In something we’ve known about up here in Red Sox Nation for some time now, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com is reporting that the Boston Red Sox are “desperately” trying to trade Julio Lugo.

The Red Sox, facing a roster bind as they prepare for the returns of shortstop Jed Lowrie and third baseman Mike Lowell, are “desperately” trying to trade shortstop Julio Lugo, according to a major-league source.

This is what I said had to say about it in the morning post:

We should also see the return of Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie to the Red Sox lineup this weekend. Lowell could return on Saturday as it’s likely that Aaron Bates will be sent back down on Friday to make room for Buchholz. When Buchholz is sent down, Lowell will most likely be activated.

The Red Sox still have to figure out what to do when Lowrie is activated. The likely scenario that could play out would be the release of Julio Lugo. They probably won’t be able to trade him even if they paid his contract so releasing him probably becomes option No. 1. And I can tell you that Lugo won’t be missed by most in Red Sox Nation.

Source: Red Sox ‘desperately’ trying to deal Lugo [FOXSports.com]

At the 2009 ESPY Awards held in Los Angeles last night, UConn Huskies junior All-American Maya Moore was named the Best Female College Athlete. Its just the latest piece of hardware to go into her trophy case.

Shockingly, the 39-0 UConn women’s basketball team was beat out by the Los Angeles Lakers for best sports team.

The ESPY’s will be shown on ESPN  this Sunday night at 9 PM. So if you’re not a True Blood fan, I’m sure you’ll be watching this.

Lakers, LeBron among ESPY winners [ESPN.com]

While it wasn’t a quiet day around Fenway Park yesterday, it was a day of light news for the Boston Red Sox. They are still enjoy the days off after the All-Star break.

For the fans of the game, this is the worst time of year. It’s when we are forced to find something else on television to watch. For the players, it’s a couple of days (if not playing in the game) to get some rest and nurse any injuries or nicks and bruises back to health.

The Red Sox will finally spring back into action tomorrow night in Toronto when Clay Buchholz makes his 2009 Red Sox debut. Clay has been hanging out in Triple-A all season since there hasn’t been room in the Red Sox rotation for him. He’s had a year down there with the PawSox as he is 7-2 with a 2.16 ERA. He’s up for the start and then heading back to Pawtucket.

With the All-Star break upon us and almost over, it now starts a new period in baseball known as the trade deadline. With that coming up on July 31st, we will start to hear rumors (Buchholz and others to the Jays for Halladay, etc….). While we don’t want to see some of the younger guys go anywhere, it is quite conceivable they might be moved.

We should also see the return of Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie to the Red Sox lineup this weekend. Lowell could return on Saturday as it’s likely that Aaron Bates will be sent back down on Friday to make room for Buchholz. When Buchholz is sent down, Lowell will most likely be activated.

The Red Sox still have to figure out what to do when Lowrie is activated. The likely scenario that could play out would be the release of Julio Lugo. They probably won’t be able to trade him even if they paid his contract so releasing him probably becomes option No. 1. And I can tell you that Lugo won’t be missed by most in Red Sox Nation.

Five Questions: What Moves Should the Sox Make? [38 Pitches]

Names to throw into discussion [Boston Globe]

Red Sox All-Star Break Analysis [Hartford Courant]

A guy who hates the knuckleball tips his cap to Tim Wakefield [Providence Journal]

Jacoby Ellsbury puts pedal to metal against foes [Boston Herald]

Sox fans at a loss during All-Star break [Boston Globe]

Red Sox journal: Ichiro scoffs at notion that Matsuzaka’s struggles stem from WBC [Providence Journal]

Star magic returning [Boston Herald]

Excitement building, 10 stories high [Boston Globe]

With Lowell and Lowrie ready to turn, is this the end of the line for Lugo? [Providence Journal]

Josh Beckett tries to mold Clay [Boston Herald]

Sox go deep – in arms [Boston Globe]

Red Sox see bright future for Junichi Tazawa [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Mid-Season Report Card [Boston Herald]

Distractions aside, Lowrie just wants to play [Full Count]

Looking forward to cold one [Boston Globe]

How Albert Pujols Almost Almost Joined The Red Sox [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.

Editor’s note: My apologies for this being late. Apparently I didn’t hit publish upon leaving the house this morning.

