Reading too much into how a baseball team performs at the beginning of the season is a small sin.

This crime is not on the level of overreach as, for example, national sports media airing the claims of a tweet by a Cardinals’ A-ball pitcher that Jon Lester cheated in game 1 of the World Series; after the Cardinals made Little League-esque gaffes like Pete Kozma booting a double play ball in the first inning, and neither Yadier Molina or Adam Wainwright being able to catch a lazy pop-up in the second inning. Journalists who reported on that story should have been watching the game instead of Twitter. But reading too much into how a team performs this early in the season would, I confess, make me guilty of the sin of overreach.

It’s not that the Red Sox don’t have problems worthy of complaining about. The search for a leadoff hitter leaves a hole at the top of the order that’s roughly the size of Bartolo Colon‘s waist. The legion of men left on base is large enough to topple a weak despotic government. And watching Red Sox hitters take the philosophy of working pitch counts too far by not swinging at strike 3 has been frustrating.

But let’s not think about this too much.

What matters is that the Red Sox are only 4-5, despite how they’ve played. For the rest of April, the only above .500 team the Red Sox will face is the Toronto Blue Jays – and how long will they be above .500? And the only team which made the Red Sox look silly was the Milwaukee Brewers, who just happen to be the hottest team in baseball right now – how long will their streak continue?

So the Red Sox have a shot to be above .500 by the end of the month. With the outfield running on fumes until Victorino returns, and Middlebrooks‘ injury weakening the lineup, that’s a pretty good situation to be in. And I’ll enjoy watching one pleasant surprise of 2014, Jackie Bradley Jr, make me eat every word I wrote about him a couple weeks ago while the Red Sox stay competitive throughout April and, hopefully, have a healthier team in May and for the rest of the season.

It’s better that the Red Sox experience the problems they’re having now than in August.

photo credit: getty images

STORRS, Conn. –   Fresh off leading the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams to national championships, head coaches Kevin Ollie and Geno Auriemma will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday afternoon.

The NYSE closes at 4 p.m. ET and the closing bell ceremony can be viewed by clicking THIS LINK or by visiting http://new.livestream.com/NYSEeuronext.

Ollie led the Huskies to their fourth national championship in only his second year as the UConn head coach.  The Huskies defeated Kentucky, 60-54, in front of nearly 80,000 people at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

Auriemma led the Huskies to their record ninth national championship with a 79-58 win over previously undefeated Notre Dame on April 8.  UConn completed their fifth undefeated season with a 40-0 record and was ranked No. 1 wire-to-wire during the 2013-14 season.

Since 1995, the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams have combined for 19 Final Four appearances and 13 National Championships.  UConn is the only school to win the men’s and women’s basketball national championship in the same season, a feat the Huskies have now accomplished twice (2004, 2014).

HARTFORD, Conn. – Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced on Wednesday that the Hartford Business Improvement District will host a victory parade and rally in Hartford on Sunday, April 13 to congratulate the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams for winning their 2014 NCAA Basketball National Championships.

The parade, which will begin and end at the State Capitol, starts at 4:00 p.m. and will be immediately followed by a victory rally on the north steps of the State Capitol building. Parade and rally organizers are relying on private donations to finance both events.

“A decade after claiming both titles, UConn women and men have once again focused the spotlight of college basketball on Connecticut by bringing home another dual national championship and proving to the nation why the road to the Final Four always runs through Connecticut,” Governor Malloy said. “I’m looking forward to joining thousands of Husky fans in Hartford on Sunday to let the both teams and Coaches Auriemma and Ollie know how proud we are of their success this season.”

Governor Malloy added, “I want to thank the Hartford Business Improvement District for again hosting this event, organizing its sponsors, and allowing Connecticut residents to celebrate another dual national championship from our state.”

Organizers continue to rely on private funds to support the parade and the rally. This celebratory event is produced by the Hartford Business Improvement District, in collaboration with the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut, and a number of civic and business organizations.

Companies may choose from several sponsorship levels ranging from $10,000 to $2,500 or less.  To discuss parade sponsorship opportunities, quickly contact Michael Zaleski at the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID) at 860-728-2274 or email: mzaleski@hartfordbid.com.

The parade will begin at the State Capitol, travel north on Trinity Street, take a right on Jewell Street, bear left at Gold Street, turn right onto Main Street and then make a right onto Capitol Avenue before returning to the State Capitol where the rally will be held.

Parade map

Are you a fan of both the UConn Huskies men’s and women’s basketball teams?

Why not celebrate the dual national titles with a Dual Championship T-Shirt?

After falling last night, the Boston Red Sox look to finish up the homestand on a positive note in the rubber game of a three-game set with the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park this afternoon.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Rangers market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Southwest. If you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game.  And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jake Peavy makes his second Fenway start of 2014. In his first outing, he picked up a no decision against the Brewers after allowing two runs in six innings of work. He last faced the Rangers in 2012 as a member of the Chicago White Sox where he got a no decision after allowing three runs in six innings of work. He’s made four career starts against them and is 0-2 with a 7.59 ERA (18 ER/21.1 IP).

Robbie Ross, Jr. steps on the bump for the second time in 2014. He also picked up a no decision in his first start after allowing three runs (two earned) in five innings against the Phillies. He made three appearances against the Red Sox in 2013 and had no record with a 4.50 ERA (1 ER/2 IP). He’s made five career appearances against the local nine and has no record with a 2.70 ERA (1 ER/5.1 IP). Three of those appearances have come at the Fens where he has no record with a 5.40 ERA (1 ER/1.2 IP).

4-4		3-5
1. Shin-Soo Choo	LF	1. Jonny Gomes	LF
2. Elvis Andrus	SS	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Prince Fielder	DH	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Alex Rios	RF	4. Mike Napoli	1B
5. Mitch Moreland	1B	5. Xander Bogaerts	SS
6. Donnie Murphy	2B	6. Daniel Nava	RF
7. Leonys Martin	CF	7. Ryan Roberts	3B
8. Robinson Chirinos	C	8. David Ross	C
9. Josh Wilson	3B	9. Jackie Bradley Jr.	RF
Robbie Ross, Jr.	SP	Jake Peavy	SP

NOTES:

Craig Breslow was activated from the 15-day DL. To make room on the 25-man roster, Brandon Workman was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

More links will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

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Who’s on third? [sox & dawgs]

Still reason to believe Sox are better than this [csn new england]

Buster Olney on M&M: Red Sox believe Jackie Bradley Jr. could be ‘best defensive center fielder in the American League’ [full count]

Breslow activated from DL; Workman sent to Triple-A [red sox]

Peavy gets call in series finale against Rangers [red sox]

New outfield order? Why Jackie Bradley Jr., Grady Sizemore may be changing Red Sox’ plans [alex speier – weei]

photo credits: getty images, getty images