Color me shocked that Boston Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine wasn’t fired yesterday. It was the perfect time to do it.

There’s no way he’s going to be back next season so with the Red Sox off yesterday before the New York Yankees come to town, it was a good time to do it. But nope, it DID NOT happen.

It makes you wonder what kind of dirt that Valentine has on the Red Sox ownership group/front office. There’s no reason for him to be at the helm anymore.

Everytime you see him, he looks defeated like a child when he/she loses his/her favorite stuffed animal. The words that come out of his mouth in his pre and post-game press conferences don’t make sense. Whether jokingly or not, last week he threatened to punch Glenn Ordway of WEEI’s “The Big Show” in the mouth for a question he asked.

It’s time for him to go.

The Red Sox do have the opportunity to play spoiler as 18 of their final 21 games come against their AL East brethren that are involved in the playoff race (Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays). But with the way they’ve looked lately, it’s unlikely that’ll happen.

I do hope it does because it’s way past not being fun to watch these guys play.

We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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Slumping Sox may find pick-me-up in pinstripes [boston globe]

Fenway Park brings out best in Podsednik [boston globe]

Spoiler alert: Yankees in peril [boston herald]

Rebuilding of rotation atop Red Sox’ to-do list [boston herald]

Hiroki Kuroda’s one that got away [boston herald]

Where has all the power gone? [boston herald]

MLB investigating Sox waiver wire leaks [rob bradford – weei.com]

You think the Sox are innocent? [csn new england]

Brentz, Hazelbaker thrown into the fire [espn boston]

Taking the measure of a man, not the job [espn boston]

Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester talks about life without Josh Beckett [espn boston]

Castiglione advances in Frick Award voting [extra bases]

Potential Red Sox first-round 2013 draftees: Arkansas pitcher Ryne Stanek [full count]

Ryan Lavarnway Stresses Importance of Building Relationships With Red Sox Pitchers (Video) [nesn.com]

David Ortiz Hopes Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection Helps Heal Injured Achilles [nesn.com]

Fading Red Sox don’t even look much like spoilers [projo sox blog]

A Series Matter: PawSox Style! [projo sox blog]

Ticket prices plunge for Sox-Yanks at Fenway [projo sox blog]

PawSox reliever Fields picks perfect time for breakout season [projo sox blog]

Chance to play spoiler could energize Red Sox [redsox.com]

Regrouping Red Sox can focus on development [redsox.com]

A new wrinkle in the rivalry: How Red Sox are trying to be like the Yankees [alex speier – weei.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: getty images

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.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Big East weekend rewind: Week 2 [matt fortuna – espn.com]

Sneak peek at the week ahead [matt fortuna – espn.com]

Could injuries open door for former Huskies? [jim fuller – new haven register]

Randy Edsall Playa’ Haters Club [the uconn blog]

From The Archives [Jan. 3, 2011]: Randy Edsall Leaves UConn For Maryland [hartford courant]

Coach Paul Pasqualoni: ‘Coach Edsall’s not playing in this game’ [washington post]

Maryland Terrapins-UConn Huskies First Look: The Edsall Bowl Cometh [testudo times]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Auriemma’s whirlwind summer includes a visit to Danbury [ct post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn to visit Rathan Mayes Wednesday [kevin duffy – ct post]

Meet Omar Calhoun [uconn huskies basketball]

Other UConn related links

Field Hockey. Bolles and Mansfield Sweep BIG EAST Weekly Awards [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Max Wasserman Named To BIG EAST Honor Roll [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Less than 200 Tickets Remain For Men’s Soccer vs. St. John’s and Notre Dame [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Soccer. Schulmann Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week [uconnhuskies.com]

M & W. Swimming. Swimming Takes Part In “Swim Across America” [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

UConn Huskies head football coach Paul Pasqualoni has released his depth chart for the game on Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins otherwise known as the “Randy Edsall Bowl”.

This week’s depth chart features zero changes from last week’s depth chart against NC State.

Given how the offensive line played against State, I’m surprised there were no changes. But of course things can change during the week of practice leading up to the game on Saturday so take this for what is.

For a full look at the UConn Huskies depth chart for the Maryland Terrapins game, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

OFFENSE

LT: 72 Jimmy Bennett (RSr., 6-9, 309)
78 Dalton Gifford (RFr., 6-5, 297)

LG 69 Steve Greene (RJr., 6-5, 309)
60 Tyler Samra (Fr., 6-3, 250)

C: 73 Alex Mateas (RSo., 6-3, 293)
50 Tyler Bullock (RJr., 6-4, 302)

RG: 63 Adam Masters (RSr., 6-4, 298)
65 Gus Cruz (RSo., 6-2, 306)

RT: 77 Kevin Friend (RJr., 6-6, 295)
75 Xavier Hemingway (RFr., 6-4, 262)

TE: 89 John Delahunt (RSr., 6-3, 243)
94 Ryan Griffin (RSr., 6-6, 247)

WR: 6 Michael Smith (Sr., 6-0, 201) OR
31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
84 Tebucky Jones (RSo., 6-0, 185)

FB: 47 R Reuben Frank (RSo., 6-3, 239)
36 Michael Osiecki (RSo., 6-2, 228)

QB: 10 C Chandler Whitmer (RSo., 6-1, 191)
18 Johnny McEntee (RSr., 6-3, 208)

