Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis went around the clubhouse last week to ask his teammates which facial hair style he should sport for opening day. You can vote also by making a donation to Kevin Youkilis Hits For Kids.
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It was a tough afternoon for the Boston Red Sox as they lost a pair of split-squad games to the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.
In the game against the Rays, the pitchers allowed seven home runs but the biggest story to come out of the game was the injury that Boof Bonser
Bonser, who was probably set to make the Red Sox as the long man, may miss some time due a groin injury. Seeing how he’s coming off shoulder surgery, you know the Red Sox will do their due diligence with him as far him pitching. It’s better to be safer than sorry at this point.
Logical thinking says that the Red Sox will give the other spot to Alan Embree who was recently signed to a minor league deal. Embree still needs to get in game shape so it’s quite possible he could start the season in the minors or the DL.
So what does this mean for guys like Joe Nelson, Brian Shouse and Scott Atchison. It’s quite possible that two of the three could head north when the Red Sox break camp. The big question remains though that if they don’t, will they accept an assignment to Pawtucket.
We all know the Red Sox won’t go through the season with the pitchers who make the team. So if anyone of them decides to become a free agent, the pitching depth could take a hit. Of course though, general manager Theo Epstein will probably be scouring the waiver wires as the other 29 teams make their cuts as well.
Another hit the Red Sox took yesterday was the fact that Bill Hall made two errors playing shortstop. Why is this significant you ask. Well, Hall was probably going to be counted on as the backup to Marco Scutaro at short. Should something happen to Scutaro, the Red Sox are left thin at the position.
Jed Lowrie most likely won’t be ready for the season and Jose Iglesias is probably a year away. Angel Sanchez is one possibility but I’d expect the Red Sox to make a trade for a backup shortstop or pick one up via waivers. Or if they trade Mike Lowell, they could try to get a shortstop there as well.
As you can see, there’s still questions left to be answered just 12 days before the start of the season. But as we get closer to Opening Day against the Bronx Bombers, those questions will be answered accordingly by Theo and the brain trust.
The Red Sox don’t play until tonight against the Minnesota Twins so we’ll be back later with lineups and any other news from today.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Cloning Crawford: A look at Ellsbury’s breakout potential [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Retiring types, and not shy about it [Boston Globe]
Sox picking their spots [Boston Globe]
Catcher will let them come to him [Boston Globe]
Lock up Red Sox’ valuables [Boston Herald]
Joe Mauer’s big pact puts catcher, club on clock [Boston Herald]
Joe Maddon: Jacoby Ellsbury fills big gap [Boston Herald]
Walkoff this way [Boston Herald]
J.D. Drew passes spot check [Boston Herald]
Damon breaks out ’04 Series ring [ESPN Boston]
Ask Amalie: The Mauer deal, Wakefield’s status and more [Extra Bases]
Mauer wishes VMart well in his search [Full Count]
What happened with the Red Sox: Monday [Full Count]
Wonder Twins Powers, Activate! Form of: Sick Defense [Full Count]
Now Batting Third: Casey Kotchman? [Full Count]
Red Sox elation: Jeremy Hermida enjoys view from the top [Miami Herald]
Minor League Players Must Contribute When Called Upon [NESN.com]
Starting nine: Marco Scutaro [ProJo Sox Blog]
Retired Red Sox ace Schilling may move company to R.I. [ProJo Sox Blog]
It’s bombs-away for Rays in Bonser’s latest start [Providence Journal]
Red Sox journal: Martinez shrugs off Mauer’s new contract [Providence Journal]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
It’s game day for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they will take on former assistant Tonya Cardoza and the Temple Owls in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament in Norfolk, VA.
The game is scheduled to tip-off at 7:06 p.m. and will be shown in Connecticut on ESPN2 standard definition. If you’re unsure of whether or not you will get the game, you can check out the coverage map for the 7 p.m. games. The game will also be available on ESPN360. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can listen to the game on the WTIC/UConn Radio Network.
Today just also happens to be head coach Geno Auriemma’s 56th birthday. So happy birthday Coach Auriemma!
