A lot was made of the antics of Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey on the mound during Saturday’s win over the Tampa Bay Rays.  I want to say this, Lackey is one competitive player as are most major leaguers, and he hates to lose.  I get that; I hate to lose too.  If you don’t hate to lose, in my opinion there is something wrong with you.

Josh Beckett hates to lose, Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek do too.  Most of those guys have had on field meltdowns at times over different things.  We’ve seen Beckett pissed at umpires, Pedroia just bent out of shape and Youk throw helmets and bats around the dugout that left players scurrying for their lives. I get the competitive fire, I really do.  In fact I wish J.D. Drew had a little Beckett, Lackey or Pedroia in him but he doesn’t.

But what Lackey does, start in, start out isn’t good for him, his teammates and their relationship.  He constantly shows up his fielders by throwing up his arms and glaring at them when a play goes poorly.  He has done it to pretty much everyone on the roster in his season and half in Boston.  In fact I agree with Buster Olney (ESPN Insider link) on this, in some clubhouses his antics would get him punched out.

I don’t know what Lackey’s relationship with the position players is.  I have heard the guys on the team love him.  But when you show up your manager during a nationally televised by game questioning him openly before he gets to the mound there’s an issue.  He even turned around and added more to it as left the game.

One thing about Terry Francona and Theo Epstein is that if there is an issue it’s handled privately and we will never know. If I were a teammate of Lackey I’d tell him once cut the crap John or we will have issues.  He is demonstrative and there’s a time and place for it but he’s got to cut down on the stomping feet and flailing arms.

As William Tasker at the Flagrant Fan blog said to me in a tweet, “he always looks like someone stole his candy.”  Tasker is right, it’s just a childish reaction to a bad situation.  He needs to learn to calm down he has a lot of time left in Boston and it’s all under the microscope. And the more it happens, fans and the media will call more attention to it and he could end up alienating his teammates.

Photo credit: AP Photo

After taking yesterday afternoon’s game, the Boston Red Sox look for the series win in the finale of a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL.

Tonight’s first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. You can also catch the game online at ESPN3.com. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

After being scratched for his appearance in the All-Star Game earlier in the week, Josh Beckett looks to put the knee issue to rest in his 18th start of 2011. In his previous 17 starts, Beckett is 8-3 with a 2.27 ERA. He’s made one start against the Rays this season and that came back on June 15th. In that start, Beckett threw a complete game one-hit shutout to pick up the W. He’s made 17 career starts against the Rays and is 8-4 with a 3.15 ERA. Seven of those starts have come at the Trop where he is 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA.

Jeff Niemann makes his 11th start of 2011 for Joe Maddon. In his previous 10 starts, Niemann is 4-4 with a 4.53 ERA. He has not faced the Red Sox in 2011 and was 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three starts in 2010. Overall in his career, he’s made four starts against the Red Sox and is 2-2 with a 6.62 ERA.

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

Here are this evening’s lineups:

56-36		50-42
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Johnny Damon	DH
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Ben Zobrist	RF
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Evan Longoria	3B
4. Kevin Youkilis	3B	4. Casey Kotchman	1B
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. B.J. Upton	CF
6. J.D. Drew	RF	6. Jose Lobaton	C
7. Josh Reddick	LF	7. Sean Rodriguez	2B
8. Jason Varitek	C	8. Sam Fuld	LF
9. Marco Scutaro	SS	9. Reid Brignac	SS
Josh Beckett	SP	Jeff Niemann	SP

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

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

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No way, Jose [Boston Herald]

Sense of closure? [Boston Herald]

Jon Lester set to start July 26, Carl Crawford to return Monday [Clubhouse Insider]

Report: Crawford to return to Red Sox Monday [CSNNE.com]

Lester (back) set to return to Red Sox July 26 [CSNNE.com]

Report: Red Sox interested in Jimenez, Kuroda [CSNNE.com]

Notes: Lineup shuffle in order for Crawford’s return [CSNNE.com]

Beckett to test knee in series finale at Tampa [ESPN Boston]

Lester scheduled for July 26 return [ESPN Boston]

Ortiz still hasn’t heard on appeal of suspension [ESPN Boston]

Jon Lester to return from DL July 26 [Extra Bases]

Ortiz suspension could start tomorrow [Extra Bases]

Trade Deadline: Red Sox going after Padres’ Ryan Ludwick? [Full Count]

Josh Beckett Looks to Continue Success, Prove He’s Healthy in First Start of Second Half Against Rays [NESN.com]

