Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill to Host Fundraiser for Tornado Relief
Clay and Lindsay Buchholz will raffle off signed Red Sox Memorabilia and meet & greet with fans that make a donation on Saturday, June 4^th

WHAT: During tonight’s Red Sox pre-game, Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill will play host to a special tornado relief fundraiser put in place by Red Sox pitcher, Clay Buchholz and his wife, Lindsay, whose home town of Joplin, Missouri has suffered an immense amount of destruction due to the recent tornado rampage that has spilled through the south.

Remy’s will raffle-off two autographed balls signed by Josh Beckett,  Jed Lowrie, Daniel Bard, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Clay Buchholz – with all funds going directly to the American Red Cross.

On Saturday, June 4^th, after the Red Sox play their 1:10 p.m. game, and before the puck drops for the Bruins, Clay and a few other players will stop by Remy’s to announce the winners of the raffle. If the winner is not in attendance, Clay will personally call the winner to let them know. Clay and company will then stay to watch the Bruins game on the screen monsters and will also be available for a meet and greet (pictures and autographs) for any fans who decide to make a donation during the event.

Raffle tickets will be sold, 1 for $5.00, 3 for $10.00 and 10 for $20.00.

WHEN: Friday, June 3, 2011
Red Sox Pre-game

Saturday, June 4, 2011
After the Red Sox play their 1:10 p.m. game.

WHERE: Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill
1265 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215

While the Boston Red Sox were off on Thursday, the news wasn’t all that good as far as the left elbow of reliever Rich Hill. The initial reports on Wednesday were good but it appears the MRI shows a tear in his elbow meaning he’ll probably need Tommy John surgery just like Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Media reports suggest Hill will seek a second opinion as he decides whether or not to undergo the season-ending surgery. But for the Red Sox this is a big blow to the bullpen.

Hill had emerged as the go to lefty in the bullpen after starting the season with Triple-A Pawtucket. They had tried Dennys Reyes who barely lasted a week with the team. Hideki Okajima was given a chance but he couldn’t repeat his Triple-A stellar start in another go around with the big club. They even acquired another lefty in Franklin Morales from the Colorado Rockies but he’s on the disabled list with a forearm strain.

The Milton, MA native put up great numbers in nine appearances for the Red Sox since his callup from Pawtucket. In eight innings of work, he allowed no runs, just three hits and three walks to go along with 12 strikeouts. His ability to be effective against both lefties and righties is definitely something the Red Sox will miss.

Where the Red Sox turn for a lefty for the time being is not known right now.

Okajima made it clear last night that he doesn’t want to be called up but rather traded. Felix Doubront just returned from the Triple-A DL and Andrew Miller might not be quite ready yet. But the Red Sox will need to callup one of them as they’ll need a lefty in the pen with Hill most likely heading to the DL and Morales on the DL. Theo Epstein will be hard pressed to find a lefty reliever in the trade market as well.

Hopefully the day off after 20 games in 20 days did the Red Sox wonders. They come into the three-game weekend set with the Oakland A’s losing their last four games. The A’s have lost their last three so something will have to give for the two teams.

Let’s just hope it’s the Red Sox who come out in the better end of the stick.

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

Matsuzaka to have surgery [Boston Globe]

Hill seeks second opinion on elbow [Boston Globe]

Miller warms up to Buchholz’s idea [Boston Globe]

David Ortiz turns back clock [Boston Herald]

Tommy John surgery expected for Daisuke Matsuzaka [Boston Herald]

Shrugging off Dice-K [Boston Herald]

Rich Hill has a left elbow sprain; Tommy John surgery possible [Clubhouse Insider]

Matsuzaka, Hill appear headed for surgery [CSNNE.com]

Matsuzaka, Hill share a similar fate [CSNNE.com]

Dr. M: Nuts and bolts of Tommy John surgery [CSNNE.com]

Bee stumper: S-A-L-T-A-L-A-M-A-C-C-H-I-A [ESPN Boston]

Hill deciding on whether to have surgery [ESPN Boston]

SoxProspects: Best and worst of May [ESPN Boston]

As Daisuke Matsuzaka exits, what options do the Red Sox have to replace him? [Extra Bases]

Hoist a brew with Youk for charity [Extra Bases]