UConn Football links

Home run hitters in the Big East [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Big East fall practice start dates [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

got a feeling it’s gonna be a good good night. [Alyssa Auriemma]

Fuzzy math [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Jerome Dyson Scores 51 at Pro-Am [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Ben Gordon’s journey to UConn [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Charlie Villanueva Twittering for a Good Cause [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Dyson Pours in 50 [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

The Vatican Jig [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]

While I am not a big hockey fan anymore (we can blame Peter Karmanos for moving the Hartford Whalers to North Carolina for that), I do enjoy the Winter Classic games that the NHL has put on in the past few years.

It started in 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY with the Pittsburgh Penguins beating the Buffalo Sabres 2-1. Last year, it was held at Wrigley Field in Chicago where the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4.

In keeping with the baseball park theme, the NHL has decided to host the Winter Classic at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day 2010 at 1 PM. It wasn’t too much of a secret though as the news leaked out in May that the Fens would be hosting the game.

Of course the Boston Bruins will be the hosts and they will be taking on the Philadelphia Flyers.

“A unique event deserves a unique venue, and we are delighted the Bruins and Flyers will renew their rivalry, with the ‘Green Monster’ providing the backdrop,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We welcome our fans, our teams, our sponsors and the great city of Boston to this annual celebration of our sport.”

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry had this to add:

“On behalf [of] the entire Boston Red Sox organization, I want to express our sincere thanks to the National Hockey League and the Boston Bruins for selecting Fenway Park as the site for the 2010 Bridgestone/NHL Winter Classic. From the day we arrived at Fenway Park, our ownership group has been committed to preserving and protecting this historic venue, and we have taken extraordinary steps to ensure it can serve fans for generations to come.”

Ticket pricing and when the tickets would go on sale for the event were not announced today. They will be announced at a future date.

Photo Gallery from today’s announcement [NHL.com]

Former UConn Huskies football player Larry Taylor was named the CFL Special Teams Players of the Week for his 68-yard punt return in a win against the Edmonton Eskimos.

Taylor is in his second season with the Montreal Alouettes.

Here is the video of his punt return (at least he didn’t signal for a fair catch this time):

[flash http://ianbethune.com/ltaylor.flv w=486 h=370]

Martin Bédard

Terry Caulley

Maurice Lloyd

Shawn Mayne

Larry Taylor

O’Neill Wilson

Jordan Younger

The American League squeaked out a 4-3 win last night over the National League to continue it’s dominance over the senior circuit. Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon picked up the win with New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera saving it for him.

Jason Bay went 1-for-2 in the game as the starting left fielder while Kevin Youkilis had a single as a pinch-hitter late in the game. Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield didn’t play in the game.

Beckett was only available if there was an emergency last night since he had just pitched on Sunday. And Rays and AL skipper Joe Maddon stated that he would use Wakefield if the game went into extra innings. Wakefield was of course diplomatic about it but many feel he should have gotten to pitch last night.

Wakefield is 42-years old and was at his first All-Star Game in his 17-year career. Depending on whether or not he plays next year, this could have been his first and last All-Star appearance. Now I do understand Maddon’s reasoning after what happened last season but the least thing he could have done was thrown Wakefield a bone and let him pitch even if it were to one batter.

It’s just a shame Wake didn’t get to play. I’m pretty sure Maddon might get booed now when the Rays return to Fenway Park in September.

Two days I’ll never forget [Jason Bay – Full Count]

Keeping up with Sox’ current events [Boston Globe]

Another wild outing for Papelbon, but the stars still shine on him [Providence Journal]

Ichiro Suzuki backs Daisuke Matsuzaka, WBC [Boston Herald]

A high honor for Bay, Wakefield [Boston Globe]

Jonathan Papelbon walking on heir [Boston Herald]

AL extends All-Star streak [Boston Globe]

Tim Wakefield gets presidential [Boston Herald]

Five Sox bests and worsts [Boston Globe]

Tip your cap to HBO for Ted Williams documentary [Boston Herald]

Wakefield: All-Star Experience ‘Overwhelming’ [Full Count]

Rivera gives Papelbon cherished memory [RedSox.com]

Five Things We Learned: For Wakefield, No Pitches, Plenty of Smiles [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]

For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.