Things started out looking good for the Boston Red Sox last night against their hated rivals the New York Yankees. But in the end, it was the Yankees who had the last laugh as they routed the Red Sox 13-6. It was the first win of the season for the Yankees against the Sox as they are now 1-8 against them.

The loss puts the Red Sox 3.5 games behind the Yanks for first place in the AL East. The Red Sox lead is now 2 games over the Rangers and 2.5 games over the Rays in the wild card standings.

When Theo Epstein signed John Smoltz before the season, most people thought it was a great signing, myself included. It was a low risk, high reward signing. Now after watching Smoltz pitch, it’s a high risk, very low reward signing.

Smoltz hasn’t looked anything like the Smoltz of old. He’s struggling when he goes through the order the second time and still having trouble hitting his spots. And when he misses, teams aren’t missing them and taking advantage of it.

As much as it’s frustrating for us fans to watch, it’s just as frustrating for Smoltz.

“I’m pretty humbled right now,” Smoltz said. “Time may not be on my side if this continues. I can’t keep doing what I’m doing.”

Smoltz was brought in to help the Red Sox in the second half of the season, especially for games as important as these are. But when he’s now given up at least 5 runs in his last 4 outings something has to give.

As much as I hate to say it, it’s probably time for the Red Sox to give up on the Smoltz experiment, at least as a starter. With the Red Sox not having a middle reliever and Smoltz being effective for 2-3 innings, a move to the bullpen may be what the Red Sox need to do.

Paul Byrd can’t get ready fast enough and we don’t even know what he’ll bring to the table. Theo Epstein and the brain trust need to do something quickly before this becomes a lost season for the Red Sox.

Continue reading →

UConn Football links

Confident Quarterback the Face of UConn’s New Spread Offense [Rob Lunn – NESN.com]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jim Calhoun On Fox61’s “The Stan Simpson Show” [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

UConn-Kentucky, Dec. 9, 9:30 p.m., ESPN [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Olander, Ledo, Wilson, Turner make recruiting visits to UConn [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Ater Majok and Darius Smith at Pro-Am Thursday [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Start Times Announced For 2009 SEC/BIG EAST Invitational [BigEast.org]

Okwandu adjusting [New Haven Register]

After being swept in a brief two-game set in Tampa, the Boston Red Sox flew north to prepare for a 4-game set with their bitter rivals, the New York Yankees.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:05 PM and will be covered on the NESN in the Red Sox television market. In the Tampa area, you can catch the game on MY9. For those not in the Red Sox or Yankees television markets, you’re in luck tonight as the game will be broadcast on the MLB Network. If the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can also catch the game on the radio on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.

John Smoltz makes his 8th start for the Red Sox and Terry Francona but his first in the rivalry. He’s 2-4 with a 7.12 ERA. He’s made 2 career starts against the Yankees and has no record with a 4.50 ERA. Both of those starts came at the old Yankee Stadium.

Joba Chamberlain makes his 21st start tonight for the Joe Girardi-led Yankees. He is 7-2 with a 3.58 ERA and is 3-0 with a 0.83 ERA since the All-Star break. Joba has made 2 starts against the Red Sox this season and is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA. He’s made 8 appearances (4 starts) against the Red Sox in his career and is 2-1 with a 3.49 ERA. He’s made 4 appearances (2 starts) against the Red Sox at home and is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.

Ortiz will speak Saturday [Extra Bases]

Sox-Yanks pitching breakdown [Extra Bases]

Henry: ‘We want to hear the facts before we say anything’ [Extra Bases]

Reddick in the house [Extra Bases]

Baldelli to DL, Reddick back up, Bay probably out all series [Clubhouse Insider]

Ortiz to speak on Saturday [Clubhouse Insider]

Update: Baldelli placed on DL because of ankle injury [Projo Sox Blog]

Scapegoat [Center Field]

Out Of Left Field: Youkilis [Center Field]

Here are the starting lineups for tonight’s game:

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

With Jason Bay reinjuring his hamstring last night, the Boston Red Sox are a bit short on outfield depth as J.D.  Drew also has some hamstring issues as well but is playing.

