The Boston Red Sox bullpen is not off a to a good start in 2010. They’ve been lit up more than the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in NYC.

Rick Ankiel’s fourth hit of the night, a 2-run single, was the difference as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 4-3 win in front of 21,191 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Friday night.

The top of the 8th started off with Hideki Okajima allowing a lead-off double to David DeJesus. Scott Podsednik’s sacrifice bunt moved him over to third. After Daniel Bard came in for Okajima, he issued a walk to Alberto Callaspo.

Bard rebounded by striking out Billy Butler but Ankiel came through with the big hit to bring in the tying and winning runs.

It’s the third straight loss for the Red Sox (1-3) after taking the season opener from the Yanks. The Royals improve to 2-2.

Tim Wakefield started this one for the Red Sox and was outstanding. He went seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

Okajima went 1/3 of an inning, allowing a run on one hit. Bard went 2/3 of an inning, giving up one run on a hit and a walk with a strikeout.

Kyle Davies started for the Royals and allowed three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.  After Davies, five Royals pitchers combined to pitch the last three innings, allowing no runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron both had two hits each for the Red Sox. J.D. Drew’s one hit of the night was a two-run home run and Adrian Beltre added a hit and a RBI groundout.

David Ortiz had an opposite field double and was later ejected for arguing balls and strikes. He was replaced by Jeremy Hermida, who had a hit in his first at-bat in a Red Sox uniform.

The Red Sox got out to a 1-0 lead on the RBI groundout by Beltre in the 4th inning and later that inning got the two-run homer by Drew.

The Royals would get their first two runs on back-to-back home runs by Billy Butler and Ankiel in the 6th inning.

The Red Sox bullpen in 13.1 IP has now allowed eight earned runs on 13 hits and nine walks. To me the biggest difference is not having Billy Wagner or someone of his caliber at the back end of the pen before Jonathan Papelbon.

He was a big part of why the Red Sox bullpen was successful at the end of 2009 but since the Red Sox didn’t replace him, they’re back to struggling like they were before Wags came over.

The Red Sox will have another tough one tomorrow night when they’ll take on 2009 Cy Young winner Zack Greinke. Josh Beckett will start for the Red Sox.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

Boston Red Sox @ Kansas City Royals 4.09.10 box score

Boston Red Sox @ Kansas City Royals 8:10 p.m Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City, MO SP: Tim Wakefield vs. Kyle Davies 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.

Here’s a press release from UConn Athletics Communications Department about the parade date to celebrate the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team for winning it’s 7th national title:

HARTFORD – Governor M. Jodi Rell announced on Friday that the State of Connecticut, along with the City of Hartford, will host a victory parade and rally on Sunday, April 18, to congratulate and honor the University of Connecticut’s Women’s Basketball Team for winning their seventh NCAA Women’s National Basketball Championship, second perfect season in a row and making history with their 78-game winning streak.

The Huskies defeated Stanford 53-47 to win back-to-back national championships and become the first-ever NCAA women’s basketball team to have consecutive unbeaten seasons – and in the process beating their own NCAA Division I winning record of 70 games.

The victory parade, which will begin and end at the State Capitol, will start at 3:00 p.m. on April 18 and take place near the Bushnell Park, Main Street and Capitol Avenue areas of Hartford. A celebration rally with the coaches and players will take place on the north steps of the Capitol building immediately following the parade. Parade and rally organizers are relying on private funds to support both events.

Prior to the start of the parade and rally on April 18, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, which is coached by UConn’s Hall of Fame Coach Geno Auriemma and includes current and former UConn greats, is anticipated to play an exhibition scrimmage against the USA Basketball Select Team at 12:30 pm at the XL Center in downtown Hartford. The USA Basketball Women’s National Team, along with elite collegiate athletes on the USA Select Team, will be training in Hartford and Storrs between April 11 and April 18. It is expected that the weeklong training will conclude with this scrimmage between the USA National Team and the USA Select Team. More information will be announced by USA Basketball at a later date.

“Words cannot accurately convey the joy and pride we have in the UConn women’s basketball team. However, action speaks louder than words and I am inviting UConn fans of all ages to join us on April 18 in showing these young women and their coaches why we love the UConn Huskies so much,” said Governor Rell. “I cannot think of a better way to cap this historic basketball season and their back-to-back national championships. As diehard fans, let’s make history ourselves by lining the parade and attending the rally in record numbers.”