Jon Lester Expected to Return July 26 Against Kansas City Royals at Fenway, According to Manager Terry Francona [NESN.com]

Lester slated to return July 26 [Projo Sox Blog]

Crawford to rejoin team on Monday [Projo Sox Blog]

Boston still awaiting word on appeal [Projo Sox Blog]

Francona not concerned by Bard’s innings count [Projo Sox Blog]

Beckett out to prove knee is no problem in finale [RedSox.com]

The Dark and Possibly Inebriated Knight Rises [Surviving Grady]

Photo credits:  Getty Images, Getty Images

The last time the Boston Red Sox faced Tampa Bay Rays starter James Shields, they found themselves on the wrong end of a complete game five-hit shutout. And with John Lackey allowing three early runs, it looked like it could be another long afternoon for the visiting nine.

Instead, Lackey settled down and the offense did what it’s been doing all season long and got the Red Sox the lead and an eventual 9-5 win.

Now I won’t completely blame Lackey for the 1st inning struggles even though he was leaving some meatballs over the plate. A good portion of the blame lies on Marco Scutaro who made an throwing error to the leadoff hitter Johnny Damon. The Rays followed that up with two straight singles to get Damon home. The first out of the inning would finally come when Dustin Pedroia made a great save of a throw from Scutaro to get a force out at second.

But two straight singles after that brought in two more runs and just like that it was 3-0. Lackey would finally get out of the inning when he got Sam Fuld to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.

Three batters into the 2nd inning, the Red Sox offense had already gotten them back into the game as Josh Reddick hit an absolute two-run bomb over the right field seats to cut that deficit to one. Lackey would once again load up the bases in the bottom half but escaped any damage when Casey Kotchman grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

The Red Sox offense would put them in front for good in the 3rd inning.

Adrian Gonzalez reached on a leadoff walk and went to second on a Kevin Youkilis single. David Ortiz cleared the bases with a double that put the Red Sox up 4-3. J.D. Drew followed that up with a double of his own to score Big Papi. Jacoby Ellsbury would leadoff the 4th with a solo home run to push the Red Sox lead to three.

Meanwhile Lackey had firmly settled in until a mistake pitch to Matthew Joyce in the 5th. Joyce had just fouled a ball off of his knee cap but took the next one he saw out of the ballpark. He got himself into trouble in the 6th but newcomer Randy Williams would need just one pitch to get out of the inning.

The Red Sox would add a run in the 7th on a Pedroia home run and got two more in the 9th.

Yes once again Lackey was inconsistent but he definitely made some great in-game adjustments. It was a start that could have gone horribly wrong for him but instead he found himself on the winning end of back-to-back games for the first time this season. Hopefully, Lackey can build off of this start for his next one.

Given the state of the Red Sox rotation right now with all of the injuries, Lackey is a key component of the Red Sox’s success going forward. If he’s successful then the Red Sox will be too.

We’ll be back later with this evening’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now, enjoy the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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

Red Sox get even with Rays [Boston Globe]

Time to go and get this Met [Boston Globe]

Crawford makes quick work of rehab stint [Boston Globe]

No timetable on Buchholz [Boston Globe]

Finding right gear [Boston Herald]

Williams gets job done [Boston Herald]

Healthy Pedey powers up [Boston Herald]

Buchholz: Lingering concern [Boston Herald]

John Lackey building arm strength, Dustin Pedroia showing power [Clubhouse Insider]

Lackey gives just enough to slow Rays, 9-5 [CSNNE.com]

With Jenks on DL, Sox mull bullpen options [CSNNE.com]

Red Sox notes: Lackey turns in solid outing [CSNNE.com]

Rapid reaction: Red Sox 9, Rays 4 [ESPN Boston]

Power-hitting Pedroia on a hot streak — again [ESPN Boston]

Back-to-back wins a good sign for Lackey [ESPN Boston]

Crawford hitless in five innings for PawSox [ESPN Boston]

Reddick on homer: This one’s for dad [ESPN Boston]

Video: Does Lackey cross the line? [ESPN Boston]

Closing Time: John Lackey, home runs lift Red Sox past Rays [Full Count]

The explanation for Marco Scutaro’s rough first inning [Full Count]

John Lackey talks wanting to stay in, optimism after win [Full Count]

This might not be Dustin Pedroia’s hottest streak, but it is his most unique [Full Count]

Carl Crawford Goes 0-for-3 During Saturday’s Rehab Start in Pawtucket, Expected to Be Activated for Monday’s Game Against Orioles [NESN.com]

Will Josh Beckett or James Shields End the Season With a Lower ERA? [NESN.com]

As Teammates Wrestle With Injuries, John Lackey Shows Signs of Settling in [NESN.com]

Slugging Red Sox pound their way past Tampa Bay [Providence Journal]

Crawford completes rehab, set to rejoin Boston on Monday [Providence Journal]

With slider, Lackey draws up a reasonable blueprint for second-half success [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Randy Williams a surprising addition to roster [Providence Journal]

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

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over the to St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune websites.