And now to make matters worse, Rocco Baldelli has been placed on the disabled list this afternoon. Taking his place on the 25-man roster is Josh Reddick, who was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Reddick was sent down before yesterday’s game to make room for Billy Traber on the roster. However because Reddick is replacing an outfielder that went to the disabled list, he can be recalled. Normally, you have to spend 10 days in the minor leagues unless replacing a player of the same position.

Reddick went 5-for-16 with three doubles, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in four games last week.

Just  how bad is the Red Sox outfield depth? Kevin Youkilis, yes Youk, is starting in left field tonight against the Yankees.

STORRS, Conn. – UConn senior Lindsey Witten (Cleveland, Ohio) has been named one of 30 preseason candidates for the 2009 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Now in its eighth season, the Ted Hendricks Award is named in honor of college football’s first three-time first team All-American.

Witten has played in 36 career games over the past three years for the Huskies with 81 career tackles, 10.5 career sacks and 16.5 career tackles for a loss. He also has a career interception and seven pass break-ups. He played in 11 games in 2008 for the Huskies with two starts and had five sacks.

The award is named after former University of Miami defensive end Ted Hendricks. He roamed the front line, read plays and blitzed on impulse, completely transforming the way the defensive end position was played.

His professional career spanned 15 years and 215 consecutive games. It included four Super Bowl victories, eight Pro Bowl selections and inductions into the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the Award’s winner.

Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the Award’s voting committee. Candidates may represent any class as well as any four-year NCAA accredited school. The candidate’s primary position must be defensive end.

Continue reading →

Can someone please blow up Tropicana Field? Over the past two seasons, the Boston Red Sox are 2-13 (1-4 this season) when taking on the Tampa Bay Rays at their home park. Gone are the days where we would could count the Rays as an automatic win no matter where the two teams were playing.

Brad Penny once again struggled out on the bump as he was victimized last night for 3 home runs. He also failed to get to the 7th inning yet again as he threw 117 pitches in 6 innings. The Red Sox were also unable to knock around Rays starter David Price. They did hit two home runs against him for 2 of their 6 hits off of him.

A lot had been made of the starting pitching depth the Red Sox had before the season. But with Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield on the disabled list plus the struggles of John Smoltz, Penny and Clay Buchholz, the Red Sox had to go out and get some pitching depth from a guy who hasn’t thrown a pitch all season long in Paul Byrd.

Byrd will need some time to get ready in the minors and could help give the Red Sox a push in September. I still expect Theo Epstein to be scouring the waiver wire in search of help in the meantime. Even though Byrd was 4-2 with a 4.78 ERA in 8 starts last season for the Red Sox, you just don’t know what you’re going to get from him.

And to make matters worse, the Red Sox will be without Yankee killer Jason Bay for at least the first two games of the four-game set. Bay reinjured his hamstring running to first base last night and was replaced by Nick Green. In games this season against the Yankees, Bay is hitting .448 with 3 home runs and 12 RBIs. And in 22 career games against them, he is hitting .325 with 4 home runs and 22 RBIs.

With Bay out for at least two games and Rocco Baldelli not being able to play every day, could we see a “phantom DL” move for the Red Sox to bring back up Josh Reddick. If this were to happen,the likely candidate in my opinion would Billy Traber.

It should be a fun four-game set. Let’s hope the Red Sox continue their mastery of the Yankees and get back into first place as they know trail the Yanks by 2.5 games and hold a 3 game lead over the Rays and Rangers in the wild card standings.

Links coming up after a 10 second pause on the Red Sox Blogging Network.

Continue reading →

UConn Football links

Here’s UConn Coach Randy Edsall On… [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

How Many Notre Dame Game Tickets Sold? [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Sherman is Huskies’ ‘blue collar’ leader [Norwich Bulletin]

Edsall doesn’t buy into recruiting rankings [Scarlett Scuttlebutt]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Iona completes non-conference schedule [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jerome Dyson [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Kyrie Irving, Tobias Harris [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

No.1 Kansas; No.10 UConn [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Ed Nelson’s attempt at the NFL [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Dick Vitale’s Preseason top five [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

UConn Field Hockey Players Excelling at Junior World Cup [UConnHuskies.com]

Women’s Lacrosse: Recent Lacrosse Alum Begins Coaching Career at High Point University [UConnHuskies.com]