“The UConn women’s basketball players are more than just national champions. They are first class student-athletes and role models for all of us. This is why when it comes to the celebration events that are being planned for April 18, the players deserve it, the coaches deserve it and the best women’s basketball fans in the country who witnessed sports history deserve it.”

Additional parade and rally details, including information regarding the parade route, traffic, parking, order of participants, media credentials and more will be announced as they become available.

For parade sponsorship opportunities, please contact Michael Zaleski at the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID) at (860) 728-2274.

After finishing up the opening homestand at 1-2 with the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox venture out on their first road trip of the season. The first stop is a three-game weekend set with the Kansas City Royals.

Tonight’s game will start at 8:10 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.

Tim Wakefield will become the oldest starter in Red Sox history when he takes the hill tonight. Wakefield made one start against the Royals in 2009 and didn’t receive a decision after allowing four runs in five innings. He has made 26 appearances (19 starts) against the Royals in his career and is 11-6 with a 3.90 ERA and one save. In 14 career games (11 starts) at Kauffman Stadium, Wake is 7-4 with a 3.54 ERA and a save.

Kyle Davies will make his 100th career MLB start and second start overall in his career against the Red Sox. He faced them in his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves back on May 21,2005. In that game Davies didn’t allow any runs and gave up four singles and three walks while striking six to pick up the victory in his debut.

Lineups and links after the jump.

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

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

More links will be added as the day progresses.

Red Sox “surprised” by Country Joe comments [Brownie Points]

Pregame notes: Francona reacts to Joe West [Clubhouse Insider]

Joe West, young man [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox Angry With Umpire’s Comments [CSN New England]

Program sales booming in KC [ESPN Boston]

What about Hermida? [Extra Bases]

A milestone for Wakefield [Extra Bases]

Francona on West: “It worries you” [Extra Bases]

Gammons on Big Show: ‘Pretty serious concerns about middle relief’ [Full Count]

Manny Ramirez’s Return to Fenway Highlights Dates to Circle on Red Sox’ Schedule [NESN.com]

Casey Kelly, Josh Reddick Headline Boston’s Top Prospects List To Start Season [NESN.com]

Pitch Reports from Wednesday (& a couple of nuggets) [Nuggetpalooza]

Tonight’s PawSox game rained out; Dice K Saturday [Projo Sox Blog]

Royals out to make statement vs. Red Sox [RedSox.com]

Wakefield begins 16th season with Sox [RedSox.com]

Long Yanks-Sox tilts are worth it [RedSox.com]

Raffle: Red Sox art and Youk’s Hits For Kids [The Bottom Line]

With the 2010 baseball season underway I thought it might be cool for us to share a favorite baseball memory. We all, as students and fans of the game, have them in fact we all probably have too many.

Just sitting here writing this with no real hard thought I remember my first Fenway experience in 1973; sitting in the stands watching the Red Sox go back-to-back-to-back off Catfish Hunter in 1978; buying bleacher seats in 1990 so my girlfriend and I could actually say we went to a playoff game and watching Oakland’s Dave Stewart manhandle the Sox; watching Roger Clemens 17 K return from the top row of the first base grandstand and being able to take my oldest son at age 4 to his first game and see the look on his face when he saw the Green Monster up close and personal.

But my favorite baseball memory is one I shared with my dad. I love taking my dad to baseball games and when life was easier and tickets were less expensive I always tried to take him for his birthday in September. For his 49th birthday in 1990 I took him to the Toronto Blue Jays-Boston Red Sox game on Saturday the 29th. That day we saw the Red Sox win 7-5 as they got closer to winning the American League East title and they were led by Roger Clemens who won his 21st game of the season and right fielder Tom Brunansky who hit home runs in 3 consecutive at bats and drove in 5 of the team’s 7 runs that day.

In the bottom of the 5th, Bruno led off and broke a scoreless tie with a solo HR off Todd Stottlemyre to deep left field over the Monster. In the 6th Toronto replaced Stottlemyre, who was in deep trouble at that point, with Duane Ward. Ward was attempting to stop a bases loaded one out rally but Boston got the best of him putting up 5 runs in the inning capped off by a 3 run HR by Brunansky to give the Sox a 6-0 lead after 6 innings. In the 8th inning in his final at bat of the day, Brunansky hit his 3rd home run of the game; all three into or over the left field net above the Green Monster, with two out increasing the Red Sox lead to 7-0.

