Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 8/31

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 some of the other sports. 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

Thursday’s UConn-Fordham Game Postponed [SOX & Dawgs]

Big East in nonconference play [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

One Hundred Soldiers At The Rent [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Running plan [Joe Perez – Norwich Bulletin]

Box contacted Fordham about possible transfer [John Nash – The Hour]

I can’t imagine UConn’s season-opener being ‘canceled’ [John Nash – The Hour]

Fordham game drama [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Coach P and QBs (his words) [Lee Lewis – The Republican-American]

Rams from Connecticut excited to face Huskies [CT Post]

Hartford Courant 2011 UConn preview [Hartford Courant]

Shoemate, McEntee cross country to fulfill dream [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn Football Season Preview — Home is where the ‘hut’ is for Pasqualoni [The Hour]

UConn Football Notebook — The time for talk is over as season opener looms [The Hour]

It’s still the same game to Robbie Frey [Allentown Morning Call]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Dom answered a few questions in his mailbag [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Kemba Walker talks about life and UConn [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Andre Drummond commit to have massive impact on UConn in 2011-12 [SI.com]

Other UConn related links

W. Soccer. Women’s Soccer Game Time Changed To 6 P.M. For September 2 [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Soccer. SoccerSavings.com Names Riley Houle New England Soccer Women’s Player of the Week [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Lacrosse. Lacrosse Announces Fall Schedule [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Men’s Soccer Ranked No.4/5 In Latest Polls [UConnHuskies.com]

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Destination Red Sox Nation – 8/31

Destination Red Sox Nation

Destination Red Sox Nation is our look at how the minor league teams of the Boston Red Sox fare each night. Game story and box score links as well as links to team rosters, team stats and league standings can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

If you would like to listen to any of the Red Sox minor league affiliates’ games, MiLB.com offers them for free.

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

Middlebrooks, five others slated for Arizona Fall League [SoxProspects.com]

Pawtucket Red Sox

After falling behind 6-0, the PawSox couldn’t complete the rally in an 8-6 loss to the Rochester Red Wings.

Over Early for PawSox in Rochester [PawSox.com]

Pawtucket Red Sox @ Rochester Red Wings 8.30.11 box score [MiLB.com]

Pawtucket Red Sox 2011 Roster

Pawtucket Red Sox stats

International League standings

Pawtucket Red Sox website

Portland Sea Dogs:

A solid eight inning effort from Charlie Haeger helped the Sea Dogs to a 4-1 win over the Harrisburg Senators.

Haeger, Sea Dogs Foil Senators, 4-1 [PortlandSeaDogs.com]

Haeger’s knuckler stymies Senators [Portland Press Herald]

Portland Sea Dogs @ Harrisburg Senators 8.30.11 box score [MiLB.com]

Portland Sea Dogs 2011 Roster

Portland Sea Dogs stats

Eastern League Standings

Portland Sea Dogs website

Salem Red Sox:

Salem was off again on Tuesday night.

Salem Red Sox 2011 Roster

Salem Red Sox stats

Carolina League standings

Salem Red Sox official blog

Salem Red Sox website

Greenville Drive:

The Drive got three runs in the 5th inning and held on for a 5-3 win over the Augusta Greenjackets.

Drive Swat ‘Jackets 5-3 in Finale at Fluor Field [OurSports Central]

Brandon Jacobs Named to 2011 SAL Annual All-Star Team [OurSports Central]

Augusta Greenjackets @ Greenville Drive 8.30.11 box score [MiLB.com]

Greenville Drive 2011 Roster

Greenvillle Drive stats

South Atlantic League standings

Greenville Drive website

Lowell Spinners:

The Spinners managed just one hit in a 3-0 loss to the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Spinners Thrown for a Twist in Loss, 3-0 [LowellSpinners.com]

Happy homecoming for Leathersich [Lowell Sun]

Back to School Night w/Mr. Belding: Aug. 31 [LowellSpinners.com]

Brooklyn Cyclones @ Lowell Spinners 8.30.11 box score [MiLB.com]

Lowell Spinners 2011 Roster

Lowell Spinners stats

NY-Penn League Standings

Lowell Spinners Blog

Spinners website

gulf coast red sox Gulf Coast League Red Sox

The season is over for the GCL Red Sox.

GCL Red Sox 2011 Roster

GCL Red Sox stats

Gulf Coast League Standings

Gulf Coast Red Sox website

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

Preview: New York Giants @ New England Patriots Preseason Game 4

This Week

New York Giants @ New England Patriots

The New England Patriots host the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Patriots are 2-1 in the preseason. The Giants are 1-2 in the preseason.

Here are the rosters for the Patriots and the Giants.

This is the final preseason game for each team.

