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.
Youkilis, Porcello Get 5-Game Suspensions For Roles In Brawl Last Night At Fenway Park
Here is the press release from MLB concerning the suspension of Kevin Youkilis and Rick Porcello for their roles in the altercation at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
Discipline has been issued to three members of the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox as a result of the on-field incidents that occurred in the Tuesday, August 11th game at Fenway Park in Boston. Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement.
Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello has been suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing pitches at Boston’s Victor Martinez in the bottom of the first inning and Kevin Youkilis in the bottom of the second, which contributed to the incitement of the bench-clearing incident in the second inning. Porcello’s five-game suspension had been scheduled to begin tonight, when Detroit continues its series at Boston, but he has elected to file an appeal. Thus, his suspension will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.
Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis has been suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount for charging the mound, throwing his helmet at Porcello and inciting the bench-clearing incident. Youkilis’ five-game suspension had been scheduled to begin tonight, but he has elected to file an appeal. Thus, his suspension will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.
In addition, an undisclosed fine has been issued to Tigers pitcher Edwin Jackson for his aggressive actions during the bench-clearing incident.
Note: At the time of this MLB press release, Youkilis was going to appeal the suspension. He has since changed his mind and began serving his suspension tonight. He’ll be eligible to return on August 18th when the Red Sox are in Toronto.
Dave Teggart Named To Groza Award Preseason Watch List
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – University of Connecticut sophomore kicker Dave Teggart (Northborough, Mass.) has been named to the Preseason Watch List for the 2009 Lou Groza Award given by the Palm Beach Sports Association.
In 1992, The Palm Beach County Sports Commission established the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker award. This award is given annually to the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker as determined by a voting panel of head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters from across the county, conference representatives, professional kickers and previous winners.
The three finalists are invited to Palm Beach County, Florida after the end of the college season for the Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet, presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. This gala three-day program recognizes the accomplishments of the kickers in a variety of community outreach activities culminating with an awards banquet that is the start of the South Florida holiday football season.
The announcement of the winner is made during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show broadcast live from Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 10, 2009.
Teggart became UConn’s regular field goal and extra points kicker after the seventh game of the 2008 season. He was 13 of 15 on field goals and a perfect 16 for 16 on extra points. He made the first 11 field goals of his collegiate career and the 11 consecutive field goals set a school record.
In his first career game against Cincinnati (10/25), he was a perfect four of four in field goals. He was a two-time BIG EAST Special Team Player of the Week for his performances against the Bearcats and Syracuse (Nov. 15) – when he connected on three field goals. He also contributed five extra points and a 32-yard field goal in the International Bowl victory over Buffalo (Jan. 3).
Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 8/12
The Boston Red Sox showed a little fight last night at Fenway Park as they overcame a 3-0 deficit and came back to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-5 to give Junichi Tazawa his first MLB win.
Tazawa had a rough go of things early on although he’s not totally to blame. A Nick Green throwing error on a double play ball in the first inning seemingly would have gotten them out of the inning. Instead the Tigers were able to get three runs.
But Tazawa settled in and kept the Tigers at bay over his final four innings. He left the game before 6th after throwing 94 pitches in 5 innings. Most of those came in the first inning when he should have been out of the inning after 15 pitches or so. He ended up finishing with six strikeouts on the evening including three straight Tigers to end the 4th and start the 5th.
Tazawa did hit Miguel Cabrera with a pitch on an 0-2 count in the 1st inning. Tigers starter Rick Porcello responded in the bottom of the 1st by throwing inside on Victor Martinez who looked glaringly at Porcello before stepping back in the batter’s box.
Kevin Youkilis led off the 2nd inning for the Red Sox and was beaned in the back on the first pitch by Porcello. Youk decided he had had enough of being hit and charged the mound and threw his helmet at Porcello. The helmet missed and Porcello ended on top when Youk tried to take him down. It didn’t look to the naked eye that any punches were thrown.
The interesting thing about the whole situation was that Porcello had only hit one batter all season long, Youkilis, back on June 2nd. Porcello stated after the game that he didn’t intentionally hit Youk but I have to disagree with him on that one. It definitely looked like he hit him on purpose especially given the fact it was the first pitch.
“If I was an ultimate fighter I think I would have had a plan,” Youkilis said. “But I didn’t plan for that to happen. I was going up there trying to have a good at-bat and get on base. I got on base, but it wasn’t the way I like it.”
“It looked like there was intent there,” Youkilis said after the Sox held off the Tigers, 7-5, at Fenway Park, “At some point, you have to protect yourself as a hitter. It’s something I’ve never done before and never thought of ever doing. But at some point, you, well, I lost my control there and I let my emotions get the best of me.