Remember I said the score was 7-5, well that was because Dennis Lamp was hanging around in the Sox bullpen. He gave up 5 ninth inning runs, all with two out capped by a Kelly Gruber grand slam off the speakers in left center field. I remember Fenway going from one of those feelings of elation to one of near despair but with the tying run on deck the Sox closer Jeff Reardon earned his 20th save of the season getting Fred McGriff to pop out to Wade Boggs at third.

As a Sox fan the game was pretty great, how many of us get to go to a major league game and see a guy go yard three times? But what I’ll always recall is spending that day in the late September sun with my father.

So let us hear about your great baseball memory by adding it to the comments below I look forward to seeing yours.

Here’s the statement that the family of Boston Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland issued about his health through his agents at Octagon Sports:

“We greatly appreciate the privacy that we have had to this point. This privacy has allowed Ryan to focus entirely on his rehabilitation and we believe this has helped him make significant progress in a short period of time. The next few weeks are very important to Ryan’s recovery. We prefer to maintain this level of privacy until Ryan is further along in the rehabilitation process. We appreciate your understanding.

“There are still many unanswered questions, but we are confident that with Ryan’s strength, courage and determination, along with the great support of his doctors and therapists, he will continue toward a successful recovery. We know that the road of rehabilitation will be long, hard and frustrating at times, but with continued patience and faith, everything will be OK. His spirits are great and his outlook is positive. As proud as we are of so many things Ryan has done in his young life, we have never been, and never will be, more proud of him for the courage he has shown during his recovery.

“In the days after Ryan first experienced symptoms in early March, he was fortunate to consult with some of the leading neurosurgeons in the world. Ultimately, he was led to what we believe is the best medical staff in the world for this procedure, Dr. Robert Spetzler and his team at the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Spetzler’s handling of this dangerous and delicate procedure not only gave Ryan a chance at a normal life, but in fact, saved his life. For that, we cannot adequately express our gratitude. The Neuro Rehabilitation Unit there, and at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, have paved the way for his recovery. We recognize those therapists and staff as being among the best in their field and crucial to Ryan’s recovery. We expect Ryan will remain at Spaulding Hospital for a short period of time and then transition to out-patient therapy.  

“We have always been very proud to be Boston Red Sox fans, but over the course of this time, that pride has increased ten-fold and is unrelated to the game of baseball. The ownership, management, staff, players and fans have shown a genuine compassion, sensitivity, professionalism and thorough support which has proven to be immeasurable. We are so fortunate to have their support and hope that knowing this, all of Red Sox Nation can realize this same pride in rooting for such a caring organization.

“The overall support for Ryan during this period has been amazing. The thoughts and prayers of so many family, friends and many others that we have never even met, have given us confidence that the progress we have seen over such a short period of time will continue. Members of the MLB fraternity, both executives and players, have taken time to be by Ryan’s side and have shown class and support while offering an encouragement that is truly special.

“We wish that we could individually address every message that has been sent our way through thought and prayer, but that would be difficult. Please know that we are very grateful and recognize them all for their kindness and sincerity. On behalf of Ryan, and our entire immediate and extended families, thank you.”

While the Boston Red Sox were traveling to Kansas City for the start of their 3-game set with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, the big news of the day were the comments made by umpire Joe West.

Now we all know the Red Sox and New York Yankees usually play four hour games but West was not at all pleased with the length of the games in the two team’s opening series.

“They’re the two clubs that don’t try to pick up the pace,” said West, the chief of the umpiring crew working the three-game series, according to the report. “They’re two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest?”

“It’s pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play,” he said, according to the report.

Most Red Sox and Yankees fans are used to this and usually don’t mind because 8 out of 10 times the games are usually compelling. This was the case during the opening series as the games were closely contested.

ESPN’s Curt Schilling responded to West’s comments by basically saying West acts like he has other places to be.

“Watch Joe West during the game. He never lets the catcher throw a ball in play. He rushes everything, and calls a small plate. He’s decent behind there, consistent, but smaller than he can be. If he wants to pick up the pace he should get the pace of the game going by calling more strikes … strikes. 