The Line/Prediction

As of Tuesday, the line on the game from Yahoo! Sports is Patriots minus 7½. The over under is 40.

My Prediction is Patriots 24, Giants, 10. Give the points (Patriots) and take the under.

Tickets

The Patriots are reporting the game as a sell out. It is the 183^rd consecutive sellout dating back to the 1994 season opener. The record includes preseason, regular season and playoff games.

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

After market tickets are available through the Official Patriots Ticket Exchange where season ticket holders can sell their unused seats to fans on the season ticket waiting list.

Getting to the Game

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

Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Foxboro MA.

Click for all the game day information including stadium directions, parking information and map and a Gillette Stadium seating chart.

To continue reading the New York Giants @ New England Patriots preview, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television

The Patriots Preseason Television Network is televising the game through out New England and parts of Canada.

Longtime national play by play announcer Don Criqui and former NFL Pro Bowl offensive lineman Randy Cross will call the game with help from WBZ sports anchor Steve Burton and former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak on the sidelines.

Stations in the Patriots Preseason TV Network include:

WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston MA
WNAC-TV Channel 64 in Providence RI
WMUR-TV Channel 9 in Manchester NH
WMTW-TV Channel 8 in Portland ME
WCTX-TV Channel 9 in Hartford/New Haven CT
WWLP-TV Channel 22 in Springfield MA
WVII-TV Channel 7 or WFVX-TV Channel 22 in Bangor ME
WVNY-TV Channel 22 in Burlington VT
Canadian Maritimes on Rogers Sports Net

In the New York TV Market Bob Papa calls the play by play while Carl Banks provides color analysis in a radio simulcast. You can see the game on:

WNBC-TV 4 in New York NY
WTIC-TV 61 in Hartford CT
WNYT-TV 13 in Albany NY
WICZ-TV 40 in Binghampton NY
WSTM-TV 3 in Syracuse NY

Check your local listings for your station.

There is NO DirecTV designation.

Radio

The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston MA. Gil Santos handles the play by play while former Patriot Gino Cappelletti does the color commentary.

All NFL Games are also available on Sirius Satellite Radio. XM Satellite Radio also carries all the NFL games under a special additional package. They usually only carry the home team feed. SiriusXM is also carrying the games online.

The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 149, XM Channel 229 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 863

The Giants Radio network has Bob Papa calling play by play and former Giant Carl Banks provides the color via their flagship station WFAN. Their call is available on SiriusXM Internet Channel 877.

Last Week

The Patriots lost to the Lions on the road 34-10; while the Giants lost to the Jets, 17-3 at home.

Next Week

The Patriots open the regular season on Monday September 12 in Miami against the Dolphins. Kick off is at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem

Thursday’s UConn-Fordham Game Postponed

Here’s the release from UConn concerning the postponement of Thursday night’s football game. The word from the media is that no official announcement as to it being rescheduled will come tonight. That announcement is likely to come tomorrow.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Connecticut vs. Fordham football game scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1 has been postponed due to Rentschler Field being unavailable for use. The stadium is currently being used by the Connecticut National Guard for use as a commodities distribution center to provide towns and cities of the state that are in need of essential supplies in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

UConn is hopeful to receive confirmation that the game will be rescheduled to Saturday at Rentschler Field.

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Patriots Work Out Smith, Cut Two

The New England Patriots worked out RB Kevin Smith today at Foxboro. Smith, a former 2008 3^rd round pick of the Detroit Lions out of Central Florida is an unrestricted free agent.

New England Patriots Smith played three seasons for the Lions where as a rookie in 2008 he led the team in rushing attempts, yards, average and touchdowns. In his career he has run for 1,723 yards and 12 rushing TD’s. He has also caught 80 passes for 701 yards.

New England also cut two players today to get to the required 80-man roster by 4 p.m. Released were LB Marques Murrell and WR Jeremy Ross.

Word is that the Patriots also have interest in DT Pat Williams formerly of the Minnesota Vikings. He decided not to re-sign with the Vikings prior to the lockout. Williams, if he plays in 2011, could be suspended by the NFL for a failed drug test from nearly 3 years ago. Williams appeal on disciplinary action by the league was rejected by the Minnesota State Supreme Court in April clearing the way for a possible suspension for use of a banned diuretic that was in the weight loss supplement he was taking.

Whalers Sports & Entertainment Announces Partnership to the “Max”

HARTFORD, August 30, 2011: Hockey Night in Hartford has taken on a whole new flavor with the announcement that the Max Restaurant Group, Connecticut’s premier restaurant group, is partnering with the Connecticut Whale for a unique season ticket holder loyalty program, said Whalers Sports & Entertainment (WSE) president and COO Howard Baldwin, Jr.

