Old School

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brad Penny reacts after a ground-rule double hit by New York Yankees' Eric Hinske in the second inning of their baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) For those of us who went to bed early last night, we woke up to find out that Brad Penny had asked for and was granted his release by the Boston Red Sox.

There had been speculation that he might be designated for assignment with Billy Wagner joining the Red Sox today. Had Tim Wakefield faltered last night, Penny would have come in out of the bullpen to take over for him but that wasn’t the case.

Penny saw the writing on the wall and did himself and the Red Sox a favor by asking for his release. By doing so, he will be placed on release waivers today, meaning he’ll clear them on Monday. If he can find a team to sign with on Monday, he would still be eligible for the postseason.

“I enjoyed playing with all of the guys,” he said. “I played for a great manager on a great team. I had a great time. I enjoyed it. I wish things had worked out better, but that happens.”

“All in all I had a great time here. My shoulder is healthy, and I’m glad I came here. It was a blessing.”

Penny signed a 1-year, $5 million deal in the offseason. It was another of Theo Epstein’s low risk, high reward signings that didn’t work out.

He made 24 starts this season and was 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA. He was just 1-5 with an ERA over 5.00 in 7 starts since the All-Star break.

Brad Penny feels pinch, gets released [Boston Herald]

Destination Red Sox Nation – 8/27

Destination Red Sox Nation

Destination Red Sox Nation is our look at how the minor league teams of the Boston Red Sox fare each night. Game story and box score links as well as links to team rosters, team stats and league standings are after the jump.

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Video: David Ortiz Walk-Off Home Run 8.26.2009

Here is the video of David Ortiz hitting the walk-off home run to give the Boston Red Sox a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

[flash http://ianbethune.com/bigpapiwalkoff.FLV w=510 h=287]

And here we have NESN reporter Heidi Watney asking tough stupid questions as usual.

I think I speak for everyone when I say we all hate extra innings too, Big Papi.

Video: Red Sox Honor Senator Kennedy

As we learned early Wednesday morning, Senator Edward “Ted” M. Kennedy of Massachusetts passed away at the age of 77 due to brain cancer. Before the Boston Red Sox game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night, the late Senator was honored by the Red Sox.

[flash http://ianbethune.com/kennedytribute.flv w=510 h=287]

And if you missed his ceremonial first pitch back on Opening Day, April 7, 2009, be sure to check that out as well.

My condolences to the entire Kennedy family and their friends on the loss of a truly great man. He’ll be missed.

Big Papi Walk-Off Wins It For Red Sox

Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz, top right, is greet by teammates at home plate after his game-winning home run against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. Boston won 3-2. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th and one out, David Ortiz took a 1-0 pitch from Tony Pena and drove it around Pesky’s Pole to give the Boston Red Sox a 3-2 walk-off win over the Chicago White Sox in front of 37,829 at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.

Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning to give Boston a 3-2 win in a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is at right. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The last time Big Papi hit a walk-off home run it was September 12, 2007 when he hit one off of Al Reyes to give the Red Sox a 5-4 win over the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The win for the Red Sox improves their record to 73-53 and increases their lead in the wild card to 2.5 games over the Rangers who lost to the Yankees. The White Sox drop below .500 at 63-64 and fall 4.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers for 1st place in the AL Central.

Tim Wakefield returned from the disabled list and was outstanding. He had the good knuckleball going and there were no problems at all with Victor Martinez catching him. Wake scattered six hits over seven innings and allowed one run. He walked one and struck out 3 and left to a standing ovation from the Fenway Faithful.

Ramon Ramirez allowed a leadoff home run in the 8th to Scott Podsednik and then walked one in a third of an inning. Daniel Bard bailed him out as he was just filthy. He struck out Jim Thome on three fastballs, the last one at 101 MPH to end the 8th. He then went 1-2-3 in the 9th and finished with three strikeouts. He also earned his first big league win because of the Big Papi walk-off home run.

Gavin Floyd was equal to the task as he matched Wakefield early on. Floyd went six innings, allowing five hits, two of them home runs, walking one and striking out two. Matt Thornton allowed a hit and had a strikeout in two innings. Pena had struck out Kevin Youkilis before the big blow.

Both of Big Papi’s hits were home runs with the first home run coming in the 2nd inning. Alex Gonzalez had two hits, including a solo home run in the 6th inning. Jason Bay added a single and a stolen base while Dustin Pedroia and Youkilis had the other hits for the Red Sox.