“Two days in a row, and the way it was going, I had had enough of it. At some point, you have to protect yourself as a hitter and for your teammates. I just felt like I had to do what I had to do.”
Check out the video of Youk charging the mound for yourself and make your own observations.
Youk charging the mound seemed to rally the Red Sox as just two batters later they had tied the game on a 3-run homer by Jason Bay. And Mike Lowell, who took over for Youk at third base, came off the bench and hit two home runs, a 2-run shot and a solo shot, to help propel the Red Sox to the win.
Links coming up after a 10-second pause for station ID on the Red Sox blogging network.
Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 8/12
UConn Football links
A Little Something To Go With Your Lunch [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]
Ticket News From UConn [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]
How Do The DE’s Opposite Lindsey Witten Look? [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]
More Interviews Coming? [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]
Big East bowl predictions [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]
Big East mailbag: Expansion madness! [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]
Why not UConn… [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]
Dixon Has Second Chance At Being No. 1 [Hartford Courant]
Former UConn star Butler finding his way in training camp [Norwich Bulletin]
Emotional time leads Hernandez to Florida [GatorSports.com]
Vanderbilt WR Jeffers-Harris ineligible for 2009 [SportingNews.com]
UConn Women’s Basketball links
More questions from me, more answers from Alysa Auriemma [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]
Renee Montgomery like you’ve never seen here before [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]
Spend the holidays with the UConn women [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]
UConn Men’s Basketball links
Norcross Coach Jesse McMillan on Jeremy Lamb [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]
Middlesex Coach Jamie Gallagher on Rod Odom [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]
Thabeet at trading card photo shoot [UConn Huskies Basketball]
Is Jim Calhoun sticking around at UConn? [The Dagger]
Other UConn related links
Women’s Soccer: Huskies Tabbed To Finish Second In BIG EAST Preseason Poll [UConnHuskies.com]
Men’s Soccer: Stahl Named to 2009 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List [UConnHuskies.com]
Men’s Soccer: Huskies Ranked No. 12 in 2009 NSCAA Preseason Poll [UConnHuskies.com]
UConn Football Single Game Tickets On Sale Today At 10 AM
STORRS, Conn. (August 11, 2009) – Single-game tickets for 2009 University of Connecticut home football games will go on sale on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m.
Tickets can be ordered by visiting UConnHuskies.com or ticketmaster.com. In addition, tickets can be reserved by calling ticketmaster.com at 800-745-3000.
UConn will open the 2009 home season on Saturday, Sept. 12 against preseason top 25 opponent North Carolina at noon. Other UConn home games include Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Rhode Island at noon; Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. Louisville for Homecoming at noon; Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. Rutgers at a time TBA; Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Syracuse at noon; and Saturday, Dec. 5 vs. South Florida at a time TBA.
There are a number of options for fans to experience Husky Football at Rentschler Field this season, including:
- Season tickets remain on sale, including the affordable “Top of the Rent” package, where upper level seats are priced at just $20 per game.
- Mini-plan packages available at $99 apiece.
- Group ticket sales are available for select home games. Groups of 20-or-more enjoy discounts of 45 to 55 percent per seat.
- The popular “Big Y Family Days” will be available for games against Rutgers, Syracuse and South Florida. Beginning Sept. 1 and subject to availability, fans can go to UConnHuskies.com and enter promotional code “BIGY” for $16 tickets.
For more information on Husky athletic tickets, please visit UConnHuskies.com or phone the UConn Athletic Ticket Office at 1-877-AT-UCONN.
Video: Youkilis Charges Mound
After getting hit by Detroit Tigers starter Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis decided he had enough and charged the mound.
{flvremote}http://ianbethune.com/youkporcello.FLV{/flvremote}
Many thanks to The CMSB for the video.
Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/11
After taking the first game of a 4-game set last night, the Boston Red Sox look to make it 2 in-a-row against the Detroit Tigers.
The game this evening will start at 7:10 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Tiger’s television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Detroit. 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.
After giving up a home run to Alex Rodriguez to win the game on Friday night in his MLB debut, Junichi Tazawa looks to make an impression on Red Sox Nation. He’s had just the one appearance and is 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA. In 20 starts between Portland and Pawtucket, he was 9-7 with a 2.55 ERA.
The youngest player in the big leagues, Rick Porcello, starts tonight for Jim Leyland and the Tigers. He has made 20 starts this season and is 10-7 with a 4.30 ERA.He’s faced the Red Sox once this season and in his career and is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA. He gave up 3 runs in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss back on June 2nd.