Hideki Okajima looking to move on from Red Sox, not get called up [Extra Bases]

Why the 2011 draft may represent an opportunity the Sox never have again [Full Count]

Red Sox Lefty Rich Hill Reportedly Headed for Tommy John Surgery [NESN.com]

Red Sox Foundation Auctioning Off Signed Red Sox 1918 Uniforms From Cubs Series For Charity [NESN.com]

Sticking With Tim Wakefield Best Option in Place of Daisuke Matsuzaka, But Trading for a Veteran a Viable Alternative [NESN.com]

Mike O’Malley Will Be Master of Ceremonies for Red Sox ‘Picnic in the Park’ Event at Fenway on July 24 [NESN.com]

Who Should Take Daisuke Matsuzaka’s Spot in the Red Sox’ Rotation? [NESN.com]

Saltalamacchia’s bat getting warmer with the weather [Providence Journal]

Decision on Ortiz poses great risk/reward for Epstein [Providence Journal]

An improving Millwood could take Dice-K’s slot [Providence Journal]

Dice-K’s absence opens doors for others [Providence Journal]

Red Sox seek impact players early in Draft [RedSox.com]

Players of the Month, May: Alex Wilson & Bryce Brentz [SoxProspects.com]

Red Sox Draft Preview Part 4 of 7: Players Linked to the Sox [SoxProspects.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.

Photo credit: AP Photo

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.

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 Men’s Basketball links

Calhoun: Decision on Retirement ‘Will Evolve’ [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Sellers Was Nearly a Cardinal [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Calhoun talks about his future, charity ride, etc. [Gavin Keefe – The Day]

Calhoun: no plans yet to ride off into sunset [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

Jim Calhoun Speech to Dedham High [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Calhoun prepares for ride, will let future play itself out [CT Post]

UConn’s Jim Calhoun Promotes His Bike Ride; Still No Word On His Return As Coach [Hartford Courant]

Jim Calhoun talks about adding a player, Patrick Sellers’ new job and Kemba Walker’s spot in the NBA Draft [New Haven Register]

Calhoun challenging himself, conquering cancer [The Day]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Former Uconn Player Kaili McLaren Excels In First Season With Greek Team [Hartford Courant]

UConn Football links

Michael Smith ineligible [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

UConn WR Mike Smith Academically Ineligible [Hartford Courant]

UConn At Michigan: Remembering A Game From The Huskies’ 2010 Football Season [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. 2011 NCAA Regional Preview: Clemson (SC) [College Baseball Daily]

Connecticut, St. John’s, Seton Hall Set for 2011 NCAA Baseball Championship [BigEast.org]

Baseball. Huskies Set Sights on Clemson Regional [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. UConn Pitcher Matt Barnes, A Likely First-Round Pick, Has Come A Long Way [Hartford Courant]

Baseball: UConn To Face Coastal Carolina In NCAA Baseball Opener [Hartford Courant]

Just four days ago, the Boston Red Sox sat on top of the AL East as they held a one-game lead over the second place New York Yankees. But with four straight losses by the local nine and four straight road wins for the Yanks, the Red Sox now find themselves in second place, two games out.

Had it not been for a controversial no call in yesterday’s 7-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox, there’s no telling whether or not the Red Sox would have won the game. But that no call did change the course of that inning.

After Tim Wakefield walked Ramon Castro and gave up a single to Gordan Beckham in the 5th inning, Juan Pierre grounded into a fielder’s choice that retired Beckham at second. With Alexi Ramirez at the plate, Pierre tried to steal second but the Red Sox pitched out and got him into a rundown.

As the rundown was happening, Dustin Pedroia appeared to apply the tag on Pierre as he went to second base. But second base umpire Marty Foster said that Pedroia didn’t get the tag on Pierre who ended up safe at second. Television replays showed that Pedroia got the tag on Pierre and this photograph below from Boston Globe photographer Barry Chin definitely shows that Pedroia got the tag on him.

Ramirez would end up grounding out but Castro came in on the play to make it 3-2. The next batter Carlos Quentin doubled in Pierre and tied the game at three. Had the right call been made, the score would most likely still have been 3-1.

Now the onus, doesn’t fall completely on that play. It can lie in the fact that the Red Sox didn’t take full advantage of Gavin Floyd‘s early struggles.