CT Whale The Max program features the Whale’s new Season Ticket Holder Loyalty Program that offers every season ticket holder 20% off entrees at both Max Downtown and Trumbull Kitchen before or after each home game. In addition, the Connecticut Whale has announced the “Max Restaurant Group Season Ticket Holder of the Night”, who will be selected from season ticket holders attending the game.

“The Max Restaurant Group-Whale partnership is more than about hockey, it is about tastefully enriching the community in which we all live,” said Richard Rosenthal, President, Max Restaurant Group.

The Max Restaurant Group sponsorship, along with the Whale’s recent Alliance Partnerships announcements with Aetna and St Francis Hospital and Medical Center, further support the Whale’s “One Goal” 2011-2012 Season Ticket Campaign.

“The Whale’s Goal is to provide the best fan experience and value to the Max while we all enjoy the journey to bring the Hartford hockey market back to the status it once enjoyed,” Baldwin Jr. said.

Max Restaurant Group is the premier restaurant company in the Greater Hartford area, consisting of 8 locations in the Hartford, CT/Springfield, MA region. Founder and President Richard Rosenthal had a vision in the 1980’s to bring fine dining to the Capital city and has succeeded beyond his imagination. Today, the Max Restaurant Group has evolved into a dynamic organization that employs over 600 people who pride themselves in their customer service and a creative approach in delivering its guests the best dining experience possible. To learn more, visit www.maxrestaurantgroup.com.

Season tickets for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign are on sale now. For information on season seats, and all of the Whale’s many ticketing options, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

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Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/30

CC Sabathia (L), John Lackey (R)

After two days off, one due to Hurricane Irene and one that was scheduled, the Boston Red Sox continue their nine-game homestand tonight at Historic Fenway Park. They’ll welcome their AL East rivals the New York Yankees to town in the first of three-game set.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Yankees’s broadcast area, you can catch the game on MY9. If you don’t live in either market, you could be in luck as the MLB Network is scheduled to have coverage of the game in certain markets as well. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

John Lackey takes the bump for the 23rd time this tonight. In his previous 22 starts, Lackey is 12-9 with a 5.98 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Yankees this year and is 2-0 with a 7.36 ERA (9 ER/11 IP). Lackey’s made 21 career starts against the Yankees and is 8-8 with a 4.67 ERA. Four of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 3-0 with a 4.01 ERA.

CC Sabathia looks to exercise his demons against the Red Sox this season. He’s made four starts against them in 2011 and is 0-4 with a 7.20 ERA. Before this season as a member of the Yankees (2009-10), Sabathia had been 4-1 with a 3.04 ERA in eight starts. Overall in his career, Sabathia is 6-9 with a 4.19 ERA in 19 starts against the Red Sox. Nine of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 2-4 with a 4.47 ERA. Tonight will mark his 29th start of the season. In his previous 28 starts, he is 17-7 with a 2.99 ERA.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.

Here are this evening’s lineups:

80-52		82-51
1. Brett Gardner	LF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Derek Jeter	SS	2. Marco Scutaro	SS
3. Curtis Granderson	CF	3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
4. Mark Teixeira	1B	4. Dustin Pedroia	2B
5. Robinson Cano	2B	5. David Ortiz	DH
6. Nick Swisher	RF	6. Jed Lowrie	3B
7. Eric Chavez	3B	7. Carl Crawford	LF
8. Jorge Posada	DH	8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
9. Francisco Cervelli	C	9. Darnell McDonald	RF
CC Sabathia	SP	John Lackey	SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox batter/pitcher matchups

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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

Wakefield to be pushed back, Buchholz throws [Clubhouse Insider]

Notes: Buchholz begins throwing again [CSN New England]

Video: Edes on Sox-Yankees series [ESPN Boston]

Podcast: Edes on Sox-Yankees [ESPN Boston]

How the Red Sox have solved CC [ESPN Boston]

Sox face CC (0-4 vs. Boston) tonight [ESPN Boston]

Wakefield to be skipped against Texas [ESPN Boston]

Sox to proceed ‘deliberately’ with Buchholz [ESPN Boston]

Drew to return Thursday, Youkilis on Friday [ESPN Boston]

Audio: Francona on ESPN Radio NY [ESPN Boston]

Bradley moves from tee box to pitcher’s mound [ESPN Boston]

Red Sox resurface infield [Extra Bases]

Update on Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew [Extra Bases]

Clay Buchholz starts throwing [Extra Bases]

Rotation set for the Texas series [Extra Bases]

Behind Enemy Lines: A-Rod out of lineup, status uncertain [Extra Bases]

Keegan Bradley: “First pitch dream come true” [Extra Bases]

Red Sox sending six to Arizona Fall League [Extra Bases]

Red Sox Notes: Andrew Miller will start against Texas [Full Count]

Can Alex Rodriguez Still Be a Factor This Season? [NESN.com]