It was great to see Wake back and doing what he was doing when we went on the disabled list. It was even more encouraging to know that VMart can do a fine job of catching Wake behind the plate.

The Red Sox will look to go for the sweep on Thursday night behind young Japanese rookie Junichi Tazawa. He’ll be opposed by lefty John Danks.

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/26

Boston Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield works in the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta, Saturday June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

After falling behind again last night, the Boston Red Sox rallied for their second straight win over the Chicago White Sox. Tonight at Fenway Park, they look to make it three in-a-row.

The game tonight will start at 7:10 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the White Sox television market, you can catch the game on WCIU. And if the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can catch the game on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.

Tim Wakefield makes his return to the mound for the first time since July 8th for Terry Francona. Before going on the disabled list, Wake had made 17 starts and was 11-3 with a 4.31 ERA. He went on the DL after the All-Star Break with a lower back injury. In 28 games (19 starts) against the Chisox, Wake is 7-11 with a save and a 5.11 ERA.

Gavin Floyd has made 25 starts for skipper Ozzie Guillen and is 10-8 with a 3.98 ERA. He’s made three career appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox and is 2-0 with a 5.74 ERA. He’s made just one start at Fenway Park where he is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (6.2 IP, 1 ER).

As expected with Wakefield returning from the disabled list, Enrique Gonzalez was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for him. The Red Sox will still need to make another roster move tomorrow when Billy Wagner joins the team.

Martinez accepts challenge of knuckler [RedSox.com]

Could Red Sox keep Wagner, trade Papelbon? [USA Today]

Lowell’s turn to sit [Extra Bases]

Roster questions [Extra Bases]

Youk says he loves Boston fans [Extra Bases]

Red Sox to honor Kennedy [Extra Bases]

Wagner looking forward to joining Sox [Extra Bases]

Terry Francona on Dale and Holley [Full Count]

Red Sox remember Sen. Kennedy [Full Count]

Youkilis clears the air [Projo Sox Blog]

Wakefield on Extended Rest [Wicked Good Sports]

Lumberjack Classic raises money, hope, and memories [Batter-up with Bruno]

Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:

63-63		72-53
1. Jayson Nix	2B	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Gordon Beckham	3B	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. A.J. Pierzynski	C	3. Victor Martinez	C
4. Paul Konerko	1B	4. Kevin Youkilis	3B
5. Jim Thome	DH	5. David Ortiz	DH
6. Jermaine Dye	RF	6. Jason Bay	LF
7. Carlos Quentin	LF	7. J.D. Drew	RF
8. Alex Rios	CF	8. Casey Kotchman	1B
9. Alexei Ramirez	SS	9. Alex Gonzalez	SS
Gavin Floyd	SP	Tim Wakefield	SP

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

Chicago White Sox vs Boston Red Sox batter/pitcher matchups

Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 8/26

Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, left, pats catcher Victor Martinez as David Ortiz, right, looks on as they celebrate a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox at a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

During his postgame press conference last night, Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona passed along a story about Victor Martinez texting him at 1:15 a.m. on Monday night asking Francona to let him (VMart) play. Tito told him you’ll come off the bench to pinch-hit and bring home the winning run.

Well Francona was almost right as VMart came off the bench and delivered the game-tying run in the 7th inning and then added an insurance run in the 8th inning as the Red Sox rallied for a 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Jon Lester threw the ball well last night and if not for a wild pitch on a strikeout of Alexei Ramirez in the top half of the 7th, he may have come away with a win. Things got even stranger in the 8th inning as Hideki Okajima missed an easy popup and then VMart threw the ball into center field when he missed Okajima throwing the ball back. But Okajima and Manny Delcarmen recovered to get the Red Sox out of first and third situation with no outs to set up the 8th inning heroics for Jason Bay, whose home run gave the Red Sox the lead for good.

Jacoby Ellsbury stole his way into the Red Sox record books as well last night in the 1st inning with his 55th stolen base of the season. It broke Tommy Harper’s 36-year old record of 54 stolen bases.

The Red Sox will welcome back Tim Wakefield from the disabled list tonight. It should be interesting as VMart will be behind the plate catching him. I’d expect to see the White Sox running if they get on base tonight.

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