Red Sox, Yankees To Kickoff MLB Season in 2010

Pedro Martinez decks Don Zimmer

We already knew that the Boston Red Sox would be opening up with the 2009 World Series Champions New York Yankees (I think I threw up in my mouth btw) at Fenway Park. We just didn’t know if it would be on Monday, April 5, 2010 as scheduled or if ESPN and MLB would move the game to the Sunday night game.

Well now we have our answer as it was announced on Monday afternoon that the Red Sox will host the Yankees at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 4, 2010 on ESPN2.

If you’re going to the game, plan on dressing warm.

Update: According to Ken Fang from Fangsbites.com via his Twitter, NESN and YES will be broadcasting the game as well.

2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Rankings (Dec. 14)

AP Top 25 ESPN/USA Today Poll
1. Kansas (61) 9-0 1,620 1. Kansas (30) 9-0 774
2. Texas (1) 8-0 1,512 2. Texas 8-0 735
3. Kentucky (1) 10-0 1,486 3. Kentucky (1) 10-0 701
4. Purdue 9-0 1,426 4. Purdue 9-0 675
5. Syracuse (2) 10-0 1,388 5. Syracuse 10-0 658
6. West Virginia 7-0 1,315 6. West Virginia 7-0 631
7. Duke 7-1 1,137 7. Duke 7-1 547
8. Villanova 9-1 1,107 8. Tennessee 7-1 528
9. Tennessee 7-1 1,104 9. Villanova 9-1 524
10. North Carolina 8-2 1,039 10. North Carolina 8-2 497
11. Georgetown 8-0 1,008 11. Georgetown 8-0 494
12. Michigan State 8-2 922 12. Michigan State 8-2 423
13. Florida 8-1 864 13. Florida 8-1 367
14. Connecticut 6-2 762 14. Connecticut 6-2 358
15. Gonzaga 8-2 505 15. Georgia Tech 6-1 229
16. Texas Tech 9-0 492 15. Gonzaga 8-2 229
17. Kansas State 9-1 391 17. Butler 7-3 184
18. Ohio State 7-2 383 18. Ohio State 7-2 176
19. New Mexico 10-0 364 19. New Mexico 10-0 164
20. Mississippi 8-1 334 20. Texas Tech 9-0 150
21. Butler 7-3 257 21. Washington 6-2 146
22. Georgia Tech 6-1 253 22. Kansas State 9-1 136
23. Texas A&M 8-2 221 23. UNLV 7-1 112
24. Washington 6-2 179 24. Clemson 8-2 110
25. Cincinnati 6-2 174 25. Mississippi 8-1 77
Others Receiving Votes Others Receiving Votes
Memphis 129, Wisconsin 110, UNLV 96, Clemson 84, Temple 83, Northwestern 59, Illinois 44, Miami (FL) 40, St. John’s 30, Oklahoma State 29, Dayton 24, Charlotte 24, Seton Hall 24, Florida State 23, Missouri State 20, Brigham Young 14, Mississippi State 9, Virginia Tech 7, Baylor 6, Minnesota 5, North Carolina State 3, Cornell 3, Rhode Island 3, Tulsa 3, Wake Forest 2, Western Carolina 2, Northern Iowa 2, Pittsburgh 2, Army 1, William & Mary 1. Cincinnati 76, Texas A&M 58, Wisconsin 58, Illinois 25, Temple 24, Memphis 21, Florida State 20, Brigham Young 17, Saint Mary’s 17, Oklahoma State 15, Wake Forest 15, St. John’s 14, Charlotte 14, Northwestern 13, Seton Hall 9, Dayton 9, Tulsa 9, Washington State 9, William & Mary 9, California 7, Missouri State 3, Western Carolina 3, Mississippi State 2, Northern Iowa 1, Baylor 1, Coastal Carolina 1.
Dropped From Rankings Dropped From Rankings
UNLV 18, Wisconsin 20. Texas A&M 18, Cincinnati 19, Wisconsin 23.

Report: Red Sox Make Offer To Cuban Free Agent Aroldis Chapman

Cuba's Aroldis Chapman pitches in the first inning of a World Baseball Classic game with Australia in Mexico City, Tuesday, March 10, 2009. - AP Photo

According to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus, the Boston Red Sox have made a $15.5 million offer to prized Cuban free agent pitcher Aroldis Chapman.

According to one source close to the negotiations, Boston offered Chapman a $15.5 million dollar package that includes a major league deal. When contacted regarding this story, Red Sox officials declined to comment. Boston has been linked to Chapman since the day he became available, and Chapman is close friends with shortstop Jose Iglesias, a Cuban shortstop that Boston signed in September.

