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UConn Football links

Saturday practice update: why coaches go gray… [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

Practice 12 News, Notes And Quotes [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Spring practice, back on the wagon [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Notes on a scandal [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

Minor off-field issues dog football Huskies [CT Post]

UConn football spring superlatives [CT Post]

Todman returns to practice [Hartford Courant]

Mother Of Jasper Howard’s Daughter Thankful For Support [Hartford Courant]

A tough week for Huskies from Valley [New Haven Register]

Former NVL starts in Edsall’s doghouse [The Republican-American]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

UConn’s future belongs to Maya [CT Post]

Four off the floor [Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn Program A Hit In Hartford [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Softball: Towers Heroics Push Huskies Past Rutgers 4-2 [UConnHuskies.com]

Softball: Guches Roundtrippers Slip Huskies Past Rutgers 8-6 [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball: Nemeth Scores Game-Winner in 2-1 (10) Win Over Villanova [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball: Nappo Throws 4-0 Shutout Over Villanova [UConnHuskies.com]

Jeremy Hermida, Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell had been sitting on the Boston Red Sox bench for the first four games of the season. They finally got their chance to play on Saturday night against Zack Greinke and the Kansas City Royals.

The trio came through as Tek had two home runs, Hermida had one home run while Lowell had a single and few defensive gems to back Josh Beckett in the 8-3 win in front off 37,505 at Kauffman Stadium.

The win for the Red Sox (2-3) ends a three-game losing streak while the Royals fall to 2-3.

It was a much better start for Beckett on Saturday night as he had good command of all his pitches including his curve ball. He did run into trouble a few times but was able to escape with minimal damage. He went seven innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

The much beleaguered Red Sox bullpen was perfect on this evening.

Both Hideki Okajima and former Royal Ramon Ramirez each threw clean innings. Jonathan Papelbon had been warming up to come out in the 9th but the Red Sox added three runs in the 9th forcing him back to the bench.

The Red Sox had 12 hits off of four Royals pitchers.

Jacoby Ellsbury led the way with three hits and had an RBI. Dustin Pedroia knocked in three runs, one of them on a sac fly and the other on a two-run homer. Both of  Tek’s home runs were of the solo variety as was Hermida’s. Kevin Youkilis had two hits including a solo home run of his own.

Rick Ankiel continued his hot hitting as he had two hits, including an RBI single to give the Royals a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st.

Greinke kept the Red Sox off the scoreboard until the 5th inning when he hung breaking balls to Hermida and then Varitek, who both knocked them out of the park.

The Red Sox added two runs in the 7th when Ellsbury doubled in Marco Scutaro with Ellsbury ending up at third on the throw home. Pedroia brought him home with a sac fly to make it 4-1 Red Sox.

Beckett’s one bad inning came in the bottom half of the 7th when the Royals scored two runs to cut the lead to one. But the resilient Red Sox added a run in the 8th on Youk’s home run and three in the 9th on Tek’s second home run and Pedroia’s 2-run shot.

The Red Sox will look to take the rubber game tomorrow afternoon at 2:10 p.m. when Clay Buchholz makes his 2010 debut. He’ll be opposed by Gil Meche, who’ll also be making his first start of the season.

Boston Red Sox @ Kansas City Royals 4.10.10 box score

Boston Red Sox @ Kansas City Royals 7:10 p.m Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City, MO SP: Josh Beckett vs. Zack Greinke TV: NESN, MLB.tv Radio: Red Sox Radio Network

With Texy over at Center Field not doing open threads for Boston Red Sox games anymore, I wanted to give her readers a new home to talk during the games.

Please spread the word. I can honestly say it’s just not the same without Texy hosting but I’ll do my best here. I frequently visited those gameday chats and had a blast and I’m hoping that we can continue that over here at SOX & Dawgs.

So for her readers who haven’t been here before, welcome and to those who have, welcome back. I hope you enjoy my new home over here at Bloguin as much as I do.

After watching their bullpen blow the lead last night, the Boston Red Sox will look to rebound in the second game of their three-game set with Kansas City Royals.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:10 p.m. and will be shown on NESN in the Red Sox television market. The game can be seen in the Royals television market on FOX Sports Kansas City. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2010 Red Sox radio network.