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
UConn Women’s Basketball links
From The Courant Archives: April 3, 1995 [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]
Geno Auriemma Channels His Inner Brandi Chastain [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]
Renee Montgomery Checks In With The Blog On A Number Of Topics [Renee Montgomery – Hartford Courant]
Gardler Maximizes Her Time [Rich Elliott – CT Post]
Geno To Be A Grandfather [Rich Elliott – CT Post]
Getting Ready For Round Two [UConnHuskies.com]
Temple excited for UConn challenge [CT Post]
Ex-UConn aide Cardoza pushes Temple on right path [CT Post]
UConn women’s notebook: Geno a grandpa-to-be [CT Post]
UConn women’s game day: vs. Temple [CT Post]
Schools must do more to bring light to women’s game [CT Post]
At UConn, Pressure And Exposure Are Constant Companions [Hartford Courant]
Geno Auriemma Blames Administrators For Stagnation Of Women’s Game [Hartford Courant]
Auriemma Facing Longtime Assistant [Hartford Courant]
Facing UConn, Temple’s Tonya Cardoza Knows What She’s Up Against [Hartford Courant]
Capsule: UConn Vs. Temple [Hartford Courant]
Geno opposes one of his own [The Day]
UConn notes: Auriemma has ideas on how to improve women’s game [The Day]
UConn women courted on a day off [The Day]
UConn women face Temple in NCAA 2nd round [The Republican-American]
Gardler finishing strong [The Republican-American]
Geno’s 56th birthday today [The Republican-American]
Temple women upbeat on facing UConn [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Temple’s Cardoza learned coaching under UConn’s Auriemma, and now faces him in NCAA tournament [AP via LA Times]
UConn Men’s Basketball links
The End [David Borges – New Haven Register]
Dyson, Calhoun Video [David Borges – New Haven Register]
Great effort, way, way, way, way too late
[Ed Daigneault – The Republican-American] A heart-breaking ending [Gavin Keefe – The Day]
2009-10 UConn Season Over After NIT Loss To Virginia Tech [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]
A 224-word post-mortem: the 2009-10 UConn basketball season [The UConn Blog]
Starters not Closers [UConn Huskies Basketball]
Va. Tech Beats UConn In Last Minute [Hartford Courant]
Mixed Finish At UConn For Dyson [Hartford Courant]
UConn Men’s Game Extras [Hartford Courant]
Virginia Tech ousts Huskies from NIT [New Haven Register]
UConn goes out fighting [The Day]
Notebook [The Day]
Season ends in NIT loss for UConn men [The Republican-American]
Fitting end to season [The Republican-American]
Other UConn related links
Men’s Ice Hockey: Gerke Named To The AHA All-Rookie Team [UConnHuskies.com]
Baseball: Connecticut Hands Northeastern 12-1 Loss to Start the Week [UConnHuskies.com]
The up-and-down 2009-10 season has finally come to an end for the UConn Huskies. But it was ending that probably shouldn’t have happened.
Dorenzo Hudson had 27 points, 17 in the second half, to help the Virginia Tech Hokies to a 65-63 win over the Huskies in front of 6,983 raucous fans at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, VA on Monday night.
With UConn up one at 63-62, the Hokies had the ball after a timeout underneath the UConn basket. They ran a play for Hudson who came off a screen and nailed a jumper to put them up 64-63.
After a UConn timeout, Kemba Walker went for the game-winner only to have it blocked. He recovered the ball and got it over to Gavin Edwards who missed an easy layup. Walker fouled Terrell Bell with .7 seconds left. Bell missed the first shot and after a timeout, he made the second one while actually trying to miss it.
Walker’s last ditch effort went for naught as the Hokies survived to see another day.
Had Edwards dunked the ball or gone up strong with the ball, we could be talking about the Huskies advancing to the quarterfinals. Instead, we’ll now be talking about the season that was and that could have been.
The Huskies finish up the season at 18-16 while the Hokies improve to 25-8. The Hokies will take on the Rhode Island Rams later this week to for the right to go to Madison Square Garden.
Walker led the Huskies with 18 points, four assists and had six rebounds. Despite a poor shooting night (4-of-17) and foul trouble, Jerome Dyson had 15 points. Gavin Edwards added ten points and six rebounds while Stanley Robinson had nine points and eight rebounds.
Besides his game-high 27 points, Hudson led the Hokies with nine rebounds. JT Thompson added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench. Virginia Tech’s leading scorer Malcolm Delaney finished with just six points but led them with nine assists.
We could sit here and say what I said earlier about Edwards going up in stronger but in reality, the Huskies are the ones who put themselves in this position. Had they played together as team for the whole, like they did in beating Texas and Villanova, this season could have been a much different story.
Instead the season ends in the NIT with a disappointing loss, apropos of the way the entire season went.
Notes and musings:
UConn Huskies @ Virginia Tech Hokies 2nd Round Postseason NIT 3.23.10 box score
The starters for the final time this season were Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, Gavin Edwards and Alex Oriakhi.
The Huskies shot 41.6% (25-of-60) from the floor while the Hokies shot 42.1%.