Chapman is scheduled to hold a workout tomorrow in Houston in front of teams with his new agents, the Hendricks Brothers. He had previously visited the Red Sox with his old agent Edwin Meijia.

The article doesn’t say how many years the deal is for but my guess is that it would be for three or four years. I’m not sure the Red Sox would go five years on him but you never know with them.

Report: Lackey To Take Physical For Red Sox

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher John Lackey celebrates after striking out a New York Yankee to end the fourth inning in Game 5 of their Major League Baseball ALCS playoff series in Anaheim, California, October 22, 2009 - Reuters

It appears the Boston Red Sox may be moving on from Jason Bay after all.

A tweet from Fanhouse’s Ed Price and later confirmed by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com says that Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim free agent pitcher John Lackey took a physical in Boston on Monday and a deal could be imminent.

According to Rosenthal, the deal could similar in stature to what A.J. Burnett received from the New York Yankees last season. He also has a little tidbit towards the bottom of the article that the Red Sox are trying work on an extension with their ace, Josh Beckett.

Lackey has a career record of 102-71 with 3.81 ERA in eight seasons with the Angels. He was 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA in 27 starts in 2009. Against the Red Sox in his career, he is 3-7 with a 5.25 ERA in fourteen starts and is 2-5 with a 5.75 ERA in nine starts at Fenway Park.

If the Red Sox do sign Lackey, this provides an interesting scenario for the pitching staff.

They already have Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matuszaka, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz penciled in for the 2010 rotation. Does this mean that Buchholz could be moved in a potential deal for someone?

I’m more curious now to see what Theo Epstein has up his sleeve if indeed Lackey signs with the Red Sox

Lackey’s a bulldog and definitely will fit in with this team nicely but don’t the Red Sox really need a bat to replace what Bay gave them in offense.

Report: Lowell May Need Thumb Surgery; Trade To Rangers In Jeopardy

As we learned last week, the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers had reached a preliminary agreement on a trade of Sox third baseman Mike Lowell for Rangers minor league catcher Max Ramirez.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell bobbles a ground ball by Toronto Blue Jays' Aaron Hill, but managed to throw him out, at first during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 - AP photoThe deal was being held up by the medicals of both players and now it seems the whole trade may be in jeopardy due to Lowell’s thumb.

According to Peter Gammons of NESN and MLB.com via his Twitter page, Lowell could need surgery on his thumb that he injured again at the end of the 2009 season. And  Rob Bradford of WEEI.com is reporting that the Rangers will examine Lowell in person at some point during the week.

Obviously if the deal doesn’t go through this is going to affect the Red Sox plans for 2010. If they were seriously entertaining the thought of signing Adrian Beltre to play third, which I hope doesn’t happen, or exploring a trade for anyone, those thoughts will now have to be put on hold.

And of course there’s stil the whole Jason Bay mess going on right now as well so things aren’t getting any easier for Theo Epstein and the rest of the Red Sox brain trust.

As always, time will tell what’s going to happen with all of this but this one is definitely worth watching for sure.

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 12/14

Paw Prints The Daily Roundup

UConn Football links

UConn murder suspect due back in court [New Haven Register]

Bryan Paull is going to UConn [Miami Herald]

Howard murder suspect due back in court on Thursday [The Day]

UConn fans can breathe sigh of relief [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

5 things we’ve learned about UConn women’s hoop team [The Republican-American]

Other UConn related links

Men’s Soccer: Stahl and Watson-Siriboe Named 2009 College Soccer News All-Americans [UConnHuskies.com]

Men’s Soccer: Pezza, Stahl, and Watson-Siriboe Picked for 2010 MLS Combine [UConnHuskies.com]

Pictures From Christmas at Fenway

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend Christmas at Fenway which gave me an opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2010 season (don’t hate me people).

I attended the event with Texy from Center Field and Center Field and SOX & Dawgs regular fc. It was a nice event and I had a nice time with both of them.

We were able to see the World Series trophy, check out the yard sale and sit in the State Street Pavilion and EMC Club. While we were in there, we listened to Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino and Red Sox infielder Jed Lowrie speak.

Unfortunately, we missed new coach Ron Johnson, Michael Bowden, Manny Delcarmen and Red Sox skipper Terry Francona speak since it was our turn to get tickets.

But I’ve got a few pictures to share with ya’ll from the day. By the way, it was pretty cool to see the start of the hockey rink in the middle of the field.

Click on pictures to see full-size.

Fenway Park with the hockey rink for the 2010 NHL Winter Classic

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Video: Jed Lowrie at Christmas at Fenway

Here’s some video of Boston Red Sox infielder Jed Lowrie from Christmas at Fenway on December 12, 2009.

I do apologize for the shakiness as I was using my iPod Nano camera and I apologize for leaving the camera on while I walking around the room. But enjoy nonetheless.