TB: 43 L Lyle McCombs (RSo., 5-8, 166)
25 Martin Hyppolite (RJr., 6-0, 214)

WR: 85 Geremy Davis (RSo., 6-1, 214)
8 Shakim Phillips (RSo., 6-1, 200)

DEFENSE

DE: 48 Trevardo Williams (Sr., 6-2, 233)
51 Tim Willman (RJr., 6-4, 270)

DT: 53 R Ryan Wirth (RSr., 6-3, 271)
97 B.J. McBryde (RSo., 6-5, 301)

DT: 90 Julian Campenni (RF r., 5-11, 281)
56 Angelo Pruitt (RSo., 6-3, 296)

DE: 91 Jesse Joseph (Sr., 6-3, 259)
45 Elijah Norris (Fr., 6-4, 230)

OLB: 3 Sio Moore (RSr., 6-2, 229)
32 Jefferson Ashiru (RFr., 6-1, 227)

ILB: 33 Yawin Smallwood (Rso., 6-3, 235)
46 Marquise Vann (RFr., 6-0, 224)

ILB: 28 Jory Johnson (RSr., 6-1, 227)
52 Ryan Donohue (Sr., 6-0, 242)

CB: 5 Blidi Wreh-Wilson (RSr., 6-2, 190)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

S: 16 Byron Jones (RSo., 6-1, 192)
22 Andrew Adams (RFr., 6-0, 186)

S: 15 Ty-Meer Brown (RSo., 6-0, 193)
39 Jordan Floyd (Fr., 6-1, 205)

CB: 7 Dwayne Gratz (RSr., 6-0, 198)
12 David Stevenson (RFr., 5-8, 173)

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: 13 C Chad Christen (RJr., 6-1, 202)
17 Bobby Puyol (Fr., 6-0, 170)

P: 86 C Cole Wagner (RJr., 6-2, 211)
13 Chad Christen (RJr., 6-1, 202)

HL: 86 C Cole Wagner (RJr., 6-2, 211)
17 Blaise Driscoll (Sr., 6-1, 189)

KR: 31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

PR: 31 Nick Williams (Sr., 5-10, 184)
29 Taylor Mack (Jr., 5-9, 170)

LS: 67 A Adam Mueller (Jr., 6-1, 225)
66 Dominick Manco (RFr., 6-0, 239)

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According to a press release on the UConn Huskies website, UConn men’s basketball point guard Shabazz Napier has undergone surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot.

Here’s the release:

STORRS, Conn. — University of Connecticut junior guard Shabazz Napier (Roxbury, Mass.) will be out of action for the next several weeks as he recovers from surgery on his right foot to repair a bothersome stress fracture.

Napier, the Huskies’ most experienced returning player, had a right fifth metatarsal internal fixation performed Friday at John Dempsey Hospital at the UConn Health Center, basically meaning that a screw was inserted to promote healing of the fracture.

The fracture has been causing Napier discomfort for a few months and was the reason Napier decided to leave the Puerto Rican National Team after making the squad last spring. Rather than play hard on it all summer and possibly jeopardize his upcoming college season, Napier returned home for treatment.

According to the UConn medical staff, conservative treatment did not improve Napier’s condition, leading to the decision for surgery. Doctors said the operation was successful and Napier is expected to make a full recovery. He will be in a walking boot for a few weeks, but should be 100 percent healed by the time official practice begins on Oct. 13.

Napier played in all 34 of UConn’s games last season, starting 31, and averaged 13.0 points, 5.8 assists, and 35.0 minutes per game. In his two-year UConn career, he has scored 761 points and handed out 322 assists.

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photo credit: bettina hansen – hartford courant

It turned out to be the worst case scenario for the Boston Red Sox this weekend. Be swept by the Toronto Blue Jays and occupy the AL East basement all by yourself.

Yes folks that’s how far the once mighty Red Sox have fallen. Or as Steve put in a post on Sunday, “From Champions to Laughingstocks“.

The Red Sox had a chance to win this one but one bad inning from Clay Buchholz turned out to be the difference in the Jays 4-3 win in front of announced sell out crowd of 37,226 at historic Fenway Park. There was definitely not that many people there though as it was also the opener for the New England Patriots and judging by the crowd shots through out the game, most were home watching it.

Yes the Red Sox are now playing second fiddle to the Patriots during a month where they used to share the spotlight. Now no one even seems to care about the Red Sox (yes I watched the Patriots game while flipping to the Red Sox at commercials until the Pats game was over).

I know I’ve said it before but they aren’t even fun to watch even when a guy like Buchholz is having a good game.

I don’t think any of us ever expected this from the Red Sox. After all, the ownership group when they took over promised us good teams and championship baseball. I’m pretty sure they weren’t talking about winning the basement championship.

There’s a lot of clamoring on Twitter for them to fire manager Bobby Valentine, myself included. It’s obvious that he won’t be here in 2013 so why even let him finish the season. I figured if they were swept by the Jays (which we know happened) that the Red Sox would use this day to can Valentine and let Tim Bogar finish out the song.

As of right now, there’s nothing brewing on that front yet. But the day is the young so we’ll see what happens.

Anyways, the Red Sox are off today before they welcome the New York Yankees to town. The Yanks are in the fight of their lives for a playoff spot right now and it would be great to see the Red Sox have some fun against them in this three game set.

We’ll be back in a a bit with the pitching matchups for the Yanks series.

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun websites.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: ap photo