Josh Beckett will make his second start of the season tonight for the Red Sox and Terry Francona. He took a no decision in the season opener against the Yankees when he gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings. Beckett faced the Royals two times in 2009 and was 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA (2 ER in 15 IP). He’s made seven career starts against the Royals and is 5-0 with a 2.03 ERA. He’s made four career starts at Kauffman Stadium and is 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA.

2009 Cy Young Winner Zack Greinke will toe the slab for Trey Hillman’s Royals tonight. Greinke will be making his second start of the season as well after receiving a no-decision against the Tigers on Opening Day. In that game, he allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings. He faced the Red Sox once in 2009 and picked up the win after throwing six shutout innings. He’s made four career appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox and is 1-2 with a 2.49 ERA.

Lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, news on Dice-K’s rehab start and links after the jump.

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

Daisuke Matsuzaka made his first rehab start of the season for the Pawtucket Red Sox and by the looks of things, he had a pretty good afternoon.

He went five innings, picking up the win. Dice-K didn’t allow any runs while giving up two hits and a walk. He did hit two batters and struck out three. He faced 19 batters and threw 73 pitches, 43 of them for strikes.

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Embree hoping opt-out ‘won’t be an issue’ [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Batter-up with Bruno column: Shut up Joe West [Batter-up with Bruno]

Lowell might retire after season [Brownie Points]

Lowell leaning toward retirement after season [Clubhouse Insider]

Mike Lowell: ‘This probably is my last year’ [Clubhouse Insider]

Lowell: 2010 Season Likely My Last [CSN New England]

Lineup Changes and Other Early Sox Notes [CSN New England]

Getting David Ortiz on Track Remains Red Sox’ Top Priority [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]

Greinke (gulp) is next [ESPN Boston]

Beckett, the last time [ESPN Boston]

Too much BBQ? [Extra Bases]

Good days for Dice-K and Embree [Extra Bases]

Lowell likely done playing after 2010 [Extra Bases]

The Free-Swinging Start of Adrian Beltre [Full Count]

Matsuzaka (73 pitches) getting closer [Projo Sox Blog]

Red Sox’s offense looks to get on track [RedSox.com]

Aces take stage in Kansas City [RedSox.com]

Matsuzaka shines in first rehab start [RedSox.com]

The Boston Red Sox bullpen, which was pretty reliable during the 2009 season, let them down again during last night’s 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

The bullpen hasn’t been exactly stellar in the first four games. Yes, I know the season is only four games old. But take a look at the numbers:

In 13.1 IP, the bullpen has now allowed eight earned runs on 13 hits and nine walks.

Folks that’s just not going to cut the mustard.

It’s a crying shame too because Tim Wakefield was outstanding last night. Even though he was roughed up in the 6th by back-to-back home runs by Billy Butler and Rick Ankiel, he gave them a chance to win like he always does.

When you think back to the offseason moves, none of them was a relief pitcher. Sure they signed guys like Scott Atchison, Joe Nelson, Alan Embree and Scott Schoeneweis. Nelson and Embree are in the minors right now and Atchison and Schoeneweis haven’t been all that bad. It’s been mostly Hideki Okajima and Daniel Bard.

The one thing I really think the Red Sox are missing now is a guy like Justin Masterson. He used to come in last year if a pitcher would go 4-5 innings and usually keep them in the game. Now they don’t have anybody just yet to fill that role.

They are hoping Boof Bonser will be able to fill the middle relief role but he was roughed up in his first Triple-A rehab start. So it will be interesting to see how things transpire.

Honestly though, there’s no reason to hit the panic button just yet. If the trend continues, something will need to be done and quick.

We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links but please keep reading for today’s links.