The Red Sox had seven hits in their first 10 at-bats against Floyd but only managed to plate three runs off of him at the time. They wasted two singles in the first by Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez when Kevin Youkilis grounded into a double play.

The local nine got the runs in the second when a Jed Lowrie ground rule double brought in David Ortiz, who doubled to lead off the inning. After a Josh Reddick strikeout, Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled in Carl Crawford and Lowrie to put the Sox out front 3-0.

Brett Lillibridge put the White Sox out in front 4-3 in the 6th with a solo home run off of Wakefield but Big Papi tied it back up in the bottom half with a solo blast of him. Matt Albers had another rough outing allowing the eventual winning run and the ChiSox would add two more in the 9th when Paul Konerko launched one to the moon off of Jonathan Papelbon.

Given how Wakefield pitched yesterday, I’d fully expect him to stay in the rotation going forward now that we know Daisuke Matsuzaka will undergo Tommy John surgery. The Red Sox also got a scare when Rich Hill had to leave with an apparent elbow injury but the early prognosis was good. Let’s hope that there’s no major damage and Hill will just need a little rest and rehab to get back. Especially since he’s been the best lefty out of the pen so far in 2011.

After 20 games in 20 days, the Red Sox will be enjoying a much needed day of rest so we’ll be back in a short while with the pitching matchups for the three-game weekend set with the Oakland A’s.

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 Chicago Daily Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown or ESPN Chicago websites.

Photo credits: Getty Images, Boston Globe

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.

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 Men’s Basketball links

Sellers Named Assistant at Hofstra [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Jim Calhoun Guest At Dedham (Mass.) High Graduation [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Draft Preview: Kemba Walker [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Jim Calhoun Welcomed Back By High School He Coached [Hartford Courant]

Jim Calhoun remains mum on future at UConn [SI.com]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Former Huskies top WNBA GM poll [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Rebecca Lobo Lights The Candles For WNBA’s 15th Birthday [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

UConn Football links

Final Spring Depth Chart: The Specialists [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Senior WR Mike Smith Ineligible For 2011 Season [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni: There’s Plenty To Do In June [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Football: Evaluating The Wide Receivers [Hartford Courant]

Five new coaches that will make an impact in 2011: Maryland’s Randy Edsall [Orlando Sentinel]

Other UConn related links

W. Lacrosse. Mucci Selected For IWLCA North-South Senior All-Star Game [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Springer & Barnes Named Semifinalists for Golden Spikes Award [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Barnes & Springer named Louisville Slugger All-Americans [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball. Huskies Land in South Carolina [UConnHuskies.com]

Memories of UConn hockey special for Hutchings [CT Post]

With a Nikkan Sports report that Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, it also looks like it’ll be the end of his career in Boston. That report was also confirmed by Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston.

Since his contract coming to a close at the end of the 2012 season and the recovery period from Tommy John surgery being 12-18 months, odds are the Red Sox and Dice-K will part ways then. It would probably be a smart move for both parties.

When all is said and done with his time in Boston, Matsuzaka will have cost the Red Sox $103.1 million ($51,111,111 posting fee, $52 million salary). He was a part of the 2007 World Series Championship team but never seemed comfortable in his surroundings.

Besides being a part of the 2007 team, he also had a strong 2008 where he was 18-3 with a 2.92 ERA. But he was never the same after that as injuries derailed him.

From what we’ve heard, he went about things his own way and not doing things the Red Sox way. He was used to throwing more in Japan mainly because of the fact he only had to pitch once a week. In the big leagues here, he was called upon to pitch every five days. That is of course when he was healthy.

He’ll finish his career in Boston with the one World Series ring and a record of 49-35 with a 4.25 ERA in 106 games (105 starts).

You never wish an injury upon anyone but the injury is probably a blessing in disguise.

Knowing that Dice-K’s time is done in Boston, Theo Epstein can now move forward with plans to replace him now or in the future. And for Dice-K, once his rehab is done, he’ll be able to pitch some where else where he may be more comfortable here in the states or maybe even go back to Japan where he is a hero of sorts.

Either way, it’s been a strange bumpy ride with Matsuzaka.

Photo credit: Reuters Pictures