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 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

UConn RB DeLorenzo: “No Disadvantage” To Waiting ‘Til 2012 [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Giving Back: Ray of Hope Foundation’s Computer Lab [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Greene focused on win rather than reunion [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

And the answer is … [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. Former St. John’s star John Andreoli enjoying success in Cape League [Worcester Telegram]

After seeing their six-game winning streak fall by the wayside last night, the Boston Red Sox look to get back to the business of winning in game two of a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field this afternoon.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. and you can watch the game on FOX in 41% of the country. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

“Mr. Inconsistency” John Lackey takes to the hill for the Red Sox this afternoon. So far in 2011, Lackey has made 14 starts and is 6-8 with a 6.84 ERA. Lackey has not faced the Rays in 2011 and was 2-2 with a 6.26 ERA in four starts last season. He’s made 16 career starts against the Rays and is 11-4 with a 3.75 ERA. Six of those career starts have come at the Trop where he is 3-3 with a 6.16 ERA.

“Big Game” James Shields looks to get the Rays closer to the Red Sox in the standings. Shields has made 19 starts in 2011 and is 8-7 with a 2.33 ERA. In his lone start against the Red Sox this year back on June 14th at the Trop, Shields threw a complete game five-hit shutout. He’s made 17 career starts against the Red Sox and is 6-9 with a 4.71 ERA.

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

Here are this afternoon’s lineups:

55-36		50-41
1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	1. Johnny Damon	DH
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. Ben Zobrist	2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B	3. Casey Kotchman	1B
4. Kevin Youkilis	3B	4. Evan Longoria	3B
5. David Ortiz	DH	5. Matt Joyce	RF
6. J.D. Drew	RF	6. B.J. Upton	CF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	7. Sam Fuld	LF
8. Josh Reddick	LF	8. Kelly Shoppach	C
9. Marco Scutaro	SS	9. Reid Brignac	SS
John Lackey	SP	James Shields	SP

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

Notes: Bobby Jenks is back on the DL again for back tightness. The Red Sox have called up lefty Randy Williams from Triple-A Pawtucket to take his place. To make room on the 40-man roster for Williams, Tommy Hottovy has been designated for assignment.

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

Dustin Pedroia raking after knee scare [Clubhouse Insider]

Bobby Jenks back to DL; Lefty reliever Randy Williams called up [Clubhouse Insider]

Clay Buchholz: ‘It’s taking a little bit longer than I wanted it to’ [Clubhouse Insider]

Jenks to DL, Williams up, Hottovy DFA [CSNNE.com]

Buchholz unsure when he will return [CSNNE.com]

Buchholz: Rehab taking longer than expected [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox put Bobby Jenks on DL, recall Randy Williams [ESPN Boston]

History for Pedroia and Scutaro [Extra Bases]

Jenks back on DL [Extra Bases]

Buchholz will not return any time soon [Extra Bases]

Red Sox Place Bobby Jenks on Disabled List, Call Up Randy Williams from Pawtucket [NESN.com]

Volume of Injuries, Though Not Severity, Similar to Injury-Plagued 2010 [NESN.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Rays and Slow Starts [Projo Sox Blog]

Jenks back to the disabled list [Projo Sox Blog]

Lefty Williams recalled, Hottovy DFA’d [Projo Sox Blog]

Lackey can build on last start as he faces Rays [RedSox.com]

Photo credits: Getty Images, AP Photo

It’s not too often that you see a team hit four home runs during a game and lose said game. But that’s exactly what happened last night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL for the Boston Red Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 9-6 loss.

When the Red Sox signed Andrew Miller, they knew he had some issues with his control. He had appeared to work them out while he was the Pawtucket Red Sox before his callup. He didn’t show too much of it either in his first three starts. But now for the second straight start, the wildness is back.

With his velocity down in the low 90’s, Miller needs to have command of his fastball. He obviously didn’t have that on Friday night as he was leaving balls out over the plate or just missing it all together. He lasted just 2.2 innings, throwing 85 pitches. 35 of those pitches came in a 1st inning that would see the Rays only score one run.

