the Connecticut Post has some notes from yesterday’s women’s basketball practice.

John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant provides us with an update on the health of Heather Buck who is out with mono.

The Huskies can’t forget about Paris Johnson tonight.

Geno Auriemma remembered his roots when he spoke at the Cardinal Shehan Center in Bridgeport.

The Huskies have a chance to make an impression tonight against the Aztecs.

Kaili McLaren wants to earn more playing time.

Former men’s basketball recruit Durand Scott’s mother liked UConn. As we know, Scott chose to attend the University of Miami over UConn and Pittsburgh.

The UConn men’s basketball seniors know this is their last shot.

The Paradise Jam will be showtime for the Huskies starting tomorrow night.

David Gillett has an interview of Hasheem Thabeet.

Great feature on UConn running back Donald Brown during NESN’s SportsDesk last night. Here it is for you to enjoy.


video courtesy of NESN

Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross says Randy Edsall is still a candidate for the Orange opening.

Rob Lunn has his thoughts on Jeff Jacobs’ article about Randy Edsall over at Thoughts From a Fat White Guy.

John Silver of the Journal Inquirer says the Big East can kiss the Sun and Gator Bowls goodbye.

Three former UConn Huskies women’s soccer players were invited to the Women’s Professional Soccer League Combine.