UConn had just seven assists on their 25 made baskets.
The Huskies were 4-of-16 (25%) from three-point land while the Hokies were 2-of-11 (18.2%).
UConn was 9-of-16 (56.3%) from the free throw line. Just think maybe if they made three more they would have won.
The Huskies outrebounded the Hokies 36-35 and outscored them in the paint 34-22.
Virginia Tech had 13 turnovers that UConn turned into nine points. The Hokies had 19 points off of 13 UConn turnovers.
The Hokies outscored UConn 8-2 on the fast break.
Actor Adam Scott and Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz sing “Sweet Caroline” and try to get New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher to sing as well.
Despite the fact that both Boston Red Sox teams who played today had 28 hits and scored 17 runs, they lost both games.
The split-squad who traveled to Jupiter to take on the St. Louis Cardinals fell 13-8 while the one that stayed behind in Ft. Myers fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 11-9.
Michael Bowden made the start against the Cardinals and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with a strikeout. Fabio Castro followed with two innings of three-hit relief with three strikeouts. Fernando Cabrera was roughed for two runs on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning while Ramon A. Ramirez gave up four runs on four hits and three walks 1 2/3 innings. T.J. Large was also victimized for three runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning.
The Red Sox defense didn’t help them out as they had four errors, including two by Bill Hall at shortstop. Since Hall’s been a little shaky at short and today’s two errors won’t help, the Red Sox will now probably have to find someone who can back up at short. Jed Lowrie’s not an option right now since he’s still recovering from mono.
The Red Sox had 10 of their 13 hits against old friend Brad Penny. Tug Hulett led the offensive charge with two hits and three RBIs. Jeremy Hermida added two hits and an RBI while Peter Hissey also had two hits. Josh Reddick, Oscar Tejada and Dusty Brown had the other RBIs.
In Ft. Myers, Red Sox pitchers allowed seven home runs to the Rays. Boof Bonser allowed two, Scott Atchison gave up one, Junichi Tazawa allowed three and Joe Nelson gave up one.
Bonser wasn’t at his best as he allowed five runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings. The only hit and run Atchison allowed was on the home run in his two innings. Tazawa gave up four runs on four hits (three of those were the HRs) while Brian Shouse was perfect in his inning. Joe Nelson’s only hit and run that he allowed were on the home run in his inning and he also had two strikeouts. Jorge Sosa gave up a hit and had two strikeouts in two innings.
Ray Chang had two hits, including a 3-run homer to lead the Red Sox. Mike Cameron had two hits as did Matt Sheely and Mark Wagner who also had an RBI each. Derrik Gibson also had a hit and two RBIs while Christopher McGuiness added a hit and an RBI. Dustin Pedroia was hitless in two at-bats but had an RBI on a sac fly.
Instead of having John Lackey pitch against their AL East rivals, he pitched in an intrasquad game at the Player Development Complex down the street. Against the minor leaguers, he allowed a run on three hits with six strikeouts.
The Red Sox will play a night game on Tuesday night when they make the short trip across town to take on the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WEEI 850 AM.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Lackey stretches out in Minors game [Brownie Points] Rough day for Bonser [Clubhouse Insider]
How Mauer’s signing affects Red Sox and Martinez [CSN New England]
Red Sox notes: Bonser takes a step back [CSN New England]
Victor applauds Mauer deal [ESPN Boston]
10 (not-so) Quick Hits: Long day in F-L-A [ESPN Boston]
Lackey throws five [Extra Bases]
Injury for Bonser? [Extra Bases]
NESN picks up tomorrow’s game [Extra Bases]
The catcher who (sort of) got away from the Red Sox [Full Count]
Lackey hones his game for AL East [Full Count]
Postgame(s) Notes: Rays 11, Sox 9; Cards 13, Sox 8 [Full Count]
Bonser upset after tough start [ProJo Sox Blog]
Wagner triples his pleasure, triples his fun [ProJo Sox Blog]
Victor happy for Mauer, wants to stay put [RedSox.com]
Bonser aims to rebound from shaky effort [RedSox.com]
With the UConn Huskies taking on the Temple Owls on Tuesday, March 23rd in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, ESPN has released the coverage map for the games on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.
The UConn/Temple game will be broadcast in it’s entirety on ESPN2 standard definition in all of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Southeastern PA, Southern Jersey and Northern Maryland. ESPN2HD will have whip-around coverage that brings you the most compelling action from the games. The game will also be shown on ESPN360.com.
Here’s the map for all of the 7:00 p.m. games on ESPN2:
After splitting their squads on Sunday, the Boston Red Sox will once again do the same thing on Monday.