Tazawa makes first major league start tonight [Extra Bases]
Report: Smoltz clears waivers [Extra Bases]
Wakefield to return next week? [Extra Bases]
Rehab start for Wakefield [Clubhouse Insider]
After 14 years, Wakefield heads back to Pawtucket [Full Count]
For Tigers, tonight’s opponent Tazawa is one that got away [Projo Sox Blog]
Updated: Wakefield will make rehab start for PawSox [Projo Sox Blog]
N.Y. columnist says ESPN is taking it easy on Big Papi [Projo Sox Blog]
Some pitching options for the Sox should things go wrong [Hacks with Haggs]
Tazawa gets a re-do; Rookie gets his first start tonight [Batter-up with Bruno]
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| 1. Curtis Granderson | CF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Placido Polanco | 2B | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Clete Thomas | LF | 3. Victor Martinez | 1B |
| 4. Miguel Cabrera | 1B | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 5. Carlos Guillen | DH | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Magglio Ordonez | RF | 6. Jason Bay | LF |
| 7. Alex Avila | C | 7. J.D. Drew | RF |
| 8. Brandon Inge | 3B | 8. Jason Varitek | C |
| 9. Ramon Santiago | SS | 9. Nick Green | SS |
| Rick Porcello | SP | Junichi Tazawa | SP |
59-52
63-48And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers. No one on the Tigers has faced Tazawa.
Steve Ranks The 2009 Starting NFL Quarterbacks
With the New York Giants agreeing with their QB Eli Manning on a new 6-yr $97 million contract extension making him the NFL’s highest paid player, clearly Eli isn’t the best QB in his family never mind the league.
So where does Eli fall when you look at the QB’s? Is he 2nd? 4th? 10th? Who is he better than? Who is not as good as the man who gets his first name from the inventor of the cotton gin?
So in my unscientific ways I attempted to make a list of the starting QB’s based on what order I would take them if I ran a NFL team. So here it goes. Number 1 is interchangeable take the first guy; take the second you won’t lose.
1. Peyton Manning IND; 1. Tom .Brady NE; 3. Ben Roethlisberger PIT; 4. Drew Brees NO; 5. Eli Manning NYG; 6. Carson Palmer CIN; 7. Phillip Rivers SD; 8. Kurt Warner ARI; 9. Donovan McNabb PHI; 10. Jay Cutler CHI; 11. Tony Romo DAL; 12. Matt Ryan ATL; 13. Joe Flacco BAL; 14. Chad Pennington MIA; 15. Matt Cassel KC; 16. Aaron Rodgers GB; 17. Marc Bulger STL; 18. Matt Hasselbeck SEA; 19. Jake Delhomme CAR; 20. David Garrard JAX; 21. Trent Edwards BUF; 22. Mark Sanchez NYJ; 23. Daunte Culpepper DET; 24. Derek Anderson CLE; 25. Jason Campbell WAS; 26. Kerry Collins TN; 27. Matt Schaub HOU; 28. Tavaris Jackson MIN; 29. Luke McCown TB; 30. Kyle Orton DEN; 31. Shaun Hill SF; 32. JaMarcus Russell OAK.
Editor’s note: Steve sent this to me via text message. He hopes to return before the start of the NFL season.
Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 8/11
The Boston Red Sox snapped a 6-game losing streak last night at Fenway Park as they beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5 on a Nick Green sacrifice fly in the 7th inning.
They hadn’t put up much offense over the course of the losing streak but after 10 pitches last night found themselves up 2-0 over the Tigers. They increased that lead to 4-0 before the Tigers started creeping back in the game. Fenway Park was definitely what the boys needed as they pounded out three home runs off the bats of Dustin Pedroia, Nick Green and Jason Bay.
Shockingly enough Brad Penny didn’t have a high pitch count last night and pitched well. He did give up 3 runs in 6 innings. Two of those runs came when J.D. Drew misplayed a Magglio Ordonez fly ball into a triple. The Tigers then were able to score two runs off of Manny Delcarment before Green’s sacrifice fly gave them the lead for good.
Jonathan Papelbon picked up the final four outs of the game on just 11 pitches to pick up his 28th save of the season.
It was nice to see the boys bounce back last night after a rough road trip. The win and a Yankees loss allowed them to get back to 5.5 games out of first place and they picked up a 1/2 game in the wild card standings over the Rangers and a loss by the Rays makes it 2.5 games over them as well.
All eyes will be on Junichi Tazawa tonight as he makes his first start in a Red Sox uniform. It will be interesting to see how rebounds from giving up the home run in the 15-inning loss to the Yankees on Friday night.
Links coming up after a 10 second pause for station ID on the Red Sox blogging network.