His lack of command would bite him in the you know what though in the 2nd inning.

Kelly Shoppach started it with a single and went to second on an Elliott Johnson walk. Sam Fuld then laid down a bunt that Jarrod Saltalamacchia made a bad decision on by going to second where Johnson would be safe. Miller would get the first out of the inning on a broken bat fielder’s choice by Johnny Damon that got Shoppach at home. Ben Zobrist made him pay for leaving as fastball out over the plate with a grand slam that pushed the lead to 5-1.

Against a starter like David Price, chasing that lead is no easy task.

Darnell McDonald had tied the game at 1 in the top of the 2nd with a solo home run and Jacoby Ellsbury got another run back in the 3rd with a solo home run.

The control issues returned for Miller in the bottom half of 3rd as the Rays would get two more runs that were charged to him. Alfredo Aceves would walk in a run after inheriting the bases loaded.

Dustin Pedroia‘s solo shot leading off the 6th got the Red Sox back to 7-3. The lead would quickly jump to 9-3 when Dan Wheeler served up a two-run homer to Casey Kotchman. Marco Scutaro‘s two-run homer in the 7th got the Rays lead down 9-5 but the Red Sox would only manage one more run on a Kevin Youkilis RBI single in the 8th.

Pedroia remains on fire since the diagnosis on his knee with another three hits which extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Youk added two hits on the night.

Fortunately for the Red Sox, they got some help from the Toronto Blue Jays as they beat the New York Yankees so the lead over the Yanks remains at 1.5 games. The Rays obviously pick up a game and are five back.

I would have to think that the Red Sox give Miller one more chance before making a decision on him. With Kevin Millwood lined up with him down in Triple-A Pawtucket and pitching well, it’s quite possible the Red Sox could make a swap. Given the fact, the Red Sox rotation is in a state of flux right now with all the injuries, they need these replacements to pitch well.

Sure the offense can keep them in games but when you’re facing pitchers like the quality of a Price, a comeback isn’t going to happen all of the time. That makes what guys like Miller, Kyle Weiland and Tim Wakefield do all the more important going forward here.

We’ll be back later with this afternoon’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now, enjoy the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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

For openers, it was half bad [Boston Globe]

Crawford aces his first test [Boston Globe]

Ortiz appeals ban; likely to face Orioles [Boston Globe]

Rays Lite up Miller [Boston Herald]

Carl putting past behind [Boston Herald]

Dice-K: Rehab going well [Boston Herald]

Miller walks fine line with Red Sox [Boston Herald]

Beckett cleared to start [Boston Herald]

Miller wild, Rays sting Sox, 9-6 [CSNNE.com]

Beyeler manages diverse group in Pawtucket [CSNNE.com]

Crawford looks good in Pawtucket [CSNNE.com]

Dice-K progressing with rehab [CSNNE.com]

Control still an issue for Miller [CSNNE.com]

Crawford has successful rehab start in Pawtucket [ESPN Boston]

Rapid reaction: Rays 9, Red Sox 6 [ESPN Boston]

A step back for Andrew Miller [Extra Bases]

Carl Crawford gets some work in and gets his legs back under him [Full Count]

Closing Time: Andrew Miller, Red Sox can’t keep good times rolling against Rays [Full Count]

Portland Sea Dogs All-Stars Discuss Joy of Playing in Red Sox Organization, All-Star Honor [NESN.com]

Carl Crawford Happy to Be Back on Field, Looks Forward to Testing Hamstring Again Saturday in Pawtucket [NESN.com]

Andrew Miller’s Rocky Start Wasn’t a Surprise With Recent Lack of Control, Inability to Strike Batters Out [NESN.com]

Is Johnny Damon a Hall of Famer? [NESN.com]

Video: David Ortiz Appeals Suspension, But Should Be Able to Keep Rhythm Despite Missing Some Time [NESN.com]

Video: Red Sox All-Stars Join Procession to Chase Field for Major League Baseball All-Star Game [NESN.com]

Video: David Ortiz, Other American League All-Stars Discuss Derek Jeter’s 3,000th Career Hit [NESN.com]

Tampa Bay stops Boston’s winning streak at six [Providence Journal]

Young pitchers find a mentor in Varitek [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Ortiz to appeal four-game suspension [Providence Journal]

Andrew Miller, Darnell McDonald add even more questions to trade deadline drama [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

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

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over the to St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune websites.