A team of what will likely be bench players plus minor leaguers for the Red Sox will head to Jupiter to take on the St. Louis Cardinals. And back in Ft. Myers, Terry Francona will trot out what appears to be the Opening Day lineup sans the starting pitcher against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The game against the Cardinals will start at 1:05 p.m. and there is no television or radio. The game against the Rays will start at 1:05 p.m. and there is also no television or radio for the game.
Michael Bowden will make the start for the Red Sox against the Cardinals and he’ll be followed by LHP Fabio Castro and RHP Ramon A. Ramirez. Kyle Lohse is scheduled to start for the Cards.
Boof Bonser will make the start for the Red Sox against the Rays and he’ll be followed by RHP Scott Atchison, and RHP Junichi Tazawa. James Shields will start for the Rays and he’ll be followed by RHP Winston Abreu, RHP Richard De Los Santos and RHP Mike Ekstrom.
Continue reading for the lineups and links.
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| 1. Bill Hall | SS | 1. Skip Schumaker | 2B |
| 2. Josh Reddick | CF | 2. Brendan Ryan | SS |
| 3. Jeremy Hermida | LF | 3. Matt Holliday | DH |
| 4. Tug Hulett | 2B | 4. Colby Rasmus | CF |
| 5. Anthony Rizzo | DH | 5. Jason LaRue | C |
| 6. Dusty Brown | C | 6. John Jay | RF |
| 7. Aaron Bates | 1B | 7. Ruben Gotay | 1B |
| 8. Angel Sanchez | 3B | 8. Tyler Henley | LF |
| 9. Peter Hissey | RF | 9. Donovan Solano | 3B |
| Michael Bowden | SP | Kyle Lohse | SP |
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| 1. Jason Bartlett | SS | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | LF |
| 2. Carl Crawford | LF | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Evan Longoria | 3B | 3. Victor Martinez | C |
| 4. Carlos Peña | 1B | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 1B |
| 5. Ben Zobrist | CF | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Pat Burrell | RF | 6. J.D. Drew | RF |
| 7. Hank Blalock | DH | 7. Adrian Beltre | 3B |
| 8. Sean Rodriguez | 2B | 8. Mike Cameron | CF |
| 9. Kelly Shoppach | C | 9. Marco Scutaro | SS |
| James Shields | SP | Boof Bonser | SP |
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Nathan clouds Papelbon’s future [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Bases have to be covered [Boston Globe]
Outing a real drag for Papelbon [Boston Globe]
Victor Martinez says new Red Sox deal ‘all up to them’ [Boston Herald]
David Ortiz, Sox will deal with it later [Boston Herald]
Daniel Bard happy to change [Boston Herald]
Weary Jonathan Papelbon rocked [Boston Herald]
Dice-K takes minor steps [Boston Herald]
Hulett has a lot to look up to in Sox camp [CSN New England]
A look at the Sox’s starting pitching depth [ESPN Boston]
Bonser: ‘My role is in the pen’ [ESPN Boston]
Roster musings: Searching for backup SS [ESPN Boston]
Big Papi delivers a kind word [Extra Bases]
Dustin Pedroia answers your questions [Extra Bases]
What happened with the Red Sox: Sunday [Full Count]
How Mauer affects the Red Sox [Full Count]
Francona: Mauer deal is ‘really good for the game’ [Full Count]
VMart: Mauer ‘deserved every penny’ [Full Count]
Sox Thoughts [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
Starting nine: Adrian Beltre [ProJo Sox Blog]
Martinez impressed with Mauer money, making no demands [ProJo Sox Blog]
Tarp stories with Terry Francona [ProJo Sox Blog]
RJ thrilled for son — in exhibition games, anyway [ProJo Sox Blog]
Delcarmen’s velocity is down while he works on mechanics [Providence Journal]
Red Sox journal: Matsuzaka makes progress [Providence Journal]
It’s game day for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team as they are in Blacksburg, VA to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second round of the Postseason NIT.
The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be nationally televised on ESPN. The game will also be available on ESPN360. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can listen to the game on the WTIC/UConn Radio Network.