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Five Things We Learned: The Red Sox ‘Pen Is Not Mighty [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Sox bullpen can’t finish off Royals [Boston Globe]

West’s call catches Sox by surprise [Boston Globe]

Westmoreland in new facility [Boston Globe]

Daniel Bard & Co. can’t hold lead again [Boston Herald]

Tim Wakefield on, then off mark [Boston Herald]

Royal seal of approval [Boston Herald]

Players strike back at ump [Boston Herald]

Rocky road for Red Sox [Boston Herald]

Wrapping up another ugly loss [Clubhouse Insider]

No relief for punchless Red Sox in loss to Royals [CSN New England]

Wakefield Shines in Defeat; late Sox notes [CSN New England]

Bard, Sox review one fatal decision [Extra Bases]

How Soria was able to get Pedroia [Extra Bases]

Closing Time: Royals 4, Red Sox 3 [Full Count]

Not Bad, but…. [Hit and Run With Dan Roche]

Red Sox, Yankees Ready to Start Beanball War or Call Truce? [NESN.com]

Dustin Pedroia Calls Joe West’s Pace-of-Play Comments ‘Ridiculous’ [NESN.com]

Tim Wakefield’s Strong Start Proves Red Sox Have Mr. Reliable Back in the Mix [NESN.com]

Daniel Bard, and bullpen as a whole, not quite enough lately [Projo Sox Blog]

Boston can’t shake early-season slide [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Bonser, Embree trying to earn ticket to Boston [Providence Journal]

Ump Joe West’s long-game remarks irk Sox [Providence Journal]

Red Sox disagree with West’s comments [RedSox.com]

Varitek set to catch Beckett on Saturday [RedSox.com]

Ortiz ejected after striking out in sixth inning [RedSox.com]

Bonser, Embree taking steps in Minors [RedSox.com]

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

And if you must check out the enemy papers, head over to the Kansas City Star and the Topeka Capital-Journal websites.

Here’s the press release from the Los Angeles Athletic Club naming UConn Huskies senior Tina Charles as the winner of the 2010 John R. Wooden Award:

LOS ANGELES—In the closest race ever, UConn’s Tina Charles has won the 2010 John R. Wooden Award, in the women’s category, as the college basketball player of the year. Because the WNBA draft precluded Charles from making the traditional trip to Los Angeles, Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) President Steve Hathaway will present her with the unique Wooden Award trophy, whose design was inspired by Coach Wooden’s idea of the “total basketball player,” next Thursday on the University of Connecticut campus.

The Wooden Award caps off an unbelievable career for Charles, who led her team to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2009 and 2010 and a 78-game win streak. The 6-4 center from Jamaica, New York, was the 2010 Big East Conference Player of the Year, averaging 18.3 points and 9.4 rebounds on the season. She averaged 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in the ’10 NCAA Tournament and is the Huskies’ all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

Balloting by several hundred members of the media and women’s college basketball experts was conducted through the games of the Sweet 16. Voters selected five players for the John R. Wooden All American team from the student-athletes listed on the ballot, and ranked them from 1 to 10. The other four finalists were Nebraska’s Kelsey Griffin; UConn’s Maya Moore, the 2009 Women’s Wooden Award winner; and Stanford’s duo of Nnemkadi Ogwumike and Jayne Appel. Voters were asked to take into account performance during the regular season and postseason, as well as a player’s character and academic performance. All players on the ballot were certified as maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA at their current school, including the most recent semester.

This year’s voting was the closest ever. Charles (252 points) topped her teammate Moore (251) by only one point in the final voting. Griffin was third with 114 points, followed by Appel (98) and Ogwumike (56).

About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Tim Duncan (’97), Kevin Durant (’08) and Candace Parker (’07 and’08).

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UConn Football links

An Update: Regarding The Two Jasper Howard Funds (Totals In) [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Meet The Spring Game Honorary Coaches: Tyler Lorenzen [UConnHuskies.com]

Legend of Jo Jo White Grows Bigger After Night at His Restaurant [Rob Lunn – NESN.com]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Video: UConn Women on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon [SOX & Dawgs]

Bird, Taurasi one win from another title [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Former UConn Huskie Ann Strother Sees Similarities Between 2009-10 Squad and Her Championship Teams [Rob Lunn – NESN.com]

Sun Introduce Tina Charles, Other Picks [Hartford Courant]

Victory March [Journal Inquirer]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Kemba Walker Has Slightly Torn Meniscus [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Donnell Beverly To Have Hip Surgery [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Caron Butler Interview [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn’s Walker, Beverly Dealing With Injuries In Offseason [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Men’s Soccer: Chukwudi Chijindu Looks Forward to Season with Chivas USA [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Lacrosse: Connecticut Loses Defense-Minded Battle with No. 7/8 Syracuse on Friday [UConnHuskies.com]