“Not to mention he often times acts like he’d rather be any place in the world other than the field.”

Schilling’s right because on one night a pitch in a certain location could be a ball and on the next night, it could be a strike. There’s no consistency to the calling of the strike zone.

Schilling’s also right in the fact that if West had a bigger strike zone not as many balls would called.

There’s a difference in major league hitters these days as well. Most teams are looking to work the counts of the starting pitchers to get them out of the game earlier. The Red Sox and Yankees are two teams that do it well as we saw in the John Lackey/Andy Pettitte matchup on Wednesday night.

Until the umpiring gets more consistent, the Red Sox and Yankees will continue to play 4 hour marathons. And I honestly don’t mind it one bit.

We’ll be back later today with the lineups and other links from the day but continue reading for this morning’s links.

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

Mind the Gap: Rivera continues to pace Papelbon [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Delcarmen operating within his speed limits [Boston Globe]

West rips pace of play [Boston Globe]

Prelude to a save [Boston Globe]

‘Strengths’ of Red Sox need tweaks [Boston Herald]

No time to rest, Victor Martinez gets Tim Wakefield [Boston Herald]

When will Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell make their 2010 debuts? [Clubhouse Insider]

Umpire: Length of Sox-Yankee games ‘pathetic’ [CSN New England]

Bonser satisfied with outing; Embree gets a scare [CSN New England]

Why plate discipline is winning strategy [Curt Schilling – ESPN Boston]

Meet Daniel Nava, the best Red Sox minor leaguer you’ve never heard of [ESPN Boston]

One year later, Lackey remembers Adenhart [ESPN Boston]

Beckett by the numbers [Extra Bases]

Don’t expect quicker Sox/Yanks games [Full Count]

Everybody settle down about Big Papi [Lou Merloni – WEEI.com]

Trio of Aces Unable to Get It Done for Red Sox So Far [NESN.com]

David Ortiz’s Pregame Outburst Hints at Growing Frustration [NESN.com]

Report: Alan Embree Likely to Opt Out if Not Promoted Before April 15 [NESN.com]

Report: Red Sox Discussed Deal for Curtis Granderson in Offseason [NESN.com]

Study Shows Josh Beckett Is Slowest Pitcher in Major League Baseball [NESN.com]

Dustin Pedroia Licking His Chops With Royals, Twins on Upcoming Schedule [NESN.com]

Francona’s loyalty to Ortiz has left Sox vulnerable [Providence Journal]

An encouraging start for Papelbon quickly goes bad [Providence Journal]

Sox, Yanks criticized on game pace [RedSox.com]

Inbox: Time for switch at designated hitter? [RedSox.com]

Red Sox seek better road results in ’10 [RedSox.com]

Bonser, Embree pitch in Minors game [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.

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

UConn Football links

Meet The Spring Game Honorary Coaches: Ryan Krug [UConnHuskies.com]

Teggart working on head, leg [CT Post]

Arrest may keep Osiecki out of UConn spring practices [CT Post]

QB Battle: Frazer And Endres Know Their Roles [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

And In Conclusion….. [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Greene Named to USA Select Team [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Post Championship Happenings [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Huskies On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Friday [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Can UConn Win a Third Straight Title? [UConnHuskies.com]

Tina Charles Selected No. 1 Overall at 2010 WNBA Draft [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn had bark, bite when needed, leading to celebration [CT Post]

Charles basks in her final moments with UConn program [CT Post]

Charles Goes First, Starting A Huge Day For Sun [Hartford Courant]

UConn’s Charles No. 1 pick in WNBA draft [The Republican-American]

Sun plan to rebuild around Charles [The Republican-American]

Charles rides tall tale to fairy-tale finish [ESPN.com]

A day in the life with UConn’s Charles [ESPN.com]

Coaching in the Best of All Worlds [NY Times]

Other UConn related links

Baseball: Penders & Huskies Showcased on Rivals.com [UConnHuskies.com]

Baseball: Barnes and Springer Earn Invites to Team USA Trials [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Lacrosse: UConn Lacrosse Hosts Syracuse at Friends of Jaclyn Game on Friday [UConnHuskies.com]

Softball: Huskies Sneak Past BU 10-9 [UConnHuskies.com]