Continue reading for the links.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
UConn Men’s Basketball links
Sweet Virginia [David Borges – New Haven Register]
Oh, Virginia (Tech) [Ed Daigneault – The Republican-American]
Arriving at Virginia Tech [Gavin Keefe – The Day]
UConn men take on Va. Tech in NIT [CT Post]
UConn Takes Aim At Virginia Tech [Hartford Courant]
UConn Vs. Virginia Tech Capsule [Hartford Courant]
Huskies not ready for season to end [New Haven Register]
Huskies aim to finish on high note [The Day]
UConn men play NIT game at Virginia Tech [The Republican-American]
NIT, Round Two: Hokies on Huskies … [The Virginian-Pilot]
UConn Women’s Basketball links
In case you hadn’t heard, the UConn women will take on the Temple Owls in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. That game will be played on Tuesday, March 23rd and tip at 7:06 p.m. The game will be regionally televised by ESPN2.
Geno Auriemma: Mr. T on Mrs. T [Jeff Jacobs – Hartford Courant]
Charles, Moore Naismith finalists [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]
Greene Picks It Up In Second Half/Naismith Finalists [Rich Elliott – CT Post]
Another classic appearance for UConn [Roger Cleaveland – The Republican-American]
UConn women off and running in NCAA tournament [CT Post]
UConn women’s notebook [CT Post]
UConn Crushes Southern U. In NCAA Opener [Hartford Courant]
Geno Teases Rizzotti, Bruno For Their Technicals [Hartford Courant]
UConn Name Carries Power [Hartford Courant]
UConn Women’s Extras [Hartford Courant]
The overdogs overwhelm: Tourney favorite UConn draws crowd’s ire on way to rout in opener [The Day]
UConn notebook [The Day]
UConn women roll past Southern in NCAA opener [The Republican-American]
UConn women: sterling execution [The Republican-American]
Education First, Beating UConn a Close Second [NY Times]
Other UConn related links
Softball: Huskies Fall 9-1 To BU In Six [UConnHuskies.com]
Softball: Huskies Drop Weekend Finale 5-1 To Hofstra [UConnHuskies.com]
Baseball: Olt, Barnes Help Huskies Past Pioneers 9-2 [UConnHuskies.com]
It was a tough afternoon for both of the Boston Red Sox split-squads on Sunday.
The away split-squad made the 2 hour 20 minute trip up I-75 and I-275 to Dunedin to take on the Toronto Blue Jays only to have rain cancel the game. Back in Ft. Myers, the weather cooperated until the 8th inning when the heavens opened up and gave the Houston Astros a 10-7 rain-shortened win.
Jon Lester had a decent afternoon on the bump as he prepares for the 2010 season. He allowed three runs on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Hideki Okajima came in for him and allowed a run on two hits in 2/3 of an inning.
It was a tough day for Jonathan Papelbon as he was battling the effects of a migraine headache. He allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits and a walk in a 1/3 of an inning. Ramon Ramirez was perfect in 2/3 of an inning with a strikeout as was Daniel Bard in his inning.
Jacoby Ellsbury led the Red Sox offensive attack with three singles and a stolen base. Dustin Pedroia had two hits, including a 3-run homer and had four RBIs. Mike Cameron also had two hits, including a 2-run homer and a walk. Jason Varitek added two hits and Kevin Youkilis had an RBI.
The Red Sox will play again on Monday with split-squads as a group of mostly minor leaguers will head over to Jupiter to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in a make-up game. Michael Bowden will make that start.
The Tampa Bay Rays will come to City of Palms Park to take on the rest of the Red Sox. Boof Bonser will make the start for the Red Sox. John Lackey will make a start over at the Red Sox Player Development Complex.
Continue reading for the links.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Matsuzaka: ‘Getting closer and closer [Clubhouse Insider]
Papelbon pitched through headache [Clubhouse Insider]
It’s a start for Matsuzaka [CSN New England]
Red Sox notes: Cameron hot, Papelbon not [CSN New England]
Matsuzaka looks sharp in scrimmage [Extra Bases]
Now at shortstop: Dustin Pedroia? [Full Count]
Michael Garciaparra on rumors that he signed with Sox [Full Count]
Papelbon ‘lackadaisical’ due to anti-migraine meds [Full Count]
Red Sox tickets sales strong [Full Count]
Matsuzaka throws 32 pitches in minor-league outing [ProJo Sox Blog]
Lester gaining confidence in changeup [ProJo Sox Blog]
Zoned-out Papelbon gets knocked around [ProJo Sox Blog]
Marlins offer Jimenez back to Boston [RedSox.com]
Papelbon endures migraine, tough outing [RedSox.com]
Dice-K pleased after first spring outing [RedSox.com]
Bard settled in as key to Red Sox’s ‘pen [RedSox.com]
Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester likes his change of pace Sunday [The Republican]
Red Sox outfielder Mike Cameron says it’s hitting that needs his attention this year [The Republican]
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon’s outing is a headache for all concerned [The Republican]