Red Sox Mailbag: Another Jacoby Ellsbury Trade Wish and What to Do With Tim Wakefield [NESN.com]

CC Sabathia Has Awful Numbers Against Red Sox This Season, But It’s Still Hard to Bet Against Him [NESN.com]

Video: Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury Among Red Sox Players Inspired By Stories of Jimmy Fund Patients [NESN.com]

Clay Buchholz Among Red Sox Who Understand Communication Is Key to Prevention of Injuries [NESN.com]

Red Sox Shuffle Rotation for Weekend Series With Rangers, Tim Wakefield to Make Next Start in Toronto [NESN.com]

Keegan Bradley Excited About Homecoming, But a Nervous Wreck Over Throwing Out First Pitch at Fenway Park [NESN.com]

J.D. Drew Due Back Thursday, Kevin Youkilis Expected to Return Friday As Red Sox Reload for Final Month [NESN.com]

Video: Andrew Miller Has Earned Right to Stay in Red Sox Rotation Despite Tim Wakefield’s Quest for 200 Wins [NESN.com]

Clay Buchholz Throws From 60 Feet, a Small But ‘Exciting’ Step for Red Sox Righty [NESN.com]

Red Sox Face Difficult Test Over Rest of Homestand With Yankees, Rangers Coming to Town [NESN.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Yankees and September [Projo Sox Blog]

Q&A: Yankees beat writer Daniel Barbarisi [Projo Sox Blog]

Youkilis, Drew to play for PawSox tonight [Projo Sox Blog]

Doubront’s transition to bullpen well underway [Projo Sox Blog]

Clay Buchholz throws with “no problems, no pain” [Projo Sox Blog]

Beyeler to manage Hassan and Middlebrooks — plus Harper and Trout — in Arizona Fall League [Projo Sox Blog]

Jenks back with Red Sox; Drew, Youkilis with PawSox [Projo Sox Blog]

Miller to start Friday, Wakefield pushed back [Projo Sox Blog]

Rodriguez likely out for series with Sox [Projo Sox Blog]

Lackey set to take on Yanks [RedSox.com]

East positioning continues as Sox host Yanks [RedSox.com]

Boston’s Castiglione, Remy on Frick Award ballot [RedSox.com]

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

Photo credits: Reuters Pictures, AP Photo

Ticket Preview: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

Click here for ticket availability

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

Red Sox News & Notes – 8/30

A rubber duck sits of a railing during a rain delay of a game between the Oakland Athletics and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park August 27, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts.

With the New York Yankees beating the Baltimore Orioles last night, the Boston Red Sox will welcome the Yanks to Historic Fenway Park with a 1.5 game lead in the American League East. The Red Sox record stands at 82-51 while the Yankees are 80-52.

During yesterday’s post, I had said the Red Sox had a 2.5 game lead but I was incorrect as the MLB.com standings were actually wrong at that time. So hence why I wanted to lead off with that for today. I do apologize. And because of those incorrect standings, some of the other things I had written were wrong too.

The Yankees lead the wild card by 7.5 games over the Rays. So say the Red Sox were to sweep, it would put the Rays back in the race if they won their next three games as well. Barring a colossal collapse by either the Yankees or Red Sox, both of them should make the playoffs this year.

You definitely think the Red Sox want to win the division. If they did, they’d probably matchup with the winner of the AL Central which at this time is the Detroit Tigers. The Texas Rangers currently lead the AL West.. Honestly I don’t think the Red Sox care who they play in the playoffs.

If the Red Sox are to win the AL East, they would get home field advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs as whomever wins the AL East should end up with the best record in the American League. Home field advantage this year in the World Series belongs to the National League since they won the 2011 All-Star Game (stupid rule by the way).

Rosters will expand on Thursday and with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox likely to make the International League Playoffs, I can’t see the Red Sox completely raiding their roster. They might take a guy or two for the bullpen but that’s about all I see until they are done.

However, they should welcome Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew back to the team. We might even see Bobby Jenks come off the DL as well but like you, I’d rather see him stay there for the rest of the year.

We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and news from the day. So for now enjoy the overnight links from the media.

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

Video: Alec Baldwin Tells John Krasinski To Call 912 [SOX & Dawgs]

Dynamic duo: Ellsbury, Granderson embody game’s new superstar class [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Likely to be pitched battle [Boston Globe]

Playing well is Sox’ 1st priority [Boston Globe]

Devil in the details for the Yankees [Boston Globe]

Sox like steady diet of Aceves [Boston Herald]

Down the stretch they come [Boston Herald]

Sox vs. Yankees: A battle of matchups [Boston Herald]

‘Just make the playoffs’ [Boston Herald]

Who will be the beast of the AL East? [Clubhouse Insider]